WWE
– According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there is said to be a “major twist” planned for the 30-man Royal Rumble match this year. The twist is said to have something to do with this year’s unique stipulation, where “every superstar is eligible” for the match. A example of the type of “twist” could take place could be the 1994 Royal Rumble finish, where Bret Hart and Lex Luger were both eliminated at the same time and declared co-winners. Another possible scenario could be at the end of the Rumble, everyone is eliminated, and the #30 entrant wins by default. Since all WWE superstars are eligible, it would be a very suspenseful minute or two from the time when the ring is empty until the “automatic winner” #30 is revealed.
– With WrestleMania 28 less than 3 months away, here’s an look at the rumored card:
The Rock vs. John Cena
WWE Title Match: CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho
Career vs. Streak: Triple H vs. The Undertaker (HBK as Guest Referee)
Special Attraction Match: Big Show vs. Shaquille O’Neal
World Heavyweight Title Match
Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Divas Match
– In an interview with 98 KUPD-FM, CM Punk calls Beth Phoenix a douchebag. Check it out:
– Ted DiBiase (wrist) stated Wednesday that he suffered a broken wrist and torn cartilage during a match against Cody Rhodes at last Friday’s WWE SuperShow in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The third generation wrestler noted that he will continue to appear at WWE shows while recovering and that he may still wrestle.
“It’s just my wrist.. Not my neck, knee or back. Got no problem fighting with one arm!”
– Triple H is expected to return to RAW on a regular basis until WrestleMania to add some extra star power to the shows. It was announced on RAW that Triple H is scheduled to for next week’s show, where he’ll decide if John Laurinaitis is fit to be the Interim RAW General Manager. He is also being advertised for the March 12 RAW Supershow from Cleveland, the same show that The Rock is scheduled for. The latest talk behind the scenes is that Triple H vs. The Undertaker is still planned for WrestleMania, their third encounter at the big event.
– ECW original Tommy Dreamer says he saved CM Punk’s job with WWE twice. Dreamer tells RadarOnline.com:
“He [CM Punk] had little-to-no chance of ever making it in the WWE — he wasn’t their type of guy. I saved his job two times when he was about to be let go — I was saying, ‘Ya gotta keep this kid, ya gotta keep this kid.”
– WWE is currently planning to launch the WWE Network around November of this year. The company recently created a new batch of commercials to promote the launch, which are scheduled to begin airing in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania 28. With the huge media attention that will surround WWE’s biggest pay-per-view of the year, it’s possible WWE will announce a hard launch date at WrestleMania.
– The USA Network has updated its TV schedule through March 2012 and as of now, there is no three-hour RAW leading to WrestleMania 28. It was previously reported that the final RAW before WrestleMania 28 (the March 26th Supershow from Atlanta, featuring The Rock) would be a 3-hour show. Instead, WWE will be taping both RAW and SmackDown matches that night, since the WWE crew will be headed to Miami the day after RAW to WrestleMania 28 festivities. It’s worth noting is that the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony is not scheduled to air the night before WrestleMania, when the actual ceremony takes place.
NFL
– The Buccaneers have hired Greg Schiano, formerly of Rutgers, as head coach. The Bucs’ three finalists were Panthers’ OC Rob Chudzinski, former Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman and Schiano. Schiano, 45, made Rutgers into a Big East contender. There, he generally ran run-first, smash-mouth football with a committee of running backs.
NHL
– Blues’ F Andy McDonald took a shot at Capitals’ F Alex Ovechkin and his decision to skip the 2012 All-Star Game.
“I think it’s disappointing for the fans. The all-star game is about the fans, a chance for them to see the league’s best players showcase their skills. He’s one of the premier players in the league. There will be a lot of disappointed fans not to see that at the all-star game and the skills competition.” “It’s just disappointing. You think about the number of kids that are Ovechkin fans, certainly those in Ontario who don’t get to see him that much. Now just because he doesn’t want to go or he’s mad at the league … it’s disappointing. Other players feel the same way.”
– Leafs’ GM Brian Burke downplayed rumours that impending UFA F Mikhail Grabovski will be traded at the deadline.”We’re not even close to that. That will be a factor, whether a guy is unrestricted or not, but I accept unrestricted guys, too, if they can help us get to where we want to get.” Grabovski is currently making $2.9M. He has eight goals and 19 points in his last 19 games.
NBA
– According to Yahoo! Sports Marc Spears, the Hornets have failed to sign G Eric Gordon to a contract extension, meaning he will become an RFA this summer. The NBA, which owns the Hornets, had given the team clearance to offer Gordon an extension, but the two sides could not reach an agreement before Wednesday’s deadline. The Pacers appear to be an early favourite to try and sign him this offseason.
MLB
– The Nationals have signed RHP Brad Lidge to a 1-year/$1M contract with incentives. Lidge posted a 1.40 ERA and 23 strikeouts over 19 2/3 innings with the Phillies last season. The 35-year-old remains an injury risk, and is basically throwing a slider all season.
– The Tigers have officially signed 1B Prince Fielder to a 9-year/$214M contract. The contract is the fourth-richest in baseball history and runs through 2020. Fielder will make $23M in each of the next two seasons and $24M per season over the final seven years of the contract. The deal also includes a limited no-trade clause. The 27-year-old has a .929 career OPS and has appeared in at least 157 games in each of his six full seasons in the majors. Miguel Cabrera will move back to third base–the lineup got incredibly stronger, but the defensive infield is one of the worst in the league.
– According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, the Rays have signed 2B Jeff Keppinger to a 1-year contract. Keppinger batted just .277/.300/.377 with six home runs and 35 RBI in 399 plate appearances last season between the Giants and Astros, but has a .852 career OPS against lefty pitchers.
– The Reds have signed LHP Jeff Francis to a minor league contract. Francis posted a 4.82 ERA and 91/39 K/BB ratio in 183 innings last season for the Rockies. He has a shot at cracking the rotation in spring training.
– According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals made an offer “approaching $5M” earlier this winter to free agent RHP Roy Oswalt. Strauss, however, believes the Rangers will counter with an offer at $7-8M. Oswalt, 34, posted a 3.69 ERA and 93/33 K/BB ratio across 139 innings last season for the Phillies.
– T.R. Sullivan was told by major league sources that there’s a “pretty good chance” that Rangers’ RHP Koji Uehara will be traded soon in exchange for a package of prospects. Uehara is still drawing “considerable” trade interest after rejecting a deal to the Blue Jays earlier this week. The Orioles, who traded Uehara to Texas last July, have also shown interest in re-acquiring him. Uehara, 36, posted a 2.35 ERA and 85/9 K/BB ratio over 65 innings last season.
– According to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles would consider a 4-year deal for RHP Edwin Jackson. The 28-year-old posted a 3.79 ERA and 148/62 K/BB ratio in 199 2/3 innings last season between the White Sox and Cardinals.
– MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez reports that the Angels have made an offer to RHP Luis Ayala. Ayala is reportedly drawing interest from a “handful” of other teams and is “still weighing his options.” The 34-year-old posted a surprising 2.09 ERA and 39/20 K/BB ratio across 56 innings last season with the Yankees.
