The last Monday in May brings warm breezes, red, white, ‘n’ blue flapping, grills sizzling, and beverages all around.
This unofficial opening to summer has roots way back to the Civil War era. Forty-two years ago President Johnson officially declared Waterloo, New York the birth place of Memorial Day – just another reason to appreciate the Empire State.
If you haven’t had the chance to visit the tiny hamlet in upstate New York, it is worth the trip. Waterloo possesses that classic Main Street U.S.A. appeal where the streets roll up every night after dark.
Upstate New York represented itself well in the recent NCAA lacrosse tournaments. Syracuse’s Orange topped Johns Hopkins in the D1 tourney. Lemoyne’s Dolphins advanced to the D2 final before bowing to New York Tech. Finally, Cortland State lost the D3 final to Salisbury of Maryland.
Monroe Community College’s baseball team, coached by Mike Kelly (the Thrilla to Clipboarders), advanced in the NJCAA D2 tourney. The Tribunes topped Western Oklahoma State Community College yesterday by an 11-2 count. The eight team tournament takes place in Millington, Tennessee. On a side note – one Danny Almonte – THE Danny Almonte played in right field for the Oklahoma nine. MCC plays this afternoon against Elgin CC or LSU-Eunice.
Clay Bucholz tossed some rehab innings for the Pawtucket Red Sox last night as they hosted the Rochester Red Wings. Last time Bucholz pitched against the Wings his next outing was a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles. You don’t suppose…nahhhhhh!!! – actually…the Sox do have a series coming up against Baltimore.
While the calendar reads only May, it is still surprising to see the AL Central with the fewest teams above .500 (the Twins won last night to draw even) – especially the Indians, who recently endured an inter-league sweep at the hands of ‘the little red engine that could’. Don’t look now Paul Byrd better get on the internet and find the Wahoos some B-12 or HGH or lidocaine or whatever it’s gonna take to get some mojo.
Stats to consider: Kobe scored 25 of 27 points in game 1 of the Western Conference finals AFTER Bruce Bowen picked up his third foul of the game.
When Ray Allen has scored 20 or more in the playoffs, the Boston Celtics are 0-3.
The Tampa Bay Rays are currently out-drawing the New York Yankees on the road by 3,000.
The Pistons are the only team with a winning road record during the NBA playoffs.
Since we now know the order of the NBA lottery, mock drafts will reign for the next month. Temptation will get the best of a few GMs.
Is flash most important? Or is it substance?
What seems like the best player, is not always the right fit for a team. Yeah Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley look great. But there’s always a Shaun Livingston or Sebastian Telfair or Dajuan Wagner or Joseph Forte or William Avery looking to cash a check before they’re ready.
Joe Smith and Jerry Stackhouse are two more prime examples of players that have never quite reached their potential. Both looked dominant in college and left after two years. Both have bounced from team to team in the NBA.
Da Bulls have some decisions to make. First, they gotta find a coach. Then they need the right fit. Rose showed flashes of brilliance playing for the Memphis Tigers. Beasley looked dominant at times in a Kansas State uniform. Can they help Chicago? Or will either one of them simply add to the immaturity of the young Bulls that was front and center again recently when Joakim Noah was arrested for drug possession?
More NBA
Can Chauncey Billups step up the way Manu Ginobili did last night? The two guards and their injuries have played a role in the conference championships. Ginobili refused to make excuses for his poor performance in games one and two and dropped thirty as the Spurs topped the Lakers in game 3. While Billups’s hamstring problems kept him on the bench in game three, rookie Rodney Stuckey looked comfortable running the Piston offense.
Props to the Celtics who showed enough resiliency to overcome a home loss to the Pistons in game two. At times the Pistons looked unstoppable. At one point late in the third and early in the fourth Detroit scored on eight of nine possessions. The Celtics had to be wondering how to stop the Pistons. The Green figured it out for game three.
Should have mentioned this a couple of weeks ago: How much satisfaction did Byron Scott get when his Hornets knocked the Mavericks from the playoffs? Especially when Jason Kidd, who had Scott run out of New Jersey, looked rather feeble against Chris Paul.
A tale of two coaches:
Couldn’t help thinking as I watched Duke play in the national lacrosse semi-finals, of Mike Pressler. The college’s former head coach stepped down in the wake of the 2006 scandal. Pressler recruited most of the guys on the field this weekend, but left when allegations were wrongfully brought upon his program.
Avram Grant learned a lesson in high expectations. After guiding Chelsea to the UEFA Champions League final Grant found himself without a job. The Blues lost in PKs to Manchester United.
Maybe USC should have as high of expectations – at least with their athletic compliance office. With news breaking of OJ Mayo receiving cash gifts, the recent history of Reggie Bush also receiving gifts, and a long list of other infractions at the University one would have to wonder how much work actually takes place in the USC compliance department.
Not that I have any interest in Arena football, have ever watched an AFL game, will ever watch an AFL game, but the New Orleans Voo Doo has gotta be one of the coolest names in all of sport.
Still wondering how Detroit earned the moniker of ‘Hockey Town’? Does all a city need is some paint to get such a title? Hockey Town? Methinks the fine people of Toronto or Montreal have earned that title. For that matter, Western New York does a better job of supporting the Sabres who have yet to win a Cup than the Wings who have won ten.
Hard to believe that for all the winning he has done, Roger Federer’s trophy case does not hold the French Open prize. I always knew clay courts could neutralize many talents.
Earlier this week the NFL announced the end of its labor agreement with the players’ union. On the same day they also announced intentions to add a 17th game to the schedule. Anyone else find this strange? Wouldn’t another game mean more labor?
Looking forward to Ed Norton as The Incredible Hulk. Can Norton be the reincarnation of Bill Bixby?
Keep the faith. And always, always take your B-12 orally.
Casey
Reynell says
What a strange coaching carousel the NBA has going on right now. D’Antoni to NY, Larry Brown to Charlotte (MJ – please just go golfing and retire), and now Doug Collins to Chicago. I don’t understand why Avery Johnson is not the hottest prospective coach. Maybe he is turning these teams down, I don’t know.
The NBA isn’t the most confusing as far as coaching changes. Casey mentioned Avram Grant getting canned by Chelsea. They did not get any trophies this season, but look where he started: Chelsea was at least 6 or 7 points behind Arsenal and Man U. when he took over. His first game was against Man U. (a Chelsea loss). Chelsea ends up surpassing Arsenal and then challenges for the EPL title. Why get rid of him? The players, especially English captain John Terry, seemed to play hard for him and liked him.
Moving over to Serie A, the Italian league. Inter Milan just won their third consecutive title (with the help of Juventus’ punishment relegation and AC Milan’s docked points last season). The manager’s reward? He was just fired. The rumors are swirling that Inter wants Jose Mourinho as their coach – I guess they think he can bring the club to European glory. Of course Mourinho was the former Chelsea coach and led them to back-to-back EPL titles in 2004 and 2005, their first in over 50 years. Before that, he led FC Porto of the Portuguise league to the Champions League title. But this is the thanks the Inter coach gets for three titles? Strange coaching decisions…
Casey says
Ah yes – well done Brother Reynell – I set the table and you provided the meal. You do a great job of keeping up with the action across the pond.
Muels says
With you on the questionable coaching dismissals, Reynell. What are your thoughts on a couple of Americans playing in England- Keller and McBride. McBride has already left- presumably for Chicago of the MLS (if they can trade for the right to claim him from Toronto). I have loved watching Brian play as hard as anyone at that level and would love to see him finish near his home. Kasey, on the other hand, is a quandry to me. He is not the same keeper as he has shown through his great career, but is it not time for him to finish up near HIS home in Washington state with the new Seattle team NEXT year? Just looking for another persective…Casey, what do you know? Time for a little soccer chatter before Euro ’08 gets started (nearly as good as the World Cup)!…
Casey says
You might enjoy this video.
https://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2008/May/McBrideSalute.aspx
Reynell says
Muels –
I’m going to miss McBride on Fulham. This past year Fulham really grew on me, especially with their final three games to avoid relegation. Of course the American players were most of the appeal for me: Keller, McBride, Dempsey, Eddie Johnson. Bocanegra (recently let go). McBride is 35 years old and has endured, as you pointed out, a beating (doesn’t he have a plate in his face?). I think Bocanegra’s release may have a little something to do with it, which makes me wonder – will Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson stick around?
I also think McBride is coming home (MLS) to retire. And probably the last place he wants to land is Toronto. But I think you hit the nail right on the head – he wants to finish his career at home and who knows, maybe he’ll play a part in making the MLS more intriguing. For Keller, it just seems like his age (38) has finally caught up with him. He seems out of his league in the EPL.
Tim Howard, current US goal kepper, is doing an amazing job at Everton, though. He’s young (29) and he continues to gain European experience with the Toffees (If you’ve ever watched an Everton game, Howard did not have much working with him on the defensive side of the pitch, other than Jolean Lescott. Josef Yobo had an absolutely atrocious season. Considering what Howard has at Everton, he’s done exceptional).
But back to the point I’m trying to make – there seems to be a correlation between the Americans’ lack of success to their clubs’ lack of success or rather, competition in European football. Think about it – Fulham has not been competing at the European level. MLS competes with club teams from Mexico, which explains the US National team’s success against Mexico. How can the US team compete on an international level if their only player gaining legitimate European competition is the goal keeper? Correction: DeMarcus Beasley did have an impressive campaign with Rangers in the UEFA Cup, and Freddy Adu has moved on to Benfica. To me, the hopes of the US Team must lie with these two young stars (Adu is 18 and Beasley 26).
Will Clint Dempsey really gain valuable experience next year? Sure he’ll play against Chelsea, Man U., and Liverpool. He won’t get their best efforts and while they are playing in Champions and UEFA, Dempsey will playing against teams from League 1 and 2 in the FA cup. I really believe this hinders his development more than it helps him, and the same goes for Keller and McBride’s time at Fulham.
Muels says
Reynell-
Thanks for the great soccer update! I have fallen behind on my European Futbol, but I now feel refreshed and revitalized just in time for Euro 2008- hope they share some of the flavor of the host cities in Austria and Switzerland (visited Salzburg and Bern of the hosts- wish Lucerne had a big enough stadium to host)
Muels says
Casey-
Thanks for the link to McBride’s farewell- love how it ended with Brian kissing his ring for his wife…
Casey says
Muels –
You haven’t seen anything yet. Stay tuned. I will be posting Reynell’s first soccer/futbol column.