Celtics Rout Lakers In Game 6 for 2008 NBA Title

The Boston Celtics thoroughly dominated game six on both ends of the court to win the 2008 NBA Finals, defeating the favored Los Angeles Lakers 131-92 in their historic battle. Boston claimed their 17th NBA title, as both teams have participated in half of the league's 62 NBA Championships. Paul Pierce, the 10-year Celtic veteran who admittedly wanted to be traded during the off-season, was named MVP for his terrific scoring, timely passing & tough defense on league MVP Kobe Bryant, who, also wanted to be traded during the off season.

The Celtics won a league-best 66 games during the regular season & had the best team on paper, yet some media experts worried they might suffer the fate of the Dallas Mavericks, who last year were stunned in the first round of the playoffs by the eighth-seeded, run & gun, three-point shooting Golden State Mavericks in six games. 2008 was a stark contrast to a year ago when Boston won just 24 games & finished with the worst record in the league. In fact, the Celtics dynamic year culminated with the greatest one-season turn around in NBA history, improving by 42 games.

Danny Ainge was named Executive of the Year & Doc Rivers was second on the ballot for Coach of the Year as Boston made some brilliant summer trades to go for the gold. The initial signing of veteran sharpshooter Ray Allen created some buzz, but when Kevin Garnett was acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves, the media circus around the Celtics' three superstars led to a barrage of names such as the PGA Tour, the Three Amigos & Three-Peat. Garnett humbly told anyone who would listen, "this is Paul's team."

Later in the year, the Celtics added veterans P.J. Brown & Sam Cassell (who has 2 rings from the Houston Rockets' back-to-back 94-95 teams), James Posey (a central part of the Miami Heat's '06 title team) & Eddie House. Long before the pre-season began, the Celtics were expected to win their first title since the Bird-McHale-Parrish team of 1986. The buzz in the building quickly returned, season ticket sales went through the roof & Garnett's #5 jersey was being worn by kids, teenagers & adults all over the state of Massachusetts.

When the playoffs started, no one gave the eighth-seeded Atlanta Hawks a chance against the Celtics. 20 years ago, Coach Rivers was the all-pro starting point guard for the Hawks, who took a three games to two lead in the Eastern Conference Finals over Boston. Game seven featured a shootout - particularly in the 4th quarter - between the Hawks' Dominique Wilkins & Boston's Larry Bird. Wilkins scored 47 & Bird scored 34, yet the Celtics won game seven, a game, to this day, that Rivers finds too painful to watch. Even though Boston lost the NBA Finals to the Lakers that year, the irony of Rivers now coaching a team that destroyed his only hopes of winning it all seems bittersweet & somehow something reserved for a Hollywood script or made-for-tv movie.

Despite Ray Allen's poor perimeter shooting, Boston triumphed over Atlanta in the first round without a road victory - frustrating for a squad with the best regular-season road record at 31-10. Their superior bench, led by veterans Brown, Cassell, House & Posey, as well as rookies Glen "Big Baby" Davis & Leon Powe, helped solidify a semi-finals victory over last year's surprise finalists Cleveland Cavaliers, who were spearheaded by LeBron James, a third-place finisher in the league's MVP voting. In a thrilling game seven, James' 45 points were not enough to overcome Pierce's 41 points, point guard Rajon Rondo's court leadership & Garnett's solid defense to move on to the next round.

Still, the Celtics could not win a game on the road & some feared they'd be surely tested against the defensive-minded, more experienced & 2004 NBA Champion Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. When Boston lost game two, their home court advantage was gone for the first time in the playoffs. Staring adversity solidly in the face, Boston won games three & six on the road to win the hard-fought series four games to two. The Celtics had little time to celebrate as the Lakers waited patiently in the wings after soundly defeating the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in five games.

The Lakers were clearly playing the best team ball entering the Finals, having swept Denver in the first round & beating the Utah Jazz soundly in six games. Their strong bench featured consistent all season play from Jordan Farmar, Rony Turiaf, Sasha Vujacic & Luke Walton. The Lakers' mid-season acquisition of all-pro center Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies was the steal of the year, as they finished the season atop the Western Conference, one game ahead of the vastly improved New Orleans Hornets, led by Coach of the Year Byron Scott & all-pro guard Chris Paul.

Everyone was excited about the historic significance of this series: coaches, fans, media & players alike. In the 80's, Boston & LA won eight of the decade's NBA titles, playing each other three out of four years from 1984-1987. Their legendary rivalry gave rise to the Lakers' showtime ball, led by Hall of Fame guard Magic Johnson, as well as the Celtics' all-pro front line - many believe the best in NBA history - of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale & Robert Parrish.

This year the NBA Finals offered a unique two-three-two series, which meant the Celtics' home court advantage would be neutralized & they'd have to win a game on the road to avoid going home with a potential game-ending scenario. Boston handily won the first game 96-88 behind Garnett's double-double, yet nearly squandered a 24-point lead (the Lakers closed the gap to within two points late in the fourth quarter) to eke out a victory in game two, 108-102.

The Lakers defense shut down Boston in game three, as their offensive rebounding & solid free-throw shooting (Bryant made more free throws than the Celtics attempted as a team) propelled them to an 87-81 win. In game four, LA dominated early & led by as many as 24 points in the first half, holding the Celtics' big three to under 40 percent field goal shooting. Undeterred in the second half, Boston would mount the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history, defeating the stunned Lakers 97-91, with solid performances from Allen, Garnett, House, Pierce, Posey & Rondo.

Game five went back & forth as both teams traded baskets in the tight fourth quarter, yet Bryant's 36 points gave the Lakers a hard-fought 103-98 victory, sending the series to Boston for game six. Sasha Vujacic torched the Celtics by scoring 20 points off the bench in a game the Lakers desperately needed to win in order to stay alive. Game six showcased the Celtics' superior team-defense as they lead 24-20 after the first quarter. Boston, inspired by Rondo's four steals, would allow just two free throws in the final 4:30 as the halftime lead ballooned to 23 points. Allen tied an NBA Finals record by hitting seven three-pointers; the team would finish with an NBA Finals record 18 steals.

Many Celtic greats were on hand for this historic occasion, among them Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Jo Jo White, Tom Heinsohn, M.L. Carr & Cedric Maxwell. Coach Rivers assured the team in the locker room another game would not be necessary. Boston was destined for this championship, as Garnett, Pierce & Allen showed the world what commitment, discipline, heart, sacrifice & unity were all about. The Boston Celtics succeeded in accomplishing what they expected of themselves, as well as what others expected: the 2008 NBA Finals Champions.

Tiger Woods Wins US Open Golf Championship

Tiger Woods overcame a mediocre start, veteran's surge & wounded knee to win his 14th major golf tournament in sudden death at the 2008 US Open Championships, held in Torrey Pines, California. Woods birdied the 18th hole to force his good friend & fellow American 45 year-old Rocco Mediate into an 18-hole playoff. The US Open is the only major which takes a tie score among players after four rounds into another 18 holes.

Among his many incredible accomplishments, Woods has never lost a major when leading or sharing the lead after 54 holes. Though he took a one stroke lead into the final round, Mediate, Lee Westwood, Geoff Ogilvy & Ernie Els were right in the thick of things through the front nine. After Els & Ogilvy tailored off, Mediate, Westwood & Woods stood atop the leader board approaching the 16th hole. Westwood faltered on his second shot, leaving Woods & Mediate to battle the 18th, with history awaiting either player, as Mediate sought to become the oldest first time major champion.

After the first ten holes, Woods took a commanding three stroke lead & seemed to be on his way to an easy victory. As he'd admit his ups & downs of the tournament in a press conference later, Woods double-bogeyed 11 & bogeyed 12, while Mediate birdied the next three holes to take a one stroke lead into the 15th hole. They matched each other shot for shot going into the 18th hole. Mediate had a golden opportunity to win in front of a record-setting crowd with a birdie on the par five, yet his nerves got the best of him & he settled for a par, opening the door for Woods to create magic as only he can.

Both players survived 90 holes of golf, yet a sudden death hole was upon them, beginning with the par four 7th hole. Woods hit a massive tee shot, followed by an equally impressive tee from Mediate. Woods' second ball was just off the green, while Mediate's wayward drive almost hit a spectator & he was forced to take a ball drop. Woods nearly birdied the hole, coming inches from the cup & he tapped in his par, as Mediate looked on in awe. Mediate, one shot behind on the hole, had to sink the next shot to win & sadly fell short in the process.

Woods, the 32 year-old father of one, is now just four majors away from tying Jack Nicklaus' record 18 majors. Ironically, this victory came the day after Father's Day, with the spirit of his late father, Earl, encouraging him every step of the way. It was evident that Woods labored in pain throughout the tournament; at times he'd groan in agony after a hard drive. Some folks confused the expression on his face with disappointment - Woods is the ultimate perfectionist - yet, he was simply gutting it out & making no excuses.

When all is said & done, Tiger Woods will undoubtedly go down as the greatest golfer who ever played the game, once reserved for whites only. Before the tournament began, the media tried to create a buzz, or rivalry of sorts, between Woods & Phil Mickelson, otherwise known, in my opinion, as the 'great white hope of golf.' Mickelson started poorly & never recovered, finishing eight over par. Their so-called rivalry is an American myth that was never fully realized...

One of the greatest legacies in individual sports competition (such as boxing, golf & tennis) are rivalries that transcend difference & welcome diversity: Ali vs. Frazier, Leonard vs. Hearns, Nicklaus vs. Palmer, Borg vs. McEnroe, Evert vs. Navratilova, i.e. When Woods starting dominating the sport by winning majors at ease, many golf pundits became obsessed with finding a rival to generate intrigue, revenue & spectators. Mickelson would never meet the challenge because Woods is, as the Tina Turner song goes, "simply the best...better than all the rest...better than anyone."

Obama Clinches Historic Presidential Nomination

Illinois Senator Barack Obama became the first African-American male to win the Presidential nomination last Tuesday by reaching the 2,118 delegates needed for the Democratic Party. His fierce rival, New York Senator Hilary Clinton, is expected to concede Saturday, despite her impressive victory in South Dakota & Obama's win in Montana. Hopefully, both candidates will channel their efforts towards defeating Republican Party nominee Arizona Senator John McCain.

The historic battle was the longest & most contested race in our nation's history. Clinton sought to become the first woman to head the Oval Office. She has served as First Lady twice - for 12 years when husband Bill was Governor of Arkansas, as well as eight years when Bill was Commander-In-Chief during the early to late 90's. Many media analysts & party loyalists have been calling for a so-called Obama/Clinton dream ticket from as early as the spring, though it appears unlikely this will happen.

Obama & Clinton have maintained they are friends, both praising the other with personal admiration, professional respect & public accord, yet the media framed the campaign, as well as their relationship, with issues of race & gender & religion. At one point, Obama was forced to end his 20 year bond with Reverend Jeremiah Wright, pastor of Trinity United Church in Chicago, because of sermons Wright made which were perceived as anti-American, controversial & polarizing.

Less than a week after 9-11, Wright, a decorated ex-Marine who advised Bill Clinton before he entered the White House, challenged America for her history of cultural genocide, inept foreign policy, racism, spiritual arrogance & white supremacy. The fiery sermon made its way to youtube & was eventually linked to every major media outlet in America. Wright was demonized & Obama suffered both personal & political backlash for weeks on end. Nevertheless, he persevered with dignity, grace & humility.

Obama has run the most conscientious campaign in modern history. The diversity of his supporters have baffled even the most experienced political pundits. His primary concerns have been affordable college tuition, ending the war on Iraq, healing the housing crisis, lessening governmental reliance on lobbyists, revitalizing the nation's depressed economy, universal health care & valuing the work of teachers. He has successfully raised more money than any Presidential candidate before him, quieting critics' early doubts of his management skills.

No one expected this incredible nomination to ever become a reality. Well, maybe no one except Oprah, who called him "the real deal," when Obama appeared on her show with his beautiful & briliant wife Michelle a couple of years ago. Long before the campaign began in Iowa, Clinton was a virtual shoe-in & Obama was a vested question mark. Most of the media folk concluded Clinton's international experience, name recognition & senatorial work gave her the edge over a field of nine Democratic nominees.

Obama rose to national prominence when Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, the then Democratic Presidential nominee, appointed him to give the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. In the spirit of Texas Congresswoman Barbara Jordan - who gave a heart-felt keynote address at the 1968 Democratic National Convention - Obama's charisma, eloquence & passion was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stale election. Though Kerry lost, Obama's presence was felt & he benefited immensely from that once-in-a-lifetime experience.

It will be interesting to see who Obama selects as his Vice President, as well as the person who gives the keynote address at the upcoming convention in August, which will be held in Denver, Colorado. When asked about this a month or so ago, Obama admitted it would be presumptious but Clinton would be on his short list. Some feel Senators John Edwards & Bill Richardson will play a key role, after their recent endorsements of Obama. I feel joy witnessing the power dynamics of a compassionate, decent, handsome, intelligent & successful Black man at work.