Wednesday’s Water Cooler – February 10, 2010
Here we go with today’s sports water cooler talk. Here, you won’t just find the straight news; you’ll find the stuff everyone is talking about – the ice breakers, the Twitter Sports Picks and topics…well, basically all the stuff you discuss at the water cooler.
Enjoy!
It took a while, but NBA teams are finally upping their efforts to make a pre-trade-deadline splash.
Let’s find out who the gutsiest team is in today’s news.
NBA news: Miami ramping up efforts to land Stoudemire
The heat have sunk under .500 but I suppose any team with Dwyane Wade should never give up on a season. That seems to be Pat Riley’s philosophy, as the Heat president is aggressively pursuing Phoenix’s Amare Stoudemire in a trade. Riley has reportedly offered many different packages including everyone but D-Wade himself.
The offers include Michael Beasley, Dorrell Wright, Jermaine O’Neal, Quentin Richardson and Miami’s 2010 first-round pick –combinations of young guns, expiring contracts and draft futures. Riley has competition from as any as six teams. My gut tells me Miami will win the sweepstakes, if for no other reason than having Quentin Richardson. The guy gets traded once an hour. If he hasn’t been nicknamed “Suitcase” Richardson yet, he should be.
NFL news: Porter leaving Miami, Westbrook not done after all?
It didn’t take long for the NFL offseason to get going. Joey Porter has already renounced the Miami Dolphins. The mouthy 32-year-old linebacker didn’t respond well to losing playing time this year, claiming that “Nobody is that good enough behind me to be stepping on my toes.” No doubt Porter will have plenty of suitors this offseason. Here’s hoping he stays in the AFC and can play Miami next season.
Is Brian Westbrook returning to the NFL after all? The diminutive running back took many licks this season, including two concussions. The shots to the noggin and a bum left knee were thought to be Westbrook’s demise but he told a Philly radio station yesterday that he’s “just trying to enjoy this offseason and get ready for this next upcoming season.”
Good luck, Brian. I’m sorry to tell you I won’t be using a first, second, third or any pick on you in my 2010 fantasy draft.
MLB news: A’s release Tavares, Webb throws, A –Rod canoodles
I knew it! Remember last week when I questioned Billy Beane’s acquisition of Wily Taveras? Mr. Moneyball trading for the anti-Moneyball player? Well, turns out it really didn’t make sense. The Athletics released Tavares yesterday. They’re gambling that another team will grab him and inherit a chunk the $4 million he’s owed this year.
For D-Backs fans, bettors and snake-in-the-grass fantasy players – Brandon Webb is inching his way back. He threw off a mound Tuesday for the first time since undergoing shoulder surgery. There’s no timetable for his return. Arizona sure could use the groundball machine, who has a 3.27 ERA, a Cy Young Award, and is a two-time Cy Young runner up.
For the TMZ demographic: Alex Rodriguez was spotted being “flirty” with Cameron Diaz at a Super Bowl party last weekend. He loves his blondes, don’t he? Good for Cameron Diaz. If my career was going in the same direction as hers, I’d try to marry into money too.
NHL news: Thrashers trade Lehtonen to Dallas
Eight years ago, the Atlanta Thrashers had what they thought were cornerstones of a future contender, using high first-round picks on Dany Heatley, Ilya Kovalchuk and Kari Lehtonen. Now, none of those pieces remains for this sorry, sorry (did I mention sorry?) NHL franchise.
Heatley got shipped out of Georgia long ago. Kovalchuk got his walking papers last week. The final domino to fall was that of goaltender Kari Lehtonen. The talented but brittle 26-year-old goalie never really got going in Atlanta. However, his .912 career save percentage suggests he could flourish on a better team. The Dallas Stars are gambling on just that; they acquired Lehtonen yesterday for defensive prospect Ivan Vishnevskiy and a fourth-rounder.
The big loser in this deal: Marty Turco. He’s over the hill and always tanks in the second half. If I’m Dallas, I want to give Lehtonen as many chances as possible down the stretch to prove he can be ”the guy,” as he’s a restricted free agent this summer.
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