Unlike All-Star night at Citi Field, when Rivera soaked it all in, he barely noticed it this time. He was training his thoughts on retiring the Red Sox, starting with David Ortiz.

For the the 57th time against the Red Sox, the 35th time at Fenway, the 31st time this season and the all-time record 639th time, Rivera converted the save for the Yankees’ 5-2 win.

“I don’t want to be rude, but I didn’t pay attention,” Rivera said of the ovation. “It has always been hard ballgames here. I respect the organization. I respect the fans. That’s why I give it back. I play the game the way it should be played.”

Others noticed, including the Yankees’ manager.

“I think it is the class of the fans here,” Joe Girardi said. “Even though there has been a lot of history between Mo and the Red Sox. A lot of times, he has been in games that are extremely important. I think they understand what Mo has done and what he has meant to the game.”

Rivera said he has always loved to pitch here and the reaction from the Boston fans didn’t surprise him.

“It is kind of like an appreciation,” Rivera, 43, said. “It is great that they do that, that they acknowledge you and that you have been there for so many years.”

Unlike on Tuesday at Citi Field, the rest of his teammates were behind him as he warmed up — and they noticed, starting with his catcher.

“It is huge,” Chris Stewart said. “It just shows the respect that not just baseball fans, not just Boston fans, people in general have for Mo. They know what he has accomplished throughout his career. He has been their rival for quite awhile. For them to go out of their way to salute him and tip their caps and say, ‘We respect what you have done,’ it is huge.”

The post Red Sox fans cheer Mariano Rivera appeared first on IdealCapper.

Jordan, a defensive end and linebacker from Oregon, signed a multiyear contract Saturday and will take part in the first training camp practice Sunday. He missed all of the Dolphins’ offseason workouts because Oregon is on the quarter system.

Jordan’s deal is worth $20,572,298 in total, including a signing bonus of $13,341,672 and $5,070,626 in guaranteed roster bonuses. The signing bonus will be paid over the next four months.

With his signing, the Dolphins have all nine draft choices under contract. Players reported Saturday.

Jordan has been in South Florida for the past two months working out with teammates, but conceded he had ground to make up because of the practices he missed. He had right shoulder surgery in February and might be limited at the start of camp.

The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Jordan was the third player taken in the draft after the Dolphins swung a trade with Oakland to move up nine spots. Miami projects he’ll upgrade a defense that tied for fourth-worst in the league in takeaways last year.

Jordan totaled 14½ career sacks as a speed rusher in college and has drawn comparisons to former Dolphin Jason Taylor. Jordan may initially be a pass-rush specialist with the Dolphins, but they anticipate he’ll eventually become an every-down end in their 4-3 scheme opposite Cameron Wake, who has 43 sacks over the past four seasons.

The post Dolphins sign Dion Jordan appeared first on IdealCapper.

But when he’s open, his teammates are confident he can score.

“He seems to always be in the right spots, available,” Pierce said after Bass scored 20 points to lead the Celtics to a 107-96 win Sunday night. “That’s going to be huge for us if he continues to play well going into the playoffs, and the great thing about it is he’s doing it all off of the hustle plays.”

In the eight games Garnett missed with an inflamed left ankle, Bass averaged 12.3 points, raising his season average to 8.3. On Sunday, he shot 9 of 12 and added six rebounds.

“He’s just efficient,” Boston coach Doc Rivers said. “Overall, I think he’s playing terrific. I think he’s in a wonderful place right now.”

Garnett had 12 points and six rebounds in 24 minutes. Pierce finished with 15 points in 30 minutes after missing Friday night’s 97-91 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers with a sore left ankle.

“Things flow a lot smoother when Kevin and Paul are out there because everything’s being run through them and everybody else is just getting what they get from them,” Bass said. “So it’s a lot better when they’re out (on the court). It doesn’t matter if I get a play called. The ball will find me and, hopefully, I just make the shot.”

Bass missed his season high by just two points and led the Celtics with eight points in the third quarter, when they hit 75 percent of their shots, outscored Washington 31-19 and stretched a 56-52 halftime lead to 87-71.

They’re still missing Rajon Rondo and Jared Sullinger, both sidelined for the season, but led by at least 10 points the rest of the way to get just their fourth win in 12 games.

John Wall led Washington with 16 points but never got to the foul line as Boston outscored Washington 17-8 on free throws. A.J. Price had 15 points and Trevor Ariza added 14.

“We play a team like this and when you’re not playing great defensively you have got to be able to make shots,” Wall said, “and we had a tough night.”

The Wizards hit just 44.5 percent of their shots. But in the second half they connected on only 41.5 percent, while the Celtics made 64.5 percent.

“It doesn’t matter what lineup (we use) or who’s on the floor as long as we’re playing the right way,” Garnett said. “That’s all my concern is, just making sure that we’re sharing the ball, playing as a team, giving up for each other, playing defensively.”

The win ended a four-game stretch against weak teams in which the Celtics lost to Minnesota, beat Detroit, lost to Cleveland and beat Washington. With five games left and the Celtics trying to move up from seventh place in the Eastern Conference, the schedule gets tougher with a home game Wednesday night against the Brooklyn Nets before a road game Friday against the Miami Heat.

Washington fell to 7-31 on the road but is 23-20 overall since Wall returned from a shoulder injury.

“Against a team like this that’s playing for something, who has a seed in the playoffs, they’re going to keep competing,” Wall said. “And they got everybody back tonight and they were clicking right away.”

A dunk by Nene with 10:24 left in the third quarter had cut the Celtics’ lead to 58-57, but they went on a 29-14 surge the rest of the period.

The Celtics began the spurt with a 14-1 run, starting with a layup by Avery Bradley. Pierce hit another layup and Bradley followed with a 16-footer. Martell Webster sank a free throw for the Wizards after Garnett was called for a technical foul with 7:57 left in the quarter. But Emeka Okafor then missed two free throws for Washington.

Boston scored the next eight points on a 14-foot jumper by Bass, two free throws by Shavlik Randolph, an 18-footer by Jason Terry and a dunk by Bass.

Ariza then scored Washington’s first field goal in nearly six minutes when Randolph was called for goaltending with 4:39 left in the period, cutting Boston’s lead to 72-60.

“We had that stretch in the third quarter where we struggled offensively and they were clicking offensively,” Wizards coach Randy Wittman said, “and that was the difference.”

Game notes

Washington forward Trevor Booker left the game with a bruised tailbone with 5:42 left in the first half and didn’t return. … Chris Wilcox had 13 points for Boston, one below his season high. … The Celtics swept the three-game season series. … Jordan Crawford had six points in 16 minutes in his first game against the Wizards since being traded on Feb. 21. He had been upset with his diminished playing time in Washington.

The post Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce return to lift Celts to victory appeared first on IdealCapper.

“They’re both great players, and they’re both great in their eras,” Thomas said on “The Waddle & Silvy Show” on ESPN 1000. “In my era, we hadn’t seen an athlete quite like Michael Jordan. He jumped higher than everyone else. He was a little faster than everyone else and he was just the best athlete.

“LeBron James is the best athlete of today, and he’s probably a better athlete than Michael Jordan was. He’s bigger, he’s faster, he’s stronger.”

As far as who would win head to head, Thomas said it depends.

“Now when you put them out on the floor to compete against each other in different eras, it depends on which rules you’re playing with and which coach you’re being coached by,” Thomas said. “So there’s a lot that really goes into it.

“Had Michael Jordan not met Phil Jackson, would Michael Jordan be Michael Jordan today had he stayed with (Stan) Albeck and Doug Collins, and they were great coaches, but I think Jackson had a lot to do with his success. LeBron right now seems to be in the right situation with the right coach with the right players and his talent is being exposed and is flourishing.”

Magic Johnson recently gave his take on who would win a game of one-on-one between Jordan and James.

“Easy answer MJ all day, every day!” Johnson tweeted, before adding: “If MJ and LeBron played 1-on-1 10 times, MJ would win all 10. MJ is the ultimate 1-on-1 player!”

Johnson did give James credit as the best player in the game today.

Jordan and Thomas have some history as fierce competitors. Thomas and several Detroit Pistons teammates left the court before shaking hands with Jordan’s Bulls after Chicago won the 1991 Eastern Conference finals. That reportedly played a role in keeping Thomas off the 1992 Olympic “Dream Team.” Scottie Pippen said he didn’t want Thomas on the team and former NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik admitted Thomas’ behavior after that series was part of the reason Thomas was left off the team.

During the celebration of Jordan’s 50th birthday on Sunday, Antawn Jamison said if Jordan played today, “he could get you about 10 or 11 points, come in and play 15-20 minutes.” Thomas wasn’t as sure when asked Tuesday if Jordan could average 10.

“If he played 40 minutes,” Thomas said. “It’s all about minutes and shots, always. The question is, yeah, he can score 10, but could he guard the other guy? Could he get back in transition?

“It’s a lot that goes into playing an NBA game and it’s a lot that goes into training to be an NBA player. You can be in great health-club shape, but to be a pro athlete and be in that type of physical condition, training condition and mindset, that’s a different type of person you’re talking about.”

Although he joked about playing at the age of 50 when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, Jordan has since put that thought to rest, even though Charlotte Bobcats rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist said he recently lost to Jordan in a game of one-on-one.

Asked whether he could average 10 at the age of 50, Thomas didn’t hesitate.

“Absolutely not, the athletes and players I think today are too good,” he said. “I think we all have nostalgic great imaginations, and to say that you could do that is just a total disrespect to the players who are playing today.”

Thomas was in Chicago to partner with Mayor Rahm Emanuel in announcing a basketball program aimed at helping at-risk youth.

The post Isiah: LBJ better athlete than MJ? appeared first on IdealCapper.

The 25-year-old former Leeds midfielder, who left the League One side Stevenage last month, wrote on his blog that he had been afraid of revealing his sexuality, but that he is now leaving football.

Rogers, who made 18 appearances for the United States, wrote on his blog: “Secrets can cause so much internal damage. People love to preach about honesty, how honesty is so plain and simple. Try explaining to your loved ones after 25 years you are gay.

“Try convincing yourself that your creator has the most wonderful purpose for you even though you were taught differently.”

Rogers also tweeted the message to his 78,000-plus Twitter followers on Friday, and several of his United States teammates expressed their support.

Bolton midfielder Stuart Holden wrote: “Much love and respect to my boy@robbierogers ! Proud to be your friend bro,” while DaMarcus Beasley wrote: “I have a lot of respect for my boy @robbierogers. good luck in your next adventure man!!”

Eddie Pope, who played in three World Cups for the United States and is now the director of player relations for the MLS Players Union, tweeted: “@robbierogers Brave men like you will make it so that one day there’s no need for an announcement.That day can’t arrive soon enough.#Support”

Chris Basiurski, chairman of the Gay Football Supporters Network, said he hoped that Rogers could have played on if he wanted to after coming out.

“I’d be disappointed if (he’s retired) because he felt as though he couldn’t still have a career,” he told Press Association. “What we want to do within our organization is create an atmosphere where a player could come out if they wanted to without fear. If he feels he has to retire after this it shows there is still some way to go to create that atmosphere.”

No British-based professional player has come out since ex-Norwich and Nottingham Forest striker Justin Fashanu in 1990. He committed suicide eight years later at 37.

Last month, West Ham winger Matt Jarvis became the third footballer to be featured on the cover of the UK’s best-selling gay magazine, “Attitude”, after David Beckham and Freddie Ljungberg.

Although not gay himself, Jarvis insisted gay footballers should feel comfortable enough to come out.

Gordon Taylor, chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association, told Press Association that the PFA knows of more active players who are not comfortable coming out.

“I’m pleased that he’s come out for his own sake,” Taylor said. “… We know of players who are playing who are gay who’ve not had that confidence as yet. But, as the rest of the world becomes more civilised, hopefully that will come.”

The Chicago Fire acquired Rogers’ rights last week in the event that he planned to return to the MLS. He last played for the U.S. team in 2011 and played on the under-23 squad at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The post Robbie Rogers says he’s gay in blog appeared first on IdealCapper.

Spoelstra hinted two weeks ago that he would remain loyal to the Heat regarding any decisions he had to make in his first assignment as an All-Star coach.

Bosh will replace injured guard Rajon Rondo, who is recovering from season-ending knee surgery

All-Star starters are chosen through fan voting.

Bosh will start alongside Heat teammates Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, with Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett.

There was a possibility that Spoelstra would have taken a conventional approach by replacing Rondo with another guard, with Kyrie Irving being a popular alternative.

But Spoelstra announced his decision to the Heat’s team-run website Friday about an hour before he was set to meet with reporters for the scheduled All-Star media availability for players and coaches.

The post Chris Bosh to start All-Star Game appeared first on IdealCapper.

Rose said he isn’t sure when he’ll return to the floor.

“I really don’t know,” he said. “I’m feeling good, but like I said, if it’s where it’s taking me a long time and I’m still not feeling right, I don’t mind missing this year.”

Rose said he would like to play this season but isn’t sure if his body will heal in time.

“I would love to,” he said. “I would love to. That’s why I approached my rehab and my workout so hard. I’m trying to get back on the court as quickly as possible, but if I have anything lingering on, it’s no point.”

Rose’s told USA Today Sports on Monday afternoon that he was still “far away” from returning and wouldn’t come back until he was “110 percent.” Rose did acknowledge late Wednesday night the decision to play is his and he would listen to his inner circle of trusted associates and Bulls’ personnel.

“(Agent) B.J. (Armstrong), of course. People from the organization, (Bulls GM) Gar (Forman), (Bulls VP of operations John Paxson), all them people. Trainers, just people that I will normally be around every day. But it’s really on me to make that decision when I’m going to play again, so that’s cool that they left it up to me.”

Rose, who injured his knee in the first game of the Eastern Conference playoffs on April 28 and had surgery on May 12, admitted he is still struggling with gaining his explosion back. The next step?

“Being able to dunk,” he said. “I can’t dunk, man. I know if I can dunk off stride, I know I’ll be out there playing, but I can’t.”

Still, Rose’s spirits appear high. He has accompanied the Bulls on the road since the first of the year and is enjoying being with his teammates.

“Right now, I’m feeling pretty good, man,” he said. “Where (I’m) slowly getting back in the mix. The other day we played the 3-on-3, one-on-one, and I felt good out there. I’m not trying to rush myself, just still trying to be patient and just trying to take my rehab very serious right now.”

Paxson said earlier Wednesday that Rose will participate in 5-on-5 practices after this weekend’s All-Star break.

Meanwhile, Rose admitted he’s struggling to regain both his mental and physical confidence.

“It’s both still,” the former MVP said. “My leg still isn’t feeling right. Mentally, I think that I’m fine. Just every week just try to do something different. Every day stay on my rehab, do a little bit more, lift a little bit more, squat a little bit more and taking it very serious.”

Rose said he has not taken a hit on the knee but isn’t concerned about that aspect of his recovery.

“I’m not afraid of that, though,” he said. “I know that’s going to happen with the way that I play. I’m not scared of taking hits at all.”

He does not believe his game will change because of the injury.

“I’m working on my shot but you’re not going to label me as a shooter,” he said. “I’m going to be someone that can consistently hit a jump shot, but my game is always going to be driving.”

Rose acknowledged that he has watched the recovery of current and former players who have recovered from ACL injuries.

“I’ve been looking at the people in the past where everybody I think is coming back better,” he said. “So it’s exciting to know that all my hard work is going to pay off one day. I just don’t know when.”

Does he feel any extra pressure to return?

“(None) at all,” Rose said. “That’s the last thing I’m thinking about is coming back too soon. I know that it’s all on me, so I just got to make the decision when I’m ready.”

The post Derrick Rose may sit out season appeared first on IdealCapper.

It was about the only play he took off all night.

James scored 30 points in another efficient performance, Dwyane Wade scored 20 and the Miami Heat dominated the middle two quarters on the way to an easy 111-89 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.

James shot 9-for-11, giving him 37 makes on his past 47 attempts, and sat out the fourth quarter. It was his fourth straight 30-point game, tying him with Wade as the only Heat players with such a streak in the franchise’s 25-year history.

“He’s off the planet right now,” Wade said of James. “He’s not even the best basketball player on the planet. He’s surpassed the planet. He’s somewhere else. He’s playing phenomenal.”

It was the first time in James’ career that he scored at least 30 points on 11 or fewer field goal attempts. According to STATS LLC, it was only the 13th such game in the NBA since the start of the 2002-03 season.

“Just confident in my ability,” James said. “It was great to see, when you put in a lot of work and you implement it into a game situation. Just play your game. That’s what I’m doing right now. Just playing my game.”

When it comes to this type of roll, James isn’t interested in figuring out how it’s happening.

“Nope,” James said. “It’s nothing to figure out for me. I go out, see what the pace of the game is bringing, and you go out and figure it out on the fly. I don’t predetermine anything. If the defense backs up, I shoot. They come up on me, I drive. My teammates are open, I find my teammates. The game flows for me that way, and I’m just in that comfort place right now where I can go out and just play free.”

Mario Chalmers finished with 18 points and Shane Battier scored 12 for Miami, which improved to 21-3 at home.

The Clippers got Chauncey Billups, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin back from injuries, but that trio of starters combined for only 23 points. DeAndre Jordan led Los Angeles with 17 points.

“We lost to a good team over there, but we’re not going to hang our heads,” Paul said. “You never want to make excuses, but they shot the lights out of the ball. We never really made an impact defensively. LeBron, Mario, all those guys were on a rocking chair all night.”

Miami was without Chris Bosh and Ray Allen, both sidelined with the flu.

James made his first six shots, and his first miss came when Jordan was credited with a block on a play on which he also struck the NBA’s reigning MVP in the face, leaving him briefly shaken up.

Jordan won the ensuing tip uncontested and capped that possession with a dunk to get Los Angeles within 10 at 64-54.

Three minutes later, Miami’s lead was 24 — a 14-0 run put it away, and James took care of the first half of those points within a span of 37 seconds.

He connected on a 3-pointer while getting fouled by Jordan, then made another 3 on Miami’s next possession. Wade followed with two highlight-reel plays, a two-handed slam on a baseline drive followed by an acrobatic turnaround jumper, and Chalmers connected on a 3-pointer to put the Heat up 78-54.

“We just have to stay together,” Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. “It’s a test right now. I thought we gave up too much space, too much respect. Obviously, Chris is trying to get back. He’s got to take control of the game, and physically right now he’s not capable of doing that.”

At one point in the third quarter, Miami was shooting 69 percent from the field and 68 percent from 3-point range for the game. The Heat cooled down the stretch, finishing at 53 percent from the floor and 56 percent from beyond the arc.

There was plenty of buzz pregame, for good reason — matchup of division leaders, teams looking to go deep into the postseason. And when the Clippers said before the game that Billups (left foot tendinitis), Paul (bruised right kneecap), Griffin (strained left hamstring) and Jamal Crawford (sore right shoulder) were all fit to return, it seemed as if a showdown was highly possible.

That thought didn’t last for long.

“You can write this off that we got everybody back and we were a little rusty,” Griffin said. “But we have to be better.”

Miami’s lead after the first quarter was 30-29. The Heat — who shot 68 percent in the first half — outscored the Clippers 63-39 in the next two quarters, turning things into quite a rout.

Crawford and Griffin each finished with 13 points for the Clippers.

“When the lights are bright and the popcorn’s poppin’, our guys come to life,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “That’s a great quality.”

Game notes

Miami now has the best home record in the Eastern Conference, with Indiana losing Friday night at home to Toronto. … Heat F Udonis Haslem passed the 5,000-rebound mark for his career during the game. … The Heat continue their L.A. story at home Sunday, playing host to the Los Angeles Lakers. … Clippers F Caron Butler said before the game that he still enjoys playing in Miami, noting it was the Heat who “took a chance” on him coming into the league and it gives him a chance to see the NBA’s “Godfather” in Heat president Pat Riley. … Clippers backup C Ronny Turiaf got his NBA championship ring from the Heat in a brief pregame ceremony. … Billups and Paul combined to shoot 3-for-10.

The post LeBron James stays hot, sparks Heat’s rout of Clippers appeared first on IdealCapper.

Given the way he’s playing, the backup is making a strong case for even more playing time.

Fasth stopped 31 shots for his first NHL shutout, and Francois Beauchemin scored in his 500th career game, lifting the surging Anaheim Ducks to a 3-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night.

In just a short time — four starts, to be exact — Fasth has earned the trust of his teammates and his coach.

“He’s giving me confidence that I never knew I’d have in him when he came over,” said Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau, whose team won its fourth straight game. “It’s a great, pleasant surprise that Viktor has come over and played so well.”

Fasth, 30, certainly has been quite a find for the Ducks since he signed as a free agent during the offseason. According to the Ducks, Fasth is the first goaltender in NHL history over the age of 30 to win his first four games.

Fasth stymied the struggling Avalanche with one sprawling save after another to help Anaheim start a six-game road swing on a good note.

“Vik’s really on the puck, making it easy on us,” Beauchemin said. “If it wasn’t for him, there was no way we would’ve won that game.”

The Avalanche players were in a sour mood after the game, as they were shut out for a third time this season. That especially didn’t sit too well with Matt Duchene.

“We’ve got to find a way to score, bottom line,” Duchene said. “We’ve been shut out three times in 10 games; it’s unacceptable. It’s almost 50 percent of the games we’re getting shut out. It’s a joke.”

No one is laughing about Fasth’s fast start. In his first four NHL appearances, he’s stopped 101 of 105 shots. But the ever-humble Fasth shrugged off his recent play, even his first shutout.

“It’s nothing you go and think about. You just try to do your best and help the team out as much as you can,” Fasth said. “I’m really glad I had (the shutout). It’s a little bonus. Most important thing is we got the win and started off this road trip really good.”

The competition between Fasth and starter Jonas Hiller is heating up. Not that Boudreau views it quite that way.

“Hilly will be playing very soon,” Boudreau said. “He will be doing the same thing, I hope.”

Fasth’s best save against Colorado was when Milan Hejduk skated in late in the final period and lined a shot that Fasth gobbled up with his chest.

That was the type of night it was for Fasth, who was the Swedish Elite League’s goaltender of the year the previous two seasons.

“Tonight, he stole us a victory,” Boudreau said.

Sheldon Souray and Saku Koivu each added a goal and an assist for the Ducks.

Kyle Palmieri nearly added a goal early in the third period on a 2-on-1 breakaway, but Semyon Varlamov slid over, stuck out of his glove and trapped the puck against the post. The referees took a quick look on replay before upholding the ruling of no goal.

Beauchemin all but wrapped up this game with a goal in the second period that gave the Ducks a commanding 3-0 lead. The play was set up by Koivu, who took a bone-jarring hit along the boards to send the puck into the offensive zone, where Daniel Winnik corralled the puck and sent it over to Beauchemin for his second goal of the season.

The Avalanche had David Jones back in the lineup after he missed the previous two games with a knee injury. But it didn’t ignite the offense as Colorado lost for a second straight time at home.

Boudreau had a chance to catch up with Varlamov, his former goalie, in a Pepsi Center hallway at the morning skate. The two were together while with Washington.

Asked the biggest difference between Varlamov then and now, Boudreau said, “He’s way more consistent. From when I watch, there are no soft goals.”

And then Varlamov proceeded to surrender two soft ones in the first period. He let a liner from Souray near the blue line slip between his pads.

Later, Varlamov failed to bat away a pass through the goal crease, allowing Koivu to tap it in with the Ducks on a 5-on-3 advantage. It was the first goal the Avs allowed in 21 power-play chances at Pepsi Center this season.

“If you look at the overall game, they didn’t outplay us,” Colorado coach Joe Sacco said. “At the end it got a little helter-skelter. We had some chance, we didn’t score. We’ve got to stick with it and keep grinding it out.”

Game notes

Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog (head and leg) missed a sixth straight game. … The injury-riddled Avalanche claimed F Aaron Palushaj off waivers from Montreal. He didn’t play Wednesday. … Ducks D Toni Lydman (flu) was a scratch. The team recalled D Jordan Hendry from Norfolk.

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“I’m never angry. I’m too blessed to be stressed,” the Baltimore Ravens linebacker said when told that he seemed angry. “You can use a different word. You can use the word agitated because I’m here to win the Super Bowl. I’m not here to entertain somebody that doesn’t affect that one way or another. The word agitated is probably better.”

On Tuesday, Sports Illustrated reported that Lewis sought help from Sports with Alternatives to Steroids (SWATS) — a company that makes the unorthodox deer-antler spray, which is supposed to be sprayed under the tongue — to speed his recovery from a torn right triceps. Lewis missed 10 games with the injury.

“Our world is a very secret society. We try to protect our world as much as we can,” Lewis said. “When you let cowards come in and do things like that, to try to disturb something. I’ve said it before and I’ve said a million times, the reason why I’m smiling is because it’s so funny of a story.

“I’ve never, ever took what he says I was supposed to do. It’s just sad that someone can have this much attention on a stage this big where the dreams are really real. I don’t need it, my teammates don’t need it, the 49ers don’t need it. Nobody needs it because it just really shows you that people really plan things and try to attack people from the outside. It’s just very foolish. The guy has no credibility. He’s been sued four or five times over this same BS. I just truly believe he doesn’t have the privilege for me to speak about it ever again.”

Ravens team president Dick Cass told ESPN that the Ravens’ top brass met with Lewis on Tuesday night and urged him to issue a strong denial on Wednesday, to repeat what he told the organization on Tuesday: that he never used any of the substances he was accused of using in the SI report.

“We wanted him to issue a strong denial at media day; he didn’t do that. He was very strong with us yesterday, and last night. We met with him last night and talked about issuing a strong denial today,” Cass told ESPN.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday morning that he spoke with Lewis, and the linebacker “knows there is nothing to it. He understands it’s something he’s never been involved in.”

“He laughed about it,” Harbaugh said, referring to Lewis. “He told me there’s nothing to it. He’s told us in the past and now that he has never taken any of it.”

Lewis said the Ravens aren’t distracted due to the report.

“I’ve been in this game for 17-plus good years, and I have a heck of relationship and too much respect for the business and my body to ever violate like that. For me and my teammates, I promise you that we have a strong group of men that don’t bend too much and we keep pushing forward. So it’s not a distraction for us,” he said.

The NFL Players Association said the league does test for IGF-1, the banned substance found in deer-antler extract, but the NFL said it is not detectable with the league’s current testing methods.

SWATS co-owner Mitch Ross detailed his interaction with Lewis in an interview Tuesday with ESPN Radio’s “SVP and Russillo Show,” saying he texted Lewis shortly after the linebacker was injured against the Cowboys on Oct. 14.

He told ESPN Radio that Lewis “used every product that I had.”

“I even developed an armband that I developed to strengthen his triceps, and some liquid wraps that would help him heal as well,” he said.

When asked why Lewis is denying using his products, Ross told ESPN Radio: “I guess [Lewis] is scared of Roger Goodell.”

However, a professor at Johns Hopkins University told the Baltimore Sun that, despite SWATS’ claims, there isn’t an acceptable scientific way that IGF-1 can be delivered orally.

“If there were, a lot of people would be happy that they don’t need to get shots anymore,” Dr. Roberto Salvatori told the newspaper. “It’s just simply not possible for it to come from a spray.”

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