Welcome to Tuesday’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.
TUESDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
World Series: Mets at Royals, 8:07 p.m. (Fox; WEEI-AM)
NHL: Coyotes at Bruins, 7 p.m. (NESN)
NHL: Lightning at Blues, 8 p.m. (NBCSN)
NBA: Cavaliers at Bulls, 8 p.m. (TNT)
NBA: Pelicans at Warriors, 10:30 p.m. (TNT)
AROUND THE WEB:
— Communications issues persist in NFL games, although the Patriots seem to be the only team that has faced accusations of cheating because of it.
During the Ravens’ 26-18 loss to the host Cardinals on Monday night, Baltimore mounted a late comeback and had the ball in the closing seconds looking for the tying touchdown and two-point conversion before the possession ended with an interception. During that drive, the Ravens could not use their wireless communications system to call in plays to quarterback Joe Flacco.
“We lost our phones, so [Flacco] couldn’t heard Marc [Trestman], offensive coordinator,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said, noting there were issues throughout the game but especially at the end. “I don’t know why the phones were going out. They went out on that drive.”
Trestman had to yell the plays to Flacco from the sideline, forcing the team to take more time to get the right personnel on the field.
“It was way too much communication going on for the amount of time we had left,” Flacco said. “Guys were just confused — and rightfully so.”
A day earlier, in the Bills’ loss to the Jaguars in London, Rex Ryan complained about frequent problems with his team’s electronics.
“I don’t get it,” Ryan said. “I don’t understand it. But this one was absolutely miserable.”
The communications issues began in Week 1, when Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said his coaches were hearing the Patriots’ radio broadcast instead of each other on their headsets. After the game, Tomlin said there have been frequent problems in Foxboro and implied something nefarious was going on.
Monday night’s game also featured an officiating controversy (for the third time in a Monday game this season), as Ravens offensive lineman John Urschel was called for illegal formation after catching a pass even though replays showed him reporting as an eligible receiver before the play. According to Harbaugh, referee Ronald Torbet said he did not see Urschel signal to him.
— After a day to think about it, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett was not as supportive of controversial defensive end Greg Hardy for his sideline outburst during Sunday’s loss to the Giants, although the coach said he will not discipline the player.
In an interview Monday with Dallas’ 105.3 The Fan, Garrett played down the altercation that occurred when an angry Hardy stepped into the special teams huddle following New York’s 100-yard kickoff return, slapped at special teams coach Rich Bisaccia’s clipboard, then pushed a teammate before exchanging words with injured wide receiver Dez Bryant.
“That was just a situation that oftentimes happens on a sideline where guys are trying to encourage and inspire other guys on their team,” Garrett said. “He was fired up and wanted to make sure that the special teams unit was going to get the job done. Sometimes those things happen. It wasn’t exactly the right time and place as we’re getting ready to go out on the field. We got that conveyed and communicated and we all moved on.”
Meanwhile, a report emerged that Hardy irked the team by failing to show up on time for Thursday’s practice, without calling, and then skipped the practice, saying he was sick.
— Not only did Metta World Peace earn a spot on the Lakers roster, beating out guard Jabari Brown, the team reportedly plans to make the controversial guard an assistant coach when he retires.
World Peace, 35, is said to have been a positive influence on the rebuilding Lakers’ young players this offseason, including last year’s first-round pick, Julius Randle.
After being waived by the Lakers under the amnesty clause following the 2012-13 season, World Peace signed a two-year deal with his hometown Knicks but lasted only half a season before his contract was bought out. He then had brief stints in China and Italy.
Brown, 22, averaged 12 points in 19 games with the Lakers after being called up from the D-League last season.
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On Oct. 27, 2004, the Red Sox beat the Cardinals, 3-0, to complete a sweep of the World Series. Whose first-inning home run was the only run the Red Sox would need?
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “What else am I going to do? … There’s nothing like playing football. It’s a big challenge, and it’s a big commitment to make. I think that’s something that I’m excited about. There’s nothing I love to do [more] than running out and playing football. Just because someone says, well, you should stop playing at this age or this age ’cause that’s what people did before you, I don’t really buy that. I kind of want to make my own decisions. If the game’s not fun anymore ‘ which I highly doubt it, because it’s fun for my parents, and they’re in their 70s, it’s fun for me, it’s fun for my kids. And it’s just something I love to do.” — Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, during his weekly appearance with Dennis, Callahan & Minihane, on playing into his 40s
STAT OF THE DAY: 2,372 — Career major league games for outfielder Torii Hunter, who is retiring after 19 seasons
‘NET RESULTS (mobile users, check the website to see the videos): The Coyotes make rookie Max Domi skate on the ice by himself for 33 seconds prior to their game Monday.
Former NHL star Jeremy Roenick tries to tackle an alligator on a golf course.
TRIVIA ANSWER: Johnny Damon, batting leadoff
SOOTHING SOUNDS: Lee Greenwood was born on this day in 1942.
