If you didn’t like the Who’s performance at half-time, take heart – they reportedly didn’t get a fee to show up and entertain us.The NFL has a history of not paying its half-time acts but provides all expenses for travel, lodging and meals for the act plus entourage, crew and family members.

It amounts to an all expenses paid trip to the biggest week-long party the U.S. throws each February. Well, maybe one of the two biggest since you have to include Mardi Gras in New Orleans. But they sing for free. And frankly after toughing out The Who’s set of songs, I feel a bit better about it.

Friends at the gathering I attended wondered why Baby Boomer-era musical acts have dominated even as we moved into the second decade of the 21st century.

When I checked the list of all half-time shows it started with marching bands, migrated to acts who populated 60s and 70s variety shows and then began to be based around themes connected to the site of the game or a big milestone in musical history.

When the half-time show became sponsored by a corporate entity in 2001, current Top Twenty artists such as Nelly, Mary J. Blige and Brittany Spears were sprinkled in with more conservative choices.

In 2002, as the nation still mourned those lost in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, one big act, U2 provided a musical tribute and virtual catharsis. And then in 2004 came “nipple-gate” as Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson did their thing.

Immediately thereafter, geezer acts were used in an effort to avoid unintended circumstances and we got a string of folks starting with McCartney, the Stones, Tom Petty, Prince (who came close with his guitar phallus behind the white curtain), Springsteen and now The Who.

It’s time to follow the lead of big awards shows who present contemporary artists from genres such as country, hip-hop and rock without dire consequences.

The Who are past their sell-by date and like many of my friends I want to remember them when they were edgy enough to instill fear in producers’ hearts who booked them for shows.

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles. 

Michael Vick would still be engaged in dog fighting had he not been caught and prosecuted. He admitted that Monday morning on the Dan Patrick radio program in an interview during which he touched on his year as a Philadelphia Eagle as well as his time in prison.Vick was open with Patrick whose questions covered what could have been uncomfortable topics. But then again, Vick was also promoting his BET series, “The Michael Vick Project” that premieres Tuesday at 10 pm ET.

He told Patrick about his early introduction to dog fighting “I was seven years old the first time I saw one,” Vick said. “It wasn’t organized. It was just taking place in an open area in the neighborhoods.” But he knows it’s no excuse, “It really doesn’t override the fact that we should have known better,” Vick said.

And then he admitted the sad truth about what would have happened had he not been caught. He answered Patrick’s direct question about whether he would still be engaged in the business of dog fighting: “That’s the scary thing,” Vick said. “I think about it. I would have continued to put my life in jeopardy. From a distance I would have still been involved.”

Although many organizations and fans believe Vick shouldn’t get another chance, some believe he deserves a shot as expressed in this article by an NFL sportswriter, “Michael Vick Deserves Fresh Start”.

About his prison experience, Vick said he was challenged by other inmates while incarcerated but he dismissed it as merely the norm for that environment. On the other side of things, he told Patrick was asked for his autograph by some inmates.

And while he will be eternally grateful to the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, Jeffrey Lurie for the chance to reenter the league, he still yearns to play quarterback on a regular basis.

Vick said he would return to the Eagles if a trade isn’t worked out in the off-season. “If I had to, I would, just because I’m thankful,” Vick said. He insisted his body is ready for many more years of NFL work load.

This is just a taste of what we can expect from the show in which Vick and his family appear and which he wants to use, to “restore my family’s good name., as quoted at phily.com in a review of his show.

Used with permission of the author.

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles. 

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

The story of Phil Mickelson being called a cheat by a fellow golfer has circulated this week at the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.

Mickelson is using a wedge with square grooves rather than V-shaped grooves. The square-grooved clubs were banned by the U.S Golf Association (USGA) except for those that were manufactured by Ping prior to April 1, 1990.

That exception was agreed to by the USGA after it was sued by Ping. All square-grooved clubs but the Ping wedge are now illegal on the U.S. PGA Tour.

David Feherty, CBS golf analyst told television viewers on Saturday that the old grooves keep more grass from coming between the club and the ball as it comes off the ground.

Yahoo! Sports reports that Mickelson and at least four other golfers have the controversial clubs in their bags for the tournament. Cue the howls of others, one of whom actually called Phil a cheat. Scott McCarron spoke to the San Francisco Chronicle on Friday and said: “It’s cheating and I’m appalled Phi has put it in play.”

A fan favorite for years and seen by many as more accessible and pleasant than Tiger Woods, Mickelson is being counted on by the PGA to keep sponsors, fans and television viewers attending and watching the events in the absence of the big kahuna, Tiger Woods.

Mickelson went on the defensive Friday with media and admitted that he is taking advantage of the loop hole but reminded everyone that he follows the rules of golf, if not in spirit, at least literally.

The PGA buttressed that with a statement on Saturday castigating McCarron but not by name. The full statement can be found here. It says in part: “criticisms characterizing their use as a violation of the Rules of Golf as promulgated by the USGA are inappropriate at best.

In the meantime, Mickelson who has carefully cultivated his good guy image is being asked questions that seem strange to him. There’s a way to fix that. Ditch the Ping.

 Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles. 

The cream has risen to the top of the Aussie Open. Roger Federer cruised past Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last semi-final of the tournament 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in what seemed like not much more than a practice session for the Swiss champion.

Tsonga made it easier for Roger to put the match away after losing his own serve twice in the final set. In all, the match took 88 minutes which to Tsonga felt either like dog years or a nano-second depending on whether he was feeling humiliated or just overwhelmed.

Federer spoke after the match in those tones that make you wonder whether he’s being snarky or just funny. Here’s a sample from the AP reports about his opponent to come in the finals, Andy Murray:

“I know he’d like to win the first for British tennis since what is it, 150,000 years?” . And there’s this:
“So I think the pressure’s big on him. We’ll see how he’s going to handle it. It’s not going to be easy for him, that’s for sure.”

When you just read the words without hearing his inflection you could argue that he’s being unkind or taunting. Can you imagine if Kobe Bryant said that about Paul Pierce just prior to their Sunday game this week? He’d be called all manner of names. Roger is given great latitude but I’m not sure if he should rely on that forever.

The Williams sisters continue their march into history with their fourth Aussie Open doubles championship. They took down the #1 seeded team, of Cara Black and Liezel Huber 6-4, 6-3. The women hold 11 Grand Slam doubles trophies and don’t look like they are stoppable any time soon.

Venus and Serena won their first Australian Open doubles title in 2001. Think about that for a moment. Who has dominated for a decade and still sits on top of the women’s or men’s tour? The answer is no one.

What makes this accomplishment so noteworthy beyond the actual victories is the sisters’ determination to continue to play doubles as they each strive to win the singles trophy in the same tournaments. And the Grand Slams no less.

Through the 1980’s, top ten players on both the women and men’s side of the draw played doubles on a routine basis. It was their belief that the work paid off by sharpening them for the singles matches, especially their volleying skills.

Now, it’s seen as a hassle, an energy drain and a distraction from individual achievement. These women should get more love for their dedication to the doubles game and celebrated for winning singles titles in the same tournament. Old school for sure and something you can’t say the mighty Federer has done.

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles.

There are nude photos circulating on the Internet that purport to be taken by Greg Oden and feature the Portland Trailblazers’ injured star in all his manly glory.

When the photos first made their way into the media, Oden’s management company promised legal action against any sites that displayed the pictures. That made me think there was a pretty good chance they were real.

Since then, Oden has stepped up to the mic and apologized admitting the photos are of him and taken 1 1/2 years ago with his cell phone and sent to a former girlfriend. 

“I would like to apologize to everybody: Portland, the fans, the organization,” said Oden. “It was very embarrassing.”

It appears to be another big week in NBA-land and we’re only a few days in. On Monday, Washington Wizards guard Javaris Crittenton accepted a plea bargain in the gun case that surrounded the team and its star Gilbert Arenas.

Crittendon agreed to plead guilty to one misdemeanor count of unlawful possession of a firearm unlike Arenas who was tagged with a felony count and probable incarceration.

The case got interesting when it was revealed by Mike Wise of the Washington Post that Crittenton pulled out his own weapon in the team’s locker room in response to Arenas displaying four hand guns.

Wise reported that multiple sources told him Crittenton loaded the gun while engaging in banter with Arenas. But the prosecution’s court filing said they couldn’t confirm those facts. Thus, a judge agreed with the prosecution’s recommendation of one year unsupervised probation, a small fine and community service, specifically mentoring children in the District of Columbia.

The significant difference between the two situations that might have led authorities to recommend probation after a plea to one misdemeanor count rather than the harsher penalty for Arenas is Crittenton’s absence of prior gun offenses.

As was reported at the time of Arenas’ court appearance, he already had one strike against him on that front after a 2003 misdemeanor plea to gun possession in California. Crittenton might want to take note that the second time around, should there be one, will come with more than probation .

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles.

When Brett Favre threw his fourth touchdown on Sunday in the Vikings 34-3 win, the Dallas Cowboys erupted in anger at the lack of respect and classless act.

Really? That’s what you’ve chosen as the line that shouldn’t be crossed?

The unwritten rules of etiquette, sports-style, have been dwindling for years. As players and teams ignore conventional wisdom about what is out of line there are few acts that most agree are beyond the pale.

In the NFL, taunting and excessive touchdown celebrations are off limits now but only by league rule. Players get aggravated when their happiness at getting over on an opponent is messed with. And if it takes a few shoves or punches to get it to stop, well that’s just men being men.

Baseball players routinely admire their work as they realize they have hit home runs. The slightest celebration at the expense of a pitcher used to be dealt with swiftly as a batter would routinely be leveled by a pitch at the body or under the chin.

That practice was addressed by MLB but many a player doesn’t like the warning rules meant to deal with it all since their pitcher might be prevented from retaliating against the team’s whose pitcher got in the first lick.

What seems to rankle players both in baseball and football to this day is the act of rubbing their nose in a loss. When a baseball player steals a base with his team up a fair amount of runs its gets the hair follicles to stand up on players’ necks.

When Favre threw that pass on fourth down that had as much chance of failing as a run play in the situation, you’d think someone pulled his pants down and mooned the friends and families box of the opposing team.

What it indicates to me is sore losers are alive and well. Rather than admit they failed and are powerless to stop the onslaught players pout and blame the winners.

If NFL players were truly concerned about class and sportsmanship they’d stop the ridiculous practice of celebrating individual achievements that indicate nothing other than a personal triumph. Like a sack in the first few minutes of a scoreless game or at the end of a game that like the Vikes-Cowboys contest.

You mean to tell me that if the Cowboys had sacked Favre prior to that touchdown pass someone wouldn’t have been hooting and hollering about it with a teammate or two joining in stroking his ego? Same score, same hopeless situation for the Cowboys but it wouldn’t have kept some hot dog from using it to make himself feel good.

You live with the triumphs and you die with them. It’s just it doesn’t feel as good when the good times are being celebrated on the other side of the field.

Cowboys linebacker Keith Brooking was the most vocal when Favre threw the fourth TD pass and he approached the Vikings sideline.

Vikings player Pat Williams summed it up for the media later. “We don’t care what Keith Brooking says,” Williams said. “He was about to get his ass whupped on our sideline over there. It don’t matter. Nobody said anything when [the Cowboys] blew out the Eagles [the past two weeks]”. 

LOS ANGELES, CA. – Los Angeles awoke Saturday with the sinking feeling that Pete Carroll’s reported departure fromUSC will be a reality. The first to weigh in was the Los Angeles Times’ columnist Bill Plaschke who refused to give the masses an excuse to complain.

He didn’t bury Pete for his decision since like others who actually paid attention he knew that Carroll never ruled out a return to the NFL if the right situation presented itself. Plaschke wrote:

“Pete Carroll owes USC nothing. He owes this city nothing. He owes you nothing. In nine years, he has more than earned his millions.”

Kyle Prater, the school’s top wide receiver prospect has reconsidered his verbal commitment to the school. Instead of flying to Los Angeles to register for spring classes he is going home to discuss his options with his family.

That follows the news that two offensive mainstays of the program, WR Damien Williams and RB Joe McKnight are entering the 2010 NFL draft.

While Plaschke chides fans not to ask Carroll why he’s going, he does encourage us all to ask why NOW. And like others who have commented, the name of the school’s athletic director, Mike Garrett bubbles up.

“…for the first time in Carroll’s tenure here, he openly questioned the USC administration, criticizing them for essentially suspending McKnight because of the Land Rover controversy. He was talking about Athletic Director Mike Garrett, and he didn’t care.”

Ted Miller at ESPN.com/LosAngeles writes: “…with school president Steven Sample retiring in August, the new president might want to hire his own guy to oversee an athletic department in transition.”

Miller wonders if a clean slate wouldn’t be seen in a positive light by the NCAA investigators who are crawling all over the athletics department.

In other words, Garrett would be the sacrificial lamb to spare the football program the punishment meted out by Garrett himself against the basketball team. And after the exodus of the golden coach, Garrett’s stock with boosters might just be at its lowest point.

Earlier this week I wrote about Mike Garrett maintaining his status at the expense of the basketball team. I asked what he knew about the signing of O.J. Mayo and if he walled himself off from knowing too much to be able to deny any culpability.

I think Mike Garrett is hearing those NCAA drumbeats today and Trojan fans will be certain to crank the heat up from now on.

Tired of the same old sports page? Then check out Paula Duffy’s insightful (and often humorous) take on the sports day at her Examiner.com page! The popular co-host for Sports Journey Radio is also a contributor to the Huffington Post and founder of the sports learning site Incidental Contact. In her spare time, Duffy practices law in Los Angeles. But don’t hold that against her.

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Copyright © 2010 – Sports Climax

Camp Mayweather has gone on the attack late Thursday with a press release in which they want to make it very clear he isn’t scared of fighting Manny Pacquiao.

Floyd Mayweather’s publicist told me he was tired of the “lies” being spread by Bob Arum and others on the Pacquiao side of the equation. (Their word, not mine). What he wanted the world to know was that he agreed to a modification of the testing procedure PRIOR to the mediation.

Floyd Mayweather says that he already cut the time back from his demand for unrestricted testing and came half-way from his approach to Pacquiao’s suggestion that there should be no tests closer than 30 days prior to the fight.

That’s how the 14 day proposal came about.

Mayweather wants the public and his fans to know that Pacquiao’s side went into the two-day mediation knowing that was on the table already. He’s also adamant that his handlers did NOT suggest that he agree to the Pacquiao proposals.

After the “Correction Order” issued by the mediator made it understood that there was no proposal made by him that was rejected by one of the other side we now have Mayweather telling the world he wants to whip Manny’s punk ass.

What a day. Here’s the full text of Mayweather’s press release.

“Throughout this whole process I have remained patient, but at this point I am thoroughly disgusted that Pacquiao and his representatives are trying to blame me for the fight not happening when clearly the blame is on them.”

“First and foremost, not only do I want to fight Manny Pacquiao, I want to whip his punk ass.”

“Before the mediation, my team proposed a 14-day, no blood testing window leading up to the fight. But it was rejected. I am still proposing the 14-day window but he is still unwilling to agree to it, even though this is obviously a fair compromise on my part as I wanted the testing to be up until the fight and he wanted a 30-day cut-off. The truth is he just doesn’t want to take the tests.”

“In my opinion it is Manny Pacquiao and his team who are denying the people a chance to see the biggest fight ever. I know the people will see through their smokescreens and lies. I am ready to fight and sign the contract. Manny needs to stop making his excuses, step up and fight.”

Tired of the same old sports page? Then check out Paula Duffy’s insightful (and often humorous) take on the sports day at her Examiner.com page! The popular co-host for Sports Journey Radio is also a contributor to the Huffington Post and founder of the sports learning site Incidental Contact. In her spare time, Duffy practices law in Los Angeles. But don’t hold that against her.

Although it has a short schedule of games, the Lingerie Football League is alive and well.

Ten teams from all over the country play four games each. In the Western Conference, the Dallas Dream are 3-0 and clinched a playoff spot.

The ladies play indoors on a field 50 yards long, seven players on offense and defense and are dressed in sports-top bra, bikini shorts, shoulder pads, knee pads and helmets.

And here’s one other thing that differs slightly from the NFL or even the UFL: a topless quarterback.

During the first game of the season between the Miami Caliente and the Chicago Bliss (gotta love those names), Miami’s quarterback, Anonka Dixon had her bra ripped off.

But the players take this very seriously, learn basic football plays and are all aiming for “Lingerie Bowl VII” in Miami on February 7th, the same day as the NFL’s Super Bowl XLIV. It’s tackle football after all. They’re even coached by former pros.

This year the players were selected in part by participating in the Lingerie League’s combine. It weeded out the weak and left only those that were dead serious about it all.

The Herald Tribune website reported that the crowds in attendance pretty much stand during the whole game while snapping photos from their cell phones. Hey, why not?

There are a few weeks left in the regular season for those that want to sample the action. Fans in Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, Miami, Tampa, Seattle, Denver, Dallas, Philadelphia and New York can catch the games live at the indoor arena in their area.

Mitchell Mortaza, founder and interim commissioner says this about his baby:

“Fans are coming into these games and expecting one thing, and they’re leaving with a different perception. This is real football.”

I’ll let you be the judge.

Things are heating up in the NFL as overtime games and last-second victories were the order of the day for the NFL Week 11 slate. Here’s the recap:

Detroit beat Cleveland 38-37: After a rare pass interference penalty in the end zone on a Hail Mary pass from Matt Stafford, the Lions were granted one final play with 0:00 on the clock. The Lions scored on a Stafford to Pettigrew connection on that play, making Stafford the youngest QB to pass for 5 TDs in a game. The Browns’ Brady Quinn also had a career day, throwing for four which exceeded his career total of three. The Lions battled back from a 24-3 deficit.

Kansas City upset Pittsburgh 27-24 in OT: KC was without suspended Dwayne Bowe but used the recycled Chris Chambers and RB, Jamal Charles to win. Their defense intercepted Big Ben twice, one for a TD. Ben was knocked out in OT, after he passed for 398 yards.

Indianapolis hung on to defeat Baltimore 17-15: Indy’s D kept the Ravens out of the end zone all day and the offense produced just enough to win. Indy remains undefeated at 10-0 and Ravens newly signed kicker Billy Cundiff put five FGs through the uprights.

Green Bay beat San Francisco: 30-24: Green Bay almost gave the game away but held on after Alex Smith threw all three of his TDs in the second half. Big news for Aaron Rodgers: he was only sacked twice!

Jacksonville beat Buffalo 18-15: A TO sighting in the end zone almost carried the day for the Bills, but his 197 receiving yards wasn’t enough. Jacksonville’s ‘D’ held the Bills off for an 18-15 squeaker.

New York Giants escapes with an OT win against Atlanta 34-31: The Giants snapped a four game losing streak despite allowing Atlanta to tie it up with less than 30 seconds left in regulation. Falcons’ running back Jason Snelling did his part starting in place of the injured Michael Turner as he scored twice and ran for 76 yards but it wasn’t enough.

New Orleans rolled over Tampa Bay 38-7: The Saints remain undefeated at 10-0 behind a great day for their defense and running back Mike Bell who played in place of the injured Reggie Bush. He found the end zone twice and Drew Brees threw for three TDs.

Dallas beat Washington 7-6: Sounds like a baseball score doesn’t it? But it was slower than that if you can believe it. Dallas put its only points on the board with 2:41 remaining in the game on a throw from Tony Romo to Patrick Crayton. Just plain ugly; but still a win.

Minnesota beat Seattle 35-9: You knew the game was over when you saw Vikings’ QB Tavaris Jackson take the field early in the fourth quarter. He connected with Sidney Rice for a TD, Rice’s second on the day. Favre threw for 4TDs and the Vikings’ ‘D’ overwhelmed Matt Hasselbeck.

In other games: Arizona defeated St. Louis 21-13, San Diego knocked off the spiraling Denver Broncos 32-3, New England beat the Jets 31-14, Oakland squeaked out a 20-17 victory over the Bengals and the Bears continued to struggle losing 24-20 to the Eagles.