Welcome to Wednesday’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.
WEDNESDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NBA: Heat at Celtics, 7:30 p.m. (CSNNE)
NBA: Bulls at Raptors, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
NBA: Thunder at Spurs, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: NIT, Murray State at Old Dominion, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: NIT, Louisiana Tech at Temple, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
NHL: Blackhawks at Flyers, 8 p.m. (NBCSN)
MLB exhibition: Mets at Yankees, 1 p.m. (MLB Network)
MLB exhibition: Athletics at Brewers, 4 p.m. (MLB Network)
MLB exhibition: White Sox at Royals, 9 p.m. (MLB Network)
Soccer: Exhibition, United States at Denmark, 3 p.m. (ESPN)
AROUND THE WEB:
— Paul Pierce probably would like to forget his one year in Brooklyn, as the Nets went into the 2013-14 season with high hopes after adding some big names but underperformed and ended up in another rebuilding phase.
However, his former landlords aren’t ready to move on as Pierce did when he signed with the Wizards last offseason.
Rejeev Tewari and Anuragini Pandey, who own the Tribeca condo where Pierce and his wife, Julie, lived last season, sued Pierce for failing to live up to his two-year lease and for making unauthorized changes — including replacing wood floors with pink carpet in all four bedrooms. They are seeking $425,000 plus back rent.
“[They] left the apartment in shambles, converting some of the items … to their personal gain and . . . ripping out carpeting, wooden floors … a washer and dryer and an expensive and unique stone hearth from the fireplace,” the court filing reads (via the New York Daily News).
The landlords, who live in Singapore, claim there was damage to radiator covers, halogen lights, kitchen tiling, a shower head, a towel hanger, a soap dish and a cabinet door, and that it took five months and $225,000 to fix the problems.
While the Pierces were paying $32,000 per month, the landlords say now they can only rent the Franklin Street condo for $23,000 due at least in part to the issues.
— Former NFL All-Pro safety Darren Sharper pleaded guilty Tuesday to a sexual assault charge in Nevada, the third of four states in which he agreed to a plea deal that will have him serve about nine years in federal prison.
Appearing via the Internet from a courtroom in Los Angeles, Sharper said, “Guilty,” when asked for his plea. His lawyer issued a statement noting that Sharper accepted responsibility for his actions.
On Monday the 39-year-old Sharper pleaded guilty to sexual assault in Arizona and no contest to drugging and raping two women in California. He also faces charges in Louisiana. His deal allows him to serve his sentences at the same time.
Sharper played 14 seasons in the NFL with the Packers, Vikings and Saints, with whom he won a Super Bowl. He retired in 2011 and was working as an NFL Network when multiple cases of sexual abuse began to surface last year.
— Defensive end Ray McDonald, cut by the 49ers in December after he was accused of sexual assault, agreed to a one-year deal with the Bears on Tuesday.
The Santa Clara County district attorney has not decided whether or not to file criminal charges against McDonald for the incident at his San Jose house, but Bears chairman George McCaskey said he was comfortable with his team’s move after meeting the player.
“We have a 96-year tradition of doing things a certain way, of bringing a certain type of player into our team,” McCaskey told reporters at the NFL meetings in Phoenix. “And those were my concerns going into the conversation with Ray. But I think you look at every situation individually. You try to find out as much information as you can that’s reliable to make the best decision you can about whether to offer a player the privilege of becoming a Chicago Bear.”
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On March 25, 1984, the Red Sox acquired Bill Buckner from the Cubs by sending Mike Brumley and which player to Chicago?
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It’s NFL free agency. It’’s like that in the NFL. Players leave teams and go to teams in free agency every year. That’’s not a big story.” — Patriots coach Bill Belichick, at the NFL owners meetings, on Darrelle Revis leaving New England to sign with the Jets
STAT OF THE DAY: 39 – Years since the Warriors last won a division title, until they clinched the Pacific Division with Tuesday’s 122-108 victory over the Trail Blazers
‘NET RESULTS (mobile users, check the website to see the videos): Bucks forward Zaza Pachulia tracks down a loose ball and feeds Khris Middleton for a 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat the Heat.
Pistons guard Reggie Jackson makes a nice move before feeding forward Andre Drummond for an alley-oop against the Raptors.
Canadiens goalie Carey Price turns over the puck but then makes an impressive backward skate save against the Predators.
Yankees players reenact a scene from “The Sandlot.”
TRIVIA ANSWER: Dennis Eckersley
SOOTHING SOUNDS: Aretha Franklin was born on this day in 1942.
Jeff Healey, who died in 2008, was born on this day in 1966.
