SPORTS

NFL fans called the worst when it comes to coarse behavior

Crowds at Major League Baseball games are pretty nice, and those at NBA basketball games and even National Hockey League games aren't bad. But some authorities say loutish fans of the National Football League are a disgrace to the league.

The huge size of the crowds is one factor. An NFL game brings about twice as many fans as a major league baseball game and up to four times as many as a pro basketball game.

Tailgating is another factor. Fans arrive long before the game begins. If you walk through the parking area, you can see there's a lot of beer drinking going on. Many fans have had too much booze when they enter the stadium. It can lead to profanity, and insults and attacks on fans of the opposing team.

The NFL focuses on the best practices of crowd control, Among their findings: crowd control is related to the proportion of fans who are season ticket holders. If there's a problem, security can call the ticket holder and tell them that if it happens again, their ticket will be revoked. Season ticket holders with children sometimes have stopped attending games because of fans' profanity, threats, and drinking.

Whether the home team is winning or losing is a factor. When fans are involved in the game, there is less troublemaking.

At one recent game, 19 inebriated fans were arrested for criminal trespass. They barged into luxury suites, used the bathrooms, spouted profanities, and grabbed the food and drinks.

Mark Yost, author of Tailgating, Sacks and Salary Caps, says that in spite of the best efforts of security personnel, they still have a long way to go. Fans could help by improving their behavior.

New court ruling

Fantasy baseball players can use players' names, stats

The 17 million fantasy sports players in the U.S. scored a home run in a recent federal appeals court. It ruled that baseball fantasy leagues have a First Amendment right to use players' names and stats at no cost.

If the ruling stands, their second legal victory over Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association should held hold down entry fees for fantasy players, which are now about $40 per league.

MLB and the players union could still appeal the decision. But the ruling as it stands will encourage more companies to enter the industry with new products and services, says Jeff Thomas, president of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association.

The ruling also sends a message to professional football and basketball teams.

Patrick Kane could be next big U.S. hockey star

When the Chicago Blackhawks drafted top pick Patrick Kane last year, he was just 18 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, and weighed 170 pounds. Today, Jim Johannson, USA Hockey's assistant executive Director says Kane is"the strongest guy on the ice."

And he's an American as were 30 percent of the National Hockey League's draft picks. Born November 19, 1988 in Buffalo, N.Y., Kane says, "The biggest thing we have is character. We play a style of game where we don't quit whether you are ahead or two goals down or five goals down. You finish your check, and you play hard. You have a work ethic. That's what I got out of playing in the U.S. national program."

Kane, who scored 145 points in 58 games last season in the Ontario Hockey League, is being compared to the 1988 No. 1 pick Mike Modano. In his first nine games, Kane led the Blackhawks with 13 points.

MLB's 3,000 club: Who's in; Who's up next

In 2007, Craig Biggio became the 27th Major League Baseball player to get more than 3,000 base hits in his career. A Houston Astros player for his entire 20 years in the game, Biggio had 3,060 hits before his retirement. He joins 26 previous qualifiers on the 3,000+ statistics list.

If predictions turn out to be correct, Barry Bonds will hit his 3,000th in 2008. He finished the 2007 season with 2,935 hits. Bonds already owns a few records. He holds the all-time home run record at 762 after surpassing Hank Aaron's career mark. He is also the all-time leader in both walks (2,558) and intentional walks (688).

Bonds, 43, is the godson of Willie Mays, who had 3,283 hits at the end of the 1970 season. Bonds wants to surpass his godfather, but it will take more than one season to do it.

Pete Rose is the all-time hit leader with 4,256 on his record, which was set in 1978. He was 37 years old at the time. Robin Yount was 36 when he toted up 3,142 hits, as was Hank Aaron when his hits totaled 3,771. Both Yount and Aaron ended their careers in 1970.

Ty Cobb had 4,189 base hits by the time he was just 34 years old in 1921. But maybe pitchers didn't have so many tricks up their sleeves at that time. Stan Musial achieved 3,630 hits in his career, which ended in 1958

Some experts predict that, after Bonds, the next player to approach 3,000 will be Derek Jeter, who currently has 2,356 hits. He will probably play many seasons in the future. He is just 33 years old.

Alex Rodriguez, 32, is another contender. He presently has 2,250 hits and is also in the prime of his career.

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