Sports contracts are iron clad agreements that protect an asset of the team, the athlete. There is a long list of things athletes are prohibited from participating in to ensure their health and safety. A few of the most popular banned activities include sky diving, driving motorcycles, auto racing, skateboarding and hot air balloons.
When the now retired A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez) was negotiating with the New York Mets some of his demands included an office at the stadium, his own marketing staff, a private jet and maximum billboard exposure. The Mets didn’t work out but A-Rod signed with the New York Yankees. No word on whether or not a private jet was included.
Former Arizona Diamondbacks player Troy Glaus’ contract included $250,000 for his wife’s personal business - equestrian horses.
Other odd inclusions include a soccer player who wrote in his contract that his team needed to pay for cooking classes for his wife. (Was she a bad cook)? Or the coach who wanted an annual gift certificate to the local gun shop? Even more interesting – a newly built house for every year of the athlete’s contract.
When you hurt yourself while participating in a banned activity, why not simply lie about it? No one will know right? Wrong. Former San Francisco Giants infielder Jeff Kent said he broke his wrist while washing his truck. The team was suspicious because a man was cleaning. They found out he was popping wheelies on his motorcycle which was forbidden. Uh oh.

Extra credit – Which current head coach had the "Notre Dame clause" in his contract? Find out here.

Golf

Remember me? Do you know the golfer ranked 898th in the world? Yes, you do. It’s Tiger Woods. Woods, the former number one, looks to make his return to golf at this week’s tournament in the Bahamas after a 15-month break.

MLB (Major League Baseball)

Glamorous life. New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes signed the largest contract for an outfielder in MLB. There is certainly no anti-golf clause in his contract. He’s been known to play golf right before night games and even sparked controversy last season for playing golf while on the disabled list with quad injury. (You may recall the story about Cespedes rolling into spring training last season with a new fleet of over the top vehicles).

Overtime

Who doesn’t love a feel good story? The Los Angeles Lakers hosted a scrimmage game between the L.A.P.D. and local kids at their practice facility. The game wasn’t about recruiting, but to build the relationship between the two groups.

Sideline stat

23,924 - The number of teddy bears thrown on the ice by fans at the Calgary Hitmen “Teddy Bear Toss” game. The Teddy Bear Toss is when fans bring stuffed animals to donate to underprivileged children. They throw them on the ice after the home team scores its first goal. This video shows every child’s dream come true – it’s raining bears.

Coaches’ corner

With only one week of college football left, the next to last set of rankings has been released. The top four ranked teams will play each other in a tournament style format to become National Champions.

Alabama
Ohio State
Clemson
Washington

March 2, 2016

LAST NIGHT'S GAME

five things to know

The Rundown: Five Things To Know Steph Curry

March 2, 2016

LAST NIGHT'S GAME

five things to know

Since we report on NBA superstar Steph Curry all the time in our news, we thought you might want to get to know him a little better. Kind of like Googling that blind date…simply some light internet stalking.

If only he wasn't married,

The Last Night's Game

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT REIGNING NBA MVP, STEPHEN “STEPH” CURRY

Curry, whose father is a retired NBA player, attended and played basketball at a small college, Davidson, after not being recruited by any bigger schools. He showed them!
Since college, Curry has been involved with the United Nations Foundation's Nothing But Nets campaign, which distributes insecticide-treated mosquito bed nets across Africa to help combat malaria.
He started dating his wife Ayesha at age 14 and they married in 2011. Ayesha realized her opportunity with her husband’s fame and has become famous for her cooking. Check out her Instagram.
Daughter Riley has become a little superstar of her own, a dancing superstar that is.
Although he's had a career tainted by ankle injuries, he’s a really good basketball player.

Held the record for three-point shots in a season for college basketball (2007-2008).
Current record holder for three-point shots made in a season for NBA

NCAA BASKETBALL (COLLEGE)

Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Oakland University senior guard Max Hooper’s father was diagnosed with cancer in October and since suffered a stroke preventing him from attending his son’s games, something he had always done. On Hooper’s senior night, Hooper was surprised to see his Dad in attendance. He watched the game from a hospital bed in the arena.

MLB (MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL)

Will there be mojitos? Tampa Bay Rays will play an exhibition game against the Cuban National Team in Cuba on March 22nd. President Obama is scheduled to be at the game.

NBA (NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION)

Taking one for the team. Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Balmer, 59, who is valued at $22 billion clearly enjoys owning the team. At halftime of the game against the New Jersey Nets, he took on the challenge of dunking off a trampoline to win all fans in attendance a pair of Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars. Of course he nailed the dunk. Shoes for everyone!

NFL (NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE)

Raise ‘em up. Despite not making the playoffs since 2010, the New York Jets (NFL) announced they will be raising tickets prices by an average of 4%. The ticket prices had remained the same for the previous two years.

OVERTIME

Not to be outdone by his week of arrival in different luxury vehicles, Mets (MLB) outfielder Yoenis Cespedes showed up to spring training on horseback.

SIDELINE STAT

Billionaire Warren Buffet announced to his employees that if anyone could pick a perfect bracket through the “sweet 16” in the NCAA Basketball Playoffs, they would receive $1 million a year for the rest of their lives. Don’t buy that yacht yet. Last year, only one out of 11.5 million ESPN Tournament Challenge entrants picked the entire first round of the tournament perfect. More on March Madness next week.

COACHES’ CORNER

Remarkable. University of Kansas Jayhawks have clinched their 12th straight conference championship.

Five unusual provisions in athlete contracts