Sports Agenda For Thursday (5/12/11)
Big Story:
Witness the ascension.
That's the best way you could describe the way LeBron James completely took over the game last night and put the final nails in the coffin of the Boston Celtics. But before we dive into the Heat in the agenda, a word about the Celtics.
Class. That's what they lost with last night. You've seen the pathetic thuggery of the Lakers, and now you've seen what true champions look like when they bow out.
Plus, the Marlins still can't tame the Phillies, and some news from the NFL.
Let's drop the agenda like a LeBron 3-pointer.
Heat: (off until Eastern Conference Finals which starts either Sunday or Wednesday)
They can't win the close game. They can't beat the Celtics. LeBron chokes in the clutch. The Big Three can't play together.
Yeah, about that.
LeBron scored 10 straight to end the game last night, and Dwyane Wade carried the team in the first half.
And while Chris Bosh had a mere 14 points and 11 rebounds, it was his and Joel Anthony's defense on Kevin Garnett that helped propel the Heat to victory.
Naturally, the national media would finally accept the Heat and acknowledge the victory and the changing of the guard right?
Nope.
The media that hate the Heat, they complained this morning about the Heat celebrating too much. That's what they're left with. Can't criticize the Heat for the close game. Can't criticize the Heat for not beating the Celtics or LeBron choking.
All they've got is that the Heat celebrated too much.
That's pretty freaking hilarious.
LeBron and D-Wade dropped 33 and 34 respectively and the biggest shot of the game belonged to James Jones. He hit another clutch 3 pointer to help spark the Heat's run to the end of the game. It was his only bucket, but it was a big one.
Plus, how about Juwan Howard. The 800-year-old, I kid, came off the bench and gave the team 20 minutes of solid play to help the Heat out.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, who has taken his fair share of lumps, put together a great game plan and should also get lots of respect for tinkering with the lineup and using his bench well to get to the next round.
LeBron apologized to Cleveland, but didn't really need to. Now, the media is upset because LeBron implied by saying in his apology that the Cavaliers were a one-man team. Seriously, this is how stupid and ridiculous they are in trying to find anything to criticize the Heat and LeBron.
Remember this, Michael Jordan, the greatest player ever, couldn't win a championship until he got Scottie Pippen and then later Dennis Rodman.
Now, the Heat turn towards either an over-matched Hawks team, or the 2011 Cleveland Cavaliers of LeBron's days, the Bulls.
Marlins: (off)
The Marlins got another good starting pitching performance and the bullpen held until Leo Nunez gave up 2 runs in the top of the ninth to let the Phillies walk out with another victory. The win pushed the Phillies ahead in the NL East by 3 games.
Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco gave up 2 runs on 5 hits in 6.1 innings. He kept his ERA around 3.02 and struck out six.
And even though they lost, don't look now, but Hanley Ramirez had 2 hits and has his average up to .217.
The Marlins now travel to Washington for a three-game series against the Nationals and then a two-game series against the Mets.
The Fish should be able to take both series, and they'll need to in order to keep pace with the Phillies.
NFL Update:
The NFL and the NFLPA had been just $10 million apart when negotiations broke down on March 11.
But now, the players want more and the owners aren't budging. Great, more crap from both sides arguing over splitting up $9 billion.
Roger Goodell and DeMaurice Smith are doing more to destroy the game than steroids, gambling, concussions, and everything else combined. Way to go guys.
