TAKE A BOW, BOSTON!

That is sacrilege to say that, since I’m a native New Yorker, but let’s give credit where its due. The Boston Celtics return to the summit of the NBA after a 22 year absence and its well deserved. Blowing out the Lakers by 39 POINTS in the sixth game last night was the biggest margin of victory in NBA Finals history, capping off a great season that saw them lead the NBA with 66 victories in a 82 game regular season. Great for Paul Pierce(NBA Finals MVP), Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. All have had fine careers but now can add the title “WORLD CHAMPION,” to their resume.  TAKE A BOW, BOSTON CELTICS- NBA WORLD CHAMPIONS.

WILLIE RANDOLPH DESERVED BETTER!

Well, why most of the world was asleep. the NY Mets fired Willie Randolph. In a strange move by the organization, they waited until the team was on the west coast before firing him. Another strange chapter in the recent Mets history. Willie, you got a raw deal and you deserved better. You’ll get another chance to manage and then you can stick it to the Mets.

WHAT NEXT?

Yankees manager Joe Girardi must have the patience of Job. He’d better, after Chien-Ming Wang hurt his right foot the other night and will be on crutches for six weeks. Already short on pitching, the Yankees are in a deep hole without Wang. What Next? Another Wang Bang?

NO ONE DOES IT BETTER, TODAY!

Lets face it folks, Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer in the world today and has been for several years. I won’t proclaim him the greatest ever-yet. But, once he supplants Jack Nicklaus as the all time leader in majors’victories, he will be and their will little, if any argument. Following Michael Jordan’s retirement, Woods has assumed the mantle of the most famous athlete in the world. We are watching him in the prime of his career. Men’s professional golf, as i have previously stated, is very, very competitive. With that being written, what Woods has accomplished is remarkable and he has earned the respect of his contemporaries and the trappings that go along with his brilliant play. In the jungle, the lion may be king, but in professional golf, the king is Tiger.

FIRE OMAR MINAYA!

As some people know, i am a Yankees fan. But Willie Randolph, a former great Yankees second baseman, is getting the shaft in Flushing. He didn’t put this pitiful Mets squad together, GM Omar Minaya did. Minaya is the one who should be raked over the coals, not Randolph. Ever since Rickey Henderson was put on the coaching staff(and since released), the Mets fell apart late in the 2007 season and haven’t been the same since. Jose Reyes, once a thrilling player, acts like he doesn’t have to do anything, Carlos Delgado has seen his better days, and Beltran needs to bring his “A” game every night. Randolph will likely be made the scapegoat for this floundering bunch of so-called “Major Leaguers,” but Omar Minaya should be replaced.

WILL THEY DO IT?

Given up for dead, the Los Angeles Lakers forced the NBA Finals to a sixth game in Boston with a 103-98 win in Game five. Will they be the first team to overcome a 3-1 deficit to win the NBA title? I doubt it. Why? Phil Jackson’s teams don’t have a great come from behind record in the post season. Frankly, Kobe Bryant is a great player but he’s no Michael Jordan. I look for the Celtics to come out on fire at both ends of the court and win game six and close out a great season.

REST IN PEACE, MR. RUSSERT

This blog is primarily about sports, but there are times to deviate if only for a moment. He was a man from a working class family from Buffalo, NY. He loved the Buffalo Bills and didn’t apologize for it. In this day of rancor, finger pointing, degradation and personal attacks, Tim Russert was a class act. He held the highest professional standards as the moderator of “Meet The Press,” a position he held and loved for 17 years. He held that position longer than any other in the history of this television staple. He was worthy of it and all who follow will have a difficult task in meeting those high standards. Television news will not be the same without him and it is all the better because of Tim Russert. May he rest in peace.

MAY TAKE A MIRACLE!

The Lakers imploded the other night. Up by 24 points and you lose the game by six, 97-91. That is a 30 point swing and a disaster for the Lakers against a more rugged Celtics team that has risen to the occasion time and again in the playoffs. A huge comeback on the road paid big psychological dividends for head coach Doc Rivers and the Celtics. Look for them to end the season in Los Angeles and bring home their 17th title, 22 years after their last one.

A DEAL IS A DEAL, PLAXICO!

You sign a six year-$25 million contract and with three years left, you want to renegotiate! Get with the program, Plaxico. $4 million plus per season isn’t hard to take. Win a couple more Super Bowls and maybe, just maybe you may have earned a renegotiation. GOOD GRIEF!

SHOULD BE AN INTERESTING US OPEN

No matter who wins a golf tournament, major or not, the spotlight is always on Tiger Woods and his friendly, talented, rival, Phil Mickelson. With men’s professional golf so competitive, it is remarlable what Woods has accomplished and he is far from finiashed. If not for Woods dominance, Mickelson would be considered the top golfer in the world. Both of them would have been great in any era. Should be an interesting US Open in their home state of California.