SportSpectator Blog

June 9, Week in Sports

:: DA’ TARA WINS BELMONT, SPOILS BIG BROWN’S TRIPLE CROWN RUN (Horse Racing)

:: RED WINGS WIN STANLEY CUP (Pro. Hockey)

:: RAFAEL NADAL TOPS FEDERER IN FRENCH OPEN (Tennis)

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NO CROWN FOR BROWN

On Saturday, Da’ Tara won the Belmont Stakes, one of the three most prestigious horse racing events of the year. Big Brown, who had a chance to win the Triple Crown with a Belmont victory, finished in last place.

Da’ Tara was a huge underdog going into Saturday’s race, listed as the longest shot to win. However, Da’ Tara will be remembered for years to come, not just for overcoming the odds, but for defeating Big Brown. Big Brown had won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, and his trainer stated that a victory at the Belmont was “a foregone conclusion.” However, Big Brown looked sluggish on Saturday and ultimately finished the race in last place. This was primarily because his jockey realized that he would be unable to finish in the top five, and thus eased up on Big Brown, whose breeding rights alone are reportedly worth more than $50 million.

Quote of the Week: “If Big Brown was himself, he would’ve been tough to beat, but he wasn’t himself. That’s why they play the game.” — Nick Zito, Da’ Tara’s trainer

Further Reading: “Da’ Tara steals spotlight, Belmont from Big Brown” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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RED WINGS TAKE TITLE BACK TO HOCKEYTOWN

The Red Wings defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins to win the Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday night. Winning the Stanley Cup is the highest honor in the National Hockey League.

The Red Wings looked dominant throughout the playoffs, and that dominance extended to the Stanley Cup Finals, as well. The Red Wings were on the verge of winning the championship at home earlier in the week, but the Penguins tied the game with thirty seconds left and went on to win it. However, the Penguins’ luck did not extend to Wednesday’s game, where the Red Wings won by a score of 3-2, clinching the title.

The Stanley Cup playoffs have a long and storied past, and the trophy itself is full of history and tradition. There is only one Stanley Cup trophy, which is passed on every year to the new champion. One of the biggest traditions associated with the trophy is for the winning team to drink champagne out of it. The individual players from the winning team also get to spend one private day with the trophy. Over the years, players have eaten out of the Cup, drank from the Cup, damaged it, and defiled it in various ways, after which it is cleaned and repaired for future years.

Quote of the Week: “I’ve had to wipe away a few tears. This is why I play in Detroit.” — Chris Osgood, Detroit Red Wings’ Goaltender

Further Reading: “Wings paint Hockeytown Red” — Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press

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RAFAEL NADAL, NUMERO UNO

Rafael Nadal, the Spaniard who is ranked as the second-best men’s tennis player in the world, defeated Roger Federer (the number one player in the world) to win the French Open. The French Open is the second Grand Slam event of the year.

Federer is universally recognized as the best tennis player in the world today, and perhaps the greatest player of all time. However, Nadal has beaten Federer in the French Open the past four years, and every year the match-up draws a great deal of attention. As such, the rivalry between Nadal and Federer is on par with just about any individual rivalry in professional sports.

Ana Ivanovic, the top-ranked women’s tennis player in the world, defeated Dinara Safina to win the women’s title.

Quote of the Week: “Today it was tough for Roger, I think, and I have to be respectful with one very good guy.” Rafael Nadal

Further Reading: “Nadal’s fire and emotion propel him to fourth French Open title” — Bonnie Ford, ESPN

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: BASKETBALL – The NBA Finals, between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, continue this week. Games 3 and 4 are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday.

:: GOLF – The U.S. Open, the second Major Championship of the year, will be played June 12th through June 15th.

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ALL-SPORTS UPDATE

 

ACTIVE SEASON

:: BASEBALL

MLB (Pro. Baseball): Baseball season is in full swing, but it is a long season, so teams tend to measure their success month by month. The All-Star break takes place the second week of July. By then, teams’ records will be a good indicator of how well they are performing this season. [Official MLB Website]

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:: BASKETBALL

NBA (Pro. Basketball): The NBA Finals, between the Lakers and the Celtics, continue this week. [Official NBA Website]

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:: GOLF

MEN’S GOLF: While there are professional tournaments throughout the year, the most important tournaments are the four Major Championships: The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open (The British Open), and the PGA Championship. Now that the Masters is over, the next event will be the U.S. Open, which is played from June 9-15. [Official PGA Website]

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els

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:: TENNIS

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TENNIS: While there are professional tournaments throughout the year, the most important tournaments of the year are the four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. The next event is Wimbledon, which runs from June 23rd to July 6th. [USTA Website]

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic

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OFFSEASON

:: BASKETBALL

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL (College): Now that the tournament is over, college basketball news will focus on which players leave their schools for the NBA, and which college teams land the premier high-school players for next season. [CBS Sports]

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:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): The pre-season begins in August, and the regular season begins in September. [Official NFL Website]

NCAA FOOTBALL (College): Practice sessions for college football begin in summer, and the regular season begins in August. [NCAA Football, ESPN]

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:: HOCKEY

NHL (Pro. Hockey): The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Finals, completing the 2007-08 season. [Official NHL Website]

May 19, Week in Sports

:: CELTICS TOP CAVS IN DRAMATIC GAME SEVEN (Pro. Basketball)

:: BIG BROWN WINS THE PREAKNESS STAKES (Horse Racing)

:: JUSTINE HENIN AND ANNIKA SORENSTAM SET TO RETIRE (Women’s Tennis and Golf)

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THE LUCK OF THE IRISH: CELTICS ADVANCE TO CONFERENCE FINALS

The Boston Celtics narrowly beat the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon in an exciting game 7 match-up in Boston. With the victory, the Celtics advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they will face the Detroit Pistons.

The Celtics were one of the NBA’s biggest stories of the year, having acquired Kevin Garnett in the off-season and finishing the year with the best regular season record in the league. But the Celtics have had a tough playoff run so far, taking each best-of-seven series that they have played in to a deciding game 7. That continued on Sunday, where they squeaked out a victory against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers–runners up in the NBA Finals last year. On Sunday, James’ 45 points were not enough to beat the Celtics, who have consistently dominated when playing at home this year. Paul Pierce paced the Celtics with 41 points.

Three of the final four teams in the playoffs have been decided–Boston, Detroit, and Los Angeles. Whoever wins tomorrow night’s game between San Antonio and New Orleans will play the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.

Quote of the Week: “Today it was basically get the ball to Paul Pierce and get the hell out of the way.” — Kevin Garnett, Celtics

Further Reading: “Pierce, James duke it out as Celtics close out Cavs in Game 7” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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BIG BROWN’S QUEST FOR THE CROWN

Big Brown, the horse who won the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, cruised to an easy victory at the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. If Big Brown wins the Belmont Stakes on June 7th, he will be the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 30 years.

The undefeated 3-year old colt will go into Belmont as the favorite to win. However, there have been many horses over the years who were in the exact same position who were unable to clinch the Triple Crown at Belmont. No horse has won the Triple Crown since Affirmed accomplished the feat in 1978.

It will be interesting to see how horse-racing fans and the sports media approach Big Brown’s quest for the Triple Crown in the weeks leading up to the Belmont. Triple Crown contenders are generally overwhelming fan favorites. However, because Big Brown’s trainer, Rick Dutrow, is a cocky and bombastic figure with a shady past, there will be plenty of people out there hoping that the sport’s Triple Crown drought continues.

Quote of the Week: “It will be tears or cheers at Belmont, in the race that will either stamp Big Brown a superhorse or make him the latest heartbreak kid in a sport full of them over three decades.” — Pat Forde, ESPN

Further Reading: “Preakness laugher leaves Big Brown in line for glory” — Pat Forde, ESPN

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FIRST LADIES OF GOLF, TENNIS RETIRE

On Tuesday, Annika Sorenstam, one of the greatest female golfers of all-time, announced that she would be retiring at the end of the season. A day later, Justine Henin, the world’s top-ranked female tennis player, announced that she was retiring immediately. As a result, the face of women’s golf and tennis completely changed within the space of 24 hours.

The 37-year old Sorenstam, who has won 72 LPGA tournaments and 10 majors, announced that she would finish up this season, but then was retiring from the game. She stated that it was a very hard decision, but said that now that she is getting older, she wants to leave the game in order to build a family.

For Henin, who is just 25 years old, the story is different. When citing her reasons for retiring, it became clear that Henin was walking away from the court predominantly because she was burned out. The loss of her former passion for competition combined with some lingering injuries seemingly made for an easy decision to retire. 21-year old Maria Sharapova will replace Henin as the no. 1 female tennis player in the world.

Quote of the Week: “It has been a pleasure watching Annika play for all of these years, but even more of an honor to call her a friend.” — Tiger Woods

Further Reading: “No. 1 Justine Henin retires from tennis immediately” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: AUTORACING – The Indianapolis 500 will be held on Sunday, May 25th. The Indy 500 is one of the most historical and important races of the year. While the results of the Indy 500 are major news anyway, the race has grown in the public consciousness in recent years as some of the top drivers in the sport, such as Danica Patrick and Helio Castroneves, have become household celebrity names.

:: BASKETBALL – Monday night (May 19th), the San Antonio Spurs will play the New Orleans Hornets in a highly-anticipated game 7 showdown. The winner will play the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.

:: HOCKEY – The Conference Finals continue this week, and only four teams remain: Pittsburgh/Philadelphia and Detroit/Dallas. A detailed playoff schedule is available at www.nhl.com. Barring a dramatic turn of events, it looks as though the Red Wings and the Penguins will face off in this year’s Stanley Cup Finals.
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ALL-SPORTS UPDATE

 

ACTIVE SEASON

:: BASEBALL

MLB (Pro. Baseball): Baseball season is in full swing, but it is a long season, so teams tend to measure their success month by month. The All-Star break takes place the second week of July. By then, teams’ records will be a good indicator of how well they are performing this season. [Official MLB Website]

———-

:: BASKETBALL

NBA (Pro. Basketball): The NBA conference finals begin this week. The winners of those two best-of-seven series will face off in the NBA playoffs. [Official NBA Website]

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:: GOLF

MEN’S GOLF: While there are professional tournaments throughout the year, the most important tournaments are the four Major Championships: The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open (The British Open), and the PGA Championship. Now that the Masters is over, the next event will be the U.S. Open, which is played in the month of June. [Official PGA Website]

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els

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:: HOCKEY

NHL (Pro. Hockey): The Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Philadelphia Flyers are the final four teams in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. [Official NHL Website]

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:: TENNIS

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TENNIS: While there are professional tournaments throughout the year, the most important tournaments of the year are the four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. The Australian Open took place in January. The French Open, which is held in May, is the next Grand Slam event. [USTA Website]

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova

———-

OFFSEASON

:: BASKETBALL

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL (College): Now that the tournament is over, college basketball news will focus on which players leave their schools for the NBA, and which college teams land the premier high-school players for next season. [CBS Sports]

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:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): The pre-season begins in August, and the regular season begins in September. [Official NFL Website]

NCAA FOOTBALL (College): Practice sessions for college football begin in summer, and the regular season begins in August. [NCAA Football, ESPN]

:: BOSTON CELTICS WIN GAME SEVEN OVER ATLANTA HAWKS (Pro. Basketball)

:: BIG BROWN WINS KENTUCKY DERBY (Horse Racing)

:: KOBE BRYANT WINS MVP (Pro. Basketball)

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LUCKY SEVEN: CELTICS ADVANCE TO SECOND ROUND

The Boston Celtics, who entered the playoffs with the best record in the Eastern Conference, narrowly escaped from the first round after defeating the Atlanta Hawks in Game 7 of the series. The Celtics are the darlings of the sports media and they were heavy favorites to win the series, so their final two games with the Hawks drew a good deal of national attention.

The Celtics lost a close, emotional Game 6 in Atlanta, which forced the deciding Game 7 in Boston on Sunday afternoon. Because of the series’ recent intensity, many were expecting a close game. But in the end, the Celtics completely blew out the Hawks by a score of 99-65. Celtics forward Paul Pierce led the team in scoring with 22 points, and center Kevin Garnett added 18 in the blowout victory.

The Celtics’ journey continues on Tuesday, when they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Quote of the Week: “We want Cleveland!” — Celtics fans, chanting at the end of the game

Further Reading: “Garnett’s double-double propels Celts to second round” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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BIG BROWN REMAINS UNDEFEATED WITH DERBY WIN

Big Brown, a 3-year old colt with an undefeated record, won the Kentucky Derby by 4 3/4 lengths on Saturday. Big Brown was the favorite to win the Derby–the most prestigious horse racing event of the year.

Now, horse racing fans will debate whether or not Big Brown has a chance to win the Triple Crown. To win that title, a feat which no horse has accomplished since Affirmed did it in 1978, Big Brown would have to win the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes later this year. There are certainly those out there who wish Big Brown no further success, since the horse’s trainer, Rick Dutrow Jr., is a controversial figure in horse racing, having been busted for drugging his horses and himself. While Big Brown may have been the Derby favorite, Dutrow is hardly one of the sport’s favorite trainers.

The Kentucky Derby, and any joy of Big Brown’s victory, were completely overshadowed by the tragic death of a horse on the track. Eight Belles, the only filly to run in the race, finished in second place, only to collapse moments later. She was euthanized immediately by the track veterinarian.

Quote of the Week: “There was no way to save her. She couldn’t stand. She ran an incredible race. She ran the race of her life.” — Larry Jones, Eight Belles’ owner

Further Reading: “Favorite Big Brown dusts field; runner-up Eight Belles euthanized” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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KING KOBE: BRYANT EXPECTED TO TAKE HOME MVP HONORS

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Kobe Bryant has won the Most Valuable Player award this year. The announcement, which will not be official until later this week, is significant because this year’s MVP race was so close, and because Bryant has never been named MVP.

The MVP race boiled down to four players: Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett, and LeBron James. Following the regular season, sportswriters and broadcasters across the country get to vote to determine who gets the MVP award. While Garnett and James certainly drew some votes, everyone expected the vote to come down to Paul and Bryant. When Bryant is officially named the MVP this week, there are sure to be debates across the country over whether or not he deserved it over Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets, who had the best year of his young career.

Both players are currently in the second round of the playoffs. If the Hornets and Lakers both win, they would play each other in the next round.

Quote of the Week: “Bryant, second in the NBA in scoring behind Cleveland’s LeBron James, will be the first Lakers player to win the MVP award since Shaquille O’Neal was a near-unanimous choice in 2000.” — Associated Press

Further Reading: “Is MVP Wait Finally Over for Kobe Bryant?” — Mark Heisler, L.A. Times

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: BASKETBALL –The second round of the playoffs continue this week. While the matches look to be exciting across the board, keep a close eye on the Spurs-Hornets series. The Hornets have a fun, explosive offense led by Chris Paul, and the Spurs have perhaps the most impressive, veteran defense in the league. The Hornets won the first game, but nobody should ever count out the Spurs.

:: HOCKEY – The Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup playoffs begin this week. The Detroit Red Wings, after struggling early in the post-season, have looked red-hot lately, pummeling the Colorado Avalanche in the second round, winning four games to none.
———-

ALL-SPORTS UPDATE

 

ACTIVE SEASON

:: BASEBALL

MLB (Pro. Baseball): Baseball season is in full swing, but it is a long season, so teams tend to measure their success month by month. The All-Star break takes place the second week of July. By then, teams’ records will be a good indicator of how well they are performing this season. [Official MLB Website]

———-

:: BASKETBALL

NBA (Pro. Basketball): The second round of the playoffs continues this week. Eight teams have been eliminated from this year’s post-season play. [Official NBA Website]

———-

:: GOLF

MEN’S GOLF: While there are professional tournaments throughout the year, the most important tournaments are the four Major Championships: The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open (The British Open), and the PGA Championship. Now that the Masters is over, the next event will be the U.S. Open, which is played in the month of June. [Official PGA Website]

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els

———-

:: HOCKEY

NHL (Pro. Hockey): The Stanley Cup Playoffs continue this week. After the best-of-seven Conference Finals begin this week, the only thing left is the Stanley Cup Finals–the climax of the NHL season. [Official NHL Website]

———-

:: TENNIS

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TENNIS: While there are professional tournaments throughout the year, the most important tournaments of the year are the four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. The Australian Open took place in January. The French Open, which is held in May, is the next Grand Slam event. [USTA Website]

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Justine Henin

———-

OFFSEASON

:: BASKETBALL

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL (College): Now that the tournament is over, college basketball news will focus on which players leave their schools for the NBA, and which college teams land the premier high-school players for next season. [CBS Sports]

———-

:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): The pre-season begins in August, and the regular season begins in September. [Official NFL Website]

NCAA FOOTBALL (College): Practice sessions for college football begin in summer, and the regular season begins in August. [NCAA Football, ESPN]