If you hadn’t noticed, we haven’t been around much lately and for that, we apologize for not bringing you all the latest and greatest from the wacky world of sports.
Life has gotten in the way of being able to do so on a regular basis and, unfortunately, it will be much the same for the foreseeable future.
If we were betting folks, we’d bet money that we won’t be around much for the next ten days as we’ll be enjoying a nice vacation on the beautiful shores of an island in the Pacific. We aim to be back — with some regularity — by the end of the first full week of March.
So as the great Jack Buck usually signed off, we’ll sign off the same: “For this time, till next time…g’night.”
According to a broadcast report on an Indiana television station, Indiana Hoosiers coach Kelvin Sampson will not coach another basketball game at the university.
WHTR of Indianapolis reported that Dan Dakich, an assistant under Sampson, will take over the program on an interim basis for the remainder of the season.
The NCAA has accused Sampson and some members of his staff of five major recruiting violations over improper telephone calls to high school players. The school is reviewing the allegations and will likely either reach a financial settlement with Sampson or suspend the coach pending termination under the teams of his contract.
Pence injured in sliding door tumble (MLB.com) Houston’s young star Hunter Pence has trouble with sliding glass door, cuts hand and knees. Something tells us the story will change a bit here.
Tejada won’t discuss Mitchell Report (AP/SI.com) Expect answers similar to Chico Escuela when asked about his involvement in the Mitchell Report.
Report: Giants, Coughlin close to deal (The Sports Network) The Super Bowl champion New York Giants and their head coach Tom Coughlin are closing in on a pact that would keep the bench boss in the Meadowlands till 2011.
Noel Devine in some hot water (The Dominion Post) Morgantown Police investigating incident that involves WVU star running back Noel Devine (i-Five to TheBigLead for the tip).
The NHL is no stranger is pranks(YouTube) On Monday, we brought you the Kyle Kendrick prank. Today, some NHL veterans have some fun with a rookie’s car keys.
Don Baizley, the agent for injured NHL star Peter Forsberg, tells TSN of Canada that the former All-Star will likely not play in the NHL this season despite receiving numerous offers.
“The prospect of Peter having enough confidence in the foot-skate issue to commit to being able to play in the NHL this season isn’t where it needs to be at this moment,” Baizley told TSN. “As a result, teams are being told it is unlikely he will be able to commit to return to the NHL this season.”
TSN.ca’s Bob McKenzie also reports that should Forsberg’s foot continue to improve, he may try to aim for a 2008-2009 return instead.
Before Monday’s news, Forsberg had rejected the Ducks, Stars, Red Wings, Predators, Flames, Penguins and Sharks, which left the Flyers, Avalanche, Senators, Canucks, Blackhawks and Wild in the running for his services, according to numerous reports.
It appears that the Jason Kidd deal that would send him to the Dallas Mavericks is going to happen, writes Marc Stein of ESPN.com.
Per Stein:
The Nets and Mavericks are again on the brink of a deal that would send Kidd back to his original team, according to NBA front-office sources. The teams have reached an agreement in principle on the two major changes needed to save a blockbuster swap that appeared to be crumbling as recently as Friday. One source close to the process told ESPN.com that a conference call with the league to review the trade details is tentatively scheduled for Monday.
Rod Thorn, New Jersey Nets president, told the Newark Star-Ledger that Keith Van Horn’s involvement in the transaction may be an issue. Van Horn hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2006 Finals and would have to leave his home in Colorado, take a physical and make himself available to play for New Jersey.
***UPDATED at 12:39 AM ET***
According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the deal is “likely done”after Kidd was excused from the club’s first post-All Star Game practice on Monday.
Ranking the best GMs in the game (SI.com) Jon Heyman of SI.com has the usual suspects atop the list. Great nugget: The poster boy of “Moneyball” is retiring. Jeremy Brown, the pudgy OBP machine, is hanging ‘em up at age 28.
News and notes while dropping in for a spell and enjoying the five-game Red Wings losing streak….
Posada supports Clemens (Daily News) Even though he didn’t watch the Congressional hearings this week, Yankees catcher Jorge Posada still believes that Roger Clemens didn’t take PEDs. Good to see he’s making an informed opinion, nevermind that his comments don’t show much love for current teammate Andy Pettitte.
LoDuca apologizes for ‘mistakes in judgment’ (AP/SI.com) More PEDs: Washington Nationals catcher Paul LoDuca apologized for being mentioned in the Mitchell Report in a released statement by the ballclub. Thankfully, he didn’t say he “misremembered” taking the stuff.
Zednik released from hospital (AP) The Florida Panthers defenseman who was inadvertently slashed by a falling teammates’ skate was released from a Buffalo, New York-area hospital. Zednik’s season is over.
Zach Thomas not ready to hang ‘em up (Florida Today/USATODAY.com) The recently-released Pro Bowl linebacker Zach Thomas tells a South Florida radio station that he’s not ready to retire from the NFL.
Indiana investigation a sham (IndyStar.com) Indianapolis Star columnist Bob Kravitz writes what everyone is thinking: the Indiana University investigation in the major NCAA violations by hoops coach Kelvin Sampson is nothing more than a sham.
…and finally…
$100M spy suit says Pats, coach cheated St. Louis (Boston Herald) So let’s get this straight: taping a walk-through is going to tilt a Super Bowl in a team’s favor? This guy should sue then-Rams coach Mike Martz for not using running back Marshall Faulk.
(Note: We hope to be back on a regular basis for most of next week. We definitely won’t be around from February 23 through March 4-ish. We apologize for being away, but life gets in the way sometimes.)
John Decker of HoosierNation.com reports that Indiana University president Michael McRobbie will address the media at 3 PM ET Friday to address the ongoing situation with basketball coach Kelvin Sampson. It is expected that the school will likely suspend Sampson for the remainder of the season rather than terminate him at this time.
The NCAA is alleging that Sampson and his staff violated organization rules and provided “false or misleading information” to investigators.
The allegations stem from a phone-call scandal that occurred while Sampson was still under recruiting restrictions following a similar episode at Oklahoma.
ESPN: The Magazine’s Chris Broussard reports that the much ballyhooed deal that would send All-Star Jason Kidd to the Dallas Mavericks may hit another pothole on its way to possible completion: Jerry Stackhouse’s mouth.
Sources tell Broussard that Stackhouse’s post-trade comments regarding a return to Dallas just 30 days after the trade’s completion isn’t sitting well with the NBA.
“I get 30 days to rest, then I’ll be right back,” Stackhouse told The Associated Press on Wednesday in response to the proposed trade. “I ain’t going nowhere.”
To follow, Stackhouse assumes that the New Jersey Nets would buy out his contract. Should they do so, under NBA rules, a player who has his deal bought out must wait at least 30 days before signing with another club. The part that doesn’t sit well with the league is that it shows that Stackhouse has talked to Mavericks owner Mark Cuban about a return to the club, which could end up having him removed from the deal.
According to a report by ESPN.com hoop insider Marc Stein, the Jason Kidd deal to the Dallas Mavericks is back in play.
Sources tell Stein that the New Jersey Nets and Mavericks have agreed in principle on a deal that has the Mavs sending 24-year-old point guard Devin Harris, veteran swingman Jerry Stackhouse, the expiring contracts of center DeSagana Diop and swingman Devean George and guard Maurice Ager to New Jersey for Kidd and forward Malik Allen.
***UPDATED at 10:32 PM ET***
It looks like there’s a snag in this proposed deal: Devean George has exercised his right to block his involvement in the deal, writes ESPN.com’s Stein. George utilized his “Early Bird rights,” a clause earned by being in his second year and on his second contract with the Mavericks, made the move possible.
In Tuesday’s editions of the New York Daily Newsday, Rep. Tom Davis of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform states that Andy Pettitte’s testimony in a closed session last week seemed to coincide with Roger Clemens’ accuser, Brian McNamee.
Davis told ESPN.com’s T.J. Quinn that he was misquoted and misunderstood in his comments to the paper.
According to the paper, much of Pettitte’s testimony corroborated that of McNamee.
Newsday, citing confidential sources, reported that during a workout in 2002, Pettitte asked McNamee: “How come you don’t give me the stuff you give Roger?” McNamee reportedly replied “Because it’s illegal.”
Davis told the daily that “The Rocket” doesn’t attack Pettitte any his testimony.
Pettitte has been excused from Wednesday’s hearings and according to ESPN’s Quinn, is a “bad witness” and got the information they needed for the hearings.
Questions good enough to launch a rocket (FOXSports.com) Ken Rosenthal writes for FOXSports.com that it’s now gametime as Congressional hearings are set to go Wednesday for Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee.
Vikes’ Udeze has leukemia (KSTP.com) The Minnesota Vikings are extending their “thoughts and prayers” to defensive end Kenechi Udeze after a television station reported Monday that he has a form of leukemia.
Mayock doesn’t see McFadden in top-20 (Pancake Blocks) NFL Network draft expect Mike Mayock released his top-10 overall picks Monday and Arkansas’ Darren McFadden didn’t make the cut — or a spot in the top-20 (i-five to TheFanHouse for the story). Malarchuk remembers the blood (Calgary Herald) The former NHL goalie who had his jugular vein sliced 19-years ago speaks out on the similar injury suffered by Florida Panthers defenseman Richard Zednik on Sunday.
…and finally…
Chris Berman video fun (YouTube/The Big Lead) We missed out on the Chris Berman video frenzy in the last week or so, but The Big Lead found one Tuesday that we have to share.
The much-rumored deal that sends prospects to Baltimore for ace lefthanded starter Erik Bedard to Seattle has finally been completed.
Bedard spoke to SI.com’s Ben Reiter about the trade, his new home and how leaving Baltimore is “bittersweet.”
“I love the city, other than it raining a little too much,” he said. “I can’t wait to see what it’s all about. If I could have picked where I’d be traded, [Seattle] would have been one of my top choices.”
Daniel Snyder’s wait to interview New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo didn’t pay off as Spagnuolo will stay with the Super Bowl champions.
After meeting with Redskins brass over a span of two days, the Giants DC decided it was best to stick around and re-up with the G-Men, reportedly accepting a deal that may pay him roughly $2 million a season.
Over the past week, we’ve been wiped out by a rather nasty cold that has rendered us useless. In other words, we had no inclination whatsoever in sitting in front of a computer while hacking up a lung and feeling quite miserable.
We hope to be back to normal real soon and apologize for this place not being regularly updated.
Kevin Everett: Standing tall (AP/Y! Sports) Five months after accident, the Buffalo Bills tight end is walking, standing tall.
Giants GM Reese hits jackpot in first draft (USA Today) In his first year on the job, New York Giants GM Jerry Reese has done a solid job in the NFL Draft, writes Tom Weir of USATODAY.com.
Irish hire Tenuta as assistant coach (AP/SI.com) Jon Tenuta, who guided the Georgia Tech defense to a 20th-ranked finish in ‘07, has been hired as assistant head coach for defense. He’ll assist DC Corwin Brown.
Agent meets with committee lawyers (AP/MLB.com) An employee of the sports agency that represents Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte spoke Thursday to the congressional committee investigating drugs in baseball.
ESPN bloopers(YouTube) The YouTubes had the Chris Berman clip of him going batshit crazy over a production error. Today, we bring you other ESPN bloopers.
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