Sean Avery

Late yesterday the president of a sports agency representing some of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) top players compared gay marriage to bestiality. Don Reynolds, president of the Canadian-based Uptown Sports Management made his comments a day after New York Ranger forward Sean Avery announced that his support for marriage equality in New York state via a video for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Sean Avery was a “trending topic” on Twitter last night and his video on HRC’s YouTube account has been viewed over 148,000 views as of this morning.
In an interview with the National Post of Canada, Reynolds said, “The majority, I think, of Canadians would say that they don’t agree with gay marriage – that man and woman were created to be married, not man and man or man and horse, you know?” Gay and lesbian couples have been getting married legally nationwide in Canada since 2005.
“After Mr. Reynolds is briefed on what marriage is, we call on him to apologize for and retract his outrageous misstatement,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “This is hate and bigotry of the highest order and has no place in sports or in society. We urge the players represented by Mr. Reynolds to reject his ignorant remarks.”
Reynolds’ son Todd sent a series of tweets from the company’s official twitter account yesterday confirming their discriminatory views on the issue:
@uptownhockey Very sad to read Sean Avery's misguided support of same-gender "marriage". [sic] Legal or not, it will always be wrong.
@uptownhockey To clarify. This is not hatred or bigotry towards gays. It is not intolerance in any way shape or form. I believe we are all equal...
@uptownhockey But I believe in the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman. This is my personal viewpoint. I Do not hate anyone.
Uptown Sports represents many NHL players including Mike Fisher, husband of country music superstar Carrie Underwood, and Mike Brenner of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Sports agents and hockey professionals are coming out in support of Avery and against Uptown Sports.

Agent Andrew Warren noted on his Twitter feed, “As an admirer of Brendan Burke I felt the need to return to Twitter due to my distaste of @uptownhockey take on the issue of gay marriage.” NHL Star Paul Bissonnette: “I agree with Sean Avery and his comments on the same sex marriage issue @NortonSports. If 2 people are happy together let them be happy.”

Sean Avery

Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson was one of the biggest proponents to break up the Los Angeles Lakers even before their embarrassing 122-86 Game 4 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.
The Lakers legend declared that owner Jerry Buss needed to "blow this team up" as they faced a 3-0 series hole, even at the expense of trading away Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol or Lamar Odom.
And he may have a point.
The Lakers didn't just look tired on Sunday, they gave up on themselves and coach Phil Jackson, who deserved more at the end of his historic coaching career.
This is a team with trust issues, degrading chemistry and aging legs. They need an overhaul.

But how?
Here are five ways the Lakers can revamp their roster to make another run at the NBA title.

Magic Johnson

Giro D Italia

The Giro d'Italia is in shock after the Belgian sprinter Wouter Weylandt died of injuries caused by a heavy crash on the descent from the Passo del Bocco, the main climb in the third stage of the race, from Reggio Emilia to Rapallo.
Weylandt fell heavily on the twisting, steep descent 35km from the finish, with one version of events stating he had hit a wall. He appeared to have landed heavily on his face, causing severe bleeding. An inquiry was set to be opened by a local magistrate into the precise circumstances of the incident.
The race's emergency services were rapidly on the spot and carried out cardiac massage and adrenaline and atropine injections for 40 minutes but were unable to save the 26-year-old.
"We are attempting to work out the precise sequence of events," the race's medical head, Professor Giovanni Tredici, said. "He was unconscious with a fracture of the skull base and facial damage. After 40 minutes of cardiac massage we had to suspend the resuscitation because there was nothing more we could do."
Weylandt was in his fifth year as a professional cyclist, was looking forward to becoming the father of his first child, and was racing this season for the newly formed Luxembourg-based Leopard Trek team. His biggest wins were stage victories in the 2010 Giro d'Italia and the 2008 Tour of Spain. His team were due to decide whether to continue the race.
"The team is left in a state of shock and sadness and we send all our thoughts and deepest condolences to the family and friends of Wouter," said Leopard Trek's general manager, Brian Nygaard. "This is a difficult day for cycling and for our team, and we should all seek support and strength in the people close to us."
Serious accidents are almost an everyday occurrence in cycling, but deaths are comparatively rare. Weylandt is the fourth cyclist to die during the Giro d'Italia and the first since 1986, but his was the first death in one of the major Tours since the fatal crash suffered by the Italian Olympic champion Fabio Casartelli on the descent of the Col du Portet d'Aspet in the 1995 Tour de France.
Unlike their French counterparts following the death of Casartelli, the Giro organisers suspended the post-race ceremonials. The British cyclist David Millar took over the pink race leader's jersey after an escape late in the stage – the third British cyclist to wear the jersey in the history of the Giro – but said he had not even put it on after the race, and he may not choose to wear it on Tuesday as a sign of respect. "I can't even imagine what his family are going through," Millar said.
Asked if the death following a crash showed the sport was too dangerous, he said: "It was one of the million things that we have to go through. Our sport is very tragic at times, it has been throughout its history, but we get mixed up in a lot of stupid things in this sport.
His compatriot Mark Cavendish said on Twitter: "Things like this shouldn't happen. Absolutely sick to the stomach."
A statement from the International Cycling Union (UCI) read: "On behalf of the whole cycling family, the UCI president, Pat McQuaid, wishes to extend his deepest sympathies to all members of Weylandt's family, all his friends and team-mates, but also to all his colleagues on the Giro, who will have to overcome their grief to continue in the race."

Bradley Wiggins, who was not riding the Giro, tweeted: "Days like this put this great sport we love into perspective, Wouter rest in peace now mate, thoughts are now with the family and friends."

Giro D Italia

Man U vs Chelsea

Manchester United moved to within a point of a record 19th title after a deserved win against closest rivals Chelsea at an exultant Old Trafford.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insisted victory would effectively end Chelsea's reign as champions and return the Premier League crown to United, writing a fresh chapter in the club's glittering history.
And United wasted no time in exerting their authority on Chelsea as Javier Hernandez struck after only 37 seconds and captain Nemanja Vidic headed the second in a blistering opening spell that established the foundations for what is likely to prove a decisive victory.
Frank Lampard gave Chelsea a glimmer of hope with a scrappy strike midway through the second half - but it was United who still looked more likely to score, even in the anxious closing stages before Old Trafford erupted in celebration as Howard Webb blew the final whistle.
And as if to emphasise the significance of events, Ferguson was even moved to bow in front of the Stretford End as he marched triumphantly towards the dressing room.
United now only need to avoid defeat in one of their final two games, away at Blackburn Rovers and at home to Blackpool, to complete the formalities and overhaul the record of 18 titles they share with arch-rivals Liverpool.
Ferguson will relish the moment after famously vowing to "knock Liverpool off their perch" when he came to Old Trafford from Aberdeen in 1986. The statistic will be a glittering reflection of the success of his mission.
For Chelsea and their manager Carlo Ancelotti the outlook is now uncertain as they end the season empty handed with an ageing squad and questions surrounding the future of the Italian.
United swarmed all over Chelsea from the first whistle, fired up to extend an advantage that had been reduced to only three points in recent weeks, adding to the pressure of this high-octane Premier League occasion.
Ferguson was not short of heroes, but it was the unsung Park Ji-sung who set the tone with his tireless efforts as he refused to give Chelsea a moment's peace in midfield, making players of the calibre of Lampard and Michael Essien look laboured and pedestrian in the process.
The United manager has also uncovered a potent and beautifully balanced strike partnership in the poacher Hernandez and creator Wayne Rooney, who made it a harrowing experience for Chelsea's £25m defender David Luiz, who was put out of his misery after only 45 minutes.
All that remains is for United to officially claim the crown, but as Sir Bobby Charlton raised his hands in elation at the final whistle, Old Trafford celebrated as if the job was done.
United were missing Patrice Evra because of a thigh strain, but Ferguson was able to wheel out the big guns once more after resting many of his front-line stars in the Champions League semi-final victory against Schalke.
Ancelotti, as expected, opted for Didier Drogba ahead of Fernando Torres in attack as Chelsea attempted to fashion the victory that would have seen them leapfrog United at the top of the table.
The first meaningful blow was always going to be of huge importance, even more so when United were able to deliver it inside the first minute to give Ferguson the dream start.
Giggs fed Park and the Korean's pass cut out Luiz enabling Hernandez to demonstrate the composure and cutting edge that have become his hallmark in an outstanding first season. The Mexican raced clear and slipped a cool finish past Chelsea keeper Petr Cech for his 20th goal of the campaign.
Chelsea were in serious danger of being overrun in the one-sided opening exchanges, with Rooney bringing a flying save from Cech and also shooting narrowly wide as United laid siege to the goal.
Hernandez was inches away from connecting for his second while the industrious Park also tested the overworked Cech at his near post with an angled effort with Chelsea unable to impose any sort of influence on proceedings.
United's supremacy deserved further reward and it duly came after 23 minutes when Ryan Giggs evaded Salomon Kalou after working a short corner and the towering figure of Vidic threw himself forward eight yards out to head past Cech.
Vidic's goal came just as Chelsea were settling, but their attempts to work their way back into contention were thwarted by United keeper Edwin van der Sar, who saved twice from Kalou and also from Drogba.
Tensions and emotions were running high, which was only to expected given the prize at stake, and Rooney was heavily involved. Branislav Ivanovic was booked for a foul on the striker, who then picked up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Luiz.
Ivanovic was relieved to go unpunished by referee Webb following another clash which left Rooney writhing in agony. Chelsea's fans clearly felt he was making the most of the incident in an attempt to get Ivanovic sent off and Rooney gestured angrily in their direction as he tried to complete his recovery.
Luiz had suffered a nightmare first-half and paid the price when he was replaced by Alex at the interval, with Ramires also coming on for John Obi Mikel.
United had vehement appeals for a penalty waved away by Webb after 52 minutes when Lampard handled Antonio Valencia's cross and with no sign of a shift in momentum Ancelotti gave Torres the last 25 minutes at the expense of Kalou.
He was not involved as Chelsea gave themselves a lifeline two minutes later, Lampard scrambling home from close range after Ivanovic knocked down Ramires' cross.
It then took a miraculous goal-line clearance from Alex to stop United restoring their two-goal lead almost immediately, throwing himself in front an open goal to stop Rooney turning in Hernandez's cross.

Rooney had presented a menacing figure throughout and as the game entered the final 10 minutes he again posed a threat to the visitors. He was driven away from danger by Cech as he burst into the area and then saw a shot deflected over the top.
Hernandez has proved the arch-predator for United this season, so it was a surprise to see him head Valencia's cross over the top from only six yards after Cech was left exposed by the quality of the cross and the wonderful natural movement of the striker.
The uncharacteristic miss did not prove expensive - and the joyous scenes that swept around Old Trafford at the end signalled that a record-breaking title is almost won.

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Man Utd	36	17	1	0	45	10	5	9	4	28	24	39	76
2	Chelsea	36	14	2	2	37	11	7	5	6	30	19	37	70
3	Arsenal	36	11	4	3	32	13	8	6	4	37	26	30	67
4	Man City	35	11	4	2	30	12	7	4	7	24	21	21	62
5	Tottenham	35	8	9	1	28	18	6	5	6	23	26	7	56
6	Liverpool	35	12	4	2	37	12	4	3	10	17	27	15	55
7	Everton	36	8	7	3	30	23	4	8	6	20	21	6	51
8	Stoke	36	10	4	4	31	17	3	3	12	15	27	2	46
9	Bolton	36	10	5	3	34	22	2	5	11	15	28	-1	46
10	Fulham	35	8	6	3	26	16	2	9	7	17	20	7	45
11	Newcastle	36	6	7	5	38	24	5	4	9	13	28	-1	44
12	Sunderland	36	7	5	6	24	24	4	6	8	17	29	-12	44
13	West Brom	36	7	6	5	29	30	4	4	10	23	38	-16	43
14	Aston Villa	36	7	7	4	25	19	3	5	10	20	39	-13	42
15	Blackburn	36	7	6	5	21	15	3	3	12	21	41	-14	39
16	Birmingham	36	6	8	4	19	20	2	7	9	17	34	-18	39
17	Wolverhampton	36	8	4	6	28	27	2	3	13	13	35	-21	37
18	Blackpool	36	4	5	9	26	34	5	4	9	23	37	-22	36
19	Wigan	36	4	8	6	19	32	3	7	8	17	27	-23	36
20	West Ham	36	5	5	8	24	28	2	7	9	17	36	-23	33

Man U vs Chelsea

NASCAR News

Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick have once again focused the NASCAR spotlight on who's fighting instead of who's winning.
One race after Juan Pablo Montoya and Ryan Newman traded wrecks and words at Richmond, Harvick squared off with Busch following a late crash that took both from contention at Darlington Raceway's Southern 500 on Saturday night.
Busch slowly followed Harvick into the pit area when the race was done, Harvick eventually jumping out of his car and attempting to punch or grab his rival through his window. Busch then slammed into Harvick's driverless car to clear space and drive off.
It was an ugly way to end Regan Smith's first Sprint Cup win in 105 career races. But it's a spat sure to keep fans and drivers buzzing all week long.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he couldn't wait to get "on the Internet tonight and check it out. I don't know what happened."

NASCAR News

Manny Pacquiao Latest News

President Benigno Aquino III today congratulated the country's boxing icon, Rep. Manny Pacquiao for his latest victory in the ring, and described him as a "hero" whose discipline and determination to succeed, which he again demonstrated in his fight against Shane Mosley, represent qualities that Filipinos are best known for.
"With the entire Filipino people, my heart-felt congratulations to Manny Pacquiao in his latest victory against "Sugar" Shane Mosley in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA....There is no doubt that Manny Pacquiao is a hero - the Pound-for-Pound King who continues to bring honor to the Philippines," Aquino said in a statement read by deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte.
Aquino said in defending the WBO world welterweight belt, Pacquiao "not only exhibited the steadfastness, strength and courage of Filipinos to the whole world; he also showed the inherent discipline, determination and true skill of Filipinos."
The president said Pacquiao highlighted those qualities when he chose to wear yellow boxing gloves, to symbolize his support for the government's fight against poverty.

"Despite his success, Manny has never forgotten to look back and help lift up his countrymen who have been knocked out by their problems. He is aware that there are certain battles that go beyond the ring - that he has an obligation to this motherland, where concern and service for others are his primary weapons," said Aquino.

Manny Pacquiao Latest News

Boxing

It's been over a year since boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather has actually been inside the ring, his last fight being against Shane Mosley in May 2010, which he won by unanimous decision. However, as of late, there's been rumors that he may be preparing to make his return.
Not against Manny Pacquiao though, but instead, against undefeated light welterweight Paul Spadafora.
"Money" Mayweather had not confirmed any such fight, but in a recent interview withFightHype.com this week, he finally spoke out, addressing the alleged comeback fight.
He says it's simply not true.
"Listen, I didn't even know Paul Spadafora was still fighting. And whatever Roger said is not true," Mayweather told the site. "Since the Shane Mosley fight, I've only seen Roger about three or four times in one year. All the allegations and rumors are false.
"Everything you hear is nothing but lies. There's only one person that I speak to on the regular and that's Al Haymon. That's the only guy that I speak to," the boxer continued. "When it comes to business, Al Haymon is the best. That's my go-to guy."
Then when will Mayweather return? While he didn't give a specific answer, from what he says, it sounds like he's still on his extended vacation from the sport ... indefinitely.
"As of right now, I'm just enjoying life and spending quality time with my children," Mayweather revealed. "So right now, at this particular time, my focus is my family. When I do have an opponent, my fans will be the first to know."
Right now, the biggest topic in boxing is Saturday's (May 7) bout in which Manny Pacquiao will take on Shane Mosley in a welterweight PPV title fight. Will Mayweather be watching? He didn't exactly say "no," but he said that evening he will have something on HBO, instead of the Pac-Man/Mosley fight, presented by Showtime.
He also didn't give a predication for the fight, but said that he'd rather see Mosley take the fight although he admitted that, at 39, the Pomona, Calif. boxer may come up short.
"If I was Shane, you know what I would do? I would go back to the old Shane, so he can be on an even playing field. Just say f*** it," Mayweather advised. "The thing about Shane is that he's got a good chin, but everything deteriorates as you get older. The biggest fight in Shane's career that he pushed himself to the limit for was me. That's was his pinnacle, because of the huge HBO PPV numbers that we did. So Shane pushed himself to the limit to get into the best shape of his life only to come up short. To come up short, but then to go ahead and say, 'You know what? I'm gonna do this again at age 39,' it's hard to say, anything is possible, but to me, that's kinda hard."
One last thing Mayweather addressed in the interview was his long-talked about super-fight with Pacquiao. Although he's said it multiple times in the past, Mayweather is singing the same tune: take the test, and the fight is a go.
"Leftovers," Mayweather said, referring to his new nickname for the Filipino boxing champ. "Because when he comes to my house, the only thing he can eat is leftovers. Shane was already a beaten fighter. Not saying that I wish nothing bad on Shane, because I want Shane to win.

"Whenever Floyd Mayweather wants to get back into the ring, he's going to get back in the ring. The thing is this, Floyd Mayweather has never been scared of Manny Pacquiao at all. Never! At all!" he contined. "All he's doing is fighting my leftovers and he just keeps on saying that I'm scared. All I say every day is this, just take the test! Floyd's scared of you? Okay. If I'm scared of you, why won't you take the tests? Why are you scared to take the tests? The shirts will be on my website (FloydMayweather.com) soon. 'Take The Tests!' "
For now, we'll have to settle for Mosley. "Sugar" Shane Mosley will take on Manny Pacquiao on May 7th at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas live via CBS/SHO Sports Pay-Per-View (PPV) starting at 9 p.m. EST.

Boxing

Giro D Italia

HTC-Highroad won the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia, finishing 10 seconds ahead of Team Radioshack in the team time trial and putting the Italian rider Marco Pinotti in the leader’s pink jersey.
HTC finished the 11.9-mile ride from Venaria Reale to Turin with a time of 19 minutes 59 seconds, creating some distance between Pinotti and fellow overall contenders Alberto Contador, Vincenzo Nibali and Michele Scarponi.

The Giro continues with a mostly flat 151-mile stage Sunday from Alba to Parma that should favor the sprinters. The 21-stage race ends in Milan on May 29.

Giro D Italia

Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao weighed in two pounds lighter than American Shane Mosley ahead of Saturday's WBO welterweight title fight in Las Vegas.
Filipino superstar Pacquiao, 32, is being heavily backed to retain his belt and tipped the scales at 145 pounds.
He said: "Shane Mosley is a strong fighter, a good fighter. He has trained hard for this fight so I have had to train hard and focus on this fight."
Mosley, 39, said: "I'm so excited. The world is watching. It should be great."
Pacquiao, rated as the world's best pound-for-pound boxer, added: "I never underestimate Mosley - he is a good fighter.
"He is strong, he throws a lot of punches and he moves fast. I have trained hard for this fight."
Pacquiao, who has a career record of 52-3-2 with 38 knockouts, last fought in November, defeating Antonio Margarito to win the vacantWBC light-middleweight title.
Mosley last fought in September when he struggled to a draw with Sergio Mora.
'Sugar Shane', also lost to unbeaten compatriot Floyd Mayweather in May 2010 and has been defeated six times in 54 fights.
But the Californian, who has 39 KOs to his name, said: "This is going to be a terrific fight, a great fight.
"We're both warriors, we both love to fight and we're both winners.
"And when you get two winners in there, you know it's going to be a heck of a fight. So I'm excited. I'm ready. It's going to be a blockbuster, and I'm happy to be a part of this."
Last week, Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach said his fighter had never prepared more thoroughly for a bout, and he emphasised the point during a news conference on Wednesday.

"We know we're in a tough fight," said Roach, who also trains Britain's WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan.
"We respect Shane and his camp. They have a great team. But we are 100% ready. Everybody has worked really hard at this training camp. I think it's the best training camp we've ever had and Manny is in the best shape ever.
"We need to peak for this fight because Shane's one of the most crafty guys out there. He's intelligent and experienced and you can't replace experience, that's for sure."

Manny Pacquiao

Shane Mosley

AT what price? That's the question for Shane Mosley. As a 5-1 underdog against Manny Pacquiao, he's not a bad proposition.

After all, with a guaranteed $20 million going to the favored fighter/crooner/congressman, the purses are being divided at a mere 4-1 ratio.
Still, for $5 million, you wonder what this could be worth to Mosley. With three months separating the fighter from his 40th birthday, you question what cause he has to feel so sanguine.
"I don't need it," he said in an Easter Sunday interview. "But I love it. And I won't feel complete until I complete these certain things."
He's very specific as it regards these certain things. He will beat Pacquiao twice, he says: first, on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, then in a rematch. Next, he will avenge his loss to Floyd Mayweather.
"I'm not even sure Mayweather would be the last fight -- maybe Cotto," he said, referring to Miguel Cotto, who beat him almost four years ago by unanimous decision.
That would take Shane Mosley well into his fifth decade. And with apologies to the 46-year-old Bernard Hopkins, now fighting at light heavyweight, which is not a place easily imagined by most welterweights or sportswriters.
One has to admire Mosley's optimism. Just the same, one should recognize it for what it is: a vocational malady. You can't fight -- certainly not at this level -- without the belief that victory is inevitable. Problem is, that's how fighters -- great ones especially -- get hurt.
But back to the immediate improbability, beating Pacquiao on Saturday night: "I can't give up any secrets or anything," Mosley said. "But styles make fights, and with this fight I believe I have the upper hand. First, size. Then, I'm the fastest fighter he's fought. The experience. The power. I'm probably the hardest-hitting fighter he's fought."
Five years ago, sure. But now? It's a good fight as long as it lasts, but that's all that seems certain to me. Both fighters are willing combatants. Neither is risk averse. Why else would Pacquiao venture so far above his natural weight, or Mosley fight beyond his optimal age?
Again, knowing that financial necessity becomes a source of shame for many aging boxers, he adds, "Some fighters need to fight for the next check. I don't have to."
Rather, it's a kind of vanity. As a rule, the better the fighter, the more prone he is to overstaying his welcome. The best ones are the last to know. I am happy to report that the gossip of a slurry-lipped Shane is patently incorrect. He's clear in speech and in mind. He's survived divorce with a smoking-hot girl at his side, and with the love and admiration of his oldest son. Yes, Shane Jr. wants to be a fighter.
But the kid's 18, not 39. And, again, I have to wonder what the elder Mosley thinks he's missing. With a pair of wins over Oscar de la Hoya (OK, the second was aided by BALCO's designer steroids) and the demolition of Antonio Margarito (that, two-and-a-half years ago, when most people already thought he was finished), Mosley's place in boxing posterity should be secure. But, again, there's that vanity. It's plain to see that Mosley doesn't feel loved or, rather, loved enough.
"I can't say I do," he said. "I can't say I do feel appreciated."
It's been 11 years since he first beat de la Hoya, becoming the first to take Oscar in his prime. And, though he lacked another epic rival, Mosley was for a time recognized as the world's best fighter, pound-for-pound. Then Vernon Forrest came along and beat him, once, and then again. It wasn't that Mosley had suddenly lost his greatness; it was, in fact, a matter of styles. Still, his reign was over.
"It was brief," he said. "I can't blame anybody for that. It's just how life is."
Beating Pacquiao would get it back, though.
"Yes," he says. "I definitely want some of that."
It's worth reminding you that Shane Mosley hasn't been knocked out in 53 pro fights going back to 1993. Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, says his fighter will be the first. Pacquiao gets hit, too. Just the same, Mosley hasn't seen this combination of quickness and stamina and power coming at him from such unorthodox angles.
"Freddie is doing things in his camp that lead him to believe that Manny will knock me out," says Mosley. "I'm doing things in my camp that lead me to believe I will knock Manny out."

Again, among the witnesses in Mosley's camp was his eldest son. Shane Jr. is longer and heavier than his father ever will be.
"I didn't encourage him to be a fighter," said Mosley. "I just asked him: 'Is this something you really want to do?' "
The answer came as no surprise. As Shane Mosley knows too well, one doesn't choose to be a fighter. The fight game chooses you.

Shane Mosley

Kentucky Derby 2011

The Kentucky Derby 2011 is not the first image that pops into your head when discussing performance enhancing drugs.  Rather your mind instantly returns to recent incidents with baseball players, football players, or basketball stars.  But racehorses?  Apparently a drug named Lasix is at the heart of the debate, and is a drug that is often injected into race horses four hours prior to the beginning of the race.
The drug is banned from races everywhere except for the United States and Canada, and is a diuretic which is designed to treat a condition that causes race horses to bleed internally while under extreme physical pressure, such as racing.  What brings about the debate is the side affect that causes the horse to profusely urinate, potentially lightening its weight by up to 27 pounds, allowing the horse to perform much more swiftly.  Hence critics are now suspecting that the drug is being used more for performance and less for the health of the horse.
The use of Lasix has dramatically increased, with 95% being the current figure for racehorses in the United States which received race day injections in 2010, as opposed to only 45% in 1991 according to Time Magazine.
The sports of horse racing has come under scrutiny as this information circulates, and has brought just how controversial this drug is right to the forefront.  Many professionals believe that the use of Lasix prolongs an animal’s career and protects their health, while others say it gives horses an unfair advantage.
The drug Lasix is banned from races in Europe, however racehorse fatalities in the United States far exceed the number of fatalities in Europe according to the Jockey Club.  A study which spanned a two year period starting in 2008 calculated that US tracks saw race horse fatalities at a rate of 1.55 per 1000 starts on tracks with synthetic surfaces, and 2.14 for the lower quality dirt tracks.  The figures for England are only 0.8 to 0.9 per 1000 starts, and many wonder if that is due to the more stringent race day medication regulation.

It will be fascinating to see how this unfolds as authorities take a closer look at the involvement of Lasix in the race horsing industry and try to determine if the drug is medically beneficial, or simply a performance enhancer.

Kentucky Derby 2011

Seve Ballesteros

The health of legendary golfer Seve Ballesteros has taken a turn for the worse, his family revealed on Friday.
The 54-year-old had a brain tumor removed in late 2008, more than a year after he ended his illustrious career in the sport.
"The Ballesteros family informs that Seve's neurological condition has suffered a severe deterioration," read a statement on the Spaniard's website.
"The family will inform accordingly about any change in his health condition and takes this opportunity of thanking everyone for the support that both Seve and his own family have been receiving during all this time."
CNN contacted Ballesteros' office in Santander to ask if he had returned to hospital, but was told that no further information would be given outside his personal website.
The news came during the Spanish Open in Barcelona, one of the European Tour's founding events and a tournament that Ballesteros won in 1981 and 1985.
Ballesteros met with his close friend and former European Ryder Cup teammate Jose Maria Olazabal before it teed off this week, according to the UK Press Association.
"Seve's physical condition was not good when Jose Maria went to see him, but they talked about golf and everything," Olazabal's manager Sergio Gomez told PA on Friday.
"Then came the call yesterday to tell him that Seve was in a critical condition."
Tennis star Rafael Nadal paid tribute to his ailing compatriot on Friday.
"Seve is a great benchmark for all the Spanish athletes who have been fortunate to meet him and play golf with him. I wish him well," the world number one said in quotes reported by AFP.
"Life is cruel sometimes, he's had a struggle in recent years but he's still been able to do things. His foundation is an example for society and all athletes."
Ballesteros made his name when he finished second at the British Open as a 19-year-old in 1976 and that year went on to win the European Tour's money list for the first of six times.
He won the British Open -- one of golf's four major tournaments -- three times, and was twice victor at the Masters in Augusta.
His triumph at the 1979 British Open made him the youngest winner of the event that century and the first non-British European to do so since 1907.
As well as his success in stroke play tournaments, Ballesteros was also a mighty competitor in the match play format -- winning the world title five times and helping Europe claim the Ryder Cup on four occasions against the United States.
He was also a victorious captain in 1997, the first year that the teams event was hosted by Europe outside of Britain and Ireland.
Meanwhile, South Africa's Thomas Aiken claimed a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Spanish Open on Friday.
The 27-year-old, seeking his first victory on the European Tour, shot his second successive four-under-par 68 at El Prat with a birdie at his final hole for the second day in a row.

Ranked 104th in the world, he ended the day ahead of Spain's Pablo Larrazabal, who carded 70 on his home course.
"I belong to another generation and never actually saw Seve play, but his fight these last years has been an inspiration for us all," Larrazabal, 27, told the European Tour website.
"Although I was too young to watch him perform when he was at the top, I have seen all his films, and he was really spectacular, never giving up, hitting his driver and chasing the ball into the hole from everywhere."
Another home hope, Alvaro Velasco, fired a flawless 66 to be on six-under 138 alongside France's Romain Wattel (71), Englishman Anthony Wall (70) and first-round leader Scott Jamieson (72).
Miguel Angel Jimenez, a non-playing Ryder Cup assistant to Ballesteros in 1997, was tied for 27th on 143, while Olazabal was another shot back after also carding 72.

Seve Ballesteros

Manny Pacquiao

The first Saturday in May has become noteworthy for a second major sport besides horse racing, and when Manny Pacquiao seized Kentucky Derby Day this year, there wasn’t anything Floyd Mayweather could do to counter it this time, even if he had tried.

A year ago, when Mayweather nabbedShane Mosley as an opponent, shortly after Pacquiao lined up a fight with Joshua Clottey, the prized first-Saturday-in-May boxing date went with it.

Today is a different time.

A year ago, Pacquiao and Mayweather both found themselves in the throes of responding to failed negotiations with each other. Mayweather, the Grand Rapids native, was the unbeaten fighter with the better opponent. Pacquiao salved that wound by fighting Clottey before 50,000 in a football stadium, though that fight didn’t approach Mayweather-Mosley in the all-important pay-per-view tally.

None of that would happen today.

Pacquiao fights Mosley on Saturday night in Las Vegas, for some welterweight title no one really cares about, because an everlasting title is at stake whenever the pound-for-pound king steps into the ring, a title the Filipino has reclaimed without dispute after Mayweather’s year-plus of inactivity.
Pacquiao reigns now, both as sporting royalty and elected Filipino congressman, and has juggled these final days of his boxing career and early days of his political career with equal grace.

Meantime, Mayweather faces the new distraction of three court cases, withthe newest charge filed Thursday. Two of the cases are insignificant misdemeanors involving security guards who were patrolling Mayweather’s neighborhood. The third is a bundled stack of felony and misdemeanor charges for an alleged domestic incident involving the mother of three of his children, with conviction carrying a minimum one-year incarceration, and a maximum 34, in a case slow-tracked by three evidentiary hearing delays sought by Mayweather’s attorneys.

Without those issues, Mayweather would have a hard time unseating Pacquiao’s popularity now.

Factor in the legal cases and his extended inactivity, and he would have no chance of it, short of them fighting each other.

Mayweather was 30 when he beat Ricky Hatton and later announced his retirement. Now 34, he has fought twice since then.

There have been months of rumblings that he plans to fight this year, and with a $3.4 million tax bill and lawyers to pay, it probably isn’t a bad idea.

Meantime, Pacquiao-Mosley has to stand on its own merits, with Pacquiao fighting yet another opponent Mayweather already beat as a fall-back plan to the long-stalled Pacquiao-Mayweather talks.

Pacquiao has grown intent on proving himself the dominant fighter of this era, with or without Mayweather’s cooperation, by taking the latter’s victims and beating them worse. He did it with Hatton, whom he stopped in two rounds, while it took Mayweather 10. He did it with Oscar De La Hoya, whom he stopped, while Mayweather won a decision.

If he wins Saturday, his next fight may be a third match against Juan Manuel Marquez, with whom he struggled in a draw and a decision victory, long before Mayweather dominated Marquez in 2009.

And with every step, Pacquiao has consumed all the marketing advantages Mayweather had over him.

The problem with that particular distraction -- and it is palpable, because Pacquiao was asked about Mayweather at every turn this week -- is that Mosley will be in the ring Saturday.

Mosley wobbled Mayweather early in their May 1, 2010 fight, only to be shut down the rest of the way in a lopsided decision.

Yet Mosley is, without question, the fastest opponent Pacquiao has faced in a major fight. He isn’t as plodding as De La Hoya and has a much better chin than Hatton, who essentially was knocked out on single punches by both Mayweather and Pacquiao.

Mosley also is 2-2-1 in his last five fights and winless in 27 months. Like Roberto Duran at the end of his career -- or Roy Jones, in today’s era -- you don’t want to catch Mosley on one of his good days. But at 39, he more frequently looks like an old Mosley, rather than Mosley of old.

Pacquiao’s job is to make Mosley look every one of those years, which he should, after a few potentially testy early rounds.

It may be another big opportunity for Mosley, who has made good on them frequently in his career. But for the reigning king Pacquiao, the first Saturday in May is all his.

Manny Pacquiao

NBA Mock Draft

Chad Ford's lated NBA Mock Draft has the Phoenix Suns taking the Jimmer Fredette with the 13th pick. It's an interesting choice for sure and one that would please many Suns' fans. Jimmer is a cult hero at this point thanks to his scoring prowess at BYU but there are questions about his ability to play a true point guard role at the NBA level.
Fredette was generally considered to be a poor defender in college and is a shoot-first guard who's too small to run out as a starting shooting guard. Think Ben Gordon or to a lesser degree, Eddie House. What Fredette can do really well is shoot the ball and he has a variety of moves around the rim that makes him more than just a long-range bomber.
The Suns could certainly use a guy like that off the bench, especially if Aaron Brooks is allowed to leave in free agency. But if he's brought in with the idea of being the heir apparent to Steve Nash he will join of a long line of guys who've had that label thrust upon them only to see it slide right off.

One thing The Jimmer has that no only prospect in the 2011 NBA Draft can claim is his own song. Teach Me How To Jimmer has nearly 800,000 YouTube hits putting him in Justin Beiber territory as a pop celebrity for young girls.
It's too soon to say if Jimmer would be a bad pick for the Suns. That will depend on who else is available and more so, on what the expectations for him are.

NBA Mock Draft