Most weeks we open TINK with a pop culture and sports reference. This week, however, we begin with a somber story that puts sports and life in perspective.
Beloved Boston Red Sox champion and all-time great David Ortiz was shot in the back Sunday night in his home country, the Dominican Republic. Universally loved and revered, Big Papi was flown to Boston by his former team and is recovering in a local hospital. The sports world, especially his adoring Boston fans, have the big man in their thoughts.
Now to what’s happening on the field…
TINK Sports Big-3
Here are three things you need to know:
1) The Toronto Raptors are up 3-2 in the NBA Finals after blowing a chance to clinch the title Monday night
2) The NHL will crown its champ Wednesday night when St. Louis travels to Boston for their deciding Game 7
3) Rafael Nadal won his record 12th (yes, a dozen) French Open title Sunday
National Basketball Association (NBA)
Oh Canada! Almost. The Toronto Raptors were on the verge of winning their first NBA title Monday. Toronto led 3-1 in the NBA Finals and was up six points with just over two minutes remaining but the NBA’s reigning mega-team, the Golden State Warriors, won 106-105 to force a game 6 in Oakland Thursday.
The Warriors welcomed back Kevin Durant, arguably the best player in the league, after missing a month with a leg injury. KD, the two-time defending Finals MVP, looked good initially but went down with an Achilles injury and may be out for a while.
Source: CBS Sports
Toronto was led by their all-world, stoic-faced star, Kawhi Leonard, who has been dealing with a leg injury of his own in this year’s playoffs. Leonard orchestrated a pre-season trade from San Antonio and is now the king of Canada…but maybe not for long.
Immediately after the season ends, NBA talk will shift to Free Agency, aka superstar musical chairs. One of the major offseason questions is whether Leonard will stay in Toronto or move back home to LA or somewhere else. Similarly for Golden State, two of their stars, Durant and Klay Thompson, will be free agents with their status for next season up in the air.
National Hockey League (NHL)
The St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins are tied 3-3 after the Bruins beat the Blues Sunday night forcing a winner-take-all game 7 Wednesday night in Boston.
Source: NHL.com
The energy will be palpable as a deciding Game 7 is usually filled with anticipation but given the David Ortiz shooting, look for the TD Garden to be as electric as it was after the Boston Marathon tragedy. #BostonStrong
Singing the Blues? St. Louis, a 1967 NHL expansion team, hadn’t been to the Stanley Cup Finals since 1970. That might explain their owner’s enthusiasm as the St. Louis Post-Dispatch published a letter by Tom Stillman thanking fans for supporting the team as it captured its first Stanley Cup.
Two problems: 1) The article came out before game 6 was even played, and more importantly, 2) the Blues lost. #Woops #JumpedTheGun
To the Blues’ credit, however, they have already made history. On January 2 they were in last place in the league standings, Yes, dead last. No team has ever made it to the Stanley Cup Finals from last place that late in the season. #Resilient #Remarkable
Tennis
Heart of a champion. Rafael Nadal won his record-extending 12th French Open title Sunday. Even more ridiculous is Nadal’s 93-2 record at Roland-Garros. #Dominance #KingOfClay
Source: Fox Business
All-Time Great…The #2 seeded Nadal defeated Austrian Dominic Thiem (#4 seed) in the Finals. Thiem had upset top-seeded Novak Djokovic in the Semifinals. The 33-year old Spaniard has now won 18 Grand Slams putting him just two behind Roger Federer for the most ever.
Golf
Monterey, CA here we come. Golf fans are scrambling for tickets to this weekend’s US Open, played at one of the most scenic golf courses, Pebble Beach.
Odds makers have installed Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy as the favorites. The tournament tees off Thursday.
Major League Baseball (MLB)
Former Boston Red Sox great David Ortiz is in our thoughts as we wish him a speedy recovery.
Source: Business Insider
Boys of Summer…As the basketball and hockey seasons come to an end and football is still months away, baseball reclaims its focus in the US sports landscape.
In the American League, the Houston Astros, the 2017 World Series champions, sit atop the standings with the surprising Minnesota Twins just a couple games behind.
In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers have the best record and possibly the league’s best hitter in MVP co-leader Cody Bellinger and Cy-Young (award for best pitcher) favorite Hyun-Jin Ryu.
Share the TINK Sports love.
Remember at TINK Sports we watch the games so you don’t have to.
See you next time…
Recent Comments