San Francisco Giants ace Tim Lincecum was sidelined at spring training due to back tightness earlier this week, but the young righty now says he’s throwing again and feeling healthy.

“A couple of days ago I felt something in my back and figured why press it,” Lincecum told the Associated Press after a bullpen session today. “I don’t have to get ready for another month and a half, so I just let my body readjust itself. I threw today and felt great.”

Lincecum went 13-14 last season with a 2.74 ERA, striking out 220 in 217 innings of work, making 32-plus starts for the fourth consecutive season. He said today that he still sees room for improvement in 2012.

“I want to throw more strike ones,” Lincecum said. “I want to get back to using my fastball to control the strike zone.”

Joe Torre and his business partner Rick Caruso have withdrawn their bid to purchase the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to a report today from Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times.

Sources told Shaikin that owner Frank McCourt’s refusal to include the Dodger Stadium parking lots in the sale was a major sticking point — it’s been speculated that McCourt plans to keep the lots and build on them.

It’s unlikely that the former Dodgers manager will reenter the bidding war to purchase the team. While Torre and Caruso believed the parking lots to be negotiable, McCourt has said he has at least one bid that would allow him to keep the lots.

Caruso is perhaps best known for the Grove and Americana shopping and entertainment complexes in Los Angeles.

New York Jets management addressed the media today and gave an answer to the question on everyone’s minds — who’s the quarterback next season, Mark Sanchez or Peyton Manning?

Well, more like a non-answer. Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum and coach Rex Ryan believe in Sanchez, according to an ESPN report, but they’re also leaving the door open to explore other options.

“We believe in Mark,” Tannenbaum said. “I think he is going to continue being a winning NFL quarterback that has started and won a lot of games for the Jets, and we are excited that he is here. But with that said, just philosophically, my general approach is when there are opportunities for the team, I have a fiduciary duty to the team to look into it. The day I got hired I meant what I said, every rock, every day. We look at every opportunity every day to get better.”

Manning is still under contract with the Indianpolis Colts, but speculation abounds that the Colts may choose to unload Manning soon rather than pay him the $28 million bonus that triggers on March 8. If that happens, the Jets may look into acquiring the veteran QB.

Ryan insists that while the Jets are willing to explore the Manning possibility, that doesn’t mean they’ve lost faith in Sanchez.

“In my opinion, we have the best corner [Darrelle Revis] in the history of football along with Deion Sanders and we are still looking at a million corners,” Ryan said. “We also have Antonio Cromartie. We have a great group of corners, but that doesn’t mean we are not going to do our due diligence and look at every possibility regardless of the position.”

When Chris Paul landed in Los Angeles this past December, traded from the New Orleans Hornets to the Clippers in a preseason blockbuster, he had one year left on his contract and a big decision to make about his future. Now, he says, that decision is a done deal — he wants to pick up his option and stay for another season.

“[The decision] didn’t take long,” Paul said today in an interview with Jim Rome. “It didn’t take long at all. When you go to play somewhere for a season, it always helps to be around good people. Blake Griffin definitely changed the culture around here, and DeAndre Jordan, this is a great group of guys. Not only is basketball going well, but this is a great group of guys.”

Paul has quickly vaulted the Clippers into the national spotlight — a laughingstock last season, the Clips are now atop the Pacific Division at 20-11, regarded as a serious threat to represent the West in the NBA Finals. Paul is averaging 19.2 points, 8.6 assists and 2.3 steals per game and making a real case for his first MVP.

The Clips currently have Paul under a max contract, making $17.8 million this season. Next year, they’ll be shelling out even more.

Perhaps the only athlete in Wisconsin more popular than Ryan Braun, Aaron Rodgers, took to Twitter to express his happiness that the reigning National League Most Valuable Player won his appeal against a 50-game suspension. 

#exonerated

—
Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) February 23, 2012

MLB and cable sports tried to sully the reputation of an innocent man. Picked the wrong guy to mess with. Truth will set u free #exonerated

—
Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) February 23, 2012

When its guilty until proven innocent, all u need are the facts. #howsthecrowmlb #exonerated

—
Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) February 23, 2012

Reigning National League Most Valuable Player Ryan Braun has won his appeal of a 50-game suspension, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

A source has told the paper that a three-man panel voted 2-1 to overturn the positive test for a banned substance. Braun reportedly appealed not against the result of the test, but on the testing process itself. With the initial suspension overturned, Braun will be eligible to play opening day for the Brewers.

Braun had tested positive for a banned substance in October. In 2011 the 28-year-old was named the National League Most Valuable Player after hitting .332/.397/.597 with 33 home runs and 111 RBI.

A Jeremy Lin signed rookie card auctioned off for $21,580 on eBay, according to Yahoo! Sports.

“I saw a lot of potential in him,” Yair Rozmaryn, the eBay seller told ESPN on Wednesday.

The rookie card was sold  by Yair Rozmaryn, a card collector in Manhattan, who originally bought the card for $1,000 from another collector on eBay two weeks ago. At that time, Lin was had yet to become an international phenom.

Jeremy Lin was passed up by two teams including the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets before being claimed by the New York Knicks off waivers.  In his last 11 games, Lin is averaging 23.9 points and 9.2 assists.

Tregg Duerson, the son of deceased NFL  star Dave Duerson, is suing the NFL over the league’s handling of his father’s concussions, according to the New York Times.

Duerson’s claiming that the brain disease that his father developed was the result of the concussions he sustained during his playing career, which ultimately caused him to commit suicide.

Sustaining multiple concussions during his playing days in the NFL, Duerson developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a progressive disorder caused by repeated trauma which can lead to cognitive dysfunction, depression and lack of impulse control.  The same disease is consistent in a number of former NFL players.  Along with Duerson’s son, hundreds of retired NFL players, who have also acquired disorders resulting from alleged mismanaged concussions, are suing the league.

In Duerson’s ten-year NFL career, he was a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Chicago Bears and New York Giants.

Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman indicated today at the scouting combine that the Eagles will sign quarterback Trent Edwards, according to ProFootballTalk.

Edwards did not play for any team last season after being released by the Oakland Raiders Sep. 3, in the team’s final round of cuts.

He was a third round draft pick in 2007, where he debuted for the Buffalo Bills. He remained in Buffalo through 2010 and then was traded to Jacksonville.

Throughout his career he has thrown 26 touchdown passes and 30 interceptions for 6,019 yards. His best season game in 2008 when he started 14 games for the Bills and threw for 2,699 yards.

The St. Louis Cardinals and catcher Yadier Molina have discussed a potential contract extension, according to St. Louis Today.

Molina’s agent, Melvin Roman, visited camp twice this week to meet with GM, John Mozeliak, and start negotiations. The two sides exchanged reportedly parameters earlier this year, but could not come to a deal.

Molina is a four-time Golden Glove Award winner, and three-time All-Star. Last season Molina hit .305 with 14 home runs and 65 RBIs.

Alabama running back and top draft prospect Trent Richardson will not participate in on-field drills during the NFL combine this week after undergoing minor knee surgery, according to ESPN.

Although he is not participating in the NFL Combine this week as a precaution, the Alabama running back will participate in the interviewing process.    Richardson will be healthy enough to participate in on-field activities by the end of March, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Alabama running back sustained the injury during a practice before the BCS National Championship Game.  Despite the knee injury, he ran for 96 yards and scored a touchdown in the 21-0 victory over LSU.

During his only season as a starter, Richardson set the school single-season rushing records with 1,679 yards and 21 touchdowns.  As the nation’s top running back winning the Doak Walker Award, Richardson is projected by to be a high first round draft pick.

Broncos head coach, John Fox said that Brady Quinn’s recent comments about starting quarterback Tim Tebow will not have an impact on his standing with the team.

“No,” Fox  told the Los Angeles Times at the NFL scouting combine. “I already know the relationship. I know [Brady] was a great teammate to Tim. We still like Brady.”

Fox said that he thinks Quinn’s comments were not perceived as he had intended.

“Knowing their relationship, knowing both Brady and Tim very well myself, sometimes things get lost in translation. I know their relationship is very close,” Fox said. “They have a lot of respect for each other. They’re very good teammates with each other. That’s kind of what I know. It’s hard for me to stay up with all the comments.”

Quinn was second string last season for the Denver Broncos, and contributed very little as a result. However since his NFL debut in 2007 he has thrown 10 touchdowns for 1,902 yards.

Free agent starting pitcher Roy Oswalt has told major league clubs he may return to play midseason, a source has told ESPN.

According to Oswalt’s agent Bob Garber, the pitcher was planning to officially announce his plans sometime Thursday.  No further deals have been provided by the pitcher or his agent as of yet.

Oswalt had been rumored to have many suitors this offseason, however none of them could reportedly meet his asking price, which is believed to be between $8 and $10 million for the season. The St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, and Boston Red Sox were all believed to be in talks with Oswalt as recently as this week. The Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals, and Pittsburgh Pirates also expressed interest.

Oswalt had his option declined by the Philadelphia Phillies in October, making him a free-agent this winter. As a result, the three-time All-Star received a $2 million buyout instead of $16 million in salary over the course of 2012.

Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said today that the team hopes to keep wide receiver Mike Wallace in Pittsburgh, according to ProFootballTalk.

“We’re going to do everything we can to make sure Mike Wallace remains a Pittsburgh Steeler.” Colbert told ProFootballTalk, “And I think that’s Mike’s hope as well. Usually when you have two parties that share the same goal, it’s easier to achieve that goal.”

Colbert indicated that there will be more roster cuts and restructuring in the salary cap so that the team can afford Wallace’s franchise number.

“We want to make sure Mike can finish his career with the Steelers. I’m very confident that Mike wants to finish his career with the Steelers and play with a great quarterback like Ben Roethlisberger. . . . We think he’s only scratched the surface in what he can do,” said Colbert.

Wallace has been with the team since his rookie season in 2009. He has been to one Pro-Bowl and won one AFC Championship with the Steelers. In 2009 he led the NFL in average yards per reception with 19.4.

This past season he had 72 receptions for 1,193 yards and scored eight touchdowns. Throughout his career with the Steelers he has had 181 receptions for 3,206 yards and has scored 24 total touchdowns.

Washington Redskins safety LaRon Landry has been well known for his physical conditioning over the years, however a recent photo he tweeted of himself has caused quite a stir on Twitter today.

The 27-year-old’s physique has not helped him stay on the football field, however. Over the past three seasons he has only played in 32 out of 48 potential games for the Redskins.

In 2011, Landry was forced out for the season with an injured Achilles tendon. Instead of receiving surgery on the injury, as doctors had suggested, Landry chose to undergo a “Biological Matrix” stem cell treatment on the wound.

New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin could be invited to train with the U.S. Olympic team, according to a tweet from ESPN’s SportsCenter account.

Jerry Colangelo says Jeremy Lin could be invited to train with U.S. Olympic team. http://t.co/GfVoYPlh

—
  (@SportsCenter) February 23, 2012

Longtime sports executive and director of USA Basketball Jerry Colangelo told the New York Times he cannot recall anything similar to the way Lin came out of nowhere, reinvigorating a struggling Knicks team and becoming an international hero.  Although he gave the point guard such high praise for his accomplishments, Colangelo  also noted that Lin will not be placed on the USA Basketball team roster telling the New York Times, “the players who already have time invested in the system have equity built up.”

That, however, does not mean he will not be invited to train with the team.

When discussing the possibilities of which players have the best chance at filling the team’s point guard spot, Colangelo and Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski noted it would be quite difficult for Lin to beat out the current top point guards in the league.  Despite Lin’s outstanding play thus far, he would have to outplay Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose, Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul, and New Jersey Nets’ Deron Williams.

Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird told NBA.com that his team is well under the salary cap limit and are willing to make a deal for the right player.

“We want to continue to get better, we want to continue to draft well and we’re still looking. We’ve got $15 million under the cap and I’m not afraid to make another move now to strengthen our bench or maybe even (add) one or two guys. We’re still out there looking and whatever we can do to make this team better, we’re going to do.”

The Pacers are currently in second place in the Central Division with a 21-12 record. Despite having the fourth best record in the Eastern Conference, they are currently ranked fifth behind the Atlantic Division leading Philadelphia 76ers in the standings.

The Pacers made the decision to retain Bird after the Pacers finished last season with a 37-45 record, earning them the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Bird, an Indiana native, has been the President of Basketball Operations for the Pacers since 2003.

A group of Miami Dolphins fans have put up a billboard near I-595 in Fort Lauderdale picturing the Colts quarterback in a Dolphins uniform, according to NBCSports.com.

The billboard includes the picture of Manning as a Dolphin, and also includes the URL ManningToMiami.com.

“This site has been created to help influence  Peyton Manning and the Miami Dolphins that ‘Manning to Miami’ is a movement and marriage that the entire South Florida community is behind,” a passage on the homepage of ManningToMiami.com reads.

Not only do Dolphin fans support the prospect of bringing the four-time NFL MVP to Miami, but team owner Stephen Ross is reportedly “infatuated” with the possibility.

Pittsburgh Pirates president Frank Coonelly has been charged with four counts related to drunk driving, according to Pittsburgh-Tribune Review.

“My actions that evening were irresponsible and wrong,” Coonelly said in a statement. “I take full and sole responsibility for them. There is no excuse for ever driving under the influence of alcohol.”  He joined the Pirates this morning at the spring training complex in Bradenton, Florida.

According to Ross Township court records, police arrested Coonelly on Dec.22 charging him with drunk driving, driving the wrong way, careless driving, and driving with a blood-alcohol content of at least .16.

Coonelly waved his right to a preliminary hearing Feb. 1 and his scheduled formal arraignment is scheduled for March 20 in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.

St. Louis Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak says that free-agent starting pitcher Roy Oswalt will not be joining the club, according to NBC.

“Roy Oswalt is not going to be a Cardinal,” Mozeliak told  AM 590 in St. Louis this morning.

It was reported earlier today by Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Oswalt was leaning toward joining the Cardinals. It was also reported by CBS Sports that the All-Star hurler would not be joining the Texas Rangers or the Boston Red Sox, two other teams that were considered prime contenders for Oswalt.

Other teams who have expressed interest are the Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals, and the Pittsburgh Pirates, however it is believed that Washington and Pittsburgh are no longer realistic options.

In 23 games started for Philadelphia last season, he posted a 9-10 record with a 3.69 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 139 innings pitched. For his career, Oswalt has posted a 159-93 record with a stellar 3.21 ERA in 11 seasons with the Houston Astros and the Phillies.

NBA legend Oscar Robertson advises Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard to stop demanding a trade publicly, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

“Keep your mouth shut and play basketball,”  said Robertson to the Mike Bianchi ‘Open Mike’ radio show in Orlando on Wednesday.  ”If he wants to be traded, he’s going to be traded. Go and talk to the owners and say, ‘I want to be traded’ and keep it a secret.’  In a situation like this, he can’t win…” Robertson added.

Howard, a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, has been calling for a trade since the beginning of the 2011-12 season. While at one point a trade to the New Jersey Nets seemed imminent, the Magic announced that they would wait until closer to the trade deadline to move Howard, and in the meantime attempt to convince him to sign a long term deal with the team.

The 26-year-old, is averaging 20.3 points and 15.4 rebounds per game this season. He has been selected to start the All-Star Game, which is being held in Orlando this weekend. Howard can become a free agent at the end of the season.

Former NBA guard, Javaris Crittenton, was arrested outside of Atlanta this morning after refusing to cooperate with the police when he was pulled over for reckless driving, according to the Huffington Post.  

Crittenton allegedly refused to sign the citation that was issued and also refused to step out of his vehicle upon request of the police. The officer on the scene reportedly arrested him and he is being processed in Clayton County jail.

In 2010 Crittenton pleaded to a misdemeanor gun charge and received a year of unsupervised probation. He is currently facing murder charges after he allegedly shot a woman in Atlanta last August. Investigators in the case believe that the woman who was shot was not the intended target of the attack.

Crittenton spent two seasons in the NBA, where he averaged 5.3 points, 1.8 assists, and 2.4 rebounds.

Former MLB outfielder Elijah Dukes was arrested early this morning after police allegedly found him in possession of marijuana, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Police say that Dukes was pulled over at about 1 a.m. for a traffic violation. Officers report they saw a small bag of marijuana in Dukes’ lap. The former outfielder then reportedly attempted to eat the marijuana in order to dispose of the evidence. Dukes also allegedly had a marijuana blunt behind his ear.

The former top prospect faces charges of tampering with evidence, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving with a cancelled, suspended, or revoked license, according to the Times.

Dukes, who was cut by the Washington Nationals before the 2010 season, has been arrested five times in the past year.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh played the role of student manager for the Indiana Hoosiers basketball team coached by his brother-in-law Tom Crean, according to USA Today.

“I’ve never sat on the bench before, so I felt like I should be contributing in some way,” Harbaugh said.  At halftime, he was asked about his chair duty.  “I’ve been practicing,” Harbaugh said with a grin. “And I’m getting better. It’s taking me some time, but I’m getting better.”

Already in town for the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Harbough decided to attend his brother-in-law’s team playing against North Carolina Central Wednesday night.  Sitting at the end of the bench during the game, Harbough, took it upon himself to bring the chairs on and off the court for the players to sit.  Crean went on to complement his brother-in-law telling USA Today that why he is such a successful leader, saying “(with him) it’s all about winning.”

In his first year coaching the 49ers, Harbaugh led the team to a 13-3 record bringing them to  the NFC Championship against the Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

Yao Ming believes that Jeremy Lin’s emergence in the NBA could change the way that China scouts and trains basketball players, according to Reuters.

Yao has been an icon in Chinese basketball since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2002 by the Houston Rockets. As a result of his fame and success, there has been a large emphasis on identifying and developing  front court players in China. Lin, who has taken the NBA by storm in the last month, stands at just six feet, three inches, and is known for his quickness and shot creating ability as opposed to his size.

“This is something else that Jeremy Lin has brought to us. It has given us something to reflect on, whether there are imperfections over the development and selection process for our basketball players over the past 10 or 20 years,” Yao told Reuters.

“I am very surprised but also very happy,” he continued. “When he played well in his first game I thought this was a great start and perhaps he would soon have more stable game time.

“But I never thought he would perform to such levels as he had today.

In the 11 games since Lin began to see significant playing time, he has led the Knicks to a 9-2 record and has averaged 23.9 points and 9.2 assists per game.

Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose dismissed the rumors of him urging team management to pursue a trade of power forward Carlos Boozer for Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol, according to CSN Chicago.

“I heard it after the game [on Monday] and that’s something that I wouldn’t say to anyone,” Rose told CSN Chicago before Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. “It was all false and that’s something I’ll never do. I’m good with the teammates that I have. I’ve always been saying that. We’ve been winning games and we’re not in the position to look to trade anyone right now. I talked to [Boozer] a little bit, but I think he already knew that [the rumor] was false,” continued Rose. “It’s something that I wouldn’t do to anyone. It was all false.”

Speaking to reporters for the first time since his five-game absence before Wednesday night’s  game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Rose vehemently denied the rumor of him telling management to make any trade moves.  Despite Rose’s recent absence, the Bulls still lead the league in wins with a 27-8 record.

In his second game since returning to the lineup due to a back injury, Rose also told reporters he is pain free.  In the win over the Milwaukee Bucks, he scored 16 points with seven assists in 30 minutes.

During a pre-game chapel on Jan. 27, Jeremy Lin asked the pastor and fellow players to pray that he would not get cut by the New York Knicks, Udonis Haslem told The Times-Picayune.

“I understood where he was coming from,” Haslem, a fellow undrafted player told the paper.

At that point Lin had been cut twice and was potentially facing his last opportunity to stick in the league. He did not play that night against the Heat, but eight days later he played 35 minutes for the Knicks, scoring 25 points and registering seven assists en route to a 99-92 win over the New Jersey Nets.

In the time since, Lin has become one of the game’s biggest superstars. In the 11 games since he began to see significant playing time, he has led the Knicks to a 9-2 record and has averaged 23.9 points and 9.2 assists per game.

Magic Johnson advises Kobe Bryant to meet with Los Angeles Lakers vice president of player personnel Jim Bus and not general manager Mitch Kupchak if he wants to resolve his problems with management, particularly with the rumors swirling over a possible trade of Pau Gasol, according to ESPN Los Angeles.

“We have to remember now, it’s not Mitch’s situation anymore,” Johnson told ESPN. “(Kupchak is) not running the team,” Johnson said. “Jim Buss is running the team. So, Mitch has to follow the direction of Jim Buss and what he wants… I think what Kobe really probably wants is just be informed.” Johnson added.

Bryant had publicly expressed his issues with team management regarding Gasol’s trade status. Bryant believes they are hindering the power forward from performing at his full potential with the trade deadline approaching March 15.

General manager Mitch Kupchak had responded to Bryant’s criticism by issuing a statement that the team would be at a competitive disadvantage if they were to publicly share their motives before the deadline.  In his statement, Kupchak said that while he understands it is tough to play in this type of situation, Gasol could still move on to another team.

Free-agent hurler Roy Oswalt  is expected to decide which team he will play for in 2012 by today, and according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, he may be leaning toward joining the Cardinals.

Entering today it was believed that the Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, and Cardinals were the frontrunners to land Oswalt, however CBS Sports reports that he is not likely to sign with either Texas or Boston.  The Washington Nationals, Cincinnati Reds, and the Pittsburgh Pirates were also believed to previously have had interest in the former ace.

Oswalt had his option declined by the Philadelphia Phillies in October, making him a free-agent.  As a result, the three-time All-Star received a $2 million buyout instead of $16 million in salary over the course of 2012.

In 23 games started for Philadelphia last season, he posted a 9-10 record with a 3.69 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 139 innings pitched. For his career, Oswalt has posted a 159-93 record with a stellar 3.21 ERA in 11 seasons with the Houston Astros and the Phillies.

The Green Bay Packers have signed tight end Jermichael Finley to a two-year contract, according to ProFootballTalk.com. Finley later confirmed the news on Twitter.

It's TRUE! Thank you so much to the Packers organization, all of my fans, and my beautiful wife. Happy Bday. Let's GO Packers!! Back soon…—
Jermichael Finley (@JermichaelF88) February 23, 2012

The deal is reportedly worth just under $15 million, but no official details have been released.

Finley caught 55 passes for 767 yards and eight touchdowns a season ago for the Packers.

Former New York Knick forward Charles Oakley went on the radio Wednesday and shot back at Charles Barkley, who has been critical of Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni.

Oakley was on the Jim Rome Show, a syndicated radio program, and took on Barkley, Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett, and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kendrick Perkins.

Here are his thoughts on Barkley, according to ESPN.com: ”Barkley for his size was a good player but he’s a coward though … he wasn’t a leader and wasn’t a role model. Now he talks so bad about younger guys, I don’t respect that from him. … He’s wants to be funny, that whole TNT thing and all that, they’re like some clowns on that show.”

He went on to call Kevin Garnett “one of the weakest guys to ever play the game,” and, of Perkins, “[i]f Kendrick Perkins would play basketball, Oklahoma City would win a championship the next three or four years.”

NBA legend Michael Jordan is suing a Chinese sports- and footwear company for unauthorized use of his name, according to the Associated Press.

Jordan said in a statement that his decision to sue Qiaodan Sports Company Limited “is not about money, it’s about principle and protecting my name.”

The statement also said that Jordan saw it as ”deeply disappointing to see a company build a business off my Chinese name without my permission, use the number 23 and even attempt to use the names of my children.”

The Portland Trail Blazers are showing interest in center Joel Przybilla, according to the Associated Press. Any deal with the team would be contingent on a physical.

Przybilla spent six seasons in Portland before he was dealt to Charlotte a season ago, and the Blazers would have to cut a current player to make roster space for Przybilla.

There have been reports that the deal has already been made, but the AP is reporting that the deal is not final and Przybilla will be taking a physical sometime this week.

“It appears imminent,” Przybilla’s agent, Bill Duffy, told the AP.

Przybilla has averaged 4.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in his 11-year NBA career.

Veteran right-hander Roy Oswalt could decide on his next team as early as Thursday, according to ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden.

Oswalt could make decision by tomorrow on his next team according to a source..should be a busy rest of the week w/ Braun, expanded playoffs—
JIM BOWDEN (@JimBowdenESPNxm) February 23, 2012

It is unclear which teams have offered a deal to Oswalt, but the Rangers, Red Sox, and Cardinals have all shown interest, according to MLBTradeRumors.com.

Oswalt, 34, spent last season with the Philadelphia Phillies, starting 23 games and finishing with a 9-10 record.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have signed long time relief pitcher Jason Isringhausen to a minor league deal, according to Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com.

#Angels have signed Jason Isringhausen to a Minor League contract. #Mets—
Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) February 23, 2012

Details of the contract are not yet known.

Isringhausen, 39, last pitched for the New York Mets in 2011, appearing in 53 games and recording seven saves and 19 holds. Isringhausen also spent time with the St. Louis Cardinals, Oakland Athletics, and Tampa Bay Rays in his career.