Nothing sweet about it: LSU coach Les Miles advised dismissed Tigers cornerback Tyrann Mathieu to move on with his career rather than try to return to the LSU team in 2013, in a conversation between the two Tuesday night, a source close to Mathieu tells The Times-Picayune. Miles has confirmed that the conversation took place, but declined to comment on the details. An LSU official has disputed the report that Miles advised Mathieu either way, saying the coach simply laid out the ex-Tiger’s available options in the conversation. Read the full story here.
Flip a coin already: Less than three weeks before the professional football season kicks off, the NFL and the NFL Referees Association are no closer to an agreement to end the lockout of the officials. As replacement officials work preseason games—and generally get criticized for their performances—the league and officials today disputed such issues as full-time employees and adding officiating crews. On Sept. 5, the Cowboys visit the Giants to open the season. Not since 2001 has the NFL played games that count in the standings with replacement officials, and that was for one week. The current lockout began June 3. Read the full story here.
Olé! The U.S. men’s soccer team has defied expectations—and a rowdy crowd elated by Mexico’s recent Olympic gold—to break a 75-year winless streak playing on its neighboring rival’s turf with an 80th-minute goal and a series of saves that delivered a 1-0 victory. The glum fans filing out after the game Wednesday night drew a stark contrast with the crowd in the game’s first half, which was marked by raucous booing, tossed drinks and laser pointers, all aimed at the American players or their few present fans. Read the full story here.
