The Miami Heat continued their/South Florida’s ‘offs and NCAA teams incredible post-season, (not and seemingly NEVER me) “gold mine,” by winning (plus 9) at Boston (Celtics are (4-5) at home) to take a (2-0) semis lead.
For the record, long shots, Miami U. and Florida Atlantic “backed up Brinks trucks,” reaching the national semis, before losing, the latter covering the spread in the loss.
The NHL Panthers rode NHL Hart Trophy Finalist (McDavid will win the award, but he and his Oilers are home, per Bettman’s “no Canada edict,” or maybe stellar play by Bettman (Bet is operative) backed Las Vegas, which got an overtime goal from Brett Howden (his in the first 3 minutes of overtime) to “open” Dallas at home), Matthew Tkachuk’s goal 12 seconds from a 5th overtime to lead (1-0) vs Carolina.
Florida, which won the 6th longest NHL game around 2 A.M. did so on the road, where they have won 7 in a row, including the last 3 vs the top ranked , record breaking Bruins in the first round. Maybe slightly off, but I have the odds of the Panthers and Heat winning all 5 of those “at Boston” tilts at a mind boggling, 400 to 1!!
Elsewhere, the Denver Nuggets led by Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray (he is from Canada and the NBA actually allowed the Raptors of Toronto to win the 2019 crown but of course Kawhi showed his “loyalty,” “Leonarding” to the L.A. Clippers) won the first two of a semi for the first time in their 47 year/season NBA history, doing so at home vs L.A.
Who, in addition to the great Jimmy Butler “did it” (Caleb Martin off the bench with 25 points while starter Bam Adebayo added 22) as Miami, in winning #2, leads the Celtics (2-0).
Picking up a pair of road wins, Miami is now (-175), juxtaposed with having been at least a 5 to 1 “person to person” series opening underdog.
I guess Gary Bettman has finished singing “No Canada” (30 years since a team from Canada won the crown) and tonight the NHL semis will commence.
The Carolina Hurricanes are about 7 to 5 favorites vs the Florida Panthers in both tonight’s series opening game and the “semi.”
Both teams have had extended rest, as the ‘Canes wrapped the Devils with a homeovertime win a week ago while Florida rode Nick Cousins’ OT goal at Toronto in a #5 series clincher as well.
Out West, the Dallas Stars held off second year team Seattle (Kraken) (2-1) in #7 on Monday 5/15 (Neil Freigenberg would have been 67 and not one bit interested in the games) and will face 6th year, Las Vegas (Golden Knights) starting tomorrow.
L.V. (once leagues frowned on anything to do with Vegas or gambling, now they promote it. Unbelievable greed and hypocrisy!!) is about a 7 to 5 series fave.
They won #6 to take out Canada’s last hope, Edmonton (Oilers) at “Edm,” on Sunday so it is/was 4 days off for L.V. and 3 for Dallas, whose coach Peter DeBoer is now (7-0) in #7’s but as with the team’s great veteran player, Joe Pavelski is seeking his first title.
Maybe both Don Denkinger, an excellent umpire, best remembered for a big play in game 6 of the ’85 World Series, who died at age 86 days back and I both had something to do with that series result.
I will go back to it just as I wish I could be running on the field to gather John Tudor and Tito Landrum for post-game, ABC Network interviews with the great clutch player, Reggie Jackson.
In 1974, on a key play at home plate the same Reggie Jackson in a same calendar year, slid home and was correctly and efficiently called safe by home plate umpire Denkinger.
NBC analyst, a rare one over the years, who gives us good, rather than bad, deciphered the replay and praised Jackson’s slide and Denkinger’s call.
He worked so many games in those days before replay could change calls and was one of the best at doing so.
Tudor, at one point, cited my quick rush to him, after his brilliant shutout in game 4 that gave the Cards a (3-1) lead in the I-80 World Series vs the Kansas City Royals.
Subsequently he told me not to feel bad and it was just one of many things that happened to help such Royals as their great player, George Brett, (he turned 70 yesterday), win his lone title.
One such thing was Denkinger, clearly incorrectly calling Jorge Orta safe to start the 2 run K,C, bottom 9, that transformed a 1 run deficit facing elimination, to a 7th game forcing win. Much more negative happened some St. LOuis’ fault and let’s hail Dane Iorg, who helped the Cards end a 15 year title drought in ’82, delivering a 1 out, 2 run hit that forced #7.
In September 1992, Beano Cook and I after a day of ripping the hypocrisy of Notre Dame on NBC, walked into a NYC restaurant and Beano recognized Denkinger. Now I recall his home state Iowa team was facing eventual title runner up and previous 4 titles in 9 seasons, Miami that Saturday night.
Don was truly nice to me and when I answered the phone 2 days later, early that Monday, it truly moved me that Mr. Denkinger, unlike so many over the years, proved he was raised right, calling as he said he would.
That “call” and your overall class means you will get the right call to the right place. Go easy, Mr. Denkinger.
Oh I sensed it, and now the odds against a Celts/Lakers final round clash have dropped considerably.
Each of these great franchises, one the Lakers that I once loved, the other the Celtics, who I never truly disliked raised their already stellar quarterfinal series records, with respective 6 games triumphs vs Golden State and a 6th #7 triumph vs the Sixers nee Syracuse Nationals franchise.
Many more notes will follow.
Neither of the semis opponents are pushovers, in fact the Western Conference top ranked, Nikola Jokic led Denver Nuggets are (-135) series faves (alas both Memphis and Golden State were in that range, favorites, but in each entity, L.A. prevailed in 6 games), while the Jimmy Butler led Miami Heat are a viable threat as well.
However, somewhat surprisingly Boston is roughly a 5 to 1 series fave and I think they will win,
A big reason is that I feel they will benefit from the fact that Miami (5-0) as is the case with the Nuggets and Lakers, (each 6-0), are unbeaten at home. (Almost every NBA or NHL ‘offs team loses at least one ‘offs game at home and while certainly possible, especially with as great a player as Butler on their team, I doubt Miami will win twice at Boston, as I feel that need will manifest).
As for Denver (0-4) in semis, thrice losing to the Lakers, I predict splits in the 2 at home games to start the “semi,” with both teams finally losing at home.
So Boston/Denver to clash is even, and it is 8 to 5 on what would be “Chai” for one of them (Celts and Lakers each have 17 crowns, 18 or chai if one wins this time), and a “no matter what win” for Disney/ABC if it is Celts/Lakers.
Last night, perhaps for the first time in history (you look it up and write in, thank you), NBA and NHL teams from the same city/area advanced to the semi-finals on the same night.
First the NBA Heat (-6) won by 4, to “6” the Knicks, and will meet tomorrow’s CeltsSixers winner in the semis. (Celts are (-7) in another Sunday afternoon at Boston #7 vs Philly, this one tomorrow at 3:30)
Last season Boston 7’d the Heat in the semis before losing to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA final. (Last night the Lakers ripped G.S. to win their “qtr” in 6, a 7th straight series win for the Lakers vs the Warriors and handing the classy, good man, excellent coach, Seve Kerr his first Western Conference ‘offs series defeat).
Meanwhile Nick Cousins (I still have cousins in Florida, one being 100 plus years old, Harold Lovins) scored in overtime, lifting the Panthers (3-2) at Toronto in #5, to “5” the Leafs and now will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL “semis.”
While both NHL Western Conference “semis”/NHL quarterfinal series are tied (2-2), with the Las Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars returning to home ice for #5 and #7 if necessary, vs the Edmonton Oilers and second year, Seattle Kraken respectively, both the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers have (3-1) series leads in their Eastern Conference “semis”/NHL “qtrs.”
Carolina “titled” in ’06, ten years after the Panthers were swept by the Colorado Avalanche in the ’96 final and 4 years after Detroit won 4 straight after dropping the series opener to “5” “Car” and give coach Scotty Bowman, his record breaking 9th title, breaking a record he shared with his mentor, the legendary Hector “Toe” Blake.
The Panthers have won 5 straight road games after losing in their first ‘offs game at Boston and won 3 at Boston to eliminate the top ranked record breaking Bruins (I warned of it here) and then the first two at Toronto (Maple Leafs). “Fla” is (2-3) in home tilts so far in these ‘offs.
On Paul Stastny’s “sharp angle” overtime, road, goal in #6, Carolina 6’d the Islanders, having won #’s 1 and 2 at home and #’s 4 and 6 on the road.
Through 4 games it is the same “Car. in #’s 1 and 2 at home, 4 on the road,” vs the New Jersey Devils, who had raised their game 7 vs the Rangers record to (1-2) (all home team wins), in the first round.
Current ‘Canes coach, Rod Brind’Amour, pictured above was the captain on the ’06 title team.
His son Skyler an Edmonton draft pick was on this season’s NCAA champion Quinniapac team.
Carolina won its title vs Edmonton in ’06.
“L”ikely, the “L”os Angeles “L”akers will advance to the franchise’s 42nd semi-final round, (they have a superb (32-9) record in such, (6-4) while in Minneapolis thus an even better, incredible (26-5) as L.A.) this still not certain, but again likely (they are 4 plus to 1 “faves” to do so) after “L”onnie Walker (who?) scored 15 4th quarter points leading L.A. more or less on the #, though late GS $ meant L.A. (-2) thus they covered, (104-101) vs defending champion Golden State to take a (3-1) “Qtrs” series lead.
The Lakers who have won 6 straight ‘offs series vs the Warriors and also a “play in” nonsense are (6-1) vs them all as L.A. with the lone Warriors’ triumph coming in a best of 5, three game sweep in ’67.
L.A. is an also great (36-12) in previous “quarters,” going (9-1) in 10 best of 3 such entities while located in “Minne.”
If L.A. faces Denver, they will have won 7 straight and 7 of 8 all-time vs the Warriors and would go in (3-0) in “previous” vs the Nuggets in semis.
Now if it is L.A./Boston for Silver and Disney, not me, but why fight it?–it is the Celts with at least the history, (9-3) vs the Lakers all in final round play.
Now if it was Larry and Earvin, pictured above, it might be worth the hype.
The cold, hard reality of (even my) habitual looks, with ubiquitous phones and the seemingly inevitable harsh news, often death, struck again, as that was how I learned/saw that the great pitcher and truly cool guy, Vida Blue (maybe I can still decipher his writing “Remember the Firebird,”– I had a ’72 version, bought not by me in ’76) had died, far too young at age 73.
Oh “73” as in 1973, when Vida and the Oakland Athletics made it two straight World Series wins, eventually three, topping previous long, essentially forgotten, great Philadelphia Athletics’ accomplishments (3 straight pennants beating out Ruth/Gehrig Yankees’ teams ’29-’31 and winning it all in ’29 and ’30 and 4 pennants in 5 seasons, titles in 1910, 1911 and 1913 from 1910-1914, the “Miracle” Boston Braves swept them in 1914).
Blue, who had many great post-season moments for Oakland (some bad ones also) pitched a brilliant 2 hit shutout in game 3/1974 ALCS at Baltimore, giving the A’s a (2-1) ALCS lead in what was a best of 5 series.
I go back to September 21, 1970 when Blue, still months away from what would be a superb 1971 season, hurled a no hit game vs the soon to clinch the “div,” Minnesota Twins.
Vida had so many great moments in helping the great A’s (only the Yankees and Canadiens twice each and Celtics ever topped their feat of 3 straight crowns) and later pitched well for the contending 1978 S.F. Giants.
A highlight, probably “The,” for Blue was when he relieved another “Blue,” (John “Blue Moon” Odom) and hurled 4 scoreless innings as Oakland held a (2-1) lead and won by that score in #5 ’72 ALCS, giving the Athletics their first pennant in 41 years.
It was when Vida was with the ’85 or ’86 Giants that I saw him working for ABC, at Shea Stadium.
At the time, I mentioned we had talked via phone in 1976 when I told him about the Firebird.
He signed a baseball “Remember the firebird.”
I will remember you Vida Blue as a pitching great and a cool, nice man.
Wish it was years down the road, but good luck pitching in heaven in the near future. On class and people skills, alone, you made it but far too soon.
Click below for a 2021 post regarding a great LCS won by the A’s in the maximum 5 games vs the Detroit Tigers.
- The 1972 ALCS Was A Classic on August 4, 2021
Vida Blue, pictured above.
After Philly’s game 1 win, (not cashed, 2nd and 3rd in the Derby, on this the exact 51st anniversary of “my” Lakers’ ’72 crown-d not mind Charles but that royalty “ain’t” for me–phone yields no longer my L.A. ripped GS, ko’d my schmeaze and under on national over air TV, so much for “Hello Klay Thompson” and the Currys) Harlan, likely from his producer, noted it was the first Sixers’ ‘opening game/at Boston ‘offs win since 1981.
He did not cite the fact that the Celtics won that dramatic “semi/virtual final” in 7 games.
It is one of only 4 times in the NBA record 21 ‘offs series clashes between the Celts and Sixers nee Syracuse Nationals that the game 1 losing team won the series.
The Sixers returned the favor the next season, 1982 and had done so in 1977.
The franchise as Syracuse also won the series after losing game 1, doing so in 1956 in a best of 3 series. At that point the Nationals had won 3 of 4 ‘offs series vs the Celtics.
They also won a round robin event that gave them home court advantage vs Boston in 1954, before beating the Celtics in a subsequent series.
Boston leads the ‘offs series having won two thirds (14) of the 21 clashes.
Philly won in ’67, ’77,’80 and ’82.
Syracuse won from (’54-’56), winning its lone title as the Nationals in ’55.
Philly went on to win the ’67 crown.
Boston won vs Syracuse in ’53, ’57, ’59,’61, thus were (4-3) in series (4-4) counting the round robin and went on to titles in ’57,’59 and ’61.
The Celtics are (10-3) in series vs Philly, winning in eventual title seasons (’65,’66,’68,’69 and ’81) as well as in ’85, 2002, 2012, 2018 and 2020.
Boston and Denver with home advantage vs Philly and Phoenix respectively, and above cited L.A. and the Heat, the b.s. “bubble” 2020 final round opponents, sans it vs G.State and the Knicks respectively, lead their “quarters” (2-1).
I am way too old for this!!
Five Years and 13 (Wilt, pictured above wore it) days apart in same calendar as this years 1967 and 1972, Wilt Chamberlain led two of the greatest teams ever, in any sport to title clinching win.
His team, the (68-13) Philly 76ers titled vs the great Rick Barry and the then and now S.F. based Warriors on April 24th and the Lakers won it vs a Knicks’ team, that made 6 straight semis (’69-’74), winning titles in ’70 and ’73, exactly 51 years ago tonight on Sunday May 7, 1972.
NEW YORK — Hoops Cabaret in New York City (48 West 33rd Street), featuring dozens of sexy Hoops exotic dancers, and hailed as “the world’s sexiest sports bar,” will show the Boxing Lightweight Championship “Checkmate” pay-per-view event live on Saturday, May 20.
Devin Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) will be defending his undisputed lightweight championship in arguably the toughest test of his career against more accomplished two-time Olympic gold medalist and former three-division world champion Vasiy Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs).
The 35-year-old Lomachenko admits that this is his “last chance” to try and become the undisputed champ. If he loses to Haney, he won’t be given a second shot, as Devin will likely face Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis next and, if not him, Shakur Stevenson.
“I made history by becoming the youngest undisputed champion. The real champ,” said Devin Haney. “I think Loma never fought nobody like me. I’m going to run over him.”
At Hoops Cabaret, fans can view the exciting matches on the club’s giant Mega-Tron Video Wall and numerous HD TVs and flat screens, giving every seat a clear view of all the action.
Hoops Cabaret combines the fun of a sports bar with the excitement of a gentlemen’s club. Be sure to check out the beautiful Hoops Girls on stage and visit the club’s VIP Man Cave. There are also food and drink specials.
HOOPS CABARET and Sports Bar, next door to the world famous Rick’s Cabaret NYC
Andy B Sports 