BRONX, NY – As I tap out this column on my laptop early Tuesday evening, I’ll apologize in advance for not covering the results of the Cavs/Pacers (Pacers stunned Cleveland) and T-Wolves/Warriors (G.S. won despite losing Curry) games. If I were to guess, I’d say both home teams will probably win those games with Cleveland evening their series and Minny going up 1-0 on Golden State. But, I’ve been wrong before. Luckily there’s other stuff to talk about. Let’s go.
Nuggets Shock OKC in Game 1. I’ll just keep saying this, the Denver/Oklahoma City Western semi final is going to be one hell of a series. I know the Knicks stunning Boston was getting all the ink, but Aaron Gordon’s three-pointer in the final seconds on Monday night was also pretty insane. And all Nikola Jokic did was go for 42 points and 22 rebounds. Gotta watch this series.
Go Winnipeg! I’m officially throwing my considerable support behind the Winnipeg Jets in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Not only is my team out of it, but Winnipeg miraculously vanquished the St. Louis Blues, saving everyone from having to spend one more second in St. Louis than they needed to. The Jets now play Dallas, and I hate pretty much all things Dallas, with the one exception being Larry Dallas on Three’s Company, who was hilarious. Here’s something you’ll almost never hear me say: LET’S GO JETS!
Fishsticks Win the Lottery. Sticking with the NHL, the New York Islanders pulled their own minor miracle (off ice) by winning the NHL Draft Lottery on Monday, despite only having a 3.5% chance. Long Islanders haven’t been this stoked since the Commack Motor Inn opened or Short Matt got banned from the Boardy Barn.
Devin in Hell. Pete Alonso might want to think about sending an edible arrangement or something to New York Yankees reliever Devin Williams. Alonso’s wildcard playoff dinger off Williams last year while he was pitching for Milwaukee, just may have rattled him a bit. The recently-demoted Yankees closer has an ERA of 10.03, but at least he’s got over eight and a half million bucks to help soothe his bruised reputation. In other Yankees pitching news, Cookie Carrasco got DFA’d yesterday. The good news for the Yanks is that the AL East pretty much stinks, with every team outside of the Bombers at or below .500.
Ravens Cut Justin Tucker. A very difficult “football decision” indeed. The once surefire Hall-of-Famer will now never get into Canton, but could easily be President one day.
RIP, Peter Walsh. I wanted to close today by wishing a fond farewell to New York restaurateur, raconteur, and all-around good guy Peter Walsh, who passed away a couple of weeks back at the age of 78. For those that didn’t know him, Peter was one of the owner’s of Coogan’s, a large and raucous Irish Bar and Grill located in NYC’s Washington Heights, in the shadow of Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. Peter was a great guy who welcomed me like an old friend when another friend introduced us before I ran my first NYC Marathon. He was a huge supporter of running, hosting his own annual race The Coogan’s Salsa, Blues, and Shamrocks 5K and always advocating for the Armory Track & Field Center on Fort Washington Avenue. Peter always had a smile and a story to tell. He’ll be missed.
Come back tomorrow for Buddy Diaz, who is probably still walking on air from the Knicks’ Game 1 win in Beantown.
MANAGEMENT ADD-ON: Watch the Recap a the beginning
