Angels pitch a no-hit, still lose (Sunday Links)

it's only happened five times, and last night was the fifth: the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim had two pitchers combine to throw a no-hitter - but they still lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 1-0.

How does this happen? Two errors, a steal and a sacrifice fly, that's how.

In the fifth inning, Dodgers Matt Kemp reached on a fielding error by Jared Weaver, stole second, advanced on a throwing error by Angels catcher Jeff Mathis and then scored from third on a Blake DeWhitt sac fly.

It's the first time this has happened since 1992, reported the Elias Sports Bureau, and the fifth time since 1900.

Predictably, this is the lead in most sports sections - but go with the AP recap of the game, which interviews everybody from the pitchers to the managers to even the official scorer.

Over in the opinion pages, the Kansas City Star's Jason Whitlock brings up Brandon Rush as an example why NCAA schools should have athletes - in particular, basketball players - major in the sport they play. It's an interesting point, and it's not one without it's merits.

"A kid who wants to be an architect can study architecture, a musician can study music. But a basketball player can’t study his discipline and receive academic credit for it. And we wonder why so many of these kids have no interest in school.

You can teach all the educational disciplines — math, English, science, etc. — through athletics. You can teach kids to think critically by properly teaching them the sports world. All the responsibility of preparing Chalmers and Arthur for the NBA (and life) should not have fallen on the overworked shoulders of Bill Self and his coaching staff."

William C Rhoden goes on a similar path in the New York Times with a column on Joe Dumar's return to and graduation from college and asks why more players don't do the same in a one-and-done era.

"One year in college isn’t the answer either, and a growing number of people inside the lawyer-run N.B.A. know it.

They know, as Dumars came to understand, that it’s fine to have photo ops in which players read books to young people. But how can you preach the value of an education if you don’t value it enough to return to college to finish what you began?"

Elsewhere, Mike Lupica joins the LeBron-is-headed-to-New-York party, over half a year since LeBron wore a Yankees hat to an Indians/Yankees playoff game. But here, he uses it - and one fan's reaction to the 2008 Draft - to show the state of that franchise.

"So now everybody plays Fantasy Basketball with LeBron. You want to know how far the Knicks have fallen? The pipe dream about LeBron - and that's all it is right now - is how far. The Knicks aren't just the worst team in town, they are the one furthest from being something."

But what if LeBron jumps to the Nets? What then, Lupica? Anyway.

Finally, the blogs: Deadspin's new editor starts on Monday, and it's a familiar face. But it's got nothing on the latest from the Stephen A Smith Hecking Society of Gentlemen, who are back and better then ever.

O'Neal for Ford deal works both ways for Raps

Taken at face value, trading away a starting point guard, a good backup centre and a first round draft pick for an oft-injured centre doesn’t seem like a great move.

But trading away TJ Ford, Rasho Nesterovic and the 17th pick is a shrewd move by Toronto Raptors GM Bryan Coangelo.

For most of last season, but especially in the playoffs, the Raptors found themselves with two glaring problems. First was the lack of a solid big man, which centre Rasho Nesterovic was not, Andrea Bargnani did not want to be.

Sure, their outside shooting style worked well enough for most of the year: they won 41 games and the sixth seed in the playoffs. They even won against the likes of Orlando, Portland and Boston.

But look a little closer at those box scores. For example, in that 114-112 win over Boston, the Raptors shot an exceptional 15 of 21 from outside, with Carlos Delfino hitting five of five. But their inside game was the opposite – they only grabbed four offensive boards, the same number as Ray Allen.

In the playoffs against Orlando, this was especially obvious. All throughout those five games, Toronto had no answer to the Magic’s Dwight Howard, costing them the series. Their outside shooting was matched by Orlando and they didn’t have the inside game to compensate.

Surely, this is one of the major reasons that the Raptors underachieved. If you go by their Pythagorean record, a tool that goes by points scored and allowed, the Raps should have won 49 games, not 42.

That was major fault number one. Number two was their point guard situation.

When Atlanta Hawks centre Al Horford knocked Ford down on a drive to the basket in December –injuring Ford enough to be removed on a stretcher - it looked like the Raptors season could be hitting an unfortunate and early end, say nothing about the long-term effects the injury would have on Ford.

But a funny thing happened. Backup Jose Calderon, who by that point was splitting time with Ford and coming off the bench, blossomed as a starter. While he may have lucked into a starting role, he seemed to be a linchpin for the Raptors, who began to thrive.

They won three of the next four games, and went on to win eight games in January, including a dramatic double overtime win over Portland. Calderon, he with the deft outside touch and the great passing skills, had improved dramatically from the previous season and was a major part of the Raptors success.

If Ford didn’t come back, the Raptors might have been okay. But he came back, and it threw the Raptors off their game.

When the Raptors traded for Ford, he was supposed to be the starting PG and he was paid appropriately: to the tune of $8 million, says basketball-reference.com. But with the great play of Calderon, would it be fair to immediately stick Ford back in the starting position?

But that’s what the Raptors did. Not starting put Ford in a funk, and it was the last thing the Raptors needed late in the season, when they were battling for a playoff spot.

Both Ford and Calderon was a logjam, and an especially bad one to have. Ford had become temperamental, had a reputation for taking bad shots and was an injury risk. Calderon, who was again coming off the bench, but looked to be the better point guard, was a free agent after the season.

Both wanted to start, and the one who didn’t was likely gone. What to do?

A couple days before the draft, trade rumours began to fly. One was TJ to the Suns for Boris Diaw, a trade that wouldn’t have fixed much. Where would Diaw, a combo forward-guard, fit in the rotation? And what of his reputation for vanishing in big games?

Another was TJ going to the Knicks for Jamal Crawford. This trade would’ve helped the Knicks, who need a point guard, but not the Raptors, who don’t need another swingman.

But the rumour that became fact was Ford, Nesterovic, a player to be named later and the Raptors first round pick to the Indiana Pacers, who would send Jermaine O’Neal in return.

In the past three seasons, O’Neal’s stock had fallen considerably. While he had played in six all-star games and had made three All-NBA teams from 2001-02 to 2003-04, he had now played a full season since 2003-04. Plus, he still had the stigma from the Brawl at the Palace, which helped foster a reputation as a hothead.

In 2007-08, his numbers looked like this: 1206 minutes played (his lowest since becoming a starter), 225 FG (same), 283 rebounds (the same, and close to his lowest ever) and 87 blocks (he once had 228 blocks in a season).

So, what was Colangelo thinking? Surely, he could get better value for TJ, couldn’t he?

But, the more one thinks about this deal, the more sense it makes – since it works both ways.

First off, if O’Neal stays healthy, he dramatically improves the Raptors frontcourt. Instead of playing centre, Bosh can move to forward and Bargnani can come off the bench. Suddenly, the Raptors starting five will likely be this: Chris Bosh, O’Neal, Calderon, Delfino and Anthony Parker.

That means they have an inside game that matches against Orlando – by putting O’Neal in the low post against Howard. And they still have a good outside game with Delfino, and Calderon.

That means their bench improves too: Jamario Moon becomes their sixth man, and the pressure of Bargnani is turned down considerably. Plus, it solves their PG logjam, too.

But, like I said before, it works the other way too: if O’Neal isn’t healthy.

Why’s that? His salary, which maxes out at $23 million in two seasons, expires in 2009-10.

That’s the year that more then a few marquee players – such as LeBron James – become free agents. And while it doesn’t give the Raptors a lot of wiggle room now, it gives them the space to make a big splash in a couple seasons.

Remember, it was big, hefty deals that helped a lot of teams make big splashes this season with trades. Like Keith Van Horn’s expiring contract, which helped to bring Jason Kidd to the Dallas Mavericks.

So if O’Neal’s a bust and the Raptors are in good shape, his expiring deal could be worth a lot to a rebuilding team, and bring in some young talent. Or they could hang on him and sign a major talent or two.

Simply put, this trade works both ways. It’s a slick move by Colangelo, and it’s one the Raptors will be glad to have made, no matter what happens.

Wait Till Next Year - a review

In a time long since passed, it was the rallying cry for the tortured New York sports fan: Wait till next year. But it’s also the title of one of the best sports books in recent memory.

Written by screenwriter William Goldman and sportswriter Mike Lupica, Wait Till Next Year is a look at the teams of New York – the Giants, the Jets, the Yankees, the Mets, the Knicks, the Nets – in 1987.

It was a year full of promise, but one where nothing much happened. Teams faltered, underperformed and fell apart down the stretch. Dwight Gooden went into rehab, the NFL went on strike and the Nets won 19 games.

But that’s not the point of this book.

Broken into four parts, one for each sport, and then further divided between Lupica’s behind closed doors columns and Goldman’s essays on being a fan, Wait Till Next Year is a great look at sports as a whole.

Lupica’s tight, controlled prose takes you behind the doors of the clubhouse and dressing rooms, to where Kieth Hernandez smokes a butt while trying to keep the clubhouse in check, to the picket lines around Giants Stadium and to the office of Lou Piniella, where he tries to keep his team afloat amid George Steinbrenner's constant micromanaging.

His pieces, which could work on their own, are counterbalanced by Goldman’s “A fan’s notes”. In these, Goldman writes about avoiding a game, as to not disturb it’s outcome, about taping a Knicks/Celtics game and the sloppiness of scab football.

Together, by swapping essays, the book never goes too far to one side. Even while dealing with serious topics, it never stays too serious for too long; conversely, it never stays too loose, either.

It’s not without it’s faults, though. Lupica’s a baseball man through and through, and goes light on the football and basketball chapters. And neither of them care much for hockey, as the Rangers and Islanders don’t make an appearance in the book. And the book did come out nearly 20 years ago – more then a few scenes show their age.

But those are pretty minor gripes. Wait Till Next Year is an enjoyable look at sports in general, not just those in New York, but from a vantage point, as well as one of the best sports books in the past 25 years.

Lakers' choke in the big smoke

Call it the choke in the big smoke.

The Lakers had a 24-point lead, a home floor, and the MVP of the league on their team last night. And yet, they still fell apart, losing 97-91.

Tailor-made for ESPN Classic. Sometimes you just get that feeling, that you’re watching something that you’ll see there in a few years: the 2006 Fiesta Bowl, the 2005 Rose Bowl, game five of the 2006 NHL Finals.

But last night, they might as well have simulcast that game – it was that good.

Oddly enough, I only caught the comeback, after I tuned in at halftime. In a way, though, that’s for the best – had I watched the first half, I don’t know if I would have watched the second half, the Lakers were that dominant.

Dominant. The big three sure were last night. Ray Allen shook, blew even, the cobwebs off and was great, grabbing rebounds, hitting tough shots and, in one inspired possession, grabbed a board, ran the length of the court and hit a dynamite reverse layup. It was a dagger in the heart of the Lakers – after Allen blew their doors off with that, they were dead in the water.

They shouldn’t have been. Throughout most of the fourth, when the Celtics battled their way back into the game, they couldn’t close the gap - they tied the game four times, but didn’t take the lead until the final five minutes of the game. The Lakers had chances and chances to build on their lead, make it a two possession game at the least. But they couldn’t hit.

(Fun fact: ESPN Classic is re-airing this as an instant classic. What was the last such game that was an Instant Classic? Answer at the end of the column.)

Reigning league MVP Kobe Bryant had an odd night to say the least. He was 6-19 for 17 points. And he had 10 rebounds. But late in the game, he was definitely Michael Jordan-like.

Just not NBA-Champion Jordan. More like the Jordan of the late 1980s, who tried to do too much and never got anywhere with it.

So, where would this choke rank on the all-time choke list? Let’s pull that dossier out and see:

1983 NFC Championship: leading 21-0 in the fourth quarter at home, the Redskins fall apart defensively to the Niners, who tie the game. But in a stunning double-choke, the Niners are called for two bad penalties that keep a Redskin drive alive, and Mark Moseley hits his first field goal of the game (he had been missing them all game) and the Skins pull out a win.

1993 AFC Wild Card: with their Run-and-gun offense, the Houston Oilers lead 35-3 in the third, only to choke it all away. The Bills, in a role-reversal, score 28 in the third and a touchdown in the fourth to knot the game at 38. They would win on a Christie kick in overtime to seal the comeback.

Game three, 1982 Smythe Finals: The Edmonton Oilers, led by hall of famers Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Paul Coffey lead the Los Angeles Kings 5-0 after 40 minutes. But the Kings battled back, scoring five unanswered goals, the last of which with only 5 seconds left. The Oilers had suddenly lost their scoring touch and missed several good chances. They would lose in overtime, on a Daryl Evans goal, and the series in five games.

1990 Smythe Semi-finals. After winning game four in double overtime, the Winnipeg Jets take a 3-1 series lead over the Oilers. But the Edmonton would win the next two games, each by a goal, and force game seven, where they won 4-1. The Oilers would go on to win the Stanley Cup, while the Jets were never a force again in the playoffs.

2002 Eastern Conference Finals, game three: Leading by 21 in the fourth quarter, the New Jersey Nets fall apart late (Jason Kidd missed four three-pointers late), while the Boston Celtics – led by Paul Pierce, who would score 19 in the fourth – come back to win, 94-90. However, the Nets would win the series in six games.

1994 Western Semi-Finals, game two: The Houston Rockets led by 20 in the fourth, but the Phoenix Suns roared back. Led by Charles Barkley (34 points, 15 boards, 6 assists) and Kevin Johnson (27 points, 6 boards, 6 assists), they forced overtime and won, 124-117, giving them a 2-0 series lead. At the time, it was the largest comeback in NBA playoffs history. However, the Rockets made NBA history too: they became only the second team to win a series after losing the first two games at home.

So where does it rank? Above the two hockey ones, for sure, as well as the Suns comeback, since it’s the finals. Ahead of the Celtics comeback in ’02, since it was on the road. Ahead of the Niners comeback in 83, since the Niners lost (albeit on two bad calls).

And if they win the series, it’s ahead of the Bills comeback, since they got stomped in the Superbowl that year.

So, what was the last instant classic? Not Lebron’s two-OT masterpiece against the Pistons. And it’s not game five of the ’05 Finals, either.

It was that two-OT duel between Dallas and Phoenix – or should I say between Dirk and Nash – from late last season. Although, game five was also an instant classic, too.

Penguins come up big in triple OT

It was supposed to be a celebration. The Red Wings win the Stanley Cup on their home ice. And as the seconds ticked away, the Cup loomed closer and closer.

Then Max Talbot banged in a rebound. Before either team knew it, the celebration had become a marathon.

With that goal, the Penguins tied the game at 3 apiece, sending the game to overtime.

It had been a back and forth game all night, with neither team taking a clear advantage. The Penguins got on the board first, with a Marian Hossa goal , then with another from Adam Hall. 2-0 after 20.

But the Wings rallied back, scoring three unanswered goals, one in the second and two in the third. It was their usual suspects: Datsyuk tied the game up, Brian Rafalski put them ahead. 3-2 for Detroit as the game entered it’s final minute.

Pittsburgh pulled their goalie, always a risky gamble. Two years ago, it backfired on the Edmonton Oilers in game seven – Carolina solidified their lead late and won, 3-1. This time, however, it worked: Max Talbot tied the game at 19:25.

In overtime, Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury seemed to stand on his head. At least four times, he made gigantic saves that kept the Penguins season alive.

But he had been for the whole game, when he faced 34 shots through the first 60 minutes.

Overtime was something else, though. A microcosm of the game, albeit reversed, it started with Detroit keeping the pressure on Fleury. About halfway though, they led in shots, six to one. But as the period continued, Pittsburgh moved to the offensive, but with little success.

Perhaps their age betrayed them. They couldn’t find an open look, their two-on-ones were too slow, they couldn’t get through the formidable Detroit defence. Before long, the shots had nearly been doubled, 10 to two.

As the overtime wind down, the Penguins looked out of gas. With under three minutes to play, Detroit had a great chance. Franzen and Zetterberg crashed the net, forcing Fleury to make a sprawling save, lying down on his side.

A break, however, came the Penguins way: an interference call against Zetterberg on that scramble. But even then, they couldn’t capitalize – the penalty passed harmlessly and Detroit had another great scoring chance, a rush after a Jordan Staal turnover. That was it for the first overtime, though.

The second OT began with a bang – about five minutes in, the Red Wings took another penalty. Here the Penguins went on the offsenive, and got some of their best chances of the night. But – again – they didn’t score.

Later on, both sides found themselves with more chances. Ruutu had a great chance, but Osgood shut him out.

Given enough time, any two teams in the Finals will even themselves out. As the game neared the 90 minute mark, faceoffs were about even for both. The score had remained stagnant for the longest time all game. Tempers ran short, and both sides began to tire.

Instead of a constant rush, the Wings were making more and more odd-man rushes, like the one where Kris Draper leveled a backhand at Fleury (he made the save). Or the one where Datsyk couldn’t deke his man on a one-on-one.

Increasingly, the puck began to spend more time in Detroit’s end – experience goes a long way in the playoffs, but the younger team tires more slowly, I guess. But at the same time, action had slowed down considerably too.

But after a Detroit rush – the highlight of which was a shot that bounced high and nearly into the net – Pittsburgh took a penalty with just over two minutes left, their first in sudden death. Detroit kept the pressure on and played with a renewed intensity. But again, not enough.

Third overtime, now. One game becames two. And still, Detroit pressed the Penguins, keeping them in their own end.

Their aggressiveness would be their undoing, though. Another penalty, a four-minute double minor on Juri Hudler for high-sticking, 9:21 into the third overtime.

Three times the charm, for the Penguins. Petr Sykora netted his sixth of the playoffs from the right circle, not even a minute after that penalty.

The Penguins are still alive, and will go back home to the Mellon for game six. Do they have a chance? I doubt it.

The main thing – and perhaps the only thing – that kept them alive throughout this game was the stellar play of Fleury. He made key saves throughout nearly 50 minutes of sudden death overtime, not to mention the 60 minutes of regulation.

All in all, he made 55 saves in game five. Say that again, out loud – fifty five saves. Twenty four of those were in sudden death, where a Detroit goal would end their season.

That’s nearly double was Osgood faced, who didn’t have as much pressure on him. Pressure to keep his team alive, pressure from the Red Wings, who outshot the Penguins in every period last night.

That means that Fleury was on the ice for almost 110 minutes last night. Not standing, but sprawling, scrambling to keep the puck out.

It was a singular preformnce in goaltending last night, the perfect cap to one of the best matchups the Finals have had in a long time.

To me, it was like game six of the 1980 finals, when Bob Nystrom won the first of four Islander Cups with an overtime goal.

That was the start of their dynasty. Was this the start of the Penguins?