Be Careful What You Wish For

Well over the weekend Miguel Cotto successfully defended his WBO welterweight title when he defeated Ghanaian, Joshua Clottey in a majority split decision. While the result bodes well for Cotto and his ambitions to unify the division with an undisputed champion. His performance whilst impressive may not be enough to sway the minds of many who feel that he ought to be the next opponent for the linear champion within the division. And that person is none other than Manny Pacquiao of the Phillipines.  

Miguel Cotto (left) of Puerto Rico looks to fend off a flurry punches from his challenger for his WBO welterweight title in Joshua Clottey. The bout took place at the bastion of boxing at the Madision Square Gardens Arena in New York City, New York. Picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Al Bello

Pacquaio is now widely acknowledged as the best pound for pound boxer in the world. And his destruction of boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya cemented that reputation to the maximum. And while no one doubts the capabilities of Cotto as a fighter. His stamina and the very fact that his chin has always been suspect comes into question. What became even more noticeable in this bout was the fact that he sustained a rather nasty cut in his bout with Clottey. Albeit that it came from an accidental head butt early in the bout. Luckily had it not gone to the to the judges when the injury was sustained then he may well have ended up losing the bout on a technicality. But such was his will to fight on that the bout became a do or die situation for the fighter.

A slightly bloodied Miguel Cotto is congratulated by his opponent Joshua Clottey after their hard fought WBO welterweight title bout held on Saturday night at Madison Square Gardens, New York City. Picture appears courtesy of Top Rank/ Chris Farina

And though the victory may well be looked upon as enough to quell a quiet storm. It should in no way signify that the fighter is ready to meet Pacquiao. If anything the noises being made are only being done as it’s the most viable and lucrative option for the fighter in terms of a really big payday. He may not wish to face someone such as Shane Mosley who defeated his most recent nemesis Antonio Margarito. And in all likelihood that’d be the desired bout that most would want to see . As the winner would be then deemed deserving of the chance to face Pacquiao.

Cotto connects to the head Clottey during the third round of their WBO welterweight title bout held at Madison Square Gardens in New York City. The event itself was held on National Puerto Rican Day. And it signified that the for the fourth consecutive year Cotto fought on that day . His legions of Puerto Rican compatriots came out in throngs to show their support for the fighter. Picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Al Bello

And now with their being renewed interest within the welterweight division with the impending unretirement of Floyd Mayweather Jr. It has to be said that all of the marquee names within the division are looking to have themselves affixed to a certain pecking order within the category. And that pecking order may have more to do with popularity rather than overall boxing ability in many respects with regard to a number of the aspirants.

Everyone’s A Winner Baby, Especially in LA!

Well the Los Angeles Lakers have proven to be triumphant in securing their fifteenth NBA title. It is also Phil Jackson’s tenth title as a coach and his eleventh overall over the course of his professional career within the NBA.    

Finals MVP Kobe Bryant holds both the Larry O’Brien Trophy as well of the award given to the Finals’ MVP. For the player it was his 4th professional NBA title but his first Finals series MVP award. Picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Noah D Bernstein

For the Orlando Magic this was something of a disappointing way to end their season in what one might describe as something of a blowout. victory for Los Angeles.

Rafer Alston of the Orlando Magic looks somewhat disappointed after the team’s 99-86 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the game 5 of the NBA Finals played at the Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. Picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Jesse D Garrabant

The Lakers’ 99-86 triumph over the Magic secured a 4-1 series’ win and all the adulation one could come to expect that’d be poured upon perhaps the NBA’s most storied franchise. And even though the feat was achieved away from home at the Amway Arena in Orlando. It didn’t however make the victory anytheless sweeter. And for Finals’ MVP Kobe Bryant it may well have brought the redemption he’d finally sought. The talk of him not being able to land and win the Big One without Shaquille O’Neal finally becomes mute.

Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol celebrate after the team’s victory over the Orlando Magic in game five of the NBA Finals played at the Amway Arena in Orlando , Florida. With the victory the Lakers secured their fifteenth NBA title as a franchise. Picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Jesse D Garrabant

If ever there was to be an indication that last night wasn’t to be the night where the home team may well have felt that there could somehow be some jubilation on the part of their fans. Then one had to look no further than the performances of their main triumvirate of Dwight Howard , Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu. Who for all sense and purpose were weighed down with the undue pressure of expectation. Theirs was the daunting task of trying to keep the team in contention against the Lakers and perhaps force them to win the title on their home-court. Alas it wasn’t to be ! They came up short when it mattered most.

Jameer Nelson of the Magic reaches for a loose ball looking to keep it in play. Also viewing are the Lakers’ Pau Gasol, Kobe Bryant and Luke Walton. Picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Nathaniel S Butler

And for Dwight Howard whose presence in the game’s most prestigious and showcase event. Well his performances one might suggest didn’t add up to all of the hype that surrounded the persona. The Superman aura and all that it entailed were about as visible as that of the intelligence shown by Paris Hilton. Were she attending Harvard Law School to give a dissertation on tort reform and the implications of the Patriot Act. But as we know such is the hype and expectations placed upon the young shoulders of an athlete who’s still learning the nuances of the game. Howard himself, may well have believed the hype but he did little to prove he could move faster than a speeding bullet.Much less anything less. Given the fact that at times he looked as if possessed all of the mobility of a geriatric when being defended rather rigorously by a Lakers’ player. He was found to be wanting all too often.

Dwight Howard of the Magic goes for the layup while the Lakers’ Derek Fisher looks to negate the play. Picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Andrew D Bernstein

And though we can view this as a triumph for the Lakers and in particular the organization that has come in a for a great deal of criticism over the years. It has to be stated that last night’s result was a deserving one for the franchise. They took this game to the Magic from the moment the first whistle was blown and they never let up over the resulting 48 minutes. And they most certainly never let up as the game unfolded. The Orlando Magic for their part had to continually play catch up against a team that possessed all of the attributes of a team that wanted to win and win it all, whatever the cost in terms of graft.

A jubilant Phil Jackson holds the Larry O’Brien trophy awarded to the NBA champions . This is Jackson’s tenth title as a coach and the eleventh of his professional career. As a player Jackson won a title with the New York Knicks as a pupil of Red Holzman, the team’s coach at the time. Picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Andrew D Bernstein

Whereas for the Magic they could never seem to get into a flow whereby they could do anything at all on either side of the ball. Wherein they weren’t able to count on Mikael Pietrus to come off the bench and be something of a catalyst for the team in providing something on offense. He was held in check and with little or almost no support coming from the becnch. For the Magic this was to be the night where they could only look from afar and wonder what might’ve been had they acquitted themselves better. And painful as might seem this ought to prove to be something of a rather valuable learning tool for the franchise. If their aspirations are to be that of assuming the mantel of being NBA title holders at some point in their future. Knowing first the bitter taste of losing ought to strengthen their resolve of turning them into champions. And seeing how that was accomplished by their Western Conference opponents provides them with a lesson as to what it is to be and play as a team.

Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson of the Magic sit on the bench after the final moments of game 5 played against the Los Angeles. With the 99-86 loss the Magic’s postseason ambitions came to an abrupt end. Picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ David Dow

The Lakers’ triumph was a collective one with Bryant leading by example and his teammates willingly following him in his tracks. And with Pau Gasol,Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza ably assisting the player. This was to be the Lakers’ night and that of their fans to rejoice as once again being called NBA champions.

Trevor Ariza of the Lakers goes up for the dunk while the Magic’s Dwight Howard looks on. Defensively this may well have been the Magic’s worst performance of the series altogether. Picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Nathaniel S Butler

As to what the future may now hold for both teams is now merely a matter of speculation . While one team now reigns supreme over the NBA. The other now looks to see what direction it now must take if it’s to viewed as a perennial and legitimate contender in the future. One thing is for sure however , on this night the Lakers were the team to beat. Whereas the Magic can only now look to appease their fans . Their season was filled with its highs and its lows. But their failure to really acquit themselves well when it mattered most may well have been the biggest disappointment of all. Even more so for their legions of fans .

The revelry of the Lakers’ fans is in full swing after the team’s triumph over the Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals. Things did get somewhat out of hand as the fans became overzealous and raucous leading to there being several arrests by the LAPD. Picture appears courtesy of reuters/ David Fincher

The Los Angeles Lakers for their part now look to the future and the preparations that it’ll take to defend their NBA title. But for now theirs is the time to celebrate with their throng of fans in the LA area and beyond. Somehow over the ensuing days I think that we’re now liable to hear every Lakers’ fan that’d been buried in the woodwork come to the fore and tell us all how they knew that their team was going to be win. And they’ve every right to at this juncture. As they now hold sway over the basketball world and all that they survey.