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NBA Headlines
March 10
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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For the first time since Rafer Alston left the Miami Heat without explanation, clarity is being shed on the matter. According to ESPN.com, Alston decided to leave the team in the wake of last week's benching amid the emotional strain of his twin sister Racine's attempted suicide. Alston told the website his sister had attempted to take her life just days before he was relieved of his starting job. "The way I handled it was wrong," Alston told ESPN.com. "I didn't really tell [team officials] why I was leaving." The Heat said it only received a text from Alston the morning after he was benched during last Thursday's home victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, offering no details about his ..."
March 10
Los Angeles Times
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Welcome to two-stage firing ... Clippers' style. The Clippers put a new twist on that old phrase: They thought Mike Dunleavy was so nice, they fired him twice. Technically speaking, Dunleavy stepped down as coach last month when he seemed unable to penetrate the deep malaise of his players. On Tuesday, the other part of his job description, general manager, vanished with about five weeks left in the regular season. Talk about the long (delayed) goodbye. The news blindsided Dunleavy. And this is saying something, considering he has worked for his share of mercurial NBA owners, Herb Kohl in Milwaukee before joining Donald Sterling of the Clippers."
March 10
Philadelphia Inquirer
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Comcast-Spectacor is ready to fire 76ers coach Eddie Jordan, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation. Several other sources also indicated that the organization will "seriously evaluate" Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski, who hired Jordan less than a year ago. One of these sources indicated that the company had considered terminating Jordan earlier, but likely was "deterred" by the early-season firing of former Flyers coach John Stevens. Comcast-Spectacor owns both franchises. These sources indicated that Jordan could be fired before this season ends - if it becomes obvious he has lost the team - but more likely after the final game of this dismal season. One of ..."
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Rodney Stuckey might be getting closer to a return to the basketball court. The Pistons said Wednesday that Stuckey has undergone complete negative cardiac evaluations at the University of Michigan, the Cleveland Clinic and the Detroit Medical Center. The combined opinion of the medical personnel involved is that Stuckey may return to a progressive exercise program."
NFL Headlines
March 10
Cincinnati Enquirer
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Antonio Bryant has agreed to a four-year deal with the Bengals worth $28 million. With incentives the deal could go to $29 million. The paperwork for the deal is still being completed. The team might not announce the deal until later today or tomorrow since coach Marvin Lewis has left for the NFL Competition Committee meetings. The eight-year veteran was considered to be the top unrestricted free agent wideout. Last year with Tampa Bay, he was hampered due to two knee injuries that happened during training camp. He played 13 games and had 39 receptions for 600 yards, an average of 15.4 yards per catch, with four touchdowns. In 2008, he enjoyed a career year with 83 receptions for 1,248 ..."
March 10
Kansas City Star
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As reflected by their record the last three seasons, including a 4-12 finish in 2009, the Chiefs could use an upgrade at many positions. Running back didn't figure to be one of them. Jamaal Charles appeared to claim the job with a brilliant second half of the season in which he rushed for more than 100 yards in four of the last five games, including a team-record 259 in the season finale in Denver. But the Chiefs' first free-agent addition of the year was a running back, and 10-year veteran Thomas Jones is not one used to sharing the load. Jones, who will be 32 in August, has five straight 1,000-plus-yard seasons. Playing in 2009 for the New York Jets, Jones set career highs for rushing ..."
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One day after the Cleveland Browns released quarterback Derek Anderson, there is mounting evidence around the league that quarterback Brady Quinn could be next. Cleveland has offered Quinn to other teams, league sources said Wednesday. Not only are the Browns looking into a deal for Quinn, but they also are investigating other quarterback options as well. The Browns are exploring the acquisition of another quarterback through trade, free agency or the draft, according to multiple league sources. These talks come at a time when Cleveland already has added former Seattle backup Seneca Wallace."
March 10
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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An attorney for Ben Roethlisberger said Tuesday his firm has assembled a team of investigators to gather information about sexual assault allegations that have been raised by a 20-year-old college student. But Attorney Edward T.M. Garland said he believes that Mr. Roethlisberger "is absolutely innocent of criminal misconduct." "The fans and the people that believe in him should be patient. ... The truth will come out," he said Tuesday in a telephone interview. "The investigating authorities are acting in a responsible matter thus far and I believe they are taking their role very seriously." Nonetheless, he has his own investigators -- some of whom are former law enforcement officials and ..."
MLB Headlines
March 10
St. Paul Pioneer Press
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Joe Nathan's torn ulnar collateral ligament dominated the conversation around Twins camp Tuesday, and that won't change in the immediate future as the closer seeks a second opinion and takes one to two weeks to decide whether to have season-ending surgery. "We got through it," manager Ron Gardenhire said after Tuesday's 7-6 exhibition win over the St. Louis Cardinals. "We go into an off day tomorrow; I think everybody could use that right now. Today was kind of a stressful day." Jesse Crain and Matt Guerrier, potential candidates to take over closing duties if need be, said they believe the talent already on the Twins' roster could make do if Nathan is out for a significant amount of time. ..."
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Mets shortstop Jose Reyes has received encouraging news about the tests on his thyroid gland, his agent said Tuesday night. According to the agent, Peter E. Greenberg, Reyes was examined by specialists in New York on Monday and Tuesday. The initial diagnosis was that he had a mild and perhaps temporary case of hyperthyroidism that might not require treatment. "We're waiting for the final results tomorrow," Greenberg said from Arizona, "but all indications are that it's the most minimal case of hyperthyroidism possible. The doctor was very pleased and so is Jose.""
March 10
Newark Star-Ledger
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As Alex Rodriguez briefed reporters on Wednesday morning about his upcoming interview with federal investigators, the cell phone sitting on the top shelf of his locker buzzed. "Is that them?" an observer asked. Rodriguez, who has maintained that he's at peace with the matter, let out a laugh. Not them. Still, he expects for his meeting with federal agents investigating a controversial doctor suspected of breaking anti-doping laws to take place soon. "I think sooner rather than later," said Rodriguez, whose attorneys have been working over the last few days to schedule a sit down. "I don't want to say exactly when but they're having healthy talks and we're going to address this." Rodriguez ..."
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Former Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra signed a one-day minor league contract with his old team this morning for the purpose of announcing his retirement from baseball in a Boston uniform. The announcement was made during a press conference at City of Palms Park by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein and Garciaparra. Garciaparra ended his time in Boston a disgruntled employee after turning down a four-year, $60 million extension. Rumors swirled that he was unhappy living in Boston and had a particular distaste for the scrutiny that comes with the extensive media coverage of the team. It is particularly interesting in light of that distaste that he will join ESPN as a ..."
NHL Headlines
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Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli said it's well within the realm of possibility that Marc Savard could miss the rest of the season with the Grade 2 concussion the star playmaker suffered Sunday in Pittsburgh. "That could be. There are only (17) games (remaining in the regular season)," said Chiarelli from the GM meetings in Boca Raton, Fla. "You look at the time he was unconscious on the ice and some of the symptoms he's exhibiting now, this is a serious concussion." Chiarelli did not talk with Savard yesterday, but said he will meet with a neuro-psych specialist tomorrow. As for the perpetrator of the hit, the Penguins' Matt Cooke, there still was no decision on what, if any, ..."
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Pittsburgh Penguins winger Matt Cooke has escaped suspension for a hit to the head of Marc Savard that knocked out the Boston Bruins center. NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell made the announcement Wednesday at the general managers meeting in Boca Raton, Fla. Penguins GM Ray Shero also confirmed the news to ESPN.com via e-mail. Cooke delivered a blindside hit with his shoulder to Savard in the third period of Sunday's game. Savard was taken away on a stretcher and has been disagnosed with a Grade 2 concussion. He is out indefinitely, and Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli has said Savard could possibly miss the remainder of the season. Doctors will continue to evaluate him over the next several days ..."
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After losing top center Marc Savard to a concussion Sunday, another shoe dropped yesterday for the Bruins in their increasingly frustrating season. Captain Zdeno Chara was held out of last night's 4-3 loss to the Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre with what coach Claude Julien described as a lower body injury, which he suffered Sunday against Pittsburgh. Chara was termed day-to-day by Julien, who hopes to have him back tomorrow night in Philadelphia. Still, with the Bruins clinging to the final Eastern Conference playoff spot and every point critical, losing Chara for just one game was tough. "Our whole team has to step up. It's the whole team, the five guys that are on the ice," Julien ..."
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The NHL opened up a new front in its legal battle with the former owner of the Phoenix Coyotes, suing Jerry Moyes for $61 million (all figures U.S.) in an attempt to recoup some of the losses incurred by the team. Meanwhile, financier Daryl Jones, who heads Ice Edge Holdings, met with Glendale city manager Ed Beasley as the two sides try to work out a deal that could allow the Coyotes to turn a profit in the desert. In its suit, the NHL accused Moyes of reneging on his contract with the league by secretly working on a sale to Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie and taking the team into bankruptcy without league approval."