Report: Jamaican police say Woolmer was stangled (Reuters)

Jamaican authorities have confirmed that former Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer was strangled in his hotel room and will subsequently launch a murder investigation.

Woolmer was found unconscious in his hotel room Sunday, just hours after his Pakistan cricket club was upset by the Republic of Ireland in the World Cup of Cricket on the Caribbean island.

Manny Ramirez grill removed from eBay (AP/SI.com)

The much-hyped JennAir barbecue grill put up for auction on eBay by Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez has been removed from the auction website, the Associated Press reports.

The reason? The bid price jumped to $99,999,999.99.

According to Jim Thomas, St. Louis Rams beat writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, running back Marshall Faulk will announce his retirement from the NFL next Monday.

Details soon…

***UPDATED at 3:21 pm CDT***

The link to the Jim Thomas piece has now been posted.

Kentucky coach Tubby Smith headed to Minnesota(ESPN.com)

Kentucky basketball coach Tubby Smith is leaving the school and will take over as the head coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Andy Katz of ESPN.com reports.

Minnesota is expected to pay Smith $1.8 million per year.

***EDIT*** – We incorrectly stated that he was jumping to the NBA, not the University of Minnesota.  We regret the error.

Sources: Papelbon to return to closers role (ESPN.com News Services)

The Boston Red Sox, apparently more desperate than we were led to believe, have apparently returned pitcher Jonathan Papelbon to the bullpen. According to ESPN’s Erin Andrews, multiple team sources have confirmed this news.

News and notes on this lite afternoon…

QB Schaub, Texans agree to deal (Houston Chronicle) Schaub signed a six-year contract worth $48 million, including $7 million guaranteed. He will make $20 million over the first three years.

The offseason chronicles of Mike Vick: Schaub gets traded (KSK) Another great read. Don’t spit on your keyboard.

PSU women’s coach resigns after 27 years (AP/ESPN) Rene Portland’s tenure was filled with allegations, lawsuits.

Morneau extension put on hold (Minneapolis Star-Tribune) Morneau will be eligible for arbitration before the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons before being eligible to file for free agency.

Fellow referee Walkom defends McGeough (HockeyBuzz.com) We love the accountability the league has for its horrid officiating. And if you read closely, you can hear Strickland’s pom-poms rustling.

Eli Manning getting hitched (SI.com) We wonder if Wayne Palmer of ‘24′ will be there, too.

Chiefs cut vets Turley, Knight (AP/SI.com)

The Kansas City Chiefs have released veteran safety Sammy Knight and offensive lineman Kyle Turley. The team made the moves in an effort to get younger.

Braves, McCann agree to six-year deal (AP/Yahoo! Sports)

The Atlanta Braves have signed catcher Brian McCann to a six-year deal on Thursday. The contract details haven’t been released, but the deal extends to 2013 (option year).

***UPDATED at 11:33 am CDT***

Brian McCann signed a six year, $27.8 million contract extension. The deal, despite running through 2012, buys out only one year of free agency. There is also a $12 million club option on 2013.

St. Louis Cardinals manager cited for DUI (KMOX.om)

Manager Tony LaRussa, who skippered the 83-win Cardinals to the 2006 World Series championship, was arrested and cited for a DUI late Wednesday night. The bench boss blew a .093 after allegedly falling asleep at a stoplight.

No word yet if Marvin Lewis put in a call for his services.

***UPDATED at 2:12 PM CDT***

The website TheSmokingGun.com has the detailed police report available.

***UPDATED at 10:09 am CDT***

Cardinals beat writers Joe Strauss and Derrick Goold give an updated look at the situation involving Tony La Russa.

The club issued a statement that’s included in the article:

The St. Louis Cardinals and Major League Baseball have been made aware of the announcement made by the Jupiter, Fla., Police Department regarding manager Tony La Russa and we take these matters very seriously.

“The Cardinals organization remains supportive of Tony and we understand that he has enlisted representation to advise him through any pending legal process.

“The Cardinals apologize for any embarrassment and/or distraction this reported occurrence has created towards the team and its loyal fans.”

***UPDATED at 9:31 am CDT***

Here is the press release from the Jupiter Police Department:

St. Louis Cardinals Manager Arrested for D.U.I

At approximately 12:00 AM on Thursday, March 22, 2007, undercover officers saw a dark blue Ford SUV stopped partially in the intersection of Frederick Small Boulevard and Military Trail. The vehicle sat through two cycles of the green light and a driver behind the SUV was forced to go around the stopped vehicle.

Officers approached the running vehicle and saw a white male, later identified as Anthony LaRussa, slumped over in the driver’s seat. The SUV was in drive, engine running. Mr. LaRussa had his foot on the brake. He was breathing but did not respond to repeated knocking on the window. A patrol officer responded to the scene. After repeated knocks on the window, Mr. LaRussa woke up. He was directed to put the vehicle in park and he complied. Officer O’Keefe noticed an odor of an unknown alcoholic beverage coming from Mr. LaRussa. He was asked to step from the vehicle and Standardized Field Sobriety Tasks were conducted. Officer O’Keefe developed probable cause to arrest Mr. LaRussa for suspicion of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, a misdemeanor. Mr. LaRussa was arrested and transported to the Palm Beach County Jail, where he provided two breath samples. The samples provided measured a .093 BAC. He was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail. Mr. LaRussa was cooperative throughout this investigation.

Bundchen denies being pregnant with Brady’s child (Boston HeraldThe Big Lead)

Super model Gisele Bundchen is denying that she’s pregnant with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s child.   The model told a Spanish TV station that “I’m not pregnant and I’m not planning to be pregnant anytime soon. I have so many contracts to do, so many projects.”

So there!

On Thursday, we posted an article on the Philadelphia Flyers’ Todd Fedoruk getting JACKED UP!  At the time, there wasn’t a video available.

But through the wonderful medium of the Internets (and time), the video is available from YouTube.

[youtube 3iCbCt3wwhM]

Thanks to ‘Gup’ for tipping us off.

News and notes while rolling out of bed and rejoicing the fact that you got the NIT Final Four right…

Larry ‘Bud’ Melman of “Late Night with David Letterman fame dies (CNN) One of our favorites while growing up with the old NBC show.

Clemson, Air Force complete NIT’s Final Four (AP/USA Today Sports) NIT! NIT! NIT! (to the tune of ‘The Knights of St. Ni!)

Cashman: Yankees won’t extend A-Rod (AP/USA Today Sports) Quite the sexually suggestive headline, no?

Flyers’ Todd Fedoruk got JACKED UP! (AP/Yahoo! Sports) Oh yeah — the Rangers stay in the playoff hunt, which is what the NHL is hoping you’re focusing on.

Royals name Gordon third baseman (MLB.com) Worse kept secret exposed as the future of the Royals arrives. Let’s hope he’s not the next Clint Hurdle.

Notes: Padres’ Brocail gets his nails done (MLB.com) Pitcher gets fitted with acrylic nail.

Bucks lose Villanueva, Bogut for season (ESPN.com News Services) Milwaukee pair will miss last 15 games.

MLB officials further elaborate at inDemand’s failed attempt to match DirecTV offer (BizofBaseball.com) MLB demands up front fee for ‘Extra Innings’, 80% guarantee of new Baseball Channel in subscriber homes.

XM/Sirius to offer new pricing schemes after merger (Engadget) As we suggested from the outset, á la carte packages that will include premium and basic are on tap.

Rosenthal: Nationals want equal return for closer Cordero (FOX Sports) The baseball insider with all the latest news and notes.

Green’s contract delays trade to Dolphins (Palm Beach Post)

According to a published report in The Palm Beach Post, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins are working on a deal that would send quarterback Trent Green to Miami. Miami is said to be offering the draft pick they received in an earlier deal that sent Wes Welker to New England (a seventh rounder).

The hold-up? Green’s contract.

The Dolphins would like Green to take a paycut over the next three years (he’s due to make roughly $24.1 million) and instead agree to the veteran’s minimum of $820,000 in 2007.