Ryan Leaf, Mel Hall Win Free Government Lodging for Various Terms.

U.S. Customs Agents apprehended Ryan Leaf at the Canadian border last night as he attempted to re-enter the U.S.. Leaf is charged with burglary to a habitation, seven counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and one count of delivery of a simulated controlled substance. The indictment against Leaf was returned in May, meaning the quarterback was on the lam for nearly a month. Scouts were impressed by his surprising elusiveness out of the pocket here.

Former Yankees outfielder had occupied a special place in my memory as one of the worst-fielding outfielders of his generation, most memorably diving face first into the metal scoreboard in left field in Fenway. As bad as that may be, his new legacy is far nastier: convicted felon and sex offender.

From an article summarizing the 45 year sentence handed down to Hall for sexually assaulting a 12 year old girl in Tarrant County, Texas:

On Tuesday, jurors had heard from two other women — another basketball teammate of the girl, who said Hall had sex with her when she was 14 (charges are pending in that case) and a woman who said that Hall, in 1989, began a public relationship with her when she was 15. Her prom picture with Hall was featured in a Yankees player yearbook.

My, that's awkward. Hall, 48, will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars in what prosecutors described as a "reign of terror against little girls," though he was only convicted in the single case of sexual assault. At 45 years when you're almost 50, though, that's enough for an effective life sentence.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.