What's Next For T.O.?

By Justin Worsley

Terrell Owens has made a career out of his antics both on the field and off the field. After a less than stellar season in Buffalo, however, very few teams have showed interest in the 36-year-old veteran. Owens believes he still has two good years left in him, but has been unable to prove to this to other teams. The question now is: What now?

Last season, the Indianapolis Colts parted ways with their all-time leading receiver Marvin Harrison. Harrison was unable to find a new gig and is still a free agent. Both receivers have very comparable stats, Harrison made eight Pro Bowls to Owens six, and both players have over 1,000 receptions for over 14,000 yards.

What separates the two, however, is their personality. Harrison was the ultimate team player, taking part in the development of Colts star Reggie Wayne, franchise quarterback Peyton Manning, and current Colts receivers Pierre Garcon and Anthony Gonzalez.

Owens has shown throughout his career that he is in the game for himself. Despite one incident, where Owens cried after a playoff loss in 2007 in defense of Dallas quarterback Tony Romo, Owens has helped define the wide receiver's role as the prima donna of the team, making way for players such as Keyshawn Johnson and Brandon Marshall to help exemplify the role. Owens has gone as far as refuse a trade San Francisco made with Baltimore, instead ending up in Philadelphia, where many believe they would not have made the Super Bowl without him. Owens' tenure in Philadelphia didn't last long however, after a dispute with quarterback Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia released him.

It seemed like Dallas was a haven for Owens, he played in a state that loved winners and players who had heart, and nobody could deny Owens of either. T.O continued to be T.O., but this time it seemed like he may have finally wore out his welcome in the NFL. His last season in Dallas, he complained about Romo favoring tight end Jason Witten during the season and that the team will win more if he sees more passes coming his way (Owens actually had more passes thrown to him, Witten just happened to catch more.) After Dallas shockingly released Owens, it looked as if it was the end of the line.

A desperate Bills organization, however, took a one-year flyer on Owens, hoping he would spark both the team, quarterback Trent Edwards and fellow receiver Lee Evans. Owens did none of the above as he caught for 829 yards, his lowest since an injury-riddle 2005 season and five touchdowns, his lowest since 1999.

His slip in production may be a cause of concern to most teams, who won't be willing to pay the large price Owens commands (he made $6.5 million last season,) as well as the fact that he isn't seen as a team-first player who is willing to mentor his teammates. If Harrison couldn't land a job, why would T.O.?

Halladay Perfect Against Florida

By Justin Worsley

Philadelphia ace Roy Halladay is quickly helping the Phillies fans forget the team's recent series against the Mets. Halladay threw a perfect game on Saturday against the Florida Marlins. Perfection is exactly what Philadelphia needed, squeaking away with a 1-0 victory to win their second straight game.

Halladay was more than dominant, striking out 11 batters. throwing 72 strikes out of his 115 pitches. In the ninth-inning, Florida sent out three pinch-hitters, hoping to ruin Halladay's evening. All three were unable to make it on base, and the entire Phillies team stormed the mound to celebrate the 20th perfect game in MLB history.

Philadelphia scored the game's only run when second-baseman Chase Utley hit a line drive to Marlins center fielder Cameron Maybin. Maybin was unable to field the ball cleanly and shortstop Wilson Valdez was able to cross home plate safely.

Halladay's feat of perfection happens to be the second perfect game of the month. On May 6, Oakland pitcher Dallas Braden also threw a perfect game against Tampa Bay. There has never been two perfect games in the same MLB season, let alone two within the same month.

Florida closes out the three-game series against Philadelphia on Sunday at 1:10 p.m.

Umpire West Fined Along With Sox Skipper Guillen And Ace Buehlre

By Justin Worsley

The MLB has fined umpire Joe West, Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen and pitcher Mark Buehrle an undisclosed amount after the trio got into a dispute over two called balks by West.

Buehrle was called for a balk by West, the first-base umpire, during the second-inning of Chicago's 5-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians. Buehrle disputed the call and Guillen quickly came out to defend his ace pitcher. After an argument with West, Guillen was given the boot.

Trouble continued in the third-inning when Buehrle threw two consecutive balls to first base, the second of which West caled as a balk. The disgruntled Buehrle threw his glove and was promptly ejected by West as well. Several members of the White Sox had to restrain Buehrle.

"He had a couple of nice moves, both of which were balks, so I called them," West said after the game through his publicist.

Guillen went on a profane tirade against West, also stating he was aware that he will be fined for this incident. This is Guillen's 22nd ejection in seven seasons at Chicago's manager.

White Sox game announcer Hawk Harrelson was critical of West's calls, stating that they were an "absolute disgrace" and that West has "really had it in for the White Sox "

Neither Guillen, West or Buehrle will be suspended.

Seattle Releases White

By Justin Worsley

Seattle has been one of the most interesting teams in the NFL this off-season, wheeling and dealing players at nearly ever position at the roster. This move however, was a wrong one.

Seattle waived running back LenDale White on Friday, only a month after the Seahawks traded for the former 1,000-yard rusher to reunite him with his former college head coach, current Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll.

The move was initially shocking to White, however, ESPN's Adam Schefter has reported that White is facing a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

White was hoping for a career-revival in Seattle. In 2007, White ran for 1,110 yards as the starting tailback in Tennessee. Despite the team's success that season, Tennessee decided to go in a different direction and drafted blazing-fast running back Chris Johnson. The duo worked well together, with White using his bruising frame to earn the tough yards while Johnson used his speed to pick up large gains. White led the NFL in rushing touchdown in 2008 with 15 while rushing for 773 yards as the backup running back.

Last season, however, White saw a huge decline in his opportunities. Tennessee started the season off 0-6 and continued to focus on giving Johnson the ball as he ran for 2,006 yards last season. White only had 64 carries for 222 yards and two touchdowns.

White, who was known for not being a hard worker in the off-season, dedicated himself to losing that title. In 2009 he stopped drinking tequila, which he credits as the reason why he lost 45 pounds.

"It became apparent at this time that LenDale was not ready to be a member of the Seattle Seahawks," said General Manager John Schneider. "It just did not appear to be the right fit at this point in our program. We wish LenDale all the best with his future."

Seattle traded with Tennessee during the final day of the NFL draft. Seattle also acquired defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson in the trade.

Mets Sweep Phillies, Move To Second In NL East

By Justin Worsley

The New York Mets did the impossible. During a three-game series, the Mets silenced the bats of the Philadelphia Phillies, preventing the high-scoring offense from scoring a single run in any of the three games while scoring 16 runs themselves. The last time the Mets shut out an opponent during the three-games series was in September 1969 also against Philadelphia.

During Thursday night's 3-0 win at Citi Field, Phillies left-handed pitcher Cole Hamels (5-3) gave up an early run in the first-inning off of a double by Jason Bay. After that, it was a pitcher's duel between Hamels and Mets right-handed pitcher Mike Pelfrey (7-1.) Hamels pitched 6.1 innings, striking out three Mets batters while only walking one.

The Mets infield was a key component of the shutout, ending the third, fourth and fifth inning all on double plays. The Phillies started to get desperate in the seventh inning, having outfielder Raul Ibanez attempt his first stolen base of the season. He was nowhere near second base when Luis Castillo tagged him out.

New York has suddenly become the hottest team in the AL East. The Mets took down cross-town rivals the New York Yankees last weekend, winning two of the three games. Within the past week, the Mets have ascended from last-place in the NL East to being only two games behind Philadelphia for the division lead.

Pelfrey rebounded well against the Phillies, his last start against Philadelphia was on May 1 where the Mets were blown out for a 10-0 loss, his only loss of the season. Pelfrey pitched seven innings, tacking on five strikeouts.

The Mets sealed the game in the seventh-inning when shortstop Jose Reyes launched a double deep into left field for his third hit of the day. The hit propelled catcher Henry Blanco and pinch-hitter Fernando Tatis home.

Despite three hits off of the bat of Shane Victorino, the Phillies were out-hit by New York 9-4. The only other batter from Philadelphia to garner a base-hit was a single down the middle of the field by Ibanez. New York out-hit the Phillies 29-20 for the series.

The Mets will continue to try and claw their way to the division lead tomorrow at Milwaukee. Johan Santana, the Mets ace will face off against Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo.

Suns Outhustle Lakers To Even Series

By Justin Worsley

Fifty-four points. Phoenix's bench nearly outscored their starters, by putting in 54 points during the Suns victory over the Los Angeles Lakers 115-106 to even the series in the Western Conference Finals at two games apiece.

Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant was nearly non-existent in the first-quarter, missing his only shot. In a wild second-quarter, however, Bryant exploded, scoring 15 of his game-high 38 points including three made shots from beyond the arc. His 38 points along with his 10 assists were simply not enough as Phoenix seemed to outhustle Los Angeles on nearly every play.

Just a day after seeking medical attention to repair a broken nose suffered in Game 3 on Sunday, Steve Nash played, without a facemask, but was not his dominant self. Nash scored 15 points and eight assists/ Amar'e Stoueamire led Phoenix in scoring with 21 points, yet again showing Phoenix that they were smart for not trading him despite rumors that circulated during mid-season.

After the first quarter ended with a 23-23 tie, the Suns dominated in the second half, outscoring the Lakers 41-32 and taking a lead the Lakers would be unable to catch up to until Bryant hit a three-point shot late in the third-quarter to bring in an 81-81 tie.

Channing Frye avoided infamy in the second-quarter when he sank in a three-point shot, his first successful field-goal attempt in 17 tries, avoiding the NBA record of 20 for the post-season. His shot from beyond the arc caused a standing ovatin at the US Airways Center.

Though Los Angeles did have the higher shooting-percentage of the game, they lost both the turnover and rebound battle. Phoenix snagged in 51 rebounds while Los Angeles was only able to grab a pedestrian 36.

Los Angeles will be looking for a fresh start as they head home to host Phoenix in the next two games of the series. Los Angeles missed two opportunities to take command of the series, dropping both games played in Phoenix after starting off the series with a 2-0 lead.

Phoenix, which has been criticized for using a zone defense, had no problem tonight preventing Los Angeles from attacking from inside the paint. One Laker who suffered the most from Suns coach Alvin Gentry's defensive scheme was center Pau Gasol. Gasol ended the game with 15 points and five rebounds, well below his 2010 playoff average of 21.2 points and 11.8 assists per game.

Game 5 will be played Thursday at 9:00 p.m.

New York Wins Bid To Host Super Bowl XLVIII

Justin Worsley

What does New York, Minneapolis and Detroit have in common? They are the only three northern cities to host a Super Bowl. New York, however, holds the significance of being the only northern city to host a Super Bowl in a stadium without a dome roof.

New York won the bidding war over Tampa Bay to host the 2014 Super Bowl. The annual NFL Championship game is traditionally hosted in either a stadium with an enclosed roof or in a city which holds an average high temperature of 50 degrees in late January or early February. New York is more frigid, hosting around a 40-degree high average in February.

Despite hosting four previous Super Bowls, including Pittsburgh's 27-23 victory over Arizona in 2009, Tampa Bay lost in the second-round of voting by the NFL owners. This monumental vote, which the NFL even lifted their warm-climate rule to allow, marks history for the NFL.

Super Bowl XLVIII will now be played in the new Meadowlands Stadium. The $1.6 billion stadium opened it's doors last month for a professional lacrosse game and is the home of both New York-based NFL clubs, the Giants and Jets. The Giants will host the Carolina Panthers in the first NFL game played in the stadium on Sept. 12.

One reason the owners may have voted for a cold Super Bowl is due to the history of the NFL games. Several of the greatest NFL games have been played in sub-zero temperatures including the "Ice Bowl," where the Green Bay Packers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 21-17 in the 1967 NFL Championship game. The official game temperature was -13-degrees Fahrenheit. Other recent cold-weather games include the New England Patriots 16-13 victory over the Oakland Raiders in the 2002 AFC Divisional playoff game. The game, which is now famous due to the "tuck rule" was played on a field covered in snow. In 2007 the Giants beat the Favre-led Packers 23-20 in a game played in -1-degree temperature.

"I like doing things for the first time ... I hope it snows," Jets owner Woody Johnson told ESPNNewYork.com's Rick Cimini.

Tampa Bay Hires Legendary Red Wing As GM

By Justin Worsley

Steve Yzerman had a legendary career in Detroit, where he spent his entire 23-year career and was name to 10 All-Star teams.

Immediately after his retirement in 2006, Yzerman was named the vice president of the Red Wings, remaining as a member of a team he won three Stanley Cups with. In 2008, Yzernam won his fourth Cup, this time as an executive.

Yzerman will now trek into unfamiliar territory as the Tampa Bay Lightning has named the 2009 Hall of Fame inductee the team's new general manager.

Yzerman's first job as general manager will be to find a new head coach. Lightning owner Jeff Vinik gave head coach Rich Tocchet a pink slip along with general manager Brian Lawton in April.

Tampa Bay is hoping that Yzerman is as successful off the ice as he was on it. The team has failed to make the playoffs in the last three seasons. Tampa Bay was 34-36-12 last season.

Tampa Bay will be led next season by first-overall draft picks Vincent Lecavlier (1998) and Steven Stamkos (2008.) Lecavlier helped Tampa Bay win their lone Stanley Cup in 2004.

Cavaliers Part Ways With Brown

By Justin Worsley

A source close to Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown has told ESPN the Magazine's Ric Bucher that Brown has been fired.

Brown won the NBA Coach of the Year award in 2009 when the Cavaliers won a league-high 66 games. Brown, however, has failed to get the LeBron James-led Cavs to produce in the postseason since being swept by San Antonio in the 2007 NBA Finals. Last season, they lost to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Championship. This season, the Boston Celtics dethroned the top-seeded Cavaliers in six games, winning the last two by a combined 50 points.

Immediately after being bounced out of the playoffs, rumors circled that Brown was fired. The team had to make a decision whether or not to fire him on Sunday before midnight or pay his $4.5 million salary for next season.

The firing of Brown has a large impact on the near-future of Cleveland. James, who is a two-time NBA MVP, will be a free agent on July 1 and Cleveland may be willing to let James have say in who is coaching in Cleveland next season in order to keep him.

The James sweepstakes have dominated headlines since the team's last game of the season. Dallas Mavaericks owner Mark Cuban was fined $100,000 by the NBA for stating he would be willing to trade for him (NBA personnel are not allowed to mention a player's name prior to the start of free agency in order to avoid tampering,) and president Barrack Obama has told TNT that Chicago has a great core and is the best fit for James. James' idol, Michael Jordan, won six NBA Championships in the 1990's in Chicago.

Brown is not expected to stay jobless for long. Five teams, including Chicago, have vacant head coaching positions. Two other teams, New Jersey and the Los Angeles Clippers, have the cap room to sign James.

Brown made the playoffs every in all five seasons he coached in Cleveland. The Cavaliers have gone 127-37 in the last two seasons.

Area Wrestlers Compete For Former Raider

By Justin Worsley

"You're not recruiting there are you now, Goody?" a spectator asked Rutgers head wrestling coach Scott Goodale.

"We'll see, we'll see," said Goodale.

Goodale had plenty to see as wrestlers from around the Shore took the mat on Saturday in an effort to raise money for former Toms River East wrestler Dan Peoples. Peoples, 25, was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and does not have health insurance.

Along with Goodale, several former wrestlers from the Shore Conference were in attendance including 2007 119-pound state champion Matt Oliver, who currently wrestles at Newberry College, current Raritan head coach Rob Nucci along with former Raritan wrestlers Mike Mason and Brian Whalen.

All of the wrestlers wore t-shirts saying "I Wrestled for Danny" while warming up. Fourteen matches took place overall, including two former state champions and five state finalists.

Prior to the matches, current UFC Lightweight Champion Frank "The Answer" Edgar held a mixed-martial arts clinic for several young grapplers. Edgar was a two-time state placewinner while wrestling for Toms River East.

Though all wrestlers showed a competitive spirit, having fun was a top priority, and the referees involved themselves too. Don Murphy, of Hazlet, showed the crowded gymnasium at Toms River East High School that he is still nimble on his feet, taking down former Toms River South wrestler Billy Wilbert after Wilbert disputed a takedown that Murphy ruled was out of bounds. Wilbert, who placed fifth in the state tournament in 2001, quickly recovered to defeated Anthony Allocca 8-2.

Vinnie Salek, the 2003 state champion at 160 for Toms River East squared off against former teammate Devin Mesanko, East's only four-time district champion. Mesanko, however, got the best of Salek, hitting a five-point move on the current Newberry wrestler to earn a 5-1 decision.

Also wrestling for Newberry is Brian Newman, who wrestled against his former coach, Andy Chencarik, the 1997 135-pound state champion for Toms River East. Newman gave up an early takedown to his mentor and couldn't recover, dropping a close 2-0 decision.

Some of the best matches of the night came near the end. Jordan Beverly, a high school senior who finished third in the state last season got the best of Cody Fobes, a Howell alumnus who is also wrestling at Newberry, cruising to a 9-0 victory. Beverly will be wrestling for Goodale at Rutgers next year.

Two current state finalists also faced one another, Southern Regional's Kyle Casaletto, who is currently a junior, outwrestled Colts Neck's Tyler Fraley also a junior 7-2. Casaletto, who was merely seconds away from winning the 112-pound state title over High Point's Nick Francavilla, took down Fraley twice and earned a late set of back-points to control the match.

While the event did help, donations are still needed for Peoples. Those who are interested in making a donation can write a check payable to "Wrestling Raiders" and mail it to Mike Sternleib at 1059 Kells Court, Toms River, NJ 08753. For more information, contact Sternleib at hoboshouse@comcast.net.

Favre Makes Bet With Alma Matter

By Justin Worsley

"Let's make a (fun) bet, if you guys make it back to the College World Series this year, I will come back to play," future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre told the Southern Miss baseball team on Thursday.

Favre, who was the Golden Eagles gunslingler from 1987-90, has notoriously spent the last three offseasons in the NFL pondering his future, and then ultimately changing his mind.

Now as a Minnesota Viking, Favre has not officially announced his retirement, something he did by this time as both a Green Bay Packer and New York Jet, but he has also not informed head coach Brad Childress on his intentions for next season.

It seems, however, that the fate of Favre and the Vikings will rest on the Southern Miss baseball team, who is currently 30-20 with only two game left before the Conference USA Tournament in Houston. Southern Miss is now in a must-win situation if they want to see the school's all-time leader in passing yards put on the pads one more time.

Favre, 40, threw less than 10 interceptions for the first time in his career as well as a career-high 68.4 completion percentage. The Vikings almost defeated the New Orleans Saints last January to earn a bid to the Super Bowl.

76ers Hire Team's Former No. 1 Overall Selection As Head Coach

By Justin Worsley

The Philadelphia 76ers have decided that in order to be successful, they need to bring in one of their own.

Today, Philadelphia is expected to announce that they have agreed to a four-year deal with current TV analyst Doug Collins. The team used the first-overall pick in the 1973 draft on Collins.

Philadelphia is entering it's most important offseason since 1996, when the team selected Allen Iverson with the first-overall pick. Philadelphia will select second overall in June.

Collins, who's career was cut short due to injuries, has also coached in Chicago, Detroit and Washington, going 332-287 and making the playoffs five times in eight seasons. The 58-year-old has coached Michael Jordan in both Chicago and Washington.

The 76ers took a turn for the worse last season, going 27-55 in head coach Eddie Jordan's lone season. Collins will become the third coach in Philadelphia since the 2007-2008 season.

Former Dolphins Linebacker Thomas To Retire With Organization

By Justin Worsley

While Dan Marino was the face of the Miami Dolphins' offense, linebacker Zach Thomas embodied their defense.

It is now time for his legendary career to come to an end.

Thomas, who last played for Miami in 2007, signed a ceremonious one-day contract with Miami on Thursday to retire with the team who drafted him in the fifth-round out of Texas Tech in 1996. Thomas spent the 2008 season with the Dallas Cowboys and was signed last season by the Kansas City Chiefs, however, he was cut prior to the season opener due to a series of injuries.

Thomas was criticized coming out of college due to his lack of height (he was listed as only 5'11" during his career,) but nobody could question his heart on the field. Leading the defense along with outside linebacker Jason Taylor, Thomas was elected to seven Pro Bowls, the second most for a Dolphin behind Marino's nine. Taylor also thrived off of Thomas' success, being elected to six Pro Bowls and winning the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award in 2006.

Thomas has notched in 1,076 tackles along with 17 interceptions in his career. Along with his seven Pro Bowls, Thomas has also been selected to five All-Pro teams. Thomas has more tackles than any player in the NFL Hall of Fame.

The CW To Pull The Plug On Smallville

By Justin Worsley

Ten years ago, UPN and Warner Bros. still had their own television networks and "Smallville" was in it's pilot season. As we all know, The two networks merged in 2006 to become the CW. It's longest running program, however, will come to an end this season.

"Smallville," which chronicles the life of mild-mannered Clark Kent as he must cope with both his super-human powers as well as the trials and tribulations of high school, became a fan-favorite for those who loved the "Superman" franchise. Rumors, however, circulated last week when Tom Welling, who plays the youthful Kent on the show, told Hollywood Life that season 10 would be the end of "Smallville." The CW confirmed Wellings statement, announcing Wednesday that the upcoming season will be the show's final one.

While fans may be unhappy to see their long-running show end, there are several milestones to look forward too. When episode 20 airs, "Smallville" will break the Guinness World Record for longest consecutive running Sci-Fi TV show, which is currently held by "Stargate SG-1." The CW announced last March that the upcoming season of "Smallville" will consist of 22 episodes.

One reason the CW may have decided to end "Smallville" this season is it's decline in ratings. Season nine of "Smallville" was the first time the show aired on Friday night, allowing the show to drop from 3.74 viewers in 2008 to only 2.35 last year. It was also the first season of "Smallville" that failed to cracked Nielsen's weeklly program rankings.

The CW also announced on Tuesday that the revival of 90's television show "Melrose Place" has been can canceled.

Griffin Cleared To Play For Clippers

By Justin Worsley

While Los Angeles may have not won the NBA Lottery for the second straight season, the have found out good news.

Blake Griffin, last year's first-overall pick, has been cleared for basketball activities, ESPN Los Angeles has reported. Girffin missed his entire rookie season due to a stress fracture in his left kneecap. The injury was reported a day before the 2009-10 season began.

Griffin was hoping to see the court by mid-season, however, doctors reported his knee wasn't healing properly and it was necessary for him to sit out the remainder of the season.

Griffin has already began to workout in Los Angeles, preparing for a season that Griffin says he feels is his "real rookie season."

"He's working out in May like we were ready to tip off in October. The only guy I feel bad for is the first one of his teammates that shows up and wants to play one-on-one with him," Clippers general manager Neil Olshey told ESPN.

The Clippers, who will select eighth in the NBA Draft in June, went 29-53 last season, their 15th losing season in 17 years. Griffin, who averaged 22.7 points and 14.4 rebounds per game in his last season at Oklahoma, is can make immediate impact on the team as they look to dethrone cross-town rival Lakers in the upcoming years.

Howard's 30 Not Enough As Celtics Take 2-0 Series Lead

By Justin Worsley

The Orlando Magic failed to win Game 2 on Tuesday night, dropping a 95-92 game to the Boston Celtics. Boston has taken command of the series with a 2-0 lead, defeating Orlando twice at the Amway Arena. This is the first since last season's NBA Finals that the Magic have suffered two consecutive home losses.

Forward Paul Pierce led the charge for the Celtics with 28 points, including three three-pointers. Pierce also scored the first nine points for the Celtics, helping open up a 9-5 lead early in the game. Pierce would eventually foul out late in the game against guard Vince Carter. Carter, however, missed both free throw opportunities, helping preserve the Celtics 95-92 lead. Prior to his late misses, Carter was a perfect 5-5 from the foul line.

After being held to only 13 points in Game 1, Magic center Dwight Howard exploded in Game 2, scoring 30 points. Howard also showed the Celtics why he won his second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year award, snagging down eight rebounds.

Magic forward Matt Barnes hit an early free throw to give Orlando a 5-4 lead, the team's first lead of the series. While Game 1 was controlled by the Celtics, Game 2 featured 14 lead changes and was tied on 10 occasions. Orlando stayed alive throughout the game, holding Boston to only 17 fourth-quarter points and taking the lead with 3:36 left off of a jump shot by Carter. Boston, however, roared back less than a minute later as center Kevin Garnett hit his own jump shot to give the Celtics a permanent lead. Garnett ended the game with 10 points and nine rebounds.

Magic guard J.J. Redick scored 16 points off the bench, however, he made a crucial error late in the game. After pulling in a rebound from a shot by Garnett, Redick drove up to half-court before calling a timeout. The move cost the team 3.4 seconds, which could have been used to set up a three-point shot. Redick, however, had to rush a pass to Jameer Nelson who's three-pointer fell just short.

Orlando will travel to Boston in a must win scenario. Boston is a perfect 32-0 once the team gains a 2-0 lead in the postseason. Their Game 2 victory, however, is the first time in franchise history that the Celtics have won Games 1 and 2 on the road. Game 3 is on Saturday May 22 at 8:30 p.m.

Seahawks Sign Losman

By Justin Worsley

The Seattle Seahawks have added more competition to the quarterback position on Tuesday, signing J.P. Losman. Terms were not disclosed.

Losman was drafted 22nd overall from Tulane by the Buffalo Bills where the team hoped he could fill the void left by Doug Flutie. Losman, however, never lived up to the hype, being benched twice in favor of Kelly Holcomb in 2005 and after suffering an injury in 2007 by Trent Edwards.

Losman will compete with incumbent starter Matt Hasselbeck, Charlie Whitehurst, whom the Seahawks traded for last March and Mike Teel, who is in his second season. Seattle also released Mike Reilly, who the team claimed off of waivers only two weeks earlier.

Losman played in the inaugural season of the United Football League last season, leading the Los Angeles Locomotives to a 5-2 record and winning the United Football League champsionship. Losman also signed with the Oakland Raiders after injuries suffered by quarterbacks JaMarcus Russell, Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye. Losman only threw one pass in the NFL last season, an incompletion against the Denver Broncos.

Seattle is looking to rebound from a miserable 5-11 campaign.

Washington Wins NBA Lottery

By Justin Worsley

The Washington Wizards have won the 2010 NBA lottery for the upcoming draft, a pick which will most likely be used on Kentucky point guard John Wall. The Wizards finished last season with a 26-56 record, the fourth-worst in the NBA. Washington had a 10.3-percent chance of winning the first-overall selection.

The New Jersey Nets, who started last season by losing their first 18 games, finished the year with a 12-70 record, the worst in the NBA. The team had a 25-percent chance of selecting first, however, they could also draft no lower than fourth-overall. The Nets, who were represented by new majority owner Mikhail Prokhorov, won the third-overall selection, behind the Philadelphia 76ers.

While the consensus top player of the upcoming draft is Wall, many see Ohio State guard Evan Turner is a close second. Turner, who won the NCAA Player of the Year award last season, averaged 20.4 points as a junior while making many clutch shots, including a buzzer-beater against rival Michigan in the Big Ten Championship game.

Wall, 19, averaged 16.6 points as part of a star-studded Wildcat squad which includes center DeMarcus Cousins, another top-five caliber player. Both players were selected to the NCAA All-American team.

Washington, who was represented by Irene Pollin, widow of former long-time Wizards owner Abe Pollin, will select first for second time in franchise history. In 2001, Washington selected Kwame Brown with the top pick. Pollin wore her husbands 1978 NBA Championship ring he won as the owner of the Washington Bullets. The Bullets changed their name to the Wizards in 1997.

Utah, who made the playoffs this season, are selecting ninth-overall. The Jazz possess the New York Knicks first-round pick after a 2004 trade with the Phoenix Suns.

Phillies Win High-Scoring Affair Against Brewers

By Justin Worsley

With two of the MLB's most potent offenses meeting on Friday, fans got exactly what they expected, a high-scoring match featuring two of the National League's three best first baseman in Ryan Howard and Prince Fielder. The Phillies walked away victorious, earning a 9-5 victory at Miller Field in a match that included six home runs. Of the six hitters who knocked the ball out of the park, only one hitter, left fielder Ryan Braun, was a right-handed hitter.

The Phillies struck first blood early when Howard blasted a two-run homer down center field in the first-inning, Howard's sixth of the year. In the second-inning, Raul Ibanez and Wilson Valdez hit back-to-back doubles to put the Phillies up 3-0.

Pitcher Jamie Moyer (5-2), who is throwing his first game since becoming the oldest pitcher to throw a shutout, ran into trouble in the second-inning, however, allowing three home runs over a span of five batters. All three home runs were solo shots hit by Braun, Fielder and Jim Edmonds. Moyer would take command after the inning, only allowing two hits after the second-inning, one off of second-baseman Chase Utley's two errors of the day. In the seventh-inning, however, Moyer put relief pitcher David Herndon in trouble by walking two consecutive batters to load the bases with only one out. The Brewers were able to come away with two runs until Herndon struck out Corey Hart.

Brewers pitcher Ryan Wolf (3-3), a former ace for the Phillies, allowed six earned runs over five innings.

The bottom part of the Phillies rotation helped pave the way for the team's success. Along with Valdez's double, he also hit a triple a triple in the fourth-inning, setting up outfielder Shane Victorino to hit a two-RBI triple, a league leading fifth of the season.

Despite the teams offensive success, team leader Utley had a less than memorable game. Along with his two errors, Utley also struck out twice before finally hitting a home run in the ninth-inning.

Both teams wore their throwback jerseys as part of Milwaukee's "Throwback Fridays" promotion.

The Phillies (21-13) look to take another game away from the Brewers (15-20) on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. ET. Phillies pitcher Joe Blanton (0-2) is looking for his first win over the season as he takes on CHris Narveson (3-0)

Hawks To Move On Without Woodson

By Justin Worsley

The Atlanta Hawks have improved significantly under head coach Mike Woodson, making the playoffs the last three seasons. General manager Rick Sund, however, has decided not to renew Woodson's contract, letting the coach leave after six seasons which started with a miserable 13-69 season in 2004 but improved record-wise each season, going 53-29 last season, their best record since the 1996-97 season.

Despite the team's consistent improvement, the team ran into a buzzsaw this season in the playoffs, where they were swept by the Orlando Magic in four lopsided victories. The Magic won each game by an average margin of 25.3 points, including a 43-point victory in Game 1 of the series.

"In this case, Woody has been here six years and had basically been the only voice that many of these players had heard," Sund told the Associated Press. "The shelf life for coaches and management in the NBA is short, particularly for coaches, maybe two or three years. In Woody's case, he has gone six. The compelling thought for me was maybe it's right for a change."

The need for a change could come off as a big risk for a team on the cusp of competing with the NBA's elite teams, however Sund is confident that this is the right move for the organization.

Woodson, who led the Hawks to their first playoff series victory since the 1998-99 season, should not be expected to stay on the market for long. Several teams could be interested in Woodson who has developed a reputation for improving teams, including the Chicago Bulls, who recently fired coach Vinny Del Negro and are looking to try and sign free agent LeBron James this off-season. The Bulls have made the playoffs in the past two seasons and could be a potential threat in the Western conference.

Woodson also has to potential to brign in one this season's big-name free agents in Joe Johnson. Johnson, 28, has played for Woodson since signing with Atlanta in 2005, all four of his All-Star selections have come while being coached by Woodson.

Atlanta, however, still has plenty of room to improve. Not only did Atlanta enter this year's playoffs with the lowest payroll amongst the 16 teams, but they were also the only team to make the playoffs while avoiding having to pay the luxury tax for big-name players. The Hawks became only the seventh team in the NBA to improve their record every year over a span of five seasons.

Celtics Slam The Door On Cavaliers

By Justin Worsley

The Cleveland Cavaliers may have had not only the NBA's best record for two years in a row as well as the NBA's most valuable player in LeBron James, but they have been unable to find their way into the NBA Finals. The Boston Celtics become this season's dragon slayers after taking down the star-studded Cavaliers in six games at TD Garden 94-85.

The loss may be the end of James' career as a Cleveland Cavalier, as he becomes a free agent next season. There is much speculation as to where James may land. While James was taking free throw shots late in the game, Celtics fans were cheering "New York Knicks," a leading candidate to where James could be next season.

After a dismal performance in Game 5 where James only scored 15 points, the six-time NBA All Star finished Game 6 with 27 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists. Despite having only his eighth triple-double in his post-season career, James was also flagged for nine turnovers in the game.

Another reason the Celtics were able to hold off Cleveland, the Cavaliers just simply couldn't shoot in the second half, where they only converted 31-percent of their field goals compared to Boston's 43-percent. The Celtics also dominated the turnover battled, forcing Cleveland to cough up the ball 24 times while only giving the ball away 13 times.

James, who made headlines last season for leaving the court promptly after losing to the Orlando Magic in Game 6 of the Conference Finals, was easily the most visible player on the court after the game, shaking hands with nearly every Celtic, including exchanging words with forward Kevin Garnett. Garnett led Boston in scoring with 22 points.

"We just never got a rhythm in this series," Cleveland head coach Mike Brown said in a post-game interview.

The Celtics will face the Magic, who are yet to lose a playoff game this season, in the Eastern Conference finals.

Negotiations Reopen For Mayweather-Pacquiao Fight

By Justin Worsley

After dominating performances by both Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao last month, the two seem set on reopening negotiations for a possible November fight.

The two were originally set to fight last March, however, problems arose over how the drug testing would be done. Mayweather wanted an Olympic-style drug testing which would require both fighters to give blood tests until as early as two weeks before the fight, something Pacquiao disputed claiming the constant blood tests would drain him. After the cancellation of the fight, Pacquiao rescheduled and won a fight by unanimous decision over Joshua Clottley, retaining the IBF World Welterweight Title. Mayweather defeated "Sugar" Shane Mosley also by unanimous decision.

Many boxing fans were worried that Pacquiao, 31, would end his boxing career after his recent election to congress in his homeland Philippines. Pacquiao quickly rebutted that claim, telling the Associated Press that "The people are requesting that I fight Mayweather before I retire. If I ever fight again, I think I will give in to the request of the people."

This potential fight has become one of boxing's most anticipated bout. Mayweather, 33, is 41-0 with 25 wins by knockout, while Pacquiao, a southpaw, is 51-3-2 with 38 knockouts. If a fight does occur this time, the fight will take place on either Nov. 6 or 13.

Pacquiao's chief adviser Matt Koncz told the Associated Press that they have either date reserved to fight in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The stadium, which opened it's doors last year, is the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are on the road both weeks of the fight.

This Nov. fight could be Pacquiao's last. Anything but a Mayweather-Pacquiao bout will be considered a letdown to boxing fans worldwide.

Tigers' Bullpen Break Open Yankees' Offense

By Justin Worsley

The New York Yankees caught fire in the ninth-inning, bringing in six runs and bringing 13 batters to the plate in the Yankees' 8-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

Pitcher Phil Hughes improved to 5-0 on the season, in a dominant effort over the Tigers. Hughes threw 101 pitches over seven innings with 71 strikes. Hughes eared four consecutive strikeouts in the second and third inning after Tigers' first-baseman Miguel Cabrera hit a double towards right field. Hughes ended the game with eight strikeouts and allowed only three hits.

Tigers' rookie catcher Alex Avila struck out three times, including earning the game's final out when Mariano Rivera threw a high fastball to end the game. Despite not needing a closing pitcher, Rivera played in his first game since April 30.

Tigers' pitcher Jeremy Bonderman also pitched seven innings, recording five strikeouts in the process.

The Yankees were also able to steal two bases, both setting up the game's first two runs. Center fielder Brent Gardner stole second base in the first-inning, making way for third baseman Alex Rodriguez to bring him home to put the Yankees on the scoreboard early. Designated hitter Derek Jeter stole second base in the second inning. First baseman Mark Texiera hit a single two batters later to bring in Jeter. Texiera ended the game going 2-5 with 3 RBIs.

In attendance were rappers Jay-Z and Eminem. Jay-Z is a well known Yankee fan who's current single "Empire State of Mind" is Jeter's plate appearance song. Eminem is a Detroit native.

Outfielder Greg Golson earned his first career hit as a major league player in the ninth-inning when he hit a single down center field. Golson would later end the inning when his pop-fly to right field was caught by Magglio Ordonez.

The Yankees (22-10) will play the final game of their series with Detroit (18-15) tomorrow at 1:05. C.C. Sabathia is expected to start for New York against Detroit's Justin Verlander.

Big Ten Denies Rumors Of Expansion Invitations

By Justin Worsley

It is no secret that the Big Ten conference is looking to expand their conference. The most recent news, however, seems to be only gossip.

News circulated earlier this week that Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney had extended invitations to four schools; Nebraska, Notre Dame, Missouri and Rutgers. If Notre Dame had accepted, the conference would look into adding another program.

Delaney, however, has denied these allegations and has e-mailed all 11 schools in the conference informing them that this information is false. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith confirmed this e-mail on Tuesday.

Two of the four teams that were allegedly invited add a financially profitable incentive for the Big Ten conference. Rutgers, based in New Jersey, is the only major college football program in the New York market area. Notre Dame, which is currently an independent program, has developed several rivals in the Big Ten conference, including Michigan and Michigan State. The school currently has an exclusive contract with NBC as well as the ability to schedule any team they feel.

When news broke in December that the Big Ten was looking to add another program, rumors arose that Missouri was interested. Missouri currently competes in the Big XII conference along with Nebraska. Both teams have represented the Big XII North Division in the conference title game since 2006.

If these rumors are true, the move could shift the landscape of college football. Only one conference, the Mid-American Conference, has more than 12 teams. Rutgers is one of only eight teams that competes in the Big East conference. One conference that could immediately look to expand is the Southeastern Conference (SEC,) who has crowned the last four NCAA national Champions.

Another conference looking to expand is the Pac-10 conference. The conference hopes to field 12 teams next season.

If the Big Ten conference adds a 12th team, it can host a conference title game in the fall, which would increase its chances to land a lucrative contract deal. Only five conferences host a title game, including the SEC.

Cushing Retains Rookie Of The Year Award

By Justin Worsley

Houston Texans' linebacker Brian Cushing has found out some good news this week.

The Associated Press announced on Wednesday that Cushing will retain the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award after a panel of 50 sportswriters across America re-voted due to Cushing failing an anti-doping test last September. Cushing will be suspended for the first four games next season.

One reason Cushing may have retained the award is due to the fact that NFL did not release exactly what Cushing tested positive for. Cushing, who claims he took a "non-steroid" substance, has battled reports that he has taken performance-enhancing drugs since high school.

Cushing received 18 votes for the award on Wednesday. In the original voting, which took place in December, he receive a whopping 39 votes. Buffalo Bills safety Jarius Byrd still finished in second place with 13 votes.

Many of the voters published their opinion on the matter, including Sports Illustrated's Peter King and ESPN's John Clayton.

Cushing has kept away from the media in the wake of his suspension, instead dealing with a family crisis.

Former USC teammate Clay Matthews finished third in the re-vote with 10 votes.

Legendary California Punk Band To Release Seventh Album

By Justin Worsley

Social Distortion has been making punk music since 1978 and they aren't stopping anytime soon. The southern California punk band announced on Tuesday that they have signed with Epitath Records and have been recording their seventh studio album since March. The album is set for a fall release.

"We feel that Epitaph has a natural understanding of Social Distortion; both the history of the band and the direction we want to go. Combine that with their successful track record and it felt like a good next step for us. We've always been open to new ideas and pushing the envelope, but we have also been very conscientious about the decisions we've made. We considered a lot of options, but in the end, Epitaph feels like the right home for us. We're looking forward to taking this step forward, opening some new doors with this upcoming album and this next chapter of Social Distortion," lead singer Mike Ness told Alternative Press' Scott Heisel. Ness is also producing the bands latest effort, their first album since 2004.

Ness has also announced that the album is similar to their 1992 release "Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell," but will also feature a blend of early New York '70's punk.

Ness is the only remaining member of the original lineup who is still in the band. The band started to receive commercial success in the late 1980's with the release of their album "Prison Bound" which featured the singles "Story of my Life" and the title track.

Along with the announcement of their signing to Epitath, Social Distortion has also announced that they will be touring this summer with Dan Sartain and the Action Design. The two bands begin their tour in Poughkeepsie, New York on July 27. For more information on the tour, visit altpress.com.

AP To Revote Defensive Rookie Of The Year

By Justin Worsley

The Associated Press has announced that they will revote on the award for Defensive Rookie of the Year after winner Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing received a four-game suspension for testing positive for taking a performance-enhancing drug.

Cushing, who received 39 of the 50 votes by sportswriters across America, will still be included on the list. Buffalo safety Jarius Byrd finished second with six votes.

Cushing, who claims he took a "nonsteroidal" substance, failed the test in September and lost his appeal last week. The former USC standout has battled claims of steroid use since playing high school at Bergen Catholic in New Jersey.

Cushing made 133 tackled for Houston last season, helping pave the way for the franchise's first winning season. He will be suspended without pay.

Texans owner Robert McNair has criticized the NFL rulings, stating that clubs are left "out of the loop."

"We're not even notified, it's the league and the players and the player's union," McNair said. "All we know is what's been announced at this point in time."

Cushing will also be ineligible for next season's Pro Bowl as well as any post-season awards by the NFL. Cushing was named to the Pro Bowl team last season, however, did not play, citing several injuries.

Cushing will be allowed to participate in off-season and preseason workouts, but must leave the team for the first four weeks of the regular season. The earliest he can return is on Oct. 4. Cushing will be able to make his season debut against the New York Giants.

Along with his 133 tackles, Cushing also recorded five sacks, four interception and two forced fumbles.

Two other Defensive Rookie of the Year winners have also faced suspension for using a banned substance. In 2002, former Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers won the award despite being suspended for the final four games of the season for using a dietary supplement that contained a banned substance. In 2006, San Deigo linebacker Shawne Merriman tested positive for steroids contained in a suppliment. Merriman won the award a year earlier.

Cowboys And Rams Swap Former First-Round Draft Picks

By Justin Worsley

The Dallas Cowboys have officially traded underachieving linebacker Bobby Carpenter to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for offensive tackle Alex Barron.

Carpenter, who was never able to cut it in Dallas' 3-4 defense, only started two games in his career, playing behind Zach Thomas and Keith Brooking during his career. The former Ohio State star was selected 18th overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. During last month's draft, the Cowboys selected Penn State linebacker Sean Lee.

Barron has played in 76 career games, making 74 starts, but has been plagued by offsides penalties, but has shown improvement. Last season, Barron was only called for offsides five times, a career low. Barron, who was selected 19th overall in the 2005 NFL Draft, has played both right and left tackle for the Rams, but became expendable when the Rams drafted Jason Smith with last season's second overall pick as well as Roger Saffold this season with the first pick in the second round. Both players will compete for left tackle.

Carpernter will reunite with fellow Ohio State alums James Laurinaitis, Na'il Diggs and Larry Grant. The change of defense may benefit Carpenter, who will operate in a 4-3 defense.

Three of the Ram's first-round draft selection in the last six seasons are no longer on the team. Barron could start at left tackle for Dallas, who released franchise left tackle Flozell Adams last month.

Braden Perfect Against Red-Hot Rays

By Justin Worsley

The Tampa Bay Rays had no answer for Oakland Athletics' pitcher Dallas Braden. On Mother's Day, Braden, 26, became only the 19th pitcher to throw a perfect game during Oakland's 4-0 victory against a Tampa Bay team that is currently ahead of both the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox in the AL East standings.

Braden, who's mother succumbed to skin cancer while he was a senior in high school, immediately looked to the sky prior to hugging his grandmother, Peggy Lindsey, in celebration of his achievement. The last A's pitcher to throw for perfection was Hall of Fame pitcher Jim "Catfish" Hunter on May 8, 1968.

Despite the recent success of Tampa Bay (22-9,) the team has been prone to a pitcher on a hot streak. The last pitcher to throw for a perfect game was Chicago White Sox's ace Mark Buehrle, who accomplished this feat against the Rays. Earlier in the season, Yankee's pitcher C.C. Sabathia was a mere four outs from completing a no hitter before Kelly Shoppach landed a late single to spoil the game.

Braden's perfect game isn't his only recent headline. Last month, Braden got into a scuffle with Yankee's third baseman Alex Rodriguez after Rodriguez stepped on the pitcher's mound, a sacred land for pitchers. The two have kept this rivalry alive through the media.

Branden becomes the seventh left-handed pitcher to throw a perfect game. With only six strikeouts, many of the outs came with the support of his teammates. The closest the Rays came from landing on base was in the first-inning when lead off hitter Jason Bartlett grounded to third base. Kevin Kouzamanoff reached, and was able to record the game's first out for Braden.

"I've got nothing to say but 'perfect'" Braden told Comcast in a post-game interview.

Braden only needed 109 pitches to achieve perfection. No pitcher has ever thrown a perfect game against the team with the MLB's best record (Tampa Bay has a .773 winning percentage.)

Raiders Release Former No. 1 Pick Russell

By Justin Worsley

After a tumultuous three years, the JaMarcus Russell era is over in Oakland.

The Oakland Raiders announced today that the team will sever ties with the 2007 first-overall selection. The move will save the team $6.5 million.

Russell, a star at LSU, has been widely known for having overwhelming talent, but little desire. Russell was consistently out of shape in the off-season and lacked leadership qualities.

Despite his consistent failures on the field, Raiders owner Al Davis refused to give up in the 24-year-old. Davis believed Russell would be the savior of the franchise and despite constant protests by then head coach Lane Kiffin, Davis drafted the strong-armed Russell. Prior to firing Kiffin, Davis sent a letter to the coach telling Kiffin that Russell is "a great player" and that Kiffin needed to "get over it and coach this team on the field."

Russell continued to struggle in 2009 and David gave permission to current head coach Tom Cable to bench Russell in favor of Bruce Gradkowski, a move that improve morale in the locker room as the Raiders pulled upset wins over the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Only former defensive lineman Steve Emtman suffered a shorter tenure with a team after being selected first-overall. Emtman was released by the Indianapolis Colts due to injuries, but played for the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Redskins. No team has shown interest so far in Russell, who will still make $3 million this season from Oakland due to guaranteed money in his rookie contract.

Russell will also undoubtedly carry a "bust" label, joining the ranks of Ryan Leaf and Tim Couch as quarterbacks who never lived up to their hype after leaving college.

The beginning of the end for Russell came last month, when the Raiders traded their 2012 fourth-round draft pick to the Redskins for disgruntled quarterback Jason Campbell. Russell continued to show up to Oakland's off-season workout and stated that he would "continue to show up until he was told not to." Oakland was also linked to trading for several other quarterbacks, including suspended Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Russell has made a total of $39 million in Oakland, including next season's salary. In three seasons, Russell has produced only seven wins and a 65.2 passer rating.

Tebow Outsells McNabb

By Justin Worsley

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow has yet to play a down of professional football, but it isn't stopping fans from snagging his jersey. NFLShop.com has reported that Tebow was the highest selling jersey in April, beating out Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner from Florida, was drafted 25th overall by Denver in last month's draft, a surprise to many spectators. Despite Tebow's record-breaking performance during his tenure as a Gator, many scouts felt Tebow was a working progress who needed to redefine his mechanics in order to be successful in the NFL. Other scouts felt Tebow would fare better if he was anything but a quarterback. Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels, who was a quarterback coach in New England, has coached Tom Brady and is a key factor in the development of Matt Cassel. Shaping Tebow into a NFL star could solidify McDaniels' legacy.

McNabb, who played in Philadelphia last season, did not crack last seasons' top 25 highest selling jerseys, selling even less jerseys than his backup, Michael Vick. Tebow currently sits third on the team's depth chart behind Kyle Orton and Tom Brandstater, but that could all change during the season if McDaniels feels Tebow is ready.

Fellow rookies Ndamukong Suh, Sam Bradford and Eric Berry also made the list. Suh, the second-overall selection in the draft by Detroit, was the eighth-highest selling jersey, edging Bradford, the first-overall selection by the Rams. Berry, the fifth-overall pick by the Chiefs, was ranked 18th on the list.

Despite the uncertainy of his return, Minnesota Vikings' quarterback Brett Favre still finished in the top-five highest selling jerseys. All of the top-five players are quarterbacks.

The Jets and Saints both had three players who made the top 25, the most by any team. The departure of McNabb out of Philadelphia has helped new quarterback Kevil Kolb in jersey sales as well. Kolb finished April with the 12th highest sales.

Phoenix Suns To Honor Latino Community In Game 2

By Justin Worsley

Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver has announced his team will wear the "Los Suns" jersey in Game 2 against the San Antonio Spurs.

The decision to wear the "Los Suns" jerseys, which were worn by Phoenix twice in March during the leagues Latina Noche campaign, is in the wake of Arizona's recently passed anti-immigration law. The game, coincidentally, is also on Cinco De Mayo, a holiday which celebrates Mexican heritage and culture.

"Our players and organization felt that wearing our 'Los Suns' jerseys on Cinco de Mayo was a way for our team and our organization to honor our Latino community and the diversity of our league, the State of Arizona, and our nation," Sarver said in a statement released by the team. "We are proud that 400 players from 36 countries compete in the NBA, and the league and the Suns have always considered that to be a great strength of the NBA.

The controversial law, which was passed on April 23 by Arizona governor Jan Brewer, will come into effect on July 28. Many critics see this law as a way to allow police to conduct racial profiling. The law make it a misdemeanor offense for an illegal alien to be in Arizona without carrying proper documents. Texas is also reviewing the law and potentially drafting their own form of the law.

The Suns, who won Game 1 111-102 last Monday, tip-off at 9 p.m. on TNT.

Del Negro Out As Bulls Coach

By Justin Worsley

After two seasons, the Bulls have decided to fire head coach Vinny Del Negro, according to ESPNChicago.com.

Del Negro, 43, led the Bulls to identical 41-41 records in both season as a head coach, earning two playoff bids, however, the team never saw success in the post-season, losing in a seven-game series last season to Boston. All seven games in the series went into overtime, a first in the NBA. This season, the Bulls fell to top-seeded Cleveland, who won their playoff series 4-1, including a 96-94 victory to clinch the series on April 27.

Del Negro was a first time coach who replaced Jim Boylan after one tumultuous season. Chicago has suffered since the loss of head coach Phil Jackson in 1998. Del Negro was the eighth man to command the Bulls since Jackson's departure. Jackson, who now coaches the Los Angeles Lakers, won six titles in the 1990's witht he Bulls and four more this decade.

Del Negro amassed over 7,000 points as an NBA guard for five different teams. The Bulls, who are set to announce the firing of Del Negro on Tuesday, have been linked to a number of coaches to take over their franchise, including Jackson and Orlando Magic head coach Jeff Van Gundy.

Sharper Stays In New Orleans

By Justin Worsley

Darren Sharper has decided to stay in New Orleans after testing the free agent market. The 34-year-old free safety wants to win another Super Bowl and feels that New Orleans presents the best opportunity for him.

The Saints and Sharper agreed to a one-year deal, however, financial terms have not been released.

Sharper was the nucleus of the Saints defense last season, leading the NFL with nine interceptions and three defensive touchdowns. Sharper notched six tackles in last seasons Super Bowl win against the Indianapolis Colts.

Sharper was drafted in the second-round of the 1997 NFL draft out of William & Mary by the Green Bay Packers. Sharper has also played for Minnesota during his career and drew interest from several teams including Jacksonville, who he visited earlier this week. Sharper had been named to five All-Pro teams in his 14-year career.