STARTING FIVE

1. “We Got Robbed”

Perhaps you did, Doc Rivers, but your team was also outscored 17-3 in the final four minutes and 8-0 in the final :49. You got robbed, but you left the front door open and your wallet on the kitchen counter.

The Clippers led 101-88 with about four minutes to play, scored one basket the rest of the way, and it’s the referees’ fault they lost? Chico, please.

Just so you know, the sports phrase “We wuz robbed” is believed to have been coined by fight manager Joe Jacobs after his boxer, Max Schmeling, lost to Jack Sharkey on June 21, 1932.

2. “Rafael Negura”

 

The best comedy on TV, as I’ve said before, is “Inside the NBA.” Shaq seems to be adapting to his role of rambunctious kid brother/clown (Shaqcrobatics, anyone?), and the crew is now so comfortable with him that Ernie broke out a Shaq impression last night.

Best point of the evening was when the crew relayed the story that Shaq had run into Mariano Rivera earlier Monday in New York City (for Upfronts? I don’t know) and didn’t know his name. He returned to Atlanta and told his on-air colleagues that he had met “Rafael Negura.”

And then the “Inside the NBA” staffers doctored up a photo of a Mexican League pitcher with Sir Charles’ face and a Pancho Villa mustache.

3. Mark’s Twain

Thirty years ago today, Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg was born in White Plains, N.Y. We should note that the Winklevoss twins are claiming that they turned 30 first.

Anyway, today is Zuckerberg’s 30th birthday and ABC News has compiled a list of 30 things he accomplished before turning 30 (like becoming worth more than $26 billion).

4. Regarding Henrik

In a thrilling Game 7, the New York Rangers defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins as goaltender Henrik Lundqvist stops 35 of 36 shots. The Rangers shot barely more than half as many shots on goal (20) but won, 2-1. And they won the series after trailing 3-1. So Jim Dolan won’t have to schedule as many Billy Joel concerts at MSG this month.

5. My Favorite Marcin

Marcin Gortat goes for game-highs of 31 points an 16 rebounds as the Wizards embarrass the Pacers at home, yet again, 102-79. And yet Indiana may still advance to the conference finals.

You know what the Pacers are? They’re that super-hot girlfriend who’s so moody that you finally decide it’s just not worth it. Not that I’d know from personal experience.

Reserves

This young dude can play the “Game of Thrones” theme –which is the most majestic lyric-free TV theme song of the millennium thus far– solo on his violin.

***

Jerry Seinfeld remains in character to pick up his old buddy George Costanza for “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee” that is better in concept than in execution. For me, the highlight was Jerry’s line about the comparison between George and the AMC Pacer: “It doesn’t work, looks ridiculous, and falls apart.”

The Hall*

*Did you really believe a little thing such as time was going to compel us to stop doing this? We’ll keep going for another few years to include players who have recently retired.

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; Gaylord Perry, P 1993: Reggie Jackson, RF, Tom Seaver, P 1994: Phil Niekro, P, Rollie Fingers, P 1995: Pete Rose, INF, Mike Schmidt, 3B 1996: Steve Carlton, P, Denny McLain, P 1997: Jim Rice, LF, Don Sutton, P 1998: Dick Allen, 1B, Dave Parker, RF 1999: Nolan Ryan, P, George Brett, 3B 2000: Robin Yount, SS, Carlton Fisk, C 2001: Kirby Puckett, CF, Mark Fidrych, P 2002: Ozzie Smith, SS, Gary Carter, C 2003: Eddie Murray, 1B, Tommy John (Surgery) 2004: Paul Molitor, INF, Dennis Eckersley, P 2005: Wade Boggs, 3B, Ryne Sandberg, 2B 2006: Hughie Jennings, SS, Herman Long, SS 2007: Cal Ripken, Jr, SS, Tony Gwynn, RF 2008: Tanner Boyle, SS, Crash Davis, C 2009: Rickey Henderson, LF, Duke Snider, CF 2010: Lee Smith, P, Garry Maddox, CF 2011: Roberto Alomar, 2B, Dave Winfield, LF 2012: Barry Larkin, SS, Johnny Vander Meer, P 2013: Phil Rizzuto, SS, Ferguson Jenkins, P 2014: Greg Maddux, P, Craig Biggio  2B/C

* After much internal debate, I’ve decided not to include all-time greats such as Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens in my Hall. You can make an outstanding case that they belong even without the steroid use, and I won’t really fight you. But, in my opinion, they cheated the game for years –and to the disingenuous people who remind me that steroids don’t help you hit a baseball, I’m not sure if I should be more insulted that you’re that stupid or that you think I’m that stupid–and they set their own fate.

Yes, you say, but Pete Rose and Joe Jackson are in. The latter, in my opinion, was scapegoated. The former, as far as I know, did what he did as a manager, and I simply don’t consider the fact that he bet on his own team as that great a crime.

At the end of the day, players such as Bonds and Clemens are so historic in their feats that they likely belong. But I’d rather not parse it, because that’s when you compromise yourself. Where do you draw the line between a guy who didn’t need to use them (Bonds, obviously) and someone who did (Sammy Sosa)? On this topic, I’d rather err on the side of absolutes.

Your mileage may vary.

2015

Mike Piazza, C; 1992-2007, Mets, Dodgers

I know, I know. Did Piazza juice? Suspected, but never proven. Arguably the greatest hitting catcher of all time, the 12-time All-Star finished with 427 home runs (the most by anyone using the tools of ignorance) and a .308 batting average.

Randy Johnson, P; 1988-00, Mariners, D-backs

 

The Big Unit was often, at six-foot-eleven, unhittable. He led the league in strikeouts in nine different seasons and is second all-time behind only Nolan Ryan with 4,875. A 300-game winner (303-166), the 10-time All-Star and five-time Cy Young Award winner also hurled both a perfect game and a no-hitter, 14 years apart.

Remote Patrol

Canadiens-Bruins, Game 7

NBC Sports Net 7 p.m.

These two Original Six rivals will meet in a Game 7 for the ninth time in their history. Quick question, don’t look at a map: Is Montreal east or west of Boston?