--The New York Times' Phil Mushnick weighs in on the Mark Madden controversy and compares the firing to that of Don Imus.
--Contrary to what you've heard, the Pirates are still playing and not just watching the Stanley Cup Finals with the rest of us. Last night, they got off the schneid with a 7-2 win over Cincinnati behind the pitching of former Red Phil Dumatrait, who, in his last appearance in a Reds uniform, gave up three consecutive home runs to start the game, tying a Major League record.
But Dumatrait did much better on Thursday evening, tossing seven innings of two-hit ball with nine Ks against his former employer.
The Pirates were led on offense by former San Diegons Jason Bay and Xavier Nady, who each homered. It was quietly the 13th home run of the season for Bay, who is also hitting .294.
Tonight, the Buccos are in St. Louis at 8:15 - LHP Zach Duke (2-3, 4.55) vs. RHP Todd Wellemeyer (5-1, 3.36).
--As part of ESPN's upcoming My Wish series, the Steelers hosted 14-year-old Akeem Havens, who has been a quadriplegic since a car accident at age seven.
--Yes, this is a few days old, but here's a very rare critical article on Mario Lemieux.
--Even though Sidney Crosby lives with #66, his idol was Steve Yzerman.
--Next year's Winter Classic: Chicago and Detroit at 41,000-seat Wrigley Field. It's a ticket scalper's dream.
--Former Pirate Update: 1b Brad "Big Country" Eldred is hitting .258 with 19 HR, 50 RBI...and 63 strikeouts. He's playing for the White Sox Triple-A team in Charlotte.
--Hey lesbians: no kissing at Safeco Field!
--Sure to be on everyone's wish list in December, here's Johnstown: The Board Game.
--Pete Wentz gave new wife Ashlee Simpson a giant bumblebee made out of 18,000 legos as a wedding gift.
--Michael Bay is making a movie called Ouija Board. Seriously.
--Hotwicks ($9) definitely aren't your typical candles. With scents like beer, campfire, grass (as in lawn), new car, pancake, pigskin, stripper, popcorn, and the rather scrumptious sounding urinal cake, your place can smell exactly how you want it to.
--It's no laughing matter: Bill Murray's wife is claiming abuse by the former Ghostbuster.
--Imagine thousands of people, divided by a river, with 2 days to get a ball across town with one simple rule: no murder. That is only the beginning in Royal Shrovetide Football.
--Duquesne's Shawn James is at NBA draft camp, and let's just say it's not going well.
--Police believe an Ohio asphalt contractor used a retrofitted pickup truck and trailer to steal thousands of gallons of diesel fuel from a Mercer County gas station.
A LIST OF THE WEEK'S TOP LISTS
