ESPN’s Simmons suspended for Goodell rant
ESPN analyst Bill Simmons has been suspended for three weeks after he made profane comments about NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during a podcast.
In addition, Simmons is not allowed to use Twitter while suspended, an ESPN spokesman confirmed to the Los Angeles Times.
Shortly after the suspension was announced, #FreeSimmons began trending worldwide on Twitter.
On The B.S. Report podcast hosted on ESPN.com, Simmons used the F word multiple times while passionately exclaiming that Goodell was lying about his involvement and knowledge of the mishandling of the Ray Rice domestic abuse scandal.
Simmons, also the editor-in-chief of Grantland.com, then dared ESPN to reprimand him for what he said during the same podcast.
ESPN did just that.
Lawyers for Winston, accuser discussed payment for her silence
ORLANDO, Florida — Lawyers involved in the case over rape accusations against Florida State University quarterback Jameis Winston said a financial payoff was discussed in exchange for the silence of his female accuser, but they disagreed over who initiated the idea, according to the Tampa Bay Times newspaper.
The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback was asked to pay $7 million for the silence of the woman who claimed he raped her, Winston’s lawyer said in a letter obtained on Wednesday by the Tampa Bay Times.
Winston’s lawyer made the claim in a letter to administrators at the university, the newspaper reported.
However, the accuser’s attorney told the newspaper that it was Winston’s attorney who first made contact.
Winston is cooperating with an investigation by the school, said his attorney, David Cornwell, in a Twitter post on Tuesday.
Wichita boxer crushed to death
WICHITA, Kansas — A nationally-ranked Kansas boxer with Olympic aspirations was killed when a 6-ton steel tank he was sandblasting fell on him, police said on Wednesday.
Tony Losey, 22, who had been ranked third in USA Boxing’s 152-pound weight class, died at about 2 p.m. on Tuesday, said Wichita Police Lieutenant James Espinoza.
Espinoza said the steel tank, which was 12 to 14 feet high, had been sitting on some support racks when the tank shifted and fell on Losey. The accident happened at Boardman, a steel plate fabricator.
“We’ve had some industrial accidents before but this is definitely one that’s very uncommon and something that is tragic,” Espinoza said.
Lewis Hernandez, owner of Wichita’s Northside Boxing Club and Losey’s trainer, said Losey had hoped to compete in the Olympics.
“He was like a son to me,” said Hernandez, who had been Losey’s trainer since 2005. “He was a real strong-hearted kid.”
Suns reach deal with Bledsoe
The Phoenix Suns reached agreement with restricted free agent Eric Bledsoe on a five-year, $70 million contract extension, Yahoo Sports reported Wednesday.
The deal has no option years, according to the report.
With training camp set to open next week, Bledsoe and the Suns had been in a stalemate all summer after the team offered him a four-year, $48 million deal in July. Bledsoe reportedly was seeking a five-year max offer worth in excess of $80 million.
The threat of seeing Bledsoe become an unrestricted free agent and the recent interest shown in him by the Minnesota Timberwolves apparently prompted Phoenix to improve its offer to the 24-year-old.
ESPN.com reported last week that the Wolves continued to aggressively pursue Bledsoe in a sign-and-trade deal that would have landed him a four-year max contract valued at $63 million.
Bledsoe averaged 17.7 points and 5.5 assists in 43 games for the Suns last season after being traded from the Los Angeles Clippers. He suffered a midseason meniscus injury to his right knee but returned after surgery.
Lakers sign Ronnie Price
Guard Ronnie Price signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, general manager Mitch Kupchak announced.
The 31-year-old Price, a nine-year NBA veteran, has career averages of 3.4 points, 1.5 assists, and 1.1 rebounds over 425 games, including 35 starts.
The 6-foot-2 Price has had stints with the Sacramento Kings (2005-07), the Utah Jazz (2007-11), the Phoenix Suns (2011-12), the Portland Trailblazers (2012-13) and the Orlando Magic (2013-14.
Kings waive Hopson
Guard Scotty Hopson was waived by the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, general manager Pete D’Alessandro announced.
Hopson was acquired recently by the Kings from Houston along with Alonzo Gee and two second-round draft choices in the trade that sent guard Jason Terry and a trade exception to the Rockets.
After going undrafted out of Tennessee, Hopson played in two games for the Cleveland Cavaliers last season before he was traded to Houston during the offseason.