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:
NBA: Raptors at Thunder, 8 p.m. (NBA Network)
College football: Ball State at Toledo, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
UEFA Champions League soccer: Manchester City vs. Ajax, 2:30 p.m. (FSC)
AROUND THE WEB:
‘¦ The Sporting News conducted a midseason poll of 103 NFL players from 27 teams to determine the most overrated coach in the league. Much to Patriots fans’ delight, coming in at No. 1, named on 35 ballots, is Jets coach Rex Ryan. However, in second with 16 votes is Pats boss Bill Belichick. Andy Reid of the Eagles is third with nine votes.
Said an anonymous AFC offensive player of Ryan: “His coaching style is over the top. Some of the things he does in front of the cameras are way over the top. You put that with the New York media and he has a pretty big reputation, I guess. I don’t even know if you’d call him overrated anymore because it’s going to be a couple of years since he was in the AFC finals. He’s pretty funny, and he’s a pretty good coach. But not THAT good.”
The players also were asked which college coach they would most like to see in the NFL. Alabama’s Nick Saban, who was a flop with the Dolphins in 2005 and ’06, came in at No. 1 with 32 votes, followed by Ohio State’s Urban Meyer (16).
‘¦ Chuck Pagano, on leave from the Colts while he battles leukemia, is winning that battle. Pagano’s physician on Monday said that the coach’s disease is in “complete remission.”
Pagano, who delivered an emotional locker room speech to his team after Sunday’s win over the Jets in his first return to Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium since his Sept. 26 diagnosis, is scheduled to start a second round of chemotherapy later this week.
“His [blood cell] count was great,” interim coach Bruce Arians told reporters after Pagano visited the team complex Monday. “He knows that this next [round] is going to be really tough and we’re praying for him, and he’s going to be fine.”
‘¦ Jim Durham, who was ESPN Radio’s top play-by-play caller for NBA games, died Sunday at his home in suburban Houston at the age of 65. Durham, who had broadcast games for ESPN since 1996, called the Celtics‘ season-opening loss to the Heat last Tuesday.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Curt Gowdy Media Award winner last year, Durham called Bulls games on radio and television from 1973-91 among his other jobs.
“The voice of champions,” Michael Jordan texted to ESPN. “I will miss him.”
‘¦ This being election day, Yahoo! Sports has a list of 10 athletes who could be president. Among the names: Drew Brees, Jeremy Roenick, Magic Johnson, Tim Tebow, Derek Jeter and Laila Ali.
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Nov. 6, 1976, the Red Sox became the first team to sign a player who declared for free agency under baseball’s new contract rules. Which player signed a $1 million, four-year contract with the Sox?
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It was ridiculous. It was something unexpected. I wasn’t expecting any of this. But you know what, though? I was talking to a lot of people afterwards, and that’s him. He says things that you’re not prepared for.” – Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, on former Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine criticizing him after the season
STAT OF THE DAY: 7 – Sacks of Eagles quarterback Michael Vick by the Saints in Monday night’s game, a 28-13 New Orleans victory
‘NET RESULTS: Knicks guard J.R. Smith throws down a dunk with authority during Monday night’s rout of the 76ers.
And here’s new Knicks forward Rasheed Wallace draining a buzzer-beating 3-pointer before halftime.
TRIVIA ANSWER: Reliever Bill Campbell, who formerly pitched for the Twins
SOOTHING SOUNDS: Glenn Frey was born on this day in 1948. Here he is singing with the Eagles.