This Week in Sports :: July 29-Aug. 1, 2008

Jul 31, 2008

Going, going, gone! Several big name MLB players like Manny Ramirez and Ken Griffey Jr. get traded! See what else happened this week!

Big MLB Trades

Disgruntled Boston Red Sox star Manny Ramirez was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers just before the trading deadline on Thursday. This was a three-team trade that also sent four future draft picks to the Pirates and Jason Bay to the Red Sox. The Dodgers now get a power hitter by acquiring the former World Series MVP. In another last minute trade, former MLB superstar Ken Griffey Jr. gets to play for a contender as he was traded to the Chicago White Sox from the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds will receive pitcher Nick Masset and infielder Danny Richar in return. Also, Ivan Rodriguez was traded from the Detroit Tigers to the New York Yankees/ in exchange for relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth.

Ron Artest Traded Houston

For the past year, Ron Artest has demanded a trade out of Sacramento. On Wednesday, he got his wish. The Kings traded the talented-but-troubled forward to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Bobby Jackson and 2008 first round draft pick, Donte Green. Even though the move makes the Rockets a better and tougher team, people on the team were still skeptical. Artest has a history of clashing with coaches and teammates and was involved in that infamous 2004 brawl while a member of the Indiana Pacers. Yao Ming has already voiced his concern about the addition of Artest stating, "hopefully, he's not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands."

Georgia is Preseason #1

The USA Today Top 25 coaches' poll was released this week for college football and the Georgia Bulldogs were named the preseason No. 1 team. The Bulldogs garnered 22 first-place votes in the poll edging out No. 2 USC and No. 3 Ohio State who both received 14 first-place votes, while Oklahoma and [KWLINK 8869]Florida round up the top five. Georgia was considered the hottest team in college football at the end of last season and finished No. 2 in the final AP poll. The 'Dogs went 11-2 last season and defeated Hawaii 41-10 in the Sugar Bowl. Also in the Top 10 are LSU, Missouri, West Virginia, Clemson and Texas.

Notes Around the Sports World

A shoulder injury will keep Maria Sharapova from competing in the U.S. Open later this month. That same injury will keep the No. 3-ranked Sharapova out of the Beijing Olympics as well.

The U.S. Olympic Basketball Team looks in good shape in their exhibition schedule as they have blown out Canada, Turkey and Lithuania in the past week.

In a tough NL East division, the Philadelphia Phillies took one-game first place lead over the New York Mets and Florida Marlins this week by winning their last five games. The Phillies' record now stands at 59-49.

Related Stories:

This Week in Sports :: July 21-25, 2008

This Week in Sports :: July 14-18, 2008

This Week in Sports :: July 7-11, 2008