Apparently, somebody forgot to tell the Pittsburgh Panthers that they weren’t supposed to be here. Like a broken record, Jamie Dixon’s hard working team is back in the Big East Final once again after hanging on to defeat No.25 Marquette 68-61 last night at Madison Square Garden in the second tournament semifinal.
Star forward Sam Young scored 20-or-more for the third consecutive game netting a game high 22 in helping the Panthers advance to their seventh championship appearance in eight years.
They’ll try to become just the second school in tournament history to win four games in four days when they take on the top seeded Georgetown Hoyas later tonight.
“I think it’s probably more difficult to win more games, but we’ll be ready to play. We’ll be after it. We’ll show up and we’ll be ready,” a philosophical Dixon told reporters after his team’s third straight win.
“I know our guys are anxious to play. They’re looking forward to the opportunity, and we’ll be ready.”
They led the Golden Eagles from almost wire to wire building a double digit lead which got to 16 before Tom Crean’s team mounted a strong comeback down the stretch slicing the deficit to three with 80 seconds left. The seventh seeded Panthers finally put them away with a clutch rebound from Young along with some freebies from their top scorer and New York product Levance Fields.
Fields scored half his 12 from the line while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out four assists. Backcourt teammate Ronald Ramon chipped in with 14 including a couple of treys to go with five boards.
Pitt also got key contributions from Mount Vernon product Keith Benjamin, who had eight points, four rebounds and four assists.
That kind of balance along with a tenacious defense which held Marquette without a field goal for an 11:38 stretch spanning the end of the first and beginning of the second half proved to be the difference. The Golden Eagles shot just 31.1 percent for the game including a putrid 8-for-31 (25.8 pct) in the first 20 minutes.
Pitt’s D on Golden Eagle leading scorer Jerel McNeal held him to 17 while limiting his effectiveness as the future NBA lottery pick turned the ball over a game worst five times. Dominick James shot just 3-of-16 from the field despite a couple of big buckets down the stretch including a putback which gave his team a chance at a stunning comeback.
The Panthers reduced Ousmane Barro (1 pt, 3 fouls, 2 turnovers) and supersub Maurice Acker (3 pts, 3 turnovers) into non-factors.
Amazingly, during the run of Finals appearances, Pitt has only one championship to show for it five years ago. They’ll try to do what Syracuse did two years ago and make a little history against a very tough Georgetown team which could be a No.1 seed if they prevail.
Led by much more visible big man Roy Hibbert’s double double of 25 and 13 rebounds including 10 on the offensive glass plus two blocked shots, John Thompson III’s ninth ranked Hoyas crushed the Mountaineers 72-55 to advance to their second consecutive Big East Final and setup a rematch. They blew out the Panthers last year.
After a no-show in the Hoyas’ tournament tying record 17 three-point fest, the senior Hibbert took apart West Virginia and in particular star Joe Alexander by totally outplaying him. Sure. He still got into double figures but 12 points and just five rebounds wasn’t going to help Bob Huggins’ school on this night.
Apparently, Hibbert got our message or maybe better yet read our last entry where I dissed him. I still don’t like his game at the next level. Let the big guy continue to prove me wrong.
The Hoyas also connected on a more normal 7-for-17 trifectas including a trio from Jonathan Wallace. Bronx native Jessie Sapp shot 6-for-11 from the field with 13 points and seven rebounds.
If there was a notable difference aside from Hibbert’s dominance inside where he did whatever he wanted including stepping out and knocking a trey down, it was Georgetown’s unselfishness. They spread the ball around for 17 assists compared to the Mountaineers’ nine. Amazingly, nobody got more than three (Patrick Ewing, Jr.) with seven other players including all five starters notching two apiece.
That kind of basketball which they play under Thompson is wonderful to watch. Knick fans should be so lucky.
Not surprisingly, the Hoyas also outrebounded their smaller foes 36-19. They’ll go for the repeat later tonight.
Less than an hour from now, the Big East Tournament semifinals will get underway with the sixth seeded Marquette Golden Eagles taking on the seventh seeded Pittsburgh Panthers in the first of what should be a fun doubleheader at the Mecca in NYC.
There probably are some disappointed Uconn, Notre Dame and Louisville fans. That’s because their respective schools fizzled out in yesterday’s quarters.
First, Jim Calhoun’s Huskies were ousted by tonight’s surprise participant the West Virginia Mountaineers 78-72. They had no answer for junior forward Joe Alexander, who roasted them for a career high 34 points along with seven rebounds. The Big East’s most improved player shot 12-of-22 from the field and sank 10-of-12 from the charity stripe.
He also got UConn young big Hasheem Thabeet in foul trouble limiting him to six points, six boards and two blocks in 28 minutes. When he has an off night, it’s usually a bad sign for the Huskies, who do boast one of the better point guards in the league in junior floor leader A.J. Price. He paced No.15 Uconn with 22 and dropped six dimes in a losing effort.
Alexander also got support from teammates Da’Sean Butler (17 pts, 9 boards) and senior leader Darris Nichols (13 pts, 2 treys, 4 rebs, 2 assists) as the fifth seeded Mountaineers made it four consecutive losses in the Big East tourney for a flustered Calhoun, who wasn’t pleased with his team’s execution.
“Some games are very complex and you mull over them, why you won and why lost, it’s difficult,” the Hall of Fame coach lamented to reporters. “This one is very easy. They came out and kicked our butt.”
Calhoun will try to get his young team ready for next week’s NCAA 65 field which definitely should include them as they won 13 games in arguably the most competitive conference and still are 24-8. Figure a four or five seed.
West Virginia will go for their third win in three nights in the first big game when they battle the No.1 seeded Georgetown Hoyas, who destroyed Villanova 82-63 tying a tournament record with 17 three’s including six from Jessie Sapp, who netted a career high 23. Backcourt ‘mate Jonathan Wallace sank five from downtown and DaJuan Summers added a hat trick.
Stunningly, big man Roy Hibbert had a goose egg playing just 14 minutes with four turnovers and five fouls. Can you say overrated much?!?!?!?!?!
Meanwhile, two more “upsets” (not really) took place with Pitt outlasting Louisville in overtime 76-69 on the strength of leading scorer Sam Young’s double double (21 and 12) including the go-ahead bucket on a turnaround inside with Rice product Edgar Sosa flopping. Speaking of the sophomore who had a solid NCAA a year ago, he was awful finishing with just three points plus four assists and was pulled several times by Rick Pitino.
The Cards just were too up and down from the outside in crunch time. They misfired on 15 of 19 three’s which won’t win you many games. Especially when quite a few are forced.
Meanwhile, the Panthers relied on more of a balanced attack getting an inspired effort from Xaverian produce Levance Fields who netted 13 and six assists. All Hallows product Ronald Ramon also nailed three trifectas adding 13 with four boards and four assists as Pitt once again eliminated Louisville to advance to the Big East Final Four where they’ll play Marquette in the second game after 9 ET.
Card supersub Earl Clark paced them with 19 on nine-of-14 shooting and also had nine rebounds (six off.) David Padgett, Juan Palacios and Jersey native Derrick Caracter added 11 apiece in the defeat.
Many like Pitino’s team which played well down the stretch to go far starting next week. I’m not sure because they’re too hot and cold. While he’s a superb coach, this team seems to rely too much on the perimeter. It’s basically hit or miss. They are much better when they spread the floor and utilize floor leader Terrence Williams.
If you like balance, the No.13 ranked Cardinals have it. At 24-8, they should get a decent seed similar to what Big East rival UConn receives. We’ll see if they step it up come Big Dance time.
The final game of the night saw Marquette bounceback from 10 down to defeat the Fighting Irish 89-79. They outscored Mike Brey’s 14th rated Irish 57-41 in the second half with a frenetic brand of hoops which saw talented leading scorer Jerel McNeal toast Notre Dame for 28 (9-of-16 FG) including four from downtown along with six boards.
The junior forward was just awesome. He came out and took it to Notre Dame with scoring in a variety of ways in transition and from way out in establishing a new career high. He missed the tournament last year and the NCAA’s due to a wrist injury.
Thus far, he’s making up for it leading underrated coach Tom Crean’s No.25 Eagles into tonight’s semi showdown with Jamie Dixon’s Panthers.
Dominick James had a solid overall game with 10 points, six rebounds and six assists. He really did a nice job of getting into the lane drawing defenders and kicking out to open teammates.
However, in a close game, it was the play of little used sophomore backup Maurice Acker which swung it in Marquette’s favor. The guard drained two three’s and netted 10 of his 11 in over a four minute span late.
He really came up big. The same couldn’t be said for Big East Player of The Year Luke Harangody who was bottled up by Ousmane Barro (6 pts, 7 rebs, 4 blk). In fact, Harangody finished with a disappointing 13 and just five rebounds while plagued with fouls eventually fouling out.
The Irish were kept in by guards Tory Jackson (10 pts, 9 assists) and Staten Island product Kyle McAlarney (20 pts, four treys). Teammates Rob Kurz (15 pts, 7 rebs) and Zach Hillesland (14 pts, 9 rebs) also had solid nights in a losing effort.
Believe it or not, a McLarney off balance right wing three cut Marquette’s lead to six with under 60 seconds left. Jackson stole the in bounds but for some reason, forced up an off balance three from the corner. Had he dribbled and found McAlarney, who also connected on another deep three minutes prior, maybe it becomes a one possession game.
We’ll never know. What is known is that Marquette played superior defense and executed better. Their superior speed and athleticism resulted in a second straight big win.
The Irish will probably get a five or six seed having finished 24-7. A six wouldn’t be great as those 6/11 match-ups can be a nightmare.
If their guards are on and Harangody recovers from an off performance, they could make the Sweet 16. They’ll need to play better D though.
With that, tonight’s big games are about to start. See ya later.
Normally around this time of year, I’m generally excited. Especially when March Madness hits. If you’re an avid college basketball fan, then you know how exciting this time of year is when it comes to the 65 team field.
Oh. I’ll be watching the big tournament announcement on Selection Sunday complete with No.1 seeds, mid-major sleepers and bubble teams who sneak in. I’ve always enjoyed the tournament. And no. Not for the idiotic pools which all of us are in.
For myself, it’s always been about the basketball played on the court. The wire to wire finishes. Or the glass slipper as CBS’ announcer Gus Johnson likes to say. The buzzer beaters and of course, the big upsets.
Who will rise up? You just never can tell even if so-called experts such as Dick Vitale, Digger Phelps and Billy “Know It All” Packer think they do.
The thing I have always liked about this tournament is the element of surprise. You won’t find one person who gets all 64 games correct. If you do, then God bless them.
So, why am I a little down this year? Because my alma mater St. John’s is once again not part of the most exciting tournament all year.
Norm Roberts’Red Storm Redmen just completed another embarrassing season finishing a dismal 11-19 with only five wins in the Big East in what was supposed to be the program’s 100th Anniversary of men’s basketball.
Talk about depressing. It’s not so much that they didn’t try. I would never accuse a Roberts coached team of dogging it. It’s just that they’re not that good and can’t beat stiff competition such as Georgetown, Notre Dame, Connecticut, Louisville, Marquette, Pittsburgh and West Virginia.
If you can’t be in the upper echelon of your own conference, there’s virtually no chance of qualifying for any postseason tournament including the NIT which the Johnnies won six years prior over the archrival Hoyas. I remember at the time thinking that they were finally headed in the right direction. Little did I know just how miserable a job former coach Mike Jarvis did. It’s really not worth revisiting.
If you fast forward to the present, St. John’s basketball has become a laughingstock while Georgetown led by John Thompson III (or 300th for all we know) is back as one of the contenders for the national title coming off a Final Four appearance last year.
That just adds to my frustration as a loyal St. John’s fan who graduated with a degree in Sports Management not long ago. How could our basketball program have become so pathetic? Heck. Roberts is getting to coach his final year after finishing eight under .500.
EIGHT UNDER! Can any St. John’s fan imagine a Lou Carnesecca coached team winning just 11 games and getting an okay for the next season? Sure. There aren’t any local kids such as Chris Mullin and Mark Jackson around these days to carry the program back near the pinnacle.
Part of the dilemma is that St. John’s doesn’t have much of an on campus life. Sure. The Queens campus is nice but what about the dorm situation? What about having a state of the art facility complete with a new athletic center?
Isn’t about time Father Harrington faces the facts? Kids today would much rather go away and play on much bigger campuses such as The Dean Dome or The Carrier Dome.
And why wouldn’t they? In front of huge crowds which includes raucous atmospheres along with plenty of parties afterwards.
Why shouldn’t kids get the entire college experience? It’s understood that the draw for St. John’s is playing a few big games at Madison Square Garden. What kid doesn’t love that grand stage? If they just had a bigger venue in Jamaica and more campus life, I’d be willing to bet that more students would choose St. John’s.
I think what’s most disheartening is that the Redmen weren’t even in the top 12 in their conference. Sure. The Big East is extremely tough. Probably the deepest conference from top to bottom. But to not even make essentially a postseason tourney which is played in your backyard over at Seventh and 33rd is downright sad which explains my March Sadness.
I admittedly don’t have as much juice (insert Rocket or Barroids joke here) for this year’s tournament. Oh. Sure. I’ll watch to see who wins. Figure either Georgetown, UConn or Louisville. Maybe even local kid Kyle McAlarney and Fighting Irish big Luke Harangody.
I excluded Pitt because I just am not a believer in them. It’s not like they ever go very far come March. So if the Panthers happen to this time around, be my guest and rip me.
The real shame is that my school isn’t involved once again. A talented kid by the name of Anthony Mason, Jr. who was named to the Big East All League despite missing eight games won’t get to put his talent on display in front of proud Pop and former Knick Anthony Mason, Sr.
He still went on the average a team best 14.0 points-per-game (PPG) along with 4.4 rebounds. Mason certainly was the Johnnies’ top offensive threat combining solid driving skills with long range shooting. Something which once was an afterthought in Queens. Remember the days of Bootsy Thornton, Ron Artest and Lavor Postell? Erick Barkley and Omar Cook weren’t bad point guards either.
How did the NCAA’s fifth winningest program go from those days when dreams of another Final Four appearance were realistic to just praying the team could remain competitive and be .500?
It better change. Can Mason, Jr. along with solid first-year players Justin Burrell, D.J. Kennedy, Malik Booth and promising sophomore Larry Wright get the program righted next Fall?
It remains to be seen. New Yorkers can only hope especially given what they get to watch on a daily basis.
AP Photo Courtesy Getty Images by Al Messerschmidt
Last week, new Yankee skipper made a big stink about Ellis Johnson’s collision at the plate with catcher prospect Francisco Cervelli. In comparison to what took place yesterday in the latest Spring Training incident between the Bronx Bombers and D-Rays, it paled in comparison thanks to Shelly Duncan’s antics.
While trying to stretch an infield hit into a double, the big first baseman/designated hitter got his spikes up dangerously high while sliding into Tampa Bay second baseman Akinori Iwamura yesterday afternoon igniting a near brawl with predictably both benches clearing before things settled down.
While no punches were thrown despite Rays’ outfielder Jonny Gomes jumping up on top of Duncan to protect a defenseless teammate, there were heated words from each side afterwards.
“In Tampa, that play you saw at home plate was a good, hard baseball play. What you saw today was the definition of a dirty play,” Tampa manager Joe Maddonfumed to reporters of a game which also saw Yankee lefty Heath Phillips immediately tossed for hitting Rays’ prospect Evan Longoria with a pitch.
“There’s no room for that in our game. It’s contemptable. It’s wrong. It’s borderline criminal, and I could not believe they did that.”
Both sides were warned prior to the meaningless exhibition game. So much for that thought process.
“I’m pretty sure the spikes weren’t that high. They were pretty much going straight at the glove,” a defensive Duncan expressed later though replays seemed to indicate otherwise. “I’ve done it before. Never had a reaction like that.”
If the second-year player competing for playing time in a crowded lineup was trying to send a message, he certainly got Tampa Bay’s attention.
“No question that was a blatant attempt to hurt Aki,” Maddon declared.
“It was set up. It was planned. It was premeditated. It’s all the above. I don’t know what the difference is between that and a high stick in hockey. But it was that bad.”
Who knows what was going on through Duncan’s mind? His new manager did voice a strong opinion a few days prior basically indicating that his team won’t get pushed around. Previous Joe Torre teams always went about their business quietly on the field and didn’t push the envelope. It’s clear that with a new sheriff in town, Girardi’s trying to set a different more aggressive approach.
“You don’t ever want things to get ugly, and I don’t think it got ugly. I think the umpires stopped it before it got ugly,” Girardi indicated.
“Shelley told me that he was taught when you’re going to be out, you go after the ball. … Shelley made a hard, aggressive slide, and I would have to look at a replay to really determine what I thought.”
Meanwhile, Gomes played down his role in the latest incident which also saw Yankee coaches Bobby Meacham and Kevin Long ejected.
“I wasn’t really trying to get a shot in on him. I probably could have done a lot of things worse,” he said. “But it is a baseball field, and there are fans and kids watching.”
So, what will happen when these AL East competitors get together for 18 serious games during the 2008 season? Will there be fireworks?
“When we go out and play the Yankees the next time, we’re going to play it hard and play it right. Period,” Maddon said getting in one final dig. “That’s how we come to the ballpark every day.”
One thing is clear. It should be quite interesting when the two teams get together for real early next month when the Rays visit The Stadium for four.
With it being another year of Spring Training, I figured it was time to provide some updates on a few of the former players I covered out at the beautiful ballpark in St. George by the Ferry Terminal.
So, which former Staten Island Yankees have been in the news lately down in Tampa?
Let’s take a look:
C Francisco Cervelli- The former 2006 NY-Penn League All-Star backstop progressed nicely down in Single-A Tampa last year hitting .279 with a couple of dingers and 32 RBI’s in 89 games (290 at bats) last summer. The recently turned 22 year-old Venezuelan who the organization signed a few years back also earned Florida State League Mid-Season and Post-Season All-Star status despite an injury riddled 2007.
Arguably the Yanks’ top catching prospect who could one day find himself in the Bronx replacing Jorge Posada, Cervelli will begin his third pro season with Double-A Trenton. But before he does, the former Baby Bomber will start the year on the DL due to a home plate collision with the D-Rays’ Elliot Johnson last week which resulted in a broken wrist, infuriating first-year manager Joe Girardi who called the play dirty for an exhibition game.
The Yanks won’t rush Cervelli back. So figure him to return in late April/early May.
OF Austin Krum- The former outfielder who’s bat sprung to life during the final month of last season helping Staten Island reach the Penn League playoffs again made the wrong kind of news last week. Krum, 22, was arrested by Tampa Police for refusing to leave Tia’s Tex Mex Restaurant/Bar after trying to start a fight.
He was charged with trespassing and had to be forced into handcuffs unfortunately after resisting arrest. Not the kind of news the Manhattan Beach California native wanted to make. Especially if he’s to impress the organization as the solid defensive outfielder enters his second pro season. This wasn’t the first former SI Yank to make disturbing news as last year, it was former 2006 Penn League All-Star George Kontos who dealt with a similar issue which hindered his progress down in Tampa.
Hopefully, a valuable lesson has been learned for both players and they can move forward.
CF Brett Gardner- The former Staten Island Yankee star center fielder who helped lead the franchise to their third NY-Penn League title back in 2005 has progressed nicely throughout the farm system. Last summer, the 24 year-old former College of Charleston star was elevated to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre following a solid stint with Trenton where he hit .300 with 43 runs scored, 19 extra base hits including five triples and 18 stolen bases in 22 attempts.
In 45 games with SWB, he hit .260 with a homer, nine RBI’s, 37 runs and 21 steals in 24 attempts. The speedy outfielder who has a keen eye at the plate and plays great D is still with the team competing for a reserve outfield spot. Figure him to start the season with SWB before a possible recall in early September.
RP Mark Melancon- After missing the entire 2007 season due to Tommy John surgery, the future of the Yankee bullpen at last check was still being looked at by the organization down in Tampa before assessing where the former University of Arizona closer will start the season.
In late 2006, he helped the Baby Bombers repeat as Penn League champs by shutting the door on Tri-City impressively striking out the side to save Kontos’ 2-0 shutout. He has a fastball which reaches the low 90’s and an effective breaking ball which can freeze batters looking for the heater.
Keep a close eye on Melancon’s progress as he could find himself in a pivotal role sometime this summer.
OF Colin Curtis- The 23 year-old who was selected by the Yankees in the fourth round out of Arizona State three years prior is still in camp as a non-roster invitee.
A very good defensive outfielder with a solid bat which sprays line drives to all fields, Curtis was an integral part of the Baby Bombers’ fourth title in 2006. A fixture near the top of the lineup, he hit over .300 with a homer and 18 RBI’s while playing outstanding defense in center.
After an impressive stint with Tampa where he hit .298 with five homers and 26 RBI’s in 65 games, the Yanks elevated Curtis to Trenton where he’ll most likely start his third pro season again. He struggled to adjust hitting .242 with three dingers and 15 knocked in. However, Curtis had the good fortune of helping a club win another championship as the Thunder won their first ever title.
It’s late and I’m headed to bed but before that, for some reason, this Bon Jovi song has been in my head today. No. It’s not “Living On A Prayer” or “Wanted: Dead or Alive” or any of those nostalgic hits when he first hit the rock scene and ruled.
However, “Always” was always (no pun intended) a very good song with an epic video where you’re hanging on virtually every lyric. There really aren’t many wasted words and the video is terrific and easily one of his best.
So, my advice to you is to just sit back, relax and enjoy it because it’s pretty darn good!
Billy Crystal is finally getting his wish. No. His distinguished career isn’t making a comeback. However, if anyone knows the popular and likeable never too serious soon to be 60 year-old New York actor, the man who signatured the phrase, “You Look Mahhhvvellous” has always been an avid Yankee fan.
Well, on the day before he turns 60, Crystal will get to fulfill one of his childhood wishes by donning Yankee Pinstripes. Yes! That’s correct. The actor will get his chance to take the field when the team takes on the Pirates Thursday down in Tampa.
Of course, the newest member of the Yankees wil be put through a tenuous workout later today by new skipper Joe Girardi.
“Billy Crystal’s done a lot for this organization. It’s ownership and our way of rewarding him, saying thanks for everything you’ve done,” the first-year Yankee manager remarked to reporters including an outraged NY Post writer Kevin Kernan who couldn’t stomach the idea in a column entitled, “Comic Disbelief.”
Here, Kernan takes the Yankee organization to task for daring to actually be different during Spring Training no less and not as business like:
“The Yankees and Bud Selig have joined hands here to make a mockery of the game. Doesn’t Selig have more important things to do? Yes, baseball is entertainment, but the Yankees don’t need to be fulfilling Crystal’s baseball fantasy or granting his birthday wish. Let Crystal play in an Old-Timer’s game if he needs to put on the uniform.”
Don’t ya think Mr. Kernan is taking this thing a tad too personally? We’re talking about one Spring Training game! Isn’t exhibition supposed to be fun? I also always thought baseball should be as well and sometimes, when you watch the Yanks, it isn’t because of the ridiculous mantra. Win it all or it’s a failure.
Kinda takes the fun out of it, huh?
Kernan goes on to say:
It seems like Crystal has been hanging around the YankeesNew York Yankees that long, trying to get close to the players. Now he is a player. He will wear the same uniform as Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Jeter and Rodriguez.
Isn’t this why they created Fantasy Camp?
Big deal. It’s meaningless and will be fun. Maybe Kernan’s still mad at picking the Knicks to win the NBA championship back in 1992-93.
He just seems to have something shoved up his butt. Would anyone care to take any guesses?
Kernan concludes by providing some of Crystal’s baseball background:
Billy was captain of his Long Beach (N.Y.) High School team and batted .348 his senior season. They say he’s one of the best baseball players in Hollywood today, which isn’t saying much. The fans will probably give Crystal a standing ovation.
“I’m looking forward to helping the younger players, which by the way, is all of them,” Crystal added. “Oops, I have to go, Scott Boras is on the phone.”
The joke’s on the Yankees.
Why is that exactly? Because a well known actor who happens to love the Yanks is getting a birthday wish a day early. Has Kernan ever had a lifelong dream that didn’t include writing depressing stories filled with jealousy? Man. Everyone has something they always wanted to do.
And besides. Crystal will actually lighten the mood in the dugout. What is really so bad about this?
In case you haven’t been paying much attention, the Houston Rockets have reeled off 19 in a row- third longest in NBA history.
Even without star center Yao Ming, Rick Adelman’s team continues to play flawless basketball. Maybe they aren’t taken as seriously as Western contenders Los Angeles, San Antonio and even Dallas. However, it’s awfully hard not to take notice of how well they’re playing without one of the game’s best big men.
Like most observers when Yao went down, I figured you could stick a fork in the Rockets. Instead, led by leading scorer Tracy McGrady, who’s never been a fave of mine; the team is continuing to win games.
You have to give plenty of credit to Adelman for keeping his club focused when any slip up could mean no postseason in an ultra competitive conference. Instead, here they are fresh off a comfortable 91-73 home win over their latest victim the Jason Kidd-less Nets, boasting an impressive 42-20 record right on the heels of the Spurs and Lakers.
The 18-point home win improved them to 24-9 at the Toyota Center. They’re now 7-0 since Yao went down with a broken left foot. While a few of those opponents weren’t world beaters, there are a couple of impressive wins on that list including double digits over the Nuggets (103-89), Mavericks (113-98) and Hornets (106-96).
I have to also admit that I thought the game had passed Adelman by. His Kings teams always seemed to come up short and made you wonder if it had to do with the coach who once guided the Blazers to an NBA Finals appearance before losing to Michael Jordan and the Bulls.
The job the veteran NBA coach has done is just tremendous. Players such as Rafer Alston, European find Luis Scola, long range bomber Shane Battier, Luther Head and rookie Carl Landry have stepped up in Ming’s absence to team with McGrady playing an inspired brand of ball which includes hard nosed D. Just ask the Nets, who finished with a season-low 28 first half points and shot only 30 percent.
Even dinosaur Dikembe Mutombo is chipping in.
When you see how underachieving our local teams are, just look at what Adelman’s done with Houston.
That’s how it’s supposed to be. Kudos to them for getting it right.
Tennis finally made its triumphant return to Madison Square Garden after seven-plus years away. The best part was it did so in style with two tennis greats Pete Sampras and world No.1 Roger Federer putting on a show for the ages.
Sure. It was only an exhibition with proceeds benefiting less fortunate with fifty thousand dollars raised while each brilliant grand slam champion pocketed plenty of chunk change and excessive gifts. What else would you expect from tennis royalty?
Especially with it being another classic exhibition between arguably the two best men’s tennis players of all-time. The last time they met, the 10 years younger Federer took two-of-three matches from the 36 year-old Sampras with Pistol Pete finally getting the final one showing he can still deliver remarkable stuff on a court he once owned.
There’s a reason Sampras holds the men’s slam record of 14 while the Federer Express chases him hoping to at least match it by year’s end with a couple of more. The big serve was still on display as was the running forehand and enjoyable touch at the net like no one else in today’s game.
Or as everyone’s favorite color guy John McEnroe would say:
“A lost art.”
In a fitting match of two great champions who have combined for 26 career slams, the younger Federer had just enough to edge Sampras in three sets 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6) before a packed Garden of more than 19,000 who got exactly what they came for.
Early on, it looked like it would be a routine night for Federer as he broke Sampras with some spectacular hustle forcing a nervous opponent into some miscues at the net. The 26 year-old Swede claimed the opening set with a second break.
He was a game away at 5-4 but a resilient Sampras had other ideas pushing a much closer second set to a tiebreak. In it, some of that classic Pete form showed up as he outhit his younger opponent from the baseline drawing an error off a well struck forehand for a mini-break. Still banging his serve at better than 130 MPH which was at least 10-15 better than the more precise Federer, Sampras closed out the breaker and gave a pump of the fist knowing it was going the distance.
If that set was a nice turnaround for Pistol Pete who found the range in all facets, then the final set was your epic battle between two of the best who hate losing. Even if it was for fun, the competitive fire between them was evident with each forcing the other to produce their best tennis.
At first, it seemed like Federer would have a repeat of the opening set jumping out to a 2-0 break lead. However, just when it seemed he had it, Sampras cameback strong to not only break once but yet again in the sixth game. A service hold gave him five straight games and put him one from what would’ve been a storybook victory.
But Federer found his game just when he needed it most. After holding for 3-5, he put the pressure on Sampras forcing a couple of break points. A monster Sampras service’ winner saved one putting Pistol Pete within a couple of points of the win.
However, Federer upped his return game producing a couple of winners including a backhand reply up the line to get back on serve at 4-5. Needing to still hold to stay in the riveting two and a half hour match, what did The Maestro do next? Taking a page out of Sampras’ book, he proceeded to strike four consecutive aces leaving his amused opponent to smile as the champion pointed an index finger playfully to the crowd smirking with avid Nike supporter Tiger Woods in the house.
When the two each held once more, the crowd had what it wanted. A final set breaker to decide who was better. Well, heck. Sampras could comeback if he still wanted but seeing at how unbelievable wife Bridgette Wilson looked, who could blame the tennis Hall of Famer much for staying away? Have you ever seen a hotter trophy wife? Please don’t say Eva Longoria. I don’t think she compares.
The final breaker had its own set of drama as each player traded mini-breaks. Sampras once again was a couple of points away up 5-2 but Federer cameback strong taking the next four points to setup match point. With the crowd urging Sampras on, he delivered with another huge serve out wide which Federer had a short reply on.
AP Photo Courtesy Getty Images by Ed Betz
Unfortunately, that was the final point Sampras won. They played another fun point on his next serve. With Pete at the net having struck a couple of volleys, a running Federer ripped a trademark backhand winner up the line to setup his second match point.
This time, he converted it. While at the net, he forced Sampras to go for too much on a crosscourt backhand which missed wide giving a pleased Federer his third win in four exhibition matches against his worthy opponent.
“It turned out to be this thriller match,” he later told the Associated Press.
“This is maybe why so many people came out: You don’t often get the No. 1 in his prime playing against maybe the greatest player of all time.”
“It was a great night for tennis,” a delighted Sampras said. “Roger’s got more important things to worry about than playing me.”
They only met once during Sampras’ brilliant career with Federer getting the better of the seven-time Wimbledon champion ending Pete’s run of four straight in an epic five-setter which Roger concluded with a return backhand winner before dropping to his knees. Of course, it’s still shown as it truly was the passing of the torch from one legend to the next.
that long, trying to get close to the players. Now he is a player. He will wear the same uniform as Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Jeter and Rodriguez. 
