NBA
Okay, so I do believe that I picked the Miami Heat, although admittedly, I did not expect to see them struggle as much as they did, having to survive two consecutive seven game series, and facing three elimination games. When they had that incredible winning streak earlier in the season, I had assumed that they were the best team in the league. Perhaps the margin by which they seemed better was a bit exaggerated, however. They were not way better than either the San Antonio Spurs or the Indiana Pacers, just better.
Still, it was enough, and the Miami Heat have now won two titles in a row. On top of that, they have made it to three consecutive NBA Finals, which elevates their status to a virtual dynasty. If this team manages to stay together for a few more years, and if they were to win another NBA crown, then that would indeed cement their status as a dynasty.
That said, I think it is safe to say at this point that it is not a given that they will indeed win another title. They lost to the Mavericks a couple of years ago, and survived a very tough series against the Spurs this time around. The Western Conference still has more talented teams and a tougher road for the team that finally emerges to go through, and that should make it tough for anyone in the East.
For the last three seasons, however, the Miami Heat were the obvious choice as the best in the East. I don't believe that it will be so automatic next year, though. The Indiana Pacers were really knocking on the door, and it seems that the gap between the current beasts of the East - the Heat - and the rest of the Eastern Conference is shrinking.
But for now, like it or not, the Miami Heat are the NBA Champions once again, successfully defending last year's title, and for the third time in franchise history overall. I would certainly not have minded the San Antonio Spurs taking this title, and they definitely played well and had their shots. But they simply could not capitalize when it counted most, as they almost seemed to give the game away in the final minutes of both Game 6 and Game 7. Now, they will have to wait at least one more year to get another shot at a title, although no one on that team is getting any younger. That's for sure.
Give it up for the Miami Heat, because they really earned this one. They won a title the hard way, and that while winning it now for two years in a row, and coming up just short in their first Finals run, which means they were pretty close to having won three in a row.
NHL
Well, the first Stanley Cup Finals featuring two of the original six franchises is turning out to be a doozie!
How many tight, overtime games can two teams play, anyway?
The Chicago Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins are playing one series for the ages, and it is very hard to make anything in the way of predictions. I'm just enjoying how great this series seems to be!
If I have to make a pick, then I will stick with my guns here and predict that the Chicago Blackhawks will win their second title in four years, further cementing their elite status with a historical season of dominance.
Whoever wins will have overcome not just one, but two recent Stanley Cup champions (three, if the Chicago Blackhawks win, as they beat the Detroit Red Wings earlier in the playoffs, overcoming a 3-1 series deficit to do so).
The NHL has had it's share of problems, for sure. But these playoffs have been highly entertaining, and even great!
NFL
Okay, I will say this much: if the New England Patriots are anywhere near as successful as they have been in recent years this upcoming season, then Belichick, Brady and Co. are even better than I give them credit for - and I give them a lot of credit (yes, even as a Giants fan, I can recognize their greatness for what it is).
The New England Patriots lost Wes Welker, who has been among the most productive Patriots players for quite a few years now. Rob Gronkowski had back surgery. Aaron Hernandez now also seems like he might not be playing football this season, although I am guessing that he very well might, as well. At the very least, he will be a distraction. Another distraction that seems likely is the addition of quarterback Tim Tebow.
All that, and the Patriots are certainly not getting any younger, to boot. Tom Brady has a limited window of opportunity, and this season might be spiraling out of control for them before it even starts.
But then again, you have the Jets, the Bills, and the Dolphins in their division. While it is not unthinkable that any of those teams might have a surprisingly strong season and at least challenge, if not outright overtake, the Patriots for the division title, it is not exactly something that you can bank on. The Dolphins seem to make strides, and yet, they have been a perennial underachiever in recent years. They showed signs of being significantly better last season, and seem to be improved this season. But I doubt that they are on a level where they will remain consistent and be a strong contender from start to finish in the upcoming season. The Jets are....well, the Jets. They seem to underachieve as a matter of course, right? Those consecutive AFC Championship game appearances are starting to feel like a very long time ago. Rex Ryan is not shooting off at the mouth quite so freely or loudly anymore, and the Super Bowl predictions also seem to be a thing of the past, mercifully. This team may be going in the right direction, but that is never a certainty with this franchise. And the Bills had a disappointing season, as their supposedly new and improved defense proved suspect, and at times, highly vulnerable. With a rookie quarterback possibly at the helm, the prospects do not look good for them to be a serious contender this season.
So, I will go ahead and predict that the Patriots will win the division again, although despite the limitations of the other teams, this prediction feels like it is more on shaky ground then in years past. Still, these are the Patriots, and they have been the one consistent bright spot in a weak division for a long, long time, haven't they? They will likely emerge as the best of a mediocre bunch, but don't expect another Super Bowl run. But, if they do go back to the Super Bowl, then Belichick and Brady should go down as among the very greatest coach/quarterback combos in history, if not the best.
Tennis
I was away for vacation these last few days, but I just wanted to talk a little bit about the French Open.
Serena Williams, to her credit, won her second ever French Open, proving that her prior triumph here was no fluke. The clay courts at Roland Garros are generally seen as the toughest playing surface of all the Grand Slam events, if not in the sport as a whole. So winning another title here further cements her elite status as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
As for Nadal, he has now won eight titles here overall. If it is indeed true that the clay-courts are the toughest surface, than what does it say about this man, that he has completely dominated this surface now for the better part of a decade? The only year that he did not win it was when he was seriously injured, which gave Roger Federer his victory in Paris, finally allowing him to complete a career Grand Slam that might not have been possible if Nadal had been at full strength. Right now, another player is trying to break through in Paris to achieve the elusive career Grand Slam, that being world number one Novak Djokovic. But who is standing in his way the last two years? Nadal.
And oh, by the way, Nadal himself has achieved not only the career Grand Slam, being only one of seven men in history to have achieved this feat, but he also won the gold medal in the men's singles in the Olympics, joining Andre Agassi as the only man to have achieved this feat (Federer came very close last year, but no cigar).
Nadal has now won 12 Grand Slams overall, and again, at least one in each tournament. The French is obviously his most successful one, but his second most succesful Grand Slam is Wimbledon, which is coming up now very soon. Nadal has overcome some unbelievable obstacles and injuries during his ow stories career, and he now seems to be at full strength. He joined another elite club by winning his twelfth Grand Slam title, as only three other men have won as many in history. So, he joined the likes of Federer, Sampras, and Emerson in this very elite category, and he is still quite young (he is 27 years old). He has some good years left in him, and I think he will likely eclipse Emerson and probably even Sampras before he is done. I doubt that he will catch Federer, although that is not completely out of the question, either.
But one way or the other, in winning this past French Open, he elevated his status beyond almost any other men's tennis player, and joined the truly elite players in history. I think he will add to it further, but whatever happens, he is among the very greatest tennis players of all time, bar none. It is amazing to think that there are at least two such active players to have achieved tennis immortality that are still on the active circuit (Nadal and Federer), and possibly a third that might join them, in Djokovic. This is one of the most amazing times to be a fan of this sport, and we had better appreciate it while it lasts!
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