Caron Butler is still addicted to Mountain Dew

NBA veteran Caron Butler has earned a deserving reputation as a no-nonsense professional over his soon-to-be 14 seasons, playing for various teams in different roles and succeeding at nearly every stop along the way. At the same time, though, he's one of the most interesting personalities in the league's recent history. Move beyond his relatively unassuming on-court style and you will find a former gang member and drug dealer with a longstanding (and banned) habit of chewing straws on the bench and a medically unsafe addiction to Mountain Dew. He contains multitudes and perhaps not surprisingly has authored a new book, "Tuff Juice: My Journey from the Streets to the NBA," to tell his life story.

The promotional tour for the autobiography has confirmed that Butler is as eccentric as ever at 35 years old. So much, in fact, that he has not stopped drinking his favorite beverage even at an age when most veterans look for every possible advantage to keep themselves in playing shape. As revealed in a sitdown with Nina Mandell of For The Win, Butler just can't quit Mountain Dew:

“You’re sitting in the back of the bus and eating the right thing and (guys will) be like ‘why are you drinking that?’ And I’m like ‘what’s wrong with Mountain Dew?'” he said. “Guys are just shaking their heads and they have got water and those special crushed juices and I’m drinking a big Mountain Dew, just downing it frozen and stuff. They’re like ‘this guy, he’s not going to make it.'”

Butler said he tried to hide his habit when he played with Kobe Bryant, who is well known for keeping his teammates’ diets in check. “He’d just shake his head,” Butler said.

So when he was on the Lakers, Butler went to extreme lengths to avoid Bryant see him drinking the soda, especially on the bus. “I’d try to slide it under the chair or something,” he said.

“Guys knew I needed help. I still do. That’s like the battle I can’t get away from. I can get away from the streets, I can get away from all of these different things,” he added. “I can’t get away from Mountain Dew.”

Butler says he has gone from drinking a two-liter bottle every day to one every few days, which is vague enough that it's fair to wonder how much he once did and now does drink. Shame plays a major role in addiction and cannot be discounted when assessing Butler's habit.

Because this addiction is very real. Butler attempted to quit in the offseason of 2009 and even admitted to going through withdrawals, but that try at going cold-turkey apparently did not take. At least Butler admits that he continues to need help.

It's something of a wonder that Butler continues to perform at a reasonably high level despite his soda intake. The health effects of drinking soft drinks are very, very negative and can lead to everything from general sluggishness to serious disease. It's possible that Butler has only weathered those effects because his profession requires a high degree of physical fitness.

So here's hoping Butler is finally able to break his Mountain Dew addiction upon his retirement. Perhaps some time away from the league will allow him the chance to break his dependency.

Patriots acquire LB Jonathan Bostic from Bears

The New England Patriots have acquired linebacker Jonathan Bostic from the Chicago Bears for an undisclosed draft pick.

A second-round draft pick in 2013, Bostic fell out of favor under new coach John Fox.

Bostic started in 17 of 29 games he played, collecting 203 1/2 tackles.

The Bears announced the deal on Tuesday.

Antti Raanta, Clint Reif left off the Stanley Cup

 

The Hockey Hall of Fame unveiled the latest Blackhawks to be engraved on the Stanley Cup on Sunday, and perhaps most notable were two names that were missing: assistant equipment manager Clint Reif and goaltender Antti Raanta.

A spokesman for the NHL said that the team gets to choose which 52 names it wants on the Cup, and that the league only goes through those names to verify whether they meet the requirements. So basically, it’s up to the team who makes the cut and who doesn’t. The only rule is a player must appear in half of a team’s regular-season games, or at least one Stanley Cup Final game.

Raanta played in just 14 games, but dressed in more than the required 41. Traditionally, the backup goaltender is included even if he doesn’t play 41 games — Scott Darling is on the Cup even though he played in just 14 regular-season games and dressed as the backup for all six games in the Final — but the NHL said there was no set rule for backup goalies who dress but don’t play.

When asked why Raanta was left off, the Hawks simply said only players who play in 41 games or one Final game make the cut.

Raanta — who lost his backup job to Scott Darling late in the season and was traded to the New York Rangers during the draft — was embroiled in some controversy over the summer when a Finnish magazine quoted him as saying he rooted against the Hawks during the first round of the playoffs, so he could go home to Finland. Raanta told the Sun-Times that was greatly exaggerated, and that he was just briefly frustrated after he was called up to be a Black Ace rather than keep playing in Rockford.

“It only took one day,” he said. “[Because] then I came to Chicago and saw my teammates, and everybody was so happy to see me. So it was [a] big help for the first couple days. … I’m not that kind of guy that I would say something like that, and hope my team to lose, even if I’m not paying goalie.”

Reif, meanwhile, is the popular assistant equipment manager who died last December. The Hawks honored his memory with “CR” stickers on their helmets, and Reif’s family was on the ice to celebrate the Stanley Cup victory in June. Reif’s name is on the Cup twice already, as he was a part of the 2010 and 2013 championship teams, too.

The Hawks did petition, successfully, to have forwards Daniel Carcillo and Joakim Nordstrom engraved on the Cup, even though they came up just short of the required 41 games. Among the 52 names were 11 first-timers: Antoine Vermette, Kimmo Timonen, David Rundblad, Andrew Desjardins, Teuvo Teravainen, Trevor van Riemsdyk, Darling, Nordstrom and Kyle Cumiskey, along with coaches Kevin Dineen and Jimmy Waite.

Cal Ripken Jr. weighs in on Papelbon-Harper kerfuffle

A great many former MLB players have weighed in on the Jonathan Papelbon-Bryce Harper incident in recent days, helping to stir the froth of pungent emotions whipped up by this very public disagreement.
But it’s hard to imagine a more relevant veteran opinion than that of Cal Ripken Jr., both because so many locals still revere him, and because he’s been mentioned as a past (and potentially future) candidate for the team’s managerial role.
If, you know, that slot were to ever open up again. Theoretically.
While at a charity event he co-hosted with Kevin Spacey this week, Ripken was asked about the Papelbon-Harper incident by Fox 5’s Kevin McCarthy, who is not the House Majority Leader. Specifically, Ripken was asked if stuff like that happened in his era.
“Yeah, we kept those things secret in my day, so you wouldn’t know about those things,” Ripken said with a smile. “But yeah, I mean, I can see how tempers flare. And I can see how when a season doesn’t go the way you thought it would and you get eliminated from the playoffs, I think emotions can be a little higher. So yes, the answer is yes, in the short way.
“I’m not going to go back and tell you all the different times, but it happens,” Ripken continued. “And the Nationals dealt with it in their way, and the two principals, Papelbon and Harper, seem to have ironed it out as well. So I don’t think it’s an issue.”
If you are looking for foreshadowing in any of that, you have a very active imagination.
Angels outfielder David Murphy also offered an interesting opinion, in an interview with Mike Ferrin and Jim Duquette on SiriusXM’s MLB Network Radio.
“Bryce Harper’s a younger guy, but he’s been around the league long enough, he knows how to play the game,” Murphy said. “And Papelbon was trying to be a leader right there and was trying to address his teammate and encourage him to play the game the right way, to play harder, to run out a pop-up. So it’s good to see players holding their teammates accountable. On the other hand, I think that the physical aspect of it, how the fight went down and how physical it became very quickly, that was probably unnecessary.
“But knowing how Papelbon is, he gets fired up,” Murphy went on. “He’s the type of guy that treats the game of baseball with the intensity of a football player. He apologized, and I think that part of it was unnecessary. You can talk about it; I don’t think it needs to get to the point where it gets physical like that. But good to see players holding one another accountable.”
The AP also solicited opinions from a few well-known MLB figures.
“Everybody’s adrenaline and emotions are all over the place, and it happens,” David Ortiz said. “It’s not like they happen a lot, but they happen. We spend way too much time together, away from our family. You’ve got 25 different mentalities together at once, 25 different men in the same room….Even between big brother, little brother — fights happen. The most important thing is figure things out and go back to normal, which is what I’m pretty sure will happen over there….
“My boy Papelbon is legit. He’s a trooper, a great teammate,” Ortiz also said. “At some point, hopefully they figure things out, because Harper is a pretty good kid, too.”
Former Nats reliever Joe Beimel said “it seemed like there was a fight every week or so” when he first arrived in the Majors, but they were rarely in public view.
“To do it in the dugout is not a very good idea,” Beimel said. “First of all, you know cameras are around. Fans are around.”

Meanwhile, let’s check in with some other baseball names!

Harper is the best player in the NL but he's 22. RUN OUT EVERY BALL. A repeat offender of dogging it- will think twice before doing it again

— Gregg Zaun (@GreggZaun) September 28, 2015

Hey Papelbon do you mma ? #teamharper

— Jose Canseco (@JoseCanseco) September 28, 2015

Pap's message was correct. The delivery(er) was wrong. IMO, the manager or a veteran position player needs to talk to him at the right time.

— Vernon Wells (@VernonWells10) September 28, 2015

Ask Bryce if he"ran"it out.Light jog,yes.It happens,I get it.U need a good leader to remind you of the right way. https://t.co/V9WE7jLUNV

— Vernon Wells (@VernonWells10) September 28, 2015

My issue really isn't with Bryce, it happens. And he's 22! We all need need the right voice. Pap wasn't it. https://t.co/aIoMZZJS59

— Vernon Wells (@VernonWells10) September 28, 2015

@CJNitkowski loved the article CJ, Pap will take a beating for this from everyone who doesn't play the game. #EntitlementGeneration

— LaTroy Hawkins (@LaTroyHawkins32) September 28, 2015

I understand the choking part n is wrong,im just in favor of BASEBALL n how is suppose to be played thats all!it doesnt matter who it is

— Bengie Molina (@BengieMolina1) September 28, 2015

Ive never question harpers talent,hes a SUPERSTAR,im a big fan but any player should play hard n respect the game!Thats all!

— Bengie Molina (@BengieMolina1) September 28, 2015

Missouri suspends starting QB Maty Mauk for disciplinary reasons

Missouri starting quarterback Maty Mauk has been suspended for Saturday’s game against South Carolina for disciplinary reasons, according to a release from the school.

Offensive tackle Malik Cuellar, a junior college transfer, also is suspended.

The release did not elaborate on the reason for the suspension and said both players’ statuses would be evaluated going forward.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the suspension is not related to a legal matter.

Mauk started the Tigers' first four games of the season, completing just 51.8 percent of his passes for 654 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions. Mauk also rushed for 145 yards and a score.

Cuellar played in the season opener against Southeast Missouri, but hasn’t played since.

With Mauk out, freshman Drew Lock, who has appeared in all four games, likely will get the first start of his career. Lock has completed 15 of 25 passes for 225 yards, a touchdown and an interception

NFL's appeal of Tom Brady ruling won't be heard until at least February 2016

Tom Brady will play the entire 2015 season and postseason with the virtual certainty that he will not face any suspension this year from the NFL for his role in the ongoing deflate-gate drama.

The matter is now in the hands of a federal appeals court, which approved the request of both the NFL and the NFL Players' Association for an expedited ruling. "Expedited," in this instance, means no earlier than Feb. 1, 2016. The NFL's postseason begins on January 9, 2016, and the Super Bowl will be on Feb. 7 in Santa Clara, Calif.

Brady was suspended for four games and the Patriots were fined $1 million and docked two draft picks following an incident at the AFC Championship Game earlier this year in which the team apparently provided improperly inflated footballs for use in the game. Brady appealed his suspension, but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell upheld the suspension in July. A subsequent appeal to federal court resulted in the overturning of the suspension; the NFL, determined to fight on, appealed that decision, which brings us to the present day.

The NFL must prepare its appeal by Oct. 26. Brady and the NFLPA will have until Dec. 7 to prepare a response, and the NFL will have until Dec. 21 for a reply.

The court date could in theory come during the week of Super Bowl, which means that an already chaotic week for the NFL will ratchet up to ridiculous levels of hype. Prepare yourselves now. And it would be just like Brady to whip the NFL in federal court and the Packers on the field within hours of each other, wouldn't it?

FIFA bans Blatter ally Warner for life over repeated bribery

Four years after stepping down in disgrace, former FIFA vice president Jack Warner was banned from soccer for life on Tuesday, accused of repeated acts of bribery related to World Cup bidding votes.

Warner, a long-time ally of President Sepp Blatter who was allowed to resign from FIFA in 2011 with his ''presumption of innocence'' maintained, is currently fighting extradition from Trinidad and Tobago on U.S. charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money-laundering.

The decision by the FIFA ethics committee on Tuesday shows that judge Hans-Joachim Eckert will pursue officials long after they have left their jobs.

A more pressing case for the ethics body is an investigation into Blatter, who was interrogated by Swiss prosecutors on Friday in part over allegations he undervalued the awarding of World Cup television rights to Warner. Blatter, who denies wrongdoing, is at risk of being suspended by his own organization.

Warner's lifetime FIFA ban stems from Eckert's report on the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

''I do not believe however that this will serve as the distraction to the FIFA's present problems as the FIFA wishes it to be,'' Warner said. ''Given what is happening in Zurich with Sepp Blatter I guess that there is no such thing as a coincidence.''

As leader of the CONCACAF region from 1990-2011, Warner gained considerable influence in World Cup votes by the FIFA executive committee and now the extent of his wrongdoing has been reinforced by Eckert.

''Mr. Warner was found to have committed many and various acts of misconduct continuously and repeatedly during his time as an official in different high-ranking and influential positions at FIFA and CONCACAF,'' the FIFA statement said.

''In his positions as a football official, he was a key player in schemes involving the offer, acceptance, and receipt of undisclosed and illegal payments, as well as other money-making schemes.''

The case highlights how the specter of corruption has hung over FIFA under Blatter's 17-year presidency.

Former FIFA vice president Chung Mong-joon, who hopes to succeed Blatter in February's election, said Tuesday the leadership crisis is so severe that an emergency task force should be set up to run the game.

With Blatter under criminal investigation and general secretary Jerome Valcke suspended from work and being investigated by the ethics committee, Chung said FIFA is in ''total meltdown.''

''Under such circumstances, FIFA and regional confederations should consider convening extraordinary sessions of their respective executive committee(s) as well as congress to set-up an emergency task force that will enable FIFA secretariat to function without interruption,'' Chung, a former vice president under Blatter, said in a statement from South Korea.

Among Chung's potential rivals in the election is UEFA President Michel Platini, who has been questioned as a witness over a payment from FIFA - one of the reasons Blatter was interrogated on Friday by Swiss authorities. Blatter and Platini denied wrongdoing as they await news from the ethics committee, which is looking into the case.

Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber said Tuesday that Platini is being treated as ''between a witness and an accused person.''

Lauber said he would raid Platini's office if necessary to ''clear up what's the real truth.''

The payment under investigation is the 2 million Swiss francs (about $2 million) received by Platini in 2011 for work supposedly carried out in his job as a FIFA adviser between 1998 and 2002. FIFA's accounts for 1999-2002 show a revenue surplus of 115 million Swiss francs (about $83 million in 2002).

''Mr. Blatter informed me when I started my role as his adviser that it was not initially possible to pay the totality of my salary because of FIFA's financial situation at that time,'' Platini said in comments provided by UEFA.

With less than a month to go until he must pass integrity checks to stand in the FIFA presidential election in February, Platini insisted that he doesn't ''fear a (FIFA) suspension because I have done nothing wrong,''

FIFA is expected to hold an election on Feb. 26 to replace Blatter, who delivered his sudden resignation statement in June, four days after being re-elected for a fifth term.

The FIFA bribery scandal erupted in May when the United States indicted 14 officials, including seven who were arrested at a Zurich hotel two days before the presidential election.

Only one of the seven men - ousted FIFA vice president Jeffrey Webb - has been extradited to the U.S.

A week after the American request to extradite Venezuelan official Rafael Esquivel was granted, the Swiss justice ministry agreed Tuesday to also send former Costa Rican soccer federation president Eduardo Li.

Li, accused of taking bribes in connection with the sale of marketing rights for World Cup qualifiers, was ousted from the FIFA executive committee two days before he could take his seat.

Extradition orders can be challenged at Switzerland's federal criminal court within 30 days.

Speaking after a lecture at Zurich University, Lauber described the ongoing FIFA case being run from the attorney general's office as a ''big investigation.''

''This is not a 90-minute game,'' Lauber said. ''It's like more or less not even at the half (time) break.''