The New York Yankees announced the team will be wearing patches to “commemorate the lives and recognize the passings of former Principal Owner / Chairperson George M. Steinbrenner III and longtime Yankees public address announcer Bob Sheppard”.

Sheppard, whose delivery was described by his followers as “the voice of God”,  died last week at the age of 99 and Steinbrenner, another Yankees’ icon, died of a massive heart attack yesterday morning in Tampa just hours before the All-Star game.

Steinbrenner who bought the Yankees decades ago then tranformed the team back into a winner was 80 years old.

The Yankees players will don the uniform patches for the remainder of the season, beginning with Friday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium.

 The Steinbrenner commemorative patch will be worn above the interlocking NY on the left breast of the Yankees’ home jerseys and above the letters “YORK” on the left breast of the Yankees’ road uniforms. Both locations are over the heart.

 The Sheppard commemorative patch will be worn on the left sleeve of the Yankees’ home and road jerseys.

At last night’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Anaheim, Calif., Manager Joe Girardi, Yankees players and Yankees coaches wore black armbands on their left sleeves in honor of Mr. Steinbrenner’s passing.

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ANAHEIM – There’s a new line-up for the 2010 State Farm Home Run Derby and familiar names like sluggers Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard and Josh Hamilton, who have a combined 80 home runs this season, won’t be in it. But don’t fret, there are plenty of other guys on the roster who can rip the cover off the ball and knock them over the fence.

The show begins Monday night at 8pm on ESPN and first time participants in the contest include Milwaukee Brewers Corey Hart, Arizona Diamondbacks Chris Young, N.Y. Yankees Nick Swisher, Florida Marlins Hanley Ramirez and the Blue Jays Vernon Wells. Rounding out the roster are Matt Holliday, Red Sox slugger David Ortiz and Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Cabrera who returns to the event for the second time and enters the competition second in MLB with 22 round trippers, is many people’s favorite to win, including his teammate, rookie sensation Brennan Boesch who let his pick be known to his local newspaper The Detroit Free Press.

“If Scott Pickens, the batting practice guy, throws strikes, he’ll win. Miggy’s got the most power in baseball, I think. So if he throws strikes, Miguel is going to put on a show, and it will be fun to watch.”

“In the Home Run Derby, you have to be aggressive, because it’s a lot of pressure,” Cabrera said. “It’s different, because you don’t have the batting cage. You have more people see you. But if you get relaxed and put your best swing on the ball, it’s going to be OK.”

Swisher is also feeling some nerves well before the event.

 “It’s going to be a lot of fun and I’m nervous already, but I’m going to go out and have an absolute blast. I’m going to soak up that moment.”

Not in the competition is the MLB leading home run hitter, Blue Jays Jose Bautista who has hit 24 over the fence. Not seeing him in this line-up reminds us that the obvious choices do not always make it to the annual All-Star games.

Adding to the fun of the event, two banners were hung in the outfields and if any player hits those during the competition, Master Card will donate $1 million to charity.

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JOHANNESBURG – Spain won its first ever World Cup Title when Andres Iniesta scored late in extra time to defeat Netherlands 1-0.

The Netherlands who failed to win the finals game in 1974 and 1978 failed again in their third attempt to take home the title in a game kept tied through regular time because of key saves from their goaltender, Maarten Stekelenberg.

The game got chippy with a lot of extra body contact causing a finals record 12 yellow cards to be handed out and causing the Dutch to finish the match with 10 men.

Attendance for the game was announced at 84,490.

Stats: (updated/changed off FIFA.com website July 11, 6:58 pm)

Netherlands                       Spain

13(5)                                      18(6) – Shots (on Goal) 

28                                               19    – Fouls

6                                                     8 – Corner Kicks

7                                                    6 – Offsides

43%                                         57% – Time of Possession

7                                                    5 – Yellow Cards

1                                                      0  – Red Cards

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The NBA has a true villain, LeBron James, and ESPN’ 1st and Ten analyst Skip Bayless just accrued a million fans overnight.

Bayless, who has been ripping LeBron as being overrated as an NBA star and his inability to win an NBA championship for years, will now be admired by the thousands of Cleveland fans who burned No. 23 jerseys and millions of other NBA fans across the country who are disgusted with James and “The Decision”.

After ‘The King’ as he calls himself, joined Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade to create an All-Star trio in Miami, the most outspoken was betrayed Clevland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert who vented and accused James of “quitting during the playoffs”.

Gilbert posted a scathing message to Cavs fans on the team’s website shortly after James announced he was deserting the shores of Lake Erie for the nude beaches in Miami.

Being accused of quitting by your owner is about as big an insult a player could get but I agree with Gilbert’s accusations and actually thought the same as I was watching those games against the Celtics when James was dominated and outplayed by the aging Celts who came back from a 2-1 game deficit to win that series.

“He quit,” Gilbert said. “Not just in Game 5, but in Games 2, 4 and 6. Watch the tape. The Boston series was unlike anything in the history of sports for a superstar.”

The Game 5 Gilbert is referring to is the game the aging Celtics took James to school and won by 32 points. During that game, James played lethargic while he team got blown off the court then made a cowardly remark after the game, ducking accountability saying he “spoiled people” with his play over seven seasons, whatever the hell that means.

Gilbert, who has owned the Cavs for five years, said he felt disrespected by James’ behavior since the season ended and that James never returned a single phone message or text since that time and that the Cavs were not informed of James’ decision until he went on the air last night.

During an interview with the AP, Gilbert pulled no punches saying:

“[Lebron] has gotten a free pass. People have covered up for him for way too long. Tonight we saw who he really is. LeBron James needs to go to another team with two superstars already so he can win a championship. We will win a championship before [the Heat] do.”

Gilbert went on to call LeBron “disrespectful”, “narcissistic” and “cowardly” and added a few other colorful words like “shameful”, “selfishness” and betrayal” and referred to LeBron’s move to South Beach as an “act of disloyalty,” and “heartless and callous”.

When it was all said in done, millions of Bayless haters are jumping on the Skip Bayless bandwagon and the NBA has themselves a true villain.

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ATLANTA, GA. – The Atlanta Thrashers have named John Torchetti as the team’s associate coach, according to General Manager Rick Dudley and Head Coach Craig Ramsay.

Torchetti, 45, joins the Thrashers with more than 26 years of professional hockey experience as a player, coach and manager. His NHL coaching resume includes stops in Tampa Bay (1999-00 to 2000-01), Florida (2002-03 to 2003-04), Los Angeles (2005-06) and Chicago (2007-08 to 2009-10). The Thrashers will mark the fourth NHL team which Torchetti and Dudley have worked together.

“I’ve known John for several years and he is a highly-talented and extremely knowledgeable individual,” said Dudley. “He is an excellent coach who will strengthen Craig’s staff and we’re fortunate to have him as part of our organization.”

Most recently Torchetti served as an assistant coach for the Chicago Blackhawks, a position he held since the start of the 2007-08 season. During his time in Chicago, Torchetti helped the team improve in wins and points each season, reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2008-09 and capturing the 2010 Stanley Cup.

“John is a dedicated individual who will be an invaluable resource to me and a significant asset for our players,” said Ramsay. “His strengths compliment mine and match up well with what we will be striving to accomplish.”

The Boston, Mass., native has served as an interim head coach in the NHL on two occasions; with the Florida Panthers in 2003-04, where he posted a 10-12-4-1 record in 27 games, and with the Los Angeles Kings in 2005-06, earning a 5-7-0 record in the final 12 games of the season.

Torchetti served as head coach for the San Antonio Iguanas of the Central Hockey League (1994-95 to 1995-96), the Fort Wayne Komets of the International Hockey League (1996-97 to 1997-98), the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League (2002-03) and the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (2006-07). He was twice named Coach of the Year, first with San Antonio in 1994-95, then with Fort Wayne in 1997-98.

Torchetti also spent time as assistant general manager with the San Antonio Dragons (IHL) during the 1996-97 season and as general manager of the Detroit Vipers (IHL) in 1998-99, succeeding Dudley in that position. During his tenure in Detroit, the Vipers posted a 50-12-11 record and captured the IHL’s Eastern Conference Championship.

His professional playing career spanned seven seasons in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League, the All-American Hockey League, the ECHL and the AHL. In total, Torchetti earned 532 points (258 goals, 274 assists) in 359 career games with the Carolina Thunderbirds (ACHL, AAHL, ECHL), Virginia Lancers (ACHL), Binghamton Whalers (AHL) and Winston-Salem Thunderbirds (ECHL) from 1984-85 to 1990-91. Prior to his professional career, Torchetti had a brief stint with the Plattsburgh Pioneers of the QMJHL during the 1984-85 season, posting five points (two goals, three assists) in eight games.

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Detroit lost another sports legend yesterday when NHL All-Star forward and one of the league’s top enforcers, Bob Probert, died at the age of 45. Probert apparently suffered a heart attack after complaining of chest pains while out boating.

Probert, who was drafted by the Wings in the third round (46th overall) in 1983 skated in Detroit from 1985-94 before making his way to the Chicago Blackhawks.

The rugged left winger was 6-ft-3-in. and packed one of the hardest punches in the history of the game. But along with his ability to go toe-to-toe with the best of them, Probert also brought enough skill to his game to make the All-Star in 1988, a year he tallied 29 goals and 62 points although he spent 398 minutes in the penalty box.

His career stats are impressive considering his role on the teams too. His career stats include 384 points (163 goals, 221 assists) in 935 regular-season games and 3,300 penalty minutes, 5^th most in NHL history.

Probert’s career hit more than a few bumps in the road though. With a laundry-list of arrests and violations over the years, his worst run-in with law officials landed him in federal prison for a three-month period when he was caught trying to smuggle cocaine over the U.S. and Canadian border. The arrest also landed him a one-year suspension from the NHL.

Back to his time on the ice, Probert, in 1988 the winger broke Mr. Hockey Gordie Howe’s record of 20 playoff point in a season when he tallied 21.

Of all of his brawls, the most famous may be his duels with friend andformer teammate Joey Kocur and his minute and a half slugfest he got into with Pittsburgh Penguin player Marty McSorley. You can see that fight here.

Mr. Probert, R.I.P. along with two other Detroit sports’ icons who have been lost recently, Mark “The Bird” Fidrych and Ernie Harwell.

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BIG APPLE – The New York Knicks opened their checkbook real wide and agreed to a deal that will ink free agent Amare Stoudemire a five-year, $99.7 million contract. The deal cannot be officially signed until Thursday.

Knick coach Mike D’Antoni must be ecstatic to be reunited with a big man he is familiar with from his days in Phoenix coaching the Suns when Stoudemire averaged more than 20 points a game every season the two were together.

Speculation is rising that the Knicks wanted to land Stoudemire to bait the NBA’s biggest free agent fish, LeBron James. James pushed hard for the Cavs to pick up Stoudemire last year during the trade deadline.

“I feel great, really, about being a pioneer,” said Stoudemire. I think [LeBron] feels great about [me signing]. It’s a situation where no one wanted to make that first move, and I felt confident enough to take that first step, and hopefully now we can bring in a few guys to join us.”

“I’m not sure where [LeBron’s] leaning. If he’s leaning more toward New York, that would be a great start for us.”

James and, or, his agent have had talks with the Cavaliers, Bulls, Nets, Clippers and Heat.

Stoudemire flew into New York on Saturday, broke bread with D’Antoni and agreed on the deal on Monday.

Madison Square Garden already has billboards and signs throughout the arena picturing Stoudemire in a Knicks jersey.

This is the first big move by the Knicks who have spent the last few seasons dumping overhead and salary cap anticipating making a serious bid for James. The team however, has enough cap space to add another maximum contract player but the question remains, who will that be?

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University of Georgia Athletic Director Damon Evans had a direct message for students, “Don’t drink and drive. Get a designated driver.”  The message was precise and delivered to students at his Athens college as a promo supporting Georgia’s Zero Tolerance policy.

How serious are these Georgia alcohol sniffing Zero Tolerance police?

Serious enough that they busted one of their poster children, Evans, for a suspected DUI last week.

Evans, who also played football at UGA from 1988-1992, was popped on June 30, 2010 and by the looks of the mugshot, either the Bulldog was suffering from lack of sleep or he may have tipped more than a few.

The cops making the bust described Evans as sporting “watery” and “bloodshot” eyes with his speech “slow” and “mumbled” while sitting with a pair of lady’s red panties between his legs. Normally you might want to throw a few high-fives this dude’s way regarding the panties’ thing but problem here is, this chick wasn’t his wife. Evans, 40, is married with two children.

Evans is also accused of telling the officer, “I don’t want to use . . . my influence,” and “I am not trying to bribe you, but is there anything you can do without arresting me?’ ” The cops weren’t impressed and after the AD refused to take a breathalyzer test, the cuffs went on.

The report also stated:

“The subject began crying uncontrollably before I took him into the jail.”

Proper response for a guy who in a matter of minutes had flushed his dream $550,000 a year job down the toilet while becoming one of sport’s biggest hypocrites. (see video below).

And back to the chick in the car who Evans said was the owner of the red panties; her name is Courtney Fuhrmann and according to reports said, “Just to let you know, [the charge] will be erased because he’s the athletic director at UGA and he has that power.”

Not anymore.

We’ve grown accustomed to athletes getting popped behind the wheel but a new trend may be in the making with this incident coming just weeks after Detroit Lions President Tom Lewand got busted for suspected DUI in Michigan. Here’s that story.

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LAS VEGAS – UFC heavyweight champion, Brock Lesnar, has shown the world how to stare adversity in the face, chew it up and spit it out.

Lesnar’s road to the top has included a few turns in the road that include a futile attempt to play for the NFL Minnesota Vikings and a stint in wrestling where he became the youngest champion in WWE history.

 The most challenging part of his journey however was his recent battle with a severe intestinal illness that knocked him off his feet, landing him in the hospital for an extended stay. Back on his feet, Lesnar was determined to climb back into the octagon cage and not leave until he donned his Ultimate Fighting Championship belt.

Returning to the ring Saturday for the first time since that health issue, Lesnar took on interim champion Shane Carwin at the sold out MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Things looked bleak early in the match for Lesnar as he was pummeled with several connecting blows that dropped him to the canvas. Carwin didn’t let up and continued to dominate Lesnar, battering him with a combination of elbows, lefts and rights. As Lesnar covered up, it was looking like the bout would be stopped but the referee let the fight continue since Lesnar continued to move just enough to show he was trying to defend himself.

Fast-forward to the 2:19 mark of the 2^nd round; Carwin taps out and Lesnar is the winner of the bout.

The sellout crowd of 16,000 and pay-per-view audience, most who had thrown in the towel for Lesnar, were shocked and treated to an incredible comeback win by their champion.

After surviving that early barrage from Carwin, Lesnar had responded with a quick takedown, grabbed Carwin’s neck and laid a choke hold on him that won the bout.

“I just had to weather [that] storm,” Lesnar said after the fight. “He hit me with some heavy shots.”

Lesnar now (5-1) is back; and we certainly haven’t seen the last of Carwin (12-1).

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The Atlanta Thrashers have acquired forward Andrew Ladd from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defenseman Ivan Vishnevskiy and a second-round choice in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Ladd is the fourth player Dudley has snagged from the Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup championship team over the past few weeks. 

Ladd appeared in all 82 games for the Chicago Blackhawks last season, posting 38 points (17 goals, 21 assists). He registered a career-high in goals, ranked third on the club in even-strength goals (17) and was eighth in points. Ladd earned his first career NHL hat trick on March 7 vs. Detroit. He added six points (three goals, three assists) in 19 Stanley Cup Playoff games, while helping the Blackhawks capture the 2010 Stanley Cup Championship.

The 6-2, 200-pound left wing has registered 149 points (63 goals, 86 assists) in 321 career games with Chicago and Carolina. He has added 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 53 Stanley Cup Playoff contests, including winning the 2006 Stanley Cup Championship with the Hurricanes. The Maple Ridge, British Columbia, native appeared in 27 American Hockey League games with Lowell and Albany from 2005 to 2008, tallying 20 points (12 goals, eight assists).

Prior to his professional career, Ladd earned 120 points (49 goals, 71 assists) and 286 penalty minutes in 137 games with Calgary and Vancouver of the Western Hockey League from 2001 to 2005. He also represented Canada in the 2005 World Junior Championship, posting seven points (three goals, four assists) in six games.

Ladd was originally selected by the Carolina in the first round, fourth overall, of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Vishnevskiy, 22, recorded 36 points (10 goals, 26 assists) in 79 AHL games last season with Texas and Chicago. He led all Chicago defensemen in points, was first in assists and second in goals. The Barnaul, Russia, native added six assists in 14 Calder Cup Playoff contests with the Wolves.

The 6-0, 195-pound defenseman has posted 55 points (16 goals, 39 assists) in 146 career AHL games with Chicago, Texas and Peoria, along with two assists in five career NHL games with the Dallas Stars.

Vishnevskiy, who was originally selected by Dallas in the first round (27th overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, was acquired by the Thrashers from the Stars along with a fourth-round selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft (Ivan Telegin) in exchange for goaltender Kari Lehtonen on Feb. 9, 2010

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