There are times when a story writes itself and such is the case with tomorrow night’s NBA game which has the Miami Heat visiting the Milwaukee Bucks.
Yesterday, the Heat made it 20 straight victories with a close win at Philadelphia vs the 76ers. Now they go to Milwaukee to face the Bucks. The 1970-1971 Bucks won 20 straight games to set a then NBA record. The 2012-2013 Bucks, who are headed for the playoffs and a likely first round battle vs the Heat, hope to end the Heat winning streak at 20. That would leave the Bucks and Heat tied for the third longest one season, NBA winning streak behind the 1971-1972 Los Angeles Lakers (33) and the 2007-2008 Houston Rockets (22).
The Heat have opened as about 6 point favorites in a rare, intriguing NBA regular season game. It certainly will be a festive atmosphere in Milwaukee and for once I say go out and enjoy the game. It actually means a bit due to historical rankings regarding the winning streaks.
My senses are heightened as it is time to look ahead. Though officially over a week away, some of spring and its positives resonates within me. Nature offers amazing beauty (yes destruction also) and I need to “catch up” in appreciating it.
Why do people screen calls? In my day I had to come to the phone and be direct even if I did not want to talk to that person.
Once in three consecutive NBA seasons, the record for consecutive games won was eclipsed. During the 1969-1970 season the New York Knicks won 18 straight games breaking the record of 17 straight held by the Boston Celtics. The next year, the Milwaukee Bucks won 20 straight games followed by the 1971-1972 Los Angeles Lakers with Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West among others winning the still record 33 straight games.
1971-1972 Los Angeles Lakers
The Miami Heat winning streak is now 18 games while after 24 games with at least one point, the Chicago Blackhawks have failed to get any in their last two games.
The Heat are huge favorites to at least make the finals in a bid to repeat as NBA Champions, but as stated so often, and with good reason, the games must be played. Nothing is certain.
The NHL season is only at roughly the halfway point and will end later than usual due to the lockout.
The NHL is usually wide open and would seem to be so this season. One big positive to me, is that all six original NHL teams would qualify for the playoffs if the season ended today. Some sense of tradition can be evoked from this look at the standings this day.
As stated here on numerous occasions, I do not think regular season college basketball matters all that much, and certainly not in determining a champion. Games are played, athletes participate, that is good but college basketball is big business. See a high school or little league game rather than college hoops regular season.
Having said that, perhaps in hypocritical fashion, I await the NCAA Tournament. Believe me, not with the anticipation it once held for me, not even in the same stratosphere.
A perception is that this year’s title is up for grabs and many teams are considered legitimate contenders. There is more talk than usual that for the first time a 16 seed will shock a regional top seed in an opening round game. We shall see what happens but I regret caring so much about this stuff and realize, perhaps too late, the error of my ways.
With each complaint and regret, perhaps an alternative suggestion for an activity would help one of you. If that occurs, I will have accomplished something. Spring is coming. Get out and go for a walk. If you are lucky enough to have someone to join you, invite them. Oh and in addition, you can always watch the last minutes of the basketball game, often the only ones that determine anything.
Little League Basketball
I expected a great deal and received even more watching Turner Classic Movies’ host Robert Osborne interview the great movie star Kim Novak.
A person I thought of as a friend is not one. The major reason is that his wife controls him beyond the point of his embarrassment whereby it hurts others such as myself. People then add his wife is not “exactly Kim Novak” either. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and Novak’s beauty helped, but it is the type of person one is that truly counts. She truly comes across as a magnificent, sensitive, animal loving one, who thankfully is happy.
She talked of her career and why she left the movie industry. There were clips of some of her most famous films such as “Picnic,” “The Man with the Golden Arm” and “Vertigo.”
She cited the power of Columbia Pictures head Harry Cohn, but also as Kim said; with dictators, there often is no one to replace them when they are gone. Columbia Pictures suffered after Cohn’s death.
Kim adored actor Jimmy Stewart and the great writer Paddy Chayefsky. She is hopeful of being greeted by them once past the “pearly gates” of heaven.
It was emotional and beautiful to watch the always classy Robert Osborne interview Kim Novak, the beautiful, fine actress. More important, she is a magnificent, feeling person.
Years back, actually just before “my time” there were double features at the movies (i.e. two movies for the price of one). I saw a “double feature” of sorts yesterday, two movies.
First, “21 and Over” which (believe me I can handle the sophomoric, the silly and nudity) was a bit exaggerated for my taste. However, the combination of regret and perhaps an ability to see what is barely shown enabled me to take a key message of friendship and time from the movie.
Next “Safe Haven” was vastly entertaining and gripping. The cast was good with Josh Duhamel of television’s “Las Vegas” fame showing some “actor chops” and of course leading man looks.
It was based on a Nicholas Sparks novel and he was also a producer on the film. While not “Message in a Bottle” good, it was very good and messages or letters figure prominently in the story.
So “Frat House”/ Animal House type humor and Nicholas Sparks type sensitivity all in a nice, double movie, temporary escape, day. “Their day,” one of double features was a better time. Movie double features, and for that matter, baseball, (even basketball doubleheaders) are among the reasons this is so.
As stated here before I do not place any real emphasis on regular season Basketball or Hockey unless it is for actual playoff qualification.
Yet there are some interesting stories in the regular seasons that are worth noting. In college basketball, Gonzaga University which has made noise in past NCAA Tournaments (the real season) is ranked first for the first time in its history. By the way, Gonzaga University is in Spokane, Washington.
Yesterday,the Chicago Black Hawks got a tying goal from Patrick Kane (in 2010 he had the Stanley Cup winning goal in overtime of game six) with just over two minutes left at Detroit vs the Red Wings. Chicago then won the game in the ridiculous shootout. The Black Hawks are now (19-0-3) while Detroit got a point for an overtime loss. I prefer ties for regular season games with no overtime and certainly no shootout.
The Miami Heat have won 14 games in a row and are virtually certain to get the best record in the NBA’s Eastern Conference. Their record is (43-14). Only the San Antonio Spurs at (47-14) have a better record.
“Family of Strangers” is a riveting play about a family’s dysfunction, a terrible event and the overtones inherent in such matters.
The play features some wonderful work and talent. I have marveled at Adam Pagdon’s work before (See “Want and Need” November 2012). In “Family of Strangers,” he gives an absorbing performance as Evan, one of two children dealing with the imminent death of their father and the aforementioned other matters that will keep you in suspense.
Director Maria Riboli, who acted in “Want and Need” and writer John Pastore are both great talents. They continue to do really compelling work.
The other three actors all gave riveting performances. It can not be easy to be in a bed onstage for 90 or so minutes playing a dying father, but Tom Cappadona gave a great performance doing so. I saw some De Niro in him, well deserved high praise indeed.
Vito Leanza performs admirably as “Doctor Rubin” who offers key advice and perspective.
I “fell” for Jessica Knutson and not just because she did incredible exercise on stage and not even because of her outward beauty. She was great as were all the actors and overall production, in playing a vulnerable but strong, realistic character.
I strongly suggest getting to Roy Arias Studios and Theaters Stage 2 at 300 West 43rd Street and seeing “Family of Strangers” as soon as possible. For tickets go to smarttix.com and search Family of Strangers.
Kudos to the 2010 Stanley Cup Champion, Chicago Blackhawks on their record breaking start to the abbreviated 48 game NHL regular season. However, it really does not mean much especially in determining who will win the 2013 Stanley Cup.
Chicago is a scintillating (17-0-3) in their first 20 games and that is virtually halfway through the 48 game season. They likely, but not definitely, will get the best record in the league for the regular season.
However, especially in hockey where so called lesser teams often pull upsets in the playoffs, especially in the first round, that top record has meant little especially as of late.
The Blackhawks are an original six NHL team with great tradition. There are statues outside their home arena of legendary Chicago players Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita. Their hot start is a good story but again will mean little come playoffs time.
Twenty years ago, the Toronto Blue Jays repeated as World Series champions. However, they have not made a postseason appearance (despite expanded playoffs) since that time.
Now the Jays are among the favorites to win this year’s World Series. I do not see it but that is why they play the games, as I have often written.
When the Blue Jays repeated, the Series ended on a home run by Joe Carter. Only one other time did the Fall Classic end on a home run and that was when Bill Mazeroski ended the 1960 World Series in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ favor vs the New York Yankees.
It is noteworthy that in the Jays’ rally to win the World Series vs Mitch Williams and the Philadelphia Phillies that Hall of Famers contributed mightily for Toronto. Rickey Henderson started the rally with a walk and Paul Molitor singled him to second with one out. Carter then homered vs Williams, who also blew a lead in game four of that series.
When Mazeroski hit the home run to win the 1960 World Series, one can notice a Hall of Fame player named Roberto, (Clemente) on the right side of the “victory celebration.” When Carter homered to win the 1993 World Series, another Hall of Fame player named Roberto (Alomar) is on the right side of the victory celebration.
Roberto Alomar
Roberto Clemente
Andy B Sports 