A Marquee Summer

It is important for any sport to have relevant story lines. Great competition is also paramount but when we get right down to it story lines keep us enthralled. Don Hewitt, the late great creator of "60 Minutes" always said 'Tell me a story". A great story will always keep us engaged. Look at any great movie, it gives us a story. From the 'The GodFather' to 'Shawshank' a story is being told and told well.

Here we are in the Summer of 2010. What's the story? What captivates us? What has us wanting more?

The Celtics and Lakers are now tied up at a game a piece in the NBA Finals going back to Boston. This thing has to go 7. I have been racking my brain to come up with a better ultimate Championship in Sports. We have had the two preeminent teams in the Association throw down in two of the last three years. Here is each sports ultimate Championship Series/Game.

NBA: Celtics vs Lakers
MLB: Yankees vs Cubs (I'll explain later)
NHL: Detroit vs NY Rangers
NFL: Dallas vs Pittsburgh
NCAA FB: Notre Dame vs Texas
NCAA BB: Kentucky vs Duke


Everyone of these games/match-ups would be a must watch and see regardless of what else is going on. Every team is a champions dynasty except the Cubs. The Northsiders defy all logic when it comes to our country's sports fans and how we all love winners. Ask yourself this question: What would be more of a must watch Fall Classic: Cubs vs Yanks, Dodgers vs Yanks or Cards vs Yanks. That's why the Cubs in the World Series would be the biggest sporting event since the 1980 Men's Olympic Hockey Team.



The Stanley Cup Finals have been an exercise in scoring. Good gracious the Blackhawks and the Flyers aren't interested at all in playing great "D" and slowing each other down. Everyone of these games are a 60 minute sprint and that is fine with me. 1-0 Hockey Games are boring and dull. Scoring is high and TV ratings for a Stanley Cup Finals are the highest they have been since 2002. The Blackhawks 7-4 win of Sunday night drew a 4.0 share. Last year's game 5 between the Penguins and Red Wings drew a 2.6 share. American Sports Fans love offense. We want 35-31 Football Games, 120-110 Basketball Games, 9-7 Baseball Games and 7-4 Hockey Games. Remember this equation: offense=eyeballs. The more offense the more people watch.



Major League Baseball is going to have a very good summer. The Red Sox have bounced back and seem to be ready to make the A.L. East a Four Team Race. That's right a Four Team Race. The Blue Jays, Red Sox and Yanks all have the task of chasing down the Rays. Stephen Strasburg is set to make his MLB debut and The Jim Joyce/Gallaraga/Perfect Game Saga couldn't have worked out any better. You could have a Colorado Rockie pitcher (Ubaldo Jimenez 11-1 0.93) starting for the N.L. in the All Star Game and a Tampa Bay Ray (David Price 8-2 2.29) starting for the A.L. Get ready for an interesting/bizarre summer!

Let's not forget the biggest story of the summer. Of course I am talking about the World Cup. Look I am not a big soccer fan. But I will watch this. One thing I want you to take away from this. Every country in the World has a National Team that they rally behind except.... you guessed it...The U.S.A. The Canadians have Hockey, the Nederlands have speed skating, the Norwegians have skiing and every one else has soccer. We are the only country that does not have a sport or team on the Global level that we LIVE and Die with. Something for you to think about the next time we claim ourselves as the greatest sports nation in the world.