Laker/Celtic Tidbits

Game Four of the Finals will rank in history as among the great all-time chokes in sports annals. How did it happen? How could it happen? I was embarrassed to be a Laker fan, and that’s never happened before.

If the Celtics don’t win Game Six, they won’t win it at all. Provided the Lakers don’t place their hands near their throats again.

Now that I think about it, if the longshot proves to be true, and it turns out that the Lakers-Celtics Final was engineered by the NBA, well, so what? Both the league and ABC need ratings, and a San Antonio-Detroit Final wasn’t going to do it. Could you imagine a final between Sacramento and Charlotte? Geesh!

The NBA Finals of both 1978 & 1979 had Seattle vs. Washington. Ratings were in the proverbial toilet. They were both “Who Cares” editions of the Finals. The Lakers and Celtics were able to renew their fierce post season rivalry in the 80s. If the league “arranged” for that to happen, well, it was for the overall good. The NBA might not have survived otherwise.

I don’t have a prediction for Game Six, except that I expect both teams to be intense to the point of being wound up tightly. I’m only slightly surprised that a fight or even a shoving match hasn’t taken place as yet.

A friend of mine here in L.A. is from Boston, and is a Boston College grad. Sunday, he was already at a local tavern, celebrating the inevitable Game Five victory and World Title that didn’t arrive. Before the game started, I called him on his cell, and he was already out of it. I wonder how he reacted when he woke up?

Spring Cleaning Needed at NBA

In the midst of what should be the NBA’s finest hour, The Finals, allegations have surfaced, albeit from a dubious source, that basically say that the NBA is dirty, and that the fish stinks from the head.

Disgraced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy has stated that the pins were set up as far as the 2002 Western Conference Finals between the L.A. Lakers and Sacramento Kings were concerned. The Kings had a sno-cone’s chance in a microwave oven.

Donaghy has hinted strongly that the league wanted this. It needed a series to go seven games. This series was the only one that went the distance that year. That meant more ticket and television revenue. And, it’s so alleged that Shaquille O’Neal was a bigger TV attraction than the Kings’ Vlade Divac.

Before Game 3 of the Finals in Los Angeles, NBA Commissioner David Stern dismissed Donaghy’s assertions as being from a desparate man trying to get a lesser prison sentence.

If one surfs the Internet, the thinking might be different.

Even before the playoffs, bloggers and journalists both have stated that the league and ABC badly wanted a Celtics-Lakers Final. Well Go-LLeeee, lookie what happened in the playoffs.

In Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, the San Antonio Spurs sure appeared to get screwed by a horrible non-call at the end of the game that potentially could have tied the game and sent it into overtime.

Allegations like these have surfaced before. I had always dismissed them as being from disgruntled, malcontented fans who didn’t know what the hell they were talking about. Now I wonder.

It’s bad enough that most of the fun we used to have with sports has been taken away from us. Expensive ticket prices, outrageous salaries, drugs, sleazebag behavior, relocation anxieties, and erratic ownerships have taken a heavy psychological toll on fans, causing many to give up on sports as they get older.

One of the few things we seemed to have leftover from the good earlier days was the officiating. It always appeared to be solid and on the up-and-up. Now there are stains on it. Dark, grimy, slimy, dirty stains.

Officiating is supposed to be above reproach. With these allegations, it now appears to be barely above a roach. The fact that these alleagations were even mentioned in the first place has to make fans wonder. Officiating, especially in the NBA, is obviously NOT above reproach.

Ralph Nader himself, who is not a sports fan, questioned the officiating after the 2002 Western Confernce Final, and wanted a federal investigation into the matter. He was scorned and laughed at. I was one of the laughers. I’m not laughing now.

Perhaps it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have Mr. Nader head an independent committee to investigate these allegations. And to have said committee make recommendations on needed changes and adjustments.

For all of its’ gloss, the NBA is still looking good. But there sure seems to be a peculiar odor coming from it’s direction.

Celtic Fans, You Are Sooo Denounced!

(Poster’s note: This was written tounge in cheek, and should not be taken seriously.:) If any part angers you, than please, while you’re out getting a life, please acquire a sense of humor while you’re at it. -dg-)

Attention Boston Celtic fans:

I denounce you.

Former Celtic Rick Fox denounces you.

Elgin Baylor denounces you.

Laker season ticket holders denounce you.

Jack Nicholson denounces you.

Penny Marshall denounces you.

Joe McDonnell of KLAC radio denounces you.

Doug Krikorian of the Long Beach Press Telegram denounces you.

World Famous KROQ denounces you.

Dustin Hoffman denounces you.

Ex-girlfriends Donna Dover and Judy Essman denounce you.

Southern California fashion designer Penelope Gregg denounces you.

Raider Nation denounces you.

New York Yankee fans worldwide denounce you.

Doris Day denounces you.

Nature Boy Ric Flair denounces you.

Uh Huh Her lead singer Leisha Hailey denounces you.

The inmates at Pelican Bay State Prison denounce you.

The bottlers of RC Cola denounce you.

The sports book operators in Las Vegas denounce you.

The curator of reptiles at the San Diego Zoo denounces you.

The Los Angeles Police Department denounces you.

The Mayor of Los Angeles denounces you.

The LeBron James Fan Club denounces you.

All the Quakers west of the Mississippi denounce you.

The elevator operator at the Eiffel Tower denounces you.

The employees of AstroBurger at Melrose & Gower in Hollywood denounce you. In Spanish.

The Daughters of the American Revolution denounce you.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir denounces you.

The entire nation of Belize denounces you.

The bats that hang under the Congress St. bridge in Austin, Tx. denounce you.

Stay tuned. Same bat-time. Same bat-blog.

Lakers vs. Celtics – A Frustrating History

I have been a Laker fan since I was a kid. I go back to the team playing home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena beginning in 1960.

Through the years at the Sports Arena and Forum, one thing has remained constant: The Celtics and the thorn that they’ve been in the Lakers’ side.

There was Frank Selvey’s missed shot in Game 7 in 1962 at Boston. It went round and round for what seemed like an eternity until it finally dropped harmlessly off the rim’s side.

There was Red Auerbach throwing his damn cigars at the crowd IN THE THIRD QUARTER in 1965. I swear, Auerbach was one of the poorest winners ever in sports.

There was the frustrating two-point loss in Game 7 at Boston in 1966.

Don’t get me started on 1969. Oh, what the hell? Why not?

Before I begin on Game 7, Game 4 should be duly noted. That may have been the game where the Lakers really lost the series. The series was 2 games to 1 in the Lakers’ favor. They had won the first two games in L.A., and the Celts had won Game 3 at the Garden. In Game 4, also at Boston, the Lakers were up by one and had the ball with 20 seconds remaining. They didn’t even have to take a shot. The ball is inbounded to Wilt Chamberlain. No one is in the same zip code with him. All he has to do is stand there until Bill Russell or one of the other Celts approaches.

With no one near, Wilt suddenly drops the ball out of bounds. Celtics’ ball. After a timeout, John Havlicek hits an easy jumper at the last second, Celtics win.

Fast forward to Game 7, at the Forum, Los Angeles.

Before the game, Lakers’ owner Jack Kent Cooke orders hundreds of balloons to be stored above the court, to be released at the conclusion of the game. The balloons have “World Champion Lakers” printed on them.

The USC band is present, to play festive music on the upcoming happy occasion.

The Celtics arrive at the Forum, and observe all the scenery. Bill Russell approaches Jerry West, and says “Those F**king balloons are staying up!”

In the third quarter, Wilt hurts his knee and takes himself out of the game. Coach Bill van Breda Kolff takes this as a sign of weakness, and decides to keep him out when he’s ready to go back in a few minutes later. They get into an argument. van Breda Kolff holds his ground. Meantime, the Celtics build an 18-point lead. The crowd is screaming at VBK to put Wilt back in. The coach is oblivious to the fans. Owner Cooke is obviously not pleased at the scene on the end of the Laker bench.

With 5 minutes left, the Lakers get within 4 and hope is back with the crowd. With a minute to play, Don Nelson, picked up from the Lakers a few years earlier for the $100 waiver price, puts up a desparation shot that hits the back of the rim, bounces straight up, and SWISH! Right through the net. Everyone knows that’s it, end of argument, case closed. The Celtics win another.

The balloons stay up. The quiet crowd leaves heartbroken, angry and frustrated. Again. In the locker room, Jerry West is openly weeping. In spite of the loss, West is named the MVP of the series, and is awarded a new car. He says that he would have gladly traded the car for a win.

Shortly afterward, Bill van Breda Kolff is fired. And rightly so. Keeping Wilt out at that critical time was a total bonehead move. Bill Russell retires, with a 6-0 Finals record against the Lakers.

The two teams meet again three times in the 80s, this time with Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird. The Lakers win two of them. Boston finally gets to feel what it’s like. But for me, it wasn’t the same without having beat Russell & Havlicek. Red Auerbach had retired from coaching, and as team President, was watching from the stands. Later, he made remarks about being angry that they lost to the Lakers even once.

There’s a very real possibility that the Lakers and Celtics will meet in the upcoming NBA Finals for the first time since 1987. The league, ABC television, and fans worldwide are salivating at the prospect. It could easily happen.

As for me, I’m trying to stay indifferent. If the Pistons win the Eastern Conference, fine with me. The reason: If the Lakers meet Boston again, I’m uncomfortable with it. I just wouldn’t like their chances. The Celtics always seem to have the leprechauns on their side.

My Very Own Sports Fantasies

Like anybody else, I have a lot of sports fantasies. On very rare occasions, a few have come true, such as the NY Jets beating the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. Another was Pete Rose, a player I absolutely hated, getting into deep molasses late into his career.

Here is a list of more of my sports fantasies. Of course, some can’t happen because of death or the passing of many years. I still wish they could have happened anyway.

I wish that someone would have beaned George Foster. He always drove me crazy when he would step out of the batter’s box just as the pitch was being thrown. I would have loved to have seen him do that against Don Drysdale or Bob Gibson. He would have stopped that nonsense quick.

I would love to have seen someone, anybody in the media, question Bear Bryant on why it took him so long to integrate his Alabama football team. His first African American freshmen arrived in 1970, and made their Crimson Tide debut in 1971. The Civil Rights Act was enacted in 1965. The SEC’s first African American athlete, a basketball player, made his debut at Vanderbilt in 1967. As it was, Bryant was far more powerful in the state of Alabama than George Wallace could have ever hoped to be. He could do both anything he wanted and do no wrong. But the national media botched their chance. I wouldn’t have hesitated to ask. Bear Bryant owed plenty of answers on that matter. He didn’t deserve the free pass that he got.

I always dreamed of shoving Red Auerbach’s cigar straight up his keister. An L.A. radio reporter once tried to in a hotel elevator during the NBA Finals in 1985. They got into it, but it got broken up. Auerbach may have been a major reason for the Celtic’s legend, but he was one of the poorest winners ever in sports.

I wish Angel Stadium of Anaheim would be re-done the way it used to be before the Rams moved there in 1980. They’ve knocked out most of the extra seating since the Rams left, but there are still remnants, such as luxury boxes and outfield seating. I get it that the suites are now an economic necessity, but I would love to see the outfield seats taken out, and the original Big A scoreboard, now an advertising sign in the parking lot, moved back into it’s old left field position. Back then, as far as I was concerned, Anaheim Stadium, as it used to be called, was the greatest little ballpark in the majors. And the city of Anaheim sullied it.

I would have loved to have seen a World Series played in the Astrodome.

I wish Bill Russell and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar could have played just one game against each other. It never happened. Russell retired the season before Kareem entered the NBA.

I wish that the Baltimore Colts, Houston Oilers, and Montreal Expos were still around. I miss them.

I wish that Jackie Robinson could have played in L.A. with the Dodgers. He was from nearby Pasadena, and played four sports at UCLA. Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley knew long in advance that he was moving the team to Los Angeles. Why wouldn’t he keep Jackie Robinson?

It’s a shame that Willie Mays had to spend the bulk of his career playing in Candlestick Park in San Francisco. If he had been able to play in a decent ballpark during his prime, he might well have had over 800 home runs. Candlestick’s architect should have been flogged.