Random Thoughts (July 12, 2007)

Yesterday was officially the slowest sports day of the year, unless one counts the WNBA as a sport. However, some things of note did occur in the sporting world regardless of the lack of games... In summer league action in Las Vegas, the Celtics demolished the Chinese national team by a score of 80-52. Leon Powe (23 points and 12 rebounds) and Glen Davis (10 and 11) dominated inside while Rajon Rondo (12 points) controlled the C's offense. Yi Jianlian, the No. 6 overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks and a member of Team China, was held to 7 points... NBA free agency also kicked off yesterday. The Orlando Magic executed a sign-and-trade with the Seattle Sonics for one dimensional scorer Rashard Lewis (they will regret the $126 million they just gave Lewis), the Phoenix Suns signed Grant Hill (hope he stays healthy), the Detroit Pistons re-signed Chauncey Billups, the Charlotte Bobcats re-signed Gerald Wallace even though they traded for Jason Richardson on Draft night and the Memphis Grizzlies reportedly came to terms with Darko Milicic on a three-year deal... The NCAA came down hard on the Oklahoma Sooners yesterday. The Sooners have to erase their 8 wins, including their Holiday Bowl victory over Oregon, and will also lose two scholarships for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years because of infractions committed by former players Rhett Bomar and J.D. Quinn. The Sooners are also on NCAA probation until 2010. The school has 15 days to appeal and university president David Boren said they will make an appeal. Bomar and Quinn were both paid by a car dealership for jobs they did not do. Makes you wonder what USC might possibly lose when the NCAA gets around to investigating the Reggie Bush housing scandal... I am pleading with the Boston Herald and the "Inside Track" to leave Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen alone. It seems like not one day can pass without the girls at the Track printing the newest Brady-Bundchen rumor. I knw Brady is bigger than just the sports page in this city but let the guy enjoy some privacy until football season opens... At last night's ESPY Awards, the Indianapolis Colts won the award for "Best Team" of 2006. If Brady had even half of the receiving options then as he does now, the Colts would have had to settle for "Best Second Place Team in the AFC" award. Remember that in January... The Yankees will supposedly break team policy and negotiate with potential free agent Alex Rodriguez during the season. A-Rod, who will certainly opt out of his contract with agent Scott Boras calling the shots, could command up to $30 million per season if he hits the open market. Maybe I'm crazy but don't the contracts of Curt Schilling ($13M), Matt Clement ($9.5M) and Mike Lowell ($9M) come off the books after this season? And doesn't Manny's deal (roughly $20M) expire after 2008? That leaves the Red Sox with some expendable cash and with a loaded minor league system ready to produce cheap, major league ready talent (Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester, Michael Bowden, etc.), the Sox could splurge on Rodriguez. With a good history dealing with Boras clients (Jason Varitek, J.D. Drew, Daisuke Matsuzaka), Boston could have the edge in the A-Rod sweepstakes. Imagine a 6-year/$170 million dollar deal to bring Rodriguez to Fenway. Keep in mind that Boston is where he wanted to go after the 2003 season and before the Yankees made the Valentine's Day trade to bring him to the Bronx in 2004. Maybe that's why the Yanks are trying to get something done now, before he can hit the open market... Enjoy Stage 5 of the Tour de France...