Kahne grabs 600, NBA thoughts and more

The month of May is the busiest on the Sports Night calendar.  In Charlotte alone, the PGA Tour stops for the Wells Fargo Championship, an international swim meet (Charlotte Ultra Swim) followed that, and then back to back weeks of NASCAR at Charlotte Motor Speedway.  It's a hectic time, but when we pull off great TV, it's all worth it.  Some thoughts on some of these things, and more....

First NASCAR.  If you liked racing without wrecking, then Charlotte, and the Sprint Cup Series itself is for you.  Panther fans saw more yellow flags in one game at Bank of America Stadium, than NASCAR fans saw during Raceweeks.  And you know what? I'm ok with that.  The teams, and drivers had to be razor sharp to have a shot at a victory, considering so much was happening under green flag conditions.  Pit stops had to be perfect, drivers had to hit their marks EVERY TIME, and crew chiefs had to make the right call every time to give their car the best chance to win.  I'll admit, I like to see a fender-bender from time to time, but I also appreciate when drivers display their talents and keep the car off of another car.  Borrowing from the PGA Tour, these guys (and gals) are good.

Kasey Kahne got his first win for Hendrick Motorsports, and now it seems, all that is left is to get Dale Earnhardt, Jr in Victory Lane.  Dale is having a good season, sitting comfortably inside the top 10 for the Chase, but a win would do wonders for him, and his team.  That monkey on his back, is now a full blown gorilla, and a win for him (he was close in Charlotte in both races too), would be a huge relief.  They have their stuff together, and now, much like Kahne needed, Dale needs a break.  It's coming.

The NBA playoffs are winding down, and while Miami is the pick of a lot of folks (including me) to reach the NBA Finals, I gotta tell ya, so much being made of five technical foul calls against Boston in game one of their series is a bit of joke.  First off, the referees are to blame for the "T's".  These refs working the NBA's conference final series' have to shut off the rabbit ears.  It's not December.  It's May (nearly June), and a title is on the line.  Emotions are high, and sometimes, you have to allow a guy to pipe up, and then tell him pipe down.  Reaching into the Bag of T's is NOT the way to handle it.

Now, before you go and call me a hater, let me also say the officials did not decide game one.  Boston's inability to defend (yes, Miami scored just 93 points), was the bigger issue.  The Celtics had one blocked shot in the game.  One.  Uno. Breadstick. A single.  That's not gonna cut it when LeBron is going for 32 points and 13 rebounds.  Boston can play better, but I am not sure they have the legs to stay with the Heat in this series.  I like Miami in 6.

Finally, I am sad because, at most, there are only seven NHL games left to be played.  I want to see all seven, but I am not sure that I will.  In fact, I will be lucky to get five.  Los Angeles takes on New Jersey for the Stanley Cup, beginning Wednesday in the Garden State.  Martin Brodeur is a great story, as the future Hall of Fame goaltender is making a strong run at another Cup, but I think the Kings are the better team.  Sure, the Devils bottled up the New York Rangers, but much like the Celtics, I am not sure the Devils have the legs to stay with the Kings.  Dustin Brown will finish 2nd in Conn Smythe Trophy voting (given to the playoff MVP), behind his teammate Jonathan Quick, and the Kings will collect their first Cup in franchise history.  And it will happen in just five games.

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Mike Solarte