Weekend of Sports

What a weekend of sporting action, huh? It begs for an entry of thoughts on all the happenings.

Celtics Advance Over Cavs - I caught the entire 4th quarter of yesterday's Game 7 between Boston and Cleveland and what a treat it was. It was two teams fighting for their seasons in a nip and tuck battle that Cleveland could never quite find a way to get over the hump. It was everything right with the NBA as guys were diving, fighting and clawing to avoid going home for the summer.

Beyond all that, it was Paul Pierce vs. LeBron James in an epic duel that brought back distant memories of Bird vs. Dominique. The play of the game, beautifully broken down by Jeff Van Gundy (who continues to be my favorite color guy), was a jump ball that Paul Pierce simply wanted more than LeBron James. He boxed out the stronger LeBron and got to a ball that was tipped between two Cavaliers. It was a veteran who has played on some miserable Celtic teams out-smarting the superstar youngster and giving up his body to get on the floor after a loose ball. That play and Pierce's Dikembe-esque celebration of it that will be the lasting image of the Celtics' win.

The East looks awfully interesting now as the Celtics/Pistons series promises to be a tight one. Meanwhile, there is another Game 7 tonight between the Hornets and Spurs.

Penguins Over Flyers - I flipped over to see the score was 6-0 Penguins as they finished the Flyers in five games. The win sets up a possible Red Wings/Penguins final that is, outside of the Rangers, the perfect climax for the Stanley Cup. Sid the Kid vs. the best franchise in hockey. It isn't easy to get into hockey these days, but this series has me excited.

Big Brown Wins - I don't care about horses, but I've never seen a Triple Crown winner in my life (technically, I was about 6 months old when Affirmed won it) so I'm pulling for it. Any other thoughts on horses and I'm just B.S.ing you.

Lance Berkman - We love Chipper here at the SCSB, but he might be the second best hitter in the N.L. right now. The Big Puma is pounding the baseball right now.

After three years in Houston, I love Berkman. He is an everyday kind of guy who puts up numbers and goes about his business in a professional way. The guy used to hit tires in his backyard as a kid and you can see it in his swing. I'm working on a Clean Team of guys who clearly never took the juice and yet continued to put up numbers in the Steriod Era. Lance Berkman is my right fielder.

NFL Draft - coming in April of 2009. Mel is working on his Big Board as we speak.