Merry Christmas… err, Opening Day! The MLB has given you 13 reasons to not get anything done today, so use them wisely. First pitch is at 1:05 ET in D.C., so read up on some of the best links we found while trying to figure out whether Bob Huggins was going to kiss DeSean Butler or not.
- I’m not sure what the Philadelphia Eagles have been smoking, but somehow they were ripped off by the Washington Redskins yesterday. Philly traded Donovan McNabb to the ‘Skins for a pair of draft picks. Bleeding Green Nation is surprisingly subdued, though I expected the city of Philadelphia to be ablaze by now. I’m pretty sure I put it best to my friend Ruchir, a die-hard Eagles fan, when I said, “I’m a Lions fan, and I feel bad for you.”
- Butler center Matt Howard took a nasty spill in the second half of the MSU-Butler national semifinal on Saturday night, and now may be out for tonight’s national championship game against Duke. Butler was able to get by MSU largely without Howard, who was in foul trouble, but they will definitely miss him against the Blue Devils if he’s unable to go.
- In case you can’t wait for Zack Greinke’s first pitch, here’s the Tigers’ first lineup of the season, courtesy of Tigers’ beat writer Jason Beck. Hopefully Adam “Opie” Everett can avoid being a Black Hole of Suck in the 9-spot. [via Bless You Boys]
- Our good buddy Kenny Powers already delivered the goods on what he thinks this season will be like, but just in case you couldn’t read the post through the PBR splatter and stench of Skoal, Matt Clapp has his awesome preview up at Sharapova’s Thigh. Make sure to check it out before the games start, everything he predicted is much more likely to happen than whatever we would have said.
- It wouldn’t be Opening Night at Fenway Park without singing “Sweet Caroline” in the middle of the 8th inning, so why not bring in Mr. Diamond himself to do the honors?
- MoonDog Sports has been doing some deep thinking lately, mostly involving nuclear physics, whether we will ever invent the dog-talker, and if horizontal stripes make girls look slutty. My opinion? No way. Those are some sweet, wholesome girls that any dad would love for his son to bring home. [via Busted Coverage]
- The good news: the Red Wings are in the playoffs. The bad news? Chris Osgood was less than impressive in yesterday’s 4-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Seriously though, Ken Holland needs to go pimp slap the NHL schedule makers. Playing just 19 hours after losing a game in overtime? What a joke.
- I featured this site already on Saturday, but Take 75 North’s season previews for the Tigers minor league system will be worth a look throughout the week. Matt already has the West Michigan Whitecaps covered, and will put the rest up during the week.
- It’s Always Sunny in Detroit is quickly becoming another one of my favorite sites; not only for their awesome content, but the name kicks ass too. They recently offered an open letter to high school basketball phenom Ray McCallum Jr. on behalf of Detroit Mercy’s basketball program. Hopefully McCallum listens and stays where he belongs: at home.
- This April Fools prank is a few years (and a few days) old, but it’s already a classic. The Philadelphia Phillies tricked youngster Kyle Kendrick into thinking that he had been traded to a Japanese club. Kendrick’s reaction is one for the record books.
Rob’s Highlight of the Day
This video campaigning Sacramento Kings star Tyreke Evans for Rookie of the Year (doesn’t he already have it locked up?) features a pretty sick trick shot off a trampoline. Basketball + trampoline = awesomeness. The only thing missing is a faceplant. [via Ball Don’t Lie]
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