PAYDIRT NATIONWIDE

Wimbledon Final Epic

2009-07-05T19:31:00.000-07:00

Forget the play-by-play or the summary of the match. Federer beat Roddick today 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14. Yeah, you saw that correctly. The fifth and deciding set went 16-14. It was the longest championship match in Wimbledon history.

I don't think words do justice to this match: epic, amazing, wild, crazy, legendary, historical. The list can continue, but just doesn't express how awesome this match was.

While the whole match was excellent, the stretch run in the 5th set is where I want to focus. I don't know where sports cliches came from, but after watching the 5th set, I know why they are used. This match was a gut check, a battle of wills, a chess match, and anything else that's been stated to death so many times. Federer and Roddick started into each other's eyes for over four hours, and Roddick blinked - but only slightly. As the match went on and on Roddick slowly started to get chinks in his armor and eventually it was apparent that Federer would prevail.

This is why Roger Federer is the best of the decade. He is a true champion. He earned every ounce of his 15th major championship.

As for Roddick, he has nothing to be ashamed of, but that's hardly consolation. He played the perfect Wimbledon Championship, only to have Roger Federer on the other end. This one has to sting for Roddick.

Individual stories aside, this is one for the ages. It was an Instant Classic before the 5th set. It will go down in history as the best Wimbledon final of all time.

Epic.

Lakers Win NBA Finals

2009-06-14T19:57:00.000-07:00

And in doing so, they proved me wrong. I had thought Orlando could win Game 5 and send the series back to Los Angeles, but LA was simply way too much for the Magic to handle. The talent disparity between the two teams was quite apparent in Games 4 and 5, and the Lakers proved to be much more balanced than the perimeter-dependent Magic.

The 99-86 trouncing gave the Lakers their first championship since 2002, Kobe Bryant his 4th title, and Phil Jackson his 10th (a new record). This is also Kobe and LA's first title without Shaq, furthering the storyline involving those two. Now they each have a title since the split, and Kobe can rest easy about that.

The team is definitely championship-caliber, and played like it the last two games of the series. The Magic lived and died by their outside shooting, and LA did a good job of preventing Dwight Howard from establishing an inside game for the Magic, and thus preventing easy perimeter shots. Basically, LA took Orlando off their game entirely, especially in Games 4 and 5. Conversely, the Lakers were able to get the ball low in the post with Pau Gasol and hit their own perimeter shots, as Trevor Ariza and Derek Fisher each contributed immensely, especially from behind the arc. Kobe was Kobe and was not going to be denied in this series.

It was a tremendous run for the Magic, who have nothing to be ashamed of. They ran into the better team and were over-matched. That doesn't take away from their accomplishments. Defeating the defending champs and the Eastern Conference favorite en route to the finals is impressive. They also earned their first ever NBA Finals victory as a franchise. It was definitely a successful season on all accounts.

The Lakers added to their prestigious history, winning their 15th title. The franchise gets some sort of vindication, for better or worse, after all the turmoil they went through some years back. Their playoff run is equally impressive because they accomplished what they set out to do. They had some bumps in the road, but ultimately they were not going to be denied this championship. It was the goal from the time the buzzer went off last year in Game 6 against Boston. And a year later, they did what they set out to do. And that alone makes them worthy champs.

Penguins Win the Stanley Cup

2009-06-14T15:48:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay, it's been a busy few days. By now, you know how the game went on Friday night - how the Penguins defeated the Red Wings in the Joe Louis Arena, how Marc-Andre Fleury had the game of his life, how the Wings staged one final rush to defend their championship, how in the end, it was the youth hoisting the Cup, in what could be a changing of the guard for the National Hockey League.

The Penguins earned their victory. After going down 2-0 to open the series, they were forced to take 4 of 5 from the Wings: a daunting task, for sure. But the Pens responded, even completely dominating Detroit in Game 4. After the embarrassing Game 5 defeat, they were able to take Game 6, despite a crazy rush by the Wings at the end of the game. Then of course in a Game 7, anything can happen. And what happened was the first road victory in the series for either team.

Both teams played good games. Both penalty kills were perfect. Both goalies were solid. The Pens were just able to strike twice, both from Max Talbot. The Wings almost scored twice, with their potential second goal clanging off the cross-bar late in the third. It was a testament to how even these teams actually are. An extension of that is how good the Penguins are. If they are even with the Wings, and the Wings are a much older team, imagine how good the Penguins can be a few years from now when Crosby and Malkin reach their primes. It's a scary thought.

The storylines were many, and didn't disappoint. Pittsburgh avenged last year's defeat to these same Red Wings, Crosby was proven right when he was questioned for grabbing the Prince of Wales' Trophy after defeating the Hurricanes, and Marian Hossa ultimately chose the wrong team. You kind of feel bad for Hossa, but that's karma for you.

In the end, I don't know if the better team won, but the hottest team in the NHL in the waning months held the Cup at the end, and the season finished with a worthy series, and worthy champions.

Lakers go up 3-1

2009-06-11T21:20:00.000-07:00

Coming back from the 12 point deficit was the easy part. Sustaining the lead was the hard part. Right out of the gate in the second half, the Lakers, led by Trevor Ariza, stormed back to take the lead late in the third quarter. The fourth quarter was another see-saw affair that came down to clutch baskets. One team missed theirs; the other made theirs.

The Lakers made theirs and are now up 3-1 in the NBA Finals. Kobe led the charge as always, but the second half saw the rest of the Lakers step up and simply out-hustle the Magic. Pau Gasol had a good half, but the real story was Ariza and Derek Fisher. Ariza played like a mad man in the third quarter, and Derek Fisher saved the game for LA with 4 seconds left, with a dramatic three over Jameer Nelson, who's defense was awful on that play. Fisher also later hit what proved to be the game-winning three in OT.

The Magic at the end of the game and in all of OT had no answer for the Lakers. They were out-played on both ends of the court and their execution in the last 6 minutes of the game was inexcusible. Two horrendous in-bounds plays resulted in bricked shots, the latter of which led to the game-icing dunk by Gasol. Missed free throws also killed them tonight.

The Lakers are now in firm control of the series. For whatever reason, the Magic just didn't seem to want it as much as LA did, and LA capitalized. That won't happen in Game 5. Orlando will be in front of their home fans again, they will be fired up and come out aggressive, and LA has a game to give. The series will go back to LA, but it simply is Orlando delaying the inevitable.

Magic Control First Half of Game 4

2009-06-11T19:30:00.000-07:00

The first half in Orlando has come to a close, with the Magic leading 49-37. It's the biggest lead the Magic have had in the series so far, and they are controlling the game in every facet. Hedo Turkoglu is leading the way with 15, while Rafer Alston has added 9, and Dwight Howard has grabbed 14 rebounds already. The Lakers are led by Kobe (who else?) with 16, but no one else on Los Angeles has done anything of note.

Preventing the Magic from holding a much bigger lead are their 9 turnovers. The teams have proven to be pretty even this series, and the Lakers' poor play in the first half has led to the deficit. If anyone other than Kobe had had a really good first half, the game would be even again. The scary thing for LA is that Rashard Lewis has yet to do much, only scoring 3 points on a three-pointer. If Lewis gets going, and Howard can establish some inside points, the Lakers could be in for a long second half.

On the other end, if Pau Gasol can start hitting some shots and Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher step up, the Lakers will be in good position to climb out of the hole. Kobe will be Kobe, and you know he's looking to redeem himself after his lackluster Game 3 performance down the stretch. Look for the game to tighten up down the stretch. I still think the Lakers pull it out in the end.

Magic Win Game 3

2009-06-09T20:58:00.000-07:00

In the most crucial game of the season, the Magic took advantage of some rare lapses by Kobe Bryant and had the best shooting performance in Finals history en route to a 108-104 win in Game 3.

Shooting 62.5% will win you some ball games, and it certainly helped the Magic tonight, though they still only won by 4. The Magic brought their balanced attack again and were able to hit their shots, but the Lakers countered with more strong efforts from Bryant, Pau Gasol, and even Trevor Ariza.

It was a game quite similar to Game 2, just with both teams playing better. Chances are, if this game is played in LA, the Lakers win. It's no surprise Orlando won tonight; Thursday is the big question for them. If they can answer that, it's a whole new series. But as it stands, the Lakers still are in control. Kobe won't make the same mistakes that he did tonight, and that will change the outcome. Look for the Lakers to take Game 4 and put a stranglehold on the series.

To Game 7!

2009-06-09T19:40:00.000-07:00

What a third period. The Wings completely turned it on, forcing the Penguins to hunker down in their own zone most of the way, leading to a wild last minute at Mellon Arena. In the end, the Penguins prevailed 2-1, forcing the deciding game Friday night at Joe Louis Arena.

The Penguins kept at it at the start of the third, leading to their second goal. But after that, the Wings seemingly flipped a switch and poured it on. They were able to light the lamp 8 minutes in on Kris Draper's rebound goal.

But once again, the Penguins were able to weather the Detroit storm and hold their ground. They controlled most of the game and were able to prevent Detroit from a lot of quality chances. The same thing happened in Game 4. We know what happened in the next game.

There's no way Game 7 will be a blowout. Anything that's happened in the series so far is tossed out the window. The Pens have to win on Detroit ice, which they've yet to do. But all bets are off. Detroit has the experience and friendly ice. Pittsburgh has a renewed energy and confidence level and revenge on their minds. I think it would be fitting that the game goes into overtime. It will be an explosive game, and I'll go against the logical pick and say the Penguins, after overtime, will be holding the Cup when it's said and done .

Second Intermission

2009-06-09T18:50:00.000-07:00

And right off the bat, the Pens kept pouring it on and were able to score on Chris Osgood 51 seconds into the second period.

The second period was also controlled by Pittsburgh, who are doing a great job of holding Detroit off. When Detroit, which only has 12 shots, has gotten to the net, Marc-Andre Fleury has pushed them aside. Really, though, the same keys for both teams apply going into the third period. Detroit needs to stay calm and look for opportunities. Unless they come out and dominate the third, they will only have a few quality chances. They must cash in on those to win.

On the other end, the Penguins need to keep bringing the heat, as another will go in at some point. If the pace stays the same and nothing changes, the Penguins will force a Game 7. If Detroit can somehow corral the momentum, they will be in position to hoist the Cup tonight.

Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 First Period

2009-06-09T17:44:00.000-07:00

A pretty even period for the two teams, as the Penguins have put the embarrassment of Game 5 behind them. The Pens came out firing again, and have outshot Detroit 12-3, and have created a number of quality chances.

That none of those shots crossed the goal line is key for Detroit as they head into their best period. If the Wings can score a quick goal here, it will be tough for Pittsburgh to rebound. Despite the shot differential, the Wings looked poised and in control of their game. They look like they are simply waiting for the time to strike. Dan Cleary and Pavel Datsyuk had a quality chance that went wide. The Wing's penalty kill has been solid.

The Penguins needs to keep it up and eventually something will find its way through. Their season is on the line, and they need to bring that urgency throughout the game. The Pens needs to keep going full throttle and avoid a cheap goal.

Lakers up 2-0

2009-06-07T20:06:00.000-07:00

What a game this was. Both teams stepped up their respective games, leading to a very entertaining overtime finish in the Staples Center.

At the half, I mentioned that for the Magic to have a chance, Dwight Howard and Hedo Turkoglu needed to step up, and they did exactly that. The Magic was dependent on Rashard Lewis in the first half, and he finished with 34 points, including 6 three-pointers. It was a great game for him. Howard finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds, while Turkoglu had 22 and 6. The Magic was able to get Howard doubled on throughout the second half, especially the third quarter, and that freed up room for Turkoglu to hit some shots. The Magic definitely had their chances, including two near-misses by Courtney Lee in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter. If one of those shots goes down, it's 1-1 heading back to Florida.

But it was not to be, as Kobe led the Laker charge with 29 points. Gasol added 24. The Lakers upped their game in the second half, too, as they fell behind at times, but never let the Magic attain any sort of lead. The Lakers did just play their game in the second half, and got a tie out of it in regulation. OT was a different story, as it looked like the Magic just ran out of gas for whatever reason. LA took over and won the game.

The series doesn't appear like it will be short, however. For as poorly as the Magic played in the first half, and for all the shots they missed, they only lost by 5 and almost won the game at the end of regulation. If only a handful of their misses go down, they win. That's what they need to take from this game. They hung with the Lakers all night and could have (read: should have) won the game. They can take a lot from tonight's effort, and should be able to rebound nicely in front of a friendly crowd in Orlando. As for LA, they are the better team here, but they need to play better to win on the road. If Orlando is hitting their shots, LA could be in for a long Game 3.

The series now shifts to Orland for Games 3, 4, and 5. Look for Orland to take games 3 and 5. LA is good enough to take one, and that's all they need. As always, Game 3 is key, so expect action like tonight, just up a notch or two. We are in for a good one on Tuesday.

Halftime

2009-06-07T18:10:00.000-07:00

One half of basketball has been played at the Staples Center, and the Lakers are out to a 40-35 lead over the visiting Magic. Rashard Lewis has been on fire, while the Lakers have brought a more balanced attack.

The Lakers are controlling the game so far, with Orlando just trying to keep up, and doing so thanks to Lewis and his 20 points. The Magic can't seem to muster any offense besides him, as Dwight Howard is the second-leading Orlando scorer with a whopping 4. Hedo Turkoglu has 3, while 4 other players have 2 points each. This is certainly not good news for the Magic, because Lewis cannot single-handedly beat the Lakers. Lewis is a complement, and he won't be able to sustain his current pace. Others need to step up, specifically Superman Howard, who has 11 boards so far. They need him to establish his presence in the post, and draw double teams, which will then allow better looks for Orlando's perimeter shooters. The Magic is only shooting 32% and that's simply not going to win this game for them. To be blunt: everything needs to improve on the visitor's side for them to win this game.

On the home side, a balanced attack is led by Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom with 7 points each, and Kobe Bryant has 6. Each Laker starter has at least 5 points, and Odom came off the bench to add his 7. Los Angeles is shooting 42% and is controlling the tempo of the game in front of their home fans. The Lakers looked to be pulling away at times, and would have if not for Rashard Lewis on the other end. If they can quell Lewis and not allow the rest of the Magic to get going, it will be an easy victory for the home team.

I expect Howard to step up big and Hedo Turkoglu to start hitting some shots. Lewis will slow down, so the rest of the Magic must step up to have a chance. Regardless, though, Bryant will wake up and take over at some point, too. We're looking at a 2-0 series when this one's over.

Federer wins French Open; 14th Slam

2009-06-07T17:04:00.000-07:00

A quick congratulations to Roger Federer on his French Open victory over Robin Soderling in straight sets 6-1, 7-6 , 6-4. With the win, Federer tied Pete Sampras's all time record of 14 Grand Slam titles. With Wimbledon and The U.S. Open still to come, there is a good chance Federer will make history this year.

Federer is one of the most dominant athletes of the decade, and it's nice to see him finally get the trophy that has eluded him his whole career, mostly thanks to Rafael Nadal. I hope he keeps going and keeps winning, because a player of his caliber doesn't show up very often. Good for him.

Wings Take Game 5

2009-06-07T16:46:00.001-07:00

And the most decisive game of the series went to Detroit last night, in not-so-thrilling fashion. The host Red Wings throttled the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins to take a pivotal 3-2 lead in the series. Game 6 is Tuesday night in Pittsburgh.

The effort by the Wings in this game showed exactly why they are the defending champions. They got Pavel Datsyuk back and he paid immediate dividends, but the team's effort as a whole was a remarkable turnaround from Game 4, in which they were soundly handled. The Wings acted like they never lost a game all year and were able to shrug off any momentum Pittsburgh carried with them and dominate the game in ways the Pens had previously been able to prevent.

The Penguins came out firing and created three quality scoring chances in the first five minutes. But that's all they were able to muster. It seemed that once Detroit got their first goal, all the momentum swung back in the home team's favor.

From there, the Wings just controlled the game. They never let the Penguins get their footing, keeping them off-balance and in catch-up mode all night. Datsyuk didn't miss a beat, and Chris Osgood was sensational again, posting another shutout.

Detroit took advantage of Pittsburgh's lack of discipline -- a factor which was rather surprising, considering the experience Pittsburgh gained last year and how well they had played in this series -- cashing in on three power plays. If you score three power play goals, you're going to win more often than not. All three of those goals came in the second period, which saw Detroit re-establish its dominance over that period.

Heading into Game 6, Detroit now has all the momentum, all the confidence, and none of the pressure. If they simply play their game, they will have a good shot at raising the Cup on Tuesday night. For Pittsburgh, a few things need to change.

For one, they can't commit 12 penalties. The Wing's power play is way too good for those sorts of opportunities. For two, they need to just put this clunker behind them and focus on Game 6 and only Game 6. They need to remember that they came out and dictated the tempo early in the game, and if one of those good chances actually goes in the net, Game 5 is completely different. For three, they need to take back the momentum by scoring the first goal and get Mellon Arena rocking early. They will need the energy to defeat the Wings on Tuesday.

It was a bad game for the Penguins, but Marc-Andre Fleury will bounce back. Detroit will bring it more than they have so far this series, and it's up to Crosby and Malkin to lead their team and force a Game 7. Despite what happened in Game 5, I expect the series to return to Detroit for the final showdown on Friday night.

Lakers Take Game 1

2009-06-04T20:41:00.000-07:00

In dominant fashion, too. Los Angeles won Game 1 of the NBA Finals 100-75 over the Orlando Magic. After leading early, the Magic were playing catch-up the rest of the way and never seemed to be in the same league as the Lakers.

The Lakers' swarming defense held the Magic to 30% shooting and 35% shooting from beyond the arc. When the Magic shoot that poorly, this is the result. Even Dwight Howard was held to only 12 points. His 15 rebounds are pretty impressive, but he needs to score more for the Magic to have a chance.

Kobe Bryant led the charge as always with 40 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists. He also played with the will to take over. He had his game face on, to say the least. And the Magic had no answer whatsoever for him.

The key for Orlando going into Game 2 is realizing what they are up against and adjusting. They were 2-0 against the Lakers in the regular season, but as they found out tonight, championship teams are different animals in the playoffs. The return of Jameer Nelson didn't do much. IF Nelson can get his feet under him and get back to his level of play from earlier in the year, the Magic will be better off. It wasn't the best move to bring him back, as it disrupts the flow of the team, but if they can re-acclimate to him, they have a chance.

The best thing for the Magic to do is just take a breath, realize it was only one game and come out strong on Sunday night. Game 1 is just that: Game 1. Doesn't really mean anything. It's a long series. And, oh, don't worry about the fact that Phil Jackson's teams are undefeated in the playoffs when winning Game 1...

And That's It

2009-06-04T19:49:00.000-07:00

A scoreless third period allows the Pittsburgh Penguins to tie the Stanley Cup Finals at 2 games apiece. Game 5 is Saturday night back in Detroit.

Third period went as expected, with the Wings creating some chances, but nothing significant, and the Penguins playing in a more defensive mode.

The game as a whole was all about Pittsburgh. They controlled the game, they dictated the pace, they kept the Wings off-balance. They proved tonight that not only can they hang with Detroit but they also can dominate Detroit. And that is just something that doesn't happen to the Wings.

And that is now a key metal aspect for both teams going into game 5. It doesn't matter that it's back in Detroit. The Penguins now know they can control a game and the Wings now know they can be controlled. Neither team knew that going into tonight. That realization forces the Wings to adjust, as they won't be able to play their game without being a bit extra careful to not give up fast breaks and odd-man rushes. On the other side, it gives the Penguins confidence to take some chances and try to dictate the game again.

Detroit is a veteran group, and they've been here before. They will know how to respond. The Penguins have learned from last year and will be ready to build on this game. After Game 3, Game 5 is the most important in any playoff series.

It's all up for grabs on Saturday.

Stanley Cup Finals Game 4: Second Period

2009-06-04T18:53:00.000-07:00

WOW. What a period. I don't know where to start. Not only did the Wings score the first goal that period to go up 2-1, they did it less than a minute in and completely silenced Mellon Arena. And THEN Evgeni Malkin gets a penalty. And THEN Brooks Orpik gets a penalty. The momentum was solidly in the Wings' favor. At that point, I thought it was over.

And THEN, everything changed.

Jordan Staal scored on a shorthanded break-away to tie the game and bring the fans back into it. That wasn't enough, though, because Detroit remained composed like the veteran squad they are still created some quality chances on the power play. But about two minutes later, on another break, Malkin hit Crosby for a sweet one-timer goal to put the Pens up 3-2. The place officially lost it.

The next four minutes saw the Penguins run circles around the Red Wings in a way no one else has this year. The Wings were completely on their heels and had no answer. The run culminated in a perfectly executed 3-on-2 situation with Crosby feeding Tyler Kennedy.

Detroit regrouped somewhat to get some chances late in the period, but it will take a huge effort to come back and win this game.

What a period. What a turnaround for the Penguins. Detroit went from owning the middle period to being owned. We're looking at a tied Stanley Cup Finals.

Stanley Cup Finals Game 4: First Period

2009-06-04T17:58:00.001-07:00

What a start to this game. For the first 10 minutes, the Penguins were on fire, keeping the Red Wings off-balance and dictating the quick pace. For once, the Wings looked like the inferior team. Unfortunately for the Pens, they only got one goal. Evgeni Malkin scored on a nifty little wrap-around to give Pittsburgh the lead. It is key for the Penguins that Malkin can light the lamp, and he's off to a great start tonight.

It looked like that lead was going to hold up to the horn, but Darren Helm scored at the 18:19 mark to tie it, and it seemed that all the wind left the sails of the Mellon Arena. Those late-period goals are killer, and it will be compounded if Detroit scores the next goal. The teams are even so far tonight, but the Penguins are playing with urgency again and it showed. 2nd periods have been great for Detroit in these playoffs, so the Penguins must stop the rush that is sure to come.

Big Unit gets Win 300

2009-06-04T17:50:00.000-07:00

Just a little blurb here. Congratulations to Randy Johnson on becoming the 24th player in MLB history to win 300 games. The milestone happened in the opener of a double-header with the Washington Nationals. The Giants won 5-1. Johnson's career saw him in Montreal, Seattle, Houston, Arizona, New York, Arizona again, and now San Francisco. Again, congrats to him, he certainly earned it.

Busy Braves

2009-06-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

It was a busy day for the Atlanta Braves today, as their 3-2 loss in extra innings to the Chicago Cubs was the 3rd most important thing that happened to the franchise.

Earlier in the day, the Braves released 305-game winner, future Hall of Famer, and Braves legend, Tom Glavine. Glavine has actually just completed a minor league rehab assignment and was ready to rejoin the team. Braves' GM Fran Wren had other ideas.

After releasing Glavine, the Braves then sent 3 prospects to the Pittsburgh Pirates for center fielder Nate McLouth (it's okay, Pirates fans, you still have the Penguins and the Steelers). The team also will bring up prized prospect Tommy Hanson to pitch Saturday.

Despite the sentimentalities, all of these moves are good. Glavine is 43-years-old. And even if 2009 were his last season, the Braves realized that moving forward with their youth is the best way to go. And it is. Since it is unlikely the Braves will make the playoffs with the Phillies and Mets around, why not go all the way with the youth in the rotation and learn something this year and be ready for the next few seasons? Tommy Hanson and the Braves will both benefit more from him being in the majors this year, than if Tom Glavine were in the rotation. It's harsh to see Glavine be simply cut like that, but that's part of sports. Teams move on. It was time for Atlanta to do so.

As far as the McLouth move goes, what a deal for them. It solidifies their outfield and immediately bolsters the production from their OF. If Jeff Francoeur ever gets it together, they have a solid OF with those two and Garret Anderson.

A big day for the Braves, with both moves being winners. It didn't translate to a W on the field tonight, but it will in the near future.

Penguins Save Their Season

2009-06-03T20:29:00.000-07:00

For a day, at least. Like the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Finals, the Pittsburgh Penguins were able to win Game 3 on home ice. Defenseman Sergei Gonchar gave the Pens the 3-2 lead with the game-winner on a late power play, as the Penguins won 4-2, and saved their season in the process.

Game 3 is the most important game in a playoff series, and both teams played like they knew it. Detroit is the better team, and they proved that, owning period 2, having the Penguins on their heels. But they didn't score.

That made all the difference as Pittsburgh weathered every Detroit storm and was able to untie the game on the special team opportunity. Not many penalties were called in the game, but each team capitalized on one of their chances, with the biggest being Gonchar's blast from the point at 10:29.

The better news for Pittsburgh is that their stars Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby combined for 4 assists. It is good for Pittsburgh that they found the scoresheet, but they must hit paydirt, as it were, of their own for the Penguins to pile up some wins in this series.

Game 4 is also must-win for the Pens. Detroit was in this very position against Chicago the last round and won on enemy ice 6-1. There's no doubt the Wings know what it takes. Pittsburgh knows what it takes, too. It might take a perfect game from Pittsburgh to tie the series, but they have the talent to play one.

And their season depends on it.

LeBron Showing his Youth

2009-06-02T17:16:00.000-07:00

By now, you've seen it, heard about it, read about it, and maybe are sick of it. But I have to write a little something on LeBron James refusing to shake hands after the conclusion of the Orlando series and refusing to address the media. He hasn't apologized for his actions, either.

King James dropped the ball. Big time. It isn't enough to simply call him a "sore loser." This is cowardice. He was beaten straight up and couldn't handle it. He took the proverbial ball and went home.

Not shaking hands is one thing. It's not mandatory and it's happened before. If this were all he did, that would be disappointing. But he took it one step further.

By not talking with the media after the loss, James disgraced himself, his franchise, and his league. LeBron James is the face of the Cleveland Cavaliers, that much is obvious. But in many ways, LeBron James it the face of the National Basketball Association. Think off all the endorsements James has and how many commercials he appears in. His face is all over the sport of basketball. And yet, that face was nowhere to be found after his team was eliminated last week.

How sad. I guess we forget that James is only 25. But his youth has nothing to do with him running away from the defeat. Someone -- his agent, his coach, his family -- anyone, had to tell him to make up for it and address the media, comment on the season, and comment on the future. But apparently, no one has the fortitude.

James ducked the media after he lost, and for the face of the NBA to do that sends a horrible message to young athletes. And that's the truly sad byproduct of James's actions. Don't worry about sportsmanship, kids. Don't worry about responsibility, kids. Don't worry about failure, kids. The King doesn't, so neither should you.

Stanley Cup Finals Game 2

2009-05-31T20:13:00.000-07:00

So much for back-to-back games hurting the Red Wings. In a repeat of last year's Cup Finals, the series shifts back to Pittsburgh with Detroit up 2-0.

This game was awesome. Fast-paced, crisp, and exciting. Especially the second period. That frame hardly had any stoppages and was just the two teams going at each other full blast. It was the "new" NHL at its finest.

The Red Wings won the battle tonight, and have won the battle thus far in a series that has shown the Wings to still be a step ahead of the Penguins. Aside from the second period tonight, Detroit has won each period in the series and has done a fantastic job of shutting down Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. For Pittsburgh to have a chance, those two must play better.

But speaking of Malkin, he sent a message to the Wings by starting a fight with Henrik Zetterberg at the end of the game. Even as Zetterberg went to skate away to avoid the altercation, Malking pursued him, flailing wildly. The scrum was meant to show the Pens aren't backing down and that Malkin isn't packing it in himself, like last season.

The fight will no doubt fire up the Wings, and as we saw in the Western Conference Finals, they aren't easily intimidated. But it will also fire up the Penguins who will look to come out smokin' in front of their home crowd in Game 3. The series is not over by a long shot.

NBA Finals

2009-05-31T19:38:00.000-07:00

So we have one half of the match up the NBA obviously was hoping for. Unfortunately for them, the Orlando Magic had other ideas. It's the Magic and Los Angeles Lakers in the 2009 NBA Finals. Not the expected match up, yet not necessarily a surprising one.

Due to Kevin Garnett's absence, the East had to legit candidates: Orlando and Cleveland. And it just so happened that Orlando was a horrible match up for Cleveland. The Magic played well in each game and could actually have swept LeBron and the rest. If James misses the game-winning three in Game 2, it's Orlando 4, Cleveland 0. Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and Hedo Turkoglu led the Magic's charge straight to the finals for the first time since 1995.

It hasn't been that long for Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, who were on the losing end in last year's finals. The Lakers overcame some lackluster efforts before running wild over the Nuggets in Game 6 in Denver. The Lakers are now experienced, and you know the Kobe is still burning to win a title without Shaq after all this time. The Lakers' issue is their inconsistency. If they all can come together for a complete game (looking at you, Lamar Odom), they can dominate a game, as Game 6 demonstrated. And that is certainly the way you want to go into the championship series.

So who wins? Well, it's up to the Lakers. Howard is going to absolutely own Pau Gasol, so they lose the inside battle. However, Kobe's defense can neutralize the Magic's perimeter attack. Lewis and Turkoglu are outstanding complements to Howard, but they are up against some better competition here. If the Lakers have their lapses that they had against Denver, the Magic can steal any games in which those lapses occur. If the Lakers play complete games all the way through, they should be able to capture the series.

Phil Jackson wants that 10th title. And he can out-coach Stan Van Gundy to get it.

Lakers in 6.