Wednesday Water Cooler – March 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!
Week 1 of NFL free agency continues to buzz with news. Let’s find out the latest comings and goings.
NFL news: Jones to Chiefs, Randle El back to Steeltown
The signings continue. Perhaps the biggest shocker yesterday was the Kansas City Chiefs announcing they’d signed running back Thomas Jones (terms undisclosed). It’s not that Jones doesn’t have something left to offer at age 31 – he has two straight seasons of at least 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns – but Jamaal Charles broke out with 1,120 yards of his own for K.C. in 2009. It’s anyone’s guess as to whether or not these guys accept a timeshare.
If you can’t beat ’em, rejoin ’em. Antwaan Randle El couldn’t win anything as a Washington Redskin and thus decided to return to the city that treated him well and earned him a Super Bowl ring. He returned to the Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Patriots added cornerback Leigh Bodden on a four-year deal, Will Witherspoon went to Tennessee and the Browns cut Derek Anderson (mercifully) before acquiring Seneca Wallace from Seattle. Hey – maybe Wallace, a receiver turned quarterback, can pass to himself, as the Browns aren’t good at catching or throwing.
MLB news: Strasburg sparkles in debut; Nomar saying goodbye
All aboard the hype train. Stephen Strasburg looked the part of major-league pitcher in his spring-training debut yesterday, hurling two scoreless innings against the Detroit Tigers. His fastball topped out around 98 MPH – not approaching his high of 103, but still pretty darned good – and he struck out two batters, including Miguel Cabrera, to get out of a jam. A few more outings like this and the Nats will have a tough time keeping him in the minors for long, if at all.
It wasn’t quite “short ‘n’ sweet,” but it sure did feel like Nomar Garciaparra never quite became the superstar he should. The talent was there, as his .313 career average showed, but he just couldn’t stay healthy. He’ll announce his retirement today and leaves the game with 229 homers, two batting titles, six All-Star selections and a Rookie of the Year Award. Happy trails, No-mah. Give our regards to Mia.
NBA news: Dunleavy gets the hook; another buzzer-beater for Kobe
The writing was already on the wall for Mike Dunleavy after he stepped down as Los Angeles Clippers head coach a month ago. It was only a matter of time before he lost his role as GM and the axe finally fell yesterday. The Clippers have parted ways with Dunleavy. It’s the right move but, for all of us pundits out there, it’s a sad one. We just lost some major comedy material.
What’s the best way for Kobe Bryant to make people forget about his missed buzzer-beater attempt against Orlando a few days ago? Right the wrong by draining a buzzer beater. His latest victim: the Toronto Raptors, whom Kobe killed last night with a 17-footer that gave the Lakers a 109-107 lead with 1.9 seconds left.
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