By “Nunnie” Sylvester, Westside Gazette Newspaper Sports Editor
The 150th Kentucky Derby, held this past Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, peaked my interest when I learned that Bahamian trainer Larry Demeritte had entered West Saratoga, a horse that owner Harry Veruchi purchased for $11,000, even more remarkable when you consider that the most expensive horse in the Derby – Sierra Leone which finished second – cost $2.3 million. The last time a minority trainer entered a horse in the Derby was in 1989 when Hank Allen finished 6th in the Derby with a horse named Northern Wolf. Black trainers dominated the Derby’s early years, winning seven of the first 17 from 1875-1891. Good omens favored Larry, who was diagnosed with cancer in 1996, as he has stayed the course in fulfilling his dream of not just entering but winning a triple crown event. The first omen was being assigned Barn 42, the same used by Seattle Slew which won the triple crown in 1977. A second good omen was Exaggerator, West Saratoga’s sire who finished second in the 2016 Kentucky Derby and won the Preakness and the Haskell. As I watched the race unfold, excellent early positioning succumbed to a larger horse forcing West Saratoga wide, coupled with the astonishingly high 20 horses in Derby significantly weakening any chance of winning or placing. A proud moment nonetheless.
With NBA playoffs in full swing, much has been made about the L A Lakers’ firing of Head Coach Darvin Ham (after losing a very competitive opening series to the defending champions Denver Nuggets), who led them to the finals last year, won the inaugural in-season tournament championship this year and had a combined 90-74 won/loss record in 2 years. I can only surmise that he didn’t have the support of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. If the expectation is win a championship or bust, then every head coach who doesn’t win that year’s title should be fired.
The Heat’s expected early exit in playoffs was exacerbated by Jimmy Butler’s ill-advised comment that the Heat would have defeated the Celtics if he had played, a statement that President Pat Riley took exception to when he opined that if you’re not playing, then shut up. At Jimmy’s age and injury history, extending his contract may not be prudent or feasible.
After some questionable calls – a phantom kicked ball and an untimely called pick – favoring the Knicks, victory was snatched away from the Pacers in MSG Monday night. Officials, let the players decide the game on the court by being consistent with calls. The Pacers/Knicks series should be competitive and entertaining.
Not so much with the T-Wolves and Nuggets as the Anthony Edwards led juggernaut has won the first 2 games in Denver, the last convincingly. Perhaps the Lakers series took something out of the Nuggets.
While the Boston/Cleveland series should prove anticlimactic, don’t sleep on OKC and Dallas. NBA fans everywhere should be thrilled, in hog heaven.
San Antonio’s phenomenal Victor Wembanyama has been named unanimous Rookie of the Year for 2024.
One final note: The NBA season, 82 regular season games, is too long. Driven by incredible, outrageous salaries, injuries to players inevitably result, weakening the product on the court. Also the 2 Minute report following games should be scrapped.
Confirmation after the fact is useless.
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