NFL
– ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that labour discussions “almost blew up” Wednesday when lawyers were allowed back in the room. The attorneys were reportedly behind the momentum skidding to halt. NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith ordered labour attorneys to “stand down,” which should go over well with the owners. Talks have continued on Wednesday without lawyers. There is still plenty of optimism surrounding the talks, but a deal won’t realistically be finished before “early July or so,” reports Schefter.
NHL
– Canucks’ GM Mike Gillis stated Tuesday there was a time on Monday when doctors were concerned that F Mason Raymond (vertebrae compression fracture) could lose the ability to walk. ”Initially, there was some very serious concern about (not being able to walk). He did move after he had been on the ice for a period of time. He began to move his legs and I know when he got to the hospital they were very concerned. If we get Mason Raymond back by November of next year, we will be very happy.” It’s great news that he’ll be able to walk. His rehab could cut into his 2011-12 season.
– Flyers’ G Ilya Bryzgalov and his agent, Ritch Winter, are scheduled to arrive in Philadelphia on Wednesday night. They are expected to meet with GM Paul Holmgren, head coach Peter Laviolette, goalie coach Jeff Reese and other team officials on Thursday. It’ll be the first time that Bryz has met with members of the organization since they acquired his negotiation rights from Phoenix last week. The Flyers are confident that they can sign him before he becomes a UFA on July 1.
NBA
– Mavericks’ G J.J. Barea was outspoken Tuesday about his desire to stay with the team. The interest is mutual, but Barea should generate some good offers on the market. Dallas has six UFAs come July 1, so they simply may not have the money to match any other offers. It’s unclear if Barea will give the Mavs a hometown discount. If he does return, he’ll likely come off the bench.
– Clippers’ G Eric Gordon is willing to sign a long-term deal with the team, a source tells ESPN Los Angeles. Gordon had a rocky relationship with G Baron Davis, and was outspoken regarding the Clippers’ constant losing, there was hesitation about him willing to sign a long-term deal. But now that Davis is out and the team’s young core is very promising, he now appears on board. If there is no lockout, the Clippers can start negotiating an extension with Gordon on July 1. Gordon had a breakout year last season, averaging 22.3 points, 4.4 assists, 1.9 3s and 1.3 steals per game.
– The Kings are expected to sign RFA F Marcus Thornton to a long-term contract, according to the Sacramento Bee. The Bee says that Thornton is a player the Kings “sought to build around.” He averaged 21.3 points a night during his 27 games in Sacramento last year.
– Mavericks’ G DeShawn Stevenson was arrested for public intoxication on Tuesday in Irving, Texas. Police say they were called to an apartment complex at about 10:30 p.m. CT Tuesday regarding an intoxicated person walking around. Stevenson was given sobriety tests and then booked. “Basically, he was intoxicated to a point where he didn’t feel comfortable letting him walk away or leave. They didn’t have any other options at that point,” Irving public information officer John Argumaniz said. Stevenson is unlikely to face any further discipline.
WWE
– According to the Wrestling Observer, Randy Orton legitimately suffered a concussion on Sunday in Madrid, Spain, so the concussion angle at television this week was not a storyline. On TV, WWE was still pushing that he would be wrestling on Sunday.
– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross is undergoing stomach surgery today to correct a “traumatic incisional hernia.” Ross tweeted early Wednesday morning:
“Wearing #BoomerSooner shorts & my lucky Sam Bradford shirt to the hospital. Let’s kick some ass.”
“Surgeon is a former OU DE & is working for sauce. He’s fixin a bull & 2 dogs b4 me this morning.
”
TNA
– TNA executive Eric Bischoff has taken another jab at the fans who follow pro wrestling news on the Internet (the “10%’errs”) and the websites that cover the industry. He tweeted on Wednesday:
“The 10%’ers know nothing about journalistic integrity (think MSNBC) and are typically horrible writers (thay kant rite gud), too.”
– The Ultimate Warrior has responded to online rumors that he used to work as a male escort in the Atlanta area back in the 1980s before entering the pro wrestling business. Over the weekend, a fan asked Hulk Hogan on Twitter about the rumor, to which Hogan responded,
“he was more than a male escort. You guys figure it out. HH”
Warrior addressed the situation on Wednesday, effectively denying the reports and taking another shot at Hogan and his ex-wife, Linda:
“Warrior God for ULTIMATE time. Demand is HIGH. Escort limited to pro-wrestlers wives. Reserve right to refuse service. No, HH. Linda, no.”
Warrior’s remark about wrestlers wives being escorts are a reference to a recent claim he made about Hulk Hogan letting other wrestlers sleep with his (now) ex-wife, Linda. Warrior recently said he’s practically the only person to turn down an offer from Hulk to sleep with Linda.