Sports Conversation Starters for Your Week

There are a lot of things you could be thinking about to the start of the week. Topics to discuss shouldn't be a question mark. These sports topics are making headlines and easy to use in small talk this week.

NFL

Fernando Mendoza was in fact the No. 1 overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders. He was one of 68 Big 10 players selected in the draft. The SEC boasted 87 selections - the most by any conference in the draft. Rookie mini camps typically take place in the next couple weeks. The release of the NFL schedule is expected in mid-May.

MLB

We're a month into the MLB season and the Boston Red Sox became the first team this season to fire their manager. Alex Cora was fired Saturday - after the Red Sox posted a 17-1 win over Baltimore. It was the largest margin of victory in a manager's final game with a team in the modern era (which started in 1900.)

Elsewhere in baseball, the Chicago Cubs winning streak ended at 10 games. It was the longest winning streak for the Cubs since 2016.

The Mets did snap their losing streak last week, getting back in the win column after 12 straight losses.

NBA

The Oklahoma City Thunder are one win away from advancing to the second round of the playoffs. The defending champions are looking to finish off a first round sweep Monday in Phoenix. 

NHL

We're closing in on the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Carolina Hurricanes are the first team to advance after sweeping the Ottawa Senators. Pittsburgh avoided a sweep by Philadelphia thanks to the efforts of Sidney Crosby. He notched a power play goal and an assist in the win. When it comes to teams advancing the Presidents' Trophy winners Colorado swept the Kings, they'll play either Minnesota or Dallas in the next round.