Ratings way up

Lebron didn't win, but the networks sure did. TNT reported that a whopping 8.6 million viewers tuned in on average to the Eastern Conference Finals. As loyal readers know, the Clarion Content is a firm believer that the Nielsen ratings are bogus. Their number fails to account for anyone who watched this game in a public place (eg. a sports bar) or at a friend's house (counting 'households' skews their data). Regardless TNT had to be in a mood to celebrate. Viewership was up 37% over its 2008 conference finals coverage!

Sports links

We offer for your perusal two interesting sports links that have crossed our path recently.

The first link [here] is from a Cincinnati reader. It is a Samuel Beckett-ized interpretation of Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings quarterback situation. It stars Sage Rosenfels and Tavaris Jackson as Estragon and Vladimir. It is such a creative idea and well-executed.

The second link [here] is a short New York Times video of their sports columnist, William C. Rhoden, discussing the natures of jazz and basketball with trumpet virtuoso Wynton Marsalis. They muse on similarities and evolutions among other things in fascinating conversation (pathetically staged on a basketball court).

Et tu, Indians?

It doesn't look so bad...

On a night when the forty-five year long championship drought of the city of Cleveland was extended by the Orlando Magic, the Indians dropped another game to the Yankees. This one probably hurt a little bit more because it came with former Indian's ace, C.C. Sabathia on the mound pitching for the Yankees.

Sabathia made $89 million more this off-season than the Indians offered him in an extension last year. (Sabathia was traded to Milwaukee after refusing the Indians deal.) It had to be tough to swallow, Sabathia pitching for four and one-third no hit innings to start the game, while the Cavs were getting blown out.

What is the matter with Cleveland Coach Mike Brown? The Clarion Content has long contended that he is an idiot surfing the wave of Lebron James mad skills. How many times did the Cavaliers have to get beasted by the same plays in the same ways and he still didn't adjust!!! How many people, earning far less per annum, knew that the Cavs one chance at this point was to go small and play LeBron at the four? There are sloths that cover more ground than the Cavs centers Ilgauskas and Ben Wallace? Why are they chasing Rashard Lewis and Turkoglu around the perimeter? LeBron didn't stick around to discuss after Game 6.

Perhaps he was grabbing his Yankees cap and heading for the Jake where the Indians season appears all but over as well. The spectacular Victor Martinez is hobbling and poor Grady Sizemore can hardly swing with his hyper-extended elbow. How long before this generation of stars leaves Cleveland in the rear view mirror?

Sorry, Ohio.

Bounced

Meet the new manager Jim Tracy

Clint Hurdle was fired as the manager of the Colorado Rockies yesterday. The Rockies are an abysmal 19 up and 28 down. The Denver Post in balanced but critical article says that Hurdle made his bed via his bad relationships with his players. The beat writer says that Hurdle was never all that good a manager. He was a good egg within the community and he never criticized the front office. This enabled him to become the first manager in major-league history to start a career with five consecutive losing seasons and not get fired. He received a two year extension before the 2007 season, and then had a remarkable run to the World Series. Things fell apart quickly from there.

The Rockies have some talent, but will they be able to turn things around under interim manager Jim Tracy?

Read the whole story here.

Triple-Double

When does, "He had a triple-double," not say it all about a players performance?



Last night we saw an example. LeBron James was actually more dominant than his stunning 37 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists let on. At the critical juncture of the game the Cavs went to their patented "Okay everybody else standstill and clear out for LeBron" offense. James responded by winning the game 1 on 5. It was a phenomenal performance.

The Clarion Content has long said LeBron James is an even better passer than he is a shooter. Last night he demonstrated not only that, but his fiercely competitive will to win. During that critical stretch when his coach, bereft of ideas, called no plays, LeBron scored or assisted on 32 straight points, including the first 28 of the 4th quarter. The signature moment came with 2.47 left on the clock and the Cavs clinging to a two possession lead. James drove the lane, again drew triple and then quadruple coverage, LeBron made a brilliant wrap around pass through heavy traffic to Sideshow Bob Varejao who missed an uncontested point-blank dunk careening it off the back of the rim. What did James do? Chased down the offensive board, made the putback and one!

Imagine if this man had a decent supporting cast and a good coach.

A shocking return

Young Baker-Finch after his 1991 British Open triumph

This story was such a surprise to encounter this morning that the Clarion Content sports editor quite literally shouted out, "What?!?" causing heads to turn across the office. Ian Baker-Finch, the excellent CBS Sports golf commentator, and perhaps the single most famous case of the shanks EVER, is playing competitive golf this weekend. He has entered the PGA tournament at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas this week.

We are rooting for Ian Baker-Finch, to at least play respectably, hopefully to even make the cut. Long before the world had heard of the rapidly disappearing David Duval, Baker-Finch had sketched the path: tremendous talent, a bevy of PGA tour and international wins, a victory in a major, the 1991 British Open at Royal Birkdale, then a complete collapse, swing and game mysteriously gone. Within in three years things had gone so far downhill that his season totals read fourteen missed cuts and four withdrawals in 18 events. Less than two years after that he was out of the game and behind the microphone at age thirty-seven. What might have been for the Aussie dubbed, "the Dark Shark," never was. He became a cautionary tale for all.

Yet he didn't run and hide. He took a very public job and succeeded tremendously. He has been by all accounts an excellent announcer. He has played competitively only once since 2001. But as the New York Times noted, he plays four times a week back home with his buddies. Sometimes he beats them. They are PGA tour professionals. So maybe, just maybe.

Let it be known the Clarion Content is rooting hard for the classy Ian Baker-Finch this week.

Cleveland worried?

Uh oh Cleveland...

Is the city of Cleveland worried? LeBron just got a lot closer to being a New York Knick last night as the Orlando Magic again defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Clarion Content believes that King James is not leaving Cleveland if he wins the championship for the city. If. If? If! At the start of his series we were predicting the Cavs in a sweep. After Game 1 we were predicting the Cavs 4-1. Even this morning, we would not rule out or even bet against a Cavs miracle comeback from 3 games to 1 behind.

Last night James had spectacular moments offensively, but little help from his teammates again. His coach, Mike Brown, an embarrassing Coach of the Year winner, let the team down, too. How can he have slow, old, Ben Wallace assigned to chase Rashard Lewis through screens on the biggest play of the game? Why were Wallace and Varejao both on the court? And subsequently, why didn't Cleveland double Dwight Howard who killed them in overtime? Coach Brown? We have seen repeatedly the Howard has no game if he catches the ball further than six feet from the basket. In OT he torched the Brazilian Sideshow Bob catching the ball repeatedly two feet from the rim, and Coach Brown gave him no help.

Cleveland, no help, is becoming a recurring theme. The Knicks have plenty of cap room for 2010, they can bring in LeBron and help (D-Wade, Nash, etc.) Cleveland are you getting worried?

Syracuse closes the deal

Triumph

It was no surprise, as one of our transplanted upstate New York readers noted, Syracuse has been there and done that. They showed no fear as they won an extremely tight and dramatic National Lacrosse Final. The Orange tied the score with just 4.5 seconds left and won it overtime against upstart Cornell. It was more heartbreak for the Big Red, who have been the national runner-up four times since their last title thirty-two years ago.

Read more here.

Upstate NY reigns supreme in lacrosse

Lacrosse Nation Final Set...

The Cornell Big Red..................vs.................The Syracuse Orange

The Clarion Content admittedly has no love loss for the Duke Men's Lacrosse program. We root against the University of Virgina's team on more of a sports level. So, as far as we were concerned from the editorial desk here in Durham, we could not have been more pleased with the Men's lacrosse national semifinals last week.

The New York Times covering the story said that Syracuse, "crushed" Duke. But the story in their eyes was Cornell's Big Red, a team they said compared to a "a family station wagon" next to the Virginia Cavaliers, "sleek and powerful sports car." However, as it turned out "Cornell, a team noted for its conservative play and methodical pace, raced out of the gate and did not stop until it had stunned and humiliated the high-flying Cavaliers, 15-6."

As the Times had it,

"The two teams from upstate New York solidified the region’s reputation as the sport’s stronghold. With Le Moyne in the Division II final, facing C.W. Post; with Cortland in the Division III final, against Gettysburg; and with Onondaga Community College having already won the junior college title, the land of Genesee beer, Wegmans supermarkets and the Finger Lakes could also have all four men’s major lacrosse national titles."

Read the whole story here. We recommend it!

Nope

Ji Young Oh

Neither Clarion Content whipping post Michelle Wie, nor the Pink Panther, Paula Creamer made a charge finishing tied for third at 8-under at the Sybase Classic at Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, New Jersey. Ji Young Oh, according to the AP a 20-year-old, straight-hitting South Korean shot 2-under 70 on a raw, cold, windy day to win her second LPGA tournament.