| Monday’s Morning Mashup: Female kicker comes up short at NFL combine | 03.04.13 at 8:05 am ET |
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: Heat at Timberwolves, 8 p.m. (NBATV)
College basketball: Texas Tech at Kansas, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Cincinnati at Louisville, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Savannah State at UNC A&T, 8 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Baylor at Texas, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
NHL: Lightning at Penguins, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
NHL: Predators at Kings, 10:30 p.m. (NHL Network)
World Baseball Classic: South Korea vs Australia, 5:30 a.m. (MLB Network)
World Baseball Classic: Australia vs. Netherlands, 11:30 p.m. (MLB Network)
World Baseball Classic: Brazil vs. China, 3 a.m. Tuesday (MLB Network)
AROUND THE WEB:
♦ Things did not go well Sunday for the first female to participate in an NFL regional combine tryout. Lauren Silberman came up embarrassingly short on two kickoffs before seeking medical assistance and then leaving in tears.
The 28-year-old Silberman, who said she is a former University of Wisconsin club soccer player, kicked the ball about 19 yards on her first try and a few yards less on her next.
Silberman did not take any warmup kicks before the event, which featured 38 kicking prospects hoping to attract the attention of an NFL team. She later explained that she injured her quadriceps earlier in the week and was hoping she could kick through it.
“I suffered a quad injury. I tried staying off it and waited for today. I didn’t even take kicks in warmup,” she said, according to New York’s CBS TV affiliate. “It’s pretty hard to know that you’d be in pain and wanted to work through it, and I certainly tried to, but I couldn’t do it today.”
Added Silberman: “I tried to work through the pain. The distance wasn’t there, but hopefully the scouts noticed my form.”
Silberman was not evaluated prior to the workout, signing up by paying a a $275 fee. She added to speculation that she was an unqualified publicity-seeker by being evasive when asked how far she kicked the ball in practices. “It’s hard to tell,” she said.
NFL regional combine director Stephen Austin offered no verification of Silberman’s ability.
“Our job is to evaluate talent and leave no stone unturned,” he said. “Until they get here, we don’t have any idea of how any of them are going to perform.”
♦ LeBron James said Sunday that he’s considering an offer of $1 million by Magic Johnson to participate in the dunk contest during All-Star Weekend.
“I don’t have a response yet,” James told ESPN’s Lisa Salter, adding: “Tell [Johnson] I’ll get back to him.”
James has never taken part in the dunk contest, although he said Sunday, “I think about it every year.” He recently received some criticism for saving his highlight-reel dunks for pregame warmups and said he considered changing his warmup routine because of it. However, he decided to continue it.
♦ Following a tweet from Randy Moss on Saturday night, there is speculation that the receiver will not return to the 49ers.
Tweeted Moss: Wished we could’ve finished the job!!thanks for the opportunity an good luck in the future 9ers.
Moss, 36, ended his brief retirement in 2012 and recorded 28 receptions for 434 yards and three touchdowns in helping the 49ers reach the Super Bowl. He caught two passes for 41 yards in the Super Bowl loss to the Ravens.
The onetime Patriot has 982 catches for 15,292 yards and 156 touchdowns in his 14-year career.
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On March 4, 1984, which standout Red Sox catcher from the 1930s was chosen for the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee?
| Thursday’s Morning Mashup: Manny Ramirez homers on first pitch in Dominican debut | 11.15.12 at 7:54 am ET |
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:
NBA: Celtics at Nets, 8 p.m. (TNT; WEEI-FM)
College basketball: Boston College vs. Baylor, 3 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Providence vs. UMass, 7:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Oklahoma State vs. Akron, 10:30 a.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: UNC-Asheville vs. Tennessee, 12:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: N.C. State vs. Penn State, 5 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: St. John’s at Charleston, 5 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Alabama vs Oregon State, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Villanova vs. Purdue, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
NFL: Dolphins at Bills, 8:20 p.m. (NFL Network)
College football: North Carolina at Virginia, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN; WEEI-AM)
AROUND THE WEB:
♦ Manny Ramirez still is trying to get back into baseball, and the former Red Sox slugger made his case on Wednesday when he hit a home run on the first pitch he saw from Escogido Lions right-hander Daniel Cabrera in his debut for the Los Aguilas Eagles of the Dominican winter league.
A packed house estimated at 22,000 turned out to see Ramirez return to play in his home country for the first time since the winter of 1994-95, and the fans went wild when Ramirez drilled a fastball over the right-field fence to give his team a 1-0 lead.
“I’m not thinking about the big leagues now,” Ramirez, 40, said upon joining the team. “Right now, I’m thinking of helping the Eagles to win games and then, if any offer, then I’ll think of baseball.”
♦ Magic Johnson spoke out against his old team Wednesday, saying the Lakers’ decision to hire Mike D’Antoni over Phil Jackson was another error in judgment by executive vice president Jim Buss, son of longtime owner Jerry Buss.
“I love Dr. [Jerry] Buss. I don’t believe in Jim Buss,” Johnson said on ESPN’s “NBA Countdown.” “He’s made two critical mistakes already. To me, they made two critical mistakes. First, hiring Mike Brown — he wasn’t the right coach. He’s a great coach but not the right coach for the Lakers. And I don’t feel Mike D’Antoni is the right coach for the Lakers. Especially when you have Phil Jackson sitting out there, who wanted to be the Laker coach. Jim Buss decided he didn’t want Phil Jackson, he wanted Mike D’Antoni. And that’s OK, but why didn’t you just say that? But the fans were cheering for Phil Jackson two nights in a row.”
Earlier in the day, Johnson ended two days of Twitter silence, writing:
The reason I haven’t tweeted in 2 days is because I’ve been mourning Phil Jackson not being hired as the Lakers head coach. My mother always taught me that if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
A day earlier, general manager Mitch Kupchak insisted the decision to go with D’Antoni over Jackson was a unanimous one between he and the Busses, insisting that D’Antoni is a better fit for this roster.
“Without going into great detail, some of our guys I don’t think would be very successful in the triangle [offense],” Kupchak said Tuesday. “Some of our newer players might take a long time to learn the triangle.”
♦ The Texas A&M football team is coming off an upset of No. 1-ranked Alabama on Saturday, but the team’s excitement was tempered when freshman wide receiver Thomas Johnson went missing Monday night. Johnson, who has 30 receptions for 339 yards and a touchdown in 10 games this season, was found safe Thursday morning, with more details expected later in the day.
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Nov. 15, 1967, Carl Yastrzemski, winner of the American League’s Triple Crown, was named MVP. However, the vote was not unanimous. Which Twins player received one vote?
| Wednesday’s Morning Mashup: Amar’e Stoudemire fined $50,000 for offensive tweet | 06.27.12 at 6:52 am ET |
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:
MLB: Blue Jays at Red Sox, 1:35 p.m. (NESN; WEEI)
MLB: White Sox at Twins, 1 p.m. (WGN)
MLB: Indians at Yankees, 1 p.m. (MLB Network)
MLB: Tigers at Rangers, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Soccer: European Championship semifinals, Portugal vs. Spain, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Tennis: Wimbledon, 7 a.m. (ESPN2)
AROUND THE WEB:
♦ Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire apologized Tuesday after he was fined $50,000 by the NBA for using a homosexual slur in a tweet to a fan who had criticized him.
“I am a huge supporter of civil rights for all people,” Stoudemire said in a statement. “I am disappointed in myself for my statement to a fan. I should have known better and there is no excuse.”
Stoudemire used an expletive and the slur Saturday when tweeting the fan, identified by the New York Daily News as Brian Ferrelli, who had tweeted that the All-Star “better come back a lot stronger and quicker to make up for this past season.” Stoudemire, who averaged 17.5 points and 7.8 rebounds, his lowest marks since his rookie season in 2002-03 with the Suns, tweeted back: [Expletive] you. I don’t have to do any thing [slur].
Ferrelli then posted a screen shot of the offensive tweet on the web. That was followed by Stoudemire tweeting an apology, which Ferrelli accepted.
♦ Former Trail Blazers star Clyde Drexler spoke candidly about Magic Johnson for a book about the 1992 Olympic Dream Team. In “Dream Team” by Jack McCallum, Drexler said members of the team pitied Magic because they thought he would die after testing HIV positive, and he said Magic “couldn’t play much by that time. He couldn’t guard his shadow.”
“But you have to have to understand what was going on then. Everybody kept waiting for Magic to die,” Drexler said. “Every time he’d run up the court everybody would feel sorry for the guy, and he’d get all that benefit of the doubt. Magic came across like, ‘All this is my stuff.’ Really? Get outta here, dude. He was on the declining end of his career.”
Drexler also commented about Magic’s performance in the 1992 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando. Magic, named as a special 13th player to the West roster, was named MVP after finishing with 25 points, nine assists and five rebounds. Drexler also played very well, recording 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
Said Drexler: “If we all knew Magic was going to live this long, I would’ve gotten the MVP of that game, and Magic probably wouldn’t have made the Olympic team.”
♦ LaDainian Tomlinson, who retired this month after a stellar career at running back with the Chargers and Jets, had an interesting and honest response when asked if he would rather win a Super Bowl or be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
“Hall of Fame player without a ring, because you’ve got to sacrifice so much individually just to be good,” he said. “They draft you individually and you’ve got to back them up and make them right. I think at the end of the day, even though I didn’t win a Super Bowl ring, I felt like I backed them up for drafting me. I backed up the San Diego Chargers for picking me with the fifth pick.”
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On June 27, which Red Sox player tied a major league record by recording three hits (single, double, triple) in one inning — the 14-run first inning of a 25-8 rout of the Marlins at Fenway?
| Thursday’s Morning Mashup: Brandon Jacobs critical of former Giants teammates | 04.12.12 at 8:01 am ET |
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: Capitals at Bruins, 7:30 p.m. (NESN, NBCSN)
NHL playoffs: Senators at Rangers, 7 p.m. (NHL Network)
NHL playoffs: Blackhawks at Coyotes, 10 p.m. (NBCSN)
NBA: Heat at Bulls, 8 p.m. (TNT)
NBA: Mavericks at Warriors, 10:30 p.m. (TNT)
MLB: Rays at Tigers, 1 p.m. (MLB Network)
MLB: Marlins at Phillies, 7 p.m. (MLB Network)
AROUND THE WEB:
♦ Running back Brandon Jacobs won a Super Bowl with the Giants two months ago, but now that he’s signed with the 49ers, he’s not showing a lot of respect for his former teammates. During an interview on San Francisco radio station KNBR, Jacobs said the New York offensive line deserved more criticism for his lack of production last season.
“We had issues. When I was with the Giants, we had issues down the line,” he said. “Of course, I took the blame for those [because I was] holding the ball. But ultimately, at the end of the day, it is my fault because I do have the ball and that’s what people see. But there’s a lot more than that going on.”
As for why he decided to leave New York for San Francisco, Jacobs said: “At the end of the day we go out and play this game for it being football, what we all love playing. But after you’ve been in the business a certain amount of time, and know that they’ve turned it into nothing but a business, that what-have-you-done-for-me-lately-type attitude comes. And that’s what we turn it into as players, and that’s when things happen.”
♦ Former NFL executive Charlie Casserly admits in an article for NFL.com that he used to use certain media members’ mock drafts to get a better idea of what other teams were thinking in the days leading up to the draft. He also writes that he used the media to determine teams’ needs and player visits, paying special attention to what team personnel told reporters. Somewhere, Bill Belichick is smiling.
♦ On the heels of the Magic’s Dwight Howard-Stan Van Gundy controversy, Real Clear Sports has a list of the top 10 coach-killers. The list includes Michael Vick, Reggie Jackson, John Elway and, at No. 1, Magic Johnson for helping to put in action the dismissal of Paul Westhead in 1981 and usher in the Pat Riley era.
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On April 12, 2000, which Red Sox player recorded a sacrifice fly for the 1,341st RBI of his career in what would be his final major league game?
| Wednesday’s Morning Mashup: Jeremy Lin offers support to Kris Humphries | 02.22.12 at 7:51 am ET |
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: Celtics at Thunder, 7 p.m. (CSNNE, ESPN; WEEI)
NBA: Lakers at Mavericks, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: West Virginia at Notre Dame, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Kansas at Texas A&M, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
NHL: Bruins at Blues, 8 p.m. (NESN)
NHL: Kings at Avalanche, 9 p.m. (NBCSN)
AROUND THE WEB:
♦ Even after a loss, the legend of Jeremy Lin continues to grow. Nets forward Kris Humphries, who is regularly booed at NBA arenas following his separation from reality TV star Kim Kardashian, said Lin offered support to him after Lin’s Knicks lost on Monday to New Jersey.
“I saw him in the tunnel outside the locker room after the game,” Humphries said during an appearance on Tuesday’s “The Scott Van Pelt Show” on ESPN Radio. “He’s a really nice guy. He just said, ‘Hey, I don’t know why they boo you, but I think it’s crap, and you’re playing really well.’ That was nice of him to say. He’s a really nice guy. … It’s nice to see great things happen for nice people.”
Humphries had 14 points and 14 rebounds in Monday’s game and appeared to enjoy quieting the Madison Square Garden fans.
“I love the hostile environment,” Humphries said. “There’s nothing better than sending 19,000 people home upset [Monday] night at the Garden. We love that. People are getting rowdy — whether they’re booing me or not — but to get a win like that felt great, and sometimes you’ve just got to mess with the crowd back.”
Meanwhile, Lin is on the cover of Sports Illustrated for the second week in a row, becoming the first New York athlete ever to have that distinction.
♦ Broncos backup quarterback Brady Quinn is reaching out to Tim Tebow after unflattering comments Quinn made about Tebow appeared in a GQ article. In the Michael Silver story, Quinn was quoted as saying the team “had a lot, I guess, luck, to put it simply,” and that “the fans had a lot to do with” Tebow getting the starting nod over Quinn.
“There was a big calling for him,” said Quinn, who is an unrestricted free agent. “No, I don’t have any billboards. That would have been nice.”
After the article came out Tuesday, Quinn went on Twitter and insisted the comments do not reflect his true feelings about his “great teammate.”
♦ Lakers legend Magic Johnson is starting his own cable television network, called Aspire, set to debut June 30. It’s the first of 10 new independently owned channels Comcast promised to launch by 2018 as part of an agreement with the FCC and Department of Justice to diversify the cable landscape.
“This is so exciting for me, I’m pinching myself,” Johnson told The Los Angeles Times. “This is big for myself, for the African American community and the African American creative community. I wanted a vehicle to show positive images and to have stories written, produced and directed by African Americans for our community. Aspire — that’s how I’ve been leading my life.”
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Feb. 22, 1934, which Bruins defenseman played his final game and then became the first NHL player to have his number retired?
| Magic Johnson: David Stern isn’t racist | 11.09.11 at 11:22 am ET |

Magic Johnson defended David Stern after recent comments from multiple people suggested that the commissioner was racist. (AP)
NBA legend Magic Johnson defended David Stern, saying recent suggestions that the commissioner is racist are “ridiculous.”
Johnson’s comments were in response to NBA players association attorney Jeffrey Kessler, who said in The Washington Post that the owners are treating the players like “plantation workers” in negotiations during the NBA lockout.
Kessler’s comments came on the heels of similar sentiments from Bryant Gumbel, who said on his HBO show that Stern “always seemed eager to be viewed as some kind of modern plantation overseer treating NBA men as if they were his boys.”
But Johnson pointed to the fact that the league’s front offices have more racial diversity than ever under the leadership of Stern. Johnson said that it is fine to disagree with the commissioner, but that you “can’t attack the man and what he stands for.”
“This league is more diverse than any other league and has more minorities in powerful positions than any other league,” Johnson said during a phone interview. “That’s all about David Stern and his vision and what he wanted to do. He made sure minorities had high-ranking positions from the league office all the way down to coaches and front office people.”
Johnson also said many of those who are criticizing Stern have jobs in the NBA because of the commissioner, and that it was Stern who took the NBA and made it an international brand. The former Laker recalled that it was Stern who gave him a spot in the 1992 All-Star Game, a year after he had retired because of his battle with HIV. Stern also put Johnson on the Dream Team that won an Olympic gold medal, and the commissioner called Johnson during his public feud with Isiah Thomas.
“He always is looking out for the players and what’s best for the league and I disagree with anybody who says he’s trying to be a plantation owner,” Johnson said. “It’s ridiculous we’re even talking about it.”
| Monday’s Morning Mashup: Colts boss Bill Polian complains about ‘rats who lie about people’ | 11.07.11 at 6:35 am ET |
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:
NHL: Islanders at Bruins, 7 p.m. (NESN/Versus)
AROUND THE WEB:
♦ Cheer up, Patriots fans. As rough as the last two weeks have been, at least your team is far better off than the once-proud Colts. Not only did Indianapolis fall to 0-9 with Sunday’s 31-7 loss to the Falcons, team vice chairman Bill Polian went on a short postgame rant about those who are critical of his club. It’s speculated that Polian was angered by a Sunday story from Indianapolis Star writer Bob Kravitz that quoted unnamed former Colts employees as questioning the competence of general manager Chris Polian, who happens to be Bill’s son. “Some people are just rats who lie about people,” Polian said, adding that it’s the team’s job to “throw the rats in the sewer.”
Responded Kravitz on Twitter: Just head about Polian’s postgame — dunno if he was referring to me as a rat or my sources — or both — i’ve been called worse.
♦ Former NHL star Mark Messier completed Sunday’s New York City Marathon in 4 hours, 14 minutes, but he needed medical attention after crossing the finish line. Messier was wheeled into the medical tent and kept briefly for observation, but he was fine after receiving some fluids. “I just got filled up with inspiration,” the 50-year-old told the New York Daily News Sunday night from his Manhattan home. “I feel great now.”
♦ It was exactly 20 years ago when Lakers legend Magic Johnson announced that had contracted HIV and was retiring from the NBA. In The Los Angeles Times, Bill Plaschke looks at how Johnson has become an inspiration in a much different way in those two decades.
♦ Raiders fans have log had an image problem, but at least some of them are working to improve it. Members of the Black Hole Fan Club hired a public relations firm, set up a new website, donated money to area causes, and started a campaign to “black out the violence.” “We are tired of being the whipping boy of the Bay Area and people thinking we are a bunch of criminals,” Black Hole Fan Club president Rob Rivera told the San Jose Mercury News. “We are not.”
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Nov. 7, 1950, which Red Sox player beat out Yankees pitcher Whitey Ford to be named American League Rookie of the Year?
| Wednesday’s Morning Mashup: Dwight Gooden says he missed Mets’ 1986 parade due to drugs | 10.19.11 at 7:15 am ET |
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:
No games scheduled
AROUND THE WEB:

Dwight Gooden was the toast of New York after helping the Mets beat the Red Sox in the 1986 World Series.
♦ Dwight Gooden, ace pitcher on the 1986 Mets, said he missed the team’s World Series parade because he was in a drug-induced haze in the projects on Long Island. In an interview set to air on ESPN’s “E:60″ Wednesday night, Gooden explained that he left a team party following the Mets’ Game 7 victory over the Red Sox for a drug fix and didn’t make it back to the city on time for the celebration. The team had said Gooden simply overslept.
“When the party started winding down, for myself, a lot of times I get to a certain point of using drugs, the paranoia sticks in,” said Gooden, who added that 1986 was the first year he tried cocaine. “So I end up leaving the party with the team, going to these projects, of all places, in Long Island. Hang out there.
“Then you know what time you have to be at the ballpark to go into the city for the parade, but I’m thinking ‘OK, I’ve got time.’ And the clocks, I mean the rooms are spinning. I said, ‘OK, I’ll leave in another hour. OK, maybe in 30 minutes I’ll leave. Well, maybe 15 more minutes I’ll leave. Then the next thing you know, the parade’s on and I’m watching the parade on TV. … Horrible, horrible feeling.”
♦ According to a report in The Miami Herald, Eric Mangini consults regularly with Dolphins owner Stephen Ross to give input on coaching and other areas. However, the report emphatically states that Mangini is not a candidate to take over the team should Tony Sparano be fired.
♦ Magic Johnson joined the chorus of people teasing LeBron James for his lack of clutch play in the NBA finals. During a paid appearance at the University of Albany Saturday, Magic was asked which of his accomplishments meant the most to him.
“That’s easy: Putting people to work in minority communities,” he replied. “There’s going to always be great players in basketball. There’s going to always be guys who win championships in the NBA, except LeBron …”
Added Johnson: “Everybody’s always asking, ‘Who is better between Kobe [Bryant] and LeBron?’ I’m like, Are you kidding me? I’m like you’re kidding me … Kobe, five championships; LeBron, zero. … I love the young man, though. I know he’s going to get better in the fourth quarter this year.”
Perhaps not coincidentally, Johnson this summer became an investor in Detroit Venture Partners, which is run by Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert. Gilbert famously feuded with LeBron following the player’s decision to leave Cleveland for Miami last offseason.
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Oct. 19, 2004, the Red Sox evened the American League Championship Series at three games apiece behind Curt Schilling and his bloody sock. The Red Sox scored all four of their runs in the fourth inning for a 4-2 victory. Which Yankees pitcher (who outdueled Pedro Martinez in Game 2) took the loss?
| Monday’s Morning Mashup: Magic Johnson comes down hard on ‘classless’ Lakers | 05.09.11 at 7:37 am ET |
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 Playoffs: Heat at Celtics, 7 p.m. (TNT; WEEI)
MLB: Twins at Red Sox, 7:10 p.m. (NESN/ESPN; WRKO)
AROUND THE WEB:
♦ The Lakers bowed out of the playoffs in embarrassing fashion Sunday, getting routed by the Mavericks to complete a four-game sweep and having two players thrown out of the game for blatant cheap shots. While ejected players Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom showed no remorse, Lakers legend Magic Johnson did not hold back, calling the players “classless” and “thuggish” and saying they embarrassed him.
Said Johnson in a TV interview: “That should never happen. You have to show class when you win and you have to show class when you lose, and the Lakers did not show class in Game 4.”
Before Game 4, Johnson — who sold his ownership stake in the team last fall but still is listed as a vice president — said the Lakers need to address the fact that they are “too slow and [have] no athletes,” and suggested they will need to trade Bynum, Odom or fellow big man Pau Gasol and “blow this team up.” Responded coach Phil Jackson: “I thought [Magic's comments] were unnecessary at this time.”
♦ Renowned agitator Sean Avery hasn’t won much support with his play on the ice for the Rangers, but he’s now a friend to the gay community after recording a video supporting same-sex marriage.
♦ Big-name hitters throughout the major leagues continue to struggle in the early part of the season. In the New York Daily News, Bill Madden looks at the situation, noting that Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter has plenty of company in the underperforming department.
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On May 9, 1989, which Red Sox catcher dropped a foul ball for his first error after a major league-record 159 error-free games?
| Magic Johnson ‘definitely interested’ in Dolphins ownership | 10.24.10 at 3:21 pm ET |
Earlier in the week, former NBA great Magic Johnson sold his ownership shares with the Los Angeles Lakers, leading to suggestions that Johnson would seek ownership in a NFL franchise. Johnson reportedly indicated a desire to bring an NFL team back to Los Angeles, the second biggest television market in the nation.
Johnson sold his 4.5 percent stake in the Lakers on Monday, with Johnson’s shares worth an estimated worth of $27 million. He also sold his Starbucks outlets back to the company for a reported $75 million. Many ownership groups have expressed interest in adding the NBA legend to their organizations.
Johnson also indicated Sunday that he would be interested in an ownership position with the Miami Dolphins, reports CBS Sports. NFL Network’s Jason LaCanfora said Magic “praised GM Jeff Ireland, [owner Stephen Ross] Ross, Bill Parcells and the [Dolphins] organization,” and expressed a definite interest in becoming a minority owner.
Patriots owner Bob Kraft also told USA Today that he’d be surprised if the NFL did not return to L.A. in the next five years.
“I’d be very surprised if it doesn’t happen in the next five years,” said Kraft. “We have to be in L.A. How can we not be in the second-largest city in America, which is a gateway to Asia and Mexico?”
So far, the 51-year-old Johnson has spurned interest in positions with the Dodgers, Golden State Warriors and Detroit Pistons.

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