By: Marc Valeri
NHL
– The Phoenix Coyotes are ready to sue the NHL because the league
will not allow owner Jerry Moyes to sell the team to Canadian Jim
Balsillie. This is turning into a mess and the NHL has to be wary of a
possible lawsuit if Moyes cannot sell the team to Balsillie who wants
to move the team to southern Ontario. The Coyotes are prepared to sue
and cite that the NHL is breaking state and federal anti-trust laws.
The Coyotes are preparing its case for the court and they state in
their case that Phoenix is not a viable hockey market according to the
Arizona Republic. The team has lost $73 million in the last three
years. Sounds to us that this is not a viable market. Stay tuned.
– Penguins’ D Sergei Gonchar is reportedly out four-to-six weeks with a knee injury.
– The Avs are interested in hiring Patrick Roy as their new GM. Stay tuned.
WWE
– As noted several weeks ago, former WWE Diva Amy “Lita” Dumas was
asked to take part in the 25-Diva Battle Royal at WrestleMania XXV. For
those wondering why she turned the offer down, she simply stated she is
retired, according to the latest issue of Power Slam magazine.
– According to the PWTorch, while Women’s Champion Melina
has worked hard to repair her image in the locker room over the past
few years, some wrestlers are still leery of her as they feel she is
overly dramatic and often tries to make herself the center of attention.
As reported here earlier, Melina caused several wrestlers to roll
their eyes in reaction to her recent complaints about being moved from
RAW to SmackDown!. The WWE Women’s Champion is once again dating John
Morrison, as the couple was spotted slow dancing together throughout
the night at the annual post-WrestleMania party. With the draft coming
up at the time, the two reportedly asked to be placed on the same brand
together. Nonetheless, she was complaining to other wrestlers about
being moved to SmackDown and got rather emotional following news of the
switch on the Draft show.
Backstage, many feel she had to know that WWE weren’t going to place
her and Morrison on the same brand as Batista given the past issues the
three have had. Batista noted in his 2007 autobiography, Batista
Unleashed, that he had a physical relationship with Melina during their
time together on SmackDown!.
Batista wrote:
“My wife thought I was sleeping with Melina
right off the bat, while we were still married. It wasn’t true, but it
did make me feel guilty about being friends with her.“Since then, as I’ve said, Melina and I have gotten
closer and our relationship has become physical. That’s caused a bit of
controversy, but I don’t give a sh*t. She’s my friend, and I love her
very much.”
“It’s not like she’s been an angel all these years,” said one former
co-worker regarding the situation. “She’s disposable. It’s not like
she’s in a position to bitch.”
Many company sources believe Melina has yet to actually complain to management regarding the switch to SmackDown!.
Another source referred to her complaints as ‘eye-rolling’ and said most people have taken a ‘who cares?’ approach to the drama.
MLB
– Cubs’ 3B Aramis Ramirez is projected to miss at least four-to-six
weeks with the separated shoulder he suffered Friday night. It actually
could have been worse news given how the injury looked. Ironically the
Cubs trade for UTIL Ryan Freel, which seemed like a bit of an
afterthought earlier in the evening, now looms large given Freel’s
ability to play third base. INF Aaron Miles and 2B Mike Fontenot will
also see some time there.
– Mets’ manager Jerry Manuel was fined and suspended for Saturday’s
game after aggressively arguing with umpire Bill Welke on Thursday.
Sandy Alomar Sr. will manage in his place. Manuel was tossed in the
eighth inning Thursday for arguing a questionable double play call, in
which SS Jose Reyes was cited for interfering with a runner. He will
not appeal.
– The Orioles have traded UTIL Ryan Freel to the Cubs for OF Joey Gathright.
– The Rays have traded 2B Adam Kennedy to the A’s for a player to be named later.
– The Marlins have placed RHP Anibal Sanchez (right shoulder) on the 15-day DL.
– The Yankees have placed C Jose Molina (quad) on the 15-day DL.
– The Cardinals have placed OF Rick Ankiel (shoulder) on the 15-day DL.
– The Mets have placed LHP Oliver Perez (knee tendinitis) on the 15-day DL.
NBA
– The Kings intend to interview head coach Eddie Jordan about a
possible return to Sacramento, a team he coached briefly in the late
1990s. The Kings simultaneously confirmed their interest in Jordan and
denied having made overtures to University of Louisville coach Rick
Pitino. Jordan was fired by the Wizards in November after a successful
six-year run that included four trips to the playoffs.
NFL
– Raiders’ WR Javon Walker underwent another surgery on his knee
last month. Walker told the team about the procedure just a few days
ago. Coach Tom Cable acknowledged that it’s “uncommon” for players to
undergo surgery without informing the team, but normal rules don’t
apply to the Raiders. Cable says Walker’s ankle is now fine, but it’s
the knee we worry about.
– According to RB Willis McGahee, his most recent arthroscopic
surgery was to his ankle, not his knee. The team initially announced it
as a knee surgery, but it looks like they erred. McGahee expects to be
fully recovered by the start of training camp in late July.
