Jan 8th 2010: Daily Sports News – Gossip

Friday’s Water Cooler – January 8, 2010

Here we go with today’s sports water cooler talk. Here, you won’t just find the straight news; you’ll find the stuff everyone is talking about – the ice breakers, the Twitter topics…well, the stuff you discuss at the water cooler.

Enjoy!

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Just when you thought the BCS system couldn’t get any more controversial, Colt McCoy had to screw everything up. Read on in today’s news to learn more; that includes you, Mr. President.

NCAA football news: Alabama defeats backup quarterback to win national title

There were already plenty of cries that Texas didn’t necessarily belong in the BCS title game. Then, things got wacky when Colt McCoy got knocked out of game for good on the Longhorns’ opening drive. Garrett Gilbert came in and had major jitters at first – which is probably forgivable when your first full college game is the BCS friggin’ Championship – but found his touch and really made Alabama sweat in the second half.

In the end, Alabama had to work to win the national championship against a backup quarterback. Yet they’re the “undisputed” No. 1 team at season’s end. Not undefeated Boise State. Time to kick the BCS abolishment talk into overdrive – and a certain Commander-in-Chief may lead the charge.

NFL news: Cleveland’s late-season heroics save Mangini’s job

Perhaps identifying with a man that looks like him without a moustache, new Browns president Mike Holmgren announced yesterday that Eric Mangini will return next season. There were whispers that Mangini lost the room earlier this year but Cleveland’s season-ending four-game winning streak suggests otherwise.

Nice work, Browns. In your last four meaningless games, you managed to save Mangini’s job and push yourself out of the top five in the 2010 draft. Very productive.

MLB news: Japan may get another chance to showcase itself

Yes, Japan. We get it. You guys are great at baseball. Better than us, maybe. And you’ve never not won the World Baseball Classic. Apparently, that exhibition may not be enough. Now, there are whispers that Japan’s league winner will meet the World Series winner in a special playoff if a proposal by Bud Selig comes to fruition.

Think about this; the World Series winner will be the New York Yankees. With Sabathia, Teixeira, Granderson, Jeter – all of whom were on Team USA for World Baseball Classic – won’t this just be a rematch?

The Seattle Mariners’ busy offseason continues. They acquired snake-bitten Casey Kotchman from Boston for utility man Bill Hall. Kotchman, who seems to get injured, contract mononucleosis or get traded once a week, may finally have the opportunity he deserves in Seattle.

The American League West rival Texas Rangers reportedly want to bring Vladimir Guerrero on as a designated hitter for 2010. Good idea. Vladdy’s body is breaking down but Rangers ballpark would mask that aging process. He’s a .394 career hitter with 14 homers, 33 RBI and a 1.175 OPS in 50 career games there.

NBA news: Cavs after Jamison?

It was only a matter of time before the hot rumor from a season ago resurfaced. Now, the NBA is buzzing with Antawn-Jamison-to Cleveland chatter. Everyone knows the deal makes a ton of sense, as (a) The Cavs desperately need a legit, reliable secondary scoring option; no offense, Mo Williams and (b) The Wiz are ready to hit the reset button and start dumping salary.

Sadly, the biggest obstacle in the deal is karma. The Cavs could probably get a deal done today if they moved Zydrunas Ilgauskas and his expiring contract to Washington. But dealing the man who’s been with your franchise through thick and thin won’t sit well with the fans. Cleveland would have to hope Washington cuts him after 30 days, but there’s no guarantee.

Futures bettors should keep a close eye, as adding Jamison to its roster would hugely boost Cleveland’s NBA Finals odds.