Floyd Landis convicted in French court

A French court convicted American cyclist Floyd Landis in absentia Thursday for his role in hacking into the computers of a French doping lab.

Landis, who was stripped of the 2006 Tour de France title for doping, was given a 12-month suspended prison sentence.

The WADA-accredited lab in the town of Chatenay-Malabry south of Paris uncovered unusually high testosterone levels in Landis' samples from the 2006 Tour.

Prosecutors argued that Landis and coach Arnie Baker masterminded a plot to hack into the lab's computer system to obtain documents as part of an effort to defend the cyclist's name.

Landis, in an email to the Associated Press after the trial opened last month, wrote that he had no information about the case except through the press, and was never summoned or contacted by the court, despite its claims to the contrary. He denied any connection to hacking.

In an email to The Times last year, when the arrest warrant was issued, Landis said: "I can't speak for Arnie, but no attempt has been made to formally contact me. It appears to be another case of fabricated evidence by a French lab who is still upset a United States citizen believed he should have the right to face his accusers and defend himself."

ALSO:

Former cycling chief denies Lance Armstrong doping cover-up

Whom does the public believe, Lance Armstrong or his detractors?

-- Houston Mitchell

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Floyd Landis. Credit: Dianne Manson / Associated Press.

Phil Mickelson elected to World Golf Hall of Fame

Four-time major winner Phil Mickelson has been elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame. Mickelson, who became eligible after turning 40 last year, received 72% of votes cast.

"My thanks go to those who voted me into the World Golf Hall of Fame," Mickelson said. "It really is a tremendous honor to be mentioned alongside the greats of a game that's centuries old. The Players Championship week always has been special to me and the induction ceremony next May will make it even more so."

The induction ceremony will be May 7 at the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Fla., the week of the Players Championship, which Mickelson won in 2007.

"It seems Phil has been destined for this honor for some time," PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said. "From his days as one of the world's premier amateur players to his seamless transition to professional star, Phil has always performed at the highest levels of the sport and this recognition is well deserved."

A winner of 39 events on the PGA Tour, Mickelson has won three Masters and a PGA Championship.

A golfer must be named on 65% of ballots sent in by a panel comprising golf journalists, historians and golf dignitaries to be inducted. This year's results:

Phil Mickelson, 72%; Fred Couples, 38%; Davis Love III, 29%; Mark O'Meara, 29%; Macdonald Smith, 27%; Ken Venturi, 27%; Tony Lema, 22%; Fuzzy Zoeller, 17%; Dave Stockton, 16%; Harold (Jug) McSpaden, 12%; Miller Barber, 10%; Don January, 9%; Jim Furyk, 4%; Loren Roberts, 1%.

ALSO:

Penn State scandal: full coverage

Manny Pacquiao: This will be the fight of the year

Floyd Mayweather offers to pay for Joe Frazier's funeral

-- Houston Mitchell

Photo: Phil Mickelson. Credit: Stephen Morrison / EPA.

London 2012 Olympics: blood on the carpet as welfare rule splits dressage

Horseracing is still gripped by the very public fall-out about use of the whip. In some ways, racing should think itself lucky. At least jockeys, owners and trainers in both Flat and National Hunt agree about the issues, unlike dressage where horsemen are vehemently at odds over a new welfare proposal that the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) is due to decide on Monday.

At the 2010 world championships in Kentucky, Holland’s Adelinde Cornelissen, then the dressage world number two, was only a few movements into her six-minute Grand Prix test when a judge spotted blood on the mouth of her horse, Jerich Parzival. Under dressage's zero tolerance  ‘blood rule,’ Parzival was instantly eliminated from the entire contest, with no procedure for a vet to check for any minor scratch that could inform the judges’ decision, and no right of appeal.

As humans know, biting the inside of your mouth produces an inordinate amount of blood for a few minutes. It looks all the more dramatic when diluted by the proverbial frothing of the horse’s mouth and so spectators might well be concerned. Public relations is increasingly emphasised in this arena-based discipline, as cameras are moving ever closer and more personal when delivering horse sport to households that are divorced from the practicalities of animal husbandry.

A photo was released showing a small nick on Parzival’s tongue. The media sympathised with the impossible positions of both Adelinde and the head judge but everyone agreed that although draconian, it was the ‘rule’.

Assessment of surface lacerations is complicated, because of the horse disciplines’ diversity. Dressage is not about sudden exertion. In dressage, the welfare issue is when an over-active jaw might indicate stress. But equally, relaxed horses can catch their tongue; the blood could even come from a swallowed horsefly. All possibilities – however remote – should surely be weighed up in the spirit of fair play.

Then in January, I discovered the blood rule did not exist; for years global dressage had uncomplainingly gone along with a career-defining convention that had never been enshrined in type. Initially the sport fell back on other general rules but in June the FEI decided to align dressage with other disciplines that allow a vet to decide if the stopped horse can re-commence.

If passed, the new rule is effective from January 1. But at a late stage the influential German federation has said it will vote against. There is now a ‘say no to blood’ internet petition. Riders, officials and judges have come up with their own instant-elimination rule, alleging that the trainers drafted the FEI proposal without consulting them. Personality clashes are certainly clouding aspects of the debate, as is the FEI’s clumsy caveat that instant elimination still applies at the lower levels. In another procedural oversight, the FEI’s official advisor World Horse Welfare does not appear to have been consulted.

Laura Bechstolsheimer is among notables to have signed the petition, and one has to respect the riders’ willingness to subject themselves to this lottery for their belief in the greater good.

But  the apparent selflessness of the instant elimination rule is not quite what it seems. The alternative wording condones bleeding in the warm-up ring, provided it can stopped or wiped clean before the horse enters the field of play, and there is no in-hindsight elimination if bleeding is spotted once the horse has finished and out of sight! I’m right behind any move to demonstrate the highest standards of horse-care to spectators but, please, let’s not make fools of them in the next breath.

At the Olympics, there are only three horses per national squad, with all scores counting. So an eventer may win a medal after being re-started with a scrape, but two days later, a dressage horse with a tongue-nick is eliminated and takes out his entire national team. The incredulity of public and press would be worth it if instant elimination improved the wellbeing of a single horse, but too much of this debate is about who controls the sport.

 

A Pro Bowl Ballot at the Midpoint

With half of the season in the books, now is an appropriate time to start talking about Pro Bowl considerations. Here’s my ballot (as filled out on NFL.com) at the midway point, determined by observations from film study (with statistics serving as an infrequent “verification tool”).

*Indicates a starter; all other players are listed in no particular order.

A.F.C. Offense

Quarterbacks

Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers*

The most physically gifted quarterback in the A.F.C. has improved his mental approach to the game.

Tom Brady, Patriots

Recent struggles aside, he is orchestrating one of the most efficient passing attacks in football.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills

Has five wins with a spread offense that lacks a big-time receiving corps.

Running Back

Fred Jackson, Bills*

Could go to Hawaii just for his running, receiving or blocking.

Darren McFadden, Raiders

The best north/south runner in the game right now.

Arian Foster, Texans

The best all-around runner in the A.F.C. right now. (And he’s assumed an elevated role in the passing game, too.)

Wide Receiver

Mike Wallace, Steelers*

The most lethal downfield weapon in the N.F.L. is the reason Pittsburgh has fully transformed into a passing team.

Wes Welker, Patriots*

No longer on a record-smashing pace, but 66 receptions and 960 yards are almost Pro Bowl numbers for a full season.

A.J. Green, Bengals

The only truly dynamic weapon in Cincy’s effective ball-control offense.

Anquan Boldin, Ravens

His third quarter against Arizona alone makes him worthy.

Fullback

Marcel Reese, Raiders

Has missed time because of injury but is the only genuine mismatch-creating fullback in the A.F.C.

Tight End

Rob Gronkowski, Patriots*

Fantastic blocker who can also beat cornerbacks one-on-one from the slot. He’s not easy to tackle, either.

Heath Miller, Steelers

The steadying force of Pittsburgh’s high-powered offense.

Offensive Tackle

Michael Roos, Titans*

Consistent as a clock. Don’t even think about blaming him for Chris Johnson’s struggles.

Andrew Whitworth, Bengals*

A natural run blocker who has built himself into one of the premier pass protectors in the game.

Joe Thomas, Browns

Same as Roos, only with “Cleveland’s” in place of “Chris Johnson’s”.

Guard

Kris Dielman, Chargers*

Great pass protector and an even better puller.

Marshal Yanda, Ravens*

The best all-around blocker on a remade but surviving offensive line.

Brian Waters, Patriots

Kansas City’s cutting him will never make sense.

Center

Nick Mangold, Jets*

Sealed his fourth Pro Bowl when the Jets played on national TV without him.

Chris Myers, Texans

Not good in a phone booth but outstanding on the move as part of a five-man unit. Good thing he plays in a zone-blocking scheme.

A.F.C. DEFENSE

Defensive End

Brett Keisel, Steelers*

Good versatile presence who does all the dirty work that makes Pittsburgh’s front seven special.

J.J. Watt, Texans*

His long arms and supple strength have been huge for Houston’s revamped front seven.

Marcell Dareus, Bills

He has gotten better since moving to nose tackle. But the ballot lists him as an end, and the two usual Pro Bowl players in Indy have vanished over the past month.

Defensive Tackle

Vince Wilfork, Patriots*

Tireless.

Richard Seymour, Raiders*

Penalties are a concern, but it’s hard to not get penalized when you can toss people around the way he does.

Haloti Ngata, Ravens

A little quieter than usual, but come on – you’ve seen the man play.

Inside Linebacker

Brian Cushing, Texans*

Has exploded as a downfield attacker in Wade Phillips’s scheme.

Ray Lewis, Ravens

If he was 100 percent at his peak, he was asked, what percent is he at now? He says 105. In actuality, it’s probably more like 85. Good enough.

Outside Linebacker

Tamba Hali, Chiefs*

Relentless low-leverage force whom offensive tackles must absolutely hate dealing with.

Terrell Suggs, Ravens

Baltimore’s best down-to-down defender this season.

LaMarr Woodley, Steelers

When he’s healthy, multi-sack games are practically guaranteed.

Cornerback

Darrelle Revis, Jets*

The best defensive player in football, no discussion.

Johnathan Joseph, Texans*

Has been everything and more that the Texans were looking for. A shadow-man defender who’s willing to hit.

Ike Taylor, Steelers

Champ Bailey has been terrific but has had slightly more safety help than this guy.

Strong Safety

Troy Polamalu, Steelers

Next.

Free Safety

Ed Reed, Ravens

Next.

Kicker

Sebastian Janikowski, Raiders

Makes 50-yarders look like extra points.

Punter

Shane Lechler, Raiders

It’s always a numbers game. As in, he always has the best numbers. This year is no exception.

Return Specialist

Joe McKnight, Jets

Averaging over 40 yards per kick return? You kidding?

Special Teamer

Brendon Ayanbadejo, Ravens

Let’s be honest: special teams aren’t studied on film. So every outsider’s guess is as good as anyone’s. The thinking here is this guy’s been doing it a long time, and he’s been serviceable in Baltimore’s sub defensive packages this season.

N.F.C. Offense

Quarterback

Aaron Rodgers, Packers*

The best first half of a season we’ve seen from any quarterback. Ever.

Drew Brees, Saints

It’s the closest we can get to voting in Jimmy Graham twice.

Eli Manning, Giants

Has the Giants in first place despite a rash of injuries and a disintegrated running game.

Running Back

Matt Forte, Bears*

Pay the man.

LeSean McCoy, Eagles

The most frightening open-space runner in the game.

Adrian Peterson, Vikings

Tough to not include Darren Sproles here, but the fact of the matter is the Vikings don’t exist without this guy.

Wide Receiver

Calvin Johnson, Lions*

The most intimidating physical specimen any cornerback will line up against this season.

Greg Jennings, Packers*

Because Aaron Rodgers likes him.

Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals

Frustrated by the lack of weapons around him but is still able to produce.

Steve Smith, Panthers

He should take Cam Newton as his guest.

Fullback

Tyler Clutts, Bears

Credit Mike Martz for being flexible and letting him play.

Tight End

Jimmy Graham, Saints*

Borderline unguardable.

Jason Witten, Cowboys

If it were strictly about talent, Jermichael Finley would get the nod (he’s having a solid season). But it’s about production and impact. Witten’s the clear choice.

Offensive Tackle

Jason Peters, Eagles*

Consistently proving that he’s the most athletic tackle in the game today.

Jordan Gross, Panthers*

Almost never requires help from tight end or running back chips.

Donald Penn, Bucs

He’s decent, but to be frank, for the second straight year, there just aren’t any standout tackles in the N.F.C.

Guard

Josh Sitton, Packers*

The best guard in football last year has helped keep the Packers’ front line afloat despite injuries at both tackle positions.

Carl Nicks, Saints*

Would like to see a little more consistency this season, but he’s still the most physically impactful inside blocker in the game.

Jahri Evans, Saints

Also not quite as consistent this season as you’d like, but the bar for him is set extremely high.

Center

Scott Wells, Packers*

This year it’s been easy to see why teammates have always loved him. He’s a fundamentally sound, stabilizing force.

Ryan Kalil, Panthers

Easily the most skilled center in the N.F.C.

N.F.C. DEFENSE

Defensive End

Jared Allen, Vikings

On pace to break Brett Favre and Michael Strahan’s single-season sack record. Has also been a force against the run.

Chris Clemons, Seahawks*

Jumps out on film every week. Far more disruptive than his solid-but-unspectacular numbers suggest.

Cliff Avril, Lions

A matchup nightmare for right tackles and has been one of the driving forces behind Detroit’s emergence.

Defensive Tackle

Ndamukong Suh, Lions*

Think he’ll play dirty in an all-star game? Does he know any other way?

Justin Smith, 49ers*

Makes four to five splash plays every game and always fights opponents to, at minimum, a positive stalemate for the defense.

Darnell Dockett, Cardinals

The Cardinals’ defensive coordinator, Ray Horton, would have zero trouble implementing his new scheme if he had one or two more Darnell Docketts to work with.

Inside Linebacker

Brian Urlacher, Bears*

Having a renaissance in his 12th season.

NaVorro Bowman, 49ers

Do we really have to choose between Bowman and Patrick Willis?

Outside Linebacker

DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys*

Rob Ryan has made pretty good use of him, wouldn’t you say? Like Jared Allen, he’s on pace to break Brett Favre and Michael Strahan’s single-season sack record.

Clay Matthews, Packers*

Never mind the dipped sack numbers. He’s been a headache for every offense he’s faced.

 

Ahmad Brooks, 49ers

Dominant edge-rushing talents – and he’s finally learned to play the run, too.

Cornerback

Charles Woodson, Packers*

His brilliance as a nickel back is the key to Dom Capers’s system. He’s been surprisingly elite in traditional coverage at times this season, too.

Corey Webster, Giants*

Shadowing the opposing team’s No. 1 outside receiver week in and week out.

Patrick Peterson, Cardinals

Downfield man coverage has been nearly as impressive as his punt returning.

Strong Safety

Charles Godfrey, Panthers

Solid. Not many N.F.C. strong safeties have had the consistency or impact to warrant that description.

Free Safety

Antrel Rolle, Giants

His versatility is a major plus for the defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.

Kicker

Mason Crosby, Packers

Pretty simple – he hasn’t missed.

Punter

Michael Koenen, Bucs

Has brought value on punts (leads the conference with 16 inside the 20) and kickoffs.

Return Specialist

Devin Hester, Bears

Has the big plays again this year and affects field position more than any other player in the game.

Special Teamer

Jarrett Bush, Packers

Has been decent moonlighting with the regular defense.

Andy Benoit is an NFL analyst for CBSSports.com and founder of NFLTouchdown.com. He can be reached at andy.benoit@NFLTouchdown.com or @Andy_Benoit.

Week 10 N.F.L. Game Probabilities: A Jets-Patriots Tossup

It’s now the Jets’ turn to represent New York against the Patriots. The twist in this matchup is that the Jets think they’re a running team, when they’re actually more productive when passing. And the Patriots are thought of as a sophisticated finesse passing offense, when they’re also one of the best running teams in the league.

The Jets’ Expected Points Added (EPA) — a measure of net scoring capacity — totals 0.02 when running and 14.1 when passing. And on a per play basis, passing is remarkably more effective than running for the Jets.

The Patriots’ running game is strong, with a solid 4.5 yards per carry (YPC) average and, more important, a 49 percent success rate (SR). The last time the teams met, running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for 136 yards on 27 carries, good for 5.0 yards per carry and a 57 percent SR. Much of New England’s running success is because defenses are on their heels, focused on containing Welker, Hernandez and Gronkowski.

Here’s how both teams stack up at this point in the season:

 

In terms of predictive efficiency, the Jets rank 20th on offense and 5th on defense, while the Patriots rank 2nd on offense and 25th on defense. Both teams have had tough schedules, with the Patriots having a slightly tougher one. New England is reeling from two consecutive losses, but they’re the better team at the moment. The Jets have home-field advantage this time around, so the efficiency model is in agreement with the larger consensus that this game is a virtual tossup.

Here are the Game probabilities for Week 10.
(For more on the prediction model and its accuracy, see this post.

 

Brian Burke, a former Navy pilot who has taken up the less dangerous hobby of N.F.L. statistical analysis, operates Advanced NFL Stats, a blog about football, math and human behavior.

Newcastle’s name game is glimpse of Stadiums Future

Another Ashley hit: Toon fans in their traditional posture upon hearing news of Mike's latest scheme. Photo: Mike King

Perhaps Mike Ashley simply finds the spectacle of crying Geordies funny. With the club enjoying their best on-field days since Keggy was in his managerial pomp, it takes a very special sort of owner to nonetheless plunge the fans into frustrated outrage. But Mike is a man who never stops thinking about how he can take his relationship with the Toon Army to the next depth, and it was inevitable that the shell suit magnate would sooner or later auction-off naming rights to the family home.

The argument that “a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet” holds no appeal for Newcastle fans who, not unreasonably, don’t feel too happy about roaring on their heroes in the Sports Direct Arena rather than St James’ Park (even if some are as shaky on the apostrophe as Titus Bramble dealing with a bouncing ball).

They should count their blessings: fans of MLS team FC Dallas have to root for the home team at the Pizza Hut Park. The NHL’s Nashville Predators until recently welcomed opponents to their intimidating Gaylord Arena. And what MLS fan could fail to be inspired by a trip to watch the Colorado Rapids at their prestigious Dick’s Sporting Goods Park? Closer to home, pity York City fans, obliged to create a cauldron of support inside Kitkat Crescent (née Bootham Crescent, and thankfully restored to its former glory once sponsors Nestlé moved on in 2010 before they could change it to the Baby Milk Bowl).

All in all, the Sports Direct Arena could be a lot worse. And with all the teams that aren’t owned by billionaires starting to feel the pinch, maybe a rubbish name for your beloved home ground is inevitable. At least Newcastle can enjoy some sort of early-adopter advantage, and hopefully get a decently named sponsor while there are still plenty to choose from. Newcastle United at Sony Park, or the Adidas Stadium, or the Coke Arena (even has ties with the region’s colliery past)… it might not be so bad.

Rather that than be one of the teams that leaves it too late and is forced, like a man ferreting for the wife’s Christmas present in a Christmas Eve panic at Superdrug, to pick up any old rubbish that has a half-familiar name and hope for the best.

In five years time, slowcoaches like Sunderland might have had to forgo the Stadium of Light for the Happy Shopper Arena, Liverpool might be playing their home games at Ovaltine Crescent and, if Lord Sugar for some reason decided to get back into bladdy football, poor Tottenham might even be turning out every fortnight at the Amstrad Stadium. All in all, it could be worse.

Joe Paterno fired by Penn State Board of Trustees

Joe Paterno, one of most successful coaches in college football history, was fired Wednesday night by the Penn State Board of Trustees amid an ongoing child-abuse scandal involving one of his former assistant coaches.

University president Graham Spanier was also fired.

Paterno, who announced earlier Wednesday his intention to retire at the end of his 46th season with the Nittany Lions, has been the center of criticism for failing to contact authorities in 2002 after being told a graduate assistant saw former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky assaulting a boy in a school shower.

Sandusky was arrested Saturday and has been accused of molesting eight boys over a 15-year period. He has denied the accusations.

Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley will serve as interim coach.

In a statement released before his firing on Wednesday, Paterno expressed remorse for the victims and regretted not doing more to stop the alleged incidents.

"This is a tragedy," Paterno said. "It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more."

RELATED:

Full coverage: Penn State scandal

Scandal will ruin Penn State's program for years to come

Bill Plaschke: Forget sympathy, what Joe Paterno deserves is to be fired immediately

-- Austin Knoblauch

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Penn State President Graham Spanier, left, and Coach Joe Paterno talk prior to a game against Iowa on Oct. 8. Credit: Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press