We're Almost There

"Just one more step,
'Cause we're almost there"
--Almost There, Michael Jackson

This would be the cry of the 2004 Western Conference Champion Los Angeles Lakers, victorious tonight and advancing to the NBA Finals against either of the lugs from the east. Since they defeated San Antonio, the rest seemed as if it would be anti-climactic, but KG and Spree stepped up to make this a series. Garnett very clearly demonstrated his MVP credentials throughout this series, especially with Cassell out and the ball-handling duties falling squarely on his 7-1 frame. He was all over the court--scoring, rebounding, setting up shooters, blocking shots and rarely benefitting from any kind of rest. Lakers win despite his greatness, phew. Now onto the Finals, and who knows what the leastern opponent will bring.
A sports radio host made the point tonight that since 1980, every year but one has featured a team from one of America's four largest cities (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston) in the NBA Finals. They stretched the parameters a little to include New Jersey from last year, but the point was that a conspiracy of sorts exists to allow the league to appeal to it's largest markets for the longest amount of time possible. Ludicrous. Even Ludacris, if i may be so bold.
First of all, New York/New Jersey barely even registers on the map, because the Nets went the last two years and fell meekly at the hands of superior Western opponents, and the Knicks did likewise in 1999. If the biggest market--and the location of league headquarters--needed to be in the spotlight, I'm sure something could have been arranged to prevent Patrick Ewing's missed finger roll against the Pacers or Charles Smith's repeatedly-denied forays at the basket against Chicago. John Starks' scintillating shooting display against the Rockets in '94? No conspiracy, however deep, could overcome that vestige of inaccuracy.
Getting down to the other three, is it possible that the quality of players had anything to do with their Finals appearances and resulting titles? Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon and the duo of Kobe and Shaq would probably have been able to win a ring or two in another city. MJ is MJ in Chicago or Portland or Miami or whenever (and no, comeback-number-two MJ doesn't count). Magic makes everyone better no matter where he plays and the Dream Shake leaves David Robinson crying and three-point shooters open from Orlando to Seattle. That's not even mentioning Kareem, Moses, Big-Game James or Scottie. Coaching? Pat Riley and Phil Jackson, both undoubtedly among the game's all-time greats. This is just a waste of time.
Logic like that is why this guy (I didn't get the name) is hosting the 10 p.m.-1 a.m. slot on Memorial Day.
Padres lost 7-1 tonight, dropping them back into a first-place tie with the boys in blue. When a guy named Puffer comes out of the bullpen and allows three runs in his one inning of work (bringing his ERA to a robust 6.10), you're not going to win. The 4-5-6 spots going 1-for-10 didn't help much either, I suppose.
Amazing how one phone call can make an entire day. An entire week, for that matter. I'm still smiling.
Editing youth baseball stories is pretty much my kryptonite. I feel weak. I look forward to this part of Monday night about as much as I'm looking forward to a dental assistant jamming her scalpels or whatever into my gums over and over on Wednesday morning and telling me that my lack of flossing is why I'm bleeding so much. No ma'am, I'm bleeding because you've been stabbing me repeatedly for the last half hour. I don't bleed when I brush at home, thanks.
On that note, bedtime beckons. Dark week at work so I'll get to work on a few fun projects the next couple days--NHL playoff rollout, MLB All-Star game great moments, Lakers stuff--good times.