Verlander wins AL Cy Young Award
Detroit Tigers ace pitcher Justin Verlander unanimously won the American League Cy Young Award on Tuesday, finishing ahead of Jared Weaver and James Shields. Verlander won the Triple Crown in pitching this season, posting a 24-5 record with a 2.40 ERA and 250 strikeouts. He also pitched a no-hitter (the second of his career) on May 7 against the Toronto Blue Jays. At one point in the season, Verlander won 12 straight starts, and he helped lead the Tigers to their first AL Central title since 1987. He was so dominant throughout the season, that there were two other instances when he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning, only to have it broken up. Verlander will now have to wait to see if he will win the AL Most Valuable Player award, which will be announced on Monday.
Joe Paterno’s pension set at $554K
According to an Associated Press analysis of Pennsylvania state public pensions, former Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno will receive $554,000 a year as pension. The pension records were obtained yesterday from the State Employees Retirement System. Paterno is credited for over 60 years in the system and say his pay raise from $541,000 to $568,000 over his last three years with the university. State Employees’ Retirement System spokeswoman Pamela Hile told ESPN that said there is a long-service supplement that could allow the former head coach to receive 110% of his final average salary. If Paterno does end up receiving the AP reported amount, he would be receiving the largest pension within the SERS based off of a 2006 report on Pennsylvania state pensions.
NBA cancels games through December 15
The National Basketball Association announced Tuesday that regular season games have been cancelled through December 15. News broke just hours after players filed an antitrust complaint against the NBA in Minnesota. The league’s Player Associate Executive Director Billy Hunter said there will be another complaint filed in California. Plaintiffs including Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Kevin Durant and Ben Gordon argue the lockout “constitutes an illegal group boycott, price-fixing agreement and/or restraint of trade.” The NBA itself has filed a pre-emptive lawsuit in New York seeking to prove the lockout’s legality. Hunter has said publicly that talks between the players and the league have “completely broken down” with the disagreements on price escalating into what looks to be a court case.
