Kevin Durant, who has won no championships and only one “finals game” win, will likely get the obscene amount of 26 million dollars per year for a sneaker endorsement.
His basketball salary of 25 million per year is actually less money. I never knew it was this crazy.
If the fans would wise up and stop watching and certainly stop buying basketball sneakers, this might go away.
I will not hold my breath until this happens. I also will not watch the games. If I can do it, after years of sustained watching, so can you.
The WNBA playoffs get underway tomorrow night with two games, one in each conference. There will be two more games on Friday.
These are first round, best of three series with the higher ranked team opening at home and having the potential third and series deciding game at home as well. My predictions on the four series follows.
In one East series which begins tomorrow, I predict the lower seed Washington Mystics to upset the Indiana Fever in 3 games.
The other East series begins Friday night with the Michael Cooper coached Atlanta Dream facing the Chicago Sky. Atlanta to survive, with a close win in game 3.
In the West I predict a shocking upset: the San Antonio Stars, with future San Antonio Spurs assistant coach, Becky Hammon, to win in 3 games, vs the 9 to 1 favorite, Minnesota Lynx.
No upset in the other series as I say it will take just two games for the record breaking Phoenix Mercury to dispatch the Los Angeles Sparks.
In thinking about the one game showdown between the Milwaukee Brewers and Baltimore Orioles for the 1982 A.L. East title, a sickening reality became evident.
As stated yesterday, then Brewers owner, Bud Selig relished the dramatic victory in such an important game.
The current, horrible reality is that the presence of wild card teams in baseball, that precludes the possibility of such games, came about under Bud Selig’s “watch” as baseball commissioner.
Further insult is that Selig strongly supported the wild card presence and considers the regular season finish of 2012 as a great moment in baseball history. That is about 170 degrees (not quite 180, but almost there) from my opinion.
In 1982, the American League East race came down to the 162nd and final game. I recall watching that Sunday afternoon on ABC TV. It was a winner take all game between the Milwaukee Brewers vs the Baltimore Orioles.
The Bewers at that time were owned by the current Baseball Commissioner, Bud Selig.
The Brewers jumped to a lead they would hold, but not before some anxious moments for them. As the tension mounted, the ABC cameras focused more than once on owner Selig “chain smoking,” hoping Milwaukee would hold on.
It was a memorable game in a great baseball season which culminated in the St. Louis Cardinals’ seven game triumph over the Brewers in the World Series.
Click for Brewers vs Orioles 1982
Though NFL pre season games mean little, if anything, it is noteworthy that the New York Giants and New York Jets will enter next week’s annual pre season contest vs each other with a combined (5-0) record.
I believe this augurs well for both teams. In my opinion both teams will fight for playoff berths this season.
The Jets with additions Michael Vick and Chris Johnson on the offensive end will win at least 8 games. They might even battle the New England Patriots for the AFC East title but let’s slow down our optimism concerning the Jets just a bit. Let’s say (9-7), good enough to battle for a playoff berth in the not so good AFC, but not enough to take the division title from New England.
I already predicted a (9-7) season for the Giants. They may even win the NFC East.
So far in the pre season, the Detroit Lions, last year’s big disappointment in the NFC North, if not the NFL, have split two games, each decided by one point.
It is in close games that the very talented Lions must improve this season. They seemed headed to the NFC North crown after a dominant performance vs the Green bay Packers last Thanksgiving Day, in the traditional game at Detroit.
However, the team lost some unbelievable games, including one in the snow at Philadelphia (Eagles) and a home game to the New York Giants, who played the spoiler role and eliminated the Lions.
The Giants visit Detroit in the Monday night opener with the latter, an early 4 point favorite.
My early prediction is that the Lions will bounce back this season, win at least 9 games, and perhaps battle for the NFC North crown, that they squandered last season.
Lauren Bacall, One of the greatest American actors, passed on this past week. She was 89 years old.
She was the epitome of charm, grace, and to me, sultry class. I met her once not long ago, and she looked great. I simply said “an honor to meet you.” She said “thank you.”
There were so many great roles including, if you will, being married to Humphrey Bogart and then Jason Robards Jr.
On screen and stage so many, citing one each: “Key Largo,” one of four films with Mr. Bogart, and “Woman of the Year” on Broadway.
My favorite is “To Have and Have Not” where she met and fell in love with Humphrey Bogart. One scene mirrors their “riding the wave toward love,” as Ms. Bacall’s character, in a scene way ahead of its time, instructs Bogart’s character how to get in touch with her.
“Just whistle,” she says, “you know how to whistle, don’t you–just put your lips together and blow.”
Ms. Bacall, 25 years Bogie’s junior, lost her great love on earth and maybe now Mr. Bogart is “whistling” for her return.
The three American League teams that have gone the longest amount of time without a post season berth are in contention for one this season.
Those teams are the Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays.
The Royals, who have not been to the post season playoffs since winning it all in 1985, are in the midst of another good run that has them battling the Detroit Tigers for the A.L. Central crown.
The Mariners, who last made the post season with an American League record 116 wins in 2001, are in the thick of the race, for what likely will be one wild card berth.
By the way, the New York Yankees defeated the Mariners in five games in that year’s ALCS and Seattle, now in their 37th to be completed season, has never made the World Series
The Blue Jays last in post season when they rode Joe Carter’s game six home run to a second straight title in 1993, are on the outside looking in, trailing, but still factors in the race, for that likely to be lone wild card spot available.
Sadly, Robin Williams, who was a great comic, actor, and humanitarian, “exited” this world two days back.
He certainly left behind an abundance of rich work that most of us could not fathom being able to leave behind.
While blown out of proportion by the insipid media coverage, the fact Mr.Williams did “leave behind” all that he was, including family is worth consideration.
The terrible event has led to a greater awareness about suicide, which results in more deaths each year than homicides.
If this helps even one person contemplating such drastic action then it is invaluable.
Please consider all possible options and all possible assistance and even then know suicide is irrevocable while other options are not.
Robin Williams work as an actor in such films as “The World According to Garp” and “Good Morning, Vietnam” was extraordinary.
Working with his idol, the great Jonathan Winters, Robin was part of comedic masterpieces.
His charity and willingness to give also should not be forgotten.
I met Mr. Williams once, on a hot day in New York City on the day the great actor, Rod Steiger died.
Robin told me that Mr. Steiger was a friend. He was friendly and in the brief conversation talked of days like that one “bringing the puppies out” to be walked, so to speak by the woman around town.
Even in this “phony enhancement” age concerning such entities, they are a welcome sight.
I hope Robin Williams, who in his decision felt lacking in enough “delegates” to live, finds more than enough in a better world.
His brilliance and caring certainly helped this one.
Another week of Canadian Football League games begins tonight as the East leading Toronto Argonauts host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who are in a tie for the most points in the West.
Last week, the Saskatchewan RoughRiders rallied for a victory vs the Blue Bombers who are now (5-2). The Argonauts whose (2-4) record has them in front in the far weaker East, were idle.
Both the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos won their games last week to raise their records to (5-1). Each beat a CFL East team and going into this week the West is an incredible (16-2) in games vs the East.
Andy B Sports 