WWE

– The current plan for Nexus is for the group to disband by October. There is talk of bringing in some of the standout rookies of Season 2 and many of the Nexus stars will remain part of the main WWE roster, but the group’s days are numbered.

– Vince McMahon made the decision to rename the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship the WWE Tag Team Championship because he wanted new belts to be marketed. Another reason given for the change is that it’s easier for talent to pass through airports with one set of belts than two. It is currently unknown if the belts will be considered a brand new championship or if they will carry the lineage of either one or both Tag Team Championships.

NHL

– The Predators have re-signed F Patric Hornqvist to a 3-year/$9.25M contract. Hornqvist led Nashville with 30 goals last year, while setting a franchise record for shots in a single season with 275. He also finished tied for the team lead in points with 51 in 80 games.

– Red Wings’ D Niklas Kronwall (left knee) told a Swedish hockey blogger that his injury continues to bother him with training camp just around the corner. The hard-hitting blueliner said that he is unable to make certain moves because his knee is not strong enough. “He’s not happy at this point; he was hoping he’d feel better,” said GM Ken Holland. The Wings are expected to start skating next week and Holland said he thinks Kronwall will be on the ice at the beginning of camp. He missed 34 games last season due to his injured knee.

– D Aaron Ward has announced his retirement from hockey. “I’m very proud to have played for as long as I did in the NHL, with and against the best players in the game. This game has left me with countless memories and relationships, especially from those Stanley Cup-winning teams in Carolina and Detroit. Thank you to my family, fans, friends, and teammates for all the great years.” The stay-at-home blueliner played in 839 career games with Detroit, Carolina, Boston, Anaheim and the Rangers.

MLB

– Tigers’ OF Magglio Ordonez (fractured right ankle) will undergo season-ending surgery on Wednesday. Over the weekend, manager Jim Leyland already hinted that Ordonez was likely done for the season, so today’s announcement doesn’t come as a huge surprise. He wraps up the year at .303/.378/.474 with 12 homers and 59 RBI. The Tigers have a $15M option for 2011 that they will not vest.

– Rangers’ 2B Ian Kinsler (groin) was cleared for baseball activities after an MRI on Tuesday showed “significant improvement.” He’s expected to hit in the cages and field ground balls Tuesday. Barring any setbacks, he could go out on a minor league rehab assignment later this week.

NBA

– Nuggets’ F Carmelo Anthony has expressed “more enthusiasm” about joining the Rockets than the Knicks, sources tell Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Josh Kroenke, the son of the Nuggets’ owner, met with Melo in Baltimore over the weekend and “restarted the process of selling the disgruntled star on signing a contract extension.” He was, however, unable to reach any resolutions. Although Anthony has been linked most often to the Knicks, it’s clear he has plenty of other options here. The Denver Post is hearing that the Clippers could end up as a potential trade partner. Stay tuned.

– Raptors’ G Jose Calderon (hamstring) is expected to be fully healed by the time the Raptors open camp on September 29, according to Spanish basketball officials. Spain is saying that Calderon will need just 4 weeks to heal, but that seems doubtfu – NFL players routinely miss 2-to-3 weeks with hamstring strains and Calderon tore his.

NFL

– Raiders’ WR Chaz Schilens (knee) is out indefinitely after having his troublesome knee scoped on Tuesday. Schilens probably isn’t going to play before midseason, while also trying to get his twice-surgically repaired foot back into playing shape.

– Vikings’ coach Brad Childress wouldn’t rule out the possibility of WR Sidney Rice (hip) going on the IR following Monday’s hip surgery. “We haven’t made any determination of whether he’ll be on IR or PUP,” said Childress. Rice will be placed on reserve/PUP at the very least, costing him the first 6 games of the season. Childress acknowledged that Rice “won’t do anything” football-related for another 8 weeks. The team will reevaluate Rice at that stage. Stay tuned.

– Texans’ TE Owen Daniels (knee) said that his MRI in Houston on Tuesday showed his surgically repaired knee is fine, as the “scan and MRI say I’m 100%.” Daniels will go for a recheck with Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday, but it appears he’ll be medically cleared to start the season.

VoV

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

– Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft told reporters Wednesday that negotiations with QB Tom Brady are now “cooking.” Former Patriot WR Troy Brown predicted Brady would be signed before Thursday’s preseason opener. It’s clear that progress is being made. PFT’s Gregg Rosenthal sets the odds at 80-20 that Brady will have a new contract before the start of the regular season.

– According to the NY Daily News, the Jets and CB Darrelle Revis both have 10-year contract proposals on the table, but the sides are $40M apart – the Jets have had a 10-year/$120M offer “on the table for months,” but Revis’ camp is asking for $160M. The $40M doesn’t even include signing bonuses and guaranteed money — it’s “total compensation.” No wonder Woody Johnson’s gut feeling is that Revis won’t play in 2010.

Jets’ GM Mike Tannenbaum promised Tuesday that the team will not entertain trade offers for Revis. As Bill Plaschke said on ESPN’s PTI Tuesday, trade rumors would follow “stalemate” claims, and something will probably get worked out before the season. The Ravens were rumoured to be interested, but it doesn’t look like anything will happen.

– Colts’ C Jeff Saturday (loose bodies in knee) has undergone arthroscopic surgery and has begun rehab. Him timetable is unknown.

– Former Bucs’ LB Derrick Brooks has announced his retirement from football. Brooks, 37, couldn’t find a taker for the 2009 and 2010 seasons after a release from the Bucs two Februaries ago and has been working SIRIUS NFL Radio since. Brooks’ resume has Canton written all over it – he played 14 seasons, making the Pro Bowl in all but three of them. Brooks didn’t miss a single game in his career, and retires as the Bucs’ all-time leader in games played. The 5-time 1st-team All Pro will be in the mix as a 1st-ballot Hall of Famer.

– According to Yahoo! Sports, Patriots’ WR Wes Welker (ACL, shoulder) is hustling back from ACL surgery because he wants a new contract from the Patriots. An unnamed player said, “I think he’s crazy. He wants a new deal, and the Patriots have Julian Edelman lined up as his replacement. If I were Wes, I wouldn’t even consider coming back until October.” Welker refused to be drawn in, responding, “I’ve got two years left on my deal. I’m just here to play ball. I just worry about doing my job and let everything else take care of itself.”

– The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports a “growing feeling” in Minny that Vikings’ WR Sidney Rice “isn’t rushing back” from his hip injury partially due to unhappiness with his contract situation. Rice, represented by Drew Rosenhaus, will make $550K in the final year of his rookie deal. He’s earned a payday after recording 1,312 yards last season, but the Vikes obviously want to make sure he can do it again. Plus, future contacts are uncertain with the new CBA.

– According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Saints believe the knee injury sustained by RB Lynell Hamilton Wednesday morning is a torn ACL. Hamilton has an extensive history of major knee injuries dating back to San Diego State, so this could be a career-threatening situation. Pierre Thomas now has a much stronger chance to take over goal-line duties.

– Titans’ LE William Hayes (MCL sprain) is expected to miss 2-to-6 weeks. The recovery timetable puts Hayes’ status for opening day in jeopardy.

NBA

– ESPN’s Chad Ford is reporting that a 4-team blockbuster trade is being seriously discussed on Wednesday. F Trevor Ariza would be sent to the Hornets, F Courtney Lee would join the Rockets, G Darren Collison and G James Posey would go to the Pacers, and F Troy Murphy would go to the Nets. Collison would be the biggest winner in this scenario, as he would start at point guard for the Pacers, while Murphy would likely limit the development of Derrick Favors in New Jersey, as well as take his starting job. Stay tuned.

– The Raptors have acquired G Julian Wright from the Hornets for G Marco Belinelli.

– Heat’ F LeBron James said on his Twitter account Tuesday that he will not forget all the negative things said about him over the summer. “Don’t think for one min that I haven’t been taking mental notes of everyone taking shots at me this summer. And I mean everyone!” This was shortly after he met with a New York rabbi with South Florida ties. The rabbi, Yishayahu Yosef Pinto, is “a man known around New York as the rabbi to the business stars.” LeBron reportedly paid him around six figures for the meeting.

– The Celtics have waived F Rasheed Wallace, clearing the way for his retirement. Sheed was a character during his career to say the least, becoming infamous for his vulgar language and poor behaviour both on and off the court, as well as league-leading technical foul counts.

– The NBA has released the full 2010-11 schedule, which includes 29 national television appearances for the Heat. Miami kicks off the season against the Eastern Conference champion Celtics in Boston. Their first home game is against the Magic, and they have a Christmas Day affair against the Lakers. The Heat will sellout games well in advance, so be sure to buy your tickets months ahead of time.

MLB

– Mets’ OF Carlos Beltran has cleared waivers. Beltran is set to earn $18.5M next season and possesses a full NTC. The 33-year-old entered play Tuesday with a .195/.300/.312 batting line since returning from the DL after the All-Star break. He has no trade value right now and isn’t going anywhere, at least until the offseason.

– The Dodgers have placed Rafael Furcal (back) on the 15-day DL. Furcal hasn’t played in over a week now, so if he isn’t making progress, this had to be done. Since he’ll go on the DL retroactively, he’ll be eligible to return early next week.

– Rangers’ 2B Ian Kinsler (groin) isn’t likely to return from the DL until the end of the month at the earliest. Kinsler underwent an MRI on Tuesday which showed some improvement, but there was also some inflammation. He probably won’t take swings for at least another week. The best-case scenario is that he’s back before the end of the month, but GM Jon Daniels said it won’t be until September.

– The Dodgers have released OF Garret Anderson.

NHL

– The Blackhawks have re-signed D Jordan Hendry to a 1-year contract. Hendry posted career-bests of two goals, six assists and eight points over a career-high 43 games for Chicago last season. He played in 15 postseason games without scoring during the Blackhawks run to the Stanley Cup title.

WWE

– At Tuesday’s WWE SmackDown tapings, it was announced that new Intercontinental champion Dolph Ziggler will defend against Kofi Kingston. With that match set, the following is the updated line-up for WWE’s SummerSlam 2010, taking place this Sunday, August 15.

Elimination Tag Team Match
Team WWE (John Cena, Bret Hart, R-Truth, John Morrison & ???) vs. The Nexus (Wade Barrett, Skip Sheffield, Michael Tarver, Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel, Darren Young and David Otunga.

WWE Championship Match
Sheamus (c) vs. Randy Orton

World Heavyweight Championship Match
Kane (c) vs. Rey Mysterio

WWE Divas Championship Match
Alicia Fox (c) vs. Melina

WWE Intercontinental Title Match:
Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. Kofi Kingston

3-on-1 Handicap Match
Big Show vs. The Straight Edge Society (CM Punk, Luke Gallows and Joey Mercury)

– This week’s episode of Raw, the “go home” show before Sunday’s SummerSlam PPV, did a 3.3 cable rating and averaged 4.6M viewers.  The show did hours of 3.23 and 3.45.

– WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin was interviewed this week by the The UK Sun. Here are some highlights of what Austin said about:

WWE’s PG Product: “You will hear wrestling fans all over the world groan when they hear me say this but I think WWE is doing the right thing. Cena is leading the way now. It is a PG flavored WWE theme and I think it’s great for the longevity and the growth of their product in today’s world.”

Why MMA Is Taking Older Viewers From the WWE: “UFC interviews are based on a shoot and they are non-scripted. Those guys out there are trying to sell tickets for a fight and they talk accordingly. It’s a serious product that’s in the ring. Wrestling is supposed to be that serious product in the ring as well. That’s not to say that you can’t laugh, smile, and have some humor in there, but you don’t want to do slapstick Three Stooges comedy while you’re trying to draw main event money at a big PPV.”

Whether They Pushed Things Too Far in the Attitude Era: “I remember one time Vince came up to me, I was flipping the middle fingers and all that. Vince said ‘Steve, we were wondering if you could come up with a different hand signal than the middle fingers. Something that everyone watching could do.’ I guess it’s not so politically correct for a six-year-old kid to throw up the middle finger. I said, ‘No. I’m going to be who and what I am.’ And Vince kind of said, ‘Okay’ – or at least the ratings and the merch sales said ‘okay.’ So that’s the direction we went with the WWE, and everybody else followed suit.”

– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog once again at JRsBarBQ.com. Here are some highlights of what JR said about:

Missing SummerSlam: “Because of the short work day re: West Coast time this Sunday and with Summer Slam starting in LA at 5 Pacific, I won’t be traveling to the event. I will watch it on PPV from the old, La-Z-Boy and, like any die hard fan, expect plenty of bang for my PPV dollar in the form of surprises, shockers, and stout bouts. “

Brock Lesnar’s Next Fight: “Brock’s next fight vs. Cain Velásquez is going to be massive and likely will garner over 1M PPV buys. Velásquez, the Hispanic superstar, has a spotless record and according to Herschel Walker is one of the best conditioned athletes on the planet. At 240, Cain is built to go 25 minutes if necessary. I’m still a solid, Lesnar guy but even those close to Brock know that this fight will be a huge challenge for the UFC Heavyweight Champion. The good news for Lesnar fans, based on my past relationship with the former Golden Gopher, is that Brock loves a challenge. He actually thrives on them. “

SummerSlam Main Event: “It will be interesting to see what bout closes the show Sunday. my money is on the Team WWE vs. Nexus tag. That bout has gotten by far the most significant, TV time.”

WWE’s New “All Stars” Video Game: “We recorded over 400 lines of copy in a little over two hours today for the WWE All Stars video game. I really feel that THQ and WWE will field a hit with this concept. It’s a fantasy bookers dream and will be out prior to WM27 in Atlanta sometime in early 2011.”

– As reported over the weekend, ROH World Champion Tyler Black has reportedly agreed to a developmental deal with WWE. There is talk that Black will go to FCW and then be one of the featured talents on NXT Season 3.

– Former WWE CEO Linda McMahon won the Republican US Senate Primary in Connecticut on Tuesday night, taking almost 50% of the vote. She will now have to face Democrat Richard Blumenthal in November with the winner getting a US Senate seat for that state. Linda released the following statement after her victory last night:

“Tonight, I am honored to have earned the support of Republicans around Connecticut. Since I entered this race eleven months ago, we have crisscrossed this great state and attended over 660 meetings and events, where I have had the opportunity to hear from voters and better understand their issues and concerns. And unlike someone else in this race, I didn’t need to fly to Vancouver to do it. I understand that people are hurting because I see it all around this state. And I know what that feels like because I’ve been there before.

“This election is about jobs. The American Dream is threatened, but Washington continues its reckless spending, massive debt, and tax increases. Washington is suffocating small businesses and killing jobs. This is not only threatening our well-being, but also the well-being of our children and grandchildren. It’s time for something different.

“I’m honored to have earned my Party’s nomination, and I am determined to lead our Party to victory in November.”

McMahon spoke to CNN.com about whether her Democratic opponent will use her wrestling past against her.

“As my opponents talked more and more about the WWE and issues that may have been relative to programming content …instead of focusing on the issues, I talked about tissues and continued to gain momentum,” McMahon told CNN Wednesday morning.

“If my opponents want to talk about soap opera content instead of focusing on issues, I will win again in November,” she added.

Democrats have already drawn attention to WWE’s controversial programming and the countless wrestler deaths in recent years. Linda says it’s more important to focus on what WWE is doing today to protect its workers.

“The men and women that perform at WWE really are the primary assets of the WWE. And we want to protect them at all costs,” she said. “Doctors that travel with them…trainers that travel with them. We have a very comprehensive drug testing program. Let’s look at where WWE is today.”

VoV

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

– The Broncos have signed the No. 25 overall pick QB Tim Tebow to a 5-year/$33M deal with $8.7M guaranteed. Tebow was believed to be holding out for more money than Cowboys’ No. 24 pick Dez Bryant, and it turns out that he did receive the “quarterback premium.” His guaranteed portion comes in at $400K above Bryant’s total. Tebow signed in plenty of time to get comfortable with Josh McDaniels’ offense throughout camp. Though he’ll spend his rookie season developing behind Kyle Orton, there’s a decent chance the offense will be his as soon as 2011.

– UFA DE Shawne Merriman does not plan to show for the beginning of training camp. Merriman, who wants assurances that he will not be traded, is in denial about the current state of his career. “I’m only coming back to be the guy on the defense. I’m not coming back to be a guy. I want to be on a team where someone is going to be building a defense around me.” Teams don’t build defenses around pass rushers with four sacks in two seasons. Merriman has no leverage right now.

– Super Bowl XLII hero WR David Tyree will retire after signing a one-day contract with the Giants. Tyree played five seasons with the Giants, mostly as a special teamer, but his career will always be defined by his “helmet catch” that led directly to one of the greatest Super Bowl upsets of all time. Along with the “Immaculate Reception,” Tyree’s catch will go down as perhaps the most memorable playoff moment in NFL history.

– The Eagles have signed the No. 13 overall pick DE Brandon Graham to a 5-year contract. The Eagles gave up the No. 24 pick and two 3rd-rounders to trade up for Graham, a former Michigan star who was named MVP of the Senior Bowl. Graham is a solid pass-rusher.

– Redskins’ DE Albert Haynesworth failed his conditioning test Thursday, according to FoxSports.com’s Jay Glazer. Haynesworth reportedly “killed” the first portion of the test before walking through the second portion. According to the Washington Post, Haynesworth “apparently” needed a bathroom break during the second portion of his conditioning test Thursday, explaining his failure to finish. The test consisted of two grueling 300-yard shuttle runs – he aced the first, but walked through the second, in apparent need of a bowel movement. Haynesworth will not be allowed to practice until he completes both runs. By all accounts, he’s in good shape, so he should be fine on Friday’s retake.

– The Texans have signed No. 58 overall pick RB Ben Tate to a multi-year deal. His stock flew with a stellar performance at the Combine in February. He also missed the majority of OTAs with a hamstring injury. While he’s the future in Houston’s backfield, he’ll enter training camp behind Arian Foster and Steve Slaton. He’s expected to fill the void on early-down and short-yardage situations.

NBA

– The death of Lorenzen Wright is being investigated as a homicide by police, and the Shelby County medical examiner’s office reported that he died of a gunshot wound. Details are hard to come by, but it is known that a 911 hangup call was made from his cell phone on July 19 near the place his body was found. Wright had a 13-year NBA career that included stints with the Grizzlies, Hawks, Kings, Cavs, and the Clippers, who made him the No. 7 overall pick in 1996.

MLB

– Rangers’ GM Jon Daniels said 2B Ian Kinsler (groin) will likely return in “mid-to-late-August.” He’s been limited to just 76 of the team’s 101 games this season and hasn’t lived up to expectations when he’s been on the field.

– Phillies’ LHP Jamie Moyer (left elbow) will not require surgery but is expected to miss the rest of the season. Moyer met with Dr. Lewis Yocum in LA on Wednesday after being diagnosed with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament and a strained tendon in his elbow. He has not announced if he will pitch next season.

VoV

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

– Barring unforseen circumstances, VoV.com will be holding a live MLB TradeCentre. Joel Sherman of the NY Post reports that this year’s trade deadline could be quiet, as prospects are being overvalued, many teams are up against their budget and teams are still uncertain on whether they’re buyers or sellers. In addition, the market for relievers is extremely expensive this season, so many names that are rumoured to be dealt may have to wait until August.

MLB

– A source tells Jayson Stark of ESPN.com that Astros’ RHP Roy Oswalt has waived his no-trade clause to complete a trade to the Phillies in exchange for LHP J.A. Happ and two minor leaguers (possibly OF Anthony Gose and RHP Vance Worsley, not 1B Jonathan Singleton). The Phillies will also receive $11M. Oswalt’s $16M option for 2012 will not be exercised, but he will be compensated in another way. The deal isn’t official yet and will have to be approved by the commissioner’s office due to the money being exchanged. Oswalt’s contract has $5.46M left from his $15M salary this year, $16M in 2011, and a 2012 option for $16M with a $2M buyout. The Phillies have a ridiculous 1-2-3 punch in Halladay, Oswalt and Hamels.

– The Rangers have placed 2B Ian Kinsler (strained left groin) on the 15-day DL retroactive to July 28. Kinsler has been limited to just 76 of the team’s 101 games this season and just hasn’t been the elite source of power and speed he was last year in large part due to his ankle injury.

– Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times speculates that the Angels may be selling OF Bobby Abreu, LHP Brian Fuentes, OF Hideki Matsui, and 2B Maicer Izturis might interest contenders. Abreu, Fuentes, and Matsui would be tough to move, and could be waiver wire trade candidates. Abreu is signed at $9M for next year and may have another $9M salary vest for 2012. The 36-year-old is hitting just .253/.347/.416. Fuentes’ strikeout rate is back up, but he’s been homer-prone and has over $3M left on his contract. Matsui’s market is limited by his DH profile, though he has tallied 122 innings in left field this year.

– Contrary to rumours, the Indians are not shopping RHP Fausto Carmona. The Indians are listening, they don’t expect to receive a suitable offer. Carmona could potentially be under Tribe control through 2014.

– The Yankees are not expected to pursue a catcher, though they remain interested in Nats’ 1B Adam Dunn. The White Sox and Giants are believed to be the frontrunners.

– The NY Post reports that the Rays, Twins and Phillies are the most motivated buyers, while the Cubs, D’Backs and Blue Jays are the most motivated sellers.

– The St. Louis Post Dispatch reports that there is no substance to the trade rumours involving the Cardinals and 3B Miguel Tejada.

– ESPN reports that the Mets are expected to shop OF Jeff Francoeur after the non-waiver trade deadline.

– According to the NY Post, the Mets are very unlikely to acquire Cubs’ LHP Ted Lilly as they do not want to take on most to all of the $4.37M left on his contract, in addition to losing a package of prospects. In addition, the Mets are “almost completely unwilling to engage in serious discussions” for Astros’ RHP Brett Myers. Joel Sherman suggets the Mets might wait until August to acquire a pitcher.

– According to the Boston Globe, the Red Sox have inquired about Rafael Perez, Will Ohman, Mike Gonzalez, Matt Capps, Michael Wuertz, Craig Breslow, Sean Marshall, Kerry Wood, David Aardsma, and Kyle Farnsworth, reports Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. Cafardo says Jays’ LHP Scott Downs looks unlikely unless the Blue Jays back down from their top prospect requests.

– The Braves acquired 2B Michael Noboa from the D’Backs for a PTBNL.

NFL

– The Jets are expected to sign FA WR Laveranues Coles after a workout on Friday, according to ESPNNewYork.com’s Rich Cimini. The Jets need another receiver to compensate for Santonio Holmes’ suspension for the first month of the season. Coles showed last season that he has little left in the tank, but he’s familiar with Brian Schottenheimer’s offense and should be fine in the slot for four games.

VoV

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

– F LeBron James isn’t expected to announce his decision until at least Wednesday evening, when a three-day Nike camp in Akron ends. Many feel LBJ is still leaning towards re-signing with the Cavs. The Knicks also met with James’ representatives for a second time in Cleveland on Saturday, according to the NY Daily News. This may not mean much in the long view, but it’s a noteworthy event as LeBron’s decision looms just days away — possibly Wednesday evening but more likely Thursday.

– According to G Joe Johnson’s agent, Arn Tellem, JJ is set to re-sign with the Hawks for a maximum contract of about 6-years/$120M. Tellem confirmed Sunday in an entry he wrote for the Huffington Post website, in which he said Johnson “announced his intention to re-sign with the Hawks for six more years.” Tellem wrote that Johnson chose to remain in Atlanta over Chicago and New York, where he would have been reunited with Mike D’Antoni, his former coach in Phoenix. The Knicks tried to convince Johnson that if he signed with them he could make up lost salary with contract incentives and endorsements, but obviously their pitch didn’t work. JJ will rejoin a playoff-ready core in Atlanta, with a contract that won’t expire until he’s 35 years old. For the Knicks, missing out on Johnson means they’ll probably start targeting F Mike Miller.

– F Amare Stoudemire met with Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni on Sunday morning, as the two worked out whatever differences existed between them. D’Antoni also called Amare late last week to tell him how much the Knicks want him. It would be shocking if he doesn’t sign with New York at this point — he’s attending team owner James Dolan’s Fourth of July party, and has apparently been recruiting Spurs’ G Tony Parker and Nuggets’ F Carmelo Anthony.

NHL

– F Ilya Kovalchuk will reportedly not be signing with the Kings. GM Dean Lombardi said on Sunday afternoon that the highly sought after UFA would not be coming despite their best efforts to bring him on board. The Devils and Islanders are believed to be the front-runners at this time for his services. Stay tuned.

– Leafs’ GM Brian Burke is still looking to add a veteran defenseman to his roster via free agency. Although there is no word on who Burke is targeting, Andy Sutton, Willie Mitchell and Jay McKee could be on the Buds’ radar. If the Maple Leafs are successful in signing a veteran blueliner, it will certainly accelerate the Tomas Kaberle trade talks. Stay tuned.

– F Mike Modano said he will be patient in his search for a new club. “I really have been through this before, so it’s not that new. There’s a lot more texting now, but you still just try to ask questions and answer what they want. It’s a lot of waiting around, that’s the tough part.” Modano has had discussions with the Red Wings, but it may be tough for them to fit him into their salary structure.

MLB

– Twins’ C Joe Mauer, the overall vote leader, heads the group of AL All-Star selections. Justin Morneau, Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, Evan Longoria, Josh Hamilton, Ichiro Suzuki, Carl Crawford and Vladimir Guerrero were also voted in as starters. The AL reserves include Miguel Cabrera, Dustin Pedroia, Victor Martinez, David Ortiz, Elvis Andrus, Vernon Wells, Jose Bautista, Torii Hunter, Ty Wigginton, Alex Rodriguez, Ian Kinsler and John Buck. Kinsler and Buck were injury replacements for Pedroia and Martinez, respectively. The AL pitching staff consists of David Price, Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester, Phil Hughes, Cliff Lee, Fausto Carmona, Trevor Cahill, CC Sabathia, Neftali Feliz, Mariano Rivera, Jose Valverde, Matt Thornton and Joakim Soria. The Final Vote will come down to Paul Konerko, Nick Swisher, Kevin Youkilis, Delmon Young and Michael Young.

Cardinals’ 1B Albert Pujols was again the leading National League All-Star vote-getter. Others that were voted as starters include Chase Utley, Hanley Ramirez, David Wright, Ryan Braun, Andre Ethier, Jason Heyward and Yadier Molina. The NL reserves consist of Martin Prado, Ryan Howard, Brandon Phillips, Omar Infante, Michael Bourn, Chris Young, Brian McCann, Adrian Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki, Scott Rolen, Corey Hart, Matt Holliday, Marlon Byrd and Jose Reyes. Phillips and Reyes were added as injury replacements for Utley and Tulowitzki, respectively, and Prado will start at second. Heyward might require an injury replacement, as well. Pitchers that were selected for the squad include Ubaldo Jimenez, Josh Johnson, Roy Halladay, Tim Lincecum, Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter, Yovani Gallardo, Tim Hudson, Evan Meek, Arthur Rhodes, Matt Capps, Brian Wilson and Jonathan Broxton. For the Final Vote, it will be between Joey Votto, Ryan Zimmerman, Carlos Gonzalez, Billy Wagner and Heath Bell.

– The D’Backs have released LHP Dontrelle Willis. In six games with Arizona, five as a starter, Willis was 1-1 with a 6.85 ERA. He struck out 13 and walked 27 in 22 1-3 innings.

– The Indians have placed OF Shin-Soo Choo (sprained right thumb) on the 15-day DL retroactive to July 3.

– The Astros have placed 1B Geoff Blum (loose bodies in right elbow) on the 15-day DL retroactive to July 2.

– The Cardinals have placed OF Ryan Ludwick (left calf strain) on the 15-day DL retroactive to June 26.

– The Padres have placed OF Will Venable (lower back strain) on the 15-day DL retroactive to July 2.

– The Twins have placed 2B Matt Tolbert (contusion on right middle finger) on the 15-day DL retroactive to July 1.

– The Red Sox have placed RHP Manny Delcarmen (strained right forearm) on the 15-day DL retroactive to July 1.

UFC

–  UFC Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar defeated Shane Carwin on Saturday night at UFC 116 by submission in the second round of the fight. Carwin came out strong in the first round, dropping Lesnar with a vicious uppercut and almost putting the champion away with a fury of ground and pound. Lesnar survived the round and came back strong in the second round, making Carwin submit from an arm-triangle choke. After the fight, Lesnar thanked referee Josh Rosenthal for not stopping the fight when he appeared to be in trouble. Lesnar said:

“He hit me pretty good, and I don’t know, I ended up there on the ground. I just had to go into survival mode and stay busy. I really have to thank the referee for allowing that thing to go on. I wasn’t hurt. I thought if I just kept moving — I could feel Shane’s punches getting less and less — and I thought, well, if I can get out of here then I’m just going to exert a lot energy. I realized there was [not a lot of time left], so I just tried to stay busy. He’s a beast. He definitely won the first round [laughs].”

Former WWE personalities Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Steve Austin, Jim Ross and Bill Goldberg were shown in attendence. Lesnar’s longtime friend Paul Heyman was also with Lesnar throughout the weekend. At the post-show press conference, UFC President Dana White announced that Lesnar’s next title defense will be against undefeated heavyweight Cain Velasquez. No date has been announced, but the fight is expected to take place later this year.

WWE

– According to WWE Magazine’s “Best of WWE” Special Issue, which was released last Tuesday, WWE Studios’ upcoming comedy film starring Paul “Triple H” Levesque will be released in theaters next summer. Also note, the magazine refers to the film as Inside Out, but it has since been changed to The Chaperone. The film is currently being filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana.

– R-Truth revealed in an interview with WWE Magazine that he has another entrance theme in the works which would be specifically performed at pay-per-view events.

“The new song is called “Right Time. It’s hip-hop with some metal guitars in it. The lyrics will encourage crowd participation, too. The song just talks about going through life, doing the right things and keeping your head up.

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NFL

– The Redskins have acquired QB Donovan McNabb from the Eagles in exchange for the No. 37 overall pick in 2010, and a conditional 3rd or 4th-round pick in 2011. The 2011 pick can jump to a third-rounder based on performance. It’s unclear if the Redskins extended McNabb’s contract, as he’s entering the final year of his deal. Expect his stats to dip, as Washington’s line projects to struggle in pass protection, and the Skins don’t have proven pass catchers after WR Santana Moss and TE Chris Cooley.

McNabb said, “I’m really excited about my future with the Washington Redskins. I’m eager to work with Coach Shanahan. He’s been a very successful coach with a couple of Super Bowl victories on his resume. While it’s been my goal to win a Super Bowl in Philadelphia, we came up short. I enjoyed my 11 years here and we shared a lot more good times than bad.”

Coach Andy Reid said, “This was a very tough decision. Donovan McNabb represented everything a football player could be during his 11 seasons in Philadelphia. He carried this organization to new heights and set a high standard of excellence both on and off the field. We thank him for everything he did for this football team and for this city.”

McNabb, the No. 2 overall pick in the 1999 draft, leaves as the franchise leader in yards passing (32,873), completions (2,801), attempts (4,746), completion percentage (59.0) and touchdown passes (216). He also rushed for 3,249 yards and 28 TDs.

Eagles’ QB Kevin Kolb becomes the unquestioned starting quarterback following the trade. QB Michael Vick becomes No. 2, and the Eagles will likely invest a mid- to late-round selection at the position. They’re rumoured to have interest in Fordham’ QB John Skelton. The sky is the limit for Kolb now, as he runs a pass-heavy, ultra-talented offense. Kolb may lack McNabb’s strong arm, but he is more accurate and athletic at this stage of their careers.

MLB

– Former RHP Curt Schilling has been hired by ESPN to work as a baseball analyst. The network says that the former pitcher, who won World Series titles with the D’Backs and Red Sox, will appear on “Baseball Tonight” and ESPN Radio, in addition to contributing to ESPNBoston.com and the company’s main Web site. He will make his debut Sunday during ESPN’s pregame coverage of the big league opener between the Red Sox and the Yankees.

– The Mariners have placed LHP Cliff Lee (abdominal strain) on the 15-day DL. Lee is still only throwing on flat ground.

– The Rangers have placed 2B Ian Kinsler (high ankle sprain), RHP Tommy Hunter (left oblique strain) and RHP Warner Madrigal (right forearm soreness) on the 15-day DL.  The DL moves were retroactive to March 26, meaning the three players will be eligible to be activated Saturday.

– The Nationals have placed RHP Chien-Ming Wang (shoulder), LHP Ross Detwiler (hip) and C Jesus Flores (shoulder) on the 60-day DL, as well as C Chris Coste (elbow) on the 15-day DL.

– The Giants have placed OF Fred Lewis (left intercostal strain), 2B Freddy Sanchez (shoulder) and 2B Emmanuel Burriss (foot fracture) on the 15-day DL retroactive to March 26.

– The Cubs have placed LHP Ted Lilly (shoulder) and RHP Angel Guzman (shoulder) on the 15-day DL retroactive to March 26.

– The Padres have placed LHP Joe Thatcher (shoulder) on the 15-day DL and RHP Jose Ascanio (shoulder) on the 60-day DL retroactive to March 26.

– The Pirates have placed RHP Joel Hanrahan (elbow) on the 15-day DL retroactive to March 26.

– The White Sox have placed C Ramon Castro (heel) on the 15-day DL.

– The Dodgers have placed LHP Hong-Chih Kuo (elbow) on the 15-day DL retroactive to March 26.

– The Mets have placed SS Jose Reyes (thyroid) on the 15-day DL retroactive to March 26.

– The Rays have placed LHP J.P. Howell (shoulder) and OF Matt Joyce (elbow) on the 15-day DL retroactive to March 26.

NBA

– Nuggets’ coach George Karl may miss the first round of the playoffs as he recovers from cancer treatments. Karl’s life partner, Kim Van Deraa, told The Denver Post that Karl won’t return in the regular season and probably will also miss the first round of the playoffs. “To count out all the playoffs, that’s up to his body. Who knows when his return will be? No one knows. He doesn’t even know. I’m sure he’s hoping that if we go on a playoff run, that he can (coach) this season.”

Karl has been fighting throat and neck cancer during the past two months. He has finished radiation treatment and is set to have his final round of chemotherapy on Wednesday. Van Deraa said Karl, who has lost nearly 25 pounds, struggles to speak and may have to feed himself liquids through a tube for another three to six months. She also said that pain medication makes it difficult for him to concentrate for long periods of time.

TNA

– TNA star Christopher Daniels made a surprise appearance at Ring of Honor’s live “Big Bang” online PPV event this weekend. from Charlotte, North Carolina. Daniels parted ways with TNA last week and made the call to Ring of Honor  to return to the company. Daniels cut a promo saying he has been held back for seven years and now returned to ROH to prove he’s the best. Daniels has reportedly signed on with ROH for a number of dates, including  upcoming events in New York City and Virginia.

– According to the PWInsider, at one time, wrestlers let go by TNA appreciated the words of encouragement they’d receive from Dixie Carter after the company stopped using them. However, several wrestlers released from the organization compared notes and are very much convinced she gives the same speech to the majority of talent let go. Though many still appreciate the follow-up, several grumblingly feel now her correspondence was only slightly more sincere that World Wrestling Entertainment when they wish released talent ‘well in their future endeavors.’

– HonkyTonkMan.net, which initially broke the news of The Nasty Boys’ departure from TNA Wrestling, notes that Brian Knobs and Jerry Sags weren’t initially informed they had been let go. An upset Sags reportedly found out he had been let go via news reports online.

One company source confirms that Eric Bischoff was instrumental in their release from the company and that neither him nor management contacted the duo to inform them they had been let go. On another note, Jimmy Hart, who was brought in to manage Knobs and Sags, has not been released.

WWE

– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog, which you can read in its entirety (and find some great BBQ products) at JRsBarBQ.com. In this update, Ross shared his thoughts on the unfortunate passing of Chris Kanyon as well as Jack Swagger’s World Heavyweight title win on Friday’s SmackDown. Some highlights:

Kanyon’s Death: Ross wrote, “The death is being investigated as a suicide as those close to Chris say that he has been battling depression for quite some time. … Chris was an innovative wrestler who always sought new maneuvers and holds to utilize in his matches and was a really good teacher and helped many of today’s stars with a variety of in ring techniques. Chris was a guy who seemingly wanted to be a pro wrestler most of his life and embraced the fact that he made it but obviously had issues after leaving the ring. Chris Kanyon will always be considered an underrated star in my eyes and I sincerely wish his many friends and his family our heartfelt condolences during these challenging and heartbreaking times.”

Jack Swagger’s World Heavyweight Title Win: Ross congratulated the fellow Oklahoma native for his big win and noted that Swagger was his final recruit as the head of WWE’s talent relations several years back. Ross wrote, “I’d love to see Swagger be able to establish his Championship reign over an extended period of time but wish him the best nonetheless. We had a great, private conversation after Wrestlemania at the hotel and he knows what I personally expect of him and what he potentially can do in WWE if he catches a break, conducts himself as a professional, and works harder than any one on the roster night in and night out.”

“Amateur wrestlers more often than not [possess] an uncanny work ethic that is generally beyond reproach and any one who thinks that world class athletes who survive successfully in the world of amateur wrestling and who possess charisma can’t be successful pro wrestlers are kidding themselves. Granted many of these amateurs need coaching and time to reach the level one would ideally like but that’s the function and responsibility of those who are training these men. ”

– As a result of his World Heavyweight Championship victory on last week’s SmackDown, the official WWE website is listing Jack Swagger as a member of the SmackDown roster. On another note, Batista is still listed as a member of SmackDown despite solely appearing on Raw since winning the WWE Championship at Elimination Chamber.

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NHL

– Maple Leafs’ D Tomas Kaberle has denied reports that he “can’t stand playing for (head coach Ron) Wilson” and downplayed rumours that he is prepared to make the move from Toronto to a different team.

The Toronto Sun had reported that Kaberle told friends he “can’t stand playing for Wilson…he’s had enough…he’s at his wit’s end with the guy.”

Kaberle addressed the media before Thursday’s game against the Sabres to dismiss the talk of a rift with Wilson.

“I’m here over 10 years in the league and I’ve never (had an) issue with the coach and I hopefully never will. I would like to know who said that, obviously. But it’s fun sometimes to read stuff like that in the papers…if that is the case, I would probably ask for a trade at the deadline, right?”

Wilson also spoke on Thursday and addressed the reports of trouble behind the scenes.

“I’m here to try and make guys better so you have to be a boss. There’s kind of a way you turn it on and turn it off but in your casual conversations you’re not a friend — you’re friendly.

Wilson added that “you still have tough decisions you have to make and there’s lot of situations where you have to come down hard on people if they’re not getting the job done within the team structures.”

He said he had “no issue” with Kaberle.

Following Tuesday’s defeat at the hands of the Atlanta Thrashers, Wilson hinted strongly about the veteran defenceman when describing the loss.

“We talk about how solid our defence is and how well we’re playing and we’ve still got guys who are minus-16 or whatever,” Wilson said on Tuesday, referencing Kaberle’s plus-minus. “They’re supposed to be guys who get the job done defensively and they haven’t improved their plus-minus over the past month when just about everybody else has.”

The Leafs have missed the playoffs for five straight seasons, but according to the paper, the main motivating factor in Kaberle’s desire to leave is the way Wilson coaches the team and treats his players.

Kaberle has one year left in his contract and speculation is that he’ll be on the market when his no-trade clause is lifted for a short time this summer.

WWE

– Former WWE Champion Batista has been telling people within WWE that he’s looking to take an extended break from WWE following WrestleMania 26. Those within the company expect Batista to take his leave of absence following the Extreme Rules PPV later this month. Batista is scheduled to begin filming for the upcoming WWE Studio’s film “Killing Karma” this spring and the general consensus within the locker room is that Batista will not wrestler while he is filming.

– Vince McMahon’s heel “Mr. McMahon” character is said to be finished, according to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The character was spawned back in 1997 following the infamous Montreal Screwjob. McMahon’s on-air character turned heel for the first time and it became the antagonist to the company’s top star “Stone Cold” Steve Austin in arguably the best run in the history of the company.

With Bret Hart’s return to WWE after 13 years, McMahon felt WrestleMania would be the perfect chance for Bret Hart to get his ultimate revenge and wipe out Mr. McMahon once and for all. The over-the-top beatdown he sustained at the hands (and feet) of the Hart family signified the end of the character. McMahon is a firm believer in pushing younger acts and is not blind to the fact that he’s in his 60’s and the character more than ran its course.

–  Former World Heavyweight champion Chris Jericho posted a message on Twitter today saying that he’ll be out of action for six weeks.

“Just got selected for sequestered jury duty. Six weeks minimum. Won’t be able to work or tweet. See u in May WWE Universe…”

It’s worth noting that today is April Fool’s Day — so there’s a good chance that this is a gag on Jericho’s part.

– WWE NXT rookie Daniel Bryan has updated his WWE Universe blog with his thoughts on Shawn Michaels’ retirement, as well as people backstage in WWE who do not think he’s got what it takes to be a star.

Bryan on speaking with HBK, his teacher, at WM26: “I was able to speak with him briefly Sunday night, and he told me that it was my time now and if I ever needed anything to just let him know. Words cannot express my gratitude for the great training he gave me, and for his support. I’m sure he will miss wrestling, but wrestling will miss him even more.”

Bryan, who broke into wrestling through Shawn Michaels’s TWA training school ten years ago, also talked about not being liked by “some backstage” and continued to play up the TV storyline where his perceived lack of charisma and size is an issue.

“I know I’m not what WWE usually looks for in a Superstar. It’s quite obvious by Michael Cole’s commentary that he doesn’t think I have what it takes and I know there are even more people in the back who think the same thing. They doubt my mic skills and they doubt whether the WWE Universe can get behind someone who looks as plain as I do…but none of them doubt my in ring ability.”

“I may not be what the WWE looks for when they’re recruiting, but most of the people they recruit don’t have the passion for this business that people like Shawn Michaels have. I do, and I’ve proven it over the last ten years. I will outwork, outsmart and outclass 99.9% of the muscleheads and pretty boys that they think have the right ‘look.’”

– WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart updated his Facebook blog with his thoughts about his match with Vince McMahon at WrestleMania XXVI.

“I can’t begin to describe the flood of excitement that pulsated through me at seeing the sight of that massive stadium filled with fans. Although I know it was far from my greatest performance, I can proudly say it was one of my most glorious victories I’ve ever had. Once upon a time in my wheelchair after suffering my stroke in 2002, thinking how impossible it was to even conceive of such a moment makes me as proud as ever of anything I ever did in a ring. It was sweet seeing the entire Hart Family play a part in giving Vince McMahon the beating of his lifetime.”

Bret also described a run-in he had with Linda McMahon shortly after his match.

“When I briefly saw Linda McMahon afterwards in the hallway, I confessed with a smile that I’d secretly given him a couple of choice chair shots just for her. This drew a burst of laughter and a smile.”

Finally, he thanked the entire McMahons family for allowing him to write the final chapter in his career.

“In truth, I’d like to thank all the McMahons (and that includes Triple H) for their kindness, hospitality, and for a fantastic three-month ride I’ll never forget.”

– WWE Magazine interviewed Dolph Ziggler regarding HBK’s retirement. He said,

“You don’t want it to end, and no matter how amazing and mindblowing it is, you don’t want it to end. It still doesn’t seem like he’s gone, WWE has lost the greatest superstar ever, and a lot of guys, including me, have lost a great mind. I went out into the arena floor for that match, and it was amazing! He went out like no one else could or ever will!”

– In an interview with Alex Marvez, Maria Kanellis said WWE wanting more control over her projects led to her departure from the organization. The former WWE Diva also noted her unhappiness with WWE for quickly posting news of her release on their website before she had time to tell her family she had been let go.

“People are saying it was about money or this and that. It wasn’t. It had to do with my other passions and things I wanted to do alongside WWE. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for them.”

“I didn’t want to leave when I did. Who knows where the road is going to lead me? Maybe a good cause will come up for me to go to TNA or even visit with Ring of Honor. I’ve always said some of the great talent is on the independent (circuit).”

NFL

– According to beat writer Kevin Acee, Chargers’ RFA OLB Shawne Merriman could be had “for the right price” this offseason. Per Acee, it’s a price only GM A.J. Smith knows at this point. The Chargers have been reluctant to lock up Merriman ever since his torn LCL and PCL two summers ago. Smith drafted Merriman’s replacement in Larry English last April, so he’ll be open to draft-weekend offers from interested teams.

– The Bears have released DE Alex Brown after being unable to trade him. Brown was deemed no longer worthy of his $5M salary when Lovie Smith announced that Israel Idonije would move from tackle to end. The team also wants to get youngsters Jarron Gilbert and Henry Melton into the rotation. Expect Brown to draw plenty of interest.

– Free agent RB Jamal Lewis reportedly visited with the Saints earlier this week. It’s safe to assume the 30-year-old is not retiring after all, at least not if he can find the right fit. Despite his 245-pound frame, Lewis’ lack of explosion have made him one of the worst short-yardage backs in the league the past couple of seasons.

NBA

– Grizzlies’ F Marc Gasol (neck) will miss the rest of the season with a partially torn neck muscle. He aggravated it in Wednesday’s game and couldn’t reach for rebounds or attempt shots, and with the Grizzlies basically out of playoff contention, the move makes sense.

– Kings’ F Spencer Hawes (knee) is out for the rest of the season. The official injury is a “deep bone contusion and an irregular signal in the joint line in left knee.”

– Knicks’ F Al Harrington (ankle) has a “severely” sprained ankle and “could be” the next Knick to shut it down, according to beat writer Marc Berman. With just eight games left in the season, any kind of high ankle sprain would likely put Harrington on the shelf. He’s also dealing with a shoulder injury that will likely require surgery after the season.

MLB

– D’Backs ace RHP Brandon Webb (shoulder) was given a cortisone shot in his right shoulder Wednesday. Webb was given a “positive report” after meeting with team doctors Wednesday, but they recommended a cortisone injection to help with some of the swelling he’s developed over the course of the spring. “It never hurt. It doesn’t feel great, but it doesn’t hurt bad. I still feel like I can’t let it go. I still feel like I’m not ready to get on the mound yet.” He’s unlikely to pitch in a major league game during the month of April.

– Rangers’ GM Jon Daniels confirmed Thursday that 2B Ian Kinsler (ankle) will open the 2010 season on the 15-day DL. “We haven’t made the roster move yet, but the plan is for him to open on the DL,” Daniels said. Kinsler has been out of action since mid-March with a high ankle sprain and has not resumed running or agility drills. He’ll likely miss the first two or three weeks of the season.

– Mets’ OF Carlos Beltran (knee) expects to begin running in the next 10 days. From there, he’ll have a better idea of when he’ll be able to return to the Mets’ lineup. “I am not going to predict anything. Right now I’m following the program and when I get to the stage of running I can see what I need to get to the stage of playing games.” Beltran has already begun playing catch and taking light swings in the batting cage. He’s expected to miss at least the first month of the season.

– The Rangers have claimed 1B Ryan Garko off waivers from the Mariners. With Garko, the Rangers now have the right-handed hitting corner infielder they’ve sought after all winter. Garko figures to share playing time with the lefty-swinging Chris Davis. This likely ends any speculation of the Rangers acquiring Red Sox’ 3B Mike Lowell.

– Mets’ SS Jose Reyes (rest) will start the season on he DL. Reyes said the team told him Thursday he’ll be on the DL because he’s had so little practice in spring training. He returned to camp last week following a three-week absence because of thyroid issues.

FIFA

– Manchester United F Wayne Rooney (ankle) sustained minor ligament damage and did not break a bone in Manchester United’s Champions League loss at Bayern Munich on Tuesday, but will remain out indefinitely. He hurt his ankle in the final minute of Tuesday’s 2-1 loss in Germany.

F1

– Mirror placement on Formula One cars is expected to change after this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix, putting the emphasis back on rear vision rather than aerodynamic advantage. While no official announcement was made by F1 authorities, Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel and Williams’ Rubens Barrichello both said Thursday that mirror placement would be changed for the following race in China. “As far as I’m concerned its agreed that we need better visibility, so the change could come as early as the next race. Everyone is having problems with the mirrors and hopefully we are going to get that changed quite soon.” Drivers have complained that having mirrors on the sidepods of the cars, to aid aerodynamics, makes them vibrate too much and provides poor rear vision. The change would move the mirrors back inward, onto the main body of the chassis, adjacent to the cockpit, where they would be less subject to vibration.

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MLB

– The Marlins have acquired LHP Nate Robertson and cash considerations from the Tigers for LHP Jay Voss. Robertson returns to the team that originally picked him in the fifth round of the 1999 draft. The 32-year-old has a 6.14 ERA over the last two seasons, and with the money the Tigers will likely have to kick in, the Marlins will be paying him as a fifth starter.

– ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reports that the Red Sox have offered RHP Josh Beckett a four-year contract extension. Olney adds that “there is optimism a deal will be completed in the next week or two.” If true, then maybe Beckett wasn’t fishing for a similar deal that RHP John Lackey got this winter. Beckett, 30 in May, went 17-6 with a 3.86 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 199 strikeouts last year. He posted a 3.72 ERA and a 22/5 K/BB ratio in 19 1/3 innings of Grapefruit League play this spring.

– Rangers’ 2B Ian Kinsler (ankle) will likely begin the season on the DL. Kinsler has yet to run since suffering a high right ankle sprain on March 12. He said on Monday that he does not want to play if he can only jog. “Whatever we decide is going to be in the best interest of Ian,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said. No official decision has been made as of yet.

– Astros’ 1B Lance Berkman’s left knee swelled up after he took ground balls and attempted to run on Tuesday. “When I tried to run, I just couldn’t do it. They’re going to back me down for a few days and see what happens.” Berkman, who had surgery earlier this month to clean out loose cartilage in his left knee, had previously said there was a “70% chance” he would be ready for Opening Day, but it’s very possible he’ll start on the DL.

– Red Sox’ RHP Junichi Tazawa (elbow) has been diagnosed with a sprained ulner collateral ligament by Dr. James Andrews. Tazawa and the BoSox are considering anything from rehab to Tommy John surgery. Expect Tazawa out for the first half of the 2010 season. The 23-year-old had an impressive 2.55 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 109 1/3 innings last season between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket.

– The Marlins have released RHP Seth McClung.

– The Cubs have released 1B Kevin Millar.

– The Orioles have signed OF Joey Gathright.

– The Phillies have released OF Brad Wilkerson.

– The Rockies have signed OF Josh Phelps.

– The Jays have signed 2B Luis Figueroa and RHP Jonah Bayliss.

– The Rockies have signed RHP Rick Bauer.

– The Red Sox have signed LHP Scott Schoeneweis and released LHP Brian Shouse.

– The Brewers have placed RHP David Riske and 3B Mat Gamel on the 15-day DL.

– The Nationals have signed RHP Mike MacDougal.

– The Twins have signed LHP Ron Mahay.

WWE

– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog, which you can (and should) read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com. In this long entry, Ross talks about WrestleMania 26, Shawn Michaels’ retirement and more. Some highlights:

Michaels vs. Undertaker II: “The highlight of the evening was Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels which was obviously the match of the night. I’ve answered a few emails regarding this matter and it is obvious that I would have loved to have broadcast this bout but that wasn’t in the cards. At least I was in Phoenix and saw the event live and was then able to spend significant time with both HBK and with Taker after the event in private settings. Those experiences became my Wrestlemania Moments.”

Update On JR’s Health & Future in WWE: “As for me, life is good and I am healthy and happy. For those that have erroneously written or assumed that the reason that I did not announce at WM26 was because of health concerns, that assumption is incorrect, I’m happy to say. Broadcasting wrestling in WWE is likely history for me but there are many other areas to which I can contribute in WWE and those options, among others, will be weighed over the next month.”

Shawn Michaels’ Retirement: “I do think that Shawn will call it a day after losing his retirement match Sunday. Shawn has been blessed to have earned a great deal of money over the years and especially since he returned from an approximate 4 year hiatus due to lingering back issues. Unlike many wrestlers who retire, HBK doesn’t have to worry about financial or legal issues and will be able to be essentially a full time dad to his two, young children which is an amazing blessing.”

“Shawn’s farewell message Monday night on Raw was from his heart and not something that he read on a TelePrompter. What fans saw Monday night was legitimate, organic TV from arguably the greatest all around, in ring performer, certainly of his generation, and perhaps of all time. I sincerely appreciated Shawn’s shout out to me on Raw which was, symbolically, a fitting end to my own Wrestlemania tenure.”

NHL

– Flyers’ F Daniel Carcillo has been suspended for two games for a crosscheck to the face of Devils’ F David Clarkson. The incident occurred on Sunday and it resulted in Clarkson requiring three stitches to close the wound. Carcillo received a game misconduct on the play. He will be eligible to return on Sunday April 4 against the Red Wings.

– Canadiens’ F Glen Metropolit (shoulder) will miss the next six-to-eight weeks. An MRI revealed that he suffered a significant tear in the musculature of his left shoulder. Metropolit will attempt to shorten that recovery time with aggressive treatment. Barring a deep Habs playoff run, Metropolit is done for the season. The impending UFA has scored 10 of his 16 goals on the powerplay this season.

NFL

– Multiple Cowboys sources denied Tuesday that RB Marion Barber is on the trading block. The denials come after an NFL Network report that Barber is available via trade. Even though MBIII is due a $4M roster bonus and $3.8M base salary as a backup, the ‘Boys have a lot of backfield depth that they can’t afford to lose if they want to contend in 2010.

– The Texans have signed LB DeMeco Ryans to a six-year/$48M extension. The deal includes $21.75M guaranteed and $26.3M in the first three years.

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VoV

– VoV is looking for writers. Anyone who’s interested in writing for VoV, whether it’s blogging, articles, rants, etc. or if you want to mirror their site through mine. You don’t even have to produce a set quota of articles. If you’re interested, drop me a line, as we’re always looking for more help.

NHL

– F Jiri Hudler is headed to Russia next season. Wings GM Ken Holland said, “Every conversation I’ve had with (Hudler’s agent) Petr Svoboda he’s told me he was playing in Russia. Hudler has publicly announced he’s playing in Russia, so let’s use some common sense. (Svoboda) told me Hudler is coming back after two years. If he doesn’t like it, he’ll come back after one.” Hudler signed a two-year/$10M with Moscow Dynamo, of the KHL, in early July. The Wings are still waiting for his arbitration case to be settled, so he has a salary when he decides to return to the NHL.

– The NHL confirmed they are looking into the seven-year contract of Flyers D Chris Pronger signed in early July. NHL spokesman Frank Brown said, “We are looking into the circumstances surrounding the negotiation of the Hossa and Pronger contracts, to ensure those negotiations were compliant with the CBA. We are not commenting beyond that, pending completion of the investigations.” The NHL is worried that the heavily front-loaded contracts given to Pronger and Blackhawks F Marian Hossa this off-season might be circumventing the salary cap. Both deals end with two-seasons where the player is paid less than a million dollars past the age of 40. That keeps the annual salary cap hit for both players significantly lower than the actual dollar figure he’ll be making through the majority of the contract. Stay tuned.

– Canucks F Alex Burrows could be facing charges stemming from an on-ice incident in a Montreal summer hockey league game. According to a report on RDS.ca, an investigation is underway in response to a complaint filed on July 21 that states Burrows violently struck the face of a goaltender with his stick during a game at the Excellent Ice Arena in Kirkland, Quebec. The report said the family of the goaltender, 19-year old Koray Celik, would not comment about the incident on the advice of lawyers. Burrows signed a four-year contract extension with the Canucks in March, which will pay him $2M per season. The 27-year-old set new career highs with 28 goals, 51 points and 150 penalty minutes in his 2008-09 campaign.

– Rangers F Nikolai Zherdev was awarded $3.9M in arbitration. He rejected a one-year/$3.25M contract offer from the Rangers in late July and got the raise he seeked. New York now has 48 hours to determine if Zherdev is worth keeping at that price. Should they walk away from the deal, Zherdev can become a UFA. Stay tuned.

– The Blues have officially signed D Brendan Bell. The 26-year old Bell spent last season with the Ottawa Senators, picking up six goals and 15 assists in 53 games. In 101 career games the Ottawa native has seven goals and 21 assists.

MLB

– D’Backs RHP Brandon Webb has elected to undergo season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder. The surgery will take place Monday in Arlington Tex., by Dr. Keith Meister. Meister is the team physician for the Rangers. Webb has missed 99 games after being placed on the disabled list after making one start, receiving a no-decision in the season opener. The 2006 Cy Young Award winner is 87-62 with a 3.27 ERA over 199 games in seven seasons.

– The Rangers have placed 2B Ian Kinsler (hamstring) on the 15-day DL. Big loss for the Rangers, but Neftali Feliz will get the call up. Omar Vizquel will fill in, with Joaquin Arias backing up.

– The Brewers have placed OF Corey Hart (appendix) on the 15-day DL. Hart had surgery Sunday to remove his appendix. The Brewers are bringing Bill Hall right back to the majors as a result. He’s likely done for all of August.

– The Rangers have placed RHP Jason Grilli (elbow) on the 15-day DL and have placed LHP Matt Harrison on the 60-day DL.

– The Rockies have placed RHP Juan Rincon (elbow) on the 15-day DL.

NBA

– The Knicks are set to sign Bucks RFA G Ramon Sessions to an offer sheet. It’s expected that the Bucks will not match the offer. The Clippers are also interested in Sessions. If Sessions is signed by the Knicks, he’s expected to start with full-time point guard minutes. The Knicks are still looking into G Jason Williams, but signing him is not contingent on Sessions’ future with the team. They have also reportedly given up on G Allen Iverson.

– The president of G Ricky Rubio’s Spanish league team, DKV Joventut, said last weekend, “It is obvious that his [Rubio's] career as a player in our club has ended.” Rubio recently turned down contract offers from rival European teams Real Madrid and Olympiacos. He could sign with his hometown team, Regal FC Barcelona, but ‘Wolves owner Glen Taylor believes that Rubio’s first choice is to play in the NBA. The obstacle remains his $6.6M buyout, to which the Wolves can contribute no more than $500K.

– Timberwolves president Glen Taylor is saying that Kevin McHale got canned because he wouldn’t have been happy with the fact that team president David Kahn would be getting rid of plenty of the guys he brought in and believed in this summer: F Mike Miller, G Randy Foye, F Mark Madsen, F Craig Smith and G Sebastian Telfiar. Taylor seems to think that McHale would have been too upset with the changes on the team to be an effective coach, despite the ‘Wolves ending up with a 24-58 record. Rumour is that Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis is likely to be named coach of the Timberwolves this week or next.

– The 76ers have re-signed G Royal Ivey. Ivey has a two-year deal with the team that allowed him to opt out of the second year, which of course allowed him to make some more dough this coming season.

– The Raptors have officially signed F Rasho Nesterovic.

WWE

– Jim Ross has updated his blog at JRsBarBQ.com. Some highlights:

Talent Development: “My thoughts for young wrestlers….talent development is an area that I loved being a part of at one time in my career and I am proud of the track record we had in helping launch or re-launch some distinguished careers in WCW and WWE. In a nutshell, young talents must be amplified versions of THEMSELVES and not portray what they PERCEIVE a pro wrestler to be. Bad acting is generally an automatic kiss ‘o death. Study the classic stars throughly and discover what made those men standout. When doing this, one will usually discover that the greats of the past were simply being enhanced versions of themselves. They also understood their audience throughly and were able to engage the audience with the required “emotional investment.”

Fedor vs. Lesnar: “O.K. so Fedor isn’t scared of Brock Lesnar but I made you look. Fedor’s “people” will continue to catch the heat of Fedor not signing with UFC for “ridiculous money” as in BIG bucks but if Fedor wants to compete in UFC then he’ll push to get the deal done and fight Lesnar for a reported $5M guarantee. Two things here: Fedor’s sponsor/entourage want UFC to facilitate the growth and exposure of their rival MMA company M-1 which is absolutely ludicrous and laughable from a business point of view. Secondly, look for Brock Lesnar to perhaps get a new deal now that all the Fedor $$ have been thrown around whether those numbers are accurate or not and my feeling is that they are probably embellished somewhat. I think that UFC officials have already talked too much about a match, Brock vs. Fedor, that they haven’t got in their pocket. Why build anticipation for a fight that one can’t guarantee?”

HBK’s Return: “Yes, I feel that HBK will be back in WWE action soon, as do most. Furthermore if Shawn’s schedule is properly managed he can continue to contribute at a high level for several years to come, if he so chooses. My opinion is that in the upcoming years that a HBK at 75 percent is better than the vast majority of the men who earn a living in the wrestling biz today. “

– Tonight’s edition of WWE RAW will feature actor Jeremy Piven as the celebrity guest host. Piven stars in the hit HBO series “Entourage” and will be promoting his new comedy film, “The Goods”, which hits theaters on August 14.

Piven has been posting messages on Twitter all weekend and revealed that he won’t be hosting Raw alone. On Saturday morning, Piven wrote, “Just locked my special guest to host WWE Raw with me Mon night, here we go…” On Sunday, Piven dropped a hint about the identity of his Raw co-host, writing, “With me tomorrow night on Raw is a gentleman u know from “The hangover” and he also has a day job.”

Based on that hint, it appears Piven’s guest will be actor Ken Jeong, who appeared in the movie “The Hangover” and also has a part in Piven’s “The Goods.”

Piven posted yet another message on Twitter this morning: “Just met the good people of the WWE and the strongest man in the world! Mon is going to be interesting….”

F1

– Ferrari driver Felipe Massa is on his way home to Brazil, nine days after a life-threatening crash during qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Massa is expected to arrive in Sao Paulo on Monday evening, accompanied on a private jet by his wife Raffaela, who six months pregnant with their first child, and family doctor Dino Altman. Massa, who said he was feeling well aside from some swelling around his damaged left eye, left the AEK military hospital where he was being treated and will be transported in a helicopter from Sao Paulo airport to a local hospital. He is expected to undergo further tests there and is likely to stay for about two days before being allowed to return to his home.

The 28-year-old Massa underwent surgery on multiple skull fractures after he was hit in the helmet by a loose part from another car and crashed into a protective tire barrier – at a blistering 125 mph – on August 25. He will be replaced at Ferrari by record seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, who visited Massa on Saturday at his Budapest hospital and is coming out of retirement to race.

BOXING

– Arturo Gatti’s will was changed just three weeks before the ex-boxing champ died, his brother Fabrizio confirmed Sunday. Family friend and sports journalist Jeremy Filosa told The Canadian Press that on June 17, Gatti and Rodrigues changed the ex-boxer’s will, leaving his full inheritance in her name. Gatti’s widow was also named executor of his will and stands to receive $1M from a life insurance policy, Filosa said, adding the family was made aware of the changes on Friday.

MLB

Here’s some quick info:

What: The 80th annual mid-season exhibition, the 2009 MLB All-Star Game

When: Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Where: St. Louis, Missouri (St. Louis Cardinals, first game held since 1966) at Busch Stadium

First Pitch: United States President Barack Obama (becomes the first sitting president since Gerald Ford threw out the first pitch in 1976)

What’s at stake: Winning conference gets home field advantage for the 2009 World Series (2-2-1-1-1 format)

History: This will be the seventh year in which the all-star Game determines home field advantage, with the American League being 6-1 under this format. Currently, the National League leads, 40-37-2, but has not won since 1996

How to Watch: FOX (USA), Rogers Sportsnet (Canada), ESPN America (Europe) @ 7pm EST

Voting: On April 22, 2009, All-Star balloting began on MLB.com with 8 position players (excluding pitchers and designated hitters) from each of the 30 teams being nominated for fans to vote. As with last year, only 25 email ballots could be cast and voting officially ended at 11:59 ET on July 2. Final Rosters, with the exception of the final vote, were announced on July 5. Also, fans can now vote for up to three players per league to participate in the State Farm Home Run Derby. Also, for the first time, the batting practice sessions will be telecast on the self-owned MLB Network. After the rosters were revealed, a second ballot of five players per league was created for the All-Star Final Vote to determine the 33rd and final player of each roster.

– The 80th edition of the All-Star Game have their lineups announced. The American League looks like this;

AL Elected Starters

C – Joe Mauer (Twins) (3)
1B – Mark Teixeira (Yankees) (2)
2B – Dustin Pedroia (Red Sox) (2)
3B – Evan Longoria (Rays) (1)
SS – Derek Jeter (Yankees) (10)
OF – Jason Bay (Red Sox) (3)
OF – Ichiro Suzuki (Mariners) (9)
OF – Josh Hamilton (Rangers) (2)

AL Pitchers

RHP Andrew Bailey (Athletics) (1)
RHP Josh Beckett (Red Sox) (2)
LHP Mark Buerhle (White Sox) (4)
LHP Brian Fuentes (Angels) (3)
RHP Zach Greinke (Royals) (1)
RHP Roy Halladay (Jays) (6)
RHP Felix Hernandez (Mariners) (1)
RHP Edwin Jackson (Tigers) (1)
RHP Joe Nathan (Twins) (4)
RHP Jonathan Papelbon (Red Sox) (4)
RHP Mariano Rivera (Yankees) (10)
RHP Justin Verlander (Tigers) (2)
RHP Tim Wakefield (Red Sox) (1)

AL Reserves

C – Victor Martinez (Indians) (3)
1B – Justin Morneau (Twins) (3)
1B – Kevin Youkilis (Red Sox) (2)
2B – Aaron Hill (Blue Jays) (1)
3B – Michael Young (Rangers) (6)
SS – Jason Barlett (Rays) (1)
OF – Carl Crawford (Rays) (3)
OF – Curtis Granderson (Tigers) (1)
OF – Torii Hunter (Angels) (3)
OF – Adam Jones (Orioles) (1)
OF – Ben Zobrist (Rays) (1)

AL Final Roster Spot

3B – Chone Figgins (Angels) (0)
3B – Brandon Inge (Tigers) (0)
2B – Ian Kinsler (Rangers) (1)
DH – Adam Lind (Blue Jays) (0)
1B – Carlos Pena (Rays) (0)

NL Elected Starters

C – Yadier Molina (Cardinals) (1)
1B – Albert Pujols (Cardinals) (8)
2B – Chase Utley (Phillies) (4)
3B – David Wright (Mets) (4)
SS – Hanley Ramirez (Marlins) (2)
OF – Carlos Beltran (Mets) (5)
OF – Ryan Braun (Brewers) (2)
OF – Raul Ibanez (Phillies) (1)

NL Pitchers

RHP Heath Bell (Padres) (1)
RHP Chad Billingsley (Dodgers) (1)
RHP Jonathan Broxton (Dodgers) (1)
RHP Matt Cain (Giants) (1)
RHP Francisco Cordero (Reds) (3)
RHP Ryan Franklin (Cardinals) (1)
RHP Dan Haren (Diamondbacks) (3)
RHP Josh Johnson (Marlins) (1)
LHP Ted Lilly (Cubs) (2)
RHP Tim Lincecum (Giants) (2)
RHP Jason Marquis (Rockies) (1)
RHP Francisco Rodriguez (Mets) (4)
LHP Johan Santana (Mets) (3)

NL Reserves

C – Brian McCann (Braves) (4)
1B – Prince Fielder (Brewers) (2)
1B – Adrian Gonzalez (Padres) (2)
1B – Ryan Howard (Phillies) (2)
2B – Orlando Hudson (Dodgers) (2)
2B – Freddy Sanchez (Pirates) (3)
3B – Ryan Zimmerman (Nationals) (1)
SS – Miguel Tejada (Astros) (6)
OF – Hunter Pence (Astros) (1)
OF – Brad Hawpe (Rockies) (1)
OF – Justin Upton (Diamondbacks) (1)

NL Final Roster Spot

SS – Christian Guzman (Nationals) (2)
OF – Matt Kemp (Dodgers) (0)
3B – Mark Reynolds (Diamondbacks) (0)
3B – Pablo Sandoval (Giants) (0)
OF – Shane Victorino (Phillies) (0)

AL Managers

Joe Maddon (Rays) (1)
Don Wakamatsu (Mariners) (1)
Trey Hillman (Royals) (1)

NL Managers

Charlie Manuel (Phillies) (2)
Tony La Russa (Cardinals) (5)
Joe Torre (Dodgers) (7)

Notes:

July 10-14: The All-Star Fan Fest, an amusement park and a quasi-museum, at America’s Center Convention Center
July 12: The All-Star Futures Game and the Taco Bell All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game at Busch Stadium
July 13: The Gatorade Workout Day and State Farm Home Run Derby (8pm EST – participants TBA) at Busch Stadium
July 14: The Chevrolet Red Carpet All-Star Parade (venue TBA) and carried on MLB Network via tape delay.

VoV Thoughts:

– Aaron Hill deserves to be a starter. Unbelieveable.
– Morneau and Teixeira should be switched.
– I can’t believe this is Wakefield’s first ASG.
– Final roster spot for AL means either Lind, Pena or Kinsler get snubbed. Absolutely criminal.
– A lot of first-timers in the NL.
– Can they IBB Pujols the whole game?
– Final roster spot for NL means either Kemp, Victorino or Reynolds are snubbed. Reynolds isn’t an all-star (poor batting average, K’s, defense) but his numbers earned him in. Kemp and Victorino should both be in, no questions asked.
– Until MLB opens their eyes and eliminates this one-player-per-team nonsense, guys like Kinsler, Lind and Kemp are going to get snubbed.
– MLB needs to do a fielding/running skills competition like the NFL, NBA and NHL. What the hell’s taking so long?