Well, the Lakers won in 7. As predicted. I watched minimal NBA playoffs this year, since the NHL playoffs have been so much better and baseball has been absolutely electric between the 3 perfect games (4?) in a month. You didn’t miss much here. Kobe won MVP, despite shooting 6-22. He did grab 15 rebounds though. Pau Gasol deserved MVP, but it’s a popularity contest, just as it always is.

NHL
2008: 12-3 (80%)
2009: 10-5 (67%)
2010: 9-6 (60%)
Total: 31/45 = 69%

NBA
2008: 11-4 (73%)
2009: 9-6 (60%)
2010: 11-4 (73%)
Total: 20/30 = 67%

MLB
2008: 5-2 (71%)
2009: 4-3 (57%)
Total: 9/14 = 64%

NFL
2008: 9-2 (82%)
2009: 7-4 (64%)
Total: 16/22 = 73%

NBA

– In his first interview since the Cavs’ season ended with a shocking, second-round loss to Boston, F LeBron James told CNN’s Larry King that Cleveland “does have an edge” to re-sign him when he hits the open market on July 1.

“Absolutely. Because, you know, this city, these fans, I mean, have given me a lot in these seven years. And, you know, for me, it’s comfortable. So I’ve got a lot of memories here. And so it does have an edge. It’s going to be a very interesting summer and I’m looking forward to it.”

“I’m far from close. July is still a month away, less than a month away. I’ve thought about it, but I haven’t began to strategize exactly.”

This is about as much information as you can plan on getting out of LeBron prior to July 1, but you can watch the whole interview on Friday night. In addition, the alleged summit between James, G Dwyane Wade, F Amare Stoudemire, G Joe Johnson and F Chris Bosh will allegedly not happen.

– G Dwyane Wade said he hasn’t made his wish list for the offseason or asked other free agents what they will do just yet, according to the Detroit Free Press. But he did say that he’ll first make a wishlist for players he’d like the Miami Heat to go after. According to the paper, Wade said that his plan to stay in Miami “hasn’t changed” but he would only do it if Heat president Pat Riley can sign some better players. Stay tuned.

“No question, I will be able to, even though I’ve still got the other things to handle. But I will be able to start focusing on my wish list, focusing on the things I want to do for my future. Even though I’ve still got other things to worry about, this kind of is a big burden off my shoulders. Now I’m able to go to Chicago and focus on something totally different.”

– Kevin McHale told reporters on a conference call yesterday that he expects to be interviewed for the job, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

“We’ve had some just primary discussions and I’ve talked to both (Bulls general manager) Gar (Forman) and (Bulls executive vice president – basketball operations John) Pax (Paxson) a little bit. So, I mean, we’ll see where it goes from there.”

– Blazers’ GM Kevin Pritchard, who joined the Portland Trail Blazers six years ago, he has seen the team make some sort of draft-related trade each year – in 2006, the team had six trades on draft day. Pritchard is already getting ready for the wheeling and dealing, according to the Oregonian. The Blazers have the No. 22 and No. 44 picks in the upcoming draft and Pritchard has already spoken to other teams about potential trades.

“We’re having discussions. I would never get into the details of where and who — we don’t comment on that kind of speculation. But it’s our job to look at every opportunity. … You’re always assessing the landscape, whether you’re looking to move up, down or stay where you are. You’re always assessing your options.”

– The Newark Star-Ledger reports that ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy has officially declined the Nets head coaching job. It is believed that Van Gundy informed the Nets of his decision around the May 18th draft lottery. New Jersey’s search seems to have narrowed to Tom Thibodeau, Avery Johnson, Monty Williams, and possibly a few wild cards.

– Lakers’ F Pau Gasol (rest) will not play for Spain and miss the World Championships.

NHL

– According to the FAN 590, Leafs’ GM Brian Burke has turned down two offers for 32-year-old All-Star D Tomas Kaberle, who has a no-trade clause in his contract that will be temporarily lifted on June 25th and won’t be reinstated until the middle of August.

“You don’t move quality players until you turn over every stone. We had two inquiries about Tomas from what I would consider interested teams that are more than nibbles. They were ‘would you consider a package like this?’”

Burke also noted that he told assistant GM Dave Nonis that it may be time to send out a note to all of the other teams to say that the Leafs are interested in hearing what everybody would offer for Kaberle, who has been with the team since 1998.

– The Red Wings have re-signed D Nicklas Lidstrom to a one-year/$6.2M deal. The Swede had nine goals and 40 assists for 49 points last season, his second-lowest total in 14 seasons, and wasn’t a finalist for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s leading defenseman for just the second time in more than a decade. Just two years ago, though, he was honoured as the NHL’s best defenseman for a sixth time to put him behind only Bobby Orr’s and Doug Harvey’s total.

– The NY Post reports that the Devils have tried to sign F Ilya Kovalchuk to a long-term deal, but the sniper will test the free agent market on July 1. Kovalchuk was already offered two big money contracts to return to Russia, one of which was from the KHL’s St. Petersburg (three-year/$30M).

Meanwhile, the Devils are close to re-signing 32-year-old D Mike Mottau, who could become a free agent in July as well. It will be the fourth season in New Jersey for Motthau, who made $775K last year. Another soon-to-be free agent, D Paul Martin, who made $4.5M last year, isn’t going to sign with the team until a replacement is named for coach Jacques Lemaire.

– Blue Jackets’ GM Scott Howson says he is getting closer to hiring a new coach. Howson told The AP on Tuesday that he didn’t want to say how soon an announcement might be made. The Blue Jackets have interviewed American Hockey League coaches Kevin Dineen of Portland and Scott Arniel of Manitoba, and are reportedly interested in Hamilton coach Guy Boucher. Blue Jackets interim head coach Claude Noel is also a candidate. The club is looking for a replacement for Ken Hitchcock, who was fired February 3.

– The Chicago Blackhawks’ win Monday night earned the best overnight rating for a Game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals on record. The Blackhawks’ 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers drew a 4.1 rating and 7 share on NBC, the highest overnight rating since at least 1975, which is as far back as the records go. The rating was up 21% from last year’s 3.4 for Red Wings-Penguins. The game earned a 25.1 rating and 39 share in Chicago.

MLB

– AOL Fanhouse reports that Astros’ RHP Roy Oswalt will waive his no-trade clause if the team can move him to either the Phillies, Yankees or Cardinals. He also told the Washington Post that he’d consider going to the Nationals.

“They’ve been playing well. They’ve got a good offensive club. I saw where they have Strasburg coming up. He should make an immediate impact, especially, because no one’s seen him in the league, early. There’s always a little adjustment period there.”

Oswalt added that he feels that NL East is “wide open” this season. His possible addition would obviously make a huge difference in how that race is ultimately decided, but the Nationals would have to decide how much of the $29M remaining on Oswalt’s contract they would be willing to take on. Stay tuned.

– The Tigers have traded LHP Dontrelle Willis to the D’Backs for RHP Billy Buckner and cash. The 28-year-old Willis was designated for assignment on Sunday, giving the Tigers up to 10 days to make a move with him. He was making $12M this year. Willis was 1-2 with a 4.98 ERA in eight starts and one relief appearance this season. He’ll look to resuscitate his once-promising career with a return to the NL – it’s a worthwhile gamble, especially at the league minimum, but I’m not convinced he can be an effective big league pitcher anymore, regardless of location.

– The Pirates have acquired LHP Dana Eveland from the Jays for RHP Ronald Uviedo. The 26-year-old Eveland will be joining his fifth major league team in the past five seasons. Eveland was 3-4 with a 6.45 ERA in nine starts this season for Toronto.

– Cardinals’ RHP Brad Penny (back) threw from flat ground Tuesday for the first time since suffering his injury, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Penny will play catch again Wednesday and may throw a bullpen session this weekend. If everything goes well, there’s a chance he could return to the Cardinals next week, though his progress over the next few days will go a long way toward determining his return date.

– Jordan Bastian of MLB.com writes that Jays’ OF Travis Snider (wrist) is still at least one week away from returning from the DL. And that’s optimistic. Snider has just resumed swinging, but not hitting. He’ll likely begin his rehab with extended spring training before starting a minor league rehab assignment with Class A Dunedin.

– Indians’ OF Grady Sizemore (knee), who is set for surgery in Vail, Colorado, has not yet been scheduled to go under the knife. Sizemore has been on the DL since May 19 with a deep bone bruise in his left knee.

– D’Backs’ 3B Mark Reynolds (right quad) is expected to land on the DL on Friday.

WWE

– At Tuesday’s WWE SmackDown tapings, it was announced that the Undertaker has withdrawn from the World Heavyweight title match at Fatal 4 Way. As reported here over the weekend, the Dead Man suffered a broken orbital bone during his match with Rey Mysterio on last week’s show.

On SmackDown, Rey Mysterio won a battle royal to earn the final spot in the World Heavyweight title match at Fatal 4 Way. World Champion Jack Swagger will now defend his title against Big Show, CM Punk and Rey Mysterio in a Fatal 4 Way match.

– Randy Orton was told over the weekend that he shouldn’t be wrestling for three weeks, according to f4wonline.com. Besides the attack from Edge last night, Orton isn’t expected to take many bumps over the next few weeks leading up to Fatal 4 Way.

– UFC light heavyweight star Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and his “A-Team” co-stars will be guest hosting next Monday’s night’s 3-hour episode of WWE RAW from Miami. According to f4wonlien.com, WWE is really hoping that they can get Rampage in the ring and do something physical.

UFC President Dana White recently commented how he had a good relationship with Vince McMahon and had no problem with Quinton appearing on RAW but if he were to do something physical, they would have to talk to him (UFC) first. Since the show is to also feature SmackDown stars, it will be interesting to see if The Undertaker is there. Taker blew Jackson off years ago when Jackson tried to meet him. Quinton never forgot about the incident and it kind of soured him on the wrestling business. Rampage was a huge wrestling fan growing up and an interesting fact not many people are aware of – the chain he wears around his neck to the cage are a tribute to his favorite wrestler as a child, the late Junkyard Dog.

– The winner of WWE’s first season of NXTwas Wade Barrett. Justin Gabriel was eliminated in round 1 of the eliminations on Tuesday night and it came down to Barrett and David Otunga. Barrett has earned a spot on the Raw or SmackDown rosters and a PPV title match.

– As announced tonight on the NXT finale, season 2 of the show will begin next Tuesday night on SyFy. Below are the Rookie and Pro pairings for the new season:

Cody Rhodes and Husky Harris (Duke Rotundo). Rotundo is the son of former WWE star & current agent Mike “IRS” Rotundo. He has been in developmental since 2009 with his brother Bo, who is currently injured.

John Morrison and Eli Cottonwood (Kip Christianson). Cottonwood stands over 7 feet tall and weighs over 300 pounds. He has been in developmental since 2009.

MVP and Percy Watson (Chris McNeil). Percy has been in WWE developmental since 2009 and has teamed with former Rookie Darren Young as The South Beach Boys.

Zack Ryder and Titus O’Neill (Thaddeus Bullard). Titus is a former Florida Gators defensive end and has been in developmental since 2009.

Michelle McCool & Layla and Kaval (Brandon Silvestry). Kaval is the former TNA and Ring of Honor star Low Ki. Kaval recently recovered from an injury and has been signed to a WWE developmental deal since 2009. Kaval has held the TNA X Division Title twice, the ROH Title once and a number of other titles around the world. Layla and McCool are the first Pros to be Divas.

Mark Henry and Lucky Cannon (Jon Emminger). Lucky Cannon is the former Johnny Prime and I don’t believe he’s been using the Lucky Cannon gimmick for long. They said on NXT that he was a former sheriff.

Kofi Kingston and Michael McGillicutty (Joe Hennig). McGillicutty is the son of WWE Hall of Famer Curt Hennig. Up until last week, he was still using the Hennig name in developmental. Hennig has been with WWE since 2008 and has held the FCW Florida Heavyweight Title once and the FCW Tag Team Titles twice.

The Miz and Alex Riley (Kevin Kiley). Riley has been with WWE since 2007 and is the current FCW Heavyweight Champion. He has worked several dark matches and live event matches for WWE over the years.

The format of NXT season 2 will see the fans and the Pros both getting 50% of the votes that decide who stays and who goes each week. Season 2 begins next week on SyFy and will be shorter than the first season.

– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross is back with another blog, which you can read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com. The highlights:

Wade Barrett Winning NXT: “No surprise that Wade Barrett won NXT Tuesday night live in Dallas. Looked like about 10,000 in the AAC. Just as an interested bystander, I would like to see William Regal mentor Barrett at the outset. Something about that pairing that intrigues me. Barrett has the look of a young Billy Robinson one of t”he all time badass hookers who trained in Wigan and who once wrestled the legendary wrestler Jack Brisco all night in an Australian hotel room.

Season 2 of NXT: “I’m looking forward to season two of NXT and am anxious to see how many new ‘tweaks’ will be utilized. Strictly speaking as a fan I would love to see some of the ‘Tuf Enough’ elements utilized from time to time including the whole crew living in a dorm-like setting.

“Some of the names the NXT rookies have been anointed with are eye brow raisers like Curt Hennig’s son Joe is now going to be called McGillicutty. Help me with this one. I understand protecting one’s intellectual property but McGillicutty? Wasn’t that Lucille Arnez’ maiden name on ‘I Love Lucy?’ Bottom line is if the kid is any where close to his dad he can be called any thing he wants.”

“Kaval has unique skills and is hungry for success, that I know. If he doesn’t make it in WWE he should go to Hollywood and use those pipes of his in animated films. Being mentored however by Layla and Michelle McCool will be different.”

New WWE Video Game: “It looks like WWE has lined up a really cool, THQ video game for me to work on and that I will likely be broadcasting along side the King in the game where Legends compete with active Superstars. I’m not sure of the release date or the creative details, etc but the concept, as explained to me, was really cool. I hope to begin my voice overs in the next week or two. We’re burning daylight on this one and need to get rocking. I’m ready! ”

Describing Vince McMahon: “An emailer asked me to describe Vince McMahon in three words. So many words come to mind but to prevent from being moved from the pasture to the feedlot I will go with….”Very, Very, Rich.”

– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog, which you can read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com. Some highlights of what JR said about Monday’s RAW:

Rib Played on Michael Cole: “What we didn’t see was Michael Cole get introduced before the show went on the air and I’m told he was booed out of the arena. Why, you ask? One reason might have been because he came out to my old, entrance music ‘Boomer Sooner’ the Oklahoma fight song which doesn’t play well in the home of the Texas Longhorns. Nice practical joke on Cole who later in the show had an entertaining piece of business with Daniel Bryan and the Miz. ”

Ashton Kutcher: “I thought Ashton Kutcher was a solid ‘Host.’ It was easy to see that Kutcher is a WWE fan as he seamlessly fit into the broadcast. Stars from outside the world of WWE who are fans make the best ‘Hosts’ and Kutcher was spot on with his delivery.”

Evan Bourne’s Push: “It was a great night for Evan Bourne not only interacting with Edge at the beginning of the broadcast but teaming with John Cena in the main event at the end of the broadcast. Bourne’s perception improved tonight a great deal and the high flier is a good, solid citizen who is deserving of the opportunity that was presented him tonight.”

The Usos: “The Uso’s are going to be really good if they continue to do grow, adjust to life on the road and can stay healthy. The trio has lots of natural talent and athleticism. They match up well with the Hart Dynasty and this personal issue is going to be fun to follow. I like the 3rd generation storyline and am interested to see how it evolves. ”

– SmackDown star CM Punk currently has a bet going with WWE ring announcer Tony Chimel regarding the NHL Stanley Cup.If the Chicago Blackhawks win, Chimel has to announce CM Punk as hailing from “the home of the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago, IL.” and if the Philadelphia Flyers win the Cup, Punk has to cut a promo where he mentions that “this city is not nearly as good as Philadelphia.”

– Former WWE Superstar Eugene (Nick Dinsmore) joined Matt & JD on Ring The Bell Radio. Here are some highlights:

Whose idea was it for the Eugene Gimmick: “It was my idea; I had the idea of a kids based character that couldn’t do the basic things, but when he got into the ring he would emulate his favorite stars. I remember being a kid watching wrestling feeling that way, having the awe and excitement when I saw Hulk Hogan or the Junk Yard Dog or Koko B. Ware.

How he pitched the idea to Vince: “In the developmental system (OVW) WWE used to send down members from the creative team. They said I had great in ring ability but I needed a gimmick. So I pitched the Eugene gimmick to them. They really didn’t care for it and at the time I got really frustrated. I was about to ask for my release and go to Japan or Mexico, and then I found myself in a meeting with Mr. McMahon. He looked at me and said “I want to get back to character based wrestling!” Going into the meeting I had no idea what I was going to say, but once he brought that up, I told him my idea. He sat back and laughed and said “Sounds great, you’ll start on Monday”.

Working for WCW and how it compared to WWE: “Late 98-99 I wrestled two Thunders, two Nitros and about 10 Saturday Nights. It seemed to be a bit more stressful for sure. Things weren’t ironed out as smoothly as with WWE. I remember one Nitro that they didn’t even have the line up of what was going to happen until 5 minutes after the show actually started. In WWE though it’s the same thing, but I think the “machine” and more well oiled than in WCW.”

Toughest Opponent: “Hands down….Kurt Angle. I wrestled him for about 6 weeks straight. He pulled my hair, bloodied my lip, blackened my eyes, and dropped me on my head! He was one of the most aggressive guys out there, but at the same time very professional. He was great to wrestle with but you knew you were going to be in for a fight.”

Thoughts on TNA: “TNA has the platform to do something completely different in the wrestling business right now. All of the pieces are in place in TNA right now that were in place when WCW made more money than any wrestling company in history. People are expecting things to happen immediately in TNA and you can’t make the magic happen like that. If you remember Hogan was in WCW for almost 2 or 3 years before the NOW finally took off. You just have to wait for everything to fall into place, but for TNA it’s looking good all the way around.”

NFL

– In a recent interview with Comcast Sports Network in San Francisco, Bills’ RB Marshawn Lynch disclosed that GM Buddy Nix told him he would not be traded. The interview took place a week ago, before RB LenDale White’s release. The Seahawks presumably still want to pick up a physical back, but Lynch’s checkered history is no better than White’s. The Bills seemed resigned to keeping Lynch as a third back this season, though it’s worth noting that he was a no-show again for Tuesday’s voluntary practice.

– ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Ravens are nearing a one-year deal with free agent K Shayne Graham. Graham struggled last season with Cincinnati, especially in the playoffs, but isn’t too old to rebound (32) and is the fourth most accurate kicker in league history. He should be an upgrade over journeyman holdover Billy Cundiff across the board.

– Suspended QB Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger has joined the team for offseason workouts. He was immediately installed with the first team, ahead of QB Byron Leftwich. Roethlisberger was banned from OTAs until Tuesday by commissioner Roger Goodell while undergoing behavioral evaluations. Big Ben’s next goal will be to have his suspension reduced from six to four games. In order to do so, Goodell will want tangible evidence that Big Ben has cleaned up his act.

– The Rams neglected to upgrade O.J. Atogwe’s tender offer to $6.976M, allowing him to become a UFA. The Rams’ hands were tied all along, as they clearly didn’t want to approach $7M for a player coming off reconstructive shoulder surgery. All signs point to St. Louis remaining in the hunt, but they’ll now have to bid against other teams. The Cowboys, Dolphins, Jaguars, Lions, and Vikings have been mentioned as possible destinations.

VoV

- Email – captaincharisma [at] hotmail.com
- Twitter – @VoiceofValeri
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I can’t believe the Cavs are gone. Totally did not see that coming. Nor did I see the Mavs getting swept by the Spurs. The Spurs and Celtics, two of the oldest teams in the league, have advanced. The real story is the side-story of LeBron James’ contract and where he’s headed. Knicks? Clippers? Bulls? Re-signing with the Cavs? Be prepared for almost daily updates from now until July 1.

I went 2-2 last round, bringing me to 9-3. Here are my conference picks:

Eastern Conference

(2) Orlando Magic vs. (4) Boston Celtics

The Magic come into this series not only undefeated in the playoffs, but well rested. The Celts are coming off an emotional win over the Cavs. The C’s look rejuvenated and reborn this postseason, and Doc Rivers has made some key adjustments that got them by the Cavs. Someone needs to stop Dwight Howard, but the Celtics appear capable of doing so. It’s going right down to the wire. It’s a coinflip, with the Magic edging them out.

Pick: Magic in 7

Western Conference

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Phoenix Suns

The Suns are white hot now, but I think the ride ends here. I’m surprised they’ve made it this far, but the Lakers are too well-rounded, and with a healthy Kobe Bryant, I don’t see the Suns advancing. Andrew Bynum is going to have a tough time adjusting to the Suns run-and-gun offence, but Gasol will make up for it. This is easily the best Suns team that has been assembled since Steve Nash signed with them – they’re finally showing what they’re capable of, but the Lakers are just too strong and too deep. Will be fun to watch, just like the Celts/Magic.

Pick: Lakers in 6

NHL
2008: 12-3 (80%)
2009: 10-5 (67%)
Total: 22/30 = 73%

NBA
2008: 11-4 (73%)
2009: 9-6 (60%)
Total: 20/30 = 67%

MLB
2008: 5-2 (71%)
2009: 4-3 (57%)
Total: 9/14 = 64%

NFL
2008: 9-2 (82%)
2009: 7-4 (64%)
Total: 16/22 = 73%

VoV

- Email – captaincharisma [at] hotmail.com
- Twitter – @VoiceofValeri
- FB Group
- FB Fan ap

NHL

– Bruins’ F David Krejci (dislocated right wrist) will miss the rest of the NHL playoffs. The Czech had surgery to repair the wrist at a Baltimore hospital hours later. Krejci injured the wrist in the 4-1 win over the Flyers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Krejci collided with Flyers’ captain F Mike Richards just before Boston scored the winning goal. The Bruins lead the best-of-seven series 3-0. He’ll be ready to start the 2010-11 season.

– Flyers’ F Simon Gagne (toe) practiced with the Flyers on Thursday. Gagne had surgery on his big toe on his right foot on April 23 after taking a couple of shots off it, in Game 4 of the first round against the Devils. He had two screws put in, and the fact that he’s already skating is remarkable. The Flyers down 3-0 in the series, so he may have to wait until next season to lace ‘em up.

– The finalists for the inaugural NHL GM of the year award are Don Maloney (Coyotes), George McPhee (Capitals) and David Poile (Predators). Maloney’s Coyotes had the most successful regular season in franchise history. McPhee’s Capitals set a club record with 121 points and the first Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history. Poile’s Predators recorded 100 points and qualified for the playoffs for the fifth time in the past six seasons. The winner will be announced during the Stanley Cup final, the NHL said in a release Thursday. Voting was conducted among the 30 club GMs and a panel of NHL executives, print and broadcast media.

– The sale of the Phoenix Coyotes to Jerry Reinsdorf is in jeopardy. According to TSN, the city of Glendale has asked Ice Edge Holdings to return to the bargaining table as a back up plan to buy the Coyotes, in the event the deal with Reinsdorf falls through. Glendale reached out to Ice Edge late last week amid growing concern Reinsdorf’s accepted bid to purchase the Coyotes from the National Hockey League is at risk of falling apart.

– The Sabres have signed defenseman Nick Crawford to a three-year entry level contract. Crawford finished second in voting for the OHL defenseman of the year, after a career high 70 points in 68 games split between Barrie and Saginaw. Among Canadian junior defensemen, Crawford was fourth in points last season. He finished with 23 goals and 117 assists in 264 career games.

NFL

– Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor has been arrested for rape. According to the report, Taylor is accused of beating and raping a 15-year-old “runaway from New York City controlled by a pimp.” The alleged incident occurred early Thursday morning at the Holiday Inn Holidome Hotel in Suffern, and charges are expected to be filed once police complete their investigation. LT has a very extensive history of off-season trouble. Very extensive. In 2001, Taylor was convicted of possessing drug paraphernalia in New Jersey. The conviction stemmed from the September 1998 discovery in a hotel room of a butane torch and other materials commonly used to smoke crack. In 1996 and 1997, he was arrested in South Carolina and Florida on drug charges. In those cases, he either admitted his guilt or agreed to enter a pretrial intervention program. In 2000, he drew five years of federal probation for filing false tax returns and for tax evasion.

– The Raiders have released QB JaMarcus Russell. Russell didn’t show enough at last week’s minicamp to justify carrying him as a $6.5M risk throughout the spring and summer. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft finishes his Raiders career with a 7-18 record, 52.1 completion percentage, 18:23 TD-to-INT ratio and a 65.2 passer rating. Considering his bloated contract ($40M over the past 3+ years), Russell may have bypassed QB Ryan Leaf as the biggest bust in NFL draft history. Don’t expect to see any other teams rushing out to sign Russell, but there are rumours that the Colts may kick his tires down the road.

– Bengals agreed to terms with CB Pacman Jones on a two-year contract for the veteran minimum with incentives. Pacman will officially sign on Monday. Owner Mike Brown had a busy day, also putting the finishing touches on FS Gibril Wilson’s contract. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer confirmed that the Bengals believe they have nothing to lose by signing Pacman, other than taking shots from the media. Unless Jones significantly improves on his play from 2008, they have little to gain as well. He could be in the mix for nickel duties as well as punt returns, assuming he survives until September.

– Ravens’ S Ed Reed (hip surgery) is fully committed to playing football in 2010, according to his friend and financial adviser, Brad Davis. “Ed is as committed to football as I have ever seen. He told me he feels like he’s 25 again.” Reed is ahead of schedule in his return from a hip procedure that had doctors amazed he could finish out the season. Davis said Reed believes he could play for “several” more years barring another setback. The Ravens will take it easy with Reed during training camp, aiming for all systems go in Week 1.

– A Minnesota judge ruled Thursday that Vikings defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams must serve four-game suspensions stemming from the StarCaps case. The two are expected to appeal the ruling. The case will likely be taken to the state Court of Appeals. From there, the losing party could appeal to the state Supreme Court. The Williamses will ask to be able to play during the appeal process as they continue to argue that the NFL didn’t allow them to explain their use of StarCaps. If the Williams Wall does end up missing four games, it’s a big blow to the Vikings. Jimmy Kennedy and Fred Evans would be thrust into major roles.

MLB

– Astros’ 1B Lance Berkman told Jereome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle that he would consider waving his no-trade clause. “I would say yeah. I think it would benefit the organization, and in the end, it would be a benefit for whoever it is — whether it’s me, or Roy (Oswalt) or Carlos. I’m not saying we’re at the point where they should start pulling the plug on us, but they need to start thinking forward. If this thing keeps going like this, they’ve gotta do something.” Berkman said he’d still like to retire as an Astro and is in the final year of his contract, though the club holds a $15M option for next season.

– OF Eric Byrnes, who was released by the Mariners on Sunday, told MLB.com that he may retire. “I think this is the end. You never say never, but I think this is it. Parts of 11 seasons, man — I gave everything I had to the game. I can look myself in the mirror and know that I gave it my all. I’m proud of that.” Byrnes, 34, has a .258/.320/.439 batting line in the major leagues, but played a crucial role in helping the Diamondbacks make it to the NLCS in 2007. Injuries have slowed him in recent seasons and the Mariners gave up on him over the weekend after he batted just 094/.237/.156 over 38 at-bats.

– Brewers’ broadcaster Bob Uecker has been released from the hospital after undergoing heart surgery last Friday. Uecker says in Thursday’s statement that he’s extremely grateful for all the kind words from Brewers fans, friends and associates and looks forward to returning to the broadcast booth later this summer. Uecker is expected to miss up to three months while recovering from the surgery to replace the 75-year-old broadcaster’s aortic valve, aortic root and part of his ascending aorta. Dr. Alfred C. Nicolosi also performed a coronary bypass during the six-hour procedure. The team says Uecker will not be available for interviews, but will come to Miller Park at a later time to provide an update on his recovery.

– Astros’ OF Carlos Lee said Thursday that he “may retire” after the 2012 season when his contract is up. Lee, 33, is probably having all sorts of depressing thoughts as he continues to struggle at the plate and may reconsider the idea once he regains his composure. He’s batting .200/.245/.280 with just five extra-base hits in 100 at-bats this season. He’s a .290/.342/.499 career hitter with 308 home runs.

– According to the Washington Post, the Nationals and 1B Adam Dunn have not made any progress toward a contract extension. Dunn said, “I don’t think there’s any rush. If it happens, great. If it doesn’t happen this year, we have the whole offseason. I’m really not too concerned.” He’s expressed a strong desire to stay with the Nationals and they seem to like him at first base. He’s batting .237/.388/.484 this season with five home runs on the season.

– The Mariners have placed OF Milton Bradley on the restricted list one day after asking the team for help in dealing with “emotional stress” from personal issues. While on the restricted list, Bradley cannot be in uniform or with the team. He will miss at least five days, and manager Don Wakamatsu said he won’t go on the Mariners’ eight-game road trip that begins next Tuesday in Baltimore. Bradley is expected to be away from the club for “five, six, seven days for sure,” and then the situation will be re-evaluated.

– According to CSNBayArea.com, the Giants are planning to place SS Edgar Renteria (groin) on the 15-day DL and could miss three weeks. Renteria has battled a groin injury for the past week and it finally came to a head Thursday while he was running down the first base line.

– Orioles’ LHP Mike Gonzalez (shoulder) has begun throwing from 60 feet on flat ground. Gonzalez, who opened the season 1-for-3 in save opportunities, is aiming to rejoin the Orioles’ bullpen around early June and, so far, appears to be right on track. He was placed on the DL retroactive to April 10 with a strained left shoulder.

– The Marlins have signed veteran 1B Doug Mientkiewicz to a minor league contract. Mientkiewicz, 35, has spent 12 seasons in the majors and played 20 games for the Dodgers last season.

– Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts has died at his home in Florida due to natural causes. Roberts was 83.

WWE

– As part of WWE’s Q1 2010 financial report, in which WWE achieved operating income of $37.3M and net income of $24.7M off revenue of $138.7M, the company also announced the PPV buyrates for Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania 26. While the Rumble and Chamber events improved over their counterparts last year, WrestleMania 26 declined from last year’s already-disappointing number.

Royal Rumble 2010 drew 462,000 buys, up from last year’s 450K. Elimination Chamber did 272K buys, down from No Way Out 2009, which did 285K. WrestleMania XXVI drew 885K buys, down from last year’s 960K. The strong UFC 111 PPV, which aired the night before WrestleMania, will likely receive some credit for adversely impacting the WM26 buyrate.

WrestleMania’s popularity has been eroding sharply over the past few years, despite the fact that WWE claims the decreased buyrates are due to more fans gathering together for “PPV parties.” The past 4 years WrestleMania buyrates have been:

2007 – 1.18M
2008 – 1.06M
2009 – 0.96M
2010 – 0.89M

It’s interesting to note that despite WWE’s price increase to $44.95, and the increase in buys for Rumble and Chamber, revenue was slightly down compared to last year. The January and February shows garnered $13.6M in 2009 and $13.4M in 2010. This can be attributed to a relative increase in international buys, for which WWE does not receive as much revenue.

NBA

– According to the Dallas Morning News, Mavs’ owner Mark Cuban says that F Dirk Nowitzki will remain with the team next season. “We had a good talk. He knows our priority is to keep him and win a championship, which is his goal as well. I’m optimistic things will work out.”

– LeBron James and Dwight Howard were unanimous choices for the All-NBA Team, while Kobe Bryant received 119 of 122 votes from writers and broadcasters. James was a unanimous pick for the second straight season and made his fourth All-NBA Team. The Cleveland star won the MVP award for the second year in a row.

Kevin Durant and Dwyane Wade completed the first team Thursday. Durant led the NBA in scoring for Oklahoma City with a 30.1 average, and James was second at 29.7. Howard led the league in rebounding with a 13.2 average and also averaged 18.3 points. Carmelo Anthony, Dirk Nowitzki, Amare Stoudemire, Steve Nash and Deron Williams were selected to the second team. Tim Duncan, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bogut, Joe Johnson and Brandon Roy were third-team picks.

– F Antoine Walker will attempt an NBA comeback next season. Walker hasn’t played in the NBA since 2008 and has suffered legal and financial woes since stepping away from the game. Walker agreed to pay three Las Vegas casinos over $900K to settle three bad cheque charges last fall. Walker was a three-time all-star with the Boston Celtics and won a championship with the Miami Heat in 2006. He played briefly in Puerto Rico during the 2009-10 season.

– The Thunder have exercised their option on head coach Scott Brooks to keep him with the team through 2012.

– The Philadelphia Daily News reports that ESPN analyst Mark Jackson has turned down a head coaching position – and even an interview altogether – with the Sixers. Jackson is expected to get interviewed for the Hornets position, as well as the Clippers and Nets.

– Danny Ainge has been fined $25K for throwing a towel and trying to distract Cavaliers’ F J.J. Hickson at the foul line in Game 2. Ainge apologized in hopes of avoiding the hit to his wallet, but to no avail. It is a little interesting that he got a $10K break compared to guys who dare to talk about the officiating of a game.

– According to the AP, the Hornets have interviewed TNT analyst Mike Fratello. Fratello hasn’t coach since 2006 with the Grizzlies.

TNA

– According to the PWTorch,  it has been indicated that Lisa Marie Varon (a.k.a. Tara) has buried her peers behind their backs to management. Among the stories cited are reports of Varon complaining about various female wrestlers on house show tours, refusing to work with certain individuals altogether, and squashing numerous storylines — all of which she denies. For those curious as to who she is having these issues with, they are all three members of The Beautiful People — Madison Rayne, Velvet Sky and Lacey Von Erich. The root of the matter is that The Beautiful People have refused to take some of her moves not to mention that she doesn’t respect their in-ring ability.

As noted, Varon took her issues directly to management rather than discussing the matter with the trio. When the group received word of this, they confronted Varon and told her they should have come to them rather than breaking locker room protocol by going to management. The friction was bad enough that when Varon was called in to work a recent house show loop, she specifically asked to work with ODB on the tour — who wasn’t originally scheduled for the set of live events. Company officials complied with Varon’s request due to Madison Rayne being unable to appear (note – there is a unique reason for Rayne’s absence and it will be disclosed in a separate report).

Varon never had a reputation for being difficult to work with during her time in WWE and it should be noted that various sources have stated that she’s been easy going for the most part during her time thus far in TNA. Furthermore, some feel the matter may be more of personality clash as opposed to one side being right and one side being wrong. Varon has been telling people that she hopes to return to WWE once her deal with TNA expires.

VoV

- Email – captaincharisma [at] hotmail.com
- Twitter – @VoiceofValeri
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Quarterfinals Recap

Really no surprise for any of the first round matchups. Didn’t think the Bucks would push 6 – after all, no Bogut no chance, right? This round, I went 7-1, with my lone flaw being the Mavs collapse. We’ll see what the future holds for them.

Semifinals Preview

Eastern Conference

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (4) Boston Celtics

Cavs all the way. This is their championship to lose. All the “success” the C’s had against the Bulls is very misleading. No way does KG guard Antawn Jamison. LBJ is unstoppable. Rajon Rondo will create problems for the Cavs, but nothing insurmountable. Even if LBJ’s elbow wears down, I think the Cavs bench/role players/LBJ at less than 100% are still better than the C’s. The Cavs reach the East finals for the third time in four years.

Pick: Cavs in 6

(2) Orlando Magic vs. (3) Atlanta Hawks

Should be a fun matchup to watch. The Magic are too big down low. They steamrolled a defensive Bobcats team, which everybody saw coming, but the Bucks pushing the Hawks – without Andrew Bogut – to 7 games? Yikes. The Hawks are probably the most talented, athletic team in the league, but I just don’t see them getting past.

Pick: Magic in 5

Western Conference

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Utah Jazz

Deron Williams is going to be trouble for the Lakers, but without Mehmet Okur as a threat, this team has no chance. Carlos Boozer is going to go through hell down low. Gasol & Bynum > Millsap and Boozer.

Pick: Lakers in 6

(3) Phoenix Suns vs. (6) San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are just too balanced for the Suns’ one-dimensional game. Amare Stoudemire might average close to 40 points in the series, but he’s done that before against the Spurs and they’ve still lost. Offence wins games, defence wins championships.

Pick: Spurs in 6

NHL
2008: 12-3 (80%)
2009: 10-5 (67%)
2010: 6-2 (86%)
Total: 22/30 = 73%

NBA
2008: 11-4 (73%)
2009: 9-6 (60%)
2010: 7-1 (00%)
Total: 20/30 = 67%

MLB
2008: 5-2 (71%)
2009: 4-3 (57%)
Total: 9/14 = 64%

NFL
2008: 9-2 (82%)
2009: 7-4 (64%)
Total: 16/22 = 73%

VoV

- Email – captaincharisma [at] hotmail.com
- Twitter – @VoiceofValeri
- FB Group
- FB Fan ap

The NBA post-season kicks off Saturday night. We saw Game 82 of the season decide whether the Raptors or Bulls would clinch the 8-spot (and lose to the Cavs in 4 games). Unfortunately for Raptors fans, it was not meant to be. After “securing” the 5th spot, the team fell to 9th. The Raps needed a win over the Knicks (they did), and a Bulls loss to the Bobcats (didn’t happen) to make it. The ‘Cats benched a lot of their starters, with many of them playing half-assed. Many people are arguing that teams shouldn’t be able to bench their players down the stretch after they’ve clinched. This is a long discussion, one that I will hopefully get to soon, but nonetheless, a discussion for another day. For the record, I’m for benching superstars. In any event, it should be a long summer in Toronto. Is Chris Bosh gone? Probably.

“Nobody knows, not even me. So that’s something that only the future holds. You know, everybody keeps looking for answers. There are no answers right now…there will only be answers when it’s time.”

I think it’ll be a sign-and-trade, though. We’ll see. As for the rest of the Association, here are my picks for the Quarters.

Eastern Conference

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Chicago Bulls

Game 1 @ CLE, Sat, Apr 17 3:00pm EDT, TV: ABC
Game 2 @ CLE, Mon, Apr 19 8:00pm EDT, TV: TNT
Game 3 @ CHI, Thu, Apr 22 7:00pm EDT, TV: TNT
Game 4 @ CHI, Sun, Apr 25 3:30pm EDT, TV: ABC
Game 5 @ CLE, Tue, Apr 27, TBD
Game 6 @ CHI, Thu, Apr 29, TBD
Game 7 @ CLE, Sat, May 1, TBD, TV: TNT

No question who wins this one. The Cavs are focused this season, and the acquisition of F Antawn Jamison may be what puts them over the top. With Shaq coming back, the Cavs will need to re-adjust and re-familiarize themselves with him in the lineup. Other than that, I don’t see the Bulls winning a single game.

Pick: Cavs in 5

(2) Orlando Magic vs. (7) Charlotte Bobcats

Game 1 @ ORL, Sun, Apr 18 5:30pm EDT, TV: TNT
Game 2 @ ORL, Wed, Apr 21 7:00pm EDT, TV: TNT
Game 3 @ CHA, Sat, Apr 24 2:00pm EDT, TV: TNT
Game 4 @ CHA, Mon, Apr 26, TBD
Game 5 @ ORL, Wed, Apr 28, TBD
Game 6 @ CHA, Fri, Apr 30, TBD
Game 7 @ ORL, Sun, May 2, TBD

The Bobcats are a very underrated team, but I don’t think they’ll have an answer for F Dwight Howard. He’s too big and too strong around the net, and no one can match up with him at either end of the court. F Stephen Jackson will be on F Vince Carter, which should be fun to watch. The deep Magic bench, plus the fact that they can go unconscious from 3 is too much to handle. The ‘Cats will make it a series, but the Magic take it.

Pick: Magic in 6

(3) Atlanta Hawks vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks

Game 1 @ ATL, Sat, Apr 17 5:30pm EDT, TV: ESPN
Game 2 @ ATL, Tue, Apr 20 7:00pm EDT, TV: NBATV
Game 3 @ MIL, Sat, Apr 24 7:00pm EDT, TV: ESPN
Game 4 @ MIL, Mon, Apr 26, TBD
Game 5 @ ATL, Wed, Apr 28, TBD
Game 6 @ MIL, Fri, Apr 30, TBD
Game 7 @ ATL, Sun, May 2, TBD

With F Andrew Bogut nursing, well, his entire body after that horrific crash, the Bucks will be undermanned. With him in the lineup, I think the Bucks could force a Game 7, but without him, it just isn’t there. The Hawks are going to need to learn to close out games in the latter half of games, as too many teams have been coming back on them – something you can’t allow in the post-season. It’ll be fun to see how G Brandon Jennings reacts in his first taste of playoff action, but I don’t see him doing much against such a strong defensive team. The Hawks are just too talented to not advance. In any event, the Bucks have to feel as if this season was a great success – they took the 5th seed in the East, and the future looks bright.

Pick: Hawks in 5

(4) Boston Celtics vs. (5) Miami Heat

Game 1 @ BOS, Sat, Apr 17 8:00pm EDT, TV: ESPN
Game 2 @ BOS, Tue, Apr 20 8:00pm EDT, TV: TNT
Game 3 @ MIA, Fri, Apr 23 7:00pm EDT, TV: ESPN
Game 4 @ MIA, Sun, Apr 25 1:00pm EDT, TV: ABC
Game 5 @ BOS, Tue, Apr 27, TBD
Game 6 @ MIA, Thu, Apr 29, TBD
Game 7 @ BOS, Sat, May 1, TBD, TV: TNT

This Celtics team is winding down, and they’ll just squeeze by the Heat. After that, they’re gone. G Dwyane Wade will stand on his head, but he’s only one man. The C’s will wear him out at both ends of the floor. We’ll see if the C’s have enough fight left in them, but all signs point to this club fading soon.

Pick: Celtics in 7

Western Conference

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) Oklahoma City Thunder

Game 1 @ LAL, Sun, Apr 18 3:00pm EDT, TV: ABC
Game 2 @ LAL, Tue, Apr 20 10:30pm EDT, TV: TNT
Game 3 @ OKC, Thu, Apr 22 9:30pm EDT, TV: TNT
Game 4 @ OKC, Sat, Apr 24 9:30pm EDT, TV: ESPN
Game 5 @ LAL, Tue, Apr 27, TBD
Game 6 @ OKC, Fri, Apr 30, TBD
Game 7 @ LAL, Sun, May 2, TBD

F Kevin Durant and G Russell Westbrook play in their first playoff series. Great story. Too bad it’s against the Lakers. Anyone who hasn’t watched a Thunder game will finally be able to see what this team has been doing this season, and to see what all the hype is. I think F Pau Gasol plays a huge role in this series. OKC’s has weakened defensively down the stretch of the season, and now, especially against the LakeShow in the playoffs, is not the time for it to be questioned. The Thunder’s lack of experience will be too much to overcome this year, but they’ll make each and every game close.

Pick: Lakers in 5

(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks

Game 1 @ DAL, Sun, Apr 18 8:00pm EDT, TV: TNT
Game 2 @ DAL, Wed, Apr 21 9:30pm EDT, TV: TNT
Game 3 @ SA, Fri, Apr 23 9:30pm EDT, TV: ESPN
Game 4 @ SA, Sun, Apr 25 7:00pm EDT, TV: TNT
Game 5 @ DAL, Tue, Apr 27, TBD
Game 6 @ SA, Thu, Apr 29, TBD
Game 7 @ DAL, Sat, May 1, TBD, TV: TNT

Like the Cavs, the acquisition of F Caron Butler and F Brendan Haywood puts them over the top. A lot of the Mavs’ makeup consists of big-game players, and in that, there’s a ton of playoff experience (as the Spurs also have). G George Hill being hurt, or not at 100%, is going to kill them.

Pick: Mavs in 7

(3) Portland Trailblazers vs. (6) Phoenix Suns

Game 1 @ PHO, Sun, Apr 18 10:30pm EDT, TV: TNT
Game 2 @ PHO, Tue, Apr 20 10:00pm EDT, TV: NBATV
Game 3 @ POR, Thu, Apr 22 10:00pm EDT, TV: NBATV
Game 4 @ POR, Sat, Apr 24 4:30pm EDT, TV: TNT
Game 5 @ PHO, Mon, Apr 26, TBD
Game 6 @ POR, Thu, Apr 29, TBD
Game 7 @ PHO, Sat, May 1, TBD, TV: TNT

With F Brandon Roy out, or playing at half-capacity, this team doesn’t stand a chance. Without him, the Blazers are still a good defensive team, but they lack their offensive firepower, something that’ll be in abundance for the Suns. Who’s going to stop F Amare Stoudemire? No one on this team, that’s for sure. His story post-July 1 will be something to keep an eye on. Bottom line, if Roy can’t play, the Blazers can’t win.

Pick: Suns in 6

(4) Utah Jazz vs. (5) Denver Nuggets

Game 1 @ DEN, Sat, Apr 17 10:30pm EDT, TV: ESPN
Game 2 @ DEN, Mon, Apr 19 10:30pm EDT, TV: TNT
Game 3 @ UTA, Fri, Apr 23 10:30pm EDT, TV: ESPN2
Game 4 @ UTA, Sun, Apr 25 9:30pm EDT, TV: TNT
Game 5 @ DEN, Wed, Apr 28, TBD
Game 6 @ UTA, Fri, Apr 30, TBD
Game 7 @ DEN, Sun, May 2, TBD

The Jazz are awful on the road, but the Nuggets have been playing some bad basketball lately. George Karl is the backbone of this team, and without him, I don’t see them winning. Also, F Kenyon Martin is out, and they’ll need big bodies alongside F Chris Anderson to compete down low with F Carlos Boozer and F Paul Millsap. No Karl and no K-Mart means no win.

Pick: Jazz in 6

Since VoV started predictions on the site, I’ve had some good years and some bad years. VoV.com’s predictions record are as follows:

NHL
2008: 12-3 (80%)
2009: 10-5 (67%)
Total: 22/30 = 73%

NBA
2008: 11-4 (73%)
2009: 9-6 (60%)
Total: 20/30 = 67%

MLB
2008: 5-2 (71%)
2009: 4-3 (57%)
Total: 9/14 = 64%

NFL
2008: 9-2 (82%)
2009: 7-4 (64%)
Total: 16/22 = 73%

VoV

- Email – captaincharisma [at] hotmail.com
- Twitter – @VoiceofValeri
- FB Group
- FB Fan ap

TNA

– On Monday’s TNA iMPACT!, James Storm threw a fireball into the face of his TNA Lockdown opponent, Jeff Hardy. The two will wrestle in the opening match on the PPV and will be on opposite sides later in the night during the Team Hogan vs. Team Flair Lethal Lockdown match. TNA heavily edited the segment that aired on Monday’s iMPACT! but the uncut footage is now online. Hardy’s girlfriend Beth Brit wrote on Twitter that Jeff was burnt during the spot,j which singed near his eyes, forehead and lips. She added that she hopes Jeff is “never asked to do something like that again.” Here’s the footage:

Jeff Hardy Hit with Fireball

– Brian Knobs appeared on the Monday Night Mayhem radio show this week and spoke at length about the Nasty Boys’ recent run in TNA, the recent altercation between Ric Flair and Orlando Jordan’s  male companion, whether the Nasty Boys have spoken to WWE and more.

The truth behind The Nasty Boys reportedly being released from TNA Wrestling: “Right now, no one has contacted me or Saggs. No one from TNA. I have talked to Hogan, and he has not verified whether we are not. Supposedly, we are still with TNA. Nobody hasn’t told us anything yet. There’s a lot of stuff going on there as you see. They went to Monday nights, they’re trying to get ratings up, they’re throwing a lot of stuff together right now, and right now we are in ‘the limbo factor.’ Nobody has told us that we are there or not there yet. I’m not gonna speculate like everyone else is on the Internet, and I’m not gonna throw wild stories out there like ‘Brian Knobbs acted crazy to one of the executives at Spike, took his pants down, & ran naked across the pool at The Hard Rock.’ C’mon, we know better than that.”

The truth behind the alleged incident at The Hard Rock Cafe: “Let me put this into perspective. Something did happen two or three weeks ago, but I was there with Orlando Jordan’s significant other & Ric Flair. Now you don’t think that if I went crazy & we haven’t been there in over a month, even if it was in February or January, somebody would have said or put on the internet because they are a bunch of fans in front of everyone? There are no private parties like they put on the internet. There was nothing like that. Every time we were through with a match, we went out for a couple of beers, and we were professional as hell. We were at the Hard Rock Cafe, and we were with everybody. So you don’t think if we were acting like people are saying, it would have been on the internet the next day. Not when you hear The Nasty Boys are not there now, and this might have happened; that’s all speculation, and it’s a bunch of BS.”

Knobbs’ relationship with Hogan, Eric Bischoff, & Dixie Carter when The Nasty Boys came into TNA & if it changed throughout their run with the company: “Let’s face it. Me & Hulk are good buds, and we are always going to be good buds, but Hulk brought us in. Hulk asked me & Saggs, we did not ask to come to TNA. Hulk asked us to come help him out, and that’s what we were doing. We were coming to help him out. We never went against Team 3-D, and it was like a legendary match-up made in heaven, since they’re crazy, and we’re crazy. So we loved it, and said, ‘Sure we’ll come help.’ Now Dixie Carter has always been nice to us, always a real sweetheart. She’s out there doing a lot of things, and she always talked to us real nice. Eric Bischoff on the other hand…you never know. It’s 50-50 with him. He’s now running a lot of stuff again, so who knows…Between Hulk & Dixie Carter, there is no ill will, and I wouldn’t think there would be no ill will between us & Eric, but you never know.”

Was there any heat from the TNA locker room towards either Knobbs or Saggs: “Truthfully if there was, they never really showed it to me & Saggs. Everybody was great to us, and everybody showed us a lot of respect, and we do have a lot of friends down there too. Sting’s a very good friend from many years, and Kurt Angle’s a good friend. We had wars with Cactus Jack (Mick Foley) in WCW, so we have a lot of buddies down there also, so when came in, we fit right in. We never got into with anybody. We joked around…had fun. There was no ribs pulled or nothing like that. The old Nasty Boys didn’t come out…that’s for sure. As mind-bogging as it is to you guys, it’s pretty mind-boggling to us.”

Whether The Nasty Boys were contacted by the WWE prior to going to TNA or have been since their reported release: “We got contacted back in January. They called me and left a message to call them back, and they wanted to see what our status was in TNA. It was short & sweet, and they left a number, but I never did call it. I told Hogan they called us, and he said we should check it out, but I said right now, we’re down here, and our loyalty is our loyalty.”

MLB

– Ben Goessling of MASN reports that the Nationals plan to select 17-year-old C Bryce Harper in this year’s first-year player draft. There has been some speculation that the Nats would look elsewhere, since a handful of scouts are down on Harper. But Goessling hears that the Nationals see the youngster as being “head and shoulders” above the rest of the upcoming draft’s talent pool. Harper is batting .422/.516/.891 with 15 homers and 42 RBI through 39 games at the College of Southern Nevada.

– MLB.com reports that OF Jermaine Dye turned down a contract offer from the Nationals. The 2005 World Series MVP was offered a $1M deal. The Brewers are also rumoured to be interested in the 36-year-old.

– According to Shi Davidi of the Canadian Press, Blue Jays’ GM Alex Anthopoulos said he hopes to make an announcement in the next day or two. Anthopoulos wouldn’t specify what the announcement is about, but it’s easy to assume it will be about 21-year-old Cuban SS Adeiny Hechevarria. Hechavarria’s visa was approved just last week, so a physical was expected to be the final hurdle in the way of finalizing a reported four-year/$10M contract with the Blue Jays. Stay tuned.

UFC

– UFC Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar spoke to ESPN this week and had some interesting things to say about his brush with death earlier this year, how UFC President Dana White compares to WWE boss Vince McMahon and whether he’d ever return to the wrestling promotion that put his name on the map.

His Medical Illness: “I’ve put myself in this category as this confrontational person who creates controversy, but for people to grasp what was happening and to be like, “Holy s—, I might never be able to see this guy fight again!” That saddened them more than anything probably. I’m sure some of them said, ‘I hope that son of a b—- dies.’ I don’t know. I’m sure there are people out there like that, but that’s just the way it is… My hands [are my biggest weakness right now]. I’m constantly working on my hands, I’m constantly working on my ground game, and constantly trying not to get satisfied with where I’m at with my career and where I’m at as an athlete. I’m somewhat happy, but never satisfied…”

Dana White vs. Vince McMahon: “If I had to say one thing about Vince [McMahon] it would be ruthless. If I had to say something about Dana [White] it would be diligent and somewhat brilliant. Two different approaches to business.”

Guest Hosting WWE RAW:“I had a great run with WWE. WWE gave me great visibility, I met my wife there, and I got paid a lot of money, it was just my time to go. I sensed it. I was smart enough to leave. That’s the bottom line… I wouldn’t be opposed to [a one night only return to the WWE]. I’m still focused on my fighting right now, but if the opportunity arose some day, I’d never say never.”

WWE

–  SmackDown will be moving to SyFy beginning October 1. It will remain on Friday nights. NXT is moving off SyFy once that happens, but it isn’t known where.

It’s a major expense as Syfy will reportedly pay $30M per year for the program, an increase from $20M. The report stated that MyNetwork was paying. That figure doesn’t sound correct since CW was paying $700,000 per episode which would have been $36.4M per year and a difference of that much money would have been evident on the annual reports. It will continue to air on Friday nights, meaning Syfy will be making the same mistake MyNetwork has with what will be the most popular show on its network. The move will cost Smackdown greatly in viewers. Syfy is in 13 million less homes than MyNetwork, which right off the top will mean a viewership drop of about 12%.”

While there was talk that the series was “cancelled,” WWE is reportedly not ready to pull the plug yet and is currently seeking a new home for the show. According to sources, WWE has had preliminary discussions with the Bravo cable network, which is also part of the NBC Universal family (along with USA Network & SyFy.) There’s also the possibility of airing the show on WWE.com.

NFL

– Appearing on Mike and Mike in the Morning Tuesday, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen predicted that Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisberger will be suspended by the NFL despite avoiding charges that he sexually assaulted a girl in March. Mort made it clear that this isn’t a report, but predicted that Big Ben will, at the least, be subject to regular drug testing after allegedly supplying the 20-year-old student with enough shots to get her “highly intoxicated” before taking her into a bathroom. If Roethlisberger is suspended, Mort predicted a similar situation to Broncos’ WR Brandon Marshall’s last year, with the ban being reduced from two games to one after the player meets certain behavior standards. Roethlisberger is meeting with the commish on Tuesday.

– The Browns and Jaguars have removed WR Dez Bryant from their draft board due to character concerns.

NBA

– Sources have confirmed that 76ers coach Eddie Jordan will soon be fired. The Sixers finish a dismal season with their worst home record (12-29) since 1996-97. Team president Ed Stefanski’s job could also be in jeopardy as Philadelphia looks to get the franchise back on track.

– Blazers’ F Brandon Roy (bruised knee, torn meniscus) says the team is “pretty confident” that he won’t risk further damage if he does return for the playoffs. He will rest and ice his knee until Friday or Saturday, when he’ll work out and decide whether he can manage the pain. Roy will need surgery eventually – it’s the same procedure he had on his left knee two years ago, and he said there is a four-to-six week recovery.

– FanHouse reports that Grizzlies’ F Zach Randolph wants to sign a contract extension with the team. “I like it here. I told the owner I want to be here. If they’re going to let me be open and be a free agent or they’re going to extend me or lock me in, I’d rather take a lock in.” Randolph is supposedly looking for something similar to the contract Lakers’ F Pau Gasol got at three-years/$57M.

– Kings’ G Tyreke Evans joined Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, and LeBron James as the only rookies to average 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game on Monday. He scored 24 points on 8-of-23 shooting to go with six rebounds, four assists, and three steals, and missed 10 shots in row before securing the record in front of the home crowd at the foul line. He is the favourite to win the Rookie of the Year award.

– Wizards’ G Gilbert Arenas is now spending his nights at a Montgomery County halfway house, where he is serving his sentence for bringing guns into the team’s locker room. Arenas started his sentence Friday with two days in the county jail. Arthur Wallenstein, head of corrections in Montgomery County, says Arenas was transferred Sunday to the county’s work-release facility. Arenas pleaded guilty to a felony gun charge in January, and has been suspended until the end of the season by the NBA. Montgomery County is letting him serve his sentence there, as part of an agreement with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In addition to the 30 days, Arenas was sentenced to a $5K fine and 400 hours of community service that can’t be performed at basketball clinics.

NHL

– Thrashers’ F Slava Kozlov blamed the coaching staff for Atlanta’s inability to make the playoffs. Kozlov was forced him to spend most of the second half of the season in the press box. Kozlov will be an UFA this summer and he’s almost certain to sign elsewhere.

“To me, this was the best team in 11 years of the organization. This franchise had the best players. Right now, they can not blame [Ilya] Kovalchuk or [Slava] Kozlov. They have to take responsibility, because I think ownership did everything right, signed good players, they have a good goalie, good defense — but something is missing. I think we are missing from the coaching staff. Looks like they have fun, but unfortunately in the NHL you have to work. You have to prepare for every game.”

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– A special thanks to VoV readers, as the site broke another milestone for the month of March, recording 367,730 hits, topping our previous record by 80,000 hits! As always, thank you for your continued viewership! Be sure to check out the links on the right side, as well as at the bottom of each post for where the most VoV action is. Keep an eye out for another Instant Classic, as VoV.com takes a look at the career of “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels!

NBA

– The Lakers have re-signed F Kobe Bryant, 31, to a three-year/$90M contract extension through the 2013-14 season. Even in his 14th NBA season, he has shown few signs of slowing down and has everything he could ever want in L.A. The Lakers now have Bryant and F Pau Gasol locked up for three more years.

– The NY Daily News reports that the Knicks may try to bring back F Marcus Camby. He said, “That was what, eight years ago? I’m one to never burn any bridges. Its appealing going back home and going back to a city where I had a lot of great memories and a lot of great friends. Come July 1, I’ll definitely give New York a look if they’re interested.” Camby has also said he’s happy playing with the Blazers, who will have F Greg Oden and F Joel Pryzbilla back from injury next season.

NFL

– The Chargers have re-signed RFA RB Darren Sproles to a one-year/$7.2813M contract. Assuming San Diego doesn’t find a taker for Sproles via trade, the 27-year-old will end up making $14M between 2009-10. Sproles struggled on inside runs last year, managing just 3.7 YPC, but he set a career high in catches to go with eight all-purpose scores and has four return TDs over the past three seasons. The Bolts are expected to invest an early draft pick on a starting RB, so Sproles is likely to return in his a third-down/return specialist role.

– The Cowboys have released FS Ken Hamlin and LT Flozell Adams.

– The Cardinals have reportedly agreed to terms with free agent K Jay Feely, formerly of the Jets. The Cardinals parted with strong-legged K Neil Rackers due to his hiccups in key situations. Though Feely drilled an impressive 30 of 36 field goals last year, his two misses against the Colts in the AFC Championship Game suggest he may not be much of an improvement on Rackers. Having only Nick Folk on the roster, the Jets could turn to Rackers as an alternative.

– The Browns have acquired CB Sheldon Brown and LB Chris Gocong from the Eagles in exchange for LB Alex Hall, a 4th-round pick, and a 5th-round pick. The 31-year-old Brown, still playing at a high level, went on the trading block with the Eagles unwilling to sign him to a long-term deal. He’ll receive a new contract and move into the Browns starting lineup opposite Eric Wright, eliminating the need for a corner at No. 7 overall. The Browns did well to plug two defensive holes for a pair of mid-round picks.

– The Packers have re-signed TE Spencer Havner.

– The Giants have signed S Deon Grant.

MLB

– Jack Curry of the YES Network believes that Yankees’ LHP Andy Pettitte may retire at the conclusion of the 2010 season. Pettitte went 14-8 last season with a 4.16 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP in 32 starts, so it’s not like he’s totally lost it on the mound. He’s said to miss family life and wants to be around for the growth of his kids. Pettitte told Curry, “There are so many things going on back home and I’m not there. I can’t keep asking my wife to take care of everything.”

– The Phillies have placed RHP Brad Lidge (elbow) and LHP J.C. Romero (elbow) on the 15-day DL, retroactive to March 26.

– The Rangers have signed RHP Scott Feldman to a three-year/$13.325M contract extension with a $9.2M club option for 2013. The option comes with a $600K buyout. He won 17 games with a 1.28 WHIP last season. The new deal covers all of his remaining arbitration-eligible seasons.

– Giants’ OF Fred Lewis (ribs) will start the season on the DL.

– The Marlins have signed RHP Brian Lawrence.

– The Orioles have released C Chad Moeller.

NHL

– The Flyers have signed G Sebastien Caron from the Swiss Elite League. He will not be available for the playoffs.

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NBA

– The Lakers have made an inquiry into trading for Nets’ G Devin Harris, according to ESPN’s Ric Bucher. This is far from a done deal at this point. There should be a good amount of buzz about this in the next few days.

– The Arizona Republic reports that the Heat and Suns have spoken about a potential deal involving F Amare Stoudemire and F Jermaine O’Neal. O’Neal has an expiring $23M deal. Eight other teams are apparently interested in adding Stoudemire before the February 18 deadline as well. If Stoudemire stays with the Suns, it appears likely that he’ll decide to opt out of his contract and let go of the $17M that he’s guaranteed to make next year if he sticks around.

– The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Rockets and Sixers continue to talk about a deal involving F Tracy McGrady, but the Rockets persist that F Andre Iguodala is part of the return package. T-Mac has an expiring $23M deal, while Iguodala has more than $56M left. The Cavaliers have also contacted the Sixers about A.I.2.

– The A.P. reports that the Wizards are still trying to void G Gilbert Arenas’ contract. Arenas has 4.5 years left on his six-year/$111M contract. Stay tuned.

– The 2010 NBA All-Star rosters have been announced. It will be held February 14 at Cowboys Stadium. This will be the 59th NBA All-Star Game. Here are the rosters:

East Starters – G Allen Iverson (PHI), G Dwyane Wade (MIA), F LeBron James (CLE), F Kevin Garnett (BOS), F Dwight Howard (ORL).

East Reserves – G Joe Johnson (ATL), G Rajon Rondo (BOS), G Derrick Rose (CHI), F Paul Pierce (BOS), F Gerald Wallace (CHA), F Al Horford (ATL) and F Chris Bosh (TOR).

West Starters – G Steve Nash (PHX), G Kobe Bryant (LAL), F Carmelo Anthony (DEN), F Tim Duncan (SA), F Amare Stoudemire (PHX).

West Reserves – G Chris Paul (NO), G Brandon Roy (POR), G Deron Williams (UTA), F Kevin Durant (OKC), F Pau Gasol (LAL), F Dirk Nowitzki (DAL), F Zach Randolph (MEM).

The Rookies will also face the Sophomores during NBA All-Star Weekend. The rosters:

Rookies – F DeJuan Blair (SA), F Omri Casspi (SAC), G Stephan Curry (GSW), G Tyreke Evans (SAC), G Johnny Flynn (MIN), F Taj Gibson (CHI), G James Harden (OKC), G Brandon Jennings (MIL), F Jonas Jerebko (DET).

Sophomores – F Michael Beasley (MIA), F Marc Gasol (MEM), F Danilo Gallinari (NYK), G Eric Gordon (LAC), F Brook Lopez (NJ), F Kevin Love (MIN), G O.J. Mayo (MEM), G Derrick Rose (CHI), G Russell Westbrook (OKC).

The Slam Dunk Contest will also feature the following:

Dunk Contest – G Nate Robinson (NYK) (champion), G Shannon Brown (LAL), F Gerald Wallace (CHA), G DeMar DeRozan (TOR) (Dunk-In), G Eric Gordon (LAC) (Dunk-In).

The 3-Point Shootout, Skills Challenge, Shooting Stars Competitors and H-O-R-S-E Competitors have yet to be announced.

MLB

– Mariners’ head trainer Rick Griffin hinted Thursday that free agent LHP Erik Bedard (shoulder) might not be ready to pitch for another three-to-five months. Bedard underwent exploratory surgery on his left shoulder in August that revealed a torn labrum and inflamed bursa. According to Griffin, he was given a 10-to-12 month recovery timeline and it has only been seven. In other words, he might be ready by late April, but chances are he’ll be out until May. He’s drawn little interest on the open market this winter.

– Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports reports that free agent SS Orlando Cabrera is “choosing between offers” from the Rockies and Reds. The Reds can offer much more playing time, but the 35-year-old Cabrera may prefer to play for a potential contender like the Rockies. He batted .284/.316/.705 last season with nine home runs and 77 RBI in 708 plate appearances between the Athletics and Twins and earned $4M.

– Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports that the Blue Jays have “talked to” the agent for unsigned OF Johnny Damon. The Jays have a need for a leadoff-type hitter and Damon could potentially fill that role. Of course, they’re probably waiting for his price to drop just like a handful of other clubs. Damon, 36, batted .282/.365/.489 with 24 home runs, 82 RBI and 107 runs scored last year.

Reds’ GM Walt Jocketty shot down the possibility of signing Johnny Damon, reports John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “We called (Boras) about (Xavier) Nady. We asked him about Damon, too. I don’t think it’s going to happen.” Fay adds that he thinks something is brewing, potentially with SS Orlando Cabrera to fill their void at shortstop or OF Jonny Gomes, who was non-tendered by the club in December.

– The Brewers have signed OF Jim Edmonds to a minor league contract. Edmonds, who turns 40 in June, must be added to the major league roster by March 25 or he will be granted his release. He’ll make $850K if he makes the roster, with a chance to make between $2-2.5M with performance incentives. Edmonds hasn’t appeared in the majors since 2008, but still proved pretty valuable, slugging 19 homers with a 937 OPS in 250 at-bats with the Cubs. One of the more underrated players in recent memory, Edmonds is just 18 home runs away from 400. It’s a very nice low-risk acquisition.

– According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Rangers, Rockies, Mariners and Reds are among the possible landing spots for free agent IF Melvin Mora. Rosenthal categorizes the Rangers as having “fringe” interest in the veteran. Mora, 37, hit just .260/.321/.358 with eight home runs and 48 RBI last season. He’s clearly not an everyday player anymore and will have to embrace being a complimentary piece in order to extend his career.

– The NY Daily News reports that the Mets are close to re-signing IF Fernando Tatis.

– The Brewers have signed UTIL Joe Inglett.

– The Dodgers have interest in OF Garret Anderson, among others, as a fourth outfielder.

– The Nationals have signed RHP Tyler Walker. He’ll make $650K if he’s in the majors and $120K if he’s in the minors.

NHL

– According to reports, the Kings, Canucks, Bruins, and another unnamed Eastern Conference team are the remaining bidders for Thrashers F Ilya Kovalchuk. He supposedly is asking for a 10-12-year/$100M deal.

WWE

– TMZ.com has released some disturbing new details regarding the Wednesday arrest of WWE superstars Chris Jericho and Gregory Helms. Kentucky police officers say witnesses told them Gregory Helms struck three people, including Jericho, a man named Gary Kelley and a female passenger named Ashley Storer, at a gas station. Helms then allegedly ran from the scene right after the violent incident but returned after where he and Chris Jericho were arrested for public alcohol intoxication. Cops say Helms was not arrested for the assault because the alleged victims have not pressed charges, which in Kentucky if police do not witness the attack.

TMZ is also reporting that WWE star Matt Hardy was also involved in the Wednesday morning incident that led to the arrests of Jericho and Helms, according to law enforcement sources. Witnesses told police that Hardy was in a taxi with Jericho, Helms and several others, when Helms allegedly struck three people (including a female). Hardy allegedly took off on foot with Helms. After they bailed, the cab driver called 911. Helms returned to the scene and was arrested along with Jericho. Police are not pursuing any sort of action against Hardy.

– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross posted a blog update on JRsBarBQ.com today regarding Chris Jericho and Gregory Helms being arrested on Wednesday morning for public alcohol intoxication. Ross wrote:

“TMZ making a semi big deal about a situation that Chris Jericho and Gregory Helms found themselves in this week. Both these guys are great people and are credits to the biz and I suggest that this well could be much to do about not much”

Ross thinks we should wait to hear Jericho and Helms’ sides of the story and downplays the significance of the situation.

“No one should rush to judgment about this issue especially since neither individual has addressed there side of this overblown story. This matter definitely deserves a ‘Lighten Up Francis.’ Wrestling needs more hard working, students of the game who are still fans of the biz like Jericho and Helms.”

NFL

– Jets’ QB Mark Sanchez is considering elective surgery on his left knee to fix the patella stabilizing ligament. The surgery would sideline him for two months. Sanchez first injured his left knee at USC in 2008, and it flared up on him at times early in his rookie season. It was his right knee that sustained a sprained PCL late in the season against the Bills. Sanchez is expected to make a decision on the surgery within the next week.

– According to the Denver Post, Broncos’ WR Brandon Marshall is expected to be traded shortly after NFL free agency opens on March 5. The Broncos’ leverage is somewhat damaged after a Week 17 blowout between Marshall and coach Josh McDaniels. Throw in Marshall’s major character concerns, and the team will have trouble getting anywhere close to full value for their RFA. Marshall isn’t talking during this week’s Pro Bowl practices, saying he’s “had enough publicity.”

– Jets’ GM Mike Tannenbaum was noncommittal on RB Thomas Jones’ future Thursday. Tannenbaum said the team “hopes to have him back,” but he also pointed to economic factors that could play into the decision. Jones is due a $2.8M roster bonus in March in addition to a $2.8M salary. The five straight seasons of 290+ carries appeared to finally catch up to him in the playoffs, which likely has the Jets re-thinking their backfield plans for 2010. Jones could be asked to take a paycut befitting his new status as a complementary player.

– Rams’ RB Steven Jackson has been accused of assaulting a former girlfriend who was nine months pregnant at the time. The incident allegedly occurred in March of 2009, with Supriya Harris claiming she was pushed to the ground repeatedly, suffering bleeding wounds in the process. Harris gave birth to her son shortly after the incident, and says she left Jackson after he threatened her again. Jackson, who has a clean record since entering the league in 2004, has not been arrested.

TNA

– Rob Van Dam knows TNA wants a piece of him and said once again the “ridiculous never-ending” WWE schedule will play a factor in which company he decides will wrestle for. Van Dam told Alex Marvez of Scrippsnews:

“I do have some interest right now in what’s going on with the big companies. I know (Hulk) Hogan would like to have me. Eventually, (TNA) may start to wear me down and my ‘no thanks’ will become ‘well, maybe.’ I have some interest, but I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t see myself going back to the full-time, ridiculous never-ending WWE schedule. I couldn’t wait to get away from it before.”

The former WWE and ECW champion says he has been wrestling across the world since leaving the national wrestling but doesn’t have any bookings past this Saturday’s PWG show in Los Angeles. Aside from the brutal WWE schedule, Van Dam still has sour grapes about how WWE handled the “new” ECW:

“WWE destroyed that and made it very symbolic. They wanted everyone to know ECW was dead and this new group happened to be called ECW. That was the last cycle of frustration for me.”

VoV

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NBA

– According to Yahoo! Sports, the Suns are actively seeking a trade for F Amare Stoudemire. The Bulls, Heat, 76ers, Nets and Pistons are among multiple teams that have a strong interest in Stoudemire, while the Warriors and Cavaliers have also inquired. Stoudemire is able to opt out of the final $17.7M season of his contract, allowing him to become a UFA. As they did when shopping Stoudemire last season, the Suns want a combination of young talent, salary-cap relief and draft picks for him.

Stoudemire has been inclined to use Lakerds F Pau Gasol’s three-year/$57M contract extension as a parameter for negotiations, and many believe that circumstances will result in Stoudemire getting the max, or close to it. The trade deadline is February 18. Stay tuned.

– The Sacramento Bee reports that, despite not wanting to be moved, the 76ers have F Samuel Dalembert on the trade block. Dalembert has two-years/$24.9M remaining.

– The NY Post reports that the Knicks are still eyeing Wolves G Ricky Rubio.

– The Wolves are eyeing soon-to-be free agent F Rudy Gay, F Luol Deng and F Caron Butler.

NHL

– The Capitals and Flames are rumoured to be in the frontrunning to land Thrashers F Ilya Kovalchuk. D Dion Phaneuf is believed to be the big name heading back from Calgary. The Blackhawks, Bruins, Kings and Rangers are also very much in the mix. Stay tuned.

WWE

– During an interview with Live Audio Wrestling last night, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson said he would return to WWE for a guest-hosting role or to wrestle a match on the sole condition that he can “rip up” the writing for the current television product and tap into the “Attitude Era” with an edgier product.

“I want to use the platform as a host to literally rip things open. There’s so much stuff we can do. We’re going to create an incredible show, an incredible Raw. I’m doing another movie, but after that, we’re going to create something special, unique, something badass for the fans. Talking to Vince (McMahon), whenever that’s going to be, we’re going to have a great time.”

Johnson echoed what he said last week during an interview with ESPN in that he wouldn’t rule out actually wrestling, but only if he can turn the product upside down and create a compelling storyline leading to a match.

“I accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish in wrestling, so I wouldn’t rule out going back. If the match was right and we could create something really unique and cool for the fans and for my opponent and for the company, I would do it in a second.”

Johnson once again said he has no interest in wrestling John Cena, but talked about what it would take for him to work a program with one of WWE’s premiere stars.

“I’ve never been interested in wrestling John Cena. The guys I wrestled in the past – from Goldberg to Hogan to Austin – were guys who I’ve really wanted to wrestle. If it can be done creatively but not only that, it’s very important if I do back is that the writing has to be ripped open and really be pushed. I came from a time in the Attitude Era where we trail-blazed a lot and were fearless in the things we said and did.”

– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his JRsBarBQ.com blog, here are some highlights:

Vince Russo Complaining about Wrestling Journalists: “I do think that creative types in today’s wrestling world are under tremendous pressure and scrutiny. I have great compassion for what they do particularly in today’s society. Fans of all broadcast genres are harder to please these days because of all the info flow available but people can only do their best and follow their instincts. I still think the keys to the process is listening to the objective critiques of the consumers and to follow rating trends. But it all will come back to one’s natural instincts on how they see the genre presented. I know what I personally like in a wrestling TV show but that certainly doesn’t mean that others might like the direction that I might take. Hell, I might not like it after I saw it air.

Ludwig Borga’s Death: “Been reading a little about the death of Tony Halme aka Ludvig Borga and, including his concealed SS tattoo on his calf I won’t speak at length about those that have passed away but Tony obviously had issues and was not a great guy to be around. Perhaps others have a different view of this man but I personally found him to be somewhat obnoxious and he could be a bully if allowed to be such. Guys like Halme don’t mix well in any locker room and need to be removed from the “team” sooner than later. Nonetheless I still feel badly about the last years of Tony’s life as things really unraveled for him seemingly due to alcohol and drug issues. When one competes with “demons” unfortunately the “demons” usually win unless one is personally and throughly committed to changing one’s behavior. Wrestlers with problems of this nature either need to have the problem solved, which takes everyone’s best efforts specifically the individual himself, or have the problem person needs to be eliminated from the equation. That might sound harsh but some folks would rather “catch a buzz” than do the right thing for themselves, their family and the company for which they work.”

A post-mortem has confirmed that former WWE performer Tony Halme (a/k/a Ludvig Borga) took his own life via pistol. Police discovered his body on Jan. 10 in his Helsinki, Finland, apartment.

MLB

– According to the Chicago Tribune, the White Sox are split down the middle in regards to whether they’d like DH Jim Thome to return to the team. The Twins are believed to be the frontrunners, with the Rays and Tigers still interested.

– The Angels have re-signed SS Maicer Izturis to a three-year/$10M deal. The deal provides the versatile Izturis with a $500K signing bonus, a $2.6M salary this year, $3.1M in 2011 and $3.8M in 2012. He batted .300/.359/.434 with eight homers, 65 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 387 at-bats last season and will serve as a utility infielder in 2010.

– Free agent RHP Ben Sheets is seeking a guaranteed salary of $8M in 2010, according to SI.com’s Jon Heyman. Sheets is currently being wooed by the A’s, Rangers and Mets, amongst others. Interest in the righty has amped up since he put on a show last week in Louisiana, hitting 91 MPH with his fastball and the low-70s with his curve. The 31-year-old righty missed all of 2009 due to elbow surgery but he carries a 3.72 career ERA and 1.20 career WHIP.

– The Royals have officially signed OF Rick Ankiel to a one-year/$3.25M contract with a $6M mutual option for 2011. Ankiel, 30, batted just .231/.285/.387 with 11 home runs and 38 RBI with the Cardinals last season. Coincidence or not, his production flatlined after he crashed into the center field fence last May. He’ll be provided with a  chance to get back on his feet in KC, but the whether he can actually be a productive everyday player in the major leagues is up in the air.

– The Brewers have re-signed RHP Dave Bush to a one-year/$4.215M deal.

– 2B Mark Loretta  Pahas announced his retirement as a player and has been hired by the Padres as special assistant to baseball operations.

– The Astros have signed LHP Tim Byrdak to a one-year/$1.6M deal.

NFL

– QB Brett Favre told ESPN’s Ed Werder that it’s “highly unlikely” he’ll play again. This doesn’t mean that much, especially a day after a brutal NFC Championship Game loss in which he took numerous big hits. Favre put together the best statistical season of his career in 2009 and the Vikings will remain largely intact next year. Let the discussion begin…again…

– A Monday MRI revealed that Vikings CB Cedric Griffin suffered a torn ACL in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game loss. While it’s good news that Griffin’s MCL isn’t torn as initially feared, a knee reconstruction is all but certain to sideline him for the start of next season. Griffin put together a career-best year in ’09, picking off four passes and forcing three fumbles.

– Despite entering the last year of his contract, Patriots QB Tom Brady didn’t express urgency about getting an extension when asked about the situation Monday. Brady is entering the last year on his contract. The 2009 Comeback Player of the Year downplayed his desire for a new deal, saying “We are all overpaid.” Extending Brady still figures to be a priority for the Patriots after free agency and the draft. Brady also confirmed that he won’t need any kind of surgery this offseason after battling through injuries down the stretch.

– Cardinals beat writer Kent Somers considers free agent ILB Karlos Dansby “likely” to leave the Cardinals this offseason. Dansby can get more on the open market than he could from the Cards, and Somers says the team won’t franchise tag him for a third straight year. There aren’t many teams in the league that couldn’t use a player like Dansby, no matter the scheme they run. He’ll be the top free agent linebacker available.

– According to Ravens beat writer Mike Preston, 2009 was “likely” RB Willis McGahee’s last season in Baltimore. If so, McGahee went out on a high note. His 5.0 YPC average and 14 all-purpose TDs were both career bests. The Ravens may ask McGahee to take a pay cut, but he’d be smart to refuse. He’ll be the most sought-after tailback on the UFA market this spring.

– Vikings NT Pat Williams says he is “50/50″ to retire this offseason. “I feel good (physically). But yesterday was tough on me. It was draining. I see how Brett (Favre) felt.” Williams, still an effective run plugger at age 37, finished the season with 44 tackles, two sacks, and two fumbles forced. He can earn $4.25M in base salary by returning for 2010.

– Club spokesman John Herrera said Monday that the Raiders still have not decided the fate of head coach Tom Cable. That said, it’s all but certain that Cable is coming back, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported three days ago. Herrera, though, said Monday that Davis and Cable are meeting “regularly” to discuss the future, just a day after claiming the Raiders never gave any indication Cable’s job was in danger. Oakland’s offensive coordinator job remains vacant.

TNA

– In an interview with The Sun, TNA World Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles blasts the backstabbing nature of rival promotion WWE.

The TNA star said he has no interest in going to WWE based on second-hand stories he’s heard from wrestlers’ experiences in the politically-motivated backstage environment.

“From all the horror stories I’ve heard in WWE, there’s no reason why I would want to go anywhere else. Desmond (Wolfe) and I are going to work together to make this company the best for everybody. Where, in the other company, they will stab each other in the back to get to the next level. It’s not about me. It’s about us in TNA.”

Styles said one year from now, TNA needs to be live and touring “week-to-week” outside the Impact Zone in Orlando. His main reason for wanting to venture outside of Orlando is so he can better gauge the effectiveness of his persona.

“Definitely live. Live every Monday night or Thursday night. I don’t care. Just as long as the fans know when it’s coming on. And that they don’t know what to expect. That’s the biggest thing because with the spoilers, they go on (the Internet) and figure out whatever, but I want to be live going from state-to-state and not just in the Impact Zone.”

Styles added: “It’s hard to gauge who you are as a character in the Impact Zone because you have the same fans coming in who don’t necessarily want to enjoy the show, but be part of the show, and it’s hard to gauge how you’re doing as an entertainer.”

Styles also reassured fans upset about TNA parting ways with its trademark six-sided ring.

“Ring change is kind of upsetting at first, but then once you get in that ring, it brings the memories back – ‘Oh, there’s so much more you can do.’ But, for us, it absolutely does not make a difference to me. That’s why it was so bizarre to me at first why they would change it. I heard that maybe the reason was to be taken more seriously as a company. I can understand that. I don’t care what it is that gets us to the next level as long as we get there.”

VoV

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