Bonjour, bold young bucks and frisky little frauleins! It’s just your friendly neighborhood Optimist – checking in from a freaky Friday in Oprah Country.
We set out for Chicago at the crack of dawn and the eagle has now landed. I sat in my usual spot on the Team Bus – (next to the venerable Austin Carr) – and I can tell you that our beloved Cavaliers have come to the City of Broad Shoulders totally focused. Totally.
This is a squad coming off a Wednesday night thumping of New Jersey – a win that temporarily fixed what ailed ‘em. TheBron and Co. detonated in the third quarter and ran the pesky Nets out the gym, as New Jersey managed just one field goal in the fourth quarter. By NBA standards, that’s not a lot.
The victory was nice. But it’s not enough.
The Wine and Gold have designs on running this here table, continuing with tonight’s All-Business win over da Bulls. By this time next week, the Cavaliers should be in the process of preparing for a HOME playoff game – sleeping off the effects of an 82-game grind in their own enormous beds and resting their bodies for the NBA’s Second Season.
Despite the fact that the Bulls are out of the playoff picture, it should be a live one in Chi-town tonight.
Since winning the first game of the four-game set with Chicago, the Bulls have taken the last two – including a tough-to-swallow loss last Thursday at The Q. The Bulls overcame a 17-point deficit, thanks in large part to the stellar play of Larry Huge. The fans down on the corner of Huron and Ontario didn’t like it – booing the former Cavalier every time he touched the ball.
Ben Wallace should expect a similar ovation when he takes the floor tonight in Chicago. Bulls fans weren’t Big Ben fans and they ran him out of town. They loved Joe Smith – (on accounta everyone loves Joe Smith) – and probably wish they still had him. Well that’s hard cheese, Bulls fans. Because we’re not giving him back.
Look for Joe Smith to play an integral role in tonight’s victory – netting 11 points and eight boards off Mike Brown’s bench. He scores eight of those points in the second quarter, where the Cavaliers take a six-point lead into intermission.
But Larry Huge heats up after the half and hits a pair of treys to start the second half. Coach Brown takes an early timeout and gives the squad a tongue-lashing in the huddle. Certain players’ feelings are hurt, but they forge on – recognizing the magnitude of Friday’s win.
TheBron takes the lead, netting nine points in the third period. But the fourth belongs to the Large Lithuanian, who leads everyone with a dozen points, four boards and two blocked shots in the final period. The Cavaliers take an eight-point edge midway through the fourth and fend off a late Bulls’ run to close out Chicago – 94-87.
If you have a farm, go ahead and bet it on the game. It’s a tough economy, so you might want to double-down with some cash just to make the wager worth your while. If you’re not a conservative bettor, than here’s an extra tip for you on this weekend’s Masters Tournament.
Tiger Woods leads through three rounds, with Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson hot on his tail. But as the final day progresses an unknown named Carl Spackler comes out of nowhere to lead the pack at Augusta. On the final hole, he’s about 455 yards away and he hits about a 2-iron, I think.
He gets all of it and the normally reserved crowd goes wild for this young Cinderella who’s come out of nowhere. With about 350 yards left, and he hits a 5-iron, it looks like, and he gets all of that one, too.
Finally, this Cinderella boy, with tears in his eyes I guess, lines up his last shot. He’s got about 195 yards left and he pulls out an 8-iron. The crowd goes deadly silent … for this Cinderalla story, out of nowhere, former greenskeeper, about to become Masters Champion.
He lines it up and let’s loose. It looks like a mirac … It’s in the hole! It’s in the hole!!
Talk about a feel-good weekend!
The Cavaliers winning their second straight and heading home with momentum. A former greenskeeper winning the Masters! Don’t even get me started on the Tribe!
That’s the way I see it all going down this weekend, folks – a sports fan’s paradise.
Kick back and have yourself a nice little TV party tonight. You’ve got nothing better to do, than watch TV and have a couple of brews.
I’ll be back with more sunshine on Sunday morning. Between now and then, all you have to do is …
Choose faith, Cleveland
Your pal,
The Optimist
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