There’s nothing like some good old-fashioned trash-talking to whet our appetite for a big fight. And Floyd Mayweather is doing his part to promote the one bout that every boxing fan wants to see. Maybe he was feeling flush after claiming he won $400,000 on the Alabama-LSU game Monday night, because he began challenging Manny…

Todd Bozeman actually should have landed a better job by now. His talents should have been requested at a more prestigious school, for a job with a national profile that’s worthy of his résumé. He did his penance for a major NCAA violation 16 years ago and excelled once Morgan State gave him another chance…

Just as we can’t help noticing that more than 80 percent of NBA players are black, it’s impossible to be oblivious when a team can put five white players on the court. Especially white American-born players, who are outnumbered in the league by Europeans. ESPN’s J.A. Adande pointed out the obvious about the Los Angeles…

Ryan Clark thought that Saturday might be different. Even though he sat out the Pittsburgh Steelers’ last two games at Denver — after suffering a severe medical condition when he played there in 2007 — Clark thought he might have a shot this week because it’s a playoff game. But Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has…

Playing basketball while naked from the waist up sounds like an uncomfortable — if not painful — experience for women. But Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman plans to coach a topless team for HeadQuarters Gentlemen’s Club in New York City. “I don’t know too many men that don’t like a good-looking woman running up and…

The Oklahoma City Thunder are one of the NBA’s best young squads, a small-market up-and-comer that thrilled the nation last season with its run to the Western Conference finals. The team is led by a dynamic duo of 23-year-old stars, two-time league scoring champion Kevin Durant and All-NBA point guard Russell Westbrook. And therein could…

Just after his new Air Jordan sneakers sparked an uproar, Michael Jordan decided to settle down. The NBA Hall of Famer and owner of the Charlotte Bobcats got engaged over the Christmas weekend, which began with the release of his retro Concord XI sneakers. Limited-edition classics, the shoes incited a rash of violence nationwide. Here’s…

Peyton Manning didn’t do it. Neither did Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Dan Marino, Joe Montana or any other NFL quarterback. Cam Newton has more passing yards than any rookie in NFL history, breaking the record that Manning set in 1998. And Newton started from behind. Imagine what he might have done if the Carolina Panthers’…

The scenes were reminiscent of the worst Black Friday incidents: Shoppers lining up for hours and breaking through doors. Folks suffering injuries from being trampled or punched. Police resorting to pepper spray to subdue unruly crowds. Except this wasn’t Black Friday. It was an Air Jordans-release Friday, and it prompted an outbreak of madness, mayhem…

No matter how much they try to make objective, impartial decisions regarding players’ fitness, the trainers and medical staff for NFL teams aren’t oblivious. They realize that coaches, front-office executives and teammates are concerned about the health and well-being of each individual player. But they also know that there’s a strong desire to see injured…