by FOXSports.com

NFL RUMORS AND NOTES

Dolphins LB Porter says refs have different rules for Patriots QB Tom Brady

On NFL Network, Joey Porter went off when host Rich Eisen asked the Dolphins' linebacker whether league officials have a different set of rules for Patriots' Tom Brady than other quarterbacks and players in the league. "No question. When a guy can tell a ref to throw a flag, and he gets it, he's got his own rules," Porter said. "They made the rule that you don't go at the legs for Tom, so when he feels that someone is going at his legs, he just points to the ref and he gets a flag. So I can honestly say that he gets his own rules." The NFL voted this past offseason to adjust a rule and now prohibits players who are already on the ground from lunging at a quarterback if a play is still going on; since that is precisely the kind of thing Bernard Pollard did, tearing Brady's ACL and MCL last Sept. 7, it is called the Brady rule. Porter is not the first player to say this season that Brady calls for -- and receives -- fouls; Baltimore also made that claim after its loss in Foxboro last month. -- Providence Journal

Redskins DeAngelo Hall calls Falcons GM a liar

Washington cornerback DeAngelo Hall, while speaking to the Washington media on Thursday, fired a shot at Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff. "I didn't trust Dimitroff at all," Hall said. "He lied to me several times. He promised me he was going to get something done [on a contract] and he's behind my back trying to shop me at the draft." In his first major move, Dimitroff traded Hall to the Oakland Raiders on March 7, 2008 for a second round and fifth round pick. Hall, a two-time Pro Bowler, with the Falcons was later cut by the Raiders and signed by the Redskins. -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

MLB RUMORS AND NOTES

Cards GM expects Matt Holliday to reach open market

The Cardinals have 15 days all to themselves to woo Matt Holliday, the free-agent outfielder the club publicly has called a "high priority" to re-sign. But the Cardinals are pragmatic about the real value of an eleventh-hour sales pitch before Holliday and the other free agents hit the open market in two weeks. That's what the previous three months were for. "We need to spend some time with Matt and his agent and share what our vision is, what we have to offer, and at some point I'm sure we will," Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said. "But at the same time, that's part of why we traded for him, to get him here, and at some point you'd think he has a pretty good idea of what we have to offer. ... Most players, if they haven't agreed to terms at this point, it means they are working their way to the open market." -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Jose Canseco wants to fight Alex Rodriguez: "I'll beat him to a pulp"

Former Red Sox slugger and notorious steroid user Jose Canseco was in Springfield Thursday night to weigh-in for his Friday night Celebrity Boxing fight. While it's always fascinating for me to interview guys I grew up mimicking in the backyard during wiffle ball games, I came into this one knowing that Canseco has become a human caricature. I didn't expect to be wowed by anything philosophical, or even bowled over by his charm. Another thing I didn't expect was for him to call out Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez on video. Which is exactly what he did, adding he would "beat (Rodriguez) to a pulp." He finished his rant - all of which was done in good fun with a smile on his face - saying "That lying little idiot. I'd like to get him in the ring." -- The Republican (Springfield, Mass)

NBA RUMORS AND NOTES

LeBron James unofficial recruiting visit to New York

This may only seem like a basketball game to everybody else, but for the Knicks, their fans and the city, tonight represents LeBron James' unofficial recruiting visit. "I've never teased the New York media by saying I was coming to New York or playing for the Knicks," James said Thursday. "I say the same thing every time. When July 1 gets here, I'm going to approach it like a businessman and approach it for the best fit for LeBron and his family. I've been a Cav for seven years now and I've never given any indication I was leaving. ... I did the three-year contract for a reason, I'm going to leave my options open." James, who can become the prized catch of the 2010 free-agent class, is expected to decide between re-signing with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers and rescuing the downtrodden Knicks. And since James and the new-look Cavaliers, featuring Shaquille O'Neal at center, make their one and only trip to the Garden tonight, this is the last chance for the Knicks to make a lasting impression. The fact that the game falls on the same day the Yankees will be honored with a parade up Broadway is a stroke of luck. James is a huge Yankees fan and is close to Sabathia. Asked if he would attend today's Yankee celebration, James told Cleveland reporters, "No, my parade starts at 8 at night." -- NY Daily News

Skills Kobe Bryant learned from NBA great Hakeem Olajuwon paying off

Each time he backed down Houston's Shane Battier in the post and then deftly spun around him for a layup Wednesday night, Kobe Bryant jogged up court staring into the same pocket of fans seated courtside across from the scorer's table. The man who met his gaze knew exactly the message Bryant was trying to convey. "He looked at me to confirm, 'I'm using what you taught me,' " Hakeem Olajuwon said. "That was the greatest gift for me. It was wonderful." Hoping to improve his footwork on the low block and add a few new moves to his repertoire, Bryant e-mailed Olajuwon this summer and asked if the legendary former Houston center would work with him on his post game. Just a week before training camp began in September, the master of the "Dream Shake" enthusiastically obliged, giving Bryant a two-hour step-by-step lesson on everything from head fakes and ball fakes to spin moves and jab steps. -- Riverside Press-Enterprise

NASCAR RUMORS AND NOTES

McMurray win might accelerate contract talks with Ganassi

Jamie McMurray 's victory Sunday in the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega might accelerate his contract talks with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. Both sides apparently have agreed to terms, but they're struggling to convince sponsor Bass Pro Shops that McMurray fits their rugged outdoor persona. -- Augusta Chronicle

Joey Logano: I've gotten used to being a young star

Joey Logano on being a celebrity at age 19. "I've gotten used to being a young star. All of my friends are doing something in racing and they know what I'm going through. I think that's kind of cool because they treat me like a normal Joe. Going into NASCAR at a real quick rate, it's just the one thing I've always wanted to do my whole life." -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram

ODD NOTES AND STUFF

Yankees Joba Chamberlain enjoys $30k bottle of Methuselah champagne

Hours after dispatching the Phillies, the Yankees went on to win the World Champagne-ship. The players, their families and friends knocked off dozens of bottles of bubbly as they partied until dawn at the Chelsea hot spot 1OAK yesterday while adoring clubgoers cheered them on. 1OAK gave pitcher Joba Chamberlain a $30,000 9-liter bottle of Methuselah champagne to share with everyone in the house, much to the amusement of catcher Jorge Posada. First baseman Mark Teixeira and pitcher A.J. Burnett also joined in on the festivities. All told, some 200 bottles of champagne were polished off. -- NY Post

NBA star works with J-Lo, Kim Kardashian's fitness guru

Carmelo Anthony again spent time this past summer with Beverly Hills-based Gunnar Peterson, fitness guru to such personalities as Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian and Hugh Jackman. His six-week program there, in addition to work with the Nuggets' training staff, led to a drop in body fat from 8.6 to seven percent and a drop in weight from 240 pounds to 228. It has gotten to the point where former Heat guard Anthony Carter, now a Nuggets reserve, has taken to calling Anthony "Slim." -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel

COLLEGE SPORTS RUMORS AND NOTES

Tennessee players upset with Memphis coach over Lane Kiffin joke

The punch line might not be clear. But Tennessee understands the premise and the target, and it clearly isn't pleased. Copies of a joke Memphis coach Tommy West told at a preseason banquet about Vols coach Lane Kiffin have been plastered around the locker room and the practice field since Monday. And though the story might not make too much sense or be all that funny, the Vols have made clear they're offended heading into Saturday's home game. -- Knoxville News Sentinel

Colorado's Dan Hawkins heading into fourth consecutive losing season

Unless Dan Hawkins transforms his 2-6 Colorado Buffaloes into the 2001 Miami Hurricanes this month, he will have his fourth consecutive losing season. There's no shame in that. He has plenty of company. Since 1980, 82 Division I-A coaches have come to a school and had losing seasons in their first four years. However, those who survived much longer are few and far between. Of the 82, 24 were fired soon after the season, or, in the rare case of Vanderbilt's Gerry DiNardo -- who scored a job at LSU -- went elsewhere. Of the 58 who survived past Year 4, 34 were fired after their fifth year. -- Denver Post

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