Stormin Norman Rumack

LA Lakers and Boston Celtics will meet in NBA finals for 12th timeBoston beat Los Angeles in the 2008 finals.The Los Angeles Lakers will be going for its second straight title and No. 16 overall. The Boston Celtics have the edge, hanging their 17th banner with their victory two years ago in six games.The Celtics are 9-2 in the finals against the Lakers.The Celtics clinched their 21st trip to the Finals by finishing off Orlando on Friday night.While the Lakers are making their league-best 31st appearance in the Finals after wrapping up their series against Phoenix in six games last night.I will be back later in the week with a full NBA Finals Preview:Finals Schedule:Game 1: Thursday, June, 3rd @ 9 P.M in LA Game 2: Sunday, June, 6th @ 8 P.M. in LA Game 3: Tuesday, June, 8 @ 9 P.M. in BostonGame 4: Thursday, June, 10th @ 9 P.M. in BostonGame 5: IF NECESSARY: Sunday, June, 13th @ 8 P.M. in BostonGame 6: IF NECESSARY: Tuesday, June, 15th @ 9 P.M. in LAGame 7: IF NECESSARY: Thursday, June, 17th @ 9 P.M. in LA...

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UFC 114 Pay Per View on Saturday,May,29th From the MGM Grand GardenArena in Las Vegas,NV.Several Stars are in attendance tonight:Larry Fitzgerald of the NFL Arizona Cardinals.Current NFL Superbowl Champ Reggie BushMike Tyson,Snoop Dogg and San Jose Shark defenseman Dan Boyle. UFC 114 Main Card:Diego Sanchez VS. John Hathaway:Round 1: Sanchez got nice big reaction from the crowd.Sanchez has a bloody nose. Sanchez gets hit with a knee,Hathaway worked over Diego with elbows and body shots.Hathaway wins the round easily.Round 2: Even round with Hathaway finishing strong.Maybe Hathaway's round based on the finish Sanchez bloody nose is getting worse.Round 3: Another Even round.Best round of the fight.Judges score it: 30-27, 30-27 and 30-26 for Hathaway.Winner: John Hathaway by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26) Now 14-0Antonio Rogerio Nogueira VS. Jason Brilz:Round 1: Close round.Maybe Jason Brilz for doing more in the round.Round 2: Another round for Brilz.Brilz is tried at the end of the round.Brilz took down...

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'Remember the very eerie sounding voice in the movie “Apocalypse Now,” in the whispered words, that offers the unforgettable utterance, “the horror”, the horror.”(Marlon Brando as Colonel Walter E. Kurtz, in the 1979 Francis Ford Coppola production.) Those same memorable sounds are being uttered by large segments of the hockey media, after they heard comments that they never wanted to, from Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, who also owns the NBA’s Wizards. Much to the chagrin of the doom and gloom hockey media, Leonsis employed some reality shock therapy, on the long line of hockey hysterics,by informing them that that the NBA, is in worse financial shape than the NHL.

 

It’s almost everyday and twice on Sunday, that we’re boringly reminded during the NHL season, of which hockey teams have poor crowds at the arena. Of course, if there was any fairness in the media, the public would also be reminded of the often brutal attendance figures at many NBA games in traditional basketball markets,  like...

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The Stanley Cup final begins Saturday night with the Philadelphia Flyers @ the Chicago Blackhawks.The Chicago Blackhawks were expected to make it here.The Philadelphia Flyers were not. The Philadelphia Flyers who made the playoffs on a shootout win in the last game of the season mounted an improbable comeback in the second round of the playoffs after falling behind 3 games to 0 in their series with the Boston Bruins they came all the way back and not only beat the Bruins in 7 games but also dismantled the Montreal Canadians in 5 games, yes the same Montreal team that beat Washington and Pittsburgh this playoff year. Goaltending:The Flyers Micheal Leighton has been one of the playoffs hero's. The 29-year-old journeyman has played for four NHL teams over the past nine years. He took over in Game 6 of the Boston series after Brian Boucher was hurt and has gone 6-1 with three shutouts during that span.Antti Niemi has gone from backup at the season's start to playoff star with a 12-4 record for the Blackhawks during...

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This series has the potential to be an all time classic. Some of hockey’s most respected leaders will be competing for the Stanley Cup.  Flyers captain Mike Richards, is uniformly described by scouts as a “Warrior”, in terms of his doing whatever it takes to win, aside from utilizing his tremendous skills.

Chris Pronger is still logging close to 30 minutes a game, and has the credentials that prove his overall value. Most scouts would would suggest that the Anaheim Ducks would not have won the Stanley Cup, without his overall talent, physical presence on the blue line,and his ability to “push the envelope”, as in aggressive play, which can sometimes  lead to a penalty,but which frequently wears down the other team. 

Similarly, the Blackhawks are also blessed with outstanding leadership, in the form of captain Jonathan Toews. Like a lot of very good leaders in professional sports, Toews does his talking through his superior skill. Going into the finals, Toews has 7 goals and 19 assists...

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UFC 114 Pay Per View Will take place on Saturday,May,29th From the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas,NV.UFC 114 will feature the much-anticipated Rashad vs Rampage fight as the Main Event.Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champions and The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 coaches:Rashad Evans and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson squaring off.UFC 114 Main Card:Diego Sanchez VS. John Hathaway:Diego Sanchez,enters the fight with a record of (21-3) and will try and make his return to the welterweight division a triumphant one when he meets undefeated Brit John Hathaway who is (12-0).Sanchez, 28, lost his last bout in December to BJ Penn in a lightweight title fight.Hathaway,won his last bout in November defeating Paul Taylor by unanimous decision. Winner: I think Diego differently has the edge in experience and has been in the spotlight more than Hathaway.Diego has fought and beat Joe Stevenson and Clay Guida and also has fought BJ Penn,Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch.Hathaway is undefeated but has not fought the caliber of opponents...

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Wednesday for me, was set aside for the “Grill Room” , a daily Sun TV show, which I am a regular guest on.  The focus of the program, is on all kind of sports issues, that most fans and media discuss.  Among the topics we discussed on Wednesday, was the degree of exposure and air time given to Steve Nash in Canada, and the better than expected performance of his Phoenix Suns. The point of debate was whether or not Nash was getting enough recognition, in light of his very gritty performance, in playing through a blackened eye, and a broken nose.  Nothing in this country has ever surpassed the Stanley Cup playoffs, and even with Nash’s brave performance, hockey is still going to get the lions share of air time, because that is what draws the largest TV audiences in Canada. Having said that, Hockey Night In Canada did recently take a TV camera, into the Suns locker room, during a meeting with coach Alvin Gentry and the players.  Gentry did make mention of Hockey Night being there, with a giggling reaction from Nash,...

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The UFC is opening an office in Canada.Toronto to be more specific.UFC president Dana White and co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta made the announcement today at anews conference at Toronto's Rogers Centre.Former CFL commissioner Tom Wright will run the Canadian office as the Director of UFC CANADA.The location and date for the official opening of the UFC’s Toronto office will be announced inthe near future.Tom Wright's first day on the job is next Monday,May,31st.Ton Wright was the commissioner of the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 2002 to 2006, as well as the one-time head of the Canadian branch of Adidas, as well as one-time president of Spalding Canada. He has also been involved with Canadian Special Olympics. Most recently Wright was Managing Director of Level5 Strategic Brand Advisors, one of Canada’s foremost business and brand strategy firms working with many of North America’s and the world’s leading brands. "This will be the second international office for the UFC, and much like our UK operation, this...

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The UFC is opening an office in Canada.

UFC president Dana White and co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta made the announcement today at a

news conference at Toronto's Rogers Centre.

Former CFL commissioner Tom Wright will run the Canadian office as the Director of UFC CANADA.

The location and date for the official opening of the UFC’s Toronto office will be announced in

the near future.

More to follow: soon on www.latenightvampire.com

WWE NOTES:Bret Hart is the new GM of WWE Raw.Bret had to give up the WWE US Title on Raw and R-Truth took on Miz for the US TitleR-Truth is the WWE US ChampionThe new tag team that attacked the Hart Dynasty on WWE Raw last night were Jimmy and Jules Uso, sons of former WWE wrestler Rikishi and their valet is Tamina (Sarona Snuka) the daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Snuka.They were all in WWE DevelopmentalBatista is gone from the WWEThe next WWE Pay Per View is Fatal Four Way on Sunday,June,20th (Father's Day)From the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York home of the NHL's NewYork Islanders. All title matches will be four way's (4 wrestlers involved in the match) Raw Main event will be:John Cena defending the WWE Championship against Randy Orton, Sheamus, and Edge.Linda McMahon wife of Vince should be successful in her bid to be the Republican Senatorial challenger from Connecticut..Randy Orton separated his shoulder,during his match at the Over The Limit Pay Per View on Sunday night.CM...

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