Mark Heisler of the LOS ANGELES TIMES has more details today on Elton Brand’s escape to Philly. Heisler notes that the Clippers tried to offer Brand a contract of $81M, but Brand’s agent David Falk stopped returning the club’s calls. Brand eventually accepted an $82M deal from the Sixers.

Heisler surmises, as we did here last Friday, that Falk is most likely behind Brand spurning the Clippers. Keep in mind though that Heisler’s sources on the matter are likely Clippers-affiliated, and the club is presently in full damage control mode.

Not many saw the Philly move coming, but two ESPN 950 radio hosts in Philadelpia, Harry Mayes and Dan Schwartzman, browbeat Brand on-air about joining the Sixers as early as June 5 (audio).

Meanwhile, Jonathan Abrams of the Times reports that Baron Davis’ agent has confirmed his client is still hip to clip.

USA TODAY reports that NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson endorsed John McCain yesterday at the National Press Club: “I’d have to pick (John) McCain. I think our core fan base, being Republicans like they are, that will be their first choice.”

FYI: NASCAR’s home state of North Carolina is currently represented in Congress by seven Democrats and six Republicans.

(We avoided Charles Woodson’s wine stains, but not this - thankfully)

When I was at the Playboy Mansion recently, they were pouring samples of a wine called “24.” No idea what it was at the time, but now the DETROIT NEWS reports that the vino is the handiwork of noted vintner Charles Woodson.

The Chicago Bears official website has plenty of fun with the fact that when Jim McMahon visited the White House in 1996 as a member of the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, he actually wore a Bears jersey.

Excerpt: “When the Packers were honored at the White House, McMahon wore a Bears jersey, enraging Green Bay fans. McMahon explained that he did it because the Bears never got a chance to visit the White House after winning Super Bowl XX. Their trip to Washington was canceled after the Challenger space shuttle blew up.”

God I miss that dude.

Paul Lukas of UNI WATCH BLOG has a bone to pick with the Brewers.

Seems he’s not too found of the club’s penchant for on-field advertising: “Can’t they leave this sh– off the field of play?“

Conveniently, that quote can also be attributed to when the Royals next visit Miller Park. Read more…

I’m excited to announce that SbB will be at the MLB All-Star game in NYC next week. The plan is to live blog from the game on Tuesday night and also provide some color from around town during my time there (I’m actually shooting a new SbB Girl on Sunday as well).

(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?

Read more…