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As reported yesterday, high-profile athletic trainer Rob McClanaghan was arrested on charges of rape and drugging for intercourse. The suspect was transported by the BPD Fugitive Unit in coordination with members of the Warwick RI Police Department into custody and will be extradited on fugitive from justice charges. As a straight warrant was issued, at a minimum a clerk magistrate had to agree that probable cause existed. Additionally, with the high threshold of the Sexual Assault Unit of the Boston Police Department, it is believed that the evidence at this juncture must be very strong. However, how are rape and drugging for intercourse defined? Under Mass Gen. Laws Rape is defined in Chapter 265 § 22(b) while the enhancement is listed in Chapter 272 § 3. rape and drugging for intercourse is defined as whoever applies, administers to, or causes to be taken by a person any drug, matter or thing with intent to stupefy or overpower such person so as to thereby enable any person to have sexual intercourse or unnatural intercourse with such person shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison life or for any term of years not less than 10 years. As such, if convicted, Mr. McClanaghan must serve at least ten years in prison. Usually, rape is a crime punishable by not more than twenty years, but the drugging element enhances the charge to be punishable to up to life in prison with a ten-year minimum mandatory. How might the Commonwealth prosecute this case and how might McClanaghan’s attorney(s) defend it? The Commonwealth’s Case In any victim case, the case always revolves around the victim including credibility. Rape cases are especially victim-centric because, without victim testimony, there usually would not be a case to move forward with. The victim had to provide information to law enforcement for law enforcement to believe a crime had in fact been committed. That begs the question; what kind of evidence would have been provided? First, victim testimony is paramount to the successful prosecution in a rape case. I have to think there was a rape kit performed at the hospital after the incident as well as the victim’s medical records. What kind of drug was it? Was it a date rape drug? Were there independent witnesses? With the high-profile nature of this case, the prosecution can never have too much evidence. Remember the State has to prove each and every element beyond a reasonable doubt. The defense doesn’t need to prove anything, and a lack of evidence is grounds for the Defendant being found not guilty by a jury. The Defense’s Case The defense’s case is much different. As stated previously, the defense doesn’t have to prove anything. The burden never shifts to the defense. What could the defense be? It depends. It depends on what evidence the Commonwealth has. What is the alleged drug? Is it a date rape drug? That is important information to have when preparing for the defense. That is because the attorney is unlikely going to be able to argue consent as a defense if it is a date-rape drug. No jury is going to agree with it and the criminal defense attorney would likely lose any and all credibility with a jury by simply insinuating it. However, if the alleged victim took the drug knowingly and voluntarily (whatever the drug may be), the statute isn’t violated. However, if it is another type of drug then consent does become an option. That is because the statute doesn’t “extend to a defendant who merely shared drugs or alcohol with a person who knowingly and voluntarily accepted the drugs or alcohol.” Commonwealth v. LeBlanc, 73 Mass. App. Ct. 624. The words of the statute require some forceful action or deceit or trickery on the part of the defendant that amounts to more than merely supplying drugs or alcohol to a willing individual. Id. Every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty. That is the foundation of our criminal judicial system. However, with the Sexual Assault Unit of the Boston Police Department intimately involved, I have to think the evidence in support of guilt must be substantial, if not overwhelming. Matthew F. Tympanick, Esq. is the Founder/Principal of Tympanick Law, P.A., located in Sarasota, Florida where he focuses his practice on Criminal Defense, Personal Injury Law, and Sports Law. Arrested or Injured? Don’t Panic…Call Tympanick! 1(888) NOPANIC. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts School of Law where he served as a Public Interest Fellow and a Staff Editor on the UMass Law Review. He was previously a felony prosecutor, he prosecuted thousands of misdemeanor and felony criminal cases. He has tried 41 jury and non-jury trials. He frequently appears on Law & Crime as a Legal Analyst and speaks nationally on sports law issues. You can follow him on Twitter @TympanickLaw.

On November 21, 2022, the District Court of New Jersey granted the NFL’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit originally filed in 2019 by former New York Jets’ defensive back and special teamer, Rontez Miles. According to his complaint, Miles (“Plaintiff”) suffers from an autoimmune disorder called alopecia areata. Such a condition, he claims, causes him to “experience ocular photosensitivity and photophobia and limits his ability to see well in sunlight or artificial light.” With that, for at least three seasons, Plaintiff played with a protective shield on his facemask that helped him navigate the field. That came to a halt, starting in a 2017 preseason game when an NFL equipment judge told Miles that he was not permitted to play with the shield. Miles played the game against the Detroit Lions without his protective shield — and promptly suffered a broken orbital bone of the right eye. In his complaint filed 2 years after the injury, Plaintiff alleged that, “due to the lack of protection from the stadium lights, [he] did not see an opposing player approach, and hence, was unable to take defensive maneuvers.” His causes of action included: Count 1: Violation of New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination (“LAD”); Count 2: Violation of Section 12101 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) for failure to provide reasonable accommodation to Plaintiff; and Count 3: Negligence Here is where labor law encroaches on Plaintiff’s (as with so many other parties governed by a CBA) federal law claims: §301 of the Labor-Management Relations Act (“LMRA”), a provision readily accessible in the proverbial holster of the league. §301 of the LMRA preempts claims based in state law brought by union-represented employees. Miles falls squarely in that category, as he was represented by the NFLPA during the underlying cause of action. The NFL claims that Miles’s claims are preempted by Section 301 because “the allegations are inextricably intertwined with the CBA and incorporated Official Playing Rules.” Miles — like the Broncos’ Aaron Patrick — seeks to skirt the CBA. Plaintiff argued that the NFL waived application of the CBA after the league allowed him to play for at least 3 seasons utilizing a protective shield without specific approval. Therefore, Plaintiff argues, his claims do not require the court to interpret the CBA, an action that the court is preempted from doing. Collective bargaining agreements make labor law the unrivaled king in sports law. The NFL argued that the court would need to analyze the CBA and its playing rules to “determine whether the NFL had a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for its alleged refusal to permit Plaintiff to wear the shield.” Miles argued in response that the CBA had no bearing on his claims. The court was not convinced, as it ruled in favor of the NFL on Monday, dismissing Miles’s lawsuit. The court reasoned that “[t]he CBA governs the respective rights and responsibilities of the NFL, the Clubs, the NFLPA, and the players with respect to, among other subjects, player health and safety, player attire and equipment, and the remedies and benefits available to players in the event of an injury sustained while performing services under an NFL Player Contract, including during the course of an NFL game.” With respect to Plaintiff’s claims arising under the ADA, the court held that Miles failed to first file a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, an administrative requirement. Thus, this claim was dismissed as well. Time and time again, we are reminded of the power the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement holds. Miles will have to seek a remedy within the CBA, not state law. Rontez Miles last played in the NFL in 2019 (the same year he filed this lawsuit) and ended up playing in 13 games that 2017 season. All 6 of his professional years playing football were for the New York Jets, who are making headlines for some other (Zach Wilson) reason today. Jason Morrin is a law clerk (pending admission to the NY Bar) at Zumpano, Patricios & Popok LLP in New York, a firm dedicated to litigation and business counseling including in the areas of sports, gaming and entertainment. He graduated cum laude from Hofstra Law School where he was president of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society. His reporting for Conduct Detrimental has been cited by ESPN, The New York Post, USA Today, and more.

Two days ago, New York Governor, Kathy Hochul, signed into immediate effect the “New York Collegiate Athletic Participation Compensation Act” (S.5891F)[1]. This legislation gives student-athletes in New York the ability to be compensated for the use of their Name, Image, and Likeness. This bill, introduced by Senators Parker, Bailey, and Jackson in late March 2021, was expected to be effective in January 2025. New York becomes the 32nd state to propose and enact a Collegiate Name, Image, and Likeness Bill since the NCAA started allowing amateur athletes to profit from their NIL in July of 2021. The New York bill is similar to other state NIL legislations, including provisions such as “no athletic association, conference, or other groups shall prevent student-athletes from earning compensation from the use of the athlete’s name, image, or likeness,” and “an athletic association, conference, or other groups shall not prevent student-athletes from obtaining professional representation in relation to name, image, or likeness contracts or legal matters….” Provisions of the bill also restrict students from entering into contracts with brands that are similar to or compete with school partnerships or with brands that the school is already partnered with. Additionally, students cannot formulate deals that conflict with their responsibilities and time commitments as student-athletes. There are two provisions of note included in New York’s NIL bill. 1. Requiring any professional representation obtained by a student-athlete to be registered pursuant to article thirty-nine-E of the general business law[2] or to be a licensed attorney. And arguably, more importantly – 2. a provision requiring any student-athlete who enters into a NIL contract to disclose the contract to the designated college official IN ADVANCE of the contract being executed. Currently, only Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Illinois, and Michigan have provisions similar to this one. Other states require students to disclose their deals to their respective colleges but do not specify when the contract must be disclosed by. This provision in combination with the state’s requirements to provide financial literacy training will be a great preventative measure working to protect student-athletes from signing predatory contracts. As of August 2022, at least “450,000 student-athletes across the United States entered into NIL deals by partnering with businesses and promotions.”[3] That is 450,000 students who went from having no ability to profit from their NIL in 2021, to signing some sort of contract to be compensated for the use of their rights with little to no contractual or financial training. New York requiring student-athletes to disclose potential NIL contracts to a college compliance official prior to signing will help make sure the deals they are making are legit and follow both state and school regulations. However, it is also interesting to note that the New York bill does not say anything about contract duration extending beyond the student’s participation in an athletic program at a postsecondary educational institution. One of the initial concerns revolving around NIL rights was companies structuring their contracts so that if a college athlete becomes professional the company will receive cheap endorsement or might even take a cut of any subsequent contracts the athlete signs. It is so important that student-athletes and their guardians are educated on the dangers of signing some of these contracts and the full weight of what “legally binding” can mean. Thankfully, more and more schools are starting to provide NIL contract education and financial literacy training for their student-athletes. States like Texas and Florida require this training to be completed at the start of the athletes’ first and third years of eligibility. Prior to the NCAA’s “change of heart” in 2021, prohibiting students from receiving payment for competing and working for the school was often regarded as unfair and exploitative. Student-athletes take significant risks to benefit their colleges and were not allowed to be compensated for those risks beyond scholarships. Which was often below their cost of living and far below the revenue they produced for the school.[4] The passage of the New York bill will open the door for so many athletes who might not have had the ability or resources to make ends meet solely relying on scholarships to close that gap. Assemblymember Michaelle Solages said, “Today, we stand with student-athletes, former student-athletes, their families, and legislators in taking a giant step in the right direction for our student-athletes.” Holly A. Summers is a 2L at New York Law School and a Junior Staff Editor for the New York Law School Law Review. Sources: [1] https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/S5891?intent=support [2] https://law.justia.com/codes/new-york/2015/gbs/article-39-e - Requires that athlete agents register with the State of New York. [3]https://en.as.com/ncaa/how-much-money-can-college-athletes-make-with-nil-marketing-endorsement-deals-n/ [4]https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-signs-legislation-allow-collegiate-student-athletes-receive-compensation

< Back Matt Rhule hired as Nebraska football head coach, agrees to eight-year contract Nov 26, 2022 The Nebraska Cornhuskers have a new a head football coach, former Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule. Rhule becomes the latest successful college coach who failed at the NFL level, only to return to the collegiate level. Nebraska and Rhule officially agreed to the terms of an eight-year contract, the school announced on Saturday. The 47-year-old Rhule was fired in mid-season by the Panthers. Source: Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/sports/matt-rhule-officially-hired-as-nebraska-football-head-coach Previous Next

NEWS Nov 26, 2022 Matt Rhule hired as Nebraska football head coach, agrees to eight-year contract The Nebraska Cornhuskers have a new a head football coach, former Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule. Rhule becomes the latest successful college coach who failed at the NFL level, only to return to the collegiate level. Nebraska and Rhule officially agreed to the terms of an eight-year contract, the school announced on Saturday. The 47-year-old Rhule was fired in mid-season by the Panthers. Read More Nov 26, 2022 No. 3 Michigan dominates No. 2 Ohio State in Columbus, keeping national championship hopes alive Maybe last year's win wasn't a fluke. No. 3 Michigan traveled to Columbus as heavy underdogs, but you wouldn't know it watching Saturday's dominance. The Wolverines went into the Horseshoe and cruised to a 45-23 win over No. 2 Ohio State, their first win in Columbus since 2000. Saturday's matchup was the first in which both teams entered 11-0 since the "Game of the Century" in 2006. The Wolverines are now 12-0 for the first time since winning a national championship in 1997, while Ohio State dropped to 11-1. Read More Nov 26, 2022 Family of Stanford soccer star who died by suicide files wrongful death lawsuit against school The family of Stanford soccer star Katie Meyer has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the school nine months after she took her own life. Meyer's family argues that Meyer, who was 22 at the time of her death on Feb. 28, was feeling distressed about facing discipline from the school over an incident six months earlier. The suit says Meyer spilled coffee on a football player at the school who had allegedly sexually assaulted one of Meyer's teammates. Read More Nov 26, 2022 Ex-Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt admits to giving player’s mother cash-filled Chick-fil-A bag Jeremy Pruitt admitted to handing over cash to the mother of a player in a fast-food restaurant bag during his tenure as the head coach of the Tennessee football team. A document obtained by the Knoxville News Sentinel revealed that a woman had contacted Pruitt and asked for money. In response, Pruitt took money out of his vehicle and placed it inside a Chick-fil-A bag and gave it to the woman outside the team facility. Read More Nov 26, 2022 World Cup 2022: Saudi players gifted luxury cars after upsetting Argentina After Argentina became the victim of maybe the biggest upset in World Cup history in losing to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, star player Lionel Messi said his team felt "dead." That makes one of them, because the Saudis sure weren't. In fact, the Saudi government made the next day a national holiday to celebrate the victory, but the players got the gift of a lifetime. Each player was reportedly gifted a Rolls Royce Phantom for the upset. It was the first time Saudi Arabia has won an opening match at the World Cup and their second win in their last five appearances. The squad defeated Egypt 2-1 in the final match of the 2018 World Cup. Read More Nov 25, 2022 7 Michigan State football players charged with assault after brawl with Michigan players Seven Michigan State football players have been charged with assault stemming from their roles of a brawl against University of Michigan players after their game on Oct. 29. Khary Crump was charged with one count of felonious assault, while Itayvion "Tank" Brown, Angelo Grose, Justin White, Brandon Wright, and Zion Young were each charged with one count of aggravated assault, a misdemeanor. Jacoby Windmon was charged with the misdemeanor of assault and battery. Read More Nov 25, 2022 Nebraska working on deal with Matt Rhule to make him next head coach: report The Nebraska Cornhuskers are getting closer to hiring the next head coach for a football program that has fallen on hard times. Matt Rhule, who was fired as head coach of the Carolina Panthers in October, and Nebraska are working on finalizing a deal in the coming days, according to ESPN. Under Frost, the Cornhuskers failed to win five games in a season, lost 10 consecutive one-score games and became an afterthought in the Big Ten. Frost finished his time at his alma mater with a record of 16-31. Read More Nov 25, 2022 Lane Kiffin meets with players as Auburn rumors swirl: report With rumors swirling that he would be departing Ole Miss for the head coaching job at Auburn, Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin reportedly met with his players Tuesday night. Kiffin felt that he owed it to his players and their families to speak with them directly after a Monday report that he would be stepping down as head coach of Ole Miss on Friday in order to become the next head coach of the Auburn Tigers, according to ESPN. According to the report, Kiffin told his players that he had not accepted any job offers at a different school. Read More Nov 25, 2022 Colts owner says Frank Reich firing wasn’t ‘personal,’ defends decision to hire Jeff Saturday Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay fired head coach Frank Reich after the Colts fell to 3-5-1 on the season. Irsay’s next decision, hiring former Colts' player Jeff Saturday as interim head coach, sparked a wide debate as Saturday has no coaching experience beyond the high-school level. Irsay defended his decision to fire Frank, telling ESPN that the decision was not personal. "It's not personal. It's the very opposite from being personal," Irsay said. "Frank is a treasured friend of my family and all my daughters," Irsay said. "We go back a long, long way. I'm very, very close to Frank, and I've known Frank for many decades. He's like family." Read More Nov 25, 2022 Iranian soccer player arrested for ‘propagandizing against the government’ As Iran plays in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a former member of its national soccer team has been arrested for being critical of the Iranian government. Voria Ghafouri, who was not selected as a member of Iran’s 2022 World Cup team, was arrested Thursday for "insulting the national soccer team and propagandizing against the government," according to the Associated Press. Ghafouri has recently expressed support for the family of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died while in the custody of Iranian authorities. Read More Nov 23, 2022 Sixers beat Nets despite missing Joel Embiid and James Harden in Ben Simmons' return to Philly The Brooklyn Nets' issues go well beyond who's not on the court, and Ben Simmons' return to Philadelphia demonstrated that to an embarrassing extent. The Nets entered the game with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons all playing, a rarity In recent weeks. The Philadelphia 76ers entered the game without Joel Embiid (out two games with a foot injury), James Harden (foot sprain) and Tyrese Maxey (foot fracture). The Sixers won 115-106. To put things in perspective, here was the Sixers' starting lineup: De'Anthony Melton, Shake Milton, Tobias Harris, P.J. Tucker, Montrezl Harrell. Two of those players, Milton and Harrell, were making their second starts of the season. Meanwhile, Paul Reed and Georges Niang came off the bench to combine for 35 points, more than the entire Nets bench. Read More Nov 23, 2022 World Cup 2022: Germany players cover mouths in protest of FIFA's 'OneLove' armband ban before Japan match Germany players protested FIFA’s suppression of their anti-discrimination messaging with a non-verbal statement of defiance ahead of their 2022 World Cup opener Wednesday. While posing for a standard pregame photo at the Khalifa International Stadium, all 11 starters cupped their right hands to their mouth, an implicit reference to their Monday statement that FIFA had threatened them with “sporting sanctions” if captain Manuel Neuer wore a “OneLove” armband with a multi-colored heart. Germany and six other European teams had adopted the armbands in light of Qatari laws that restrict the rights of LGBTQ people, among others. The armbands were part of a broader Dutch-led campaign against discrimination. The colors in the armband’s heart — which are similar, but not identical, to the ones that represent LGBTQ pride — “represent everyone's pride in their own origin, color, gender identity and sexual orientation,” the KNBV said in September. Read More Nov 23, 2022 Cardinals coach Sean Kugler fired after reportedly groping woman in Mexico City Arizona Cardinals offensive line coach and running game coordinator Sean Kugler was fired by the team after reportedly groping a woman in Mexico City, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. The Cardinals played the San Francisco 49ers on "Monday Night Football" in Mexico City in Week 11. The team arrived in Mexico on Saturday. Kugler reportedly groped the woman Sunday. Mexican authorities informed the Cardinals, who sent Kugler home Monday morning, which means he did not attend Monday's game. Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury claimed the team had no coaching changes to announce during the team's press conference Tuesday. Read More Nov 23, 2022 World Cup 2022: Germany upset by a Japan team that its own Bundesliga helped create The second-biggest upset of the 2022 World Cup so far was a product of soccer’s globalization. Germany, a longtime superpower, bossed long stretches of its Wednesday opener here at the Khalifa International Stadium. But in an exhilarating second half, the Germans were stunned and beaten by a brilliant Japan team that their own Bundesliga helped create. Ritsu Doan, current employee of German club SC Freiburg, came off the bench to net a deserved equalizer in the 75th minute. Read More Nov 23, 2022 Jets quarterback Zach Wilson benched and will be inactive against Bears in Week 11, team will start Mike White The New York Jets have seen enough from quarterback Zach Wilson. Following Sunday's poor offensive performance against the New England Patriots, the Jets benched Wilson prior to the team's Week 12 game against the Chicago Bears, head coach Robert Saleh confirmed. Jets players were reportedly informed of the decision during a team meeting Wednesday. With Wilson benched, the team will start Mike White against Chicago. White, 27, appeared in four games last year, throwing five touchdowns against eight interceptions. Long-time NFL veteran Joe Flacco, 37, will serve as White's backup in Week 12. He started three games for the team earlier this season while Wilson recovered from an injury. Flacco completed 58.7 percent of his passes, and threw 5 touchdowns against 3 interceptions in those games. After starting the team's last seven games, Wilson will be inactive against the Bears. Wilson was reportedly disappointed upon hearing the news. Read More Nov 21, 2022 Renowned trainer who worked with LeBron James, Stephen Curry and others arrested on rape charge Rob McClanaghan, a renowned NBA trainer whose clients included LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and others, was arrested Friday in Rhode Island on rape and drugging for intercourse charges, Boston police said. Officials said in a statement that McClanaghan, 43, of Warwick, R.I., was arrested in an operation executed by the Boston Police Sexual Assault Unit, Boston Police Fugitive Unit and Warwick Police Department in East Greenwich. Police said the incident McClanaghan is charged in occurred in downtown Boston. "The suspect was transported by the BPD Fugitive Unit in coordination with members of the Warwick RI Police Department for booking at their department facility," police said. "McClanaghan will be arraigned on Monday at the Third District Court in Kent County, Rhode Island where he will be charged as a Fugitive from Justice." Read More Nov 21, 2022 Tennessee star lost for season after tearing ACL in blowout loss Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker will miss the rest of the season after tearing his ACL in the blowout loss to South Carolina on Saturday. The Volunteers were on the cusp of the College Football Playoff, entering the week at No. 5 with a 9-1 record. But while getting dominated by the Gamecocks, they saw their star quarterback leave the game midway through the fourth quarter with a left knee injury. Tests confirmed their fears Sunday that Hooker will be done for the year as Tennessee falls to No. 9 now in the latest AP poll. Read More Nov 21, 2022 DraftKings reveals theory behind users being hacked, says nearly $300k funds affected DraftKings is catching lots of heat from customers who were hacked, with close to $300,000 in funds being affected. Customers affected were locked out of their accounts and some had sizable withdrawals from accounts, all while a direct customer service number wasn’t found. Justin White, a 40-year-old from New York, told the Action Network that he couldn’t find a customer service number, and when a link to a live chat was found, the link went to a page that didn’t have a live chat. Read More Nov 21, 2022 Florida pulls scholarship from top QB recruit after video of him saying N-word surfaces The Florida Gators revoked a scholarship offer to one of the top high school quarterbacks in the nation after the teen filmed himself saying the N-word. Marcus Stokes played quarterback for Nease High School in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and received an offer from Florida, Penn State, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern and Georgia State, among other schools, according to 24/7 Sports. According to the outlet, Stokes was a four-star recruit and among the top 50 players in the state. Read More Nov 21, 2022 World Cup 2022: Tim Weah starts scoring for US but Americans cannot hold off Wales The U.S. and Wales ended their first match of the 2022 World Cup in a 1-1 tie on Monday night in an exhausting game that ended with a lot of players trying to find one more moment to dig deep. The Americans got on the board first with a goal from Tim Weah in the 36th minute on a touch from Christian Pulisic. The play sent the crowd into a frenzy and the Americans had some momentum early in the match. Weah became the first soccer player to score against Wales in the World Cup since Pelé in 1958 – the last time the Welsh made the World Cup. Read More Nov 19, 2022 UFC's Israel Adesanya arrested at JFK Airport days after losing middleweight title belt UFC fighter Israel Adesanya's rough few days in New York got even worse Monday at JFK Airport. Adesanya lost his belt to Alex Pereira during the main event of UFC 281 Saturday at Madison Square Garden. And he was arrested Tuesday at about 1:57 p.m. after TSA found him in possession of metal knuckles at a screening area, the Port Authority Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital. Metal knuckles are illegal in the state of New York. Read More Nov 19, 2022 Warriors' JaMychal Green fined for cursing at NBA referee Golden State Warriors forward JaMychal Green was disciplined on Thursday for "directing profane and derogatory language" toward an NBA official during the team’s game against the Phoenix Suns. The incident occurred at the end of Wednesday night’s game as the Warriors lost 130-119 to the Suns in which Stephen Curry put up 50 points. Green played 17 minutes and had two points and two rebounds. Green was fined $20,000 over the incident. It was not clear what Green said the official. He has played in 12 games so far this season and is averaging 4.8 points and 4.5 rebounds off the bench. Read More Nov 19, 2022 Bills stadium blanketed in snow as Buffalo prepares for game in Detroit against Browns Sunday’s game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns will not be played at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, as a massive snowstorm has dumped large amounts of snow on the Buffalo area. On Thursday, the NFL announced that the game had been moved to Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, due to the impending weather. Based on video provided by the Bills, playing at Highmark Stadium would have proved to be a difficult task. The Bills announced that their Friday practice had been canceled, choosing to meet virtually instead. Read More Nov 19, 2022 Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo shoves ladder to ground in postgame free-throw session One of the NBA’s "nice guys" is dealing with his first controversy. Following Milwaukee’s 110-102 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers Friday night, Giannis Antetokounmpo was seen on video shoving a ladder to the ground that arena workers had moved under the basketball hoop. Antetokounmpo was attempting to shoot free throws after going 4-15 from the free-throw line in Milwaukee’s loss. Arena workers had placed a 12-foot ladder under the hoop, preventing Antetokounmpo from practicing. After Antetokounmpo moved the ladder away from the hoop, arena workers moved it back. Antetokounmpo then approached the workers and the ladders for a second time, angrily shoving the ladder out of the way and onto the ground. Read More Nov 18, 2022 LeBron James still has ‘itch’ to play football, Jalen Ramsey says he’d have ‘no chance’ LeBron James still has a few more NBA years left in him as he approaches his 38th birthday in his 20th NBA season. James’ list of NBA accomplishments rivals those of the game's greats, with five NBA Championships and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer title within his sights. However, James, a two-star athlete in high school, thinks he could have been successful in a sport other than basketball. Read More Nov 18, 2022 Former N.C. State football player arrested after threatening tweet, allegedly stalking head coach A former North Carolina State football player was arrested earlier this week in Raleigh after he allegedly sent a threatening tweet toward head coach Dave Doeren. Joseph Boletepeli, a defensive lineman for the Wolfpack in 2018 and 2019, was charged with misdemeanor stalking and communicating threats to the head coach. He also was charged with resisting arrest after he allegedly pulled away from officers who were trying to place him in handcuffs. Read More Nov 18, 2022 Commanders to honor Virginia football players killed this week Three University of Virginia football players were killed Sunday by a former teammate, and two others were injured. Linebacker D'Sean Perry and wide receivers Lavel Davis Jr. and Devin Chandler were shot after returning from a class field trip. The Washington Commanders announced Friday they will be honoring the three victims with decals of the players' uniform numbers on their helmets when they play the Houston Texans Sunday. Read More Nov 18, 2022 Titans' Mike Vrabel addresses coach Todd Downing's DUI arrest, declines questions about alcohol on team plane Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel would not comment about alcohol being present on the team plane during a press conference Friday after offensive coordinator Todd Downing was charged with drunken driving hours after the team’s victory over the Green Bay Packers. Vrabel made a statement to open Friday’s press conference, saying he has been in talks with Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk, general manager Jon Robinson and the league about Downing’s arrest. "I’ve spoken to Todd. I’ve spoken to Ms. Amy. Jon and I have been in communication with her, with the league. The league has policies with regards to these incidents, and we’ll make sure the league has all the information that they need." Read More Nov 18, 2022 Runner, 50, finishes marathon in China in less than 3.5 hours while chain-smoking cigarettes A 50-year-old marathon runner managed to smoke his opponents in the Xin’anjiang Marathon in China. The runner, who is known as "Uncle Chen," finished the 26.2 miles-long race in only 3 hours and 28 minutes, all while chain-smoking a pack of cigarettes. Organizers produced his finishing certificate after the event. Uncle Chen's improbable feat has gone viral, as he was able to finish 547th. The race featured around 1,500 runners. Read More Nov 17, 2022 Report: MLB investigating if Mets and Yankees illegally communicated about Aaron Judge Aaron Judge is this offseason's biggest free agent prize, but the New York Mets reportedly aren't interested. That is apparently enough to trigger an MLB investigation. According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, the league has opened an investigation into whether comments from Mets sources in an SNY article about the Mets' hesitance to bid against the Yankees for Judge's services constitute a violation of its collective bargaining agreement. The article in question was published to the website of the Mets' television affiliate on Nov. 3 and reportedly caught the interest of the MLB Players Association, which requested the commissioner's office to investigate whether improper communication occurred between Mets owner Steve Cohen and Yankees co-owner Hal Steinbrenner. Read More Nov 17, 2022 Justin Verlander unanimously wins 3rd Cy Young Award after comeback for the ages Every pitcher in baseball is going to dream about returning from Tommy John surgery like Justin Verlander. The Houston Astros ace, a free agent this offseason, won the 2022 American League Cy Young Award on Wednesday, the final accolade recognizing the right-hander's historic comeback from one of baseball's most dreaded surgeries. Verlander and the NL Cy Young winner, Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara, both won the award unanimously. It is the second time in MLB history both awards have been unanimous, the other time being 1968 (Bob Gibson and Denny McLain). It is also the third time Verlander has won MLB's top pitching award, after winning it in 2011 (plus MVP) with the Detroit Tigers and in 2019 with the Astros. Read More Nov 17, 2022 Israel Adesanya arrested at JFK Airport for possession of brass knuckles after losing UFC middleweight belt Israel Adesanya had a very bad weekend, losing his UFC middleweight belt to persistent foe Alex Pereira. It got worse on his way home. The ex-UFC champion was arrested John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City after attempting to go through security with a set of brass knuckles, according to MMA Fighting. Port Authority police reportedly detained him at 1:57 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Brass knuckles are illegal in the state of New York, with possession considered a misdemeanor. Adesanya's manager, Tim Simpson of Paradigm Sports Management, later released a statement claiming the knuckles had been an unsolicited gift from a fan that Adesanya put in his luggage, and added that the New Zealander has already been released: “Israel was handed a gift by a fan, which he put in his luggage. When flagged at the airport, Israel quickly disposed of the item, and cooperated with authorities. He has complied accordingly, with that the matter was dismissed and he is on his way home.” Read More Nov 17, 2022 Warriors drop to 6-9 despite 50 from Curry, Kerr says 'I've failed The one thing going right for the Golden State Warriors wasn't enough to lift them over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night. Steph Curry scored 50 points for the 11th time in his career but the Warriors still lost, 130-119. It was the biggest defeat for the team since a 14-point loss to the Detroit Pistons on Oct. 30 and dropped Golden State to 6-9 on the year. Outside of Curry, the Warriors were ineffective on offense and defense. Non-Curry players hit just 24-of-63 shots, including only 10-of-33 from 3-point range. And defensively, the Warriors allowed the Suns to hit 44-of-86 shots and 21-of-40 3-pointers. It was an overall abysmal performance, and head coach Steve Kerr took it as an affront to their team chemistry and his ability as a leader. Read More Nov 17, 2022 Kevin Durant on offseason Nets trade request: 'It wasn't difficult at all Kevin Durant's request to be traded from the Brooklyn Nets shook this year's offseason, but ultimately didn't come to fruition. Now, months later and with the Nets in a tenuous position at best, Durant explained the reasons behind his request in an interview with TNT's Chris Haynes. Basically, the former MVP said he wanted out from the Nets because he was unhappy with the level of intensity around him and how much the team's failures could be ascribed to him: "It wasn’t difficult at all to request a trade because it was about ball," Durant told B/R. "I went to them and was like, ‘Yo, I don't like how we are preparing. I don't like shootarounds. I like practices. I need more. I want to work on more s—t. Hold me accountable. Get on my ass in film if that's going to help you get on everybody else’s head. I want to do more closeouts. I want to work on more shell drills at practice.’ "This was the type of s—t I was coming at them with. It wasn't like, ‘Yo, y'all need to make sure everybody around me can make my life easier.’ Hell nah, I want to make everybody else’s life easier. Ask Steve Nash, you can go call him right now. I would say, ‘Yo, I need more closeout drills. We need to practice more.’ That's what I was on. Read More Nov 15, 2022 Marlins promote Caroline O’Connor, become first major team with women as president and GM Caroline O’Connor’s career path has always been business-oriented. One of her passions, though, has always been sports. “I was an avid baseball fan growing up,” O’Connor said. “When it was spring, it was time to go to baseball games. Definitely was always a fan.” So when the opportunity came in 2017 to work for the Miami Marlins and mix business with passion, she didn’t pass it up. Five years later, O’Connor has risen to the top position in her department. The Marlins on Monday promoted O’Connor to president of business operations. She had previously served as the team’s chief operating officer since 2019 after originally holding the title of senior vice president and chief of staff when she was hired in 2017. Read More Nov 15, 2022 Paralympic gold medalist Robert Griswold accused of rape, sexual assault of teammate in Tokyo American Paralympic gold medalist Robert Griswold was accused of raping and sexually assaulting an intellectually impaired teammate at the Tokyo Olympics and afterward, according to a lawsuit filed last week, per The Washington Post. Griswold, a swimmer who won two gold medals at the Tokyo games, allegedly “maliciously targeted and groomed” a 19-year-old autistic teammate and took advantage of his intellectual disability that “rendered him vulnerable and naive to abuse.” “This case is a horrific tragedy, where a young man who defied all odds to become a world-class Paralympic swimmer had his life utterly shattered by rape and abuse when he was paired with a team member who was a violent sexual predator,” the complaint states, via The Post. Read More Nov 15, 2022 'Devastation and heartache': Virginia coach Tony Elliott, AD Carla Williams mourn deaths of 3 football players Hours after it was confirmed that three University of Virginia football players were killed in an on-campus shooting on Sunday night, Virginia head coach Tony Elliott and athletic director Carla Williams expressed their grief in the first public statements released from the Cavaliers’ athletic department and football program. Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D'Sean Perry were identified as the victims by university president Jim Ryan. Two others were wounded in the shooting and were hospitalized. One was listed in critical condition, the other in good condition, Ryan said Tuesday morning. The incident occurred on a bus in an on-campus parking garage after a class trip to Washington, D.C. to see a play. The suspect, Christopher Darnell Jones, was arrested Monday morning and charged with three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of using a handgun in commission of a felony. Jones is a Virginia student who once was a member of the football team. He was listed on the 2018 team roster as a 5-foot-9, 195-pound freshman running back. Read More Nov 15, 2022 Eagles' undefeated season stopped by Washington, which benefits from a big blown call There's vindication for everyone who thought the Philadelphia Eagles' undefeated record was fraudulent, propped up by an easy schedule. For Eagles fans, they'll wonder if an undefeated season was taken from them by the officials. Nobody thought the Eagles were going 17-0 this season, but not many people thought it would be the Washington Commanders to hand Philadelphia its first loss this season. The Eagles were outplayed and lost 32-21. They rarely had the ball because they couldn't get first downs and couldn't get the Commanders off the field. They still had a great chance to win, but officials missed an obvious facemask on Washington that turned into a game-changing Eagles fumble in the fourth quarter. Commanders linebacker Jamin Davis dragged Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert down by his facemask, Goedert fumbled and the Commanders recovered. Washington got a field goal off of that gift turnover. It was a huge turning point in the game, though Philadelphia can't blame just that on the loss, no matter how bad the missed call was. Read More Nov 15, 2022 Marlins promote Caroline O'Connor to president of business operations, make history The Miami Marlins became the first professional U.S. sports team of one of the four major leagues to have women serving simultaneously as president and general manager. The Marlins named Caroline O’Connor their president of business operations. Kim Ng was named general manager in November 2020. O’Connor will handle the off-field business while Ng continues to run the team on the field. "I've always worked for first-class organizations, and that's certainly what [chairman and principal owner] Bruce [Sherman] wants to see here and really what the mandate is," O’Connor said in a news conference on Monday, via the team’s website. "I think using best practices and being the kind of organization that people want to work for and want to support the community, that's exactly what we want here, and a lot of where I came from." Read More Nov 14, 2022 LSU head coach Brian Kelly calls UVA shooting 'senseless violence' LSU head coach Brian Kelly was appalled to see what occurred at the University of Virginia on Sunday, where three football players were shot and killed by a former teammate. D’Sean Perry, Devin Chandler and Lavel Davis Jr., players for the UVA squad, were in a parking garage returning from a field trip with other students when the suspect, Christopher Darnell Jones, a 22-year-old former player, shot them and two others, one of whom was in critical condition at a local Virginia hospital. "Certainly a very tragic day in Charlottesville," Kelly said at his Monday press conference via OutKick. "And our thoughts and prayers are with the football players at Virginia who were victims of a shooting on their campus. It’s tragic. Our hearts go out to them, the football program, the university. It’s just senseless violence. You know, college campuses should be a place where it’s violent free. What happened yesterday is certainly heartbreaking, and we certainly pray for all those involved." Read More Nov 14, 2022 Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield team up for cannabis product based on famous boxing moment, stump for legal weed Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield will be entering the ring as partners for their latest fight: Destigmatizing cannabis. The boxing legends are using the infamous moment where Tyson bit a chunk of Holyfield’s ear off during their heavyweight title fight in 1997 to create "Holy Ears," THC and Delta-8 THC-infused edibles that are shaped like bitten ears, which will launch in November through "TYSON 2.0," the boxer’s cannabis company. Tyson and Holyfield reunite under the newly formed Carma Holdings, which house TYSON 2.0 and Holyfield’s own cannabis line that will begin in 2023. Read More Nov 14, 2022 Colts owner Jim Irsay responds to critics who blasted his Jeff Saturday hire Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay was blasted by critics small and large for his hiring of Jeff Saturday as interim head coach. But, after a win for Saturday and the Colts on Sunday over the Las Vegas Raiders, he made sure to check them on social media. Irsay went to his Twitter on his "Victory Monday" and rattled off this tweet: "All you critics…you criticize all of us in the NFL for losing…When we make moves to Win… you act so righteous! "Who You Crappin’..". Just Win, Baby!!" Irsay wrote. Read More Nov 14, 2022 Ex-UFC star Anthony Johnson dead at 38 after battle with illness Anthony Johnson, who starred in UFC and challenged for the light heavyweight title multiple times, has died after battling an illness. He was 38. Bellator MMA, one of the promotions Johnson was in, announced the former fighter’s death on social media on Sunday. A Bellator spokesman said Johnson had been ill for more than a year. "The BELLATOR family is devastated by his untimely passing and we send our condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time," the company said. Johnson posted a worrying message in September 2021 that he needed "as many prayers as I can get" and was in a battle that wasn’t COVID-19 related. Johnson then posted in May that he received information from a doctor that he had made "big improvements." Read More Nov 12, 2022 NFLPA calls for 'immediate replacement and ban' from slit-firm turf fields The NFL Players Association wrote a letter calling for the "immediate replacement and ban" of slit-film turf fields throughout the league. The league uses three types of turf: slit-firm, dual fiber, and monofilament, but it's the slit-firm surface that has proven players to miss more time due to injuries, which happen at an increased rate on it as well. "Advocating for safer working conditions is a core job of our union, and there are few greater examples of this than raising the standards of the fields we practice and play on," NFLPA President JC Tretter wrote on Saturday. Read More Nov 12, 2022 Ex-Brown Joe Thomas on Jeff Saturday hiring: 'Most egregious thing I can ever remember happening' in NFL Former Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas spent his entire career in Cleveland and played for a lot of coaches along the way. But Thomas expressed his displeasure with the recent hiring of his fellow former NFL offensive lineman Jeff Saturday. The Colts named Saturday their head coach on an interim basis after the team fired Frank Reich following the team’s 26-3 loss to the New England Patriots Nov. 6. "It is one of the most disrespectful things I’ve ever seen in my entire life to the commitment, the lifestyle and the experience that it takes to be an NFL coach — any coach — much less the head coach of the Indianapolis Football Colts," Thomas said on "Good Morning Football" Friday. Read More Nov 12, 2022 Pete Rose once again asks for Hall of Fame consideration in letter to MLB Pete Rose is the all-time MLB hit king with 4,256 hits — but he is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Instead, Rose is banned from Major League Baseball, thus ineligible for the Hall of Fame, because he bet on baseball games during his playing and managerial career with the Cincinnati Reds. Rose has applied for reinstatement four times, and has been denied each time, including as recently as 2020. But he recently wrote a letter to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, asking to take him off baseball's ineligible list. "I have apologized many times, both for betting on baseball games while managing the Cincinnati Reds and then for denying that I did," he wrote. "I am writing today for three reasons. First, because at my age I want to be 100% sure that you understand how much I mean it when I say that I’m sorry. Second, to ask for your forgiveness. And third, because I still think every day about what it would mean to be considered for the Hall of Fame." Read More Nov 12, 2022 NFL to honor late John Madden by starting annual Thanksgiving tradition The National Football League will start a tradition this Thanksgiving in honor of Hall of Fame coach and broadcaster John Madden, who died last December. The league will introduce the "John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration," in which tributes planned include a recording of Madden talking about football and Thanksgiving before each of the three games to be played on the holiday. The NFL also said that each game will have a "Madden Player of the Game," which will be picked by the broadcast team of each matchup. The league will donate $10,000 to a youth or high school football program of that player's choice. Read More Nov 12, 2022 Panthers' Baker Mayfield goes viral for headbutting teammates without helmet after victory over Falcons Baker Mayfield is going viral after celebrating the Carolina Panthers much-needed victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night in a very unusual fashion. As the Panthers players walked off the field victoriously, Mayfield came from the sidelines to congratulate each one with a headbutt. It's not an unusual football greeting, but while his teammates were wearing helmets, Mayfield was in a baseball cap. Read More Nov 11, 2022 Adam Silver says Kyrie Irving is 'no doubt' not antisemitic: report NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Brooklyn Nets star point guard Kyrie Irving had a "direct and candid conversation" earlier this week, and he came out with the impression that Irving "no doubt" is not antisemitic. "He’s someone I’ve known for a decade, and I’ve never heard an antisemitic word from him or, frankly, hate directed at any group," Silver, who is Jewish, told The New York Times. "Whether or not he is antisemitic is not relevant to the damage caused by the posting of hateful content." Read More Nov 11, 2022 Legendary basketball coach Tara VanDerveer takes issue with how popular gymnast Olivia Dunne earns NIL deals Legendary Stanford women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer took issue with how LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne was earning big bucks in name, image and likeness (NIL) sponsorships. Dunne, a junior going into the 2023 season, has one of the largest social media followings of any collegiate athlete across any sport male or female. She reportedly earns around $2 million with various sponsorships such as the activewear brand Vuori, American Eagle and Planet Fuel. Dunne is also signed to one of the biggest agencies in WME Sports. Read More

< Back Family of Stanford soccer star who died by suicide files wrongful death lawsuit against school Nov 26, 2022 The family of Stanford soccer star Katie Meyer has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the school nine months after she took her own life. Meyer's family argues that Meyer, who was 22 at the time of her death on Feb. 28, was feeling distressed about facing discipline from the school over an incident six months earlier. The suit says Meyer spilled coffee on a football player at the school who had allegedly sexually assaulted one of Meyer's teammates. Source: Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/sports/family-stanford-soccer-star-died-suicide-files-wrongful-death-lawsuit-school Previous Next