Jake Arrieta authored his second no hit game in 16 starts on Thursday night past. He had a sensational season last year, at least in the regular season.
After a not so hot start vs St. Louis (Cardinals) in the Division Series, Arrieta was held back until game two by the fine, but vastly over rated Cubs’ manager, Joe Maddon.
As with some Maddon decisions, I strongly thought it a mistake BEFORE the Cubs lost game 1 sans Arrieta and then game two, when the eventual 4 game sweep winners, the New York Mets, jumped on Arrieta for three first inning runs en route to victory.
It is a long unfair season Cubs fans, do not print World Series tickets yet, however, the Cubs likely will win their division and failing that almost certainly make the baseball tournament.
Also very likely is that Arrieta will pitch very well and Maddon will manage the team well, the latter especially if the Cubs are comfortably ahead.
One NHL series is over while three teams have seemingly commanding three games to one leads as the opening round is about half complete.
For the second straight season, the Tampa Bay Lightning have dispatched the Detroit Red Wings in the opening round. Last year they won a tough 7 game series despite losing two home games. This year, Tampa Bay won all three at home en route to the series victory.
The top ranked Washington Capitals lead the Philadelphia Flyers three games to one, as is the case with the Pittsburgh Penguins leading their series with the New York Rangers.
In the Western Conference, the San Jose Sharks lead the Los Angeles Kings three games to one. Both the Capitals and Penguins are higher ranked, while the Sharks are lower ranked than their first round opponent.
So far the series between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets has gone as I expected. That is not the case in some other series but that is a different matter.
As I predicted the Rockets would win at least one game which they did last night on James Harden’s heroics but Golden State, playing without Steph Curry in the last two tilts still leads the series two games to one.
The Warriors will win easily in game four in Houston and then win by less than the expected amount in game 5 back in their home arena.
James Harden, pictured above, led the Houston Rockets to what was very likely an aberration game win last night.
I was very sad upon hearing the news that the former WWE wrestler and actress, Chyna, whose birth name was Joanie Laurer, died far too young at the age of 45.
Chyna was an engaging, forthright interview subject when I had the chance to interview her at Rick’s Cabaret in New York City some years ago.
I have included a link to that interview in which Chyna talked about an upcoming video release and how she enjoyed Rick’s Cabaret.
Again, I truly admired her composure on that one night I had the pleasure of meeting her.
Click below to view an interview I conducted with Chyna at Rick’s Cabaret New York City, some years ago.
Andy B interviews Chyna at Rick’s Cabaret NYC
One of professional wrestling’s greats, Chyna pictured above.
Maybe, even likely, this time the San Jose Sharks will hold on to their advantage and advance in the NHL playoffs.
Last night, the Sharks took a three games to one lead vs the Los Angeles Kings, by winning at home, in game four.
That was the first win by a home team in that series.
Two years ago, the Sharks led the Kings three games to none, also in an opening round series, but L.A. stormed back and won the series in 7 games.
That season, Kings became just the 4th NHL team and 5th major North American sports league team to overcome a (3-0) series deficit and went on to win their second Stanley Cup in three seasons.
The NBA Playoffs are in full bloom, and one of the best places to enjoy the games is at the famous gentlemen’s club Rick’s Cabaret in New York. You will enjoy the food from the superb menu crafted by acclaimed Chef Franklin Edwards while you watch the games on the club’s numerous High-Def Flat Screen TVs.
Of course, there are also a ton of beautiful women to keep you occupied during time-outs and breaks in the game! The Rick’s girls and the staff’s warm hospitality is second to none. Trust me on this!
For you Howard Stern fans, “Flat Ronnie” is there in the lobby to greet you. The “Real Ronnie” also frequents the club and is a great guy who goes out of his way to be nice to all Stern fans.
Rick’s Cabaret New York, 50 West 33rd Street
Kimmie, “Real Ronnie,” “Flat Ronnie,” and Marilyn
Only the top ranked Washington Capitals have a (3-0) series lead in the 8 opening round NHL playoff series currently being contested.
Washington can wrap up its series vs the Philadelphia Flyers with a victory in Philadelphia in game 4 tonight.
The Caps, whose first season was 1974-1975 have never won a Stanley Cup title.
The Flyers have not won a Stanley Cup since repeating as NHL/Stanley Cup champions in that same 1974-1975 season.
Today is both the Democratic and Republican primaries in New York and I have a long day ahead working at the polls.
Some presidential election years/World Series notes will follow.
There have been 27 years with both a presidential election and World Series to this point. Oddly perhaps, both years in which the World Series was cancelled (1904 and 1994), there were presidential elections.
The Yankees a great team in 1927 and with 27 World Series victories have amassed 7 in presidential election years (1928, 1932, 1936, 1952, 1956, 1996 and 2000), easily outdistancing the Boston Red Sox’ 3 such achievements (1912, 1916, 2004).
Also noteworthy is the fact the Chicago Cubs won the first World Series which was contested in a presidential election year, that in 1908. They have not won another World Series since that one.
How easy it is likely to be for the Cleveland Cavaliers to at least reach the NBA finals.
They are in the so weak Eastern Conference and barring the truly unlikely, while the record breaking Golden State Warriors will face a tough L.A. Clippers team and the San Antonio Spurs will likely face a tough Oklahoma City Thunder team in the quarterfinals, the Cavaliers will continue on an easy road in the NBA East.
You know the rest, if the Warriors and spurs survive tough quarterfinal series opponents, they must face each other not in the finals but the semi-finals.
Meanwhile whom will Cleveland play? It seems I resent the Cavaliers and that is not true.
However, while acknowledging that their twice team jumping player, LeBron James is a great player, the hype he would get should the Cavaliers win it all, especially from his long time shills, ESPN would bother me a great deal.
If he/they won it going through the West but oh well, I warned regarding Peyton Manning, Ohio State in 2014 and now I am “warning” regarding this.
I am not good with directions but is not “Easy Way” pointing East while “Hard Way” is indicating West.
Maybe it is my imagination but no matter what happens, no matter where James ends up on the “greatness pole” (he is a great player), he did take the “easy way” switching teams and going to/staying in the far weaker NBA Eastern Conference.
I should have known better than to count out the Los Angeles Kings.
L.A.won game three in San Jose (vs the Sharks), last night and though they still trail their preliminary series two games to one, both teams remember two years ago when the Kings, down three games to none, became just the fourth team in NHL history and fifth in major North American sports’ league history to overcome a (3-0) series deficit.
Game four is in San Jose tomorrow night. I still believe the Sharks will win the series but I strongly suggest they win game four at home. Easier said than done.
Andy B Sports 