MIAMI (AP) — Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert was fined $75,000 on Sunday by the NBA for using a gay slur and cursing during his news conference after Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Hibbert also apologized for the comments. Read More

The Miami Heat not only arrived to take a 2-1 lead in the eastern conference finals, but also dominated in away that might just have knocked some of the thunder out of the Pacers sails. Lebron James came with a mission to take control of the game and maybe the series from the post position, where Paul George wasn’t able to guard him for 48 minutes. If this is the new strategy for the Heat even with Roy Hibbert in the game the Pacers are in trouble. With game four on the horizon the Pacers must rely on their defense, toughness, explosion of rising star George to get back in this series, and force the Heat to return back to Indiana for a game six.

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals with Miami Heat versus Indiana Pacers went down to the wire, literally. The Pacers showed great grit throughout the game, forcing the Heat to play their type of physical basketball, rebounding, and defense. With timely shots, Indiana was able to force overtime only to witness why Miami is not just another team. They fought back and matched the pacers shot for shot and in the end King Lebron showed why he is the best player on the court closing out the game and breaking the hearts of Indiana players and fans with a buzzer beater layup. From the looks of game one, this series very well may shape up to be an epic finals match.

The New York Knicks after losing to the Indiana Pacers, most now decide what kind of team they will have next season. With aging over paid athletes on the payroll can the Knicks afford to go into the 2013-2014 NBA season with the same roster. As the Big Three in Boston from all looks will be at full strength, the south eastern Big Three posed to make an NBA finals run not going anywhere, teams next season getting star players back, and keeping their playoff lineups in tact the future doesn’t look to promising for Mr. Anthony. Withe free agency on the horizon can the Knicks land Dwight Howard or Chris Paul some interesting salary maneuvers will have to be considered and attempted. That is the only way to keep Knicks basketball relevant an not rely on because your team plays in New York, we will be watching Mr. Dolan.

As game two approaches, the San Antonio Spurs need to continue what they did in game one dominating the Memphis Grizzles up and down the hardwood. Any type of support from Manu Ginobili and the Grizzles are doomed, the Spurs sixth man had a lackluster first game. Speaking of lackluster Zack Randolph the lone superstar on the Grizzles cannot afford a game like he had the other night. When he was held scoreless thru three quarters and his teammates looking for him to be the spark to start a run that never game. Game two tonight San Antonio sends a message that it’s their time or Memphis makes a statement that this will be a series.

No tears should be shed for the Chicago Bulls, who were eliminated by the Miami Heat in 5 games. The depleted Bulls played this series with real disdain for the Heat only to continue to fall short after a surprise victory in the opening round of the Eastern Semi Finals. The defending champs were in the end too much to contend with, if anything can be taken into the up coming off season for the Bulls is that if this squad gave Miami this much problems “Wait until next year” when they have a full roster. Chicago showed the rest of the teams remaining in the playoffs that the Heat can be beaten after all, their king Xerxes or even that scary guy from Iron Man 2, they put enough dents in the Heat armor waiting for some team to come along and finish the job. Which won’t be easy after all Miami showed why they have the best player in the playoffs and the mental toughness to advance to their third consecutive Eastern Finals.

As the chapter closed last night on the good season the Oklahoma Thunder had, one can only wonder how it could have been great. The lost of star play Westbrook didn’t guarantee a series victory, the Memphis Grizzles were a 56 win team after all but with so many close games one can only wonder if to much was asked of Kevin Durant? Was the trade of fan favorite, sixth man of the year Harden really the right move? The second guessing has begun, now it’s time for that dreaded slogan “Wait till next year”

With timely hitting, strong starting pitching, defense, and relief help the New York Mets win with a walk off base hit in the bottom of the ninth. The hero Mike Baxter deserves the shaving cream in the face, it has been an up and down season so far for the amazing’s. So with a little grit from the batting lineup game to game will go along way, strong leadership from your star player, solid inning eaters, and the Mets may just have a better record then the Florida Marlins.

The Golden State Warriors showed the world, that game 1 dominance wasn’t a fluke. Led by Mr.Curry an yes he is starting to earn that title and the rising star of Clay Thompson they silenced the San Antonio fans, some critics who said they weren’t ready with steady play throughout the game and especially in crunch time. If the Spurs game plan is to let Curry get his they must find away to contain Thompson who has become a very good second option to stretch Popovich’s team thin.

Not only did the Chicago Bulls not show up last night, their lack luster performance was the equivalent of giving the finger to their fans. No better show of it than the Miami Heat fan who let Joakim Noah know exactly what was on her mind. The Heat ran a clinic on the Bulls, that had the making of a Varsity vs. JV inter squad game, practice for the seniors and the youngsters looked just in awe to be in the same gym. After playing their hearts out in game 1 the bulls took the night off and the heat went to work dominating every aspect of game 2. They showed why they are to be feared in the playoffs and when determined they look to be unbeatable. Whether inside or outside the King orchestrated the nights events like no other, took no prisoners and sent the Bulls back home to contemplate how much longer will this series last. At this rate the Chicago fans maybe the ones next showing their emotions on the hardwood.

With the absence of Derrick Rose, the Chicago Bulls arrive to Miami and take game 1. Not a complete shocker the Bulls have played the Heat throughout the season with lack of fear. If the defending champs want to advance in these playoffs they must find an answer for Nate Robinson’s energy, Joakim Noah’s relentlessness, a team that is playing with a chip on their shoulders with a real destain for the Big 3. Imagine if they had their superstar player, but then again would the story line be as interesting?

The Knicks face their biggest competition, in the Indiana Pacers. You say really Triple Threat, why is that?? Well the Knick nation has their eyes set on the Eastern Conference Finals and a matchup with The Miami Heat but let’s be realistic for a moment. The Boston Celtics set in motion the defense that is being played against the Knicks and especially concerning their star player Carmelo Anthony. With the victory in game one by the Pacers one can’t help but see the similarities to the last series, and if these Knicks want to envision a grander stage to showcase their talents. It’s starts here, in round two not with Melo but his supporting cast, who can’t afford to show their age, immaturity, and inability to take the pressure off their star. Not just in the sense of points which never hurt but through mental toughness which in the NBA Playoff can carry mediocre teams to dream big and this Knicks team is far from mediocre. As the wise Stephen A. Smith says “Big plays by big-time players in big-time games”.

As Jason Collins of the Washington Wizards, sets the sports world upside down all I ask is, has he really? With 42 The Jackie Robinson movie in theaters, congress having heard arguments on Defense Of Marriage Act, and legalization of gay marriage are we surprised that an athlete has come out publicly about his sexual preference. Hasn’t sports mirrored societies changing climate faster then the majority or laws would like. It seems like just yesterday Brittney Griner came out that she was gay and I don’t think ESPN or CNN for that matter covered it in mass. Is this a mark for civil rights or gender equality, will the doubters naturally say yeah he came out but we need a star athlete to justify this movement. Well I say thank you Jason no matter what the motives were for sharing your personal life with the world, we all know it took a lot of courage in the face of the culture of the sport you play in. Maybe just maybe your mark will not only be felt in the “Association” but in the AAU leagues, college universities, homes where you have become the first to take the spotlight. The hard slide into second base, the refusal to give your seat up on the bus, so someone else won’t have to face it alone. Their will be a time when like now we can say there is things we take for granted and one day this too will fall into a footnote in time as we continue to grow as a society an new barriers arise to be challenged. History will be thanking you for reminding everyone that your not Jason Collins That basketball player, your just Jason Collins who happened to play basketball.

Kevin Durant, or KD as the kids like to call him has just showed the world that he may just be the best player in the league. If he is able to carry his franchise not only to another NBA finals but to win it for OKC, then the argument has to begin. Who is the real king of the NBA? He would have done it without orchestrating a hostile takeover of free agency, without his Robin who is out for the playoffs, with a team not as deep, and through a more difficult conference. Well two months to go, what if, what if King terranchala has a nice ring to it..

Looks like the Knicks lost a tough one today. Wonder if JR. Smith would have made a difference? For all his talent he still has a lot of maturing to do. He’s maybe one of the best 6th men in the Association but he let his team down today. Not for miss a game winning shot off balance or for that matter taking as many shots as he does, where he let them down was by not being on the court. For not begin Robin to Carmelo Anthony Batman, against even a weaken Boston Celtics team full of veterans who know what blood in the water smells like, the Knicks and Mr.Smith better hope they haven’t let one get away and make the destination to MIA a little bit harder. Carmelo is counting on this season as his crowning moment and wouldn’t it be nice if everyone was on the same page.

Looks like this season is shaping up to be a classic run to the finish line. Now granted the baseball season is early and the baseball Gods seem to have a twisted sense of humor come September. With the hot start of the Red Sox, the Yankees consistency, Baltimore making a push for respectability in back to back seasons. Even with Tampa getting off to a slow start and Toronto not gelling it’s sure to be an interesting American League East battle for seeding.

They say it’s not where you from but where your going that matters. But isn’t it a little bit more sweeter when the local kid, the underdog makes good. Titus Williams of Elmont, New York, not only over came a previous opponent who already had a victory over him ( Rocky), put on a performance that can inspire future generations (Hoosiers) to not only pick up boxing as a sport but that anything is possible with hard work and dedication. Isn’t that the true essence an beauty of sports that any moment records can be broken, a new champion can be crowned. Theirs something special, even magical about amateur sports that feeds the soul and the longing for something untainted that brings joy to the masses that professional leagues have lost over time. So as the dust settles, the crowd dwindles down, the what next process proceeds for the Champ, we as society always looking for the next best thing should savor this moment. For I believe Titus Williams has undoubtedly the love and respect of his family and friends, a strong faith background, a good head on his shoulders, and the admiration of his Long Island community. This package in one athlete comes if we’re lucky once in  a lifetime, so let’s not be so hasty to find the next Golden child, let alone the right Golden Gloves champion. The Champ and the sport deserves at least that much from us.

To learn more about this amazing athlete:  http://shar.es/JIlSl

What it is to be a Mets fan, facing the biggest elephant in the room. We as fans deserve more than standing with the perplexed look of which way do we go. Are they a big market team or settling to just be a team in a big market? ’86 feels like along time ago, the grass was greener, the air a little fresher, gas a whole lot cheaper and those boys across town didn’t seem so tough.The hunger grows year after year. If not for a championship (please baby Jesus) we would settle for a concrete direction.

Can the Los Angeles Lakers say thank you to the Utah Jazz. With the Jazz losing earlier in the night, the lakers we guaranteed a playoff birth, with a victory over the Houston Rockets they actually improved their playoff position. Moving up to the 7th seed facing the formidable San Antonio Spurs. This postseason Howard hopes to put the Lakers on his broad shoulders and try to prove he can not only step in The Black Mamba’s shoes but those of Laker great big men. If your like me I think he won’t show up, the pressure and the overall greatness of the Spurs who have something to prove this year will stifle any imagined glory by any member of the Los Angeles franchise. So let’s wait and see just as Mr. Bean Bryant is doing, hoping a mess isn’t made of all the hard work he put in this season.

Boston Bruins win, following the events that rocked the nation at the Boston marathon. Which shows what sports truly embodies at lest for a night. As salaries get ridiculous year after year, records and names tarnished with HGH, and loose references to war and battle to describe a child’s game. We see on this night the real essence of sports played by grown men, the game for a brief moment serves us as a distraction from day to day worries, sorrows, and numbness. The people of Boston and all the families who are victims won’t forget the blatant disregard for life shown to us. But as the fans sang the National Anthem we remember why we are Americans, why we won’t flinch at acts of cowardliness, why we salute the flag, and our brave men and women in service. This night became an event to remember and unite, the victory was just a bonus.

The model for NBA excellence over the last 10yrs plus has been the San Antonio Spurs. Why would any other franchise hate you ask? Well if your definition of excellence is winning 4 NBA titles (one coming at the expense of the “King), multiple Division crowns, playoff contention every year in the dominate western conference, producing Hall of Fame players, consistently finding bargain players who turn out to be gems, and mix in for kicks a head coach with moxie who isn’t afraid to bench his stars players gaining their undivided loyalty and admiration a la Joe Carroll (without the violence). I can see why the Dolan’s, Sterlings of the world would role there eyes and snicker when the cameras are away. This playoff season would have us believe that the drive for 2,3,4,5,6,7 lies in Miami, that the youth in OKC, the other LA team, or dare I say the Knickerbocker’s will be the driving postseason stories. I say let them have it after all money can’t buy everything, youthfulness without true direction, remake of an 80’s classic “Showtime” just doesn’t do it like the original, and the pressure of the big Apple may just be to much to take a bit out of. So as we embark on this thrilling journey we will find out if slow and steady really wins the race or if in a David Stern world big markets with supers stars monopolizing the game will be his overshadowing legacy or the leagues new quick fix.