Random Thoughts for the Week

Some random thoughts that have occurred to me over the week:

How cool is it that Greg Norman continued to play brilliantly through the second round of the British Open, just one stroke off the lead? I’ll tell you how cool: At 53, he’s two years older than I am. That's not necessarily old -- except in golfing terms. To compete in a major at his age is amazing. To win it would be legendary. Then again, it is the British Open, once his favorite stomping ground. Besides, is it any wonder he’s playing great? He recently married again, to tennis legend Chris Evert. Hey, at least he didn’t marry her for her money. Go get ’em, Greg…

Don’t know why I never commented on the men’s Wimbledon final, but Rafael Nadal (left) and Roger Federer put on a show for the ages. It reminded me in so many ways of Borg-McEnroe in 1980, and even the Borg-Connors slugfests before that. The match was wonderful and awe-inspiring and may, over time, live up to Sports Illustrated’s breathless, instant labeling as “the greatest match ever played.” (No hype among today’s media, is there?) Nadal and Federer are great for men’s tennis – moreso than is the awkward pairing on the women's side of the Williams sisters, who, despite their greatness, make it difficult to watch with enthusiasm when they play against one another in a major final. It’s not fair to say that, but even they admit it. Nadal-Federer, meanwhile, will rank with the greatest rivalries in the history of sport. Just great to watch, anywhere, any time…

How stupid is it that Josh Hamilton is not the 2008 Home Run Derby champion? The other contestants should have just walked off and conceded after his stunning first round performance, during which he blasted 28 long balls. This was more awesome than what Bobby Abreu did a few years ago; Hamilton’s tape-measure shots had the Yankee Stadium crowd, and a national TV audience, gasping in amazement. (Not to mention Chris Berman, who, I do believe, would gasp in amazement announcing a turtle race.) So, Justin Morneau was the derby champion, huh? Yeah, right…

Let’s see now: James Posey gets tons of press as a possible free agent signing for the Cavs…and signs with New Orleans. Baron Davis? The Clippers. Elton Brand? Dealt to the Sixers. Even Corey Maggette signed with Golden State. Some major names have moved already, and so far the Cavs are standing pat. Michael Redd remains a possibility, but, with the addition of Richard Jefferson to the Bucks’ roster, it looks less likely that Redd will end up in a Cavaliers uniform. I appreciate that the Cavs pushed Boston to the limit in the Eastern Conference semifinals, but the fact is that it was just the semifinals, and the Celtics went on to win it all. The Cavs can’t afford to stand pat with the roster they have. Signing Daniel Gibson (left) to a long-term deal was a solid and necessary move, but more will be required if the Cavs are to compete for an NBA championship…

Hate to see Joe Jurevicius lose a third of the season to knee surgery, but that’s the way it is. It's hard to quantify the leadership and grit he brings to the Browns. He’s a crafty, veteran receiver, and I guarantee you that his influence rubbed off on his younger counterparts last year. It’s not likely he has a lot of time left. Here’s hoping he can come back and contribute in ’08. (By the way, has anybody else wondered if Jurevicius [left] and Drew Bledsoe [right] were separated at birth?)...

Finally, Asdrubal Cabrera (left) is back with the Tribe, and deservedly so. His month in Buffalo produced a .326 batting average, with four homers and 13 RBI. He’ll probably displace Jamey Carroll at second base, which is a shame because Carroll has been a consummate pro since taking over the everyday duties. What’s interesting to contemplate is how long it will be before Cabrera is the Tribe shortstop. He played short in 29 of the 34 games he played with the Bisons, and it’s my hunch that he hit better because he was playing a position he enjoys more, not because AAA pitchers are that much worse than big leaguers. If Eric Wedge is going to experiment with the rest of this season, why not move Jhonny Peralta to third (do we really need to see any more of Andy Marte?) and install Cabrera at short? Peralta has turned into a power and RBI machine since being moved to the cleanup spot in the order. That’s more suited to a third baseman. So make the move and get ready for ’09.

And that’s all I have to say about all that.

Cavs-Celtics: On to Game 5; and a Rare Gem for the Tribe

Well, the Cavaliers stepped up Monday night and evened the series with the Celtics with an 88-77 victory. Now they head back to Boston, where they must win a game in order to win this series. As poorly as the Celtics have played on the road this postseason, all they have to do is keep winning at home and they'll be in the finals.

The playoffs have clearly been frustrating for Boston. They were a league-best 66-16 during the regular season. Sixteen losses over six months; that's two, maybe three a month. They've already lost five in the postseason alone.

The fact is, playoff series are different. Opponents have time to adjust, and coaches come up with plans designed specifically for you. A younger, faster team can give older teams (like Boston) fits. To be more specific, younger, faster superstars can give older ones problems. Think it's tough on LeBron James to play so many games a year? He's 23 and built like an ox. Think of the toll it takes on Kevin Garnett, who's 32, or Ray Allen, who's almost 33 -- or Sam Cassell, who is 38.

Even so, Boston is still in the driver's seat as long as they win at home. They're living dangerously, but they're living.

To the bench...

The Cavaliers' subs have stepped up in games three and four. Last night Cleveland's reserves outscored Boston's 36-17. Daniel Gibson tossed in 14 points, and Anderson Varajeo had his best game of the postseason with 12 points and six rebounds, actually logging more minutes than Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Joe Smith continued his sterling play off the bench.

I've commented many times in the past on Mike Brown's tendency to bury players on the bench after using them in prominent roles only days or weeks earlier. The latest Cavalier affected is Devin Brown, who was a key contributor all season, spending significant time in the starting lineup. He's been MIA this series. Damon Jones has barely moved from his seat for the last month or more. Sasha Pavlovic is getting a few minutes here and there.

The playoffs are a time when a coach has to find a rotation that works. Each series is different. And while it's not likely Jones, despite his shooting ability, will get off the pine any time soon, it's entirely possible that Brown could once again play a role should the Cavs advance to the third round.

It's all about matchups, and it's the life of an NBA reserve. You've just got to stay ready.

Look, Mom...

Had to love the scene when Paul Pierce wrapped up James on a drive to the hoop in the first half -- right in front of LeBron's mother Gloria. She jumped up to give Pierce a piece of her mind, when Garnett stepped in to calm her down. LeBron glared at her and shouted "sit your (expletive) down."

And we all had a front row seat. Pretty funny stuff. When's the last time you saw an NBA superstar in that situation? LeBron admitted after the game that he used language he shouldn't have, joking that it's a good thing it wasn't Mother's Day.

Gloria's reaction wasn't exactly a case of Minna Wilson wielding her shoe in the boxing ring -- she jumped into the middle of her son Tony's fight in 1989 and whacked his opponent, Steve McCarthy, in the head with the heel of her shoe, opening a cut that stopped the fight -- but Gloria's reaction was an honest example of how every parent feels when their sons or daughters are threatened in a sports contest.

The irony is, most of us aren't protecting kids who are 6'8" and 250 pounds. But try, she did. One can only imagine the laughs LeBron will share with Pierce and Garnett after the dust has settled on this series and season.

Meanwhile, at The Prog...

The Indians and the Blue Jays sought to underhit each other in a doubleheader last night. After Cleveland took the opener, 3-0, the Jays grabbed the nightcap by the same score.

Of course, Toronto's win came only after Cliff Lee exited. Lee hurled nine shutout innings at the baffled Blue Jays but was denied his seventh win of the season when the Jays scored three off of Rafael Betancourt in the tenth. Lee's ERA is now a microscopic 0.67.

The game also featured an unassisted triple play by second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera. It was the first by an Indian in a regular season game since Neal Ball turned the trick in 1909 -- which also happened to be the first one in baseball history. Another Indian, Bill Wambsganss, completed the only one in World Series history in 1920.

How rare is the unassisted triple play? Cabrera's was only the 14th in major league history. There have been more perfect games thrown (17) than that. That's how rarely it happens.

With all the attention Lee is getting, and deservedly so, let's not overlook Fausto Carmona. His win in the first game raised his record to 4-1 while lowering his ERA to 2.40. Cleveland will only go as far as their pitching takes them, so Carmona's consistency is every bit as important right now as Lee's.