Even if you don't watch much (or any) hockey, I think you’ll still enjoy this. The NHL draft was last week, held in Nashville. The Chicago Blackhawks surprisingly won the lottery and got the first pick. This was a huge deal (and caused some controversies that the draft was “rigged”, as such conspiracy theories often do for pro sports drafts) because this year there was a “once in a generation” player, spoken of in the same terms as Wayne Gretzky, named Conner Bedard, sure to be the first pick. The morning before the draft, the Chicago Blackhawks General Manager – Kyle Davidson – who was there for the event, took a walk down the street in Nashville with another team official, just to get away and relax. A reporter for the hockey website, Penalty Box Radio, had come to Nashville and was interviewing people on the street about the draft. They stopped Kyle Davidson – who is a young guy, only 34 – who wasn't dressed like a General Manager, but was instead just wearing a t-shirt and a backwards baseball cap, and the interviewer had no idea who he was. So, Davidson decided to play along. And he’s hilarious. In fact, most of the attention from the video is not on the reporter not knowing who he was talking to, but how wonderfully Davidson self-effacingly handles it all. He later explained that at first when asked to be interviewed, he said, no, and walked on. But then realized that they didn’t know who he was, so it might be fun, and he went back. The only thing it helps to know is for one question when he's asked if he can name any hockey players. He pretends to stumble through, at first, and names two Really Famous former greats. And then, slowly, the rest of the players he names are all on the Chicago Blackhawks. Know, too, that he leaves out some players on the current team, which he later said he did on purpose. My favorite moment, though, is how he handles the very last "honest question." Not shockingly, this went viral. First, because it got picked up in Chicago – where they’re now selling “Kyle from Chicago” sweatshirts. And then the NHL sent out the video. And eventually the website itself did a big mea culpa and had fun with it, recognizing that they were getting a ton of promotion. This is a short interview later with Kyle Davidson talking about how it came about and his thinking when it was going on.
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On Saturday and Sunday, two of the biggest historic rivals in baseball -- the Chicago Cubs and hateful St. Louis Cardinals -- will be playing against each other in...London. This video is a fun, wide-eyed look at the event from the perspective of a Londoner. Musician-author-BBC sports commentator Felix White visited Wrigley Field to find out more about baseball, going behind the scenes at the ballpark, into the broadcast booth, on the field, to a neighborhood bar, and he even got a couple of players to play cricket. Although his report is mostly done from the perspective of Chicago...well, okay, never mind, that's okay. I almost never play golf, but for whatever odd reason, I love watching it. Years ago, before all four rounds were shown on TV, I even once listened to the British Open over the Internet! (It was wonderful, because if you're going to announce golf over the radio, you had better be brilliant storytellers.) I watch the Golf Channel on occasion, often late at night when it's calmness is soothing -- not just for their coverage of minor tournaments, but some of their shows and analysis, and broadcasts of old, classic matches..
And the PGA basically being bought by Saudi Arabia galls me. And for now at least, I'll be watching less. I haven't yet watched any golf, including the Golf Channel since the announcement. I'm sure I'll begin again at some point, but it's still too infuriating at the moment. This isn't the NFL and AFL merging. This is a company being bought out by a repressive government. Oh, and then there's this today -- WaPo headline: "Saudi crown prince threatened ‘major’ economic pain on U.S. amid oil feud." Well-done, PGA. Well-done. And do tell us again how this is just like two sports leagues merging... O joy! Big congrats to Northwestern women for winning the lacrosse national championship over Boston College, 18-6. It's their 8th title in 18 years under coach Kelly Amonte Hiller. The team was led by the nation's leading scorer Izzy Scane (one of my favorite sports names) with 4 goals -- and 99 for the season! That's her below on the right side, #27. Northwestern doesn't get to celebrate too many national championships -- except for women's lacrosse. So, it's a cause of major Wildcat celebration. And just because she deserves it, here's a nice 2-minute video on the "Scane Train" from when Northwestern beat Denver the day before to make it into the finals. (They'd been down 4-2 and then went on an amazing 13-1 run.) And yes, that's her pounding the ground after scoring yet another goal and then being knocked down. Happy Maurice Cheeks Day! Here's my annual column explaining why his gracious actions back in 2003 right before an NBA playoff game were so special, along with video of the heartwarming event. This is the annual reprint of a column originally written on The Huffington Post in 2009. And this year is the 21st anniversary of the actual event itself, Some stories simply demand repeating. Or better put, demand not being forgotten. This is one of them. And so, once again, here 'tis. One additional word. Happily Maurice Cheeks is still in the NBA!. And even more happily, he's back in his hometown. He's currently the assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls. He also had a strong career as a solid player, and is 13th on the all-time list of assists with 7.392. But though this doesn't count on that list, it may be his best assist of all... April 25, 2009 Oh, Say Can You Sing? A National Anthem to Remember As I prepared to write about an act of uncommon decency by a professional athlete, I realized that calling it that was unfair, that it diminishes what happened, because this was simply an act of uncommon decency, period. That it happened on such a high level and under such a bright microscope might likely stir the heart more, but it's the act itself that is ultimately what stirs us to begin with. Who it was and when it took place simply moves it up the pedestal. Today is the sixth anniversary of Maurice Cheeks' moment on the pedestal. There is in the American consciousness for notable performances of the National Anthem at sporting events. Jose Feliciano's evocative singing at the 1968 World Series in Detroit was the first to interpret the "Star Spangled Banner" before a national audience. Because 1968 was one of the most tumultuous years in U.S. history, many at the time were so outraged that it took his career years to recover. Today, the rendition not only seems tame, but one of the most tender and beautiful. (And among the least known. If you've never heard it, do yourself a favor and click here to listen.) Whitney Houston gets mentioned often for her rousing rendition at the 1991 Super Bowl, during the Gulf War. For many, Marvin Gaye's deeply soulful performance at the 1983 NBA All Star is the most memorable. But for sheer emotional joy, it's hard to top what happened on April 27, 2003, before Game 4 of the NBA playoffs between the Portland Trailblazers and Dallas Mavericks. Context only adds to the story. So, once again: This was the playoffs. This is what all professional athletes live for, what their year is about. The regular season is a prelude, an effort to get into the post-season and be in place to win the league championship, to become a part of your sport's history. Everything centers on this. As the start of each playoff game nears, as the roaring crowd is at its highest pitch, as players put on their proverbial "game faces" and the battle is moments from beginning, all external thoughts get filtered out, and focus is completely, solely on their task ahead. The National Anthem, for most athletes, must be one of those external influences. More than most of us, who hear the "Star Spangled Banner" largely on special occasions, professional athletes have heard the National Anthem played before every single competitive game they've played. Game after game repeatedly each season, and season after season, for decades. Relentlessly. As meaningful as the song is, it is also just part of the ritual for a professional athlete, focused on the game, geared up for the game, anxious to start the game. Silent, not singing, maybe not even hearing the music. Waiting for the National Anthem to be played, and finished, so that they can finally start what they're there for. It's likely as much background noise as it is patriotic uplift. And so it must have been as the Trailblazers and Mavericks prepared for their playoff game to start. Stepping out onto the court was Natalie Gilbert, a 13-year-old girl. Just another National Anthem, just another youngster who won a contest, just another two minutes the crowd wanted to get past for the game they were there to see, to start. And she started fine. A little hesitant, since it's a frightening occasion for a child, with a national audience, flashing lights and a military guard. But in her wavering voice, she was prepared. Except that a few lines in, the high pageantry of the moment got her, and something went very wrong. She totally, thoroughly forgot the words. A young 13-year-old child, standing in front of over 10,000 people, lost. Alone. And that's when Maurice Cheeks showed the kind of person he was. Maurice Cheeks had had a very good NBA career as a player. He played for 15 years and was selected to four All Star games. When he retired, he was the all-time leader in steals and fifth in assists. He averaged over 11 points a game. And then he later became a coach, the position he was currently in for the Portland Trailblazers. It was Cheeks who was responsible for his team, responsible for keeping them focused on the game, responsible for guiding them. But he saw a 13-year-old girl in trouble. And that's when Maurice Cheeks showed the kind of person he was. Immediately. Cheeks always had a reputation in the NBA as a good guy. But he was about to prove it on a national stage. And what happened next - not just with Maurice Cheeks, but eventually with all the jaded players whose minds had been previously-focused on their game, an entire stadium of basketball fans there to see basketball, even the opposing white-haired coach Don Nelson - is just enthralling. The moment is wonderful, but how it builds and surprises is even better. And at the end, this tiny girl looking up at the giant of a man - who stayed around, refusing to leave her side and return to his team - with her face awash with relief, a huge hug, and the clear words mouthed, "Thank you," is all you need to see to why it's hard to top what happened on April 25, 2003, before Game 4 of the NBA playoffs for sheer emotional joy. Six years ago today. It's hard not to close out Opening Day with what I think is the best (and perhaps most famous) song from the baseball musical Damn Yankees. What you gotta have? You gotta have "Heart." (Contrary to what they wrote below, the title of the song is "Heart.") |
AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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