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GRID IRON..it’s fascinating to pick up news from the various camps as teams prepare for their September openers. In Oakland, the Raiders were embarrassed during a scrimmage with the 49ers when JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski both tossed a couple of interceptions and looked completely lost. In Indianapolis Peyton Manning, working with a new left tackle, was sacked three times in one six play sequence while prepping against the Minnesota Vikings. The shambolic Detroit Lions are already sending out feelers to ancient free agent Kevin Carter, surely not a good sign. The Dallas Cowboys have taken Tony Romo right back to basics, teaching the peripatetic scrambler to keep two hands on the ball while looking for a receiver. In Chicago the brain trust is gasping at the realization they don’t have a legitimate starting receiver capable of exploiting the talents of Jay Cutler’s platinum arm. The Jets realize they’ll go ahead and start rookie Mark Sanchez while battening down the hatches in preparation for a very long season. Cleveland knows it’s Brady Quinn time. The Cards are realizing Kurt Warner is tripping the empty side of the gauge. On the bright side of the street? The Pats are simply oozing confidence as favourite son Tom Brady continues to demonstrate no ill effects from last year’s surgery….ICE..Brian Burke has identified three players, according to Sporting News, as cornerstones for Team USA now and in the future; David Backes of the Blues, Dustin Brown of the Kings and Ryan Kesler of the Canucks…Leaf Mike Komisarek is given a great shot of making Team USA. He was impressive in camp, a great sign for hockey fans in Toronto; Komisarek is coming off one of the poorest years of his career…the American Olympic entry will likely go with Tim Thomas in net…Paul Stastny, for those unaware, is also eligible for the American squad. He is another player due for a big bounce back year in 2009-10…on paper, the Canadian and Russian teams look imposing and must be considered heavy favourites for Olympic Gold in Vancouver 2010. Will home ice tilt things the Canadian way?…does Hillary Duff realize that she’s no longer dating a hockey player in Mike Comrie; she’s dating an unemployed hockey player…FOOTIE..Burnely’s 1-0 stunner over Manchester United yesterday rewarded backers with payoffs as high as 8-1. Michael Owen was shaky, missing three golden chances to notch his first goal as a Red Devil…PUG LIFE..heavyweight Ron Lyle was one of the toughest men to ever fight for the title. Despite a game stoppage loss to Muhammad Ali, Lyle is most fondly remembered for his epic slugfest with George Foreman. Well, here’s the news, Lyle was actually involved in an even better fight than his famous rumble with Big George. In September 1975 some savvy promoter put Lyle in the ring with Earnie Shavers and the result is an epic war. Often billed as, “The Greatest Fight You Never Saw”, the match-up has reappeared on You Tube and is essential viewing. Never have I seen Shavers unload power shot after skull crunching power shot without rendering his opponent unconscious. Despite going down in the second round, Lyle maintains his poise and shows tremendous grit to gut his way through the next three rounds. In the sixth Shavers starts to wilt and Lyle takes advantage of the moment to land his own thudding blows. Shaver succumbs amid a torrent of head shots. Brilliant fight. Ironically, in the following years Shavers would fare far better than Lyle. The Acorn would receive two shots at the title, losing a close decision to Ali and due to stoppage against Larry Holmes. Lyle would score only one more meaningful victory, a decision over Joe Bugner, before becoming implicated in the death of a man. Although eventually exonerated, the rose was off the bloom for Lyle and he never cracked the top ten rankings again…HBO has a real dud on Saturday night with Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz against Paulie Malignaggi. Diaz is a huge -700 favourite against the consistently boring east coaster. It’s Diaz by decision in an uneventful yawner…