In quite possibly the most Dad-eriffic Sunday of TV bliss on a picturesque Father’s Day, we were left with a slew of weekend winners and losers, and most of them were left with each category coming from the same events.
Let’s explore.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) sits on the bench during the second half of Game 7 of basketball’s NBA Finals between the Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, June 19, 2016. The Cavaliers won 93-89 to win the series. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Winners and losers
How Cleveland won: This one is clear. LeBron James and the Cavs won the NBA title, improbably coming back from a 3-1 hole to beat the record-setting Warriors 93-89 in a thrilling Game 7 to cap a super-fun NBA Finals. The images of the city celebrating as Kryie Irving hit the dagger 3 were powerful and telling. It’s the city’s first day as a pro sports champion in 18,800 days.
How Cleveland loses: This one may be a stretch, but the clock is officially ticking on what happens in the offseason with the game’s best player and the championship roster. Tick tock.
How Fox’s golf coverage won: The good was the graphics and the technological embrace that included the ball tracker – both the tracer off the tee and the simulation over the layout of the course. It also included the best topographical images of the contours of greens that make the Scream Machine look like a drag strip. It was impressive all the way around from a visual standpoint. Also, much thanks for starting the coverage very early Sunday.
How Fox’s coverage lost: The really bad was the announcers on the Fox coverage. OK, let’s break it down. Joe Buck was fine but his voice does not carry the gravitas a major championship needs like the other networks. He did a nice job but it could just as easily been the Wachovia Championship for Pete’s sake. And the analysts were wretched. All of them. Whether it was “These players are really into it.” You think so doctor. Or “That’s not an easy two-putt.” Thanks, there brain surgeon. It was a combination of Saturday morning two-ball jargon and obvious gibberish.
How the USGA won: Oakmont looked brilliant, and the tournament rallied from a disastrous weather start to finish in the twilight of Sunday evening. Plus, the conditions that the USGA coveted – hard, fast and down right unputtable for anyone other than the game’s greats – were clear and present Sunday.
How the USGA lost: That rules fiasco – debating and delaying and ultimately deciding that Dustin Johnson caused his ball to move on the green early in the final round – overshadowed the coverage of the back nine of a brilliant performance by Johnson, who captured his first major a year after melting down at the end of this same tournament.
How golf’s best won the weekend: Yes, Johnson punched his ticket into the fraternity of major champions. He deserved it, especially with that approach to 5 feet for birdie on the 72nd hole to put an exclamation point on this event. He has as good a game – and he’s one of the best with the driver on the planet – as anyone. He’s a well-deserved member to the game’s current elite with Jordan and Jason and Rory.
How golf’s best lost the weekend: OK, the inner circle of elite grows, but it would be hard to not notice the erratic play of the other members of that upper crust. Jason Day was in the mix until an inexplicable double-bogey, bogey finish. Rory missed the cut. Jordan was a non factor. Know this: No one will ever make a Tiger-like run at Jack’s 18 majors for a couple of reasons. First, the game is deeper than it’s ever been. Even Jack said so Sunday. Second, life-changing money now makes winning just a couple of majors a complete career. Banging five hours worth of sand wedges can be a little less attractive when you already have an eight- or nine-figure bank account.
How soccer won the weekend: Having the US men’s team in the semifinals is a huge boost for attention and interest.
How soccer lost the weekend: Even with the US men’s team in the semifinals, did anyone pay attention to the matches?
How Game of Thrones fans won the weekend: OK, great episode. All the way around. Truly awesome.
How Game of Thrones fans lost the weekend: Got to admit, having Ramsay Bolton eaten by his dogs – as great as that was – means we lost an all-time great villain.
Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James answers questions as he holds his daughter Zhuri during a post-game press conference after Game 7 of basketball’s NBA Finals Sunday, June 19, 2016, in Oakland, Calif. Cleveland won 93-89. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) LeBron
Man that was a great Game 7 to cap the second-most watched NBA Finals ever. Hard to remember a time since the 1980s heyday when the NBA had this many top-level stars leading top-level teams.
But there is no one better in the game than LeBron James. Period. End of discussion.
He may never be Michael – not sure anyone will, considering the way MJ realigned his game as the best mid-range jump shooter the NBA has ever seen – but not sure anyone will.
But James puts his name atop the best small forwards ever, and right there with anyone else haggling to be right there behind Jordan.
Look at what he did and has done.
Six straight finals and three wins. First team to rally back from a 3-1 hole to win the finals. Led each team in scoring, rebounding, assists, blocks and steals in the finals.
Defensively, he blocked two huge shots that were every bit as important as Kyrie’s monster 3.
It’s hard to imagine the feeling James has right now, knowing that this series was going to be a huge chapter in the narrative that will be his legacy and delivering this performance in the last three games. All of the elimination games, mind you.
Game 5 – 41 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists
Game 6 – 41 points, eight rebounds, 11 assists
Game 7 – 27 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists
Yes, we all are quick to judge on the most recent sample size, but that was incredible. This is not to discredit the Warriors or anything they accomplished. They were trucked by an irresistible force over the last week.
Yes, Steph Curry was the MVP player this year. He was great on the best regular-season team ever.
But, there is a difference between most valuable and simply the best of his time.
This and that
– Thought this was an interesting turn of events. Former McCallie student and New York Jets first-round pick Darron Lee has a new/old member of his advisory staff. His mom quit her job to work as Lee’s “mom-ager” and to help maximize his endorsements and the like. Alrighty then.
– Hey, don’t look now but the Braves have won five in a row.
– Thought this was cool. That’s NFL kicker Ryan Succoup caddying for his buddy Wesley Bryan on the Web.com tour this weekend.
– Running late this morning. We’ll have the results of the Open contest shortly but we needed to send this before 10 a.m. as not to be the 5-at-10:30.
Today’s question
LeBron’s performance in this finals was epic.
Is he the best small forward of all-time? You know our answer, but looking for some input.
Also, John Goodman turns 64 today, and we realize that not many folks have had the two-way career he has.
Dude was the star of the No. 1 show on TV (Rosanne) and has a better than you’d expect movie career. Does he make the Rushmore of folks who have had the most TV and film success?
Go, and War LeBron.