Ben Maller's sports rumors and notes
by FOXSports.com
NFL RUMORS AND NOTES
Brett Favre as a Buccaneer?
Brett Favre knows the Packers are looking forward, so if he gets the itch to play again, it likely would be for a team desperate for a quarterback and willing to make Thompson a tempting trade offer. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might be just such a team. The Bucs were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last season, so adding Favre could push them to Super Bowl-contending status. It doesn't hurt that Bucs coach Jon Gruden worked with Favre as an offensive assistant in Green Bay, or that Tampa Bay's offense would be somewhat familiar. Would Thompson be willing to endure the public relations fallout? Then again, would Thompson be doing his job properly if he was offered a first-round draft choice and didn't seriously consider it? Thompson repeatedly has said he places the Packers' long-term future above public sentiment, but that philosophy would be severely tested. -- Green Bay Press-Gazette
Bengals won't offer Alexander deal?
Chris Perry was on the field for the first time since fracturing his ankle in a November 2006 game at Cleveland, and his return bodes well for the offense, if he can stay healthy, and probably means the Bengals won't offer a contract to former Seahawks great Shaun Alexander. -- Cincinnati Enquirer
MLB RUMORS AND NOTES
Rockies won't deal top prospect for BoSox pitcher
The Rockies remained interested in acquiring Red Sox reliever Julian Tavarez but aren't about to give up pitching prospect Brandon Hynick. -- Denver Post
Marlins want Jacque Jones?
The Tigers placed outfielder Jacque Jones on unconditional release waivers Tuesday. He should clear by Thursday, making him a free agent. The Marlins may be among the teams Jones considers. -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel
NBA RUMORS AND NOTES
Kings Artest to Mavs?
I mentioned the possibility of trading for Ron Artest while brainstorming ways the Mavs could revamp their roster this summer. The biggest question was whether Rick Carlisle would be willing to reunite with Artest and vice versa. Carlisle left little doubt that he'd be willing to take another shot coaching Artest when the topic was broached during his appearance on ESPN 103.3's Galloway and Company this afternoon. "Of course," said Carlisle, who coached Artest in Indiana. "This guy is one of the real difference-makers that we have in this league. He's had one all-star year; that's when he played for me. I've had a chance to reconnect with Ronnie a couple times over the last couple of years. I love him and I love his family, so yeah. This guy was one of the most physical, intimidating players that I've ever seen at the small forward position, so he'd be a player that any team would want to have." -- Dallas Morning News
Knicks Marbury could be traded
With a season to go - at $22 million - on his expiring contract, Stephon Marbury could be dealt to another team wanting him in his last year to free up money under the salary cap, or the Knicks may decide to keep him, looking to do the same. -- NY Daily News
NASCAR RUMORS AND NOTES
Dodge racing boss cites bad luck
Michael Delahanty, as head of Dodge's racing efforts, would like for at least one or two of his guys to start turning some heads. What has been wrong with the Dodge teams since Ryan Newman's Daytona 500 win? Toyota, Ford and sometimes even Chevrolet, are doing well, but Dodge? "The quick and easy answer is 'bad luck,' " Delahanty said. "You've seen it, race after race. "Just look at Richmond: Carpentier gets spun, goes flying up the track; Kurt Busch drives right into him ? and Montoya spins into the back of them." That's three Dodge drivers taken out in one fell swoop. "And go back a week earlier to Talladega," Delahanty said. "In the last couple of laps we had five Dodges taken out, and four of the five were in the top 12. "How many bad-luck weekends can you get, where our guys are just in the wrong spot at the wrong time?" Well, what about horsepower? Does Dodge need to get its new engine on line faster? Would that help Dodge teams qualify better, and thus perhaps avoid some bad luck? -- Winston Salem-Journal
Gordon can relate to Kyle Busch?s unpopularity
Jeff Gordon knows a thing or three about being cast in the role of villain by NASCAR fans. The guy has spent his whole Sprint Cup career being the object of scorn and derision by the ticket-buying public. So, when he talks on the subject, he does so as a respected authority. And right now, Gordon sees a new villain rising up to challenge his status as No. 1 most-hated. That would be Kyle Busch. Tuesday afternoon, Gordon was asked whether he considered Busch to be ?the next great villain? in NASCAR. ?He definitely has the personality that could be the villain,? Gordon said. From 2004 through 2007, Gordon and Busch were teammates at Hendrick Motorsports. And Busch got a personally guided tour of the causes and effects of NASCAR infamy. Everywhere that Gordon raced, with the possible exception of his home state of Indiana, he was booed ? and worse. Asked about life as a villain over the years, Gordon will tell you that nobody likes to be treated like that. He will also tell you that fan reaction ? good or bad ? to a driver is a sign of success. -- KC Star
ODD NOTES AND STUFF
NBA player names dog Charles Barkley McLovin
Blazers center Greg Oden lives in Portland with his uncle, former high school teammate Brandon McPherson and his dog, Charles Barkley McLovin. -- Indy Star
Is LeBron James a lousy tipper?
Cleveland Cavalier and Vogue cover boy LeBron James makes millions a year, but he was a lousy tipper the other night. According to Web site Cleveland Scene, James frequently dines at local eatery XO Prime Steaks. He and his friends pulled up in his Mercedes and "[kept] his waiter there until 3:45 a.m.," said the blog. But when the $800 bill came, James left a measly $10 for his server. A rep for James told Page Six it was all a mistake: "There was a misreading of the receipt, and the appropriate tip was provided." -- NY Post
COLLEGE SPORTS RUMORS AND NOTES
Fla State's Bowden wants 'another championship'
Florida State's Bobby Bowden, who turns 79 on Nov. 8, remains undeterred. He insists that it is possible to rebuild the program and win his third national championship. He begins this season leading Penn State's Joe Paterno by just one win (373-372) on the NCAA's Division I-A career victory list. Bowden was asked how much longer he wants to coach: "Here is what I'm telling recruits. I've always signed a five-year contract so I could tell a young man and his family I would be there his whole career. Now I'm on a one-year contract. I'll decide at the end of the year if I want to sign another one-year contract. I know I want to coach this year and I know I'm not going to coach until I'm 83. That's all I know. But things are different now because for the first time I can see the end. I don't know when it will be. But I can see it." "I think I will hear the voice telling me it's time. Of course, it could always be Ann (his wife). But my goal is the same. I want to win another championship. Then I want to drive off into sunset, I hope, and not be carried off." -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cutcliffe says Duke can win
David Cutcliffe didn?t play golf with his fellow coaches on Monday. When you?re the new head coach at Duke, there is just too much to do. The former head coach at Ole Miss and OC at Tennessee said it is ?absolutely possible? to assemble enough players at Duke to compete for an ACC championship. Changing the football culture at Duke, he conceded, will be the biggest challenge. ?There is a lot of apathy and expectation of losing that is entrenched,? Cutcliffe said. ?But it is our job to change that. We?re going to be given the tools to do it.? The big commitment came in salaries for assistant coaches. Cutcliffe was given a $2 million budget to hire his staff. That?s in the top third of the ACC. -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ben Maller can be heard weeknights on "The Third Shift on Fox" via the vast Fox Sports Radio Network. The show is broadcast live Monday-Friday from 2am till 6am (est). Check your local radio listenings for the FSR affiliate in your town, listen to XM Satellite Radio Channel No. 142 or via live streaming audio online at FoxSports.com/Radio. Say hi to Ben at myspace.com/benmaller. Interact with Ben's fans and talk sports on Ben Maller's forum Questions, comments and news tips can be sent to Ben via e mail at BigBen@Foxsports.com or Ben@BenMaller.com.
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