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NBA Rumors
February 4
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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The Hornets are taking center Chris Kaman off the trade market for now and will permit him to return to the team, league sources confirmed Friday afternoon. Kaman will not be with the team for tonight's game at Detroit, but he likely will rejoin the team before Monday night's game against the Sacramento Kings. The Hornets apparently were unable to obtain what they desired in a trade for Kaman, though several teams expressed interest, including the Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors. New Orleans wanted any deal for Kaman to include emerging young talent, draft picks or expiring contracts, sources said. The Hornets (4-19) still plan to listen to"
February 4
Los Angeles Times
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The first call Kenyon Martin received came from former Denver Nuggets teammate Chauncey Billups, telling the 6-foot-9 power forward that the Clippers would be a nice fit. Then Clippers All-Star Chris Paul called Martin, reiterating that the Clippers would love to have his services. This all came around the same time Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro and vice president of basketball operations Neil Olshey had met with Martin to express the team's interest. Martin apparently was sold, because on Friday he signed a one-year, mini mid-level contract for $2.5 million to play for the Clippers. Del Negro said Martin will provide the Clippers with quality depth in the frontcourt off the bench to help"
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Chinese Basketball Association officials are fighting FIBA's decision to allow Kenyon Martin to immediately return to the NBA, demanding that Martin be forbidden to play until later this month, sources told Yahoo! Sports. China has forwarded an affidavit to FIBA and the NBA – signed by Martin upon his departure in late December – that stipulates he wouldn't play in the NBA until his Xinjiang Guanghui Flying Tigers' season had ended. China is demanding the contract be honored and Martin have to wait until the Flying Tigers finish their season. The Flying Tigers have six games left and need a winning streak to catapult them into the playoffs. Their final regular-season game is Feb. 16.."
February 3
The Deseret News
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Gordon Hayward didn't become a bad boy overnight — or at all, really — but the squeaky clean Utah Jazz player earned a little bit of street cred on Wednesday. The second-year player finally had a technical foul put on his record. "A lot of people were happy about it," he said, "which is kind of weird." Another oddity? The "T" he received for trying to get separation from the Clippers' feisty guard, Mo Williams, on an inbounds play was the first tech Hayward has ever received."
NFL Rumors
February 4
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Peyton Manning is in the middle of a difficult breakup with the Indianapolis Colts, and it appears he's ready to run into the arms of another NFL team. An NFL source says Miami is on the short list of teams Manning would like to play for when/if the Colts release him to avoid paying a $28 million bonus, which is due on March 8. Manning and his wife own a condo on South Beach and a source said they'd love to relocate to South Florida if the fit is right. A second source confirmed Manning's interest in the Dolphins. Playing for the Dolphins would allow Manning to remain in the AFC, and the Colts are on Miami's schedule next season, which is an added bonus. Dolphins owner Steve Ross has"
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik said the team will be involved in free agency this year. What everyone wants to know now: How heavily will they be involved? At this point, not even the Bucs can say for sure. New coach Greg Schiano is still in the process of hiring a staff of assistants and evaluating the talent level of the players on the roster. Until he finishes that, Schiano won't know where the biggest needs are. And until he knows where the biggest needs are, he won't be able to determine whether a free agent or a draft pick can best fill the void. That said, Dominik explained a long time ago his philosophy regarding free agency, and that explanation should give fans"
February 4
Indianapolis Star
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Peyton Manning's desire to return to the NFL in 2012 is strong, his agent said this morning. "He's enthusiastic," said Tom Condon, agent for the Indianapolis Colts quarterback. "He loves to compete. He loves the game. He wants to play. Peyton wants to play and he's safe to play. "Now it's a matter of him getting all of his strength back and he'll be back to being Peyton.'' Manning's future with the Colts has been a prime storyline in the days leading up to Super Bowl XLVI. Dr. Robert Watkins, who performed a spinal fusion Sept. 8 on Manning, gave Manning medical clearance Wednesday to return and play next season. Colts owner Jim Irsay responded to that news on his Twitter account by"
February 4
Kansas City Star
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Brian Daboll will be the Chiefs' new offensive coordinator, according to an ESPN report late Friday night. Chiefs quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn and former Raiders offensive coordinator Al Saunders were also known to have interviewed for the position. Daboll was replaced as the Dolphins' offensive coordinator after Miami finished 20th in points and 22nd in yards last year. The Dolphins were much better in the second half of the season, and beat the Chiefs 31-3 for their first win in week nine."
MLB Rumors
February 4
Oakland Tribune
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Free-agent Manny Ramirez is trying to decide whether he'll sign with the the A's, Orioles or Blue Jays, a source told ESPNDePortesLosAngeles.com on Friday. Once Ramirez chooses a team, his agents will then begin contract negotiations with that team. The A's have been the most vocal among the three teams in their support for adding the 39-year-old Ramirez. Co-owner Lew Wolff, along with assistant general manager David Forst, both said within the past two weeks that the A's are very open to the idea of adding the embattled slugger."
February 4
Dallas Morning News
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Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton said he would have preferred that Friday's press conference been called to discuss a contract extension with the club rather than his use of alcohol on Monday night. `I'm sorry it had to be this way,'' Hamilton said. ``It would have been nice if it had been about a contract. We'll put that on the back burner for a while.''"
February 4
San Jose Mercury News
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The Giants made their roster available to the media on the eve of their annual FanFest, and no, there wasn't a surprise news conference to announce a long-term extension for Matt Cain. The Giants certainly hope to convene such an event soon, though -- perhaps even before pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 18. As for Cain, he's playing it down the middle. "We've talked ... and it's a process," Cain said. "We'll see what's going to happen. We're definitely here for this year." It's been reported that Cain would accept a hometown discount. If true, he's smart enough to know you don't come out and admit that in public. When asked about that possibility, Cain gave a cagey answer. "That's"
February 4
New York Daily News
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Joe Girardi likes the winter work the Yankees have done already, adding starters Michael Pineda and Hiroki Kuroda to shore up the rotation. But if the Yanks' manager has his way, the team is not finished, even though spring training starts later this month. Girardi wants another hitter, preferably a lefty, to suck up some of the at-bats at designated hitter that were left on the table when the Yanks shipped Jesus Montero to Seattle in the Pineda deal. "I think it's important to our club that you add that other bat," Girardi said Friday at a charity appearance at the Modell's Sporting Goods store in Times Square. "The American League is tough." Girardi acknowledged that the Yankees have"
NHL Rumors
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Erik Christensen will get the opportunity to revive his NHL career in Minnesota after being traded to the Wild by the Rangers on Friday for 24-year-old forward Casey Wellman, who was immediately assigned to the AHL Whale. The move opens a Rangers roster spot for the return of defenseman Steve Eminger, who is set to come off injured reserve after having missed the past 19 games with a separated shoulder he sustained in Phoenix on Dec. 17. Though Eminger said he believes he is "very close," coach John Tortorella said he has gotten a "yes" from trainer Jim Ramsay on his availability for Sunday afternoon's Atlantic Division showdown against Philadelphia. Tortorella, however, said he has not"
February 4
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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The group attempting to buy the Blues missed a deadline Friday, a date scheduled to provide a commitment letter from its bank, but a league source said the development would not hinder the sale process. Tom Stillman's group, which signed a purchase agreement in January, remains on track to complete the sale, according to the source. That corroborates what NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said at the All-Star festivities last weekend in Ottawa when asked about the progress of the sale. "Based on the pulse that we're taking of the transaction and the things that need to be done, we're optimistic that (the sale will be completed) hopefully in the not-too-distant future," Bettman said. "In order"
February 4
Washington Post
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Washington placed Joel Rechlicz on waivers, with the intention of reassigning him to the AHL's Hershey Bears. That's what will happen unless another NHL team claims the tough forward by Saturday at noon. Rechlicz's Bears equipment bag was packed and in front of his stall in the dressing room at KCI. He requires waivers to be assigned to Hershey because this is his fourth season after signing an entry-level deal with the Islanders in 2008. That Rechlilcz signed an NHL contract on Jan. 30, also means he must pass through waivers before he can be loaned to the AHL."
February 4
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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The Penguins have signed Joe Vitale to a two-year contract extension, running through the 2013-14 season, worth $550,000 per season. Vitale, 26, is a hard-working center who made the team out of training camp. He has three goals, 10 points in 44 games."