NBA

– F Amare Stoudemire has officially opted out of his contract with the Suns and is now a UFA, according to his agent. The two sides were in negotiations on Tuesday and Wednesday on an extension, and will continue to try to work out a deal. But he is now free to sign with any team willing to pay him. While most of the internet talk is about F LeBron James and F Chris Bosh being a package deal, don’t think that LeBron wouldn’t love to play alongside Amare, either.

– Updating the previous Bosh-to-Miami trade, The Globe and Mail has disputed the initial report, with one source telling the paper, flat-out, “There is no truth to that.” With so few players under contract at the moment — Beasley and Chalmers are the only two – the Heat are, according the Globe, reluctant to move out players; preferring, instead, to give the Raptors a trade exception that would amount to nearly $16.5M. Stay tuned.

– Doc Rivers has decided to return as the Celtics coach for the 2010-11 season, according to the Boston Herald. This is the only good news the Celtics have heard since losing Game 7 of the Finals. Rivers’ return could also encourage free agents G Paul Pierce and G Ray Allen to stick around for one more march into the playoffs.

NHL

– The Flyers have re-signed G Michael Leighon to a 2-year/$3.1M deal. Leighton, who was acquired on waivers from Carolina midway through last season, helped lead the Flyers into the playoffs with a 16-5-2 record and 2.48 GAA. He was also instrumental in taking the Flyers to the Stanley Cup final wth a historic comeback against Bostonin the second round and three shutouts against Montreal in the Eastern Conference Final. With G Brian Boucher and G Johan Backlund also signed for next season, it would appear that the Flyers have their goaltending group decided with Leighton as the starter. Philly acquired the negotiation rights for G Evgeni Nabokov and G Marty Turco, but nothing materialized.

– The Oilers have traded F Patrick O’Sullivan to the Coyotes for D Jim Vandermeer. The Oilers placed O’Sullivan on waivers Tuesday and the Coyotes are reportedly going to buy out the remainder of his contract. He will then be able to shop his services around the NHL. O’Sullivan posted 11 goals and 34 points in 73 games last season, but he had a horrendous minus-35 rating.

– Hurricanes’ F Rod Brind’Amour has retired, ending a 21-year NHL career. Brind’Amour, who turns 40 in August, has one year left on the five-year contract he signed in 2006 after captaining Carolina to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup title. He had nine goals and 10 assists in 80 games last season. The two-time Selke Trophy winner played 1,484 NHL games with the Hurricanes, Flyers and St. Louis Blues, scoring 452 goals and 1,184 points.

– The Devils have re-signed F David Clarkson to a 3-year/$8M deal worth $2.67M annually. Clarkson, 26, was set to become a restricted free agent on Thursday and is coming off a 2009-2010 season that was marred by an ankle injury.  In 46 games, Clarkson scored 11 goals, 24 points and recorded a plus-3 rating with 85 penalty minutes.

– The Blue Jackets have claimed F Ethan Moreau off the waiver wire. The former Oilers captain was placed on waivers Tuesday. They planned to buy out the last year of his contract, but the Jackets seized the opportunity to grab him before that happened. He is set to make $1.75M in 2010-11 and probably would’ve been asking for a multi-year deal if he hit free agency.

WWE

– WWE creative is looking at having one of the two Money in the Bank winners cash their title shot by SummerSlam in August, reports f4wonline.com. This would be done so only one superstar would be carrying around a briefcase for the rest of the year.

– WWE is reportedly losing interest in the whole RAW guest host concept. There’s been talk of only having one guest host per month or scrapping the gimmick entirely.

– The official WWE website has announced that Big Show, Christian, Matt Hardy, Kofi Kingston, Cody Rhodes and Kane will compete in the SmackDown Money in the Bank ladder match at next month’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view. Though six participants were announced, it has been confirmed that eight wrestlers will be taking part in the match. Here is the updated card:

Steel Cage Match for the WWE Championship
Sheamus (c) vs. John Cena

World Heavyweight Championship Match
Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Jack Swagger

Raw Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Randy Orton, John Morrison, R-Truth, Evan Bourne, The Miz, Ted DiBiase, Chris Jericho and Edge
(Winner earns right to challenge the WWE Champion at any time, at any place, for up to one year)

SmackDown Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Big Show, Christian, Matt Hardy, Kofi Kingston, Cody Rhodes and Kane
(Winner earns right to challenge World Heavyweight Champion at any time, at any place, for up to one year)

TNA

– TNA is planning for Velvet Sky to turn on Madison Rayne at Victory Road Rayne defends her Knockouts Title against Angelina Love at the event.  There’s talk that Velvet will team back up with Angelina for The Beautiful People. No word yet what will happen to Lacey Von Erich.

VoV

Marc Valeri – captaincharisma@hotmail.com
VoV – www.voiceofvaleri.com
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NBA

– Tom Izzo has officially declined the five-year/$30M contract offer from the Cavaliers to remain with the Michigan Spartans. Izzo acknowledged that being unable to speak with James played a part in his life- and career-altering decision. The Cavs’ search for a head coach will likely focus on Byron Scott (who may wait for the Lakers and Clippers to settle their benches before deciding), as well as Mike Woodson and Brian Shaw.

– Steve Kerr will not return as president and GM of the Suns next season and will likely return to a job as a TV analyst. The Suns went 52-28 this season and reached the Western Conference finals, but team owner Robert Sarver reportedly wanted Kerr to take a pay cut. “I wouldn’t say it’s a big surprise. It boiled down to a number of things, including lifestyle and the opportunity. I was hoping to have him back.” Kerr is only 44 years old, so he may very well return to an NBA front office someday.

Kerr’s resignation “could have dramatically negative impact on [the Suns'] ability to re-sign Amare,” according to Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Kerr just met with Amare’s agent last week, and Amare had a “strong belief” in his abilities to build a championship team. The Suns apparently wanted Kerr to take a pay cut, but their stinginess may end up costing them in the long run.

– The Toronto Star reports that the Raptors are looking for potential suitors for F Hedo Turkoglu, and could make a package deal involving G Jose Calderon, G Jarrett Jack and their #13 overall pick in the draft. On top of those options, the Raptors can still work a sign-and-trade deal to get some value if F Chris Bosh skips town. We may not have to wait long for GM Bryan Colangelo’s first move, as beat writer Doug Smith feels that “all signs point to some kind of transaction coming down the pike before the draft.”

– ESPN reports that a Game 7 win by the Lakers will give coach Phil Jackson an extra $2M in addition to his $12M salary. Jackson’s contract runs out July 1 and he has said he will take a few weeks to see his doctor and decide whether he is returning to the Lakers next season for a likely lower salary or retiring.

– A Celtics team source said Tuesday night that Celtics’ F Kendrick Perkins (knee), who suffered a right knee injury in the first quarter, was “done.” Officially, Perkins and the Celtics are awaiting results of an MRI, and while there’s still a chance he could play in Thursday’s Game 7, it appears to be a foregone conclusion that he suffered a serious injury and is out. At this point, good news would probably mean he didn’t tear his ACL or MCL, but either way, he doesn’t sound at all likely to play in Game 7.

– Raptors’ G Jarrett Jack has expressed interest in remaining with the Raptors. “Obviously there’s a level of frustration with it, being that you want to put some core pieces around you and know that you have those pieces in place and try to build around that. And when one of those pieces kind of goes awry after that, it’s tough, especially after just one year. But I have confidence in coach and the front office that they’ll put out the best product possible.”"

MLB

– According to the AP, Braves’ 3B Chipper Jones hinted that he’d retire at season’s end. “It’s obvious that it’s something I’ve been thinking about. I need to go through the proper channels. Once those have all been taken care of, everybody’s questions will be answered.” Chipper is owed $28M in guaranteed money he’s owed for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. After chatting retirement options with Braves management Tuesday, though, Jones Jones has canceled a tentatively scheduled meeting with the media. In other words, he’s not going to discuss his future plans at the moment. Chipper is struggling this season, both at the plate and with his own health, but the Braves are sitting atop the NL East standings and don’t need any distractions. November, not June, is the time for retirement talk.

– The Chicago Tribune reports that the Cubs haven’t talked to any teams about making trades yet but will begin the process if the losing goes on for the next two or three weeks. On the list for potential trades are 1B Derrek Lee, LHP Ted Lilly, OF Kosuke Fukudome, LHP Tom Gorzelanny and OF Xavier Nady. Lee and Fukudome have no-trade clauses; the team has not asked them to waive the clauses yet.

– A source tells Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports that the Rangers are “getting closer” to acquiring Astros’ RHP Roy Oswalt. The major hurdle, of course, is that the financially-strapped Rangers are trying to convince the MLB to allow them to take on Oswalt’s salary. The players “are more or less agreed to,” according to Calcaterra. Oswalt is still a major financial commitment — nearly $27M, including the prorated portion of his $15M salary for this season, $16M for 2011 and at least a $2M buyout on his $16M option for 2012 — so it shouldn’t be assumed that Major League Baseball will see it their way.

The Fort Worth Stat-Telegram, however, says a Rangers official has told the paper that there is no truth to this rumour, but the team is trying to add some offense and has spoken to the Orioles about 3B Ty Wigginton and the Marlins about 1B Wes Helms.

– The Athletics have acquired 1B Conor Jackson from the D’Backs for RHP Sam Demel. Jackson has been a fairly consistent hitter throughout his career with the Diamondbacks, at least when he’s not battling Valley Fever. He will step into a rotation in the Oakland outfield and will probably hold just about the same amount of fantasy value as he did in Arizona.

– Orioles’ 2B Brian Roberts (back) will be out for an additional four-to-six weeks. Roberts has been sidelined since the first week of the season and there’s been nothing but setbacks since then.

– The Dodgers have placed RHP Chad Billingsley (groin) on the 15-day DL retroactive to June 13.

– The Yankees have placed RHP Sergio Mitre (oblique) on the 15-day DL retroactive to June 5.

– The Yankees have placed OF Marcus Thames (strained right hamstring) on the 15-day DL.

– Cardinals’ RHP Brad Penny (back) will be out until at least the end of June, and it could be much longer, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. An examination on Monday showed that Penny’s upper back strain has yet to completely heal. A few weeks ago it looked like this injury wasn’t going to be a big deal, but it’s already been lingering for a month, and is showing no signs of going away.

NHL

– The Leafs have officially named D Dion Phaneuf their captain. The Leafs have been without a captain since F Mats Sundin in 2008. Phaneuf is the 18th captain of the Maple Leafs and the 22nd in Toronto franchise history.

– Hockey Hall of Famer Cam Neely will be named the president of the Bruins. The Bruins have scheduled a “major announcement” for Wednesday. The Bruins have not had a president since Harry Sinden stepped down in 2006 after 17 years in the position. Neely played the last 10 years of his career in Boston and twice helped the Bruins reach the Stanley Cup finals. They have not been back since 1990.

– The Boston Globe reports that the odds of the Bruins acquiring Senators’ F Jason Spezza for the #2 overall pick in the 2010 entry draft are slim to none. The Globe points out that the Bruins already have a strong core of centers in Marc Savard, David Krejci, and Patrice Bergeron. More importantly, the Bruins have cap concerns as it is and they’d be hard pressed to find a way to acquire Spezza and stay under the cap. The Blue Jackets were also initially mentioned as a possible trading partner for Spezza, but it seems equally unlikely that Columbus would hand Ottawa the #4 overall pick.

– D Rob Blake is expected to officially announce his retirement on Friday. Blake, 40, was one of the league’s best defensemen over his career with the Kings, Avalanche and Sharks, making seven All-Star teams and winning the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman for Los Angeles in 1998. He is 10th on the career list with 240 goals as a defenseman, went to the Stanley Cup finals in 1993 with Los Angeles, won the Cup in 2001 with Colorado, won a gold medal for Canada the following year and helped the Sharks post the best regular-season record in the Western Conference in each of his two seasons in San Jose.

– The Edmonton Journal reports that the Oilers may buyout captain F Ethan Moreau, F Patrick O’Sullivan and F Robert Nilsson. O’Sullivan is due to make $2.95M next season while the other two each have $2M left on their deals. The Senators are also considering a buyout for F Jonathan Cheechoo ($3.5M). If a player is 26 or older, the team has to fork over two thirds of the money left on the deal. If the player is younger than that and gets bought out, though, he only gets one third of the money left on the deal.

– Canucks’ F Alex Burrows (torn labrum in shoulder) underwent surgery last week and he may miss some time at the start of next season. “He may not be ready to play until sometime in October or November,” said his agent Paul Corbeil. The shoulder of Burrows had reportedly been bothering him since the second half of the regular season, but he wanted to play through it. The injury is thought to be the same as the one that F Pavol Demitra had this past campaign. The Canucks will have their fingers crossed that the recovery of Burrows goes smoother, as Demitra had to miss the first 47 games after a second surgery was required. Burrows will be evaluated again sometime in the next two weeks to see where he is at in his rehabilitation. Stay tuned.

– The Canadiens have bought out the final season of F George Laraque’s three-year/$4.5M contract. He was banished from the team that day because Laraque had become a distraction. He remained on the roster for the rest of the season, but was not seen at games or practices. Laraque, who was in and out of the lineup in recent seasons because of back problems, had one goal and two assists in 28 games this season. In two seasons with the Canadiens, he had one goal and four assists in 61 games.

– The Canucks have re-signed D Aaron Rome to a two-year/$1.5M deal. Rome will make $700K next season and $800K the following year.

– The Stars have signed G Brent Krahn to a two-way contract. Krahn played 22 games for the Texas Stars of the AHL this season, winning 17 games with five shutouts and a 1.83 GAA.

– The Blue Jackets have fired former interim head coach Claude Noel, assistants Gary Agnew and Gord Murphy and strength and conditioning coach Barry Brennan.

NFL

– NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora reports that the Seahawks are “quite interested” in Bills’ RB Marshawn Lynch, should they decide to trade him. This disputes an ESPN report from late last week that Lynch “has zero trade value.” Seattle is an excellent fit on paper following the release of LenDale White. The Seahawks also use a zone-blocking system similar to what Lynch played in at Cal. Still, they might not offer more than a late-round pick. Lynch joined his Bills teammates on the practice field for the start of this week’s OTAs on Tuesday. Smart move – if he wants to escape his current third-string role in Buffalo, he’s going to have to clean up his act and show some dedication.

– Redskins’ DE Albert Hayneswoth is still pushing for a trade and will not attend the Redskins’ upcoming minicamp after all. “The Redskins are trying to establish a new regime with new schemes at Redskins Park, and it is not an organization that Albert would have ever been attracted to just a short year ago – regardless of the money,” said Haynesworth’s agent. Haynesworth believes his talents are wasted in a 3-4 scheme. Coach Mike Shanahan’s attempt to take a hard-line stance on his best defender’s absence from voluntary offseason activities has exacerbated the situation. The Redskins will have to consider fining Haynesworth for missing mandatory work.

– The Saints have re-signed RFA RB Pierre Thomas to a one-year/$1.684M contract. The Saints threatened to reduce Thomas’ salary by $1.1M if he didn’t sign the tender, which would’ve been significant for a player who’s never made more than the NFL minimum. Instead, Thomas is showing good faith that the team will work with him on a long-term deal up to his expectations. While Thomas won’t get Steven Jackson money, a Michael Turner-like deal in the $5-6M range annually over 4-5 seasons could be realistic for the 25-year-old.

– A day after assuring that he’s not “mad” at the Titans organization, RB Chris Johnson took to his Twitter account to express frustration with his contract situation. “Just got off the phone with my agent, and it’s not good news. I’m feeling like Darrelle Revis right now. At least they’re offering him something. [The Titans are] not offering me nothing.” The primary issue here is that CJ2K has three years left on his contract, and the Titans are leery of setting a precedent that other players will use against them. There’s no telling how this will play out until training camp starts.

– Chargers unsigned RFAs Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill have reportedly made “financial preparations” in advance of executing lengthy holdouts that could last through Week 10 of the regular season. Updating a previous item, the players’ one-year tenders have not yet been formally reduced, leaving a “slight chance” that Jackson and McNeill could still sign at some point Tuesday. Should V-Jax fail to report until after Week 10, he’d stand to lose a whopping $3.062M. The same course of action by McNeill would cost the four-year starting left tackle $2.956M.

– The Broncos have re-signed RFA OLB Elvis Dumervil to a one-year/$3.168M contract. The sides will continue to work on a long-term deal. Dumervil, 26, set or tied career highs in tackles (48), sacks (17), and forced fumbles (4) last season.

WWE

– Monday’s episode of WWE RAW with actor Mark Feuerstein as guest host did a 3.42 cable rating, up from last week’s 3.09. The show averaged 4,883,000 viewers and did hours of 3.36 and 3.5.

– NBA legend Michael Jordan was backstage at Monday’s WWE RAW from Charlotte. It’s been rumoured for some time that WWE wants Jordan to host an upcoming episode of RAW, so you can bet the idea was pitched this week.

– With next year’s WrestleMania 27 still 9 months away,WWE officials are already working with city officials from Atlanta, Georgia, the host city.

– Actress Florence Henderson, who played “Carol Brady” on the classic Brady Bunch television show, will be guest hosting the July 12 Raw from Lexington, Kentucky. No guest host has been announced for next week’s RAW, the night after no Fatal 4 Way.

TNA

– Scott Hall has reportedly been fired by TNA Wrestling. He was written off of storylines at last night’s television taping for Thursday night’s episode. TNA stripped The Band — Hall, Kevin Nash, and Eric Young — of the TNA Tag Team Championship and set up a mini-tournament. The winning team will face The Motor City Machineguns for the vacant titles at next month’s Victory Road PPV. Last month, Hall was arrested outside of Orlando, Florida two days before Sacrifice. He worked the event and reportedly did not inform management of his arrest. He was charged with disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest after being arrested at the Hitching Post Bar. Hall has since pled not guilty to the charges. His next scheduled court date is July 1 in Seminole County court.

– At Monday night’s TNA iMPACT! tapings (set to air Thursday night on Spike), Ric Flair announced that he was reforming the Four Horsemen in TNA, except the new group would be known as “Fortune.” The group consists of AJ Styles, Desmond Wolfe, Kazarian and Beer Money. During the show, Flair has a confrontation with Jay Lethal, who came out dressed like Flair and acting like Flair. After Lethal wrestles Desmond Wolfe later in the show, Ric Flair comes out and helps Wolfe attack Lethal. Hulk Hogan comes out and asks Ric Flair to reveal his big announcement. Flair says he’s coming out of retirement once again – and will be wrestling Jay Lethal at TNA Victory Road on July 11.

– Updating a previous item, sources indicate that TNA’s “major changes” will be that the company will be dropping the monthly PPV format and instead would be running live specials on Spike TV. It’s still possible that TNA would keep 2-3 PPV events a year on their calendar, but the monthly PPV format has proven to not be profitable for TNA and the company could actually make more money from Spike TV paying them for these live television specials. Again, this is still a rumour, but it does jive with Dixie Carter’s comments about Spike TV President Kevin Kay being “all in” and on board with TNA’s major changes. Stay tuned for the latest on this developing story.

– As seen last night at Slammiversary, Roxxi agreed to put her TNA career on the line against Madison Rayne and her Women’s Knockout Championship. Rayne retained her title, after hitting Roxxi with the championship belt, ending her TNA career in the process. Sources within TNA indicate she is indeed through with the company. Roxxi was not informed of her release from the company until yesterday, according to f4wonline.com. She was visibly upset prior to and after her Slammiversary bout. The decision garnered much heat backstage as many feel TNA could have handled the situation better. Considering Angelina Love and Daffney have been cleared to wrestle, it appears as if TNA no longer needs or has any creative plans for Roxxi, hence her abrupt departure from the organization.

– ODB posted the following on Twitter on Monday afternoon:

“thanks tna fans for all the support but tna and odb have parted ways.it was a decision I made.bamm bitches”

– Tommy Dreamer, who made his TNA debut at Sunday’s Slammiversary pay-per-view, wrote the following on Twitter following his appearance:

“TNA THANKS SO MUCH I AM ON A MISSION HOPE WE ALL ENJOY THE RIDE”

VoV

Marc Valeri – captaincharisma@hotmail.com
VoV – www.voiceofvaleri.com
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VoV

–- Barring unforeseen circumstances, VoV.com will be hosting a LIVE TradeCentre ’10 day on March 3, and will also be posting more frequent updates on March 1 and 2 (pending player transaction). You’re welcome.

NHL

– While there have been two blockbuster trades F Ilya Kovalchuk and D Dion Phaneuf getting completed, it seems unlikely we’ll see anymore blockbuster deals before March 3. Wednesday may not break the record for most trades ever, but remember that this deadline is different than ever before. The long Olympic break resulted in some of the bigger trades (Kovalchuk, Phaneuf, Giguere, Barker, Cullen) moving before the Olympic freeze. Expect to see several trades announced tomorrow that were worked on during the trade freeze – teams were allowed to discuss, but rosters themselves had to freeze. Knowing that, there could be a few potential deals and signings that were worked on over the freeze that won’t become official until Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday. Based on the quality of players in play at this year’s deadline, expect Deadline Day will once again be very busy.

The Leafs have at least two offers on the table for F Alexei Ponikarvsky. TSN reports that the deals are not what GM Brian Burke is looking for, and the team is believed to be holding out unless the offers are improved. Holding out may make Poni’s return price climb, depending on who goes where and the desperation level of teams looking for a talented winger. F Lee Stempniak and F Wayne Primeau are also generating interest and likely will not remain with the blue and white past March 3.

According to the Boston Herald, the Bruins are in the running for a number of trades come deadline day. The team is shopping for an established forward, and while the Bruins are inquiring here and there, nothing is imminent. One name that has come up is Hurricanes’ F Ray Whitney, however, Whitney is unwilling to waive his NTC unless he receives an extension, something the Bruins will not do. The Kings, Penguins and Sabres have also inquired about Whitney. The Hurricanes supposedly want both a prospect and a first-round pick (or the equivalent of that) as a return. The report says to keep an eye on Ducks’ F Teemu Selanne, Leafs’ F Alexei Ponikarovsky and Thrashers’ F Slava Kozlov. Hurricanes’ D Aaron Ward, D Andrew Alberts and D Joe Corvo are UFAs at season’s end, so expect them to get moved.

The Bruins, Flyers and Coyotes are still in the running for a top-four defenceman. Expect one of these teams to land one of the ‘Canes on the trade block.

The Oilers are expected to be one of the more aggressive deadline dealers, however, the contracts of captain F Ethan Moreau, D Sheldon Souray and D Steve Staios are going to be difficult to move.  These players have value with the deadline looming, but the Oil may have to reduce their asking price to get this heavy contracts off their hands.

The Panthers are also set for a huge overhaul, and at least eight players are up for grabs – F Steven Reinprecht, F Cory Stillman, F Rostislav Olesz, F Kamil Kreps, F Nick Tarnasky, F Radek Dvorak, D Dennis Seidenberg, and last but not least, G Tomas Vokoun. TSN reports that Vokoun will not be moved yet, but if the right deal comes in, the Panthers won’t say turn it down.

Based on rumours and speculation of trades/interest from around the league, here is a list of who could be wearing another sweater by March 3. Their star rating (out of 5) indicates the likelihood of them being moved.

Ducks (buyers) – D James Wisniewski (CHI, BOS – ***1/2)

Thrashers (buyers) – F Colby Armstrong (PIT, STL, LA, BOS, COL – ****), F Slava Kozlov (VAN, PHX, MTL – ****1/4), F Maxim Afinogenov (VAN, PIT, WAS – ***), D Pavel Kubina (OTT, VAN, BUF – **1/4)

Bruins (buyers: top-4 defenceman, top-6 forward, two 1st-round picks) – F Michael Ryder (PHX, TOR, NAS – *)

Sabres (buyers: top-4 defenceman, top-12 forward, backup goalie) – F Drew Stafford (FLA, EDM – 3/4*), G Tim Thomas (N/A – 1/2*)

Hurricanes (sellers) – F Ray Whitney (PIT, LA – *****), D Joe Corvo (BOS, VAN, BUF – ***), D Aaron Ward (BOS, COL, PHX – ****1/4), D Andrew Alberts (BOS, PHX, VAN, EDM – ***)

Flames (buyers) – Hearing anyone outside of Iginla/Bourque/Hagman/Higgins are available at the right price.

Blackhawks (buyers: goalie, top-6 defenceman) – G Christobal Huet (FLA – 3/4*). Hearing the team could move anyone with a large contract/cap hit.

Blue Jackets (sellers) – F Raffi Torres (LA, PIT, PHX, ATL – ***3/4), F Fredrick Modin (NJ, COL, DET – ***3/4). D Milan Jurcina (BOS, PHX, OTT – ***3/4)

Avalanche (buyers) – F Marek Svatos (BOS, PHI, OTT – **1/4), D John-Michael Liles (N/A – *)

Stars (sellers) – G Marty Turco (PHI, WAS – *1/2)), F Mike Ribeiro (FLA, TOR, CBJ – *3/4)

Red Wings (N/A) – Up against cap, Red Wings may make small moves at deadline that don’t feature roster players.

Oilers (sellers) – D Sheldon Souray (LA, NYR – *1/4), F Ethan Moreau (TOR, BUF – **1/4), F Andrew Cogliano (MTL, OTT, NJ, TOR, FLA – **1/4), D Lubomir Vishnovsky (N/A – *), D Steve Staios (N/A – *)

Panthers (both) – G Tomas Vokoun (CHI, PHI, EDM, WAS – ***), F Nathan Horton (TOR, EDM, LA, MTL, PHX, PHI, CBJ – ***), F Stephen Weiss (TOR, BUF, CAL, MTL, PHI – *), D Dennis Seidenberg (CAL, LA, BOS, OTT, PHX – *), D Jordan Leopold (BUF, BOS, COL, SJ – ***1/2), F Cory Stillman (VAN, ANA, PHX – **), F Steven Reinprecht (N/A – *1/2), F Rostislav Olesz (N/A – *1/2), F Kamil Kreps (N/A – *), F Nick Tarnasky (N/A – *), F Radek Dvorak (N/A – *1/2)

Kings (buyers) – F Alex Frolov (PHI, MTL, BOS (*1/4)

Wild (buyers) – G Josh Harding (MTL, LA, COL, BUF – *), F James Sheppard (EDM, NJ, TOR – *1/4), D Marek Zidlicky (BUF, LA, BOS, VAN, OTT – ***1/2)

Canadiens (buyers) – F Sergei Kostitsyn (EDM, PHX – ***), D Roman Hamrlik (LA, WAS – **), G Jaroslav Halak/G Carey Price (N/A – **)

Predators (buyers) – D Dan Hamhuis (PHI, NJ, BOS – ***1/2), G Dan Ellis (PHI, CHI, WAS – *1/4)

Devils (buyers: depth at centre)

Islanders (sellers: prospect defenceman) – G Martin Biron (BUF, PHI – ***1/4), D Andy Sutton (CHI, LA, BOS – **)

Rangers (both: top-6 defenceman, top-12 forward) – F Brandon Dubinsky/F Ryan Callahan (N/A – **1/2 – Rangers are not shopping either, but would likely be the return price if they made a blockbuster deal), D Wade Redden/D Michael Rozsival (N/A – 1/4*), D Matt Gilroy (CAL, TOR, MIN – 1/4*),

Senators (buyers: top-6 defenceman, top-12 forward)

Flyers (buyers: goalie, top-4 defenceman, top-9 forward) – F Jeff Carter (TOR, FLA – *1/4 – not currently being shopping, but would likely be the return price if they made a blockbuster deal), F Daniel Briere (CAL, TOR, BUF – *1/2 – rumours indicate that the Flyers would give up Briere as a salary dump with a low return price),

Coyotes (buyers: top-9 forward, top-6 defenceman) – F Peter Mueller (TOR, MTL, NYR – **1/2)

Penguins (buyers: top-6 winger, top-4 defenceman)

Sharks (sellers: top-6 defenceman, backup goalie) – F Ryan Clowe (TOR, BOS, PHI, EDM, FLA – **), F Joe Pavelski (TOR, OTT, MTL – 1/2*)

Blues (N/A) – F Paul Kariya (VAN, LA, BUF – ***1/2), D Carlo Coloaiacovo (VAN, BUF, OTT, MTL – ***1/4)

Lightning (N/A: top-6 defenceman)

Maple Leafs (buyers: Toronto’s first round pick belongs to Boston, so the Leafs will buy without trading any prospects. First-line centre, top prospect, draft picks) – F Alexei Ponikarovsky (PUT, BOS, LA, NAS, PHX – *****), D Tomas Kaberle (PIT, VAN, BUF, BOS, CHI, SJ – **1/2), F Lee Stempniak (BUF, PIT – ***1/2), F Wayne Primeau (N/A – ***1/2)

Canucks (buyers: top-6 forward, top-4 defenceman) – G Cory Schneider (STL, NJ, EDM, PHI – ***1/2), F Cody Hodgson (TOR, PHI, FLA – 1/2*)

Capitals (top-6 defenceman, backup goalie)

VoV

- Email – captaincharisma@hotmail.com
– Twitter – @VoiceofValeri

NBA

– The Kings have officially traded F Tracy McGrady to the Knicks in a three-way deal. The who’s-going-where is a bit of a mess, so here it is, nicely ironed out.

To Knicks: F Tracy McGrady, G Sergio Rodriguez
To Rockets: G Kevin Martin, F Jared Jeffries, F Hilton Armstrong, F Jordan Hill, the Knicks’ first-round draft picks in 2011 and 2012
To Sacramento: G Larry Hughes

– The Bulls have traded F Tyrus Thomas to the Bobcats for G Flip Murray, G Acie Law and a future first-round pick.

– The Jazz have traded F Ronnie Brewer to the Grizzlies for a protected first-round draft pick in 2011. Brewer becomes an immediate backup. The Grizz obviously feel as though F Rudy Gay will walk this offseason.

– The Bucks have traded G Jodie Meeks and F Francisco Elson to the Sixers for G Royal Ivey, a second-round pick and F Primoz Brezec.

– ESPN reports that while a buyout is likely for Wizards’ F Zydrunas Ilgauskas, the Mavs have expressed interest in signing him, as F Erick Dampier is out after finger surgery.

– The LA Times reports that the Clippers are planning to leave a lot of cap room this summer. When all contracts expire, the Clippers will be left with five players, giving them $35M in wiggle room. Expect the Clippers to bid (and lose) on some big name players in this summer’s huge free agent frenzy.

PGA

– PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem has explained why the the timing of Tiger Woods’ prepared statement on Friday morning is so important. According to the AP, Finchem submitted a letter to the PGA Tour policy board that read as follows:

“As we understand it, Tiger’s therapy called for a week’s break at this time during which he has spent a few days with his children and then will make his statement before returning. Accordingly, there was very little flexibility in the date for the announcement.”

Because Woods’ statement will occur during the Accenture’s World Golf Championships-Match Play Championship, suspicion over its timing has been the primary focus. Since Accenture dropped Woods as a spokesperson, some believed that Woods was spiteful. Woods was photographed jogging on Wednesday and hitting balls today. His next possible return site would be at the WGC-CA Championship at Doral on March 11-14.

Shortly after it was announced that Tiger Woods would speak on Friday, his web site released a brief statement. In its entirety, it reads,

“Tiger Woods will be speaking to a small group of friends, colleagues and close associates at 11:00 a.m. EST on Friday at the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Tiger plans to discuss his past and his future, and he plans to apologize for his behavior. While Tiger feels that what happened is fundamentally a matter between him and his wife, he also recognizes that he has hurt and let down a lot of other people who were close to him. He also let down his fans. He wants to begin the process of making amends, and that’s what he’s going to discuss. His remarks will be open to a press pool for live coverage. It is NOT a news conference.”

MLB

– Red Sox’ C Victor Martinez told Alex Speier of WEEI.com that he would “obviously” like to stay with the Red Sox. “Who don’t want to be here in the long term?. This is an organization that, everyone wants to be here.” Martinez told Speier that “it’s all in [the Red Sox'] hands” as to whether or not he will discuss a contract extension during spring training. The BoSox will make sure Twins’ C Joe Mauer is locked up before they start any long-term extension talks.

– The Fort Wroth Star-Telegram reports that the Rangers are interested in C Jose Molina. The team has already offered him a minor-league deal, which he declined.

– According to James Schmehl of MLive.com, the Tigers have already emptied a locker in Lakeland “for what most are assuming” will be free agent OF Johnny Damon. Look for Damon to accept the two-year/$14M deal the Tigers offered him more than a week ago. If the offer is legit, Damon would have no real reason to turn it down, despite speculation of the contrary. Position players are scheduled to report to Tigers’ camp on Monday and their first full workout is scheduled for Tuesday.

White Sox’ GM Kenny Williams plans to address the Damon situation on Sunday, according to Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald. “I will talk about this on Sunday,” said Williams, his first public comment regarding Damon. Gregor reminds that Williams has a long history of ignoring media requests when he’s on the verge of making a trade or signing a free agent. Coincidentally, Sunday is the day pitchers and catchers report to Glendale. Gregor takes this to mean that Williams already knows that Damon has agreed to sign with the Tigers. The White Sox have reportedly offered him a one-year/$4.5M deal. It’s just speculation at the moment, so stay tuned.

– The Angels and SS Erick Aybar avoided arbitration on Thursday by agreeing to a one-year/$2.05M contract. Aybar requested $2.75M while the Angels offered $1.8M when arbitration figures were swapped last month. He has a chance to earn $50K bonuses for 575 plate appearances and 625 plate appearances. Aybar, 26, batted .312/.353/.423 last season and is the favourite to fill the void in the leadoff spot.

– The Marlins have signed RHP Mike MacDougal.

NHL

– The Fourth Period reports that Oilers’ captain F Ethan Moreau could be dealt at the trade deadline. “There isn’t really a bad scenario. I love playing the game. Either here, playing in this city and this organization that I’ve enjoyed for the last 10 or 11 years or somewhere else with a new opportunity. For me, there is not a lot of anxiety. He’ll likely get traded for prospects or draft picks since Edmonton is in a rebuilding mode. Edmonton is also apparently trying to get rid of D Sheldon Souray, F Shawn Horcoff, D Lubomir Vishnovsky and F Mike Comrie before the March 3 deadline.

NFL

– NFL Network’s Jason LaCanfora reports the Ravens will not move RB Willis McGahee despite his $3.6M salary in 2010. McGahee will  back up RB Ray Rice, but will see touches at the goal line. The 28-year-old did great in the backup role, averaging 5.0 YPC with a career-high 14 combined TDs.

WWE

– In the new 2010 WrestleMania XXVI Almanac magazine, WWE superstar Shawn Michaels says he has regrets about his WrestleMania 14 match with Stone Cold Steve Austin. At the time, Michaels’ back was in terrible shape and his career was thought to be over. He was also an emotional wreck and admits he was not an easy guy to get along with in the WWE locker room. When asked if he has any regrets in his career, Michael said:

“The one I always come back to is my match against Steve Austin at WrestleMania 14. I just wasn’t in a great place physically or emotionally. That one could have been so much more. Steve didn’t get me at my best. And that’s unfortunate, because it was the last time I got to work with him. Steve went on to such great things afterward, and I had an opportunity to make that match so much more.”

Michaels also looks back at his matches with Bret Hart during the mid-90′s and thinks the two legends could have accomplished a lot more together if not for their personal differences:

“I will say that I wish I had been in a better place in my life with Bret. Our matches were phenomenal, but I shudder to think what he and I could have accomplished had we gotten along.”

Michaels also named his classic ladder match with Razor Ramon from WrestleMania as high on his list of all-time great WrestleMania matches:

“Over the years, the ladder itself has become the central figure of that particular stipulation, but in our situation, it served as a backdrop for something much bigger. We were two guys claiming rightful ownership of those titles, and the ladder was just there as a way for us to prove who was the best. Now, the ladder is the primary element, and these matches are often about what the contestants can do with it.”

VoV

– Email – captaincharisma@hotmail.com
– Twitter – @VoiceofValeri
– Facebook – facebook.com/thecanadianrage

NHL

– The Thrashers have traded F Ilya Kovalchuk, D Anssi Samlema and a second-round pick to the Devils for F Niclas Bergfors, D Johnny Oduya, F Patrice Cormier, a first and a second-round pick. The Blackhawks, Bruins, Flyers, Flames, Kings and Rangers were also in the mix. Kovalchuk, a UFA at season’s end, is still looking for a 10-12-year/$120M deal that will see him make the league-maximum $11.2M annually. With the uncertainty of whether the cap may go up or down, it’s hard to believe any team will pay that. And as good as Kovalchuk is, he’s no Alexander Ovechkin who is the league’s highest paid player at $9.3M. It is likely just a contract demand in order to weasel his way out of Atlanta. Kovalchuk recently rejected a Thrashers extension worth 12-years/$101M.

Bergfors and Cormier were two of the Devils top prospects and the price may prove to be a little tough to swallow for a rental player, but there’s no doubt that the Devils chances of winning the Stanley Cup just got a whole lot brighter. In Kovalchuk, Jersey is getting one the NHL’s best and most consistent goal scorers to compliment a team that doesn’t need to score many goals to win games. They should be considered a serious Stanley Cup contender, but whether or not they can lock up Kovalchuk in the offseason remains unknown. He may be more flexible when negotiating an extension with a franchise that has a long track record of success. Stay tuned.

– According to TSN, the Leafs and Oilers could be working on a deal. The Oil, among many other teams, have expressed interest in F Alex Ponikarovsky, and it’s believed that Toronto will move him in order to try and re-acquire some of their lost draft picks. Ponikarovsky, specifically, is expected to bring back a second-round pick. D Garnet Exelby and F Lee Stempniak have also been the subject of trade rumours.

Like Ponikarovsky, Stempniak and Exelby are scheduled to be UFAs this summer, but both still carry hefty price tags. Stempniak is making $3.5M this season ($2.5M cap hit), while Exelby is on the books for $1.7M ($1.39M cap hit), so moving these players isn’t a simple process.

TSN reports that the Oilers are pushing hard to move out bodies, but Oilers’ GM Steve Tambellini hasn’t reached a point of desperation where he’s willing to sweeten the pot to make a deal. The Leafs would likely move either Exelby or Stempniak for Oilers’ captain F Ethan Moreau and a draft pick in order to compensate Moreau’s $1.75M contract ($2M cap hit). Stay tuned, as Leaf land is going to get active soon.

– TSN reports that Oilers’ D Sheldon Souray is down to six teams that he’d waive his no-trade clause for. Souray’s broken hand, however, might make it difficult for the Oil to move him at the deadline. The list is expected to consist of the Ducks, Stars, Kings, Capitals, Rangers and Flyers.

– The Hurricanes are working on a trade that will send D Niclas Wallin to the Sharks. Wallin, who has a no-trade clause in his contract, was not in the lineup when the Hurricanes played the Flames in Calgary on Wednesday as the final details of the deal are still being worked out. Stay tuned.

– The Bruins have begun actively shopping F Michael Ryder. Ryder, 29, has 12 goals and 20 points in 54 games with the Bruins this season. Ryder signed a three-year/$12M contract with the team in 2008.

– Leafs’ D Mike Komisarek (shoulder) will undergo season ending surgery. He will sit out for Team USA at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

– The Hurricanes have placed F Tuomo Ruuto (UBI) on the IR.

– The Islanders have placed D Brendan Witt on waivers.

NBA

– The NY Post reports that trade talk between the Suns and Nets regarding F Amare Stoudemire is dead. Stoudemire reportedly may remain in Phoenix and exercise his option, making him a UFA after next season rather than this season. The Suns are believed to be working on one more deal before trying to move him at the deadline. Stay tuned.

– According to DallasBasketball, the Mavericks could deal F Josh Howard by the February 18 trade deadline. The Mavs are saying it he won’t be moved, but those close to Howard are supposedly saying he’s headed to the Raptors or Heat. A lot of teams are apparently interested in Howard, but don’t likely have the pieces that the Mavericks would like in return. The Mavs are unhappy with their play of late, and it’s believed that a trade could be coming, whether it involves Howard or F Drew Gooden or F Erick Dampier. Stay tuned.

– Hornets’ G Chris Paul (knee) will be out about four-to-six weeks after having arthroscopic knee surgery Thursday. Paul will start rehabilitating immediately and be on crutches for two or three weeks. If he spends two weeks on crutches, it still seems a bit optimistic that he would be able to return two weeks later in game shape. Of course we’re early in the process, but the “six week” side of that timeline seems to be where they should realistically target.

– Yahoo! Sports reported that before the Clippers relieved Mike Dunleavy of his coaching duties, they told other teams that they would keep F Marcus Camby if they were contending for the playoffs, and they would move him if they were not. This sounds like common sense, but it does give us a more definitive idea of what they plan to do with him.

NFL

– RB LaDainian Tomlinson said Thursday that he’s come to terms with the fact that he won’t be back in San Diego in 2010. “I’m not coming back. I’ve accepted it.” The future Hall of Famer said of his time with the Chargers that the “the football part is fun, but the business part sucks.” LT doesn’t know when he’ll be released, but his agent will likely call the team to “expediate the process.”

– Beat writer Mike Triplett calls the report of a new contract for Saints’ QB Drew Brees “a bit premature.” Triplett does expect Brees to get a new deal “at some point over the next two years,” but he points out that the sides have held no serious discussions on a contract. The Saints are expected to open talks this offseason, but “nothing is imminent.” Brees has two years remaining on his original six-year/$60M deal.

– Free agent QB Chad Pennington (shoulder surgery) “has decided to make it his priority to stay with the Dolphins,” according to the Miami Herald’s Jeff Darlington. Pennington is willing to back up QB Chad Henne, and the Dolphins will “entertain the possibility” only after they see him throw — specifically a 15-yard out route. His shoulder was discovered to have only damage to the labrum and the shoulder capsule, leading to expectations of a full recovery. If Miami opts against re-signing him (QB Pat White and QB Tyler Thigpen are under contract), the Cardinals are believed to have interest in Pennington as veteran insurance behind Matt Leinart

– Broncos’ WR Brandon Marshall said Thursday that he’s open to playing for the Broncos next season. “Last year I handled things totally wrong. I just looked at the business side of things and took things too personally.” Marshall is attempting to repair his image, but the Broncos would clearly prefer to trade him this offseason. Perhaps Marshall’s agent has finally made it clear that his best way to get a contract extension is to play the role of the good soldier.

MLB

– The Mariners are set to re-sign LHP Erik Bedard to an incentive-laden deal starting at one-year/$1.5. Bedard, 30, underwent shoulder surgery last August and is expected to miss the first few months of the season, though there is nothing confirmed on that end. The Mariners are still shouldering his medicals bills and have kept close tabs on his progress. According to Kirby Arnold of the Everett Herald, who was linked in the piece by Street, Bedard is expected to begin a throwing program in Arizona shortly.

– The Tigers have officially signed RHP Justin Verlander to a five-year/$80M extension. The new deal buys out his final two years of arbitration and his first three years of free agency. Consistent with the competitive spirit of Verlander, his contract beats out the five-year/$78M deal the Mariners gave RHP Felix Hernandez last month. It’s hard to argue against him. Verlander, who turns 27 later this month, has quickly emerged as one of the game’s top workhorses, leading the AL with 240 innings pitched, 269 strikeouts and 19 wins last season. He has logged at least 200 innings in each of the last three seasons and is just tapping into his considerable potential. The term “ace” is thrown around pretty liberally, but Verlander has shown that he can be a true leader of a staff, even at a young age.

– The Twins have signed 2B Orlando Hudson to a one-year/$5M deal. Hudson, 32, is expected to take over starting second base duties in Minnesota. O-Dog hit .283/.357/.417 with nine home runs, 35 doubles and eight stolen bases in 551 at-bats last season and should provide a nice spark at the top of the Twins’ 2010 lineup.

– According to the Boston Globe, Padres’ GM Jed Hoyer said trading 1B Adrian Gonzalez is not a foregone conclusion. “The team’s position with regard to Adrian has not changed at all. We are excited to have him under contract for the next two seasons. He is a great player who fits our city, team, and payroll remarkably well. We have had, and will continue to have, dialogue with Adrian’s representatives about keeping him in San Diego long-term. It is still early in that process and attempting to draw conclusions in the middle of any negotiation is an inexact science.” Hoyer assessment is more optimistic than that of team CEO Jeff Moorad, who said on Wednesday that “early signals” are that Gonzalez will be too rich for the Padres.

– Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic hears that the Diamondbacks and 3B Mark Reynolds are working on a contract extension. Reynolds, who turns 27 this season, batted .260/.349/.543 last year with 44 home runs and 102 RBI in 578 at-bats. He was the only player in the majors to compile at least 40 homers, 100 RBI and 20 stolen bases in ’09, and he’s set to earn the league minimum this season. The D’Backs are expected to make him a long-term offer by the start of spring training.

– 1B Nomar Garciaparra told WEEI.com on Thursday that he is not ready to retire. This contradicts earlier reports from the San Francisco Chronicle that stated Nomar is “widely expected” to call it quits. The 36-year-old free agent has drawn little interest on the open market this winter, but he informed WEEI’s Lou Merloni that he “feels better now that has in quite some time.” Garciaparra had a .281/.314/.388 batting line in 160 at-bats for the A’s last year and will be lucky to find anything greater than a minor league contract.

– Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports that RHP Edwin Jackson and the Diamondbacks appear to be headed for an arbitration hearing. Jackson filed at $6.25M and the team offered $4.6M when arbitration figures were exchanged last month. According to Piecoro, the Diamondbacks have approached Jackson about a two-year deal that would buy out his remaining arbitration years, but a hearing is still the most likely scenario.

– FOXSports reports that LHP Jarrod Washburn is leaning towards retirement. Washburn is saying he’ll retire unless he gets a decent offer, but he’s limited himself to the Twins and Mariners, the teams nearest his Wisconsin birthplace. He went 9-9 overall with a 3.78 ERA with 100 strikeouts. Washburn will need to broaden his horizon if he wants work.

– The Cubs have re-signed RHP Carlos Marmol to a one-year/$2.125M deal and 1B Kevin Millar.

– The Mets are targeting C Rod Barajas.

– The Tigers have reportedly cooled in their interest in OF Johnny Damon. Damon is now seeking a two-year/$11M deal.

– The Dodgers have signed RHP Jeff Weaver to a one-year/$800K deal.

– Blue Jays’ RHP Dirk Hayhurst (shoulder) will undergo exploratory arthoscopic surgery. His timetable is currently unknown.

WWE

– On Superstars, WWE confirmed reports that the new brand will be known as WWE NXT with a 10-second promotional spot hyping the new show. The show was called “Revolutionary” and we got a first look at the new NXT logo. WWE is setting the bar high for this new show. Based on what we’ve heard, the show will be be a hybrid of pro wrestling and reality TV, similar to WWE’s Tough Enough and UFC’s Ultimate Fighter series. WWE NXT ill feature almost exclusively young talent from WWE’s developmental system, with the possibility of veterans appearing on the show to teach the young guys. WWE really is hoping to introduce the next generation of Superstars to fans in a whole new way, allowing us to get to know the wrestlers in and out of the ring. Whether the wrestlers are competing for a title or a WWE contract remains to be seen, but at least they’re trying something new. As for what happens to ECW, expect to see most of the talent wind up on Raw and SmackDown. The ECW title will likely be put to rest in the near future as well.

– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his JRsBarBQ.com blog. Some highlights:

The End of ECW: “I will always have great respect for the Original ECW because of the passion and work ethic of all involved. Paul Heyman had great vision for what he wanted to create and his talents bought into that vision. I bring this up because the letters “ECW” will leave weekly TV in 3 weeks and will be replaced with a new, WWE produced program. Anxious to see what they come up with for Sy Fy.

His Health: “I am excited about the future primarily because I’m feeling so much better physically and am presently in a great place mentally.”

His Future: “Must be lots of new rumors on the ‘net about my future. If any of you get some concrete info on what I will be doing for a living in the coming months, years, etc, please let me know because my status, goals for the future, etc are the same as I have repeatedly stated for months … I have actually been discussing some projects totally unrelated to the wrestling biz which are intriguing.”

– As reported here earlier in the week, WWE superstar Gregory Helms was found with a Soma pill (a schedule four narcotic muscle relaxer) in his bag when arrested with Chris Jericho. Helms was unable to produce a prescriptionfor the pill at the time of arrest, but it did not get him into any trouble with the police.

If Helms didn’t have a prescription for the drug as he told police, WWE would be forced to suspend him for 60 days on his second Wellness violation. WWE’s current policy says that every prescription a wrestler has is supposed to be filed ahead of time with Dr. David Black. All prescriptions are supposed to be written by the company doctors who travel with the WWE crew. Helms has a previous violation against him for his name coming up in the Signature Pharmacy scandal in 2007 and has never failed a WWE drug test.

There has been a lot of talk backstage regarding Helms’ future with WWE after the incident. It’s estimated that Helms missed out on a $5K payday when he was pulled from the Royal Rumble PPV days after the arrest. Helms was said to be apologetic to WWE officials for the incident. He appeared on this week’s ECW show, getting beat down by Ezekiel Jackson and William Regal after they talked about his “rough week.”

TNA

– Despite the positive spin he’s putting on TNA in media interviews, Hulk Hogan has been complaining to friends that he’s frustrated with several things in TNA.  Hogan feels pressure to push people he does not believe in – namely, some of the TNA originals. Word is that Dixie Carter doesn’t want the TNA originals to be buried by Hogan’s buddies, but there are some TNA originals that Hogan sees nothing in and wants to get rid of.  Hogan is said to be a big fan of Abyss as well as Tomko, saying at least both men look like wrestlers.

– Eric Bischoff is still intent on bringing Jim Ross into TNA as an announcer. After many months of speculation as to what he’d do when his WWE contract expired, Ross signed a short-term extension back in December and is expected to be with WWE through mid-2010. That said, the face of the pro wrestling industry is sure to change this year, with TNA likely going to Monday nights at some point, so who knows what the future holds.

VoV

– Email – captaincharisma@hotmail.com
– Twitter – @VoiceofValeri
– Facebook – facebook.com/thecanadianrage

NHL

– Maple Leafs’ GM Brian Burke confirmed yesterday that Swedish free agent G Jonas Gustavsson, a.k.a. The Monster, will arrive in Toronto this week and meet with the Leafs. The Leafs are hoping to sign the 24-year-old Gustavsson, widely considered the best goaltender outside of the NHL last season, to a contract. There are reportedly three other NHL teams are vying for his services, including the Sharks, Stars and Avalanche.

Gustavsson visited Denver yesterday to meet and greet the Avalanche staff and is expected to touch down in the other cities this week. The Denver Post reported that former Avalanche star Peter Forsberg, a fellow Swede, spoke on behalf of the Colorado franchise during Gustavsson’s visit.

Burke is hoping the Monster backs up G Vesa Toskala in Toronto this season, but if the GM is unable to sign Gustavsson, he’ll likely sign a free agent backup or draft a goaltending prospect. Gustavsson guided Farjestad to the Swedish Elite League championship last season and posted a 1.96 GAA and stellar .932 SV% during the regular season.

Gustavsson’s mother passed away a couple of weeks ago, which put his visit to North America on hold for a time. The Leafs recently signed renowned goaltending coach Francois Allaire, and that may prove to be an enticement for Gustavsson to sign with the Leafs.

– The Habs are not interested in acquiring Flyers’ F Daniel Briere. Briere snubbed the Habs two years ago when he was a UFA, but the Canadiens say that that has nothing to do with their lack of interest in him – Montreal passed on Briere because, despite their previous interest, the last thing they need is a small centre with a cap hit of $6.5M for each of the next six seasons. Briere said he chose Philadelphia over Montreal because it offered him a chance for relative anonymity. He also found some comfort in the presence of his good friend and former Buffalo teammate, G Marty Biron, who might not be a Flyer much longer. Biron is eligible to become a UFA on July 1 and there might not be room for him in Philadelphia.

Briere has a no-movement clause in the 8-year/$52M contract he signed with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2007, but the franchise has hopes of creating some cap space.

The Flyers have also spoken with the Kings, who are also not interested in Briere. There are also rumblings that they have spoken with the Coyotes, but their current bankruptcy situation leaves one to wonder what their priorites are.

– Jim Balsillie, who’s appeal to purchase the Coyotes was rejected yesterday, sees this as a stepping stone to his eventual goal of owning an NHL team. Mr. BlackBerry says that he is committed to bringing an NHL team to Hamilton and Copps Coliseum.

– The Team 1260 in Edmonton is reporting that Oilers’ F Ethan Moreau will win the King Clancy Award on Thursday in Las Vegas. The award is given annually to the player who best exemplifies “leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution to his community.”

– Red Wings’ F Pavel Datsyuk is a finalist for four awards as the NHL hands out its hardware in Las Vegas on Thursday. Datsyuk is nominated for the Hart, Selke, Lady Byng and Lester B. Pearson Trophy, which is two more nominations than any other player in the league. The quiet Datsyuk does not consider himself a superstar, though. Agent Gary Greenstin said, “He will never come off as a superstar. He will never think of himself as that. If you were to ask, he just doesn’t think it’s important. He is a team player. But I feel, right now, over the last few years, I myself think he has become a superstar. He is one of the best two-way players in the league, and I believe he will get the awards, Thursday.”

WWE

– According to the PWInsider, WWE kept a lot of employees in the dark about the Donald Trump angle on RAW, and the wrestlers had no idea until at least 7:00pm that night. Vince told everyone he was working on a major deal, when in actuality, he was working on the pre-tape of Donald Trump speaking so he could time his reactions to make it look like a live feed.

The angle with Trump, who is a long-time friend of Vince, was put together as a cross-promotion and will likely result in lots of plugs for The Apprentice on NBC. Sources within the company don’t expect the storyline to go on for too long. Thank the Lord…

– The following is the latest OFFICIAL card for WWE’s “The Bash” pay-per view:

WWE Title:
-Randy Orton (c) vs. Triple H

World Title:
-CM Punk (c) vs. Jeff Hardy

Unified Tag-Titles:
-Carlito & Primo Colon (c) vs. Legacy

Intercontinental Title vs. Rey’s Mask:
-Chris Jericho (c) vs. Rey Mysterio

– RAW did a 3.5 rating last night. The first hour drew a 3.3, the second hour drew a 3.8, and the third drew a 4.1. SmackDown! last Friday did a 1.8.

– The TV Guide website ran a front page story on the Donald Trump/WWE angle after USA Network issued a press release, but has now removed it, presumably after learning that the press release was about a fake storyline.

NBA

– The Magic are desperate to re-sign F Hedo Turkoglu. The team is even willing to pay a luxury tax to get him back under contract. The team believes that in order for them to reach the NBA Finals again next season, Turk will have to be on the team. Stay tuned.

– The Raptors announced they have extended a qualifying offer to restricted free agent G/F Carlos Delfino. Per team policy, financial details were not disclosed.

In accordance with the league’s collective bargaining agreement, in order for a team to retain its rights of first refusal with respect to a restricted free agent it must tender the player a qualifying offer prior to June 30. A restricted free agent may sign an offer sheet with any team, but is subject to a right of first refusal in favour of the NBA team for which the player last played.

Delfino played last season in Russia with BC Khimky Moscow in the Russia-A Superleague. He averaged 10.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 23.2 minutes in 26 games. He had a season-high 25 points against Krasnoyarsk. He also appeared in 10 Eurocup outings, averaging 13.0 points and 3.6 rebounds in 27 minutes. He scored in double figures in eight games with a high of 19 points against Benetton.

– T’Wolves’ F Kevin Love said on his Twitter account that head coach Kevin McHale will not return next season. “Today is a sad day … Kevin McHale will NOT be back as head coach this season.” While it isn’t official, it’s believed that McHale sent Love a text message saying that he wouldn’t be returning. Love’s name has come up in trade talks recently. Former T’Wolves forward and former Raptors bench boss Sam Mitchell seems like a realistic replacement, but that’s merely speculation on my end. It will also be interesting to see how the Wolves feel about Love breaking this story.

– The Bucks are now rumored to be targeting Ty Lawson with the No. 10 pick.

– There’s a rumoured deal between the Suns and the Wizards involving Washington’s No. 5 pick and Phoenix’s F Amare Stoudemire.

MLB

– Sammy Sosa, who reportedly tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug in 2003, worked out with the same controversy-stained trainer in the Dominican Republic as Yankees’ 3B Alex Rodriguez and retired Juan Gonzalez, according to the NY Daily News. Sosa worked out during three offseasons with Angel (Nao) Presinal, a trainer who has been banned from ballparks and clubhouses by the MLB and is still under investigation for his role in Rodriguez’s admitted steroid use.

Because Sosa is believed to have worked with Presinal in the D.R., where steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs are legal and easy to obtain, and thanks to an artfully crafted statement at the 2005 congressional steroid hearing, it is unclear whether he would be subject to a congressional perjury investigation.

Sosa, according to a report posted on The New York Times Web site yesterday, tested positive in 2003 during survey testing conducted by MLB and the MLBPA to determine whether the sport needed to implement a permanent drug program. Two years later, Sosa, accompanied by a translator and a lawyer, appeared on a panel before the House Committee on Government Reform with Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Curt Schilling and Rafael Palmeiro and said he had “never taken illegal performance-enhancing drugs.”

– According to FOXSports.com, the Red Sox and Rangers have discussed a deal that would see RHP Takashi Saito head to Texas for 3B Hank Blalock. The talks, however, were tabled after Rangers OF Josh Hamilton underwent right-abdominal surgery on June 2. They are unlikely to revive, sources say, in part because of the resurgence of Sox’DH David Ortiz, who has a 1.001 OPS in June.

Saito, however, remains in demand, with several teams expressing interest. At this point, the Sox probably would prefer to trade him for a prospect, according to one source. The motivation for such a deal would be unrelated to the team’s logjam in the starting rotation, another source said.

– The Cardinals and 1B Albert Pujols have yet to begin contract extension talks. Pujols signed a 7-year/$100M deal with a $16M club option for 2011 or a $5M buyout in 2004. He’s under contract in 2010 for $16M also.

– The Athletics are currently mulling the future of OF Matt Holliday.

– According to FOXSports.com, the Brewers are soon expected to make an offer for Mariners’ LHP Erik Bedard. The return price would include a shortstop, a position that the Brewers are razor-thin at.

– The Rangers have inquired about the availability of Nationals’ 1B Nick Johnson. A deal, however, is unlikely, as the Rangers would look within the organization to replace 1B Chris Davis, who has a major league leading 92 K’s already.

– The Cubs and Rays recently flew south to see free agent RHP Pedro Martinez in action in the Dominican Republic.

– The Rangers remain the leading candidate for free agent RHP Ben Sheets.

– White Sox’ OF Carlos Quentin said his left foot is suffering from plantar fasciitis, and that he is one bad step away from rupturing the tendon in his foot even further. That would then cost him the season. Quentin said, “We’re aware that if a relapse happens where the tendon ruptures even more, well that’s major. That’s something that’s going to take longer, maybe even the rest of the season.” The 2008 MVP candidate said he could be facing surgery on the foot right after the season, one way or the other. It’s also possible that the ChiSox will keep him on the DL for the remainder of the year to play it safe.

– The Twins have placed OF Denard Span on the 15-day DL, retroactive to June 10, with vestibular neuritis of the right ear. Span is still feeling the affects of an inner ear infection. According to the Twins’ assessment, he wouldn’t have been able to play until after the weekend.

– Astros’ C Ivan Rodriguez matched the major league record for games caught on Tuesday night against the Rangers. He’s now tied with Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk with 2,226 games behind the dish. He’ll have a chance to break the record against his former team on Wednesday.