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Fantastic Finals
Knicks at Spurs, Game 1 tonight.
I’m excited. Which is strange for me for a non-prime LeBron/Steph and the Warriors finals.
But this has a lot of pieces and layers.
It’s the next “that guy” against the team that feels destined to be “that team” for a franchise and fan base starved for it.
It’s a chance for Victor Wembanyama to step beyond the rest to the forefront in the NBA landscape.
It’s a chance for Jalen Brunson to become the most beloved player in a storied franchise’s history.
Think about that, friends. How many current basketball players are “that guy of a franchise” in this NBA?
> Steph is that guy.
> SGA is that guy.
> Giannis was close, but not so much with the way it has unravelled.
> Who else? Anyone else?
With a win Brunson passes Ewing and Reed, Clyde and Walt, and all the rest.
Championships do that, especially for franchises starved for a title like the Knicks.
It’s a chance for better-than-expected ratings, especially considering the TV competition right now, and that’s huge for the league and its partners in Year One of their new broadcasting deal.
It’s a chance for Screamin’ A to get even more TV time. (Side note: We need Screamin’ A and Chuck on the same podium, friends. Who’s with me?)
Here’s hoping the series is good. And the action is aesthetically pleasing.
Spurs in 6.
A morning well spent
If you know Mickey McCamish, chances are you are better off for it.
McCamish is retired Navy and a champion of so many worthy causes in our fair burg.
He’s involved with animal causes, homeless efforts, civic goals and so much more.
But his mission is supporting and servicing our military veterans.
I’ve known Mickey for a long time, since his early days with the Classic 150, which was the forerunner to the city’s Sports Committee, for clear reasons.
It’s a true perk of this career to be able to meet wonderful people along the journey, and Mickey counts.
So Monday, when an email from Mickey landed in my box, I opened it. It included a slew of us, but it was Mickey, after all.
He shared that a recently deceased veteran was going to be buried Tuesday morning, and he had no family or close connections.
Mickey simply asked those who could to try to attend.
Tuesday morning there were almost 40 of us standing there on short notice realizing so many truths and seeing so many realities.
Life is short. Sacrifice is honorable. Patriotism is noble. Time is relentless.
The chaplain did not talk about the sailor directly. How could he?
But he asked us to look around and, in a fracture and frazzled time, appreciate those who are willing to risk everything for the ideals that made our country the envy of the world.
Between the Psalms and the philosophical connections to the afterlife, I scanned the audience. Most were veterans and wore their colors, be it full uniform, pins, vests, hats or whatever. I thanked everyone in uniform.
The chaplain reminded us that sin is a part of life, and we’re all sinners. But so are our successes a part of life.
And I feel far too often we are either judged or judge on the worst moments rather than the totality of good-to-great-to-noble acts.
The chaplain highlighted that by saying plainly that this man served. His country. His family. His unit. Himself.
And that deserves respect and honor.
Amen, Chappy. Amen.
As I walked to my truck, I wondered how many folks would be at my funeral. Morbid, I know, but somewhat natural too, I suppose.
Heck, they are going to have to rent out Truist for Spy’s end-of-time festivities. But then again, Spy is 206ish and maybe a character from an Anne Rice novel.
We are all authors. We write sentences in our story every day. We write chapters knowingly and unknowingly.
As I left, Mickey stopped me, and thanked me.
I turned around and said, “No Mickey. Thank you.”
For everything.
Summer hot topics
Now is the time.
That’s it. That’s the thought.
In fact, Josh Heupel needs to take a page from Kevin Costner’s “Draft Day” character and put a note in his pocket that simply reads “Faizon Brandon, no matter what.”
This story says Brandon, the five-star true freshman locked in a QB1 battle with George MacIntyre in Knoxville heading into a critical year for Heupel and the Vols regime.
Here’s more about Brandon’s ascension in the conversation from CBSsports.com.
Look, it’s far from rosy in Big Orange Nation.
The late-season train wrecks, especially at home to the Vandy Pavias. The first staff firing of Heupel’s head coaching career. The expensive portal posturing, which also includes the noticeable current absence of five-star edge rusher Chaz Coleman.
But the QB conversation still swirls with or above all of those.
It’s the importance of the position and the nature of the beast, especially heading into the summer.
So why Brandon? Glad you asked.
First, when it’s close, always err young. Yes, MacIntyre is but a redshirt freshman, but in the portal era, he has already proven that he would consider staying if he’s QB2 on the Big Orange depth chart. Brandon? Who knows?
Second, the upside is undeniably and drastically different between the two. Maybe MacIntyre is more polished, but Brandon simply has a wider array of tools in his shed. And that matters.
Finally, losing with hope for better is way better than simply losing.
Play MacIntyre and struggle, and the narrative quickly becomes “WTH, and Brandon is not better than this?”
Play Brandon and struggle, and the blame can be classified in some ways as growing pains with the promise of better tomorrow.
Interesting times in the 865.
This and that
> Braves played. Braves won. And Matt Olson hit the eventual game-winning homer with a 49-degree launch angle. Olson was cussing when he left the batter’s box because he thought it was a can of corn. Which colloquial baseball saying is the best? Can of corn has to be up there, right, Signal Esquire?
> Some “surprising” news this morning: Sun rose in the East. Scott Pelley was canned by CBS after his recent comments about corporate leadership.
> Former LSU QB1/2 Rohan Davey put the whispers around Baton Rouge on blast. Davey said recently that if new Tigers coach Lane Somethingorother does not get LSU into the college football playoff, “we have a problem.” OK.
> Speaking of The Meme King, Lane Kiffin has been social media silent for almost a month since the Vanity Fair article published with the breaking news that Kiffin revealed alleged racist undertones in Mississippi.
> The NBA Finals Game 1 is not the only championship opener tonight. Everything (softball) is bigger in Texas as the Longhorns face Texas Tech for the Women’s Softball College World Series. Game 1 is tonight.
> Somewhere Jose Canseco is smiling. Angels outfielder Jo Adell had a fly ball bounce off his noggin for a home run. Which MLB blooper is the most famous? Canseco’s headed homer is up there. Nolan Ryan pummeling Robin Ventura maybe? 50 Cent’s first pitch? What else makes the short list?
> So here’s betting no one bats an eye at smoking some weed at a Black Crowes concert. But chanting “U-S-A! U-S-A!” is off limits for lead singer Chris Robinson. So there’s that.
> The bipartisan Protect College Sports Bill is supposed to be discussed this week in Congress. And yeah, the SEC and the Big Ten actually can agree on something: They hate the PCSB. (No Spy, that does not stand for Panama City Sandy Beaches.) The Superpower 2 each referenced the lack of federal laws taking precedent over conflicting state laws in the PCSB. Neither mentioned the 12-ton, cash-stuffed elephant in the bill that would make it permissible to pool media revenue between leagues. Spoken or not, here’s betting the SEC and Big Ten concur on their hatred for that clause, too.
> Man, now comes news that Aaron Donald may return for one more ride with the Rams. Yeah, adding a prime Myles Garrett and even a 35-year Aaron Donald — who not that long ago was the best defensive player in the sport — is a two-sided infusion of Gold Jackets to the Los Angeles defensive front.
Today’s questions
Which Way Wednesday starts in a few places above.
Which current NBA players — or MLB or NFL players — are “that guy” for their current franchises?
Which UT QB1 would you give the keys?
Which is your favorite MLB blooper?
As for today, June 3, let’s review.
“Big” was released on this day in 1988. Thumbs up.
On this day in 1851, the first baseball uniforms were worn by the NY Knickerbockers. Those uniforms included straw hats.
Rushmore of straw hats and be creative.