How about those Braves! Atlanta sweeps the Twins!

Posted on May 22, 2013 by susan

Gee, I feel really bad.  I am ignoring the Atlanta Braves.  With the NBA playoffs, the Players Championship in golf, and the tennis in Rome, Italy, well what is a girl to do?  Plus, the season finale of the ABC hit drama Nashville airs tonight!  Must see, will recap tomorrow!

Anyhow, the Atlanta Braves first swept their home series with the LA Dodgers.  They then proceeded to sweep the home series with the Minnesota Twins.  Last night’s game was great, inspite of a rain delay (Yuk).  They trailed 4 -3 in the 9th when up to the plate comes Gattis who proceeds to hit his third pinch hit home run of the season to tie the game.  Then in the 10th inning, Freddie Freeman singles in Jason Heyward for the winning run, Braves 5 – Twins 4!  Today, the Braves did not need the drama, they win 8 – 3 to complete the sweep of the three game series.  Very nice homestand for the Braves!


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How about those Braves! Atlanta sweeps the Twins!

Posted on May 22, 2013 by admin

Gee, I feel really bad.  I am ignoring the Atlanta Braves.  With the NBA playoffs, the Players Championship in golf, and the tennis in Rome, Italy, well what is a girl to do?  Plus, the season finale of the ABC hit drama Nashville airs tonight!  Must see, will recap tomorrow!

Anyhow, the Atlanta Braves first swept their home series with the LA Dodgers.  They then proceeded to sweep the home series with the Minnesota Twins.  Last night’s game was great, inspite of a rain delay (Yuk).  They trailed 4 -3 in the 9th when up to the plate comes Gattis who proceeds to hit his third pinch hit home run of the season to tie the game.  Then in the 10th inning, Freddie Freeman singles in Jason Heyward for the winning run, Braves 5 – Twins 4!  Today, the Braves did not need the drama, they win 8 – 3 to complete the sweep of the three game series.  Very nice homestand for the Braves!


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Spurs outlast Grizzlies in OT, 93 – 89

Posted on May 22, 2013 by susan

Really exciting game #2 in the Western Conference finals from San Antonio.  The Spurs led by as much as eighteen points, and seemed to be cruising to a comfortable ten point victory late in the game when the Grizzlies led by Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol went on a 15 – 2 run.  The game ended tied 85 – 85.  Tim Duncan came up huge for the Spurs in OT and San Antonio prevailed, 93 – 89 to take a 2 -0 lead in the series.  Also, Tony Parker had 18, yes 18! assists.  They did what they needed to do, win the games at home, and now they will travel to Memphis for game three.

Tonight, game one of the Eastern Conference finals takes place in Miami with the Heat hosting the Pacers.  Let’s see if they can all get along better than the Heat and Bulls managed in that contentious series.  Should be good, game is on TNT at 8:30 pm EST.

In other NBA news, the LA Clippers have fired head coach Vinnie Del Negro.  Rumors are of course swirling that perhaps Phil Jackson is the coach of choice.  Um..would he come back and coach the “other” LA team.  Interesting…I do not think he will but we shall wait and see.


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Spurs outlast Grizzlies in OT, 93 – 89

Posted on May 22, 2013 by admin

Really exciting game #2 in the Western Conference finals from San Antonio.  The Spurs led by as much as eighteen points, and seemed to be cruising to a comfortable ten point victory late in the game when the Grizzlies led by Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol went on a 15 – 2 run.  The game ended tied 85 – 85.  Tim Duncan came up huge for the Spurs in OT and San Antonio prevailed, 93 – 89 to take a 2 -0 lead in the series.  Also, Tony Parker had 18, yes 18! assists.  They did what they needed to do, win the games at home, and now they will travel to Memphis for game three.

Tonight, game one of the Eastern Conference finals takes place in Miami with the Heat hosting the Pacers.  Let’s see if they can all get along better than the Heat and Bulls managed in that contentious series.  Should be good, game is on TNT at 8:30 pm EST.

In other NBA news, the LA Clippers have fired head coach Vinnie Del Negro.  Rumors are of course swirling that perhaps Phil Jackson is the coach of choice.  Um..would he come back and coach the “other” LA team.  Interesting…I do not think he will but we shall wait and see.


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Indy 500 news, rough weekend for the Ganassi team

Posted on May 20, 2013 by admin

Not a very good weekend for the Ganassi racing team at Indy motor speedway this past weekend!  Qualifying this past weekend on Saturday,  and “bump day” on Sunday, was not all Chip Ganassi and his race team could have hoped for.  His two star drivers, Dario Franchitti (winner of the Indy 500 three times) and Scott Dixon will both start next Sunday’s illustrious race on the 6th row, side by side.  Now, take nothing away from Charlie Kimball, but Dario and “Dixie” as Franchitti affectionately refers to his racing teammate, are the current super studs on the Ganassi race team.  Dario was the birthday boy this past weekend, celebrating number 40!  Congrats Dario.  Anyhow, in an interview, Dario voiced his disappointment and reiterated that there was much work to be done to the cars to get them ready for the greatest spectacle in all of motorsports this holiday weekend, (Indy 500 of course!).  My Indy insider, “the prick from the northeast” (see chapter 8, Beach People in my book Surviving “Paradise” by Susan Willoch Shaver) is in Indy for this great event.  I expect a full report will all kinds of inside info once this great race takes place.  I am a big Dario fan and truly hope they can get their issues worked out so they we can enjoy the kind of performance out of Franchitti and Dixon that we should expect.  Meanwhile, congratulations to the local boy, Ed Carpenter, who sits in the pole position.  Also, congratulations to Sarah Fisher and her racing team.  Could not happen to a nicer person.  Just ask my Indy insider, he used to spot for Sarah when she race for Dale Coyne Race team!  Until next Sunday…when we all hear “start your engines”…


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San Antonio soars to victory over Grizzlies in game one of Western finals

Posted on May 19, 2013 by susan

The San Antonio Spurs soared to a resounding victory over the Grizzlies in game one of the Western Conference finals, 105 – 83.  They displayed a punishing barrage of 3 point shooting and a smothering defense to shut down the Grizzlies and their two stars Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.  Tony Parker scored 20 points for the Spurs and Tim Duncan pulled down 10 rebounds in the victory at home for the Spurs.  San Antonio connected on 13 three points shots and had a total of 28 assists.  Very dazzling display by the Spurs in game one.  The series resumes Tuesday at 9:00 pm EST on ESPN.


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Pacers into Eastern Conference final with 106 – 99 win over Knicks

Posted on May 19, 2013 by admin

Well, the Indy 500 is not the only fast paced, exciting event that took place in Indianapolis this weekend.  Last night’s game between the Pacers and the Knicks was a great one.  The Pacers appeared to be in control, ten plus points ahead, and then in the second period, the Knicks started raining three pointers.  Melo, Shumpert, Coleman, you name ’em, they were making them.  The Pacers held their ground and refused to go down.  Superb play from George Hill (cleared to play after concussion), Paul George, and Roy Hibbert (one monster block on Melo that was highlight reel worthy!).  But the star for the Pacers was NY native, Lance Stephenson, who simply caught fire in the second period and refused to let the Pacers go down.  He finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds.  Melo had 39 for the Knicks in a hard fought losing effort.  So, now the Pacers, into the finals for the first time since 2004, get to take on LeBron and the Heat in Miami.  Short turnaround for them as I believe action gets underway on Monday evening.

Interesting citing in the building: Indy 500 pole winner, Ed Carpenter was at the game; he is a regular attendee and he made his way from the day’s activities at the brickyard to catch the Pacers make their way into the Eastern Conference finals!

Today, Game one in the Western Conference finals.  Memphis visits San Antonio, 3:30 pm EST on ABC.


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Nadal demolishes Federer to take Rome Open title (his 7th)

Posted on May 19, 2013 by admin

Well, not a good day for me, a Federer fan.  Not a good day for Roger Federer either, as he looked really bad today, and Rafael Nadal looked like just what he is, the King of Clay, defeating Fed in the final of the Rome Open, 6 -1, 6 -3.  Rafa has won this title seven times, Roger, zero.  They did have once classic match at this event in the final of 2006, it was at that time a five set match, and it was close.  Today was never close.  Federer did not play his best tennis by far, way too many unforced errors (winners/losers, 15/32) and his serve was simply not spot on which it has to be for him to have a chance to beat Nadal on clay.  He only won 32% of second service points and that will never get the job done against Nadal, especially on his beloved red clay.  Rafa on the other hand looked sharper than ever, close to 100% back from his injury time off, and ready for Roland Garros.  At least Roger made it to the final.  2013 has not started particularly well for him, and after losing badly to Rafa at Indian Wells, (hard court), Fed took seven weeks off.  His return to action on the clay in Madrid was less than stellar and up until today, he had looked very sharp in Rome.  Hopefully, Fed can turn it up and be more consistent in Paris.  Rafa is the clear favorite heading into Roland Garros in seven days.

On the women’s side, Serena William took care of Victoria Azarenka, 6-1, 6-3.  (same score, how about that?)

All in all, disappointing performance by Fed today and disappointed as a devoted Fed fan to see him lose in that manner.  Congrats to Nadal.


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Pole Day at Indy 500, Will Power sits in first of the “fast nine”

Posted on May 18, 2013 by susan

It was Pole Day at the Indy 500.  The temperatures were cool, 66 degrees and there was a two to three hour rain delay.  When all was said and done, Will Power sat at the top of the “fast nine”.  The rest of the “nine” are 2. Ryan Hunter-Reay, 3. Carlos Munoz (rookie), 4. Helio Castroneves, 5. Ed Carpenter, 6. Marco Andretti, 7. AJ Allmendinger, 8. EJ Viso, and 9. James Hinchcliffe (Go Daddy car)

So, what the heck?  Where is Dario Franchitti?  And Scott Dixon?  Oh well, a week to go before the race for Ganassi Race Team to get their act together.

More of the fast nine still to come tomorrow.


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Oxbow wins Preakness, Orb comes in fourth

Posted on May 18, 2013 by susan

Good bye possible triple crown winner, yet again.  Orb (Kentucky Derby winner) failed to deliver, finishing fourth in the Preakness Stakes.  Oxbow was the surprise winner, with veteran jockey Gary Stevenson on board.  He led from start to finish, the first wire to wire winner since 1982.  It is the sixth Preakness win for trainer D. Wayne Lucas.  Second was It’sMyLuckyDay, 3rd place went to Mylute and Oxbow, a disappointing fourth.  He was boxed in throughout the race, and was completely out of his comfort zone.

Once again, any hope of a triple crown winner bites the dust.  I truly wonder if we will see it again in our lifetimes.  Anyhow, congrats to Oxbow, jockey Stevens, and trainer Lucas.  Next up, The Belmont.


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