Sports Briefs

Straight from the “who didn’t see that coming?” file

A urine test conducted on former MLB star Barry Bonds has linked the slugger to steroids. The New York Times reports that traces of anabolic steroids were found in samples linked to Bonds.

The report comes just months before Bonds is set to go to trial on March 2. Bonds, the ex-San Francisco Giant, faces 10 counts of perjury and one for obstruction for lying to the grand jury. He faces about two years in prison if found guilty.

Bennett earns bad “rap”

Dallas Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett is in trouble over a rap video he posted over YouTube last week. Bennett was fined $22,647 - the equivalent of one game’s cheque for the next season.

According to TSN.ca, the rap contained derogatory terms for blacks and gays as well as brags that Bennett had Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones’ money. Bennett also wore a Cowboys helmet and was holding a drink in the video.

After he was fined for the controversial video, Bennett made another rap video for YouTube. However, this video contained a rap that apologized for the incident with lyrics such as, “Why they hating on me? It was just a song. I was only rapping. I ain’t do nothing wrong.”

The newest contact sport: Cheerleading?

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that cheerleading is now a contact sport. Therefore, cheerleaders cannot sue others for accidental injuries.

According to SI.com, this was done so that a former high school cheerleader could not sue a teammate who failed to stop her fall while she was practicing a stunt. The court also stated the injured cheerleader cannot sue her school district.

The ruling now makes the statement, “Cheerleading is a contact sport, football is a collision sport,” officially true.

Football greats receive honours

Defensive end Bruce Smith, defensive back Rod Woodson, former Bills owner Ralph Wilson, the late linebacker Derrick Thomas, guard Randall McDaniel, and late wide receiver Bob Hayes are all going to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio.

“I am blessed right now to be standing in front of you. I cry because I am not less than a man but because I am a man,” said an emotional Smith, as reported on ESPN.com.

Receiving the snub this year once again is former commissioner of the NFL Paul Tagliabue, despite his 17-year tenure and often being regarded as the best commissioner the league has ever had.

Boxing great dies at 76

Former heavyweight champion Ingemar Johansson has died at the age of 76 in a nursing home in Kungsbacka, Sweden. The man known as “Ingo” was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease over a decade ago.

Johansson’s career highlight was on June 26, 1959 when he knocked out Floyd Patterson in the third round at Yankee Stadium. The fight shocked the entire boxing world, earned him the heavyweight championship title, and he was named sportsman of the year by Sports Illustrated.

Published in Volume 63, Number 19 of The Uniter (February 5, 2009)

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