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      Western Conference Finals Commentary

      May 17, 2011 /
      Dallas Mavericks small forward Peja Stojakovic (L) ,forward Dirk Nowitzki (C) and center Tyson Chandler (R) walk to the bench for a timeout in their win over the Los Angeles Lakers during Game 3 of the NBA Western Conference semi-final basketball playoff in Dallas, Texas May 6, 2011. REUTERS/Mike Stone (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

      Sekou Smith, NBA.com: This matchup between these two outfits in the Western Conference finals provides a unique glimpse of the past (Mavericks), present (whoever wins this series) and perhaps the future (Thunder) of the elite in the West. … So instead of Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan waging a battle of seasoned champions to reach yet another NBA Finals, twin freaks of nature and dueling superstars Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Durant are left to fight it out for the right to face either the Bulls or Heat for that coveted Larry O’Brien trophy. Had either one of their teams made it this far and faced the Lakers or Spurs to get to the championship round, it wouldn’t have been much of a shock. But now that they’re here facing one another, this clash between these two would-be rivals can take its place among the many interstate showdowns folks in Texas and Oklahoma have enjoyed over the years.

      J. Michael Falgoust, USA Today: This is the Mavs’ first trip back to the conference finals, and they — like their star — are fighting the label that still defines them from their three first-round exits since. In 2007, they became the first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 8 after the NBA switched to a seven-game series format. Even after winning 57 games this season and entering the playoffs as the West’s No. 3 seed, the Mavericks appeared to be heading down a familiar path. They lost a 23-point lead in the second half of a first-round game against the Portland Trail Blazers and fell into a 2-2 tie in the series. But they closed out the Blazers by winning the next two, the finale coming on the road, then made the NBA take notice by sweeping the Lakers. It was a big step for Nowitzki and the Mavericks toward getting that first ring.

      Barry Tramel, The Oklahoman: Old means wise. Old means experienced. Old means skilled, since one thing the NBA doesn’t tolerate is old and bad. Young means fresh. Young means fast. Young means never having to say you’re tired. The Western Conference Finals begin Tuesday night at American Airlines Center, and it’s a classic matchup. Can the Mavs make the Thunder pay for youthful mistakes? Not finding Terry on the wing. Leaping to block a Dirk Nowitzki shot that has yet to be launched. Can the Thunder make the Mavs pay for old joints? Not having anyone with a prayer of guarding Russell Westbrook. Not getting back quickly when the Thunder seizes possession and takes off like the Oklahoma Land Run. … If the Thunder pushes the ball, turns this series into a sprint relay, the Thunder is NBA Finals bound. But if the Mavericks control tempo, if this series becomes a game of halfcourt offense, Dallas will win and probably easily.

      Jennifer Floyd Engel, Dallas Star-Telegram: And all of this happy-happy, joy-joy local May basketball fun is brought to you by the Mavs’ good friend and frequent companion in recent postseason, sports disappointment. I submit the catalyst for all this happiness was the ugly Game 4 meltdown in Portland on April 23. Every long playoff run has a seminal moment, a point in hindsight that you look back upon and go, “Aha — that is where this run started.” Dallas’ seminal moment, for me at least, was the immediate aftermath of that Game 4 choke as well as the team’s Game 5 reaction a couple of days later. The Mavs took it in, sucked it up and punched back hard. They have been whaling on opponents ever since.

      External Sports, NBA

      Appeals court sides with NFL, lockout remains

      May 17, 2011 /
      NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (C) enters a federal courthouse to resume talks regarding labor and revenue issues between the NFL and the NFL Players Association in Minneapolis, May 16, 2011. REUTERS/Eric Miller (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL EMPLOYMENT BUSINESS)

      The owners received a major victory on Monday night when the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals granted the NFL’s stay, meaning the lockout is no longer temporary.

      While this may not be good news for fans in the short term (because the lockout continues), it should force the players and owners to head back to the negotiating table. The owners want to stay out of court and have blamed the players for preferring litigation. The owners are now expected to draw up a new CBA proposal soon, which could be viewed as a positive sign.

      The owners are in a great position here because the same panel that sided with the league to keep the lockout in place will also hear arguments next month on the legality of the NFL’s work stoppage. Thus, it could be assumed that the owners would win their appeal on June 3 if the two sides can’t come to an agreement before then.

      The most frustrating part about this labor dispute is that the answer to the lockout has been in front of the owners and players’ faces this entire time: Negotiation. Way back in February and March when the old CBA was still in place, observers kept commenting on how the best course of action was for the two sides to come to an agreement and stay out of the courts. But the players seemingly made up their minds that they wanted litigation when they decided to decertify, which made it hard for the two sides to come to an agreement at the start.

      Now we’re right back where we started from, and negotiation is the best way to end the madness. Maybe this time the two sides will get it right and actually hammer out a new CBA deal before even more damage is done.

      External Sports, NFL

      The Scores Report chats with Ozzie Smith

      May 16, 2011 /
      Twenty-five years ago today, October 14, 1985, St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Ozzie Smith raised his fist in celebration after hitting a solo home run in the ninth inning to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers in game five of the 1985 National League Championship Series at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Smith, who had never hit a home run in his previous 3,009 left-handed major league at-bats, pulled an inside fastball down the right-field line for a home run, ending Game 5 in a 3 Cardinals victory. Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck used the line, “Go Crazy Folks, Go Crazy,” after the home run was hit. The Cardinals went on to face the Kansas City Royals in the 1985 World Series, known as the I-70 Series. UPI/Bill Greenblatt/FILES

      His name is Osborne Earl Smith but to baseball fans everywhere, he’s simply known as “The Wizard.”

      In an era when the shortstop was known as being the best defender on the field, Ozzie Smith was the best of the best. For 19 seasons he strengthened the middle of the diamond for the Padres and the Cardinals, making 15 trips to the All-Star Game and winning an astonishing 13 Gold Glove Awards. Before he hung up his cleats in 1996, he helped the Cardinals win a World Series championship in 1982 and was the 1985 NLCS MVP. The Cardinals retired his No. 1 jersey in order to pay homage to the man who thrilled crowds with his dazzling defensive heroics and of course, his entertaining back flips in between innings.

      I recently had the opportunity to speak with Ozzie, which was a great pleasure to someone who has always cherished the game of baseball. He’s currently assisting Holiday Inn with their “Pay it Forward” program, which is encouraging people to show each other a little extra kindness every day to benefit Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) youth initiative. Ozzie spoke about the program and his involvement, as well as how people can be entered to win an all-expense paid trip for two to the 2011 All-Star Game in Phoenix, Arizona just by sharing their “pay it forward” stories.

      Of course, Ozzie was gracious enough to field some questions about baseball as well, including what current players impress him and what his secret was to always being in the right position to come up big defensively. He also gave his take on whether or not Albert Pujols will return to St. Louis next year and what he thinks of the ever-evolving shortstop position.

      For more information on Holiday Inn’s “Pay it Forward” program, including how you could win a trip for two to the 2011 All-Star Game, check out Holiday Inn’s Facebook page.

      Ozzie Smith: Hey Anthony!

      The Scores Report: Ozzie, how are you?

      OS: Doing real good, how are you?

      TSR: Excellent! As a fan and big admirer of the game, it’s a pleasure to speak with you today.

      OS: Oh, no problem – no problem at all.

      TSR: How did you get involved with Holiday Inn and their “Pay it Forward” program?

      OS: Well, I’ve always been associated with Major League Baseball and now I’m teaming up with Holiday Inn to encourage people to “pay it forward” by showing each other a little extra kindness every day to benefit baseball’s connection with the inner cities. We’ve lost so many youth to different sports and many programs have been eliminated. Holiday Inn is about celebrating the everyday hero and this program encourages people to act heroically every day, from holding doors open, to giving up your seat on the bus, to buying a friend a cup of coffee. It’s small acts of kindness that make a difference day-to-day, and for each person who shares their story at Facebook.com/HolidayInnHotels, in turn, Holiday Inn will give tickets to Major League baseball games to children participating in RBI. The people who post their stories will be entered to win an all-expense paid trip to the 2011 All-Star Game. It’s a great way to do something good, make yourself feel good, and make someone else feel good, too.

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      External Sports, Interviews, MLB

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