Breaking Tweets Sports

April 21, 2009

UEFA president plans new crackdown on racism

Per BBC Sport, UEFA president Michel Platini announced Tuesday a new plan for dealing with racist chants at football matches--either stopping play or abandoning the match entirely. This announcement comes after Juventus fans racially abused Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli during a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

"We will call for play to be stopped for 10 minutes when these things happen, and for announcements to be made in the stadium," Platini, a former Juventus player himself, said.

"If it continues, then the match will be stopped."

Twitterers had their own reaction to the news. One even reached out to @PTIshow, a daily sports news program in the United States.

schram Wonder how my man Momo Sissoko feels while Juve's own fans are singing racist songs against Inter's Mario Balotelli. Idiots. 20 Apr 2009 from web

MoscowMad SMH at what Mario Balotelli had to go through. I love the sport but futbol has a long way to go to end racism. 21 Apr 2009 from web

JulianoModa A diretoria do Juventus, que não teve nada a ver com o ato racista, se desculpou humildemente e mandará um jogo sem a torcida presente (And it seems that the fans of Juventus did not understand the message worldwide that when Obama has risen to power in the United States ...) 21 Apr 2009 from web

anthonycbis @PTIShow please address racism in Italian Serie A between Juventus & Inter Milan where crowd made racist overtures to Mario Balotelli 21 Apr 2009 from web

ChrBakker Good news; Uefa plans new racism crackdown: Uefa president Platini reacts 2 the racist abuse of Inter striker.. http://tinyurl.com/d2cten 21 Apr 2009 from TwitterBerry

The Italian League has also ordered Juventus to play their next game on May 3 against Lece behind closed doors.

Lions unveil new logo, Twitterverse less than enthused

The Detroit Lions unveiled a new logo Monday afternoon: a profile of a Honolulu-blue Lion on a silver helmet that is strikingly familiar to its old logo.

MLive.com reported the unveiling ceremony and fan reaction left much to be desired.

An eye, sharp teeth and claws.
A couple of white swooshes adorning the mane.
A little more silver and black trim on the helmets and uniforms, an edgier Lions script, same traditional Honolulu blue base color and not much else.
All in all, it's about as original as New Coke

No NFL team needed a facelift quite like the Lions, who finished the 2008 season without a win, but according to team president Tom Lewand, the logo change is not in response to last year's dismal campaign. Lewand said in an interview on WDFN-AM that this change had been in development for over a year. However, that didn't stop fans on Twitter from expressing dissatisfaction with the minimal changes to the logo as well as with the team.

pauloctavious @compr1 the detroit lions new logo... didn't they just add eyes and a mouth? 21 Apr 2009 from Tweetie in reply to compr1

craigkeller @SuperBowl_2010 I pretty much hate it. The new Lion is O.K., not very good or bad... but the typography used for the word Lions is horrible. 21 Apr 2009 from Tweetie in reply to SuperBowl_2010

suss2hyphens It took over a year for the Lions to add white lines to an existing logo. Next year: gradients http://is.gd/tGxF 21 Apr 2009 from twhirl

bccreative @thegraphicmac Detroit Lions logo: "“The new identity retains many important aspects of our history.." Yeah, it's blue, says & shows a Lion 21 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck

mickposner Re: Lions new logo. Anyone think it looks more closely like this? Both have the same mane and both have no claws. http://bit.ly/yxgHI 21 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck

thestoryofb yeah.. the problem with the lions was the branding. I will now go about not watching a single game this year. Again. 21 Apr 2009 from web

kurtgannon Detriot Lions need a hell of a lot more help than a new logo. Even if it is badass. http://bit.ly/hIRrl 21 Apr 2009 from Tweetie

Habs on brink of elimination

Per the Globe and Mail, the Boston Bruins came into a hostile Bell Centre and pulled out a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-7 series last night.

The Centennial Season in Montreal has not had the fireworks this postseason that Habs fans expected when the 2008-2009 campaign began. There was plenty of talk of a Stanley Cup and nothing less. The team dealt with a number of issues in the final part of the regular season, including a coaching change, yet still slipped into the playoffs as a No. 8 seed. But Boston now has full control of the Round 1 series.

Habs fans are lamenting their latest loss:

c_claudia I am back from Habs hockey game..... lost again... one more and they are eliminated.... 21 Apr 2009 from web

All_Habs RT @mozy19: Well I guess the #Habs aren't going to win in 7, but man that would make one hell of a centennial year story if they did! 21 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck

yourfate The habs lost their 3rd straight game tonight - all I need is a miracle all I need is you! 21 Apr 2009 from TwitterBerry

JayMorris88 gave up on The Habs. Why the [expletive] is Price still in nets? Who knows. Lets go Jersey!!!! 21 Apr 2009 from TwitterFox

RosaPagano The HABS are a lost cause! 21 Apr 2009 from UberTwitter

Meanwhile, Boston Twitterers can taste victory, and not just on the ice:

murff05 great day to be a BOSTON sports fan!!! bruins, celts, sox!! and don't forget the marathon... 21 Apr 2009 from web

ChrisAmendola RED SOX WIN - CELTICS WIN - BRUINS WIN!!!!! Oh yeah, we had a little MARATHON here today too.....who doesn't LOVE BOSTON!!!!??? 21 Apr 2009 from web

capricornlee @OneSeasonNHL Bruins beat the Canadians. Lead series 3-0..... They is kickin ass right now.. 21 Apr 2009 from web in reply to OneSeasonNHL

April 20, 2009

Former LSU wide receiver and NFL prospect in serious condition after car accident

Following a serious car accident on Sunday, former LSU wide receiver Demetrius Byrd is in serious condition at a Miami hospital.

Per ESPN.com, Michael Bonnette, LSU's associate athletic director for sports information,
said he spoke to Byrd's representatives Monday morning but there was no further information about his condidtion.

The Miami native transferred to LSU from junior college. He caught seven touchdown passes as a junior and 27 passes for 513 yards and four touchdowns with his final year at LSU. Byrd was preparing for the NFL draft this weekend and was rated by Scouts Inc. as the No. 13 wide receiver in the draft.

LSU fans and sports fans tweeted their thoughts, including one twitterer who noted this accident comes after Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart died in an automobile accident this month:

dbro113 ESPN: LSU's Demetrius Byrd in ICU after car accident. WOW! Not cool... 20 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck

poopsykins i really hope dwmetrius byrd pulls thru... 20 Apr 2009 from mobile web

PennantRaceGear NLF prospect Demetrius Byrd in hospital after car wreck. Man, these car wrecks involving young athletes need to stop... 20 Apr 2009 from web

ArthurWimberly Demetrius Byrd in ICU :( http://bit.ly/mICQz 20 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck

jfordltu LSU WR, draft prospect Byrd in intensive care after car accident http://usat.me/?34818782 - thoughts and prayers out to him and his. 20 Apr 2009 from Tweetie

Kenya's Kosgei, Ethiopia's Merga win at Boston Marathon

Per the Associated Press, Kenya's Salina Kosgei won the women's race and Deriba Merga of Ethiopia took first for the men in the 113th Boston Marathon Monday. Kosgei finished with a time of 2:32:17, just one second ahead of Ethiopia's Dire Tune. Merga clocked in at 2:08:42, nearly one full minute ahead of Daniel Rono of Kenya, and the USA's Ryan Hall.

Americans took third in both races, making this the best U.S. finish since 1985.

Twitterers followed the marathon every step of the way.

jawooten3 At the #boston marathon. Just saw 2 soldiers in full fatigues with backpacks running. Inspiring. 20 Apr 2009 from Tweetie

sitbones My mind cannot comprehend running 26.2 miles in the Boston Marathon and losing the womens race by one second. 20 Apr 2009 from web

GoodMorningFab : virtually spectating Boston Marathon - such amazingly talented runners! 20 Apr 2009 from web

asbarber Watching the Boston Marathon is extremely inspiring... Go Steph and Nate! 20 Apr 2009 from TwitterBerry

movieloverron Avoiding the city at all cost due to the Boston Marathon. On the plus side, it's nice to have the day off. 20 Apr 2009 from TwitterFon

AZMegaHomes Tracking friend in his mid-60's running the Boston Marathon today for 26th year straight! Track runner 21093 at BAA.org 20 Apr 2009 from web