Welcome to Friday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.

FRIDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NBA: Hawks at Celtics, 7:30 p.m. (CSNNE; WEEI-FM)
NBA: Heat at Hornets, 8 p.m. (NBA TV)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, Oregon vs. Louisville, 7:15 p.m. (CBS)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, Michigan vs. Kansas, 7:37 p.m. (TBS)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, Michigan State vs. Duke, 9:45 p.m. (CBS)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, Florida Gulf Coast vs. Florida, 9:57 p.m. (TBS)
NHL: Mighty Ducks at Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m. (NHL Network)
College hockey: NCAA tournament, Yale vs. Minnesota, 2 p.m. (ESPNU)
College hockey: NCAA tournament, Wisconsin vs. UMass-Lowell, 4:30 p.m. (NESN)
College hockey: NCAA tournament, Niagara vs. North Dakota, 5:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
College hockey: NCAA tournament, Denver vs. New Hampshire, 8 p.m. (ESPNU)
MLB preseason: Yankees at Nationals, 2 p.m. (MLB Network)
MLB preseason: Blue Jays at Phillies, 7 p.m. (MLB Network)
MLB preseason: Athletics at Giants, 10 p.m. (MLB Network)

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ The NBA on Thursday confirmed what the Timberwolves already knew: Kobe Bryant fouled Ricky Rubio on a 3-point attempt just before the buzzer in the Lakers’ 120-117 victory Wednesday night in Minneapolis.

“Video review by the league office confirmed that Kobe Bryant fouled Rubio while Rubio was in his shooting motion,” the league said on its website. “Rubio should have been awarded three free throws.”

Rubio, who complained to officials after the play, said his team hasn’t been treated the same as more successful franchises such as the Lakers.

“We have to earn the respect,” Rubio said. “But I don’t understand how things go sometimes. We just want to play basketball, play hard as we can and do all the things. Sometimes it’s not fair because we give 100 percent and sometimes we can’t control things. But we have to improve things that we can control.”

Bryant, meanwhile, showed little sympathy. When asked about the play right after the game, he said: “That’s not a foul. You don’t call that [stuff].”

Later, he tried to downplay the importance of the play. If a foul was called, “we’d have went into overtime and won the game,” he said. “Simple as that.”

Meanwhile, Bryant was spotted walking with the aid of a crutch after Thursday night’s game (a 113-103 loss to the Bucks), although he played down the injury, which the Lakers described as bone spurs.

♦ The Mets, stung by Thursday’s news that pitcher Johan Santana has re-torn the anterior capsule in his left shoulder and likely will miss the entire season, were answering questions about some infighting after a recent intrasquad game.

Star pitching prospect Zack Wheeler and 21-year-old infielder Aderlin Rodriguez were involved in an incident during the game last Saturday in Port St. Lucie, Fla., that reportedly led to players taking sides along ethnic lines in the clubhouse.

Rodriguez homered off Wheeler and apparently strutted around the bases, leading to the 22-year-old right-hander hitting Rodriguez his next time up. In the clubhouse after the game, “Some of the American guys and some of the Latin guys were circling and yelling at each other,” a source told the New York Daily News.

The team reprimanded both players. Said vice president of player development and scouting Paul DePodesta: “We’ve talked to everybody involved, and I think at this point it’s done with.”

♦ Former Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine has taken steps to file a defamation lawsuit against ESPN. Fine filed paperwork in November, but it had not been reported until Thursday.

In November of 2011 the network reported two ball boys’ claims that Fine sexually abused them. Fine was fired 10 days later, following a third man’s accusation. No charges were filed against Fine.

Fine, 67, has served as a consultant for an Israeli basketball team since leaving Syracuse.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On March 29 of which year did the Bruins beat the Rangers, 2-1, to complete a two-game sweep of the Stanley Cup finals and win their first championship?

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Aaron Rodgers

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are getting closer to a long-term contract extension, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal is believed to be in the $25 million-per-year range, and would make the 2011 MVP the highest-paid player in NFL history.

Rodgers currently is under contract until 2014, after signing a six-year, $65 million deal in October 2008. Both the Packers and the Super Bowl XLV MVP have been very cautious in commenting on a proposed deal, but those familiar with the talks think a deal will be done during this offseason. Rodgers’ base salary in 2013 is $9.25 million, while he is set to make $10.5 million in 2014.

Three other Super Bowl MVP quarterbacks from this decade have recently cashed in with big deals. Joe Flacco (Ravens), Drew Brees (Saints) and Peyton Manning (Broncos) all have among the richest contracts in league history. Flacco’s deal is the richest in NFL history.

Rodgers’ new contract may surpass Flacco’s six-year, $120.6 million deal that he signed earlier this month after defeating the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. Rodgers finished the 2012 season with 4,295 passing yards and 39 touchdowns, eighth and second in the NFL, respectively.

Welcome to Thursday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.

THURSDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
College basketball: NCAA tournament, Marquette vs. Miami, 7:15 p.m. (CBS)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, Arizona vs. Ohio State, 7:47 p.m. (TBS)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, Syracuse vs. Indiana, 9:45 p.m. (CBS)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, La Salle vs. Wichita State, 10:17 p.m. (TBS)
NHL: Kings at Blues, 8 p.m. (NHL Network)
MLB preseason: Twins at Red Sox, 7 p.m. (NESN; WEEI-FM)
MLB preseason: Mets at Nationals, 1 p.m. (ESPN)

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ The Heat’s 27-game winning streak, second-longest in NBA history, ended in Chicago on Wednesday night, and LeBron James is not happy with the physical treatment he received from the Bulls.

In the first quarter, Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich, defending one-on-one against James on a fast break, appeared to try to draw a charge, but he put both arms around James as they fell to the floor. (Hinrich actually looked to get the worst of the play, as the back of his head bounced off the court.)

In the fourth quarter, Taj Gibson stopped a layup by bringing his arm across James’ neck and shoulder. (Gibson then offered to help James off the floor.)

“Let me calculate my thoughts real fast before I say [what I want to say],” James said postgame. “I believe and I know that a lot of my fouls are not basketball plays. First of all, Kirk Hinrich in the first quarter basically grabbed me with two hands and brought me to the ground. The last one, Taj Gibson was able to collar me around my shoulder and bring me to the ground. Those are not defensive … those are not basketball plays.”

James, who finished with 32 points, seven rebounds and four blocks in his team’s 101-97 loss, took out his frustration with 3:52 left when he drove his shoulder into the chest of a screen-setting Carlos Boozer and followed through with his elbow, earning a flagrant foul.

James admitted afterward that the hard fouls have started to bother him.

“It’s been happening all year, and I’ve been able to keep my cool and try to tell [Erik Spoelstra], ‘Let’s not worry about it too much.’ But it is getting to me a little bit because every time I try to defend myself, I got to face the consequences of a flagrant for me or a technical foul, whatever the case may be,” James said. “It’s tough. It’s tough. It’s very tough, and I’m not sitting here crying about anything because I play the game at a high level. I play with a lot of aggression, and I understand that some of the plays are on the borderline of a basketball play or not, but sometimes you just got to … I don’t know. It’s frustrating.”

♦ Former Red Sox star Manny Ramirez made his debut in Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League on Wednesday, going 2-for 6 in the EDA Rhinos’ 9-8 loss to the visiting Brother Elephants in 12 innings.

Ramirez, batting fourth, flew out to left off American Mike Ballard in the first inning. In the second inning, facing rookie right-hander Wu Ming-hsu, he singled to left field (video below) as part of his team’s five-run rally. Ramirez singled to right off Wu in the fourth.

Ramirez had a chance to be the hero twice, but in the eighth he stranded two runners with the game tied at 8, and in the 11th he couldn’t get the ball out of the infield.

The game reportedly was played in front of a capacity crowd of 20,000 fans.

♦ Real Clear Sports has a list of the top 10 buzzer-beaters in NCAA tournament history. No. 1 is NC State’s Lorenzo Charles beating Houston in the 1983 championship game. No. 2 is Christian Laettner‘s jumper that gave Duke a win over Kentucky in the 1992 Elite Eight.

UConn makes two appearances on the list. No. 6 is Tate George‘s jumper that beat Clemson in 1990, and No. 8 is Richard Hamilton‘s fadeaway that beat Washington in 1998.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On March 28, 1986, the Red Sox made a trade with the Yankees to acquire designated hitter Don Baylor, who helped the Red Sox win the 1986 American League pennant. Which player did the Sox trade to New York?

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Fox lead baseball analyst Tim McCarver said Wednesday that he won’t be seeking a new contract after his current deal with Fox ends after this season.

After 34 years in TV broadcasting and 18 years of calling baseball on Fox, McCarver said he’s been thinking the decision over for the last two years and finalized it in February. He said on a conference call that it’s “time to cut back,” and that he might spend time reading and taking cooking classes in Italy.

“I wanted to step down while I could still do the job,” said McCarver. “It’s not a tough call, it’s not a sad thing for me. … But I’m going to miss Joe Buck a lot.”

Buck, his longtime partner at Fox, said it’s “weird” to think of McCarver leaving and that McCarver has been as big an influence on his broadcasting career as Buck’s father, also a broadcaster.

“TV booths are filled with guys worried if the other guy has got your back,” Buck said. “It’s the complete opposite with the two of us. … We’ve never had a cross word or looked at each other sideways.

“I don’t want to do these games without Tim. But I respect his decision to step aside.”

David Hill, a senior executive vice president at Fox parent News Corp., said Fox isn’t forcing McCarver out. “It’s his call and we love him to bits,” Hill said.

Welcome to Wednesday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.

WEDNESDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NHL: Canadiens at Bruins, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
NBA: Celtics at Cavaliers, 7 p.m. (CSNNE; WEEI-FM)
NBA: Heat at Bulls, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
NBA: Nets at Trail Blazers, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: NIT, Iowa at Virginia, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: NIT, BYU at Southern Mississippi, 8 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: NIT, Providence at Baylor, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
MLB preseason: Phillies at Tigers, 1 p.m. (ESPN)
MLB preseason: Rangers at Angels, 3 p.m. (MLB Network)
MLB preseason: Yankees at Orioles, 7 p.m. (MLB Network)

AROUND THE WEB:

Nike's Tiger Woods ad features a quote from the golfer that has angered some people. (AP)

♦ Tiger Woods is the world’s No. 1 golfer again, and Nike celebrated his achievement with an ad that features a picture of Woods and the statement “Winning takes care of everything.” That led to harsh criticism from people who questioned the implication that Woods’ transgressions should be dismissed now that he’s successful again.

Nike defended the ad in a statement: “Tiger has always said he competes to win. When asked about his goals such as getting back to number one, he has said consistently winning is the way to get there. The statement references that sentiment and is a salute to his athletic performance.”

Meanwhile, Woods offered some inspiration to fellow golfer Rory McIlroy. After receiving a congratulatory text message, Woods responded by telling McIlroy to (in McIlroy’s words): “get my finger out of my ass and win this week.”

♦ The Ravens introduced Elvis Dumervil on Tuesday after signing the former Broncos linebacker to a five-year deal worth a reported $35 million, and Dumervil let it be known that his breakup with Denver has provided him with a great deal of motivation.

“I think at times in life you deal with people who say you can’t do this or you shouldn’t do that,” Dumervil said. “In this world, you have to prove a point and prove yourself. I’m all about that. Year in, year out, that’s what drives me. I like to go in as a rookie every year, where you have to prove yourself. I have a chip on my shoulder, I may have a brick wall now. I’m so excited. I can’t wait to get out with the guys and really compete.”

Despite the way his departure from the Broncos was handled — with the team playing hardball and offering a dramatically reduced salary for 2013 — Dumervil said he has no animosity toward the franchise.

“It was an unfortunate situation that happened. Obviously leaving a really good organization like the Denver Broncos, they’re proven winners, I have nothing but good things to say about the organization,” he said. “But when an opportunity came that I could come to another winner and a first-class organization, it was just leaving one great one to another great one. So I took it. … Sometimes, you have to make a tough decision. I just felt like it was time to change the scenery.”

♦ Lakers center Dwight Howard had a tough day Monday. Not only did he take an elbow to his face that required three stitches on his lower lip, he was called for a foul on the play and then got a technical foul after he made some comments to Warriors forward David Lee.

Howard said after LA’s 109-103 loss that he won’t forget what Lee did, even though it appeared Lee was just trying to go to the basket strong when his lead elbow made contact with Howard’s face.

“He got away with a shot,” Howard said. “I’ll remember this game, I’ll remember that shot.”

Added Howard: “He said he wasn’t trying to do it. You can look at the play and see it for yourself. I will take care of it later.”

The teams meet again April 12.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On March 27, 1984, which Bruin scored a goal in a 6-4 victory over the Quebec Nordiques to give him 100 points on the season?

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Documentary writer and director John Ziegler checked in with Dennis & Callahan on Tuesday morning to discuss his recent three-plus-hour conversation with Jerry Sandusky at the Pennsylvania State Correctional Institute.

Ziegler made multiple visits to Sandusky and came to the conclusion that if it was not for a certain New York Jets losing streak from nearly 15 years ago, the Penn State scandal may have never come out.

Said Ziegler: “I’ve concluded, that after my three and a half hours with Jerry Sandusky, that if the New York Jets had not lost their last three games in the 2000 season, there would be no Penn State scandal … If Al Groh doesn’t decide at the last second — he was coaching the Jets at that time — that because they lost the last three games to miss the playoffs, Jerry Sandusky was about to sign on the dotted line to be the head football coach at Virginia in December of 2000. I’m totally convinced that there’s corroborating evidence for that, but Jerry and I talked about this extensively. Apparently during his last interview, the interviewer gets called out of the room, Al Groh calls, that’s his alma mater, Virginia, he’s on the search committee for that job, and tells them, ‘Hey look, I think I’m out of the Jets, I want the job.’ All of a sudden the guy comes back, is cold to Sandusky and Sandusky’s wondering what the heck’s going on. The next day Al Groh gets the job; five weeks later is the [Mike] McQueary episode.”

Ziegler, whose documentary “Framing Paterno” was recently released, also discussed what he thought Paterno really knew and, more importantly, didn’t know regarding the investigations into Sandusky’s actions in the late 1990s.

“People are misunderstanding what the most important conversation in this entire situation was,” Ziegler said, adding: “The key conversation was actually when the athletic director went to Sandusky and said, ‘OK, what was this all about? We have this report that you did something inappropriate with a kid in the shower.’ That’s where the information that I’ve been able to [get] from this interview is critical, because I have the actual statement from the boy in the shower, made ironically on the day [Joe] Paterno was fired, as a 24-year-old married sergeant in the marine corps, proactively coming forward with his mother with him, to say, ‘Look, I’m the boy in the shower, McQueary is lying. Nothing happened.’ ”

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Welcome to Tuesday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.

TUESDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NBA: Knicks at Celtics, 7 p.m. (TNT; WEEI-FM)
NBA: Clippers at Mavericks, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
College basketball: NIT, Maryland at Alabama, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
NHL: Rangers at Flyers, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
MLB preseason: Cardinals at Mets, 1 p.m. (ESPN)
MLB preseason: White Sox at Rangers, 4 p.m. (MLB Network)
MLB Network: Astros at Yankees, 7 p.m. (MLB Network)

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ Could the NFL have the first openly gay athlete in a major American team sport? According to CBSSports.com NFL writer Mike Freeman, it might happen this spring.

After interviewing several current and former players, Freeman wrote Monday that a current player is considering making a public announcement of his homosexuality and attempting to continue his career.

The player’s concern, according to the report, is not his teammates but the treatment he might receive from homophobic fans.

“I honestly think the players of the NFL have been ready for an openly gay player for quite some time now,” free agent linebacker Scott Fujita told Freeman. “Trust me, the coming out of a player would create much bigger waves outside the locker room than inside. The way I’ve seen the conversation around LGBT issues evolve, especially in the past few years, has been encouraging. Guys are more accepting than they used to be. Even those who raise personal objections to homosexuality, some of whom are good friends of mine, would still be able to coexist and accept a gay teammate.”

♦ According to a forthcoming book about Lenny Dykstra, the former Mets and Phillies outfielder is a sociopath who consistently exhibited racist and sexist behavior before eventually landing in jail on charges including bankruptcy fraud and grand theft auto.

The book is called “Nailed! The Improbable Rise and Spectacular Fall of Lenny Dykstra” and its author, Christopher Frankie, at one point worked for Dykstra until quitting because he wasn’t being paid. Frankie details Dykstra’s abusive and destructive behavior, especially his mistreatment of employees, women and even his own family, from whom Dykstra reportedly stole thousands of dollars.

♦ Royce White, who only days ago tweeted that he was leaving the Rockets’ D-League affiliate to spend the rest of the season in Houston, returned to the Rio Grand Valley Vipers. White, who had claimed a team doctor advised him to leave the Vipers, tweeted Monday that a “miscommunication” with the Rockets had been cleared up.

White, a first-round draft pick (16th overall) who has acknowledged having an anxiety disorder, has played in 12 games for the Vipers, averaging 9.6 points and 5.6 rebounds.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On March 26, 1974, the Red Sox released which two future Hall of Famers?

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Welcome to Monday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.

MONDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NHL: Maple Leafs at Bruins, 7 p.m. (NESN)
NHL: Kings at Blackhawks, 8 p.m. (NBCSN)
NBA: Heat at Magic, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
NBA: Hawks at Pacers, 7 p.m. (NBA TV)
NBA: Lakers at Warriors, 10:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
College basketball: NIT, Robert Morris at Providence, 7 p.m. (ESPNews)
College basketball: NIT, Mercer at BYU, 9 p.m. (ESPNews)
College basketball: NIT, Louisiana Tech at Southern Mississippi, 10 p.m. (ESPNU)
MLB preseason: Red Sox at Orioles, 1 p.m. (ESPN)
MLB preseason: Dodgers at Royals, 9 p.m (MLB Network)

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ With Florida Gulf Coast University’s unprecedented NCAA tournament run, coach Andy Enfield has become a hot prospect for higher-profile schools with an opening on the bench.

The former Celtics assistant (1998-2000) is in the second year of a three-year deal, making $150,000 per season. FGCU reportedly wants to double his salary but would need donations to pour in for that to happen.

Even with that bump in pay, it might be difficult to keep Enfield from departing, following the Eagles’ victory over San Diego State that put the team in the Sweet 16 in its first-ever NCAA tournament.

The players danced around their coach and chanted his name following Sunday’s win.

“We don’t take ourselves too seriously,” Enfield said. “We try to have fun, get serious when we have to. Our goal was to make history and we did it.”

♦ With the expected addition of former Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil, the Ravens finally improved a roster that has been stung by the loss of some key starters to free agency, a trade and retirement. Current Ravens players apparently are optimists, as they gushed over the team’s acquisition of Dumervil.

Said defensive end Arthur Jones (brother of Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones): “That’s awesome. It’s like a dream team in the making. I can’t wait until we all get together.”

Added linebacker Terrell Suggs:

“I think this move is awesome. It shows we’re still in the business of winning and we have the best [general manager] in the world.”

♦ Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III, who had surgery to repair two knee ligaments on Jan. 9, is “way ahead of schedule” in his rehab, according to the surgeon, Dr. James Andrews.

“RG III is one of those super humans,” Andrews told ESPN. “First patient I ever had like that was Bo Jackson. And recently I, of course, had Adrian Peterson, who is also superhuman. They have an unbelievable ability to recover, whereas a normal human being may not be able to recover.”

Griffin, the 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year, set an NFL record for best passer rating by a rookie. Despite spraining his LCL in a Week 14 win over the Ravens, he came back for the first-round playoff loss to the Seahawks, tearing his LCL and ACL in that game.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On March 25, 1984, the Red Sox acquired Bill Buckner from the Cubs by sending Mike Brumley and which player to Chicago?

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Veteran outfielder Vernon Wells reportedly will be traded from the Angels to the Yankees, who are desperate for help with its injury-plagued lineup.

Vernon Wells

Wells, 34, hit .230/.279/.403/.682 with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs last season, his second with the Angels. In his 14-year career — the first 12 of which he spent with the Blue Jays — he’s hitting .273/.321/.467/.788 with 259 homers and 908 RBIs.

“It’d be a huge change. I don’t think it’s ever easy saying goodbye, but at the same time, if this were to happen, it’s a good group of guys over there,” Wells said Sunday in Tempe, Ariz. “I’ll just get to know a new family.”

Meanwhile, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Sunday that it’s “more likely than not” Derek Jeter will start the season on the disabled list with soreness in his surgically repaired left ankle.

“April 1 is unrealistic in my mind now,” Cashman said of the opener against the Red Sox. “There’s nothing new going on other than growing pains as he gets through these final hurdles of his rehab.”

Eduardo Nunez is expected to replace Jeter at short.

The Hamilton home belonging to Mandy Carter-Zegarowski, the mother of Syracuse point guard Michael Carter-Williams, caught fire Saturday night during the Orangemen’s 66-60 NCAA tournament win over California in San Jose, Calif.

Carter-Zegarowski was in attendance at the game at the time of the incident, which was classified as a three-alarm fire. The Hamilton Patch reported nobody was injured in the blaze. According to a source, Carter-Williams, a sophomore at Syracuse who is a projected first-round pick in this year’s NBA draft, remained a resident of the Hamilton address when not in school. He finished with 12 points in the win over the Golden Bears.

Carter-Williams spent one year at Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School before spending his remaining high school years at St. Andrews School in Barrington, R.I.