Doc Rivers Signs with Clippers, Celtics Get Pick in 2015 Draft

It took weeks of negotiations and a ton of rumors regarding Doc Rivers’ future with the Boston Celtics, but now it’s official. Rivers is leaving Boston and is ready to start working with his new team:  Los Angeles Clippers. Considering what Rivers done with the Celtics, and what the Clippers achieved last season, I personally suggest sportsbook betting fans and enthusiasts to keep an eye on the coming NBA Betting lines and props for the next season. If you can take the Clippers to win the 2013-14 NAB Championship, the do it now!

The Clippers and Celtics closed the deal on Tuesday after the NBA finally approved the move. Rivers, who went 416-305 in nine seasons and won the 2008 NBA title with Boston, move to Los Angeles is part of a rare trade involving a championship-winning coach.  Rivers’ 416 wins as Boston’s head coach  rank him as the third most successful coach in franchise history, right behind Red Auerbach (795) and Tommy Heinsohn (427).

In exchange for River’s coaching services, the Clippers traded a future first-round draft pick and agreed to an anti-trade clause that will prevent the Clippers and Celtics from engaging in any transactions amongst each other for the duration of the upcoming season.

 Rivers will be introduced as the Clippers’ new coach at a news conference scheduled to take place this Wednesday. The deal will make Rivers the highest-paid coach in the NBA, but on top of his coaching positions, he'll also have a role in the team’s front office. According to ESPN.com, Rivers will sign a three-year, $21 million deal with the Clippers, however, the team hasn’t disclosed any terms of his contract.

While trading a coach isn’t a common move, this is not the first time something like this happens in the NBA. The last time a coach was traded from one team to another franchise was in back in 2007 when the Miami Heat received a second-round draft pick for letting Stan Van Gundy join the Orlando Magic.

Rivers succeeds Vinny Del Negro as head coach. Back in May, the Clippers declined to renew Del Negro after leading the team to 56 wins in the regular season and a division title for the first time in 42-years.

First Female Referee Could Land a Permanent Job with the NFL by 2014

Less than a year ago, Shannon Eastin became the first female referee to officiate an NFL regular-season game when she was called to join the team of referees as the line judge in a Rams vs. Lions game held on Week 1 of the 2012 Season. 

The move marked a groundbreaking moment for the NFL in moments when the league was dealing with a massive referee lockout.  Eastin, who was among the replacement officials called by the NFL last season, previously worked in the NCAA Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and has over 16 years working as referee.

We all know that the NFL is a league dominated and exclusively played by men, but despite the reality of the game, it seems that something good is coming from last year’s experience, and now the league is considering giving a female referee a permanent gig starting in 2014.

There’s nothing shocking or spectacular in such announcement, after all women have proved they have the skills, knowledge, criteria and potential to serve as game officials and replace male referees when needed.

As it was announced by several sports media sites and networks, the National Football League is willing to make the move and bring a female referee aboard starting in 2014.

The possible candidate for this gig is 39 years old Sarah Thomas, the first female to ever officiate an NCAA football game back in 2007. According to recent NFL statements, Thomas, who also served as referee in the 2009 Little Ceasar's Bowl, is in their “pipeline" and that next season looks like a great time for Thomas to enter the NFL as an official referee.

But before she lands the gig, Thomas will have to pass through a series of tests, checks and interviews, and prove she has what it takes to adjust to the game pace and take part in other evaluations to go to the next level.  But even if she’s gets the job, Thomas wouldn't be able to join the league until a position becomes available, which means that an actual NFL referee has to retire from his job before she’s officially named.