Here is Gene Upshaw's reasoning for not wanting a rookie wage scale. Says Upshaw; "Every spring, the buzz from general managers is, 'We need to fix rookie compensation.' We addressed this issue by limiting rookie pool growth and fixing the maximum number of years a rookie could sign. The length of contracts severely limits players' ability to move money into future years. What the media doesn't report is that the rookie pool is part of the overall salary cap, and a player is only a rookie for one season. Clubs want the players to pay for mistakes teams make in drafting. We'll never agree to a rookie wage scale in such a short-career sport. "

What Upshaw fails to answer is in such a short-career sport why is it only the first ten guys drafted who get the security? What about the guys who have proven themselves? What about the mid-salary guys, usually special teams who makes the little plays for their teams. Nope to Gene it's all about the first 10 and making sure they get theirs.

Since her music career is gone, Mindy McCready is trying to stay in the spotlight however she can. With documentary filming all but finished, fans will soon be able to see the uncensored version of country singer Mindy McCready. The no-holds-barred look into McCready's life will include what the film's producer calls "her side of the Roger Clemens story."

And just what is she going to tell us; his favorite positions? What color the ceiling is? What they talked about after an intimate enounter? What he thought of her songs?

If this article was in most other papers,I would think it was just some writer throwing stuff out there to see what was going to stick but this is in the NYT and they usually have their facts straight. From the article: "tA lawyer for the former N.B.A. referee Tim Donaghy suggested in court papers Monday that games had been influenced by relationships among referees, coaches and players, and that other factors had "prevented games from being played on a level playing field." The league immediately denounced the charges as unfounded.

But here is the kicker: "included information about the gambling activities of other referees and an instance in which confidential information was suspected of being passed from a referee to a coach."

The NBA did the usual, "It's not true and he is a rogue ref etc" but if even one other ref did this or gambled on NBA games David Stern and the NBA are in trouble. Fans have long thought the NBA

was a more athletic version of pro wrestling, with Tim Donaghy and his statements, they might be right.

Jose Canseco has only noe rival when it comes to whoring himself out for money and that's Pete Rose but even Charley Hustle never tried boxing. According to Dan Gross, " Jose Canseco recently revealed that the mortgage on his home had been foreclosed, and he blamed two costly divorces for his financial woes. Because the dude has to pay the bills, he has turned to celebrity boxing. Canseco and promoter Damon Feldman are seeking a challenger to fight the Oakland Athletics veteran on July 12 at the Bernie Robbins Stadium in Atlantic City. The chosen opponent will be paid $5,000. Brave souls should e-mail fightcanseco@aol.com. Canseco's opponent will be revealed in this column next week."

I have to pay to fight this guy? Jose, please just go away.

I have no love for Philly and the behavior of its fans who sometimes take their passion for their teams too far, but I have to say that SI takes a cheap shot at Philly in this article. Writes Philly native Bryan Armen Graham:

"They say history is written by the winners but as the Penguins dispensed of the Flyers on Sunday afternoon -- capping yet another season without a championship in Philadelphia -- the losers made a little history of their own. The Flyers' elimination made it 100 consecutive seasons without a title for Philadelphia's four major teams. That's far and away the record for a four-sport town -- a gold standard for civic sports futility."

How does he get 100 seasons since it the 83 Sixers won the NBA title? He counts the 25 seasons of the four major sports teams since the 1983 title, 25 seasons times 4sports = 100 seasons. Just for an extra insult to Philly, Shawn Bradley is the athlete pictured in the story. Come on, that's cheap.

After reports that they were on the rocks, it looks like Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson are still together. From the Sun Times: "As for Tony Romo -- who, as promised, showed up to escort maid-of-honor and sister of the bride, Jessica Simpson -- ''you would never know that anything bad was going on between them,'' said the source. ''He looked great, she looked beautiful and they were smiling and laughing for most of the night.'' Romo also supposedly ''looked a little uncomfortable'' when chatting with father-of-the-bride Joe Simpson (who performed the non-denominational marriage ceremony). According to various reports, Joe Simpson practically ''begged'' the former Eastern Illinois University gridiron star to attend the wedding, even though he and Jessica have allegedly split up -- a story the actress and singer's reps firmly deny.

Sumbitch, Romo drops a routine FG snap like a Britney Spears baby but this hot little piece psycho a$$ he can't get rid of.

Despite lacking some of his man parts, Lance Armstrong has always been good with the ladies. Armstrong has dated a one time or another; Tony Burch, Kate Olsen and Sheryl Crow. Now it seems he has found a new girlfriend, Kate Hudson. They were seen in and around the Austin area dining and enjoying each other's company. From one man to another, well-played Mr. Armstrong, you are indeed a hero to us all.

Like a kid at Christmas, Chris Henry has a wish list of teams that he wants to play for; the Cowboys, Saints and the Dolphins. Chris Henry, under house arrest, said by phone he ''would love to play for'' the Dolphins, Saints or Cowboys. But it's hard to fathom Bill Parcells pursuing someone who has had multiple legal problems and faces a potential NFL suspension after a March arrest for misdemeanor assault and criminal damage."That situation isn't what it seems,'' Henry said. ``I regret a lot that has happened.''

The Cowboys have already said they aren't interested, the Saints seem to be the team everyone wants to play for because of their offense and the Dolphins, well they suck and need any good players they can get.

From the article:"I still have to go through the process, and I'm just waiting, waiting every day," Jones said. "I'm ready to get in there and learn the defense. And I've been out of the game for a year, so I need to shake off all the rust to get ready to play. ... I'm going to put in a call to the commissioner some time soon and hope he at least lets me work out with the team."

Pacman has never been accused of being the smartest guy, but this seems like a good idea, i'm just hoping that he's going to let his lawyer/agent do most of the talking and that he has a script to read from so eh doens't start talking about strippers or weed.

LenWhale White has been busy this offseason doing more than just eating, he's been in videos. White traveled to Las Vegas for the shooting of "Life of Da' Party," mainly because of his friendship with the musician. That's my guy,'' White said of Snoop Dogg. I didn't want nothing too big,'' White said. "Because had I been in that video a long time … let's say something happened this year and I had only 20 yards rushing. Then everybody around here would be on my back, saying, 'If he wasn't in the Snoop Dogg video maybe he would've been (better).' "We were just having a lot of fun. It was cool.''

This is the only instance when the words "little" and "LenWhale" will be used together.

Unlike Pete Rose who say he never bet on the Reds, or never bet on them to lose, Donaghy bet on more than 100 games that he worked. Now who says the NBA is not fixed.

While coach at WVU, Rich Rodriguez wanted to expand the schools website to include an insider's only section, similar to what Dennis Franchione did at Texas A&M. People who subscribed for potentially $90/year would get the extra content, including human interest features written by his wife, Rita.

I would love to know what kind of human interest stories Ellie Mae, I mean Rita would have written. One look at her and you just have to hear what she has to say.

Wally Backman, former manager of the D-Backs has surfaced working the third base box for the South Georgia Peanuts, as always Backman is colorful and direct with his comments on the game.

The Cowboys have a not backed down from picking up players with problems if they think the player will help them; Tank Johnson, Pacman Jones, TO. But despite a need at WR, \the Cowboys are not interested in pursuing wide receivers such as Koren Robinson or Chris Henry, according to an NFL source. The team wants either a top, No. 1 receiver, or they remain prepared to go with what they have.

Despite the fact he was MVP just a couple of years ago, Shaun Alexander has not been offered a contract. His latest suitors, the Bengals, seem content with Rudi Johnson and Chris Perry.

According to the Cincinnait Enquirer, Perry was on the field for the first time since fracturing his ankle in a November 2006 game at Cleveland, and his return bodes well for the offense, if he can stay healthy, and probably means the Bengals won't offer a contract to former Seahawks great Shaun Alexander.

Keep hoping someone gets hurt Shaun, it's probably your only chance of playing this year.