I’ve long said that there’s only one thing holding me back from tossing my cable box in favor of getting all my TV online: live sports.

In particular, I’d really miss ESPN, the legendary all-sports cable and satellite network that keeps me company at lunchtime, gets me all prepped for the NFL on Sunday, and serves up more live tennis that you could swing a racket at. Read the full story

‘60′ of Donaghy Read the full story

Undoubtedly by now you’ve heard about Tiger Woods’ car crash. Early reports had him in serious condition (which remember, is better than critical condition) after he apparently hit a fire hydrant and a tree while leaving his home in his SUV. The latest reports say he has been released from the hospital and is “fine.” But I’m not going to speak to any of that because that’s not what we do (you can find out more here). Read the full story

Video via clutchfansDOTnet YouTube

Rockets-Trail Blazers Preview Read the full story

AP Photo

This season, we may not see a Kobe vs. Raja Bell showdown.

That’s because ESPN is reporting that Bell may need season-ending surgery because of a partially torn ligament in his left wrist.

Here’s the story: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4581263

Now, forget what this means for the Bobcats, because they were going to be mediocre anyway. But no Kobe vs. Raja? That’s one of the few legit offense vs. defense matchups in the league, and this season, probably, it won’t happen. Read the full story

ESPN is reporting that the NBA and its referees are closer to coming to an agreement to have the refs return to work.

Here’s the story: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4580650

This is good news for EVERYONE: The NBA, the players, the refs (of course) and fans. The replacement refs were, in a word, horrible. They looked intimidated. They were overwhelmed. They were too quick to jump the gun. Read the full story

By Michael Buteau

Oct. 6 (Bloomberg) — Brett Favre’s performance in the Minnesota Vikings’ victory over Green Bay on ESPN likely produced the highest-rated show in cable-televison history.

Minnesota’s 30-23 win over the Packers drew a 14.2 rating, which may turn out to be the biggest audience for a cable- television program, according to the Walt Disney Co.-owned network. Each rating point represents 1.114 million homes.

Favre, who spent 16 of his 19 seasons with the Packers, threw three touchdown passes at the Metrodome in Minneapolis last night against his former team to become the only player to win against all 32 of the National Football League’s current teams.

“This one carried a little more weight,” Favre, 39, said in a televised interview after Minnesota improved to 4-0. “It was everything it was billed to be.”

ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said that the rating is “expected” to be a record when final numbers come out this afternoon.

The largest cable audience for a Monday night game until now was 12.95 million for the Dallas Cowboys’ 41-37 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 15, 2008. That also was a record for any cable program.

Last year’s Vikings-Packers game on Monday Night Football, in the first week of the season, drew a 9.3 rating, 65 percent below last night’s number.

Favre won three NFL Most Valuable Player awards and a Super Bowl title with the Packers before being forced out in 2008 as Green Bay went with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.

Facing many of his former teammates for the first time, Favre completed 24-of-31 passes for 271 yards. He threw touchdown passes of one yard to Visanthe Shiancoe in the first quarter, 14 yards to Sidney Rice in the second and 31 yards to Bernard Berrian in the third quarter.

To contact the reporter on this story: Michael Buteau in Atlanta at mbuteau@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: October 6, 2009 14:07 EDT

http://www.bloomberg.com/

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The power of lies, deceptions and disinformation as Americans pay the price of collective stupidity.

“You know very well, and the stupid Americans know equally well, that we control their government, irrespective of who sits in the White House. You see, I know it and you know it that no American president can be in a position to challenge us even if we do the unthinkable. What can they (Americans) do to us? We control congress, we control the media, we control show biz, and we control everything in America. In America you can criticize God, but you can’t criticize Israel…” Israeli spokeswoman, Tzipora Menache Read the full story

Kleiza signs 2-year deal with Olympiakos

Denver Nuggets forward Linas Kleiza is taking his playing career to Greece after signing a two-year contract worth $12.2 million with Olympiakos on Monday.

Kleiza can opt out of the deal after one season to return to the NBA, according to a source.

The Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers and Nuggets all showed interest in Kleiza at various points this summer, but none were offering more than the bi-level exception.

Kleiza played four seasons with the Nuggets out of the University of Missouri. Coming off the bench, he averaged 9.9 points last season.

Source: Wallace returning to Detroit

Free-agent center Ben Wallace agreed to terms with the Detroit Pistons on Friday, according to a league source.

The contract is for one year at the veteran’s minimum of $1.3 million, according to sources.

Wallace became a free agent this summer after the Phoenix Suns bought him out of the last year of his contract. Wallace was traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to Phoenix earlier this summer for Shaquille O’Neal.

The move is a bittersweet reunion of sorts. Wallace bolted from the Pistons for the Chicago Bulls in summer 2006 after the Pistons balked at matching the Bulls’ four-year, $60 million offer.

Wallace’s move from Detroit to Chicago was a bit of a bust. He never regained his defensive dominance and was traded away two years later to Cleveland.

Former Lions receiver Charles Rogers revealed to ESPN that he smoked marijuana every day when he played in the NFL.

“I blew everyday,” Rogers told ESPN (see the video below). “But you know I was doing something wrong … I was wrong.”

Rogers, the second overall pick in 2003 by Detroit who played just three seasons in the league, also said that he was abusing prescription drugs when he was in the NFL. Read the full story