...while the countdown continues towards the start of tonight's Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
Let's satisfy the numerologists out there right from the start with these two number-related facts: Today is 6/17, which converts into Game 6 being played on the 17th of June, and a Celtics win tonight would be there - 17th NBA title. June 17 is always the birthday of Grady Rivers, the father of Celtics coach Doc Rivers. Grady passed away last November, and it would be fitting for the Celtics to win the title on the birthday of their head coach (though the same thing was said about Sunday - it would have been nice for the C's to win on Father's Day for their coach).
If the Lakers win this evening, would we looking at possible payback from the Sports Gods for the Red Sox coming back from a 3-0 deficit in the 2004 ALCS (which has never been accomplished in any sport) and a 3-1 deficit in the 2007 ALCS? The Lakers are attempting to come back from a 3-1 series deficit which has never occured in NBA finals history.
This would be payback in the same way that the Patriots got in failing to win Super Bowl 42. A team led by an offense that put up the best season in NFL history, with a good, bend-but-don't break defense taking on an opponent that no one thought had a chance to win. An underdog opponent, who by the way played the favorites tough in an earlier matchup during the regular season. That scenario sure sounds a lot like how people were looking at the Rams-Patriots Super Bowl 36 matchup.
In surfing the web the past couple of days, and watching the end of the Game 5 broadcast, it's very strange seeing no one giving LA a shot to win this evening. It could happen, as this very well could be the game that Kobe plays like the 2008 MVP and the Lakers steal a game at the Garden to tie the series.
If the Lakers win tonight, they will win the series.
I'm moving the usual YouTube Tuesday post from Tuesday to Wednesday this week to see if the theme of this week's YouTube posting will be Title 17 for Boston or something different.
If Boston wins tonight, expect to see more of these type of videos on Wednesday.
If not, expect to see more of these type of videos, which will sum up the feeling of Boston Celtics fans heading into a Game 7.
http://view.break.com/519904 - Watch more free videos
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Random Thoughts, Sights, and Sounds - A Potpourri of Knowledge
The weekly Random Thoughts posting isn't going to be so Random today, as there will be a thread that binds all the thoughts together. That thread is memorable playoff performances.
Spurred on by the momentous comeback of the Boston Celtics over the Lakers on Thursday, and the constant beating over the head by Messrs Ryan, Shaughnessy and Massarotti about how fortunate we are in being Boston sports fans right now (by the way guys, we get it, we know how lucky we are, so stop telling us), I've decided to list some of the more memorable playoff performances we've seen over the past few years.
Any discussion of memorable Boston playoff performances in the 21st century will begin with this one.
The Snow Bowl game: Adam Vinateri's 46-yard field goal to send the game against Oakland into overtime, and his subsequent game winner, with Lonnie Paxton's snow angel performance on of the memorable images.
Super Bowl 36: Tom Brady's version of 'The Drive' in the final 1:21 led to Vinateri's 49-yard game winner as time expired. Lasting image of this game: Brady slapping Drew Bledsoe on the shoulder pads and screaming 'We Did It'.
2004 ALCS Game 6: The Bloody Sock game. Curt Schilling battles through a right ankle injury so bad his tendons were held together with super glue and duct tape to pitch 7 strong innings. Alex Rodriguez takes a girly slap at Bronson Arroyo in the eighth inning and the Red Sox hold on to force Game 7.
2004 ALCS Game 4: Schilling's heroics in Game 6 wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for 'The Steal' by Dave Roberts in the ninth inning and scoring the tying run off Mariano Rivera and Big Papi's walkoff homer in extra innings.
2008 NBA Finals Game 4: The Boston Celtics pull off the greatest comeback in NBA finals history (no team had ever trailed by as much, 21 points, at the end of the first quarter, as they did) against Los Angeles. They added to their degree of difficulty by doing it on the road. The funny thing is, as I was watching the game, I wasn't anxious or nervous about the Celtics' ability to be able to come back and win the game.
2004 ALCS Game 5: Pedro's last start at Fenway in a Red Sox uniform was a win turned into a win for Boston, as they overcame a 5-3, 8th inning deficit to win the game in extra innings on a walk off single by Big Papi.
2007 ALCS Game 5: Josh Beckett proves again how clutch he is in the postseason by dominating the Cleveland Indians, and overcoming the distraction of his ex-girlfriend signing the National Anthem (nice try, Cleveland) to keep the Red Sox alive in the series.
2004 World Series Game 4: I don't know if you've heard but the Red Sox win in Game 4 gave them their first World Series title in 86 years.
Super Bowl 38: Another Patriots Super Bowl win on a last-second field goal by Vinateri. Ho-Hum.
2007 World Series Game 4: For the second time in three years the Red Sox sweep the World Series from an inferior National League foe. They are the first team to win more than one world title in the 21st century. H0-Hum.
Honorable Mention: Pats win Super Bowl 39 (third title in four years). The Celtics win in Game 3 of the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals against New Jersey (overcame a 24-point fourth quarter deficit). Pedro shuts down Cleveland in Game 5 of the 1999 ALDS. as the Sox overcame a 2-0 series deficit to win 3 games to 2 (Yes, I know it happened in the 20th century, but Pedro was so dominate it had to be included).
And there are plenty of other Red Sox and Patriots performances that can be included in this list. The Pats-Colts playoff games, The Red Sox series against Oakland in 2003 and 2004. Pedro throwing Zimmer to the ground.
What are some of your memorable playoff contests in the past few years?
Also, Happy Father's day to all the Dad's (including me) out there.
Spurred on by the momentous comeback of the Boston Celtics over the Lakers on Thursday, and the constant beating over the head by Messrs Ryan, Shaughnessy and Massarotti about how fortunate we are in being Boston sports fans right now (by the way guys, we get it, we know how lucky we are, so stop telling us), I've decided to list some of the more memorable playoff performances we've seen over the past few years.
Any discussion of memorable Boston playoff performances in the 21st century will begin with this one.
The Snow Bowl game: Adam Vinateri's 46-yard field goal to send the game against Oakland into overtime, and his subsequent game winner, with Lonnie Paxton's snow angel performance on of the memorable images.
Super Bowl 36: Tom Brady's version of 'The Drive' in the final 1:21 led to Vinateri's 49-yard game winner as time expired. Lasting image of this game: Brady slapping Drew Bledsoe on the shoulder pads and screaming 'We Did It'.
2004 ALCS Game 6: The Bloody Sock game. Curt Schilling battles through a right ankle injury so bad his tendons were held together with super glue and duct tape to pitch 7 strong innings. Alex Rodriguez takes a girly slap at Bronson Arroyo in the eighth inning and the Red Sox hold on to force Game 7.
2004 ALCS Game 4: Schilling's heroics in Game 6 wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for 'The Steal' by Dave Roberts in the ninth inning and scoring the tying run off Mariano Rivera and Big Papi's walkoff homer in extra innings.
2008 NBA Finals Game 4: The Boston Celtics pull off the greatest comeback in NBA finals history (no team had ever trailed by as much, 21 points, at the end of the first quarter, as they did) against Los Angeles. They added to their degree of difficulty by doing it on the road. The funny thing is, as I was watching the game, I wasn't anxious or nervous about the Celtics' ability to be able to come back and win the game.
2004 ALCS Game 5: Pedro's last start at Fenway in a Red Sox uniform was a win turned into a win for Boston, as they overcame a 5-3, 8th inning deficit to win the game in extra innings on a walk off single by Big Papi.
2007 ALCS Game 5: Josh Beckett proves again how clutch he is in the postseason by dominating the Cleveland Indians, and overcoming the distraction of his ex-girlfriend signing the National Anthem (nice try, Cleveland) to keep the Red Sox alive in the series.
2004 World Series Game 4: I don't know if you've heard but the Red Sox win in Game 4 gave them their first World Series title in 86 years.
Super Bowl 38: Another Patriots Super Bowl win on a last-second field goal by Vinateri. Ho-Hum.
2007 World Series Game 4: For the second time in three years the Red Sox sweep the World Series from an inferior National League foe. They are the first team to win more than one world title in the 21st century. H0-Hum.
Honorable Mention: Pats win Super Bowl 39 (third title in four years). The Celtics win in Game 3 of the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals against New Jersey (overcame a 24-point fourth quarter deficit). Pedro shuts down Cleveland in Game 5 of the 1999 ALDS. as the Sox overcame a 2-0 series deficit to win 3 games to 2 (Yes, I know it happened in the 20th century, but Pedro was so dominate it had to be included).
And there are plenty of other Red Sox and Patriots performances that can be included in this list. The Pats-Colts playoff games, The Red Sox series against Oakland in 2003 and 2004. Pedro throwing Zimmer to the ground.
What are some of your memorable playoff contests in the past few years?
Also, Happy Father's day to all the Dad's (including me) out there.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Work Hazard
Yes, I know there yes been a dearth of entries this past week (I was at a work conference for the majority of the week), but we're back and today we're sliding 'YouTube Tuesday' over to Thursday.
So, today's theme for 'YouTube Thursday' are hazards at work. It's a certainty that there's a high level of risk in some professions, such as policeman, fireman, construction worker, etc., but who would have thought that those who sell cars or do fluff pieces for morning news broadcasts are risking their lives on a day-to-day basis.
This car commercial was pretty entertaining with the whole 'Top Gun' Theme even before tragedy strikes. Then it's off-the-hook hilarious. "Keep it Rollin"
This stupid general assignment news reporter (woman on the left) will eventually show us what happens when you attempt to cheat in a competition of squashing grapes. Oooh, ohhh, ohhh, aww, aww, aww, aww. I can't breathe. The majority of newscasters are stupid people. Take note of the two stiffs who appear at the 1:08 mark. If it's not scripted for them and put up on a teleprompter they have no idea how to function. I truly believe that they would pull a Ron Burgundy and read, "Go Fuck Yourself, San Diego" if someone put it in front of them.
So, today's theme for 'YouTube Thursday' are hazards at work. It's a certainty that there's a high level of risk in some professions, such as policeman, fireman, construction worker, etc., but who would have thought that those who sell cars or do fluff pieces for morning news broadcasts are risking their lives on a day-to-day basis.
This car commercial was pretty entertaining with the whole 'Top Gun' Theme even before tragedy strikes. Then it's off-the-hook hilarious. "Keep it Rollin"
This stupid general assignment news reporter (woman on the left) will eventually show us what happens when you attempt to cheat in a competition of squashing grapes. Oooh, ohhh, ohhh, aww, aww, aww, aww. I can't breathe. The majority of newscasters are stupid people. Take note of the two stiffs who appear at the 1:08 mark. If it's not scripted for them and put up on a teleprompter they have no idea how to function. I truly believe that they would pull a Ron Burgundy and read, "Go Fuck Yourself, San Diego" if someone put it in front of them.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Random Thoughts, Sights, and Sounds - A Potpourri of Knowledge
There was so much going on in the world of Boston Sports on Thursday with the Red Sox-Rays battle for first place in the AL East and Game 1 Celtics-Lakers NBA finals to fill up the Random Thoughts, Sights and Sounds post for this week. There were enough sights and sounds to give us enough to talk about for a while.
From the Red Sox-Rays game:
You had the Coco brawl with James Shields. While Dioner Novarro held Coco down Jonny Gomes and Carl Crawford spent their time in the pile taking swings at Coco. Seeing Coco run out to the mound as quickly as he did goes to show that he's not planning to sleepwalk thru the entire season after losing his starting job to Jacoby Ellsbury.
I love the Tampa player at the 32-second mark trying feverishly to get his shoe back on so he can get back into the fray.
Who knew Manny had the ability and the makeup to get angry?
Jacoby injuring his wrist and having to leave the game. Players on the Red Sox are dropping like flies, like my fantasy baseball team (which lost another player to the DL- Carlos Pena). The Sox have put nine players on the DL so far this year, Beckett, Schilling, Dice-K, Buchholz, Ortiz, Brandon Moss, Alex Cora, Sean Casey, Mike Lowell. Various players have had smaller nagging injuries (Jacoby, Manny, J.D. Drew, Okijima).
Whew!!! Now we can talk about the Celtics and their Game 1 battle with the Lakers in the NBA Finals.
The biggest moment(s) of the game came in the third quarter when Paul Pierce injured his knee, was carried off the floor and put in the wheelchair to get to the locker room. Then he game back two minutes later and drained consecutive three-pointers to give the Celtics a lead they would never relinquish.
Just another ordinary ho-hum day in the world of Boston sports.
From the Red Sox-Rays game:
You had the Coco brawl with James Shields. While Dioner Novarro held Coco down Jonny Gomes and Carl Crawford spent their time in the pile taking swings at Coco. Seeing Coco run out to the mound as quickly as he did goes to show that he's not planning to sleepwalk thru the entire season after losing his starting job to Jacoby Ellsbury.
I love the Tampa player at the 32-second mark trying feverishly to get his shoe back on so he can get back into the fray.
Who knew Manny had the ability and the makeup to get angry?
Jacoby injuring his wrist and having to leave the game. Players on the Red Sox are dropping like flies, like my fantasy baseball team (which lost another player to the DL- Carlos Pena). The Sox have put nine players on the DL so far this year, Beckett, Schilling, Dice-K, Buchholz, Ortiz, Brandon Moss, Alex Cora, Sean Casey, Mike Lowell. Various players have had smaller nagging injuries (Jacoby, Manny, J.D. Drew, Okijima).
Whew!!! Now we can talk about the Celtics and their Game 1 battle with the Lakers in the NBA Finals.
The biggest moment(s) of the game came in the third quarter when Paul Pierce injured his knee, was carried off the floor and put in the wheelchair to get to the locker room. Then he game back two minutes later and drained consecutive three-pointers to give the Celtics a lead they would never relinquish.
Just another ordinary ho-hum day in the world of Boston sports.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Injuries
During this baseball season, I haven't spent much time blogging about my fantasy baseball team, called, what else, ChicksDigTheLongBall.
Quite frankly who in this spacious world we call the internet would care about my fantasy baseball team. Maybe the 13 other fantasy baseball owners in my league would, but that number is probably overstated as several of them don't care about their own teams.
The reason I'm subjecting you to the world of fantasy baseball today, instead of the things that people care most about, bashing John Tomase, pics of hot chicks, cool toys and great music, comes down to a single word - injuries.
I need to vent about the injuries that are happening to the players on my team, because this is getting ridicioulous.
My top overall pick - Jake Peavy on DL, elbow injury (never a good thing for a pitcher), second pick David Ortiz (whom I traded Hanley Ramirez to get - how's that looking now?), possibly out for the season. My starting outfield - Vernon Wells, Brad Haupe, Josh Willingham - all on the DL. The one saving grace is despite the injuries I've been able to trade away Haupe and Ortiz for some quality players (Xavier Nady, Carlos Pena, Ryan Ludwick, Johnny Cueto).
That would be like the Red Sox losing Josh Beckett, Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Jacoby Ellsbury and J.D. Drew to injury.
The best injury of all, while not a lengthy one - but a good one nevertheless, Carlos Guillen missed a couple of games because of???? - hemorrhoids.
C'mon, you're going to go to Jim Leyland's office and tell your skip, "Skip, I can't go today. My ass is killing me."
"Put some cream on your ass and get it the hell out of here and out onto the field. Let me finish my cigarette in peace."
Quite frankly who in this spacious world we call the internet would care about my fantasy baseball team. Maybe the 13 other fantasy baseball owners in my league would, but that number is probably overstated as several of them don't care about their own teams.
The reason I'm subjecting you to the world of fantasy baseball today, instead of the things that people care most about, bashing John Tomase, pics of hot chicks, cool toys and great music, comes down to a single word - injuries.
I need to vent about the injuries that are happening to the players on my team, because this is getting ridicioulous.
My top overall pick - Jake Peavy on DL, elbow injury (never a good thing for a pitcher), second pick David Ortiz (whom I traded Hanley Ramirez to get - how's that looking now?), possibly out for the season. My starting outfield - Vernon Wells, Brad Haupe, Josh Willingham - all on the DL. The one saving grace is despite the injuries I've been able to trade away Haupe and Ortiz for some quality players (Xavier Nady, Carlos Pena, Ryan Ludwick, Johnny Cueto).
That would be like the Red Sox losing Josh Beckett, Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Jacoby Ellsbury and J.D. Drew to injury.
The best injury of all, while not a lengthy one - but a good one nevertheless, Carlos Guillen missed a couple of games because of???? - hemorrhoids.
C'mon, you're going to go to Jim Leyland's office and tell your skip, "Skip, I can't go today. My ass is killing me."
"Put some cream on your ass and get it the hell out of here and out onto the field. Let me finish my cigarette in peace."
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Tribute
The theme for today's 'You Tube Tuesday' on The McLovin Digs Chicks (because they don't taste like Chicken) Blog is Tribute.
The big news of the week so far is this. It was announced late yesterday, and you could hear the sounds of grown men screaming, "NO" all over New England.
While on YouTube, I found this tribute to one of New England's favorite sports anchors, Hazel Mae. It's kind of creepy - but who cares?
The second video pays homage to the classic Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers finals battles of the past and gives us a taste of what this series might be like.
And finally, what Tribute-Themed post would be complete without 'Tribute' from Tenacious D, because it's the 'Greatest and Best Song in the World'.
The big news of the week so far is this. It was announced late yesterday, and you could hear the sounds of grown men screaming, "NO" all over New England.
While on YouTube, I found this tribute to one of New England's favorite sports anchors, Hazel Mae. It's kind of creepy - but who cares?
The second video pays homage to the classic Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers finals battles of the past and gives us a taste of what this series might be like.
And finally, what Tribute-Themed post would be complete without 'Tribute' from Tenacious D, because it's the 'Greatest and Best Song in the World'.
Monday, June 2, 2008
A Couple of Cry Babies
There were many things that happened over the weekend, so let's get on with it.
As I mentioned last Friday, the 80's redux continues - Of course I'm talking about Eddie Murphy and Beverly Hills Cop 4.
Actually, I mean the Celtics and Lakers. All went according to plan and the Celtics and the Lakers will meet for the NBA title starting Thursday night.
The fact that there's five off days between the Game 6 of the Detroit series and the first game of the NBA finals, certainly lends itself to many insignificant topics being discussed during that time span. The craziest topic I've heard and read about is that the games start too late (9 p.m.) on the East Coast for working people and kids.
I'm already tired of hearing Gerry Callahan rant about it on WEEI and pussy number 2 Eric Wilbur moan about it on Boston.com.
The Celtics are in the NBA finals, something that seemed unfathomable at this time last year, and people in the media are bitching about the late starting time. That's like winning the lottery and complaining about having to pay the taxes on your windfall.
The only reason Callahan is making a big stink about it is (no, not because he's the biggest baby in the world) because he has to get up at 4 a.m. for a 6 a.m. show. According to him kids or adults can't stay up till midnight (or they'll turn into little crybabies like Callahan) to watch a game.
Have people forgotten that the classic Celtics-Lakers matchups in the 80's (when I was a teenager) started at 9 p.m. No one complained then, I stayed up to watch the games - and was able to function at a pretty high level the next day.
In reading Wilbur's column about the late starts I particularly liked this line:
"Maybe you can include on your college transcript why you managed only a B- on the final for a class you aced all year long."
Which would be the case if college students were still in school now - most, if not all of them, are out. Way to be in touch with the readership Wilbur. I'm in graduate school and I'm glad the game is starting at 9 p.m. on Thursday - why you ask? Because I have class until 9:45, which will allow me to watch most of the game after class is over.
And I liked this line as well.
How about the sixth-grader from Worcester who gets home past 1 in the morning only to arise for school five hours later. As long as he picks up a Diet Pepsi Max on the way to the bus stop, what does it matter?
Actually, Wilbur it doesn't matter. How about the fact that that sixth grader is going to spend most of the day this Friday or next Monday telling everyone in school how cool it was to be at a Finals game and he'll be the envy of everyone in his class. Also, is Diet Pepsi Max the beverage choice of a New Generation? I would have guessed Mountain Dew.
So to all the Callahan's and Wilbur's out there - Take a nap, get rid of your skirt and suck it up - pansies. This working stiff/graduate student (and many others) will gladly be up to midnight (and later) watching the Celtics in the Finals. We're not going to be zombies if we don't get the amount of beauty sleep that Callahan and Wilbur require.
As I mentioned last Friday, the 80's redux continues - Of course I'm talking about Eddie Murphy and Beverly Hills Cop 4.
Actually, I mean the Celtics and Lakers. All went according to plan and the Celtics and the Lakers will meet for the NBA title starting Thursday night.
The fact that there's five off days between the Game 6 of the Detroit series and the first game of the NBA finals, certainly lends itself to many insignificant topics being discussed during that time span. The craziest topic I've heard and read about is that the games start too late (9 p.m.) on the East Coast for working people and kids.
I'm already tired of hearing Gerry Callahan rant about it on WEEI and pussy number 2 Eric Wilbur moan about it on Boston.com.
The Celtics are in the NBA finals, something that seemed unfathomable at this time last year, and people in the media are bitching about the late starting time. That's like winning the lottery and complaining about having to pay the taxes on your windfall.
The only reason Callahan is making a big stink about it is (no, not because he's the biggest baby in the world) because he has to get up at 4 a.m. for a 6 a.m. show. According to him kids or adults can't stay up till midnight (or they'll turn into little crybabies like Callahan) to watch a game.
Have people forgotten that the classic Celtics-Lakers matchups in the 80's (when I was a teenager) started at 9 p.m. No one complained then, I stayed up to watch the games - and was able to function at a pretty high level the next day.
In reading Wilbur's column about the late starts I particularly liked this line:
"Maybe you can include on your college transcript why you managed only a B- on the final for a class you aced all year long."
Which would be the case if college students were still in school now - most, if not all of them, are out. Way to be in touch with the readership Wilbur. I'm in graduate school and I'm glad the game is starting at 9 p.m. on Thursday - why you ask? Because I have class until 9:45, which will allow me to watch most of the game after class is over.
And I liked this line as well.
How about the sixth-grader from Worcester who gets home past 1 in the morning only to arise for school five hours later. As long as he picks up a Diet Pepsi Max on the way to the bus stop, what does it matter?
Actually, Wilbur it doesn't matter. How about the fact that that sixth grader is going to spend most of the day this Friday or next Monday telling everyone in school how cool it was to be at a Finals game and he'll be the envy of everyone in his class. Also, is Diet Pepsi Max the beverage choice of a New Generation? I would have guessed Mountain Dew.
So to all the Callahan's and Wilbur's out there - Take a nap, get rid of your skirt and suck it up - pansies. This working stiff/graduate student (and many others) will gladly be up to midnight (and later) watching the Celtics in the Finals. We're not going to be zombies if we don't get the amount of beauty sleep that Callahan and Wilbur require.
With Manny Ramirez hitting home run 500 (and subsequently 501 and 502) against Baltimore, It got me to thinking about what I would have asked for from Manny and the club to return the milestone ball to Manny. All that Damon and Jason Woo wanted were a few signed ball and bats from Manny to give back the ball.
That's very noble and commendable of them, not holding up the Red Sox and Ramirez for a King's Ransom, which would have been very possible. Eddie Murray's 500th homer field $500,000 at auction.
Here's what I would have asked for: 4 lower box seat tickets to every Red Sox home playoff game for the rest of my life and tickets to three Yankees games a year at Fenway for the rest of my life. One game would be in the Monster Seats, one game in the State Street Pavilion seats, and one game in the Right Field Roof seats.
That sounds fair.
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