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:
NBA: Pacers at Bulls, 8 p.m. (NBA TV)
NBA: Clippers at Lakers, 10:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
College basketball: Villanova at Louisville, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Missouri at Oklahoma State, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Duke at Maryland, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
NHL: Red Wings at Canadiens, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)

AROUND THE WEB:

Kicker Lawrence Tynes (9) and punter/holder Steve Weatherford (5) celebrate after Tynes' overtime kick Sunday sent the Giants to the Super Bowl. (AP)

♦ The rivalry between the Patriots and Giants does not compare to both teams’ dislike for the Jets. On Tuesday, Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes took a shot at Jets special teams coach Mike Westhoff for comments Westhoff made early in the season about Giants punter Steve Weatherford, a former Jet.

“There were times when he just didn’t do the job. … Wasn’t good enough, in my opinion,” Westhoff said of Weatherford, who averaged 42.6 yards per punt in 2010 for the Jets.

“Unbelievable. That’s the worst statement of the year by any coach in this game,” Tynes said. “How could you say that? You just broke an NFL record for your team and you throw him under the bus. We’re glad to have him. Mike Westhoff is a great coach, but I certainly think he missed on that one.”

Responded Westhoff: “Tynes should mind his own business.”

After switching to the Giants this season, Weatherford averaged a career-best 45.7 yards per punt.

“I think a lot of it has to do with playing for Tom Quinn and being comfortable and being confident and being strong,” Weatherford said. “I think playing for the Jets and playing for that positional coach was draining. I thought it was difficult. It was physically taxing.”

Weatherford said he did not speak to Westhoff when the teams meet in Week 16 and has not spoken to his former coach all year.

“To be honest with you, personally I don’t have anything to say to him,” Weatherford said. “I think I’ve kind of let my play speak for itself. That’s what I was planning on doing. It’s just motivation. It’s kind of like the situation — somebody’s trash is another man’s treasure. I’m trying my best to be Tom Coughlin’s treasure.”

♦ New Astros owner Jim Crane announced Monday that he is considering changing the name of the team as it prepares for a move to the American League in 2013. In the Houston Chronicle, Jerome Solomon writes that Crane should worry about changing the team from a loser to a winner and leave the name alone.

♦ Jeff Fedotin at The PostGame has the story of Mamadou Ndiaye, a 7-foot-5, 310-pound basketball player from Senegal who plays at a a Christian high school in Southern California. “We’ve played with big kids before, but this is … different,” and opposing coach said. “It looks like a dad playing with a bunch of little kids.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Jan. 25, 1956, which former Red Sox infielder and manager was elected to the Hall of Fame?

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Whatever happens, happens. I can’t give you a prediction because Jim [Irsay] and I will sit down at some point and he’ll get a feel for where I am and I’ll get a sense of what direction he wants to go. Right now, I have no idea.” – Colts quarterback Peyton Manning

STAT OF THE DAY: 3-3-1 – The Bruins’ record in their last seven games leading up to the All-Star break, culminating with Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to the Capitals

NET RESULTS: Wyoming freshman Larry Nance Jr. shows he can dunk like his father.

A high school player saves a ball from going out of bounds but ends up throwing it in his own basket, costing his team three points.

Two players from the English League One soccer team Bury fight over who gets to take a penalty kick in a 3-2 victory over Yeovil.

TRIVIA ANSWER: Joe Cronin

SOOTHING SOUNDS: Etta James, who died last week, was born on this day in 1938.

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