Holy hickory switches. I haven't seen a whuppin like that since Granny used to get after Jethro. Or maybe since Elin caught Tiger cheating on her. This was painful stuff -- even to watch.
After thumping the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the Miami Heat got a serious dose of backwards deja vu in Game 3. In other words, the game was fairly close until the middle of the third quarter, and then it quickly turned into a blowout.
San Antonio 113, Miami 77? As in a 36 point difference? There's routs. There's beatdowns, and -- well I don't know. What comes after beatdown? Whatever it is happened to the Miami Heat in San Antonio. When's the last time anybody can remember the Heat, at least in the Lebron James era -- getting trashed like that? Especially during a playoff game, let alone the Finals. Wow.
Turns out, when San Antonio gets it revved up, they're every bit as formidable as Miami. After Game 2, many, including yours truly, thought the tide had swung in Miami's favor. And then San Antonio comes out and blisters their South Beach butts in Game 3.
This series was predicted to be highly competitive from the start, but I doubt many thought a couple of blow-outs would happen -- one by one team -- and then the other returning the favor the very next game.
All the pressure just shifted to Miami. Sure, they might well come out in Game 4 and play a lot better -- maybe even win. They better, because if they get trashed again and go down 3-1 with San Antonio hosting Game 5 to close them out for a championship -- I dare say even the Heat -- despite all their talent and expectations -- don't want to face San Antonio on a roll and their home crowd at a fever pitch with all the marbles on the line.
And you know what? Though some may disagree -- unless you're specifically a Miami fan -- how can you root against San Antonio? They don't get all the press and hype that Miami does, while playing in a much smaller market. But from top to bottom, they're a class act. You won't see their players flopping trying to draw referee whistles for fouls that didn't happen. Nor will they partake in the occasional physical intimidation tactics (see dirty) that the Miami Heat and so many other teams do when they get frustrated. They just play the game the way it's supposed to be played. At a very high level in all the fundamentals, I might add. Further, from head coach on down to the last player on the bench -- unlike certain Heat players -- they'd rather shy away from the TV cameras and interviews on or off the court. They do their talking with their play. How refreshing.
No, it's certainly not over yet. I, for one, would never underestimate what the Miami Heat are capable of in the next few games. They might well get back on a roll of their own and repeat as champions.
But I know who I'm rooting for.
Anymore, I'll take class over brass anytime. It took a very long time for yours truly to finally figure that out.
Either that, or I must be geting old. Sigh.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Monday, June 10, 2013
The Detroit Lions Super Bowl -- what???
I can't believe what I saw earlier on the 4-letter network. Granted, I'm dumber than a stick and, further granted, the NFL football "experts" know a heck of a lot more about the game than I do -- but some of them are picking the Detroit Lions to -- gasp -- win the Super Bowl this coming year? Somebody's on drugs, and it isn't me. I won't even associate with anybody that does drugs, let alone partake myself. No way.
Yet somehow -- and it boggles my mind -- there are those that think the Lions will go to the Super Bowl next year. Local media koolaid I understand, but unless the Ford family has been handing out some serious Honolulu blue hallucinogens amongst the talking heads -- obviously yours truly is missing something. Here's what I think I know. Last time I looked this was the same team that...
Went 4-12 last year, losing the last 8 in a row.
Didn't win a single game within their division.
Didn't noticeably upgrade themselves during the off-season through the draft or free agency.
Has a grand total of 2 starters on the offensive line -- and the rest is still up in the air.
Had no noticeable running game. Reggie Bush is in town now? Hey, the Miami Dolphins, not exactly a powerhouse, let him walk. Bush is thrilled to be in Detroit, and well he should be. It's not like other teams were clamoring for his services.
Sure, Matthew Stafford might throw for another 5000 yards and Megatron Calvin Johnson might catch 2000 more yards worth of his heaves. But beyond that....
The Lions cut one receiver because he was a nut case, and the others are recovering from injuries.
They don't have a tight end that can, you know, actually catch the ball with any degree of frequency.
One starting defensive lineman bailed for free agency, and another was put out to pasture. Yet another is doing well if he can stay off the police blotter, and a fourth has been voted the dirtiest player in the league by his fellow NFLers.
Linebackers? Could even a single one of them on the Lions roster start for another NFL team? I have my doubts.
Between cornerbacks and safeties, the defensive backfield looks like some sort of Chinese fire drill running around. And that's the guys that can stay healthy -- which most of them have shown they can't.
Even their reliable place kicker, Jason Hanson, is gone. The Lions are entertaining some guy named "kickalicious". See the stunts he can do kicking a football by himself. See him crawl into the fetal position and cry for his mama when a bunch of snarling big guys are bearing down on him in an NFL game. Good luck with that.
Head coach Jim Schwartz has, by far, at 22-42, the worst record in the NFL. Yes, he took over a team that set an all-time record for futility in 2008, going 0-16. Obviously, it couldn't get any worse. Sure enough, he made progress. In 2009 the Lions went 2-14. A little better. In 2010 6-10. Definitely showing improvement. Most coaches are given a 3 year window to get things done, and in 2011 Schwartz led the Lions to a 10-6 record and the playoffs. Nevermind they got blown out by the New Orleans Saints in that opening playoff game -- things were looking up. Until 2012. Going from a playoff team to 4-12 and finishing dead last in the division, while beating NOBODY within it all year would be a recipe for any other self-respecting team to fire the head coach. In their infinite wisdom, Detroit gave Schwartz got a contract extension. Only the Lions would do something like that. Unbelievable.
So basically, the way I see it, the Lions will still have the Matthew to Calvin show going on, but if anything, the rest has got worse.
Here's a few more reasons why they won't get to the Super Bowl. The...
San Francisco 49ers.
Atlanta Falcons.
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
Chicago Bears
Seattle Seahawks
New York Giants
All those teams and more will be better in the NFC than the Lions.
But some of the experts pick the Lions to go to the big dance?
Wow. That's almost enough to make yours truly want to do the same drugs so I can fathom what the hell they're talking about.
Nah. I'll stick to being an idiot, but a clean one. Given the "weaker" schedule afforded to losing teams, methinks the Lions, with a few breaks, might go 8-8.
Super Bowl? That's like saying the Cubs are going to win the World Series.
C'mon.
Yet somehow -- and it boggles my mind -- there are those that think the Lions will go to the Super Bowl next year. Local media koolaid I understand, but unless the Ford family has been handing out some serious Honolulu blue hallucinogens amongst the talking heads -- obviously yours truly is missing something. Here's what I think I know. Last time I looked this was the same team that...
Went 4-12 last year, losing the last 8 in a row.
Didn't win a single game within their division.
Didn't noticeably upgrade themselves during the off-season through the draft or free agency.
Has a grand total of 2 starters on the offensive line -- and the rest is still up in the air.
Had no noticeable running game. Reggie Bush is in town now? Hey, the Miami Dolphins, not exactly a powerhouse, let him walk. Bush is thrilled to be in Detroit, and well he should be. It's not like other teams were clamoring for his services.
Sure, Matthew Stafford might throw for another 5000 yards and Megatron Calvin Johnson might catch 2000 more yards worth of his heaves. But beyond that....
The Lions cut one receiver because he was a nut case, and the others are recovering from injuries.
They don't have a tight end that can, you know, actually catch the ball with any degree of frequency.
One starting defensive lineman bailed for free agency, and another was put out to pasture. Yet another is doing well if he can stay off the police blotter, and a fourth has been voted the dirtiest player in the league by his fellow NFLers.
Linebackers? Could even a single one of them on the Lions roster start for another NFL team? I have my doubts.
Between cornerbacks and safeties, the defensive backfield looks like some sort of Chinese fire drill running around. And that's the guys that can stay healthy -- which most of them have shown they can't.
Even their reliable place kicker, Jason Hanson, is gone. The Lions are entertaining some guy named "kickalicious". See the stunts he can do kicking a football by himself. See him crawl into the fetal position and cry for his mama when a bunch of snarling big guys are bearing down on him in an NFL game. Good luck with that.
Head coach Jim Schwartz has, by far, at 22-42, the worst record in the NFL. Yes, he took over a team that set an all-time record for futility in 2008, going 0-16. Obviously, it couldn't get any worse. Sure enough, he made progress. In 2009 the Lions went 2-14. A little better. In 2010 6-10. Definitely showing improvement. Most coaches are given a 3 year window to get things done, and in 2011 Schwartz led the Lions to a 10-6 record and the playoffs. Nevermind they got blown out by the New Orleans Saints in that opening playoff game -- things were looking up. Until 2012. Going from a playoff team to 4-12 and finishing dead last in the division, while beating NOBODY within it all year would be a recipe for any other self-respecting team to fire the head coach. In their infinite wisdom, Detroit gave Schwartz got a contract extension. Only the Lions would do something like that. Unbelievable.
So basically, the way I see it, the Lions will still have the Matthew to Calvin show going on, but if anything, the rest has got worse.
Here's a few more reasons why they won't get to the Super Bowl. The...
San Francisco 49ers.
Atlanta Falcons.
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
Chicago Bears
Seattle Seahawks
New York Giants
All those teams and more will be better in the NFC than the Lions.
But some of the experts pick the Lions to go to the big dance?
Wow. That's almost enough to make yours truly want to do the same drugs so I can fathom what the hell they're talking about.
Nah. I'll stick to being an idiot, but a clean one. Given the "weaker" schedule afforded to losing teams, methinks the Lions, with a few breaks, might go 8-8.
Super Bowl? That's like saying the Cubs are going to win the World Series.
C'mon.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Miami/San Antonio, and an alien amongst us
Over all these years, have you ever noticed how noted sports columnist Mitch Albom always has his hair in such a way that hides the tops of his ears? Yours truly has long suspected there was a secret reason for this. I mean, c'mon, the dude's 55 years old. Nobody wears their hair like that anymore -- unless they're hiding something. Throw in the dark hair and unwavering eyes his people are known for and there can be only one conclusion....
He's a Vulcan. That would explain him never showing his ears. He even looks like Mr. Spock. Hey, I suspect every inhabited planet has its short people -- right? Or maybe Spock was one of the tall ones. Not sure. I've never been to Vulcan, and never will. Last I heard the whole planet got blown up a few years ago.
Nevertheless -- there you have it. You now know the origin of Mitch Albom. Logical, flawlessly logical.
In other sports news, Miami clobbered San Antonio in Game 2 to even the NBA finals at one game apiece. That game featured a somewhat surprising turn of events. While the Spurs and the Heat are both known for their "Big 3s", it wasn't the stars that made the difference. They had played pretty well even up until the middle of the 3rd quarter, when both teams gave their starters a rest and sent in the reserves. One would have thought San Antonio would have the advantage due to their supposed superior depth, but evidently not true. The Miami bench blistered their San Antonio counterparts for several minutes. By the time the starters got back on the floor, the game was already decided. The rest was basically just garbage time. I doubt many saw THAT coming. Go figure. Regardless, Miami definitely sent a message and I suspect Spurs' head coach Greg Popovich had a bunch on his mind on the flight back to San Antonio for the next three games. His subs getting outplayed that bad wasn't supposed to happen. It might be time for Plan B.
Not to overstate the obvious, but Game 3 is crucial. If Miami waltzes into Alamoland and wins that game -- I think it's basically over. Miami will repeat as champs. But if San Antonio comes back with a convincing victory -- then the plot thickens, and who knows how it will all wind up?
Either way, Mitch Albom might well be there to cover it. Given his station in life, he can pretty well pick and choose amongst which plum sporting events he wishes to attend and write about.
I don't begrudge him that. After all, none of us knows how it feels to learn his home planet was destroyed while living on another.
Live long and prosper, Mitch.
He's a Vulcan. That would explain him never showing his ears. He even looks like Mr. Spock. Hey, I suspect every inhabited planet has its short people -- right? Or maybe Spock was one of the tall ones. Not sure. I've never been to Vulcan, and never will. Last I heard the whole planet got blown up a few years ago.
Nevertheless -- there you have it. You now know the origin of Mitch Albom. Logical, flawlessly logical.
In other sports news, Miami clobbered San Antonio in Game 2 to even the NBA finals at one game apiece. That game featured a somewhat surprising turn of events. While the Spurs and the Heat are both known for their "Big 3s", it wasn't the stars that made the difference. They had played pretty well even up until the middle of the 3rd quarter, when both teams gave their starters a rest and sent in the reserves. One would have thought San Antonio would have the advantage due to their supposed superior depth, but evidently not true. The Miami bench blistered their San Antonio counterparts for several minutes. By the time the starters got back on the floor, the game was already decided. The rest was basically just garbage time. I doubt many saw THAT coming. Go figure. Regardless, Miami definitely sent a message and I suspect Spurs' head coach Greg Popovich had a bunch on his mind on the flight back to San Antonio for the next three games. His subs getting outplayed that bad wasn't supposed to happen. It might be time for Plan B.
Not to overstate the obvious, but Game 3 is crucial. If Miami waltzes into Alamoland and wins that game -- I think it's basically over. Miami will repeat as champs. But if San Antonio comes back with a convincing victory -- then the plot thickens, and who knows how it will all wind up?
Either way, Mitch Albom might well be there to cover it. Given his station in life, he can pretty well pick and choose amongst which plum sporting events he wishes to attend and write about.
I don't begrudge him that. After all, none of us knows how it feels to learn his home planet was destroyed while living on another.
Live long and prosper, Mitch.
Serena, Rafael, Helio, and KFC
Idle thought: Why do they call it Saturday Night Live when the show is pre-recorded? Because it's done in front of a live audience? Big deal. So are game and talk shows. Then again, I guess that's a whole lot better than doing it in front of a dead audience. That would be kind of spooky. Not many laughs either, I dare say.
So Serena Williams won the French Open. No big surprise there. Lately, the ladies' tennis finals always seem to boil down to Serena vs some Russian girl. Thing is, in pro tennis, Father Time seems to speed things up a lot as far as how long careers last. Whereas in other sports reaching the age of 30 usually means a player is in his/her prime, in pro tennis it's almost considered old age. Serena's approaching 32. It likely won't be long before the fall (or retirement) comes. It will be interesting to see which lady players rise to the forefront when that happens.
Much the same is going on in men's pro tennis. Rafael Nadal just won the French Open for the umpteenth time. He's almost unbeatable on clay courts. On hard courts or grass, besides Nadal, it seems like only Novac Djokovic or Roger Federer win everything. And Federer's getting old too.
It's kind of like when Tiger Woods was so dominant a few years back. There's the top dog, and then there's everybody else. If one is a fan of a top dog, this is great. If one likes to see new faces emerge as champions once in a while -- it's not so great.
Idle thought: Love those KFC commercials where the guy thinks he ate the bones. The actors are just perfect for the part.
Helio Castroneves just won an Indy car race in Texas. In all of sports, I can't remember another person that shows such unbridled joy and excitement when they win. You have to like the guy.
And I didn't get to go riding today because I promised myself I'd get a few things done around the house. Boo, hiss. However, LJ (you know who you are) showed up and didn't fall down even once. Things are definitely improving -- at least on some fronts.
On to the Stanley Cup Finals. Boston vs Chicago. Should be a helluva series.
Hi, J. Missed ya.
So Serena Williams won the French Open. No big surprise there. Lately, the ladies' tennis finals always seem to boil down to Serena vs some Russian girl. Thing is, in pro tennis, Father Time seems to speed things up a lot as far as how long careers last. Whereas in other sports reaching the age of 30 usually means a player is in his/her prime, in pro tennis it's almost considered old age. Serena's approaching 32. It likely won't be long before the fall (or retirement) comes. It will be interesting to see which lady players rise to the forefront when that happens.
Much the same is going on in men's pro tennis. Rafael Nadal just won the French Open for the umpteenth time. He's almost unbeatable on clay courts. On hard courts or grass, besides Nadal, it seems like only Novac Djokovic or Roger Federer win everything. And Federer's getting old too.
It's kind of like when Tiger Woods was so dominant a few years back. There's the top dog, and then there's everybody else. If one is a fan of a top dog, this is great. If one likes to see new faces emerge as champions once in a while -- it's not so great.
Idle thought: Love those KFC commercials where the guy thinks he ate the bones. The actors are just perfect for the part.
Helio Castroneves just won an Indy car race in Texas. In all of sports, I can't remember another person that shows such unbridled joy and excitement when they win. You have to like the guy.
And I didn't get to go riding today because I promised myself I'd get a few things done around the house. Boo, hiss. However, LJ (you know who you are) showed up and didn't fall down even once. Things are definitely improving -- at least on some fronts.
On to the Stanley Cup Finals. Boston vs Chicago. Should be a helluva series.
Hi, J. Missed ya.
Friday, June 7, 2013
Pittsburgh, a THUD, and Don Cherry
Who would have believed it? The high-flying Pittsburgh Penguins just got broomed by the Boston Bruins. Yours truly knoweth not what kind of odds the wise guys in Vegas were giving on that happening before the series started -- but I surely wish I'd had a C-note bet on it. I might be able to afford gas for the next couple weeks. No cracks about already being an overinflated gasbag, please.
With all the talent the Penguins possessed, they only managed to score 2 measly goals in the whole series. Unbelievable. Superstar Sid Crosby and fellow sharpshooter Evgeny Malkin didn't register a single point.
It seemed like Boston was everywhere. Indeed, one of the TV commentators noted that Boston featured layers of defense. If a Penguin got past a Bruin, another one was waiting for him. And another after that. No wonder they couldn't score. Yet there's a flaw in that logic.
If a second Boston player covered any particular Penguin, another Penguin had to be open somewhere. You'd think they would have figured that out after a game or two, but evidently not.
Back in days of yore, opposing teams often put a "shadow" on the Great One himself, Wayne Gretzky. Wherever Gretzky went -- the other guy went. But Gretzky and his teammates used it to their advantage. Gretzky once said that whenever he found himself being "shadowed", he would merely shadow a different player on the other team. That meant wherever he went, there would be one of him -- and two of them. That left Gretzky's teammates in a 4 on 3 advantage all over the rest of the ice, which he would take every time.
For every advantage, there has to be a corresponding disadvantage. I think that's one of Newton's laws of physics or something. It's sort of like Don Cherry buying all your clothes for you. Free is nice, but do you really want to be seen in some of that stuff? Whoa.
Nevertheless, while the Pittsburgh Penguins are history, the Boston Bruins await the winner of the Chicago/LA series to play for the Stanley Cup. The Black Hawks currently lead that series 3-1 and could close out LA on Saturday night in Chicago. If so, that would put two "original 6" teams in the Stanley Cup Finals, which would be kind of cool. Can't remember the last time that happened.
What's not so cool is what's likely to happen in Pittsburgh pretty quick. Given all the talent the Penguins have, and after all the high expectations all year long, including going into the playoffs -- to be unceremoniously broomed and kicked to the curb likely won't sit well with Pittsburgh ownership/upper management.
Methinks Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma might just be joining the ranks of the unemployed in the very near future. Though travelling from Boston to Pittsburgh can't be much more than an hour by air, I suspect it's going to be a mighty long plane ride for Mr. Bylsma.
And that meeting that awaits him in the next few days won't be a walk in the park either.
Oh well, that's just the way it goes in professional sports.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go put on my fluorescent paisley pajamas, with base colors of pink in the front and lime green in the back. And they've got a collar you wouldn't believe.
Don Cherry bought them for me. Just kidding.
I think.....
With all the talent the Penguins possessed, they only managed to score 2 measly goals in the whole series. Unbelievable. Superstar Sid Crosby and fellow sharpshooter Evgeny Malkin didn't register a single point.
It seemed like Boston was everywhere. Indeed, one of the TV commentators noted that Boston featured layers of defense. If a Penguin got past a Bruin, another one was waiting for him. And another after that. No wonder they couldn't score. Yet there's a flaw in that logic.
If a second Boston player covered any particular Penguin, another Penguin had to be open somewhere. You'd think they would have figured that out after a game or two, but evidently not.
Back in days of yore, opposing teams often put a "shadow" on the Great One himself, Wayne Gretzky. Wherever Gretzky went -- the other guy went. But Gretzky and his teammates used it to their advantage. Gretzky once said that whenever he found himself being "shadowed", he would merely shadow a different player on the other team. That meant wherever he went, there would be one of him -- and two of them. That left Gretzky's teammates in a 4 on 3 advantage all over the rest of the ice, which he would take every time.
For every advantage, there has to be a corresponding disadvantage. I think that's one of Newton's laws of physics or something. It's sort of like Don Cherry buying all your clothes for you. Free is nice, but do you really want to be seen in some of that stuff? Whoa.
Nevertheless, while the Pittsburgh Penguins are history, the Boston Bruins await the winner of the Chicago/LA series to play for the Stanley Cup. The Black Hawks currently lead that series 3-1 and could close out LA on Saturday night in Chicago. If so, that would put two "original 6" teams in the Stanley Cup Finals, which would be kind of cool. Can't remember the last time that happened.
What's not so cool is what's likely to happen in Pittsburgh pretty quick. Given all the talent the Penguins have, and after all the high expectations all year long, including going into the playoffs -- to be unceremoniously broomed and kicked to the curb likely won't sit well with Pittsburgh ownership/upper management.
Methinks Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma might just be joining the ranks of the unemployed in the very near future. Though travelling from Boston to Pittsburgh can't be much more than an hour by air, I suspect it's going to be a mighty long plane ride for Mr. Bylsma.
And that meeting that awaits him in the next few days won't be a walk in the park either.
Oh well, that's just the way it goes in professional sports.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go put on my fluorescent paisley pajamas, with base colors of pink in the front and lime green in the back. And they've got a collar you wouldn't believe.
Don Cherry bought them for me. Just kidding.
I think.....
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Can Miami do it again?
Well OK. The San Antonio Spurs swooped into Miami and "stole" a game. This gives them home court advantage. Theoretically, given the 2-3-2 game format of the NBA Finals as to home courts, even assuming the Heat win Game 2, if San Antonio doesn't lose at home, this series will over in 5 games with the Spurs as the new champs.
But nobody really expects that to happen -- do they? After all, the Indiana Pacers "stole" an early game from the Heat in the semi-finals, and look how that worked out. There's little doubt Miami remains a formidable team. If they get it going......
Then again, the Spurs are a whole different animal than the Pacers were. The core of their team has a few championships under their belts in years past, so it's unlikely they'll wilt under pressure. To boot, most would agree the Spurs are fundamentally the soundest team in basketball. They're smart, disciplined, deep, and do everything well. Magic Johnson probably said it best -- The Spurs aren't going to lose by themselves with mistakes. Another team has to BEAT them. Throw in the fact that most also consider Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich the wiliest coach in the game, and Miami definitely has their work cut out for them. It's not going to be easy.
Can Miami come back to beat them? It's certainly possible, and many likely think it's probable. But I wouldn't bet the farm on that. Miami has to win Game 2 first, and that's no given. If they go down 2-zip with the next 3 games in San Antonio, Lebron and Co. might be in a heap of trouble.
Some say Miami got tired in the fourth quarter of this recent loss to the Spurs. That led to the Heat uncharacteristically committing a slew of late turnovers that San Antonio capitalized on, and -- presto -- a 4 point victory. To be sure, Miami was coming off a brutal 7 game series with Indiana, while San Antonio had enjoyed a week off to rest after sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies in their own semis.
Yet there's two schools of thought on that. Some also maintain that playing games in a regular rhythm is beneficial, because it keeps the team sharp. A team having a long rest loses their edge. It all depends on how one wants to look at it. Glass half empty -- or half full?
In the end, yours truly still expects this series to go at least 6 games, if not 7.
The best thing about it? Though they have different styles of play -- most objective NBA fans would also agree the two best teams are slugging it out for the championship.
And that's the way it should be.
This is basketball at it's finest.
But nobody really expects that to happen -- do they? After all, the Indiana Pacers "stole" an early game from the Heat in the semi-finals, and look how that worked out. There's little doubt Miami remains a formidable team. If they get it going......
Then again, the Spurs are a whole different animal than the Pacers were. The core of their team has a few championships under their belts in years past, so it's unlikely they'll wilt under pressure. To boot, most would agree the Spurs are fundamentally the soundest team in basketball. They're smart, disciplined, deep, and do everything well. Magic Johnson probably said it best -- The Spurs aren't going to lose by themselves with mistakes. Another team has to BEAT them. Throw in the fact that most also consider Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich the wiliest coach in the game, and Miami definitely has their work cut out for them. It's not going to be easy.
Can Miami come back to beat them? It's certainly possible, and many likely think it's probable. But I wouldn't bet the farm on that. Miami has to win Game 2 first, and that's no given. If they go down 2-zip with the next 3 games in San Antonio, Lebron and Co. might be in a heap of trouble.
Some say Miami got tired in the fourth quarter of this recent loss to the Spurs. That led to the Heat uncharacteristically committing a slew of late turnovers that San Antonio capitalized on, and -- presto -- a 4 point victory. To be sure, Miami was coming off a brutal 7 game series with Indiana, while San Antonio had enjoyed a week off to rest after sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies in their own semis.
Yet there's two schools of thought on that. Some also maintain that playing games in a regular rhythm is beneficial, because it keeps the team sharp. A team having a long rest loses their edge. It all depends on how one wants to look at it. Glass half empty -- or half full?
In the end, yours truly still expects this series to go at least 6 games, if not 7.
The best thing about it? Though they have different styles of play -- most objective NBA fans would also agree the two best teams are slugging it out for the championship.
And that's the way it should be.
This is basketball at it's finest.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
National Anthems. Get it right
No, I don't go around draped in the Stars and Stripes, but I suppose I'm as patriotic as the next guy or gal. Though I have little use for the self-serving political clowns that sometimes run it -- I really do love my country. While it certainly has its flaws, I honestly can't think of another country where I'd rather live. Visit? Sure. Live full time? Don't think so. It could well be yours truly is brain-washed when it comes to such a thing. After all, I have no doubt there are billions of other people around the globe that would say the same thing about their own countries. Where you stand depends on where you sit -- or something like that.
Which brings me to national anthems, specifically those of the United States and Canada, the two I know rather well. Yes, they're technically only songs, but they represent an entire country and, in my opinion, should not be taken lightly, much less abused. I'll get back to that.
Even a dummy like me knew the Star Spangled Banner was composed by Francis Scott Key as he watched a British naval bombardment on America during the War of 1812. Yet despite how many times I'd heard O Canada, the Canadian national anthem, over the years -- I had no idea where it originated from. So I looked it up.
Turns out, it's kind of complicated. Rather than trying to explain it -- here's what I found on Wikipedia---
"O Canada" is the national anthem of Canada. The song was originally commissioned by Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Théodore Robitaille for the 1880 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day ceremony; Calixa Lavallée wrote the music as a setting of a French Canadian patriotic poem composed by poet and judge Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier. The lyrics were originally in French and translated into English in 1906.[1] Robert Stanley Weir wrote in 1908 another English version, which is the official and most popular version, one that is not a literal translation of the French. Weir's lyrics have been revised twice, taking their present form in 1980, but the French lyrics remain unaltered. "O Canada" had served as a de facto national anthem since 1939, officially becoming Canada's national anthem in 1980 when the Act of Parliament making it so received Royal Assent and became effective on July 1 as part of that year's Dominion Day celebrations.
If you can figure all that out -- you're a heckuva lot smarter than yours truly, but I still think the version I've heard over the last few decades is pretty cool. Thing is -- though it may have been tweaked a few times in years past, nobody much messes with O Canada when it comes to sporting events. It's sung the way it's written.
Not necessarily so, when it comes to the Star Spangled Banner. Over the years it's been mangled in every which way. As an American, I didn't and don't want to see or hear.....
Jose Feliciano strumming his guitar and trying to turn our national anthem into some sort of Latino folk song.
Roseanne Barr grabbing her rather sizeable crotch, in a crass display of vulgar humor, while singing it at a ball game.
The celebrity bimbo of the month, with a cup size higher than her IQ, butchering it prior to any sporting contest.
Trotting out anybody that hasn't even bothered to memorize the lyrics.
Trotting out anybody that carries a tune about as well as your average railroad locomotive.
It's the Star Spangled Banner. I don't want to see it jazzed up, blues up, rapped up, souled up, yee-hawed up, heavy metaled up, or otherwise messed up. Just sing the damn song the way it was written. Is that asking too much?
But to their credit -- bravo -- Canadians don't tolerate that sort of nonsense. Despite the twists and turns their national anthem has taken in it's history, it's THEIR song now, dammit, and anybody that sings it better get it right.
They have no patience for some clueless "celebrity", or the nepotism thing with sports executives or other powerful people trying to get a relative some TV exposure. That's not good enough. Not even close.
A lot of times, they'll trot out a world class operatic tenor, who not only knows the lyrics, but can sing both The Star Spangled Banner and O Canada in both English and French, whichever is called for. As he belts them out, the crowd gets worked up into a fever pitch. It's goose bump stuff, even watching on TV. If only for a short while -- it rekindles nationalistic pride -- always a good thing. This is the way it's supposed to be.
Please carry on Canada. Perhaps someday we dumb arrogant Americans will realize you've had it right all along.
Just so you know -- watching the likes of some fat ugly broad that can't sing a lick while groping herself, isn't exactly inspiring for some of us folks south of the border.
Which brings me to national anthems, specifically those of the United States and Canada, the two I know rather well. Yes, they're technically only songs, but they represent an entire country and, in my opinion, should not be taken lightly, much less abused. I'll get back to that.
Even a dummy like me knew the Star Spangled Banner was composed by Francis Scott Key as he watched a British naval bombardment on America during the War of 1812. Yet despite how many times I'd heard O Canada, the Canadian national anthem, over the years -- I had no idea where it originated from. So I looked it up.
Turns out, it's kind of complicated. Rather than trying to explain it -- here's what I found on Wikipedia---
"O Canada" is the national anthem of Canada. The song was originally commissioned by Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Théodore Robitaille for the 1880 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day ceremony; Calixa Lavallée wrote the music as a setting of a French Canadian patriotic poem composed by poet and judge Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier. The lyrics were originally in French and translated into English in 1906.[1] Robert Stanley Weir wrote in 1908 another English version, which is the official and most popular version, one that is not a literal translation of the French. Weir's lyrics have been revised twice, taking their present form in 1980, but the French lyrics remain unaltered. "O Canada" had served as a de facto national anthem since 1939, officially becoming Canada's national anthem in 1980 when the Act of Parliament making it so received Royal Assent and became effective on July 1 as part of that year's Dominion Day celebrations.
If you can figure all that out -- you're a heckuva lot smarter than yours truly, but I still think the version I've heard over the last few decades is pretty cool. Thing is -- though it may have been tweaked a few times in years past, nobody much messes with O Canada when it comes to sporting events. It's sung the way it's written.
Not necessarily so, when it comes to the Star Spangled Banner. Over the years it's been mangled in every which way. As an American, I didn't and don't want to see or hear.....
Jose Feliciano strumming his guitar and trying to turn our national anthem into some sort of Latino folk song.
Roseanne Barr grabbing her rather sizeable crotch, in a crass display of vulgar humor, while singing it at a ball game.
The celebrity bimbo of the month, with a cup size higher than her IQ, butchering it prior to any sporting contest.
Trotting out anybody that hasn't even bothered to memorize the lyrics.
Trotting out anybody that carries a tune about as well as your average railroad locomotive.
It's the Star Spangled Banner. I don't want to see it jazzed up, blues up, rapped up, souled up, yee-hawed up, heavy metaled up, or otherwise messed up. Just sing the damn song the way it was written. Is that asking too much?
But to their credit -- bravo -- Canadians don't tolerate that sort of nonsense. Despite the twists and turns their national anthem has taken in it's history, it's THEIR song now, dammit, and anybody that sings it better get it right.
They have no patience for some clueless "celebrity", or the nepotism thing with sports executives or other powerful people trying to get a relative some TV exposure. That's not good enough. Not even close.
A lot of times, they'll trot out a world class operatic tenor, who not only knows the lyrics, but can sing both The Star Spangled Banner and O Canada in both English and French, whichever is called for. As he belts them out, the crowd gets worked up into a fever pitch. It's goose bump stuff, even watching on TV. If only for a short while -- it rekindles nationalistic pride -- always a good thing. This is the way it's supposed to be.
Please carry on Canada. Perhaps someday we dumb arrogant Americans will realize you've had it right all along.
Just so you know -- watching the likes of some fat ugly broad that can't sing a lick while groping herself, isn't exactly inspiring for some of us folks south of the border.
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