Thursday Water Cooler – April 22nd, 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!
It’s NFL draft day! And there are rumors abound. Naturally, we’ll start the daily news with all that crazy chatter.
NFL news: Rams to trade top pick? Big Ben to stay? Clausen to fall?
I suppose it’s common for rumors to fly all over the place on draft day but, even so, I can’t remember hearing as many as I’ve heard leading up to tonight’s draft. First off, there’s the St. Louis Rams and Sam Bradford. They’re reportedly listening to offers from Washington, which remains high on him. There’s also a rumor that Bradford has a knee injury but the source who leaked it could very well be from a team who wants Bradford to slip.
Then there’s Ben Roethlisberger. He’s already been suspended for six games and we’ve heard that the Jaguars, Bills, Rams and Raiders were all interested in acquiring him, but now it appears Pittsburgh may be stuck with Big Ben. Only the Raiders were left as a serious suitor entering today and they don’t want to part with the eighth pick in the draft.
Jimmy Clausen’s draft-day stock is plummeting, so much that some experts believe the Vikings can get him at 30th overall. I suppose that would make sense, as Clausen could learn under Brett Favre if No. 4 returns for another year.
I could go on forever. Albert Haynesworth could well get dealt back to Tennessee before the Titans pick at 16th and Darren McFadden could be on the move too.
If you’re superstitious, don’t count on a New Orleans Saints Super Bowl repeat. Fans voted in Drew Brees as the cover model forthe next Madden NFL video game. If you believe in the Madden Curse – I do – Brees could be in for a world of pain this year! Just ask Daunte Culpepper, Marshall Faulk, Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb, Troy Polamalu…and I skipped a few names.
MLB news: Piniella ships Big Z to the bullpen
Ouch. Carlos Zambrano’s history of slow starts finally caught up to him yesterday when Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella demoted the big, fiery hurler to the bullpen.
I have to say – it’s a curious move. Sure, Big Z is starting slowly, but he’s a $17.9-million man and we don’t see Justin Verlander or Jon Lester getting sent to the bullpen, do we? Big Z has posted an ERA under 4.00 in all eight of his full seasons and he’s one of nine active pitchers with 100 winsand a .600 winning percentage.
Looks like Lou – and the Cubbies – have lost it.
NBA news: Brooks named Coach of the Year; LeBron loves Chicago
Atta boy, Scott Brooks. He deservedly took NBA Coach of the Year honors yesterday. He’s pretty deserving when you consider that Oklahoma City started 3-29 last season and won 50 games this year.
After the Bulls’ Joakim Noah dragged the city of Cleveland through the mud, the Cavs’ LeBron James opted not to return the favor about Chicago. He told reporters yesterday that he loved the city, the restaurants and the shopping, and that he’s vacationed there before.
Good for LeBron for taking the high road. On the other hand, did he have a choice? He couldn’t have tried to make Cleveland sound better than Chicago. That would be like saying “Yeah, I’m dating Rosie O’Donnell, but you’re dating Megan Fox…and she…uh, has bad breath.” It just doesn’t work, does it?
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