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: Bruins at Coyotes, 9 p.m. (NESN)
NBA: Celtics at Hornets, 8 p.m. (CSNNE; WEEI)
NBA: Thunder at Grizzlies, 8 p.m. (NBA TV)
NBA: Knicks at Warriors, 10:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
College basketball: Georgetown at Louisville, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Mississippi State at Baylor, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
College football: Holiday Bowl, California vs. Texas, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

AROUND THE WEB:

Alex Rodriguez

♦ Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez recently traveled to Germany for experimental therapy on his right knee, according to a New York Post report. Rodriguez received a recommendation from Lakers star Kobe Bryant before getting Orthokine, which involves taking blood from a patient’s arm and spinning it in a centrifuge before injecting it into the injured area.

The Yankees checked with the league office before giving their approval for the procedure, which has yet to be proven as a long-term fix. Bryant reportedly had it done on his right knee last summer and again on his left ankle in October.

“These guys like it, they say it works and they are looking for any potential edge,” said Dr. Jonathan Glashow, co-chief of sports medicine at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital. “It’s not an absolute thing. While it appears a lot of guys get relief from it, the jury is still out in terms of it really being critically studied.”

Rodriguez had surgery on his right knee in July to repair a torn meniscus and returned for the stretch run, although he hit just .191 with three home runs in 68 at-bats and then went .111 with no home runs in New York’s American League Division Series loss to the Tigers.

♦ Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey is preparing for a January trip to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, despite a letter from his team warning that it has the right to void the final year of his contract if he is injured. The 37-year-old knuckleballer, who is raising money for charity, said he doesn’t anticipate any issues.

“I don’t think there’s really any lethal risk to doing it,” Dickey said. “It’s not like it’s Everest.”

Said Mets general manager Sandy Alderson: “If we thought it was a good idea, we wouldn’t have sent the letter. Beyond that, have we tried to dissuade him from going? It seems to me that the letter is enough of an effort to dissuade him, and he intends to go on nonetheless.”

♦ Sixers guard Lou Williams offered more details about the Christmas Eve incident he tweeted about, when a would-be robber gave him a pass because of his community work. Williams said the man approached his car and flashed a gun before recognizing Williams.

“A guy tried to rob me but decided not to because of whatever I do in the community,” Williams explained. “He’s a Lou Williams fan so he didn’t rob me.”

Added Williams: “There’s crime everywhere. I was debating whether to pull off or help the guy. The gun was already out. He did all the talking and we came up with a solution before I could really say much. I treated him to McDonald’s.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Dec. 28, 1963, which Red Sox infielder was named Comeback Player of the Year?

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I told our guys, I said we’re making steps, you can see it. But we can’t ease into games. We just can’t. We have to come out [fast]. It’s like we get down, we get upset at it, then we fight back. That’s how you get down. It’s two games, so it’ll get better.” – Celtics coach Doc Rivers, after Tuesday’s 115-107 loss to the Heat

STAT OF THE DAY: 8 – Patriots players named to the Pro Bowl, tying them with the 49ers for the most honorees

‘NET RESULTS: Jazz guard Devin Harris heads into the front row at Tuesday night’s Lakers game and collides with a man TNT announcer Kevin Harlan compares to legendary “Batman” character the Penguin.

Former Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton, who lost his job to Tim Tebow and now plays for the Chiefs, is mocked in this video called “Ortoning.”

TRIVIA ANSWER: First baseman Dick Stuart, who hit 42 home runs with a league-high 118 RBIs in his first season in Boston after coming over from the Pirates

SOOTHING SOUNDS: Former Box Tops lead singer Alex Chilton, who died in 2010, was born on this day in 1950.

Leave a Reply