MLB
– According to the NY Post, the Jays have crossed the Yankees off the list of candidates for RHP Roy Halladay, as their prospect pool isn’t deep enough. To acquire the six-time All-Star and 2003 Cy Young Award winner, the Yankees would have to send a major league-ready arm like RHP Phil Hughes or RHP Joba Chamberlain to the Jays along with once-untouchable talents Austin Jackson and Austin Romine. A source told the Post that Toronto will eventually trade its ace pitcher for prospects. The Halladay sweepstakes also include the Red Sox, Brewers, Cardinals and Phillies, but the defending World Series champion Phillies are considered the favourites because of their wealth of young talent.
The White Sox are currently preparing an offer for Jays RHP Roy Halladay which is rumoured to include LHP Gavin Floyd. Stay tuned.
– Reds OF Jay Bruce left Saturday’s game in the first inning after fracturing his right (non-throwing) wrist.
Bruce made a diving play and saw his hand bent back. He will return to Cincinnati for tests on his wrist, and it is not known how much time he will miss. It was Bruce’s first time in the lineup in three days after being benched for being hitless in his last 14 at-bats. He was batting .207 on the year with a team-high 18 home runs and 41 RBI. The Reds were already shopping for an outfielder, so it looks like their search will continue.
– The A’s have traded 3B Jack Hannahan to the Mariners for RHP Justin Souza.
– The Cubs have officially placed C Geovany Soto (oblique) on the 15-day DL. Although he was placed on the disabled list retroactive to July 7, manager Lou Pinella said that he could miss up to a month. C Koyie Hill will continue to be the Cubs’ primary catcher with Jake Fox backing him up. Keep in mind that Fox has only caught two games this season — both in the minors. They’ll likely look for another backup during the break.
– The Marlins are shopping for some prospects.
– The Mets have signed INF Angel Berroa.
– The Dodgers are currently scouting Jays 3B Scott Rolen.
NBA
– According to the Miami Herald, Heat G Dwyane Wade is not expected to sign a contract extension this summer. ”I just want to look into all of my options. You only get so many years to be at the top of your game…I want us to do all we can to give ourselves a chance to go and win [another championship].” Wade has two more seasons on his contract, but has the option to opt out in the summer of 2010, a route he’s likely to take. If he does, the Heat will be able to offer him a six-year/$120M contract — one year and about $30M more than any other team.
– The Cavs are interested in Raptors G/F Joey Graham.
– Lakers assistant GM Ronnie Lester said on Saturday that the Lakers offering F Lamar Odom “a little north of $8M” per season, and he expects a deal early next week. Odom’s camp is looking for $10M but will probably settle for a bit less given the inhospitable free agent market. It’s still puzzling why the Blazers, who were in the market for a play-making small forward, haven’t made a serious push for Odom.
– Pacers beat writer Mike Wells would be “shocked” if Indiana matches Toronto’s four-year/$20M offer sheet for guard G Jarrett Jack. “They (the Pacers) have no intention of going over the league’s $69.9M luxury tax next season,” Wells writes. They still have G T.J. Ford, G Travis Diener and rookie G A.J. Price, but none of those guys can match Jack’s toughness and versatility.
– Warriors president Robert Rowell refuted a report that majority owner Chris Cohan was looking to the sell the team. The Contra Costa Times reported this week that Cohan negotiated with Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison but could not reach an agreement. Sources said Cohan is looking to “cash out” because of his reported money problems, including a tax evasion claim against him by the IRS.
UFC
– Brock Lesnar knocked out Frank Mir in the second round of their fight at UFC 100 on Saturday night. The majority of the first round was spent on the ground with Lesnar ontop of Mir pummeling him with blows to the face and body. The second round was much of the same. The crowd started chanting “Stand them up” due to inactivity on the ground, but seconds later Brock started hitting Mir in the face with right hands that sent Mir’s head bouncing between Brock’s fist and the cage. The referee stopped the fight and the crowd heavily booed Lesnar, who then flipped off the crowd.
After the fight when Mir finally got up, Lesnar talked some trash to him and they had to be separated. In the post-fight interview, Lesnar cut a heel promo and was booed heavily. He said he loves the boos, and that Mir had a horseshoe up his a** but he took it out and beat him with it. He said was going to go spend time with his friends and family, and said “I might even get on top of my wife tonight.” He was then shown walking to the back with his wife Rena “Sable” Lesnar who recently gave birth to their baby boy.
– An interesting blog from Canadian reporter Neil Springer at Canoe.ca recounts an incident at the UFC 100 press conference where Brock Lesnar’s desire for privacy clashed with Dana White’s desire for press leading into tonight’s big pay-per-view. The report reads:
“Brock Lesnar’s annoyance with the media spotlight continued at today’s UFC 100 press conference.
While saying his bit at the beginning, he informed everyone he’d be leaving once he was done speaking and wouldn’t take any questions from the press. As Lesnar attempted to split, UFC president Dana White pulled him aside and spoke directly into his ear. Only they know what was said, but Lesnar immediately sat his ass back down and answered all the media’s questions.”
This isn’t the first time Brock has tried to escape the media. During the filming of the UFC 100 Countdown show (which airs on Spike TV again this afternoon or on UFC.com at this link) Brock storms out of an interview and punches a hallway wall so hard that the next door over falls off it’s hinges. Brock has stated in numerous interviews that he doesn’t own a computer and rarely watches TV, while a recent article in his hometown newspaper claimed that he turned down multiple Hollywood offers and most people in his hometown leave him alone when out in public.
– Brock Lesnar was already been guaranteed $400K before performance at UFC 100 last night, regardless of whether he won or not, and we all know by now he did. Frank Mir, Lesnar’s opponent, was guaranteed $45K, with a win increasing that to $90K.
Georges St. Pierre was guaranteed $200K, with a win increasing that to $400K. His opponent, Thiago Alves, was guaranteed $60K, with a win doubling that to $120K. GSP won so he took home $400K.
Michael Bisping was guaranteed $150K, with a $100K bonus if he won. Henderson was guaranteed $100K, with a $150K bonus if he won. Henderson won their fight so he brings home the $250K.
WWE
– It has been confirmed that Seth Green, comedic star of both film and television, will appear as the Special Guest Host this Monday night on RAW.
Seth Green is the co-creator & producer of the hit stop-motion TV series Robot Chicken, which airs as part of Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim block. Green has played the role of Scotty in all three Austin Powers films, fought in Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The TV Series, and voices Chris Griffin in the hit cartoon series Family Guy.
– Rey Mysterio has a new tattoo which translates to “do not let me fall on the canvas.” He got the ink following the death of Mitsuharu Misawa, who died in the ring last month in Tokyo.
NHL
– Columbus GM Scott Howson is searching the NHL’s trade market for an offensive defenseman.“For us to be a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, we have to improve our defense. We have to spend less time in our own zone and more time with the puck. We like our six defensemen. We have six guys right now who we could easily start the season with today. But, other than Kris Russell, the other five are a similar style of player.” The Jackets owned the worst power play in the league last season, so acquiring a blueliner to quarterback their number one unit is a definite need.
BOXING
– Former champion Arturo Gatti was found dead in his Brazilian hotel room. He was 37. Brazilian authorities say they have detained his wife as a suspect following his death at a posh seaside tourist resort in Brazil. Police say 23-year-old Amanda Rodrigues was taken into custody Sunday after contradictions in her interrogation.