The GSS Sport's Page

Colts re-sign Manning to long-term deal

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)—Peyton Manning has a new long-term deal in time to report to training camp.

He still hasn’t been cleared to practice.

Colts owner Jim Irsay said he was “thrilled” to sign the only four-time MVP in league history to a deal that will likely keep him in Indianapolis for the rest of his career. Details of the contract were not immediately available but it is believed to be for five years. The contract is reportedly worth $90 million.

“Signing Peyton was a top priority for this organization and we are thrilled that the deal is complete,” Irsay said in a statement released by the team Saturday. “We feel that it is a salary cap friendly deal and it allows us more flexibility.”

Continue reading Colts re-sign Manning to long-term deal - Michael Marot (AP) | YahooSports.com

 

Big Ten announces football preseason players list to watch

Park Ridge, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference announced today its inaugural football Players to Watch list, with 12 players earning preseason recognition. Big Ten coaches voted to institute a preseason Players to Watch list beginning this season, honoring five student-athletes each from the Legends Division and Leaders Division. The 2011 list was selected by a media panel and features additional honorees due to a tie.

Representing the Legends Division are Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins, Nebraska defensive tackle Jared Crick and linebacker Lavonte David and Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa.

The Leaders Division honorees are Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase, Indiana wide receiver Damarlo Belcher, Ohio State center Mike Brewster and defensive tackle John Simon, Penn State linebacker Michael Mauti and Wisconsin running backs Montee Ball and James White.

Blueliner Deangelis stays with Komets

Fort Wayne, IN -- The Komets announced Wednesday that Fort Wayne's 2010-11 Defenseman of the Year Frankie DeAngelis has agreed to terms and will be returning to the lineup for the third consecutive season.

DeAngelis, 26, made his pro debut in Fort Wayne appearing in 73 games during 2009-10 after completing three season with American International in the NCAA from 2003-2009.  DeAngelis led Fort Wayne defensemen in 2009-10 with 32 assists and topped all IHL defensemen with plus-31.  DeAngelis was a member of the 2009-10 IHL All-Rookie Team and earned the Komets' Most Improved Player for the year.  

The defenseman led the Komets last season with 33 assists and 44 points (three-way tie) and led in plus/minus with +11 (three-way tie) in 54 games en route to earning the distinction of Fort Wayne's Defenseman of the Year.   DeAngelis also represented the Komets as a member of the 2011 CHL All-Star Team.

Columbus East QB Gunner Kiel commits to IU

The nation’s No. 1 ranked high school football quarterback committed to Indiana University on Wednesday.

Pause.

Yes, it’s true. Indiana, a program with just 17 Big 10 Conference wins in the last decade, secured a commitment from Columbus East’s Gunner Kiel, ranked across the board as the No. 1 quarterback prospect in the country by national scouting services.

Continue reading Columbus East QB Gunner Kiel commits to IU - Kyle Neddenriep | Indystar.com

Hard-fought 1-2 Team Penske finish

EDMONTON, Alberta -- Will Power got the break he was looking for on Lap 19 of 80 in the Edmonton Indy. He didn't need another.

Power, who started second in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car, led teammate Helio Castroneves across the start-finish line by 0.8089 of a second for his second victory in Edmonton and his fourth of the season.

Dario Franchitti finished third (1.1735 seconds back) and remains the IZOD IndyCar Series championship points leader by 38 (cut from 55 following the Honda Indy Toronto). Ryan Briscoe was on track to finish fouth, but a late splash for fuel gave the position to Tony Kanaan. Justin Wilson was a season-best fifth and Sebastien Bourdais also posted a season high in sixth.

Continue reading Hard-fought 1-2 Team Penske finish - Dave Lewandowski | IndyCar.com

Irsay: Manning should be ready

Jim Irsay isn't worried about Peyton Manning's health yet.

He's just not entirely sure when Manning will start throwing to his teammates. The Colts owner told reporters Thursday in Atlanta he doesn't expect offseason neck surgery to prevent Indianapolis' franchise player from playing at his usually high level.

"My sense is that he's doing well," Irsay said at the league's owner meetings. "We've been through (his neck) surgery before. So I anticipate him being ready."

Manning also had neck surgery in March 2010.

Continue reading Irsay: Manning should be ready - Michael Marot (AP) | The Journal Gazette

NFL labor: Owners OK deal, players don’t vote yet

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (AP)—The country’s most popular sport is in limbo for at least another day.

NFL owners overwhelmingly approved a tentative agreement Thursday to end the lockout, provided players re-establish their union and sign off on the deal. The players, however, didn’t vote, saying they had not seen the full proposal.

Owners voted 31-0—the Oakland Raiders abstained—and soon afterward, the league issued a press release announcing: “NFL clubs approved today the terms of a comprehensive settlement of litigation and a new 10-year collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association.”

Continue reading NFL labor: Owners OK deal, players don’t vote yet - Paul Newberry (AP) | YahooSports.com

INDYCAR: New More Front Wing podcast (Episode 50)

The More Front Wing podcast hits the 50-episode milestone with this week’s edition featuring an in-depth interview with Tony Cotman, a chat with Edmonton native Mike Cockrall about the lead-up to this weekend’s event, and discussions about the latest announcements of contenders for the Vegas challenge and the 2012 team-to-engine count.

The bulk of the episode focuses on our interview with Tony Cotman. Tony reviewed the planning process for the new Edmonton track layout and what his expectations are for this coming weekend. He also updated us on the status of the 2012 car from the point of view of the engines, the tub, and the aero kits. Finally, he offered some very candid thoughts on Race Control in both the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights and shed some further light onto some of the lingering controversies coming out of the race in Toronto.

Click here to access the podcast >>

Big East Officials For Notre Dame v. Michigan

In a recent negotiation with the University of Michigan, Notre Dame athletics director Jack Swarbrick achieved a feat that once might have been thought unattainable.

Blueandgold.com has learned that Notre Dame’s Sept. 10 game at Michigan will be officiated by the Irish “home” Big East officials instead of a Big Ten crew. In the past, the language in the Notre Dame-Michigan contract stipulated that any Michigan game in its own stadium is to be officiated only by Big Ten crews.

Traditionally, Irish football contracts have had it that a visiting team to Notre Dame Stadium would bring its conference officiating crew to the game. So if a USC or Stanford visited Notre Dame, the referees would be from the Pac-10 conference. Then when the Irish would visit USC or Stanford, Notre Dame would supply its “home” officials (the Big East).

Continue reading Big East Officials For ND-UM - Lou Somogyi | BlueandGold.com

Komets add three to preseason roster; Lapointe, Mele returning

Fort Wayne, IN -- The Komets announced Wednesday that Danny Lapointe and Tom Mele will be returning to the Komet lineup when the 60th anniversary camp begins Oct. 10.  Rookie Jordy Trottier has also been given a spot in the training camp.

Lapointe, 26, will be returning after an abbreviated Fort Wayne stint last year of 36 games (6g, 16pts).  "Danny was a good find for us last season," Komet general manager David Franke said.  "He came in and solidified our third line.  Let's see what he can do in a full season with the Komets."  Lapointe also skated all eight playoff games scoring a goal and two points.  2011-12 will be the center's fifth pro season.  Lapointe made his pro debut in the CHL in 2007-08 with Oklahoma City and Rio Grande Valley .  He split time with Dayton and Bakersfield in the ECHL during 2008-09 and then split the 2009-10 season with Dayton and Flint in the IHL. 

Komets announcer Tim Hoke passes

Tim Hoke, Comcast television cable access broadcaster of Komet games, passed away Friday morning, July 15, 2011, at a Fort Wayne hospital.

Hoke, 66, and a longtime Komet fan, had provided commentary on the Cable TV access “Komet Game of the Week” since 1989.  

 Along with sidekick Randi Marcom, Hoke could be depended on to provide play-by-play with a fan’s perspective and enthusiasm on the broadcasts which were recorded and then aired the following week on a local cable access channel.  Hokeretired from the broadcasts at the end of the 2010-11 season.

Hoke was a great supporter of Komet hockey and a true friend of the organization.  He will be truly missed.

Services are pending and will be posted at the Komets’ website, www.komets.com, when they become available.

 

Komets snag former Bugs Milam and Smith

Fort Wayne , IN -- The Komets announced Wednesday that they have added two players from the 2011 CHL Champion Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs to the preseason roster.  Defenseman Jamie Milam and forward Brett Smith have agreed to terms and will be in the Komet camp when it opens October 10 in preparation of Fort Wayne 's 60th anniversary season.

Milam, 27, will be making his second appearance with the Komets.  The defenseman made his pro debut skating eight games at the end of the 2005-06 season (5g, 9pts) in Fort Wayne before appearing in all five 2006 playoff games (1g, 3pts).  Milam had career highs of 22 goals (2006-07) and 41 assists and 54 points (2007-08) during a stint with Gwinnett of the ECHL.  Milam will be entering his sixth year as a pro after appearing with Bossier-Shreveport the last two seasons.  The Lake Orion , Michigan native collected the CHL Championship last season with the Mudbugs scoring 17 goals and 48 points in the regular season and adding four goals and 12 points en-route to winning the President's Cup in the post season.

Mike Vrabel Named Ohio State LB Coach

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State head coach Luke Fickell today filled the linebacker coach position on his staff with a person who, like himself, loves Ohio State, is fiercely competitive, commands respect, demands accountability and expects nothing less than 100 percent effort in anything and everything on and off the field: Mike Vrabel. 

Vrabel, the 14-year National Football League veteran and three-time Super Bowl winner who was so highly thought of in the professional ranks that he was a team captain and a member of the NFL Players Association Executive Committee, announced his retirement from pro football today in order to return to his alma mater. 

“I am very excited to become a part of Luke Fickell’s staff at Ohio State,” Vrabel said. “I have great faith and trust in Luke leading the Buckeye football team as he represents all the core values integral for a program's success, and I am looking forward to working with our student-athletes as I begin the next phase of my career.”

Franchitti prevails in no-holds-barred race

TORONTO – Before turning a lap, Dario Franchitti issued a cautionary note about 26 cars squeezing through the narrow twists and turns of the 1.755-mile, 11-turn Exhibition Place street course in the Honda Indy Toronto.

“Small mistakes will be punished, and in some cases, it could take out multiple cars,” the IZOD IndyCar Series championship points leader said.

It was prescient and also proved to be personal. Tempers flared, multiple cars required rhinoplasty to get back in the fray and questions intertwined with accusations on pit lane until the final double-file restart.

Continue reading Franchitti prevails in no-holds-barred race - By Dave Lewandowski | IndyCar.com

Notre Dame Players Littered on Preseason Watch Lists

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame football team recently placed five student-athletes on the Biletnikoff, Groza, Outland and Nagurski Award Watch Lists. The quintet included senior WR Michael Floyd (Biletnikoff), senior PK David Ruffer (Groza), junior OT ZackMartin (Outland), junior LB Manti Te’o and senior S Harrison Smith (Nagurski).

Floyd (Saint Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) was one of 75 players mentioned for the award that is presented annually to the nation's top college receiver. He has been named to the watch list each of the past two seasons. Floyd was already named to the Maxwell Award WatchList on Tuesday.

Floyd, who is currently suspended from the Fighting Irish football team, enters his final year at Notre Dame with the most touchdown receptions, second-most catches and third-most receivingyards in school history. He has tallied 171 career receptions for 2,539 yards and 28 touchdowns in 30 career games (29 starts). Only Jeff Samardzija (179) has recorded more catches than Floyd and only Golden Tate (2,707) and Samardzija (2,593) have totaled more career receiving yards. He has registered 13 games in his career with at least 100 receiving yards (tied for second with Tom Gatewood; Golden Tate had 15) and Floyd's 84.6 receiving yards per game is the best career average of any Notre Dame player.