Theo Epstein

 Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein is likely to join the Chicago Cubs within the next 48 hours, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Tuesday night.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made.

The Cubs fired general manager Jim Hendry on Aug. 19 and finished 71-91. They have been pursuing Epstein, who just finished his ninth season with Boston. The Red Sox missed the playoffs following a record collapse, going 7-20 in September and finishing at 90-72.

Epstein would be going to a Cubs franchise that hasn't won the World Series since 1908. Boston hadn't won a championship since 1918 until doing it in 2004, Epstein's second year as general manager. The Red Sox also won it all in 2007.

The Boston Herald first reported that Epstein "is on the cusp" of leaving the Red Sox for a position with the Cubs and that an announcement was expected within 24 to 48 hours.

Earlier, the Cubs declined to comment on the Herald report.

The 37-year-old Epstein has one year left on his contract with the Red Sox. There was no word on whether they were asking for compensation from the Cubs.

His expected departure would be the latest in the wake of Boston's disastrous finish. On Sept. 30, two days after the Red Sox were eliminated from playoff contention on the final day of the regular season, Terry Francona's eight-year stint as manager ended.

Celebrity Beef

Teresa Giudice and Caroline Manzo are proving that Jersey girl fights aren't just for The Jersey Shore.  Sunday's season finale of The Real Housewives of New Jersey revealed the juicy feud that has erupted between Giudice and Manzo over Giudice's new cookbook Fabulicious! Let's break down the beef between these two reality TV divas...

Kim Kardashian and More Stars Who Said 'I Do' on Reality TV

Kim Kardashian reportedly made a cool $1.5 million by allowing reality TV cameras to capture all the action from her August wedding, and tonight the entire universe can watch her and Kris Humphries exchange vows on E!. Shockingly, this reality TV queen isn't the first star to turn the best day of her life into a prime time event. In fact, Dave Navarro and Carmen Electra were the first big celebs to invite the cameras to their nuptials back in 2004.

Dave Navarro and Carmen Electra
These two didn't just let the TV crews in for their big day. They let MTV film a whole season of their wedding planning PLUS the ceremony and reception back in 2003. The unconventional couple signed on for 'Til Death Do Us Part: Cameron and Dave after the success of the MTV show about their courtship. They'd been engaged since 2001, and agreeing to the wedding special forced them to set a wedding date. They tied the knot on November 22, 2003, and the 7-episode series debuted on January 21, 2004. They filed for divorce in August 2006, but maintained the "MTV curse" wasn't to blame.
Back in 2002, the 98 Degrees heartthrob and Jessica Simpson said "I do" then let the world into their home for three seasons of their reality show, Newlyweds. They cited the show as one of the causes of their divorce, but that didn't stop Lachey from starting his second marriage on reality TV! He and Vanessa Minnillo let the cameras capture their tropical island ceremony in July 2011 and just two weeks later the footage aired on TLC. Lachey said about  the decision: "We're lucky to have such passionate and loving fans, and we thought partnering with TLC on this special would be the best way to share the exciting journey we're on with all the people that support us and our relationship." So far, they're still married....................

Tim Wakefield

 Tim Wakefield earned his 200th win on his eighth try, Dustin Pedroia hit two homers in Boston's highest-scoring game of the season and the Red Sox ended a five-game losing streak with an 18-6 rout of the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.

The Red Sox needed the victory badly after their AL wild-card lead over Tampa Bay had dropped from nine games to three over the previous nine days. And the 45-year-old knuckleballer was eager to end the long wait – 0-3 in seven outings since his last win July 24 – to become the 108th pitcher with 200 wins.

Wakefield (7-6) went six innings and overcame a shaky outing to retire his final six batters. He left with a 6-5 lead after allowing six hits and two walks. He struck out two.

The crowd at Fenway Park clapped and chanted "Wakefield! Wakefield!" as Junichi Tazawa pitched the ninth for Boston, which moved four games in front of the Rays. Tampa Bay lost 4-2 at Baltimore.

The Red Sox added to their cushion with four runs in the sixth on a double by Carl Crawford, an RBI single by Jarrod Saltalamacchia, a single by Jacoby Ellsbury and a three-run homer by Pedroia, his 20th of the year.

Pedroia, who tied his career high with five RBIs, also was on the tail end of consecutive homers with Ellsbury in the fourth.

Raiders Top Broncos 23-20

Sebastian Janikowski figures his celebration over his long field goal will be short-lived.

After all, Matt Prater kicks at this altitude eight times a year to Janikowki's one.

"He's the only guy I've got to worry about if he's going to break the record," Janikowski said after his record-tying 63-yarder helped the Oakland Raiders beat the Denver Broncos 23-20 Monday night.

Janikowski said he dreamt of just such a historic field goal Saturday night and nailed a kick from 70 yards out during warmups.

His 63-yard kick tumbled above the crossbar near the left upright as the first half expired, giving Oakland a 16-3 lead.

"To be honest, I didn't hit it that good," said Janikowski, ever the perfectionist. "It barely got over the bar."

Janikowski also was true from 37 and 21 yards. Prater made a 28- and a 30-yarder but was wide right on a 56-yard attempt in the first half, just his fourth miss from 50-plus yards in 13 career tries.

That was the difference in a foul- and fist-filled night between the AFC West archrivals.

The Raiders (1-0) won in Denver for the fourth straight season in coach Hue Jackson's NFL head coaching debut, and handed the Broncos (0-1) their first loss in a home opener since 2000. John Fox lost his debut as Denver's coach, and he lost at least two playmakers in the process.

Country Strong

Every mom needs a break sometime. This statement is even more true when you are a single mom. What better break than a night filled with hot country singers and some of the best music around. Last night was one of the best times I have ever had at the Tim McGraw with Luke Bryan and The Band Perry. If you are a country fan read on. If you are not a country fan but a fan of hot guys… you might want to at least check out the pictures below. I warn you now. This post is long with lots and lots of pictures and videos. But for my fellow county music fans, I just had to share.

We had AMAZING seats. Actually we didn’t have seats at all. We had PIT tickets – general admission, no chairs, but if you play it right… as close as it gets. And well we SCORED! We arrived way early, and once the doors opened, my mom was the runner. (Seeing that she runs 5-7 miles a day, and well… let’s just say that I drive to the mailbox.) So my little mama ran ahead and nabbed the perfect pit spot. Right in the front… up against the stage. Let me tell you, there is NOTHING like watching your favorite artists literally within reach. I was like a school girls every time Tim or Luke would grab my hand. The pictures couldn’t be beat. And well, there was even a moment when Tim McGraw sang right to me! I have never had an artist make eye contact like that before.........................

B.Delaney & Shawn Johnson MMA MeLee Worth The Wait Tour