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Big Ben's Sunday Rumors & Notes

Baseball Rumors & Notes

The San Francisco Giants, who have lost Baker and Bell, also stand to lose free agents Jeff Kent and Reggie Sanders. That means they are losing a winning manager, plus 266 RBIs from their 2002 World Series team. They have surreptitiously inquired with Pittsburgh about the availability of outfielder Brian Giles. Pirates GM Dave Littlefield didn't confirm the inquiry, but intimated Giles could be had, at a steep price. It might take pitcher Russ Ortiz.

The Atlanta Braves are in the market for a first baseman. The Reds Sean Casey, Kevin Young of the Pirates and the Yanks Nick Johnson have been talked about.

Turns out that a hard throwing lefty with a mighty big mouth was also working out at the complex of the Padres and Mariners in Peoria, a guy by the name of John Rocker. After his fall from grace with Texas last season - 2-3 with a devilish 6.66 ERA - it's Rocker's fantasy to hook up with the Padres.

The Orioles seem to be the most interested in Pudge Rodriguez but they are also the only team still without a general manager.

The Indians have cast their fate to the clock in pursuit of first baseman Jim Thome. "We did what we could do," said General Manager Mark Shapiro. "Now we wait." Thome is supposed to choose between the Indians and Philadelphia Phillies tomorrow. The home-grown Indian is the top hitter on the free-agent market.

In addition to Ken Griffey Jr., the Reds reportedly are willing to part with young slugger Adam Dunn. If the Indians don't re-sign Thome, there is speculation the team may trade veterans Ellis Burks and Omar Vizquel and start rebuilding from the ground up.

If the Indians re-sign slugging first baseman Jim Thome (and their chances sure appear better now), observers say the team should quickly arrange a sit-down session with Thome - and clear the air over its whispering campaign about his back troubles. One example: Indians officials should explain why they leaked word to one media member - a notorious team shill - that club medical personnel had advised them not to re-sign Thome. It was an unnecessary cheap shot at Thome by the Indians, and the first baseman deserved far better.

Bringing Rockies OF Larry Walker to St. Louis would elevate what may already be the best lineup in baseball.

Dan Duquette, the former GM of the Sox has every intention of getting back into baseball. Duquette is still under contract with the Red Sox and will draw a salary from the team through next year, after which he hopes to return to the game. Duquette's name was whispered during the Milwaukee Brewers' search for a general manager - that opportunity ultimately went to then-Sox consultant Doug Melvin - though by then Duquette already had begun the endeavor of opening up a sports academy in Hinsdale with his brother, David.

Did you know? Ten teams will open spring training with new managers. Five of those -- Ken Macha (A's), Bob Melvin (Mariners), Ned Yost (Brewers), Eric Wedge (Indians) and Alan Trammell (Tigers) -- will be rookies. ... The White Sox and Devil Rays have 24 pitchers on their 40-man rosters, most in the majors. The Rockies (12), Braves (15) and Red Sox (15) have the fewest.

The hype for Sox shortstop prospect Hanley Ramirez continues unabated. The 19-year-old Dominican, who was signed by two scouts that no longer work for the club ( Julian Camilo and Levy Ochoa), is on the cover of Baseball America's most recent issue, heralded as the team's top minor league prospect. ''Though it's risky to place labels on a player before he even reaches full-season ball,'' the magazine writes of the teenager who began the summer in the Gulf Coast rookie league and finished it in short-season Single A Lowell, ''managers and scouts already are comparing Ramirez to such players as Nomar Garciaparra, Vladimir Guerrero , Alex Rodriguez , and Alfonso Soriano.

It should surprise no one that the Tigers already have hooked up on one deal, last month's trade of Mike Rivera that brought Gene Kingsale, an outfielder, to the Tigers. Front-office brass, as well as on-field personnel, are invariably affected by people from their past. In that sense, be prepared for more Padres-Tigers transactions

Red Auerbach's advice to 28-year old Red Sox GM Theo Epstein: ''Don't apologize for being 28 - 28, 32, what difference does it make? You've got the job, go do it and don't worry about how old you are. My first job in pro basketball, I was 28 or 29. My players were older than me. But I didn't let that bother me. I did the job the best I knew how, and it all turned out pretty well. I let them know who was the boss, and that was me. And I acted like the boss.

NFL Rumors & Notes

Lions President Matt Millen, on Coach Marty Mornhinweg: "If it's up to me completely, then Marty's staying. ... We knew from the beginning that there are some things that are going to look ugly at times." Kicking off to start overtime against Chicago: "It's easy for us to sit in a box and not see and feel the wind. ... That's (Mornhinweg's) job." His players: "I like the talent on this team. We have some good young players and some good older players. We're not that much different than the defending Super Bowl champs (the Patriots)."

Former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman thinks he can see the forest for the trees and has this advice for his former teammate, Emmitt Smith: Quit while you're ahead. Now that Smith has earned the NFL record for career rushing yardage, Aikman thinks he should consider retirement.

Randy Moss' name hasn't been coming up lately in discussions about the top receivers in the NFL, and the Vikings argue that's because he gets more attention than any receiver in the NFL. That's precisely the point. The three names most frequently mentioned are Marvin Harrison of the Indianapolis Colts, Terrell Owens of the San Francisco 49ers and Hines Ward of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their numbers vary, but all three have one thing in common: a solid secondary receiver.

Fans in New Orleans are nervous after watching the team drop its last four games in 2001 by a combined score of 160-52. "We don't have the same (bad) character in that locker room," coach Jim Haslett said. "I don't think it is even close. That would be the least of my worries."

When the Washington Redskins made the decision not to re-sign Brad Johnson after the 2000 season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pounced quickly to sign him, a move that is a major reason why the Bucs are 9-2 -- the best record in the NFL -- while the Redskins are still searching for a quarterback who will lead them out of the doldrums of one playoff season since 1992.

Just as stunning as the Bills collapse has been the defensive problems the Chargers have encountered in their last four games. The hallmark of Marty Schottenheimer teams has always been strong defense but that's hardly been the case lately. San Diego allowed more than 400 yards of offense in each of the last four games, six times in the last eight games.

Warren Sapp used to live in the same neighborhood as Predators color analyst Terry Crisp when Crisp coached in Tampa Bay. ''No matter what time of day or night, I would see Warren riding through the neighborhood and he would stop, roll down his window and ask me if I wanted a hamburger,'' Crisp said. ''He always had a sack full of burgers in the front seat.''

Did you know? The Jets have 27 road wins since 1997, most in the league over that period.

Is this exciting or excruciating? Either way, it's compelling, much like a couple of wrecked cars along the side of the highway, which is probably all the NFL is concerned about. Heading into Week 13 of the 2002 season, there are an astounding 22 of 32 teams either leading divisions or within two games of tying for a division lead. The draft is configured to ensure that the worst, at the least, have a chance to eventually be first, and the salary cap prevents anyone from attempting to buy the pennant. Still the most prominent factor in the NFL's de-evolution into a league devoid of haves and have-nots, by far, has been free agency.

Titans RB Eddie George says questions about his health are being blown out of proportion.

The dean of the Bengals' coaching staff is running backs coach Jim Anderson. He is an African-American who interviewed for the head-coaching position at Stanford University in January but never has been asked to interview for the offensive coordinator's job with the Bengals.

While Daunte Culpepper has received his share of criticism from Mike Tice this season, the Vikings quarterback is 100 percent behind his head coach. Culpepper is a big booster of both Tice and Dennis Green but realizes you win with talent. "I think they're both great coaches, and they are both great motivators," Culpepper said. "But I'm the type of person to say, 'It's players who go out and win and lose games.' Coaching has something to do with it, but players have a lot more to do with it."

Did you know? Donovan McNabb has the Eagles' fifth-best passer rating. His 86.0 rating trails running back Brian Mitchell (158.3), running back Brian Westbrook (158.3), quarterback A.J. Feeley (129.9) and quarterback Koy Detmer (115.8).

The Raiders are just 9-19 in December since moving back to Oakland in 1995, which prompted new coach Bill Callahan to lighten the practice load this season. With 10 starters 30 or older, it's time to find out if his measures worked.

Mike Vanderjagt of the Indianapolis Colts, on why he became a kicker: "I just happen to be a lazy athlete who decided kicking was the easiest way to make money."

Rookie Clinton Portis is well on his way to becoming the fourth Bronco running back to rush for 1,000 yards since Mike Shanahan took over as coach eight years ago. Portis need average only 32.8 yards in the final five games to reach the 1,000 mark. He has 836 yards and is averaging 4.9 a carry. Portis would join an unusual fraternity in Denver. None of those 1,000-yard backs were first-round draft choices.

A recent Harris Poll found that 27 percent of adults over 18 chose football as their favorite sport, followed by Major League Baseball (14 percent), the NBA (11 percent) and auto racing (10 percent). Football's lead over baseball was 24-23 in 1985.

More evidence that the NFL sometimes takes itself too seriously: Its lawyers forced the National's Women's Football League to change its name to the National Women's Football Association. The NFL said it didn't want anyone to think it was associated with the league.

NBA Rumors & Notes

As I understand it, Hakeem Olajuwon's official retirement papers have yet to be filed with the league, meaning the Raptors own a very desirable asset because he's still tradable. Plenty of teams (Pacers, Blazers, Warriors, Knicks) would love to acquire Hakeem's $5.7 million salary for an unwelcomed talent on a long-term deal then file the necessary papers.

The big joke of the week was a rumor that the Cleveland Cavaliers were offering the Bulls Darius Miles, Chris Mihm and Bimbo Coles in exchange for Jamal Crawford, Marcus Fizer, Eddie Robinson and Dalibor Bagaric. For one thing, the combined salaries of the Bulls' players (roughly $12 million) is almost double that of the Cavaliers.

A league source said the chances of Knicks GM Scott Layden using the $4.5M exception by tomorrow's deadline were slim, especially with Othello Harrington's emergence - 26 rebounds in two games. The only frontcourt players offered to Layden weren't an upgrade in their eyes, including Timberwolves power forward Marc Jackson and Chicago's Marcus Fizer.

Karla Knafel, the Indiana woman involved in the lawsuits with Michael Jordan stemming from her pregnancy by him, is receiving $760 per week for child support from former Pacer Dale Davis, according to court documents. She also has an out-of-court support settlement with NBA player Derek Strong.

Danny Fortson, the Golden State forward who is a possible Knicks target for their Disabled Player Exception, sounds amenable to the idea of moving to the opposite coast. "I just want to play," the power forward told the San Francisco Chronicle yesterday. "I want to feel like I'm part of something, and be useful."

You get the sense Cavs shooting guard Ricky Davis, suspended for two games by coach John Lucas, isn't very happy wearing a Cleveland uniform these days. And if Cavs management starts to feel Davis really would look better in another NBA uniform, the team should have no problem finding another team willing to take him in a trade.

So Michael Jordan has decided that his third retirement will be his last. He's finished after this season. Don't shed any tears. If the Washington Wizards were worth $150 million before he decided to come back, they're worth $300 million now. Since Jordan will regain partial ownership, he'll profit in at least some measure from all of this.

Suns point guard Stephon Marbury admits that the Nets probably got the better end of the deal that sent him to Phoenix for Jason Kidd. Kidd is making $9.26 million this year and outproducing Marbury ($12.37 million) in every statistical category. But old Steph isn't worried. "The first and the 15th (of each month) are still going to come for me," he said, referring to NBA paydays. "I'm still going to get my check."

The Warriors are worried about Jason Richardson, who is shooting 34 percent entering the weekend. The problem, in scout-speak: He only goes right, he can't finish in the lane because he's a two-footed jumper, and he's a streak shooter whose bad streaks last longer than the good ones. The last thing Golden State needed was the second coming of Larry Hughes -- especially while it's getting good performances from the other starters

Latrell Sprewell reiterated that he wants to stay with the Knicks. "I love it here," Sprewell said. "What can I say? Playing in the Garden every night, fans are very supportive. Everything I've been through here - the winning, losing. You develop a relationship and a bond. "I'm not frustrated," Spree added. "I have a great life. I have nothing to be frustrated about. If I go somewhere else, I'll still be happy. I'm sure it wouldn't be fun [going to a loser,] but that doesn't change what my goal will be to make that team a better team."

Nets coach Byron Scott admits he was unaware of Aaron Williams' game streak and had he known, he would have found a way to play him against the Clippers Thursday night. But Williams, a true good-soldier type, still seemed disappointed that his streak of 189 consecutive games played ended - and not by injury.

After the Spurs lost to the Nuggets in Denver last Tuesday, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich was not a happy man. ''We worked so hard in training camp,'' he said, ''and then we get in games and find out we don't have any leadership on court, that we can be out-toughed on the court, that people can play harder than we do. That's disappointing.'' The teams met the next night in San Antonio and the Spurs responded, holding Denver to an NBA-record 3 points in the first quarter of a 99-68 victory.

Top pick Yao Ming is drawing a crowd. The Rockets through Friday were the NBA's fourth-biggest road attraction (average attendance of 17,786) behind the three-time defending champion Lakers (19,136), Michael Jordan's Wizards (19,022) and the league-best Mavericks (18,189).

Entering Friday's game at Memphis, the Lakers weren't exactly playing inspired. "We're playing like we were when Del Harris used to be our coach, playing with no fire and enthusiasm," Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal said

One had to wonder what triggered Coach Rick Carlisle's postgame rant Friday night. The Pistons had just improved their record to 12-4 with a 96-91 victory over the Central Division rival Bucks. They held the Bucks under their season scoring average and field-goal percentage. Carlisle must have seen something, because the Pistons' defense was worse Saturday in their 109-86 loss in Milwaukee."To make believe everything is rosy is foolish," Carlisle said Friday. "I am just not seeing the effort plays that I am accustomed to seeing out of this team. I am so tired of seeing guys jog back defensively and getting their butts kicked under the basket. It's a disgrace."

I once asked Jerry West about troubled-but-boy-can-he-score-the-rock J.R. Rider. At the time, the Grizzlies could have used scoring in their backcourt. Rider, who once was busted on a street corner using a soda can to prepare drugs, is explosive at the very least. But the mention of Rider's name set off West. "Don't embarrass yourself by writing that," the Grizzlies' president of basketball operations said, his voice booming before adding how Rider never would have worn a Lakers uniform if he could have stopped the transaction.

For every can't-miss, high-school product such as Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady and Kevin Garnett, there are players like Lenny Cooke, whose stories hardly ever get told.

Montgomery County Police Chief Charles A. Moose, members of the sniper task force and Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan were the Wizards' guests. Moose, of course, was the central figure in the hunt for the snipers who terrorized the region for three weeks in October.

The judge once followed Sly Williams's career, as did so many others, when Williams was playing for the Knicks, Hawks, and Celtics from 1979-85. Now, Williams stood before him 17 years removed from the spotlight, a convicted felon.

College Rumors & Notes

Norm Chow has emerged as a candidate for the coaching va-cancy at Utah. Chow is the Southern California offensive coordinator and has worked wonders with quarterback Carson Palmer. Chow was LaVell Edwards' top offensive assistant for 28 years at BYU.

That's show business, kids. In the mean Hollywood glare, phonies are exposed and feelings are hurt. Down the hill from the Sunset Strip and past the latest public sighting of Ben and J-Lo came the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, hoping to showcase their worthiness as a major-bowl team and perhaps land a new movie deal on the side. Instead, the Irish crashed Saturday, proving only that they don't deserve a Bowl Championship Series bid in a 44-13 loss to the much worthier USC Trojans. This is still the BCS. Anything is possible, including favors for the rich and mighty.

Here's the latest testament to the absurd, unfathomable heights this University of Miami football program has reached:
The Hurricanes are now apologizing for scoring touchdowns. ''Regrettable,'' UM coach Larry Coker said Saturday after watching majestic Sean Taylor weave 47 yards on a fake punt. ''Unfortunate,'' said punter Freddie Capshaw after throwing his first touchdown pass. So now we have yet another thing the Hurricanes are good at -- saying I'm sorry. And perhaps the only thing they're bad at -- hitting the brakes when their talent becomes too overwhelming.

Dana Dimel was able to turn a negative into a positive in his final game as University of Houston football coach. As Dimel, fired by the school last weekend, clutched the game ball following his Cougars' 27-10 upset victory against Louisville on Saturday afternoon at Robertson Stadium, it was hard for him to hide his emotions.

Buffalo assistant coach Tommy Kaiser is a Houston native who played and coached at the University of Houston. He's a candidate to become the Cougars' next head coach. Kaiser, who is well-respected as a coach at the college and professional level, should receive strong consideration for the job he has coveted since he decided to enter the coaching profession. Bills coach Gregg Williams doesn't want to lose Kaiser, but he would gladly give up his close friend if Kaiser had an opportunity to get his dream job.

Chris Rix spent the past four weeks in football's equivalent of exile. As someone else guided his team, the former Florida State starting quarterback sat on the bench, watched and, apparently, learned. Even though his statistics may indicate otherwise, Rix played perhaps the best game of his college career Saturday night, managing to avoid the turnovers and inconsistent play that forced his removal from the starting lineup earlier this season.

The Outback Bowl in Tampa appears to be the strongest possibility for Florida's post-season destination.

Only two seconds remained when what was supposed to be a TCU celebration of its invitation to the AXA Liberty Bowl turned into mayhem. What was supposed to be a joyous on-field party turned into brawl. Shortly before the University of Memphis's 27-20 Conference USA loss to TCU Saturday at Amon Carter Stadium was complete, bedlam intervened. Benches cleared, punches were thrown and an official was knocked to the ground.

Former college and NBA star Armon Gilliam is trying to give Penn State Altoona a basketball program to be proud of

Odd Notes & Stuff

Perhaps Gary Bettman believes the 2006 Winter Games that will be played in Torino, Italy, are a chip to be played during collective bargaining, but the commissioner at this point sure doesn't sound like a proponent of sending the NHL back to the Olympics for the third time.

The idea of Eric Lindros being dealt to the Hub, floated last week in the Toronto media, seems insane. First of all, L'Enfant Terrible is scoring at an anemic two-goal-a-month pace. His base salary is only $2.6 million, and that's palatable for Boston, but it has sweeteners that could bump it to around $8 million. Meanwhile, Lindros sounds unfazed. No. 88 to Toronto-based SportsNet broadcaster Nick Kypreos: ''I'm only getting worried if they want to send me back to Philly.''

The Sharks are among those vying for Kyle McLaren, but they're going to have to do far better than the initial ante of Jeff Jillson.

Edmonton General Manager Kevin Lowe is sick and tired of listening to players criticize the league. He took aim at recent disparaging comments by Detroit's Chris Chelios and said, "I don't agree with him when he says the league stinks. If he thinks that way, maybe he can retire." Good idea, and maybe he can take Brett Hull with him so they can star in "Grumpy Old Men III."

Rumors last week had the Boston Bruins dealing Kyle McLaren and Martin Lapointe to the Colorado Avalanche for Alex Tanguay and Martin Skoula.

After back-to-back, one-sided losses, Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock made his team skate hard for 90 minutes on Thanksgiving Day. On the same day, Canadiens teammates Richard Zednik and Karl Dykhuis got into a fight on the bench during a practice. "You get pushed around, emotions get going," Dykhuis said. "It's not figure skating."

Fans ambushed an Italian soccer player as he was driving home from a game, smashing his car windows with iron bars and leaving him with bruises and a cut eye.

Here's what Byron Dafoe, the unsigned goalie no one wanted, said after finally being picked up by the Atlanta Thrashers: "This is a team on the threshold of going to that next level, which is playoffs. At this point in my career, I want to play games and win games. Coming to Atlanta definitely fits that mold."

LeBron James has been on the cover of Sports Illustrated, under the headline: The Chosen One. Letterman wants him. He has Michael Jordan's cell number and has played in His Airness' top-secret workouts. James' games are televised on ESPN2 and pay-per-view. His autograph is for sale on eBay ($42), as are tickets for an upcoming game ($100 each). Nike and adidas are dangling $20 million contracts in his baby face, and NBA scouts predict he will be the top pick in the 2003 draft. James is 17 years old.

It looks more and more like the bidding war for "Big Poppa Pump'' Scott Steiner will be won by Eric Bischoff and the "Raw'' brand. In what will be one of the biggest moves pulled off by Bischoff since becoming the general manager of the Monday night program, Steiner will be signed in the next few weeks and should begin a series of matches with HHH, possibly culminating in a world title match at Wrestlemania.

Hulk Hogan was scheduled to be at "Survivor Series" to wrestle Lesnar, but those plans changed after Hogan and Vince McMahon were unable to "get on the same page, creatively," as Hogan put it. Hogan's been making his media rounds over the past week promoting his biography, "Hollywood Hulk Hogan," appearing on "The Best Damn Sports Show Period" and "The Today Show." Hogan said he'd like to wrestle again in WWE, citing a match at "Wrestlemania" with McMahon as a likely choice, provided the two can work out their differences.

Arturo Gatti is expected to have surgery this week on his right hand. It was injured during his victory Nov. 23 over Micky Ward in Atlantic City. "It's a minor operation dealing with some joints in his right hand," Main Events vice president Carl Moretti said. "It's not as if he's going to miss any time. He'll be back in eight weeks."

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