Filed under: Coyotes, Western, Trade Deadline

Last year, Coyotes general manager Don Maloney was the King of the Trade Deadline. On the final day, he swung seven deals.

So what might he have in store this season, especially with his team atop the division?

"It's so hard to say. The morning of the deadline last year, I didn't think I'd do one deal, and we wound up with seven trades," Maloney told FanHouse. "I do think there will be a lot of dealing, but I think it will be just shuffling.

"I can't say how active we'll be. Last year, we were able to do some things, but this year, we don't have as much flexibility. A lot of teams will be like us."

Maloney said this week that the team now might be looking for a veteran defenseman, in light of facial injuries that will sideline Ed Jovanovski for the rest of the season, and he specifically has mentioned Toronto, Ottawa and Florida as places that teams with needs might look.

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/26/nhl-trade-deadline-phoenix-coyotes/

Rachel Nichols Rachel Perry Rachel Weisz

by Greg Couch

Filed under: Sports Business, Sports Business and Media

"All right everybody, let's hear it for Tropical Time and let's hear it for Bush Bavarian. If you're going to drink a beer, you might as well make it Busch Bavarian.''

That's how Jackie Moon, played by Will Ferrell in the movie Semi-Pro, made the introduction.

You know how Ferrell movies are just too ridiculous? How they could never come true?

Think again.

"Ladies and Gentlemen,'' he said. "I want you to welcome this man that's going to attempt the impossible, the $10,000 free throw from the other side of the court. The moonshot.''

That was the movie, about a fictional and fledgling team from the old ABA, running ridiculous stunts and promotions to try to stay alive.

This is real life: On Saturday night, the Indianapolis Ice of the United States Hockey League held its own impossible-shot promotion. Shoot the puck the length of the ice into the far net, which was blocked off entirely except for a three-inch slot at the bottom.

 

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Source: http://www.fanhouse.com/2011/02/15/man-has-50-000-puck-shot-overturned-it-must-be-a-movie/

Rachel Nichols Rachel Perry Rachel Weisz

Filed under: Louisville, Pittsburgh

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Kyle Kuric scored 12 points, including two big baskets in overtime, to lead No. 16 Louisville past No. 4 Pittsburgh 62-59 on Sunday.

Kuric had a potential game-winning layup blocked at the end of regulation, but atoned by hitting a 3-pointer early in the extra session then adding the clinching dunk with less than a second on the clock.

Then things got a little bizarre.

The clock didn't stop after the basket, which put the Cardinals up 62-57, and the horn sounded. Some Louisville cheerleaders on the baseline raced onto the floor, with one male cheerleader grabbing the ball and tossing it in the air.

Officials called Louisville for a delay of game technical foul and put .5 seconds back on the clock. Pitt's Ashton Gibbs knocked down two free throws and the Panthers had one last chance to tie, but Gibbs couldn't get off a desperation heave in time.

Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2011/02/27/pitt-stopped-by-louisville-in-overtime/

Erika Christensen Estella Warren Esther Cañadas

Filed under: Mets, MLB Biz, Sports Business and Media

The New York Mets have received a minimum of $20 million in assistance from Major League Baseball as they continue to fight a lawsuit brought against them by victims of Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme, according to a report in the New York Times.

Irving H. Picard, the trustee of the victims in the suit, is seeking close to $1 billion from the Wilpon family and Saul Katz -- the owners of the Mets -- further straining an ownership group that already is carrying $400 million in debt on the team.

The Times report claims that the Mets have already exhausted MLB's $75 million standard line of credit, which is made available to clubs for a number of reasons over the course of each year, forcing commissioner Bud Selig to step in and provide further aid to fund the team's day-to-day operations.

Selig signed off on $40 million in loans to the Texas Rangers last year as they went through a drawn-out sale of the club from Tom Hicks to a group led by Chuck Greenberg.

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/02/25/mets-reportedly-received-20-million-in-aid-from-major-league-ba/

Krista Allen Kristanna Loken Kristen Bell

NEW YORK ? Major League Soccer unveiled its long-awaited revamped postseason structure for the 2011 season on Wednesday, giving 10 teams the chance to vie for MLS Cup in a unique twist on the league?s format from the last two seasons.

The league?s new structure will include the top three seeds from each conference and four wild card berths ? regardless of conference affiliation ? but the postseason will now include two play-in games for those wild card teams.

Source: http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/02/mls-reveals-expanded-playoffs-structure-for-2011

Naomi Watts Natalie Imbruglia Natalie Portman

Filed under: Blues, Canucks

VANCOUVER - Chris Stewart is out to prove Peter Stastny right.

Stastny, the former Quebec Nordiques and St. Louis star was highly critical of the Colorado Avalanche for trading Stewart -- one of the NHL's emerging elite power forwards -- to the Blues in a blockbuster deal. In no uncertain terms, Stastny said the Blues got the better players in the deal.

"He's done a lot for the organization," said Stewart. "Everyone respects his opinion and he's definitely entitled to it. I can't really worry about the past. I can only worry about the future and worry about going to be a Blue."

Consider that Stewart's diplomatic response, even though Stastny cast him in a good light. But it's clear Stewart hopes the hall of famer's prediction comes true.

Defenceman Erik Johnson, the former first-overall draft pick who was the centerpiece that went the other way in the deal, has vowed to make the Blues rue the day they unloaded him. Stewart also wants to show the Avs they erred by letting him go.

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/25/chris-stewart-wants-avs-to-regret-trade/

Anne Marie Kortright April Scott Arielle Kebbel

Filed under: PGA

Yep, the PGA Tour is playing again this week. It's the Pebble Beach AT&T National Pro-Am.

That means Pebble Beach. Cool. Great tournament. There is the celebrity/amateur thingy that was once very, very hip when Bing Crosby was the host, but now too many people wonder "who the hell is Bing Crosby?" and Bill Murray, George Lopez and Andy Garcia are the celebrity headliners.

Play will be slow and the weather most-likely lousy, but there may be no greater piece of real estate in golf than Pebble Beach.

Remember, they did play the U.S. Open there last year.

Graeme McDowell won it, but Dustin Johnson came close. That's significant because Johnson did win the two Pebble Beach Pro-Am stops before that. So, despite the fact Johnson in June shot a final-round 82 to fall out of the hunt, he led after three rounds and also has been the winner at the previous two PGA Tour events at Pebble Beach by one shot over David Duval and J.B. Holmes last year and four in front of Mike Weir in 2009.

 

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2011/02/09/pga-set-to-host-another-pebble-beach-party-for-atandt-pro-am/

Tara Conner Tara Reed Tara Reid

Filed under: Golf Odds and Ends

The Waste Management Phoenix Open is one of the few PGA events that has the feel of an NFL game or a NASCAR race -- not to confuse the two demographics, but both atmospheres have very similar qualities. Huge crowds will again be in attendance, despite weather so cold the pro-am was canceled.

TPC Scottsdale's par-3, 16th hole is the most exciting hole in golf with bleachers surrounding tee to green. It will serve as the Kodak Challenge hole for the week, which gives it an unneeded boost. Sit back and enjoy the party in Arizona, and keep an eye on these players.

The favorites for this week are familiar names who have started strong in 2011:

1. Phil Mickelson -- After a strong performance at Torrey Pines, Phil heads to another course that he loves. With two wins and nine top-10s at this tournament, he is the favorite to win this week. The former Arizona State player will need to tighten up his game off the tee, but his short game looks to be in order.

2. Dustin Johnson -- Any personal issues that Johnson might have been experiencing when he withdrew a few weeks ago are not affecting him. He was near the top in every major statistical category last week and finished with a final-round 66, which included no bogeys. With top-10s in both starts this year, it would be a surprise if he didn't make it three.

3. Hunter Mahan -- Last year's winner should be primed for a title defense. Mahan entered Sunday's final round last week in the last group, but a double bogey on the opening hole set the tone for day and he finished the Farmers T6. His win in Phoenix a year ago was highlighted by only 12 missed greens the entire week. If he can continue to hit his driver well, expect him to have a lot of birdie opportunities.

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4. Rickie Fowler -- He came within one shot of winning here in just the sixth tournament of his rookie year. Fast-forward one year and the young star continues to look for that first Tour victory. Fowler didn't play as well as his T20 finish last week would indicate. Following his 65 on the easier of the two Torrey Pines courses, Fowler shot 2 over for the remainder of the tournament, but he should feel pretty comfortable this week.

5. Jhonattan Vegas -- It's probably a bit premature to be including Vegas in the short list of favorites, but the rookie has earned it. The Venezuelan entered the 72nd hole last week just one stroke out of the lead and a realistic opportunity for back-to-back wins. The most impressive aspect of his performance was his calm and confidence in a high-pressure home stretch. The FedEx Cup points leader looks like he belongs.

 

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2011/02/02/phoenix-open-power-rankings-mickelson-primed-for-success/

Jennifer Morrison Jennifer ODell Jennifer Scholle

Filed under: Blues, Canucks

VANCOUVER - Chris Stewart is out to prove Peter Stastny right.

Stastny, the former Quebec Nordiques and St. Louis star was highly critical of the Colorado Avalanche for trading Stewart -- one of the NHL's emerging elite power forwards -- to the Blues in a blockbuster deal. In no uncertain terms, Stastny said the Blues got the better players in the deal.

"He's done a lot for the organization," said Stewart. "Everyone respects his opinion and he's definitely entitled to it. I can't really worry about the past. I can only worry about the future and worry about going to be a Blue."

Consider that Stewart's diplomatic response, even though Stastny cast him in a good light. But it's clear Stewart hopes the hall of famer's prediction comes true.

Defenceman Erik Johnson, the former first-overall draft pick who was the centerpiece that went the other way in the deal, has vowed to make the Blues rue the day they unloaded him. Stewart also wants to show the Avs they erred by letting him go.

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/25/chris-stewart-wants-avs-to-regret-trade/

Anna Paquin AnnaLynne McCord

Filed under: Cavaliers, Clippers, Pacers, NBA Rumors

LeBron James is gone. Cleveland has the worst team in the NBA and just lost an NBA-record 26 straight games.

Despite that, agent Mark Bartelstein said guard Mo Williams never asked for a trade from the Cavaliers.

"No, he didn't,'' Bartelstein told FanHouse on Thursday. "He was going to be a good soldier. The Cavs have been great to him.''

While Williams was willing to stick it out, he was traded Thursday to the Los Angeles Clippers along with forward Jamario Moon for guard Baron Davis and a 2011 first-round pick. The deal, made at the NBA trade deadline, was intriguing enough for Williams to make adjustments to his contract.

Williams originally could opt out this summer of the final two years of his deal, when he is scheduled to earn $8.5 million in each. But, in order to facilitate the trade, Bartelstein said Williams agreed to change his contract so that now he only can opt in the summer of 2012 for the final year.

Bartelstein, though, said Williams does have some sadness in leaving Cleveland.

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/02/24/agent-mo-williams-never-asked-for-trade-from-cavaliers/

Aisha Tyler Aki Ross Alecia Elliott