if they’re for sale, that is…

Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) - Former Arizona Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo would be interested buying the Chicago Cubs if Tribune Co. puts his hometown franchise up for sale.

Colangelo, chairman of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and former controlling owner of both the Suns and Diamondbacks, said Wednesday he has held “preliminary discussion” with unspecified other people who share his interest in buying the Cubs.

He declined to say whether he had spoken to Tribune Co. or the Cubs about his interest, but said: “You can speculate that.”

“If in fact the Cubs become available, and that’s a big if, I’ve stated that I would have great interest,” he told The Associated Press. “I’m just trying to keep my options open at this point, that’s all.”

Colangelo said he had spoken with two different groups of prospective bidders. However, he added, “I have my own interest, not necessarily tied to any particular group.”

Report: Blue Jackets hire Hitchcock as coach
ESPN.com news services

Nine days after firing former coach Gerard Gallant, the Columbus Blue Jackets have reportedly decided on his replacement.

According to a report on TSN of Canada’s Web site, Ken Hitchcock has agreed to a three-year deal to coach the Blue Jackets. The sides reportedly agreed to terms Wednesday. Hitchcock is expected to run the team’s practice Thursday and will make his debut Friday against the Philadelphia Flyers, the team that fired him last month.

The Blue Jackets would not confirm the report but said “likely, yes” when asked if an announcement would come Wednseday.

The Blue Jackets interviewed Hitchcock on Sunday and met with former Los Angeles Kings coach Andy Murray on Tuesday.

“I was impressed with everything,” Hitchcock told the Columbus Dispatch on Tuesday. “From the interview to the facility — everything, every aspect impressed me. That’s the best way to describe it.”

Financial sanity: catch it!

Ken Rosenthal / FOXSports.com

In yet another eye-popping free-agent signing, the Angels have reached agreement with center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. on a five-year, $50 million contract, FOXSports.com has learned.

The 32-year-old Matthews, who still must pass a physical, is coming off a breakout season in which he batted .313 with 19 homers and 79 RBIs and played stellar defense for the Rangers.

He likely will bat leadoff for the Angels and give them increased athleticism in center field, reducing the defensive burden on right fielder Vladimir Guerrero and left fielder Garret Anderson.

For fans of the then-Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers during the 1970s through the middle 1990s, there was a week like no other that each fanbase looked forward to, dismal season or not.

It’s Niners-Rams week.

The 1970s and 1980s brought a tale of two contrasting franchises: in the 1970s, the Rams ran roughshod over the hapless Niners, gunning them down 19 times in 22 games and winning seven division titles (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979); in the 1980s, the Niners returned the favor, going a less than dominant 13-7 in face-to-face meetings and taking eight division titles (1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990; the Rams did break up the streak into two parts with the capturing of the 1985 NFC Western division crown).

The dynamic that once was an inter-California territorial battle became an intercontinental tilt after the Rams picked up and moved to the financial oasis that was St. Louis between the 1994 and 1995 campaigns. At first, it didn’t have an effect on the electricity and luster as the new St. Louis Rams and their fans took to the game immediately, enjoying the verbal (and not-so-verbal) communication between the two teams’ players.

More after the jump »