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MLB Headlines
August 20
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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All-time Cardinals saves leader Jason Isringhausen walked away from the club Tuesday with what is believed to be a career-threatening torn flexor muscle near his right elbow. Team medical supervisor Dr. George Paletta confirmed the finding to general manager John Mozeliak Tuesday night after reading the results from a magnetic resonance imaging of the elbow, according to sources familiar with the situation. The Brighton, Ill., native knew enough about his condition before leaving Busch Stadium early Tuesday afternoon to inform some club personnel, "I'm done." The tear is located to the inside of Isringhausen's elbow, according to sources familiar with Paletta's finding, and causes him ..."
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George Sherrill, the Orioles' All-Star closer who was threatening to break the club's saves record, was placed on the disabled list yesterday afternoon with left shoulder inflammation. Sherrill, who has 31 saves in his first season as a closer, was not available for Monday night's loss to the Boston Red Sox after complaining that he couldn't get loose before the game. Club president Andy MacPhail said a magnetic resonance imaging taken yesterday "looked identical" to one taken of Sherrill's left shoulder during spring training, meaning the club isn't too worried and he should return in September. "There is a little inflammation, which they [treated] and prescribed rest," MacPhail said. "We ..."
August 20
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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Suggesting a modification of the team's previously stated blueprint, disabled Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright insisted Tuesday he is ready to pitch, preferably in the team's starting rotation as early as Friday's series opener against the Atlanta Braves. Wainwright completed a bullpen throw Tuesday little more than an hour after fellow disabled starter Chris Carpenter threw for about 10 minutes in the Busch Stadium outfield. Tuesday's abbreviated session was Carpenter's first throw since leaving an Aug. 10 start against the Chicago Cubs with posterior shoulder discomfort. Carpenter emerged insisting that he experienced no residual pain; however, it is increasingly clear that Wainwright ..."
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One day after indicating there was nothing wrong with ace Josh Beckett, the Red Sox yesterday scratched the right-hander from his scheduled start Saturday with what the pitcher termed “numbness” in his pitching hand. Prior to the Sox’ 7-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles last night at Camden Yards, Sox manager Terry Francona indicated Beckett would be given three additional days of rest and make his next start Tuesday against the New York Yankees. Meanwhile, Beckett seemed far less definitive on the date of his next outing, adding that he has been experiencing a similar sensation in his hand at various points this season. “It’s just something I’ve been dealing with,” said Beckett, who ..."
NFL Headlines
August 20
East Valley Tribune
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Anquan Boldin, unhappy with his contract and suggesting his relationship with coach Ken Whisenhunt is badly strained, wants out of Arizona. "At the beginning of camp, I hadn't asked for a trade. But ... recently we did," the Cardinals' star receiver said Tuesday afternoon, referring to his high-powered agent, Drew Rosenhaus. "My whole thing is if I'm not going be treated fairly and my hard work and loyalty isn't going to be rewarded here, then let me go somewhere where it will be rewarded. "That's how I feel, and I'll continue to feel that way." Boldin has three years left on a five-year, $22 million contract. He wants a new deal and has said the Cardinals promised him one. The team ..."
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It could have been the last pass of Brett Favre's career. In the bitter cold of Lambeau Field last January, his throw was intercepted, setting up the field goal that sent the Giants to the Super Bowl. Now, it serves as a backdrop to the Jets' game Saturday night against the Giants. Favre is expected to get his most extensive action before the regular season begins. The interception, on a terribly thrown pass, was not the inspiration for Favre's return. But the Giants' upset victory may have changed the course of Favre's future as much as their own. "Maybe we're not here right now," Favre said, when asked what might have happened if the Packers had gone on to the Super Bowl instead of the ..."
August 20
San Diego Union-Tribune
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Spirits were extremely high on the turf at Chargers Park yesterday, but the late burst of enthusiasm may have had less to do with the imminent end to training camp than the sight of the newcomer to passing drills, a tight end coming off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. "I hadn't put the pads on since the Patriots game," said Antonio Gates, referring to the AFC Championship Game at New England that he basically limped through as an ill-disguised decoy. "It was fun. I was excited. Needless to say, though, I've got a lot of work to do." Gates, the Pro Bowl tight end who's averaged nearly 80 catches and more than 10 touchdowns over the past four seasons, has been brought along ..."
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Tampa Bay's release of LT Luke Petitgout came just days before the NFL notified teams he will be suspended for the start of the regular season. Petitgout must serve a four-game suspension for violating the league's steroid policy, according to Greg Aiello, the NFL's senior vice president of public relations. Players are suspended four games after their first violation, eight after a second infraction and at least one year on their third. Bucs coach Jon Gruden said the NFL's discipline did not weigh into Tampa Bay's decision to release Petitgout. "I do like Luke Petitgout a lot, and that's about all I can say," Gruden said. "We made the decisions to do what we did for the reasons we said ..."
NBA Headlines
August 20
Arizona Republic
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Last week, Goran Dragic went through the first few days of Tau Ceramica's camp not knowing whether he was on the Spanish club for good or if his wish to join the Suns would be granted. On Tuesday, he passed a Suns physical exam, played basketball and made dinner plans with new teammate Boris Diaw and saw his name over a Suns locker. He's still wiping away the pixie dust. Dragic is only an unofficial member of the Suns because intricacies of his Tau buyout may take four weeks to wrap up. Nevertheless, Dragic was in "paradise" when he talked Tuesday about joining the Suns, even if it was just a lunch visit to the downtown Paradise Bakery & Café. "This is like my dream come true," said the ..."
August 20
Philadelphia Inquirer
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In what should be the final move of a hectic summer, the Sixers are expected to add veteran center Theo Ratliff.According to a source familiar with the situation, the 6-foot-10 Ratliff has accepted a one-year contract for the veterans' minimum of $1.4 million. At Monday's news conference to announce the signing of swingman Andre Iguodala, the Sixers' president and general manager, Ed Stefanski, said he hoped to have a big man in place "within 48 hours."Ratliff, 35, had offers for more money but would prefer playing for the Sixers, the source said. Once the deal is official, Ratliff will be making his second stop in Philadelphia. He played for the Sixers from 1997 to 2001, when he was ..."
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Croatian guard Gordan Giricek, who has averaged nearly 10 points per game since joining the NBA in 2002, has become the latest player to leave the league for a bigger payday. Giricek finished last season as a member of the Phoenix Suns. On Tuesday, the 6-foot-6 shooting guard signed a two-year contract -- with an option to return to the NBA next summer -- with Turkey's premier club, Fenerbahce. "We looked around the NBA," his agent Marc Fleisher said. "Everybody was moving very slowly. And there were great opportunities for him to play overseas for a lot of money. Fenerbahce are Turkish champions and a EuroLeague team. It was a tough decision, and it came down to Fenerbache and Triumph, in ..."
August 19
Philadelphia Daily News
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ANDRE IGUODALA heard Jimmy Rollins call out Phillies fans, calling them front-runners."I was like, 'Damn,' because I knew what was coming after that, especially with what had been going on with him not running out [a play]," Iguodala was saying yesterday after formally signing a 6-year contract with the 76ers worth a reported $80 million."They scrutinize the small things here. The way I look at it, just play hard, just play well, all that is forgotten about. If he performs well, they'll forget about it."The thing about Iguodala is, he had been a Sixer for four seasons and wanted to stay. In many respects, he has been a quick study, on and off the court."It's been an even mix for me," he ..."
NHL Headlines
August 20
Philadelphia Daily News
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Mats Sundin's agent said the Flyers are among six NHL teams interested in acquiring the Toronto Maple Leafs center, according to The Sports Network.Agent J.P. Barry told the Canadian-based TSN that the New York Rangers, Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and two teams he did not name also are interested in landing the 37-year-old Swedish center, who is considered to be the last prime free agent on the market. Barry denied a report that Sundin wants to join the Rangers.Sundin had 32 goals and 46 assists in 74 games last season. In his 17-year NHL career, Sundin has played in 1,305 games, with 555 goals and 766 assists"
August 20
Columbus Dispatch
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My guess is the Stefan Legein story is only getting started. As it stands, it's a mystery. To recap: Rumors began flying in Oakville, Ontario, the last couple of days that Stefan Legein, the Blue Jackets' second-round draft pick in 2007, has quit hockey. Typically, I don't even make phone calls on something that sounds so preposterous, but this quickly started "getting legs," as they say, by Tuesday afternoon. After trying numerous sources, and being met with no comments or a surprising lack of surprise, I was finally able to nail it down as true that Legein has told the Blue Jackets he won't be attending training camp. GM Scott Howson confirmed it later in the day. You'll read his quotes ..."
August 20
Detroit Free Press
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It has been an interesting summer for the Stanley Cup champion Red Wings. They've lost more staff than players and will enter training camp with a roster arguably stronger than last season's. Goalie Dominik Hasek and forward Dallas Drake retired, and forward Mark Hartigan went to Latvia to play for Dinamo Riga of the Kontinental Hockey League. Drake was the only one of the three to play in the Cup finals. The biggest losses have come from the staff. Associate coach Todd McLellan was hired as head coach of the San Jose Sharks and took video coach Jay Woodcroft with him as an assistant coach. Consultant and former coach Scotty Bowman became an advisor for the Chicago Blackhawks and will ..."
August 20
Columbus Dispatch
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Nikita Filatov, the Blue Jackets' No. 6 overall pick in the June draft, has been granted his U.S. visa by the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and has made plans to head for North America. According to Blue Jackets' GM Scott Howson, Filatov will fly with his family to Toronto on Sept. 7 to spend a few days with agent Don Meehan. On Sept. 10, he'll fly from Toronto to Columbus, his first visit to our fair burg. His arrival date in Columbus gives him two days to get settled before he has a physical and heads to Traverse City, Michigan, with the rest of the prospects to take part in the annual rookies tournament. "I never doubted that he was coming," Howson said. "But it'll be nice to have him here, ..."