NBA

– Suns’ F Hedo Turkoglu ripped into the Raptors’ organization in statements released Sunday, and also defended Heat’ F Chris Bosh, who was recently criticized by Raptors’ GM Bryan Colangelo for not playing down the stretch of last season. He later criticized Colangelo for his comments about Bosh, and said he didn’t think Bosh would quit on his teammates. Colangelo would not respond to Hedo’s statements, instead calling him “a friend” and wishing him well. Turkoglu’s remarks were sparked by Colangelo’s allegations that Bosh “checked out” late last season and chose not to play some of the Raptors’ final games.

“People have to realize something is wrong with that organization and nobody wants to go there any more. It’s not just the players who see this.”

”I just don’t understand why you would say these things. Like I said, that organization has problems.”

”It’s funny that people will talk behind your back. If he was feeling this way, why not have the guts to say it during the season? Why not say it to Chris? Now that Chris has left, it’s not nice to say those things.

”Chris has been a franchise player and he did a lot of good things for the Raptors. I don’t think Chris is the type of player to quit on his teammates.”

”I don’t have to talk any more about it for me because it’s past now. I don’t care any more what people say about me because I’ve got other things to worry about.”

– F Shaquille O’Neal has “tested the market in Europe trying to land one last $10M payday,” according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Shaq likely won’t sign overseas, but his priority seems to be making as much money as possible next season. The Cavaliers could still re-sign Shaq for around $6M, says beat writer Brian Windhorst, “and wait for a contender to get desperate to match up with the Lakers or Magic.”

– The Wizards have re-signed F Josh Howard to a 1-year deal worth up to $4M in incentives.

– According to CW30 Eyewitness News out of Memphis, the ex-wife of slain former NBA player Lorenzen Wright, Sherra Wright, is currently in police custody in connection with his murder. Detectives spent most of Sunday at her house assessing, among other things, a grill and fire pit that neighbors reported was used after his disappearance. According to them the fire was large and unusual because it occurred on the hottest night of the year. Sherra claimed to be the last one to see him since he was found murdered on Wednesday.

– The Heat have signed G Eddie House to a 2-year/$2.8M deal.

– The Hawks have re-signed F Jason Collins. In 24 games last season, the 31-year-old Collins posted averages of 0.7 points and 0.6 rebounds in 4.8 minutes per contest.

NFL

– Patriots’ WR Wes Welker (knee/shoulder) will come off the active/PUP list and practice on Sunday. Coming off camp/PUP is key for being ready for Week 1. Welker has passed his physical just over six months after ACL surgery. He’s reportedly looked awesome in side work at camp so far. Expect Welker to start on Opening Day.

– Manish Mehta of the NY Daily News reports that Jets’ CB Darrelle Revis has decided to follow through on his training camp holdout. The Revis camp released a statement: “We waited until last possible minute with hope of getting something done. Darrelle won’t be there.” Revis’ holdout becomes official when he fails to report to Cortland at 5:30ET after previously opting to not show for his conditioning test Sunday. According to Mehta, “(Revis) is not coming back without a new deal. Next move belongs to (the Jets).”

– The Denver Post reports that Broncos’ RB Knowshon Moreno (right hamstring) will miss three weeks due to “minor fraying” in his right hamstring. Moreno should be ready for Week 1. Citing a league source, the Post’s report seconds CBS 4 Denver’s story that Moreno’s hamstring is “slightly,” but not completely torn.

– The Jaguars have signed DT Tyson Alualu, the No. 10 overall pick, on a 5-year contract.

– The Chargers have signed RB Ryan Mathews, the No. 12 overall pick, to a 5-year/$25.65M deal with $15.083M guaranteed. He only missed a few days, and will return to the field as San Diego’s first-team tailback, a position manned by FB Mike Tolbert (not Darren Sproles) to this point in camp. Though Mathews should flirt with 300 touches if he stays healthy, he’s being drafted too early for our tastes. His current ADP is squarely in the second round, and we’ve often seen him in the first. Mathews will lose a lot of receptions to Sproles, and possibly goal-line carries to Tolbert.

– The Titans have signed the No. 16 overall DE Derrick Morgan to a 5-year contract. The ACC sack leader and first-team All American will enter camp third on the depth chart at right defensive end.

NHL

– The Sharks have re-signed RFA F Devin Setoguchi to a 1-year/$1.8M deal. GM Doug Wilson said “We’re happy to have Devin under contract for next season…he is an important part of our team and we are looking forward to his on-going growth as a player. We have very high expectations for him.”

– According to reports, an arbitrator awarded Blackhawks’ G Antti Niemi $2.75M for next season. The figure appears to be just below the Blackhawks threshold to retain their goalie. If true, the Hawks would now have 48 hours to accept the award or walk away. It was previously believed that the Hawks asked for $2M per season while Niemi was seeking $3M.

– The Lightning have signed F Dominic Moore to a 2-year deal. Moore, a defensive, 2-way forward, split last season between the Panthers and Canadiens, recording 10 goals and 28 points in 69 games.

– The Oilers have re-signed G Jeff Deslauriers to a 1-year/$1.05M contract. Deslauriers was 16-28-4 last season with a 3.26 GAA and .901 SV%.

– The Canadiens have signed D Alexandre Picard to a 1-year/2-way deal, F Louis Leblanc to a 3-year deal and D Alex Henry to a 2-year/2-way contract. Picard, 25, scored four goals and added 11 assists in 54 games with Ottawa and Carolina last season. Leblanc was the 18th overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.  He is eligible to be sent to AHL, but he has signed with the Montreal Juniors of the QMJHL. The current plan is to have him play in the QMJHL, but it depends on what happens in Canadiens camp. The 6-foot-1, 184-pound forward led Harvard in goals (11), assists (12), and points (23) as a freshman during the 2009-10 seasons.  Leblanc was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year. Henry did not appear in the NHL last season, but over 68 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL, he had 13 assists and a plus-17 rating and ranked second on the team with 154 penalty minutes.

– The Blackhawks have signed D Nick Leddy to a 3-year contract. The 19-year-old registered three goals and eight assists during his freshmen season at the University of Minnesota in 2009-10.

– Green Party leader Elizabeth May named former Canadiens’ F Georges Laraque as a deputy leader of the party on Saturday. The 260-pound fighter will focus on promoting the link between physical health and the environment. He maintains he has no intention of seeking a seat in the next federal election. He joined the Green party last February but his role had remained undefined until now.

MLB

– The Astros have re-signed RHP Brett Myers to a 2-year extension. The deal will keep Myers in Houston through the 2012 season and carries a club option for 2013. The starting pitcher is guaranteed $21M and could reach $29.5M if he lasts through 2013 and reaches performance bonuses. He’s in the midst of a 1-year/$3.1M deal.

– Royals’ RHP Gil Meche (shoulder) has decided against season-ending surgery and will instead head to the bullpen for the remainder of the year. Meche, who Royals manager Ned Yost said last Tuesday was headed to go under the knife, apparently sought an opinion from surgeon Dr. David Altchek on Thursday in New York. Altchek advised Meche that he’d be unable to pitch in 2011 if he underwent a procedure. However, after consulting with his fiancee, a team physical therapist, Royals GM Dayton Moore and Meche’s agent, the plan was formulated to keep him active by throwing in the ‘pen. Meche will continue rehab on his pitching shoulder, start tossing short sessions and otherwise prepare for a role as a reliever.

– The Royals have placed RHP Robinson Tejeda (right biceps tendon strain) on the 15-day DL retroactive to July 30.

– The Cardinals have placed SS Tyler Greene (right hand contusion) on the 15-day DL.

– The Padres have placed OF Oscar Salazar (strained right Achilles tendon) on the 15-day DL retroactive to July 30.

WWE

– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog at JRsBarBQ.com with a reaction to Randy Savage working with WWE again after so many years, rumors that Sid is returning to WWE and the possibility of NXT War Games match:

Randy Savage On Good Terms with WWE? “I do not know any more than most fans about WWE’s updated relationship with Randy Savage or what the future holds for WWE/Savage, if any thing. It seems that a marketing arrangement has or is being established and one could always speculate that could eventually morph into more. Yes, Randy Savage is deserving of the WWE HOF and perhaps one day he will be inducted which would be a great moment for his many, loyal fans. Until then, let’s just sit back, be patient and wait.”

Sid Returning to WWE? “We’re getting a great deal of questions regarding Sid returning to WWE. I’m not in the loop nor do I know WWE’s plans or Sid’s physical status. Does Sid even want to get back on the road to any degree? I have no idea but if I had to make a random guess I would suggest that WWE and Sid will likely never do any thing together in a significant way again. I certainly could be wrong because as I said I don’t know WWE’s plans other than they are definitely trying to get their roster ‘younger.’”

NXT War Games: “Is the War Games a concept suited for The Nexus? It certainly might work but it adds yet another steel cage into the PPV equation. Steel cages, in any form, and frequent title changes seem to be over utilized from my personal perspective in general within the biz. Plus, although I like Nexus very much, they all have a long way to go and need significant ring time to hone their skills to a perennial main event level and there is no guarantee that all 7 can or will succeed in such. I do feel that Nexus is the freshest thing to come along in WWE in a good while so I am more than happy as a fan to watch this faction grow and develop and and to wait and see what happens down the road.”

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

-– You can keep up with VoV through Twitter by clicking here.

– Here are the WWE Survivor Series results: Team Miz (WWE United States champ The Miz, Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger) d. Team Morrison (WWE Intercontinental champion John Morrison, Matt Hardy, Evan Bourne, Shelton Benjamin & Finlay); Batista d. Rey Mysterio; Team Kingston (Kofi Kingston, MVP, R-Truth, Mark Henry & Christian) d. Team Orton (Randy Orton, Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhodes, CM Punk & William Regal); The Undertaker d. Chris Jericho & The Big Show to retain the World Heavyweight Championship; Team James (Mickie James, Eve Torres, Kelly Kelly, Melina & Gail Kim) d. Team McCool (WWE Women’s champ Michelle McCool, Jillian Hall, Beth Phoenix, Layla & Alicia Fox); and John Cena d. Triple H and HBK to retain the WWE Championship.

MLB

– Twins C Joe Mauer was named the AL MVP. This was a no-brainer. Yankee teammates 1B Mark Teixeira and SS Derek Jeter finished second and third, respectively. The Twins star was a near-unanimous winner, receiving 27 of 28 first-place votes. The lone dissenter gave his first-place vote to fourth-place finisher Miguel Cabrera. Mauer led the league in batting average (.365), OBP (.444), and slugging percentage (.587); a feat never before accomplished by a catcher. He also led the league by a substantial margin in Value over Replacement Player (VORP). On top of all that, he played Gold Glove defense at a premium position.

– Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said Monday that speculation about a deal that would send RHP Chad Billingsley to Toronto for RHP Roy Halladay is unfounded. The Dodgers still believe in Billingsley’s talent, despite a 5.20 post All-Star break ERA in ’09. “We would like to improve our pitching, especially starting pitching. I don’t believe we can subtract from it in order to improve it.” It’s clear who the better pitcher is now, but Billingsley, 25, is seven years younger than Halladay and boasts a similar lifetime ERA. Plus, the Dodgers would have to include a group of prospects in the trade.

– According to Jayson Stark of ESPN.com, free agent 1B Nick Johnson is “drawing lots of interest” this winter. Johnson, 31, had the highest 2009 OBP of any hitter on the market this winter and an overall batting line of .291/.426/.405. His agent, Rex Gary, told Stark on Monday that more than six teams have expressed interest. The Mets, Giants and Mariners are likely among them.

– The Brewers are interested in free agent RHP Carl Pavano, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Pavano went 14-12 with a 5.10 ERA in 33 starts this past season with the Indians and Twins.

– According to Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports, the Mets have “called” on free agent 1B Russell Branyan. Branyan, who turns 34 in December, posted a batting line of .251/.347/.520, a career-high 31 home runs and 76 RBI in 2009. He’s a nice fit for the Mets, who are seeking a left-handed power hitter and could stick Branyan at first base. That would leave Daniel Murphy in the outfield, unless the Mets decide to upgrade at multiple positions this offseason. Branyan rejected a one-year offer from the Mariners two weeks ago.

– The White Sox have officially signed SS Omar Vizquel to a one-year/$1.375M contract. The deal makes sense for both parties. The White Sox ink a veteran who offers the club a stellar defensive option off the bench at shortstop, second base or third base. The 42-year-old Vizquel hit only .266/.316/.345 in 177 at-bats last season, but his defense and mentorship of youngsters Alexei Ramirez and Gordon Beckham should make the contract worthwhile for the South Siders. Vizquel, 42, hit only .266/.316/.345 in 177 at-bats last season, but his defense and mentorship of youngsters 2B Alexei Ramirez and SS Gordon Beckham should make the contract worthwhile for the South Siders.

– The NY Daily News reports OF Johnny Damon won’t take a pay cut to stay with the Yankees. “I want to continue to be on a team that can win and to play in front of great fans – and we know that the Yankees fill both of those. I think everyone knows my desire to come back. Still, every time I’ve been a free agent, I’ve ended up switching teams. It’s the nature of the beast. If people are interested, I’m going to listen.” Damon would reportedly be open to a shorter deal with New York, however, he would want a higher annual salary. Stay tuned.

– According to FOXSports.com, the Mets aren’t pursuing RHP Rich Harden. The Mets are considering a list of secondary pitchers in the event that they are unsuccessful to sign RHP John Lackey, including RHP Joel Pineiro, LHP Randy Wolf, RHP Jason Marquis and RHP Ben Sheets, however Harden isn’t one of them, according to a source. The 27-year-old right-hander was 9-9 with a 4.09 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 2009, posting a 10.91 K/9 in 141 innings, however the Mets may be a bit gun-shy given his injury-history.

– MLB.com has learned that it is almost “100 percent” certain that 1B Jorge Cantu will not be traded. The Marlins are willing to listen to offers for possible non-tender candidates, but they reportedly seem comfortable with the roughly $5M Cantu will make next season. Cantu, 27, batted .289/.345/.443 with 16 home runs and 100 RBI in 2009. If he stays in Florida, Cantu will either play first base or third base. Prospects Logan Morrison and Gaby Sanchez are expected to compete for the first base job during spring training.

– Mariners OF Ken Griffey Jr. can make up to $3.9M in 2010 through his incentive-laden one-year deal with the Mariners. Griffey, 40, will be given a base salary of $2.35M and can trigger more than $1.5M in incentives if he tops 400 plate appearances. Junior had no problem reaching that goal this past season (454 plate appearances) and hit .214/.324/.411 with 19 dingers and 57 RBI along the way.

– The A’s have signed 3B Dallas McPherson.

– LHP Andy Pettitte, 1B Fernando Tatis and OF Laynce Nix has filed for free agency.

NHL

– According to AM 640, the Leafs and Blackhawks are working on a trade that could become official in the coming days. Early reports suggest D Brent Sopel and a second or third-round pick headed to Toronto for an unknown return. The Blackhawks have been scouting Marlies players all week, and it’s possible that a name they’re looking into is F Jiri Tlusty. If Tlusty is involved, however, look for GM Brian Burke to push for names like F Kris Versteeg and F Patrick Sharp, as these are the guys that Burke has been targeting.

– The Canadiens have traded F Guillaume Latendresse to the Wild for F Benoit Pouliot. Latendresse scored 16 goals and 29 points in his rookie season, but has never been able to build upon that success as a power forward. If he can find a way onto one of the Wild’s top two lines, Latendresse may be able to break out in Minny.

– Canadiens F Georges Laraque has been suspended five games for his hit on Red Wings D Niklas Kronwall. Sources say that the league wanted to suspend him for four games, but Bob Gainey suggested six.

– The Wild are continue to shop G Josh Harding with the return being some offensive help.

– Wild D Brent Burns (concussion) is out indefinitely. It was initially thought that Burns was merely suffering from an illness, but he has been diagnosed with a concussion. Minnesota thinks he suffered the injury in Wednesday’s game against Phoenix.

NFL

– Rams QB Marc Bulger (broken fibia) is out three-to-six weeks. A Monday MRI revealed a fracture in his upper kneecap. With only six games left, Bulger is a candidate for injured reserve. QB Kyle Boller is next on the depth chart, but the 1-9 Rams may as well see what rookie QB Keith Null can do if Boller struggles.

WWE

– As reported here over the past few weeks, Rey Mysterio’s knee is in bad shape and he needs his ACL repaired. Batista’s brutal attack on Mysterio after their match at Survivor Series and the stretcher job that followed was the setup for him taking time off. Many within WWE are concerned that this may be it for Mysterio’s career, but it’still s too soon for that to be confirmed. He could be out up to six-to-nine months from the surgery, which would make Wrestlemania 26 the third out of the last four Wrestlemanias Mysterio has missed due to injuries.

Additionally, Unified tag champion the Big Show also needs knee surgery, according to PWInsider.com. He got choked out by the Undertaker at Survivor Series and will be off WWE television shortly. This will likely be the end of the surprisingly solid JeriShow tag team. Had Edge been ready to return to action, this would have been the perfect set up to reintroduce him into storylines and feud with Chris Jericho. Jericho and Edge were teaming together before Edge got injured and Jericho ran down Edge for being injury prone and the weak link in the team. Jericho selected Big Show as his new partner, but now that he’s on his way out as well, it should be interesting to see where Jericho winds up.

TNA

– – Hulk Hogan continues to make media appearances in Australia promoting the ongoing Hulkamania: Let the Battle Begin tour. The highlights:

What he’ll do to TNA: “In TNA, I’m going to listen to those fans and give them what they want. I’m not going to keep shoving a bunch of terrible, horrible, stale programming down their throats. (In TNA), I’m going to take the writers and tell them, ‘Go get another job. Sit in the back. If I need you to write a jingle for a commercial, maybe we’ll use you for that.’”

On running TNA: “I’m going back to the United States to run that company – TNA. I’m going to be on-camera, I’m going to be behind-the-scenes taking care of business in the back, and if the fans scream and shout loud enough, I might even lace up the boots up, brothers, but I’m not planning on doing that. I’m planning on taking that company and turning it into the #1 promotion in the business. When I leave here, that’s the mission I’m on.”

His financial stake in TNA: “I signed a deal with Dixie Carter to come in as her partner. I know there are several people on the show – storyline-wise – who say they are part of TNA (management) such as Mick Foley and Jeff Jarrett, but this thing is for real.”

VoV

-– You can keep up with VoV through Twitter by clicking here.

MLB

– According to Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times, the Rays have expressed interest in signing OF Carl Crawford to a contract extension. Crawford has just one year remaining on his current deal. He’s been solid for the Rays, hitting .305/.364/.452 in 2009 with a career-high 60 stolen bases. The price tag will be very high, but he is well worth the investment.

– Bill Madden of the NY Daily News says the Mets will have about $20M to spend this offseason. Madden says the Mets are certain to reduce their $147M payroll and should be counted out contention for RHP John Lackey, OF Matt Holliday and OF Jason Bay. Madden goes on to say that second-tier free agents should be their focus with priorities being left-field and two starting pitchers, naming RHP Jason Marquis specifically. That said, don’t count the Mets out of any major offseason spending.

– The Royals have identified the Mets as a possible trading partner for OF Jose Guillen, reports Adam Rubin of the NY Daily News. The Mets would reportedly only consider Guillen if they miss out on OF Jason Bay and OF Matt Holliday. Guillen is in the final year of his contract making $12M this season, so the Royals would have to eat a significant chunk of salary to even consider making this deal. The Royals are believed to be eyeing OF Angel Pagan as a return. A deal likely won’t get done, though – the Mets can just sign a second-tier outfielder for a small cost and keep Pagan on their roster either way.

– OF Gary Sheffield is apparently dedicated to playing in 2010. Sheffield’s family wants him to reach 3,000 hits for his career (currently at 2,689) and Sheff wouldn’t rule out cranking 40 home runs next year. With the overall shift to younger players, Sheffield may not find the playing time he wants next year, and certainly not for a drive to 3,000 over the next few years. Looks like Sheff will be forced into retirement at some point.

NHL

– Red Wings D Niklas Kronwall (sprained MCL) is out for about one month.

NFL

– Packers OLB Aaron Kampman (knee) and CB Al Harris (knee) are likely out for the season. Harris couldn’t even walk after the game, but beat writer Greg Bedard says Kampman’s injury is more severe.

– Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger (concussion) is out indefinitely.

– Redskins RB Ladell Betts (torn MCL) is likely out for the rest of the season. Betts was injured when Cowboys linebacker Bradie James landed awkwardly on the runner’s back leg. Betts was helped to the sideline before being carted off the field in a huge aircast. Betts is scheduled for an MRI on Monday.

NHL

– Rumours are circulating in Montreal that G Carey Price or G Jaroslav Halak could be on their way out of town, with the Blackhawks being a possible destination. Rumours also suggest that F Andrei Kostitsyn and F Georges Laraque could both end up in the AHL.

– If the return of F Phil Kessel doesn’t spark the Buds within the next 5-10 games, expect GM Brian Burke to try and pull a deal.

– The Hurricanes are shopping F Ray Whitney, but he’s got a NTC. The team supposedly has interest in F Brendan Shanahan.

– The Red Wings are still interested in Thrashers G Kari Lehtonen, but they also appear to be interested in Islanders G Martin Biron and Senators G Brian Elliott.

– The Oilers are rumoured to be shopping F Shawn Horcoff. Don’t look too far into this.

– Predators D Shea Weber (foot) will be out two weeks. The Preds’ blueliner leads his team with five goals and is second on the club in scoring with nine points in 13 games. Weber suffered the injury to his left foot on Saturday against Dallas when he blocked a shot off the stick of F Brenden Morrow in the second period.

MLB

– SI is reporting that the Rays are very close to trading 2B Akinori Iwamura to the Pirates. The deal could be official as soon as Friday. Still no word on what the Rays will be getting in return, though it probably won’t be a significant name. They were expected to decline Iwamura’s $4.85M option ($550K buyout) in the event that they couldn’t complete a trade. Iwamura figures to be the Pirates’ everyday second baseman and No. 2 hitter.  There was speculation earlier this week that the Dodgers and Cubs were interested in Iwamura.

– Jays OF Vernon Wells (left wrist) and 3B Edwin Encarnacion (left wrist) are to undergo surgery next week and Friday, respectively. Both are expected to be ready for spring training.

MLB

– Phillies RHP Brett Myers disputed a Yahoo! Sports report that he had a “tense confrontation” with LHP Cole Hamels following Game 5. Tim Brown reported that Myers said, “What are you doing here? I thought you quit” in response to Hamels’ previous quotes about wanting the season to end. However, Myers and Hamels are said to be very good friends and Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com wrote that he felt Myers was merely kidding around. “The bottom line is nothing happened and nothing ever will happen between us,” Myers said.

NFL

– The Seahawks have released RB Edgerrin James. This should be the end for the potential Hall of Famer. The 31-year-old was averaging just 2.7 yards on 46 carries compared to 5.7 for Justin Forsett and 3.9 for starter Julius Jones. James is unlikely to draw interest as a free agent once he clears waivers.

– The Chiefs claimed WR Chris Chambers off waivers from the Chargers. He should get plenty of opportunity for playing time on the receiver-needy Chiefs.

– Bills LCB Terrence McGee (knee) underwent minor arthroscopic surgery Tuesday to repair meniscus damage. The surgery was successful, and McGee doesn’t expect to miss much time with the team on bye this week. It’s possible that he’ll miss the Week 10 game against the Titans, but the recovery is not expected to last longer than two weeks.

– Browns ILB Eric Barton (bulging disc in neck) is reportedly in danger of missing the rest of the season. Barton left Sunday’s game in the second quarter with what was reported as a shoulder injury. They determined that hat he had a bulging disc between the C3 and C4 vertebrae.