Louisville Spokesperson says Pitino not going to Sacramento

Per ESPN.com, University of Louisville spokesperson Kenny Klein announced today that Rick Pitino has no intention of leaving the Cardinals to pursue a coaching opportunity with the Sacramento Kings.

Friday's development is just another incident in a bizarre off-season for Pitino. After leading the Cardinals to the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament, Pitino became involved in an extortion case with Karen Sypher, the estranged wife of a member of Pitino's staff. Pitino's son, Richard Pitino, a Louisville assistant, left his father's staff to take an open position on Billy Donovan's staff at Florida.

ESPN video:



Pitino has had two previous head coaching positions in the NBA -- one with the New York Knicks from 1987-1989, and another with the Boston Celtics from 1997-2001. He complied a record of 90-74 with the Knicks, and 102-146 with the Celtics.

The Kings have not spoken to Pitino about the position. Sacramento is expected to talk to former Wizards coach Eddie Jordan, Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis, and TNT NBA Analyst Mike Fratello about the position.

Fans are twittering their disgust about Pitino potentially going to the Kings:

1. 
   gmacdaddy RT @RizzoTees: Rick Pitino not going to Sacremento Kings. Dude, give it up. You and NBA is like a fish on a bicycle - AMEN. 08 May 2009 from Tweetie
2. 
   egholden To Rick Pitino: Please leave U of L and go to Sacramento. You left KY once- shouldn't be too hard for you to do again. 08 May 2009 from web
3. 
   egholden Pitino: fool me once - fool me twice? Going to the NBA? 08 May 2009 from web
4. 
   BR_NBA Rick Pitino Is Determined To Prove He Can Be Successful In The NBA: How determined? He's so determined to prove .. http://tinyurl.com/pjjaqt 08 May 2009 from twitterfeed
5. 
   janewberg Pitino to the Kings?? 08 May 2009 from web
6. 
   Tina_Fontessa he better not!!! RT @espn: Report: Rick Pitino interested in coaching Sacramento Kings - http://tinyurl.com/rcaog7 08 May 2009 from TweetDeck
7. 
   msutaria Not one for rumors, but the more I research the more I believe that Rick Pitino is going to leave his head coaching position at UofL! 08 May 2009 from Tweetie
8. 
   BolivianNachos is upset that Rick Pitino had his people contact the Kings... Louisville NEEDS the GODFATHER!!!! 08 May 2009 from web

Louisville Spokesperson says Pitino not going to Sacramento

Celebs talk Manny; tweeters talk Dirk

Crazy little thing called sports.
Actually, this is two different classifications of crazy.
Crazy as in "Can this happen anymore?" and then just pure bonkers.

As reported earlier on Breaking Tweets Sports and the Los Angeles Times, Manny Ramirez failed an MLB drug test.

Twitterers tweeted twazily all day, but sports celebs were also shocked:

1. 
   PeteCarroll bummer manny went that way... we love him, but it hurts... now it's all about opportunity for juan pierre... could he be the new wally pipp? 07 May 2009 from web
2. 
   stewartcink Today I feel bad for MLB. They can't seem to get out of their own way with the steroid thing. Maybe Manny was one of the anonymous 100? 08 May 2009 from web

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And there's Dallas Mavericks star forward Dirk Nowitzki who, per ESPN, has a playoff distraction like Tony Romo but far less attractive:


Here's what the Kingdom of Tweetalot was saying:

1. 
   AmandaSalinas Video fo Dirk Nowitzki and his mystery girl... she's got quite a rap sheet Very interesting http://tinyurl.com/oh7xd3 08 May 2009 from web
2. 
   joshtyler This Dirk Nowitzki story is depressing. Why is it always the nice guys? Why couldn't this happen to Bruce Bowen? He deserves it. 08 May 2009 from web
3. 
   jw Whoa... 1) Dirk Nowitzki has a fiancée. 2) She was arrested in his home. 3) She has outstanding warrants in TX & MO #mavs #bummer 08 May 2009 from Tweetie
4. 
   sam8887 Dr Phil Says " Picking for a cause would have helped Dirk Nowitzki pick the right girl friend. Make your choice slowly, and pick a winer!" 08 May 2009 from web

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Celebs talk Manny; tweeters talk Dirk

Featured TwitPic: Usher dances as Cavs cruise to Game 2 'W'

As the Cleveland Cavaliers ushered out the Atlanta Hawks 105-85 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals behind LBJ's 27 points and 5 assists, Usher provided his own dance moves as seen in this TwitPic posted by @CavaliersCarl:

"Usher showing off his dance moves at the Cavs game" 5/7/09

Featured TwitPic: Usher dances as Cavs cruise to Game 2 'W'

Blackhawks win in OT, tie series against Canucks 2-2

Coming into tonight's pivotal Game 4 in the Western Conference semifinals, the Blackhawks were looking to gain momentum on their home ice. However, the Canucks continued to press at every opportunity and stymied most of the Blackhawks scoring chances. Goaltender Roberto Luongo made it seem like the 'Hawks were in for a "Luong" night after Darcy Hordichuk put one in the back of the net with 11:28 left in the 2nd period, per NHL.com's Gamecenter.

Martin Havlat's game-tying goal with 2:44 left in the 3rd period, however, sent the Twitterverse into hysterics:

1. 
   DrinkWrigleyvle Havlat for president!!!! 08 May 2009 from TwitterBerry
2. 
   tmpollard Yes Martin Havlat!!!! RT @NHLBlackhawks: Big game Marty! 2:44 left, and we are tied 1-1! The UC is alive! A season saver! 08 May 2009 from twhirl
3. 
   bobjr1013 Finally! I love Marty Havlat! Its not wrong ... 08 May 2009 from web
4. 
   andrew0writer #blackhawks havlat tied it up. i think i woke up the whole block 08 May 2009 from TweetDeck
5. 
   rockarts Thanks Havlat for forcing the #Canucks to actually attack and turning this game around. 08 May 2009 from TweetDeck

In the overtime period, Andrew Ladd of the Blackhawks poked in a shot 2:52 in to the extra time. The Twitterverse, once again, exploded with emotion after the game-winning, series-tying goal:

1. 
   sontzu411 YES...ANDREW LADD. It's best of 3 now, kids! 08 May 2009 from web
2. 
   kevinorris LADDER! ANDREW LADD WINS THE GAME IN OT! HAWKS 2-1! 2-2 series baby. How can anyone not like hockey? 08 May 2009 from TwitterFox
3. 
   awwsboss OH SNAP!!! Andrew Ladd!!! That's why you don't sit in your own end all night Canucks. 08 May 2009 from TweetDeck
4. 
   DrinkWrigleyvle Who called it??? This guy!!! Andrew ladd w the game winner 08 May 2009 from TwitterBerry
5. 
   bware218 Blackhawks Win . . . did you see that freaking shot?!?!? I don't even watch hockey like that, but that was awesomeness manifested on ice 08 May 2009 from twhirl

During the overtime intermission, Versus, who was carrying the game on cable television, switched over to the start of the Red Wings-Ducks game. Twitterers took to this executive decision very unfavorably, desiring coverage from Chicago:

1. 
   Alli1024 r u serious right now versus!? go back to the chicago game. omg. 08 May 2009 from TwitterFox
2. 
   dirtykurte versus better turn the hawks game back on 08 May 2009 from web
3. 
   captainneedles VERSUS. YOU. ARE. DEAD TO ME. WHO CARES ABOUT THE RED WINGS?!?!?! OVER.TIME. DO YOU HABLAAAA?! 08 May 2009 from web
4. 
   timmins Is Versus going back to #Hawks vs #Canucks? 08 May 2009 from Tweetie

@tpham01 posted this TwitPic from the rafters in the United Center:

Game 5 is Saturday night in Vancouver. Buckle up!

Blackhawks win in OT, tie series against Canucks 2-2

Teen makes death threat against Ovechkin online, laptop seized

Strong body checks are one thing in the conference semifinals of the NHL playoffs, but death threats? That's a ten-minute game misconduct at the least.

Per @WPXI in Pittsburgh, who first broke the story, Pennsylvania police are investigating a death threat made against the Washington Capitals Alexander Ovechkin by a 17-year-old from Chambersburg, Pa. in an online message board late Wednesday night.

Upon learning of the incident, the Pittsburgh Penguin organization immediately alerted authorities who have seized the laptop from the residence associated with the post.

ESPN.com reported that the message read, "I'm killing Ovechkin and I don't care what happens to me."

Some in the Twitterverse believe this story is getting much more hype than it deserves:

1. 
   Lons Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin officially scared of angry dweebs http://post.ly/U7a 08 May 2009 from Posterous
2. 
   xmasape Ack! Not a message board threat! RT @Unsilent @dcsportsbog TV station reports Pittsburgh police investigating threat made against Ovechkin 08 May 2009 from web
3. 
   acjif98 Death threat against Ovechkin in the 'Burgh
   Sounds like dramatic overload to me. Now if this was Philly - put him in witness protection 08 May 2009 from web
4. 
   soulresin death threats against ovechkin? okay people, settle down 08 May 2009 from web
5. 
   TXVinylJunkie WTF!! Someone made a death threat on Ovetchkin? I love hockey & all, but that's just overboard! Frakking skin jorb!! 08 May 2009 from Tweetie

While others had no qualms checking Pittsburgh fans into the boards:

1. 
   witenike What's with the death threat on Ovechkin? It's a game yo!! #NHL 08 May 2009 from Tweetie
2. 
   hailey_letang really? a deaththreat on ovechkin, are pens fans stupid? 08 May 2009 from web
3. 
   capschick WOW pens fans really are morons. making death threats on Ovechkin again. ugh like I said morons! 08 May 2009 from txt

Ovechkin, who will be provided with extra security by the NHL, looks to build on the 2-1 series lead in Game 4 on Friday in Pittsburgh.

Teen makes death threat against Ovechkin online, laptop seized