STARTING FIVE
1. Reverse Posterization
The greatest basketball player on the planet soared skyward for a game-winning dunk, at home, for a team that has won the previous two NBA championships. All that stood in his way was a white rookie center from Duke who looks like Herman Munster’s long lost Nordic nephew (Marilyn Munster’s brother, perhaps?).
Did you know there were two Marilyns (Pat Priest, here, and Beverley Owen)? They both married Darrin Stephens.
What happened next? The white rookie, Mason Plumlee of the Brookynettes, blocked LeBron James’ slam and even more shockingly, was not whistled for a foul.
Maybe there is a Santa Claus.
While some regular readers of this blog probably are screaming for a foul, I maintain that a dunk is a very different type of shot than say, a jumper. The shooter is trying to jam the ball in the hoop. There’s going to be a little more contact, kind of like a goal-line stand in football or a play at the plate in baseball. Did “Plums” catch King James’ right hand? Sure, he did. Was it a foul? Yes. Actually, Joe Johnson also fouled LBJ as he drew the ball into both hands a second before.
Am I fine with how the referees handled this? Yup.
2. Declaration of Independents
Who’s in charge of RS’ cover art? Jonah Ryan?
Let’s get it straight, Jann Wenner…
Declaration of Independence: “When in the course of human events…”
Constitution: “We the people…”
Declaration of Independence: John Hancock’s over-sized signature
Constitution: Hancock did not sign it.
Got it, Jann? This is what happens when you let your best writer, Matt Taibbi, leave.
History should recall this as Rolling Stone’s “Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?” moment.
3. Geno Wins…Again
Geno’s rim shots are usually jocular.
I’ll admit, I was torn, and not in a Natalie Imbruglia way, but more so in an Ednaswap way, since they’re the band that wrote the song. My alma mater, Notre Dame (which is the ultimate in Motherhood, after all, alma or no) versus the program that once allowed me behind the curtain.
On Sunday I tweeted, as the Irish were dismantling Maryland, that Notre Dame looked good and that UConn would win by no more than 17. I was wrong (again), of course, as the Huskies won by 21, 79-58.
Geno not only passes Pat Summitt on the all-time women’s national championships list (9, but keep an eye out for Tyler Summit), but moves to 9-0 in championship games. That is Phil Jackson (11-0), John Wooden (10-0) and Red Auerbach (9-1) territory.
Asked what he’d bring home from Nashville as a memento, Geno was his typical self: “bags under my eyes and a hangover.”
He’s an all-timer…
4. CancellRovell
Rovell (left) shares a quiet moment with his Twitter tormentor.
ESPN’s business analyst vaults past RA Derek as the week’s biggest buzzkill and tool (and it’s only Wednesday) as he reports a college student for making a funny joke about himself, Hitler, the swastika, and branding on Twitter. Rovell did Nazi the humor in it, apparently.
Here’s hoping Charles Shipan at the University of Michigan did not go all Dean Wormer on the student (and, yes, that’s our second “Animal House” reference of today if you’re keeping score). Wondering if Rovell was more offended from a religious vantage point or because a student at another Big Ten school (Darren’s a Northworstern alum) tweaked him.
5. R.I.P, Ultimate Warrior
I’m not a wrestling fan (except if Bugs Bunny is in the ring against The Crusher), but James Hellwig, alias the Ultimate Warrior, died at age 54 yesterday. Only three days earlier he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Coroners have ruled out “pile driver” as the cause of death.
Arrangements will be made by The Undertaker.
By the way, if my surname was Hellwig, I wouldn’t use any alias. Would you? Now the sobriquet of Ultimate Warrior returns to its rightful owner, Rick Barry.
The Hall
Charter Inductees: Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner
1937: Tris Speaker, CF; Cy Young, P ; 1938: Grover Cleveland Alexander, P; Eddie Collins, 2B 1939:Nap Lajoie, 2B; Joe Jackson, LF; 1940: Billy Hamilton, OF; Cap Anson, 1B; 1941: Wee Willie Keeler, RF; George Sisler, 1B; 1942: Rogers Hornsby, 2B; Pie Traynor, 3B; 1943: Mickey Cochrane, C; Frankie Frisch, 2B 1944: Ed Walsh, P; Old Hoss Radbourn, P 1945: Lou Gehrig, 1B; Kid Nichols, P 1946: Ed Delahanty, LF; Lefty O’Doul 1947: Pud Galvin, P; John McGraw, INF 1948: Carl Hubbell, P; Addie Joss, P 1949: Harry Heilman, OF/1B; Monte Ward, P/SS 1950: Cool Papa Bell, CF; Jimmie Foxx, 1B 1951: Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown, P; Josh Gibson, C 1952: Paul Waner, RF; Charlie Gehringer, 2B 1953: Mel Ott, RF; Hank Greenberg, 1B 1954: Eddie Plank, P; Dan Brouthers, 1B 1955: “Wahoo” Sam Crawford, OF; John Clarkson, P 1956: Chief Bender, P; Bill Dickey, C 1957: Sam Rice, RF; Joe DiMaggio, CF 1958: Bill Terry, 1B; Heinie Manush, LF 1959: Dizzy Dean, P; Tim Keefe, P 1960: Gabby Hartnett, C; Mickey Welch, P 1961: Bob Feller, P; Ducky Medwick, LF 1962: Luke Appling, SS; Jesse Burkett, LF 1963 Jackie Robinson, 2B; Zack Wheat, LF 1964: Jake Beckley, 1B; Rube Waddell, P 1965: Ralph Kiner, 1B; Lefty Grove, P
1966: Ted Williams, LF; Smoky Joe Wood, P/OF 1967: Roy Campanella, C; Max Carey, OF 1968: Goose Goslin, LF; Rabbit Maranville, SS 1969: Stan Musial, 1B/OF 1970: Ferris Fain, 1B; Earle Combs, CF 1971: Warren Spahn, P; Yogi Berra, C 1972 Satchel Paige, P; Sandy Koufax, P 1973: Robin Roberts, P; Whitey Ford, P 1974: Mickey Mantle, CF; Eddie Mathews, 3B 1975: Lefty Gomez, P; Hack Wilson, CF 1976: Jack Pfiester, P; Johnny Mize, 1B 1977: Ernie Banks, SS; Mickey Welch, P 1978: Roberto Clemente, RF; Chuck Klein, RF 1979: Willie Mays, CF; Luis Aparicio, SS 1980: Al Kaline, RF; Enos Slaughter, RF 1981: Bob Gibson, P; Harmon Killebrew, 1B 1982: Hank Aaron, RF; Frank Robinson, OF 1983: Brooks Robinson, 3B, Juan Marichal, P 1984: Hoyt Wilhelm, P; Arky Vaughan, SS 1985: Lou Brock, LF; Pete Browning, OF 1986: Sidd Finch, P 1987: Willie McCovey, 1B, Roger Maris, RF 1988: Willie Stargell, 1B, Catfish Hunter, P 1989: Earl Averill, CF, Billy Williams, LF 1990: Johnny Bench, C, Carl Yastrzemski, LF 1991: Jim Palmer, P, Joe Morgan, 2B
1992
Rod Carew, 2B; 1967-1985, Twins, Angels
The greatest Panamanian hitter of all time, Carew finished his career with 3,053 hits and a .328 batting average. He led the American League in hitting in seven different seasons, though not in 1970 when he batted .366 (because of a lack of plate appearances). The ultimate contact and/or singles hitter, Carew finished with only 92 home runs and in 1972 won the batting crown without hitting even one ball that left the yard. An 18-time All Star in his 19 seasons and also the 1967 Rookie of the Year and 1977 AL MVP, Carew never played in a World Series.
Gaylord Perry, P; 1962-1983, 8 teams
Perry, here in an SI photo, pitched until age 45
Notorious for doctoring baseballs, Perry was not actually ejected from a game for throwing a spitter until his 21st season. The first pitcher to win a Cy Young award in both the AL (1972) and the NL (1978), he finished a never-dull 22-year career with 314 wins and 3,534 strikeouts, which is 8th all-time. A true character.
Who you talkin’ about, Willis? Oh ok, you had me at ‘THAT’S A *$&%^% FOUL!’ Of course, anytime anyone comes within spittin’ distance of sweat pea LeBron, I’m screaming at the refs, but that’s my job : LeBron/Heat Fan, that’s my, ok, maybe not my raison d’etre nor my paid occupation, but definitely an avocation. I should probably get a t-shirt. 🙂
Anyhoo, far more upsetting to me is the fact that D-Wade has now sat out 10 of the last 13 games. TEN! He’ll have missed about a THIRD of all the games this regular season. For a team that shares part of its name with Miami Sound Machine, you’d think they’d KNOW that “the RHYTHM’S GONNA GET YA”! Or in this case, the lack of.
And I still haven’t had terrapin soup, but Sunday was close. NOT tasty! I can’t complain though as I was just thrilled MD was back at a Final Four.
As for the men’s championship – for the 1st time in 42 years, I did not watch the NCG, either Final 4 games, & barely watched any of the Tournament. I was, however, ECSTATIC that Kentucky lost as they are the uber-one-&-done team, the m.o. that has murdered my once beloved college basketball. Yes, I read & heard that this year’s tournament was “more exciting than ever”. Just no longer for me. That even Coach K now ’employs’ one-year guys makes me weep. When the NBA institutes the 2-year rule, I shall make like MacArthur/the Terminator & return.
That’s “SWEET PEA LeBron”, not “sweat”. Argh, fingers &/or brain, the guilty party has a cramp.
I know this will seriously carbon date me, but the first Marilyn Munster was my babysitter. I don’t remember much about her, other than her aloofness. Her favorite pastime was dancing in front of our TV to “Hullabaloo”, in a pair of shiny white go-go boots.
So there you have it. My brushes with fame know no limits. And while we’re at it, I know Santa Claus,too.
He also wears boots, but I would never describe him as aloof. Despite my lofty connections, I haven’t met LeBron James, and I’m not quite sure how he fits into all of this.
“Did Nazi the humor in this.” So well-done. Clever and underappreciated is no way to go through life.