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Rick Majerus:
We hardly knew ye! Newbie TV analyst resigns to take the head-coaching job at USC, starting in 2005. Trojans will become Sweet 16 mainstay in March.
QUICKIE LIVE! 9-10 a.m.
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The Lead Item
Two Words For You:
NATIONAL. JOKE.
"Poison pill might make a great
nickname for a baseball pitch, but it's an awful
notion for people trying to do baseball
business.
D.C. baseball is scuttled, more than likely,
thanks to a brutal amendment included in the city
council's ballpark-finance bill, requiring private financing for at least half the stadium construction costs.
The likely outcome? The Nats play a
rent-a-season in D.C. (On the bright side, knowing they
might only last for a year, fans may flock to
games.)
It's a humiliation for the city, its fans and -- most
of all -- MLB, which now must try either to sell a bad
stadium deal to prospective owners (good luck with
that) or to re-start the relocation process during a
lame-duck year that will make even D.C.'s biggest
political cynics wince.
Check that: It's arguably the biggest humiliation
in sports-franchise relocation history.
"Vegas Nationals" has a nice ring, doesn't
it?
NBA Trade Mania
As of today, NBA rookies and newly signed free agents can be
traded, so pro hoops gets a little in-season "hot stove"-style action.
More of a "microwave" -- a short, intense jolt of rumors and
proposals.
The biggest: Vince Carter. Carter in New York seems like a
no-brainer, even at the cost of Isiah Thomas' summer fling, Jamal
Crawford. Crawford is young and exciting, but he's no Vince. (DET at
NY, 8 ET, ESPN)
Sonics Rule
Seattle's jump-shot "retroffense" continues to delight
critics, astound fans and confound the comp. The Sonics torched the
Lakers 108-93, extending their record to 18-4.
Fun with stats! Seattle is near the tops in the league in two
newfangled efficiency metrics: "Points Per Shot" (PTS/FGA) and
"Adjusted FG Pct" [(PTS-FTM)/FGA]/2. If you hate math, just gaze
open-mouth at the shooting.
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CHECK OUT THE QUICKIE EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING! |
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| WHO'S GOT THE MOMENTUM ... |
Mariners: Close to signing slugging/injured 1B Rich Sexson
Instant replay: Smartly, more CFB leagues may join Big Ten
CFB "Sportsmanship" rules: SEC will fine for fans on field |
| ... AND WHO'S GOT NO MO' |
NHL season: We KNEW that; anyone wanna cancel 05-06?
Carlos Beltran: Everyone else getting pub; 'Los stands pat
Colorado U. honcho Richard Byyny: Resigns in scandal wake
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A.J. Burnett Fever!
He's the "new Tim Hudson!" Teams balking at Billy
Beane's asking price for Hudson are hunting in Florida for Burnett,
another young stud pitcher (and, like Hudson, a free agent after the
2005 season).
BAL, DET, NYY, BOS and others are all rumored to be in the mix.
Speaking of the Red Sox ....
What Next?
What's more overblown: Red Sox Nation's nonsense
fixation on Pedro leaving, or their nonsense fixation on Curt
Schilling too injured to start Opening Day?
Wow, it only took six weeks for RSN to find something to be (a) bitter
about and (b) worried about. (The over/under -- set at "end of winter
meetings" -- was right on!)
But there's good news, as early as today, when Theo makes yet another
sick move and nabs sensational SS Edgar Renteria, who has been to the
playoffs 5 times in the last 8 seasons.
NFL Injuries
PHI DT Hollis Thomas: If you think Andy Reid is "Bill
Belichick without the rings," let's see what he can do without his DT
in the playoffs (again).
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ATL RB T.J. Duckett: Out 1-3 weeks (ankle), expected to
return for the playoffs, but will he be at full strength? (Not that
anyone is giving the Falcons much of a shot.)
TEN QB Steve McNair: May sit out final 3 games (sternum).
Here's hoping he does, so he can come back healthy next season. The
Titans are out of it, anyway.
Mrs. Anna Iglesias
Congrats to Kournikova and her new husband, Enrique,
reportedly tying the knot last weekend. Does that make her "Mrs.
Hero?"
Bigger question: Does marriage blunt a celebrity hottie's
appeal? Must be taken on a case-by-case basis. For example: Denise
(Charlie Sheen) Richards? Lost luster. Ashley (IRL dude) Judd? Still a
hottie.
Serial dating remains the optimal strategy for maintaining one's
celebrity hottie-ness.
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"Boo" Orleans Hornets:
Lost last night to expansion Bobcats in de facto "Worst Team Loses" game. Record falls to 1-19. Will they break 10 Ws? (No, they won't.)
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Today on ESPN.com
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| Morning Quickie transcript |
| Gammons on baseball |
| Bilas on Majerus |
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| NBA's Worst 5 |  Hornets (1-19)
| Epically bad
|  Bulls (4-15)
| Underachieving
|  Hawks (4-15)
| Knew they'd stink
|  Raptors (7-16)
| Have lost 7 in row
|  Bobcats (5-14)
| | But "A" for effort |
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Pedro to the Mets can move one step closer to finalization today when
he takes a physical (intro press conference set for
Thursday) ...
Remember when 49ers coach Dennis Erickson used to be considered a good
coach? He may be on the NFL outs, but expect Ws back in CFB at Ole
Miss ...
Kobe took over the NBA scoring-average lead. Bryant as scoring champ
on a mediocre team? Who didn't see this coming? ...
Inauspicious debut for my 2004-05 CFB Bowl picks: I was suckered by
North Texas' "Mean Green" nickname; NT pounded by So. Miss,
31-10 ...
Gotta love that MLBPA: Slow to fix roid testing, but quick to file a
grievance over Colorado voiding Denny "Quick Hook" Neagle's
deal ...
Hoops on ESPN: catch Phoenix, the NBA's best O-show (10:30, ESPN); on
the other end of the O spectrum, there's my Northwestern, (9,
ESPN2) ...
Other big NBA trade-bait name: Jason Kidd. NJ may be wary of trading
away *another* star, but he's pricey and better off with a
contender ...
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