Today marks the exact 11 year anniversary of the funeral of Pope John Paul II (born Karol Jozef Wojtyla), a modern and progressive Pope, humanitarian ,who helped Jewish people, among others, during the horrors in his native Poland during the 1940’s, a country he loved and helped move forward.
One does not have to be Roman Catholic to appreciate this man and what he accomplished. Far from it!
As fate would have it, I was on the street in Rome eleven years ago, watching the entire funeral on a large television screen.
Many things connected that day, including a beautiful song in the service that brought tears to my eyes.
It sounded just like a song my father loved called “My Yiddish Mother.” That moment will stay with me, as I stated, you need not be Catholic, to be in awe of all that Pope John Paul II did to help others.
Witnessing first hand, the tribute to Pope John Paul II pictured and almost surely above, was one of, if not the best, event I ever attended.
Despite an impressive home win vs the Detroit Red Wings, the Boston Bruins still do not “control their destiny” for NHL playoffs qualification.
Also, though the Philadelphia Flyers lost in overtime to the big underdog, Toronto Maple Leafs, the one point they did get in that tilt, keeps them in control of their playoff qualification situation.
Meanwhile the Red Wings seeking a 25th consecutive playoffs appearance still are in control of their playoffs qualification fate.
Detroit and Boston each have 93 points and one game remaining with Detroit holding the tiebreaker over Boston. Philadelphia has 92 points but two games remaining, but would lose in any tiebreaker situation.
Before last season began,, the Washington Nationals were perceived as being about 12 games better than the New York Mets. The Mets won the N.L. East with Washington second.
This season begins with the teams considered even.
I say the Washington Nationals will finish first.
The Mets will be second. None of the other three teams, the Miami Marlins, Atlanta Braves and almost certainly not the Philadelphia Phillies will contend in the division.
I will go along with the consensus and predict the Chicago Cubs to win the National League Central Division title.
Both the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals could even should challenge but it will be the Cubs, I suppose.
Neither the Cincinnati Reds nor the Milwaukee Brewers, though each will improve, have enough to take the title.
Cubs first, Cardinals second, Pirates third, Reds fourth, Brewers fifth.
The NHL regular season ends Sunday and tonight there are 13 games, some with playoff implications.
Only two of the 16 playoff spots are open and three teams are contending for those two playoff berths.
Two are original six NHL teams, the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings, the other a part of the first expansion and the first such team to win the Stanley Cup, namely the Philadelphia Flyers.
Detroit is bidding for its 25th consecutive post-season appearance which is a record for any major North American sports league.
Two years ago the Los Angeles Dodgers finished ahead of that season’s World Series winners, the San Francisco Giants.
I predict a fourth straight National League West crown for the Dodgers.
The Giants, World Series winners in each of the last three “even year” seasons will finish second.
Neither Arizona (Diamondbacks) nor the Colorado Rockies will be contenders.
I say the San Diego Padres will improve but also will not be contenders.
The Dodgers first with 90 wins, the Giants not far behind.
It was almost eery watching the Johnny Carson Tonight Show on Antenna T.V. and switching back to what I received as a “stream with the North Carolina slant, to say the least.”
The reason for the feeling cited above was that Jim Valvano was Johnny’s first guest on a show from 1989 and perhaps two minutes at most passed from the time Valvano talked of his team’s win on a dunk shot in 1983 on one channel and Villanova winning it all on a last second shot on another.
So it seems fate that the game ended with a tie breaking shot, as it did with Lorenzo Charles dunk for Valvano and his North Carolina State team in 1983.
This one with Villanova triumphing, again 2 minutes after Valvano referenced 1983, was on a considerably longer shot by Kris Jenkins. Each will be remembered for a long time.
Jim Valvano, pictured above, after his North Carolina State team won it all in 1983.
I will go with the Detroit Tigers to improve from last year’s disappointing season and win their 5th A.L. Central title in 6 seasons.
The defending world champion, Kansas City Royals will struggle (warning I said that last year as well when they were defending American League champions).
Minnesota (Twins) will improve under Paul Molitor as their manager.
I do not believe in the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago White Sox will improve.
All five teams have a real chance in this division.
It is an annual post at this time, citing the great University of Connecticut’s Women’s basketball team, on another NCAA title.
The latest and fourth straight and 11th under coach Geno Auriemma came in a (82-51) victory vs the Syracuse women’s team. Auriemma passed the great John Wooden, who had 10 men’s titles for the most titles accumulated by a college coach.
Breanna Stewart, a brilliant player led the way. She scored 24 points and was named the most outstanding player of the women’s final four, yes a fourth time in as many years or possibilities, a truly amazing feat.
The team’s 4 year record is (151-4) with titles in all four seasons.
Breanna Stewart pictured above.
Against my better judgment, I am predicting the Texas Rangers to repeat as A.L. West champions.
The favorite Houston Astros will finish second.
Next will be the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The Seattle Mariners might improve but I still put them in fourth place.
I go along with the consensus and pick the Oakland A’s for fifth place.
Andy B Sports 