Sports

Letter to Eagles and Steelers Owners Says Talk Show Host Should Not Be Accepted as NFL Owner

October 14, 2009 -- MEDIA, PA – Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) wrote to Philadelphia Eagles Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie and Pittsburgh Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney today opposing the attempt by Rush Limbaugh to obtain an ownership stake in the National Football League’s St. Louis Rams.

The following letters were delivered to their respective offices, noting the talk show host’s history of divisive and offensive comments – including about Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb – and urging Mr. Lurie and Mr. Rooney to join the NFL Players Association and Indianapolis Colts Owner Jim Irsay in their opposition to Mr. Limbaugh:

Mr. Jeffrey Lurie    » read more »

A fabric-covered, steel frame practice facility owned by the National Football League’s Dallas Cowboys collapsed under wind loads significantly less than those it should have resisted under applicable design standards, according to a report released today for public comment by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Located in Irving, Texas, the facility collapsed on May 2, 2009, during a severe thunderstorm. Twelve people were injured, one seriously.    » read more »

CHICAGO – October 2, 2009. The Illinois Governor issued the following statement:

“I want to congratulate Rio de Janeiro for their selection as the site of 2016 Summer Olympic Games. While I am disappointed that the City of Chicago was not selected, I know that Rio de Janeiro will serve as an excellent host city.

While we are understandably disappointed, we should not be discouraged by today’s outcome. Chicago’s bid was a great example of effort, energy and teamwork. People from across our state came together in an unprecedented manner to support this excellent bid. Going forward, we must apply what was learned from this process and continue to make Chicago and Illinois even stronger and better.    » read more »

Senator Mikulski Statement on Selection of Maryland's M&T Bank Stadium, FedEx Field to Host Upcoming Army-Navy Football Games

09-Jun-2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), a member of the U.S. Naval Academy Board of Visitors since 1987, issued the following statement after it was announced today that the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore and the FedEx Field in Landover have been selected to host three Army-Navy football games between 2010 and 2017:    » read more »

Questions the fairness of federal law that outlaws wagering in all but four states

June 05, 2009 --
TRENTON - New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today announced he would seek to intervene in support of a federal lawsuit filed by state Sen. Raymond Lesniak in an effort to overturn a federal ban on sports betting in New Jersey and 45 other states.

"The federal government’s prohibition on sports betting for some but not all states is fundamentally unfair," Governor Corzine said. "There should be uniformity in the application of federal law. If one state is allowed to legalize betting on sports events, all states should be allowed the same opportunity."    » read more »

June 01, 2009 -- EAST RUTHERFORD - Describing it as another component of New Jersey’s commitment to sustainable environmental practices, New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today applauded the partnership agreement between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), New York Giants and New York Jets to use green building practices at the New Meadowlands Stadium.

“I support the Giants and Jets partnership and their commitment to helping clean our environment,” Governor Corzine said. “The New Stadium Project will act as a model for stadiums across the country and I am confident that this construction will help set a precedent for green building in other states while demonstrating New Jersey’s role as a leader in environmentally friendly construction.”    » read more »

Company Cites Denial of Consumer Choice

May 28, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - Armed with a new federal court ruling that further strengthens the legal basis for action, Verizon is calling on the Federal Communications Commission to act promptly to stop incumbent cable television companies from illegally denying competitive video providers access to "must have" regional sports programming.

In a filing with the FCC on Thursday (May 28), Verizon told the commission that "the cable incumbents' documented history of abusing their control of regional sports networks and other regional sports programming to deny consumers a meaningful competitive choice is a real and ongoing problem that must be addressed."    » read more »

2/25/2009 -- “North Carolina will be a fantastic location for the 2011 Championships,” said Governor Perdue. “We have a proven track record of successful major events, great facilities and wonderful volunteers. Not only will the Nationals showcase Greensboro and bring valuable dollars to the surrounding area, but the choice of North Carolina as the host state will make for the best possible event.”    » read more »

February 24, 2009 -- ST. PETERSBURG – Florida Governor Charlie Crist, continuing his commitment to strengthening Florida’s economy, will applaud Major and Minor League baseball’s economic contributions to the Sunshine State when he launches the 2009 spring training baseball season this evening by hosting the Governor’s Baseball Dinner in St. Petersburg.

The event, restored in 2008 by Governor Crist after more than a decade, will honor Florida’s two Major League Baseball clubs, 14 other Major League clubs who train in Florida, and the 29 Minor League clubs who play throughout the spring and summer. More than 200 representatives from these clubs will join with 500 fans and sponsors at St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays.    » read more »

Applauds Nfl's Work To Promote Physical Fitness

Florida’s 14th Super Bowl expected to have $300-million economic impact

January 28, 2009 -- TAMPA – As part of community activities leading up to Sunday’s Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Governor Charlie Crist today visited with 2,000 local children from the Tampa Bay area attending the NFL PLAY 60 Kids’ Day at The NFL Experience. Current and former NFL players were on hand to interact with the children, including Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Warrick Dunn and linebacker Derrick Brooks, who also serves as chair of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness.    » read more »

06 August 2008 -- The flame of the Beijing Olympics has arrived in the capital city for the final leg of its international relay ahead of Friday's opening ceremonies.

Thousands of enthusiastic residents cheered and waved Chinese flags as Wednesday's relay began with a lighting ceremony at the Forbidden City. China's first man in space, Yang Liwei, was the first to carry the torch, followed by other Chinese celebrities, including National Basketball Association star Yao Ming.

Despite the tight security in Beijing, foreign activists staged two separate demonstrations to protest China's human rights record. Four foreigners were detained for displaying giant banners near the main Olympic "Bird's Nest" stadium, calling for a free Tibet.    » read more »

4 August 2008 -- As China makes last minute preparations to host the Olympics, the environment is proving to be one major wild card that Chinese leaders cannot totally control. Olympic host city Beijing has some of the most polluted air in the world. Despite measures aimed at clearing the skies, the air is still often a disturbing murky gray.

These days, people watch the skies above Beijing closely. Some days, especially after it rains, the skies are relatively clear.

More often than not, though, a thick murky haze fills the air and makes it nearly impossible to see nearby buildings.

What is causing Beijing's gray skies? Is it natural phenomena, or is it pollution?    » read more »

3 August 2008 -- At least nine climbers have been killed by falling ice on the world's second-highest mountain, Pakistan's K2.

Pakistani tour operators say the mountaineers died Friday when a huge piece of ice broke off the mountain and hit them in an area called the "Bottleneck."

K2: Photo by Stuart Orford (CC)

At least three other climbers are missing, prompting a desperate rescue effort on the peak in remote northern Pakistan.

Those confirmed dead include three South Koreans, two Nepalese, as well as a Serbian, a Dutch citizen, a Norwegian, and a Pakistani.    » read more »

Popular annual series will feature live on-site broadcasts from all 32 NFL team training camps, plus Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

NEW YORK, July 22, 2008 -- SIRIUS Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI), the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, will kick off its fourth annual SIRIUS NFL Radio Training Camp Tour on July 26, offering the most extensive radio coverage of all 32 NFL team camps plus the 2008 Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction ceremony, leading up to the start of the NFL season.    » read more »

21 July 2008 -- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced agreements with the Asian Broadcasting Union (ABU) and ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) for the broadcast rights within certain territories in Asia* for the Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympic Games.

As part of the agreements, the ABU has acquired terrestrial over-the-air television and radio broadcast rights within the region, and ESS has acquired non-standard television rights including cable and satellite television platforms. In addition, both organisations will have certain simultaneous unaltered retransmission rights on other media platforms.    » read more »