This is a weird little story about some spring training clubhouse fun that evidently created some hurt feelings.

Quoted: In 2003, a rap lyric during a spring training skit led to three Tigers prospects being released. Two found their way to the majors -- one faced the Tigers this past week -- while the third only has regrets.

Maybe the Roger Goodell era isn't so bad after all.

Quoted: FOX and ESPN are reporting this morning that the Packers have stepped up efforts to trade Favre after being ordered by the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to resolve the quarterback's status, preferably by the time training camp opens Sunday. ESPN's Chris Mortensen says Goodell has told Green Bay that Favre will be reinstated as an active player once he makes that widely anticipated request. Citing unnamed NFL sources, Mortensen says the commissioner has spoken with Favre and told him he's willing to assist his return.

The Packers should grant a conditional release, so that he has to go to a team in the NFC. That way when he throws that back breaking playoff INT they'll have a chance to benefit from it for once.

Quoted: Three days after a conference call with Packers officials on Tuesday in which Brett Favre emphatically expressed his desire to play in 2008, Favre on Friday formally asked for his contractual release.

This Christian news site uses word substitution to filter its news stories. One such filter is to change the word "gay" to "homosexual". After Tyson Gay's performance at this weekend's Olympic track and field trials, hilarity ensued.

Quoted: Tyson Homosexual easily won his semifinal for the 100 meters at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials and seemed to save something for the final later Sunday. His wind-aided 9.85 seconds was a fairly cut-and-dry performance compared to what happened a day earlier. On Saturday, Homosexual misjudged the finish in his opening heat and had to scramble to finish fourth, then in his quarterfinal a couple of hours later, ran 9.77 to break the American record that had stood since 1999.

Yeah well its a week too late. I've already switched to the new AT&T U-Verse. Suck it Comcast.

Quoted: The long-running feud between the Big Ten Network and Comcast appears to be almost over. The two sides are very close to an agreement, expected to be signed and announced as soon as this week, multiple industry sources told the Free Press today.

When I watch the replay (http://soccervisions.blogspot.com/2008/06/holland-vs-italy.html) I am absolutely convinced that this was the right call. Panucci was not involved in the play, but plays like this are exactly the reason FIFA changed the rule to say that players must be officially sent off by the referee in order to count as inactive for the purpose of offsides.

I will admit to having a bias against Italy, but it seems clear to me that Panucci made no effort to recover from a relatively minor collision with his own keeper, in hopes that it would result in the Dutch being called offside. Its the Italian way.

Quoted: Premier League referees chief Keith Hackett says Ruud van Nistelrooy's controversial opening goal for the Netherlands against Italy was legitimate.

Playoff hockey. Serious business.

Quoted: You can buy an octopus this week at Wholey's Fish Market in Pittsburgh -- unless you're wearing Detroit Red Wings gear..."I have the utmost respect for all the people of Detroit," Wholey said, according to the report. "They are great citizens and great hockey fans, just like I am. But I'm a Penguins fan first and foremost and I want to see the Penguins win, period." If that means checking ID and listening for customers with Midwestern accents, that's what he's willing to do.

Just to be clear, this is news from this afternoon.

Quoted: Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina announced Wednesday that he is backing Hillary Clinton's presidential bid, CNN has confirmed.

Heath Shuler, displaying the same decision making ability from his days as quarterback of the Redskins.