I had a reader mention to me yesterday that he felt my take on LeBron James winning his second championship may have been a bit jaded. He might be right, but when you’re immersed in sports all the time, it
I had a reader mention to me yesterday that he felt my take on LeBron James winning his second championship may have been a bit jaded. He might be right, but when you’re immersed in sports all the time, it becomes easier to take certain things for granted and more difficult to be surprised.
That was not the case this past week, in both good and bad ways.
The past seven days were some of the most bizarre I can ever remember. It seemed to begin with the shocking upsets of both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in the opening rounds of Wimbledon. Nadal, coming off his eighth French Open championship just a few weeks earlier, fell in the first round to a fellow by the name of Steve Darcis. This wasn’t some unfortunate draw for Nadal against a player just outside the seedings. Darcis entered Wimbledon ranked 135th in the world and proceeded to oust the Spaniard in straight sets (7-6, 7-6, 6-4).
Top players then started going down left and right as slick grass courts twisted knees, ankles and emotions until few of the top seeds remained. Maria Sharapova hit the ground a few times during her second-round loss, as did Caroline Wozniacki, both former No. 1-ranked women. Victoria Azarenka exited with injury, as did seeded men Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, John Isner, Maran Cilic, even the first-round darling, Darcis.
That was all before Roger Federer lost his second-round match to someone named Serhiy Stakhovsky, who, it turns out, is the 116th-ranked player in the world. It was the first time since 2004 – a span of 36 Grand Slam tournaments – that Federer failed to reach the quarterfinals.
Monday was also Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals, when the Chicago Blackhawks won the Cup with a pair of goals within 17 seconds to eliminate the Boston Bruins. I actually saw the Bruins take a 2-1 lead with their late goal, ran across the street to pick up my lunch order, ran back and saw the teams shaking hands after the Blackhawks’ 3-2 win. Oops.
Then came Thursday’s NBA Draft. When it comes to the Draft, very little still surprises me. I’ve become numb to NBA general managers making boneheaded decisions (in my opinion) and overlooking sure things (in my opinion) for risky upside and long shot potential (in my opinion). And while I mentioned in my NBA Mock Draft (Wednesday, June 26) that Anthony Bennett was still a sleeper to go first overall, I never really thought the Cleveland Cavaliers would make him their selection.
Then Nerlens Noel, the more likely top pick, fell all the way to No. 6. Then Ben McLemore, the likely second pick, fell all the way to No. 7. Then the Philadelphia 76ers traded All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday. Then about 67 European players with impossible names to pronounce, remember or spell correctly were selected.
Then Hakeem Olajuwon showed up in his tuxedo and red bow tie from 1984!
Then Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were traded from the Boston Celtics – within the division! – to the Brooklyn Nets.
This was all occurring as Celtics head coach Doc Rivers was essentially traded to the Los Angeles Clippers and then had a live on-air spat with ESPN analyst Bill Simmons.
Unfortunately, that’s where the fun surprises end. Taking a serious turn, all of this pales in comparison to what has unfolded in the case of New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez. The 23-year-old who recently signed a $40 million contract has now been charged with murder and multiple weapons offenses in what appears to be an execution-style killing.
While former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis once stood trial for murder, that charge was knowingly ramped up by the prosecution. It’s still extremely early and there are many details yet to emerge, but Hernandez being involved appears to be less of a stretch than the Lewis case. Additionally, investigators are now trying to determine if he was also involved in a 2012 double-homicide.
The NFL has seen a number of players arrested for weapons, domestic violence and vehicular manslaughter over the past 12 months. Hernandez’s gruesome charge only piles on and keeps the NFL in a light it has been long trying to outrun.
A shocking week, to say the least.
• ‘My Thoughts Exactly’ appears Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays in The Garden Island. Email David Simon your comments or questions to dsimon@thegardenisland.com. Follow David on Twitter @SimonTGI
