Armstrong Stripped of Titles

Photo: www.businessinsider.com

 

"I know who won those seven tours, my teammates know who won those seven tours, and everyone I competed against knows who won those seven tours.  The toughest event in the world where the strongest man win.  Nobody can ever change that." -Lance Armstrong
 

Well although we know who won those tours, the greatest has been overshadowed by all of the doping allegations and now Armstrong has been stripped of his seven Tour de France titles, from 1999 to 2005 and has also been banned for life.  Two weeks ago the US Anti-Doping Agency detailed evidence of Armstrong drug use and trafficking by his Tour-winning teams.  Prudhomme wants Armstrong to pay back prize money for his seven wins which totals up to approximately $3.85 million.  McQuaid announced that the UCI accepted the sanctions imposed by USADA and would not appeal them to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.  USADA said Armstrong was at the center of "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program" that sport has ever seen.  Armstrong still denies doping and states that he has passed all of his drug test including 218 conducted by the UCI and 51 conducted by the USADA.  Oakley sunglasses has now cut ties with Armstrong after UCI announcement.

Via Associated Press

Nike Terminates Armstrong's Deal

Nike announced today that they had terminated Armstrong's endorsement deal. 

"Due to the seemingly insurmountable evidence that Lance Armstrong participated in doping and misled Nike for more than a decade, it is with great sadness that we have terminated our contract with him.  Nike does not condone the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs in any manner.  Nike plans to continue support of the Livestrong initiatives created to unite, inspire and empower people affected by cancer." -Nike announcement
 

Along with losing the Nike endorsement, Armstrong stepped down as chairman of Livestrong today so that the organization could focus on its mission.  Trek, the company that supplied Armstrong's bikes, Anheuser Busch, Michelob Ultrasound, and FRS, energy drink company, have also parted ways with Armstrong in light of Armstrong's doping allegations. 

Kevin Love Out With Broken Hand

Photo: Jim Mone, AP

Kevin Love broke his right hand during workout on Wednesday morning.  Love is expected to miss six to eight weeks with injury.  Love broke the third and fourth metacarpals on his shooting hand.  Besides Love, the Timberwolves have also lost point guard Ricky Rubio who tore the ACL in his left knee.

Delonte West Suspended by Mavericks

Another year, more Delonte West drama. 

West has been suspended by the Dallas Mavericks for conduct detrimental to the team.  According to sources, the suspension stems from an outburst by West in the locker room following a Mavericks victory on Monday.  No timetable has been given to how long West will be suspended.

"Hopefully, we can get it resolved quickly.  Until we talk to him and hash through it I won't know for sure." -Coach Carlisle
 

 UPDATE OCTOBER 30TH: West was waived by the Mavericks Monday to trim roster to the mandated 15-player limit.  After being suspended twice in a month, according to sources the Mavs were concerned that West negatively influencing younger players on the team.

Ray Lewis Out For Season

Ray Lewis will miss the remainder of the season aftering suffering a torn right tricep Sunday. 

"Ray in the locker room afterward, we didn't know (the extent of the injury), but he was worried about it.  He said some things about his faith.  He said some things that I'll never forget." -Coach John Harbaugh
 

Along with Lewis, the Ravens also lost cornerback Lardarius Webb fo the season who suffered a torn ACL in his left knee on Sunday.  Webb was officially placed on injured reserve Tuesday.

"Lardarius was distraught.  I could see it when I walked onto the field, on his face.  He kind of knew because he's been through it before.  I just felt like he knew.  He was just beside himself." -Coach Harbaugh

UPDATE: Lewis underwent surgery Wednesday, October 17th, a source told ESPN insider Ed Werder.  Lewis was placed on injured reserve with the "designated to return" tag.  Lewis will be eligible to return to practice in 6 weeks, and will be eligibl to play, if healthy, during week 15. 

"We have no idea whether that time frame has anything to do with the injury, but there's an opportunity and we're going to keep the door open.  We'll just see where that goes moving forward." -Coach Harbaugh 

 

Man Stabbed at Orange Madness

Who said that a fun, collegiate event couldn't turn into a tragedy?

A man was stabbed during Syracuse's annual Orange Madness Celebration.  It was last stated that the victim was in stable condition at Upstate University Hospital.  Orange Madness is an event that is used to celebrate the start of the basketball season in which 15,000 people were in attendance.  The event was brought to an end early after several fights occured.  None of the fights and stabbing are believd to involve Syracuse students according to the Syracuse police Sgt. Tom Connellan.

"We were saddened to learn of the incident at th Dome last night.  There is no place and no tolerance for anything like this and future Orange Madnes events will be designed to prevent incidents such as this.  We are proud of the terrific partnership among Syracuse City Police, SU Department of Public Safety, and Carrier Dome security staff, and we are confident that our work will continue to maintain a safe and secure environment for our patrons who come to the Dome to enjoy the hard work and efforts of our student-athletes." -Syracuse Chancellor Nancy Cantor and Athletic Director Darryl Goss

Buccaneers Talib Suspended

Photo: Getty Images

Cornerback Aqib Talib of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has been suspended for four games without pay for violating the league's policy on performance enhancing substances.  Talib stated that he would not appeal the suspension that is set to begin Sunday when the Buccaneers takes on the Chiefs.  Talib admitted to taking an Adderall pill without a prescription at the beginning of training camp.  Aqib Talib is one the team's top defenders in his fifth year in the league after being drafted 20th overall in 2008.  Talib will not be eligible to return to the active roster until November 5th.

"I made a mistake by taking an Adderall pill without a prescription.  This is especially regrettable because, for the past several months, with Coach Schiano's hlep, I've worded very hard to iprove myself, professionally and personally, as a player and a man.  I am truly sorry to my teammates, coaches, and Buccaneers fans, and I'm disappointed in myself.  I will work diligently every day of this suspension to stay in top football shop and be ready to help this team in the second half of the season.  I have chosen to be immediately accountable for the situation I put myself in, which is why I will not exercise my appeal rights and will begin serving the suspension immediately." -Aqib Talib

Darrelle Revis to Undergo Surgery

 

Darrelle Revis will be out for the New York Jets as he will undergo surgery on his knee Thursday, October 18th, and has been placed on season ending injured reserve.  The Jets' originally delayed placing Revis on IR with hopes that he would be able to return from surgery and recovered and ready to play in time for the Super Bowl, IF the Jets were to make it to the Super Bowl.  Rookie Safety Antonio Allen has been named to fill Revis' spot.  Along with Revis being out, Eric Smith sprained his knee during practice this past Thursday and will miss this Sunday's game as well as receiver Santonio Holmes had surgery on his foot this past Wednesday and linebacker Josh Mauga had surgery this past Friday to repair a torn pectorial muscle. 

"I know I had said before about Darelle that I'd like to wait for him to have surgery before we placed him on IR or not.  Unfortunately with that time situation, you've had Eric Smith out htis week, we're going to need that roster spot." -Rex Ryan

Francisco Rodriguez Arrested

Photo: Tom Mihalek / AP

Looks like Milwaukee Brewer reliever found himself in a little trouble last month.  Reports have come out that Francisco Rodriguez was arrested last month on a domestic violence complaint involving his girlfriend.  According to Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel, Rodriguez has not been charged and that any possible charges would be misdemeanors following his arrest from September 18th.  Francisco Rodriguez is accused of "physical abuse."

Smith Set to Stand Trial

A LA County judge ordered that Anthony Wayne Smith must stand trial for four murders.  Smith was a defensive lineman who played eight years in the 90's for the Oakland/LA Raiders. 

Judge Lisa Chung ruled, after a four-day preliminary hearing, that there was sufficient evidence for Smith to stand trial for the killings that came in a nine-year span beginning the year after he left the NFL.  Smith had already been tried for one murder that occured in 2008, the murder of Maurilio Ponce, and is currently awaiting a retrial.  Along with the murder of Ponce, Smith will now also be charged with the murders of Kevin and Ricky Nettles, brothers found shot to death in 1999, and the 2001 killing of Dennis Henderson, who was found stabbed to death in a rental car.  The cases will be combined into a single tiral and the case will return to court for a hearing on October 29th.

This is definitely a sad ending to an individual who didn't know what to do with himself after leaving the league.