Kentucky Wildcats lands Knight

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/04/15/1206936/kentucky-signs-knight-adds-more.html


“Sort of a display of strength,” analyst Jerry Meyer of Rivals.com called the commitments by senior point guard Brandon Knight of Pine Crest, Fla., and junior forward Michael Gilchrist of Elizabeth, N.J.


Earlier this month, UK announced that five players, including four freshmen from last year’s No. 1-rated recruiting class, would enter their names in the NBA draft.


The Wildcats also announced the signing of 6-foot-10 center/forward Enes Kanter, a Turkish phenom who verbally committed to the Washington Huskies in November but then re-opened his recruitment in February.


Hayward to test NBA


Gordon Hayward couldn’t quite say no to the NBA’s money – but hasn’t said goodbye to his Butler teammates, either.


The 6-foot-9 sophomore announced that he would enter the NBA draft while retaining his option of returning to school. He has until May 8 to withdraw his name. …


Purdue forward JaJuan Johnson and guard E’Twaun Moore plan to skip their senior seasons and enter the NBA draft. The school announced the pair would not hire agents. Elsewhere


Jeff Bzdelik was introduced as the new basketball coach at Wake Forest, ending a search for a replacement for Dino Gaudio. The former coach at Air Force and the NBA’s Denver Nuggets left Colorado after three seasons, where he was 36-58. … Rutgers guard Mike Rosario has been granted a conditional release so he can transfer, meaning the Scarlet Knights can approve what school he goes to. … Wright State promoted longtime assistant Billy Donlon to head coach a day after losing Brad Brownell to Clemson.



Read more: http://www.theolympian.com/2010/04/15/1206936/kentucky-signs-knight-adds-more.html#ixzz0lBmr4pbG

Eddie Jordan fired after one season

Hey, don't blame him. The GM should have went out and got decent players instead of wasting millions on thug-wanna-be Allen Iverson.

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/90932549.html?cmpid=15585797

Jordan’s imminent dismissal was reported in The Inquirer over a month ago.

Comcast-Spectacor will be obligated to pay Jordan for two more seasons, or approximately $6 million, through the 2011-2012 season; On June 1, 2009, Jordan signed a four-year contract, the final season of which was a team option.

Sixers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski, who executed the three-week coaching search that resulted in Jordan’s hiring, is scheduled to make the announcement.

According to a source close to Stefanski, as of Wednesday he was continuing in his same capacity and had been given no indication he would be removed from that role.

Jordan’s firing marks the conclusion of a turbulent season, one in which Jordan never settled on a set player rotation and made a number of seemingly bizarre in-game moves and post-game comments.

Watching the post-game press conferences of Jordan was like watching his gradual, season-long undoing.

In October, Jordan came to the podium in a suit coat and tie, his put-together appearance reflecting what was still a hopeful, optimistic group. But with each passing week, Jordan’s tie became looser, the top button of his shirt became unbuttoned, and occasionally he went without a suit coat all together.

Jordan’s eyes grew dark circles around them and he often stopped offering an opening remark, saying only, “Go ahead”, and then waiting for the inevitable questions about another inevitable loss.

I'm back

I took some time off. But I am back. Can't wait to get this blog up again.

Ortiz and steroids?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4385699

NEW YORK -- David Ortiz believes then-legal supplements and vitamins likely caused him to land on a 2003 list of alleged drug users seized by the federal government, and Major League Baseball and the players' association said some of the players on the list never tested positive for performance-enhancing substances.

MLB said in a statement Saturday that 96 urine samples, at most, tested positive in the 2003 survey -- and the players' association said 13 of those were in dispute.


I definitely was a little bit careless back in those days when I was buying supplements and vitamins over the counter -- legal supplements, legal vitamins over the counter -- but I never buy steroids or use steroids," Ortiz said during a news conference that began about 3½ hours before his Boston Red Sox played the New York Yankees.

"I never thought that buying supplements and vitamins, it was going to hurt anybody's feelings."

The New York Times reported last month that Ortiz and Manny Ramirez were on the 2003 list and said earlier that Sammy Sosa was on it. In February, Sports Illustrated reported Alex Rodriguez was on it, and Rodriguez later admitted he had used performance-enhancing substances from 2001 to 2003.


[+] EnlargeAP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Union general counsel Michael Weiner, left, said the MLBPA couldn't tell Ortiz if he had tested positive, only that he was on the 2003 list.
Ortiz said when he met with union lawyer Michael Weiner in 2004, he wasn't told he tested positive for steroids. Weiner, who has been designated to succeed union head Donald Fehr, said that because the list is under court seal, the union couldn't confirm to Ortiz that he tested positive, only that he was on the list.

"I want to apologize to fans for the distraction, my teammates, our manager," Ortiz said, flanked by Weiner, with Boston manager Terry Francona standing behind and to the side. "This past week has been a nightmare to me."

Some players past and present -- notably Hall of Famer Hank Aaron -- have called for the entire list to be released.

"Sure, there are some people who say 'Why don't we just get this story over with and get the list out?'" Weiner said. "I think to do that would one, be illegal, and two, be wrong. It's illegal because it's covered by court order, and it would be wrong because a promise was made by the commissioner's office and the union to every player who was tested in 2003 that the results would be anonymous."

Ortiz is against the list becoming public.

"I don't think that I would really like to see another player going through what I've been through this past week," he said.

Manning to be overpaid - Eli that is

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/2009/08/06/2009-08-06_giants_make_eli_manning_nfls_highestpaid_player_but_hes_far_from_best_quarterbac.html

In such a tight economy, did the Giants really have to give him the agreed upon six-year, $97.5million extension (with $35million guaranteed), that added on to the $9.4 million he was already getting this season in the final year of his rookie deal, making his grand total $106.9 million over the next seven years? That covers quite a few PSL sales, you know. His annual average is $1.25 million more than his brother's and 50% more than Brady's $10 million.

It really comes down to this: That's the going rate, and the Giants had no desire to create ill will and stick him with the franchise tag next year. Was A-Rod, with no rings, worth a 10-year, $275 million extension from the Yankees? At least Manning was at his best on that final Super Bowl drive against the Patriots, although the way he played against the Eagles in the playoffs last season makes you wonder how he did it against New England.

We know he can handle the responsibility off the field of being the league's highest-paid player. But what about on the field? "Highest-paid player" now becomes part of his name. More will be expected of him. The pressure will be turned up. And he has to do without a true No. 1 receiver.

"You don't get more pressure than he already has in this market," Reese said. "He knows how to handle pressure and he's done it before. I don't expect to see anything different in his attitude and work ethic."

Manning could stay at No. 1 on the pay chart for a while considering all the top quarterbacks are locked into long-term deals. As long as Brady shows he's the same player post-knee surgery this season, the Patriots soon will want to extend/renegotiate his six-year, $60 million deal that runs through 2010. That contract is badly outdated considering Matt Cassel, who had been Brady's backup, turned his buddy's injury last year into a six-year, $63million deal with the Chiefs.



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/2009/08/06/2009-08-06_giants_make_eli_manning_nfls_highestpaid_player_but_hes_far_from_best_quarterbac.html#ixzz0NnC1FFLt

Info on Gatti's death

http://www.saddoboxing.com/boxing_news/25056-brazil-provide-details-on-boxer-gattis-death.html

Michael Vick with no job - who cares?

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/rank?versionId=1&listId=341

Where will Michael Vick end up?

With Brett Favre out of the picture, all the attention now turns to the other quarterback looking for a job this offseason. Michael Vick, who has been conditionally reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, is free to sign with a team but which situation is the best fit for the league's former highest paid player?

Coming off a two-year prison sentence, many teams aren't sure about what Vick has to offer. There are questions about his fitness and skill level and the public relations hit a team could take is certainly in every owner's thoughts. Will he be the type of quarterback to stay in the pocket and throw the ball down field? Is he still the run first, pass second guy? Is quarterback even the right position for him?

Take all these questions into account as you decide which teams are most likely to step up to the plate and give Vick the second chance he so desperately wants.

Click on the team logos below to create your rankings.