WEEI just reported that Celtics forward Kevin Garnett has been voted as the league's Defensive Player of the Year.

Garnett received 493 points (90 first place votes, 12 second place, seven third place). Denver Nuggets center Marcus Camby finished second with 178 points.

Kia Motors will donate a seven-passanger SUV in the name of Kevin Garnett to the Boston Center for Youths and Families, who supports KG's Big Ticket Challenge Program.

In a somewhat surprising move, the Red Sox have released Tim Wakefield's personal catcher Doug Mirabelli. It appears Kevin Cash will replace him.

Mike Reiss Reports

A contract agreement between the Patriots and receiver Randy Moss is imminent, according to a source with ties to Moss.

Discussions between the sides intensified today.

This story is developing. More to come.

TMZ.com has a video of Tom in NYC wearing a walking boot on his right foot. To say my heart just skipped a few beats would be an understatemnt! Video below.

Apparently, the Mitchell report has been leaked.  I have it right here, but will refrain from reporting due to the fact it is not confirmed.  I will say, a dagger will go through the heart of RSN if it is true.

The Herald has just reported that the Red Sox and Lowell have agreed to the parameters of a three-year contract with an annual worth of “more than $12 (million) but less than $13 (million)” according to a source familiar with the negotiations.

The deal, which won’t be finalized until tomorrow, was brokered by the Sox and Lowell’s agents, Sam and Seth Levinson, early this morning.

Why?  Because YOUR New England Revolution are going to the MLS Finals!

*birds chirping*

*tumbleweed rolls through*

Yeah, I hate soccer too.  I actually despise it, to be truthful. 

How down must you be if you are playing for this team right now?  They are the epitome of a red-headed stepchild.  Just 2 weeks ago, we were going nuts for our baseball team making the championship, all getting dressed in garb and what have you.  Now, 65% of the people who will read this probably won't even know who the Revolution are.

Let's put it this way: there is no category for "Soccer" or "Revolution" for this site.  Yeah, people respect soccer.

And if for some reason you are a soccer nut (believe it or not, they do exist in America) then just accept the fact that no one cares about your little wussy game, and also except that I don't care how "it's the most popular sport everywhere in the world."  If third world countires had the supplies for football, they wouldn't play soccer.  Why?  Because soccer sucks.  You know your sport sucks when you have to defend it by saying that third world countires with nothing to do enjoy playing it.  And if I cared so much about what other countries though, I would move there. 

But you must say, there is an interesting dynamic should the Revolution win: how bad will people get pissed off that we are even winning it all in the crappy sports?  What's next, a curling championship?  I don't think the rest of the country can handle us right now.  I'm waiting for the bunch of Californians to be knocking on my door, complaining about the Tuck Rule and burning me alive.

Anyway, sorry soccer.  There is no room for you in this town...or any town in America. 

It was announced today that Tim Wakefield will not be on the Red Sox roster for the World Series. Here's his statement.

"I really wish I was up here talking about my starting Game 2," Wakefield said. "But unfortunately that's not the case today. After long talks with [Terry Francona] and John Farrell and Theo [Epstein], my health, advice from the doctors, it's not going to happen, unfortunately.

"Could I pitch Game 2? Probably. But are you going to get 100 percent out of Tim Wakefield? I don't know that either, until Tuesday. After that I don't know either, because dealing with this problem that I've had for the past two months, it seems like my recovery time in getting longer and longer, and I just don't think it's fair to the other 24 guys on this team that I go out there and maybe I pitch well and maybe I don't, and then I'm not available for the rest of the series. It's not fair for the rest of the 24 guys in that clubhouse for me to put them through that."

ESPN's Chris Mortensen has reported that Patriots safety Rodney Harrison will be suspended for four games by the NFL after he admitted to federal investigators that he obtained Human Growth Hormone (HGH).

Harrison had a hearing with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Friday, the sources said, and the Patriots could announce the suspension as early as Saturday, when all teams must reduce their rosters to the regular-season limit of 53 players.

A league spokesman said Friday the NFL will not comment on the Harrison case. Harrison could not be immediately reached for comment. A Patriots source told ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli that the team is aware of the sanction against the 13-year veteran and is "dealing with it." The team source declined to say when the Patriots became aware of Harrison's involvement.

According to WEEI, Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel reported to Gillette Stadium this morning, ending his holdout. Samual will sign the one-year, $7.79-million franchise tender before the team’s 8 a.m. meeting. He has missed 31 days of training camp and now will cram to get ready for the opener.

Tom Brady and Bridget Moynahan have a new baby boy. Baby Brady was born in Los Angeles California. Baby's name and birth weight have not been released. Both mom, baby, and dad are well.

It's official Drew Carey has accepted CBS’s offer to replace Bob Barker as the new host of “The Price Is Right.” James Hibberd of TV Week reports

The actor-comedian made the announcement while taping CBS’s “Late Show With David Letterman.”

“Honestly, it was like 15 minutes ago, [my agents] called me, it’s a done deal,” Carey said on “Letterman.” “I’m the new host of ‘The Price Is Right.’”

Carey was offered the position after CBS saw his hosting skills in its upcoming prime-time game show “Power of 10.”

I absolutely think this is the best choice. He should be far better than the other people who were in the running,  Rosie O'Donnell, George Hamilton, John O'Hurley, Todd Newton and Mark Steines

Rod Beck, was an All-Star relief pitcher who wore a bushy mustache while earning 286 career saves.

Beck was found Saturday by police officers responding to a call to his home in suburban Phoenix, police department spokesman Andy Hill said Sunday. Foul play is not suspected, though the cause of death might not be known for several days.

Nicknamed "Shooter," Beck pitched for the Red Sox from 1999-2001 before finishing his career with the Padres (2003-04). He began his Career with the Giants (1991-97) and the Chicago Cubs (1998-99).

Beck is probably best known for his time in the minors while working his way back to the majors in 2003, Beck pitched for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs and lived in his Winnebago parked just beyond the outfield fence. Fans would drop by for autographs and stay for a beer, and Beck became a folk hero. READ THE STORY HERE FROM ESPN

Boston.com's Gordon Edes reports

Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling left the team and went back to Boston today to meet with team doctor Thomas Gill and have a precautionary MRI on his shoulder.

According to multiple reports, the Sox will be looking at his right (pitching) shoulder.

NESN's Tom Caron adds

A Red Sox official told us there were concerns over the lack of velocity in Schilling's performance last night. According to the NESN radar gun, Schilling never hit 90 mph over his 81 pitches last night.

It was obvious something wasn't right last night as every hit was smoked. Let's hope it's just fatigue.

Surprise, Surprise, Roger Clemens made a dramatic announcement to fans from the The Boss's box during Today's game against the Mariners. Microphone in hand he addressed the Yankee Stadium crowd. Camera shots of the players in the dugout showed the entire team, including Andy Pettitte, celebrating. They all looked surprised. He will begin pitching in the minors soon.

We all knew George would give him whatever he wanted after their horrible start so far. I can't wait for a Dice-K Clemens match up.

No terms announced yet.

I don't know if this story really is Breaking Newz, but I thought I'd throw it in that category to be ironic.

When I heard that former Mets Clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski had plead guilty to distributing steroids, HGH and God knows what else to dozens of current and former major league baseball players, and that he had agreed to work with the FBI and Sen. George Mitchell to nail the perpetrators, my first thought was, "Yes!  Maybe somebody can nail Bonds to the wall before he breaks the record!"  I think I can honestly say I was giddy.

Being that I had first heard it on a Fox Sports telecast, actual details were minimal.  Joe Buck mentioned it in passing during the late innings of Saturday's Sox/Yankees game, and Tim McCarver was oddly mum on the subject.  Not that I'm complaining that McCarver wasn't talking because his voice grates at my soul, but his response seems to echo the rest of Major League Baseball, and the media at large.  I had to google "Mets clubhouse attendant" to find anything on this guy, and then scroll way down to find a story from an actual, credible paper (the NY Times), and even that story was just former Met Dave Magadan saying that he remembers Radomski as being a big, fat liar, and probably a lousy bat boy to boot.

At the risk of getting all Oliver Stone on everyone here, does this seem right?  With Barry Bonds on the cusp on breaking one of baseball's all-time records, despite the last eight years of his career being mired in controversy, shouldn't this latest doping scandal be front page news?  Why is this story being swept under the rug?  And don't tell me that only nerdy baseball people care about stats.  This is happening to our national past time right now.

The answer is obvious.  Nobody wants this to come out because the sport of baseball would be shaken to its very foundation if we knew who these guys were (even though, let's face it, anybody who's watched a few games in the last decade probably knows most of them already.)  Nobody wants this scandal broken because tons of people, including players, managers, team physicians, agents, and probably even the reporters who cover these guys would be implicated and most of them would probably lose their jobs.  Like any sports scandal, people want to know, but they don't really want to know.  No one wants to believe that one of their heroes was a cheater and a liar.  I must admit, although I'm not condoning the action, I feel a little better about the guys who at least will cop to it.  In fact, one of the few people who may come out of this whole thing smelling a little better than everyone else is Jose Canseco.  At least he didn't lie.  In fact, most of what he said way back when he wrote his book has turned out to be true.  Hell, he deserves another run on The Surreal Life for that.

So, since I have no legal ties to anyone or anything having to do with Major League Baseball or any team or player, and since my job doesn't hinge on this whole thing, I'll lay it on the line for you; I believe these players (and many others) used steroids and HGH to enhance their strength and make them superior hitters at one time or another (in no particular order): Bonds, Sosa, McGwire, Canseco, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield, The late Ken Caminiti, Palmero, Brady Anderson, Strawberry. Gooden, Lenny Dykstra, Kevin Mitchell and probably most of the rest of the '86 Mets (See?  It wasn't Buckner's fault.  It was the 'roids.)   

Whew.  That's my rant for today.  I'll get back to my usual Heroes post later in the week, so check back for that.  I promise it'll be happier.

The New England Patriots acquired veteran Pro Bowl wide receiver Randy Moss from the Oakland Raiders in exchange for a fourth-round selection in the 2007 NFL Draft (110th overall). ESPN has reported that Bill checked with the vets of the team and they said bring him on. They also reported he ran a 4.29 for Green Bay and Patriot scouts a few weeks ago (so much for the "he's slowing down theory").

This still has me in shock. Tom Brady must be doing freakin back flips right about now. This COULD be one of the most exciting quarterback-wide receiver combinations that has ever played in the NFL. 

We have nothing to lose here, if he becomes an "issue" they can cut him and lose a 4th round pick. WOW!

Darryl Stingley  who possessed a rare combination of speed, agility and toughness for such a slightly built man passed away early this morning in his Chicago home. During his five seasons as a wide receiver with the Patriots, Stingley appeared to be on course to being one of the franchise’s best ever at the position.

But things suddenly changed during a meaningless exhibition game in Oakland. Stingley went across the middle and leaped for Steve Grogan’s pass that went over his hands. But Oakland safety Jack Tatum’s hit was crushing, and it left Stingley paralyzed on the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum turf.

After listening to the Sox since last September about how Papelbon would be a starter this year because they thought closing might worsen his shoulder injury. ESPN is reporting he will be the Sox closer this year. It also appears Tavarez will now start, probably until Lester is ready. I'm now wondering, do the Sox not care for Paps long term future? Was he mis-diagnosed? Or was it all bull from the beginning? Whatever the reason is, I'm stoked as we are now clearly the favorites to win the World Series. Now you should definitely get new furniture!

Former Celtics player Dennis Johnson died today at age 52, Celtics executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge confirmed to the Globe. The AP is reporting Johnson fell ill at the Austin Convention Center in Texas where he coached a semi pro team.

Larry Bird said years ago about DJ "The greatest player I ever played with."

DJ played on 3 NBA championship teams: The 1978-79 Seattle SuperSonics, the 1983-84 Celtics and the 1985-86 Celtics... He was the NBA Finals MVP in 1979 with Seattle, with his other titles coming with Boston in 1984 and 1986.

"Dennis was a great player, one of the best teammates I ever had, and a wonderful person," said Bird, now president of the Indiana Pacers. "My thoughts and condolences are with his family at this difficult time."

"That was my guy," said Maxwell. "We were very close. We were kind of like two peas in a pod. He was alot of fun. As people would say, 'I am shocked.' It's like having a brother pass away. You win championships, go through wars together, and to know he's passed away is amazing. When Red [Auerbach] passed, you're thinking of Red's age. When a person your age passes away, you feel very vulnerable about your life and where you stand.''

This is extremely sad. Not much more to say, here his his most famous moment.