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Big Ben's Friday Rumors & Notes

Baseball Rumors & Notes

The Orioles are believed to have had discussions in recent weeks with the Texas Rangers concerning Juan Gonzalez and Hank Blalock, with the Kansas City Royals concerning Carlos Beltran, with the Colorado Rockies concerning power-hitting prospect Jack Cust and with the Pittsburgh Pirates concerning Brian Giles. In many cases, the potential trade partner has asked for Rodrigo Lopez and/or closer Jorge Julio in return. The Orioles consider them to be all but untouchable, but they are willing to talk about everyone else.

Pirates GM Dave Littlefield said Thursday that he has maintained discussions with free agent center fielder Kenny Lofton's agent. He also confirmed the Pirates have talked with representatives for free agents Ron Gant and Reggie Sanders and that a trade for an outfielder remains a possibility.

Chipper Jones the Braves left fielder would be willing to spell newcomer Robert Fick at first base. ''I like playing the corners,'' Jones said. ''I've never played first but. . . if he [Fick] can move [to the outfield], I can move there [to first]. A couple of [infield sessions at first base], and I'll be ready to go.'' Jones appears to be upbeat and impressively fit. He added 18 pounds over the winter, to 223, and most of the gain appears to be in his chest and thicker arms.

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein said that Pedro Martinez, who made the call from the Dominican Republic, did not mention his desire to have his 2004 option year picked up by Opening Day. He said, in fact, that the three-time Cy Young Award winner's contract and his public pleas for an extension have never come up in any of his conversations since assuming the job in November.

Reggie Jackson told Yankees star Derek Jeter "Don't mess with the Boss"

Manager Alan Trammell said he "messed up" during the Tigers' winter tour when he said Steve Sparks might not be a starter.

Saying they had nothing to lose by just taking a look, the Mets announced yesterday they had signed David Cone to a minor-league contract. Cone will be at Mets camp today for the first time since the spring of 1992, beginning what he hopes will be an unlikely rebirth of his baseball career.

Mets GM Steve Phillips said the signing of David Cone does not "necessarily" preclude him from acquiring RHP Robert Person or LHP Donovan Osborne, whom the Mets worked out on Wednesday. Phillips said he was still talking to Jeff Moorad, the agent for both.

Lou Piniella has said he hopes the Rays can set a franchise record for wins this season and, in three years, be able to compete in the AL East. "Our job here basically is to get to .500 first," he said. "The quicker we can get this thing to .500, the better off we're going to be as an organization, and from there we can take the next step forward.

Though the Phillies declined to offer reserve infielder Dave Hollins salary arbitration in the off-season, they have invited him to camp as a guest player. If Hollins is not claimed as part of a major-league posting within the next week, the Phillies will likely sign him to a minor-league contract and allow him to remain with them as a nonroster player.

The Reds' big free-agent acquisition, right-hander Paul Wilson, doesn't seem like a big deal. But, to manager Bob Boone, it is. "Huge," Boone said. "You try to eliminate as many 'ifs' as possible. The difference between looking for one starter instead of two is gigantic." The Reds have penciled Wilson in as a starter, along with Jimmy Haynes, Danny Graves and Ryan Dempster.

Manager Alan Trammell ardently wants to make Tigers tradition an active force again. During Thursday's drills on Tigertown's back fields, he heard a reference to practice fields "Nos. 3 and 4." He then told the players as a group that the four practice fields are named for Tigers Hall of Famers Ty Cobb, Mickey Cochrane, Charlie Gehringer and Harry Heilmann. "The players might think it's hokey," Trammell said of the history lesson. "I don't care."

Indians DH Ellis Burks is next in line. Burks, 38, is coming off an excellent season in which he had more at-bats than at any time in the last six years. But can Burks do it again without Thome hitting behind him? And how soon before Oakland, or another contender, comes calling for Burks?

The agent for Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Shannon Stewart said yesterday that, if the team has, indeed, made its final offer, Stewart's eventual take-home pay for 2003 can't help but be determined by a three-man arbitration panel.

Stop us if you've heard this one before: Armando Benitez didn't report with the other pitchers and catchers. For the third straight season, Benitez has asked for and received permission to attend to "personal issues," and bypass yesterday's reporting date.

Late Wednesday night it was decided that Bobby Alejo, Jason Giambi 's personal trainer and guru, would have his access severely reduced, but the Yankees didn't flush Alejo completely from the picture. "He will be allowed in the weight room, allowed on the planes and allowed to throw batting practice indoors at home," GM Cashman said. "He is not allowed on the field or in the clubhouse." How that translates into how effective Alejo, who is paid by Giambi and not the Yankees, can be with Giambi remains to be seen.

Jose Rosado, a former Kansas City Royal, is one of 14 non-roster pitchers in camp. The Reds quietly signed him to a minor-league contract two weeks ago.

Alan Trammell isn't forgetting his old sidekick. He's invited Lou Whitaker to "help out" with spring training whenever he can. From the moment Trammell was hired as the Tigers' manager, and certainly Thursday as he oversaw the first workout of spring training, his constant theme has been to emphasize the winning past of the Tigers franchise.

Rangers bullpen catcher Nate Lasseter wears No. 84, the highest number on the Rangers' roster. There are 80 uniformed personnel and four numbers are unused. One is No. 7, which was worn by Ivan Rodriguez through his dozen years as Rangers catcher. The Rangers aren't issuing that number, although there are no plans to retire it. The Rangers also aren't using the No. 26 worn by former manager Johnny Oates. No. 34 (Nolan Ryan) and No. 42 (Jackie Robinson) officially are retired.

Marlins president David Samson has had problems with WQAM the sports station in Miami: ``I don't want my personal feelings on their hosts -- or the DJs, as I like to call them -- to get in the way. I spend more time than I wish to admit dealing with WQAM. It should be 3 percent of my time, and it's 10 percent. I keep having to explain. . . how we get sucker-punched. ``We've talked to their talent -- or I [should say] their individuals who get a microphone four hours a day -- and there's nothing we can do. What they say has no relevance to the future of the Marlins.''

NFL Rumors & Notes

Although it has been reported that the Ravens would be a possible suitor for quarterback Kordell Stewart, the team's top priority remains re-signing quarterback Jeff Blake to a multi-year deal, team sources said. The Ravens are forbidden by league rules to comment on whether they will pursue Stewart until he is released, but team sources say there is little interest in signing him. The Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins are projected to be the top suitors for Stewart.

If Bears GM Jerry Angelo has his way—the Bears have a variety of scenarios worked out—there will be at least two new quarterbacks on hand when the team holds its postdraft mini-camps at the end of April. The scenarios include: A player signed to be the starting quarterback, such as Kordell Stewart. A player signed with a chance to compete for the No. 1 job, perhaps New Orleans' Jake Delhomme. A "bridge" quarterback, such as retired veteran Elvis Grbac, who is capable of starting and healthier than Chris Chandler but more of a transition player until a drafted quarterback is ready.

Falcons chief financial officer Ray Anderson and the agent for pending unrestricted free agent linebacker Keith Brooking met Thursday, and ''we had a healthy discussion of the issues,'' said Pat Dye Jr., who represents Brooking. The Falcons increased certain parts of their contract proposal, but have not offered a signing bonus above $10 million, as earlier reported.

The Lions will get a chance to make their case -- or at least give an explanation -- for failing to interview minority candidates before hiring Steve Mariucci as their coach. NFL sources say Lions executives, including president Matt Millen, have been asked to meet in early March with NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and members of the league's committee on workplace diversity.

Return specialist Brian Mitchell, who has tormented Bucs coach Jon Gruden in recent years, is interested in jumping from Philadelphia to Tampa Bay as an unrestricted free agent.

With the Orlando Pace negotiations in gridlock, the Rams have turned their attention to priority No. 2 among their prospective free agents: cornerback Dre Bly. Brantley Evans, Bly's agent, said contract talks were renewed with the Rams earlier this week. Although Bly flashed some of his playmaking skill late in the 2002 season, he didn't meet the team's expectations in his first full year as a starter.

The Indianapolis Colts apparently have determined they are better off with Mike Vanderjagt. The veteran place-kicker, who jeopardized his roster spot last month by criticizing coach Tony Dungy and quarterback Peyton Manning, has agreed to restructure the 2003 portion of his contract, according to the NFL Players Association.

Of the three Steelers free-agent starters, strong safety Lee Flowers said he does not expect the team to re-sign him. Offensive tackle Wayne Gandy likely will sign elsewhere, perhaps with Miami, and fullback Dan Kreider will be restricted.

Attorney Johnnie Cochran might be coming to town to place heat on the Lions up close. What began as a Detroit City Council resolution criticizing the Lions' head-coaching hiring process could be the path that leads Cochran to Detroit, Councilman Alonzo W. Bates said Thursday.

The only starting passers who are scheduled to become free agents two weeks from today are Arizona's Jake Plummer, Carolina's Rodney Peete and Baltimore's Jeff Blake (who battled Chris Redman for the job last year). Chicago's Jim Miller, who is coming off rotator cuff surgery, could join that group. Cleveland's Tim Couch, Dallas' Chad Hutchinson and Denver's Brian Griese are in danger of being deposed. But even if all those teams switch quarterbacks, that's only seven changes with no true big name among them.

If there's anybody on pins and needles these days at Rams Park, it's Jim Hanifan. Just two weeks from the start of the free agency period, seven of the Rams' top eight offensive linemen have contracts scheduled to expire. Starting left guard Tom Nutten, starting center Andy McCollum, and backups Grant Williams (tackle), Heath Irwin (guard-center) and Frank Garcia (center-guard) are scheduled for unrestricted free agency.

NBA Rumors & Notes

Adonal Foyle. Latrell Sprewell. Mike Miller. All are possibilities as the 76ers shop for help before Thursday's trading deadline. One scenario would see Derrick Coleman, under contract through this season for $9.5 million, and another Sixer sent to the Warriors for Foyle, a 6-foot-10 center, and another player. A second scenario would see Keith Van Horn sent the Knicks for Sprewell, a 6-5 swingman. Still another would see at least one Sixer sent to the Magic for Miller, a 6-8 swingman.

Former Fab Five teammates Juwan Howard of the Denver Nuggets and Jalen Rose of the Chicago Bulls have considered the possibility of becoming the Fab Two with the Bulls.

We've learned Tim Hardaway has asked the Pacers for a tryout. Depending on whether they make any roster moves within the next six days, Donnie Walsh and Isiah Thomas plan to set up an audition for Hardaway after the Feb. 20 trade deadline.

The Hawks are running a lean operation, keeping the roster as bare as possible in the event Babcock can pull off a trade that requires him to take one or two more players than he gives up. That could be the case if Atlanta moves one of its four high-salaried players -- Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Glenn Robinson, Theo Ratliff or Alan Henderson -- and needs several lesser salaried players to accommodate them.

With the trade deadline approaching next Thursday, the Celtics are drawing some interest from other clubs. But as of now, their players are not. Teams have spoken to the Celts about their two first-round draft picks this year (their own and the one coming from Philadelphia as part of the Jerome Moiso deal). ``Any time you have two picks, there's always going to be chatter,'' said general manager Chris Wallace. ``But we'd prefer to hang onto them.

With disappointment so palpable that his brief comments took on a weary tone, Bulls coach Bill Cartwright said Jalen Rose and Tyson Chandler would be fined for missing the majority of Thursday's practice at Basketball City, a recreation center on Manhattan's West Side.

Wizards forward Charles Oakley, who got into a heated shouting match with Clippers Coach Alvin Gentry at a shoot-around before Wednesday's game, said there wasn't much to the incident, even though witnesses said players and team employees had to intervene. "Didn't nothing happen," Oakley said. "If something happened I probably wouldn't have played last night."

The Knicks own a throw-in trade piece that's "a hot commodity," as one league executive called it. In the Antonio McDyess trade, they obtained Denver's second-round pick. If the season ended today, it would be No. 31 overall, nearly a first-rounder without having to pay the three-year, $4-million guarantee.

Allen Iverson was not among the first four players USA Basketball named yesterday to the team that will try to qualify for the 2004 Olympics, but he still may end up on the squad.

Ron Artest got a mention on ESPN's SportsCenter after Wednesday's game in New Orleans for tugging at a microphone that had been taped to the top of the scorer's table near the Hornets' bench. According to a wire service report, Artest pulled the microphone hard enough to separate the tape from the table after he was called for a foul early in the third quarter. Reporters from the New Orleans Times-Picayune witnessed the incident but did not deem it worthy of mentioning in their coverage

College Rumors & Notes

Mike Sweetney's days with the Georgetown Hoyas may be numbered. Faced with being the brightest star on perhaps the worst Georgetown team in 30 years, the Hoyas' power forward remains loyal to this season's apparent lost cause even though vast riches await him in June's NBA Draft. The Hoyas have seven games left in the regular season.

Rick Pitino was the darling of the college coaching world after leading Boston University to success, Providence to a Final Four and Kentucky to a national championship. The only place he didn't conquer was the NBA, where he had spent 3 1/2 seasons as the coach of the Boston Celtics. In just two seasons, Pitino has rebuilt Louisville.

Washington Athletic Director Barbara Hedges said last night that there will be no university sanctions levied against football coach Rick Neuheisel for his failure to tell the truth about his interview with the San Francisco 49ers. "The important thing," Hedges said, "is that Rick has apologized. We at the university have accepted his apology and want to move on."

Ryan Gunderson, the top-rated player in Oregon State's 2003 recruiting class, said Dennis Erickson misled football prospects by saying he planned to stay at the school. Gunderson, a quarterback from Central Catholic High School in Portland, Ore., said he was shocked when Erickson left Oregon State on Tuesday to become coach of the San Francisco 49ers.

Purdue coach Gene Keady said earlier this season he didn't have much reason to complain about the officiating. His team was winning. But Keady has joined the chorus, complaining about excessive fouls called. Big Ten director of officiating Rich Falk has said officials are calling games closer, but the league is merely following directives from the NCAA.

You may have read that former Kansas Jayhawk Eric Chenowith recently was cut by the Huntsville (Ala.) Flight of the NBA's developmental league. Chenowith, once drafted and released by the Knicks, had worked out in several other NBA camps the last two seasons, including those held by the Sonics, Kings and Clippers. Apparently now his game isn't good enough for the NBDL.

Former Florida State quarterback Adrian McPherson has been charged with felony grand theft, accused of bouncing five checks at two Tallahassee Publix stores last summer.

Odd Notes & Stuff

A New York luncheon between Keith Olbermann and ESPN officials could lead to his return to SportsCenter. A scenario could reunite Olbermann with his good friend Dan Patrick on Sunday night SportsCenters to recreate what they dubbed the "Big Show." "It's not that the ball is in their court, it's the fact it's their court," Olbermann said.

NBC, which brought boxing to national television 57 years ago, will return the sport to network telecasts for the first time since 1996 through an agreement with Main Events Productions. The General Electric Co.-owned network will carry a live 90-minute boxing card beginning at 3:30 each Saturday from May 3-17.

The NFL doesn't kick off its season with the Super Bowl, and major-league baseball doesn't throw the first pitch of the season in the World Series. And now that stock-car racing is gaining more acceptance as a mainstream sport, there is some sentiment that NASCAR should move its most prestigious event, the Daytona 500, from the season opener to the final race, where the Winston Cup champion is crowned. Don't bet on it. At least not for a while.

That $83,900 sale of the Mercedes driven by Bucs coach Jon Gruden turned out to be a false alarm. Mercedes-Benz of Tampa got an e-mail from the supposed winning bidder explaining that someone had hacked into his account and bid using his ID. So the car is back up for auction, with bidding at $67,500, where it picked up two supposedly legitimate bidders last week.

Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican and head of the Senate Commerce Committee, is organizing a "blue-ribbon task force" aimed at reforming the troubled U.S. Olympic Committee.

Curt Hennig always claimed to be absolutely perfect in the ring. Outside the ropes, his fellow wrestlers say ''Mr. Perfect'' was even better than that. Hennig, who made his debut in 1979 and gained fame as ''Mr. Perfect'' in the late 1980s and early 1990s, was found dead in a Brandon, Fla., hotel Monday. He was 44. Many of his peers considered him a great showman in the ring, but his sense of humor and love for pulling practical jokes left an even greater impression on those he worked with.

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