Show Recap - Tuesday June 01, 2010

Kobe Bryant says he really doesn’t care who he plays in the Finals. Right. And that ring he won without Shaq didn’t matter to him either. Of course he cares who he’s playing. And the only thing better than beating Lebron James straight up for a ring is doing the Celtics for one. And not because this is the greatest rivalry in sports either, by the way. Could that storyline be any more tired? Bryant doesn’t care how many times these two teams have waged war in the Finals or the fact that Boston has routinely owned L.A. in the Finals.

Photos: Kobe's Ready

Photos: 2008 NBA Finals

All he cares about is recent history, his personal history with the Celtics and that goes back to 2008, when Bryant didn’t play up to his standards and the Celtics curb stomped... More »

I don’t ever remember B.A. Baracas saying “I pity the fool who don’t have a great goundgame!” Then again, I’ve never seen Baracas get put on his back by a Rashad Evans dime double leg take down nor eat shots like Rampage Jackson did in the second round. Jackson told me before the fight he wasn’t concerned about his long layoff or cage rust. Maybe he wasn’t before the fight, but I’m sure he was 30 seconds into it when Evans caught him with a good right that could have put him to sleep.

Photos: Of Rampage AKA B.A. Baracas

Never a good thing when they cut from right you being on the movie set, where they tell you everything you want to hear, to your trainer telling you the one thing you never want to hear; “You need a knockout”. Rampage was the bigger name and the better draw, but Evans was the better fighter. Good news is, at least, the two guys that went... More »

The shock isn’t that Angels first baseman Kendry Morales broke his stick celebrating a walk off slam, but rather that it didn’t happen sooner, to somebody. And it probably won’t be the last time it happens either. The Angels should probably be thankful it wasn’t Torii Hunter or Bobby Abreu, not that you want it to happen to anyone. Imagine the Yankees losing A-Rod or Derek Jeter in a blanket party at home plate. Then again, what do you expect; you have 15 or 18 well conditioned, professional athletes waiting to mob one guy; one on 15. Dudes are peaking on adrenaline, all fired up and that one guy is going to leave his feet, chances are he’s going to get his lowbridged, or clipped or come down the wrong way and probably shatter his stick. And he did.

Photos: Celebration Of Walk-Off

Besides, what are you doing celebrating like that against a last place team,... More »

The other reason I’m taking the Lakers is they’re a different team now than they were when Boston punched them in the head in 08. They’re tougher, more physical and better defensively than when Boston mugged them two years ago. Then, Paul Pierce, got up out of his wheel chair and killed them. They had no answer for the guy. Now they do. Perhaps you’ve heard of him. Ron Ron. And this is precisely why they brought him in; to deal with guys like Pierce, in situations like this. Ron Ron will earn his entire salary in Games 5 and 6 in the Phoenix series and in the 7 games of this series.

Photos: Ron Ron vs. Pierce From The Past

Photos: 2008 NBA Finals

And while he may not be right, Andrew Bynum will definitely make a difference by taking up... More »

Info & Stats: Oakland Athletics Pitcher | Pitched The 19th Perfect Game In MLB History

Photos: Perfect Game

Topics: Perfect Game | Perfect Game hasn’t sunk in | Roy Halladay’s Perfect Game | 3-1 count to Gabe Kapler | Was confused about the count to Kapler | We needed perfect defense to make it happen | Got the guys some Crown Royal | Mother’s Day | Grandma being there | Grandma raised me, this was the ultimate gift back | Lost his Mother when he was a Senior in high school | Grandma took control of his life | Would be pumping gas if his Grandma didn’t step up | Grandma saying stick it too A-Rod | She’s the Ron Burgundy of the real world | His hometown, very proud of the 209 | Will never leave his hometown |

Info & Stats: Sportswriter, Author and Sports Commentator.

John on Tiger Woods: “Pretty sure he’s not the president of my fan club.”

Topics: New book One on One: Behind the Scenes with the Greats in the Game | Book is a professional memoir | Bobby Knight experience | Spending time with great coaches and athletes | Knight allowing him to write a book | Method to Knight’s madness | A Season on the Brink | Would you allow your son to play for Bobby Knight? | Mike Krzyzewski passing Bobby Knight’s win total | Coach K and Coach Knight’s relationship | Ebbs and flows of Knight’s relationships | Damon Bailey | 1991 with Coach K and Bobby Knight behind the scenes | Coach K being upset with Bobby Knight | Coach K and Bobby not talking for 9 years | Coach K story in 1983 | Learning how to fail | Mike Krzyzewski is very loyal | Tiger Woods | Woods and his father Earl | Comparing Earl Woods to Jennifer Capriati’s father Stefano | Earl comparing his son to Gandhi | Tiger telling John he wanted to kill... more >