Monday Water Cooler – July 12th, 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!
After a week-long hiatus, the daily news returns. Something tells me I missed some stuff while I was gone. Anybody sign LeBron?
We’ll assume you watched the Shakespearean play that was the World Cup final yesterday, so we’ll move on to the other sports.
NBA news: Cuban accuses Heat of tampering; Turkoglu for Barbosa complete?
Given the level of media coverage and outrage (or joy, depending on whom you cheer for) the big three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh generated when they joined the Miami Heat last week, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that tampering allegations have started flying.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban plans to ask the NBA’s Board of Governors to perform a full tampering inquiry, as he’s skeptical about the methods Miami used to woo the big three. Sounds like a sore loser talking to me.
Sorry, Mark, but the three guys are friends. Most people think they agreed to sign together two years ago when they were teammates at the 2008 Olympics.
Maybe Derek Fisher could host his own “decision” special this week? He may not get 10 million viewers like LeBron did but he’ll at least have the Lakers and Heat’s front offices watching. Both teams are reportedly vying for free agent guard’s services.
The deal isn’t confirmed but it seems likely to be announced today: Hedo Turkoglu heading to Phoenix, Leandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw off to Toronto.
I’d have to assume Jose Calderon’s days are numbered if that’s the case.
MLB news: Rays to acquire Corey Hart?
After the Texas Rangers loaded up with the Cliff Lee trade, the Tampa Bay Rays could be the next American League contender to make a move.
Reportedly, they’re targeting lanky Brewers slugger Corey Hart. The enigmatic outfielder struggled in 2009 but is enjoying a career year in 2010, mashing at a 42-homer, 130-RBI pace while batting .288.
My prediction: Wade Davis would be headed the other way. Stay tuned, as the All-Star break will give teams plenty of time to scheme.
NHL news: Mike Fisher signs Carrie Underwood to long-term deal
I know Ilya Kovalchuk is supposedly the NHL’s most sought after commodity this offseason.
But methinks no hockey mind made a greater acquisition than Mike Fisher this week. The Senators’ two-way center married country star, American Idol winner and bona fide hottie Carrie Underwood.
Clap, clap, clap.
Kovalchuk update: most pundits expect him to be announced as a Los Angeles King as early as today. Keep refreshing your hockey news pages!
NFL news: Antonio Pierce retires; Dennis Green’s son arrested on child pornography charges
After a nine-year career that culminated in a Super Bowl title in 2008 with the Giants, linebacker Antonio Pierce is retiring. The former Giants’ captain will join the ESPN team as an NFL analyst.
Former NFL head coach Dennis Green’s son, Jeremy, is in hot water. He was released from his NFL analyst job by ESPN this week following his arrest on a child pornography charge in Connecticut.
Bristol police say Green was picked up Thursday and had child porn, narcotics and drug paraphernalia on him.
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