News & Notes

MLB

- On Monday night, the Los Angeles Angels clinched the AL West division with their 11-0 route of the Texas Rangers. This will be the team's third consecutive AL West title and ninth playoff appearance in franchise history. After the game, a lot of the players attributed the win to the late P Nick Adenhart, who died earlier this year in a car crash.
- According to the Toronto Sun, Toronto Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston may be having second thoughts about keeping P Roy Halladay in Toronto past this season. "If we don't add anybody this winter,  or go get somebody that can help, I doubt we keep him," Gaston told reporters. Until now, Gaston has been optimistic in regards to next season. It will be interesting to see if he stick on with the team for much longer.
- New York Mets 3B David Wright was benched in Sunday's game against the Atlanta Braves for showing an uncharacteristic lack of hustle in Saturday's match-up. In Mondays game against the Braves, Wright was slow to home and because of it, forced an out at second. Wright apologized to teammates after the game.

NBA

- Cleveland Cavaliers troubled G Delonte West was a no show for the first day of training camp on Tuesday. Last week, a story came to surface when West was arrested for gun possession. At media day on Monday, West told reporters he was struggling to stay on the medication to manage a mood disorder but wouldn't discuss the arrest. Expect some kind of discipline when he returns to the team
- The Detroit Pistons have signed PG Chucky Atikins and C/PF Maceo Baston to non-guaranteed deals and have invited the two to training camp.
- The Boston Celtics have finally signed rookie G Lester Hudson to an entry-level contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
- Los Angeles Clippers rookie PF Blake Griffin will start the season coming off the bench. The 2009 first overall pick will be coming into a new system and coach Mike Dunleavy Sr. would like to start the season with his starting five from last year in tact.
- The Memphis Grizzlies have given G Marko Jaric permission to seek a trade. If the veteran can not find a new home, the Grizzlies plan to work on a buy-out with the player's agent.

NFL

- The Philadelphia Eagles have re-signed MLB Jeremiah Trotter to a one-year deal and added him to the roster. Financial terms were not disclosed. To clear space for Trotter, the Eagles also released recently-signed QB Jeff Garcia.
- San Francisco 49ers RB Frank Gore will be sidelined 2-3 weeks because of a right ankle strain. Gore injured his ankle in the 49ers 27-24 loss to the Vikings on Sunday.
- Indianapolis Colts DE Dwight Freeney is expected to miss the next two weeks with a right quadriceps injury. Freeney suffered the injury during the third quarter of the Colts' 31-10 route of the Cardinals on Sunday.
- RealGM has reported that the Miami Dolphins have acquired QB Tyler Thigpen from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for an undisclosed selection in the 2010 draft. In another move, the team placed QB Chad Pennington on the injured reserve list.
- Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Rothlisberger will host WWE Monday Night Raw next week.

NHL

- The Associated Press is reporting that Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will play in the season opener on Thursday. Crosby practiced with the team for the first time since returning from a groin injury on Tuesday. Definitely good news for the Pens.
- The Calgary Flames have trade former-Leaf D Anton Strallman to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a third round pick in the 2010 draft.
- The Phoenix Coyotes have signed former-Leaf tough guy LW Ryan Hollweg to a one-year deal. As per club policy, terms were not disclosed.
- The Atlanta Thrashers have released G Many Legace and D Dan Fritsche.

MMA

- Dan Hardy will fight Mike Swick at UFC 105 in a number one contender match. The winner will take on Canadian welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre when he returns from injury in the new year.
- Joe Lauzon vs. Sam Stout has been added to the UFC 108 card. The event will be headlined by a title fight between middleweight champ Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort.
- UFC middleweight Yoshihiro Akiyama has committed to training with Shawn Tompkins at Extreme Couture in October. There is a rumour that the Japanese-Korean fighter will take on Wanderlei Silva at UFC 108. If that's the case, the card is going to be stacked.