Monday Water Cooler – May 17th, 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!
NBA news: LeBron wants John Calipari; Phil Jackson accuses Steve Nash of travelling
Chapter One of “As LeBron’s World Turns” begins today. The first wild rumor to pop up is that LeBron is open to staying in Cleveland – if the Cavs make a major power play on the coaching front. He’s referring to soon-to-be-ex Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari.
LeBron wants to hand pick his coach and optimize his chances of winning if he stays in Cleveland and Calipari is reportedly the man he wants.
Phil Jackson isn’t just a legendary coach because he gets huge egos to function together; he’s also a master of mind games and planting seeds of doubt in opponents’ heads.
His latest move was to publicly suggest that Steve Nash travels with the basketball.
Nash shrugged it off and fired back indirectly by calling Gregg Popovich the best coach in the league, but could the subconscious damage be done?
NFL news: Broncos’ tackle McChensey may have career-ending injury; Romo wants to participate in PGA qualifying
It consistently amazes me how often athletes get hurt in freak off-field accidents. Remember Clint Barmes with the deer meat?
Barmes suffered that accident playing for the Colorado Rockies; now another Denver-based franchise, has a bizarre accident to report. Broncos backup offensive tackle Matt McChesney suffered a major ankle injury recently when he was hit by a golf cart.
It was the same ankle he had surgery on last year and, instead of another lengthy rehab, he’s leaning toward retirement.
Tony Romo isn’t retiring – but he may have to if he wants to qualify for a PGA event. Romo earned a spot in open qualifying for the Byron Nelson Championship, this week’s Tour stop, which takes place a few miles from the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facility. Unfortunately, his tee-off time conflicts with the Cowboys’ first organized team activities of the offseason.
Romo insists that football comes first and will have to miss the PGA qualifier.
Too bad; he shot a 72 at a pre-qualifier last week.
MLB news: Doug Davis out with heart condition
It’s been a tough road in recent years for Milwaukee Brewers hurler Doug Davis, who has already beaten thyroid cancer. Now, he’s landed on the DL with pericarditis, an inflammation of the membrane surrounding his heart.
He woke up Saturday morning feeling like he was having a heart attack.
The condition isn’t thought to be related to his cancer and appears to be a mild case. That means Davis could return in a few weeks but doctors have warned him not to rush back, as he could do long-term damage to his health if he does.
NHL news: Washington signs Nicklas Backstrom to 10-year extension
You have to hand it to NHL teams for knowing how to lock up their stars – forever. Nicklas Backstrom established himself as a premiere playmaking centerman this season, tying for fourth in league scoring with 101 points, including 33 goals. The Capitals rewarded him today by signing the Swede to a 10-year extension worth $67 million.
He’ll stay alongside Alex Ovechkin for the duration of that deal, as Ovie is two years through his 13-year deal.
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