WATERCOOLER CHAT: NL BRAGGING RIGHTS, DWIGHT HOWARD TALKS
BASEBALL
In MLB, the mid-summer classic now has National League bragging rights again. Justin Verlander, who has given up just seven earned runs all year in the first inning opened the game for the American League by giving up five. And from their the NL never looked back to win the game 8-0. The San Francisco Giants’ all-stars looked to be on fire with Matt Cain starting the game with two scoreless innings, Pablo Sandoval with a triple, three RBIs and a run scored, Buster Posey with a hit of his own and the game’s MVP Melky Cabrera with a 2-run home run off of Texas Ranger starter Matt Harrison. Chipper Jones gave a pep talk to the NL before the game, saying he didn’t want to go out with a loss. He singled through the right side in his at bat during the game and can now retire with a final All-Star Game win. Notably from last night, MLB allowed players to use twitter during the game, but only once they had exited.
 BASKETBALL
In the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets have joined back in on the Dwight Howard talks. The Cleveland Cavaliers have dropped out as the third team in a deal with the Brooklyn Nets and now it seems as though the Magic will take the best deal for them in the next 48 hours. But as teams are chasing the Miami Heat to be crowned NBA champions, the Heat are getting even better. Rashard Lewis, the veteran sharp shooter has given Miami a discount and taken close to the minimum. He has agreed to $2.8 million for two years. It appears as though Lewis, who has had one of the worst contracts in the NBA in the past, could have gotten more money from other teams, but now wants to play for the Miami Heat. He played just 28 games last year after being nagged by a right knee injury. The former all-star averaged nearly 8 points a game last year, but does have a career average of more than 16 points per game.
