The Celtics led by as many as 13 points against the Lakers on Thursday but lost Game 7

Purple and gold confetti rained down in the Staples Center late Thursday night after the Los Angeles Lakers clenched their 16^th NBA title, beating the Boston Celtics 83-79 in game 7. The Finals MVP Kobe Bryant then jumps up on the scorer’s table, shook his fists and extended five fingers… marking his fifth title with the Lakers.

There was no question from the beginning that these two teams weren’t going to let this be an easy Final for one other to win. The competition between the Lakers and Celtics was apparent from the first jump ball in game 1 to the final minutes in the 4^th quarter of game 7. The teams have met twelve times in the NBA finals, but this win only marks the third win for the Lakers. And although Bryant had been downplaying the NBA’s best rivalry for the past couple weeks, even he acknowledged that banner no. 16 will be a little bigger in his mind compared to the others that hang in the rafters. “I was just lying to you guys,” Bryant said after the Lakers first game 7 win over the Celtics, “this one is by far the sweetest, because it’s them.”

In the series he averaged an impressive 28.6 points, but left the fate of game 7 up to his teammates. Bryant shot only 6 of 24, eventually earning eight free throws and ending up with 23 points. The Celtics defense forced L.A. to miss 21 of its first 27 shots and held them to only 21 successful shots in the first three quarters, with Bryant and Gasol having a combined 6 for 26 in the first half. “This was the hardest one by far. I wanted it so bad and sometimes when you want it so bad, it slips away from you. My guys picked me up.” Despite his disappointing and uncharacteristic stats, he still earned his fifth title and second MVP with the Lakers.

Team stat comparison and game leaders between the Celtics and Lakers in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals

Another big question is Phil Jackson and his return to the Los Angeles Lakers. His contract is up and it is not guaranteed he will be back next season, although all indications are that Jackson will be back to sign with the Lakers. With this win in the finals, Jackson has earned his 5^th NBA title with the Lakers, making it his 11^th overall. “I’ve got to take a deep breath. I’ve got to take some time to think about this,” Jackson said, who would be entering the next season at 65 years old. “This was great. I’ll wait to make that decision in a week.”

Whichever Jackson decides, the Lakers will be grateful for the years he did give. They’ve closed out their playoff opponents on the first try 10 times while winning three straight Western Conference titles over the last three years with Jackson. And although the Celtics led by as many as 13 points against the Lakers on Thursday, the game 7 trophy is now in Los Angeles.

Technorati Tags: 2010 NBA Finals, Boston Celtics, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA

The Trojans are banned from all postseason play for two seasons, lost 30 scholarships that extended over the next 3 years and must vacate all wins from December 2004 through the entire 2005 season

The NCAA didn’t give USC any leeway when it came to the punishments given to the college Thursday. The Trojans are banned from all postseason play for two seasons, lost 30 scholarships that extended over the next 3 years and must vacate all wins from December 2004 through the entire 2005 season. I understand that punishment is given where punishment is deserved, but taking away scholarships from potential or current students doesn’t sit right with me. A lot of students strive to succeed, both academically and physically, to earn an athletic scholarship. Since they aren’t giving out these 10 scholarships per year over the next three years to the athletes, then they should put them aside in a new program and offer it in some other way.

So what did the Pac-10 team do? USC was cited for; lack of institutional control, impermissible inducements, extra benefits, exceeding coach staff limits and unethical conduct by a running backs coach Todd McNair. Not to mention the team was already cited for different violations in 2001 and with that they are considered a “repeat violator”. The severity of these penalties exceeds Alabama’s in ’02 and Washington’s in 1993 and is USC’s sixth case of major infractions since 1957. As you can see the NCAA does not take the school’s actions lightly and the seriousness about the case that has been building up against USC is far from mediocre.

The Trojans do have a chance to appeal the ruling, but that will only run the risk of delaying the penalties further into the future. Fortunately for USC juniors and seniors to-be on the Trojan’s football team, the NCAA announced they will be allowed to transfer to other FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) programs without having to sit out a season. Unfortunately, not all colleges are willing to let that rule apply. USC officials also announced that the Pac-10 would not waive the one year transfer ineligibility rule, leaving most to believe there won’t be any transfers within the conference.

First year head coach Lane Kiffin said he hadn’t heard from any schools with possible interest in a USC player, and when asked if he was worried he replied with “if someone wants to leave the best place in the country to play football, we won’t stop them.” The bowl ban is the most damaging to Kiffin, who will have to intensify his impressive recruiting skills to entice players with no hope of postseason play before 2012.

Technorati Tags: College Football, NCAA, USC, USC Sanctions, USC Trojans

Junior had one of, if not the, best and most recognizable swings in MLB history.

Not only was he a baseball hero in Seattle, Ken Griffey Jr. was an icon and role model to baseball players and fans worldwide. Wednesday, June 2^nd 2010 will be a day that will forever be remembered in the sports world, it is the day “The Kid” officially announced his retirement from Major League Baseball… exactly 23 years to the day that he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners (not to mention the exact date that fellow legend Babe Ruth retired). 40-year-old Griffey told the M’s manager Don Wakamatsu that he would no longer be playing, leaving Wakamatsu to make the announcement to the team and media shortly before Seattle faced Minnesota. Without doubt, No. 24 will greatly be missed.

This announcement marks the ending to one of the greatest careers in baseball history. Fans attending Wednesday night’s game were informed prior to the first pitch while the grounds crew put Griffey’s #24 in the sand behind second base.  His official statement is very touching and reminds us all of why he is so admired and will be missed by Seattle. He truly is the heart and soul of the franchise.

“I’ve come to a decision today to retire from Major League Baseball as an active player. This has been on my mind recently, but it’s not an easy decision to come by. I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to have played Major League Baseball for so long and thankful for all of the friendships I have made, while also being proud of my accomplishments.

I’d like to thank my family for all of the sacrifices they have made all of these years for me. I’d like to thank the Seattle Mariners organization for allowing me to finish my playing career where it started. I look forward to a continued, meaningful relationship with them for many years to come.

While I feel I am still able to make a contribution on the field, and nobody in the Mariners front office has asked me to retire, I told the Mariners when I met with them prior to the 2009 season and was invited back, that I will never allow myself to become a distraction. I feel that without enough occasional starts to be sharper coming off the bench, my continued presence as a player would be an unfair distraction to my teammates, and their success as team is what the ultimate goal should be.

My hope is that my teammates can focus on baseball and win a championship for themselves and for the great fans of Seattle, who so very much deserve one. Thanks to all of you for welcoming me back, and thanks again to everyone over the years who has played a part in the success of my career. “

On the books he was one of the game’s best. Junior’s highlights include averaging .284, 630 HR’s (off of 407 different pitchers, leading the franchise with 417 of them in a Seattle uniform and fifth on the all-time list), 1,836 RBIs, 2,781 hits, 1,192 extra base hits, 524 doubles, 7 Silver Slugger awards, 13 time All-Star, 1 Most Valuable Player award and 10 Golden Glove awards. He was also voted to the All-Century team before the age of 30. As you can see, after 22 Major League Seasons his stats are nothing shy of impressive, but he meant more than numbers to Seattle. The only thing he lacks is a World Series appearance, but somehow that does not take away (at all) from his remarkable career. Let’s just hope he wants to come back and win one on the coaching side of the game!

Junior was a valuable leader and teammate to the Seattle organization

He was the first overall pick in the 1987 first-year player draft and played his first 11 seasons with the Mariners. He then spent the next 8 and half with the Reds, playing a brief stint with the White Sox in the latter half of the ’08 season. He then knew he had to finish his career where it all began. He returned the Seattle Mariners in the 2009 season and had many wondering whether he was going to come back in 2010 or not. The rest is history.

Junior might have started and ended his MLB career in a Mariner’s uniform, but he has not reached his final stop on one of the most talked about baseball journeys. In about 6 years from now, we will all be watching in excitement as this first-ballot future Hall-of-Famer finds himself in Cooperstown. Still, this end of an era will forever remain bittersweet for Seattle fans. It is sad to know the irreplaceable Ken Griffey Jr. and his departure has finally come, but the city is supportive and more than grateful that their hero decided to end his career where he grew up.

Technorati Tags: "The Kid", Ken Griffey Jr., Major League Baseball, Retires, Seattle Mariners

Paul Pierce lead the Boston Celtics to victory in Game 6 against the Orlando Magic with 31 Pts and 13 Reb.

I’m not going to lie; after game five of the Eastern Conference Finals, thoughts of the Orlando Magic tying and possibly winning the series was no longer unbelievable, but possible. The team was down 0-3 in the series and not looking to make a comeback. Their first win against the Celtics in game 4 had people thinking they got lucky. Then by the end of game 5, it was starting to look like the Magic might accomplish something that no other team in the NBA ever has… a 0-3 comeback to win and advance to the 2010 NBA Finals against either the Lakers or Suns. Unfortunately for the Orlando Magic that was not the case and Boston was able to use a little of their own magic to make them disappear.

The Celtics managed to avoid the biggest playoff collapse in league history. Boston clinched the series 4-2, beating Orlando 96-84. The Celtics are the first team in NBA history to advance to the Finals after having a better road record than home record during the regular season. It will be the 21^st trip to the NBA finals for the Celtics organization, only the Lakers have more with 30. Now the next question is who will the Celtics play in the finals? Will it be the Suns or are the Lakers going to make their 31^st appearance? The Lakers are currently leading their Western Conference Finals 3-2 against the Suns.

Regardless who their opponent may be, if Boston (17-3 all-time in NBA Finals) keeps playing the way they did in game 6 of the East Finals, they will definitely have a good chance of taking home their 18^th NBA title in franchise history (no organization has won more titles than the 17-time World Champion Boston Celtics). Each game they have a different player that rises up to lead the team to victory. The win over Orlando in game 6 was their 17^th straight game with a different leading scorer. Seriously! They have not had the same player lead them in scoring in consecutive games this entire post season. Game 6 goes to Paul Pierce, ending this Eastern Conference Finals in game 6 with 31 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists. Pierce was aggressive and assertive and it worked perfectly in Boston’s favor. Celtic’s guard Ray Allen followed Pierce with 20pts.

Nate Robinson had 13 Pts off the bench in the second quarter after starting point guard Rajon Rondo suffered an injury

It was Nate Robinson though that seemed to get Boston fans on their feet. After Celtic’s starting point guard Rajon Rondo took a hard fall, it was time for the little guy to step up in a big way. After the incredible season Rondo has been having, especially in the Finals (Rondo had 14 points and six assists before leaving the game), Robinson had some pretty big shoes to fill in a very important game. Luckily for Boston, he was up to the challenge. With 13 points off the bench in the second quarter, Robinson was making passes and nailing three’s that had the players he was sharing the bench with only moments before on their feet. Robinson had more points in the second quarter than he had in the previous 8 games combined. “There will be a game where we’re flat and need somebody to make something happen and Nate [Robinson] will do that. He’s going to win us a playoff game”, stated Doc Rivers, Boston Celtics head coach, back in April.

They now have just shy of a week to rest and practice until they hit the court again. This will be the Celtics second NBA finals appearance in 3 years. The first game of the 2010 NBA Finals is Thursday, June 3^rd.

Technorati Tags: 2010 NBA Finals, Basketball, Boston Celtics, Eastern Conference Finals, NBA

Germany’s Michael Ballack took a hit to his ankle Mid-May by Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng

It only happens every four years. Fans go crazy worldwide for the excitement it brings. There are celebrations, tears, chants, and cheers. If you haven’t figured out what I am talking about, you probably should listen up. The 2010 World Cup is amongst us. The best of the best have joined their home teams and are ready to compete at a level of play that is close to indescribable. Soccer players (and their fans) are pretty unique. Yes we have our crazed football and basketball fans, but this competition proves to be one of a kind. And although it took a slow start in the U.S., soccer is finally catching its much deserved hype and respect. Finally! We seem to be the last country to jump on the bandwagon, but we’re finally on it.

With that being said, hope you aren’t a Germany fan (or you have been saying a lot of prayers to the soccer God lately). In their Saturday FA Cup final, Germany took a loss that is sure to test their players’ skills in the upcoming summer games. Germany’s three-time player of the year, Michael Ballack, took a hit to his ankle by Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng that has cut his season short and possibly robs him of his final chance at a win in the World Cup. The 33-year-old Chelsea midfielder isn’t quite ready to throw in the towel yet. He will have the summer to think about whether he would like to return to the national team for the 2012 European Championship. Right now his main concentration is on getting healthy for the next club season.

The German captain suffered ligament damage in his right ankle at Wembley Stadium in the first half of the game and is now being spotted with a cast to start the healing process before he‘s able to train, which will not be for at least eight weeks. Good news is (yes, there is good news) he is expected to have a full recovery. Yet that still doesn’t make German fans very happy. Many are calling this an intentional foul, noting that the two “scuffled” shortly before the unfortunate tackle. Boateng has since heard heavy criticism from German officials, but is releasing statements that it was simply an accident. He apologized twice on the field during Portsmouth’s 0-1 loss and now, publicly, after.

Ballack joined his teammates at their training camp in Sicily and is anxious to provide support and leadership in their future games. He might only being able to give his support, but many fans are hoping that is enough to win the 2010 World Cup. With less than a month before the tournament, Germany coach Joachim Loew needs to choose a new captain and a player to fill Ballack’s midfield defense role. Germany opens this summer’s World Cup play against Australia.

Technorati Tags: FIFA, injury, Michael Ballack, Soccer, World Cup 2010

Once regarded as the most dominant closer in Major League Baseball, Eric Gagne never regained his dominant form following significant injury complications in 2005 and 2006.

Former Los Angeles Dodgers closer Eric Gagne officially announced his retirement from Major League Baseball on Sunday, marking an end to the career of one who—for a time—was considered to be the most dominant closing pitcher in Major League Baseball.  From 2002 through 2004, Gagne’s was career reached a peak as he closed out a Major League Baseball record 84 consecutive saves.

Despite his immense level of success as a closer Eric Gagne’s dominance on the mound would be short-lived, as he was forced to miss much of the 2005 and 2006 seasons due to injury and underwent Tommy John elbow surgery for the second time in his career.  Following his second Tommy John surgery and a back operation to address two herniated disc in Gagne’s back, he enjoyed moderate success after being acquired by the Texas Rangers in 2007, but never fully returned to his originally dominant form.

In 2008, it was revealed in the Mitchell Report, in the investigation into steroid use among players in Major League Baseball, that Eric Gagne had been linked to a dealer of Human Growth Hormone—to which he admitted having used during the 2004 season to heal a knee injury, according to a Los Angeles Times interview in February of 2010.  Whether or not his use of performance enhancing substances led to an early end to his dominance in his Major League career is a subject of uncertain debate, however it is safe to say that there are more than a few who believe that some of the negative long term-effects of steroid use may have contributed to a premature end to the career of one of the game’s most dominant pitchers.

Technorati Tags: Dodgers, Eric Gagne, Los Angeles, Major League Baseball

Alex Rodriguez connected for his 584th career home run to pass Mark McGwire for eighth place on baseball's all time home run list Saturday. Like many others, however, his records may always be looked upon in doubt due to his admission to steroid use earlier in his career.

On Saturday, April 17, at the new Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez passed Mark McGwire for eighth place in Major League Baseball’s all-time home run record with a shot over the right-center field wall for his 584^th career home run.  What may be unique about this particular instance of milestone eclipse for baseball is that it marks what may be one of the most significant in which both players have admitted to using performance enhancing drugs at some time during their careers.

Mark McGwire was the first player whose steroid use gained high-profile media attention, when it was admitted in August of 1998—during McGwire’s original pursuit or Roger Maris’s single season home run record—that McGwire had been using a dietary supplement called Androstenedione for more than one year up to that point, according to an Associated Press report published by CNN/SI in 1998.  Although use the supplement was not prohibited by Major League Baseball at the time, the moral questions and scrutiny which arose in subsequent years in reaction to the fact that a sports icon was using a performance enhancing drug already banned in the National Football League led to the uncovering of one of baseball’s most widespread scandals in recent decades and raised serious questions as to the legitimacy of individual achievements of players engaging in steroid use.

Today, baseball’s single season and career home run record leader in the all-time record books—Barry Bonds—is known to have used performance enhancing substances now banned by Major League Baseball during his pursuit of what for a time had been McGwire’s single season record and his later pursuit of Henry Aaron’s all-time mark of 755 career home runs.  Although less is known regarding his steroid use and it is believed that he did not engage in the use of performance enhancing drugs to the same degree as Bonds, McGwire and many others, the fact that Alex Rodriguez admittedly used performance enhancing drugs, combined with the secretive nature of much of Major League Baseball regarding the trend at the time during which Rodriguez admitted to using casts a similar shadow of doubt upon his career numbers.

Many fans and analysts who have followed the career of Alex Rodriguez agree that it is not unlikely that he could challenge what is currently Barry Bonds’ all-time career home run record of 762 home runs; but regardless of whether or not Rodriguez surpasses Bonds’ milestone, the significance of such an accomplishment will always remain shadowed by doubt in light of the fact that all parties engaged in the use of illegal performance enhancing drugs during their careers.  It will most likely take many years, if not many decades, before baseball sees an eclipse of its single season or all time home run record whose legitimacy will not remain clouded by such doubt.

Technorati Tags: baseball, home run, record, steroids

The long-standing injury to Kobe Bryant's right index finger is one which could easily limit the Lakers' chances of a repeat in 2010.

Despite earning the top seed and home court advantage throughout the NBA Western Conference Playoffs for the third consecutive year, the injury-plagued Los Angeles Lakers—who finished the last ten games of the regular season at a dismal 4-6 win/loss record—have more than enough reason to be concerned going into the 2010 NBA Playoffs.

Although he has stated that he will return from injury in the Lakers’ playoff opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Lakers may be forced to begin the 2010 NBA Playoffs without the availability of center Andrew Bynum due to a strained Achilles tendon suffered on March 19 against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Staples Center.  With the Lakers regular season record standing at 38-12 with a healthy combo of Bynum and forward/center Pau Gasol versus a 19-13 record with one or both injured (Mike Trudell, Lakers.com BasketBlog), it is no secret that the Lakers’ success depends very heavily on the health of their front court.

Another injury which may prove to be even more troubling for the Lakers in the 2010 NBA Playoffs is that to the right index finger of Kobe Bryant, which has remained a source of concern for the Lakers throughout much of the regular season.  Prior to suffering an avulsion fracture in his right index finger during the regular season, Bryant’s shot percentage was four percentage points higher; his scoring average three points per game higher than the time of the injury—after which Bryant began playing with a splint on his finger.  This will be critical for the Lakers—for whom it can easily be argued that the difference maker in finishing two games ahead of Dallas to earn the top seed in the Western Conference was a number of decisive clutch shots from Bryant.

Technorati Tags: injury, Lakers, NBA, playoffs

With the help of a 39 point effort from Chauncey Billups, the Denver Nuggets put away the Los Angeles Lakers despite the absence of Carmelo Anthony in a convincing 126-113 road victory at the Staples Center on February 5.

If the Lakers’ 1-3 record in their four regular season matchups against the Denver Nuggets is any indication, the Lakers—heavy favorites to win the top seed in the NBA Western Conference and to make their third consecutive NBA Finals appearance—will face tougher competition in this year’s Western Conference playoffs than in the previous two seasons.

After pulling away for a nine-point victory with a fourth quarter momentum burst in Game 5 at the Staples Center in the 2009 Western Conference Finals to take a 3-2 lead in what had been a tightly contested series, the Los Angeles Lakers slammed the door on the Nuggets’ playoff hopes with a convincing 119-92 road thumping on Denver’s home court in Game 6.  The Lakers’ intent to end the series that night was made very clear as they executed their game as effectively as they had all season at both ends of the court; the Nuggets team—which had shown an undaunted competitive edge that manifested their belief that they stood a chance in the series—came out flat and appeared to lack the same level of confidence they had shown in the first five games of the series.

Although the Lakers have won the only matchup in which both team rosters were at full strength in the 2009-2010 season and still retain a 3.5 game lead in the top seed in the Western Conference standings, the ease with which Denver took two of their three regular season victories against the Lakers may be cause for concern—particularly that in their 126-113 victory without the services of Carmelo Anthony against a full-strength Lakers team.  Whether it was due to the lack of focus which seems to be characteristic of the Lakers during many regular season games in their wait until the playoffs—or due to the adjustment of the team chemistry complicated by frequent injuries to key components of the rotation—the Lakers showed the same flat lack of intensity shown by Denver in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals one year ago.

Whether the confidence shown by Denver throughout the regular season in their ability to match up with the Lakers will carry over into an upset in a potential Western Conference Finals rematch remains to be seen.  The Lakers—particularly in their seasons as defending champions—have been known to show an occasional lack of intensity during the regular season before ratcheting up their play to a level at which they appear to be a completely different team; the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers 15-1 playoff and Finals run serving as a strong reminder.

Technorati Tags: Denver, Lakers, Western Conference

The Los Angeles Dodgers will need an improved level of consistency in the performance of Chad Billingsley and the rest of their starting rotation if they are to have a shot at a World Series ring in 2010.

At the midpoint of the 2009 season, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley was considered by many to be the ace of the Dodgers’ starting rotation, and was named as a member of the National League All-Star team with a win/loss record of 9-4 and an Earned Run Average of 3.38.  The Dodgers’ record at the break stood at 56-32—the best in all of Major League Baseball at that point.  In his starts following the All-Star break, Billingsley went 3-7 with an ERA of 5.20, and allowed a .271 total batting average in the second half of the season versus .227 for opposing batters in the half prior to the break.  The Dodgers record following the break stood a mere 4 games above .500—at a record of 39-35—as they finished the season with only a three-game lead in the National League West division standings over the Colorado Rockies.

Although it would certainly be unreasonable to blame Billingsley’s performance alone for the Dodgers’ second-half slide or for their second consecutive 4-1 NLCS series loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009, there does appear to be a strong reflection within his second half performance woes of a greater problem with the Dodgers’ consistency over the course of the season.  Although the Dodgers still managed to achieve the top record in the National League and in turn earned home field advantage throughout the 2009 National League playoff series, their shaky performance and lack of consistency in the second half carried over into the playoffs, and became glaringly evident as the Philadelphia Phillies put the Dodgers away quickly in the NLCS in a fashion all too similar to the previous season.

Especially considering that the Dodgers’ starting rotation for 2010 will lean heavily upon Billingsley as well as 22 year-old All-Star caliber starter Clayton Kershaw, consistency will be crucial not only in allowing the Dodgers to make another bid for a World Series run this season, but in giving the team steady momentum heading into the playoffs—a time at which consistency will be as necessary as at any other point in the season—regardless of whether or not the Dodgers achieve the best record in the regular season, or attain home field advantage in the playoffs.

Technorati Tags: Billingsley, Dodgers, pitching, playoffs