Water Cooler – September 29th, 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!
Jay Bruce and the Cincinnati Reds take center stage in the news today, as we have several more playoff berth clinchings to announce.
MLB news: Reds clinch NL Central on Bruce’s walkoff homer; Rays and Yankees clinch playoff berths
The Cincinnati Reds are back in the playoffs for the first time since 1995. Jay Bruce sealed the book on the National League Central with a walkoff homer off Tim Byrdak to give Cincy a 3-2 win over Houston. The Reds, who sit at 88 wins, will now wait for a National League Division Series opponent: one of Atlanta, San Francisco or San Diego.
The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays haven’t settled the American League East yet but they’re both assured spots in the postseason now. C.C. Sabathia led the Bronx Bombers over New York with his 21st win of the year and Tampa clinched on the strength of David Price’s eight scoreless innings against Baltimore.
NFL news: Packers’ nick Collins feuds with Bears fan; Jaguars claim Trent Edwards
After a bitter, penalty-laden loss to the Bears on Monday night, the Packers got a little insult added to their injury when a Chicago fan got under safety Nick Collins’ skin.
The fan allegedly spat on Collins and yelled a racial slur. Collins reciprocated by hurling his mouth guard at the fan. Collins later apologized for “losing his cool” but, if the fan really attacked him like that, can you blame Collins?
The Jacksonville Jaguars claimed Bills castoff quarterback Trent Edwards off waivers yesterday. Not exactly a vote of confidence for David Garrard, is it?
NHL news: David Frost resurfaces in California; Michael Leighton out one month
Remember David Frost? The target of Mike Danton’s murder-for-hire plot? The coach-turned-agent who ran the cult-like junior hockey teams and sexually exploited youngsters?
He’s back – under the name “Jim McCauley” at the Laguna Hockey Academy in California. He denies that he’s coaching kids but has apparently taken on some sort of leadership role at the state-of-the-art training facility. He insists that he’s not hiding or living a secret life and that he only changed his name to avoid attracting too much attention.
The Philadelphia Flyers made a bold move when they anointed Michael Leighton their starting goaltender for 2010-11. It’s backfiring now, though it’s not really their fault. Leighton will miss roughly a month with a bulging disc in his back. Teammate Ian Laperriere is also out with post-concussion syndrome.
NBA news: Carmelo-to-Nets deal is “dead”
Perhaps Carmelo Anthony will start the season with the Denver Nuggets after all. A source told the Associated Press yesterday that the rumored four-team blockbuster that would send Melo to the New Jersey Nets is “dead.” For now, Anthony is practicing with his current team – and hard, according to George Karl.
NCAA football news: Oregon extends coach Chip Kelly’s contract
Chip Kelly will remain the Oregon Ducks’ man on the sidelines until at least 2015 after the Ducks announced his contract extension yesterday. The deal will pay him $2.4 million with performance incentives this season and the base pay will rise year to year.
In Kelly’s first season with the Ducks, Oregon went 10-3, won the Pac-10 championship and reached the Rose Bowl. Kelly is the only coach to win the Pac-10 in his first year.
Comments are welcome below!
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