With starting point guard Louis Williams out the next 8 weeks after surgery to repair a fractured jaw the Sixers have turned to 19-year old rookie first round pick Jrue Holliday to run the offense. He has looked a little overwhelmed so far which has the Sixers’ management considering bringing back Allen Iverson. The Sixers really have nothing to lose by bringing in the Answer as they are 5-11 right now and they are having problems scoring points. Iverson played in 3 games (0 starts) for the Grizzlies earlier this season and he averaged 22.3 minutes, 12.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Iverson has now played in 889 games (877 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 41.4 minutes, 27.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.2 steals per game. This is a match made in heaven so the Sixers have to sign up the Answer so he can come home where he played the best basketball of his NBA career.

The Bobcats thought that point guard was going to be a team strength with Raymond Felton and D.J. Augustin. But, they are both heaving up bricks at a alarming rate as Felton is only hitting 36.8% of his shots from the floor but he is better than Augustin who is hitting only 33.3%. Felton has played in 14 games (all starts) for the Bobcats this season and he is averaging 10.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Felton needs to play better or the Bobcats are going to continue to struggle on offense this season. Augustin has played in 14 games (0 starts) this season and he is averaging 20.7 minutes, 6.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He was going to be the Bobcats’ point guard of the future but he won’t be if he doesn’t start playing better.

The Blue Jays have signed 32-year old righty swinging shortstop Alex Gonzalez to take over as the starting shortstop in 2010 to a 1-year deal. Gonzalez played in 112 games for the Red Sox & Reds last season in which he was 93 for 391 (.238 avg, .635 OPS) with 42 runs scored, 8 homers and 41 RBIs. He has now played in 1,229 games in his 11 years in the majors and he is 1,087 for 4,393 (.247 avg, .689 OPS) with 508 runs scored, 114 homers, 521 RBIs and 26 stolen bases. Gonzalez has random power and he plays great defense so he should help the Blue Jays next season. Just don’t expect numbers out of him like the ones that Marco Scutaro put up in 2009 because it isn’t going to happen.

The Packers pretty much handed the Lions their first score of the game and then they took over.  Aaron Rodgers was razor sharp hitting 28 of 39 passes for 348 yards with 3 TD passes and 0 INTs.  Ryan Grant didn’t have his best game as he rushed for 61 yards on 20 carries (3.1 ypc) and he also caught 3 passes for 42 yards (14.0 avg).  Donald Driver was awesome yesterday with 7 catches for 142 yards (20.3 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Greg Jennings pitched in with 4 grabs for 53 yards (13.3 avg) yesterday.  WR James Jones (4 rec, 35 yards) and TE Donald Lee (4 rec, 22 yards) each caught 1 TD pass apiece in this game.  The Packers rolled up 422 yards of total offense (80 rushing, 342 passing) in this game. 

The defense was outstanding for the Packers yesterday in Motown.  LBs A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett each had 10 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss apiece.  But, it was CB Charles Woodson who really dominated this football game.  He finished up with 7 tackles, 1 tackle for  a loss, he defensed 4 passes, had 1 QB hit, recovered a fumble and he intercepted 2 passes (one of which he returned 38 yards for a TD).  The Lions finished up with 272 total yards on offense (73 rushing, 199 passing) in this game.  The Packers are now 7-4 on the season after this nice road win over the pathetic Lions.

Minnesota Twins’ catcher Joe Mauer won the American League Most Valuable Player award, as it was announced yesterday that Mauer receiver 27 of a possible 28 first place votes.  The vote should have been unanimous, but there was a voter who obviously wanted to snub Mauer and he voted for the Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera, who finished fourth in the voting behind two Yankees, Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter.  There wasn’t really much doubt that Mauer would win it, but he became only the second catcher in the past 33 years to win the award.  Ivan Rodriguez was the last catcher to win the award in 1999.  Mauer missed the entire month of April, but came back very strong both offensively and defensively.  Mauer won the Gold Glove award for AL catchers and on offense he hit .365, 28 HRs, 96 RBIs, 76 walks, a .444 on-base percentage, a .587 slugging percentage, and only 63 strikeouts. The Minnesota native is now a hometown hero.

St. Louis Cardinals’ first baseman Albert Pujols was the unanimous choice for the National League Most Valuable Player this year.  The award was announced earlier today and it was Pujols’ second consecutive MVP, and the third of his career.  Pujols was the easy choice as the Cardinals’ slugger hit .327, 47 HRs, 135 RBIs, 124 runs, a .658 slugging percentage, 115 walks (44 intentional), a .443 on-base percentage, and 45 walks.  Marlins’ Hanley Ramirez was second in the voting, followed by Phillies’ slugger Ryan Howard, and the Brewers’ Prince Fielder.  Pujols became the first unanimous MVP since Barry Bonds in 2002 and was the first repeat winner since Bonds won four straight 2001-2004.  Pujols is a sure hall-of-famer and could go down as this era’s best player.