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Shanoff’s Wake-Up Call: No-Win NBA Finals

Jun 5, 2008, 12:18 PM UTC

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â†µToday's Calls: Lakers vs. Celtics, Wings vs. History, Cubs vs. Brewers, Smoltz vs. Schilling, Volquez vs. Griffey, Mayo vs. the Feds, Tiger vs. Phil, NASCAR vs. Dirt and More! â†µ

â†µâ†µThe Opening Pitch: What if you don’t like the Lakers OR the Celtics? â†µ

â†µâ†µThere are plenty of us. â†µ

â†µâ†µAnd we can appreciate the “MVP vs. Big Three” story line. We can appreciate the chance for monster TV ratings. We can even appreciate the (gag) history. â†µ

â†µâ†µBut finding a rooting interest is brutal. â†µ

â†µâ†µThe NBA might see the Finals as a win-win; anyone who equally loathes the Lakers and Celtics just can’t win. â†µ

â†µâ†µOK, I am sympathetic to the as-yet-unfulfilled career of KG. And anything less than a title is a failed season for him and the C’s. â†µ

â†µâ†µAnd I recognize the career validation for Kobe if he is able to win a title “on his own.” Beating a team as star-laden as Boston would be a bonus. â†µ

â†µâ†µBut even a die-hard hater can have an opinion on who WILL win (even if it pains me to pick either): â†µ

â†µâ†µLakers in five, with the NBA’s “quirky” 2-3-2 schedule being the difference between a classic series that goes six or seven games and one that ends prematurely. â†µ

â†µâ†µIn a series based on nostalgia, it is the NBA’s insistence on this archaic format that will come back to ruin its dream Finals. â†µ

â†µâ†µEven we haters can want to see a compelling series that goes all seven games. Adding injury to insult, how appropriate that we would be denied. â†µ

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â†µDetroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup! After Game 5's finish, it was impressive for the Wings to head into Pittsburgh and seal the deal. â†µ

â†µâ†µI recognize I can’t do the moment justice, so I point you to SN’s VLC for the key take, and to McErlain to put the Pens in perspective. â†µ

â†µâ†µ(I can speak authoritatively in this way: I wouldn’t say the NHL is “back” as a “major” sport, but Game 5 qualifies as a breakthrough.) â†µ

â†µâ†µMLB Instant History: Is this the end of the Rays’ run? They lost to the Red Sox in Boston -- and lost the AL East lead to the Sox, too. â†µ

â†µâ†µCubs’ win streak ends at nine: How symbolic that Maddux has a hand in it. (You didn’t really expect the Cubs to KEEP winning, did you?) â†µ

â†µâ†µ(Brewers win 6th straight: Even as the Cubs lose -- finally -- the Brewers pick up the baton on behalf of the sizzling NL Central.) â†µ

â†µâ†µJohn Smoltz done for the season: The story line floating around is the question of whether he is done for his HOF career. (Nah.) â†µ

â†µâ†µMilestone Watch: No 600 for Griffey, as he sits again. It’s almost like MLB is ordering the move to keep fans coming out, home or away. â†µ

â†µâ†µMeanwhile, Edinson Volquez (8-2) continues to be the biggest SP surprise of the season -- 7 IP, 2 H, 8 K on Wednesday -- with that MLB-best 1.32 ERA. â†µ

â†µâ†µPaul Konerko’s walk-off HR leads ChiSox over KC in 15: And I’m sure Ozzie will gripe they couldn’t get the job done in a mere 9. â†µ

â†µâ†µAngels edge Mariners, Mariners execs humiliate own team: They took away the postgame spread (even the towels!) â†µ

â†µâ†µSo, will Curt Schilling temporarily change the name of his blog to “25 Pitches?“ â†µ

â†µâ†µFantasy Stud: Hanley Ramirez, who had 2 HR. If you were starting a franchise from scratch, he would be on the shortlist for sure. â†µ

â†µâ†µOJ Mayo Scandal: Feds in it? Cuban nailed this: The real crackdown on iffy recruiting is for the Feds to wield the IRS stick. â†µ

â†µâ†µTiger plays 18 at Torrey Pines: But god forbid anyone actually gets to watch him gimp around. Predictable P.R. report: “Looked great!” â†µ

â†µâ†µMeanwhile, credit the USGA for creating a sense of drama in pairing Tiger and Phil together in the first two rounds. â†µ

â†µâ†µNFL: One notable thing about this Nick Kaczur story is that there doesn’t seem to be any backlash to him “snitching.” â†µ

â†µâ†µTony Sparano really doesn’t mean that Jason Taylor is welcome with the Dolphins, does he? “Welcome” must be new slang for “Meh.” â†µ

â†µâ†µMarshawn Lynch would appear to have some explaining to do. â†µ

â†µâ†µOlympic 2016 finalists: Chicago, Rio, Tokyo, Madrid. Only one city has Gibsons Steakhouse, which should seal the deal for Chicago. â†µ

â†µâ†µSoccer: Jozy Altidore transferred from MLS to Spanish League’s Villareal for $10M. A loss for MLS, but a huge win for U.S. Soccer’s world standing. â†µ

â†µâ†µEuro 08: Perhaps the U.S. is better off not being eligible. See yesterday’s 1-0 loss to Spain. â†µ

â†µâ†µMMA: Affliction to partner with Donald Trump. Only interesting if he gets in the ring, like he did with Vince McMahon and the WWE. â†µ

â†µâ†µTriple Crown Watch: Big Brown draws No. 1 spot. As if he needed any further advantages. The Triple Crown is In. The. Bag. â†µ

â†µâ†µNASCAR: So, when will dirt-track races stop being a midweek oddity and actually become a Saturday or Sunday matinee? â†µ

â†µâ†µCFB: Why the SEC’s Mike Slive is the best commissioner in college. (Mike: A playoff CAN be yours if you “SEC”-ede from the BCS!) â†µ

â†µâ†µSonics fans vs. OKC carpet-baggers: “Sonic Boomers?” Really? As long as they’re killing Seattle fans, just keep the name “Sonics.” â†µ

â†µâ†µThe Last Word: It’s MLB Draft day! Not quite NFL or NBA levels, obviously, but still intriguing. â†µ

â†µâ†µLet’s be clear: “Slotting” remains the draft’s defining farce. The “right” pick is the signable pick, not the best pick. â†µ

â†µâ†µBut just look at Evan Longoria to see how quickly a top draft pick can impact the big club. (Hmm: The Rays pick 1st today, too.) â†µ

â†µâ†µNo consensus No. 1, but a few top names to know are: Pedro Alvarez, Brett Wallace, Brian Matusz, Joshua Fields. â†µ

â†µâ†µDan Shanoff writes The Wake-Up Call every weekday morning for SportingNews.com and blogs daily at DanShanoff.com. Got any comments, questions or feedback? Email Dan at shanofftsn-[at]-gmail-[dot]-com. â†µ

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This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.

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