Best of the SB Nation Network: December 8, 2009

Here is the best of the SB Nation network for Tuesday, December 8, 2009:

Hockey

- Don't you hate it when a trade doesn't benefit both teams? Habs Eyes on the Prize does.

- Please don't overreact to the Canes benching Rod Brind'Amour.  There's nothing to see here.  Move along.

MMA

- Bloody Elbow pressures Zuffa fighters into banning a clothing company for using Nazi symbolism.

- A fighter is suspended from the American Kickboxing Academy for having the audacity for signing with a manager not attached to the AKA.

Baseball

- Brad Penny signed with the St. Louis Cardinals, giving Viva El Birdos the chance for a lot of headline puns.

- Jose Valverde rejected arbitration from the Astros and the question is, who closes now for the Astros?

Soccer

- Richard Farley, who will one day write the next Freakonomics, does a head-spinning statistical analysis on the World Cup groups as drawn last week. Once again, Richard proves he's the thinking man's blogger.

- Dave Clark at Sounder at Heart reminds us that even in the MLS playoff system ain't perfect, it's better than the BCS system. (You can't spell BSC, after all, w/out the BS)

Basketball

- Sactown Royalty says it's way too early to even think about trading Kevin Martin.

- The Dream Shake has an interview with beat writer Jason Friedman.

- And in sports crossover news, Mark Cuban will be guest hosting WWE Raw.

Football

- Matthew Stafford may or may not start, and the Lions aren't going to give the Ravens any advanced notice.

- To rest players or go for 16-0, that is the question.  The Patriots probably could've used a loss in 2007. I'm just saying.

Cycling

- Podium Cafe is less than impressed with the Lance Armstrong Team Radio Shack racing kits.