主题：【文摘】ＮＢＡ总决赛：坏小子ｖｓ.好莱坞 -- raindrops
(ＮＢＡ：体育？好莱坞？金钱？－－唉，一个都不能少！这样一场几十亿美元制造的大戏，谁是她的总导演呢？非大卫．斯特恩莫属。 -- raindrops)
Don't let the smile fool you. The NBA Finals may involve a conspiracy that goes to the highest levels of...well, at least David Stern's office. (by Scott Quintard/Getty Images)
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Puppet Master
NBA mastermind David Stern again has fans right where he wants them. He simply outsmart any director in hollywood
Pete McEntegart
SI.com Updated: Thursday June 3, 2004 12:34PM
David Stern has done it again.
The NBA's diminutive dictator has once more engineered matters brilliantly. Not since Patrick Ewing's dog-eared envelope magically fell to the Knicks in 1985, allowing Saint Patrick to issue thrilling (if unfulfilled) playoff guarantees in the nation's largest TV market for years to come, has Stern pulled the strings so masterfully.
Now Stern has landed a Lakers-Pistons matchup in the NBA Finals that again makes the game must-see TV. Who could resist a meeting between the swaggering Lakers and the plucky descendants of the Bad Boys, the team that first made "playoff foul" part of the lexicon?
Some leagues might have rested on their laurels after simply ensuring that Hollywood's darlings, the Lakers, made it to the Finals. That took some serious machinations as it was.
First Derek Fisher managed to catch the ball, wave to Dyan Cannon, rise for a jump shot and drain a lefty heave all with 0.4 seconds left in Game 5 against the Spurs, thanks perhaps in part to one of Stern's many minions working the clock.
Then the Timberwolves had to rebound from a tough seven-game series against the Kings to immediately host the rested Lakers, since keeping a tight schedule is clearly so important in an NBA playoff season that has already lasted longer than the run of Friends.
How Stern managed to sideline T'wolves point guard Sam Cassell so that Minnesota was basically down to Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell and some extras from the movie Eddie is a mystery that will long be dissected on the History Channel.
So that means the Lakers are here, with two-court threat Kobe Bryant; the Big Aristotle, Shaquille O'Neal; and the two latest entrants in the old-guys-giving-up-the-money-in-search-of-a-ring sweepstakes, Karl Malone and Gary Payton. Whenever those four get too angry at each other to play, here comes Fisher or even Kareem Rush to play the Robert Horry role of a guy who does nothing all year until he hits killer 3s in the playoffs.
This means that the Lakers will win in a breeze, right?
Well, that's exactly what Stern wants you to think. Does anyone honestly believe that nobody in the Eastern Conference, with the possible exception of Richard Hamilton, can hit an open 17-foot jump shot?
No, it's all part of the master plan. When the Pistons win in seven, pundits everywhere will proclaim it one of the great upsets in NBA history. The league will be back, and Stern can sit back and smile as the NBA continues toward its goal of world domination.
When the Paris Fromages go for the title in 2014 behind player-coach TonyParker, they will call on this year's remarkable Pistons upset for motivation.
Really, is there any other way to explain the Eastern Conference Finals than a huge set-up to make the nation convinced that the Lakers can't lose? Surely the final tally wouldn't have been 69-65 in Tuesday's Game 6 clincher if both teams were, say, trying to score on every possession.
The most dangerous person on the floor Tuesday night was Kid Rock, when he swooped around the court unguarded during a late timeout waving a Pistons flag. Here's betting that Stern can cook up something between Kid and ex Pamela Anderson for the Finals, like a halftime reconciliation complete with steamy Internet-ready love scenes. (Please, don't pretend you didn't see the Pamela-Tommy Lee tape.)
As Stern might correctly point out, though, low-scoring games aren't necessarily boring. What was the final score during basketball's greatest-ever game, when Jimmy Chitwood hit an elbow jumper at the buzzer to lead tiny Hickory High to the 1954 Indiana state championship over heavily favored South Bend Central? 42-40.
Sure, cynics might note that game was only 32 minutes long and played without a shot clock. Really cynical folks might point out that the game wasn't actually real. (The final score of the actual Hoosiers game was 32-30 and took place in 1952.)
Yet the Stern-as-mastermind theory is surely more compelling than conventional wisdom, which is that once again the Eastern Conference team has no chance of beating the best from the West.
It's easy to see how one might fall into that trap, given that the Pistons averaged a measly 75.2 points against the Pacers. Even if Detroit wins a game or two in the Finals, many fans might figure that the dysfunctional Lakers are merely messing around before recovering to cut down the nets, whereupon Malone and Payton will say that the ring now completes their careers and Kobe will affirm that he still hates Shaq and coach Phil Jackson and wants out of L.A.
What's the point in watching that if one isn't a Lakers fan? None.
Yet imagine the drama if the Pistons force Game 7, with the whole nation tuning in to see if the upset of the century can be completed. When that happens, expect to see Stern sitting courtside, smiling that Cheshire-cat grin.
Because Stern has done more than imagine it. He has made it happen, and kudos for that.
所以，有点什么商业小“阴谋”一点也不奇怪！
（作者 ？？？）
2004年NBA总决赛的两支球队终于产生，西部拥有四大天王的洛杉矶湖人队和号称全联盟防守最厉害的底特律活塞队将会争夺本年度的总冠军。总决赛开始前我们先来检阅一下双方各个位置的实力。
教练：菲尔-杰克逊VS拉里-布朗
杰克逊执教生涯中总共获得过9次NBA总冠军，而拉里-布朗只有一次打进总决赛的经验。“禅师”所倡导的三角进攻在芝加哥在洛杉矶都曾让所有球队尝到过苦头。而布朗的区域防守使活塞成为全联盟防守最好的球队，一个是利矛一个坚盾，总决赛将会上演一出攻防大战。优势：湖人队
中锋：沙克-奥尼尔VS本-华莱士
面对庞大的奥尼尔，本-华莱则显得那么弱小。奥尼尔最喜欢别人叫他“ 柴油机”这个外号，比赛中他对篮筐的虐待就像柴油机的响声一样。华莱士的外号叫“大本钟”，他的防守就像英国的大本钟那么准时，特别是盖帽技术已经到了炉火纯青的地步。不过奥尼尔的罚球一直使湖人队的心病，在本赛季季后赛中他的罚命中率只有41%。而华莱士的投篮命中率达到了48%。优势：湖人。
大前锋：卡尔-马龙VS拉希德-华莱士
马龙拥有十足的号召力，并且打球十分狡猾，经验丰富。华莱士则更喜欢投篮并且发挥时好时坏。马龙来到湖人就是为了夺得一枚总冠军戒指，他对比赛的态度肯定十分认真。而华莱士是经过了数次交易后才来到底特律，在东部虽然的他实力也非常强大，不过高失误率对他来说是个不小的毛病。优势：湖人。
小前锋：乔治VS普林斯
乔治是湖人队的首发中唯一一位非超级明星，本赛季乔治一直带伤坚持比赛。而普林斯的速度非常快，虽然他的经验还不丰富，不过季后赛常常会有神来之笔。综合来看他的优势要强于乔治。
得分后卫：布莱恩特VS汉密尔顿
联盟中还找不出像科比这样的天才球员，他的突破以及他在空中的变换动作在当今的NBA中可以说是一个奇迹。而汉密尔顿则是一位相当能跑的球员，他在关键时刻的一锤定音以及中远距离的投篮也是独树一帜。优势：湖人
组织后卫：佩顿VS比卢普斯
佩顿目前正处在职业生涯状态下滑时期。他来到湖人以后从一支球队的得分王和精神领袖一下变成F4中的最末一位，激烈的比赛使得他经常找不到自己的位置，来湖人对他来说可能是个错误。比卢普斯在拉里-布朗到来以后逐渐的找到了控球后卫的新要领，本赛季他的表现足以成为全联盟最出色的组织后卫之一。优势：活塞
替补：费舍尔、梅德维登科、拉什、福克斯VS科里斯-威廉姆斯、享特、马克-詹姆斯、坎贝尔、哈姆
费舍尔和和拉什都是那种关键时刻能给湖人帮助的球员，他们成为替补不是自己的过错，而是湖人队的首发确实名气太大了。而威廉姆斯、哈姆和坎贝尔则有机会在“砍鲨”时时领到18次犯规。优势：湖人。
斯特恩想看森林狼对步行者总决赛
日期：2004-06-04 作者：单磊 来源：新华社
新华社华盛顿６月３日体育专电（记者单磊）ＮＢＡ总裁大卫?斯特恩再次批驳了ＮＢＡ袒护大城市球队的说法，说他宁可看明尼苏达森林狼队与印第安纳步行者队的总决赛，以证明ＮＢＡ并不只在乎市场。
３日在接受《今日美国报》专访时，斯特恩说：“我一辈子都在努力为森林狼和步行者这样的球队创造机会，让他们可以打入联盟决赛，并都进入到总决赛。我们一直致力于消除拥有大球迷市场的有钱的俱乐部与普通俱乐部之间的差距。”
一直以来就有人说ＮＢＡ为了获得更好的电视转播收入，依靠裁判帮助大城市有钱的俱乐部获得更好的成绩。２００１年－２００２年赛季洛杉矶湖人队与萨卡拉门托国王队西部联盟总决赛就是最好的例子。但ＮＢＡ一直也都在否认这种说法。
“有的人对此一直颇有微词，但比赛结果就是这样，”斯特恩说，“今年的联盟决赛分别是两个大市场俱乐部与两个小市场俱乐部的对抗，我觉得没有比这样的联盟决赛更好的了。”
本赛季的总决赛将由洛杉矶湖人队对底特律活塞队。
NHL Hockey
KABC Jun 05 05:00pm (PT)
"Tampa Bay Lightning at Calgary Flames", Episode #GM6ABC.
Stanley Cup Final, game 6. From the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary.
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法国网球公开赛阿根廷人会师男单决赛
王世让
法国网球公开赛6月4日开始两场男单半决赛的争夺，在首先进行的阿根廷内战中，非种子选手高迪奥直落三盘，以6比3、7比6和6比0战胜8号种子纳尔班迪安，率先晋级决赛。罗兰?加洛斯此时突然下起了大雨，亨曼与科里亚的比赛在雨后开始，亨曼在第一盘两次破发并以6比3取胜。科里亚在此后三盘中连胜，终以3比1击败亨曼，挺进决赛。
本场半决赛是高迪奥和纳尔班迪安第一次交手，但两人曾经在一个俱乐部训练，并代表阿根廷队参加戴维斯杯等国际比赛，彼此之间非常了解。两人在第一盘前半段均发挥正常，各自拿下自己的两个发球局并破掉对方一个发球局，战成3比3平。但第七局后，高迪奥连续两次破掉对方的发球局，并以6比3赢得首盘。
纳尔班迪安第二盘在打法上作了些调整，很快以5比1领先。就在大家都以为纳尔班迪安会轻松取胜时，高迪奥却突然爆发，不仅将比分追至5比5平，并在关键的抢七中以7比5胜出。
高迪奥第三盘一开场就破掉对方的发球局，而纳尔班迪安此时已经近乎崩溃，气愤地将球拍摔在了红土场上。高迪奥在此后的比赛中乘胜追击，又连续破掉对方的两个发球局，并最终以6比0赢得本盘比赛的胜利。
来源：《中国体育报》
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Smarty Jones Racing for the 12th Triple Crown Winner
Congratulations To Smarty Jones - Winner Of the Kentucky Derby 2004!
05/02/2004: Smarty Jones with Stewart Elliott won the Kentucky Derby 2004.
05/15/2004: Smarty Jones with Stewart Elliot won the Preakness 2004.
Today: Smarty Jones Races For History & 1st Triple Crown In 26 Years At Belmont Stakes
NEW YORK - June 2, 2004 - NBC Sports' exclusive live coverage of the Visa Triple Crown concludes Saturday with the 136th Belmont Stakes and undefeated Smarty Jones' attempt to make history as the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 26 years - since Affirmed in 1978. A win would make Smarty Jones only the 12th Triple Crown winner and would end the longest Triple Crown drought in racing history. A record crowd in excess of 120,000 is expected at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.
NBC's coverage - also available in High Definition - airs from 5:30-7 p.m. ET with post time once again set for 6:38 p.m. ET. NBC's Belmont Stakes broadcast will be led by hosts Tom Hammond and Bob Costas with expert commentary from Charlsie Cantey. The announce team also includes race-caller Tom Durkin; contributing analysts Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier; reporter Kenny Rice and on-track reporter Donna Barton Brothers.
A perfect 8-for-8, Smarty Jones is the first undefeated Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner since Seattle Slew in 1977. A win would make Smarty Jones - whose trainer, John Servis, and jockey, Stewart Elliott, are Visa Triple Crown rookies - the richest racehorse in history with more than $13 million in earnings. Smarty Jones' run for the Triple Crown (and the $5 million bonus from Visa) is the 29th Triple Crown attempt and the sixth in eight years.
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当今世界十大现役名马
一个由 Let It Ride.com 每周举辨一次的评选，虽然 评审委员会 包括美国、加拿大、欧洲、澳洲及日本藉成员，但始终以美国成员占大多数，顺理成章，前列位置多由美国马霸占，公平及公开情度难免受质疑。
Here are the results for the week of 26 May 2004:
Global Top 10 Total Votes
1. Pleasantly Perfect (remains #1) 122 (6)
2. Smarty Jones (remains #2) 112 (6)
3. Medaglia d'Oro (remains #3) 92
4. Silent Witness (remains #4) 79 (1)
5. Southern Image (remains #5) 51
6. Peace Rules (remains #6) 50
7. Azeri (down from #6 tie) 46
8. Six Perfections (remains #8) 24
9. Yeats (remains #9) 17
10. Haafhd (remains #10) 16
不能光让别人娱乐，也要娱乐别人啊