MLB All-Star Voting

MLB All-Star voting ends on Thursday night. So if you haven't voted 25 times yet, be sure to vote at MLB.com. The players I voted for are below.

In other somewhat current news, the USA soccer team advanced to the final of the Confederations Cup in South Africa by beating Spain 2-0 in the semifinal round before falling to Brazil 3-2 in the final. The game was very exciting although the ending was somewhat disappointing. But I like the steps U.S. soccer is taking in advance of next year's World Cup.

2009 NBA Draft

FIRST ROUND

1. LA Clippers: Blake Griffin (PF) Oklahoma
2. Memphis Grizzlies: Hasheem Thabeet (C) Connecticut
3. Oklahoma City Thunder: James Harden (SG) Arizona State
4. Sacramento Kings: Tyreke Evans (SG) Memphis
5. Minnesota Timberwolves: Ricky Rubio (PG) Spain
6. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jonny Flynn (PG) Syracuse
7. Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry (PG) Davidson
8. New York Knicks: Jordan Hill (PF) Arizona
9. Toronto Raptors: DeMar DeRozan (SG) USC
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Jennings (PG) Italy
11. New Jersey Nets: Terrence Williams (SG) Louisville
12. Charlotte Bobcats: Gerald Henderson (SG) Duke
13. Indiana Pacers: Tyler Hansbrough (PF) North Carolina
14. Phoenix Suns: Earl Clark (SF) Louisville
15. Detroit Pistons: Austin Daye (SF) Gonzaga
16. Chicago Bulls: James Johnson (PF) Wake Forest
17. Philadelphia 76ers: Jrue Holiday (PG) UCLA
18. Minnesota Timberwolves*: Ty Lawson (PG) North Carolina
19. Atlanta Hawks: Jeff Teague (PG) Wake Forest
20. Utah Jazz: Eric Maynor (PG) VA Commonwealth
21. New Orleans Hornets: Darren Collison (PG) UCLA
22. Portland Trailblazers: Victor Claver (SF) Spain
23. Sacramento Kings: Omri Casspi (SF) Israel
24. Dallas Mavericks♣: B.J. Mullens (C) Ohio State
25. Oklahoma City Thunder#: Rodrigue Beaubois (PG) France
26. Chicago Bulls: Taj Gibson (PF) USC
27. Memphis Grizzlies: DeMarre Carroll (PF) Missouri
28. Minnesota Timberwolves: Wayne Ellington (SG) North Carolina
29. LA Lakers^: Toney Douglas (SG) Florida State
30. Cleveland Cavaliers: Christian Eyenga (SF) Congo
*traded to Nuggets
♣traded to Thunder
#traded to Mavericks
^traded to Knicks

Also, other NBA transactions today:
Suns trade Shaquille O'Neal to Cleveland for Sasha Pavlovic and Ben Wallace.
Nets trade Vince Carter to Magic for Rafer Alston, Courtney Lee, and Tony Battie.

LSU wins College World Series

Jared Mitchell, who was also on LSU's 2007 BCS Championship team, hit a three-run homer in the first inning, and was named CWS Most Outstanding Player, as LSU won its sixth national championship in baseball, 11-4 in Game 3 over Texas last night. "It's an unbelievable feeling to be put in the position where you're remembered forever in Baton Rouge now," said Mitchell. The championship ties LSU with Texas with 6 all-time, 2nd only to USC, which has 12. It was the first title for LSU head coach Paul Mainieri. "I've had wonderful kids everywhere I've been," Mainieri said. "They're all feeling a part of this. I'm so happy for these kids. They've done everything I've asked."

Lucas Glover Wins U.S. Open

With far less drama as last year's U.S. Open, Lucas Glover dropped a three foot putt for par on the 72nd hole to win the 109th U.S. Open by 2 shots, at 4-under par, over David Duval, Ricky Barnes, and Phil Mickelson. Glover, who had never even made a cut before at a U.S. Open and had only won one previous PGA Tour event, played calmly down the stretch and emerged from a extremely wet weekend (Thursday's 1st round was postponed due to rain, and pushed the entire tournament a day back), as the unlikeliest of champions. Barnes, who led after 54 holes, collapsed in the final round, shooting a 5-over 76. Former #1 Duval showed everyone glimpses of his earlier greatness, with three straight birdies on the back 9, but a bogey at 17 doomed him. Mickelson, who was the sentimental favorite from the New York crowd, with his wife to undergo cancer treatment soon, tied for the lead late, but collapsed with bogeys on two of his final four holes to break the record for most U.S. Open runnerups, with 5.

A Hollywood Ending

Vindication for Los Angeles.

One year after being blown out in Game 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals by the Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers came back this year and capped off their 15th championship with a 99-86 Game Five elimination of the Orlando Magic at Amway Arena.

Finals MVP Kobe Bryant had 30 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks in the clincher, but unlike last year, also got big contributions from big men Pau Gasol (14 points, 15 rebounds in Game 5) and Lamar Odom (17 points, 10 rebounds) both on the offensive end and defensively against Magic superman Dwight Howard. Notable, too, was the defense and strength of center Andrew Bynum, who missed last year's finals with a knee injury. Who knows where the series would be without Derek Fisher, who shook off a terrible shooting slump throughout the West playoff bracket to hit two big threes (to tie game, to take lead) to give the Lakers a Game 4 win in OT. But the focus should be on Bryant, who displayed tremendous leadership and determination to get his 4th title, and first without Shaq as a sidekick.

"To have the attitude of we're going to become a better defensive team, a better rebounding team and then to actually do it and to see it all happen, it feels like I'm dreaming," Bryant said. "I can't believe this moment is here."

The championship is also head coach Phil Jackson's record-breaking 10th title, as he breaks a tie with Boston's late Red Auerbach who had 9.

"I'll smoke the cigar tonight in memory of Red," Jackson said. "He was a great guy."

Meanwhile, for the Magic, it was a disappointing end to a great season, as they advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in 14 years, taking down the defending champion Celtics and LeBron James and the heavily favored Cavaliers in the process. They had chances in Games 2 and 4 to win down the stretch, but ultimately caved under pressure. Magic superstar center Dwight Howard never got going in the series, and finished with just 11 points in Game 5.

"It hurts," Howard said. "It hurts a lot. But you can learn a lot from losing. Sometimes you've got to lose to win."

In addition to Howard's struggles, the Magic, which had depended on three-pointers the whole season to get them to the Finals, could not convert them in the series, and shot just 8 of 27 in Game 5.

In the end, Kobe Bryant was not going to be denied his 4th title, and he led the Lakers to a magical ending.

Federer Wins French Open

As the rain began to fall again at Roland Garros in Paris, and with the Swiss national anthem playing in the stadium, tears of joy streamed down Roger Federer's face. The #2 in the world had finally won the French Open for the first time in his career, which was his 14th major, tying Pete Sampras' record. He beat Robin Soderling, who had knocked off his rival #1 Rafael Nadal earlier in the tournament, in straight sets 6-1, 7-6, 6-4 to complete a career grand slam. "It's maybe my greatest victory, or certainly the one that removes the most pressure off my shoulders," Federer said afterward. "I think that now and until the end of my career, I can really play with my mind at peace, and no longer hear that I've never won Roland Garros."

2009 NBA Finals Preview: Magic vs. Lakers

Well, so much for LeBron vs. Kobe. Whatever, I just hope we have a great NBA Finals (we haven't had one in a while). Here are position battles for vs..

Point Guards: Rafer Alston vs. Derek Fisher
Rafer Alston has done an adequate job filling in for Jameer Nelson since he went down injured in February. While Nelson will be activated for the series, Alston is still the starter and must run the offense efficiently as well as knock down open shots. Fisher has struggled mightily this postseason and has yet to find his shooting touch. He is a proven Finals veteran, but if he continues to struggle, Shannon Brown or Jordan Farmar could take minutes from him.
Slight Edge: Magic
Shooting Guards: Courtney Lee vs. Kobe Bryant
The rookie Lee has been solid since joining the starting lineup for Orlando (averaging 8.8 PPG in playoffs), and must continue to play well, shooting the ball and running in transition. Kobe has been Kobe, putting the Lakers on his back down the stretch in games and willing them to victory. He will be a matchup nightmare for Magic, as no Orlando player has the length and quickness to stay with him.
Edge: Lakers
Small Forwards: Hedo Turkoglu vs. Trevor Ariza
Turkoglu has been up and down throughout these playoffs with his shooting, but has continued to make plays for Orlando with his pinpoint passing. He is their clutchest player and will have to be big if the game is close down the stretch. Trevor Ariza fits the mold of a role player, with his energy and slashing ability to the basket, along with some three-point range and solid defense. He must harness this energy and make it positive to help his team.
Edge: Magic
Power Forwards: Rashard Lewis vs. Pau Gasol
This is the most strange matchup since neither player would guard the other in crunchtime due to their different types of skills. Lewis is a great three-point shooter that can be a game changer if he's on. But he is not very strong and if he is guarding any Laker big man, he could be exploited. Gasol is a great low post presence who needs to have a dominant Finals (unlike last year) to take some of the load off of Kobe. He is a good help defender if needed, but is not very quick and could not guard someone like Lewis.
Edge: Lakers
Centers: Dwight Howard vs. Andrew Bynum
Dwight 'Superman' Howard is key for the Magic. The offense of the team runs through his ability to dominate the paint, which opens up three-pointers for his teammates. Defensively, he was the Defensive Player of the Year for his ability to change shots with his wingspan. Bynum, coming back from injury is still not 100% and has struggled mightily at times. He won't be asked to play a lot of minutes, but when he's in there, he must contain Howard and not let him completely take over the game.
Edge: Magic
Sixth Men: Lamar Odom vs. Mickael Pietrus
Odom will be the first one off the bench for L.A. (probably for both teams), but he has been wildly inconsistent so far in these playoffs. He brings another low post scoring option, and can be a beast on the boards. Usually if he plays well, the Lakers win. The veteran Pietrus has been great backing up the rookie Lee, and does a lot of little things well, utilizing his speed and quickness.
Edge: Lakers
Coaches: Stan Van Gundy vs. Phil Jackson
Stan Van Gundy has done a great job with his team, bringing back the Finals for first time since 1995, Shaq's rookie year. While he is often painted as "the bad guy", he has gotten his team ready and motivated for every game. Phil Jackson is going for his record breaking 10th ring as a coach and is a hall of famer. The Lakers have failed to show up for a couple games, though, and it's on him to prepare them and keep them fired up.
Edge: Lakers
The Keys
It comes down to the role players for the Lakers stepping up. Kobe is the best closer in the game, but he can't do it alone (see LeBron and the Cavs for proof). For the Magic, Dwight Howard has to dominate inside and the Magic must knock down their open three-point shots if they get them. Also, they must make smart decisions with the basketball and not shoot themselves in the foot.
My prediction: win series in six games, 4-2

Last round’s record: 0-2
Playoff record: 11-3