Sports Blog » Rumors

Thanksgiving weekend is a holiday when many people spend time with their family, eat way too much food, and begin fighting their way through malls to complete their Christmas shopping. This year it was also a time ofmemorable sports events, ranging from the historic to the just plain odd. One of the best things about this past weekend was the variety of action to watch. There was exciting college football and basketball, the usual professional football and basketball, and some great international soccer. One world renownedsuperstarunusual trouble, providing highly flammable fuel to the media and tabloids.

With so much going on in the world of sports on a weekend where you might not have been able to sit down in front of the TV, I have pulled together the five biggest stories that you may have missed.

1) An unexpected Tiger: In what is surely one of the most unexpected series of events to occur over the past year, Tiger Woods was involved in a one-car accident at 2:25 a.m. Friday morning just two days after rumors of him having an affair hit the tabloids. Even more intriguing is the fact that Woods has cancelled meetings with local law enforcement twice, leaving everyone to draw their own conclusions about the incident.

The most telling piece of information of possible foul play — at least in my humble opinion — is that Woods’ wife used a golf club to smash the back window of the vehicle to allegedly help Woods out of the car. If this were any other professional athlete we would all be jumping to much more salacious conclusions, but since it is Woods the media has given him the benefit of the doubt … for now.

2) Winless in New Jersey: If you think that being a professional coach comes with a certain amount of job security, well, think again. Lawrence Franks became the second NBA coach fired this year (the first being Byron Scott in New Orleans) after his New Jersey Nets started the season with the second worst record in league history (0-16). The silver lining of the situation? There isn’t one. The Nets tied a league record with a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers last night and have a chance to secure sole possession of the dubious record against Dallas at home on Wednesday.

3) College football showdown: December marks the start of the BCS Bowl Series and with another week of games under our belts we are one step closer to cementing which teams will be paired together in a few short weeks. Top teams Florida and Alabama both won this weekend and are on course to face each other in the Southeastern Conference championship for the right to play in the national championship game. Texas, TCU, Cincinnati and Boise State also remained undefeated and remain in the hunt for the other spot in the national championship game.

4) NFL concussions: If you think your job gives you a headache just try to step into the shoes of an NFL player. On the heels of Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, Arizona’s Kurt Warner and Philadelphia’s Brian Westbrook missing time due to concussions, the NFL and NFL Players Association announced a new rule (to be instituted in the near future) that will not allow a player who leaves a game due to a concussion related injury to re-enter the game.

While fans always want to see their favorite players on the field, this is great news for the NFL because recent studies have shown the long term effects of repeated brain trauma of football players is more troubling than previously thought.

5) NIT domination: People always hate teams that continually crush the competition, so it is no surprise that college basketball fans loathe Duke more than any other school in the country. This weekend Duke gave detractors another reason to despise them, winning their fourth NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament with a 68-59 victory over No. 13 Connecticut on Friday. It was the Blue Devils’ 12th consecutive victory in the tournament and brings their record to 22-2 all time in the tournament.

Image Source: Newsday

The first round of the NBA playoffs are barely wrapping up yet rumors are already starting to fly about what players might be switching jerseys this off-season.  With the economy continuing to struggle and the salary cap going down for the first time since its inception, many teams will be looking to get creative when it comes to their roster.

One player possibly heading to a new city is the self proclaimed Most Dominant Ever, aka Shaquille O’Neal.  A lot of people think that his monster contract and diminishing skill set are untradeable, but his resurgent play this year has landed him on a few GM’s radars.  Shaq, through the use of his Twitter account, has made it known he is quite fond of Dallas and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

NBA sources say, however, the most likely destination for the Big Tweep is New Orleans.  Shaq has a large fan base in the south stemming from his days at LSU and the Hornets let it be known they wanted out of Tyson Chandler‘s contract when they traded him earlier this year (only to have it fall through due to health reasons).

The trade could work in both teams favors should it happen.  The Hornets would only carry O’Neal on their books for one season and he would bring proven playoff experience to a team that really needs it.  He would also sell a lot of tickets, which makes the deal interesting from a business perspective.  The Phoenix Suns would get younger and more athletic in their front court, and if healthy, Chandler paired with forward Amare Stoudemire would be one of the most tenacious big-duos in the NBA.

What do you think? Is the Big Aristotle worth the big bucks? Or is the big man a big waste of money at this point in his career?

Image Source: FresnoBeach.com

Fans of basketball may be locked in on the NBA playoffs, but for USA Basketball Director Jerry Colangelo, it is never too early to start thinking about the next Olympics. Word on the street is he plans for New York Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni to take over Team USA if Mike Krzyzewski decides not to come back.

Coach K, who guided the US to gold in Beijing last year after the 2004 squad brought home the bronze, has said his status as coach for the next Olympics is yet to be determined and that he would be comfortable coming back in a different role. Krzyzewski has publicly stated before that while he loved his experience on the international stage, it did take a lot out of him.

The US players thrived under the 62-year-old Krzyzewki, but the transition to D’Antoni would probably be smooth considering he served as an assistant during the team’s time in China and is widely regarded as a players coach. He also has strong relationships with many of the players that would be in contention for one of the 12 final roster spots, such as 2008 gold medalists Lebron James and Kobe Bryant.

D’Antoni seems to be a great fit — the players love him and he has coached overseas before — but I remain skeptical over the potential move. For one, I wonder how well his “seven seconds or less offense” would work at the Olympic level. I’m also curious how well he can command the respect of the NBA’s best players. It is one thing for a player to like a coach. It is something else for a player to accept (and embrace) criticism from one. Coaching a team with that much talent is as much about managing egos and touches as it is drawing up X’s and O’s.

What do you think? Do you want coach K to return? If he doesn’t, who would you like to see roaming the sidelines?

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Utah Jazz fans would love to see Carlos Boozer stick around.

But not everyone in life get what they want. Just ask Cleveland.

Carlos Boozer has hinted at Team USA camp that he will be signing a contract with the Jazz next season when he is eligible. His Jazz and fellow Olympian teammate Deron Williams recently signed a $70 million contract with the Jazz, now everyone is wondering if Boozer will jump ship like he did in Cleveland or head to warmer climates. Miami?

Here is what Boozer has said:

“He’s going to be smiling for the next four years” because of his new contract worth up to $70 million, Boozer said. “And we will, too, because we’ll have him on our side.”

“We”, Carlos? As in you and the Jazz?

“We’ve been talking about our combination . . . for two years already,” Boozer added, “so we already have our thing lined up.”

There is that “we” word again.

This man likes to play with people’s emotions. Just spit it out already!

Source: The Salt Lake Tribune

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I wonder if Gilbert Arenas thinks he’s worth more than $100 million?

Rumors are swirling and there is chatter out there that when the NBA free agency period begins tomorrow at midnight, the Washington Wizards are ready to make Gilbert Arenas a rich man. A very rich man.

The Wizards are expected to make Arenas an offer that is around six years, and valued at or above $100 million. Not too shabby. The deal would obviously make Arenas one of the top paid players in the NBA. Which he definately deserves…when healthy. That is the only knock on the All-Star point guard. He’s had two knee surgeries in the past year and that definitely throws up a red flag on anybody looking into pulling in top dollar.

After opting out of the final year of his contract, Arenas was quoted saying, “I have a number in mind, a number I feel I’m worth and we’ll just have to see what they come with.”

For his sake, lets hope the Wizards at least offer him more than $12.8 million a year.

That’s how much the final year of his contract was worth.

Wow, it takes a very greedy man to walk away from guaranteed millions. Good luck Gilbert.

Source: Washington Post

I heard on the radio today that Roger Clemens is in need of some money to pay off his legal fees, so he had to let go of his Bentley.   He sold it to Bret Michaels from The Rock of Love on VH1.  He needs to sell more of his “toys” & other luxuries to pay off the fees.  Ouch.

Image Source: TheHookandLateral.com

When I read that headline this morning, I didn’t take it too seriously at first. I mean how could I? The Oakland Raiders haven’t had a winning season in how long and Terrell Owens loves to win. But he, as we all know, loves money too.

But diving deeper into the possibility, a offense with Darren McFadden, Jamarcus Russell and Owens sounds pretty enticing. And why is this rumor coming up now? Well, it’s just a theory by Cam Inman, but with Owens’ contract expiring after this season and since the Dallas Cowboys didn’t throw a contract extension at him this offseason (at least not yet), then why not go to the Raiders who are looking for star receiver. Sure, they picked up Javon Walker, but the guy isn’t a Terrell Owens and with his recent injuries, he’s not as reliable as the sculpted Owens.

It’s doubtful, yet still a possibility, that Owens will end up in a silver different uniform. I actually would hope he does go to Oakland and away from the Cowboys. I’m a big Philadelphia Eagles fan and nothing would make me more happy than to see him on a losing team and NOT competing against the Eagles. The Raiders are going to need a lot more than a loud mouthed receiver to bring them out of the cellar.

Source: Contra Coasta Times

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Did “Dancing with the Stars” champion Helio Castroneves, 32, come away with the trophy and his dancing partner/coach Julianne Hough?

That is the rumor floating around after the race car driver announced that he broke off the engagement to his fiance and girlfriend of 6-years Aliette Vazquez, who is of the same age.

Nothing is confirmed and he hasn’t admitted to the romance, but he and Hough, 19, have been spotted getting close and personal around town in Beverly Hills shopping together.

I personally don’t see what the problem is. At least he and Vasquez didn’t get married and fall into a messy divorce. That could have cost him a lot of money.

Let’s look at the bright side of things people!?

Source: TMZ.com, New York Daily News

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Unless you were in a cave, then you must have seen the slap that was heard around the world.

Yes, I’m talking about the pimp slap Kid Rock gave to Tommy Lee at the MTV Awards.

Las Vegas promoters Bob Arum and Jeff Beacher didn’t see this as an act of violence, rather they saw an instant money making opportunity and perhaps a must-see-TV event. The two have been trying to get the former Pam Anderson flames to jump in the ring and duke it out on pay-per-view TV. The prize has so far reached $5 million for the winner.

If this fight were to take place, I’d have to go with Kid Rock. But not from a knockout. Something tells me that Tommy Lee would fight dirty and pull a Mike Tyson and start biting to get disqualified.

YouTube - Watch 

Source: Las Vegas Review Journal

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Are there more marriage problems down on South Beach?

Rumor has it that Miami Heat superstar Dwayne Wade is going to divorce from Siohvaughn, his wife of 5 years and high school sweetheart. This is all news to me because of the clean image and perfect life that Mr. Wade portrayed away from the field, but I guess with all the temptation that Miami offers, even Mr. Squeaky Clean couldn’t resist. It’s been said that Wade has even been linked to Hollywood beauty Gabrielle Union (below).

If this rumor is proven to be true, the Miami Heat are going to include two of the the NBA’s most eligible bachelors with Shaquille O’Neal recently filing for divorce as well. But the difference between the two is that Shaq might have quite a bit more dough in the bank because of his prenup. As for Wade, he married his wife while they were in college, so I’m sure there wasn’t any prenuptial agreement, which could mean a good pay day for her when his new contract kicks in this year, estimated at $15 million a year from a previous $3.5 million.

Ouch. That’s gonna leave a mark.

Source: Miami Herald; Young, Black & Fabulous

Photo Source: Gabrielle Union, Dwayne Wade