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.

WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY WEDNESDAY:
No games scheduled

AROUND THE WEB:

Sharks center Joe Thornton's comments about the Rangers being "soft" drew an angry reaction from New York coach John Tortorella. (AP)

♦ After the Sharks lost on Monday to the Rangers, 5-2, Joe Thornton lamented San Jose’s missed opportunity. “They were probably the softest team we played against on this road trip, and we should have had the two points,” the former Bruin said.

Rangers coach John Tortorella initially brushed off the comments, but on Tuesday he responded with more vigor.

“Joe hasn’t won a damned thing in this league,” Tortorella said. “He could go down as one of the better players in our league never to win anything. So what he should do is just shut up. It was uncalled for. It was classless. I’ve never had it happen like that before.”

Meanwhile, the Rangers got a little less soft Tuesday when they recalled controversial forward Sean Avery from the AHL after no other NHL team claimed the veteran.

♦ Boston College athletic director Gene DeFilippo‘s comments last month about ESPN’s role in conference realignment (which he attempted to retract) has fueled conspiracy theories. USA Today takes a closer look at the network’s affect on the college sports landscape.

♦ Yale quarterback Patrick Witt is a finalist for a Rhodes Scholarship, and his interview is scheduled for Nov. 19 in Atlanta. The problem is, that’s the same day as the Harvard-Yale game. “If the Rhodes Committee is willing to work with me, in a perfect world, I can interview first thing in the morning and get on a flight to be back in time for the game on Saturday,” he told the Yale Daily News. “But I don’t know if that will be possible.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Nov. 2, 1969, the Patriots won their first game after opening the season with seven straight losses. Which now-defunct team did the Pats shut out, 24-0?

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I think they’re just one of the most vicious, most ruthless organizations ever created by mankind. I think you would compare the NCAA to Al Capone and to the Mafia.” – Illinois Rep. Bobby Rush, during Tuesday’s congressional forum on college sports

STAT OF THE DAY: 13 – Players who recorded points for the Bruins in Tuesday night’s 5-3 victory over the Senators

‘NET RESULTS: A Japanese soccer player scores on a header from beyond midfield.

TRIVIA ANSWER: Houston Oilers

SOOTHING SOUNDS: Keith Emerson, keyboardist for Emerson, Lake & Palmer, is 67 Wednesday.

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