I interrupt all the statistics/coincidences in and around the recently completed playoffs, to recommend following a battle of WNBA unbeaten teams this afternoon.
The (12-0) defending league champion, Minnesota Lynx are visiting Los Angeles to face the (11-0) Sparks in not only a fine regular season game but one to be played on the 20th anniversary of the first WNBA game.
Starting time is 12:30 Los Angeles or Pacific Time. While this tilt can not match the excitement I felt for a similar starting time for NBA Finals game 6 exactly 28 years before the prime time in the East, #7 finals start last Sunday, this game to be shown on NBA TV is worth watching and certainly following.
Continuing with some notes on the victories 7 years apart by the current champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Cleveland Cavaliers that ended a span of 38 years without a road team winning the winner take all game in the NHL and NBA.
When the Penguins, who coincidentally are this year’s NHL champions as well, defeated the Detroit Red Wings on the road in game 7 of the 2009 NHL Finals, it not only ended the aforementioned 38 year span without a road 7th game/finals win, but avenged a defeat to Detroit in the 2008 Finals.
That of course is the case with this year’s NBA Finals.
Not only was the Cavaliers’ road 7th game/finals win the first in the NBA in 38 years, but it also avenged a six game defeat at the hands of Golden State last year/season.
Before last night’s road title win by the Cleveland Cavaliers, vs the Golden State Warriors, it had been 38 years since a road team prevailed in the 7th and deciding game of the NBA Finals.
The Washington Bullets were the last team to do so, winning at Seattle, vs the SuperSonics in 1978.
When the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Detroit Red Wings at Detroit in the 7th and deciding game of the 2009 NHL Finals, it was also the first time in 38 years that a road team prevailed in a winner take all/7th game of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals.
In 1971, the great Henri Richard scored twice as the Montreal Canadiens won at Chicago vs the Blackhawks to claim the big prize in Montreal immortal Jean Beliveau’s last game.
Henri Richard, pictured above.
All 4 major North american sports league titles were secured by game underdog teams winning on Sundays in 205-2016. Three did so on the road.
Of course, the Super Bowl at a neutral site, was played on a Sunday, with underdog Denver (Broncos) beating the Carolina Panthers.
The other three titles, none of which of course had to be clinched on a Sunday were, all by road underdogs, in an increasing number of games.
The K.C. Royals, who coincidentally are returning for a series at the Mets, starting tomorrow, won at the Mets’ corporate named field to title in 5 games, in last year’s World Series.
Last Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins were underdogs in their game 6 win at San Jose (Sharks), that clinched their 4th Stanley Cup, all won on the road.
Now the Cavaliers win as underdogs on the road in game 7, among other things kept the Warriors from clinching a “Bay Area” NBA title at home for the first time. Their 2 such titles were clinched on the road.
Cartoon character, “Underdog” pictured above.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, in their 46th season, won their first NBA Title beating the Golden State Warriors (93-89) in game 7 of the NBA finals in Oakland.
It also is the first sports title for the city of Cleveland since Dr. Frank Ryan threw 3 touchdown passes to Gary Collins, in the old Browns’ home victory vs the Baltimore Colts in the 1964 NFL Championship game.
LeBron James was named the Finals Series MVP and scored 27 points in game 7.
Meanwhile Kyrie Irving was the star of the decisive tilt, scoring 26 points, including a/the all important “3” point shot that gave Cleveland the lead to stay, breaking a tie with 53 seconds left to play.
Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue did a great job after replacing David Blatt as the head coach. Both the Cavaliers and Pittsburgh Penguins (with Mike Sullivan) “titled” this season under coaches, that were brought in during the season.
It does not make up for losing games 6 and 7 and thus the 2011 World Series there, not even close but after the Texas Rangers completed a 3 game sweep at St. Louis vs the Cardinals, they have an 8 and a half game lead in the A.L. West.
Some comparisons with the only team that has a better record than the Rangers, the Chicago Cubs follow.
Only the Cubs, who enter tonight’s home tilt vs the Pittsburgh Pirates with an incredible 12 game lead, have a bigger divisional lead than the Rangers.
Chicago (Cubs) are the only team in baseball with a better record than the Texas Rangers.
The most important comparison is that while no current baseball team has gone longer without ever winning a World Series (Texas came so close in game 6 of the 2011 World Series at St. Louis) than the Rangers formed as the Washington Senators in 1961, those Cubs last won it all in 1908.
No matter which team prevails in tonight’s “winner take all,” NBA Finals 7th game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors, this will be the fourth time since at least 1966, both the NHL and NBA titles were clinched in Sunday games.
2016 will join 1974 as the only years, again since at least 1966, that the titles were clinched on Sundays one week apart.
In each case, the NHL champion won the title first.
In 1974, the Boston Celtics won the NBA Finals in 7, a week later the Philadelphia Flyers won the Stanley Cup Finals in six games. Last Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins also won a 6 game NHL Final to claim the “top prize.” (Neither Ed McMahon nor his ghost appeared in the Pens’ locker room as far as anyone knows.” Tonight a week later, the NBA champion will be determined.
In 1987, the NHL champion won the title 2 weeks before the NBA champion. By the way those champions were the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL and Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA, one of 3 times the two teams “titled” in the same season.
I believe only the dynastic Montreal Canadiens and Boston Celtics (9 times), won more NHL/NBA titles in the same season.
One of those seasons was 1976 when 3 weeks apart each on a Sunday, first the Montreal Canadiens swept the NHL Finals in 4 straight games and the Boston Celtics won the title in 6 finals games.
This year is the first of the 4 “both on Sundays NHL/NBA clinchers,” not involving the Philadelphia Flyers, who lost in both 1976 and 1987 and neither the Boston Celtics nor Los Angeles. Lakers.
Tonight’s seventh game of the NBA Finals to be contested between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, will be the first played on a Sunday since 1974, when the Boston Celtics won the title at Milwaukee vs the Bucks, with a third road win the series. That game was played in the afternoon, imagine that!
“Bucks” of a different kind are relevant tonight as this game, of course in prime television time, will be a big ratings bonanza for the NBA and one of its television partners Disney/ABC.
No game in this series has been decided by less than 11 points. Tonight I sense ABC will get at least a close game and maybe a true down to the wire classic.
Considering the circumstances involved in them getting a 7th game, taking a little but still giving LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and the Cavaliers credit–ABC and as has been my opinion all year, the Cavaliers do not deserve it.
However, they will play the game and if the Cavaliers hand the Warriors a 9th playoff loss, matching their regular season total, (think about that!!), it will be the Cavaliers remembered and the record breaking Warriors largely forgotten.
It would have been worth the time just being in the marvelous Radio City Music Hall and seeing and hearing the orchestra.
The show, New York Spectacular starring The Radio City Rockettes, a great cast of actors and a cute yet compelling story made seeing this event a tremendous, fun experience.
Distinguished choreographer, Mia Michaels is the show’s creator and the story fuses the emotions of family, imagination all surrounded by fantastic numbers, with incredible facsimiles of famous New York City attractions.
Click below for ticket information.
New York Spectacular 2016 – Rockettes.com
It had to be difficult for the many New York Yankees’ prospects during or just prior to the team’s truly lean years (1965-1969), as some were touted to be great, “the next Mickey Mantle,” for example, and of course, there was just one Mickey Mantle.
One such player, Roger Repoz actually had a better career than perceived, playing 9 seasons in the big leagues with 3 different teams. Subsequently, he played baseball in Japan.
While as is the case with Bob Costas, I feel sabermetric statistics are talked about way too often and like Costas, knew about Bill James and this “measure,” long before he gained fame, I will note one sabermetric regarding Roger Repoz.
He is the only player in baseball history to have an OPS (slugging average added to on-base percentage) over .700, while having a batting average under .200, with at least 100 plate appearances.
On a day I saw Rachel Nichols say a Cavaliers win tomorrow night is “against perhaps the greatest odds imaginable,” when they are less than 2 to 1 underdogs, the thought of Repoz and better sports days, without the intrusion of Nichols and so many like her (I do not cite her because she is a woman, oh no, it is the incredible number of sportscasters,, be they a man, woman, green or robot, who just do not get it, nor research it before opening their mouths) is truly refreshing.
Andy B Sports 