HAPPY DAYS FOR FANS OF THE CELTICS
Most fans think Major League Baseball is more popular and interesting when the New York Yankees are a good team
The Boston Celtics are an NBA version of baseball’s Yankees.
The Celtics are good again – very good. And that’s probably good for the NBA.
On Monday night, Boston beat the Washington Wizards in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals to advance to the conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
On Tuesday night, the Celtics won the NBA Draft Lottery. They earned a 25 percent shot at selecting first overall by virtue of a 2013 trade with the Brooklyn Nets, who finished with the worst record in the league this season. Kudos to Danny Ainge for what turned out to be a stunning coup. They have Brooklyn’s first-round pick next year, too. No wonder the Nets stink.
On Wednesday night, Boston will open the conference finals at home against Cleveland.
Despite posting the best record in the East (53-29 to Cleveland’s 51-31), Boston is the underdog in this series – partly because the Cavaliers won the season series 3-1, also because Cleveland is 8-0 in the playoffs (the Celtics are 8-5) and mainly because Cavs superstar LeBron James is at the top of his marvelous game.
Boston’s solid nucleus includes Isaiah Thomas, Al Hofford, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, Kelly Olynyk and Marcus Smart.
The No. 1 overall pick is expected to be a guard -- Markelle Fultz (Washington) or Lonzo Bell (UCLA). Or it could be trade bait for an instant-impact proven veteran star.
Cleveland is the NBA East’s “now team”, but the Celtics appear to be the East’s best team of the near future.
BASEBALL IS LOADED WITH YOUNG TALENT
Major League Baseball is in excellent shape regarding talented young players.
Savvy ESPN senior writer Keith Law this week posted the 25 best players under 25 years old (as of July 1, 2017):
In order, 2-to-25 -- Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Francisco Lindor, Mookie Betts, Noah Syndergaard, Byron Buxton. Trea Turner, Addison Russell, Andrew Benintendi, Xander Bogaerts , Alex Bregman, Gary Sanchez, Dansby Swanson, Manuel Margot, Aaron Sanchez, Jose Ramirez, Julio Urias, Michael Conforto, Miguel Sano, Nomar Mazara, Michael Fulmer, Roughned Odor and Joey Gallo.
And that doesn’t include “oldtimers” Mike Trout (turned 25 Aug. 7, 2016), Kris Bryant (turned 25 Jan. 4), and Aaron Judge (turned 25 April 26).
THE “13 BEST BASEBALL TOWNS IN NORTH AMERICA”
This is an impossible list if you’re looking for 100 percent agreement, but Dieter Kurtenbach of Fox Sports gave it a try recently and – in my opinion – did a very good job. Only Major League Baseball cities are included:
1—St. Louis...2—San Francisco...3—Chicago...4—Boston...5—Baltimore...6—New York...7—Cincinnati...8—Toronto...9—Detroit...10—Los Angeles...11—Kansas City...12—San Diego...13—Anaheim.
KNIGHTHAWKS FANS WILL BE ROOTING AGAINST SASKATCHEWAN
The National Lacrosse League semifinals will end Saturday night. The two host teams – the Georgia Swarm and the Saskatchewan Rush won on the road last week and can advance victory in Game 2 or in the series-ending mini-game if they lose Game 2.
Saskatchewan vs. Georgia would a terrific Final. They were the NLL’s two best teams all season. The Rush are two-time defending NLL champions. The only team in league history to win three straight titles was the Rochester Knighthawks in 2012-2013-2014.
SPRAYING BASEBALL HITS TO ALL FIELDS
Former Red Wing and longtime journeyman pitcher Anthony Swarzak has been the most unhittable set-up man in the majors for the Chicago White Sox this season: 15 games; 2-0 record; 0 saves; 2 holds; 19 2/3 innings; 4 hits allowed; 2 walks; 22 strikeouts; 0.31 WHIP (walks + hits per inning).
Tim Tebow Update: In 31 games with the South Atlantic League Columbia Fireflies, the rookie left fielder is hitting .227 (25-for-110), with 4 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HRS and 11 RBI. He has 10 walks and 11 strikeouts. He’s making a bigger impact at the turnstiles. Home attendance is 5,214 per game (compared to 3,785 last season) and is up 2,400 per game on the road.
During the Yankees telecast Tuesday night, Ken Singleton praised umpire Steve Palmero, who died Sunday of cancer at age 67. Singleton said Palermo was the best umpire in the American League and was headed for the Hall of Fame until he was paralyzed by a gun-wielding thief while attempting to aid two young robbery victims outside a Dallas restaurant. He was a MLB umpire for 16 seasons. Wasn’t that long enough for this Good Samaritan to join the 10 umpires already enshrined in Cooperstown?
Slugger/whiffer Adam Brett Walker, who hit 27 home runs and struck out 202 times for the Red Wings last season, has resurfaced in the Baltimore Orioles organization after being recently released by the Atlanta Braves. He batted .125 (11-for-88) with 5 HRs, 16 RBI and 39 strikeouts for Atlanta’s AAA and AA teams this season.
SHORT SHOTS
Peyton Manning will host the 2017 ESPYS on ABC live July 12 in Los Angeles.
Knighthawks post-season awards have been announced: Most Valuable Player – goalie Matt Vinc (for the fifth time) and Kyle Jackson Offensive MVP and Rookie of the Year.
WNBA social note: Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi was married last Saturday to long-time teammate and current Mercury director of player development Penny Taylor.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Wednesday, May 17
Ben Gamel (25)...Matt Ryan (32)...Matt Cassel (35)...Channing Frye (34)...Tony Parker (35)...Carlos Pena (39)...Jose Guillen (41)...Jay Riemersma (44)...Dane Jackson (47)...Hubert Davis (47)...Danny Manning (51)...Sugar Ray Leonard (61)...Red Wings Hall of Famer Ozzie Virgil (85).
Thursday, May 18
Clint Capela (23)...Shane Ray (24)...Robert Quinn (27)...Joakim Soria (33)...Vince Young (34)...Donyell Marshall (44)...Marty McSorely (54)...Yannick Noah (57)...Jari Kurri (57)...Jim Sundberg (66)...Reggie Jackson (71)...Brooks Robinson (80). Tina Hey (47) and Groege Strait (65) are invited to the birthday party.