Sunday Papers

• Anyone paid attention to ol Ollie Perez's fortunes with the Mets? How about a 9.31 ERA? And how about a trip to the minors. I didn't like giving him up, but he's done nothing consistently in NY to show he's become a valuable pitcher.

• Empty Netters had this photo of Sid's almost goal yesterday. That looks prety close to over the line. A video review wasn't done if I recall. Why not?

• The Pens looked slow after a great start. Maybe because there weren't as many Pens fans in the phone booth as normal? Both sides have to be better for Game 2.
• Did you know not to pick up a rattlesnake by the lips? Did the Pens just ask a pregnant looking woman when she is due? And another where's Geno question.
  
• Ross Ohlendorf is 3-2 with a 3.48 ERA. Need more evidence that the Bucs flirtation with .500 will end soon?
• For a team that once had a Super Bowl winning roster made up entirely of players who played only for them, it's kind of amazing to look back at how few Steelers complete their careers in black and gold, especially since 1982 or so.
• Willie Parker and Larry Foote are more alike than you think.
• Steeler minicamp is in full swing. Which means you'll be hearing aboout a lot of guys who will be riding the bench in the fall.
  
• The bad economy hits the Kentucky Derby. Kentucky still happy:

Churchill Downs returned $127,825,423 to bettors on the Kentucky Derby Day race card, which amounts to 82% of total wagering, the track reported. The Commonwealth of Kentucky benefited from $789,241 in revenues generated through the state’s excise tax on pari-mutuel wagering.

Please Don't Do It

The rumors are true, unfortunately. It's likely just a matter of time now for this awful idea to happen.



Report: London eyes Super Bowl

LONDON -- London has launched an audacious bid to stage the Super Bowl within the next eight years, a move that would see the United States' biggest sporting event played overseas for the first time, the Sunday Telegraph has reported.

According to the newspaper, representatives from the Mayor of London's office and Visit London, the city's official visitor organization, have received assurances from the National Football League of a commitment to hold the event in London.

The NFL has already staged two sellout regular-season games at Wembley Stadium, with a third scheduled for this October.

"We are looking at 2014, 2015 or 2017," David Hornby, the commercial director for Visit London was quoted as saying.

Talks have been ongoing with the NFL, which has identified London as the outstanding candidate city to host the event outside of the United States, according to the report.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said last week that the league is not considering playing its championship game in London. He shot down a BBC Sport report that "'substantive talks" were under way between the NFL and London officials.

"We have never looked at London or Mexico City as a site," he said.

According to the Sunday Telegraph, the Super Bowl could be worth $521.1 million to the London economy, although the newspaper also quotes an unnamed NFL spokesman as saying: "The suggestions about London are only theoretical. There is no bid document."

However, Wembley Stadium commercial director Jonathan Gregory said: "We will do everything we can to work with the NFL and help bring this amazing event to London."