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: Hawks at Celtics, 8 p.m. (CSNNE; WEEI)
NBA: Knicks at Bucks, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
NBA: Warriors at Trail Blazers, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
NHL playoffs: Flyers at Penguins, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
NHL playoffs: Kings at Canucks, 10:30 p.m. (NHL Network)
MLB: Red Sox at Blue Jays, 12:37 p.m. (NESN; WEEI)
MLB: Nationals at Mets, 1 p.m. (MLB Network)
MLB: Brewers at Cubs, 2:10 p.m. (WGN)
MLB: Marlins at Phillies, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ Despite the Red Sox’ decision to freeze ticket prices following last season’s collapse, the team’s ticket prices remain the highest in Major League Baseball for the second year in a row, according to information compiled by Team Marketing Report. Sox tickets average $53.38 per non-premium seat, and the cost to take a family of four to Fenway — including two adults tickets, two children’s tickets, two small draft beers, four small soft drinks, four regular-size hot dogs, parking, two game programs and two baseball caps — is a league-high $336.99.

Overall, MLB ticket prices increased only 1 percent from last season, the smallest increase in the survey’s two-decade history. The average ticket price is $26.92.

♦ Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov said Tuesday that he has talked to point guard Deron Williams about re-signing after he becomes a free agent this offseason. As for Mavericks owner Mark Cuban trying to lure Williams back to his hometown of Dallas?

“Let the best man win,” Prokhorov said, joking: “If he wins, I will crush him with the kickboxing throwdown.”

Meanwhile, Cuban confirmed Tuesday night that he had a confrontation at halftime of a recent game with forward Lamar Odom, leading to the team placing Odom on the inactive list for the remainder of the season. The argument came during Saturday’s loss to the Grizzlies in Memphis.

“I just asked him, does he want to go for it or not. Is he in or is he out? I think he thought we were playing poker. I just didn’t get a commitment. And that was the end,” Cuban said. “This was a big game for us, and he wasn’t connecting to that. And if you’re not positive energy, you’re negative energy.”

♦ Bryan Stow, the Giants fan who suffered brain damage after being beaten outside Dodger Stadium at last year’s opener, will not accept an invitation from the Giants to appear at AT&T Park for the home opener. “We’re concerned it might tire him out too much and set back his recovery,” his mother, Ann Stow, told the San Jose Mercury News, which has an update on Stow’s recovery process.

♦ Reebok agreed to remove thousands of pieces of Jets apparel it produced with Tim Tebow‘s name after a settlement with Nike that was disclosed Tuesday. Nike is set to take over the league’s apparel licensing deal from Reebok, and it sued the Canton company to stop it from trying to get in a last-minute money grab.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On April 11, 1998, which Red Sox pitcher recorded his 1,000th career strikeout?

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Lamar Odom's season appears to be done in Dallas. (AP)

After the Mavericks lost several key players in the offseason, including Tyson Chandler and Caron Butler, the team’s acquisition of Lamar Odom was viewed as a key move in the right direction for the reigning NBA champions. But with not even a full condensed NBA season complete, the Mavericks and the struggling Odom have agreed to part ways, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.

Sources told Stein that while Odom’s departure from the team will be immediate, the Mavericks intend to list him as inactive for the rest of the season instead of releasing him, thus leaving open the possibility of trading him after the season. Another source told Stein that the decision allows Odom a chance to “clear his head and start getting ready for next season.”

In a statement to ESPN.com, Odom announced that he and the Mavericks had come to a decision to part ways and also expressed remorse that his time in Dallas did not go as well as he and others expected.

“The Mavericks and I have mutually agreed that it’s in the best interest of both parties for me to step away from the team,” Odom said in the statement. “I’m sorry that things didn’t work out better for both of us, but I wish the Mavs’ organization, my teammates and Dallas fans nothing but continued success in the defense of their championship.”

This season, statistically, has been the worst of Odom’s 13-year career, as he is averaging career lows in scoring (6.6 points per game), rebounds (4.1 per game), field goal percentage (35.2 percent), assists (1.7 per game) and minutes (20.5 per game).

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: Lightning at Bruins, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
NBA: Cavaliers at 76ers, 7 p.m. (NBA TV)
NBA: Lakers at Warriors, 10:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
College basketball: NIT semifinals, UMass vs. Stanford, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: NIT semifinals, Minnesota vs. Washington, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
MLB preseason: Pirates at Phillies, 1 p.m. (MLB Network)
MLB preseason: Angels at Giants, 4 p.m. (ESPN)
MLB preseason: Blue Jays at Yankees, 7 p.m. (MLB Network)

AROUND THE WEB:

U.S. midfielder Brek Shea is in disbelief as El Salvador players celebrate their late goal that forced a 3-3 tie Monday night in Nashville, Tenn. (AP)

♦ The U.S. soccer team will not play in the 2012 Olympics following Monday’s shocking 3-3 tie with El Salvador in Nashville, Tenn. The Americans, needing a win, were leading 3-2 in stoppage time when El Salvador midfielder Jamie Alas fired a shot from 25 yards out that split two defenders and went in off the hands of goalie Sean Johnson.

“This is probably the worst feeling I’ve ever felt in my life so far as a pro athlete,” U.S. captain Freddy Adu said. “This is going to be hard to get over. But at the end of the day things like this happen. For me, I never want to feel this way again, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to never feel this way again.”

♦ Mavericks forward Lamar Odom said he found the boos from the Dallas crowd “a little confusing and a little hurtful” following his woeful performance last week against his former team, the Lakers. Odom had one point, one rebound and one assist in last Wednesday’s game.

“Well, I’ve never been booed in my life, so if it’s to the point that I’m playing a basketball game at home and I’m getting booed then I would say, no disrespect, but maybe I think people took things the wrong way,” Odom said after Monday’s practice at the American Airlines Center. “I admitted I was out of shape for different reasons when I came into camp. I admitted what I had been through; I was honest about how my summer went, how I almost left the game with everything I went through, and I think people just took it the wrong way, like I had a reason not to be here or if I didn’t want to be here.

“I think people took that the wrong way and the next thing I know I’m trying to come out of a slump and I check into a game and I’m getting booed. I’m not really used to that.”

♦ There haven’t been any buzzer-beating game-winners in this NCAA tournament, so Real Clear Sports looks back for the top 10 buzzer-beaters in the tourney’s history.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On March 27, 1984, which Bruin scored a goal in a 6-4 victory over the Quebec Nordiques to give him 100 points on the season?

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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: Bruins at Lightning, 7:30 p.m. (NESN)
NHL: Predators at Rangers, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
NBA: Spurs at Heat, 7:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
College basketball: Georgetown at DePaul, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Michigan State at Michigan, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Arkansas at Kentucky, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Maryland at Florida State, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)

AROUND THE WEB:

Antrel Rolle

♦ The Giants have talked the the talk and walked the walk the past couple of weeks, so there was no reason to expect they would change their brash ways as they prepare to meet the 49ers in the NFC championship game.

“We’re not going to be denied at this point,” safety Antrel Rolle said Monday. “We know what we have as a team. It’s not all about talent, it’s about chemistry, jelling at this point. We have one goal in mind and that’s to win a championship.”

Added Rolle: “In our minds, we can’t be beat.”

Niners coach Jim Harbaugh is known for his cockiness as well, but he was subdued and respectful in a press conference Monday when talking about the Giants. “That’s a formidable opponent,” he said. “That is a worthy opponent. That is a scary opponent. We will have to come with every ounce of our ‘A’ game as well.”

♦ Former Lakers forward Lamar Odom made his return to Los Angeles with the Mavericks on Tuesday night. Odom said he still doesn’t understand why the Lakers shipped him out of town with little warning. “It was impossible for me not to take it personally,” he said.

♦ Real Clear Sports has a list of the top 10 most successful coaching retreads, and there are a number of Boston connections. No. 10 is new Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine. No. 9 is Mavericks coach (and former Celtic) Rick Carlisle. No. 8 is Giants boss (and former Boston College coach) Tom Coughlin. No. 3 is Pete Carroll, who shined at USC after being fired by the Patriots and now leads the Seahawks. Recently retired Lakers coach Phil Jackson is No. 1, followed by NHL legend Scotty Bowman.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Jan. 17, 1970, future Red Sox standout Fred Lynn was drafted by which team, refusing to sign and instead choosing to play college ball at USC?

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Lakers forward Lamar Odom has joined the growing list of NBA players to express interest in playing in Europe. But Odom is not considering playing overseas because of the current NBA lockout that is threatening the 2011-12 season.

Instead, Odom took to twitter on Monday and tweeted at Pau Gasol to tell his teammate that he’s thinking about playing in Europe in 2012, following the upcoming NBA season.

“it’s ya boy @RealLamarOdom !” Odom tweeted at Gasol. “My dude really want 2 talk 2 u! Really thinking about going 2 play in Europe after this season!”

Odom remains under contract with the Lakers for two more years, but only $2.4 million of the salary that second year is guaranteed, meaning Odom could be a free agent after next season. The versatile forward averaged 14.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game in the 2010-11 season, primarily off the bench.

Gasol responded to Odom’s tweet, but he did not divulge any more details other than to say that he’s “happy to hear” from Odom and that the two will talk later. Gasol currently is playing for the Spanish national team in the European basketball championship.

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:
MLB: Indians at Red Sox, 7:10 p.m. (NESN; WEEI)
MLS: Earthquakes at Revolution, 8 p.m. (CSNNE)

AROUND THE WEB:

Nate Robinson

♦ Former Celtics guard Nate Robinson, who played a year of football at the University of Washington before deciding to focus on basketball, might get another shot on the gridiron during the NBA lockout. On Tuesday, Robinson traded tweets with Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, who had tried to recruit Robinson to USC a decade ago. Robinson, now with the Thunder, wrote to Carroll: give me a chance and I’ll prove it to you. The exchange ended with Carroll writing: see you at practice at 1:30. bring your cleats. Robinson did not show up at the afternoon session, but Carroll left the door open, telling the assembled media: “He may be a little distracted with basketball, I don’t know. If he is, he probably won’t be able to do it. But if he can get focused, there’s always a chance.”

♦ Lakers forward Lamar Odom finally spoke publicly about the accident in New York last month, when a motorcyclist crashed into the SUV Odom was riding in and the motorcycle struck and killed a teenage bystander. Odom, who said he was in his home neighborhood of Queens for the funeral of a 24-year-old cousin who had been murdered, said he might need to see a psychologist. “I think the effects of seeing [my cousin] die and then watching this kid die, it beat me down,” he said. “I consider myself a little weak. I thought I was breaking down mentally. I’m doing a lot of reflecting.”

♦ Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter continues his battle with brain cancer, but the news was promising Tuesday. Carter’s daughter announced on the family’s website that his brain tumors are “80 percent better” and “starting to go away.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Aug. 3, 1992, which Red Sox newcomer stole home in a 7-1 victory over the Blue Jays?

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The NBA draft came and went on Thursday with lots of trades between seemingly every team in the league, but the biggest news from that night, other than who went where, may have stemmed from the trades that didn’t happen. Despite the onslaught of draft-day trade rumors (click through Green Street to see just how many there were), there weren’t any blockbuster deals to be had by any team.

Because of that, the Lakers, one of the biggest teams to be involved in several of those rumors, appear to be keeping their key pieces, according to a piece by Mike Bresnahan of the LA Times. The author gave odds on the chance that each player on the Los Angeles roster would be back for another go in 2011-12. Unsurprisingly, Kobe Bryant was given a 100 percent chance at returning while  big men Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, both of whom were rumored to be included in potential deals to the Timberwolves, were listed at 95 and 85 percent respectively.

The Lakers star who appears to be in biggest danger of leaving is Lamar Odom, who has a 60 percent chance at returning according to Bresnahan who wrote, “If the Lakers trade somebody, it’s almost surely Odom, mainly because of an attractive contract that pays him a bargain-like $8.9 million next season and a partially guaranteed $8.2 million in 2012-13.”

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.

WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY MONDAY:
NBA: Magic at Celtics, 8 p.m. (CSNNE; WEEI)
NHL: Hurricanes at Bruins 1 p.m. (NESN)

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ The Clippers knocked off the Lakers on Sunday, 99-92, rallying from a 12-point deficit in the third quarter and ending the Lakers’ seven-game winning streak. Clippers phenom Blake Griffin overpowered the Lakers, and when Lamar Odom took exception to Griffin’s physical play in the final seconds, it led to a brouhaha and the ejections of four players. Kobe Bryant was both impressed by Griffin and disappointed by his team’s effort. “[Griffin] punked us,” Bryant said. “He just ran through us. We didn’t put up much of a fight.”

Here’s the video of the altercation, in which Ron Artest was one of the players ejected for no apparent reason other than the fact that he’s Ron Artest. “I have no idea how [the referees] make their decisions — whimsically, I think,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “I can see Lamar and Griffin [getting ejected], but Ron, it was just ridiculous.”

♦ Carmelo Anthony continues to confound everyone around him. The latest development in the NBA star’s saga was a report over the weekend that the Nuggets had given him permission to talk to the Nets about a contract extension as a prelude to a trade, with Anthony denying it. “I can’t talk to them people,” he said Sunday. “The Denver Nuggets still play me. I can’t talk to nobody. … I don’t want to talk to nobody.”

♦ Frank McCourt, who is attempting to regain sole ownership of the Dodgers after losing a court decision to his estranged wife, struck a deal with the Fox network. Fox is advancing McCourt money to cover the team’s operating expenses.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Jan. 17, 1992, which Celtic scored 14 points in a 98-95 win over the 76ers and became the 16th player in NBA history to have 20,000 career points?

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The Lakers beat the Wizards, 115-108, Tuesday night, but the win came despite a late-game gaffe by Lamar Odom. The Lakers led by four points with 21 seconds remaining in the game and 16 seconds on the shot clock when Odom shot and missed a 3-pointer, giving Washington possession with more time left than necessary.

During the ensuing timeout, Lakers coach Phil Jackson talked to Odom about the play. “I asked him what he was thinking and he said I got selfish,” Jackson told The Los Angeles Times. “He did. It was a selfish move and it could’ve cost us the game.”

Odom, however, didn’t seem so concerned after the game. “I might hold it out, but it’s two possessions. I can afford to take a shot like that,” Odom said. “If I make it, we go up by three more. It was a two possession game. Even if I miss and they come down and score, they have to foul. You win some, you lose some. I guess I lost that one.”

As was reported before the season began, NBA officials pledged to expand the guidelines on calling technical fouls. So far, they’ve held true to their world, which has drawn criticism throughout the season, most recently from Lakers players and coach Phil Jackson. In a controversial call, forward Lamar Odom was given a tech late in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ 121-116 loss to the Suns on Sunday, and it might have cost his team the game.

After he absorbed contact from Hedo Turkoglu as he made a layup with 53.7 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Odom spun around and signaled to referee Ron Garretson that he should have been awarded an and-one call and a chance to bring the Lakers to within one. Instead, Odom’s reaction drew a technical foul from referee Tony Brown, which Steve Nash followed with a made foul shot to put the Suns up by three with the ball. The two-point swing  “changed the context of the ballgame,” according to Jackson.

“I was unhappy about the situation that happened with Lamar,” Jackson said. “I don’t think the NBA wants that type of thing to happen, but that’s part of the residual that’s going to happen off of the policy they have.”

The play was ruled more excessive than a normal reaction by Odom, which led to the T. Lakers forward Matt Barnes called the foul “ridiculous” while Kobe Bryant deemed it “disgusting.”

“It’s a bad, bad rule,” Bryant said. “It’s a bad rule. It’s subject to so much interpretation. It’s tough. I’ve been toeing the line here so I don’t want to [say much more]. You have to [think about the rule when you play] now. It’s something you have to be conscious about as a player, which kind of throws you off your game a little bit because basketball is such an emotional sport and you have to think about it a little bit.”