Niagara's Anna DeForge believed her days with the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx were numbered during training camp.

"I was aware of the situation," said the veteran guard, released a day before the season opener. "At least I had all the power of my guaranteed contract."

The Lynx bought out DeForge's contract.

"On my agent's advice, it was a good idea to accept the buyout," she reported.

With the financially-strapped WNBA reducing rosters, DeForge was a possibility for release considering her big contract. "Grip" noted that 72 WNBA players from last year are no longer in the league.

DeForge, a two-time All-Star, indicates there's "interest" from other WNBA teams.

"I'm just sitting back and waiting for a team to pick me up when they can," she said. "So all looks good and I should be back playing soon."

DeForge remains involved with the area, hosting a popular youth basketball camp in December ...

From LenBermanSports.com: "Question: Why do so many kids play soccer? Answer: So they don't have to watch it." ...

Former Green Bay Packers safety Mark Murphy served as an assistant football coach at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. All-state receiver LeBron James, making news on the basketball court these days, was also around at the time.

Murphy ranks his all-time greatest receivers - James Lofton, Jerry Rice, Steve Largent and LeBron.

"People laugh at me, but it's true," Murphy told ESPN.com. "I felt like that was one kid who could've gone from high school to the NFL and played." ...

Always regarded Norway's Chuck Pellegrini, Kingsford's Chris List, Iron Mountain's Nick John son and Negaunee's Paul Jacobson as the toughest linemen to ever come out of Central Michigan University.

That's until finding out that Joe Staley hasn't missed a snap with the San Francisco 49ers over the past two seasons ...