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      Report: Favre would have surgery to join Vikings

      May 7, 2009 /

      According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune (via an unnamed NFL source), Brett Favre would agree to have surgery in order to play for the Vikings next season.

      One key topic will be the condition of the partially torn biceps in Favre’s throwing arm that derailed his only season as a member of the New York Jets. But a resolution to that situation appears close — and the sides could reach a deal quickly.

      Favre, according to NFL sources, is agreeable to undergoing a minor procedure in which surgeons complete the cutting of the tendon. The recovery period would be quick, and Favre would be ready to go long before training camp.

      I urge everyone to take these reports with a grain of salt considering most of them (including this one) come from unnamed league sources. But either way, the Favre-to-Vikings rumors are heating up.

      One think that has intrigued me is how Favre wants to play with the Vikings in order to get back at Packers’ GM Ted Thompson. That’s ridiculous if it’s true (again, if it’s true), especially considering Thompson often had to wait several weeks to full months after seasons (plural) to hear from Favre about whether or not he was going to retire or come back to Green Bay. Favre essentially put Thompson (a GM mind you, who has to prepare for free agency, the draft and everything else in the offseason) through the ringer several times regarding his retirement plans, yet the one offseason Thompson plays hardball with him, Brett gets his feelings hurt. (And don’t forget that Thompson was still willing to take him back at one point last offseason, yet Brett changed his mind twice before stating that he wanted to be traded.)

      One thing Brett might want to consider is his fans in Green Bay. They treated him like an NFL god for over a decade and would gladly step in front of a bus for him at a moment’s notice. How are they going to feel the day he holds up that purple No. 4 jersey at his Vikings’ press conference? I hope his legacy in Green Bay takes a major hit the moment he steps onto Lambeau Field in a rival’s uniform.

      That said, from a pure football standpoint, he would be great for the Vikings’ offense. Minnesota has a tremendous running game thanks to a great offensive line and Adrian Peterson, a couple of solid receiving threats in Bernard Berrian and Percy Harvin, and Brad Childress employs an offense Favre is already accustomed to running. I just don’t know if his arm would hold up for an entire 16-game season, although the Vikings appear to be addressing that question by making him have surgery.

      NFL

      Manning to lose long-time coordinator Moore to retirement?

      May 7, 2009 /

      According to a report by ESPN.com, long-time Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore is set to retire due to his dissatisfaction with the NFL’s revised pension plan for coaches. Indianapolis already lost its offensive line coach Howard Mudd to retirement over the same issue.

      Mudd has coached 35 consecutive seasons in the NFL and Moore has been an assistant for 32 years. Both are considered among the finest assistant coaches in league history and their 12-year Indianapolis union as offensive coordinator and line coach has been considered a major factor to the success of the Colts and quarterback Peyton Manning.

      NFL owners passed a resolution at the league meetings that allowed the 32 teams to opt out of a uniformed pension plan, which has been a generous incentive for coaches to remain at the pro level. Many teams have yet to decide on their specific plans for non-playing employees but Kennan painted a picture of betrayal.

      “Howard was already researching the strategy of when to take a lump sum payment when the owners pulled this fast one,” said Kennan. “Let me tell you something: The owners did this at the league meetings and they never informed me of anything. They didn’t notify the [coaches] within their own organizations, with the exception of two classy organizations — the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens — that there were changes coming. No advance warning and no information after the fact.

      “So you take a guy like Howard Mudd, who is pretty diligent about everything, and he was already concerned about losing some money because the market index was going to change in July. Then you throw this at someone like that — and he finds out that several teams have not fully funded their pension plans at an 80 percent level, the mark they need to hit for any employee to take a full lump sum payment. …Well, Howard Mudd’s not waiting around to see what happens with all these signals. And he’s a guy that a lot of other coaches respect — especially Tom Moore — so they could follow his lead.”

      I don’t know enough about the league’s pension plan for coaches to comment on that situation, but I do know that losing Moore and Mudd would be a bigger hit to the Colts than people would generally think.

      One of the reasons Manning has been so successful over his career is because he has had the fortune to work with Moore year in and year out. Some quarterbacks have to work with three or sometimes even four coordinators throughout their careers and each time there’s an adjustment period. Yet Manning has the luxury of knowing Moore’s system as soon as he reports to camp every year and the two make a perfect pair on game days.

      Then again if Moore does retire, the Colts probably already have already been grooming his replacement, ala Jim Caldwell when Tony Dungy stepped down.

      NFL

      Artest ejected, Lakers win

      May 7, 2009 /

      This game was a lot closer than the final score (111-98) would indicate.

      With about seven minutes to play in the fourth quarter and the Lakers up 10, Kobe and Artest were fighting for position under the basket and Kobe caught Artest in the throat with an elbow. (It looked intentional to me.) Amazingly, Artest was called for a foul, and when the ref wouldn’t listen to him, he went over and confronted Kobe about it. Artest protested too long for Joey Crawford, who tossed him. Not a smart play by Artest to keep pressing the point, but he deserved a technical, not an ejection. He needs to keep his composure in that situation, but really, does anyone actually expect him to?

      Late in the third quarter, Derek Fisher threw a shoulder into Luis Scola, who was approaching him to set a pick. While Doug Collins was marveling about Fisher’s “toughness,” I was thinking about how dumb of a play it was. It was clear that he was seeking Scola out and dead set on laying a hit on him. In the age of replay, when officials can make a judgment based on the video, it’s not worth getting that shot in, even if you’re trying to make a statement. The Lakers subs have struggled of late — what if his team needed him in the fourth quarter? Hell, he deserves to be suspended.

      The whole thing with Scola started earlier in the game, but I’m not sure when. Before Fisher’s shoulder block, Lamar Odom was jawing at Scola after he blocked the Argentine’s shot. On a later play, Scola fouled Odom on the way to the hoop and the two exchanged words. Then Luke Walton came over to talk to Scola. Then Sasha Vujacic came over. Fisher’s “flagrant 2” was on the ensuing play.

      The other thing I want to mention is the play of Kobe Bryant. He shot the ball well, hitting 16 of 27 shots en route to a 40-point game. But what bothers me is that all season we keep hearing about how important another title is to him, yet there he is jawing at Shane Battier after every bucket and saying, “he can’t guard me!” This is a team game, but once again, Kobe makes it about Kobe. Why can’t he let his brilliant play speak for itself? The important thing is that the Lakers tied the series, not that he can score at will on Battier.

      Looking ahead, the Lakers were effective in limiting Yao Ming (12 points) because they fronted him in the post. In that situation, the Rockets’ immediate read should be to turn the ball to the other side of the court. Yao seals his man (who is in front of him) and there should be an easy entry pass into the post. Tonight, Houston played into the Lakers’ hands by keeping the ball on the same side of the court and Yao didn’t have a chance to have a big impact on the game.

      NBA, NBA Finals

      Andre Ethier is meeting all expectations

      May 6, 2009 /

      ethier

      Last year, I wrote an article in praise of Andre Ethier, claiming that, of all the young talent on the Dodgers roster, he is the player likely to become the face of the organization. When I made that claim, I wasn’t positive the Dodgers knew what they had in their talented right fielder. At the end of 2008, there was still the possibility that Ethier would have to platoon with Juan Pierre within a crowded roster of outfielders. The Dodgers were gaga over Manny, so Ramirez’s spot was solidified if they could re-sign him and Matt Kemp had already emerged as their everyday centerfielder. Still, were the Dodgers going to give Andruw Jones another shot and stick with Juan Pierre because of his speed? Thankfully, the Dodgers got rid of Jones, resigned Manny, and, by landing Orlando Hudson, realized they had a lineup full of speed in Rafael Furcal, Russell Martin, Matt Kemp, and their new second baseman. What they needed now was more power – somebody to finish off what Manny started. The Dodgers have looked to Andre Ethier to fill that role. Has he come through?

      Um, yeah, pretty much. Ethier is sixth in the league in RBIs (26), tied for eighteenth in runs (21), tied for twenty-fourth in hits (33), tied for twenty-sixth in homeruns (6), tied for twenty-fourth in batting average (.327), tied for eleventh in on base percentage (.439), and tied for twenty-sixth in slugging percentage (.574). While those numbers may not impress you since he doesn’t lead the league in anything, with respect to the Dodgers it’s a huge accomplishment. The 3-4 hitting combo of Ramirez and Ethier has propelled them to the best record in baseball. Granted, they have been playing weaker teams and everybody in the lineup is contributing in their own way, but Ethier is truly beginning to shine this year. Ethier is second on the team in runs, second in hits, tied for first in home runs, first in RBIs, second in on base percentage, second in slugging percentage, and third in batting average. For a first place team, it’s obvious that Ethier has contributed to much of their success.

      Along with his bat, Ethier is an above-average outfielder with incredible range, though he hasn’t had enough opportunities this year that would to earn a gold glove. By honing all his tools, he’s finally putting together an incredible year. He’s obviously not going to win the MVP, but it’s fair enough to say that he’s the most valuable right fielder in the National League.

      As far as fantasy baseball is concerned, Ethier has proven to be a surprise success. He didn’t go until the ninth round in our draft. Where did he go in yours and how is that working out in your league?

      MLB

      Six former Toledo players indicted for point-shaving ring

      May 6, 2009 /

      Six former University of Toledo athletes and two Detroit-area businessmen were indicted on Wednesday by a federal grand jury for their alleged roles in a point-shaving ring that centered around men’s basketball and football games.

      Prosecutors allege in the 20-count indictment related to the Toledo case that Ghazi “Gary” Manni and Mitchell Edward Karam paid money and offered up other gifts to several athletes between November 2005 and December 2006, during which time the two allegedly wagered about $407,500 on Toledo contests.

      All eight defendants face charges of conspiracy to commit sports bribery. The six former Toledo athletes also face charges of unlawful use of interstate facilities.

      The former athletes charged are: Running back Adam Ryan Cuomo, point guard Keith Junior Triplett, forward Anton Du’ane Currie, basketball guard Kashif Lashon Payne, running back Harvey Lamont McDougle and running back Quinton James Broussard.

      Each count carries a prison term of up to five years and as much as a $250,000 fine.

      What a shame it is that these athletes work hard to earn athletic scholarships, only to eventually wind up getting involved in a gambling ring. It has to be tough being a student athlete, but all six of these players had to think about the repercussions they faced for doing something like this.

      College Basketball, College Football

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