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 playoffs: Bruins at Rangers, 7 p.m. (CNBC)
NHL playoffs: Blackhawks at Red Wings, 8 p.m. (NBCSN)
NHL playoffs: Sharks at Kings, 10:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
MLB: Indians at Red Sox, 7:10 p.m. (NESN; WEEI-FM)
MLB: Twins at Tigers, 7 p.m. (MLB Network)

AROUND THE WEB:

Jets quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (6) and Geno Smith (7) had some problems at Wednesday's OTA practice. (AP)

♦ Mark Sanchez‘ 2013 vindication tour got off to a rocky start Wednesday, as the Jets quarterback threw three interceptions in the team’s OTA practice, something coach Rex Ryan called “disappointing” and “unacceptable.”

“This is OTAs and things, but yeah, that’s going to be the pressure that we’re putting on him,” Ryan said, via the New York Daily News. “He did a lot of great things. It’s not that you try to cover up the fact you had some bad plays — no, no, no you flat tell him. We can’t have these and all that type of stuff. He knows.”

Added Ryan: “He did a lot of great things, and then those negative things, at the end of the day, that’s what gets you beat. And so we’ve got to to do a better job of eliminating those turnovers.”

Said Sanchez: “I’m shaking the rust off a little bit.”

Meanwhile, rookie QB Geno Smith, who fired his agents after his draft slide, announced that he will be represented by Jay-Z‘s Roc Nation Sports.

“When you talk about being in New York from a standpoint of what they can do in the city, the connections that they have, I think it’s a good move. My mother and my family were comfortable with it. I’m comfortable with it,” Smith said. “I’m just going to move on from there. It’s not going to be a big deal and just remain humble and keep focusing on football.”

♦ Knicks star Carmelo Anthony has a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder and might need surgery, according to multiple reports. Anthony will be reevaluated after resting the shoulder for the next 3-4 weeks.

Anthony hurt the shoulder last month in a game against the Pacers and then re-aggravated it when Celtics forward Kevin Garnett tugged on his arm during Game 5 of their playoff series. Anthony shot 40 percent in 12 postseason games, including a 39-point effort on 15-of-29 shooting in New York’s elimination Game 6 vs. Indiana.

“It was bothering me since it happened,” Anthony said Monday, before an MRI revealed the extent of the damage. “To be able to play with that and get through the pain, it just came to a point where you just try not to think about it. That’s where I was at mentally.”

If Anthony needs surgery, he is expected to need 3-5 months of recovery time, meaning he might not be ready in time for training camp.

♦ The Nationals squandered a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning Tuesday and lost to the Giants. Closer Rafael Soriano, in his first season in Washington after opting out of his contract with the Yankees in the offseason, placed part of the blame on young star Bryce Harper, who saw the game-trying triple go just over his head in right field with two outs.

“With two outs and the tying run at first, you have to play the outfield so the ball doesn’t go over your head,” Soriano said in a Spanish language interview, according to USA Today. “It may not have been a catchable ball, but if we’re positioned the right way, there might have been a different outcome. With two outs, I could tell my 4-year-old son, ‘You know where you need to play,’ and he would go to the right spot to make the play. It’s not an excuse, and I’m not speaking badly about anybody, but I think that’s how you play the game.”

Harper, who needed 11 stitches after running into the wall at Dodger Stadium last week, said he hesitated because he thought he was running out of room.

“Absolutely, of course it crosses your mind after you jam into a wall, and it doesn’t really feel very good,” Harper said. “It sucks not making the play. I totally put that loss on me.”

On Wednesday, Soriano downplayed the incident, insisting he was joking to the USA Today reporter. He also said he cleared the air with Harper and insisted, “It’s all good.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On May 23, 1976, the Celtics beat the Suns, 98-87, in Game 1 of the NBA finals. Which Celtic led the way with 25 points and 21 rebounds?

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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:
NHL playoffs: Bruins at Rangers, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
NHL playoffs: Kings at Sharks, 10 p.m. (NBCSN)
NBA playoffs: Grizzlies at Spurs, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
NBA: Draft lottery, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
MLB: Red Sox at White Sox, 8:10 p.m. (NESN; WEEI-FM)
MLB: Yankees at Orioles, 7:05 p.m. (MLB Network)

AROUND THE WEB:

Carmelo Anthony couldn't lift the Knicks past the Pacers in the second round of the playoffs. (AP)

♦ The Knicks are regrouping after their second-round flameout vs. the Pacers, but at least one person is convinced that the finger-pointing at Carmelo Anthony is unfair.

Jim Boeheim, who coached Anthony at Syracuse, expressed his disappointment with the rest of the Knicks and said Anthony can’t win a title with that lineup.

“Not on that team,” Boeheim told the Syracuse Post-Standard. “He did what he can do. He played very well the final game. Everybody’s killing him, but Tyson Chandler just didn’t try to catch the ball. He threw him the ball and Tyson Chandler went like this [dodging]. [Chandler] was wide open. He should have been looking for the ball right here. Kenyon Martin should have been looking for the ball. They both went like this [dodging]. Carmelo gets turnovers and the announcers aren’t smart enough to even think, ‘Well, the guy should try to catch the ball.’ ”

Speaking from his office at the Carmelo K. Anthony Center (which the Knicks star helped fund), Boeheim, who coached Anthony and Chandler on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, also took shots at other Knicks players.

“Tyson Chandler claims he never gets the ball. He doesn’t try to get the ball. He had two points, and [Pacers center Roy] Hibbert had [21],” Boeheim said. “What was the difference in the series? Raymond Felton was 0-for-7. [Pacers guard] Lance Stephenson had [25] points. They’re going to blame it on Carmelo? I told him when he went to New York, ‘They’re going to blame it on you.’

“They have no chance to win. Pablo Prigioni has never scored against [Team USA]. We played Argentina six or seven times in different events. He hasn’t scored against us. You have to have players to win in the NBA.”

Boeheim insisted it’s not Anthony’s fault that the Knicks offense begins and ends with him, and added that Anthony “has to work too hard” because of the lack of support.

“Referring to Felton and J.R. Smith, Boeheim said: “Those guys weren’t great players where they were and now they’re asking them to be second and third options. In Miami the second and third options are Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Your fourth option is Ray Allen, who is still in good shape. Your fifth option is Shane Battier, who is still a good player. The New York Knicks have who?”

♦ Bills defensive end Mario Williams on Monday denied ever considering suicide, despite sending a text to his former fiancee last fall implying that he was. Williams, who is suing Erin Marzouki in an attempt to recover a $785,000 diamond engagement ring, accused her of manipulating his text in an attempt to embarrass him.

“Obviously it’s just a tactic to cover up the point of the whole thing,” Williams said. “It is what it is. I could really care less. All it is [is] allegations and text messages and what not, whatever information blown out of proportion. I mean, it’s completely out of context.”

Williams also texted Marzouki that he had taken three hydrocodone painkillers the morning of a game against the Patriots, and that he planned to take two more on the plane ride back to Buffalo. On Monday he explained that he was playing three weeks after having surgery on his left wrist and insisted the drugs were prescribed by the team.

♦ Bobcats owner Michael Jordan reportedly will announce Tuesday that the team will change its name to the Hornets, as has been speculated for some time. The original Hornets left Charlotte in 2002 for New Orleans but recently changed their name to the Pelicans.

It’s expected to take at least a year before Charlotte’s name change becomes official.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On May 21, 1978, the Bruins beat the Canadiens 4-3 in overtime to even the Stanley Cup finals at two games apiece. Which forward scored the winning goal?

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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:
MLB: Red Sox at Rays, 7:10 p.m. (NESN; WEEI-FM)
MLB: Giants at Blue Jays, 7 p.m. (MLB Network)
NBA playoffs: Knicks at Pacers, 7 p.m. (TNT)
NBA playoffs: Warriors at Spurs, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
NHL playoffs: Senators at Penguins, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
NHL playoffs: Sharks at Kings, 10 p.m. (NBCSN)

AROUND THE WEB:

Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks are looking to put things together against the Pacers in Game 4 Tuesday night. (AP)

♦ The Knicks face the Pacers in Game 4 of their series Tuesday night in Indianapolis, looking to avoid falling into a 3-1 series hole. They’re also looking to play less selfish, something center Tyson Chandler noted after Sunday’s 82-71 loss.

“I’m not saying it maliciously. I think it’s more so you get in a situation where you want to take over the game or you want to make a big should where you [should] stick to the game plan,” Chandler said Sunday. “A good team wins basketball games. Unless you’re a great, great, great, great individual … and we only have a few of those come through.”

There was speculation that Chandler was referring to the oft-criticized Carmelo Anthony, although he also could have had in mind J.R. Smith (4-for-12 Sunday) or Raymond Felton (1-for-8).

Responded Anthony on Monday: “I really don’t want to go back and forth about that because I really don’t know exactly what he’s talking about. But if he feels that way … we’re about to get together right now and discuss that amongst ourselves and figure that out. Just get his take, his perspective on that comment. And we’ll handle that internally and figure that out amongst ourselves.”

Knicks coach Mike Woodson played down the issue.

“I don’t get mad at things like that,” Woodson said. “Sometimes bickering amongst each other is pretty healthy. I don’t call it bickering, maybe that’s not the word to use. I just think he’s being a good teammate. I say it. Sometimes it’s good that it comes from within, the guys that are on the floor working. I don’t see nothing wrong with it.”

♦ The family of former Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the NHL, blaming the league for the Boogaard’s brain damage and an addiction to prescription painkillers. Boogaard died two years ago at the age of 28 of an accidental overdose of pain medication and alcohol.

“He was there protecting his teammates at all costs,” mother Joanne Boogaard said in a statement Monday, “but who was there to protect him?”

Boogaard played six seasons and 277 games with the Wild and Rangers. He had three goals and at least 66 fights. The lawsuit claims that in the 2008-09 season with Minnesota, Boogaard received 1,021 prescriptions from NHL team physicians, dentists, trainers and staff.

Said family attorney William Gibbs: “The NHL drafted Derek Boogaard because it wanted his massive body to fight in order to enhance ratings, earnings and exposure. Then, once he became addicted to these narcotics, the NHL promised his family that it would take care of him. It failed.”

♦ Jaguars receiver Justin Blackmon, the team’s No. 1 pick in 2012 who has a couple of DUI arrests on his record and last month was suspended four games for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, spoke to reporters Monday and denied he has a problem.

“No, I would say I don’t,” the 23-year-old said. “Out of the whole thing, one of the main things I would say that I had a problem with was just making a poor decision.”

Blackmon insisted he does not need a lifestyle change, but he said he will try harder to stay out of trouble.

“I’ve made decisions and choices to make better decisions,” he said, “and if that’s staying at home, then it’s just staying at home.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On May 14, 1981, the Celtics captured their 14th NBA title with a 102-91 victory over the Rockets in Game 6. Who was named finals MVP?

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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 playoffs: Bruins at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. (NESN, CNBC)
NHL playoffs: Capitals at Rangers, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
NHL playoffs: Kings at Blues, 9 p.m. (NHL Network)
NHL playoffs: Red Wings at Ducks, 10 p.m. (NBCSN)
Hockey World Championships: United States vs. Finland, 1 p.m. (NBCSN)
NBA playoffs: Bulls at Heat, 7 p.m. (TNT)
NBA playoffs: Warriors at Spurs, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
MLB: Twins at Red Sox, 7 p.m. (NESN Plus, ESPN; WEEI-FM)
MLB: Braves at Reds, 12:30 p.m. (MLB Network)

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks to a rout of the Pacers in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series, and then he took a moment to thank Boston Globe writer Gary Washburn for giving him a first-place vote in the NBA MVP balloting.

“As far as the guy in Boston, I don’t know any he catches so much flak for that,” Anthony said, referring to the controversy after LeBron James fell one vote shy of a unanimous MVP. “He has the right to vote for whoever he wants. LeBron won the MVP. Why is everybody so mad that he didn’t win it unanimously? … Thank you.”

Anthony also addressed a tweet from the account of MSG Network Knicks analyst Bernard King that criticized Anthony following New York’s Game 1 loss. King has claimed an associate was responsible for the tweet, which has since been removed.

The tweet read: If Carmelo’s shoulder is hurting that bad — work the paint — drive and dish — become a facilitator — it’s a TEAM game.

Responded Anthony: “I found out about the alleged Bernard King tweet this morning. I didn’t think too much about it. I know Bernard very well and I heard he was trying to reach out to me to let me know it wasn’t something that he said. He just wanted to apologize. I didn’t really pay too much any mind to that at all.”

Knicks coach Mike Woodson defended Anthony earlier Tuesday.

“Melo’s had a hell of a season,” Woodson said. “He’s struggling a little bit. But we’re right in the thick of things. We’re still in the hunt. That’s all you can ask for.”

♦ During Tuesday night’s Blue Jays-Rays game in St. Petersburg, Fla., Toronto starting pitcher J.A. Happ took a line drive from Desmond Jennings off the side of his head. He was alert as he was wheeled off on a stretcher and taken to an area hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

Jennings got a triple as the ball deflected down the right-field line. Happ fell to the ground next to the mound and covered his head with his glove.

“It’s devastating. … I could barely watch it,” Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey said. “You just don’t know what to think, really. It paralyzes you a little bit. And when it sounds like two bats, when you hear the sound off the bat and it sounds like it hits another bat, it’s scary. It’s really, really scary. I just started praying in the spot. That’s all I knew to do.”

Said Tampa Bay’s Ryan Roberts, who was in the on-deck circle at the time: “I just saw it come off the bat hot, and when it hit him I knew it hit him hard. I instantly started praying for him. That’s a situation you never want to see. It’s unfortunate. I hope he recovers and hope he’s back pitching as soon as possible. That’s something in a game you hate to see.”

♦ Former Lions wide receiver Titus Young was arrested twice in about 14 hours, according to police in Southern California. The 23-year-old was first arrested early Sunday on suspicion of DUI. Later that day, Young allegedly jumped over the fence of a tow company in an attempt to get his impounded car out of the yard. He was booked on suspicion of burglary.

Young, drafted out of Boise State in 2011, was released by Detroit in February.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On May 8, 2004, in a 9-1 victory over the visiting Royals, which Red Sox infielder hit two home runs, one of which was an inside-the-park homer?

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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:
NHL playoffs: Bruins at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. (NESN, NHL Network)
NHL playoffs: Capitals at Rangers, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
NHL playoffs: Ducks at Red Wings, 8 p.m. (CNBC)
NHL playoffs: Blues at Kings, 10 p.m. (NBCSN)
NBA playoffs: Bulls at Heat, 7 p.m. (TNT)
NBA playoffs: Warriors at Spurs, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
MLB: Twins at Red Sox, 7:10 p.m. (NESN Plus; WEEI-FM)
MLB: Braves at Reds, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

AROUND THE WEB:

LeBron James receives his fourth MVP award Sunday during a ceremony in Miami. (AP)

♦ LeBron James received 120 out of a possible 121 first-place votes to win his fourth NBA MVP award, setting off a search to find out who could have considered the Heat star unworthy.

During Sunday’s award ceremony at Miami’s AmericanAirlines Arena, James — the only player this year to lead his team in scoring (26.8), rebounding (8.0) and assists (7.3) — offered his opinion.

“It’s probably a writer out of New York that didn’t give me the vote,” he said. “I know the history between the Heat and the Knicks, So, I get it.”

As it turns out, the renegade writer was Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. Washburn voted for Carmelo Anthony first, and in a column Monday he attempted to justify his decision, claiming that Anthony was more valuable to the Knicks than James was to the Heat. Washburn wrote that he was “flabbergasted” to learn that he stood alone in his thinking.

For his part, Anthony agreed with the 120 writers who determined James deserved his fourth MVP in five years (Celtics legend Bill Russell is the only other player to accomplish that feat).

“LeBron gets it, I take my hat off to him, he deserves it,” Anthony said. “They had a hell of a year, to win 27 straight games, a hell of an achievement.”

However, added Anthony: “I’ll take that vote.”

Anthony didn’t even finish second, as he was well behind runner-up Kevin Durant. Nine writers or broadcasters did not include Anthony on their ballots.

♦ A Utah soccer referee who was punched in the head by a 17-year-old player a week ago died Saturday night, according to police. Ricardo Portillo, 46, suffered swelling in his brain after the assault and had been in critical condition for a week.

Portillo had given a yellow card to the teenager, a goalie in a recreational league, when the player started arguing and then threw a punch to Portillo’s head. The referee, who complained of dizziness and vomited blood, was taken to a hospital, where he slipped into a coma.

The teenager was booked into juvenile detention on suspicion of aggravated assault. There could be additional charges following Portillo’s death.

♦ The Shaquille O’Neal-Jose Canseco feud — the two supposedly were going to have a boxing match at one point last year — was reignited over the weekend, after Canseco sent out a simple tweet to to Shaq that read: hey pussy.

Responded O’Neal: ill beat your ass rat boy the whole world saw u run from hung man Choy. Set it up ill break your jaw #snitchesgetstitches

Added Shaq: u gonna need more than steroids to help u when I smack the rat fur off yo ass #snitchesgetstitches pt 2

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On May 6, 2000, Pedro Martinez struck out 17 batters, but the Red Sox were blanked and dropped a 1-0 decision to which team?

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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: Nets at Celtics, 8 p.m. (CSNNE, ESPN; WEEI-AM)
NBA: Spurs at Nuggets, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
NHL: Bruins at Devils, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
MLB: Orioles at Red Sox, 7:10 p.m. (NESN; WEEI-FM)
MLB: Yankees at Indians, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ The Knicks won their 13th straight game Tuesday night, in the process clinching their first Atlantic Division title since 1994.

Carmelo Anthony, who averaged 41.8 points per game last week and took over the NBA scoring lead from Kevin Durant with his late-season surge, scored 36 points in the 120-99 victory over the Wizards at Madison Square Garden.

The players returned to the locker room to find shirts that read: Can’t Stop NY Knicks. 2013 Division Champions.

“There’s no reason not to have a smile on your face at this moment,” Anthony said. “We accomplished one of our goals that we set before the season in training camp, so it’s a stepping stone for us.”

♦ In a related note, Anthony’s jersey is the No. 1 seller in the NBA, as the Knicks forwarded unseated LeBron James in the top spot.

James is at No. 2, Durant has the No. 3 most-popular jersey, Kobe Bryant is at No. 4 and the injured Derrick Rose is at No. 5.

The list is based on sales at the NBA Store in New York as well as NBAStore.com since last November. Anthony ranked fourth on last year’s list.

In other jersey news, Robert Griffin III broke the NFL record for most jerseys sold in one year. The NFL did not release the number but indicated RG III beat out Peyton Manning for the top spot. Ray Lewis was third, Colin Kaepernick fourth and Tom Brady fifth.

♦ Rapper and businessman Jay-Z, who recently agreed to represent Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, will sell his minority share in the Nets so that he can represent NBA players, according to a Yahoo! Sports report.

Jay-Z’s Roc Nation company has partnered with the powerhouse Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and is expected to make an immediate splash due to his profile in the entertainment world.

Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, owns a 1/15 share in the Nets, worth about $350,000, according to ESPN’s Darren Rovell.

“It would be disappointing [if he left],” Nets coach P.J. Carlesimo said. “I’d be disappointed. He had an enormous amount to do with the rebranding of the team.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On April 10, 1998, the Red Sox rallied from a 7-2 ninth-inning deficit against the Mariners, winning 9-7 on a walk-off grand slam by which Sox player?

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Carmelo Anthony

Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony‘s return to the Pepsi Center in Denver on Wednesday night was rough in more than one way. The Knicks were blown out by the Nuggets, 117-94, and Anthony scored only nine points before being removed from the game early in the third quarter. He appears to have re-aggravated his right knee injury, and will be returning to New York to get it drained while the rest of the team travels to Portland.

“I’m going to get it drained, get the fluid out. Get to the bottom of it quick, so I can get back on the court,” Anthony said.

This was Anthony’s first game at the Pepsi Center in more than two years. He heard boos throughout the game, in the same arena he called home for the first eight seasons of his career.

Anthony missed three games last week with the lingering knee injury, before returning on Monday in another blowout loss, this one at the hands of the Warriors. The Knicks have lost three of their last four, after winning five out of six.

“I was always concerned,” Anthony said. “I was being naive to myself, saying OK. Trying to psyche myself out, ‘I can do it. I can do it.’ But there comes a point where you’ve got to figure it out and get to the bottom of it and move on.”

The host Nuggets dominated all game long, leading by as many as 34 points. This was their 10th straight win, and 14th consecutive victory at home. While Anthony was nowhere to be seen throughout the fourth quarter, fans could be heard chanting, “Where is Melo?”

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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: Hornets at Celtics, 8 p.m. (CSNNE; WEEI-FM)
NBA: Rockets at Mavericks, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
NBA: Heat at Warriors, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Miami at Boston College, 7 p.m. (NESN; WEEI-AM)
College basketball: NC State at Maryland, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Michigan State at Penn State, 7 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
College basketball: Pittsburgh at Villanova, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Xavier at St. Bonaventure, 8 p.m. (CBSSN)
College basketball: West Virginia at Iowa State, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Purdue at Nebraska, 9 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
College basketball: Kansas State at TCU, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: UNLV at San Diego State, 10 p.m. (CBSSN)
College basketball: Saint Mary’s at BYU, 11 p.m. (ESPNU)

AROUND THE WEB:

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich's decision to rest four key players for a November game against the Heat did not sit well with the league or fans. (AP)

♦ A lawyer from Miami is suing the Spurs for sending four top players home prior to a game against the Heat on Nov. 29, which he claims violates the state’s deceptive and fair trade practices law. Larry McGuinness filed a class-action suit in Miami-Dade County claiming Spurs coach Gregg Popovich “intentionally and surreptitiously” sent home Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green to give them some rest, causing McGuinness and other fans to suffer “economic damages” because they paid a premium price for tickets.

“It was like going to Morton’s Steakhouse and paying $63 for porterhouse and they bring out cube steak,” said McGuinness, who bought his ticket on the resale market. “That’s exactly what happened here.”

NBA commissioner David Stern apologized to fans after the game (a 105-100 Miami win), calling it “unacceptable,” and fined the Spurs $250,000.

Popovich acknowledged he was not doing right by fans when he said at the time: “If I was taking my 6-year-old son and daughter to the game, I would want them to see everybody. And if they weren’t there, I’d be disappointed.”

However, Popovich later made it clear he believes he did what’s best for his team: “I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again, I’m sure,” he said.

♦ The Knicks are in London for a game against the Pistons on Thursday, but the talk Tuesday was about owner James Dolan‘s decision to have audio technicians at both ends of the Madison Square Garden court over the weekend to tape all of Carmelo Anthony‘s on-court conversations. Reportedly, Dolan was trying to protect Anthony following the controversy over Kevin Garnett‘s alleged insult about Anthony’s wife during a recent game that led to the Knicks forward getting a one-game suspension for trying to confront Garnett after the game.

“I don’t care about the microphones,” Anthony said upon his arrival in London. “I wasn’t aware of it. I found out on the plane.”

Added Anthony: “I don’t think the mikes are going to stop what goes on out on the court. But it was funny when I heard it. No, I wasn’t upset. Not at all.”

♦ The former media director for the Syracuse athletic department pleaded not guilty Tuesday to four counts of second-degree unlawful surveillance for secretly videotaping male athletes in the locker room shower. Roger Springfield, whose real name is Roger Cahak, was released on his own recognizance and ordered to return next Tuesday.

Springfield was charged with videotaping football, lacrosse and soccer players four times, dating back to 2010. A total of 14 videos were found along with still images, but the charges were limited to the most recent four videos as the others fell outside the statute of limitations.

Springfield, a 57-year-old married father of three, was fired in the fall after a Syracuse athletics department employee discovered one of the videos.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Jan. 16, 1974, which Bruin became the eighth player in NHL history to record 450 goals when he scored in a 5-5 tie with the Blackhawks in Chicago?

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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: Trail Blazers at Nuggets, 9 p.m. (NBATV)
College basketball: Tennessee at Kentucky, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Wake Forest at Clemson, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Notre Dame at St. John’s, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Mississippi at Vanderbilt, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Wisconsin at Indiana, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

AROUND THE WEB:

Carmelo Anthony

♦ According to multiple reports out of New York, Knicks owner James Dolan had audio technicians stationed at both ends of the Madison Square Garden court during the team’s two weekend games holding parabolic microphones designed to capture everything said by and to Carmelo Anthony.

Anthony recently was suspended one game for his postgame altercation with Kevin Garnett that began when the two exchanged insults on the court. Apparently, Dolan wanted a tape of every conversation Anthony had — perhaps so that he could vindicate the player if he’s involved in another confrontation, although the specific reason is unclear.

Said coach Mike Woodson on Monday: “I heard about it, but I don’t know about all of that, I don’t know where it came from.”

Said a league executive to the New York Post: “I’m sure they were trying to placate Carmelo Anthony over anything else. But it would [tick] me off if I didn’t know about it.”

♦ Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel‘s parents got a pep talk from Texas A&M athletic director Eric Hyman recently, with the AD encouraging the freshman quarterback’s family to be more careful with his public persona.

Manziel, who was arrested last summer after he showed false identification following a fight outside a bar, tweeted a picture of himself holding a wad of cash at an Oklahoma casino last month, and a day later the 20-year-old was photographed partying at a Dallas bar.

“I told them he’s no longer a freshman, and he’s no longer a sophomore, junior or senior,” Hyman said Sunday. “He is a ‘Heisman.’ … It’s [about] education, and we’ve got to help the family and Johnny with the transition into being a Heisman award-winner. There are things you have to learn, and we have to help him with that.”

Said Manziel last week: “I’ve got to learn from [things] and move on, and make sure I don’t make some of the same mistakes.”

♦ Tim Tebow‘s brother, Peter, took pleasure in the Broncos’ 38-35 overtime loss to the Ravens on Saturday. Apparently bitter over how Denver shipped his brother to New York following his memorable season in 2011, Peter tweeted after the game: Am I the only one in Denver who’s happy right now?

After the tweet made its way around the web, Peter apologized on Monday.

Tweeted Tim’s older brother: My comment after the game was uncalled for. I may root for another team but I should never gloat about anyone’s misfortune. I’m truly sorry.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Jan. 15, 1987, which Bruins forward recorded an assist in a 6-4 victory over the Hartford Whalers to become the 35th player in NHL history with 500 career assists?

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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: Bobcats at Celtics, 7:30 p.m. (CSNNE; WEEI-FM)
NBA: Hawks at Bulls, 9 p.m. (NBATV)
College basketball: Louisville at UConn, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Norfolk State at Howard, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Jackson State at Prairie View A&M, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Baylor at Kansas, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

AROUND THE WEB:

The new Jets general manager will have to find a way to work with Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez. (AP)

♦ The Jets apparently are having real trouble finding someone to take on the challenge of replacing Mike Tannenbaum as general manager.

“They can’t give the position away,” reported Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer. “They are now calling back candidates that turned them down, saying please reconsider.”

Glazer noted that the team’s salary cap issues, unbalanced roster, quarterback controversy and media circus have turned off prospective GMs. Add to that the fact that owner Woody Johnson has told candidates they must be able to work with blustery coach Rex Ryan.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, three individuals will have second interviews this week: former Bears GM Jerry Angelo, Steelers director of football and business administration Omar Khan and Jets assistant GM Scott Cohen.

♦ Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony explained his slow start Sunday by noting that he has been on a very restrictive diet for the last two weeks. Anthony said he has not had any meats or carbs for 15 days, a diet that he has tried before.

“I usually do it sometimes just to get some clarity in my life and just spiritual reasons,” Anthony said after scoring 27 points in Sunday’s 100-87 victory over the visiting Hornets. “I’m done now. I can’t do it no more. I surrender.”

Anthony missed seven of his first eight shots and scored just two points in the opening quarter before netting 18 in the second quarter. He helped New York end a three-game losing streak.

“I’m kind of going through something right now with my own self, bring to find some energy and things like that. But we’ll be fine,” Anthony said. “We bounced back pretty well, I bounced back pretty well, stuck with it and won the game.”

♦ The father of Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o is not happy with how his hometown newspaper, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, presented the Irish’s 42-14 loss to Alabama in the national championship game, and he announced a boycott of the paper.

The Star-Advertiser used a photo of Teo on his back on the ground reaching in vain for Alabama running back Eddie Lacy with the headline: BOWLED OVER.

Brian Te’o posted a photo of the paper with this comment on the Manti Te’o official fan club Facebook page:

Our family has been very gracious to the Star Advertiser by providing interviews and photos of our son in the recent weeks. On our way home from Miami we were “privileged” to see how the Star Advertiser returns that favor by posting a photo of our son “presumably” being “bowled over” by the Alabama RB (Eddie Lacy). So, from this point forward, Star Advertiser you have been officially black listed. I will no longer agree to any more interviews, sharing of photos, or anything else, and I will encourage all who have a subscription to your newspaper to not renew. Be more responsible in the future…if you can.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Jan. 14, 2007, the Patriots traveled to San Diego and knocked off the Chargers, 24-21, to advance to the AFC championship game. Which receiver — signed as a free agent from the Chargers in the previous offseason — had a huge game for the Patriots, catching a 4-yard touchdown pass with 4:36 remaining and hauling in a 49-yard pass that set up the game-winning 31-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski with 1:10 left?

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