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Jeff Allen Sportstalk

James is the King again

6/20/2016

I didn’t think there was any way that the Cleveland Cavaliers could come back from down three games to one in the NBA Finals. No other team had ever pulled the feat in The Finals. I was thinking that win or lose, no one could question LeBron James’ desire to win – he leaves it all out there at every turn. I have to even give him more props for lifting his team from the brink of elimination. To lead both teams in the five major individual categories statistically clearly makes this the best Finals MVP performance ever. And while many had said the torch as the game's best player had been passed to Steph Curry after two straight MVP awards, LeBron has made that not quite a done deal yet.

Now much will be made of Golden State spitting the bit with the championship in their grasp after coming off the greatest regular season ever which should not detract of what Cleveland accomplished. Many will point to how the Warriors should have forgone wins record and rested for the playoffs. While I’m sure they would all trade a few less regular season wins for another title ring, how can you hold them at fault for trying to win every game they played? I think more than anything, it clearly shows the NBA season is too long and renders a lot of it inconsequential. As I have stated before, what Golden State failed to have until the playoffs was facing adversity and enduring a slump. That timing was a contributor to their undoing.

Turning to golf, Dustin Johnson has now won that elusive major by winning the US Open. He had been on the brink several times but not able to close the deal. Thankfully the USGA was not to blame for him not winning this year after telling him later he might get a penalty stroke for the ball moving on the 5th green when it's stand to reason, if they didn’t penalize him at the time, it should be off the table. Thankfully he was able to generate a big enough margin to take that out of play.

And finally, just a few words on the tragic events here in Orlando last week. Words really aren’t enough, but I’ve never been more proud to live and have been raised here. As we mourn those who were lost, it is a great testimony to how this community has rallied with love and compassion. Additionally, I am also very proud of my colleagues at the Orlando Sentinel. I work in the advertising department, but have been beyond impressed with our newsroom as they have covered the tragic events in great detail but also with compassion and great service to our community. #OrlandoUnited #OrlandoStrong

Rest in peace, Muhammad Ali

6/4/2016

As a young sports fan in the 1970’s, Muhammad Ali was one of my earliest sports heroes. When you pause to think about that time as one of the great era’s in boxing, where the heavyweight division was stocked with many fantastic fighters such as Ken Norton, George Foreman and his biggest rival, Smokin’ Joe Frazier..Ali was the best of that class. The self-proclaimed greatest fighter of all-time backed it up with both his talent and charisma.
Two things I remember vividly. When he lost to Leon Spinks, it was unfathomable, like a Superhero being defeated out of nowhere. He was out of shape and it showed even the greatest can’t just show up and win if they don’t put the work in. Six months later, he turned back the clock and regained the title in the rematch with Spinks.

The other was his relationship with broadcasting legend Howard Cosell. Their exchanges were always so entertaining and TV magic. While Ali could have easily carried it by himself with his bravado and personality, he recognized what Cosell brought to the table and would kind of play the straight man here and there which only heightened the experience.

Two things that stick out to me today. To think he endured Parkinson’s disease for 32 years, I always still pictured him in my mind as floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee.

The other is that I wish the world could always be like the innocence of my youth and how sports could transcend race and bigotry in a time where it combustible. I was watching a great boxer and not even considering he was black and a Muslim.

May the Greatest of All Time rest in peace.