Sports

Yunel Escobar has issued an apology for one of the stranger scandals we've seen recently in the world of sports.

The Toronto Blue Jays shortstop donned eye black for his team's game against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday, scribbling Spanish words across the outside that translate roughly to "faggot."

The ball player was suspended three games for the action.

"I feel bad," he told the media this afternoon in response to the incident. "I’m leaving my team for something I didn’t intend to do. I have nothing against the gay community and honestly I’m sorry... It was just a joke and it wasn’t directed to anyone in particular...

"It's just something that's been said around amongst Latinos. It's not something that's meant to be offensive. For us, it didn't have the significance to the way it's being interpreted right now. It's a word used often within teams. ... I agree with the suspension and don't have any problem with it."

Escobar, who is hitting only .251 this season, will forfeit about $92,000 as a result of the suspension. A portion of those funds will go to GLAAD.

Steve Sabol, who co-founded NFL Films decades ago and changed the way we watch the game, passed away this morning after battling brain cancer.

He was 69.

Steve reportedly suffered a seizure in March 2011. He had been receiving treatment ever since for a tumor in his brain that doctors could not remove.

Sabol co-founded NFL Films in 1962. Its dramatic montages, music and candid player soundbites from the field fueled the league's immense popularity.

NFL Films produced several iconic shows in addition to its feature-length movies, including Hard Knocks, NFL Films Presents and Football Follies.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement on Sabol's deat:

"Steve’s passion for football was matched by incredible talent and energy .. Steve’s legacy will be part of the NFL forever. He was a major contributor to the success of the NFL, a man who changed the way we look at football and sports, and a great friend.”

Atlanta Falcons star Michael Turner celebrated his team's thrashing of the Denver Broncos last night on Monday Night Football by getting arrested for DUI.

Turner got popped early this morning, just a few hours after helping his team beat Peyton Manning's Broncos by rushing for 42 yards and a touchdown.

Here's Turner's addition to our celebrity mugshots gallery:

He was pulled over for speeding (97 in a 65) at 4:06 a.m. Officers detected the presence of alcohol and arrested Turner for driving under the influence.

Turner refused to submit to a breathalyzer test. The running back was hauled to Gwinnett County Jail, but was released two hours later on $2,179 bond.

No other details on Turner's DUI arrest were immediately available.

Shaun White might dominate in the air of winter, but the snow boarder extraordinaire got himself in some trouble early Sunday morning on the grounds of a Nashville hotel.

Here's what allegedly went down:

The Nashville Metro Police Department says cops were called to the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel around 2 a.m. because a clearly drunk White evacuated the facility by pulling the fire alarm. He also reportedly smashed a phone.

When another guest tried to stop The X Games champion from fleeing the scene via taxi, White kicked that individual and sprinted away on foot. Or tried to, at least.

The victim jumped to his feet and tackled White, who slammed his head against a fence.

White - who authorities confirm reeked of alcohol - was taken to a nearby hospital and booked for vandalism and public intoxication. Fortunately for him, the citizen declined to press assault charges.

Seth MacFarlane impersonated Ryan Lochte on Saturday Night Live's “Weekend Update” segment two nights ago, giving Seth Myers a preview of fall TV shows.

The Family Guy and Ted movie creator just eviscerated the Olympic champion, portraying Lochte as a dumb jock with lines such as “I was America in Olympics.”

"Ryan" referred to Matthew Perry's new show Go On as "Goon" (he didn't realize it was two words) and kept calling Animal Practice “Monkey Hospital.” #JEAH!

The kicker? At one point he randomly says, "It feels so weird to be dry."

Watch Seth's brutal parody of the Olympic swimming champ here:

Seth MacFarlane as Ryan Lochte

Jamie Kuntz says a kiss from his much-older boyfriend at his first game led the freshman linebacker to be released from his college football team.

North Dakota State College of Sciences in Wahpeton acknowledges Kuntz was disciplined by the team, but says it wasn't because he is homosexual.

Football coach Chuck Parsons denies kicking the gay football player off the team because he's gay, but says it was for lying to him about the kiss.

In any case, Kuntz, 18, and on a partial football scholarship, left the college in southeast North Dakota this month after his dismissal from the team.

"Football didn't work out, so there was no reason to stay," said Kuntz.

Kuntz said that he and his 65-year-old boyfriend were in the press box at the game against Snow College in Pueblo, Colo., over Labor Day weekend.

Sidelined by a minor concussion, he was videotaping the game for the team. His Wildcats were down by 40+ points when "the kiss just happened."

The team would eventually lose 63-17.

"People around here aren't exposed to it," Kuntz said of the fact that he is a gay man. "People expect gays to be flamboyant, not football players."

A teammate apparently saw the kiss and told coaches, Kuntz said, and Parsons confronted him; Kuntz told him the man was his grandfather.

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We already knew that Justin Bieber was a baller. The singer was named MVP of the 2011 Celebrity All-Star Game.

But at least one minor league hockey team admires the artist for his moves on the ice as well: the Bakersfield Condors have offered Bieber a contract!

Says Matt O'Dette on the squad's website, regarding why his team has been afflicted with Bieber Fever:

"Very rarely do you see this combination of skill and toughness. We share a common Canadian heritage since we both hail from Ontario. I've scouted some video of him online skating with my hometown team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and I think he could provide some elusive speed up front for us. Plus, he's a right-handed shot which we've been looking to add. I think if we paired him on a line with (Robby) Dee and (Peter) Boyd we'd be tough to beat."

The site adds that Justin "possesses soft hands, a good skating stride, and a devastating wrist shot capable of beating NHL caliber goaltenders. He appears to be strong in shootouts as well."

You've been warned, Martin Brodeur!

An emotional Andy Roddick cried Wednesday as he said goodbye to his fans following his final match, a loss to Juan Martin del Potro at the 2012 U.S. Open.

"Wow. For the first time in my career, I'm not sure what to say," the teary-eyed, always candid 30-year-old former World No. 1 said. "Where do I start?"

"Since I was a kid, I've been coming to this tournament. I felt lucky just to sit where all of you are sitting today, to watch this game and to see the champions who have come and gone and I've loved every minute of it."

Andy Roddick Farewell Speech

"It has been a road with a lot of ups, a lot of downs and a lot of great moments. I've appreciated your support along the way," he continued.

"I know I certainly haven't made it easy for you at times, but I really do appreciate it and love you guys with all my heart."

"Last, I just want to say thank you to my family, my mom and my dad, who are up here, who gave me every chance in the world. Thank you."

"And my support team, who's been there with me forever. One thing I'm not scared of about retirement is the people that I go home to. They're great and I appreciate it."

Roddick announced last week that he would retire from tennis after the U.S. Open, ending a career that saw him win 32 championships over a decade.

He won only one Grand Slam - the 2003 U.S. Open - due largely to the emergence of all-time greats Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Don't feel too bad for him though.

Brooklyn Decker pics. 'Nuff said.

Note to MMA fighters (and everyone about to throw down in any situation): Only taunt your adversary if you're ready for the kick to the face you might provoke.

While Shai Lindsey certainly livened up his MMA bout with Carlo Juinio in the Tuff 'n' Uff amateur arena Sunday, he proved that showboating is a double-edged sword.

After raising his arms in a "Come at me, bro," gesture of sorts, Juinio did as he requested, LEVELING Lindsey with an abrupt kick to the face, ending the match.

Fortunately, he suffered only a massive hemorrhage to his ego.

Shai Lindsey-Carlo Juinio MMA Showboating Fail

Olympic team and individual gymnastics gold medalist Gabby Douglas announced today that she will be coming out with an "inspirational memoir," People reports.

The book, My Life as a Flying Squirrel, is due out in December.

Just kidding. The book will actually be titled Grace, Gold and Glory, My Leap of Faith, and will chronicle the 16-year-old's early life and rise to stardom.

Douglas' back story - leaving her family in Virginia at age 12 to train 3,000 miles away - and her journey to Olympic glory are nothing if not remarkable.

Upon the announcement, Douglas said, "Even before I competed in the Olympics, I always wanted to write a book." The forthcoming memoir, she adds:

"Will also be about how much my family and I have overcome during our journey. It hasn't been easy. [I hope people will] think anything is possible."

HarperCollins Sr. VP Lisa Sharkey said, "Gabby Douglas shines even more brightly than her Olympic Gold Meals. The reason is her inner strength and strong faith."