Happy Monday everyone, here's my Top 5 for June 13, 2011 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- Dallas wins its first-ever NBA championship beating the Heat 105-95 in game 6 in Miami.
- Vancouver can clinch its first-ever Stanley Cup with a win tonight in Boston. The Canucks lead the Bruins three games to two.
- Mike Tyson and Sylvester Stallone were among those inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame yesterday in Canastota, New York.
2. NBA Finals
Well, it's good thing for Dallas that Dirk Nowitzki took his talents to America. When all was said and done, Nowitzki was the true fourth-quarter superstar who rose to the occasion. Miami may have made the big splash by uniting the King, LeBron James, with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, but that's all it was, splashy. The Mavericks played tough defense, and with the steady hand of Jason Kidd guiding the show, they were truly the best team... with the emphasis on team. Next time you mention "the big three," you better be talking about Nowitzki, Kidd, and Jason Terry. It's fair to say most sports fans are joyous. I know they are in Cleveland. After all, the King is dead. Long live the kings.
3. The Big Guy
I find it interesting that Patrick Ewing can't land a head coaching job, even though he's paid his dues as an assistant coach. How many stars have been willing to go the assistant route? Are big men simply discriminated against? Ewing was never buddy buddy with the media or the fans, and as a head coach he'd have to be approachable, and downright talkative. But Ewing has seen the error of his ways. He has said he wishes he was different as a player. But the thing that gets me is he says he doesn't really know Knicks owner James Dolan. Wouldn't you think the owner of a team might reach out to one of his franchise's all-time greats, even socially? Interesting franchise, ain't it?
4. Fire and Ice
HBO's new documentary on the John McEnroe/Bjorn Borg rivalry is drawing rave reviews. Not surprising. If you were a tennis fan in those days it was truly exceptional, especially that 1980 tiebreak at Wimbledon. Borg won, and I met McEnroe at the airport with a camera crew when he arrived home. I asked him if that match proved he could play on the same level with the great Borg, and finally beat him in a major? In typical McEnroe fashion he quipped, "I hope so." He did it two months later at the U.S. Open. What was also notable about that great Wimbledon match, was McEnroe's comportment. He was booed as he entered the match because of his previous outbursts. But it was just tennis, no antics that day. Much like Stanley Cup hockey doesn't have fights. When the championship is on the line, there's no room for shenanigans.
5. Beauty is in the Eye...
Here's a shocker, lots of you had plenty of things to say about the female soccer mascot, a mother of three, who sported lingerie for charity. Many of you took time out of your, ahem, busy schedules to check out her picture, which I'm sure you don't have time for today. Here it is anyway. Here's a sampling of your comments.
*Mort F. "Now, that's the kind of 'soccer mom' who could make this kid from Brooklyn go to games on Rikers Island."
*But Cliff B. demurs. "Perhaps she would have raised more money if she left the bear head on."
*Robert P. sides with Cliff B. "She is hot... from the neck down. Maybe she should keep the dog head on (appropriately).
Just to clear things up, she's a dog. The mascot that is. I'm not taking sides in this food fight.
Happy Birthday: Sportscaster Hannah Storm. 49.
Bonus Birthdays: Mary-Kate Olsen, and coincidentally her twin sister Ashley, who also appeared on Full House. 25.
Today in Sports: You can now call Isiah Thomas a champion. The Detroit Pistons sweep away the Lakers to win the NBA championship. 1989.
Bonus Event: The Yankees retire #3 to honor the ailing Babe Ruth. 1948.
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