Kings of LA

Congratulation goes out to the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings as the unexpected has happened. Out of all the professional sport organizations in Los Angeles, the Kings are placed in a different category amongst other Los Angeles teams. With the Los Angeles Lakers winning the NBA Championship in 2010, the Los Angeles Galaxy winning the MLS Cup in 2011, and the rise of the Los Angeles Clippers (NBA), Dodgers (MLB), and Angles (MLB); The Kings have been the lowest team on the totem pole. As the Los Angeles Clippers made a key mid-season acquisition gaining an NBA All Star point guard in Chris Paul, the Clippers gained potential of winning the battle of the Staple Center against the more dominant Lakers, as well as gaining a loyal fan base. For the Dodgers the potential of all their young stars including MVP candidate Matt Kemp and the 2011 Cy Young Award winner, in Clayton Kershaw the Dodgers currently have the best record in the MLB. The Angeles made possibly the biggest off-season move in  the MLB as they lured in the 3-time winner of the National League MVP award (2005, 2008, 2009), and a 2-time World Series Champion (2006, 2011), Albert Pujols from the St. Louis Cardinals.

The 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings have made history by winning their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. The Kings are the first No. 8 seed team to ever win the Stanley Cup, the first team to take a 3-0 series lead in all four playoff matchups in NHL history, they are the only team in history to knock of the top 3 seeds in their conference, and  coach Darryl Sutter becomes the fifth midseason replacement to win the Stanley Cup. Not only did the team make history but so did the Kings Captain Dustin Brown, as he became the second American-born Captain to win the Stanley Cup. Out of the 21 skaters for the Kings who have played in at least one playoff game, 17 have scored at the least one goal, and 18 have recorded at least a single point. The Kings only suffered three losses throughout the entire playoffs, all three losses were at home in Game 4s and only suffered one road loss during the playoffs, which was in Game 5 against the Devils. They were 16-4 this postseason, 10-1 on the road, tied for the most postseason win in a single playoff year. When the Kings scored first their record was a staggering 11-1. Game 6 started off with the Kings scoring three power play goals in the first period on a 5-minute boarding penalty. In Game 6, the Kings defeated the Devils 6-1 to capture Lord Stanley's Cup. Congratulations to Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick, third American-born player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP), second straight year the award has been won by a goaltender (2011 Tim Thomas).


What's more impressive? The No. 8 seed team, who barely made the playoffs, now have managed to capture their first ever Stanley Cup; Winning 16 out of 20 games, sweeping 2 out of 4 series; Dustin Brown becoming the second ever American-born to hoist the Stanley Cup trophy; or a franchise who fired their head coach midseason and having the replacement coach lead them to their first Stanley Cup.

As of 2012, the Los Angeles Kings shall be known as the KINGS OF LA and recognized not only as a city full of basketball and baseball stars, but a historical hockey town.

Scoring Champ vs. MVP and Future of the Celtics

Congratulation goes out to the young and talented Oklahoma City Thunder on defeating the San Antonio Spurs to advance to their fourth NBA Finals appearance, first since the formerly known Seattle Supersonics relocated to Oklahoma City. The Thunder had a difficult path to the Finals. This season the Thunder had the second best record in the NBA (second best in the Western Conference) 47-19. Being the No. 2 seed in the West, they had to face the defending NBA Champions Dallas Mavericks in the First Round, Los Angeles Lakers in the Conference Semifinals, and San Antonio Spurs in the Conference Finals. The Thunder demolished the Mavericks in four games, defeated the Lakers in five, and are the fourth team in NBA history to come back from 0-2 down in a series to win four straight games.

Miami Heat outlasted the Boston Celtics in a decisive Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals to advance to their second straight NBA Finals. Last season, they squared off against the Dallas Mavericks and lost the series 4-2. This season the Heat had the second best record in the Eastern Conference as they went 46-20. Holding the No. 2 seed in the very competitive Eastern Conference, the Heat faced the New York Knicks in the first round of the NBA playoffs. After beating the Knicks in a commanding 4-1 series, they moved on to face the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. This series took the Heat six game to wrap up as they took the series in a 4-2 victory, and by doing this they were matched-up with the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. This series turned out to be a blood match as the Celtics were able to take a 3-2 series lead after winning Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. With "The King" Lebron James carried the Heat on his back, he was able to score an outstanding 45 points and 15 rebounds, demolishing the Celtics in Game 6, which forced Game 7 back down in South Beach, Miami. With the performance in Game 6 by Lebron, many questioned whether the "chosen one" or the "frozen one" would show up for Game 7. But in Game 7, it was not only Lebron that showed up but Miami's Big Three showed up to play. Between the three of them, they combined to score a total of 73 points and 26 rebounds. The surprising turn around by the Big Three of the Heat have now lead them back to the NBA Finals. They will face a young, talented, and explosive Oklahoma City team, who split the regular season series (1-1) with the Heat, each winning on their home court.

After losing Game 7, the Celtics now look to face possibly many changes come the 2012 NBA off-season. According to sport analysis many wonder if this will be the last time anyone will see the "Big Three" play together, or if their may be a new Big Three. Come this offseason, the veterans Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are both free agents, and if they do not decide to retire as a Celtic, they may look to go else where. The question is Will the Big Three stick together? Will it be the players who decide to leave? Or the management who decide to move on and look towards the future? This season though it was not just the Big Three as it became the Big Four, especially come the postseason. Rajon Rondo will still be a Celtic next year, but many ponder the question as to whether or not the Celtic's management want to try and base their organization just around this All-Star point guard. Celtics will also have long time Celtic "The Truth" Paul Pierce back for next season, but the Celtics management may look to trade him for youth.

As we look towards this 2012 NBA Finals, the match up between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat is exactly what the NBA hoped to see. Oklahoma City looks to capture their first championship since 1979, as they re-located and re-named the franchise from the Seattle Supersonics to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Miami Heat on the other hand, look to secure their second NBA championship. Will the MVP Lebron James be able to capture his first every NBA Championship? Could the Big Three of the Heat capture the NBA Championship rings that Bosh and James went to Miami for? Or may the young roster of the Thunder capture their first NBA Championship banner for their re-vamped franchise? Will the starting five and bench depth of the Thunder be too much for the Big Three to handle?

Prediction for this series: Oklahoma City Thunder in a 4-2 series victory and will capture their first championship banner for their refreshed franchise.

Tw3lve More Minutes

This is the quarter of the season, if we win, we still have a shot. If we lose, get the golf clubs out of the closet and cleaned off. With the late surge in the end of the third quarter, the lead is down to five points. The story of the playoffs for the campaigning Boston Celtics has been spurts. Spurts of both offense and defense, have brought the crowd to their feet and back to their seats.

What will decide Game 4 with 12 minutes to go?

Heat - Foul Trouble
Chalmers - 4
James - 3
Wade - 3

If the Celtics can drive the lane and get easy baskets, it's hard to see them losing this game. Chalmers is arguably the second best offensive option in the fourth quarter, so if he is out, we may see the late game struggles of Prince James define the night for the Miami Heat.


Celtics - Foul Trouble
Rondo - 4
Pierce - 4
Bass - 3

Pierce, please stay in the game would you.

And here we go, as Marvin Gaye once sang, LET'S GET IT ON!

Controversy in Boston

Shocking news coming out of Boston that doesn't involve the Boston Celtics nor the Boston Red Sox. This news, will change the future of the Boston Bruins and the up coming season at the least. As of today June 3, the 38 year old Tim Thomas officially announced he has decided to "sit out" for the 2012-13 NHL season. Thomas has spent the past ten years as a member of the Boston Bruins, and it took him four years to emerge as the starting goaltender at the age of 32. He has one-year left on his current contract and a no-movement clause, which means he cannot be traded, waived, or sent down to the minors without his approval. His no-movement clause expires July 1.

Throughout his fifteen year career, Thomas has managed to win the Vezina Trophy (league's best goaltender) in both 2009 and 2011, as well as being a member of the 2010 Winter Olympics U.S.A Men's Hockey Team that won the silver medal. He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy (Most Valuable Player) in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and became the oldest player and second American-born player to win this accolade in NHL history. Not only did he manage to capture the MVP of the 2011 playoffs, the Boston Bruins were also able to edge off the Vancouver Canucks to win the Stanley Cup.


Tim Thomas has dedicated his whole life to hockey, he has decided to focus his life on his "friends, family, and faith" for this upcoming year. During this past season, Thomas and his family decided to sell their house in Boston, and relocate to Colorado.  As Thomas only has one-year remaining on his current contract with the Bruins, is this a sign of early retirement? Since Tuukka Rask will become a restricted free agent this offseason, and is vital to the Boston Bruins, are the Bruins forced to re-sign him to a long-term contract? If re-signed, is Tuukka deserving of high salary contract? Is he capable of being the No.1 goaltender on the Bruins depth-chart? With the Bruins using both Thomas and Rask these past few years, will the Bruins try to sign another skilled No. 2 goaltender? Could this also take the Bruins out of contention to win the Stanley Cup, or even making the 2013 playoffs?

Scholarship Earned

In November, 18 year-old high school senior, Justin Combs (son of Sean "Diddy" Combs) committed to playing collegiate football at UCLA. He is a 5-foot-9, 175 pound defensive back at Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, New York. Justin is a three-star recruit and is ranked #133 for the cornerback position. He was recruited by nationally recognized football programs, which included UCLA, Iowa, Illinois, Wyoming, and Virginia. He accepted UCLA's offer of $54,000 (full ride) to play for their football program. The school hands out 285 athletic scholarship each year.

Just because his father is a hip-hop mogul, who has a net worth of over $550 million, doesn't mean his son shouldn't be able to receive an athletic scholarship. Granted his father would have no problem paying for his son to attend any college he wanted, Justin earned his scholarship and the right to accept it regardless of how much money his father has. Justin will be graduating with a 3.75 GPA. He is an all around student-athlete, and he excels in the classroom as well as on the field.

The athletic scholarships are funded by tickets sales, corporate partnerships, media rights, and private donations. His scholarship won't affect need-based scholarships awarded to other students and will not use state funded money.

Did UCLA offer the scholarship to bring attraction to the university? Should he have accepted the scholarship? Will this increase the school's attendance or have no affect? Will Diddy make major contributions to the university and/or athletic department? This is not the first time a celebrity or athlete's child has been offered an athletic scholarship, but is the most publicized thus far.

Surging Spurs

Prior to the beginning of the NBA season, many basketball analysts and experts wrote off and paid little attention to the Spurs because of their old age.  Would they be able to keep up with younger, athletic teams in their conference, such as Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, and Memphis Grizzlies? The veteran leadership of 4-time NBA Champion Tim Duncan and 3-time NBA Champions Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, led the San Antonio Spurs to surprise the critics by finishing the regular season in first place in the Western Conference and tied with Chicago Bulls for the best record in the NBA (50-16). The Spurs have been the most dominating team thus far in the NBA Playoffs. They've gone on a nine game winning streak in the playoffs, as a result of handling every opponent that has come in their path of making it to the NBA Finals.

The Oklahoma City Thunder were predicted to have another outstanding season and be a strong contender for the NBA title. With the reigning 3-time NBA Scoring Title Champion, Kevin Durant, leading the team, along with one of the top five point guards in the league, Russell Westbrook, and 2012 Sixth Man of the Year winner, James Harden, the Thunder have a young, talented, athletic, and explosive team. Entering the postseason as the No. 2 seed in the West and only losing twice, they rolled through the first round of the playoffs by sweeping Dallas Mavericks. In the Conference Semifinals, they faced the Los Angeles Lakes and defeated them in five games. The Thunder are currently trailing by one game in the Conference Finals matchup against the Spurs.

Will the youth defeat the elders or will the elders teach the youngsters a lesson? Will the winner of the Western Conference Finals be the favorite to win the NBA Title? Will the athleticism of the Thunder's big 3 tire the veteran Spurs or will the veteran leadership of the Spurs' big 3 prevail?

These questions will soon be answered and by the looks of it, the Coach of the Year is pushing all the right buttons all the way to the title. After nine postseason games, its a shame that the Spurs front office isn't getting more credit for the best midseason acquisitions of the entire season. For all those who thought that Stephen Jackson was washed up, had too much attitude and was a downgrade to Richard Hamilton, bite your tongues. Boris Diaw? From Charlotte Bobcat to starting power forward on the best team in the NBA, why weren't more contenders vying for his services?

A Day Late and a Forehand Short, Breaking Down the Real Contenders at Roland Garros

The flowers are in full bloom, the clay ascends to the perfect shade of read and Roland Garros bounces onto Court Philippe Chatrier and into our hearts every May. When the ball boys and girls start sliding on the illustrious red clay, its time to break out the chocolate croissants, brie, pate and champagne, while leaving the most comfortable chair in your living room with a permanent impression of your tuchas (yiddish for buttocks).

The French Open is a Grand Slam in a category all by itself. Held on the sun soaked red clay in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Paris is a template where only the most determined, grittiest performers thrive.

Recognized in the lore of past champions, are the likes of Max Decugis, Rene Lacoste, Henri Cochet, Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Mats Wilander, Yannick Noah, Ivan Lendl, Michael Chang, who the modern day tennis fanatic may have already forgotten. These fighters, these counter punchers and tremendous professionals first dusted off the red dust from the white lines well before Rafa began spinning opponents off the court and flexing his biceps.

Year after year, the favorites along with the sleepers, are grouped together and seemingly stand no chance to the spanish bull that is Rafael Nadal. Not only that, but for all of you out their who follow and participate in the American tennis scene, you know the following two things will probably not change in your lifetime.

1.  No American men have the complete game, nor the mental fortitude to advance into the second week on the red clay.

2.  Until Andy Murray actually finds the mental toughness to apply his skill set in the clutch moments, he will always be Brad Gilbert's favorite and always disappoint to inferior players.

Lets play a little word association to explain how we feel about the men's favorites at this years French Open:

Rafa Nadal - The Favorite

Novak Djokovic - Hopefully it doesn't get too hot in Paris, or we may see the old Djoker

Roger Federer- Never count him out, if he wasn't the best natural born tennis player of all time, would he have been the most famous ballerina of our generation?  #footworkequalstitles

Andy Murray - C'mon man

Furthermore, those who strap in and play the odds should focus on the Sleepers Section that is so naturally composed of the "Not so new wave of big hitters". Long forgotten is the notion of the big hitter and the fact that each generation has a four to six man contingency of them.  In the early 2000's for example, the likes of Andy Roddick, Mark Philippoussis, Patick Rafter and Marat Safin defined this hot tempered, motley crew of men. At the moment its composed of Jo "Willy" Tsonga, Tomas Berdych, Juan Martin Del Potro, Milos Raonic and the lone American hope, John "the marathon man" Isner. But do any of these men really stand a chance?

The short answer is no, the long answer is hell no.

The potential road that these big hitters will face, could be written:

      3rd                          4th                       Qtrs.                           Semifinals                         Finals

Tsonga-  Troicki     Simon/Wawrinka    Djokovic/Verdasco   Federer/Berdych/Verdasco     Nadal/Murray

Prediction:  4 set loss to Djokovic in the Qtrs.

Berdych- Anderson      Del Potro                Federer              Djokovic/Tsonga/Verdasco     Nadal/Murray

Prediction: 4 set loss to Del Potro in the 4th round.

Del Potro- Cilic               Berdych                Federer               Djokovic/Tsonga/Verdasco     Nadal/Murray

Prediction:  5 set loss to Federer in the Qtrs.

Roanic-  Monaco             Nadal             Tipsarevic/Almagro       Murray/Ferrer/Isner             Djokovic/Federer

Prediction:  3 set loss to Nadal in the 4th round.

Isner-  Granollers              Ferrer               Murray/Gasquet         Nadal/Tipsarevic                Djokovic/Federer

Prediction:  5 set loss to Ferrer in the 4th round.

What men's tennis is hungering for is a changing of the guard, a newcomer to dig deeper and shock the world. Unfortunately, the likes of Milos Roanic, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Grigor Dimitrov, Ryan Harrison and Bernard Tomic are not at that point yet. Make no mistake that these five men are the next wave of top 5 players that will seep into our hearts and into tennis histroy, but wait a few years for the battles between the current regime and the future, and you will understand that the best tennis is yet to come.

We would like to wish Robin Soderling a quick and healthy recovery, as tennis fans around the world miss his thumping ground strokes so dearly. Also, we would like to congratulate the former top prospect Brian Baker on his re-emergence in the tennis world, cracking the top 200 and wish him all the luck both in 2012 and beyond.

Finals prediction:

Rafael Nadal def. Novak Djokovic: 6-4, 6-7, 7-5, 6-2

#Gentleman'sGame