Bush Press Flak Fleischer Now Coaches Jocks

Former Bush flak won't spill on reasons

(NEWSER) - Tiger Woods is getting ready to get back on the golf course, but he won’t have Ari Fleischer to help spin off-the-course happenings any more. The former Bush press secretary confirmed last night’s Golf Channel report that he and Woods have parted company, but wouldn’t elaborate in an email to the AP . More»

Even LeBron James makes the list—relatively speaking, of course

(NEWSER) - If you set aside the fact that even the minimum-earning NBA player ($457,558) is still in the top 1% of American earners, you can appreciate that some sports standouts are relatively underpaid. Yahoo! Sports lists some of the biggies:

• Tim Lincecum, MLB, San Francisco Giants: Though he’s set to win a second straight Cy Young Award, he makes nearly 20 times less than another pitcher on his team at $695,000.
• LeBron James, NBA, Cleveland Cavaliers: He’s making the maximum possible—nearly $16 million—and he’s still a steal, considering he saved his franchise.

What bloggers, media outlets put online creates friction with pro leagues

(NEWSER) - As bloggers multiply and media outlets aim to put more audio, video and photo content on their websites, tensions mount with professional sports leagues. Leagues argue that outlets making such content widely available steps on the toes of the broadcasters who have paid to present games—but, the New York Times reports, limiting the media's scope might impinge on free speech. More»

Is it a match made in heaven?

(NEWSER) - Quarterback Tim Tebow and country singer Taylor Swift could be a match made in good-guy/good-girl heaven. But it seems like they're just friends—even though they were spotted together at a Los Angeles-area restaurant. There wasn't any hanky panky, says a witness, though the two were "quite flirty" with one another at a pre-Oscars party last week, notes Celebuzz . "I would say they came in more as friends. Taylor came in with another young male and seemed to be with him more than Tebow," a source tells People —though Hollywood Dame speculates the 22-year-old Grammy winner was likely with her agent, and that Tebow was probably with his agent. Taylor only sipped a latte while the other four at the table ate dinner. A non-Bronco picked up the check. More»

2nd complaint claims the NFL covered up concussion dangers

(NEWSER) - Another lawsuit is being leveled against the NFL over brain damage suffered by former players. Ex-Miami Dolphins team members Patrick Surtain and Oronde Gadsden, along with 19 other players, have filed suit in Miami and are charging that the NFL deliberately omitted or concealed evidence connecting concussions to long-term neurological problems, reports the AP . The NFL has reacted by denying wrongdoing, as it did against a similar lawsuit lodged earlier this week. More»