Why Do We Care So Much About Aaron Rodgers?

We are in the throes of the NBA and NHL playoffs. Baseball is at a traditional point—Memorial Day weekend. Masks are coming off. COVID numbers are dropping—even in the states which have the most people vaccinated but previously had been reluctant to do do. 

Crowds are growing at the arenas and stadiums in the U.S. Not so yet in Canada, where the emptiness of the sites is a not too unfamiliar reminder of what the last cycle of playoffs was like. And there is considerable uneasiness about holding the once-postponed Olympics in Japan, which is in the midst of its own terrible COVID-19 outbreak. 

With the return of paying patrons in large numbers comes a fervor to make up for lost time. The loudness of the venues is music to the viewers’ ears and energizes the participants. 

However what has arisen is boorishness. Not that it was unexpected. It just is clearly apparent. It is unacceptable. 

In the NBA, Knicks fans have spit on Trae Young, the budding star of the Atlanta Hawks, who seemingly thrives on taunting the crowd when he sticks a dagger in the Knicks heart, like he did in Game 1. He must also like the fact that the Madison Square Garden crowd has begun calling him by his first name, F*#k Trae Young. Maybe he should shorten that to the way famed actor F. Murray Abraham did it for his first name. 

Another spitting incident occurred in Utah, with another rising star, Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, who took apart the Golden State Warriors in the Play-in game then starred in a Game 1 win over the Jazz before scoring 47 points in a Game 2 loss. I guess those Mormons haven’t been on good behavior lately—ask their United States Senator, Mitt Romney, how he’s been treated by his constituents. 

Poor Russell Westbrook of the Washington Wizards. He played his heart out in two games versus the top-seeded Sixers in Wells Fargo Arena. Then he was hurt and had to be escorted to the locker room to receive treatment. 

Except while he was in the protected area leading to the locker rooms, somehow, an idiot showered Westbrook with popcorn as a goodbye salute. Which understandably set off Westbrook, who wanted a piece of the moron.

New York. Utah. Philadelphia. All sites where sportsmanship by the fans near the court or playing surface is abhorrent. This is not the first instance of troubling behavior at Knicks, Jazz or Sixers home games. 

Remember, at the old Veterans Stadium home of the Eagles and Phillies, rowdy fans would be brought to a lockup in the bowels of the stadium. And for Eagles home games, it would regularly be filled. 

When I had season tickets for the New York Rangers, the actions of the patrons in the upper tiers, affectionately known as the “Blue Seats,” was unconscionable when it came to the two closest rivals—the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Islanders. I witnessed a young woman, clad in a Flyers orange jersey, stomped and beaten. I have seen a gun pulled on another Flyers fan. And the fights which would break out in the stands during the Islanders games and on the streets surrounding Penn Station after games were as violent and bloodthirsty as the fights on the ice inside the Garden. 

I have also seen this lack of decorum at Yankee, Shea and Giants Stadiums, as well as the Brendan Byrne Arena in New Jersey. Stupidity and mob mentality has no restrictions or boundaries. Exhibit 1 would be the January 6 incursion into the U.S. Capitol. 

Sadly, this violence in the stands and the swearing, whether in unison or done individually, will remain. The bozos who did the unfortunate and cowardly acts in those three cities got the boot and had their ticket holding privileges revoked. I wish that this behavior will end, but I worry about retaliation in Atlanta, Memphis and Washington, D.C. where each throng is every bit as capable as its brethren to do the wrong thing in NYC, Salt Lake City and Philly. 

I didn’t like the quietness of last year. But it had to be. I particularly disliked the pumped in crowd noise. I don’t have an answer for those who feel the right to express themselves crudely and become part of the action where they don’t belong. It detracts from some brilliant series.

In the NHL, two opening round series remain undecided. Ongoing is the series between Montreal and Toronto, with the Maple Leafs leading 3-2 heading into Game 6 in Montreal.  Meanwhile, Vegas has been severely tested by the Minnesota Wild. A winner-take-all Game 7 is in Sin City on Friday night. 

The teams still alive are: the Islanders, who took out top-seeded Pittsburgh; Boston, which handily defeated Washington; Carolina dispatched Nashville on Thursday night in OT; Tampa Bay downed the Panthers in a rugged all-Florida matchup; Colorado swept St.Louis; and Winnipeg also surprisingly swept Edmonton. In the next round, New York tangles with the Bruins; Carolina and Tampa Bay tango; Colorado will host the winner of the Golden Knights-Wild series; and Winnipeg awaits the Montreal-Toronto winner. 

There has been the usual thuggery expected in hockey. There have been some suspensions levied for bad actions on the rink. Yet somehow, there is no story about the fans becoming the story. It is all about the hockey. Which is good.

When the next round starts, I like the Islanders chances of beating the Bruins. There is something about the Bruins team which just doesn’t make me confident in them to go on. I see the Hurricanes and Lightning going seven games in the “Weather Series.” No matter which team emerges to play the Avalanche, Colorado is much better. Finally, Winnipeg has surprised so many thus far. Why not make it to the next round with its under appreciated talent?

The NBA has had some really interesting series thus far. The Lakers have forged ahead of the young Phoenix Suns with wins in Game 2 and at home in Game 3. That home win was the first Lakers playoff victory in the Staples Center since 2012. That’s 9 years ago. When Kobe Bryant still wore the Lakers uniform. These are the Lakers we are talking about. One of the NBA glamour teams. 

This series is chippy. I saw Anthony Davis kick Jae Crowder in his manhood region, leaving the Suns forward writhing in pain on the floor of the former Talking Stick Resort Arena (the casino started then ended negotiations on an extension of the naming rights) and was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul. Crowder was ejected from the late stages of Game 3 when he came to the defense of teammate Devin Booker, who had received a Flagrant 2 foul and was tossed. 

After being relegated to a Play-In for the 7th seed and surviving on that lucky Lebron James heave, the Lakers have suddenly awakened and appear more like the defending champs that they are. But remember this—Phoenix had the second best record in the Western Conference and they only trail 2-1. This series is nowhere near a completion. The reduced effectiveness of point guard Chris Paul, probably known better for the State Farm commercials, will make things tougher for the Suns. It seems that Paul is almost always injured during the Playoffs. 

The Grizzlies, led by Ja Morant and company, have sent notice to the Jazz that they are for real. For Utah, getting Donovan Mitchell back from injury was a big lift for the team. While the team bizarrely first said he was playing in Game 1 and then revisited the issue by not letting Mitchell play created some media attention with Mitchell’s apparent dislike of how the matter was handled. He looked good by scoring 25 points in a restricted 26 minutes of game time. How Donovan Mitchell plays will decide this series.

Ah, the Los Angeles Clippers. Always the league’s doormat under former owner Donald Sterling, the co-tenant in the Staples Center seemingly has all of the parts necessary to win the title. Except, they don’t play like that in the playoffs. Plus, it is my feeling that the Clippers’ Paul George is highly overrated.

Last year, the Clips were bounced out early. Head Coach Glenn “Doc’ Rivers bolted from LA La Land, finding greener pastures in Philadelphia with stars Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. It was time a for a new arising for the Clippers. 

Which it is totally understandable that the Clippers find themselves in a 0-2 hole heading to Dallas for Game 3. Luka Doncic has been dominant and I don’t see the Mavs losing this series. Which means another rebuild will be underway in Los Angeles for another one of the Staples Center tenants—I think the NHL Kings are in the midst of one. LA remains a Lakers-Dodgers town.

By the way, Denver and Portland are also playing in the West.  Portland drew first blood on the Nuggets in Denver, but Thursday night’s win on the road returned the home court advantage to Denver. Damien Lillard of Portland is so much fun to watch—what a a competitor. He is another talented player with a team that always are comes up short. Besides, Nikola Jokic of Denver is an unstoppable beast. Enough said.

In the East, the Nets are rolling over the injured and outclassed Boston Celtics. Typical Kyrie Irving to bring in extra distractions when he comes back to TD Garden for Game 3. His statements about race will only fire up the rabid Celtics fan base. He was so beloved by those fans only 2 years ago when he played there. 

Philadelphia will ultimately win their series with the Wizards. Still, I look for Washington to snag a victory or even two.

Milwaukee is having its way with the Miami Heat. Rolling to a 29 point win on Thursday, Milwaukee looks to close out the series on Saturday afternoon. Much to Pat Riley’s displeasure. 

The final Eastern Conference matchup involves those Knicks and Hawks. Trae Young has been the story as much as the Knicks offensive woes in Game 1. If New York plays like it did in the second half of Game 2, then the Knicks could win the series. Play like they did for much of Game 1 and the first half of Game 2, then the Knicks are doomed. It is up to Julius Randle to return to form for New York to advance.

The Yankees have decided to match the Mets—with so many players on the IL. The difference is that the Mets are in first place in a weak division, while the Yankees were losers of two of the last three games at home to nomadic Toronto, which ended a 6 game win streak and Toronto stopped a 6 game losing skid, and remained in third place with a 29-20 record.

DH Giancarlo Stanton is ready to come off of the IL. However, Luke Voit is on the IL with an oblique strain, which kept Aaron Judge on the shelf for 54 games when he suffered a similar injury. No hit pitcher Corey Kluber suffered a significant shoulder injury and is lost to the team for an indeterminate time. Closer Aroldis Chapman has been out with a cold/bug—it doesn’t seem like it is COVID-19. If it is, the Yankees are in serious trouble. 

With ace Gerrit Cole opening the three game series in Detroit, the Yankees have to call up Deivi Garcia to pitch on Saturday and it is the familiar TBD as to who will pitch on Sunday. Then the Rays are in town for an important early June series, with the Red Sox finally playing the Bombers next weekend at the Stadium.

Michael Kay made an interesting point when the team batting averages were shown from the Stadium scoreboard. Way too many are below .200. Plus defending AL Batting Champion D.J. LeMahieu is hitting only in the .260 range, way below what he has been performing for New York. (Perhaps the birth of a child was weighing on his mind?)

The hot bats of Gleyber Torres and Judge, along with the steadiness of Gio Urshela have been the main offensive threats.  With the season-ending loss of Aaron Hicks and Voit being out, Stanton and the others must step up to give the Yankees a realistic chance to contend, now that the starting pitching has become a bit murkier. 

The Dodgers seem to be a streaky team. They were red hot to open the season. Then the team went cold. Now LAD is hot again. With the current 9-1 record in the last 10 games, the Dodgers trail the first place Padres by 0.5, since San Diego was 8-2 in it last 10 games. San Francisco is beginning to fade.

Also of note are the Cubs. Kris Bryant its hitting over .300. They have feasted on the woeful Pittsburgh Pirates. 

So much so, that in Thursday’s game, infielder Javier Baez, nicknamed El Mago (the Magician), hit a weak infield grounder to third that was thrown to the Pittsburgh first baseman Will Craig. Instead of running to first, Baez stopped, then retreated, with a man on second base. Instead of stepping on the bag for the routine out, Craig ran at Baez. Willson Contreras, the Cubs runner on second, steamed home, ahead of a tag by Pirates catcher Michael Perez. Baez took off for first, not only beating the throw by Perez, but ending up on second base when the throw sailed over the second baseman’s head as he covered first. Baez scored on an Ian Happ single, to the delight of his teammates.

Pittsburgh is a bad team again. This was embarrassing. It epitomized the weakness in baseball—the rich get richer and the bad teams like the Pirates, Orioles, Rockies continue to play horribly.

Yet in the news on Thursday was a picture of Aaron Rodgers and his fiancé, Shailene Woodley, cavorting in bathing suits in Hawaii while Organized Team Activities were going on in Green Bay. 

With all that is going on in sports, why do we care so much about Aaron Rodgers?

I Have Company

Mike Trout is the slugging centerfielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Mark D. Sperber is the two-plus year outfielder for the Franklin and Marshall College Diplomats, who became a lawyer, then a blogger. Both Jersey guys. Both with right calf strains. 

In this case, Trout is the copycat and he out did me with his Grade 2 calf strain. He felt a pop as he jogged to third base on Monday night. Trout thought he had been hit by a thrown baseball. He hobbled off the field, visibly upset over his misfortune. He is out for at least 6-8 weeks, thus gravely imperiling any slim chance the Angels, cellar dwellers in the AL West, might have had to make the playoffs.  

My injury was chronicled in last weeks’s blog. Suffice it to say that we need not repeat my stupidity with rain in sight. 

Meanwhile, I have been through PT sessions, where my injury has been treated and we are working on strengthening the muscle. I am permitted to walk around Garden Oval once, at a slower than normal clip—that’s .50 miles to be exact. I can get on the recumbent bicycle for 15 minutes at Level 2, no higher than 90 r.p.m. 

Like Mike Trout, my timetables for a full recovery is uncertain. And I ruined a chance to head to Long Beach Island for our annual 4 mile May walk near Barnegat Lighthouse, which had been postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic. 

I wonder if I contacted the Angels, Mike and I could compare notes. Maybe each one of us could pick up some key information which might speed up our recoveries. Unless Mr. Trout is still in a nasty mood. 

Wednesday was a sports geek’s day for this geek. A heck of a TV night for me.

The opener was the NBA Play-In game between San Antonio and Memphis. Not normally a game I would watch. But I am always intrigued by Greg Popovich and his teams, so I tuned in. In the final two quarters, it was a back and forth contest, with the Spurs actually taking the lead. 

However, the Grizzlies were at home and they came in as the better team. For one night, Memphis looked more like a playoff team than San Antonio.

Whenever I see the Spurs, even in highlights on ESPN or NBA-TV, I always look for Becky Hammon. I keep wondering—is she the heir apparent to Popovich when he decides to end his brilliant coaching career which is destined to land him in the Hall of Fame? Repeatedly it has been said that she possesses what is necessary to make a fine coach. Her seat in the front row nearby Pop tells me how much her values her input. I think it will be fantastic when she breaks this particular glass ceiling. 

The next act was a normal, mid-May game between the Yankees and Texas Rangers from Globe Life Field in Arlington. Except that this game proved to be anything but normal. 

New York’s starting pitcher was Corey Kluber. Last season Kluber pitched one game for the Texas Rangers before succumbing to injury. So taking the mound in Arlington that night was completing a circle. 

In fact, it was Corey Kluber Bobblehead Night—the Rangers had kept all of the stash and was distributing the freebies to those in attendance. What timing it proved to be. Handing out a bobblehead of an opposing player in his former uniform on the night he pitches a no hitter. Think how valuable those collectibles became!!

Maybe that was an omen. For what happened that night was extraordinary. Kluber was as dominant a pitcher as I have seen in one game in years. 

En route to no hitting the Rangers, Kluber only allowed on baserunner, which came in the third inning via a walk on four pitches. He had four types of pitches working in a synchronized dance, hypnotizing and mesmerizing (to borrow stock phrases from Knicks legendary announcer and Hall of Fame player, Walt (Clyde) Frazier) on 101 pitches, 71 thrown for strikes. 

Kluber started out so efficient that he threw 20 pitches through the first two innings. That had some teammates thinking the unthinkable—that he had the stuff to throw a perfect game. So they remained seated where they were for the entire night. Baseball players are very superstitious. 

While he did not get that perfect game, Kluber showed why he was a former two-time Cy Young Award winner and three-time All Star who had struck out 18 St. Louis Cardinals in a game and previously pitched a one hitter. The $11 million one year investment GM Brian Cashman made in Kluber looked awfully good.

The superlatives came in droves. Manager Aaron Boone was emotional about how well his pitcher performed. It was the first no hitter he had been involved with. He said he had “fun”and it was a “privilege” to be a part of this historic night. Boone indicated that his father, Bob, had caught a perfect game in Arlington in 1984. 

Catcher Kyle Higashioka, the personal catcher for ace Gerrit Cole, who had uncharacteristically lost to the Rangers on Monday night, was having mini stress attacks in the dugout, worrying about messing up Kluber with his pitch choices. He was euphoric when now-healthy Gleyber Torres scooped up a grounder and threw to Luke Voit at first base to record the final putout. 

True to form, Higgy didn’t have to worry—his calls were that good because Kluber’s pitches were that sharp, continually grazing the edge of the strike zone, keeping the Rangers batters off balance. While Kluber admitted to a touch of nerves before starting to pitch in the bottom of the ninth, he surely didn’t show any. Remarkable. 

This was the sixth no hitter of the season. It was the second one within 24 hours, as Detroit’s Spencer Turnbull shut down the Mariners in Seattle. It was also the second time this season that the Rangers had been no hit. Joe Musgrove of San Diego victimized Texas in April. 

It was the 12th no hitter in franchise history and the first Yankees no hitter since David Cone’s perfect game in 1999. And it came in a game which had been scoreless headed into the 6th inning. 

Tyler Wade, playing right field after Ryan La Marre left due to injury, was the hitting and fielding star. His RBI triple drove in the first run in the 2-0 victory, and his running catch in the 9th inning helped to preserve the pitching gem. 

The Yankees have become watchable. Still mired in fourth place in the highly competitive AL East where only Baltimore is below .500, they are right in the thick of things, merely 1.5 games behind division-leading Boston. New York has won six straight series, which included a 7-3 road trip with the Bombers taking 3 of 4 from the Rangers. 

The hitting has marginally improved. There are still a number of hitters at or near the .200 mark. Giancarlo Stanton is on the IL due to his quad injury. Yet the timely hits from Wade, and yesterday from Gio Urshela and Aaron Judge as pinch hitters, has propelled the Yankees, along with sterling starting pitching from Cole, Kluber, Domingo German and the most dominant closer in the game, Aroldis Chapman. 

There is a long way to go in the season. Tony La Russa brings his red hot Chicago White Sox club to Yankee Stadium for a three game weekend set. This will be a nice test, with the Yankees facing Carlos Rondon tonight, who sports a 5-1 record with a 1.47 E.R.A., and has one of those six no hitters. A little end of May excitement at the Stadium.

Speaking of the White Sox, there was an interesting event in their game with the Twins on Monday night. DH Yermin Merceds whacked a 3-0 75 m.p.h toss from a position pitcher over the left-center wall in a 15-4 game. This is violative of the “unwritten” baseball rule—that you don’t swing at a 3-0 pitch in a rout. 

La Russa chided Mercedes publicly, and when Twins manager Rocco Baldelli and pitcher Tyler Duffey were tossed and ultimately suspended for throwing behind Mercedes in the next game. When questioned, La Russa had “no problems” with how the Twins reacted.

Which has sparked a revolt inside of the Sox clubhouse. A number of players have spoken up or provided support on social media for Mercedes. Pitcher Lance Lynn’s vocal response was denounced by La Russa, who disagreed and said that Lynn has a  locker in the clubhouse and he has an office. 

La Russa, always believing he is the most brilliant baseball mind, is headed to Cooperstown for his achievements as a manager in Oakland and St. Louis. However, he apparently does not understand the younger players and it is evident. After all, he is 76 years old and from a different era.

The White Sox are laying winning ball in spite of La Russa. A fractured clubhouse is not what a talented team needs in May, or for that matter, any time. Keep an eye on this situation. It has the potential to explode.

A bit more on baseball. I saw that Phillies manager Joe Girardi had a dugout confrontation with second baseman Jean Segura after Segura made a mistake which Girardi brought to Segura’s attention. Segura had to be restrained by coaches, but since then both have made nice. Peace in the City of Brotherly Love.

My thoughts and best wishes go to Mets player Kevin Pillar, who was struck in the face with a pitch. So bad. The Mets also placed slugger Pete Alonso and pitchers Tijuan Walker and Tommy Hunter on the IL. That makes 14 Mets unavailable. Wow. 

Wednesday’s final act was the Play-In game between Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers of Lebron James and Anthony Davis. The winner would be the #7 seed in the Western Conference. The loser faces Memphis at home on Friday night for the #8 seed. A lot at stake. In what some observers have dubbed an instant classic. 

The Warriors were the better team in the first half. Golden State went on spurts to maintain its lead. Even when there was some pressure from the Lakers, which wasn’t often in the first 20 minutes, the Warriors had an answer. The score at the half was 55-42 GSW, thanks to some 3 point bombs from—you guessed it—Steph Curry. It didn’t hurt that the Lakers were shooting abysmally and that James, Davis and the supporting cast looked dreadful.

Whatever happened in the locker room at halftime certainly changed the Lakers. Outscoring GSW 35-24, LAL trailed 79-77 heading into the final stanza. The game had featured plenty of turnovers and defense. The two teams combined for 15 shots blocked, which, to me, is a high number.

The stifling Lakers defense created 20 GSW turnovers while LAL turned the ball over only 11 times. Rebounding was nearly even, but Golden State put the Lakers into the bonus, and LAL converted 19 of 25 free throws. Golden State managed to shoot 11 for 15 from the charity stripe.

The two Lakers stars, James and Davis, ended up with 22 and 25 points, respectively. This was despite LAL shooting a dreadful 37 for 91 from the field and 10 for 31 on their three point attempts. Conversely, Curry went for 37 points on 12 for 23 shooting, which included 6 for 9 beyond the arc. Andrew Wiggins contributed 21 points on 10 for 18 shooting. GSW also hit 37 shots, but on 83 attempts and went 15 for 34 on three’s. 

What won the game for LAL were two things. Lebron James hit a wild 30 foot desperation shot as the 24 second clock expired to put the Lakers ahead for good. The second element was the stifling defense the Lakers played in the final minutes, especially that of guard Alex Caruso, who hung tight with Curry as he kept seeking shooting room. 

Look, the Lakers are defending champions and they have a deeper roster than the Warriors. It was a tough way to lose for Golden State. James had been fouled by Draymond Green with just over two minutes remaining, with Green inadvertently poking James in the eye.

James said he aimed for the middle of the three baskets he saw when he hoisted his prayer shot. It went in because he is Lebron James, one of the greatest players to play the game. And this is one of the more defining shots he has made in a fabulous career.

Los Angeles draws #2 seed Phoenix. Tonight we will see if Memphis is on a high after their win and if there is a hangover from such a brutal loss for the Warriors. The winner gets a date with #1 seed Utah. The loser is relegated to the lottery. 

The NBA listed Luka Doncic of Denver, Joel Embiid of Philadelphia and Curry as the top three vote getters for the 2020-21 M.V.P. Award. The belief is that Doncic had a superior season and he will win the trophy. Embiid led the Sixers to the first seed in the Eastern Conference and was a dominant player. 

The fact that Curry emerged in the top three is a tribute to how he willed this undermanned Golden State team to the threshold of a playoff spot and led the league in scoring. I watch the Warriors and wear Warriors T-shirts and a cap because of him. 

For him to win a third M.V.P. crown would put him in rarified company along with Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Moses Malone. Bill Russell and Michael Jordan are five time winners, while Wilt Chamberlain and Lebron James are four time winners. Those are Hall of Fame names.

I did watch some hockey on Thursday night. Pittsburgh visited the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and downed the Islanders 5-4. They are very even teams, although I believe that the Penguins are the better team.

I also watched Montreal—Toronto Game 1. In time to see an acrobatic goal from Josh Anderson to open the scoring for the Canadiens. I saw the hard hit on Maple Leafs star John Tavares by Corey Perry. Perry’s knee hit Tavares in the head. The Leafs captain was carried off the ice on a stretcher. Nick Foligno, a former Columbus Blue Jackets captain, then challenged Perry to a fight. Foligno said he saw his captain on the ice and the fight needed to happen. No one took issue. Montreal won, 2-1. 

Finally, Rombauer sprinted past Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit to win The Preakness Stakes. Poetic justice? Many may have had the same thought. 

In the meantime, I have a fat lip from the first leg of root canal on a cracked molar and a dying nerve. To go along with my calf strain and my enduring L ankle issues.

So, while my editor readies to frolic in Yellowstone National Park, I am just like with Mike Trout, with who I share an injury, and those who cheer for Steph Curry, the Yankees and anybody but Bob Baffert. I have good company.

 

  Mike Trout is the slugging centerfielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Mark D. Sperber is the two-plus year outfielder for the Franklin and Marshall College Diplomats, who became a lawyer, then a blogger. Both Jersey guys. Both with right calf strains. 

In this case, Trout is the copycat and he out did me with his Grade 2 calf strain. He felt a pop as he jogged to third base on Monday night. Trout thought he had been hit by a thrown baseball. He hobbled off the field, visibly upset over his misfortune. He is out for at least 6-8 weeks, thus gravely imperiling any slim chance the Angels, cellar dwellers in the AL West, might have had to make the playoffs.  

My injury was chronicled in last weeks’s blog. Suffice it to say that we need not repeat my stupidity with rain in sight. 

Meanwhile, I have been through PT sessions, where my injury has been treated and we are working on strengthening the muscle. I am permitted to walk around Garden Oval once, at a slower than normal clip—that’s .50 miles to be exact. I can get on the recumbent bicycle for 15 minutes at Level 2, no higher than 90 r.p.m. 

Like Mike Trout, my timetables for a full recovery is uncertain. And I ruined a chance to head to Long Beach Island for our annual 4 mile May walk near Barnegat Lighthouse, which had been postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic. 

I wonder if I contacted the Angels, Mike and I could compare notes. Maybe each one of us could pick up some key information which might speed up our recoveries. Unless Mr. Trout is still in a nasty mood. 

Wednesday was a sports geek’s day for this geek. A heck of a TV night for me.

The opener was the NBA Play-In game between San Antonio and Memphis. Not normally a game I would watch. But I am always intrigued by Greg Popovich and his teams, so I tuned in. In the final two quarters, it was a back and forth contest, with the Spurs actually taking the lead. 

However, the Grizzlies were at home and they came in as the better team. For one night, Memphis looked more like a playoff team than San Antonio.

Whenever I see the Spurs, even in highlights on ESPN or NBA-TV, I always look for Becky Hammon. I keep wondering—is she the heir apparent to Popovich when he decides to end his brilliant coaching career which is destined to land him in the Hall of Fame? Repeatedly it has been said that she possesses what is necessary to make a fine coach. Her seat in the front row nearby Pop tells me how much her values her input. I think it will be fantastic when she breaks this particular glass ceiling. 

The next act was a normal, mid-May game between the Yankees and Texas Rangers from Globe Life Field in Arlington. Except that this game proved to be anything but normal. 

New York’s starting pitcher was Corey Kluber. Last season Kluber pitched one game for the Texas Rangers before succumbing to injury. So taking the mound in Arlington that night was completing a circle. 

In fact, it was Corey Kluber Bobblehead Night—the Rangers had kept all of the stash and was distributing the freebies to those in attendance. What timing it proved to be. Handing out a bobblehead of an opposing player in his former uniform on the night he pitches a no hitter. Think how valuable those collectibles became!!

Maybe that was an omen. For what happened that night was extraordinary. Kluber was as dominant a pitcher as I have seen in one game in years. 

En route to no hitting the Rangers, Kluber only allowed on baserunner, which came in the third inning via a walk on four pitches. He had four types of pitches working in a synchronized dance, hypnotizing and mesmerizing (to borrow stock phrases from Knicks legendary announcer and Hall of Fame player, Walt (Clyde) Frazier) on 101 pitches, 71 thrown for strikes. 

Kluber started out so efficient that he threw 20 pitches through the first two innings. That had some teammates thinking the unthinkable—that he had the stuff to throw a perfect game. So they remained seated where they were for the entire night. Baseball players are very superstitious. 

While he did not get that perfect game, Kluber showed why he was a former two-time Cy Young Award winner and three-time All Star who had struck out 18 St. Louis Cardinals in a game and previously pitched a one hitter. The $11 million one year investment GM Brian Cashman made in Kluber looked awfully good.

The superlatives came in droves. Manager Aaron Boone was emotional about how well his pitcher performed. It was the first no hitter he had been involved with. He said he had “fun”and it was a “privilege” to be a part of this historic night. Boone indicated that his father, Bob, had caught a perfect game in Arlington in 1984. 

Catcher Kyle Higashioka, the personal catcher for ace Gerrit Cole, who had uncharacteristically lost to the Rangers on Monday night, was having mini stress attacks in the dugout, worrying about messing up Kluber with his pitch choices. He was euphoric when now-healthy Gleyber Torres scooped up a grounder and threw to Luke Voit at first base to record the final putout. 

True to form, Higgy didn’t have to worry—his calls were that good because Kluber’s pitches were that sharp, continually grazing the edge of the strike zone, keeping the Rangers batters off balance. While Kluber admitted to a touch of nerves before starting to pitch in the bottom of the ninth, he surely didn’t show any. Remarkable. 

This was the sixth no hitter of the season. It was the second one within 24 hours, as Detroit’s Spencer Turnbull shut down the Mariners in Seattle. It was also the second time this season that the Rangers had been no hit. Joe Musgrove of San Diego victimized Texas in April. 

It was the 12th no hitter in franchise history and the first Yankees no hitter since David Cone’s perfect game in 1999. And it came in a game which had been scoreless headed into the 6th inning. 

Tyler Wade, playing right field after Ryan La Marre left due to injury, was the hitting and fielding star. His RBI triple drove in the first run in the 2-0 victory, and his running catch in the 9th inning helped to preserve the pitching gem. 

The Yankees have become watchable. Still mired in fourth place in the highly competitive AL East where only Baltimore is below .500, they are right in the thick of things, merely 1.5 games behind division-leading Boston. New York has won six straight series, which included a 7-3 road trip with the Bombers taking 3 of 4 from the Rangers. 

The hitting has marginally improved. There are still a number of hitters at or near the .200 mark. Giancarlo Stanton is on the IL due to his quad injury. Yet the timely hits from Wade, and yesterday from Gio Urshela and Aaron Judge as pinch hitters, has propelled the Yankees, along with sterling starting pitching from Cole, Kluber, Domingo German and the most dominant closer in the game, Aroldis Chapman. 

There is a long way to go in the season. Tony La Russa brings his red hot Chicago White Sox club to Yankee Stadium for a three game weekend set. This will be a nice test, with the Yankees facing Carlos Rondon tonight, who sports a 5-1 record with a 1.47 E.R.A., and has one of those six no hitters. A little end of May excitement at the Stadium.

Speaking of the White Sox, there was an interesting event in their game with the Twins on Monday night. DH Yermin Merceds whacked a 3-0 75 m.p.h toss from a position pitcher over the left-center wall in a 15-4 game. This is violative of the “unwritten” baseball rule—that you don’t swing at a 3-0 pitch in a rout. 

La Russa chided Mercedes publicly, and when Twins manager Rocco Baldelli and pitcher Tyler Duffey were tossed and ultimately suspended for throwing behind Mercedes in the next game. When questioned, La Russa had “no problems” with how the Twins reacted.

Which has sparked a revolt inside of the Sox clubhouse. A number of players have spoken up or provided support on social media for Mercedes. Pitcher Lance Lynn’s vocal response was denounced by La Russa, who disagreed and said that Lynn has a  locker in the clubhouse and he has an office. 

La Russa, always believing he is the most brilliant baseball mind, is headed to Cooperstown for his achievements as a manager in Oakland and St. Louis. However, he apparently does not understand the younger players and it is evident. After all, he is 76 years old and from a different era.

The White Sox are laying winning ball in spite of La Russa. A fractured clubhouse is not what a talented team needs in May, or for that matter, any time. Keep an eye on this situation. It has the potential to explode.

A bit more on baseball. I saw that Phillies manager Joe Girardi had a dugout confrontation with second baseman Jean Segura after Segura made a mistake which Girardi brought to Segura’s attention. Segura had to be restrained by coaches, but since then both have made nice. Peace in the City of Brotherly Love.

My thoughts and best wishes go to Mets player Kevin Pillar, who was struck in the face with a pitch. So bad. The Mets also placed slugger Pete Alonso and pitchers Tijuan Walker and Tommy Hunter on the IL. That makes 14 Mets unavailable. Wow. 

Wednesday’s final act was the Play-In game between Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers of Lebron James and Anthony Davis. The winner would be the #7 seed in the Western Conference. The loser faces Memphis at home on Friday night for the #8 seed. A lot at stake. In what some observers have dubbed an instant classic. 

The Warriors were the better team in the first half. Golden State went on spurts to maintain its lead. Even when there was some pressure from the Lakers, which wasn’t often in the first 20 minutes, the Warriors had an answer. The score at the half was 55-42 GSW, thanks to some 3 point bombs from—you guessed it—Steph Curry. It didn’t hurt that the Lakers were shooting abysmally and that James, Davis and the supporting cast looked dreadful.

Whatever happened in the locker room at halftime certainly changed the Lakers. Outscoring GSW 35-24, LAL trailed 79-77 heading into the final stanza. The game had featured plenty of turnovers and defense. The two teams combined for 15 shots blocked, which, to me, is a high number.

The stifling Lakers defense created 20 GSW turnovers while LAL turned the ball over only 11 times. Rebounding was nearly even, but Golden State put the Lakers into the bonus, and LAL converted 19 of 25 free throws. Golden State managed to shoot 11 for 15 from the charity stripe.

The two Lakers stars, James and Davis, ended up with 22 and 25 points, respectively. This was despite LAL shooting a dreadful 37 for 91 from the field and 10 for 31 on their three point attempts. Conversely, Curry went for 37 points on 12 for 23 shooting, which included 6 for 9 beyond the arc. Andrew Wiggins contributed 21 points on 10 for 18 shooting. GSW also hit 37 shots, but on 83 attempts and went 15 for 34 on three’s. 

What won the game for LAL were two things. Lebron James hit a wild 30 foot desperation shot as the 24 second clock expired to put the Lakers ahead for good. The second element was the stifling defense the Lakers played in the final minutes, especially that of guard Alex Caruso, who hung tight with Curry as he kept seeking shooting room. 

Look, the Lakers are defending champions and they have a deeper roster than the Warriors. It was a tough way to lose for Golden State. James had been fouled by Draymond Green with just over two minutes remaining, with Green inadvertently poking James in the eye.

James said he aimed for the middle of the three baskets he saw when he hoisted his prayer shot. It went in because he is Lebron James, one of the greatest players to play the game. And this is one of the more defining shots he has made in a fabulous career.

Los Angeles draws #2 seed Phoenix. Tonight we will see if Memphis is on a high after their win and if there is a hangover from such a brutal loss for the Warriors. The winner gets a date with #1 seed Utah. The loser is relegated to the lottery. 

The NBA listed Luka Doncic of Denver, Joel Embiid of Philadelphia and Curry as the top three vote getters for the 2020-21 M.V.P. Award. The belief is that Doncic had a superior season and he will win the trophy. Embiid led the Sixers to the first seed in the Eastern Conference and was a dominant player. 

The fact that Curry emerged in the top three is a tribute to how he willed this undermanned Golden State team to the threshold of a playoff spot and led the league in scoring. I watch the Warriors and wear Warriors T-shirts and a cap because of him. 

For him to win a third M.V.P. crown would put him in rarified company along with Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Moses Malone. Bill Russell and Michael Jordan are five time winners, while Wilt Chamberlain and Lebron James are four time winners. Those are Hall of Fame names.

I did watch some hockey on Thursday night. Pittsburgh visited the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and downed the Islanders 5-4. They are very even teams, although I believe that the Penguins are the better team.

I also watched Montreal—Toronto Game 1. In time to see an acrobatic goal from Josh Anderson to open the scoring for the Canadiens. I saw the hard hit on Maple Leafs star John Tavares by Corey Perry. Perry’s knee hit Tavares in the head. The Leafs captain was carried off the ice on a stretcher. Nick Foligno, a former Columbus Blue Jackets captain, then challenged Perry to a fight. Foligno said he saw his captain on the ice and the fight needed to happen. No one took issue. Montreal won, 2-1. 

Finally, Rombauer sprinted past Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit to win The Preakness Stakes. Poetic justice? Many may have had the same thought. 

In the meantime, I have a fat lip from the first leg of root canal on a cracked molar and a dying nerve. To go along with my calf strain and my enduring L ankle issues.

So, while my editor readies to frolic in Yellowstone National Park, I am just like with Mike Trout, with who I share an injury, and those who cheer for Steph Curry, the Yankees and anybody but Bob Baffert. I have good company.

 

 

Fits and Starts. Fits and Starts.

Fits and starts. That’s what is happening right now. Fits and starts. 

The NBA regular season is closing and teams are jockeying for playoff positions both in and out of the play-in game which start on May 18. The format is simple. The #7 team in winning percentage hosts #8 and #9 is home against #10. If #7 wins, they are the 7th seed. If #7 loses, the #8 team is the 7th seed. The former #7 team is paired with the winner of the #9-#10 game. The winner of that third contest is the # 8 seed in the 2021 playoffs, while the losing team heads to the NBA Draft Lottery. Not to worry—there will not be a test on this topic. 

Who can be in this tournament? The Western Conference teams likely to make the #7-#8 matchup are the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. While Memphis is still alive for this game, their chances are pegged at 20.5 %. Portland and Dallas have even more remote chances to make the #7-#8 game. And the Lakers could overtake Portland for the #6 seed with some luck and everyone healthy, which includes Lebron James and Anthony Davis.

For the #9-#10 game in the West, it looks like Memphis and San Antonio are most likely to meet. The Warriors could fall into this matchup if they lose their final two games, one of which is against Memphis.

Charlotte and Boston appear slated to meet in the Eastern Conference #7-#8 game. Indiana is alive for this game and Washington has a single digit chance to make it. The Wizards do have an excellent chance to make the #9-#10 game, probably playing Indiana. Charlotte has a 25% chance to fall into the #9-#10 game, while Chicago has an unlikely chance to squeeze in.

While this concept generates some additional drama, interest and revenue, there is the prospect that all of the Eastern Conference play-in teams could end the season below.500. San Antonio is going to finish below .500 in the West. Sounds like some mediocrity is being rewarded. At the same time, Golden State and Memphis will finish the regular season above .500. If the old format was in place, those two franchises would be relegated to the lottery. 

A shout out for the New York Knicks. Tom Thibodeau has transformed one of the league’s doormats into a realistic playoff team. Julius Randle has excelled. R.J Barrett is averaging 17.6 points per game. Former M.V.P. Derrick Rose has scored over 15 points per game and the Knicks took off on his arrival at Madison Square Garden. 

New York cannot overtake Miami if the Knicks split the final two games at the Garden versus Charlotte and the Boston Celtics and Miami splits its games. Winning both and Miami, on an 8-2 run, durng its last two games, would guarantee the #4 seed and home court advantage over the Atlanta Hawks, who would finish as the #5 seed. A Knicks-Hawks series could be very exciting. A bit complicated. But at least the Knicks are playing in the post-season.

And let’s recognize that while Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Milwaukee are ahead of them, last year’s Eastern Conference champ Miami is ready to play. Who will emerge from the loaded Western Conference is a big question—Utah needs Donovan Mitchell healthy, and the Suns are on their tail, with the Clippers and Nuggets just off the pace. Sure, Dallas and Portland have the firepower to do damage. 

Then there is the biggest wild card. The Los Angeles Lakers. I think that the injuries have mounted and the short recovery from last year’s playoffs will prove too much for the chums to repeat. While I am a doubter, other so-called experts think the Lakers are still the favorite. Go figure. 

Kentucky Derby winner (for now) Medina Spirit is running in The Preakness Stakes on Saturday if the horse passes a final drug test. Trainer Bob Baffert came up with a plethora of reasons/excuses for the colt’s positive drug test. None of them were very viable. 

It is good for the sport that Baffert did not head to Pimlico to become a sideshow to the prestigious event. It would probably be good for the sport if the horse tested positive or lost the race. 

Cheating goes on at all levels in all sports. There is a catch-me-if-you-can mentality, not unlike the clients I have seen who ended up in custody for the crimes they committed. 

As we have seen, punishment has been disparate. Baseball suspends those who use enhancements, although it take the Hall of Fame to dispense its own form of justice via the sportswriters who vote on eligible nominees—by precluding those who have had suspicious careers. Even if MLB counts the games they played in and the statistics they accumulated. 

Pro football blacklists those they don’t want in, those whose images incur condemnation from the ticket-buying public. See Ray Rice and probably Deshawn Watson.

Basketball is vigilant too. Although when I did a Google search, the computer went to NBA players who cheat on their wives. That is a whole can of worms I do not want to get into. I am having enough trouble wrapping myself into Bennifer 2.0, the rekindled romance involving Ben Affleck (ardent Red Sox fan) and Jennifer Lopez (recently split from former Yankees player Alex Rodriguez and a Bronx native who grew up with the Yankees; A-Rod’s reaction to the romance was “Go Yanks”).

Then there is hockey. We learned from the Capitals-Rangers donnybrook that brawling is still in vogue and punishment is not so great in egregious instances: see, for example, Tom Wilson and the Blueshirts. 

By the way, the Colorado Avalanche have secured home ice advantage for the entire NHL Playoffs by having the top record of all of the teams. Which means that the pairings are set for the chase for the Stanley Cup. 

These are the opening series: Islanders-Penguins;  Bruins-Capitals; Hurricanes-Predators; an all-Florida contest between the Panthers and Lightning; Avalanche-Blues and Golden Knights-Wild; Maple Leafs-Canadiens (it may have lost some of its luster from way in the past, but I would love to be at one of those affairs); and Oilers-Jets. There are logistics to be worked on for the Canadian teams playing the U.S. squads, but with the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions in the U.S., I feel confident that the games will be played to determine a champion.

I was all set for F&M to have four teams in the NCAA’s this year. The golf team won the Centennial Conference again—they are somewhat of a dynasty in the league with over 10 titles. 

The Women’s lacrosse team was #1-ranked heading into the NCAA’s. Where they were summarily eliminated at home in the second round by William Smith. 

#7 in the Division III men’s lacrosse rankings, F&M hosts John Carroll this weekend. #6 York College meets Lasell in the other game on Saturday, with the winners to meet on Sunday.

But my baseball team fell short of making the NCAA’s. In the final regular season game, Dickinson downed the Diplomats, ending the chance to overtake perennial conference leader Johns Hopkins. 

Rutgers has had the best sports year in recent memory. The men’s and women’s basketball teams made the NCAA’s, ending that insane drought going back to 1991 for the men. Both lacrosse teams advanced to the NCAA’s too. Women’s soccer made the dance. Wrestling produced three all-Americans and gymnastics had three individual qualifiers. Volleyball had its best ever season in the Big Ten. Field hockey ended ranked #7. Women’s rowing is ranked #4 and looks like a title contender in the Big Ten and the NCAA’s. Track and field has individual stars destined for the NCAA’s. Plus golfer Chris Gotterup was selected for NCAA Regional play. Baseball was doing well but faltered with a lost weekend at home against the ranked teams from Indiana and Nebraska; they still are at .500, which is an improvement. RU Rah! Rah! RU Rah! Rah! Hoo-rah, Hoo-rah Rutgers Rah! Upstream, Red team, Red team upstream Rah, Rah, Rutgers Rah! 

In MLB news, the New York Yankees are at the forefront. For distressing reasons. Seven support members of the staff, including the first and third base coaches along with the pitching coach, have contracted the coronavirus. 

Moreover, budding star shortstop Gleyber Torres, who previously contracted COVID-19 and received the vaccine, managed to contract the virus again. While he is asymptomatic, I feel for him in terms of his physical health and hope that he will not be plagued by unforeseen illness as a result. 

The loss of Torres from the lineup will hurt. He is too important a cog to be missed long term. This absence comes as the Yankees seemed to have righted the ship and put their season’s record over .500, with two wins at Tampa Bay, a place where the Yankees have historically failed recently. 

Giancarlo Stanton has cooled slightly from his torrid pace. Aaron Judge seems to be coming out of his slump. Defending home run king Luke Voit returned to the lineup after recovering from meniscus surgery and will be a presence. Gio Urshela is at the threshold of hitting .300. 

Center fielder Aaron Hicks has his average approaching .200—did you know that his girlfriend is Cheyenne Woods, recent winner of a U.S Women’s Open golf qualifier. Does the last name ring a bell? Woods is the niece of the legendary Elwood (Tiger) Woods, who is recuperating from the infamous car crash earlier in the year. 

The intensity of Gerrit Cole on the mound was on full display this week. With another 10+ strikeout game at Tampa Bay in a 1-0 win, he passed the 1,500 career strikeout mark. It took him a full half inning to calm down after striking the side out in the bottom of the 8th inning.

Jordan Montgomery is looking sharp as the reliable lefty starter. And Aroldis Chapman is still lights out as the closer. 

Boston may be in first place for now. If the coronavirus does not take over the Yankees clubhouse, then expect the Bombers to overtake the Red Sox when they begin to play.

Jacob deGrom is on the 10 day IL, having not made it through his last start with that same tightness in his side. How this will affect the Mets ace long-term is unknown at this time. What is known is that the NL East-leading Mets are on a seven game winning streak as they open an inter league series with the Rays at Tropicana Field. 

I think Taijuan Walker is overlooked as a starter for the Mets. He has pitched to a 3-1 record with 39 strikeouts in 41 innings and he has a 2.20 E.R.A. The twenty-eight year old righty looked very good to me when I saw him pitch against the Padres while a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Acquiring him was a great pickup. 

Of course there was some drama involving star second baseman Francisco Lindor, who is barely hitting over .200, and second baseman Jeff McNeil, whose average isn’t much better at .234. They exchanged words in the tunnel running from the dugout to the clubhouse. They blamed it on having sighted, depending on whose version you believe, a rat or raccoon in there. Coaches and players ran to the commotion. Within days, the two won a game for the Mets. Sounds like a fun 2021 season at Citi Field.

For those following Steven Matz, the Jewish left hander from Long Island, previously with the Mets and now in the Toronto rotation—he is 5-2 thus far with a 4.86 E.R.A. This must mean that the Blue Jays score runs when he pitches. Good for him.

Finally, yours truly is kinda on the IL. Last week, by walking much faster than normal on the unforgiving macadam of Garden Oval, I suffered what was diagnosed as a Grade 1 calf strain. Physical therapy for four weeks ought to do the trick, although at age 70, I suspect it may take a bit longer. Of course, I cannot find my second compression sock, so I need to take it easy on the legs until reinforcements arrive from Amazon on Monday. 

These types of injuries are tricky. I know that Kevin Durant came back too soon from a Grade 1 strain and that led to his Achilles tendon issue. Aaron Judge struggled mightily last season with this malady. 

Believe me, I am not at a level with Durant or Judge. They had 24/7 treatment at the highest level. I’ve got my buddy Rob at Summit Physical Therapy, who has helped me successfully recover from so many injuries over the years. He is excellent at his craft. However, I see him for maybe an hour twice a week. 

  I can observe and learn from the pro’s efforts to recover. Which I will do. 

I won’t watch the Warriors Friday after tuning in on the Yankees, who are in Baltimore for the weekend. Evidently Golden State is resting Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins under the claim of injury. Perhaps they are trying to steal the home game as the #9 seed? 

More games will be available this weekend, including the FCS Championship between Sam Houston State and South Dakota State. All safe things for me to watch while I ice and elevate my leg in The Man Cave, lest my wife admonish me for not behaving. 

That’s the way it goes in my life as it mirrors sports. Fits and starts. Fits and starts.