MLB
– Yankees’ 1B Mark Teixeira (strained right hamstring) was diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain of his right hamstring and will miss the remainder of the playoffs. Had this been the regular season, Big Tex would be sidelined 6-8 weeks. “Every ounce of energy I’ve had is to try to get healthy and try to be able to play. I think my body just said that’s it, that’s enough.” Eduardo Nunez is expected to replace Teixeira on the ALCS roster.
– Comcast Sportsnet New England is reporting that the Jays are down to three remaining candidates, DeMarlo Hale, John Farrell and Sandy Alomar Jr. Hale and Farrell are both currently coaches with the Red Sox, while Alomar Jr. is the first base coach with the Indians. Hale, who is the Red Sox bench coach, has been with the club since 2006. He has a wealth of experience as a manger in the minor league levels with both the Red Sox and Rangers organizations. Farrell, who has been the Red Sox pitching coach for the past four seasons, does not have managerial experience; however he did serve as the Indians director of player development for five seasons before heading to Boston. Alomar Jr. has spent one year with the Indians, and two seasons before that as a catching instructor with the Mets. According to the CSNNE report, all three men have each had three interviews with the club and that the Jays are expected to make their decision by early next week at the latest. According to multiple sources on Tuesday, the team let four candidates, Rob Thomson, Dave Martinez, Luis Rivera and Sal Fasano know that they are no longer in the running for the job vacated by Cito Gaston.
– Dana Brown is the latest candidate to interview with the Mets about their vacant GM position. Brown is a special assistant to Jays’ GM Alex Anthopoulos. The Mets say Brown spent Wednesday at Citi Field meeting with chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon, assistant general manager John Ricco and other club executives. Sandy Alderson, former president of the Oakland Athletics and CEO of the San Diego Padres, will complete his interview with Wilpon and Ricco on Thursday. Alderson first met with team officials last week. The Mets plan to schedule a second round of interviews next week. They are searching for a successor to GM Omar Minaya, fired along with manager Jerry Manuel following a second consecutive losing season.
NBA
– David Aldridge cites a league source who says there are “no legs” to the recent report stating that the Knicks and the Nuggets have been making headway toward a Carmelo Anthony trade involving F Anthony Randolph, F Eddy Curry and a 1st-round pick acquired from a third team. In addition, Nets’ beat writer Al Iannazzone is reporting that the Nets are trying to setup a trade for Nuggets’ F Carmelo Anthony that does not involve any other teams, and that they are making progress. David Aldridge shot down the most recent Melo-to-Knicks rumors that popped up days ago, so if you’re keeping track at home New Jersey is probably the favorite to land Melo in a trade — but really it’s all guesswork at this point. No official confirmation on the Knicks softening their trade stance on F Danillo Gallinari.
– The Spurs have exercised their 4th-year option on G George Hill, keeping him signed through the 2011-2012 season. Hill averaged 12.4 points and 3.6 assists last season.
– Kings’ G Tyreke Evans (plantar fasciitis) admitted that he is suffering from plantar fasciitis on the bottom of his foot. Evans insists that it’s a minor case, and he’s probably right since he logged 40 minutes in a preseason game Tuesday night. The concern is that this injury almost never heals completely without rest and can cost players significant time when it becomes severe. Bulls’ F Joakim Noah missed 18 games due to plantar fasciitis last season. The Kings are surely on top of it. Tons of NBA players play through minor cases of this injury every season.
– Though Lakers’ F Andrew Bynum (knee) has been cleared for some agility and strength exercises, he’s still not doing any jumping or explosive running. Bynum has said he hopes to return by late-November, but until he makes some significant strides in his rehab, it’s unlikely he’ll meet that timetable.
– Suns’ G Josh Childress (fractured right index finger_ will be shut down for a week and then will have his right index finger fracture re-evaluated on the day of the opener. The finger will have to be immobilized for 6 weeks, but the thought is that he can play through the injury. It’s on his shooting hand, however, so it’ll likely affect his game.
NFL
– ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Colts’ TE Dallas Clark (hand/wrist) is “out indefinitely.” Clark is seeking “second and third opinions,” indicating that surgery is a possibility. Schefter hints that Clark could miss the rest of the season, adding that the Colts “are not optimistic.” The team re-signed TE/FB Gijon Robinson on Wednesday, confirming the concern. Stay tuned.
– NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora reports that Colts’ RB Joseph Addai (shoulder) could miss “several weeks.” Addai has injured both of his shoulders over the past two weeks, but it appears to be his left shoulder that may have significant damage. According to La Canfora, the contract-year tailback will go for a second opinion on the joint during Indianapolis’ Week 7 bye.
– Lions’ QB Matthew Stafford (shoulder) revealed Wednesday that his right shoulder injury from Week 1 was an “AC separation.” Stafford didn’t say whether he had surgery, although no reports have indicated that he did. Last year’s No. 1 overall pick confirmed that he expects to play in Week 8. Added coach Jim Schwartz, “The injury he has shouldn’t affect his arm strength. It’s more just being comfortable with (throwing from different angles).” The Lions host the Redskins after their Week 7 bye.
– Vikings’ coach Brad Childress said Wednesday that QB Brett Favre’s elbow has “settled down” recently, and Favre thew in today’s pre-practice walkthrough.
The elbow was inflamed when Favre was struggling a few weeks back, but he looks to be quite a bit healthier for Week 7. Favre’s improvement is timely, as a date with his former team is on tap Sunday night. Favre made only 19 pass attempts in Week 6, so expect that to jump considerably against a depleted Packers’ defence. Favre has a 4:1 TD-to-INT ratio in his last two games.
– Eagles’ coach Andy Reid said WR DeSean Jackson (concussion) hasn’t passed concussion testing and he doesn’t expect him to play this weekend. The Eagles have a bye in Week 8, and it would be a surprise if Jackson does much in practice before the week leading up to Week 9, and even that is optimistic. He’s out indefinitely.
– NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora reports that Dolphins’ 1st-round pick DE Jared Odrick (fractured right fibula) is in danger of missing the rest of the season with a hairline fracture in his right fibula. Odrick, who has a plate in the leg after suffering a similar injury at Penn State, has made no progress since going down in Week 1. Odrick figures to be placed on injured reserve within the next few days.
NHL
– Bruins’ F Marc Savard (concussion) has done some skating the past couple of days as he continues to recover from post-concussion symptoms. He was on the ice for about an hour Tuesday and Wednesday in solo-skates. Although he still has a long road ahead of him, it is encouraging to see he is making some progress on the physical end.
– Canucks’ F Rick Rypien has been suspended indefinitely by the NHL pending a hearing. Rypien grabbed a Minnesota fan over the railing, on his way to the locker room, after being sent off the ice by the officials for engaging in a scuffle with Wild’ F Brad Staubitz.
– Predators’ F Ryan Suter (leg) has been placed on the IR and will miss the next three games. He might be ready to return against St. Louis on October 28. Coach Barry Trotz said he hopes to have the talented blueliner back skating on Monday and Suter maintained that the injury is not serious.
– Red Wings’ F Johan Franzen (concussion) passed his baseline test on Tuesday. GM Ken Holland said that barring a setback the team expects Franzen to play in Thursday’s game against Calgary.
– Sabres’ F Jason Pominville (concussion) did some off-ice exercises on Tuesday. Pominville is expected to miss his fourth straight game on Wednesday. “I feel good, much better than I did the first few days. I was able to work out [Tuesday] for the first time, rode the bike, got the heart rate up a bit, so it feels good right now, and hopefully it will feel good for the rest of the day, too. I’m sure if everything goes well [Tuesday], no headaches, no symptoms at all, I’ll probably increase it [today].”
– The Predators have signed F Steve Begin to a one-year, two way contract worth $550K.
WWE
– The report of Edge retiring contemplating retiring in two years is actually old news, as he said during an interview with the Asheville Citizen-Times in June that his wrestling career was coming to an end. “That’s part of the reason I bought up (a house) here (Carolina). We want to retire and listen to the wind in the trees, and we want to do it fairly soon. I may have two more years. With each injury, it’s harder and harder to come back.”
– According to the Wrestling Observer, WWE officials had discussed releasing Matt Hardy from his contract weeks before it was officially granted last Friday. There were some in WWE who wanted Hardy gone as soon as he requested his walking papers, but the key factor preventing organization officials from letting him go was the belief that it would keep Jeff Hardy in TNA Wrestling longer than his current deal calls for. The argument was that with Linda McMahon nearing the end of her Senate campaign, WWE shouldn’t employ a wrestler doing anything he could to get fired.
Those close to Hardy say he is definitely headed to TNA Wrestling. While those affiliated with the Orlando based organization have not been directly told he is coming in, most everyone broached on the subject expects it to occur. There has already been discussion within TNA Wrestling of programming a Hardys vs. Beer Money, Inc. feud with the hope that it would elevate Robert Roode and James Storm. It is said that both Hardy brothers are very much aware of this possible scenario. Meanwhile, Hardy’s numerous attention seeking videos, such as a recent entry of him eating lunch with an unmasked Rey Mysterio, have not endeared him to the TNA locker room. TNA employees who said they were friends with him in WWE aren’t defending his online behavior.
– WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart was interviewed this week by Brian Fritz of Fanhouse.com to promote the new SVR2011 video game. Hart had some pretty harsh words about TNA Wrestling, saying it’s run by people who don’t know anything about the wrestling business and feature dinosaurs on television that take time away from the company’s real stars. Here are some highlights of what Bret Har said about:
Hogan, Bischoff & Russo Together Again In TNA: “Well, I’ll be honest. After being in WCW and being around them, you start to realize that these guys — Bischoff in particular — never understood or knew anything about wrestling. They just struck me as guys that didn’t understand wrestling. To see them working with another company now, to me, I think you’ll eventually see that they don’t know anything. They didn’t know anything then and they don’t know anything now. They’re not going to make a difference anywhere they go.”
TNA’s Young Talent Getting Smothered By Dinosaurs: “Yeah, competition is always good. I have a lot of respect for the young wrestlers there like AJ Styles and Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe, Abyss, different guys. I know they’ve got a lot of talent there and guys that I consider good friends of mine including RVD (Rob Van Dam). I wish them all the best and I hope the younger stars get a chance to show what they’ve got rather than coming back to the old dinosaurs like Hulk Hogan or Eric Bischoff with the same old certain babble that he’s been doing for 10 years when he’ll babble about nothing. He somehow positions himself to be a star on the show and I think there’s real stars that need to get that light and not him.”
– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog at JRsBarBQ.com. Here are some highlights of what JR said about:
Will Brock Lesnar Be Tested This Weekend? “Damn right Brock Lesnar will be tested Saturday night in Anaheim during the next UFC PPV. Cain Velásquez is fighting for a cause, or so it seems, his heritage, but more importantly Velásquez is a great athlete who has won at every level of amateur and professional competition. Plus, any heavyweight in UFC is always only one punch away from ending his night’s work. I see Lesnar winning Saturday but not without having a great night of stand up defense and using his size advantage appropriately. Lesnar being already at 265 and shredded is a scary thought for any human being who has to deal with the baddest man in MMA.
Criticism Of Michael Cole: “Michael Cole does not deserve to be piled on like many are doing. Michael is fulfilling a role on a fictional, TV show. He has been ‘cast’ to play this role as best as he can. For those that have never sat in that particular seat, let me assure you that it isn’t easy. Cole’s new persona must be working because never before have so many fans, for better or for worse, commented on Cole’s work.”
People Offended by Wrestling: “We’re getting too many emails from fans who are ‘offended’ by what they see on TV wrestling shows. Do you know what I do when I’m offended by a TV program? You got it…I change the channel. TV viewers should not become overly concerned about what they cannot change regarding a TV broadcast. For me to be a part of the recent WWE image video was both a surprise and a true feel good moment. I am very proud of my work in WWE over the years, the great people that I have worked with there and the company as a whole that has provided my family with a great quality of life. It’s cool to know that my grandkids can hear my work as the years roll by thanks to www.wweclassics.com and WWE On Demand.”
Bill Goldberg and WrestleMania 27: “Yes I do think that Goldberg could be a nice edition to WM27 in Atlanta if all the stars were aligned correctly. Bill is still in good shape and certainly n adequate enough shape to go out and have a solid match with the right guy. (No, I don’t know who the right guy is but I do know that it isn’t the Undertaker.) I get asked Goldberg questions several times a week for the record. The second question is would Goldberg be a nice addition to the WWE Hall of Fame TV presentation in Atlanta? Absolutely and particularly if he were wrestling the next day.”
– The Connecticut Democratic State chairwoman Nancy DiNardo has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission to determine whether Linda McMahon’s Senate campaign is responsible for the new “Stand Up for WWE” campaign. DiNardo issued a statement earlier this week claiming that WWE was unfairly trying to get voters to vote for McMahon. There is a federal election law that prohibits corporations from working directly with political campaigns. McMahon campaign spokesman Ed Patru calls the complaint “utterly baseless” and says the campaign doesn’t coordinate with WWE.
WWE issued a press release on Wednesday in response to the Democratic Party in Connecticut requesting a federal investigation into whether WWE and Linda McMahon’s campaign worked together in launching the “Stand up for WWE.” There is a federal election law that prohibits corporations from working directly with political campaigns. Earlier this week, the Connecticut Democratic Party spokeswoman Kate Hansen said, “Linda McMahon’s $50M attack machine now has corporate reinforcements, thanks to the ‘Stand up for WWE’ campaign launched by her husband Vince McMahon. No coincidence, it looks a lot like her political campaign… except this one is probably against the law.”
– The first reviews are coming in for the latest WWE studios production, “Knucklehead,” starring the Big Show. The movie will have a limited release this weekend and go straight to DVD on November 9. Joshua Rothkopf of Time Out New York called it,
“A distinctly shameless and shoddily made family comedy, this WWE production for wrestler Big Show turns an already saccharine plot into a toxic, fart-laden piledriver.”
“A mere plot summary can’t begin to approximate the way you’ll feel manhandled by a stridently wacky orchestral score (more syrup for your pancakes?) and story elements seemingly selected by a brain-dead Hulkamaniac. Is it fair to include both an unattached blond teacher and a cute orphan with abandonment issues? Wight himself is a benign, dopey presence; you don’t mind him. But it’s a mistake for the big lug to shoot so broadly for the middle. It takes a special kind of failure to make Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s efforts look like models of sparkling wit and unpredictability.”
In another review, Nick Shager of Slant Magazine asks, “If a WWE-produced film can’t get squared-circle action right, what can be expected of it?”
– Though Mickie James has long since departed from WWE, the company’s production staff is still hauling around equipment used during the storyline deriding her weight to shows. SEScoops’ reader Kyle wrote that before Monday’s Raw in Calgary, Alberta, he and his friends observed the WWE production trucks situated around the Saddledome and noticed a cart with a big box labeled “Piggy James.” Once a storyline has been completed, items used during the storyline are either trashed or dropped off at an undisclosed warehouse near WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.
TNA
– Kevin Nash said goodbye to the TNA Wrestling locker room at last week’s set of iMPACT! television tapings. While he’s still listed on the company website, the belief is that he is legitimately leaving the organization because he noted to friends that he was asked to take a pay cut and declined to sign a new contract.
– There was much head shaking over TNA Wrestling re-signing Team 3D to new contracts. While Brother Devon is quite popular in the locker room and Brother Ray is considered good in a backstage role, many feel there is no money to be made in bringing the two back as a tag team, let alone as singles competitors. “They shouldn’t have been re-signed. No one (in management) gets its.” To clarify, a number of people in management didn’t want them re-signed, but TNA president Dixie Carter felt otherwise as it is said that she “really wanted to bring the duo back.”
– Rhino’s contract with TNA Wrestling will expire at the end of the month. He is still working live events, but it is unknown whether both sides will reach a new deal. The belief is that the EV2 faction is sticking around, and considering that the company is light on former ECW wrestlers, there is a good chance he’ll stay.
– Jenni Farley (a/k/a Jwoww) showed up late in the afternoon for her appearance at the October 11 Impact TV taping and spent most of her time situated in the makeup room with her boyfriend. While there has been bickering over her reported $15K payoff, no one mentioned anything regarding her demeanor.
TMZ.com has yet another update in the ongoing feud between J-Woww and TNA Knockout Cookie. After J-Woww’s appearance on last week’s episode of TNA iMPACT! culminated with a catfight between the two women, Cookie continued talking trash to TMZ about the Jersey shore star. The latest is that TMZ sources close to J-Woww say, “Cookie didn’t even get one good punch in with her .. J-Woww would be down for a rematch with that trash.” J-Woww reportedly got paid $15K for last week’s appearance and the ongoing war of words has received a lot of coverage on TMZ ever since. No word yet on how close J-Woww is to reaching a deal with TNA to wrestle Cookie, but the TMZ source sounds confident it’s going to happen.
VoV
Marc Valeri – captaincharisma@hotmail.com
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