Water Cooler – February 4th, 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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Today’s Sports News – NFL news: Donald Driver misses practice; Mark Sanchez doesn’t require shoulder surgery; Ahmad Bradshaw has ankle surgery
Will veteran Donald Driver be among the walking wounded for Super Bowl XLV? The Packers wideout has been limited during practice over the last few days with a thigh injury. He reportedly wanted to practice yesterday but coach Mike McCarthy said “I’m not taking chances with him.”
It turns out Mark Sanchez doesn’t need surgery on his throwing shoulder after all. An MRI on his right shoulder revealed that the damage wasn’t significant enough for him to go under the knife. Doctors said he’ll have to rehab the shoulder during the offseason, however.
Ahmad Bradshaw isn’t so lucky. The Giants’ featured back, who ran for 1,235 yards and eight scores this year, requires surgery on his left ankle. He’ll have the procedure done next week to “clean out” the ankle.
MLB news: Andy Pettitte retires
The big Cajun is walking away. Starting pitcher Andy Pettitte, baseball’s all-time playoff wins leader, is set to announce his retirement today. He went 240-138 with a 3.88 ERA over 16 big-league seasons, winning five World Series titles. A model of consistency, he was 19-10 with a 3.83 postseason ERA. Happy trails, Andy.
NBA news: Knicks fined for hosting illegal workouts; All-Star reserves named; record-breaking night for LeBron James
The NBA has fined the New York Knicks and Rodney Heard, their director of East scouting, $200,000 for holding illegal draft workouts. In both 2007 and 2010, the Knicks worked out college prospects in May. Since they did so before the NBA’s predraft camp that month, they violated league rules restricting contract with draft-eligible college players.
The NBA All-Star reserves were named yesterday, with Boston Celtics occupying four of the seven available spots in the East. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen will join Atlanta’s Al Horford and Joe Johnson plus Chris Bosh of the Heat.
In the West, Spurs Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan made the squad as reserves. Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook and Blake Griffin also made the team.
LeBron James had a game for the ages against the Orlando Magic last night. He exploded for 51 points and 11 boards, becoming the first player to hit those two numbers since Michael Jordan in 1989. He scored 23 points in the opening frame to set a Miami Heat first-quarter scoring record.
NHL news: New Sabres owner cannot move team
Buffalo Sabres fans spooked by new owner Terry Pegula can breathe a sigh of relief. Under the terms of his $189-million deal to purchase the team, he’ll never be allowed to relocate it.
Current majority owner B. Thomas Golisano won’t make a deal without a no-movement clause. He received an offer worth $70 million more than the current deal but it would’ve included moving the team, so he turned it down.
NCAA basketball news: Mississippi State coach bans Twitter
After Mississippi State players took to Twitter and expressed their feelings following a big loss to Alabama this week, coach Rick Stansbury has banned the social networking site from the team.
Ravern Johnson, the team’s leading scorer, tweeted after the 75-61 defeat: “starting to see why people Transfer you can play the minutes but not getting your talents shown because u watching someone else wit the ball the whole game.”
He and teammate Renardo Sidney also reportedly criticized fans. Both of their accounts have been deleted.
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