Sports news and views from the cheap seats.

NBA Finals

The Boston Celtics keep playing like the best team in the NBA. Whether or not the individual talent of it’s team members match that of the Lakers, when it comes to five players on the court, the Celtics have thus far put together better team performances. Even during Kobe Bryant’s third quarter scoring barrage, the Celtics kept matching Kobe basket for basket. Now the Celtics go back to Staples Center needing to only win one of two games. Can you say number 18?

LeBron watch has taken a back seat to the NBA Finals– that’s a good thing. Yet and still, developments have continued. Dan Gilbert, the Cavaliers owner, has reportedly offered current Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo the job, at around $6 million per year. Izzo has not committed, because he doesn’t know if he’ll be coaching LeBron if he takes the job. Meanwhile, Byron Scott has been interviewed multiple times by the Cavs, seemingly as a backup. LeBron has stated he would prefer a coach with former experience as a player. Scott has been successful as a coach, appearing in the Finals once. He has more success as a player with three NBA Championships with the Lakers.

College Football Realignment

The Big 12 Commissioner made a pitch to the its remaining members, in hopes of keeping the Big 12 intact. Reportedly Dan Beebe told schools that PAC 10 TV revenues were based upon projections, not so much reality. The PAC 10 doesn’t actually have a TV network yet, but plan on having one. Beebe says there are no guarantees that the Network would even exist. Sorry Dan, not buying that line of reasoning. With both USC and UCLA in Los Angeles, the PAC 10 has access to not only the resources for their own network, but also the second largest television market in the country. More TV sets is what realignment is all about.

MLB

Strasburg remains undefeated, after striking out 8 in Cleveland. He pitched into the sixth inning. He will definitely be interesting to watch. You have to hope he does well. Shows why a 21 year old pitcher gets paid so well. How many 21 year olds could withstand that type of pressure?

Roger Clemens’ former trainer says that the Roger Clemens Foundation, paid for Clemens’ steroid use. Brian McNamee, the former trainer, says his checks came from the non-profit organization. McNamee worked as a personal trainer for Clemens. McNamee claims to have injected Clemens on numerous occasions with PEDs.

World Cup 2010

If you have watched any of the World Cup on TV, you’ve heard what sounds like a swarm of bees in the background. Those are horns called, vuvuzelas. They have become just as annoying in person as on television. Some players have even called for banning the noise makers from tournaments. This is just another part of the World Cup experience, that makes it somewhat unattractive to US viewers. Where our sports are staged to provided the best possible TV experience, the World Cup hopes to provide the best possible in-person fan experience.