Hawks rookie Lucas Nogueira will stay in Spain

Atlanta Hawks first round pick Lucas Nogueira will be spending next season in Spain so he can get some meaningful minutes and develop his game with Asefa Estudiantes Madrid.

The seven foot center was taken by the Boston Celtics with the 16th pick in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft and quickly traded to the Hawks.

Nogueira would've found it hard to get minutes in a crowded frontcourt that includes Al Horford, Elton Brand, and Paul Millsap.

“We are very encouraged by what we’ve seen from Lucas this summer,” general manager Danny Ferry told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Monday. “Going back to Estudiantes will allow him to continue develop while also playing meaningful minutes against very good competition. We will closely monitor his progress as he works towards his goals as a basketball player.”

Nogueira doesn't seem to mind, but last month he stated that he hoped to stay with the Hawks.

“If I stay here, I’m happy,” he said. “But if I need to go back I’m happy too because in Spain everybody believes in me. I’ve lived … in Spain and I know my club and everybody knows me. I’m happy. I know I can improve my game in Spain. I improved so much this year from last year. Right now, the most important thing is my body. I can’t improve my body in Spain. I’m perfect to stay here because the most important thing is to improve my body.”

Knowing that Danny Ferry cut his teeth in the San Antonio Spurs front office I'd have to say this is a Spurs type of move and could pay off for the  Hawks in the long run.

Report: Doc Gooden's family evicted from their New Jersey home after he fails to pay rent

A report by TMZ says that Dwight Gooden's estranged wife and two kids have been evicted from their New Jersey mansion last month after Gooden refused to pay rent. The family moved into the home back in September 2011, but  when the marriage hit the skids, Dwight moved out in March.

The former New York Mets star stopped paying the $4,500 per month rent in February. The owners claim the family stayed in the home all of March, April, May and June and never received a rent payment, which put Gooden and his family in a serious hole.

The landlord is suing for about $19,000 plus legal fees. Gooden's wife and kids were forced out of the home on July 11.

There is no word on where they are staying at this moment.

"It Girl" of the week: Love Barnett

This week's "It Girl" is Love Barnett.

Rams' Jeff Fisher upset with Bernie Kosar

St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher isn't pleased with former Cleveland Browns signal caller Bernie Kosar. 

Kosar was critical of the Rams backup quarterback Kellen Clemens while he was serving as the Browns's color commentator during the team's first preseason game. The Rams fell behind early in a 27-19 loss and Kosar stated that  ''I can't stand watching him play'', while Clemens was in the game. He also had some other pointed comments about Rams players and coaches.

Clemens finished the game by completing 6 of 13 passes for 116 with a touchdown and two interceptions.

After the Rams' Saturday practice, Fisher let it be known that Kosar was out of bounds about what he said about Clemens.

"First off, let me say this: the Cleveland Browns' organization is a first class organization from top to bottom and it has been that for years and years and years," Fisher said. "I guess I'm a little disappointed. I feel bad for them that they had someone doing their broadcast feel the need to speak that way about players, specifically on our team and coaches for that matter.

"I'm just surprised that Bernie has such a lack of respect for players and this game. To be honest with you, I lost a lot of respect for him. It's highly unlikely he knew anything about our football team, but felt the need to make those comments. I don't think they were justified."

''Bernie's got his issues; they're well documented,'' Fisher said. ''Kellen played well, he played hard, he made plays.''

Translation: Bankruptcy and a porn star daughter.

If you ask any football fan they might've agreed with Kosar, but as the coach Fisher has to have his players' back or risk a possible mutiny when things get tough.

Manti Te'o out for a week with a foot sprain

Manti Te'o's march to be in an instant NFL starter has taken a slight detour.

San Diego Chargers coach Mike McCoy said Saturday the middle linebacker will not practice for the next week -- and not play at Chicago on Thursday night -- because of a sprained foot. Te’o was hurt Thursday night against Seattle. He was in a walking boot Saturday.

The injury is not considered serious. It is important that Te’o, a second-round pick, recovers and gets back on the field to play in the Chargers’ third preseason game, Aug. 24 at Arizona. The third preseason game is the game where starters play the most. Te’o started against Seattle and is expected to start the season opener, Sept. 9 against Houston.

Jack Clark fired over his PED remarks about Pujols and Verlander

Former major leaguer Jack Clark, who accused Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander and Anaheim Angels slugger Albert Pujols of using performance enhancing drugs, has been fired from his job as a Fox Sports Radio talk-show host, the St. Louis Dispatch is reporting.

Clark, who hit 340 home runs during an 18-year big league career, began working at WGNU-AM in St. Louis just last week. He based his accusation on conversations he said he had with Chris Mihlfeld, Pujols' former personal trainer, who worked with the Dodgers when Clark was the team's hitting coach in 2000. He also accused Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander of using PED's since he's had a dropoff in performance from previous years.

"Verlander was like Nolan Ryan, he threw 97, 98, 100 miles an hour from the first inning to the ninth inning," Clark said on WGNU-AM. "He got that big contract, now he can barely reach 92, 93. What happened to it? He has no arm problems, nothing's wrong. It's just the signs are there.

"The greed ... they juice up, they grab the money and it’s just a free pass to steal is the way I look at it."

InsideSTL Enterprises quickly distanced itself from Clark and co-host Kevin Slaten. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the company issued a statement saying it had "terminated its relationship with Jack Clark and Kevin Slaten. As independent contractors, we want to make it clear that the opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of InsideSTL. Also as independent contractors, InsideSTL did not have editorial control over the show’s content."

"It is irresponsible and reckless for Jack Clark to have falsely accused me of using PEDs," Pujols, who is on the disabled list and did not travel with the Angels to Cleveland, said in a statement. "My faith in Jesus Christ and my respect for this game are too important to me. I would never be able to look my wife or kids in the eye if I had done what this man is accusing me of."

Pujols has threatened legal action against Clark. There has been no word on whether Verlander plans to do the same.

USC's Marqise Lee leaves practice in a sling

If USC is going to make any noise this season they'll need big seasons from their experienced players and whoever takes over for departed quarterback Matt Barkley will need to step up. Health will also be a key but the Trojans are of to a bad start in that category.

Star receiver Marqise Lee left practice after injury his shoulder and returned shirtless and in a sling.

At some point during practice Friday, the All-American Lee was on the receiving end of a deep pass but landed awkwardly on his right shoulder after contact with a teammate.  Lee was carted off the field by the team’s training staff and was later seen wearing a sling.

The team's medical staff has not given an update at this moment.

Lee, who had 118 catches for 1,721 yards (14.6 yards per catch average) and 14 touchdowns and will need his production if the Trojans are to have any success this season.

His teammates sound confident that Lee will come back sooner than later.

 “Obviously, your heart stops for a second,” quarterback Cody Kessler, who threw the deep ball on which Lee was injured, said. “But Marqise is a tough guy. He’ll be fine.”

Lee might tell you he'll be fine but that'll be up to the doctors. His health is of great importance to whoever takes over at quarterback for the Trojans.