Andre Dawson stared almost in awe as he watched a brief video biography of his playing career, brushing away tears as familiar faces spoke in admiration of the intense man most still call “Hawk.”

“When I think back, there are so many things that flash through my mind,” Dawson said. “How did I ever pull it off? I can only say, Wow! ”

Baseball Hall of Fame Year-by-year inductees | 2010 vote results Dawsons career stats | Herzogs managerial career

Indeed.

Despite 12 knee surgeries, Dawson was an All-Star eight times and managed to become just one of three major-league players to hit 400 homers and steal more than 300 bases (Willie Mays and Barry Bonds are the others). For that and so much more, Dawson will be inducted Sunday into the Baseball Hall of Fame, part of a class that includes former manager Whitey Herzog, umpire Doug Harvey, broadcaster Jon Miller and sports writer Bill Madden.

The ceremony also will honor a musician for the first time. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Fogerty will sing his classic song , which he wrote 25 years ago and has been played at the start of induction Sunday for more than a decade.

Now 56, Dawson is the 203rd player elected to the Hall of Fame, making it on the ninth try.

Many wondered why it took so long.

An 11th-round draft pick by the Montreal Expos in 1975, Dawson quickly made it to the big club in September 1976. The following year, Dawson was tabbed by manager Dick Williams as the clubs starting center fielder and immediately excelled in his new role, hitting 19 homers, driving in 65 runs, and stealing 21 bases to capture National League Rookie of the Year honors.

In 1981, Dawson helped lead Montreal to the NL playoffs for the first time and batted .300 in a five-game victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in the division series. Dawsons best chance at making the World Series was then halted by the Dodgers, who took the NLCS in five games.

In just over a decade playing center field on the punishing artificial turf in old Olympic Stadium, Dawsons knees took a beating. They needed to be drained regularly because of swelling, and he decided it was time for a change when he was asked to take a pay cut.

“I was a free agent and I didnt really know what was going to happen,” Dawson said. “The decision that my agent and I made was there really isnt going to be offers from teams and were just going to have to make an offer that wont be turned down. We felt the only way a team would listen was if we just gave them a contract and let them fill in the blanks.”

Chicago Cubs general manager Dallas Green was willing to do that and ended up pulling off one of the great deals in modern baseball. When Dawson offered him a blank one-year deal, Green filled in the numbers: $500,000 for the season, an extra $150,000 if he stayed off the disabled list before the All-Star break, and another $50,000 for making the All-Star team.

That was even less than Montreal had offered, but Dawson felt it was “more about pride and principle” and accepted. He responded by hitting 49 home runs, driving in 137 r right field on the soft natural grass of Wrigley Field.

Dawson beat Cardinals shortstop Ozzie Smith for MVP honors that year to become the first member of a last-place team to win the award and also led the NL in total bases with a career-high 353.

On his Hall of Fame plaque Dawson will be wearing an Expos cap after initially hoping it would be a Cubs hat. He understands now.

“Montreal was a platform, but Chicago probably catapulted me to that status to be able to play another six years and play on a natural playing surface,” said Dawson, who had 438 homers, 2,774 hits, 1,591 RBI and 314 stolen bases in his career. “That kind of rejuvenated my career. It got me to the point where the numbers maybe were good enough to get in.”

Dawson spent another five productive seasons with the Cubs, helping them to the NL East title in 1989. He was also known for a strong throwing arm, notching 10 or more assists a season 16 times, including a high of 17 in 1978 and 1979, and finishing his 21-year career with 157.

“I didnt want offense to overshadow defense,” said Dawson, whose was born in Miami and got his nickname at age 9 from an uncle who let him work out with a senior mens team and marveled at the aggressive way he approached the game. “Eight Gold Gloves are what stand out more so for me. I always felt that you could win a ballgame with a play late in the game or early in the game just the same way you could win a game in the ninth inning with a key hit.”

Dawson then played two years for the Boston Red Sox, winning the 1994 Hutch Award for baseball spirit and competitive drive, before finishing his career with a two-year stint on the Florida Marlins.

Dawson will be inducted with a manager he admired from afar. Just the 19th major league skipper to make the Hall of Fame, Herzog was elected in December by the Veterans Committee.

Born in New Athens, Ill., a town of about 1,400, “It wasnt big enough for a football team, and made his major-league debut as a player in 1956 with the Washington Senators.

In eight seasons as a first baseman and outfielder, Herzog batted .254 with 25 homers, 172 RBI, 213 runs, 60 doubles, 20 triples, and 13 stolen bases in 634 games with Washington, Baltimore, Kansas City and Detroit.

After his playing career ended in 1963, Herzog player, scout, general manager, coach, farm system director.

It was as a manager that Herzog made his lasting mark. He did it for 18 seasons, 11 with the St. Louis Cardinals after stints in Texas, California and Kansas City. He guided the Royals to three consecutive playoff appearances in the 1970s and just two years after he was hired. The Cards also made World Series appearances in 1985 and 1987 under Herzog, who finished his managing career in 1990 with a record of 1,279-1,123, a .532 winning percentage.

Managing in an era with several artificial turf fields and distant fences, Herzogs teams played the game in a classic manner: “Whitey not home runs.

“With the 1985 [Cardinals] team, we stole something like 310 bases and were thrown out about 67 times,” Herzog said. “We had to steal third because they played us so shallow with two outs because we couldnt hit home runs. Jack Clark was the only guy I had that could hit a homer. I thought if I could keep my team from allowing over 100 home runs and we could hit 60 that wed have a chance to win.

“In 1976, 77 and 78 in Kansas City, we would start off the season trying to bre as a team,” Herzog said with a sly smile. “Invariably, although we didnt hit many home runs, wed always finish in the top three in runs scored. We could talk a walk into a triple. We picked up them runs early, and thats how we won.”

If Herzog had a mentor, it was Casey Stengel, the Hall of Fame manager for the Yankees and Mets.

“Probably Casey was the guy I looked up to the most,” Herzog said. “I went to rookie camp in 1954 for the Yankees and he spent an awful lot of time with me. He taught me an awful lot about fundamentals, stuff that Id never heard before.”

That stuff sometimes took a while to decipher.

“A lot of times it took you a day and a half to figure out what the hell he was talking about,” Herzog said.

Not always.

“He told me to hire the most capable people you can hire and get the job done because if you dont die on the job or you dont own the club, youre going to get fired anyway, so dont worry about it,” Herzog said. “In the old days in baseball, the coaches all hired their buddies. There wasnt as much teaching at the big-league level because everybody played five years in the minors before they got to the big leagues. It was different.”

Kobe Bryant recently underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, the Los Angeles Lakers revealed Friday.

Bryant will be fully recovered well before training camp opens Sept. 25, the Lakers said in a brief statement. The two-time NBA finals MVP underwent surgery last week.

Bryants knee was drained of fluid early in the playoffs, and he played through several additional injuries while leading the Lakers to their second straight title.

The Lakers said last month that Bryant likely would have surgery this summer to clean up his knee. It wasnt considered urgent, and he made a trip to South Africa for the World Cup before getting it done.

The team hasnt announced whether Bryant will have surgery on his injured index finger, which was broken late last year and hampered his shot throughout the season.

Center Andrew Bynum also will need surgery on his right knee to repair a partially torn ligament, but Bynums surgery was delayed until July 28 due to his doctors schedule. Bynum also should be back to full strength before training camp.

Although Bryant is working on rehabilitation for his knee, he played a major role in two signings this month for the Lakers. Veteran guard Derek Fisher and swingman Matt Barnes both cited Bryants personal influence as a major reason they signed with Los Angeles to pursue another title.

The Lakers signed veterans Theo Ratliff and Barnes on Thursday, beefing up their bench after winning last seasons title with a top-heavy roster. With free agent point guard Steve Blake also signed this month, the Lakers have 11 players under contract for next season on a roster with strikingly more experience and depth than last season.

General manager Mitch Kupchak said Friday that the Lakers still are in negotiations with guard Shannon Brown, who opted out of his contract to become a free agent. Brown said he wanted to return to the Lakers, and Kupchak still hopes the high-flying guard will be back.

Kupchak also said the Lakers will continue to evaluate second-round draft picks Devin Ebanks and Derrick Caracter during training camp after both performed surprisingly well in summer-league play.

Arizona president Derrick Hall has confirmed that the New York Yankees are among “a few teams” in discussions with the Diamondbacks about a possible trade for right-hander Dan Haren.

But Hall told the Associated Press on Friday night that there is no front-runner and other clubs have made offers that are “of at least equal value” to what the Yankees are proposing. He said no trade is imminent.

Haren has emerged as one of the most sought-after starters as the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline approaches. He is in the second season of a four-year, $44.75 million contract with a club option for a fifth year.

Though their deep rotation has been a strength all season, the Yankees seem intent on trying to acquire a front-line starter. They came close to landing lefty ace Cliff Lee two weeks ago before Seattle traded him to AL West-leading Texas. Since then, 38-year-old New York lefty Andy Pettitte went down with a groin injury and is expected to be sidelined until at least mid-to-late August.

Sergio Mit for now.

The Yankees, who have the best record in the majors, want to limit young right-hander Phil Hughes innings this year and might be thinking about returning him to the bullpen in the postseason. Hughes flourished as a setup man last season and Joba Chamberlain has struggled in that role this year.

New York also could be concerned about starting A.J. Burnett and Javier Vazquez in pressure-packed games. Both have struggled badly at times this season. And the big-budget Yankees certainly dont want the best available pitchers on the trade market going to their top American League competitors.

Harens name was off his locker and most of his gear was gone before Friday nights game against San Francisco, but it turned out to be a practical joke by his teammates.

Still, a deal might not be far behind as Arizona looks to build for the future and, although team officials insist thats not the goal, dump a significant portion of its payroll. Haren is due to make $12.75 million each of the next two seasons with a club option for $15.5 million in 2013. If the option is not picked up, Haren is due a $3.5 million buyout. His contract also includes a list of teams to whom he could veto any trade.

When asked about reports that Arizona was close to a deal with New York, Hall said via e-mail that, “They are one of a few that we are in discussions with.” Then he went on to indicate the Yankees offer wasnt the best the Diamondbacks had received.

Haren is 7-8 with a 4.60 ERA for the last-place Diamondbacks, but he entered Friday night tied with Floridas Josh Johnson for the NL lead in strikeouts at 141. Always among the best in strikeout-to-walk ratio, he has walked just 29 batters this season.

However, Haren also leads the majors in hits allowed (161) and is second in the NL to teammate Rodrigo Lopez in most home runs allowed (23).

Its an off year by Harens standards. He is 86-70 with a 3.71 ERA for St. Louis, Oakland and Arizona.

The Diamondbacks acquired him from the Athletics in the offseason after Arizona finished with the NLs best record in 2007 and made a surprise run to the NL Championship Series. The pitching duo of Brandon Webb and Haren was supposed to be one of the most formidable in baseball. But the team has headed downhill, finishing last in the NL West in 2009 and mired there again this season. Webb hasnt pitched since the 2009 season opener because of a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery.

Haren, on the other hand, has been among the games most durable pitchers with at least 33 starts and 216 innings each of the past five seasons. He has made 21 starts this year and was fifth in NL Cy Young Award voting last season. Since he came to Arizona, he is 37-26 with a 3.56 ERA.

Harens next scheduled start is Tuesday at Philadelphia.

Short hops, quick pops and backhand stops:

• Troy Tulowitzki has departed for Colorado Springs and Tulsa with the Rockies season packed in his carry-on and former college teammate Evan Longorias advice tucked into his Dopp kit.

If all goes well, Tulowitzki will be activated on July 28 and the most important piece of the Rockies stretch-run arsenal will be in place.

If all goes well, Troy Tulowitzki will be back on July 28. (US Presswire) If all does not go well … Tulowitzki has been advised to cut bait quickly so things dont get worse, for both his healing left wrist and for the Rockies.

In a sprinting through September, nobody is more important in Colorado than Tulowitzki. Rare is the case when a rookie becomes an unquestioned team leader, but Tulowitzki did it in 2007. And the Rockies moved on to their first World Series.

“I was actually watching the game when it happened,” Tampa Bays Longoria said of Colorados game in Minnesota on June 17 when Tulowitzki, his former teammate at Cal State Long Beach, suffered a broken left wrist when he was hit with a pitch by Twins reliever Alex Burnett. “I had the same injury in 2008. I knew he would be frustrated.”

Then Longoria, who missed 30 games in 08 with a fractured right wrist suffered when he, too, was hit by a pitch, offered the same key advice he said he gave to Tulowitzki when the two hung out some at last weeks All-Star Game: “Its one of those injuries where you feel like you can do some things, but if you try too soon, youre going to re-injure it.”

If Tulowitzki is activated as scheduled on July 28, he will have missed 34 games. Both the shortstop and the Rockies have been extremely pleased with the speed at which hes healed. And as difficult as its been for Tulowitzki to sit and watch, things could be worse.

“If they were losing games, Id want to rush to get back,” he said. “But the Rockies are playing great, and were known as a second-half team.”

• What will the most difficult thing be for Tulowitzki upon returning? The Rockies shortstop thinks swinging and missing will be a test, as will check swings and diving back into first on a pickoff. Longorias take: “The most difficult thing for me was overcoming the fear of getting back into the batters box. Its like getting hit in the face. Your hands are up here [by the face]. Its a high injury. It will be re-acquainting himself with the batters box, taking that first fastball in. If he lets himself heal, hes going to be just fine coming back.” Which is why this weekends injury-rehab assignment is huge.

• Dustin Pedroia means every bit as much to Boston as Tulowitzki does to the Rockies, and the Red Sox have done an excellent job of hanging around while being ravaged by injuries. “I think if we get healthy we can make a serious run,” said Pedroia, who is due back in early August from a broken left foot. “And if those teams [read: Yankees and Rays] arent healthy, we can overtake em. Look at our team. Weve been crushed by injuries. Guys have done a great job, and hopefully we can get everybody back healthy. Its been fun to see the guys battle.”

• Lou Piniella was very good, often great, and always entertaining as a manager. Sure hope that with Tuesdays announcement that he will retire at seasons end, hell be able to enjoy his final two-and-a-half months on the bench.

• Kirk Gibson plays the part of a major-league manager really well. Confident, direct, grizzled and a closely cropped beard that reeks of testosterone. But there is no way anybody will be able to accurately judge his managerial skills with this dead-men-walking Diamondbacks club. Theyre in a state of shock at how things have dissolved and they stink on the field.

• Gibsons expectations? “I expect them to come out and erase whats happened in the first half. … I told them I was going to push them hard, and theyre welcome to push back. But I dont really care. … The way we played in the first half, I dont think anyone would say is who we are. At least, we dont want to admit thats who we are. We have to fight against the urge to get complacent and just play the season out.”

• Surprising San Diego has passed every key test so far in leading the NL West, but now heres the latest: Beginning with this weeks series in Atlanta, the Padres will play 23 of 32 games on the road.

• Nice scene in Anaheim at last weeks All-Star Game: Joe Mauers parents, grandparents, brothers and nieces all tagged along. Part of the crew spent the day before the All-Star Game at Disneyland. “I guess Im a pretty favored uncle right now,” Mauer said.

• OK, so its the Year of the Pitcher II and heres more evidence: Teams were shut out 167 times through that All-Star break. According to STATS, Inc., thats the highest first-half total since 1973, when clubs were shut out 181 times before the All-Star break.

• Also according to STATS, the Yankees .567 winning percentage since the late George Steinbrenner took control is the highest in the majors in that time (beginning in 1973). Also, the Yanks have 114 postseason wins since Steinbrenner purchased them and no other club is within 50 of that. The Atlanta Braves are second at 63.

• Competitive balance? Since baseball went to its current six-division format in 1995, this was the first summer in which no division leader had a lead of five or more games at the All-Star break. In fact, even in the old two-division-per-league format, it hasnt happened since 1992, when Pittsburgh biggest lead among the four divisions at 4 1/2 games.

• For those fans heading to Cooperstown to see Andre Dawson, Whitey Herzog and umpire Doug Harvey inducted this weekend, you might be interested in checking out the Fantography exhibit at the Cooperstown Village Library. Its a cool project to collect baseball photos from fans all over the country, and you can check out what its all about at www.Fantography.net.

• Ozzie Guillen Tweet of the Week (its old this week, June 28): “I am very very very bad golfer oh my god.” And the kicker in his next tweet: “But I have great time.”

Welcome to the hottest seat in the NBA, Dell Demps. All you have to an uphill battle that begins now.

When Paul was quoted a few weeks ago as saying hed be open to a trade if the Hornets arent committed to building a championship team, it was only a small hint as to the size of the chasm that exists between the franchise and its cornerstone player. Paul, in fact, has put into motion an aggressive exit strategy that will accelerate in the coming weeks, and his clear intention is to be traded before the start of the 2010-11 season, a person with direct knowledge of his plans told CBSSports.com Wednesday.

“He wants out,” said the person, who has been briefed on Pauls strategy but spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss it publicly. “He wants to play with another superstar. He wants to follow LeBrons model of teaming up with other great players.”

Pauls list of preferred destinations consists of the Knicks, Magic and Lakers, and members of his inner circle already have sent word to the Hornets of his desire to be traded to one of those teams, sources say. If Paul has his way, hes played his last game in a Hornets jersey.

“He feels like they havent put the right pieces together,” said the person familiar with the star point guards plans.

Paul, a three-time All-Star, still has two years before he can become a free agent. But his dissatisfaction with the Hornets downward spiral, coupled with the coup pulled off by James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami has only accelerated his desire to seek a trade. Sources within the NBA say members of Pauls camp have told them recently, “Hes not going to start the season in New Orleans.”

In the past year, Paul has publicly expressed mild and measured frustration with the direction of the Hornets, who have spiraled out of contention since they capped a 56-win season in 2007-08 with a loss to the Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals. That was followed by a 49-win season that ended with an embarrassing first-round loss to the Nuggets, including a disgraceful 58-point home loss in Game 4. Bryon Scott was fired nine games into the 2009-10 season, and that only seemed to exacerbate Pauls concerns about his future in New Orleans.

More on Chris Paul Stories Moore: Whos in line for CP3? Young: What the Hornets should get for Paul Hornets pluck Demps to be GM Video Paul update, other news

Early last season, days before Scott was fired, Paul admitted he was who had enjoyed far more team success in the early stages of their careers.

“Those guys have been where I want to get to,” Paul said. “This is my fifth year in the league and Im not trying to wait until Im an old veteran in this league trying to win a championship. Were trying to win now. Whatever we have to do to win, weve got to do now.”

The Hornets missed the playoffs for the first time in three years under interim coach Jeff Bower, who was reinstated to his GM post with the hiring of coach Monty Williams and then fired last week. Enter Demps, a respected personnel man who played an important support role in the Spurs decade of success. Will the duo of Williams and Demps, both having ascended to top NBA jobs for the first time, be enough to get Paul to backtrack from his desire to be traded?

Williams and Hornets president Hugh Weber both told CBSSports.com in the past week that they plan to sit down face-to-face with Paul to sell him on the teams new direc if but those with knowledge of his plans believe his desire to pair up with another superstar (or two) has gained too much momentum to stop.

In late June, Paul, 25, spent several days in Akron, Ohio, with James, who was busy orchestrating his own exit strategy from Cleveland. The two friends and superstars picked each others brains, with each persuading the other to make significant changes in their branding strategies. For Paul, it was a big step to persuade James to join the social networking phenomenon that is Twitter. For James part, he finally persuaded Paul to join his Cleveland-based marketing company, LRMR.

Pauls decision to sign with LRMR, headed by James close friend and advisor, Maverick Carter, was only the first step in his exit plan from New Orleans. Paul officially severed his representation agreement with Octagon earlier this month and will soon officially join the influential stable of clients represented by Creative Artists Agency.

Chris Paul has spent time planning changes to his branding strategy. (US Presswire) With a stranglehold on the top free-agent talent, CAA dictated the terms, pace and outcome of the monumental free-agent class of 2010. CAA clients James and Bosh agreed to join forces with fellow CAA client Wade in Miami, forming a rare triumvirate through the leverage and friendship of players as opposed to the whim of management.

Paul will be represented by CAA agent Leon Rose, who also represents James and potential 2011 free agents Anthony and Tony Parker. Miamis Big Three havent even run a layup drill, and yet CAA already has the foundation in place to run the table in the free-agent summer of 2011, as well. But with a lockout looming and superstars Paul, Anthony, and to a lesser degree Parker uneasy about their current situations, those plans already are in motion.

Pauls former representatives at Octagon, Jeff Austin and Lance Young, did not respond to phone calls seeking comment, nor did Rose. William Wesley, CAAs behind-the-scenes operative known as “World Wide Wes,” who is now a coaching agent with CAA, declined to comment. Pauls strategy has yet to reach the team level in terms of proposals exchanged, sources say. For one thing, Paul has been mired in the 15-day waiting period to officially hire a new agent after severing ties with Octagon. Also, it has been his desire to be forthright with ownership and management in discussing the matter. Williams, a first-year head coach, was hired last month and plans to meet with Paul extensively in the coming weeks to explain his vision. Demps hasnt even completed his first day on the job yet.

Pauls inclusion of the Magic on his list dovetails with CBSSports.coms report June 30 that star center Dwight Howard has as although Magic GM Otis Smith said by phone Wednesday that he is unaware of such a plan. The team that has most aggressively positioned itself to reap the benefits of CAAs latest power nexus is the Knicks, who struck out in their pursuit of this summers Big Three but perhaps didnt whiff permanently.

Team president Donnie Walshs first step was signing power forward Amare Stoudemire to a five-year, $99.9 million deal. The move wasnt successful in swaying James or Wade, but it represents the first piece of a or perhaps, even two of them. According to sources familiar with the Knicks strategy, part of the reason f which yielded young talents Anthon was to stock the roster with attractive assets that could be used to acquire such marquee players if the opportunities presented themselves.

Since they are not free agents at the same time, sources say Paul, Anthony and Parker wont have the same power that Miamis Big Three wielded this summer. Given that he has two years left on his contract before he can exercise a player option, Pauls desire for a trade will be a test of his leverage. It will also be a test of the Hornets new duo of decision-makers, Williams and Demps, who will have if they agree to trade him at all.

Parker already has publicly stated his intention to pass on an extension and become a free agent next summer, while Anthony thus far balked at signing the Nuggets three-year, $65 million extension offer. With a lockout looming after the season, friends of Anthony believe he is seriously torn between cashing in on whats left of max money as we know it and following his buddy, James, in trying to orchestrate a surefire championship celebration. Earlier this month, empowered by his time spent in Ohio with James, Paul was reported to have toasted the idea of forming “our own Big Three” with Stoudemire and Anthony during Anthonys wedding in New York. That comment, never publicly corroborated by Paul, is directly in line with what sources say has become his overriding strategy for the next step in his career. Call it the Miami Model, the South Beach Effect, or whatever you want. Its the new normal for young NBA superstars looking for a new home and a better chance to win.

“Players want to follow in those footsteps,” an NBA front office source said. “They all want to do that. Everyone got excited about it, and it opened up the players imaginations as to what they could do.”

Oh to be a fly on the wall when Ilya Kovalchuks case is put before an arbitrator.

Sadly, theres no guarantee it will, although a hearing remains possible in the aftermath of the NHL rejecting his 17-year, $102 million contract.

Im thinking it would be a lot of fun to see.

Can you picture the arbitrators eyes rolling around as he listens to the league argue that Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils deked their way around the salary cap and violated the intent, rather than the actual letter, of the collective bargaining agreement? Or when the Devils counter by claiming they simply followed the lead of several other teams that have done similar things in recent years and gotten away with it?

Ilya Kovalchuk may have to wait a while longer, but eventually should finalize a contract with the Devils. (Getty Images) Both would be right, so if nothing else, a ruling on this type of case could very well have an impact on negotiations for the new CBA that will be needed in 26 months.

In the meantime, theres a problem to be fixed, because the Devils went to the extreme with their heavily front-loaded offer to Kovalchuk. And because the league has previously approved conceptually similar “lifer” deals it has not been thrilled with to players like Alex Ovechkin, Robert Luongo, Marian Hossa and Henrik Zetterberg. And still everyone appears to be playing by the rules.

The problem here, though, is the deal lasts 17 years, and by then the Devils will be scouting kids not even born yet. We are told that number means something to Kovalchuk, who has always worn No. 17 as a tribute to the legendary Russian hockey star Valeri Kharlamov. And at his news conference, Kovalchuk made a point of noting that the decision to accept New Jerseys offer came on the fourth anniversary of his fathers death.

“It was a couple of days ago, on July 17, its kind of weird,” he said.

Its just not as weird as the fact the deal ends when the player is 44 and drops its payments to next to nothing near the end. The way the deal was set up, Kovalchuk, now 27, would have earned $95 million in the first 10 years. A buyout for the Devils after that would mean paying two-thirds of the remaining contract over double its remaining life, in other words $50,000 of fun money for Kovalchuk for the following 14 years.

It was such a blatant way for New Jersey to stay within the annual cap hit provisions while circumventing them, it couldnt help but force a strong response from the league with CBA bargaining around the corner.

Remember, Donald Fehr is waiting in the wings to represent the players at the table. The former baseball players union boss hasnt committed yet, but he has been consulting for the NHLPA for several months, and after spending three days meeting with the players rank and file last week in Toronto, all indications are he will. Imagine the fireworks if the league tries to get technically legal contracts restricted on Fehrs watch.

In the meantime, the Devils and Kovalchuk will likely try to renegotiate terms that are more palatable to the league. They both want to get this done, although its ironic that New Jersey GM Lou Lamoriello, one of the most respected figures in hockey, has long been a leading proponent of fiscal sanity when it comes to contract values and terms.

Related Info Stories NHL rejects Kovalchuks 17-year deal Bleacher Report: Salary cap rules need changes

But this deal was one owners Jeff Vanderbeek and Mike Gilfillan signed off on, so at the news conference, Lamoriello was in the position of having to defend it, saying it made sense for the organization because of the unique circumstances.

“Fortunately Mr. Vanderbeek and Mr. Gilfillan. can make this type of decision, I certainly could not,” Lamoriello said. “I still firmly believe that its all about the team, and in conversations with Mr. Vanderbeek, with free agency at the age that its at, this was an opportunity for our organization to get a player of the caliber weve never had that opportunity to draft.

“Weve been fortunate with players we have drafted and had success with, but these opportunities dont come around very often. Whether its an exception or norm, I dont look at anything like that. Thats the decision at hand.”

Its a decision, he conceded, made with a bigger picture in mind.

“We just built a tremendous facility here and they have made a commitment to winning,” Lamoriello said. “Were in a big market.”

Its one where having a marquee player is actually good for both the team and the league. But this is a test of wills, although chances it will end up restructured in a way that lets everyone hold their noses enough to make it work without getting into the hands of a third party.

Too bad.

Latest proof that the Chicago White Sox can do no wrong: They rolled out of the All-Star break and lost three of four games in Minnesota … and yet one full game in the standings.

So, OK, hmmm … lets summarize this White Sox season so far: From to The Kids Are All Right in, maybe, the time it takes Mark Buehrle to throw three complete games … or in the time it takes A.J. Pierzynski to color his hair once or twice.

This is crazy. This is nuts.

Power bats Paul Konerko and Carlos Quentin (20) have helped fuel the surge. (US Presswire) This is … quickly developing into the summers best baseball story this side of the San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds. On June 9, the White Sox were eight games under .500 and 9 1/2 games out of first place in the AL Central.

On July 11, they were 11 games over .500 and sailed into the All-Star break atop the AL Central.

And during that All-Star break, Chicago first baseman Paul Konerko, resplendent in a charcoal dress shirt with a discreet striped pattern before shuttling off to the ballpark, could only marvel at how the White Sox transitioned from a team ready to be stripped for parts into a playoff-serious club in record time.

“The last 25, 30 games, we went from probably being sellers to not even being buyers,” Konerko said. “We have people (in the clubhouse) who take offense that we even need Thats probably the biggest swing you could have.

“Thats a good place to be. I think we do have all the pieces. Were not going to win (like this) for the next three months. We have 80 games left. Theres a losing streak in there.

“But right now, theres nothing you can look at and say, That guys not pulling his weight.”

The only other team in baseball history to storm back from a larger first-half deficit and enter the break with a division lead, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, was a 1973 St. Louis Cardinals club whose first-half hole reached 11 1/2 games.

Closing the first half at 25-5, the White Sox matched the 1975 Reds and the 1990 Mets for the best record in major-league history during the final 30 games before the All-Star break. Giving Sox manager Ozzie Guillen and former Reds pilot Sparky Anderson one more thing in common besides speaking highly entertaining, fractured English.

In hindsight, GM Kenny Williams, noted far more for his aggressive nature than for his patience, might have done his best work yet by allowing these Sox extra time to settle.

At 27-8, the White Sox own the best record in the majors since June 9 and have authored the clubs hottest stretch since Tony La Russas 1983 “Winning Ugly” squad finished on a 29-6 run.

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Konerko, steady all season, ranks fourth in the AL in homers (21), fifth in RBI (66) and sixth in slugging percentage (.563). And over his past 42 games, Konerko is hitting .357 with seven homers and 33 RBIs.

Alex Rios is in the midst of a monster comeback season. Second baseman Gordon Beckham, in and out of Guillens doghouse, had a seven-game hitting streak snapped at Seattle on Tuesday night and knocked a career-high four hits in Minnesota on Sunday. Baby steps.

The rotation, jarred by Jake Peavys season-ending injury, nonetheless is 22-7 an ERA around 2.50 and 31 quality starts (six innings pitched or more, three runs or less allowed) over its past 37 games, powered by John Danks, Gavin Floyd, Freddy Garcia and, yes, Buehrle.

Meanwhile, the strongest part of this club might be the depth of whip-armed relievers Guillen and pitching coach Don Cooper have at their disposal. Closer Bobby Jenks, All-Star Matt Thornton, J.J. Putz (whose scoreless streak of 25 games is the longest such streak in club history), Sergio Santos and Co. owns a sub 3.00 ERA with 17 saves in 18 opportunities over the past 31 games.

The downside?

Critics contend that much of the Soxs 25-5 run late in the first half was built during a breathe-easy portion of their schedule that allowed them to stack up victories against gimmes Pittsburgh, Washington, the Cubs and Kansas City in quick succession, like cordwood.

But the bottom line is, you play who the schedule tells you to play. And championship clubs gorge on the weak like munchies during cocktail hour.

No, the most legitimate criticism of the Sox came from their own manager after Sundays ballgame in Minnesota, Chicagos third loss to the Twins in four days.

“If we dont win against the teams in our division, were done,” Guillen said.

For all of their momentum, the White Sox are a subpar 17-20 against AL Central clubs. Minnesota is 23-13 (and Detroit 16-21).

That must change, even if the Sox did gain a stunning 13 games on the Twins during the 29-game sprint to the All-Star break.

“Weve got a lot more games left,” Twins MVP Joe Mauer calmly said at the All-Star Game, nicely foreshadowing the results of the second-half opening series in Target Field. “Last year and the year before, we learned that anything can happen. What did we gain on Detroit last year, three games in the final four days?

“I dont know what it is about the AL Central Division, but teams sneak back up there. Early in the season, we felt it would go down to the last few games. We knew it would be a dogfight.

“You get an early lead in April and May, you know youre not going to run away with it.”

When I teased Konerko about that very thing, that given the way the Sox are playing, theyre going to wind up winning the AL Central by 15 or 20 games, he essentially did his own version of “Well played, Mauer.”

“When youre in our division, you know its going to go down to the last week, the last weekend, and probably an extra game,” Konerko said. “As long as you know it, and believe it, youre in for a grind.

“Right now, there are three teams in it, and what usually happens is one falls by the wayside in mid-September.”

There are those who wonder whether Omar Vizquel, now playing third base just about every day at 43, will have the stamina to last through the summer. There are those who think the White Sox need to add a bat like Washingtons Adam Dunn or the Dodgers Manny Ramirez.

3 1/2 games ahead in th would be candidates to add a starting pitcher to ensure that theyre not the club falling by the wayside when its back-to-school time.

But the way things are going now, Konerko isnt so sure.

“If you watch our team now, its tough to say why we should replace anybody,” he said before singling out Daniel Hudson, the 23-year-old rookie who replaced Peavy in the rotation and was terrific in Seattle on Monday night, for high praise.

“Great stuff,” Konerko said of Hudson. “Great arm. Great change-up. … I really think hes the guy. He doesnt get hit hard. When he throws strikes, theyre good strikes. You look at his numbers … I know theyre minor-league numbers, but hes a winner.

“I think hes the guy. And I think hes going to be the guy next year and beyond.”

The way the Sox are going, why not?

It sounds a lot more reasonable than losing three of four games and still extending their first-place lead, doesnt it?

A person familiar with the hiring says Dell Demps has agreed to become the New Orleans Hornets next general manager.

The person, who spoke to the Associated Press late Tuesday night on condition of anonymity because the hiring had not been formally announced, says the move is expected to become official on Wednesday.

Demps has been in the San Antonio Spurs front office the past five years, most recently as vice president of basketball operations under general manager R.C Buford.

Demps also played parts of three seasons in the NBA, including 1995-96 with San Antonio when new Hornets coach Monty Williams also was with the Spurs.

The 40-year-old Demps will replace Jeff Bower, who stepped down last week.

Ilya Kovalchuks plan to spend the rest of his career with the New Jersey Devils took a big hit just hours after the star forwards unprecedented deal was announced.

Kovalchuk beamed Tuesday during a news conference after receiving a 17 the longest deal in NHL history. But before the day was finished, he was in limbo again.

Kovalchuks afternoon smiles likely turned into frowns by late Tuesday night. (Getty Images) Just one day after Kovalchuk and the Devils agreed to the record-setting contract, the league determined that it was illegal, a person familiar with the issues raised told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the NHL hadnt made a formal announcement.

The contract was rejected because years of low salary at the end of the deal were added for the sole purpose of lowering the cap hit. The person added that it was determined that neither the Devils nor Kovalchuk believe he will play the final years of the deal at those terms. The All-Star was slated to earn only $550,000 in each of the last five seasons of the contract that was to run through the 2026-27 season, when Kovalchuk will be 44.

Kovalchuk was to earn $98.5 million of the $102 million in the first 11 years of the deal.

Neither the Devils nor Kovalchuks agent, Jay Grossman, commented after the contract was rejected.

Based on provisions in the collective bargaining agreement between the players association and the league, the union has five business days after being informed that the contract was rejected to file a grievance on behalf of Kovalchuk. The deal would remain voided if no grievance is filed or if an arbitrator agrees that the contract is illegal.

The arbitrator would have 48 hours to decide if the league was right to reject the contract. If the arbitrator agrees, the contract would be voided, and Kovalchuk would again be an unrestricted free agent.

Kovalchuk and the Devils both expressed relief earlier Tuesday that negotiations were over and that his long-term hockey future would play out in New Jersey. Now there is no assurance he will ever play for the team again.

Kovalchuk smiled throughout a news conference at the Devils home arena in which he officially returned to the team after a lengthy free-agent courtship. Kovalchuk finished last season with the Devils after being traded by the Atlanta Thrashers, who couldnt get him signed before he was set to hit the open market.

Kovalchuk dismissed money as a main factor in his decision to stay with New Jersey. He instead cited long-term security for him and his family and the opportunity to win the Stanley Cup with an organization that boasts three titles in 15 seasons.

Kovalchuks contract would have topped the 15-year deal goalie Rick DiPietro got from the New York Islanders, and two-time NHL MVP Alex Ovechkins 13-year pact with Washington.

Kovalchuk was to earn $6 million each of the next two seasons, $11.5 million for the following five seasons, $10.5 million in the 2017-18 season, $8.5 million for the 2018-19 season, $6.5 million in 2019-20, $3.5 million in 2020-21, $750,000 the following season, and $550,000 for the final five years of the unprecedented deal.

The Devils would have abs the average amount per season. That number was brought down because of the extended years at low salary at the end.

Whether he and the Devils can get together on a new deal remains to be seen. The Los Angeles Kings and the Russian KHL were also interested in signing Kovalchuk before he reached agreement with the Devils two weeks into the free agent shopping season.

Few expected that New Jersey would break from tradition of not handing out long-term contracts that have become popular in the NHL since the lockout ended in 2005 and the salary-cap era began. Now that the Devils did that, their efforts quickly failed.

Kovalchuks time with the Thrashers ended once he rejected a 12-year, $101 million extension with Atlanta. He totaled 41 goals and 44 assists last season when he earned $7.5 million, but posted only 10 goals and 17 assists with the Devils. Kovalchuk had two goals and four assists during New Jerseys five-game, first-round playoff loss to Philadelphia.

If baseball is your oxygen, Sunday nights are a bummer. In fact, right around 9 p.m. eastern/8 p.m. central and mountain, you probably find yourself thinking, “Gee, Ive watched 25 hours of games over the last three days, but I could sure use some piping-hot AL Central action to ease the weekend-to-workday transition, and remove the temptation to commune with loved ones.”

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Well, youre in luck. Last Sunday, the enormously cool MLB Network debuted , a summer-long reality series tracking the comings and goings of the White Sox fron courtesy of scripted-sounding bites the producers chose the right team and, more importantly, the right individuals to track. Ozzie Guillen and Ken Williams are charismatic and kinda n as compared with, say, whatever happens behind the Yankees platinum-encrusted clubhouse doors. Can you imagine having to watch 12 hours of Jeterian platitudes about how nothing matters except winning?

White Sox fans might dig less than everybody else, as theyre already well-versed in the Ozzie/Ken/Jerry Reinsdorf dynamic. Nonetheless, the show moves crisply and features a sizzling cameo by Bud Selig, who appears to have ironed his shirt for the occasion. You could do far worse with your Sunday nights. Our rating: Two bats up, or something.