Ho Hum - Lakers Clinch Another Title

The Los Angeles Lakers clinched their 16th NBA title Thursday night, defeating the Boston Celtics in the seventh and deciding game of the NBA Finals.

So what else is new?

The Lakers are a very good team -- always have been and probably always will. Ditto for the Boston Celtics who made it to the finals for the umpteempth time in their franchise history.

But I find it difficult to care about perennial winning teams. It's old news. As odd as this sounds, a team that wins multiple titles or makes the postseason year in and year out isn't nearly as exciting or newsworthy as a team that wins a championship for the first time in nearly 50 years, as the Chicago Blackhawks did last week. I care more about their Stanley Cup victory because they've been an underdog for so long, they've gone through so many ups and downs, and in fact, had to crawl back from the brink of oblivion to become relevant again. It's far more fun to see them succeed and it makes you want to celebrate with them. The Hawks won more than the Stanley Cup last week; they won the hearts of many new hockey fans. I doubt the Lakers can boast about that.

The Lakers will probably continue to win and appear in the NBA finals in the future, with or without coach Phil Jackson. Sadly, that may not be the case for the Blackhawks. With the NHL salary cap, the Hawks will likely lose some key players this off season, which could impact their ability to repeat as champions next season.

Try putting a salary cap in the NBA, then we'll see how far the Celtics or Lakers go in the playoffs, if they make it at all.

Stanley Cup Finals Preview: Blackhawks Cannot Underestimate Flyers

The Chicago Blackhawks will face the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup finals beginning Saturday night. By all outward appearances, the Hawks are taking a measured, live-in-the-moment approach to this series, refusing to be drawn in by all the hype, super-high fan expectations and the Vegas odds pegging them as the favorite.

To hear the Hawks players yesterday during the Media Day event at the United Center, they have a lot of respect for the Flyers and what they have done to get to the finals. The Hawks respect the Flyers' tenacity and determination, their unwillingness to give up. They know this series will not be easy, and they are not taking the Flyers lightly. That is a very smart move.

You cannot overlook what the Flyers have accomplished, getting to the playoffs on a shootout on the last day of the regular season, and later coming from three games down against Boston to win the series. If the Hawks think they can take this team lightly in this series, they will go home empty-handed while Philly celebrates the Stanley Cup.

Several Hawks' players have adopted the attitude that they must play this series as if this is the only opportunity they will ever have to play in the Stanley Cup finals. I like their approach. How would you play if you knew this was your only shot to win it all? If you are the Blackhawks, you play as if there is no tomorrow.

This will be a tough series, but I believe the Hawks have the depth and talent to withstand anything the Flyers can throw at them. And if goalie Antii Niemi continues to be stellar in the net, the Hawks will do fine. Look for Patrick Kane to have a big series.

Prediction: Hawks in 6.

For more about this series, check out this SI review.

“Field of Dreams” Site Up for Sale

The movie “Field of Dreams” is one of my all-time favorites. So naturally I was interested to hear that the site where the movie was filmed is now up for sale. For a mere $5.4 million, you can buy the 193-acre tract of land that contains the baseball field, a two-bedroom, 1.5 bath house with the familiar front porch and six outbuildings, according to the Des Moines Register. The owners, Don and Becky Lansing, have had the land in their family for more than 100 years.

Universal Studios built the baseball field in 1989 specifically for the film, and it has remained ever since. The area continues to draw hundreds of visitors every year, and the baseball field is occasionally used for old-timers’ games and other special events.

The Lansings have placed no limit on the next owner. It could land in anyone’s hands, including a baseball player, movie buff, even a not-for-profit organization or investment group. Whoever purchases this land will own a piece of film history. Let’s hope that the next owner or investor will not tear it down for development, but continue to keep the legacy going for years to come.

Bulls Need to Upgrade Coaching, Not Just Talent

No sooner had the final buzzer sounded in Sunday’s 121-98 Bulls’ loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, I could hear the clock ticking away, marking the end of the Vinny del Negro era in Chicago. Most fans will blame del Negro for the poor performance of the Bulls this season. That’s usually the case. But management also must take some of the blame. What did they expect when they hired Del Negro two years ago, a relative unknown with very little professional coaching experience to speak of? When you hire mediocre talent to coach your team, you will get mediocre results.

It was clear back in December that Del Negro’s days were numbered when rumors of an imminent firing flew around the Internet. But nothing happened, and it appeared that the beleaguered coach had a reprieve. Then a few weeks ago when stories surfaced of a heated exchange between Del Negro and team president John Paxson, you figured Del Negro’s days were numbered.

To his credit, Del Negro has kept the team together during these ups and downs and multiple injuries, and he has managed to lead them to two playoff appearances in two consecutive years. But that is not good enough for Bulls management or for Chicago fans, who hunger for another championship in any sport. If the Bulls are serious about bringing another championship to the Windy City, they not only have to upgrade the talent on the floor, they need a serious talent upgrade in the coaching ranks.

Did Rochette’s Mother Ignore Symptoms?

It seems that the mother of Olympic bronze medalist Joannie Rochette may have experienced some symptoms several days before suffering a fatal heart attack in Februrary, just days before Joannie was to compete at the Olympics. According to the Montreal Gazette, Joannie found a handwritten note in her mother’s purse that outlined some of the aches and pains she had been feeling. The elder Rochette did not tell anyone about the symptoms, including her doctor and daughter.

Was she keeping track of her symptoms with the idea that she’d talk to her doctor after the Olympics? Or did she simply ignore the signals? No one will ever know for sure. But one wonders if Rochette’s mother would be alive today had she gone to the doctor at the first signs of trouble.

This is our only life and it’s up to us to protect it. So if you experience any signs of a heart attack — chest discomfort, pain or discomfort in the arms, and shortness of breath — call a doctor and seek medical attention right away. Every minute counts.

Tennis Great Navratilova Being Treated for Breast Cancer

I was saddened when I heard the news that tennis legend Martina Navratilova has breast cancer. According to news reports, the cancer caught the 53-year-old Navratilova off guard. She readily admitted that she got too busy in her life and went for four years without getting a mammogram. Now she’s paying the consequences.

This only goes to show that cancer can hit anyone at anytime. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you’ve accomplished in your life, or how fit and healthy you feel you are. For women over 40, it’s important to get a mammogram every year.

Navratilova is a tough cookie, so I’m sure she’ll fight this disease with the same ferocity as she battled opponents on the court. She is expected to make a full recovery.

White Sox Blank Tribe in Season Opener

The White Sox looked to be in mid-season form as they shut out the Cleveland Indians 6-0 in their season home opener at U.S. Cellular Field this afternoon. Paul Konerko and Alex Rios both hit home runs, and Mark Buehrle pitched seven scoreless innings, giving up three hits and one walk. He also made a spectacular play, kicking a grounder into foul territory on the first base side, chasing after it and flipping the ball with his glove between his legs to Konerko at first base for the out. Rios also made a diving catch to end the game.

If this is a sign of things to come, then this should be a sparkling year for the White Sox. Based on the strength of their pitching alone, many baseball experts, including Fox’s Ken Rosenthal, are picking the Sox to clinch the AL Central crown. The key question mark is whether they can hit with any consistency and score runs to help out what is surely one of the best starting rotations in the American League.

One victory down, another 90 or so more to go, which should be plenty to clinch the AL Central.

Bulls' Pippen Enters Hall of Fame

Congrats to fomer Bull Scottie Pippen who was named to the Basketball Hall of Fame today. He joins teammate Michael Jordan who entered the Hall of Fame a year ago. Pippen and Jordan were part of the Bulls’ team that won six championships in the 1990s.

Pippen earns a double honor as the 1992 Olympic “Dream Team” was also named to the Hall of Fame. Former Jazz great Karl Malone and former Chicagoan and four-time WNBA champion Cynthia Cooper are also inductees.

The induction ceremony will take place Aug. 13 in Springfield, Mass.

Womans Eye in San Antonio

By the way, I just returned from a few days in San Antonio where I snagged a ticket for the Spurs-Lakers game at AT&T Center. Playoff atmosphere. Great crowd, with a fairly large percentage of Lakers fans in the stands. Spurs fans are very passionate about their team. My updated profile photo was taken at the Spurs game.

Post-Olympic Letdown Plagues Skaters

After I returned from vacation last week, I managed to catch some of the World Figure Skating Championships in Turin, Italy. Was it my imagination, or did this competition seem lackluster? Some of the medalists of the Vancouver Games opted not to participate at Worlds this year, including gold medalists Evan Lysacek, and Shen and Zhou in pairs, as well as Johnny Weir and Stephane Lambiel. Understandably, Joannie Rochette begged off after performing two emotionally charged programs in Vancouver after her mother died suddenly, and Evengi Plushenko bowed out due to injury.

According to the USA Today, many of the skaters who participated in the worlds this past week complained of fatigue, and others appeared to be sleepwalking through their performances. Yu-Na Kim, gold medalist from Vancouver and reigning world champion, was especially disappointing, missing three of the elements in her short program which put her in tenth place. She finished second overall, but even her free skate was less than dazzling. Kim admitted later that she lacked motivation.

Other skaters seemed unaffected by a post-Olympic letdown and provided outstanding performances -- Mao Asada’s free skate, Daisake Takahashi, Mirai Nagasu’s short program, to name a few. It begs the question whether there should be a world championships held so soon after the Olympics, or if there should be one at all?

The last time all four Olympic champions competed at the worlds was in 1992, and all four champions went on to collect world golds. Skier Lindsay Vonn and speedskater Shani Davis competed at their world championships within a few short weeks after the Vancouver Olympics, and performed well.

So why then is it so difficult for skaters to stay motivated to compete at worlds? Granted, there are more competitions for skaters today than there were in 1992, but the training and conditioning methods have improved so much over the years that skaters should be able to handle the added workload.

A lot of this has to do with having the right mindset. If athletes train only for the Olympics, they won’t have much left in the tank to compete for post-Olympic events. If they train for the entire season, they are able to pace themselves through the long grueling season. Asada and Takahashi proved that last week when both performed better and looked stronger than at any other time during the season. Ice dance medalists Virtue/Moir and Davis/White also performed as well in Turin as they did in Vancouver.

Abandoning the World championships altogether is not the answer. It’s a great platform for younger skaters to gain experience and show what they can do on the world stage. I think it’s important to keep the level of interest up for the sport.

One possibility is moving the world championships to January, which of course means, moving the U.S. and Canadian national championships to December. In the Olympic year, you could probably cancel the European and Four Continents since neither event has any bearing on which skaters go to the Olympics; that’s done at the respective national events. Having the worlds in January would provide a sneak preview of the Olympic Games and generate more interest from viewers and fans. And I think the top skaters would be more likely to participate in the event, although they may hold back somewhat in their performance. But as a skating fan, I'd much rather see that than a no-show.

It’ll be interesting to see if the International Skating Union addresses this issue when it convenes in June.

Vonn to Guest on "Law and Order"

Looks like Lindsay Vonn has turned her Vancouver success into a golden opportunity in Hollywood. She is set to appear in the season finale of “Law and Order” which will air in May.

Blackhawks' Best Plan of Attack? Just Win

It seems everyone is picking on the Blackhawks this week, or at least playing like they have a huge target on their backs. Not only did Jay Leno have fun at their expense in his opening monologue Tuesday night, but twice in the past week, opponents have knocked out Hawks players with brutal hits.

Defenseman Brian Campbell suffered a broken collarbone Sunday after the Caps’ superstar Alex Ovechkin shoved him into the boards. Campbell will be out the rest of the season, and Ovechkin got a game misconduct and two-game suspension.

Wednesday night in Anaheim, the Ducks’ James Wisniewski charged into Brent Seabrook, who fell to the ice apparently unconscious. Seabrook left the game and hasn’t played since. Wisniewski served a two-minute charging penalty and an eight-game suspension for hitting Seabrook, who didn’t have possession of the puck at the time.

Now the players are vowing to fight back, but within the rules, so they say. While it’s important for the Hawks to remain tough and stand tall in the face of these aggressive hits, it’s not necessary to form a goon squad. Hockey is a tough enough sport without having to resort to overly aggressive retaliation tactics that serve no purpose other than to detract the team from its ultimate goal -- winning the Stanley Cup. Besides, they’d only be stooping to the same low levels as Wisniewski and Ovechkin.

As last night's 3-0 shutout of the L.A. Kings proves, the best revenge is to simply win. Hit opponents where it hurts most – on the scoreboard. Make a statement if you have to, but don’t sink to the opponents’ level of stupidity and nonsense.

Ironically, the hits on Seabrook and Campbell may be the very thing the Hawks need to snap out of the post-Olympic doldrums. Since the Olympics, the Hawks are 4-4-1, and they have not played well as a team during that time. Nothing brings a team together more quickly and more tightly than adversity, and these incidents may serve as a reminder to play with the same level of intensity and purpose as they have since the season started and do the things that got them this far – puck possession and strong defense. If they focus on playing their best hockey, the goaltending issues may resolve themselves, and players like Wisniewski and Ovechkin may finally get off their backs.

Blackhawks Appear on Leno

The Blackhawks continue to be in the national spotlight. Last night, during their West Coast road trip, they made a “cameo” appearance on Jay Leno, and Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook showed off their hardware from the Olympics.

Wonder what would happen if the Hawks actually won something, like the Stanley Cup?

NCAA Tournament Expansion OK, But Not to 96

As the 2010 NCAA basketball tournament gets set to begin tomorrow, there is still a lot of discussion about expanding the tournament field to 96 teams. While I like the current set up of 65 teams, I can see the potential for expansion. But to 96 teams? I don’t think so.

For one, with 96 teams, the tournament would stretch out f-o-r-e-v-e-r. There’s only so much college basketball a person can watch. An expanded field of 96 teams could also dilute the level of competition because the field would include too many teams that are not the same caliber as the top-level teams with better records.

But what about expanding the tournament to 72 teams? I’m talking about only seven additional teams over the current 65-team field. In the 72-team field, I envision each bracket with 18 teams. The bottom four seeds in each bracket would face off to determine who advances. The higher-seeded winner would face the number two seed while the lower-seeded winner would face the number one seed. Tournament play would begin on Tuesday night (sorry NIT), thus giving the sport added national exposure.

Giving the top teams in each bracket a bye in the first round is nothing new to college basketball. Some of the larger conferences, including the Big 10, Big 12 and the ACC, already do this in their conference tournaments. This should be an easy adjustment to make for the NCAA.

The expanded tournament also might increase the number of at-large bids, thus increasing the chances for mid-majors to be included in the field. It might also eliminate the debate about which bubble teams make it in to the tournament. While some argue that the weak bubble field this year (there were only three) makes the case for keeping the tournament set up just as it is, in most years, there are anywhere from four to eight bubble teams. With an expanded field, those four to eight bubble teams won’t be left behind.

No post-season playoff scenario is ever perfect. The current NCAA tournament is as close as we’ll ever get. But the tournament’s growing popularity and the rising competitiveness of the mid-major teams may force the NCAA’s hand. Expansion may be inevitable, whether we like it or not.

Blackhawks Bask in National Spotlight

Nice piece in USA Today from last week about the resurgence of the Chicago Blackhawks. Apparently, the popularity of this team has reached far beyond Chicago’s city limits.

If people didn’t notice this team during their surprising playoff run last season, they are bound to notice them this year. No longer playing in obscurity, the Hawks are now among the NHL's best teams. They are the hottest ticket in Chi-town these days, and they are featured on NBC’s game of the week two weeks in a row (last Sunday against the Detroit Red Wings and this coming Sunday against the Washington Capitals). And while they carry the city’s hopes for a Stanley Cup on their young shoulders, they seem undaunted by the task ahead of them. I think that bodes well for the collective psyche of this team heading into the final few weeks of the season.

Now if they can only get their defense and goaltending back on track…..

Are Hawks’ Goaltending, Defensive Miscues Cause for Concern?

I’m noticing a disturbing trend with the Blackhawks lately. With 17 games remaining in the regular season, goaltending – once considered one of the team’s strong points – is now a growing concern. Christophal Huet has allowed too many easy shots, including four in the second period against the Detroit Red Wings that put the game away. Backup Antii Niemi hasn’t fared m much better. One wonders if the Hawks missed an opportunity to trade for another goalie at the trading deadline last Thursday.

The lack of movement by the Hawks tells me one of two things: either they were unable to make a deal at the trade deadline, or they are satisfied with the talent they have.

The players will be the first to tell you that they aren’t doing their part to support the goalies. Defensive lapses, especially in their own end, and sloppy puck handling have given their opponents more scoring opportunities than would seem fit. That accounts for the numerous breakaways the goalies have had to face over the past few games. It may be that teams are making adjustments to the Hawks style of play. If so, then the Hawks must counter and step up their own game. Let's all hope that this is simply a rough patch in their season rather than a harbinger of things to come.

Don’t Believe the Rumors; Sox’ Beckham Staying Put

Spring training has barely started, and already rumors are swirling that the White Sox may be working on a deal to send Gordon Beckham to San Diego for Adrian Gonzalez, according to MLB.com.

Don’t believe a word of it. Gordon Beckham isn’t going anywhere. He’s too valuable to the Sox both now and in the future. And as we all know, you don’t mortgage the future for a short-term solution, even if the deal involves a talented player like Gonzalez.

The Sox are in a bit of a transition. As older players depart, the Sox will need to rebuild the team around younger players like Beckham. He will be the glue that keeps this team together for years to come, just as the Sox built this team around Paul Konerko earlier this decade.

As much as I would love to see Adrian Gonzalez play for the South Siders, GM Kenny Williams will have to find a way to make this deal without Beckham in the mix.

Breakthroughs, Surprises Mark U.S. Olympic Success

Several weeks ago, I wrote this post about an economics professor who predicted that Canada would lead all nations in the medal count at the Vancouver Olympics. He also predicted that the U.S. would win only five gold medals and 26 medals overall.

Boy, was he ever wrong.

Canada started out slow the first week, finished with 26 medals overall, but did lead all countries with 14 gold medals. But the U.S. led in the overall record medal count with 37, including nine gold medals. It is by far the best collective performance by a group of American athletes during the Winter Olympic Games. While the big-name athletes like Lindsey Vonn, Shaun White and Shani Davis and Apolo Ono, came through as expected, other gold medal performances were either breakthroughs or surprises.

Breakthroughs
Nordic combined. Before the Olympics, the U.S. had never won a medal in the Nordic Combined event (2 phases: ski jumping and cross country skiing). They leave Vancouver with four medals, the most of any country.

Four-man bobsled. The last time the U.S. won gold in this event was 1948 in St. Moritz, Switzerland. 62 years later, Steve Holcomb piloted the U.S. team to gold.

Short-track speedskating. Katherine Reutter won a silver and bronze medal in short track speedskating, becoming the first U.S. woman to win an Olympic medal in that event. She is sure to be a contender in Sochi in 2014. Ditto for J.R. Celski, who picked up a bronze, after overcoming a horrific injury last fall that put his Olympic future in doubt.

Surprises
Alpine skiing. Beyond Vonn, the U.S. ski team wasn't considered to be much of a threat. But they won eight medals total, including two silver by Julia Mancuso who peaked at just the right time and Bode Miller, who made a huge comeback with three medals, one gold, silver and bronze.

Men's figure skating. Evan Lysacek went into the Games as a contender for a medal, but walked away with gold after two brilliant programs. He not only defeated the reigning Olympic champion, Evgeni Plushenko, who came out of retirement after last competing in Torino in 2006, Lysacek also defeated a very deep men's field.

U.S. men's hockey. The men's hockey team was the youngest in the field and weren't expected to medal in Vancouver. But don't tell them that. They won all three games in the preliminary round, including a 5-3 victory over the heavily favored Canadians. The two teams would meet again in the gold medal game, but with a different result. The Canadians prevailed in overtime 3-2, in one of the most exciting games in Olympic Games memory, and the Americans go home with silver.

Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks for the memories.

Ozzie Guillen on Twitter, White Sox in Realty TV Series

Guess who’s on Twitter now? Sports Illustrated reports that Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has a Twitter account, an ideal platform for his colorful commentary. Guillen promises that his comments will only be personal, not breaking news about the club’s moves. Still, General Manager Kenny Williams isn’t pleased with the idea and will likely be following Guillen’s tweets closely.

Twitter is the perfect forum for Guillen who has no problem reaching out to fans. He’s been known to read e-mails from fans and occasionally responds to them. If the Sox are smart, they will allow Ozzie to keep his Twitter account, so he can express himself on his terms without interference from the team.

The Sox are also going to be the subject of a reality TV show called “The Club,” which will air on the MLB Network beginning July 4. The show will follow Guillen, Williams, owner Jerry Reinsdorf and other members of the staff as they face the challenges of running a professional sports team.

This is a surprising move in some respects as Williams and Reinsdorf tend to keep things close to the vest where team decisions are concerned. Still, as a lifelong Sox fan, I’m looking forward to watching the show to see what the team is like behind closed doors.

Could Skating Judge’s Comments Backfire on U.S.?

The Winter Olympics in Vancouver haven’t even officially begun, and a figure skating controversy is already brewing.

According to Canadian newspaper Globe and Mail, veteran American skating judge Joe Inman has been accused of bias against European skaters after he sent a series of e-mails to some 60 international judges and officials, some of whom would be involved with the Vancouver Games, reminding them to mark presentation scores accurately.

Inman sent the e-mails after he heard Russia’s Evengi Plushenko, the reigning Olympic champion, say in an interview after the European championships, “If the judges want someone to place high, they can arrange it.” Plushenko also admitted in the interview that he and Frenchman Brian Joubert do not have transitions in their programs because they focus on their jumps. Both Joubert and Plushenko have been criticized for their lack of transitions in their program, though judges continue to score them well in their component scores.

Inman’s e-mails were picked up by a French sports publication which published a story about them with a headline that read “The Hostilities Begin.” The article suggested that Inman was leading a lobby of North American judges against European skaters, a charge that baffled Inman, who says the e-mails were meant to be instructional in nature and were not meant to stir up controversy. Inman is one of the creators of the current scoring system and teaches other judges about how to assess skaters’ performances and score them accurately.

The timing of this controversy cannot be good. While the European skating community accuses North American bias against their skaters, one wonders if there will be a backlash against North American skaters. Would European judges underscore leading skaters like Canada’s Patrick Chan and American Evan Lysacek while bumping up scores for skaters like Joubert and Plushenko? Or will Plushenko’s comments do himself in by prompting international judges to pay closer scrutiny to his, and everyone else's, program components?

The men’s competition starts next Tuesday.