The White Falcon - 29.05.1998, Síða 8

Voice of the Fans
By IC2 Robert Meade
Get Ready Basketball Fans.
Western Conference: Utah Jazz has just completed a very surpris-
ing sweep of the Lakers, who came into the championship playing
probably the best basketball of any of the teams. Utah has never
swept a series in a championship round, and the Lakers were consid-
ered a mild favorite which, in the end, meant nothing. They played
Utah for four straight games, and I kind of got the feeling that’s how
things were going to be when the Jazz embarrassed the Lakers in
Game 1. The Lakers proved that with 10 good players and two all-
stars, you can have a team full of all-stars, but the Jazz proved that
with depth and experience, you can win. I think deep down, they
wanted it more.
The Lakers were just trying to play for pride in themselves, and it
was very surprising to me in Game 4 - they weren’t able to protect
their pride. Expect to see some changes with them. The Jazz have
done what they need to do to give themselves a chance against the
Bulls. Number 1: They’ve secured themselves home-court advan-
tage throughout the regular season. Number 2: They’re playing their
kind of basketball. You don’t predict these kinds of sweeps, but the
Jazz have done it. They’ve swept the series, and now they’re resting.
For an old veteran club like that, rest is important. They’re practic-
ing now and healing their wounds.
Eastern Conference, Game 5, Pacers versus the Bulls: If the Pacers
can somehow win this one, the reign of King Mike may be coming to
an end. Still, Game 4 had turned in a split second when Michael
Jordan put a shot up with seven-tenths of a second left. I don’t know
how a legend can grow anymore, but when he made that three-point-
er ...
A possible downfall for the Bulls: Dennis Rodman. Rodman’s not
playing his kind of basketball. I don’t know if it’s Phil Jackson’s
coaching philosophy, but it’s one thing I predicted way back when: If
the Bulls are going to lose the championship, one of the reasons will
be because of Dennis Rodman. He’s not playing Rodman-type bas-
ketball.
Now to another hot sport: Hockey.
Hockey’s also in the midst of a championship round. Detroit and
Dallas: Tuesday’s action shows that anything can happen in this
series. The Stars took the Redwings for a ride, 3-1, tying up the
series for both teams. This was a good turn around for Dallas, con-
sidering they only had 14 shots at the goal in Game 1.
Could a new hero be emerging at the “Old Ball Game?”
Mark McGuire: 25 home runs, broke the record for home runs
before June 1. People said he’d need 30 for the all-star break.
Theoretically, he might have 30 before the second week of June. As
a Baseball fan, and a Cardinals fan, I’m excited by what he gives to
the game. Any time he comes up to the plate to bat, he gives the fans
something to remember. There aren’t too many guys in history who
have done that.
At any given point, he can give you something you’ll remember for
a lifetime. He’s getting himself into an immortal class that very few
players have ever gotten themselves into. And in contrast to some of
the greats, he doesn’t thump his chest and say, “ME! ME! ME!” You
really sense that he’s got respect for the game.
If he came out and said, “I’m gonna break the record,” then nobody
would want him to. He’s the kind of player you would want to break
the record. He’s a veteran who’s come back from injuries when peo-
ple thought he was washed up. Now he’s hitting 25 home runs, and
it’s only May 29. The fact that he gives so much to charities is also
great in defining his character.
And speaking of money ... I know I’ve covered this before, but
Baseball’s black eye still shines with the Marlins’ performance. They
wiped out. They didn’t even give themselves a chance to defend their
crown before the season was even two months old. They cheated
everybody out of the chance to see the champions defend their crown.
In a sense, it’s like the “Black Sox” scandal. Same reason: Money.
We’ll never know if this could have been one of the best teams of all
time. Baseball is still its own worst enemy. Payrolls, salaries and
player trades have put a damper on the game that hopefully, players
like Mark McGuire can pull it out of.
No coupons needed.. • With two minutes of free shopping,
Brenda Cobb races through the meat aisle at the commissary May 21.
Cobb and fellow winner Scott Ormiston took home more than $1,300
in groceries from the AT&T sponsored shopping spree. (Photo by
JOSN Mike C. Jones)
Ice-Talesl
By Mike C. Jones
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The White Falcon Mav 29, 1998