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05/28/2018

LeBron Does It Again

[Posted late Sunday p.m.]

Baseball Quiz: Who was the first black to pitch in the major leagues? Answer below.

NBA Playoffs

--Friday night, LeBron James did it again, a one-man show for Cleveland, 46 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists, three steals and a block to lead the Cavaliers to a 109-99 triumph in Cleveland, evening the series at 3-3.  It was LeBron’s 26th 40-point effort in the playoffs.

The Cavs kept their hopes alive in unlikely fashion, as Kevin Love was sidelined with a head injury following a collision with Boston’s Jayson Tatum early in the first quarter.

So on to Game 7 tonight; no Kevin Love as he entered concussion protocol.  The Celtics took a 43-39 lead at the half, with the Cavs 2 of 17 from downtown, LeBron with 17 points, 10 rebounds and five turnovers.

But Boston shot atrociously, 7 of 39 from beyond the arc for the game (Cleveland was an equally pathetic 9 of 35), and the Celtics lost 87-79; Boston’s first loss at home in the playoffs.

LeBron finished with 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists (and 8 TOs), as he again single-handedly powered Cleveland, James about to play in his eighth consecutive NBA Finals.

--In the Western Conference finals, it will be Game 7 in Houston Monday night, as the Warriors staved off elimination on Saturday in Oakland, 115-86, riding the sharpshooting of Klay Thompson, 35 points on 9 of 14 from behind the arc, Steph Curry chipping in 29, though the Rockets were without Chris Paul because of a strained hamstring

Thompson’s nine threes tied for the second most in NBA playoff history, two behind the record 11 that he made in 2016.

So the big question is will Paul be available Monday? No word yet.

Indy 500

--I watch two auto races in their entirety each year...the Daytona 500 and Indy...and today’s race was uneventful until around lap 145 of 200, after which if you are a race fan, it was absolutely terrific action. Back and forth, strategy for the crews, split-seconds lost in the pits that would be critical, and in the end, Will Power of Australia, a heretofore highly-successful IndyCar racer who wanted to win today’s race so bad, but kept falling short, beat off hometown hero Ed Carpenter for the win.  You had to be watching, but I’ve never seen a more excited driver and his supporters, particularly his wife, Liz, than today.  It was really fun stuff, including Power unknowingly spraying milk on one of the race queens.

For car owner Roger Penske, it was his 17th win.

And kudos to Alexander Rossi, who supplied a lot of the late-race excitement. Rossi finished fourth after starting in the back row.

So good show all around for the spectators; a very impressive crowd of over 200,000.

I just have to note I forget that when it comes to the pits, at this race, with the high speeds they attain, one second equals a football field length...think about that.  In the final 40 laps, there were some great pit stops, and some not so great ones that proved costly.

--As for Danica Patrick, in the final race of her career, she crashed out and finished 30th.  So just what is her legacy?  She burst on the scene at the 2005 Indy 500, helped along by her relentless self-promotion, which earned her the one-name celebrity of being simply “Danica,” as the Los Angeles Times’ James Peltz put it.

“I can’t think of a better way to end my racing career than at Indianapolis for the 500,” the 36-year-old said this week.  “I mean, to finish up at a place that has so many good memories for me, and at the biggest race of the year for Indy cars and arguably the biggest race of the year, period.”

No doubt Danica became a role model for countless young women, and no less than seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson tweeted earlier in the year: “Thank you @danicapatrick for being a strong role model to the little girls in my life,” referring to his two young daughters.

James Peltz:

“Patrick’s fame also was burnished by her blunt, outspoken manner, her savvy marketing of her personal ‘brand’ that earned her millions of dollars in endorsements, and by the outsized media attention she always received. Patrick’s overall record on the track was middling; she had one victory in 13 years of big-league racing. That fueled the debate about whether she deserved the attention she received and made the Roscoe, Ill., native one of the most polarizing figures in sports.

“ ‘I don’t know that we’ve seen someone who is so popular when not performing as well,’ said Greg Goldring, senior director of sports and entertainment at the Marketing Arm, a marketing agency.

“Her impact on motor racing will be argued long after the 102nd running of the iconic race, one of the biggest one-day sporting events in the world.”

But despite being a pioneer in her sport, analyst and 1998 Indy 500 winner Eddie Cheever said, “I thought we would have seen more of a wave of young women,” trying to follow in her footsteps, but “I don’t know of one person on the horizon,” Cheever said.

Kind of like the advent of Tiger Woods back in 1997. We thought it would lead to a wave of black golfers, remember?  It didn’t.

And in looking at Danica’s legacy, you can’t help but note her six seasons in NASCAR’s Monster Energy Cup Series, where she made 191 starts, with not one top five...finishing in the top 10 only seven times.

But she did become the only woman to win the pole position for the Daytona 500, in 2013, and the only woman to lead laps in that race. She’s also the only woman to lead laps in both the Indy 500 and Daytona 500.

As for her lack of success in NASCAR, supporters point out that three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti also struggled when he tried stock-car racing.

MLB

--Shohei Ohtani made his first trip to New York and the bright lights of Gotham this weekend, and on Friday night, Yankee rookie sensation Gleyber Torres stole the show with his ninth home run, in just 28 games, for a 2-1 New York win; Torres, in homering a fourth consecutive game, becoming the youngest in American League history to do so at the age of 21 years, 163 days.  As for Ohtani, he was 0-for-3 with a walk.

But the Angels also have the best player in baseball, Mike Trout, and on Saturday, with Yankees manager Aaron Boone inexplicably pitching to him in a key early situation with first base open, Trout ended up going 5-for-5, a homer and three doubles, a career-best performance, including 11 total bases, as the Angels won 11-4.

Today, the Yankees then bounced back, taking the Angels 3-1 behind Masahiro Tanaka’s six strong innings, Trout going 0-for-4, and Shohei Ohtani ending up 0-for-9 in the series, dropping his average to .291, though he had four walks.

--It is very hard being a Mets fan.  I asked Johnny Mac to send me my sword after A.J. Ramos issued a 10th-inning, 2-out bases-loaded walk against Milwaukee Friday night, a crushing 4-3 loss after the Mets had tied it in the ninth, and then Jason Vargas, on Saturday, blew leads of 3-0 and 5-3, Ramos came in and was shelled, and before you knew it, the Brewers were pounding the Mets into submission, 17-6.  Ramos, who is supposed to be the eighth-inning guy, with the ability to close, has an ERA of 6.41, and Vargas, in five starts, has yielded 24 earned runs in 20 1/3, 10.62 ERA!  And that includes his last start when he shockingly threw five scoreless.

As Kevin Kernan of the New York Post put it, “Bad deals. Bad pitching. Bad decisions. Terrible results.  How much longer can the Mets put up with this?

“Jason Vargas was handed $16 million by the Mets this offseason and at this stage of the game couldn’t win a Sausage Race.

“AJ Ramos was acquired last July by the Mets in a trade with the Marlins and was to be paid $9.225 million this season to be a force out of the bullpen.”

So some are wondering why Seth Lugo, who has been superb out of the pen and has 26 career starts (career 3.57 ERA) isn’t given a shot in the rotation.

But to compound matters, today the Mets blew 4-1 and 6-4 (seventh inning) leads as the bullpen imploded anew, New York losing 8-7 to fall to 25-24 (after an 11-1 start).  Mets broadcasters Gary Cohen and Ron Darling were severely critical of the decisions manager Mickey Callaway made (which us fans like to hear).

--In a kind of startling move, the Red Sox designated Hanley Ramirez for assignment on Friday to make room for Dustin Pedroia on the 25-man roster as he returned from the disable list.

The 34-year-old Ramirez was hitting .254 with six homers and 29 RBIs in 44 games while splitting his time between first base and DH.  Ramirez had been with the Red Sox since 2015 after signing a four-year, $88 million contract as a free agent.

Actually, seeing as Ramirez has a $22 million vesting option for 2019, it wasn’t as hard a decision as it seems at first blush.  Yes, Boston will still owe him about $15 million for the rest of the season (no one would pick up that salary), but it’s really all about 2019.  And the Red Sox can replace his production.

--Clayton Kershaw threw a simulated game on Saturday, experienced no discomfort, and he is slated to return within the week.  What’s interesting is that in 2016, the Dodgers were eight games out of first place when he got hurt, five games ahead when he came back.  In 2017, they went 25-10 without him.  This year, they played .500 ball without him – which is better than they were playing before he went down with his latest injury. They also had picked up 4 ½ games in the standings entering Saturday’s play.

By the way, he could return for the final game of the team’s current homestand, Thursday, or face the Rockies in Colorado on Friday. In 20 starts at Coors Field, Kershaw is 9-4 with a 4.65 ERA.

--The Mariners, who shockingly haven’t been to the postseason since 2001 – the longest in the majors – acquired two solid pieces from Tampa Bay, closer Alex Colome, who had 47 saves last season, and veteran outfielder Denard Span.  In return, the Rays picked up two minor league pitchers.

Seattle is 32-20, despite losing All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano to an 80-game PED suspension, and leadoff hitter Dee Gordon to a fractured toe this week.  Colome picked up a save today in the Mariners’ 3-1 win over the Twinkies.

--Bartolo Colon turned 45 on Thursday.  Saturday night, he threw seven innings of three-run ball in a 4-3 win over the Royals, Colon getting a no-decision.  But he’s 2-2, 3.55, for Texas, giving them everything they possibly could have wanted as he also sits on 242 career wins, one behind Juan Marichal for the most career victories by a pitcher from the Dominican Republic.

Stanley Cup Playoffs

--Game One of the Finals is Monday, 8:00 ET on NBC.  It’s turned into a good story line...the expansion Golden Knights against Alex Ovechkin’s Capitals.  I’ll certainly tune in tomorrow night to catch the scene in Vegas.  Folks there are rightfully big-time pumped. 

--I like what my New York Rangers did in hiring Boston University’s David Quinn, 51, to be their next head coach, replacing Alain Vigneault.  Jumping from the NCAA to the NHL is a rarity, happening only five times in the last five decades.  But last month, the Dallas Stars hired Jim Montgomery, who had been the head coach at the University of Denver.

The Rangers’ move continues a major overhaul of the franchise, as they grow much younger all around.

The current B.U. roster includes 12 drafted players, three of them first-round picks.

Quinn was a first-round pick himself in 1984 out of Cranston, R.I., by the Minnesota North Stars. He then played at B.U., but as a junior was diagnosed with a form of hemophilia.  So he turned to coaching.

Champions League Final

I think a headline in the New York Times summed it up perfectly.... “Real Madrid Beats Liverpool in Champions League Final on a Wonder and Two Blunders.”

The wonder was Gareth Bale’s stupendous goal for Madrid, one of European football’s great goals ever, especially given the circumstances, and the blunders were beyond atrocious, both committed by Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius, in what can only be described as a true nightmare of a performance, Real winning the championship 3-1.

Bale made his mark on the game at the 64-minute mark with an overhead kick for the ages to put Real up 2-1.

But it was two plays by Karius that will long be remembered.  After a scoreless first half, six minutes into the second, the German keeper inexplicably threw the ball against Karim Benzema, who was not even challenging, and watched in horror as the ball rolled behind him into the net.

Liverpool recovered from the shock to tie it up on a Sadio Mane goal, and then came Bale’s heroics.

But there was plenty of time for Liverpool...until there wasn’t...as Karius flat-out fumbled Bale’s 30-yard shot behind him to seal Real’s win.

It was a record 13th win in this competition for Madrid, and their fourth title in five seasons to give coach Zinedine Zidane his third triumph in three years.

Afterwards, Karius was distraught, in tears at the final whistle in Kiev.  “I lost my team the game,” he said.  “I’m sorry for everyone – from the team, from the whole club – that the mistakes cost dearly.

“If I could go back in time, I would. I feel sorry for my team. I know I let them down.

“It’s very hard right now but that’s the life of a goalkeeper. These goals cost us the title, basically.”

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Ray Clemence said Karius would have to live with his mistakes “for the rest of his life.”

“He’s got the whole summer to think about it and when you make mistakes in massive games like that they will be with you for the rest of your life, because people will remember them and keep reminding you of them.”

That’s for sure. As I texted Ken P. and Dr. W., who were also watching the game, I can’t imagine what was being said in the pubs of Liverpool Saturday night.  Actually, I can...it would just be very, very ugly.

But in all honesty, it’s hard to feel too sorry for the guy because these were two of the biggest goofs of all time in a major finals competition.  Period.  Any high school keeper would have made them.

Meanwhile, there were two other issues for after the game.  Liverpool lost superstar Mohamed Salah at the 29’ mark to what was being described as a serious shoulder injury, “sprained ligaments,” and while Reds’ fans can take some solace in that they may have hung in there with him performing the rest of the way, now it’s about the native Egyptian’s availability for the World Cup, with Egypt playing Uruguay on June 15 in their opener.

Then there is Cristiano Ronaldo, who wasn’t really a factor in yesterday’s game.  He cast doubt over his future with Real Madrid.

“Now is the time to enjoy this. And in the coming days you will have my answer to the fans, the ones who have really been on my side. It has been very nice being at Real Madrid.”

Told how the statement seemed like a strong one, i.e., ‘I’m departing,’ Ronaldo tried to walk it back a little, but he has been complaining about his pay since December.  The Portuguese superstar, 33, has played for Madrid since leaving Manchester United in 2009.  He’s under contract until June 2021.

--According to a study by KPMG, Manchester United remains the most valuable European football club with an enterprise value of about 3.25bn euro, or around $3.8 billion. Real Madrid is next, followed by Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Man City.  Premier League clubs represent six of the top 10.

Golf Balls

--Justin Rose won his ninth PGA Tour title this weekend at Colonial, besting Brooks Koepka by three with a final-round 64.  I’d bet on him in the next three majors.

--Francisco Molinari won the European Tour’s big one...the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, beating Rory McIlroy by two, though Rory had a three-shot lead after 36, leading to more talk his game is a mess mentally.  [I was kind of shocked to see this was just Molinari’s fifth Euro title.  He has something like 63 top tens.]

--In the Men’s NCAA Division I championship, this is the 10th using match play to determine a champion, after 54- and 72-holes of stroke-play to winnow down the field.  As noted by Shane Ryan, in the nine championships since its advent, the No. 1 seed from the stroke-play rounds has won the national title exactly...zero times.  The tournament is ongoing as I write.

--Arizona won the NCAA Women’s title, defeating Alabama in the match play final 3-2.

NFL

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced a new policy for player conduct during the playing of the national anthem.  Owners voted to fine teams if their players are on the field or sidelines but do not stand during the national anthem, though players will be allowed to stay in the locker room if they choose.

Goodell said, “It was unfortunate that on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic.  This is not and was never the case.”

The following is harsh, but I agree with it.  I’m saving my own final opinion for my next “Week in Review” column.  I’m pissed off we’re even talking about this and how freakin’ ignorant so many Americans are. 

Nancy Armour / USA TODAY

“NFL owners were woefully mistaken if they thought their new national anthem policy would muzzle the Dog Whistler in Chief.

“Predictably, President Donald Trump praised the NFL for its new policy Thursday morning. But in the same breath, he doubled down on his criticism of players who protest, suggesting ‘they shouldn’t be in the country.’ As shocking and offensive a statement as that was, nobody should have been surprised by it.

“Short of rescinding the sale of the Buffalo Bills or banning black players from the league, nothing the NFL does will ever be good enough for Trump. That’s because he has – rightly – figured out that he can use the league as his personal football to rile up his base and further divide the nation.

“And the NFL and its owners played right into his hands with their new policy on the national anthem. Players are allowed to stay in the locker room, but if they take the field they will have to stand for the anthem. If they don’t, their teams can be fined by the league.

“It was billed as a compromise, but it was really a capitulation. The protests had largely become a non-issue until Trump took up his bullhorn last year, calling players ‘SOBs’ and saying owners should fire them. Vice President Mike Pence ratcheted up the hysteria further with his faux indignation over San Francisco 49ers players who protested before a game in Indianapolis.

“The fury served one purpose: It forced owners to work with players on social justice issues and provide them a platform to showcase the work that was being done to address them. Because of that commitment, many in The Players Coalition decided to end their protests....

“But the owners were terrified that Trump would continue to use the protests as a punchline at one of his campaign klatches – sorry, rallies – and it might threaten their precious bottom line. So they caved.

“The joke, however, is on them. Trump might give owners the occasional pat on the head, but the league will still be damaged when he turns his verbal fire hose at the players. And that is exactly what he will continue to do.

“With the mid-term elections looming as a referendum on Trump’s presidency, he’s going to pull out every racist and bigoted trope he can to convince his base that American exceptionalism – read: white exceptionalism – is under siege, and it’s these black and brown people who are to blame. He did Thursday morning, and he’s going to keep doing it.

“The only way to defeat a bully is to call his bluff, but the NFL doesn’t have the courage to do it.”

Reaction from players around the league has been mostly if not all negative. Seattle receiver Doug Baldwin, according to the Tacoma (Wash.) News Tribune, said Thursday of the president, “He’s an idiot, plain and simple.” 

Denver linebacker Brandon Marshall, who took a knee multiple times, said he and his teammates had held preliminary discussions on plans for this season.  Marshall said he is undecided, while cornerback Chris Harris Jr. said he expects to be on the sideline so as not to disrupt his typical pregame routine.

On the logistics, Marshall said players are trying to figure it out: “If you’re going to stay in or not. Well, if you’re a starter, can you stay in if they’re going to announce the starters? Or are you going to stay in on the road games? It’s crazy.”

Harris: “We know y’all going to keep the scorecard. You all are going to say who is out there or not.  (Players) will still get judged.”

Marshall said he wished NFL owners had consulted the players union before amending the anthem policy, but he wasn’t surprised that conversation didn’t happen.  [Washington Post]

New York Jets Chairman Christopher Johnson told Newsday that he would not discipline a player on his team who protests and he would pay the league’s fine of the Jets in that case.

Golden State hoops coach Steve Kerr blasted the NFL’s move as “idiotic.”  “It’s just typical of the NFL,” Kerr said.  “They’re just playing to their fan base. Basically just trying to use the anthem as fake patriotism, nationalism, scaring people.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, as opposed to Roger Goodell, has fostered a spirit of cooperation between the players and the league.  Players are still required to stand for the anthem, but it has encouraged dialogue with the players and the communities they reside in.

NASCAR

--Tonight Kyle Busch won the Coca-Cola 600, his 47th Cup victory.  Once again, I want to thank Monster Energy for sponsoring the series...and for the girls.  It is much appreciated...cough cough...

--Jeff Gordon, a four-time NASCAR Cup champion who is third all-time on the victory list, led the voting to be one of five new members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame class next year.  Gordon received 96% of the vote, tying a record.  Also elected in voting by a panel of NASCAR officials, track owners, drivers, team owners and journalists, were current team owners Jack Roush and Roger Penske, and late drivers Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison. Both of these last two died in 1993; Kulwicki in a plane crash, and Allison tragically in a helicopter crash at Talladega Superspeedway.

Roush has been in NASCAR since 1988 and his team has produced 325 NASCAR victories.

As for Penske, just call him the greatest racing team owner of all time, period.

--I’ve discussed this topic before, but it’s worth repeating, as the Washington Post’s Liz Clarke was the latest to talk of NASCAR’s declining audience. The average age of NASCAR television viewers has jumped from 49 to 58 between 2006 and 2016, according to Sports Business Journal. But the average age for the PGA Tour is 64!  Men’s tennis 61, horse racing 63!  Yikes.

Stuff

--Justify’s breeding rights were reported to be sold to Coolmore Stud for $60 million, according to the New York Times.

Coolmore also stands American Pharoah, who I’m sure will have some good words of advice for Justify.  “You see, it’s like this kid.  They bring you out, you’re introduced to this babe, and...piece of cake.  The oats are good, too, because, as the saying goes.....”

--ESPN The Magazine released its third annual World Fame 100, taking into account three fame factors: endorsement dollars, Google Trend score, and social media following (using the athletes’ most popular platform).

1. Cristiano Ronaldo
2. LeBron James
3. Lionel Messi
4. Neymar
5. Roger Federer
6. Tiger Woods
7. Kevin Durant
8. Rafael Nadal
9. Stephen Curry
10. Phil Mickelson

12. Serena Williams
15. Rory McIlroy
16. Jordan Spieth

--We note the passing of former college football coach Bill Mallory, who had a 167-130-4 record with four schools – Miami (OH), Colorado, Northern Illinois and Indiana.  At Indiana, he became the winningest football coach in school history, taking the team to six bowl games, after Indiana had only five winning seasons in almost 40 years before he arrived.  Indiana has been to only 11 bowls in its history.  Mallory was 82, and died as a result of injuries suffered in a fall.

Top 3 songs for the week 5/28/77: #1 “Sir Duke” (Stevie Wonder)  #2 “When I Need You” (Leo Sayer...ugh...)  #3 “I’m Your Boogie Man” (KC & The Sunshine Band)...and...#4 “Dreams” (Fleetwood Mac)  #5 “Got To Give It Up” (Marvin Gaye)  #6 “Gonna Fly Now” (Bill Conti)  #7 “Couldn’t Get It Right” (Climax Blues Band) #8 “Lucille” (Kenny Rogers) #9 “Lonely Boy” (Andrew Gold)  #10 “Feels Like The First Time” (Foreigner...song about one’s first beer...or maybe not...)

Baseball Quiz Answer: Dan Bankhead was the first African-American to pitch in the major leagues, 1947, with Brooklyn. He played three seasons with the Dodgers (1947, 1950-51), and was 9-5, 6.52 ERA.  In his first major league at bat, however, he homered (though he was shelled in a relief outing).

Bankhead served in the Marine Corps, 1942-45. He died young at age 55.

Next Bar Chat, Thursday.

 



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Bar Chat

05/28/2018

LeBron Does It Again

[Posted late Sunday p.m.]

Baseball Quiz: Who was the first black to pitch in the major leagues? Answer below.

NBA Playoffs

--Friday night, LeBron James did it again, a one-man show for Cleveland, 46 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists, three steals and a block to lead the Cavaliers to a 109-99 triumph in Cleveland, evening the series at 3-3.  It was LeBron’s 26th 40-point effort in the playoffs.

The Cavs kept their hopes alive in unlikely fashion, as Kevin Love was sidelined with a head injury following a collision with Boston’s Jayson Tatum early in the first quarter.

So on to Game 7 tonight; no Kevin Love as he entered concussion protocol.  The Celtics took a 43-39 lead at the half, with the Cavs 2 of 17 from downtown, LeBron with 17 points, 10 rebounds and five turnovers.

But Boston shot atrociously, 7 of 39 from beyond the arc for the game (Cleveland was an equally pathetic 9 of 35), and the Celtics lost 87-79; Boston’s first loss at home in the playoffs.

LeBron finished with 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists (and 8 TOs), as he again single-handedly powered Cleveland, James about to play in his eighth consecutive NBA Finals.

--In the Western Conference finals, it will be Game 7 in Houston Monday night, as the Warriors staved off elimination on Saturday in Oakland, 115-86, riding the sharpshooting of Klay Thompson, 35 points on 9 of 14 from behind the arc, Steph Curry chipping in 29, though the Rockets were without Chris Paul because of a strained hamstring

Thompson’s nine threes tied for the second most in NBA playoff history, two behind the record 11 that he made in 2016.

So the big question is will Paul be available Monday? No word yet.

Indy 500

--I watch two auto races in their entirety each year...the Daytona 500 and Indy...and today’s race was uneventful until around lap 145 of 200, after which if you are a race fan, it was absolutely terrific action. Back and forth, strategy for the crews, split-seconds lost in the pits that would be critical, and in the end, Will Power of Australia, a heretofore highly-successful IndyCar racer who wanted to win today’s race so bad, but kept falling short, beat off hometown hero Ed Carpenter for the win.  You had to be watching, but I’ve never seen a more excited driver and his supporters, particularly his wife, Liz, than today.  It was really fun stuff, including Power unknowingly spraying milk on one of the race queens.

For car owner Roger Penske, it was his 17th win.

And kudos to Alexander Rossi, who supplied a lot of the late-race excitement. Rossi finished fourth after starting in the back row.

So good show all around for the spectators; a very impressive crowd of over 200,000.

I just have to note I forget that when it comes to the pits, at this race, with the high speeds they attain, one second equals a football field length...think about that.  In the final 40 laps, there were some great pit stops, and some not so great ones that proved costly.

--As for Danica Patrick, in the final race of her career, she crashed out and finished 30th.  So just what is her legacy?  She burst on the scene at the 2005 Indy 500, helped along by her relentless self-promotion, which earned her the one-name celebrity of being simply “Danica,” as the Los Angeles Times’ James Peltz put it.

“I can’t think of a better way to end my racing career than at Indianapolis for the 500,” the 36-year-old said this week.  “I mean, to finish up at a place that has so many good memories for me, and at the biggest race of the year for Indy cars and arguably the biggest race of the year, period.”

No doubt Danica became a role model for countless young women, and no less than seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson tweeted earlier in the year: “Thank you @danicapatrick for being a strong role model to the little girls in my life,” referring to his two young daughters.

James Peltz:

“Patrick’s fame also was burnished by her blunt, outspoken manner, her savvy marketing of her personal ‘brand’ that earned her millions of dollars in endorsements, and by the outsized media attention she always received. Patrick’s overall record on the track was middling; she had one victory in 13 years of big-league racing. That fueled the debate about whether she deserved the attention she received and made the Roscoe, Ill., native one of the most polarizing figures in sports.

“ ‘I don’t know that we’ve seen someone who is so popular when not performing as well,’ said Greg Goldring, senior director of sports and entertainment at the Marketing Arm, a marketing agency.

“Her impact on motor racing will be argued long after the 102nd running of the iconic race, one of the biggest one-day sporting events in the world.”

But despite being a pioneer in her sport, analyst and 1998 Indy 500 winner Eddie Cheever said, “I thought we would have seen more of a wave of young women,” trying to follow in her footsteps, but “I don’t know of one person on the horizon,” Cheever said.

Kind of like the advent of Tiger Woods back in 1997. We thought it would lead to a wave of black golfers, remember?  It didn’t.

And in looking at Danica’s legacy, you can’t help but note her six seasons in NASCAR’s Monster Energy Cup Series, where she made 191 starts, with not one top five...finishing in the top 10 only seven times.

But she did become the only woman to win the pole position for the Daytona 500, in 2013, and the only woman to lead laps in that race. She’s also the only woman to lead laps in both the Indy 500 and Daytona 500.

As for her lack of success in NASCAR, supporters point out that three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti also struggled when he tried stock-car racing.

MLB

--Shohei Ohtani made his first trip to New York and the bright lights of Gotham this weekend, and on Friday night, Yankee rookie sensation Gleyber Torres stole the show with his ninth home run, in just 28 games, for a 2-1 New York win; Torres, in homering a fourth consecutive game, becoming the youngest in American League history to do so at the age of 21 years, 163 days.  As for Ohtani, he was 0-for-3 with a walk.

But the Angels also have the best player in baseball, Mike Trout, and on Saturday, with Yankees manager Aaron Boone inexplicably pitching to him in a key early situation with first base open, Trout ended up going 5-for-5, a homer and three doubles, a career-best performance, including 11 total bases, as the Angels won 11-4.

Today, the Yankees then bounced back, taking the Angels 3-1 behind Masahiro Tanaka’s six strong innings, Trout going 0-for-4, and Shohei Ohtani ending up 0-for-9 in the series, dropping his average to .291, though he had four walks.

--It is very hard being a Mets fan.  I asked Johnny Mac to send me my sword after A.J. Ramos issued a 10th-inning, 2-out bases-loaded walk against Milwaukee Friday night, a crushing 4-3 loss after the Mets had tied it in the ninth, and then Jason Vargas, on Saturday, blew leads of 3-0 and 5-3, Ramos came in and was shelled, and before you knew it, the Brewers were pounding the Mets into submission, 17-6.  Ramos, who is supposed to be the eighth-inning guy, with the ability to close, has an ERA of 6.41, and Vargas, in five starts, has yielded 24 earned runs in 20 1/3, 10.62 ERA!  And that includes his last start when he shockingly threw five scoreless.

As Kevin Kernan of the New York Post put it, “Bad deals. Bad pitching. Bad decisions. Terrible results.  How much longer can the Mets put up with this?

“Jason Vargas was handed $16 million by the Mets this offseason and at this stage of the game couldn’t win a Sausage Race.

“AJ Ramos was acquired last July by the Mets in a trade with the Marlins and was to be paid $9.225 million this season to be a force out of the bullpen.”

So some are wondering why Seth Lugo, who has been superb out of the pen and has 26 career starts (career 3.57 ERA) isn’t given a shot in the rotation.

But to compound matters, today the Mets blew 4-1 and 6-4 (seventh inning) leads as the bullpen imploded anew, New York losing 8-7 to fall to 25-24 (after an 11-1 start).  Mets broadcasters Gary Cohen and Ron Darling were severely critical of the decisions manager Mickey Callaway made (which us fans like to hear).

--In a kind of startling move, the Red Sox designated Hanley Ramirez for assignment on Friday to make room for Dustin Pedroia on the 25-man roster as he returned from the disable list.

The 34-year-old Ramirez was hitting .254 with six homers and 29 RBIs in 44 games while splitting his time between first base and DH.  Ramirez had been with the Red Sox since 2015 after signing a four-year, $88 million contract as a free agent.

Actually, seeing as Ramirez has a $22 million vesting option for 2019, it wasn’t as hard a decision as it seems at first blush.  Yes, Boston will still owe him about $15 million for the rest of the season (no one would pick up that salary), but it’s really all about 2019.  And the Red Sox can replace his production.

--Clayton Kershaw threw a simulated game on Saturday, experienced no discomfort, and he is slated to return within the week.  What’s interesting is that in 2016, the Dodgers were eight games out of first place when he got hurt, five games ahead when he came back.  In 2017, they went 25-10 without him.  This year, they played .500 ball without him – which is better than they were playing before he went down with his latest injury. They also had picked up 4 ½ games in the standings entering Saturday’s play.

By the way, he could return for the final game of the team’s current homestand, Thursday, or face the Rockies in Colorado on Friday. In 20 starts at Coors Field, Kershaw is 9-4 with a 4.65 ERA.

--The Mariners, who shockingly haven’t been to the postseason since 2001 – the longest in the majors – acquired two solid pieces from Tampa Bay, closer Alex Colome, who had 47 saves last season, and veteran outfielder Denard Span.  In return, the Rays picked up two minor league pitchers.

Seattle is 32-20, despite losing All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano to an 80-game PED suspension, and leadoff hitter Dee Gordon to a fractured toe this week.  Colome picked up a save today in the Mariners’ 3-1 win over the Twinkies.

--Bartolo Colon turned 45 on Thursday.  Saturday night, he threw seven innings of three-run ball in a 4-3 win over the Royals, Colon getting a no-decision.  But he’s 2-2, 3.55, for Texas, giving them everything they possibly could have wanted as he also sits on 242 career wins, one behind Juan Marichal for the most career victories by a pitcher from the Dominican Republic.

Stanley Cup Playoffs

--Game One of the Finals is Monday, 8:00 ET on NBC.  It’s turned into a good story line...the expansion Golden Knights against Alex Ovechkin’s Capitals.  I’ll certainly tune in tomorrow night to catch the scene in Vegas.  Folks there are rightfully big-time pumped. 

--I like what my New York Rangers did in hiring Boston University’s David Quinn, 51, to be their next head coach, replacing Alain Vigneault.  Jumping from the NCAA to the NHL is a rarity, happening only five times in the last five decades.  But last month, the Dallas Stars hired Jim Montgomery, who had been the head coach at the University of Denver.

The Rangers’ move continues a major overhaul of the franchise, as they grow much younger all around.

The current B.U. roster includes 12 drafted players, three of them first-round picks.

Quinn was a first-round pick himself in 1984 out of Cranston, R.I., by the Minnesota North Stars. He then played at B.U., but as a junior was diagnosed with a form of hemophilia.  So he turned to coaching.

Champions League Final

I think a headline in the New York Times summed it up perfectly.... “Real Madrid Beats Liverpool in Champions League Final on a Wonder and Two Blunders.”

The wonder was Gareth Bale’s stupendous goal for Madrid, one of European football’s great goals ever, especially given the circumstances, and the blunders were beyond atrocious, both committed by Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius, in what can only be described as a true nightmare of a performance, Real winning the championship 3-1.

Bale made his mark on the game at the 64-minute mark with an overhead kick for the ages to put Real up 2-1.

But it was two plays by Karius that will long be remembered.  After a scoreless first half, six minutes into the second, the German keeper inexplicably threw the ball against Karim Benzema, who was not even challenging, and watched in horror as the ball rolled behind him into the net.

Liverpool recovered from the shock to tie it up on a Sadio Mane goal, and then came Bale’s heroics.

But there was plenty of time for Liverpool...until there wasn’t...as Karius flat-out fumbled Bale’s 30-yard shot behind him to seal Real’s win.

It was a record 13th win in this competition for Madrid, and their fourth title in five seasons to give coach Zinedine Zidane his third triumph in three years.

Afterwards, Karius was distraught, in tears at the final whistle in Kiev.  “I lost my team the game,” he said.  “I’m sorry for everyone – from the team, from the whole club – that the mistakes cost dearly.

“If I could go back in time, I would. I feel sorry for my team. I know I let them down.

“It’s very hard right now but that’s the life of a goalkeeper. These goals cost us the title, basically.”

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Ray Clemence said Karius would have to live with his mistakes “for the rest of his life.”

“He’s got the whole summer to think about it and when you make mistakes in massive games like that they will be with you for the rest of your life, because people will remember them and keep reminding you of them.”

That’s for sure. As I texted Ken P. and Dr. W., who were also watching the game, I can’t imagine what was being said in the pubs of Liverpool Saturday night.  Actually, I can...it would just be very, very ugly.

But in all honesty, it’s hard to feel too sorry for the guy because these were two of the biggest goofs of all time in a major finals competition.  Period.  Any high school keeper would have made them.

Meanwhile, there were two other issues for after the game.  Liverpool lost superstar Mohamed Salah at the 29’ mark to what was being described as a serious shoulder injury, “sprained ligaments,” and while Reds’ fans can take some solace in that they may have hung in there with him performing the rest of the way, now it’s about the native Egyptian’s availability for the World Cup, with Egypt playing Uruguay on June 15 in their opener.

Then there is Cristiano Ronaldo, who wasn’t really a factor in yesterday’s game.  He cast doubt over his future with Real Madrid.

“Now is the time to enjoy this. And in the coming days you will have my answer to the fans, the ones who have really been on my side. It has been very nice being at Real Madrid.”

Told how the statement seemed like a strong one, i.e., ‘I’m departing,’ Ronaldo tried to walk it back a little, but he has been complaining about his pay since December.  The Portuguese superstar, 33, has played for Madrid since leaving Manchester United in 2009.  He’s under contract until June 2021.

--According to a study by KPMG, Manchester United remains the most valuable European football club with an enterprise value of about 3.25bn euro, or around $3.8 billion. Real Madrid is next, followed by Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Man City.  Premier League clubs represent six of the top 10.

Golf Balls

--Justin Rose won his ninth PGA Tour title this weekend at Colonial, besting Brooks Koepka by three with a final-round 64.  I’d bet on him in the next three majors.

--Francisco Molinari won the European Tour’s big one...the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, beating Rory McIlroy by two, though Rory had a three-shot lead after 36, leading to more talk his game is a mess mentally.  [I was kind of shocked to see this was just Molinari’s fifth Euro title.  He has something like 63 top tens.]

--In the Men’s NCAA Division I championship, this is the 10th using match play to determine a champion, after 54- and 72-holes of stroke-play to winnow down the field.  As noted by Shane Ryan, in the nine championships since its advent, the No. 1 seed from the stroke-play rounds has won the national title exactly...zero times.  The tournament is ongoing as I write.

--Arizona won the NCAA Women’s title, defeating Alabama in the match play final 3-2.

NFL

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced a new policy for player conduct during the playing of the national anthem.  Owners voted to fine teams if their players are on the field or sidelines but do not stand during the national anthem, though players will be allowed to stay in the locker room if they choose.

Goodell said, “It was unfortunate that on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic.  This is not and was never the case.”

The following is harsh, but I agree with it.  I’m saving my own final opinion for my next “Week in Review” column.  I’m pissed off we’re even talking about this and how freakin’ ignorant so many Americans are. 

Nancy Armour / USA TODAY

“NFL owners were woefully mistaken if they thought their new national anthem policy would muzzle the Dog Whistler in Chief.

“Predictably, President Donald Trump praised the NFL for its new policy Thursday morning. But in the same breath, he doubled down on his criticism of players who protest, suggesting ‘they shouldn’t be in the country.’ As shocking and offensive a statement as that was, nobody should have been surprised by it.

“Short of rescinding the sale of the Buffalo Bills or banning black players from the league, nothing the NFL does will ever be good enough for Trump. That’s because he has – rightly – figured out that he can use the league as his personal football to rile up his base and further divide the nation.

“And the NFL and its owners played right into his hands with their new policy on the national anthem. Players are allowed to stay in the locker room, but if they take the field they will have to stand for the anthem. If they don’t, their teams can be fined by the league.

“It was billed as a compromise, but it was really a capitulation. The protests had largely become a non-issue until Trump took up his bullhorn last year, calling players ‘SOBs’ and saying owners should fire them. Vice President Mike Pence ratcheted up the hysteria further with his faux indignation over San Francisco 49ers players who protested before a game in Indianapolis.

“The fury served one purpose: It forced owners to work with players on social justice issues and provide them a platform to showcase the work that was being done to address them. Because of that commitment, many in The Players Coalition decided to end their protests....

“But the owners were terrified that Trump would continue to use the protests as a punchline at one of his campaign klatches – sorry, rallies – and it might threaten their precious bottom line. So they caved.

“The joke, however, is on them. Trump might give owners the occasional pat on the head, but the league will still be damaged when he turns his verbal fire hose at the players. And that is exactly what he will continue to do.

“With the mid-term elections looming as a referendum on Trump’s presidency, he’s going to pull out every racist and bigoted trope he can to convince his base that American exceptionalism – read: white exceptionalism – is under siege, and it’s these black and brown people who are to blame. He did Thursday morning, and he’s going to keep doing it.

“The only way to defeat a bully is to call his bluff, but the NFL doesn’t have the courage to do it.”

Reaction from players around the league has been mostly if not all negative. Seattle receiver Doug Baldwin, according to the Tacoma (Wash.) News Tribune, said Thursday of the president, “He’s an idiot, plain and simple.” 

Denver linebacker Brandon Marshall, who took a knee multiple times, said he and his teammates had held preliminary discussions on plans for this season.  Marshall said he is undecided, while cornerback Chris Harris Jr. said he expects to be on the sideline so as not to disrupt his typical pregame routine.

On the logistics, Marshall said players are trying to figure it out: “If you’re going to stay in or not. Well, if you’re a starter, can you stay in if they’re going to announce the starters? Or are you going to stay in on the road games? It’s crazy.”

Harris: “We know y’all going to keep the scorecard. You all are going to say who is out there or not.  (Players) will still get judged.”

Marshall said he wished NFL owners had consulted the players union before amending the anthem policy, but he wasn’t surprised that conversation didn’t happen.  [Washington Post]

New York Jets Chairman Christopher Johnson told Newsday that he would not discipline a player on his team who protests and he would pay the league’s fine of the Jets in that case.

Golden State hoops coach Steve Kerr blasted the NFL’s move as “idiotic.”  “It’s just typical of the NFL,” Kerr said.  “They’re just playing to their fan base. Basically just trying to use the anthem as fake patriotism, nationalism, scaring people.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, as opposed to Roger Goodell, has fostered a spirit of cooperation between the players and the league.  Players are still required to stand for the anthem, but it has encouraged dialogue with the players and the communities they reside in.

NASCAR

--Tonight Kyle Busch won the Coca-Cola 600, his 47th Cup victory.  Once again, I want to thank Monster Energy for sponsoring the series...and for the girls.  It is much appreciated...cough cough...

--Jeff Gordon, a four-time NASCAR Cup champion who is third all-time on the victory list, led the voting to be one of five new members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame class next year.  Gordon received 96% of the vote, tying a record.  Also elected in voting by a panel of NASCAR officials, track owners, drivers, team owners and journalists, were current team owners Jack Roush and Roger Penske, and late drivers Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison. Both of these last two died in 1993; Kulwicki in a plane crash, and Allison tragically in a helicopter crash at Talladega Superspeedway.

Roush has been in NASCAR since 1988 and his team has produced 325 NASCAR victories.

As for Penske, just call him the greatest racing team owner of all time, period.

--I’ve discussed this topic before, but it’s worth repeating, as the Washington Post’s Liz Clarke was the latest to talk of NASCAR’s declining audience. The average age of NASCAR television viewers has jumped from 49 to 58 between 2006 and 2016, according to Sports Business Journal. But the average age for the PGA Tour is 64!  Men’s tennis 61, horse racing 63!  Yikes.

Stuff

--Justify’s breeding rights were reported to be sold to Coolmore Stud for $60 million, according to the New York Times.

Coolmore also stands American Pharoah, who I’m sure will have some good words of advice for Justify.  “You see, it’s like this kid.  They bring you out, you’re introduced to this babe, and...piece of cake.  The oats are good, too, because, as the saying goes.....”

--ESPN The Magazine released its third annual World Fame 100, taking into account three fame factors: endorsement dollars, Google Trend score, and social media following (using the athletes’ most popular platform).

1. Cristiano Ronaldo
2. LeBron James
3. Lionel Messi
4. Neymar
5. Roger Federer
6. Tiger Woods
7. Kevin Durant
8. Rafael Nadal
9. Stephen Curry
10. Phil Mickelson

12. Serena Williams
15. Rory McIlroy
16. Jordan Spieth

--We note the passing of former college football coach Bill Mallory, who had a 167-130-4 record with four schools – Miami (OH), Colorado, Northern Illinois and Indiana.  At Indiana, he became the winningest football coach in school history, taking the team to six bowl games, after Indiana had only five winning seasons in almost 40 years before he arrived.  Indiana has been to only 11 bowls in its history.  Mallory was 82, and died as a result of injuries suffered in a fall.

Top 3 songs for the week 5/28/77: #1 “Sir Duke” (Stevie Wonder)  #2 “When I Need You” (Leo Sayer...ugh...)  #3 “I’m Your Boogie Man” (KC & The Sunshine Band)...and...#4 “Dreams” (Fleetwood Mac)  #5 “Got To Give It Up” (Marvin Gaye)  #6 “Gonna Fly Now” (Bill Conti)  #7 “Couldn’t Get It Right” (Climax Blues Band) #8 “Lucille” (Kenny Rogers) #9 “Lonely Boy” (Andrew Gold)  #10 “Feels Like The First Time” (Foreigner...song about one’s first beer...or maybe not...)

Baseball Quiz Answer: Dan Bankhead was the first African-American to pitch in the major leagues, 1947, with Brooklyn. He played three seasons with the Dodgers (1947, 1950-51), and was 9-5, 6.52 ERA.  In his first major league at bat, however, he homered (though he was shelled in a relief outing).

Bankhead served in the Marine Corps, 1942-45. He died young at age 55.

Next Bar Chat, Thursday.