With a dominating performance rarely seen on Broadway or in sports, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Hamilton took home an impressive 11 Tony’s Sunday night.
Maybe the dominant sports and social icon, Muhammad Ali, was laid to rest on Friday. We continue to marvel about Ali in life and in death. Check out some of the moving eulogies by Billy Crystal and President Bill Clinton.
As Ali famously declared, “The Champ is Here.” In a final tribute to Ali, combined with a shout out to Hamilton and the NBA and NHL seasons winding down, we bring you this week’s TINK with a champion’s twist.
National Basketball Association (NBA)
The Dom Perignon (or kale smoothies) will have to wait for Bay Area fans. With the Golden State Warriors looking to win back-to-back NBA championships, the Cleveland Cavaliers said “Not So fast” and beat the Warriors 112-97 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals Monday night.
The Cavs two stars, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving were brilliant, each scoring 41 points. How special is that? Very. No set of teammates had ever scored 40+ points each in an NBA Finals game. Irving bas been a “real baller,” “getting buckets” to the tune of 30 or more points in the last three Final games. He must have gotten his skills from Uncle Drew! Check out the video.
The Warriors played without star forward Draymond Green who was suspended for too many flagrant fouls (translation: playing too rough, or some say dirty). Green was banned from the arena for the game but surely had his Beats headphones playing E-40. Green will be back for Game 6 Thursday in Cleveland.
The Warriors’ Stephen Curry, the MVP the last two seasons and father of the adorable, attention stealing Riley Curry has had two consecutive great years. About the only thing Curry has done wrong recently might have been releasing his new Curry 2 Low “Chef Curry” shoes with Under Armour. He and his sneakers are getting roasted on social media.
Who said politicians aren’t creative problem solvers? Free agent superstar Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder was offered a cabinet position by Oklahoma governor Mary Fallin if he re-signs with the team.
National Hockey League (NHL)
The NHL Finals (aka the Stanley Cup Finals) concluded Sunday night. The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the San Jose Sharks to take the series 4-2.
The Penguins were led by a balanced attack and rookie goaltender, Matt Murray. Sidney Crosby, arguably still the best player in hockey, took home playoff MVP honors. The win was Pittsburgh’s fourth title, and first since 2009. Sales of Iron City beer are skyrocketing in the Burgh this week.
Just as the boxing world lost “The Greatest,” the hockey world lost “Mr. Hockey” last week. Gordie Howe died at 88 on Friday. Howe was a four-time champion and six-time MVP who amazingly played 31 years of professional hockey, until the age of 52.
Soccer
Where in the world is…your favorite soccer player? Pull out the map as two major international soccer (or football outside the US) tournaments are taking place, both of which involve playing for country as opposed to club team.
In the US, the Copa America has reached the quarterfinal, and the United States team beat Paraguay to advance to the knockout stage. Argentina and Mexico are looking good while Brazil and Uruguay are big disappointments having been eliminated.
Over in Europe, the UEFA European Championship (or Euro) is underway. Next to the World Cup this tournament is a huge deal. Look out for France (the host country), Germany (the 2014 World Cup champions) and Spain (the 2008 & 2012 Euro, and 2010 World Cup champions).
Men behaving badly…The tournament started off on the wrong foot as there was fighting, racist behavior and fireworks set off by Russian fans in the 1-1 Russia–England match in Marseille. Both fans bases went at it but disciplinary proceedings began against the Russian Football Union and will be announced this week.
Let’s hope for great soccer the next month in France. The finals are July 10.
Horse Racing
Home Cookin? In the final leg of the horse racing Triple Crown, Creator ran down Destin in the final stride to win the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes by a single nose length, literally. Celebrity chef Bobby Flay bought into the horse recently and saw it win at Belmont Park in New York, his hometown. Rumors of free drinks at Bar Americain and Mesa Grill are unconfirmed.
Not so studly…Exaggerator, winner of the Preakness Stakes, the last Triple Crown race, finished 11th and surely lost some of his potential stud fees post retirement.
Golf
The young and the restless…The US Open golf tournament will be played this week outside Pittsburgh. The trio of favorites looking to join the Pittsburgh Penguins as champs is made up of young and talented golfers with Major championships under their belt: Jason Day (age 28), Rory McIlroy (age 27) and Jordan Spieth (age 22).
Remember at TINK Sports we watch the games so you don’t have to.
See you next time…
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