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While We're Young Ideas

TL’s Sunday Sports Notebook | July 21

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While We’re Young (Ideas) From the Lyons’ Den

The Hoops Without Borders Program (Pollack Films)

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

CLEVELAND – There’s a new sports series in the works that is near and dear to the many of us who helped create, Basketball Without Borders,” the NBA’s amazing player and life skills development camp that began in 2001 and grew to the point where it was staged on four continents.

The new series – Hoops Without Borders – will begin with an amazing pilot episode to be produced by Pollack Films with the goal of becoming a regular television and OTT streaming series.

Produced by Michael Pollack – nephew of the legendary Sydney Pollack (1934-2008) – (think 1960s TV The Fugitive and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, along with 48 Academy Award nominations, with 11 Oscars in the trophy case) and ten-time sports Emmy Award recipient George Veras, – the series offers a deeply emotional and transformative journey, revealing the untold stories of players who have embraced the world as their arena.

The heart of Hoops Without Borders lives within the incredible story of Andy and Cindy Bountogianis. Their tireless dedication to the game of basketball and representing talented, young players has placed 109 American professional basketball players in leagues across the globe.

“This series takes viewers to countries such as Italy, Greece, Japan, France, and Turkey, and delves deep into the lives of American basketball players whose journey transforms them into global ambassadors,” said Michael Pollack.

The production will involve two other Emmy Award winners, in film editor Eric Welshenbaugh, a 2021 Emmy recipient for his work on the Summer Olympic Games, and Arthur Allan Seidelman, Pollack Film’s Head of Production and two-time Emmy Award winner.

“Surrounded by the exciting challenge of championship basketball, we see the world through the eyes of dynamic young athletes testing their skills and expanding their horizons,” said Sideman. “Competition leads to friendship and friendship to understanding. The game of basketball becomes a ticket to the world.”

Seidelman also boasts another five Emmy nominations and numerous prestigious awards, including the Humanitas Award, a Peabody Award, Western Heritage Award, and three Christopher Awards.

At the core of this series is Andy “B” Bountogianis, a man whose rich Greek/American heritage and relentless pursuit of helping others took him far beyond his familiar streets of Elyria, Ohio.

“These players are like family to us,” said Bountogianis. “For me, it’s an honor and privilege to help them navigate their careers and, in doing so, they have the opportunity to experience what the world and their basketball careers offer.

“Each and every day my responsibility is to inspire and motivate them to become the best they can be,” he said.

With his wife Cindy, they’ve built a global family of 109 players (and counting), all bound by their love of the game and the adventures of life.

“It is a joy for me to be with Andy as part of the team. I am in awe of his constant drive, loyalty, integrity and honesty. These are qualities that you rarely see today. The joy he brings to so many, to the families, is truly amazing,” commented Mrs. Bountogianis.

Lee Zapis, media and software investor and Co-Producer/Creator, conceived the series concept, noting, “I’ve watched Andy and Cindy dedicate every day to making sure all their players are being taken care of around the world. I thought these player stories were unique and could become a streaming series. I’ve also known George’s (Veras) documentary work for decades. I put the two groups together and I’m excited to be part of the project” said Zapis.

“Hoops Without Borders,” noted Veras, “is more than a sports documentary. It’s a journey of the human spirit, fighting through adversity, and embracing the world one country at a time. It’s about personal growth, resilience, and the beautiful game that brings us all together.”

Dozens of players’ stories form the lifeblood of Hoops Without Borders, here are a few examples:

Donta Hall: From the tight knit community of Luverne, Alabama, to the glamorous courts of Monaco (Monte Carlo). While watching his son’s middle school basketball game, Donta’s father suffered a fatal heart attack. It took two years to overcome the grief, but Donta went on the stardom at the University of Alabama. This journey is a heartfelt tale of transformation, illustrating how the sport has shaped him into a beloved figure in a principality of many cultures.

Ike Joseph Udanoh: Raised in Detroit’s challenging “8 Mile” neighborhood, Udanoh faced adversity early on in his life. Abandoned by his father shortly after birth and later by his mother during his teenage years, he struggled to hold onto his dreams in the international basketball scene. Finding himself homeless at a train station in Nuremberg, Germany, his fortunes changed when an Army sergeant from his hometown, stationed at Wiesbaden Army Base, came to his rescue. With her support and the help of others, Udanoh returned to the basketball courts. Today, he lives in Milan, is married to an Italian woman, and cherishes their beautiful daughter, surrounded by the loving family he always dreamed of having.

Jordan Morgan: With his remarkable academic and athletic achievements, Morgan’s journey from the University of Michigan to international leagues is a testament to love, resilience, and the enriching experiences shared with his wife, KT. Together, they capture and share their adventures through an engaging travel podcast.

Kosta Koufos: Rooted deeply in his Greek heritage, Koufos’ journey from Canton, Ohio, to the global basketball stage highlights the unbreakable bond of family and culture, showing how sport can honor and extend a player’s roots across continents.

Jordan Loyd: Hiss journey, marked by familial sacrifice and his triumph with the Toronto Raptors’ NBA championship team, Loyd explores the high stakes and immense rewards of chasing his basketball dreams across the globe.

These stories, unique yet universally resonant, demonstrate the expansive influence of basketball. From fostering cross-cultural connections to inspiring profound personal growth, Hoops Without Borders captures the essence of the sport’s power to unite and transform lives.

“As Pollack Films’ CEO, I am proud to bring this series to life,” concluded Michael Pollack earlier this week when the pilot series was announced to the worldwide media and the prestigious Sports Business Journal in the USA. “Hoops Without Borders is a testament to the unifying power of basketball and the human spirit’s capacity to grow, adapt, and thrive all over the world. It’s a series about the game of life, played on the world stage, where every challenge faced, and every boundary crossed is a step towards a greater understanding of our shared humanity.

“We’ve successfully completed filming on location in Europe and in many cities in North America, said Pollack. “Currently, we’re in the process of selecting additional sites in the United States and around the globe to capture a diverse range of settings and stories.”

Basketball Without Borders, created by the NBA, FIBA and the United Nations was first staged in Treviso, Italy and organized to have the players and coaches from the five former Yugoslavian provinces all play together once again. NBA players, such as Vlade Divac and Toni Kukoc hadn’t played or worked together since the outbreak of the war and were happy to be reunited for the first time since they played (and won) at the 1990 Worlds.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: When was the last time a section of a Sunday Sports Notes column included a fourteen-line poem (aka a sonnet), written by an English poet in the year 1609? Poet John Donne wrote the masterpiece but WWYI will paraphrase “Death Be Not Proud” to say, “Death ‘Be’ Everywhere.”

Just recently, we lost the great Bill Walton and the logo himself, Jerry West. There was a very significant disturbance in the NBA Force, as we were shocked by the death of colleague Bill Marshall, the man who taught the NBA (and maybe even Nike) how to sell licensed apparel. Marshall was near and dear to the hearts of everyone he came in contact with, especially the NBA Consumer Products Group which Marshall started and headed-up in the league’s heyday, going from about a $1.50 in revenue to some $2 billion in licensed products sold, all with a hefty percentage being distributed by the NBA teams. The business grew from there. … Furthermore, just this week, the news of front office man (GM, and many other lofty titles) Pat Williams’ death from viral pneumonia just crushed a legion of NBA lifers. Williams was an innovator, a character, a comedian but most importantly a very successful cornerstone of NBA franchises in Philadelphia and Orlando. Quite frankly, the Orlando Magic might not exist if it weren’t for Pat Williams, and his stroke of good luck in the NBA Lottery brought Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway along for the ride.

Suffice to say, there’s been a few too many deaths announced in our rather small world of sports. One struck rather hard for this columnist early this week when hearing of Joe “Jelly Bean” Bryant’s passing.

As with the passing of Jerry West and the request sent out to Washington DC basketball man Chuck Douglas for permission to use his tribute to best explain West’s impact on the NBA, this weekend, it was an even bigger favor to ask Philly/Houston columnist Fran Blinebury for permission to use his memorial to his friend “Jelly Bean.”

Editorial Note: To be sure young column readers know a little about Joe “Jelly Bean” Bryant, he was a very talented and entertaining, 6-foot-9 NBA journeyman who played in the league from 1979 to 1983 before finishing-up his pro career in Europe. That’s where part two comes in. Yes, the late, great Kobe Bryant, as in Kobe “Bean” Bryant was born in Philadelphia but raised in Italy when his father was playing in the likes of Rieti, Reggio Calabria, Pistoia and Reggio Emilia. Those years, those cities were Kobe’s formative years.

Blinebury tells it better than anyone on the planet, but two words of advice: Sit Down. Here we go:

“It was often said that there was nobody like Kobe Bryant. But that was only true if you never examined the limbs on the family tree.

Joe Bryant, his father, is where a young twig learned to branch out toward the sun and reach for the sky. At 6-10, Joe was part-time low-post presence, part-time would-be point guard and full-time showman who wore a smile that could fill up any basketball court.

Joe died on Monday following a massive stroke, leaving behind a legacy that was both unfulfilled and unparalleled.

In eight NBA seasons with the Sixers, Clippers and Rockets, he averaged just 8.7 points, 4 rebounds and 1.7 assists. Yet long before LeBron James’ name and reputation delivered Bronny to social media and the Lakers, Joe gave the game an act that lived up to all of the hype.

Biologically speaking, it goes without saying that there would have been no Kobe without Joe. But in those genes was also a DNA strand that dared to be different, to push boundaries.

“Jellybean” Joe yearned to be noticed in a three-ring circus Philadelphia locker room already inhabited by Julius Erving, George McGinnis, Doug Collins, Darryl Dawkins and World B. Free, to name a few. That his free-wheeling game could not earn the respect of coaches Gene Shue and Billy Cunningham made him chomp at the bit.

Joe was a nonpareil, a blazing palette of color and look-at-me personality.

When an LA Lakers rookie took the league by storm in 1979, Joe said, “I can do everything Magic Johnson does and I’ve been doing it longer.”

Thus, where Joe laid the foundation with his innate confidence, Kobe took it to the next level with his sheer brazenness.

While Kobe could be standoffish and cold, Joe was everybody’s friend. We attended La Salle College in Philadelphia together in the early 1970s. He was the star athlete and I was a young writer on the staff of the student newspaper. He loved to talk and fill up notebooks then and he loved to just play ball anywhere with anyone.

My old friend Jack Feighan reminded me today of the time Joe showed up on the intramural courts to play with us and Jack managed to get off a shot that scored over the varsity star. Joe, as always, was laughing in a way that Kobe the cold-eyed killer never would.

I covered some of his early pro years in Philly and when we met up again in 1982 in Houston, his final NBA season, Joe had his young family in tow, including 4-year-old moppet, who would take the court after Rockets practices and hoist a ball toward the rim.

The sad part of the story is how father and son became estranged. We had lunch in 2005 and Kobe said, “You know Pops from back in the day?” And he proceeded to credit Joe for teaching him about the game, for taking the family to Italy and expanding his world horizons and encouraging what would become his boundless creativity.

When I ran into Joe once at halftime of a Lakers playoff game, he was bursting with pride. “He (Kobe) is everything I ever wanted to be as a player.”

They were barely speaking over the last decade of Kobe’s life and Joe had no public comment after the 2020 helicopter crash that took the life of his son and granddaughter Gianna.

On the day of the tragedy, Kobe the all-time great was frozen in Jurassic amber. On the day of his passing, Joe should be more than a footnote.

Imagine, a Jellybean begat a Black Mamba.”

– By Fran Blinebury

TID-BITS & GOLDEN NUGGETS: Next weekend we’ll be enjoying the full schedule of the Summer Olympics, the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad which will be played in Paris, France and assorted other places (like Lille for basketball), (futbol in places like Bordeaux, Lyon, Nice and Marseille), Shooting in Châteauroux, and don’t forget surfing in Tahiti. It’s not the first time, the Olympic venues are spread out and thus increasing ticket sales opportunities for neighboring cities, especially for multi-purpose, 60-80,000 seat stadiums. … At Sydney 2000 – the city that ran the perfect Olympic Games in these eyes – futbol was played in Melbourne, Australia. That coincided with the fact the USA Basketball men’s Olympic team trained in Melbourne before making the final approach to Sydney. Except, there was a glitch. The World Economic Forum was taking place in Melbourne at the same time and protestors appeared from every corner of the earth, fully surrounding our hotel – the Crown Casino. Police barricades were everywhere and we had to be escorted to our nearby practice facility – one day traveling by river ferry rather than an Autobus. One thing led to another and the decision was made to head out of Dodge a few days early and occupy Parramatta, our home for the Sydney Games. … Under the cover of darkness, our USA contingent loaded-up the buses and gear and off we went. Destination Airport was side-tracked for a minute as the head protestor of S11 was granted his wish to “inspect” the USA bus to be sure no World Economic delegates were hiding or escaping. It was rather hysterical, as a guy, dressed in black – call it “Goth,” walked up the first few rows of the bus, looking up and down for the likes of Bill Clinton or, maybe, Bill Gates. Just as the guy – who was dressed as only The Cure’s Robert Smith could dress for a show, a few voices from the gallery in the back of the bus shouted, “send that guy back here!” … No, it couldn’t have been Gary Payton’s friendly tones, could it? … Fully inspected and cleared as a “bunch of American ballers,” according to the Cure impersonator and head honcho for shutting down the WEF 2000, we were off. … Just another day in the lead-up to the Olympics and we said, “Hello Parramatta,” just as the Olympic Torch relay made its way through the town. What timing! … There’s NOTHING like seeing the REAL Olympic Torch flame in the days leading up to the Games. If that doesn’t psych you up, nothing will. Our USA Basketball contingent, often criticized as the millionaire basketballers, were like little kids, glued to the windows of our bus, then jumping off as the bus stopped in front of our little commuter hotel efficiencies to get a better look. … Lastly, it took about two minutes to eye-ball a little steakhouse across the street, and the V-B sign outside might’ve tipped us off that some cold Victoria Bitters beer was being served 24/7. Of course, you could go for a Crowne (just like old school Michelob), Toohey’s Extra Dry, Hahn’s – or if in a real bind, Foster’s. … We quickly learned Foster’s was NOT “Australian for Beer,” as it was a cast-away, treated as though it was Busch, Schmidt’s, Lone Star, or Natty Bo. … Generally, it was a round of V-B’s for the house, which included a whole crew from Canada’s CBC Sports. They were like a gift from heaven. Great crew, as friendly as greeters from Come From Away – just great people to hang out with for the next two-or-three weeks. … Parramatta was about 15 miles west of Sydney but the town – which doubled as Astoria, Queens for yours truly – was tremendous, complete with a major rail station and trains that ran like Swiss Timing watches. … On the first night, power forward Vin Baker offered to cook-up a full barby for TEAM USA. It was steaks and burgers for EVERYONE. Baker secured two grills and enough steak to feed the 185th Infantry. It was great, until we hung something on the sprinkler system nozzle.

There will be more “behind the scenes” of the Olympic Games stories in the weeks to come.

While We’re Young (Ideas) | Lyons Den

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MLB All-Star Break; MiLB Gets Its Chance

people sitting on green grass field during dusk
Minor League Baseball Americana : MiLB Photo by Frankie Lopez on Unsplash

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

PORTLAND (Maine) – As much as we’d all like to find some time, a few minutes or – even better – hours, days, and weeks to relax during the hot, Dog Days of Summer, there’s always something else on the never-ending “What’s Next” list of life. There’s rarely a pause

As sure as the sports world turns, Wimbledon‘s men’s and women’s finals are being staged this weekend, the Tour de France is cycling away – starting in Italy and ending with a time trial from Monaco to Nice, France. It’s the first time the race doesn’t end in Paris because of the final preparations for the Olympics are nearly completed. The PGA Tour has travelled across the pond for the Genesis Scottish Open and next weekend’s “The Open,” and the WNBA All-Star break with its mid-season classic game scheduled for July 20 in Phoenix. Then, we’ll have a full Olympic Games break in the “W” from July 21 to August 14.

Of course, the highlight of the summer of 2024 are the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in Paris and other select cities (like Lille for basketball) in France (July 26 to August 11).

As of Monday morning, baseball will take its break. While the vast majority of baseball’s rank and file will head to Cabo, the All-Stars will convene in Arlington, Texas for the Tuesday night classic at Globe Field. On Monday night, the players will have some fun with the annual Home Run Derby. Scheduled to compete are:

  • Pete Alonso, New York Mets
  • Alex Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies
  • Adolis Garcia, Texas Rangers
  • Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles
  • Teoscar Hernández, LA Dodgers
  • Marcell Ozuna, Atlanta Braves
  • José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians
  • Bobby Witt, Jr., Kansas City Royals

That’s a formidable group of sluggers, as long as you’re okay with the fact big league HR leaders like Aaron Judge (33), (New York Yankees), Shohei Ohtani, (28) (Los Angeles Dodgers), Anthony Santander (23), (Baltimore Orioles), Josh Naylor, (22), Cleveland Guardians, Juan Soto (22), New York Yankees, Christian Walker (22), Arizona Diamondbacks are all sitting out the competition, many with built in excuses of tight rib muscles or sore backs. (All HR Leader figures noted were as of Saturday morning).

Boston’s 3B Rafa Devers hit his 22nd homer of the season on Saturday at Fenway Park. It moved him to 11th in club history with his 194th blast. Popular catcher Jason Varitek relinquished the 11th spot. Devers, who announced he’ll be sitting out the All-Star Game due to a lingering left shoulder problem, obviously can not participate in the Derby, either.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: As we mind the gap for the Big Leaguers, there’s never a better time to turn our attention to the Minor Leagues (MiLB). The annual Futures All-Star Game is ongoing as this is being typed. Cincinnati Reds prospect Cam Collier crushed a 409-foot home run as the NL defeated the AL, 6-1. Collier, the 18th overall pick in the 2022 Draft, has 13 homers for High-A Dayton on the year.

Looking deeper into the world of MiLB, there’s a great story brewing in Iowa, of all places for you Field of Dreams fans.

Sioux City’s J.D. Scholten improved his pitching record to 2-0, and snapped Fargo-Moorhead’s American Association best five-game win streak. Scholten is a 44 year old Iowa State Representative in the State House. The political pitcher last suited up for the Sioux City Explorers in 2007 but gave up his baseball career for a job in politics. But the Rep couldn’t stop the itch of pitching a baseball and returned to pro ball in the Netherlands last summer before returning to his State House gig.

This summer, with only three hours notice before taking to the mound, Scholten accepted a spot start for ailing starter Jared Wetherbee.

‘They made ‘The Rookie’ about Jim Morris making it to the Majors with the Tampa Rays at age 35, J.D.’s story should at least merit a special on C Span,’ joked American Association Commissioner Josh Schaub. “The story unfolding, given the quality of players Scholten’s faced in both Milwaukee and now Fargo/Fargo-Moorhead, is quite amazing.”

The American Association of Professional Baseball is a 12-franchise independent league, with no direct affiliations to the major league clubs. In other words, everyone is a free agent and can be called to the Show. The American Association, Atlantic League, Frontier League and Pioneer League are all baseball leagues that have been designated as Partner Leagues of Major League Baseball.

A road trip to visit every AA club at its home field would make for quite an adventure. All teams are situated in the Midwest and cover nine states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin) and one Canadian province (Manitoba).

Fill up the gas tank.

CLOSER TO HOME: The Cape League is a personal favorite, not only for its close proximity to Boston but also for the pure baseball vibe in the idyllic setting Cape Cod towns from Bourne to Chatham.

Yarmouth-Dennis leads the Cape Cod East Division with a 15-7 record while the Wareham Gatemen are 15-7, as well. Wareham leads the Cape Cod West Division ladder, just two games (in loss column) ahead of the Cotuit Kettleers. The regular season runs through August 4, and a couple short playoff series decide a champion.

The clubs are mostly comprised of top-notch collegiate stars, many who will have their names called this weekend during the 2024 MLB Draft. The Draft has now become part of the All-Star Week. It includes a whopping 20 rounds, including the first two rounds, compensatory rounds, competitive balance rounds and prospect promotion incentive selections on the first night of the soiree.

Coverage begins with a preview show at 6:00pm (ET) tonight on MLB Network, MLB.TV, MLB.com and the MLB app. The actual Draft begins at 7:00pm (ET) and ESPN broadcasts the first round.

SEA DOGS are LEAD DOGS: The Portland Sea Dogs, the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox are leading a service for blind and visually impaired fans and it might be something that can make a mark in all sports, especially MiLB and MLB.

We’re talking a major impact.

Noting an MiLB.com story on the service which explains, “The Double-A affiliate of the Red Sox plays in a park that’s down the block from the headquarters of The Iris Network, a nonprofit with the mission of “helping people with vision impairment or blindness attain independence and community integration,” and it includes “apartments where many with vision impairment live.” The Sea Dogs’ staff has long taken pride in bringing the joys of Minor League Baseball to everybody, and when a new company stepped-up with a service to assist those fans, the team jumped at the opportunity.

The company, Aira, and its board member Kevin Phelan, contacted the club before this season, and explained the system. The team felt the partnership was a no-brainer.

Says MiLB, “Aira’s app allows users to connect with live representatives who can utilize the phone’s camera to see the surrounding area and talk a user through, for example, finding a seat or the shortest concessions line.”

Case-in-point: “Randy and Sarah Bellavance love attending Double-A games at Hadlock Field in Portland. This year – the second year the diehard Portland Sea Dogs fans have had season tickets -their local ballpark feels more welcoming than ever.

“The Bellavances, a married couple who are both blind, typically take in the on-field sounds in front of their seats near first base while also chatting with the fans around them – lots of whom have become friends – while one of them listens to the Sea Dogs’ radio broadcast and relays key information to the other. As much as they’ve enjoyed the game day experiences for years and years, Hadlock has become an even easier and more convenient environment via the Aira Visual Interpreter app on their phones, available for free thanks to the team’s partnership with a tech company that specializes in accessibility (and takes care of the basic costs).

“I can tell you without a doubt – and I’m going to be honest here – I was so proud that I was able to make it down to the ladies room on my own with Aira,” said Sarah Bellavance, “and on my own I was able to figure out how to get back. That’s something I don’t do.”

THE TECH is THE KEY: Sometimes, it’s the simplest ideas that gain traction. Aira has found the key. Phelan, who moved to the Portland area over a decade ago to be near the Baxter School for the Deaf after his middle child didn’t pass a hearing screening, identified a need for a service like Aira’s in part through his own experience navigating the intersection of tech and accessibility.

He also realized that while federal funding has made sign language interpretation services widely available to people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, there’s no such pathway for interpretation services for people who are blind or low-vision. This gap led to Aira, which offers a subscription model for things like in-home use but relies on successful partnerships with businesses and governmental agencies.

“If you look at the community in accessibility space, they’ve been told about so many new tech [products] … it’s all high-promise, and the tech is either too complicated, or it just doesn’t work,” Phelan said.

Aira works.

In the past, it’s helped a Boston Marathon runner (Erich Manser) completed the 26.2 mile race and qualified for the Iron Man Triathlon, all while getting guidance assistant from his sight provider based in Cleveland, Ohio.

“Aira has been around for almost a decade now,” noted Phelan. “Why it’s done well and why we’re the No. 1 product out there, is that it’s simple and the tech works. Tap a button, the phone camera turns on, and Randy and Sarah can get that information independently.”

Phelan hopes to take it further.

“The relationship between this community and sports… I’ve been blown away with how many people are blind and have a passion for sports,” said Phelan, who pointed out that his own love of baseball has been shaped in part by listening to Red Sox play-by-play broadcaster Joe Castiglione.

“I’ve attended games with people who are blind, and there are always other fans who are wondering, ‘Why are they at this game if they can’t see?’ But they’re following the game, they love the game and they know the game, and they want that experience. Aira is filling in that part of the experience where Randy wants to find his seat without going to guest services. Randy wants to find the shortest line for beer or a hot dog,” said Phelan.

For the Bellavances, who haven’t visited Fenway Park since Randy made a somewhat overwhelming trip there before the couple met, the experience Aira has delivered at Hadlock Field invites the notion of more accessible experiences at ballparks everywhere.

“I would like to see it at every park,” Randy said. “It would be my hope that, if you have it at one level, I think eventually you’ll get it into the next. I know people who live in Washington DC and Maryland who go to Washington Nationals games and they’d love to have something like this.”

MiLB and the Portland Sea Dogs are paving the foundation for a truly impactful step for professional sports. The Sea Dogs are becoming the “See” Dogs and MLB is taking notice.

So soon, will the other professional and collegiate sports, who can package the teach and match it up with the right sponsor for a win-win-win, all around. Fans like the Bellavances will win the most.

Here’s the full story from MiLB.com

TID-BITS AND GOLDEN NUGGETS: Hank Egan, a longtime NBA Assistant Coach, widely recognized for his fundamental teaching of the game was named as the recipient of the 2024 Tex Winter Assistant Coach Lifetime Impact Award, the National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA) announced today.

Egan began his coaching career in 1966 as an assistant at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 1971, he was promoted to Head Coach and served in that capacity for 13 seasons. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Coach, Gregg Popovich, both played (1966-1970) and served as an assistant coach (1973-1979) for Coach Hank Egan at the Air Force Academy. Coach Popovich credits a lot of his career success to his longtime mentor Coach Hank Egan.

“I’m thrilled that Hank Egan is receiving this well-deserved honor,” said Popovich, the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs. “During his 40-plus seasons as a coach, he taught, inspired and supported so many of us. His passion for basketball combined with his knowledge of the game, made him one of the best coaches I’ve ever encountered. I’m forever grateful for Hank’s mentorship and friendship.”

After winning nearly 150 games at the Air Force Academy, Coach Egan was hired to lead the University of San Diego basketball program. During the 1986-1987 season, Coach Egan led the San Diego Toreros to a 24-6 season, a regular season West Coast Atlantic Conference (WCAC) championship, as well as a trip to the NCAA tournament. He won back-to-back conference Coach of the Year Awards (1986 & 1987) and finished his career at the University of San Diego compiling a record of 156-126 as a Head Coach.

Coach Egan entered the NBA coaching ranks in 1994 with the San Antonio Spurs. During his first two seasons as an NBA Assistant Coach, Egan helped lead the Spurs to a 62-win season (1994-95) and a 59-win season (1995-96), as well as two consecutive Western Conference Finals appearances. Coach Gregg Popovich later became the Spurs Head Coach, during the 1996-1997 season, and Egan remained on his staff for six more seasons. In eight total seasons with the Spurs, Coach Egan amassed a record of 403-221 (.646) with seven playoff appearances, including winning the 1999 NBA Championship.

The Emirates NBA Cup Group Play Draw (NBA)

CUP of CUPS: The NBA Cup, complete with sponsor attachment by Emirates, held its pool play draw while all the NBA teams convened in Las Vegas for a combo of USA Basketball and Summer League play. One thing is for sure, Lady Luck shined upon the Boston Celtics, as the club fell into the weakest pool of opponents.

You can measure the groups by way of the graphic above, but here’s Boston’s draw in East Group C …

  • Boston Celtics
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Chicago Bulls
  • Atlanta Hawks
  • Washington Wizards

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | July 7

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While We’re Young (Ideas) | On Breakfast at Wimbledon

BOSTON – If you’re lucky enough to have a long holiday weekend which started Thursday with a 4th of July (Independence Day) celebration and will conclude Sunday night when the Boston Red Sox visit Yankee Stadium in the Bronx for Sunday Night Baseball, you’ll appreciate thoughts of 4th of July weekends gone by.

Early memories are from pinics at Salisbury Park in East Meadow which was later named Eisenhower Park in honor of President Dwight Eisenhower, or maybe John Candy? That came soon after Idlewild Airport was changed to JFK. Come nightfall, the best fireworks display on Long Island was staged at Eisenhower.

Daytime hours were filled with playing golf, tennis, softball or street hockey at a great (big) rink which had an oval for roller skating wrapped around it. Yes, there were a few roller bladers tattooed with “MYLEC” from a errant, hard, orange hockey ball shot over the boards. My fingers are pointed outbound, because this scribe kept his shot low and on goal, except when picking the upper right hand corner with a good wrist shot.

That leads us to a special memory, reserved for the early morning hours on the 4th of July. It was marketed to viewers of NBC Sports as Breakfast at Wimbledon. The late, great sportscaster Dick Enberg called the action and “Bud” Collins Jr. was awaiting at courtside for interviews with the winners in a tiny alcove just outside the dressing rooms.

Although Wimbledon has such a storied past, dating back to 1877, the timeframe your Sunday Notes keeper recalls is know as the “Open Era.” Wimbledon was paused for World War I (1915-1918) and World War II (1940-1945), but the names of the winners in men’s singles resonate with many. Bill Tilden in the ‘20s, Fred Perry in the 30s, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson and John Newcombe in the 1960s and ‘70s dominated the men’s draw.

Yet, in 1976, Björn Borg came along and for five straight years, and all other challengers were turned aside. Runners-up included tennis greats like Romania’s Ilie “Nasty” Năstase – a personal favorite, Americans Jimmy Connors, Roscoe Tanner and John McEnroe were turned aside. It wasn’t until 1981, when McEnroe took a four set victory over Borg (4-6, 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-4), 6-4), that the tennis world’s best could be an American again.

Soon after, legendary matches, pitting McEnroe and Conners, took place with McEnroe earning his reputations as the ugly American ‘brat’ for the ages. The kid from Douglaston, Queens, not far from tennis alcoves in Forest Hills, Flushing Meadow and right at the Douglaston Club as his father made a living of service in the United States Air Force.

It was the golden era of men’s tennis and it soon led to a similar status for the women’s game at the The All England Lawn Tennis Club when the likes of Althea Gibson, Billie Jean King, Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong gave way to Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.

With Evert as a major rival, Navratilova reached the women’s (they call it ladies) singles finals 12 times, including nine straight seasons, with nine victories and a career total of 59 Grand Slam/Major titles.

The courts have been renovated, centre court has a roof and the tiny neighborhood town has given way to weather assured television programming. There’s never been a time for such a tournament, really a sport, to marvel in its glory years the way Wimbledon did with Navratilova and Evert, along with Borg, Conners and Ivan Lendl (on the Hard-Tru courts) – (with his alter-ego with similar playing style, Mr. Lendl-Lyons) headlining the draw.

Since those glory years, there’s been formidable champions. Just listing the men’s side, you have to consider these players to be among the all-time best:

  1. Boris Becker
  2. Pete Sampras
  3. Roger Federer
  4. Rafael Nadal
  5. Novak Djokovic

And, not to be overlooked on the women’s (ladies) side, Serena Williams cemented her stake as the greatest of all time. There will never be another Serena Williams. But, while the more recent men’s tennis rivalries deserve mention, none can match the drama and intrigue of the Borg-Connors-McEnroe era. It’s very possible none ever will.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Former super featherweight champion Ryan Garcia was expelled from the World Boxing Council (WBC) after making discriminatory remarks on social media. … “Exercising my authority as president of the WBC , I am hereby expelling Ryan Garcia from any activity with our organization. We reject any form of discrimination. I fear for Ryan well being as he has declined multiple attempts for our help with mental health and substance abuse,” WBC president Mauricio Sulaimansaid upon rendering the suspension. … Garcia later apologized and agreed to counseling. PGA TOUR rookie Hayden Springer shot some fireworks off for the July 4th crowds at the John Deere Classic. His opening round was highlighted by eight birdies and two eagles during his tournament debut, as the rook signed for a 12-under (59). … He’s the 13th different player (14 times) to shoot a sub-60 round on the PGA TOUR. Jim Furyk is the only player with 58 and 59. Springer’s round included: Hitting 10-of-14 fairways, 14-of-18 greens in regulation and 21 total putts (sank 112’ 6” of putts). His career-low round on TOUR came in his 19th start. His previous best was an 8-under (64) during R1/2024 American Express. … The USA Basketball Men’s U-17 National Team took a step closer to their goal of winning a gold medal at the 2024 FIBA U17 Men’s World Cup by beating Canada, 111-60, on Friday in Istanbul. The USA will take on New Zealand in the semifinals tomorrow, July 6, after the NZ defeated Lithuania 73-65 in the quarterfinals. … His friends can call him royal and his enemies can call him ancient, and they’ll both be correct. The R&A has named former rugby club CEO Mark Darbon as its new chief executive and secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews in Scotland, said the governing board in a statement this week. The Open will be upon us in two full weeks (following the Genesis of Scotland). If you’re keeping score at home, that two major golf executives to head to the 19th hole in two weeks, after Seth Waugh of the PGA of America stepped down. The PGA has begun a national search to replace Waugh.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | June 30th

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While We’re Young (Ideas) – On Summer of ’24

Sunrise, Sunset (Photo by T. Peter Lyons/Digital Sports Desk)

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – Usually around Thanksgiving Day, this column waxes philosophic, taking stock of all the things to be thankful for as we face the challenges of life. Possibly lost in the shuffle or timing are the gifts of Summertime, a season of the year we should never, ever take for granted.

Yes, Fall in New England is a very special time of year. Brisk morning walks with our (two) dogs – Penny (Lane) and (Mighty) Max – start the day. We enjoy football Sundays and college football Saturdays on a cool October afternoon. The foliage is magnificent, at least until it must be raked and stuffed into bags of paper and placed on the curb come Monday night when yet another football game is being played.

But Summer. Ah, dear Summer, how can we thank thee?

Long days, filled with sun and 8:29pm sunsets … the smell of fresh cut grass … the robin red breast, a blue jay or a cardinal landing in the backyard … the chirp of the birds before sunrise … flowers blooming, especially the blue azaleas which took the year 2023 off but have outdone themselves this year … Cape Cod and Four Seas ice cream … new, clean and clear windows opened widely at night to cool the home from its midday warmth … checking the Major League Baseball standings on Memorial Day and cutting the standings out of the paper on the 4th of July to see how the old adage of first place on the 4th stands up come late September … a Fenway frank … keeping score of a major league game in Bob Carpenter’s baseball scorebook … the crack of the bat … red Twizzlers at a Little League baseball game … the annual NBA Draft and then free agency under a new set of rules governing maximum team salaries for the 2024-25 season … the travels of the Stanley Cup – sports’ most wonderful piece of hardware – as it travels the world to the hometowns of every single player on the NHL Stanley Cup championship roster … a double off the Green Monster or the proper fielding of a line drive off the historic wall at Fenway Park by a left fielder who promptly gloves and tosses the ball on a clothes line throw to second base, thus holding the batter/runner to a single … the 7 Line chugging into the old Shea Stadium – Willets Point stop and now a station to disembark to attend Citi Field, a wonderful ballpark in Flushing, Queens … soon – the same subway line will serve the patrons of the annual U.S. Open tennis tournament and the riders will walk towards Flushing Meadows instead of towards the home of the Metropolitans … that feeling on the 4th that Labor Day seems so far away … slicing Beefsteak tomatoes to decorate a sandwich … soft ice cream cones with a memory of Mister Softie trucks playing their tunes … Tom Carvel – aka Athanasios Thomas Karvelas – the business man from Hartsdale, New York who began selling ice cream from a truck in 1934 … Field 6 at Jones Beach … Ditch Plains in Montauk … radios on the beach, all tuned to the same FM station … Chatham, Mass … the opening of NFL training camps (July 23 for most teams) … the Farmer’s Market … corn on the cob with a bit of salt and pepper – hold the butter … cold gazpacho made from fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, red and green peppers with minced basil from the garden … the Arnold Palmer (half ice tea/half lemonade) over ice … summertime rock concerts at the Seaport, the Beach or maybe at Fenway Park … Blue Sky by the Allman Brothers Band … Saturday in the Park by Chicago … the signature carnival sound of the E Street Band … Southside at the Stone Pony … ice cold Rheingold or Shaeffer Beer … Gin & Tonic … the Jitney (isn’t it just a bus?) … Breakfast at Wimbledon … The Open ⛳️ … driving a JEEP in the open air on the beach … Gone Fishin’ … minor league baseball featuring the Chatham A’s vs Cotuit Kettleers – “Hey Cotuit” … hot dogs and burgers on the grill with watermelon for dessert … or the smell of a good NY Strip steak simmering on the grill … BLTs with corn salad … lightning bugs … the rooftops at Wrigley Field … smoked & grilled salmon on a cedar plank … waves breaking on the shore … the sounds of summer … wide open windows with a cool breeze overnight. Summer.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Boston College is rebuilding its swimming programs after a tumultuous year of 2023-24 when players on both the men’s and women’s teams were suspended for recruiting and hazing violations.

Dara Torres, one of the most decorated Olympians in United States sports history, has been named head men’s and women’s swimming & diving coach at Boston College. The announcement was made last week by William V. Campbell Director of Athletics Blake James.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dara Torres as our new head swimming & diving coach,” James said in a written statement. “From the moment we met with Dara, it was evident that she was exactly the fit we were looking for to begin a fresh, new chapter of Boston College swimming & diving. Her record as a world-class competitor is historic and her ability to clearly articulate her vision as a coach and leader will allow our student-athletes to develop and excel in and out of the pool.”

A six-time world record holder and 10-time American record holder throughout her competitive career, Torres made five appearances in the Olympic games (1984, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2008), garnering a total of 12 medals – four gold, four silver, and four bronze. She made her first U.S. national team at age 14 and broke her first world record as a 15-year old in the 50-meter freestyle.

As a coach, Torres has helped coach and mentor swimmers of various ages and skill levels, while serving as an advocate in leadership roles for the sport.

“This is a full-circle moment for me,” Torres said. “I’ve learned from great coaches at every point in my career. This opportunity to share what I’ve learned, in and out of the pool, and pass along technique, confidence, and support as part of the Boston College Athletics Department is a dream. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together.”

Boasting an Olympic career that spanned 24 years, Torres represented the United States as a 17-year old at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. It culminated with her becoming the oldest female swimmer – at 41 years of age – to compete in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. In 2009, Torres earned a trio of major awards: the ESPY Award for Best Comeback, the Thurman Munson Award, given to New York City athletes for their achievements and humanitarian efforts, and the World Fair play Award for best sportsmanship at the Olympics.

The previous head coach, Joe Brinkman, left BC early this year, “mutually parting” company with the school after the hazing scandal.

BIG EAST STRIKES TV RENEWAL WITH FOX AND STREAMING WITH NBC/PEACOCK: (Note is from official Big East news release) – The BIG EAST Conference announced a new six-year media rights agreement that will ensure that the league maintains its position as one of the most televised conferences in all of college athletics. FOX Sports, the BIG EAST’s television partner for the last 11 years, will continue as the conference’s lead network provider, with NBC Sports and TNT Sports also providing comprehensive BIG EAST basketball coverage for the first time. The agreement was unanimously approved by the Presidents of the BIG EAST’s 11 member institutions.

The new agreement, which will span from 2025-26 through 2030-31, encompasses coverage on FOX Sports (FOX, FS1, FS2), NBC Sports (NBC, Peacock) and TNT Sports (TNT, TBS, truTV and Max). The agreement will provide major national broadcast, cable and direct-to-consumer streaming coverage of BIG EAST men’s and women’s basketball games and Olympic sport championship contests. The BIG EAST’s current agreement with FOX Sports is scheduled to expire after the 2024-25 academic year. Established in 1979 and headquartered in New York City, the BIG EAST’s members are located in eight of the country’s top 38 largest media markets and include Butler University, University of Connecticut, Creighton University, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Providence College, St. John’s University, Seton Hall University, Villanova University and Xavier University.

FOX Sports will feature at least 80 BIG EAST men’s and women’s basketball contests across the regular season and postseason beginning in 2025-26. In addition, the FOX broadcast network will remain the home of the BIG EAST Men’s Tournament Final through 2031.

Peacock will launch its coverage of BIG EAST men’s basketball in 2024-25 with a package of 25 regular season games and five early round and quarterfinal conference tournament games. Beginning with the 2025-26 season, Peacock and NBC Sports will present more than 60 men’s and women’s regular season and BIG EAST Tournament games.

TNT Sports will feature 65 regular season BIG EAST basketball games airing on TNT – as its primary network – along with TBS, truTV and Max, beginning with the 2025-26 season.

“Our new agreement that provides coverage by FOX Sports, NBC Sports and TNT Sports will allow the BIG EAST to maintain our already high level of national broadcast and cable exposure while adding first-time streaming coverage for men’s basketball games and expanded distribution of games on the women’s basketball side,” said Creighton University President and BIG EAST Conference Board of Directors Chair Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD. “The arrangement will provide enhanced revenue and long-term stability for the conference, create benefits for our student-athletes, and allow us to remain nationally competitive in our marquee sport: basketball. We are especially excited to continue our one-of-a-kind relationship with FOX Sports and look forward to building on the exceptional foundation we have established together over the past 11 years.”

“Everyone at FOX Sports is thrilled to continue our long-standing relationship with the BIG EAST, one of the nation’s top basketball conferences and a pillar of our college hoops lineup,” said Eric Shanks, CEO & Executive Producer, FOX Sports. “It’s a privilege to showcase these spectacular student-athletes and institutions alongside our new partners, NBC Sports and TNT Sports, while also fortifying our role as a leader in college sports.”

“BIG EAST Basketball is among the most prestigious in all of college sports, and we’re proud to be able to feature the men’s and women’s teams across our NBCUniversal platforms,” said Rick Cordella, President, NBC Sports. “The BIG EAST has a storied basketball history, and we look forward to showcasing these games as the conference creates more memorable moments.”

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | June 23

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While We’re Young (Ideas) with a Hodgepodge of Notes

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

CROMWELL – Summer was ushered into New England with a Rolling Rally for the 2024 NBA Champion Boston Celtics, a “Signature” PGA Tour event in the Greater Hartford area, high 90s heat wave temperatures throughout the region and – off in the distance – a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers.

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In case you haven’t been paying attention as the NHL skaters have been navigating their way from South Florida (USA) to the Province of Alberta (Canada) via the 2996.25 mile trip that would equate to a 44 hour drive. The Oilers were down 0-3 in the series and have now battled their way back to force a Game 7 in Sunrise, Florida on Monday night.

Closer to home (as in Boston, Massachusetts to Cromwell, Connecticut), we have The Travelers Championship – the 28th of 36 PGA Tour events on the regular season schedule – aka the road to the FedEx Cup Playoffs. If you put aside the dodging of T-Storms and start of summer heat wave, tucked in the ‘burbs of the insurance capital of the world is the best run, player-friendly, birdie festival known as The Travelers ☔️ (pretend the umbrella is red, please).

Although the golf tournament comes a short week after the U.S. Open and is sometimes in a difficult travel situation (Pinehurst, NC to Hartford, CT), the lone New England based golf tournament has endeared itself to the players with basic hospitality second to none, as well as the TPC River Highlands course that brings reward over risk, as long as you keep your golfball in the fairways. The decision-makers for the TOUR did their part as well, elevating The Travelers to Signature level, meaning there’s $20m in the purse and a cool $3.8m and 700 FedEx Cup points awaiting the winner. Aside from the obvious No. 1 in the world lock, Scottie Scheffler, FedEx Cup points will determine who makes the cut for the Top 70 players on Tour and eventually strokes at hand for the top players competing in the TOUR Championship (at East Lake GC in Atlanta) come August 29-September 1st. The current Top 10 (before points are awarded from The Travelers).

CURRENT FEDEX CUP POINTS LEADERS

  1. Scottie Scheffler – 5,068
  2. Xander Schauffele – 3,117
  3. Rory McIlroy – 2,445
  4. Collin Morikawa – 2,101
  5. Ludvig Åberg – 1,935
  6. Wyndham Clark – 1,915
  7. Sahith Theegala – 1,833
  8. Hideki Matsuyama – 1,815
  9. Byeong Hun An – 1,620
  10. Patrick Cantlay – 1,455

An withdrew from the Travelers on Thursday, citing illness. McIlroy withdrew earlier in the week after a disastrous U.S. Open outing where he blew two putts inside five feet and lost out to eventual champion Bryson DeChambeau.

The sports seasons are ‘a changin’ as we adjust from the winter sports calendar of ice hockey and basketball to the summer sport of baseball which is accompanied by WNBA basketball, soccer and tennis. The last time there wasn’t a scheduled game on the weekly calendar for the NHL, NBA or college basketball was Thursday, September 21, 2023. That’s 278 days on the annual sports calendar.

Monday will mark the 198th Game 7 in Stanley Cup Playoffs history and 18th in the Stanley Cup Final. It’s the first since the visiting St. Louis Blues defeated the hometown Boston Bruins when the Blues took their first and only NHL championship in 2019.

Of course, this summer we’ll all have the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad which will take place from July 26 to August 11.

For the full weekly column of sports notes, please consider subscribing to While We’re Young (Ideas) via Substack – (link)

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | June 16

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While We’re Young (Ideas) Pays Tribute to Jerry West

Happy Father’s Day to All the Great Dads Out There

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – PROVIDENCE – NEW HAVEN – STAMFORD – NEW YORK – (Written on the Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 163) – It was a Wednesday night, and the date was April 29, 1970 – a school night – but we were allowed to stay up late and watch the New York Knickerbockers play the Los Angeles Lakers at The Fabulous Forum in Inglewood, California. The three hour time change be damned, because the Knicks were playing Game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals. It was a tight one and the crucial momentum of the championship series was about to be determined.

The inbounds pass went to New York’s Walt “Clyde” Frazier who calmly dribbled as the game clock counted down from 10 seconds to five. Frazier zipped a pass to a cutting Dave DeBusschere who pump faked and then hit a 15-foot jump shot from the free throw line, making the score 102-100 (Knicks) with three seconds remaining in the game.

Wilt Chamberlain took the ball out of bounds and snapped a chest pass to Jerry West who took three dribbles straight down center court, lining up with his basket some 60+ feet away. West launched the shot with a running leap and swish. “The ballgame is tied,” announced Knickerbockers TV play-by-play man Bob Wolff, as DeBusschere nearly fainted and fell backwards in disbelief.

The Knicks somehow outscored the Lakers 9-6 in the overtime and won Game 3 by the score of 111-108 (OT). Willis Reed led New York with 38 points while West had 34 points. A year after winning the Most Valuable Player award for the 1969 NBA Finals, (the first time the award was presented and the first and only time it was presented to a player on the losing team (Boston defeated LA, 4-games-to-3), West’s Lakers eventually lost to the Knicks in seven games as West averaged 31.3 points per game, 7.7 assists per game and 3.4 rebounds per game while playing an average of 47.9 minutes over the seven grueling games.

West was a player feared and revered by opponents and opposing fans. On a team that also had Chamberlain and the great Elgin Baylor, West was the point guard and team leader. West and Oscar Robertson had been the pride of the 1960 U.S. Olympic team which won the gold medal in Rome and has since been enshrined into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Frazier was their equal in 1970 as the Knicks rose to prominence in the NBA.

West, a 14-time NBA All-Star, would go on to win his lone NBA title in 1972. He was honored on the NBA’s 35th, 50th and 75th Anniversary teams as one of the league’s all-time greats and a silhouette from a photo slide of his 6-foot-3 body was utilized to create the ubiquitous and globally recognized NBA logo.

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As great as his playing career, West followed with a full career as a front office/general manager and creator of championship-level NBA teams. For that talent, this year he was to be enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor, joining his inductions as a player and a member of the 1960 U.S.A. men’s Olympic basketball team.

As you’ve certainly heard by now, West passed away Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at the age of 86. It was the second shocking notification of the death of an all-time NBA great, following the terrible news of Bill Walton’s death over Memorial Day weekend. Two of Southern California’s adopted and favorite sons (West from West Virginia) and Walton (from San Diego) gone.

I last wrote of West when I was extremely enraged – yes, let’s call it apoplectic – over the depiction of the Lakers great in a now (and deservedly so) cancelled television series, called “Winning Time.” In that series, West was made out to be an unfit, cursing, maniac as he was played by actor Jason Clarke. The depiction caused those who knew and worked with West to walk off the set, agents – some who he negotiated against – wrote letters to Variety and The Hollywood Reporter and nearly everyone associated with the NBA or the Lakers simply turned the series off in disgust.

Truth be told, West was a very intense and complicated human being, some of which he explained himself in his autobiography “West on West,” which is highly recommended. I first worked with West in 1982 and gradually got to know him over 42 more years.

Not once did I hear him utter a curse. Not once did I see him disrespect a colleague, co-worker or fan. Not once did I see him act in any way other than as the classy, smart, gentlemanly, opinionated and interesting person he was. Many of West’s interviews – especially with Dan Patrick – were the best I’ve ever witnessed, by far. Patrick’s producer Todd Fritz and I would call other great interviews by Dan with the highest possible compliment of … “entering the Jerry West Zone.” Only a rare few interview subjects ever approached that level. (The one embedded below certainly did).

While I was fortunate to have had a few tremendous chats with West over the years, nothing can compare to the stories and tributes written this week, especially from those who covered the “Showtime Lakers.” I can say, there were a handful of times I found myself off to the side at a basketball Hall of Fame function and I’d look up and see West in the same area, never seeking center stage recognition although everyone in the room believed he earned it and deserved it. He enjoyed hearing updates on mutual friends and he recognized the fact I was very loyal and protective of his lifelong buddy and fellow Hall of Famer, Rod Thorn, a fellow West Virginian who I worked with at the NBA league office for decades. I guess that ranked as well deserved “street cred” in Cabin Creek?

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: To pick up the torch and tell a story which depicted the true, day-to-day, Jerry West, I asked former Wash DC (Bullets/Wizards) basketball man and scout Chuck Douglas if I could borrow his memories posted this week when he heard the terrible news of West’s passing.

Let’s turn the column over to Chuck.

“Jerry West is maybe, the most impactful person in the history of the NBA,” Douglas wrote. “And, one of the greatest figures in American Sports. Quick story, first time I met Jerry West was in Colorado Springs at a USA Basketball training camp to determine the roster for an upcoming Olympic Games. We were on the second level overlooking the practice courts filled with the best college players in the country. I was young, 20-something, and at one of my first NBA scouting assignments.

“Our chairs, by chance, were about 15-feet apart. And, I was thinking holy sh**, that’s Jerry West … aka ‘The Logo.’ But trying and failing at being cool, I think he sensed my uneasiness and said hey ‘Mind if I join, you?’

“He proceeded to introduce himself, and we talked scouting and player development over the next three hours. Long after the tryouts and practice had ended. Just the two of us in an empty USA Basketball gym.

“First thing he asked me is what do you look for in players, as far as their next level prospects. I told him, I can’t explain it well, but, it’s 80% innate feel on my end with 20% skill level and some other measurable talent mixed in. He said, ‘that’s impressive from a young guy just starting out,’ adding that most don’t believe it. But, that his player evaluations were also heavily weighed by his gut feel rather than analytics or anything else considered so obvious. That kind of affirmation plus validation from one of basketball’s great talent evaluators made me feel like I was 10-feet tall and maybe, despite all my insecurities, ‘I can do this.’

“He asked me if I’d like to join him for dinner that evening. And treated me like a long lost friend every time our paths crossed from that day on. Hall of Fame player, one of the greatest front office executives in NBA history. Yet, the man was nothing but gracious, kind and unassuming. He welcomed me from day one, offered me advice, and wanted absolutely nothing in return.

“My Dad’s basketball idol and someone I was in awe of as a colleague, Jerry West was an amazing player and an amazing executive, but he was also an amazing human being.

“The Logo, the icon.

“We lost a legend. No one who loves sports will ever forget you, or anyone who believes the human spirit is inherently good.

“Rest easy Mr. West, Prayers to his wife Karen and family.”

WOW: That says it all. (Special thanks to Chuck as he approved the use of his incredible memory and tribute).

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | June 9

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While We’re Young (Ideas) – The 2024 NBA Finals

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – Since yours truly rode off to the sunset from the halls of Olympic Tower-645 Fifth Avenue at the NBA in 2008, there’s been only one occasion for a road trip to the NBA Finals and that came June 9, 11 and 14, 2009 when the hometown Orlando Magic were overmatched against the LA Lakers with the late Kobe Bryant leading the way to the first of back-to-back NBA titles in ‘09 and 2010. Thankfully, since NBA Finals travel budgets for Digital Sports Desk were somewhat limited, it’s been nice that the Finals come to my hometown every now and then. For instance:

  • 2022: The Golden State Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics, 4-2
  • 2010: The LA Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics, 4-3
  • 2008: The Boston Celtics defeated the LA Lakers, 4-2

There’s been a bit of a drought for major sports championships on Causeway Street, dating back to the Boston Bruins defeating the Vancouver Canucks in 2011. Since the Year 2000, Boston/New England major professional sports teams have won a dozen championships, including six Super Bowl titles by the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots. Both the Sox and Patriots won in 2018. The list since the year 2000:

  • Patriots championships: 2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2018
  • Red Sox championships: 2004, 2007, 2013, 2018
  • Celtics championship: 2008
  • Bruins championship: 2013

Sunday night, your intrepid columnist will be working his 140th NBA Finals game, highlighted by 135 consecutive games in the early ‘80s to 2007. The NBA game has changed drastically since Game 4 of the 2007 NBA Finals. In that contest, the final game of a 4-0 sweep of the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers by the San Antonio Spurs, there were a combined 41 three-point field goals attempted. On Thursday, Boston shot 42 three-pointers on their own.

Looking further back to the great LA vs Boston (and Philadelphia 76ers) championship series of the ‘80s, the object of the game was to score off the fast break with easily made baskets in transition. “Showtime” orchestrated by Earvin “Magic” Johnson and the Lakers was based on pushing the ball up court and a combination of NBA All-time great James Worthy, two-guard Byron Scott or soon-to-be Hall of Fame inductee Michael Cooper could all finish with the best of ‘em all.

If the “Showtime” Lakers didn’t have a scoring opportunity off the break, the ball would cycle out and Johnson would yo-yo the basketball with his right fist in the air which signaled the most reliable scoring play in NBA history – a toss into the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the block for his unstoppable sky-hook.

The ‘86 Boston Celtics didn’t have Abdul-Jabbar and the sky-hook but they had one of – if not THE – most cohesive offensive units in NBA history. Again, the Celtics relied on controlling the defensive boards, throwing a crisp outlet pass and scoring easy baskets off their patented fast break.

If there wasn’t an opportunity to score off the break, the Celtics had size and scoring from a frontline unmatched in NBA history. Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish formed “the Big 3” while the smarts of Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge – and before them – Nate “Tiny” Archibald – moved the basketball and hit the open man time after time. In ‘86, the late, great Bill Walton joined the rotation to back-up Parish with more size, rebounding and scoring. The oft-injured Walton was able to play 80 of 82 games that season and won NBA Sixth Man honors.

Fast forward to the analytics-driven age of the NBA today and watch Dallas and Boston hoist nearly 80 shots from downtown, much to the delight of the Golden State Warriors of Steph Curry’s time when the Warriors won four NBA titles (2015, ‘17, ‘18 and 2022). The Warriors relied on Curry and Klay Thompson’s uncanny shooting abilities to score three points for every two-point basket by their opponents.

While the three-pointer was utilized in the 1960s by the American Basketball Association (ABA), adopted into the NBA in 1979-80, accelerated by Rick Pitino’s Providence team (1985-87) and his NBA New York Knicks teams of 1987-89, it was perfected by Curry and the Warriors – largely because of Curry’s unbelievable range.

(As an fyi – the three-pointer was actually “tested” in college basketball in 1945 with a 21-foot line in a game featuring Columbia and Fordham. It reappeared in 1958 for another one-nighter between Siena and St. Francis (NY) before the defunct ABL wrote the “3” into the rule book in 1961. The Eastern Pro League utilized the long distance shot in 1963 and then the ABA put “Downtown” on the map for good when they began play in 1967-68).

While the “three” wasn’t in Dr. James Naismith’s original rules of the game of basketball, the shot became quite popular with fans and was largely and “only” used when a team trailed significantly and needed to comeback from a large deficit in the fourth quarter.

Long before Curry and the Warriors, Louie Dampier and Darel Carrier of the ABA’s Kentucky Colonels utilized the three-pointer much to their advantage, scoring frequently and opening up the middle for Hall of Famers Dan Issel and Artis Gilmore.

Maybe that was a foreshadowing of the NBA of 2024 as the Celtics and Mavericks both spread the court, rotated the basketball and hit open jump shooters for three-point attempts more and better than any other championship-level teams in the league.

There’s no special insight into the outcome of the NBA Finals, other than the belief it is far from being over. The impact of Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis was quite apparent in Game 1 as he returned from a month-long layoff, nursing a sore calf muscle. Porzingis had 20 points, six rebounds, and three blocks in the Celtics’ 107-89 Game 1 win over the Mavericks. Obviously, if Porzingis (and starting center Al Horford) can spread the court, score from downtown and defend the rim, the scales of victory lean towards Boston.

Early in this series, the old adage remains: “A series doesn’t really begin until a team wins on the road.”

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: The NHL and NHL Players Association are getting into the business of running international events. The organizations announced that the Bell Centre in Montreal and TD Garden in Boston will serve as host venues and cities for the 4 Nations Face-Off in February 2025, which will feature international tournament play between NHL Players from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States. In addition, the NHL and NHLPA announced the 4 Nations Face-Off schedule of games, which will be broadcast exclusively in North America by The Walt Disney Company (ESPN/ABC), TNT Sports, Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

The 4 Nations Face-Off will consist of a total of seven games played over a nine-day period from Feb. 12-20, 2025 along with two designated training/practice days (Feb. 10 and Feb. 11). All games in the 4 Nations Face-Off will be played in accordance with NHL rules. Each team will play three tournament games in a traditional Round Robin format, under the following points system: three points for a win in regulation time; two points for a win in overtime/shootout; one point for a loss in overtime/shootout; and 0 points for a loss in regulation time. The two teams with the best tournament record will then advance to a one-game final which will be played in Boston. Look for the first six players from each team to be announced Friday, June 28.

NHL MAX-MID-MIN TEAM SALARY: The National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association announced Team Payroll Ranges for the 2024-25 season. The lower limit for team salary is going to be $65.0 million, the midpoint of $76.5 million and an upper limit or cap of $88.0 million.

FIRST NBA FINALS AND FIRST CUP FINAL: After five seasons of being All-NBA first team, Dallas’ Luka Doncic is playing in his first NBA championship series. Similarly, all world NHL star Connor McDavid is making his first appearance in the Stanley Cup Final. Doncic is 25 years old and hails from Ljubljana (Slovenia) while McDavid is 27 years old and grew up in Richmond Hill, Ontario (Canada). McDavid, the most skilled and outstanding player in ice hockey, led his Edmonton Oilers to the Final (which began at 8pm ET June 8). McDavid is a three time Hart Memorial Trophy winner (MVP) and a five time Art Ross Trophy winner as the leading scorer in the NHL. The match-up, pitting the Florida Panthers vs Western Canada’s Oilers, does not figure to fare very well with the annual Nielsen ratings system. … On the other hand, Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals with the Boston Celtics’ 18-point victory over Doncic’s Mavericks, delivered the largest Game 1 audience share ever on ABC with 20.3 percent, quadrupling the viewership of the closest competition on television, according to Nielsen. Additionally, the audience share in the coveted 18-34 demographic rated at 49.6 percent, the largest ever for an NBA Finals Game 1 on ABC. Translated, Game 1 averaged 11 million viewers, peaking with more than 12 million viewers from 9:15-9:30pm (ET) when the Celtics blew the game open. By comparison though, Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals (Chicago Bulls defeating the Utah Jazz) drew 35.89 million viewers.

TL’s Sunday Notes | #Grateful4Bill

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – The first thing I thought when I heard the terrible Memorial Day news of Bill Walton’s death was of Bill’s wonderful wife, Lori. Then, a flashback, worthy of an Orson Welles Hollywood movie. It came from two summers ago at a Basketball Hall of Fame press conference at Mohegan Sun when Bill and Lori sauntered into the auditorium just as the function began. Bill, ever so politely, asked me to scoot over a bit so the three of us could sit together in a comfortable booth on the venue’s concourse floor. A perfect vantage point.

After all the many years of working with the NBA and alongside of the best of the best in commissioners, executives, coaches, players and media, it meant so much that BILL WALTON felt comfortable enough, welcome enough and secure in our friendship to sit right down and join little old me.

That flashback quickly dissolved into a highlight film, mostly of a player in UCLA Bruins Blue and Gold, but a little highlight reel of two Celtics – Bill and Larry Bird – in Green and White. The UCLA segment first, of course, reelin’ in the years of the famed 21-of-22 FG performance. It was Walton’s greatest game – the 1973 NCAA national championship against Memphis State. Walton, UCLA’s starting center, was in foul trouble in the first half, but went on to score 44 points on 21-for-22 shooting, while he grabbed 13 rebounds, had two assists and a blocked shot in UCLA’s 87-66 victory. It was the school’s ninth title in 10 years.

Fast forward a year, and the Red and White of North Carolina State and David Thompson eeked into the picture, defeating Walton’s Bruins in the NCAA championship of 1974.

In between, on January 26, 1974, John Shumate, Adrian Dantley and Gary Brokaw’s Notre Dame team ended UCLA’s 88-game winning streak with a 71-70 victory in South Bend, Indiana. It was a devastating loss for Walton’s Bruins as they’d drop two more regular season games, their lost weekend of February 15-16, 1974, losing at Oregon State and Oregon on consecutive nights. The NC State game would be their fourth loss vs. 26 wins.

Walton went 86-4 (30-0; 30-0; 26-4) in his college career. If you add the two title-winning seasons, the first 13 games of his senior season at UCLA, his season on the Bruins’ freshman team, and his final two varsity seasons at Helix High School in La Mesa, Walton owned a personal 142-game winning streak.

That thought brought me back to reality and the need to reckon with the fact I’d never see Bill again. The stream of ESPN 30-for-30s airing on my TV screen in tribute further proved the point. The rest of my days, my memories of Bill Walton – playing basketball, talking basketball, talking music or politics or the injustices in this world – would need to air on the reel-to-reel in my mind, tucked right next to the music of the late Jerry Garcia and long ago memories of the Grateful Dead.

Bill and Lori Walton Celebrating Robert Parish – “Hail to the Chief” at TD Boston Garden’s “Tradition” with yours truly (Photo by Steve Lipofsky)

I woke up on May 28, hoping it was a bad dream.

It wasn’t.

Bill Walton’s name sat atop the trending topics of Yahoo news and X. The story of his death was summed up by CBS’ Dana Jacobson in a classy segment on the CBS Morning show. Dan Patrick did a terrific job relaying his feelings for Walton , a frequent guest on the morning radio show, while past appearances of Walton as a guest tied a bow around the three-hour show.

As usual, ESPN’s Jay Bilas had the most compelling commentary, noting Bill would always call him “Jake,” rather than Jay and he wore that like a badge of honor from his basketball idol. Bilas noted he had a list of two people who were welcome in any room at any time and in any situation. Two people who always raised the fun-factor and made everyone smile or laugh when they came on the scene – (former Seton Hall Coach and current college basketball commentator) Bill Raftery and Bill Walton.

Reality kept setting in. It was honest heartache, a feeling of depression and funk, a feeling that I could not shake, although I did my best to “Shake it, Shake it, Sugaree.”

Bill was gone. He’ll be blessed as they play him off to “Fire on the Mountain.” This tribute will bring you right there. It will also bring his friends to tears. MUST WATCH

“Long distance runner, what you holdin’ out for?

Caught in slow motion in a dash for the door

The flame from your stage has now spread to the floor

You gave all you had, why you wanna give more?

The more that you give, the more it will take

To the thin line beyond, which you really can’t fake

Fire! Fire on the mountain

Fire! Fire on the mountain.” – by Mickey Hart and Robert Hunter

ESPN’s art for the three episode 30-for-30 on Bill Walton (ESPN)

Where do we go from here?

As Patrick said as he began his radio show, Bill would never want to be the subject of his friends and family being stuck in a funk, carrying on or crying. He’d prefer we celebrate the fact he was the self-proclaimed luckiest man in the world.

He is. He was. He always will be just that, because Bill will ride off to the sunset, locked in our minds, dancing his way to the next show as “Fire on the Mountain” plays him through the backstage to the exit ramp.

Just from reading all the wonderful tributes written to and about Bill this past week, all of them with the common theme of how he was truly unique, one of one, spirited, generous, and a hundred other wonderful characteristics, there’s still a funky void left in the life of everyone who knew him – and there are thousands of his disciples.

Maybe it’s from the shock. No one in my considerable circle had heard Bill was deathly sick with cancer. He kept it tight. Many had seen him at the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend and Tech Summit this past February. Maybe it’s the larger than life persona that simply can not be replaced. The outpouring of love and admiration must be of comfort. The soundtrack of the Grateful Dead can act as a shot of morphine to dull the pain. The plentiful supply of UCLA, Portland, San Diego, and Boston highlights supply the memories, along with an endless string of hysterical or profound sound bites and full length interviews.

But it just can’t end.

Surely, there’s deeper meaning to his life, aside from the fact he lifted us in spirit, he lifted us in soul, and he made us all better people and his teammates better players while instilling a super-human spirit of love, love of people, the game of basketball and the world of music – the common denominators for most of those who intersected at Haight-Ashbury or Causeway and Canal.

Delving deeper, from Bill’s book, “Back From the Dead,” the liner notes and reviews read: “In February 2008, Bill Walton suffered a spinal collapse so devastating he was unable to get up. From the time of his spinal collapse until his eventual recovery, he spent most of three years flat on the ground. The pain was excruciating, and he thought seriously about killing himself. But he survived, and Back from the Dead is the story of his injury and recovery, set in the context of his amazing athletic career.

“Walton grew up in southern California in the 1950s and was deeply influenced by the political and cultural upheavals of the 1960s. Although Walton identified strongly with the counterculture, especially in music, the greatest influence on him outside his family was UCLA Coach John Wooden, a thoughtful, precise mentor who seemed immune to the turmoil of the times. The two men would speak every day for forty-three years until Wooden’s death at age ninety-nine.

Wooden once said that no greatness ever came without sacrifice. In this “frequently stirring memoir…Walton’s love for life and the people and things in it – including his college coach, John Wooden – is infectious. You can’t stop reading, or rooting for the man,” wrote Publishers Weekly.

“Back from the Dead shares his dramatic story, including his basketball and broadcasting careers, his many setbacks and rebounds, and his ultimate triumph as the toughest of champions,” concluded Kirkus Reviews.

Walton’s battle with mental health was personal, but he made the decision to make it very public and help others by telling his story – a story that made it very clear just how close he was to taking his own life.

Walton’s death came the same week that NBA coach and TV broadcaster Stan Van Gundy made public that his wife, Kim, died by suicide in August 2023 after battling mental health issues. The same week, PGA Tour golf pro Grayson Murray also died by suicide, just a day after withdrawing from the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament in Ft Worth, Texas. Murray had long battled depression and anxiety and was outspoken to the Tour officials to improve its mental health awareness and approach, which it did.

Walton was able to fight off the demons of depression and claw his way back to rejoin his band of NBA colleagues and broadcast partners. His will to live and his love of life, his family, especially his wife, Lori, surely the spiritual guide. But Walton’s final battle was an unwinable match against cancer, a plague that touches us all.

Through his life, his game, his career and his spreading the gospel of hoops, music and an everlasting love for everyone he interacted with along the road, Bill Walton will live on in all of us. Just remember the words to the songs, especially the one Walton quoted most often.

“Now he’s gone, now he’s gone, Lord he’s gone, he’s gone

Like a steam locomotive, rollin’ down the track

He’s gone, gone, nothin’s gonna bring him back… He’s gone,

Nine mile skid on a ten mile ride, hot as a pistol but cool inside

Cat on a tin roof, dogs in a pile

Nothin’ left to do but smile, smile, smile.”

– by Robert Hunter and Jerome Garcia

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | May 26

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While We’re Young (Ideas) – Memorial Day Weekend

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: While glaciers melt, war is devastating Ukraine, Sudan, the Middle East and gang wars have made Haiti one of the most dangerous places on earth, the troubles of a few hundred people at a sports network can barely be noted.

Embed from Getty Images

The gobs of money for sports programming continues to soar, as sports and (real) breaking news are the only specks of programming not controlled by the DVRs or TV on Demand. The NBA numbers will flourish further when the league inks these new TV deals and some 51%+ flows to player salaries.

Years back, the NBA Players Assn. refused a system of easing-in the new TV deal money into the grand pot of gold to be divided up. Let nature take it course was the presiding viewpoint, that same view that once made Atlanta’s lug of a center – Jon Koncak – forever to be known as Jon Kontract.

NUGGETS & TIDBITS: On the LAX front, the National Lacrosse League (NLL) closed its 37th season right where it ended its 36th – with the Buffalo Bandits claiming championship honors. The Bandits’ championship was the sixth for the franchise, tying the Toronto Rock and Philadelphia Wings for most in NLL history. Buffalo’s Josh Byrne became the fifth player in NLL history to win both the regular season and Finals MVP awards. … On the collegiate side, the NCAA Lacrosse Final Four was held Saturday in Philadelphia. Top-seeded Notre Dame (15-1) advanced to Monday’s 1:00pm final at Lincoln Financial Field and will meet the University of Maryland who defeated No. 6 Virginia, 12-6, in an NCAA semifinal Saturday before an announced crowd of 32,269. ND and Maryland will play for the title Monday.

NBA FINALS DATES: The 2024 NBA Finals Presented by YouTube TV will begin June 6, with ABC as the exclusive broadcaster:

Game 1: Thursday, June 6

Game 2: Sunday, June 9

Game 3: Wednesday, June 12

Game 4: Friday, June 14

*Game 5: Monday, June 17

*Game 6: Thursday, June 20

*Game 7: Sunday, June 23

* if necessary

THE SPORTS EMMYS: It’s always fun to review and re-live some of the greatest sports moments of the year, captured by the talented people who produce, photograph and announce the games. Here are the prominent Sports Emmy winners for 2024:

OUTSTANDING LIVE SPECIAL

Super Bowl LVIII, Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers (CBS)

OUTSTANDING LIVE SERIES

Monday Night Football with Peyton & Eli (ESPN2/Omaha Productions)

OUTSTANDING PLAYOFF COVERAGE

American League Championship Series, Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers (FOX/FS1)

OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL TEAM EVENT

Super Bowl LVIII — CBS

OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL TEAM STUDIO

NFL Draft — ESPN/ABC

THE GEORGE WENSEL TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Toy Story Funday Football, DragonFly Tech (DISNEY+/ESPN+/NFL/Next Gen Stats/Beyond Sports/Hawk-Eye)

OUTSTANDING AUDIO/SOUND – LIVE EVENT

FOX NASCAR (FOX/FS1)

OUTSTANDING STUDIO SHOW – WEEKLY

College GameDay (ESPN)

OUTSTANDING STUDIO SHOW – DAILY

MLB Tonight (MLB Network)

OUTSTANDING STUDIO SHOW – LIMITED RUN

Inside the NBA Playoffs on TNT — TNT

OUTSTANDING STUDIO SHOW IN SPANISH

2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup (Telemundo)

OUTSTANDING EDITED EVENT COVERAGE

NFL Game Day All Access, Super Bowl LVIII (YouTube/NFL Films) OUTSTANDING EDITED SPECIAL

You Are Looking Live! (CBS/NFL Films)

OUTSTANDING HOSTED EDITED SERIES

Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (HBO/Max)

OUTSTANDING ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP COVERAGE

League of Legends Worlds 2023 Final, T1 vs. Weibo Gaming (LoLEsports.com/Twitch/YouTube/Riot Games)

OUTSTANDING GRAPHIC DESIGN – EVENT/SHOW

Toy Story Funday Football (DISNEY+/ESPN+/BIG Studios/Beyond Sports/Silver Spoon Animation/PIXAR)

OUTSTANDING GRAPHIC DESIGN – SPECIALTY

Super League: The War for Football (Apple TV+/Words + Pictures/All Rise Films)

OUTSTANDING STUDIO OR PRODUCTION DESIGN/ART DIRECTION

Toy Story Funday Football (DISNEY+/ESPN+/BIG Studios/Beyond Sports/Silver Spoon Animation/PIXAR)

OUTSTANDING INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE – EVENT COVERAGE

Thursday Night Football: Event Coverage Optionality/Customization (Prime Video/Amazon MGM Studios)

OUTSTANDING DIGITAL INNOVATION

Dreamcaster (MSG Network/MSG+/Weber Shandwick/Helo)

OUTSTANDING SHORT DOCUMENTARY

Extraordinary Stories, One-Armed Wonder: The Extraordinary Story of Jimmy Hasty (UEFA.tv/Noah Media Group)

OUTSTANDING LONG DOCUMENTARY

The Deepest Breath (Netflix/A24/Motive Films/Ventureland)

OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY SERIES

Super League: The War for Football (Apple TV+/Words + Pictures/All Rise Films)

OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY SERIES – SERIALIZED

Football Must Go On (Paramount+)

OUTSTANDING JOURNALISM

Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: Call of Duty: How War is Destroying Ukrainian Sport (HBO/Max)

OUTSTANDING SHORT FEATURE

NFL 360, Heroes (NFL Network)

OUTSTANDING LONG FEATURE

Unredeemable (Golf Channel)

OUTSTANDING OPEN/TEASE

Super Bowl LVIII, My Way (CBS)

OUTSTANDING PERSONALITY/STUDIO HOST

Ernie Johnson (TNT/tbs)

OUTSTANDING PERSONALITY/PLAY-BY-PLAY

Mike Breen (ESPN/ABC)

OUTSTANDING PERSONALITY/STUDIO ANALYST

Charles Barkley (TNT)

OUTSTANDING PERSONALITY/ EVENT ANALYST

Greg Olsen (FOX)

OUTSTANDING PERSONALITY/SIDELINE REPORTER

Tracy Wolfson (CBS/TNT)

OUTSTANDING PERSONALITY/EMERGING ON-AIR TALENT

Noah Eagle (NBC/Peacock)

OUTSTANDING CAMERA WORK – SHORT FORM

The NFL Today: Super Bowl LVIII, Just Win Baby! (CBS)

OUTSTANDING CAMERA WORK – LONG FORM

Freeride Skiing, Descendance (YouTube/Legs of Steel)

OUTSTANDING EDITING – SHORT FORM

NHL on TNT, Show and Tell (TNT)

OUTSTANDING EDITING – LONG FORM

Unredeemable (Golf Channel)

THE DICK SCHAAP OUTSTANDING WRITING AWARD – SHORT FORM

NFL 360, Still Here (NFL Network)

OUTSTANDING WRITING – LONG FORM

The World According to Football (Showtime/SHOWTIME Sports Documentary Films/Religion of Sports/Day Zero Productions/Mainstay Entertainment)

OUTSTANDING MUSIC DIRECTION

NBA on TNT, 50 Years of Hip Hop (TNT)

OUTSTANDING AUDIO/SOUND – POST-PRODUCED

Vamos Vegas (YouTube/TORQ)

OUTSTANDING PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Top Rank Boxing on ESPN, Battle of the Baddest – Rumble (ESPN/ESPN+/Park Pictures)

OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE CONTENT

Notre Dame Football, What Would You Fight For? (NBC)

OUTSTANDING FEATURE STORY IN SPANISH

Mundo NFL Originals, El Sueño de Cieneguitas (Mundo NFL/Sway/Mundo NFL)

OUTSTANDING ON-AIR PERSONALITY IN SPANISH

Andrés Cantor (Telemundo)

Editorial Note: Due to the increasing number of paid subscribers via Substack, only a limited edition of the Sunday Notes will be posted to Digital Sports Desk.

 

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | May 19

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While We’re Young (Ideas) Looks at World Hockey & NHL

Editorial Note: With a growing number of paid subscriptions to WWYI via Substack, only a very limited version of WWYI will be posted for free to Digital Sports Desk. Please consider a subscription to be sure the weekly column of Sunday Notes are delivered right to your inbox. You’ll also receive access to the full archive of past notes, just hours and hours of fun reading.

By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – Ice hockey fans have much to anticipate in the month ahead. Even though fans of the Boston Bruins are disappointed in the Bs elimination from the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the hands of the talented Florida Panthers. Let’s face facts. Florida was the better team, outplaying the Bruins and the Rangers outplayed a good Carolina Hurricanes club to advance to the Eastern Conference Final.

The Floridians and the New York Rangers are sure to play an entertaining series for the right to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. That series faces-off May 22-24 at Madison Square Garden where the Rangers’ fans will make The Garden rock to ensure the Broadway Blues maintain valuable home-ice advantage.

Out West, the defending Stanley Cup Champion Vegas Knights were eliminated in the first round by the Dallas Stars who just defeated a powerful Colorado Avalanche team. In doing so, the hopes of a Denver-based playoff finals party were dashed just as they were for the fans of Boston. The Nuggets and Celtics, respectively, remain active in the NBA while Dallas and New York hold on to hope for the two sport playoff party.

Of course, both Vancouver and Edmonton (Canucks lead 3-2 going into Saturday’s late night Game 6) can spoil the Dallas Stars’ chances. Regardless, it’s exciting times for the best in-person sporting event on the planet – the Stanley Cup Playoffs – especially if overtime is involved.

The Conference Finals will play-out by June 3 when there’s a Game 7 scheduled for Florida vs New York at The Garden, a game that will most likely be necessary considering the overall depth of the two teams and the hot goalkeeping of the Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky and the Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin. The two Russians are atop the league leaders with Bobrovsky amongst the three finalists for Vezina Trophy honors (along with Thatcher Demko of Vancouver and Connor Hellebuyck of Winnipeg which used to be Lose-a-Peg before Hellebuyck came along). The Stanley Cup Final will be played in the first two weeks of June.

That brings us to the 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation’s Men’s World Championship, ongoing in the Czech Republic with the medal round scheduled for the wonderful city of Prague. The tournament is five games into the preliminary round now with the gold medal game scheduled for May 26.

Currently, Switzerland and Canada lead Group A while Sweden and Germany lead Group B. Two additional teams will join from each group to form the quarterfinals which are scheduled for May 23 in Prague and Ostrava.

You’d think the IIHF might take a look at the NHL schedule and shift their dates a bit, but that hasn’t been the case for decades. Some NHLers gradually join their national teams as their respective NHL clubs are eliminated but the scheduling system is flawed.

HERE NOW, “A” NOTE: Just when you think you’ve seen/heard everything in sports, there’s always something so bizarre that comes along that you just can’t believe it. This week’s PGA Championship falls into that category and it so sadly begins with the unthinkable.

A security guard, working the Valhalla Golf course grounds in his retirement, was struck by a shuttle bus and killed in the early morning hours before the second round of the PGA Championship in Louisville. The guard was identified as John Mills and the Mills family released a photo and statement that read, “he was enjoying his time at Valhalla while working security. He liked to stay busy in retirement. We love him and will miss him.”

With the Louisville Police on high alert and traffic backed up as the accident scene was being processed, Scottie Scheffler, the World No. 1 golfer, was driving to the course entrance in order to practice before his morning tee time. As has been widely reported (even the lead story on the Nightly News), Scheffler misunderstood traffic directions of an officer and drove past before being stopped by other officers. Scheffler then proceeded to move his vehicle, apparently catching the police off guard and allegedly coming in contact with another officer who was reportedly knocked to the ground.

An ESPN reporter happened to be on the scene and took video of Scheffler being arrested by officers and walked to an awaiting squad car, with one member of the local police warning the reporter to back-off, saying, “he’s going to jail now and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

“This morning we were devastated to learn that a worker with one of our vendors was tragically struck and killed by a shuttle bus outside Valhalla Golf Club. This is heartbreaking to all of us involved with the PGA Championship. We extend our sincere condolences to their family and loved ones,” noted the PGA of America in a statement.

“The police officer then began to scream at Scheffler to get out of the car. When Scheffler exited the vehicle, the officer shoved Scheffler against the car and immediately placed him in handcuffs,” wrote ESPN’s John Darlington with his eye witness account.

Scheffler was booked into Louisville Metro Corrections shortly before 7:30am, but later released. At around 9:50am, PGA officials released a statement from Scheffler, who said he never intended to disregard police instructions and called the situation a “big misunderstanding.” He also expressed condolences to the family of the man killed.

“Of course, all of us involved in the tournament express our deepest sympathies to the family of the man who passed away in the earlier accident this morning. It truly puts everything in perspective,” read the statement.

Scheffler was charged with felony assault, along with criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic – all misdemeanor charges. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday.

After being released on his own recognizance and driven to the course, Scheffler easily made his 10:00am tee-time and carded a second round (66), three shots behind halfway lead Xander Schauffele.

There was some local criticism of the way the case was handled. “A man drags a cop with his vehicle and hospitalizes him. He’s arrested … charged with a felony … and then immediately released so he can make his tee time? Did I get that right?” said Ricky L. Jones, a University of Louisville professor of pan-African studies.

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