WHERE WILL DOC LAND?- JAYS AND HALLADAY SET TO PART WAYS

GO TO THE STORIES SECTION AND CHECK OUT MY NEW ARTICLE. THERE ARE BIG CHANGES GOING ON THIS OFF-SEASON FOR THE BLUE JAYS. IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THAT ROY HALLADAY IS ON HIS WAY OUT OF TORONTO. READ THE STORY TO GET MY TAKE AND FIND OUT WHERE HALLADAY MAY LAND AND WHAT THE JAYS CAN GET IN RETURN!!! CLICK THE LINK FOR THE STORY!!!

LATE BREAKING NEWS: IVERSON RETIRES

Just want to start off by apologizing to all the followers for the lack of posts over the past week. I've been having technical issues with my laptop. I still am having some difficulty but I should have the problem fixed later in the week. Stay tuned and thanks for all the continuous support. On to the news...

Gary Moore, the personal manager of G Allen Iverson has confirmed that Iverson has decided to retire from basketball. The 14-year veteran was set to sign on with the New York Knicks earlier this week, but the Knicks decided to back out at the last minute. "Wonderful career. Right thing to do for his family," Moore told Yahoo! Sports. "It's not secret that Allen has been unfairly treated through all this. The fact is that his family needs him more." Although it seems serious right now, Iverson will likely continue to court offers from teams and I wouldn't be surprised to see him in an NBA uniform sooner rather than later. Stay tuned for more developments.

LATE BREAKING NEWS

San Francisco Giants P Tim Lincecum is the 2009 National League Cy Young Award winner. For two years in a row now, Lincecum takes home the award. Today, he became the first player since Randy Johnson was selected for the award four seasons in a row from 1999-2002. Lincecum led the National League in strikeouts with 261 and tied for the league lead with two shutouts and four complete games. During a conference call earlier today, Lincecum also addressed minor marijuana charges that were a headline in the off-season. He took time to apologize for his actions and took full responsibility for what he did. It seems as the league will take no disciplinary action in this case.

LATE BREAKING NEWS

The 2009 MLB Manager of the Year Awards were handed out today. From the American League, Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia won the award. It is the second time in his career he has achieved the feat. This season, he led his team to the playoffs after one of their players, Nick Adenhart, died in a car accident early in the year. It was Scioscia who lifted and pushed the team through adversity. In the National League, Colorado Rockies manager Jim Tracy collected the honour. Under Tracy, the Rockies made a late-season push to slide into the wild card slot. After the announcement was made, the Rockies signed Tracy to a 3-year contract extension.

News & Notes

MLB

- On Wednesday, Kansas City Royals ace P Zach Greinke was named 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner. Greinke was the overwhelming selection, 54 points ahead of the runner-up, Seattle Mariners P Felix Hernandez. The 26-year-old finished the season with a record of 16-8 with a major-league low 2.16 ERA and 242 strikeouts, good enough for second in the American League. It is the first time Greinke has won the award and the fourth player in Royals franchise history to win the award.
- According to the New York Post, free-agent pitcher Ben Sheets could be an option for the Yankees, who are looking to bolster their starting rotation. Sheets had surgery on the flexor tendon in his right arm in February and is expected to be ready for the start of spring training.
- Keith Grunewald, the agent of free-agents P John Smoltz and IF/OF Mark DeRosa, told the Los Angeles Times that he has been in contact with the Dodgers about his two clients. The agent also mentioned that the Dodgers are one of dozen teams vying for DeRosa's services.

NBA


- Orlando Magic PG Jameer Nelson will undergo surgery today to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Orlando's starting point gaurd will be out of action for 4-6 weeks following surgery. He will be greatly missed and will rely heavily on newly acquired backup PG Jason Williams.
- ESPN Magazine is reporting that Jeff Fried, the agent of Golden State Warriors G Monta Ellis, plans to meet with Warriors' management. The article speculates that he may try to convince management to trade Ellis. Fried was unreachable for comment. Ellis has been really outspoken with the media early this season, questioning the coaching staff, teammates and the organization. I reported late last week that he also had a run-in with Warriors head coach Don Nelson during practice. The writing may be on the wall already. Check back for more on the developing story.
- Los Angeles Lakers SG Kobe Bryant scored 40 points for the 100th time in his career on Tuesday night when the Lakers held off the Detroit Pistons by a score of 106-93. Bryant is now currently third place on the all-time list of 40+ point performances, trailing Wilt Chamberlain (271) and Michael Jordan (173).
- The Toronto Raptors claimed F/C Pops Mensah-Bonsu off waivers on Tuesday. He was a fan favourite playing the majority of the season with the Raptors last year. He signed with Houston in the off-season but was waived by the Rockets on Friday.

NFL 


- The Buffalo Bills announced the firing of head coach Dick Jauron on Tuesday, following the teams 3-6 start. The Bills mentioned that a replacement would be names soon in a statement.
- The Cincinnati Bengals have officially signed RB Larry Johnson to a contract for the remainder of the season. Johnson will collect the $4 million he is owed from his former team, the Kansas City Chiefs, and will get $255,290 from the Bengals.
- ESPN is reporting that Philadelphia Eagles RB Brian Westbrook will meet with a pair of concussion specialists today in Pittsburgh. On Sunday, Westbrook was forced to leave the game against the Chargers because of a concussion. It was his second concussion in the past three weeks. He is hoping to learn whether or not he will be able to resume his career without further damage.

NHL

- On Tuesday, Brendan Shanahan announced his retirement from the NHL, as reported first by ESPN.com. During his 21-year career, Shanahan scored  656 goals. He spent the majority of his career with the Detroit Red Wings, winning three Stanley Cups there. He tried to latch on with the New Jersey Devils in training camp but was unable to make the top three lines. Shortly before the season start, the two sides parted ways and Shanahan took some time off to make his decision. He is a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame and expect him to stay close to the game of hockey in some kind of off-ice role.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets have loaned F Nikita Filatov to CSKA of the Kontinental Hockey League for the remainder of the 2009-2010 season. The club believes it will give the 19-year-old a chance to grow in a more comfortable setting, in his hometown of Moscow, Russia.
- According to the Associated Press, Washington Capitals G Jose Theodore has left the team for personal reasons.

MMA

- Brock Lesnar Update: According to the Associated Press, Brock Lesnar is suffering from a bacterial infection in his intestinal tract. It is unseen whether or not Lesnar will actually have surgery, althoug he will check in to the Mayo Clinic for further treatment. The AP report also suggested that it is possible that Lesnar may not fight again, depending on his recovery from the illness.
- Contrary to previous rumours, UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre and number one contender Dan Hardy are not under consideration to coach the Ultimate Fighter 11 reality TV show. As speculated earlier, the show would have delayed a fight between the two. The update was reported first by Heavy.com.
- According to MMAJunkie, the postponed fight between UFC middelweight champion Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort will now take place at UFC 109 on February 6th. It is being reported that the two sides have already made a verbal agreement but have yet to sign anything.

Belichick Play-Calling Sinks Pats, Dana White: Possibility Brock Lesnar Will Never Fight Again, Pacquaio-Mayweather Camps in Talks

On Sunday night, the Indianapolis Colts completed a second half comeback late in the fourth quarter to defeat the New England Patriots to stay undefeated on the season. Peyton Manning was part of the surge that brought the Colts back into the game. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was another factor. With 2:08 left in the 4th quarter, Bilichick decided to go for it on 4th and 2. Pats RB Kevin Faulk bobbled the ball and when he retained possession, the Colts' defenders quickly tackled him a yard short of the first down. Without any timeouts left, the Patriots were not able to challenge the play and gave up the ball at their own 30 yard line, placing the Colts in great field position to score and steal the game. Manning took over at this point, throwing a short pass to the end zone, connecting with WR Reggie Wayne to tie the game, leaving only 13 seconds on the clock. Colts kick the extra point, win the game by a score of 35-34 and up their record to 9-0. Bilicheck made a terrible play call and ultimately cost his team the game. It will be a while before he hears the end of this one.

Dana White announced today the UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar will be out of action indefinitely and could possibly never fight again. White told TMZ.com that Lesnar is suffering from an undisclosed illness and will require "major surgery"for an "intestinal disorder" . White told reporters in England over the weekend that Lesnar collapsed while on vacation in Canada recently. Further testing revealed the illness. Lesnar dropped out of a January bout with Shane Carwin because of his condition.

"I am worried about it," White said, speaking to reporters on Saturday. "(He) is in rough shape. He's in really bad shape". "He is not well and is not getting any better". "There is a possibility that Lesnar will never fight again."

The LA Times is reporting that representatives for Manny Pacquaio and Floyd Mayweather will begin talks today to discuss the terms of a future fight. This would be atop the list of most-anticipated match-ups of all time for fight fans. On Saturday, Pacquaio defeated Miguel Cotto in decisive fashion to solidify his spot as one of the best fighters at his weight class. Mayweather told reporters earlier in the year that he would only fight Pacquaio if he proved he was worthy. Apparently Mayweather still thinks he isn't worthy enough. Mayweather's camp is posturing for a larger purse. The argument is that Mayweather is a bigger draw. Not everyone agrees with that statement after watching Pacquaio knock out Cotto over the weekend. Pacquaio is the more exciting fighter and has been in a lot more fights since Mayweather has decided to come back to boxing. It will be interesting to see whether these talks are just a bluff by Mayweather's camp. It is possible that Mayweather has no intention to fight Pacquaio at all. He may use these negotiations as another excuse not to fight the Filipino fighting sensation. Only time will tell.

News & Notes

MLB

- It looks as though Matt Holiday's time with the St. Louis Cardinals has come to an end. Fox Sports is reporting that the free-agent outfielder has narrowed down potential suitors to three teams: New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels.
- The Cincinnati Reds have re-signed C Ramon Hernandez to a one-year/$3million contract. The contract also includes a vesting option for 2011 worth $3.25 million if Hernandez appears in 120 games in 2010.
- The MLB has announced several awards winners for the 2009 season last week. Gold Glove, Silver Slugger and Rookie of the Year awards were handed out to players from both leagues. Below are a list of award winners.

AL Gold Glove Winners:
P Mark Buerhrle (Chicago White Sox)
C Joe Mauer (Minnesota Twins)
1B Mark Texeira (New York Yankees)
2B Placido Polanco (Detroit Tigers)
3B Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay Rays)
SS Derek Jeter (New York Yankees)
OF Torii Hunter (Los Angeles Angels)
OF Adam Jones (Baltimore Orioles)
OF Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle Mariners)

NL Gold Glove Winners:
P Adam Wainwright (St. Louis Cardinals)
C Yadier Molina (St. Louis Cardinals)
1B Adrian Gonzalez (San Diego Padres)
2B Orlando Hudson (Los Angeles Dodgers)
3B Ryan Zimmerman (Washington Nationals)
SS Jimmy Rollins (Philadelphia Phillies)
OF Michael Bourne (Houston Astros)
OF Matt Kemp (Los Angeles Dodgers)
OF Shane Victorino (Philadelphia Phillies)

AL Silver Slugger Winners:
C Joe Mauer (Minnesota Twins)
1B Mark Texeira (New York Yankees)
2B Aaron Hill (Toronto Blue Jays)
3B Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay Rays)
SS Derek Jeter (New York Yankees)
OF Jason Bay (Boston Red Sox)
OF Torii Hunter (Los Angeles Angels)
OF Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle Mariners)
DH Adam Lind (Toronto Blue Jays)

NL Silver Slugger Winners:

C Brian McCann (Atlanta Braves)
1B Albert Pujols (St. Louis Cardinals)
2B Chase Utley (Philadelphia Phillies)
3B Ryan Zimmerman (Washington Nationals)
SS Hanley Ramirez ( Florida Marlins)
OF Matt Kemp (Los Angeles Dodgers)
OF Andre Ethier (Los Angeles Dodgers)
OF Ryan Braun (Milwaukee Brewers)
P Carlos Zambrano (Chicago Cubs)

AL Rookie of the Year Winner:
P Andrew Bailey (Oakland Athletics)

NL Rookie of the Year Winner:
OF Chris Coghlan (Florida Marlins)

NBA

- The Memphis Grizzlies have officially ended their contractual agreement with G Allen Iverson. The team made the announcement today siting Iverson's off-court issues as the reason he will leave the team. According to RealGM, Iverson will only receive a small portion of the $3 million contract he signed in the pre-season.
- Former Chicago Bull F Dennis Rodman has been detained Europe. The ex-NBA "bad boy" is being temporarily detained for skipping out on a hotel bill in Germany. According to the ESPN report, the bill was for an post-game party worth $5,100.
- According to the Times-Picayune, earlier reports that the New Orleans Hornets and Sacramento Kings were working on a deal that would send C Emeka Okafor to the Kings are apparently false. The Sacramento Bee originally reported on Sunday that a deal was discussed between the two teams.

NFL

- ESPN is reporting the free-agent RB Larry Johnson plans on signing with the Cincinnati Bengals. According to the report, Johnson flew to Cincinnati today and will sign before the end of the week. If a contract is met, it is expected to be for the league minimum. Stay tuned for more on any potential deal.
- The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that Steelers star S Troy Polamalu could be out of action for the remainder of the season. He exited Sunday's game against the Bengals with a knee injury. He suffered a similar injury during the first game of the season and was working his way back into the lineup until the setback. Check back later for an injury update.
- According to the Miami Herald, Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown will likely miss the team's Thursday night game against the Carolina Panthers due to an ankle injury. Brown suffered the injury during Miami's win over the Tampa Bay on Sunday.

NHL


- The Ottawa Sun is reporting that the Toronto Maple Leafs management and rookie G Jonas Gustavsson are likely discussing a contract extension. The Leafs signed the Swedish netminder to a one-year deal in the off-season and will look to lock him up so other teams don't have a chance to pursue him at seasons end. The team can not sign him to an extension until January.
- According to an ESPN report, Washington Capitals star LW Alexander Ovechkin could return to the lineup on Thursday night against the New York Rangers. He has been out of the lineup with and upper-body injury since November 1st.
- Peter Forsberg may not decide to return to the NHL after all. The Denver Post is reporting that Forsberg is leaning towards staying in Sweden. MoDo GM Fredrik Andersson told reporters Friday he has "high hopes" that Forsberg will sign with MoDo, his longtime SEL league team.

MMA

- The Telegraph is reporting that UFC welterweight champ George St. Pierre and number one contender Dan Hardy are potential coaches for the Ultimate Fighter 11 reality show. Ultimate Fighter 11 will feature middleweight and light-heavyweight fighters and will film through April. If this rumour is true, St. Pierre will have to wait even longer for his return to the octagon. He recently announced his groin injury is healed and he is 100% to fight. Stay tuned for more details as they surface.
- The UFC has announced that the scheduled bout between Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Cain Velasquez at UFC 108 has been cancelled. Nogueira had to withdraw from the fight due to a sever staph infection in his left elbow. Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva will move into the main event slot. The UFC will attempt to find a new opponent for Velasquez.
- The UFC also announced more fights for UFC Fight Night 20 from Fairfax, Virginia. The even will be headlined by a lightweight match-up between Nate Diaz and Gray Maynard. Efrain Escudero and Evan Dunham will fight in the co-main event.

LATE BREAKING NEWS

Warriors G/F Stephen Jackson's public trade request has been answered. It was announced today that the Golden State Warriors have traded Jackson along with G Acie Law to the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for F Vladimir Radmanovic and G/F Raja Bell. Last week it seemed as though there was no rush to move Jackson. There has been much speculation of late with regards to Don Nelson's status as coach with the Warriors. GM Larry Riley has put those rumours to rest as well.

LATE BREAKING NEWS

The UFC has announced that up-and-comer Cain Velasquez will take on Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira to headline the UFC 108 card scheduled for January 2nd in Las Vegas. The winner will earn a guaranteed title shot against the winner of Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin, which still has not been re-scheduled. The UFC also confirmed that Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva will co-headline the UFC 108 card. Check back later for more fight announcements for UFC 108.

LATE BREAKING NEWS

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports is reporting that a potential three-team deal could be on the verge of being completed. The New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs have apparently indirectly discussed the possibility of swapping players. The deal would send disgruntled Cubs OF Milton Bradley to the Jays, 1B Lyle Overbay to the Mets and 2B Luis Castillo to the Cubs. This would be interesting for all teams involved if it goes down. Check back later for details on the situation.

News & Notes

MLB

- A potential deal between the Toronto Blue Jays and Arizona Diamondbacks has hit a snag, according to the Toronto Star. The deal would have sent 1B Lyle Overbay to Arizona in exchange for C Chris Snyder. The Jays are weary about making the deal because of Snyder's injury history. Stay tuned for more on the situation.
- The Philadelphia Phillies have declined the 2010 contract option for 3B Pedro Feliz. The team has not ruled out the possibility of bringing Feliz back into the fold next season.
- According to the agent of former-Jay P Victor Zambrano, the mother of the former major leaguer was kidnapped today in Venezuela. She was taken by eight armed men from Zambrano's farm in Villa de Cura.

NBA

- The Memphis Commercial Appeal is reporting that Memphis Grizzlies G Allen Iverson is contemplating retirement. He left the team last week to deal with personal issues. The announcement came after he complained for a week about his role on the team and the coaching staff. As history goes to show, Iverson isn't great at dealing with these type of situations. It will be interesting to see if he returns to the NBA.
- Mark Stevens, the agent for G/F Stephen Jackson, lashed out at the Golden State Warriors and specifically head coach Don Nelson today. He attacked the coaches character and credibility. "No one trusts Don Nelson," he told ESPN magazine. Steven wants his client out of Golden State and is struggling to get Nelson and the Warriors to comply with his request.
- The Los Angeles Lakers have decided to bring in long-time basketball guy Chuck Person as a consultant to work with SF Ron Artest. Person spent some time with Artest while in Indiana and could be a good influence on the infamous "bad boy". Artest nearly had a blow-up already this season against the Houston Rockets when he got into an altercation with Rockets SF Trevor Ariza. "I wanted to grab his throat because he hit me with an elbow, but I didn't," Artest told the New York Daily News. "It was a thought, you know, but then I thought about David Stern, and said 'OK, I'm not going to do this."

NFL

- The Kansas City Chiefs have released RB Larry Johnson today. He concludes his career with the Chiefs finishing with 30 100-yard rushing games and two 100-yard receiving games.
- According to TMZ.com, NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident on Sunday. Surprisingly, Taylor was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of his arrest. Taylor has a long history of drug and alcohol abuse. This is not his first run in with the police.
- Chicago Bears DT Tommie Harris was ejected from Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals after throwing a punch at Cardinals RG Deuce Lutui. It will be interesting to see what kind of disciplinary action will be taken by the NFL.
- Tony Dungy thinks that Eagles QB Michael Vick could end up in Buffalo by next season. During last night's broadcast of Sunday Night Football, Dungy mentioned that Vick had spoken with the Bills before deciding to sign with Philadelphia. "There are some teams looking for quarterbacks: Cleveland, St. Louis, Washington," Dungy said. " But I think the dark horse is Buffalo. They talked originally. There was some communication there. I think that could be a great spot."

NHL

- The Carolina Hurricanes have signed veteran G Manny Legace to replace the injured G Cam Ward. The Associated Press broke the story early today. The deal is worth $500k for 1-year. Ward is expected to miss up to six weeks to recover from a cut on his leg he suffered on Saturday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
- Minnesota Wild RW Petr Sykora suffered a concussion during Saturday's win over the Dallas Stars. He will be out of the lineup indefinitely.
- According to the New York Post, the Rangers have been scouting Peter Forsberg in Sweden. He has been testing his chronic foot injury in the Karjala Cup tournament.

MMA

- The much-anticipated match-up between Fedor Emilianenko and Brett Rodgers took place on Saturday night. The fight lived up to expectations. Fedor proved once again that he is the best in the world and defeated the younger, larger opponent via knockout in the second round. Rodgers was very heated at the conclusion of the fight. Most likely because of the dejection of taking his first loss. Although he lost, he looked impressive, winning the first round decisively. Fedor's explosiveness proved to be the difference. Both fighters mentioned after the fight that they would accept a re-match.
- Strikeforce announced over the weekend that middleweight champion Cung Le will return to the ring to defend his title against Scott Smith on December 19th.
- The UFC has announced that Stephan Bonnar will meet Canadian Krzysztof Soszynski at UFC 110 in Sydney, Australia. The two will fight at light-heavyweight.
- Dana White posted his first entry for his UFC 105 blog today. Go to the Featured Videos section to check it out.

LATE BREAKING NEWS: IVERSON LEAVES GRIZZLIES

The Allen Iverson saga has taken another turn. It was announced Sunday that Iverson was granted permission to leave the Memphis Grizzlies to deal with a personal matter. The announcement comes at a questionable time. Earlier in the week, Iverson told reporters he is upset with his role in Memphis. In all three games he's played this season, Iverson has come off the bench for the Grizz. He met with team owner, Michael Heasley, on Friday night after the team lost to the Los Angeles Lakers which resulted in the decision. It will be interesting to see what happens next. Iverson is notorious for his off-court issues and outspokenness. The only reason he signed with Memphis in the off-season was because of the lack of interest in his services. If he leaves the team indefinitely, it might be tough for him to land another gig in the NBA. Stay tuned for more on the story as details surface.

LATE BREAKING NEWS

The Milwaukee Brewers have traded SS J.J. Hardy to the Minnesota Twins for CF Carlos Gomez. Both players are coming off sub-par seasons. When drafted, they both were projected to be players of the future. Things have not panned out the way their teams expected. A change of scenery should benefit both players.

Huge George St. Pierre Update

George St. Pierre says he's ready to fight. In an interview with "Showdown" Joe today on Sportsnet, he announced that he has completely healed from a torn abductor suffered in a successful title defense against Thiago Alves. He will be ready to fight as soon as March and will likely face the winner between Mike Swick and Dan Hardy. Check out a clip from the interview below.

News & Notes

MLB

- The Los Angeles Angels and OF Bobby Abreu have agreed on a two-year contract extension that will keep him with the club through the 2012 season. The deal is believed to be worth $19 million over 2 years.
- The Kansas City Royals have traded OF/IF Mark Teahen to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for 2B Chris Getz and 3B Josh Fields. Teahen is expected to replace Jermaine Dye as the team's right fielder. Dye was let go when the team decided not to pick up his option for 2010 earlier this week.
- According the the Boston Globe, the Florida Marlins have traded OF Jeremy Hermida to the Boston Red Sox for minor leaguers, P Hunter Jones and P Jose Alvarez.
- The New York Post is reporting that the Mets have declined to pick up the $8.6 million 2010 option on the contract of P J.J. Putz.
- The Los Angeles Dodgers have declined to pick up the $10 million 2010 option on the contract of P Jon Garland.
- ESPN is reporting that the Chicago White Sox have re-signed OF Mark Kotsay to a one-year deal. According to the report, the deal is worth $1.5 million.

NBA

- Sacramento Kings SG Kevin Martin sustained a hairline fracture in his left wrist during Monday night's game against the Memphis Grizzlies when he collided with G Allen Iverson. Martin has a few options and will decide which path he will take with regards to the injury by the end of the week.
- In other Kings news, F Andres Nocioni was arrested Thursday for suspicion of drunk driving. Officers noticed his car weaving around 2 a.m. in downtown Sacramento before he was pulled over. He has since apologized to his teammates and head office staff.
- Dallas Mavericks assistant coach and former Raptor player Popeye Jones was arrested for drunk driving after at least five people notified police about his erratic driving. During his arrest, he fought with police and authorities were obliged to use brute force. "Officers were finally able to to handcuff Jones using two pairs of handcuffs," the report read. "Even while handcuffed, Jones attempted to grab at Officer Marshall's leg. While taken in to custody he received several scrapes from the concrete to his face."

NFL

- NBC Sports is reporting that Indianapolis Colts star S Bob Sanders will remain out of action for the rest of the season with a lingering torn biceps tendon. Head coach Jim Caldwell told reporters today that Sanders will require surgery. Sanders re-injured his arm last weekend during a win over the San Francisco 49ers. The loss will be a big blow to their secondary. The team also announced yesterday that CB Marlin Jackson will also miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL.
- The Denver Broncos have signed veteran CB Ty Law. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. He will report to the team today for a physical.

NHL

- According to an Associated Press report, the Columbus Blue Jackets are in jeopardy of losing their franchise. According to the report released Thursday, the team is losing on average $12 million a year.
- Atlanta Thrashers G Kari Lehtonen will miss 6-8 weeks while recovering from his second consecutive back surgery. Lehtonen has yet to play this season.
- The Toronto Star is reporting that Boston Bruins F David Krejci has been diagnosed with H1N1. He is currently being isolated from teammates until his condition improves.
- The Dallas Stars have activated C Mike Modano and RW Jere Lehtinen from the injured reserve list.

MMA

- Brock Lesnar will be forced to postpone his fight with Shane Carwin once again. The UFC heavyweight champ has been unable to train due to illness and will need more preparation time. The two were originally scheduled to fight this month at UFC 106. The fight was postponed to UFC 108 and now will be possibly held at UFC 109 on Febuary 6th.
- Dana White recently told Yahoo Sports! that he expects free-agent middleweight Dan Henderson to sign with rival fighting organization Strikeforce. It was reported several weeks ago that Henderson and the UFC had hit a snag during contract negotiations. The writing was on the wall.

Yanks Win World Series, Big Baby Sees NFL in Future Plans, Lincecum Caught With Pot

The New York Yankees have bought another one. On Wednesday night, the Yanks crushed the Phillies by a score of 7-3 to take game 6 at home and more importantly, secure their 27th World Series title in franchise history. And it ranks up there with some of the best of them for the storied franchise. For the last couple of years, because of injuries, under-performance and the rise of unexpected rivals, the Yankees have had trouble getting back to the top. In the last off-season, Yankees management went out and splurged on top free-agents P C.C. Sabathia, 1B Mark Teixeira and P A.J. Burnett. All moves proved to pay dividends. The team looked solid the entire playoff run and seemed poised to take back what was rightfully theirs. They were also able to clinch the title at the new Yankee Stadium. Looks as though tradition still lives in the new building. After the game, Yankees OF Hideki Matsui was named World Series MVP. He recorded a home run and more importantly six of the the team's seven RBI's in the final contest. Another big story was the emergence of 3B Alex Rodriguez in playoff action. He has been the spotlight for critisism because of his lack of playoff experience, steroid controversy and his lavish off-field lifestyle. He proved the nay-sayers wrong and was one of the leading forces in the race to the title. Next year, expect the Yankees to be repeat favourites. They don't have any real holes and we all know that they have the money to out-buy anyone. 

In an interview with ESPN, Boston Celtics PF Glen "Big Baby" Davis mentioned that he may look to switch to football after he has established himself in the NBA. 

"I will try," Davis told Chris Broussard of ESPN. "When I become and all-star in the NBA, when I become a great player in the NBA, then I'll try football. One of my dreams has always been to play football."

Davis was a standout two-way football player in high school, starting at defensive end, defensive tackle and tailback. After being offered a basketball scholarship at LSU, he decided it was time to hang up the cleats. Davis is currently serving an indefinite suspension administered by the Celtics because of an injury he sustained off-court. He broke his thumb while play fighting with a friend, two days before the first game of the regular season. It will be interesting to see how the Celtics' front office receives these comments.

Yesterday, the Associated Press reported that San Francisco Giants ace P Tim Lincecum was pulled over and charged with marijuana possession near his off-season home in Hazel Dell, Washington. According to the report, on October 30th, the 2008 Cy Young Award winner and former first-round pick was pulled over by Washington State Police for speeding, 4 miles north of the Oregon border. The officer who approached the vehicle, smelled the marijuana as Lincecum rolled down the window. The officer reported that Lincecum complied and proceeded to hand over the 3.3 grams of marijuana and a pipe from the car's center console. The amount is only considered enough for personal use, therefore Lincecum was only charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also cited for driving 74 mph in a 60 mph zone. He could face potential fines of up to $622. It will be interesting to see what kind of punishment, if any, is handed out by Major League Baseball. Last year, during the World Baseball Classic, Chicago Cubs C Geovany Soto tested positive for marijuana and was banned from international competition for two years. The MLB, surprisingly, did not take any disciplinary actions. Check back for more on these stories as details surface.

News & Notes

MLB

- World Series Update: Last night, the Philadelphia Phillies, led by Chase Utley who hit two home runs in the game, took game 5 by a score of 8-6 to keep the Phillies alive and force a game 6 in the Bronx. Phillies batters knocked Yanks starter P A.J. Burnett out of the game early. Utley's two home runs tied a Reggie Jackson record for the most home runs during a World Series, with 5. Game 6 will be played on Wednesday and Yankees P Andy Pettitte will take on Phillies P Pedro Martinez, who is not exactly loved by Yankees fans. It should make for an interesting contest. The Yanks would love to close out the series at home and with the title in front of their fans. Don't forget to check it out.
- According to Yahoo! Sports, Phillies P Brett Myers and P Cole Hamels got into a war of words after last night's game. The incident stemmed from Hamels comments about the "mental drain" from a long season that he wished would end. Myers walked past Hamels and said, mockingly, "What are you doing here? I thought you quit." Hamels responded with profanity and the two were separated by team officials. Obviously it's not the right time for clubhouse issues to be interfering with a World Series run. The Phillies need to nip this one at the bud.
- Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz told the Boston Herald on Monday that he would like to retire with his current club, even though the team is considering looking for more production from the DH position. "I want to finish my career here," he said. "I think I still have another three or four good years in me. It's not like I'm going to play until I'm 50, but I can still swing the bat. All I know is that last year I had the worst three months of my career and still almost ended up at 30 and 100."
- According to ESPN, New York Mets OF Jeff Francoeur recently underwent surgery to repair a ligament in his left thumb and is expected to be ready for spring training.

NBA

- According to Outsports.com, Dallas Mavericks C/F Drew Gooden yelled a homophobic slur at a pair of fans sitting near the bench during Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. The website is reporting that one of the fans was actor, Chris Wydle. Team owner Mark Cuban would not comment on the issue but according to the website, Cuban e-mailed Wydle to apologize for the incident and to inform the actor that he would be dealing with the matter internally.
- Los Angeles Lakers C/F Pau Gasol's hamstring injury may be more serious than initially believed. Gasol had test done that revealed a slight tear in the hamstring over the weekend. He underwent an MRI today, but the results have yet to be released. More on the story as details surface.
- ESPN is reporting that a specialist has confirmed that New Jersey Nets PG Devin Harris has a strained groin. He suffered the injury during a pre-season game. The team is still unsure when he will return to the lineup.
- The Minnesota Timberwolves have picked up the 2010-2011 contract options on both G/F Corey Brewer and C/F Chris Love. The team made an announcement over the weekend.

NFL

- Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning, through 8 weeks, is on pace to surpass Dan Marino's single season passing yards record. Manning is on pace to throw for 5, 090 yards this season. Marino's record is 5, 084 yards. Marino's record nearly fell last season when New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees threw for 5, 069 total yards.
- Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable is in hot water once again. The team has decided to complete a investigation of allegations that Cable has a history of violent behavior toward women. Cable's first wife and ex-girlfriend told ESPN that the coach abused both of them during their separate relationships. He admitted to striking his ex-wife, Sandy Cable, with an open hand more than 20 years ago in a statement he made Sunday. Cable was in heat with the police and the NFL earlier this season for allegedly punching his offensive co-ordintator in the face.

NHL

- NHL.com is reporting that the 2010 U.S. Olympic mens hockey team will be unveiled on January 1st during NBC's broadcast of the NHL Winter Classic game between the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers.
- Toronto Maple Leafs F Phil Kessel will make his season debut with his new squad tonight at home versus the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 22-year-old had off-season shoulder surgery and was cleared to play this morning by team doctors. The team has high expectations for the former 30-goal scorer and will expect him to anchor the offense.

MMA

- M-1 Global and Fedor Emelianenko have sued Affliction and other unnamed parties for an alleged breach of contract stemming from the cancellation of "Affliction:Trilogy" after Affliction decided to return to the UFC as a sponsor. Josh Barnett, Emelianenko's scheduled opponent, was forced out of the bout at Trilogy because he tested positive for anabolic steroids. Affliction cancelled the even citing its' inability to secure a suitable replacement. The lawsuit alleges that Brett Rogers, Emeliankenko's opponent this weekend, was "ready, willing, and able" to fight Fedor at Trilogy and Affliction "elected to serve it's own financial interests at the expense of its partners." Stay tuned for more on the issue as details surface.
- UFC lightweight Corey Hill and middleweight Patrick Cote will both return to the octagon in 2010. Both fighters suffered injuries in their last fights and have been sidelined for some time now. Hill is expected to return in January while Cote mentioned on his Facebook page that he aims to return in April.
- The UFC has added another fight to UFC Fight Night 20 from Fairfax, Virginia in January. Nick Cotone will fight Steve Steinbeiss in a middleweight bout with both of their UFC futures on the line.

Bad Blood Between Paul and Rondo, Usain Bolt Adopts a Cheetah (SERIOUSLY), Ginobilli Getting Heat from PETA for Swatting Bat?

After reading about the scuffle between Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul in Sunday's Celtics-Hornets game, its obvious: these two guys don't like each other. At two points in the game, the two were tied up and exchanged pleasantries. In the second quarter, the two players were fighting for position under the basket during a Ray Allen 3-point shot. After the shot was hoisted, the two players came face to face and exchanged words before referees split the two up. Both players were assessed technical fouls. After the buzzer sounded at the end of the game, Paul proceeded towards the Celtic bench, which is not customary during a road loss, and greeted players from the opposing team. Rondo approached Paul and walked into him while Paul raised his hands in the air. Paul then attempted to follow Rondo into the locker room and had to be restrained by Celtics assistant coaches until Hornets head coach Byron Scott came to retrieve his player. After the game, both players had little to say about the incident but it was obvious the two have bad blood pouring over from comments made in the off-season. Paul took a sarcastic shot at Rondo after the game saying: "Rondo is a lucky guy to play with guys like Pierce, Allen and Garnett," Paul said with a sly smile. Mark February 10th on your calendar. Both teams will meet again in New Orleans and I expect the point guard rivalry to continue. Should be interesting as the season goes on. A clip of the incident is posted in the Featured Videos Section.

The fastest man in the world has acquainted himself with the fastest animal in the world. While touring Kenya recently, 100-meter record holder Usain Bolt visited the Nairobi animal sanctuary and adopted a young cheetah. The sanctuary allowed him to name the cat and fittingly, he named it "Lightning Bolt". It seems like such an oxymoron but I thought it was interesting. Above is a picture of Bolt with his new feline friend. 

 One of the wackiest things I've ever watched during a basketball game took place on Halloween night. During a game between the San Antonio Spurs and Sacramento Kings on Saturday, a bat was loose in the arena. Play was stopped late in the game, when the bat started flying at court-level. As the bat flew by Spurs G/F Manu Ginbobili, he swated the bat out of the air and handed it off to an arena staff member before play resumed. The Video, which you can check out in the Featured Videos section, has been a hit on the internet garnering laughs from a lot of people. PETA doesn't think it's funny. The animal awareness group released a statement yesterday:

"Here's our take on it: To bludgeon a 4-ounce animal to death, it takes a small man or a totally unthinking one-with no respect or consideration for lives humbler than his own. This is a time when athletes in particular need to be on their best behavior around any animal and show that they have brains and heart, not just reactionary brawn."

It seems as though they are trying to make a link between this incident and the Michael Vick fiasco that has been a headline since his return to the NFL after spending time in jail for dog-fighting and animal cruelty charges. It is a ridiculous assessment and I think anyone can understand in this case. You can't even prove Ginobili's intention was to hurt the bat. To make a statement of that magnitude is fairly naive and a little far-fetched. PETA needs to back off a little, give athletes some space and RELAX!

News & Notes

MLB

- World Series Update: A re-match of game 1 starters will see Yankees P A.J. Burnett take on Phillies P Cliff Lee in game 5 tonight from Philadelphia. The Yanks currently hold a 3-1 lead in series and could wrap-up the series tonight. Prior to the series, Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins predicted that the Phillies would re-peat and take the series in 5 games. There is now no chance that his prediction will become reality and the Phillies really have their backs against the wall in this one. It should make for an exciting one.
- Last week, the St. Louis Cardinals officially signed former-Cardinal and controversial 1B Mark McGwire as their hitting coach. The move has caused quite a stir. McGwire is infamously known for his role in the "steroid" era and his non-testimony in front of congress when he refused to talk about taking steroids. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is not reporting that Cardinals manager Tony LaRusa is responsible for hiring McGwire as the hitting coach. The signing came after it was uncertain if LaRusa would return to coach the club. It ensures that he will stick on with the club for at least one more year.
- The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the Boston Red Sox are preparing a 4 year/$60 million contract for free-agent OF Jason Bay. The Giants are expected to make a play for Bay as well.

NBA

- According to Yahoo! Sports, the Boston Celtics and PG Rajon Rondo have come to an agreement on a five-year contract extension. The deal is rumoured to be close to $55 million.
- New York Knicks G Nate Robinson will miss tonight's game against the New Orleans Hornets and could be out of the lineup for 1-2 weeks with a sprained ankle.
- Indiana Pacers C Jeff Foster will be sidelined for two weeks with a right ankle sprain.
- The NBA announced today that New York Knicks F Al Harrington has been fined $25,000 for criticizing officials on Friday.
- The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that former NBA referee Tim Donaghy will be released from prison on Wednesday. Donaghy will have completed his 15 month sentence for providing inside information to gamblers.
- Memphis Grizzlies G Allen Iverson will make his debut with the team tonight against the Sacramento Kings. It will be his first game in a Grizzlies' uniform.
- Milwaukee Bucks SG Michael Redd will be sidelined for at least 2 weeks with a left knee injury he suffered in Saturday's win against the Detroit Pistons.
- Near the end of Sunday night's game against the Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies teammates G O.J. Mayo and SF Rudy Gay got into a heated argument and had to be separated on the bench. During a timeout late in the fourth quarter, Gay took exception to a comment made by Mayo about his teammates not getting back on defense. Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins and teammates needed to split the two up. After the game Hollins told reporters: "They get along. They're just competitors. They both want to succeed."
- Orlando Magic C Dwight Howard and Denver Nuggets SF Carmelo Anthony were named Eastern and Western conference players of the week on Monday. Howard led the Magic to a 3-0 start to the season while averaging 21.7 pts, 16.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks during that stretch. Anthony's Nuggets also started the season 3-0. He averaged 37.7 points, shooting .536 from the field to go along with 7.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists per contest.

NFL

- According to ESPN, Cleveland Browns RB Jamal Lewis announced on Sunday that he will retire from football at the end of the season. "When I talk, I mean what I say and I think you all know that," Lewis said. He has 10,456 career rushing yards.
- The San Diego Chargers released WR Chris Chambers today, according to the Associated Press. The move comes as a surprise. Chambers made a key catch in Sunday's 24-16 win over the Oakland Raiders.
- Cleveland Browns GM George Kokinis was escorted out of the team's facility on Monday by security. The Plain Dealer is reporting that Kokinis was fired. The team has yet to comment. "Kokinis is a great guy who does not deserve this. He is taking the fall for the team's problems and it's not right," said one league source.
- According to ESPN, New Orleans Saints DT Sedrick Ellis will miss 4-6 weeks of action with a sprained MCL. He suffered the injury against the Miami Dolphins last week.
- Houston Texans TE Owen Daniels will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a right knee injury during Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills.

NHL

- A federal bankruptcy judge has approved the sale of the Phoenix Coyotes to the NHL. The NHL will pay team owner Jerry Moyes $140 million for the club.
- Washington Capitals LW Alexander Ovechkin will miss at least one game but is listed by the team as day-to-day with an upper body injury.
- Philadelphia Flyers RW Simon Gagne is expected to miss the next 6-8 weeks to recover from abdominal and hip surgery. He will have the procedures done on Tuesday.
- The NHL has suspended Anaheim Ducks D James Wisnewski for 2 games without pay for a forearm he delivered to the head of Coyotes F Shane Doan on Saturday night.
- On Sunday, New York Rangers G Henrik Lundqvist recorded his 150th career victory and 21st career shutout in a 1-0 win over the Boston Bruins.

MMA

- MMAjunkie is reporting that Kimbo Slice will take on Houston Alexander at The Ultimate Fighter Finale on December 5th. Kimbo weighed in at 230 lbs prior to his loss to Roy Nelson on the TV show. Houston Alexander is a light-heavyweight and the two will fight at a heavyweight catchweight of 205 lbs. Should make for an interesting fight. Both fighters have a similar stand-up style. Kimbo will be looking to make a statement and Alexander will be looking to end the "buzz" about Kimbo.
- Lightweight fighter Josh Neer has been released by the UFC. He lost his last two fights and the writing was on the wall. The UFC made the announcement over the weekend.
- The UFC has announced that they will hold an event in Boston in 2010. A bill was recently passed to regulate mixed martial arts in Massachusetts.
- John Fitch has agreed to fight Mike Pierce at UFC 107 in December. Both fighters were left without opponents due to injuries.

I'm Back!, Jays interested in Milton Bradley?, The Return of Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre Could be a Bit Delayed

Just a quick note. Wanted to let all the followers know that I am back from my one-week hiatus! I had to take some time off to deal with some things but I'm ready to continue bringing you daily updates from around the sports world. This will be the first official post since my return. Thanks for the continuous support! Don't forget to spread the word about The Neary Report. My goal is to build a strong fan-base before taking my blog to the next level. I need everyone's help. If you haven't already, add yourself as a follower of the site in the right column and become a fan of the Neary Report on Facebook.

MLB Trade Rumours has reported that the Toronto Blue Jays may be interested in disgruntled Chicago Cubs OF Milton Bradley. The Cubs have made it clear that they will shop Bradley this off-season along with the 2 years and $21 million left on his contract. I reported last month that the Tampa Bay Rays were in talks with the Cubs about a potential swap for Bradley in exchange for Rays OF Pat Burrell. Bob Elliot of the Toronto Sun suggested earlier in the week that Jays CF Vernon Wells is a possible trade candidate to land Bradley and the suggestion was backed by unnamed Cubs' officials. "It's early on, but we think this one has some legs," said one Cubs official. "But they aren't the only team we are talking with". Wells has one of the worst contracts in baseball. He is still owed $107 million over the next 5 years and isn't a good baseball player which makes it unlikely he'll be dealt unless the Jays pick up a large sum of the money left on his deal.  Elliot also suggested that if a potential deal was reached between the Cubs and Jays, the "Cubs idea is to split the difference on money owed". Originally, it seemed almost impossible for the Jays to move Wells. In this scenario, the Jays would be forced to take on a player labeled a clubhouse "cancer" throughout his career in Bradley but would only be tied up to the player for two years. If the Jays plan to rebuild in the near future, this could be the type of move that could give the club flexibility in the long-run. It will be interesting to see what kind of moves new Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos will make this off-season and which direction the team will take. Check back for Jays updates throughout the off-season.

It looks as though UFC Welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre and UFC Middleweight champ Anderson Silva may have to put their comeback plans on hold due to lagging injuries. Both fighters planned to return to the octagon early in the new year but are now expected to be sidelined for a longer period of time. Silva was scheduled to take on Vitor Beflort in a title bout at UFC 106 in January. It is unknown whether or not Silva will be ready in time after undergoing elbow surgery recently. The fight has yet to be rescheduled and a decision will most likely be made a month prior to the bout. St. Pierre is also recovering from a groin injury that he suffered in a July title defense against Thiago Silva. He was expected to be a part of the headliner at UFC 109 in February, but may not be ready to return until early March. Yahoo Sports! reported that Silva-Belfort could be moved to fill the main event. An opponent for St. Pierre's next match has yet to be determined. The most likely candidate for a title match-up would be the winner between John Fitch and Dan Hardy. Stay tuned for continuous MMA coverage.

PLEASE CHECK BACK LATER THIS WEEK FOR NEW UPDATES. I AM REALLY BUSY THIS WEEK AND NEED TO TAKE SOME TIME OFF TO DEAL WITH SOME THINGS. I AM SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE CONTINUOUS SUPPORT.

LATE BREAKING NEWS

According to ESPN, the Portland Trailblazers have come to terms on a contract extension for PF LaMarcus Aldridge. The extension is for 5 years and $65 million, which is $15 million shy of the maximum. Through incentives, the deal could be worth up to $70 million. I've been reporting for some time now that Aldridge was in contract talks with his team and both sides would likely get a deal done before the start of the regular season and that goal was achieved.

News & Notes

MLB

- St. Louis Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols will underwent surgery today to remove five bone spurs from his right elbow. according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. He is expected to be ready for the start of spring training.
- Fox Sports is also reporting that Los Angeles Dodgers OF Manny Ramirez was in the shower when the Philadelphia Phillies mounted a 9th inning comeback to eliminate the Dodgers from the post-season. Dodgers manager Joe Torre wasn't surprised by his star players' early exit. "Manny has so much confidence," Torre told reporters. "When we get a lead late in a game, and I've taken him out, whether it be for defense or we have a big lead, when we go to shake hands after the game, he's in his street clothes."
- Philadelphia Phillies 1B Ryan Howard ties Lou Gehrig's RBI streak record with a home-run in the first inning of Monday night's game against the Dodgers. He has had RBIs in eight straight post-season games.
- The MLB has cleared New York Yankees P Mariano Rivera from any wrongdoing in Monday's game against the Angels. A blogger posted on Tuesday morning that Rivera had spit on the baseball before throwing it. Video was also posted all over the internet showing Rivera spitting on the baseball. The commissioner's office claimed that they found no evidence in video review that the allegations were true. Check the Featured Videos section for the clip.
- According to the Boston Globe, the Red Sox have approached former San Diego Padres GM Kevin Towers about a front-office job with the team.
- ESPN analyst Steve Phillips has been suspended for a week because of an affair that was brought to surface in a New York Post report earlier this week. According to the report, Phillips had a fling with a 22-year-old production assistant who taunted his wife with phone calls and letters bragging about the affair. Phillips admitted to his wife and police that he had slept with his co-worker over the summer before breaking off the relationship.

NBA

- According to ESPN, NBA commissioner David Stern called an emergency meeting with the referees' union on Tuesday to discuss getting a deal done to get the referees back on the court as soon as possible. The NBA's new offer is said to have been approved by the referee union executive board and is expected to be accepted by the referees themselves very soon. "A lot is happening behind the scenes," one source said.
- The Minnesota Timberwolves have lost C/F Al Jefferson indefinitely with an injured Achilles' tendon. Minnesota is already without C/F Kevin Love. Until the team can get both players back, they will be very thin at both big positions.
- Charlotte Bobcats G/F Raja Bell has a partially torn ligament in his right wrist that may require major surgery. He sustained the injury in a pre-season game with the Utah Jazz on Sunday. The procedure would keep him sidelined for up to four months. It was rumoured that Bell was being shopped by the team.
- The Dallas Mavericks have traded C/F Nathan Jawai to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a future 2nd round pick. The Timberwolves lack front-court depth after losing both Al Jefferson and Kevin Love to injuries in the pre-season and needed to make some sort of move although Jawai isn't the answers to their problems.

NFL

- The Chicago Bears and QB Jake Cutler have agreed on two-year extension that will keep him with the team through the 2013 season. The deal is worth $30 million.
- Indianapolis Colts S Bob Sanders could make his season debut this Sunday against the St. Louis Rams. He has been out of action after having surgery on his right knee this off-season.
- The New England Patriots have released WR Joey Galloway on Tuesday. He has not been on the Patriots' active roster for three weeks.
- The Kansas City Chiefs have traded DL Tank Tyler to the Carolina Panthers for a fifth-round pick in the 2010 NFL draft.

NHL

- The Buffalo Sabres have traded LW Daniel Paille to the Boston Bruins in exchange for a third and a fifth round pick in the 2010 NHL draft.
- According to the Associated Press, Boston Bruins C Marc Savard will be out of action for 4-6 with a broken left foot. The team reported an injury on Wednesday but did not list that he injured his foot.
- Pittsburgh Penguins star D Sergei Gonchar broke his wrist during a 4-1 win over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. The injury will not require surgery but he is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.
-The Dallas Stars have moved C Mike Modano and W Jere Lehtinen to the IR list on Wednesday. Modano injured his ribs during the season opener while Lehtinen injured his groin last week.

MMA

- The UFC has announced more fights for UFC Fight Night 20 on January 11th, 2010 from Fairfax, Virginia including the headliner, Nate Diaz vs. Gray Maynard. It will be a re-match of the Ultimate Fighter 5 semi-final match-up. In their first fight, Diaz submitted Maynard with gullotine choke in the second round to secure the victory. Diaz moved on to win the reality show. The UFC also announced a preliminary bout between Rafael dos Anjos and Kyle Bradley.
- The UFC has signed undefeated heavyweight prospect Rolles Gracie. He will make his debut at UFC 109 against Mustapha Al-Turk.
- According to MMAjunkie, Mark Munoz will meet Ryan Jensen at UFC 108.

Showalter to Manage Jays?, Did Police Properly Investigate the Death of Steve McNair?, Bills Fans Raise Money to Get Jauron Out of Town, Maccabi Coach Stands-Off Against Replacement Referees

Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star suggested over the weekend that Buck Showalter is a perfect fit as manager of the Blue Jays. Late in the season, rumours spread of the clubhouse rift between the players and current Jays manager Cito Gaston. Gaston could very well be on his way out this winter and Showalter, who is currently an analyst for ESPN, has said in the past that he is open to managing in the majors again. He has a history of developing young teams and working with struggling clubs. He could be the right fit if the team decides to go into rebuilding mode. To check out Richard Griffin's Toronto Star blog, click the link. Check back next week for a full Toronto Blue Jays Season in Review in the Stories section of the website.

CBS News is currently investigating the shooting death of former NFL QB Steve McNair and his girlfriend, Sahel Kazimi. Police have concluded their investigation, determining that McNair was murdered by his girlfriend before she proceeded to kill herself with a gun she purchased. The probe raises serious allegations about whether or not the police investigated the incident properly. CBS correspondent Armen Keteyian reported that he investigated the case for three months and uncovered errors made by police. One in particular about the murder weapon that really raises eyebrows. Police claim that Kazimi purchased the gun during a two-hour period she was absent from work. Keteyian is reporting that police are wrong about the date Kazimi was a-wall from work for two hours and that there are major questions about whether she purchased the weapon at all. CBS is promising to release another "big" mistake made by police during the investigation on Tuesday. Check back tomorrow for more updates on the situation. Police will have a lot of explaining to do if allegations are proven to be true.

The Buffalo Bills are off to a horrible start after a promising 2008-2009 campaign. Fans are already starting to point the finger at new head coach Dick Jauron. How about this for a story. A group of Bills fans raised money online to purchase a billboard along Interstate 190 in Buffalo. This is the message that the digital board reads: "It's time to clean house, RALPH (Bills owner Ralph Wilson)". It then lists the names of three members of the Bills coaching staff including Jauron. The billboard was turned on last night. How about that for a message.

Another funny story came to surface on Sunday. During a pre-season game between Euroleague team Maccabi Tel Aviv and the New York Knicks, Maccabi head coach Pini Gershon refused to leave the court after being ejected for receiving two technical fouls. The delay lasted for over 8 minutes and drew "Maccabi" chants from the crowd and laughter from players and personnel of both teams. Gershon was caught winking and chuckling at the camera himself numerous times during the stand-off. At one point, a local Rabbi was on the court pleading referees to allow the coach to stay in the game. If you didn't catch it on the highlights, check out my Featured Videos section for a clip of the incident. There has been much criticism in the pre-season over the replacement referees the NBA plans on using this season. Several coaches and players have been fined already for comments made about the suspect refereeing. Until the NBA can come to some sort of agreement with their referees, this will continue to be a hot topic as the regular season progresses.

News & Notes

MLB

- Seattle Mariners C Kenji Johjima has decided to leave the team and the $24 million left on his contract to finish his career in Japan. Johjima hasn't lived up to the hype, partially because of age. The Mariners won't be upset about the cap flexibility.
- The New York Daily news reported over the weekend that Many Acta is the leading candidate to become the next manager of the Cleveland Indians. Former Indians' manager Eric Wedge was let go prior to the conclusion of the regular season. ESPN is now reporting that former analyst and MLB manager, Bobby Valentine is also in the running for the vacant managerial position.
- According to the Toronto Sun, the Blue Jays are interested in bringing back free-agents C Rod Barajas and SS Marco Scutaro. Both players will garner significant raises after good years with the team. GM Alex Anthopoulos won't know if the team can afford both players until ownership releases the budget at the end of the month.
- The Arizona Diamonbacks are expected to try to move SS Stephen Drew in the off-season. The Boston Globe is suggesting that the Red Sox could be interested in his services and will look to make a play for Drew in the off-season. Stephen's brother J.D. plays right field for the Red Sox.
- The Boston Globe is also speculating that Don Mattingley could replace Joe Torre as manager when his contract expires after the 2010 season. Torre told reporters last week that he plans on taking a step back from baseball when his contract is up.

NBA

- Minnesota Timberwolves C/F Kevin Love will undergo surgery to repair a fractured left hand on Tuesday. Love sustained the injury bumping into his own teammate, Oleksiy Pecherov in pre-season action last Friday against the Chicago Bulls. He will be re-evaluated after the procedure to determine a timeline for his return.
- The New York Post is claiming that sources close to the situation revealed that Indiana Pacers GM Larry Bird will retire after this season.
- The Milwaukee Bucks plan on starting Kurt Thomas at the power forward position. Thomas was acquired over the summer in a deal that sent SF Richard Jefferson to the San Antonio Spurs.
- The Utah Jazz must decide on the contracts of G/F Ronnie Brewer and second-year C Kosta Koufos prior to the start of the regular season. The Deseret News is reporting that the team is currently planning on picking up the 2009-2010 contract option on the contract of Koufos and would like to extend Brewer long-term. It will be interesting to see if they can get the deals done in time.
- The Los Angeles Daily Times is reporting that SF Ron Artest revealed on Sunday that he hired a sports psychologist last season to help him deal with anger issues he's been infamous for his entire career. "The main thing is that I can sense when something's wrong, and when I need to figure it out, I go down and talk to her," Artest told reporters.

NFL

- On Sunday, Green Bay Packers WR Donald Driver became the team's all-time receiving leader. In the first quarter of the game against the Detroit Lions, Driver made a 5-yard catch to pass Sterling Sharpe with 596 career receptions.
- New England Patriots QB Tom Brady threw an NFL record, 5 touchdown passes, in a 45-0 abomination of the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
- Buffalo Bills QB Trent Edwards left Sunday's game against the New York Jets in the 2nd quarter with a concussion. He will be out of the lineup indefinitely. The Bills went on to complete the upset, scoring a field goal in over time to take the 16-13 win over the Jets.
- New York Jets star nose takle, Kris Jenkins is out for the season with a torn ACL in his left knee. He injured the knee in Sundays loss to the Buffalo Bills. This is a huge loss for a team looking to contend. He is their leader on defense and a huge force on the D-line. He will be missed.
- Atlanta Falcons CB Brian Williams is out for the season with a torn ligament in his knee.
- Cincinnati Bengals DE Antwan Odom will miss the remainder of the season because of a torn Achilles.  He sustained the injury during the Bengals' loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday.
- Arizona Cardinals WR Anqaun Boldin suffered a high ankle sprain in the team's win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. He didn't finish the game but is not expected to miss any games because of the injury.

NHL

- According to ESPN, Boston Bruins LW Milan Lucic will be out of action for 4-6 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair an injured index  finger. He suffered the injury Friday night against the Dallas Stars and underwent the procedure on Sunday. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks time.
- On Sunday, the Boston Bruins traded RW Chuck Kobasew to the Minnesota Wild for RW Craig Weller and RW Alexander Fallstrom. The Wild also sent a 2011 2nd round pick to Boston in the deal.
- ESPN.com is reporting that Chicago Blackhawks F Marian Hossa skated on Friday for the first time since shoulder surgery in the off-season. After singing a 12-year/$62.8M free-agent deal with the team in July, Hossa underwent rotator cuff surgery. No timetable has been set for his return.
- Phoenix Coyotes G Ilya Bryzgalov has been named the "NHL's first star" for the week ending Oct. 18. Colorado Avalanche G Craig Anderson was named the second star and Washington Capitals LW Alexander Ovechkin was named the third star.
- New Jersey Devils G Martin Brodeur recorded his 102nd career shutout on Saturday night when the Devils defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 2-0. Brodeur is now one shutout away from tying Terry Sawchuk's NHL career record.
- The Nashville Predators have signed 2009 1st round pick (11th overall) D Ryan Ellis to a three-year entry-level deal. Due to team policy, terms were not disclosed.

MMA

- Yahoo Sports! reported last week that free-agent middleweight fighter Dan Henderson was close to coming to a contract with Strikeforce. He responded Friday, telling MMA Weekly that he would like to return to the UFC but is weighing all his options. "I'm still hoping to come to terms with the UFC, until I heard this. And I will be exploring other options for sure, but I definitely need to make sure I get paid. I've never seen an offer from (Strikeforce)," said Henderson.
- The UFC has announced numerous fights for the following events:

UFC Fight Night 20:

Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce

Chris Leben vs. Jay Silva

Efrain Escudero vs. Nik Lentz

Tom Lawlor vs. Aaron Simpson

Rick Story vs. Jesse Lennox

UFC 106:

Brock Larson vs. Brian Foster

UFC 108:

Carlos Condit vs. Paul Daley

Tyson Griffin vs. Jim Miller (in the works according to MMAjunkie)

UFC 109:

Demian Maia vs. Dan Miller

Top-Ten Fantasy Centers

1) Dwight Howard- He is a beast. By far the best at his position. He will lead the league in blocks and rebounds, shoot over 50% from the field and will average close to 25 points a game. I would never suggest taking a big man like Howard in the first round although his numbers are quite tantalizing. He is a terrible free throw shooter and turns the ball over frequently. Those are two important fantasy stats. Buyer beware. If you can build around him with players who make up for his deficiencies, he is an excellent pick.

2) Al Jefferson- Although he isn't a true center, he puts up big-time numbers on a young, not-so-talented Timberwolves team. He takes up a lot of space down low, and is good for 20 and 10 every night. It will be interesting to see how his game progresses this year and if he can stay healthy. He's an adequate free-throw shooter and doesn't turn the ball over as much as Howard. I had him last year and it really panned out for me.

3) Amar'e Stoudemire- With Shaq out of town, Amar'e will have a lot of space to do what he does best down low. A move back to the 5 position is a bonus for fantasy owners. He can score in bunches and he will rebound and block shots a lot more because of the Suns' lack of depth at the position. Amar'e and Steve Nash have great chemistry and I think we will see a lot of that this year with a lot more room for Amar'e to operate. I expect him to have a big comeback season.

4) Brook Lopez- I might take some heat for this pick. I really liked him in college and think his game will really grow this year. Drafting him high is not really that risky though. He does a lot of good things with regards to fantasy. He shoots a good free throw and field goal percentage, doesn't turn the ball over much, rebounds and blocks shots. A lot of teams limit play time for younger big men. I think this year, the Nets will rely more on Lopez. He will be one of the go-to guys and will log close to 30 minutes a night. Expect good things from the Nets' center this season.

5) Nene Hillario- He is definitely a health risk but the numbers are too attractive to sleep on this guy. He shoots good percentages, plays defense, doesn't turn the ball over and rebounds with the best of them. He's looked good so far this pre-season and will look to make a big impact in Denver this year.

6) Andrea Bargnani- He might not be one of the best centers; he might not even be a true center, but Bargnani might be a huge surprise for fantasy owners this year. His ability to fill it up behind the ark, block shots and shoot a nice percentage at the free-throw line is key when talking fantasy. With rumours of Bosh being traded swirling, Bargnani could really be a surprise for anyone who takes him. He should also benefit from Hedo Turkoglu's presence. It will open up the floor a lot more for the former number one overall pick.

7) Shaquille O'Neal- He is really hard to predict. He put up some big numbers last season but will be a role player on a Cleveland squad, led by LeBron James. I still expect him to be a viable fantasy option. He is still a huge presence down low and should put up solid rebounding and block numbers. Everyone knows about his free-throw shooting woes and his fading age but I think he is still relevant. This makes for a risky pick but when I took him as my second option last year, he became my starter when Yao went out and really picked up the slack.

8) Andris Biedrins-  Biedrins is a mini Dwight Howard. He does a lot of the same things, just not in "bulk". He is the only true big-man on the Warriors and pulls down a lot of rebounds, can block some shots and shoots well from the field. He won't score as much as Howard nor is he the defensive force that D12 is. Regardless, you know what you get with Biedrins and he is a solid fantasy player.

9) Al Horford- He is healthy and will get a lot more touches in Atlanta this season. Hawks coach Mike Woodson has said repeatedly that he expects the young center to be a lot more involved in the offense this year. On top of that, he shoots good percentages, he's a solid defender and rebounds the ball very effectively. He is a really safe pick for fantasy owners.

10) Mehmet Okur- Okur's game is very similar to Bargnani but age is a factor. He's hit his ceiling and isn't getting any better at this point in his career. The team will also play Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap a lot more together which might affect Okur. He is one of the better shooting big-men in the league, he can pass, rebound and block shots as well. If Boozer gets traded, his numbers will rise drastically.

Honourable Mentions: Marcus Camby, Andrew Bynum, Emeka Okafor, Tyson Chandler, Marc Gasol, Greg Oden, Brad Miller

LATE BREAKING NEWS

According to Fox Sports Cleveland Cavalier star F Lebron James has tested positive for Influenza A and is being treated as if he has the swine flu. James has yet to receive the results of the tests for H1N1 virus, which is a strain of Influenza A. Six Cavaliers players are currently suffering from flu-like symptoms. James returned to practice Thursday and will travel with the team. Check back for updates on the situation.

News & Notes

MLB

- New York Mets GM Omar Minaya could lose his job this off-season. A New York Post report stated that MLB insider Peter Gammons stated that Minaya is only "out there to take the heat," according to the report. With the team under-performing, the general manager's job security has been in question all season. This could be the beginning of the end for Minaya.
- Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre doesn't plan on coaching past the 2010 season. "I have one year on my contract and I don't anticipate it being more than that," Torre told the Associated Press.
- Soon-to-be free-agent, P Jason Marquis will not re-sign with the Colorado Rockies in the off-season. After a career year, Marquis will have a little more pull in the free-agent process. Reports last week had him landing in New York with the Mets.
- According to the Boston Herald, the Red Sox will pursue Canadian P Rich Harden this off-season. Harden's career has been plagued with injuries but his pitching ability will garner some looks in the off-season.

NBA

- Washington Wizards F Antwan Jamison injured his right shoulder in a pre-season game with the Cleveland Cavaliers last night. After the game, Jamison said his arm went numb and he lost sensation in his fingers. Doctors will continue to do tests this week to determine the extent of the injury. Check back for more updates.
- According to the Oregonian, the Portland Trail Blazers and PF LaMarcus Aldridge are close to a long-term extension. Talks began at the start of training camp and GM Kevin Pritchard told the paper that the two sides are "moving towards a deal".  Realistically, they would like a deal completed before the season starts.
- Toronto Raptors PF Reggie Evans is out indefinitely with a left mild-foot sprain. He sustained the injury in the 2nd quarter of last night's game against the Boston Celtics. He is expected to miss the rest of the pre-season. He will be re-evaluated next week.
- The Golden State Warriors have exercised 2010-2011 contract options on both PF Brandon Wright and F Anthony Randolph.
- Shawn Marion told ESPN that he will be out of action for 7-10 days with a lingering sore left calf. He expects to be ready for the start of the season.

NFL

- The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that the Eagles and head coach Andy Reid are close to an extension that will keep Reid with the team long-term.
- The Kansas City Chiefs have announced the signing of free-agent LB Justin Rodgers. Financial terms were not disclosed. Rogers played with the Dallas Cowboys last season.

NHL

- On Wednesday night, the New York Rangers stretched their winning-streak to six games with a 4-2 win at home over the Los Angeles Kings.
- Dallas Stars D Steve Ott is out for at least a week with a right oblique injury.
- Reports out of Buffalo confirm that injured Sabres F Thomas Vanek could return to the team by the weekend. I reported earlier this week that Vanek had suffered a upper-body injury that would keep him out of action for 1-2 weeks.

MMA

- The UFC has signed undefeated KOTC champ Rory MacDonald to a four-fight deal. The Canadian welterweight sports a 9-0 record and will make his octagon debut early next year.
- In another report, the UFC is planning on throwing MacDonald into action to face Mike Guymon at UFC Fight Night 20 on January 11th. The event will be held at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia.

Top-Ten Fantasy Power Forwards

1) Chris Bosh- This may seem like a homer pick but I stand by my selection. After closely watching Chris Bosh and his larger frame and new attitude on the court, he seems to be putting in more effort to rebound and play under the basket. He's looked good so far and I think he will have a HUGE year. With free-agency lurking, he must impress. The Raptors look like this may be the most talented roster they've ever had and Bosh will lead the charge. Many would have Dirk or Duncan in this spot but I don't feel the same. I will stick by this one. Don't forget that it's a big contract year.

2) Dirk Nowitzki- He does a lot of things on the court. He can shoot from anywhere, get to the free throw line, rebound, block shots, pass and he logs a lot of minutes. He has always been a great fantasy performer and nothing about that should change much. Marion will compliment his game more so than take away from Dirk's looks. Look for Dirk to be in the top-ten in fantasy rankings again at the end of this season.

3) Tim Duncan- The "Big Fundamental" is also Mr. Consistent. He will be a 20/10 guy for as long as he decides to stay in the league. The only issue with Duncan is he doesn't do much else. He can score, rebound and block shots but doesn't do much in regards to assists, steals or free-throw percentage. You know what you're getting with Duncan and he is always a solid fantasy pick. Don't expect much to change with regards to his numbers.

4) Antwan Jamison- Jamison is a career double-double guy. One of a handful of players. He is the definition of consistency. You know what you are getting with this guy. There is really no downfall in his game. If he can be healthy and demand minutes, he will produce. He is always a great pick-up in fantasy leagues.

5) Zach Randolph- Even though he isn't a good team player, that means nothing in regards to fantasy. He puts up big numbers, plays on mediocre teams and that's all that really matters. He is another one of the career 20/10 guys and will continue to put those numbers up in Memphis. He isn't my favourite player but I can tell you he's been on my fantasy team a couple times in the last few years. He's a true sleeper.

6) Kevin Garnett- Surprisingly, KG could be the big sleeper this year. Fantasy owners will be weary to take him because of the injury issues. I think KG can get through it. He's looked good in the pre-season and is one of the toughest players out there. Two years ago, his numbers were on the decline because of the supporting cast in Boston, but he is an all-around guy and fills up the stat sheet. I truly believe he belongs higher than this but it was too risky to gamble.

7) Pau Gasol- He proved last year that he can keep his numbers up, while playing alongside Kobe, Lamar and Ariza. There's no reason he can't average the same kind of numbers this year. He has chemistry with teammates and that will only grow over time. A 7-footer who can pass and rebound always bodes well in fantasy land. Another good option at the 4.

8) LaMarcus Aldridge- Big men take longer to develop and I predict that Aldridge has a break-out year. He showed signs last year of becoming on of the elite big-men in the league. If Portland can sign him to extension before the season starts, it will only benefit the player. His numbers are destined to improve this year and he could be one of the bigger fantasy surprises this year. Don't hesitate to take him if he's available.

9) Carlos Boozer- I wish I could have Boozer higher on the list but there are too many question marks. He will share minutes with Paul Millsap, who some believe has more potential than Boozer. A lot of trade rumours surrounded Boozer in the off-season because of Utah's depth at PF. If he gets traded, he will be one of the top 5 at his position by the end of the year.

10) Blake Griffin- I expect Griffin to make an immediate impact in his first season in the NBA. The Clippers did a good job of moving Zach Randolph to give Griffin the space he needs to grow. His size and athleticism should make for an exciting rookie campaign. He should average close to 20/10. He is no slouch on defense and takes the ball to the basket whenever he gets the chance (free throws). This may be a risky pick but I think Griffin will be just fine.

Honourable Mentions: David Lee, Troy Murphy, Charlie Villaneuva, Paul Millsap, Al Harrington, Elton Brand, Lamar Odom