In a perfect America-centric world, the NHL championship playoff series would be the big story, where the L.A. Kings ended its mini-tailspin with a blowout 6-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils, giving them the league title, 4-2. It was Los Angeles' first NHL title since the team was born 45 years ago. Even better, the abbreviated best-of-seven series proved that hockey doesn't milk its product to maximize revenue. The series was done in six games. The sixth game, like many before it, was not close. It was real and exciting.
However, there was a bigger sporting event happening on the world stage last week, the conclusion of the French Open in tennis. In the women's singles title match, endorsement queen Maria Sharapova throttled her average-sized foe from Italy, Sara Errani, 2-0 (6-3, 6-2). It completed a career grand slam for her and a personal comeback from major shoulder surgery four years before. Perseverance, focus, and tenacity are three of Sharapova's most admirable attributes, separating her from another tennis glamour queen and her predecessor from Russia, Anna Kournikova. Unfortunately, she still considers herself Russian, and the Russian national anthem played during the trophy presentation. She has been in the United States since age six, yet she will play for the Russian national team during this summer's Olympics.
In the men's singles, Rafael Nadal smashed Novak Djokovic in a rain-delayed match, 3-1 (6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5). It was nice to see a nice guy win, and Nadal now has surpassed legendary Bjorn Borg for the most French Open titles with 7. That is 7 titles in 8 years. It was also his eleventh overall Grand Slam title. With the reeling economy in Spain, a grateful Nadal give his grateful country something to cheer about.
In soccer, the EUFA EuroCup tournament, another major world sporting event, is heating up, with fans from Russia and Poland getting into brawls in Warsaw, the site of their team's match. The game saw Poland achieve a 1-1 upset tie. Other strong teams include France, Spain, Germany, and England. Italy, Croatia, and Czech Republic are longer shots to advance.
Meanwhile, the predictable NBA saw the host Miami Heat defeat the visiting Boston Celtics in the seventh game of their series. It was close until the last 8 minutes, when the Heat pulled away from a suddenly cold Boston. It looked more like a team flop rather than a referee conspiracy, although the zebras did nail Kevin Garnett with three quick fouls for screens he has always set without whistles before. Garnett's absence later in the first half and inability to get in the offensive flow in the second half was a decisive factor in the Celtics' loss, flop or no flop.
Now the officials are up to their usual antics in the NBA championship series, giving LeBron James a generous no-call on Kevin Durant in Game 2 on a decisive play, a play in which the Thunder failed to score. The Heat won, giving the teams a split in Oklahoma City. Will the league office allow the Thunder to win a game in Miami, or will the series end with 3 consecutive Heat victories? Does anybody care?
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