Water Cooler – July 21st, 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!
We have a pile of rumors and rulings to sort through in today’s news.
MLB news: Rumors abound as trade deadline approaches; Carl Crawford injured; Piniella retiring
The NBA, NFL and NHL rumor mills haven’t disappointed us all summer but things have been relatively quiet on the baseball front. Not for long. Plenty of trade rumors are surfacing with the trade deadline less than two weeks away.
The Phillies may make the biggest summer splash for the second straight season. First off, they’re reportedly very interested in Houston’s Roy Oswalt, who somehow hasn’t be traded yet after requesting a deal, what, two months ago? We can only assume the Astros would want at least one of Philly’s elite prospects. Could that mean Dominic Brown? Hard to say.
The Phillies also may part with Jayson Werth soon. The talented outfielder has spent much of 2010 in Charlie Manuel’s doghouse and the Tampa bay Rays are reportedly trying to pry him from the Phillies. The Rays have pitching to spare with Jeremy Hellickson almost ready for the majors. They could deal Wade Davis or maybe even Jeff Niemann.
One reason why the Rays would be particularly interested in outfield help? Carl Crawford suffered a gruesome testicular injury last night. He got caught by a pickoff throw in the family jewels.
We’ll say goodbye to more than just Bobby Cox after the 2010 season. Cubs skipper Lou Piniella, 66, will retire after 23 years as a (mostly crazy) manager. The time seems to be right. Arguably, his best years are long gone. He was something special when he won it all with Cincinnati and helmed some very good Seattle teams in the 1990s but he gradually transformed into a crotchety old man after that.
NHL news: League rejects Kovalchuk’s contract
Justice is served. Two days after Ilya Kovalchuk signed a shady $102-million deal with New Jersey for 17 years, the NHL has officially rejected it on the grounds that it circumvents the salary cap.
Good on ya, NHL. The league is standing up for itself, realizing that Ilya Kovalchuk doesn’t plan to play for the Devils until age 44 and that the long term was simply engineered to reduce his salary cap hit. The big question now is: what happens to Kovalchuk? Does he leave New Jersey to join a team willing to take a $10-million cap hit instead of the $6 million New Jersey had lined up? Does he bolt for the KHL, fed up with NHL rules? Stay tuned.
NFL news: JaMarcus Russell pleads not guilty in drug case
At least JaMarcus Russell is finding ways to keep his name relevant – and not just on NFL draft bust lists. Yesterday, he pleaded not guilty to a drug possession charge in Alabama. He was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance: codeine syrup.
On August 11, a hearing will determine whether or not there is enough evidence around the case to send it to a grand jury.
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