Updated:
June 7, 2000
TOP
OF THE WEEK NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
From Portland's 29-point
demolition of the Lakers in Game 2 to the Lakers' shocking fourth-quarter comeback in Game 7, this series had it all: Clutch shots, stirring dunks, great defense, bad shooting, shoving, pushing. Game 7 was the series in microcosm: The Blazers' athleticism seemed ready to overwhelm the Lakers, but then they lost their legs in the fourth quarter. And on came Kobe and Shaq, with bit roles from Glen Rice and Brian Shaw. When it was over the Lakers had won one of the great series in league history. It was a rollicking, wondrous roller coaster ride that showed sport at its finest.
Laker Coach Phil Jackson was so overcome that he had this encounter with Shaq, according to the Los Angeles Times:
``I gave him a real big hug after Sunday's game and I allowed him to drench me with the sweat on his body,'' Jackson said. ``That must be the ultimate moment of our relationship.''
BOTTOM OF THE WEEK
JOHN ROCKER AND THE BRAVES
The Atlanta Braves sent whacko relief pitcher John "I Hate Everyone Who Isn't a Redneck Like Me'' Rocker to the minors. That's good, but what took the Braves so long? And why deny that Rocker's demotion wasn't related to his verbal abuse of Sports Illustrated reporter Jeff Pearlman the day before? If it is just performance-based then the Braves deserve no applause. They've mishandled this case from the start.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
BLINDED BY DEION'S
LIGHT
Deion Sanders, despite his Born Again lifestyle, is still a bit of a clown, but at his press conference announcing his signing to the Washington Redskins, he committed a fashion crime that should have him doing at least 20 years in Fashion Prison.
In "honor" of the Redskins colors, he wore a bright burgundy suit and had pocket hankies in a blinding gold. It was sort of like looking directly in to the sun. Also, the shoulders made him look like David Byrne in "Stop Talking Sense". Overall, the overall mockery of good taste is enough for a conviction. Hideous!!
Here is what columnist Tony Kornheiser had to say in the Washington Post:
``Let's start with the suit Deion wore. It was a show-stopper. A three-piece burgundy silk number with a gold tie, gold buttons, gold shoes and a gold pocket handkerchief.
``It looked like the tailor wove it from the draperies in (Redskin owner) Dan Snyder's basement.
``You know how some Redskins say they bleed burgundy and gold? Well, if they do, and they get it on Deion, it won't stain.''
A BED FIT
FOR SUPERMAN
The New York Times did a feature on Shaquille O'Neal's 15,000-square foot, three-story home in Los Angeles that features Superman logos almost everywhere including his stained-glass doors.
But we were most impressed by the description of the bed used by the 7-1 Shaq, he of the Size 22 feet:
``Covering his 9-foot long mattress and box spring is a black comforter with a white Superman logo.''
Romping around on a 9-foot bed? The stuff of fantasy.
NHL
The Stanley Cup Playoffs continue to thrill. And, after all the talk that the Western Conference Finals was to determine the eventual Cup winner, the New Jersey Devils are poised to win their second Stanley
Cup in six years after sweeping the Dallas Stars in Dallas and taking a 3-1 series lead.
TENNIS
The most heartening thing to see in the French Open has been Martina Navratilova's success with her doubles partner, Mariaan de Swardt. Returning to the courts of the Grand Slam for the first time in four
years, she has made it to the third round and looks to move on.
On the singles side, while we were terribly disappointed to see young Australian stud Mark Philippoussis lose before the second week started, we have been more disappointed with the French Open itself. Every year, the clay surface gets the best of the top male players in the field, and this year is no different. Only two of the top nine players in the
tournament are left on the men's side, with the top two players losing in the first two rounds. Another no-name vs. no-name finals, it looks like.