Form the "Talks too much" studios, bring the passion
NBA playoffs
Fans cheer as Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after scoring during the first half of Game 5 in a second-round NBA playoff basketball series against the Memphis Grizzlies in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) The Golden State Warriors hammered Memphis to take a 3-2 lead. It was 98-78 and not really that close.
In the other Game 5, the Atlanta Hawks escaped with an 82-81 win that was capped with Al Horford's hustling put back.
It was a physical and at times sluggish game that featured one of the most unfortunate Kiss Cam moments in sports history.
In fact, the action was downright sloppy - neither team shooting better than 42 percent and each committing at least 19 turnovers - but winning in the postseason means winning ugly as often as it means winning pretty. More so even, especially for a collection team like the Hawks.
Still, it's becoming more difficult by the game to believe in these Hawks when they are down one at home in a must-have game and Dennis Schroder is the team's creator in the final seconds.
Look around the rest of the teams still alive in that scenario, and where does Schroder rank on the confidence scale with the ball in his hands down one?
Yep. You know.
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Brady
So this report has someone telling Adam Schefter that Tom Brady won't miss a game.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady gestures during an event at Salem State University in Salem, Mass., Thursday, May 7, 2015. An NFL investigation has found that New England Patriots employees likely deflated footballs and that quarterback Tom Brady was "at least generally aware" of the rules violations. The 243-page report released Wednesday, May 6, 2015, said league investigators found no evidence that coach Bill Belichick and team management knew of the practice. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) Wow, that would be crazy.
And staggering.
And would have the potential to put the NFL in a very precarious place.
Of all the fallout story lines if the Brady punishment was overturned, how long would it take for it to move beyond favoritism of Patriots and the Golden Boy quarterback to get to racial. Yes, the acts of Ray Rice, Greg Hardy, et al., are far more serious and violent and deserve action.
But in the eyes of the NFL, Brady's alleged involvement in a cheating conspiracy has to be taken seriously.
Brady has until 5 p.m. today to appeal.
Tick-tock. And senator, love the suit.
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Hockey
There are few things better in sports than Game 7.
Overtime in Game 7 is one of them.
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, celebrates his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, March 31, 2015, in Washington. It was Ovechkins' 50th goal of the year. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Alex Ovechkin, one of the game's great players, guaranteed a Washington win , and he scored the game's first goal.
But the New York Rangers rallied for a 2-1 win to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
We do not talk a lot of hockey around these parts, but if you were luck enough to catch some of this last night, it was gripping drama.
Good times.
Crazy stat of the night: The Rangers are now 7-0 in Game 7s at Madison Square Garden.
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FILE - In this March 25, 2015, file photo, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addresses the media at a news conference at the NFL Annual Meeting in Phoenix. The National Football League is giving up its tax-exempt status. In a letter to team owners, Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league office and its management council will file tax returns as taxable entities for the 2015 fiscal year. Goodell says the NFL has been tax-exempt since 1942, though all 32 teams pay taxes on their income. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File) This and that
- This whole Tom Brady thing must be really serious in Roger Goodell's mind. Yep, the league is looking again at changing the extra point rules. Wow, DeflateGate is huge.
- The Braves lost 5-1 to the Reds, who got stellar pitching in the two-hitter. How good was it? Well, the Braves' pinch-hitters went 2-for-2; the Braves starters, including pitcher Eric Stults, were 0-for-27. Not good.
- Big Orange caravan coverage from TFP aces Downtown Patrick Brown and Mark Wiedmer was excellent as always. Here's the football story and Weeds' take on Rick Barnes and the scene.
- How many scholarship offers do you think Shareef O'Neal, Shaq's 6-foot-7 freshman son, will get? We're willing to wager that John Caliperi is already on this.
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New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) makes a one-handed catch for a touchdown against Dallas Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr (39) in the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J.Today's question
Yo, mailbag people. MAIL-bag
As for today's Rushmore, let's go here:
Odell Beckham Jr. will grace the cover of Madden '16. He edged Rob Gronkowski in the fan vote.
In some ways that's little sad. Beckham's memorable and miraculous one-handed catch will make a great cover image - check out the cover and the video of the catch here - and he is worthy.
But Gronk's cover image could easily be his plaid Kentucky Derby suit, Vegas Gronk or anywhere in between.
Alas.
So in honor of Odell Beckham Jr., let's do a Rushmore of the best catches.
And remember the mailbag.