Archive for March, 2014

WATERCOOLER CHAT: NCAA TOURNAMENT SEEDS SET, MORE FREE AGENT MOVES

BASKETBALL

This weekend… a wonderful preview of the madness of March in college basketball.  Florida went on to win the SEC, Virginia ousted Duke to win the ACC, UCLA upset Arizona to win the Pac 10, and Michigan State returned to the greatness we saw at the beginning of the season to crush Michigan for the Big 10.  That’s what the tournament committee needed to see to be able to place them correctly.

When it came time for the selection show, the #1 seeds were Virginia, Arizona, Florida, and the undefeated mid-major Wichita State.  These are not the typical #1 seeds we’re used to seeing.  Most of them are programs on the rise.  Can they all get to the Final Four?  This year has arguably more parity than any year before it so anything goes.  There is no easy road, and there are some fantastic teams ranked #2, #3, #4 and even #5 that have just as much of a chance of winning this whole thing.

FOOTBALL

Finally, in some more NFL free agent news.  The Indianapolis Colts got another weapon for Andrew Luck, signing free agent wide receiver Hakeem Nicks.   Former Panthers star wide receiver Steve Smith wasn’t unemployed long.  He got a 3-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens.  Back-up running back in Houston no more, as Ben Tate will now be the starting running back in Cleveland.  And finally, the Denver Broncos got Peyton Manning a new toy, signing speedy Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders.  That offense will be just as potent next year as it was this year.

 

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WATERCOOLER CHAT: CHESS AND HOCKEY: HIKARU NAKAMURA DROPS PUCK AT PANTHERS GAME

CHESS AND HOCKEY

 I’m always happy to marry my two passions, chess and sports. With that said, if you’re in Florida this weekend, go check out the Florida Panthers taking on the Vancouver Canucks and see Chess Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura (#1 speed chess player in the world and one of the  top 10 chess players in the world) drop the puck. Hikaru, an avid hockey fan, proposed having a chess day that would raise awareness (and money) for south Florida chess programs. The event on March 16th at 1:00 pm features local kids meeting Hikaru and some of the Panthers. They will play some chess prior to the game then Hikaru will drop the puck as the Panthers take on the Vancouver Canucks, a match-up expected to be just a “little” rougher than a typical chess game. Area ice-chess fans can purchase discounted tickets with $5 from each ticket sold going to support local programs by clicking here.  “Be sure to use PROMO CODE: Panthers”. This promotion is presented by the National Scholastic Chess Foundation (nscfchess.org), a nonprofit education organization dedicated to improving education and inspiring excellence through chess.

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WATERCOOLER CHAT: MORE FREE AGENT SIGNINGS

FOOTBALL

In the NFL, it was the second day of free agent signings.  And the big names just keep signing.  Just one day after the Cowboys released their long time star defensive end DeMarcus Ware, he was immediately scooped up by the Denver Broncos.  The Broncos know that Ware has a few good years left, and they also know they still have a window with Peyton Manning to win a Super Bowl.  Adding Ware will help a defense that couldn’t stop anyone last year.

In other free agent news, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers released Darrelle Revis.  But Revis wouldn’t be searching for a job for long.  He was immediately snatched up by the New England Patriots.  The Pats needed significant defensive help, and Revis was once a shut-down corner.  They’re hoping he has a second wind, and can help them keep other team’s scoring down.  Additionally, this was a huge deal because the Pats are a big rival of Revis’ former team:  The New York Jets.  Will Revis help the Pats or continue to be injury plagued?

And finally, over in Detroit, the Lions have added some firepower to their receiving game, signing reliable young Seahawks receiver Golden Tate.  A lot of experts thought that Tate would return to the Seahawks and try to create a dynasty.  But, at the end of the day, this game is about money, and the Lions signed Tate to a 5-year deal.  Having Tate will take some of the pressure off of Calvin Johnson. The Lions are also likely to add another receiving weapon in the draft.  This team is now under a new coach, Jim Caldwell, an offensive mind.  He wants tools to help the Lions score.

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WATERCOOLER CHAT: FREE AGENCY MOVES IN NFL, BYNUM SIGNS WITH PACERS

FOOTBALL

In the NFL, the free agency frenzy has begun.  The major moves of the day — former Bills cornerback Jarius Byrd has signed a 6-year deal with the New Orleans Saints.  Longtime Adrian Peterson back-up Toby Gerhart is headed from Minnesota to Jacksonville.  And Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert is headed to San Francisco for a draft pick.  Perhaps the Niners think that their coaching staff can do for Gabbert what they did for Alex Smith.

Former Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib signed a long term deal with the Denver Broncos, Cardinals slot receiver Andre Roberts is headed to the Redskins, and most notably, the Dallas Cowboys have to decided to cut their superstar 7-time Pro Bowler DeMarcus Ware as a cap saving move.  This goes to show that sports is about money, not loyalty.

Plus, in another headlining move, it looks like former Miami Dolphins offensive lineman, Jonathan Martin (remember the bullying media frenzy with Martin allegedly bullied by Richie Incognito), will get another chance with the San Francisco 49ers.

BASKETBALL

In the NBA, the Indiana Pacers, once the most dominant team in the league this season, have been on a 4-game losing skid.  They were hoping to get back on track with their big, new addition in the line-up:  Andrew Bynum.  Bynum has been an injury prone mess, having been cut by both the Sixers and Cavs in just one year.  But the Pacers think they can use his low-post presence to really beat up on Miami in the playoffs.  He got his first test Tuesday night against the Celtics, and it was a very successful one.  The Pacers bigs tandem (David West and Andrew Bynum) were able to dominate the Celtics front court.  If Bynum stays healthy, this looks like it could be a very fruitful addition for the Pacers.  Indiana 94, Boston 83.

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WATERCOOLER CHAT: STEVE SMITH, REVIS, SANTONIO OUT, EMBIID STRESS FRACTURE

FOOTBALL

In the NFL, the Carolina Panthers are looking to move on to a new era.  They had a fantastic season last year, and think that they can build their young talent into a perennial powerhouse.  With that said, it means they need to clean house of some of the aging veterans.  That includes their long-time star receiver Steve Smith.  On Monday, the Panthers were reportedly shopping Smith.  Smith is 34 years old, but still knows how to play the position.

Elsewhere in the NFL, the veteran dumping is in full effect.  Guys who used to be household star names are now being shed by their teams.  It’s being reported that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will likely cut Darrelle Revis if they can’t trade him.  This is more of a salary cap saving move as Revis still has some strong years left.  He has been frequently injured, however,  and the NFL is a league that seeks replacements and moves on quickly.  Additionally, the New York Jets have parted ways with their once star receiver Santonio Holmes. This is also a money-saving maneuver, but it’s still interesting to see how expendable these veterans are.

BASKETBALL

In college basketball, Kansas’ star center, and projected #1 pick in the NBA Draft, Joel Embiid, is out for the Big 12 tournament with a stress fracture.  Embiid has been out for some time now, but it now looks like we will be lucky to see him again in his college career.  Entering the season, Kansas was the team to beat, armed with Embiid and superstar Andrew Wiggins.  But now with Embiid out (at least a few rounds),  anything can happen.  If Embiid does play after a few rounds, and the Jayhawks click, they are going to be  very tough in the tourney.

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WATERCOOLER CHAT: WICHITA STATE UNDEFEATED, MENDENHALL SICK OF NFL LIFE, CHRIS JOHNSON FREE AGENT

BASKETBALL

In college basketball, Wichita State has accomplished a feat that hasn’t been done since 1991.  In ’91, the UNLV Running Rebels, with Larry Johnson, Stacy Augmon, and Greg Anthony went undefeated prior to entering the NCAA Tournament.  Regardless of what conference you play in, it is extremely difficult to finish unbeaten, because teams are turning it up a notch every time they play you just to unseat you.  But Sunday, Wichita State won the MVC (Missouri Valley Conference) and will enter the tournament as an unbeaten #1 seed.  Could they possibly win the whole thing?

FOOTBALL

In the NFL, after a short 6-year NFL career, running back Rashard Mendenhall has decided to retire.  Mendenhall had some solid seasons with the Steelers, but after an injury, he was shipped to Arizona.  Mendenhall has decided that he wanted to retire early to stop dealing with the rigors of the NFL.  Mendenhall said he was sick of the NFL life, always having to be on and consistently criticized.  Mendenhall said he was called horrible names, and just didn’t need it any more.  Plus, Mendenhall said he wanted to walk away from the game feeling just as good as when he came into it.

Elsewhere in the NFL, with free agency upon us, Tennessee has said they want to trade their star running-back Chris Johnson.  Johnson exploded onto the scene but has since gone downhill.  On top of that, the Titans organization hasn’t gotten along with Johnson.  They have constantly said that they are tired of his attitude, and it looks like they are ready to move on, and replace him. Free agency starts this week, and it’s always intriguing to see where the big name athletes wind up.

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WATERCOOLER CHAT: LEBRON’S SLEEVE, TANAKA IN TRAINING, TOMMY JOHN DOC PASSES

BASKETBALL

In the NBA, the Heat were red hot coming into their game against the Spurs.  But, the Spurs are also playing well, and they handed the Heat a nasty loss.  LeBron had only 19 points in the game, and said that his sleeved jersey is partly to blame.  LeBron said that he’s not making excuses, but that when he shoots, he can feel the jersey pulling under his arm.  He said that there is very little room for error in his jump shot, and he doesn’t need any more challenges.  San Antonio 111, Miami 87.

BASEBALL

It’s only Spring Training, but it’s really an opportunity to get a first look at some of the new players.  Do they have the goods?  Over in the Yankees camp, all eyes were on their new super expensive pitcher Masahiro Tanaka.  Is he really the phenom he was made out to be.  At first glance, maybe not. He didn’t strike anyone out and gave up his first home run outside of Japan.  Sure, it’s just his debut, and there is a long way to go, but giving up a home run is not exactly a good first impression.

Finally, one of the pioneers in sports medicine has died.  Dr. Frank Jobe was the doctor behind the now famous “Tommy John”, named after the pitcher.  Jobe figured out a unique approach to fix a throwing arm.  It was an experimental surgery at the time, but it took a player who was down for the count “Tommy John” and gave him a successful career allowing him to play 13 more years.  About 124 active pitchers worldwide have gone through some form of the surgery.  Even quarterbacks in the NFL extended their careers with the groundbreaking surgery.  Jobe paved the way for revolutionary science in sports medicine.

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WATERCOOLER CHAT: NCAA WANTS CLOCK, HESTER LEAVING BEARS, ROUSEY CHALLENGE TO MAYWEATHER

FOOTBALL

In college football, a major ruling was tabled on account of the negative outcry.  The NCAA wanted to slow down the pace of the game, by putting a 10-second clock for the defense to properly switch their line-ups between plays.  The problem is that so many teams play such a fast pace of football that it is primarily built on the idea of the defense NOT being ready.  Oregon, Clemson and Baylor come to mind — the types of teams that can put up 70 points per game.  The coaches spoke their mind on this one, and the NCAA has listened — squashing the idea for now.  This means that we will continue to see the electric brand of football in college that we have come to love.

In the NFL, it looks like the Chicago Bears might be parting with one of their long-time heroes.  Their terrific kick returner, Devin Hester, who was/is always a threat to run back a touchdown, said that he likely won’t be back with the Bears next season.  Hester was so fast for the Bears, they even played him at wide receiver.  He wasn’t alarmingly productive at that position, but he’s still so fast that it’s difficult to keep up with where he is.  He will enter the free agent market in a few days, and there are many teams who would love his services out there.

MMA

Finally, in mixed martial arts (MMA), the emerging popularity of female fighter Ronda Rousey has inflated her confidence to an alarming degree.  On Wednesday, Rousey said that she thinks she could beat boxing champion Floyd Mayweather in an MMA fight.  Of course the rules of that sport are very different, but Rousey didn’t seem too threatened by the gender difference.  Rousey said she wouldn’t even stand up in a fight like that, she would just keep doing an army crawl around him so he couldn’t hit her.  Not a bad strategy if something this crazy actually happened.

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WATERCOOLER CHAT: JEFF GORDON’S AMAZING PRANK, NFL CONSIDERS 43 YARD KICKS FOR EXTRA POINT

NASCAR

Jeff Gordon starred in a Pepsi Max commercial last year where he put on a great disguise and took a car salesman on the ride of his life. The prank went viral and is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. Meanwhile, many people were skeptical and thought the car salesman was in on the prank. One particular journalist was particularly critical so Jeff and the Pepsi crew pulled their own prank on him. Watch this video and see what happens. It’s fantastic!

FOOTBALL

The NFL is considering getting rid of the extra point or at least modifying the scoring option. The current proposal is to move the ball to the 25 yard line (currently the ball is placed at the 2 yard line). At the 25 yard line, the kick would be a 43 yard attempt as opposed to the current 20 yard attempts. If this proposal goes through, it’s likely we’ll see more Teams attempt the two point conversion instead of the extra point as the probability of making a 2 point conversion is greater than a 43 yard kick. The decision hasn’t been made yet, but it’s an interesting option.

 

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WATERCOOLER CHAT: LEBRON ON SCORING STREAK, BUCS NEW UNIFORM

BASKETBALL

In the NBA, LeBron James is scorching hot right now even with his mask.  Last night against the Charlotte Bobcats, LeBron James was on a scoring tear, putting up a whopping 61 points.  He simply could not be contained.  Carmelo Anthony had 62 points earlier this season for the season record, but every time LeBron steps on the court, it feels like he could reel off 100 points easily.  And keep in mind that these Bobcats are no slouch — they are a playoff contender, which makes LeBron’s scoring night that much more impressive.  Miami 124, Charlotte 107.

FOOTBALL

In the NFL, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have surprised everyone with a complete uniform overhaul.  Sometimes when teams radically change their uniform, they instantly start winning (look at Seattle).  Funny enough, the Buccaneers actually sported one of the more visually appealing and modern uniforms in the league.  Everyone liked the pewter and blood orange.  Now their new Nike jersey is white with a darker, browner pewter, and their chest is white.  The numbering is said to be a customized font made up of sword elements, but it actually looks like a 1980s digital alarm clock.  You can take a look here:

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