Mike Goodson

New Jets running back Mike Goodson was arrested on multiple weapons and drug charges early Friday morning.

Goodson, signed to a three-year, $6 million contract in March, was in the passenger’s seat of a GMC Yukon that was stopped in the left-center lane of Interstate 80 West near Denville, N.J., New Jersey State Police said. He was taken to a local hospital before being transported to jail, with his bail set at $50,000.

He was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a handgun and possession of a hollow-point bullet.

A 2009 fourth-round pick by the Panthers out of Texas A&M, Goodson played three seasons for Carolina and 2012 with the Raiders. In 40 career games, he has 160 rushes for 722 yards and three touchdowns.

Capitals coach Adam Oates is not pleased with Rangers coach John Tortorella. (AP)

Capitals coach Adam Oates was not known as a fighter during his 20-year NHL career (which included six seasons in Boston), but he said he’s confident he could beat up Rangers coach John Tortorella.

“Yes,” Oates said Thursday. “Easily.”

Oates’ comment came during an appearance on Washington’s 106.7 The Fan, when he was talking about the controversy that surrounded his team’s seven-game first-round series loss to Tortorella’s Rangers.

The Capitals were unhappy with the officiating after the Rangers rallied with wins in Games 6 and 7. Caps star Alex Ovechkin implied there was an order from up high to benefit the Rangers, and general manager George McPhee backed him up, saying: “I don’t think there’s a league conspiracy, but it sure didn’t feel right. Alex wasn’t wrong.”

Tortorella was dismissive of the comments.

“We’ve got everybody and their brother whining out there in Washington about what happened in that series,” Tortella said Wednesday. “And I think that’s a big reason they lose that series.”

Oates had his chance to publicly respond to Tortorella on Thursday, as the Rangers were preparing to meet the Bruins in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

“Well, I think he’s out of line,” Oates said. “[Tortorella] should be worried about his own series. We didn’t whine once during the series. I never complained. I don’t know, did you guys ever hear me complain about officiating?”

Added Oates: “Ovi [complained] after Game 7. No one complained before any game. I met with the supervisor before Game 7. You meet with the supervisor before every single game. We never complained about anything.”

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:
MLB: Red Sox at Twins, 8:10 p.m. (NESN; WEEI-FM)
MLB: Mets at Cubs, 2:10 p.m. (WGN)
MLB: Dodgers at Braves, 7:30 p.m. (MLB Network)
NHL playoffs: Senators at Penguins, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
NBA playoffs: Knicks at Pacers, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
NBA: Scouting combine, 10 a.m. (ESPNU)

AROUND THE WEB:

Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte leaves Thursday's game with a back injury. (AP)

♦ The Yankees, who have managed to overcome a rash of injuries and grab first place in the American League East, continued their march to the trainer’s room Thursday, as veteran pitcher Andy Pettitte left a 3-2 loss to the Mariners in the fifth inning with a tight left trapezius muscle in his back.

“It was affecting his velocity, and that’s why I took him out. It’s muscular, but I don’t know what that means moving forward,” manager Joe Girardi said. “He works through a lot, that’s the bottom line. But when I saw the arm speed …”

Pettitte, 40, missed a start earlier in the season with another back issue, but he’s not sure if this is related.

“I couldn’t get extension at all,” Pettitte said. “I felt like I was cutting almost everything off. It’s trying to throw it in there almost slower than slow, to tell you the truth.”

Added Pettitte: “There’s no doubt I’m getting old, but I don’t want to sit here and say that’s the exact reason for this. I feel good, and you’d think that at the intense level I had to compete last year [beginning spring training late in his comeback season], that’s when I would have broken down.”

Catcher Chris Stewart also departed Thursday’s game early, leaving for an MRI on his left groin after pulling up while running the bases in the seventh inning.

“You’ve got to move forward. That’s the bottom line,” Girardi said. “Injuries are a part of the game, and some years you’re going to have more than others. Right now we have more than a few. … It’s no excuse. You have to find a way to get it done.”

♦ Sacramento appears set to remain an NBA city, as the Maloof family reportedly agreed to sell a 65 percent share of the Kings to a local group headed by software tycoon Vivek Ranadive. The NBA, which has pushed for the team to remain in Sacramento despite the Maloofs efforts to sell to a group that wanted to move the franchise to Seattle, is expected to approve the deal next week.

“It’s the start of a new era,” Ranadive said.

The plan includes a new $447 million downtown arena that already has been approved by the Sacramento City Council, after urging from Mayor Kevin Johnson.

♦ Former NASCAR driver Dick Trickle died Thursday in North Carolina, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 71.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said Trickle called and said “there would be a dead body and it would be his.” His body was found near his pickup truck at a cemetery in Boger City, N.C., about 40 miles northwest of Charlotte.

Trickle was the Winston Cup Rookie of the Year in 1989 at age 48 and competed in more than 300 Cup races.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Dick Trickle on his passing today,” NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said. “Dick was a legend in the short-track racing community, particularly in his home state of Wisconsin, and he was a true fan favorite. Personalities like Dick Trickle helped shape our sport. He will be missed.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On May 17, 1971, the Red Sox signed which pitcher who was released by the Twins in March and then signed and released by the Braves?

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Boston Marathon runners who were stopped on the course due to the bombing at the finish line will be allowed to register early for the 2014 race and will not have to run a qualifying time, the Boston Athletic Association announced Thursday.

The BAA said that 5,633 runners were halted on the second half of the course when the race was shut down after 2:50 p.m., following the two explosions. Those runners will be allowed to sign up prior to the open registration in September.

“The opportunity to run down Boylston Street and to cross the finish line amid thousands of spectators is a significant part of the entire Boston Marathon experience,” BAA executive director Thomas Grilk said in a statement. “With the opportunity to return and participate in 2014, we look forward to inviting back these athletes and we expect that most will renew their marathon training commitment. Boston spectators are known for their impassioned support and unbridled enthusiasm, and they will give these returning athletes some of the loudest cheers at next year’s race.”

Grilk said no decision has been made about possibly expanding the field for next year’s race to accommodate runners inspired by the events of last month.

“We want to thank our participants for their patience as we continue to work through the details of arranging this accommodation for them,” Grilk said. “And we ask for continued patience from the running community as we plan the 2014 Boston Marathon next April.”

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:
NHL playoffs: Rangers at Bruins, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
NHL playoffs: Sharks at Kings, 10 p.m. (NBCSN)
Hockey World Championships: United States vs. Russia, 6 a.m. (NBCSN)
Hockey World Championships: Switzerland vs. Czech Republic, 8:30 a.m. (NBCSN)
Hockey World Championships: Finland vs. Slovakia, 11 a.m. (NBCSN)
Hockey World Championships: Canada vs. Sweden, 2 p.m. (NBCSN)
NBA playoffs: Pacers at Knicks, 8 p.m. (TNT)
NBA playoffs: Spurs at Warriors, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
NBA: Scouting combine, 10 a.m. (ESPNU)
MLB: Red Sox at Rays, 7:10 p.m. (NESN; WEEI-FM)
MLB: Tigers at Rangers, 8:05 p.m. (MLB Network)

AROUND THE WEB:

Knicks coach Mike Woodson spoke to the media Wednesday, but he was pulled from his regular radio spot. (AP)

♦ The Knicks, who have long been criticized for paranoid and vindictive behavior under owner James Dolan, added another chapter Wednesday when they reportedly banned coach Mike Woodson from his regular radio spot on New York’s ESPN-98.7 a day after the team’s Game 4 loss to the Pacers that left New York in a 3-1 hole heading into Thursday night’s Game 5.

Co-host Stephen A. Smith, who has been known to show favoritism toward the Knicks, on Wednesday declared the season over and called the Knicks “a decrepit old bunch.”

“Mike Woodson was supposed to be coming on, ladies and gentlemen. We didn’t lie to you. The New York Knicks organization backed out.” Smith said on Wednesday’s show. “The coach didn’t back out because Mike Woodson wouldn’t do that — no matter what he says.”

The station is the Knicks’ broadcast partner, airing the team’s games along with pregame and postgame shows. Woodson is paid for his appearances.

Station boss David Roberts tried to downplay the issue.

“In no way do I think this reflects on the relationship with our partners at the Garden. In fact the relationship is very good,” Roberts said. “We look forward to Mike Woodson appearing on the show with Stephen A Smith and Ryan Ruocco Friday — win or lose.”

Woodson, meanwhile, did meet with the media Wednesday and said guard J.R. Smith‘s declaration that the team’s struggles are his fault because of his poor play is not accurate.

“I’m the head coach. Blame it on me,” Woodson said. “I don’t look at it in that light. The bottom line is we’re all trying to do the right things to win basketball games. If we don’t have the slippage to start the series, we’re feeling pretty good about ourselves. But right now our backs are against the wall and my job is to get us out of this hole.”

♦ One day after he insulted Mets fans — saying, “I don’t answer to fans. They don’t play this game. They have no idea what goes on” — manager Terry Collins went into damage control.

“Of course I regret the choice of words. I certainly respect the New York fans,” Collins said before Wednesday night’s 4-2 loss to the Cardinals that dropped New York to a season-worst nine games below .500 at 14-23. “They’re the most knowledgeable fans I’ve ever been around. They know the game. They know the people.”

Added Collins: “You know, I’m a human being. I used a bad choice of words. But I’m also frustrated. Here we are, we’re scuffling, scuffling. There’s one topic to talk about. And I understand that we’re not playing good, so that’s the story. I’m aware of that. And I’m tired of talking about it. I want to talk about getting better.

“So, that was my fault, nobody else’s fault. I wasn’t baited into anything. … Once again, I want our fans to understand that I’m working my butt off to get better. Period.”

♦ With umpires coming under fire for a couple of blunders this month, Real Clear Sports has a list of the top 10 blown calls in baseball history.

No. 1 is Don Denkinger‘s safe call at first base in the ninth inning of Game 6 of the 1985 World Series that gave the Royals another life and led to a comeback against the Cardinals. No. 2 is Jim Joyce‘s missed call at first that cost Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game in 2010.

There are two entries involving the Red Sox. No. 6 is Larry Barnett‘s non-call of interference against Reds batter Ed Armbrister that led to a Carlton Fisk throwing error in the 10th inning of Game 3 of the 1975 World Series. No. 8 is Tim Tschida‘s brutally bad out call of Jose Offerman on the basepath in Game 4 of the 1999 ALCS against the Yankees.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On May 16, 1989, Mike Milbury was hired as Bruins coach, replacing which individual?

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J.R. Smith continues to struggle for the Knicks, who are facing elimination in Game 5 against the Pacers. (AP)

The Knicks lost to the Pacers, 93-82, on Tuesday night to fall behind 3-1 in the series, and guard J.R. Smith isn’t waiting for a repeat of the finger-pointing that occurred after the last game. He’s putting this loss — and the series-long struggles — on his shoulders.

“My frustration with myself is extremely high. I take the blame for this whole series,” said Smith, who shot 7-for-22 for 19 points Tuesday. “It started off in [Game 5] in Boston. … I haven’t been playing [like] myself. I haven’t been playing my part.

“I’ve been letting my teammates down. I’ve been letting my coaches down. And it doesn’t feel good.”

Smith, battling flu-like symptoms the last two games, has struggled since returning from his one-game suspension for elbowing Celtics guard Jason Terry in Game 3 of the first-round series that the Knicks won in six games.

Smith was fined $5,000 for flopping in Game 1 vs. the Pacers, and he was widely criticized for going out on the town the night before the afternoon opener, although he denied the accusation.

The NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, Smith is shooting 28.6 percent in his last six games, including 27 percent from 3-point range.

“Everybody’s been encouraging me, ‘Keep shooting, keep shooting, keep shooting,” Smith said. “I’m still trying to get to the basket, trying to get easy ones, easy layups, get to the free throw line. But I’m even missing layups, too. I missed a technical free throw tonight. It’s just frustrating.”

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:
MLB: Red Sox at Rays, 7 p.m. (NESN, ESPN; WEEI-FM)
MLB: Astros at Tigers, 1 p.m. (MLB Network)
MLB: White Sox at Twins, 1 p.m. (WGN)
NHL playoffs: Red Wings at Blackhawks, 8 p.m. (NBCSN)
NBA playoffs: Bulls at Heat, 7 p.m. (TNT)
NBA playoffs: Grizzlies at Thunder, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)

AROUND THE WEB:

Terry Collins

♦ The struggling Mets have lost four straight games, but the bigger news out of New York on Tuesday was manager Terry Collins‘ swipe at the fans in an attempt to defend his handling of controversial outfielder Jordany Valdespin.

Valdespin irked the Pirates on Friday when he flipped his bat in celebration after hitting a meaningless home run in a 7-3 loss. On Saturday, Valdespin was sent up as a pinch-hitter and was drilled by Pittsburgh pitcher Bryan Morris. Valdespin went to first base without incident, but when he eventually returned to the dugout he slammed down his helmet. The Mets did not retaliate.

Media members and some fans on Twitter questioned whether the team put Valdespin in a bad situation. Collins would have none of it.

“I don’t answer to fans. They don’t play this game,” Collins said Tuesday. “They have no idea what goes on. They have no idea what goes on in there.”

Added Collins: “I don’t care what the perception is. All I know is what goes on here. I’ve been doing this for 42 years. I don’t care what anybody on the outside thinks. I know how to get it done in the clubhouse. I’ve been doing it a lot longer than a lot of people. He’s fine. He handled it great, I thought, the way he went about it. He went to first base. He didn’t throw his bat any place. … He did it the right way. And now it’s over. Now we move on.”

Collins said if Valdespin had been hit a second time Saturday, the Mets “would have answered.” He also acknowledged that Valdespin’s antics can rub people the wrong way.

“[Valdespin] is an energetic guy, he plays with flair, he’s going to [tick] people off once in a while,” Collins said. “The issue is we have to be careful he doesn’t [tick] those guys [his teammates] off. That’s where he has to be careful what he says and how he handles himself, because everybody has tried to help.

“In the four years I’ve been around him, there’s been a number of people that have thrown their hands up, but you can’t ever give up on talent like that.”

♦ Former Steelers linebacker James Harrison, in his introductory press conference Tuesday with the Bengals, revealed that he spends between $400,000 and $600,000 per year on “body work.”

“I’ve always been what everybody’d like to call — excuse my English — is ‘massage whore,’ ” Harrison said. “I can’t think of nothing else. They done called me it so long I’m starting to believe it.”

Added Harrison: “I have a hyperbaric chamber. I rent a hyperbaric chamber when I’m in Arizona. I have massages and I bring people in from New York, Arizona to where I’m at. There’s that cost. Like I said, I get body work almost every single day except Saturday and Sunday. I have a homeopathic doctor and I do a lot of homeopathic things.  It’s just a lot, supplements, so on and so forth.”

The 35-year-old said he feels as good as he has in a few years, although the Steelers apparently weren’t convinced, as they released him after a nine-year run.

♦ A man who was trying to dribble a soccer ball 10,000 miles from Seattle to Brazil in time for the 2014 World Cup died Tuesday morning after being hit by a pickup truck in Oregon, two weeks after his trip began.

Richard Swanson, 42, was raising awareness for the One World Futbol Project, which donates soccer balls to people in developing countries. He was on Highway 101 South near the Oregon coastal town of Lincoln City when he was struck from behind around 10 a.m. by a driver who remained at the scene.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On May 15, 1990, the Baseball Hall of Fame inducted four former stars: Elvin Hayes, Neil Johnston, Earl Monroe and which seven-time All-Star guard who ended his NBA career by playing one season with the Celtics in 1977-78?

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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:
MLB: Red Sox at Rays, 7:10 p.m. (NESN; WEEI-FM)
MLB: Giants at Blue Jays, 7 p.m. (MLB Network)
NBA playoffs: Knicks at Pacers, 7 p.m. (TNT)
NBA playoffs: Warriors at Spurs, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
NHL playoffs: Senators at Penguins, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
NHL playoffs: Sharks at Kings, 10 p.m. (NBCSN)

AROUND THE WEB:

Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks are looking to put things together against the Pacers in Game 4 Tuesday night. (AP)

♦ The Knicks face the Pacers in Game 4 of their series Tuesday night in Indianapolis, looking to avoid falling into a 3-1 series hole. They’re also looking to play less selfish, something center Tyson Chandler noted after Sunday’s 82-71 loss.

“I’m not saying it maliciously. I think it’s more so you get in a situation where you want to take over the game or you want to make a big should where you [should] stick to the game plan,” Chandler said Sunday. “A good team wins basketball games. Unless you’re a great, great, great, great individual … and we only have a few of those come through.”

There was speculation that Chandler was referring to the oft-criticized Carmelo Anthony, although he also could have had in mind J.R. Smith (4-for-12 Sunday) or Raymond Felton (1-for-8).

Responded Anthony on Monday: “I really don’t want to go back and forth about that because I really don’t know exactly what he’s talking about. But if he feels that way … we’re about to get together right now and discuss that amongst ourselves and figure that out. Just get his take, his perspective on that comment. And we’ll handle that internally and figure that out amongst ourselves.”

Knicks coach Mike Woodson played down the issue.

“I don’t get mad at things like that,” Woodson said. “Sometimes bickering amongst each other is pretty healthy. I don’t call it bickering, maybe that’s not the word to use. I just think he’s being a good teammate. I say it. Sometimes it’s good that it comes from within, the guys that are on the floor working. I don’t see nothing wrong with it.”

♦ The family of former Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the NHL, blaming the league for the Boogaard’s brain damage and an addiction to prescription painkillers. Boogaard died two years ago at the age of 28 of an accidental overdose of pain medication and alcohol.

“He was there protecting his teammates at all costs,” mother Joanne Boogaard said in a statement Monday, “but who was there to protect him?”

Boogaard played six seasons and 277 games with the Wild and Rangers. He had three goals and at least 66 fights. The lawsuit claims that in the 2008-09 season with Minnesota, Boogaard received 1,021 prescriptions from NHL team physicians, dentists, trainers and staff.

Said family attorney William Gibbs: “The NHL drafted Derek Boogaard because it wanted his massive body to fight in order to enhance ratings, earnings and exposure. Then, once he became addicted to these narcotics, the NHL promised his family that it would take care of him. It failed.”

♦ Jaguars receiver Justin Blackmon, the team’s No. 1 pick in 2012 who has a couple of DUI arrests on his record and last month was suspended four games for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, spoke to reporters Monday and denied he has a problem.

“No, I would say I don’t,” the 23-year-old said. “Out of the whole thing, one of the main things I would say that I had a problem with was just making a poor decision.”

Blackmon insisted he does not need a lifestyle change, but he said he will try harder to stay out of trouble.

“I’ve made decisions and choices to make better decisions,” he said, “and if that’s staying at home, then it’s just staying at home.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On May 14, 1981, the Celtics captured their 14th NBA title with a 102-91 victory over the Rockets in Game 6. Who was named finals MVP?

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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 playoffs: Maple Leafs at Bruins, 7 p.m. (NESN, CNBC)
NHL playoffs: Rangers at Capitals, 8 p.m. (NBCSN)
NBA playoffs: Heat at Bulls, 7 p.m. (TNT)
NBA playoffs: Thunder at Grizzlies, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
MLB: Mets at Cardinals, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

AROUND THE WEB:

LeBron James looks back before falling after being pushed by Bulls forward Nazr Mohammed during Friday night's game in Chicago. (AP)

♦ Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau was fined $35,000 by the NBA on Sunday, following his comments about the officiating after Friday night’s Game 3 loss to the Heat.

In the first half of the game, Bulls forward Nazr Mohammed was ejected after shoving LeBron James. The Bulls accused James of embellishing when he fell to the floor. Said Thibodeau: “I just saw a guy basically flop.” Thibodeau also said Chicago wasn’t “going to get calls” from the officials.

James insisted he wasn’t going to be rattled by the Bulls’ accusations.

“When you’re comfortable with who you are as a player and as a person, nothing really bothers you,” he said. “I don’t need to flop. I play an aggressive game. I don’t flop. I’ve never been one of those guys.”

Game 4 is Monday night in Chicago, where the shorthanded Bulls will attempt to even the series. Luol Deng, who is recovering after suffering complications from a spinal tap. is not expected to play, as he said he did not respond well to attempts to practice over the weekend after leaving the hospital. Kirk Hinrich and Derrick Rose are expected to remain on the sideline as well.

♦ Joba Chamberlain feuded with a Yankees teammate over the weekend — and no, it wasn’t Kevin Youkilis. Surprisingly, it was respected reliever Mariano Rivera.

Rivera was giving an interview in the dugout before Saturday night’s game in Kansas City — where, one year ago, he blew out his knee shagging fly balls and was lost for the season. Chamberlain, meanwhile, was standing next to the dugout and yelling to his family in the stands. After losing his train of thought, Rivera said to Chamberlain: “Joba! Yo! Bro! Shhh.”

Chamberlain responded that he was talking to his family, something he doesn’t do as often as Rivera speaks to the media. Later, Chamberlain warned Rivera in front of the press: “Don’t ever shush me again. … Seriously. Don’t ever shush me again. I don’t get to see my family very often.”

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said later that teammates shouldn’t disrespect each other. “When you look at situations that happen, if people could do things differently, sometimes they would do it differently,” he said.

However, Chamberlain, while admitting it was his fault, insisted it wasn’t a big deal and said: “I wouldn’t change it, I wouldn’t change anything I do in life.” He said there was no need to apologize, although he apparently did in private.

Rivera, on the other hand, apologized to reporters Sunday, saying: “These are not things that we need to bring in front of you guys or anybody. But it happened. … This is in-house and we keep it like that.”

♦ Former Lions wide receiver Titus Young, arrested twice in one day last Sunday, made it three times in a week when he was nabbed late Friday in San Clemente, Calif., for allegedly breaking into a home. Young also fought with deputies after a foot chase.

Young was charged with attempted burglary, assaulting a police office and resisting arrest.

The 23-year-old was drafted in 2011 but released in February after a decline in production and disputes with teammates.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On May 13, 1991, which two former Celtics — teammates in Boston in the late 1970s — were inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame?

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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:
NHL playoffs: Maple Leafs at Bruins, 7 p.m. (NESN, NHL Network)
NHL playoffs: Rangers at Capitals, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
NHL playoffs: Ducks at Red Wings, 8 p.m. (CNBC)
NHL playoffs: Blues at Kings, 10 p.m. (NBCSN)
NBA playoffs: Heat at Bulls, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
NBA playoffs: Spurs at Warriors, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
MLB: Blue Jays at Red Sox, 7:10 p.m. (NESN Plus; WEEI-FM)
MLB: Cubs at Nationals, 7 p.m. (WGN)
MLB: Yankees at Royals, 8 p.m. (MLB Network)

AROUND THE WEB:

Former Jets quarterback Tim Tebow has offered no clue as to where he might end up next season. (AP)

♦ Free agent quarterback Tim Tebow, in his first public comments since being cut by the Jets, offered no information about where he might play in 2013 as he spoke to students at Lake Michigan College on Thursday.

“I don’t know what the future holds,” Tebow told a crowd of about 3,000 at the school in Benton Harbor, Mich., “but at the end of the day I know who holds my future.”

The Patriots were rumored to be a possible landing spot for Tebow, but a Thursday story by Yahoo! Sports’ Michael Silver indicated that, according to an organizational source, Bill Belichick “hates” Tebow as a player despite his outward affinity for the individual. The source said about the possibility of Tebow landing in New England: “No chance. Plus they wouldn’t like the circus that comes with it.”

Despite his lack of success in New York last year, Tebow this week was named America’s most influential athlete in a Forbes magazine poll.

“That’s a huge honor,” Tebow said Thursday. “I see it as a great responsibility to be a role model for future generations. That’s something I care about more than winning football games. If I can take the game of football and can transcend football, go to hospitals and make kids smile, I’ll be doing things that matter.”

Added Tebow: “What I want to do with my life is impact lives. When a kid in a hospital is fighting for his life and I’m trying to win a football game, what really matters? This game isn’t as important as a lot of us make it out to be. If I can give him a little bit of hope, I can do something that matters. That’s what I want my legacy to be about. That’s how I want to be remembered.”

♦ Redskins owner Dan Snyder made it clear that he has not softened his opposition to changing the name of his team, despite growing criticism.

“We will never change the name of the team,” Snyder told USA Today. “As a lifelong Redskins fan, and I think that the Redskins fans understand the great tradition and what it’s all about and what it means, so we feel pretty fortunate to be just working on next season.”

Amanda Blackhorse, a Native American who has filed a federal trademark suit in an attempt to force a name change, told USA Today that she would dare Snyder to call her a redskin to her face.

“I think the best way is to just not comment on that type of stuff,” Snyder responded. “I don’t know her.”

♦ With NBC announcing this week that Carrie Underwood is replacing Faith Hill as the singer for the “Sunday Night Football” theme song, Real Clear Sports has a list of the top 10 sports broadcast theme songs.

No. 1 is the Olympics theme music, followed by “Monday Night Football” and the NBA on NBC.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On May 10, 1999, which Red Sox player hit three home runs — including two grand slams — and collected 10 RBIs in a 12-4 rout of the Mariners at Fenway Park?

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