STARTING FIVE
At least Sandor Clegane got to hitch up his pants before dying.
1. Game of Throne
Tywin Lannister takes two arrows while going number two. As everyone else noted, “Happy Father’s Day.”
Elsewhere, women rule: Cersei, Lady Brienne and especially Arya Stark conquer. Maisie Williams (Arya) is just phenomenal in her final scene with Sandor Clegane, a.k.a., The Hound, in what was the episode’s, if not the season’s, most riveting and visually striking scene.
As for Khaleesi…it’s “How To Train Your Dragon”, not “How To Chain Your Dragon.” This will not end well for her –although I did force my pet critter to watch the scene as a warning for him to behave.
2. Falling Out of the Countdown
Zoinks
The inimitable Casey Kasem, who made Sunday radio a weekly staple of the 1970s –we really DID care what song reached No. 1, unless it was something by Leo Sayer or Andy Gibb, in which case we just retched– passes away at the age of 82. He was also the voice of Scooby Doo and Shaggy, which no child of the Seventies was immune to watching. As loyal MH reader Jones said after hearing of the news, “Is it too soon for a long-distance dedication?”
3. Argen-times!
Unlike last year, the 2014 NBA Finals rubbed San Antonio the right way.
I’ll let everyone else recap the NBA Finals. For me the coup de grace was Manu Ginobiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii’s first-half dunk (after a blatant offensive clearout with his right elbow on Ray Allen that the referees chose to ignore) that no one saw coming, and the aftermath when Timmay! ruffled his bald spot as the two headed back up court.
Only an hour or so earlier, fellow Argentine Lionel Messi scored a brilliant goal that would ultimately provide the winning margin in Argentina’s opening World Cup match. If you see the replay, watch how Messi’s wizardry causes two Serbian defenders to collide and somersault over one another.
We should note here that many Argentines are of Italian heritage, which makes them even cooler and better-looking.
4. Beauty and the Burkha
Currently the only person named Holly in Iraq, we think.
This year’s early favorite for the Lara Logan Award is Holly Williams of CBS News, who is reporting from an Iraq that may be as dangerous as it’s ever been. That the Aussie-born Williams is tall, blonde and striking should not make her stick out on the road to Mosul at all, should it.
This story on the Turkey-based (as opposed to the turkey-basted…did you honestly think I could resist that pun?) Williams, who is a wife and mom, is revelatory. Here’s wishing her safety in this assignment.
5. Elton Johnaroo
John opened with the first three songs from an album that made its debut 41 years ago. But rock is not (cough) dead.
Another Seventies icon, Elton John, closed Bonnaroo Sunday night by dedicating “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” to Casey Kasem. You know what was different about mega-concerts when I was young versus those of today? NOTHING. The SAME ACTS were playing them. If rock-and-roll is not dead, it’s on life support. It may need the same blood transfusion they’re giving to The Mountain back in King’s Landing.
Reserves
What more could he have done? (and another classic sports pic from this month)
Yes, we watched the third period plus both overtimes of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals. Yes, we are at best casual hockey fans. But we agree: there’s nothing more exciting than the prospect of sudden death in overtime of the Stanley Cup. We were riveted. And even though the L.A. Kings won, it felt as if Henrik Lundqvist was the most heroic.
Remote Patrol
Listen up! Game of Thrones and Mad Men are over. So is the NBA and NHL. Baseball is occasionally entertaining. Let’s all step away from the TV set because when we’re out there in the Afterlife discussing how we spent our time, no one’s going to want to hear about how we watched “The Bachelorette” and “Mistresses” back to back on ABC. We can do this, people!
If we don’t win, we’re Ghanas! And we’ll miss you, Landon.
Wait, what? USA-Ghana at 6 p.m.????!!!!??? My bad. ESPN.
I suppose it’s fitting that the Game of Thrones & the GAMES of THRONE (of the land ‘NBA’) both ended their seasons on the same night. Congrats to the Spurs, who in the final 3 games outplayed those mostly unrecognizable guys wearing the HEAT uniforms. That sounds snarky & really, I am impressed with the Spurs but if I hear ONE MORE TV GUY say that any NBA team is “PURE OF HEART”, I may start up another 14 year sabbatical! Those guys should follow the lead of the Finals MVP’s : The Kawhi-et Man.
Anyhoo, if you watched, you know it was one more debacle for Sweet Pea & the imposters/pod-people/old & /or infirmed guys wearing the Heat uniforms. No tears as I’d already realized the inevitable in mid-3rd quarter of Game 4. Still, because they do employ the world’s greatest basketball player & he came out of the gate lights blazing, I had a bit of hope. Which was extinguished before the Heaters even fell behind in the 2nd quarter as ALL their offense was going thru & by LeBron & there’s no way ONE guy can beat those Spurs. Not even the King.
I guess the TRUTH about Wade & Birdman’s injuries will finally come out now, along with any drama within the team. And that possibly a criminal cartel was holding all the players’ family pets ransom. I mean, COME ON, yes, the Spurs played great but HALF the reason they played that great is that except for LeBron, the real HEAT TEAM never showed up! I feel bad for Chalmers as he sliced millions off his max contract, wherever he lands. He was an impactful starter on 2 championship teams but you’d never believe it if all you viewed was this year’s Finals. And D-Wade, if he’s REALLY injury-free, then he has a BIGGER problem – not only is he no longer a legit part of a Big 3, nor an All-Star, but he’s not even a starter anymore on a real championship team.
And of course, the most upsetting thing for me is not the loss, but that all the “legacy” talk will once again corrode the air/net waves & LeBron will be written off as a mere wanna-be for Jordan’s G.O.A.T title. Why can’t people just be happy watching the BEST right now & decide on one’s “legacy” after they are done? And I know you think MJ is the best, but this unending deification mostly by idiots who NEVER SAW HIM PLAY actual games has to stop!
Rock-and-roll may be on life support, but Inna-Ghana-De-Feata!