This is the beginning, or maybe the end. The recession will reveal if the consumers and companies have to use their money to support favorite sports teams, in the mean time many sports are already planning for the worst that could happen. With customers eating fewer hot dogs or cutting days out of going to the ball park, companies reducing advertisement, all the major sports teams and parks could suffer badly.

“It’s unlikely that we won’t suffer (in 2009),” said Tim Finchem, commissioner of PGA Tour, the main U.S. golf tour. “What we’re seeing now is a pullback on spending by corporations … and those things come home to roost in ways that can negatively impact us.”

The weakness sign is already present to the NFL, MLB, Golf (PGA), and NASCAR. Sponsors spending less and lower attendance to cut jobs. The weak economy also has raised costs for such things as stadium financing, and has also hurt advertising, sponsorship and consumer spending. the NFL has cut a “substantial” amount of travel and entertainment, and promotional spending. While NASCAR was being hit with high gas prices.

“Next year, we will not obviously make that kind of a gain,” he said. “The question is, are we going to back up?”

Kevin Garnett may welcome troubled New York Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury to the Boston Celtics.

This is amazing in light of Garnett and Marbury’s history when the two played for the Minnesota Timberwolves.  Neither man liked the other and eventually Marbury was forced out the organization.   However, the two appear to be on good terms as Garnett said that he would back the organization and Marbury if Danny Ainge, the general manager, chose to bring him in.  Kevin Garnett is a perennial MVP candidate and one of the best players in the league, so if he gives it an okay, this opens the door for the organization.

Overall, signing Stephon Marbury to the Celtics may be good for the NBA.  It would give him a chance to start over and allow the Knicks to start over too.  Plus, the Celtics would get an experienced point guard capable of handling the second unit when Rajon Rondo sits down.  It should be a most interesting next few weeks as we wait to see when or even if Marbury will sign with the Celtics.

Alex Stepney - Manchester United

You’re probably aware of the expression “screaming your head off,” but here’s an incident of “screaming your jaw off.” Alex Stepney, a former Manchester United goalkeeper, was reaming out his defensemen in a match against Birmingham City in an effort to encourage a more spirited performance. He yelled so hard that he dislocated his jaw. Contrary to those who believe soccer is a slow sport, it does provide enough jaw-dropping plays.

Cal Ripken Jr. - Baltimore Orioles

Cal Ripken Jr. earned the nickname “Iron Man” for his impeccable toughness and endurance, both of which helped him to play in an MLB-record 2,632 consecutive games. But just because you’re made of iron doesn’t mean you will go without injury. In the 1996 All-Star Game’s pre-game photo session, pitcher Roberto Hernandez lost his balance and started to fall backward. He swung his arms in an effort to regain his balance and his forearm connected with and broke Ripken’s nose. In typical Ripken fashion, he still played — and started — the All-Star Game.

Derrick Mason - Baltimore Ravens

Most golfers scream the word “fore” during an errant shot, but NFL wide receiver Derrick Mason likely uttered a different four-letter word when playing golf during a charity tournament. Mason was teeing off when he made an awkward swing, causing his hand to twist and break his wrist. Unfortunately, a mulligan didn’t help in this situation.

Jaromir Jagr - New York Rangers

Enforcers are a dying breed in the new NHL, but the following example is one reason to keep them around. At the end of an ugly playoff loss to the rival New Jersey Devils, the New York Rangers’ goal-scorer Jaromir Jagr tried to punch Scott Gomez. Jagr used his left hand for the swipe but whiffed and dislocated his shoulder. Jagr has made many defenders and goaltenders look foolish with his stick, but the tables turned when he tried to use his fist.

Bret Barberie - Chicago Cubs

Brett Barberie, former baseball utility man and ex-husband of the foxy Jillian Barberie, obviously had good taste in women and seemingly had good taste in food. He was making nachos one night with all the mixings, including chili peppers and hot sauce, but he neglected to wash his hands after touching the spicy ingredients. He later went to put in his contact lenses and felt a severe burning sensation; consequently he missed a game. Talk about taking your eye off the ball.

Mark Smith - Milwaukee Brewers

By the time most of us reach the age of 3 we have been thoroughly lectured about sticking our hands into electrical sockets, fans or other potentially dangerous devices. Unfortunately, Mark Smith, a former MLB outfielder, must have missed that lesson. He was fairly average with his bat through his eight-year career, but he quite obviously didn’t excel in evaluating situations. When faced with a hotel room air conditioner that he thought was broken, Smith cut his hand after sticking it directly inside the unit to ascertain what was causing the malfunction. Maybe it was working fine after all.

Bill Gramatica - Miami Dolphins

They say NFL kickers are a dime a dozen, but Bill Gramatica found a way to stand out in an anonymous grouping. He wasn’t more skilled than your average kicker, but his exuberant celebration style made him stand apart. After one particular routine field goal with the Arizona Cardinals, he jumped high in the air for his typical superfluous celebration but landed awkwardly and tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his nonkicking knee. He claimed that he wasn’t doing it for show, but his reasoning for excessive celebration didn’t have a leg to stand on.

David Seaman - Manchester City

Soap operas are fictional and seemingly never-ending, but most addicts can’t stand to go one day without their fix. Chalk up goalkeeper David Seaman as a fiend and his bad habit cost him: While trying to tape an episode of Coronation Street, Britain’s longest running soap, Seaman pulled a back muscle reaching for the remote. In his defense, it is perennially one the UK’s highest-rated shows.

Gus Frerotte - St. Louis Rams

NFL touchdown celebrations have run the gamut from Merton Hanks’ funky chicken dance to Chad Johnson’s Riverdance, but none were as foolish as Gus Frerotte’s festivity. After scoring in the second quarter of a game for the Washington Redskins, Frerotte went to headbutt the padded wall just outside the end zone. Unfortunately, the stadium wall consisted of a thin layer of foam and a very thick layer of concrete, which put Frerotte into a woozy state. He was then quickly ambulanced to the hospital to get treatment for his head injury.

Kevin Johnson - Phoenix Suns

After a walk-off hit, shot or goal, most teams clear their bench and euphorically celebrate together in a mob. After Phoenix Suns guard Kevin Johnson netted a game-winning basket, teammate Charles Barkley greeted him with a big bear hug. Barkley squeezed him like a tube of toothpaste and clasped so hard that Johnson’s shoulder popped and dislocated, making the moment truly bittersweet.

On early Wednesday, Charles Barkley was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence in Scottsdale, Arizona. Charles had ran a stop sign about 1:30 A.M, was pulled over by Gilbert police and failed his field sobriety test when the officer smelled alcohol on him.”I am disappointed that I put myself in that situation,” Barkley said in a statement to The Associated Press. “The Scottsdale police were fantastic. I will not comment any further as it is a legal matter.”The former basketball player and now currently the NBA TV commentator, was cited and released. Facing $1,000 fine, 10 days in jail. His vehicle was impounded. While police described Barkley as cooperative, adding it is customary to release people after an arrest on suspicion of DUI.

In 1997, Charles was arrested in Orlando, Florida, and charged with hurling a bar patron through a glass window after the man tossed a glass of ice at him. The case was settled after Charles was fined and performed community service.

“There was nothing unusual about how he was taken into custody,” Gilbert Police stated. “He was treated exactly like we treat anybody else.”

The former 76er, Sun, and Rocket is an NBA Hall of Famer and one of the greatest players of all time. He was arrested early Wednesday morning on suspicion of DUI. He was pulled over in Scottsdale, Arizona for running a stop sign. The officer administered a standard field sobriety test, which Barkley failed, and there was a also strong odor of alcohol coming from the Round Mound of Rebound. Sir Charles also submitted a blood test before being booked at the Scottsdale police station.

Shortly after being booked and processed Barkley was cited and released. Officers described Barkley as  “cordial and respectful”. He had nothing  but kind words for them also. “The Scottsdale police were fantastic. Now it is a legal matter and I will not comment further until it is resolved,” said Barkley.  

When he was pulled over and asked why he ran the stop sign, Barkley gave a surprising answer. He stated that he was in a hurry to get to a female friend’s house for oral sex. While at the station he regaled the officers with the tale of their past rendezvous and stated that “it was the best one he had ever had in his life.” While leaving the station Barkley, one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players,  promised to have the officer who could get him out of trouble’s name tattooed on his rear.

10. Bulls hire Vinny Del Negro

Mike D’Antoni was the Bulls first choice, but much to a lot of people’s dismay, a deal never got done and he ended up with the Knicks. Then it appeared Doug Collins would return to coach the Bulls 20 years after he was fired. When Collins suddenly backed out, John Paxson made the surprising hire of Del Negro, who had no coaching experience and spent the previous year as an assistant to Phoenix Suns general manager Steve Kerr.

9. Emergence of guys like Floyd, Danks, Alexei, Dempster, and Soto 

Each of these guys played a major role in helping both Chicago baseball teams make the playoffs in the same season for the first time since 1906. Soto won NL Rookie of the Year, while Alexei finished second in the AL.

8. Bears draft Matt Forte 

In a great year for rookie running backs in the NFL, Forte has arguably been the most complete back, rushing for almost 1200 yards, leading the team with sixty receptions and leading all rookies with a combined 12 touchdowns.

7. Carlos Zambrano’s no-hitter

Zambrano, pitching for the first time in two weeks after returning from a sore rotator cuff, came one walk short of a perfect game.

6. Chicago announced as one of four finalists for 2016 Summer Olympics

The final decision will come in October of 2009. Tokyo and Madrid remain the two favorites however.

5. Charlie Weis’ struggles

After back to back poor seasons, Weis was seriously on the hot seat, with about a 50/50 chance on returning to coach Notre Dame next fall.

4. Blackhawks rise to prominence

Currently, the Blackhawks are #1 in the NHL in home attendance (ticket sales are up 300%), and people in Chicago are getting excited about hockey for the first time in a long while.

3. The Sox push to the playoffs

Needing to beat the Indians, Tigers, and then Twins in a one-game playoff, the Sox did just that.

2. Bulls win the lottery and take Derrick Rose 

Despite finishing with only the league’s ninth worst record, the Bulls finally had something to smile about after a miserable 2007-2008 season. With only a 1.7 percent chance to win the lottery, the ping-pong balls somehow bounced the Bulls way. While some people called for Michael Beasley, drafting Rose was really a no-brainer. Not even Paxson could have messed this one up.

1. Cubs win 97 games but get swept out of playoffs

For the second straight year, the Cubs were swept in the NLDS, this time by a Dodgers team that was under .500 for a good portion of the year.

It was possibly for this reason that the NBA superstar was finally able to will his team to victory after two straight losses on their current road trip. Los Angeles lost its games to two inferior teams, the Heat on Friday and the Magic on Saturday. The Lakers are favored to repeat their Western Conference championship from last season and are generally considered one of the top two teams in the league. However, they have not played well as of late and needed their best player to step up.

Fresh off his MVP award from last season, Kobe Bryant took a step back this season. Early on, his team was able to win without him haveing to dominate or play more than 30 minutes a game. Recently, though, the team has gone as Kobe goes. It took 36 points from him on Monday night to beat the lowly Memphis Grizzlies. The Lakers trailed 93-88 with 3 minutes remaining and relied on ten points from Bryant to take the lead and seal the victory.

It had always seemed that Vanessa Bryant wore the pants in their relationship, but Kobe’s infidelity and subsequent rape trial proved that he was not as subservient as some thought. However, all that trouble put him into that position. It is widely known that Vanessa does not tolerate losing by her husband and will hold back on certain wifely duties when it occurs. Now, Kobe is a great competitor, but a beautiful woman can will a man to do things when nothing else is working.

The former MTV deejay might be exactly why Anthony will be staying home for the Nuggets next two games. The NBA superstar has played sub-par basketball recently, and seems to be distracted. Anthony has averaged over 20 points and 7 rebounds per game this season, but is averaging a mere 13 and 3 over his last two games.

The Denver Nuggets have been one of the hottest teams in the league so far this season. They were given an unexpected boost with the trade of Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups. While Billups has played great for Denver, the team goes as Anthony goes. Fellow 2003 draft pick Lebron James, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, embarrassed the Nuggets and Anthony on Friday night. Shaq and the Phoenix Suns did the same the next night in a game where Carmelo shot 3 for 13.

Officially, the reason for Carmelo missing the next two games, at least, is a sore elbow. It is obvious that there is something amiss, but two games seems like too short a time to recover from any injury. Perhaps Carmelo needs to clear his head and get away from the game for a bit. He will not be with the team during either of the two games he is scheduled to miss, raising some eyebrows. It is probably a good strategy, because if he cannot forget about basketball with Lala waiting for him at home, there is no hope for him.

A couple of weeks ago the New York Knicks told Stephon Marbury to go home and not come back, to practices or games, as they decided what to do with him. He is currently earning his $21 million salary and has yet to play in a game this season. At the start of the year coach Mike D’Antoni let Marbury know he did not fit into the team’s plan and that he would not see the court. However, a couple of injuries and delayed trades later and the Knicks were in need of his services. The same coach who told him he was not wanted attempted to put Marbury in the game. He refused, sending the organization into furious frenzy, and getting himself the boot.

Just last week, Marbury met with team president Donnie Walsh to discuss buyout options on his contract. Walsh figured that Marbury’s desire to play NBA ball sooner than later, and potential large contract with another team, would make for an easy deal. Marbury knew he was not worth anything close to $21 million anymore and would make more money as the Knicks’ castoff. He walked out of the meeting after 20 minutes, at which time he was told to stay away from the team for good.

Coincidentally, or not, Marbury happened to be in L.A. at the same time as the Knicks. He put some of that $21 million to good use and bought some court-side seats.  Instead of sulking on the bench, watching anything but the game, he was court-side, getting paid to root against his own team.  After the game, the Knicks’ players were forced to keep hearing his name as they were all asked about his presence at the game. The fact that they almost beat the best team in the league was barely mentioned. Starbury continues to steal their thunder, and their money, without even suiting up.

OJ Mayo, shooting guard for the Memphis Grizzlies, may be the best rookie this year and in position to win the rookie of the year award.

Mayo was originally drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves, but a draft day trade sent him to the Memphis Grizzlies.  Interesting as Mayo is originally from West Virginia, so he’s in familiar territory.  Mayo has excited the fans at the Fed-Ex Forum and brought enthusiasm to the NBA product in Memphis.  OJ Mayo brings the camera with him, as several photos of his athleticism have been taken quite early in the season.

The NBA has a lot of talented young players.  It is the world’s premiere basketball league, so it should have the best, but among the youngest, the new group moving in, one must consider OJ Mayo among the best of the rookies.