1. Quick Hits
- The San Antonio Spurs can clinch the NBA title with a win tonight in Game 6 in Miami.
- Boston has taken a 2-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals after shutting out Chicago 2-0.
- Former NFL wide receiver Chad (Ochocinco) Johnson apologized to the judge for slapping his attorney on the butt. He was released from prison after serving 7 days of his 30-day sentence.
- Perfect 10. Detroit pitcher Max Scherzer is now 10-0 after the Tigers beat Baltimore 5-1.
2. Dodgers/Yankees
It’s hard to believe that when the Dodgers visit Yankee Stadium tonight, it’ll be the first time the two teams hooked up in the Bronx since the 1981 World Series. Of course Dodgers/Yankees back in the day was a nearly annual October event. Here are my Top 5 memories of the Dodgers visiting the Yankees.
* There is crying in baseball. October 4, 1955. Brooklyn wins the World Series in the Bronx. I cried because I lost a 13-cent bet to my classmate David Nussbaum.
* Read all about it. October 2, 1963. Sandy Koufax strikes out a then record 15 Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series. Front page news that day in the afternoon edition of the New York Post.
* Name dropping. October 18, 1977. Reggie’s 3 homers in Game 6. I was in San Antonio to announce a Spurs/Celtics game. When I walked into a Mexican restaurant, John Havlicek, Dave Bing and some of the Celtics asked me who won the World Series game? I got to tell them about Reggie’s heroics.
*October 21, 1981. After the Yankees shutout the Dodgers in Game 2 to take a 2-0 lead, I congratulated George Steinbrenner during a party in his office. He reminded me that “there’s still a long way to go.”
*October 28, 1981. George was right. After the Dodgers won Game 6 to win the World Series 4-2, I was reporting live while standing on top of a TV truck outside Yankee Stadium. Fans threw objects at me. A hard pretzel connected. A coin didn’t. I love my fellow New York fans.
3. Radio Daze
Three Atlanta radio hosts were fired after doing a sketch which mocked former New Orleans Saints safety Steve Gleason who is suffering from Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Is this what sports radio has come to? Once upon a time sports debates consisted of who’s better, Willie, Mickey or the Duke? And now is anything off limits? Apparently something is. So congrats to the Atlanta radio management for doing the right thing. And perhaps broadcasters everywhere will get the message. Maybe we can get back to talking about sports.
4. Legal Practice
When I read that former NBA star Allen Iverson is being accused by his ex-wife of kidnapping their five kids, I couldn’t help but envision this imaginary conversation.
Iverson to a prospective lawyer: “I’m looking for representation, what do you do?”
Lawyer: “I engage in the practice of law.”
Iverson: “Again with the practice? We still talking about practice?”
5. Contested
We’ve got our winner. Actually thanks to my generosity we’ve got two. Subscriber Mike S. from Richboro, Pa. predicted Justin Rose would win the U.S. Open by 2 shots. He nailed it. One other Top Fiver picked Rose. John N. from Laredo, Texas had Rose winning by 1. Both Mike and John have won That’s Sports baseball/golf caps. As for the NBA contest, 14 of you predicted a 6-game Finals between San Antonio and Miami. Just one of you predicted a 7-game series. But if you’re out of the running and you like tennis here goes. Who will be the men’s winner at Wimbledon which begins Monday? You can win a That’s Sports baseball/golf cap. Email me your response with the winner’s name in the subject line. The tiebreaker: How many sets will the final match last? One entry per person. The deadline is this Sunday June 23rd. Good luck!
Happy Birthday: Perennial Pro Bowl San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates. 33.
Bonus Birthday: Sir Paul McCartney. 71.
Today in Sports: Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson go at it in the dugout in Fenway Park. 1977.
Bonus Event: Napoleon met his Waterloo. 1815.
Spanning the World airs tomorrow morning on the Today Show during the 9am half hour.
The next time you need a gift for that young sports fan in your life, check out my books. And if you’d like a personally autographed copy contact the Dolphin Bookshop at 516-767-2650.
