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A Kentucky high school student athlete declined to participate in her team’s cross-country race after she was assigned the number 666, saying it would have gone against her religious beliefs. Whitley County High School junior Codie Thacker and her coach tried to get her a different number, but race officials denied the request. Coach Gina Croley knew there might be a problem as soon as she saw the number Thacker had been given. "I saw it and I was like, 'whoa,'" she said. "I don't think she will wear that number." The number 666 is often associated with the biblical...

Walt Bellamy, the Hall of Fame center who averaged 20.1 points and 13.7 rebounds in 14 seasons in the NBA, died Saturday. He was 74. The Atlanta Hawks confirmed the death, but didn't provide details. The Hawks said Bellamy attended the team's home opener Friday night. "Walt Bellamy was an enormously gifted Hall of Fame player who had a tremendous impact on our game," NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement released by the league. "Off the court, he was an even more extraordinary person. Walt is going to be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing...

LOS ANGELES — Since making the announcement last spring that he is a gay professional basketball player, Jason Collins has been widely praised, received much support and made many new friends. But with training camp for a new season under way, he has been waiting for a call from an N.B.A. team. Any N.B.A. team. When Collins, 34, a 7-foot center, wrote his coming-out cover story for Sports Illustrated — “my declaration,” he said — he proudly spoke of having been called a pro’s pro for his team-first, lunch-pail style. Never a star, he has nonetheless had a career spanning...

It’s hard to watch any sporting event without seeing a commercial featuring a star athlete such as Peyton Manning or LeBron James. Now, a study published on Oct. 7 in Pediatrics shows that a lot of the foods they are promoting are unhealthy, concerning pediatricians because adolescents are among their primary viewers. “Professional athletes wouldn’t endorse tobacco today because it would be a liability for them,” lead study author Marie Bragg, a doctoral candidate in psychology at Yale University, told the Globe and Mail. “We’re hoping one day that the same would be true for unhealthy foods.” …

I have seen/heard multiple sportscasters hammering Romo for trying to do too much; lack of judgement; recklessness...On the replay (from behind the pocket) Romo's left foot was clearly kicked by his lineman's right foot as he attempted the throw. Now, I am not a Cowboy fan, but he is being slammed mercilessly with no mention of what was clearly visible on replay. For goodness sakes, he threw for over 500 yds!

Athletes may have some of the fittest bodies in the world but a new study has found they also have really bad teeth. Tests were carried out on 302 participants at the London 2012 Olympics and found athletes had poorer dental health than people in other occupations of the same age. Just over half of those examined had signs of cavities, three quarters were suffering from gum disease and 45 per cent showed evidence of tooth erosion. ‘Our data and other studies suggest that, for a similar age profile, the oral health of athletes is poor. It’s quite striking,’ said...

If Brian Holloway thought the hundreds of teenagers who destroyed his home were ruthless, wait until their families are through with him. Several parents are reportedly considering lawsuits against the former NFL star after he posted their children's names on a website created in the wake of the Labor Day weekend house party. snip The website, www.helpmesave300.com, identifies over 100 of the estimated 300 house-crashers who trashed his upstate New York residence, and includes photos and tweets that documented the reckless destruction. But rather than apologize to Holloway for their children's behavior, some parents have contacted their lawyers to see...

LAS VEGAS -- Former heavyweight champion Ken Norton, who beat Muhammad Ali and later lost a controversial decision to him in Yankee Stadium, died Wednesday at a local care facility, his son said. He was 70. Ken Norton Jr., a coach with the Seattle Seahawks, confirmed the death to The Associated Press before handing the phone to his wife, too distraught to talk. Norton had been in poor health for the last several years after suffering a series of strokes, a friend of the fighter said.

When Branch Rickey determined to break the color barrier in Major League Baseball, he wisely recruited Jackie Robinson, a stellar athlete in multiple sports, who soon established himself as one of the greats of the game, black or white, and went on to easily earn a plaque in the Hall of Fame. He was an excellent hitter, an excellent fielder, an excellent base runner, and a man of high character. If there was anyone who had sincerely argued that blacks were not qualified to play in the Biggies, he demolished their arguments for good and all. Alas, Branch Rickey didn’t...

A football team in Russia has offered Tim Tebow $1 million to play in two playoff games. “We have offered him $1 million for two games,” Moscow Black Storm owner Mikhail Zaltsman told Russia Beyond The Headlines. “I talked with him personally and he wanted to go.” Zaltsman wants Tebow to fly to Moscow for the Black Storm’s semifinal against the Moscow Patriots in the American Football Championship of Russia on Sept. 28 and also play in the final if they advance. Zaltsman said Tebow’s agents are urging the quarterback to not play. “They’re thinking of using him as a...

Cheerleading 'most dangerous sport for US women' Cheerleading causes two thirds of the very serious sports injuries suffered by girls in the United States and many concussions are not reported, according to a new study. By Nick Allen, Los Angeles 5:12PM BST 15 Sep 2013 Researchers found that the number of visits to casualty resulting from high school and college cheerleading injuries rose from 4,954 in 1980 to 26,786 in 2007. The sport accounted for around 66 per cent of "catastrophic" injuries – those resulting in permanent disability or medical conditions – to girls, research published in the Journal of...

Tim Tebow has had a rocky NFL career starting with a first round draft pick in 2010 and potentially ending with a dismissal from the New England Patriots about ten days ago. But not all hope is lost as Tebow has been offered a potential "million dollar" contract with Arena League franchise LA KISS. Operating out of Anaheim, California the LA KISS team, owned by the infamous KISS rockers, has extended an official offer to Tim Tebow. Known for his strong Christian beliefs and positive outlook, a partnership with the rowdy rockers may not seem like the most conventional choice,...

Banks still might have a future in Atlanta, media sources reportThe Atlanta Falcons have waived Brian Banks, a Los Angeles linebacker who was imprisoned for five years after being convicted of a rape that never happened. Banks, 28, spent five years in prison and five years on probation following his conviction of rape and kidnapping charges a decade ago. The woman who made the charge when Banks was a 16-year-old football standout later recanted her accusation. The conviction was overturned by a California court last year.

American long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad was closing in on her long time quest to cross the Florida Straits on Monday, attempting to become the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. Nyad was "really hurting" as she neared her destination of Key West some 48 hours after she set off from Havana, according to blog updates on her website.

Endurance swimmer Diana Nyad became the first person to swim the treacherous waters from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage on Monday, arriving in Key West two days after starting her 110-mile trek. Nyad, 64, unsuccessfully tried to swim the Florida Strait four times, mostly recently in 2012. The New York City native’s latest journey began Saturday morning when she jumped from the seawall of the Hemingway Marina into the warm waters off Havana. As she closed in on the Key West shores, a couple of hundred people gathered on the beach to watch her make the final leg...

Tim Tebow has been released by the New England Patriots, according to multiple reports. Tebow played in three of the Patriots four preseason games this season, finishing 11-for-30 (36.7 percent) for 145 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He was sacked four times for a loss of 48 yards, and rushed for 91 yards on 16 carries for a 5.7-yard average.

A person familiar with the situation says Tim Tebow has been cut by the New England Patriots. After being let go by his third team in 18 months—and with the regular season just five days away—the quarterback’s chances of immediately catching on with another team seem slim. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Saturday because the Patriots had not announced the move. It was first reported by ESPN. Tebow’s stay with the Patriots lasted just under 12 weeks and could be the end of his NFL career. …

The New England Patriots have released quarterback Tim Tebow, according to an ESPN report, however, Tebow assured earlier this week that because of his faith he didn't "have to worry about the future." (Photo: Reuters) With quarterback Ryan Mallett's position as backup to franchise player Tom Brady already secure, Tebow's position on the team had been tentative throughout the preseason.In the Patriots' final preseason game against the New York Giants on Thursday night, Tebow threw two touchdown passes and one interception.After the game, Tebow told reporters his faith helped the anxiety he may have otherwise felt about his football future."I'm blessed,...

Johnny Football will start the season on the bench. Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel of No. 7 Texas A&M has been suspended for the first half of Saturday's season opener against the Rice Owls, a source told ESPN's Brett McMurphy on Wednesday afternoon. An agreement has been reached between the NCAA and Texas A&M that a source told McMurphy closes the book on Manziel's recent issues. The NCAA had been investigating whether Manziel was paid for autographs, a potential violation of amateurism rules that could threaten his eligibility.

Three members of the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins decided not to attend an event Tuesday honoring the team at the White House due to political differences with the president. The Sun-Sentinel reported that Hall of Fame center Jim Langer, defensive tackle Manny Fernandez and guard Bob Kuechenberg skipped the event, which made up for the time the team did not get the chance to go to the White House because, in part, President Richard Nixon was embroiled in the Watergate scandal. The three players spoke with the paper and kept their comments brief, but direct.