ROCHESTER ROYALS GET SOME LOVE – 66 YEARS LATER
The New York Knicks lost Sunday to the host Atlanta Hawks – 142-139. A Knicks loss is no rarity these days, but this defeat was special – it took four overtimes to determine the winner.
It was the first four-OT game for the Knicks in 66 years. They lost 102-92 to the host Rochester Royals on Jan. 23, 1951. That game was mentioned in TV and newspaper accounts of Sunday’s marathon game.
The Royals and Knicks were tied 78-78 after four quarters in that historic game. The two teams each scored 3 points in the first OT, 3 points in the second OT and 4 points in the third OT. There was no 24-sercond shot clock in those days and teams often stalled for one shot in OT. In the fourth OT, the Royals outscored the Knicks 14-4 to win the game 102-92.
Basketball Hall of Famers Arnie Risen (26), Bobby Davies (25) and Bobby Wanzer (15) combined for 66 points for Rochester that at the Edgerton Park Sports Arena that evening. Sub guard Red Holzman had 2 points. Vince Boryla (24), Max Zaslofsky (19) and Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton (13) combined for 56 points for New York.
Believe it not, it was the third overtime game of January 1951 for the Royals vs. the Knicks. They later met in the 1951 NBA Finals. Rochester took the first three games in the best-of-seven series and finally won Game 7 to earn the only NBA title in this city’s history.
For the record, the Royals and Knicks combined for 38 points in the four-OT game 66 years ago. The Knicks and Atlanta combined for 73 points in Sunday’s four overtimes.
WHY RUSSELL WESTBROOK SHOULD NOT BE THIS SEASON’S NBA MVP
Oklahoma City’s mercurial Russell Westbrook is getting a big push for this season’s NBA Most Valuable Player.
I’m not buying the hype.
Westbrook is an amazing athlete and deserves to be a contender for MVP, but his awesome stats are the direct product of his domination of the basketball. He almost always brings the ball upcourt. He uses his blazing speed to pop quick jump shots or drive to the basket. When opposing defenders collapse to help stop Westbrook, he is adept at dishing the ball to open teammates.
Westbrook leads the NBA in scoring (30.8 points per game) and is second in assists (10.2 per game) and 11th in rebounds (11th). But as a shooter, he is more volume than efficiency. He leads the NBA in shot attempts per game (23.9) but ranks only 108th in field-goal percentage (.410) and 106th in 3-point FG percentage (.331).
A plus for Westbrook is his ability to draw fouls – 10.6 foul shots per game is second to only James Harden’s 10.7. Westbrook has a solid .819 free-throw percentage.
The departure of fellow superstar Kevin Durant to Golden State left a huge statistical void for the Thunder to fill. Westbrook has taken advantage.
Oklahoma City is 28-20. If the Thunder had a better record. I’d give Westbrook more consideration for league MVP.
Two-time defending league MVP Stephen Curry probably won’t three-peat. Golden State is by far the best team in the league because it is loaded with talented players who share the basketball.
If there were an Outstanding NBA Player of the Year, Westbrook would be higher on that list than for MVP. Right now, on my NBA list, I have Westbrook behind James Harden (dominates the ball nearly as much as Westbrook, but his Houston Rockets are 35-15) and LeBron James (Cleveland), and in a group with Durant, Curry, Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio) and Isaiah Thomas (Boston).
AGE WAS SERVED IN THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN
The weekend’s Australian Open Finals were two for the ages – and for the aged.
Serena Williams won her record 23 women’s singles title of the Grand Slam era – beating 36-year-old sister Venus 6-4, 6-4.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 28: Serena Williams poses with the Daphne Akhurst Trophy after winning the Women's Singles Final against Venus Williams of the United States, posing with the runners up trophy on day 13 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 28, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Roger Federer defeated Rafael Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 for his record 23rd men’s singles title.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 29: Rafael Nadal of Spain and Rod Laver look on as Roger Federer of Switzerland poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup on stage after the Men's Final match on day 14 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 29, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Serena and Federer both are 35 years old. That’s ancient for top-level tennis. Their combined age of 70 is a record for singles champions in a Grand Slam event. That mark figures to stand – unless Serena and and Federer can sweep again.
Serena and Federer each earned $2.67 million of the Australian Open-record $37-million total purse.
Williams’ 23 Grand Slam singles titles – Australian Open 7, Wimbledon 7, U.S. Open 6, French Open 3.
Federer’s 18 Grand Slam singles titles – Wimbledon 7, Australian Open 5, U.S. Open 5, French Open 1.
CALIFORNIA CHROME WAS COOKED EARLY
California Chrome probably was doomed to lose his ballyhooed showdown against Arrogate in last Saturday’s $12-million Pegasus World Cup when the post positions were drawn earlier in the week.
California Chrome drew the extreme No. 12 post position and Arrogate drew the rail. The run to the first turn in 1-1/8th mile races at Gulfstream Park is very short, and speed horses from the outside post positions generally fare poorly.
California Chrome was no exception. He couldn’t get the early lead and it was apparent as soon as he was fanned wide while Arrogate was establishing a stalking spot from the rail that California Chrome was in deep trouble.
Arrogate, the post-time betting favorite at 4-to-5, cruised to a 4 ¾-length victory under wraps. California Chrome, the second betting choice at 6-to-5, staggered home in ninth place in the 12-horse field and was diagnosed with a non-life threatening knee injury after the race. He will begin his stud career with a brilliant performance line: 27 starts; 16 wins; 4 place; 1 show; $14,500,000+ in career earnings.
Arrogate won $7 million on Saturday to boost his career earnings to $11,084,600 – in only seven career starts. Trainer Bob Baffert is giving the 4-year-old horse a long rest. He figures to be ready to defend his victories in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic and the 2018 Pegasus World Cup.
For now. Arrogate looks like by far the world’s greatest active thoroughbred race horse.
CAN THE ORANGE WIN ONE ON THE ROAD?
The Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team upset visiting Florida State 82-72 last Saturday afternoon to improve to 13-9 with nine games left in the regular season.
It was an impressive win over a quality opponent. The Seminoles (now 18-4) got off to a sluggish start and couldn’t recover.
Now a road victory would be even more impressive. SU is 13-2 at the Carrier Dome and 0-7 on the road.
Syracuse plays at North Carolina State Wednesday and hosts Virginia Saturday at noon.
SU must go at least 3-6 to avoid the first losing record in Jim Boeheim’s 41 years as head coach. It could take a bit better than that to earn a bid to the NCAA tournament.
DAN DAWSON AND CODY JAMIESON HELP KNIGHTHAWKS BEAT TORONTO
The offensively-challenged Rochester Knighthawks welcomed back veteran scoring stars Dan Dawson and Cody Jamieson last Saturday night in a 9-8 victory at the Toronto Rock before a crowd of 10,817.
Dawson, who missed the previous two games on personal leave, had three assists and Jamieson had two assists in his season’s debut to help the Knighthawks improve their National Lacrosse League record to 2-2. Rochester goaltender Matt Vinc had 49 saves and was selected First Star of the Game.
The Knighthawks, who avenged a season-opening home loss to Toronto, play at the New England Wolves Friday night and return to Blue Cross Arena Saturday, Feb. 11, against the two-time defending NLL champion Saskatchewan Rush.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO…
Monday, January 30 – Jalen Rose (44)…Curtis Strange (62)…Davey Johnson (74). Christian Bale (43), Phil Collins (66), Dick Cheney (76) and Gene Hackman (87) are invited to the birthday party.
Tuesday, January 31 – Tyler Seguin (25)…Mario Williams (32)…Vernon Davis (33)…Bobby Dollas (52)…Rick Dudley (68)…Nolan Ryan (70). Justin Timberlake (36) and Minnie Driver (47) are invited to the birthday party….Tom Alston, the first black Red Wing, was born on this date 91 years ago (1926). He died in 1993 at age 67. As Rochester’s first baseman in 1954, he batted .297 with 7 HRs and 42 RBI in 79 games.