Winter Sports Champions

 Well, the two major winter sports, NBA and NHL completed their championships over the weekend. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 4 games to 1 in the NBA championship and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights for Lord Stanley's Cup.

The Knicks last won the NBA Championship in 1973. This was around the time I got interested in basketball and the Knicks were the team I liked. They had an all-star lineup in Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, Clyde Frazier, and Earl Monroe. Today's teams can't afford to carry that many stars. They usually have two or three and then some quality pieces that specialize in defense, scoring or rebounding. 

In the NHL the Carolina Hurricanes last won the Stanley Cup 20 years ago in 2006. I got interested in hockey as a kid when I got a rod hockey game for Christmas. Usually those came with only Montreal and Toronto but I also got a set of players for all the NHL teams. Carolina wasn't a team back then they first came into the NHL when the WHA merged with the NHL in 1979 and at that time they were the Hartford Whalers. In 1997 they moved to the Carolinas and got renamed the Carolina Hurricanes.

 

Congratulations to both the New York Knicks and The Carolina Hurricanes on winning their respective championships. Also, congratulations to Jalen Brunson and Jordan Staal for being named MVPs of the finals.

I'd like to hear from you on who you have winning the NBA next year and what team will hoist the Cup in the NHL next year. Leave a comment.

Dance Eve

It is the eve of the NCAA tournament. Actually it already started with the "first four" a media scam to get more teams into the tournament only to lose in the first round.

Anyway, I've picked my brackets. I am in five my track record is not very good but I have hope this year. Who are you picking to make it to the final four?

I would like to hear some of your choices.

Since I am doing five brackets it changes somewhat but here is a list of the teams I think have the best chance to make the final four.

Louisville
Indiana
New Mexico
Georgetown
Miami

Good Luck on your brackets.

It Is Over

The Miami Heat are NBA champions. I am not too happy. I would have liked to have seen the Thunder win. When the Heat went up 3-1 they went into tonight's game with the attitude to finish it, and they did.

Lebron got his championship. Now where will he go to win another one?

Time to look toward next season. Football is just around the corner and of course we have baseball.

Thunder and Heat

During these summer months when the weather gets really hot and it collides with a cold front it produces Thunder.

The NBA finals are set with the Oklahoma City Thunder playing the Miami Heat. Kevin Durant and Michael Westbrook against the big three from the Heat, James, Wade and Bosh. Who will it be?

I am hoping that a cold front comes to the Heat and produces a Thunder win. We saw the Thunder down two games to none and looking almost left for dead by the Spurs come back and win the next four games. We saw the Heat go up two zero on the Celtics only to almost lose it when the Celtics won three straight.

Will we see the Heat of games 6 and 7 and the Thunder of games 3-6? If so we will see quite the series. I am not a big Heat fan and I will be pulling for the Thunder. I do want to see some good games and some games that come down to the wire. I would like to hear who everyone is pulling for. Please leave me a comment on who you like in this series.

We saw when the Celtics played good defense and made their shots they prevailed. It was when they let LeBron have his way that they found the Heat taking control. The Thunder will have to play good defense and be able to make their shots to win this series. It won't be easy for either team but lets hope it is entertaining.

Who Will It Be?

In a lock out shortened season the NBA is continuing their long tradition of lengthy playoffs. By the time the Western and Eastern conference champions will be crowned stores will be advertising their back to school supplies.

Both the NBA and the NHL have postseasons that last too long. Baseball is trying to extend theirs next year with a one game wildcard playoff.

Once the weather turns nice my sights are set on baseball and I lose focus on the NBA and the NHL. I think the NBA has a couple of good conference finals match-ups. Oklahoma City Thunder versus the San Antonio Spurs in the West and in the East Miami Heat versus the Boston Celtics.

Can the crusty old Celtics overcome their age and outduel the Miami franchise that is wrought with enormous expectations and so far disappointment? Can the Thunder utilize the tandem of Durant and Westbrook to put to rest a aging Spurs team that is playing great basketball?

It should be an exciting time in the NBA over the next two weeks. I am pulling for an NBA finals match up of  Boston verses Oklahoma City. If it is Miami versus the Spurs I doubt I'll even watch.

Who are you pulling for? Please share.

Not In Tournament

The Golden Gophers of Minnesota did not make the big dance this year. However, they are making the most of the 32 team party they were invited to, the NIT. They are one win away from bringing home some hardware from the NIT. It was a thrilling overtime battle with Washington but in the end the Gophers prevailed by 1 point. They now face the team from Stanford on the hardcourt of Madison Square Garden.

Let's hope this is a prelude to next year. Let's hope they keep playing hard and if Mbakwe will return (Please return) they could be a force to reckon with. They also might graduate to the big dance in 2013.

Go Gophers beat Stanford!!!

A Night at the Barn

I had a great Valentines gift on Tuesday. My wife won tickets to see the Golden Gophers play the Buckeyes. It was an absolutely wonderful evening. The only thing that would have made it better would have been a Gopher win. Alas the Sullinger led Buckeyes were too much for the Gophers.

Williams Arena is a magical place to watch basketball. The atmosphere, the fans the history of the building. Despite losing the game it was a true pleasure to enjoy a game in one of the greatest college sports venues in the world.

If you have never been to a basketball game in Williams Arena (The Barn) you are missing a great experience. It takes you back to a bygone era when college basketball was king of the court. A time when life and college was simpler. Hanging from the rafters are banners listing Big Ten Championships from previous years. Also hanging from the rafters are names of some of the college greats who graced the hardwood with their sneakers.

At The Barn it is Basketball, not played for money but for pride of the school and bragging rites of the conference. It is Basketball played with passion for the game and a love for competition. Whether the Gophers win or lose being able to enjoy the venue allows an alumni like me to bleed maroon and gold.

GO GOPHERS!!

Twolves

They did it again!!

The Timberwolves have turned a corner and lets hope they never look back. Adelman, Rubio, Love and Beasely four names that will soon be synonymous with winning. A great display of power tonight beating the McHale lead Rockets 120-108.

Keep it up Twolves and hopefully you can bring basketball pride back to Minnesota.

Timberwolves are for real!

The Timberwolves showed last night that they are a different team from last year. They came back from a large deficit to win with a last second three pointer by Kevin Love. What an awesome game that was.

With the addition of Ricky Rubio to complement Love they will be a force to be reckoned with in future years. This year they are maturing and showing that they are for real!

Wolves 101 - Clippers 98