Sports Commentary June 20, 2005

B & G Imagination Junction


A Rousing Sporting Weekend ………………

Another one of those weekends is upon us, in our country, where if one is a sports fan there are a number of high quality tasty entrees to choose from on the menu.

I suppose that it is true in other nations that a number of big time athletic events all seem to occur on the same day or same grouping of days but, maybe because this is where I live and because of the size and diversity of the United States. It happens more often within our borders.

This weekend three high profile events of note are taking place and become our focus.

Two of these three events are not just domestic in taste but are followed worldwide while the third is such of slice of Americana that a foreigner might do well to observe this sports festival as a study in how us Americans project ourselves.

Of course, first is the ongoing National Basketball Association Final series between the Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs.

Last week this column previewed the clash and now four games have been played in the best of seven set. With game number five to be played tomorrow night the two clubs are as they begun, even.

In each game the home team has won, each contest was one-sided and each losing side looked worse than the Atlanta Hawks on its best night.

In San Antonio the Pistons looked as if they still had a hangover from rallying to win the Eastern Final over the Miami Heat while the Spurs, if possible, played better than in its Western undressing of the Phoenix Suns.

Then the NBA rock concert moved to Motown and everything has been different. At the Pistons home, called the Palace, the real defending kings have reawakened.

As another monarch in the King and I might have said about how this series has gone, “It’s a puzzlement.”

It is the Final so it all gets the brightest glare of the spotlight but, unless you are cheering for whichever club is on that night, this has not been a great series.

The hot team, right now, is Detroit and when the Pistons are on this is exactly what can happen so maybe these last two games make sense. Detroit plays a smothering defense and for the second year in a row, in the Final, show that they can put points on the board as well.

Yet, the Spurs play a total game as well plus are more athletic as they showed in the first two games.
So in tomorrow’s pivotal fifth game, at the Palace, maybe both clubs will bring it’s A game on the same night and produce the type of close series that we expected. Yet, the series is tied so how dare I complain?
Not only basketball fans in the US have been scratching their heads, over this hard court puzzlement, but millions around the world as well. Over one hundred nations are televising this series and it can be heard in more than 50 different languages.

On the American telecasts we have spent minutes hearing the French gush over Tony Parker and the Argentineans sing the praises of Manu Ginnobli.

Another event being held in Pinehurst, North Carolina has worldwide eyes watching and ears listening. At the United States Open the crème de la crème of the golf links are at work deciding the second major event of the year in this sport.

Of course, we who watch care who win—most often the drama of the final round of a major is top flight entertainment as it usually comes down to the last stroke from the last player on the course.

Yet, major golf tournaments to me are as much a study of the theater as much as the performers.

The theater, this week, is Pinehurst Number Two—surely one of the classic and wicked tests of golf in the world. Phil Mikelson said last week that if the weather acted up the winning score will be well over par. Even with good weather the winner might not be in double figures under par.

The current big five of golf are all having solid years and each is a good bet to win. Yet the fab quintet of Woods, Singh, Mikelson, Goosen and Els are no sure wager as, there are plenty of solid golfers primed for glory.

Goosen is the defender while Woods won this year’s Masters so before the Spurs and Pistons tip off we should know this year’s national golf champion.
Ah, in this country at least, better keep that remote ready because we might be taking many side trips to Omaha, Nebraska as the College Baseball Word Series is now underway.

I have written on this very special ten day event the past few years because it is the best in the amateur level of baseball, in the US, while being one of those places that if you want to see what Americans are supposed to be about you must attend.

Though it has been many years since, I have attended twice and always recommend it as a travel destination.

As usual, the eight best college baseball clubs have gathered but the defender is not among them as California State Fullerton was knocked out by Arizona State. Last year’s runner-up is back and we hope that Texas head coach Augie Garrido left his boorishness, of 2004, back in Austin.

Florida returns, for the first time in a while, while the stands will be jammed with red as Nebraska is there for the third time in five years.
Tennessee is due as its been a baseball program on the edge of fame for nearly a decade.

Maybe the magic dust that propelled Baylor to the women’s basketball title will spill on the baseball team.

Despite being ranked in the top ten all season Oregon State still might be this year’s Cinderella in the field. All of the other seven teams are thought annually strong in baseball but the Beavers have come out of nowhere to make it to Omaha. OSU has not been to the CWS since 1952. If one does not have a bunch of boys already to cheer for maybe the Beavers might be the group to show some love.

Yet, maybe the team to beat is Tulane—the Green Wave have been ranked number one for most of the year and seem primed.

The CWS, as with any championship clash, can bring out the best or worst—Tulane is good and the title is theirs for the picking.

No matter, it will be a fun time in Eastern Nebraska because it is always fun there in June.

So, again, we have a weekend where we can have fun either channel hopping or discussing the future of Michael Jackson—I prefer the former.

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