Tonight at 8pm we are kicking off the opening of the 2013 baseball season with Ken Singleton and then at 8:30 we are speaking with former Yankee’s reliever Clay Rapada. Watch it LIVE here!!!

Louisville guard Kevin Ware snapped his leg during an NCAA tournament game against Duke on Sunday. Video of the injury is above.

This Tuesday we will be speaking LIVE with former Giant’s/Redskin’s player Antonio Pierce!! Watch LIVE at 8pm on www.breannanicoleradio.com

The Laker’s 2013 season is slowly draining away. The first half of the season did not go in favor of the Laker’s and after the All-Star break Laker’s fans gained a little glimpse of hopes of seeing a post-season. Laker’s fans hearts have broken after the injury of their All-Star player Kobe Bryant. Bryant initially injured his ankle on the final play of a loss to the Hawks last week, landing on the foot of Atlanta’s Dahntay Jones. Kobe’s is currently fighting the flu and tweeted, “#countonthew #nomamba #noswan #noproblem. Great opportunity tonight.”

Bryant is the fifth-leading scorer in NBA history so his role with the Laker’s franchise is vast and hard to fill. Friday night Kobe tried to play against  Indiana but after the first quarter Bryant was removed from the court. 

The Laker’s announced that Kobe’s  status is considered day to day.

The only thing missing was Jorge Posada behind the plate.  This past Wendsday Andy Pettitte took the mound for the first time in spring training.  Playing behind him, also for the first time at defense this spring, was Derek Jeter.  In the 5th Mariano Rivera came in for his second outting of the pre-season.  It was a sight to see, considering these three haven’t played together since October 2010 (Mariano was already out for the season by the time Andy returned last year).  It was great to see the boys get the band back together – minus one of course.

Yankee fans, who have watched the “core four” since 1996, realize the time to see these three play together is becoming fleeting.  With Jorge already retired, Mariano annoucing 2013 will be his final season and Andy year-to-year, Derek is starting to look like the last man standing of this elite group.  You could say Derek is the Paul McCartney of this Yankees band.  But for now, seeing Derek at short, Andy getting the start every five days and Mariano coming in to close games, this is something Yankee fans should and will appreciate. 

The words appeared to be a little difficult to say at first for Mariano today. But after telling everyone Yankee GM Brian Cashman gave him a two year contract extension to lighten the mood, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera said the words Yankee fans never wanted to hear – “After this year, I will be retiring”.  He said it not with tears in his eyes but with a smile on his face. 

Even more compelling than his initial statement was the answers to the reporters questions.

As a lead in to his question, Sweeny Murti stated that teammates have called him the greatest of all time and then asked Mo how he wanted to be remembered as a baseball player.  Mariano replied “First of all, I don’t feel myself the greatest of all time”.  He went on to say “I am a team player.  It it wasn’t for my teammates, I would have had the opportunity.”  So how does Mariano want to be remembered?  Not for his hard work, dediation to the game or for any of his championship wins.  Mariano simply said “I will love to be remembered  as a player that was always there for others, to make others better and didn’t think about himself at all.  That’s the legacy I want to leave, that I was there for others.”  In those few sentences, Mariano Rivera showed more humility and grace then some players show during their entire career.

The press conference was not without it’s humorous moments.  When Mark Feinsand asked him how he knew the tank was empty, Mo looked at him, smiled and said “Because I’m telling you it’s empty.”  He also got a chance to poke fun at his fellow pitcher Andy Pettitte when Mariano looked at Andy and said “Yeah what were you thinking?”, a response to a question about his possible retiring and then returning, as Andy did last year.

Mariano Rivera’s numbers are hall of fame calliber, without question.  He is an amazing pitcher and athlete.  However hopefully young players will take a lesson on how Mariano Rivera not only played the game he loves so much, but how he did it with humility, grace and a little bit of humor.