League sources said Mirotic’s buyout from Real Madrid stands at roughly 2 million Euros. That number obviously is negotiable, but the plan for now is to keep Mirotic overseas for at least two or three seasons of his five-year deal. Bulls international scout Ivica Dukan has watched Mirotic, 20, for years and management projected him as a lottery pick talent whose long-term contract and buyout situation dropped him in the draft.

The Bulls were fearful the Thunder, who took Reggie Jackson with the 24th pick, would draft Mirotic after the Thunder had scouted him extensively. That’s why management traded up.

A trade target from virtually all of last summer, Rudy Fernandez, moved from the Trail Blazers to the Mavericks. Team sources said the Bulls had discussions with the Trail Blazers this week but opted against bidding for Fernandez because of his erratic season — including comments about returning overseas — and indifferent defense.

Familiar faces: Marquette coach Buzz Williams has known Bulls general manager Gar Forman since Williams was a teenager running around Texas, dreaming of a coaching job. Williams attended several Bulls’ playoff games as Forman’s guest and knew as he watched that first-round pick Jimmy Butler could play at the NBA level.

“A lot of what Jimmy does translates,” Williams said of his former player by phone Friday. “His defensive versatility. His knowledge of ball-screen coverage. His length. Couple all that with his intellect and that’s going to allow him to find some sort of niche.

“He was about as efficient as you could be his senior season. He never took a bad shot. He always guarded the best player. Even though he wasn’t our leading scorer, he had the largest responsibility from an offensive perspective because I was going to let other players who were volume shooters take bad shots. He scored from the free throw line and on offensive rebounds. And then the players’ efficiency levels that he guarded went down.”

Source : chicagotribune

After an embarrasing defeat by the Philadelphia Eagles yesterday (Dec 28) 44-6.  ESPN reports that Cowboys Quaterback Tony Romo collapsed into the shower.  Guess he couldn’t take that azz whoopin.  ESPN reported that Romo collapsed in the shower and medical staff had to bring in a stretcher.  However, the 28 year old walked out on his own to the news conference.  Tony Romo reportedly suffered a rib injury in the second half.

We here at SITN are guessing that the doctors shot Romo up with a powerful cocktail and sent him along his merry way.

Get Well Soon Tony…

Girlfriend Jessica Simpson

Tony Romo

Source:stayinthenews.com

We got the estranged wife of Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt leaving Philippe Chow last night with a group of her lady friends. The only guy in the picture: Fuller, who took the wheel when it was time to head out.

As TMZ previously reported, Frank fired Jamie from her job as CEO of the Dodgers after he found out about her relationship with Jeff — citing an “inappropriate relationship with a subordinate employee” … i.e. Jeff.

TMZ.com

TMZ has learned the Minnesota Vikings beefed up their security for Favre’s super-hyped up return to Lambeau Field yesterday — even providing a special team of private security officers “specifically assigned” to protect Brett.

We spoke with a Vikings spokesperson who told us, “I can confirm that we did have extra security in place throughout the trip, including at the hotel Saturday night and at the stadium yesterday.

Taking the necessary precautions to protect our players on any road trip is always a priority of the team, and this situation was no exception.”

Translation: A lot of people don’t like Brett in Green Bay — the city he played in for 16 years.

The Vikes protected Favre on the field too — Brett threw 4 TDs as the Vikes crushed the Pack 38-26.

TMZ.com

The lawyer, legendary Bert Fields, tells TMZ Frank and Jamie were in the middle of a “happy marriage” in 2004, when Jamie agreed to sign the Marital Property Agreements that Frank presented to her. Those agreements directly addressed ownership of the Dodgers, among other valuable assets.

Fields also tells us that while Frank now claims those Marital Property Agreements gave Frank sole ownership of the Dodgers, Jamie has an “unimpeachable witness” who will attest to the fact that Frank has repeatedly acknowledged Jamie’s community property ownership of the team.

FYI — Fields joins a legal team consisting of family law attorney Dennis Wasser, who has repped stars like Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg.

This is only day one of the official divorce battle … it’s gonna be one hell of a fight.

TMZ

The San Diego Charger legend was a guest at the Professional Bull Rider’s Invitational this weekend in Ontario, CA — where he learned first hand what it feels like to be taken down to the ground … hard.

Although the bull’s tackle looks pretty painful, we’re told Seau only suffered minor bruising.

TMZ.com

Yesterday in D.C., the preacher man with the best bouffant in the biz told us the only things he’ll be fighting are “illiteracy” and “ignorance” as part of a national tour on education. No word on how “ignorance” looks in spandex.

We’re told Sharpton was given a “nominal fee” for travel expenses — but donated that moolah to the tour.

TMZ.com

Liza Morales also tells us she did not have a meltdown, contrary to some reports, but admits, “Yes, the circumstances over the last few weeks have been upsetting but none of my actions publicly or from the privacy of my home could be classified as a meltdown. I have maintained a brave face for my children who are my main concern and I remain strong for them.”

She went on to say she has “the support of my family and friends and Lamar’s family have been nothing but supportive of me and the kids during this difficult time. I wish Lamar nothing but happiness we all deserve to be happy.”

Taking the high road — never a bad thing …. but the kids still ain’t going to the wedding.

TMZ

We got L.O. walking into his rehearsal dinner in Santa Monica last night where we asked him if he thought it was a good idea to marry someone he’s only known for a month. As he put it, “People get divorced after being married for 18 years … You never know.”

Dude has a point — but still, a month is a tad quick.

TMZ

L.O. was supposed to sign autographs today at a mall in Huntington Beach, Calif. — but just cancelled. We talked to the store and apparently Odom told them he couldn’t make it because of that whole wedding thing he’s got going on tomorrow.

The appearance was booked about a month ago — or right around when he met Khloe Kardashian.

TMZ