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Believeland: 2014-2017

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Last night’s ping pong balls won’t have any impact on the Eastern Conference Finals. I fully expect the Cleveland Cavaliers to defeat the Boston Celtics in six games. They won’t sail through the Eastern Conference Playoffs undefeated, but they’ll get back to the NBA Finals in 2017. What last night’s ping pong balls mean is that this trip to the NBA Finals could be the last for LeBron and Co. At least for a little while.

LeBron has brought a team to the NBA Finals six years in a row, and seven times in the last 10 years. Defeating the Celtics in 2017 would make it seven trips in a row to the NBA Finals, and eight trips in the last 11 years. You can say whatever you want about LeBron, that he’s *only* won three titles, but those numbers are Jordanesque. More aptly, those numbers are Russellesque.

The Boston Celtics went to ten straight NBA Finals from 1957-1966. No team since has been to more than four NBA Finals in a row. LeBron’s streak has been dominant. And as a rule, I don’t hold championship losses against athletes. Why should it be held against LeBron that he took teams to the NBA Finals that had no business being there? Would his *legacy* look better with a second round loss in 2007 than a loss in the Finals?

Tom Brady has lost two more Super Bowls than Troy Aikman. I don’t see anyone putting Aikman ahead of Brady because of that.

All that said, the clock is about strike midnight on LeBron and Co. I’m not saying he’ll never go to another NBA Finals, but he might need to work on his entourage after this season. He will soon have legitimate competition in the East for the first time in almost a decade. The Boston Celtics are going to be a wagon.

The Celtics are a pretty good team as is. They are going to add The Number One Overall Pick and Gordon Hayward. They have one of the best, young coaches in the game. The East will be under new management this fall, and I can’t wait.

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Airlines Behaving Badly

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USA Today – Lines are longer than usual. Hundreds of flights have been delayed or canceled during the past week. By Monday, frustrations boiled over for Spirit Airlines passengers in Fort Lauderdale.

Police were called to quell fights that had broken out there between upset fliers and beleaguered airline employees. Videos posted by passengers showed a chaotic scene, with authorities doing their best to separate fighting fliers.

The Monday evening incident erupted after Spirit Airlines abruptly canceled nine different flights, according to CBS News. But problems had been building at the carrier for the past week, with CNN saying nearly 300 Spirit flights have been canceled during that period.

I feel for these fliers, I really do. They’re just like the rest of us, trying to get from Point A to Point B as cheap as possible. All airlines basically suck, so who cares if you lose a little leg room or the free half can of Diet Coke on Spirit?

But I’d be lying if I told you wasn’t laughing at Spirt Airlines today.

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You know how I know Spirit really is the worst? Even the pilots employed by Spirit hate Spirit.

Spirit Airlines filed a suit Monday against its pilot union… In its suit, Spirit accused the union of being “engaged in a pervasive illegal work slowdown that has caused approximately 300 flight cancellations and has disrupted the travel plans of over 20,000 customers.”

Spirit suggested the effort was an attempt by the union to affect contract negotiations.

If there’s any justice in this world, it’d be nice to see Spirit get hit with a billion dollars worth of change fees for the 20,000 customers they’ve screwed.

Will that be cash or check, Spirit?

 

PS – As always, I really just want this airline’s stock to take a dump so I can get a $40 flight to California next month. Is that too much to ask for?

Red Sox Weekend Recap

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After a tough loss on Friday night, the Red Sox bounced back to take two of three from the Minnesota Twins over the weekend in Minneapolis.

The bats were quiet for the Red Sox most of Friday night. They managed only one run off of six hits through eight innings, before getting three hits and two runs to tie the game in the top of the ninth. But with two outs in the bottom half of the inning Joe Mauer ended it with a solo shot to center. Mauer’s first career walk-off home run gave the Twins the 4-3 win.

After heating up in the ninth inning Friday night, the Sox bats stayed hot Saturday. Chris Young, who pinch hit for Jackie Bradley Jr. in the ninth inning Friday night and drove in the game-tying runs, went 2-for-5 on Saturday with two solo home runs. Dustin Pedroia drove in three runs, while Xander Bogaerts, Andrew Benintendi and Sandy Leon collected three hits each in the 11-1 Sox win.

The Sox hitters continued to pound the baseball on Sunday, but it was actually a lot closer than the 17-6 final score would indicate. Chris Sale struck out 10, but allowed four runs on four hits and three walks. The Sox led 7-6 with just one out and a runner on third in the bottom of the eighth when John Farrell went to his closer. Craig Kimbrel came in to strike out Joe Mauer and Max Kepler and get the Sox out of the jam.

The 10-run ninth inning overshadowed Farrell’s decision to go to Kimbrel with the tying run at third base in the bottom of the eighth inning. What was evident at the time and obvious in hindsight is that the last two outs of the eighth inning were the two most important outs of the game for the Red Sox. Good for Farrell to recognize that. If the Sox blow that lead, maybe the ninth inning plays out differently. A big win for the sabermetricians, too.

It was also good to see Farrell play the hot hands for the most part. With Bradley Jr. struggling, now batting just .175 on the season, it was good to see him stick with Chris Young and get rewarded. Sandy Leon also looked like a beast over the weekend, upping his average 50 points in two days with five hits, three home runs and five runs batted in.

The Sox are off today. They’ll finish up their six-game road trip with three games at  Miller Park in Milwaukee this week.

What the Frork?

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USA Today – The days of getting your fingers dirty while sopping up toppings with fries are over. 

McDonald’s unveiled a “uselessly useful” utensil called a “frork” Monday in a hilarious infomercial hosted by McDonald’s Chef Mike and pitchman Anthony Sullivan. The frork is essentially a fork, but with French fries. 

The frork was released as part of the rollout of McDonald’s new Signature Crafted Recipe Sandwiches… The frork will be available while supplies last at participating restaurants on May 5 with the purchase of a Signature Crafted Recipe sandwich.

The frork is only the fourth most outrageous thing in this infomercial. As a matter of fact, I think it’s pretty damn clever. I’m not one to waste the lettuce and sauce that falls out of my Big Mac. That’s Big Mac Salad. The frork will help me eat my Big Mac Salad in a more civilized manner.

The most outrageous parts of this infomercial are the Signature Crafted Recipe sandwiches. I’m sure they’ll be delicious, but I’ll be damned if I can think of a good reason why they need to be on the menu in the first place. Chef Mike seems like a good guy, but McDonald’s doesn’t strike me as the type of place to go to for Pico Guacamole or artisan bacon. That’s why I loved the Mac Jr. and Grand Mac – stick to your strengths and play to your base.

If I have to buy a Signature Crafted Recipe sandwich to get a frork, so be it. But the frork is definitely more useful than the sandwich.

 

PS – Good thing this infomercial dropped on May 1 and not April 1. Definitely would not have believed this a month ago.

 

Celtics to Retire Paul Pierce’s #34

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The Celtics have retired more numbers than any other team in American sports history. With 21 numbers in the rafters, the Celtics have taken more numbers out of circulation than the New York Yankees. The Yankees will tie the Celtics for most retired numbers when they officially retire number 2 later this month, but the Celtics will retake the lead when they officially take number 34 out of circulation.

Despite the bevy of numbers in the rafters, it’s been a while since the Celtics have retired a number. The last time was December 15, 2003 when they retired Cedric Maxwell’s number 31. Maxwell played for the C’s from 1977 through 1985. The most recent Celtics player to have his number retired is Robert Parish. The Chief last played for the C’s in 1994 and had his number retired January 18, 1998.

Though the Celtics could be accused of retiring the number of any player who stuck around for a few championships, that is not the case here. Paul Pierce started his Celtics career on February 5, 1999 with 19 points and 9 rebounds against the Toronto Raptors at the Fleet Center. It was the first game of the lockout-shortened 1998-1999 NBA season. In 15 seasons with the Celtics, he scored 24,021 points, second only to John Havlicek (26,395) in team history.

Including his time with the Clippers, Nets and Wizards, Pierce retires with 26,397 career points, 15th most NBA history and third among active players. While never one of the top players in the game during his career, he posted solid numbers even while most of spotlight was placed on the likes of Shaq, Kobe, Kevin Garnett and LeBron to name a few. Maybe that’s why it is a bit surprising to realize he’s an all-time top 20 scorer in league history.

The Celtics had some lean times during the ’90s and ’00s. Pierce was good soldier through it all, and teamed up with Garnett and Ray Allen to bring Boston its first championship since the Larry Bird Era in 2008. The 2008 Finals MVP, Pierce will now become the first Celtic since the Larry Bird Era to have his number retired. He is an incredibly worthy recipient of this honor, and now unquestionably the greatest Celtic of the post-Bird Era.

Tough Days at TWWL

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A reminder of better days at The Worldwide Leader.

It has been said before that your favorite Saturday Night Live cast is the first cast you are old enough to remember. That would explain my reverence for Weekend Update with Norm Macdonald and those early Celebrity Jeopardy sketches from the mid ’90s. The same could probably also be said about SportsCenter anchors.

With Saturday Night Live, there can be a legitimate debate over who anchored Weekend Update the best. Norm Macdonald might get my vote, but I recognize that good arguments could be made for Seth Meyers or Dennis Miller. There can be no debate over  SportsCenter anchors, though. [Sorry, First Take, et al.] The Olbermann/Patrick tag team was the best, hands down.

It’s disappointing to see what SportsCenter has become. I know that SportsCenter can’t go back to two guys reading news stories in front of a wood panel wall like the Ron Burgundy days. I know that the immediate availability of news and video on my phone in my pocket has to change the model of a sports news/highlights show.

But sometimes I just want to watch sports with the smartest, funniest people in the room. I’ll watch highlights of the Red Sox game for the 10th time if you give me something no one else does. Hell, I’ll watch MLS highlights if you don’t make me feel like a less-enlightened sports fan because I don’t know the name of the head coach of the Seattle Sounders.

I don’t care how many graphics or video boards you have. Just get me the highlights, the news and a couple of laughs. Don’t talk down to me and don’t bullshit me.
PS – A decent theme song wouldn’t hurt either. The current SportsCenter theme sounds like a race car engine on loop with the same six notes repeating. Do better, ESPN.

Friday Morning Randomness

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It’s hard to believe that the Celtics haven’t won a playoff series since 2012.

The Celtics look to eliminate the Bulls tonight in Chicago. Brad Stevens looking to win a playoff series for the first time as an NBA head coach, too.

Red Sox-Yankees Games in April Should Be Outlawed

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baseball-rainA spring nor’easter is heading up the east coast this week, with a 100% chance of rain and temperatures in the 40’s in Boston today. Things only look slightly better for tomorrow. Glad the Yankees are in town!

I know there’s no way to please everyone, and I don’t want to ask the league for special treatment, but I am tired of Red Sox-Yankees games in April. The NFL makes sure teams play more divisional games late in the season (the Patriots will only play one non-divisional opponent after Thanksgiving in 2017), why can’t MLB do something similar?

In 2003, the Red Sox didn’t play the Yankees until May 19. Meeting a little bit later in the season allowed each team to get established before squaring off. The anticipation made that first series more compelling. Unbelievably, tickets are still available to tonight’s game through the Red Sox box office. Hell, Bud Deck tables are still available for tonight’s game. How’s that for apathy?

Not meeting until late May also means 19 Red Sox-Yankees games in just over four months. When I went to school in the city during the height of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry in the mid-2000s, classmates would ask why the Red Sox and Yankees play each other every weekend. It was great.

I know the rivalry has cooled off this decade, both teams have been off and on the last few years, but this would seem like an easy fix to generate some buzz. It doesn’t have to be every year, but it would be nice to see the Red Sox and Yankees not meet until Memorial Day occasionally. Let the warm weather rivals own April.

Happy Prince Day

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KARE 11 – Gov. Mark Dayton has declared Friday as “Prince Day” across Minnesota to honor the legacy of the homegrown music legend, who died April 21st of last year of an accidental painkiller overdose.

I won’t lie, I was never a big Prince fan. In fact, I remember deliberately avoiding his halftime show at Super Bowl XLI. I was still a little upset over the Patriots’ choke job in the AFC Championship game I guess. And that was my loss.

Prince sold more albums than any other artist in 2016, and that includes the one that I bought. Prince is definitely an acquired taste, but the man has an impressive list of hits. It definitely surprised me, and I wish I had paid more attention while he was alive. Just an incredible musician and performer.

I have always firmly believed that U2’s halftime show at Super Bowl XXXVI was the best of all time. After watching Prince, though, it’s close. That should mean a lot coming from a Patriots fan.

So pour one out for Prince tonight, and enjoy the Purple Rain.