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: Jazz at Celtics, 7:30 p.m. (CSNNE; WEEI)
NBA: Magic at Knicks, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
NBA: Spurs at Kings, 10 p.m. (NBA TV)
NHL: Red Wings at Blue Jackets, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
MLB preseason: Yankees at Braves, 1 p.m. (ESPN)

AROUND THE WEB:

Joba Chamberlain leaves a press conference Tuesday in Tampa after discussing his foot injury. (AP)

♦ Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain met the media Tuesday for the first time since suffering an open dislocation of the subtalar join in the heel area in a trampoline accident last week. Chamberlain claimed the injury was not as bad as reported, and he said he plans to return later this season.

“One of those things that bothered me, people calling me asking me if it was life-threatening and that I was going to lose my foot,” Chamberlain said. “There was no bone out of my ankle. It bothered me to have my family go through that. I broke no bones. I didn’t dislocate my ankle. Nothing was out of the skin. I didn’t lose a lot of blood, contrary to what people wrote. It wasn’t life-threatening and I wasn’t planning on losing my foot. Basically, when you rolled your ankle the skin just went.”

Chamberlain, who has been rehabbing after Tommy John surgery last year, was jumping on trampolines at a facility with his 5-year-old son when he was hurt. He insisted he was only trying to be a good father.

“I would never do anything considered reckless with my son,” he said. “There are certain elements of everyday life you do. I don’t second-guess anything.”

♦ Mets knuckleball pitcher R.A. Dickey reveals in a forthcoming autobiography that he was sexually abused as an 8-year-old, a secret he kept even from his wife until they were married for eight years. An excerpt from “Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity and the Perfect Knuckleball” in this week’s Sports Illustrated detailed Dickey’s challenge to overcome the anger and shame he felt after the abuse at the hands of two teenagers.

“I have spent so much of my life running and hiding, and I wasn’t going to continue doing that in the book,” Dickey told the press Tuesday at spring training in Port St. Lucie, Fla. “What would be the point in doing that — perpetuating untruth. It was important to me to tell the truth, to be completely authentic. Sharing the pain I went through is part of the healing for me, a catharsis in many ways.”

Dickey also wrote about finding a syringe in the clubhouse when he played for the Rangers in 2001, although he did not accuse any players of using performance-enhancing drugs.

♦ A representative for Dennis Rodman said in a court filing that the former NBA star is broke and cannot afford to pay more than $800,000 he owes in back child support for two children he had with his third wife, Michelle. Rodman also owes $51,000 in spousal support.

Rodman appeared in court Tuesday in Orange, Calif., to face charges that he has not paid the support in four months. His sentencing was moved to May 29.

Rodman’s financial adviser, Peggy Williams, told the court that the Hall of Famer is an alcoholic.

“His sickness impacts his ability to get work,” Williams said in the court documents, according to the Daily Pilot newspaper in Costa Mesa, Calif. “This case, especially his wife filling for divorce, has put him on a binge that I have never seen before. He is extremely hurt and extremely sick. He is often unable to obtain work because of this sickness. And his sickness is getting increasingly worse.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On March 28, 1986, the Red Sox made a trade with the Yankees to acquire designated hitter Don Baylor, who helped the Red Sox win the 1986 American League pennant. Which player did the Sox trade to New York?

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Yankees utility infielder Ramiro Pena had emergency appendectomy surgery Monday in Tampa, according to the New York Post. Pena woke up early Monday morning with stomach pains and was taken to a Tampa hospital where the emergency surgery took place. He is scheduled to miss 4-6 weeks.

It was also learned Monday that Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain had his appendix removed two weeks ago in New York, a source told the Post. Chamberlain’s surgery was not reported until Monday, about two weeks after the surgery took place. The right-handed pitcher is out for the season after having Tommy John surgery.

Third baseman Brandon Laird was promoted from Triple-A to take Pena’s roster spot. Chamberlain’s last appearance came on June 5. Prior to the injury he was 2-0 with a 2.83 ERA in 28 2/3 innings of work.

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.

WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY WEDNESDAY:
NHL Playoffs: Bruins at Canucks, 8 p.m. (NBC)
MLB: White Sox at Red Sox, 1:35 p.m. (NESN; WEEI)

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ Sports Illustrated polled 185 major leaguers to determined the most overrated players in baseball. Three Yankees topped the list: Alex Rodriguez (18 percent), Joba Chamberlain (12) and Derek Jeter (7). Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon received 4 percent.

“I’ve been on this list before. I think it will be like that for the rest of my career,” Rodriguez told the New York Daily News Tuesday. Asked if he was one of the players who was polled, A-Rod said: “I have so much respect for anyone that wears a major league uniform, I would never answer that.”

Jeter brushed off a question about the poll, but Chamberlain joked that he was “disappointed that I’m not No. 1.” Said the reliever: “My bills are still paid and I still have a job. I could care less as long as I’m still getting outs and doing the things I need to do.”

♦ Two politicians (who are brothers) in Toronto are talking about landing an NFL team for the Canadian city. There has been some speculation that the Jaguars might be moved from Jacksonville after struggling with attendance the past few years. “We’re pretty confident,” said city councilor Doug Ford, brother of mayor Rob Ford. “How can the NFL keep ignoring one of the largest markets in North America? You can’t.”

♦ New Lakers coach Mike Brown is doing his best to make sure he does not offend Kobe Bryant. During his introductory press conference Tuesday, Brown said of the superstar guard: “This is still his team. We’ll make sure that he’ll have the ball in the sweet spots that he likes. He has a great understanding of my vision and he’s on board.” In The Orange County Register, Jeff Miller writes about the challenge Brown faces in following a legend in Phil Jackson.

♦ The Thrashers are set to move from Atlanta to Winnipeg, with the deal announced as official Tuesday. The Globe and Mail writes about Mark Chipman, the man behind the deal to return the NHL to Winnipeg.

♦ The New York Times profiles ESPN columnist Bill Simmons and discusses his new venture, a website called Grantland.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On June 1, 1971, which Red Sox player broke an 0-for-44 slump with a hit against the Royals?

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Bob Klapisch of The Record tweeted that the Yankees will not include Joba Chamberlain in any potential trade for Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Dan Haren.

Earlier reports suggested the Yankees package for Haren would include Chamberlain along with minor-league pitchers Ivan Nova and Zach McAllister.

Chamberlain has struggled mightily in 2010, posting an ERA of 5.66 in 42 appearances out of the bullpen.

Johan Santana and his Mets rolled into Fenway Friday night and it wasn’t long before the Dennis-Eckersley’s-new-word hit the fan.

With the Mets on top, 4-3, in the bottom of the fifth inning, Santana plunked New York beanbag Kevin Youkilis. As WEEI.com’s  Alex Speier documented at the time, the location of the pitch was hardly suspect given Youkilis’ tendency of crowding the plate. Nevertheless, the Sox first baseman reacted in typical fashion– by jawing his way to first.

Santana took exception and after the game played the “I’m a gamer” card. Always a safe choice (for those not named Kellen Winslow Jr.). Youkilis, meanwhile, said that he did not think Santana was trying to hit him, and proclaimed that he was merely joking.

Regardless of location or intention, the play was certainly evocative of another heated at-bat versus a New York pitcher, and I don’t mean Scott Proctor.

MLB has restricted the circulation of the video of Joba throwing at Youk’s head twice in ’07, so this will have to suffice.

It seems that whenever we’re talking about a beaning in Boston these days, Youkilis is at the center of it.  So doesn’t it come as a surprise that on the list of active leaders in HBP, Youk sits in a tie for 85th place with 47?

Among the surprising players ahead of him:

–Reed Johnson (95), who broke into the majors a year before Youk but has never played 145 games in a season, though he has come close.

– Old friend Alex Cora (81), who at the age of 33 has only reached the 145-game mark once. Youkilis has played at least 145 games every year since 2006.

–Youngsters Rickie Weeks (62) and Grady Sizemore (53), both of whom are currently just 26 years old.