It’s only NFL preseason so games don’t matter, right? Unless you’re a deranged football fan who carries a weapon to a game and pulls it and starts shooting because you may not like someone’s T-shirt.

Two fans leaving the preseason game between the Oakland Raiders and nearby rival San Francisco 49ers were shot

Photo/Wikimedia Commons

and one is in serious condition. Police say the pair were leaving the game when the incident occurred in the parking lot of Candlestick Park.

According to police, around 8 p.m., shortly after the 49ers’ 17-3 victory, a 24-year-old man that was wearing a T-shirt with a message slamming the 49ers was shot at point blank range several times in the stomach. The man is said to have then driven his car to security where he got out and stumbled over to them seeking help.

That victim is in a nearby hospital where he was admitted with life-threatening injuries and is joined by another victim, a 20-year-old man who was also hospitalized with less serious bullet wounds. The police have not released the victim’s names but have taken in at least one suspect.

This embarrassing, senseless act joins another incident that occurred this year after a sporting event. On opening day in L.A. Dodgers fans beat San Francisco Giants fan Brian Stow into a coma. The possible assailants in that attack have been arrested and booked by LAPD.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Ndamukong Suh plays with a mean streak and he keeps reaching into his piggy bank because of it. Competing with the Pittsburgh Steelers brutalizer James Harrison to see who can stockpile the most fines, last year’s Defensive Rookie of the Year was nailed by Roger Goodell and the league to the tune of $20,000 for a late hit on Bengals rookie quarterback, Andy Dalton.

Suh’s response on Twitter may have set a Guinness Book of World Record for most exclamation marks used in a Tweet:

$20,000REALLY???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #NFL #BIGFAIL”

The Detroit Lions anchor on defense said he will appeal the fine but as much as we love the violent part of the NFL game, the guy basically tried to pry his Dalton’s head off his body like a stubborn bottle top.

Dalton clearly had gotten rid of the ball in enough time before Suh continued his motion and slammed the QB to the turf, helmetless to make matters even more dangerous. After getting flagged for 15 yards for unnecessary roughness, Suh put his hands on his hips and pleaded his case to the referee with no results.

Suh has a pic on his Twitter profile that states, “Be the hammer or the nail” and it’s become clear which of the two he has become since taking the league by storm during his rookie season.

The fine is Suh’s third in a short career, one hit on the Bears’ Jay Cutler (%15,000) and another on Cleveland’s Jake Delhomme ($7,500). Some Lions fans appreciated the hit on Cutler thinking it may have been in retaliation for the Bears knocking Matthew Stafford out of the rival’s first game of the season.

With a contract that will pay him $40,000,000 guaranteed and up to $68 million with incentives, $20K is like most of us dropping a penny on the sidewalk and deciding not to stop and pick it up.

Next up for Suh…Pro Bowl Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas in an exhibition game this upcoming weekend.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Rick Rypien was found dead in his home in Canada. Small in stature, the 5-foot-11 and 190-pound forward was not afraid to mix it up and many times took on the NHL’s toughest enforcers.

Canadian police said the death “was sudden” and “not suspicious” but the timing does seem odd since the player just inked a one-year, $700,000 deal with the Winnipeg Jets.

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Rypien is the second young, active NHL player found dead this offseason joining New York Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard who died in May from what was ruled an accidental mix of alcohol and oxycodone, a painkiller drug.

Rypien, who played with passion and vigor on the ice, had spent the past nine months on personal leave of absence to deal with an undisclosed personal matter.

The 27-year-old Rypien is related to Super Bowl MVP quarterback Mark Rypien (cousins) and spent the last six seasons with the Vancouver Canucks. In his time with Vancouver, Rypien tallied nine goals, seven assists and 226 penalty minutes in 119 regular-season games.

The recent leave to deal with an “undisclosed personal matter” was the second the player had taken during his time with the Canucks. In addition to the times lost due to personal issues, the NHL suspended Rypien for six games after he grabbed a fan on his way to the dressing room during game in Minnesota.

The Jets released the following statement: “We would like to express our sincere sympathies to the Rypien family as well as Rick’s friends. Rick was a talented player with an extremely bright future. His hunger for the game made him a valued team member both on and off the ice. This loss has impacted us as more than just a hockey team.”

The Canucks followed up with this one:

“Rick has been a beloved member of the Canucks family for the past six years. Rick was a great teammate and friend to our players, coaches and staff. We send our deepest condolences to the Rypien family at this most difficult time.”

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. 

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Jim Thome joined the 600 home run club after sending a three-run shot into the left-field seats against the Detroit

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Tigers last night. It was the slugger’s second round-tripper of the night.

Thome’s journey to 600 started twenty years ago, on Oct. 4, 1991, when as a rookie he hit his first an

d only home runthat season. While spending 12 seasons in Cleveland, Thome hit a total of 334 out of the park, including a career-best 52 during the 2002 season.

Trying his hand against NL pitching, Thome went to Philadelphia and blasted 47 and 42 his first two seasons with the Phillies. The 47 home runs in 2003 lead all of MLB.

Now 8^th on the all-time list, Sammy Sosa sits in the No. 7 spot with 609, a number Thome may easily reach. New York Yankees infielder Alex Rodriguez, with 626, is the only active player in front of Thome while retired Giants outfielder Barry Bonds remains at the top with 762.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

The best news to come out of the Detroit Lions locker room after last night’s 34-3 preseason squashing over the Cincinnati Bengals was the fact Matthew Stafford left the game untouched on his own two feet. Stafford passed the test, strutting off Ford Field after taking the snaps for two series and firing two touchdown passes without either shoulder seeing the turf.

The Bengals seemed more like the Lions of the recent past; lost, so much they may be looking ahead to next year’s NFL Draft that will feature Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, a sure top pick for a team like the Bengals.

Stafford looked great although he only took 11 snaps with six out of the seven passing snaps coming for the shotgun. The former UGA standout went to the sidelines finishing the game 6-of-7 for 71 yards and two touchdowns; for a quarterback rating of 148.5.

The Lions finished the season on a 4-0 run that included two road wins and that had the Lions addicts jonsing for the NFL to return on time. Don’t tell these Lions fans this was just a meaningless exhibition game because they are starving for a winner after finally starting to come down from the ill-effects of the Matt Millen era.

Stafford performed the way he is expected to after signing a $48 million-ish guaranteed contract that started out with the slinger spending more game days in street clothes than on the field over the first two seasons of that contract. In fact he has only played in 13 games over the first two seasons combined; less than last year’s rookie sensation Sam Bradford who played in all 16 his first season with the Rams.

Referred to as the China Doll by some of the impatient fans in Detroit, until he proves he is durable enough to last in this league and take a solid hit that doesn’t require major surgery, he remains a huge question mark.

Coach Jim Schwartz did what most experienced head coaches would have done. He took Stafford out after two successful series. With some coaches playing starters a little more than normal due to the lost time and late start after the lockout, it was smart to not take a chance on Stafford.

It’s time to protect the China Doll, especially during a preseason that has NFL analysts picking them to finally get over the hump and make the playoffs. The news has started well…with Stafford leaving the game with a win and no doctor’s appointment in sight.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Roy Williams is in NFL headlines again and this time not for demanding a $76K engagement ring back from a break-up.  Hitting a preseason camp with the third team of his career, ESPN Chicago reported that Williams asked Chicago Bears rookie Jimmy Young to carry his pads in after practice.

Young did what all rookies would do….well all rookies not named Dez Bryant…and carried them in.

Last season, Williams was dissed by Bryant, who is cocky in nature and refused to be a hauling boy. Roy had to have felt disrespected with that incident in Dallas but not this season in Chicago. After Young did the deed, he received a text message from another player who wrote:

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“I’m glad you didn’t pull a Dez Bryant”

Bryant had one of those “above the law” attitudes when Williams asked him to carry and came out of that fiasco looking like a dick as the media beat that incident like a dead horse, keeping it in the headlines for several days; and we’re all still talking about today.

Williams who has gotten into the headlines more for off-the-wall incidents lately, laughed it off and seemed happy to be involved again in rookie traditions.

In addition to the engagement ring fiasco that led to lawsuits being filed this offseason, Roy refused to tip a pizza delivery guy years ago while playing in Detroit. That incident went viral after Williams admitted he was cheap and never tipped the drivers. Scott Bergren, the President of Pizza Hut sent a letter to Roy that included:

“We’d like to issue you a challenge. Agree to work as a delivery driver for Pizza Hut for just one day in Detroit, and we’ll forgive all your previous tipping transgressions. Furthermore, we’ll collect all the tips you receive and donate them to the World Food Program as part of our World Hunger Relief Week.”

Good natured at heart and knowing how to cut it up, Williams accepted the challenge and spent one night in the shoes (and uniform) of a delivery guy and hit the streets of Dearborn, Michigan dropping off pies to raise money for the charity.

Have to admit, when his numbers are down on the field, this wideout has a knack for getting him and his team’s names in the headlines while this time getting Dez inadvertently slapped in the face.

Hats off to Jimmy Young, maybe the veterans will show a little mercy when it comes time for rookie hazing haircuts and not give him one as bad as the “Tim Tebow halo” look, although last time we saw him, he had the reverse halo thing going like in his TCU Frogs headshot here.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Rhett Bomar was arrested early Sunday morning for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

After being booked in the Blue Earth County Jail and cheesing for this mugshot, Bomar was later released later that same day.

No further details are available but the incident is said to have occurred near downtown Mankato.

The 26-year-old Bomar is battling for a spot on the team behind Donovan McNabb, first round pick Christian Ponder and Joe Webb after being signed from the New York Giants practice roster.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

NFL cheerleaders gallery tribute.

The Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboy are some of the teams featured in this sexy NFL cheerleaders gallery.

Some of the other photo galleries featured on the site include UFC ring girl Jess and our original Climax Girls Gallery featuring several of our models in their favorite sexy sports attire.

Photos by Ken Jacobs (NRV Photography) Make-up: Faces by Grace.

Bubba Smith was found dead at his home in L.A. yesterday. According to police, the former NFL lineman appeared to have died from natural causes but an autopsy is expected to be performed.

After becoming the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Baltimore Colts in 1967, Bubba became one of the game’s best pass rushers and earned a Super Bowl ring during the 1970-71 season.

Known for his towering height of 6ft-7 and ability to put stains in the shorts of opposing quarterbacks, Smith played a total of nine seasons in the NFL.

Although he was born to play football, Bubba found another talent after retiring from the NFL, going on to have a decent career as a film and television actor in Los Angeles.

Although he played several roles throughout his acting career, Bubba is best known for playing the part of Moses Hightower, the gentle giant police rookie in the “Police Academy” films.

In all, Smith starred in six of those Police Academy films while also making appearances in television shows like “Charlie’s Angels,” “Married With Children” and “Good Times.”

Smith leaves our planet with a reputation of being a monster on the field but gentle giant off of it.

Well-respected by his peers and fans alike, Hightower will R.I.P.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Tennis players once again dominated the Forbes top ten female athletes list.

While five of the top six spots are occupied by racket-swingers, NASCAR racer Danica Patrick wiggled into the No. 3 spot with $12 million in earnings.

Topping the list for the 7^th year in a row was Maria Sharapova with $25 million, with most of that cash coming from off-court endorsements.

Far behind in the No. 2 spot with only half of Sharapova’s earnings ($12.5 million) is Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki, the current No. 1 tennis player.

Here’s the complete rundown of the Top 10 with figure skating and golf each also being represented in the No. 7 and No. 10 spots.

1.       Maria Sharapova – tennis, $25 million

2.      Caroline Wozniacki – tennis $12.5 million

3.      Danica Patrick – Nascar $12 million

4.      Venus Williams – tennis $11.5 million

5.      Kim Clijsters – tennis $11 million

6.      Serena Williams – tennis $10.5 million

7.      Kim Yu-na – figure skating $10 million

8.     Li Na – tennis $8 million

9.      Ana Ivanovic – tennis  $6 million

10.  Paula Creamer – golf  $5.5 million

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC