Valley Sports

I’m sure you’ve heard by now that Larry Fitzgerald’s younger brother, Marcus, disparaged Kurt Warner in a series of tweets Sunday because Warner wasn’t getting the ball often enough to Fitzgerald in the Cardinals’ victory over the Jaguars.
In one tweet, Marcus called Warner an “old (expletive) man.” Then, after the game, this was his tweet: “Just got off the phone with my brother. he’s happy about the win. But PISSED he didn’t get the ball thrown 2 him much!”
As you might imagine, the internet is now awash with rumors about a potential problem between Warner and Fitzgerald.
My take: It’s much ado about nothing.
Yes, I do believe Fitzgerald was frustrated on Sunday. I watched him walk off the field slowly, his head down, after Warner didn’t get him the ball on one play. When I asked Fitzgerald about it after the game, he smiled and said he was just “tired” from the Florida sun and humidity.
Right.
That said, I don’t believe there will be any lingering problems between the two. For one thing, Fitzgerald has too much respect for Warner. This isn’t Terrell Owens banging on Jeff Garcia or Tony Romo. Fitzgerald genuinely likes Warner and appreciates what he’s meant to the Cardinals.
Also, Fitzgerald isn’t a diva. Does he get frustrated when the ball isn’t thrown to him? Sure. But he’s not going to whine about it publicly or call Warner out.
Fitzgerald will get his chances, more than likely this Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. Until then, he needs to say the right things and remind his little brother criticizing a teammate via Twitter isn’t real smart.

An injury update on the Cardinals’ wide receivers:
Anquan Boldin practiced Wednesday, and coach Ken Whisenhunt said he didn’t further aggravate the hamstring injury that slowed him against the San Francisco 49ers.
Boldin is expected to play Sunday in Jacksonville.
Steve Breaston (knee), on the other hand, was limited to the walk-through portion of practice, and Whisenhunt said the team would be “smarter” in determining Breaston’s availability Sunday.
Breaston practiced the week leading up to the 49ers game, and Arizona expected him to play. But when he couldn’t go, Boldin had to play despite his balky hamstring and the receivers’ assignments were changed.
Whisenhunt also said that Early Doucet (rib) practiced, and it’s possible that Doucet could play against the Jaguars.

Arizona State basketball coach Herb Sendek scored a recruiting coup Wednesday when 6-foot-5 guard Keala King, considered the best prospect in the state of California, committed to the Sun Devils.
King, from Mater Dei High School in southern California, is ranked by Rivals as the 25th overall prospect of the 2010 class. ESPN lists King as the 53rd overall prospect.
King had scholarship offers from Stanford, Arizona, California and Kentucky, as well as other schools.
King, a southpaw, told ASUdevils.com that he was impressed by how Sendek used James Harden, another left-hander.
“I was looking at James on the film and it’s like a lot the stuff he can do I pretty much can too,” King said. “He’s a little stronger than me and maybe a littler more polished at some of the things but I see myself as Arizona State style player. It’s a school and a system that I think I’d do well in and that made me feel really good.”

Keala King, a 6-foot-5 combo guard from Compton, Calif. has committed to play for Arizona State in 2010, ASUDevils.com is reporting.

The left-hander committed to ASU coach Herb Sendek during an in-home visit on Wednesday.

Recruiting service Rivals.com has King rated the top player in California and 25th overall in the country. King’s stock soared this summer on the AAU summer circuit.

He played for Dominguez High last season but is transferring to Mater Dei for his senior year. His new teammate, Gary Franklin, will be getting an in-home visit from Sendek on Thursday. Franklin is a four-star prospect ranked No. 72 nationally by Rivals.

Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin, nursing a strained right hamstring, didn’t participate in Wednesday’s practice, diminishing his chances of playing in the season opener Sunday against San Francisco.
Boldin hasn’t practiced in three weeks. While attending the Diamondbacks-Dodgers game at Chase Field Tuesday night, however, he told Fox Sports Net that he planned to play on Sunday.

Kudos to Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch for benching Justin Upton Sunday after Upton failed to run hard on a long hit to center field, turning what should have been at least a double into a single.
Upton may be the most physically gifted player in all of baseball, but he still has a lot to learn about how the game should be played. There have been too many instances this season when he hasn’t gone all out, whether it be on the base paths or in right field.
Hopefully, Upton learned his lesson. And it’s nice to know Hinch understands that “organizational advocacy” doesn’t preclude an occasional kick in the backside.

Give Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie one thing: He’s not going to give up on his attempted purchase of the Phoenix Coyotes without a fight.
It was revealed Sunday that Balsillie has upped his offer from $212 million to $242 million. But here’s the real news: He has offered the city of Glendale $50 million as part of the deal.
Glendale has been an ally of the NHL, but Balsillie’s olive branch has to make the city at least reconsider its standing. Glendale will be left with an empty arena and open palms should the league purchase the Coyotes then move them after one year - a distinct possibility.
Now here’s Balsillie, offering Glendale $50 million up front and saying he’s willing to play part of this upcoming season at Jobing.com Arena.
It’s a brilliant chess move. If Balsillie gets Glendale’s blessing, his bid would have to be looked on more fondly by bankruptcy court judge Redfield Baum.
There’s still the sticky issue of the NHL voting to keep Balsillie out of the league, but Baum could award the team to Balsillie and simply tell the two parties to work it out.
Whatever happens, Balsillie has turned the heat back onto the NHL. Clearly, the man has some very smart lawyers working for him.

The big news from Arizona State football practice on Tuesday was ‘five or six’ players getting suspended for the season opener against Idaho State, coach Dennis Erickson told reporters afterwards.

Other items are in the notebook, but here are a few that did not get in:

- Oft-injured wide receiver Brandon Smith was on hand after having surgery for a torn ACL on Friday. He is a senior but can apply for a medical hardship, which would give him an extra year of eligibility if granted.

- Linebacker Vontaze Burfict was not at practice. ASU is still awaiting word on whether he will be deemed academically eligible this season, but if he misses tomorrow as well, it seems highly unlikely that he would play on Saturday if the ruling comes in late in the week.

- Ryan Torain, who played for the Broncos last season but was recently cut, was also at practice.

- I think freshmen are often hyped up too much because people love potential, but quarterback Brock Osweiler does look good. He has a striking resemblance to Andrew Walter on the field, although the arm strength obviously isn’t as great and the mobility is probably a bit better. Next year’s quarterback competition could be a lot of fun.

Recently, Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch trotted out a lineup that included Gerardo Parra in left field, Chris Young in center and Justin Upton in right.
During his pre-game scrum with the media, Hinch said it could be his everyday outfield next year.
Wait a minute. What about Conor Jackson?
I know Jackson is the forgotten man, having missed nearly all of this season as he recovers from Valley Fever. But let’s not forget that in 2008, Jackson was Arizona’s most consistent hitter, batting .300 with 12 homers and 75 RBIs.
The Diamondbacks have their power hitters in Justin Upton and Mark Reynolds. Jackson, when healthy, is the ideal complement, a guy who can get on base, move runners over and, occasionally, hit the long ball.
This is my outfield next year: Jackson in left, Young in center - assuming he doesn’t hit .200 - and Upton in right, with Parra as the fourth outfielder.

I’m not quite sure what to make of Tuesday’s news that Jerry Reinsdorf has withdrawn his bid to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes and, in response, the NHL said it will try to buy the team.
One thing is clear: The NHL seems willing to do almost anything to keep Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie out of the league. At this point, I’m almost convinced commissioner Gary Bettman would prefer to cease operations than sit across Balsillie at a league meeting.
Anyway, Reinsdorf’s pullback doesn’t necessarily mean he’s out of the picture. The NHL could buy the team, work out a satisfactory lease agreement with the city of Glendale, then turn it around and sell it to Reinsdorf.
As far as the Ice Edge Holdings bid, I still can’t see how it’s anything but a thinly veiled plan to eventually move the team to Canada.
What a mess.
Bettman better have his end game carefully planned out. For if the NHL is awarded the club but can’t find a third party to sell it to, it will be in the business of running a hockey team that loses $30 million per year.
The Coyotes will become the Montreal Expos circa 2002 and 2003, when they were owned by Major League Baseball.
Little money will be spent, fans and sponsors will stay away in droves and the franchise will sink even deeper into the quicksand.
But, hey, at least Bettman will have gotten the best of Balsillie.
Talk about a Pyrrhic victory.