NFL

– According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press’ Charley Walters, there is a “hot rumour” that QB Brett Favre (left ankle) will opt against undergoing surgery. “What that means for his future with the Vikings is unclear,” Walters adds. It was previously reported by ESPN that Favre would not be able to play in 2010 barring an operation on the ankle. Walters has a history of unreliability, so take this with a grain of salt. The window of opportunity for him to have the surgery and report to training camp, though, is beginning to close.

– Jets’ All-Pro CB Darrelle Revis said talks with the Jets regarding a contract extension are underway. Revis is slated to earn $1M this season, the fourth year of his rookie deal that is set to void after this season. The best corner, and arguably best defender in the NFL, will likely command a historic contract. The CBA situation clouds things a little, but it sounds like the Jets are serious about getting this done before the season starts.

– The San Diego Union-Tribune suggests that DE Shawne Merriman’s recent agent switch to David Dunn could expedite a trade out of San Diego. Former agent Tom Condon reportedly had exorbitantly high demands for a contract extension during draft weekend, nixing at least three possible trades. Merriman is expected to stay on the block “through the October trading deadline.” The Saints were among many interested late last month. It’s believed that the Chargers wanted a first-round pick in return.

– The Eagles are expected to run a more traditional West Coast offense this season with QB Kevin Kolb at the helm. As Paul Domowitch of the Philadelphia Daily News points out, QB Donovan McNabb had tremendous arm strength and poor accuracy, but Kolb is the the opposite – the Eagles will run more short slants and curls to give explosive WR DeSean Jackson and WR Jeremy Maclin chances for big yards after the catch. Kolb’s great accuracy allows receivers to catch the ball in stride.

– Texans SLB Brian Cushing has retained his Defensive Rookie of the Year award after a re-vote by 50 voters for the AP. The outcome is surprising, but over the last two days it became increasingly evident that voters were bothered by the idea of a re-vote. The re-vote count, though, was much closer. Cushing received 39 first-place votes on the January 5 ballot. He got 18 first-place votes this time. Bills’ S Jairus Byrd again finished second with 13 votes (he received six in January).

MLB

– Mets’ OF Carlos Beltran (knee) told NY Newsday that he is running without pain. “Thank God there’s no pain. It’s a learning process for me to start running again, so right now I’m thinking about how to make it perfect. Today was the first day I ran and didn’t have to think about it. I was happy with today. Today was a pretty good day.” He began a running program at the team’s minor league complex on Monday. Beltran also took batting off a machine on Wednesday and launched several balls over the fence. He hopes to begin sprinting by the end of next week, but declined to offer a timeline on his potential return.

– The Nationals confirmed Wednesday that RHP Jason Marquis (elbow) will undergo surgery on Friday and is likely to miss two months. Marquis was diagnosed with bone chips in his throwing elbow after a disastrous rehab start Tuesday for Single-A Potomac. The righty was 0-3 with an ERA of 20.52 and a WHIP of 2.88 in his first three starts.

– The Giants will decide by Friday whether to place 3B Mark DeRosa (wrist, hand) on the DL. DeRosa underwent more tests on Wednesday relating to the aggravated nerve in his left wrist and numbness in the bottom part of his hand.

– OF Eric Byrnes, who was released by the Mariners earlier this month, told Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle that he is done playing baseball. “People keep asking me, ‘Are you really done’ ” with baseball? I’m beyond OK with (retirement). This is awesome for me.” Byrnes, 34, is currently playing every Wednesday in a slow-pitch softball league in Menlo Park, California and figures to find a career in broadcasting once he’s ready.

– Mariners’ manager Don Wakamatsu said Wednesday that OF Milton Bradley isn’t likely to rejoin the club until late next week. Bradley is not traveling with the Mariners at the moment and the team doesn’t return to Seattle until next Wednesday. The disgruntled outfielder was placed on the restricted list on May 6 in order to provide him some time to work out some of his emotional issues. “I think everything is going well,” Wakamatsu said. “Tentatively, we’re hoping that at some point in the [next] homestand, he’ll be able to rejoin the team.”

– Phillies’ bullpen coach Mick Billmeyer pulled out some binoculars Monday night during a game against the Rockies to supposedly take a gander at Coors Field and see how C Carlos Ruiz was setting himself up, but the Rockies are saying that Philadelphia must have been stealing signs when Billmeyer had his binocs trained on their catcher, C Miguel Olivo, according to ESPN. OF Shane Victorino also spent a little time on the bullpen phone around the same time the binocs were out, leading some to speculate that the Flying Hawaiian was getting info to help him at his next at-bat. (Not that he needed it; he tripled to start off the game.)

The Mets said the Phillies were stealing signs back in 2007 and former Phils’ manager Larry Bowa brought up the rumored sign-stealing when the Phillies were in the World Series last year, facing the Yankees Manager Charlie Manuel emphatically denies stealing signs via the bullpen and said that no team stealing signs would ever have someone so obviously in the bullpen with binocs. “We were not trying to steal signs. Would we try to steal somebody’s signs? Yeah, if we can. But we don’t do that. We’re not going to let a guy stand up there in the bullpen with binoculars looking in. We’re smarter than that.”

– Mariners’ LHP Erik Bedard (shoulder) threw a simulated game on Wednesday. He said he didn’t feel great after the 30-pitch session, but it’s a step in the right direction. There’s still no timetable for Bedard’s return, but a lengthy minor league rehab assignment should be expected before he makes a start for the Mariners.

– The Rockies have placed 3B Melvin Mora (strained right glut) and LHP Franklin Morales (shoulder) on the 15-day DL retroactive to May 6 and OF Carlos Gonzalez on bereavement.

– The Orioles have transferred 2B Brian Roberts to the 60-day DL.

– The Rangers have placed LHP Matt Harrison (left bicep tendinitis) on the 15-day DL retroactive to May 7.

– The Yankees have placed RHP Alfredo Aceves (bulging disc in lower back) on the 15-day DL retroactive to May 9.

– The Mariners have placed SS Jack Wilson (strained right hamstring) on the 15-day DL retroactive to May 6.

– The Twins have placed SS J.J. Hardy (left wrist contusion) on the 15-day DL retroactive to May 5.

– The Angels have placed RHP Brian Stokes on the 15-Day disabled list retroactive to May 10, 2010. Right shoulder fatigue.

– The Padres have placed RHP Kevin Correia on the bereavement list and RHP Tim Stauffer (appendicitis) on the 15-day DL retroactive to May 10.

– The Brewers have placed OF Carlos Gomez (strained left rotator cuff) on the 15-day DL retroactive to May 6.

– The Dodgers have placed RHP Charlie Haeger (plantar fasciitis in right foot) on the 15-day DL retroactive to May 9.

– The Rockies have released RHP Tim Redding, and the Yankees have signed him and optioned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Redding, 32, even fielded offers from the Dodgers and a few Korean teams before settling with Yankees. He had a 4.32 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP in 25 innings at Triple-A Colorado Springs this season before his release and, barring something unforeseen, is unlikely to climb his way onto the Yanks’ 25-man roster.

NBA

– Cavaliers’ F LeBron James (elbow sprain) may be hurt worse than expected, as he said yesterday that the elbow is “an issue I’ll deal with in the offseason.” Not good for a guy heading into the biggest free agent pool in NBA history.

– Heat’ G Dwyane Wade faces trial in a $25M lawsuit filed by his former partners in a failed restaurant venture. Wade’s former partners claim he broke a contract by demanding higher compensation and then abandoning the deal in 2008. Wade contends in court documents he had every right to end the business relationship. His lawyer says the all-NBA guard plans to attend the two-week trial and is likely to testify. He’s also involved in a divorce and faces two other lawsuits over business dealings. One of them involves Miami-based charter schools that were supposed to bear his name.

– Thunder’ F Nick Collison (knee) underwent successful arthroscopic surgery. Collison will begin rehabilitating the knee immediately and should resume offseason training this summer.

– According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Hawks may let coach Mike Woodson walk this summer. “They will call me whenever they want to talk. Monday I will become a free agent, so I’ll just see what goes from there.” Stay tuned.

– Nets’ team president Rod Thorn has asked the rep for former Mavericks head coach Avery Johnson if he would have any interest in coaching the team in New Jersey, according to FanHouse. Johnson has already interviewed for the same job with the Sixers and Hornets. The rumour is that Johnson does have interest and an interview is being scheduled. Thorn supposedly wants a new coach in place before the draft.

WWE

– In an interview with the UK Sun, RAW superstar Chris Jericho spoke about his love of music and what let to him perusing a full time career in wrestling over music. The most newsworthy item of the interview came when Jericho was asked about his future in WWE and whether he’s be leaving the ring for the stage any time soon. Good news for Jericho fans, as he responded, “I think now is the time to stay for a couple of years to help those around me. I want to help the young talent.”

- WWE champion John Cena has been answering fan questions on his new Twitter page and fired back at people who criticize his on-air character and WWE’s family-friendly PG programming. Cena wrote:

“Guys, I am sorry to disappoint but what u see on TV is what u get. That’s pretty close to me in real life. I’m sorry if u think I’m watered down, I’ve been called worse.”

Cena also responded to a fan who asked whether he’d considering bringing back his old “rapper” gimimck. Cena said it’s unlikely,

“Guys, I really appreciate the respect for the freestyle. It would have no home in today’s environment. It would be a weak, watered down, rehash of something that was very fun to be a part of while it lasted. I still freestyle all the time, it just wouldn’t be right for me right now, I really like the place where I am, and where WWE is.”

– WWE Hall of Famer Bret “Hit Man” Hart has posted a new blog on Facebook talking about his United States title match with The Miz next week on RAW, becoming a grandfather this week and what it’s been like working with WWE since WrestleMania. Here are some highlights of what Bret said about:

Wrestling The Miz Next Week: “My son, Blade, just told me I’ve got a U.S. title shot next week in Toronto. News to me. The Hartbeat goes on.”

Working With WWE Since WrestleMania: “Sometimes I can barely remember this stuff. Being stuck in Europe, the volcanic ash, Joe Legend, Monday Night Raw in London, touring both Smackdown and Raw, and before that, WrestleMania 26. Did all that stuff really happen? What an adventure. Life is good.”

Becoming a Grandfather: “I finally became a proud grandfather yesterday when my oldest, Jade, gave birth to a 8lbs., 11oz. beautiful baby girl named Kyra Beans Hart. To be a grandpop is such an important role in a child’s life and I look forward to being a big part of her life and the best grandpa ever. Like all proud grandfathers, I truly feel blessed at this time and I also congratulate her mother, Julie, on a job well done from the very beginning.”

– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog at JRsBarBQ.com with his thoughts on the following:

Tuesday’s NXT Broadcast:“NXT was a surprising show Tuesday night. I am a reality show fan by and large and have always thought that NXT would be more effective it we fans could see the NXT rookies outside the arena environment to be able to get to know them better. Perhaps the 2nd version of NXT will provide that. ”

Bryan Danielson’s Future: “Daniel Bryan aka Bryan Danielson is by far the best pure wrestler of the NXT group, eliminated or not, and no matter what his name may or may not be today.”

Comparing Randy Orton to Steve Austin: “Randy is merely being his TV persona but it does have some Austin-esque qualities. Randy just has to continue to put his own, individual touches on his fan favorite persona of which I have very high hopes for as time goes on.”

Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin on 7/3: “No…Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin won’t go 5 rounds on July 3 in Las Vegas. I hope to secure a pair of decent seats to this one and enjoy a few days in ‘Lost Wages’ with the Mrs.”

TNA

– Last Wednesday, Mick Foley published a blog on his MySpace account criticizing Triple H for mocking Lilian Garcia during her appearance on Raw last month. Garcia was back on Raw to fill in as a ring announcer with most of the Raw crew grounded overseas.

The event in question occurred during Hunter’s show-opening monologue on the April 19 Raw in which he made a crack about Garcia “horsing around.” The comment stems from those in the WWE’s “inner circle” often joking that Lilian has a horse-shaped face. Foley wrote:

“Why does someone like Triple H, one of the most talented, well paid guys in the business, do something so shallow and mean? Why would a multi-millionaire, with millions of fans around the world, feel the need (several times over the years) to say something that is only meant to hurt? I don’t get it. I don’t get why it’s done, I don’t get why it’s condoned, I don’t get what possible satisfaction anyone involved gets from demeaning someone like Lillian Garcia. I just don’t get it.”

Breaking her silence on the matter, Garcia wrote the following message to Foley on her Twitter account today,

“Mick Foley, this tweet’s for you!! I really appreciate your kind words and the compassion you showed in your blog. Your care for my feelings proves what a loving, caring and wonderful human being you are. This is why I truly miss working with you. You are one of a kind!! Thank you, love you!!”

Foley acknowledged feedback he’s received since last week for chastising Triple H for his dig towards Garcia in a follow-up blog. He acknowledged that he may have cost himself professionally down the road, not to mention that some people may see him as a hypocrite, but felt he had to stand for certain principles in this situation. Foley explained further:

“I could go into great detail about why some of the issues raised (it was innocent joking around on Triple H’s part, I’m a hypocrite because I made fun of Al Snow, Test, etc., where was I during the Mickie James angle?) but I think it would be far more productive for readers to try to figure out the differences for themselves.”

VoV

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VoV

– VoV has brought in a new TNA Impact writer who will be contributing reviews every week.

NHL

– Bruins’ F Marc Savard (concussion) passed a neuro-pscych test on Tuesday. He continues to skate and practice, although the Bruins will not put a timetable on his return, as he’s yet to take any contact. He’s been doing nothing for six weeks, so he has to get back into game shape. If the Bruins can beat the Sabres in Game 5, he’ll be back for Round 2.

– Sabres’ F Thomas Vanek (ankle) may be able to return to the lineup Friday. Vanek has missed the last two games with an ankle injury. He skated for 40 minutes on Wednesday, but couldn’t play in game four later that night. With the Sabres facing elimination, down three games to one, look for Vanek to return Friday. How effective he’ll be is anyone’s guess, but his presence should give the Sabres an emotional boost at the very least.

– The three nominees for the Lady Byng Trophy (most gentlemanly player) are Red Wings’ F Pavel Datsyuk, Lightning’ F Martin St. Louis and Stars’ F Brad Richards. Voting was conducted by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association at the end of the regular season. Datsyuk has won the Lady Byng four straight times, edging St. Louis the past three seasons.

Datsyuk is bidding to become the first player ever to win the award in five consecutive years. Datsyuk led Detroit in scoring with 70 points while racking up just 18 penalty minutes. St. Louis had a strong season, posting 94 points for the Lightning. His 12 penalty minutes were the fewest among the League’s top-50 scorers and the fewest among the 88 players who appeared in all 82 games. Richards won the Lady Byng Trophy in 2004 and was a runner-up to Datsyuk in 2006. He finished seventh in league scoring with 91 points and was assessed only 14 penalty minutes while averaging more than 20 minutes of ice time per game.

– The three finalists for the Calder Trophy (rookie of the year) are Sabres’ D Tyler Myers, Avalanche’ F Matt Duchene and Red Wings’ G Jimmy Howard. Most experts think that Myers will win the award, but Howard has been more valuable, both in reality and statistically. All three are worthy of being named the Calder Trophy winner

– Finnish free agent G Jussi Rynnas has agreed to sign a two-year, two-way contract with the Leafs. The Buds are waiting to hear back from Rynnas’ agent, Allain Roy, to finalize the deal, which is reportedly a two-year, two-way contract. The 22-year-old Rynnas is slated to play for the Marlies next season. The Stars, Flyers, Canadiens, Coyotes and Leafs were all thought to be pursuing the young netminder.

– Wild’ F Mikko Koivu (knee, shoulder) will spend his entire off-season rehabbing as he will undergo two operations; his right knee (three-four weeks), and a torn labrum in his right shoulder (four months). He should be fine though, barring any setbacks, for training camp.

– Capitals’ coach Bruce Boudreau said Wednesday that the Caps will not be distracted by a police investigation into a suspected steroid supplier who reportedly had dealings with the team.

Police in Polk County, Florida interviewed the coach and some players a month ago after the arrest of Douglas Nagel, a chiropractor whose office is adjacent to the team’s practice facility in Virginia and who has treated some of their players, Sports Illustrated reported in its April 26 issue.

The report said Nagel is a client of former bodybuilder Richard Thomas, from whose Florida home police seized $200K worth of pills, bottles and syringes — some containing steroids. Thomas told police he supplied performance-enhancing drugs to several pro athletes, including members of the Capitals and the Washington Nationals baseball team. Boudreau said some members of the team were interviewed by police.

“I know the police investigated, they interviewed a lot of our players, including me. It was pretty in-depth. So I didn’t think at any time they were worried about us. They were trying to find out about trying to find out stuff on the guy who was supposed to be dealing with these things. I don’t know anything else about the story. I’d love to tell you, but I have no clue.”

Sports Illustrated said police talked to forwards Matt Bradley and Eric Fehr and defenceman Shaone Morrisonn, who had all been treated by Nagel.

Alternate captain Mike Knuble said police arrived after practice one day, talked to some players and left.

“They talked to a few guys who were in for chiropractic service. I don’t even know the extent. We didn’t talk about it that much, but I think the authorities asked their questions and they seemed to be satisfied at the time.”

“It’s not affecting any of us. I don’t know what to say about it, whether the timing is that they meant to do, or it’s just the time when the story was broken.”

A statement from NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said a “thorough investigation” was conducted by the league and there was no evidence that Nagel ever supplied PEDs to any player.

Sports Illustrated, however, quoting an email obtained from police, said NHL security chief Dennis Cunningham admitted that, contrary to Daly’s statement, no league investigation was ever made. The report also called into question the NHL’s anti-doping program, which has testing during the regular season, but none in the playoffs or the off-season. It said eight of the 10 shipments from Thomas to Nagel were made during the playoffs and another just after the end of the 2008-09 season.

WWE

– Next Monday night on RAW, WWE presents the 2010 Superstar Draft. Here’s what we know so far:

– WWE has released of WWE Divas Mickie James and Katie Lea Burchill as well as Superstars Shelton Benjamin, Kung Fu Naki, Slam Master J and Jimmy Wang Yang as of April 22, 2010.

James had been with the company since 2005, when she made her debut as a stalker of Trish Stratus. She’s had heat on her at various times throughout her WWE career and some people backstage in WWE felt that she had a a cocky attitude. She also rubbed people the wrong way after making it clear she wasn’t happy to be drafted to SmackDown last year. Most recently, she was said to be partying pretty hard during WWE’s European tour and overslept on morning – holding up several of WWE’s tour buses.

The fact that she’s been working on a country music album outside of the auspices of WWE did not help her case either. It’s interesting to note that she made several radio appearances this afternoon, the day of her release, to promote Monday’s WWE draft. James posted the following message on Twitter regarding her release from WWE this afternoon:

Thank you James Gang! I just want to say its been a beautiful journey… Wwe has been a childhood dream come true & I have loved every step… There is not a moment I would change for the world… It breaks my heart but the world doesn’t stop turning.. I’m grateful for all my friends, family, loved ones, and fans who have supported me along this wonderful ride. To all the guys and gals I’ve had the pleasure of sharing the ring with… We made some magic! History… Memories to last a lifetime… Thank you… I love you all with all my heart! Every chapter has its close… The next one Is only gonna get better… I promise you that! =) One truly never knows what tomorrow may hold… That’s why we embrace every moment… In love & joy! The James Gang Rides! Even stronger than before…. To Victory! Haha…. On ward & upward! Much Love…. Muah! JG4L…… MJ

NBA

– According to the Miami Herald, the chances of the Heat re-signing G Dwyane Wade are “as certain as a layup, but not necessarily a slam dunk.” Addressing his free agency before Game 2 of the Heat/Celtics playoff game, Wade reiterated his preference would be to remain with the Heat for the rest of his career, but also said there are a couple of teams that could make him reconsider his options. “It’s not a huge window at all. It’s a small gap. You have to always keep your book open for your options and look at different things. But no, I’m not that open where I would go anywhere and would want to be almost anywhere.”

– According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Jazz’ F Andrei Kirilenko (calf) is attempting to return before series’ end. Kirilenko, who traveled to Los Angeles to receive platelet-rich plasma therapy for his calf on Monday, called it “probably highly unlikely, but it’s a good goal” as far as trying to return before the end of the first round. If not, Kirilenko will look to be back for the Western Conference semifinals, should the Jazz advance past the Nuggets. Kirilenko was upbeat after having blood drained from his injured calf, in addition to the PRP therapy, which involved injecting Kirilenko’s calf with the concentrated platelets from his blood. The therapy is believed to help accelerate healing. Kirilenko said he thought the build up of blood offered an explanation for the repeated calf strains he has battled in the last month-plus.

– According to the Detroit Free Press, the Pistons are likely bringing back F Ben Wallace next season. Wallace turns 36 in September and could retire, although it sounds like he intends to play another season. The Pistons valued the veteran’s leadership and defensive presence last year, and probably wouldn’t have to offer him too much more than the $1.3M he earned this season. But unless Detroit makes some big changes this summer, Wallace may not have much interest in playing for such a bad team.

– Jazz’ F Mehmet Okur (torn Achilles) will begin active rehabilitation in two weeks after undergoing surgery Tuesday to repair his ruptured left Achilles tendon. Okur ruptured the tendon during the Jazz’s loss at Denver on Saturday. The injury will force Okur to miss the remainder of the playoffs.

– According to the NY Daily News,  former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy isn’t interested in coaching the Nets, or any other team, according to his brother, Magic’ coach Stan Van Gundy. Before the Magic/Bobcats playoff game Wednesday, Stan told Fanhouse.com that it is clear to him that his TV brother is unlikely to be pacing any sideline in the near future. Jeff is a television analyst and has not coached in the NBA since the end of the 2006-07 season, when he was fired as head coach of the Rockets.

MLB

– A CT scan on Red Sox’ OF Jacoby Ellsbury’s ribs Thursday revealed four non-displaced hairline fractures. The Red Sox aren’t sure yet if the fractures will slow his recovery timetable, but it doesn’t sound good. Ellsbury was placed on the 15-day DL earlier this week and is unlikely to return in the month of April.

– The Nationals have placed RHP Jason Marquis (right elbow) on the 15-day DL, retroactive to March 19. Marquis woke up with pain in his throwing elbow Wednesday morning, hours after allowing four runs in a one-inning start Tuesday against the Brewers. An MRI later revealed “loose bodies” in the elbow and he’s expected to meet with a specialist at some point this week. If the injury is as bad as it sounds, he’ll be out a while.

– The Jays have placed 3B Edwin Encarnacion (sore right shoulder) on the 15-day DL retroactive to April 15, and LHP Brian Tallet (left forearm) on the 15-day DL.

– The Phillies have placed LHP J.A. Happ (left forearm) on the 15-day DL, retroactive to April 16. Happ first complained of the soreness after his April 16 start against the Nationals. He tried throwing on Thursday afternoon, but made it through just a couple of pitches before calling it quits. The Phillies have not yet said how long they think he will be out.

– The Dodgers have placed RHP Jeff Weaver (lower back tightness) on the 15-day DL. Weaver left Wednesday’s game in the eighth inning after suffering the injury. He’s allowed three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings of relief this season and should return from the DL soon after he’s eligible.

– The A’s have placed OF Travis Buck (strained right oblique) on the 15-day DL. Buck suffered the injury while taking batting practice in the indoor cage on Wednesday. He was batting .219 (7-for-32) with one home run and two RBI to begin the season.

– Former 1B Kevin Millar will join MLB Network as a studio analyst. The 38-year-old Millar was given an invite to spring training by the Cubs, but was cut just prior to the start of the regular season. A native of Los Angeles, Millar batted .223 with seven homers and 29 RBI in 78 games with the Jays in 2009. Over his 12-year career, which has included stints with Florida, Boston, Baltimore and Toronto he has played in 1,427 games and has batted .274 with 170 homers and 699 RBI. He was an integral part of the 2004 World Series champion Red Sox.

– The Mets have placed RHP Ryota Igarashi (left hamstring) on the 15-day DL.

– The Astros have placed 3B Chris Johnson (strained right intercostal muscle) on the 15-day DL retroactive to April 18.

NFL

– NFL Network analyst and longtime QB  Brett Favre confidant Steve Mariucci said on WFAN radio Thursday that Favre is still undecided about his playing status for 2010. Mariucci says Favre is “still bothered” by the ankle injury he suffered in the Vikings’ playoff loss. “He’s trying to heal up. His body is recovered except for that ankle. It’s an ankle that he had surgery on twice before and it’s still pretty puffy…he’s trying to determine: is his body telling him something here?” It’s not surprising that Favre is healing somewhat slowly at age 40. He’ll be with the Vikes on Week 1.

– ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Raiders have formally dropped out of the running for Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisberger. They’re reportedly the only team the Steelers had talked seriously with. Schefter reports that the Jaguars are also out of the “sweepstakes,” and the Rams and Bills both dropped out Wednesday. The most likely scenario remains Big Ben staying put and serving his 4-to-6 game suspension on the Steelers’ suspended list. Pittsburgh has a Week 5 bye, so we won’t see him play before Week 6.

Schefter believes that Big Ben will likely stay with the team for the 2010-11 season. The Steelers may be hoping that the trade rumors scare Roethlisberger straight, and get him to comply fully with the NFL’s behavioral policies, which Roethlisberger’s agent indicated Thursday morning that he would. Ben’s ban from all pre-training camp activities would’ve made him an undesirable trade target in the first place.

– A league source tells PFT that the Vikings are in “hot pursuit” of Redskins’ DE Albert Haynesworth. The Vikes are prepared to strike while in Super Bowl contention. The Titans and Lions are also expected to make a push for Haynesworth.

– The Vikings have signed CB Lito Sheppard to a one-year/$2M contract. Sheppard, 29, finished last season with 31 tackles, one interception, and eight pass breakups. He’s not the same player he was years ago.

– The Raiders have acquired DE Quentin Groves from the Jaguars in exchange for a 5th-round pick in 2010. A steal for Jacksonville. Groves, a 2008 2nd-round pick, has flopped in his first two seasons, managing just 2.5 sacks in 31 games. In Oakland, he’ll compete in the nickel package behind Richard Seymour and Matt Shaughnessy.

– The Titans have re-signed DT Tony Brown to a three-year contract. A 2009 Pro Bowl alternate, Brown has racked up 13 sacks, 142 tackles, and four forced fumbles over the last three seasons. He also led the Titans last year with 33 quarterback hurries. Brown’s re-signing won’t stop Tennessee from making a move for DE Albert Haynesworth, but the 29-year-old was worth locking up as a relentless, productive interior rusher.

TNA

– Talk continues within TNA that Vince Russo will be scaling back his role as TNA’s head writer. While many will be glad to see somebody new take over, Russo is known for writing long, detailed scripts – and whoever gets that position will have a lot of segments to write each week. Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff have been editing Russo’s scripts each week, but neither one of them wants to write a full script from scratch each week.

– TMZ is reporting that Hulk Hogan has sued his insurance company Wells Fargo South East, claiming it put his $30M fortune at risk for only paying out $250K to John Graziano, who was severely injured as a passenger in Nick Hogan’s 2007 car wreck. Hogan claims the $250K policy limit exposed him to personal liability in settling his case with the Graziano family and claims Wells Fargo never advised him to seek greater coverage, being that his teenage son was a high-risk driver. No word on how much Hogan is seeking from Wells Fargo East.

– Daffney was also injured at Tuesday’s tapings during a dark match with a wrestler named Miss Betsy, who was receiving a tryout with the company. Dixie Carter wrote on Twitter that Daffney had to visit the hospital following the match and suffered “deeply bruised sternum & a severe stinger (temp spinal trauma) but no nerve damage.”

– Homicide has been told that LAX will be put back together when Hernandez returns in around two months. Homicide is said to be skeptical about the news. Both he and Hernandez did not like being broke up in the first place. Regarding Hernandez, it was Dixie Carter’s decision to send him to Mexico full-time while he’s recovering from the storyline injury. Several TNA officials including Terry Taylor were against sending him to Mexico.

VoV

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NHL

– According to sources, the Flames and D Dion Phaneuf, regardless of both sides denying it, are still seeking trade options. Phaneuf has reportedly been causing problems in the locker room, but with the Flames fighting for conference placing/the division lead and home ice advantage in the playoffs, neither side is going to admit to these problems. A source close to me names the Devils and Senators as possible trade suitors.

The Sens appear most interested, but also have the least to give. Last season’s rumour involving Phaneuf and F Jason Spezza is no longer realistic. As for the Devils, Phaneuf’s playing style would fit well into their defensive system, however, one would think that the Devils would need to send F David Clarkson or F Niclas Bergfors, making it very unlikely the Devils would pull the trigger.

ESPN reports that the Flyers are interested, with F Jeff Carter’s name being mentioned. The Lightning have also been named as suitors, with F Vincent Lecavalier, as always, being mentioned. In order to acquire him, though, the Flames would need to deal a big contract such as Phaneuf’s or F Olli Jokinen’s.

A source close to me says that a Phaneu deal is 60/40 by the March 4 trade deadline. Stay tuned.

– Bruins F Marc Savard (MCL) will miss next three-to-four weeks. His MRI revealed a Grade 2 partial MCL tear in his right knee, but he will not need surgery.

– Senators F Daniel Alfredsson (shoulder) will be out another week. It was originally thought that his injury would keep him sidelined until February, but the Senators’ captain appears to be healing ahead of schedule.

MLB

– According to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, the Rangers have signed OF Vladimir Guerrero to a one-year deal with an option for 2011. The team took Vladdy over OF Jermaine Dye. Guerrero may see sporadic outfield duty, particularly in NL parks, but he’ll be the Rangers’ primary DH.

– MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez reports the Mets are only willing to give RHP Joel Pineiro a contract in the neighborhood of Nationals RHP Jason Marquis’ most recent deal. Marquis received two years/$15M from the Nats, a reasonable amount for Pineiro. He’s seeking a three-year/$30M deal but will have to move off that number to sign anywhere, not just New York. Expect Pineiro to wind up with the Mets.

WWE

– According to the PWInsider, the latest rumoured name for induction into this year’s WWE Hall of Fame class is none other than “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, however, nothing of yet has been confirmed.

– ECW General Manager Tiffany (Taryn Terrell) and Intercontinental Champion Drew McIntyre (Drew Galloway) are officially engaged, reports PWInsider.com. Terrell and Galloway plan to wed in May.

– WWE has released developmental wrestlers José Torres (a.k.a. Black Pain) and Dylan Klein.

MMA

– TNA wrestler Bobby Lashley says he is signed for the Strikeforce promotion’s April fight card that will be airing on CBS. An opponent has not been named yet for Lashley’s national TV MMA debut.

Lashley just signed to fight Yohan Banks at Strikeforce Miami on 1/30 (airing on Showtime) and says his goal is to fight six times this year for Strikeforce. Lashley told Heavy.com:

“We’re going to do the fight on the 30th in Miami, and then turn around and do the April 19th fight on CBS. I told them I wanted to stay active. If they want to give me six fights this year, I’ll take six fights this year. I need more fights under my belt so that when that big fight comes, I’m ready for it.”

Lashley said he signed with Strikeforce so he could eventually get “that big fight” against Fedor Emelianenko, arguably the top MMA fighter in the world. At 6 fights a year, he’ll certainly have a chance to rack up a few wins and prove himself worthy for a shot at the Last Emperor.

TNA

– Jeremy Borash said this morning during an appearance on the Pain Clinic radio show that TNA is expected to debut a big-name wrestler at the Genesis PPV, which takes place on January 17. He indicated it would be a “big surprise.” Stay tuned. So…Val Venis is back?

– Hulk Hogan’s TNA entrance theme is actually not a new song as it can be heard on the WCW Nitro and WCW/nWo Thunder video games released on Playstation in the late nineties. At the time, a sound-alike was created because THQ didn’t own the rights to the actual New World Order song. Wow, TNA not doing something original!? I don’t believe it!

NFL

– According to SI.com’s Jim Trotter, Vikings defense coordinator Leslie Frazier is the clubhouse leader for the Bills head coaching job. Frazier reportedly “blew away” new Bills GM Buddy Nix in his interview. He uses the same defense that Perry Fewell ran, so he wouldn’t need a major change. Trotter also reports that Frazier will still interview in Seattle because Pete Carroll has not been promised full control of the Seahawks.

VoV

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

VoV

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MLB

– Cardinals GM John Mozeliak told Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he has extended a formal offer to free agent OF Matt Holliday. The ball is now in agent Scott Boras’ court. Financial terms of the offer have not been revealed and may never leak out, but the Cardinals are clearly ready to get the ball rolling in some sort of direction. If they get a “no” from Boras and Holliday, it might be time time for offseason Plan B.

– Sources have informed Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com that the Yankees and free agent OF Johnny Damon are far apart on contract negotiations. Damon is represented by super agent Scott Boras, who drives a hard bargain no matter the situation. According to Rosenthal’s sources, Damon, 36, wants a three-year/$39M deal or a four-year/$52M deal and the Yankees aren’t willing to give him more than two years/$19M.

– According to MLB.com’s Noah Coslov, the White Sox have signed RHP J.J. Putz to a one-year/$3M deal. Putz, 32, posted an ugly 5.22 ERA and 1.64 WHIP during an injury-riddled 2009. He managed a 3.89 ERA in ’08 with the Mariners and a 1.38 ERA and 40 saves in 2007.

– Sources have informed Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com that the Mariners are interested in free agent RHP Jason Marquis. The M’s are known to be chasing RHP John Lackey, RHP Ben Sheets, LHP Doug Davis and LHP Jarrod Washburn, among a few other lower tier starters. Marquis went 15-13 with a 4.04 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 2009 and is being courted by the Orioles, Nationals and Phillies. He made $9.875M this year.

– The Phillies have offered RHP Chan Ho Park a one-year deal/$3M deal, according to the Wilmington News Journal’s Scott Lauber. Park isn’t likely to accept the offer, especially after watching three relievers getting unjust money.

– The Rays have signed RHP Rafael Soriano to a one-year/$7.25M contract. The Rays snagged him from the Braves on Thursday for RHP Jesse Chavez. The 29-year-old Soriano posted a 2.97 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP and a lights-out 102/27 K/BB ratio in 75 2/3 innings this past season and will serve as closer in Tampa next year.

WWE

– The current plan is to not shoot any major angles for the Royal Rumble PPV until the January 4 or 11, meaning that the December 21 and 28 Raw shows will be kind of “lame-duck” shows that are used to further build guys like Kofi Kingston and Sheamus. The original plan was to shoot a big Rumble angle at the January 11 Raw but that probably has changed to the January 4 show after TNA announced their big special.

– With the record low rating for ECW this week, speculation regarding the show’s future on SyFy remain. With the current TV deal expiring soon, WWE has been working to freshen the show up to help the ratings. There was talk of a magazine style show that didn’t work out. One recent idea was to drop everything ECW related and focus the entire show on new talents from the brands. Changes are still being discussed for the SmackDown brand but word is that there won’t be any major decisions made until after the first of 2010.

– Hulk Hogan’s son Nick appeared in a Clearwater, Florida court yesterday regarding a lawsuit related to his 2007 2007 car crash that left friend John Graziano permanently brain damaged.

While giving a deposition, Hogan was probed by lawyers for the plaintiffs about dysfunction and “issues” in the Graziano family. According to RadarOnline.com, Nick had told the lawyers that there was violence in the Graziano family and the Hogans talked about having John Graziano move in with them.

When a lawyer asked about what type of issues John was dealing with, Nick said that John hated certain types of people. Upon further questioning from the lawyer, Nick clarified who John Graziano hated. “Homos,” Nick said. “He wanted to kill homos.”

The room grew silent and one lawyer put his head in his hands. John Graziano’s father Edward sued the Hogans after the 2007 car crash. Edward was later arrested on charges of trying to kill his wife and recently had his home foreclosed on, according to the Radar report.

– WWE Raw this Monday will emanate from the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas with Dennis Miller at the Special Guest Host. The show will feature the 2009 Slammy Awards and will be a three-hour broadcast.

NBA

– Contrary to rumours, Cavaliers F Shaquille O’Neal has not retired.

VoV

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MLB

– According to Craig Calcaterra of NBCSports.com, the Rangers have signed RHP Rich Harden to a one-year/$7.5M deal. The deal also comes with an $11.5M option for 2011. It’s a bold move by the Rangers, who have had their fair share of money problems this year, but it makes more than enough sense. The club has quickly filled a hole left by RHP Kevin Millwood’s rumored departure to Baltimore and snagged one of the filthiest pitchers in the game. The 28-year-old Harden posted a 4.06 ERA, a 1.32 WHIP and an incredible 10.9 K/9 in 26 starts this past season.

– Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun reports the Orioles have a tentative agreement in place to acquire RHP Kevin Millwood from the Rangers for RHP Chris Ray. The Rangers will also kick in some cash, to offset some of Millwood’s $12M salary for 2010. According to Zrebiec, a deal could be made official by as early tonight, as the teams review medical records and await approval from major league basebal, with more than $1M expected to change hands. Millwood will provide the veteran workhorse the Orioles covet, while Ray, who has closing experience, will look to get back on track in Texas.

– According to Peter Gammons of ESPN.com, the Astros have acquired RHP Matt Lindstrom from the Marlins. Lindstrom will fly to Houston for a physical to make it official. Lindstrom, 29, managed a 5.89 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 39/24 K/BB ratio in 47 1/3 innings in ’09, but missed nearly six weeks with elbow inflammation. While he wasn’t going to close in Florida, it’s no stretch to say he could take over ninth-inning duties with the Astros.

– According to Steve Henson of Yahoo! Sports, the Yankees aren’t yet satisfied with their outfield and are still in on OF Matt Holliday. So much for cost-cutting. If the Yanks do land Holliday, it’s safe to assume either OF Melky Cabrera or OF Nick Swisher will be traded, and perhaps both. Holliday, 29, finished with a .313/.394/.515 batting line in 2009 with 24 home runs and 104 RBI. He would be an asset to any team. Agent Scott Boras is reaching for the stars in negotiations, though, comparing him at one point to 1B Mark Teixeira, who inked an eight-year, $180M contract last winter.

– According to FOXSports.com’s Jon Paul Morosi, the Mets and Nationals “continue pursuing” free agent RHP Jason Marquis. Morosi also says the Phillies shouldn’t be ruled out. Marquis, 31, was 15-13 with a 4.04 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 2009 and is looking for a lucrative multi-year contract. He made $9.875M in 2009.

– According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates have signed SS Bobby Crosby to a one-year/$1.5M deal. The 29-year-old hit a disappointing .223/.295/.357 in 2009, but he’s a decent enough fielder and will battle SS Ronny Cedeno for the starting shortstop gig in Pittsburgh. A good low-risk signing.

– Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports the Rays and Astros are the teams most interested in trading for Braves RHP Rafael Soriano. The Angels and Orioles, for whatever reason, dropped out of the running Wednesday. Soriano recently accepted an offer of arbitration from Atlanta and could make nearly $8M. The 29-year-old posted a 2.97 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP and a 102/27 K/BB ratio in 75 2/3 innings this past season.

– Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports the Angels and Rangers have been the most aggressive teams on free agent LHP Darren Oliver. The Rangers met with Oliver’s representatives Tuesday night in Indianapolis and are thought to be seeking another reliable lefty. The 39-year-old Oliver fits the bill perfectly. He was stellar in 2009, posting a 2.71 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 65/22 K/BB ratio in 73 innings.

– Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com reports the Marlins are not making INF Jorge Cantu available via trade. The Rangers expressed a strong desire to trade for Cantu on Tuesday, but a deal won’t be happening. The Fish may use him as their starting first baseman in 2010 and were impressed with the numbers he posted this past season. Cantu, 27, batted .289/.345/.443 with 16 home runs and 100 RBI.

– The Brewers have come to terms with free agent RHP LaTroy Hawkins on a two-year contract, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports. The deal is pending a physical. Hawkins earned a base salary of $3.5M with the Astros last season, posting a 2.13 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 11 saves in 65 appearances. The 36-year-old Hawkins will set-up for the 42-year-old Trevor Hoffman.

NHL

– Coyotes D Ed Jovanovski receives a two-game suspension for an incident during Monday’s 2-0 victory over Minnesota. Jovanovski is being punished for hitting Wild F Andrew Ebbett in the head with his forearm. Jovanovski will be eligible to return to the Coyotes’ lineup on Monday.

NBA

– Celtics G Marquis Daniels (thumb) has undergone surgery and is out indefinitely.

NFL

– The Texans have placed RB Steve Slaton (back/shoulder) on the IR, ending his season.

– The Rams have placed FS O.J. Atogwe (dislocated shoulder/torn labrum) on the IR, ending his season.

VoV

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MLB

– The Nationals have signed C Ivan Rodriguez to a two-year/$6M deal. Pudge will receive $3M each in 2010 and 2011.

– The Cardinals have signed RHP Brad Penny to a one-year/$7M deal.

– The Tigers have re-signed SS Adam Everett to a one-year/$1.55M deal.

– OF Jason Bay is already being heavily pursued by the Mariners, Angels, Giants and Cardinals.

– FOXSports is reporting that a potential three-team trade is in the works between the Yankees, Tigers and D’Backs. The Yankees would receive OF Curtis Granderson and two prospects from Arizona. The Tigers would receive RHP Max Scherzer from Arizona, as well as prospect OF Austin Jackson, LHP Phil Coke and LHP Michael Dunn from the Yankees. The D’Backs would receive RHP Edwin Jackson and RHP Ian Kennedy. Stay tuned.

– According to the NY Post, the Mets are going to try and land either RHP John Lackey or Rangers RHP Kevin Millwood. They are also looking into LHP Doug Davis, RHP Jason Marquis and RHP Jon Garland. The team has looked into RHP Joel Piniero and had internal discussions about trading for Royals RHP Gil Meche.

– The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Pirates RHP Matt Capps and C Ryan Doumit are indeed on the block. The Rangers and Mariners reportedly have interest.

– ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark has heard that the representatives for free agent Randy Wolf are still discussing deals with multiple teams. Several news outlets reported Monday night that a three-year deal was agreed to by both Wolf and the Brewers, but the left-hander’s representatives are apparently still fielding offers. Stark says a “half-dozen” clubs may be involved in ongoing negotiations for the 33-year-old southpaw.

– Yankees GM Brian Cashman confirmed Monday that he’s spoken with the representatives for free agent RHP Jason Marquis. Marquis went 11-6 with a 3.65 ERA during the first half of the 2009 season but 4-7 with a 4.56 ERA after the break. Cashman called the 31-year-old “tough,” but added “there are definitely pitchers that are on the market that are worth having conversations with.” The Yankees will explore all options on the open market this winter.

– According to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Indians may be shopping RHP Kerry Wood at this week’s Winter Meetings. It makes no sense for a baseball team to pay a closer $10.5M when they can’t hold leads. Wood posted a 1.38 WHIP and 63/28 K/BB ratio in 55 innings this past season while earning 20 saves. The Indians could turn to RHP Chris Perez next year if they’re able to get rid of the 32-year-old Wood.

– According to Joel Sherman, the Mets and Brewers have discussed a trade involving RHP John Maine and OF Corey Hart. It’d seem to be easier for the Mets to buy a Hart-type outfielder in free agency than to replace Maine’s upside in the rotation, but they likely have some concerns about how Maine’s shoulder will respond going forward. If the Brewers made the deal, they’d enter the market for a right fielder.

– According to MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro, Dodgers OF Juan Pierre has “drawn interest from the Pirates, White Sox and an third unidentified team.” Pierre, 32, hit .308/.365/.392 this past season with 16 doubles, eight triples, 30 steals and 31 RBI in 380 at-bats. The Dodgers are reportedly interested in dealing him for a pitcher with a similarly bad contract.

– The Mets have increased efforts to land C/OF Josh Willingham or Angels OF Juan Rivera to fill their left field void, according to the NY Post. The Mets are concerned that the markets for OF Matt Holliday and OF Jason Bay will push them out of contention for either big-ticket free agent. Rivera has two years at $9.5M left on his deal, while Willingham’s 2009 salary of $2.95M should at least double through the arbitration process. Holliday’s signing, whenever that may be, should set off a large domino effect of corner-outfield transactions.

– LHP Mike Gonzalez has declined an offer of arbitration from the Braves. The Braves weren’t so fortunate with RHP Rafael Soriano, who accepted arbitration and could earn up to $8M through the process. Gonzalez is interested in landing a mutli-year contract with another club and is likely to do so. The 31-year-old had a 2.42 ERA this past season.

– RHP Jose Valverde has declined an offer of arbitration from the Astros. The Astros would have been forced to pay the Type A free agent close to $10M through arbitration, but will now receive two draft picks when he signs elsewhere. The 31-year-old posted a 2.33 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 25 saves in 29 opportunities for Houston this past season.

– RHP Brandon Lyon has declined the Tigers’ offer of arbitration. Lyon stood to make close to $6M through the arbitration process, but will instead seek out a multi-year deal on the open market. The 30-year-old posted a 2.86 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 65 appearances while serving as Detroit’s primary setup man in 2009 and has drawn a fair amount of interest.

– Braves RHP Rafael Soriano, Rockies RHP Rafael Betancourt and Twins RHP Carl Pavano have all accepted arbitration.

– The Pirates have signed RHP Vinnie Chulk.

PGA

– In another twist related to Tiger Woods, a woman was taken to the hospital from the golfer’s home in Windermere, Florida this morning. Some resources describe the woman as white, blonde and middle-aged. Reports have also cited that a black Escalade with a license plate one digit different than Woods’ infamous ride on Black Friday was following the ambulance, with a younger, attractive female driving. (Elin Woods’ mother, Barbro Holmberg, was said to be at the house on Black Friday.) Meanwhile, Elin has reportedly purchased a home with her sister, Josefine, on a remote island in her native Sweden. Tiger’s alleged mistress count has reached double digits, and rumours swirl over who will land the first one-on-one interview with the world’s best golfer.

NHL

– F Darren McCarty has officially retired from the NHL. McCarty played in 758 NHL games over the course of 15 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings and Calgary Flames. McCarty had 127 goals, 288 points, and 1477 penalty minutes. He also played in 174 playoff games and scored the game-winning goal in the fourth and final game of the 1997 Stanley Cup Playoffs. McCarty marks the first of Detroit’s “Grind Line” to retire.

– Devils G Martin Brodeur has tied G Terry Sawchuk’s all-time regular season shutouts with 103.

NBA

– Rumours are circulating that Blazers G Jerryd Bayless has requested a trade. Can’t confirm yet, so stay tuned.

WWE

– In an interview with political website TheHill.com, former WWE CEO and United States Senate hopeful Linda McMahon spoke about a number of topics pertaining to pro wrestling. McMahon acknowledged that steroids were a “significant problem” in WWE back in 2006 before the company relaunched its drug testing program. She says WWE’s Wellness policy is “as good as it can be for today. But as technology advances and more is known and developed, we’ll continue to develop our policy, as we have done over the years.”

“Unlike football or baseball or basketball, where steroids can actually enhance performance, they do nothing to enhance performance in WWE,” McMahon said. She added that its mostly about a wrestler’s “charisma, the ability to connect with the audience, and how successfully they can act and perform within the storyline.” No mention about the long standing culture of freakishly muscular wrestlers getting pushed or the increasing pressure for wrestlers to stay in shape and maintain an HDTV-friendly physiques.

WWE legends Superstar Billy Graham and Bruno Sammartino have been very outspoken towards Linda McMahon since she began her Senate campaign. Graham recently told the Hartford Courant, “She may look like a Sunday school teacher, [but her] hands are as bloody as her husband’s, because she is aware of every move in the ring.” Linda called Graham a “self-confessed liar” and dismissed Sammartino as someone who has “still got sour grapes because he didn’t make as much money as the guys today are making.”  She said, “You’re going to always have the old-timers who are going to come out and say [things],” she said. “It’s just not like that.”

– Charlie Haas reportedly asked WWE for his release within the last few months. Apparently officials were going to grant him the release at first but changed their minds and gave him a raise instead. There was a rumour going around that Kurt Angle had a spot for Haas in TNA so WWE kept Haas around instead of having him jump to TNA.

– Regarding the discussed Undertaker origin film, it looks to be a long way off. There has bee been no movement of late on the proposed Western film or the planned WWE Studios re-launch of the Chuck Norris Missing in Action series.

– WWE officials are looking to shoot a documentary on the weeks leading into Wrestlemania XXVI, titled The Road to Wrestlemania. However, it should be noted that WWE is very early in its process.

VoV

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

NHL

– Leafs G  Jonas Gustavsson (heart) will undergo surgery Friday and miss the next three weeks. Gustavsson underwent the procedure on his heart in September but the procedure needs to be done again in 50% of the cases. Should all go well, Gustavsson could return by Christmas.

– The Blackhawks have signed F Patrick Kane and F Jonathan Toews to five-year deals. Both agreed to identical five-year deals and will both make roughly $6.3M per season. Chicago now has locked up their core to long-term deals, but they were already up against the cap. The Blackhawks will probably have to trade a player or put one on waivers to free up ‘tagging’ cap space – they have 15 players locked up for next season, and they’ve already used $60M in cap room. The Maple Leafs are rumoured to be interested in D Brent Sopel and D Cam Barker, and Chicago may be close to announcing a trade as a follow-up to these contract extensions.

– The Blackhawks have officially signed D Duncan Keith to a 13-year/$72M contract extension. Keith will turn 27 in July, so this deal should make him a lifetime Blackhawk. Keith is quickly becoming one of the better offensive defenseman in the league, scoring eight goals and 44 points in 77 games last season. He’s on pace to top those numbers in 2009-10 with five goals and 23 points in 26 games. He’ll make an average of $5.5M over the life of his contract.

– The Leafs have shipped F Jiri Tlusty to the Hurricanes for F Philippe Paradis, their first round draft pick in 2009.

MLB

– The Phillies have signed 3B Placido Polanco to a three-year/$18M contract. The contract includes a mutual option for a fourth year. Polanco will make the switch back to third base, a position he hasn’t manned since the 2005 season. The decision will surely be second-guessed throughout the length of the contract, as the 34-year-old Polanco has seen his OPS drop from .846 in 2007 to .727 in 2009. For now, at least, Polanco is an upgrade over 3B Pedro Feliz, who posted a .699 OPS over two seasons in Philadelphia. Polanco figures to be used as the No. 2 hitter in Charlie Manuel’s lineup, allowing OF Shane Victorino to become a run-producer instead of a table-setter.

– LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune cites ‘a person of influence in the Twins C Joe Mauer contract talks’ as saying that no serious negotiations on a contract extension have begun and absolutely no deadlines have been set. Mauer has attempted to downplay previous reports of either, but so far, it hasn’t mattered. The AL MVP should expect more of the same as he enters the final year of his contract with the Twins.

– The Braves have signed free agent RHP Takashi Saito. Saito could make an additional $2.3M in incentives, the majority of them based on games finished. With LHP Billy Wagner and Saito in tow, the Braves have filled the void of LHP Mike Gonzalez and RHP Rafael Soriano in a little under 36 hours. Better yet for Atlanta, Saito did not qualify as a Type A or Type B free agent, meaning the Braves will not have to surrender an additional draft pick. Saito, who turns 40 in February, posted a 2.43 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP and a 52/25 K/BB ratio in 55 2/3 innings with the Red Sox in 2009. He’s no longer the dominant pitcher he was upon his arrival in 2005 and 2006, seeing an increase in his walk rate over the past two seasons, but he is still one of the more reliable set-up men in the game. Saito posted a 2.43 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP and a 52/25 K/BB ratio in 55 2/3 innings with the Red Sox in 2009.

– According to Jerry Crasnick of MLB.com, free agent SS Marco Scutaro held a private workout for the Red Sox this week. Scutaro held a workout near his home in Miami on Tuesday for Allard Baird, special assistant to general manager Theo Epstein, according to two baseball sources. The goal was to alleviate concerns about the plantar fasciitis injury on his right heel that hampered him towards the end of the 2009 season. The Red Sox are currently weighing their options at shortstop, including possibly moving 2B Dustin Pedroia from second base, but the prospect of losing a selection in the draft became somewhat easier to swallow after LHP Billy Wagner signed with Atlanta.

– Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd and free agent RHP Jason Marquis denied an SI.com report that the 31-year-old right-hander will reject Colorado’s arbitration offer due to a “falling out over his reaction to his not getting a playoff start.” “There was no falling out. He was extremely professional about it. It wasn’t an issue at all.” Marquis echoed these sentiments, even saying he would have “zero problems” coming back to Colorado. The Rockies will receive a supplemental draft pick should Marquis, a Type B free agent, decline arbitration and sign with another team.

– Multiple sources told FOXSports.com that the Mariners are the clear frontrunners to sign free agent 3B Chone Figgins. That certainly wouldn’t help in the power department, an area in which the Mariners are clearly lacking. Figgins, though, would be an excellent No. 2 hitter behind OF Ichiro Suzuki and a fine defender at third base. He’s likely to get a four-year deal worth $10-12M per season. The M’s have been linked to nearly every high profile free agent this winter; it’ll be interesting to see if they actually pull the trigger. Figgins, 31, hit .298/.395/.393 in 2009 with five homers, 54 RBI, 42 stolen bases and 114 runs scored in 615 at-bats. The Angels and Mets are also interested.

– The Athletics have acquired INF/OF Jake Fox, 2B Aaron Miles and $1M from the Cubs for RHP Jeff Gray, RHP Ronny Morla and INF/OF Matt Spencer. Fox, 27, hit .259/.311/.468 with 11 homers, 12 doubles and 44 RBI in 216 at-bats this past season for the Cubs. He was buried on the depth chart in Chicago and should find more playing time in Oakland. He’s not much of an upgrade over DH’s Jack Cust or Eric Chavez at third base. Oakland GM Billy Beane must be banking on another Chavez injury. The $1M thrown in by the Cubs will help cover the remaining salary of the offensively- and defensively-inept Miles, who was basically a throw-in.

TNA

– Alex Marvez of ScrippsNews.com recently interviewed WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair and asked him about whether he’d ever seriously consider going to TNA Wrestling now that Hulk Hogan is on board.

“I haven’t entertained the idea of working there because I’ve been so loyal to WWE, but you never know what’s going to go on. I don’t want to make any predictions, but I’ve certainly got a lot left to offer. I think I would be a good addition to (TNA’s) program.

“Everything is about money, timing, what they want me to do and the job description. There’s a lot up in the air. I haven’t talked to (TNA ownership) yet, but I’ve had conversations with people who work there. I’ve stood by WWE, but if they’re not going to use me anymore, I’m ready for any kind of action.”

WWE

– On recent episodes of WWE Raw, we’ve seen the likes of Jesse Ventura and Carlito talking about there being  some backstage resentment towards WWE Champion John Cena. While the storyline exaggerates the locker room’s feelings towards Cena, there is some truth to it, as a number of wrestlers do reportedly resent Cena’s standing with management. There is naturally some jealousy towards Cena’s comfortable spot at the top of the roster while others are turned off by his “company guy” attitude.  Sources say his public airing of grievances with The Rock, regardless of the fact that he was likely reading company-fed lines, did not help his standing with “the boys.”

– WWE may have had plans to continue something between Jerry Lawler and Sheamus before changing it. Lawler was scheduled for an independent wrestling show on November 21, five days after he was attacked by Sheamus on RAW. After the angle on Raw that week, Lawler’s people sent a text message to the indy promoter saying, “due to an ongoing storyline, Jerry Lawler can’t make his appearance.”

VoV

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

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

MLB

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NHL

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

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

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

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

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

NFL

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

WWE

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

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

TNA

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

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

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

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

VoV

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

MLB

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

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

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

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

NHL

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

NFL

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

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

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

VoV

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

WWE

– The Undertaker vs. John Cena is one of the planned main-event’s for WrestleMania 26, according to F4WOnline.com. The groundwork for potential matchup was set on this past Monday’s RAW when Cena received a tombstone after the main-event match had ended.

– According to sources, WrestleMania 27 is looking to be held in Toronto at the Rogers Centre. WWE is still weighing other options including Miami, Indianapolis and Atlanta and an official decision should be made soon.

MLB

– Cardinals GM John Mozeliak indicated Tuesday that the Cardinals will not pursue OF Jason Bay, even if they miss out on OF Matt Holliday. Mozeliak said, “We’ll see how the market develops. Is (Bay) a possibility? Sure. But right now it’s fair to say he’s not one of our top priorities.” The Cardinals are reportedly intrigued by free agent OF Xavier Nady and would rather spend major cash on bolstering their infield and starting rotation if Holliday moves on. Bay is drawing heavy interest from the Red Sox and Mets.

– Free agent right-hander RHP Jason Marquis told the New York Post Tuesday that he’s a “perfect fit” for the Mets. “There’s definitely interest there. We’ll see what direction they want to go.” Marquis, 31, went 11-6 with a 3.65 ERA during the first half of the season but 4-7 with a 4.56 ERA after the break. He signed a three-year/$21M deal when he hit the free agent market last year and is thought to be looking for a similar contract this winter.

– According to the NY Post, the Red Sox have requested medical records on free agent LHP Mike Gonzalez and RHP Rafael Soriano. Gonzalez, 31, went 5-4 with a 2.42 ERA this season and converted 10 of 17 save chances. Soriano, 29, was 1-6 with a 2.97 ERA in 77 games and racked up 102 strikeouts in 75 2/3 innings. He converted 27 of 31 save chances. Both would serve as excellent setup men in the Boston bullpen.

– According to FOXSports.com, LHP Jarrod Washburn senses “mutual interest” in a possible return to the Mariners. “Not saying it will happen, but I know I enjoyed my time there, my wife and kids loved it there, and I think they have some interest. So, I see that as a possibility.” The 35-year-old Washburn was 31-49 with a 4.17 ERA in parts of four seasons in Seattle, but was 8-6 with a 2.64 ERA in 2009 before getting dealt to the Tigers at the trade deadline. Washburn could also see the Twins and Brewers as a potential fit since they are close to his offseason home in Wisconsin.

– Rockies skipper Jim Tracy was named the NL Manager of the Year, earning 29 of 32 first-place votes. Not bad for a guy who wasn’t even a manager at the beginning of the season. Tracy took over the gig in May after Clint Hurdle was fired and guided Colorado to a 74-42 record and the NL Wild Card in one of the most rapid turnarounds in major league history. Along with the playoff berth, the Rockies established a new club record with a 92-70 record. Tracy becomes the first Rockies manager to win the award since Don Baylor in 1995. Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa (2) and Dodgers manager Joe Torre (1) were the only other two managers to receive first-place votes.

In light of this, the Rockies have signed Tracy to a three-year contract extension. Tracy, 53, had an extension coming for some time now. In addition to the deal, Tracy’s entire staff will return for 2010.

– Angels skipper Mike Scioscia was elected the AL Manager of the Year, after receiving 15 of 28 first-place votes. Scioscia led the Angels to their third straight division title, their fifth in the past six seasons, despite a rash of injuries and the tragic death of pitcher Nick Adenhart in early April. Though the Angels fell to the Yankees in the ALCS, Scioscia is the first manager to lead his team to the playoffs six times in his first 10 years as manager. This is Scioscia’s second AL Manager of the Year award, as he won with the Halos back when he won the World Series in 2002. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire came in a close second, earning six first place votes, while Yankees manager, Joe Girardi, M’s manager Don Wakamatsu, Rangers manager Ron Washington and Togers manager Jim Leyland rounded out the AL ballot.

NBA

– CBS Sports’ Clark Judge and ESPN’s Adam Schefter both report that the Vikings are on the verge of signing coach Brad Childress to an extension. Judge reported on October 20 that the deal would be completed “within 2-3 weeks” of that date. Childress is currently the lowest paid head coach in the NFC North, but is expected to make twice as much as his current $2M salary via the new deal. He is 32-25 with one playoff berth in 3 1/2 years as Vikings head coach.

NBA

– Blazers F Travis Outlaw (foot) is expected to miss three-to-five months after undergoing surgery on Wednesday. Initial reports had him returning sometime in January, but this updated timetable changes things dramatically.

NBA

– Lakers G Kobe Bryant hit 17-of-29 shots and a 3-pointer for 40 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals in Tuesday’s win over the Pistons. This was Kobe’s 100th 40-point game, putting him behind Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan on the all-time list. He’s also suffering from a groin injury.