Welcome to Thursday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.
THURSDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NHL: Senators at Bruins, 7 p.m. (NESN)
NHL: Penguins at Hurricanes, 7 p.m. (NHL Network)
NBA: 76ers at Bulls, 8 p.m. (TNT)
NBA: Timberwolves at Lakers, 10:30 p.m. (TNT)
College basketball: Ohio State at Northwestern, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: North Carolina at Clemson, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Drexel at Old Dominion, 7 p.m. (NBCSN)
College basketball: Morehead State at Tennessee State, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Duke at Virginia, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Utah at California, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Missouri at South Carolina, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Gonzaga at BYU, 11 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Oregon State at Oregon, 11 p.m. (ESPNU)
MLB preseason: Braves at Phillies, 1 p.m. (MLB Network)
MLB preseason: Mets at Nationals, 6 p.m. (MLB Network)
AROUND THE WEB:
Darrelle Revis
♦ Following Wednesday’s news that the 49ers have agreed to trade quarterback Alex Smith to the Chiefs for draft picks, a report emerged that San Francisco is considering offering some of its 15 draft picks for Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis.
“It’s kind of a no-brainer for everyone involved, assuming the Jets are truly willing and ready to trade [Revis],” an NFC general manager told the New York Post. “San Francisco has more picks than they know what to do with, and the Jets have a lot of holes they could address really quick with those picks.”
Revis, coming off knee surgery last season, has said he wants to remain in New York, but it’s become clear that the Jets do not want to offer him a long-term deal at the price he wants. Revis can become a free agent after the 2013 season.
There also is speculation that the Jets will try to sign Chiefs quarterback Brady Quinn, who is set to become a free agent and would no longer be needed in Kansas City with Smith’s arrival.
♦ The Italian sausage character that takes part in the nightly races at Brewers games in Milwaukee has been located. The $3,000 costume of the 7-foot sausage named Guido was stolen during a charity event and worn on a night of bar-hopping in nearby Cedarburg, Wis. It was returned Wednesday night at a Cedarburg, reportedly by two men who dropped it on a barstool and told the staff: “You did not see anything.”
The Italian sausage, owned by the Klement’s sausage company, races against the Bratwurst, the Polish sausage, the hot dog and the chorizo after the sixth inning of Brewers games. In 2003, Guido made news when he was struck by a bat wielded by joking Pirates first baseman Randall Simon during the sausage race. The woman wearing the costume fell and caused another sausage to fall as well. Simon was suspended three games and fined $432 for disorderly conduct.
Mustard Girl All American Mustards had offered a year’s supply of mustard to anyone who returned the costume, and GLK Foods put up a year’s supply of sauerkraut.
“They’re a statewide treasure,” GLK president Ryan Downs said. “This can’t go unpunished.”
♦ A report out from the Spanish newspaper El Confidencial claims that former Barcelona manager Joseph Guardiola used a private detective agency to spy on his players over a four-year span in an effort to ensure club harmony.
Among those who were spied on were star forward Ronaldinho and defender Gerard Pique, who was monitored after he started dating the singer Shakira.
Under Guardiola’s guidance, Barcelona became arguably the best team in the world, winning 14 titles over four seasons. He took a sabbatical after last season and has agreed to become the coach of Bayern Munich starting next season.
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On Feb. 28, 1965, which Bruins defenseman’s playing career was ended when a skate severed a muscle in his leg during a 5-4 victory over the Blackhawks?
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The other 31 teams hate the New England Patriots. … It ain’t just me. Why did Bart Scott say the same thing? You think it’s just us? You think it’s just got something to do with us? No. This is because we have inside information. We know.” – Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs, during a Wednesday appearance on The Big Show
STAT OF THE DAY: 54 – Points scored by Warriors guard Stephen Curry in Wednesday’s 109-105 loss to the Knicks
‘NET RESULTS (mobile users, check the website to see the videos): Bucks guard Monta Ellis hits an off-balance, game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat the Rockets on Wednesday night.
Wizards announcers Steve Buckhantz and Phil Chenier are fooled by a shot that hits only the side of the net, calling it a game-winning shot for Washington’s Trevor Ariza until seeing the replay. The Wizards lost to the Pistons.
Former Celtic Mickael Pietrus shows off his dance moves while announcers Paul Jones and Sherman Hamilton preview the Raptors’ game against the Cavaliers.
University of Louisville forward Chane Behanan delivers a thunderous dunk against DePaul, although he was called for an offensive foul.
The degree of difficulty on this game-winning buzzer-beater is pretty high. It’s from Mitchell Boesl of Warner High School in South Dakota, and it beat Leola in the District 2B semifinals. Said Boesl: “When I looked at it, I seen it go through and I stood and I was like, no way. And then I went nuts. That was crazy. I can’t believe that went in.”
Defenseman Ryan Hutchinson of the Ontario Hockey League’s Kingston Frontenacs gets a little upset after being hit from behind into the boards by Erie Otters forward Jake Evans.
TRIVIA ANSWER: Hall of Famer Tom Johnson, who went on to a stellar career as a coach and executive with the B’s
SOOTHING SOUNDS: Joe South, who died in 2012, was born on this day in 1940.