Friday Water Cooler – January 15, 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!
Finally, we have order in the sports universe. Kurt Warner is complaining about head shots, the Tigers are scrambling to find a closer and LeBron James is teasing us with dunk contest chatter.
Everything is as it should be.
NFL news: Warner things he’s being picked on
Kurt Warner’s rumoured (imminent?) retirement has been a hot topic this season and, not coincidentally, so has his concussion trouble. Warner missed Week 12 with concussion-like symptoms and has taken more than his share of blows to the noggin during his great career. He has also been very public about his fear of taking another serious headshot; that’s a big reason why he’s leaning toward retirement.
Now, his concerns have reached a new level. He told a Phoenix radio station this week that he believes opposing defenders are taking more cracks at his head than normal of late. He didn’t blatantly accuse anyone of deliberately doing it, however. I wonder if this is Warner’s way of (a) getting defenders to hesitate before they hit him and (b) getting refs’ attention before the game so that they’re extra strict on any high hits. Is it slimy? Maybe. But it’s a smart strategy.
Preparation for next season continues among the non-playoff teams. Interim Bills head coach Perry Fewell is off to the Meadowlands to become the Giants’ next defensive co-ordinator. With a Bills team missing a boatload of starters, Fewell led a group that at least defended the pass pretty well. The Giants allowed 31 touchdown passes this year whereas the Bills allowed 14. Congrats, Mr. Fewell – not for the job, but for escaping Buffalo.
MLB news: Marlins start operation “spend money”; Tigers continue operation “spend money”
It didn’t take long for the Marlins to comply with pressure from Major League Baseball and the players’ union to spend more money. The first beneficiary of the farewell to thrift: Josh Johnson. The budding ace and Tommy John surgery survivor signed a four-year extension with $39 million dollars.
Could the Detroit Tigers’ closing woes finally be over? They inked Jose Valverde to a two-year, $14-million deal on Thursday. Valverde has two seasons of 40-plus saves, a 3.17 career ERA and a whopping 470 strikeouts in 386 career innings. He also doesn’t play Guitar Hero, as far as anyone knows, so he has a decent chance for a healthy and productive season in Detroit.
NBA news: Unsung hero overshadows LeBron…or does he?
For once, LeBron couldn’t be the hero for his team last night. Instead, it was a relative unknown for the opposing team. Sundiata Gaines, playing on a 10-day contract, drained a Disney movie-esque three-ball at the buzzer to lead the Utah Jazz over the Cavs 97-96. It was, naturally, the first three-pointer of Gaines’ career.
But while LeBron didn’t get the glory last night, he could steal it right back for the All-Star weekend this year. He’s reportedly 50/50 now to compete in this season’s Slam Dunk Contest after first saying he was in, then backing out. He’s feeling the heat from NBA brass, including fellowSaturday Night Live host Charles Barkley, who publicly called out LeBron on air. Here’s hoping he injects some life into a competition that hasn’t matched the high of the famous Vince Carter/Tracy McGrady/Steve Francis contest nearly a decade ago.
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