Shocked!

The Warriors

I picked the Warriors to be eliminated in the first round.  So I'm shocked at the results!  I felt during the season they showed they could not always turn it off and on like they had in previous years.  Curry was hurt and being at the magic age 30, I did not expect him to return.  I wasn't shocked that he played again after missing the start of the play-offs, but I was shocked that he played so well once he retuned.

At the start of the finals Steve Kerr was telling everyone how tough it is to make four straight finals.  Was he setting the fans up for a disappointment in a  fifth attempt?

The Houston Rockets series was really the finals.  They built their team around beating the Warriors. Some may say that if Paul didn't get hurt they would have done it.  Once you turn 33 there is no guarantee of playing time and Paul could not make the final two games.  His age had caught up with him.

The Warriors are really amazing and have changed the game of basketball.  If Curry took the shots in my day that he does today, he would have known as a 'hog' and benched by the coach and hated by his team mates and friends.

When the 3 point line was first introduced it was not used very often.  The Warriors had a special shooter that would come in late in the game if they were behind.  Can't remember his name but he made it exciting on more than one occasion.  Then  basketball move the three point line closer.  In front of the foul line was a  little too much but after some experimenting the line has been set for years.  It is really impossible to compare teams that played before the three point line with teams of today.  It's a different game.

I remember during college about once a week a group of us would go the Sunset gym in San Francisco.  We would get there about 1 pm and since kids did not get out of s school until abut 3 pm we had the gym ourselves for a couple of hours.  We had a ball.  My first shot was always from half court.  I decided at that time if I ever coached, I would have members of the team take about five shots from mid-court when they come on the court instead of doing layups which was common in those days.  I found that in the game the basket always looked close.

It is now time for basketball to move on to the 5 point play --- shots made from beyond half court.  That will really open up the game even further. We  know the Warriors 'hog' is already proficient at that shot.

The Warrior owner keeps promising that they will keep winning. He should have thought of that before he fired Jerry West. They better keep winning because they are moving to a city that has never supported an NBA team.  Why do you think the Blue and Gold moved to 'the Town' on  the Nimitz Freeway?

The big parade is tomorrow in Oakland.   The question is will there be more American flags, Chinese Communist flags or North Korean flags.  In San Francisco it wouldn't even be close.

The 49ers had their run, the Giants also and now the Warriors.  And the Sharks are still the only California NHL team without a Stanley Cup.  Is their time coming?


The Giants

I am shocked at the Giants success this year especially since they lost their top three starting pitchers. Fortunately, the Dodgers, Rockies, D-Backs played like .500 teams to keep everyone in the race to this point.

How can anybody not be shocked at the play of Crawford.  Hit about .180 in April, in the .400s in May and is currently over.500 for June.  Had four of the teams five hits Sunday off the games best pitcher including the game winning homer. He is currently the fourth best hitter in the NL.  He drives ball down he left field line inches fair and then does the same to right field.  When I played table tennis (ping pong), I always dried to hit the ball to the edge of the table.  Crawford would be great table tennis player.

Last year we would be thrilled if the Giants scored 3 runs in a game.  This year they are leading the league in run scores. It been a long time since I remember the Giants hitting the ball so well. Brings back memories of Russ Hodges   For you younger blog members,  Russ was the voice of the Giants during the days of McCovey, Cepeda and Mays.  How did this happen?

The Giants added McCutcheon, Longoria and Jackson.  McCutcheon starting to hit better, I am still waiting for Longoria to get a clutch two out hit and Jackson will be the next outfielder cut.  But the addition of these players extended the lineup and took the pressure off of Posey,  Belt et al and I think they are much more relaxed and are getting better pitches to hit.

Then Hanson came out of nowhere.  He played a lot in spring games usually in the late innings.  I thought he was Class 'A' player putting in time while the varsity went for cocktails and dinner.  What will be his role?

I mentioned in an earlier blog that Melancon has a dead arm.  Not only was I surprised he came off the DL I was shocked how well he has pitched.  It's the best he has ever  performed as a Giant.  If Stickland falters as a closer he will be ready to step into his old role.

When Belt returns and if Longoria has not performed better, I look for Pablo to start a number of games at third.

It still up to pitching.  The youngsters have done a good job.  Who will eventually return?   Can they prevent the relief stafff from being worn out?

Hey how about Pug Rodriguez son pitching for the Giants.  His flowing hair must make some guys swoon and those tattoos are something else again.  No wonder the Giants brought him up

It looks like it will be a very interesting and  exciting last couple of months.


The Sanctuary City

I am 39th on the list to get a head transplant at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach.  You have heard of knee and hip replacements well now we have head replacements for those who do stupid things.  I qualify.

I was in 'The City' primarily to attend a lunch with some of my high school class.  I was also planning to do some research at the SF Public Library.  So I parked at the Civic Center Garage.  To get a parking ticket I needed to roll down my window.  It was then that my 84 year old mind went blank and I forgot to roll up the window.  Yes I was burglarized.  I was shocked!  The amount is way less then $50,000 and perhaps even less in Mexico.

I was having dinner with blog member and cousin Joan L of San Francisco and her husband mentioned to me that I was lucky that they probably would have broken my window.  Once I returned home,  I was telling blog member Rob H of Irvine, my neighbor and a Stanford grad from Mountain View, about the incident.  He has some of his family in the San Francisco area and he told me his son was living in the Mission Delores area.  His car windows were broken three times.  He even tried to leave the glove compartment open to show thieves  that there was nothing but that didn't work either.

Maybe I was smart to keep the window down but then I would be taken off the list at Hoag Hospital and I could use a new head.