NHL
– Senators’ F Daniel Alfredsson says he intends to continue playing next season. Alfredsson’s current contract runs through 2012-13, and the Sens’ captain said he wants to honour the remaining season. His cap hit would be $4.875M next season, but because his contract is front loaded, he will earn $1M in 2012-13.
“The way this season is going, if I’m still healthy after this season, I’m hoping I can go one more. This year has been so good. If we can make the playoffs, that would almost be a dream come true.”
Alfy is enjoying the Sens’ surge, going from 13th in the East last season to sixth this season.
“You try to keep up with the young guys. You always think you can better…and you can. I’ve had lots of ups and downs in my career and the drive is still there for me, to see how good I can be. When I play well, I can be one of the best in the league. But when I don’t, I’m just average.”
The 39-year-old is having a strong season, posting 17 goals and 21 assists in 46 games this season.
“The way this season is going, if I’m still healthy after this season, I’m hoping I can go one more. This year has been so good. If we can make the playoffs, that would almost be a dream come true.”
– Patriots’ TE Rob Gronkowski father, Gordy, revealed earlier in the week that the tight end’s sprain is of the “high-ankle” variety. Gordy expects Rob to be “fine” for the Super Bowl. Gronk does have significant ligament damage, so there’s no question he’ll be at far less than 100%.
– The Dolphins have signed Mike Sherman as OC and Kevin Coyle as DC. Sherman won three division titles as Packers head coach from 2000-2005, breaking the franchise record for rushing in 2003 and for passing in 2004. Sherman has used the West Coast offence everywhere and will be the primary play-caller in Miami. Coyle is expected to bring a 4-3 scheme to the defense.
– The Ravens have promoted LBs coach Dean Pees to DC and retained Cam Cameron as OC. Pees left the Patriots two years ago under a mysterious medical condition that turned out to be a bad reaction to inhaler medication Albuterol. The Pats were the only team in the NFL to finish in the top 10 in scoring defence over Pees’ four-year span as DC. His 2006 squad set the franchise record for points allowed.
MLB
– Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly reports that the Phillies have signed OF Juan Pierre to a minor league contract. Salisbury reported earlier Friday that the two sides were in serious discussions. Pierre batted .279/.329/.327 with two homers, 50 RBI and a .657 OPS over 711 plate appearances in 2011 and also went a career-worst 27-for-44 in stolen base attempts. Pierre will be backup left and centrefielder.
– Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that the Giants have signed free agent INF Ryan Theriot to a 1-year/$1.25M deal with a possible $750K in incentives. Theriot hit .271/.321/.342 with one home run, 47 RBI, four stolen bases and a .662 OPS over 483 plate appearances in 2011 for the World Champion Cardinals. He’s expected to start at shortstop.
– Tigers’ manager Jim Leyland said DH Victor Martinez (torn ACL) will undergo season-ending surgery on Friday or Saturday. A second opinion has confirmed that V-Mart needs the operation. Leyland also noted that Martinez will be back as his DH in 2013 and he plans to bat him fifth behind 3B Miguel Cabrera and 1B Prince Fielder. V-Mart hit .330/.380/.470 with 12 home runs and 103 RBI in 145 games last season for the Tigers.
– White Sox’ pitching coach Don Cooper told the Mully and Hanley Show Friday that manager Robin Ventura views LHP Matt Thornton as the favorite to be the team’s closer. ”Who said that? You’re giving me news. It’s news to me…Like I said, Matt is certainly capable. You have Addison Reed is a kid who has to work into it. You can’t name him. You got Jesse Crain — he is a guy who is more than capable. We’ll figure it out.” Thornton is the early favourite heading into spring training.
– The Yankees have signed LHP Boone Logan to a 1-year/$1.875M contract with $25K in bonuses, avoiding arbitration. The agreement was just below the midpoint between the $2.1M he had asked for last week in arbitration and the $1.7M New York had offered. Logan was 5-3 with a 3.46 ERA in 64 games last year.
NBA
– Raptors’ F Andrea Bargnani’s MRI (calf) revealed no structural damage, but there is no timetable for his return. Bargnani hurt his calf again on Wednesday and didn’t return to the game. Il Mago missed six straight games with a previous calf strain, so the team will wisely be cautious in brining him back.
WWE
– According to the PWInsider, after dropping the World Heavyweight title months earlier than expected at WWE’s December TLC due to a groin injury, Henry was injured once again at Tuesday’s WWE SmackDown tapings from Tuscon, AZ. Henry is believed to have suffered a hyper-extended knee during his match with the Big Show, which will air tonight on SyFy. Henry, who has dealt with knee problems in the past, threw a punch without properly planting his foot. It was clear that something went wrong after Henry collapsed “like he had been shot in the thigh” and immediately exited the ring in pain. They immediately cut to commercial and the match eventually ended in a count out. According to a script of SmackDown that has been circulating online this week, the original plan was for Daniel Bryan to attack Big Show with a chair. Show was supposed to make a comeback, chokeslam Bryan and leave him laid out. The show would then end with Henry delivering a big splash to Bryan, closing scene being Bryan destroyed in the ring.
– WWE Champion CM Punk recently spoke with Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com this week to discuss why he is not appearing at Saturday’s UFC on FOX event as previously announced, as well as Sunday’s Royal Rumble PPV. Here are some highlights of what Punk spoke about, followed by video of the interview:
Punk says he removed himself from appearing at the UFC event with Chael Sonnen in Chicago this weekend and didn’t want to overshadow the main event. This could be somewhat of a political answer, as previous reports have stated Vince McMahon is the person who made the call to prohibit Punk from appearing.
Punk says he would like to follow in the footsteps of Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley and compete in the MMA world some day.
He says he will not be in the 30-man Royal Rumble match, despite the stipulation that “all WWE Superstars” are eligible for this year’s Rumble.
Punk put over Dolph Ziggler and says they plan to steal the show Sunday night.
Punk talked about rumors of who his WrestleMania 28 opponent will be. He said Chris Jericho, Triple H and The Undertaker have all been discussed as possible opponents.
– Dolph Ziggler was interviewed on the Between The Ropes radio show this week. Here are some highlights of what WWE’s #1 #HEEL said about:
His Plans To “Show Off” At The Royal Rumble: “I am working on something special for the Rumble. I can’t say what it is. Hopefully, it will be perfected by then because I don’t do things halfway. I go all the way with it.”
Taking Pride In The Quality Of His Matches: “That is a huge point for me. I really want everyone looking at me at all times. I really want to be the best. I want to show people that I can do two matches in a night in a pay-per-view and not just go through the motions but have better matches than everybody else. It’s not just to prove to everyone else, it’s to me. If I don’t do that and deliver every night, I lay in bed awake waiting for the next show so I can get back out there and switch it around.”
Stories Of Him Getting Pumped Up & Pumping Others Up Backstage Before Matches: “That’s absolutely true because I love it. I’m still a fan and I always will be. I’m always excited for the show. I’m excited for people to do well. I want people to do great so I can push myself that much more to be the best match and I think competition makes everyone else work a little bit harder. So I’m constantly pushing for everyone to do well and giving pointers where I can and just hoping that everyone does well so they can kind of start to hang with me and that pushes me to be even better on the show.”
