Wednesday Sports Blog

A bit short and sweet today:

Rangers pounded by Yankees ...

If the Rangers had any chance Tuesday to break the spell the Yankees have cast over them, it evaporated in the second inning when Nelson Cruz did his best impersonation of Juan Gonzalez.

That's not exactly a complimentary comparison.

Despite his two MVP awards, the lasting impression of Gonzalez for the Rangers may be his flailing at one breaking pitch after another in the first inning of the first game of the 1999 Division Series. He struck out, short-circuiting a potential tempo-setting rally.

Cruz, who went hitless in three at-bats in the Rangers' 8-2 loss to New York on Tuesday, is starting to look like that Gonzalez.

In the second inning, the Rangers had a chance to get to Andy Pettitte. They had runners at second and third with one out in a scoreless game. Cruz, hitless for his last 13 at-bats in playing time that is growing increasingly sporadic, struck out on a slider. It was the fourth pitch of the at-bat. He swung at three of them.

Catcher Gerald Laird followed with a pop-up to the catcher. End of rally. End of inning. End of Rangers.

"I wanted that run and we really needed that run," manager Ron Washington said. "But it didn't happen. I don't think there was anybody more upset about not putting the ball in play than [Cruz]."

There were plenty of other failures for the Rangers as their three-game win streak evaporated. Texas had five doubles in the first six innings and still trailed, 8-1, at the time. Mike Wood, who pitched into the seventh against the Yankees last week, couldn't make it through the fifth. Jerry Hairston Jr. overran a fly ball, turning it into a three-run inning. Mark Teixeira struck out four times.

We may have a long, grinding series... Suns demolish the Spurs ...

For the better part of two days, the Phoenix Suns listened as their heart, effort and mental toughness were questioned. And those were the questions just from Steve Nash.

On Tuesday night, the Suns answered their point guard, overwhelming the Spurs in a 101-81 victory that evened the Western Conference semifinal series at a game apiece. Game 3 is Saturday at the AT&T Center.

Nash, who was unable to play for much of the final minute in Game 1 after his nose was split open in a collision with Tony Parker, had 20 points and 16 assists, and Amare Stoudemire scored 21 of his 27 points in the second half.

But it was defense, reportedly not Phoenix's strongest staple, that made the difference. The Spurs committed 20 turnovers, leading to 24 points for the Suns, while withering under their opponents' aggressiveness.

"I thought we were supposed to be the defensive team coming into the playoffs," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "But Phoenix made us look like novices tonight."

The loss was the Spurs' second-largest of the season. Only a 23-point defeat in the regular-season finale against Denver was greater, and the team's stars rested in that one.

Just 4 teams left in the mix on the ice, And someone needs to stop Detroit! ...

First, the Detroit Red Wings overcame the mental block of the first round against the physical Calgary Flames.

Monday, the youth, speed and size of the San Jose Sharks was finally overwhelmed.

Now, the Wings return to the Western Conference final beginning Friday at Joe Louis Arena to face the Anaheim Ducks, the team that started Detroit's Stanley Cup playoff slide with an upset in the first round in 2003.

"It means a lot to this team," Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom said of Detroit's first conference final appearance since it last won the Cup in 2002. "We have some new players. We've been playing better and better as we get deeper into the playoffs. It's different playing regular-season hockey and playoff hockey and we've adjusted and adapted to that as a team."

The Wings are clearly aware of the perceptions they could fall flat again. With their defence banged up, they know they'll get another opportunity to try to prove the pundits wrong again.

"The big thing all year long is the fact that you don't get picked to be very good and then you're pretty good during the regular season and everyone says you're not a playoff team," Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "We played two big, strong teams and done well and now we're going to get another one."

Babcock was the architect of the Ducks' upset of Detroit four years ago and he's worked the past two seasons at instilling some of that same gritty philosophy in the Wings.

It's not the pretty hockey of past Cup triumphs, but in the first two rounds Detroit has succeeded in grinding down two opponents who were deemed superior physically.

"Anaheim, with (Chris) Pronger and (Scott) Niedermayer, (Francois) Beauchemin and (Sean) O'Donnell being their top four defencemen, we have to make it like we did against Calgary and San Jose," Wings' Dan Cleary said. "Get on their defence and force them to go back and turn, we have to finish Pronger and Niedermayer every chance we get.

"Up front they've got real talented players. They got that kid line with (Corey) Perry, (Ryan) Getzlaff and (Dustin) Penner, real strong on the cycle, it's going to be a great series."

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Game 1 Friday, 5/11 Ana at Det 7:30 pm

Game 2 Sunday, 5/13 Ana at Det 7:30 pm

Game 3 Tuesday, 5/15 Det at Ana 9:00 pm

Game 4 Thursday, 5/17 Det at Ana 9:00 pm

Game 5 Sunday, 5/20 Ana at Det 3:00 pm (if necc.)

Game 6 Tuesday, 5/22 Det at Ana 9:00 pm (if necc.)

Game 7 Thursday, 5/24 Ana at Det 7:30 pm (if necc.)

What is the worse way to make a living as a pro athlete? How about making the minimum in the MLS? ...

The Major League Soccer Players Union released the 2007 salaries for all 359 players in the league on Friday, and perhaps the most startling statistic that the list provided was this:

At his current salary, it would take Galaxy rookie Ty Harden, who has played every minute of every game this season, 367 years to match the amount his soon-to-arrive teammate David Beckham will earn in one year.

Income disparity is a fact of life in MLS, and the yawning gulf between Harden's $17,700-a-year salary and Beckham's annual average guaranteed salary of $6.5 million is the most glaring example.

Put another way, at an hourly rate over a 30-game regular season, Beckham would be taking home $144,444 for each 60 minutes' of work; Harden would get $393 an hour.

Despite that, Bob Foose, the executive director of the union, said he had no problem with Beckham's hefty paycheck. "He's making what he's supposed to be making," Foose said. "That deal is a market-based deal and that's great. It hasn't happened all that often in MLS where a player gets what the market holds for him."

Beckham, who will finish his contract with Real Madrid in Spain on June 30 and arrive in Los Angeles shortly thereafter, is the highest-paid player in the league by far, according to the union's figures.

His $6.5 million in average guaranteed annual salary is well ahead of Chicago Fire forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco's $2.6 million, New York Red Bulls forward Juan Pablo Angel's $1.59 million, Red Bulls midfielder Claudio Reyna's $1.25 million, Galaxy forward Landon Donovan's $900,000 and Kansas City Wizards forward Eddie Johnson's $875,000.

They are the six highest-paid players in the league. What troubles the union, though, is that there are 57 players earning the league minimum of $12,900 and another 36 earning Harden's $17,700 salary.

"From our perspective, it's the level of the low end that's the big issue," Foose said. "It's a big, big problem. A third of the league has to ask their parents for money to pay the rent."

The league basically splits players into two categories: those on each team's senior roster, where the minimum salary is $30,000, and those on the developmental roster, where the minimum is $12,900, or $1,075 a month.

Twenty-five percent of all MLS players are developmental players, Foose said. "There's no way you can live on a developmental salary. In L.A., D.C., New York? No way."

Even the senior roster figure is barely adequate, he added.

"We've gotten the minimum up to $30,000, which is good progress considering it hadn't moved at all before the union," Foose said. "But still, $30,000 is tough to live on for a professional athlete."

Now, credit to Kevin for his extensive study on Dirk...

Nowitzki: Fact vs. Fiction

Since Dirk-bashing has been the most popular past-time to explain the Maverick meltdown, I decided to spend my lunch hour doing a little research to determine if there is any truth to the statements being thrown around these days:

> We'll never win a championship with Nowitzki . . . .

> Dirk plays well in the regular season, but doesn't show up in the playoffs . . .

> He can't deliver in the crunch . . . .

> A true superstar knows how to deliver in the big games . . . .

Although we all know that Maverick basketball experienced a complete turnaround the day that Don Nelson hand-picked Nowitzki in the draft, it doesn't seem to answer the critics who keep spinning the "can't win the big one" stigma. So I decided to do a little research and see if the above statements are really true. I didn't have time to research his entire career, but I did go through the stats of some of the key Maverick playoff runs over the past few years. Here we go . . . .

I started with a playoff series in 2002 because of the Kevin Garnett comparisons. That's when the Mavericks faced KG and the T-wolves in Round 1. The Mavericks won the 1st two games at home, with Dirk pouring in 30 and 31 pts for games 1 and 2 respectively. He also had 15 rebounds in each game. This was a best of 5 series, with the 3rd game in Minnesota. Since we're talking "crunch-time," game 3 was a must-win for the Wolves on their home floor, and the closer game for Dirk and the Mavs. Dirk rose to the occasion with 39 pts and 17 rebounds. KG scored 22 pts, with 17 rbs. Mavs win, series over. For the series, Dirk averaged 33 pts and 16 rbs. KG averaged 24 and 18. Would you still rather have Garnett?

If we take a look at 2003, this was the year Nellie took the Mavs to the Western Conference finals. But first they had to get past the high-flying Sacremento Kings, ala Bibby, Weber, Stoyakovich, Divac, Christie and Jackson. This was an incredible series with many memorable moments. But I'll cut to the chase: game 7, winner take all in Dallas. Would you call that crunch time? Check the records, Dirk delivered a 30 pt, 19 rb, performance with some incredible clutch shots down the stretch.

Mavs win and head to the finals against the former World Champion Spurs. For the series, Dirk averaged 22 pts and 14 rbs, but stood out as the hero in game 7.
Against the Spurs in the Western Finals, Dirk led the team by scoring 38 pts and 15 rbs as the Mavs stole game 1 in San Antonio. The second game in San Antonio resulted in a narrow Maverick defeat, but Nowitzki scored 23 pts and 10 rbs. Unfortunately, Nowitzki injured his knee in game three and was out for the rest of the series. Despite Steve Nash's presence, the Spurs cruised to win 3 of the next 4 and go on to win their 2nd world championship. Without Nowitzki, the Mavs were finished. It was truly an unfortunate time for the injury, but as you look back, this was really the only time he's suffered a significant injury over his entire career. Obviously this speaks volumes about his durability.

We all know how last season ended, but let's break it down a little further so we can separate fact from fiction. In round one, the Mavericks swept the series with the Grizzlies 4-0. Nowitzki averaged 31 pts per game, but solidified his status as a clutch player when on national TV he launched a long 3-pointer on the Grizzlies home court at the final buzzer to send the game into overtime. Without this shot, the Grizzlies would have won game 3 and would've been playing to tie the series in the next game at home. Of course, this was only the Grizzlies, so let's move on to the next round.

Next up, 3-time and defending World Champion San Antonio. Let's fast forward to Game 7, winner take all on the Spurs home floor. The ultimate cluch situation at the end of regulation with the Mavs down 3 pts, Nowitzki forces the ball through the lane and scores while absorbing a hard foul. He then proceeds to sink the do-or-die free throw to send game 7 into Overtime. He leads the Mavs to victory in OT and finishes with 37 pts and 15 rbs. For the series he averaged 27 pts and 13 rbs. Can you say MVP?

Next up Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns. After a bad game 4, in which Nowitzki managed only 11 pts and the Suns routed the Mavs by 20 to tie the series at 2-2, game 5 proved to be a pivotal matchup. This was the infamous game where Sun's tough guy, Tim Thomas, blew a kiss towards Dirk as if to say you're too soft. Dirk proceeded to respond with 22 fourth quarter points to help solidify a 16 pt victory that ultimately took the wind out of the Sun's sails. Nowitzki finished with a franchise record 50 pts in that game, while the fans chanted MVP tauntingly in front of Steve Nash. Mavericks finish off the Suns in the next game and Dirk finishes the series averaging 28 pts and 13 rbs per game.

We all know the Mavs really blew the series against the Heat. There's a million excuses out their, including the newly instituted Dwyane Wade rule in which a player is guilty of a foul everytime he breathes on Wade. Of all the blame that was tossed around, i.e., referees don't like Mark Cuban, Pat Riley out-coached Avery Johnson, the game was slowed by Shaq and Dwyane Wade free throws, etc., it's pretty hard to blame Nowitzki. In the 6th and final game, Dirk scored 29 pts and 15 rbs, but Wade went to the free throw line 25 times. For the series, Nowitzki averaged 23 pts and 11 rbs.

As far as the Warriors series is concerned, the Mav's were totally blown-out and no one individual was responsible. It was a total team effort, or lack thereof. They ran into a quicker, more aggressive, hot shooting team with a coach that knew all the Mavericks' weaknesses. I'd call it the perfect storm. If it weren't for Dirk's miracle saving effort in game 5, or the fact that Baron Davis and Jackson were kicked out in game 2, this series would have been a clean sweep.

Opinions are cheap and emotional, but facts don't lie. I challenge anyone to present a factual case that supports the negative statements floating around about Nowitzki. Is he Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson? No, but he's a franchise player that any team in the league would love to have. You can't say he's a loser just because the Mavs haven't won a title. Basketball is a team sport that is complicated by matchups, streak shooters, coaching, etc. But people are emotional and want to blame everything on one person. Ridiculous!

Remember when Peyton Manning couldn't win the big one? Was Manning the only reason the Colts won or lost? No, they won the Super Bowl with the help of a solid running game and tough defense. Did the Colts ever consider trading Manning? Of course not!

Kevin
Flower Mound, TX

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Once again, this May, I am right in the middle of the George DeJohn body detoxification bit.

I encourage you to read all about the program here:

George DeJohn.net...

There are many good reasons to do it, I just do it for the most vain of reasons….to lose weight. In my mid 30’s, I find that despite my running about 15 miles a week, I can no longer just depend on that to keep me from getting more and more excess dough around the body. It is surely gay to merely discuss this, but given my platform, I thought I would try to help out the dudes who find themselves in a similar spot.

Last year, I did it in May and lost 17 pounds. It was awesome. I then resumed my life style, and in the next 12 months proceeded to put the weight gradually back on. This is not the program’s fault. This is my fault for not applying what I learned from this program, and my back’s fault as a herniated disc put me out of running for about 10 weeks.

Regardless, here I am again, taking the 21 day program, and today is Day 10. I am down 13 pounds again, and today is the last day of the initial 10 day “fruits and vegetables only” phase. Tomorrow, fish and chicken are back in the game, and it is smooth sailing from there on.

This time around, I figure I will take smarter steps to keep the weight off, but anyway, from me to you, check out the program. It is a bit pricey, but I promise it works. It has worked for me twice.

Poor Kid



Credit to P1 Irvin on this one. Roll 3 minutes in for some Dallas Cowboys gold.

Check back around 10:15

We are going to be late this morning. Airport run before blogging.

Rangers Season

Rangers have been let down by the veterans …but is it changing?

"The last two years, we've started out and been in the race into July and even August and then fallen flat. I'd much rather peak late than early."

As long as there's a peak mixed in there somewhere.

Yes, Gerald Laird, Brandon McCarthy and Nelson Cruz have all struggled at times, but while Daniels won't say it, his biggest disappointment has to be with the veterans.

At one point late in April, top two starters Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla were a combined 2-7, Michael Young was hitting under .200, while Mark Teixeira was barely above that and Hank Blalock had one home run. These are supposed to be the team leaders. They're the ones who clamored for a change in managers and celebrated when Ron Washington was hired. They have no excuses left.

"I have a tough time singling anybody out offensively right now outside of Ian [Kinsler] early on and Sammy [Sosa] early on," Daniels said. "Nobody has done what they're capable of doing. For whatever reason, we've been in a top-to-bottom slump.
"I think that was the biggest surprise in April, the way the offense turned off. Even in the middle of it, you knew that couldn't continue. We have to get more production out of the outfield spots."

Kenny Lofton's .243 batting average is the highest among the Rangers' outfielders. Frank Catalanotto will drag a .140 batting average with him when he comes off the disabled list next week.

There are signs that Young, Teixeira and Blalock are finally snapping out of it and just as encouraging is the string of five straight quality starts the rotation has reeled off. Of course, it would be best to see them get through this series in the Bronx before anyone sets off any fireworks.

"The last few games, the guys you knew would hit and carry us have really gotten going," Daniels pointed out.

Washington looks in the mirror ….

The Showalter era ended last season. The Rangers were 10 games under .500 during his four-year tenure. But in the last three years they were 10 games over .500, and during that time, their worst record at any point in the season was nine games under .500.

Washington was hired in part because he is a prototypical player's manager -- the anti-Showalter, if you will, and the results were expected to be apparent immediately.

After the first 28 games of the Washington era, however, the Rangers were eight games under .500 with a team that management had said was much improved from 2006. And from the time Washington was hired in November, he exhibited the bravado of a boxer talking smack before a big bout.

"I wouldn't want to go into a season thinking that I didn't have a chance for the postseason," he said shortly after being hired. "If it doesn't happen, I'll be shocked. It's just that simple."

When the Rangers were pursuing free-agent pitcher Barry Zito, Washington was asked why Zito would want to sign in Texas.

"Because we're going to win here," Washington said. "I mean, if he wants to be on a team watching in October, he can go somewhere else. I mean that with all my heart and soul."

The Rangers took baby steps against a submissive Toronto team, winning three consecutive games over the weekend. Still, the Rangers were an 80-82 team last year, and an objective view of their personnel losses and additions would indicate they have about the same talent level as they did a year ago.

And here we go into Yankee Stadium for 3 …

Tue. at NYY 6:05 FSNSW Mike Wood (0-0) Andy Pettitte (1-1)
Wed. at NYY 6:05 FSNSW Robinson Tejeda (3-2) Mike Mussina (1-1)
Thur. at NYY 12:05 Ch. 27 Brandon McCarthy (2-4) Chien-Ming Wang

In Phoenix, The Suns fear losing both games at home to start the series, so Nash is speaking up …

Nash, still the NBA's reigning Most Valuable Player, said the Suns have known all season that the Spurs present their toughest matchup. That, he said, makes it inconceivable they did not match the Spurs' passion and willingness to work hard for all 48 minutes of Game 1.

"I'm at a loss for why we think that we can go out there and not out-hustle them and outwork them and win games.

"All any team really has at the end of the day is how hard they worked, how bad they want it. We want it really bad for a long period of time, and then we let up for a couple of plays, and that can be the difference in a really close game.

"To me it's just the scrap, the desire and the fight and having that ability to combat their strengths and desire and their experience."

Nash's teammates were in no position to take umbrage. Their leader had tried to re-enter the game despite a gash on his nose that required six stitches to close. After Nash collided with Spurs point guard Tony Parker with 2:53 left, Suns trainers bandaged the gash. Nash returned to the court and hit a 3-pointer, but when the bandage on the gash proved insufficient, Nash was forced from the game for good by the NBA's blood-control rules.

Raja Bell, the Suns' defensive standout whose intensity never is questioned, said his teammates need to weigh Nash's words and respond appropriately.

"I think that's pretty accurate," Bell said of Nash's criticisms. "At this point in the season it is a desperate time. If you lose you go home, so I think he was pretty much on the money with that comment."

Suns coach Mike D'Antoni would have preferred it if Nash had aired his emotions to teammates inside the team's locker room, but could not disagree with his conclusions.

"I don't really (like it)," D'Antoni said, "but everybody has a right to do that. It's born out of frustration, and it might even juice himself up. We're at a point we need to not take any prisoners, so it's OK."

Meanwhile, we may have to alert headquarters, as another sworn enemy, the Detroit Red Wings, are approaching a Stanley Cup. We, of course, may need to mobilize and make sure this doesn’t happen, either.

But the Wings have just eliminated the Sharks …

All season, teams have been picking against the Red Wings. Monday night, they had a bit of an opportunity to answer those critics.

The 2-0 series-clinching victory over the San Jose Sharks was an answer to the analysts who didn't think the Wings were to going to win this series.

"The big thing all year has been the fact that, when you don't get picked to be very good, and then you're pretty good through the regular season, then someone says you're not a playoff team," coach Mike Babcock said. "We played two big, strong teams and we've done pretty well."

Patience was the key for the Wings Monday, said Babcock.

"We thought if we were patient, they would overpinch, and be overaggressive, and we would get 2-on-1s and get our opportunities, and in the end, that's what happened," Babcock said.

On the other side, Sharks coach Ron Wilson was bewildered after the game.

"I'm shocked where we put ourselves in the series and how we let it get away," Wilson said. "But I'm not shocked that Detroit beat us. They finished ahead of us in the standings and they had a great season."

Elias Says …

• When the Red Wings have had a chance to eliminate an opponent from the postseason in recent years, they have not delayed. With a series-clinching win over the Sharks on Monday, the Red Wings have now won their last 11 games when they could eliminate an opponent, extending the longest streak in NHL history. No other team has won more than eight in a row in possible elimination games.

Dominik Hasek has won the last six games in which he could eliminate an opponent, with a 0.94 goals-against-average, 95.4 save percentage and three shutouts.

• The Red Wings have reached the conference finals for the first time since 2002, the year they won their last Stanley Cup. This is the Wings' sixth trip to the third round of the playoffs in the last 13 years (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002), tying them with Colorado for the most over that span by any team. New Jersey and Philadelphia have reached the conference finals four times since 1995, and Buffalo clinched its fourth trip yesterday.

Youtube provides illegal boxing coverage …can’t we just ignore copyright laws on youtube? Isn’t it for the greater good? Blogging? I kid, but I don’t kid.

It took Floyd Mayweather Jr. 12 rounds Saturday night to defeat Oscar De La Hoya during a championship boxing match in Las Vegas. But YouTube users needed only a few hours to knock out HBO's plan for an exclusive rebroadcast Saturday of the pay-per-view fight.

The original broadcast featured on HBO's pay-per-view channel was available later in the weekend on YouTube. Some of the fight action seemed to have been culled from a poor-quality foreign-language broadcast. But one YouTube user uploaded a relatively high-quality copy of the 12-round fight that included announcer Jim Lampley's call and the post-fight decision.

Viewers were able to watch the fight in its entirety until shortly after 4 p.m. Monday, when the footage was replaced by a notice that the video was "no longer available due to a copyright claim by Home Box Office Inc."

HBO spokesman Ray Stallone said that "we take our copyright issues very seriously. We consider it extremely valuable programming and we reacted quickly when we saw that it was available." A YouTube spokesperson declined to comment on the fight video.

Interest, however, seemed to be somewhat tepid. Although the YouTube video that seemed to have been culled from a foreign feed drew several thousand hits, the relatively high-quality reproduction of HBO's broadcast drew, at best, a few hundred hits per round.

He is surely the best pitcher of our lifetime, but he also is “special exemption Roger” ..

Roger Clemens has a big challenge ahead of him to get in shape and take the mound for the New York Yankees. But some around baseball think the Rocket is getting off
too easy.

According to his contract, Clemens will not be forced to travel with the team when he isn't scheduled to pitch. He had the same deal with the Houston Astros. David Wells, a Yankees teammate of Clemens' in 2002 and 2003, doesn't agree with that.
"I don't think I would ever do it because of the fact I personally think it would disrespect the team and your teammates," Wells said, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "You look at the other players. How are they going to respect you? What are they going to think if you're not there pulling for the team?"

Future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux agreed with his San Diego Padres teammate.
"I can't imagine doing that," Maddux said, according to the Sun-Sentinel. "I like the game. I like the atmosphere. I appreciate what it has to offer. I want to play the whole year."

Wells was part of the trade with the Toronto Blue Jays that brought Clemens to the Bronx. The pair were then Yankee teammates beginning in 2002. Although Joe Torre said he cleared Clemens' arrangement with his veteran players, Wells told the Sun-Sentinel, "That's not the Yankee way. The Yankees have changed."

As you look for your offseason moves, you will need to see the Mavericks salary situation here …

Gordon emailed me – not that Gordon. And he wanted to make sure I mentioned “Clint Dempsey and his $120,000,000 Goal”….

I think you ought to mention Clint's goal. The first native Texan to score in the EPL as well as it saved Fullham from relegation.

He is right. Clint Dempsey is a fine Texas product, who showed up for the US National Team in the World Cup, did very well in the MLS, and now is living his dream playing for Fulham in England. They were on the brink of relegation which basically means they would play next year in AAA and lose $120M which each team gets in TV revenue from playing in the premiership. But, that is where Deuce scored this goal:


Dempsey: Fulham 1-0 Liverpool


Man City and Man United don’t like eachother



Bunny Show Jumping

Monday, May 7

So, basketball season has decided to continue. I really couldn’t muster the energy to watch any hoop on Friday or Saturday. But, Sunday, as the game moved to the 4th Quarter, and the Rangers game and the Race had ended, I tuned in to the end of the Spurs and Suns.

I cut myself again to see if I still fell. It was truly a numb experience.

But, if I am going to heal, as a basketball lover, I need to ease my way back. There are still 3 wonderful rounds of ball in these playoffs, for crying out loud. And I don’t have the luxury of a full boycott. So, Suns-Spurs.

But, who do I root for? For years, I watch with agenda in hand. How does this effect the Mavericks? It was described to me as Germany vs. Japan. Measles vs. Mumps.

So, let’s look at what was sending me back and forth in that 4th Quarter:

Initially, seeing the Spurs uniforms and players….cheer against Spurs.
Seeing that idiot coach Mike D’Antoni complain about every call…Cheer against Suns.
Seeing every Spur complain about every call…Cheer against Spurs.
Seeing Raja Bell take an unnecessary cheapshot…Cheer against Suns.
Wanting Steve Nash to eventually get the big one…Cheer against Spurs.
Admiring how awesome Tim Duncan is…Cheer against Suns.
Wondering if any team besides these 2 will win the NBA Finals….gun to head.

I guess that should break the tie. It is pretty likely you don’t know Suns fans everywhere. But, you know Spurs fans. They work with you, they live by you, they know you. And they will taunt…even worse. We cannot allow another title down there. If you thought they were insufferable before…

Anyway, the game was pretty good…

As the Spurs escape because Nash was bleeding out …

Classic Steve Nash, the nicest guy in basketball. After butting heads with Tony Parker, Nash first checked on Parker.

Nash thought Parker might be hurt.

Classic playoff game, too, with classically bad timing. Had Nash's gash come in the second quarter, with time for stitches, the Spurs might have their own wounds today.
But there also was something else classic about this, and it started at the end of the first half. Then a call went against the Suns, and the Phoenix coach wouldn't let it go. Mike D'Antoni spent the end of the first half and the start of the second with the same, angry, crunched-up face. An assistant eventually earned a technical foul, and D'Antoni talked about the play afterward.

Classic signs — of a frustrated team that wonders about itself.

D'Antoni says this will be a long series, and maybe he's right. His Suns tied the game in the final minutes after Nash, with blood trickling down his nose, threw in a 3-pointer.

Again, classic Nash. Mark Cuban wouldn't want this kind of toughness on his team, would he?

In baseball, The Rangers picked a real solid time to win 3 in a row …

There was another sweep in the making at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Sunday, but this time Michael Young held the broom. And he used it to sweep away his slow start and the Toronto Blue Jays.

Young's final hit of the series was his biggest, a home run to right field with the score tied in the eighth. It resulted in a 3-2 win for the Rangers, who have their first three-game winning streak since last September.

Texas gained two games on AL West-leading Los Angeles and is now 3 ½ games back.
The Rangers did nearly everything right in the series. They produced timely hits – the kind they hadn't seen since leaving Arizona in March – got solid starting pitching and ran the bases well. They scored early runs to get the series off to a good start Friday, beat one of the American League's best pitchers with singles and doubles Saturday, and won a close game with the long ball Sunday.

Texas' sweep came just three days after it was swept by the Yankees. After their disappointing showing, the Rangers held a players-only meeting before Friday's game with the Blue Jays.

Young was one of the players who spoke up. He declined to reveal what he said, but mentioned that the players talked about the importance of getting things turned around.

"We needed to get on the same page," Young said. "It was good to talk and get things out in the open. I think it helped."

It may have helped Young as much as anyone. He was batting .192 after the Yankees series and went on a tear against Toronto, the team that traded him to Texas in 2000.

Young was 8-for-13 with two homers and six RBIs in the series. He had at least two hits in every game, raising his average to .233.

For last year's All-Star Game MVP and the 2005 AL batting champion, that's not an average he's accustomed to seeing in early May.

Jayson Stark, a week ago, Did his annual – which teams are dead in April column …

• Of the 144 teams that made it to the postseason in that span, only eight (or 5.6 percent) came out of April more than three games under .500. Clubs that need to worry most about that history lesson: the Yankees (9-14), Astros (10-14), Cardinals (10-14), Cubs (10-14) and Rangers (10-15).

• Just six of those 144 playoff teams (or 4.2 percent) found themselves more than 4½ games out of a playoff spot after April. Clubs that ought to get nervous about that trend: the Cubs, Cardinals and Astros (all five games out).

• And you wouldn't think the standings would mean much this time of year. But more than half of the 120 teams that found themselves in first place after April (66 of 120) wound up finishing first. And 98 of the 120 (81.7 percent) of the teams that finished the season in first place either led their division or were within 2½ games of the lead at the end of April.

The fight Saturday night was wonderful stuff. I think the judges got it right, but Oscar perhaps deserved a draw. Did it save boxing? …

The ice age predicted by some to grip boxing might yet come, but on this glorious night in the southern Nevada desert, which served to remind everyone of what it was like in the good old days when big fights mattered, two super welterweights bestrode the earth like a couple of T-Rexes. And if they only temporarily eased the myriad ills of a sport with a persistent cough, so what? One bright turn in the international spotlight is an elixir that at least can ease the symptoms, if not provide an outright cure.

"I thought it was an excellent fight between the best fighter in the world [Mayweather] and the most popular fighter in the world [De La Hoya]," Larry Merchant, the 76-year-old boxing commentator who reportedly is nearing the end of his own professional life cycle with HBO, said after Mayweather won a flawed but nonetheless entertaining 12-round split decision.

"Was it filled with drama and knockdowns and all that good stuff? No, but it was a good representation of what boxing is like at the elite level."

As the history of the Super Bowl suggests, so-called ultimate matchups often fail to meet expectations. Given boxing's penchant for screwing up even a one-horse parade, there were concerns that Mayweather (38-0, 24 KOs) and De La Hoya (38-5, 30 KOs) would engage in a dull, tactical affair, maybe topped off with the sort of bogus controversy that leaves everyone angry and/or disenchanted.

There were one or two minor subplots that 16,700 spectators at the MGM Grand and a worldwide audience in the millions could have done without. But for the most part, this was a very entertaining scrap that wasn't as good as it might have been, but was probably better than many anticipated.

It's difficult to find too much fault with a two-way rumble so closely contested that it was decided by a single point. Judge Tommy Kaczmarek scored it 115-113 for De La Hoya, while Chuck Giampa and Jerry Roth submitted cards favoring Mayweather by margins of 116-112 and 115-113, respectively.

Had Roth - who gave the 12th round to Mayweather, which is not how his colleagues saw it - gone along with the majority opinion, De La Hoya would have retained his title on a split draw.

For Football nerds…(like me), Here is Todd McShay’s Top 10 in the 2008 NFL Draft …

Now that the 2007 NFL draft is over, it's time to starting thinking about the 2008 draft. Here are the top 10 as well as the top five by position.

1. Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville
2. Sam Baker, OT, USC
3. Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
4. Jake Long, OT, Michigan
5. Early Doucet, WR, LSU
6. Paul Oliver, CB, Georgia
7. Andre Woodson, QB, Kentucky
8. Limas Sweed, WR, Texas
9. Chad Henne, QB, Michigan
10. Frank Okam, DT, Texas

And Despite wishing the worst against them, we must tip our caps to the 2007 Premiership Champions, Manchester United …Hey, at least Chelsea didn’t win it 3 years in a row…

In the season that Sir Alex Ferguson became entitled to ride the buses for free, he yesterday booked himself a trip on an open-top bus surrounded by hundreds of thousands of Manchester United admirers, and hailed by millions as a master-motivator of men and an impresario of the best show in town.

Chelsea's failure to defeat Arsenal meant that the Premiership title passed to Ferguson, whose passport says 65 years old, whose face says 55, and whose lust for life and glory says 25. To think that we questioned his fire, his ability to construct teams in his own ambitious, adventurous image.

Ferguson will stand proudly on the bus, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and the rest of his footballing family, handing around the Premiership trophy and accepting the thrown scarves, bouquets and plaudits. He has been here before, and for a man celebrating his ninth league success it was surprising to see him spill the champagne yesterday, yet those bubbles must have tasted so sweet. Chelsea pushed United all the way, staying on their coat-tails until yesterday.

Like fallen warriors, Jose Mourinho's erstwhile champions were carried out on their shield, every drop of sweat expended for the cause. The sight of Chelsea's inspirational leader, John Terry, pushed into emergency centre-forward action late on here, supported by Scott Sinclair and Salomon Kalou, signalled the shortage of resources. Chelsea were not so much down to the bare bones, as scraping the marrow.
While Ferguson's team maintained their momentum, Chelsea ran out of options as well as steam. Like a heavyweight, they absorbed too much punishment; the injuries to Petr Cech and, for two months, Terry, robbed them of security and drive.

Dirk is no Larry Bird.



The always amazing Grape Stomp (made famous by the Musers).



Since you didn't ask for it, here is Holly Robinson and her hero at the Super Bowl in Miami...Year 2 of our get a picture together tradition.

Game 6: Golden State 111, Dallas 86 (GS wins 4-2)

It made us all sick last night. We will continue to be sick today. And, I am not sure when that feeling of illness will pass. This sucks.

It is May 4th, and I guess it is Cowboys’ season.

Notes:

• Dirk. How? How is this even possible? I have never seen such a shrink-to-the-occasion as we saw last night. To see Baron Davis dominate him for 2 straight weeks was shocking on many levels, and the final chapter surely did not improve anything as Baron played on 1 leg, Dirk played with 0 heart. Please, please, please, please don’t let him win the MVP next week. Please, please, please spare us that embarrassment!

• The worst thing about Golden State bouncing the Mavs is that I am pretty sure Golden State isn’t that good. I am reasonably sure their next opponent will make quick work of them, and who knows what they will do next year. It was just the perfect storm, I guess. It was the coach, the players, the crowd, everything. It isn’t supposed to go this way. They were playing out of their minds, and the Mavs were to weak to stop it. Consider: Baron Davis in the regular season shot 30% from 3, and Stephen Jackson shot 32%. In this series, Baron was 46% and Jackson 48%. They never missed a big shot. They went and grabbed the series by the neck. And the Mavs packed their bags.

• The only guy with the fire in his eyes when adversity hits on this team is free agent-to-be Jerry Stackhouse. What can you possibly do with this team in the summer? Everyone is tied down with a very wealthy deal. I would never say you are married to this roster because Mark Cuban has proven every contract is tradable, but do you blow up a team that went to the NBA Finals and then won 67 games? I know this morning we all want to blow it up, but let’s give it a moment to let the emotions calm tad.

• Don Nelson must be having the time of his life.

• Mark Cuban must not be having the time of his life.

• Perhaps we all knew it was a very bad sign when the Mavs were staying in the game because of the 3 point shot. Nothing concerns me more than seeing the boys hit 3’s early in the game. This goes back years. When they hit the outside shot early, it is “fool’s gold”. They then think they don’t have to pay the price to get to the rim. And, as one 3 falls after another, I fear the worst. And so it happened.

• Baron Davis might be able to get a free beverage in Oakland right now. That is the most amazing performance by one guy against the Mavs in a playoff series since...last series when D-Wade did it.

• An emailer this morning pointed out something worth considering. The late 1960’s Dallas Cowboys tried and tried year after year. They fell short every year. But, they stayed the course and eventually won the title in Super Bowl VI. Along the way, I am sure many said they would never win with these guys, but it did eventually happen. Panic is never the proper reaction to day’s like this.

• Nice deep bench, Mavs. At least Austin Croshere plays now. It looks like
he is willing to commit a hard foul. Wasn’t that Kevin Willis era wonderful?

• How are we going to roll through another regular season after that?

Dead and Buried

Never have I been so disgusted with the boys I believed in. Not sure what Avery said at the half, but it surely did not work. Dirk, you will take your medicine for years - and deserve it. There is no question that as beaten as you were last summer, Mavs fans, this will be far worse.

I will offer notes in the morning if I don't jump off a cliff before then.

Good Luck. We're All Counting on You.

Well, here we are. Win or Go Home.

JJT on Dirk’s mission …

"Do you want to go to the next level where we haven't been? If you want to go there, there is a lot of criticism that goes with that territory," Johnson said. "We could have stayed where we were which wasn't bad because we were winning 50 or 60 games a year.

"But if you get to that level where you enter the [NBA] Finals, it takes you to a whole new stratosphere where you get exposed to more criticism whether you're a player or coach. That's what everybody said they wanted, so that's what we went after. We know the rewards are great, but so is the criticism."

Just ask Nowitzki, though it's not like he's never shown the ability to dominate in the playoffs.

There was his 50-point performance last year against Phoenix a couple of days after a hideous 11-point game in the Western Conference finals. And you can't forget his 37-point, 15-rebound performance in Game 7 against San Antonio in the second round of the playoffs.

But Mavericks collapse in the NBA Finals last year, when they blew a 2-0 lead and choked away a title against Miami has shaped how he's viewed nationally and locally as it should.

All you had to do is listen to sports talk radio in Dallas-Fort Worth and nationally the last couple of days to hear Nowitzki ripped for his lackluster performance and defeatist attitude in the first four games of the series.

Nowitzki doesn't seem to realize the Mavericks can't win, if he doesn't dominate. He can't be a role player because when he plays like a star the Mavericks are virtually unbeatable.

Dallas is 19-1 this season, when Nowitzki scores at least 30 points, a figure he hit in Game 5 for the first time in the playoffs.

Johnson implored Nowitzki to be more aggressive in Game 5 because it gets him to the free throw line, slowing down the Warriors' fastbreak. In the second quarter, Nowitzki drove to the basket five consecutive times, scoring three baskets and drawing a foul as the Mavericks raced to a 21-point second-quarter lead.
The aggressive approach resulted in Nowitzki shooting 15 free throws, the second time in the series he's shot at least 10 free throws. Dallas has won each of those games.

It's no coincidence.

Dallas is 23-4 this season, when Nowitzki shoots at least 10 free throws.
See, those are the reasons the nine-year veteran must assert himself and be the best player on the court. Nowitzki must impose his will in Game 6 just like Baron Davis has done in every Golden State win.

There is no other way.

It's his responsibility. Like it or not. His legacy depends on it.

Warriors say all the right things before Game 6 …

Instead of sleeping Tuesday night, Richardson said he watched Game 5 over and over to see what the Warriors did wrong at the end. For starters, they couldn't stop Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki, who had 12 points in the final 3:07. They couldn't stop guard Devin Harris, who had 11 points in the fourth quarter, from getting into the lane.
Then they weren't aggressive enough on offense. Five of their last eight shots -- all misses -- were three-pointers, though as Richardson noted, "That's our style. We live by the three and die by it." And with a franchise playoff-record 16 threes made, it was obviously the longball that brought the Warriors back from a 21-point deficit in the first half.

After his team staved off elimination, Dallas coach Avery Johnson took a page from the Warriors' Don Nelson and said that Golden State now faced "10,000 pounds" of pressure to close out the series at home.

The Warriors aren't buying it.

"We're not angry," Jackson said. "We don't feel any pressure or anything. We're up 3-2 and we're going home. We're still in a great position. ... We know it's going to be difficult (tonight), but we feel like we can do it.

In baseball news, the Rangers celebrated a rain-out last night.
Ron Washington says he is about changing his approach …couldn’t hurt…

Ron Washington says he has not been himself, and that's about to change.
Jon Daniels says Washington is still making an adjustment from being a coach to a manager, and that's to be expected.

And both agree there is no crisis on the horizon, other than the very early one that has the Rangers with a 10-16 record. And even that is one that can be turned around with 126 games remaining in the season.

Washington said Wednesday that he had been asked last week by someone on the team, whom he did not name, to be a little less vocal in instructing players on the field while the game was in progress.

Washington is a proactive manager, constantly hollering out situations and strategy.
When Washington took a vocal step back Friday in Toronto, the Rangers responded with consecutive victories. Since then, however, they have struggled to four losses.
The issue came to light when Washington was asked if he would try to help break the Rangers out of their hitting slump by giving more signs, such as instructing players more often when to take or swing at pitches. Before Wednesday's games, the Rangers were hitting .230, which was 29th out of the 30 major league teams.

"I was [giving signs] earlier in the year," Washington said, "and I sort of got the sense that I had them up there thinking too much. So when we were up in Toronto, I just backed off and let them be what they are.

"But I'm about to go back to sticking up a finger in situations where I think we should be taking [pitches] or situations where we're behind in the game and we're making first-pitch and second-pitch outs.

"I got away from taking the game over in that respect, but until we start developing that discipline, I'm going to have to start taking that part of the game over again."
Washington said the Rangers are swinging at too many first pitches and are not exercising enough patience. Texas batters swing at the first pitch thrown to them 26.6 percent of the time, which ranks fourth in the American League.

Tampa Bay leads with 34.5 percent.

"I've been telling them they have to have more discipline," Washington said.
Washington said he was open-minded when approached.

"I didn't get upset by it because I'm introducing situational hitting, and I'm introducing working the pitcher," he said.

"And I sort of felt that maybe by them focusing so much, they weren't doing what they do. I backed off the first day in Toronto and we broke out."

Newberg tries to understand what is going on …

I've received a handful of emails the past few days, ranging from politely interested to outraged, asking that I explain what's wrong with this baseball team and whether it's going to get better.

Beats me.

How am I supposed to explain an offense hitting .230/.299/.392, a year after it hit .278/.338/.446?

Mark Teixeira with six RBI, after a month? Michael Young hitting .207/.228/.333? Hank Blalock with one home run, and a strikeout for every four official at-bats? Brad Wilkerson with a strikeout for every three, including strikeouts in nine of his first 10 games played?

Gerald Laird going 7 for his last 20 -- to lift his average to .169?

A team ERA (5.53) that is the second-highest in baseball -- more than half a run worse than the third-highest -- and only one starting pitcher (Robinson Tejeda) whose ERA is that *good*? A young, battle-tested rotation acquisition off of whom hitters are teeing off at a .356/.433/.522 rate?

Vicente Padilla in search of his first 2007 win, sitting at 20 walks and 14 strikeouts despite coming into the season with a career 2-to-1 ratio of whiffs to walks?

It doesn't help to see what Chris Young and Adrian Gonzalez are doing in San Diego. Or Padres AAA right fielder Vincent Sinisi, for that matter, who could figure in if Terrmel Sledge doesn't break out of his slide. And over in Chicago, John Danks and Nick Masset are more than holding their own.

Neither would have made the Rangers' Opening Day staff.

But that's getting away from the primary point. Collectively, the 30 players who have suited up for the Rangers this year aren't this bad.

They're just not this bad.

Meanwhile, Detroit wins Game 4 in San Jose on the ice, And Guerin takes a puck in the face …

The Sharks have avoided injury through the playoffs, but that streak might come to an end depending how right wing Bill Guerin recovers from taking a puck to the face in overtime Wednesday night.

Guerin was in front of the net when a drive off the stick of Sharks defenseman Christian Ehrhoff ramped up and struck the forward just below his nose on the right side of his face. Bloodied and shaken, Guerin left the ice 8:17 into overtime and did not return.

"He's in getting stitched up, that's all I know," coach Ron Wilson said afterward.
Guerin, a late-season acquisition from St. Louis to add depth to San Jose's attack, is still looking for his first goal of the postseason.

The Champions League bids farewell to Chelsea on Tuesday and Manchester United on Wednesday…Too Bad.

So that leaves a rematch of the unforgettable 2005 Final: Liverpool v. A.C. Milan …

Ferguson's side were handed a lesson in pass and move, support and shoot: Milan's football was chess with knives, and United were cut to pieces by Gattuso and company. Milan's No 8 will have more of a fight on his hands in the final when he encounters a Liverpool side led by another No 8, Steven Gerrard, who loathes Gattuso from their meeting in Istanbul two years ago.

Liverpool versus AC Milan, Gerrard versus Gattuso, in the European Cup final: ITV are showing repeats again.

With plots Inspector Morse would struggle to solve only in the bizarre world of modern football could the Champions' Cup be contested by a side who qualified after finishing third in their league, and another who failed to qualify because of a corruption scandal but appealed and were reinstated. Simple.

Yet Athens promises much on May 23, not least a party between the tens of thousands of merry envoys from Anfield and San Siro. As well as smiling policemen, relieved at avoiding a showdown between bitter rivals from the East Lancs Road, Athens will brim with sub-plots, many harking back to Istanbul.

Can Milan hold on to a lead? Will Gattuso risk smirking in the tunnel at half-time as Gerrard charges past? Will Dida match the penalty-saving brio of his Anfield counterpart? Will the wise heads of Milan live with the strong hearts of Liverpool. Will the European Cup spend the night at the end of Gerrard's hotel bed again. Will Peter Crouch against Paolo Maldini be the ultimate in long in the leg versus long in the tooth? So many questions.

Keyshawn’s unintentional comedy (I assume you know the whole story)



Since it is Thursday, Here is Jim as Dwight.

Game 5: Mavericks 118, Warriors 112 (GS 3-2)

Reggie Miller and Dick Stockton (So) both made the point again and again that only a blowout victory would do. I am pretty sure that blowout wins are worth no more than 1-point wins. It is the first team to 4. It doesn’t matter how you get to 4. You just have to get there first to win the series. The Mavericks certainly did not blow out Golden State last night, but somehow they summoned up the energy to stay alive with a furious rally in the final 3 minutes. There will be a game Thursday. Here are the notes from Game 5:

• History will show that Dirk was much better last night. I am not sure he was until that last rally. In the 2nd half he got back to not shooting and not imposing his will on the game. But then, just when you thought it couldn’t be saved, he hit those back to back 3’s with a sweet defensive block in between. With 3 minutes to play, Dirk was on the verge of cementing his legacy in the wrong direction. But, when he had to, he grabbed the game by the neck and rescued the team like he should be able to do. He climbed right out of the grave. Is this the start of something amazing? Not sure anymore.

• Let the record show that we now have a healthy respect for the Golden State Warriors. They have many talented players who can make shots. They are not mentally weak, they are not intimidated by the moment. In a weird way, you kind of admire the struggle they are putting the Mavericks through (provided the Mavs live through this). To go on the road and survive a 21 point deficit, and to nail 16 3’s is just a sign that they are ready to win. Baron Davis leads them, but he is joined by some really nice players. They are not like the last decade of Golden State jokes.

• If you had Austin Croshere in the pool for “guy who may have saved the season” you are a winner. Did anyone see that coming? Wow! What a cold blooded performance – he just grabbed the ball and shot it like he plays all of the time. 3 for 4 from behind the line, and they needed every one of them.

• Matt Barnes can play. It pains me to admit it, but he is not some bit player. He is a solid contributor who happens to be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

• You may not know who Sarunas Jasikevicius is. Well, he is a bench player for the Warriors who I remember as a starter on some pretty decent Maryland teams in the mid 90’s. Not sure where he has been for the last 10 years, but now he sits and watches the game. Anyway, on Dirk’s last 3 in front of the Warriors bench, Jasikevicius waves at Dirk and acts like he may come off the bench to block the shot. One of the equipment guys sees Sarunas and grabs him back to the bench at which point he seems to take a swing at the poor equipment guy. The Sportscenter clip doesn’t show the whole sequence, but if you still have the game on tape, take a quick look – it is good fun. Just a little story I wanted to tell you…Sounds good.

• Devin Harris has been a minor disappointment for his first 3 seasons. Let’s be honest. He is a top 5 pick, which is a spot reserved for stars. He was drafted moments before Steve Nash signed in Phoenix, and ever since we have hoped that he would step up and become a weapon at the point – for 3 years now. But, just when you think he is a spare part, Harris plays like he did last night and like he did in Game 2 in San Antonio last year. I keep thinking he is on the verge of a real breakout season like Josh had last season, and maybe it is right around the corner. But he deserves big credit for keeping the Mavericks in the game in the 4th Quarter.

• Wasn’t last night one of those games where you are happy, but you are also as worried as ever? That game was 100% mixed emotions. You feel good, but you know there is a ways to go. Thursday is the game of the year. And if they win, so is Saturday.

• So let me get this straight…you run a double team at Baron Davis, and he gives up the ball? Sounds good to me. I am looking forward to seeing more of that.

• Here is another piece of strategy. When Golden State is in transition, they all run to various points on the 3-point line and get ready to knock down the open shot. Perhaps, just perhaps, we should consider defending them.

• That guy who was wearing his sunglasses behind the Mavericks bench last night should have been ejected purely on principle.

• Stephen Jackson can play, but he is a dope.

• I’d like to give an assist for this win to the great Al Pacino.

• Down 9, 3 minutes to go. Anyone want to claim that they still believed?

Not. Dead. Yet.

Wow. That certainly was tougher than I thought it was going to be. But, I think we should not get picky about things at this point.

Plenty more in the morning.

Don't You Die On Me, Mavericks!

The Basketball World proposes new Mavericks Logo, above.

Well, here we go. Your last chance to save your name, your reputation, your cred. This is it. Go quietly into the night, and you will take this to your grave.

But, figure this out tonight – and refuse to be denied, and maybe….Just maybe…This thing isn’t over yet…

I am expecting 20,000 Mavs Shirts tonight that say, “We wish we believed”.

Dirk sounds beat; Avery sounds beat because Dirk sounds beat …

With stubble on his cheeks and resignation in his voice, Dirk Nowitzki didn't look or sound anything like a dominant player determined to prevent one of the most embarrassing, stunning upsets in NBA history.

Maybe he was sapped by the long flight back from Oakland and film session that immediately followed. Or perhaps the listless appearance was just further proof of how much the Golden State Warriors have flustered Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks while winning three of the first four games in this first-round series.

Whatever the reason, the expected league MVP talked Monday about being ready to shrink from the spotlight even more than he already has in Game 5 Tuesday night.
"I got to take what they give me and they don't really give me a lot," said Nowitzki, who is averaging 20 points and has yet to score more than 23. "So I've got to make other stuff happen -- help out on defense more; hit the glass harder, as hard as I can, get some extra possessions; if I have a shot, try to knock it down and if I don't, move the ball and let someone else make a shot."

Nowitzki rarely boasts. Talk of "fitting in" is more typical than predicting a big game.

Yet would Michael Jordan talk about passing more when his shot wasn't falling? Did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar focus on rebounds when his sky hook was missing the mark? And how many titles did their I'm-going-to-score-no-matter-what attitudes produce?
The answer is enough to explain why coach Avery Johnson was angered by Nowitzki's comments, which are typical of his attitude throughout this series.

"I'm tired of hearing about how they've taken him out of his game and any lack of confidence. You're just not supposed to have that, all right," said Johnson, perhaps team's most intense player even though he's no longer playing.

"I wasn't the best of players and didn't have the best of skills, but you were not going to shake my confidence. We need all of our players to be confident, to be resilient, to be persistent and that's what I want to see tomorrow. If I don't see it at shootaround, I'm going to be highly upset ... because I need to have it going into that game tomorrow night. We've got to be confident and really sure about what we're doing."

And if he doesn't see it?

"We'll figure something out," Johnson said. "We'll figure something out."

Bay Area paper makes the case this is the Biggest. Upset. Ever. …

Everything changes for the Warriors now. Scrappy outsiders no more, they actually have something to lose. As enviable as their position might be, they're about to face genuine pressure for the first time since the playoffs began.

This is somewhat reminiscent of the first round last year, when the Lakers took a 3-1 lead against Phoenix and seemed on the verge of a titanic accomplishment. As Kobe Bryant and his underlings discovered, finishing off a great team isn't so easy. At some point, you have to cast aside the adulation, the next-round schedule and the newspaper clippings and finish the job.

Not that anyone doubts the Warriors at this point. They have the Dallas Mavericks beaten physically, psychologically, strategically and emotionally (other than that, they're completely at a loss). But let's establish something here on the eve of Game 5: If the Warriors do win the series, it won't be "one of the biggest upsets in NBA history," as so many have suggested.

It would be the biggest.

Kiper Says …

Dallas Cowboys: GRADE: B

Purdue's Anthony Spencer -- who I think has a chance to be the rookie of the year -- gives Dallas a great pass-rusher opposite DeMarcus Ware. James Marten provides good security behind tackle Flozell Adams, who will be a free agent after next season. Isaiah Stanback will move from QB to wide receiver, and I really liked the pick of tackle Doug Free in the fourth round because he has a lot of talent. Dallas took place-kicker Nick Folk when Mason Crosby was still on the board; Deon Anderson will be an excellent lead blocker at fullback, and Courtney Brown has the necessary skills to be a developmental cornerback.

Meet Anthony Spencer



Meanwhile, perhaps we are only 24 hours from Rangers season: Rangers drop to 10-15 …

April ended just as it began for the Rangers: with a single, lonely run, the lineup explaining its lack of hitting and, most significantly, a road loss.

After a 6-1 loss to Toronto on Monday, the Rangers found themselves 10-15 as April gave way to May. And the team that was no-hit less than three weeks into the season still finds itself starving for runs after a brief glimmer last week that things might be about to change.

Roy Halladay, who might just be the AL's best pitcher, held the Rangers to five hits Monday, further lowering the team's AL-worst on-base percentage to .303. They rank 12th in the AL in hitting at .235 and 12th in total number of times on base.

As a result, the Rangers have scored four or fewer runs in 12 of their 15 losses, starting with the 4-1 opening day loss to Los Angeles. One thing the Rangers have proven in past years is they simply can't win with that kind of production. Over the previous five seasons, the Rangers plodded along at a .210 winning percentage (78-292) when scoring four or fewer.

Today, Liverpool stands with its back against the wall, too. They must win today (1:30, ESPN2) by a 2-0 score or more against Chelsea Or their hopes of a 6th European Cup end …An away goal by Chelsea and this run ends, me thinks…I am guessing Tom Hicks is in town – not sure if that is good…PLEASE NO SPOILER EMAILS TODAY...Thanks.

Rafa Benitez believes that even if Chelsea score tonight, his stirred-up Liverpool team will find the three goals they would need to reach the Champions League final. In reality, putting the ball three times past Petr Cech would make Mission: Impossible look like a gentle ferry ride across the Mersey.

Benitez promised his side would pour forward in numbers towards Cech's goal, playing with a "high tempo", and probably hoisting more than a few high balls towards Peter Crouch, but they must beware the threat of Didier Drogba. One slip by Benitez's backs, one goal by Drogba and it is surely game over.

"Liverpool will want to play a very strong, very fast game but there is always the danger of a Chelsea goal," Jose Mourinho said before overseeing the visitors' training at Anfield last night. "Liverpool have good defenders. They play a lot of offside; that's one of their qualities. But Didier is in good form. Didier is powerful. He did it at Stamford Bridge."

Too true. The muscular Ivorian bullied Daniel Agger in the first leg, setting up Joe Cole's goal that divides the two sides. "At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea played about 45 long balls, and maybe 80 per cent to Drogba," Benitez said. "We know they are using the system for years, and are winning. We will try to control this situation. We managed against Drogba when we won 2-0 here, and we can do it again."

That January triumph for Liverpool was the last time Chelsea tasted defeat, when their cutting edge was blunted by Jamie Carragher's superb stifling job on Drogba. If they are to suppress the Chelsea heavyweight again, Liverpool must ensure that Carragher, not Agger, sticks close. Carragher tonight breaks Ian Callaghan's Liverpool record of 89 European appearances and will break Chelsea's game-plan if he can keep Drogba away from Pepe Reina's goal.

Dan Majerle is the king



Baron Davis works in the drive through