AP - The Seattle Mariners flailed at balls high and low, watched called third strikes and checked their swings too late against CC Sabathia. When they had the bases loaded and none out against David Robertson in the eighth, they swung and missed some more. Mariano Rivera had the same effect: a big zero.

AP - It is King Felix's turn to try to put a stop to the Mariners' record-setting losing streak.

AFP - Japan's football chief has demanded a detailed explanation from football's world governing body FIFA on its decision to ban Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohamed bin Hammam for corruption.

From now until the start of the 2012 Olympics, Great Britain's favorite parlor game will be guessing who will light the torch next July 27 in London. Recent Olympic torch lightings have ranged from the simple (Muhammad Ali) to the spectacular (a harness-wearing Li Ning running around the top of Beijing's Olympic Stadium) and it's a good bet London will try to up the ante with a unique lighting of its own.

A look at some of the candidates to light the Olympic cauldron:

David Beckham — The soccer star represented London at the 2005 bid meeting in Singapore and participated in the handover at the Closing Ceremony of Beijing. He's still harboring hopes of playing on the nation's Olympic soccer team as one of the three overage players on the under-23 squad. If he's successful, it would be the first Olympics for the 37-year-old and would make him a fine choice to be the final torch bearer. If he doesn't make the team, selecting him to light the cauldron would be a nod toward celebrity rather than Olympic heroism.

Sebastian Coe — If he wasn't the chairman of the London Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, Coe would be a natural choice to light the flame. Since he's the one ultimately in charge of selecting the final torch bearer, it's hard to imagine he'd bestow the honor on himself.

Kelly Holmes — When she stepped onto the track in Athens, Holmes had never won a major international championship. At 34, it appeared her career may be defined by near misses, runner-up finishes and injuries. Then she won two gold medals in Athens in the 800m and 1500m and, in turn, became one of the nation's great Olympic champions. If any Brit personifies the Olympic spirit, it's Holmes.

Chris Hoy — The Scottish cyclist is one of the nation's most successful Olympians in history. His three gold medals in Beijing were the most in 100 years for a Brit in a single Olympics.

Steve Redgrave — He's been called the nation's greatest Olympian. A five-time gold medalist in rowing (in five consecutive Olympics), Redgrave is one of Great Britain's top sporting stars and has already been installed as the oddmakers' favorite to light the cauldron. Can't you already picture Sir Steve on his canoe rowing out with a torch to a cauldron perched in the middle of the Thames?

Paula Radcliffe — Olympic success is the only thing that eluded the marathon star during her decorated career. Radcliffe won world championships, European championships and some of the biggest marathon races in the world, but never put it together at the Summer Games. Heavily favored in Beijing, Radcliffe finished 23rd after stopping mid-race to deal with cramping.

Daley Thompson — Born just 10 miles away from Olympic Stadium in London's Notting Hill, Thompson won two decathlon golds in the 1980s and was the long-time world record holder in the event. His reputation for abrasiveness -- one critic called him "objectionable, charmless and rude" -- could work against him. Or it could serve as the basis for a stirring turnaround of retribution.

Another name to consider:

Roger Banister — At 82, Banister is almost certainly too old to be the final torch bearer. Organizers will want youth and vitality to begin the Games. But why not use Banister, one of history's greatest sportsman, in some capacity? Though he never won Olympic gold, finishing fourth in Helsinki in 1952, his feat of breaking the four-minute mile is one of the grandest achievements in sports.

Prediction: Redgrave's status as the prohibitive favorite to light the torch may work against him. It's almost too easy a choice. Though Sir Steve will doubtlessly be involved in the Opening Ceremony in some capacity, look for Kelly Holmes to become the fifth woman to light the cauldron at a Summer Games.

On the night before London is set to celebrate the one-year-out mark for the 2012 Summer Games, the Olympic movement has lost one of its own. Jeret "Speedy" Peterson reportedly took his own life and was found dead Monday night in a remote canyon in Utah.

Before the 29-year-old shot himself, police said he called 911. The way he took his life is eerily similar to a moment he described to Yahoo! Sports columnist Jeff Passan:

Speedy Peterson sat in the parking lot at a gun range in Park City, Utah, in 2007 with knives, pills, booze, a garden hose and duct tape. He was determined to kill himself using some sort of combination of them. He called his girlfriend to say goodbye.

"I was never scared at all," he said. "I was totally OK killing myself. And that's when it really scares you. It makes you feel crazy. All I really wanted to do was stop hurting."

Pain was an ongoing problem in Peterson's life. He lost a sister in a drunk-driving accident and was sexually abused as a child. During the 2006 Olympics in Turin, he got into a drunken brawl with a friend and was sent home by the United States Olympic Committee.

That led Peterson into the drunken, pill-addicted spiral that ended in his contemplation of suicide. A police officer stopped him before he did it, and he was able to get his life back together and return to aerial skiing. A more grounded Peterson won silver with a jump called the "Hurricane," an astonishing mixture of flips and turns.

On Friday, Peterson was arrested for speeding and drunk driving. Three days later, he took his own life. He is being remembered for not only his Olympic achievements but for being a kind soul and a good friend.

Believe it or not, the first significant shoe to drop in the NFL's condensed, chaotic "offseason" was not Kevin Kolb. According Jason La Canfora of NFL Network, the Redskins have agreed to ship Donovan McNabb to Minnesota, pending the six-time Pro Bowler conceding to a restructured contract.

Signs of McNabb's eventual dismissal from the nation's capital have been well-documented for several weeks. Mike Shanahan has openly expressed his desire to give John Beck or Rex Grossman an opportunity at the starting gig, inevitably passing off the Chunky Soup connoisseur to another employer. Hey, what Lucifer wants, Lucifer gets.

If McNabb submits to the contract demands, which would be a smart move, he will undoubtedly start over rookie Christian Ponder for the QB-needy Vikings. Obviously, bringing in a quality veteran who, despite his advanced age and coming off his worst fantasy season since his inaugural effort in 1999, still has a couple of solid years left in the tank and can bolster a Norsemen squad shrouded in vertical uncertainty. UFA Sidney Rice remains a fixture on several teams' radar, including the likes of Chicago, New England and Seattle. However, scoring a bona fide "name" passer could prevent the wideout from putting his Minneapolis home on the market.

Most importantly, owners concerned about Adrian Peterson's rather tepid situation can now breathe a sigh of relief. Though McNabb will have to quickly absorb an unfamiliar Falcons-like system — a run-oriented attack that emphasizes high-percentage pass plays, especially underneath to the tight end (Score Visante Shiancoe!) — under new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, McNabb's invaluable experience and general competence should alleviate worries over stacked boxes the Purple Jesus was bound to face with Ponder behind center. If the reliable workhorse wasn't a top-three lock before, he certainly is now.

As for McNabb, his deteriorating skill set and presumed role within a generally conservative offense labels him an upside QB2 only. At best, he's a fringe starter in 14-team leagues, though his odds of reaching peak potential would improve dramatically if Rice is retained. At worst, he's a stream-worthy play in very deep leagues. For now, assuming his top target stays put and he actually reconfigures his contract, 3,500 passing yards with 20-23 TDs seems attainable. Recall he's just a year removed from a top-10 QB effort with the Eagles (20.8 ppg in '09).

Meanwhile in the land of political bickering, terribly mediocre passers John Beck and, if re-signed, Rex Grossman will likely duke it out for Week 1 snaps, assuming another veteran isn't brought in (e.g. Kyle Orton). With Chris Cooley and Santana Moss already in tow — the crafty UFA agreed to terms on a three-year deal Tuesday after a sneaky good PPR effort last year (93-1115-6) — and possibly with Santonio Holmes or "Banana Hands" Braylon Edwards expected to join the roster soon, the 'Skins won't be short on aerial weapons. Still, it's yet to be seen whether Beck or Grossman, who finished 2011 strong (280 ypg, 7:4 TD:INT from Weeks 15-17), can hit the Jolly Green Giant in the chest with regularity. If the winner of the starting gig proves at least Ryan Fitzpatrick-useful, Moss' value may not fall off the continental shelf. Remember, the slippery target snagged 22 passes for 231 yards and two scores in three games with Grossman at the helm late last year. He's a quality WR3 whose current ADP (93.1) is sure to tumble into the triple-digits.

(UPDATE: Pro Football Talk cites a close source, McNabb-to-Minnesota talks are a bit "premature." Obviously, the situation remains fluid. Far from a done deal. Given the Benjamins involved, hesitant feelings are not surprising. Stay tuned.)

(UPDATE #2: Specifics about the potential swap are starting to bubble up to the surface. Jay Glazer reports the 'Skins will receive a sixth-round pick in 2012 and conditional sixth-rounder in 2013. Of course, this is all contingent on McNabb revamping his contract. All in all, it's a small price to pay for an established QB with a long track-record.)

Speak up, gamers. What's your reaction to the potential McNabb-to-Minny deal? Who will command the Redskins offense? Could Grossman actually not suck? Are you petrified of Moss now that he's staying in Washington? Discuss.

Bring the noise on Twitter. Follow Brad @YahooNoise. And harass him in person, along with esteemed Yahoo! colleagues Brandon Funston and Andy Behrens, throughout August in a city near you. Visit FantasyFootballSymposium.com for more info.

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Images courtesy of US Presswire

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At this point, seemingly half the NBA is on Twitter. It's a wild world of training updates, questions as to which movies they should go see, and explanations of their Call of Duty prowess. Every so often, though, you also get a picture into the more interesting aspects of NBA life. This feature is your window into that world.

Jared Dudley: Put my Benz in the shop today before I drive to Vegas this weekend. They swap me with a Ford Focus!!! Lol. I don't care but it made me laugh

Baron Davis: Already got a A in my class so I don't have to take the final!! #lookatmenowimgettingstr8As

Martell Webster: In the studio. I'm getting the hang of being pretty good as a producer

Tyrus Thomas: People should support the WNBA more! Especially us professional athletes!! NBA specifically!!!

Hassan Whiteside: I'm a olive garden junky

You can also follow Eric Freeman on Twitter at @freemaneric.