Peyton Manning was inked to a five-year $90 million deal by the Indianapolis Colts. That’s a cool average of $18 million per season, $1.125 per game, $281,250 per quarter, about a roofer’s annual salary per snap. And that’s not including the endorsement deals or hilarious SNL appearances like the one shown in this video:

In a 2010 article titled “Staggering Stats of Top 50 Paid Athletes”, writer Cade Caldwell explained, “Of the nearly $31 million earned by Peyton Manning [last season] the split between salary and winnings along with endorsements was almost even.”

That said, Peyton, a four-time MVP, has become the poster child for advertisers and is certain to make up for any concessions he may have agreed to take in the form of salary.

Colts owner Jim Irsay wrote on Twitter that the Manning deal will reduce his salary cap number this season to $16 million meaning the deal frees up money to sign other players. He went on to further credit his zillionaire QB on Twitter writing:

“It’s a credit 2 Peyton;he put Coltfans,teammates, Ind. n winning ahead of all else”

Manning is said to have asked the team to pay him less to allow players like RB Joe Addai and offensive lineman Charlie Johnson to re-sign with the team.

Smart move taking a cut in pay to get your blind side tackle that’s responsible for keeping you off your back on Sunday afternoons signed and to camp.

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

Hideki Irabu was found dead from an apparent suicide that occurred in Los Angeles. The Japanese fastballer who was one of the first players from Japan to hit MLB was said to be separated from his wife for several weeks.

That separation wasn’t the only personal issue the former New York Yankees pitcher faced since he left MLB.

In addition to being arrested in Japan in 2008 after being accused of assaulting a bartender after downing about 20 brews, he was again busted in 2010, this time in Los Angeles for suspicion of DUI.

When first arriving to the United States in the late 90’s, Irabu possessed a fastball that flirted with 100 mph mark on the radar guns and was expected to be another strikeout king. That labeled the hurler as the Japanese version of Nolan Ryan and added additional pressure to the foreign player.

Instead of leaving players standing at the plate with their pants around their ankles, Irabu was rocked time and time again and never met expectations.

Clutching for anything that could bring him confidence, Irabu tried taping magnets all over his body when he pitched. Soon recognized as a big bust, Irabu looked like his time in MLB would be short-lived and was called a “fat toad” by then Yankees owner George Steinbrenner during one exhibition game.

In all, Irabu finished his career with a 34-35 record with 16 saves as a reliever in Texas and a 5.15 ERA.

An autopsy is planned to verify the cause of death.

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

Jay Cutler dumped Kristen Cavallari and it’s a move that puts the NFL quarterback back in the headlines; at least this time it’s not for moping on the sidelines during the Chicago Bears NFC Championship game.

Cutler confirmed the dumping through his Facebook page when he changed his relationship status on the social website from being “engaged” to “single” as shown in the image here.

While also deleting the profile pic of him with Kristin, the hurler got a little aggressive in protecting her from the wrath of Facebook fans posting:

“Thank you all for the support, but if you talk bad about Kristin I will delete and block you. It’s unnecessary and heartless…”

Cutler who took loads of criticism for taking himself out of that NFC Championship game at a crucial time may also take some heat for eliminating this sexy blond from his playbook.

Cutler 28, made the 24-year-old Cavallari his fiancée back in April.

The sexy blond has a resume that includes MTV productions, Laguna Beack, The Hills and The Real Orange County.

Cavallari was planning on moving from sunny L.A. to frigid Chicago to be with Cutler and take in the upcoming NFL season in a close up and personal way but while the league approved it’s CBA, it appears she will remain “locked out”.

MORE NFL: Millions Have Simultaneous Orgasm

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

What is the Guinness Book of World Records mark for most people coming to climax and having simultaneous orgasms?

Whatever it is must have been broken yesterday when NFL Commish Roger Goodell stepped up to the mic and said “Football is back!”

After months of a lockout, bitter negotiations and lawsuits, the NFLPA and league finally came to terms and are in agreement on how to disperse their $9 billion plus dollars over the next 10 years.

Here’s the scoop:

• Teams will start to open their facilities at 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday when the door is open to sign 2011 draft picks and rookie free agents. That same time also marks the right to make trades and begin conversations veteran free agents from around the league.
• Although verbal deals may be struck, no player may sign with a new team until Friday at 6 p.m. ET.
• Teams can report for training camps 15 days before each club’s first preseason game and here’s the league rundown below:

WED: Dallas, Baltimore, Seattle, San Diego, Arizona, Oakland, Denver, Jacksonville, New England and Philadelphia (this allows the Eagles extra time to travel to Brett Favre’s house and beg him out of retirement).

THURS: Atlanta, Kansas City, Miami, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, New Orleans, Washington, Cincinnati, Detroit and Tampa Bay (this gives the Bucs an extra few days to make sure all their offseason arrested players have been bailed out of jail).

FRI: Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Minnesota, Tennessee, N.Y. Giants, Carolina and Green Bay (gives the champs a few extra days to come down from their Super Bowl high).

SUN: Last and not least? Houston and the New York Jets (because it’s time to let Rex Ryan know just because he f***ing loves running his f****ng mouth off all the f*****ng time doesn’t mean anyone else thinks he’s f****ng special)

So NFL football is back and although part of Colts lineman Jeff Saturday’s comments included the words, “I don’t want to be over climactic…” he may not but everybody else seems to be.

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

In an event not celebrated in Atlanta, the Winnipeg Jets unleashed their new logo this past week.

The logo was said to be inspired with the help of the Royal Canadian Air Force but by the looks of it, Molson, one of the top breweries in the country, may have contributed a subliminal effect as well.

Donning the red maple leaf behind a jet, we assume the logo was intended to promote the country’s flag but the way NHL fans and players are known to slam a few down whether a day calls for it or not, we have to wonder if people may get confused and interpret the logo to mean it’s okay to down a few Molson Ale then jump into the cockpit of a CF-18 fighter jet and go for a cruise.

If so, that shouldn’t create too serious a problem since some NHL players have blown well over the legal limits before posing for mugshots and the pics ended up looking more like Glamour Shots than a rough night out on the town that included handcuffs.

So the Thrashers…I mean Jets…will don the new logo, shown here, when they take the ice in October. The new Jets team and logo replace the original Jets team that left Winnipeg for the desert in Arizona in the 90’s after the team had a league-low in attendance.

In a recent interview regarding the new logo, Chairman Mark Chipman said:

“True North Sports & Entertainment felt it was important for the new Winnipeg Jets to develop a strong new identity….including the rich history…”

The rich history of heritage or brewing?

Whatever….I’m going to crack open a Labatt Blue.

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

Ben Roethlisberger tied the knot this weekend and this time it wasn’t in the form of a noose around his neck involving sexual misconduct accusations. So who attended the wedding ceremony that made Ashley Harlan Big Ben’s first wife?

Well the list included a few expected attendees like Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney and retired player Jerome Bettis but did we really expect to see linebacker James Harrison after the scathing comments he made in a recent interview with Men’s Journal Magazine?

Harrison has since said his comments were taken out of context but that seemed to be a major backstroke Michael Phelps would even be proud of. For those of you who missed it, Harrison threw Big Ben under the bus, pointing the finger at him for his team’s loss to the Green Bay Packers in last season’s Super Bowl.

That aside, now wearing a band, when the NFL lockout ends and the players return to taking snaps on the field, Roethlisberger will be a married man and who woulda thunk that.

After twice being accused of sexual misconduct with graphic, embarrassing testimonials from accusers becoming public on police reports; statements like “Ben came back [out of the bar restroom] with his penis out of his pants” is Ben a changed man?

For the record neither of the two incidents resulted in charges but NFL Commish Roger Goodell still suspended Roethlisberger for six games for breaking the league’s conduct policy that must include no swinging your dick around in public.

Roethlisberger responded by getting the suspension reduced to four games for good behavior (like criminals get in prison terms) and returning to the field with his game face on to lead his team back to the Super Bowl.

So has Ben grown up and learned from his mistakes?

Would have to think so with his ability to keep his meat out of the news and with his new bride, Ashley Roethlisberger, in the picture.

Now, let’s hope the NFLPA ratifies this week so we can get on to some real football news.

After arresting the right guy in the Brian Stow Dodgers opening day assault about two months ago, the LAPD have again announced they have busted the right guys. Wait…what….whatever, it’s the LAPD we’re talking about.

Replacing Giovanni Ramirez as the primary suspects in that Opening Day beating are 30-year-old Marvin Norwood and 29-year-old Louie Sanchez. Their arrests come nearly two months after that highly-publicized arrest of Ramirez who was originally described by LAPD as the “primary aggressor” of the brutal attack.

While Ramirez has now been cleared and released as a suspect by the LAPD, the two newest arrestees in this case are being charged with three felonies and are still behind bars held on $500,000 bail each.

Sleeping in a cell this weekend, these guys are in a familiar territory and their impressive rap sheets just got a lot longer. According to a TMZ report, Norwood has been popped five times and Sanchez nine with charges that include drugs and carrying a loaded weapon in a public place. With resumes like these, if these guys are convicted, expect them to be thrown behind bars for quite a while.

In addition to making the two arrests, a third possible suspect, Dorene Sanchez, possibly the sister of Louie Sanchez, was also taken in by LAPD and arrested on suspicion of being an accessory. Charges against the female Sanchez remain pending.

While all this craziness has been going on during this investigation, Stow has remained in a coma from the assault and was moved from L.A. to a San Francisco area hospital in May to be closer to his family.

And Ramirez who has been described as a gang member and has a mugshot that looks strikingly similar to the police sketch that lead to his arrest, is again a free man.

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

When the boys at NASCAR aren’t drinking beer, kicking ass and taking names in the pit area or chasing hot ladies in Daisy Dukes they’re winning races and that’s exactly what Kyle Busch has been doing.

Busch took a victory lap for the 100^th time yesterday after winning the race at New Hampshire Speedway to become just the third driver to accomplish that feat.

The 26-year-old joins Richard Petty who is the NASCAR career leader with 200 wins and David Pearson who is well within reach with 106 wins. If Busch catches Pearson, the debate will be hot since Pearson won 105 of his 106 in the Cup level while Busch’s 100 victories are spread over NASCAR’s top three (Nationwide, Sprint Cup, Truck).

Saturday’s win was the 49^th Nationwide Series win for Busch tying him with Mark Martin for that all-time lead. In all Busch has popped a cork in the winner’s circle 49 times in Nationwide Series wins, 22 times in Sprint Cup competition and 29 times after Trucks Series’ wins.

While Busch coasted around the track waving a flag with “100” on it, the debate putting Busch in the same class as Petty and Pearson had already gained momentum. With all of Richard Petty’s 200 wins being at the Cup level, his son Kyle posted on his Twitter account, reminding fans the difference in the sport back then as opposed to now.

Busch certainly understands the format for NASCAR has changed and understood Kyle’s feelings but it didn’t seem to take away from his accomplishment of hitting that 100 number.

“Certainly, mine’s a little bit different,” Busch said. “But it feels good.”

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 Toronto Blue Jays sent New York Yankees starter Bartolo Colon to the showers after just two-thirds of an inning yesterday at the start of a 20-hit, 16-7 route. The Jays never let up with their balanced attack, ending the night with four hitters finishing with three hits and six contributing two or more RBI.

This is a good game for Colon to try to forget since he lasted less than one inning, gave up six hits, eight runs (three earned) two walks and left the mound with no strikeouts.

Colon is in the midst of a season that has included suffering a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for 18 games this season.  The 38-year-old right-hander has struggled since his return and the word on the field is his sinker has turned into a stinker and not moving the way it’s supposed to.

Colon through a translator insisted it was because he’s “been thinking about [his] leg too much” and “doesn’t want to get hurt again.”

The Yankees were at a point early in this game where they just wanted to ”make it all stop!” and get the hell out of dodge but with guys like reliever Sergio Mitre coming in for the late innings and giving up five hits and four runs over the final two innings, it proved to be a long night for the guys from the Bronx.

There was some bad news for Toronto.

They lost their top hitter Jose Bautista in the fourth inning after the slugger left with a twisted ankle. Bautista leads the league with 31 home runs and is the heart and soul of that Jays line-up…while Colon has been the stinker for the Yanks.

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

What began as an innocent looking play turned into one of the most embarrassing moments in soccer history. The gaffe happened in an exhibition game between the San Jose Earthquakes and West Bromwich Albion and will certainly go viral on the internet; here’s the video:

The man that scored on that field-long shot in the video is Earthquakes rookie goalkeeper David Bingham who stunned opposing goalkeeper Boaz Myhill.

Myhill, who plays for the national team of Wales stood in shock as the Quakes team surrounded their goalkeeper, celebrating the first goal in their 2-1 victory.

Now those at the game could see that Myhill was staring directly into the sun but…let’s just say this blunder should make it into the ESPN “Not Top Plays of the Week”. Myhill looked like he may have expected the ball to bounce low to the ground but that doesn’t always happen.

The kick measured at approximately 90 yards topped the length of any goal we could find in our research of recent MLS games.

In 2009, Houston player Tally Hall booted a drive into the net from 80 yards and prior to that New York’s Danny Cepero scored on a free kick from about 80 yards out in 2008.

This match was a warm-up for West Brom who will be starting the season off against last year’s champion Manchester United on Aug. 14. Hopefully for them, Myhill will invest in a new set of glasses, or eyes for that matter.

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