Ebs’ Hot Takes: Finals Fun, Triple Crown and More

June 8, 2015 DJ Eberle DJ Eberle 11

American Pharoah, with Victor Espinoza up, rounds the fourth turn at the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race Saturday, June 6, 2015, in Elmont, N.Y. American Pharoah is the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed won it in 1978. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Have you not been entertained!?!

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, left, shoots against Golden State Warriors forward Marreese Speights, center, and forward Andre Iguodala, top, during the first half of Game 2 of basketball's NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, June 7, 2015. The Cavaliers won 95-93 in overtime. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, Pool)
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, left, shoots against Golden State Warriors forward Marreese Speights, center, and forward Andre Iguodala, top, during the first half of Game 2 of basketball’s NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, June 7, 2015. The Cavaliers won 95-93 in overtime. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, Pool)

This weekend has been one of the most memorable weekends in recent history sports-wise. From American Pharoah’s Triple Crown-winning victory at Belmont Park to both the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Finals ending in a 1-1 series tie after the first weekend, there’s not much more you can ask for as a fan.

There’s a lot to discuss, so let’s get started!

Hot Take: Onions! Double order! For those of you who don’t follow the Siena Saints or college basketball in general, you may not have picked up on the Bill Raftery reference from the 2009 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. If you have no clue what I’m talking about, click HERE.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates at the end of the overtime period of Game 2 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, June 7, 2015. The Cavaliers won 95-93 in overtime. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates at the end of the overtime period of Game 2 of basketball’s NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, June 7, 2015. The Cavaliers won 95-93 in overtime. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

And while Sunday night’s Game 2 wasn’t a double-overtime affair, we got to witness back-to-back overtime games to open up a NBA Finals for the first time in league history. Just as everybody started to count the Cleveland Cavaliers out, they drew everyone back in.

LeBron James willed the Cavaliers past the Golden State Warriors to even the series up at a game a piece in a game no one will forget anytime soon.

Hot Take: Chicago leaves Tampa Bay with home ice. One could argue that the Chicago Blackhawks have played their worst hockey this postseason and they’re still tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Finals after the first two games.

With lackluster efforts from leaders Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews this far, the Blackhawks couldn’t be more happy with how the series has gone. Kane is bound to right the ship, and Toews will follow along.

Don’t worry Blackhawks fans, you’re just fine!

Hot Take: American Pharoah makes history. The 37-year wait for a Triple Crown is over! American

American Pharoah, with Victor Espinoza up, rounds the fourth turn at the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race Saturday, June 6, 2015, in Elmont, N.Y. American Pharoah is the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed won it in 1978. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
American Pharoah, with Victor Espinoza up, rounds the fourth turn at the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race Saturday, June 6, 2015, in Elmont, N.Y. American Pharoah is the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed won it in 1978. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Pharaoh did it!

American Pharoah’s incredible victory has put horse racing on the map once again. After years of disappointment, the three-year-old came through when he needed to.

So what’s next for American Pharoah? Well rumor has it, the Triple Crown winner will take some time off after an intense past few weeks before he picks it up just in time for the Breeder’s Cup in October.

Some tune-up races trainer Bob Baffert could chose for American Pharoah are the Jim Dandy at Saratoga on Aug. 1, the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth in New Jersey on Aug. 2, the Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 22 and the Travers at Saratoga on Aug. 29, according to ESPN.com.

It’ll be interesting to see what’s next for American Pharoah.

New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez hits a single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, June 5, 2015, in New York. The Yankees won 8-7. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez hits a single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, June 5, 2015, in New York. The Yankees won 8-7. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Hot Take: The Bronx Bombers are back! After two years of playing dysfunctional small ball, you can once again call the New York Yankees the Bronx Bombers with good reason.

The Yankees lead the AL East by 1.5 games and a big reason is their use of the long ball. Thanks to players like Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Brian McCann, New York is third in the MLB with 71 home runs.

If the Yankees can keep up their offensive prowess, New York could do some damage in September and October.

That’s it for now!

Feel free to comment below and find me on Twitter at @DJEberle66. Until next time…

 

 

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About DJ Eberle 223 Articles
DJ Eberle: The youngest of our team, DJ is also the largest. Offensive Tackle Large. In fact, this Albany native used OT for Western New England University - until he graduated in May of 2014. Like Junoir Blaber, he's a regular on Rugby Wrap Up - his dad played rugby with The Matts. His cross to bear, however, is his love for the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres. As for baseball and basketball, it's the Yanks and Atlanta Hawks. Follow him on Twitter: @ByDJEberle.