Monday’s Water Cooler – March 1, 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!
The Winter Olympics are over and they were a Games to remember, leaving us breathless on a wild final day. The men’s hockey thriller kicks off the day’s news.
Olympics news: Canada, U.S. both come out winners in hockey
In a literal sense, it was Canada’s day. Sidney Crosby’s overtime winner to clinch the gold medal in men’s hockey was a shot heard round the country and Canada’s 14 gold medals were a Winter Games record. But Team USA also leaves Vancouver with plenty to celebrate. Not only did the U.S. lead in total medals, it showed that its hockey program is now elite, coming within a goal of the gold.
Also, it appears Sunday’s excitement won over some fans. The gold medal matchup was the highest-rated hockey game in America since 1980; it drew more viewers than any World Series game since 2004, every NBA Finals game since 1998 and every NCAA basketball game since 1998. Maybe there’s hope for hockey in the U.S. after all.
NBA news: Jordan buys Bobcats; name change to come?
Right under our noses during all the Olympic distraction, His Royal Airness opened his wallet. Michael Jordan bought the Charlotte Bobcats. Now, according to Charlotte newspapers, fans (the Bobcats have fans?) are sending in demands for a name change. Charlotte Space Jam, anyone?
Shaquille O’Neal’s thumb injury turned out to be pretty much the worst-case scenario. The thumb requires surgery and will keep the Big Aristotle sidelined for six to eight weeks. Naturally, the Cavs just hope he’ll return in time for an inevitable spring playoff battle against Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic.
NFL news: League to change overtime rules for playoffs?
The NFL is considering an interesting change to overtime rules for the playoffs starting next year. Under the new rules, if the team with first possession in O.T. scored only a field goal, the other team would get a possession and chance to tie. Any touchdown for either team would mean an automatic win; if the first team didn’t score, any type of score from the second team would mean a victory.
One team that doesn’t have to worry about the new rules anytime soon is the Buffalo Bills. They let Terrell Owens walk after one season, in which he caught 55 passes for 829 yards and five scores. I can only assume T.O. has eight missed calls from Al Davis on his phone already.
Quick NFL combine update: don’t count out Sam Bradford as a potential No. 1 pick for St. Louis. By showing up at 236 pounds, with 13 pounds of muscle added to his frame, he quelled concerns about his durability. It should be an interesting draft this spring.
NASCAR news: Tough stock-car debut for Danica Patrick
Not the start Miss Go Daddy was looking for. Danica Patrick’s first stock-car race didn’t go as hoped, as she crashed just 83 laps into the Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. She got tangled up with Michael McDowell’s rear bumper and both cars spun out. Next up, she returns to the IndyCar circuit; she’ll have to wait until June before she tries another NASCAR Nationwide Series race.
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