Where to begin . . .?

Lots of blog-worthy material out there this weekend: Red Sox-Rays, Carolina at Virginia, Carolina basketball and the NBA season right around the corner.

ALCS [In honor of the (devil) Rays original color scheme the heading is in purple]

Before discussing tonight's game six, hard not to revisit game 5.  There is nothing I can add to that epic game other than to quote Jack Buck: "I don't believe what I just saw."  

Two interesting things to note.  One, those last three innings played out the way the rest of this series was supposed to play out: the Red Sox would have too much fire power and experience, and would simply wait out the young Rays until their knees and will turned to jelly.   That happened in games one and five, but famously did not happen in the first two games in Fenway (and the three games the Rays won).

I think the Rays will win tonight and go on to the World Series.  They like the Trop and they have Shields facing an off - or injured - Beckett. Look for Shields, Upton and Boston-native Pena to lead the Rays to victory.

I'll blog about this another time, but I think Obama and the Rays are linked (even though the Rays eliminated Obama's White Sox): both are huge underdogs but in the end could win the ultimate prize.  

Two, the other story for me on Thursday was Fenway and the Red Sox fans.  Red Sox Nation was in full effect that night.  Down by seven late not a single fan left early, and helped will the BoSox to victory.  I was impressed.

Finally, the notion of the Rays as a team o' destiny is catching on.   Not only has Carolina and Hellenic Blue bestowed that title but in today's Post Tom Boswell does too.

Carolina Football

It's not Notre Dame, but I'm a little worried about Carolina's game today in Charlottesville.  Virginia has won two in a row.  And this being college football, having a ranked opponent come in gives college athletes lots of extra motivation "to prove everyone who doubts our winning streak wrong ... make a statement . .. blah blah blah . . . cliche cliche cliche."

That said, Carolina has already won twice this year outside the state of North Carolina (coincidentally in my parents' 'home state' of New Jersey, and my former home state of Florida) and has quite a bit of momentum of their own.

I think Carolina's defense will continue to be opportunistic today against the Cavaliers, pick off a few passes, and lead the Heels to another road win.

Carolina Basketball

I actually don't have much to blog about here, other than I like blogging the words Carolina basketball.  That and a good article today in the N&O about the sky-high expectations for this year's squad.  I like Roy's quote and his Deanish attitude, too.  In general, I just like Roy.

Brendan Haywood

As some of you know, Evan and I are by far the biggest Brendan Haywood fans outside of Greensboro, North Carolina and the Haywood family.  With Etan Thomas hurt all of last year, Eddie Jordan finally gave Haywood the minutes he deserved, and B-Hay responded with a career year: 11 points, 7 boards, 2 blocks.  But more importantly, he guarded the rim and made the Zards look like a decent defensive team (they still were terrible guarding the three).  

But this season is already off to a terrible start for Haywood and the Wizards.  Brendan is out four to six months after surgery on his wrist.  And Gilbert Arenas is out until at least January, so once again the Wizards will be short handed for most of the season.

Arena was out most of last season, but Washington survived thanks to the performance of talented and professional players like fellow Heel Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler, and Haywood.  Haywood's absence will hurt more than most think, and losing him and Arenas will be too much for this team to overcome.  I know Etan Thomas is a good lefty (I saw him on the Hill once, shadowing Obama for a day) but on the court he is a poseur. He likes to swing his elbows - and dreds - around a lot and look menacing but Etan, instead of posing how about passing the ball up court and starting a fast break?  That's one reason rebounds are important! He's also undersized at the 5 and does not guard the rim the way Haywood does.  

Look for the Wizards, despite heroic efforts from Jamison, Butler and fellow pros like Antonio Daniels, to limp along until B-Hay and Agent Zero return.