It's probably not a coincidence that the NFL team that gives the most chances to troublemaking players is also more than happy to take part in quasi-controversial HBO reality series Hard Knocks. The Cincinnati Bengals signed on to be featured on this summer's edition of the show, which often reveals at least a few locker-room warts on an annual basis. 

But it's the second time in half a decade Cincinnati has volunteered to take part. The Dallas Cowboys are the only other NFL team that has participated in the process more than once. Does one of the league's least popular teams just want to make headlines or do the Bengals think there's something more to be gained here?

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Serena Williams made some insensitive comments about the Steubenville rape case, which she is now claiming was a misquote.

Most of the article was your typical athlete profile with some vapid quotes thrown in, such as:

"Can you believe I've never been asked to host Saturday Night Live?" she says. "And I'm funny. Ask my friends."

But it was her quotes about the Steubenville rape case that caused immediate controversy with many latching onto her saying, "I'm not blaming the girl, but" and sharing her opinion on the situation.  Here's the quote from Rolling Stone:

After several blowouts, Game 6 of this year's NBA Finals finally delivered a classic.  And not just any classic, many who follow the NBA were calling this game one of the best in NBA history.  The Heat defeated the Spurs in overtime to force a Game 7 thanks to in no particular order: LeBron James ditching his headband and finding super powers, Mike Miller's missing shoe, the refs, Ray Allen, Chris Bosh's defense, Gregg Popovich sitting Tim Duncan, missed Spurs FTs, the release of bad karma from front-running Heat fans leaving early.

With what could best be described as middling ratings for Game 1-5, the epic Game 6 saw ratings go way up and scored a 14.7 overnight rating, the second best Game 6 for ABC.  Here's more from ESPN...

Three and a half years ago, the UFC sold a 10% share of their company to the Abu Dhabi-based Flash Entertainment. It was the first sale of UFC equity since Zuffa bought the company nearly a decade earlier. But could another sale of a much larger piece of the company be on the horizon? It might not be as far-fetched as you think.

Wishing injury upon an opposing player?  Probably not one of those areas you want to venture into as a broadcaster, even if you're joking.  That's what one Braves announcer (who we believe to be Joe Simpson) did with Mets phenom Matt Harvey at the dish on Tuesday.  Harvey pitched 6 no hit innings and the Mets won 4-3, but it's kinda depressing when the TV crew has to resort to "hoping the opposing pitcher gets a strained oblique" as keys to the game.

In the announcer's defense, at least he didn't wish a particularly painful injury upon Harvey like a torn rotator cuff or sepsis or something.

You might be getting sick of seeing this same story repeated almost every week, but NBC Sports Network is once again celebrating their NHL coverage. Specifically, Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals was the most-watched game in network history (3.964 million). Just a couple of days later, Game 3 raised the bar even higher with 4.001 million viewers. 

Game 3's enormous numbers are the second-highest in network history, trailing only the U.S. Women's gold medal soccer game (4.350 million viewers) during the 2012 Olympics. 

All Times Eastern

College Baseball
College World Series, Omaha, NE
Elimination Game
Indiana vs. Oregon State -- ESPN, 8 p.m.

College World Series Postgame -- ESPNU, 11 p.m.

College Basketball
Inside College Basketball: Draft Special: The Backcourt -- CBS Sports Network, 8 p.m.
Inside College Basketball: Draft Special: Boom, Bust, Blah -- CBS Sports Network, 9 p.m.

College Football
College Football Live -- ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.

The Lone Ranger doesn't release in the theaters for another couple of weeks, but Rich Rodriguez and his coaching staff look ready for a grand premiere if a new video is any indication. Rodriguez and members of his coaching staff dressed up as cowboys that no thief weaker than Buford Tannen would want to cross paths with. Not only did they look the part, but Rich Rod shows off an intimidating look with a scowl and a cigar, and then moments later is seen showing off  a lighter side as he and his cowboy pals yuck it up in the saloon.

The pictures are great...

... but the video is a must see.

This is a real thing that was "debated" on First Take this morning.  Whether or not the San Antonio Spurs... in GAME 6 OF THE NBA FINALS... should rest their best players and concede victory in a game that could win them the NBA title.  This is a thing Skip Bayless advocated San Antonio doing "if they could get away with it."  Whatever that means.

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While News Corp. Chairman and Global Media Titan Rupert Murdoch plans his next move in his impending divorce, he's also thinking about his worldwide empire and how he can create a new sporting event. The Guardian in the UK reports that Murdoch who owns channels in Italy, Germany, the UK, Asia and of course, the US, wants to start a new "Super League" soccer tournament that would involve teams from the English Premier League, Germany's Bundesliga and Spain's La Liga.