Finals breakdown
It truly is difficult to see how the Cavs can win this series.
Even for the collection of Johnny LeBron Fans among us.
Let's say LeBron James averages 40-12-10 against the Warriors. He'd still need at least one - and maybe more - Cavs player to outplay his counterpart.
And is there a Cavs player who you want to wager on getting the best of KD, Steph, Klay or Draymond?
Exactly.
And to make matters worse, could you imagine betting on that happening four times in the next two weeks? Thoughts?
Yes, the absence of Andre Igoudala means the Warriors' best option to guard James is not available. But still.
On a Which Way Wednesday, we'll offer this as a starter: Which way will it go: Warriors in five or fewer, Warriors in six or more, or could the unthinkable happen and the Cavs win this thing?
(Side note: We were completely ready to pick the Cleveland LeBrons over the Rockets. Alas.)
A day after working his 12th A-Day spring game, Alabama football coach Nick Saban on Sunday added to a 2019 class of commitments that is ranked No. 1 nationally.Saban being Saban
Nick Saban gives good head coach speak. Seriously.
Is it calculated? Almost assuredly and almost always.
Can he be a bully? Absolutely, and that's a shame because he should be better than that. (That is not a good look for anyone, and it's especially bad when he does it on good questions. Look, a reporter's gig is centered around asking fair, interesting and pertinent questions. If Saban or anyone else - looking at you Popovich, you jack wagon - wants to punish bad questions, go to it. But the preemptive attack on acceptable to even good questions should be beneath all-time all-timers like Saban. And Popovich.)
For the most part though, Saban gives real answers way more than Pop (although he's happy to get quite quote-worthy on politics) or Belichick or Coach K.
He did so again Tuesday at the SEC meetings in Destin, Fla. Saban asked fairly why the finger gets pointed at him and his program on the graduate transfer rule within the conference.
Saban points out it's a conference rule not an Alabama rule. And he is right.
In fact, we believe the league should have more uniform rules and take the decision-making off the coaches, who somewhat understandably have to balance the interests of program, person and player to a point that it certainly becomes untenable at times.
The league should lift this rule. (Remember it's for graduate transfers only, and truth be told, kids who have already got their degree should be granted the freedom and chances to make their own career decisions. And if that means transferring from Auburn to Alabama or back again without sitting out is perfectly fine.)
We'd also love to see the league take a leadership stance on uniform drug tests and penalties.
And taking those decisions above the coaches and to a conference-uniformity level makes all the sense in the world.
Philadelphia 76ers' draft pick Markelle Fultz, left, speaks during a news conference with team president Bryan Colangelo at the team's NBA basketball training complex, Friday, June 23, 2017, in Camden, NJ. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) He did what?
Man, there are some really dumb smart people in this world, you know?
Let's review the Bryan Colangelo file.
Dude is 52. He went to Cornell. He has been an NBA Executive of the Year.
And he has as many as five fake Twitter accounts to shape opinion on him, the job he is doing and even bad-mouthing some of his players.
What in the world?
There is a lot of Twitter craziness right now.
There's Roseanne, who made it made it easy for the social media morality mob to end the only pro-Trump show on TV. The saddest part of this is the folks who lost their jobs because Roseanne went Twitter crazy.
There's Cleveland Browns defensive back Damarious Randall, who put this out on Twitter: "If the Cleveland Cavaliers win the 2018 NBA finals I'll buy everyone who retweet's this a jersey" His next Tweet was in response to someone saying there was zero percent chance he would follow through on it. "100% chance," he replied. Well, there have been 689,000 retweets of his original post. At $99.99, his bill would be closing in on $70 million.
And through the mean-spirited Barr, who has apologized for her miscue, or the foolishness of Randall, who may need a Rocket Loan from Cavs owner Dan Gilbert if the Cavs deliver, neither is simply as dumb as Colangelo, who almost assuredly lose his job if these reports are proven true.
Crazy, right?
This and that
- Interesting update from TFP all-around ace David Paschall, who tells us here that Finley Stadium looks to be making money for the eighth consecutive year.
- This story is happening every offseason. Here's another NFL player - Pats linebacker Shea McClellin - walking away from the game because of concussions.
- These uber-fun Atlanta Braves, right? Tuesday was the first day since April 10 that did not have an NBA or NHL playoff game. And the Braves and Johan Camargo capped a frantic comeback with a walk-off homer in the ninth to topple the Mets. It was the third walk-off homer of the season for Atlanta.
- Speaking of homers, Bryce Harper and Mike Trout are crushing them right now. Harper hit his 17th last night. (He is mysteriously hitting .238 but has an on-base percentage of .384.) Trout leads the majors with 18 homers and is on pace to hit 53. Which of those two sluggers has the best chance to top 50 dingers?
Today's questions
We have a few Which Way Wednesdays in there.
Have at it.
As for today, well, first, where did May go? Seriously.
Today is May 30. On this day, 150 years ago, Decoration Day was celebrated in Northern U.S. states. It was later called Memorial Day.
Gale Sayers is 75 today.
On this day 52 years ago, Dolly Parton got married in Ringgold. War Ringgold.
Manny Ramirez is 46 today.
Rushmore of modern-era baseball players who have Hall of Fame numbers and have no shot to ever get in the Hall. Go.