Archive for June 18th, 2012

WATERCOOLER CHAT: HEAT UP BY ONE, COLLEGE WORLD SERIES, LADAINIAN RETIRES

BASKETBALL

In the NBA, it was Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City and the Miami Heat.  But this time, the series was back in LeBron and Wade’s house.  With the series tied at a game a piece, the Heat were looking to take the advantage.  The Thunder came to play.  They got a solid game from Kevin Durant (25 points, 6 rebounds), but Durant got himself in foul trouble in the third quarter with the Thunder leading and had to sit.  That allowed  LeBron and the Heat to close out the quarter on a 15-3 run and send us into the 4th quarter neck and neck.  Then, in the 4th, it stayed tight, but with under 5 minutes to go, LeBron and the Heat kicked it into another gear to suddenly find themselves up by 7.  Remember though — the Thunder never go away, and a key steal from Thabo Sefolosha picking Dwayne Wade put the game within 3.  Then a Westbrook jumper pulled the Thunder within 1.  Uh-oh.  But, fear not, LeBron took back over, drove the lane, hit shots, went to the line, and helped the Heat close out the Thunder.  Miami now leads 2-1 in the series, with the next 2 games in Miami.  Can they finish it up on their home floor?

BASEBALL

This weekend kicked off the College World Series.  The Series boasted the usual names:  UCLA, Florida State, Florida, and… Stony Brook?  Yep, a (very) small east coast school has snuck into the college world series as a Cinderella.  We’re used to seeing that in college basketball, but college baseball?  That’s rare, especially given the vicious recruiting that’s out there.  Unfortunately for Stony Brook, their run wouldn’t end with them hoisting up the championship trophy.  They lost to UCLA and then, on Sunday, Florida State handed them their second loss to end their fairy tale.  Tough break, but what a great story it was.  Florida State 12, Stony Brook 2.

FOOTBALL

And finally, in the NFL, it will be the end of an era Monday in San Diego, as superstar running-back and future Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson is going to retire.  The Chargers signed him to a 1-day contract, so he could retire with the team where he had his glory days.  Tomlinson had a remarkable run through most of the previous decade.  Before Tomlinson, the Chargers were trying to rebound from the not so wonderful Ryan Leaf era (a QB who was supposed to be a superstar, but completely disappointed).  When Tomlinson joined the Chargers, he immediately refreshed their hopes.  He won the MVP in 2006, and set, and still holds, the single season touchdown record at 31.  Tomlinson came from TCU, and put them on the map as a national powerhouse.  Plus, it’s definitely worth mentioning that he was in the Top 3 in Fantasy Draft Picks for at least 5 seasons.    He will be missed both by fans and definitely fantasy football owners.  One of the best running-backs of a generation.

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