I feared/fear the Warriors doing what the Pens did in game 5 at home,(namely lose with a chance to clinch a first ever won at home title) although basketball is different than hockey and at least odds wise, the Warriors opening as 3 and a half to 1 favorites had/have a better chance than the Penguins, who opened as 3 to 2 favorites.
My fear was and is the league wants more games, the perception is that the series is over and that makes/made me nervous.
Now there is the possibility that the Warriors’ fine player Draymond Green will be suspended. For what?!! Calling LeBron James a name?!!
James has botched the English language more than once in these playoffs. That is the “language” that should be “suspended” This “given everything,” so called “King,” who has twice picked his team and weak conference, gets what he wants.
The line dropped from 8 points to 7 and the money line to 3 to 1. I do not trust the NBA and fear Green will be suspended.
How many breaks will James and Cleveland get? They are a very good team and James is a great player, but a “walk in the park,” to make the finals, and now a possible big break before a seemingly very tough must game.
In the end I will pay, (already have and I mean emotionally, but also realize in reality this is not that important), and likely, the Cavaliers will be denied the “title.”
At this point I say PLEASE do not suspend Green as that would make what I feel justified anti-Cavaliers rooting more intense. Bottom and last line: The Cavaliers and James have received enough breaks, they are a fine team, however, I believe not deserving of a title especially against a 73 win team from a far better conference.
“Fear” should be taken with “mucho” grains of salt. There are so many more important things. However, a post before game 5 will try to give some perspective on LeBron James, changing and picking teams and the decision, either way regarding the James/Green “incident.”
“Radiant Vermin” playing at 59E59 Theaters (at 59 East 59th Street between Park and Madison Avenues), until July 3rd, is a fascinating, incredibly performed play, written by Philip Ridley and directed by David Mercatali.
The performers, Scarlett Alice Johnson as “Jill” and Sean Michael Verey “Ollie” and Debra Baker “Miss Dee” are incredible.
The story, told with incredible physical skills, by the central characters played by Ms. Johnson and Mr. Verey, is one that says much about society and how in the greedy pursuit of material things, we have lost our moral compass, be it one formed with religious beliefs or a good upbringing, perhaps both.
In entertaining but very real fashion “Radiant Vermin” tells a story and imparts both a great message/warning and asks us an important question about ourselves.
“Radiant Vermin,” part of the 2016 Brits Off Broadway festival, is produced by Supporting Wall, Metal Rabbit Productions, and Soho Theatre.
The performance is amazing and not to be missed.
Toward that end, click below for ticket information or call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200
Radiant Vermin at 59E59 Theaters
Sean Michael Verey and Scarlett Alice Johnson, pictured above in “Radiant Vermin.”
Steph Curry scored 38 points leading the defending champion Golden State Warriors to a double digit victory in game 4, at Cleveland, vs the Cavaliers.
The Warriors have a seemingly commanding 3 games to 1 lead in the finals and have a chance to clinch a second straight NBA title on Monday night at home.
Klay Thompson added 25 points for the Warriors, who handed the Cavaliers their first home loss in this year’s playoffs.
Now all 32 teams in this year’s NBA and NHL playoffs have lost a home game.
Steph Curry, pictured above.
I watched an episode of the great show, “Perry Mason” Thursday night and then fell asleep not watching the NHL playoff game.
In the episode shown on Decades, Raymond Burr as Perry Mason not only solves the case with a witness stand confession, but after offers a great pearl of wisdom.
Remember the show aired well over 50 years ago and his character said “Maybe we are hiding too much from our children.”
The kid immediately turns into a kid, somewhat rudely asking the investigator character “Paul Drake,” played by William Hopper, the son of famed gossip columnist Hedda Hopper, why he did not get the key clue? It was borderline rude and his mother indicated such in calling his name, “Jimmy.”
That episode and the Twilight Zone with the all powerful kid and the corn field were warnings. Generation after generation, “what’s the matter with kids today.”
After the Cleveland Cavaliers’ win in game 3 of the NBA finals vs the Golden State Warriors, in which LeBron James tallied 32 points and Kyrie Irving added 30, there has now not been a (3-0) NBA final since 2007, the second year Mike Breen, yet another Fordham University product, took over as the lead television announcer for the finals.
In this the 11th “Breen” finals, only the Spurs sweep of the Cavaliers with James, before the first of his two jumps where he chose his team, staying in the weaker East, was (3-0).
The 4th game is tonight. The Cavaliers are 2 and a half point favorites vs a Warriors’ team I warn and hope to not count on winning all your games, if needed.
In my opinion, to win the series, they need to win a game in Cleveland. Tonight would be a great time to do so.
So many bought into the Pittsburgh will “finally title at home” propaganda (on some level I am guilty as well) plus “Whatever Bettman/NBC want, they get,” hence there is a 6th game in the Stanley Cup finals this Sunday night.
The Sharks won (4-2), maybe they will lose the series they now trail (3-2) by a (4-2) count, but don’t you think Bettman and NBC want a 7th game?!!
I have written regarding Pittsburgh teams not clinching titles at home, this was the first time they had a chance to do so since last doing so in game 7 of the 1960 World Series.
The last time before last night they failed to do so was in game 6 of that World Series when the great pitcher, left hander of course (once Al Trautwig, still with Madison Square Garden Network, who previously had “jumped the gun” saying Michigan had beaten number one Miami–the Miami team eventually won, said Ford was a right handed pitcher and on a New York Yankees broadcast, no less) Whitey Ford beat the Pirates.
Stay with me, as this is penance for not seeing the Sharks and instead “jumping the Shark, or at least being humiliated.
The great Yankees’ manager Casey Stengel took Ford out of game 6 of the 1958 World at Milwaukee vs the Braves, in the second inning, replacing him with Art Ditmar.
Last night Sharks’ coach Peter DeBoer joined Stengel and Lakers’ coach Fred Schaus as two, perhaps the only two, coaches/managers to guide a team to a road win facing elimination with no chance to “title” in a game of a finals series, TWICE.
DeBoer, coaching the New Jersey Devils won game 4 at L.A. staving off elimination vs the Kings in the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals. The Kings won the “crown” (weak pun intended) in 6 games, clinching at home.
For the record Stengel’s Yankees won on the road at Brooklyn vs the Dodgers in game 6 of the 1952 World Series. The great Mickey Mantle, who caught the last out of the aforementioned 1958 World Series (the other time Stengel and the Yankees staved off elimination in a W.S. road game without a chance to “title” that in game 6), homered to break a (2-2) tie and drove in the last run in game 7, as the Yankees won (4-2) in game 7, 1952 also at Brooklyn, the 4th, of what would be 5 straight World Series titles (1949-1953).
Unfortunately for Schaus, he was on the opposing side of a dynasty. Though his Lakers staved off elimination at Boston vs the great Celtics, surely at longer odds than the baseball or hockey games in question, in game 5 in both 1963 and 1966, it was the Celtics winning the 5th of what would be 8 straight NBA titles in six games in 1963 ( the great Bob Cousy’s last season) and in 7 games in 1966.
Finally, as usual, only I come up with this stuff on my own from my questionable brain, this is the 5th straight Presidential year in which a team facing elimination on the road in the Stanley Cup playoffs without a chance to title in that game, won the game.
Of the previous 4 teams to do so, Dallas Stars (at New Jersey Devils, I was there paying big money hoping to see the Stanley Cup clinched but was denied) in game 5 in 2000, Tampa Bay Lightning in game 6 at Calgary vs the Flames, the Penguins in game 5 at Detroit vs the Red Wings in 2008 and DeBoer’s Devils at Los Angeles vs the Kings in 2012— only the Lightning went on to win the Stanley Cup.
One of, if not the most famous, line attributed to the great Casey Stengel pictured above is “You could look it up.”
At this point, I choose not to “mine” for other coaches or managers whose teams staved off elimination on the road in a finals series, without a chance to “title” on 2 or more occasions as is the case with Stengel, Fred Schaus and current Sharks’ coach Peter DeBoer. Anyone is welcome to do so and let us know the results.
Sorry, but this is a disgrace. Wrong spelling of “coverage” and would you believe “Muhammad Ali.”
This is on a or “The” NBC News site.
COMING UP FROM 9 ET: COVER OF MOHAMMAD ALI’S MEMORIAL SERVICE
They just changed it.
Utterly disgraceful!
I guess if there is some levity here or at least perspective, it involves Muhammad Ali and all the fuss regarding his name over the years.
His name will be called as Muhammad Ali, (spelled correctly) in a better place today.
Maybe Joe Frazier, a truly decent man, will greet him and their new “rivalry” in say, checkers, will commence.
Click below to view Jim Croce’s “I Got A Name.”
The first time I met YES Network’s Michael Kay, when our respective bank accounts did not have the huge difference, in his favor, that has been the case for many years, he told me why he no longer bet on sports.
A tough loss taught Kay and to his credit, as far as I know he does not bet and has not done so since before telling me that story in 1984.
It is a good thing for him that he does not because he does not have a clue how to win. In fairness, who does?!!
A recent example of Kay not knowing odds is when he said the Cavaliers would be series favorites vs either the Warriors or Thunder.
I knew that would not be the case. The Warriors were roughly 11 to 5 series favorites when the series commenced.
Why bitter herbs? It is bitter to lose. Also “Pass” and “Over” are among other things, gambling terms. Please be wise if you must gamble and trust me far better not to begin doing so.
Chuck Esposito (a great hockey name with Phil and Tony Esposito) of Sunset Sports Book erred in saying the NHL Western Conference had won 5 straight Stanley Cup finals series entering the current one.
In fact, they have won 4 straight.
Also Mr. Esposito the (Pittsburgh) Penguins are close to 9 to 5 favorites in tonight’s game a significant difference than the about 7 to 5 odds you quoted.
Finally though one would have to give 13 to 1 odds on the Penguins winning the series at this point, one only gets 9 to 1 odds on the long shot chance San Jose (Sharks) comes back to “title.”
Thus it is incorrect to call Pittsburgh a 13 to 1 favorite or at least if that is the parlance, state the true what is called “man to man” odds which are are 11 to 1.
How Much Action on Game 5? | 120Sports.com
Click above to hear Mr. Esposito, on what seems a good site 120Sports.com
Phil Esposito, a truly great hockey player, won two Stanley Cup titles as a player for the Boston Bruins. “Espo” also played for the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers and is a long time commentator on Tampa Bay Lightning broadcasts.
Last season the Lightning beat one of Espo’s former teams, the Rangers in the “semis” but lost to another, the Blackhawks in the finals.
The Lightning won it all in 2004 and after Esposito’s former team which titled with him twice, the Bruins, beat the Lightning in the 2011 semi-finals, they won the finals. (that was the last Eastern Conference finals win but 2012-2015 adds up to 4 not 5).
That was the first Bruins’ Cup since the second with Espo, the great Bobby Orr and company won on a Thursday in 1972. Maybe the Penguins, who beat the Lightning in this year’s “semis” will win a Cup, clinching it on a Thursday, tonight.
Tonight in Pittsburgh, the Penguins hope to win their fourth Stanley Cup crown and do so at home for the first time.
Pittsburgh takes a three games to one series lead vs the San Jose Sharks into tonight’s game.
It is very likely the Penguins will win their 4th crown this season, if not tonight, at some point, and if that happens it will be the third time the Pens win the title without a regular season division title.
No matter the result of this series, the 8 of 9 will apply to two Pittsburgh Penguins historical notes.
They have won 9 regular season, NHL division crowns and 8 of those seasons failed to win the Stanley Cup.
Pittsburgh also has won 8 of 9 playoff series vs the Washington Capitals including this season when Nick Bonino’s overtime goal knocked out the top ranked Capitals in game 6 of the quarterfinals.
It is worth noting that one of those 8 Penguins’ “reg” division winners that did not win it all, was a truly great team, the only Pens’ team to win the NHL President’s Trophy as the team with the most regular season points amassed.
That team was the 1992-1993, two time defending champions, and they finished the season with 119 points, the most recorded by Pittsburgh in their 48 season history.
However, an overtime goal in game 7 of the quarterfinals, by the New York Islanders’ David Volek ended the Penguins’ bid for a third straight crown.
Before this season, all nine times the Penguins finished with 100 or more regular season points, they failed to win the Stanley Cup. The 103 points, 2015-2016 Penguins hope to change that type of history, a bit tonight.
Andy B Sports 