Anti-Semitic remark gets MLB umpire suspended

Major League Baseball umpire Bruce Froemming, the league's most senior ump at age 63, was suspended for 10 days on Friday. Froemming, who had been selected to call MLB's season-opening series in Tokyo (the Oakland Athletics will face the Seattle Mariners March 25-26), was punished after he directed an anti-Semitic slur at umpiring administrator Cathy Davis.

Three league officials told USA Today that they overheard a phone message in which the 33-year MLB veteran referred to Davis as a "stupid Jew bitch."

Froemming was apparently upset by MLB officials who reprimanded him for booking his own transportation to Japan. Froemming has had a contentious relationship with MLB administrators in the past. In 1996, National League President Len Coleman chastised Froemming for seeking Los Angleles Dodgers catcher Mike Piazza's autograph prior to a Mets-Dodgers game in New York.



Utah Jazz coach gets seven-game ban



On Wednesday, Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan received the longest NBA-issued suspension since notorious bad-boy Dennis Rodman was docked six games for headbutting an official in 1996. Sloan was suspended for seven games by NBA Vice President Stu Jackson for shoving referee Courtney Kirkland in the chest during the first quarter of Utah's game Tuesday at Sacramento's Arco Arena.

Though the Jazz ultimately defeated the Western Conference-leading Kings, Sloan went ballistic after Kirkland ruled that Sacramento guard Mike Bibby had not stepped out of bounds in his attempt to receive a pass along the Utah sideline. After he pushed Kirkland and was promptly escorted out, Sloan challenged the referee to meet him in the locker room.

Sloan, considered one of the NBA's most ill-tempered coaches, has found his biggest supporter in his least favorite player, center Greg Osertag. "That's the reason this league is falling apart," said Ostertag after the game, "Jerry protested the call and the official came and got in Jerry's face."

Sloan, who began serving his suspension on Wednesday, has been replaced by 15-year Jazz assistant Phil Johnson.



Brazilian soccer star fined for pig impersonation



On Tuesday, Brazilian soccer player Nunes was fined Real 20,000 (the equivalent of $5,000) by the Paulista Football Federation (FPF) for a goal celebration in which he imitated a pig.

After scoring the tying goal against rival Palmeiras, Santo Andre (a Brazilian club team) striker Nunes got down on all fours and contorted his face into a pig-like performance in front of angry Palmeiras fans.

The Palmeiras faithful, having seen their team blow a chance to win the coveted Sao Paulo Juniors' Cup (Santo Andre prevailed on pentalty kicks), proceeded to break down fencing and invade the field en masse.

A number of policemen were injured in the ensuing brawl, and Nunes was quickly reprimanded by the FPF. "The fine was not for the celebration in itself," FPF spokesman Carlos Lima said, "but for an action which provoked the supporters."



Simpson's daughter dials 911 after domestic dispute



On Thursday, it was revealed that 17 year-old Sydney Simpson (daughter of infamous football star turned actor-turned-acquitted-double-murderer O.J. Simpson) had called 911 on the morning of Jan. 18.

According to Miami-Dade police, an emotional Sydney Simpson asked that authorities come to the family's Miami residence to intervene in a heated domestic dispute. While Sydney claims that her father lashed out at her, saying, "None of my kids make me as miserable as you," Simpson and attorney Yale L. Galanter deny O.J. was involved. Galanter claims that his client is only listed on the incident report, because Simpson is the licensed homeowner.

Simpson, acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and friend Ronald Goldman in 1994, was later found liable by a civil jury and ordered to pay the surviving members' of victims' families $33.5 million.

In Oct. '01, a Miami jury found Simpson not guilty in a road rag e incident in which he tore the glasses off a motorist on a Florida highway.