A Game 7, At Last

What I'm referring to is the NBA Finals, for those unfamiliar with professional basketball.

After they cruised to victories in the first few games, it looked like the San Antonio Spurs might sweep the Detroit Pistons, or take no more than five games to finish. Their Spurs' star playings were saying, at least this means we have a chance to come back home and win. I was happy with the way things were going, though I wouldn't mind if the Pistons made the series a little competitive.

They sure did.

Detroit came out firing in Game 3, playing as well as it could in front of its home crowd, and San Antonio never caught up.

Game 4 was similar, but instead of winning by 17 points, the Pistons creamed the Spurs by 31! Seven Detroit players scored in double digits, and it's been the only game so far that either team scored over 100 points (Detroit had 102).

Game 5 was the last one in Detroit, and San Antonio finally woke up again and played some ball. Spurs forward Tim Duncan was a monster inside, and when he was double-teamed, he usually swung the ball out to veteran forward Robert "Big Shot Bob" Horry, who made 5 of 6 three-pointers, including the game-winner in overtime. The Spurs won that one, 96-95, and I was confident they would take the series, likely in the next game but almost surely in Game 7, since they had two chances.

But Detroit came back to San Antonio and played in a way as if to say, "Hold on, you guys aren't celebrating tonight." Horry made a couple of threes but was not nearly as effective, and Duncan missed half his free-throws--nothing unusual, since he was 4-of-11 in Game 5--but without Horry on fire, the Pistons were able to take advantage. Detroit guards Chauncey Billups and Richard "Rip" Hamilton combined for 43 points to lead the Pistons to a 95-86 victory, where defense was key down the stretch.

Who will win Game 7? I don't know, but it's the first Game 7 in the NBA Finals in 1994, and second since 1988. Check back soon and, hey, I'm trying to figure out my VCR, so if someone would record the game just a case, could you? My friend Eugene will be visiting that night, so we may miss parts of the game. I'd appreciate it.

Cheers.

Freedom for Jacko, Martha's Diary

I heard a joke that said, with Michael Jackson and O.J. Simpson being acquitted, it just goes to show that our country's court system is more concerned about seeing only dangerous criminals, like Martha Stewart, behind bars. So I took a look at Martha's prison diary, which is supposedly going to be for sale soon. Count on me buying that one before I get a Jacko CD or a highlight film of "The Juice."

"I'm looking at the man in the mirror. I'm asking him to change his ways. And no message could have been any clearer..." Don't get me started.

A Great Historian

Last Wednesday, I went to Cambridge to hear David McCullogh, author of the new book "1776," speak on war, the character of George Washington and other great 18th-century Americans, the importance of history in one's life, and other subjects. I was inspired enough by his speech to hurry down to the Harvard Bookstore to buy "1776" and have McCullogh sign it. I need to spend more time learning about history. I think most people do.

One of things that McCullogh said that sticks out in my mind is that people complain they don't have enough time to go out and learn about history, or to read about it. He then said that the average household watch 3 1/2 to 4 hours a day of television. Turn that TV off and get out to a museum, he said. True stuff.

And here I am, about to watch the NBA Playoffs on TV, with Miami playing Detroit in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. I may miss parts of the game, but it's important I see a good portion of it.

But hey, that's history...as long as I mix it up with some reading, writing, sleeping and socializing, right?

I'll post again soon.