WWE
– DeadlineHollywood.com is reporting exclusively that the release date G.I. Joe: Retaliation starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been pushed back from a June 29 release date back to March 29, 2013. The movie will be converted to 3D in post production to maximize the potential box office proceeds, with Russia and China big consumers of 3D movies. The original 6/29 release date would have put it up against the powerhouse Avengers movie and the upcoming Spiderman reboot. The Deadline Hollywood article states:
“Hollywood is shocked that Paramount vacated the primo date, especially because Paramount blew a wad on a Super Bowl commercial and already was starting TV and outdoor ads for GI Joe 2.”
G.I. Joe: Retaliation will hit theaters the same week as WrestleMania 29, so we’ll likely see extensive advertising of the film. The Rock has already announced he’ll be at WrestleMania 29.
– WWE Hall of Famer Tammy “Sunny” Sytch admitted herself to the hospital this week due to a stomach flu and was informed that she has other ailments. She wrote Tuesday evening on Facebook,
“well… just got home from the hospital…again. wasnt just a stomach flu. severe gastroenteritis and an enflamed pancreas. i have no luck. feeling better now.. on meds.”
– According to F4WOnline, Alex Shelley, whose contract with TNA Wrestling is set to expire, has been contacted by WWE officials. As of right now, though, a deal has not been reached. Prior to being contacted, he was looking to work in Japan and possibly Dragon Gate USA.
– CM Punk, John Cena, Sheamus, Kofi Kingston and Daniel Bryan are featured on the cover of the June 2012 issue of WWE Magazine. It is branded as “THE POWER ISSUE” as the top WWE Superstars and 20 toughest WWE Superstars of all-time are ranked.
– Former WWE star Gene Snitsky stated on Twitter that he was backstage at Tuesday’s SmackDown taping in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania visiting friends.
– WWE Hall of Famer Drew Carey turns 54 years old Wednesday.
NBA
– Heat’ F Udonis Haslem has been suspended 1 game for his Flagrant-2 foul on Tyler Hansbrough during Game 5, while F Dexter Pittman has been suspended 3 games. The Heat are now dangerously thin up front.
– According to Lakers.com writer Mike Trudell, Lakers’ F Andrew Bynum hopes to develop a jump shot this summer, and also mentioned that he’ll look into the Orthokine therapy that improved teammate Kobe Bryant’s bothersome knee. Bynum missed six games this season because of his knee, but had missed an average of 31.0 games over the past four (38% of the Lakers’ games). Even without a steady jumper in his game, Bynum posted career numbers this year at 18.7 points, 11.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.
MLB
– Cardinals’ OF Lance Berkman (torn right meniscus) is scheduled to undergo surgery Thursday morning. Berkman definitely has a torn meniscus, but there may also be ACL damage. If his ACL is clean, he could miss 6-8 weeks, but any ACL tear would likely mean his season is over.
– Marlins’ RHP Juan Carlos Oviedo (Leo Nunez) has received a pardon from the U.S. State Department for admitting to falsifying his identity, and is expected to secure a work visa soon. A Dominican Republic newspaper reported earlier that Oviedo had already acquired his visa, but that won’t officially happen for a few more days. The 28-year-old will have to serve an 8-week suspension upon his return.
– Commissioner Bud Selig says he doesn’t think more video review of umpires’ calls is needed right now. Selig instituted instant replay it in August 2008 for boundary calls on potential home runs, such as whether balls went over the fence or were fair. MLB sought to increase video review this season to include trapped balls, fair-or-foul rulings down the lines and fan interference all over the ballpark. But it requires approval of MLB and the unions representing the umpires and the players, and any expansion was delayed until 2013 at the earliest. ”I’ve had very, very little pressure from people who want to do more.” Selig indicated adding replay for balls hit down the line — “bullets, as I call ‘em” — and trapped balls may be ahead.
– Nationals’ manager Davey Johnson said OF Michael Morse (lat) will “for sure” be ready to be activated from the DL for the series against the Red Sox on June 8, but could potentially return before then. “There’s some people thinking it might be accelerated ahead of that. We’ll see on Friday how he comes out of that game.” Morse will play in his first extended spring training game on Friday, the first game action he’s experienced since being shut down on April 11 with a torn right lat muscle. He’ll play in two more extended spring games before joining one of the Nats’ minor league affiliates to begin a short rehab assignment.
– Yankees’ OF Brett Gardner (right elbow) suffered another setback and won’t be allowed to hit off tee until Monday. Gardner hoping to swing a bat Thursday, but manager Joe Girardi said Gardner was still experiencing stiffness.
– Cubs’ RHP Carlos Marmol (hamstring) threw a bullpen session Wednesday in Des Moines, Iowa with no pain. If things stay that way Thursday morning, Marmol should be cleared to begin a minor league rehab assignment Friday night with Triple-A Iowa. The 28-year-old is hoping to return next weekend.
– White Sox’ manager Robin Ventura has officially named RHP Addison Reed the team’s closer. Reed saved his fourth game in as many tries last Friday and has 17 strikeouts in just 13 1/3 innings this year.
– The Cardinals have placed OF Matt Carpenter (strained right side) on the 15-day DL. Carpenter was batting .288 with three home runs and 20 RBIs in 39 games this season. He suffered the injury coming out of the batter’s box on a double in the first inning Tuesday.
– Cardinals’ OF Allen Craig (strained left hamstring) ran on Wednesday afternoon. Craig is hoping to take batting practice Thursday and will look to return from the DL after a minimum stay. The 27-year-old was batting .373/.424/.765 with five homers and 19 RBI in just 59 plate appearances.
– The Blue Jays have reached a 2-year player development contract extension with the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats through the 2014 season. The Jays have been affiliated with the Fisher Cats since 2004. New Hampshire won Eastern League championships in 2004 and 2011.
NFL
– ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio reported on NFL Live Wednesday that Ravens’ unsigned franchise RB Ray Rice wants “(Vikings’ RB) Adrian Peterson money,” and that the Ravens are unwilling to pay it. ”This holdout could end in training camp, if then… He wants Adrian Peterson money. He would like to have Chris Johnson money, which means about $30M guaranteed. And I was told by a Ravens team official, a senior official, ‘That is simply not going to happen.’” Pal also hinted that Rice could be headed for an extended holdout. Rice has not contacted the team of late, and the two sides are believed to be far apart in talks with just two months left before camp. Stay tuned.
– According to the Florida Times Union, the Jaguars are unlikely to release WR Mike Thomas this year because his 2012 base salary and $1M of his 2013 salary is guaranteed. Thomas had a poor 2011 campaign and thus far, has reportedly looked weak during OTAs, but his roster spot appears safe thanks to his guaranteed contract. On top of the salary guarantees, Thomas received $1.5M of a $3.5M roster bonus in March, with another $2M to be paid next spring.
– The 49ers have signed three-time All-Pro P Andy Lee to a 6-year contract extension through the 2018 season. The 29-year-old has played in 128 games for the 49ers and holds team records in punts (723), yards (33,069), gross average (45.7), net average (38.9) and punts downed inside the 20-yard line (209). Since 2007, Lee’s gross punting average (47.9) and net average (40.7) rank second in the NFL. Lee set the NFL single-season record last year in net punting average (44.0), and his gross average (50.9) ranked third in NFL history.
– The Patriots have signed 1st-round pick DE Chandler Jones. The 23-year-old was taken with the 21st overall pick after New England traded up to get it from Cincinnati.
NHL
– The Blue Jackets have signed F Derek Dorsett to a 3-year contract. Dorsett, 25, recorded 12 goals and 20 points with 235 penalty minutes in 77 games with the Jackets last season. He led the NHL in penalty minutes and is one of only three players since the start of the 1996-97 season to lead the league in that category and post double digit goals. He set career highs in goals, points, penalty minutes, games played, shots (137) and time on ice average (14:41), while leading the club in hits (199) and ranking fourth in takeaways (36).
– The Senators have signed Luke Richardson to a 2-year contract to serve as head coach of its American Hockey League affiliate, the Binghamton Senators on Wednesday. Richardson will be joined by assistant coach Steve Stirling and video coach Matt Meacham. Richardson has spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the NHL club.
TNA
– Brooke Hogan will be appearing on multiple television and radio programs in the New York City area on Thursday to promote her arrival to the cast of the highly-rated weekly wrestling program, TNA’s IMPACT WRESTLING starting Thursday, May 31 on Spike TV