This, the day after Sunday’s 8 ‘offs games results yielded 7 victories by both the series leading and road team, only 2 of the 14 series that have completed 4 games, (none in the NHL) stand at 2 games apiece.
Two series (one with the top ranked Boston Celtics leading the Miami Heat and the defending champion Las Vegas Golden Knights ahead of the West top seed, Dallas Stars) are at (2-1).
Only the L.A. Clippers, who actually dissipated a 31 point lead, among the 8 series trailing teams in action yesterday, won and their series vs the Dallas Mavericks, joins the “all home thus far,” Cleveland Cavaliers/Orlando Magic encounter, as the only two (2-2) first round series.
Both the top Ranked New York Rangers and NBA West 3 seed, Minnesota Timberwolves completed 4 game sweeps winning on the road at Washington (Capitals) and terribly disappointing Phoenix (Suns).
Elsewhere the New York Knicks (at Philadelphia 76ers), Indiana Pacers (the lone 4/28 home win, it vs the still Giannis Antetokounmpo less Milwaukee Bucks) NHL Colorado Avalanche (at Winnipeg), Vancouver Canucks (a rare citing of individual details but I do so regarding Elias Lindholm’s OT winner in #4 taking a beautiful pass from Conor Garland and Brock Boeser had the “hat trick”) and Edmonton Oilers in a highly unlikely (1-0) tilt at L.A. vs the Kings, all took seemingly commanding 3 games to 1, first round series advantages.
Jalen Brunson, pictured above, broke Bernard King’s 40 year old Knicks’ team record for points in an ‘offs game, hitting for 47, one more than the total achieved twice by King in the ’82 playoffs.
It did not take long after the first 6 NHL ‘offs games went to the home team for the seemingly inevitable “every team loses at least once at home” maxim to manifest.
The “maxim” has now already “claimed” nearly three quarters (11) of the 16 playoff qualifying teams in just 23 games.
After the aforementioned (0-6) start, the road team is (12-5) in these ‘offs with 6 of the 7 lower seeded game 3 home teams losing in #3. At one point the road team was just (2-10), however a current (10-1) run has them at (12-11).
In ’70 and ’72 the Boston Bruins won the title (they have won one in the 50 completed NHL seasons since then) going (7-0) at home in ’70 and (6-2) in ’72. They are the only current East Conference, series leader that has a home loss.
The top ranked New York Rangers, plurality Cup favorite Carolina Hurricanes, last year’s league runner up Florida (Panthers) and the last 2 title winners, 2022 champion Colorado (Avalanche) and defending title holder Las Vegas (Golden Knights) are the five teams without a home loss.
The three East teams cited above, the Rangers, Hurricanes and Panthers have (3-0) first round series leads while Colorado won #3 at home (the only lower seed to do so) vs Winnipeg (Jets) to take a (2-1) series lead.
Defending champion, but West “8” seed, Las Vegas plays their first home tilt tonight, after two wins at Dallas, vs the league overall “2” seed, Dallas Stars.
The defending champion, Las Vegas Golden Knights taking some pages from last year’s title run, won both at Dallas games and lead the Western Conference top seed, Dallas Stars two games to none in their round of 16 series.
In last season’s, game 5, title clincher vs the Florida Panthers, ( this season Fla. won both home games vs the Tampa Bay Lightning and also are up (2-0), as are the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes), a great player and inspiration Mark Stone opened the goal scoring.
Monday night past he did “same” and “L.V.” was on its way.
Also in last season’s ‘offs, Las Vegas took a commanding (3-0) semi-final series lead vs the Stars, eventually, winning the series in 6 games.
Mark Stone, pictured above.
Two nights back, Monday into Tuesday, I tuned into “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” on MeTV and thoroughly enjoyed a Robert Stevens directed episode starring the great actor/actress (with names I believe call people what they want to be called), Jessica Tandy.
The following episode (1:35-2:05) starred another great actor, Hume Cronyn, who was married to Ms. Tandy for 52 years until her death. I enjoyed it as well, but honesty compels me to state, I opted for sleep halfway through, as a function of being tired, not as “editorial comment” regarding the episode.
A most noteworthy foretelling scene was in Tandy’s episode, titled “The Yellow Canary Sedan,” as she is on camera for significant minutes even in the likely highly “chopped” aired event, sitting in the back of the car, being driven by a chauffeur, in this case named “Chang” (played by Weaver Levy), as she is in busy, bustling, heavily populated Hong Kong, in the 1958 episode.
Certainly, among Jessica Tandy’s most famous roles and not so arguably her best known, is her turn being driven by a Morgan Freeman played driver, in “Driving Miss Daisy,” some 31 years later.
The great Jessica Tandy is pictured above.
It has been an incredible run of success for the home teams, certainly in the NBA ‘offs (11-0) and (8-3) ATS with the NHL mark at (8-2).
I “warn” it will change a bit, having done so a bit last night with 2 NHL road team victories and two losing road teams at least losing by less than perceived, in fact as was the case in Caroliona/Isles NHL, doing so in a heartbreaking manner.
The defending champion Denver Nuggets, who overcame a 20 point deficit and beat the L.A. Lakers when “Jam” Murray hit “tied” at the buzzer, and New York Knicks, (they miraculously overcame a 5 point deficit in the last half minute and rode Donte DiVincenzo’s “last points,” decisive, second chance “3” to a 1 point win) each have (2-0) “held serve,” round of 16 series leads vs L.A. (Lakers) and Philly (76ers) respectively.
Powerful Carolina (Hurricanes) came from nowhere, down (3-0) at one point, and scored an incredible 3 goals in the last 2:45 or so, to (5-3) the New York Islanders for a (2-0) round of 16 series lead.
It is still early, however, very likely, there will be a 2022 quarterfinal series redux, contested between the top ranked New York Rangers and the third ranked and actual plurality Cup favorites, Carolina Hurricanes.
The Rangers won game 7 of that series, easing (6-2) at Carolina.
I saw a terrific musical by playwright Cornell Christianson and truly liked it. Now Cornell has a new musical “Marilyn Exposed,” opening soon Off Broadway which features the iconic Yankees’ great, Joe DiMaggio.
The public uproar manifesting from Marilyn Monroe’s nude photo that ended up in Playboy, Fox Studio set her up on a date with Mr. Clean, Joe DiMaggio, who had just retired from baseball.
I cite a great scene in the play in which “Joe D” (by the way more proud of 9 World Series wins in 10 World Series appearances as ought to be the case), asks Marilyn what she had on in the nude photo. She answers “the radio.”
Other great moments ensue, one with Joe and Marilyn when she is in a mental institution and another, one that brought tears all around when at the dramatic moment of Ms. Monroe’s funeral, DiMaggio sings “I’ll Bring You Flowers,” which real life “tells” us he did.
This is yet another truly entertaining show via Cornell Christianson with big musical numbers in five of the first seven songs.
That is not quite 9 of 10, but one great “batting” average.
Stay with Andybsports.com as we will update dates, theatre location and even give a code for a reduced Telecharge ticket(s) price. Can’t wait!
The Stanley Cup Playoffs commence with two round of 16 games today, (the East overall 7th ranked Islanders at the overall conference “2,” but also Metropolitan Division “2,” behind the top ranked New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, followed by another Toronto (Maple Leafs)/Boston (Bruins) ‘offs clash.
Boston, fourth overall in the Eastern Conference and second to Florida in the Atlantic Division, has won the last 6 ‘offs meetings vs Toronto.
Three original 6 teams, all cited above (the Rangers, Bruins and Leafs) qualified for the ’24 ‘offs with Detroit (Red Wings) despite battling gallantly and essentially out, because “Wash” (Capitals) was afforded an empty net opportunity vs Philly, due to the latter’s ‘offs qualifying situation, Chicago (Black Hawks) and Montreal (Canadiens) missing out.
Numbers “nuttiness”–the last digit of the last year an “original” team skated/won the Stanley Cup has (1-5) and 7. Boston 2011, Detroit 2002, Montreal 1993, New York 1994 and Chicago 2015. Toronto has neither won the title or reached an NHL final since 1967.
Before that, the Leafs won 4 crowns in 6 seasons (’62-’64) and ’67.
Four other 2024 ‘offs qualifying teams give us #’s 0, 6, 8 and 9 for last digits in their last or in 3 of the 4 cases, only title.
Those teams are Edmonton (Oilers) in 1990, who won their 5th title in 7 seasons, putting them in rare, great air, however, have none since and Carolina (2006), Washington (Capitals) 2018 and the West top seed, Dallas Stars (1999).
The great player, Mark Messier, pictured above was a key, if not the most important member of both the ’90 champion Oilers and ’94 Cup winning Rangers.
Additionally he played on 4 other title teams with the Oilers.
NEW YORK CITY— Rick’s Cabaret New York is the famous adult club known for its beautiful topless dancers, VIP treatment, and the delicious food at its Rick’s Steakhouse. The three story club is a favorite spot for pro athletes from all the major sports, and their fans. The Rick’s girls are excited about the NHL playoffs and will be rooting for their hometown teams, the Rangers and the Islanders.
“The pursuit of the Stanley Cup is awesome, and all the girls love hockey,” purred Rick’s Girl Nadia. We love the players and the fans, and they all love us. Rick’s Cabaret New York is really Hockey Playoff headquarters!”
“Rick’s Cabaret is a great place to watch the games and then stay for the after-parties,” proclaimed Rick’s Girl Monique. “We are just one block from Madison Square Garden. Come party and play with all the sexy girls here!”
“Let’s get the celebration started and pop some bottles, and make it rain on all the hotties who are anxious to please you with their great bodies.”
The Rick’s Cabaret girls perform on multiple stages, and also up close and personal. Check out the luxury VIP suites, deluxe Skyboxes, and the Roof Top Lounge. The top-rated Rick’s Steakhouse which is under the direction of acclaimed Chef Jayson Margulies, offers daily lunch specials, dinner, and great late-night dining.
Rick’s Cabaret New York
50 West 33rd Street
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Daily Lunch Specials
The last two of the 8 NBA first round matchups will be finalized in two games tonight, with the first round commencing, as I believe to be the case since ’99 (certainly then, when I updated the Saturday May 8th–strike affected ’99 season, Knicks/Heat opening game score for the late great Christopher Reeve, the fact he was sitting in a wheelchair lending perspective we all need), with 4 games each on both Saturday and Sunday.
Noting some history regarding the NBA Eastern Conference “2” seed New York Knicks vs the “7” seed, Philadelphia 76ers first round series, which begins with game 1 in New York at 6 P.M. tomorrow night.
New York and the Boston Celtics, the latter an actual favorite to win the NBA East, (beware stranger things have happened, who await tonight’s Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat “play in” game winner), are the only NBA teams that have played in all 78 of its seasons (’47-2024).
The current Philadelphia franchise, which played in the rival N.B.L. in its first 3 seasons, (’47-’49), has played in 75 NBA seasons, the first 14 as the Syracuse Nationals (’50-63) when they qualified for the NBA playoffs in their first 22 seasons (’50-’71), tying the San Antonio Spurs for the most such seasons.
This will be the fifth Sixers/Knicks playoffs series and the ninth between the franchises as the Knicks and Nationals had ‘offs clashes in the first three possible seasons (’50-’52) and one more in ’59. (The Nats won a best of 3 semi (2-1) in ’50 and a best of 3 “quarter” (2-0) in ’59 while the Knicks took best of 5 “semis” (3-2) in ’51 and (3-1) in ’52).
The last three series contested between these teams resulted in sweeps, the Sixers sweeping the Knicks in 4 straight games in both the ’78 and ’83 “quarters,” the latter in route to their second Philly crown in ’83 (they won one as the Nationals that with the great Dolph Schayes in 1955).
New York swept the 76ers in 3 straight games in the ’89 preliminary round.
By far, the most compelling Sixers/Knicks series, the lone non sweep, was Philadelphia’s 6 game triumph in the 1968 quarterfinals.
Game 3 in Philly where all odd numbered games were or would have been played and the series tied at one game apiece, was a two overtime 76ers win.
It was a costly win, as the 76ers’ great “6th man,” Billy Cunningham (the ’83 team’s coach) was lost for the rest of the ‘offs.
The Sixers were defending champions, having finished a (68-13), ’66-’67 season with a crown, one of 2 won by the great Wilt Chamberlain. They had an excellent ’67-’68 season “reg,” finishing with a (62-20) record.
However, the Boston Celtics overcame a (3-1) semis series deficit vs them and went on to their 10th title in 12 seasons, eventually to be 11 in 13, with the last of that incredible Bill Russell/Sam Jones and other greats era, coming vs the Lakers and their off-season acquisition, Wilt Chamberlain in ’68-’69.
A truly great player, Billy Cunningham, is pictured above.
Though, sadly, it is far too often the case–obviously it is not ONLY the good that die young, the truly good Carl Erskine living full and with nice achievements until 97, before he died days back, the latest example.
He was quite a pitcher as well, authoring 2 no-hit games and famously fanning 14 in #3 of the ’53 World Series, breaking Howard Ehmke’s 24 year old record. (10 and 5 after, as Sandy Koufax broke Erskine’s mark with 15 in ’63 before Bob Gibson struck out 17 in ’68).
’53 was a 20 win season,’54 brought an All-Star Game selection (that game meant something even, “mucho” then), and a Brooklyn street is named for Carl Erskine.
He was awarded the Buck O’Neil Award Lifetime Achievement Award for his charitable work, most notably in supporting The Special Olympics.
Mr. Erskine and his surviving wife, Betty Palmer (classy, nice and attractive, as was game show great, Betsy Palmer) had 4 children, one, Jimmy, who died in his 60’s and achieved much, as the Erskines stayed in Anderson, Indiana, a location they felt was better for Jimmy, who was born with Down’s Syndrome.
On the “express line” to heaven (no baggage check or need to go through security), Carl Erskine, is pictured above.
Andy B Sports 