Wednesday Water Cooler – June 30th, 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 seems like major tennis upsets are becoming so common that they’re not even news. Federer ousted by Tomas Berdych at Wimbledon? The Williams sisters eliminated in doubles? Sheesh. Let’s move on and see what else is happening in sports.
NBA news: Paul Pierce to opt out of contract
Oh boy. The ridiculous 2010 free agent crop just got even more exciting. Paul Pierce couldn’t resist the allure and is apparently opting out of next season’s $21.5-million salary with the Celtics. Yep. $21.5 just ain’t enough when you’re an NBA star. Instead, Pierce will reach for the stars and go for the four-year, $90-million deal.
The latest insane rumor to pop up? That LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh had a “summit” and decided they’d all sign with the same team. Wha? Two questions: (a) is that even financially possible and (b) could the team go 82-0 if they signed together?
Rumor has it Miami would be the ultra-team to sign the trio. But I wouldn’t count on that ridiculous coup happening – at least not with all three guys. Bosh may be headed to Miami in a sign-and-trade that nets the Raptors Michael Beasley and more.
NHL news: Habs trade Sergei Kostitsyn to Nashville
Maybe Carey Price won’t have the starting goalie job all to himself in Montreal next season after all. Two weeks after shipping Jaroslav Halak to St. Louis, Montreal acquired goalie Dan Ellis and forward Dustin Boyd from Nashville for Sergei Kostitsyn – who leaves behind brother Andrei.
Other stories to pop out of the NHL rumor mill on free agency eve: Dallas will let Mike Modano walk after 20 seasons and 42-year-old Mark Recchi, the NHL’s active assists leader, will return to Boston on a one-year deal for a 22nd season.
MLB news: Phillies lose half their infield
Jimmy Rollins is back from injury for now but two other chunks of the Philadelphia Phillies’ stellar infield are now DL bound. Chase Utley sprained his thumb and Placido Polanco has a sore elbow. Both have been sent back to Philadelphia, where doctors will determine how long they’ll be out. If it’s more than two weeks, the Phillies will reportedly explore some trades.
NFL news: Cedric Benson arrested for assault
Every time a guy cleans up his act in the NFL (read: Taylor, Lawrence) it seems he falls off the wagon again just as quickly. Bengals (who else?) running back Cedric Benson, who exploded for 1,251 rushing yards in just 13 games last year, was arrested Tuesday and charged with misdemeanor assault.
Allegedly, Benson punched a bar employee in the face at Annie West’s in Austin, Texas a month ago. The police arrest affidavit states that Benson first fought an unknown bar patron and suffered a bloody lip. Then, when staff tried to escort him outside, he punched one of them – bartender Bryan White.
White said that Benson, once outside, told passersby that “all these white boys are ganging up on me and kicking me out.”
Benson’s camp “looks forward” to telling his side of the story at the appropriate time.
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