Destiny favors the Knicks, despite the NBA star system

 1973.

That was the last time the Knicks were NBA champions. The last title run for Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Phil Jackson, Earl Monroe, and Bill Bradley. The Mets tried to ride that momentum to another World Series that fall, but fell to the then-Oakland A's in 7 games as the A's won their 2nd straight title. The Yankees, Jets, Giants, & Rangers weren't even close.

2026.

An improbable post-season run culminated in the first NBA title since then on Saturday night, as the Knicks avenged a 1999 NBA finals loss to San Antonio by dusting the Spurs in 5 games. Jalen Brunson took on the role of Willis Reed, willing his team to victory, leading the Knicks with 45 points as his father, Rick, a member of the 1999 team, and now, an assistant coach, looked on from the Knicks bench.

Predictably, fans in NYC were delirious, and also prone to violence, just out of sheer stupidity, not knowing how to properly celebrate. For the Knicks' man-child owner, James Dolan, he adds the Larry O'Brien trophy to the Stanley Cup the Rangers won 32 years ago.

But, it almost didn't happen, because of the NBA's star system, and how they want to protect their most marketable players, like the Spurs' Victor Wembanyama. In the 3rd quarter, as the Knicks were making their comeback, the refs missed what would've been a flagrant foul, committed by Wembanyama, on Brunson. Knicks coach Mike Brown, Brunson, and Knicks fans who made the pilgrimage to San Antonio, complained. So did ESPN's team of Mike Breen, Tim Legler, & Richard Jefferson. The refs held their whistles because the league, conspiracy theorists say, wanted the series to continue.

But, to borrow from 80's singer Taylor Dayne, you "can't fight fate". The Knicks persevered, and ended 53 years of title frustration. Dolan would also have a WNBA title trophy if he hadn't sold the Liberty a few years ago.

For all the negativity that came with president Trump showing up at MSG on Monday, with granddaughter Kai in tow, the Knicks, you can say, gave Washington's resident man-child an early birthday present.

But, now comes the hard part. Repeating. Good luck.

Gene Shalit (1926-2026)

 He was America's most famous film critic, until Chicago's Roger Ebert & Gene Siskel got their own show. A bushy mustache, with an afro to match, made Gene Shalit a television icon for nearly 40 years on The Today Show, starting around 1972.

Shalit didn't just do movie reviews. He also conducted interviews with actors whose films he'd review, such as, in this case, a 1981 interview with Liza Minelli, who was promoting "Arthur":

Shalit parlayed his fame on Today into appearances on game shows such as What's My Line? & To Tell The Truth, and was parodied by the likes of Eugene Levy (SCTV), and Horatio Sanz (Saturday Night Live). His likeness also turned up in animated form via The Critic and Family Guy.

Rest in peace.

Family Fridays: The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet, aka The Adventures of The Nelson Family (1952)

 Bandleader Ozzie Nelson, previously on Red Skelton's radio show, had spun off into his own radio series, which transitioned to television in 1952, beginning a 14 year run on ABC.

It was Ozzie, wife Harriet, and sons Rick & David, with the usual recurring cast of supporting characters, representing the prototypical American family in the 50's.

In syndication, the series used the alternate title, The Adventures of The Nelson Family, as you'll see in this sample episode, with guests Lyle Talbot, Frank Cady (later of Green Acres & Petticoat Junction), and Parley Baer (later of The Andy Griffith Show):

In 2 weeks, we'll visit with Henry Fonda, Ron Howard, and The Smith Family.

This week in presidential stupidity

 You've heard or read by now that president Trump claims he's nearing a deal with Iran.

And if you believe that one, then he's got a bridge to sell you. Somewhere in a swamp.

On the other side, the Iranian government, which closed the Strait of Hormuz----again----on Thursday, isn't budging from its current negotiating stance, contrary to what Trump wants everyone here to believe.

What Trump, who will be 80 on Sunday, doesn't comprehend is that not only are the people here in the US not buying his hyperbolic BS, but the Iranians can see right through him. The game of diplomatic chicken will continue.

Some fly-by-night jobroni company, 15 Seconds to Fame, copped to digitally altering audio of Trump getting booed at Madison Square Garden on Monday, subbing the boos & jeers with cheers to make him happy. Golfer Kai Trump, the president's granddaughter (Don, Jr.'s daughter) took notice of it, and that forced the company out in the open.

Nice to know Kai has more on the ball than her father & grandfather combined.

We're learning that President Buzzkill won't be at tonight's Team USA first round match in the World Cup (9 pm, Fox) at SoFi stadium, just outside Los Angeles. Just as well. Someone should give him some Sominex so he can sleep at a decent hour.

President Buzzkill, as you know, will now headline what was supposed to be a month long state fair at the National Mall in Washington, scheduled to start later this month. He'll be joined by 80's country star Lee Greenwood, and opera star Christopher Macchio, whom Trump has compared to another 80's icon, Luciano Pavarotti. Trump threw shade on the artists that dropped out, like Martina McBride, Young MC, and the Commodores, and the ones that seemingly were still in, including Flo Rida and 90's star Vanilla Ice, who acted like he was oblivious to it all.

And, then, there's the matter of the Kennedy Center.

The Center board, all appointed by President Buzzkill himself, wants a stay on removing Trump's name from the center, which is due to be removed this weekend. I think the idea is that they want it there through Sunday. Good luck with that. Trump's name is already off the center's website. Taking it off the building should've been done already, but for the delay tactic by this group of bootlicking goofs.

Personally, I'd strap Trump to a chair and make him watch "Billy Madison" in a 24 hour loop........

Could another title drought come to an end? The Knicks are on the verge

 53 years.

That's how long it's been since the Knicks were last NBA champions. Back then, you had Willis Reed, Earl Monroe, Bill Bradley, Walt Frazier, and Phil Jackson, who'd later win a bunch of titles as a coach. 

Today, the Knicks have the likes of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Karl-Anthony Towns, and they're a game away from their 3rd NBA title.

Wednesday night, the Knicks erased a 29 point 2nd half deficit to beat San Antonio, and take a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals, with Game 5 set for Saturday night in San Antonio.

Remember when they'd hype the Muscular Dystrophy telethons back in the day? "Stay up with Jerry (Lewis), and watch the stars come out!", Ed McMahon would intone in the voiceover.

The Knicks had the stars at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night....

Missing from the picture: Michael J. Fox and rapper Fat Joe.

Knicks radio co-host Monica McNutt, however, threw cold water on Taylor Swift's appearance, not realizing that the singer is, in fact, a Knicks fan. And you thought they were done with the buzzkill......!

Two years ago, the Mets rode a wave of momentum after a promotional appearance by McDonald's mascot Grimace became a meme. The Knicks are riding a similar wave, thanks in large part to WWE star Danhausen, who "uncursed" the team, leading to their current status, having won 12 of 13.

The Mets should be paying attention. They might need Danhausen's services next.

Journalism under attack: Donald Trump's "enemies" list was created because the truth hurts the administration

 When the late Richard Nixon was President, he had an "enemies" list, which consisted of political foes like Senators Birch Baye, Sam Ervin, Howard Baker, & Ted Kennedy. The existence of this list ultimately contributed to Nixon's resignation in 1974 amid the Watergate scandal. Journalist Daniel Schorr, famous for The Pentagon Papers, was also on the list.

52 years later, the current president, the onion-skinned Donald Trump, has his own list, which includes online commentators like Brian Tyler Cohen & David Pakman. The rationale behind this?

The truth hurts. As much as the Trump administration insists on forwarding false narratives contrary to truth & reality, the fact that they are now targeting the likes of Cohen & Pakman speaks to the frustration in the White House over the fact that Trump and his staff are constantly fact-checked for every falsehood that they speak.

Farron Cousins, who is not on the list, explains:

The list goes right along with Trump's campaign of retribution & revenge, largely because Cohen & Pakman, and Cousins, too, represent a section of the country that will not indulge Trump's delusional power fantasies, especially now as he approaches his 80th birthday on Sunday. It's almost as if Trump, once upon a time, took a wrong turn at the Twilight Zone, and never looked back.

I've said this before, and it bears repeating. Criticism comes with the territory when you are in a position of power, such as Trump. The problem is, he won't accept any criticism, even the constructive variety that is meant to help encourage him to do & be better. He doesn't want anyone near him that will tell him the truth. You're meant to indulge his delusions. At this point, no. At this point, the delusions have to stop. They have to, before it's too late.

Wild West Wednesdays: The Quiet Stranger (Ford Theatre, 1957)

 This one is for Hal Horn at The Horn Section.

From the final season of Ford Theatre comes "The Quiet Stranger". George Montgomery has the title role, a wayfarer who inspires a young boy (Bobby Clark) to race for the building of a schoolhouse. Forrest Tucker & Ted DeCorsia co-star.