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 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: Raptors at Celtics, 7:30 p.m. (NESN)
NBA: Mavericks at Clippers, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Cincinnati at UConn, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Clemson at Miami, 7 p.m. (NESN)
College basketball: Texas at Kansas State, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ Rangers coach John Tortorella is known for speaking his mind and not backing down to anyone, and apparently it doesn’t matter even when dealing with the team’s owner. After James Dolan told the media Tuesday that the first-place Rangers were “pretty close” to winning a Stanley Cup, Tortorella called out his boss.

“Right now up to this point we’ve done a pretty good job — we just have to go about our business,” Tortorella said after the Rangers shut out the Predators, 3-0, and Dolan had left the room on Madison Square Garden’s fifth floor. “Like I have my owner up here talking about a Stanley Cup. That’s a bunch of bull—-. We need to take one game at a time.”

♦ Oilers forward Taylor Hall slipped on a puck during pregame warmups Tuesday night and ended up colliding with two teammates and getting a skate across his face. Hall, who was not wearing a helmet, was taken to a hospital for stitches above his eye. The No. 1 pick in 2010, Hall was taken one spot before the Bruins grabbed Tyler Seguin. Hall has scored six goals in his past nine games.

“This is one of those fluky things. It just happens,” Oilers coach Tom Renney said. “Not much we can do about it.”

♦ A man was shot and killed at a restaurant inside a Vancouver hotel where the U.S. women’s soccer team is staying as they compete in an Olympic qualifying tournament. A team spokesman said no players witnessed the shooting.

Tweeted goalie Hope Solo: Saved by our instant yoga session. Was about to walk to starbucks when all hell broke loose in the lobby of our hotel! Life is precious…

♦ Former Titans coach Jeff Fisher, named last week as coach of the Rams, was first at the scene of a serious car crash Sunday in Brentwood, Tenn., and aided two injured teenagers until medical personnel arrived. On a 911 tape, a woman who called for help can be heard recognizing Fisher. “Hi, coach Fisher. Hi. We need you. Right now!” she said. “There’s coach Fisher. That’s Jeff Fisher, from the Titans. So hold on. We need him. Immediately.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Jan. 18, 1973, the Red Sox signed their first designated hitter, with the position set to debut that season. Which veteran was obtained to fill that role?

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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:
MLB: Yankees at Red Sox, 7:10 p.m. (NESN; WEEI)

SATURDAY:
MLB: Yankees at Red Sox, 4:10 p.m. (FOX; WEEI)
MLS: Chivas USA at Revolution, 7:30 p.m. (CSNNE)

SUNDAY:
MLB: Yankees at Red Sox, 8:05 p.m. (ESPN; WEEI)

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ Anyone who has seen video of summer league basketball could tell that it was only a matter of time before a confrontation erupted between a player and a fan. Fans at games ring the edges of the court and often walk onto the court after big plays to celebrate, frequently making contact with the players.

While Kevin Durant was being lauded for his memorable performance in New York, Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley did not enjoy being taunted about his failure to stop Durant. During a game at Dyckman Park, Beasley confronted a fan who was heckling him, pushing the fan in the face before security stepped (video here).

Even Durant had issues with hecklers this week. Here’s video from a game at New York’s Pro City in which Durant responds to a fan who was riding him.

Meanwhile, in San Francisco Thursday night, Lakers forward Matt Barnes reportedly punched someone in the face during a game there.

♦ Knicks owner James Dolan, who apparently does not mind being the butt of jokes, plays in a blues band. He wrote a song called “Fix the Knicks” that his band played last week before an Aretha Franklin concert on Long Island. An excerpt from the song: “Doing my best, yes, that’s my promise. I check with my friends, call Isiah Thomas.” The audience groaned at the line.

♦ It might not be a major problem in Boston — witness the Red Sox’ record attendance Thursday night — but declining ticket revenue is a concern nationally in all of the major sports. At Slate.com, Neil deMause looks at the situation and concludes we’re headed for a two-tiered system in which some teams and events can name their price while the majority of tickets go at bargain-basement prices on the secondary market.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Aug. 5, 1979, which Red Sox pitcher became the first player born and raised in the Netherlands to record a major league victory?

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Carmelo Anthony is expected to meet face-to-face with both Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan and Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov this weekend in Los Angeles, according to the New York Daily News.

The article said this is expected to be the final step before the Nuggets trade Anthony to either the Knicks or Nets. Anthony has said publicly that the Knicks are his top choice.

The Daily News reported Tuesday that the Nuggets would likely ask the Knicks for forward Danilo Gallinari, point guard Raymond Felton, another starter and a first-round pick in return for Anthony and point guard Chauncey Billups.

After months of rumors that Carmelo Anthony was going to end up with either the Nets or Knicks, another team reportedly has entered the mix.

Chris Broussard of ESPN reports that the Lakers have had preliminary discussions with the Nuggets about acquiring the star forward. The Lakers’ package would be centered around center Andrew Bynum.

Broussard writes that the Lakers front office is in disagreement when it comes to trading Bynum, though. Jim Buss, the son of owner Jerry Buss, has repeatedly resisted attempts to move Bynum in the past.

The article says that a Lakers source told ESPNLosAngeles.com that the deal won’t happen. The New York Daily News cited an unnamed source saying the Lakers had already shot down an offer from the Nuggets that included Bynum. Still, Broussard reports the deal is not dead and quotes an unnamed source saying, “The Lakers are definitely an option.”

Meanwhile, the New York Daily News also reported that Knicks owner James Dolan was personally getting involved in the talks in an effort to move things along.