(Basketball)
...2-blockbuster trades started the fireworks this afternoon as the NBA draft gets underway.
...The New Jersey Nets dealt 22-point a game forward Richard Jefferson to the Milwaukee Bucks for last years lst round pick, Chinese star Yi Jainlian and veteran forward Bobby Simmons. Jefferson joins Andrew Bogut and Charley Villanueva on a new look Bucks-frontline. Milwaukee still has the 8th pick in the opening round.
...The Toronto Raptors completed their 4-for-1 trade with Indiana. The Raptors add 7-foot high scoring center Jermaine O'Neal, where he joins Chris Bosch and Andre Bagnani. The Pacers get point guard TJ Ford, center Rasho Nesterovic and the 17th pick in the deal.
...NBA.com reported this afternoon the Clippers, Seattle and Miami are discussing a 3-way blockbuster deal. The Clippers would trade the 7th pick and a player to Seattle for the 4th pick. The Clippers would take OJ Mayo with the choice. The Clippers would then deal OJ Mayo and free-agent Elton Brand then to the Miami Heat for Shawn Marion and Michael Beasley.
...The Clippers also offered the 7th pick and next year's number 1-to Minnesota for the third pick, which would allow them access to Mayo.
...Rumors are rampant about other deals.
...Chicago chooses lst and will take Memphis guard Derrick Rose.
...The Miami Heat, are still discussing trading out of the second slot. They reportedly are talking about a trade with Memphis. The Heat would ship the 2nd pick to Memphis for shooting forward Mike Miller, guard Kyle Lowrey and the 4th choice. Memphis would take Kansas State big forward Michael Beasely.
...Miami also offered the 2nd pick and center Mark Blount to Seattle for the 4th pick and forward Chris Wilcox. The Sonics would take Beasley.
...Miami is also discussing separate deals that would send hi-scoring Shawn Marion to the Lakers for Lamar Odom; to the Clippers for power forward Elton Brand; or to Utah for center Carlos Boozer.
...The New York Knicks offered big forward David Lee to Memphis for the 5th pick; that would give the Knicks both picks 5-and-6, to take OJ Mayo and Russell Westbrooke..
...The Knicks offered Minnesota Lee, Malik Rose and the 6th pick for the Timberwolves 3rd round pick, for OJ Mayo..
...New York also is discussing trading back with Portland; Lee and the 6th pick to the Blazers for the 13th, 27th and guard Jarrett Jack.
...The Phoenix Suns are also in the middle of trade talks. The Suns offered guard Leandro Barbosa and the 15th choice to the Knicks for David Lee and the 6th pick.
...Phoenix also offered Barbosa and the 13th pick to Portland for guard Martell Webster and a Blazers pick.
...Rumors about a blockbuster Golden State-Detroit deal are still out there. Baron Davis and Al Harrington would go to the Pistons; the Warriors would wind up with Rasheed Wallace and Chauncey Billups in a package that involves 50-million dollars in contracts.
...The Charlotte Bobcats and Cleveland were discussing a deal, Anderson Vareajo for Bobcats shooter Adam Morrison.
...Dallas offered a 2nd round pick to New Jersey for center DeSagana Diop.
...Portland Trailblazers shooting guard James Jones opted out of his contract for free-agency today.
...Closing arguments are tomorrow in the bittter Seattle Supersonics lawsuit, in attempts to get out of the final 2-years of their lease at Key Arena so they can move to Oklahoma City.
...Indiana University Athletic Director Rick Greenspan, caught in the middle of the ugly Kelvin Sampson-NCAA scandal, will be fired tomorrow.
(Baseball)
...The Padres, who had lost 8-of-9, tangled with the Minnesota Twins 8-game winning streak in an afternoon game at Petco Park.
...The battered Padres are considering more roster moves. They are looking at promoting 1-of their San Antonio pitchers, either Will Inman or Jonathon Ellis, who are a combined 16-6 this year in the Texas League. The Padres are also looking at outfielder Chip Ambres, hitting .298 with 16-homers at Portland; he is hitting .338 with runners in scoring position.
...The Dodgers host the White Sox tonite. LA put reliever Scott Proctor on the DL with elbow problems. Meanwhile Jason Schmidt will make an important rehab start in Las Vegas.
...The Angels are off tonite; they play at Dodgers Stadium tomorrow.
...Houston Astros pitcher Shawn Chacon has been released,hours after assaulting GM-Ed Wade in an angry argument in the clubhouse lunch room last nite. Chacon choked Wade, knocking him to the ground, after refusing to go to the managers office for a meeting. He had been pulled from the starting rotation last week. He wins the Latrell Sprewell Memorial Choke Hold Award.
...Barry Bonds agent says the Giants slugger would sign a free-agent contract for 'free' to DH in the American League, but has turned down an offer to play for the St-Paul Saints in the independent Northern League.
...The Tigers have traded pitcher Denny Bautista to the Pirates for a minor league pitchers.
...Rumors continue to swirl the Pirates and Padres are scouting each other, possibly setting the stage for a Kevin Kouzmanoff-Jason Bay deal.
...The Padres are also interested in Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino, but the Phils want Randy Wolfe in return.
...St-Louis has activated slugger Albert Pujols from the disabled list.
...Umpire Brian Runge has been suspended for 1-game for bumping Mets manager Jerry Manuel during a heated argument.
...Fresno State is headed home as College World Series champion, after bombing Georgia last nite. Fresno won 6-elimination games in Omaha, winning 6-against powers Rice-North Carolina and Georgia all on the road.
(Football)
...Coronado officer Aaron Mansker clashed with Steve Foley's lawyers again today, as testimony in the 19-million dollar lawsuit continued today. Grilled about violating training codes, Mansker said he had every right to tail and try to get a drunken Foley off the road. He called Foley an imminent threat to injury or death because he was drunk and wreckless, driving at 90-miles an hour. The lawyer questioned the wording of the code; Mansker's response, you were not there. Yesterday Mansker said he believed Foley had a gun and was going to shoot him after the Chargers linebacker refused to stop stalking the cop after 6-commands.
...The NFL may suspended Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall, who has been arrested 3-times in 12-months on domestic abuse incidents.
...Former Seattle and Baltimore Ravens pass rusher Michael McCrary has been awarded a 33-million dollar judgement against 2-business partners who swindled him out of an insurance settlement in a condo project. McCrary lost his investments, and had 3-other businesses go under when 2-partners lied to him and refused to share a 12-million insurance settlement with him.
...Bengals receiver Chad Johnson paid a 100-thousand dollar out-of-court settlement, for a lawsuit in a niteclub.
...Detroit Lions top draft pick Gosden Cherilous has been ordered to pay 52-thousand dollars for a fite in a restaurant a year ago while at Boston College in which he injured a man's spine.
...The New York Giants announced there will be seat license taxes on every seat in their new 82-thousand seat Meadowlands Stadium. The license tax will go from 1-thousand dollars per seat to 20-thousand dollars per seat at mid-field.
...USC coach Pete Carroll escaped injury, when a Malibu police officer made a U-turn infront of him last nite, wrecking the coaches car.
(Hockey)
...The NHL announced a record increase in the salary cap for next year; it will jump to 56-million dollars per team. The cap, based on NHL revenues, has gone from 41-million dollars when the lockout ended to 56-million in 2-years.
...Veteran defenseman Scott Niedermayer is returning to play next year for the Anaheim Ducks.
...The LA Kings, in need of veteran goal scoring, are interested in just released Toronto Maple Leafs goal-scorer Darcy Tucker.
...The Calgary Flames bought out 3-contracts today, including defenseman Rhett Warrner.
...New York Rangers veteran Martin Straka, who scored 257-goals in his career, retired today to become a coach in the Czech Republic.
(General)
,,,A day of upsets at Wimbledon. Former champ Maria Sharapova, her game littered by double faults and unforced errors, lost to the 154th ranked player. Venus Williams was erratic, 26-unforced errors, but won.
...Rafael Nadal came from behind to win. Andy Roddick and James Blake were both knockout vicitms.
...Lindsey Davenport pulled out with knee swelling.
...Tiger Woods was no-where to seen at the Buick Open Golf tourney in Grand Blanc, Michigan, missing it because of knee surgery. Corey Pavin shot an 8-under par 64 to get the lst round lead; John Daly, on a sponsors exemption, weighing 290-pounds, shot a 72.
...Michelle Wie exploded for an 81-today, including a 9-on 1-hole, in the lst round of the LPGA US Open.
...Another squabble in Indy car racing. Indy 500-champion Scott Dixon called Danica Patrick a 'menace' on the track, for not knowing how to drive when her car is having handling problems. He accused her of drifting all over the track and blocking other cars.
...Italian world Cup coach Roberton Donadoni was fired today; his squad was (13-5-5) in International competition.
