F***

Carlin (May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008)
Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television. Some People Are Stupid. Stuff. People I Can Do Without. George Carlin, who died of heart failure Sunday at 71, leaves behind not only a series of memorable routines, but a legal legacy: His most celebrated monologue, a frantic, informed riff on those infamous seven words, led to a Supreme Court decision on broadcasting offensive language.

The counterculture hero's jokes also targeted things such as misplaced shame, religious hypocrisy and linguistic quirks — why, he once asked, do we drive on a parkway and park on a driveway?

Carlin, who had a history of heart trouble, went into St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica on Sunday afternoon complaining of chest pain and died later that evening, said his publicist, Jeff Abraham. He had performed as recently as last weekend at the Orleans Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.

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All-Star game starter?


Rangers climb above .500 once again
On the way to a 5-3 win Sunday, Vicente Padilla fed the aggressive – almost undisciplined – Washington Nationals a steady dose of hard stuff for seven innings to earn his 10th win of the season and legitimately make himself a contender for a spot on the American League All-Star team. He is tied for second in the AL in wins and has won eight of his last nine decisions.

Closer C.J. Wilson followed suit in the ninth for his most efficient save in more than two months. It came at a time when Wilson's job was in peril after consecutive poor outings earlier in the week.

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I am getting a little jazzed for the Olympics

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A song worth half-a-billion dollars
In the big, bad game of rock and roll, “Stairway to Heaven” is undeniably a winner. Released by Led Zeppelin in 1971, the eight-minute song is considered a musical masterpiece and is one of the most-played rock tunes of all time. Proving its longevity, “Stairway” hit the U.K. charts again last fall and was a top download in the U.S., after Zeppelin’s first downloadable album launched on iTunes. But because the band is notoriously protective of its work, “Stairway” hasn’t met its full moneymaking potential.

THE BOTTOM LINE
Nearly 37 years after the release of “Stairway,” there seems to be no end to its ­revenue stream. But Zeppelin could up the total if it wants to go commercial.

VALUE OF "STAIRWAY" EARNINGS: $562 million
VALUE OF POTENTIAL LICENSING DEALS: $10 million and up


TOTAL VALUE OF "STAIRWAY": $572 million or more

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My prediction: halftime at the Super Bowl
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has dropped another hint that the legendary rockers are to tour following their acclaimed O2 gig last December.

Speaking at a recent award show, Page told the Daily Star: "I hope fans can vote for Led Zeppelin live awards in the future."

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High School sorriness
You've heard of Kill the Ump, Lynch the Ump, and Strangle the Ump, right? Well, get ready for the latest thing—Bean the Ump.

It happened on May 31 in the Georgia high school Class AAA championship game. Stephens County was losing to Cartersville 9-1 early, partly because nine straight SCHS batters had struck out. The last ring-up so hacked off superstar shortstop Ethan Martin—who had just been drafted 15th overall by the Dodgers—that he threw his helmet in protest. But that figured. Martin and his brother, Cody, who was pitching, reportedly had been complaining about balls and strikes the entire game.

So now it's the bottom of the fourth, with Ethan playing short and Cody on the mound. The catcher is Matt Hill. There are no outs. The count is 0-1. Cody winds up and flings a very high, very hard fastball. Hill comes out of his squat, puts his glove up to catch it, then does a very funny thing.

He doesn't.

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SI.com's Tom Bowles exclusive interview with NASCAR's accuser
Mauricia "Mo" Grant spent nearly three years as a race official in the Nationwide Series, working for NASCAR as the only African-American female in such a role. Now she's at the center of a $225 million lawsuit filed against the organization, in which she alleges sexual and racial discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination. She claims she was called demeaning names, subjected to sexual advances -- including two male co-workers allegedly exposing themselves to her -- and made the brunt of graphic and lewd jokes.

In her first face-to-face and most extensive interview since the lawsuit became public, Grant, 32, spoke to SI.com this week about some of the background of the suit. During the two-hour, sometimes emotional interview (including an animated discussion about last week's NASCAR race at Michigan), her passion for the sport was evident.

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Yankees sign Ponson

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Cuban vs Nellie, part 33
The U.S. men's Olympic basketball team, which will include Dallas Mavericks' guard Jason Kidd, is one of the top honors an athlete or coach can have, and former Mavs coach Don Nelson said Wednesday that it's a travesty that Mark Cuban views the Olympics as strictly a financial proposition.

"I couldn't disagree more," Nelson said. "It's not about the money. There is pride in these athletes. He ought to have more respect for his country. Everybody in the NBA makes plenty of money. It's not too much to ask that every four years you give something back to your country."

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You want some of this?

It was ten seconds that shook the Open. That's how long it took for an eagle putt by Tiger Woods to traverse the 75 feet or so from the back of the 13th green to the bottom of the cup. The eagle propelled Tiger back into red numbers — players roosting there were an endangered species Saturday at Torrey Pines — and announced what we already knew: Woods isn't giving up his dance with destiny without a fight to the last.

That roar was one that may live forever in Torrey Pines history, at least if Woods goes on to win the U.S. Open. Then again, it was nearly matched within the hour when Woods lofted a high pitch from left of the 17th green and watched it one-bounce into the cup for birdie. As another thunderous roar erupted from an electrified gallery, Woods grinned with his head down. It may yet prove to be a significant shot in historical terms but it was a fortunate accident and Woods acknowledged that. "You've gotta be kidding me," he said later. "I was thinking, don't make a 6, and I made a 3."

If that wasn't enough, there was the little matter of a 40-foot eagle putt on the last green, a stroke of genius that gave Woods the lead by himself heading into the final round. Another stunning turn, another raucous ovation, another Tiger miracle. If you don't believe in destiny after those three shots Saturday, you'd better reconsider.

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New Cowboy stadium jinxed?

Just days after three workers were injured in a crane accident at the new Dallas Cowboys stadium, an electrician was electrocuted there Saturday while performing tests on some of its wiring.

Timothy Mackinnon, 45, of Arlington was standing on a ladder when he touched a high-voltage line in the ceiling of the stadium's concourse level, said Neal Strasser, a battalion chief with the Arlington Fire Department.

The stadium site has already been under scrutiny, following a crane accident on Thursday afternoon. That day, a crane connector "failed," prompting cables and other parts to fall.

Three workers leapt off a nearby crane to avoid being hit and were injured in the 10- to 12-foot fall. All three were taken to area hospitals, though two have been released. The third, Wesley Harlow, remains in Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. Hospital spokeswoman Susan Hall said Saturday evening that he is in serious condition.

More than 170 injuries – mostly minor – have occurred at the stadium site, where about 1,400 workers are engaged each day.

Two other high-profile accidents have happened during construction of the $1.1 billion stadium, which is scheduled to open for the Cowboys' 2009 season. A construction worker was injured in August when crane cables struck him in the back while on an upper deck of the new stadium. In January 2007, another worker fell 20 feet from scaffolding onto the field.

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Rangers play slip-n-slide
During a rain delay of nearly 90 minutes that preceded the postponement of Saturday's game between the Mets and Rangers, Bradley led a charge of six Rangers into an impromptu session of Slip 'N' Slide on the rain-slicked field cover at Shea Stadium.
Gerald Laird and Josh Hamilton broke out of the Rangers' dugout. They were soon joined by Josh Rupe and Michael Young. Only a little more than $100 million in guaranteed contracts. They slid about five times, eliciting a chant of "Let's go Rangers," from the fans still left at Shea.

General manager Jon Daniels held his breath, and when everybody got up unhurt, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"As long as nobody got hurt and no damage got done, they were just blowing off some steam and having some fun," said Daniels, a native of Queens. "And you don't hear that chant – 'Let's go Rangers' – very often in this borough."

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Sex Pistols kill....or at least threaten the crowd

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600

Jr gets his
But Griffey is far from done as a power hitter. There are still homers to hit, and milestones to reach. He could become the third player ever, joining Ty Cobb and Rusty Staub, to hit a home run as a teenager and as a 40-year-old. He could join Ted Williams, Rickey Henderson and Willie McCovey as the only players to hit home runs in four different decades and he could become the first player to hit 300 home runs for two different teams.

It is easy to look at 600 and wonder what might have been with improved health. But it is easier and more fun to remember Griffey at his best, a wondrous athlete who streaked through the outfield, climbed an outfield wall and made a catch that only Mays could make, then the next inning, hit a ball to places that very few players could reach. Six hundred home runs is a tremendous milestone, but Griffey at 100, 200, 300 and 400 was simply breathtaking.

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Panic time in LA?
Two games into the Finals, the Celtics are much closer to winning a 17th championship than the Lakers are to winning a 15th title.

Only three teams in NBA history have come back from 2-0 deficits to win the NBA Finals -- the Celtics in 1969 (against the Lakers), Portland in 1977 and Miami in 2006.

"I'm not worried about which Celtics team shows up," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said resolutely. "I'm worried about what Lakers team shows up. That's the one that moves the ball, and we do things well on the offensive end."

Oh, that one.
The Celtics shouldn't need to change much to hang on to their momentum. Paul Pierce's knee wasn't an issue after a 28-point effort, and the Celtics' defense has been strong throughout the series, a 41-point lapse in the fourth quarter of Game 2 the lone serious dent.

There is, however, their one main problem in the playoffs.

After a 31-10 regular-season record on the road, the Celtics are 2-7 away from home in the playoffs, though they did win two of three in Detroit in the Eastern finals.

"We've played well of late on the road, so that gives us confidence," Boston Coach Doc Rivers said.

Just what the Celtics need. More confidence.

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TO's weird saga continues
Terrell Owens is now subject to increased screenings for performance-enhancing drugs after the veteran receiver did not make himself available for a recent NFL-administered random test.

As a result, Owens has been placed in the NFL's "reasonable cause" testing program, sources said, though Owens said he has never failed a test in his 12-year career and passed his most recent test.

Owens said the league did not have an up-to-date cellphone number for him, leading to the miscommunication. While it is not uncommon for players to switch cellphone numbers or have multiple cellphones, changes in off-season phone numbers and addresses must be reported to the steroid program advisor.

"It was openly discussed and cleared up in a meeting that I had at the NFL office last week," Owens said in a statement released by his publicist. "I have been in the NFL for over 12 years and have never had a positive test for substance of any kind. That includes tests that took place as recently as last month. The matter was resolved to everyone's satisfaction last Tuesday, and everyone has moved on."

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Fallout from the David Jacobs steroid investigation
Convicted Plano steroids trafficker David Jacobs told The Dallas Morning News that he supplied performance-enhancing drugs to a Cowboys player before and after the 2006season.

In several conversations since January with reporters at The News , Mr. Jacobs described how he prepared spreadsheets detailing a regimen for special teams player Ryan Fowler. It has previously been reported that Mr. Jacobs told federal investigators he sold to offensive lineman Matt Lehr after he left the Cowboys.

Mr. Jacobs, 35, was found dead Thursday at his Plano home. An autopsy revealed he committed suicide in the same room where his ex-girlfriend, 30-year-old Amanda Jo Earhart-Savell, was shot several times. Her death was ruled a homicide Monday. Friends said Mr. Jacobs was extremely jealous and was upset that she had been seeing other men.

A day after the bodies were found, the NFL wrote Mr. Fowler a letter telling him he faces suspension for violation of the league's anabolic steroid policy. According to his attorney, the letter said there was credible evidence that Mr. Fowler "purchased, used or supplied" banned substances.

The existence of the letter was first reported Monday by ESPN.

"I suspect Jacobs said something which the NFL decided to use to threaten my client," Peter Ginsberg, Mr. Fowler's lawyer, said Monday. The league has given "absolutely no justification" for its action, he said.

"Without any corroboration the NFL is threatening to jeopardize my client's career," Mr. Ginsberg said.

He said he has asked the league for substantiation and it has not responded.

The NFL, Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans, where Mr. Fowler now plays, declined to comment.

Mr. Jacobs spoke to The News about his dealings with Mr. Fowler with the understanding that some details not be immediately published. After his death and after Mr. Fowler's attorney linked the league's action to Mr. Jacobs, The News decided to make some of the information public.

Contract boost

Mr. Jacobs said that with his help, Mr. Fowler, who played in Dallas from 2004 to 2006, went from making $400,000 as a Cowboy to signing a four-year, $11.5 million contract with the Titans, where he was a starting linebacker last season.

"After he got his big contract, he came back, knocked on my door and hugged me," Mr. Jacobs said. "He said, thanks, I just got $12 million."

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Cedric goes bye-bye

"Cedric displayed a pattern of behavior we will not tolerate," general manager Jerry Angelo said. "As I said this past weekend, you have to protect your job. Everyone in this organization is held accountable for their actions. When individual priorities overshadow team goals, we suffer the consequences as a team. Those who fail to understand the importance of 'team' will not play for the Chicago Bears."

Coach Lovie Smith, who brushed off reporters earlier in the day after Monday's practice, had no comment.

The move came less than an hour after Benson issued a statement he had hoped to make at Monday's organized team activity before he was sent home. The statement, crafted with the help of longtime ally and noted sports attorney David Cornwell, attempted to show remorse for putting the Bears through the latest ordeal.

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Big Brown's trainer is not happy

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Peterson gets extention from Stars
Toby Petersen worked a long time for his big break, and it came Monday afternoon. The 29-year-old center signed his first "one-way" contract in the NHL, hooking up with the Stars for two seasons at $550,000 a year.

Petersen played eight games during the regular season with the Stars after a call-up from the minors, but he played 16 of 18 playoff games, including some strong performances against Detroit in the Western Conference finals. He is a checking-line center who has some offensive upside and some strong leadership skills with several of the team's younger players

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The passing of a legend

Like many others, my Saturday afternooons as a kid were filled with the anticipation of Wide World of Sports. As I heard over the weekend, there is no book how to be a sportscaster, but Jim McKay wrote volumes as he helped to develop the art of sportscaster.
The passing of a legend
Over much of the '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s, I followed that voice all over the world, spanning the globe, spinning stories for ABC Sports, bringing all manner of odd athletic endeavors (Luge! Barrel jumping! Demolition derby!) to "Wide World of Sports," while remaining cool, calm and collected as TV host of ten Olympic Games.
Nobody who lived through the Black September attack in Munich during the 1972 Summer Olympics will forget what McKay meant to a nation. How hour after endless hour - under the enormous pressure of live television - he never once strayed into hype or hysteria, holding our collective hands as we pondered the fate of 11 Israeli athletes.

And when he finally found out, and told us they were gone, all gone, well, you never forget words like that, or the man who carried them into your home.

Today, there are far more screamers than commentators, a trend I trust he’d find regrettable. Perhaps the stories surrounding the death of this legend, at age 86, will serve to do what all those Saturday and Sunday afternoons did for me - inspire the next generation of broadcast journalists to model at least some of their ways after Jim McKay.

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The Leon Powe show?

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Rangers end a 10 game homestand 5-5
Rangers get one from the fighting Rays

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I watched a little Formula 1 racing Sunday for the first time in a long time. I must say, it was pretty entertaining. Part of it was the fact that they only raced 70 laps. That seems much easier to digest than 200 or 300 laps of Nascar or the IRL. There was side-by-side racing, wrecks, stuff happening in the turns, high speeds on the straightways. All good stuff.

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And so, it beings

Ah yes, the rematch beigns. However, these two teams (and tha NBA) are not yout Lakers and Celtics from the 80's. Just look at the shorts.

Dan Shaughnessy from the Boston Globe

LA's story

The Boston Celtics were physical and resolute.

The Lakers were not.

The result became predictable, a 98-88 Celtics victory in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

The Lakers were outrebounded, outhustled and outdone on the plot lines, Paul Pierce's return from what looked like a serious knee injury carrying the night Thursday at TD Banknorth Garden.

The Lakers didn't lose a Game 1 while cruising through the Western Conference, but this was different, in case the hauntingly familiar "Beat L.A." chants and loud green-clad crowd didn't drive home the distinction.

Kobe Bryant had a dreadful shooting night, making only nine of 26 shots on the way to a quiet 24 points, with little help from teammates.

The Celtics hammered the Lakers on the boards, 46-33, and held the top-shooting team in the playoffs to only 41.6% shooting. They were held to 15 points in the fourth quarter as the game got away.

The good news for the Lakers could be found only in the near future. Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is Sunday.

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The Brawl in Boston



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The strange story of David Jacobs. Wonder what the NFL will do about any investigations.

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Wings Roll

Detroit Wins
Pitt's take
The Penquins could not build on their epic game 5 win. They looked totally gassed in the third. However, they did put up a gret effort and in football terms, came up a yard short from scoring the winning (or tying) touchdown.

As good as Osgood was, Zetterberg deserved the Conn Smythe.

After a very disappointing first 2 games, the NHL has to be happy with the past 4 games.

Evgeni Malkin finally made an appearance and mus tleave Pitt fans thinking, "what if..."

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A story on what happpeed to the music
When MTV was launched in 27 years ago, its purpose was to play music videos. This noble concept gave way to a pop culture phenomenon, forever changing the dynamic of celebrity culture. MTV became the place to spot the next big thing, and played a huge role in the break-out careers of artists like Madonna and Michael Jackson as well as ushering hip hop into the mainstream with Y! MTV Raps.


Over the years, MTV has become less music television, opting instead for programming dominated by reality television shows. For those of us who remember the MTV of the 80s and 90s, and remember MTV being the go-to source for music news, videos, events and breaking new artists, we see what it has become and wonder what happened.


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You probably never heard of this guy, but you have certainly seen his work



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Led Zeppelin - the ride

The Natural

The fairy tale continues

Some AL Stats:

Runs - first
Hits - first
Home Runs - first
RBI - first (he has 67; 2nd has 50)
TTL Bases - first
Slug % - First
Batting Avg - 2nd
Sac Fly - 2nd

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Game 6 tonight
Det just says don't panic
Pitt's outlook

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Dumars Filpped out
Joe Dumars is in charge. And Joe Dumars is not happy. You can hear it in his voice. If I've observed one change in the man I have known for more than 20 years, it is this: What once was kept inside, quietly stewing, is now increasingly coming out of his mouth.

"I was disgusted," he said of the performance by his Pistons in Games 3 and 6 of the Eastern Conference finals. "By the time I left that arena Friday night, I had seen enough."

That was clear Tuesday, when Dumars broomed Flip Saunders out as coach. And the exit door awaits at least one of his starters.

"I'll make a significant trade," Dumars, the Pistons' president of basketball operations, declared. "... We have a core group of guys here that for the first time in six years I'm letting teams in the league know I'll do a deal. ... I'm open for business."

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Failed
this guy has been so overhyped. If he had been on almost any other team, this would have been a non-story. But, because he is in NY, we get overwhelmed with media coverage

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You can buy one of Dr.Huxtable's sweaters

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A Very Sporty Day

STANLEY CUP FINALS



Wow, a dominant 3rd period by the Wings was not quite enough. Detroit scores 2 goals in just under 3 minutes and seemes to be in total control. The Joe is rocking and all is well in Motown. Pittsburgh doesn't seem to press very hard to get the tying goal...ok, maybe the Detroit defense is that good.

Then, Maxime Talbot (1 point in the series) scores with 35 seconds remaining. Put the cup back in its case and hold on just a little while longer.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

Does Evgeni Malkin realize that he is playing in the Stanley Cup Finals. He is -3 in the series with zero points. During OT, he stays down on the ice because he seems to be tired? That is not exactly the level of commitment expected in June.

You think Ryan Malone might have some words for Malkin, or at least some uncomfortable sideways glares?

Marc-Andre Fleury played a fantastic game. Yes, he was a first 1st round pick in 2003 and that is one reason why him performance is so impressive. He is only 23.

Detroit dominated long stretches of the game - both regulation and overtime but just coundn't get one past Fleury. As usual, they badly outshot the Penquins.

5th longest game in Fnals history

I keep hearing how the officials should not decide the game by calling a penalty. Do they not help decide the outcome by not calling penalties?

Petr Sykora skated over to Peirre Mcguire's cubicle and told him that he was going to score. That is calling his shot and making it happen.

You have to wonder how the Red Wings will respond. They are an older team. Also, before last night, they had played only one OT game in the playoffs - way back on April 18 vs Nashvile.

On the other side, will Pittsburgh respond like Dallas did in game 6 or can they muster up another herculean effort?

This is exactly why the Stanley Cup is the most difficult, grueling, rewarding trophy in team sports.


Mitch Albom on the loss
Pittsburgh columnist gushes over the win

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What does Terrell Owens have that George Bush doesn't? Four more years.
Why Orville Redenbacher is smiling

This is definitely not the same T.O.

Without the controversy that led to his departure from Philadelphia, Terrell Owens quietly received a new contract with the Dallas Cowboys on Monday, team sources told ESPN's Michael Smith.

Terrell Owens has always been there for the Cowboys when it mattered most. In two seasons in Dallas, Owens has nabbed 166 receptions. Twenty-eight of those have been for scores, which ranks tops in the NFL.

The wide receiver was slated to earn $7 million this season in the last year of his contract, but he now receives a four-year, $34 million deal. Owens is slated to earn $27 million over the next three seasons, making him -- along with Randy Moss, Javon Walker and Larry Fitzgerald -- one of the highest paid wide receivers in the league.

Owens will receive $12.9 million to sign and $100,000 of his $830,000 2008 base salary guaranteed, for a total of $13 million guaranteed. He is now under contract through 2011.

The key to the deal may not be the length or even the money.

The best part: Owens will not be playing out the final year of his contract, eliminating a potentially explosive topic from a team that needs its attention on ending an 11-season drought without a playoff win.

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Pacman can do anything, except play in a real game
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday notified Jones that he may participate in the OTAs, minicamp, training camp and preseason games. Goodell will make a final determination on a full reinstatement by Sept. 1, six days before the season opener at Cleveland.

The Sept 1 deadline might seem punative towards the Cowboys, but that is the price you pay when you sign troubled players.

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Josh Hamilton continues to make news on a daily basis, yet he moves further and further down the ladder of websites and blogs.

Josh 2nd in voting among outfielders


Oh yeah, he is player of the month....again
Hamilton became the first American League player to win the monthly award in April and May the same season.

"I come to the park, I know what I need to do to get ready for the game and I do it. Nothing is going to change," Hamilton said. "I want to work harder and I want to do better."

Hamilton went into a Monday night game against Cleveland hitting .328 with a major league-best 63 RBIs, 13 more than the next-closest player. He led the AL with 15 homers, 77 hits and 25 multihit games. Hamilton had eight homers and 29 RBIs in May, when the Rangers won 19 games for their winningest month since June 1983.

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Madame Tussauds might want to re-think this idea

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Reunion Arena

Reunion Arena has outlived its usefulness. The place is a concrete dump. People still want to book it? Maybe so, but the city's attitude towards events is less than accommodating. Actually, the staff seemed pretty intent on making things difficult on guests (this from personal experience). This is not a hard decision. Either demolish and find another use for the property, or sell the land.

The City of Dallas continues to make incredibly stupid decisions

Reunion Arena's death warrant appeared signed in red ink last summer when the Dallas City Council directed top staff to close the cash-bleeding facility June 30 and prepare for its demolition.

But several council members say they're no longer certain Reunion Arena will be closed after all.

In its heyday, Reunion Arena in downtown Dallas played host to top sporting events and concerts.

"We still have people wanting to book it. There certainly could be some reconsideration," said Ron Natinsky, chairman of the economic development committee, noting that the arena still helps draw tens of thousands of people to downtown Dallas each year.

The staff has not, however, lifted a council-directed moratorium on event bookings at Reunion Arena

Since the city's 2003 fiscal year, Reunion Arena has lost more than $6 million, according to arena data. In the 2007 fiscal year, the arena ran an $869,175 deficit, and city staffers see no end to the trend.

And while the arena remains serviceable, it will probably need significant capital improvements – roof work and equipment replacement – to remain so. Such investments could run into the millions of dollars.


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Jedi Josh lives one day at a time

There is no better hitter in the American League, perhaps all of baseball, than Hamilton, with his .328 average and league-leading 15 home runs and 63 RBIs.

Besides, America loves a story of redemption.

Hamilton's deliverance came Oct. 5, 2005, the day he chose sobriety over death.

It's the day Katie's prayers were answered. That January, they became a family again.

"Seeing how she took care of two kids and carried herself and the way she handled the situation, that's what helped strengthen me," Hamilton said. "It was obviously time for me to end the using."

Baseball is no longer the most important aspect in Hamilton's life. His relationship with God, his sobriety and family come first.

Then comes baseball

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Kurt Cobain's ashes stolen

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Another reason to hate the Red Wings




Barry Melrose returning to the bench?
The Toronto Star reports that ESPN hockey analyst and former Los Angeles Kings head coach Barry Melrose is set to return behind the bench for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Melrose, who coached the Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final, would replace John Tortorella, who still holds the post.

According to the Star, incoming team owner Oren Koules has pushed for the hiring of Melrose in an effort to further sell the team and the sport in Florida. His group is awaiting approval from the NHL's Board Of Governors to take over the team, with the vote set to take place on June 18.

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21 year old Luc Bourdon memorial
SHIPPAGAN, N.B.–Thousands of friends, family and fans walked through the doors of a small-town New Brunswick arena yesterday to pay their respects to Luc Bourdon, a 21-year-old rising National Hockey League star and hometown hero.

Bourdon, a rookie defenceman with the Vancouver Canucks, died Thursday near his family's home in Shippagan, when the motorcycle he was driving slammed into an oncoming tractor-trailer.