Tuesday Morning Headlines: Rookie Awards Given, While Previous Star Rookie Leaves Game with Injury
By Mel Payne
Oct 12, 2012; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper (34) reacts after teammate Ryan Zimmerman (not shown) hit a two run home run in the first inning of game five of the 2012 NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-US PRESSWIRE
Major League Baseball awarded their official Rookie of the Year awards last night. Mike Trout of the Angels and Bryce Harper of the Nationals walked away with top honors.
In a too close for comfort game on Monday Night Football, Big Ben left the game early after a shoulder injury occurred when he was sacked. The Pittsburgh quarterback was taken to the hospital and replaced by Byron Leftwich. The Steelers still ended up victorious in the after Matt Cassel overtime interception pass that picked off by Pittsburgh. The final score was 16-13 Steelers over Kansas City in OT.
The BCS commissioners and Presidential Oversight Committee settled on a rotation of six bowls for the semifinals of the upcoming college football playoff system. The highest rated champion from the Big East, Conference USA, Mountain West, Sun Belt, and Mid American conferences will receive an automatic berth in one of the six access bows. The National Title game will be bid out each year through a separate process similar to the Super Bowl.
The Big 12 issued a public reprimand for Texas Tech’s coach Tommy Tuberville. Tuberville knocked the headset and cap off Kevin Oliver, the graduate assistant, on the sideline after being upset by the team being penalized for having 12 men on the team. Commissioner Bowlby said he would be keeping an eye on the coach and the situation.
The NFL referees, yes we are talking refs again, admitted to two big calls this week that could have changed the outcome of the game if they were called correctly. The first was a clock issue in the OT tie between the 49ers and Rams. The clock ran off 1:19 for no apparent reason. Then in the Broncos and Panthers game, Trindon Holliday began running back another punt return and flipped the ball out of his hands in celebration on the half yard line. This was never reviewed and Denver got the points, but it should have been a touchback not a touchdown. Denver went on to win 36-14.
The Giants and Jeremy Affeldt agree to a three year contract worth $18 million. The pitcher threw 175 innings with a 3.09 ERA during his previous contract with the team.
The Dodgers, once aggressively pursuing FA outfielder Torii Hunter are out of the mix according to league sources. With their big three tied up in long term contracts, the team didn’t feel like they were a fit.