Sports Thread #1 For 7/27/10 (1st Version): Jack Tatum Has Passed At 61

One of the legends of the game, especially at the safety position, has passed away just now at age 61:

Jack Tatum, one of the most feared tacklers in NFL history, died Tuesday, his alma mater, Ohio State University, announced. He was 61.

"We have lost one of our greatest Buckeyes," Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel said in a statement. "When you think of Ohio State defense, the first name that comes to mind is Jack Tatum. His loss touches every era of Ohio State players and fans."

Tatum was a two-time All-American at Ohio State, where he began his career as a running back before moving to safety. The Oakland Raiders selected Tatum in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft and he spent nine seasons with the team. He finished his NFL career with the Houston Oilers in 1980.

Tatum made three Pro Bowls during his 10-year career. He is a member of the Ohio State and college football halls of fame.

TWD Condolences are in store for this Raiders legends, as certainly their fan base will reminiscence on how much of a feared enforcer he was.

Tough news for fans of one of the best centers in the sport (and nicest guys as well):

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming is considering quitting basketball after next season if he doesn't fully recover from his lingering foot injury.

In comments to Chinese state media Monday, Yao sounded far from optimistic about his future and also made a rare criticism of China's national basketball program.

"If the foot injury does not heal next season, I might choose to call it quits," he said.

The battle for Iiya Kovalchuck contract continues:

The National Hockey League Players' Association filed a grievance on behalf of Ilya Kovalchuk on Monday in hopes of getting his League-rejected 17-year contract restored by an independent arbitrator.

The PA had until 5 p.m. ET Monday to file the grievance.

"The NHLPA has filed a grievance disputing the NHL's rejection of the Standard Player Contract between the New Jersey Devils and Ilya Kovalchuk," NHLPA spokesperson Jonathan Weatherdon wrote in a statement released just before 1:30 p.m. ET. "Under the terms of the CBA, the NHLPA and Mr. Kovalchuk are entitled to an expedited resolution of this matter. The NHLPA will have no further comment until this matter has been resolved by an Arbitrator."

They can't even agree on damn sports :

The once-routine resolutions honoring hometown squads or stars sailed through Congress for years with nary a discordant note or vote — but no more.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is steamed that a resolution he introduced on June 30 praising the University of South Carolina baseball team for winning the 2010 College World Series is stuck in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"It's a sad day when the Senate can no longer even come together for this purpose," Graham told McClatchy. "Is it any wonder why the public has such a dim view of the way Congress is operating?"

Despite a great return to the ATP World Tour, the Atlanta Tennis Championship may not return not year, because of....golf ?

Oakes told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that a potential schedule conflict with golf's PGA Tour may stop the event from being held there next season. "We’re trying to figure it out," he said. "We want to bring the tournament back and we begin working towards 2011 on Monday."

The tournament had an overall attedance of 40,000, including two sellout sessions

Yeah, those folks did not plan that out very well at all. They should have know how to dealt with

And a lovely tribute to longtime NY sportswriter Vic Zeigel, who passed away this week.