It's a green thing

Baseball Update:
The Phillies Ryan Howard attended his first arbitration meeting on Wednesday. The results on the over five hour meeting are expected to be announced on Thursday. So will he make $7 million, $10 million or somewhere in between? Probably in between.

With Jacoby Ellsbury hot on his tail, the Red Sox Coco Crisp may ask for a trade. Seriously, you didn't think you'd lose your job say in October when Ellsbury was playing center?

Shawn Chacon and the Houston Astros agreed to a one year, $2 million contract.

The Pirates signed Byung-Hyun Kim to a one year, $850,000 contract.

You'd think that after signing Johan Santana that you'd probably good on signing pitchers. But not the Mets. Reports have the Amazin' talking with free agent pitcher Freddy Garcia.

The Detroit Tigers the new dream team? That's what newly acquired Edgar Renteria is saying.

Johnny Damon nearly called it quits before the 2007 season.

In other Yankees news, ARod expected the steriods questions, he just didn't prepare for them, telling reporters he got tested between 9 and 10 times last year which would have meant that at some point he tested postive for performance-enhancing drugs. Although if you ask the Yankees PR machine, he prepared really well, because he had that joke lodged him his head for all of 3 seconds. I'm not sure anyones laughing though.

Planning on going to Japan to see the Red Sox take on the A's. Well if you haven't gotten your tickets by now, you're so not going to pay face value because tickets are SOLD OUT!

If you're planning on attending ESPN the weekend at Disney, make a note, Roger Clemens will not be in attendence. He probably isn't in a joyous mood after that whole congressional hearing thing last week.

How do the San Francisco Giants spend their free time during spring training? Bowling of course!

Nascar Update:
Robby Gordon and his number 7 Dodge got the now customary penalty of a $100,000 fine and docked 100 points for an unapproved part (front bumper.) His crew chief Frank Kerr was suspended six races. Seven drivers were penalized and six crew chiefs were suspended in the Nationwide Series while two drivers including the race winner Todd Bodine suffered penalties in the Truck Series.

Jacques Villeneuve is not ready to quit Nascar. He has called Barry Green out of semi-retirement in hopes to getting back into Stock Car racing. Villeneuve is currently in a permanent holding position at BDR awaiting sponsorship.

Brian Vickers sure is passionate, and not only about racing. The Red Bull racer is ticked off with congress about its continued hearings regarding baseball, preferring our government to concentrate on other things like the environment, the war and the economy. What a novel idea. I'm starting to like this Vickers kid, if only for the fact that he actually has a good head on his shoulders.

Popo in my crib News:
Minneapolis police are investigating an accusation against New Jersey Nets Richard Jefferson. A man is claiming Jefferson choked him until he almost lost consciousness after the man asked Richard to leave a private party being held at the Graves 601 hotel. The popo said Jefferson left the scene prior to their arrival. The incident allegedly occured on January 27th. Watch out Richard, because the popo are on your tail!

News & Notes: Wednesday was the debut of both Jason Kidd and Shaq in their new hometowns of Dallas and Phoenix respectively. Unfortunately for both players, their debuts were negated by losses. The Mavs 104-93 loss to the Hornets and the Suns 130-124 loss to the Lakers...Meanwhile, Kidd's old team, the Nets were able to get a 110-102 OT victory against the Bulls...The Knicks on the other hand got embarrassed...again...this time in a 124-84 loss to the 76ers...Speaking of embarrassing, #4 Duke fell to the University of Miami 96-95...Memphis keeps their perfect streak alive with a 97-71 win over Tulane. The win gave coach John Calipari his 400th career win...With Tennessee crusing passed Auburn 89-70, Saturday's match up against Memphis is going to be huge...And finally, China is not too thrilled that the US is planning on bringing their own food to the Bejing Olympics. Well after watching "World News Tonight" with Charlie Gibson yesterday, I'm not too thrilled their making ingridents that go into our medicine. So there!

Check this out: Wonder what your favorite oscar nominated characters would have made in the real world? Click here to find out.

It's been fun blogging with you,
Kate