NBA
– Blazers’ F Greg Oden (left knee) underwent another microfracture procedure on Monday. Oden was scheduled to have just an arthroscopic procedure to clean out debris, but when doctors got inside, the found more damage and determined that another microfracture was needed. The Blazers have already admitted that this is a “significant setback” and that he’ll miss the entire season. Oden, an 82-game veteran, may have played his last game in the NBA.
– Spurs’ G Manu Ginobili (oblique) and F Tiago Splitter (calf) are expected to miss 2 weeks. He was hurt during the second half of Saturday’s game against the Clippers. Ginobili played in the first five games of the season before fracturing his shooting wrist. The 34-year-old came back for four games and then strained his oblique. Now he’ll undergo another rehab process and will eventually face the prospect of being eased back into the lineup slowly once again.
– Celtics’ G Rajon Rondo has been suspended 2 games for “throwing a ball at an official and striking him in the chest.” Rondo will miss Monday’s game against the Mavs and Wednesday’s game against the Thunder after his ejection from Sunday’s loss to the Pistons. He’ll return for the Celtics’ first game after the All-Star break. Avery Bradley is expected to start at point guard and Paul Pierce will serve as more of a facilitator. Head coach Doc Rivers said,
“You’re always disappointed when that happens. You should never put yourself in front of the team. But it’s an emotional game. We can all agree that it was a pretty bad foul and a clear foul that wasn’t called. At the time, we were getting our butts kicked and the frustration was high and it’s a human game. I can guarantee you five seconds, 30 seconds after it happened, I guarantee you Rondo wished he could take it back.”
– Check out this fan sign in support of Knicks’ G Jeremy Lin:
WWE
– Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan for the World Heavyweight Championship has been confirmed for WrestleMania 28.
– During an interview with SportsVibe.uk, former WWE Diva Trish Stratus teased a possible match with Divas champion Beth Phoenix at WrestleMania 28. Stratus, who has been going back and forth with Phoenix on Twitter, had this to say about a possible match:
“Beth was saying that she was the most dominant champion, so I thought I would just let her know that title is already taken.”
“As for a match between Beth and myself at WrestleMania that is an excellent proposition and I think the fans would love that. I’ve actually had the opportunity to tangle up with Beth Phoenix a couple of times and I think that she is amazing in the ring and I would love to kick her ass actually.”
Just last month, Trish Stratus wrote the following message on Twitter in response to Beth Phoenix claiming to be the most dominant woman wrestling champion in history:
“@TheBethPhoenix should choose her words wisely when it comes to being the most dominant champion…”
Aside from Trish Stratus, Kharma has also been rumored as a potential WrestleMania opponent for Beth Phoenix.
– Former WWE Women’s Champion Candice Michelle noted on Twitter attending last night’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her family.
– Kofi Kingston needed staples in the back of his head following last night’s Raw Elimination Chamber Match for the WWE Championship.
– Elimination Chamber featured 1 hour and 39 minutes of wrestling action.
NFL
– According to NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora, there is “real concern” in the Steelers’ front office that they may lose RFA WR Mike Wallace. They’ll place a 1st-round tender on Wallace, but a franchise tag is impossible financially for them. Tendering Wallace would also allow teams with expendable 1st-round picks an advantage at obtaining him. La Canfora mentions the division-rival Ravens and Patriots as teams potentially interested in Wallace. Baltimore drafts at No. 29, and New England has two 1st-round picks.
– The player rep for free agent CB Cortland Finnegan indicated Monday that the Titans have not made any contract offers to his client. ”I can’t negotiate with myself. The Titans are going to have to put some numbers in a counter proposal.” The Titans are either planning to franchise tag him, or they’ve decided to simply let him go. Finnegan is a top-five free agent cornerback.
NHL
– The Predators have signed GM David Poile and assistant GM Paul Fenton to contract extensions through the 2014-15 campaign. The Predators have won 40 or more games in each of the previous six seasons and are one of six teams to qualify for the playoffs in six of the last seven. Nashville also won their first playoff series last season. Poile has been the Preds’ GM since their inception 14 years ago.
– Boston University player and Red Wings’ prospect Max Nicastro has been arrested and charged for allegedly raping a female student. Former Boston University teammate Corey Trivino, who was their leading scorer, was arrested on sexual assault charges on December 11 and was kicked off the team. Trivino has pleaded not guilty to the charges. So far, Nicastro’s coach and the athletic director have not commented on the matter. Nicastro was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the third round of the 2008 NHL entry draft. Ken Elmore, the school’s Dean, said, “First and foremost, we want to be sure to take care of the person who is the alleged victim here. We want to make sure she is OK and also make sure we investigate the case as swiftly, as fairly, and as thoroughly as we can.”
– Quebec City Mayor Regis Labeaume has appointed a special adviser to help avoid cost overruns in the construction of a new arena. Businessman Claude Rousseau will look to trim costs to keep the project within its budget. Labeaume says he is concerned because the budget is limited to $400M. Quebec City has until March 31 to decide whether the arena can be built within its budget. Labeaume is hoping the arena will help the city attract an NHL franchise. The project hit a snag last week when it was estimated it would cost up to $40M to have the proposed site of the arena decontaminated. Labeaume wouldn’t discuss speculation that a more realistic cost for the arena is about $550M. Quebec City has been without an NHL franchise since the Nordiques left for Denver in 1995.
– Former head of the NHL Players’ Association, Paul Kelly and College Hockey Inc. parted ways on Monday. Kelly told TSN:
“Time to move on. I told them I’d give them 2-3 years to get the entity established and operational. It’s been 28 months and it’s time for a new challenge.”
In 2009, the Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) created College Hockey Inc. to market college hockey in the United States. Kelly was hired shortly after his tenure with the NHLPA came to an end. HCA President Steve Hagwell said in a statement:
“The HCA would like to thank Paul for his service to CHI and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
MLB
– The Rockies announced Monday that they have a “handshake agreement” on a contract extension with manager Jim Tracy. GM Dan O’Dowd said, ”We expect this relationship to continue for a number of years. We are building a culture of value together in a world of performance.” Tracy, who was previously signed through the 2012 season, has led the Rockies to a 230-210 record (.523) since taking over for Clint Hurdle in May of 2009.