NHL
– The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Flyers’ G Brian Boucher (knees) will be out a few weeks. Boucher injured both knees in Monday night’s Game 5 win over the Bruins. G Michael Leighton, who made 14 saves in Boucher’s absence, will take over between the pipes. The Flyers need to win both remaining games to advance.
– The Lightning, currently looking for a new CEO and GM, had Leafs’ VP of Hockey Operation, Dave Nonis, on their list of potential candidates. According to TSN, however, the Leafs will be giving Nonis an extension that will keep him in Toronto through the 2011-12 season.
NBA
– The Star-Telegram reports that the Mavericks and F Dirk Nowitzki are talking about an extension. The 31-year-old played in 81 games this past season, averaging 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 25 points per game. Owner Mark Cuban also noted that the team will pick up the team option for backup G J.J. Barea for next year.
– According to ESPN, TNT analyst Kevin McHale has exprtessed interest in coaching the Bulls next season. The two sides have yet to speak. “You go in there and talk to [Bulls general manager] Gar [Forman]. I know Gar and John Paxson real well. And hopefully if it’s the right fit, it’s the right fit. That’s what you’re looking for and that’s what they’re looking for. They’re looking for the right fit.”
– The Sixers interviewed Wolves’ assistant Bill Laimbeer and former Raptors coach Sam Mitchell for its head coaching position this weekend, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. And GM Ed Stefanski will be in Arizona today to interview Suns’ assistant coach Dan Majerle for the job today.
– It’s been expected that the Hornets will be sold to minority owner Gary Chouest, but Yahoo! Sports’ Marc Spears tweeted last night that NBA Commissioner David Stern said “it’s not a given at all” that Chouest will complete purchase of Hornets and that the process “taking a long time.”
The New Orleans Times Picayune reports that Chouest, who supposedly agreed on the sale with current owner George Shinn last week, is still expected to become the team’s majority owner. Choest has been part of the team that also includes team prez Hugh Weber and GM Jeff Bower, that has been on the marathon interview session for a new Hornets head coach. Today, the three will be in New Orleans to interview Blazers’ assistant Monty Williams.
MLB
– Jon Heyman of SI.com hears that the Mariners “aren’t about to release” veteran OF Ken Griffey Jr. Not too surprising, given his iconic status in Seattle. If the M’s do truly feel that Griffey is hurting their team, retirement and a nice send-off would seem more appropriate. The 40-year-old is batting .208/.265/.234 this season.
– LHP Eric Bedard will throw a 30-pitch simulated game Tuesday in Baltimore. It will be the first of two or three simulated games for Bedard, who is trying to come back from 2009 shoulder surgery. He’ll need to build up to at least 85 pitches before his return, and he will have one or two injury rehabilitation starts at a minimum, so his return to the rotation may not happen until early June.
– In a change of plans, Dodgers’ SS Rafael Furcal (hamstring) will serve a two-game rehab assignment with Single-A Inland Empire this week instead of Triple-A Albuquerque. Manager Joe Torre said, “There was a bad weather report in Colorado Springs, where Albuquerque plays, so he’ll go to San Bernardino and play Tuesday and Wednesday and then go to San Diego [for the Dodgers' series there beginning Friday night]. If everything goes without incident, he’ll play Friday.” Furcal has been sidelined since April 27 due to a strained left hamstring.
– The Padres have placed RHP Kevin Correia on the bereavement list. Correia has been away from the team since Sunday due to the tragic death of his younger brother and might not return until later in the week.
WWE
– According to Figure Four Weekly, regarding Vickie as GM, the decision was made on Thursday to do it for one week only, but WWE liked how much heel heat she got and are considering putting her back in that position on Raw full time. Rumour is that WWE is getting tired of the guest host gimmick and is hoping to stick with one GM in the roll. About time.
– John Cena announced on Monday’s Raw that the stipulation for his match with Batista at Over The Edge on 5/23 will be an I Quit Match. Batista is expected to leave WWE after the PPV to pursue a career in acting.
– The Miz announced on Raw that he’ll defend his United States championship against WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart on next week’s commercial-free Raw from Toronto. Miz lost a match to Tyson Kidd where if Kidd won, Miz would have to defend his US title against a member of the Hart Dynasty next week. Bret Hart has stated publicly that Monday’s RAW from Toronto will be his final WWE appearance for the foreseeable future.
– WWE’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel Jared Bartie has been suspended from the company after a female WWE emplee accused him of sexual harassment, according to writer Irv Muchnick.
The incident that led to Barie’s suspension took place over WrestleMania 26 weekend. Muchnick’s source says that Bartie had been drinking during the WrestleMania festivities in Phoenix and inappropriately hit on a female executive in WWE’s sales department.
Musnick reports that the same woman who accused Bartie of sexual harassment was fired from WWE a few weeks later after being seen performing a sex act on another WWE employee on company property during business hours. WWE representatives did not respond to Irv Muschnick’s email request for a comment on the story, but you can be sure we’ll be following it here on the site.
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