NHL
– The Blue Jackets have traded F Rick Nash to the Rangers for F Brandon Dubinsky, F Artem Anisimov, D Tim Erixon and a 1st-round pick. In 82 games with the Blue Jackets last season, Nash scored 30 goals and 29 assists.
– The Oilers have signed F Nail Yakupov to a 3-year, entry-level contract. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft has recorded 80 goals and 170 points in 107 games with the Ontario Hockey League’s Sarnia Sting over the past two seasons.
– Islanders’ D Lubomir Visnovsky has filed a grievance through the NHLPA to void his trade that sent him there on June 22, according to Newsday’s Arthur Staple. Visnovsky had a no-trade clause in his contract when he was dealt to Anaheim from Edmonton in March of 2010, but never used it and may have missed his chance. Anaheim will oppose the grievance in the hearing — if Visnovsky wins, he’ll be back with the Ducks; and if he loses, he’ll remain with the Islanders. The 35-year-old has 1-year/$3M remaining on his contract.
MLB
– Mark Bowman of MLB.com has confirmed that Cubs are trading RHP Ryan Dempster and cash to the Braves for RHP Randall Delgado. Dempster, 35, has posted a 2.11 ERA and 77/27 K/BB ratio in 98 innings (15 starts) this season for the last-place Cubs. His contract includes a no-trade clause.
– According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the Phillies will intensify negotiations with LHP Cole Hamels this week. If the Phillies can’t work out a long-term agreement with Hamels, they will likely attempt to move him to another team. The left-hander is 11-4 with a 3.23 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 131/33 K/BB ratio in 133 2/3 innings this season. Philly has offered him something in the 6-year/$130M range. Stay tuned.
– According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Angels and Tigers are currently looking into Rays’ RHP James Shields. Both teams are believed to be in the market for another starter. Shields remains a likely candidate to be moved at the deadline.
– According to Jim Bowden of ESPN and SiriusXM, the Cubs are discussing a trade that would send RHP Matt Garza to the Dodgers for prospect RHP Zach Lee. Garza, 28, has a 3.91 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 96/32 K/BB ratio in 103 2/3 innings this season. He’s scheduled to hit the free agent market in 2014. Lee was the 28th overall pick in the 2010 draft.
– Rays’ 3B Evan Longoria (hamstring) took batting practice, fielded grounders and ran in the outfield on Sunday. He’s hoping to begin a minor league rehab assignment by the end of this month in order to return by mid-August. He’s been on the DL since May 1 with a partially torn hamstring. He was batting .329/.433/.561 with four home runs and 19 RBI through 23 games.
– According to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi, the Giants have interest in Indians’ RHP Chris Perez. The 27-year-old has a strong 3.06 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 35 1/3 innings this season as Cleveland’s closer. He’s likely to top $7M in salary arbitration next season.
NBA
– Bulls’ G Derrick Rose (knee surgery) will be “out until likely March,” according to beat writer K.C. Johnson. Previous reports had Rose sidelined until at least January. Rose is currently rehabbing and his timetable remains fluid, but it’s clear we won’t be seeing him back on the court for some time.
– The Bulls are reportedly set to sign backup F Nazr Mohammed, and they are not expected to match the Rockets’ offer sheet for F Omer Asik.
– The Wolves have agreed to terms on an offer sheet with F Greg Stiemsma believed to be worth 1-year/$3M. The Celtics will have three days to match the offer, but they’re expected to let Stiemsma walk given that the offer exceeds the $2.0M biannual exception, and that’s all they can do under the salary cap. Stiemsma will come off the bench. He averaged 1.5 blocks last season in under 14 minutes per game.
– The Celtics and free agent F Jason Collins have reportedly agreed to terms on a 1-year deal for the veteran’s minimum. Collins struggled last season with knee, tailbone and Achilles injuries, appearing in only 30 games for the Hawks.
– The NBA Board of Governors voted this week to allow advertisements on team jerseys–starting in the 2013-14 season, each team is allowed a 2″x2″ patch. The patch will also appear on jerseys sold at retail. The league also tweaked instant-replay rules, allowing referees to stop the game at any point to check for flagrant fouls.
– Magic’ CEO Alex Martins met with head coach candidate Jacque Vaughn on Friday, and Vaughn is emerging as the apparent frontrunner. 76ers assistant Michael Curry and Suns assistant Lindsey Hunter are both still in consideration.
NFL
– Eagles’ trainer Rick Burkholder revealed Sunday that DT Mike Patterson (brain surgery) will not participate in training camp. Patterson has been placed on the non-football injury list, with “no timetable for return.” Eagles doctors decided to shut down Patterson because he’s simply not ready to practice or play in games. Per Burkholder, the Eagles believed Patterson would be healed from his brain AVM surgery after six months of rehab, “but he’s not” and “it could be a couple (more) months.”
– Falcons’ MLB Lofa Tatupu (chest) suffered a “serious” pectoral injury while lifting weights Friday. The severity of the injury is not yet known, but he’s not expected to be ready for the start of training camp. Tatupu, 29, missed all of last season due to chronic knee issues.
– The Denver Post reports that the Broncos have offered contract-year LT Ryan Clady a 5-year/$50M extension with $28M guaranteed. The proposal would make Clady one of the league’s top-five left tackles. His camp, however, is rejecting the proposal and seeking a deal worth in excess of Browns’ LT Joe Thomas’ 8-year/$92M deal signed last August.
– The Steelers agreed to terms with No. 24 overall pick RG David DeCastro on a 4-year contract. DeCastro will immediately step in as the Steelers’ starting right guard.
– The Panthers have acquired WR Louis Murphy from the Raiders. The trade comes three weeks after the Contra Costa Times reported Murphy was in a “fight” for his roster spot.
– The Lions have signed No. 23 overall pick OT Riley Reiff to a 4-year/$7.993M contract. Only nine NFL first-round picks remain unsigned now.
– The Lions have waived RCB Aaron Berry. He was busted for DUI on June 26 and arrested again Saturday night after reportedly pointing a loaded firearm at three different people. Berry was penciled in as the Lions’ starting right corner.
WWE
– Mark Henry is currently in Dublin, Ireland doing promotional work for WWE and continues to lose weight during his time away from the ring. He mentioned on Twitter that he is currently down to 404 pounds and posted a picture of himself looking thinner than we’ve seen him in years:
– Kenn Doane (aka Kenny Dykstra) was asked on Twitter whether WWE Champion CM Punk is the “Best in the World” as he so often proclaims. The former WWE World Tag Team Champion says no, and that the “Best in the World” tag belongs to “The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment” or possibly even “The King of Kings.”
“#bestintheworld is The Rock. He draws, talks, not a good wrestler, but 2/3 isn’t bad. Or HHH #bestintheworld draws, talks, wrestles. CM Punk is up there but I wouldn’t say the best.”
He was then asked about “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and responded,
“Austin isn’t wrestling so I didn’t qualify him. Only those still active. Number 1 is The Rock.”
– WWE Hall of Famer Tammy “Sunny” Sytch, who checked into a rehabilitation program sponsored by WWE on Monday after consuming a “dangerous” amount of vodka, addressed her current progress via Facebook.
“I know i have to do this.. getting myself mentallly in gear. its hard”
“ok// over the next 28 days, im going to need some visitors and support… who is up for the challenge???”
– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross appeared on Sports Illustrated’s Hot Clicks Podcast this week to discuss Monday’s big RAW 1,000 show. Here’s a transcript of what JR said about his role at the show:
“It’s kind of like a baseball player going to the All Star game in Kansas City,” Ross said. “I’m just kind of waiting to see what the manager puts on the lineup card. I know I’m on the roster, I know I’m figured to do something, I’m just waiting to see where my name is penciled in. With an old guy like me who’s been around the horn — been weathered — there’s nothing that can be assigned that I probably haven’t already done.”
“In a perfect world I’d love to call a match, but that’s not my call. But I’m ready to play, whatever they want me to do, I’m ready to roll.”
– WWE Chairman Vince McMahon sent out the following message on Saturday morning thanking fans for their continued support of WWE Monday Night RAW:
“I would like to personally thank you and the entire WWE Universe for your never-ending support as WWE achieves TV history with its record-breaking 1,000th edition of Monday Night RAW. In celebration of this historic night, we invite you to join us this Monday for a monumental three-hour event. Once again, we thank you for making RAW the success it has become and we look forward to creating another 1,000 episodes.”
– Rey Mysterio has tweeted a thank you message to fans for supporting him through his rough few months:
It’s been almost a year since I’ve been in the ring & want to take the time now to thank every single one of U that has been supporting me!
Thanx 4 believing & 4 all the love,but most important I thank God 4 letting me do what I love! Perform 4 all of U! 1 love,, RM619
– WWE has released this week’s episode of “Santino’s Foreign Exchange.” Here is the synopsis: “Santino Marella is up to his old tricks. What’s on his scheming mind now? Plus, William Regal returns to “Santino’s Foreign Exchange.” Subscribe to see the clips that didn’t make it in the original interview, only on WWE on YouTube!”
– Richie Steamboat defeated Rick Victor at this weekend’s live event from St. Augustine to capture the FCW Heavyweight Championship.
– Former WWE talent Shawn Stasiak turns 42 years on Saturday. He is retired from professional wrestling and now works as a chiropractor. Today also marks as the forty-ninth birthday of Giant Silva of “Oddities” fame.
TNA
– TNA Women’s Knockout Champion Miss Tessmacher, who appeared for WWE in 2007, clarified comments she made concerning her former employer this week in regards to its utilization of female talent. When asked on Facebook whether she would ever return to the organization, she wrote,
“Why would I want to go back to wwe where they have 3 min matches that typically have no meaning. The women aren’t utilized to the potential they bring. They aren’t cared about or a priority.”
She now says,
“Let me clear this up. My comment that was said of the WWE Divas was not to discredit the girls in any way. They are all spectacular and tremendous athletes. My opinion is based on the fact I strongly feel they are not used to their own capabilities and talents. I do think if they were believed in more as the Knockouts where from the company they work for they could showcase themselves better as all around athletes and not just a character or gimmick. I do believe the Knockouts division is the best in the bis and we are used to our potential. At Impact Wrestling women’s wrestling does matter!”
– Nick Dinsmore, formerly known as Eugene in WWE, publicly thanked TNA Impact Wrestling for giving him the opportunity to compete in a dark match prior to Thursday’s live Impact Wrestling broadcast.
“I would like thank @IMPACTWRESTLING for giving me the opportunity to wrestle a dark match last night in front of the TNA Impact Zone fans.”