FanHouse Main - WillieMays

Austin Jackson Responding to Tigers' High Expectations

Jeff Fletcher — 2010-03-20T15:25:00 00:00

LAKELAND, Fla. - Lloyd McClendon looked at Austin Jackson's stats and he worried about the Tigers' new hot prospect.

All those strikeouts. Against minor league pitching?

"You worry about what that equates to at the major league level," McClendon said. "There had to be something (wrong), but I haven't seen it."

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MLS, Players Union Avoid Strike

Jon Weinbach — 2010-03-20T15:20:00 00:00

by Jon Weinbach

Filed under: MLS, Sports Business and Media

After several days of marathon negotiations, Major League Soccer and its players union reached an agreement today on a five-year labor contract, averting a players strike that threatened to postpone the start of the league's 15th season and hinder the sport's growth.

The new deal will provide players with higher salaries and expanded freedom to move within teams in the MLS -- though not complete free agency, which the players had been seeking. "It was not fun, it was tiring, but it was productive," said MLS commissioner Don Garber (pictured) on a conference call this morning. "We've worked very hard together with out players to find an agreement that satisfies their needs yet works within a framework for owners that makes sense."

Unlike the four major sports leagues or other soccer leagues around the world, MLS operates as a single-entity, not as a collection of autonomous franchises. The league owns and negotiates all players contracts, and has tightly controlled players' ability to move between league teams. Under the old labor deal, players had been unable to sign with other MLS clubs -- even after their contracts had expired -- unless they were granted permission by the league and their former team. The new deal will allow for more freedom, as players who are out of contract or have been terminated will be placed in a "re-entry draft" where other teams can select them.

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St. Mary's Stuns Villanova to Crash the Sweet 16

Dan Graziano — 2010-03-20T15:15:00 00:00

by Dan Graziano

Filed under: Villanova, St. Mary's (CA), NCAA Tournament, NCAA Tournament - South Region

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The big star of the little West Coast Conference team was unstoppable. The little star of the Big East conference team was ice cold. And the result Saturday afternoon was that 10th-seeded St. Mary's knocked off second-seeded Villanova 75-68 in a second-round NCAA tournament game and became the first team to reach this year's Sweet 16.

Omar Samhan, the 6-foot-11 St. Mary's center, scored 32 points, and Mickey McConnell's banked-in 3-pointer with 1:15 left in the game broke a 65-65 tie and propelled the Gaels into next week's South Region semifinals in Houston. Villanova senior guard Scottie Reynolds endured another brutal shooting day and couldn't help the Wildcats make good on a spirited second-half comeback attempt.

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Report: Kerry Wood Out 6-8 Weeks

Matt Snyder — 2010-03-20T15:00:00 00:00

by Matt Snyder

Filed under: Indians, AL Central, MLB Injuries

Indians closer Kerry Wood has been on the disabled list quite a few times in his career. He seems to be a bit snakebitten on that front, as he's a strong person with a good work ethic. He just can't seem to stay healthy for full seasons. Even in his rebirth as a closer in 2008, Wood had a DL stint midseason. And it appears 2010 isn't going to be much different for Wood.

He has reportedly suffered a strained right lat muscle and will miss six to eight weeks. So the best-case scenario for Wood is that he'll be back at the start of May -- but odds are he's looking at mid-to-late May, if not June.

Wood saved 20 games for the Indians last season after successfully closing 34 the previous season for the Cubs. The 4.25 ERA in 2009 for Wood was his worst mark since 2000, but he still struck out more than a batter per inning -- showing he's still got good stuff.

Wood, 32, is expected to be a hot name on the trading block leading up the July 31 non-waiver deadline, and this injury probably doesn't much change things. He'll have enough of a chance to get back and show he's healthy -- almost like a showcase for potential suitors.

In the meantime, the Indians will likely use Chris Perez as the closer. The 24-year-old righty is a closer-in-waiting and would be taking over if Wood is traded anyway.

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MLS, Players Reach Deal; Season Starts Thursday

Brian Straus — 2010-03-20T14:30:00 00:00

by Brian Straus

Filed under: MLS

Major League Soccer and its players union reached a five-year collective bargaining agreement on Saturday afternoon, ensuring that the 15th season will start as scheduled on Thursday in Seattle.

MLS commissioner Don Garber and MLS Players Union executive director Bob Foose spent most of the subsequent announcement thanking and lauding the participants in the marathon negotiations, rather than providing details. Garber said the contract had been signed just moments before the pair addressed the media and that the fine points would be revealed in time.

In the short term, however, just one detail matters -- there will be MLS soccer this week.

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Ozzie Guillen and the 'White Sox Soap Opera' Continues

Ed Price — 2010-03-20T14:05:00 00:00

by Ed Price

Filed under: White Sox, AL Central

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The reality show about the White Sox, being filmed for MLB Network, should probably air on TNT.

As in, "We know drama."

The latest drama came Friday, when manager Ozzie Guillen's 24-year-old son Oney resigned from his job in the front office because he had been criticizing the organization on Twitter.

Which could have forced the elder Guillen to choose between his family and his team.

Except Guillen found a Solomonic answer, telling Oney to resign.

"My kid made a mistake," Guillen said Saturday. "They didn't fire him. That came from me, his father, to say, 'Listen, I think it's time to move on and walk away.'

"I think that's the hardest thing I ever did in my life. I [felt] very sick all game [Friday] because I never thought I'd be in that situation."

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Knuckle Puck: Creating a New Justice System

Kevin Schultz — 2010-03-20T13:15:00 00:00

by Kevin Schultz

Filed under: Devils, Islanders, NHL Videos, NHL Discipline

Each and every weekend this season I'll be taking a look at the random happenings and absurdities that occur in the world of hockey. Feel free to suggest stories, complain or otherwise babble at me via electronic mail.

With all of the suspensions and non-suspensions handed down this week by Colin Campbell, I think it's time that we re-examine the justice system in the NHL. With "repeat offenders" Alex Ovechkin and James Wisniewski getting two and eight games, respectively, for their crimes, and Matt Cooke getting off with nothing, there are clearly some flaws in the decision making behind the suspension system. (Although, for Cooke, having to play in Boston 10 days later in front of 18,000 people who wanted revenge and blood, sweet blood was a nice throwback to Ancient Roman justice).

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Noons Wants Melendez-Aoki Winner

Michael David Smith — 2010-03-20T13:10:00 00:00

by Michael David Smith

Filed under: DREAM, EliteXC, MMA Videos, Strikeforce

The former EliteXC lightweight champion wants to fight the winner of the upcoming bout between the Dream lightweight champion and the Strikeforce lightweight champion.

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Jake Shields: Being a 'TUF' Coach Was Not a Distraction

FanHouse TV — 2010-03-20T13:01:00 00:00

by FanHouse TV

Filed under: Strikeforce, FanHouse Exclusive, Videos

Jake Shields just wrapped up being a Team Liddell assistant coach on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter, and some have wondered whether being on the show has taken away from some of his training time for his upcoming title defense against Dan Henderson on CBS. However, when MMA Fighting spoke to Shields earlier this week, the middleweight champion said it was more of a blessing because he got to train with some of the best fighters in Las Vegas while working on the show.

Shields also discussed main eventing his first CBS show and much more. Check out the video below.

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Even After All These Years, Daniels Stays Hungry in TNA's X Division

Brian Fritz — 2010-03-20T13:00:00 00:00

by Brian Fritz

Filed under: Pro Wrestling

TNA Wrestling star Daniels is just a few years shy of two decades of ring experience, but don't expect him to hang up his boots anytime soon. In fact, the 38-year-old veteran will be wrestling in a four-way ladder match on Sunday night's "Destination X" pay-per-view to determine the No. 1 contender for the X Division Championship.

In an exclusive interview with FanHouse, Daniels reflected on his impressive career, the future of TNA's distinctive X Division, and a jaw-dropping match where fans actually chanted "Please don't die." He also discussed how he's been able to stay active all these years and what it's like to go head-to-head with WWE.

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Do We Worry About Cliff Lee and Others?

R.J. White — 2010-03-20T12:15:00 00:00

by R.J. White

Filed under: MLB Injury Report, Draft Advice

A right lower abdominal strain has sidelined Cliff Lee, who has flown back to Seattle for treatment, and it could mean Lee will start the season on the DL. Should his owners be worried? Hardly.

While the injury will keep him out for the first week or two, he should return fairly quickly and revert to the dominance he has shown over the last two years. Lee was already scheduled to miss his first start, thanks to throwing at Diamondbacks catcher Chris Snyder. This injury could potentially have him miss a total of three starts, but he should return none the worse for wear and start 30 games in 2010 for the third consecutive year. At least, that's what we Lee owners are hoping.

If all winds up being OK with Lee, who is giving us legitimate reason to worry?

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Arlovski: Bigfoot Is the First Step Toward Fedor, Rogers

Michael David Smith — 2010-03-20T12:10:00 00:00

by Michael David Smith

Filed under: MMA Videos, Strikeforce

Andrei Arlovski will return to the cage for the first time in almost a year on May 15 when he takes on Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva, and he says he hopes that fight is the first step toward getting a couple of rematches with the two guys who knocked him out in 2009, Fedor Emelianenko and Brett Rogers.

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Details on Portland's Front Office Shakeup Emerge

Tom Ziller — 2010-03-20T11:12:00 00:00

by Tom Ziller

Filed under: Trail Blazers, NBA Rumors

On Tuesday, the Blazers sacked Tom Penn, the team's assistant general manager and V.P. of basketball ops, citing "philosophical differences." In the immediate aftermath, no one knew what to make of it. Had Penn clashed with his boss Kevin Pritchard, the respected Blazers G.M. who had been seen as a close ally of Penn? Had the executives above Pritchard -- those who have owner Paul Allen's ear -- been upset by something Penn had done or said? Who exactly wanted Penn gone tout de suite, as the Blazers prepare for a playoff run?

On Thursday, columnist John Canzano of The Oregonian laid out a theory that Allen's advisors had been seeking to wrest control of the emergent franchise back from the basketball folks -- that'd be Pritchard and Penn -- and used Penn to wedge that opening. The supposed slight was that Penn misrepresented a contract offer from the Timberwolves last summer in order to get a promotion and raise from Allen. (Canzano obtained proof, apparently from Penn's agent, which reportedly refutes that claim.)

Canzano tends to be quite partisan on ownership/management battles; as such, his doomsday account, quite honestly obviously sourced from folks sympathetic to Pritchard and Penn, was taken with a grain of salt by many Blazers fans. But Henry Abbott, a Blazers fan who happens to head ESPN's TrueHoop and is really plugged in on Portland matters, followed Canzano's piece with his own dystopian view. Abbott wrote late last night that according to sources the agent for both Pritchard and Penn began sending out feelers about job opportunities for the pair, believing that the Blazers wouldn't be keeping Pritchard around long-term. As such, Abbott writes, the Penn firing serves as a vindication for those fears.

Pritchard is signed through the 2010-11 season. Suffice it to say that should he become available, there would be substantial interest from lower echelon teams, given the way Pritchard has been able to bring Portland back from the dead.

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Another Page of March History in a Las Vegas Sports Book

Clay Travis — 2010-03-20T10:00:00 00:00

by Clay Travis

Filed under: FanHouse Exclusive, NCAA Tournament

LAS VEGAS -- The NCAA tournament comes early here. Really early.

By 8:45 a.m. my friend Tardio, a 30-year-old, med-malpractice attorney from Nashville, and I are seated on cream colored couches in the stadium seating area above the Lagasse's Stadium sports book.

Directly in front of our seats in Lagasse's, which opened in September and is the newest sports book in Vegas, are 17 televisions, and a 25-foot projection screen television. We're logged in for a day of live in-game wagering on the PocketCasino, the dynamic wagering device that has changed the face of sports wagering since October and is debuting this year for the NCAA tournament.

Around us, the sports book is already packed, a collection of men between the ages of 26 and 45, wearing anything from suits to gym shorts and T-shirts. A large line of these men wraps around the front, gamblers getting in their bets in the final moments before Florida and BYU are set to tip-off to begin the 2010 tournament.

Our waitress, a hot girl wearing a white LaDainian Tomlinson jersey and black short shorts, arrives and inquires what we'd like to order. Henceforth, she will be known as Hot LaDainian or HL for short.

"Chicken nachos," I say.

"Before nine?" Tardio asks. He shakes his head. "I'll have a Coors Light."

We're seated on the third row of the grandstand. We're both hung over, our eyes bleary. Wednesday night, we gambled in the Hard Rock Casino until almost four in the morning. At one point we sat alongside a perfect 10, a blonde with an incredible body and huge pendulous breasts that threaten to upend the blackjack table should she make any sudden movements.

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Red Wings Steal Point in Final Second

Bruce Ciskie — 2010-03-20T09:55:00 00:00

by Bruce Ciskie

Filed under: Oilers, Red Wings, NHL Videos

In the midst of a tough Western Conference playoff race, the Detroit Red Wings need all the points they can muster.

Friday night, while locked in a tight game with the league's worst team, the Wings found a way to practically steal a very important point.

The Calgary Flames had already won -- despite nearly blowing a huge lead. Meanwhile, Detroit was struggling, trailing 2-1 at Edmonton in the final minute.

What happened could be the difference between making and missing the playoffs.

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Strasburg Will Open Season in Double-A

Marc Lancaster — 2010-03-20T09:31:00 00:00

by Marc Lancaster

Filed under: Nationals, Prospects, Spring Training

Anybody going to be in Altoona on April 8? If so, you'll probably have a chance to watch the Washington Nationals' best pitcher this spring open his regular season.

Stephen Strasburg was optioned to Double-A Harrisburg Saturday morning, mere hours after another dominant showing in his third and final Grapefruit League appearance for the Nationals. Harrisburg opens its season at Altoona, and it's a good bet Strasburg will be on the mound beginning a couple months of final seasoning before he moves to Washington for good.

That Strasburg will open the season in the minors is hardly a surprise; the Nationals had hinted at such an outcome throughout the spring. Still, just about everyone who watched the right-hander's work this spring was left with the impression that he would likely be successful in the majors right now.

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Minnesota Twins 2010 Primer

Tom Fornelli — 2010-03-20T09:31:00 00:00

by Tom Fornelli

Filed under: Twins, FanHouse Previews, Spring Training

The Minnesota Twins won their fifth AL Central title of the 21st century last season, culminating in a wonderful one-game playoff against the Detroit Tigers, and there's plenty of reason to believe they'll start the new decade the same way. One of the most consistent franchises in Major League Baseball, the Twins are just one of those teams that seem able to overcome anything.

The loss of a star player to free agency or injury? Who cares? This team just keeps chugging along and winning games.

Adversity is just a way of life in the Twin Cities, and though the season hasn't actually started yet, the Twins find themselves staring it right in the face again this year, though they don't look too worried about it.

Tom Krasovic: Twins Welcome Transition to Great Outdoors

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Twins Welcome Move to Great Outdoors

Tom Krasovic — 2010-03-20T09:30:00 00:00

by Tom Krasovic

Filed under: Twins, Spring Training

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Architecturally speaking, everyone's excited, in one way or another, by what's happening with the Minnesota Twins.

The Twins are moving outdoors, and their new home's quite a sight: A roofless ballpark whose bejeweled canopy makes for baseball's most dazzling Northern Lights.

While the potential of a World Series interrupted by blizzard gives pause, as does the vision of summer mosquito raids in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, it's not the man vs. nature angle that most intrigues.

The Twins are leaving behind several man-made helpers at the Metrodome, their home and pleasure dome since 1982.

More Coverage: Twins 2010 Primer

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NCAA Eye for the NBA Guy: Five Prospects in Saturday Action

Jordan Schultz — 2010-03-20T08:30:00 00:00

by Jordan Schultz

Filed under: NBA Draft

As we enter Round 2 of the NCAA Tournament, Jordan Schultz takes a closer look at five NBA prospects in action today.

DeMarcus Cousins, C, Kentucky. When John Calipari coaxed Cousins into following him to Kentucky, you knew this kid was going to be special. Cousins is widely viewed as the next great 20-10 guy in the NBA. At 6-11, 270 lbs., he is almost unstoppable once he gets his normally deep low post position. His footwork and left hand still need work but his touch doesn't. Cousins is a horse in the paint and a potential top three pick should he declare after the season.

Maturity issues and laziness have been an issue at times for him however, but remember he's only a freshman. Cousins plays similar to Minnesota T-Wolves big man Al Jefferson, a bruising big man who will bang all game long until he wears you down. He has excellent hands down low too. If he's anywhere around the ball, he'll find a way to corral it, whether on a rebound or pass.

More Prospects: View All 'NCAA Eye for the NBA Guy' Posts

The key against Wake Forest is to avoid early foul trouble (Chas McFarland is a genius at this), and to find his shooters once doubles come. Both of these have been issues all season long for Cousins. He is not at the stage in his game where he understands how to evaluate the floor. For Wake to have any chance here, making Cousins uncomfortable and not letting him get in a rhythm is crucial. Should the game be close, he is a dreadful free throw shooter at 63 percent.

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Chat Live With The Motor City Machine Guns on Monday 4PM ET

Tom Herrera — 2010-03-20T06:00:00 00:00

by Tom Herrera

Filed under: Pro Wrestling

When talking about the most exciting tag teams in wrestling today, you'd be remiss if you didn't mention Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin (The Motor City Machine Guns). Since making their debut in TNA Wrestling in 2007, Shelley and Sabin have quickly proven themselves as title contenders with a wide array of high-flying maneuvers and unique combinations.

One day after they take on Generation Me in an Ultimate X match at the Destination X pay-per-view, they'll be chatting right here on FanHouse and answering your questions. So join us on Monday at 4PM ET to talk to the Guns just hours before a live edition of TNA iMPACT! will air.

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