Liquor License Suspended at MLB Stadium

TORONTO -- Beer and alcohol sales were banned at the Tigers-Blue Jays game Tuesday night, a day after their season opener was delayed when unruly fans littered the field with baseballs and debris. The clubhouses were cleared of booze, too, after the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario suspended the liquor license at Rogers Centre for three dates because of past infractions. The panel cited five broken rules at baseball and football games and concerts dating to the Canadian Football League championship game in 2007. The stadium will also be dry on April 21 when Toronto plays Texas, and for a CFL game on Aug. 1. Both affected baseball games fell on dates when the price of upper deck seats was cut to $2, a promotion called "Messin' With Recession." The ban covers everything from concessions, vendors and restaurants to the beer refrigerators in both locker rooms. Signs posted Tuesday at stadium entrances listed five reasons for the license suspension: permitting drunkenness, permitting the use of narcotics, selling and serving to apparent minors, failure to request approved identification and permitting illegal liquor on the premises. The Blue Jays' 12-5 win Monday was delayed nine minutes in the eighth inning when fans threw two baseballs in the direction of Detroit left fielder Josh Anderson and tossed a handful of paper planes and empty beer cups onto the field. Anderson was pleased to hear alcohol would not be sold Tuesday. "That's good," he said. "These people can't handle it." Mario Coutinho, vice president for stadium operations and security, said the three dry dates were jointly selected in talks between stadium staff and the alcohol commission. "We proposed some dates that were suitable to their criteria," Coutinho said. "They came with 'X' number dates of suspension and we suggested some proposed dates based on the events that we've had in the past." Fans who want to exchange their tickets for the affected dates will be allowed to, subject to availability. Last season, the Blue Jays halted alcohol sales in the upper deck for three games in May and June after fans brawled in the stands, leading to almost 100 ejections. On Tuesday, the team increased security by checking bags and patting down fans in a bid to stop alcohol from being smuggled into the stadium. Tuesday's ban meant little to Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "That has no bearing on me," Leyland said. "I don't drink beer, particularly not during the game."

Salty's Thoughts: Beer and Baseball go together like BBQ Sauce and...well everything. BBQ is good on anything. Believe-dat.

Elway's Son Quits Football

Redshirt freshman quarterback Jack Elway is leaving the Arizona State football program but remaining in school as a student. "He's just tired of football and wants to do something else with his life," ASU coach Dennis Erickson said Monday. "He made a decision, and we all understand it. He would have played here eventually." Elway, son of Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway, was the only scholarship quarterback in the 2008 recruiting class out of Cherry Creek (Colo.) High School. He redshirted last season and was among five quarterbacks competing for the starting job vacated by Rudy Carpenter. Now the quarterback competition is down to four: senior Danny Sullivan, sophomores Samson Szakacsy and Chasen Stangel and true freshman Brock Osweiler. Scottsdale Saguaro High School quarterback Cole Rarrick plans to walk-on at ASU in the fall.

Arizona Republic

Truth or Rumor?

The doctor who administers the NFL policy on performance-enhancing drugs told highly regarded USC linebackers Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews Jr. on Friday that neither tested positive for banned substances, including steroids, according to sources close to both players. Cushing and Matthews were included in previous reports indicating that up to six prominent players had tested positive for performance-enhancing or recreational drugs in tests administered in February at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. Also named were Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji, Illinois cornerback Vontae Davis, Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin and UTEP kicker Jose Martinez. Cushing, Raji, Davis and Harvin all are projected to be first-round picks in the NFL draft later this month. NFLDraftbible.com reported that Cushing and Matthews tested positive for steroids and the other four for marijuana. SI.com, meanwhile, also reported that Raji had tested positive for a banned substance.

Yahoo! Sports

Tampa Paid Bucs

Signing Kellen Winslow, 25, to an extension was not a condition of the trade, but rather what the Bucs viewed as an opportunity to lock up one of the league's best young tight ends rather than lose him to free agency after two seasons. "We made the trade with the future in mind," general manager Mark Dominik said Monday. "We consider Kellen a leader on the football team and when you trade away multiple draft picks, you obviously want the player for the long haul. Kellen has demonstrated he's very excited about being part of our community and part of the Bucs. We're excited to have him." Winslow only participated in the first day of a three-day, voluntary minicamp last week.

St. Petersburg Times

Salty's Thoughts: Big money for a player I feel is damaged goods. We'll see. I wish K2 the best. When he was healthy, and playing hard, he was really fun to watch.

Did Weis oversell Brady Quinn to Browns?

There's a huge perception among fans in Cleveland that Brady Quinn is a quality starting quarterback in the NFL. Fueling this fire is Charlie Weis and his evaluation of Quinn. But what Weis thinks, and what others who worked for and with Weis at New England think, are vastly different. And no matter how close they may be, there's nothing that Weis can say to change their mind. In fact, when Josh McDaniels was on the staff at New England, the Patriots did not have Quinn very high on their board, regardless of the wisdom stemming from Weis' evaluation. Taking this one step further, there were some well-respected personnel men in the NFL who did not want to take the Browns job (prior to Eric Mangini becoming the main man) because they didn't feel Quinn could be the starter. The expectations of the fans with regard to Quinn are enormous, and sometimes this can burden a franchise.

Salty's Thoughts: If you're an NFL GM, Coach, Scout, you shouldn't allow yourself to be "sold" by a College Coach. My 2 cents.

Blockbusted?

NEW YORK -- Movie rental company Blockbuster Inc. said Monday the risk that it may not complete financing deals raises "substantial doubt" about its ability to continue as a going concern. Dallas-based Blockbuster, which has struggled amid the rising popularity of DVD-by-mail services like Netflix, disclosed the warning in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company had already cautioned last month that its auditor was likely to raise doubts about its ability to stay in business. A going-concern qualification refers to an auditor's assessment of a company's ability to continue to operate for the foreseeable future. Last week, Blockbuster said its revolving and term loan agreement was amended, giving it a $250 million revolving loan refinancing that matures on Sept. 30, 2010. Lenders including JPMorgan also agreed to waive any default that could result if auditors attached a "going concern" classification. But on Monday, the company said its lenders' obligation to fund the $250 million credit facility is subject to meeting certain conditions, and there can be no assurances that these conditions will be met. Even if the loan is funded, the company said it "may not have sufficient liquidity to finance the ongoing obligations of our business, which raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern." Blockbuster said it believes that it will be in a position to close the amended credit facility by around May 11, though "there can be no assurance regarding these matters." Shares fell 3 cents to 85 cents in after-hours trading, having closed earlier at 88 cents.

Salty's Thoughts: Their prices are too high. Late fees are for the Half Gumps.

Yet another NFL player arrested

HOUSTON -- NFL receiver Reggie Williams was charged with drug possession after off-duty policemen used a Taser to subdue him when he refused to leave a bar. Houston police spokesman Kese Smith said Williams was impaired when he refused to leave a bar Sunday night. He struggled with two off-duty officers who tried to escort him out and one of them used a Taser on him. Police said jail officials later found a small bag believed to contain cocaine in Williams' back pocket. He was charged on Monday with possession of a controlled substance and freed after posting a $2,000 bond. In February, the 25-year-old unrestricted free agent was arrested in Houston on DWI and possession of marijuana charges, which were later dropped. He played for the Jacksonville Jaguars last season. A call to Williams' agent was not immediately returned.

Salty's Thoughts: Typical.

photo courtesy of Indmix.com