Digital Sports Desk

Online Destination for the Best in Boston Sports

TL's Sunday Sports Notes

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | June 16

by

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.

Embed from Getty Images

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

by

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

by

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

by

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 | April 14

by

While We’re Young (Ideas) | Best Day in Boston | Patriots’ Day

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – The Red Sox went 7-3 over their first 10 games of the season and then bottomed out to lose four in a row before Saturday’s 7-2 win over the LA Angels. The Sox opened 1-4 at Fenway, but it’s far too early to be scoreboard-watching in Baseball.

Embed from Getty Images

The Bruins are fighting through the last few regular season games with the goal to finish at the top of their Atlantic Division, their Eastern Conference and possibly the entire National Hockey League.

Meanwhile, the Celtics are cruising to the finale of the regular season today (Sunday, April 14) and will await their #8 seed opponent via the NBA’s nifty “Play-In Tournament” which takes place April 16-19 and eliminates two teams in each Conference. The “Play-In” can be a little dangerous, as Miami proved last season advancing from the No. 8 spot after winning their play-in and advancing all the way through to the 2023 NBA Finals before running into Denver’s amazing Nikola Jokić who became the first player in NBA history to lead the NBA Playoffs in points (600), rebounds (269), and assists (190) in a single postseason. He won NBA Finals MVP honors as the Nuggets took their first NBA crown.

It seems to happen every spring. The sports collide with the winter activities at TD Garden in the North End hitting playoff heights while the Red Sox break out the bats on freshly sodded grass at Fenway Park, the most beloved ballpark in the land.

There’s no stopping, as one of the gems in collegiate sports was held in St. Paul, Minnesota this weekend and Boston was very well represented. Both Boston University and Boston College advanced to the Frozen Four of men’s college ice hockey. Each team was ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 in the nation all winter long, but it was the University of Denver and their goalkeeper, Matt Davis, who beat the Bostons (2-1, OT over BU) and (2-0 over BC in the championship game) to claim Most Outstanding Player in the Frozen Four.

BC advanced to the final by blanking a highly rated Michigan team, 4-0, on Thursday night.

NUGGETS AND TIDBITS: How about a few other tidbits?

BU’s 17-year old goal-scoring machine, Macklin Celebrini, took home the Hobey Baker Award as hockey’s best player while Hockey Canada announced that Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney was named General Manager of Team Canada for the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off and he’ll stay on as Assistant General Manager for Canada’s 2026 Men’s Ice Hockey Team at the Olympics.

Up in Maine this Monday, the Oklahoma City Blue will face the Maine Celtics in the third and final game of the 2024 G-League Finals to be held at 9:00pm (ET) at the Portland (Maine) Expo (Game televised by ESPNU).

Then, there’s one other big sporting event in Boston at Springtime. It’s staged on the Patriots’ Day holiday in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts – a State holiday only celebrated in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, and North Dakota on April 15, and in Florida and Wisconsin on April 19.

The 128th running of the Boston Marathon takes place this Monday, April 15, starting way out in Hopkinton, Mass and winding its way to the finish line in Boston, right where Back Bay meets Copley.

This all happens as the New England Patriots are ready to reload at the quarterback position on Thursday, April 25 when they exercise their third overall pick in the annual NFL Draft of collegiate talent. All mock drafts have the Patriots grabbing the third consecutive quarterback to come off the draft board with Chicago picking USC’s Caleb Williams, the Washington Commanders choosing Jayden Daniels of LSU with the second overall pick, leaving North Carolina’s Drake Maye to fall to the Patriots (unless they finagle a trade or two – moving down is more likely than moving up).

Magnolia Lane

While all those Boston-centric events create quite a buzz in New England every spring, there’s another event this weekend which might be on EVERYONE’s Bucket List and it’s only New England connection is the fact native son, Keegan Bradley, is good enough to play. The annual playing of the first Major golf tournament of the season when the very best PGA Tour and LIV Golf players head to Augusta National to play in The Masters.

The 330 yard ride past 61 Magnolia trees on each side of Magnolia Lane is reserved for a very select group of pro golfers and a few amateurs each year. The course is perfect, but sometimes the weather and the wind – not so much.

One very specific aspect of the annual Masters Tournament stands out. It is “a tradition unlike any other,” according to CBS’ voice of the Masters Jim Nantz, but the tradition starts with – perhaps – the greatest promotion of all-time.

At its lowest, it is merely a photo op.

At its highest, it is the single most wonderful, historic, symbolic and meaningful opening curtain in all the world of sport.

It is better than any ceremonial first pitch in baseball, an honorary tip-off in basketball or the ceremonial drop of a puck in ice hockey. It beats fire works or bands playing.

At The Masters, play does not begin until Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson (it was Arnold Palmer instead of Watson before Arnie’s death). The last “real” Big 3 was in 2015 when Palmer participated in his final ceremonial tee-off as the “starters” to the Masters Tournament and 2016 when he participated but did not drive the golf ball (see below).

There is no better tribute and Palmer’s memory comes to mind every April as the tournament begins. Sometime soon, Tiger Woods will join the ceremony, hopefully making it a foursome before one of the legends pass away.

REMINDER: Tonight, CBS will put you in the front row to see Billy Joel perform his record-breaking 100th consecutive residency performance at Madison Square Garden, which took place last month on March 28th. Experience the very best of Long Island’s Piano Man as he plays his career-spanning hits at The World’s Most Famous Arena. Tune in to watch the legacy-defining concert tonight – April 14th – at 9:00pm ET on CBS and streaming on Paramount+

THE VAULT: The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has a brand new exhibit coming to the museum this summer titled The Vault: Boston Celtics Unlocked. This innovative and immersive experience will be unlike anything the Basketball Hall of Fame has previously produced. The Hall of Fame has collaborated with the NBA’s most storied franchise to present this inaugural installation of The Vault.

Set in an immersive Bank Vault, Celtics legends from the past and present will take visitors on an epic journey to discover the true meaning of Celtic Pride. The Vault will feature authentic game-worn jerseys, championship rings, and the original ’81 NBA NBA championship trophy – before it was called “the Larry.” Also, the Hall and NBA Entertainment will post long-lost footage of the Celtics.

BRADY BACK? – Former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady teased his audience in a podcast this week, opening the door for a possible return to the NFL if the situation is right.

Brady said he wouldn’t rule out un-retiring (again), to play for either the Patriots or Raiders. What are the chances?

SportsBetting.ag has set odds on Brady’s potential return, and they are not all that great. The odds imply just a 25% probability the GOAT will be on a roster in Week 1. Additionally, there are odds for which team Brady will play for, but it’s a two-way market between the two clubs he mentioned yesterday.

Will Tom Brady be on NFL roster in Week 1?

Yes +300

No -500

Which team will Tom Brady be on in Week 1?

Patriots -140

Raiders +100

MIKE GORMAN DAY: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu proclaimed that today, April 14, will be Mike Gorman Day in the City of Boston, according to a news release issued by the Mayor’s office of Boston. The beloved Boston Celtics broadcaster has been the team play-by-play man since joining former Celtics player and coach, the late TommyHeinsohn, in the broadcast booth in 1981.

Retiring from the role at the end of the team’s 2024 playoffs, Gorman is being feted by Boston fans, media, and the team itself. “Mike Gorman has made an impact across generations of Celtics fans, families, and visitors throughout his 40 plus years as the voice of the Boston Celtics,” said Wu.

“His passion, intellect, and ability to make every fan feel special and locked in for the whole game is unmatched,” added the Mayor. “Congratulations Mike! I look forward to celebrating and honoring your contributions to our city this Sunday.”

With the national TV obligations for the NBA, local broadcasts will be limited and Gorman’s last game is likely to be Game 2 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs (approx. April 23rd).

NO SPORTS GAMBLIN’ IN GA and the ATL: Georgia remained one of 12 states not to have some form of sports wagering when the state’s Rules Committee declined to consider two bills this week. The state’s House Higher Education Committee moved forward two amended sports betting bills on Thursday, one a state constitutional amendment and the other that would have enabled legislation, according to iGamingBusiness. But those bills never made it to the House. … This week’s action becomes the fourth time Georgia lawmakers considered legalizing sports wagering since 2021 without ultimately getting two-third approval in both the state House and Senate. … Georgia’s proposed constitutional amendment, named SR 579, was recently been amended to include up to $22.5 million to promote responsible gambling through tax revenue. … While Georgia appeared the closest to becoming the next state to legalize sports wagering, efforts continue in Minnesota, where multiple bills have been introduced. Missouri is moving toward placing a sports wagering on the November ballot.

Just think of what kind of money would’ve been generated if Georgia opened its sports gambling just in time for The Masters.

By the way, when the professional golfers play practice rounds at Augusta National or East Lake CC for $200-$2,000 a hole, does that count? Let’s ask Full Swing to run the tape?

TL’s Sunday Sports N☘️TES | March 17

by

The View from O’Grady’s, Clare Island, Ireland 🇮🇪

 

March 17, 2024

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

NEW YORK – On Friday, the Big East Conference and Madison Square Garden announced that the BIG EAST Tournament will continue to be held at The Garden through 2032. The announcement guaranteed that The World’s Most Famous Arena will host 50 consecutive BIG EAST Tournaments.

MSG Entertainment and the BIG EAST have been partners since the Tournament was first played at the iconic venue in 1983 – the 50th consecutive event will take place in 2032. … (How old will you be?) … The BIG EAST Tournament continues to be college basketball’s longest-running post-season championship held at the same location.

“Our extension with MSG means the BIG EAST will have the privilege of playing our men’s basketball tournament at ‘The Mecca’ for five consecutive decades,” said conference Commissioner Val Ackerman. “This event, a New York City staple, has long been synonymous with tradition, rivalries and heart-stopping moments.”

Yes, it has.

BIG EAST memories run deep and remain important to so many who grew up alongside the basketball conference and its postseason tournament. In the early years, the late Dave Gavitt, as conference Commissioner, tried to spread the wealth around. From Providence to Syracuse to Hartford, the tournament bounced around the way most college basketball tournaments do, hosted by Gavitt and Providence College, then Syracuse University, the Dome Ranger and their strange Orange mascot and on to Hartford, where the University of Connecticut played all the “big games.”

In 1983, when St. John’s and Chris Mullin ruled, it was Madison Square Garden’s turn and the Johnnies defeated Boston College (85-77) in a very memorable final game. The light bulb popped-up, right over Gavitt’s head, as he realized the New York City location was special and centrally located between the likes of Georgetown (DC) and Chestnut Hill (Massachusetts). Teams, players and alum all loved the idea of meeting up every spring in “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” as the late John Condon announced to great patrons. Condon, the head of the sport of boxing for MSG, was also the famed public address announcer. His voice echoed over the 19,500 fans for both St. John’s and New York Knickerbocker games. It was too good to be true. The BIG EAST Tournament was dropped in our laps.

The event sold out every spring and the Garden sold more beer on BIG EAST Thursday (two doubleheaders) than on any day since the 1964 ECAC Holiday Festival invited Princeton (Bill Bradley), Michigan (Cazzie Russell), LaSalle, Cincinnati, Temple, Syracuse, Manhattan and St. John’s in one of the great in-season tournaments of all-time.

The rest has been a glorius history, a legacy that will surely extend to the Year 2032 but probably well beyond.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Aside from the annual BIG EAST Championship, there’s been plenty of great basketball from Conferences East to West. Here are a few thoughts that arise from watching the past few weeks, and especially teams who’ve looked good in their tournaments.

Mississippi State (21-12, 8-10 in SEC) put a hurtin’ on the Vols of Tennessee – (24-8) – (who were being considered a potential No. 1 bid team). Mississippi State lost to Auburn in the SEC Tournament Semis (Saturday), (Auburn 73,-66). The final is played on Sunday.

Iowa State (26-7, 13-5 in Big 12) – as of Saturday morning when this segment was written. Look out for the Cyclones.

We’ll see who gets to play Iowa State on the annual America? Who Can Dance Show.

Speaking of the Selection Show … It’s Sunday evening, March 17.  Dan Gavitt (son of Dave) will chair a group of college basketball experts who’ve been watching games and theoretically every team in every conference to know the good, bad and ugly. Can you imagine a bunch of oldsters hanging out at a high school auditorium to decide what couples should get invitations to the Big Dance?

That’s what happens Sunday evening.

black and white smartphone case
Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash

ST. PATRICK’S DAY THOUGHTS AND TEASES FROM THE PAST: There are plenty of memories of being pulled from my desk chair at 645 Fifth Ave to head down to 47th Street or, better yet, just join-in with the lads marching straight up Fifth – following the green line painted on the asphalt.

One year comes to mind, when the Houston Rockets were lucky enough to be playing a road game in New York on March 18th, and the great PR man and color commentator of Rockets broadcasts – Jim Foley – was in town for St. Patrick’s Day. Foley liked to hang with a few longtime buddies, including tavern owner Jim, at Neary’s (East 57th Street). One year, long ago, I can remember meeting Jim (and Brian), walking into the bar and dropping average age by about 10 years! … Great place. Nothing but Guinness.

Then, there’s this gem from the great Mike McCarthy, former head honcho of Madison Square Garden Network, who voiced a little “tease” for the New York Knicks St. Patrick’s Day broadcast of yesteryear:

But, there’s no better way than to celebrate the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day than to read the words of the great Brian McIntyre.

Let’s turn the column over to him for a wee bit:

“I am proud to be of Irish descent and I’ve been fortunate to have celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago, New York, Boston and Houston over the years,” stated McIntyre to wet your appetite for his story. “When our son, Brendan, was about four years old, we went to a Mexican restaurant to pick up some take-out dinner. As we waited, Brendan asked me what “Mexican” is. I told him it’s a nationality, that we all came to America from some other country and that people who came from Mexico are Mexican. He looked at me and said what am I?

“My wife, Betty, who grew up in Chicago as I did, is Polish, so I told him he was part Irish and part Polish. He thought for a second and then quickly blurted, “I am not!” with all the indignation a four-year old named Brendan Patrick could summon. I still don’t know where that came from but I assured him he was.

When I got home, I told the story to my wife and she responded, ”I hope you told him the truth!” Which I had.

When I recounted the story for my dad, he responded, “I hope you lied to him!”

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all.

TID-BITS: The once ubiquitous USA Today compiled a (partial) list of the salaries of many of the NCAA head basketball coaches. They took it another step and chose their five MOST OVERPAID and MOST UNDERPAID/UNDER-RATED.

The only commentary from here is the strong opinion that the following coaches should get an immediate raise: UConn’s Danny Hurley, Houston’s Kelvin Sampson, Creighton’s Greg McDermott, BC’s Earl Grant and Seton Hall’s Shaheen Halloway.

THEN THERE’S PITINO: And, as he’s been written about, criticized and everything in between, it must be said that St. John’s coach Rick Pitino took his team a GIANT STEP further in peaking with a five-game winning streak, with a BIG WIN over Creighton in the regular season and he made it six vs. Seton Hall in the tournament), to guide St. John’s to play on BIG EAST Friday for the first time since the year 2000. In other words, the prior Friday night Johnnies game at the annual BIG EAST tournament came as we were all preparing for the SYDNEY OLYMPIC GAMES! … St. John’s played a fast-paced, tough game against Conference No. 1 Connecticut and lost 95-90 (the game was nowhere near as close as the score).

Year 2 will be a bigger challenge as Pitino will lose his Sr. point guard Daniss Jenkins who was often the ONLY player competing on the court for St. John’s. Sophomore guard RJ Luis, Jr. will need to step-up in 2024-25. He excelled in his Sixth Man role this season. Additionally, 6-9 sophomore Zuby Ejiofor will need to improve in all aspects of the game. Pitino changed his offense to go fast-pace, high scoring in order to cover the team’s poor defense and appalling transition defense, and it worked. Let’s see if he goes high speed or improves team defense in the year(s) to come. Pitino deserves credit, but please ignore homer media takes that the coach’s rant after St. John’s blew a 12-point lead and lost to Seton Hall on Feb 18th had a galvanizing effect on his team. It was unacceptable and his apology was warranted. Somehow, winning a few games (six in a row) has a way of revising short term memories and history. That said, Pitino earned another clean slate. A true new canvas to paint a future for the St. John’s program. Within that step, I’d like to see a clear succession plan in place by the 2025-26 season. Just where are Jeff van Gundy (consulting for the Boston Celtics and noticeably improving the team and individual players) or Billy Donovan (head coach of the Chicago Bulls) when you might need ‘em?

AARON WHO? Can you imagine NY Jets QB and former All Pro quarterback Aaron Rodgers as the Vice President of the United States of America? Well, that what IND candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. was considering when he made a “short list” of candidates. Having Rodgers as veep might be like having Senator Mitch McConnell quarterback the Green Bay Packers.

THE WEARIN’ OF THE GREEN: There’s no one who ever walked the earth who could wear the (Celtics) GREEN like the late, great Bill Russell.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | March 10

by

The Baseball Bats will be Cracking as will the Beer cans at Fenway Johnnies/Boston

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – That’s a Boston dateline, not Fort Myers (Florida) or Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) where all good Boston baseball writers should be for a pair of games this weekend. The two Red Sox games against Tampa Bay will be played at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal for an official Major League Baseball event, tabbed as The Dominican Republic Series, as part of MLB’s “World Tour.”

The great Marichal pitched for the San Francisco Giants from 1960 through 1973 – then the Red Sox and LA Dodgers in his final two MLB seasons. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, garnering 83.7% of the votes. Honestly, there’s no indication as to what planet the other 16.3% of the voters were living back in ‘83 when the vote was taken. It might’ve been George Lucas’ Alderaan for God’s sake when you consider that a gorgeous stadium in the DR was named after the speed-baller but 16.3% of the BBWAA writers missed him on the vote?

Toss in Red Sox greats Pedro Martinez and David “Big Papi” Ortiz and you have an Old Timer’s Game waiting to happen. But, more immediately, you can look for Boston’s All-Star 3B Rafael Devers or starting pitcher Brayan Bello with Tampa’s Yandy Diaz, Jose Siri, and Randy Arozarena and you’ll be preparing for the 2024 MLB All-Star Game or close to it.

Aside from those players, the Dominican Republic is home to a variety of Major League Baseball education and training programs at various league-run academies. The idea behind this year’s inaugural DR Series is to honor the players who’ve competed at those academies and have made it all the way to the Big Leagues.

Remember, Major League Baseball will open its 2024 season when the LA Dodgers and San Diego Padres travel to Seoul, Korea for a pair of games, March 20 and 21. Earlier, March 17 and 18, the two MLB teams will play exhibitions vs local Korean teams. The rest of MLB will celebrate Opening Day on March 28. Both LA and SD will have home games to continue their regular season.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Last week’s theme was dedicated to the anticipation of March Madness. This week, we’ll tease March Madness some more as the various college conference tournaments have begun and the Big Boys will tip-off their respective tournaments this week. … Digital Sports Desk will be on-site at Madison Square Garden for the annual BIG EAST Tournament where UConn will be the heavy favorites.

The A-10 will be a subway ride away from Madison Square Garden/Penn Station with their tournament March 12-16th at Barclays in Brooklyn. … Meanwhile the blue bloods of North Carolina and Duke will take on their ACC rivals March 12-16 at the Capital One Arena in Washington DC.

This week, the following Division I tournaments tipped-off and are on-going as this is written:

  • Ohio Valley
  • Big South
  • Missouri Valley Conference
  • Atlantic Sun
  • Sun Belt
  • Southern Conference
  • Horizon League
  • Northeast Conference
  • Coastal Athletic Assn. (CAA)
  • West Coast Conference
  • Summit League
  • Southland
  • Big Sky
  • Patriot League
  • America East
  • Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
  • Southwestern Conference

Then, the “weekend” conferences, including the IVY

  • Big 12
  • Mountain West
  • Big East
  • Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
  • Mid-American
  • Conference USA
  • Atlantic Coast Conference
  • Big West
  • Pac-12 (what’s left of it)
  • Western Athletic Conference
  • IVY League
  • Atlantic 10
  • Southeastern Conference
  • American Athletic Conference
  • Big 10

TID-BITS: While College Basketball is front and center this week, the PGA Tour will stage its “Fifth Major” with The PLAYERS Championship taking place at TPC Sawgrass (The PLAYERS Stadium Course) in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Much like The BIG EAST in New York – the very best college basketball tournament in the USA – there is no better pro golf event in the world, and that includes The Masters, The Open, Pebble Beach and the other Majors.

It is at The PLAYERS when the split between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf becomes very apparent – call it annoying. When the PLAYERS rolls around, you want to see the very best – Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, Tyrrell Hatton, Bubba Watson, Joaquin Niemann, Louis Oosthuizen, Patrick Reed and even Phil “All Bets Off, No More Bets” Mickelson compete for one of golf’s biggest purses. This year, Tiger Woods will not be healthy enough to compete.

Meanwhile, the LIV golfers went from Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) to Hong Kong and will be watching The PLAYERS from their homes before they pick up the sticks in Miami on April 5-7.

Niemann won two of the first three LIV events with the final round in HK with the shotgun start at 11:05 Saturday night (tonight for those who read the Bulldog edition).

TOO MUCH: Center Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves thinks he’s a wise guy. Not a real Wise Guy, but a wise guy. Gobert earned his sixth personal foul in a March 8th 113-104 overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. With 27.1 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter, Gobert was whistled for a loose ball foul, then hit with a technical. The reason? After the foul and his impending DQ, Gobert gestured towards NBA official Scott Foster with Gobert’s fingers rubbing together, as though he was caressing money – implying Foster was on the take.

The “T” allowed Cavaliers guard Darius Garland to drain a free throw to tie the game at 97-all, a costly foul/point as the 4th Q ended with the score tied at 97.

“A technical foul with 27 seconds in the game, to be honest, is unacceptable,” said acting head coach Micah Nori said after he filled in for head coach Chris Finch who was ill. “That’s who Rudy is, but you’ve got to be smart. He made a visual that was automatic. He was obviously frustrated — both teams were — but we have to be smarter.”

Gobert admitted he was wrong in making the gesture.

“My reaction, which I think was the truth, but it wasn’t the time to react that way,” he said. “It cost my team the game. It was an immature reaction. It’s not just one call. Everyone makes mistakes, but when it’s over and over and over again, of course it’s frustrating.”

The gesture might earn a cool $50,000 fine but the quotes should be call for a one game suspension without pay.

Enough is enough.

Minnesota is at the LA Lakers today (Sunday, March 10), so if there’s a suspension, it’ll come down before the game.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | March 3

by

March Madness will soon be upon us (DSD/file photo)

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – In January, we have the Bowl Games, the CFP national championship and a bunch of wild card and early round NFL Playoff Games to get us through 31 days of cold, damp, raw weather, here in the Northeast. In February, we have the Super Bowl. But those March winds? They bring a ton of sporting events to look forward to each and every year.

From football to ice hockey to college and pro basketball, March is the time of year to get serious. No more mid-winter blues, as Daylight Savings Time brings sunny skies at 6-7:00pm and plenty of entertaining sporting events.

Nothing in sports compares to the frenzy of “March Madness.” It is said to cost the work load efficiency a couple billion dollars every year as office pools with NCAA brackets are cause for research, plotting, guessing or maybe filling out multiple brackets in order to claim the glory and the prizes.

Back when Barack Obama was President of the United States, basketball stalwart Andy Katz (then of ESPN, now of the NCAA media contingent) even got The White House to stop so President Obama could pick his brackets on live television – doing quite well in his predictions.

Unlike the NFL Playoffs, and the void left without a Bowl Game to watch – whether the Pop Tart Bowl or the Super Bowl – sports fans are lost. Left holding an emptiness that can only be filled by next year’s Fantasy Football Drafts and a preaseason game in Canton, Ohio. When March Madness commences late this month, the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers will already of the ball bags packed for Seoul, Korea where they’ll open the 2024 MLB season with a pair of “real” games on March 20 and 21, the first regular season MLB games ever played in Korea.

Every other MLB team will play ball starting Thursday, March 28, including the Boston Red Sox opener at Seattle. The Sox home opener will come on April 9 when the reigning AL East champion Baltimore Orioles grace Fenway Park.

Of course, The Masters will be staged in Augusta, Georgia from April 11-14 with the Boston Marathon coming the very next day here in The Commonwealth.

That’s a lot of sporting activities to break through the winter gloom and put some Spring in your step.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: How about this advice, which could’ve been applied to and utilized by St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino and all his defenders of the flag. Read up on reporter Will Leitch’s thoughts about Social Media hacks, in general …Writes Lietch: “One of the biggest mistakes people make when they feel attacked online is to get defensive, to try to fight back, to post through it. I understand this temptation—when someone says something wrong about you, your first instinct is to correct it—but it is important to resist. The No. 1 rule of online discourse is that you’re not going to convince anyone of anything they’ve already made up their minds about. You can make the most logical, sober-minded, fact-based points, and it will not matter: Simply by engaging them, you’ve already lost. These people are jackals. They are not arguing in good faith: They are just trying to get together with everyone they already agree with so that they can shout you down. You are spitting in the ocean. Any engagement on your part will only encourage them to push harder.”

St. John’s and Pitino met that logic halfway. They did not engage (defensively) heavily on social media but did hold multiple media avails to address Pitino’s Sunday, February 18th meltdown after a loss to Seton Hall at the New York Islanders’ UBS Arena. In the first, Pitino doubled down. In the last, he apologized to his players and the school for his remarks.

But, get this?

Since the horrible loss to The Hall, St John’s has reeled-off three consecutive victories, with one coming at Madison Square Garden against No. 15 Creighton. It was – arguably – St. John’s best performance of the season and it was sandwiched by wins against Big East bottom-feeder Georgetown and another middle of the pack respectables, in an 82-59 scrubbing of Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

While some coaches – the likes of Villanova’s Rollie Massamino or Indiana’s Bobby Knight (RIPs) – would use a complete meltdown to motivate their players, no one can say Pitino’s calling out of individual players by name could’ve motivated the club, now 17-12.

To keep the ball rolling, St. John’s will need to win two more regular season games (vs DePaul and Georgetown) – a task easily accomplished. But, from there, St. John’s will need to carry the momentum of a five-game winning astreak to win games on both Wednesday and Thursday of the annual Big East Conference tournament. Only the four teams playing on Big East Friday will deserve attention for an at-large invitation to the NCAA Tournament.

St. John’s is far, far away, and that’s on the players – not Pitino.

Depiction. of The Death of Julius Caesar (1806) by Vincenzo Camuccini. (file photo)

TIDBITS: Back by popular demand is the TIDBITS section of the Sunday Notes, second in popularity to only the “Sure-Fire” investment selections segments written occasionally. Here we go: March comes in like a lion they say, but how about the king of the jungle of sports seminars with the annual MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference which began Friday and concluded Saturday out at a packed “Seaport” Convention Center.

It’s 12 days until the Ides of March (March 15). On the ancient Roman calendar, the Ides of March was the deadline for the citizens of the Roman Empire to settle all debts. (Uncle Sam gives us a bonus month to April 15th for U.S. Federal Tax Deadline). The Ides (which defaults to Ideas in this age of spell check) also marks the anniversary of the brutal assassination of Julius Caesar). More pressing than musing about days of the Roman Empire, let’s concentrate on the final regular season games for Conference play in men’s college basketball and the first non-basketball jewel of the great college sports month of March.

Here in Boston, while the vast majority of sports fans are calculating the success of failure of their NCAA Basketball Brackets, ice hockey fans will be treated to the Hockey East postseason tournament with an “everybody’s in” menu.

Hockey East teams, seeded No. 6, 7 and 8 will host seeds No. 11, 10, and 9, respectively, in the Opening Round set for Wednesday, March 13, 2024.

After a reseeding, the top three seeds will host the winners of the Opening Round while No. 4 will host the No. 5 in the Quarterfinals on Saturday, March 16. The Hockey East Men’s Championship Semifinals and Final will return to the TD Garden in on March 22-23rd.

Once the tournament reaches TD Garden the Hockey East semifinalists will play for the Lamoriello Trophy, named in honor of Lou Lamoriello, the first commissioner of Hockey East and a leader in the formation of the conference. The league commissioned the creation of a permanent trophy in 1998, and it was delivered in time for the 1999 championship. Lamoriello served as the Providence College head coach for 15 seasons (1968- 83), guiding the Friars to an overall record of 248-179-13, a winning percentage of .580. Lamoriello is now the head of Hockey Operations and GM for the New York Islanders. He’s a three time Stanley Cup champion as an administrator and inductee of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

A week later – Thursday, March 28 and Saturday, March 30, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament will be in the “Sweet 16” state, otherwise known as the East Regional final. Four Division I college basketball teams will qualify for Boston and you can pretty much call it a lock that the University of Connecticut Huskies will hold the No. 1 seed in the East and make their way East on I-84 and further East on the Mass Pike to play at Boston’s TD Garden against three other worthy candidates, including a possible East No. 2 seed in either North Carolina or Duke.

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, in Southampton, N.Y (file photo)

LOOKING MUCH FURTHER DOWN the LINE: The USGA announced Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, in Southampton, N.Y. as the host to both the 136th U.S. Open and the 91st U.S. Women’s Open, with the major championships taking place in consecutive weeks in 2036. Yes, right around the corner in 2036!

Quick! How old will you be?

“Few clubs places can match the historic importance of Shinnecock Hills to golf in the United States,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer, in the official news release issued Saturday. “As an organization, we felt that such an iconic venue would be an ideal stage for both our men’s and women’s premier championships. It will offer the perfect opportunity to bring the game’s best to one course and provide fans the chance to watch them compete for a national championship in back-to-back weeks.”

TL’s Sunday Sports Notebook | Feb 25

by

While We’re Young (Ideas) on The Summer of ’69

moon photography
Photo by NASA on Unsplash

By TERRY LYONS, Editor & Publisher Digital Sports Desk

BETHPAGE, LONG ISLAND to TRANQUILITY BASE to BOSTON, MASS – There was quite a bit of buzz this week as the Odysseus private spacecraft touched down on the Moon. Although there were some issues with the landing – reminding some of us as a replication of a Chris Dudley free throw attempt – the spacecraft is in working order, although toppled over on its side. Engineers at Intuitive Machines – the private company behind the mission – are working to secure additional information.

The new venture is the first time in 50 years the USA/NASA space program is involved with landing a spacecraft on the surface of the Moon. It brought back memories of that memorable Summer of 1969 when on July 20th, Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the Moon and his co-pilot, Buzz Aldrin, followed soon after.

That milestone in human history is possibly the most amazing thing that’s ever happened in our lives for a generation of baby boomers who grew up during the tumultuous decade of the 1960s. The lunar landing and walk of the surface came about eight years after President John F. Kennedy announced the goal of “Going to the Moon” during a speech at Rice University. Kennedy did so with one of the great one-liners known to speech writers everywhere when he declared in rhetorical form, “Why does Rice play Texas?”

The portion of the speech being quoted stated: “ … But why, some say, the Moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask, why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas? We choose to go to the Moon. We choose to go to the Moon… We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too.

“Because they are hard.”

Brilliance was packed into JFK’s delivery – stating “We choose to go to the Moon,” not once, not twice but three times to emphasize his determination to accomplish the goal.”

The Apollo Space Program began with Apollo 1 – a disastrous mission which cost the lives of three astronauts – Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee – when their space capsule ignited while completing tests on the launchpad. All three were burned and asphyxiated.

It always annoys me to no end when ANYONE jokes (or even worse) is actually serious about faked Moon Landings. It’s a fact and a shame three brave men gave up their lives to advance the Apollo mission and three others – James Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise of Apollo 13 – damn near gave up their lives when the Service Module spacecraft malfunctioned and the Grumman-made (in Bethpage, NY) Lunar Module (LEM) was utilized to propel the astronauts back to earth.

In between those two missions, a truly united world community watched with amazement as Apollo 8 (Dec. 21-27, 1968) became the first mission to orbit the Moon.

Following the program minute-by-minute became our passion as one mission led to the next to the next which led to the infamous Apollo 11 mission forever immortalizing the quote by Neil Armstrong as he made that incredible first step off of the LEM’s staircase, stating so eloquently, “One Small Step for Man, One Giant Leap for Mankind.”

While JFK’s Rice vs Texas line was hand-written into the speech by Kennedy himself, and started the missions off, there was another very important sports reference to the Apollo 11 lunar landing of ‘69.

Yes, the New York Mets won the World Series that Fall. The Amazin’, Amazin’ Amazin’ Mets, born in 1962 became the “Miracle Mets” and the ‘69 World Champions on October 16th, defeating the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles 4-games-to-1 behind two Jerry Koosman pitching gems.

Of course the New York Jets performed their own miracle, defeating the very heavily favored Baltimore Colts, 16-7, in Super Bowl III on January 12, 1969 and the ‘69-70 New York Knickerbockers took the NBA title on May 8, 1970 to seal the sports trifecta surrounding the lunar landing.

It was all so Amazin’ that it begs a question or two, here in 2024.

What might happen this year? Can the Mets win again?

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Please someone out there tell us what got into St. John’s head basketball coach Rick Pitino? Certainly, the program has had it’s ups & downs since legendary Hall of Fame coach Lou Carnesecca retired, but never has a coach called out individual St. John’s players for their weaknesses and lack of game. Pitino filled notebooks and wrote his own headlines which started on Long Island at the UBS Center near Belmont Park, made their way to New York City and then ran nationwide and worldwide, cascading the once glorious Top 5 basketball program into being THE laughing stock of the BIG EAST.

“If I said I was disappointed, that would be the understatement of the year,” Pitino said to begin his press conference after the 68-62 loss to cross river rival Seton Hall who drilled St. John’s 80-65 on January 16 at the Prudential Center in Newark.

Pitino made it clear, as clear as the nearby Clearview Expressway, by calling his first year with the program “the most unenjoyable experience of my lifetime.” (It’s on video tape from a post game podium complete with the official St. John’s backdrop behind him).

Pitino cited the players (as a whole) as being the “antithesis” of his coaching style and saying they lacked toughness.

“We are so un-athletic that we can’t guard anybody without fouling,” he said. “For me, I’ve always enjoyed the first year, and I’m not gonna lie to you; This is the most unenjoyable experience of my lifetime. This has been so disappointing,” said Pitino of the 2023-24 St. John’s season, adding, “They hear but they don’t listen.”

From there, it really went South:

“Do we have sh#*tty facilities?” Pitino asked rhetorically. “Yes, we do. But we’re doing something about that.

“But that’s not the reason we’re losing. Having sh*tty facilities has nothing to do with not guarding,” he concluded as media scratched their heads knowing Pitino’s home court – Madison Square Garden – is arguably the greatest gym in the world. However, he was referring to Carnesecca Arena and the training facilities and offices in Jamaica Estates, not the home court in Manhattan that also doubles as the site of the annual Big East men’s basketball tournament.

With the first ball lobbed at his own school (although, after thinking twice, he qualified his remarks by saying, “It’s NOT St. John’s.”

“Look, Joel [Soriano] is slow laterally, he’s not fast on the court. Chris Ledlum is slow laterally, Sean Conway’s slow laterally. Brady [Dunlap] is physically weak, Drissa [Traore] is slow laterally,” said Pitino, noting things every basketball aficionado recognized when the Johnnies were blown off their homecourt at Madison Square Garden by a rather mediocre Michigan team back in November.

Pitino rounded third base and went for the inside the park homer when he undermined his own coaching and recruiting staff and efforts, stating, “We kind of lost this season with the way we recruited. We recruited the antithesis of the way I coach. It’s a good group, they try hard, but they’re just not very tough.”

“It’s not the job,” Pitino continued. “You could be at Missouri and recruit slow players. Believe me, it’s not St. John’s. We had to put together a team at the last second. We will never, ever, do that again.”

Keep in mind, Pitino cut or dismissed every player from the mediocre Johnnies’ 2022-23 squad, only keeping his bigman, Soriano while others have gone on to excel at other programs.

It was all like a scene from Hollywood, maybe like Captain Wilton Parmenter telling F-Troop they needed work firing the cannon, but they were great at the mess hall.

Yes, the mess created was surprisingly doubled in size and strength when a follow-up story a day later in Long Island’s Newsday passed along the unbelievable “day after” sentiment, stressing his even keel in choosing his postgame statements, saying, he “truly wasn’t ripping anybody”, and that he “stands by” his choice of words.

“I was pointing out in a monotone voice why we lost,” Pitino told Newsday. “I am not always calm and certainly not when I rip someone. I was not ripping anybody. I sometimes want my players to hear my words and read my words. That was my intention [Sunday]. I’m fine with what I said.”

Rah, rah Rickie, they’ll be calling him after St. John’s defeated a sorry Georgetown team this past Wednesday and Pitino used the occasion to apologize for his comments, “I should never, ever mention a name,” he lamented after an all-out national firestorm of feedback. “I’m a veteran coach. l tell every young coach in the business to show class when you win, show class when you lose and give the other team credit,” said Pitino, who also apologized to any St. John’s fans that were upset by his comments.

“I’ve been really, really frustrated this year for a lot of different reasons. But understand something: I recruited this man [Jordan Dingle], I recruited this man [RJ Luis]. My staff did not recruit these guys. It was all me. It was all me, and I’m really, really proud to have them. I totally apologize to them for doing that. I wasn’t ripping them. That wasn’t my intent. But words matter.”

He later added: “I told the team this, maybe seven, eight times this year: ‘You’re not failing; I’m failing you.’”

Well, Pitino got one thing right.

JUST FOR REFERENCE: This columnist saw his first St. John’s game live on February 11, 1971 – as a child, of course). (SJU defeated Calvin Murphy and Niagara 82-71). The time between 1971 and 1977 went quickly as, togeher with my family, we caught dozens of games, Holiday Festivals, NIT, a few NCAA qualifiers when it was the ECAC before BIG EAST days and so on. As a Johnnies freshman, I purchased four (4) seasons tickets to St John’s basketball in 1977-78. This year, with a summer filled with getting tons of requests from friends and family for tickets, we upped the ante to eight (8) tickets at MSG, keeping the four at Carnesecca Arena.

As of February 18, 2024 – some 53 years and two weeks after that St. J vs Niagara game – one week past the Seton Hall debacle – we can’t even GIVE the tickets away.

RED SOX AND MLB BEGIN SPRING TRAINING: The Boston Red Sox began their 2024 Grapefruit League training camp exhibitions this weekend. The Sox played to a 14-14-4 (.500) in 2023 MLB Spring Training. … The Sox will play 35 exhibition games in 33 days, including Friday’s game against Northeastern University. They play two games in the Dominican Republic vs. Tampa Bay on March 9-10, and two games vs. Texas at Globe Life Field on March 25-26 as they break camp. … In addition to those 35 games, the Red Sox will host one of the inaugural MLB Spring Breakout Games on March 16 vs. Atlanta. … Boston opens the regular season on March 28 against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Feb 18

by

While We’re Young (Ideas) | ’24 NBA All-Star Weekend

BREAKING NEWS FROM SATURDAY NIGHT: The ups and downs, ebbs and flows of the annual NBA All-Star Weekend were on display Saturday night. The verdict for the NBA this year was another serious high mark.

Highlights of the night included a very competitive three point contest won by Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard who is now a back-to-back champion, defeating Atlanta’s TraeYoung on the final shot.

NY Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu set the bar very, very high by shooting an incredible round at the NBA three-point line and scoring 26 points (which included her hitting her first seven shots and 8-of-9 of the “money balls” which counted for two points each.

Under pressure in the single round of competition, Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors met the mark and scored 29 points to secure the victory and a ‘boxing or MMA-like” championship belt. Curry drained two perfect racks of five basketballs and then went three for five on his final rack of all money balls.

The end result was a significant ($55,000) donation by State Farm Insurance to benefit each player’s charity efforts.

In the final scene of the night, Mac McClung, the former Georgetown and Texas Tech guard, turned pro via the NBA G-League’s Osceola Magic (Orlando’s minor league club) became a back-to-back champion by defeating Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown.

Brown brought out some of the classic Dominique Wilkins’ power dunks and fit them into a creative repertoire of well choreographed dunks. It wasn’t enough as McClung scored an amazing “50” on his final dunk of the night to take honors.

For an event that always seems to have some high notes and clinkers, Saturday night scored well and was a highly entertaining evening. Turner (TNT) Sports outdid itself with dozens upon dozens of well-placed cameras, super slo-mo replays and great commentary and back and forth humor – especially by Kenny Smith.

In the column below, you’ll read of other All-Star Weekend memories, noting – It was a great night from the couch and the home LED Hi-Def TV.

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – While I’m very accustomed to being on site and – in the case of this year -listing an Indianapolis dateline, it’s very nice and comfortable writing from Boston and watching the All-Star festivities from the couch.

It was 16 years ago tonight that I watched the NBA All-Star Saturday events from a couch, joining former NBA referee Bob Delaney and his wife, Billie, at their home in Florida after a 12-day tour promoting Bob’s first book – COVERT. The last couple days were in the NBA All-Star city – New Orleans – where we did hundreds of interviews and enjoyed the Thursday-Friday tip-off of a great event in one of the greatest American cities. Overall, we were exhausted but had a great time tuning in to watch.

This weekend, it’s quite the same. I’m scoring from home.

At his pre-event media availability, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated that the league examined many of the intricacies of the All-Star Game and the league and its players – largely behind the experiences of new NBA Players Association executive director Andre Iguodala – have agreed to put the focus on the game of basketball.

Amen.

“We returned to the East versus West format and the 48-minute game format because we thought what we were doing was not working,” said Silver at his Saturday media availability. “I’d say people uniformly were critical of last year’s All-Star Game and felt it was not a competitive game. It was not a position held solely by the league. I think the players collectively recognized, as well, that it wasn’t what they wanted to see, either, that they had not put their best foot forward.

“I’d say Andre Iguodala now, who is the executive director of the Players Association, and a former player, shares that view with the league office; that we’re not necessarily looking for players to go out there as if it’s the Finals, necessarily, but we need players to play defense, we need them to care about this game.

“And the feeling was that maybe — and I’ll take responsibility for it … as you know, I used to run something called NBA Entertainment … that we’d gotten carried away a little bit with the entertainment aspect,” added Silver.

“By that I’m not just talking about the halftime or the intros, per se. One of the things we heard from the players, was on one hand now, ‘you’re telling us you want us to play this as if it were a real game, but there’s nothing about it that feels like a real game.’ You have us standing up on stage, operating through this draft (of players choosing sides). Then once the intros start, we get cold, we’re standing there forever, we don’t get to go through our usual routines. Then come halftime, you’re adding not just a little bit of extra time but a lot of extra time, so we get cold in the locker rooms.

“I think we sat down with the players and we listened to them, and we said, all right, we have to return to basketball, back to basketball, so to speak. It’s about the game. That’s ultimately how we’re going to be judged.”

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: It’s worth noting – ahem – that this columnist was fortunate enough to work 25 consecutive NBA All-Star Games, dating from 1982 to 2007 and attend another four as a media member for a grand total of 29 NBA All-Star Games. The line of demarcation was the 1984 NBA All-Star Weekend in Denver where the Nuggets’ organization encouraged the league to stage a Slam Dunk contest, reminiscent of the great ABA Slam Dunk Contest of 1976 when NY Nets forward Julius “Doctor J” Erving squared-off against Denver’s David Thompson – both Hall of Famers – for the greatest slams in basketball history.

That February, as Commissioner Larry O’Brien passed the torch to David Stern, the league paired the Slam Dunk with a valiant attempt to organize an “Old-Timer’s Game” which was very well received and began a long process for the league to proiperly reconnect with the players of yesteryear. Recognizing the opportunities ahead, we quickly switched the phrase from “Old Timers” to “Legends.”

The Legends Game made its way through the late ‘80s and early ‘90s until a couple serious injuries – to LA Lakers/Clipper great Norm Nixon and to Thompson – called for an end to the Legends Game and the introduction of other contests like 2Ball, the Skills Contest and the inclusion of WNBA Players into the various events. For the most part, a good time was had by all but certain weekends were much beter received than others. There was a definite ebb and flow, with the likes of Larry Bird (3-point king) and Michael Jordan (Slam Dunk champion) getting high praise for their participation.

In one man’s opinion, high points over the years included:

  1. Jordan and Dominique Wilkins going mano-a-mano at the ‘88 Slam Dunk in Jordan’s home court Chicago Stadium.
  2. Vince Carter dominating the Slam Dunk when the weekend was played in a rain-soaked Oakland in the Year 2000.
  3. Bird, Craig Hodges, Mark Price and Peja Stojakovic shooting the lights out at various Three Point Contests over the years.
  4. Spud Webb amazing the Dallas crowd and his peers with dunk after dunk to defeat his teammate, Dominique Wilkins.
  5. The NBA at 50 celebration.
  6. Dee Brown slamming it down with a blindfold on at the ‘91 Slam Dunk Contest in Charlotte.
  7. Blake Griffin jumping over a car in the Slam Dunk leading to Dwight Howard popping a sticker high up on the backboard, then later blowing a candle out of a strategically placed cupcake on the backboard.
  8. Of course, there were dozens of other highlights over the years, NYK Kenny “Sky” Walker reaching new heights in Houston – The Space City; Jason Kidd in the Skills competitions; The WNBA’s Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird proving they could compete at the highest level; among many others. (Feel free to add your suggestions in the comment section).

The greatest of NBA All-Star Weekends and my favorite, for sure, was the 1992 NBA All-Star Weekend in Orlando, when Earvin “Magic” Johnson returned from his abrupt and forced preseason retirement (HIV Virus) to lead the West to a decisive 153-113 victory, while gaining Most Valuable Player honors in an astonishing and emotional event.

Of course, Johnson would later play on the ‘92 Dream Team and eventually return for limited action in the NBA.

NBA ALL-STAR WEEKEND in INDIANAPOLIS: Tonight, as noted, the NBA will return to its roots with an old-fashioned EAST vs. WEST all-star game. No more shenanigans with LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo choosing up sides. Thankfully, the league didn’t fold to pressure mounting for a USA vs The World contest, as that’s for the Olympic Games and Basketball World Cup, not an NBA mid-season exhibition that’s supposed to be fun. … That’s the one, “key” factor that everyone seems to overlook as they criticize the players for not competing as though its the NBA Finals. The weekend is a three-ring circus of events, parties, meetings, interview sessions, network media obligations and late-night hanging, and that’s encouraged as the norm. It makes it damn near impossible for the All-Stars to compete at a high level after a three-day gauntlet of commitments. … Over the years, the level of high competition only comes when the score is relatively close at the end of the third quarter and very close at the 6:59 timeout in the fourth quarter. Then, the players’ competitive spirits kick-in, the adrenaline flows, the coaches call for solid team defense and the stars shine. It’s somewhat cyclical. The league had a great experience the first time they tried the “Elam Ending” with a 157-155 thriller (2020 in Chicago), tacking on “24” points to the 133 points “Team Giannis” had accrued as of the end of the third quarter. With the clock turned off, and as fate would have it, “Team LeBron” kicked it in gear and outscored “Team Giannis” 33-22 down the stretch to win a very exciting game, much to the pleasure of Nick Elam, a professor from Ball State, who came up with the idea ((although his version called for a 35 point addition to the leading team at the end of the third quarter but the NBA shortened it to “24” in honor of the late LA Lakers star Kobe Bryant and his uniform number.

Tonight (Sunday night), the NBA will return to its East vs West roots created when the NBA All-Star Game began (1951 in Boston) – five years after the birth of the Basketball Association of America. The league considered the long history of the game of basketball in the State of Indiana, and decided to go the traditional route. Maybe it was the thought of coach John Wooden, or paying tribute the the love of the game at the high school and college levels. Regardless, the 2024 game will have no gimmicks, no choosing up sides – playground style. Just basketball.

MORE WWYI INVESTMENT IDEAS: Join the While We’re Young (Ideas) New Investment Club for promising financial success. Guaranteed to return 0.0% or lose your shorts but generate a few laughs. … We’re bullish on the food industry. Inflation be damned. The big BUY is into a start-up producing Lavender Goddess Dressing. … The company has a deal – signed and sealed – with our new fast food venture – The Pizza Out House. … IBM has sunk billions into its industry leading Chat Bot assistant, “Watson.” … Meanwhile, WWYI has gazzillions into Quantel’s latest with “Faldo” Chat Bot AI. … The only issue seems to be the mainframe shuts down automatically at 3pm for a Cup of Tea. … We’re fronting a new rock band out of Oregon called, Bubonic Plague. They’ve been around forever. … We’re ready for a suggestion on a great New York City Drinking Saloon. Gone are Toots Shors owned by Bernard “Toots” Shor with a great location at 51 West 51st Street in Manhattan , there was Harry M. Stevens right by the Garden’s press entrance. … Gone too, are Runyons and even Runyons II. Many a night passed at The Grill (Smith & Wollensky steakhouse side hustle and we had a good run with No Idea and Antarctica where there was always a great AFC/NFC Championship party. The Corner Bistro in the West Village is still a “Must Go” for the best burger (The Bistro Burger). … In Boston, while there’s no longer The Four’s – a victim of the pandemic – we have West End Johnnie’s by TD Garden and Fenway Johnnie’s over by the ballpark. Great Places … Great Food … Great Drinks … Great People. … Serious Investments Only.