Game 7

There are few things in sports wore exciting and fast paced and hard hitting as a game 7 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. My beloved Flyers face the loathed Rangers of New York this evening. The Flyers are a long shot to go very deep in these playoffs. However, a win tonite...dispatching the New York boys...would be a reward in itself. As a long shot hope....teams have been known to ride a hot goalie to the Cup....last night Steve Mason looked like that kind of net-minder.

Shoe Polish

 When the news broke about the racist remarks of Donald Sterling my first thought was:" I did not hear anything racial on Madmen."

I care less than not-at-all about pro basketball and had never heard of  Donald Sterling. Now I have heard all the reports and today see he is banned form the League for life and has been fined.
The League should add an extra fine just for that appalling dye-job.

Boxing Papa

Ernie....keep your left up.

Lehigh Lacrosse

 The Lehigh Men's lacrosse team faces a big challenge this afternoon...facing number 1 ranked Loyola in the Patriot League championship this afternoon.

 I will be watching...alternating between this game and the Flyer's game 5 against the hated Rangers.

 As I was checking the Lehigh website I was impressed with two of the photos. One showed the team breakfast and then the boys loading their gear on the bus for the hop over to the stadium. The Lehigh coach requires his team to wear jacket and tie when representing the school on the road. It is refreshing to see young men dressed like young gentlemen.

BALTIMORE - Coming off a dramatic semifinal victory over #14/15 Army, the #18 nationally-ranked and third-seeded Lehigh men's lacrosse team will vie for its third straight Patriot League Championship when it faces the top-seeded, host and #1 nationally-ranked Loyola Greyhounds on Sunday at 1 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. Sophomore Reid Weber scored the game-winning goal with just 3.7 seconds left in regulation Friday to send the Mountain Hawks to their third straight title game.

Friday marked Lehigh's sixth straight win in the Patriot League Tournament (all over the past three seasons). Sunday's matchup features the two teams tied for the nation lead in victories; the Mountain Hawks are 13-4 while the Greyhounds are 13-1. Loyola has won 13 straight ever since a season-opening loss at Virginia. Both Lehigh and Loyola are vying for a third straight NCAA Tournament appearance as Sunday's winner will receive the league's automatic berth into the big dance.

(Reprinted from Lehigh lacrosse team website)

Go Engineers!!

Line-Up

After each lacrosse game I played in my youth...the teams would line up for a hand shake. As a practicing lawyer who is in the courtroom on a weekly basis...I wish this tradition carried over.

The Rules

Most people have heard the phrase marquis of Queensbury rules. Barry Fitzgerald dictates their application to the fight finale in 'The Quiet Man."
However, most people do not know what these rules actually state.

The Queensbury Rules

1. To be a fair stand-up boxing match in a twenty-four foot ring or as near that size as practicable.

2. No wrestling or hugging allowed.

3. The rounds to be of three minutes duration and one minute time between rounds.

4. If either man fall through weakness or otherwise, he must get up unassisted, ten seconds be allowed to do so, the other man meanwhile to return to his corner; and when the fallen man is on his legs the round is to be resumed and continued until the three minutes have expired. If one man fails to come to the scratch in the ten seconds allowed, it shall be in the power of the referee to give his awart in favour of the other man.

5. A man hanging on the ropes in a helpless state, with his toes off the ground, shall be considered down.

6. No seconds or any other person to be allowed in the ring during the rounds.

7. Should the contest be stopped by any unavoidable interference, the referee (is) to name the time and place as soon as possible for finishing the contest, to that the match can be won and lost, unless the backers of the men agree to draw the stakes.

8. The gloves to be fair-sized boxing gloves of the best quality and new.

9. Should a glove burst, or come off, it must be replaced to the referee's satisfaction.

10. A man on one knee is considered down, and if struck is entitled to the stakes.

11. No shoes or boots with springs allowed.

12. The contest in all other respects to be governed by the revised rules of the London Prize Ring.

Quotable

Perhaps my favorite boxing quote...from a man who is not exactly eloquent ( he does have a one-man stage show these days however.)
This evening one of the promoter/managers I deal with will have his main fighter on Showtime for a TV debut and a big step up. We were talking about the opponent and related items of strategy and the fight plan. I closed the discussion by telling the manager to remind the fighter of this now famous line.