Tracy Martin, the father of Trayvon Martin — the unarmed 17-year-old whose death has become a widely discussed national issue — said that he and his family have been moved from professional athletes speaking out about the case and doing tributes in his son’s honor.

In particular, Martin thanked members of the Heat for a photograph that the team took with 13 of the Heat’s players donning black hooded sweatshirts with their heads bowed. Trayvon Martin was wearing a hooded sweatshirt when he was shot and killed in Sanford, Fla. Neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman saw Martin and deemed him as suspicious and worthy of pursuit. The two fought before Zimmerman shot the teen. Zimmerman has claimed self-defense and has not been arrested.

“I saw a post that [Dwyane Wade] had saying, ‘I am Trayvon Martin,’ ” Tracy Martin told The Associated Press. “To see all these athletes put Trayvon in the same sentence with them, it feels real good. Trayvon was an excellent athlete, and if he could hear them saying his name, he would be so moved by it.”

Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire of the Knicks also made similar gestures in Trayvon Martin’s honor.

A large rally will be held in Sanford, Fla., the site of the killing, on Monday and several prominent sports figures are expected to attend, including former NBA star Patrick Ewing and Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

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: Bruins at Panthers, 7:30 p.m. (NESN)
NHL: Penguins at Rangers, 7 p.m. (NHL Network)
NBA: Timberwolves at Jazz, 9 p.m. (NBA TV)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, Harvard vs. Vanderbilt, 4:40 p.m. (TNT)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, Colorado State vs. Murray State, 12:15 p.m. (CBS)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, Southern Miss vs. Kansas State, 12:40 p.m. (truTV)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, Davidson vs. Louisville, 1:40 p.m. (TBS)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, Montana vs. Wisconsin, 2:10 p.m. (TNT)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, BYU vs. Marquette, 2:45 p.m. (CBS)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, UNC-Asheville vs. Syracuse, 3:10 p.m. (truTV)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, Long Beach State vs. New Mexico, 4:10 p.m. (TBS)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, Western Kentucky vs. Kentucky, 6:50 p.m. (TBS)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, VCU vs. Wichita State, 7:15 p.m. (CBS)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, West Virginia vs. Gonzaga, 7:20 p.m. (TNT)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, South Dakota State vs. Baylor, 7:27 p.m. (truTV)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, UConn vs. Iowa State, 9:20 p.m. (TBS)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, New Mexico State vs. Indiana, 9:45 p.m. (CBS)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, Loyola (Md.) vs. Ohio State, 9:50 p.m. (TNT)
College basketball: NCAA tournament, Colorado vs. UNLV, 9:57 p.m. (truTV)
MLB preseason: Yankees at Nationals, 1 p.m. (MLB Network)
MLB preseason: Reds at Angels, 4 p.m. (MLB Network)
MLB preseason: Giants at Mariners, 10 p.m. (MLB Network)

AROUND THE WEB:

Shaquille O'Neal is ready to take on Jose Canseco in an MMA bout. (AP)

♦ Shaquille O’Neal responded to Jose Canseco‘s challenge to fight in a mixed martial arts bout by saying he’s ready to rumble.

“I challenged him a long time ago,” said O’Neal, who retired from the Celtics last year. “If he wants it done he knows where to find me.”

Canseco, 47, had attempted to start a comeback to baseball, but he was banned from his Mexican League team after declining to take a doping test.

Said the 40-year-old O’Neal: “He can be high off whatever, and I’ll be high off Frosted Flakes.”

♦ Dwyane Wade‘s return to his hometown Wednesday did not go well. Not only did the Heat lose to the Bulls, 106-102, despite Chicago playing without injured guard Derrick Rose, Wade’s father reportedly was ejected from the arena for repeated use of vulgarity.

According to an ESPN report, Dwyane Wade Sr. was seated in the 100 level and using profanity when arena personnel asked him to stop. When he refused, he was ejected.

The younger Wade scored 36 points in the losing effort.

♦ With coach Mike D’Antoni resigning from the Knicks Wednesday, Amar’e Stoudemire said the responsibility falls on the players.

“Everyone wasn’t buying into his system,” Stoudemire said, a comment that many feel is directed at Carmelo Anthony.

Anthony, the much-maligned forward, insisted he had no issues with D’Antoni or his decision to quit.

“It didn’t have anything to do with that,” Anthony said. “That was coach’s decision. I really don’t know where his mindset was at, what he thought, what he’s thinking as far his decision to step down. Anything about me and Mike he’ll tell you we never had any issues. Any disagreements he had with us as a team we talked about and we went from there.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On March 15, 1928, which player became the first Bruins goalie to win 20 games in a season, with a 3-1 victory over the Blackhawks in Chicago?

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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:
NBA: Celtics at Clippers, 10:30 p.m. (CSNNE, ESPN; WEEI)
NBA: Knicks at Bulls, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
NHL: Ducks at Avalanche, 9 p.m. (NBCSN)
MLB preseason: Marlins at Red Sox, 1:35 p.m. (ESPN)
MLB preseason: Diamondbacks at Angels, 4:05 p.m. (MLB Network)

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ It appears that the era of good feeling in New York that arrived with Jeremy Lin has given way to frustration. Knicks fans called for coach Mike D’Antoni‘s head Sunday, chanting “Fire D’Antoni” during a 106-94 loss to the 76ers, New York’s fifth straight setback.

Forward Carmelo Anthony heard boos during pregame introductions, and he and Amar’e Stoudemire were left on the bench during the fourth quarter.

“It’s not fun. Right now we’re finding ways to lose games, rather than finding ways to win them,” Anthony said. “Guys were putting their heads down when we heard a couple of boos out there and that just sucked the whole energy out of everybody. We can’t have that.

“Regardless of what they’re saying in the stands, boos or whatever, we’ve got to block that out and play basketball.”

Lin had 14 points, seven assists and six turnovers.

♦ Every year there’s one school that is viewed as being overlooked by the NCAA tournament selection committee. This year it’s Drexel, led by former UMass coach Bruiser Flint. The Dragons went 27-6 and won the Colonial Athletic Association regular season. They had won 19 straight games before losing to Virginia Commonwealth in the CAA championship game. And they’re headed to the NIT.

“There must be a lot of people on the basketball committee that don’t know too much about basketball,” Flint said.

♦ College basketball fans and non-fans alike are preparing their brackets for NCAA tournament pools. In The New York Times, Mike Tanier explains that how you decide which teams to pick shows a window into your soul. He breaks down the five classic bracket archetypes and their corresponding personality traits.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On March 12, 1985, Larry Bird scored a team-record 60 points in a 126-11 victory over the Hawks in New Orleans. Whose record did he break?

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It’s going to be a bear. Know what? Good. Throw anything you want to at us.” – University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari, upon the announcement of the NCAA tournament field

STAT OF THE DAY: 8 – Consecutive points scored by the Lakers to end Sunday’s 97-94 victory over the Celtics

‘NET RESULTS: Josh Adams of Chaparral High School soars in for an acrobatic tip-in just before the buzzer to win the Colorado 5A basketball championship.

Former Celtic Gerald Green, now with the Nets, finishes an alley-oop in style.

Terrell Owens is sent over the boards during his Allen Wranglers’ game against the New Mexico Stars.

TRIVIA ANSWER: Kevin McHale, who scored 56 points nine days earlier

SOOTHING SOUNDS: James Taylor turns 64 Monday.

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:
NBA: Kings at Heat, 7:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
NBA: Spurs at Trail Blazers, 10 p.m. (NBA TV)
College basketball: Illinois at Ohio State, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Kansas State at Missouri, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Auburn at Florida, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Kentucky at Mississippi State, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Virginia at Virginia Tech, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
NHL: Red Wings at Blackhawks, 8 p.m. (NBCSN)

AROUND THE WEB:

Coach Mike D'Antoni and players Jeremy Lin and Carmelo Anthony had little to smile about Monday night as the Knicks fell to the Nets. (AP)

♦ Carmelo Anthony returned to the Knicks lineup Monday night after missing seven games, and it went as many New York fans feared. The Knicks fell to the Nets, 100-92, as Deron Williams scored 38 points in living up to a personal challenge to outplay Jeremy Lin, who had 21 points and nine assists.

“I don’t really watch too many games, but I do see Twitter, people tweet me and every, you know, three lines it was ‘Jeremy Lin destroyed Deron Williams,’ ” Williams said, referring to the first game of Linsanity on Feb. 4. “So I definitely took offense to that in the first game and definitely, like I said, I had it circled.”

Meanwhile, Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni cast some doubt on Anthony’s claim that he told his coach to give Lin more playing time earlier this month, kickstarting Linsanity.

“I don’t remember the conversation,” D’Antoni said. “Maybe he did. I don’t remember.”

♦ Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak responded to Kobe Bryant‘s request that the team either trade Pau Gasol now or end trade talks so the center can focus on basketball. But it wasn’t what Bryant wanted to hear.

Said Kupchak in a team statement: “As a former player, I understand how the days leading up to the trade deadline can be nerve-wracking for an NBA player. Nonetheless, as general manager of the Lakers, I have a responsibility to ownership, our fans and the players on this team to actively pursue opportunities to improve the team for this season and seasons to come. To say publicly that we would not do this would serve no purpose and put us at a competitive disadvantage. Taking such a course of action at this time would be a disservice to ownership, the team and our many fans.”

♦ Mets pitcher Jon Niese had a nose job at the end of last season, after being prodded by former teammate Carlos Beltran, who allegedly said he would pay for the procedure. Not only did Niese improve his cosmetic appearance, the operation fixed a sinus abnormality that affected Niese’s breathing. The lefty said he now can breathe easier, which allows him to work out better, and that led to him losing 10 pounds in the offseason.

♦ Following up on Jeremy Lin’s success, Real Clear Sports has a list of the top 10 Asian-American athletes. Tiger Woods is No. 1, ahead of tennis player Michael Chang. Other familiar names include Steelers receiver Hines Ward, speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno and former Mets pitcher Ron Darling.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Feb. 21, 1982, which Bruins goalie recorded his only career shutout in a 1-0 victory over the Flyers in Philadelphia?

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Two years ago, forward Grant Hill turned down a chance to join the Knicks and stuck with the Suns. According to the New York Post, Hill may be revisiting that choice.

A free agent once again, Hill is reportedly leaning toward joining the Knicks. The 39-year-old would have a chance to play what are likely the last years of his career alongside Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire. And his wife, recording artist Tamia Hill, would be able to further her career in one of the biggest media and cultural centers in the world.

In 2009, Hill received an offer from the Knicks to play for either one year at $5.8 million or three years at $10 million, but he turned it down and signed a two-year, $6.24 million contract to stay with the Suns. Since that time, however, the Suns have gone from a Western Conference contender to a team looking to a rebuild with the departure of Stoudemire to the Knicks in 2010.

Meanwhile, with the acquisition of Anthony from the Nuggets last year, the Knicks are on the rise. Hill may be the kind of veteran that New York is looking for in order to fill out the roster and quickly build a contender in the East.

Chris Paul doesn't seem long for New Orleans. (AP)

Ever since the players and the owners came to a tentative agreement to end the NBA lockout, Hornets point guard Chris Paul has been at the center of numerous trade rumors. Some have speculated that New Orleans will deal him to the Knicks, teaming him up with Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony. Other rumors have him being traded to the Celtics for Rajon Rondo.

On Thursday, Yahoo! Sports released a report that said Paul’s agent told Hornets officials that his client will not ink a contract extension with the team and wishes to be traded to the Knicks. But according to the New Orleans newspaper The Times Picayune, neither Paul nor his agent have requested a trade.

“It is just rumors; you can’t control it,’’ Paul said. “It’s always going to happen, and it’s part of the game. I’m just happy to be back with my team.’’

Paul is in the final year of his contract with New Orleans. The Hornets will try to sign Paul to a contract extension, but according to The Times Picayune and Yahoo! Sports, the team has entertained trade offers from other teams to ensure that it gets some sort of compensation for Paul leaving rather than letting him enter free agency at the end of the season.

While the Yahoo! Sports report says that Paul wishes to be traded to the Knicks, it also details how New York does not have the trade assets to obtain Paul from the Hornets. Much of the speculation surrounding Paul going to the Knicks has been fueled by the fact that Paul and Anthony are good friends and spent time together over the summer.

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.

WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY FRIDAY:
No games scheduled

SATURDAY:
NHL: Sharks at Bruins, 7 p.m. (NESN)
MLS: Revolution at Toronto FC, 12:30 p.m. (CSNNE)

SUNDAY:
No games scheduled

AROUND THE WEB:

The hits keep on coming for Roger Clemens (right), as he now has been accused of drinking in the dugout during his time with the Yankees. (AP)

♦ Despite the furor in Boston over Red Sox players drinking beer in the clubhouse and dugout, reports are coming out showing that the behavior is not uncommon around the majors. The New York Daily News quotes sources as saying the Yankees and Mets have a history of drinking in both locations. For example, according to the report, Roger Clemens and Jason Giambi “routinely” drank beer on the dugout bench when they played for the Yankees. And they were not alone.

“Rally beers are big in the clubhouse,” a Yankees source told the paper. “Guys would drink them all the time, on the bench, in the clubhouse, in the training room. It’s common.”

Added the clubhouse insider: “Beer in the clubhouse, it’s nothing new. Been going on forever.”

♦ Jets coach Rex Ryan continued to apologize Thursday for his inadvertent swiped at Chargers coach Norv Turner. Ryan said Wednesday that he would have won a couple of championships had he been named coach in 2007, but he quickly realized how his comments would be perceived and called Turner.

“It was me, it’s all on me,” Ryan said Thursday. “I’m guilty. Absolutely. I did call Norv. I won’t get into that conversation, but [the slight] was unintentional.”

♦ During the NBA lockout, players can’t be fined. So, Carmelo Anthony talked about wanting Hornets point guard Chris Paul to join him on the Knicks when Paul has the opportunity next offseason.

“If it works out and he comes here and they allow him to come here, you’ll see a smile from ear to ear,” Anthony said. “It’s not just me. It’s everybody [in New York]. If he decides to leave New Orleans and goes somewhere else, they’ll be feeling the same way I’m feeling.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Oct. 21, 1975, the Red Sox beat the Reds in Game 6 of the World Series on Carlton Fisk’s 12th-inning home run off Pat Darcy. Which pitcher got the win for the Sox?

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The Chinese Basketball Association will bar NBA players under contract from joining Chinese teams during the lockout, Chinese state media and The Associated Press reported Friday. The Xinhua News Agency reported NBA free agents will still be eligible to sign with Chinese teams, but they will have to play an entire season.

Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul are all contracted NBA players who had expressed interest in playing for China and would now be ineligible to join the CBA.

Xinhua also said more restrictions would be announced before the CBA begins on Nov. 20, including contract changes designed to minimize players missing games for questionable injuries or family issues.

Speaking with Chris Tomasson, Knicks point guard Chauncey Billups said he would like to see the Knicks build a team, rather than add stars to play with Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony.

“It’s not about names, how many people on your team can make the All-Star Game,” Billups said. “It’s not about that at all. It’s about putting the right pieces together. You got to have a cohesive unit. You got to have guys that know to play off of one another, guys that are going to be unselfish on both ends of the floor. Those are things that win championships, and we’ve seen that clear as day in the finals.’’

He went on to say how the Mavericks were a true team that knew how to work together, and played well with Dirk Nowitzki.

“We got two of the biggest names in basketball already [Anthony and Stoudemire],” Billups said. “It’s not about that. It’s about getting somebody that can play with the talent that you have. You look at the Mavericks, and they just share the basketball every time down the floor. Dirk is one of the best the game has ever seen. But he couldn’t do it by himself. So it’s all about the team.”

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.

WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY TUESDAY:
MLB: Rays at Red Sox, 7:10 p.m. (NESN; WEEI)

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva, who was involved in an incident with Kevin Garnett earlier this season, has a new worst enemy. In Monday night’s game vs. the Cavaliers, Villanueva and Ryan Hollins were ejected following a fourth-quarter scrum. After things appeared to have calmed down, Villanueva ran across to the court in an attempt to get at Hollins while being restrained by a teammate and security guard. As he was led to the Pistons locker room, Villanueva said, “I will kill that dude. I don’t give a [expletive].” After the game, Villanueva was more subdued. “I overreacted,” he said. “He said some things that got me upset.”

♦ Jose Canseco is back in baseball, as player/manager of the independent North American League’s Yuma Scorpions. His twin brother, Ozzie, will serve as his bench coach and hitting coach and also play. “Jose is a very accomplished player, he has a lot of sway in the media and in pop culture, and he’s bringing that to the city,” league president Kevin Outcalt said.

♦ Two former University of San Diego basketball players and an assistant coach were among seven people charged in a point-shaving scheme Monday. Brandon Johnson, the school’s all-time leader in points and assists, allegedly took a bribe to influence a game in February 2010 and tried to get a former teammate to do the same this season. Johnson spent this season with the Dakota Wizards of the NBA Development League.

♦ Real Clear Sports has a list of the top 10 surprises of the NBA season. No Celtics-related items made the cut. The Nets’ trade for Deron Williams ranked No. 1, beating out the Carmelo Anthony drama.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On April 12, 1992, which Red Sox pitcher threw a no-hitter but lost the game, 2-1, to the Indians?

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