NBA sets flopping penalties; players may be fined
NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has announced anti-flopping rules that will fine repeat offenders.
The league said Wednesday that flopping will be defined “as any physical act that appears to have been intended to cause the referees to call a foul on another player.”
Players will get a warning the first time, then be fined $5,000 the second time. The fines increase to $30,000 for a fifth offense.
Commissioner David Stern has sought to end flopping, believing it tricks the referees. Vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson says in a statement that “flops have no place in our game.”
Rasheed Wallace ends retirement to join Knicks
GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) — The New York Knicks have signed forward Rasheed Wallace, a four-time All-Star who is ending a two-year retirement.
The 38-year-old Wallace last played for the Boston Celtics in the 2009-10 season. Terms of his contract signed Wednesday were not announced.
Wallace averaged 14.6 points and 6.7 rebounds in 15 seasons. The temperamental 6-foot-11 Wallace frequently clashed with referees but was a respected teammate and versatile player who helped the Detroit Pistons win the 2004 NBA title. Knicks coach Mike Woodson was an assistant on that team.
Wallace joins an aging bench that includes Kurt Thomas, who turns 40 on Thursday; 39-year-old Jason Kidd and 38-year-old Marcus Camby.
Two division titles up for grabs
UNDATED (AP) — This is the last day of the regular season in Major League Baseball and two of the six divisions are still undecided.
In the American League East, the Yankees start the day with a one game lead over the Orioles. If New York loses to Boston tonight and the Orioles beat the Rays, then the O’s and Yankees would end the season tied for the championship. Under that scenario, a one-game playoff would take place in Baltimore tomorrow with the loser then playing in the wild-card game Friday against the loser of tonight’s Oakland-Texas game.
Entering this evening’s game in Oakland, the Athletics and Rangers are tied for first place in the AL West. Oakland has won the first two games of the three-game series. The winner takes the division title while the loser settles for a wild card berth.
Depending how things turn out this evening, the Yankees, Orioles, Rangers or Athletics could wind up with the best record in the American League.
Either Cincinnati or Washington will finish with the best mark in the National League. Both the Reds and Nationals are 97-64 with Cincy playing St. Louis this evening and the Nationals at home to Philadelphia this afternoon. The Reds need a win and Washington loss to get home-field advantage through the postseason because the Nats won the season series.
Despite all the excitement surrounding those games, all eyes in baseball will be on Kansas City tonight as Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera attempts to win the American League Triple Crown. Entering the final game, he leads the AL in home runs with 44, batting average at .331 and runs batted in with 139. He leads the RBI tally by a considerable margin and it would take a wild night for him to lose the batting title. The possible stumbling block could be home runs as Josh Hamilton of the Rangers has 43.
Just in case you are wondering, if Cabrera ends the season tied in any category, it would still count as the Triple Crown.
Boston great Carl Yastrzemski was the last man to win a Triple Crown, back in 1967.
In a final note regarding a game tonight, Jered Weaver of the Angels is going for his 21st win of the season as LA is in Seattle to face the Mariners. Weaver is 20-4 on the season with a sterling 2.73 earned run average. He’s 0-2 with a 3.65 ERA in two starts against the Mariners this season.
The 2012 post season begins Friday with the two Wild Card games. We know in the National League that the Braves will be playing host to the Cardinals.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Texas at Oakland 2:35 p.m.
L.A. Angels at Seattle 5:40 p.m.
Boston at N-Y Yankees 6:05 p.m.
Chi White Sox at Cleveland 6:05 p.m.
Minnesota at Toronto 6:07 p.m.
Baltimore at Tampa Bay 6:10 p.m.
Detroit at Kansas City 7:10 p.m.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Atlanta at Pittsburgh 11:35 a.m.
Philadelphia at Washington 12:05 p.m.
Houston at Chi Cubs 1:20 p.m.
N-Y Mets at Miami 3:10 p.m.
Colorado at Arizona 6:10 p.m.
San Francisco at L.A. Dodgers 6:15 p.m.
San Diego at Milwaukee 7:10 p.m.
Cincinnati at St. Louis 7:15 p.m.