Matt Barnes
It wasn't quite The Decision, but with the biggest slices of free-agent cake off the table, teams were forced to scramble for leftover crumbs, with five suitors clamouring to sign the veteran swingman and his 7.3 points-a-game average. Barnes was happy to tweet that Toronto had won the sweepstakes Monday, but when that fell through, he was forced to take the "consolation prize" of a two-year deal with the Lakers. And let's face it, when it comes to the NBA, who wants to toil in Toronto when you can luxuriate in L.A?
Thierry Henry
Timing is everything in sports, and the former Arsenal legend certainly knows a thing or two about that. Not only did he have the good sense to retire after France's World Cup debacle - before the entire squad was banned for its South African mutiny - but he arrived Stateside in time to make his debut against his old north London nemesis, Tottenham Hotspur. And if scoring the first goal of the game wasn't example enough, he then had the foresight to get subbed off at halftime, avoiding the second-half Spurs backlash in a 2-1 win over the New York upstarts.
Louis Oosthuizen
Congratulations to everyone who said that winning last Sunday's British Open would be a life-changing event for the 250-to-1 outsider, how right you were. Life on the farm will never be the same again. The South African spurned the temptation to buy a Porsche, Ferrari or even Cadillac Escalade, choosing to spend some of his $1.3-million (U.S.) on a custom-built tractor - complete with child seat for his daughter Jana - so they can toddle around the family farm together. Of course, given the way he rode roughshod over the rest of the field at St. Andrews - winning by seven shots - it was certainly appropriate.
Kevin Gregg
Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston is moving on next year, and his closer-du-jour may be joining him at this rate. Gregg had a few choice words for his skipper after being pulled for walking the bases loaded with two out in the ninth last Saturday in Baltimore. Though Gaston dismissed talk of a rift between the two after seeing Toronto hang on for the win, his move seemed all the more sage after watching Gregg blow his third save in 25 opportunities two nights later in Kansas City.
A.J. Burnett
As if there wasn't enough smacking around in last Saturday's 10-5 Yankees loss to Tampa Bay, the fiery right-hander compounded his problems back in the locker room, cutting both his palms when he slammed a door in frustration after giving up the first of two home runs to Reid Brignac. With just seven wins and a 4.99 earned-run average this season, the worst in both categories among New York's rotation, Burnett needs to get his head screwed on straight or it'll be Yankees manager Joe Girardi slapping things around next time.
Reggie Bush
The former golden boy of college football is no more. The University of Southern California decided to remove all remnants - Heisman Trophy included - of its one-time star tailback from Heritage Hall this week after the NCAA sanctioned the school for Bush's acceptance of monies and perks during his time with the Trojans. It was in many ways unlike USC to go all moral, but at least they've still got O.J. Simpson's Heisman to take pride of place in the trophy cabinet.