SPORTS NEWS:
So in the NBA Finals, it's now tied at 1 game apiece, as the Celtics last night stole one in LA, beating the Lakers 103-94.
A couple of things strike me. Everyone's talking about Ray Allen's 3-point barrage last night, and well they should. But what really helps the Celtics is their penetration into the lane, inside, and their passing, often leading to easy layups. Rajon Rondo is a big factor there; but Kevin Garnett and other Celtics also seem to excel at it. I don't know of any team in the NBA that's better at it. And do you wonder if Kobe Bryant remains a bit overconfident? The ESPN story linked to above has him yawning after the game that, well, it's a long series and you can't get too high or too low. True...but he sounds a little blase. Overconfidence can bite anyone when all is said and done--even Kobe. We'll see...
BASEBALL DIARY:
Royals 7, Tigers 2: the Tigers continue to struggle offensively, especially against the Royals' Brian Bannister. Only 6 hits yesterday; they lost 2 of 3 over the weekend. Something's missing...
Rays 9, Rangers 5: the Rangers actually had a good weekend, taking 2 of 3 from the league-leading Tampa Bay Rays. But yesterday, not so good...again, too many pitches from starter Rich Harden, along with too many baserunners and runs. Again he goes only 5 innings. The Rangers battled hard, and kept it a game...and give the Rays some credit, this is a solid club, with speed, hitting, and defense. Hopefully the Rangers can make some hay now this week at home against the Mariners.
POLTIICS UPDATE DEPT:
Yes, indeed, this is no accident:
"If the time-honored tradition of the political meeting is not quite dead, it seems to be teetering closer to extinction. Of the 255 Democrats who make up the majority in the House, only a handful held town-hall-style forums as legislators spent last week at home in their districts. It was no scheduling accident. With images of overheated, finger-waving crowds still seared into their minds from the discontent of last August, many Democrats heeded the advice of party leaders and tried to avoid unscripted question-and-answer sessions. The recommendations were clear: hold events in controlled settings — a bank or credit union, for example — or tour local businesses or participate in community service projects."
And that's what a party in trouble with the voters does.
