Shaq in the Valley of the Sun Nighty Cap
• Juan not gone. The man who turned down what would have been the worst free agent contract in history is trying to battle back to the majors. I guess it took two years to get a clean urine.
The Cardinals sought a righthanded bat on a budget. Juan Gonzalez wanted a second or third chance, depending on who's counting.
• Nevada sports books lost a record $2.6 million on Super Bowl bets when the New York Giants upset the New England Patriots on Sunday.
The sports books handled just more than $92 million on the game, the third-highest amount ever but down for the second consecutive year. Poor bastards.
• We have a Rudy Guliani sighting. After showing what a rat he is he now makes an appearance in next years Topps cards. When Topps baseball cards hit the stores this week it'll appear that way. About one in every 70 packs will include a picture of the former New York City mayor, fist raised in victory, celebrating with the Red Sox on the field after their World Series win.
Next thing you know Hillary will change from being a Cubs fan to a Yankee fan.
• Now they can afford to build the new Yankee Stadium. Derek Jeter settled his case with tax officials, who had said the New York Yankees captain should have paid three years of taxes as a New York state resident.
A state official confirmed the settlement, which was first reported in Tuesday's New York Daily News. The official was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Terms were not disclosed.
• Bill James has a new book and a new website coming out. I know at least two VORP guys already wanking in anticipation. Until then you will have to settle for this interview with The Hardball Times.
• The Mighty MJD takes on the racist tone of the salesgenie Super Bowl ads.
" If I ever encounter a genie, I hope it doesn't turn out to be this racist. If it is, though, I'm going to rub the magic lamp, a genie's going to pop out of it and say, "Hello, sir! You've found a magic genie. I can offer you three wishes, but one of them will have to be the subjugation of Asian-Americans and 100 free sales leads." I hate genies like that."
• Jim Mora reached a five-year agreement Tuesday that will allow him to transition into the head coaching job with the Seattle Seahawks once Mike Holmgren retires after the season, a source close to Mora told ESPN.com.
• No longer confident they can win a championship with their current roster, the Phoenix Suns are close to completing a blockbuster trade that will bring them Shaquille O'Neal, a source with knowledge of the negotiations said Tuesday.
O'Neal is scheduled to travel to Phoenix aboard a private plane Wednesday, the source said, to undergo an MRI on his ailing left hip. If he passes the physical, the Suns will complete the trade by sending Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat.