Last Call On Air - NBA Playoff Chalk Talk

May 28, 2009

Tasso, Haffty, Grove, Ciampa

Down, But Not Out

By Ian Tasso

Editorial. Photos by AP News

So much of sports is psychological. Every player, coach and fan emotionally lives and dies with the games that are played. Whether you’re on the field playing or on your couch watching, emotional attachment comes with every occurring play: each fan wanting to witness history, and each player wanting to make it. But for every team that makes history, another one is denied it, and for every player that reaches his goals, there’s another that falls short.

Someone once told me that the real story of a game can be felt in the locker room of the losing team; not the winning one. Very rarely does the public get to see how it feels to lose so much so quickly. Instead, they constantly hear about the glory of victory - never the agony of defeat.

But for every public that doesn’t fully understand the truth about defeat, there’s one player who gets hit in the face with it. In outfielder Rick Ankiel’s case, he’s faced the ugly mug of failure more times than most could ever dream of. His most recent encounter was a full speed, headfirst collision with the brick outfield wall in Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The collision landed him on the 15-day DL, and sparked many around baseball to deem him ‘done,’ or at least a long shot to return to his old form.

It appears many around baseball haven’t done their research – or don’t fully understand the beast that is Rick Ankiel.

Back in 1997, USA Today named Ankiel the high school player of the year after he posted an unworldly 11-0 record and .47 ERA on the mound. After being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in ’97, it took this phenom only a year and a half to catapult himself from the lower levels of the minor leagues directly to the majors. Ankiel struck out an amazing 194 batters in 137.2 innings along the way, and received Cardinal’s Minor League Player of the Year Honors in both seasons.In 2000, his first full season as a major leaguer, Ankiel grabbed 11 wins and posted a very respectable 3.50 ERA, propelling his St. Louis Cardinals into the National League playoffs.

However, things quickly turned ugly for the Cardinals, and even more so for Ankiel.

After helping his Cardinals win the NL Central Division, Ankiel saw his first action of the 2000 postseason when he was handed the ball with a 6-0 Game One lead against the Atlanta Braves.

Ankiel then proceeded to seemingly do everything he could to blow that lead, allowing four runs on only two hits, walking four batters, and throwing five wild pitches. After the game, Ankiel joked about the inning after being notified about becoming the first pitcher to throw five wild pitches since 1980 – but the joke soon turned serious.

In Game Two of the NLCS, Ankiel’s erratic problems continued, getting removed in the first inning after throwing five more pitches past the catcher. Ankiel made one final appearance in Game Five, walking two more batters and throwing two more wild pitches. The Cardinals went on to lose the NLCS against the Mets, four games to one.

The next year, Ankiel’s mysterious decline continued, as he walked 25 batters in his first 24 innings, resulting in an official demotion to the minor leagues. Unfortunately, in AAA his problems grew, as Ankiel walked 17 batters in 4.1 innings; ballooning his ERA to 20.77. With all seeming lost, Ankiel was then dropped as low as the Rookie League to play for the Johnson City Cardinals.

Succumbing to his emotions, Ankiel finally called it quits and threw in the towel – sort of. Making quite possibly one of the hardest choices of his life, Ankiel decided to give up on his pitching career forever, and step into the batters box for a change. Ankiel was going to attempt a comeback as an outfielder.

In 2005, his first season playing in the field, Ankiel posted amazing statistics in batting as well as fielding, quickly advancing through the ranks of baseball. After suffering a season ending injury in 2006, Ankiel was asked to try out for the Cardinal’s in 2007. Ankiel showed up despite his many doubters, including St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa who said “it would be a bad move for him and us” of Ankiel’s return to the Cardinals. Unfortunately, Ankiel was again denied a spot on the team. Instead, he was named the starting outfielder for AAA Memphis, the Cardinal’s minor league affiliate.

Ankiel responded to this demotion by being named the starting outfielder for the 2007 Triple-A All-Star game after hitting 32 home runs and 89 RBI with a .267 average through August. Because of this, Ankiel was finally promoted to play for the Cardinals on August 9, 2007. In his first game back in the majors, Ankiel not only drew resounding standing ovations for his hard-work, effort, and perseverance, but also clocked a 3-run homerun that helped St. Louis defeat the San Diego Padres 5-0

This outstanding display caused manager Tony LaRussa to soften his stance a bit, saying that his only “happier and prouder moment in a Cardinal’s uniform was when [he] won the 2006 World Series.” Two days after his first game in the majors, Ankiel made a game saving catch in the outfield in the 8^th inning as well as hitting two more home runs, generating a thunderous cheer from the crowd, as well as a collective smile from the entire country.

And Ankiel deserved it. After being so high and then falling so low, he was asked to perform what most would deem impossible. So few people ever get to reach the major leagues once in their life – and he was supposed to do it twice?

Yes, he was. And yes, he did. Seven years later he finally did. Now he gets to hear every day on the loudspeaker at Busch Stadium in front of 65,000 – “Now, starting in center field for your St. Louis Cardinals – Rick Ankiel…” as it’s drowned out by cheers. As he waves to his fans only one thing crosses his mind: “what if...” But then he grabs his hat and his glove, and he runs out to the field thinking not what if, but “what is,” all because he made it that way - and nobody else.

To think that a mere outfield collision could keep Ankiel out of the game would be ignorant. And to think that it would prevent him from playing the game the way great players do, well that would be downright stupid.

After facing the ultimate pitching collapse, a season ending injury, demotion after demotion, and denial after denial, only one thing is certain when it comes to the unpredictable Ankiel.

It’ll take more than an outfield wall to stop this guy from playing.

A Numbers Game

By Alex Tam

Editorial. Photos by AP News

23 or 24? 24 or 23? Which is greater? Well, depending on who you ask, you may get a variety of answers.

Years of research, one of the biggest ad campaigns ever, and millions of dollars later, the question is still being asked: Who is better: Lebron or Kobe? To get up on your research you may watch the many MVP (most valuable puppet) commercials. You can log onto ESPN.com and find some of the best sports minds trying to answer the incredibly difficult question.

No doubt the question has been posed because of three things. One, Kobe won the MVP last year and Lebron won it this year. Two, the entire sports world (except for Nuggets and Magic fans) expects to see a Lakers-Cavs finals. And three, Money with a capital “M”.

Now, call me cynical or a Lakers hater (check out my previous article) but it’s true. This thing is about the money. Not only are the two players incredibly different, but they are at different points in their lives and careers as well. The ring-less LeBron (entirely not his fault) is only 24 years old. The three-time Champion Kobe is 30. It’s not entirely fair to compare them just yet. However, I shall weigh my thoughts on the great debate and you will stand up a better person.

We will start with LeBron James, number 23, the same number worn by MJ himself. And if you think I’m going to give in and be an amateur and compare LeBron to MJ, you are sadly mistaken.

So why is LeBron James so special? Why is he “King James”? It boils down to one thing: we have never seen a basketball player like LeBron James before. What this young man is doing for the sport of basketball is nothing short of amazing. The plays LeBron makes for himself and his teammates are history in motion. This man is destined for greatness. Simply said, he cannot be stopped. His athleticism leaves us in awe. But he’s not a dunk happy Howard. He can make the jump shot or the three with the best of them. Don’t believe me? Just watch the buzzer beater against the Magic.

He fires triple-doubles on opponents leaving them defeated and confused. And this is where the argument could be made for LeBron being better than Kobe: King James not only puts up 30+ points a night, but he gets rebounds, and assists. The latter two are just as important as points because they create opportunity for the rest of the floor, and that is how James has been able to take his team so far in the playoffs without any other stars.

A certain superstar of his own accord creates his own "Black Mamba" opportunities for his team - Mr. 24, Kobe Bryant. Bryant is not known for his assists or rebounds, but that's okay. Why? Because he’s Kobe Bryant. He is fundamentally the best player in the game. His jump shot is un-blockable and the way he can square himself to the hoop and make incredible layups or dunks is pretty to watch. As a result, Kobe goes to the line a lot, and if you are expecting him to miss, forget about it.

He is without question one of the NBA’s most un-guardable players. The evidence of Kobe’s greatness is all in the game film. One example that rings through my head was in game five versus the Denver Nuggets. Kobe passed the ball to Gasol, who then started looking for an open man to dish the ball to. Kobe then screamed at him, “TAKE IT!” Needless to say, Gasol listened, and 2 points later the Lakers furthered their lead over the Nuggets. Kobe Bryant knows the game of basketball and has time and experience to testify for him.

If you have read carefully you will notice that I never said who was better. Well ladies and gentlemen, here is my answer. Kobe Bryant. But did you see that LeBron three point buzzer beater! Oh, it’s LeBron. But wait, Kobe showed that he can be a facilitator, just watch game 5 vs. the Nuggets. Yeah, but LeBron has gotten three triple doubles….catch my drift? Time and time again, the two keep outdoing each other. I’ve never seen someone so unstoppable when they drive to the rim. When I see LeBron do it, I get goose bumps; when I see Kobe do it, I’m not surprised. Kobe has proven himself. While I realize having Shaq on the team helped a great deal to secure those three rings, this is basketball. A single man cannot win championships by himself. Just look at the Cavs-Magic series.

Kobe is still the Kobe he was with Shaq, and he's gotten better. The Black Mamba's focus is legendary. You will never break his focus no matter what. If you put a hand in his face, or a body on him, guess what, he says he doesn’t even see it. That’s right, he doesn’t see defenders, he feels them. To him, there are no obstacles to getting to the net or knocking down the shot. In his mind, there is nothing that can stop him.

You may say that's incredibly cocky, but that is how champions think. They know on every level of their being that they are going to win. And for Kobe, he has the skills to back his mentality. That is why I chose Kobe; his focus, his work ethic, his fundamental skills, his recent leadership. LeBron has proven himself and he will get better with time. But his greatness does not override the greatness of Kobe Bryant through the years. For now, Kobe Bryant is the best player in basketball.

Conventional math holds up here. 24 is greater than 23.

Good Touch...Bad Touch?

By Jesse Liebman

Editorial. Photos by AP News

Hockey players are notoriously known to be a superstitious bunch. There are numerous examples: Patrick Roy was widely known to talk to his goalposts and refused to skate over the blue lines, Wayne Gretzky always tucked in the right side of his jersey, and just about every player in the playoffs refuses to shave until their season has come to an end.

One of the more widely known superstitions in hockey is that a player NEVER, under ANY circumstances, touches the Stanley Cup until he’s earned the right to by winning it. Expanding on that superstition is the long-held belief that the captain of a team that has earned a berth in the finals never handles the respective conference championship trophy – it’s not THE trophy that they’re after.

So the question now is: did Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby commit hockey sacrilege by carrying off the Prince of Wales trophy after the Penguins dispatched of the Carolina Hurricanes in a four game sweep? Has the young superstar sabotaged his team’s championship dreams, knowing now that Pittsburgh will likely face the very team that defeated them in the finals last year?

Slow down there, Penguins fans. Don’t go running for the hills just yet.

In fact, there have been a few teams whose players have touched the conference championship trophy en route to winning Lord Stanley’s mug. Mark Messier did it with the Rangers in ‘94, and New Jersey’s Scott Stevens did it four times and won the Cup three times, as did Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings. The three are regarded as some of the sport’s greatest leaders.

Stevens certainly thought winning the Prince of Wales trophy was worth celebrating, casually explaining, “It’s a nice trophy.”

In 2008, Crosby simply smiled for the cameras with league deputy commissioner Bill Daly and then let someone else carry the trophy off. Crosby was quick to point out to Versus TV personality Christine Simpson that he avoided the trophy last year, and that maybe switching things up would lead to better luck for his team.

Either way, don’t look to touching the Prince of Wales or Clarence Campbell trophies as an excuse for your team’s success or failure. Focus on the players, not the hardware.

On the other side of the coin, however, there are some who suggest that the Penguins are primed to follow in the path of Wayne Gretzky’s Oilers – Edmonton dropped their first Finals appearance to Mike Bossy’s Islanders, but then knocked off the dynastic New York squad the following year en route to their own period of sovereignty in the NHL, winning five Stanley Cup championships in five seasons. But they are forgetting one thing: unlike last year when Marian Hossa was tearing it up in black and Vegas gold, the Slovak sniper now sports the winged wheel on his chest.

Not to mention the fact that Detroit already boasts a lineup of Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Dan Cleary and Johan Franzen. Throw in goalie Chris Osgood and otherworldly defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom into the mix and you have all the makings of the first back-to-back Stanley Cup champion since the Wings did it eleven years ago.

To be fair, however: this Pittsburgh squad is of a different breed than last year. Gone are Hossa, Ryan Malone, Gary Roberts, Darryl Sydor and Georges Laraque. In their place, G.M. Ray Shero has assembled a squad that mixes youthful exuberance with veteran poise. With the payoff performance that Dan Bylsma's gotten out of Sid the Kid, Marc-Andre Fleury and Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh appears ready to go toe-to-toe with the boys from Motown.

If anyone is going to lead the Penguins back to the promise land, it’sCrosby. He’s already matched his point performance from last year, and still has at least four more games to play. Here’s another statistic you might want to take notice of: through 17 playoff games, Crosby has 14 goals. The record for most goals in the postseason is 19, which is shared by Jari Kurri and Reggie Leach. Once Crosby enters the top ten, he’ll already be in company with the likes of Gretzky, Bossy, and Joe Sakic.

If there was any doubt that Crosby has assumed the throne to the NHL, his play this postseason has silenced the critics.

So does Crosby’s parading with the Prince of Wales trophy sink the Penguins’ season, or is this just a preview of things to come? We won’t know until sometime after June 6 - just who in blazes at the NHL scheduling department came up with that brilliant idea? But hold on to your hats, folks. These Penguins look ready to take flight.

The Missing Piece

By Ian Tasso

Editorial. Photos by AP News

Anything is possible.

Assuming of course, that Kevin Garnett is on the court. Unfortunately for Boston, the 6’11 electric circuit was fastened tightly to the bench during Boston’s postseason ride.

He was still an emotional springboard for the rest of the team. He was still the biggest and loudest fan in the arena. And he still made a difference. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t enough.

In the end, a weak and inexperienced frontcourt was exposed by a superiorly talented Dwight Howard and a Magic team that features six guys over 6’10. The Celtics just didn’t have enough to make a serious run at a 2009 Championship.

It’s simple really: In 2008, when Ray Allen clunked three after three off of the rim in the first three postseason series, the Celtics were still able to win. Why? Kevin Garnett. In 2009, when Ray Allen clunked three after three off of the rim in the series versus the Orlando Magic, the Celtics were unable to win. Why not? Kevin Garnett.

Still, as any sports fan would, as the seconds ticked off in the Celtics’ final game of the season, I couldn’t help but wonder what if…

What if the Celtics weren’t forced to start second year undersized and underdeveloped power forward Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis?

What if the Celtics had more than two big men to call on when Davis and Perkins ran into foul trouble?

What if the Celtics had a healthy big three alongside a center that is developing right before our eyes and a point guard that continues to amaze day in and day out?

Well, the Celtics probably would have won an 18^th championship, that’s what.

Make no mistake about it – the Celtics put on a performance for the ages without their literal and figurative motor. The fact that they stretched Orlando to a game seven defies even science itself. Unfortunately, when push came to shove, all Garnett could do was watch from the sidelines as his team floundered like a fish out of water in a decisive game seven at the Garden.

Anyone who has watched even half of a game where Garnett appears on the floor is aware of what this guy brings to the Celtics. He makes plays not only because of his outrageous athleticism, but also because of his superior game knowledge. Garnett brings a dimension to the Celtics that few teams would ever even hope to have. He is a motivator and a play maker. He is a true team leader. But most of all, he is a winner.

Garnett’s desire to win is surpassed by nothing and no one. Nobody plays as hard, sacrifices as much, or wants it more than Kevin Garnett does game in, game out.

That’s why it killed me to watch him as a spectator as the Celtics tried to bring home a second championship in as many years. And I’m sure it was even worse for him.

At any given time, I was half expecting KG to rip off his suit, let out apiercing shout, and run onto the court. But that didn’t happen.

And that’s because Garnett’s injury was far more severe than anyone realized. Medically speaking, Garnett actually injured what is called the Patellar Tendon, which is responsible for most importantly, the straightening of the leg from the knee. This tendon actually tore off his bone – but not completely. Instead of a clean rip, the tendon actually took part of the bone with it, making the pain and severity of the injury that much worse.

Whenever someone goes to jump, they cock their legs beforehand. Try it. Notice that you bend before you jump. Now imagine not being able to straighten that leg.

In what proved to be more of a functional issue than anything else, when Garnett cocked his knees to jump and or run, his knee would lock up, and he would be unable to push off his right leg.

Picture this – Lebron James driving to the lane, and Garnett rotating over to cover - James then plants his foot, and goes up to the basket. Like any defender would, Garnett goes to jump up and contest the lay-in. But instead of Garnett leaving the ground, his knee just locks up, buckles, and he falls to the floor. That is probably the most accurate illustration of what would have happened had KG entered the game.

The reason the Celtics opted to wait for surgery? Simply because doctors didn’t know what they were dealing with. This injury is so uncommon, the correct course of action was actually unclear. In what was an assumed 25% chance that the injury could heal enough where he could successfully bend his knee, the Celtics chose to wait it out just in case.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t play through the pain. Believe me, he would have. It was that he physically couldn’t play the game of basketball. It was more of a functional issue than anything else.

An unfortunate functional issue.

Much like the issue that the Celtics faced without the Big Ticket in the game. When Perkins tired or got into foul trouble, the green were forced to call on the likes of Brian Scalabrine and Mikki Moore, instead of having Big Baby as a first option off the bench.

Don’t take it the wrong way. Glen Davis is a tremendous player, and a great asset to the Celtics. He’s just not a starting power forward – at least not yet.

Just remember this. Way back in December, Glen Davis was sitting on the bench getting shelled out by Garnett. It drove the LSU star to tears. With seconds ticking off the clock in game four in Orlando, Paul Pierce crosses over, can’t get a shot off, and instead dishes it off to the open Davis. Big Baby pops, nails the jumper, and is an instant Boston hero.

I can guarantee that shot would have clunked had he taken it in November.

Though much of their 2009 postseason failure can be attributed to the absence of Kevin Garnett, much of their success was actually because of him. That’s the mark of a true teammate.

A true champion.

QB Smackdown '09

By Tom Nieradka

Editorial. Photos by AP News

With the NFL draft over and the offseason already in full swing, the time has come to start predicting the starting quarterbacks for the teams around the league. There are currently 7 teams without a clear cut QB: The Vikings, Raiders, Lions, 49ers, Browns, Bucs, and Jets. Some grabbed QBs in the draft, some traded, and some have returning players who will be competing for the spot. So here are my predictions for 2009.

Minnesota Vikings: In Minnesota the battle is currently between the youngster Tavares Jackson and the experienced backup Sage Rosenfels. Last year Tavares was the starter opening day, but was pulled after 2 games in favor of Gus Ferrotte. Rosenfels was the starter for Houston last year during the Matt Schaub injury, and though he had a less than stellar 6 games for the Texans the Vikings went out and traded for him during the off-season. Despite being pulled early in the year, during the last four games of the season Jackson seemed to pull it together, throwing for 8 TDs to only 1 INT. Though the Vikings clearly must have seen something in Rosenfels, Jackson will be the one behind center for the first play of the season. Unless, of course, Brett Favre comes out of retirement. Again.

Oakland Raiders: Here we have an interesting battle between the old and the young. Seasoned starter Jeff Garcia is pushing 40, but somehow is still sought after by NFL teams. Taking the stand against Garcia is JaMarcus Russell, the number one pick in the 2007 draft and the man who continues to prove that Al Davis has no idea what he’s doing come draft day. The Raiders clearly have lost confidence in JaMarcus after the 2008 season where he only managed a passer rating of 77, good for 26^th in the league. On the other side Garcia led the Bucs to their second straight 9-7 season last year, just missing the playoffs after a late season collapse, which can be blamed more on the defense than anything else (Tampa gave up more than 30 points in three of the last four games). It would make sense for Garcia to be the starter on day 1, and let Russell sit on the bench and learn from a vet for another season before taking the reins.

Detroit Lions: And now we come to the worst team in football. After an 0-16 season with three different quarterbacks, Detroit is looking for a win - just one would be nice. The frontrunner for this starting job is 2009 number 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford. Going up against him is the starter of five games last year for Detroit, Daunte Culpepper. As much as we all love Culpepper and his huge arm, Stafford is going to get the starting job. There is too much hype in Detroit surrounding Stafford, and after such an awful season the city is looking for a change. They grabbed a nice new TE for him to throw to, they already have a decent back in Kevin Smith, and of course there’s always Megatron running down the field as far as he can get. Hopefully they’ll get a win next year, and I’m sorry for the team who loses to them already

San Fransisco 49ers: Probably the most uninteresting battle here between 2005 number one pick Alex Smith and the former starter Shaun Hill. San Fran has a lot invested in Alex Smith, and after a horrible year starting in 2006 I think it’s time for another shot. Hill has been an unimpressive backup for the past two years, and it’s time to try out that top pick again. With Frank Gore opening up the passing game and Crabtree running down the sideline, Smith has all the help that he needs to look good. Now its up to him.

Cleveland Browns: The Browns have two quarterbacks who can both start at the NFL level; Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson.

After a great 2007, Anderson followed it up with an awful 2008, throwing for less than 150 yards in six out of the ten games that he started. Quinn came in as the backup, and was mediocre in the three games that he was under center. In the end Anderson is more proven and I think he’s the starter for now. If he struggles Quinn is in, and at the latest, after next season one of them will be on a different team.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Without Jeff Grarcia Tampa will have to look to either Josh Freeman, Byron Leftwich, or Luke McCowan to start in ’09. After they traded up two spots to grab Freeman in the 2009 draft, they obviously like him and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him starting. That being said, when he starts to struggle and become an interception machine I would look to Byron Leftwich to come in and take the starting role.

New York Jets: I saved my favorite team for last. This battle ensues between the perennial backup Kellen Clemens, and and 5^th overall pick Mark Sanchez. Before the draft new head coach Rex Ryan said that he would be happy with Kellen Clemens starting, but the fact that they traded up 12 spots to go and grab Sanchez says otherwise. In any event, it has been announced as an open competition, but given Ryan’s history (coming from the Ravens who last year had a rookie head coach and QB), I would expect Sanchez to have the edge. In his year starting at USC he proved to scouts that he has the decision making, the arm, and the intangibles to succeed in the NFL in a major market. Kellen Clemens had his shot in 2007, and New York doesn’t believe in him anymore. Expect Sanchez to be the starter, and jersey sales to be through the roof.

Can't Get No Respect

By Alexander Tam

Editorial. Photos by AP News

The late and great comedian Rodney Dangerfield once said, “I can’t get no respect.” The battle cry of the Denver Nuggets and their fans rings an eerily similar tune.

Even after a heartbreaking game one loss to the Lakers, the Nuggets continue to prove that they are a force to be reckoned with. Their 102-100 loss to the Lakers marks only their third postseason loss – all by two or less points.

A lot can be said about the Nuggets. They are a team that has never made it to the NBA finals, a team that nobody gave a second look at, and a team who made playoff history against New Orleans – a game that wasn’t even televised on national TV.

They are a team of underdogs and have gone through their fair share of strife. Chris Anderson was suspended for two years for violating the NBA drug abuse policy. Nene has come back from testicular cancer, chemo, and surgery. Carmelo Anthony’s leadership has been constantly questioned, and has been overshadowed by fellow 2003 draftees Kobe, Lebron, and D-Wade.

I have news for all the doubters - the Nuggets are back in full swing. Nene is playing with raw power on both offense and defense, Anderson is second in the NBA with blocks, and the always underestimated Carmelo Anthony scored 39 points tonight and did an excellent job in being physical with Kobe. And if that wasn’t enough to grab your attention, the Nuggets now have “a gift from the basketball Gods” as coach Carl puts it; Chauncy Billups. Mr. number 7 (same as Elway’s…coincidence?) is just that. This 4-time NBA All-Star, Finals MVP and 2004 Champion has been and continues to be the shinning homegrown savior of the Nuggets.

But this isn’t enough for the monster that is the sports world. Flashy basketball moves, big names, and drama is what they like. Never mind that the Nuggets are a more well rounded team than either Cleveland of L.A., its all about Kobe or Lebron. Wade was given his time but then the focused quickly changed to King James and the Black Mamba.

Remember watching that historic game where Denver beat New Orleans by an NBA record 58 points? Neither do I, because it wasn’t nationally televised. It was on NBA TV. An NBA playoff game wasn’t nationally televised. How many Lakers, Celtics, or even Rockets games weren’t televised nationally? I will help you out, ZERO.

The media infatuation with the Lakers and King James must be put to an end, and I believe the Nuggets can help with at least half of that – or hopefully all of it. You can have your disagreements with me, but this is what being a fan is all about: never giving up on your team. And when the sun sets it all comes down to this:

L.A. - Where jaded movie stars and fans take championships for granted

Denver - Where fans don’t take the few championships they have for granted, and are faithfully awaiting the next.

Last Call on Air - State of the Nation

May 18, 2009

Tasso, Haffty, Ciampa

We're Not In Title-Town Anymore

By Ian Tasso

Editorial. Photos by AP News

Three game-seven losses in the span of seven months. A near undefeated season that was so much worse than it sounds. Big Papi is benched and Jerry Remy is sidelined. And amidst it all, the Evil Empire has strung together three straight walk-off wins.

After seeing three Super Bowls, two World Series, and an NBA Championship in the past nine years, all this can be an awful lot to stomach. It’s even tough to watch at times. After countless efforts to wake myself from the awful dream that has been Boston sports in the past week, I realized something.

We’re not in Title-Town anymore. As much as I hate to admit it, we’re back in a little place called reality.

It’s the place that sports fans call home – a place that Boston fans have so enjoyably vacationed from in the past decade. It’s the place where, believe it or not, teams do lose in the playoffs. They lose, and it hurts – badly.

It’s a place where last second field goals aren’t made - they’re missed; and last second touchdowns aren’t converted - they’re given up. It’s a place where 24-point deficits aren’t come back from. It’s even a place where 3-1 series deficits can miraculously turn into 3-3 series ties – and heartbreaking 4-3 series losses. Twice. It’s a place that Boston has learned to forget over the past 10 years – but been reminded of oh so quickly in the past few weeks.

But you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way.

Because this place - this reality – is a necessity. It’s an ugly, unfortunate, necessity. This reality is the reason that Boston has become the city of dreams, comebacks, and championships. This reality is the reason that we dream in the first place, and the reason that the dreams taste so much sweeter when they come to fruition.

Maybe coming back down to earth is just what Boston needs to remember what it had – or hopefully still has.

Here are the facts: Boston still has arguably the best franchises in each of the major sports leagues. The Patriots will contend for a Super Bowl year in year out for the foreseeable future – or as long as Tom Brady is at the helm. The Red Sox, under this management and core of young stars are and always will be one of the top teams to beat in the MLB. The Celtics as of right now are one of the top three teams in the NBA when healthy, and top eight even when they’re not. And the Bruins recently proved that they’re ready to join the party as well – boasting a roster that has the brightest future of any Boston team.

I am by no means saying that it's time to jump ship from the Boston Championship cruise. All I’m saying is that it’s about time us Bostonians got a reality check. After all, to truly understand what it means to win, you first have to feel what it’s like to lose. And this most recent, and unfortunate, string of events has done exactly that.

Let’s be honest – did you honestly expect the Celtics to be championship bound with the banged up roster that they featured? And did you seriously consider the Bruins a Stanley Cup contender – when the bulk of their roster hasn't even finished puberty?

Well, yeah. Of course we did. Because we’re from Boston – and that’s what we do. We win. And when we don’t, we’re disappointed.

But maybe it’s time for a change. For a brief 16-game NFL season, Boston was reminded what it’s like to be an underdog. Armed with a quarterback who hadn’t started since high school, a rag-tag team of running-backs, and a no-name secondary, the Patriots made a run at the highly competitive AFC-East crown – and it was the happiest I had been in years.

Why? Because I was finally reminded what it’s like to be a fan. I finally felt genuine excitement. I finally felt something that I hadn’t felt since no-name quarterback Tom Brady led the Patriots against the Best Show on Turf in 2002 – shock.

And that’s the best part about being a fan. When your team can come back from down 3-0 and win a World Series. When you can experience something you haven’t in 86 years.

The best moments in sports are the ones you don’t expect. And here in Boston, we had come to expect them. We needed a gut check. Like Bird needed Magic. Like Batman needed the Joker. Boston needed to lose.

After all, being the Champ is hard work. Being the Champ in every sport is even harder. Let someone else take the reins for a while. We’ll be back. And it will be so much sweeter when we are.

Kane Leads Blackhawks' Charge

By Jesse Liebman

Editorial. Photos by AP News

In a sport where the veterans are expected to carry the workload – and a fully grown playoff beard – it’s the kids with the peach fuzz that have fans singing the Blackhawks’ praises in Chicago. And thanks to Hawks forward Patrick Kane, Chicago is looking like a Cup favorite this year.

The 20-year-old Kane has shown flashes of brilliance in his young career, but he is slowly emerging into one of the premier forwards in the game today. In a way, looking at Kane is like looking at the Joel Brodsky photos of rock legend Jim Morrison in 1967 in what is known as the “Young Lion” session – you just know that this kid is destined for greatness.

Call it coincidence, but Kane’s ascension to the National Hockey League was foretold long before he pulled on the jersey of the Chicago Blackhawks when he went first overall in 2007. Before that, the Buffalo native sported the jersey of his hometown Sabres, perched on his father’s lap behind the glass in a 1994 Pinnacle hockey card. He looked the same then as he didMonday night: all smiles.

Kane and the Blackhawks have every reason to smile these days. This season Chicago announced a triumphant return to the forefront of the hockey world, led by players such as Kane and 21-year-old captain Jonathan Toews. Kane put on a performance for the ages in Game 6, potting his first career hat trick en route to a 7-5 Blackhawks win over Vancouver that catapulted the team into the Western Conference final for the first time in over a decade.

For a brief moment, as Kane backhanded the puck over Canucks’ goalie Roberto Luongo for his third goal of the evening, it seemed as if all the turmoil and demons that had plagued the franchise for the past decade were finally exorcised.

The team is now a model for success in the salary cap era of the NHL. But things weren’t exactly perfect when the team emerged from the lockout; namely, the Hawks’ owner, William “Dollar Bill” Wirtz. Wirtz’s refusal to air Blackhawks home games drove more fans away than it brought in. The team also spent big money on several free agents that flopped, before general manager Dale Tallon got it right.

Now, the Hawks are sitting pretty atop what has arguably been a dream season. The team has seemingly done everything right since the passing of Wirtz. Wirtz’s son Rocky is now running things in Chicago, and the team brought in former Chicago Cubs President John McDonough to turn things around. Every game has been televised this year, so a whole new generation of fans can fall in love with a team built around a young core of Kane and Toews. Throw the Winter Classic in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field into the mix and you have yourself a season to remember.

And yet it all comes back to Kane. After winning the lottery in 2007, the Hawks picked Kane from the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. Kane had established himself as a fine sniper and dazzling playmaker in junior hockey, and he won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2008. His play this season has been spectacular, and the Hawks are the talk of the town in the Windy City.

The old Chicago Stadium was known for being one of the loudest buildings in all of hockey. Now that fans are packing the United Center, the nightly sellout crowd of over 20,000 may blow the roof off if Kane and the Hawks deliver another series victory in the Western finals. The Anaheim Ducks and Detroit Red Wings still need to finish off their series though to determine who will face the Blackhawks. They can take their time, though.

The Young Lion is waiting.

It Ain't Over Yet

By Ian Tasso

Editorial. Photos by AP News

And all of a sudden – we have a series again.

With their backs against the wall, the East’s number one seed came out swinging in a do or die game five against the Hurricanes. Four goals and 60 minutes later, the Bruins pulled back to within one game, down 3-2 to the ‘Canes. But it’s not over yet. In fact, it’s only just started.

By not rolling over and dying Sunday night, the Bruins proved one thing – they aren’t ready to call it a season just yet. Phil Kessel, Marc Savard, Milan Lucic and co. made that absolutely clear.

The one thing that isn’t clear however, is whether or not a 4-0 spanking of the ‘Canes at the Garden will be enough to kick-start the engine that propelled them to an NHL East best 53-19 record.

We all know the Bruins have the talent. Kessel, Savard, Lucic, Thomas, Chara, Recci, Ryder – the list goes on. But do they have what it takes? Do they have the heart? Do they have the drive? They sure did in Game five. But game six will present a whole set of new challenges.

For one, they’re not on their home ice. That is a self-explanatory disadvantage. Secondly, unlike game five, you can be sure that the ‘Canes will be ready. And thirdly, and perhaps most unfortunately, only six teams have come back from a 3-1 series deficit in NHL history. Needless to say, history isn’t exactly on their side. But, what the Bruins do have on their side was the ending of that crucial game five.

With time ticking down and the Bruin’s win most definitely in hand, Boston defenseman Aaron Ward was sucker-punched in the face by ‘Cane’s forward Scott Walker. I mean, I’ve seen some dirty hits in my day as a fan, but this was not only wrong, but also completely unnecessary. If there’s anything that irks me, it’s when players – professional players – can’t handle a loss like men. The Bulls did it against the Celtics when they tried to take out Rondo as time ticked off in their game seven loss, and now Carolina pulled it on a Bruins team that was embarrassing them on national TV. It’s classless, and it’s uncalled for. And worst of all for the Hurricanes, it gave a Bruins team that showed they weren’t about to quit something to think about on the plane ride down to Carolina. Not good news if you’re a ‘Canes fan. Even worse news if you’re Scott Walker.

Cam Neeley once said that the one thing he learned after making it to his first Stanley Cup was how hard it really was. Now, that may seem obvious to some of you. But I think the 2009 Bruins are just now figuring out what Cam Neely meant.

The NHL regular season is one thing. The postseason is an entirely different beast. Your best isn’t nearly good enough in the playoffs. What the Bruins needed in the playoffs was somebody to step up – somebody to elevate their game above and beyond the regular season. They didn’t need it against Montreal – they’re so bad, my high-school team could have swamped them. But against Carolina, the B’s needed someone to put on their Ray Borque hat and do the playoff dance.

In game five a few guys did just that – Lucic, Savard, Kessel, and Chara. But it’s a hell of a lot easier to do the dance on your home ice. After their game four loss to Carolina, goalie Tim Thomas called his team out, and they responded. Chara shut down Eric Staal, who had been skating circles around him all series; Kessel buried two past previously unbeatable Cam Ward; and Savvy and Lucic did what they do best – make things happen.

The way it stands right now, is that Boston needs to win to move on. They need to win Tuesday night, and they need to win Thursday night. If they lose, they go home – it’s as simple as that. They may be down 3-2 in a seven game series, but in hockey – every game is a series.

Every shift is a series. Every slap shot, every hit, every save is a series. And all the Bruins have to do is take it shift by shift, hit by hit, and they’ll win. They proved that during the regular season.

But now, their hardest test lies ahead. In a season where the Bruins faced little adversity - making the rest of the NHL look like a pee-wee league - the B’s now have to dig deep, and make it happen. It’s hard, but definitely doable.

In my first ten years as a Boston fan, I learned to expect the worst. My most recent ten years have taught me to expect the best. What have I learned through it all? Absolutely nothing.

Except to expect anything.

Backwards No More

By Tom Nieradka

Editorial. Photos by AP News

The NL East is finally back on its way to normalcy. The Nationals are firmly at the bottom, the Mets, Marlins, and Phillies are jockeying for first, and the Braves are somewhere in between.

This is a far cry from just a few weeks ago where it looked like the Marlins were going to run away with the division and the Mets were on their way to missing the playoffs yet again. At least this time they would have melted down early so we could have gotten the “METS CHOKE AGAIN” headlines out of the way well before the playoffs. Things have a way of evening out though. The good teams start doing well, the crappier teams starting playing crappier, and the Nationals just keep on losing.

The Mets are currently on a seven game win streak, their last loss coming when then starter Oliver Perez gave up four runs in two innings to the Phillies, a team that he had an ERA under 1.00 against last season. Now Perez is in the pen, and the Mets are getting great performances from pitchers coming out of nowhere. Jonathan Niese threw six innings of two run ball against the Pirates, and the struggling Maine and Pelfrey managed to pull it together against the Braves and the Phillies. And let’s not forget about the old guy, the 34-year old Livan Hernandez playing for his ninth MLB team. Oddly enough, he’s looking like the Livan of old, throwing good games against the Braves and the Pirates. Earlier in the season, the problems had been the starting five, but it’s looking better and better for the Mets pitchers. And with Tim Redding on the way to recovery, hopefully the Mets will be in the clear as far as starters go.

And there’s a reason I didn’t mention Johan yet. Johan deserves his own paragraph. Sorry Tim Lincecum, but this year’s Cy Young looks to be headed to New York. And Zach Greinke, you better consider yourself lucky that you’re in the AL. Johan is off to a monster start, going 4-1 with a near microscopic .91 ERA (best in the NL by half a run). But that’s not the best part. He’s also struck out 54 in only 39 innings, putting him in the top five in K’s. Now here’s the kicker. And this is one of those things that sucks, but is good at the same time. The Mets have never given Johan more than 4 runs of support. This was one of the issues that he had last year (the bullpen being the other), but this is kind of a blessing in disguise. If he can win four out of six starts with less than four runs of support, what’s going to happen when the Mets start giving him those runs? The last three games the Mets have been on a tear, scoring at least seven runs per game. And if the Mets lineup can keep scoring, Johan should be able to keep on winning.

He should, that is, if the pen can hold it up. Aside from awful run support, last year the Mets blew the most saves in the majors (29). Out of 28 quality starts that Johan had, he only managed 16 wins. By comparison, John Maine had 11 quality starts and 10 wins. This year’s improved pen should be able to hold out quite a bit more. Over the off-season the Mets purged almost their entire bullpen, and added the likes of J.J. Putz and K-Rod. So far K-Rod has been worth his weight in saves, allowing only two earned runs all season thus far. Setup man Putz has fared slightly worse, managing a 3.50 ERA that has to come down if the Mets want to keep on winning.

And let’s just forget about Sean Green, the other guy who came from the Mariners in the Putz deal. He’s not quite Home Run Heilman yet, but he’s getting there. But judging from the pitcher friendly nature of Citi Field and the fact that he’s not giving up a ton of home runs yet, maybe Ground-Rule Double Green is more appropriate.

But aside from these few blemishes, it’s really the unknowns that have been saving the Mets. Rookie Bobby Parnell has a 1.29 ERA over 14 innings. Brian Stokes has yet to give up a run. Also still waiting to give up a run is the 40 year old Ken Takahashi, who made his MLB debut after the Perez meltdown and held the Phillies scoreless over two innings. It’s all of these guys that need to pull it together for the starters to keep the Mets in the game. And if the pen can pitch like they have been so far, the Mets are headed to the playoffs and Johan is headed to his third Cy Young.

NBA Playoffs: Where Amazing Is Happening

By Alexander Tam

Editorial, Photos by AP

Before every NBA playoff game I bring the following (and you would be wise to do the same): a bucket, a towel, plenty of water, loose fitting clothing, and a power bar. Why do I need all of this you may ask?

Because, my eager padawans, during playoff basketball you will loose 20 pounds of sweat, which is why you need the towel. You will become dehydrated from all the sweating, hence the water. When Ray Allen makes that buzzer-beating-three with two hands in his face you will jump out of your seat, making good use of the loose fitting clothing - oh and stretching will help, you don't want to pull anything. And finally, you will need to find more energy during half time as it has all been used up from screaming and jumping, which is why you have the power bar - healthy, and a great source of energy. NBA playoffs are indeed that exciting, and then some.

With a record setting NBA playoff season halfway through, you can expect it to only get better from here. So far we have had a playoff history winning margin of 58 points by my Nuggets, a record setting seven overtimes in the series by the Celtics and Bulls,

and in that series Derrick Rose went for a record matching rookie playoff debut 36 points in game one. All of this just from the first round.

So what exactly makes NBA playoffs so exciting? You may say, what about football Tam? That’s exciting too! My friends, don’t hate me for this, but I’m here to tell you that NBA playoffs are MORE exciting than football playoffs. And here is why.

In the NFL, you have two teams going at it – winner moves on; loser goes home. In the NBA, we have best out of seven series and it goes for quite a while. You may cry foul and say, “the single-game elimination makes it that more intense!” However, with more games, you get the added drama of dragging the series out. Teams go back to game film, they come prepared the next day to counter the opposing teams’ superstar, they go over what they did wrong and you can see a completely different team on the court. The pressure only builds after game 1 and so does the excitement. Plus – Red Sox fans read this one closely – is there anything more awesome than a team coming back from down three games to none in a series?

You can also sense and see it from the players themselves. Basketball becomes physical like you’ve never seen before. Every foul becomes a hard foul. We have seen ejections, flagrant fouls and suspensions left and right. Each player gives it their all come playoff time. We saw it from a Bulls team that refused to loose. We see it when Lebron and fellow teammates go bananas when their point guard wins a simple jump ball.

And then there is the crowd. The home crowd expects nearly every single basket to go in. And if it does, they go berserk – every point sunk, every block made, every rebound grabbed. And if the game is close, expect to find 50,000 people who have lost their voice the next day.

The last time the Denver Nuggets made it past the first round, it was 1994, and they were an eight seed. The team they beat? A one seed. Now, in 2009, they look like a lock to make the Western Finals. Because in the game of basketball, a player suspended for two years for violating drug rules can return to be the team’s savior and help push them through the first round of playoffs for the first time in 15 years. In the fast-paced game of basketball, a 15-point deficit can turn into a five-point lead in a matter of three minutes. In the game of basketball, a King and an MVP has single-handedly brought a lost Cavaliers team to its first championship round ever, and may give them their first ring this year.

In the game of basketball, this is where amazing happens? You better believe it.

Saving Grace

By Jesse Liebman

Editorial. Photo by AP News

Without question, the Stanley Cup Playoffs provides one of the most exciting experiences in all of North American professional sports. The two and a half month long grind is perhaps one of the more emotionally and physically draining experiences for players and fans alike. And no one individual feels the pressure to perform more than the goalie.

When it comes right down to it, the team that's going to emerge with Lord Stanley's mug is going to be the team with the hot goalie. We've seen it before time and time again. Year by year, the Stanley Cup champion always had a goaltender who managed to elevate their game above and beyond their peers.

Case in point: in the five times the Conn Smythe trophy has been awarded to a playoff MVP on the losing team, it has gone to a goalie four times. Need more convincing?

Even in the 1980s,when offense was at a premium, the teams that won it all benefited from top-notch shutdown net-minding. The Islanders had Billy Smith, the Oilers had Grant Fuhr, and the Canadiens had Patrick Roy. One could postulate that when youhad guys like Mike Bossy or Wayne Gretzky filling the nets with pucks, it didn't matter who was in net, right? Wrong. Smith, Fuhr and Roy each boast a Conn Smythe trophy - Roy won another with the Canadiens and a record-holding third with the Colorado Avalanche in 2001 - further emphasizing just how critical the position is for a team's postseason success.

With that in mind, let's take a look at a few goalies who are raising some eyebrows with their play in the postseason so far.

Cam Ward- Carolina Hurricanes - 6 W, .935 SV%, 2 SO

Ward maintained an unmatched level of composure during the first round series against the Devils, where he went head-to-head against Martin Brodeur. Ward displayed the form that won him the Smythe in 2006. Now facing the number one ranked Bruins, Ward has been a game-stealer for the Hurricanes, which was evident in the 2-1 overtime win on Wednesday. Carolina has some impressive depth, but Ward is going to have to carry the load for head coach Paul Maurice.

Simeon Varlamov - Washington Capitals - 6 W, .942 SV%, 2 SO

Heading into the playoffs, Caps coach Bruce Boudreau was leaning heavily on veteran Jose Theodore. That experiment blew up in Washington's face early, and it looked like the Capitals were primed for another first round exit this year. But Boudreau turned to the rookie Varlamov, and the kid has played like a seasoned veteran, turning the Capitals' fortunes around against the Rangers and now proving his mettle against the superstar duo of Sidney Crosby and Evegeni Malkin. Can he hold up? That remains to be seen, but should he continue to carry his team, Varlamov may find himself in the same company of Ken Dryden, Roy and Ward, three players who won the Conn Smythe before they were even considered rookies.

Jonas Hiller - Anaheim Ducks - 6 W, .946 SV%, 2 SO

It's been an off year for J.S. Giguere, the Ducks' starting goalie and the 2003 Conn Smythe winner. That drop in production has allowed Hiller to step up and supplant Giguere as the

number one guy in Anaheim. The Swiss stopper has benefited from working with legendary goalie guru Francois Allaire, and was the reason for the Ducks' first round upset over the 1st overall San Jose Sharks. Even when Hiller lets in the questionable goal, as he did to Detroit's Mikael Samuelsson in Game two of the series against the Red Wings, he forgets it and moves on; which is why he stonewalled the Wings for three overtime periods in the Ducks' 4-3 win on the road.

Roberto Luongo - Vancouver Canucks - 6 W, .935 SV%, 1 SO

Luongo is the most high-profile name on this list - and deservedly so. On a roster that doesn't boast much talent beyond Mats Sundin, Ryan Kesler and the Sedin twins, Luongo is the reason the Canucks even are getting recognition. Named captain at the start of the year, Luongo is the unquestioned leader in the locker room. With his tremendous size (6'3", 205 lbs.) and incredible athleticism, Luongo does his best to fill the net. His play against the St. Louis Blues in the first round was solid if not spectacular, and he shut the door on the high-octane offense of the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 at the United Center, holding the Hawks to only one goal in a 3-1 victory.

Based on their hot play, the goalies listed above would give any team a run for their money. But to say the other four starting goalies in the mix won't step up when their team needs them is premature and foolish. That's the beauty of the playoffs: a player can go from goat to savior with the drop of a hat. Or in this case, puck.