Happy Birthday Leaplings

Today is Leap Day, and people who were born on February 29th are known as "Leaplings". Here is a list of some of the more famous Leaplings:

• Former Cleveland Indian Al Rosen (1924)
• Actor Joss Ackland - most notably (for me) as Hans in the Mighty Ducks movies (1928)
• American Astronaut Jack Lousma (1936)
• Actor Dennis Farina (1944)
• American Serial Killer Richard Ramirez (1960)
• Former LB Bryce Paup (1968)
• Rapper Ja Rule (1976)

This Day in Sports History - 2/26/2002

Playing for the Kings during a 107 - 81 win over the Jazz in Sacramento, Chucky Brown becomes the first individual in NBA history to play for 12 teams. Since his career began in 1989, Brown has also played for the Cavaliers, Lakers, Nets, Mavericks, Rockets, Suns, Bucks, Hawks, Spurs, Hornets and Warriors. His record is later tied by Tony Massenburg (1990 - 2005) and Jimmy Jackson (1992 - 2006).

Happy Birthday Paul O'Neill

Carlos Beltran

The St. Louis Cardinals signed Carlos Beltran to a two year deal. Beltran spent the 2011 season with both the New York Mets & San Francisco Giants. Beltran was the Rookie of the Year in 1999 when he was a member of the Kansas City Royals. He's a six time All Star & three time Gold Glove award winner. Beltran is 83 hits away from 2,000 and has 302 career HRs & 293 SBs.

Related Posts:
1. The Icky Shuffle: MLB Free Agency 2011
2. The Icky Shuffle: This Day in Sports History - 5/31/1964

Matt Capps

The Minnesota Twins re-signed closer Matt Capps to a one year deal with an option for 2013. With longtime closer Joe Nathan leaving for Texas, Capps will be the undisputed closer entering the season. Capps has 124 career saves, a career save percentage of 77% and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 301-80. If the Twins can rebound from the tough season they had last year then Capps' save numbers should be very high.

Related Posts:

1. The Icky Shuffle: MLB Free Agency 2011
2. The Icky Shuffle: Ryan Doumit
3. The Icky Shuffle: Top 9 Randy Johnson Moments

RIP Gary Carter

Gary Carter passed away on Thursday at the age of 57. He was an 11-time All-Star and a great teammate. Here is his HOF biography:

Michael Cuddyer

Michael Cuddyer left the Minnesota Twins and signed with the Colorado Rockies. Cuddyer is expected to provide solid protection for Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez as well as the ability to play multiple positions although he'll be primarily playing in RF. Cuddyer's career numbers are not exceptional, but his consistency is what makes him the player he is.

Related Posts:
1. The Icky Shuffle: MLB Free Agency 2011
2. The Icky Shuffle: RIP Harmon Killebrew

This Day in Sports History - 2/7/2010

Four years after Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Saints celebrate a Super Bowl win over the Indianapolis Colts, 31 - 17, in Miami. The underdog Saints fall behind 10 - 0 in the first quarter before two second period field goals make the score 10 - 6. New Orleans coach Sean Payton has a surprise in store on the second half kickoff: a successful onside kick. The Saints drive for a touchdown, add another field goal for a 16 - 10 lead, and then fall behind 17 - 16. But a two-yard pass from Drew Brees to TE Jeremy Shockey and a two-point conversion put the Saints back on top, 24 - 17. The Colts march for a game-tying TD when cornerback Tracy Porter returns an interception 74 yards for a score. Brees has 32 completions in 39 attempts for 288 yards, two TDs and no interceptions.

Happy Birhtday Babe Ruth

Today is Babe Ruth's birthday. Here is a video from "The Batting Stance Guy" about Babe Ruth.

Urban Meyer Discusses 2012 Signing Day Class

Today was National Signing Day and new Ohio State coach Urban Meyer procured the 6th best class (according to ESPN). Here is a video where he discusses some of the players the Buckeyes were able to sign. Beneath that is a list of the 25 players that they signed (courtesy of www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com).

2012 Recruiting Class

Name	Pos.	Hgt.	Wgt.	Hometown/High School
Warren Ball	RB	6-2	205	Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales
Devan Bogard	DB	6-0	175	Cleveland, Ohio/Glenville
Jacoby Boren*	OL	6-2	275	Pickerington, Ohio/Central
Taylor Decker	OL	6-8	315	Vandalia, Ohio/Butler
Kyle Dodson	OL	6-6	310	Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Heights
Bri'onte Dunn*	RB	6-2	220	Canton, Ohio/GlenOak
Pat Elflein	OL	6-3	285	Pickerington, Ohio/North
Frank Epitropoulos	WR	6-3	197	Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington
Cardale Jones*	QB	6-5	220	Cleveland, Ohio/Glendale & Fork Union Mil. Acad.
Jamal Marcus	LB	6-2	235	Durham, N.C./Hillside
Najee Murray	DB	5-11	172	Steubenville, Ohio/Steubenville
Joey O'Connor	OL	6-4	295	Windsor, Colo./Windsor
David Perkins	LB	6-2	220	South Bend, Ind./ South Bend Washington
Joshua Perry*	LB	6-3	230	Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy
Se'Von Pittman	DE	6-5	245	Canton, Ohio/McKinley
Tyvis Powell*	DB	6-3	180	Bedford, Ohio/Bedford
Armani Reeves	CB	5-10	185	West Roxbury, Mass./Catholic Memorial
Luke Roberts	LB	6-2	225	Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster
Tommy Schutt	DT	6-3	300	Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard
Ricquan Southward	WR	6-2	190	Lakeland, Fla./Lakeland
Noah Spence	DE	6-4	245	Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt
Blake Thomas	TE	6-4	245	Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius
Michael Thomas*	WR	6-4	205	Los Angeles, Calif./Woodland Hills Taft & FUMA
Adolphus Washington	DE	6-5	245	Cincinnati, Ohio/Taft
Camren Williams	LB	6-2	215	West Roxbury, Mass./Catholic Memorial

*Enrolled at Ohio State in January 2012

Super Bowl XLVI Preview

This Sunday February 5th will be Super Bowl 46 between the New York Giants and New England Patriots. Here are 46 facts and stats that hopefully you'll enjoy.

1. This is a rematch of a game from Week 9 as well as Super Bowl XLII
2. Bill Belichick was assistant for the Giants for 12 years
3. New England had 8 players selected for the Pro Bowl
4. New England was 3-1 vs. NFC while New York was 4-0 vs. AFC
5. The Giants have two players from Ohio State (Jake Ballard & Jim Cordle)
6. Eli Manning has a record 15 TDs in the 4th Quarter
7. Tom Brady is tied with Joe Montana with 16 playoff wins
8. This will be Tom Brady's 5th Super Bowl start; which ties him with John Elway
9. New England did not beat any team during the regular season who had a winning record
10. This is New England's 7th Super Bowl appearance & New York's 5th
11. Tom Brady was drafted as a catcher in the 18th round of the 1995 MLB Draft by the Montreal Expos
12. BenJarvis Green-Ellis went to the same High School as actor Carl Weathers
13. Victor Cruz had a Giants record with 1,536 receiving yards during the regular season
14. Tom Coughlin & Bill Belichick were assistant coaches on Giants Super Bowl XXV team
15. New England OC Bill O'Brien has been named the new Head Coach for Penn State
16. Former New England LB Larry Izzo is the Assistant Special Teams Coach for the Giants
17. TEs Rob Gronkowski & Aaron Hernandez combined for 169 receptions
18. New England allowed nine QBs to pass for 300 or more yards during the regular season
19. Jason Pierre-Paul had 16.5 sacks this season; only Michael Strahan & LT have had more in a season
20. Tom Brady has 3 seasons with 35 or more TD passes
21. The last time Wes Welker didn't have a reception in a game was 2005
22. Safety Antrell Rolle led the Giants with 96 tackles
23. Mark Anderson & Andre Carter each had 10 sacks for New England
24. Chad Ochocinco had just 15 receptions during the season
25. Mark Herzlich played lacrosse in High School
26. Stephen Gostkowski's FG % is 84.8
27. DT Vince Wilfork has 2 career INTs
28. Antrell Rolle & Vince Wilfork were college teammates
29. The Giants last six 1st round draft picks are major contributors to the team (Matthias Kiwanuka, Aaron Ross, Kenny Phillips, Hakeem Nicks, Jason Pierre-Paul & Prince Amukamara)
30. Matt Light protected Drew Brees' blind side in college
31. This is the 9th Super Bowl rematch of a regular season game decided by TD or less; 7 of the previous 8 games were won by team that lost 1st game
32. In his first 10 postseason games Tom Brady was 10-0 with 3 INTs; in his last 11 he's 6-5 with 16 INTs
33. Manning & Brady will be 3rd set of QBs to meet in multiple Super Bowls; the others were Bradshaw-Staubach & Aikman-Kelly
34. Lawrence Tynes is 1st player to score winning points in 2 playoff overtime games
35. The Giants drafted LBs Greg Jones & Jacquian Williams in the 6th round of 2011 NFL Draft
36. Chris Snee is Tom Coughlin's son-in-law
37. Bill Belichick is not a member of the NFL Coaches Club
38. The only 100 yard receiving game that Wes Welker has had in the playoffs was Super Bowl XLII loss to the Giants
39. Julian Edelman has played as a WR & CB this season
40. New England TEs coach Brian Ferentz is the son of Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz
41. Eli Manning is 6-1 in road or neutral site games in the playoffs
42. John Mara is the 3rd generation of his family to own the Giants
43. The Patriots have retired 8 player's numbers; the Giants have retired 11
44. Tom Brady has 2 Super Bowl MVPs, Eli Manning & Deion Branch each have 1
45. Tom Brady, Kevin Faulk & Matt Light are only current Patriots who won the 3 New England Super Bowls
46. Giants OC Kevin Gilbride was OC under Tom Coughlin for the Jaguars in 1995 & 1996