Water Cooler – February 21st, 2011
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.
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Top PUBLIC Bets Today:
#1. 52 Islanders 72%
#2. 55 Capitals 68%
#3. 728 UTEP 64%
#4. 702 Villanova 61%
#5. 711 W. Carolina 59%
#6. 53 Blackhawks 58%
#7. 725 Kent St. 57%
#8. 706 Kansas 57%
#9. 707 Samford 55%
#10. 709 Furman 54%
NBA news: Decision day for Carmelo Anthony? D-Wade hurt in All-Star Game; Kings moving to Anaheim? Camby to retire if traded? Deron Williams to Knicks? 
With the All-Star weekend complete and the trade deadline just days away, we have lots of news to sort through today.
First off – today looks like it’ll be “decision day” for Carmelo Anthony, at least regarding his future with the New Jersey Nets. The Nets and Nuggets reportedly have a deal in place already: Anthony , Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Melvin Ely and Renaldo Balkman to New Jersey for Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, Ben Uzoh, Troy Murphy’s contract, and four first-round picks.
Melo, who reportedly had a very positive meeting with New Jersey owner Mikhail Prokhorov over the weekend, plans to decide today whether not to accept the deal and sign a contract extension for three years and $65 million.
As fluffy as the NBA All-Star Game is, it still produced a casualty on Sunday. Dwayne Wade stepped on Deron Williams’ foot during the action and aggravated his nagging ankle injury. Though the injury still doesn’t look serious, his status is in doubt for Miami’s big game Thursday against the Chicago Bulls.
Are the Sacramento Kings planning a move to Anaheim? Owner Joe Maloof is considering applying for permission to move for next season by the March 1 deadline. He tried to secure a new arena in Sacramento but failed.
Think Marcus Camby gets traded before the deadline this week? Don’t be so sure. The veteran center is adamant about not relocating his family. Reportedly, he’d consider retiring immediately if he’s traded.
I have to feel a bit sorry for Knicks point guard Raymond Felton. Even though he’s having a great season, New York is dangling him as part of its Carmelo Anthony offer. Now, Jazz guard Deron Williams is openly saying he wants to join the Knicks after his four-year, $70-million contract expires in 2012. Last year, Williams said “it’s now or never” for the Jazz to compete for an NBA Championship.
NFL news: Atogwe to meet with Redskins; Duerson requested brain exam before suicide; Eagles want king’s ransom for Kolb
Even though O.J. Atogwe has the most forced turnovers by any NFL player since 2005, the St. Louis Rams released him this offseason. The safety has several suitors and will reportedly visit the Washington Redskins today.
Dave Duerson, a four-time Pro Bowler with the Chicago Bears and New York Giants, was found dead Thursday with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest. Reportedly, the former Super Bowl winning safety had sent text messages to his family asking that his brain be examined for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the condition linked to at least a dozen deceased NFL players.
Duerson’s family will donate his brain to the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at the Boston University School of Medicine for research.
Even if Kevin Kolb wants to be traded and get his chance to start at quarterback for another NFL team, the Philadelphia Eagles aren’t making it easy. They want “a first-round pick and more” for him, with “more” likely meaning a third-round pick.
MLB news: Alfredo Simon to be cleared of manslaughter charges; Michael Young addresses teammates
Alfredo Simon may play Major League Baseball in 2011 after all. While he’s still currently being detained as a suspect in the New Year’s Eve murder of Michel Esteban Castillo, the ballistics report shows that the bullet that killed Castillo didn’t come from Simon’s gun. It looks like he’ll be cleared of manslaughter charges in the next 10 days.
On the first day of Texas Rangers spring training Monday, Michael Young addressed his teammates and vowed not to let the trade rumors surrounding him be a distraction. There’s no current suitor for the third baseman, as the Rockies backed out after balking at Texas’ asking price.
NHL news: Marian Gaborik out indefinitely with concussion
The NHL has yet another concussion victim. This time, it’s oft-injured New York Rangers sniper Marian Gaborik. He left Sunday’s game against the Flyers but team doctors aren’t sure if he actually sustained the injury in that game. Gaborik has 17 goals in 47 games during a disappointing 2010-11 campaign.
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