This past weekend the world lost Muhammad Ali at 74 to Parkinson’s disease. Ali was a legendary boxer who left his mark on society beyond sports. Ali will be eulogized by sports legends, media and politicians alike, including Bryant Gumbel, Billy Crystal, and former President Bill Clinton.
Born Cassius Clay, Ali was a world champion boxer, political activist, social icon and humanitarian, all done with a flare for the dramatics. Check out Eddie Murphy and Aresenio Hall having fun in this video from Coming to America: Ali versus Cassius.
Ali was also famous for having a way with words. This week, we’re drawing inspiration from some of his all-time greatest quotes, starting with this gem: “I am the greatest. I said that even before I knew I was. I figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I was really the greatest.”
National Basketball Association (NBA)
LeBron James is already considered one of the NBA’s all-time greats and keeps moving up the list with his sixth straight NBA Finals appearance, but as Ali said, “Don’t count the days. Make the days count.” Unfortunately for LeBron, he has run into another megastar in Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in the last two NBA Finals.
The Warriors embarrassed the Cavs 110-77 on Sunday. Like Ali famously declared about himself, the defending champion Warriors continue to “Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee (video).” Golden State is up 2-0 with the series heading to Cleveland for games Wednesday and Friday nights.
“The will must be stronger than the skill.” Cleveland had plenty riding on this Cavs team as the city is without a championship in any professional sports since 1964. #SameOldStory?
National Hockey League (NHL)
Yinzers (Pittsburgh folks) are itching to celebrate with some Iron City beer as the Pittsburgh Penguins are positioned to win their third Stanley Cup title and first since 2009. The Pens lead the San Jose Sharks 3-1 in their Finals series with the potential clinching game Thursday in Pittsburgh.
Barring disaster, the Pens’ Sidney Crosby would win his second Stanley Cup and move up the ranks of NHL all-time greats. Just like Ali: “I don’t count the sit-ups. I only start counting when it starts hurting because they’re the only ones that count. That’s what makes you a champion.”
Tennis
Chassant la grandeur (chasing the greatness) at the French Open. The tournament concluded with two current and all-time greats, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams in the Men’s and Women’s finals.
Djokovic finally won his first French Open title Sunday and now has secured all four tennis Majors (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open) in his career. In fact, he has won the last four Majors in a row – a feat not accomplished since Rod Laver in 1969. At 29, the Djoker, with 12 Slams under his belt, has a chance to pass Roger Federer (17) as the men’s Major titles leader.
“It isn’t the mountains that wear you down. It’s the pebble in your shoe.” At 34, Serena Williams, the most dominant Women’s tennis player of all time, continues to amaze but lost in the Finals. Williams fell to 22-year-old Spaniard Garbine Muguruza and came up short of winning her 22nd Major title in Paris. Serena has now lost in three consecutive Major Finals.
Major League Baseball (MLB)
At 40-16 the Chicago Cubs have the best record in Baseball. The team is young and talented, and having fun during the grueling six-month MLB season. The latest bonding activity is donning NBA-inspired track suits on the current road trip. #ComfortAndStyle
Where’s the love? NFL great and Gisele’s hubbie Tom Brady, whose four game suspension for “Deflategate” was recently upheld by a US District Court, is sparking a flame with fans. This time in minor league baseball. The Pawtucket Red Sox kicked it off when they announced a Free Brady night. The next day the Buffalo Bisons countered with a Keep Brady Suspended night. As Ali said, “I wish people would love everybody else the way they love me. It would be a better world.”
Soccer
The world’s #1 sport is now taking over the US…sort of. Copa America, a competition among North and South American countries, kicked off last week. The US is the host country so don’t be alarmed if you see co-workers going crazy rooting for their countries.
No distraction here…Argentina is the favorite with Lionel Messi, one of the world’s best and soccer’s all-time greats, leading the squad. “I only worried about playing football (soccer),” is what he told a Barcelona court last week in a tax evasion trial. Hmmm…
The Finals take place Sunday, June 26 in New Jersey.
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One last quote for the road:
“Impossible is just a word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
Remember at TINK Sports we watch the games so you don’t have to.
See you next time…
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