Category: External Sports (Page 259 of 821)

      Breaking down the Deron Williams trade

      February 23, 2011 /
      Utah Jazz Deron Williams drives calls out a play against the Washington Wizards during the first half at the Verizon Center in Washington on January 17, 2011. UPI/Kevin Dietsch

      Holy surprise blockbuster, Batman! The Nets just acquired Deron Williams.

      Al Iannazzone of NorthJersey.com broke the story:

      The Nets have acquired All-Star point guard Deron Williams in an out-of-the-blue blockbuster. In the deal, the Nets will send Devin Harris, Derrick Favors and two No. 1 picks to the Utah Jazz. Williams is averaging 21.3 points and is third in the league in assists, dishing 9.7 per game.

      The deal has been agreed upon. It’s pending league approval and everyone passing their physicals.

      Nets fans should be dancing in the streets. The team missed out on Carmelo Anthony, but I believe that Williams is actually a better acquisition for the franchise, assuming he doesn’t bolt after the 2011-12 season.

      This is a curious move for the Jazz, who are giving up a two-time All-NBA 2nd Teamer, and a player who has been jockeying with Chris Paul for best point guard in the league honors for the last couple of seasons. He’s a franchise player, and the Nets just wrestled him away for Devin Harris, a raw prospect, and two first round draft picks. Favors is a nice acquisition, but the Jazz are already set at power forward with Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson. I guess the idea is that Harris isn’t too much of a downgrade from Williams — only he is — while Favors can develop in a supporting role behind Millsap and Jefferson, and eventually turn into a star. For this to work out for the Jazz, Favors needs to develop into an All-Star and Utah has to strike gold with at least one of those draft picks.

      Williams clearly burned some bridges this season with his role in the Jerry Sloan resignation along with the rumors that he wanted to join the Knicks in 2012. The Nets are in a good position to add another top tier free agent that summer if they stay the course financially, even with a new collective bargaining agreement. So they have a decent shot at keeping him around for the long-term, especially with their pending move to Brooklyn.

      What they don’t need are any more contracts like the one they gave Travis Outlaw last summer that averages $7 million a season. That deal really made me question the Nets’ decision-making, but this trade for Williams more than made up for it. Other than Outlaw, the Nets don’t have any contracts that extend past the 2012-13 season, so there’s an opportunity to quickly remake this roster and turn it into a winner.

      After missing out on LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony in the last eight months, it sure looked like the Nets would always be the bridesmaid and never the bride, but today they are the bride, and in a big way.

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      Adam Wainwright could need Tommy John surgery

      February 23, 2011 /
      St. Louis Cardinals Adam Wainwright delivers a pitch to the San Diego Padres in the fourth inning at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on September 19, 2010. Wainwright picked up his 19th win of the season the 4-1. win. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

      The Albert Pujols contract situation just took a backseat to more depressing news for St. Louis Cardinal fans.

      Adam Wainwright suffered what is being called a significant elbow injury in spring training and the early reports are that he’ll need Tommy John surgery.

      Make no mistake, this would be a disastrous situation for the Cardinals. As in, hey Milwaukee Brewers, the door is open, why don’t you come in and make yourself at home at the top of the NL Central kind of disastrous situation. Wainwright is one of the game’s best pitchers and has finished in the top three of the NL Cy Young balloting each of the past two seasons. Without him in the rotation, the Cards will certainly struggle to stay afloat in the division.

      If he does wind up having surgery, the options are slim for replacements. According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, early speculation is that the Cards will go after Kevin Millwood, which wouldn’t be a bad move. Millwood is 36-years-old and had an ERA of 5.10 last season, but he would benefit from the move to the NL and the pitcher-friendly Busch Stadium. He’s better than a sharp stick in the eye.

      But obviously Millwood is no Wainwright. Assuming he’s out for the season, this injury not only hurts the Cardinals but the game of baseball as well. Major League Baseball needs its stars on the field.

      External Sports, MLB

      UFC 127 News: Bisping angered by Rivera’s antics

      February 23, 2011 /

      According to HeavyMMA.com, Michael Bisping is not happy with Jorge Rivera’s antics leading up to their UFC 127 showdown and plans to do his talking inside the Octagon.

      Michael Bisping is not a happy camper.

      The smack talk and videos Jorge Rivera has produced leading up to their UFC 127 showdown has angered the British middleweight.

      Bisping had been uncharacteristically quiet leading up to this weekend’s event, but that all changed during the UFC 127 pre-fight press conference on Tuesday.

      “For me, I’ve got a big fight to prepare for. I’m fighting in the premier fighting organization in the world, and I’m trying to act accordingly,” said Bisping. “I’m a professional fighter. I’m not an idiot in the schoolyard making up silly rhymes and jokes and making stupid videos.”


      Read the full article.

      External Sports, Mixed Martial Arts, UFC

      Revisiting the Jeremy Shockey trade; could he wind up in Miami?

      February 22, 2011 /

      The Saints dumped tight end Jeremy Shockey on Tuesday and while some are surprised by the move, it’s hard to fault New Orleans given the circumstances.

      Shockey was scheduled to make $4.5 million next season, is injury prone and was less effective than fellow tight end Jimmy Graham in Sean Payton’s offense last year. At 30, it’s clear that Shockey’s best days are behind him and his nine seasons in the league have taken a toll on his body.

      As often the case when a player is cut, his release got me thinking about the trade the Saints made in 2008 to acquire him from the Giants. On paper, New Orleans definitely got the better end of the deal. Shockey racked up 139 receptions, 1,460 yards and six touchdowns for the Saints over the last three seasons. He also helped them beat the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV by catching a touchdown pass in the second half.

      The second round pick that the Giants acquired in the deal was used on linebacker Clint Sintim, who only has 33 tackles in two seasons and regularly can’t find the field. The fifth round selection that New York also received in the trade netted quarterback Rhett Bomar, who is now on Minnesota’s roster.

      But just because Sintim hasn’t panned out (yet) doesn’t mean the Giants didn’t find value in trading Shockey. It’s well known that he was a constant distraction for Eli Manning, who went on to have a career-year (statistically, at least) in 2009 when Shockey was in New Orleans. It has also been noted that Manning played better the year the Giants won the Super Bowl because Shockey suffered a season-ending injury in December.

      Thus, trading Shockey offered New York addition by subtraction.

      Where he’ll resurface is anyone’s guess but if I were to make a prediction I would say Miami. He played for “The U” in college and while Anthony Fasano is a solid option as both a blocker and receiver, new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll loves to work the middle of the field with his tight ends (almost to a fault).

      Of course, the Patriots proved last year that teams can be highly effective with two tight ends, so Shockey could wind up anywhere.

      External Sports, NFL

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