Amare Stoudemire to sit Game 4?

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Amare Stoudemire played through pain in Game 3 of the Knicks-Celticsfirst-round series. If Stoudemire is in the same amount of pain on Sunday afternoon, he will sit out of Game 4.

"I don't want to do too much to reinjure it. We're just going to make a smart decision for tomorrow's game," said Stoudemire, who played 32 minutes in Game 3 with a pulled back muscle.

Stoudemire injured his back on a dunk attempt during warm-ups prior to Game 2. He sat out of the second half of Game 2 with back spasms and was in so much pain that he had to stand during his postgame news conference. He also needed a team trainer to help him put on his socks and shoes after the game.

An MRI on Wednesday revealed that Stoudemire had a pulled back muscle. He sat out of practice Thursday, staying home in Manhattan to receive treatment on the injury.

He worked out in the pool at the Knicks' practice facility Friday morning and had to make it through a workout an hour before tipoff to be cleared to take the court.

Stoudemire started on Friday night but struggled throughout the game. He finished with seven points on 2-of-8 shooting and pulled down three rebounds. He estimated that he was playing at less than 50 percent. He said on Saturday that he has to feel better to take the floor Sunday in Game 4.

"It has to be better. I knew last night I wasn't 100 percent. I wasn't 50 percent last night. I was pretty much in pain the whole game, from start to finish. I just don't want to further injure the injury," Stoudemire said, who added that his back was feeling worse on Saturday after having played on it the previous night. "We understand how bright the future is here with the organization. ... We want to continue that success out here in the next few years. So we don't want to damage anything by overdoing it."

The Knicks trail the Celtics, 3-0, in the best-of-seven series. No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a seven-game series.

"At this point in time right now, we've got to lay it out there on the court ... the X's and O's go out the window and we've just got to play basketball," said Carmelo Anthony, who followed his 42-point night in Game 2 with 15 points on 4-of-16 shooting on Friday. "... I don't want to get swept, we don't want to get swept so we've just got to go out there and leave it all out there on the floor."

Avoiding a sweep will be far more difficult for New York if it is without injured point guardChauncey Billups. Billups, who has missed Games 2 and 3 with a strained left knee, is doubtful for Game 4, according to coach Mike D'Antoni.

D'Antoni also said that guard Toney Douglas, who has replaced Billups at point guard, suffered a right shoulder injury. D'Antoni doesn't believe the injury will hinder Douglas on Sunday. Douglas had 15 points, three assists and three turnovers in the Knicks' 113-96 Game 3 loss.

Injuries to key players have decimated the Knicks in their first playoff appearance since 2004.

Stoudemire was particularly frustrated with his ailment because of its fluky origin.

Stoudemire first hurt his back while dunking the ball with one hand after hitting the backboard with the other during Game 2 warm-ups, a dunk that he completes prior to every game.

The All-Star power forward was coming off of a 28-point, 11-rebound performance in Game 1. He has averaged just 5.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in the two games since the injury.

"We felt that we had a great chance to win that game and I was totally ready to go, to dominate for the rest of the series," Stoudemire said.

It may sound like Stoudemire is ready to wave the white flag for Game 4, but the the All-Star power forward insisted on Saturday that getting a win is paramount -- for both himself and the Knicks franchise, which hasn't won a playoff game since 2001.

"It would be great to win a game ... but due to the situation right now, a couple guys are injured [so] it's going to be tough," he said.

The Knicks have been cautious with Stoudemire throughout the season. The $100 million free-agent signee has a history of serious ailments. But D'Antoni said that the decision to play in Game 4 will rest solely with Stoudemire, who went through walk-through plays only during Saturday's practice.

"He wants to push through it so if he wants to do it, then I want to go with him," the coach said.

Miami Dolphins' WR Brandon Marshall released from hospital

Dolphins Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall was released from the hospital Saturday after what police said was a domestic-violence incident in which he was stabbed by his wife with a kitchen knife Friday in the Miami area.

Marshall's wife, Michi Nogami-Marshall, 26, was arrested Friday by the Broward County Sheriff's Office on a domestic-violence charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Nogami-Marshall was released from jail on a $7,500 bond Saturday afternoon.

Marshall underwent emergency surgery Saturday morning, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Marshall was discharged later in the day and "expected to make a full recovery," according to his publicist, Denise White.

According to the police report, Nogami-Marshall told police she stabbed Marshall in self-defense.

Courtesy of Broward County SheriffBrandon Marshall's wife, Michi Nogami-Marshall, was arrested Friday on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Brandon Marshall initially told police he slipped and fell onto a broken glass vase, but according to the report, police found no blood or evidence to substantiate that statement and said both Marshall and his wife provided little information.

Marshall, 27, was taken to Broward General Hospital in Fort Lauderdale by car and underwent surgery late Friday night for a stab wound to the stomach, sources told Schefter.

No vital organs were pierced in the incident, and doctors have told him that Marshall will be OK in two to three weeks, sources said.

"This is a very difficult time for Brandon and family, thankfully he will make a full recovery," Marshall's agents, Kennard McGuire and Harvey Steinberg, said in a statement. "We simply ask that his privacy is respected."

Dolphins officials say they were told by the league their team doctor is allowed to see Marshall and consult with Marshall's other doctors, despite the NFL lockout.

The Dolphins issued a statement saying: "We are aware of the report, and our thoughts are with Brandon at this time. We will look into the matter, but because we are not allowed to have any contact with any of our players we will refrain from making any further comment."

Marshall became engaged to Nogami-Marshall while in Hawaii for the 2009 Pro Bowl.

Weeks after the engagement, according to police, the couple was seen hitting and kicking each other outside Marshall's Atlanta condominium.

Charges of disorderly conduct against Marshall and Nogami-Marshall were dismissed the same day when both refused to testify.

They met while both were students at Central Florida. They live in Southwest Ranches, which is near the Dolphins' complex in Davie.

On Friday, emergency services were called via 911 after Marshall was stabbed but were turned away when the dispatcher offered a ride to the hospital. Instead, Marshall was taken to the hospital in a car.

According to Broward County Sheriff's public information officer Veda Coleman-Wright, Nogami-Marshall was arrested at the couple's home. Nogami-Marshall did not drive Marshall to the hospital, according to police, but it was not clear who did or who called 911.

Coleman-Wright said no news conferences or further updates are scheduled for Saturday.

The NFL and the NFL Players' Association said through their respective spokesmen that they couldn't confirm any details of the situation.

"Sorry. Don't have any info on it," NFL executive Greg Aiello said in an email to ESPN.

Marshall, acquired from the Broncos last April to become Miami's biggest offensive threat, led the Dolphins in receiving yards in 2010 with 1,014 despite missing two games with a hamstring injury.

Marshall signed a four-year deal worth $47.5 million, with $24 million guaranteed, when he joined the Dolphins.

But the offseason headlines didn't stop at his trade and big contract for Marshall last year.

With the NFL's lockout looming even then, Marshall said in August he would attempt to play in the NBA if games were canceled.

"Not pursuing -- I'm going to be on an NBA team," Marshall said. "Seriously."

The NFL lockout entered its 43rd day on Saturday.

"There's not going to be any football," Marshall predicted in August. "If there's a lockout, I have to find a job. I figure the Nuggets will be a better choice because of the welcome home cheer I'll get -- a couple of boos at first. I'm gonna get with a basketball coach and get to work, prepare for the lockout."

A fourth-round draft pick by Denver out of Central Florida in 2006, Marshall was named to the Pro Bowl with the Broncos in 2008 and 2009.

But his top-flight performance was often overshadowed by turbulence in Denver.

Marshall was suspended by the team for the entire 2009 preseason after a series of behaviors detrimental to the team. The final straw came when a Denver television station filmed Marshall walking when his teammates were running, punting a football in protest and swatting away balls during a training-camp passing drill.

Marshall was also one of the instigators of the fight that led to teammate Darrent Williams' shooting death on New Year's Eve in 2006.

And Marshall's history of arrests includes disorderly conduct, drunken driving, and a number of incidents of alleged domestic violence.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

StreetSpeaker Radio 4/22 Broadcast RECAP

I finally was in the studio for this week to do the broadcast LIVE IN-STUDIO.  Our topic was "UNGRATEFUL PEOPLE" and of course, I covered the "In the Streets Sports Report"! I spoke on the current status of NFL player Brandon Marshall stabbing. CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO LISTEN TO THIS WEEK's BROADCAST! 

Streetspeaker Radio CREW (Kemp,Amile, Dupah) 

 CLICK HERE TO LISTEN: STREETSPEAKER RADIO 4/22/2011

NFL schedule due on Tuesday; Chicago Bears-Tampa Bay in LONDON

The NFL will officially announce the 2011 schedule on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.

The schedule will be released on NFL Network.

Despite the uncertain labor situation, the schedule is still being released in mid-April, as usual. However, the preseason schedule, announced on April 12, was late because of scheduling issues in Minnesota due in part to repair of the Metrodome roof that was damaged last season.

The NFL announced Monday that the Chicago Bears will play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in London this season. The game will be in Wembley Stadium on Oct. 23. If the labor problems last until Aug. 1, the game will be re-scheduled for Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

The Bucs will return to the British capital for the second time in three years, having lost to the New England Patriots at Wembley in 2009. For the Bears, the game on Oct. 23 will mark the 25th anniversary of having played a preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys at the stadium.

"Our past four games in London have demonstrated the tremendous passion for NFL football that exists in the UK," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.

This would be the fifth consecutive year that the NFL has staged a regular-season game in London as the league tries to win over new fans and increase its marketing appeal overseas.

ESPN2 will host a schedule analysis show from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

 Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

WTF of the Day: MLB player gets arrested.....for stealing T-shirts?!

CINCINNATI -- Reds pitcher Mike Leake was arrested on a shoplifting charge at a downtown department store Monday, accused of trying to steal six shirts with a total value of $59.88.

The 23-year-old starter was booked at the Hamilton County Justice Center on a first-degree misdemeanor charge of shoplifting. It carries a maximum of 180 days in jail.

He was arrested about two hours before Cincinnati pitchers were expected at Great American Ball Park to take batting practice before the final game of a series against Pittsburgh. Leake started and got the victory in an 11-2 win over the Pirates on Saturday.

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Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesReds pitcher Mike Leake was arrested on a shoplifting charge Monday, accused of trying to steal six shirts valued at $59.88.

Leake said in a statement released by the Reds that his attorney told him not to discuss the arrest. Leake apologized to his family, to the club and to fans "for this distraction."

The Reds issued a statement saying, "We do not condone behavior of the type alleged, which is wholly inconsistent with the principles of this organization and our community and is detrimental to the positive direction we seek to follow. When the legal process has been completed, we will handle this matter internally."

Police arrest reports said Leake removed the price tags from six American Rag T-shirts at a Macy's store and tried to leave without paying for them. Leake makes $425,000 in his second season in the majors.

A Macy's spokesman said the company had no comment beyond what was reported by police.

Leake was the eighth overall pick in the June 2009 draft and made the jump directly from Arizona State to the majors last spring, when he won the fifth starter's spot in the rotation. He was the 21st player who went right from the draft to the majors since 1965.

The right-hander helped the Reds get started toward their NL Central title, going 8-4 with a 4.23 ERA in 22 starts and two relief appearances. The Reds shut him down at 138 1/3 innings, not wanting to hurt his arm by pushing him too far as a rookie.

Leake has made three starts this season, going 2-0 with a 5.40 ERA.

The Reds have been relying on Leake again this season while they get through shoulder injuries to starters Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey.

Bailey has been on the disabled list since the start of the season with an inflamed pitching shoulder. He threw 62 pitches in five scoreless innings for Triple-A Louisville on Sunday, allowing two hits.

Bailey said on Monday that he felt fine and was encouraged by his showing. He'll make one more start in the minors and if that goes well, he could be activated.

"It went pretty good," said Bailey, who allowed only two hits. "I didn't feel any pain, which is plus No. 1. Early on I felt good. About the fifth inning, I felt pretty tired there. That goes with the territory of building up the pitches."

Cueto made his first rehab start on Saturday and had no issues.

"Don't forget, we're not whole until we get those two guys back," manager Dusty Baker said. "I knew it was going to be a tough period of time, even though we've started off well, until we get those two back."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.