With the NHL season in its final days, there is the possibility of not only all six “original teams” making the playoffs (five already have) but three first round playoff battles matching original teams.
Certain remaining regular season games will determine the first round pairings. The New York Rangers became the fifth original team to clinch a playoff spot when they came back from a (3-2) third period deficit to win at Carolina vs the Hurricanes.
The Detroit Red Wings bidding to extend their streak of making the playoffs to 22 straight seasons are in a three team battle for the two remaining spots in the NHL Western Conference.
“42” a movie about Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in major league baseball in 1947 certainly was a story worth telling. Largely, the movie was a story that dramatized what did not have to be dramatized.
First, however, the movie with a great performance by Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey, the Brooklyn Dodgers’ executive who was determined to bring a black player to the “big leagues,” did work in telling the story. It brings attention to an incredible chapter, largely bad, in this nation’s history.
As stated in the closing credits, certain events and dialogue were dramatized. That is an understatement. However, the movie showed some of what the extraordinary Jackie Robinson endured in his pioneer role.
Chadwick Boseman as Jackie and Nicole Beharie as Rachel Robinson both gave excellent performances.
It is so important that Robinson’s and other stories about what people had to be subjected to due to racial or ethnic bigotry be told.
The movie ends with baseball events that did not happen. I want to recount the incredible baseball exploits of Jackie Robinson on the last day of the 1951 regular season.
The Dodgers needed a win at Philadelphia vs the Phillies to force a playoff with the New York Giants. With the game and season on the line, Robinson made a great catch to keep the game going. Later his home run put the Dodgers ahead to stay.
The man’s place in history is assured. What a man and what courage he and his wife Rachel showed. Additionally he was a tremendous player in an historic Brooklyn Dodgers’ era that produced six pennants in Jack’s ten seasons. None of that had to be dramatized with false history.
Six of the eight NBA Preliminary series stand at two games to none in favor of the higher ranked team which played each of the first two games at home.
Three of the four series in each conference are (2-0). In the better Western Conference, the top ranked Oklahoma City Thunder, second seed, San Antonio Spurs and fourth seed, Los Angeles Clippers all have (2-0) leads vs the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies respectively. In the only (1-1) series, the Golden State Warriors, after nearly winning Game 1, upset the Denver Nuggets in game 2 at Denver.
In the Eastern Conference, the top three seeds, the defending champion and overall top seed, Miami Heat, the second seed New York Knicks and third seed Indiana Pacers all have (2-0) series leads vs the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, and Atlanta Hawks respectively. After being routed in game 1, the Chicago Bulls evened their series with the Brooklyn Nets by winning game two.
Thus the six teams leading (2-0) are huge favorites to advance while the Denver Nuggets, despite losing the home court advantage are still two and a half to one favorites to advance the quarterfinals. The Bulls vs Nets series is considered virtually even with Chicago just a six to five favorite.
With less than a week left in the shortened NHL regular season, there are still some playoff spots and divisional titles up for grabs.
Until 1967-1968, the NHL had only six teams and those teams are known as the “original six.” Recalling the old NHL fondly, the playoffs excitement is heightened when those teams are in playoff contention.
This is already a good year for those memories and teams and may be the “jackpot” year in which all six original teams qualify for the playoffs.
There will be at least four “original six” teams in the playoffs. Those are the overall top seed, Chicago Blackhawks, the Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. Additionally, the New York Rangers are likely playoff participants while the Detroit Red Wings have a chance to make it: all six in the playoffs for the first time since the 1995-1996 season!
“Four Messages,” is a thoroughly enjoyable, musical play about singer, songwriter, and actor Ned Massey.
It combines great pathos with some humor.The music with words and lyrics by Mr. Massey is excellent.
The play is nicely done and has a very good pace. Ned narrates and also plays himself. Christopher Sutton and Sarah Hund also do great work in flashbacks, playing Ned and his wife respectively.
It is Ned’s story in which he did receive four messages from God. Clearly, the story is about faith but not traditional faith. One name evoked, in fact by the first message, is legendary musical record producer, John Hammond.
I highly recommend “Four Messages” which is playing at The Studio Theater at 410 West 42nd Street. The musical play, with fine direction by Larry Loonin, runs through May 4th.
There are seven major sports league professional teams currently playing their season in the New York/New Jersey area. Only the team that did best last year, the New Jersey Devils, who made it to the NHL Finals, are out of contention this year.
Of course football is not in season and neither the Giants nor Jets made the playoffs last season.
It is very early in the baseball season but both the Yankees and Mets are playing over .500 baseball. After a (1-4) start, the Yankees have gone (9-3) and stand at (10-7). The Mets are (9-8).
The New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets opened the playoffs with home wins. It is likely that both the New York Rangers and New York Islanders will make the Stanley Cup playoffs.
For the once glorious Islanders’ franchise, which won four straight Stanley Cup Titles (1980-1983), it would be their first playoff appearance since 2007 and just their second since 2004.
NJ Devils—out of contention
It’s NBA Playoff time, and Rick’s Cabaret, at 50 West 33rd Street, is a great place to watch the games. We asked some of the lovely ladies at Rick’s Cabaret their thoughts on Basketball and other sports.
It was a pleasure to interview Tori, Sydney, and Brielle–they know their sports!
The Rick’s Cabaret Gentlemen’s Club is just a “jump shot” away from Madison Square Garden and you can watch the home town NBA teams–the NY Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets–on the club’s numerous high-def TVs.
Check out this video with the Rick’s Girls, and also check in at Rick’s Cabaret. It’s a great place with gorgeous girls and really good food. Aside from the Basketball playoffs, the Hockey playoffs start soon, and Baseball is in full swing. Rick’s Cabaret is the place to watch all the action.
Click on link:
A Sports Talk With The Rick’s Cabaret New York Girls
During the 1970’s the great Pat Summerall, who died yesterday at age 82, was working on WCBS Radio in New York as a morning sports reporter. He was promoted as “Super” Summerall. How appropriate that nickname!
Pat was a good football player, more than just a place kicker. His legendary, long field goal in adverse conditions, lifted the New York Giants into a playoff game with the Cleveland Browns for the 1958 NFL Eastern Conference title.
The Giants won that playoff game and went on to play in the most important pro football game ever, a (23-17) first ever overtime, Baltimore Colts win. Nothing against Cleveland, (I was to be a Browns’ fan) but the title game in Cleveland would not have had the same national impact as in New York and of course it likely would not have gone into overtime. It was Summerall’s incredible field goal in snow and wind that gave the Giants life.
“Super” can also apply to the fact he was the play by play announcer for the NFC network’s Super Bowl broadcasts eleven times (1975,1977,1979,1981,1983,1986,1989,1991 with CBS and in 1996, 1998 and 2001 with Fox.) His low key style was so great and also made the “slightly raised voice calls” of such plays as Matt Bahr’s NFC Title Game winning field goal in January 1991 and Adam Vinatieri’s Super Bowl winning field goal in the 2001 season so memorable.
Summerall was at his best as a toned down but superb analyst working with Ray Scott,who was the best football television play by play man in history in my not so humble but clearly informed opinion.
I met Pat only once when he talked about his book (Giants: What I Learned About Life From Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry). The person who was to interview him did not show up and “Super” as I called him, (as in “Let’s watch the otherwise meaningless morning start, Cotton Bowl because “Super” Summerall is announcing), went right into “Q and A.” Within that framework, he spent time and gave insightful, detailed answers.
He signed a copy of his book “personalizing” it to a friend appropriately, named Joe Lombardi. He wrote “You were there” as I told him that Mr. Lombardi had attended both the regular season finale and playoff wins vs the Browns in 1958. He also was at the Championship game.
Pat was friendly, informative, and talented. He was a state tennis champion, a legendary kicker and great announcer all reasons I call him “Super.”
Some random thoughts as the confluence of meaningful sports seasons approaches.
The penalty strokes assessed against “Tiger” Woods affected the “match up” proposition wager of Luke Donald vs Woods. I am not aware of all details but again let it serve as a warning about the vicissitudes of gambling.
I have not seen the episode of the new “Dallas” in which there was a funeral for the iconic, character J.R. However, I have seen most of the others and feel the show’s writers have done a good job expressing the love the family had for “J.R.,” despite many of his deeds.
Did you notice the “Richards” character (Ken) played by Lee Majors had strong romantic feelings, apparently not reciprocal, for Linda Gray’s character, the formidable and beautiful “Sue Ellen?” Remember when young Christopher Atkins also suffered unrequited love or at least heartbreak regarding Sue Ellen? His character’s name was Peter Richards.
Last year though the Oklahoma City Thunder were not the NBA West one seed, they won the West title. This year they are the one seed. Let’s see how that turns out. The NBA playoffs start Saturday.
Linda Gray
While the Miami Heat easily gained the NBA East one seed, it is noteworthy that for the first time in the 37 seasons in which they have been in the same league that both the New York Knicks (the two seed) and the Nets, now the Brooklyn Nets, will both have home-court advantage in any series in the same playoff season.
On the opening night of the season, a game between the two teams was postponed to a later date due to the consequences of Hurricane Sandy. Playing other opponents, each won their first game. Perhaps it was a sign.
The Knicks will face the Boston Celtics in the preliminary round while the Nets, likely a four seed, but still possibly a three seed, do not know their first round opponent.
The NBA regular season ends this Wednesday with the playoffs beginning next Saturday, April 20th.
Andy B Sports 