WATERCOOLER CHAT: UNC STEPS UP, SMOKE IN NBA, TOMLIN FINED 100K
BASKETBALL
In college basketball, the #1 Michigan State Spartans took on an unranked North Carolina team. This UNC Tar Heels team is quite enigmatic, as they can show up as the team who handed defending champion Louisville their first loss in 10 months earlier this season, or the team who lost to Belmont and UAB. Seemingly, they are the team that shows up and plays to the level of their opponent. Kennedy Meeks stepped up for UNC with 16 points and 8 rebounds, as the Tar Heels stunned the Spartans. UNC will be a tough team to pick or pick against come tourney time. UNC 79, Michigan State 65.
In the NBA, the league was hoping that their move into Mexico City would prove a positive experience for their international push. It was supposed to be a fun match-up between the San Antonio Spurs and the Minnesota Timberwolves. But, a generator malfunction caused the arena to fill up with smoke, and the game had to be postponed. This doesn’t bode well for a league that imagines playing all over the world, as some international facilities may not have the capability to host them.
FOOTBALL
In the NFL, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is still under fire for stepping on the field and almost tripping a Ravens special teams player on Thanksgiving. It now looks like the NFL isn’t accepting his “it was an accident” excuse, and will be fining him $100,000. That’s a lot of money, but the big penalty may be the Steelers possibly losing draft picks in the upcoming draft. The draft is where you build for the future, and if you lose picks, you are at a serious disadvantage in the competitive NFL. It’s even possible that Tomlin could lose his job at the end of the season.
