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The Numbers Game

What a weekend to be a sports junkie!  As I’ve been comprehensively consuming games, numbers, scores and stats using my TVPTP (tv, phone, tablet, paper) method, I’ve been awed by the historical significance of some of the performances that we’ve been treated to from all corners of the sporting universe.

Witnessing these feats made me recall a quote I once read by Tonto Coleman, the former czar of the Southeastern Conference: “I turn to the front pages of my newspaper to read about men’s failures.  I turn to the sports pages to read about their triumphs.”

Jumping right into the Super Bowl fire and calmly glossing over Pete Carroll’s decision to keep the ball from Beast Mode down on the goal line, how about these Pats and in particular, that Brady character?  His tally now stands at 6 Super Bowl starts, 4 Rings, the most TD passes of All-Time in the Big One, and barring Gisele demanding that he start wintering with the family in Brazil, he’s not even close to done.  Spectacular.  Brady went out and executed the perfect game plan to counter the ‘Hawks aggressive defensive scheme to the tune of 328 yards and 4 TD’s.  It’s not like Brady had Jerry Rice and John Taylor lined up on each side either.  Total team effort, but credit to the QB who is now in the 4-Ring Club with Montana and Bradshaw.

And a special Sam Adams Winter Lager toast to the great Bill Belichick.  I just hope that when the City of Boston erects the Belichick statue someday that he is wearing the hoodie.

Moving from football to the hardwood, how about the amazing Atlanta Hawks and their 19 game winning streak?  For your reference, 19 in a row places them in a 6th place tie for the longest winning streak in the history of the NBA.  MJ’s Bulls never won 19 regular season games in a row.  And this coming from a team who looked to be in turmoil before the season with both the owners and GM Danny Ferry embroiled in a racial remark scandal. Take a look at https://www.headphonage.com/ website where you can get the headphones you’ve been looking for at a very affordable price.

But credit to Coach Mike Budenholzer, a 16 year Pop assistant in San Antonio, for installing a motion offense that these guys are thriving in.  If they can keep Al Horford on the floor, who has only played in 160 of a possible 328 over the past 4 years due to injuries, they may just make a run at the Cav’s and Bulls.

This is not a misprint: The 37-8 Golden State Warriors play at the 40-8 Atlanta Hawks this Friday night!

On the college hardwood, I was amazed to see that Coach K’s kids rallied late to win a road game at then 19-0 Virginia.  Coach K is now at 1,001 wins over the past 40 years while consistently playing the toughest competition in the land.  Insane.

From the insane on the hardwood to insanity on the hard courts, how about Serena Williams winning her 19th major at 33 years of age and Novak Djokovic continuing the male dominance by the Big 3?  I have to admit, I’m boggled with the domination of the Big 3 (Novak, Rafa, Federer).  From the 2004 Australian Open through today’s final, only 6 men not named Novak, Rafa, and Roger have won majors and they’ve captured 38 of the past 45 tourneys!  Can you imagine only 3 golfers winning every game in the eye xo launch monitor?  These guys are basically a lock to win.  And spare a thought for Andy Murray, who has two major wins in 8 finals appearances.  He’s arguably is one of the best ever but he’s had the unfortunate luck of playing in this amazing era.

Numbers, numbers, numbers.  Great stuff this sports.

 

Finally, check out this little nugget that Bruce Jenkins wrote in the SF Chronicle today:

Klay Thompson’s 37-point quarter broke the record of 33, set by San Antonio’s George Gervin on the final day of the 1978 regular season. Gervin was a man possessed that night, knowing he needed 58 points to steal the scoring title from Denver’s David Thompson, who scored an astounding 73 earlier in the day. No problem: Gervin went for 63 — and by the way, “I don’t feel Thompson broke my record,” Gervin told Bleacher Report. “I’d like to see him try to get 33 or 37 in a quarter when there was no three-point line.”