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Reefer Madness here, checking in with a quick look at game four of the NBA Finals which goes tonight in Orlando. The Magic are looking to even up the series that many people thought (including myself) they didn’t stand a chance in, but so far they have proven to be the better team, aside from game one, despite trailing in the series. The first game the Magic looked overwhelmed by the whole finals atmosphere and got spanked by the Lakers’ experience, they are only one Courtney Lee alley-oop layup away from winning game two and leading the series. They are a team that lives by the jumper and dies by the jumper, and after setting NBA finals shooting records in game three they only won by four points. I do not think they will be able to repeat anywhere near the same type of shooting performance, but if they realize it early and start feeding the ball down low to the beast that is Dwight Howard he could put them on his Superman-esce shoulders and get it done. The Lakers have done well in limiting Howard’s offensive contributions, but you can only hold him down for so long, with a lower shooting percentage comes more offensive rebound opportunities for D12 and he will have his best game of the finals for sure, but will it be enough? I know if GOAT were here (and we all wish he were) he would be all over his boy Dwight tonight, but he’s not, so I hate to break it to you all but it’s not going to happen for you tonight. Kobe won’t allow it.

Game three was a bust for Kobe and he knows it. He shot only 50% from the free throw line, and talked about letting his team down after the game. Kobe has come a long way since his last championships with Shaq, he has matured both on and off the court into a more complete player and person. He is still grumpy as hell though when he doesn’t win. I expect him to have a dominant performance tonight to makeup for leaving more than the margin of victory at the charity stripe last game. That doesn’t necissarily mean dropping 40+ points anymore, but it might. Kobe has shown more trust in his teammates all season long than ever before in his career and has become a leader on the court. He will look to get everyone involved early and then look to take over down the stretch, and when the Magic throw everything but the kitchen sink at him he won’t be afraid to look for guys like Fisher or Ariza to make a big shot.

Key for me tonight is the Lakers’ energy off the bench, if Lamar Odom comes ready to play and gets his fair share of rebounds to keep Howard away from the offensive glass then I think the Lakers will take the win. If the Magic are able to get Howard involved early and often on the offensive end that is their best chance at winning. I don’t see them shooting 62.5% from the floor again so I don’t see them winning this game. I am picking the Lakers tonight 102-98.

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Zetterberg for Conn Smythe Trophy!

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Washington/Pittsburgh

Can I call ‘em or can I call ‘em???  Well I mean this is the only series I got right but BOY did I nail it!!!  Bettman got his wish and had his two superstars square off in one of the best playoff series in a long time..Well since the Rangers and Capitals last round.  All of these games have been amazing and both stars have been pretty prevalent but I think tonight will come down to goaltending.  Can the young Varlamov over come ANOTHER game 7 against a team with plenty of playoff experience?  Can  Marc Andre Fleury not give the puck away to Patrick O’Sullivan and lose for the Candians, OK that was low but I actually still STRONGLY dislike him STILL for that play. 

Anyway the answer to these questions is…NO…Varlamov is a GREAT rookie that will have a good playoff run to look back on but he can’t win this one EVEN at home.  I say Pittsburgh 6-2and Gary Bettman tries to instill a rule where a series can be extended to 17 games if they aren’t settles by 10 goals or more….

Boston/Carolina

I won’t lie (and can’t really) I thought this would be a BREEZE for the Bruins!  They had been an awesome team all year and their goaltending was unreal (Tim Thomas lost 3 games straight for the first time ALL YEAR in THIS series) and everything in between rolled nicely for them too.  Then you have Carolina who, I won’t lie again, didn’t even know had a chance to make the playoffs until about 3 days BEFORE the playoffs.  I mean they did win the cup 3 years ago but after that they fell off hard.  Paul Maurice really seems to have lit a fire under this teams ass and I like that, I like SO MUCH that I think they are going to……lose respectively tomorrow.  

Boston is too complete and I think tying up the series really pushed them past the ‘Canes in the momentum department and will carry them to the next round.  My score prediction is 5-1 Bruins.  Don’t worry Carolina, you get 41 homes games AT LEAST next year to look at your HOT CHEERLEADERS and for that, you are the true winners in this years playoffs!!!

Detroit/Anaheim

WOW!!!  I can honestly say this was the biggest surprise to me since that time I got drunk and thought I spent all my money but when I got home and took my hat off, there it was tucked stuffed nicely under the sweat band still don’t know how that happened).  Anaheim has looked gritty and persistent all series and I think this may be the only game that could go either way.  Detroit is the high powered, fast paced and very European team that will look to skate around the Ducks while peppering their goalie at any chance.  While Anaheim is a gritty, well rounded and mostly North American team that will look to slow down and beat up the Wings until they can pot a few well placed shots. 

So who wins?  The Tortoise or the Hare???  In this race I have to go with…..Tortoise…I KNOW, I KNOW, I originally chose the Wings in 5 but I think Anaheim is a very underrated team that looks to have, to quote Snoop Dogg, “The pieces to the pizzle” to solve Detroit.  Ducks 3-2

Peace!

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Peace!

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Orlando vs. Boston

If Kevin Garnett were able bodied (don’t they have cortisone in Boston?) I wouldn’t even waste my massively valuable time writing up this synopsis but since he isn’t, here I GO!!!  After a long series with Chicago we learned a few things about the “new” Celts,  #1 Paul Pierce isn’t as good as he thinks.  Sure he made some big shots but he also effed up a lot, i.e) fouling Noah on a bonehead play that probably cost them the game if not another over time. #2 Boston can get REALLY thin, REALLY fast up front (I am really trying to get a Big Baby joke in here but I am tired) and #3 Brian Scalabrine and Tony Allen are part of an elaborate rouse by Ashton Kutcher to Punk the whole world into thinking these 2 DUDS could actually make and NBA squad.  As for Orlando, I think they are way too big for the Celts but not too deep for them.  If they can get O Town in foul trouble, I think they will be able to pressure their back up players into a big enough hole that they can’t recover but that is a LOOONG stretch….Magic in 6

Atlanta vs. Cleveland

If you skipped the first match up to get to this one you may want to go back to the first sentence and read slowly.  My time is valuable and the Cavaliers time is too.  I mean how is LeBron going to celebrate being MVP at 24 years old when he has to play these damn playoff games.  Cavs = good, Hawks = not good enough. Cavs in 4

Lakers vs. Rockets

I think this is a match up I am anticipating more than most people.  One of 2 of the worlds best players (depending on who you like better) vs. one of the worlds best defenders and piss off artists.  And if you don’t know who I am talking about, its Yao Ming and Sasha Vujacic…..No seriously, earlier in the year Kobe vs. Artest was AWESOME and gave me my favourite clip of the year which I posted on the site here.  I think people are MAJORLY looking past the Big Man and his band of merry men and just thinking LeBron/Kobe finals.  Houston is here for a reason, they have a deep team filled with role players that just come to play basketball.  Sure they don’t have T-Mac but T-Mac doesn’t have knees or a back so he would only slow them down.  What I think this series will come down to is how well Ming can play Gasol and how bad Artest can piss off Kobe.  If Ming gets in foul trouble consistently, Houston loses.  If Artest can piss Kobe off enough to make him shoot 50 times and forget his teammates, I think LA loses.  But…LA in 6

Denver vs. Dallas

I have previously stated my disdain for the Mavericks and their style of play and nothing afforded me more happiness then seeing them get beat on Sunday while I was nursing a WICKED hangover (THANK YOU PACQUIAO).  I think Denver is WAY too deep, too dirty and too well rounded to even get sucked into the Diggler’s one man band act.  Billups is better than Kidd (at this point in their career), anyone is better than JJ Barea, JR Smith is Jason Terry with attitude, Melo and Dirk are  fairly even, Martin is a real thug as opposed to Josh Howard and Nene is a REAL beast as opposed to Ericka Dampier (shout out to the Big Shaqtus).  I can see the Mavs lulling the Nuggets to sleep for a game or two so I will say….Denver in 6

Let me know what you guys think in the comments section….PROVE ME WRONG CELTICS!!!

Peace!

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One of those up and comers that I respect is Bellator fighting and at their last event I saw a fight finish in a way I have absolutely NEVER seen before.  The only video I could find of this actually runs 1:06 and kind of shows how the fight was going up to the point of the mystery move (I will reveal the move after the clip)   So with that I ask you readers : Was this luck or skill???  Check the video and let me know.

The move was actually an inverted triangle choke. Most of you have seen a triangle but it is usually applied by the fighter on the bottom of the guard with their victim postured over top of them. This move was sick and definitely original as far as “in fight” goes. Well done Toby Imada and Bellator for putting on a good card.

Peace!

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Saturday

*NHL Playoffs - Washinton vs. Pittsburgh (1pm ET CBC, NBC) - Look for Bettman in the crown with a huge smile and object covering his “excitement” probably a bag of popcorn

NHL Playoffs – Chicago vs. Vancouver (9pm ET CBC, VS) -  Game 2 of my favourite series in the second round.  I love Chicago’s youth and I love Canadian teams so I am happy the longer this series lasts.  Game 1 saw the inexperience of Chicago seem to really hamper them at the start of the game but then saw them storm back in the 3rd only to be robbed my Luongo, like everyone else in the world.

*Kentucky Derby – (Coverage starts at 4pm but post is 6pm ET on NBC) – With 3-1 favourite I want Revenge being scratched from the race a few days ago with an ankle injury Pioneer of the Nile is still the dog in the horse race??? Anyway, I have my money on Regal Ransom, General Quarters and Papa Clem in no particular order but if any of them wins, you are DEFINITELY going to want to find me tonight because the drinks will be on the house!!!

*NBA Playoffs – Boston vs. Chicago (8pm ET TNT, Score) – This series has been one of the all time best first round series in NBA history.  So far they have played in 7 OT periods and Game 6 was 4 hours long,  Too say these teams will be tired is the understatement of the year but I can guarantee you this is ends up being the event of the night.  I know for sure I will be sitting some where with a BUNCH of empties scattering around talking about how good a 3 point shooter I am and if I was 6′5 I would be the next Ray Allen.

*Boxing – Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton (9pm ET HBO) -These two little guys will going at it in Las Vegas tonight with Pacquiao looking to become the only fighter since Oscar De La Hoya to capture titles in 6 different weight classes.  While Manchester’s favourite fighting son, Hatton, looks to defend his belt at 140lbs and show the world hes not “a fat, beer drinking, lucky bastard”.  The Diesel will be in the crowd tonight for the fight…at a friends house….watching on TV….CHEERING FOR PACQUIAO!!! 

Sunday

NHL Playoffs – Anaheim vs. Detroit (2pm ET, TSN, NBC) – After a very close game 1 Anaheim will look to prove to the world they aren’t a fluke and a lot of people forget this, almost, exact same team won the cup a very short 2 years ago.  Detroit one ups Anaheim, they won LAST YEAR.  I look for Detroit to overwhelm Anaheim’s aging defence and goal tending with a barrage of shots and to take the win.

*NHL Playoffs – Carolina vs. Boston (7:30pm ET, TSN, VS) – Game 1 went according to plan 4-1 Boston (the same way this series will end)  Look for more of the same onslaught from Boston’s quick, young frontline and there bruising defence.  I figure the sooner the better for these guys anyway, that way Eric Staal can find some bachelor parties to crash with his brother Marc.

*NBA Playoffs – Miami vs. Atlanta (1pm ET ABC) – Unless you live in Miami or Atlanta I don’t really think anyone has paid much attention to this series but DAMN its been brutal.  Some times these game looks more like Monday Night Raw then NBA playoffs.  This game 7 will be MUCH of the same as neither of these teams want to lose to each other.  I think Wade is just too good to go out in the first round, look for Miami to take it in Atlanta then IMMEDIATELY LEAVE THE STATE!!!  Looks like we finally have a new, GENUINE, rivalry in the NBA at least.

NBA Playoffs – Dallas vs. Denver (3:30pm ET ABC) -Let the second round begin!  To tell you all the truth I could care less about this series.  My friend DarkMan and I, who I frequent Raps games with, always end up bitching about how boring the Raps are to watch because of Bosh but we always trump that with having to deal with living in Dallas and watching the Mavs.  I don’t think there is a team I WOULDN’T choose over the Mavs to watch night in night out.  I hope Denver takes them in 4 and we never see a Dirk Diggler in the playoffs again, unless he is a 2 fiddle on a team.

Peace!

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Whether you’re a racing fan or not, if you care enough about sports to be reading this you probably have at least a passing interest in the most recognizable horse race of the year.  With the news that Morning-Line favourite I Want Revenge is scratched, Friesan Fire will likely be the top choice on the tote board.  I’d toss out Mr. Hot Stuff, Advice, Mine That Bird, Join In The Dance, Atomic Rain, Nowhere To Hide and Flying Private, leaving 12 very good 3-year-olds to sort out:

THE LOW PRICED FAVOURITES

Friesan Fire – The favourite in advance wagering on Friday, when I Want Revenge was still on the board.  Big race in the slop to blow away Papa Clem in the Louisiana Derby, but otherwise hasn’t faced off with as many top horses as some of the other contenders.

Dunkirk – Followed up a visually stunning Allowance win with a solid second to Quality Road in the Florida Derby.  Only three career races, no 2-year-old starts and no works at Churchill are some red flags.

Pioneerof The Nile – King of the California horses comes to Churchill with no experience on dirt, but Gomez had many choices to ride and stayed here which says something.

General Quarters – The feel-good story of the Derby, as 75-year-old Tom McCarthy’s only horse makes it to the Derby with a legit shot.  Switches to Julien Leparoux off a good win in the Bluegrass Stakes, climbed from a 20-1 ML to 5-1 in advance wagering friday.

Chocolate Candy - Closed for a strong second in the Santa Anita Derby behind POTN, switches to Mike Smith who will wait to unleash one big move late.

Hold Me Back - Comes in off strong races at Turfway and Keenland (closing well behind General Quarters), but showed little in only race on dirt.  Unsure after a middling work at Churchill.

THE PLAYABLE LONGSHOTS

Papa Clem – Came off the loss to Friesan Fire to win the Arkansas Derby in a stretch-drive slugfest with Old Fashioned.  Has good tactical speed and could be in a good spot if the early pace isn’t too hot.

Desert Party – The top half of the Dubai pair lost his last warmup to Regal Ransom, though many explain that away with an inside-speed biased track on Dubai World Cup day.  A popular outsider pick to win.

Regal Ransom - Expected to set the pace with Join In The Dance, was thought of as the rabbit for Desert Party until the win in the UAE Derby.  I doubt he can wire this field, but crazier things have happened.

Musket Man - Strong late move to win in Tampa followed by a strong win at Hawthorne, can’t be discounted.

West Side Bernie - Had an easier time than I Want Revenge at the Wood, but still couldn’t catch him.  The figure was big though, and showed a surprisingly good finish.

Summer Bird – Closed well to finish third in the Arkansas Derby.  Only three career races, only one big race, but shows a good late kick and if the pace gets too hot could be a factor with the extra furlong to work with.

So how does it play out?  The early track at Churchill is sloppy, so we’ll see how that changes and affects the field come 6pm.  Of the favourites I like Friesan Fire, Dunkirk and General Quarters the best, while Papa Clem and Summer Bird are my favourites of the second group.  If I had to pick one without thinking of odds I’d take Freisan Fire, but I personally wouldn’t play any of the favourites at less than 5-1 to win and I think he’ll be much lower than that.  General Quarters likely won’t be worth the investment either if the advance wagering is any indication, and it remains to be seen what happens to Dunkirk’s odds without IWR in the field.

My likely wagers – a token win bet on Papa Clem, as well as Dunkirk and General Quarters if I like the odds.  Maybe one of the other longshots if they drift really high.  I’ll probably play a trifecta with Friesan Fire and General Quarters on top of a mix of the others I mentioned.

Predicted running order – Friesan Fire, General Quarters, Papa Clem, Summer Bird, Dunkirk.  Likelihood of being wrong on all of them – 99%.

After that it’s the ultimate bounty of sporting goodness, with the Celts-Bulls Game 7 (I like the Celts by 5), Canucks-Hawks Game 2 (Canucks 4-2) and Manny Pacquiao beating up “There’s only one” Ricky Hatton.  I can’t say anything else, only that this day will be a beauty – hope you all enjoy it!

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