Greatest this, greatest that
Now that the Warriors are turning these NBA Finals into a cakewalk coronation, we are looking for more things to discuss.
Sure, we all hoped to be breaking down how a defensive switch could make a difference or what the Cavs need to do to find an extra basket or three. (In truth, Cleveland down 2-0 heading into Game 3 is what we expected. It’s just the way they are down 2-0 that changes the perspective heading into tonight’s critical Game 3.)
So instead of these Finals, everyone keeps weighing in on “The Greatest” in basketball chat.
Here’s Pat Riley saying the Magic is better than Michael or LeBron. (The lesson here is, kids, be careful how much hair product you use. Apparently, it eats away at your brain cells.) Here’s the aforementioned Magic saying his Showtime Lakers were the best team ever. Considering the dynamics of that Lakers team’s ability to score in transition and drop the ball to Kareem in half-court sets, we might be willing to listen to that discussion.
And then there is the most ridiculous ‘best’ discussion that is making the rounds that Kevin Durant is the best player on the planet. KD is enjoying a great start to these Finals, but to think anyone with a basketball greater than 7 would take Durant over LeBron right now is silly.
In five years, maybe. Right now?
It’s still LeBron’s world and even KD knows it.
Philadelphia Phillies’ Aaron Nola pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, June 6, 2017, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)Great major league stuff
While the Braves and the Phillies were dueling in the MLB version of two little people trying to decide who is tallest, arguably the best two teams in the National League went toe-to-toe last night.
Yes, the Cubs have a great lineup. Yes, the Brewers and the Rockies have surprised beyond belief. Yes, it all may be a moot point considering the way the Astros are playing in the AL.
All that aside, the Nationals and the Dodgers are on an NLCS collision course. And if the last two nights of baseball are any indication, it will be glorious.
Washington has grabbed the first two games in the series, winning 4-2 on Monday and taking a 2-1 gem last night thanks to the incredible dealing from Max Scherzer.
Simply put, he was amazing. His first 11 outs came by K, and he finished with 14 strikeouts in seven innings. In Scherzer’s last three starts, he has gone 24.2 innings with 38 Ks and four walks and two earned runs allowed. Almost as impressive for a power pitcher, he’s averaged less than 105 pitches in those starts.
These are the two teams with the most complete rosters, and the Nationals, who are an NL-best 37-20, may be the most complete team in baseball. They are hitting an NL-best .275 (Houston leads the majors at .278) and the rotation has produced 37 quality starts, which leads the majors.
Yes, there are concerns at the back end of the bullpen. (Last night Koda Glover recored the save by striking out Yaisel Puig, and the two got into a dust-up because, well, you know baseball’s unwritten rules happened. Again.)
And now for the really bad news for the rest of the NL, after last night’s 2-1 gem – a game that most teams likely would have expected to have trotted out their aces for – take a guess who gets the ball for today’s series finale.
Yep, that would be Clayton Kershaw versus Stephen Strasburg.
See you in October.
UT football coach Butch Jones will meet fans at Saturday’s Big Orange Caravan in First Tennessee Pavilion.All in a name
We very seldom use unnamed sources.
It offers a specter of doubt that can erode credibility and confidence. That is in news stories, especially controversially ones.
That said, for a while, in the TFP college football preview edition we would get quotes from coaches on teams and offer them anonymity to increase honesty and depth of the quotes.
Football coaches by nature are raised and trained to speak at length and say next to nothing. Sure, Steve Spurrier was different, but he was the exception to the rule. As some college football websites are telling us, apparently Lindy’s preview edition did something similar for its upcoming summer reading tradition.
And the results of the anonymous assessments on Tennessee coach Butch Jones were less than flattering.
How bad were they? Here are three that we’re pretty sure Butch is not going to be putting on his resume.
“Tennessee hasn’t won 10 games (since 2007). No way they should go 10 years at Tennessee and not win 10-11 games. No way. That’s an indictment on the coaches, the school, the president. You have the resources, the fan passion, the stadium, the financial commitment.”
“A part of me says Butch Jones has done a good job. A part of me says no. I think he’s too concerned with what the media says than doing his job. If you win, the media doesn’t matter. If you lose, everything matters. I think he gets caught up in public opinion. I think he’s an insecure guy.”
“When you’re in your fourth year and the defense is that bad, that ain’t good. The thing about Tennessee this year, they don’t have a quarterback, they don’t have a running back, and for all those guys they’ve signed, I don’t see any dominant, draftable players.
Thoughts?
This and that
* Some dude named Scooter Gennett became the 17th player in baseball history to hit four homers in a game. He had 10 RBIs last night as the Reds beat the Cardinals 13-1.
* Five-star quarterback Justin Fields, the No. 4 overall player in the 2018 class according to 247sports.com, decommitted from Penn State. That news makes a lot of programs looking for a quarterback in this class very happy.
* Novak Djokovic was ousted in the quarterfinals of the French Open on Wednesday morning. There’s your tennis update for the week. Also, Serena Williams is still pregnant. That is all.
* Veteran NFL corner Shareece Wright took a 550-mile Uber ride from Chicago to Buffalo to attend voluntary OTAs. With the $300 tip, it cost Wright $932.08 to get to Buffalo for practice.
* This is a great piece from TFP ace sports columnist Mark Wiedmer on new Notre Dame offensive line coach Jeff Jagodzinski. Good stuff and excellent details, a hallmark of Weeds at his best.
Today’s question
Let’s roll a little one-word Wednesday.
The best NBA team ever is the _____________. (And yes, that one may have a year and a team name.)
The best word to describe Butch Jones is ____________.
The best team in the National League is ___________.
As for a Rushmore, on this day in 1975 Sony released the VCR. Man that was a game changer for our generation, and trips to the Movie Rental joint were awesome. Sharing birthdays today are Prince (he would have been 59), Mike Pence (58), Tom Jones (77), Allen Iverson (42), Liam Neeson (65) and Anna Kournikova, who is 36. Considering that Kournikova never won a professional tournament, who is on the Rushmore of most infamous athletes of all time? Let’s face it, Kournikova is known world-wide and she barely cracked the top 10.
Go and remember the mailbag.