LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Lakers great, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the man formally known as Lew Alcindor, was diagnosed last December with chronic myeloid leukemia.

Abdul-Jabbar, who was known for his unstoppable “sky-hook” shot is the leading scorer in NBA history, said his doctor conveyed promising news to him saying, “You have a very good chance to live your life out and not have to make any drastic changes to your lifestyle.”

Similar to how Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson brought awareness to HIV after contacting the disease in the mid-90’s, Kareem wants to do the same with his disease.

“I’ve never been a person to share my private life. But I can help save lives,” said Kareem. “It’s incumbent on someone like me to talk about this.”

Below is the cover of a March, 1969 Sports Illustrated edition after the young Alcindor led his UCLA team to the national title. 

Copyright © 2009 – Sports Climax

The Chicago Bears were taken to school at Soldier Field by Kurt Warner (5 TD Passes) and the Arizona Cardinals 41-21 in a game  that featured a cheap-shot punch by Bears defensive lineman Tommie Harris just 54 seconds into the game.

During the Cardinals first possession offensive lineman Deuce Lutui was laying face-first on the ground after a play and Harris decided to throw a cheap-shot right into the face of the unsuspecting player and was immediately ejected by referee Ed Hochuli.

The Bears’ Adewale Ogunleye was up front with the Chicago Tribune during post-game about how unacceptable Harris’ classless move was and many expect Harris to receive a suspension from NFL Commish’ Roger Goodell.

In other games around the NFL:

The Indy Colts remained undefeated at 8-0 after winning 20-17  when Houston placekicker Kris Brown missed a last-second 42-yard field goal attempt.

Drew Brees and his New Orleans Saints also remained unbeaten at 8-0 after bouncing back from a 17-3 deficit for a comeback 30-20 victory against the Carolina Panthers.

The battle between the hapless Seattle Seahawks and the NFL-basement Detroit Lions ended in a 32-20 Seahawks win after the Lions with the help of 5 Matthew Stafford interceptions blew a 17-0 1st quarter lead.

In other games the Dallas Cowboys beat the Philadelphia Eagles 20-16, Tampa Bay won their first of the year beating the Green Bay Packers 38-28 and the Cincinnati Bengals kept their overachieving season going with a 17-7 win over the Baltimore Ravens.

Copyright © 2009 – Sports Climax

NEW YORK – Hideki Matsui lit it up at the plate with a World Series record 6 RBIs leading the New York Yankees to a 7-3 victory over last year’s champions, the Philadelphia Phillies.

After just three days rest, veteran starter Andy Pettitte who came up through the Yankees system, got the start and earned the Game 6 victory that was played at the new $1.5 billion Yankees Stadium.

Matsui won the MVP with impressive stats, hitting .615 with 3 home runs and 8 RBIs.

On the Phillies side, Chase Utley tied Reggie Jackson’s World Series record of 5 home runs and Ryan Howard struck out a World Series record 13 times.

Copyright © 2009 – Sports Climax

Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh just got knocked out of contention of buying the NFL St. Louis Rams.

Dave Checketts who heads the investment group interested in buying the Rams said Limbaugh’s participation had become a complication in the group’s efforts and the bid will move forward without him.

When it was first announced that Limbaugh would be involved in a bid, a large portion of the mainstream media, the NFLPA and some NFL players opposed the shock-jock being involved as an owner in the league and it appears that Checketts may have caved in to the pressure.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was one of the latest to jump on that  bandwagon. When asked to comment on some of the racially-sensitive remarks made in the past by Limbaugh, Goodell said, “I would not want to see those comments coming from people who are in a responsible position in the NFL –- absolutely not.”

One has to wonder though if Checketts who currently owns the NHL St. Louis Blues does get the bid and buys the Rams, what would stop him from allowing Limbaugh to get involved once he is the owner.

Time will tell if Checketts’ association with Limbaugh who has a history of drug arrest and has made remarks deemed racist over the years, will crush his chances of obtaining the team.

More on Limbaugh’s Bid:

Will Black Players Refuse to Play for Limbaugh’s Rams? –  Deadspin.com

NFL Should Punt Limbaugh’s Bid for Rams – NFL Fanhouse

Limbaugh ownership decision matter of pride and prejudice – USA Today

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax

This week’s Bitch-Slap-of-the-Week goes to the St. Louis Cardinals, Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox who were all swept right out of the MLB Playoffs.

Many sports fans believe the MLB season is too long so what better way to shorten the season than eliminating almost every team the first week of the playoffs.

The Cards bitch-slap was delivered compliments of the L.A. Dodgers.

After just three games of a five game NL playoff series, the Cards were sent home, tail between their legs, swept by the Dodgers with the final game being a 5-1 loss in front of a sold out silenced crowd at Busch Stadium.

The Cards line-up managed to cross the plate just six times in the entire series; a series that saw a few bounces go the Dodgers’ way.

Like a bitch-slap isn’t enough, in what should have been the final out for a Cardinal victory in Game 2, Cards left fielder Matt Holliday took a direct knock in the nuts when he misjudged a line shot that bounced off his junk, allowing the Dodgers to rally for a comeback win.

That play, reminiscent of Bill Buckner’s infamous miscue, should have been the final out of that contest and would have tied the series one game apiece before heading back to St. Louis.

Instead, the blunder set the stage for the Dodgers’ sweep. To make matters worse, Holliday struggled at the plate batting .167 with only one extra base hit.

Holliday and his Cards do get to share this week’s award with the two other teams who also got the broom; the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox.

That’s a lot of pain to endure . . . maybe Holliday is willing to pass around his ice pack to ease the pain.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax

MINNESOTA – Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre won the first round of his bout against his former Green Bay Packer team on the Monday Night Football national stage when his Vikings won 30-23.During post-game interviews, Favre admitted he entered the game “as nervous as I have ever been before a game.”

Favre who unmercifully dumped the Vikings just two days before training camp this summer, later pulled an about-face and reconsidered, coming back to the team at the last minute. Maybe all that disruption was worth it for the Vikings.

Favre who turns 40-years-old later this month, battled his younger counterpart Aaron Rodgers in a game that was not totally decided until the final onside kick attempt with less than one minute to play in regulation.

Favre finished 24-of-31 for 271 yards and 3 TDs while Rodgers set a career high in passing yards, finishing 26-of-37 for 384 yards. Rodgers also tossed for one TD and an interception.

The much-anticipated rematch will be played on Lambeau Field in Green Bay on November 1st.

More NFL:

Sexiest NFL Cheerleaders Gallery

Couple Caught on Video Having Sex at New Cowboys Stadium

Stafford Injured, Titans 0-4, Broncos 4-0

Lions Get First Win Since 2007

Copyright © 2009 – Sports Climax

NEW YORK – New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress was arrested and charged with two felony counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree after an incident in November 2008.

While going clubbing in the Latin Quarter in New York City, Burress’ concealed loaded firearm accidentally fired, sending a bullet into his leg.

The incident occurred when Burress was in the midst of a hefty contract that was to pay him $35 million.

With the tough New York gun laws that hold strict sentencing guidelines, Burress decided to plea guilty to the charges and was given a two year sentence.

Here is the mugshot taken in September 2009 when he began serving his time at the correctional facility.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax™

ANN ARBOR – University of Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez and Wolverine linebacker Jonas Mouton have earned this week’s Bitch-Slap-of-the-Week honors.

The struggling Michigan coach who was recently accused of breaking NCAA rules, again made negative headlines after he ignored a serious incident involving Mouton during last Saturday’s victory over Notre Dame.

Mouton officially joined Oregon Ducks player McGarette Blount as a cheap-shot artist when he threw an uppercut sucker punch into the jaw of Notre Dame center Eric Olsen while Olsen was on his knees attempting to get up on his feet after a play was over.

As the embarrassing video made its way around the internet and sports sites all over the country, Rich-Rod continued to brush the incident off until finally delivering a lame account followed by a description of the incident that doesn’t match the tape, even in the biggest stretch of imagination. “The little bit I saw, the clip I saw, the guys got tangled up together and Jonas was trying to free himself.” said Rodriguez. Here’s the punch on YouTube.

The Big Ten responded to the sucker-punch by suspending Mouton for one game for violating the Big Ten Sportslike Conduct Agreement.

“The actions of Jonas Mouton during the Notre Dame game are unacceptable,” Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said. “Mouton’s behavior has no place in the sport of football or the Big Ten Conference.”

What is just as bothersome and unacceptable is Rich-Rod’s ignorant choice to let Mouton evade punishment prior to the league stepping in.

Blount was suspended for the entire season for his assault on the Boise State player opening week while Mouton’s actions earned a one game slap on the wrist.

Although Blount was much more aggressive in his incident, he was also provoked after his team suffered an embarrassing loss. Mouton initiated his attack unprovoked and many believe he should have received stiffer disiplinary action than the one game.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax

This week’s Bitch-Slap-of-the-Week is actually shared by two NCAA football players who deserve an equal share of the honor, sucker-puncher LeGarrette Blount and sucker-punchee Byron Hout. Here’s the video of that knockdown straight-right punch:

That punch occurred after Blount and his Oregon team suffered a 19-8 loss on national television to Hout and his Boise State Broncos, the post-game celebration began kicking into high gear. As a dejected Blount was passing by the Boise bench, Hout shouted in his face and pushed him on the shoulder as he headed off the field.

Blount, a running back for Oregon retaliated to the taunting by throwing a haymaker that connected right on the jaw of the unsuspecting Hout, dropping the huge defensive lineman to his knees; color-coordinating his face with the famous blue turf at Boise State.

While Blount was suspended for the entire season, Hout, the agitator and receiver of the blow somehow avoided any suspension.

Blount was over-aggressive no doubt and should sit this season for assaulting Hout but this incident would not have occurred if Hout would have let the scoreboard do the talking instead of verbally jabbing a dejected opponent.

Hout should be joining Blount on the sidelines for at least a few weeks but it appears he side-stepped any disciplinary actions. If nothing else the sting to the face certainly must have reminded him to leave excessive immature heckling to youngsters in the neighborhood parks-it is demeaning and doesn’t belong on a college or pro playing field.

Hout’s juvenile behavior clearly triggered this altercation and the physical bitch-slapping he received has now been seen around the world–that will put a sting into any sized ego.

Past Bitch-Slap-of-the-Week:

Pittsburgh Penguins “Cindy” Crosby

Lebron “King” James Storms Off Court Against Orlando Magic

Detroit Lions Matt Millen Bitch-Slap-of-the-Week

Copyright ©2009 Sports Climax

CHICAGO – The NHL has finally snagged a glitter of the criminal spotlight normally dominated by the NFL.

Chicago Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane joined NFL stars Michael Vick and Plaxico Burress on that stage after his recent involvement concerning an incident that occurred on August 9. 

This afternoon, an Erie County grand jury indicted Kane and his cousin on misdemeanor harassment and theft charges while passing on the opportunity of the felony charges.

Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita said in a statement: “Patrick Kane will not be prosecuted more leniently or more harshly because he is employed as a hockey player.” The charges come following testimony from “all known witnesses, including a witness suggested by defense counsel,” according to the statement.

Kane, 20-years-old, was arrested after an altercation in Buffalo on August 9th that left he and his cousin James Kane accused of assaulting 62-year-old cab driver, Jan Radecki, after a disagreement over 20 cents.

That’s right; a conflict over 20 U.S. pennies .13 Euro or 2.58 Pesos, depending where you’re from, between a multi-million dollar pro athlete and a retirement-aged cabbie.

Kane who is listed to have earned $3.75 million last season is accused of assaulting Radecki after the cabbie told the player he did not have 20 cents change for the fare. Radecki told the Chicago Tribune ” [the Kanes] broke my glasses, they ripped my clothes … all over 20 cents.”

According to a police report, the incident occurred at around 5 a.m. when the Kanes had given the driver $15 for a fare of $13.80. The driver gave them back a dollar, but not the remaining 20 cents. James Kane then allegedly tore the money from Radecki’s hand and began punching him, the report said. The driver told the Chicago Tribune on Sunday that Patrick Kane also “kept pounding and pounding on me.”

According to witnesses, the assault left the cabbie with bruises and a pair of broken glasses.

After reviewing the incident, police arrested both Kanes with second-degree robbery, a Class C felony, as well as fourth-degree criminal mischief and theft of services, both Class A misdemeanors.

Copyright © 2009 – Sports Climax