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Jan 20th 2010: Daily Sports News – Gossip – Headlines

Sports water cooler headlines and sports gossip for Wednesday January 20th, 2010. Shea Matthews weighs in with his analysis and opinions on today’s sports action…

Wednesday Water Cooler – January 20, 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 topics…well, the stuff you discuss at the water cooler.

Enjoy!

The Big Aristotle has a big idea. Is it the most important news of the day? Maybe not. But it’s the most fun.

Let’s see what Shaq is up to.

NBA news: Shaq could save dunk contest and Haiti simultaneously

Shaquille O’Neal was a busy man yesterday. Not only did he become the fifth player in NBA history to reach 28,000 points (joining Abdul-Jabar, Jordan, Chamberlain and Malone), he came up with a fantastic idea for the ailing Slam Dunk Contest. He suggested that Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter enter the contest and that the winner earn a major cash prize. Half the prize would go to the champ and half would go toward Haiti relief. He also said he’d convince his “client,” LeBron James, to enter if Kobe and Vince did too.

Fingers crossed, as a trio like that would produce perhaps the best dunk contest ever.

Boxing news: Mayweather/Mosley, Pacquiao/Clottey the consolation prize for fans?

Ugh. Looks like Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather are both ready to waste half a year of their careers in relatively meaningless fights rather than mend fences and face each other. The 38-year-old Shane Mosley, Mayweather’s probable next opponent, lost to Miguel Cotto in 2007. Manny Pacquiao crushed Cotto, so that tells you how much of a downgrade Mosley is from Pacquiao as an opponent.

Meanwhile, Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent is likely Joshua Clottey – a man Cotto beat.

Where’s the challenge in this bout for Pac-Man? Sigh.Online Sports Betting at Sportsbook

NHL news: Lecavalier trade rumors swirl again

Well, it’s that time of year again. The NHL trade deadline is less than two months away and the Vinny Lecavalier rumors are back. This time, the New York Rangers appear to be the top suitors for his services. Lecavalier has just 13 goals in 49 games this year and didn’t make the Canadian Olympic team but has played much better over the last two months, tallying eight goals and 26 points in 24 games.

Vinny still has plenty of talent but the bottom line is that young, speedy Steven Stamkos is doing everything he used to do and Lecavalier makes $10 million per season through 2016. Only the Rangers are dumb enough to lock themselves into that salary, right?

Well, I guess the Islanders too (read: Rick DiPietro signed until the end of time).

NCAA basketball news: UConn coach Calhoun takes leave of absence

It’s easy to see why Connecticut Huskies players rally around coach Jim Calhoun so easily and often. The guy has beaten prostate cancer and two rounds of skin cancer.

Sadly, Calhoun is under the weather again; details weren’t disclosed, but he’s taken a medical leave of absence from UConn for a “temporary” problem that doesn’t involve any of his previous conditions.

The two-time national champion coach had his hands full already this season with UConn grinding out an 11-6 record and falling out of the Top 25.

Associate head coach George Blaney has his work cut out for him, especially with No.1 Texas coming to town this Saturday.

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