Ben Maller’s Sports Rumors & Notes

Rumors Archive for June 25, 2007

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NBA Rumors & Notes

Monday, June 25, 2007

Despite reports to the contrary, sources confirmed last night there is still life to a Celtics deal for Kevin Garnett. It was also stated strongly that the club would never make such a move before it had an agreement with the Timberwolves star on a contract extension. It was reported in Thursday’s Herald that “the process still is far from complete” on a trade that would include Al Jefferson [stats] and the No. 5 pick going to Minnesota, and a source was quoted as saying, “There’s a good chance nothing happens.” But it’s clear the teams are still interested in pursuing the matter. If the Celts ultimately decide it’s a move worth making (and the Wolves agree), they can’t put themselves in a position where Garnett would be here for just a season or two. The perennial All-Star has two years left on his current deal and can opt out after next season.

There have been rumors that the Hawks could use one of the picks as part of a package to pry defensive player of the year Marcus Camby from the Denver Nuggets. Memphis and Milwaukee are interested in Al Horford and reportedly have been trying to move up to third.

This is a deal that makes sense all around, especially now that Kobe Bryant has reopened a dialogue with the Lakers and speculation has the Lakers making an offer to Minnesota for Kevin Garnett. He lives in Malibu and he and Bryant are said to talk frequently, getting together recently to discuss playing together. But the Lakers don't have the draft picks to entice Minnesota, and you can be sure the Suns wouldn't want to see Bryant and Garnett together in their division. You also could see the Mavs getting involved—Garnett for Dirk Nowitzki? Minnesota finally seems to understand it's time to move forward.

According to a league source, Minnesota may try to swing a deal for Ron Artest if it keeps Kevin Garnett.

All the particulars aren't established, but the basics are the Suns get Kevin Garnett, the Celtics get Shawn Marion and the Timberwolves get the No. 5 pick, the Hawks' unprotected first-round pick for next season, which the Suns hold, the Suns' two firsts this year (No. 24 and 29) and the expiring contracts of Kurt Thomas and Theo Ratliff. The holdup supposedly has been Marion's reluctance to go to Boston—he has an opt-out clause after next season. But this is unlike Garnett's refusal. There's a huge market for Garnett; not so Marion. The Celtics would hold Marion's "Bird contract" rights. They'd be the only team that could realistically make up the $17.8 million Marion would give up if he opts out.

Although Jazz GM Kevin O'Connor rushed in to say he is not trading Andrei Kirilenko—even if he could since he is paying him $15 million per year for four more seasons—perhaps that's the move the Celtics make if all else fails. You would think the Jazz would take No. 5 and the expiring contracts. Or maybe the Bulls' No. 9 and a P.J. Brown sign-and-trade.

The Bulls are said to be shopping their No. 9 pick and Denver's Marcus Camby is a possibility, with the Nuggets likely to cut payroll by making Camby available. The deal would have to include P.J. Brown in a sign-and-trade for one guaranteed season.

Fans want to know if Pistons president Joe Dumars is racist. Many are probably rolling over in laughter, but some are upset because Dumars has traded away many non-black players -- among them Carlos Arroyo, Carlos Delfino and Darko Milicic. They accuse Dumars of wanting to make the Pistons an all-black team. Dumars is hardly a candidate for wanting to stamp out diversity on the Pistons' roster, but let's address this issue.

GM Rod Thorn reiterated that the Nets have had “no conversations” with the Blazers regarding power forward Zach Randolph, who has a low post offense the Nets could sorely use (but he plays little defense). Another league source said a deal for Randolph that could involve Richard Jefferson is not completely far-fetched, although he terms it as having a “long, long shot” of getting done. “I would say the Nets’ interest is at a small percentage at best,” the source said.

The Bucks should re-sign Mo Williams and trade him and No. 6 for the Hawks' No. 3 and No. 11. The Hawks need a point guard but are said to be leaning toward Florida's Al Horford, who is emerging as the consensus No. 3 pick. With all the forwards the Hawks have drafted in recent years—Shelden Williams, Marvin Williams, Josh Smith, Josh Childress—you'd think they wouldn't need another.

People who know say the Timberwolves have received trade inquiries for Kevin Garnett from more teams than just the oft-reported Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics. And regardless of whether Garnett is traded by NBA draft time on Thursday, the Wolves are planning on making at least one other deal. Word is a Wolves-Suns deal that would feature Garnett for Amare Stoudemire has stalled but is still in the works. Initially, the Wolves wanted Stoudemire, 24, for Garnett, 31, but the Suns were offering Shawn Marion, 29. The Wolves don't want Marion, so the Suns tried to peddle him to Boston through Minnesota VP Kevin McHale's old pal, Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge, in a convoluted three-team deal that would result in the Wolves getting Paul Pierce and Boston's No. 5 pick in the draft, among other considerations. Marion balked, saying he would opt out of his contract after one year (Garnett can do the same after next season). When Garnett balked at a proposed deal to Boston, the Wolves and Suns continued talks.

The Chicago Bulls covet a big-time, low-post scorer so much they might consider offering a package that consisted of star guard Ben Gordon and free-agent in-waiting forward Andres Nocioni who, of course, would have to be re-signed before being dealt.

Members of the Nets hierarchy, including team president Rod Thorn and general manager Ed Stefanski, will watch red-flagged Boston College shot-blocker deluxe Sean Williams work out in Houston this week. The Nets had seen a previous Williams workout and were impressed enough that the brass wanted a close-up audition of the player who was kicked off his Boston College team for repeated violations of team rules, including an arrest for marijuana possession.

Michael Finley has yet to inform the Spurs whether he will opt out of his contract and become a free agent. He has until Saturday to decide.

There is also a wide-range of opinion on Washington center Spencer Hawes. Some NBA officials believe Hawes could be a top seven pick; others believe he’ll be a late lottery selection.

The Spurs don't expect the Seattle SuperSonics to make a decision on whether to hire P.J. Carlesimo as their new coach until after Thursday's draft.

76ers GM Billy King had indicated he was hoping to work out Florida forward Joakim Noah privately, but a team official said yesterday that nothing had been scheduled.

Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin, a DePaul product, is in the Seattle coaching derby.

Most NBA experts, scouts and observers believe Kevin Durant has the ability to be the NBA's next megastar because of his talent and marketability. He has already signed with Upper Deck trading card company and spent some time in Vancouver, B.C., after the draft lottery working with EA Sports. "It's been a whirlwind for me. I think I'm still dreaming," he said. "These last couple of months have been real hectic, but this is what I wanted to do. I'm happy I'm going through this process and I wouldn't want it any other way."

Bucks point guard Mo Williams, who’ll be an unrestricted free agent, could throw a wrench into Thursday night’s draft. There are some observers who believe Memphis will make a strong pitch for Williams once free agency commences on July 1 and thus will pass on Conley. Orlando, Atlanta and Charlotte will also have salary cap room to pursue Williams, but officials from each of those aforementioned teams told it wasn’t likely they’d do so.

Florida State forward Al Thornton, who is considered a serious candidate by the 76ers if they don't trade their No. 12 pick in Thursday's NBA draft, will be in today for a predraft workout. Thornton was supposed to work out last Monday, but he postponed the visit after spraining an ankle. He had been scheduled to work out with the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, but he postponed that visit until tomorrow. The Bucks have the No. 6 pick.

Greg Ostertag, 34, told the Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World he is contemplating a comeback. "First," he said. "I have to try to get my fat butt in shape."

Tracy McGrady on Jeff Van Gundy's TV work: "If he had the same personality on the sidelines and with the media like he has when he's commentating, a lot more people would like him."

This looks like put up or shut up time for Michael Jordan. The Bobcats have salary cap space they say they'll use and Rashard Lewis is the obvious target. You figure the Magic will keep Darko Milicic and is out of the big free agent bidding. The Bobcats could play Raymond Felton and Gerald Wallace (assuming they re-signs him) in the backcourt with Lewis and Emeka Okafor up front and perhaps make a nice jump, and then use the No. 8 pick for a big man, though there's talk of using that pick in a deal for Warriors guard Jason Richardson.

Interpret this as you will: Agent Dan Fegan allowed the Sixers, at No. 12, access to 6-11 Chinese forward Yi Jianlian, but declined No. 6 Milwaukee's request. Does that mean the Sixers have a chance to put themselves in position to acquire Yi? Does it mean the Chinese government would rather not see Yi in small-market Milwaukee? Or both? *

This will be Villanova's Curtis Sumpter's sixth predraft workout (76ers). He had a combined workout with the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets, with others at Miami, Washington, the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State.

While the Timberwolves basketball brass aren't going to reveal who they want to take first in Thursday's NBA draft, I expect them to take Corey Brewer of Florida if he is there at No. 7 overall. Wolves coach Randy Wittman was asked to describe Brewer. "He does everything," Witt- man said. "Well, he's a scorer. He's a shooter. Those guys in that slot there bring different things, he plays an all-around game. He can put the ball on the floor. I think ... what he's going to be best known [for] early in his career at our level is his ability to defend. "He's a legitimate 6-9, really probably going to fit more into the shooting guard, the 2 position, but can play the 3 position. But when you have a guy who's 6-9 who can just get down and lock down and defend you, that's a luxury that you don't always come across."

For the N.B.A., the success of players like Yi is critical to the international growth of the game. The N.B.A. estimates 300 million people play organized basketball in China. With 1.3 billion people and a growing middle class, N.B.A. Commissioner David Stern wants to capitalize. He said that the N.B.A. was discussing forming a league with the Chinese Basketball Association after the Beijing Olympics. “It was time for us to be making a greater investment in China,” Stern said last week. “It was time to take advantage of the opportunities — from marketing, to new media, to retail, to merchandise, to television.”

The Magic finished 18-64 in that inaugural season, but the class of 1989-90 has produced three current NBA head coaches and a general manager, as well as two college head coaches and a local high school coach. When Reggie Theus left New Mexico State to become coach of the Sacramento Kings last week, Theus joined Sam Vincent (Charlotte Bobcats) and Scott Skiles (Chicago Bulls) on NBA benches. It'll be the first head-coaching jobs in the league for Theus and Vincent. Former Magic teammate Otis Smith became a GM, recently completing his first season in the full-time role with Orlando. The Magic's '89 roster also included Jeff Turner, who is head coach at Orlando's Lake Highland Prep; Sidney Green, who served as coach of Florida Atlantic; Morlon Wiley, who is an assistant coach with the Magic; and Nick Anderson, who works in the Magic front office.

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MLB Rumors & Notes

Monday, June 25, 2007

Reds OF Ken Griffey Jr. told FSN's Angie Mentink, "I think I owe it to the people of Seattle, and myself, to retire as a Mariner." Asked to clarify after the game, Griffey left it unclear as to whether he meant he'd like to come back and play for Seattle or if he was merely talking about returning when his career is over and signing a one-day deal that would allow him to retire with his original club. Either one would indicate a far greater affinity for Seattle than was understood before the weekend series, which Griffey clearly enjoyed just as much as the fans who cheered his every move in his first return since being traded after the 1999 season. "As an athlete, you always want to retire with the team you started with," Griffey said. "You look at (former Dallas Cowboys star) Emmitt Smith and anybody else that moves on. You want to come back and retire with the same organization. I'm no different than anybody else. "But I've got a few more years, so I don't think it's any time soon." Smith signed a one-day contract with the Cowboys in 2005 after being released by the Arizona Cardinals, in order to retire with the team he played 13 seasons for in his prime. Is that what Griffey was talking about, or is he hoping to actually play again for the Mariners? "I don't know," he said. "That depends on a lot of things, health and everything else. ... That's a lot of decisions that have to do with the front office. The only thing I can do is keep playing. If something happens, it happens. Right now I just have to try to win as many games as I can for the team I'm with now."

According to an official with one of the teams involved, the Mets also have asked the White Sox about former Yankees right-hander Jose Contreras, who is signed through 2009. The official, who asked not to be identified because the deals he was talking about are not done, said the Mets would be more likely to give up top minor-league talent for Contreras than they would for Mark Buehrle. Perhaps fueling the Mets' interest in acquiring a starting pitcher is the news that the Braves have been making a strong push for Buehrle.

Cubs president John McDonough deferred to general manager Jim Hendry on Sunday when asked if contract talks with pitcher Carlos Zambrano would reopen. The impending sale of the Cubs by Tribune Co. has thrown a wrench into the talks, meaning it’s more complicated than just Hendry and McDonough talking to Zambrano and agent Barry Praver. “I think there’s a group of people that are involved,” McDonough said. “I think we’re seeing the real Carlos Zambrano now after kind of a rough start.” Zambrano was 2-2 with a 5.77 ERA in April, but he has turned things around. His record stands at 8-6 with a 4.27 ERA. Hendry was not at Sunday’s Cubs-White Sox game.

Potential White Sox free agents Mark Buehrle and Jermaine Dye are considered most likely to go, but GM Ken Williams didn't rule out anything, including the possible off-season re-signing of a free agent who might be dealt before the end of the season. Among the teams that have scouted the Sox recently are the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Williams acknowledged having frequent talks with Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, and the Sox earlier this month sent a scout to watch top Yankees pitching prospects Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy. The Sox also have evaluated Houston and Arizona prospects, but the Diamondbacks would have to move some salary as they're about $4 million over their projected payroll.

Jacque Jones is bracing for a trade that could come as soon as today, when the Cubs must move a position player off the roster to make room for a 12th pitcher as they return to National League play. The Cubs have been talking to several teams about Jones, including Texas, San Diego and the White Sox.

The Rockies are among the teams that have inquired about Royals reliever Octavio Dotel.

The Cardinals continue to scrutinize Tomo Ohka, who is set to make his second start for Class AAA Memphis tonight after being signed to a minor-league contract Tuesday after his release from the Toronto Blue Jays. The club will then decide whether to promote him, release him or seek permission from his agent to have him make a third minor-league start.

The White Sox have had a scout looking at Yankees’ Double-A pitchers Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain. Chicago general manager Kenny Williams has vowed to make changes, and if he wants to deal Mark Buehrle or Jermaine Dye, expect the Yankees to be interested. Williams talks regularly with Brian Cashman. Dye has been out since Friday with a quad injury.

Royals 1B Ryan Shealy has just three homers and 20 RBIs in 51 games. He also committed a few alarming mental hiccups in the two previous games that could prompt his demotion to Class AAA Omaha. “I’m not performing anywhere near where I want to do,” he acknowledged. “But all I can do is keep working at it. I’ve never gone through anything like this.”

Twins special assistant Tom Kelly, who managed the major league club to World Series championships in 1987 and 1991, said Saturday he's not interested in returning to managing, even though pal Andy MacPhail is now in charge of the Baltimore Orioles and seeking a manager. "Andy knows that; it's the same answer as the last seven years," Kelly said.

Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield indicated Sunday that the team wouldn't be buyers at the trading deadline. "Our team is basically the team that we (currently) have," Littlefield said. "I do not see a tremendous amount of movement, as far as roster spots are concerned. We've got to perform better with the players that we have. "There's no magic dust where you make a trade or a recall (from the minors) and one guy comes in and changes things. The people that are here, who are young and who should improve, have got to play better. That's how things are going to improve."

Aaron Boone and the Marlins received a scare when the first baseman ''tweaked'' his left knee on Sunday, forcing his removal. But Boone and manager Fredi Gonzalez said they don't believe the injury to be serious. ''I've had a little knee experience so I think it was more panic than anything,'' Boone said, referring to surgery on his left knee that caused him to miss the 2004 season. Boone felt discomfort in the left knee when he made a sudden change in direction on a cutoff play in the fourth inning. He said if the knee feels bad today, he will contact the team and schedule a magnetic resonance imaging exam. ''We may not even need that,'' he said. ``I think I'm OK.''

Former Toronto slugger Cecil Fielder, honored at Friday's game, weighed in on steroids. Ignorance, in his mind, is no defense. "If we didn't know, we ought to really slap ourselves if we didn't think something was going on in baseball - from the commissioner's office on down," said Fielder, the manager of an independent league team. "Guys were getting too big and too strong. Little guys turned into big guys. Baseball was doing so well at the time, everybody was turning away from it and letting it go on."

The most telling statistic of Rays LHP Scott Kazmir's season isn't his win total or his strikeouts or his ERA; it's the number of pitches he has thrown. After his 116-pitch outing Friday night, Kazmir led the AL in pitches thrown with 1, 734 and led the majors with 18.1 pitches per inning. Friday marked the third time in his past four starts that he threw at least 114 pitches. Considering the care they've given their prized 23-year-old left-hander - last season the team shut him down for the final six weeks of the season with shoulder soreness - manager Joe Maddon said he is keeping an eye on Kazmir even though it's only 16 starts into the season. During last season's All-Star first half, Kazmir pitched 1152/3 innings, then 29 in the second half. "I'm there every moment, " Maddon said. "I've really been paying attention to that. The threat would be to let him go 130 pitches. ... He's pitched a lot between the 105 and 115 range and I'm really watching. I don't see him struggle to throw the ball. I don't see that little extra effort at the end that I don't want to see."

The Pirates have improved at the basics since last season, general manager Dave Littlefield said, but there remains work to do. "I think it's better," he said yesterday of the team's fundamental play, which has been a central -- and largely negative -- issue of late. "When I look at our bunting, frankly, it's a lot better. And there are other areas. But, when you go through a period of losing a few in a row and some games get away, those are the things that get highlighted." He also expressed a view that, because shortstop Jack Wilson is the only position with more than three full seasons of major-league experience entering this year, some learning still was taking place on the job. "It's something Jim Tracy and I have talked about, that there's minor-league development and major-league development, too," Littlefield said. "When you look at experience, we have a very young group as you go around the diamond as compared to other teams."

Though his problems go back almost two months, since June 1 Indians DH Travis Hafner is batting .197 (13-for-66) with only two extra-base hits (doubles) and no home runs in 16 starts. ``I've tried quite a few things,'' Hafner said. ``I keep a hitting journal. When I'm feeling good at the plate, I write things in it. So I have certain mechanical keys that I look for.''

San Diego OF Brian Giles will begin a three-game rehab assignment with Single-A Lake Elsinore tonight with hopes of rejoining the Padres on Friday in Los Angeles. “It has improved a lot the last two weeks,” Giles said yesterday of the bone bruise above his right knee that has idled the right fielder since May 19. Giles believes he originally suffered the injury April 16 or 17 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

The Rangers have decided to place Vicente Padilla on the 15-day disabled list to give him 20 to 22 days off to rest a sore triceps muscle that has bothered him all season. Pitching coach Mark Connor made the recommendation Sunday after watching Padilla throw off flat ground. Manager Ron Washington said he conferred with Connor and agreed. The move might not be made until Tuesday, the day Padilla was scheduled to make his next start. Padilla signed a three-year $33.75 million contract in the off-season and was expected to be the Rangers' No. 2 starter. He is 3-8 with a 6.69 ERA.

If Angels rookie Reggie Willits continues to excel, the 26-year-old outfielder will be a leading candidate for AL rookie of the year. If, as expected, his main competition for the honor is Boston pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, it will be sure to rekindle the debate: Are first-year players who spend nine or 10 years in Japanese leagues really rookies? Three Japanese players — Hideo Nomo (NL) in 1995, Kazuhiro Sasaki (AL) in 2000 and Ichiro Suzuki (AL) in 2001 — have won rookie-of-the-year honors. Nomo barely edged out Atlanta's Chipper Jones, but Suzuki was a near unanimous choice, garnering 27 of 28 first-place votes. Matsuzaka is 9-5 with a 4.01 earned-run average and 102 strikeouts in 98 2/3 innings. "The spirit of the rookie in our league is a guy who has come up through the minor leagues or made the jump from college to the major leagues," Mike Scioscia said. "The guys coming from Japan have played at a world-class level for a number of years. They're rookies in the literal sense, but not a developmental sense."

Mike Hargrove, the Mariners manager, and Eddie Guardado, Hargrove's former closer now with Cincinnati, saw each other on the way into Safeco Field on Friday. Hargrove extended his hand, but Guardado refused it. What ensued was a nearly half-hour conversation that had been a long time coming for Guardado, who was traded from the Mariners to the Reds last July after losing his job to J.J. Putz. Hargrove demoted an ineffective Guardado in May, and this is where the stories diverge. Guardado says Hargrove disingenuously told him the move was temporary and that he would be back in the closer's role when he was back to his old self. Hargrove says he never intentionally misled Guardado and that the situation simply changed over time as Putz asserted himself as the closer of the future. Guardado and Putz remain close friends, but Guardado has held a grudge against his former manager.

Who Knew? Visits on this homestand by Pittsburgh and Cincinnati leave only one major team that has never played a game in Seattle: the Florida Marlins.

Julio Franco is having problems with his right knee. The veteran reserve said yesterday his knee has been hurting since the Mets' series at Yankee Stadium last weekend. Franco, who will turn 49 in August, said the knee "popped" and hurts when he starts and stops running. "It's not that bad," he said. "I just choose to be careful."

Did You Know? That elephant on the A's uniform? In 1901, when owning the Philadelphia Athletics was compared with owning a "white elephant" - a valued possession that isn't worth its upkeep - manager Connie Mack defiantly selected the elephant for the team's insignia.

Red Sox slugger David Ortiz gets to return to his customary DH position in Seattle. As a first baseman this season, Ortiz hit .208 (5-for-24) with four RBI and two home runs.

Orioles third base coach Juan Samuel downplayed a report in yesterday's San Diego Union-Tribune that said he and utility man Freddie Bynum had a verbal and then physical confrontation before the Orioles' 7-1 victory over the Padres on Wednesday night. "It was nothing," Samuel said. "It was no big deal, just something that was between player and coach." The newspaper reported that the two had words during batting practice and it escalated into the clubhouse when Samuel "slammed into Bynum, launching the player into his dressing stall." The paper said that Orioles outfielder Jay Payton restored order in the clubhouse. Bynum, who acknowledged that he had words with first base coach Sam Mejias earlier this season in Toronto, denied that an incident took place, saying, "I've never had a problem with Juan."

How About That? The Yankees' loss in Colorado on Thursday made them 1-2 in Roger Clemens' starts this year and left Clemens' teams with an 11-11 record in his 22 starts over the last two seasons.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel sat out leftfielder Pat Burrell for the fourth time in seven games. Burrell is hitting .127 (7 for 55) this month and .146 (21 for 144) since April 25.

Who Knew? Astros CF Hunter Pence leads all major league rookies in batting average (.353), slugging percentage (.609), extra-base hits (32), doubles (19) and triples (five).

Who Knew? So far this month, opponents are 28-for-32 stealing bases against the Yankees. They have allowed 70 stolen bases this season, more than any team but San Diego (75).

The National League All-Stars will be announced Sunday, and John Maine’s 2.87 earned run average is fourth among N.L. starters, and his eight victories place him tied for second. Maine blushed when asked about his chances of making the team, but Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca did not hesitate to say Maine deserved of a spot.

How About That? Derek Jeter went 0 for 3 to end his 17-game hitting streak. Jeter is the only player since 1950 to have three streaks of at least 17 games before the All-Star Game break.

Did You Know? The Brewers are 27-13 record at Miller Park, second only in the big leagues to the Los Angeles Angels home record of 29-10. The record is not the only indicator of just how well the Brewers play at home. The team batting average is .279 at home and just .255 on the road. The team ERA is nearly a full run better, 3.60 to 4.54.

The Pirates' total bill for reliever Dan Kolb, designated for assignment Thursday, was about $100,000. The team paid eight prorated days of his major-league salary of $1.2 million. Everything before that was prorated off a minor-league salary of $100,000.

Boston Herald... reports that the Red Sox’ own Cecil B. DeSteinberg - PR pooh-bah Charles Steinberg - is working behind the scenes to help the Los Angeles Dodgers plot the team’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Why hire some Hollywood hotshot when you can score Bostonbaseball’s sultan of schmaltz, the man behind the post-World Series hoopla, the Ted Williams tribute and many Opening Day celebrations???

A week ago, the Yankees flew to Colorado with a 14-3 record since May 30 and a shrinking deficit in the standings. But they lost five of six to the Rockies and the Giants, and their frustration boiled over Sunday in the dugout, where the YES cameras caught Kyle Farnsworth smashing a bat against a wall.

Pirates GM Dave Littlefield advised against expecting a seismic personnel move in advance of the July 31 trading deadline. "Our team is basically the team we have," he said. "We're always looking to improve, obviously, but we also have to keep improving with the group we have, keep building from it. It's not like you can just sprinkle some magic dust to make it better."

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NFL Rumors & Notes

Monday, June 25, 2007

Within the next few weeks, Falcons rookie defensive end Jamaal Anderson, the eighth overall pick in this year's NFL draft out of Arkansas, should sign a contract that will make him one of the highestpaid players on the team — a salary that will generate high expectations and scrutiny. Buffalo Bills safety Donte Whitner, last season's No. 8 pick, signed a five-year, $29 million contract with nearly $14 million guaranteed. Anderson figures to get paid more than that, but not quite as much as the six-year, $39 million ($19.5 guaranteed) that made Kerney too expensive for the Falcons. Anderson said contract negotiations will fall in place in due time, so he's not worried about that aspect of his transition. That's because he's occupied with trying to learn his role on the field and with his teammates. "I'm just another rookie out there," said the 6-foot-6, 277-pound Anderson. "I'm getting the same treatment as all of them, and that's expected. I'm just trying to earn a spot." ... After two more weeks of offseason workouts at the team facility, Anderson plans to work out with a private trainer in Los Angeles until training camp begins. Whether his contract will be complete by then is always a question for high draft picks, but Anderson said he's aware of everything he needs to do once he's in camp. "It's a challenge to come in and play with these big boys but we wouldn't have chose to play this game if it wasn't for that," Anderson said. "We know why they drafted us. It's our opportunity to take what they gave us."

Drayton Florence is entering his fifth season with the San Diego Chargers, and unless something happens, it will be his last. Not that the Vanguard High School product would admit to that possibility. "You've got to be open-minded about everything," he said. "You can't close any avenues." And yet, as far as a new contract is concerned - this is the last season on his current contract - Florence would only say that no decision would be made at present. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has talked with Charger officials, according to Florence. But with nothing decided, it seems Florence has decided to test free agency following the season, saying a decision would not be made "until the season's over. Nothing's going to happen until then. I plan to test the waters."

While on-field success ebbs and flows, the Green Bay Packers continue to report a rising tide at the cash register. The National Football League's only publicly owned team says it made $22 million on $218 million in revenue for the fiscal year that ended March 31. "The Packers are in very good shape financially," said Larry Weyers, team treasurer. ... Net income increased 22 percent to $22 million, but last year's $18 million in income was 29 percent lower than the year before because the Packers changed accounting procedures and were paying off a number of coaches who were separated from the team before their contracts expired.

John McDonough to the Packers? That is one of the hottest rumors circulating around northern Wisconsin these days. The Cubs president could become a free agent at the end of this season when the team is sold and his contract expires. McDonough's proven marketing and people skills could become an asset to virtually any professional sports organization if he isn't retained after Tribune Co. sells the club. Current Packers President/COO Bob Harlan, 71, was asked recently to end his brief retirement and resume his role for an undetermined time period after 55-year-old John Jones took an unexpected and open-ended leave of absence. Harlan has been the corporate and community face of the Packers for 18 years. The Packers, according to sources, have not made any formal overture to McDonough, nor has he made one to Green Bay. When asked of the rumor Saturday evening, McDonough replied: "I am extremely flattered that there is speculation my name would be included. But my commitment and wish is to stay with the Cubs."

In his own quiet and even-tempered way, Harry Carson is doing as much to help the plight of former NFL players as all the protagonists in the mudslinging smackdown that the subject has spawned in recent months. While former Bears coach Mike Ditka, NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw and Hall of Fame guard Joe DeLamielleure trade threats and grab headlines about who's to blame for the struggles of many former players, Carson chooses to remain above the fray and address the situation the way he once did as a Hall of Fame linebacker with the Giants: by speak

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Odd Notes & Stuff

Monday, June 25, 2007

Reggie "Mr. October" Jackson ended his career in 1987 playing for the Oakland A's - but he still pulls out the Yankees card when he needs it. The Bronx Bombers' former slugger was in town last week, and guests at the Regency were shocked to see him having an argument with the reception staff over rates. "He was upset about not getting 'the Yankee rate,' " our witness said. Jackson bitterly complained, but the hotel staff held firm and apparently didn't give him the discount.

Sources said People "laid the groundwork" for landing exclusive photos of Eva Longoria and Tony Parker's July 7 wedding - but Page Six has learned that OK! won the frenzied bidding. Sources close to the negotiations said OK! paid more than $2 million. It was a surprising - and costly - end to the battle for the privilege to snap the nuptials, which the "Desperate Housewives" hottie and her San Antonio Spur fiancé plan to hold in a romantic castle in Paris. "People editors broke the story of their wedding and were working hard with Eva's reps [to secure the picture rights]," said a source close to the talks. "They were upset about losing the photos." Other sources suggested that previous coverage in People of the couple's rumored breakup, including a photo of Parker with another woman in New York, may have influenced the result.

For decades stories have circulated that the elegant Renaissance Vinoy Resort, where major league teams stay while in St. Petersburg, is populated by ghosts. Scott Akasaki, the Dodgers' traveling secretary, doesn't buy it. "Those are just urban legends," said Akasaki, who booked the team into the hotel for the weekend. But at least two Dodgers aren't so sure. After listening to teammates talk endlessly about the haunted hotel, young pitchers Chad Billingsley and Jonathan Broxton said they experienced weird occurrences in their rooms that couldn't be explained. However, neither would discuss the episodes Sunday. "It's stupid," said Billingsley, who reportedly heard his toilet flush numerous times while he was in another room. "It's not worth talking about."

Currently, the N.B.A. is in discussions with the Walt Disney Company, which owns ABC and ESPN, to secure equity to incorporate its entities under the umbrella NBA China, according to a person with knowledge of negotiations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because no deal had been finalized. Deals are already being made. The players union signed a partnership with Citic Guoan Group, China’s largest state-run investment firm, to help players secure endorsements.

Veteran umpire/country and western singer Joe West, who worked second base in Saturday's Cubs, White Sox game, has a CD called "Blue Cowboy" available through his Web site: www.cowboyjoewest.com.

Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino will sub tonight on the 11 for sports director Beasley Reece, who has the day off. Earlier, Victorino and teammates will attend a dinner for the Richie Ashburn Foundation at Morton's in Center City. Victorino, who's expected to weight his three-minute segment toward baseball, got the nod because CBS3 sister station CW57 carries some games and management thought outside of the (batter's) box.

Several Yankees, including relievers Brian Bruney, Kyle Farnsworth and Scott Proctor, plan to spend their day off Monday visiting the Secret Service Training Center near Washington. The Yankees play in Baltimore on Tuesday.

Donruss/Playoff, a manufacturer of sports trading cards, has signed Vikings rookie running back Adrian Peterson to an endorsement deal.

Gene Peterson and Jim Foley, who have provided the radio soundtrack of Rockets basketball for more than three decades, will work a 33rd and final season together before retiring at the end of the 2007-08 NBA campaign. Peterson, the team's play-by-play announcer since 1975, and Foley, a Rockets employee for 35 years and the analyst on home games since 1975 and for all games since 1987, each agreed to one-year contract extensions, ensuring one last season for one of professional sports' longest-tenured broadcast teams. "We're excited about doing another year together," Peterson, 66, said. "And I'm hoping for one more championship. My sons (Todd and Paul) have my championship rings (from 1994-95), and my daughter (Jennifer) needs one." Foley said he and Peterson discussed the possibility of retirement during the just-completed NBA season and decided independently to call it quits after working one more year together.

NY Post reports... Barry Bonds and Jay-Z are hosting a bash at Roe in San Francisco for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 9, and they are shelling out more than $30,000 for silver Tiffany pin invites.

Sacramento Kings point guard Mike Bibby, dining with friends Friday at N9ne steakhouse at the Palms before moving to Rain nightclub.

John Donnelly is the lone table tennis competitor in the 100-to-150-plus age bracket at the 2007 Summer National Senior Games, which started Friday in Louisville and continue this week. "The last time (2005) it was in Pittsburgh, and nobody was in my age bracket then, either, " said Donnelly, who turns 101 on Sept. 23. "The nearest age bracket that had anybody in it was 80-85, and I came in second."

Miami Herald... Dennis Rodman was the special guest host at The Forge Wednesday night for DJ Irie's birthday bash. Also there to celebrate: Dwyane Wade, Shaq and Brooke Hogan.

At Tryst (Wynn) on Thursday: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, Moon and illusionist Criss Angel.

British soccer star/bad boy Wayne Rooney of Manchester United, dining at Tao Asian Bistro (Venetian) on Thursday. At other tables: Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz and NBA veteran Jalen Rose. ...

Spencer Tillman expects to sign on the dotted line in a few days as the signature voice of Houston's KILE (1560 AM). He will voice station promos and identification bumpers, much as he does for several dozen stations across the country. "That's what I'm doing for them that I know for sure," Tillman said. As for other possibilities, he said, "I've told them what would be appealing for me, and they're looking at the concept." ...

Thursday on WFAN, Chris Russo stated that Barry Bonds deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, "because he didn't start doing steroids until 1998." And that was that. The logic may be fractured, as in, "But he hit only 300 homers while juiced," or, "He wasn't a crook until he started stealing," but that's Russo. Beyond that, how did Russo know such a thing to make such a statement? Who or what is the source of Russo's claim? Does MLB drug investigator George Mitchell know that Russo is in possession of such a fact about Bonds? The widely acknowledged experts on Bonds' alleged drug use are San Francisco Chronicle reporters Mark Fainaru-Wade and Lance Williams. Their book, "Game of Shadows," claimed 1998 was the year Bonds began to use steroids. But if that's Russo's source, there's a problem. When the book was published, in March of last year, Russo ripped into its authors, questioning their motives and credibility. To use his expression, he killed those guys.

Interesting that with Max Kellerman debuting as Larry Merchant's half-the-time replacement on HBO's World Championship Boxing on Saturday, Jim Lampley would choose to describe the crowd at Ricky Hatton's KO of Jose Luis Castillo as, "like being at the Texas-Oklahoma game." Merchant graduated from - and played football for - Oklahoma.

Bob Guiney, who starred as "The Bachelor" in season four, and his wife, Rebecca Budig of "All My Children," at the Heart Bar in Planet Hollywood Resort for Warren Moon's Sports Dream Foundation kickoff party. Also there: Jeff Garcia (Tampa Bay Bucs), Robert Horry (San Antonio Spurs), Gary Baxter (Cleveland Browns), Zack Crockett (Oakland Raiders), Chris Harris (Chicago Bears), Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Kirk Morrison (Oakland Raiders) and the actor D.B. Woodside ("The Unit").

Bubblicious bubble gum is teaming up with NBA All-Star LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers to see who's got "game" when it comes to bubble-blowing fun with the launch of The Bubblicious Ultimate Bubble Blowing League. The U.B.B.L. is a fun competition to see which kids can blow the biggest bubbles and will be led by league commissioner and basketball star LeBron James. James' involvement with the league was officially announced Friday at King's Academy, LeBron's annual summer basketball camp for boys and girls ages 8-18. The U.B.B.L. is free to join, runs all summer, and is open to participants ages eight and older. Bubble-blowing fans, young and young at heart, can form their own leagues at the official Web site, http://www.theultimatebubble.com. In addition, there will be a U.B.B.L. Bubble Blowout Tournament this fall where fifty-six competitors will have the chance to contend for the title and meet LeBron James in person.

Boston Herald... reports that Red Sox fan William Laudani, who watches his fave team from his home in Coral Gables, Fla., rang up WEEI to ask if the station would be so kind as to send him a couple of their “Boston Loves Lowell” signs he spotted in the stands. Apparently, he wanted to give one to his dentist - Dr. Carl Lowell - who just so happens to be the proud papa of third baseman Mike Lowell .

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor and wife Becky plan to leave Tuesday - two days before the NBA draft - for China on their honeymoon. Stops include Beijing and Shanghai.

NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon is in town for his annual inner city youth fundraiser. The Sports Dream Bowl was held Saturday at Red Rock Lanes at Red Rock Resort. The bowling event itself was closed to the public. Among the invitees: Pamela Anderson, New Orleans Saints star Reggie Bush, Robert Horry of the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs, Priest Holmes and Tony Gonzalez of the Kansas City Chiefs, NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, and Antonio Gates of the San Diego Chargers.

Miami Herald... We can silence the tabloid speculation about Anna Kournikova's svelte figure thanks to a Gold's Gym spy who told us, ''I was doing butt exercises with her'' on Tuesday morning. The tennis tart was ``barely noticeable in a gray T-shirt and sweat pants.''

The secrets to the Yankee kingdom shall remain a secret, a Florida judge has ruled. George Steinbrenner's soon-to-be former son-in-law - the one-time anointed successor to the Boss - whiffed this week in his attempt to crack open the books of the most famous franchise in sports. A Florida judge blocked Steve Swindal, who is in the midst of a divorce from Jennifer Steinbrenner, from trying to get testimony and documents about the team's finances from Yankee officials. Hillsborough County Circuit Court Judge Kimberly Fernandez sided with the Boss' eldest daughter, ruling that Swindal's subpoenas are not relevant to his divorce case. Swindal, a Yankee general partner, filed papers in Manhattan Supreme Court this month, seeking to take depositions from officials with the team, its television network, the YankeeNets partnership and Yankee Stadium LLC. The subpoenas sought all financial documents related to the companies, from January 2004 to the present.