Water Cooler – October 13th, 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!
For the second straight day, we open with news about the Atlanta Braves’ managerial situation.
MLB news; Braves set to hire Fredi Gonzalez as manager?
Bobby Cox is the Atlanta Braves’ manager no more but the franchise may already have his successor lined up. Ex-Florida Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez has been rumored to take over the job for months and it looks like he could be named the Braves’ new manager any day now.
Gonzalez, who was Cox’s third-base coach from 2003-2006, spent three and a half years managing the Marlins. He fell out of favor with the organization when he benched star shortstop Hanley Ramirez for lack of hustle and was fired during the 2010 season.
NFL news: Cedric Griffin out for season; Saints cut Carney, sign Julius Jones; Goodell to meet with Favre?
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Cedric Griffin just can’t catch a break. He fought hard to recover from a torn ACL this offseason, returning after just eight months of intense rehab. He returned to the Vikings’ starting lineup in Week 3. However, he tore his ACL again this past Monday night – in the other knee. Griffin is out for the season and will have to repeat his entire rehab process.
The New Orleans Saints, still in a fog after a surprising loss to Arizona last week, made a few roster tweaks yesterday. They signed veteran running back Julius Jones, formerly of the Cowboys and Seahawks. They also cut kicker John Carney, opening the path for Garrett Hartley to take back the starting job.
Will NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell give Brett Favre the Ben Roethlisberger treatment? Too early to tell. Goodell says he has no plans yet to meet with Favre regarding the racy texts and crude photos he allegedly sent to Jenn Sterger. He wants to wait for more evidence, just as he originally did with Big Ben.
NHL news: James Wisniewski, Niklas Hjalmarsson suspended two games; Brian Rafalski injured
New York Islanders defenseman James Wisniewski and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson have been suspended two games each for separate incidents.
Wisniewski got his ban for making an obscene gesture at – who else? – Sean Avery during Monday’s 6-4 victory over the Rangers. Because he was suspended for a dirty hit last year, Wisniewski is now considered a “repeat offender” under the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement.
Chicago’s Hjalmarsson is a first-timer but he certainly made an ugly impression with his cheap shot from behind on Buffalo’s Jason Pominville. He got a game misconduct for the play and will now serve a two-game suspension for the hit.
The Detroit Red Wings will soldier on without veteran blueliner Brian Rafalski for the next three to four weeks. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery this week. The Wings say they won’t place him on injured reserve, however.
NBA news: LeBron James leaves Heat game early against CSKA Moscow
Already missing Dwyane Wade, the Miami Heat’s Big Three got another scare last night against CSKA Moscow. Late in the third quarter, LeBron James hobbled off the court and into the locker room clutching his hamstring. However, he returned to the bench early in the fourth quarter without a limp. The team says he was simply cramping. Phew.
Comments are welcome below!
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