Macca

Yeah, watching game 7 live was immense. Sport at it's finest. Though it's a team sport, the championship will be seen as a LeBron James triumph. The first team to win it after being 3-1 down too. That 73-9 regular season record that the Warriors set might be remembered for the wrong reasons.

Yep, the Pens were too good when it counted and were worthy Stanley cup winners ... San Jose weren't disgraced but they couldn't get near it in the last period and a half today. It must be an awesome feeling lifting this historic trophy ... here's a bit about it's history. 22 Things You Might Not Know About the Stanley Cup .

Yep, it's an excellent double tomorrow ... hoping for a Sharks win in game 6 just so we can get a game 7 (which would be Thursday 10am AEST) San Jose are a real show too - they've just got to get it done tomorrow.

The Sharks just have to win game 3 to have any chance in the series ... as it stands, they probably need to win the next 2 because if they are down 3-1, it's almost certainly all over. The Pens have just got it done in a professional way so far ... winning the first 2 games at home sets things up perfectly.

The idea has merit for a number of reasons TD ... one being that the smaller nations could be introduced into the lower division and help grow the game. Teams like Ireland & Afghanistan could cut their teeth against the lesser performed Test nations if we had 2 divisions. If the ICC added 2 nations I'd favour an 8 & 4 set-up as an initial launch (perhaps 7 & 5) Teams from the different divisions could still play each other but for lesser or greater points. One other reason is the promotion & relegation scenario where certain teams would suddenly have a lot more to play for ... the only issue I have with that is do test cricketers need any more incentive other than knowing what is expected and required upon selection? But the biggie for me would be the proper recognition for the best performed team in the top division - the no.1 test ranking isn't really celebrated as it should be or could be. A yearly trophy presented at the end of the New Year* tests could work (assuming South Africa, Australia & New Zealand were all in the top division) Current rankings ... Rank Team Matches Points Rating 1 Australia 32 3765 118 2 India 20 2238 112 3 Pakistan 20 2227 111 4 England 32 3370 105 5 New Zealand 25 2449 98 6 South Africa 22 2015 92 7 Sri Lanka 24 2113 88 8 West Indies 21 1374 65 9 Bangladesh 12 687 57 10 Zimbabwe 4 48 12 *We often have 3 tests all played in the first week of January in 3 different countries (Aus, S Afr & NZ) ... those tests are often the final tests of those particular series' ... if New Zealand weren't in the top division then maybe only 2 series would be the deciding factor (to arrive at the best performed test team of the season) Or perhaps a series could be held in Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Sharjah over the Xmas/New Year period. We could, in theory, have 4 series all played concurrently over the Xmas/New Year to decide things.

In the end we end up with the finalists that were the predicted long range finalists (Warriors vs Cavs) Great comeback by Golden State vs OKC and they might end up winning it all again ... should be a top series though. Hard to see the series not go at least 6 games but if it decided in 6 games then I reckon Golden State will prevail. LeBron is going to need some real help from Love & Irving if Cleveland hope to win ... 6 finals in a row for James too.

Maybe the Penguins for me but I'd really like to see San Jose win it just so we have a new team winning it all. I also like watching Crosby go about it so I don't really have a dog in the fight ... reckon it will go at least 6 games but a 7 game series wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. Starts Tuesday in Oz (10am)

3 stages to go in the Giro ... tonight's stage and tomorrow night's stage will decide things ... Here are the classifications going into tonight's stage ... 1. KRUIJSWIJK Steven TLJ 73h 50’ 37” 2. CHAVES Esteban OGE 3’ 00” 3. VALVERDE Alejandro MOV 3’ 23” 4. NIBALI Vincenzo AST 4’ 43” 5. ZAKARIN Ilnur KAT 4’ 50” 6. MAJKA Rafal TNK 5’ 34” 7. JUNGELS Bob EQS 7’ 57” 8. AMADOR Andrey MOV 8’ 53” 9. POZZOVIVO Domenico ALM 10’ 05” 10. SIUTSOU Kanstantsin DDD 11’ 15” Stage 19 ... Stage 20 ... Cycling News Giro d'Italia - Official site SBS - Cycling Central

Managed to listen to some radio coverage ... will watch highlights later. So it's Pittsburgh & San Jose ... should be a cracker of a series.

Well, I'm never confident with these things but it's great to see a new team in the final (Sharks) ... and as you said, today's game could go either way. The game is in Pittsburgh so that might give the advantage to the Pens. I'll be tuning in whenever I get a chance

Louis van Gaal expected to be replaced by Jose Mourinho within the next 24-48 hours ... apparently the news broke from a "source" at Man Utd before the FA cup final. Winning the cup obviously wasn't going to change the decision by the looks of it. I suppose it's been the worst 'best kept secret' for an age but it will be good to have Jose involved again (for the villain factor?) ... the title race next year should be a beauty - especially if Chelsea, Man Utd & Liverpool can all feature. José Mourinho’s Manchester United task list as he prepares for Old Trafford

Stage 14 in the Giro (tonight) ... Cycling News Giro d'Italia - Official site SBS - Cycling Central

I have to barrack for Man Utd because I want my team (the Hammers) to get into the Europa league next season. However, in the end, I'll be almost certainly wanting a Palace win ... it's always terrific when a team outside of the big clubs can win the FA cup. Leicester vs Crystal Palace in the Community shield would certainly be different. Good luck.

Had a look at Murray's history and whilst there's a fair bit of game time in the transition/development/2nd tier leagues, I don't know a great deal about the strength of those leagues (you and others would know more) Certainly he's been a great acquisition for the Pens (so far) He was pulled from today's game but these things happen. Anyway, Tampa looked good when going out to a 4-nil lead so that series is very much alive too.

We might end up with San Jose against the Pens in the final - hoping for that anyway. Pittsburgh were quite impressive today whilst the Sharks have their next 2 games at home ... win both and they'll have a 3-1 lead in their series against the Blues.

Stage 6 in the Giro (tonight) ... Cycling News Giro d'Italia - Official site SBS - Cycling Central

So, there's still a bit to play for in the EPL ... (the first 2 points has more to do with the Spurs/Gunners rivalry) Tottenham will finish 2nd (and above Arsenal) if they win or draw* at Newcastle Arsenal will finish 2nd if they win vs Villa and Tottenham lose at Newcastle Man City will finish 3rd if they win at Swansea & Arsenal lose at home to Villa ... Arsenal would then finish 4th Man Utd will finish 4th if they win their last game vs Bournemouth & Man City lose at Swansea 7th spot on the table might secure a Europa league spot depending on various results (see link below) West Ham, Southampton, Man Utd, Man City and/or Liverpool can or will secure a Europa League spot depending on a combination of results (again, see link below) Either West Ham* or Southampton can only finish as high as 5th. Man Utd can finish as low as 7th after losing at West Ham on Wednesday morning. *goal difference is not a realistic factor with some of the above scenarios. Remaining fixtures Premier League permutations: Which clubs can still qualify for Europe next season?

Every season I get a little bit more interested in college (and slightly more knowledgeable) but I quite honestly haven't got the time to fit it in. I find the weekly rankings a bit intriguing but that's about it. Bringing in semi-finals added more interest but they'd need a final 8 (at least) to get more of my attention. If they at least did that the teams would start to feel more familiar.

The Packers drafted 3 players for our defensive line, 2 offensive tackles, a WR and a DE. Our first round choice (DT Kenny Clark) looks a decent pick by all accounts. Anyway, from all reports, all the choices were valid and pleasing but I don't know a great deal about any of the draftees (I don't watch much college football apart from the odd big clash) Time will tell. Drafting remains a bit of a mystery to me as it does in the AFL. All the knowledge in the world can often amount to not much at all. I just trust that they know what they're doing and that they know what they're looking for (and I wish them some luck as well - because, there is an element of luck)

The complication arises is if one or both of the 2 teams that qualify for the Champions league final (this season) doesn't automatically qualify through their own leagues. The spot or spots either opens up or it doesn't ... otherwise, the Europa league winner needs to qualify through the playoffs for the group stages (in the UCL) Finishing 4th in the EPL or La Liga might mean facing Malmo or Rapid Wien for a spot in the group stages. Or Club Brugge

Ha! ... all of a sudden there's a lot to play for - the Europa league might be finally gaining a bit of gloss Getting into the Champions league equals a lot of extra dollars ( a total of €1.257bn. is distributed to the 32 qualified teams - depending on performance) ... and of course, signing top quality talent becomes a lot easier as well for teams who are involved in the UCL. My team (the Hammers) can still get to 4th if we can win out and if Arsenal can defeat Man City on Sunday (or if City lose at Swansea instead - in the final round) The EPL might provide one final twist and Man Utd could get to 4th as well (United are at West Ham next Wed morning) .

I believe either Liverpool or Sevilla will qualify directly for the group stage of the Champions league if either wins the Europa league. A prized spot has been opened up because the Champions league finalists (who automatically qualify for next seasons Champions league) have already qualified because of where they will finish in La Liga. Those teams of course are Atletico Madrid & Real Madrid. So, it's possible that either England or Spain could have 5 teams represented in the Champions league next season (4th place in either league goes into the playoff round for the Champions league group stage) Spain had 5 teams in this year's Champions league (Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla* & Valencia) *Sevilla won the Europa league last season.

The Giro d'Italia kicks off tonight in the Netherlands ... in fact, the first 3 stages are being held there. After the flat stages in Holland, many of the stages in Italy involve a number of gruelling climbs and it's quite relentless (especially stages 6, 8, 13, 14, 16, 19 & 20) Both SBS & Eurosport are covering the event. Nibali is favourite whilst Mikel Landa is a top pick as well ... Valverde is also a big chance. Here's a few sites to browse ... Cycling News Giro - Official site SBS - Cycling Central .

And there's every chance that the TV money* could keep rising at a rapid rate ... not so much from the money that the EPL gets from 'Sky', but the rights money from all the other broadcasters from all the other countries that have a high interest in the EPL. Optus here paid a premium for the rights, so much so that Foxtel opted out (or were outbid) ... in an open market, these things happen and there's not much that the other leagues can do to stop it other than to make their own leagues more attractive to a worldwide audience. But the EPL is booming just about everywhere and I can't see things slowing down in a hurry. The principles that apply in business also applies to sport - so we could easily end up with a super league much like the NBA, NHL & the MLB are in those sports. *The greater TV rights money will effectively give more spending power to all the EPL clubs which should in turn even up the competition - which will create even greater interest.

Leicester's triumph is just a great story and I can't see them necessarily dropping away ... they've already got a terrific starting 11 with some able back-ups and with the big TV money kicking in before the start of next season, they've got a real chance to strengthen their squad ... there's also the extra Champions league money (tens of millions of dollars) to consider. Plus, Leicester have got rich ownership. Leicester's record against the big 6 clubs was also a positive (16pts vs 13 pts) - all things considered, they did a hell of a lot of things right and are fully deserved champions. The stars aligned. As of next season, the spending power of all 20 of the Premier league clubs will reach unprecedented levels ... the league may well get even more competitive with more of the smaller clubs featuring. Squads will almost certainly be richer in talent so injuries (or the lack of injuries) will play a big part - we're entering a new phase where the overall outcomes won't be as predictable (IMO) Massive new English Premier League TV deal has the rest of European soccer worried .