Weekend winners
Stanley Cup playoffs. An exciting series that has caught some real national attention with the energy Nashville is catching a lot of attention.The TV numbers for Game 3 were up 16 percent from last year.
Albert Pujols. Dude hit one of seven grand slams on Saturday - a MLB record for a single day - but his was special. It was his 600th career home run. He is now one of only nine players with 600 or more homers, and he and Babe Ruth are the only two in that group with a lifetime average of .300 or better. (And yes, we had to double check on Barry Bonds, who hit .298.)
Harriette Thompson. Thompson finished a half-marathon this weekend in 3:42. No the time is not world-beating but now know that Thompson is 94 and still beat 800 others. (And would have dusted us.)
Ender Inciarte. There were a lot of gaudy numbers over the weekend in baseball, but the Atlanta centerfield went 5-for-5 with a homer and five RBIs. Inciarte is 24-of-56 since a five-hit game on May 22. He entered that game against Pittsburgh hitting .258. After his second five-hit game in two weeks, the Braves lead-off hitter is now at .299.
Jason Dufner. We thought the former Auburn golfing standout would be on the other list after a third-round 77 wasted a monster lead at the Memorial. Dufner, who makes a cigar store Indian look animated, battled back with a 68 on Sunday that included a 30 on the back nine and a 30-footer for par to win the tournament.
This April 8, 2016 photo released by HBO shows Bill Maher, host of "Real Time with Bill Maher," during a broadcast of the show in Los Angeles. Controversial Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos will join Maher on his political talk show on Friday, Feb. 17. (Janet Van Ham/HBO via AP) Losers
Daniel Summerhays. Speaking of the Memorial, Summerhays walked to the first tee Sunday with a three-shot lead. He walked off the course a bunch of hours later - rain delayed the final round - with a 78 and finished tied for 10th, seven shots behind Dufner.
Bill Maher. The controversial host of the controversial HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher used the N-bomb on live TV on Friday night the reaction was predictable, and he apologized. The fall out has been some what of an interesting social issue case study, and how it plays out will be interesting. Maher is a known liberal and atheist who has courted controversy at almost every turn. Wonder if he will lose his job? We're all for comedians pushing the envelope, and no one would bat an eye if/when Chris Rock uses that word. But if Maher, a 61-year-old white dude keeps his, you have to wonder how a conservative like Tim Allen would be treated using that word. And, yes, history and prior acts do play a part, but that would then turn arguably the most black/white divisive word anywhere into a liberal/conservative issue.
Paul Krebs. The former New Mexico AD was forced to resign after accusations that he misused state funds for a luxurious Scotland golf trip two years ago. He also was forced to step down from the NCAA selection committee.
Megyn Kelly. The former Fox TV personality arguably had the second best primary season during the presidential election, turning her time in the spotlight into a springboard to her own show on NBC. Her first guest was Vladimir Putin, and the Russian leader brushed off her questions and made her look like a newbie. Heck, we've heard Butch Jones interviews that were more revealing.
The soul of country music. Heard over the weekend that the junk band that is Florida Georgia Line is working on a project with the Backstreet Boys. That means a) it likely will hit No. 1 in this age of awful music and b) George Jones just punched an angel.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after scoring next to Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James during the second half of Game 2 of basketball's NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, June 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) NBA Finals
Two games into the match-up we all wanted and most of us expected to be tight, the Warriors have flexed and the Cavs have flopped.
Here are some stats that do not speak well of this being a series, even at all:
Teams that are up 2-0 are 28-4 in the NBA Finals; Kevin Durant has already scored more points (71) in this series than Harrison Barnes did (66) in all of last year's series; The Warriors scored 132 points in Game 2 and committed 20 turnovers; Tristan Thompson has been rendered unplayable; J.R. Smith played 14 minutes last night and scored as many points as you did;
It has been a very one-sided start. Two things jumped out watching last night.
First, maybe we just were not as in tune with the Warriors during the regular season, but their pace is simply unreal. They fast break off made free throws, which is incredible, and if every person on your team is not sprinting back and in position, someone will fire a 3.
Second, LeBron's size and strength actually is a detriment when it comes to the officiating. There were multiple occasions last night that if it had been any other player on the floor, the contact would have sent them to the floor. LeBron just plows through it and gets roughly half the calls.
Would it have made a difference last night? Probably not, but the fact that Steph Curry attempted 14 free throws and James attempted five - on a night when LeBron was focused on getting to the basket - is hard to believe.
And there was one play that JaVale McGee fouled LeBron on the way to the basket that, had it been any other ball handler in this series, it would have been a flagrant and McGee very well could have been ejected.
LeBron powered through and made the basket.
Again, it likely would not have mattered last night. It will be interesting to see how Game 3 is called, because let's be frank - a sweep would be dreadful for the NBA.
This and that
* Florida and Oklahoma - the two teams that have won the last three titles - will meet in the Women's College World Series starting tonight.
* Speaking of the NBA Finals, NFL running back LeSean McCoy certainly has enjoyed the first two games. McCoy bet $200,000 to win $62,500 on the Warriors winning the series.
* Thought this was interesting. Max Preps names the top preseason high school football team in each state. Brentwood Academy is No. 1 in Tennessee; Grayson in Loganville is tops in Georgia.
* Speaking of football, here is a list of all the quarterback transfers who are going to have an impact on the college football landscape. What to guess the number? Yep, it's more than that. (There are 23 on that list.)
* Apparently Peyton Manning played some golf with POTUS and Tennessee senator Bob Corker.
* Congrats to former Ringgold ace Matthew Crownover, who as TFP Georgia prep ace Lindsey Young tells us here, got promoted to Class AA.
* Lots of interesting stuff from this take on UT coaching decisions facing new AD John Currie from TFP ace sports columnist Mark Wiedmer,
Today's question
Weekend winners and losers are always a Monday option.
Go.
Happy birthday to Robert Kraft, who is 76 today.
Ronald Reagan died on this day in 2004.
If you need a Rushmore
Mark Wahlberg is 46 today.
Of the famous siblings out there, who makes the Rushmore of the most famous younger siblings?
Go.