WWE
– Chris Jericho appeared at the Revolver Golden Gods 2012 Awards last week and was interviewed on the red carpet before the event. Jericho revealed that his current WWE run will end before SummerSlam, when he plans to go on tour with Fozzy. Jericho said he and Fozzy intend to release new music by the end of August and plans to be on the road touring with Fozzy by then. Jericho also gives his opinions on who would win between wrestling and metal personalities.
– According to the Wrestling Observer, Edge’s WWE contract will expire on May 1, 2012, and would allow him to leave and appear for any professional wrestling organization. Though Edge’s in-ring career is over, it’s possible that he could be signed to a legends’ contract, rather than a performer’s one.
– Updating a previous item, WWE ring announcer Lilian Garcia tripped over pyrotechnics equipment and stumbled to her knees while making her way ringside during a SmackDown taping in London, England. New York Times Best Selling author Kevin Sullivan, who wrote the WWE Encyclopedia, says he wouldn’t be surprised if WWE creative burdened the Decade Diva with a gimmick based on her follies after the organization quickly released footage of her tumble online.
“I don’t know why, but I truly enjoy following Lilian Garcia’s follies on the web. I’m really a good person, but her goofs make me laugh. Some guys are goofy before becoming serious (Angle, Y2J, Double J), while others start serious and turn goofy (Santino, R-Truth, Godfather).
“I wouldn’t be surprised if WWE gave Lilian Garcia a tripping gimmick now.”
Garcia has past history of an accident metamorphosing into a storyline as Charlie Haas incurred the wrath of Viscera after inadvertently knocking her to the ground as she stood on the ring apron during a June 2006 Raw episode. A second edition of the WWE Encyclopedia is scheduled to be released on September 3, 2012. Sullivan, who is penning the second one, tweeted information on the book’s contents on Wednesday.
“It will have everything the first WWE Encyclopedia had, plus updates, plus new Superstar entries, plus more past Superstars.”
– Chris Jericho tweeted on Thursday that he got three staples in the back of his head as a result of his match with CM Punk last night in Milan, Italy.
– This week’s NXT show featured a glaring error. At one point during the show, William Regal handcuffed Johnny Curtis’s left hand to Maxine’s right hand at ringside. Later in the show, Curtis and Maxine are shown still handcuffed together – but this time, Curtis’s right hand was handcuffed to Maxine’s right hand.
NHL
– Senators’ F Daniel Alfredsson (concussion) has been working out, but remains out indefinitely with no timetable for a return. Head coach Paul MacLean said that the captain is making some progress, and that “he’s feeling better all the time.” He’ll likely miss Game 5 in New York.
– Flyers’ F James van Riemsdyk (broken foot) skated for a fourth straight day Thursday, and is nearing a return to the lineup. He played with Jakub Voracek and Matt Read in the skate. JVR added that he may have been able to play in Game 4. He could make his return as early as Game 5 in Pittsburgh on Friday. He’s been sidelined since March 1.
– Blackhawks’ head coach Joel Quenneville said there’s nothing new to report on F Marian Hossa (upper body injury), other than him being out Game 4 on Thursday night. ”There’s no change. Spoke to him yesterday and he’s feeling the same as the last two days. I’m not going to go any further with it than where we are today.” Hossa was carted off on a stretcher and was resting at home following a massive hit by Coyotes’ F Raffi Torres, who has been suspended indefinitely pending his hearing on Friday.
– Coyotes’ F Martin Hanzal (lower body) isn’t expected to play in Game 4 Thursday night. He was on the ice for the team’s morning skate and called himself a game-time decision again. He was injured early into Game 2 last Saturday after playing just three shifts. He is considered day-to-day.
– Check out these shirts sparked by the ping-pong table incident involving Red Wings’ F Todd Bertuzzi:
– Jets’ D Dustin Byfuglien is scheduled to have his boating charges decided by a jury trial on July 23. Byfuglien is facing charges for boating while intoxicated, initially refusing to take a blood or urine test, boating without enough flotation devices and boating without navigation lights. The incident in question occurred last August 31 on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota.
MLB
– C Ivan Rodriguez has officially announced his retirement. Pudge will be honoured at a ceremony in Arlington, Texas on Monday. He finishes his career with 2,844 hits, 311 homers and a .296/.344/.464 slash line to go along with 13 Gold Gloves. He’s a sure-fire Hall of Famer, and one of the best defensive catchers of all-time.
– Cardinals’ GM John Mozeliak said OF Lance Berkman (calf) will be placed on the DL prior to Friday’s game. The Big Puma missed four games last week with his left calf injury before re-aggravating it Wednesday.
NBA
– Check out Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez on the kiss cam at a recent Lakers game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_FopjEAMy0o
– Knicks’ F Amare Stoudemire (back) is still targeting Friday for his return. The Knicks didn’t practice on Thursday, so it’s not yet official, but he will go through shootaround on Friday morning. Amare has four games to get tuned up for the playoffs after missing the last three weeks.