The N.H.L. playoffs begin tonight with 3 games.
Tomorrow night, top seed, Nashville (Predators) hosts Colorado (Avalanche). Last season, the Predators made the Stanley Cup final (they lost to the repeat title winning, Pittsburgh Penguins, who clinched the crown with a Sunday night road win for the second straight season).
Though only two original 6 teams, Boston (Bruins) and Toronto (Maple Leafs) made the ‘offs, NBC and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, can’t be too upset, as only two teams from Canada made the fray (the other, the Winnipeg Jets, who finished second to Nashville in its “div” and the entire league in points.
Pittsburgh, second in its “div” faces Philadelphia (Flyers) in another first round series. Later in the series, I will post notes on simultaneous Pittsburgh and Philadelphia champions, which is the case right now as the Penguins, Philadelphia Eagles and Villanova University (Philly) all are their entity’s champion.
WWE Superstar Bubba Dudley was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame during this Wrestlemania Weekend. Bubba and his tag-team partner Devon Dudley have entertained audiences around the world and the “Dudley Boyz” are well deserving of their HOF honor.
I interviewed Bubba back when he was in his “Bully Ray” bad-guy character. The wrestling story-line at the time: He was getting married to Brooke Hogan, daughter of good-guy Hulk Hogan. I caught up with him at Rick’s Cabaret in New York where his bachelor party took place.
Did the marriage ever happen? No, but it was an awesome bachelor party!
Andy B, Bubba Dudley, and Rick’s Cabaret NYC Girls
Some updates and comments will follow as sports, (maybe even the weather), begins to heat up, after Patrick Reed’s Masters golf win plus the NHL and NBA playoffs beginning this week.
Yesterday, a pair of (8-7) games, one, the eighth straight Red Sox win, putting them at (8-1), the other an (8-7) Orioles win at the Yankees, manifests in Boston being 3 and a half games ahead of the Yankees.
First, it is so early, but more to the point, Boston won the one eighth (there is that number again) “div” last year, only to lose in the “quarters” while the Yankees went to #7 ALCS, before losing to the eventual World Series winning, Houston Astros.
Elsewhere, regarding New York and Boston sports, the Mets also have lost but one game and after sweeping the “Wash” Nationals, also have a three and a half game margin over the one eighth “div” favorite, Nationals. Early, of course, but I sensed it.
Only the New Jersey, not New York, Devils among the New York area’s 5 winter sports teams, made the ‘offs.
Meanwhile, though the Boston Bruins “blew up,” as three and a half to one faves vs the eliminated Florida Panthers last night, to fall to second in the division and conference, they are in the ‘offs.
So are the Celtics, who lost as 5 or 6 to one “faves” (vs Atlanta), in the first of two tilts, each a setback for the Boston team in its building.
Neither loss, I think, (certainly not the Celtics’ loss, their loss is the injury to Kyrie Irving) is that important.
Chicago, at one distant pre wild card in baseball point, would have been “my kinda town” today, as both the Cubs (late home opener) and White Sox play day games today.
Neither “Chi” winter sports team, the Blackhawks, for the first time in 10 years, or Bulls made the ‘offs.
A tribute to Blackhawks’ great Stan Mikita, who sadly can not grasp it due to illness, in which his three grandsons skated, was nice and highlighted a disappointing Blackhawks’ season.
However, three recent titles more than offsets, (in my opinion exponentially), this season’s failure to qualify for the NHL ‘offs, which begin Wednesday.
The great hockey player, Stan Mikita, pictured above.
Click below to view Stan’s three grandsons skate in his honor.
First the NFL Eagles and then Villanova brought titles to the “city of brotherly love,” Philadelphia.
Though neither “Philly” winter sports is likely to bring another title in the upcoming ‘offs, both the NBA 76ers and NHL Flyers will be in their league’s post-season.
Even the baseball Phillies were/are expected to improve as their projected win total was a somewhat respectable 77 and a fraction.
Ah 1975, the last Flyers’ crown and a sports wrap show on WCAU that included the great announcer Harry Kalas’ call of a game winning home run by Ollie Brown for the improving, but not quite ready Phillies (4 div titles and one title, that in ’80 would follow).
Ah 1980, spring to winter, all four Philadelphia Major North American sports league teams, made the final, only the Phils, with their first ever crown won it.
Now counting college basketball’s Villanova and their second crown in 3 seasons, “Philly” has two in the proverbial bank and both winter sports teams in the upcoming NBA and NHL playoffs.
Moses Malone, pictured above, led the 76ers to the “promised land”/’83 NBA Title
Rick’s Cabaret New York, the famous gentlemen’s club known for its beautiful performers, top-rated Steakhouse, and the best in VIP services, is a favorite spot for pro athletes from all the major sports.
“I’ve met so many baseball players, football players, and sports guys,” said Rick’s Cabaret NYC Girl Jennifer. “And it was a thrill to meet WWE Superstar Bubba Dudley when he was here for a party. So happy he’s going into the Hall of Fame.”
Rick’s Cabaret New York is located between Fifth Avenue and Broadway, across the street from the Empire State Building and a quick walk from Penn Station, major subways and the PATH station.
Rick’s Cabaret New York
50 West 33rd Street
*** RICK: NASDAQ Listed
*** Over 100 Showgirls Daily
*** Three Floors of Luxury
*** VIP Suites, Deluxe Sky Boxes
*** Full Menu Steakhouse, Open Late
*** Roof Deck Cigar Lounge and Garden
*** Businessmen’s Lunch Special
*** Weekend Brunch
*** Newly Designed 2nd Floor VIP Lounge
The Pittsburgh Pirates have started the season with a (5-1) record.
They became the first team to start the season with two inter league series.
It is noteworthy that their opponents were the franchises they defeated to win their first two World Series.
The Pirates swept the Tigers, winning all 3 in Detroit, including a wild win in the season opener, in which Detroit tied the game at 10 with a 4 run ninth, matching the Pirates’ output in the top of that frame.
Later, the Tigers appeared to win the game, but a safe call at home was overturned by replay and Pittsburgh eventually won the tilt.
Pittsburgh won their first title 109 years ago vs Detroit in a maximum 7 game series, in which two great stars, the Pirates’ Honus Wagner and Detroit’s Ty Cobb were players.
Pittsburgh opened their home season splitting two games with the Minnesota Twins, nee the Washington Senators.
The Pirates 7’d the defending champion Senators (the lone Washington title) in the 1925 World Series.
While the two N.L. teams that met in the Pirates’ third series (Cincinnati Reds and Pirates of course can not/have not ever met in the World Series), have never met in the World Series, the teams have clashed 4 times at the next highest rung, the LCS, in their case the NLCS.
THE card, the spelling of Pittsburg(h), there is so much history and greatness regarding Honus Wagner.
The title victory by Jay Wright was the eighteenth against but 4 losses (two of those vs another “W” coach), by a coach whose last name starts with “W.” (ode to the giant “W” in the classic comedy, “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World”).
Of course John Wooden heads the list, going (10-0) in title tilts.
Wright joins Phil Woolpert, who coached the San Francisco Dons to back to back crowns in 1955 and 1956 with the great winners, college and even more so pro, Bill Russell and K.C. Jones, with (2-0) title tilt records.
Coaches named Williams are involved in all the other “w”ins and losses, by “W” coaches, all but one of the remaining 7 games, involving Roy Williams.
The current “N.C.” coach is (3-3) in title tilts, his first title win, all of which are with North Carolina, coming vs the Bruce “W’eber coached Illinois team, a result I gave to Beano Cook, after I made an expensive “sports scores” call from Rome, Italy, where I stood on the street watching Pope John Paul II’s funeral, 4 days hence.
Gary Williams won in his only title tilt, Maryland’s only crown, in 2002.
The other “W” vs “W” final resulted in Villanova coached by “W”right defeating “N.C.” coached by Williams in the ’16 final game.
Jay Wright, pictured above, guided Villanova to its second title in 3 seasons this past Monday night.
Fifty years have passed and I fervently hope as many as possible will take the time and make the effort to hear, understand and perhaps heed the words of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Dr. King felled by a gunshot, lives on with his words and actions.
Hearing and reading about him will take you to a much needed “better place.”
I strongly advise it!
“The stuff dreams are made of” Mr. Bogart, pictured above replied in character re and in “The Maltese Falcon.”
Dr. King had vision and a great dream.
The Villanova Wildcats won their second NCAA Basketball Tournament title in the past three seasons, cruising (81-62) vs Michigan, which fell to (1-6) in title tilts.
Donte DiVincenzo came off the bench for coach Jay Wright’s second title team and led Villanova with 30 points, scoring 12 points in the key Villanova (23-7) run, that gave them a 9 point lead at the half.
‘”Nova,” perhaps was and manifested in not only lox, but “locks,” easily covering the spread in all six tournament games, I believe a rare feat.
It truly was a very impressive tournament for Villanova, as they won easily in all six games to take their second crown in three seasons and made it three title game wins in a row (’85,’16 and ’18).
Also click below on nova and lox differences.
Difference Between Lox and Nova : Lox vs Nova
Arike Ogunbowale, who hit the winning shot, tied, in Notre Dame’s shocking win vs 15 point favorite, Connecticut in the semis, again HIT tied and in so doing, lifted Notre Dame to their second women’s basketball title and first in 17 years.
Their (61-58) victory vs Mississippi State evokes memories of Loyola of Chicago’s (60-58) victory vs Cincinnati, in the ’63 men’s final.
This year Loyola with major links to Catholicism made a nice run to a men’s semis loss and a day later, Easter Sunday, Notre Dame, surely with such “links,” handed Mississippi State a second straight title tilt loss, this a heartbreaking one.
Last season “Miss” St. had shocked top heavy favorite Connecticut in a Friday night semi, but unlike Notre Dame, which did it vs them, did not title.
The Loyola (60-58), ’63 win was vs a two time defending champion, Cincinnati. Vic Rouse’s “put back” shot won it.
Notre Dame’s win with one point total difference on Ogunbowale’s 3 point shot was vs a Miss St. team that lost in last year’s final.
Arike Ogunbowale and Notre Dame won the 2018 women’s basketball title.
Andy B Sports 