Patrick

Refs accommodate the passionate Sheed like crazy. If anything, it encourages his behavior. He was whining all night. At one point, one ref gently said "that's enough" and didn't T him up. This just gives Sheed more rope, and since he's oblivious, he eventually runs out of rope. I don't think Deng was whining nearly as much as Wallace was last night. Pistons look tough and deep. Probably will plow through Cle/NJ, and have a very good chance of defending the championship for the Eastern Conference.

Fausto Carmona beats Johan Santana for the second time this season--this time a 4 hit complete game shutout. Only 6 flyouts (17 groundouts, 4 K's). Pitch count was high (121), but what're ya gonna do with only a two run lead and Joe Borowski in the pen? Looks like Fausto is not headed back to Buffalo anytime soon--Jeremy Sowers will get that ticket when Jake Westbrook returns in 3-5 weeks.

reffed by Steve Javie or Joey Crawford?

Please no. I thought Horry got two because he also went after Raja Bell.

Does Chris Mihm carry Smush's bags out, or KG's all season?

streamin' outta the Palace with 7 minutes to go...

I find this playoff season more interesting than most. Not yet another run by Kobe/Shaq (or Jordan/Pippen, or ...). Detroit and San Antonio are solid but it's not (yet) inevitable that they will meet in the final. Dallas, Phoenix solid teams that have had some challenges, and maybe it turns out, too much love. GS surprising everyone (including themselves). LeBron trying to get to the next stage (...and lose to the same opponent). Epoch dramas for all ages--perhaps not, but entertaining basketball nonetheless. Increasingly irrelevant? Compared to what - NCAA tournament, McDonalds high school game, WNBA? NBA China? With more foreign players participating, and the increased level of play globally, isn't there really more talent available now (...a fair amount of it requiring more on-the-job training than in the past)?

...need Oscar Gamble with the 'fro and a '74 Indians softball uniform...

Exciting, tight, defensive (or offensive, depending on your preferences) playoff game in NJ. Cavs focusing on the three-headed monster turns Mikki Moore into Dirk Nowitzki (so to speak). LeBron decent from the field (9/16) but not the line (10/15). Fortunately, crybaby Vince had his problems (6/23 from field, 10/14 from line), and Jason only rebounded (2/13 from field, 5 pts, 7 assists, 17 rebounds!). NJ did not score a field goal during last 7 minutes of game. Cavs squeek by. Now back to the main attraction with the Big Fundamental.

Tribe definitely struggling on left coast. Good signs are that Cliff Lee's second outing was excellent (complete game three hitter at LAA) and Fausto Carmona continues to pitch well. Josh Barfield starting to show a faint pulse (still batting around .210).

Living and dying by the three-pointer. Eventually it catches up to you.

Absolute nightmare?? Check Joe Borowski...

okay, Prince and Billups arrived for the second half.

what's happenin' to deeetroit basketball? anyone showing up besides Sheed?

LeBron had 36 pts and 12 assists (only 1 rebound). Cavs shot 45% from the field, Nets 53%. All five Cavs starters in double figures including Pavlovic with 17. Pavlovic, who has no business guarding Carter, did a decent job through 3. Carter got it going toward the end, but boy is he a prima donna and a crybaby... Lower the shoulder, plow through the defender, and then cry after the foul is called against the defender. Please. Next time the ref will have to giftwrap it for you. And we all know it is physically impossible for VC to commit a turnover without being fouled. Please. Game 3 not until Saturday, so LeBron can get his rest. Staying up watching these western conference games, ...I'll need to get my rest.

I guess I had the opposite reaction. Why was Utah running up and down playing Warriors' style? Lots of fast breaks, and at least the part I saw, not enough touches in the paint for Boozer. Definitely a lost opportunity, but there was a similar feeling after a close loss in big D, no?

Had he still been playing, would Rafael Palmeiro receive a large helping of (well-deserved in my opinion) abuse? If he was pursuing a historic career stat, I think the answer is yes. Does Jason Giambi not get this outside of NY, especially after that pathetic "apology"? I think he'd get more abuse if he was closing in on some historic milestone (500, 600HR), but he is not. Palmeiro and Giambi get as much scorn from me as Barry does--Barry just happens to be in the news more often (...due to his greater batting success). It will be interesting to see how Gary Sheffield is treated as he reaches 500HR.

Keep on not watching that boring series in the East. Tough playoff game with tough defense, and poor outside shooting both ways. Cavs had trouble getting into the paint, but held a large rebounding edge (51 to 37). LeBron under the weather but still had 11 rebounds and 7 assists, and did not parade to the line. Similar stat sheet filling by Kidd (10/9) and Carter (13/6). Little unfair to call it the A.I. Chucking award (as much as I like to associate chucking with AI). ...At the very least you should add Tracy and Dirk to that label—two "MVP" guys that besides all of their chucking, did less to help their teams win than James, Kidd, Carter did in Game 1. Now back to the main event. Is Nash going to get to 10 assists in Game 1?

Haven't looked at the study. Even if the results are statistically significant, they strike me as not too significant economically (or should I say in terms of wins/losses). Given the small effect, it also would not surprise me if someone found some other confounding factor that also explains the difference. Sure hope junior faculty member's tenure decision won't rely too heavily on this--or is everyone, faculty included, getting super-freakonomic now? Some sizzle, and some discussion outside econ lecture halls, but anything useful/insightful? How do the authors translate the very slight increase in fouls called into 2 wins over the course of a season?

Could someone clue them in about the "Art Blakely" crabcake platter? Did you go? Looks like Keys has a regular Wednesday evening gig, at least through May.

Hi HG. I grew up in Cleveland, and while I still visit family and friends there, I'll confess to having not gone out for live music there in awhile (besides the Cleveland Orchestra). Is the Boarding House over by Case Western no longer with us? I remember listening to Ace Carter there before he left to join the Basie band. (Never a place for AG/experimental as I recall.) I smiled last week when my mother told me how much she enjoyed Lovano/Barron quartet doing a Monk tribute at the recent Tri-C jazzfest. Would have tried to attend that one if it were feasible. That likely was a highlight of the jazz year in Cleveland, or so it seems.

Borowski may be a source of concern, especially given the injury history (...though Foulke outdid him this year). His high ERA thus far can be largely explained by one outing in this young season (6 ER in 2/3 inning against NYY--without that it would be about 3.50. Not great for a closer, but trending downward.) Already reminding some folks of Bob Wickman--effective, but you often wonder how/why, and he too often makes the ninth "interesting". I'm not sure what you mean by "relying so heavily". He's made 14 appearances and pitched 13 innings--too many appearances? He pitches in save opportunities and extra inning games. Is the critique that the Tribe needs to have a second solid closer? I think Rafael Betancourt could fill that role reasonably well.

That would be one of those teams not located on the east or west coast but from the north coast, a team from arguably the toughest division. Your Cleveland Indians!! Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez appear to be locked in right now. Grady Sizemore is getting a lot of key hits, and playing gold glove center, but only batting .240 right now. Jhonny Peralta is starting to improve--batting only .260 but has 6 HRs. Casey Blake and Josh Barfield, not to mention Andy Marte, are currently missing in action (or on the DL). Getting some contribution from Trot Nixon, Ryan Garko, and Shin-Soo Choo. This team will hit a lot better. The main strength has been most of the starting rotation--Sabathia, Byrd, and Carmona. Cliff Lee just came off the DL (and had a rough season debut), and Jake Westbrook is headed there (good news is that this means Fausto Carmona comes back from Buffalo). 17 quality starts in 24 games. And a bullpen that appears functional (already 10 saves, only had 24 as a team last year). Hopefully, the pitching will continue to be this good. Only lost series so far have been a sweep by NYY and another by Mother Nature (snowouts). Now back to Boston, NY, SF, etc.

Noj, Was thinking of Alzado following your previous post--had his poster hanging in my bedroom in junior high. Recall a sad appearance he made on Arsenio Hall one night, in which he looked in bad shape, and gave Arsenio a game ball from a Browns playoff game. Steroid users cash the checks, HOF, etc., but at least in a few cases, pay the price big time.

Is it too soon to stop talking about Shaq, DWade and company??