Here's your wakeup call -- a combination of newsworthy andor interesting tidbits -- for Wednesday, August 15:
BASEBALL
"Dude, I'm not answering that question." And that, my friends, is just about all Theo has to say about the circus he once called home. (CSN Chicago)
Meanwhile, the Orioles, or at least some of their media (CSN Baltimore), are reveling -- though not at Scott Zolak levels (Twitter) -- in Boston's misery.
It took two weeks, but Zack Greinke finally has a win an Angel. (AP)
That's 27 innings -- and counting -- without a run for the Marlins. (AP)
CC who? The Yankees have Hiroki Kuroda. (NBC's Hardball Talk)
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
When the going gets tough, the tough . . . forfeit the game? (NBC's College Basketball Talk)
Boston Red Sox
Mike Aresco's task: Save the Big East. (AP)
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Uh, not so fast there on Tyrann Mathieu never again playing for LSU. (AP)
HOCKEY
The NHLPA has finally made its counterproposal. (AP) The players, said Sidney Crosby, "like it a lot". The owners? Well, we'll see.
One of their ideas: The ability to trade cap space. (NBC's Pro HockeyTalk)
PRO BASKETBALL
Just think: A few months ago, when the Heat seemed ready to be eliminated by the Pacers in the NBA quarterfinals, LeBron James was a national punchline. Now he has Hall of Fame coaches saying he's better than Michael Jordan. (NBC's Pro Basketball Talk)
Ira Winderman points out that Dwight Howard isn't the only reason the Lakers "are far, far better than they were last season". (NBC) Oh, joy.
PRO FOOTBALL
I don't know what an "arthroscopic debridement" is, but it may keep Brian Urlacher out of the Bears' opener. (CSN Chicago)
Chad Johnson's 41-day marriage is over. (AP)
A blood clot in his left calf will sideline Giants defensive tackle Shaun Rogers for the season. (AP)
SOCCER
Soccer must pay better than I thought if Hope Solo can afford a 1.2 million bachelorette pad. (NBC's Off The Bench)