PRESS BOX: SI reports rampant drug use at Oklahoma State
Sports Illustrated reported widespread drug use among Oklahoma State players in its latest installment in a series on the school's football program.
The SI story, published online Thursday, included allegations by former players of teammates smoking marijuana before games, stars avoiding punishment for positive drug tests while others with less talent were kicked off the team or suspended, team members selling drugs, and coaching joking with players about their drug use.
Thirty former Cowboys players told SI that they smoked pot and three admitted to being dealers.
"I was kind of in disbelief that people could do the things that they were doing," former offensive lineman Jonathan Cruz said. "It was tied to how well you could produce. If you could produce on Saturday, things could be overlooked."
MLB
The New York Yankees have to pay a record $29.1 million luxury tax bill after the season, according to USA Today.
The figure is based on the Yankees' $236.2 million payroll. The team is taxed 50 percent on every dollar over the $178 million luxury tax threshold. Next year, the luxury tax threshold increases to $189 million. The Yankees are trying to get under that number to avoid paying the tax in the future and to benefit from revenue sharing.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the only other team projected to pay the luxury tax. Despite having a current $234.5 million payroll, they will only be charged with a $9.9 million bill because first-time offenders are only taxed 17.5 percent for every dollar over the threshold.
NHL
Right winger Daniel Cleary won't bid farewell to the Detroit Red Wings after all, leaving the Philadelphia Flyers at the altar to rejoin the team he has been with for the past eight years.
Cleary, 34, had agreed to a three-year contract with Philadelphia. But he had a change of heart at the last minute and the Red Wings announced he would report to training camp on Thursday, where a one-year, $1.75 million deal awaited.
The Red Wings are over the salary cap and have 25 players under contract. They added Stephen Weiss and Daniel Alfredsson and could only afford Cleary at a cut rate. He made $3 million last season.
