Vera FarmigaWe’re reworking our lead-off post to give you a plate full of sports news goodness every morning. We’re calling it the Morning Meat, and it will set the table for the business that With Leather gives you throughout the day. Like everything else on this site, it’s a work in progress. Img.

MM Bacon,-Opt-F Sizzling headlines straight from the griddle

Manchester City Blows Deals, Bad Luck. Manchester City was unable to seal the deal to bring Fernando Gago in from Real Madrid.  The culprit?  Father Time. Primier League’s deadline was 6 hours earlier than La Liga’s.  They also failed to land Kenya’s McDonald Mariga.

NBA Wants to Send Players to the Poor House. NBA owners are looking to cut players’ salaries as much as 20%.  In recent years revenue has grown despite the high payouts.  If the players get cut from millions of dollars to millions of dollars, I just don’t know how they’ll live.  Maybe Latrell Sprewell can start a support group on how to feed their families with only millions of dollars.

MLB Miffed About Getting Upper Decked. After coming to an exclusive deal with Topps Co. last year, MLB Properties is none too thrilled that Upper Deck is using their trademark on cards.  Two questions: People still collect baseball cards?  And two, do they still come with that horrible chalky gum?  Maybe I should start rocking slap bracelets, Trapper Keepers, and scrunchies.

March Madness Gets Madder. Looks like the March Madness expansion to 96 teams is about good as gold, and could be in full effect for next year.  Start saving your pennies for a flight to Vegas and a dialysis machine, because betting debauchery just got a whole lot more debauchery-ish.

Wave Goodbye to the NFL Salary Cap – For Now. As the NFL salary cap goes the way of Plaxico Burress’ career, the questions regarding existing and new player contracts begin to swirl.  Proceed with caution: when a new cap is put in place, teams could really be up the creek without a paddle.  Or something.

MM Eggs,-Opt-F Sunny-side up scores containing at least one 0

NBA Suns 107, Hornets 100

Mavericks 92, Jazz 104

Kings 109, Nuggets 112

NHL Ducks 3, Panthers 0

Flyers 3, Flames 0

NCAAB Texas 72, Oklahoma State 60

MM Sausage,-Opt-F No breakfast is complete without some links!

  • Spike TV stoops to new low with Half Pint Brawlers, a documentary of midget wrestlers.  Warming Glow.
  • Rip Torn is a rock star. Go big or go home. Period. Film Drunk.
  • You, too, can help bring back Condorman.  Comics Alliance.
  • A spinning heel kick to the face and subsequent KO? Don’t you just love the way that sounds?  The Cage Doctors.
  • Life lessons taught through gambling movies.  Inside Movies.
  • Which Lost character are you? I’d want to be the black smoke that follows people around and kills them.  Inside TV.
  • The cheerleaders of Super Bowl XLIV.  If victory were based on hotness, this one’s going to be a knock-down drag-out fight.  Coed Magazine.

Tips? Okay, but that’s it.  Anything more and I’ll have to turn you in to HR: WithLeather-Tips@Uproxx.com