After the St. Louis Rams decided on Monday that there was too much risk in signing the much-maligned WR, 14 year veteran Terrell Owens signed a 1 year contract today with the Cincinnati Bengals allowing the elder statesman WR yet another year in the NFL. Owens, 36, who has been unemployed since the end of the 2009-2010 regular season now fills the spot vacated when T.J. Houshmandzadeh left and spilt to Seattle and when Chris Henry suffered an untimely death recently in Charlotte, NC.  So after all, the N.Y Jets will not be able to add Owens to their motley crew of athletes that Rex Ryan has been assembling for the past three years on their personal trek to Dallas in February of 2011. With all the issues that Head Coach Marvin Lewis has had with his Bengal staff and players we will look to see how the "Mouth of the NFL" fits in and what production his "old hands" and diminishing speed can contribute to a staff of WR's that have shown the ability to be shut down by a high school team, even when QB Palmer has been healthy.
With an additional $2 million in incentives, the Owens-deal could earn the WR approximately $4 million total, so we know already that Owens will be hard-pressed to play above last seasons pace in order to collect the added incentives to his bank account and give the Bengal staff more reasons to keep him on for additional years.

RAMS CONSIDERING SIGNING OWENS

The St. Louis Rams are in need of help at the wide receiver position and they are considering signing a free agent that has been unemployed since last season when he finished his short tenure in Buffalo.

Thats right Terrell Owens may be taking his diminishing talents to St. Louis very soon. The Rams head office is meeting on Monday to consider whether the move is something that will be positive for the club and then at what rate. The Rams have a connection with Owens from his days in Philadelphia when Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo was linebacker coach and Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur was QB coach on the Eagles staff. Thoughts abut Owens and his locker room behavior will definitely be first issues when the talks begin as the Rams have a very young team with a projected starting QB, overall #1 pick Sam Bradford,  that has yet to throw a pass in an NFL game.

The current Rams wide receiver corp was led last season by Donnie Avery. Who? Yes, Donnie Avery who along with the second leading receiver on the squad (Danny Amendola) still only amassed 911 yards, 6 td's and 90 receptions. They are in dire need of a good pair of hands, although TO has led the league in drops for many years, and veteran in the locker room as well as on the field. But the cost that the Rams will go to for that addition will be realized in the next 24-48 hours. The main reason for Owens still being unemployed is because of his attitude on the field when he does not get the TO-required touches that makes him blow up at his QB, his offensive coordinator and coach if they put up with the antics. The last thing that a young unproven QB needs is a cancer in his ear hollering about how open he was on every pass opportunity. That will be one of the quickest ways to shorten the bright career of Bradford. So we will wait and see just how desperate the Rams are in the next few days.

You may reach ZM @ zmorganII@gmail and TWITTER@zmorganII

GEORGE STEINBRENNER BIDS ADIEU!

Yankees owner and worldwide humanitarian Mr. George " El Jefe" Steinbrenner has died today at the tender age of 80 from what has been called a massive heart attack, on the day of the 2010 All-Star game, in Tampa Florida. Steinbrenner, the longest tenured owner in all of Major League Baseball, took over as Yankee principal owner in 1973 after purchasing the team for 8.7 million dollars from CBS and subsequently won 7 World Series Titles and 11 pennants.

(The 7 titles on display to celebrate the 80th birthday of Steinbrenner July 4, 2010)

Steinbrenner told his players year after year in spring training "When you put the pinstripes on your not just putting a baseball uniform on! Your wearing tradition and your wearing pride...and your going to wear it the right way!" After making some of the most brash and surprising decisions on players and especially managers the team is reported to worth a net of more than 1.5 billion dollars.  The Steinbrenner family issued a statement saying "George Steinbrenner was visionary and a giant in the world of sports. His passing comes on the day of the All Star game and he being one of the biggest star among baseball owners." Mr. Steinbrenner rest in piece.....you will be missed.

                                 July 4, 1930-------July 13, 2010

CLEVELAND CAVS OWNER OPEN LETTER TO FANS...WELL DAMN!

Open Letter to Fans from Cavaliers Majority Owner Dan Gilbert

Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE" 

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.

This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio.

The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Cleveland.

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day....

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue....



Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers 

(Letter courtesy of NBA.Com)

Tell us how you really feel DG!!

I AM THE DADDY!!!

In another twist of the circus that surrounds NBA star LeBron James, Leicester (pronounced Lester) Stovell has come forward and wants reparations. Stovell, a 55 year old Senior Legal Advisor for the SEC filed a $4million dollar lawsuit against James and his mother Gloria, alleging that they tampered with the DNA test that they all took back in 2007.

Stovell, a Princeton graduate who earned his law degree at the University of Chicago is one whom you would think has the credibility to be trusted but then you read the suit and recognize that he has his own issues, even back in 1987 when he met Gloria James at a bar.
The story goes that Stovell and James met at the D.C Space Bar in 1987 and subsequently had unprotected sex that night that they met. James, a 15 year old, allegedly told Stovell, who was 29 years old at the time, that she was 20 years old and a virgin and was tired of that status and wanted him to change it. They had consensual sex that night and no other contact until a week or so later when Stovell was told by the bartender of the bar they met at that James was looking for him. After setting a meet, Stovell was told of the pending pregnancy (how she knew after a week I don't know but the story goes on) and they discussed what she was going to do. After deciding she would keep the child they discussed names and LeBron was decided upon. Stovell claims that he told her at that point that she better have him play basketball as he was a high-school basketball star and he would love for his son to be also.
The two lost touch until 2006 when Stovell started to question whether LeBron was his son or not. When he contacted Gloria James she allegedly told him that he was not the Father and that Lebrons money was for his kids...get lost!! Finally the three arranged and participated in a paternity test in which there was found that Stovell was 0% chance of being the Father. Stovell still maintains that there was tampering with the test and that he is the father and one cannot dispute that after they see the resemblance's the same way that the 6'8 alleged Father did when he saw LeBron at a basketball game in 2007. Stovell maintains that Gloria James is hiding many things and that she misrepresented that they had ever met to her son in 2007 when he brought the matter to her attention so if she will lie about that, then she will lie about who I am to LeBron. In another interesting twist...Stovells middle name is Bryce...the same name that LeBron adorned his youngest son with. Coincidence...Stovell thinks not!!
This story is good and as entertaining as they get so we will see how much further this guy will push this suit. Maybe all the way to Maury where Maury will get to the bottom of it once and for all!!

Boozer to Bulls!!

Former Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer signs with Bulls for 5 yr. $80 million.

After realizing that the Jazz would not offer him the type of money that the former Duke standout was looking for he decided to visit Chicago and ultimately sign a long-term deal with the club. This addition makes the Bulls a formidable force as they already have a All-Star PG Derrick Rose and several other players that will load up a lot of guns against opponents. With Boozer leaving Utah they now must hope that Paul Milsap will be able to shoulder the load and share some of the blame with PG Deron Williams. Although deals cannot be official until tomorrow, Thursday July 8, 2010, the free-agent frenzy is on!

KNICKS PLANT "BLACK DYNAMITE" IN THE GARDEN!

Amare "Black Dynamite" Stoudemire has agreed in principle to a 5yr. $100 million dollar deal with the New York Knicks as the free agent signings of the All-Stars has begun. Stoudemire seeking a long-term financially secure deal from the Phoenix Suns saw the team sign two big contracts with Channing Frye & Hakeem Warrick and knew at that point that the writing was on the wall. Stoudemire decided to opt out after he and the Suns brass reached a stalemate and visited New York over the holiday weekend and decided to put his roots down in The Big Apple. Expect a press conference on Thursday, July 8, 2010 as Stoudemire can officially sign the new contract and show off his new #1 Knicks jersey. Stoudemire takes his career averages of  21 ppg & 9 rpg to NY where he expects to attract other big name stars to join him (Raymond Felton will be in town on Thursday) in the very near future.

I really think that STAT (Standing Tall and Talented)  made a damn smart decision with this choice, although less contractual money than what he could have been paid in Phoenix. The residual money that he will make from appearances in the city and endorsements from NY businesses will more than replace the aforementioned money not to mention the soon to be established relationships with NY legends, national exposure on one of the biggest stages in sports and the escape from the new "profiling" mess that has been enacted into law that will create racial issues that are sure to become worse before they get better in Arizona.

VICK POSSIBLY TO BE SHOWN THE DOOR IN PHILLY?

Word is out of Philadelphia this morning is that rumors of QB Michael Vick being released are swirling in the midst of the shooting in Virginia Beach at his 30th birthday celebration at a local club. Although Vick maintains that he was not present when the shooting occurred, and video footage shows that he did leave some 2-3 minutes before the capping started, local police have began to take a closer look at Vicks role in the matter.

Reports are that he may have known the shooting of his former co-defendant was going to take place and may have had a hand in the planning of the shooting. Vicks probation officer also has started to ask questions in reference to the matter as stipulations of Vicks probation hold that he is not to be in the presence of any of his past co-defendants. Although all of the new information at this point are strictly rumors the fact remains that the Eagles have already shipped former Pro-Bowler Donovan McNabb out of town to Washington so what would make Vick so special that they would keep him as another legal issue now again has attached to him. To make matters even more  interesting is that former Eagle QB Jeff Garcia has been seen frequenting the Philly facilities of late and would make great sense to be signed as a backup to new starter Kevin Kolb and mentor to 2010 draft pick Mike Kafka in the event that Vick is released. The Eagles also known for watching their pockets now have 5.2 million reasons to release Vick and move forward. Commissioner Goddell has not stated his position on the matter yet as he awaits the investigation to unfold.
Talk about not having your hands in the cookie jar and still getting disciplined, Michael Vick is at a crossroads...AGAIN!

SERENA WILLIAMS WINS 4TH WIMBLEDON TITLE

Serena Wiliams dispatched Vera Zvonareva in straight sets 6-3, 6-2. With a serve that reached approximately 122 mph Williams posted 89 aces during quick work of her opponent in London.

This Grand Slam title for Williams now moves her to #6 on the All-Time Women's Grand Slam Singles Title list with 13 titles, 5 behind the great Chris Everett. in response to her newest feat Williams stated after the match "This one is very special, It was just amazing to be among such great people."

DREW GOODEN 1ST BIG NBA FREE AGENT SIGNING!!

Power Forward Drew Gooden has kicked off the much anticipated NBA free agent signing period signing with the Milwaukee Bucs. Gooden, the NBA's reigning nomad, joins his ninth team in 9 seasons. The deal is reportedly worth $32 million for 5 years. Gooden leaves the Clippers and goes East to Milwaukeee where he will likely join newly acquired Corey Maggette and front court mate Andrew Bogut in the starting lineup.

BYRON SCOTT NAMED CLEVELAND CAVS HEAD COACH

Former laker Guard Byron Scott has accepted the head coaching position in Cleveland this morning as the free agency buffet began at 12 a.m.

LeBron James has not made any indication whether he will return to the Cavs although he has stated a self-imposed timeline of July 5 to make a decision. James also has stated that he would be in favor of having Scott as head coach as he is a former NBA player and he has a great relationship with New Orleans Guard Chris Paul. James has hinted that he would love to have Paul in a Cleveland uniform and now maybe that trade becomes more of a realistic option...granted that "The King" stays in Cleveland and resigns.
Scott brings a 352-355 overall record (33-24 playoffs) with him that he amassed with the New Orleans Hornets from 2004-2010 and 3 seasons with the New Jersey Nets where he took them to the Eastern Conference finals twice.
Congratulations Byron Scott and good luck!