Welcome to Friday’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.
FRIDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NBA: Warriors at Celtics, 7:30 p.m. (CSNNE; WEEI-FM)
NBA: Grizzlies at Heat, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
NBA: Thunder at Nuggets, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Harvard at Princeton, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Loyola (Md.) at Iona, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Fairfield at Manhattan, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
NHL: Blue Jackets at Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m. (NHL Network)
College hockey: Ferris State at Michigan, 7:30 p.m. (CBSSN)
College hockey: Wisconsin at Nebraska-Omaha, 8:35 p.m. (NBCSN)
MLB preseason: Pirates at Red Sox, 7:05 p.m. (NESN; WEEI-AM)
MLB preseason: Tigers at Mets, 1 p.m. (MLB Network)
World Baseball Classic: Australia vs. Chinese Tapei, 11:30 p.m. (MLB Network)
Soccer: CONCACAF U-20 semifinal, United States vs. Cuba, 6 p.m. (FSC)
Soccer: CONCACAF U-20 semifinal, El Salvador vs. Mexico, 9 p.m. (FSC)
AROUND THE WEB:
Darrelle Revis
♦ It’s no secret that the Jets are looking to unload cornerback Darrelle Revis rather than give him a new contract before he becomes a free agent after next season. If Revis plays out the final year of his pact, the worst-case scenario for Jets fans is that Revis joins the Patriots, who have long needed a shutdown corner. According to the New York Daily News, that’s a possibility.
“It’s not that far-fetched,” an NFL source told the Daily News. “It would not shock me if he’s in a Patriots uniform next year.”
Revis is due $6 million this season in the final year of his four-year, $46 million deal. He reportedly wants $16 million per year in his next contract, despite coming off a season in which he played just two games before tearing his ACL. He’d certainly have to accept less to play in New England, but the thought is that he might want to get revenge on the Jets by playing for their rival.
“Why wouldn’t Revis want to play for the Patriots?” the source said.
♦ Former NBA star Dennis Rodman spent time with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday, reportedly announcing in a speech, “You have a friend for life.”
Rodman, who arrived in Pyongyang on Monday with three members of the Harlem Globetrotters and a documentary film crew, sat next to Kim as they watched Americans and North Koreans play basketball.
According to the founder of the VICE production company, Shane Smith, Kim told Rodman that he hoped the visit would break the ice between the United States and North Korea.
♦ Former Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro said he was joking when he implied in a recent interview that he considered “driving into a tree, off the Throgs Neck Bridge” if not for the support of his wife, Cassandra.
DiPietro, a former Boston University standout, is playing for the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers after being demoted by the Islanders despite having eight years left on his 15-year, $67.5 million contract. The 31-year-old insisted that “never again” will he joke about his depression.
“I’m just trying to bring light to the fact how important my wife has been,” DiPietro said Thursday. “It’s been a trying last couple years. There have been times that I’ve been depressed, and I don’t know where I’d be without the support of my wife.”
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On March 1, 1997, the Bruins sent Adam Oates, Bill Ranford and Rick Tocchet to the Capitals for which three players (plus a third-round draft pick)?
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It’s kind of cool to be mentioned in history. But we’ve just got to continue to play well.” – Blackhawks goalie Ray Emery, after Thursday’s 3-0 victory over the Blues improved Chicago’s NHL-record start to 17-0-3
STAT OF THE DAY: 27 — Consecutive penalty kills for the Bruins until the Senators ended the streak Thursday night in the B’s 2-1 overtime win
‘NET RESULTS (mobile users, check the website to see the videos): NC State center fielder Brett Williams turns a diving catch into a front flip.
Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio advises teammate Alexey Shved to “Change your face, be happy, enjoy it,” during Thursday night’s blowout loss to the Lakers.
Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist appears in the latest SportsCenter commercial.
A mountain bike racer in Virginia gets taken out by a deer.
TRIVIA ANSWER: Forwards Anson Carter and Jason Allison and goalie Jim Carey
SOOTHING SOUNDS: The Who lead singer Roger Daltrey was born on this day in 1944.