Last night, both WNBA conference top seeds, the New York Liberty in the East and Minnesota Lynx in the West advanced to the league semi-finals, with victories secured on their home floor.
I believe due to Pope Francis’ visit and upcoming speech at Madison Square Garden, game 1 of the Liberty’s Eastern Conference Final series vs the Indiana Fever is being played tonight.
Thus as promised, our predictions are today and a bit rushed. The Liberty are about 8 to 5 favorites in the series, perhaps a little lower because they are playing on consecutive nights.
Indiana has a fine team, the great veteran Tamika Catchings is on the “Indy” roster.
My prediction is that the Liberty will win the series in the maximum 3 games.
In the West starting tomorrow, I predict the Lynx will defeat the defending champion Phoenix Mercury, also in the maximum three games.
Of course I abhor the wild card presence in baseball.
Even with it, to supposedly lend more interest and have more playoff possibilities, no race for playoffs qualification is closer than 3 games with less than 2 weeks of games to end.
Barring the truly incredible, which of course could happen, the National League playoff participants (Cards, Dodgers, Mets, Pirates and Cubs) seemingly have been set since fireworks went off.
In the American League it seems to be the Royals, Blue Jays, Rangers, Yankees and Astros.
The ten team tournament starts in two weeks.
Click below to see there is little mystery at this point
2015 MLB Wild Card Standings | FOX Sports
Yesterday, the New York Liberty won easily in game 2 of their WNBA Eastern Conference semi-final series at Washington, vs the Mystics.
The Liberty victory sets up a decisive third game of the series to be played tomorrow night, Tuesday September 22nd at Madison Square Garden.
It promises to be a good game, perhaps a great one, as was the case in game 1 this past Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
Click below for ticket information.
WNBA Liberty Tickets – Official Tickets Available Now
Exactly 45 years ago tonight, the first Monday night game of the ABC “package” was played in which the Cleveland Browns defeated the New York Jets (31-21). Tonight the Jets are in the Monday night game visiting the Indianapolis Colts.
In that 1970 season the then Baltimore Colts won the first AFC/NFC Super Bowl. It was the Jets’ stunning victory vs the Colts in the third Super Bowl that eventually led to this monolith’s (the NFL) incredible power.
Last week the Jets opened their season with a win vs the Cleveland Browns. The original Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens. The Colts moved in the middle of the night from Baltimore to Indianapolis.
In that first Monday night game, players such as Gary Collins, Bill Nelsen, Homer Jones of the Browns and Joe Namath and Matt Snell of the Jets stood out.
The announcers were Keith Jackson, a year before Frank Gifford, deemed handsome, replaced him as play by play announcer, Howard Cosell and Don Meredith.
Tonight as the first Monday night season without Mr. Gifford on earth continues, we are “sent” somewhere below that, enduring mistake prone Mike Tirico, non stop talking Jon Gruden and yet another of the completely unnecessary sideline “reporters.”
Boy was Andy Rooney ever right, in my not so humble opinion, regarding his assertion we do not need sideline reporters. In case you are wondering that means any and the fact most are women, is not the reason I do not want those “reporters.”
Click below for an interview in which Andy Rooney gives some of his views.
Curmudgeon Andy Rooney on Female Sideline Reporters [Video]
Above is Keith Jackson the first ABC Package Monday Night Football Play by Play Announcer
The quoted title above is more or less, if not verbatim, what the actor Jerry Orbach’s character said at a key moment in the movie “Dirty Dancing.”
It applies to my woeful predictions, thus far in football 2015. Altogether I am (0-9-1) and am (0-7) in college football.
Unlike Mike Francesa, I admit when I am wrong.
Imagine, I predicted Alabama to win big vs Mississippi and “Ole Miss” pulled the outright upset. I predicted Syracuse to win big vs Central Michigan and the “Cuse” was fortunate to win in overtime.
Yes “when I am wrong and I admit it.” Also from “Dirty Dancing” “nobody puts “Baby” in the corner,” but at (0-9-1), no predictions today, as I will “stand in the corner.”
From Dirty Dancing
Click below to view Jerry Orbach singing.
Jerry Orbach – Try to Remember (1982)
I was most fortunate to attend last night’s terrific WNBA first round playoff game at Madison Square Garden, which resulted in a Washington Mystics (83-80) two overtime victory vs the home team, WNBA top seed, New York Liberty.
The crowd of just over ten thousand people supplied with their “Liberty torches” made the atmosphere in accordance with the Liberty team credo of “burn bright.”
On this night and in unfortunately for the Liberty, in game one of a best of three series, the Washington Mystics with an incredible and courageous effort, “burned a bit brighter.”
The game was great fun to watch, as is the league. Some individuals that deserve special notation are Mystics’ players, Ivory Latta, who hit a 3 point shot to tie the game with 27 seconds left in regulation and Emma Meesseman whose lay in shot, (Latta had a nice assist on the play), tied the compelling contest with less than two seconds to play in the first overtime period.
As has been the case all season, both Tina Charles and Epiphanny Prince were outstanding for the Liberty. It was fun to watch Liberty coach and WNBA coach of the year, Bill Laimbeer react to the game. I always liked Bill as a player and thought of his reactions as a good measurement of his intense desire to win.
Speaking of win , the Liberty must in a 1 pm start at washington tomorrow, or else their wonderful season will end. If they do win, a decisive third game would be played on Tuesday night September 22nd commencing at 7 pm at Madison Square Garden.
Last night was one of the best basketball games I ever attended. Kudos to both teams, the officials and the wonderful WNBA and New York Liberty presentation.
It was not only a slow start concerning the pro football predictions (0-2-1) but two weeks ago my predictions in college football were (0-3).
Tonight Florida State will survive at Boston College winning (37-31).
Tomorrow night Alabama will be very impressive in its win vs Mississippi. Let’s say (34-16).
Auburn will upset LSU at Baton Rouge, winning (36-34).
One more than the usual three, an improved Syracuse team to win decisively, say (30-13) vs Central Michigan.
The WNBA playoffs begin with two games tonight. In one game, the East two seed Chicago Sky with league MVP, Elena Delle Donne host the Indiana Fever. Next, the defending champion Phoenix Mercury host the Tulsa Shock.
Unless the Shock pull a big upset/minor “shock” and advance vs the Mercury, Saturday’s game two vs the Mercury in Tulsa, will be the Shock’s last game in Tulsa.
Tomorrow night the top ranked New York Liberty host the Washington Mystics while the favorite to win it all, the Minnesota Lynx host the LA Sparks.
All “chalk” predictions are the Sky and Liberty in two straight games in the East while both the Lynx and Mercury will be extended to a third and decisive game before advancing.
If those 4 teams win, it sets up two compelling semi-final series. No matter what the results, at this time next week I will have WNBA semi-final series predictions.
Elena Delle Donne of the Chicago Sky
I was stretching my thinking to come up with my feelings about the end of the Dallas Cowboys’ Sunday night home win vs the New York Giants. Then I saw this “take OFF” on it from the beautiful Paulina, a dancer at the wonderful Vivid Cabaret:
Paulina is a beautiful woman with perspective.
Recently I had a wonderful experience seeing a performance of the play “Stripped” at the Tank Theater (151 West 46th Street).
This powerful, moving, emotional and yes at times, humorous play about a relationship and relationships moved me greatly. Surely it moved others as the two actors Sara Fay George as “Emma” and Timothy Hopfner as “George” received a well deserved ovation.
Playwright Stephen Clark wrote “Stripped” in 2003 making it ahead of its time, even though the world and mores of relationships had changed. In fact, this remarkable writing is ahead of the curve and change, even in 2015.
The two actors are seen preparing for a magazine ad induced blind date which leads to revelation, introspection, and truly revealing “between the eyes” reality between the attractive duo.
The beautiful “result” resonates with anyone who successfully, unsuccessfully or somewhere in between tried to navigate the course not only in a romantic relationship, but did any real “digging” into true emotions.
Both Ms. George and Mr. Hopfner give heartfelt, brilliant performances and Mr. Clark’s writing is beyond and better than first rate. There is great direction by Monika Gossmann.
Three performances remain at The Tank Theater (151 West 46th Street in New York City). The first is Friday night September 18th at 7 pm, next on Saturday Sept. 19 also at 7, with the final performance on Sunday afternoon Sept. 20th at 3 pm.
Click the links below for reservations and more information.
RESERVATIONS: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2080821
www.thetanknyc.org http://teamonfireproductions.jimdo.com
Andy B Sports 