Mike Freeman

MIAMI -- On Monday came one of the more boring media days in recent memory. The numbers of freaks, strippers and jackasses were low and there was just one puppet dude.

Media day was so bad Bill Polian skipped it. He faces a fine from the NFL. That's how low wattage media day was: Polian is willing to eat a fine to miss it.

The manufactured plot lines are asinine. Dwight Freeney's injury is significant but the attention given to it has reached ridiculous levels. It's Dwight Freeney, not the Dalai Lama. When Gregg Williams, the defensive coordinator for the Saints, said he desires to rough up Peyton Manning it was a pedestrian statement from an egomaniac and it didn't deserve the hand wringing it's received.

The media is reaching because there's no buzz here. Very little. At least so far. No one is saying anything. The teams are being extremely careful about their words and actions.

That's great for the teams and the correct course but with few combustible or even interesting personalities it leads to a boring week.

And this has been a really boring week so far.

For the first time that I can remember many of the players from both teams looked well rested and I mean extremely well rested. It was noticeable. I doubt if many of these players will be visiting South Beach much.

The good news? Because of the professionalism of these teams the game might be outstanding. Their noses are too buried in their playbooks to party so the game might be extremely crisp.

At least that's the hope.

CBSSports.com has obtained a police report in which a former girlfriend accuses St. Louis running back Steven Jackson of assaulting her while she was nine months pregnant.

Jackson's girlfriend at the time, Supriya Harris, said in a complaint filed with the Las Vegas Police Department that an argument in March of 2009 became physical and according to the complaint Jackson pushed her to the ground repeatedly.

According to the report, Harris says she was bleeding from wounds as a result of the argument. The report states that Harris gave birth to her son soon after the alleged incident.

She also says in the report that she left Jackson after he again threatened to physically beat her.

Jackson said in a statement through his agent: "It’s disheartening that I have to address any alleged allegations 10
months later, but I have read the accusations made by Supriya Harris, and they are untrue.  The accusations are especially hurtful because those who truly know me know that those actions would be out of character for me. Miss Harris is the mother of my son, a son that I love and that I willingly support emotionally and financially.  I will address this matter thoroughly through the appropriate avenues, but not through the media."

Harris told CBSSports.com that the runner isn't being truthful and she's willing to take a lie detector test to prove that her story is accurate.

"I'm ready to take a lie detector test and the witnesses are too," she said. "I'm not lying and I challenge him to take the test. I'm ready to take it."

The Rams say they are aware of the abuse claims and are investigating.

Saw this story on the Internet and, well, what the hell can you say.

It's about the start-up of an all-white basketball league. The story and link are going a tad viral.

The core part of the league's charter is this: "Only players that are natural born United States citizens with both parents of Caucasian race are eligible to play in the league."

Well, alrighty.

The only thing you can do is laugh at a story like this so I decided to do the top 10 things about the All-White basketball league using solely my sick and twisted mind and friends on Twitter:

10. Warm-up drill music will be provided by John Tesh.

9. Halftime show features cross burning.

8. Vinny Del Negro is banned from the league. (Twitter, JimSparkles)

7. "We would like to announce Larry Bird as the president of our league."

6. Chest passes resulting in baskets are worth 10 points.

5. JJ Redick is the first overall draft pick. (JimSparkles)

4. Introducing the four and five point lines. (Hailtotheorange)

3. Any player wearing dreadlocks is automatically suspended for 30 days.

2. Glenn Beck does the play-by-play. (Mise)

1. The Slam Dunk Contest will be replaced by the Air Guitar Festival. (BothTeamsPlayed)

MINNEAPOLIS -- Considering the Saturday games were ugly blowouts can we get a good game here, please?

I think it will be. This might end up being the best from the weekend because the teams, at least superficially, are evenly matched.

Many in the press seem to be picking the Cowboys. In fact, almost every writer I've spoken to here is picking Dallas.

But it's going to be close.

Maybe this will finally be the good game from the weekend.

He's not a good guy.

He's kind of a rat fink.

He's not someone you can embrace.

But, once again, Jose Canseco, the original high profile baseball Alchemist, is dead on right.

Remember, it was Canseco who first wrote in his book "Juiced" that he injected Mark McGwire with steroids in a bathroom stall. McGwire denied the claim then and now.

Canseco looks truthful and not just about McGwire. Almost every slugger Canseco has accused of using performance enhancing drugs has been linked to them.

Canseco is the biggest and arguably the sole reason why we know who's used and who hasn't. He got the steroid ball rolling.

Is Canseco a good guy? No, he's a rat, and no one likes rats.

But he's been right on almost everything and everything when it comes to baseball and steroids.

The Alchemist strikes again.

PASADENA, Calif. -- It was Alabama 37 and Texas 21 but that score couldn't be more deceiving.

The game was much closer and whenever this contest is mentioned in the future it'll come with a question (if not an asterisk). What would've happened had Colt McCoy not hurt his shoulder on the fifth play?

It really is the biggest issue from this game and one that will be discussed for years.

If McCoy had played the Longhorns had a great chance to win.

Instead it's the Crimson Tide who are champs.

CBSSports.com will have much more on this game in the coming hours.

*     *     *

Garrett Gilbert is playing his --- off. The entire tone of the game has changed. It's now 24-21 Alabama. Remember, Vince Young is here, watching. Gilbert is playing very Young-like.

*     *     *

The weather here is starting to cool dramatically. In other words, the weather is matching the game itself. This hasn't been one of the better title games. Someone Boise State is cursing the BCS system.

*     *     *

The Longhorns can generate very little offense without Colt McCoy. This is pretty bad. You have to feel a bit for Garrett Gilbert. It's an impossible situation.

*     *     *

The second half is about to begin and this might be one of the more disappointing title games in recent history. When Colt McCoy was knocked out, the air was let out of Texas, and the game itself. Maybe the Longhorns can re-energize themselves. But without McCoy how do they do that?

*     *     *

This is a question I'm going to raise later. With McCoy getting hurt if Alabama wins does this game deserve an asterisk? It's a fair question to ponder.

*     *     *

Bevo the steer now warming up for Texas.

*     *     *

Garret Gilbert might be hurt now. He's getting worked on by the Texas medical staff. This is a disaster for Texas.

*     *     *

Still no Colt McCoy.

*     *     *

Maybe Mack Brown should put McCoy in a dark shed with no windows. That's a joke, folks.

*     *     *

McCoy may have actually hurt his shoulder. But there's no information on when or if he'll return. Meanwhile, Alabama looks totally outmatched. Nick Saban, hate to say it: you're getting out-coached by Mack Brown. Badly.

*     *     *


Colt McCoy just went into the locker room. His face said it all. He looked like a kid who was just told there's no Santa. If he came back into the game I'd be surprised.

Garrett Gilbert replaces McCoy. How'd you like to be Gilbert right now? Replacing McCoy in the national championship game.

*     *     *

Colt McCoy is out of the game. He's on the bench. This doesn't look good. The Texas medical staff is working on his hand. His throwing hand. This is bad.

*     *     *

What the hell is Nick Saban thinking with a fake kick? Completely out-smarting himself. Saban having a Bill Belichick moment.

*     *     *

Game time. Stop eating nachos and pay attention.

*     *     *

Keith Jackson does the coin toss. It was kind of a limp toss. Just sayin'.

*     *     *

A bit of a scary moment for Alabama before the game. With about 32 minutes to go until game time Mark Ingram took a handoff and slipped. It wasn't a horrible fall but it was a hard one. He got up a bit slowly (just a bit) and then looked fine.

Whew.

*     *     *


The key to this game is Nick Saban's defensive schemes. He's been able to get his Alabama players to execute almost flawlessly some fairly complex defensive packages. Saban basically runs a pro style defense and the Longhorns will see things Alabama hasn't done previously on film.

*     *     *

Both teams are now on the field warming up.

Meanwhile, I just consumed my third candy bar. I'm going to look like Bevo by the time the night is done.

*     *     *

One place where Texas is definitely dominating so far: alumni at the game. I've spotted Ricky Williams and Chris Simms and there are about a half dozen other prominent UT football alumni.

*     *     *

Former Texas runner and current Dolphin Ricky Williams is here. He approached Alabama coach Nick Saban before the game and the two hugged. They chatted for a second.

Here's how the conversation might've gone:

Ricky: "Hi Nick. Nice to meet you."

Nick: "Nice to see you son."

Ricky: "Can I ask you a question?"

Nick: "Sure, anything."

Ricky: "Got any?"

Nick: "Ah, got any what?"

Ricky: "You know, the good stuff."

Nick: "You mean, like good blitz packages? I can't tell you about those Ricky."

Ricky: "Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking 'bout Nick."

Or maybe not.


*     *     *


New mega-fight of the decade: Mayweather versus Bevo. Bevo might fail a drug test, though.


*     *     *

In a corner of a parking area outside of the Rose Bowl, amid a sea of funky drunken humanity, was a young woman, a petite little Texas fan, throwing up behind a tree. Ah, the sights and sounds of college football.

It was a fitting scene to start what is the world famous CBSSports.com live blog because they only make two things in Texas, and you don't got no horns, boy.

My dumbass-ness will be blogging live all night before writing a column off the game. I work hard. Someone has to make up for Doyel's lacking work ethic.

Then I'm driving to Phoenix for Cardinals-Packers. That is, unless while driving across the desert I'm abducted by the character from the "Saw" movies.

Let's begin this blog by describing what's happening outside of the stadium. It's a dizzying scene. There haven't been this many people gathered in one area since Tiger Woods advertised on Hostess.com.

It's one of the craziest scenes I've witnessed. Far more intense and packed than any pre-Super Bowl or other big event.

It's understandable since Texas and Alabama fans are among the most passionate and dedicated. Some of the fans paid $40 to park literally over a mile from the stadium. Traffic is snarled. 

Inside the stadium, the Longhorn mascot, Bevo, was just escorted onto the field by EIGHT security personnel and two handlers. Eight? Did Bevo receive some security threat? Did someone threaten to deep fry the poor beast?

Overhead, a single engine airplane carries a banner that reads: "Impeach corrupt Alabama governor Bob Riley." At least no one wants to impeach Pat Riley.

The circus has started and the game is still two hours away. 

Because he mocked the entire situation.

Because he made fun of a serious thing.

Because he didn't seem to think he did anything wrong.

Because he thumbed his nose at David Stern.

A yearlong suspension seemed like silly talk initially. Then, Gilbert Arenas acted the fool, and showed no true remorse for bringing in the gangster starter kit into an NBA locker room.

Then Gunsmoke Arenas mocked Stern and a serious legal investigation into his actions by acting out gunplay during pre-game drills on Tuesday night. Arenas didn't give a damn. He never did.

Let's be clear. Arenas isn't a thug. Arenas is about as gangsta as Carlton from "The Fresh Prince." He's a fake tough guy. Cardigan sweaters have more roughage than Arenas.

But he is a fool for his actions and an even bigger one for mocking a serious thing.

Arenas showed not just a lack of class or respect for gun control laws but he also ignored the area he plays in has traditionally been devastated by gun violence which is the reason for D.C.'s strict gun control laws. It's why the Bullets changed their name to the Wizards, Gilbert.

Arenas is likely gone for the season and this isn't Stern's fault.

This is all on Arenas.

 

MIAMI -- The Steelers did their part in beating a battered, undermanned Dolphins team that lost its first two quarterbacks to injuries, so for now, Pittsburgh spends the next few hours just waiting.

This was a brutal and physically punishing game, won by the Steelers, 30-24, at Landshark Stadium where there were more Steelers fans than Dolphins fans.

For the next few hours the Steelers are still alive in the playoff picture as remote as their chances are.

If Jets and Ravens both win they are in and Steelers are done. Pittsburgh needs the Jets, Ravens and Broncos to all lose to get in.

CBSSports.com will update the Steelers' status later on Sunday night.

There was one moment in the game that was frightening for both teams. Quarterback Pat White was injured on a helmet to helmet tackle by Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor. White looked to be knocked unconscious and was motionless for several minutes before being taken off the field on a cart. The Dolphins announced he suffered a head injury but said nothing further.

Please, in the name of all things holy, don't let this be true. I'm begging the basketball gods.

Teammates Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton, according to the New York Post , allegedly drew guns on each other in the locker room.

We knew Arenas was a deadly accurate shooter but this is ridiculous.

And it was allegedly over a gambling debt. What kind of gambling debt causes guns to be allegedly drawn? What in the name of Tim Donaghy is that about?

If this report is true it would be unprecedented in sports and would again cause all the people who hate the NBA to once again call it Thugnificent. Some really enjoy pointing to the NBA as a symbol for what's wrong in sports when the truth is the league has mostly cleaned up its act.

This isn't what the NBA needs right now. It's just recovering from the Donaghy debacle and now come reports about a possible gun fight.

Pulp Fiction , NBA style.

If only Samuel L. Jackson was on the team.

This story is about power.

It's about university presidents tiring of the God-like powers of football coaches and trying to wrestle some of it back.

That was the case with Mark Mangino at Kansas and it's the same now with Leach. Maybe Leach is the cad he's supposed to be or maybe this entire episode is blown completely out of proportion. I'm not sure. (ESPN actually had on a reporter that defended Leach but the reporter is writing a book with Leach. Not exactly appropriate, eh?)

But I truly think the Mangino and Leach cases are about schools using these accusations as excuses to dump coaches who were getting a little too full of themselves.

Mangino and Leach were both arrogant jerks at times and their firing was their respective schools saying: we're going to demonstrate who really has the power and trust us it's not you.

So they were gone.

The way Leach acted in the end, to me, justifies his dismissal. He sent out his lawyers and sycophants and attacked the player as a soft crybaby. Those tactics were somewhat cowardly.

But mostly this is all about the school flexing its muscle. They did and Leach is now gone.

First, let's get the rumors of out of the way:

-- Two NFL sources said Jon Gruden wants to coach the Gators and the Gators might be interested in him. But since Gruden is associated with every job in the known universe including astronaut, the King of Prussia, and the President's Czar of Football, such a rumor is to be expected.

--There is a great deal of skepticism about the motive for Meyer's retirement in the professional and college ranks. That's all I'll say on that. We are in the Age of Sports Skepticism and such skepticism, like a Gruden rumor, is also to be expected.

--If Steve Spurrier returns to coach the Gators, I'll eat my laptop.

--Bob Stoops is a different matter altogether.

--Ditto with Mike Shanahan.

--Urban Meyer and Bobby Bowden both stepping down in same year. Very weird.

And, very quickly, a question: why didn't Meyer make his announcement after the bowl game? Isn't a bit selfish to say he's stepping down now of all times?

Second, and this is the biggest point, Meyer will be back.

He's stepping down because of lifestyle issues, not because he's about to suffer a cataclysmic health problem.

He'll be back because that's what coaches do. They come back.

Meyer will adjust his lifestyle, take some time off, get refreshed and coach again within a few years, at the most, and likely in the NFL.

He'll be back. You can count on it. No matter what he says now.

In the meantime, let the speculation begin.

Shock, stunned, can't believe it...all words used by a source within the Florida Gators football program regarding Urban Meyer's annoucement he's stepping down as coach.

The source said few people saw this coming though the source did acknowledge that Meyer has expressed some concerns about his health to close friends in recent days.

Nevertheless the school is reeling.

I'm also told the players had no clue about Meyer's plans.

For now, no one is discussing what exactly has caused Meyer to stop coaching but for the hard charging Meyer to step down, it must be extremely serious.

If you grew up in the Washington, D.C. area there was basically one person you watched for your sports news: George Michael.

Michael would become a national sensation but those of us growing up within the Channel 4 broadcast area appreciated him the most. His coverage of DC teams was unsurpassed and he gave a number of journalists who'd also go on to national fame their television start.

He was blunt and informative, calm and endearing, smart and opinionated. Michael became as recognizable in the D.C. area as the athletes he covered.

He was also incredibly nice. Whenever I saw Michael at a Redskins game, he'd ask how I was doing and wished me well. He was a class act.

Michael's show started out small but his charm and energy turned it into a show that would eventually reach hundreds of markets around the country. In some ways, early on at least, he did ESPN better than ESPN and with a fraction of the resources.

Michael died Thursday morning and he'll be missed by numerous sports fans but mostly by those of us who first saw Michael and got to know him long before he became a national star.

 

The upcoming mega-fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao might not happen because Mayweather says Pacquiao won't agree to Olympic style drug testing.

So, here we go, boxing shooting itself in the foot again.

The sport is so frustrating it makes you want to punch somebody.

The publicist for Mayweather, in an e-mail sent to the media and obtained by CBSSports.com, says Pacquiao has refused to agree to Olympic style testing as outlined by the United States Anti Doping Agency for performance enhancing drugs. In those tests, both urine and blood are scanned for PEDs.

"I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken, because frankly I don't know anyone who really does," Mayweather said in a statement. "But in a fight of this magnitude, I think it is our responsibility to subject ourselves to sportsmanship at the highest level. I have already agreed to the testing and it is a shame that he is not willing to do the same.

"It leaves me with great doubt as to the level of fairness I would be facing in the ring that night. I hope that this is either some miscommunication or that Manny will change his mind and step up and allow these tests, which were good enough for all these other great athletes, to be performed by USADA."

It never ends with boxing, does it?

This fight could completely re-energize the sport and the sport is screwing it up.

I can't blame Mayweather if what he says is accurate (and with boxing you never know). He wants to make sure the playing field is level. If he submits to more sophisticated testing, so should Pacquiao.

Look for this wrinkle to become a major hurdle. I still think the fight will happen -- there's too much money at stake -- but with boxing being boxing you never know.

The Redskins deserve a media beatdown after their farce of a game against the Giants and they'll get it. Another brilliant team set up by Dannyboy.

But what I couldn't stand, couldn't take for a second, was hearing Matt Millen, of all people, mocking Jim Zorn and the Redskins.

Matt Millen? C'mon, Matt, really? You? You're mocking Zorn, chucking out loud over his press conference, ripping him, laughing out loud?

You? You?

The guy who sent the Detroit Lions into the tar pit for years to come with some of the worst personnel moves in the history of the sport?

You?

Millen mocking someone's coaching acumen is like Keanu Reeves mocking someone's acting skills.

Just sayin'.

That is all.