By Hot Rod! The Rowdy One

Your resident sports fan is back with you for another round of Out of Bounds here on Planet Ill. With the 2010 Winter Olympics coming to an end tonight, the world is on pins and needles to catch the final ceremony as well as the biggest game in this year’s Olympics.  We’re gonna get to that in a lil bit, but look at some of the other news that went down in the world of sports. To put it best, in my best Jim McKay voice, “Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport… the thrill of victory… and the agony of defeat… the human drama of athletic competition… This is Planet Ill’s Out of Bounds.”

With the 2010 NFL Draft two months away, the NFL Scouting Combine started on Wednesday. The big fun began yesterday with the workouts. One of the players most people have their eyes on at this year’s combine is Florida Gator QB and Heisman Trophy winner, Tim Tebow. Tebow ran a 4.7 and 4.72 40 yard dash. Not blazing speed, but think about it like this; you’re gonna run a lot faster, during a game, when you have a 250 pound linebacker chasing you than when you’re at the combine doing drills that you would do in your high school P.E. class. Don’t fret “Disciples” of the Church of Tebow, he’ll be fine. He did jump 38.5 inches in the vertical jump which ties Josh McKnown’s record for QBs at the Combine. So he’s got that goin’ for him, which is nice.

While we’re on the topic of the NFL, it was not a good week to be an offensive veteran since there were a number of eye catching cuts that took place this week. The San Diego Chargers decided to make some changes in their backfield by releasing Pro-Bowl RB and face of the Charger’s franchise for the past nine years, LaDainian Tomlinson and not offering a tender to running back Darren Sproles, which will allow him to test the free agent market this year.

I have no idea what the Chargers are doing, but I sure hope all of this movement in their backfield works out for them. If it doesn’t, somebody will be unemployed at the end of the 2010 season.

Another running back who was released this week was former Philadelphia Eagles RB, Brian Westbrook. Westbrook called into Chicago’s ESPN 1000, with his thoughts about his recent release:

waddlesilvy100226_westbrook

Other noticeable releases that took place this week were Terrell Owens from the Buffalo Bills and the impending release of running back Thomas Jones from the New York Jets.

Another headline that went down this week was the suspension of ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption’s co-host Tony Kornheiser for remarks he made about the outfit ESPN’s Sports Center host, Hannah Storm, was wearing in an edition of Sports Center. Kornheiser’s words were:

“Hannah Storm in a horrifying, horrifying outfit today. She’s got on red go-go boots and a catholic school plaid skirt … way too short for somebody in her 40s or maybe early 50s by now.

She’s got on her typically very, very tight shirt. She looks like she has sausage casing wrapping around her upper body … I know she’s very good, and I’m not supposed to be critical of ESPN people, so I won’t … but Hannah Storm … come on now! Stop! What are you doing?”

This isn’t anything new for Kornheiser. He’s been suspended in the past for remarks he’s made about ESPN employees, so this is just “par for the course”. Ironically, when Jason Whitlock, who I’m not a big fan of at times because of his attacks on Hip-Hop, made comments about ESPN’s employees, he was fired. I’m a fan of P.T.I. (Pardon the Interruption). I’m a fan of both Kornheiser and the show’s other host, Michael Wilbon. I think it’s one of the more “truthful” sports shows on television. However, if he’s gonna keep going at his peers like he went at Storm, or any other staff member at that, then a long term “suspension” needs to be looked at. ESPN shouldn’t go the route of double standard in that case.

Check out Wilbon’s thoughts on the Kornheiser situation as well as other topics when he visited The Dan Patrick Show

DP-Michael_Wilbon-02-24-10-Interview

Speaking of double standard, what’s good with all of these people making a big fuss about the Canadian Women’s Hockey Team celebrating on the ice after their gold medal win against the U.S. Team?

While following up on the situation, I heard that the team’s celebration actually took place when the building was supposedly empty. So what’s the big deal? And would this have been a big deal if this was the Men’s Hockey team and not the Women’s squad? Look, these women played a good game to win gold on their home ice. I understand that they’re representing their country during these Olympic Games, but gimme a break already. Someone released pictures of a private celebration amongst teammates. So with National Woman’s Month starting tomorrow, do me a favor, enough with the double standard. Leave it be, it’s not that serious. Had those pictures not been released, we would have known nothing about it and frankly, we really don’t care. Stop making mountains outta molehills.

Finally, since we’re on the topic of Olympic Hockey, one of the most anticipated match-ups will take place when Team Canada faces Team U.S.A. for the gold in Men’s Hockey. If today’s game is anything like last week’s preliminary round game, it’s gonna be a matchup for the ages.

As you can tell by my opening video, you know who I’m rooting for in this game. Strap on your seatbelts folks, this will be one hell of a ride.

That’s all for now, but be sure to check back next week for another edition of Out of Bounds on Planet Ill. Be easy. 1.

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