Ryan's Den: 12/15/09

The Fighting Mock Turtlenecks lost to Loyola Marymount on Saturday night. More troubling than a bad loss to a bad team at home is that I never knew the incredibly tragic story of Hank Gathers. Thanks to a  the loyal Buck List reader for calling out of my lack of requisite sports knowledge.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is serious about cracking down on head injuries, proposing this week to fine players for suffering concussions

University of South Florida head football coach Jim Leavitt has been accused of hitting one of his players in the face at halftime of the Lousville game on November 21. The players then refused to take the field with Leavitt and injured quarterback Matt Grothe (torn ACL) called a brilliant 2nd half from the sideline, capped off by a magical hook and ladder to Billy Bob for the win as time expired.

The Red Sox are close to adding yet another marquee pitcher to their starting rotation in former Angels right-hander John Lackey. The 5 year deal will pay Lackey roughly $17 million per season. Apparently Red Sox owner John Henry will champion the implementation of a salary cap some other time.

A Canadian doctor who has treated multiple professional athletes, including Tiger Woods, is suspected of providing his patients with performance enhancing drugs. A Woods representative indicated that the troubled golfer would have no comment, preferring instead to feverishly lift weights and watch Bones in private.

Ryan's Den: 12/8/09

To celebrate North Korea's first World Cup appearance in 44 years, Kim Jong-il is banning all coverage of the games -- unless they, you know, win. In the event North Korea soccer comes up short, all highlights will be brief and manipulated in order to portray the North Koreans as the superior team. If Kwame Kilpatrick wasn't too busy Tiger Woods-ing his staffers, maybe he could have thought of this for Lions games (or the 2009 Stanley Cup Final) and won re-election in Detroit.

Add the Son of God to the growing list of those not interested in Notre Dame's recent coaching vacancy.

Speaking of that (large) vacancy, Mark Kriegel at foxsports.com suggests that evil Charlie Weis advised projected first day draft picks Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate to forgo their senior seasons and enter the draft simply to sabotage his alma mater. Excellent detective work, Mark. Unfortunately, you forgot to mention the part where Weis contacts a current recruit just days after his termination, encouraging him to stay committed to the Irish in 2010.

Yesterday marked the beginning of the 15th annual Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden. If you've never seen the 1993 ESPY speech of late North Carolina State basketball coach Jim Valvano, there aren't many better ways to spend 11 minutes -- and even if you have:

Ryan's Den: Tuesday's Headlines

Here at TBL, we know you put in a long day at the office and can't possibly keep up with all that's fresh in the world of sports. Luckily, my cushy job and two computer monitors allow me to keep tabs on everything for you on one side, and pretend to be busy on the other. Suck it, job. Without further ado, take a leap into Tuesday's Ryan's Den:

Hanley Ramirez got screwed today. Pujols is the first player to win back-to-back MVP awards since the esteemed Barry Bonds. I'll let you guess what they have in common.

Another senseless act of violence at the hands of Bill Belichick. His victim this week? The feelings of suddenly sensitive Rex Ryan. At least he didn't cry this time. Maybe next offseason he won't be calling out a vengeful divisional rival that boasts the best quarterback and receiver of the past decade.

The NFL playoff race is officially upon us: Mike Lombardi at the National Football Post steals my idea and breaks down the playoff picture in both conferences with six weeks left in the season. Two primetime games, Giants at Broncos (Thursday) and Steelers at Ravens (Sunday), should shed a little more light on what currently stands as a murky playoff picture.

The Steelers have allowed 2 return touchdowns since you started reading this post.

Don't want to pick up the tab? Don't call a foul. This doesn't qualify as breaking news, but it is hilarious nonetheless. Tim Donaghy, ex-NBA official and convicted felon, goes into detail on how he and fellow referees used to pass the time. While, you know, getting paid to referee professional basketball games.