Morning Jolt: A-Rod feuding with A's pitcher
Friday, May 7
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A's pitcher out for A-Rod revenge?
Dallas Braden, the pitcher irked by Alex Rodriguez's crossing his mound last month, was asked recently about settling the score with "knuckles," and he "indicated that there could be a fight" when the A's and Yankees next meet. Braden replied, "Well, I mean that's pretty much the long and short of it. "On a serious note, obviously there's things that are going to have to happen just out of respect for my teammates, out of respect for the game," Braden added. (New York Daily News)Comment
Rams aimed at another No. 1 pick?
A poll in St. Louis asks how many games the Rams can win without Steven Jackson -- and the highest options is "4 or more." If Jackson is at all diminished, yes, this team could be right back at the top of the draft. Good teams have at least two quality backs. More teams are using a tag team of some sort. The Rams have no depth there at this point -- and this is a run-based offense. Even if Brian Westbrook comes here, the Rams need to find an exciting young RB to groom. Their poor depth at RB last season proved devastating. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)Comment
To date, no team has made a better case for winning a title, and, on Thursday, Orlando made its best case yet. The Magic have too many weapons for the Hawks. The Magic have too many weapons for the league. "It takes a near-perfect game to beat that team," Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. As you might expect, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy downplayed his team's dominance when asked about it Thursday. "We're playing OK," Van Gundy said. ... "We're a team on a mission," [Vince] Carter says. "We're trying to accomplish a goal, and every night we step on the floor we're looking to reach that goal." (Orlando Sentinel)Comment
Must-See Photo
San Jose's Kent Huskins gets tied up with Detroit's Tomas Holmstrom during Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals last night. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)
Must-See Video
Before JaMarcus Russell became an NFL bust, he was a top college quarterback. In this play, Russell spins away from two tacklers and fires a 53-yard pass off his back foot with a defender in his face.
Game To Watch
Cavs at Celtics, 7 p.m. ET
SI Vault: Vault Headline
This Day in Sports
- 1959 -- At Los Angeles Coliseum, 93,103 people watched the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees.
- 1982 -- A United States Federal jury ruled that the NFL violated antitrust laws by preventing the Oakland Raiders from moving to Los Angeles.
- 1994 -- The Nuggets become the first No. 8 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed with a victory over the Sonics.
- 2006 -- Barry Bonds hits his 713th home run which brought him one home run away from tying Babe Ruth on the career list.
