Morning News Links
NBA
Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant was nearly traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2007, according to Mavs owner Mark Cuban. "Literally, between Dancing with the Star practices, I had thought we traded for Kobe Bryant. I even talked to their owner and thought we were going to have a done deal," Cuban said. [RealGM.com]
The new New York Knicks uniforms may have been leaked via the video game NBA2K13. [CBS Sports]
The Washington Wizards are interested in signing guard Michael Redd. [Washington Post]
Prospective Grizzlies owner Robert Pera has found a group of local investors that will keep the team in Memphis. [Memphis Commercial Appeal]
Lakers head coach Mike Brown says that he nearly tore a hamstring in excitement when he found out the team had traded for centre Dwight Howard. [ESPN]
NFL
Doctors informed Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten that he will not require season-ending spleen surgery. Witten hopes to be ready to play for Week 1. [ESPN]
Running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who is currently staging a holdout, is open to the idea of bridging the gap between himself and the Jacksonville Jaguars. [NFL.com]
San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews could be out until Week 3 due to his broken collarbone. Mathews is still convinced he will be ready for the season opener. [San Diego Union-Tribune]
The New Orleans Saints named offensive line coach Aaron Kromer as the interim head coach for the first six weeks of the season, while assistant coach Joe Vitt is serving his suspension. [Globe & Mail]
The NFLPA has rejected two new rule changes. One rule would have introduced an extra roster spot to replace a player who suffered a major injury, but wouldn't miss the entire season. The second rule change would have extended the trade deadline by two weeks. [ESPN]
The Cleveland Browns are unsure if first-round draft pick Trent Richardson will be ready for Week 1 after undergoing knee surgery. [The Plain Dealer]
MLB
New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, who is having an excellent season batting .324 with 13 home runs, laughed off insinuations by Skip Bayless that his 2012 success has been the result of using performance-enhancing drugs. [ESPN]
Two-time home run champion Jose Bautista will return to the Toronto Blue Jays lineup on Friday. Bautista has not played since July due to a wrist injury. [Blue Jays]
A New Jersey teenager, who suffered brain damage after being hit by a line drive off of a metal bat, was awarded a $14.5 million settlement. [Philly.com]
New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi was heckled by a fan during his postgame press conference last night. [Deadspin]
Potential NL rookie of the year Todd Frazier is not likely to remain in the lineup once Joey Votto returns from injury. [Cincinnati.com]
The New York Mets shut down starting pitcher Johan Santana due to back inflammation. Santana had allowed six or more earned runs in five straight starts. [Yahoo! Sports]
Washington Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg will likely miss his last two to three starts and the playoffs once he is shut down. [Washington Post]
Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols left last night's game in the fourth inning with a sore calf. [Sacramento Bee]
NHL
NHL Senior Executive VP Colin Campbell believes that players and coaches want the diving/embellishment rule to be called more often to help eliminate the act from the sport. [NHL.com]
NHLPA boss Donald Fehr says that Wednesday's cancelled bargaining session is "one of the normal things that happen." [Winnipeg Free Press]
Washington Capitals forward Jason Chimera says that having a lockout now would be foolish. "You look at the revenue that the league has made, it would seem pretty dumb to have a lockout now," Chimera said. [Edmonton Sun]
Former San Jose Sharks goalie Antero Niittymaki has signed a one-year deal to play in Finland. [NHL.com]
GOLF
PGA Championship winner Rory McIlroy took a friendly jab at Tiger Woods saying that he would love to go out first this Sunday and kick Tiger's ass. The Barclays tournament begins today. [ESPN]
