TIDBIT TUESDAY: THE WORLD CUP

 This week's Tidbit Tuesday takes us to The World Cup.  We are a week into soccer's biggest worldwide tournament and fans from around the world already love what they see. Each country is battling for the prestige FIFA World Cup trophy.  But did you know the trophy has been stolen twice,

The Original trophy was called the Jules Rimet Trophy was stolen in England in 1966 and was held for ransom and later found wrapped in newspaper next to a dog named Pickles.  Pickles became so popular that he was awarded a silver medal.  The trophy was stolen again in 1980 in Rio De Janeiro and was never found.  FIFA then had to make the trophy we have today.  

 

KNICKS TAKE CONTROL OF FINALS WITH MIRACLE COME FROM BEHIND VICTORY

 Last night's Game 4 of the NBA Finals lived up to the hype and did not disappoint.  The New York Knicks took a commanding 3-1 series lead with a 107-106 come from behind victory over the San Antonio Spurs.  The Knicks are one game away from winning their first title since 1973.

The Spurs jumped out to a 29-point first half lead and seemed destined to tie the series up at 2.  Then the second half started and the Knicks had other plans.  They chi[[ed away at the lead and finally took their first lead late in the fourth quarter.  San Antonio was up by one when Jalen Bronson got the inbounds pass and shot a quick three and missed. OG Anunoby followed with a tip in with 1.2 seconds remaining and what proved to be the winning shot.

The series now shifts to San Antonio for game 5.  The Spurs now must win the next 3 games if they want to become NBA Champions.  The knicks have now put themselves in the driven seat meedong just one win ion the next three games.

TIDBIT TUESDAY: PLAYING TIL THE END

 This week's Tidbit Tuesday takes us to Philadelphia and the NBA.  It's the 1961-62 season and the Philadelphia Warriors have a guy by the name of Wilt Chamberlain who set countless records that season.  The most notable record was his 100-point game against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962.  Wilt Chamberlain accomplished something else that season that will most likely never be done again.  Did you know in the 1961-62 season Chamberlain played nearly every minute of every game averaging 48.5 minutes per game.

This is an interesting feat for several reasons.  First there are only 48 minutes in a game, so not only did he play every minute of regulation but also in the overtime games his teams were in.  In fact Chamberlain played in all but 8 minutes of action that season.  The 8 minutes he did not play was because he was ejected from a game.

The other reason this is a tremendous feat is because this is something that won't even be attempted in today's NBA.  In today's NBA there is just a handful of players that play all 82 regular season games, much less everyone minute of those games.  The super stars take games off and try to preserve themselves for the playoffs.  That is something Wilt Chamberlain would never do, He played until the end. 

NBA FINALS PREDICTION

 For all you basketball fans tonight is Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks.  Games 1and 2 will be in San Antonio, whiles games 3 and 4 will be in New York.  The remainder of the series alternates home courts with the Spurs hosting game 5 and game 7.  

There are p;enty of storylines to hype up this year's Finals such as New York being in the Finals for the first time in 27 years and San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama leading the Spurs to the Finals in just his third season in the NBA.  The Knicks are coming off of a sweep of the Clevland Cavaliers, and the Spurs just dethroned the defending champs.

Both teams match up well against each other, which makes for close hard-fought series. Each game is going to be close and cam go either way.  As close as this series will be I don't see it going all seven games.  Wemby and the Spurs have been playing consistent and agressive throughout the playoffs.  I have San Antonio winning in 6 games, 4-2.

TIDBIT TUESDAY: BEAR DOWN

Tidbit Tuesday is back.  Every Tuesday I will provide a sports story about an interesting fact that you ,may or may not know about.  When i was a child the thing that kept me watching sports was hearing the commentator's stories and facts about what I was watching.  That sparked my interest in sports and so I bring you Tidbit Tuesday.

This edition of Tidbit Tuesday takes us to Tucson Arizona, home of the University of Arizona.  The school's Montra or battle is "Bear Down".  The schools mascot is a Wildcat.  So why is the slogan "Bear Down"?  The story behind it is heartfelt.

In early October 1926 some of the members of the football team, including QB John "Button" Salmon, were headed back to Tucson from a game in Phoenix and were involved in a car accident.  The accident happened in Florence and Salmon was severely injured and eventually died from his injuries. 

The coach at the time was J.F. "Pop" McKale and he visited Salmon several times in the hospital before his passing.  Salmon's last message to the team was, " Tell them....tell the team to bear down".  Coach McKale told the team and they won their next two games and the slogan was born.

Another interesting fact about this story is John Salmon died October 18, 1926, 53 years later I was born.

NICKS REACH NBA FINALS

 The New York Knicks are the Eastern Conference Champs and are headed to the 2026 NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.  They advanced to the finals by sweeping the Clevland Cavs 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals.  They will now face the winner of the Western Conference Finals, The San Antonio Spurs or the defending champs, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The New York fans are going crazy over the news of their team reaching the finals after 27 years.  The New York Knicks haven't won an NBA title since 1973.  Next Wednesday is game 1 of the NBA Finals and they will be seeking their third title in franchise history.  

Most people in Arizona don't have much of an opinion on the Knicks, maybe envy or even jealousy.  But the true Suns fan does have an opinion, and that opinion is Mikal Bridges.  Bridges played for the Suns ans quickly became a fan favorite until he was traded away for Kevin Durant.  an experiment that failed miserably.  True fans would love to see Bridges win a championship, especially if it's against the San Antonio Spurs.