The Stroke: Mid Week Review

It's just Wednesday, and it's already been a crazy week. With that said, here is the throwdown on the week's big sports news events. Prepare for a rising of the occasion. (You'll see.)

NBA Finals Keep Us Guessing

In Game Two of the Finals, the Celtics used great offense and stingy defense to hold off the Lakers 108-102 to take a 2-0 lead to the West Coast. Then things got really snooze-like in Game Three as the Kobe Show took centerstage and LA held off Boston 87-81 in a game that left all of us wondering if this was the same Lakers team that scored over 100 ppg this season.

If this is how things will be in the City of Angels, wake me up when we get back to Boston. Kobe is being Kobe, but it was the containment of the Big Three that sealed the deal for Los Angeles. Game Four is tomorrow night. Hope for a lot more scoring from somebody.

Kid Dynamite Joins Exclusive Club

In an era where everyone is under scrutiny for their behind the glory and behind the lines habits, Ken Griffey, Jr. has shown that you don't need steroids to hit the big time.

Two nights ago, Griffey joined the '600 Home Run' Club in royal fashion. In a day and age where guys like Clemens and Bonds are under a severe microscope, Griffey quietly made it to a milestone that he's been chasing through personal issues and injury. One lifetime ago, he was the future of Major League Baseball.

Today, he can add another title to his prestigious legacy: Cooperstown.

Big Bad Tim Flips The Script

Tim Donaghy has not been in the news for quite a while. Mainly because we all thought that we were done with this fiasco. But Tim may have just given us a reason to hear him out.

Donaghy claims that the last game of the 2002 Western Conference Finals was fixed by other referees. David Stern boldly responds that these are desperate allegations from a desperate man. But after everything that happened last year, can he really sweep this one under the rug?

I'm not going to bat for Donaghy, but when you think about the big lead that the Kings had against the Lakers late in the game, can you really blame us for questioning the outcome?

If Donaghy is telling the truth, expect Congress to change into their cheap Superman outfits and attempt to save us once again from a long winded summer filled with controversy.

Roger yells out, "VIVA VIAGRA!"

As if Roger Clemens' career couldn't go any further south, a new allegation pops out of the Yankees Clubhouse. A Yankee insider has laid claim that "The Rocket" was popping the infamous blue pill known for making a hot situation a little more stiff to help him pitch better in games.

I'm not a rocket scientist, nor do I claim to be. But what if Clemens was using the pills to keep up with the teenager he was jumping back in the day? If he was using it for the game, it would be the most bizarre use of the pill in recent memory. But it would also make Clemens the poster child for insane, irrational behavior.

Either way, am I the only one who is getting a good laugh out of this?

Here Comes The Money!

As originally reported two and a half weeks ago on Bleacher Report, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon lived up to the hype by giving $1 Million Dollars of his own money, and to the fans who received money (among other things), they wouldn't have it any other way.

After starting the night giving away $200,000, McMahon ended the night by not only giving $250,000 to an eighth person, but he also let the American WWE Fans that he will do it all over again next Monday night on RAW. Though many would think this is a cheap ploy to get fans, it seems to be working.

Since making the announcement, RAW ratings haven't dropped from 3.0. But the naysaysers would appreciate it if he would stop and get back to basics. Unfortunately, the creations that he has come up with have worked for him for many years.

So to Canada, Mexico and all the other countries who tune into RAW each week, on behalf of the United States of America, I say that we're sorry, but after everything that we've gone through this decade, we deserve this.

Coming up on ESPN...Softball?!

Baseball is called the great American pasttime. So what would you call softball? I call it the Great American Bore. I haven't found the interest in softball, and when they interrupt a good football classic to pan over to a softball game, that makes me want to take a nap.

All I'm saying is that if you're going to change one game to another, make sure that the game you're tuning into is even worth looking at. People wonder why some certain segments of the Olympics get changed, this is why. No one writes about softball as much as ESPN or Fox Sports thinks. Even former softball players don't write about the sport.

So with that said, I pose the question: Is Softball really a sport or is it just a way to show fairness in a sport that is dominated by men?

That's the mid week review. Hope it doesn't bring anyone to a slumber.