What’s the buzz from the world of sports? Here are some items that will have people talking:
1
David Stern is stepping down as NBA commissioner next year. But before he left, he had to fix some wrongs regarding some NBA franchise nicknames.
More than a decade after being relocated from Charlotte, the New Orleans Hornets realized that Hornets wasn’t a fitting nickname for a team residing in New Orleans. So they asked to be called the Pelicans, and Stern approved it.
When the folks in Charlotte heard that the Hornets nickname was being abandoned in Louisiana, they asked Stern to change the Charlotte Bobcats back to the Charlotte Hornets — you know, because the Charlotte Bobcats have never won a playoff game.
And Stern decreed it to be so, starting in the 2014-15 season.
Now that he has perfectly matched proper nicknames to the cities of all NBA franchises, Talking Points would like to suggest some potential retirement activities for the outgoing commissioner.
He could start with the grizzly bear hunting trip in Memphis, then do some fishing in one of Los Angeles’ 10,000 lakes, then cap things off by hitting a club in Salt Lake City’s robust jazz scene.
2
What do former Washington and Washington State quarterbacks do after retiring from the NFL?
Well, become awesome golfers, of course.
Former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien, a Washington State product, had an eagle and three birdies Friday to take a two-point lead after the first round of the American Century Championship, a celebrity golf event in Lake Tahoe.
Rypien finished with 27 points at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course under the modified Stableford scoring system that awards graduated points for pars or better.
Rypien is three points ahead of former University of Washington quarterback Chris Chandler.
3
The San Francisco 49ers completed a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to acquire cornerback Eric Wright. To complete their master plan, the 49ers are scouring NFL training camps for three more active defensive backs who happen to be named Ronnie Lott, Dwight Hicks and Carlton Williamson.
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