PGA
– Rory McIlroy, leading wire-to-wire, has won the US Open with a 2-under-par 34-35=69 at Congressional. McIlroy completed 72 holes in 16-under 65-66-68-69=268. His aggregate and score in relation to par are new U.S. Open records, shattering both old marks (12-under; 272). His margin of victory was eight strokes over Jason Day, fourth-largest in tournament history. McIlroy is also the seventh to hold the outright lead after every round. Overall, he established or tied 12 records this week. He is now exempt into the next 10 U.S. Opens as well as the next five British Opens, PGA Championships and Masters.
NHL
– The Kings have made a “major” offer to soon to be RFA D Drew Doughty. He will have completed his entry-level contract on July 1, so the 21-year-old will be getting big contract offers. Doughty is one of the top defencemen in the game, so they’ll need to match whatever offer he signs regardless of cost. Of course, they’d like to sign him before July 1 to ensure that he won’t get the chance to test the market.
– The agent for Panthers’ G Tomas Vokoun says that his client is disputing a report in a Czech newspaper that stated he would look at the Avs as a potential suitor. Michael C. Deutsch, who represents Vokoun, stated, “Those weren’t his quotes.” He added that Vokoun, an impeding UFA would likely wait until the NHL’s free agency period opens before deciding on his future. “At this point it looks like he’ll hit the open market on July 1. He’s keeping all his options open, including going back to Florida.”
NBA
– The Cavaliers are believed to be exploring their options on Grizzlies’ G Rudy Gay this summer. The Grizzlies are reportedly not interested in moving Gay, but that could change if Cleveland were to use either the No. 1 or 4 pick in Thursday’s draft. Gay is their best player by a wide margin, so I don’t expect a trade.
– According to the Charlotte Observer, the Bobcats are “lukewarm” on drafting G Jimmer Fredette at No. 9. Within the organization, there’s reportedly concern that their backcourt would be too small wit Fredette and G D.J. Augustin starting. Charlotte needs a perimeter shooter, but they’re biggest need is probably size.
– The Knicks reportedly do not feel that G Landry Fields can be “a starting shooting guard on a playoff power.” They’ve added both a starting shooting guard, as well as a backup point guard and frontcourt depth to their list of needs this summer.
NFL
– According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette’s Paul Dougherty, “teams are working from the assumption that the new CBA will return eligibility for unrestricted free agency to four years service.” This contradicts a recent report from Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, who said the “word on the street” is that 2010 free agency rules will apply once the lockout is lifted. No one has been able to get a grasp on what rules we’ll see. Stay tuned.
MLB
– The Blue Jays have signed SS Yunel Escobar to a 2-year/$10M extension with two $5M club options for 2014 and 2015. If exercised, the deal would become a 4-year/$20M contract. He has a .281/.359/.431 batting line this season with eight home runs and 42 runs scored. It’s a pretty solid deal for the Jays.
– Marlins’ manager Edwin Rodriguez has resigned. The likelihood is that it was not his decision, but we can’t blame the Marlins, who are in the midst of a nine-game losing streak and have lost 17 of their last 18, for making a move. They sit 12.5 games behind the Phillies in the NL East and had already fired their hitting coach earlier this month. Bench coach Brandon Hyde will manage the team while the Marlins search for a full-time replacement.
– The Red Sox have placed RHP Clay Buchholz (lower back strain) on the 15-day DL retroactive to June 17. He should be ready as soon as he’s eligible. He’ll take a 3.48 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 14 starts to the DL.
– The have fired hitting coach Jon Nunnally and will replace him with minor league hitting coordinator Bruce Fields. Fields has been the team’s minor league hitting coordinator since 2007 and was the Tigers’ hitting coach from 2003-2005.
WWE
– WWE superstar Alex Riley has been cleared of charges stemming from driving under the influence in Tampa, Florida in November 2010, reports TMZ.com. His lawyers went before a judge earlier this month and argued that police had no probable cause for a traffic stop that led to his client’s arrest. The judge agreed, rendering the field sobriety test and the officer’s observations about Riley inadmissible. Riley was arrested in Tampa, Florida on November 17, 2010, at 1:14 a.m. on charges of driving under the influence, after refusing to be tested. He was released at 9:33 a.m. on a $500 bond. Riley was also charged with driving with a suspended license.
– Averno, who’s reportedly heading to WWE to feud with former rival Mistico (a/k/a Sin Cara), lost his mask Friday night to La Mascara at CMLL’s Jucio Final event. Following his defeat, Averno took his mask off and announced his real name as Renato Ruiz Cortez of Mexico City, 34 years old with 16 years experience as a wrestler.
– Skip Sheffield (broken leg) was seen last week in Tampa, Florida on crutches and his leg in a cast. The former member of Nexus underwent a third surgical procedure last Tuesday, which he vowed on Twitter would be his last. He hasn’t appeared on TV since breaking his leg and ankle on August 18, 2010 at a WWE live event in Honolulu, Hawaii.
– Jim Ross has posted a new blog entry on his official website, www.jrsbarbq.com. The highlights:
Tonight’s WWE Championship Match between John Cena and R-Truth: “Cena vs. Truth….WWE Title…Cena likely wins but if Truth upsets Cena as I mentioned earlier in the week the Raw deck is reshuffled considerably. Without question, this is Truth’s biggest professional opportunity ever IMO. The newly minted villain has only one chance to make an impact in his first ever, WWE PPV main event. How Truth comes out of D.C. is intriguing.”
Tonight’s World Heavyweight Championship Match between Randy Orton and Christian: “Orton vs. Christian…World Title…might be the show stealer especially now that Orton has been cleared of concussion issues. It would be interesting to see Christian win (Sheamus??) as Orton feels as if he would be a nice fit to ‘chase’ Christian for the World Title. Bottom line is that these two have the potential to have a great match. I like this paring because it can realistically go either way.”
Response to mixed martial arts purists that don’t take his opinions seriously due to his ties to professional wrestling: “MMA purists/internet geeks who enjoy damming my opinions about their beloved sport largely because I’m a ‘wrestling guy’ will someday realize that the MMA fighters who are organically able to verbalize will have a better chance to become big earners and it won’t have any thing to do with ‘cutting pro wrestling promos.’ Muhammad Ali did it quite well for many, many years although he was comfortable enough with himself to admit that watching pro wrestling as a kid helped him mold his in ring persona.”
“Ali once told me that he realized he could earn more money getting fans to buy tickets to see him lose than to see him win.”