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“NBA CONFERENCE FINALS”
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Two things to think about at this hour with the NBA-Eastern and Western Conference finals underway.

1-thought on the Oklahoma City-Minnesota matchup, and another thought on the Knicks-vs-Indiana series.

Two great matchups, each series with its own personality.  A quick scouting report:

OKLAHOMA CITY-MINNESOTA….Can you say high octane track meet?  Two teams who will be launching shots from long distances all night long.  Shai Gilegous-Alexander is the likely NBA-MVP and he has been pouring home points all playoff long.  But the Thunder are big and active too with Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstien, who came from Chicago.  Jalen Williams is so explosive, and when on, make a difference.  Oddly another ex-Bull, Alex Caruso has been a catalyst to make things happen on offense, on defense, and in the tough guy sentiment and style.  Only worries, how deep is the roster and the bench?

The Twolves have mauled people round by round.  Anthony Edwards plays at warp speed, but the question will be, does he sacrifice offensive energy  to play at the defensive end, and how many minutes can he play at this level?  Minnesota has bigs who can score, whether it’s Julius Randle, Jayden McDaniel or others.  And of course they have the standard bearer on defense, clogging things up and rebounding, Rudy Gobert.  Unsung heroes to keep an eye on, Naz Reid and Dante DiVincenzo.  A really deep and dynamic roster.

Smell the burning rubber-because I think that is the kind of series this will be.  I will take OKC with all that firepower and athleticism.
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INDIANA-NY KNICKS…No one could ever have predicted this would happen.  The Knicks getting to the Conference finals for the first time in 44-years.  This team goes as far as Jalen Brunson carries them, but he is as explosive as anyone.  They do shoot lots of threes, courtesy of OG Anunoby and Josh Hart. They really need big games from Mikhail Bridges and Karl Anthony Towns, who have a history of being hot-being cold.  Depth could be a problem.   They will need some quality play from the mixed bag of bigs Tom Thibodeau throws out there.  Keep an eye on the refs and what they call-vs-what they let go.  The Knicks play alot of clutch and grab-hands all over the place on defense.

If getting to the finals was a surprise for New York, probably the same can be said about the Pacers.  They are fast, physical, relentless, angry and deep.
This rebuild of Pacers basketball started with the Pascal Siakam trade and the arrival of college star Tyrese Haliburnton.  Add in fiesty center Myles Turner and a bench bunch led by TJ McConnell, and they have a ton of guys to run at the Knicks. Key guys off the bench, Obi Toppin and Andrew Nembhard, will be needed to stem the flow of Thunder players storming up and the floor.

And speaking of history, I close my eyes thinking of the Knicks and about this series, and I see Willis Reed dragging his leg in the playoffs; Patrick Ewing’s dominant play; and Spike Lee screaming and yelling at Reggie Miller back in the day.

This will be a really tough guy series of games.

And a closing comment, as we watch the Knicks-Pacers war, the 3-point shooting sprees we will see from the Thunder and Minnesota, please tell me how far away the Lakers and Clippers are from being like any of these teams in the NBA’s final four?

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“PADRES FANS-JUST ASKING”
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Padres baseball has been fun, but things are going to get alot tougher beginning now for lots of reasons.  Take a look:

THE RECORD..Sounds nice they are (27-18) and battling for first place in the NL-West, but dig deeper will you.  After a (14-3) start, the Friars are just (13-15).  More alarming is the fact they have really played the bottom tier teams for the most part to start the season.

THE SCHEDULE..Head into Toronto and the Pittsburgh, but then they move into the teeth of the schedule.  Do you know they have 14-games in a 17-game span against the Dodgers-Giants-Diamondbacks as they roll into June?  They have enjoyed all these Mondays and Thursdays off days.  They are about to embark where they play 27-games in 28-days.

PITCHING..Are you holding your breath on Dylan Cease?  They have readjusted his delivery and he has put together two pretty good starts, but you have to be worried about wear and tear, and high pitch counts.  As good as Michael King is, he throws lots of pitches per start.  So far-so good for Nick Pivetta, but he is a max effort guy too.  I worry that all this catches up to these guys, and it’s only Memorial Day weekend.

BULLPEN…I hate to use the word ‘burnout’ but that is what we are looking at right now.  Hopefully a Sean Reynolds and an odd-arm or two from El Paso might provide help to the Morejon-Estrada-Adam-Suarez group.  Tough when the bullpen phone has to start ringing in the 5th inning.

INJURIES…Waiting for the re-emergence of Yu Darvish, but they will need to be cautious and patient with him.  Remember he has had 3-seasons in a row with elbow and arm issues that have flared.  Still waiting for the re-emergence of Matt Waldron, coming back from the oblique spring training issue.  Trust Randy Vasquez in your rotation, guess you have to for the time being.  Bryan Hoeing seems way off as a contributor.

LEFT FIELD..This cannot go on forever, this black hole in left field, where everyone-anyone has combined for a (.177) batting average so far.  Jason Heyward provides so much leadership and desire, but he is not the hitter he used to be.  Time to give Gavin Sheets a chance to see if he can hold up and hit more than (.177) out there.

HERE TODAY-GONE TOMORROW…Remember Connor Joe, Oscar Gonzalez and the assorted bunch of off season street free agents they brought in.  They are either gone or toiling in AAA-El Paso without much hope any will make a difference at Petco Park

TRADE BAIT…Aside from Luis Campusano, a 4A-player now, and Tirso Ornelas, there is not much AJ Preller can use as trade bait to try and rent a left-fielder.  And the bigger question, if we know what Campusano can-and-cannot do, you would think scouts would see that too, so what is his real value?  And the other question, do the Padres need a left-fielder or another starting pitcher as an insurance policy.

WE ARE NOT THEM…The Padres stay on the Dodgers heels in the NL-West race, and surely don’t have the pitching crisis LA has (16-pitchers on the DL), but the Friars have to be very concerned if anything were to happen to the Big 3 (Cease-Pivetta-King) in that rotation.

ALFRED E NUEMAN…Remember Mad Magazine’s favorite quote ‘What Me Worry’?  I would if I were the Padres, and it’s not June 1st year and hot weather and a pennant race awaits.

Your reactions invited..Email me thru my website www.leehacksawhamilton.com
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“WHAT A WEEKEND”
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It was wild-weird-emotional-inexplainable.

This weekend of sports took us lots of different directions.

PADRES..What a disappointing 3-game homestand against the Seattle Mariners.  The bullpen looks burned out.  The bats went silent.  The team lost its edge, got swept, and seemed to have no fire.  Now they go back out on the road.

DODGERS..Keeping score at home, they now have 16-pitchers on the disabled list with injuries, the latest being Kirby Yates.  They have real organizational problems.  Money can buy you talent.  Money cannot buy you good health.  Don’t think modern day baseball has seen this.

ANGELS..Have to explain the good times and the bad stretches this team has to endure.  Don’t think anyone can.  They still look like a last place roster to me, but they swept the Dodgers in LA.  Can you believe that?

NBA..What a terrible beatdown Oklahoma City put on Dallas.  They trailed by 11-hit the light switch and by the 4th quarter had a 43-point lead.  The Thunder are so athletic, explosive, so tough on defense.  They come at you in waves.  Poor Nikola Jokic.  The Nuggets sure don’t look like the NBA champs they were just two springs agol

BOSTON..The end came so quick it is stunning, and now no one knows what the future looks like.  Jayson Tatum will be out 9-months with rehab from the torn achilles.  Now Jaylen Brown finds out he needs knee meniscus surgery.  And Kristaps Porzingas has a lung disorder that wiped him out of the final round of the playoffs.  Add in, the Celtics have salary cap-luxury tax issues, and will have to shed players this summer.  Problems there.

NHL..These 7th-final games have been electric for lots of reasons.  The Maple Leafs road win in Florida delivered them the extra home game against Florida, and its brand of heavy hockey.  The Winnipeg-Dallas series was played with the heavy hearts around the passing of the father of Jets captain Mark Schiafele, hours before that playoff game in Dallas.  The handshake line of respect was stunning to see as they embraced the Jets star for his strength to play for his team and even score a goal before Winnipeg finally lost.

INDY 500…What a shocking Sunday at the Brickyard.  A rookie, who never raced on an oval, Robert Schwartzman, grabbed the pole at (232mph). Colton Herta crashed.  Last year’s winner Scott McLaughlan crashed too.  Red hot Alex Palou, who owned the best practice times, faltered, and will start in the 2nd row.  Next Sunday will be worth watching.

PGA..He’s here, the replacement for Tiger Woods.  Scottie Scheffler keeps playing, winning, dominating with fantastic rounds.  What he did at Quail Hollow, 7-birdies and an eagle on Saturday,  blew away the competition on Saturday, as he coasted to another Grand Slam win.  Some year and a half he has given us on the tour.

Like I said, some weekend in sports.
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“NFL-ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?”
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On a warm spring day, the NFL stole all the headlines again.

The 2025-NFL schedule is out, and fans and media are excited with what the first weekend will bring.  A glance at the opening weekend, and then a look-see at the 3-favorite teams here in Southern California:

OPENING WEEKEND
..Dallas-Eagles..Thursday night starter..Dak Prescott-vs-Jalen Hurts.

..Chargers-Chiefs..Friday night in Brazil..Neutral site Justin Herbert-Pat Mahomes.

..Ravens-Bills..Sunday night lidlfiter-Josh Allen-vs-Lamar Jackson

..Bears-Vikings..Monday Night Football..Caleb Williams and the debut of Ben Johnson vs Minnesota rookie QB-JJ McCarthy.
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CHARGERS…It won’t be easy at the start, they have featured National TV games..and the question, can they survive December.

The Bolts give up a home game with the Chiefs, to play them in a neutral site game in Brazil.  Why would Dean Spanos ever do that?  Week two takes them to Las Vegas, to face Pete Carroll in the Raiders home opener.  Week three is Bo Nix-Sean Payton and Denver.

The TV featured games have them on Thursday against the Vikings…a Sunday Night game with the Steelers, and the Monday night war with the Eagles.

But the end of the season will be very hard.  A December schedule against the Eagles..at Kansas City…at Dallas…..Houston…at Denver to end the year.
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RAMS…A rugged start to the season, opening with the dangerous Houston Texans…then play at Philadelphia in week three and at Baltimore in week six.
They also face Detroit in week 12.

The road schedule is easy, trips to Atlanta..Carolina..Tennessee..the 49ers and Jacksonville.
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RAIDERS…So much excitement with Pete Carroll’s arrival, but two very tough road trips early.

The Raiders play at New England in week one against Mike Vrabel’s Patriots.  They host the Chargers in the second week, then go back to the East Coast to face the Washington Commanders in week three.

A tough mid season stretch, against the Bears, then at Kansas City in week 7 and at Denver in week 10…followed by a week 11-game with Dallas.

The end of the season will be hard..they play at Philadelphia, at Houston and then finish up with the Chiefs.
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Can we just hit the ‘fast-forward button’ and get to the first weekend of the season?
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“HALL OF FAMERS-GET THEIR DAY-FINALLY”
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Make way for Charley Hustle and Shoeless Joe in Cooperstown.

In death they have finally been freed of the stigma of their life, taking part in betting rings on baseball.

At the Hall of Fame, the baseball shrine, you cannot write-tell the entire history of the game, if you exclude certain records set by players no longer allowed in the game, or expelled from the ballot in Cooperstown-can you?

Pete Rose and Joe Jackson have been reinstated by the Commissioner’s office.  Their memorabilia is in the Baseball Hall of Fame, and now their names are in line to be put on the Hall of Fame ballot too, with plaques to follow in the Gallery.

Rose died months ago, but since 1992 has been seeking reinstatement to the game he set so many records in.

Jackson died in 1951, in poverty, in disgrace for what he did in 1919.

Rose bet on baseball while the Player Manager of the Reds in 1985-86-87, always to win-never to lose.

Jackson took (5,000) from gamblers during the 1919 World Series-but never threw a game in the World Series against the Reds.

Found guilty, by the 225-page John Dowd Report, Rose appealed for reinstatement 3-times and was rejected.  His family made a followup appeal after he passed.  Rose lived a life of sin, continuing to gamble, hawking autographed baseballs, jerseys, hats, books, whatever he could-wherever he went.  He showed little to no remorse in taking your 200-dollars for whatever he signed.

He went to prison for tax evasion on gambling earnings.  He was investigated for having sex with a 15-year old girl.  He was defiant till he finally came clean, in a book he wanted you to buy.

Superstar but super sleazy too.

Jackson appealed for reinstatement multiple times but was denied by iron-fisted Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis.  His sin, a man who could not read or write, was taking money but refusing to throw games.

It was not easy.  Rose lied for 19-years, then finally admitted it.  Jackson played semi pro baseball for decades, living out his life running a South Carolina liquor store.

They now will have the Classic Era Committee, 16-members, vote to add them to the Hall List.  12-yes votes are needed.  Can you say ‘Rubber Stamp-Yes’.  Then the BWAA (Baseball Writers Association America) will vote, with 75%-needed to get into the Hall.

Remember though, this is the group that has kept the steroid cheats, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens out of Cooperstown for a decade.  One wonders if their moral conscience outweighs the memo from the Commissioner reinstating Rose-Jackson?  And there are other pages now to consider beyond Bonds’ home run record, Clemens strikeouts; add Alex Rodriguez drug suspension and Manny Ramirez reputation history.  Are the standards for players and person now separate entities come Cooperstown time?

Is there enough room on a Rose-or-Jackson plaque for an * asterisk about the gambling ban?

Those gold adorned plaques will include Rose’s stats, 24-years in the majors, 4,256-hits, a (.303) career average, 17 All Star berths, Rookie of Year, MVP, 3-World Series rings.

Jackson’s plaque will include a (.375) career average, a .408 season, and 13-years of excellence with the Indians-A’s-White Sox.

Both were great talents, with great flaws as human beings, whose lives ended like a black mark obituary notice, a true tragedy.

But on this day, this week, there is sunshine across the baseball map.  They should get in, as players, if not people.

And there is a side note to all this.  The Commissioner, who spent 3-years considering the layers of this possible decision, also changed ‘Rule 21’, the one that mandated a lifetime suspension for anyone gambling.  Manfred has decided ‘that in death-the lifetime suspension ends..There was no greater deterrent than a lifetime ban with no reprieve’.

It means Shoeless Joe’s teammates of the White Sox-Black Sox scandal, eight in all, who were also barred, are removed from the ineligible list.

In Cincinnati, where they always celebrated Rose, the Reds honor his memory on Wednesday night.  It now turns into a year long celebration.

There is no one left from the Black Sox era, though family members of Jackson and teammate pitcher Eddie Cicotte, including a son, former Yankees pitcher Al Cicotte, are likely celebrating too.

We remember so much about Rose’s style, hustile, skill, smile, smirk.  The movie ‘8-Men Out’ a classic of all time, refreshes us about the 1919 White Sox team and its place in baseball history.

Isn’t it interesting, now the tone of conversation?  ‘He served his time in life..in death he is now eligible’.  Do we consider the vote ‘only for the player-discounting the person?’.  Food for thought.

On the other street corner, are national sports media raging about ‘where’s the accountability for doing what Rose did’, and the purist who believe you are ‘shedding right-vs-wrong values by allowing Rose onto a ballot’.  Even in death, the discussion on the Hit King will continue.

Among the hottest national media quotes:
..Dark day for baseball
..Where’s accountability
..Baseball without integrity
..This opens floodgates
..Hall of Shame off the field
..Not check any boxes for character-integrity-sportsmanship
..About his behavior-conduct
..Can’t heal man-so honor man
..Loved baseball-Loved gambling more

Cooperstown awaits, two of the greatest hitters of all time, now waiting for a ballot, a vote, and what will be a historic ceremony,  to take place.  The history  of what they did-be damned.
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