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.

WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY THURSDAY:
NHL: Canadiens at Bruins, 7 p.m. (NESN)
MLB Preseason: Red Sox at Marlins, 1:05 p.m.

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ Forbes magazine did an analysis of Major League Baseball and determined that the Yankees are the sport’s most valuable team for the 14th straight year, worth $1.7 billion. The Red Sox are No. 2, but 86 percent less valuable than the Bronx Bombers, at $912 million.

The Padres were the most profitable in 2010, with an operating income of $37 million. The Red Sox had an operating income of minus-$1 million, but they make that up with their share in NESN. The average value of a major league team is $523 million, up 7 percent from last year.

♦ Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco began his soccer tryout with Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday. According to Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star, Ochocinco was feisty but rusty playing the game he loved as a youngster. Afterward, Ochocinco denied it was a publicity stunt. “What you rather have me do during a lockout? Go get arrested, get in trouble? Act like Charlie Sheen? I’m one that never gets in trouble, I do nothing wrong. I just try to have fun,” he said.

♦ Agent Scott Boras responded to a critical piece written by an anonymous major leaguer in ESPN the Magazine by telling the New York Post the player’s implications that he does not provide struggling clients with enough support are baseless. “Our commitment to the player is extreme,” Boras insisted.

♦ In The New York Times, Jere Longman writes about Baylor women’s basketball player Melissa Jones, who lost vision in her right eye after a collision on the court in February but is back with protective glasses, helping the top-seeded Bears advance to the Sweet 16.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On March 24, 1974, which Bruin had an assist in a 6-3 victory over the Canadiens to become the third player in NHL history (joining teammates Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr) to have more than one 100-point season?

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I’d like to see how smart Theo Epstein is with the Tampa Bay payroll. You got Carl Crawford ’cause you paid more than anyone else, and that’s what makes you smarter? That’s why I like whipping their butt. It’s great, knowing those guys with the $205 million payroll are saying, ‘How the hell are they beating us?’ ” — Orioles manager Buck Showalter, in an interview with Men’s Journal

STAT OF THE DAY: 21 — Points Leon Powe and Tony Allen scored for the Grizzlies against their former Celtics teammates Wednesday night in Memphis’ 90-87 victory

‘NET RESULTS: As part of an appearance on Ellen DeGeneres‘ show Monday, LeBron James surprised one of Ellen’s writers at an aerobics class.

And then LeBron danced with the class.

JaVale McGee of the Wizards had a memorable block of Trail Blazers guard Wes Matthews on Tuesday night.

TRIVIA ANSWER: Ken Hodge

SOOTHING SOUNDS: Nick Lowe turns 62 Thursday.

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