LeBronathon of Rap Week 2 - New Jersey Nets

Uploaded a little late with the national title trip and all. But here it is. Hope this helps, Thorny!

Next week begins the double-dips. Chicago and Miami are on deck.


--Max Caster

CW Post Pioneers Play for National Title Today on WCWP

The CW Post Pioneers men's lacrosse team will try for their second straight Division II national title when they take on the LeMoyne Dolphins. Pregame is at 2:45pm EST with the start of the game at 3:00pm. Listen in here.

Do I Look Like Jared Dudley?

Some people (who shall remain nameless) say that I look like Phoenix Suns Forward Jared Dudley. I have refuted this time and time again with no success. Now I'll leave it up to the internet.

Here's the most handsome man I know, myself:



And here's ugly Jared Dudley:



And as a bonus, here's a picture of the rapper Drake, who I am also said to resemble. I disagree with that as well:




You be the judge. Do I look like either of these fools?


--Max Caster

Some Guy Eats Kim Jones' Porkchop

Not much to say about this one...

Now we know why Kim wasn't allowed to do in-game reports before. I bet we won't see another for a while.

We live to die another day, Kim!


--Max Caster

Greg Payne of CelticsBlog.com on WCWP at 6:30

We'll speak to Greg Payne from CelticsBlog.com today on the Sportswire at 6:30pm EST about the Celtics' loss to the Magic last night.

Listen in live at 6:00 for The Sportswire.

'I Like Ike' T-Shirts are here!!

From DNAinfo:

New York Mets rookie sensation Ike Davis met with fans at Modell’s in Times Square on Tuesday for the official launch of the “I Like Ike” T-shirt.

It’s not yet June and the 23-year-old freshman first baseman already has a tribute shirt — an appropriation of the 1950s-era Eisenhower presidential campaign slogan.

Davis's early popularity can be credited to the much-needed spark he's given the Amazin's from the moment he was called up on April 19. In his Major League debut, the one-time Brooklyn Cyclone had two base hits in a Mets win, and after 32 games, the fan-favorite carries a .290 batting average with four homeruns and eight doubles.



Is it bad that I kind of want one...?


--Max Caster

LeBronathon of Rap Week 1 - New York Knicks

We're doing this every week until July 1st. Next up is New Jersey with "On to the Nets, son."

Sportswire Interviews from 5-20

Terez Owens on the confirmation of the Delonte West-Gloria James rumor.




Joe Pawlikowski from River Ave. Blues on the Yankees' injury situation & more.


--Max Caster

Delonte-Gloria James Rumors Confirmed

From Terez Owens:

I just received word from a high-up PR person from an NBA team, who would like to remain anonymous for obvious reasons, that the LeBron/Delonte rumor is true… The PR person who is very good friends with Tad Carper and Amanda Petrak, the Cleveland Cavaliers top two PR People confirms the story is true..

He goes on to say..”It’s true and everyone around the league knows it.” It’s only a matter of time before this house of cards tumbles..I’m not saying this attributed to LeBron’s lackluster play the final three games, but the alleged affair happened according to this NBA team’s PR person..stay tuned. -TO

Give a lot of credit to Terez for breaking the story.


--Max Caster

Terez Owens on WCWP Sports tonight at 6:30p

Terez Owens, the man who broke the story on LeBron James's mom Gloria sleeping with Delonte West, will be on with myself and Matt Soldano tonight at 6:30pm EST.

He'll be on to talk about how the story has developed since he broke it last Friday.

If you're in Long Island, listen in on 88.1FM. If not, check us out on the web here.

Also on the show tonight is Joe Pawlikowski from River Ave Blues to talk Yankees.

Until then, listen to the new Drake freestyle:




--Max Caster

Audio: Calvin Murphy Says LeBron Rumors are "Absolutely True"

From Deadspin:

Hall-of-Famer Calvin Murphy appeared on ESPN Radio in Houston today and as all basketball conversations must do, the topic turned to the rumors about Delonte West's dalliance with LeBron James' mom. Murphy's response: "It ain't no rumor."

Murphy—who is not exactly the classiest individual to ever wear an NBA uniform—didn't just say he thinks it could have possibly, maybe happened. He says the story is "absolutely true," that everyone knew about it, and he has "legit" sources who can prove it. Oh, and there's also more than one dude involved. Unbelievable.


Check out the interview here from ESPN 97.5 in Houston.

It's looking like Terez Owens was right for posting that report in the first place.


UPDATE -- Here's what Terez Owens himself has to say on this:

The last several days multiple news outlets have been dismissing my original exclusive story, and to quote LeBron’s lawyer, as rubbish..Well, as days go by and the details trickle in, it appears the rumors are true..My source, an NBA insider has confirmed the story as true..He goes on to say..

”Everybody knows why LeBron choked in the playoffs…He found out Delonte was sleeping with his mom and emotionally shutdown..Anybody in the right NBA circles knows about this..” Also, last night basketball Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy took to the airwaves and became the most high-profile person to date to back the rumors. “It ain’t no rumor,” he told a Houston ESPN Radio station, calling the claims “absolutely true” and “absolutely horrifying.”

He went on: “Unfortunately, my sources in the NBA tell me that it’s absolutely true. My sources, and they’re legit, tell me that the only people that didn’t know it was happening was LeBron and me.”

So now that the cat’s out of the bag, hopefully more news outlets will advance the story knowing now its true..LeBron’s lawyer sent me a cease and desist hoping the story would go away..but I trusted my source and my gut and pursued the story further..Now, we know its true..I am also going on the same radio station Calvin Murphy appeared on to discuss the scandal later today..I’ll keep digging if you keep believing.

-TO


Once again, neither Gloria James, Delonte West nor LeBron James have commented on this themselves, but it's looking more and more likely as the time passes.


--Max Caster

Posada Out 3-4 Weeks

From the Journal News Yankees Blog:

Jorge Posada has a hairline fracture in his right foot. He’ll miss three to four weeks. As for what happens at catcher, “I don’t have that for you yet,” Joe Girardi said.

Marcus Thames is not expected to go on the disabled list, but Girardi said there could be more than one move tomorrow.


Well this is turning into the Mets 2009 season more and more everyday. With Posada out, the Yanks need to make a move quick. They could bring up Jesus Montero to play catcher. He'd be a better option because he's on the 40-man roster. Austin Romine and Chad Moeller are not and a move would have to be made.

Now with Marcus Thames out, I'd expect Greg Golson to be called back up. That would be the easiest thing to do. Chad Huffman is also on the 40-man roster and is a possible call-up. But with Golson's brief stint in the majors and his resemblence to Rajon Rondo, he's most likely to be back.

Now I'd say the lineup should look like this for the time being:

Jeter, SS
Gardner, CF
Teixeira, 1B
Rodriguez, 3B
Cano, 2B
Cervelli, C
Miranda, DH
Winn, LF
Golson, RF

If Miranda starts to hit real well, I would consider sliding Cervelli down to the 9th spot to group him with Jeter, Gardner and the big hitters. If Montero comes up, which I'd think is somewhat unlikely, I would work him in to the DH spot. New York really can't afford to bench Cervelli as long as he's playing this well.

So this should get good. Thank goodness Curtis Granderson will be back in a couple of weeks. Hopefully Nick Swisher is still pain-free tomorrow and will start against the Mets.


--Max Caster

Terez Owens on Cleveland Radio

Courtesy: Q104 in Cleveland.

This is from after the second source gave info to the Examiner.


-- Max Caster

"Sign of A Victory" - R. Kelly

For all you soccer fiends out there, here is the official 2010 FIFA World Cup Anthem...not joking either.  R. Kelly has done it once again.  Legal crap aside, this dude puts out hits, and here's another example.

"I Believe I Can Fly", "World's Greatest", and now this? Well done Robert!

-Matt Soldano

2010 NBA Mock Draft 1.0

Now that the Lottery is set, it is everyone's favorite time of year: Mock Drafts! Every two weeks (max.) I'll be coming out with a new mock draft, eventually leading you up to the NBA Draft on June 24th.  Without further ado, here are the projections.  

*Picks 15-30 based on reg. season record + NBA Comparisons credited to DraftExpress.

1. Washington Wizards - John Wall PG, Kentucky - This could not have turned out any better. After being decimated by the Gilbert Arenas situation and then trading Caron Butler and Antwan Jamison, the Wizards are looking to find a new face to the franchise. Selecting Wall gives you a new identity and also allows Arenas to play shooting guard, a position where people feel like he is more suited.  

Best Case: Russell Westbrook

Worst Case: Kyle Lowry

2. Philadelphia 76ers - Evan Turner SG, Ohio State - The Sixers were also winners Tuesday night, moving up four spots thus winning the "Evan Turner Sweepstakes." Turner can excel at three positions and was the most consistent, dominant player in college basketball last year. Turner will eventually and quickly become a legit number one scoring threat in this league, something that Philly has missed since the days of Iverson.

Best Case: Brandon Roy

Worst Case: Anthony Parker

3. New Jersey Nets - Derrick Favors PF, Georgia Tech - I've always been a Favors fan but this is a tough consolation prize for Jersey.  As a North Carolina fan I watched a ton of ACC Basketball and saw Favors a lot.  If only he played with guards that could get him the ball, he would have had an even better freshman season.  Now that Jersey has to settle, Favors really compliments Brook Lopez well and has as much upside as any player in the draft.  

Best Case: Antonio McDyess

Worst Case: Chris Wilcox

4. Minnesota Timberwolves - Wesley Johnson SF, Syracuse - Corey Brewer came along nicely last season but I don't see that stopping the Wolves from drafting Johnson.  The only player worth a #4 selection would be DeMarcus Cousins but with Al Jefferson and Kevin Love on the roster, that eliminates that choice.  Johnson is lengthy, athletic and an above-average rebounder.  The pick makes sense but I wouldn't be surprised to see the Wolves trade down.

Best Case: Shawn Marion

Worst Case: Travis Outlaw

5. Sacramento Kings - DeMarcus Cousins C, Kentucky - The Kings have front court players in Carl Landry, Jason Thompson, and Spencer Hawes but none of them are bruisers down in the paint.  Cousins is a legit scorer in the post and pair him with a playmaker in Evans (similar to Wall's ability) and he can flourish.  Needs to improve his attitude/work ethic though.

Best Case: Al Jefferson

Worst Case: Derrick Coleman

6. Golden State Warriors - Al-Farouq Aminu SF, Wake Forest - Aminu is a prototypical Don Nelson player.  In terms of athletic ability, there are not many prospects that rank higher than the former Demon Deacon (or Gentlemen, if you're Papa Soldano). He shows great versatility on both ends of the court and can provide the Warriors with impact play from the start.  

Best Case: Josh Smith

Worst Case: Thaddeus Young

7. Detroit Pistons - Ekpe Udoh PF, Baylor - One of my favorite prospects in the entire draft. Selecting Udoh will give the Pistons a huge defensive presence in the paint, something they have been missing since their deep playoff runs.  An improved offensive game will only strengthen Udoh's stock. 

Best Case: Jason Thompson

Worst Case: Hilton Armstrong

8. Los Angeles Clippers - Gordon Hayward SF, Butler - This is the toughest pick in the lottery to project.  The Clips need help on the wing  but with Aminu and Johnson off the board, the best players available are power forwards.  However, I see them reaching here and taking the darling of the tourney in Hayward.  

9. Utah Jazz - Ed Davis PF, North Carolina - Toss-up between Davis and Greg Monroe but I'll take the guy from UNC here.  Potentially losing Carlos Boozer to free agency only strengthens the need at PF for Utah.  Davis was plagued by a wrist injury this year and did not wow people, yet his upside and commitment to crashing the glass is what wows NBA scouts.

Best Case: Al Horford

Worst Case: Udonis Haslem

10. Indiana Pacers - Greg Monroe PF, Georgetown - The All-Hoyas front-court! Troy Murphy has been on the trading block for a while now in Indy so a changing of the guard could be coming. Despite the fact Indiana drafted Tyler Hansbrough last season, he will never be a starter. Monroe is one of the most talented big men in the draft who can run the floor and pass with the best of them.

Best Case: Brad Miller

Worst Case: Josh McRoberts

11. New Orleans Hornets - Daniel Orton C, Kentucky - I am going to be honest. Despite the fact Orton played at Kentucky, I know nothing about him.  That's because he never played. However, NBA scouts believe he can be a solid center in the league down the road and with the way Emeka Okafor played for New Orleans last year, Orton fits a need.  

Best Case: Kendrick Perkins

Worst Case: Pervis Pasco (My thoughts exactly...)

12. Memphis Grizzlies - Patrick Patterson PF, Kentucky - The 4th UK player taken in the lottery, Patterson doesn't excel at one specific thing, but rather is just solid all-around.  Could be a productive player that adds depth behind Zach Randolph.  

Best Case: Carl Landry

Worst Case: Kris Humphries

13. Toronto Raptors - Hassan Whiteside C, Marshall - Whiteside is another one of my favorites in the draft.  While the offensive game is still raw, he can provide instant defensive presence down low.  He averaged over five blocks per game in his freshman season but because he declared after just one season in college, he is a huge high risk, high reward player.

14. Houston Rockets - Cole Aldrich C, Kansas - I'm not the biggest fan of Aldrich but if the Rockets nab him here it would be a huge steal.  Similarly to Patterson, Aldrich does not do anything outstanding but could certainly be selected in the top 10.  If Aldrich can develop a better offensive game, he could be a solid 30 minute type of player.

Best Case: Joel Pryzbilla

Worst Case: Josh Boone

15. Milwaukee Bucks - James Anderson SG, Oklahoma State - Anderson had a forgetful tournament and could have played himself out of the lottery.  However it is hard to ignore his ridiculous scoring in a legit conference such as the Big 12.  With John Salmons future in doubt in Milwaukee, the Bucks could use another scorer. Even if Salmons returns, adding another scorer would be beneficial to the Bucks cause.

16. Minnesota Timberwolves - Donatas Motiejunas PF, Lithuania - The Wolves have three picks in the first round so they can afford to use one on a guy and stash him overseas. Motiejunas has lottery talent who has been compared to have some Pau Gasol (or Stu Gasol, if you're Papa Soldano) in his game. If he develops, he could easily make Kevin Love or Al Jefferson expendable down the road.  

Best Case: Andrea Bargnani

Worst Case: Channing Frye

17. Chicago Bulls - Xavier Henry SG, Kansas  -We all saw how badly the Bulls missed Ben Gordon this season.  They struggled scoring the ball at times and really couldn't spread the floor with Derrick Rose running the point.  Henry has an old-school type of game. Very fluid and a nice lefty stroke should help the Bulls.  With a good camp, he could sneak into the late lottery.

Best Case: James Posey

Worst Case: Martell Webster

18. Miami Heat - Avery Bradley PG, Texas - I disagreed with the move to come out after just one season but with so few point guards in the draft, Bradley's stock improves.  Miami appears to have given up on the Mario Chalmers experiment at point and Bradley should be an upgrade over Carlos Arroyo.  Bradley is a lockdown defender and his Achilles heel is by far his jump shot.

19. Boston Celtics - Paul George SF, Fresno State - With Paul Pierce and Ray Allen aging, the Celtics need to think about future replacements.  George draws comparisons to Trevor Ariza and Wilson Chandler with his athleticism.  However, he is probably a better shooter than both of those cats.  

20. San Antonio Spurs - Damion James SF, Texas - People will look at Texas' absymal season last year and think less of James.  However, James put up numbers that could be National POY contention.  To me he is one of the more underrated guys in the draft.  He can guard multiple positions and has a constant motor, something that the Spurs preach.

Best Case: Luc Richard Mbah A Moute

21. Oklahoma City Thunder - Larry Sanders PF, VCU - Sanders to me is one of the more under-appreciated players in the draft.  His offense improved every season at VCU but what separates him from others is his abilities on the defensive end.  The Thunder could use a big man who can block shots and they will covet this type of player.

22. Portland Trail Blazers - Kevin Seraphin C, France - The Blazers have been known to take chances on some foreign players so Seraphin seems like an option.  Marcus Camby is not getting any younger so Seraphin hopes to be a solid back-up to Greg Oden down the line.

23. Minnesota Timberwolves - Terrico White SG, Ole Miss - Watching some of the Ole Miss games in the NIT one thing stuck out to me about White. He can look like one of the best players in the country at one time and then minutes later he disappears.  However, with the Wolves selecting a SF and PF earlier in the draft, White provides back-court help.

24. Atlanta Hawks - Eric Bledsoe PG, Kentucky - Bledsoe could go earlier than here as him and Bradley will be battling out for the second point guard drafted after Wall.  I still think Bledsoe needs time to define his game so a couple years playing back-up to Mike Bibby can't hurt.  Jeff Teague was a disappointment last year, look for Bledsoe to have a brighter future.

25. Memphis Grizzlies - Luke Babbit SF, Nevada - Apparently the Grizz are in love with Babbit, so much that Chad Ford has him going in the lottery to Memphis just because they fear he won't slide.  Have no fear! I'm telling you differently.  Babbit can score the ball from the outside with ease but I think he's going to be completely lost on the defensive side.

26. Oklahoma City Thunder - Stanley Robinson SF, Connecticut - If there's one thing the Thunder like to do, it's run, run and run.  Hello Stanley Robinson!  Robinson was one of my favorite players to watch but he is maddeningly inconsistent.  His athleticism fits the Thunder to a tee this pick almost makes too much sense.  Has lottery potential.

Best Case: Gerald Wallace

Worst Case: Jamario Moon

27. New Jersey Nets - Willie Warren SG, Oklahoma - Warren started off the year as a top ten talent.  However he had a nightmarish season and saw his stock drop dramatically.  The Nets could use help in the backcourt .  He's no John Wall but could make an impact.

Best Case: Ben Gordon

Worst Case: Rashad McCants

28. Memphis Grizzlies - Dominique Jones SG, South Florida - Jones can also play some point guard at the next level and could be a nice back-up to Mike Conley.  Scouts will be impressed that Jones was able to put up fantastic offensive numbers in the Big East on a team with virtually no surrounding talent.  Watch for his stock to climb.

29. Orlando Magic - Devin Ebanks SF, West Virginia - The one thing Ebanks will need to find at the next level is consistency as he sometimes floated in and out of games at WVU. With the Magic already possessing a deep bench, Ebanks is just another piece to the puzzle.

30. Washington Wizards - Quincy Pondexter SF, Washington - Pondexter benefits from playing four years in college.  This is just an initial spot for him as I expect to be moving him into the 20s in future mocks. A great tournament run as the Huskies made it to the Sweet 16 boosted his stock.

Next 5 in: Solomon Alabi, Craig Brackins, Jordan Crawford, Elliot Williams, Gani Lawal

38. New York Knicks - Jarvis Varnado PF, Mississippi State - When was the last time the Knicks had a feared defensive presence down on the block?  Varnado blocked an insane amount of shots for MSU and his athletic ability translates well to the NBA. Great fit for New York.

39. New York Knicks - Kenneth Faried PF, Morehead State - Yes, it is another power forward but the Knicks do need size.  If there is one thing that always translates well from the college ranks to the pros, it's rebounding.  Faried grabbed 13 boards a game this season, all while averaging close to 17 points. Don't get to use to this though, I have a suspicion he could go in the first round.

So there it is, your first round 2010 NBA Mock Draft/New York Knicks picks.  As time passes, I will incorporate the second round selections in as well.  Leave me a comment tell me what you think and who you want your favorite player to target in June! 

-Matt Soldano

Update on Delonte West & Gloria James

From Terez Owens:

As we originally reported Friday we had received an email alledging an affair between Gloria James & Delonte West and welcomed any information that could substantiate the claim. It Appears the popular news outlet Examiner claims to have a source close to Lebron and in the Akron area. See below:

“Another source close to LeBron James claims to have had the superstar confide in him, saying that unlike Owens’ claim that sex between Delonte West and Gloria James went on for a couple of months, it really allegedly occurred once, either during or before the MVP party celebration wherein James was in attendance and the alcohol reportedly flowed.

Reportedly, the Akron source said that LeBron James found out about the sex mid-way through the series, just as Terez Owens claims, and that it contributed to the poor game-playing performance.”

We don’t know the truth of the Examiner’s Article but this still smells a little fishy-TO


Even with the cease & desist, this could be another indication of a relationship between Gloria James & Delonte West. The report of it happening once rather than multiple times could make sense, as it seems like it would be difficult to keep this kind of a secret from LeBron. But still nothing is set in stone.

EDIT: And another thing! Can we finally see this rumor reported in mainstream media outlets? With a source from Terez Owens and a source from the Examiner, outlets have the two reports needed in order to start publishing. Even if the paper/magazine/network hasn't talked to these people directly, we've seen two separate reports from two different sites. Time to start viewing this with some more legitimacy.


-- Max Caster

LeBron's Lawyer Sends Cease & Desist to Terez Owens

From TMZ:

LeBron James' attorney has fired off a cease and desist email -- finally denying the fast-spreading, and disturbing rumor of a sex scandal involving LeBron's mom and his teammate Delonte West.

TMZ obtained a copy of the email sent to terezowens.com -- the sports blog that first reported on Friday that LeBron's mother Gloria was allegedly sleeping with Delonte. In the email, Frederick Nance -- attorney for LeBron and Gloria -- says the report is "categorically false and per se defamatory." Nance adds, "No thinking person could possibly believe such rubbish."

The report -- which also spread as a viral email -- was supposed to explain the Cleveland Cavaliers' playoff loss to the Boston Celtics with this theory: LeBron finds out about Delonte and his mom before game 4 ... Cavs go on to lose games 4, 5, and 6 (and possibly LeBron).

The guys at terezowens tell us, "We think it's a little fishy that they waited almost 4 days to fire this off." They say they stand by their source, and they're consulting with their lawyers. The story is still up on their site ... for now.

UPDATE: We also spoke to Keith Estabrook -- a spokesman for the James family -- who told us, "I will not dignify this with a comment."


Here's the PDF file of the letter sent to T.O.


We'll see how this shakes out. Follow Terez on Twitter to keep up with him.


--Max Caster

Eddy Curry Holds the Fate of New York

From the NY Daily News:

LeBron James has reached out to the Knicks, which may or may not be such a good thing for Donnie Walsh's club.

James, according to a source, has contacted Knicks center Eddy Curry about working out together at some point during the offseason. There may be nothing more to it than the fact that James and Curry are represented by the same agent, Leon Rose. James and Curry also have close ties to noted NBA power broker William Wesley, whom the Knicks put in charge of Curry's workouts last summer.

But Curry's involvement in the Knicks' recruitment of James is interesting since the veteran center has had a famous falling-out with head coach Mike D'Antoni, which began as far back as D'Antoni's first practice with the Knicks.


So it looks like the Knicks are screwed. Oh my goodness, can LeBron pick a Knick who actually likes being here? Danilo Gallinari is the posterboy. Pretty Toney Douglas got his first shot here. Anybody else would have been great. My feeling is that Eddy will tell LeBreezy that Mike D'Antoni is a jerk, Donnie Walsh is incompetant and Isiah Thomas is still lurking the halls for middle-aged women... Uh oh.

Right now I'm extremely worried about this. But imagine if Eddy Curry comes through. Does he get a new contract? Does he get a key to the city? Maybe a toaster? Actually anything with food would make him happy. But how does he get rewarded if he convinces LeBron to come to the Knicks?

This whole ordeal that started two years ago seemed to be coming to a rather simple end. But with LeBron talking with guys on each potential team, he's throwing in an industrial sized monkey wrench. The Bulls have Derrick Rose, the Heat have Dwyane Wade and the Knicks have Eddy Curry... son of a....


--Max Caster

Terez Owens on SIRIUS Re: Delonte West & Gloria James

Always like to see my boys get recognition. Good stuff, TO.

Most eye-opening statement: TMZ and other "legit" news sources have contacted Terez about the story. They are waiting for the confirmation before they report it, but it's definitely on their radars.


--Max Caster

Mets Lineup: Carter Fourth, Pagan Seventh

From Andy Martino of the NY Daily News:

1. Reyes, SS
2. Cora, 2B
3. Bay, LF
4. Carter, RF
5. Wright, 3B
6. Davis, 1B
7. Pagan, CF
8. Blanco, C
9. Niese, P

Things should get interesting with this. Hopefully Chris "Cargo Train" Carter will come through. But I guess at this point Jerry Manuel is willing to try anything. I'm not sure Carter is the answer, but we know for sure it's not David Wright. Either way, I'll have an eye on this.


--Max Caster

Surprise! Nick Johnson May Need Surgery

From ESPN New York:

Yankees designated hitter Nick Johnson is unlikely to return to action before the first week of June and could be out until August.

Johnson's sore right wrist may require surgery to remove inflamed tissue, GM Brian Cashman said. The surgery would keep him out four to six weeks on top of the month he already is expected to miss.

Cashman said Johnson got a cortisone shot in the wrist last weekend in Boston, but it will not be known for a couple of weeks if that treatment was effective.


Well, well, well... What we have here is a mess. If Nick Johnson misses 3 months because of his wrist, that is awful for the Yankees. Not saying that Johnson was doing well, but nevertheless, an injured starter is never good. Not to mention the barrage of "Yankees Haters" that'll come out to say the team should have kept Johnny Damon or Hideki Matsui to DH.

While it isn't official that Johnson will have the operation, I think we can all agree that it's going to happen. He's like a used car: brand new to us, but has had a long line of problems in the past.

What I'd like to see at DH for now is a platoon of Juan Miranda and Jorge Posada. Posada (or Bro-Sada) in order to keep Francisco Cervelli in the lineup. Juan Miranda because I think he can hit better than Marcus Thames and is young. It's about time Miranda gets a look on the big league roster, but of course it's tough with Mark Teixeira (or The Marksman) over there. But let's give Miranda a couple weeks of regular play and then reassess the situation.

And then there could be my dream scenario of seeing Posada platoon with Jesus Montero. Montero, however, isn't hitting well in Scranton.

I hate Nick Johnson.


-- The article also says that Curtis Granderson ran yesterday. From what I've heard from Joe Girardi, it'll still be another two weeks before Cowboy Curtis is back at it.


--Max Caster

Gloria James has a History of Sleeping with LeBron's Boys

From Terez Owens:

The internet is a buzz with the story I posted yesterday about LeBron’s mother Gloria James sleeping with teammate Delonte West..Well, here’s some more exclusive Terez Owens news.. According to my source, this isn’t the first time Gloria James has been caught hooking up with LeBron’s Friends..

”It’s A KNOWN FACT, THAT GLORIA JAMES WAS ALSO SLEEPING WITH HIS EX-AGENT’S TWIN BROTHER (ERIC GOODWIN)….AND THIS WAS THE REASON HE REALLY FIRED AARON GOODWIN….”

So it appears she has a history of getting with LeBron’s friends..I guess it’s not inconceivable that Gloria James is involved with Delonte West..I put in a call to the Cavs Media Relations Department and haven’t heard back yet..and there have been no denials from LeBron’s camp…stay tuned..-TO


This is a good follow up to yesterday's post by Terez Owens. More information seems to be coming out, so we'll see where this leads to.

Once again, we had Terez on the air with us yesterday to talk about the story/rumor he posted. You can check out the interview here.

I'll give Terez Owens love for working to get his site back up and running after yesterday's influx of traffic. Hopefully it doesn't happen again. Also, much thanks to TO for posting up our interview on his site.

Follow Terez Owens on Twitter @TerezOwens.

And while you're at it, follow us as well @WCWPSports.

-- Max Caster

Reyes Batting Leadoff Tonight, Pagan Third

From David Lennon's Twitter:

Reyes leading off tonight, Pagan hitting third. Manuel didn't like the idea two days ago, but can't blame him for changing his mind.

It's about time. Reyes has been pitiful at the three spot. He's been one of the majors' best leadoff hitters for years, so I'm confident he'll eventually be efficient in that spot.

Now the other side to this is Angel Pagan batting third. Pagan has a nice bat. He can make contact and has somewhat underrated power. So I like the move for Pagan, but he's not a starter or three hitter on a really good team. So we may see a repeat of the Reyes experiment, but I hope Pagan proves that wrong.

Matt Soldano and I were talking about this on the air this past week. We both didn't have an issue with trying Pagan at third, but Matt convinced me that maybe Ike Davis is the guy for the job. We may see that sooner or later, depending on how Pagan does and the recovery of Carlos Beltran.


--Max Caster

MRI Negative, Swisher Back Again

From MLB.com:

An MRI on Nick Swisher's sore left biceps came back negative Friday night, but the right fielder remains day to day with what is being called a slight strain of the biceps.

Swisher left Friday's 8-4 win over the Twins in the top of the fourth inning. During his only at-bat of the night in the second inning, he shook that left arm after his first swing and dropped the bat while swinging through strike three against Scott Baker.

Swisher originally felt soreness in his biceps a few weeks ago. After fading away, it returned on Wednesday, forcing the right fielder out of the nightcap against the Tigers and Thursday's day game. He was back in the lineup on Friday, with manager Joe Girardi saying "everything checked out" during Swisher's visit to the team doctor.


Nick Swisher is back in the lineup, which looks like this:

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada DH
Marcus Thames LF
Francisco Cervelli C
Brett Gardner CF

Today is crucial for Swish and the Yankees, more importantly. If he leaves today's game, that leaves Greg Golson or (*gulp*) Randy Winn to hit second in today's lineup. We'll see in the bottom of the first whether Swisher feels the biceps again. Yesterday, he left after his first at-bat, so that will be one of the deciding factors in today's game.

Another one will be Andy Pettitte on 10 days of rest after he was skipped in his last start. I expect Pettitte to be healthy, but it's how he reacts to the layoff. The Twins are a tough team and Francisco Liriano is opposing.

-- Max Caster

How Did I Miss This?

Better than the Minnesota radio crew after Favre's INT in the NFC title game:



-- Max Caster

Terez Owens Interview Re: Delonte West & LeBron's Mom

This is Matt Soldano and I speaking with Terez Owens of TerezOwens.com. He's the man who first posted the story about Delonte West sleeping with LeBron James' mother and that being the cause of Cleveland's epic collapse in the playoffs.





Sorry I had to put it in two parts. YouTube would not take the spot as long as it is.

You can check out Terez's original post of this story here. If the traffic still has his site down, read it on WCWP Sports here.

I'll stress it again, but Terez Owens has been credible in the past. Whether the story is true or not, wait until it's proven by the parties involved. T.O. did say in the interview that other sites got the same e-mail he did, but no one else posted it; dismissing it right away. I have love for what Terez Owens does and I seriously doubt that he'd be making this up.


--Max Caster

West Sleeping with LeBron's Mom - Reason for Breakdown

From Terez Owens:

In what is truly a disturbing story, comes exclusive Terez Owens news that LeBron’s teammate Delonte West is sleeping with LeBron’s Mother Gloria James..Yes, this is the purported story coming from my source in Cleveland..My source explains the following:

”My uncle is the general contractor at the Q and has been for the last 7 years. He’s good friends with a lot of guys at the Q, including some of the bigger boys in the organization and knows Dan Gilbert personally.My uncle has been told that Delonte has been banging Gloria James (Lebron’s Mom) for some time now. Somehow Lebron found out before game four and it destroyed their chemistry and divided the team. I am not making this up, I wish it wasn’t true but it happened. .”

With Delonte West’s checkered past, LeBron can be none too pleased with his teammate and good friend hanging with his Mother… The Cavs definitely looked like a different squad from game 4 on..especially LeBron…coincidence, or did this really just happen? Maybe this is the reason LeBron’s leaving Cleveland..-TO


Crazy, I know. But Terez Owens is a pal of mine and I know has connections. He has no reason to make this up and it could be the reason for LeBron James' play in games 4, 5 & 6. Terez is also the man who broke the story of Reggie Bush & Kim Kardashian's 1st breakup; only he broke it over a week before the mainstream media ran with it.

We're going to have Terez Owens on tonight at 6:15pm Eastern. Listen in on 88.1FM in Long Island and on WCWPSports.com. Make sure you check it out. We'll post the interview later.


--Max Caster

I'm Bored Between Quarters!!

Just before the end of the 1st Quarter between Boston and Cleveland, ESPN showed Kevin Garnett talking endlessly to Glen Davis on the bench. Davis' face looked just like this:



Anyway, their convo reminded me of my favorite "Big Baby" moment:



In the related videos, I found my most hated moment in all of sports.



I'd still take him on the Knicks.

Anyway, I'm going back to watching Rajon Rondo make the Cavs facepalm all over the court.


--Max Caster

Swisher Day-to-Day, On the Bench Today

From the Star-Ledger:

Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher was pulled from Wednesday's 8-0 victory against the Tigers with tightness in his left biceps. Manager Joe Girardi said Swisher is day-to-day.

Swisher said he first "felt a tug" in his left biceps a few weeks ago, though the sensation subsided. It returned on Wednesday during batting practice before the second game. He felt it again when swinging at a Jeremy Bonderman pitch.

"It just kept getting worse," Swisher said.

Though the injury affects him when he swings, Swisher said he isn't bothered when throwing.


Yeah, I have to:




This Yankees team is beginning to look like the 2009 Mets minus the insane amount of losses. Now that Nick Swisher is down for who knows how long, the Yanks, along with my fantasy team, will lose a very valuable and underappreciated producer. Now it'll be Greg Golson helping to fill in for Swish, as seen in today's lineup:

Derek Jeter SS
Brett Gardner CF
Mark Teixeira DH
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Juan Miranda 1B
Randy Winn LF
Greg Golson RF

I like Golson. He got his first big league hit yesterday and has the drive of a guy who could be sent back to Triple-A at any moment. Not to mention, he's a hell of a lot better than Marcus Thames in the outfield. What I'm most excited for today is seeing the 9-1-2 combo of Golson, Derek Jeter and Brett Gardner. If those guys can get on base in succession, Justin Verlander's head will be spinning. If you didn't know, Golson could possibly be faster than the Gard-Dog.

Regardless of my own pleasures, the Yankees need to begin getting these guys off the DL. Curtis Granderson is due back soon, and Swisher is day-to-day which could mean anything. But I'm starting to worry about the Yanks and their injuries.

Another guy who stands out today is Juan Miranda at first base. I had wrote earlier in the week that he could be called up as a replacement for the often injured, widely disliked Nick Johnson. Alas, it seems he's just here because Mark Teixeira needed a DH day and Nick Swisher wasn't eadily available to play first. So here's your shot, Juan. He made me proud last year with my favorite walk-off win: the single off Kyle Farnsworth's shin:




--Max Caster

Scott Steiner's Workout DVD's

I'm going to look like this guy one day. Bleached sections of my beard included.

For now, watch this, and the other promos, for a hearty, disturbed laugh.




-- Max Caster

It's Now or Never For Lebron

Last night's 120-88 loss exposed more than just a 3-2 series deficit for the Cleveland Cavaliers. It exposed more than a less than stellar supporting cast. What is exposed was a similar Lebron James, a player who refuses to take accountability for his team's faults and pledge to take control of the rest of the series.

"I spoil a lot of people with my play. When you have three bad games in seven years, it's easy to point them out...I put a lot of pressure on myself to go out and be great and the best player on the court. When I don't, I feel bad for myself."

Now is not the time for Lebron James to remind us how great he is. We know that.  But he needs to act like one and throw away the smug attitude.  No one wants to hear the pity plea but rather we want to hear the plea to right the ship.

We all know Lebron James' Game 5 performance was a complete flop.  It took him until mid-way through the 3rd quarter to make a field goal and for the most part, looked utterly disinterested out on the court.  Let's face the facts: Mike Brown is about as reliable as a Head Coach as Antoine Walker is with a sack of money. The supporting cast for Lebron, while it is improved over the years, still can't compare to Kobe's or Dwight Howard's.  But should a team that won 11 more games in the regular season have this much trouble in a post-season including two significant losses at home?

If Lebron does not put the team on his shoulders and win these next two games, James will have the first real tarnish to what has been a dominant on the court legacy.  For three straight years he will be stopped short of reaching the Finals.  Last year, he was the sore loser, ungracious player who walked off the court after the Orlando loss.  This year, he's the player that has reportedly been more and more distant in the locker room and in the huddle. 

 

Maybe James was lying when he promised all of us he would the July 1st talks to bed and focus on his team.  It certainly seems like his head is everywhere but focused on the Boston Celtics and the real star of the series: Rajon Rondo.  James needs to follow suit and act like the great player he is.  Put this team on your back and make people forget about Game 5. 

The prospects of Lebron James leaving Cleveland have never seemed stronger.  With a loss to the Celtics, I would say he is definitely leaving.  Just be prepared for some folks calling him a quitter and comparing him to guys like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Isiah Thomas who suffered tough playoff losses but remained with their teams in order to pursue an NBA Championship.

It's do or die for Lebron.  We're not saying he needs to post 40-10-10 to make people think that he does not choke in the playoffs.  What needs to happen is we need to see Lebron possess that obsessive borderline crazed drive to win a title, something that has not been a part of James' repertoire to date.

-Matt Soldano

Mr. Aceves Goes to the DL

From the NY Daily News:

On Monday, Alfredo Aceves was hopeful that he would be available to pitch within a day or two. Tuesday, Aceves was headed for the disabled list.

Such is life for the Yankees, as their injury problems have hovered over the clubhouse for more than a week. Aceves is expected to be placed on the DL Wednesday, joining Curtis Granderson, Nick Johnson and Chan Ho Park.

"Ace isn't doing too good," Joe Girardi said before the Yankees and Tigers were rained out Tuesday night at Comerica Park.

Aceves left Saturday's game with lower back stiffness, an ailment that has become a recurring problem for the righthander since last September. He felt better on Monday, but when he tried to play catch, it became clear that his back was a bigger issue than he thought.


This is not good. I repeat: NOT GOOD!

Without Alfredo Aceves -- or Alf, as I call him -- the Yankees' only long reliever is Sergio Mitre, who's filling in for Andy Pettitte. Now the Yankees success rests on Pettitte's return and continuation of his above average production. He, along with CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Phil Hughes, will have to carry the team for the remainder of Alf's DL stint.

Now New York must pick it up offensively. That means Alex Rodriguez -- or The Al Pal, as I call him -- Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter really need to be the leaders they're supposed to be. It's May, and while Teixeira -- or Mark, as I call him -- is coming around, he along with the others need to step up.

But it's yet another instance where the Yankees are faced with a big injury. And yet another time they'll probably will their way through it. But I'm starting to wonder how many more hits the World Champs can take.


--Max Caster

Knicks Fans Should Be Confident About this Summer

So the Atlanta Hawks just rolled over for a fourth straight time to the Orlando Magic. This time, the box score read 98-84 followed by the eulogy of the Hawks’ 2009-2010 campaign. A farewell to the fans. A big peace out to Philips Arena. And more than likely a plane ride out of the dirty south for Joe Johnson.



Johnson is one of the prized free agents fortunate to be on the market in “The Summer of LeBron.” He’s been projected to receive a max contract, just like his free agent swingman counterparts LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Similar to those two, he’s been the face and main catalyst on one of the Eastern Conference’s best teams. And again like James and Wade, he’s expected to test the free agent market for the best opportunity, whether in Atlanta or elsewhere.

But what may be lost in the hoopla surrounding “The Summer of LeBron” could be the disturbing events that took place during “The Spring of Rondo.” The Hawks were absolutely bludgeoned by Orlando. In four games, Atlanta lost by a total of 101 points. That’s an average of 25.25 points per game. They never stood a chance. Not to mention the seven-game tight rope walk against Milwaukee in the first round. If I was Joe Johnson, I’d be pretty embarrassed.

Sure, it could be Johnson’s 29 percent shooting in the second round that did Atlanta in. Actually, that has a big part to do with it. But at this point and after these playoffs, Johnson has to take a look around himself and realize what’s there. It’s a team that’s losing its window at an NBA title quicker than everybody thinks.

Mike Bibby is solid but he’s getting older. Plus, he’s never been the floor general to push his team to the finals, stretching back to his Sacramento days. Jamal Crawford can win all the Sixth Man of the Year awards he wants. But the fact is Jamal definitely isn’t a player with a huge role on a title-winning team. Josh Smith is very talented and athletic, but his drive and willingness to play 100 percent is questionable. Even in this series with the Magic, Smith was walking back on defense. Marvin Williams and Al Horford are good, but aren’t game changers. Don’t forget about the coach on the hot seat.



That leaves Joe Johnson with a group of teammates that will fall apart without his production. No one can pick it up when he’s gone. This season, more than any other in Atlanta, should tell Johnson all he needs to know about that team. The Hawks’ run at the top is close to done.

So now it’s decision time for Sloppy Joe. Does he stay with the Hawks or does he go in search of a younger, developing team? Chances are it’s the latter. And even though a month ago, we all thought he’d bounce, there’s an even greater possibility now. And, of course, we all know a young, developing team looking for a vet to center around is the Knicks.

Donnie Walsh and Mike D’Antoni are probably the two happiest guys in New York right now. They know Johnson is on his way out and a very attractive place to him has been the Big Apple. The stage, the arena and the fans are enticing. Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and another max contracted free agent isn’t too shabby either. And at the moment, the situation is better than the one present with the Hawks franchise.



The Hawks are a team that needs to be in some sort of on-court transition. The Knicks are and have been in a transitional phase for a while now. That means this phase is coming to an end in the next year or two. In that period, Gallinari and Chandler will reach their peaks. At point guard, Toney Douglas will be a lot better than he was in his impressive rookie year. Bill Walker will continue to make big plays. Eddy Curry will come off the books, giving the team an opportunity to sign another big free agent in the summer of 2011. The train is rolling in New York, and Johnson needs to jump on it.

While it’s certainly a period where Joe Johnson is at a bit of a low point, the Knicks can still overpay for him. He’d be the best pure scorer and on-court leader since the Latrell Sprewell – Allan Houston days. This is the type of player New York needs in the worst way.

The escape from Atlanta is now inevitable. The team didn’t show up in the big spot and it’s clear for Johnson to see. It’s time for him to move on to a place with more money, younger players and the hungriest fans in sports. That place is New York.

And if the Knicks don’t get Joe Johnson, look on the bright side. There’s always LeBron…


-- Max Caster

The All-Star Ballot is Out!

Yes! It's that time of year again. All-Star Voting, baby! Where you get to be the wise guy who votes in Luis Castillo.

Here's what my ballot looks like.



American League

1st: Mark Teixeira
2nd: Robinson Cano
3rd: Alex Rodriguez
SS: Derek Jeter
C: Francisco Cervelli (Write-In)
OF: Brett Gardner, Ichiro Suzuki, Shin Soo Choo


National League

1st: Ike Davis (Write-In)
2nd: Chase Utley
3rd: David Wright
SS: Jose Reyes
C: "Hot" Rod Barajas
OF: Jason Bay, Andr Ethier, Jason Heyward


You can vote here.


--Max Caster

Walsh & D'Antoni Talk it Out

Potential Replacements for Nick Johnson

Well, true believers... The inevitable has happened. Nick Johnson has taken a trip to the 15-day DL with his recurring wrist injury. Now the New York Yankees are without a DH, and I'm here to help solve the issue.

The first, and most obvious replacement is Jorse Posada (Bro-sada). He's been banged up with his various injuries. That along with his increasing age means he could use the rest. Also, it gives Joe Girardi an opportunity to keep Francisco Cervelli in the lineup. Coming into to today's game with Boston, Cervelli is hitting .395 in an adequate sample size.

The only negative to this would be the chance that Cervelli is exposed a bit. Not to mention the conflict I may have with both catchers on my fantasy team. But from what I've seen, Cervelli will be fine as long as his energy level his consistent.

Aside from Posada, the other player on the roster who could DH would be Nick Swisher. But I wouldn't want an outfield of both Marcus Thames and Randy Winn. One of them is more than enough. Plus, it's not like Swish is terrible in right field.


On the free agent market, there are a couple of guys who could get a look. First is Jermaine Dye. Dye hit 27 homers and 81 RBI for the White Sox last year. He batted .250, but his OBP was 90 points higher than his average. The reassuring thing about Dye is that he played 133 games in the outfield last year. So Dye is a guy who can keep lineup flexibility for the Yanks. But he's also in the same category as Nick Johnson: injury prone. So this is a signing that comes with a 'Caution: Wet Floor' sign.

Other intriguing or head-scratching (whichever way you look at it) players are Gary Sheffield and Carlos Delgado. But those guys can't play the field and I'm not sure Delgado has a working hip. So they're probably last resorts.

The other place to reach for a quick fix at DH is Triple-A. Two guys in Scranton stand out for me. Juan Miranda is the first. He came up on the expanded roster at the end of last season. He provided one of my favorite plays; a walk-off single, rocketed off the legs of Kyle Farnsworth.

Miranda hasn't played too much on the major league roster. In limited action over the last two seasons, he's 7-of-19 (.368 BA). But in Scranton, he's been great. In 2009, his first full year, the 27-year old hit .290/.369/.498 with 19 homers and 82 RBIs. He's a first baseman, like Nick Johnson, and can take over in the field.

The second guy from Scranton would be Jesus Montero. Montero is the Yankees' prized possession in the minors, and has been projected to have elite power at the plate. This season is his first at Triple-A and so far, Montero has struggled. His line so far is .244/.306/.378. So it's definitely too early to call him up and expect him to do much.

But Montero is 20 years old and is projected to be a major player for New York for years. Why not try him now? Although he's a catcher, he isn't expected to play there his whole career. Nick Johnson could be gone a while and that leaves the spot open at DH. And if Montero does come up, he could be platooned there with Jorge Posada, thus taking a lot of pressure off him.



And even though this could initially take away from the lineup, it may not matter. The Yankees were a top 5 team in April with Derek Jeter, Johnson, Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez and Nick Swisher slumping. Johnson, Posada and Curtis Granderson were in and out of the lineup with injuries. So what's one more question mark, especially when Swisher, Jeter, Teixeira and Rodriguez are coming around to meet up with Robinson Cano, Brett Gardner and Francisco Cervelli?

It could be a good time for Jesus Montero.

In all likelihood, it'll be Posada and Thames at the DH spot. Juan Miranda or a middle infielder will come up for depth. Jermaine Dye will remain unsigned. And Jesus Montero will continue to work in Triple-A. But in reality, any of these scenarios are possible.


--Max Caster