Musings on a Monday . . .
What's with the NBA playoff games these days? Now the Western Conference is beginning to resemble the Eastern Conference with dull defensive struggles and scores in the 70s. I wouldn't be surprised to see a playoff game end 65-60 one of these days . . .
So what can be done? Hey, I've got an idea. Let's turn basketball into the exciting finesse game it used to be rather than the boring physical game it has become.
If a 300-pound center backs his way to the basket, knocking over everyone in sight, call a foul. And if that 300-pound center gets mugged by three guys, call that, too. Maybe at first, you'll have 100 fouls a game, but before long the players will learn how to play without getting up-close-and-personal with each other. And maybe teams will start scoring 100 points in a game . . .
I know there are a lot of Laker fans out there as well as many Karl Malone fans. But man, isn't it hard seeing the Lakers win another series?
I wasn't a Lakers fan to begin with because of Shaq and Kobe and Phil, but even with Malone on the team, it hasn't changed my mind . . .
If the Spurs couldn't beat the Lakers, I can't see the Timberwolves or Kings pulling it off. And New Jersey or Detroit or Indiana? Forget it . . .
The Salt Lake Stingers are struggling on the field and off. Not only have they lost 10 of their last 13 games to fall into last place in their PCL Division, they aren't attracting crowds. Last week they had the two smallest crowds since Franklin Covey Field was built.
But the losing isn't the reason for the smaller crowds at Franklin Covey. The majority of fans who come out do it for the baseball experience, not necessarily to see a W. There aren't many better ways to spend a spring or summer evening than sitting at Franklin Covey Field for less than the cost of a movie. So why don't more local sports fans do it? . . .
Team nicknames have gotten more and more original over the years, from the junior college team called the Artichokes to the Major League soccer team called the Revolution. However, Albuquerque's baseball team, which played in Salt Lake last week, has perhaps the strangest nickname of all — the Isotopes. It has something to do with the nuclear facility in New Mexico and a team called the Isotopes in "The Simpsons." But who would want to be called an Isotope? . . .
Until last week when he blew the second-round lead in Maryland, Tiger Woods had never blown a second-round lead in a PGA tournament in 18 tries. Now he's done it twice in two weeks after losing the lead over the weekend at the Byron Nelson. Yes, Tiger Woods is in a slump. Sure, he's still probably the best golfer in the world, but he's definitely in a slump, even if he and others won't admit it . . .
It was nice to see Sergio Garcia win the tournament Sunday. Golf needs more young, charismatic golfers like the Spaniard. But did you see how he won the playoff almost by default? Dudley Hart could only manage a double bogey on the playoff hole and Robert Damron missed a gimme putt and bogeyed . . .
Back in the old days, it seemed like we had a Triple Crown winner all the time with the likes of Secretariat and Seattle Slew. But a whole generation has passed with no Triple Crown winners. The last was in 1978 when Affirmed edged out Alydar in all three Triple Crown races. Now it looks like Smarty Jones will break the drought in three weeks at the Belmont after blowing away the field Saturday at the Preakness . . .
And finally, I see where Manny Ramirez is getting along with the media in Boston this year. Whatdayaknow. I've also read articles lately about how golfers Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh are being nicer this year in their dealings with the press. While there are a few people in the media who like to beat up on athletes, the vast majority of media types are just trying to do their job and aren't out to hurt athletes or coaches.
When athletes like Ramirez and Mickelson learn not to be testy and be more cooperative, they discover how much better press they receive and often how much better they perform.
E-mail: sor@desnews.com