The television show “Get Smart,” with such writers as Mel Brooks and Buck Henry was a big hit, premiering over 50 years ago. This weekend, the television channel, “Decades” is running a “Get Smart” binge.
Late last night early this morning I watched and marveled at the comedic timing of star Don Adams with guest stars Carol Burnett and Bernie Kopell, the latter in a recurring guest role.
Add the solid performances of Ed Platt and Barbara Feldon and I remember why I liked the show so much in years past.
It is worth some time today to tune into “Get Smart” on “Decades.”
Years before mobile phones were a reality, Don Adams pictured above as agent “Maxwell Smart” used a “shoephone” on the fictional show a spoof, of secret agents.
The Boston Celtics, playing in front of greats from the 1966, 1976 and 1986 title teams roared back from a horrible first half to defeat the miami Heat in the regular season finale.
However, the Celtics got no help elsewhere and are the NBA Eastern Conference 6 seed and must face the 3 seed Atlanta Hawks.
The Hawks are roughly 8 and a half to 5 series favorites.
The Celtics will win the series in 7 games.
There are four cities that have teams in the 16 team fields of both the NBA and NHL playoffs.
Those cities/areas are Detroit and Miami/Florida from each league’s Eastern Conference and Los Angeles and Dallas from each league’s Western Conference.
Detroit has the Red Wings in hockey and the Pistons in the NBA. Miami is in both league’s playoffs with the NHL East two seed, Florida Panthers and the NBA East four seed, Miami Heat.
Out West, L.A. has the NHL Kings and NBA Clippers, each with home advantage in the first round while Dallas enters the NHL West top seed, Stars and the NBA Mavericks, the NBA West six seed.
For the first time since 1970, no teams from Canada made the NHL playoffs. No team from Canada has won the Stanley Cup since 1993.
None of the seven NHL teams from Canada made the playoffs.
Of course, I am going to predict that the Golden State Warriors will win their opening round series vs the Houston Rockets.
However, I think it will a somewhat tough 5 game series.
Houston will greatly surprise the NBA by winning one game outright and covering the large spread in one of their two losses on the Warriors’ home floor.
The Warriors will win both games in Houston.
Oh do I feel fortunate to have discovered an old paperback edition of the classic book “The Godfather,” by the truly great author Mario Puzo.
Of course it was the basis for two great movies “The Godfather” and “The Godfather, Part Two.”
As I slowly read the book for the first time in many years, hoping to savor each page gaining new perspective, I will post a few comments and or tidbits here, so stay tuned.
Early on here is a good tidbit: In the movie, “The Godfather,” at the beginning two people are shown asking “Don Corleone” aka “The Godfather” played brilliantly by Marlon Brando for favors on his daughter’s wedding day.
In the book there is a third person, coincidentally perhaps named Coppola. The Godfather movies were eventually directed brilliantly by Francis Ford Coppola.
Last night the “4′ seed New York Islanders won in Florida vs the top seed Panthers in their first round series opening game.
The Islanders have not won a playoff series since 1993.
Florida last won a playoff series in 1996 in the semi-finals vs the Pittsburgh Penguins whose roster included the great Jaromir Jagr, who is still playing and is currently with the Panthers.
The Panthers were swept in four straight games by the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL finals that season and have never won the Stanley Cup.
It is still early in the 2016 baseball season, but now each team has played three series and the opponents in the great 1991 World Series, the Minnesota Twins and Atlanta Braves are still looking for their first win.
Both teams are off to (0-9) starts. There were low expectations for the Braves but the Twins a playoffs contender last season under the great player, Paul Molitor have gone under so far and headed that way in regard to their “expected,” at least break even record.
Recalling the 1991 World Series, it was the Twins winning it all (1-0) in 10 innings in the decisive 7th game. Jack Morris pitched a brilliant game and Gene Larkin from Columbia University drove in the World Series winning run with a bases loaded 1 out hit over the drawn in outfield.
Click below to view the end of the 1991 World Series
1991 WS Gm7: Larkin’s single wins series for Twins
The last time the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks met in the NHL playoffs was two years ago and the Kings, en route to a second Stanley Cup victory in three seasons, overcame a (3-0) series deficit to beat the Sharks in 7 games.
This time will be different, no it will not be an easier Kings’ victory.
I predict the long suffering San Jose Sharks will upset the Kings and win their opening round series which begins in L.A. tonight, in six games.
It will not be easy but the Sharks will get at least a split in the first two games on the road and be on their way.
Forty years ago, as defending NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors had a better record than they did in their title season. However, the Phoenix Suns shocked them in the 7th game of the NBA semi-finals thus they did not repeat as NBA champions.
This season as defending champions, the Warriors not only had a better record than last season, but broke the record previously held by the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls by winning 73 games.
Now the real season begins with the NBA playoffs.I know how good the Warriors are but feel the intangibles are against them.
One intangible just went their way when Charles Barkley, a fine but vastly over rated player, given way too much air time, guaranteed, not predicted, but guaranteed the Warriors would not win the title. Barkley, by the way never played on an NBA title team. He is so often wrong!
The NHL West top seed Dallas Stars began play as a franchise in Minnesota and were known as the Minnesota North Stars Their first season was 1967-1968 and in 26 seasons in Minnesota failed to win the Stanley Cup.
Their lone Stanley Cup triumph came as the Dallas Stars in the 1998-1999 season and was clinched on an overtime goal, still questioned in and vs Buffalo (Sabres), by Brett Hull.
Last night’s version of the long running show Jeopardy included an answer/question in which Bobby Hull, Brett’s father was the “question.” The lone contestant responding said “who is Brett Hull” and was incorrect.
Tonight the Stars take on the Minnesota Wild, a franchise in existence since the 2000-2001 season and one which has advanced to the NHL semi-final round but once and not further in their 14 previous completed seasons.(There was no NHL season in 2005.)
