- SPORTSBYBROOKS brings us the (good) news that ESPN couldn’t come to terms with Stephen A. Smith on a new contract, so he won’t be with the Worldwide Leader for much longer. Apparently, ESPN’s offer was “considerably lower” than Smith’s previous contracts.

- MOONDOG SPORTS has the story of Charles Barkley’s speech at the University of Memphis. Apparently, Sir Charles believes that the NBA should require two years at the college level before a player can make himself eligible for the draft. That’s what David Stern originally wanted, but he had to compromise with the player’s union. Personally, I think a player should be able to go into the draft straight out of high school, but if he goes to college, he has to go for two years. These one-and-dones are wreaking havoc on the college game.

- JORGE SAYS NO has a list of the worst free agent contracts in baseball from 2005 to 2009.

- PRO FOOTBALL TALK says that the Cardinals want a first and a third for Anquan Boldin. For a team on the cusp — Titans, Giants, and maybe the Vikings — I think that would be worth it, but Boldin is turning 29 this year and that might be too much to give up for anyone else.

- DEADSPIN tells us that top linebacker prospect Aaron Curry is defying the spoiled athlete stereotype by bringing a 12-year-old leukemia survivor to the NFL Draft. That’s just reason #43 that Curry should be the Lions’ #1 pick.

- Uncoached.com lists the 10 actresses who can probably play sports well, including Jessica Biel, Gabrielle Union and the mega hot Eliza Dushku.

- Sophia Rossi was on the Howard Stern show this morning and admitted to doing the horizontal polka with Rays’ DH Pat Burrell. And according to SPORTSbyBROOKS.com, she didn’t necessarily have great things to say about the former Phillies’ outfielder.

- The Love of Sports.com ponders the question, what if athletes weren’t athletes? What would they be doing now?

- AWFUL ANNOUNCING has the lowdown on why Cubs’ manager Lou Pinella is so angry these days.