Nearly 58 years after the entire 1967 NHL season, playoffs included, “wrapped” with the last Toronto Maple Leafs’ title in what was their last NHL final appearance (Alex Trebek, yes that Alex Trebek narrated that year’s NHL playoffs film), the Leafs clinched something far less, but on paper, at least, gives them a better ‘offs position.
Toronto’s (4-0) win at Buffalo vs the Sabres, clinched the “reg div” title and sets up a Toronto vs Ottawa first round matchup.
In other “reg” news, the Winnipeg Jets nee Atlanta Thrashers, won the President’s Trophy, Alex Ovechkin became the NHL’s all-time goal scoring leader, while in last night’s tilt “Tor” players, Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews notched their 100th point this season and 400th career goal respectively.
Rory McIlroy, the pre tournament second “choice,” behind Scottie Scheffler, survived a bad last round and won a playoff vs Justin Rose, to win the prestigious Masters golf crown for the first time.
Oh he nearly blew it, but now has won 5 major golf tournaments.
McIlroy is now the sixth golfer ever to win all four majors and achieve the career Grand Slam, joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
Quite good company!
I prefer roller coasters to golf and it was a “roller coaster” triumph for McElroy, hitting a white ball to earn green, both money and the famed jacket.
This week the great player George Mikan was part of a Jeopardy question/answer and just now I saw and now post, the photo above, with George (on the right) and the one and only Mickey Mantle.
Each man was a center of sort, Mikan literally, as he dominated basketball leading the then Minneapolis Lakers to 5 titles in 6 seasons (’49,’50, and ’52-’54) while Mickey patrolled center field for the vaunted New York Yankees, an integral, great part of 7 (his #, ’51-’53, ’56, ’58, ’61 and ’62) title teams and 12 pennant winners.
Recently a non descript NIT was held (Nebraska won something called The Crown Tournament thus one was played in Las Vegas while none were in New York) and when it was more prestigious than the NCAA such, Mikan led DePaul University to the title in New York.
Also in New York and at Madison Square Garden, the marquee read ” Tonight Mikan vs Knicks.”
As “Carter,” “we hear Frank and Jim Nabor’s and are grateful.
In “Marty”
I really enjoyed actor Frank Sutton’s performance, as a man happy in his own place in life, on the legendary television show, “Gunsmoke.”
The episode has been shown on MeTV, which is a television channel that I thoroughly enjoy.
Sutton is best known for his role as “Sergeant Carter,” on the television show, “Gomer Pyle,” which starred Jim Nabors.
In 1955, Ernest Borgnine played against type and was brilliant in the Paddy Chayefsky written, “Marty.” Mr. Borgnine won the best actor Academy Award.
Frank Sutton was among a great supporting cast in the film, playing one of Borgnine/”Marty’s” pals.
Frank Sutton, pictured above.
Florida University copped their third national basketball title and first since winning consecutive ones in ’06 and ’07, edging Houston (now sans the prize in all 7 national semis “apps”) (65-63) in the title game.
Florida held that (65-63) when Houston got the ball with :19 left but el Cougars (Houston) failed to get a shot attempt and that along with turnovers “vs” left them out, as was the case, with Duke, after Houston’s victory/Duke loss, in the national semi.
Walter Clayton Jr. was named the tournament’s most outstanding player, though he had only 11 points in the title game. He had made the big plays for Florida throughout the event, including such vs Connecticut and Auburn (a 3 point play up 3), the latter in the semi-final game, that I actually saw.
I did see Florida’s Aberdeen only split the pair and then the season’s final possession. That is thanks to a bus driver who exhibited kindness and opened the door for my entry late last night, though the vehicle was just past the stop at a light.
My effort yes, (one must try) is commended, however, mostly I praise his kindness and that is my indelible memory attached to the tournament.
Oh do we need kindness now and I thank him for it.
Above, the great Jackie Gleason, is pictured, as the fictional but most famous bus driver, “Ralph Kramden,” from the seminal “Honeymooners” television show.
The Connecticut women’s basketball team eased by South Carolina to win their 12th tournament crown, doing so with a (12-1) final game record and handing South Carolina its first title tilt loss (3-1).
Azzi Fudd was named the outstanding player of the tournament, as the Lady Huskies, with double the so impressive 6 titles the Connecticut men have won, won their first title since 2016.
They are just (13-11) in “semis,” but this incredible period, all under Luigi “Geno” Auriemma is one of the great ones in any sport at any time.
Luigi “Geno” Auriemma is pictured above.
The no longer prestigious NIT, now in Indiana, having abandoned New York, produced a below par basketball final game, with the manifestation, less free throw missing Tennessee Chattanooga, winning by one point, as a 3 plus point(s) underdog vs California Irvine.
Garrison Keeslar (not quite Garrison Keillor) hit the decisive basket, yielding the game’s last points, as 5 double letters “Chatt,” missed 2 free throws to go along with an Irvine turnover and missed layup as time expired.
It did not exactly bring back memories of past N.I.T. stars such as George Mikan, Pete Maravich, Larry Bird and others.
All four regional top seeds made the national semi-finals (Saturday, commencing around 6:10 with Florida a 2 or so point(s) “fave” vs Auburn, followed by Duke with 5 crowns and a plurality “choice” for a sixth, favored by 5 vs Houston, which is in its 7th national “semi” and still seeking a first basketball or football title), as on Sunday past, Houston ripped Tennessee while Auburn “covered/all teased” Michigan State (still just the one Izzo title, Jud Heathcote won as many, that Izzo such 25 years into the “rear view” (ode to Jimmy Stewart–picture will be of the same name baseball player).
Tomorrow night’s, once prestigious, but no longer (Dad used to ask any good teams left for the N.I.T. which he saw in its glory days), National Invitational Tournament, now no longer in New York but at Hinkel Field House (ode to Gene Hackman and the movie, “Hoosiers”) matches Cal Irvine and Tennessee Chattanooga.
The Anteaters (Irvine) is/are a 3 plus point(s) favorite.
Oh do I recall Jimmy Stewart, pictured above, hitting a 3RHR in a Reds’ second game of a doubleheader, (5-2) win at Shea Stadium, vs the Mets in an “indicative” 1970 tilt.
It has been 50 years since U.C.L.A. coached by the great John Wooden won its incredible 10th title in 12 seasons in the coach’s last game.
The fact Wooden announced his retirement after Richard Washington’s shot was decisive in the team’s one point win vs Louisville in the national semis, definitely helped the Bruins (U.C.L.A.) and to this day some Kentucky players call it a, if not the key, to U.C.L.A.’s title tilt win vs them.
I recall my father who did root for U.C.L.A. (I did not but surely acknowledge their greatness) clapping as the game ended and Wooden walked off the floor triumphant in his last game.
An article by John Maffei in the San Diego Tribune indicates the great coach (what sour grapes by Bob Knight for disputing Wooden’s greatness, just as despite what I think of the “chair thrower,” I salute Knight as a great coach as well) received an ovation when he entered the press room after the tilt something, not seen before or since.
Finally, the one time I interviewed John Wooden a day before Arkansas denied Duke a third crown in 4 seasons (they have won 3 since and are a decent sized plurality choice to add one week from tonight), he offered a low key, beautifully inflected “sorry,” (no I’m, a la no “i” in team) after being informed by me that my father, an aforementioned Wooden supporter, had recently died.
Oh 50 years!
Andy B Sports 