"The protocol for an IOC ceremony is very strict and formal, and it has to be. On such an issue that has affected a host country, I believe that the president of the IOC would have a very open mind and listen to the advice coming from Beijing organizers." –Kevan Gosper, vice chairman of the IOC coordination commission, on the idea of honoring the China earthquake victims during the Olympics
It’s the NBA Draft. You’re the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Chicago Bulls grabbed Derrick Rose with the first pick. The Miami Heat took the consolation prize named Michael Beasley at two. Who do you pick with the third selection? The ’08 crop is deep, so there are lots of ways you could go. Pass on big forwards Anthony Randolph and Kevin Love because you already have Al Jefferson on the payroll. You could probably skip over flashy guards O.J. Mayo, Eric Gordon and Jerryd Bayless, too, seeing as how Randy Foye and Rashard McCants did admirably in the spot this past year. That said, Stanford center Brook Lopez, seven feet of hustle, hooks and soft hands, is probably the best choice for the T-Wolves.
“The difficulty is convincing pampered players who already spend 120 nights on the road that it isn't that big a deal to add a trans-Pacific trip to the schedule. Heck, I once listened to a player complain about traveling to Canada. But if 60-year-old flight attendants can not only manage the trip but can also pour coffee and wheel food carts up and down the aisles for much of the flight, athletes in their prime should be able to manage sitting, sleeping and watching movies during the same trip. Especially when they get a $40,000 bonus for doing so (as the Red Sox and Athletics did this spring).” –ESPN’s Jim Caple, on the prospect of the MLB expanding to Asia
Fanatic isn’t the biggest supporter of instant replay potentially rearing its head in Major League Baseball, but in the wake of the game-altering bad calls in May, we might be open to the idea in one instance- determining if a ball is a home run or not. While some are foolishly opening to the thought of instant replay helping in safe/out calls or even –gasp!- balls and strikes, we’re thinking something more in the way of managers having one chance per game to dispute a home run call is not only fair but won’t slow down an already-slow sport too much more.
“Insider trading is a bigger deal in sports than in the financial markets. We have the Securities and Exchange Commission here. Why not the same for what is a multibillion-dollar sports gambling market?” –Justin Wolfers, business professor at the University of Pennsylvania
"In the end, I never discount anyone coming back. At this moment, she needs to take all the pressure off. When someone announces this and they're in their mid-20s, I always say it's 50-50. With Justine [Henin], it might be better than that. Martina announced her retirement in her late 30s and she kept going. I say there's a good chance we'll see her again." –Pam Shriver, owner of 22 Grand Slam doubles titles, on the idea of the 25-year-old Henin ever coming out of retirement
And finally…
ESPN’s list of the five greatest drivers ever: 1) A.J. Foyt 2) Mario Andretti 3) Dale Earnhardt 4) Michael Schumacher 5) Ayrton Senna… The Celtics/Cavs Eastern Conference semifinals Game 7 was the highest rated non-Finals game on ABC the last five years…Golf.com’s most overrated golfers: Colin Montgomerie, Chris DiMarco, Davis Love III, Tom Lehman, Charles Howell and Stewart Cink… At press time, the Atlanta Braves had the second-best home winning percentage (77%). Oddly, they also have the worst road mark (27%)… Baron Davis, a New York Knick? Reports say the Golden State guard has made inquiries into the Big Apple’s interest in him…Bobby Cox, who just signed a one-year extension to manage the Atlanta Braves a 24th season in ‘09, is an eight-time Sporting News manager of the year. No one else has won the honor more than three times.
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NBA Finals (starting June 5, 8:30PM, ABC) Most folks are salivating over a nostalgic Lakers/Celtics final, but if I recall, L.A. and Detroit had some memorable battles, too.
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Stanley Cup Finals (June 2, 4 and 7, 8PM, NBC) If NBC doesn’t get ratings with a match-up featuring the best team (Detroit) and its best young talent (Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby), there’s no hope for hockey.
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French Open (June 7-8, 9AM, NBC) With Henin out of the picture, Jelena Jankovic, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams rumble in Roland Garros.
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U.S. Open (June 15, TBD, NBC) Umm, Phil, don’t look now, but you-know-who appears healthy enough to come out swinging at gorgeous Torrey Pines.
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Boston at Philadelphia (June 16, 7PM, ESPN) The AL East-leading Sox do everything in their power to slay the three-headed monster of Rollins, Utley and Howard.
