What a few days we have coming up: the start of the most hyped playoff in NBA history, the Belmont Stakes (and hopeful Triple Crown winner in Big ‘Busted Hoof’ Brown), continual Jay Bruce watch, finals at the French Open a week away from the return of Tiger at the US Open.

All The Girls can say is - we hope the action can compete with the last three games of the Stanley Cup finals. Stonewalling goalies, amazing speed, unbelievable passing and, yes, adequate reffing - on both sides. Thank you NHL for putting an amazing product out there to showcase why this sport needs to get off Versus. And a huge congratulations to the Detroit Red Wings and to Detroit’s Henrik Zetterberg for snagging the Conn-Smyth MVP award for the playoffs. Click the Red Wings link for some amazing highlights from the final Game 6. We have to admit, we were also impressed with the Penguins and their ability to keep it close and play some great hockey right to last second - literally (some undergarments are being laundered today in Detroit). The Pens will be dangerous in the years to come. But not this year.

More on that below, but now onto the main course…

Episode 120

Triple Overtimes, Cauliflower Slices and Jay Bruce with The Girls!
Today The Girls are coming to you live from inside the shredded cauliflower ear of James Thompson, and let’s just say this ain’t no picnic. And it must not have been much fun to be on the receiving end of some of the blows delivered by budding MMA star, Kimbo Slice. We’re not fans of guys beating the crap out of each other, but you have to give it to Kimbo. He could have easily gone down a dark path, but instead he chose to channel his rage and level it at his opponents in the cage. We sort of have to support that because the alternative could have been ugly for all mankind.

Over in the French Open, the closest thing to cage fighting in tennis, we get ready for a weekend showdown and pray for good weather. Clay storms make for bad tennis and bad hair. As usual, The Girls are pulling for Nadal, which isn’t exactly going out on a limb given he is 26-0 at Roland Garros.

Gratuitous picture of Raffa:

Yes, much to Carol’s chagrin, the Belmont Stakes are this weekend and Robin will be watching. Carol will light a candle at Barbaro’s grave, vowing to never talk about horse racing on her sports podcast again. NASCAR coverage switches to TNT from FOX…let’s see if that can dampen Kyle Busch. If not, we demand his car be swiped for the cream and the clear.

Hello, NBA fans, it’s the dream you’ve all been waiting for, a Lakers Celtics brawl for the Championship. We just have one request. Can the media not cram the whole rivalry thing down our throats so that we all wish it was the Pistons and the Spurs? Check out Kobe and Kareem (the man who sank the winning basket that put the Lakers over the Celtics for the first time in the 1985 finals) at practice Tuesday. See? Even the Girls can’t avoid the rivalry!

We are beyond psyched to watch Kobe and his Executive Board take on the Big Three and their band of merry men, but we fear rivalry saturation. Let’s just focus on what will most assuredly be some killer basketball. Now if the new Garden would darken their bowl like the Staples Center, life would be perfect. Well, that and Kevin Garnett taking out Jack Nicholson. We’d pay the price for court-side seats to see that drama. For the action to be perfect on the court the shot clock needs to be played like a fiddle, Boston’s bench needs to know that Doc is confident and has a game plan, and Kobe…well…he just needs to be breathing.

Now how about that for a Game 5 and 5A? NHL fans, you got your money’s worth on that one! Fluery earned his keep by keeping out even air from his net. Ditching the yellow pads has worked wonders. But the fact that he had to save 55 shots doesn’t bode well for the Pens, although in the Stanley Cup Playoffs anything can happen. And then there was Game 6. Even with Ryan Malone taking a slapper to the face and getting right back out there and Crosby getting drilled and returning to the ice, the Penguins’ heart and determination lost to the better team.

Look below for video that will show how, while the Red Wings solidly won the Cup, certain Penguins (or, flightless fowl) could actually be contenders for a few thespian awards. Which ones are those? We’re not sure - you be the judge.

Over on the diamond we bow to this week’s Rookie Look, Jay Bruce. Apparently Christ was busy so he sent his favorite baseball player, Jay, to save the souls of the Cincinnati Reds and their fans. Up till now Jay hasn’t walked on water, but give him a few days. It’s eminent. Probably right after he hits for the cycle…for the second time…in the same game.

Our Fan-Tutor keeps us in the ball game, and it’s the exact type of ball The Girls like to play. Well, we can’t actually play baseball, but it’s the kind we like to watch. Down with the homer! And in this week’s IT HAS TO BE SAID, we finally come to realize that there is a point in time when politicians are truthful. Seriously. We know you don’t believe us but it’s fact. So grab your very own Lord Stanley, some shades so you can look at Don Cherry’s suits, and a big bag of popcorn in honor of T.O.’s fat new contract…it’s time to talk sports with The Girls!

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 5th, 2008 at 12:06 pm and is filed under Fantoo Blog Home. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.