Emotion vs. Reason On Durant

Like most, my initial reaction to the news this week of Kevin Durant's bolt from Oklahoma City to Golden State was a jaw drop and eye roll.

Now, I barely give a hoot about the NBA anymore. But after further reflection, why do any of us care so much about where Kevin Durant plays? No matter the career field, who doesn't want to go to work for a successful, winning team?

Will Leitch's Sports on Earth post here lays out an undeniable case.

 I especially love the parity argument ...

The NBA has never had parity. It has always been a star-driven league. Do you know how many franchises have won championships since 1980? Eleven. And four of those won only one. The Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, Spurs, Rockets, Heat and Pistons have won 33 out of the last 37 last championships. You're worried about all 30 teams having a chance to win now?

Celtics crush

My interest in the 2012 NBA season essentially ended with the Boston Celtics’ Game 7 loss last night.

I’m not a huge NBA fan, but I’ve really enjoyed watching the Boston Celtics the last five years. In fact, I can’t say I’ve admired a pro basketball team as much as I do the Celtics since my days of following the Michael Jordan-era Chicago Bulls.

What’s not to love about that team? Starting with Paul Pierce, whom I have fond memories of dating back to his Kansas days. Steady and calm Ray Allen. The big man with a big heart Kevin Garnett. Flashy and fierce Rajon Rondo. And they’re led by one of the best active coaches in the NBA in Doc Rivers. I would All five could be hall of famers some day.

I’ll take them over the Miami Heat’s “not one, not two, not three …” arrogant Big Three any day. Although, I’ll admit I did enjoy watching Shane Battier and Mario Chalmers as valuable role players for the Heat throughout the series; I have fond memories of each of their college ball days, too, and how can I not root for Mario after his 2008 miracle.

Talk of the team breaking up during the offseason breaks my heart. Of course, the eternal optimist in me thinks there’s no way the Celtics brass or any one of the players could ruin such a great thing by leaving. I want to see the Big Three retire as Celtics.

I watched almost the entire Celtics-Heat series, taking in many of the games on the comfort of my beloved couch with little Faye in my arms. I kept saying it was too bad she mostly slept through such a great series.

When the Celtics took a riveting Game 4, the conference finals officially became a series. And when they stole Game 5 in Miami, I thought the Celtics had the series for the taking. I particulularly enjoyed the over-the-top cheerleader kid heard across the nation as the Heat headed to the locker room that night.

Then Lebron showed up to play and was unstoppable in Game 6. Game 7 appeared relatively safe in the Celtics hands or most of the game and an eight-point lead in the third quarter.

Then Miami, well, turned up the Heat. Chris Bosh came out of nowhere to start popping three-pointers. And the Celtics seemed to have lost all fight they had left.

Dang. It was fun while it lasted.

I hope Oklahoma City wins the title.

(Updated: 6.11.2012) Good reads ...
a Pierce makes pitch for KG
a Father Time runs out on Celtics in Miami
a James able to deliver from start to finish
a Celtics’ Rondo remains defiant
a Big calls to make on Three
a Work over, but already looking ahead

No Bulls

With the Celtics -- dang! -- and Lakers looking weak, and the Heat unable to play consistently well, and Derrick Rose coming into his own, I really thought the Bulls were going to win it all this year. ... Especially after they creamed the Heat in Game 1.

I'm officially tuned out for the rest of the NBA season.

Good reads ...
a Joe Posnanski: The Real MVP
a Jason Kidd continues to amaze at age 38
a Phil Jackson exits the stage
a Phil Jackson’s legendary career ends in a sweep

Fun with Blake Griffin

Between Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Little Einsteins, I don't get my morning Sportscenter fix much anymore.

But the highlights I've seen of Blake Griffin are quickly turning me into a fan of his ... This clip from a game last night is -- as they say -- sick.

Christmas games

I left my office last evening, and I'm away from my job until 2011. ... Well, sort of. I will be packing some material to read and things to write in my suitcase.

But I'm free for the holidays. ... I love working in academia!

In the midst of running laps around the house this morning, packing suitcases, finishing laundry and cleaning, I caught an interview with Phil Jackson on Sportscenter and his thoughts about the NBA scheduling games on Christmas day ...

An issue that's always perplexed me, too.

Phil says ...

"It's like Christian holidays don't mean to them anything any more. Just go out and play and entertain the TV. It's really weird, but it is what it is. We have to go to work and make the best of it. ... It's going to be Christmas, and you're going to have little kids putting batteries in toys and putting their Christmas presents together. There's all kinds of crazy stuff going on, and now your head has got to get focused on the game, in the middle of the afternoon on Christmas Day."

Amen, Phil.

The Decision

I didn't watch the ESPY's this week ... Haven't watched in years. Not worth it.

But this -- if you paid any attention to LeBron James' 'decision' -- is worth watching ...

Lebron James: Taking Heat

So LeBron's going to Miami.
Wonderful. Now we can carry on with the rest of our summer.

The whole dramatic hour "Decision" shindig on ESPN aside ...

Seriously? Leave it up to ESPN to promote something so small -- in the grand scheme of life -- to epic proportions, and then draw it out and analyze it to boring bits ...

This from USA Today ...

Long ago, this got out of control, a circus fanned by a communication age that can't pause long enough to tell the difference between perspective and endless prattle. Or understand that some people — a lot of people — don't live and die with where a basketball player's next $100 million will come from. Not live and die 24/7, anyway.

Pretty much.

As I watched my Facebook and Twitter feeds leading up to the decision, at least through the first half of the show, there was a sense that everyone was watching ... Seriously, everyone. My favorite quip of the night goes to my friend Emiko, who wrote in her Facebook status: "hey lebron, brett favre called. he wanted me to tell you to stop being so dramatic."

Back to my original point. Deep down I was rooting for him to stay true to his hometown and stick with the Cavaliers, although I would have loooved to see him move to Chicago. But once he announced his decision to head to Miami, I couldn't fault his reasons.

New challenge. New opportunity. Happiness. ... Not to mention he and his Heat teammates are going to be quite the team to watch next season.

Though I get the arguments that LeBron is trying the easy road to a championship, as Lebron talked about his reasons for the move and the discussion he shared with his mother, I looked at Kates, who was sitting with Phoebe on the couch, and said, We know that feeling.

Good luck, LeBron. I'll be watching.

Good reads (Updated 07.11.2010) ...
aCleveland is left at a loss
aJim Gray's LeBron James interview draws criticism for its soft questioning
aMiami Heat fans reach out to welcome new superstar trio of James, Bosh and Wade
aLeBron James's exit strategy leaves much to ponder
aMiami’s Hoops Cartel
aMeanwhile, Back in Cleveland...
aAwaiting the Call Outside an Unlikely Epicenter
aThe LeBron Angle to Everything

Sunday night sports

I was in sports heaven yesterday.

The Cubs were playing on WGN in the afternoon (They lost. That part wasn’t so heavenly). At night, the Brewers were playing the Cardinals on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball, the Blackhawks were facing off against the Flyers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals on NBC, and the Celtics and Lakers were battling in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on ABC. The stars were out.

Calling it something special was an understatement.

During the initial two hours of the night, I watched almost all of the Blackhawks game. I only caught pieces of the Celtics game -- mostly during the commercial breaks of the Hawks game. I watched nearly none of the Brewers-Cardinals game. I did see an Albert Pujols strikeout. I didn’t see Manny Para strike out four batters in one inning. I did see Parra walk the bases loaded before getting pulled in the sixth.

Even then, for the ones I wasn't watching on TV, I was following updates on them via Twitter.

Still, for all the love I give baseball -- and college basketball certainly is exciting, too -- I’m convinced no other sport can match the non-stop, heart-pounding intensity that an NHL playoff game, especially a Stanley Cup game, is capable of producing from the opening puck drop to the final second.

The Blackhawks came out with loads of energy, and it was gobs of fun to watch them bury three goals on the Flyers in that first period alone. I couldn’t get enough those first two periods.

In the most important hockey game played around these parts in about four decades, the Blackhawks put together one of their most inspired offensive efforts in roughly the same time frame. (The Chicago Tribune)

Later, I switched to the Celtics game -- just in time to see the Lakers seize their first lead early in the third quarter. Moments after that, I flipped back to the Blackhawks game -- just in time to see Dustin Byfuglien score the Hawks’ fifth goal and put them up 5-2 in the second period.

But by the third period of the hockey game and the fourth quarter of the basketball game, the basketball game took the edge with the Celtics and Lakers playing neck-in-neck. Ray Allen, it seemed, couldn't miss a shot.

It was a world title fight, as basketball audiences in 215 countries witnessed Allen’s televised masterwork. The game was broadcast in 41 languages, and you could all but imagine the superlatives tossed Allen’s way in every tongue from Togo to South Philly. (The Boston Globe)

With the Celtics-Lakers in a timeout, I flipped back to the hockey game just after the Hawks had gone up 6-3. Moments later, Simon Gagne hooked one into the goal to bring Philadelphia back within two, 6-4. Then, the Hawks really put it away with an empty netter, to make it 7-4 with just more than two minutes to go.

Back to the basketball game with 1:12 left. Nothing going.

Back to the hockey game for the final 45 seconds. At 9:52 p.m., the final horn sounded and the Blackhawks had won.

Back to the basketball game with 27 seconds left and the Celtics starting to pull away. At 9:58 p.m., the final horn sounded and the Celtics prevailed in what was a heavyweight fight.

Back to the Brewers-Cardinals game, where the Cardinals had just tied the score 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth … And I stuck with them as they headed into extra innings for the second consecutive day (I watched Saturday, too, when the Cardinals won on a walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th.)

At 10:46 p.m. the Brewers hung on and won the game in 10 innings.

Sheesh. What a night ... And I missed seeing Sandra kissing Scarlett at the MTV Movie Awards.

Kirk Hinrich, the 'Glue guy'

The Chicago Tribune asked this morning: If Hinrich is the Bulls' 'glue' ... then why is he always at the top of the list of trade rumors?

My thoughts exactly. Being a Jayhawks fan, I've long been a Kirk Hinrich fan, and I loved that I got the chance to watch him in Chicago, too ...

The Bulls would be sorry to lose him.

Michael Jordan, hall of famer

Congratulations, Michael

I have no words to describe him, either.

Hey, Chicago what do you say ...

I’ve just come inside from an afternoon of living one of my favorite past times: doing yard work while listening to the Cubs on WGN …

The Cubs beat the Marlins for their third straight victory. It’s no wonder I haven’t been able to knock “Go Cubs Go” from my brain for the last couple days.

That and we were down at Wrigley for yesterday’s game …

My friend Tom couldn’t use his tickets so he handed them off to us. Up until Friday, it was in doubt whether we’d go. But when the weather forecast came out -- sunny and 60s -- our minds were made up.

So Phoebe woke us up at around 7:30 yesterday morning in her very own special little way. We ate breakfast. Packed up and hit the road down to Wrigley ... Given our success with driving to the ballpark last year and lingering doubts of whether Phoebe would be able to contain herself on a train, we decided to drive it again.

We made excellent time on the road and found a place to park about a mile from the stadium on Addison. I immediately turned the radio to WGN and we caught the first inning -- including Ryan Theriot’s home run -- in the car while we ate our packed lunches and fed Phoebe. Then we dropped Phoebe in her stroller and hiked to the stadium.

By the time we got to the entrance the marquee had the score posted with the Cubs leading 3-0 in the top of the third. Another inning went by before we actually got planted in our seats. Kates had to make a pit stop at the restrooms and I caught Ted Lilly’s RBI double on the monitor as I stood in line with Phoebe to get my customary Mountain Dew in a souvenir cup … Phoebe just sat patiently and quietly waving her new Diego plush doll, which was the promotional giveaway to the first 5,000 children. As late as we were getting to the game, I was pleasantly surprised -- and pleased -- when an usher leaned over and gently handed Phoebe one of the dolls.

We found our seats in the upper deck on the first place side, a place we’ve sat quite a few times now. And Phoebe immediately got herself perched on Kates’ legs. She was bouncing and clapping like a veteran Cubs fan.


I couldn’t tell you more than a few details from the game, other than the Cubs offense was hitting and Ted Lilly pitched well. Since we arrived so late, I didn’t bother getting my customary program and scorecard. I barely caught Derrek Lee’s home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. And Pete Cetera -- nice! -- sang the seventh inning stretch.

But none of that mattered to me. I was totally content just being there with Kates and Phoebe, soaking in a day at the friendly confines, enjoying the weather, the atmosphere and the people around us …By the start of the seventh inning, Phoebe’s excitement had died and she was getting tired. She ended up cuddled up on my lap and wrapped in our Cubs blanket; those three innings with her were the highlight of the afternoon for me.

And there was the Cubs victory, of course. When the Cubs got the second out in the top of the ninth, I popped up from my seat with the rest of the crowd and held up Phoebe as we waited and cheered for the final out. Then the Cubs put the game away, and “Go Cubs Go” started up over the stadium speakers ...

We sang, we danced, and the stadium rocked with an excitement that only those who’ve experienced the tradition know. We were practically singing it all the way back to our car.

* * *

Too bad the Bulls couldn’t carry the excitement through the night. The Celtics finally knocked them off, ending what was an NBA playoff series for the ages …

I caught most of Game 1, and I caught bits and highlights of the other games … I was becoming a bigger Derrick Rose fan with every game.

But Thursday night’s Game 6 was a monster classic.

Actually, I play basketball with a group of guys on Thursday nights, and I had hoped to at least catch the start of the game before I left for the gym. But it slipped my mind.

Then, as I was getting ready for bed, I turned on the TV, not expecting at all to see the Bulls and Celtics playing in overtime! Again!

I raced to the living room to share the news with Kates and that my bedtime plans had changed: I was staying up to see the end of this game … But it went into a second overtime! And then a third!

Toward the end of the third overtime, and with Ray Allen scoring his 51st point, it started to look and feel as though the Celtics were getting an edge. And I love Kirk Hinrich, but his mistakes were costing the Bulls … Then Joakim Noah came to the rescue. He intercepted the pass from Paul Pierce and pounded it into the hoop while I shot up from the couch -- not at all like I’d been up since 4 in the morning and badly needed to get some sleep for my next early morning.

The Bulls won the game 128-127. On Friday morning it seemed as though everyone was talking about that game. I was glad I stayed up to watch it.

Closing down

So I got five hours of sleep last night … I had stayed up late and into this morning to do laundry and various things around the house when, at about 1:30 a.m., I realized hey, I’m awake! I can watch the men’s basketball gold medal game! Perfect!

I tuned in and caught most of the first half … Though, for a gold medal game featuring the vaunted U.S. Redeem Team, I was hardly impressed … It was sloppy. The guys were seemingly throwing up shots and passes with no regard. I lost count of the number of times either team would move the ball up the floor, only to have the other team intercept the ball at midcourt and begin moving it the other way -- only to have the original team steal the ball back …

I survived until halftime, around 2:30 a.m., when I decided I couldn’t stay awake any longer and needed to go to sleep … I therefore set the DVR to record the remainder of the game, and watched the outcome this morning …

And the second half was just as sloppy as the first, I thought. Even worse, the Americans allowed Spain to stay in the game by continuing to toss around poor passes and shots. With a few minutes left Spain actually brought the score to within two points before the U.S. finally pulled away …

Then, after all that, I didn’t get to see the medal ceremony. I got to see the bronze and silver medals awarded and then, just after the announcer bellowed, “And now the gold medal team from the United States …” … Zzzzzzzp. The DVR cut out. Doh!

Kates and I did catch portions of tonight’s closing ceremonies, in between putting Phoebe to bed, downing leftovers for a late supper, tending to more household things, and adorable (so lip-synching) children singing whatever songs they were singing during the ceremonies …And I have mentioned how awfully sick I am of Leona Lewis?

We took the most interest as NBC showed the best moments of the Olympics in their entirety, complete with the commentary. No matter how times you see it, some of the Michael Phelps races and gymnast routines -- and hearing the commentators call them -- still give you chills …

And the whole Memory Tower thing … Yeah, that was pretty sweet, too.

An Olympics for the ages.

Celtic pride

... I just finished watching the Celtics finish off the Lakers for the NBA title. Though it wasn't so much a finishing-off as it was a flat-out trashing.

131-92. Sheesh.

Great series. So glad to see my Kansas boy Paul Pierce get his title and win the MVP. And Kevin Garnett finally gets his title too ...

So now Boston has the World Champion Red Sox and the World Champion Celtics. If only the Patriots had won the Super Bowl ...

Good reads (Updated 6.19.08) ...
a A championship unlike any other
a Green envy: Celtics polish off Lakers for 17th NBA crown

History in the making

I watched Game One of the NBA Finals last night...

Celtics-Lakers, baby. Amazing. ... It's probably the first NBA game I've watched since Michael Jordan was in a Bulls uniform. I'm totally going to soak this one up and root for the Paul Pierce and the Celtics.

The TV ratings have got to be going through the roof for this series ...

* * *

... Watched Randy Johnson break No. 2 on the all-time strikeout list against the Brewers the other night. That was pretty cool ... Even cooler was seeing the Brewers pitcher get two hits off of him.

... The Cubs are looking -- dare I say it ... Like a good Cubs fans, I've faithfully stayed up late to watch their games on the west coast this week.

Until the Padres finally put 'em down on Wednesday night, the Cubs had won nine in a row -- and eight straight were stellar come-from-behind wins. My favorite of the week: Zambrano's performance on both sides of the ball on Monday night.

And there was this from the Chicago Tribune:

Seldom has a Cubs team been linked to so many of its predecessors as the 2008 edition has been during the first two months of the season.

Every day seems to bring about a new history lesson.Consider that the Cubs on Tuesday night were off to their best start since 1977, even before Geovany Soto, Mark DeRosa and Alfonso Soriano homered in a 9-6 win over the Padres at Petco Park.

They've won nine straight for the first time since 2001, and entered June with the best record in baseball for the first time since 1908. They finished their first 7-0 homestand since 1970, and they've led in 25 consecutive games for the first time since 1935.

* * *

Barack Obama finally clinched the Democratic nomination. Thankfully ... I'm fully in his camp now and hoping the Hillary supporters will do the same for the sake of the party ...

Admittedly, our support was strong for Clinton when she swung through these parts over the winter, but it seemed to go totally down hill from there. And for the last couple months I didn't know what to think about her; watching her hang on to her campaign for dear life was woeful. But then again, I can understand and respect her reasons for not quitting ...

* * *

Speaking of Obama ... We got word this week that Chicago is still in the running for the 2016 Olympics. Sweet!

And how sweet would it be if Obama gets in the White House to give us a little pull?

It's not like we haven't been thinking about it already. We were already dreaming of it last year.

* * *

... I got two more Mountain Dews in one of my trips to the office soda machine this week ... I really should go to Vegas.