Here are your top headlines in the world of sports on this Thursday, June 26th 2014:
LeBron James chase continues:
The NBA pumps out news during the off-season faster and harder than any other sport. Seemingly every summer their off-season news hits harder than anything in-season, including the NBA Finals. 2014 is a special summer too as the LeBron James chase has taken over the sports news cycle.
LeBron has opted out of his contract with the Heat, and has now reportedly released a list to ESPN of five-potential destinations: Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets, according to CBSsports.com. It did not include the Los Angeles Clippers, despite recent reports indicating he had his eye on them as well.
Each team on the list makes for a very interesting story, especially the Cavs and the Knicks, who are both doing some things that indicate a push on trying to lure-in “The King.”
USA – Germany World Cup Preview:
If any game called for a relaxed setting for which each fan-base prayed for an end result of a tie, the United States of America versus Germany today in the World Cup fits that bill. The match is set to start at Noon, Eastern Standard Time today while the Portugal – Ghana game will play on simultaneously.
A draw secures both German and USA of moving on to the “Knockout Round” of 16, according to YahooSports. This has led to many conspiracy theories of a “non-aggressive” pact between both countries to secure a tie and both advance without complication.
USA also gets into the knockout round of course with a win against Germany. The United States can also advance should they lose to Germany today, but this is where it gets tricky. Should the USA lose, they would have to win the tiebreaker against the Portugal – Ghana winner in goal-differential.
If only USA could have hung-on against Portugal in the closing seconds, they would be assured a spot in the round of 16.
NHL extensions for Gaborik and Callahan:
The newly-minted Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings re-signed their trade-deadline-hero in Marian Gaborik yesterday. The deal is worth $34.3 million over seven-years. For an oft-injured Gaborik who is already over 30 years of age, it is quite a lengthy deal. But hey, Stanley Cup Champions can do what they wish.
Another resigning happened in Tampa Bay as the Lightning re-signed forward Ryan Callahan to a six-year deal worth $34.8 million. A deal that looked very similar to the one that his former team, the New York Rangers offered to him before the trade deadline. He declined due to the “no-trade clause” not being included and was traded for veteran Marty St. Louis.