Ubiquitous NHL announcer Kenny Albert imparted INACCURATE information as he ended his broadcast work on the Ottawa Senators (1-0), #4 victory at Boston vs the Bruins, which gives the Sens a seemingly commanding three games to one first round/preliminary/one round too many, lead.
Albert stated that this was the first time since 1969, that the Celtics and Bruins playing on 4 consecutive days at home, lost all four games.
He may have said in the playoffs, which I immediately knew was incorrect as the ’69 Celtics lost but one home playoff game en route to an incredible 11th NBA crown in 13 seasons despite a fourth place finish in the NBA East during the regular season.
I checked both the 1968-1969 and 1969-1970 regular seasons and the Celtics and Bruins never lost 4 home games on 4 consecutive days.
The play “A Piece of My Heart,” about the beyond prolific and great songwriter/record company executive/ Bert Berns, was astounding and now his son filmmaker Brett Berns has brought us a masterful, insightful, beautiful documentary, “Bang,” about the life of his father.
Some of the greatest musical performers of our, or any time, Paul McCartney and Keith Richards to name two, are interviewed giving their thoughts on the greatness of the largely forgotten Bert Berns. (Long story and it was told so well).
Mr. Berns, who knew he would die at a young age, put together a six year period of greatness in his field, comparable to the great Sandy Koufax, in his 6 great years of pitching.
“Twist And Shout,” and “Brown Eyed Girl” (he helped launch Van Morrison’s career) are just two of Mr. Berns’ iconic songs.
It is a long, interesting story, as to why you probably do not know Bert Berns, who did die so young at age 38 in 1967, but when you see this incredible documentary narrated by Steve Van Zandt and featuring so many musical greats, you will be amazed at his incredible story and talent.
Brett and his sister Cassie did so much in bringing the incredible story of their family to our attention in “A Piece Of My Heart” and hope to bring the play to Broadway.
Their mother, Ilene, who recently passed away, was so great in the movie and lived to see it come to fruition.
Click below for more information and screenings dates around the country.
There are four cities with teams in both the NBA and NHL playoffs.
Thus far in games involving those cities’ teams, the lower seeded or in one case (Ottawa is a higher seed than Boston, but the Bruins were clear series favorites) underdog teams are (9-3).
The Nashville Predators have a commanding three games to none lead, vs the West top seed, Chicago Blackhawks. I “knew” when NBC network commentator, Pierre McGuire likened the Blackhawks, as stated here last week, a fine organization, to the awesome New England Patriots, that did not augur well for “Chi.”
Meanwhile, the lower seeded Chicago Bulls won at Boston, vs the NBA East top seed, Celtics and now are only slight underdogs in that series.
As stated, the lower seeded Boston Bruins were clear series “faves” vs the Ottawa Senators, but after two overtime (4-3) wins, Ottawa has a (2-1) series lead.
The huge underdog, Toronto Maple Leafs, 50 years removed from their last Stanley Cup crown (that year’s (1967) Stanley Cup highlights film was narrated by long time Jeopardy host, Alex Trebek) lead the top ranked Washington Capitals, two games to one after Tyler Bozak’s overtime tally lifted “Tor” (4-3), in #3 at Toronto last night.
The other “Tor” team, the higher seeded NBA Raptors lost their series opener vs the Milwaukee Bucks, while the other “Wash” spring playoffs team (is not there a “spring wash”—guess it is spring cleaning— in the culture?!), the Wizards, nee Bullets (changing an NBA team name is NOT the answer to stopping crime! try kindness, try specks of humanity, try no guns!), the higher seed, won their series opener vs the Atlanta Hawks.
Last year the Preds made the quarters, losing in 7 to the eventual NHL runner up, San Jose Sharks.
After the “F’s” (two third period goals by “F”ilip “F”orsberg to tie the tilt while Kevin “F”iala won it in overtime) did in Chi in #3, Nashville is very likely to play higher seeded St. Louis (Blues) in this year’s “quarters.”
Two 1967-1968 NHL expansion teams have commanding three games to none first round/preliminary series leads.
One is the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins, who lead the Columbus Blue Jackets by that count after Sidney Crosby’s brilliant play/pass set up rookie Jake Guentzel’s hat trick, overtime winner in game 3 in Columbus.
The other team is St.Louis (Blues), unlike Pitts, which has titled 4 times, a team looking for its first title.
They are now, very likely in this their 49th season, to dispatch the Minnesota Wild, coached by Bruce Boudreau, a coach who now is very likely to be denied as much as a finals appearance, for the ninth time, in as many ‘offs appearances.
An omen only I would cite is that the Blues, sans a title in 48 previous completed NHL seasons, evokes the 1948, last title of the Cleveland Indians, whose player manager was Lou Boudreau.
The great Sidney Crosby, pictured above.
Today is the 70th birthday of the great basketball player, Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
Exactly 45 years ago today on Sunday April 16, 1972, Jabbar, Lew Alcindor until that 1971-1972 season, led the Milwaukee Bucks to a series squaring, home win vs the record breaking, Los Angeles Lakers in game four of their semi series.
Note the playoffs were well into the semis then, while today, 4 opening round of 16, game ones will be played.
The Lakers won that series and the ’72 title. Eventually Jabbar was a big part of 5 Lakers’ title teams.
That day 45 years ago, Burt Hooton then with the Chicago Cubs, hurled a no hit game vs the Philadelphia Phillies.
Hooton eventually pitched for an L.A. title team, winning 4 post-season games for the Dodgers in the strike marred 1981 title season.
When Kareem Abdul Jabbar as Kareem, actually played in his first title clincher in 1982, vs another “Philly” team, the “owe them 6” 76ers, Hooton and the Dodgers were also champions.
As Lew Alcindor and at UCLA, Kareem had won 3 titles in 3 seasons as easily the greatest college player ever and then one in two seasons with the NBA Milwaukee Bucks.
He was the top player for the ’80 Lakers, but missed the title clincher in game 6 at Philly, vs those Sixers, a game famous for Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s 42 points and a mucho less heralded, 37 points by Jamaal Wilkes.
Kareem is 70! Where did the time go?!!
During the past week, the Pittsburgh Pirates played on consecutive days, first in Fenway Park in Boston and then at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
This evoked thoughts of the long title droughts endured by the home teams of those venerable ballparks, the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs.
However, those droughts are over, the Red Sox ending an 86 year title drought by winning the 2004 World Series.
Subsequently, they won it all in 2007 and again in 2013.
Meanwhile the Cubs ended their 108 year title drought by winning it all last year.
The team the Cubs beat to win the title, the Cleveland Indians, now have the longest title drought, having not won it all since 1948.
Guess which original 16 baseball team has the next longest title drought, you guessed it, the Pittsburgh Pirates, having not won the World Series since Wilver Stargell led their 1979 crown.
Willie Stargell had a great career, highlighted by his great performance in the 1979 World Series.
After the New York Rangers road win at Montreal vs the Canadiens in game 1 of their preliminary/first round series, did anyone note some interesting history regarding the coaches of each team.
In the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, the Boston Bruins coached by current Habs’ (Montreal) head man, Claude Julien defeated the Vancouver Canucks, coached by current Rangers’ coach Alain Vigneault, in the maximum seven games.
The home team won the first six games before Julien’s Bruins won fairly easily at Vancouver in #7.
Vigneault, who also lost all three road games in his other Cup finals appearance, won a road game, while the Rangers have now won the first “at Montreal” game of an ‘offs series, in 5 of the last 6 instances (winning in ’74, ’79, ’96, ’14 and ’17 only losing in ’86).
The three remaining NHL first round series begin tonight. Predictions follow.
The top ranked Washington Capitals will struggle, but win the series vs the Maple Leafs in game 6, at Toronto, before a great Leafs’ crowd that will roar in appreciation for Toronto’s fine season.
It will not be Chicago overall, though they are a tremendous team and an even greater organization, what would you expect with the Bowmans, Stan and his legendary father, Scottie, a part, but “Chi” has enough to “6” the Nashville Predators.
Anaheim will win fairly easily vs Calgary (Flames) in 5 games. Now let’s play!
The great, classy Scottie Bowman, pictured above.
Only the (1-6) Atlanta Braves have not played a home game in the 2017 baseball season.
Home teams are (22-7) in their home openers, three of the wins (Mets, Pirates and Marlins) coming vs the Braves.
The seven teams to lose home opening games are the Royals, Blue Jays, Rangers, White Sox, Reds, Brewers, and Phillies.
Atlanta has one more road game, in Miami, Florida vs the Marlins tonight, before their home and new stadium opener vs the San Diego Padres on Friday night.
The NHL Stanley Cup playoffs begin tomorrow night with five games, five “original six” teams, five teams whose home is in Canada, with all five facing United States based teams.
One such clash is between two “Original Six” NHL teams, the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers.
In other Canada/U.S. first round action original six Toronto (Maple Leafs) face top ranked Washington (Capitals), original six team, Boston (Bruins) meet Ottawa (Senators), Edmonton (Oilers) faces San Jose (Sharks) while the Calgary Flames meet the Pacific Division winning, Anaheim Ducks.
Elsewhere, original six team and 2010, 2013 and 2015 champion Chicago (Blackhawks) faces the Nashville Predators, the St. Louis Blues meet the Minnesota Wild while the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins clash with Columbus (Blue Jackets).
Andy B Sports 