NBA

– In a recent interview with ESPN Radio, Stephen A. Smith said that F LeBron James is leaning toward signing with the Knicks “and that this factor played a role in Tom Izzo turning down the Cavs’ head coaching job.” “From what my sources tell me, he still hasn’t made a final decision but he’s higher on New York now than he was a month ago. And the reality is that he is leaning more towards New York than he is towards returning to Cleveland. Izzo knew this.” Apparently James’ camp is making “in-depth” queries about Donnie Walsh and Mike D’Antoni. Stay tuned.

– The 76ers official website briefly displayed a page on Friday that said “Sixers draft G Evan Turner.” The page appears to be pre-fabricated for the moment Philly drafts Turner #2 overall, and the fact that it went live was obviously an error. No doubt that Turner goes second, as G John Wall will be taken by the Wizards.

– The Suns have picked up their 2011-12 option for head coach Alvin Gentry. However, half of that year’s $2.2M salary hinges on whether there is a lockout when the Collective Bargaining Agreement expires in July 2011. Gentry is the league’s second-lowest paid coach and will make less than Terry Porter, whom the Suns fired last year.

– According to his personal trainer, G Allen Iverson is preparing for a comeback next season. AI took a leave of absence in March because of an undisclosed illness to his 4-year-old daughter, Messiah.

– Former F Manute Bol passed away yesterday. He was 47. Bol was Sudan 7’7″ centre, the tallest player in NBA history, spent 10 seasons in the NBA and was dedicated to humanitarian work in Africa. Bol died at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville, where he was being treated for severe kidney trouble and a painful skin condition. Bol recorded more career blocks than points.

– The Indianapolis Star reports that the Pacers will use the #10 overall pick to select F Daniel Orton. The 19-year-old who declared himself ready for the NBA after his freshman year worked out for the team on June 1. The team is setting up a second workout, according to the paper. The 6’10″, 260-pound Oklahoma native averaged 3.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks for Kentucky.

MLB

– T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports that the Rangers have inquired about acquiring a starting pitcher, including Mariners’ LHP Cliff Lee and Astros’ RHP Roy Oswalt. The club has not confirmed their interest in any single player, but acknowledge that they have been active in trade talks. Rangers’ assistant GM Thad Levine said, “We’ve had some preliminary discussions with clubs. But to compel teams to move this far ahead of the [July 31] Trade Deadline, it would take a very attractive package. We’re still in the inventory stage and the information-gathering stage rather than the execution phase.” There are some obvious financial constraints in the way of a potential deal right now, but there’s little doubt that the Rangers have all the pieces necessary to acquire a front-line starting pitcher at the deadline.

– Cardinals’ RHP Ryan Franklin believes that he will retire when his contract expires after the 2011 season. Franklin will be 38 at that point and told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “I think I owe it to my family. I’ve missed a lot of things that have been going on. I don’t want to miss a lot more.” With the current spate of midseason will-he-or-won’t-he retirement stories, it’s a nice change of pace to see a player who has his plan in place in advance.

– Padres’ OF Kyle Blanks (elbow), who has been on the DL since May 18, will miss another 3-to-4 more weeks after an MRI showed more damage than had previously been thought. The San Diego Union Tribune reports that it will be another two weeks before Blanks even picks up a ball, which makes three weeks seems like an awfully optimistic timetable. While Blanks won’t need to recover his arm strength to the degree that a pitcher in rehab would, he can’t exactly be two-hopping the cut-off man either. Blanks was off to a slow start before he landed on the DL, as he’d produced a line of just .157/.283/.324.

– According to Tracy Ringolsby, Rockies’ SS Troy Tulowitzki (broken left wrist) will miss 6-to-8 weeks. A huge blow to the Rockies’ hopes.

– Phillies’ first base coach Davey Lopes said that 2B Chase Utley (knee) has been dealing with “a little bit of a knee injury.” There have been whispers about an injury for a few weeks now and Lopes finally spoke up to Baseball Prospectus. We’ll probably hear some confirmation or denial from the team in the days to come, but there’s no question that Utley hasn’t looked the same for quite some time. While his .377 OBP is excellent, he is batting just .257 with a .451 SLG%.

– The Dodgers have placed RHP Carlos Monasterios (blister on index finger) on the 15-day DL and have placed SS Rafael Furcal on the bereavement list.

– The Rockies have placed SS Troy Tulowitzki (fractured left wrist) on the 15-day DL.

– The Marlins have placed RHP Clay Hensley (left neck strain) on the 15-day DL retroactive to June 12, and transferred C John Baker to the 60-day DL.

– The Phillies have placed LHP Antonio Bastardo (left elbow ulnar neuritis) on the 15-day DL retroactive to June 16.

NHL

– The Devils have re-acquired F Jason Arnott from the Predators for F Matt Halischuk and a 2nd-round draft pick in the 2011. Arnott scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal for the Devils in 2000. He had 19 goals and 27 assists in 63 games last season, and waived his no-trade clause in his contract to make the deal happen. After the season, he had given the Predators’ management a list of teams he would approve, with the Devils topping his list. “They kind of explained what the situation was and it just didn’t seem like I was in their (plans) for long term. So I decided I’d rather move my family now and we both kind of came to the agreement that it was time for the young guys to step in and do their thing, and for me to move on. So it was kind of a mutual thing.”

– The Predators have re-acquired D Ryan Parent from the Flyers for D Dan Hamhuis and a conditional pick in the 2011 draft.  Parent was Nashville’s first pick in the 2005 draft and was sent to Philadelphia in 2007 in a trade that brought F Peter Forsberg to Nashville. The 23-year-old blueliner played his first full NHL season last year and appeared in 17 playoff games during the Flyers’ run to the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals.

– According to the Ottawa Sun, the Capitals are shopping F Alexander Semin. He has one year left on his mulit-year contract that pays him $6M annually and may be a prime candidate to move on as a free agent after the 2010-11 season. Stay tuned.

– The Daily News reports that the Flyers could be offering F Jeff Carter in exchange for a proven #1 goalie. One rumour that keeps popping up is Carter to Boston for G Tim Thomas. Carter is the sniper that F Marc Savard has been missing on his wing since the trade of F Phil Kessel to Toronto. There would likely be more involved in a Carter for Thomas deal, but it is worth keeping an eye on. The Kings, who are set to add former Flyer head coach John Stevens to their coaching staff, may also be interested in moving a goalie for Carter.

Thomas is still a first-line goalie, but he’s making $5M as a backup to G Tuukka Rask. Boston needs to shed some salary in order to make some other changes to its roster and still be within the cap. Despite his substantial salary, there should be a number of contending teams vying for Thomas’ services. Philadelphia, Washington, San Jose and possibly Tampa will likely be calling Bruin GM Peter Chiarelli about Thomas. Stay tuned.

– Despite rumors that the Panthers are going to completely re-tool and trade both F Nathan Horton and F Stephen Weiss, don’t count on Weiss moving anywhere. Although Horton may be in play, Weiss is signed for three years at a modest $3.1M per season. That’s pretty reasonable for a 27-year-old center who has registered 121 points in his last 158 games and has the capacity to be even better in 2010-11. Plus, Florida coach Peter DeBour who coached Weiss in the OHL, loves him.

– The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Penguins will not bring back F Alex Ponikarovsky. The soon-to-be UFA is seeking a longer-term deal than the Penguiuns seem willing to give. Ponikarovsky was a disappointment last season after being acquired from the Leafs and the Pens do not seem willing to make a substantial investment in him.

– Lightning’ F Vincent Lecavalier is very happy with the hiring of Steve Yzerman as GM and Guy Boucher as head coach. “I’m very, very excited about what is happening with this organization from new ownership, to a guy like Steve Yzerman, who knows where he is going. He’s got a plan, he’s an honest person and comes from an organization of winners over the past 20 years and he will bring that mentality. And for him to bring on somebody like Guy Boucher, somebody who I’ve heard great things about over the past couple of years, I think it’s just going to be a great chemistry with those guys and with the players.”

– The AP reports that the Wild will not be big players in this year’s free agent frenzy.

– The owners of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers say they continue to look for minority partners and have no plans to sell or move either team. There have been persistent reports that the Atlanta Spirit ownership group is strapped financially and may be looking to sell one or both teams. The latest report was in Friday’s New York Post. The group also owns the operating rights to Philips Arena. Atlanta Spirit principals Bruce Levenson and Michael Gearon released a statement saying they have hired a firm to help in the search for minority investors but remain committed to both teams, the arena and the city of Atlanta. Their statement says “we have no plans to move either team.”

– D Rob Blake has officially retired from the NHL. Blake will be remembered as one of the greatest offensive defenceman of his generation. He scored 240 goals and 777 points in 1,270 games with the Kings, Avalanche and Sharks. He won the Norris Trophy in 1998 and the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2001.

NFL

– According to PFT, RFA LT Jammal Brown will not require a contract extension as a condition of Saturday’s trade to the Redskins. Brown did his RFA tender of $3.619M as part of the trade, and extension talks may begin down the line. The Saints’ compensation hinges on the QB Donovan McNabb trade. If McNabb makes the Pro Bowl, or the Redskins win nine games or make the playoffs, the Eagles receive a 3rd-round pick and the Saints get a fourth. If none of those happen, the Eagles will get the fourth-round pick and the Saints get the third-rounder. New Orleans will also send a conditional late-round pick back to the Washington while the Redskins owe the Saints a 2012 6th-rounder if Brown makes the Pro Bowl plays 90 percent of the snaps in 2010.

– The Raiders have re-signed “exclusive rights” franchise player DE Richard Seymour to a one-year/$12.398M contract. Seymour skipped out on OTAs in an attempt to get the Raiders to pay him even more money than he’s worth. Coming off a subpar season with 47 tackles, 4 sacks, and a forced fumble, Seymour isn’t worth anywhere near $12M — much less the 2011 1st-round pick that Al Davis surrendered to get him last year.

– PFT reports that Chiefs’ unsigned RFA S Jarrad Page has requested a trade. Page let PFT know of the trade demand via a press release that noted, “Entering the 2009 season, Jarrad Page had more interceptions than any other safety selected in the 2006 draft class.” Page is coming off a poor season, but has shown playmaking ability, is cheap, and is only 25 years old. The Chiefs should be able to get a late-round pick for him.

– Titans’ RB Chris Johnson told ESPN’s Michael Smith in a recent E:60 interview that he is asking the Titans for $30-40M guaranteed. Johnson hinted earlier in the offseason that he wanted to be the highest paid offensive player in the game – he wasn’t kidding. Johnson probably won’t old out of training camp beyond August 10 because of the monetary penalties he’d incur.

– The Seahawks have released WR Reggie Williams. He lasted just two months on the roster. He as out-practiced by fellow former top-ten bust Mike Williams. Williams’ NFL career might be finished.

– The have Ravens signed S Ken Hamlin to a one-year contract. The team still has some concern than S Ed Reed (hip surgery) won’t be back up to full speed for the early part of the season. Hamlin has lost his playmaking ability the last two seasons, so he was never going to land more than a one-year “prove it” deal as an insurance policy.

WWE

– Though Triple H’s current absence from television is in due part to filming the upcoming WWE Films project The Chaperone, the word is that he is more hurt than first thought. The extent to which the injuries will delay his planned return to the squared circle are unclear, but sources indicate a rumored SummerSlam feud between him and Edge has been scrapped. Meanwhile, Edge is expected to miss some house shows during the month of August as he films WWE’s action-oriented comedy Chasing the Hawk.

TNA

– Eric Bischoff opened Thursdays TNA iMPACT broadcast and announced that due to personal reasons, Scott Hall was no longer with the company and The Band were stripped of the TNA Tag Team Titles. A tournament is being held to determine who will face The Motor City Machineguns for the vacant belts at Victory Road. TNA President Dixie Carter wrote the following on her Twitter about Hall’s release:

“Scott Hall and I talked and together decided he needed time to focus on some personal issues. I am proud of the action he is taking.”

VoV

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NFL

– ESPN’s Ed Werder reports that QB Brett Favre (left ankle) will need surgery to play for the Vikings in 2010. Per Werder’s report, Favre is still conflicted about the decision. The 40-year-old is notorious for his desire to avoid surgery, though he did undergo a procedure on his biceps last year to continue playing. As of yet, the potential recovery time is not known. Favre believes he can win a Super Bowl with this Vikings team, so expect him to opt for surgery.

Favre later clarified the status of his ankle on his personal website Friday, insisting that the injury “is not debilitating.”

“I don’t believe major surgery on the ankle would be required for me to return in 2010. I’ve consulted with Dr. (James) Andrews on the phone, and a relatively minor procedure could be done to improve the dexterity of the ankle, and to relieve the pain.”

Favre didn’t offer any answers as to whether he’ll play this season, but the fact that he went public with this information should be an indication that he intends to play next season.

– WPXI in Pittsburgh reported that Jets’ WR Santonio Holmes had to be escorted off a plane Thursday night at Pittsburgh International Airport. Holmes was not arrested, but he had to be pulled off the plane for what investigators termed being a “disruptive passenger.” Earlier this month he issued an apology with a marijuana symbol still present on his official website.

Allegheny County Police have issued a statement clarifying a report that Santonio Holmes was removed from a plane for being “disruptive” at Pittsburgh International Airport Thursday night. “As previously reported, Santonio Holmes was NOT removed from any airplane (4/29/2010). He was asked to remove his Ipod (at one point), in which he complied. There’s no further information to report.” It sounds like WPXI completely botched the report. The already-suspended Holmes will not be subject to further discipline in any capacity.

– Coach Tom Cable revealed Friday that the Raiders are in discussions about a long-term contract with franchise player DE Richard Seymour. Seymour has yet to sign his “exclusive rights” franchise tender and is not participating in minicamp, so this explains his absence. At age 30 and coming off a nondescript season, Seymour shouldn’t be a serious candidate for a long-term commitment. The Raiders, though, appear to be having a hard time admitting the mistake of giving New England a first-round pick for him last summer.

– Seahawks’ WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (sports hernia) underwent surgery last week. He’s got less than three months to be ready for training camp. Sports hernia injuries are unpredictable and often reappear after they’re “fixed” through surgery. Stay tuned.

– Seahawks’ WR Deion Branch (knee) recently underwent arthroscopic surgery. Though the procedure is characterized as “minor” and Branch should be ready for the season, it’s yet another red flag for the 31-year-old. Branch had a similar surgery done last offseason, presumably to the same knee, and tore his ACL at the end of the 2007 season.

NBA

– Raptors’ F Chris Bosh’s Twitter account asked a couple questions on Friday about where he might play next year.

– Cavaliers’ F LeBron James will be named the NBA MVP on Sunday in Akron and receive the award prior to Game 2 against the Celtics on Monday. LeBron will become the 10th player in league history to win back-to-back MVP’s. James averaged 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.6 assists this season. The 25-year-old star joins Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan and Steve Nash as players who have won the award in consecutive years. Russell, Chamberlain and Bird won it three times in a row.

– Mavericks’ F Dirk Nowitzki will soon begin deciding on his player option for next season. Nowitzki is due $21.5M in 2010-11. If he leaves, it wouldn’t be for more money, but for a better chance of winning a championship.

“I have to keep my options open at this point, see what’s going on; got to get over this disappointment for a while. I’ll probably drown my sorrows for a bit, then start thinking about stuff like that in a week or two. As of now, I just want to keep my options open and see what happens.”

Speaking of the Mavs, president Donnie Nelson informed media members on Friday that there’s “nothing coming out of the blue” with regard to coach Rick Carlisle’s job situation. It sounds like he will coach the team again next season. Nelson and owner Mark Cuban don’t think Carlisle’s coaching is the reason they lost, and are set to work on upgrading the roster.

– Pacers’ G T.J. Ford has exercised his $8.5M player option for next season.

– Stephen Curry, Tyreke Evans and Brandon Jennings are joined by Darren Collison and Taj Gibson on the All-Rookie Team. The second team is made up of DeJuan Blair, James Harden, Jonas Jerebko, Jonny Flynn and Marcus Thornton. No surprises really, although this is just another example of how ridiculous it was that Blair fell so far into Round 2 in the draft.

– Tactical Operations has sued Wizards’ G Gilbert Arenas last week in Los Angeles County Superior Court in Santa Monica. The firm claims it obtained five Beretta pistols with silencers for Arenas in 2006 and has more than $70K for storing guns he bought and never picked up.

NHL

– Red Wings’ GM Ken Holland confirmed Friday night that F Jiri Hudler has been granted his release from Dynamo Moscow. “Jiri’s agent (Petr Svoboda) called last month and asked if we would be interested in him if he could get released, and I said we would be. We’re excited about getting a player who we know that is coming into the prime of his career.”

The 26-year-old Czech forward was caught in the middle of one of the many disputes between the NHL and the KHL, Russia’s top hockey league. Hudler agreed to go through salary arbitration with the Red Wings after turning down their five-year/$15M last summer. He then signed a two-year/$10M contract with Dynamo. Hudler will play for the Red Wings on a two-year contract worth $5.75M, a deal awarded to him by an arbitrator. He had 99 points his last two seasons, helping Detroit win the Stanley Cup in 2008 and reach Game 7 of the finals last year.

– The Predators have signed F Wade Belak to a one-year/$575K deal.

MLB

– Braves’ LHP Billy Wagner told Braves manager Bobby Cox that he plans to retire at the end of the season.

“I wanted a chance at 400, and that’s great. If it happens this year, great, if not, then so be it. Just try to make this one of those years to really enjoy and have a good time and maybe win a championship along the way. Plus Bobby, he’s always meant a lot to me, growing up. To play my final year and him being his final year – it was the right timing.”

Wagner, who turns 39 in July, has a 2.57 over his first seven appearances this season, notching one save in two chances. He has 386 career saves.

– OF Jermaine Dye told Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times that he thinks he can help the scuffling White Sox offense. “I could. You have to play a certain type of baseball in [U.S. Cellular Field], and small ball is nice, but you need a balance.” The White Sox are currently 9-13 while they rank dead last in the league with a .222 team batting average. Dye, 36, said he would be willing to be a designated hitter, outfielder and first baseman for the club, but that the wouldn’t play for $1.5M.

– The Phillies have placed RHP Ryan Madson (broken toe) on the 15-day DL retroactive to April 29. Madson kicked a metal chair after blowing a save Wednesday, breaking the toe.

– Dodgers’ OF Manny Ramirez (calf) is expected to go out on a minor league rehab assignment by the middle of next week. Assuming Ramirez obliges to a rehab assignment, he’ll most likely join Triple-A Albuquerque for a couple days. This would put him on pace to return from the DL as soon as he’s eligible on May 9.

– Rockies’ RHP Huston Street (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Friday or Saturday. Street already tossed a 20-pitch bullpen session earlier this week, so he’s finally beginning to make progress. The Rockies still hope he can return sometime in May.

– Indians’ RHP Kerry Wood (back) could go out on a minor league rehab assignment early as soon as Sunday. Wood’s recent 40-pitch bullpen session went well enough that he won’t need to throw a simulated game before returning to action. It’s fair to assume he could be back with the Indians by the end of next week.

– Brewers’  prospect C Angel Salome will take an extended leave of absence. Salmome originally left Triple-A Nashville to prepare for the birth of a child, but eventually informed the Brewers that he was “struggling mentally” and was not ready to return to action. Assistant GM Gord Ash said, “He will go to Phoenix on Tuesday to work on getting mentally and physically prepared to play baseball again. He said he’s not mentally prepared to play at this time.” Salome, 23, batted .286/.334/.413 with six homers and 44 RBI with Nashville last season.

– An MRI on D’Backs’ Kris Benson’s injured shoulder revealed no structural damage. The plan is for Benson to resume throwing next week, so he could have a chance of rejoining Arizona’s rotation before the end of May.

– The Athletics have placed C Kurt Suzuki (strained intercostal muscle) on the 15-day DL retroactive to April 24. Suzuki will be eligible to return on May 9 and could be ready then.

– The NY Daily News reports that country star Mindy McCready, RHP Roger Clemens’ former mistress, says that Clemens had trouble in bed. Porn giant Vivid Entertainment is apparently set to release a tape on Monday that has an interview with McCready discussing her affair with Clemens in-depth. She confirms that the two met in 1991 when she was 15 and he was a married pitcher for the Red Sox in his late 20s. McCready goes on to say that Clemens suffered some erectile dysfunction issue when they were together, according to the paper, but was good in bed “when he could get it up.”

TNA

– Effective immediately, TNA has terminated the contract of Todd Clem (a.k.a. Bubba the Love Sponge).

WWE

– WWE has released Tony Atlas.

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WWE

– WWE RAW superstar Shawn Michaels, who puts his career on the line this weekend at WrestleMania against the Undertaker’s undefeated streak, appeared on Atlanta’s 790 The Zone Sports Radio this morning and spoke about reports from a popular news website that he plans on leaving WWE shortly after WrestleMania XXVI and thus, will be losing against the Undertaker on Sunday. Michaels said:

“That’s the situation that I’m in. The career is on the line, so I guess I say ground breaking news by them I guess. That is the match at Wrestlemania, the career versus the streak. It’s one of those things that’s bitter-sweet. Obviously I want to be the one guy to beat the streak. I think that if anyone can, I’m the one, but you have to be willing to put it all out there. If things don’t go my way, I still have a great deal of peace and I can look back on a career that I’m very proud of.”

During the interview, Michaels also spoke about his return to WWE back in 2002 after being out of action with a back injury for over 4 years. Despite the fact that he already had a Hall of Fame career before he left WWE in 1998, he was told that the new generation of WWE fans might not even know who he was and WWE felt they needed to reintroduce him to everybody.

“Yeah, and that’s the sort of thing that as you’re doing it, I can remember coming back in 2002 and them informing me that ‘hey, you almost need to reintroduce yourself’, because there is a whole other generation. On one hand, you want to be a little offended by that. You say ‘come on, I’m not the end all, be all, but I’m Shawn Michaels.’ But to really understand that there is a whole other generation that you now have to appeal to and you do appeal to. When you see the little guys hanging over the rails at the show, you do realize that. You’ve got their dads who watched you, and now they’re watching you.”

It’s worth noting that in the new issue of WWE Magazine, there’s an interview with Shawn Michaels, who is asked about retirement. Michaels cryptically said, “I have my retirement set already. I have been thinking of my retirement for a long time now.”

– WWE Hall of Famer Bret “Hit Man” Hart spoke to Brian Fritz of Fanhouse.com this week to hype WrestleMania XXVI on Sunday. Hart called his return to WWE “kind of a surreal feeling” and said he was surprisingly not nervous at all once he walked onto television. The interview contained lots of interesting talk, including whether Bret plans to stick around after WrestleMania.

Here are some highlights of what Bret said about:

His Relationship with Vince McMahon: “We’re pretty respectful of one another. I think there’s some genuine … I think he feels bad for what happened. I think in a lot of ways Vince was a big fan. Vince McMahon is the world’s biggest wrestling fan. He loved all the work I contributed. The only thing Vince loves more than wrestling is his money and somehow that’s where we ended up having a lot of problems. We’re all right as far as … it’s sort of a mutual respect. He’s done a lot for me and done a lot for my family and the wrestling world and wrestling industry. He’s just got a funny way of doing business sometimes.”

His Relationship with Shawn Michaels: “Well, I don’t know if we’re … I think we’re respectful of one another and we both know for whatever the circumstances and there’s lots and lots of reasons why we collided the way we did. Once upon a time we were good friends. When I took a step to forgive everything that happened and shake his hand, I think it was very real when it was done on TV.”

He added, “I think Shawn was really moved by that and he understood it took a big man to take that kind of step forward to him. I think they should have taken that step towards me. I think it was pretty much understood that the hostilities and hard feelings I had were so strong that nobody ever made that attempt. I knew that Shawn had changed as a person and he had been helpful to my niece (Natalya) and my nephew (David Hart Smith). I just thought it was high time to take all that weight off his back and say it happened, let’s forget about it. Let’s move on and try to maybe do something positive.”

– Unlike previous years, World Wrestling Entertainment will not be streaming the Hall of Fame ceremony on WWE.com tomorrow night. “Not planned as of now,” responded a WWE web team member to a Twitter follower who asked if it would be shown on the website. “Only on USA Network.”

MLB

– Twins’ RHP Joe Nathan (ulnar collateral ligament) underwent successful Tommy John surgery in New York on Friday. Dr. David Altcheck replaced Nathan’s ulnar collateral ligament with a ligament from his left wrist. He will miss the entire 2010 season, but if all goes well with his rehab, he should be back around Spring Training next year. RHP Jon Rauch is his most likely replacement in the interim, with an outside chance of LHP Francisco Liriano filling the void, though the Twins are reportedly discussing trade options.

– T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports that the Rangers are still talking to the Diamondbacks about INF Augie Ojeda. The Rangers are looking for someone to fill the void left by 2B Omar Vizquel, who signed with the White Sox this winter, and SS Khalil Greene, whose contract was voided at the beginning of camp. According to Sullivan, the Rangers have offered RHP Luis Mendoza, however the Diamondbacks are currently asking for too much in return.

– Mariners’ LHP Cliff Lee (abdomen) has been shut down for five days and is likely to start the season on the DL. As such, MLB.com reports that the Mariners are negotiating a one-year deal with LHP Jarrod Washburn.

– Jays’ RHP Dustin McGowan (shoulder) has been shut down for an additional two weeks.

TNA

–  One oft-overlooked factor in TNA’s destiny to compete with rival promotion WWE are the added expenses entailed. Since January, the company has ballooned its roster to over 70 performers with the notable additions of high priced stars such as Ric Flair, Rob Van Dam, Jeff Hardy and the former Mr. Kennedy. Furthermore, the company has added the costly expense of going live every other Monday night and promotion of said move (i.e. airing commercials during Monday Night Raw and running Billboards in Times Square). Other than slight bumps in house show attendance and merchandise sales, TNA has to little to show for its efforts. In fact, ratings are at its lowest levels in four years due to the move to Monday nights.

The Wrestling Observer editor Dave Meltzer cryptically said during a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio that TNA is having bigger financial problems than most realize. “I’m worried about my friends who work for TNA because they have bigger financial problems than anyone knows,” Meltzer said.

– Orlando Jordan is officially back with TNA. Jordan, who has not appeared on TNA programming since the February 18 edition of iMPACT!, resurfaces this Monday night on iMPACT! with a character “unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.”

The show, which was taped this past Tuesday in Orlando, Fla., saw Jordan lowered into the ring from the arena’s rafters wrapped in yellow police tape with the TNA logo. He then crawled through the ring and ultimately walked to a nearby white couch where he sat between a shirtless male and a sexy female. Behind the trio is the tri-colored bisexual pride flag, plus two male symbols and one female symbol. In an Impact Zone first, the segment garnered a “that was creepy” chant. To add further details, Jordan has changed his hair again and is now wearing makeup. He also comes out barefoot à la “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka.

NFL

– ESPN’s Ed Werder reports that QB Brett Favre is still undecided about his future, and won’t move any quicker to make a decision so that the Vikings could begin pursuit of Donovan McNabb. Werder points out that QB Donovan McNabb would be “the ideal replacement” for Favre because he’s so familiar with Brad Childress’ offense and the Vikings’ coaching staff. The Vikes are not pressuring Favre to make an announcement, despite McNabb’s sudden availability.

– Sources tell Yahoo’s Charles Robinson that the Raiders are “in front right now” in the pursuit of Eagles’ QB Donovan McNabb. NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora also believes that Oakland is the favourite to land McNabb. “And I’m told they will NOT require an extension to get a deal done,” Robinson adds. The Raiders were swindled for a future 1st-round pick by New England in last summer’s DE Richard Seymour deal, with Seymour in a contract year. McNabb is also in the last year of his deal.

ESPN’s Len Pasquarelli confirms that the Raiders would be willing to part with Nnamdi Asomugha in a trade for McNabb. It would come down to Philadelphia’s willingness to take on Asomugha’s contract, though. “Aso” is due $16M in 2010 with an option year in 2011 available for either $16.9 million or the franchise tag number for quarterbacks, whichever amount is greater. If the ’11 option is not exercised, the deal prohibits Asomugha’s team from franchise tagging him.

– Raiders’ QB JaMarcus Russell reportedly weighed in at 290 lbs when he reported for the Raiders’ offseason program. So Oakland can scratch left tackle off its list of needs. Russell was initially reported to weigh 271, but many close to the situation immediately doubted that report. Russell, annually and incredibly overweight, isn’t doing anything to shed his emerging label as the biggest bust in NFL history.

– Free agent S Darren Sharper is not expected to sign with any team until after April’s NFL Draft. Sharper, recovering from knee surgery, has yet to make a single free agent visit after leading the league in interceptions last season. The longer he stays on the market, the more likely Sharper is to realize his best bet is to stay in New Orleans. The Saints also have plenty of leverage with 2009 first-round pick Malcolm Jenkins a possibility to replace him.

NBA

– The Arizona Republic reports that the Suns are expected to give GM Steve Kerr a contract extension.

VoV

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

VoV

– Barring unforeseen circumstances, VoV.com will be hosting a LIVE TradeCentre day on March 3, and will also be posting more frequent updates on March 1 and 2 (pending player transaction). You’re welcome.

WWE

– During the main event of WWE NXT last night, announcer Michael Cole went off on a rant against Internet fans and the independent wrestling “universe.”

The main event featured NXT rookie Daniel Bryan against World Heavyweight champion Chris Jericho. Announcer Josh Matthews played up Bryan’s wrestling credentials, putting over the fact that he’s been wrestling on the independent scene for nearly a decade and has established his name across the world. Michael Cole seemed to get pissed off over Matthews comments, repeatedly dismissing Bryan’s accomplishments, saying performing at “high schools” does not impress him in the least.

Cole sided with The Miz’s character, downplaying Bryan’s accomplishments and insisting he show more respect for the WWE Pros. Cole added that he had never really heard anything about Daniel Bryan prior to the debut of NXT and put down smart fans who read the “dirt sheets.”

Some fans reacted with outrage, feeling as if Cole’s comments represented a deliberate disrespect for diehard wrestling fans and what talent like Daniel Bryan have accomplished outside of the WWE ring. But it was apparent to most, however, that Cole was simply trying to stir up some controversy.

The “WWE Universe” Twitter account posted the following Tuesday night:

“Michael Cole has requested his @WWEUniverse profile be removed from our site, not wanting to associate with “online fans” any longer.”

In typical WWE fashion, there’s a real life situation that’s out of their control (smart fans going online and reading wrestling news & learning about other wrestling products) – so they’re turning it into a storyline.

Joey Styles posted the following messaages on Twitter in regards to the on-air exchange between Cole and Matthews:

“So who is the bigger online fan favorite now, Bryan Danielson or Josh Mathews for acknowledging the wrestling world outside WWE?”

“I can assure you that the exchange between Josh Mathews and Michael Cole was very real. Cole lives in the WWE bubble.”

“There are now several I hate Michael Cole threads in the NXT forums on wweuniverse.com. Vintage hatred for Michael. Oh My. Josh is a hero.”

– According to FWOnline, DX is done for the time being as they’ve been removed as a unit from the opening Raw montage. Hornswoggle was cut of out the opener as well. His partnership with DX was said to be a last ditch effort to get something out of him as a character though it’s expected they’ll find something new for him considering how over he is with with younger fans.

– Current plans call for “Stone Cold” Steve Austin to be the final Raw guest host on March 15 when the show emanates from San Diego, thus ending an eight month initiative.

– Melina (ACL) is targeting late spring for her return to the ring. She’s been out since late December.

– The debut episode of WWE NXT on SyFy drew a 1.35 rating and averaged 1,704,000 viewers.

– William Regal is once again a member of the Raw roster as his profile has been moved to the Raw Superstars page. This marks as his fourth stint on the brand

– In light of news of Domino appearing at last week’s FCW television taping, it has been confirmed that WWE has re-signed the former tag team champion. He was previously released from his WWE contract in August 2008.

MLB

– Padres’ 1B Adrian Gonzalez said he “wants to win as a Padre more than anything else.” “This next contract is going to be the contract I think I deserve,” said the 27-year-old first baseman. Gonzo said that there were no current discussions between his agent and the team. He remains under team control through 2011, but his unwillingness to take a discount means he’s likely gone at the trade deadline.

– SI reports that the D’Backs and 3B Mark Reynolds continue to discuss a multi-year deal. Early reports indicate a deal that could be two-years/$18M. Reynolds made $427K last year when he banged out 44 homers and 102 RBI, but whiffed a whopping 223 times.

– According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Marlins are “discussing” free agent 1B Hank Blalock. Heyman also hears that the Rays might be in the mix. He batted just 234/.277/.459 last season, but he managed to compile 25 home runs and 66 RBI in only 123 games.

– The Nationals have signed RHP Livan Hernandez. The 35-year-old righty had a 5.44 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 102/67 K/BB ratio in 31 starts in 183+ innings last season for the Mets and Nats. He will serve as Washington’s fourth or fifth starter this year.

NHL

– The Predators have re-signed G Pekka Rinne to a two-year/$6.8M contract extension. G Dan Ellis is also set to become a UFA on July 1, so it looks like the Predators chosen Rinne as their goalie of the future.

– The Stars have placed G Alex Auld on waivers. Other NHL clubs have until noon Thursday to claim him or Dallas can choose to assign him to the minors. The team looks to go with Marty Turco and Kari Lehtonen in goal as their tandem.

NFL

– The Raiders have designated DE Richard Seymour as their franchise player. Seymour had just four sacks – two after Week 1 – in 2009 and wasn’t an impact player for Oakland’s poor run defense, but the team won’t yet admit the mistake of trading a 2011 first-round pick to the Pats for the 30-year-old last fall. The move, guaranteeing Seymour $12.398M, makes the Raiders’ defensive line among the most expensive in the league, yet remains one the worst.

NBA

– As expected, about half the league is interested in Wizards’ F Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Big Z is expected to be bought out in the coming days, where he’ll have to wait 30 days before signing with someone. It’s believed that he’ll re-sign with the Cavs.

– FanHouse reports that F Mikki Moore is searching for a team. The Nuggets are expected to offer him a contract. Moore is currently shelved because of a heel spur, but is expected back by mid-March. His agent says four to five teams have expressed interest in Moore. He can sign with anybody till the end of the regular season and still be eligible for the playoffs.

– The Mavs are shopping for another big man.

TNA

– On his newly launched Facebook fan page, Eric Bischoff commented on the chances of certain former WCW talent joining TNA Wrestling.

When asked if TNA could hire Vampiro, Bischoff wrote, “No talent gimmick come lately.”

Another reader noted that Bischoff previously said there was no chance of Diamond Dallas Page showing up in TNA. However, the reader wanted to know whether there was a possibility of Kimberly Page surfacing in Orlando. “Double no,” Bischoff wrote.

When asked about former WCW Cruiserweight Champion Juventud Guerrera, Bischoff called him “a world class screw up.” A reader then said that the same could be said about Scott Hall. Bischoff responded, “Good point, but Scott Hall has the potential to be one of the greatest minds in the business and still has a gift in the ring. Juventud….I’d rather take an ice pick to my thigh.”

Responding to a query of Goldberg joining TNA, Bischoff said, “I spoke briefly to Bill a week ago, and while the subject of TNA did not come up, I sincerely doubt that Bill has any interest in getting back into the wrestling business.” Finally, Bischoff called WWE’s guest host initiative a “weak stunt.”

VoV

- Email – captaincharisma@hotmail.com
- Twitter – @VoiceofValeri

***UPDATE***

– Jeff Hardy just posted the statements on Twitter:

The media is the media, I wish they would at least report the story correctly & accurately. I will make a statement later.

For the record, Matt didn’t bail me out, loan me money, or is his name on anything.. He’s just learning about today’s situation..

WWE

– Former WWE superstar Jeff Hardy was in the Moore County jail this afternoon after being arrested on charges of trafficking in controlled prescription pills and possession of anabolic steriods.

Hardy, 32, was arrested on Friday after a search of his home yielded 262 Vicodin prescription pills, 180 Soma prescription pills, 555 milliliters of anabolic steroids, powder cocaine and drug paraphernalia. His bail has been set at $125K.

A joint investigation by the Moore County Sheriff’s Office narcotics and select enforcement units and the Fayetteville Police Department led to the arrest.

The charges against Jeff Hardy include:

- Felony trafficking in opium
- Two counts of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule III controlled substance
- Felony maintaining a dwelling to keep controlled substance
- Felony possession of cocaine
- Misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Hardy just posted the following on his Twitter: “Alot of exaggerations are out there today, don’t believe everything you read 4 it is not true, I am at home and fine-thanks for your concern.” The name “Jeff Hardy” is already one of the top trending phrases on Twitter.com.

TMZ.com has picked up the story and there are a couple new details to report: Despite the large quantity of drugs seized at Jeff’s home, the street value of the drugs is estimated to be around $2,500. A source at TMZ reports that Jeff’s brother Matt posted his bail, which was set at $125K.

– Earlier this week it was reported that WWE diva Mickie James missed a house show on Sunday in Madison, Wisconsin because one of her breast implants ruptured during a match the night before. The report is accurate and the former women’s champion will undergo a corrective procedure this weekend. She will likely miss this weekend’s house shows as a result.

NFL

– The San Diego DA’s Office will not pursue two felony charges against Chargers LB Shawne Merriman in connection with his alleged domestic abuse of Tila Tequila. “After a thorough review of the investigation into the Sept. 6, 2009 incident at the Poway home of Shawne Merriman, our office has determined there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that any crime was committed. This case is now closed. No further statement will be made.” Merriman will also avoid NFL discipline.

– The Raiders have placed DE Richard Seymour on their reserve/left team list, according to NFL Network’s Mike Lombardi. Reserve/left team means Seymour risks losing his entire $3.685M salary for failing to show after his trade from the Patriots.

MLB

– The Orioles have opted to shut RHP Koji Uehara (elbow) down for the rest of the season. The Orioles were hoping to use him out of the bullpen over the final few weeks of the regular season, but he showed up to Camden Yards Thursday and still had discomfort in his throwing elbow. The Japanese right-hander will finish the 2009 season with a 2-4 record, 4.05 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 48/12 K/BB ratio over 12 starts (66 2/3 innings).

NBA

– According to the NY Daily News, Cablevision, which owns the Knicks, are prepared to offer F LeBron James an entire TV channel if he wants it. That could bring in other revenue for James so the team could sneak around some salary-cap issues. Nonetheless, King James is still expected to re-sign with the Cavs next summer.

– The Grizzlies have officially signed G Allen Iverson to a one-year/$3.5M deal. The Griz have also withdrawn their qualifying offer to G Juan Carlos Navarro, making him a UFA.

– The Hornets have traded G Antonio Daniels and a 2014 second-round draft pick to Wolves for F Darius Songalia and G Bobby Brown. The move will cut the Hornets’ payroll by $1.3M this season, but Songaila has two years left on his contract, while Daniels’ contract expires after next season. The Wolves take on a little more salary this season, but get out from under Songaila’s player option for next year, which will cost about $4.8M.

– NBA referees are prepared to be locked out for the start of the season after negotiations with the league on a new contract broke down this week when David Stern ended the latest bargaining session. No further talks are scheduled, and when they do resume, it’ll be without the commissioner.

MLB

– Cardinals 3B Mark DeRosa (wrist) confirmed Wednesday that he will undergo surgery in the offseason to address a torn tendon sheath near his left wrist. DeRosa has played with the injury since late June, and it has shown in his offensive production. “It’s to the point where something is going to have to be done if, for nothing else, my peace of mind. I don’t want to go forward with this hanging over my head.” The third baseman hit just .250 through the month of July and .268 in August. He’s 4-for-16 in September.

– Royals RHP Gil Meche (shoulder inflammation) is out for the remainder of the season. Meche has battled arm and back troubles all year, leaving him with a 5.09 ERA on the year after sub-4 ERAs the past two years. The 30-year old will play catch shortly, and the Royals will take things on a day-by-day basis for the rest of the season.

NFL

– The Raiders have reportedly sent a “five-day” letter to Richard Seymour, informing him that he’s a candidate for the roster/suspended list. The five-day letter means Oakland will not attempt to void the trade, so Seymour will either join the Raiders or sit out the season. The Raiders aren’t obligated to place Seymour on the roster/suspended list, but the letter warns of the possibility.

NHL

– The Oilers have signed F Mike Comrie to a one-year deal.

– F Theo Fleury will meet with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on Thursday to talk about his possible reinstatement. Fleury has been suspended since 2003 for substance abuse, but has been sober for the last four years. The 41-year-old has met with the NHL and NHLPA substance abuse program doctors and their results have been forwarded to the commissioner. A final answer as to whether or not Fleury will be reinstated is expected Thursday night or Friday morning. Stay tuned.

– A bankruptcy judge has raised the possibility of rejecting both bids to buy the Phoenix Coyotes. Judge Redfield T. Baum made the comment on Thursday as the two-day auction of the team began. Baum raised the prospect of throwing out both bids during arguments on whether Jim Balsillie can get out of a lease agreement with the city of Glendale without a significant penalty.

– The sale of the Montreal Canadiens to a group led by the Molson family is going ahead. Geoff Molson said on Thursday that only details need to be ironed out and the deal should be completed in the next few weeks, subject to approval by the NHL. The structure of the ownership group was completed when the Quebec government approved a $69M loan it had offered to any Quebec-based individual or group that purchased the franchise from American owner George Gillett.

WWE

– According to The Sun, World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk is now dating former WWE Diva Amy “Lita” Dumas. Sources close to the pair told the UK newspaper they are seeing each other and have been for almost a year. “It’s not an issue with the WWE bosses. It has been kept very personal and both Matt and Edge know about it, because Punk was man enough to tell both to their faces.”

WWE

– According to the F4W Newsletter, there was apparently a fight backstage at the SmackDown/ECW live event in Arecibo, Puerto Rico on Saturday night between The Great Khali and Big Show.

The main event that night saw Matt Hardy, The Undertaker and Khali defeat Big Show, Chris Jericho and CM Punk. At the end, Show and Khali brawled outside of the ring together. When they got backstage, there was apparently an argument. One story said Khali messed something up at the finish and Show called him out on it and they started grappling around. One source said, “Show slipped on someone’s bag and it was over.”

Another report said that after they ended up on the ground, Khali mounted Show and was hitting him with slaps before The Undertaker pulled them apart. Show and Khali were kept away from each other in the ring for the rest of the tour.

Another account of the fight says that they were arguing for a few minutes before Big Show threw the first punch. Khali blocked it “exactly like he does in the ring” and they began fighting. That’s when Show slipped on someone’s bag and went down. Khali then mounted him before they were broken up.

Apparently, there has been some underlying heat between the two for some time now, as Big Show has been upset that Khali uses some moves in the ring that Show feels should be exclusive to him “as a giant.” Some backstage felt that Big Show was at fault in the situation.

– Lilian Garcia announced on her Twitter account this morning that her final day with WWE will take place on Monday, September 21. A Monday Night RAW taping is scheduled to take place at the Verizon Arena at Little Rock, Arkansas that evening. Lilian wrote:

“My last day at WWE is officially Mon, Sept 21st. It will be a bitter sweet night for me.”

NFL

– Raiders DE Richard Seymour, 29, is prepared to sit out the season until he signs a contract extension with the team. The five-time Pro Bowler is in the last year of his current deal, but it appears that he’s willing to lose some cash and PT to sign that extension. It’s not even clear if Oakland has made any kind of longer-term contract to the three-time Super Bowl champion.=

MLB

– Tigers RHP Fernando Rodney has been suspended three games and fined for throwing a ball toward the stands following a game last week. During a postgame celebration on the field after Detroit beat Tampa Bay 4-3 on Friday night, Rodney threw the game ball toward the seats and it ended up in the press box. No one was hit by the ball.

NHL

– The Leafs continue to chase Bruins RFA F Phil Kessel. GM Brian Burke really wants Kessel on the Leafs’ roster, and is even willing to overpay him. The holdup is that GM Peter Chiarelli doesn’t want to deal Kessel, 21, within the division. Kessel is said to be searching for $4.5M per season, but the Bruins only have $1.7M in cap space. Toronto reacquired its 2010 second-round pick from the Blackhawks this past weekend, and there is some belief that could be related to a future offer sheet for Kessel. Teams have till October 1 to set a salary under the league-mandated $56.8M. The Rangers and Predators are also interested, but are highly unlikely to acquire him. Stay tuned.

– The Canucks are set to sign head coach Alain Vigneault to a contract extension. GM Mike Gillis confirmed this, saying, “There are a few things left to do but we expect to have a deal done before the season. Not necessarily before training camp starts [Saturday] but before the season.” Vigneault is entering the final year of his contract, where he signed an extension last year.

– Two studies conducted for the NHL set a potential relocation fee of $101M to $195M to move the Phoenix Coyotes to Hamilton, Ontario. The potential fees are vastly different than the PSE Sports and Entertainment study of $11.2M to $12.9M. Balsillie, co-CEO of the company that makes the Blackberry, wants to buy the franchise for $212.5M, contingent on moving it to Hamilton. The NHL made a last-minute bid of $140M to purchase the team and keep it in Arizona.

– According to a report in the Toronto Star, Jerry Moyes wants the league to pony up at least $80M to ensure he recoups some of the $300M he claims to have lost on the team.  The sum of $80M is approximately the difference between the NHL’s bid of $140M and the bid submitted by Jim Balsillie’s PSE Sports and Entertainment for approximately $212.5M.

NBA

– FA G Allen Iverson met with Grizzlies officials for two hours on Monday, but did not finalize a contract agreement. The meeting, attended by the Grizzlies’ owner, GM, and head coach, was described as “frank, comfortable and friendly.” The two sides discussed the team’s philosophy and A.I.’s potential role, and it’s believed that a deal could be reached as soon as Tuesday. The Commercial Appeal newspaper reported that the Grizzlies have offered the 13-year veteran a one-year contract worth at least $3.5M. The deal could increase to $4.4M if Memphis renounces its rights to G Juan Carlos Navarro of Spain.

– Greek team Thessaloniki PAOK made an offer to 32-year-old free agent G Tyronn Lue this summer, but the veteran guard declined. Lue will continue to search for NBA offers.

NFL

– NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora writes that he’d be “very surprised” if Raiders DL Richard Seymour reports to the Raiders without a new contract. Seymour only has one year left on his old deal. La Canfora says he “gets the strong sense” that Seymour is willing to sacrifice weekly game checks as negotiations go on. It’s unclear if the Raiders even approached Seymour about a mega contract.

MLB

– Astros RHP Jose Valverde is expected to test the free agent market. Valverde is earning $8M as the Astros closer, and while he wants to stay in Houston, he’s expected to test free agent waters to see if he can get a better deal elsewhere. Valverde would be a Type A free agent. The Tigers, Braves, Brewers, Nationals, Phillies and Marlins are all expected to find a late-inning arm this offseason.

– The White Sox are expected to make an offer to re-sign OF Mark Kotsay this offseason. Kotsay is making $1.5M, but it’s uncertain whether he’d want a raise or not. Stay tuned.

– The Astros have transferred LHP Mike Hampton to the 60-day DL.

– The Rays have placed 1B Carlos Pena (two broken fingers) on the 60-day DL.

TNA

– DirecTV.com’s advertisement for WWE pay-per-view events lists Sting as one of the wrestlers of the promotion. The advertisement reads:

Enter the world known as WWE. Here’s your ringside seat. DIRECTV Pay Per View delivers the force, fury and finishing moves of superstars like Triple H, Batista, Matt Hardy, The Big Show, Randy Orton, and Sting. Catch the best of the up-and-coming contenders.

WOW. Could this be true, or just a mistake? STAY TUNED!

WWE

– PWInsider.com is reporting that a “huge WWE name” is considering joining TNA, and that person is none other than Good ‘Ole J.R. His contract with WWE is set to expire at the end of the year, and company officials have yet to offer him a new one. It should be noted, however, that Ross is considering all of his options and joining TNA is very much a possible scenario he’s taking very seriously. He could just as well stay in WWE though. Stay tuned.

– Mr. Kennedy’s 90-day no-compete clause expires this Wednesday, September 9. WWE released Kennedy on May 29.

– In the new PG era, WWE has changed the Armageddon pay-per-view on 12/13 in San Antonio, Texas to a TLC-themed event. Ticketmaster.com has the show listed as the following:

WWE World Wrestling Entertainment – TLC: Tables, Latter & Chairs

Presumably, they mean “Tables, Ladders & Chairs.”

NHL

– The Maple Leafs are expected to take another run at acquiring Bruins F Phil Kessel. Toronto acquired a second-round pick in a deal Saturday and now has the necessary picks that need be forfeited if Kessel is signed to an offer sheet and the Bruins decline to match. The Leafs were very close to swinging a deal for him in exchange for D Tomas Kaberle, but the deal fell through. The Rangers and Predators are also allegedly interested in Kessel. Stay tuned.

– There is nothing new to report on the Senators F Dany Heatley’s situation. No new teams have reportedly stepped up to make trade offers and the Sharks, Rangers and Oilers have been very quiet regarding their pusuit of the former 50-goal scorer. All signs point to Heatley reporting to Senators’ camp on Saturday. It’ll be very interesting to see how he deals with his teammates and how they deal with him.

– Red Wings G Chris Osgood expects to be much better this year than he was in the regular season last campaign. He posted a disappointing .887 SV% and 3.09 GAA in 2008-09. “It’s not going to happen again. That was because I had a hangover from winning. This year, I just approached the off-season a lot differently. I don’t think it has to do with the length of the season. It’s just that when you win, you approach the summer a lot differently than when you don’t. You work out earlier, you go on the ice earlier; you do everything a little earlier than what you would do if you’d won. Those things — not having had as much fun this summer as the previous summer, to be honest, that is going to make a difference.” Osgood was miraculous for Detroit in the playoffs after the regular season.

– Ducks F Ryan Getzlaf was on the ice on Saturday and is progressing well from sports hernia surgery. It was the third time Getzlaf has taken to the ice this week and he said he expects to be ready to go when training camp opens next weekend. “I may have restrictions. We’re going to ease into this thing. There’s no point of jumping into camp and going at it full bore right away. We’ve got to be ready for October, not for next week. I’m sure I’ll be a part of practices but not games. I’m playing it by ear.”

NBA

– According to sources, G Allen Iverson could be on the verge of accepting the Grizzlies’ one-year offer. The two sides are arranging a face-to-face meeting, so an official announcement could soon follow. The Grizzlies can offer at least $3.5M, though that could increase to $4.4M if they waive G Juan Carlos Navarro. Either way, it’s peanuts from the $20.8M he made last season.

MLB

– Agent Gregg Clifton told the Boston Globe that LHP Tom Glavine is not likely to attempt a comeback for the 2010 season. Back in June, Glavine said he would not return to the majors in 2009 after being released by the Braves. He mentioned returning for 2010 and has been linked to the Nationals, but apparently that has changed. If true, the left-hander ends his career having played from 1987-2008, all but five years (Mets) with the Braves. He has a 305-203 record with a 3.54 ERA in 682 starts and has punched his ticket for the Hall of Fame. The 43-year old won the Cy Young in 1991 and 1998, finishing second or third three other times. Clifton mentioned that he has received calls about broadcasting opportunities for the 10-time All-Star, so look for him on the tubes, not on the mound, in 2010.

– Mariners OF Ichiro Suzuki has become the second-fastest player in MLB history to reach 2,000 hits. Ichiro, who accumulated 1,278 hits in Japan, recorded it in his 1,402 major-league game. The fastest, Al Simmons, did it in game 1,390.

NFL

– The Giants have released WR David Tyree.

– The Eagles have released QB A.J. Feeley. The move saves $1.3M in cash and opens a roster spot for QB Michael Vick. Keep an eye on the Packers, Rams and Redskins – Feeley would be an upgrade over any of those teams’ current backup quarterbacks and is versed in the West Coast system. The rest of the NFL likely knew he’d get cut, so there was no sense in trying to acquire him.

– The Seahawks have signed S Lawyer Milloy to a one-year deal.

– Chargers LB Shawne Merriman was arrested early Saturday and charged with suspicion of assault of his girlfriend. Merriman allegedly “choked and restrained” MTV reality show personality Tila Nguyen (better known as Tila Tequila) as she was trying to leave their home. Merriman was arrested on the premises, while Nguyen was taken to a local hospital. Nguyen’s citizen arrest report also accuses Merriman of false imprisonment and battery. Merriman was suspended in 2006 for violating the league’s steroids policy, but this is his first arrest as an NFL player.

– Raiders acquired DL Richard Seymour from the Patriots in exchange for Oakland’s first-round pick in 2011. Seymour was set to become a free agent at season’s end. Seymour’s play remains solid, but he’s injury-prone and isn’t nearly as dominant as early in his career. There was no chance the Pats would have re-signed him, and now they get a potential high draft pick in what could be the first year with a rookie salary pay scale, all in exchange for one season from Seymour. The Pats remain deep defensively, so there’s no need to worry on their front.

– The Broncos submitted the paperwork necessary to lift RB Brandon Marshall’s team-induced suspension late Sunday.