Truth & Rumors: Sept. 29, 2004

NBA

After winning Celebrity Mole, Dennis Rodman wants to make the Nuggets his next challenge. Robert Laberge/Getty Images • Pete McEntegart: The 10 Spot -- Wed., Sept. 28 • Truth & Rumors: Nuggets still eyeing Rodman • Mark Bechtel: Sports shows lack reality • John Rolfe: Cubs, Red Sox feed curse • More Blogs: Chen | Scheft | Ballard | Whitaker Click here for Today's Sign of the Apocalypse, Game to Watch, Leading Off gallery and much more!

Dennis Rodman will be working out for the Nuggets again on Thursday. Rodman, 43, hasn't played in the NBA since the 1999-2000 season.
-- Denver Post

New Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell said, "Vince [Carter] has never said he's going to be a distraction, he's never said he wasn't coming to camp. He never said he wasn't going to work hard or play hard. He asked to be traded, and we said if there was a deal that was good for Vince and also for the Raptors, we would consider it and that hasn't happened yet. I think Vince has had some legitimate beefs and we've all acknowledged that. But we all would like also for him to give this new regime a chance."
-- Toronto Star

Knicks GM Isiah Thomas is continuing to shop Kurt Thomas, who's not athletic enough for Isiah's liking.
-- New York Post

Lon Babby, Ray Allen's agent, and Sonics GM Rick Sund had a face-to-face meeting and entered what was described as "a more serious phase of negotiations" on a new deal for Allen.
-- Seattle Times

Ryan Bowen and the Rockets agreed to terms Tuesday, making the former Denver forward the latest part of the Rockets' eight-player roster overhaul.
-- Houston Chronicle

The Cavaliers signed free-agent center Scott Williams, and GM Jim Paxson says he's had "constructive talks" with Lucious Harris. Harris wants a two-year pact; the Cavs are only offering one with partial guarantees on a second year. Houston is believed to have also offered Harris a deal for about $1.6 million this season.
-- Akron Beacon Journal

Kerry Kittles, the Clippers' most significant offseason acquisition, likely will be sidelined when training camp opens next week.
-- Los Angeles Times

Mavericks veteran swingman Tariq Abdul-Wahad underwent a physical exam by independent doctors Tuesday to determine if there is a chance he could play this season.
-- Dallas Morning News

MLB

Major League Baseball officials and Orioles owner Peter Angelos moved closer to agreement on a compensation package as city officials prepare to announce baseball's return to Washington D.C. Angelos will receive financial guarantees to offset the impact of the Expos' arrival in the Beltway in time for Opening Day 2005.
-- Washington Post

Stan Kasten, former president of the Braves, Hawks and Thrashers, might be part of the group assembled to purchase the Expos.
-- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Mets will hire Expos GM Omar Minaya to head their front office. A news conference could be held Thursday or Friday.
-- New York Times

After a conference call between Lou Piniella's agent and Tampa Bay managing partner Vince Naimoli, Piniella will manage the Devil Rays through 2006.
-- Newark Star-Ledger

Jim Fregosi is the clear-cut front-runner to manage the Mets.
-- New York Daily News

Blue Jays interim manager John Gibbons is all but a lock to earn the full-time job for next season.
-- Toronto Star

Mark L. Attanasio, the Brewers' prospective new owner, received a scouting report on GM Doug Melvin from Rangers owner Tom Hicks. Melvin, who was fired by Hicks in 2001, isn't sure if that's good or bad.
-- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Pedro Martinez laughed off a report about a purported message he sent to Felix Heredia, who wears the same number (45) for the Yankees. Martinez reportedly sent a message through a mutual friend to Heredia saying, "Next year, when I'm a Yankee, you've got to give me your number."
-- Boston Globe

Moises Alou is contemplating retirement after the season if he doesn't get a call from the right team this winter. The rumor has been that Alou will join his father, Giants manager Felipe Alou, in San Francisco next season. Of course, the Giants already have a left fielder named Barry Bonds. "I play right field, too," Alou said.
-- Chicago Tribune

If we conducted a poll about whether the club should bring Alou back at 39 for such a steep price or pursue a younger option for the long term -- such as J.D. Drew, Magglio Ordonez or Carlos Beltran -- the only ones who might vote for him are celebrity buddies: Billy Corgan, Chris Chelios, John Cusack and Michael Jordan's driver (George Koehler lives on, even as MJ fades away).
-- Chicago Sun-Times

With Brian Jordan not expected back, the Rangers will need at least one more outfielder, two good starting pitchers, another big arm in the bullpen, a solid utility infielder and a productive, everyday DH. They also may need a shortstop if they trade Alfonso Soriano and move Michael Young back to second.
-- Fort Worth Star-Telegram

The Rangers were on the verge of signing left-handed reliever Jeff Fassero on Tuesday night before losing to Anaheim. The defeat dramatically decreases Fassero's chances of joining Texas.
-- Denver Post

Milton Bradley's emotional outburst at a group of fans Tuesday night should end his season and his career with the Dodgers.
-- Los Angeles Daily News

The Indians will need a closer next year. Bob Wickman is a closer. Case closed? Coming off Tommy John surgery, Wickman admitted struggling with consistency. Still, he is leaning toward returning if he remains pain-free.
-- Akron Beacon Journal

Another team would jump at giving Eric Munson a chance next year if Detroit doesn't.
-- Detroit News

Nine Pirates will be eligible for salary arbitration this winter -- Kip Wells, Josh Fogg, Salomon Torres, Brian Meadows, Jack Wilson, Craig Wilson, Daryle Ward, Rob Mackowiak and Abraham Nunez. Not all nine will be back.
-- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

NFL

Trade rumors involving Bucs holdout receiver Keenan McCardell now involve a possible swap for Chiefs running back Larry Johnson.
-- Tampa Tribune

Miami and Tampa Bay are making a much bigger push for Johnson than Philadelphia.
-- Philadelphia Inquirer

There's a good chance Billy Volek will be the Titans' starting quarterback Sunday in San Diego.
-- The Tennessean

The Dolphins will start Jay Fiedler at quarterback in place of A.J. Feeley Sunday against the Jets and are expected to sign former Chicago tailback Brock Forsey to help a backfield ravaged by injuries.
-- South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Browns tight end Kellen Winslow's rookie season is officially over. He'll need additional surgery to stabilize his broken right ankle.
-- Akron Beacon Journal

With serious durability concerns about Rex Grossman, the Bears have to consider every possibility in finding a quarterback for the future. Would the Bears really want to use a high draft pick on a top senior or top junior who comes out early? Maybe, if they scan the list of free agents available next year.
-- Chicago Sun-Times

Contract talks with Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis appear to have stalled.
-- New York Daily News

Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs said that he intends to make the offense less complicated to help out his players. Gibbs praised quarterback Mark Brunell, saying, "I thought the guy had a heroic game," Monday night against Dallas.
-- Washington Post

Titans safety Lance Schulters could be sidelined for the rest of the season because of torn ligaments in his foot.
-- Washington Post

NHL

Jeff Powell, a 23-year-old Vancouver marketing assistant, is trying to organize rallies of thousands of people outside arenas across Canada on Oct. 16. His "demands" include a hard salary cap, a drop in ticket prices, a return to offensive hockey, a reduction in the number of teams in non-hockey markets and a return of the NHL to his hometown, Winnipeg.
-- Winnipeg Sun

Dominik Hasek will suit up tonight for AHL Binghamton's Black and White scrimmage, but will leave its training camp Thursday and may not return. He'll meet with Senators GM John Muckler to decide on his course of action. He is still considering playing in the ECHL and the 4-on-4 OSHL.
-- Ottawa Sun

In the absence of any NHL players to coach, Maple Leafs and Canada's World Cup head coach Pat Quinn might go from directing the world's best players to coaching a fantasy camp for beer leaguers.
-- Toronto Star

The Capitals suspended touted prospect Alexander Semin for failing to report to their AHL affiliate in Portland, Maine. Semin is playing instead for Lada Togliatti of the Russian Super League.
-- Washington Post

NHL players Brent Burns (Minnesota), Nathan Horton (Florida) and Patrice Bergeron (Boston) -- all 19 and still eligible to play junior hockey -- aren't returning to their Canadian junior clubs during the lockout. Burns and Bergeron have signed AHL deals and Horton plans to play there after finishing an injury rehab.
-- Canadian Press

The largest junior hockey showcase tournament ever held in the U.S. will be played in the Twin Cities suburb of Blaine, Minn., next month, featuring the 19 teams of the North America Hockey League, the top Junior A league in the country, and the 13 teams from the Eastern Junior Hockey League.
-- Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Soccer

Eighteen-year-old striker Wayne Rooney became the first Manchester United player in 99 years to score a hat trick in his debut as the Red Devils downed Fenerbahce 6-2 in Champions League play. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson said of the "media circus" expected to surround Rooney in the future, "The important thing, as his coach, is to allow him to develop naturally without too much press and public attention."
-- The Guardian (UK)

Concerned that England's elite clubs might try to take control of the country's Football Association, FIFA president Sepp Blatter warned of "an attempt to undermine the very foundation of what any such association is all about: looking after the interests of about 45,000 clubs (not just the biggest four or five), so that youngsters of all backgrounds and ages can enjoy their game."
-- The Daily Mail (UK)