For the first time in 3 years, when the Belmont Stakes is run 3 weeks from yesterday, no horse will be bidding for the Triple Crown for 3 year old horses.
2 good horses Exaggerator and Nyquist have exchanged victories, the former yesterday and the latter in the Kentucky Derby.
2 horses that ran yesterday on a big day at Pimlico, before the Preakness Stakes, died.
Horses, unnecessary death reminds me my mother was born 100 years ago today. As a child she had or at least rode a horse. The Great Depression took that from her.
Relatives and others the former, who owned a horse took my mother, 100 years ago my mother’s birth as with her death, tragic, cost her mother’s life.
Horses, unnecessary death, 100 years and tell your mother you love her as I am doing now, perhaps late.
It was just before midnight and then after that changing the television channel yielded a couple of coincidences, involving beautiful classy actresses.
The great and deeper than you think television show “Bewitched” was on, I believe Antenna T.V. and was nearing the end of an episode. I switched to Turner Classic Movies and “Pitfall” was showing.
When the sultry, fine actress Lizabeth Scott said tell him “Mona STEVENS” called I thought of Elizabeth Montgomery as “Samantha STEPHENS” on “Bewitched.”
It took a while but thinking about it, I realized the Elizabeth and Lizabeth connection. If nothing else, I thought about these fine performers, Lizabeth Scott and Elizabeth Montgomery.
Troy Brouwer and Kyle Brodziak scored two goals apiece and a change to goaltender Jake Allen helped, as the St. Louis Blues squared their NHL semi-final series with the Sharks, by “doubling” them (6-3) in game 4 at San Jose.
Each franchise is as much as even in an NHL semi-final series for just the second time, in this the 45th season since the six expansion teams played in an entity (the NHL West), whose winner got to play the sacrificial lamb to an established team in the NHL finals from (1968-1970).
On all three occasions that team was the Blues, whose finals game record is/was (0-12). Only in 1986 since that time, were the Blues as much as (2-2) in a semi. They lost that series in 7 games, to the Calgary Flames.
Only in 2004, after the road team won the first four games were the Sharks as good as (2-2), after 4 games of an NHL semi-final series.
Their opponent and the eventual series winner was also the Calgary Flames. Then the Sharks had the pivotal 5th game at home, now it is in St. Louis on Monday night.
Both years, the aforementioned 1986 and 2004, the Flames were beaten in the NHL finals.
In 1986 they lost to the Montreal Canadiens, whom the Flames beat in 1989 for their only title. Then in 2004 they were beaten by the Tampa Bay Lightning, a current NHL semi-finalist also in a (2-2) “semi,” in their case for the fourth time in as many “semis.”
The Sharks, who lost their first 5 NHL semi-final series home games, are (2-7) in such games.
“Shear Madness” playing at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street), is a sheer delight from before the beginning, as Chris is outside entertaining in a lovely, friendly way to the “who done it” end which can easily vary each night.
One thing will not vary and that is the incredible humor tied in to their improvisational skill that the performers are able to manifest in this delightful show.
There are timely, topical jokes that somehow get woven into the beautiful fabric of this comic masterpiece, in which I know the actors have stunned their fellow actors with brilliant improvisation.
As members of the audience you will participate in the “case” and surely laugh and be involved.
Click below for ticket information.
Shear Madness New York – Buy Shear Madness Play Tickets.
Despite a home loss last night to the (29-11) Chicago Cubs and now (8-0) pitcher, Jake Arrieta, that snapped an 8 game win skein, the San Francisco Giants, the kings of “even years,” with World Series titles in the last three (2010, 2012 and 2014), have built a little bit of a lead in the slow pace N.L. West.
Their (25-19) record is good enough for a three and a half game lead in a division where no other team is even at the break even .500 mark.
Of course there is a long way to go, but S.F. figures to play a bit better and if the others especially the disappointing Dodgers do not get going, perhaps the Giants will easily find their way into the baseball tournament they made theirs in each of the last three “even year” seasons.
The Tampa Bay Lightning built a (4-0) lead after two periods, and held on for a (4-3) home victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in game 4 of their NHL semi-final series.
That series, as I predicted is now tied at two games apiece, (Whatever Bettman Wants Bettman Gets and all that), with game 5 in Pittsburgh on Sunday night.
I am not ready to predict a 7 game series here but not only the Bettman wants factor but history, at least Lightning semi-finals history, favors it.
The previous 3 Lightning semis went the full 7 games, however, only one of the previous 8 Penguins’ semi-finals have gone that long.
The Lightning snapped a 3 game home semi-final losing streak with last night’s victory.
It is Friday night and in remembering the truly good basketball player, Jim McMillian, whose too early death at age 68 this past Monday, frankly received far too little coverage, I choose three such nights to make memories of “Jim Mac,” come back.
Before playing on my favorite team the 1971-1972 NBA champion, Los Angeles Lakers, McMillian played for Columbia University and in the 1967-1968 season they were in the NCAA Tournament playing Davidson, coached by Charles “Lefty” Driesell , whose team prevailed in overtime on a Friday night.
On a Friday night in November of 1971, Lakers’ coach Bill Sharman inserted McMillian into the Lakers’ lineup at forward replacing the great, but past his prime, Elgin Baylor.
Mr. Baylor had so many great basketball moves. Lakers’ broadcaster Chick Hearn said he “had more “hang time” than there was in Dodge City,” but no move by Elgin was better than retiring, to allow Jim McMillian to start at forward for the Lakers.
On that Friday night, the Lakers won vs the Baltimore Bullets, to begin what still stands as a major North American sports’ league record 33 straight wins.
One more Friday night: The Lakers still seeking their first Los Angeles based title, take one more frustrating blow. After Jerry West hits a shot to put the Lakers ahead by 2 points very late in game 4 at New York’s Madison Square Garden vs the New York Knicks, somehow Walt Frazier gets a “tap in” basket to force overtime.
However, this time after all the frustration at the hands of great Boston Celtics and one great New York Knicks’ team in NBA finals, the Lakers respond and it is Jim McMillian, who leads them. He scored three baskets over and despite Bill Bradley’s defense and the Lakers win to take a commanding 3 games to 1 series lead. Two nights later they win the title at the Forum in Los Angeles.
So much and so many are gone, this first Friday night after Jim McMillian’s death, including 4 other 1972 Lakers’ players, (Wilt Chamberlain, Happy Hairston, LeRoy Ellis and Flynn Robinson), coach Sharman and broadcaster Hearn, but somehow the memories of Jim McMillian and that great team do “come back.”
Jim McMillian pictured above.
After a game two win at St. Louis vs the Blues, the San Jose Sharks were at least even in a semi-final series for the first time in this their 4th semi final series.
Now after a (3-0) win at home in game 3, the Sharks have the lead in semi-final series for the first time.
Tomas Hertl scored two goals in the game three win while goaltender, Martin Jones stopped all 22 St. Louis shots in notching his second straight shutout.
The Sharks now have a (2-6) record at home in the NHL semi-finals.
Game 4 is tomorrow night in San Jose.
LeBron James scored 23 points and had both 11 assists and rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers went on a (16-2) spurt to end the first half with a 14 point lead and won easily (108-89) at home to take a two games to none lead vs the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.
Last year, Cleveland led by James’ great play actually led the Golden State Warriors two games to one in the NBA finals (they eventually lost the series in 6 games), though playing without Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.
Last night Irving led the Cavs with 26 points while Love added 19.
Cleveland is (10-0) in the playoffs as their coach Tyronn Lue broke Pat Riley’s record of 9, by winning his first 10 playoff games as a coach. The Cavaliers after winning the first game by 31 points have won the first two games by a combined 50 points and are (7-3) vs the spread in the playoffs.
Cleveland Cavaliers’ coach, Tyronn Lue pictured above.
I would like to present some pictures in and around Athena Theatre’s presentation of “An Unseen Visitor” which I enjoyed so much two nights back.
Again the presentation was fantastic. Stay tuned here and click the link below for more information about this wonderful group and the talented, hard working people associated with it.
Athena Theatre – NYC-based non-profit theatre company …
Andy B Sports 