Last week, Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford told reporters that someone shouted a racist slur in his direction as he signed autographs before a rehab game with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs. Today, we found out the heckler may have been a cop. More, after the jump.

Former U.S. Olympian Michael Johnson — one of the greatest 200 and 400 meter runners ever, a winner of four Olympic gold medals and eight world championship medals, and the man who wore these famous golden shoes — will be serving as an analyst for BBC in the upcoming London Games. And he’s already got some thoughts on this year’s sprinting events.

They’re interesting thoughts. More, after the jump.

With 2:43 left in last night’s romp of the Pistons, Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau signaled for the Mamba. As in “The White Mamba.” As in rarely-used backup center Brian Scalabrine. And people lost. their. minds.

Later this year, the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan will pit some of the world’s finest club football teams against one another. One of the qualifiers, Brazil’s FC Santos, is trying to drum up fan interest with an ad campaign promoting their participation in the tournament. Their method…well, we’re thinking it’s a mistake.

Will Lyles isn’t an angel – by his own admission, he was wrong in the way he dealt with several high-profile high school football prospects. But is he still getting an unfairly bad rap?

Throughout the NBA Finals, Dirk Nowitzki was a clear sentimental favorite, sometimes for ugly reasons. Fortunately, Dirk himself is above that kind of thinking.

Skip Bayless and Chris Broussard discussed race in the NBA, as they are wont to do. Today, their talk centered on the lack of a great white American player.

Stephen A. Smith was on First Take again today with Skip Bayless. Was it loud and occasionally unwatchable? Of course…but not always.

We’ll admit it – we thought the Donovan McNabb-Bernard Hopkins controversy was over. Then Rush Limbaugh entered the fray…and he’s on McNabb’s side.

Donovan McNabb decided to remain silent in the face of boxer Bernard Hopkins’ bizarre criticism, but yesterday McNabb’s agent took up his client’s cause.