Now the PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS is reporting, via Phil Jasner, “The Sixers have reached a verbal agreement with Los Angeles Clippers free-agent center Elton Brand.” (more…)

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(SbB All-Stars Cora Skinner, Annie, Denise at Yankee Stadium)

There’ll be plenty of fotos, fun and frivolity. And perhaps even an occasional baseball mention. This trip marks the first of many this summer and (especially) fall. SbB will be on the road quite a bit, giving you boots-on-the-ground reporting from some of the biggest upcoming games this year.

We’re also expanding editorial, so if you have experience as a sports blogger and are interested in contributing to SbB, contact me here.

THE SMOKING GUN has details on Sacha Baron Cohen’s (Borat) latest manufactured mayhem in the deep south. Last month Cohen staged what residents of Texarkana and Fort Smith Arkansas, thought were real professional wrestling matches (with $1 beers!).

One small detail: The wrestlers were gay male characters, which of course, the audience absolutely adored.

Cohen’s next movie, due out in 2009, will center on his gay fashion reporter character “Bruno.” What that has to do with the aformentioned scenario, I have no idea.

New photo of Candice Houlihan, the latest stripper to claim a sexual dalliance with ARod:

Dan Patrick zings (at least that’s the way I took it) the current crew of ESPN SportsCenter anchors, when talking about his now watching the show: “I’ve had a harder time watching ‘SportsCenter,’ I’ll grant you that. … It’s sort of like Brett Favre having to watch Aaron Rodgers with the Packers.”

If he’s including Scott Van Pelt in there, I submit it’s more like the Majik Man watching Favre.

A.J. Daulerio of DEADSPIN reports that Bill Simmons is taking 10 weeks off from his gig at ESPN.com to finish his second book.

10 weeks? You wonder if Simmons really needs all that time away from the his main duties with the WWL, or if this is a signal that his departure from ESPN is coming sooner than later (which would surprise no one).

Case you missed it, the Cubs this afternoon countered The Crew with Rich Harden.

The WASHINGTON POST has the hilarious news today that the Washington Nationals have the lowest TV ratings of any team in MLB, at 9,000 viewers per game. That’s more than three times lower than the second lowest-rated club, the Kansas City Royals. And almost four times lower than the putrid Orioles.

Of course, the Nats suckage on the field has a lot to do with those paltry figures, but with the size of the DC market, you would think they would at least crack the five-figure barrier. Maybe added some Marion Barry crack-smoking rain delay video will help. And how do you think advertisers spending hundreds of thousands of dollars (millions?) on Nats’ broadcast ads feel about the news. One word: REBATE!

I’m also delighted to report that a first lieutenant in ARod’s stripper brigade, Joslyn Morse, “could be dragged into court to tell the judge what she knows about A-Rod.”

CRAIN’S NEW YORK BUSINESS’ Hilary Potkewitz reports Fox-TV is selling 30-second spots for its coverage of the MLB All-Star Game for over than $500,000! And that sales have “exceeded expectations.”

I guess that just confirms the vast economical downturn we’re all suffering.

There’s been plenty of rumblings that touted high school basketball recruit Brandon Jennings may forgo one year of college in the U.S. to play in Europe. His high school bio, via Mallory Rubin at SI.com’s CAMPUS CLICKS, may give a little clue about his future intentions:

Video of the Day, featuring the raucous ramblings of the Orlando Magic summer league announcers (via Brian Powell at AWFUL ANNOUNCING):

SPORTS BUSINESS DAILY reports that last night the Dodgers discounted 10,000 tickets to folks who are registered members of a website called travelzoo.com. $16 seats went for $3, $20 tickets for $6, etc.

Now, I’m a member of plenty of websites too - with many based in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley no less - so where’s my discount?

(more…)

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• Could McDonald’s be rooting for China in the Olympics?

• Michael Vick’s financial situation is really in the doghouse now.

• Tiger Woods’ niece isn’t too shabby of a golfer, either.

• The Pittsburgh Steelers could be up for sale. Anyone have an extra $1.2 billion laying around?

(more…)

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Well, TMZ learns that Tony loves nothing more than an encore, as Romo was back in the Key Monday night, once again belting out a tune in such a way that would make Axl Rose cry. But this performance was a little more subdued.

(more…)

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But Austin will have to wait a few years before packing his alligator bags for Gainesville - he just finished his freshman year of high school.

(more…)

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The BIRMINGHAM NEWS reports on the controversial firing of the successful football coach. Bessemer Academy officials say that Freeman’s contract was not renewed because of financial problems the private school is facing.

However, some players believe that Freeman’s departure was over racial concerns - namely, that some parents of white players were mad that black players were getting more playing time than their own kids.

(more…)

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Will Brinson of AOL FANHOUSE bounces along a report from NEW YORK NEWSDAY that the Association was asking for the million-dollar amount from their former employee. The figure was based on Donaghy’s league salary from 2003 to 2006 plus the costs of investigating the ref’s alleged game-fixing.

However, the Feds decided that $1.4 mil was a bit too much: (more…)

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(Javon wasn’t smiling after Deshawn Thomas allegedly attacked him)

KVVU-TV reports that 40-year-old Deshawn Thomas was hauled in on Monday and faces charges of kidnapping, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery with substantial bodily harm. He’s currently being held without bail.

(more…)

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MY FOX CLEVELAND hurls up news that the city of Beachwood has canceled its all-star game for its 9- to 12-year-old baseball players, believing that such a game would be damaging to their kids’ self-esteem.

Beachwood mayor Merle Gordon informed parents of the axed all-star event after reading an article from Fred Engh, founder of the National Alliance for Youth Sports: (more…)

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The MADISON CAPITAL TIMES hurls up news that umpires had stopped Sunday’s game between local teams McFarland & Monona after three McFarland players were ejected over the beaning incident.

Hitting an ump on purpose - haven’t we heard this one before?

Anyway, the problems all began during the sixth inning, when McFarland catcher Pete Patten was jawing with home plate umpire Rich Fronheiser over the ump’s strike zone. Displeased with Fronheiser’s calls, McFarland’s players decided to do something about it. (more…)

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