The 2009 baseball spring training certainly promises to be a circus with Yankees star Alex Rodriguez having reportedly tested postive for steriods. In the meantime, the Lakers and Spurs beat the Cavs and Celtics respectively and new news on the 2010 World Cup.
No one in Alex Rodriguez’s inner-most circle have commented yet on the reported positive steroid test, broke by Sports Illustrated. But World Series winning pitcher Curt Schilling makes the best point in all this A-Roid talk – publish none of the names or all 104 names. Sticking on Rodriguez, here is a story about A-Rod’s support of Barry Bonds
and here is a gallery of pictures of Rodriguez starting in 1993.
Heading over to the NBA for two top-notch showdowns…
Even with Kobe Bryant battling the flu, the Los Angeles Lakers handed the Cleveland Cavaliers their first home loss of the season 101-91. Lamar Odom stepped up with 28 points and 17 rebounds. And here’s a great stat: The Lakers became the first team in NBA history to win back-to-back games, both on the road, against teams with .800-plus win percentage at least 40 games into the season.
The other classic showdown had the San Antonio Spurs knocking off the Boston Celtics 105-99 for their ninth win in 11 games.
Two short items about the 2010 World Cup. Sunday was the opening of one of the 2010 World Cup stadiums.
And the South African Organising Committee boss Danny Jordaan had a great quote about South Africa’s ability to host the 2010 World Cup: “Only God can move this world cup. Only a natural disaster could lead to it being moved elsewhere.”
There were two major coaching changes in European basketball at the national team level with Sergio Scariolo taking over the reigning world champions and 2008 Olympic silver medalists Spain.
And Lithuanian coach Jonas Kazlauskas was given the reigns of the Greece national team.
And let’s finish with two more basketball notes…
Spanish international Rudy Fernandez asked not to “put too much pressure” on young Spanish superstar Ricky Rubio.
And San Antonio Spurs’ French point guard Tony Parker has bought into French club Asvel.