Clarett bombs at the combine

After spending a year out of football, ex-Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett was one of the more anticipated players to take part in the Indianapolis Combine, which consists of a series of tests for prospects of this April’s NFL draft.

In the 40-yard dash Clarett was timed at 4.72 seconds and 4.82 seconds in his first two attempts. Four offensive linemen at the combine ran faster times than Clarett. After his two runs, Clarett left and refused to finish his workout.

Football players getting fat

A study led by University of North Carolina’s Dr. Joyce Harp, has suggested that 56 percent of the players in the NFL would be considered obese. The NFL opposed the conclusion, stating that the technique used, body-mass index, doesn’t take into account body muscle versus body fat. The study used body-mass indexes for 2,168 players.

Ex-NFL defensive lineman John Jurkovic, who carried 272 pounds on a 6’2” frame in the mid-1990’s, said that he was pressured by a coach to gain weight and ultimately went up to 328 at the end of his career. Jurkovic said that he topped out on his weight lifting,, and most of the weight gain was attributed to an increase in body fat, which he added by purposely overeating.

WNBA rosters shape up for 2005 season

The Charlotte Sting traded Nicole Powell, Olympia Scott-Richardson and Erin Buescher to the Monarchs in exchange for a second round draft pick in 2006 and forward Tangela Smith. Last season Smith knocked down 11.2 points and 4.1 rebounds a game and reached the Western Conference finals with the Monarchs. She is one of 14 players to reach 2,000 career points and 1,000 rebounds in the WNBA.

NHL given $3.5 billion offer

Two companies out of Boston, Bain Capital Partners LLC and Game Plan LLC offered to buy the entire NHL for $3.5 billion. Robert Caporale, the Game Plan LLC chairman, commented on his offer to purchase all 30 NHL teams. “It’s taking the National Hockey League and its 30 teams and operating it as any large corporation does with each team essentially being a division of one company. We would keep in place team management, team presidents, the GM’s. They would be completely autonomous.”

Jeremy M. Jacobs, the owner of the Boston Bruins, does not believe that this offer is a rational option. “I don’t think it’s realistic and I don’t think there’s much interest, and I know there’s no interest on the part of the Bruins, and I think it takes 30 [team owners] to do it.” Prior to the lockout, Forbes Magazine estimated that all 30 of the NHL’s franchises had a combined worth of $4.9 billion.

Instant replay expands in college football

Next season the Southeastern Conference (SEC) will use instant replay on an experimental basis during league games. Last season the Big Ten conference used instant replay with good success. It was used in 28 out of 57 games and 21 of the 43 reviewed plays were reversed. SEC commissioner Mike Slive expects officials in a booth to challenge plays, unlike the NFL’s system that empowers coaches.

UConn can’t ignite

UConn’s (14) women’s basketball team dropped the ball again when they lost to Boston College (23) 51-48. Connecticut had previously beaten the Eagles 80-55 when the teams met on Feb. 9 but were minced dog meat during the second go around.

The defeat is only the Huskies’ third loss to BC in the last 31 meetings. BC’s Aja Parham scored a game high 13 points. Barbara Turner, a Cleveland native, led UConn with 10 points. UConn’s Jessica Moore, who has averaged eight points a game, was held scoreless in the second half and fouled out with 2:32 remaining. BC held UConn to it’s lowest scoring game of the season.