Jericho Scott, a 9-year-old from New Haven, Connecticut, was banned from youth league because…well…he makes the other kids look silly.

Last week when Scott took the mound, the opposing team packed up it’s gear, forfeited and left the game.

The reason: Scott just throws too hard.

You see, Scott’s little limb is equipped with a 40-mph fastball. Pretty quick if you’re nine and a huge obstacle if little Johnny can’t hit a fastball. So what is the logical thing to do? Well, if you’re the league officials, demand that Scott be removed from the league, disband the team and redistribute its players among the other teams.

Have people really sunk that low, that they have to punish a kid for being too good?

Well, according to the New Haven Register, they’re banning Scott because it’s good for the other kids’ morale:

The fighting started this week when Coach Wilfred Vidro refused a directive by league officials to replace 9-year-old pitcher Jericho Scott, whose pitching they say is so hard, fast and accurate that it might frighten or discourage other players.

“The spirit of the league was community, family, well being, nurturing. It’s an extended family and it’s been disrupted,” said attorney Peter Noble, who represents Liga Juvenil De Baseball De New Haven, Spanish for Youth Baseball League of New Haven. The league is not affiliated with Little League baseball. The Scotts also met with an attorney on Monday.

Scott’s parents say he’s being wrongfully targeted because the little guy didn’t want to play for the defending league champs. A team that is sponsored by one of the league’s officials.

There’s no better message to send our kids, saying that it’s OK to be sore losers and that if you can’t get what you want, go to all costs to get it. If we had this kind of upbringing when I played in Little League, players in the pros would be about as athletic as Andy Dick struggling to hit a whiffle ball.

Source: Deadspin, Fox Sports

If you didn’t catch the race for the fastest man on earth, then you missed one of the greatest sprints in history.

But as great and fast as it was, it could have been faster.

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt literally blew away the competition. He did it with such ease that he pulled up 20 meters early and still broke his own world record to finish the 100 meters at 9.69 seconds. Could he have done it under 9.6 if he gave his full effort? Maybe next time.

There is a theory out there that Bolt didn’t run at full speed because he can earn more money later on by beating the world record again, with incentive bonuses.

Back in May when Bolt broke the world record, his sponsor Digicell gave him a $1.8 million dollar bonus. Could there be more of these bonuses for every time he breaks the record? It sure appears that way.

No one will no until there is official confirmation, but that is where the conspiracy theory now stands.

Source: CNBC

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The former highlight reel, Mr. Shawn Kemp is back! That’s right folks, the 40-year-old Kemp has come out of retirement and signed a deal with the Italian team, Premiati Montegranaro.

How Kemp will hold up professional is sure to raise some eyebrows. He hasn’t played since the 2002-2003 season when he was with the Orlando Magic and averaged a dismal 6.8 points a game.

The only reason why I can think he came back has to be to pay for all his child support payments. Kemp, if you didn’t know, is just as famous for his ability to father children than his dunks. The man has seven kids from six different women and ranks tops on the 100% Injury Rates’ blog for those who should have a busy Father’s Day.

Source: USA Today

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As much as I love The Boss, and there isn’t many artists out there that have lasted as many decades as him, but why him? Isn’t there someone in at least their 40s that could have provided us entertainment at halftime? Wasn’t there a rock group available that wouldn’t be at risk at blowing out their hip?

Well, guess we can just hope for next year. I swear, ever since the J.T. and Janet incident years ago, censors and those responsible are afraid of a “wardrobe” malfunction from happening.

Maybe Springsteen will bust out “Secret Garden” and have the opposing players embrace in the middle of the field.

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The 20th installment of the Madden football franchise has arrived.

To read more about Madden 2009, check it out here at the Smarter Gadgets Blog!

To buy Madden 2009, click here.

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The Green Bay Packers traded arguably the greatest quarterback of all-time to the New York Jets in exchange for a conditional fourth round pick in next year’s draft. That could change to a first round pick if Favre plays 80% of the snaps and if the Jets make the Super Bowl.

The Packers stood by their word, sticking to unproven Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback and moving forward with him. After years of waiting for Brett Favre to make up his mind on whether to retire or comeback, they were finally fed up. An interesting move, because of the caliber of player Favre is. Now he’ll be playing in front of the bright lights of Broadway rather than the yellow tint of cheese heads.

The move also means that Chad Pennington’s days in New York are limited, as the ownership has already hinted at cutting or trading away the former starting quarterback. Pennington is due to make $9 million this season, but the Jets need to make room for Favre’s $12.8 million salary, making Pennington expendable.

The Jets and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the front runners in the Brett Favre sweepstakes, despite Favre saying he’d like to stay within the division. The Packers went as far away as possible, shipping him to the AFC with the only chance of them meeting would be in the Super Bowl. A long shot since the Jets play in a division of powerhouses such as the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts.

Well, it was a good run in Green Bay for Favre. He now takes his 275 straight regular and postseason starts to Broadway. Now lets see if he can continue his legacy and ignite a team that hasn’t had a superstar quarterback since Joe Namath.

I hope he does.

Source. SI

And it’s just a matter of time before some marquee names make the trip across the Atlantic. But what is a superstar’s price before they go play against lesser competition?

For LeBron James, that number is $50 million…a year.

James becomes a free agent at the end of the 2009-2010 season with many teams already clearing up some salary cap space in hopes of a potential run for one of the best players in the world. And he’s sure to command close to $20 million a year, with him already due to make around $13 million this season. Twenty will already be a reach for many teams, but $50 million would be too much. Or would it?

I’m sure there will be some Euro team that has no talent willing to bring over the star power of James for only a season at his asking price. Maybe at $50 million or close to it.

Lets see if James really is greedy enough to take his skills to inferior competition. Everybody has a price, but when you’re already making over $20 million a season with endorsements, it’s a bit ridiculous to jump ship for more money.

When you’re a pro, isn’t it about playing against the best, not playing for the most money?

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Even if it means going to Greece.

Josh Childress, now formerly of the Atlanta Hawks, gave up millions in the NBA to only get more millions in Greece to play for the Olympiakos.

Despite being a solid player in the NBA, Childress was never a star after being chosen sixth overall by the Hawks in 2004 out of Stanford. With the Hawks offering him a contract that was over the mid-level amount, which is at $5.5 million, Childress opted to go overseas for lesser competition and a three-year, $20 million contract. The contract also allows him to opt out after each year if he chose to do so.

Good move for Childress. Why not go to Greece and make a bigger name for yourself and get paid more in the process? If he doesn’t like it, then come back over to the states, still get paid millions and pick up where you left off.

Oh the hard decisions some people have to make in life. Athletes have it so rough.

Childress averaged 11.8 points and 4.9 rebounds for the Hawks last season.

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It looks like Jason Taylor won’t be dancing on South Beach this season.

The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year looks to be on his way to the Washington Redskins after after agreeing to terms with the Miami Dolphins.

The Redskins receive one of the elite pass rushers in the league, where the Dolphins will receive a second round pick in the future.

The Skins were in need of another pass rusher after defensive end Phillip Daniels went down with a knee injury the first day of training camp. It’s been said that he has torn the ACL in his left knee and will miss the entire season.

Taylor, if you didn’t know, was also a hit on the reality show Dancing with the Stars. I’m not sure how the dance clubs are up in D.C., but I’m sure it can’t be any better than the salsa down in Miami.

Source: Fox Sports

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Quinton “Rampage” Jackson apparently went on a rampage last night. But he didn’t wreak havoc in the ring. Oh no.  It was in the streets of Costa Mesa.

The former UFC champ was arrested last night for felony evading, hit and run and reckless driving and is now being held in an Orange County jail, with bail set at $25,000.

Apparently Rampage rammed his 2008 Ford truck through at least one car and is possibly linked to two other car collision on the freeway.  This was only after police tried to pull him over, when they noticed his truck was weaving in traffic with a flat tire. But Rampage carried on, hoping to get away. Eventually colliding with a car and ending up on the sidewalk, where police arrested him with guns drawn.

What gets me is why this man would try to get away in the first place. First, he’s not going to make it too far with a flat tire. And second, the truck he was driving was pretty easy to distinguish. He has an image of himself on the driver and passenger side doors of his truck.

Way to keep a low profile.

Source: SI

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