With so many topics to touch on, including Indianapolis’ successful bid for the 2012 Super Bowl, Jon Lester’s no-no, and Cleveland and Boston’s epic Game 7, there were too many good stories to just condense into one column. So, for the first time in a few weeks, here is the return of the Shot Selection:
Swish: The city of Indianapolis
So much for cold-weather cities never hosting Super Bowls… Detroit paved the way, and now Indianapolis will carry the torch into the 2010s. After being narrowly defeated in a 17-15 vote by Dallas for the 2011 game, Indianapolis put together a winning proposal to land Super Bowl XLVI. That proposal includes the creation of a temporary Super Bowl village downtown, a $9 million practice facility for the NFC representative at Tech High School, and nearly 7,000 reserved hotel rooms. Though detractors are worried about Indy’s ability to host a Super Bowl as a smaller city, you can’t deny that the positives overwhelmingly outnumber the negatives. Most importantly, landing the Super Bowl further ascends Indianapolis up the food chain as far as major sports markets in this country go. The best bit from the proposal is the facility at TechHigh School. Finally, the community is giving something back to the IPS school system with a multi-million dollar facility which can be used by multiple city schools. This is also a great chance for Indianapolis to showcase its entertaining and very underrated downtown area. Our little city is growing into a sports giant.
We're Super!
Swish: Jon Lester
Every once in awhile we as fans are reminded of what sports are all about. Sometimes individual triumphs command us to bury our passionate allegiances and root for a great story. That’s what I found myself doing during Jon Lester’s no-hitter Monday night against Kansas City at Fenway Park. Lester struck out nine and walked two, becoming the 18th pitcher in Red Sox history to toss a no-no, and the first southpaw to do it since Mel Parnell in 1956. In just the past 21 months, Lester has won a World Series-clincher (Game 4 against Colorado), has beaten cancer, and has thrown a no-hitter. Those are three unbelievable accomplishments for a kid that is just 24 years old. I may root for Manny Ramirez to get drilled in the ribs after he stands at home plate admiring a home run. I may root for a catcher with his mask on to punch Jason Varitek in the face while he’s standing in the batter’s box (you’re such a tough guy ‘Tek!). I may root for Curt Schilling’s Achilles to explode (again). But I’ll never root against Jon Lester. I called the performances of LeBron James and Paul Pierce in Game 7 “heroic” – how silly. Winning a World Series, tossing a no-hitter, and most importantly beating cancer? That is heroic.
Even non-front runners outside of New England were happy for Lester and the Sox
Brick: The NBA Draft Lottery
I like the fact that everybody gets a shot at the #1 pick, and I like the fact that teams that intentionally tank the season don’t necessarily get rewarded for it. But, after the Chicago Bulls won the rights to the top overall selection with a miniscule 1.7% chance, I think it’s clear that the Lottery system may need some re-working. Just in the last 15 years, we’ve seen teams like Chicago and San Antonio get graciously rewarded with the top overall selection after just one bad season. Just two years ago, the Bulls were only two wins away from the Conference Finals. San Antonio’s only losing season since 1989 came during the 1996-97 campaign, when they lost David Robinson to a season-ending injury. Because of just one year in the dumpster, the Spurs were then rewarded with the top overall selection in the 1997 NBA Draft which they used on Tim Duncan. Since 1989, the Los Angeles Clippers and Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies have had a combined 26 losing seasons. Yet, those two teams have combined to win the NBA Draft Lottery just ONCE (Clippers, 1998). After going .500 in Shaq’s rookie year (1992-93), the Magic won the Lottery for a 2nd straight year and turned their good fortune into a nice four-year run before the Shaq/Penny feud. By the way, it doesn’t help quiet the NBA conspiracy theorists when a Chicago kid (Derrick Rose) is available the same year that the Bulls strike the Lottery with a 1.7% chance. From the Knicks’ frozen envelope in 1985, to Shaq getting handed a sidekick in 1993, to this? Kinda makes you wonder…
What a bunch of Bull****
Air Ball: Torri Williams
The Purdue safety and senior-to-be was picked up this week on charges that he shoplifted condoms from a grocery store in West Lafayette. Since Williams was still on probation from a December OWI, he could be facing possible jail time for this latest brush-up with the law. Williams career at Purdue has been mired by injuries and off-the-field issues. Besides the OWI and the shoplifting incidents, Torri was also present the night that former teammate Selwyn Lymon was stabbed at a nightclub. The former three-star recruit has played in just 17 games in four seasons because of season ending injuries in 2005, early 2006, and in Week 7 against Michigan last season. If Joe Tiller wants to leave the Boilermaker football program in good shape for his heir-apparent Danny Hope, then he should start weeding out the bad apples now. I’ll be surprised if Williams ever plays another down of football at Purdue again. As a side note – shoplifting condoms, really? A) They give them away like crazy on almost every college campus (even Purdue, which I believe has a 97% male enrollment), B) they only cost a couple bucks, and C) unless you’re buying like the economy-size boxes, they seem to be pretty easy to conceal. Note: The Shots does not condone the actions of Torri Williams or of shoplifting in general - especially not condoms.
Swish: Buddy Lazier
With under 45 minutes left in the final hour of qualifying for the Indianapolis 500, things were not looking good for Buddy Lazier. The 1996 Indy 500 champ had been running a few miles-per-hour slow of the field, and unless he magically found some more speed, he was going to have to watch this year's race from the suites. Abba Cadabra. Lazier drew the loudest cheers from the Indy faithful and was the story of Bump Day, running a four-lap average of 219.015 - good enough to "bump" into the field in the middle of the final row. Lazier, a former IndyCar series champion (2000), will make his 16th 500 start despite being just a part-time driver since 2004. The accomplishment of making this year's field was an emotional moment for Lazier, his team, and most of all, the fans at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I think I speak for everyone when I say that it'll be good to see Buddy out there on Sunday.
Lazier, the story of the month of May thus far, should be the sentimental favorite
Swish: Boston/Cleveland Game 7
It wasn’t Dominique Wilkins/Larry Bird or even Isiah Thomas/Bernard King, but it certainly was close as LeBron James and Paul Pierce turned in one of the better head-to-head playoff performances in NBA history. The two stars combined for 86 points on 27-52 shooting in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals series. The one drawback to the matchup was the lack of fourth quarter fireworks , but that didn’t diminish the effort of the two players. Like Dominique, LeBron may have won the battle statistically, but (like Bird) Pierce and the Celtics won the war, advancing to the Conference Finals for the first time since 2002. I’ve criticized Pierce his entire career for his inability to hit big shots and win big games. After his Game 7 performance, I graciously apologize. If Pierce could carry that momentum into the series with the Pistons, and Ray Allen figures out what the hell is wrong with his jump shot, then maybe the Celtics really do have a chance to win this thing.
I guess I should take back some of the bad things I said about Paul Pierce
Brick: New Orleans Hornets
Throughout their series with San Antonio, it was the Hornets that looked like the veteran team that could turn it off and on at any point. In their home games, they controlled the tempo, withstood the Spurs offensive charges, and showed the poise of a veteran team. But, it was almost like everyone was waiting for the combination of inexperience and pressure to rear its ugly head - and that's exactly what happened in Game 7. Suddenly, it's as if the Hornets woke up from a dream and realized that they were in a do-or-die, winner-take-all game against the defending NBA Champions. New Orleans outscored San Antonio 93-46 in third quarter after trailing at halftime in each of the first three games at The Hive, but the Hornets were unable to come storming out of the gates in Game 7. They made a valiant charge at the end of the game, but after the Spurs held them in check in the third, you knew the game was over. Kudos to New Orleans for an unbelievable year, and props to Chris Paul for an MVP-worthy performance both in the regular season and playoffs. It's going to be a painful offseason after being just one win away from the first Conference Finals appearance in franchise history, but I have a feeling this won't be the last time we hear from this team.
Air Ball: New York Yankees
After an embarrassing 11-2 loss to the crosstown-rival Mets, the Yankees entered Tuesday with a 20-24 record – the first time since 1995 that they’ve been in last place in mid-May. Through 44 games, the Yankees have a worse record than the Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins, and Cincinnati Reds. I’m struggling to find an appropriate word to use besides pathetic. Yes, the team has been hurt by injuries (Jorge Posada, Alex Rodriguez), and the ineffectiveness of their youngsters (Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Robinson Cano). But their 9-11 home record is the 3rd worst mark in baseball, they have scored just 179 runs (25th in MLB), and their team ERA is a bloated 4.48 (12th in AL). Without A-Rod in the lineup, the Yankees are just 1-8 against left-handed starters and are 5-for-47 with RISP in their last seven games (2-5). Now I’ve been wrong before when counting out the Yankees early (SEE BELOW), but just getting A-Rod back in the lineup isn’t suddenly going to cure all of this team’s problems. The good news is that the Red Sox aren’t lighting the world on fire (yet), and despite all their issues, the Yanks are only 6 1/2 out. But, the Bombers can’t keep relying on 25-win Julys and going on ridiculous 2nd half runs like they did in 2005 and 2007 to make the playoffs. With the new influx of young talent and the expiring contracts of long-time Yanks Mike Mussina and Jason Giambi, maybe its time for a changing of the guard in the Bronx.
"Air Ball: New York Yankees
After Sunday's 11-5 loss to Oakland, the Bombers clinched a below .500 record for the first half of this season. This team isn't even on life support anymore. They're a vegetable being kept alive by feeding tube - and that tube is A-Rod's bat. If he stops pumping in rich nutrient paste (home runs) into this Yankees' corpse, they'll officially be toast. As a side note, I can't think of a team more frustrating to watch than this 2007 Yankees team. And I bet you totally feel super sorry for me."
I can think of a team more frustrating to watch than the 2007 Yankees...
The Shots Fantasy Update:
Robinson Cano & Co. II def. knocks knockers, 10-0
Welcome to domination station. I told you last week that my boys were turning the corner, and they proved me right this past week. Monster weeks by Russell Martin (.528), and Brandon Phillips (2 HR, 8 RBI, .348), as well as a win apiece for each of my starters and five saves from the bullpen, translated into a clean sweep of all 10 fantasy categories. The blowout win gave Robinson Cano & Co. II a four spot jump in the standings, and a 31-28-1 season record, despite a dreadful April. And the good news keeps rolling in this week as A-Rod makes his return from the disabled list.
Fantasy NASCAR, no race last week – getting ready for the Coca-Cola 600
Chuckie Three Stick-Up, 90 points, still in last place
I’m now only a couple points out of the Fantasy Golf basement after another decent showing this week. Kenny Perry earned big points early, despite an awful final-round 81 (+9). Both Jim Furyk and Stewart Cink had respectable top 25 finishes as well.
The Shots What to Watch this week:
San Antonio vs. LA Lakers, Game 1 Wednesday
One of the downfalls of the NBA has been the lack of bitter rivalries over this decade. In the 90’s you had Bulls/Knicks, Pacers/Bulls, Pacers/Knicks, Heat/Knicks, Jazz/Rockets, even Blazers/Lakers which trickled into the early part of this decade. Recently, those type of heated rivalries have been lacking (Kings/Lakers? Nets/Pistons?), but now with six meetings in the past ten postseasons, you can officially label Spurs/Lakers as the preeminent rivalry of the 2000's. From Kobe’s air-balls in 1999, to Derek Fishers’ shot in 2004, this rivalry has seen some entertaining moments. Now that the Lakers showed some moxie closing out Utah on their home floor and the Spurs regained their edge with a win in New Orleans, I think both teams are ready for a classic seven-game series.
Fisher's miracle shot in 2004 was the most memorable moment from a great rivalry
LA Angels at White Sox, Friday-Sunday
A battle of division leaders takes place in the Windy City this weekend. For some reason, nobody is talking about the Angels, and the White Sox have taken advantage of Detroit and Cleveland’s struggles to rise to the top of the AL Central. With Seattle’s pathetic start, it appears the Angels are going to run away with the mediocre West. The White Sox still can’t hit, but if they add a bat before the trade deadline (look at me already going ahead to July 31st…) then they could be in it for the long haul in that division.
Indianapolis 500, Sunday
I have trouble explaining to people that I grew up with back East how exciting this race is every year. I know that it’s better live, but my dad has been watching it on TV for years and he never misses it. The Greatest Spectacle in Racing, always lives up to the billing. Though the last laps at Daytona are probably the most exciting moment in any race on any circuit throughout the year, that race lacks the traditions and grandeur of the Indy 500. I’m going with semi-darkhorse Ryan Briscoe to win it this year. Team Penske’s newest member has ran well all month, and was the only driver to even come close to the display put on by the Ganassi duo at qualifying.
The Shots YouTube clips this week:
Sports related –
Dominique v. Bird in 1988. As great as Pierce v. LeBron was last Sunday, it pales in comparison to this matchup.
Non-sports related –
Perhaps the greatest video game ever made. We're just a month away from the 20 year anniversary of the peak of Mike Tyson's career: his 91-second knockout of Michael Spinks.
The Shots Chick Pick this week: Rihanna
Props to our Production guy Jakim for coming up with this gem.
See you next week, as we celebrate the one-year birthday of The Shots!
Listen to Derek as he hosts the Xtra Large Lunch, every weekday from noon to 1 PM on XL 950!
