UConn Booster wants his money back

Based on this story coming out of Hartford, we're assuming UConn booster Robert Burton didn't watch (or if he did, missed the lessons of) the recent ESPN 30 for 30 special on the SMU football scandal of the Eighties.

Burton said he'll yank scholarship funding, advertising and his $50k/yr luxury box.

So a booster thinks he gets the final say over a head football coach search because he donates $$$? Nah, doesn't work like that.
-P&X

ESPN 950 goes FM; Steve Phillips can't keep it in his pants

ESPN 950 is now simulcast on 97.5 FM. Or vice versa, depending on your perspective. Their website (and advertising around Philly) now bills the station as 97.5 The Fanatic, Philly's first FM sports station. There's a podcast link from the midday show from Tuesday with Harry Mayes and Tony Bruno speaking with...

Steve Phillips, who popped up in the news today due to his suspension from ESPN and leave of absence over a tangled "fatal attraction" affair with a 22-year old ESPN production assistant.

The letter Brooke Hundley dropped off at Casa Phillips for Marni Phillips to read included (besides a vivid description of the ESPN analyst's genital area birthmarks), this gem:

"Whether he chooses to stay in a loveless marriage for his kids or to move on and be with someone whom he says makes him feel better than he's ever felt, it's up to him..."

Bizarro-world aspects of the affair apparently included Hundley pretending to be a high school student to insinuate herself with Phillips's high school-aged son, her inclusion of her cell phone number in the letter so Marni Phillips could discuss matters with her, and apparently a voicemail that said "I care about Steve and make him happy and we both can't have him."

No reports of boiling rabbits yet, but damn! Considering Phillips was sued for sexual harassment while GM of the Mets in the late 90's, you'd think he'd stay clear of extra-marital kitty. Wrong. Update from Captain Obvious: Marni Phillips has filed for divorce. Just stupid, stupid, stupid.

Sean May's diet and babysitting needs

It's almost NBA time. Over the summer, I looked up Sean May's page on Yahoo while settling a debate over who had more players on NBA rosters last season - Duke or UNC. It was Duke, by the way.

Sean's page conservatively listed his weight at 266 lbs and had the following sponsored links:

In July:
Drop 30 Pounds in 3 Weeks
Fastest Weight Loss - Guaranteed!

Today:
Dependable babysitters near you. View our pre-screened profiles today.

Hmmmmmm. I smell a message or two here.

-P

The Halladay Sweepstakes

You may have won not one, but two World Series trophies!

That seems to be the prevailing message around Philadelphia (and some members of the national media) should Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. pull the trigger and trade three or more prospects (and possibly J. A. Happ and a bucket of balls) to Toronto for Roy Halladay.

Our view? Write down every prospect you have. Include four blank lines. Email sheet to Toronto. Cross fingers.

No brainer. It might wind up being "5-for-1" again, but Halladay is certainly a better bet than Richie Hebner. Do it.

McNair found dead

Former NFL QB Steve McNair was shot and killed in Nashville. Details forthcoming. Apparently a double homicide. Holy s@$#!

Way too many deaths lately. Everyone dies. But too many going early.

- X

The Celtics Move On

Is it just us, or does Brian Scalabrine of the Celtics look like some guy they pulled out the stands for a halftime 3-point shot and just stayed on the court?
Anyway, the Celtics finally got past the pesky Bulls with a 109-99 Game 7 win. An awesome series. Photo from Getty Images.

Carolina Wins

Congrats Roy & Co...but Duke still has more players on current NBA rosters (14) than y'all do (9). Who would have thought?

-P

Outta Here!!! R.I.P. Harry, Mark, Nick

They say bad things come in threes, but baseball fans weren't prepared for a week in the death like this. Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart (car crash, last Thursday), retired Tigers pitcher Mark Fidrych and broadcaster Harry Kalas (both today, causes TBD).

Adenhart was killed by a drunk hit-and-run driver, hours after his 2009 debut. Fidrych died on his farm, apparently of an accident. Kalas was found in the press box in Washington, hours before his visiting Phillies took on the host Nationals. He ws taken to GWU Hospital but pronounced dead at 1:20 this afternoon.

We barely knew Adenhart. The Bird pitched in fewer than 60 games because of injuries. Harry the K? Everybody knew Harry, even if they didn't know his name. They knew his voice.

Kalas was best known for his 38 years of Phillies' broadcasting (TV and radio), but also did extensive work for NFL Films, Westwood One radio (NFL games), Campbell's Soup, the Puppy Bowl, as well as work for the Astros and a wide variety of college games. Many callers to 610 WIP and 950 ESPN today said they thought of Harry as one of the family, someone who could hold their rapt attention while telling stories. Now, given the Phillies' lackluster history, most of those stories did not have happy endings. But 1980 and 2008 were special times, as was Michael Jack Schmidt's 500th home run.

Tonight, instead of showing today's Phillies-Nationals game, Comcast SportsNet is replaying last night's Phillies-Rockies game, Kalas's final game.

Hard to believe, Harry.

Duke digs deeper, finds nothing

Duke's going downhill fast. How fast? The Devils have lost 4 of their last 6 and clearly aren't competitive in the ACC right now. After losing to Boston College on Sunday, Duke is 7-4 in conference, 20-4 overall. And a weak 20 wins at that. They have no inside game, no dominating players other than Kyle Singler (sorry GH), have huge spells where they can't buy a bucket outside, and suddenly can't play D (BC shot 59%). To us, that spells NCAA 2nd round exit. Again.
-P, X

And 1:
Guess Coach K doesn't care since he has a lifetime contract. As one of my co-workers said, "Coach K was picked to coach Team USA because he can see what the team needs to get better. So why can't he do that with his own team? They should fire all the coaches who coach the guards, 'cause they are getting nothing out of the backcourt right now."
-X

And 2:
Why isn't Miles Plumlee playing? Every game Brian Zoubek plays, a month is taken off Plumlee's NBA career.
-P