Last Sunday, during the NBC telecast of the Boston Bruins’ game 6 win at Toronto (Maple Leafs) in an eventual series win, lead announcer Mike Emrick commented/”bragged” a bit about his favorite baseball team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, leading their division.
At that point, the S.F. Giants led Pittsburgh in that day’s game and won. After that loss, both Arizona in Pittsburgh and the Dodgers, as fairly big home favorites, each swept the “Buccos,”–Arizona winning 4 and L.A. 3.
However, Mr. Emrick’s “shot” at the world champion Red Sox that day continues to hold up. That day, (Sunday April 21st), Boston completed a sweep of Tampa Bay (Rays) however, a subsequent (2-4) home stand, including 2 losses to “T.B,” leaves the Red Sox (11-17).
Alas, do not look now, but the New York Yankees have the opposite (17-11) record, having won nine of their last 10 games.
In the bigger picture, Emrick made a good point about smaller market/lower payroll teams (citing Pittsburgh and “knocking” Boston) however, 40 years in “the desert” of no titles for the Pirates, in my opinion, warranted a “pass over” regarding Pirates’ exploits, not a second day of Passover, “Buccos brag.”
Alas karma, if not another force erupted, I did not do near enough and looking to the future, as it is so early in the baseball season, I surely feel the Red Sox are “plagued” and who knows regarding Pittsburgh?
Meanwhile what a “hunch!” Emrick “boasts,” the Pirates lose. Since he does much else so effectively, Jeopardy phenom and “professional sports bettor,” James Holzhauer would have/maybe was “all in,” regarding what is now an 8 game Pirates’ loss skein.
Jose Pagan, pictured above, drove in Willie Stargell with what proved to be the World Series run, as the Pirates won it all in 1971.
The NBA Western Conference semi-finals begin today as the two time defending champion Golden State Warriors (in the classic film, “On The Waterfront,” a less ominous version but a “gang” none the less is the “Golden Warriors”) face the Houston Rockets.
Last season “G.S.” sans home advantage, won a 7 game semi final from the Rockets, who were without Chris Paul when Golden State won both games 6 and 7 to win the series.
This year a round earlier, “G.S.” with home advantage, is about a two and a half to one series favorite.
In the other West semi, 42 years later there is a “2” seed Denver Nuggets vs “3” seed Portland Trail Blazers redux. Portland won that series in 6 games, en route to their lone NBA crown.
Denver, which before 7’ing the San Antonio Spurs, had lost 10 of 11 first round series, since shocking the league, top ranked Seattle SuperSonics (note the Portland and Seattle spellings and of course note the SuperSonics are now the Oklahoma City Thunder. Portland 5’d the Thunder in the first round of this year’s ‘offs) in 1994, last made the NBA semis/Western Conference final in ’09. Portland’s last appearance in that round was in 2000.
Both teams lost to the eventual league champion Los Angeles Lakers in those aforementioned, most recent semis appearance.
Thoughts and concepts regarding time and especially movement, (always moving) resonate, as I recall the great basketball player, John Havlicek, who died days back, at the age of 79.
Known as “Hondo,” Mr. Havlicek played on 8 Boston Celtics’ title teams (only Bill Russell (11) and he commented on the pain, as another great teammate and friend passed away and Sam Jones (10) played on more) making two “almost must–called by Most'” (Johnny, the gravel voiced, legendary Celts’ broadcaster) plays en route.
Coincidental, eery and perhaps a way to say, John Havlicek will be fine from now on, as his battle with the horror of Parkinson’s disease is over, is that the Celtics open their quarterfinal series, playing their first game after Havlicek’s death, at Milwaukee, in an early Sunday afternoon, start tomorrow.
John Havlicek played in 3 winner take all 7th games of the NBA Final, his Celtics winning all 3, the last of which was the “Hondo” led, series MVP performance, at Milwaukee on a Mother’s Day afternoon in 1974.
One of his great, “must?” plays, was when he tipped Hal Greer’s inbound pass intended for Chet Walker (oh the names, oh the memories, though re John Havlicek–I was so often on the “wrong” rooting side) in effect “stealing the ball” yielding a (110-109) “hold on” win by Boston, vs the/”my” Wilt Chamberlain led, Philly 76ers in #7,Eastern final in 1965. I was too young to stay up and watch it, as I believe “New York 9” telecast it (still) here.
Regarding that tilt, we will never know if the Sixers would have scored, there were 5 seconds left and I say probably not, making the “Havlicek stole the ball” play a tad over rated, however, clearly great!
The other one, John’s running, bank shot that preceded even more incredible drama in the second overtime of game 5 of the ’76 NBA final vs the upstart Phoenix Suns (recently their coach John MacLeod passed away), WAS a “MUST,” certainly in the game and likely the series.
Oh the movement, John always did. His effort and determination were his hallmark. Speaking of which, he likely kept the “cards” coming, as he stayed married to the lovely Beth, all these years.
Time moves even more fervently than John Havlicek, creating among other things, memories. Enjoy some involving John Havlicek, as they follow in this nice tribute.
John Havlicek, pictured above.
The tribute commences with the play to end #7, ’65 East Final “Havlicek stole the ball,” and includes roughly 35 seconds in, John’s shot to put Boston ahead in #5, 1976 NBA final.
Tonight, after winning (4-3) (4-3), the latter the series result, on Brock McGinn’s goal in the second overtime, to eliminate defending champion, Washington (Capitals), the Carolina Hurricanes begin their quarterfinal series vs the New York Islanders.
In an upset filled, exciting first round of the NHL ‘offs, only the Boston Bruins were a higher ranked, favorite team to prevail.
Three series went to seventh games and the same number ended with overtime goals, two in the seventh game.
Today a really touching, humorous and highly entertaining episode of “You Bet Your Life” hosted by as announcer and on air person, George Fenneman intoned, “the one, THE ONLY, Groucho Marx.
This one was selected because Don Drysdale, about to embark on his fourth year of big league pitching, in what eventually manifested in a great career, was a contestant.
His first wife Ginger, (later he wed star basketball player Anne Myers), was great in her appearance with “Big D.”
The next two contestants, strangers to that point in time and with an age difference of over 70 years, were remarkable.
What an episode of a classic television show!
Click below to view this magnificent episode.
Whether it is NHL czar Gary Bettman, NBC with Mike Emrick or just plain circumstance, NHL teams from Canada, largely do not advance and certainly do not “title.”
After the Boston Bruins in their league record 27th decisive game 7, eliminated the Toronto Maple Leafs in such a game for a second straight season and third time in seven (in ’13, they overcame a 3 goal, 3rd period deficit and “overtimed” the Leafs on Patrice Bergeron’s goal,– to paraphrase Mr. Springsteen, oddly on a song called “Born In The U.S.A.,” “he is still there” the Leafs and Canada teams are “all gone.”), no NHL teams based in Canada remain in the ’19 ‘offs. No team from Canada has won the Stanley Cup since 1993.
Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks, who as was the case with the Bruins, won a Sunday road #6 to force a seventh game, not only joined the Bruins in the NHL quarters, but also “joined” the aforementioned ’13 Bruins as the only teams to overcome as much as a 3 goal, third period deficit and win a seventh game. They also overcame a (3-1) series deficit, winning games 6 and 7 in overtime, vs the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
Click below for a related post from 2013.
- 1982 NHL Prelim Flashback on May 14, 2013
I really enjoyed the compelling, current film, “The Aftermath,” directed by James Kent. The renowned director, Ridley Scott is one of the producers.
The film is set in Hamburg, Germany, about a year after the second World War ended.
So many interesting events, both fictional personal, and those likely having occurred, based on history, ensue.
Keira Knightley, Alexander Skarsgard, and Jason Clarke lead a fine cast.
Left to right, Alexander Skarsgard, Keira Knightley and Jason Clarke are pictured above.
Need I cite that the NHL playoffs produce upsets (I will say as 8th seeds Columbus (Blue Jackets) and Colorado (Avalanche) dispatched top seeds Tampa Bay (Lightning) and Calgary (Flames) respectively), while the NBA does not.
In other NHL series, in addition to the surprising, but again, not shocking sweeps vs the top seeds, the series underdog, albeit higher seed, New York Islanders swept the ’16 and ’17 champion, Pittsburgh Penguins.
Meanwhile, lower seed, albeit series favorite, St. Louis (Blues) 6’d the Winnipeg Jets. Tonight lower seed and series underdog, Dallas (Stars) hope to wrap up their series vs the Nashville Predators in a home game 6.
The lone higher seed and series favorite with an advantage at this point, defending champion, Washington (Capitals) (figuratively that is as (3-2) leads do not go into suitcases) takes a (3-2) series to Carolina. The Caps and Hurricanes have a combined (5-0) home record in that series.
Yesterday higher seeds, Boston (Bruins) (at Toronto Maple Leafs in the less intense afternoon) and San Jose (at Las Vegas Golden Knights) (Sharks and their series was “considered” even) won a road #6, to force a home #7 tomorrow.
In the boring, “form holds,” NBA, only one series is (2-2) that San Antonio (Spurs) the 7 seed vs two seed Denver (Nuggets).
The higher seed already won or has at least a (3-1) series lead returning home, in the other 7 series. One higher seed, Portland (Trail Blazers) was a series underdog.
Columbus coach, John Tortorella, pictured above.
Maybe I was playing stick ball and had a portable radio in those glorious, but tough to get the out of town scores days, when news came the Reds had rallied for a ninth inning victory vs the team I once rooted so passionately for–no longer and for a long time not the case now—the L.A. Dodgers.
It was Sunday July 1st and a pinch hit, game ending home run by Hal King lifted “Cincy” to what was a key victory as the Reds eventually overcame a huge deficit and overtook the Dodgers to win the ’73 N.L. West crown.
Surely Reds manager Sparky Anderson and other key Reds’ players credit that King home run and other big hits by Hal, for their eventual division triumph.
The 2019 NHL playoffs are the 80th that will have a best of seven final series (1939-2019, no playoffs in 2005).
In that first series, the first of what will be nine years of “9” year best of seven final series, the Boston Bruins defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs to win the crown/Stanley Cup.
Those two original six franchises, the only two to qualify for the ’19 offs are meeting in this year’s first round. The winner (Toronto, sans an NHL final appearance or title since winning it all in 1967 when long time Jeopardy host, Alex Trebek narrated the Stanley Cup film, leads that series (3-2) with #6 in what should be a rollicking Toronto tomorrow night), might be the only previous “9” year/best of seven Cup final winner in the 2019 quarterfinal round.
Last night the Colorado Avalanche scored 5 goals and 5’d the Western Conference top seed, Calgary Flames, the 1989 champions.
Already, the New York Islanders had “dismissed” the 2009 champion Pittsburgh Penguins, while despite a great improvement, the ’59,’69 and ’79 champion, Montreal Canadiens, failed to make the ‘offs.
In addition to the Leafs (Toronto won it all in 1949) vs Bruins winner, only the Dallas Stars, currently in a (2-2) series vs the Nashville Predators, are a previous “9” year/best of seven final champion, with a chance to make the NHL quarterfinal round.
Dallas won the ‘1999 crown, affecting a party in that city (if father Bobby Hull was/is king, son Brett, who had the still disputed Cup winning goal in overtime of game 6, at Buffalo (Sabres), is “Prince.” Alas, the great performer Prince was from Minnesota, which was the Stars’ original home, when they were known as the Minnesota North Stars).
Dick Duff, who also played on 4 title teams with Montreal, was a member of two Leafs’ title teams.
Prince – 1999 (Official Music Video)
Click above to view Prince perform “1999”
Andy B Sports 