Tributes to Jim McKay Lakers-Celtics
T.J. Simers of the Los Angles Times write about legendary Lakers play-by-play announcer Chick Hearn... "The same might be said about Chick and Lakers fans, everyone knowing just what he meant when he would say, "He's in the popcorn machine," or who he was talking about when he would mention "The Big Fella." Nine championships, Chick behind the microphone for each of them, but he dies before they pass out the rings for winning it all in 2002 -- a ring dedicated to him." ...
Big Brown's stunning loss
Legendary sports columnist Furman Bisher of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes about Big Brown's loss... "Sometimes I think I know horse racing. Never have I been so sure that we had finally had a Triple Crown winner in the Belmont Stakes. This was Big Brown’s day. His year. He would join Secretariat in immortality. There was no fail in him. Maybe I felt that strong about Majestic Prince, but that was so long ago, who could remember? That was 1969. But even Majestic Prince came closer than Big Brown. Never has such an odds-on favorite ever finished last in such a monumental race." ...
William Rhoden of The New York Times writes how steroids is being questioned in Big Brown's success... "On Friday, the trainer Rick Dutrow told reporters that he had not given Big Brown a shot of the anabolic steroid Winstrol since before the Kentucky Derby and would not use it Saturday at the Belmont." ...
U.S. Open
Nick Canepa of the San Diego Union Tribune writes about the Torrey Pines course... "“No one can play out of the long rough,” he said. “It's the way the U.S. Open is supposed to be. It's not unfair; it's not like other Opens I've seen." ...
Larry Dorman of The New York Times writes how Torrey Pines can humble the world's best golfers... "Mike Davis, the senior director of rules and competitions for the United States Golf Association, has overseen the setup at Torrey Pines the past two years. He has gone over every aspect of the course, looking for any flaw the way a parent combs through a child’s hair for head lice." ...
Jay Posner of the San Diego Union-Tribune writes how viewers of the U.S. Open have to deal with Chris Berman for two days... "Some of Berman's critics – and I have been one – might term it a cruel trick rather than a tantalizing treat. If they hear one more nickname or fake Scottish “Monty,” they might throw a Footjoy through their plasma screen." ...
Other tidbits
Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle writes about baksetball and Barack Obama... "All I'm saying is that if we wind up with a basketball player as our president, it's about time. Basketball is our national game and, better than any other sport, it develops the skills and values a person needs to thrive in the world's toughest job." ...
Chris Gasper of the Boston Globe writes how Tom Brady is ready to get the new season started... "The Patriots' franchise quarterback wasn't being hounded by paparazzi in Brazil or Costa Rica or New York. He was throwing passes to his receivers and encouraging teammates. Celebrity or not, Brady is still first and foremost a football player." ...
Jay Mariotti of the Chicago Sun-Times rips Bears running back Cedric Benson after another alcohol-related incidents... "How does someone with a functioning brain and a pending alcohol case put any amount of alcohol in his body ... and drive? Worse, how does he do so in a renowned party town with police on every corner, steering his BMW at 3:15 a.m. in the city’s entertainment district weeks after accusing the local authorities of roughing him up? You don’t think those Austin coppers were licking their chops as if served a plate of chicken-fried steak? Given Benson’s troubled history, it’s hard to believe anything he or his attorney say in his defense anymore." ...
Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune writes how Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome is always followed by the Japanese press... "But after the interview room cleared and the Cubs beat writers returned to the press box, Fukudome entered to a faint smell of cigarettes and a mass of 14 Japanese reporters." ...
Jeff Darlington of the Miami Herald writes how the Dolphins quarterback situation is heating up... "But Lee also warned during this weekend's minicamp that anyone anticipating a starting quarterback to be named before training camp might be in for a longer wait than expected. That's because practices might matter -- but games matter more." ...
Michael Wilbon of the Washington Post writes how some NBA people question whether NBA players should be playing in the Olympics... "The Beijing Olympics begin in two months and for the fifth time NBA players will compete. The U.S. team again will have only professional players, to the delight of NBA Commissioner David Stern, but to the detriment of the league, if you believe skeptics such as Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Lakers Coach Phil Jackson." ...
Bill Livingston of the Plain Dealer writes about the day when Dr. J owned the NBA... "In his dreams, he still flies. "Sometimes, I dream about jumping from the foul line [and dunking]," said Julius Erving, "although I have no illusions I can." ...
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