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      Knicks, Stoudemire close to deal

      July 2, 2010 /

      Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Amare Stoudemire is close to finalizing an agreement with the New York Knicks.

      Amar’e Stoudemire and the New York Knicks are making progress in talks on a five-year maximum guaranteed contract and a deal could be completed as soon as Friday, league sources told Y! Sports.

      The framework of a deal is in place and the two sides are expected to talk again soon, sources said.

      The Knicks’ free agency was looking a little gloomy, but this certainly helps. LeBron was reportedly more impressed with the Nets’ presentation, but now that Stoudemire has (almost) committed, the Knicks do have a stronger case to make.

      If he can stay healthy, Stoudemire should thrive in Mike D’Antoni’s up-tempo system. It’s not clear what this means for David Lee, who could play alongside Stoudemire if D’Antoni elected to run Amare at the five. Neither player is particularly good on the defensive end.

      How did things fall apart in Phoenix?

      The Suns made a last-ditch proposal to Stoudemire, offering him a five-year contract that guaranteed him $71 million, sources said. The first three seasons were fully guaranteed. The fourth season contained a 50 percent guarantee that could become fully guaranteed based on the number of minutes Stoudemire played in the first three seasons. The fifth season of the contract also could become guaranteed based on a minutes incentive.

      The Suns put in the incentives because of concerns over Stoudemire’s past knee and eye injuries. Insurance won’t cover Stoudemire’s salary if he can’t play because of any additional problems to either of his knees or his right eye.

      The Suns were wise to proceed with caution with regard to Stoudemire’s injury history. The Knicks are showing a lot of faith in his ability to stay healthy, but they are/were in a tough spot and had to commit guaranteed dollars to get him to sign.

      I’m not sure why the Suns aren’t working out a sign-and-trade for Stoudemire to acquire Lee from the Knicks. He seems like he’d be a natural replacement for Amare in that offense.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      Windhorst: LeBron impressed by Nets, not so much by Knicks

      July 2, 2010 /

      Brian Windhorst is covering all of LeBron’s meetings and here’s what he had to say about LeBron’s reaction to the Nets and Knicks…

      Here’s what I hear from yesterday: LeBron interested in Nets pitch but not so much NY. NY trying at moment to secure Amare’ to help cause

      Chad Ford also said that the Nets felt ‘tremendous’ about how the meeting went, even though the meeting with the Knicks lasted about an hour longer.

      The Nets were one of the darkhorse contenders coming into this free agency period, but seem to be moving up the ranks. They have a new free-spending owner, a future All-Star at center (Brook Lopez), a pretty good point guard (Devin Harris) and a valuable young prospect (Derrick Favors). Harris and Favors could be moved to acquire another big-name player to be LeBron’s running mate. The Nets are also considering moving Kris Humphries to clear space for a second max free agent.

      If the move to Brooklyn was complete or was just a year away, the Nets’ chances would be even better. As it stands, the team will play in Newark for two more seasons.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      Valentine rips the Marlins for hiring process

      July 2, 2010 /

      Bobby Valentine figured he’d be managing the Marlins by now. Instead, he’s slamming the organization on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight for the way they conduct their hiring process.

      After the Fish fired Fredi Gonzalez last week, Valentine withdrew his name from consideration as manager of the Orioles. The media figured that he was on his way to Florida to work with his good friend, team owner Jeffrey Loria, but Valentine was never hired. So instead, he decided to rip the organization on live TV.

      From USA Today:

      “If this is a major-league process, I hope I’m never in the process again,” Valentine said on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight. “It’s very disturbing, confusing and it was insulting at times, but it’s over.”

      According to the Palm Beach Post, Marlins President David Samson called the messy process “unavoidable” and disputed the notion that Valentine – a friend of Loria’s for more than two decades – was ever a lock for the job.

      “It just seemed that way to the media,” David Samson said on a radio station Wednesday, according to the Post.

      Valentine eventually told Sirius-XM Radio that he didn’t mean to be harsh with his comments.

      “I just meant for them to be honest. It’s a tough process. We never negotiated anything and, you know, I just feel when you’re 60 years old – you know, I know Jeffrey (Loria), I’ve known him for 25 years – I just felt that being left in the dark isn’t quite the way to allow things to move forward. But I think it’s a good situation. As I told them right from the start, someone from the outside moving in in mid-season I don’t believe is a good idea. I don’t think you can train coaches and train players to think and do what you’re expecting on the run. That’s what spring training is for. And Edwin Rodriguez has had these guys in the minor leagues. He knows the spring training process, what that organizational philosophy is.”

      It kind of seems like Valentine was embarrassed for withdrawing his name from considering in Baltimore because he thought he had the job in Florida locked up. Then when the Marlins didn’t hire him, he decided to vent his frustrations on a national stage, which was a little classless.

      Either way, his name is going to be mentioned again for job openings down the road. If he really wants to manage again, he will.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, MLB

      Netherlands upsets Brazil, 2-1

      July 2, 2010 /

      Everything seemed to be going to plan when Brazil scored the first goal of the game in the 10th minute. But the Dutch rallied with two second half goals to upend the World Cup favorites.

      Wesley Sneijder, one of the shortest players on the field, scored in the 68th minute on a header for a stunning 2-1 quarterfinals victory over the five-time champions. Brazil, which also went out in this round four years ago against France, lost its composure after falling behind, and defender Felipe Melo was ejected in the 73rd minute.

      Uruguay and Ghana square off this afternoon and tomorrow morning there’s a great matchup between Argentina and Germany on ABC.

      External Sports, Soccer, World Cup

      Kirk Morrison chats with The Scores Report

      July 2, 2010 /

      ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 26: Linebacker Kirk Morrison #52 of the Oakland Raiders at Cowboys Stadium on November 26, 2009 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

      Since linebacker Kirk Morrison entered the league as a third-round pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2005, he’s never recorded fewer than 116 tackles. Last year, he finished the 2009 season tied for sixth in the NFL with 133 take downs, all while forcing three fumbles and recording two sacks despite playing most of the year with a dislocated elbow.

      In April, the Raiders selected Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain with the eighth overall pick and Morrison knew his future in Oakland had come to an end. Shortly after McClain’s name was announced, Morrison was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a fifth round pick.

      The trade offered a new beginning for Morrison, who in five seasons with the Raiders had never came close to playing in the postseason. While speaking to us from his new digs in Jacksonville, Morrison expressed his excitement about his new surroundings, teammates and head coach Jack Del Rio. He also gave us insight on how to defend guys like Peyton Manning and Chris Johnson (two of his new divisional opponents) and what players and teams he enjoys watching when he’s not playing.

      The Scores Report: Hey Kirk, how are you, man?

      Kirk Morrison: Doing good, doing good – how are you doing?

      TSR: I’m doing real well. Are you at OTAs right now?

      KM: Yeah, we just finished up for the day. So, I’m just relaxing now and getting ready to spend another week in Jacksonville.

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, Interviews, NFL

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