NFL

– The Giants have acquired QB Sage Rosenfels and RB/PR Darius Reynaud from the Vikings for a 5th-round pick in 2011 and a conditional draft pick in 2012. Rosenfels finished the preseason 31-of-51 for 402 yards, 4 TDs and 0 INTs. He threw 15 TDs in 9 games for the Texans in 2007. Solid backup acquisition for the G-Men, although many other teams could’ve used him to start this season.

– Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that four teams, the Vikings, Jets, Cardinals, and Chargers, have trade offers on the table for Seahawks’ WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Reedy is an excellent beat reporter, but the source for this story may be a Seahawks front office member, or even Houshmandzadeh’s agent in an attempt to create a market for the 33-year-old receiver, so keep that in mind. It seems a bit suspicious, too – the Cardinals and Jets don’t need another wideout, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune has reported that the Vikings do not have interest, and the Chargers just acquired WR Patrick Crayton. The Redskins and Raiders have also shown interest but haven’t tabled an offer.

– Calvin Watkins of ESPN Dallas reports that the Cowboys are fielding trade offers from teams about RB Marion Barber and RB Tashard Choice. Watkins cites “multiple sources,” but one source tells ESPN’s Matt Mosley that the team will not trade Barber, but doesn’t downplay the possibility of Choice being moved. Though a trade seems unlikely, Dallas is in trade mode, having sent away Patrick Crayton and Pat McQuistan on Friday.

– The Ravens have placed FS Ed Reed (hip) on the reserve/PUP list. He’s eligible to return in Week 7. Despite Reed’s recent optimism, the club opted to “not take any chances” for six weeks. It’s an obvious blow to Baltimore’s defense.

– NFL Network’s Mike Lombardi reports that the Broncos will place DE Elvis Dumervil (torn pectoral) on the IR Saturday, which will end his season. Denver’s defence already looks like a mess this season, and losing Dumervil will just make matters worse.

– The Texans have waived/injured RB Jeremiah Johnson (dislocated toe). The plan is to work out a settlement and re-sign him to the practice squad. Johnson has been unable to stay healthy through two training camps. He missed all of his first season with a shoulder injury, and the injuries may increase the chances he clears waivers.

NHL

– Canucks’ G Roberto Luongo’s contract extension has officially ben OK’d, as well as the long-term deals of Ilya Kovalchuk, Marian Hossa, Marc Savard and Chris Pronger. GM Mike Gillis said, “I don’t thing any of us were too worried about it, we’d see what the outcome would be and then move ahead. I don’t think anyone had the sense of worry, it was more a technical thing. No matter what the outcome would be, we were going to work our way through it and move forward.” Luongo is now set to be a Canuck for life.

NBA

– The Nuggets have reportedly been flatly denying trade offers for F Carmelo Anthony, as GM Masai Ujiri attempts to repair the team’s relationship with their star. Denver is already shopping G J.R. Smith hard and they don’t want to be held hostage by Melo’s desire to leave. As noted by CBSSports.com, “If Anthony still hasn’t signed his extension by the February trade deadline, all signs point to him being dealt to a team of his choice. Stay tuned.

– Lakers’ G Kobe Bryant (knee) is “just about to start doing basketball workouts again,” according to teammate Luke Walton. Bryant said that his knee feels “great,” and it seems like he’ll be fine by the time training camp starts. He missed 9 games last season, raising his total to a measly 16 DNPs in the past five years.

WWE

– It was announced during last night’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown that Kane would put his World Heavyweight Championship on the line against The Undertaker at Night of Champions. The event takes place September 19, 2010 at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois. Below is the updated PPV card:

WWE Championship Six Pack Challenge
Sheamus (c) vs. Wade Barrett vs. Chris Jericho vs. Edge vs. Randy Orton vs. John Cena
(If Chris Jericho doesn’t win the WWE Championship, he will leave WWE.)

World Heavyweight Championship Match
Kane (c) vs. The Undertaker

Divas and Women’s Championship Unification Lumberjill Match
Team LayCool (Layla or Michelle McCool) (c) vs. Melina (c)

– Matt Hardy is apparently frustrated as he posted the following gripe on his Twitter account Thursday:

“As u know,I’m extremely passionate about my job-I give everything I have every time I’m in the ring. Its frustrating when its not enough. Gotta state this. I’m sick & tired of being ‘hurt’, being misused, & not being shown the respect that I’ve earned-something has to change.”

“As far as “kayfabing” people, I’ve never done anything intentionally 2 insult my fans-I just try to make things unpredictable & real for u. IMO, that’s how pro wrestling should be.. Unpredictable & full of suspense-I try & keep that in mind. Cuz as a fan, that’s what I want.

“For the record, I’m not “quitting”, I don’t have my head down & I’m as optimistic as ever-but sometimes, u gotta just say what’s on ur mind.”

– Contrary to rumours, WWE has not re-signed Eugene.

VoV

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

– The NHL has agreed to F Ilya Kovalchuk’s 15-year/$100M contract with the Devils. The Kovalchuk saga is finally over, but this is just another step along the way for the Devils. Now that Kovalchuk is on the books, the Devils have a limited amount of time to get under the salary cap before the start of the regular season. The Kovalchuk deal might have pushed them over the cap by about $3M and the Devils will probably have to trade away a player or two to compensate for this. Kovalchuk has scored at least 40 goals in each of his last 6 seasons, so he appears to be worth the trouble. Although he and the Devils were less than spectacular during the playoffs, he has proven that he can thrive in the Devils system.

– TSN is reporting that the NHL and NHLPA have agreed upon an amendment to the CBA that will significantly change the salary cap rules for long-term contracts. The agreement hasn’t been finalized yet as the two sides are still dealing with the paperwork, however, it should be noted first and foremost that all existing contracts, including D Ilya Kovalchuk’s deal, won’t be subject to these changes. For future long-term contracts, which are defined as deals that last 5 years or longer, that take a player to or beyond the age of 41 years old are subject to different rules. The average salary of the years up to and including the age of 40 are used to determine the cap hit. The cap hit for the player at the age of 41 and beyond is his actual salary that season. Additionally, the cap hit while a player is 36-40 years old is a minimum of $1M, even if he’s getting paid less than that. So if a 35-year-old signs a 6-year/$12.5M deal where he gets $500K in the first 5 years and $10M in the final season, he’d still have a cap hit of $1M for the first five seasons.

MLB

– Nationals’ RHP Stephen Strasburg (torn UCL) underwent successful Tommy John surgery Friday morning in LA. The surgery was performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum and Nats’ team doctor Wiemi Douoguih. GM Mike Rizzo said, “He came through it with flying colors. It went smooth and uneventful.” Strasburg will soon begin the rehabilitation process near San Diego, but isn’t expected to pick up a baseball for a few months. He will likely be sidelined for the duration of the 2011 season, as his timetable is 12-to-18 months.

– Nationals’ OF Nyjer Morgan was suspended 8 games for his actions over the past week. Specifically, Morgan ran into Cardinals’ C Bryan Anderson on Saturday, belted Marlins’ C Brett Hayes on Tuesday and incited a bench-clearing brawl by charging the mound on Wednesday. He was also seen jawing with fans on separate occasions. He’s expected to go through the appeals process, but if both suspensions hold up, Morgan could miss a total of 15 games. Meanwhile, Marlins’ RHP Chris Volstad was suspended 6 games, RHP Alex Sanabia is out for 5 and 1B Gaby Sanchez for 3, while Nationals’ LHP Doug Slaten was suspended for 3 games.

– The Rangers have signed RHP Mark Prior to a minor-league deal. Prior isn’t expected to join the Rangers this month, and it’s unknown whether the deal includes any provisions for 2011. Prior had allowed one unearned run over 11 innings for the Orange County Flyers of the Golden Baseball League. He gave up five hits, walked five and struck out 22.

– The Twins have transferred 1B Justin Morneau to the 60-day DL.

– The Mets have transferred RHP John Maine to the 60-day DL.

– The Nationals have transferred OF Josh Willingham to the 60-day DL.

– The White Sox have transferred LHP Erick Threets to the 60-day DL.

– The Rangers have placed RHP Omar Beltre on the 60-day DL.

NFL

– The Chargers have acquired WR Patrick Crayton from the Cowboys in for a 7th-round pick in 2011. The pick can upgrade to a 6th-rounder if Crayton catches 40 passes in 2010. Crayton, 31, isn’t a downfield threat, but fits San Diego’s revised offense.

– Cardinals’ QB Matt Leinart has reportedly opted against pursuing a trade because he believes his best chance to start again this season is to stay in Arizona. Coach Ken Whisenhunt obviously has no use for Leinart, and it’s clear that the two aren’t on the same page. The Cardinals are ready to turn the page on their 2006 1st-round pick. The organization will continue to explore trades on their own, right up until they release Leinart on Saturday.

– ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Seahawks’ WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh will be released if he cannot be dealt by Saturday’s final cuts deadline. Housh will still receive his fully-guaranteed $7M salary from the team. With a bad attitude, declining skills, and a new offense to learn, the odds are against Housh being a consistent 2010 performer. NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora suggests that the Raiders, Vikings and Redskins are in the mix for his services.

– NewOrleans.com’s Brian Allee-Walsh reports that Saints’ FS Darren Sharper (knee) will start the season on the PUP list. Sharper hasn’t come close to practicing, and there was speculation that he could lose his roster spot altogether if he didn’t land on the PUP list.

– The Browns have placed RB Montario Hardesty (torn left ACL) on the IR, ending his season. Hardesty will enter next year’s training camp having had reconstructions to both knees. The Browns may have to draft another back early in 2011

– Broncos’ RB LenDale White (ruptured Achilles tendon) will miss the 2010 season after suffering a ruptured Achilles’ tendon in Thursday’s preseason finale. White wasn’t going to play for a month due to suspension, and the Broncos weren’t counting on him for a significant role beyond Week 5. I’m not aware of any NFL running back successfully returning from a torn Achilles.

– The Cardinals have placed ILB Gerald Hayes (back) on the reserve/PUP list. The back injury dates back to the middle of last season. Hayes tried unsuccessfully to rehab the injury before ultimately going under the knife at the beginning of the summer.

WWE

– The projected buyrate is in for July’s Money In The Bank pay-per-view and the disturbing downward trend continues. The company’s corporate website projects the show did 189,000 buys – down almost 30% from from last July’s Night of Champions show, which did 267,000.

– Chris Jericho spoke to the UK’s Daily Star about his band Fozzy’s upcoming UK tour. During the interview, he says his spot in WWE is safe no matter what and he’ll always be valued as a top worker for the company.

“I’m not one of those people who worries about my position. I’m never going to lose my spot. I could work the opening match every night and still be a star.”

Jericho also commented on the young talent getting pushed in WWE.

“It’s just the way it is – most of the guys in WWE are young guys and green. It’s not like it used to be. I spent nine years going all round the place perfecting my craft – now it’s nine months. The brilliant thing about the Nexus angle is that we’re taking seven guys who have not done a thing and thrown them into the hottest angle they may ever be involved in. You’ve got to take what you have and work with it.”

NBA

– Pacers’ rookie G Lance Stephenson has been banned from working out at Conseco Field House facilities since his alleged involvement in an incident last month where he reportedly pushed his girlfriend down a flight of stairs. He’s been working out with assistant coaches at a different facility and undergoing counselling, but it’s clear that Larry Bird is not happy. Stephenson has gone from a possible starter and fantasy sleeper to a bubble roster player.

– Rockets’ F Chase Budinger (left ankle sprain) will miss 4-to-6 weeks after suffering a substantial left ankle sprain on Thursday. He should be ready for the start of the season.

VoV

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

– The NY Post is reporting that the NHL could void the contract of Canucks’ G Roberto Luongo as early as Friday. The NHL would also not allow the potential contract of UFA F Ilya Kovalchuk. The report says that the NHLPA is not willing to change some parts of the existing CBA to avoid front-loading long-term contracts. The NHL wants to count only the years of a contract before the age of 40 towards the salary cap and negotiations are on-going. Luongo signed a 12-year/$64M contract extension one year ago and the contract kicks in this season, as he still had one year remaining on his existing contract. The article also states that the Blackhawks’ F Marian Hossa’s contract is still being investigated. Should both sides finally come to an agreement, the Kovalchuk, Luongo and all other deals will be grandfathered in. Stay tuned, as this story is far from over.

– ESPN.com is reporting that Matthew Hulsizer is in the late stages of negotiating a new arena lease with the City of Glendale to keep the Coyotes in Phoenix. The deal between Ice Edge Holdings, who were the front-runners to but the Coyotes, and Glendale have stalled. Hulsizer is the CEO of PEAK6 Investments and is extremely wealthy. A source said, “He has an unbelievable financial mind. He’s exactly the kind of guy that the league needs. He’s a legitimate hockey guy with a lot of money.” If Hulsizer gets the arena deal from the city, he will formally make a bid to purchase the Coyotes from the NHL. It is possible that some members of Ice Edge Holdings will be allowed to become minority shareholders if Hulsizer is successful. Stay tuned.

WWE

– According to an unnamed WWE source, it’s expected that Chris Jericho will remain with the WWE post-Night of Champions. The general consensus backstage is that he will not win the WWE Championship in the main event, but will re-sign a long-term deal. Jericho could potentially take some time off while touring with Fozzy in the UK as well. Stay tuned.

MLB

– According to Craig Calcaterra of NBCSports.com, Yankees’ 3B Alex Rodriguez has fired agent Scott Boras and is now being represented by Pittsburgh attorney Jay Reisinger. Bob Nightengale of USA Today had it first this morning, however the story mysteriously from the website. According to Calcaterra, Rodriguez fired Boras about a month ago, ending a working relationship dating back to when he was selected by the Mariners as the No. 1 overall pick in 1993. Reisinger’s name may sound familiar because he has actually represented Rodriguez as his attorney for quite some time now.

MLB

– Marlins’ RHP Ricky Nolasco (torn meniscus in right knee) has officially been shut down for the rest of the season and will undergo surgery next week. Nolasco was diagnosed last week, but never really should’ve tried to tough it out and pitch through the injury. His status for 2011 is uncertain. Nolasco finishes with a 14-9 record, 1.28 WHIP and 147 strikeouts in 26 starts.

VoV

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

– The NHL and the NHLPA have reportedly agreed to extend the deadline for F Ilya Kovalchuk’s contract decision to Friday. If the league rejects the contract again then the NHLPA will have a 5 -day window to file a grievance like they did before. If the contract is rejected again, Kovalchuk is expected to play in the KHL where his agent says he’ll play at least 1 full season. If the deal is accepted, however, then the Devils will have to shed approximately $3M to get under the salary cap. Stay tuned.

– According to reports, G Antti Niemi will sign with the Sharks on a 1-year/$2M deal. G Antero Niittymaki, who was signed earlier this off-season, would likely end up as Niemi’s backup while plans for G Thomas Greiss and G Alex Stalock would have to determined after training camp. We’ll keep you posted.

– F Bill Guerin took part in an informal workout with the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday. “I was down in the area visiting my father-in-law who lives in Medford [N.J.]. I was going to be in the area anyway and I wanted to get on the ice. My agent talked to Paul [Holmgren] about possibly having me come here and skate around with the guys. It was nice. It was good to finally get back on the ice and skate.” The vet was asked if there was a possibility that he may sign with the Flyers – he said he wasn’t sure where he will end playing this season, but he just wanted to get back on the ice. Stay tuned.

NFL

– NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora reports that Ravens FS Ed Reed (hip) is likely to resume playing at some point in September. La Canfora says that Reed has visited two specialists, and got “positive feedback” from both. While Reed probably won’t be ready for Week 1, he looks likely to at least avoid the PUP. Great news for Baltimore’s defence.

– ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio reports that Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisberger will ask for “at least” a 3-game reduction of his 4-to-6 game suspension during his meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Friday. Roethlisberger will bring team president Art Rooney II to the meeting in an effort to show he also has the backing of the respected Steelers organization. Goodell is believed to already be in favour of reducing the ban to 4 games, but Big Ben has gone above and beyond what the NFL asked of him since his latest sexual assault accusation. Roethlisberger can also contend that he’s the only player in league history to be suspended under the Personal Conduct Policy without being arrested or charged with a crime.

– The Cardinals have signed DE Darnell Dockett to a 4-year/$48M extension through 2015 with $30-31M guaranteed. Dockett has racked up 20 sacks and 6 turnovers caused over the last three years. Entering his 7th season, the 29-year-old pass rusher has yet to miss a game.

– FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer disputes a rumour that Cardinals’ QB Matt Leinart has been traded to the Giants, saying New York is “not interested” in such a deal. Glazer says that the Giants do want a veteran backup, but one who’s “perfectly content with being Eli Manning’s backup,” whereas Leinart believes he’s still a starter. Buffalo makes more sense as a landing spot, but the Bills’ website says that a match is unlikely. If the Cardinals can’t find a trade partner by Saturday, Leinart will likely be among their final cuts.

MLB

– Royals’ C Jason Kendall (shoulder) will undergo surgery to rectify an “extensive tear in his rotator cuff” and is expected to be sidelined 8-to-10 months. The injury occurred in July but was never reported, so props to Kendall for playing through such a painful injury. Manager Ned Yost hopes Kendall will be ready for the beginning of next season, but given that April is 7 months away, that seems a bit unrealistic.

– Yankees’ LHP Andy Pettitte (elbow) reported feeling “good” after a 55-pitch bullpen session Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. Pettitte threw a 35-pitch bullpen session on Sunday and could progress to a simulated game by week’s end. “This is definitely the best I’ve felt. I just want to continue to go out there and not have any problems.” He should be back in just less than 2 weeks.

– Reds’ LHP Aroldis Chapman earned his first MLB win on Wednesday night by pitching a perfect 7th inning out of the bullpen against the Brewers. He topped out at an insane 102.7 mph last night, but hit a miraculous 103.9 tonight while striking out 2 and inducing a groundout.

WWE

– According to the Wrestling Observer, the decision to make the third season of NXT an all-women’s show was likely made quite recently. Last week, WWE filmed 12 wrestlers at FCW, including 8 men and 4 women. Initial plans called for 4 men and 4 women to be featured in the abbreviated season, but it was later changed to 6 women.

There is hope that the show will garner better ratings with women prominently featured so they can reach a television deal with another network. There is also hope that Aloisia’s “freak of nature” persona will increase ratings so Syfy will change its mind and renew the program.

Another aspect revolves around unhappiness with many of its current female performers, resulting in the company looking for replacement Divas. Talent relations were unhappy with the behavior of several of the women in recent weeks, particularly when much of the roster was situated in Los Angeles for SummerSlam. It is said that Tiffany and the recently released Serena were not the only ones who made embarrassing scenes in public. Officials are very strict regarding the public image of its talent because of promises to corporate sponsors that World Wrestling Entertainment is a wholesome company.

As things stand now, the lame duck show will end its current season on October 1, with a live episode in Oklahoma City as part of a three-hour programming block that will include the network’s debut of Friday Night SmackDown.

WWE is expected to rush through the current season of NXT with the final episode airing on October 1 just before the premiere of Friday Night SmackDown on Syfy. The third season of NXT will feature 5 episodes. While company officials adore NXT and have vowed it will continue, they have been unable to land a new home for the show. With that being said, there was a discussion this past week of moving the show to WGN America. Vince McMahon said that ideally, they would keep both NXT and WWE Superstars.

– According to the Wrestling Observer, Joey Mercury (torn pectoral muscle) will be out of action for roughly 6 months after undergoing surgery over the weekend. Despite the injury, Mercury is expected to remain on television. Many feel that with Serena’s recent release, it wasn’t a good time to remove Mercury from television since the Straight Edge Society wouldn’t be much of a group with two people. However, Punk and Gallows broke up at the following night’s SmackDown TV taping, so the injury may have been the catalyst to disband the group.

– Steve Austin commented on Twitter about CM Punk using his music and calling him out on Monday’s RAW:

“Got a lot of reports of CM Punk using my ring music and calling me out…I enjoy his work and wish him the best. Go get em kid.”

– John Cena was asked on Twitter whether he’s interested in being an NXT pro and gave a pretty funny response.

“yes I asked, and was denied. Apparently u need more than 2 moves to offically be called a “pro” (enjoy that one)”

– Chris Jericho is working on the final draft of his latest book and has suffered an extremely frustrating setback:

“Was only able to recover 20% of the final book edit. I am now officially 80% insane…”

- The NXT Season 2 finale drew a  1.02 rating and averaged 1,323,000 viewers.

– Hours after Luna Vachon’s death last Friday, WWE issued a statement addressing the many former wrestlers who have passed away as a result of substance abused related issues. The statement reads:

“Not withstanding our extensive Talent Wellness Program for current Superstars, WWE goes to great lengths to help our former talent who may have substance abuse problems, offering complete drug rehabilitation at no cost to them. Ultimately, however, stars in any form of entertainment should be held personally responsible for their own actions. Prescription drug overdose is a problem not only with former WWE talent, but society as a whole according to the Center for Disease Control, as it is the second leading cause of unintentional death (particularly among younger people) in the U.S.”

– The WWE website has announced that Jackass star Johnny Knoxville will host October 4th episode of Monday Night RAW. Knoxville will be promoting the new Jackass 3D movie.

– In what has to be great news for WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross, longtime Oklahoma Sooners football commentator Bob Barry announced on Tuesday that he is retiring. Ross said in various interviews over the years that calling Oklahoma football has been a lifelong dream of his, so this could be his chance to fill that position.

– The comedy duo Penn & Teller have once again been removed from WWE’s lineup of upcoming Raw guest hosts. A WWE source reports that Penn & Teller are very protective over how they are presented on television and there’s been a lot of back-and-forth over how much the WWE creative team would write for them. They were originally booked to host Raw on September 20, the night after Night of Champions, but now it appears they’re out again. The only two guest hosts now listed are teen actor Bobb’e J. Thompson on October 18 and country singer Toby Keith on October 25, the night after the Bragging Rights PPV.

NBA

– The Celtics have signed free agent G Delonte West. West averaged a career-high 12.3 points during his last season with Boston in 2006-07, but minutes will be more difficult to come by this time around. West is also suspended for the first 10 games of the season due to his arrest last year on weapons charges.

TNA

– TNA’s Eric Bischoff was a special guest on this week’s Monday Night Mayhem radio show. The highlights:

His reaction to those wrestling fans that ask the question “Where is the controversy in TNA?” and if we will be seeing that on TNA programming in the coming weeks/months: “I think that you will. One of the challenges in the business today, and the same is true in the WWE, what can we do that hasn’t been done to death in the last 10 to 12 years? When I launched Nitro, and we did all the ridiculous stuff & controversial stuff that I did that put WCW on the map, nobody had ever done it before, and that’s what made it controversial. That’s why I was the ‘anti-Christ’ for wrestling fans, because I was doing things no one had done before. Giving away finishes live on the air five minutes before the competition’s show went on. All these things people said was stupid & ridiculous, how do you do that again? How does Vince McMahon do all things that are ground-breaking, controversial, & water cooler buzz? How does he recreate those elements in the guidelines of a televised wrestling show? How do you recreate that in today’s environment? Is there going to be controversy in TNA? Of course there is. Are we seeing right now? Without giving anything away, I think we’re setting it up. In the months to come, people are going to see some things that are controversial, but I don’t think anyone should raise the bar of expectations so high that we are magically going to get back to that virgin territory that we enjoyed 10 or 12 years ago.”

How much input he usually has into an edition of TNA iMPACT, his response to those that strongly believe that Hulk Hogan & himself are “running TNA,” and the current chemistry between himself & Vince Russo: “It varies a lot depending on the week. I’ve read some of the comments of some of your other guests on Monday Night Mayhem talking about me, and I think Kevin Kelly was one of the ones I read last, and I know people out there think and are under the assumption that Eric Bischoff & Hulk Hogan are ‘running TNA.’ Nothing is farther from the truth. We have nothing to do with the strategy of the company. We have nothing to do with the marketing of the company. Nobody talks to us or asks us about talent acquisitions or people getting fired. We have little to do with the day-to-day operations of TNA. The same is kinda true with regards to creative. I work closely with Vince Russo, I see the formats, I give my suggestions. Vince & I have a great working relationship, and in regards to chemistry, I would say besides my partner Jason Hervey and Hulk, there’s no one better that I have a working relationship with.”

The Internet’s constant stream of hating against TNA & why it’s easier for fans to point out the flaws of TNA than those of the WWE: “Let me put it to you this way: Misery loves company. It’s easier for people who are negative, who want to criticize without really having anything intelligent to say and without it being constructive criticism. It’s one of the reasons why I constantly am trying to raise the bar, eliminating one stupid fan at a time. When I see the kind of comments like ‘TNA Sucks’ or ‘Your storylines blow,’ or ‘Fire Russo, or ‘Fire Bischoff,’ or ‘Hogan sucks,’ I laugh at that stuff because there are a lot of people out there and because misery loves company. Let’s face it, WWE is a giant bandwagon. It’s been around a long time. It’s easier & safer when you’re the type of person who is looking for a group of miserable people to jump on the bandwagon that’s successful, because the WWE is a cable television juggernaut. It is what it is. So it’s easy to jump on that bandwagon and look down at TNA for its warts, blemishes, bumps, bruises, & dents because there’s plenty of them. TNA is not WWE. It’s not a billion dollar company with the kind of infrastructure & production staff taking their show live on the road every week. There’s so many things that we don’t have that it’s easy to point out our flaws. I think if you look at what TNA does, and does well, and tries to do. We are ‘the little engine that’s trying.’ There’s some great talent in the ring, I think we have the greatest balance of new, young & exciting talent, established talent that rates well despite what everyone else wants to believe on the Internet. If you’re objective and you’re a real wrestling fan, you’re gonna have comments, and while you may not like certain things that are happening in TNA, you’ll find plenty of things to like.”

Bret Hart’s comments about Vince McMahon “stomping out” TNA from Monday nights, the impact “The Hitman” may have had in making that a reality, & what the final outcome would have been for TNA on Monday nights had Bret Hart never come back to the WWE: “I like Bret so much so it’s hard for me to comment about things like this. Bret Hart is a little pre-occupied with the legacy of Bret Hart. Not going to deny it, the move to Monday night was a mistake. It is what it is. It was ill-conceived, it was bad timing, it was a risk, and it was a risk that didn’t pan out. I’ve taken plenty of risks that didn’t work out, and I’ve taken some risks that have. Vince McMahon has taken some risks that worked and taken plenty of risks that hasn’t. The move to Monday night was a miss, and I’ll take as much responsibility for that as anybody else. I don’t think any of it had anything to do with Bret Hart. I think if Bret Hart would have never come back to WWE, the outcome of our Monday night effort would have been exactly the same.”

His thoughts on this Sunday’s No Surrender Pay-Per-View & why his primary focus will be on the semi-finals of the TNA World Title Tournament: “I think there are some great matches on the card. The primary thing that I’m focused on is our ‘A-story,’ which is who is going to become TNA World Heavyweight Champion. You got four powerful names there, four very exciting talents four guys who could deliver anywhere in the world in either company. You got four guys who are great storytellers and can deliver in the ring. If there’s a reason to watch the Pay-Per-View, that’s the one thing I would encourage people to follow & watch, because it’s another chapter in a pretty interesting story that we laid out back in March, and I’m excited about it.”

– TNA president Dixie Carter announced the signing of a new talent on her Twitter account on Monday, noting the individual as someone people ‘have been asking about’. Many have speculated that Mickie James is the big name, however, James’ manager Mary Michael released the following statement to Diva-Dirt.com dismissing rumors that her client has signed with TNA Wrestling: “To lay the rumors to rest, as of yet I can confirm that Mickie James has not signed a deal with TNA.”

– Jeff Jarrett and Kurt Angle’s ex-wife Karen have indeed gotten married. According to an individual with access to the former TNA Knockout’s private Facebook page, the couple tied the knot last month.

VoV

Marc Valeri – captaincharisma@hotmail.com
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NHL

– The NHL has until 5pm ET to submit a verdict on the latest contract offer between the Devils and F Ilya Kovalchuk. The league must either approve the reported 15-year/$100M deal or reject it. If the NHL turns it down, it would be the second time a long-term deal between Kovalchuk and the Devils had been rejected. The NHLPA would then have another 5-day window to file a grievance, something they did once before when the league chose not to allow the original 17-year/$102M contract they gave Kovalchuk earlier.

If the NHL chooses to reject the deal, then Kovalchuk is expected to sign in the KHL, likely with SKA St. Petersburg, which is believed to have offered Kovalchuk an enormous deal to return to his homeland to play. Kovalchuk’s agent has made it clear that if his client signs in Russia, he will remain there for at least one full season.

Should the NHL allow the contract then the Devils will have to quickly shed about $3M to get under the league’s mandated salary cap of $59.4M. Even if the deal is accepted, the possibility also exists that the Devils could be fined or penalized for their role in the saga.

The sticking point of the original rejected deal appeared to be front loading of the contract and the length of the deal. The league has stated that they believe the Devils intentionally circumvented the cap and that the Devils did not expect Kovalchuk to play out the entirety of the deal. The 27-year old would have been entering his age-44 season when the deal expired and would have been playing for the league minimum. Under the terms of the new deal, Kovalchuk would instead be 42-years old when the contract expires, earning a base salary of $4M in his final year.

The former Rocket Richard trophy winner had 41 goals and 44 assists in 76 games last season, split between the Devils and Thrashers.

MLB

– Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post reports that Marlins’ RHP Ricky Nolasco (torn meniscus in right knee) may be shut down for the rest of the season. Though Nolasco is still scheduled to make his next start Friday as of this report, his knee has reportedly been bothered him since his last start on Saturday. If he is too sore to pitch Friday, he will likely be shut down for the rest of the season in order to undergo surgery.

– According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, the Dodgers declined the Yankees’ interest in LHP Ted Lilly. That should kill any rumours of Lilly returning to the Bronx. It’s unlikely that the Dodgers would get the prospects to make it worth their while, considering that Lilly projects as a Type A free agent this winter.

NFL

– A league source tells the Chicago Sun-Times’ Mike Mulligan “there is still talk” that Bears’ TE Greg Olsen is available for trade. Mulligan also says that “there has been nothing but tireless propaganda” about Olsen’s fit in Mike Martz’s offense. Olsen’s offensive role remains up in the air.

WWE

– The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been cast in the lead role of “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island,” the sequel to 2008’s “Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D.” Johnson will play “the boyfriend of explorer Josh Hutcherson’s mom, who Hutcherson is forced to bring on a trip to a mythical and monstrous island to find his missing grandfather.”

The movie is set to begin shooting in October. It’s interesting to note that the first “Journey” movie starred actor Brandon Frasier, but he and the studio were unable to agree on the sequel’s filming schedule, so he was replaced. Frasier was the star of the movie which launched Johnson’s movie career back in 2001, The Mummy Returns.

VoV

Marc Valeri – captaincharisma@hotmail.com
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WWE

– On Monday’s RAW, Chris Jericho announced that he will be leaving WWE once and for all if he does not win the WWE Championship in the 6-pack challenge match at Night of Champions. With Jericho’s WWE contract expiring soon and talk that he’s strongly considering leaving the company to pursue his career in the entertainment industry, it appears WWE has begun setting the stage for his possible departure.

As of this past weekend, a WWE source informed us that Jericho still has not signed a new contract. It’s still entirely possible that Jericho re-signs, but since Jericho has acknowledged in several recent interviews that his contract is expiring and he’s considering moving on, WWE has incorporated the real situation into WWE storyline. Jericho has said he wants more time off to to spend with his family, record music and tour with his heavy metal band Fozzy and pursue other opportunities in the entertainment industry. On Monday night, Jericho posed a message on Twitter stating that he was invited to be a participant on the next season of ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars” show but had to decline due to scheduling conflicts.

– According to the PWInsider, tonight is the Season Finale of NXT Season 2 and it appears WWE will be introducing the Season 3 rookies tonight. Based on what we’ve heard, Season 3 will have 4 guys and 4 women, with WWE hoping the rookie divas will draw ratings. There are numerous new ‘rookies’ backstage at today’s TV tapings in Albany, NY.

The SyFy NXT series will finish up on October 1,which will give them 5 episodes to complete the 3rd season. The final episode will serve as a lead in for the debut of Smackdown on SyFy.

After Season 3 gets dropped from SyFy mid-season, the show will most likely be moving to WWE’s official website if they cannot secure a home on another NBC Universal cable channel. There’s also talk of incorporating the NXT show into Raw and Smackdown. WWE having to work under the NBC Universal umbrella (due to its current commitments through the USA Network) has given them limited options as to where the show might end up.

SyFy has opted not to keep the series due to poor ratings. Back in 2006, SyFy was originally sold on the ECW brand as a unique, stand-alone brand – not just another WWE show like ECW became. While the show initially brought in good ratings, it soon became WWE’s C show – and not “must see” like Raw or Smackdown. SyFy felt as if they did not get what was promised, and when they wanted to drop ECW, but Kevin Dunn pitched the NXT concept as a replacement for ECW. Based off of Dunn’s pitch, SyFy signed off on the NXT deal, thinking that the show would do better ratings than ECW had been doing.

Ratings for NXT dipped below the ECW ratings, and when SyFy had the chance to get Smackdown, they took the chance due to Smackdown historically doing well on network television. With the addition of Smackdown, they decided to drop NXT and focus on the stronger series.

– Creative plans as of Monday night was for WWE to unify all of its championships within the next year. There would be one World Championship, one Tag Team Championship, the Intercontinental Championship, and one Women’s title. It is said that a WWE/World Title Unification Match will take place at next year’s WrestleMania.

– It is said that the chances of Team 3D returning to WWE are slim because Senior VP of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis in particular hates Brother Ray. While ‘everyone loves D-Von’, but it’s not enough to bring back the duo due to all of Ray’s baggage.

– Monday’s 900th episode of Raw scored a 3.5 cable rating. The show averaged 5.05 million viewers did hours of 3.35 and 3.64. These numbers are up from last week’s show.

– WWE RAW star John Cena was interviewed this week by The Boston Globe and said despite its growing popularity, he’s not a fan of UFC and mixed martial arts. “It’s just not something that particularly interests me. UFC is where boxing was years ago, and I was never really into boxing, either.’’

Cena says he prefers pro wrestling because it’s “regulated entertainment that’s safe for anyone to enjoy.’’ As for UFC … “It is what it is. It can be pretty over the top, and it’s not something I’d want my children to watch.’’

Cena also spoke about his new movie “Legendary,” co-starring Patricia Clarkson and Danny Glover. Cena has played action hero tough-guy roles in “The Marine” and “12 Rounds,” but plays a sensitive character in Legendary. “I’m used to dodging bullets and explosions. And this is more of a dramatic piece.’’ Despite making a few movies already, Cena admits he’s still “fairly inexperienced when it comes to cinematic acting’’ but hopes to continue his acting career.”

NHL

– Oilers’ G Nikolai Khabibulin will spend a 30 days in prison for speeding and driving under the influence. In addition to the jail time, Khabibulin will also be forced to pay $1,507.60 in fines and surcharges and complete an alcohol program. Khabibulin was caught driving with a BAC of .164, which is more than twice the legal limit. Anything above a BAC of .15 is considered an extreme DUI and comes with a minimum jail sentence of 30 days.

– CBC-Montreal reporter Michel Godbout says that a “very very reliable source” has told him that Canadiens’ RFA G Carey Price will “strike” if Montreal doesn’t give him a contract worth $3M per season. It’s worth noting that former Montreal G Jaroslav Halak signed a 4-year deal worth $3.75M annually with the Blues. Stay tuned.

– Red Wings’ D Niklas Kronwall (knee) underwent surgery on Tuesday, but GM Ken Holland thinks he’ll resume skating early in training camp. Kronwall’s knee has been bothering him this summer, but it looks like they’ve found the cause of the problem. “He had a lateral meniscus tear. I think it’s great news. Now we’re expecting that, early in training camp, he’ll be on the ice. When you don’t feel good, you don’t know what it is, it’s a concern. These are finely tuned athletes. He’s seen a lot of doctors.” Kronwall was limited to just 48 games last season due to a knee injury.

– D Chris Chelios has officially retired at the age of 48. Chelios was originally drafted with the 40th overall pick in the 1981 entry draft and he played in his last NHL game on April 6. He’ll be remembered as one of the best defenseman of his time, having scored 185 goals and 948 points in 1,651 games between Montreal, Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta. Chelios will now work for the Red Wings as an adviser to hockey operations, helping with player development and to mentor the team’s young blueliners.

– According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, an NHL GM said the Devils are trying to disguise their circumvention of the salary cap with their latest offer to F Ilya Kovalchuk. The NHL has not yet accepted or rejected Kovalchuk’s new contract, which is believed to be a 15-year/$100M deal. Although none of this has been confirmed, Kovalchuk will reportedly be paid $90M over the first 10 years, and an average of $2.6M over the last three seasons. Teams have begun backloading low salary years at the end of long-term contracts in an effort to lower the overall cap hit, but the NHL finally fought back against this tactic when they vetoed Kovalchuk’s original 17-year/$102M contract, which would’ve paid him $550K per season in each of the last 5 seasons of the deal. Kovalchuk’s new contract, if it’s structured as reported, doesn’t look any different than some of the other long-term contracts NHL players are currently signed to. Stay tuned.

– The Islanders have re-signed F Doug Weight to a 1-year extension. GM Garth Snow said that Weight was all but signed in mid-June, but it took some time to finalize the contract. Weight scored a goal and 17 points in 36 games last season. Weight, 39, has played in just 156 contests over the last three seasons.

MLB

– Nationals’ GM Mike Rizzo said that RHP Stephen Strasburg (torn UCL) will undergo Tommy John surgery Friday in LA. Strasburg underwent a second arthrogram with Dr. Lewis Yocum on Monday, which revealed the same tear in his UCL. Yocum will perform the surgery, with Nats’ team doctor Wiemi Douoguih in the operating room. Strasburg is expected to miss approximately 12-to-18 months, so he’ll almost certainly miss the entire 2011 season.

– According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, Dodgers’ LHP Ted Lilly was claimed off waivers, however he was pulled back by the Dodgers. Heyman suggests that multiple teams claimed Lilly, including the Yankees. Now that he has been pulled back, he can no longer be traded. The Dodgers are 9 games back in the NL West and 5.5 games behind in the NL Wild Card, so they are a relative long-shot to make the postseason, but they’re obviously not throwing in the towel. Lilly projects to be a Type A free agent this winter, so it might make sense to hang onto him.

– Two sources tell Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com that the Rangers are considering trading for Mets’ OF Jeff Francoeur. “His name has definitely been talked about,” says a source. The Rangers are reportedly in the market for a right-handed hitting outfielder for the bench and are interested in Francoeur. A deal would be need to be completed today in order for him to be eligible for the postseason roster. Francoeur is in the starting lineup for the Mets on Tuesday night, at least for now.

According to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com, the Rangers still have interest in Red Sox’ 3B Mike Lowell. According to Sullivan, talks with the Red Sox “may have heated up.” Lowell might make a bit more sense, since the team is apparently unhappy with the production they’ve received from 3B Jorge Cantu. Sullivan writes that the team is also considering Dodgers’ OF Reed Johnson and Rockies’ OF Ryan Spilborghs.

NFL

– The Ravens will decide on Saturday whether to put FS Ed Reed (hip surgery) on the PUP list or try to bring him back early in the season. Reed met with the coaching staff on Monday, pushing for a quick return. He’s expected to follow up Saturday with an “honest and open conversation” with coach John Harbaugh. The Ravens have yet to rule out Reed for the season opener.

– The Packers have placed CB Al Harris (knee surgery) on the reserve/PUP list and will be out until Week 7 at the earliest. Coach Mike McCarthy said, “Al Harris is definitely getting better, he’s getting close. But he’s going to have to start the season on the PUP.” It’s another blow to Green Bay’s secondary depth, which has become the biggest concern for the 2010 preseason’s most impressive team.

– Citing “several sources,” FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer reports that the Cardinals are actively trying to trade QB Matt Leinart. The return price is unclear, but Arizona has reportedly contacted multiple teams. They probably shouldn’t hold out for more than a 6th-round pick with Leinart’s trade stock at an all-time low. The 27-year-old will make a $2.5M base salary in 2010, which will be prohibitive for most teams. Leinart will take time to learn another offense, and has not been open to settling for a backup job. He’ll probably be released.

– The Vikings have placed WR Sidney Rice (hip surgery) on the reserve/PUP list. Rice will be eligible for a Week 7 return, but that would be highly optimistic. Most likely, he’s out until November at the earliest.

– The Patriots have placed CB Leigh Bodden (torn rotator cuff) on the IR, ending his season. He made his preseason debut last Thursday. Bodden is fresh off a 4-year/$22M signing this spring.

– The Ravens have acquired CB Josh Wilson from the Seahawks for a conditional 5th-round draft pick. The 2007 second-rounder is best suited to a nickelback role, but he could end up starting for Baltimore early in the season with Fabian Washington and Lardarius Webb both returning from ACL surgery. Wilson did start the Seahawks’ first preseason game, but he wasn’t in Seattle’s long-term plans.

– Former Giants’ WR Plaxico Burress has lost his bid for a work release from prison. The Department of Correctional Services revealed that Plax will not be able to reapply for release before June of 2011, pending appeal. We may see Burress in a 2011 camp, but he’ll be 34 and coming off two missed seasons at that point.

NBA

– Nuggets’ VP Masai Ujiri re-iterated on Tuesday that he intends to soon meet with F Carmelo Anthony. “I’ll wait and talk to Melo. I think so far things have been positive. There’s been a lot of speculation … but until he tells me that [he wants to be traded], we want him back, the city wants him back, ownership wants him back.” Melo still looks like he’s leaving. Stay tuned.

VoV

Marc Valeri – captaincharisma@hotmail.com
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NHL

– The Devils have submitted a re-worked deal to the NHL for F Ilya Kovalchuk. According to the CBA, the league has a 5-day window to approve or reject the contract. TSN is reporting that the deal is approximately 15-years/$100M, which would give Kovalchuk an ironic cap hit of $6.66M per season. Stay tuned.

– F Paul Kariya will not play in the 2010-11 season due to post-concussion syndrome. The 35-year-old veteran is still a UFA. He had been attracting interest from the Ducks, but this news will certainly bring those talks to an end.

– The Leafs have acquired D Matt Lashoff from the Lightning for F Alex Berry and F Stefano Giliati. Lashoff played the majority of last season with the Tampa’s AHL affiliate in Norfolk, scoring eight goals, 24 points and 105 penalty minutes in 68 games. Lashoff will likely begin the 2010-11 campaign in the minors with the Marlies.

– The Leafs have signed F Clarke MacArthur to a 1-year/$1.1M deal. MacArthur scored 16 goals and 19 assists in 81 games between Buffalo and Atlanta last season. He will contend for a top-6 forward spot with the Buds.

– Oilers’ G Nikolai Khabibulin has been found guilty of drunk driving. He was convicted on 3 counts, including driving with a BAC that is twice the legal limit in Arizona and excessive speeding, but had 1 count tossed out. Khabibulin’s sentencing will be handed down at a date TBD, but he could spend a minimum of 30 days or a maximum of 6 months in jail. Stay tuned.

MLB

– According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Twins have acquired LHP Brian Fuentes from the Angels. Rosenthal isn’t sure if the Twins worked out a trade with the Angels or he was simply let go. Fuentes has a 3.52 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 39 games this season, posting a 39/18 K/BB ratio over 38 1/3 innings. He’ll provide the Twinkies with another late-game option. Since he’s nowhere close to his $9M option vesting for next season, the team can happily cut ties with him at the end of the year. RHP Fernando Rodney assumes the closer’s role with the Halos.

– Astros’ RHP Matt Lindstrom (back spasms) is still not 100%. The Astros closer was expected to begin a rehab assignment on Monday, but that seems unlikely to happen. Lindstrom was scratched from a bullpen session Saturday and likely won’t be ready until mid-September.

NFL

– NFL Network’s Mike Lombardi reports that there is a real chance Cardinals’ QB Matt Leinart will be released at final cuts. The report is similar to a recent suggestion Lombardi made in an NFL.com column, but he sounds more confident now. “They aren’t going to carry four quarterbacks,” said Lombardi, who said Leinart will be released if the Cards see a QB they want reach waivers in September. They could also opt to keep both rookies Max Hall and John Skelton behind Derek Anderson.

– The 49ers have re-signed franchise player NT Aubrayo Franklin to a 1-year/$7.003zm contract. Franklin, 30, the key to the Niners’ run defense, skipped offseason workouts and training camp as a protest against not receiving a long-term contract.

– Interviewed by NFL Network on Friday, Chargers’ RFA WR Vincent Jackson reiterated that he is prepared to sit out the entire 2010 season. Jackson says he’d “above all else” want to be a Charger for life, but will do whatever is necessary to get his desired long-term contract. V-Jax told NFLN that he never asked for a trade out of San Diego. He also guaranteed that he’ll never get another DUI after being charged with 2 as a 5th-year pro.

– Jets’ coach Rex Ryan revealed following Friday’s preseason loss that OLB Calvin Pace (foot) will miss “a couple weeks.” It sounds like a sprain. Pace will be in a race to get back for the regular season opener, as he’s the team’s best pass rusher.

– The Rams have announced that WR Donnie Avery (torn ACL) is done for the 2010 season after tearing his right ACL in Thursday night’s preseason game. Not good news for the Rams.

– The agent for Jaugars’ RB Maurice Jones-Drew (knee) disputes a report that his client underwent surgery recently, calling the story “absolutely false.” Agents often deny stories such as this immediately after they come out, but this one looks legit. According to the Florida Times-Union, MJD will not play in the Jags’ third preseason game, but it sounds like it’s simply precautionary. It does look like the reason MJD is missing practice and games is a knee injury, but the extent of the injury is unknown.

WWE

– As reported earlier, former WWE performer Gertrude Vachon (aka Luna Vachon) died this morning at her mother’s home in Florida. She was staying with her mother after her own home was recently burned down in a fire. In an update on the situation, TMZ.com reports that Vachon was found dead by her mother at approximately 10 a.m. this morning, according to law enforcement officials. Her cause of death has not been determined yet. Authorities currently do not believe there was any foul play involved in her passing. An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow.

– WWE announced exactly at 10:00 p.m. this evening that Serena has been released from the organization.  “WWE has come to terms on the release of WWE Diva Serena. We wish Serena the best in all future endeavors,” they wrote. It is believed that she was released from her contract last weekend, but due to her appearance on tonight’s taped episode of Friday Night SmackDown, WWE waited until the conclusion of the broadcast to make an official announcement. As reported Monday, she was released for disciplinary reasons.

– WWE Superstars from both Raw and SmackDown will be on hand for the record-breaking 900th edition of the longest running, weekly episodic television program in history: Monday Night Raw. According to a report on www.f4wonline.com, names from the past will also be appearing to give the show a nostalgic feel, though no names were specified.

TNA

– Scott Hall’s publicist issued a cryptic statement on MySpace.com this afternoon asking that fans keep “The Bad Guy” in their thoughts and prayers. She added, “Will update as soon as I know.” She then clarified her remarks with the following statement:

Well once again I come to put an end to the BS and Assumptions of others..

Why in heavens name, would anyone think Scott is seriously ill.. just because.. I said keep him in your thoughts and prayers…

He is in a place he is getting help.. doesn’t mean the road will be easy.. he is dealing with much.. He is making life changeing changes.. old habits are hard to break..

I said.. when I know ,you will.. but until then I wish people wouldn not take things out of context and assume the worse..

I still ask that you keep him in your thoughts and prayers.. that he will come out of this healthy and happy.. After all.. we just want The Bad Guy to be ok…

Maggie

It was noted earlier this week by longtime friend Kevin Nash that Hall had checked into a rehabilitation center on behalf of WWE’s Talent Wellness Program. He was scratched from an independent wrestling show tour of the East Coast, including a heavily promoted event in New York City. Hall’s publicist said last week: “Recovery for Scott has been very slow process; he was trying to get better and was looking forward to his appearances on the East Coast.” Hall had been in the hospital recently as he came down with double pneumonia, affecting both of his lungs.

VoV

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

– According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the White Sox and Dodgers “may be closing in on” a trade involving OF Manny Ramirez. The White Sox badly want a solid bat and could use the 38-year-old Ramirez as their DH on most nights. The slugger was placed on waivers Wednesday.

– Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman told Wallace Matthews of ESPN.com that the teams is not looking for outside help to bolster their starting rotation. This includes the Dodgers’ RHP Hiroki Kuroda, who has been rumoured to be on his way to the waiver wire. “What we got is what we’re going with,” is what Cashman said. He also claimed not to know if Kuroda was even on waivers and said that the Yankees would be “hard-pressed to find a pitcher on the waiver wire who can pitch better for us than Dustin Moseley has.” Kuroda is probably an upgrade, and if he is on waivers, this may just be a little gamesmanship. Stay tuned.

– The White Sox placed LHP Matt Thornton (sore forearm) on 15-day DL retroactive to August 18. Thornton may not actually miss much time since he’s already been out a week, and an MRI showed no structural damage. On the other hand, the team needed healthy arms in their bullpen because of the AL Central race.

NHL

– The NHL reportedly refused to accept New Jersey’s framework for a new deal for F Ilya Kovalchuk. A new contract was not formally submitted, but this does delay the negotiations again. This could also open the door for Kovalchuk to head to Russia and play in the KHL, with their season set to open on September 8. Stay tuned.

– The Kings have signed D Willie Mitchell to a 2-year/$7M deal worth $3.5M annually. Mitchell’s 2009-10 season was derailed by a concussion, limiting him to 48 games where he posted four goals and 12 points.

– The Lightning have re-signed F Steve Downie to a 2-year/$3.7M deal. Last season, Downie set career highs with 22 goals and added 24 assists for 46 points and 208 minutes in penalties.

– The Canucks have signed F Raffi Torres to a 1-year/$1M deal. Torres spent the 2009-10 season with the Blue Jackets and Sabres, registering 19 goals and 17 assists in 74 games. He adds grit and size to the Vancouver forward group, which was something the team wanted to do this off-season to better prepare themselves for the playoffs. Torres is slated to play on the third line, but he may move up to play with the Sedin twins with Burrows expected to start the year on the sidelines due to shoulder surgery.

In addition, F Alex Burrows (shoulder) is projected to start the 2010-11 season on the IR. The gritty winger underwent the procedure in June to repair a torn labrum and he may not be available to return until November or possibly December.

WWE

– In an update on Chris Jericho’s contract status with WWE, his current deal, which was signed in 2007, expires in a few weeks and he has yet to sign a new one. While both sides are negotiating a new deal, it is not guarantee that he will remain with the company. Stay tuned.

– Monday’s episode of Raw drew a 3.23 cable cable rating and averaged 4,800,000 viewers. This show did hours of 3.12 and 3.34.

NFL

– The Vikings have acquired WR Greg Camarillo from the Dolphins in exchange for CB Benny Sapp. Camarillo had fallen to 4th on the depth chart in Miami, and there was even speculation that he’d be left off the final roster.

VoV

Marc Valeri – captaincharisma@hotmail.com
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NFL

– Vikings’ WR Sidney Rice (hip) has undergone surgery and is expected to keep him out for half of the regular season. Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune speculates that Rice’s contract situation is the reason the surgery was delayed, and that he elected to go ahead and have the procedure because he’s making just $550K.

– The Jets have re-signed C Nick Mangold to a 7-year/$55M contract. Guarantees haven’t been finalized so the deal isn’t done quite yet, but the $7.86M annual average makes him the highest paid center in football. Now under contract through his age-32 season, Mangold has emerged over the past two seasons as the NFL’s premier center on the league’s premier run-blocking line.

MLB

– Tigers’ OF Johnny Damon told reporters after Monday’s game that he is leaning towards staying with the Tigers. “My gut and everything else tells me Detroit’s the place for me.” The Red Sox claimed Damon off waivers on Monday, however the 36-year-old has the right to exercise his NTC. He’s leaning towards staying right now, but a lot can change in 24 hours.

NHL

– Devils’ GM Lou Lamoriello told the Bergen Record they are still negotiating a new contract with F Ilya Kovalchuk. Kovalchuk has been working out in Russia the last several weeks and there has not been much chatter regarding him negotiating with any other clubs. Odds are he and the Devils will reach an agreement soon. Stay tuned.

– Oilers’ GM Steve Tambellini is finding it hard to trade D Sheldon Souray. He has 2 years remaining on his current contract with a cap hit of $5.4M and he has injury concerns as well, so trying to find a suitable trading partner has not been easy. A recent rumour had Souray heading to the Capitals in for F Tomas Fleischmann, but the Capitals are also among a handful of teams trying to sign D Willie Mitchell. The Oilers may wait until training camp opens and see if they can deal him to a team in need if injuries occur. Tambellini said he will be working hard to try to get something done in the next couple of weeks. If Souray does end up attending camp it could be a distraction that neither side wants. Stay tuned.

– Ducks’ F Joffrey Lupul (blood infection in back) is expected to miss the start of training camp after suffering a setback in his recovery. He stopped training one month ago because of discomfort and it may keep him on the sidelines for the beginning of the regular season as well. GM Bob Murray said, “He’s expected to make a full recovery. However, he will not be able to train until he’s completed his cycle of antibiotics (on Sept. 20). He will be re-evaluated at that point.”

WWE

– WWE has released Serena. She had made her WWE in-ring debut during last week’s SmackDown, defeating Kelly Kelly in a mixed tag match. The decision to cut the Straight Edge Society member was made shortly after last week’s SmackDown tapings. An official announcement has not yet been made by WWE and likely will not be made until the weekend. She appeared at last Wednesday’s SmackDown tapings (set to air this Friday night) and accompanied Luke Gallows to the ring for his match with the Big Show. While we are awaiting confirmation as to why Serena was let go, two WWE sources, it’s believed that her conduct on the road has been a major factor. Unlike Straight Edge Society leader CM Punk, who lives his substance-free gimmick in real life, Serena liked to be party and it got the attention of WWE management. After being warned several times and being told she needed to behave better, there was a recent incident (details are forthcoming) that led to her being released. Serena’s wild behavior on the road is a similar situation that led to Mickie James’ WWE release earlier this year.

– Last week, WWE responded to claims former wrestler Chris Nowinski made regarding the company’s business practices under Senate candidate Linda McMahon’s leadership. Political news outlet The Hill published his response today to WWE’s statement.

* WWE’s claim that Lance Cade was a stranger to Nowinski: “It is very dubious that he ever had a conversation with Lance Cade much less Lance Cade confiding to a total stranger that he used painkillers and steroids.”

Nowinski responded: “They don’t think I’ve ever met my 2003 tag team partner in the WWE developmental system who I worked with in Cincinnati and Louisville in 2002-2003 almost daily and saw regularly while working with WWE until 2007?

“Linda [McMahon] can spend $24M on a campaign, you’d think they could hire a decent PR person.”

* WWE’s response to Nowinski’s claim regarding steroids: “He states WWE suggested that its performers take steroids. However, at no time does he ever state that it was suggested that he do so.”

Nowinski replied: ?”The point I was making was that they reward people who take steroids.”

* Nowinski not notifying WWE of his concussion history: “Chris Nowinski did not reveal, as required, that he suffered previous concussions before signing his contract with WWE.”

He responded: “[I] was unaware that I had a concussion history until the last one.”

Nowinski felt he had to speak out due to McMahon’s public position.

“When someone would disrespect a deceased former employee, when she’s seeking [a Senate seat], as a patriot you have to say something. You want to make sure good people are in those jobs.”

– “The Million Dollar” Man Ted DiBiase discussed his usage of steroids and cocaine during an interview with The Courier.

“I took steroids for a very short time. It should be obvious by looking at me that I didn’t take them regularly because I was in good shape, but I was never massive. My strength was my ability to talk and my work in the ring. I always looked like an athlete but I didn’t look like Charles Atlas.”

“The thing about the steroids was I was always afraid of them and I finally had a doctor tell me about the effects and that warned me right off them — that was it for me with that stuff. The only other drug I took for a while was cocaine. Now this doesn’t sound like the Million Dollar Man, but I stopped doing that because I was cheap — I didn’t want to spend the money on it!”

NBA

– The Bobcats have signed F Kwame Brown to a 1-year/$1.3M deal. The interesting thing here is that after Brown busted as the No. 1 overall pick, he became a symbol of Michael Jordan’s incompetence as an executive. Now Brown and Jordan are reunited (and it feels so good!).

VoV

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

– An independent arbitrator has ruled in favour of the NHL in the case of F Ilya Kovalchuk. Richard Bloch, the arbitrator, ruled today that Kovalchuk’s 17-year/$102M contract with the Devils should be voided, so the 27-year old sniper will once again be a UFA. Bloch denied the NHLPA’s grievance on Kovalchuk’s behalf, ruling that the league was within its legal rights to reject the contract.

– The Red Wings have signed D Ruslan Salei to a 1-year deal worth $750K with $350K in bonuses. Salei is projected to play on the Wings’ third defense pair in 2010-11 with Jonathan Ericsson. He played just 14 games last season due to a back injury, but will be healthy to play this upcoming campaign.

MLB

– The Mariners have fired manager Don Wakamatsu, pitching coach Rick Adair and bench coach Ty Van Burkleo. Wakamatsu had an altercation in the dugout recently with INF Chone Figgins, so that, along with another poor season, contributed to his departure. Both Wak and Adair are well respected and should find jobs easily. Daren Brown has been promoted from his post at Triple-A Tacoma and will take over as the Mariners’ interim manager.

– The Reds have acquired OF Jim Edmonds from the Brewers for OF Chris Dickerson. Edmonds, 40, has posted a respectable .843 OPS, eight home runs and 20 RBI in 217 at-bats this season. The Reds have a crowded outfield and playing time will be limited, but he’s a nice guy to have off the bench, especially if Cincy makes it to October.

NFL

– Jets’ owner Woody Johnson revealed Monday that the team has had “no progress” in contract talks with holdout CB Darrelle Revis. “No,” Johnson replied when asked if he’s optimistic about Revis signing an extension before Week 1. The Jets appear to be gearing up for a holdout lasting into the season. According to Johnson, the sticking point remains “total compensation,” as opposed to guaranteed money. 1st-round pick Kyle Wilson and Antonio Cromartie will begin the season as starters.

NBA

– The NBA has officially announced that the Raptors and Nets will play two regular season games in London next March. According to David Stern, both teams “expressed to us their strong interest in being part of the globalization of our sport.”

MMA

– Bobby Lashley (5-0) was a part of Strikeforce’s media conference call this afternoon and commented on a possible showdown in the cage with MMA newcomer and fellow ex-WWE superstar Dave Batista. Lashley said he’s open to fighting Batista if Strikeforce pushes the fight, but he’d rather focus on more experienced fighters in his quest for Heavyweight gold:

“It’s not really the direction I want to move (in), but if it’s worth it and they really think he’s ready and Strikeforce wants me to fight him, I’ll take the fight. I’ve had a good game plan up to this point and I really want to move in the right direction. Dave’s just starting out. I’m looking to better myself and get better opponents each time. I’m not disrespecting Dave at all, but he’s new to the game. That’s definitely a fight for the fans, but not so much for my career.”

Lashley’s next fight takes place later this month on August 21st against Chad Griggs at Strikeforce: Houstson on Showtime.

WWE

– According to Mediaweek, Saturday’s WrestleMania 26 special on NBC posted a terrible 0.65 broadcast rating and 1.78M viewers. The WrestleMania special had NBC draw the lowest ratings on Saturday night among the 4 big television networks (ABC, CBS, FOX & NBC).

VoV

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