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July 15th 2010: Daily Sports News – Gossip – Headlines

Thursday Water Cooler – July 15th, 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!

Most sports eyes are likely focused on the British Open – which opened with a bang when Rory McIlroy tied a major championship record with a 63. But what else is happening out there?

MLB news: Braves ship Yunel Escobar to Blue Jays; Votto gives All-Star teammate the shoulder

The Atlanta Braves are right in the middle of a pennant race and were fed up of dragging the struggling Yunel Escobar along with them. Reportedly, he wasn’t meshing with the very-good chemistry the rest of the team has. So the Braves decided to ship the talented but enigmatic 27-year-old to the Blue Jays.

Atlanta sent Escobar and Jo-Jo Reyes to Toronto for another shortstop, Alex Gonzalez, plus prospects Tim Collins and Tyler Pastornicky.

The key to the deal was the short-term help Atlanta hopes Gonzalez can provide. He showed excellent pop in his half-season with the Jays, smashing 17 homers and plating 50 runs in 85 games.

Joy Votto has been a monster this season, posting an OPS above 1.000, an average well north of .300 and on pace for 40-plus homers. But, apparently, he needs to stay serious – really serious – to maintain the focus needed to keep dominating.

When asked about National League All-Star teammate and Chicago Cub Marlon Byrd’s heads-up play in the outfield, which helped win the game and clinch home field in the World Series for the NL, Votto declined to give Byrd any props:

“I don’t like the Cubs. And I’m not going to pat anybody with a Cubs uniform on the back. But because he made that really cool play, it turned out to be a really cool experience. I’m really glad we got the win today.”

NFL news: Woodson escapes house fire; Terrell Owens eyes Patriots?

Packer fans can thank their lucky stars that the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year is alive and kicking. Charles Woodson escaped a burning house in Bay Harbor, Michigan over the weekend when he was a guest at an overnight charity celebration. Luckily, he and the guests were awake then the fire started.

Is Terrell Owens hoping to line up opposite Randy Moss? He recently told a Boston radio station that he’d “definitely be open” to joining the Patriots for the 2010 season. He added that he’s “like LeBron James” and can put aside money or accept a lesser role to win.

NBA news: Nets hire Billy King as general manager; Turkoglu-for-Barbosa swap made official

Billy King is the next New Jersey Nets general manager. He accepted their offer yesterday and will helm a team for the first time since he piloted the up-and-down Philadelphia 76ers rollercoaster from 1997-2007. New head coach Avery Johnson endorsed the hiring strongly.

At least all of Bryan Colangelo’s moves didn’t fall apart this week. Hedo Turkoglu for Leandro Barbosa and Dwayne Jones was finally made official yesterday. Also, Al Harrington is now a Denver Nugget. After averaging 17.7 points with the Knicks last season, he signed a five-year, $34-million deal.

As for the rumor mill, the latest whispers have the Los Angeles Clippers pursuing Tracy McGrady. The wilder rumor is that T-Mac desperately wants to play with LeBron James and would take a major discount to play in Miami’s circus.

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By Cappers Picks

Articles on CappersPicks.com are written by Q (the Head Honcho) at Cappers Picks or by our resident "in house" handicapper Razor Ray Monohan! Enjoy the free picks folks! "Pad that bankroll one day at a time!"