Alex Rodriguezs publicist ended speculation that the former New York Yankees slugger might play for another team this season, saying its not happening.Ron Berkowitz issued a statement Monday afternoon, two days after Rodriguez was released by the Yankees.I want to put all this talk to rest about Alex playing for any team this season. Its not happening, Berkowitz said in the statement. Like he said Friday night, he is happy and he is going to take some time to relax and hang with his family and friends.Rodriguez played his final game with the Yankees on Friday night in New York and was released the following morning. The Yankees announced that Rodriguez would move into a role as an adviser and instructor within the organization, but the three-time American League MVP technically is a free agent and can sign with any club.Berkowitz did not indicate whether Rodriguez would consider making a comeback in 2017.The Miami Marlins, Rodriguezs hometown team, acknowledged Sunday that they had considered reaching out to the 41-year-old.But Marlins president Mike Hill told Fox Sports on Monday that the team ultimately decided not to formally reach out to Rodriguez.I was under the impression that it would be the end for the season, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. But opportunities arise for people in life that you cant predict. Theres been some situations [in Miami] where theyve had some injuries, and maybe they felt that [Rodriguez] could help. And I dont say this in a bad way, but nothing that Alex does should ever surprise us.Rodriguez, who grew up in South Florida and still lives there, was batting .200 this season, but he had 33 homers and 86 RBIs last season.Rodriguez needs only four homers to become the fourth player to hit 700, and the looming milestone could eventually lure him into continuing his 22-year career. But he hasnt played much in the field since 2013, complicating any role he might have with a National League team.Daniel Descalso Cubs Jersey .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. Kris Bryant Cubs Jersey . Burke is expected to miss two to three months after breaking a finger in the teams third preseason game. Tinsley, a 10-year veteran, spent the last two seasons in Utah, where the point guard averaged 3. https://www.cheapcubs.com/ . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. Mickey Morandini Jersey . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. Shawon Dunston Jersey . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2.AMHERST, Mass. -- Boston Celtics players and coaches interlocked arms during the national anthem before Tuesdays preseason opener against the Philadelphia 76ers at UMass-Amhersts Mullins Center.The team also released a video via social media at tipoff, promoting unity.In addition, the?Rockets?and?New York Knicks all locked arms at midcourt during the national anthem before Tuesdays game at the Toyota Center in Houston, while the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings joined arms during the anthem before their game, as well.Celtics coach Brad Stevens and Jae Crowder said earlier Tuesday?that the team had put a lot of time into thinking about the best way to promote positive change.Weve had a lot of sit-down discussions about it. Weve had a lot of individual discussions, Stevens said. Weve had three or four meetings after practices, sometimes just players, sometimes just us, sometimes people weve invited in from the outside to spend time with our guys. Our guys have been incredibly thoughtful, and I think, like from what Ive seen across the NBA early on, I think our guys are really focused on promoting positive unity, togetherness, progress and all those types of things. But those have been, as far as deep, certainly good discussions, theyve been great. And I commend our guys for sharing and for thinking and for really looking at this in a really insightful way.I think one of the great things about being a part of a team is you all come from different backgrounds and you learn about each other and you all come together for the common cause, and thats why we all love sports, right? We can all rally around that common cause and we can rally around teams. But I think when you really get into deep, impactful stuff, those are special conversations, and sometimes those are uncomfortable, and sometimes there can be tension around those; but I think thats the beautiful part about our group, is that they all appreciate one another, really support one another. And again, I think youll see, like I think theyre very much into what the teams that Ive seen thus far, in talking about togetherness and continued progress.Crowder said the team thought it was important to find the proper way to deliver its message.What do we want to portray? What do we want our message to be? Thats what we had talked about -- and how can we go about doing it in a positive way? Thats all we talked about, Crowder said. We just want to make sure everybodys on the same page and everybody [can] speak on their belief. We dont want anybody to feel like theyre doing something they dont want to do or talk about something they dont want to talk about. So we just wanted to make sure everybodys on the same page in those conversations that we had.And what was the message the Celtics wanted to deliver?That we need change in this world, Crowder said. We need to do it together. Just not one individual; its got to be a team-type deal, a unity, a toggetherness.dddddddddddd Whatever we decide our message to be, it has to be about being together as one and coming together as one.The Celtics inspiration for the interlocked arms came from a picture of the 1960-61 Boston team, which interlocked arms in a team photo with the goal of promoting civil rights. Team officials produced the picture for the players, who quickly warmed to the idea of carrying on the legacy of those who wore the Celtics jersey before them.Tom Satch Sanders, a rookie on that 1960-61 squad, spoke to the Celtics on Monday after the final practice before their preseason opener.What we were saying in our meetings, that weve got to do it together as a team, and that picture showed a great example of that. Thats why we [said] OK, we can tie it in with us, Crowder said. Those guys did it during a time where it was tough. Its not that bad now, but still, they did it together, they tried to make a change together, and thats where we got the idea.Tuesdays demonstration?was the first one on the court for the Rockets. When they played their first preseason game Sunday against the Shanghai Sharks, the entire team stood at attention for the playing of the American and Chinese anthems.Carmelo Anthony said he and Joakim Noah reached out to James Harden about the Knicks and Rockets making a unified statement.They were on board with it, and it was just a matter of us coming together and showing everybody were united, Anthony said.Said Noah: I think it was very respectful, but at the same time [it brought] awareness to some of those issues.Harden said the demonstration represented a brotherhood and that the message was unity.Just standing together for something that we believe in; obviously we know whats going on around the world, he said. We wanted to use our high power and noticeability to just go out there and make it aware that were going to stand together, not just the two teams, but the entire league.We want to use our platform to show people that were together and were behind them in this. ... Its something that well continue to do, and we have a platform and we want to use it. Its just the beginning.The Los Angeles Lakers released a statement supporting their players.We fully support our players in exercising their right of expression over an issue that is so important, the statement read. We also applaud the NBA and the NBA Players Association for their collaborative work in expanding the dialogue and for their spirit of cooperation.Many players across multiple sports, led by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, have taken a knee, locked arms or raised fists during the national anthem in protest of police brutality against African-Americans and other societal issues.ESPNs Calvin Watkins, Ian Begley and Baxter Holmes contributed to this report. ' ' '