ESPN Wins The Courtship Of Bill Simmons. So why will the 40-year-old Simmons stay home? Because while returning to ESPN may be not be the most dramatic scenario, it more than serves both parties’ interests. Simmons is ESPN’s biggest Web star, but he owes no small part of that stardom to ESPN’s reach and promotion. And ESPN offers him the opportunity to pursue his many different interests under the same roof. [Deadspin]
Steve Nash Responds to Phil: Gregg Popovich Is Best Coach in NBA. Lakers coach Phil Jackson fired a preemptive strike at the Suns on Friday, saying their point guard Steve Nash illegally carries the ball while dribbling. The Suns weren’t going to sit back and let Phil get the best of them, so they responded on Saturday. Steve Nash got in a shot on Phil Jackson and coach Alvin Gentry called out the Lakers’ dirty tactics. [Larry Brown Sports]
HS Softball Players Get “Drink Soda From a Shoe” Treatment: Can We Quit Hazing Now? Apparently, in Nevada, hazing is a misdemeanor offense “if there isn’t substantial bodily harm.” So if Neitling had made one player drink from a shoe and hit someone else with it, she might end up getting charged with … a gross misdemeanor. (Nice laws, Nevada.) And, obviously, with her superintendent couching his reaction in “People learn from mistakes,” it doesn’t sound like there’s a mob with pitchforks at her door. [The Sporting Blog]
This Young Kid Is A Football Genius. He may not know his age, but this little guy seems to know a whole lot about the NFL. He can name you any team in the league, from the Dallas Cowgirls to the Minnesota Viqueens. He is well aware of the fact that it has been a while since the San Francisco 49ers last won a Super Bowl, and if he had to give some advice to Brett Favre, he’d tell him to “stay home grandpa.” [Total Pro Sports]
The Bloggers Who Are Reinventing Sports Media. There’s probably a good chance you, sadly, haven’t heard of all of the aforementioned bloggers. That’s not their fault, they have a skill that every sports fan would appreciate. Unfortunately, many of the main sports media sites somehow still embargo their brand of relevant sports entertainment. [SPORTSbyBROOKS]
