According to league sources, the NY Knicks plan to sign 3-point specialist Steve Novak to a 1-year deal.

The 6’11” forward will have to pass waivers first.

In 23 games for the Spurs in the 2010-’11 season, Novak has 225 career appearances with the Spurs, Rockets, Clippers and Mavericks. Of his 720 career field-goal attempts, 513 are from behind the three-point line. He’s shooting a career .417 on his three pointers. He averages 3.5 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game.

Meanwhile, the team announced the signing of Baron Davis for one year to a veteran’s one-year contract. This to me is silly since he isn’t going to play for at least 6 to 8 weeks from now, and the season is only 66 games this year! The injury to his back is serious, and disk injuries need time. The idea is that the Knicks will be playing deep into June, and that is when the Baron should make his majestic appearance.

YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING!

The Texas Rangers just spent $51.7 million just for the right to sit down with Yu Darvish and try to sign him to the team! They have 30 days to do it! Figure him asking for $60 to $75 million to sign a major league contract! This is why your hot dog cost so much at the stadium these days, and why you really need to stay away from Major League Baseball, and all professional sports that spend this kind of money.

Like I said before, you don’t pay that kind of money when the guy hasn’t proved he can pitch in the majors. It seems that Japan to her credit, will rebuild her economy based on major league contracts.

WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT

Barry Bonds for all intents and purposes is a free man! Yes, do something illegal and walk away free and clear. Oh, there was some nonsense about staying home under house arrest, and 2 years probation, but when you are rich to begin with, you bring in the luxuries of life, and save on gas!

Speaking of San Francisco wonders and the lights going out, it was lights out for the Pittsburg Steelers as they tried to find their way in the dark of San Francisco! When I read the score I thought it was the time-20 to 3! But no, that was the score, and the only scoring done by Pittsburg came from a former Jet, Jerome Cotchery, who almost eclipsed the Jets scoring!

Joe Molica, a spokesman for Pacific Gas & Electric Co. said the power company was still investigating the cause of the outage. My question is: do you mean electric or steeler? The interesting thing is they call the place Candlestick Park. Maybe they need more candles.

METS GET MORE RELIEF

Frank Francisco becomes the latest to sign in on the Mets relief corp. Francisco, 32, signed up for 2-years for $12 million.

With a 1-4 record and 17 saves, he posted a 3.55 era in 54 games last year with Toronto. Along with Jon Rauch and Ramon Ramirez, they hope to keep any lead they may have this year, a big issue they had last year that translated into only 77 wins.

Ohio State gets bowl ban, other penalties

By RUSTY MILLER, AP Sports Writer

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)—The NCAA has hit Ohio State with a one-year bowl ban and other penalties for a scandal that involved players taking cash and tattoos in exchange for jerseys, rings and other Buckeyes memorabilia.

The university had previously offered to vacate the 2010 season, return bowl money, go on two years of NCAA probation and use five fewer football scholarships over the next three years.

Ohio State violations

Y! Sports investigation

But the NCAA on Tuesday banned the Buckeyes from playing in a bowl in Urban Meyer’s first year as head coach in 2012, further reduced the number of scholarships and tacked on a year of probation.

Jim Tressel, forced out in the wake of the scandal, was hit with a five-year “show-cause” order which all but prevents him from being a college coach during that time.

IS SPRING FAR BEHIND?

The Mets have announced that their pitchers and catchers are set to report to Spring Training in Port St. Lucie, Fla., on Monday, Feb. 20.

The 2012 season will mark the Mets' 24th spring in Port. St. Lucie, having moved into the newly completed facility for Spring Training 1988.

The New York Mets also said they will no longer operate a team in the Gulf Coast League, the organization announced in a statement released on Tuesday.
Instead, the club will be conducting three Rookie League teams in Kingsport, Tenn., and one out of its facility in the Dominican Republic.
The GCL Mets finished their 2011 season with a record of 27-29 (.482), finishing in third place and 12 games behind the East division-leading GCL Marlins.
The GCL team used the club's Spring Training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla., as its base of operations and entered the league in 1988.

NETS NET A DEAL