The MLB Wants To Protect More Fans From Getting Hit By Foul Balls And Broken Bats

League officials encouraged teams to extend protective netting.

Doug Pensinger / Getty Images

MLB officials on Wednesday recommended teams extend protective netting along baselines to reduce the likelihood of fans being hit by foul balls and broken bats. League and club executives are currently meeting in Nashville for the annual Winter Meetings.

The netting will shield "all field-level seats that are located between the near ends of both dugouts" — the ends of the dugouts located closest to home plate — "and within 70 feet of home plate."

MLB began re-evaluating netting placement at ballparks after a lawsuit filed in June by an Athletics season ticket holder who said she feared for her safety sitting in a section where many foul balls and some bats hurtled into the stands during games.

A week before the lawsuit was filed, a Red Sox fan was hit in the head with a shattered bat and spent a week in the hospital before being discharged.

In a statement, MLB explained further recommendations to teams:

• * Although clubs already provide warnings to fans about the dangers posed by batted balls and bats entering the stands and the need to pay attention to the action on the field during each at-bat, the Commissioner's Office recommends that clubs continue to explore ways to educate their fans on these issues and is providing clubs with resources to assist them in this area.

• The Commissioner's Office will be working with the clubs and online ticketing sellers to identify ways to provide customers with additional information at the point of sale about which seats are (and are not) behind netting.

Immediately after the MLB's recommendation, the Phillies and Dodgers announced they would extend netting in their respective ballparks. In a statement, the Phillies said they "plan to replace all of our existing netting with newer material which is as strong, but thinner and more easily viewed through."

During a press conference Tuesday, MLB Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre hedged on the netting issue, but said, "We don't carry guys off the field; we certainly don't want fans in the stands to not stay healthy."

In a statement Wednesday, Commissioner Rob Manfred said:

"It is important that fans have the option to sit behind protective netting or in other areas of the ballpark where foul balls and bats are less likely to enter. This recommendation attempts to balance the need for an adequate number of seating options with our desire to preserve the interactive pre-game and in-game fan experience that often centers around the dugouts, where fans can catch foul balls, see their favorite players up close and, if they are lucky, catch a tossed ball or other souvenir."

Read More

Greg Rutherford Denies Claims He Is Withdrawing From BBC Award Over Tyson Fury Controversy

Rutherford has confirmed he will take part, despite “derogatory” comments from a “fellow SPOTY nominee”.

British Olympic gold medalist Greg Rutherford has denied reports he threatened to withdraw from the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award over controversial comments made be fellow nominee Tyson Fury.

Heavyweight boxer Fury compared homosexuality and abortion to paedophilia in an interview with The Mail on Sunday last month, before going on to win the IBF world heavyweight title against Wladimir Klitschko on 28 November.

Fury told journalist Oliver Holt that three things were going to happen “before the devil comes home”.

“One of them is homosexuality being legal in countries, one of them is abortion and the other is paedophilia,” he said. “Who would have thought in the 50s and 60s that those first two would be legalised?”

Following his victory against Klitschko, Fury was named on the shortlist for the BBC SPOTY award alongside 11 other athletes, including long jumper Rutherford.

Johannes Eisele / AFP / Getty Images

It was reported by the Belfast Telegraph today that Rutherford had threatened to pull out of the competition in protest at Fury's inclusion on the list, but the athlete has denied the claims.

"In light of seeing reports circulating regarding my involvement with BBC Sports Personality Of The Year, I feel I should clarify the current situation," Rutherford said in a statement released by his manager.

Belfast Telegraph

The Olympian confirmed he had been in communication with the BBC over "derogatory comments" made by a "fellow SPOTY nominee", but said he will be taking part in the competition regardless.

Johannes Eisele / AFP / Getty Images

"I have been in discussions with the BBC regarding my involvement with SPOTY after hearing what I believe to be very out-dated and derogatory comments from a fellow SPOTY nominee.

"Everybody has the right to freedom of speech, which is something that we as a society have struggled with and fought for generations to get to where we are now but by the nature of these comments, undermine the struggles that we have been through.

"As such, I wanted to speak with the BBC about sharing a stage with somebody that had views that are so strongly against my own. After doing so, I can confirm that reports that I am withdrawing from the ceremony are not true.

"The BBC have been hugely supportive in hearing my own views and I am hugely honoured and privileged to be included on the shortlist for such a prestigious event alongside so many remarkable sporting personalities, majority of whom I will proudly say to my son I had the chance to meet."

---

View Entire List ›

Read More

Video Shows Daring Rescue After Pro Surfer Nearly Drowns In Hawaii's Pipeline

Evan Geiselman, 22, nearly drowned after wiping out on a massive wave at Pipeline, but was saved by a bodyboarder who brought him to shore while also administering CPR.

Evan Geiselman catches the wave that he fell on in Hawaii.

Matt Castiglione / AP

A professional surfer almost died Sunday after a big wave he was riding at Hawaii's famous Pipeline crashed and sucked him under the ocean.

Evan Geiselman, 22, did not immediately resurface, but a nearby bodyboarder, Andre Botha, found him unconscious in the water.

"I just remember his eyes sort of like rolling down from being back, and just sort of... just this blank look in his eyes, almost like he was looking through me," Botha, who is from South Africa, told the Associated Press. "I thought this guy was dead."

Botha paddled the unconscious surfer to the shore, while pounding his chest and giving him rescue breaths.

Instagram: @evangeiselman

Botha said he lost his hold of Geiselman several times before reaching lifeguards, who then helped him bring the surfer to shore.

"The waves were still hitting ... I ended up losing him again," Botha said. "I knew I had done what I could at that point."

---

View Entire List ›

Read More

Controversial Boxer Tyson Fury Stripped Of Heavyweight Title Just Two Weeks After Winning It

In a separate development, Fury has been the subject of a hate crime complaint to Greater Manchester police.

Boxer Tyson Fury, who caused controversy with his recent comments on homosexuality and abortion, has been stripped of his IBF world heavyweight title just two weeks after winning it.

Fury beat Ukrainian fighter Wladimir Klitschko on 28 November to win the IBF heavyweight belt, and subsequently agreed to a rematch with Klitschko.

But this decision was in breach of the IBF's rules, which stipulated that the winner of the fight should face mandatory challenger Vyacheslav Glazkov.

Glazkov had won the right to challenge for the title after winning 21 of his 22 professional bouts.

"It's true he's been stripped of his IBF belt," Lindsey Tucker, championships chair at the IBF, told BBC Sport.

"Our challenger was Vyacheslav Glazkov, but instead Fury's gone and signed a rematch clause with Wladimir Klitschko."

Chris Brunskill / Getty Images

Fury was placed on the shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award after beating Klitschko – a decision that caused controversy after the fighter compared abortion and homosexuality to paedophilia in an interview.

The Manchester-born boxer told the Mail on Sunday that he believed three things were going to happen "before the devil comes home".

"One of them is homosexuality being legal in countries, one of them is abortion and the other is paedophilia," he said. "Who would have thought in the 50s and 60s that those first two would be legalised?"

Over 100,000 people have now signed a petition to get Fury removed from the shortlist, but the BBC has stood firm, claiming the "personality" competition was in fact about sporting achievements, and not about the personalities of sports stars.

In response to the Change.org petition, the BBC released the following statement:

"The nominees for BBC Sports Personality of the Year are decided on their sporting achievements. As Fury became heavyweight champion of the world over the weekend, the panel feel that he should be a contender for this year's award."

Chris Brunskill / Getty Images

Following the BBC's statement, the boxer found himself at the centre of further controversy after a video emerged in which he commented on the appearance of British Olympic athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill.

"That's the runner, isn't it?" said Fury. "She's good, she's won quite a few medals, she slaps up good as well. When she's got a dress on she looks quite fit."

He also commented that a "woman's best place is in the kitchen".

Andy Lyons / Getty Images

Oliver Holt, the Mail on Sunday journalist who conducted the interview with Fury in which he compared homosexuality and abortion to pedophilia, has reportedly been the subject of threats from Fury's camp.

MailOnline claim Fury filmed himself saying: "See "big Shane" there. He's 6ft 6in and 25 stone. He's going break his [Holt's] jaw completely with one straight right hand. I won't do it as I'll get in trouble but the big fella there will annihilate him.

"Oliver, take a good look at him because that's the face you're going to see before you hit the deck.

"[Turning camera to another member of his team] And that's the face you're going to see when he's jumping on your head."

A spokesman for the Sports Journalists' Association, the body in charge of the British Sports Awards, said:

"We are aware of threats made by Tyson Fury against one of our members, and therefore feel that it would be incompatible with the nature of our event, or the interests of our members, our other guests and our sponsors, for us to continue to extend a welcome to Tyson Fury to our awards next week."

---

View Entire List ›

Read More

This High Schooler's Full-Court, Game-Winning Shot Will Blow Your Freaking Mind

HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT.

This is the Austin Packers high school basketball team from Austin, Minnesota.

View Video ›

facebook.com

With just 1.2 seconds remaining, a Northfield player missed a free throw when Austin's Oman Oman got the rebound and hurled the ball across the court — THEN THIS HAPPENED.

youtube.com

---

View Entire List ›

Read More

BBC "Threatens To Suspend" TV Reporter For Tyson Fury Facebook Comments

BBC NI reporter Andy West

YouTube / BBC

A BBC Northern Ireland reporter has been "threatened with suspension" and is facing disciplinary procedures after criticising the BBC's decision to keep Tyson Fury on the shortlist for BBC Sports Personality of the Year, BuzzFeed News can reveal.

Andy West, a news presenter, wrote on his Facebook page that he was "ashamed to work for the BBC" and accused the broadcaster of "hurting me and other gay people by celebrating someone who considers me no better than a paedophile," following controversial remarks made by the boxer.

The status update has since been taken down but a BBC source told BuzzFeed News that as a result of the comments West was "reprimanded by a manager, told an investigation would be launched into his conduct and warned he could be suspended".

Fury sparked widespread condemnation following an interview with the Mail on Sunday in which he said: "There are only three things that need to be accomplished before the devil comes home: one of them is homosexuality being legal in countries, one of them is abortion and the other one's paedophilia. Who would have thought in the '50s and '60s that those first two would be legalised?"

An online petition was launched in the wake of the interview – and further controversial remarks made by the world heavy weight champion – calling on the BBC to remove him from the BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist. It has so far attracted more then 115,000 signatures. West also signed the petition in conjunction with his Facebook status. The full text of which, passed to BuzzFeed News in screen shots, reads:

"My employer is hurting me and other gay people by celebrating someone who considers me no better than a paedophile and who believes homosexual people are helping to bring about the end of the world.

Facebook / Andy West

"It is tempting to see him for the laughable idiot he is but sadly there are many other idiots who will be inspired and encouraged by his naive, juvenile bigotry. I am ashamed to work for the BBC when it lacks the bravery to admit it is making a mistake."

In a further comment underneath the status, West, who previously enjoyed a distinguished career as a producer on BBC Radio 2, added: "I criticise the BBC for offering him as an idol to be celebrated and admired not just for his sporting achievements but also his 'personality'."

A friend of West's told BuzzFeed News: "Andy loves the BBC but is so sad to see it giving a pedestal to someone who seems to be causing injury to people like him, who want to live their lives as the people they are. He just wants to stand up for gay people, particularly in Northern Ireland but also elsewhere who are still facing prejudice."

The friend added: "Andy doesn't think Tyson Fury should be stopped from having his own beliefs. He just thinks the BBC is wrong to be condoning the nomination of someone like Fury who people, especially children, are supposed to look up to. It's so horrible for him to be caught between a job he loves and his principles. He doesn't want to lose his career. He just has to be honest about what he believes."

In an email sent from West to Tony Hall, the BBC Director General, that has also been leaked to BuzzFeed News, West writes: "I appeal to you as an equal opportunities employer and proud bastion of fair-thinking to consider whether it is approprate to celebrate someone who has stated that gay people are sign of a coming Armageddon and equates homosexuals to paedophiles."

The email continues: "Can it be that my own employer is happy to suggest that this individual is an example for us to follow?"

When asked to comment by BuzzFeed News, a BBC spokesperson said, "We do not routinely comment on individual staff matters."

Read More

Aroldis Chapman Trade On Hold After Domestic Violence Incident Surfaces

The Reds closer was expected to be traded to the Dodgers.

Andy Lyons / Getty Images

Aroldis Chapman, a closing pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds , was allegedly involved in a domestic dispute in October, according to a police report first published by Yahoo Sports on Monday.

Chapman, a 27-year-old native of Cuba, was reported to be traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday.

The MLB's annual Winter Meetings — a gathering of baseball executives from all 30 teams — are in session in Nashville this week. Many of baseball's biggest offseason trades and signings occur during these sessions, and Chapman's reported trade to the Dodgers after six years with the Reds was significant.

Yahoo Sports reported that MLB is "investigating" the October incident, and that the trade to the Dodgers is on hold in the meantime. During a press conference Tuesday, MLB Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre told reporters the league learned of the October incident late Monday. Jon Heyman of CBS reported prior to the press conference that the Dodgers, MLB, and the Reds were "blindsided" yesterday when a police report detailing the incident surfaced.

The Boston Globe reported late Monday that the Red Sox had backed off a trade for Chapman in November upon learning about the Florida altercation.

Chapman, a closing pitcher who threw more pitches over 100 mph during the 2015 season than the rest of MLB combined, allegedly choked his girlfriend, with whom he has a child, before firing eight gunshots in the garage of his home on October 30, according to the police report.

The alleged incident took place at Chapman's home near Miami, when the pitcher's girlfriend became upset over something she saw on his cell phone, Yahoo reported.

Chapman's girlfriend — whose name is redacted in the police report — told police she started arguing with Chapman while in the bathroom of the home. He allegedly became violent after the two moved to the home theater, according to the report. There, she alleges in the report that Chapman choked her and pushed her against the wall.

"That is when her brother came in the theater and separated them," the police report states. "After they were separated, she ran outside because she was scared for her and her daughter. She ran to her neighbor's residence and hid outside in the bushes. While she was hiding, she heard one gun shot, but she does not know who it came from."

Chapman, in his statement to police, denied any choking or shoving but did acknowledge the gunshots. Chapman told police that after the fight over his cell phone began, he "poked his girlfriend on the left shoulder and told her not to talk to him like that. He said that she fell to the floor and started yelling" before her brother entered the room to separate them.

"Chapman said he got up and exited the residence. He wanted to drive away but friends would not let him. He got in the passenger seat of his car and his friend got in the driver's seat. He then punched the passenger side window with his left fist, creating a laceration to his left pinky knuckle. He then retrieved his pistol from the glove compartment, exited his vehicle and locked himself in the garage alone. He then shot several shots inside the garage and threw his pistol away inside the garage," the report said.

According to Chapman's statement to police, he fired his gun eight times in his garage.

Chapman was not arrested after the incident.

"Due to several inconsistencies in the victim's statements, as well as the statement from [redacted] changing several times during the investigation, this case will be forwarded to the State's Attorney's Office for review," the report said.

On November 3, Assistant State's Attorney Marcie Zaccor declined to prosecute "due to conflicting stories, lack of cooperation by the victim and witness, no physical injuries, and the fact that Mr. Chapman fired his gun in a closed garage with no one present, there is insufficient evidence to charge him with a crime."

In a statement to Yahoo Sports, Chapman's attorney Jay Reisinger said:

"I've reviewed the facts as portrayed. On behalf of Mr. Chapman, we vehemently deny the allegations as stated. Beyond that, we have no further comment at this time."

Last season, MLB implemented a new domestic violence policy that gives the Commissioner of Baseball power to determine punishment on a case-by-case basis, and without necessity of a legal determination.

Read More