Sports Rumors

The Boston Celtics are pressing Rasheed Wallace(notes) — for a decision, according to the Boston Globe.

The Globe reported that Ray Allen(notes), Kevin Garnett(notes), and Paul Pierce(notes) joined president of basketball operations Danny Ainge and managing partner Wyc Grousbeck for a three-hour meeting with Wallace in Detroit yesterday, the Celtics offering a contract using their midlevel exception. But Wallace is apparently in no hurry to respond, preferring to weigh approaches from Charlotte, Cleveland, Orlando, and San Antonio, according to an NBA source.

Bill Strickland, Wallace's agent, said in a text message that it was a "very good meeting; some contractual terms discussed, nothing agreed to.''

Strickland added Wallace will be "meeting with a few more teams next week.''

Wallace is coming off a five-year contract with the Pistons, earning $13.68 million last season. The teams courting Wallace would be offering the midlevel exception, worth between $5.6 million and $5.8 million. So, Wallace's choice will be based on other factors, and the Celtics believe they have an advantage because of the forward's relationship with Garnett and the team's good chance to compete for a championship, the Globe reported.

Source: Boston.com

All-Star guard Allen Iverson(notes) has through representatives told the Grizzlies he would like to play in Memphis, an NBA source told the Memphis Commerical Appeal Thursday.

The high-scoring veteran is a free agent for the first time in his professional career. Iverson, 34, reportedly has only had mild discussions with the Miami Heat since the free agency period began Wednesday. There were also internet reports Thursday that the Chicago Bulls have interest in Iverson.

The Grizzlies had no comment about Iverson's inquiry.

While no deal is imminent and conversations have been only exploratory, Griz brass are said to be weighing the pros and cons of adding Iverson to the team's youth movement, according to the Commercial Appeal.

Iverson would certainly have to take a major pay cut from the $21 million he earned last season with Detroit. It is believed that the Griz would only entertain Iverson at what they'd deem a reasonable price, and if the 13-year veteran agreed to play off the bench.

Those criteria would seem to make Iverson and the Grizzlies a bad fit.

Source: Memphis Commercial Appeal

The Milwaukee Mile office is closed, and all 12 staff members have been laid off at least temporarily. Whether the oldest auto racing facility in the country lives to see its 107th birthday is in grave doubt even among its biggest boosters, according to a report in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

"It depends totally if I'm able to get some investors," promoter Claude Napier said Thursday in a telephone interview from Texas.

"I knew I was going to be short of money."

Napier, president and chief executive officer of Wisconsin Motorsports, admitted to the Journal Sentinel for the first time that he had no other financial backers when he entered into a deal in February with State Fair Park, where the track is located.

Napier's organization owes NASCAR nearly $1.9 million for staging two races in June and owes the Indy Racing League an undisclosed amount for its weekend in May. The organizer of a spectator event in August — the track's final opportunity for a significant payday this season — said this week that he is ready to walk away from his commitment.

The Mile held its first automobile race in 1903, eight years before the first Indianapolis 500, and its infield served as the site of the 1939 National Football League championship game.

"I've got a hunch it's over," said Dominic Giuffre, a former promoter with his brother Frank. "It's too late."

The Giuffres, promoters at the Mile from 1983-'91, have expressed interest in returning to that role.

Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Dany Heatley(notes) is still with the Ottawa Senators. The Senator, according to TSN.ca are back at the drawing board trying to find a deal for the high-scoring winger.

A trade proposed earlier this week that would have seen the disgruntled left-winger dealt to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for three players is off the table — at least for now, according to Senators general manager Bryan Murray. The $4-million signing bonus the Sens had to pay Heatley has changed the terms of the deal.

"Well, it's different now and I don't know if we will continue or not," Murray said Thursday. "I will, I believe, during the day talk to (Oilers GM) Steve Tambellini again, but very definitely, it's not the same deal as it was yesterday."

The Oilers had proposed sending forwards Andrew Cogliano(notes) and Dustin Penner(notes) and defenceman Ladislav Smid(notes) to Ottawa for Heatley, who refused to waive his no-trade contract, according to TSN.ca.

Murray was blunt when asked where that leaves Heatley now.

"Nowhere, he's an Ottawa Senator," he said.

Source: TSN.ca

Marian Gaborik(notes) signed away from the Minnesota Wild by the New York Rangers, brings speed and scoring ability to Madison Square Garden. He also brings questions about his durability, according to the New York Daily News.

"I feel great," Gaborik said on a conference call from his home in Slovakia, a day after signing a five-year contract worth $37.5 million. "I played the last 11 games of the year and I took time off after and tried to get to 100%. Now, I'm in full training, getting ready for the season. I'm very excited. I don't see any problems down the road."

It's the problems in his rearview mirror that have some fans concerned about the signing. Gaborik missed all but 17 games last year with groin, back and hip injuries, the last of which drove him to the operating table in January. He has played more than 65 games only once in the past five seasons. "I'm glad I had the surgery, it worked out perfectly," Gaborik said.

The Daily News reported the Rangers, meanwhile, remain in the market for a center who can distribute the puck to their new prize. Brandon Dubinsky(notes) is in line to get the first audition at the top pivot, though Glen Sather continued combing a thinned market Saturday. Saku Koivu(notes), the Habs captain who was cast away after 13 seasons in Montreal, still had no contract as of Saturday night, though he was in talks to join his brother Mikko in Minnesota. Dallas' Brendan Morrison(notes) also was on the market, though he's 33 and coming off two down years in a row.

Source: New York Daily News

Now a former New Jersey Devil, forward John Madden(notes) could have accepted longer and richer offers to play elsewhere. Instead, he took a one-year, $2.75 million deal from the Chicago Blackhawks for one very big reason.

"For how good the hockey team is and I really believe it has a chance to win the Stanley Cup," Madden, 36, told the Chicago Tribune Thursday. "With the addition of Hossa and the experience last year, it's a group with a lot of skill and talent and hungry kids who want the Cup. They have all the elements of making a run at it for this year and years to come. I had no problem giving up security for a chance to win."

Madden is widely considered one of the best defensive forwards in the league. He won the Selke in 2001 and was a finalist in 2003, 2004 and 2008. The 5-foot-11-inch, 190-pounder had seven goals and 16 assists for the Devils last season.

"Something the team needed was my experience and someone to do the job I've done with the Devils for the last nine years," said Madden, who helped New Jersey win the Stanley Cup in 2000 and 2003. "I'll do anything to help the team win."

Source: Chicago Tribune

Shaquille O'Neal(notes) arrived in Cleveland uttering his new motto: "Win a Ring for the King.''

According to the New York Daily News, Shaq wasn't in Cleveland five minutes when he dropped his desire for an extension Cavs owner Dan Gilbert.

The Daily News wrote: It's always been about the dough for O'Neal and he didn't hide his desire to get two more years after this one. That would take him through his 40th birthday.

"I've been in it for 17 years but I've missed three years because of injury,'' he said of his storied NBA career. "If you do the math, I've still got three years left. You got that? I've got three years left in my career," he said. "I have a lot left. There's only four or five good centers in the league and I'm in that number.''

Source: New York Daily News

Following the lead of the New York Jets and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Chicago Bears appear to have ended their pursuit of ex-New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress(notes) according to the Chicago Tribune. Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher(notes), for one, is not surprise by the team's decision.

"I was surprised when I heard they were going after him at all because as a player, I [know there will be] some type of suspension," Urlacher said Thursday during a break at his football camp.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has yet to discipline Burress for unresolved weapons charges after Burress shot himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub. The Bears considered meeting with him but decided Burress' off-the-field baggage was too much to overlook, according to the Tribune.

"My first thought with [Burress] was, would he even be able to play this year?" Urlacher said. "You have to wonder how long you're going to have him or when he's going to be available. [But] he's a great receiver [and] I would have been open to it."

The door appears to be closed now as the Bears seem content to enter the training camp with what they have, the Tribune reported.

Source: Chicago Tribune

The Detroit News noted that the Detroit Red Wings are one of the few teams in the NHL than can lose a player with the stature of Marian Hossa(notes) and remain a contender for a championship.

According to the News, Detroit's depth — including that in the minors — gives it a chance to persevere despite a sour ending to the season and losing Hossa to rival Chicago on Wednesday.

"We like the core of our team," said general manager Ken Holland. "The focus right now is on the guys who've left. But we still have very good players on this team."

But the West got stronger, too.

Chicago added Hossa and former Michigan star John Madden(notes), a past Selke Trophy (best defensive forward) winner, to an already formidable roster.

Acquiring Jay Bouwmeester(notes) gives Calgary three potential Team Canada defensemen (Bouwmeester, Robyn Regehr(notes), Dion Phaneuf(notes)).

Source: Detroit News