What is going on in the NBA playoffs with all of the cheap shots, i.e., stomps on the chest, kicks or punches to the groin? Dillon Brooks on the Memphis Grizzlies takes it to another level. Of course, he has been an a-hole going back to his days at Oregon in college. SU says it is a way for a marginal player (which he is) to stick around in the NBA. Does every team need an “enforcer?” The Detroit Pistons had more than one back in the 1990s but for SU, it’s stupid. Just play. Much prefer to seeing highly skilled players do their thing vs. the antics of a Draymond Green, etc. The NBA is going to have to figure this one out – and soon – as their star players are even in the mix now (Harden, Embiid). Not a good look.

The energy at MSG on Friday night for the Knick game was off the charts. The Garden has the best home court advantage in the NBA, and we will see if the Knicks can bring the same energy to game 4 today. The momentum swings in NBA playoff games is crazy – you cannot expect one performance to carry over to the next. Loved seeing Duncan Robinson finally getting some minutes and producing for Miami.

SU was reading up on the Max Scherzer suspension for “sticky stuff” on his hands and glove. Initially, I was thinking he was getting a raw deal but apparently the MLB rules are very clear on rosin in your glove and coming from places other than the rosin bag on the mound. I do agree with Scherzer that the rule should be changed, as you don’t want umpires making subjective judgments at the ballpark based on their sense of stickiness on hands. Scherzer will now have to adapt as the Mets really need him with all of the injuries to starting pitchers. In case you have not been watching, the Mets are killing it on the West Coast this week. If they can ever get completely healthy, watch out.

SU is aware that I am one of the few people watching the Tennis Channel these days but the men’s tour has so many great young players right now. Nadal and Djokovic can’t stay healthy and you have to figure this is the year that we see the changing of the guard in the Majors. Alcaraz, Sinner, Rune are the youngest up and comers but there are also plenty of mid-20s players as well. Djokovic is the victim of not getting vaccinated and then making his return on heavy, wet, slow clay which has damaged his elbow. It’s unclear if he can recover in time for a run at the French Open and Nadal is not even playing right now.

Wow, the NFL just suspended several players for a year for betting on non-NFL games. Apparently, you can do that but not from an NFL training facility or the stadium. Seems like an odd rule considering how the League promotes all of these betting sites?

Finally, as mentioned by others on this blog, the NHL playoffs are certainly dramatic and exciting. SU has tuned in – a bit – to some of the Rangers-Devils games, and the pace is off the charts. Even the mighty Bruins dropped a game in the first round.