Twins present Mariano Rivera with unique chair made of broken bats as farewell gift

You might say calling this gift from the Minnesota Twins to Mariano Rivera a Chair of Broken Dreams is based on past experiences against the pitcher.

Before Tuesday game at Target Field, the Twins gave the legendary New York Yankees closer a custom-made rocking-chair composed entirely of broken bats — a clever homage to Rivera’s famous cutter pitch, which has broken more than its fair share of lumber.

Rivera seemed delighted by the practical gift, as he should, even though Mo still looks far more ready to roll from the mound than to rock on the porch.

Several clubs have reached out to Rivera in this, his final season, and Rivera has been more than happy to participate in these little events, most famously delivering pizza to an Oakland A’s employee earlier this spring.

This has to be the most creative idea so far.

#MNTwins honoring the career of retiring closer Mariano Rivera by presenting him with a “Chair of Broken Dreams.” pic.twitter.com/XqQG7iIpxi
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 2, 2013

UGA kicker Marshall Morgan charged with boating under the influence

Not to be outdone by a rival SEC University of Florida punter who was arrested over the weekend for DUI on a scooter, a Georgia placekicker got his own DUI for being behind the wheel while impaired — make that BUI for driving a boat under the influence.

The Georgia Bulldogs have already lost multiple starters for the season due to injuries and now could be without its starting placekicker for part of the season. According to a report from The Eatonton Messenger, UGA's sophomore starting placekicker Marshall Morgan was arrested on Saturday and charged with boating under the influence after admitting to drinking while boating on Lake Sinclair in central Georgia.

While Georgia has not yet announced any disciplinary action for the kicker, Dawgs247 writer Gentry Estes points out that UGA has a standard policy towards DUI arrests.

Morgan appeared in all 14 games for the Bulldogs last year as a true freshman, converting on 8 of 14 field goal attempts and 63 of 67 extra points.

UGA athletics' policy mandates 2-game suspension for DUI arrests. Not sure about BOATING under influence, but I guess we'll find out.
— Gentry Estes (@GentryEstes247) July 2, 2013

Under new BUI laws, which took effect May 15, boaters under the age of 21 may only register a .02 blood-alcohol content — as opposed to the .08 limit for persons over 21 — to be in violation.

Police said the breath test he performed indicated “the presence of alcohol,” which was substantial enough to make the arrest.

Teenage para-sailers break loose from boat towline, crash into building and power lines

Hundreds of stunned beach goers could only watch in horror as two terrified teenage girls crashed into the 13th floor of a condominium after a para-sailing adventure went out-of-control in Florida on Monday.

Alexis Fairchild and Sidney Good, both 17, were left at the mercy of the wind after the line connecting their tandem para-sail to the boat broke free and they careened into an apartment building, then were thrown onto power lines before landing on top of cars in a parking lot.

The young women, who were on vacation from Huntington, Indiana, were heard to scream out loud before they hit the high-rise balcony during the freak accident. Both were rushed to Bay Medical Center where they are currently in a critical condition.

According to reports, the women appeared to have sustained serious injuries after their impact caved in the roof and front windshield of an SUV in the parking lot. 

The impact of the girls into the 13th floor, also caused a balcony to buckle when the girls hit it. 

Tebow tried to break up Hernandez bar fight when they were college teammates

Long before Aaron Hernandez was arrested and charged with murder, his then-Florida Gator teammate, Tim Tebow, attempted to stop the New England Patriots' former tight end from getting into a bar fight in 2007, the Orlando Sentinel reported, according to Gainesville (FLA) police records.

The police report states that Hernandez, then a 17-year-old freshman, punched a bouncer in the head — breaking his ear drum — on April 28, 2007. When Hernandez could not be located by a police officer, who was looking for a statement, around 1 a.m., Tebow was interviewed about the incident.

According to the report, Hernandez was served two "alcoholic drinks" at The Swamp, which he refused to pay for, at which point, Hernandez claimed bouncer Michael Taphorn began yelling at him. When Taphorn turned away, Hernandez punched him in the side of the head.

The report stated the following:

A waitress at The Swamp bar allegedly brought Hernandez two "alcoholic drinks," which he consumed but refused to pay for. That's when Hernandez got into a fight with a bouncer at the bar.

Hernandez told police [bouncer Michael] Taphorn got in his face and began yelling at him. As Taphorn turned to walk away, Hernandez punched him in the side of the head.

Taphorn declined medical treatment but the next day doctors discovered his right ear drum had burst and the injury would take four to six weeks to heal.

When the officer could not find Hernandez immediately following the incident, he interviewed Tebow and Shaun Young.

“Tebow stated that he witnessed the dispute,” the officer wrote. “… Tebow stated that he went over to try to help resolve the conflict.”

Tebow went on to say he urged Hernandez to leave peacefully and tried to make arrangements to pay the bill. 

Two hours later, another officer found Hernandez and spoke with him about the incident. Tebow was present during the interview.

Hernandez said that he and Tebow had already informed then-Florida coach Urban Meyer about the fight.

Though the officer wrote that Hernandez did not appear to be drunk, and was "very polite and professional," Gainesville police recommended Hernandez be charged with a felony. It is unclear how the case was resolved because Hernandez's juvenile records are sealed.

A day later, the investigating officer told Hernandez’s attorney, Huntley Johnson, he would not be pursuing charges in connection with alcohol served to minors at the restaurant, but he wrote, “it would be noted in the report so the coaches could handle it internally.”

Tebow developed a close bond with Hernandez early in his career with the Gators, hosting Hernandez during his official visit before signing to play for the Gators.

Hernandez is currently in solitary confinement in a Massachusetts jail on murder charges.

Ex-MTV VJ says Michael Jordan tried to take her virginity through game of dice

If you can remember when MTV only sucked half of the time— in the days when they actually played music videos— you might remember the one-named video jockey known as Kennedy.

The former MTV VJ is claiming in her new book that Michael Jordan once tried to win her virginity —  when she wasn't introducing videos by TLC, Coolio and Boyz II Men— by playing a sexually-charged game of dice back in the early hip-hop days when "This Is How We Do It" topped the charts.

The 40-year-old media personality recalls in “The Kennedy Chronicles” (via TMZ) that in 1995 she was having dinner with the NBA legend and Russell Simmons at the Bowery Bar in New York City when Jordan allegedly suggested a game of dice.

Kennedy (real name Lisa Kennedy Montgomery) claims that Jordan then decided it was “time to play for something,” adding, “If I win, you come back to my hotel room with me tonight.”

According to TMZ, that's when Kennedy says she freaked out because she was a virgin — and imagined MJ wasn't rolling a Little Joe and would "eviscerate me from the inside out" ... so she asked if they could play for Knicks tickets instead. 

And that's when Jordan allegedly reminded Kennedy he had a wife — and offered her Nets tickets as a consolation. 

"Sure, he'll fillet my vag like a sea bass if he won at dice on a men's room floor," Kennedy writes ... "but as soon as I want basketball tickets he's a Promise Keeper? Whatevs."

Kennedy says she won the dice game anyway -- so her body parts were never in any real danger. 

TMZ reached out to MJ about the MTV VJ's claim and ... so far, no word back from the NBA MVP. 

Victor Cruz will sign long-term deal with Giants: Report

Is that salsa music coming from MetLife Stadium?  You bet it is.

Popular New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will reportedly sign a long-term deal before the start of training camp on July 26, according to league sources.

And it couldn't be too soon for the Big Blue offense.

Terms of the deal have been agreed upon by both sides and only the final details remain to be worked out, reports ESPN.  No obstacles are expected to squash the deal.

Monday night, Cruz tweeted: "Good things come to those who wait."

Last month, Cruz signed his one-year, $2.879 million free-agent tender which got the ball rolling.

Negotiations between the two sides have been friendly and a long-deal contract had been expected to be agreed upon before training camp. 

The 26-year-old Cruz is said to be seeking a deal worth between $9 million and $11 million per season, the market rate for a No. 1 wide receiver. This offseason, Mike Wallace signed a five-year, $60 million deal with Miami that includes $27 million guaranteed.

The Giants reportedly offered Cruz a contract paying him roughly $8 million per season with between $15 million to $18 million guaranteed.

Cruz, an undrafted free agent out of UMass, has had a meteoric rise to stardom in his own backyard. In the past two seasons, the New Jersey native has caught 168 passes for 2,628 yards and 19 touchdowns.

He’s the only player in club history to have at least 80 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in a season and he's done it twice.

Good things come to those who wait.
— Victor Cruz (@TeamVic) July 2, 2013

Cruz burst onto the NFL scene when he caught three touchdowns in a 2010 preseason game against the Jets. But he was injured early in the regular season and was placed on injured reserve that season. 

He made his first Pro Bowl last season.

Mets, Diamondbacks honor 19 fallen firefighters at Citi Field

During Monday night's Diamondbacks-Mets game at Citi Field, the two clubs had a jersey hanging in their respective dugouts with the name of Yarnell and the number 19 on the back. This was to honor the 19 members of the Yarnell, Ariz. fire department who died while fighting a wildfire Sunday night.

The jerseys were shown on the stadium's video board during a moment of silence Monday night before the game.

Additionally, the Diamondbacks -- who play about 80 miles from Yarnell -- will wear a patch on their uniforms to honor the firefighters the rest of this season. They are also wearing black bands on the right arm of their jerseys during the four-game series against the Mets and will be in black at home this weekend against the Rockies. Those black jerseys will also have a 19 over the heart area.

"Our hearts are aching for the fallen firefighters and the entire community turned upside down by this unfair act of weather and nature,'' Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall said in a statement. "It is devastatingly amazing how quickly our lives can change in a matter of moments.''

The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation will match all donations made to dbacks.com up to $100,000. Donations of $19 or more will be entered for the opportunity to win a signed jersey with "Yarnell'' and the No. 19 on the back.