Miami 89, Detroit 78 (Heat lead series, 3-1)
The wake up calls keep coming, but Detroit’s phone is off the hook. The Pistons once again looked sluggish and out of sorts in Game 4 and are about to be bounced from the playoffs for the first time in three years. For three quarters, the Heat were the better team, silencing critics by sharing the ball offensively and playing solid team defense. Though their stats in Game 4 aren’t overly impressive, Pat Riley’s offseason acquisitions of Antoine Walker, Gary Payton and Jason Williams are paying dividends and it looks like all of last year’s manuvering will land the Heat in the NBA Finals. But the Heat are still led by Dwayne Wade and Shaquille O’Neal, who scored 31 and 21, respectively. Wade was particularly efficient offensively, shooting 73% from the field. In fact, he’s been on fire the entire series (69%). The Pistons might be able to bounce back, but this doesn’t look like the same Detroit team that we’re used to – on either end of the floor.
Day: May 29, 2006
Sports Illustrated columnist Peter King picks the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys for his Super Bowl matchup for the upcoming season. The Cowboys could be extremely dangerous with the addition of the ever so entertaining and egotistical Terrell Owens. It finally gives them a weapon at wide receiver and could put them over the top in the NFC. But will it work? Owens has never played for a coach like Bill Parcells but he may be just the kind of hard-nosed coach that can keep T.O in line.
The Patriots are the Patriots and always have a great chance to be Super Bowl contenders every season. Another team that should be considered one of the favorites is the Indianapolis Colts. They’ve had high expectations the past few seasons and many people thought they were going to get it done last year but they fell short in the playoffs. Perhaps they finally will learn from past playoff appearances and put it all together for a Super Bowl run next season.
Dallas 95, Phoenix 88 (Mavs lead series, 2-1)
In Game 3, Dallas slowed the Suns down by playing disciplined offense and defense. By taking only good shots, the Mavericks limited the Suns’ runout ability, forcing them to execute in the half court offensively. Dirk Nowitzki led the way with 28 points and 17 rebounds, while Josh Howard chipped in 22 and 12. It appears that Avery Johnson’s adjustments made after the loss in Game 1 are paying off. It will be interesting to see what kind of boost that Phoenix will get from the return of Raja Bell – if he’s able to play in Game 4 on Tuesday.
Let me get this out of the way: I’m not a big fan of Barry Bonds, and believe it or not it has little to nothing to do with the whole BALCO thing. It’s that whole swaggering arrogance thing, that I’m-better-than-you attitude he lords over pretty much everyone. Having said that, the fact that his passing of Babe Ruth on the home run leaders list was met with equal parts indifference and hostility is nothing short of tragic.
Here’s why: Bonds is a better ball player than everyone else in his generation. He was well on his way to the Hall of Fame before any of this alleged steroid nonsense took place. Purists would like to wipe his numbers off of the books, and while that opens a whole can of worms involving Ken Caminiti’s MVP award, Rafael Palmeiro and a half dozen other hitters, not to mention pitchers, let’s take 150 home runs — which roughly translates to the number of dingers he hit from 2001-2003 — off of the books. That still makes him the sole member of the 500-500 (home runs & stolen bases) club. Only four players are in the 300-300 club, and no one is in the 400-400 club. That is simply staggering.
And yet, we curse his name and pray to God, Allah or anyone who will listen not to let him pass Hank Aaron as the all time home run leader. Personally, I don’t think it’s going to happen. His knees are shot, and if it took him this long to hit seven home runs this season, it’s going to take him three years to hit another 40. But Bonds, warts and all, is truly one of the greatest players in baseball history, and while there was no way he was going to force people to like him, he could have made it very difficult for people not to respect him. But pride got the best of him, and he threw it all away in order to keep that “white boy” from getting his glory.
Let’s count the number of deadly sins that were committed in this whole sordid affair.
Bonds – Envy (of McGwire and Sosa), Pride (insisted that everyone acknowledge him at the best player in baseball)
MLB – Greed, Sloth (owners clearly knew something was up, but did nothing to stop the players from juicing, since it was filling the ballparks again after the strike in 1994)
Fans – Lust (for dingers at first), Wrath (lust for blood later)
And now, instead of celebrating Bonds passing Ruth, everyone is celebrating each home run hit by Albert Pujols, the “clean one,” and holding out hope that one day he will pass Bonds, thereby making everything “better” again. Sad, sad, sad.
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