Weekend Link Dump- 2/20/11
Obligatory Sports Babe
Today we'll go with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who is starring in Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Basically, she's Megan Fox's replacement, and I certainly have no complaints. And what the hell does she have to do with the sports world, you may be asking? Well, not much that I'm aware of, but today she's serving as one of the Grand Marshals for the Daytona 500, as I learned from Fan Viewpoint.
Quote Of The Day
"When they first came to me ... they said there were no rules. I was like, 'So I can jump over a car? Yeah? Oh, maybe I have to do it now.' I figured I could probably clear it, and Baron came up with the choir." -Los Angeles Clippers' Blake Griffin about his NBA Slam Dunk Contest-winning dunk last night; quote from Journal Review.
The WWE Slam Dunk Contest
I know many of you greatly enjoyed it, but I was pretty disappointed in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest last night, as I have been in recent years. I don't like the props; I don't like the "presentation" crap; I don't like the contestant attempting the same dunk five times and getting a 49 or 50 when he finally connects.
The whole thing is basically turning into a WWE event, as Gino's Jungle agrees. But again, many of you loved it(and that's totally cool; to each their own), and that's why things won't change much with the contest in the coming years.
So That Melo Drama Is Still Going On, But It Sounds Like He Could Soon Be A Knick. Maybe.
The NBA trade deadline is Thursday, so we'll finally have an end to this ridiculously long and annoying Carmelo Anthony trade drama. It's been well-documented that the New York Knicks are his preferred destination, and the Knicks have made their final offer to the Nuggets, according to CBS Sports:
"The Knicks would send three starters -- Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, and Raymond Felton -- to Denver for Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams and Anthony Carter, sources said Sunday. The Nuggets would get the Knicks' first-round pick in 2014, while Minnesota would get Eddy Curry's expiring contract and Anthony Randolph from New York. Curry would then be waived, and the Knicks would send as much as $3 million to Minnesota to pay his freight. Carter must approve the trade and waive his Bird rights for the deal to be approved.
Confident that a Friday night meeting between Anthony, his representatives, and a Nets contingent led by Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov and hip-hop mogul Jay-Z did not result in a commitment from Anthony to sign an extension with New Jersey, the Knicks are drawing the line. They are not offering rookie Landry Fields or Russian center Timofey Mozgov, two pieces Denver has asked for at various times in the negotiations, sources said.
The Anthony drama now rests in the hands of Nuggets executives Josh Kroenke and Masai Ujiri, who must decide whether to accept the Knicks' offer, continue pursuing other avenues, or keep Anthony beyond Thursday's trade deadline."
I think the Nuggets will take this deal and end the drama. They can't come away with nothing, which is going to be the case if Carmelo is still a Nugget come Friday- He's not going to sign an extension.
The Nuggets get 3 young and capable starters, all of which seem to be getting better by the day. They really want to give second-year point guard Ty Lawson more playing time, so I wouldn't be surprised if they traded Raymond Felton somewhere else, potentially for another first round draft pick.
Quote Of The Day II
"Carmelo, you come stand here in the middle. We don't know if you're East or West." Doc Rivers, the head coach of the Eastern Conference All-Star team, as he stood at midcourt of an All-Star Game practice; quote from NY Daily News.
Quickly
Like Carmelo Anthony, Deron Williams apparently wants to be a New York Knick as well, as Knicks Knightly informs us.
All Things Philly tells us how Jimmy Rollins is guaranteeing that his Philadelphia Phillies will win 100 games. With a rotation featuring Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels, to go with a rock-solid lineup, I can't argue with him.
The Big Lead tells of a pretty awesome Minnesota Twins bobblehead giveaway.
I wish I could've been at Dwight Howard's All-Star Party, like the guys at Cosby Sweaters were.
23 Curry College hockey players are in the hospital due to being exposed to zamboni fumes as Patriot Ledger explains.
Here's A Swordsman Fighting Shadows And Stuff
I really don't know how to explain this... but it's pretty cool, so just watch:
