Food for Thought 5-29-2012

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Manu Ginobli (pictured above) stole the show in Game 1. Will OKC slow down the streaking Spurs tonight?

By Josh Kramer

Continue to doubt the Spurs.  I know that I have.  19 victories in a row is no fluke.  Not to mention that nine of them have occurred during playoff basketball.  Through three quarters on Sunday night, it looked as if the Thunder were on their way to making a major statement, and negating San Antonio’s home-court advantage.  Instead, San Antonio came out firing on all cylinders in the fourth court, denying OKC a major opportunity.  Sunday was as prime example of why no game is every over until the final horn sounds.  Now history is against the Thunder who lost in the conference finals last year as well.

First of all, winners of Game 1 in the conference finals have gone on to win the series 80% of the time.  Secondly, San Antonio became the fourth team in NBA history to start the playoffs with nine straight victories.  All of the previous three advanced to the NBA finals with two taking home the championship.  Thirdly, the Thunder outplayed the Spurs for well over three/fourths of the game and still lost.  Scott Brooks has to be scratching his head still as to what happened late Sunday night.

Manu Ginobli was the difference maker as he has been for the better part of a decade now.  How many players can come off the bench and influence a playoff basketball game the way he can?  Not many, though James Harden, OKC’s bench star, can really play.  Also, OKC has to find a way to get some point production out of their bigs.  The Spurs cleaned up in the paint, outscoring the Thunder 50 to 26.

Despite all of my rambling, I still like the Thunder to take this series in the end.  There is something about this young and exciting group out of OKC that has really caught my eye.  The “Big Three” of Durant, Westbrook, and Harden will not be denied two years in a row.  They are far too good and determined to let that happen.  Look for an inspired effort tonight from Russell Westbrook after a less than stellar Game 1 performance.  The majority of the country wants a Thunder versus Heat finals matchup.  With a victory tonight, the Thunder will really increase the likelihood of this dream matchup coming to fruition.

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Food for Thought 1-10-2012

Photo courtesy of sports.yahoo.com. One of the greatest Cincinnati Reds of all time, Barry Larkin (pictured above), is heading to Cooperstown.

By Josh Kramer

Just because we have entered a new year does not mean that the sporting world is going on a break.  Actually, it feels like sports have really picked up the intensity if anything.  Often, especially during 2011, sports news has been heavily focused on the bad.  Many controversial things occurred that we all wish never would have never happened.  Today though, we focus predominantly on the good.  The state of Colorado has converted from “Mountain Time” to “Tebow Time” (thanks ESPN).  A Cincinnati Reds great has been inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame.  And we are only just beginning the jam-packed week. Here are the items that have caught my attention.

Larkin heads to Cooperstown

“Food for Thought 3-29-11”

I think this picture should be enough evidence for the Barry Bond's Perjury Trial. Sadly though, it will not nearly be enough. Can we just end this circus already?

It’s another Tuesday, which could only mean one thing.  Lets jump into this week’s version of “Food for Thought.”

Bond’s Trial is A Circus

“Weekly Nickel”

The Final Four will be the top sporting event of the week, but Major League Baseball Opening Day on Thursday is not far behind at number 2.

After the week that just ensued, it would be hard to imagine a more exciting week in the wide world of sports.  But this week will be a good one.  All capped off will the Final Four Showdown in Houston.

Here is this week’s top 5.