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Pro Football Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen Dies at 69

FILE - This June 22, 2001, file photo shows Pro Football Hall of Famer and

By DOUG ALDEN, AP Sports Writer

SALT LAKE CITY – Pro Football Hall of Famer and former television actor Merlin Olsen has died. He was 69.

Utah State University assistant athletic media relations director Zach Fisher says Olsen died Wednesday night at a Los Angeles hospital.

He was diagnosed with mesothelioma last year.

Olsen was an All-American at Utah State and a first-round draft pick of the Los Angles Rams in 1962.

The burley giant from northern Utah joined Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy and Rosey Grier on the Rams' storied "Fearsome Foursome" defensive line known for either stopping or knocking backward whatever offenses it faced. The Rams set an NFL record for the fewest yards allowed during a 14-game season in 1968.

Olsen was rookie of the year for the Rams in 1962 and is still the Rams' all-time leader in career tackles with 915. He was named to 14 consecutive Pro Bowls, a string that started his rookie year.

Olsen was also an established television actor with a role on "Little House on the Prairie," then starring in his own series, "Father Murphy," from 1981 to 1983 and the short-lived "Aaron's Way" in 1988.

Olsen was a consensus All-American at Utah State and won the 1961 Outland Trophy as the nation's best interior lineman. The Rams drafted Olsen third overall in 1962 and he spent the next 15 years with the team before retiring in 1976.

Utah State honored Olsen in December by naming the football field at Romney Stadium "Merlin Olsen Field." Because of his illness, Olsen's alma mater didn't want to wait until football season and made the announcement during halftime of a basketball game.

Olsen was well enough to attend, but did not speak at the event. He stood and smiled as he waved to fans during a standing ovation and chants of "Merlin Olsen!" and "Aggie Legend!"

Utah State is also planning a statue of Olsen at the southeast corner of the stadium.

The Rams also honored Olsen during a game Dec. 20, with a video tribute narrated by Dick Enberg, Olsen's longtime broadcast partner. Olsen did not attend because of his health. His name was already part of the Ring of Fame inside the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis along with other franchise standouts.

He was voted NFC defensive lineman of the year in 1973 and the NFL MVP in 1974, and was voted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982.

 

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Posted by Richard Goodis at 3/11/2010 12:17 PM

Oscar Night Sports Look-Alikes


Oscar co-host Steve Martin and Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith


West Virgina basketball coach Bobby Huggins and Oscar co-host Alec Baldwin


Actor Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) and Chicago White Sox ace Jake Peavy


Actor Matt Damon (Invictus) and the Minnesota Twins Justin Morneau


Actor Morgan Freeman (Invictus) and the Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington


U.S. Olympic skier Julia Mancuso and actress Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air)


Larry Legend and director James Cameron (Avatar)


Director Peter Docter (Up) and former NBA player Shawn Bradley


Tennis star Roger Federer and director Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds)


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Posted by Richard Goodis at 3/7/2010 10:33 PM

LeBron Don't Need No Stinkin' Cape

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Posted by Richard Goodis at 3/4/2010 1:22 PM

Petyon Manning Recovering From Neck Surgery

The Indianapolis Colts announced Wednesday that Manning had surgery in Chicago to remove reoccuring neck bolts, a procedure that is not expected to interrupt Manning’s offseason workouts or his availability for next season.



“This condition has existed intermittently for the past four years, but at no time did it interfere with his training, practice or playing regimen,” the Colts said. “While it never has affected Peyton’s activity on or off the field, the Colts’ medical staff, after post-playoff examination, thought it best to resolve the situation now.”

The Colts said Manning spent Tuesday night in the hospital and was released Wednesday.

“All medical personnel involved believe the issue has been resolved,” the team said. “Peyton fully expects to participate in the Colts’ offseason program this spring.”

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Posted by Richard Goodis at 3/4/2010 12:25 PM

Top 10 Headlines You May Have Missed From the Vancouver Olympic Games

#10 - Giant Rogue Olympic Mascots Menace Athletes


#9 - Russian Men's Figure Skater Evgeni Pluskenko Named Sorest Loser in Winter Olympic History
 

#8 - Russian Ice Dancers Produce Games Most Obnoxious Moment


#7 - British Sibling Ice Dancers Register 10 on ICK! Meter as John Kerr Rides Sister Sinead Kerr


#6 - Immediately Following Opening Ceremonies Olympic Flame is Detained for Burning too Brightly


#5 - Canadian Government Pays $10 Million for Country's Pavilion Gets Giant Greenhouse Instead


#4 - Team Canada Women's Hockey Team Gold Medal Beer Bash Results in Yellow Snow


#3 - John Daly's Pants Win Silver Medal in Men's Curling


#2 - Team USA Bobsled Pilot Steve Holcomb Keeps Sled's Ballast Packed Tightly Behind Him


#1 - Canadian Women's Curler Cheryl Bernard Gives Birth to Three Curling Stones During Competition



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Posted by Richard Goodis at 2/28/2010 6:58 PM

2010 Winter Olympic Look-Alikes

Even if you don't follow the Winter Olympics, we think you will enjoy this sampling of Winter Games athlete look-alikes.


U.S. alpine skier Bode Miller and actor John Corbett


U.S. snowboarder Shaun White and Lion-O from ThunderCats


U.S. figure skater Evan Lysacek and Nine Inch Nails lead singer Trent Reznor


Team USA goalie Ryan Miller and actor Hamish Linklater


U.S. curler Chris Plys and Green Day lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong


A young Robert DeNiro and U.S. Ski X team member Casey Puckett


Actress Elizabeth Shue and Canadian ice dancer Tessa Virtue


U.S. ice dancer Emily Samuelson and the Little Mermaid


Actor Joe Rogan and French curler Raphael Mathieu


Team Canada center Sidney Crosby comedian Andy Samberg


Pepe Le Pew and Apolo Anton Ohno


Prince Charming and Swiss figure skater Stephane Lambiel

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Posted by Richard Goodis at 2/22/2010 9:34 PM

Oddsmakers Place Odds on Tiger Woods' Press Conference

After nearly a three-month silence, Tiger Woods will finally emerge tomorrow publicly and apologize for his rampant unfaithfulness and announce his imminent return to golf. As such, CEO Mickey Richardson and his team at Bookmaker.com, one of the leading sportsbooks, have put together odds on what Tiger Woods will or won’t say and do at his five-minute Friday apology and press conference. Full odds below:

HOW MANY TIMES WILL HE SAY ADDICTED TO SEX?

0-5: -500 (83%)

6-10: +250 (29%)

11 or more: +500 (18%)

WILL TIGER WOODS ANNOUNCE HE WILL GET A DIVORCE?

YES: +200 (33%)

NO: -700 (88%)

WILL HIS WIFE ATTEND THE PRESS CONFERENCE?

YES: -400 (80%)

NO: +170 (37%)

WILL TIGER CRY AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE?

YES: -250 (73%)

NO: +180 (35%)

WILL TIGER ANNOUNCE HIS RETIREMENT AT THE CONF?

YES: +600 (14%)

NO: -1250 (93%)

WILL TIGER ANNOUNCE HIS RETIREMENT AT THE CONF?

YES: +600 (14%)

NO: -1250 (93%)

WILL TIGER TAKE A YEAR OFF OF GOLF IN 2010?

YES: +100 (50%)

NO: -250 (73%)

The +/- Indicates the Return on the Wager. The percentage is the likelihood that response will occur. For Example: Betting on the candidate least likely to win would earn the most amount of money, should that happen.


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Posted by Richard Goodis at 2/18/2010 10:41 PM

Shaun White Proves He's Still the Best Snowboarder in the World

By Trey Kerby

Not that there was any doubt about it, but Shaun White is the best snowboarder alive. Wednesday night he successfully defended his 2006 men's halfpipe gold medal. And yes, he did the Double McTwist 1260.

After a flawless first run, White found himself where he usually is: atop the leaderboard. Then, after every other snowboarder took a second shot at knocking him from his perch, he remained in first. Since only the best of two runs is counted in scoring, Shaun White already had his gold medal. Now he could have some fun.

With no pressure on him, White went, as he would call it, "heavy." Huge, huge, enormous air, the now-requisite double cork, and then to top things off, the trick that only he can do — the Double McTwist 1260. It's a trick so amazing it doesn't even have an official name, though White was overheard calling it the "Double Mc." Works for me.

Forty-eight point four. That was his finishing score. Unfortunate rhyme aside, that's an outstanding mark. An entire 3.4 points higher than the silver medalist, Finland's Peetu Piiroinen. And it was more than deserved.

In the past 12 months, White has advanced snowboarding further than the sport had advanced in the previous 10 years. He's the reason double corks were a necessity. He's the reason that sponsors such as Nike and Microsoft care about snowboarding. Shaun White is more important to his sport than any athlete on the planet, and this is coming from an enormous NBA fan. Basketball could survive without LeBron James. Snowboarding would go nowhere without Shaun White.

That's why it's so awesome to see someone so transcendent perform so well on the sport's biggest stage. It's not every day that you get to witness greatness, or see history being made, but that's the case with Shaun White. He keeps getting better when he's already the best.

And he's only 23. Whoa boy.


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Posted by Richard Goodis at 2/18/2010 9:19 PM

Say What You Want About Olympic Skater Johnny Weir



He's been labeled everything from effeminate (something even Johnny says about himself) to flamboyant, to weird, to unpredictable, to a lover of Russia.

He likes fur and doesn't care what PETA thinks. He speaks his mind and has fun doing it.

He wears pink and tassels on the ice and while waiting for his short program score earlier this week, he clutched a black, heart shaped pillow embroidered with his name in big pink script.

And while Weir has largely been dismissed as a contender for a medal on the ice, when it comes to Olympic roomies, Johnny takes the gold.



Johnny's roomie in Vancouver is the very fetching American Olympic Ice Dancer, Tanith Belbin - who also happens to be the ex-girlfriend of Weir's nemesis and current teammate Evan Lysacek. 

While the arrangement probably doesn't make Lysacek happy, we are betting every man in America wishes he could be Johnny Weir for a night!

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Posted by Richard Goodis at 2/18/2010 8:34 PM

2010 NBA All-Star Starter Look-Alikes

2010 Eastern Conference Starters


Lebron James (Cleveland) and King Kong

 
Kevin Garnett (Boston) and Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now)


Dwayne Wade (Miami) and Soulja Boy


Allen Iverson (Philadelphia) and Mos Def


Dwight Howard (Orlando) and Arsenio Hall

2010 Western Conference Starters


Carmelo Anthony (Denver) and Emmanuel Lewis


Tim Duncan (San Antonio) and a Pug puppy


Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles) and Tupac Shakur


Steven Nash (Phoenix) and Karen Allen


Amar'e Stoudemire (Phoenix) and Otis Redding


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Posted by Richard Goodis at 2/9/2010 8:05 PM
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