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      The Finals, Game 5: Celtics up 3-2 heading back to L.A.

      June 13, 2010 /

      Here’s where the 2-3-2 format in The Finals gets really interesting. With a 92-86 win in Game 5 behind a big 27-point effort from Paul Pierce, the Celtics are in position to close out the Lakers, but they’ll have to do it at the Staples Center.

      Pierce was amazing offensively, hitting 12-of-21 shots from the field, which mostly offset Kobe Bryant’s 38 points. The Lakers only had one other player in double figures (Pau Gasol, 12-12), and Kobe grew visibly frustrated as the fourth quarter wore on.

      Along with Pierce, Rajon Rondo (18-8-5) controlled this game for Boston. He made four huge plays late in the game, including two steals (though curiously, he was only credited for one in the game), a timely tip-in on an offensive rebound and a very nice catch and layup on a late pass from Pierce. Kevin Garnett (18-10-3) and Ray Allen (12-3-2) also played well for the Celtics.

      Heading back to L.A. it will be interesting to see if the Lakers can turn things around. So much momentum swings with one game, and now that the Celtics have won three of the last four, the Lakers will be feeling the pressure. If they can rally together and win Game 6, they’ll regain control of the series.

      A couple of other random thoughts from the game:

      – Jeff Van Gundy had a great line about Derek Fisher’s propensity to flop. Mike Breen said that Fisher did a nice job of selling the call. Van Gundy responded, “If I never hear ‘selling’ and ‘basketball game’ together again, I’ll be happy.”

      Breen: “Veterans know how to sell.”

      Van Gundy: “How do you fool…these guys have all refereed this guy for 14 years. They know every time he goes up it looks like there’s sniper fire in the building.”

      Classic.

      – There was a weird sequence between Pierce and Rondo at the end of the first half. The Celtics were running the clock down and Pierce felt that Rondo “looked him off.” As Rondo started to penetrate into the lane (and looked to pass the ball to Pierce again), Pierce was already walking towards the Celtics’ bench in frustration, wiping his hand away at Rondo in dismissal. When asked about it moments later by Doris Burke, Pierce said he wasn’t upset when it was very obvious that he was.

      That play was the opposite of ubuntu. What if the Celtics had lost by one point and that play could have made the difference between Boston winning and losing? Why is Pierce pouting about not getting the ball on a play like that?


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, NBA Finals

      Weezer unveils U.S. national soccer team theme song

      June 13, 2010 /

      Watching the U.S./England game yesterday, I was struck by the fact that the U.S. team doesn’t have any creative chants. The England fans in attendance repeatedly drowned the bar with well-orchestrated cheers, all the while swaying back and forth with mugs in their hands. Our response was the dreadfully mediocre “U.S.A., U.S.A, U.S.A.,” yelped ad nauseam until the crowd ran out of gas. Even more embarrassing was when one section tried to substitute “U.S.A.” for “Ole” in the song of the same name. You can imagine the disappointing results.

      Now we have Weezer, helmed by soccer fanatic Rivers Cuomo, contributing their own offering to the U.S. national team’s musical canon. The song is called “Represent” and…

      it’s not very good. False hope.

      External Sports, Soccer

      Ghana makes history with recent win

      June 13, 2010 /

      In defeating Serbia 1-0 earlier today Ghana became the first African team to win a World Cup match on the continent.

      Though the first half failed to produce any goals, there were chances at either end. Despite early intent from Serbia, it was the Black Stars who looked the more likely team to open the scoring. After the interval, the pattern of the game remained the same until Aleksandar Lukovic was dismissed for a second booking, inviting Ghana to really go for the jugular late on. And the Africans aimed the decisive blow from the penalty spot in the closing stages of the game when Asamoah Gyan thumped high into the net.

      This is a huge victory for Ghana, and to think they achieved it without star midfielder Michael Essien. Serbia and Germany were expected to advance, but now the Ghanaians are sitting pretty with three points in their pool. Better yet, they get to play a weak Australia squad next game, and it won’t be until Game 3 that they face the challenging Germans.

      External Sports, Soccer

      Childress: Brett can do whatever he wants, but AP needs to follow the rules

      June 13, 2010 /

      Brad Childress has made it clear that he’s upset with Adrian Peterson for not showing up at the Vikings’ most recent minicamp. Of course Brett Favre isn’t there, but if Brett wanted to walk around the team complex in his underwear and punch babies in his free time, then Childress has no problem with that. Brett can do whatever he damn well pleases.

      From ESPN.com:

      Childress opened his post-practice media session by noting this is a “mandatory minicamp.” He provided terse answers about Peterson’s absence, suggested that discipline will be discussed and mocked the significance of “the fourth annual Adrian Peterson day” in Palestine, Texas.

      Does it annoy you that he’s not here?

      BC: I just know that there’s a bunch of guys here. This has a term “mandatory” for a reason. The work is here. Period. You can say whatever you want. This is the fourth annual Adrian Peterson day. I don’t know if it’s going to be every year. But we’re going to have this, too. …

      When did he inform you he wouldn’t be here?

      BC: In my office on Thursday. Maybe Wednesday.

      Was that a surprise or did you know it was a possibility?

      BC: I think somebody showed me something on a website. I had an inkling. Let’s put it that way. I didn’t know if he was going to come out here and practice this afternoon, and then catch a late flight. I didn’t know how he would.

      Are you worried that players will start to question the standard you have set for Favre and want to skip camps?

      BC: First of all, that’s a special circumstance. I don’t think Adrian is batting around retirement in his mind. It’s a special set of circumstances. Is it special? Is everything equal? Obviously it’s not. That’s just the way it is. It’s a matter of fact. I think everyone understands that from our side.

      Sorry, but that’s horseshit. If Childress is going to have a rule that all players must show up to mandatory workouts, then Favre shouldn’t be exempt from that. I realize Brett has a Super Bowl ring on his shelf and Peterson doesn’t, but this is exactly why people shouldn’t respect Childress. This is the second year that he’s bent over and taken it square up the pooper from Favre and if it weren’t so sad, I’d find it humorous that he goes along with whatever Lord Brett wants.

      Do I think Peterson should be at camp instead of at a parade? Yeah. But so should Favre. I don’t care how old he is or what injury he’s milking – if he wants to be a part of the Vikings, then he should be in mandatory camps just like everyone else. And don’t tell me that just because Brett knows the offense like the back of his hand that he doesn’t need to be in camp with his teammates. Last time I checked, the Vikings didn’t win the Super Bowl last year.

      Brad Childress…what a joke.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL

      UFC 115 Picks & Predictions

      June 12, 2010 /

      UFC 115: Liddell vs. Franklin takes place tonight from the General Motors Palace in Vancouver, British Columbia. The card is pretty solid but not overwhelming. Here are my thoughts on each of the main card bouts.

      Light Heavyweight Bout – Chuck Liddell (21-7) vs. Rich Franklin (27-5) – Both of these guys are past their prime and looking for another win to add to their career list. Liddell looks to be in great shape for the fight but unless he changes the way he fights, he is probably in trouble. Franklin is a more technical striker and he utilizes body kicks, which Liddell will have trouble with. I expect Franklin to use his jab to keep Liddell and bay and slowly wear him down before scoring a big punch that leads to a finish in the third round.

      Heavyweight Bout – Mirko Cro Cop (26-7) vs. Pat Barry (5-1) – This should be a very entertaining fight as neither fighter wants it to go to the ground and both are excellent with their kicks. Unfortunately for Cro Cop, he has lost his killer instinct that made him a star and his apprehension will allow Barry to set the tone with his brutal leg kicks. Look for Barry to win this fight by a TKO in the second round.

      Welterweight Bout – Paulo Thiago (13-1) vs. Martin Kampmann (16-3) – Kampmann seems to be getting overlooked in this fight as he is a tough guy to beat and he is very well-rounded. Thiago is probably over-confident in his striking after his last win over Mike Swick, but that will play into Kampmann’s favor. Look for the Dane to get a decision victory as he dictates the pacing and location of the bout.
      Heavyweight Bout – Ben Rothwell (30-7) vs. Gilbert Yvel (36-14-1) – These are two big sluggers that are going to probably tire themselves out early in the fight. The key to victory will be the bigger size and better wrestling skill of Rothwell, who should be able to use his weight to lay on Yvel and tire him out quicker. Once Yvel is gassed, look for Rothwell to pounce and score a second round TKO win.

      Welterweight Bout – Carlos Condit (24-5) vs. Rory MacDonald (10-0) – There is a lot of promise in MacDonald, who is just 20-years-old, but he is stepping up in competition with this fight against the experienced Condit. Condit will be ready anywhere the fight goes and MacDonald still has some learning to do before he can get into contender status. Look for Condit to out-class MacDonald on their feet and on the ground as he scores a decision win.

      External Sports, Mixed Martial Arts, UFC

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