National Football League (NFL) Coaches Fired and Hired in 2011-2012
January 17th, 2012 - Jim Caldwell - Indianapolis Colts- Caldwell was fired today after a 2-14 season. He was hired in 2009 and won his first 14 games as coach and guided the Colts to the Super Bowl that year. He was 26-22 with the Colts and 2-2 in the playoffs.
January 10th, 2012 - Hue Jackson - Oakland Raiders- New General Manager Reggie McKenzie made the decision today to fire Jackson after an 8-8 season. The Raiders started the season a promising 7-4 in a very weak AFC West, but stumbled down the stretch and missed the playoffs for the 9th year in a row after winning the Super Bowl in 2003. A replacement has not been decided yet.
January 2nd, 2012 - Steve Spagnuolo - St Louis Rams- Spagnuolo was just 10-38 in three seasons in St. Louis. The Rams tied the Colts this year with the NFL's worst record at 2-14. A replacement has not been name yet. General Manager Billy Devaney was also fired, so it looks like the Rams are cleaning slate. UPDATE 1/14/12: Jeff Fisher has been named new head coach in St. Louis.
January 2nd, 2012 - Raheem Morris - Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Morris was fired a day after the Bucs lost their 10th straight game to finish 4-12. He ends his Bucs career with a 17-31 record that included a 10-6 season in 2010 when the Bucs just missed the playoffs. The entire coaching staff was also let go.
December 12th, 2011 - Todd Haley - Kansas City Chiefs- After a 19-27 record including 5-8 this year, the Chiefs fired Haley. He is being replaced on an interim basis by defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel. UPDATE 1/9/12: Romeo Crennel has been named permanent head coach.
December 12th, 2011 - Tony Sporano - Miami Dolphins - Sporano led the Dolphins to an 11-5 record in his first season as head coach just a year after Miami went 1-15. Since then, it has been a disaster. Sporano finishes his Dolphins career with a 29-32 record. He had a 10-game losing streak covering 2010 and this season. The Dolphins then went on to win 4 of 5 before losing to the Eagles. His interim replacement is Todd Bowles who was the assistant head coach/secondary coach. UPDATE 1/12/12: Sporano has been named offensive coordinator for the New York Jets.
November 29th, 2011 - Jack Del Rio - Jacksonville Jaguars - After 9 years, Del Rio was finally fired by the Jags. He was 68-71, but only made the playoffs twice, winning 1 game. He will be replaced on an interim basis by defensive coordinator Mel Tucker who will also get a chance to interview for the full-time job in the offseason. UPDATE 1/11/12: Mike Mularkey has been hired as the Jaguars new coach. He was offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons.
Major League Soccer’s David Beckham Signs a 2-Year Deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy
On May 15, 2011, David Beckham scored his first goal of the season for the Los Angeles Galaxy from a 30-yard free kick, in a 4–1 victory over Sporting Kansas City. On July 9, 2011, Beckham scored directly from a corner in a 2–1 win over the Chicago Fire, repeating a feat he also achieved while playing for Preston North End.
After having his best season with the Galaxy to date and finishing second in the league in assists, Beckham finished his fifth Major League Soccer (MLS) season on a high. On November 20, 2011, he joined an elite group of players to have won three league titles in three different countries, when Los Angeles won their third MLS Cup against the Houston Dynamo, winning 1-0 on a goal by captain Landon Donovan, with assists from Beckham and fellow designated player Robbie Keane. Had it been Beckham's final match for the Galaxy, it would have been the third time he has won a league championship in his final match for a club, repeating the feat he accomplished with Manchester United in 2003, and Real Madrid in 2007.
Following the 2011 season, in which the Galaxy won their second consecutive Supporters’ Shield, the second most points in MLS history, Beckham's five-year contract with the Galaxy expired on December 31, 2011. Despite being 36, he stated that he did not intend to retire. Beckham was heavily linked with Paris Saint-Germain, but in January 2012, the Los Angeles Galaxy announced Beckham had signed a new two-year contract to remain in Los Angeles.
NBA All-Time Scoring Leader, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Named a Global Cultural Ambassador
NBA all-time scoring leader, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a legendary retired center, was named a global cultural ambassador by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Abdul-Jabbar, born Lew Alcindor before changing his name after leading Milwaukee to the 1971 NBA title, scored 38,387 points in 1,560 games over a 20-year NBA career and was named the NBA Most Valuable Player in 1971 and 1985.
In a week-long trip to Brazil, Abdul-Jabbar will begin his new role to meet with young people and promote diplomacy and opportunities for greater cultural understanding between nations.
"I'm excited and honored," Abdul-Jabbar said. "I really appreciate the opportunity. I remember when Louis Armstrong first did it back for President (John) Kennedy, one of my heroes, so it's nice to be following in his footsteps."
Abdul-Jabbar will participate in youth basketball clinics in Rio de Janeiro, host city of the 2016 Olympics, and Salvador, and stress education, social and racial tolerance, cultural understanding and sports as a means of empowerment.
"I look forward to meeting with young people all over the world and discussing ways in which we can strengthen our understanding of one another through education, through sports, and through greater cultural tolerance."
Since retiring from the NBA in 1989, Abdul-Jabbar has focused on African-American history and socio-economic justice.
"We're thrilled that you have agreed to do this," Clinton said. "I'm just very grateful to you for taking the time." [Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com]
Texas Rangers Sign Japanese Star Pitcher Yu Darvish to Major League Baseball Contract
Yu Darvish, full name Yu Darvishsefad, was born August 16, 1986, in Habikino, Osaka, Japan.
Darvish pitched in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, as well as the 2009 World Baseball Classic, as a member of the Japanese National Team. At 25 years of age, he is considered by many to be the best pitcher in Japanese professional baseball.
Darvish was posted to Major League Baseball prior to the 2012 season, and is represented by agents Don Nomura and Arn Tellem. He added confirmation of the posting on his blog. MLB teams had until December 14, 2011, to submit a blind posting bid, and Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters had until December 20, 2011, to announce whether the bid was accepted or rejected.
Announcement of acceptance of the highest bid, from the Texas Rangers, was made on December 19, 2011. The bid was reported to be $51.7 million. On January 18th, the Texas Rangers signed Darvish to a $60 million dollar contract for six years with a player option to void the last year, fifteen minutes prior to the deadline.
Darvish is a right-handed pitcher who throws from a three-quarters arm slot in a drop-and-drive motion with exceptionally large frame for Japanese baseball, listed at 6 feet 5 inches and 215 pounds. He throws a four-seam fastball that usually sits around 91 to 94 mph and tops out at 97 mph, as well as a hard curve around 80 mph with a vicious break. He complements these two with a wide repertoire of secondary pitches, including a two-seam fastball (sometimes described as a shuuto), cutter, curveball, and a splitter.
Prior to the 2006 season, Darvish’s go-to pitch was a screwball, tending to rely more on his off-speed pitches than his fastball. After injuring his shoulder in a exhibition game start against the 2006 World Baseball Classic Japanese National Team in February 2006, because of the strain the screwball had gradually been putting on his shoulder, he took the pitch out of his in-game repertoire, and worked to develop his splitter until it became an equally effective pitch that would effectively replace the screwball. He has also succeeded in increasing his fastball velocity from year to year.
Shani Davis Wins Two Gold Medals at the 1,000 Meters World Cup Long Track Event at the Utah Olympic Oval
Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Shani Davis, won two Gold Medals at the 1,000 meters World Cup long track event at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah.
On Saturday, Davis won his first individual medal when he finished the 1,000 meters in 1 minute and 7.20 seconds earning him his first Gold.
On Sunday, he finished in 1 minute and 7.69 seconds to edge Stefan Groothuis of The Netherlands (finishing in 1 minute and 7.94 seconds) for the Gold. Finland's Pekka Koskela took Bronze (1:08.17).
Davis’ win on Saturday was his first individual medal of the World Cup season.
Shani now moves on to World Sprint Championships in Calgary, Canada.
Joe Paterno, ex-Penn State University Nittany Lions Coach Dead at 85
Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years, from 1966 through 2011. Paterno, nicknamed “JoePa,” holds the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) football coach with 409. He is the only FBS coach to reach 400 victories. He coached five undefeated teams that won major bowl games. In 2007, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach.
In November 2006, Paterno was involved in a sideline collision during a game against Wisconsin. He was unable to avoid the play and was struck in the knee by Badgers linebacker DeAndre Levy’s helmet. Paterno, then 79 years old, suffered a fractured shin bone and damage to knee ligaments. He coached the 2007 Outback Bowl from the press box before making a full recovery.
In November 2008, Paterno had successful hip replacement surgery after spraining his leg while trying to demonstrate onside kicks during a practice session. While recovering, he coached the remainder of the season and the 2009 Rose Bowl from the press box. After sustaining these injuries, he made use of a motorized golf cart to move around the field during practices.
Paterno was injured again in August 2011, after colliding with a player during practice. He sustained hairline fractures to his hip and shoulder. No surgery was required, but Paterno began the 2011 regular season schedule in a wheelchair.
In November 2011, Scott Paterno reported that his father had a treatable form of lung cancer. On January 13, 2012, Paterno was hospitalized in State College (Pennsylvania) for complications relating to his cancer treatment, and he remained there until his death nine days later on January 22, 2012.
Winston-Salem State Captures 2011 SBN Sports Black College National Football Championship
Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) captured the 2011 SBN Sports Black College National Football Championship. The Rams posted a 13-1 record on the way to winning their first-ever SBN Jake Gaither National Championship Trophy.
South Carolina State was the preseason favorite to win this season's championship, while WSSU was an honorable mention, receiving just 17 points. Head Coach Connell Maynor and his team won the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Title with a perfect 10-0 regular season, followed by a win in the Conference Championship game and two victories in the NCAA Division II Playoffs. They advanced to the national semi-finals before losing to Wayne State.
In final SBN Poll voting, Winston-Salem State received twenty-six first place votes and 281 points. Bethune- Cookman University was second with three first-place votes and 252 points. The Wildcats also finished second in 2010. Jackson State University finished in third place with 196 points, Norfolk State was fourth with one first-place vote and 181 points and South Carolina State was fifth with 137 points. Grambling State University, Alabama State University, Alabama A&M University, Florida A&M University and Hampton University rounded out the top ten.
Winston-Salem State will be honored during the SBN Black College All-American (BCAA) and Black College Football Hall of Fame Awards Weekend, February 17-18, 2012, in Atlanta, Georgia.
American Urban Radio Networks and the Black College Football Hall of Fame will also honor the SBN Coach of the Year and the SBN Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year. The Awards Weekend will feature the Third Annual Black College Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony. A who's who list of college and professional football greats are scheduled to attend, including Doug Williams, James “Shack” Harris, Mel Blount, Harry Carson, Rayfield Wright, L.C. Greenwood and Billy “White Shoes” Johnson.
Prairie View A&M University Mourns the Loss of Former Men's Basketball Coach Leroy G. Moore, Jr.
The PVAMU family is mourning the loss of former basketball coach Leroy G. Moore, Jr., who passed away on Jan. 15th.
A native of Muskogee, Oklahoma, Moore attended Douglass High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he was a standout athlete in both football and basketball. He completed his Bachelor's Degree at Langston College in 1948. Shortly after, he married Theodra Crowell. Together they raised two children: Dr. David L. Moore, D.D.S. and Dr. Sandra Moore Ashmore, M.D.
Moore was the head basketball coach of the Prairie View Panthers from 1956 to 1969. During that time, he led the Panthers to multiple championships, including the Georgia Invitational, the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Basketball Championship and the 1962 NAIA National Small College Basketball Championship. He was also the President of the SWAC from 1958-1960.
From 1978 through 1984, Moore served as a professor in the PVAMU Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Athletic Director and Acting Dean of the College of Education. From 1984 until his retirement in 1986, Moore was the Department Head of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. In 2008, the Intramural Gymnasium was officially named in his honor.
[Source: PV Sports Information]
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