Recently I attended an extraordinary one night concert, called “We’ll Take Manhattan,” that featured the music of Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers.
It was a benefit for a great organization “Operation Smile,” which helps children who were born with a cleft condition or a facial deformity.
The performers were all sensational. Their names are Kristin Maldonado, Jeremy Michael Lewis, Telly Leung, Hannah Elless, Morgan Reynolds, Laura Dreyfuss, Trevor McQueen and Caleb Ryan. Bryan Carter, a terrific drummer, was the musical director.
Caleb Ryan was also the producer and director. His words in the concert program regarding the beautiful music of Rodgers and Hart, the fact they overcame adversity in their lives and the hope some will help the children born with deformities were beautiful.
Toward that hope: Operation Smile.
The Los Angeles Kings won their second Stanley Cup in three seasons, when Alec Martinez scored in the second overtime of game five, lifting the Kings to a five game triumph vs the New York Rangers.
Martinez also scored the semi-final series winning goal in overtime of game seven vs the Chicago Blackhawks.
Justin Williams, who opened the scoring in game five and had the overtime winner in game one, was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the outstanding player in this year’s playoffs.
This year, the Kings won their first three series by winning on the road in game seven. Their coach, Darryl Sutter raised his Stanley Cup final coaching record to (2-1), both wins with the Kings (2012 and this year).
Sutter’s one loss as a coach in the Stanley Cup final was in 2004, to a Tampa Bay Lightning team that included current Rangers players, Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards.
That Lightning team was coached by John Tortorella, the former Rangers coach, who helped build the fine, current Rangers’ team.
Justin Williams
The San Antonio Spurs needed one win in two games at Miami last year to win the NBA championship. They did not get either game. This year, they won both games three and four easily, and once again are on the precipice of the NBA title.
San Antonio hopes to win their 5th NBA championship and first since 2007, at home in game five on Sunday night. The Spurs are (4-0) in previous game 5’s of a finals series.
I picked the Spurs to win this series and they are one win from doing so. However, I am surprised that they not only won both games three and four in Miami, but eased to victory in both games. That feat is quite impressive.
As the current NBA finals, between two very good, but not great teams progresses, my thoughts are on three great NBA teams of the past.
Those teams are the 1986 Boston Celtics led by Larry Bird, the 1987 Los Angeles Lakers with Earvin “Magic” Johnson and the 1996 Chicago Bulls featuring Michael Jordan.
They are the only three teams in the past 31 seasons (1984-2014) to win the NBA championship without losing a home game.
The San Antonio Spurs took a 2 games to 1 lead in the NBA finals with an easy victory at Miami vs the Heat in game 3.
The Spurs will look to go up 3 games to 1 in game four tomorrow night in Miami. The Heat have won 13 straight playoff games following a loss.
Remember game 5 is in San Antonio and as I have predicted all along, that will be a key factor in San Antonio eventually winning this series.
It is truly sad that Bob Welch, such a fine major league pitcher, passed away at the far too young age of 57.
He pitched for two World Series winning teams, the 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers and the 1989 Oakland Athletics. Additionally he was part of three other pennant winning teams, the 1978 Dodgers, 1988 Athletics and 1990 Athletics.
In 1990 he won 27 games, a number topped only by Denny McLain’s 31, since 1952 (Robin Roberts won 28).
I talked with Bob at the Dodgers’ former and great spring training complex in Vero Beach, Florida during training in 1982.
The Dodgers had won the World Series in the strike marred 1981 season and Bob retired Jerry White in the decisive 5th game of the NLCS to clinch the pennant.
When I asked him about it, Bob, who had yielded a key three run homer to White in game 3, modestly said he thought White would hit the pitch he threw in game 5, 10 miles.
I took out my album to look at a picture of Bob and me from that 1982 meeting. I see a nice field, trees in the distance and Bob holding a bat over his left shoulder.
No “thousand words” here but what comes crackling through: his hair (even mine, I had hair then) blown back in the breeze, life, addictions, caring about sports and who wins.
What matters is living life and doing, which a very brave Bob Welch did.
Overall, despite the horrible logistics that goes with one hundred thousand plus in attendance, I had a very nice time at Belmont Park this past Saturday, when the Belmont Stakes were featured.
Belmont Park is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon. It was especially so with the many ladies in their beautiful clothes, wearing unique, lovely hats.
Quite a bit of serenity washed over me as I looked out at the beauty, in full view from the track. Upon leaving late, the track lit up, reminding a friend of a beautiful cruise ship. A nice sight, which capped a fine day.
The Los Angeles Kings took a (2-0) lead in the Stanley Cup final with a 5-4, double overtime win vs the New York Rangers in game two. Dustin Brown scored the winning goal.
Game one was also an overtime win for the Kings. In each game they trailed (2-0). Justin Williams scored the winning goal in game one.
The Kings also won game seven of their semi-final series vs the Chicago Blackhawks in overtime, after trailing (2-0) in that game.
In 2012, the Kings also won the first two games of the Stanley Cup final in overtime. Those wins were both on the road vs the New Jersey Devils. This time both wins were at home. Game three of this year’s final is in New York on Monday night.
Dustin Brown
It was disappointing this past week to see the entire three game series between the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs played at night.
However, I do not remember three mid week night games with no day games. I looked forward to at least one day game at beautiful Wrigley Field.
Once the Mets played five mid week day games in one series at Wrigley Field in 1970. The Mets unveiled Ken Singleton, and won all five games.
The Mets, within one game of .500 going into the most recent series at Chicago lost all three at night vs the Cubs.
The San Antonio Spurs won the NBA finals opener at home vs the Miami Heat. The Miami team nickname was the operative word as the game was played with no air conditioning in the arena due to a power failure.
The Spurs are (6-0) in finals openers and (5-0) at home. They are (4-1) in previous NBA finals series.
The lone Spurs finals series loss was to the Heat last year. The Heat are (1-4) in finals openers and the game one loser has won all four finals that involved the Heat.
With his usual, arrogant exaggeration, FOX Sports 1 TV and WFAN NYC Radio’s Mike Francesa said “game one means nothing.” First off it does, no matter who wins. Next the Spurs, who opened as seven to five favorites are twelve to five favorites after their game one win.
Since the so often wrong Francesa was so extreme in his statement, I feel very strongly that the game one winner, (my pick anyway, San Antonio) will win the series.
I am not retreating, but I did say the teams will split the first two games. Now anything can happen, but surely the Spurs’ chances are better up (2-0) than (1-1).
Mike Francesa: often wrong
Andy B Sports 