Baseball Top Three

Baseball Top Three will be a recurring blog on TJB's Sports Universe that chronicles three of the top stories in Major League Baseball.

1. Lou Piniella and Milton Bradley: A Battle of Two Hotheads

It has been yet another stressful season in Cubbieville, and while the 35-36 Cubs are only 3.5 games back of the Cardinals and Brewers in the NL Central, they show absolutely no sign of being able to end that notorious 100 year World Series title drought. Friday, on the South Side of Chicago in Game 1 of the Windy City showdown against the White Sox, all the frustration that had been simmering under the surface finally reached a boiling point. Following a strikeout, Milton Bradley went inside the Cubs dugout and allegedly threw his bat and batting helmet and hit the water cooler. For a player with a long history of anger outbursts, this came as no surprise. What did come as a surprise was what unfolded next. Manager Lou Piniella ordered Bradley to take a shower and go home. Player and manager then exchanged some fiery words, and Piniella ripped Bradley in the post-game press conference.

This incident will probably blow over fairly soon, but it is notable simply because of its irony. I'm not going to defend Milton Bradley----he's been a troublemaker throughout his entire career----but I think it's a little hypocritical of Piniella to condemn the kind of behavior that he himself routinely practices. Piniella is a great manager, but he has always had a reputation of being a hothead. Piniella made a mistake here. He should have simply let Bradley express his frustration. By calling him out on it, Piniella not only escalated the situation, but he also made himself look bad.

2. Can Joe Mauer hit .400?

This is the question posed in the latest edition of Sports Illustrated. Mauer, the all-star catcher for the Minnesota Twins, enters Sunday's action batting a staggering .394. He is looking to become the first .400 hitter since the great Ted Williams. Mauer certainly has the talent to make a legitimate run at this astonishing accomplishment, but I remain skeptical of his chances. In the daily grind of Major League Baseball, slumps are a frequent occurrence at the plate, and it is hard to imagine Mauer sustaining such a red-hot batting average for an entire season. The pitching in the AL Central is another factor going against Mauer. In this division, Mauer will have to face Zack Greinke, Justin Verlander, Mark Buehrle, and Cliff Lee on numerous occasions. Even a phenomenal hitter like Joe Mauer is bound to cool off a little when facing such venerable pitching.

Nonetheless, I hope he reaches this milestone. It would be an awesome feat that would put Mauer in the conversation with the likes of Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Pete Rose, Albert Pujols, and Barry Bonds.

3. Subway Mauling

The Subway Series has always been fun to watch, and the games are usually fiercely competitive. This has not been the case over the weekend. Joe Girardi's Yankees have waltzed into Citi Field and dominated eighteen innings of baseball. In the last three games between these cross-city rivals, the Yankees have outscored the Mets by a stunning 29-1. Ouch! The Bronx Bombers look to bring out the brooms tonight on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. Their strong play means that the Yankees are finally hitting their stride, especially on the offensive side of things. A-Rod seems to have found his stroke at the plate, and everybody, even youngster Francisco Cervelli, is contributing. On the flipside, this series has exposed some major problems for Jerry Manuel's Mets. Offensively, they have been just plain stagnant in this series. Even in the absence of injured stars Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, and Carlos Beltran, the Mets' inability to score runs has been surprising. But the most disappointing aspect of the Mets' play over the weekend has been their shoddy defense. Three errors for the Mets on Friday night helped the Yankees break the game wide open, and in a lineup as daunting as the Yankees have, you cannot afford to make multiple gaffes in the field. The defensive missteps on Friday night conjured memories of Luis Castillo's dropped fly ball to give the Yankees the win at Yankee Stadium a couple of weeks ago.

I am rooting for a Mets victory tonight, and a win would go a long way in bringing the Mets some much-needed confidence. After all, there is nothing worse than getting pounded by your cross-town foes.

Cilic-Haas Showdown Gives Wimbledon a Shot of Adrenaline

The fans were standing and raucously cheering, despite the fact that the outcome of the match was still in doubt. It was Saturday night at Wimbledon, and Tommy Haas and Marin Cilic had just put on a spectacular show. Haas and Cilic battled in what was a fearsome war of attrition, with Cilic rallying from two sets down to force a fifth set tiebreaker. Yet the two men fell victim to the London twilight. As day turned into dawn and dawn into night, play was suspended until the following day, depriving the passionate tennis fans in attendance on this night of witnessing the finish of this dazzling match. But as Haas and Cilic exited the premises to receive some much-needed rest before they returned to the court mere hours later, there was more elation than frustration in the stands. Every man, woman, and child stood and cheered in appreciation of Haas and Cilic. Because while they may not have the chance of seeing the end of the match, they were lucky enough to see an extraordinary display of pure athletic drama, the kind of tennis that the fans in London so feverishly crave.

Today, with far more light than the night before, Tommy Haas and Marin Cilic finished their match. Haas, the thirty-one-year-old from Germany looking to capture his first major title, was the winner, winning the final set by a count of 10-8. But to the sport of tennis, the winner of the match is not as important as the match itself. Haas-Cilic provided the kind of must-see excitement that this year's Wimbledon so desperately needed in the absence of Rafael Nadal. The 2009 Wimbledon tournament has its fair share of compelling storylines, most notably the dominance of Venus and Serena Williams, the play of local favorite Andy Murray, and the quest of Roger Federer to cement his status as the greatest of all time. However, prior to Saturday's Haas-Cilic showdown, the tournament was lacking that one moment that would get the sports world talking. The absence of Rafael Nadal had been the elephant in the room until Haas and Cilic stepped onto the court, but by the time their match was over, Wimbledon had received a welcome shot of adrenaline.

I love watching Wimbledon, and Haas-Cilic reminded me of why I'm such a fan of tennis. I don't expect this match to work any miracles. In the United States, Wimbledon will continue live in the shadow of the latest baseball, basketball, and football news, and nothing, not even a tournament for the ages, is going to change that. But I do think the Haas-Cilic match adds a jolt of excitement to Wimbledon that will attract increased viewer interest. The fans at the All England Club on Saturday night weren't clapping only for Tommy Haas and Marin Cilic; they were clapping also because they realized that the drama had finally arrived at Wimbledon.

Live-Blogging the 2009 NBA Draft

The 2009 NBA Draft is finally upon us, and as the stars of the future nervously await their NBA destination, I will be keeping a running diary of the night's events. But before we get to the draft, here are my thoughts on three trades that occurred earlier today:

---Shaq to the Cavs is a fascinating, fearless move by GM Danny Ferry. This could easily turn out to be a regrettable trade for Cleveland, as the Big Diesel is at the tail end of his Hall of Fame career. However, I like this move. Shaq is coming off a stellar season in Phoenix in which he showed that he still has some gas left in the tank. Playing alongside LeBron, O'Neal does not need to be a star. He simply needs to be productive. A LeBron-Shaq duo will be a lot of fun to watch.

---Shaq has now been teammates with Kobe, D-Wade, and LeBron. Some people just have all the luck.

---Vince Carter to the Magic, on the other hand, is a different story. Carter has explosive athleticism, but he lacks depth and has always been overhyped. Losing Rafer Alston won't mean much to Orlando, as they have Jameer Nelson. But Magic fans better hope that aquiring Vince Carter doesn't mean that they plan on letting Hedo Turkoglu go. Should Turkoglu leave, Orlando will have major problems.

---And finally, as a Warriors fan, I selfishly saved the least splashy trade for last. Golden State traded Jamal Crawford to Atlanta in exchange for Acie Law and Speedy Claxton. I love Crawford, but this was inevitable. This trade gives the Hawks another proven scorer, but for the W's this is nothing more than a move for financial reasons.

Okay, now let the fun begin! The 2009 NBA Draft is underway, and during my live-blog, please disregard any grammatical errors that may occur. I will be moving at a very brisk pace. Now, with no further ado, here is my live blog of draft night (all times in Pacific Standard Time):

4:32: Here comes the commish, David Stern. Stern is far and away the best commissioner in all of sports, yet he still gets heckled by the New York faithful. You gotta love the rowdy draft crowd.

4:34: A lot of Laker haters in the crowd. Oh yeah!

4:36: Blake Griffin doing an awesome acting job. Relax Blake, you are going number one to the Clippers. My apologies.

4:37: ESPN shows the highlight of the Clippers taking Michael Olowokandi with the first pick in the 1998 pick. Yup, the Clips have been a laughingstock for a long time.

4:39: Olowokandi or Darko Milicic? Who is the bigger draft bust?

4:40: Mark Jackson says that Blake Griffin is going to a great situation. The Clippers? Great situation? Congratulations Mark, you have made the first nonsensical remark of the night.

4:41: The Clippers take Blake Griffin. This was a no-brainer that not even the Clippers could screw up. All snarkiness aside, the Clips are getting a fantastic player who has star potential in the NBA.

4:43: Now the real suspense begins. Who will the Grizzlies take at number 2: Hasheem Thabeet or Tyreke Evans. Thabeet is tempting, but Evans is more NBA ready.

4:45: Ladies and gentleman, say hello to Mike Dunleavy. Coach Dunleavy, stop talking before Blake Griffin decides to retire!

4:46: I love Jeff Van Gundy, but can he stop talking in such generalities?

4:47: Hasheem Thabeet to the Grizz. Defensively, Thabeet is ready for the NBA. Offensively, the former UConn Huskie needs some work.

4:49: The Thunder are on the clock. They can't go wrong with either Tyreke Evans or Stephan Curry. Taking Ricky Rubio, though, would be a mistake. The Spaniard is a magician with the basketball, but I am skeptical of how his one-sided game will translate in the pros.

4:52: Wow! First shocker of the night as the Thunder select James Harden from Arizona State. Not a bad pick---Harden will be a productive NBA player---but better than Curry or Evans?

4:54: Could Stephan Curry be a Warrior? Hey, a man's gotta dream.

4:57: Mark Jones is doing a great job, but he has the thankless task of doing monotonous interview after monotonous interview.

4:58: The Kings select..................Tyreke Evans. Great move by Sacramento. Evans will be an immediate impact player in Paul Westphal's system.

5:01: The T'Wolves have the next two picks, via a trade with the Wizards. That was not a very good trade for Minnesota. They will regret losing Mike Miller and Randy Foye.

5:04: Ricky Rubio to Minnesota. Mistake. Look, Rubio clearly has great skill, but I don't think that Harlem Globetretter-esque trickery will work in the pros. But I could be wrong. Spain has a phenomenal track record producing great NBA talent.

5:05: Taking Rubio probably means Minnesota will pass on Stephen Curry. C'mon, Larry Riley, bring Curry to the Bay Area!

5:07: Whoa, whoa, whoa, not so fast with the Pistol Pete Maravich comparisons. Rubio hasn't even stepped on an NBA court yet.

5:10: With their second pick, the T'Wolves take Jonny Flynn. Say what? I'm a big Flynn fan----he has great talent and heart. Flynn's performance in that epic six-overtime affair was a classic display of grit and determination. But Minnesota will regret passing on Curry. As a Warriors fan, I'm thrilled. Please take Curry! Please take Curry!

5:12: Jordan Hill or Stephen Curry? That is the dilemma facing the Warriors.

5:16: I'm not crazy about the T'Wolves picks, but the ESPN.com readers who gave Minnesota an F grade are being a little too harsh.

5:16: Mostly conservative suits tonight by the players. So far, there have been no Jalen Rose-like displays of clothing flash.

5:17: Oh boy, here come my Warriors.

5:17: Stephen Curry! Stephen Curry! Stephen Curry! Oh yeah!

5:18: I'm biased, but I think we can all agree. This is a home run for Golden State.

5:20: More draft night misery for Knicks fans. They were desperately hoping for Curry.

5:21: I'm already dreaming of a Stephen Curry-Monta Ellis backcourt.

5:22: It's always a lot of fun when the Knicks fans react to their teams pick. Will they be booing or cheering this years decision of Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni?

5:23: Jordan Hill is met with a cavalcade of boos, but make no mistake: This is a solid pick. Hill is a supremely talented big man who will be a nice fit in the Big Apple.

5:27: Raptors get DeMar Derozen from USC. Decent pick, but as Jay Bilas astutely points out, DeRozen is a project whose potential won't be fully realized for at least a couple of seasons.

5:30: My best available: Jeff Teague, Ty Lawson, Terrence Williams, Jrue Holiday. Thats right, I have Ty Lawson as my second best available. Lawson is a criminally underrated point guard who be a star in the NBA.

5:31: Another criminally underrated player? Pittsburgh's DeJuan Blair.

5:33: Bucks select Brandon Jennings, the American who opted to play pro ball in Italy instead of going to college. Very raw talent. Numbers not all that impressive.

5:35: Brandon Jennings in NYC, but not at the draft. Doesn't reflect well on his character, character that has already been questioned.

5:36: The Nets, now Vince Carter-less, are on the clock.

5:38: Excellent pick by GM Rod Thorn. Terrence Williams is a well-rounded player who is one of the best players in Louisville history. It should be a fairly smooth transition from college to the pros for Williams.

5:40: The Bobcats are on the clock, and Michael Jordan is one of the guys who will make the decision of who to pick. Not a good sign for Charlotte. M.J.----Best player ever, has made terrible front office decisions.

5:45: In a stunning display of diplomacy, Tar Heel Jordan selects Blue Devil Gerald Henderson. There is hope for world peace after all.

5:47: Congratulations His Airness! You have finally made a good draft pick!

5:49: I can't help but feel sorry for Tyler Hansbrough. Hansbrough had a college career for the record books, but his name hasn't even been mentioned tonight.

5:52: Teams that are passing on Ty Lawson and DeJuan Blair just do not know what they're missing.

5:56: Call me crazy, but Jay Bilas is a much better draft guru than Mel Kiper, Jr.

5:57: Whoa! Tyler Hansbrough is picked by the Pacers. Disregard my post about no teams being interested in Hansbrough.

5:57: Larry Bird and the Pacers front office should be applauded for taking a chance on Hansbrough. He won't be a star, but he will be a productive player in the NBA.

5:59: I almost fell out of my chair when Ric Bucher reported a trade rumor involving Ama're Stoudamire to Golden State. That would be an unbelievable trade for my W's!

6:00: Earl Clark of Louisville to the Suns, but the pick is immediately overshadowed by Brandon Jennings' arrival. Smart move by Jennings that will bolster his image.

6:02: Pistons select Austin Daye of Gonzaga. If they wanted a big man, they should have taken Blair.

6:05: First Dicky V sighting! Always entertaining, Dicky V predicts Curry will win ROY. Yeah baby!

6:07: The Bulls, coming off an incredible playoff series against the Celtics, take James Johnson from Wake Forest. Good pick, as Bulls needed a physical presence. Chicago will be a title contender next season.

6:10: Steve Kerr speaks in mysterious terms about a possible Ama're trade. Please Steve, send Ama're to Oakland!

6:13: Jrue Holiday to Philly. Sixers fans in the house are justifiably pleased.

6:15: Skip Bayless says on Twitter than Jrue Holiday wins Best Dressed award. Beg to differ. Not crazy about that green tie.

6:19: I love Ty Lawson, but three guards picked by Minnesota? Not very savvy by the T'Wolves.

6:20: Ric Bucher reports the T'Wolves will trade Lawson to Denver. This trade is a big win for the Nuggets. Billups-Anthony-Lawson-------Look out!.

6:22: Minnesota traded away wrong guard. Lawson better than both Rubio and Flynn.

6:23: Great day for the Atlanta Hawks. They aquire Jamal Crawford and draft Jeff Teague. Two outstanding scorers.

6:27: Eric Maynor has the tenacity to succeed in Jerry Sloan's system. Showed great heart with VCU in the NCAA Tournament.

6:29: Larry Brown getting booed by the New York faithful. Great coach, but his disastrous stint in the Big Apple has not been forgotten by the Knicks fans.

6:33: Hornets select Darren Collison. Collison will be a nice fit alongside Chris Paul. Collison has a chance to be even better than his UCLA teammate Jrue Holiday.

6:38: This is why I love Jeff Van Gundy. His "Are you crazy???" response to Mark Jackson's assertion that the Blazers are the second deepest team in the league was classic. C'mon Mark, you're better than that!

6:41: Portland takes Victor Claver. I'll be honest: I know nothing about Claver. Judging by Fran Fraschilla's scouting report, though, Claver is similar in style to Rudy Fernandez.

6:43: A surprisingly subdued Shaq says he's elated to play alongside LeBron James. Big Diesel says all the right things about possibly coming off the bench, but you know that he's be irked if he's not a starter. Shaq deserves to be in the starting lineup.

6:44: Kings take Omri Casspi from Israel. First Israeli-born player to be in the NBA. Fraschilla speaks fondly of his game. Should be good fit in Sacramento.

6:49: B.J. Mullens of Ohio State to Dallas, where he will play alongside Dirk Nowitzki. Raw talent, long-term project.

---6:52: Rodrigue Beaubois continues trend of international players, will swap places with B.J. Mullens.

6:59: Bulls trade away Thabo Sefolosha, draft Taj Gibson. Gibson will be solid role player in the NBA, a nice piece to the puzzle for Chicago.

7:01: Following DeMar Derozen, Gibson is the second SC player drafted
tonight. In the wake of the messy Tim Floyd situation, USC's basketball program is in a state of disarray, but it has been a great night to be a Trojan at the draft.

7:05: Grizzlies follow Thabeet with DeMarre Carroll. Carroll may need liver transplant down the road, but it shouldn't affect NBA career.

Alright, Ladies and Gentlemen. That's it for this evening. As a Warriors fan, I leave this blog on a happy note. Should any big stories develop in the second round, I will be sure to give my thoughts in the morning. Until then, good night!

Glover, Federer, Pujols, and random observations on the wonderful world of sports

In the words of the great San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Scott Ostler, here are my deep thoughts, cheap shots, and bon mots:

---Congratulations to your 2009 U.S. Open Champion Lucas Glover. Glover prevailed in the rain and wind of Bethpage Black to capture his first major. With Phil Mickelson making a late charge, Glover maintained his composure all the way to victory. Very impressive.

---I've long been a Mickelson critic, but no one can fault Lefty's play on Monday. Dealing with some extraordinary stress in the wake of his wife's diagnosis of breast cancer, Mickelson somehow found a way to contend at this this year's U.S. Open. Throughout most of Monday's final round, Lefty was at the top of his game. He did not win, but he carries a nice wave of momentum heading into next month's British Open.

---The same cannot be said of Tiger Woods. It is not time to panic---Woods remains the most dominant athlete on the face of the earth---but there is reason for concern. Woods has been rusty this year in the wake of his knee surgery. Lets hope that he is a strong contender at the British Open. When Tiger is in the hunt, it is great for golf and great for sports.

---Even with all the inclement weather, this year's U.S. Open was still a memorable one. Monday's final round made for compelling television, thanks in large part to Lefty's charge and the rabid golf fans that endured Mother Nature at Bethpage Black.

---The question of who is the best player in baseball is not even a question. Albert Pujols wins in a landslide. Pujols, who hit two more home runs including a grand slam on Sunday to up his total to 26, is the most well-rounded player in the game, with Alex Rodriguez a distant second. Look for teams to start giving Pujols the Bonds treatment and intentionally walk him as the season progresses.

---Pujols has helped propel the Cardinals to first-place status in the NL Central. It'll be a tight race between St. Louis and Milwaukee the rest of the way, but Pujols will be the difference. The Cards will win the Central.

---Somebody break up the Colorado Rockies. As a diehard Giants fan, it is a little unnerving to see the third-place Rockies on such a tear. Since the firing of manager Clint Hurdle, a move I foolishly criticized, the Rockies have been on a roll, winning 17 of their last 18 games. Something tells me they aren't missing the bat of Matt Holliday very much right about now.

---Speaking of the Rockies, I will be on hand at Dodger Stadium next week when they take on the hated blue. It will be my first trip to Dodger Stadium, and by the time next Wednesday rolls around the talk of Manny's return will be at a fever pitch. And in true Dodger fan fashion, I plan on arriving in the sixth and living in the eighth.

---Wimbledon is underway, and Roger Federer is looking to win his sixth Wimbeldon title. However, this year he will be without his great rival Rafael Nadal. It is unfair to Federer to say that Nadal's absence at Wimbledon taints a potential Federer victory, but Nadal's absence does take away some of the glamour of the tournament. I will still gladly watch, but there will be something missing.

---Big trade today in the NBA, as the Milwaukee Bucks sent Richard Jefferson to San Antonio in exchange for Bruce Bowen, Kurt Thomas, and Fabricio Oberto. While the Spurs are losing a key defensive stopper in Bowen, they pick up an outstanding player. Jefferson is a talented and athletic shooting forward who provides the Spurs with another significant scoring threat.

---The NBA Draft is right around the corner, and TJB's Sports Universe is the place to be on Thursday night. I will be live-blogging the ESPN broadcast of the NBA Draft, so tune in!

---And no, I have not forgot. Congratulations to your 2009 NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers. They deserve the title. The Magic were no match for the Lakers.

Random Observations: Game 4

In the words of the great San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Scott Ostler, here are my deep thoughts, cheap shots, and bon mots:

---Wow. Game 4 of the 2009 NBA Finals featured one of the most astonishing choke jobs in NBA history. With all due respect to the Lakers, a team that, barring a miracle, will be the deserving champions, this game was lost by Orlando, not won by Los Angeles.

---Don't get me wrong: Derek Fisher proved why he is one of the most clutch players to have ever played the game, sinking two incredibly clutch threes in the fourth quarter and in overtime to clinch a victory. And the Lakers showed impressive grit in the second half and in overtime. But let's be honest: The Magic projectile vomited and handed all the momentum to the Lakers. First of all, missed free throws killed Orlando down the stretch. Hedo Turkoglu, a usually reliable free throw shooter, clanked three of four from the charity stripe in the final minutes of regulation, and Dwight Howard threw up two bricks in the final seconds before Fisher hit the three to send the game into overtime. All Howard needed to do was make one and the series would be tied.

---As far as I am concerned, too much blame is being placed on the shoulders of Stan Van Gundy. After all, is it his fault that his team went colder than a Chicago winter down the stretch? Absolutely not. I mean, if Dwight Howard hits a free throw, Stan Van Gundy would be two wins away from leading his team to an NBA title. However, there is one area where Van Gundy was wrong last night, and that is playing Jameer Nelson almost exclusively down the stretch, leaving Rafer Alston on the bench for what seemed like the entire fourth quarter. When healthy, Nelson is a top-notch point guard. But last night he again showed why is not yet at full strength. Alston, coming off an excellent performance in Game 3, had been playing well, but he got about as much playing time as Adam Morrison in the fourth quarter.

---I don't mean to pile on Dwight Howard, but Superman has been a big disappointment in these Finals. If I were an NBA GM looking to start a franchise from scratch, I would take Dwight Howard in a heartbeat. Howard is an unbelievable talent with freakish athleticism, and his potential is staggering. But if I were an NBA GM looking to fill an immediate need at the center position, I would probably take Yao Ming. During these Finals, Howard has showed his youth in sometimes painful ways. Defensively, Howard is absolutely stellar. Offensively, however, he has a lot to learn.

---As for the Lakers, you just have to tip your cap. I am hoping for a miracle, but right now L.A. is the better team. No if's, and's, or but's about it. Phil Jackson's team has been tougher, more composed, and more agressive during these Finals.

---For the record: Kobe Bryant had his second straight disappearing act in the fourth quarter last night. As good as MJ? I don't think so.

---Here's how I think the rest of the series will pan out: Orlando plays with incredible effort in Game 5 and gets the win, with the Lakers closing it out in 6. Again, I am hoping for a miracle.

---I'll end on a programming note: Due to some vacation time, this blog will be inactive until the week of June 22. However, in late June and throughout July, stay tuned for a live blog on the NBA Draft, plenty of baseball blogs, a live blog on the MLB trading deadline, and more random observations on the wonderful world of sports.

Courtney Lee, Kobe Bryant, Roger Federer, and random observations on the wonderful world of sports.

In the words of the great San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Scott Ostler, here are my deep thoughts, cheap shots, and bon mots:

---Don't use Courtney Lee as a scapegoat for a tough Magic loss in Game 2. Yes, Lee should have converted the layup at the end of regulation, a shot that would have given Orlando a gigantic win as the series shifts scenery. However, there are several reasons why the blame should not fall on Lee's shoulders.

---Was that a shot that should have been made? Of course. It was a brilliant play call by Stan Van Gundy, and a beautiful pass by Hedo Turkoglu. But it was a much tougher shot than most people realize. First of all, Lee's momentum was carrying him away from the basket. Secondly, the shot was heavily contested by the lengthy arm of Pau Gasol. So by no means was that a typical layup. That type of shot has about a fifty percent success rate, so it is understandable that Lee couldn't convert. The bottom line is that the Magic had a myriad of missed opportunities in the fourth quarter, and their loss is not because of the botched layup that will live in infamy.

---Those missed opportunities include multiple ugly turnovers in crunch time. There was J.J. Redick making an ill-advised bounce pass to a double-teamed Dwight Howard, and Howard himself clumsily fumbling the basketball countless times down the stretch. The Magic also took a littany of silly shots with the game hanging in the balance. Even when Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis hit some of these shots, the Magic offense looked disjointed. The spectacular Lakers defense certainly played a huge role in this, but the Magic should have showed more composure in the fourth.

---Also, Rafer Alston and Dwight Howard were huge disappointments in Game 2. Superman looked disoriented in the paint, hesitant to demand the ball down low, and Alston was just flat-out awful. If you are going to publicly complain about playing time, as Alston did after Game 1, you better back up your words with productive play. Alston failed to do so.

---With all of this being said, the Orlando Magic played very well for three-and-a-half quarters, and they put in great effort. This series is far from over, and if the Magic maintain composure in crunch time, they will force a Game 6 back in Los Angeles.

---Now on to the Lakers. As much as I hate them, I cannot deny their extraordinary talent. Lamar Odom was superb yet again, Paul Gasol was dominant, and Derek Fisher showed why he is still one of the most clutch players in the NBA. Phil Jackson's team continued to play lockdown defense in Game 2. I'm rooting like crazy for the Magic, but if L.A. keeps playing at this level, they will be hoisting the trophy.

---Which leads me to Kobe Bryant. Bryant was tremendous in Game 2, and even I, a lifelong Kobe basher, have been impressed with his great play in these Finals. But just when I was about to laud Kobe with heaps of praise, just when I was about to applaud him for his stunning display of athleticism in Game 2, he does things that remind me why I dislike him so strongly. Case in point: Fourth quarter. Suspense is at a fever pitch. The basketball is in Kobe's hands. The Magic play aggressive D, causing Kobe to make a pass to Jack Nicholson. Even the greats make mistakes, and the right thing to do in that situation would be to accept responsibility and move on. At least that's what true leaders would do. Instead, Kobe has a vicious outburst of anger and yells at teammate Shannon Brown, who did nothing wrong. Of course, this is because Kobe Bryant can do no wrong, and it is always somebody else's fault. Stay classy, Kobe.

---Most readers probably think this is much ado about nothing. But here is another example of Kobe's petulance: Final seconds of regulation, game tied, Kobe with the ball. Kobe hoists the jumper and is rejected by Hedo Turkoglu. It's a brilliant defensive play, a completely clean block, yet Kobe huffs and puffs his way to the sideline astonished that a foul was not called. As he sits down, Phil Jackson gives a knowing smirk, entertained by Kobe's childish antics. In the words of the great ESPN.com columnist Bill Simmons, this look was priceless, evidence that even Coach Jackson is aware of Kobe's shenanigans.

---Again, I'm not stupid: Kobe Bryant is a world-class basketball player. He does amazing things on the court, and he has been stellar throughout these first two games. But it is hard to fully embrace a player who plays with so little joy and consistently displays petulance, no matter how great that player may be.

---I can't wait until Game 3. The season is on the line for the Magic, and hopefully they will be able to get back in this series.

---Roger Federer is your 2009 French Open Champion. By finally winning his first French Open title, Federer has solidified his place as the best tennis player ever, surpassing Pete Sampras. Still, Rafael Nadal is currently the better player, and when all is said and done he will surpass Federer.

---Federer's performance on the French Open clay was one of the most dazzling displays of athleticism I have ever seen, with a phenomenal array of shots that make even Andre Agassi blush. If you're Robin Soderling, you just have to tip your cap and move on, because it didn't matter what Soderling did on Sunday, Federer was not going to lose.

---Speaking of greatness, how about Tiger Woods. After his comeback win at the Memorial on Sunday, Tiger is on track to be the heavy favorite at Bethpage Black for the U.S. Open.

---Jockey Calvin Borel deserves our admiration, even in the wake of his defeat at the Belmont Stakes. Borel, riding Mine That Bird this past Saturday, did not complete his personal triple crown, but he successfully made it a season to remember at the track.

---Their will be MUCH more baseball on this blog in the near future, as I will discuss our national past time on an almost daily basis beginning in July (Go Giants!!!!), but I will take some time to congratulate San Francisco's own Randy Johnson on his 300th win. The Big Unit may very well be the greatest left-handed pitcher in baseball history, and he will surely be the last 300-game winner we see for quite some time, as Jamie Moyer is bound to retire before he reaches 300, and potential 300-gamers CC Sabathia and Johan Santana still have a ways to go before they reach this elusive milestone. Last week in the nation's capital, the Big Unit added yet another chapter to his illustrious, Hall of Fame career. As a diehard Giants fan, it is an honor to have him don the orange and black.

Orlando Magic: Keys For Game Two

Heading into the 2009 NBA Finals, the excitement was at a fever pitch. Sure, we were deprived of a Kobe-LeBron showdown, but there were still several storylines that got the blood pumping: the presence of two superstars, Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard, the return of Jameer Nelson, a fascinating clash in personality between the two head coaches, and most of all, the presence of two evenly matched teams. Or so we thought. The Lakers, behind another superb performance by the frustratingly joyless Bryant (more on the joyless part in a later blog), hammered the Magic by 25 points. Orlando, who lives and dies with their streaky shooting, looked like they had bug spray in their eyes. It was clank after clank for Stan Van Gundy's team. The Lakers put on such a beating, even Dick Cheney thought it was cruel.

However, it was just one game. Pardon the overused cliche, but with a win in Game 2, the Magic can steal home-court advantage. Yes, the loss in Game 1 was embarrassing, and it will take a Herculean effort to win at the Staples Center tonight. But the beauty of a seven-game series is that each game becomes its own story, and very often that story is entirely different than the one that preceded it. As crazy as it sounds, if Orlando gets the split with a victory tonight, their trip to Hollywood was a successful one. L.A. surely has the upper hand, but judging by Orlando's undying resiliency during the playoffs, and the Lakers' habit of becoming complacent, this series is far from over. I'm pulling for a Magic victory, and in order for them to win, they must do the following

---Play Jameer Nelson less minutes: Nelson, making his much-anticipated return to the court after four months on the sidelines, provided a huge spark off the bench during the second quarter. For four minutes, the All-Star looked as if he hadn't lost a beat. But as time progressed, it became clear that Nelson wasn't yet ready to play for lengthy stretches. Stan Van Gundy left him on the court for too long, and Orlando lost a great deal of energy as a result. I love Nelson, and as he showed briefly in the second quarter, he has the ability to inject a jolt of life into his team. But he is not at full strength, and during these Finals, the vast majority of playing time at the point guard position should go to Rafer Alston, with Nelson and Anthony Johnson getting the call only when Alston needs a rest.

---Adopt a more fearless defensive attitude: Obviously, Kobe will find a way to score even when faced with good defense, but Orlando's defensive effort in the first game was terrible. As San Francisco Chronicle columnist Bruce Jenkins pointed out earlier this week, Orlando needs to be far more aggressive on the defensive end. Through sheer tenacity and hustle, the Magic can successfully limit Kobe's production. Jenkins used last year's Celtics as an example of a team whose fearless defensive effort drastically affected the Black Mamba. As a result, the Celtics won the championship. The Magic need to attack defensively, and this should not be limited solely to Bryant. Against these Lakers, Dwight Howard cannot worry about getting in foul trouble. Instead, he needs to be aggressive in the paint with Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. Ultimately, the Magic just need to make the Lakers work harder on the offensive end, because if the game is decided by effort, Orlando will come out on top.

---Keep on shooting: The Magic looked like they were blindfolded in Game 1. The usually reliable Hedo Turkoglu, Mickael Pietrus, and Rashard Lewis just could not put the ball in the basket, and nothing sinks a team's morale more than a continued barrage of bad shooting. With each missed shot, Orlando clearly lost confidence in Game 1. But here's the thing: If they want to win, they have to continue shooting. The Magic cannot abandon the very thing that brought them to the Finals in the first place. Love it or hate it, their offense is all about taking risky jump shots. They need to keep letting it fly, because if they become too offensively shy, the Lakers will continue to run them into the ground. So Hedo, Rashard, and Mickael, keep shooting. Chances are you will be much more successful in Game 2.

So there you have it. The odds are stacked against Orlando, but it is in these situations that they have proved everybody wrong during the playoffs. If they follow the aforementioned keys to victory, they will make this a series.

Random Observations: NBA Finals Edition

In the words of the great San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Scott Ostler, here are my deep thoughts, cheap shots, and bon mots:

---And then there were two. The Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers battle for championship glory beginning tomorrow night at the Staples Center. I'm terrible at predictions, but just for the heck of it, I'll go with my heart: Magic in 6. Beat LA!!!

---This should be a fantastic series. Orlando, led by the unstoppable Dwight Howard, is an incredibly dangerous team, and if the threes keep falling, Stan Van Gundy's team will pose some serious problems for the Lakers. On the other side, there is Kobe Bryant, and as much as I dislike the guy, his presence in the Finals will make for spectacular drama.

---It will be interesting to see how the two defenses react to Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant. Phil Jackson will use Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol as his Superman stoppers, while Stan Van Gundy will likely start Mikael Pietrus on Kobe. Pietrus will likely fare better than Bynum and Gasol, judging by his admirable defensive effort against LeBron James in the Eastern Conference finals.

---Speaking of LeBron, there is no excuse for that display of poor sportsmanship at the end of Game 6 against the Magic. James is the best player in the NBA, and he has every right to be frustrated with the lack of support from his teammates. But just because you're justifiably upset does not mean that it's okay to bolt out of the arena like a bitter schoolgirl.

---Are the well-publicized rumors of Jameer Nelson's return true? I certainly hope so. Nelson is probably rusty after four months off the court, and he would be backing up Rafer Alston if he returns in this series. However, even with limited production, Nelson can provide emotional uplift for the underdog Magic.

---I was very impressed with the play of Lamar Odom in games five and six against Denver. Odom, a player who occasionally puts in lackluster effort, fully realized his talent in those two games. However, he might have a heart attack on the court if he keeps gorging on candy every day. Odom's sugar-heavy diet is likely to cause him problems once his career is over.

---Shaq says via Twitter that he wants Kobe to win another championship. In other news, Latrell Spreewell says that he and P.J. Carlisimo are best friends.

---Dwight and Kobe are the two stars, but my two key players in this series are Rashard Lewis and Pau Gasol.

---Every time I glance at the Lakers bench, I am reminded of the sad plight of Adam Morrison. After a stellar college career at Gonzaga, Morrison was praised by some as the second coming of Larry Bird. Now, he is nothing more than a forgettable bench warmer.

---I hate the Lakers, but I love Jack Nicholson. I wish more celebrities were as devoted to their sports teams as Jack is with his beloved purple and gold.

---The Finals feature a hilarious contrast between the two head coaches. On one side you have Phil Jackson, a Hall of Famer whose extreme calm makes him a living advertisement for Xanax. On the other side you have Stan Van Gundy, a coach whose frantic intensity makes Bobby Knight blush.

---So sit back, relax, and enjoy the NBA Finals. And remember........Go Magic!!!