What Did I Miss?

So, there was a pretty big power outage in the DC area last weekend/this week/still going on.  Luckily, my power has been restored.  However, I know I missed the chance to write about some happenings in the world of sports.  Here is what I missed-

- NBA Free Agency has started!  The biggest news so far has been Steve Nash heading to the Lakers.  Damn, it gives me a reason to want to see the Lakers win again...  I love Steve Nash.  He is a good dude who is amazingly fun to watch.  The Lakers haven't had solid point guard play since Magic Johnson was there, so Nash instantly improves their roster.  They didn't have to give up anything to get him, considering they don't care about draft picks anyway.  The real question will be if they are able to swing a trade for Dwight Howard, who...

- Is being a whiny little girl recently.  He claims that the Orlando Magic blackmailed him into resigning by threatening to trade him somewhere he didn't want to play.  Oh no!  Trading a selfish player who highjacked a franchise, got a coach and the entire front office fired?  Insanity I tell you!  Clearly, the Magic should make the trade that is best for the franchise, which isn't moving Dwight to the Brooklyn Nets, his desired destination.  Instead, they should send him to the Lakers if Andrew Bynum is offered in a package.  Really, there are four or five teams that, if they wanted to and felt they could win now with Howard, could make an offer for him that is better than what the Nets are offering.  So, Dwight, shut up about being blackmailed.  Basketball is a business.

- Speaking of Howard, I think that his whole situation has gotten to the point where it is worse than LeBron.  LeBron pushed his decision til after the season, never requested a trade, and never claimed the Cavaliers were blackmailing him.  Dwight has gotten worse than Melo was also.  His entire good guy image has been ruined because he has acted like a petulant child throughout the past season.

- The other big free agent chip was Deron Williams, who decided to stay in Brooklyn once they traded for Joe Johnson.  If they can get Howard, they will be a top 5 team in the East.  Without him, they will still contend for a playoff spot.  I would like to say the Wizards would still be better, but they probably aren't.

- Finally, Ray Allen decided to join the Miami Heat.  The Celtics signed Jason Terry and will supposedly sign Jeff Green, so Allen wouldn't have gotten many minutes.  He will get to play more with the Heat, and go to the defending champs.  I have no strong feelings about this one.  Just hope all involved are happy.


- Baseball is almost at the All Star Break.  My Nats are in 1st.  The Pirates are in 1st.  The O's and Mets are contenders.  What the hell is going on?

- As I learned from going to every game in the Nats/Giants series, it is too hot for baseball.  How long is it before ever stadium has a retractable roof in order to keep cool?  I'm serious.  At what point, given the threat of climate change causing more extreme weather including storms and dangerous heat, will leagues mandate that every new stadium come equipped with a retractable roof and cooling system?  I think it would be wise for MLB to have these rules in the future.  Of course, they need to ditch the DH first.


- Serena Williams won Wimbledon today, the 5th time she has won on the famed grass court.  I don't know where she ranks on the all-time list, but she is almost certainly a lock for the Top 5.

- Tomorrow morning, Andy Murray will attempt to become the first Brit in 74 years to win Wimbledon.  In his way?  Roger Federer, the greatest of all time.  If you feel like waking up early on a Sunday to watch it, you'll either see Murray making history, or Roger tying Pete Sampras with 7 titles.


- I miss the NFL and college football.  I bet you feel the same.  Less than a month til the Hall of Fame Game (Cardinals vs Saints) and the start of preseason!

- So, Trent Dilfer recently made a fun comment about Syracuse QB recruit Zach Allen, calling him a "Young Colt McCoy with an even better arm".  For a program that has been down for most of the past decade, that sounds very tantalizing, especially as we move to the ACC.


- The Minnesota Wild managed to nab the top two NHL Free Agents in Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.  I am fairly speechless, but thrilled for them and for the Caps.  Sure, I would have liked Parise (not that we could afford him), but having him go to the Western Conference and not to the Penguins or Rangers.  I still have hope for our team.

- I'd also like to take this chance to welcome former Caps player and new Caps coach Adam Oates back to town.  I love the hire.  Quite a day for him- After he took the Caps job, he found out he had been voted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.


That's all I got for now.  Try to stay cool in this insane heat.