Sports Conversation Starters for Your Workweek

Sports conversations are part of my job, they're also a secret weapon in helping me practice conversation skills I need in other interactions.

For example, disagreeing in sports is normal. Fans have differing opinions on outcomes, play calls and favorite teams. That gives me - and every other sports fan - a chance to practice listening and finding ways to bridge the gap when we encounter something similar in conversations of much bigger consequence (or during holiday gatherings.)

This week is as good a time as any to start practicing, especially with MLB Awards being handed out.

MLB

It's a big week of awards across Major League Baseball. This is the week we find out who takes home honors for Rookie of the Year (Monday), Manager of the Year (Tuesday), Cy Young award (Wednesday) and MVP (Thursday). 

NFL

The NFL the matchup next week between the Seattle Seahawks and LA Rams should be a great one. (Yes, I'm biased as the sideline reporter for the Seahawks.) Seattle beat Arizona Sunday thanks in part to two fumble return touchdowns by defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. He's the fourth player in NFL history with multiple fumble returns for touchdowns in the same game.

Meanwhile the LA Rams defeated the San Francisco 49ers and Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford made NFL history becoming the first quarterback to throw for 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in four straight games.

NCAA

A wild touchdown with 36 seconds remaining gave No. 2 Indiana a win over Penn State and preserved the Hoosiers perfect record. Indiana is one of four unbeaten teams in the Top 25. The others are: No. 1 Ohio State, No. 3 Texas A&M and No. 7 BYU.

NCAA Hoops 

In college basketball the first AP Poll of the regular season will be released Monday. On the men's side Purdue is expected to maintain their preseason No. 1 ranking after a couple wins last week. On the women's side defending national champs UConn are also expected to stay at No. 1.

NHL

Washington's Alexander Ovechkin did score his 900th career goal last week against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is the only player in NHL history to reach that mark.