To continue the trend, I will begin this edition of TSTC with the NBA.  Whew!  Watching this season’s playoffs is TIRING!  Last night’s San Antonio Spurs/Dallas Mavericks overtime game was a classic.  With the Spurs trailing the whole way, even by much as 20 points, the Spurs finally got a lead late in regulation, but thanks to some quick production from DeSagna Diop and clutch free-throw shooting from Dirk Nowitzki, the game went into overtime where the Mavericks just pulled away for a 119-111 win.  The Mavs move on to the Western Conference championship.

They will be facing the Phoenix Suns who beat the Los Angeles Clippers, 127-107 in a rout that highlighted the team’s two superstars - Steve Nash (29 points; 11 assists) and Shawn Marion (30 points; 9 rebounds).  I’ll applaud Elton Brand for his 36 point effort and the rest of the Clips for showing that they have the strong potential of being serious playoff contenders next season.  But that will depend on what they do in the offseason, particularly with Sam Cassell.

The Western Conference Championships begin tomorrow night when the Mavericks host the Suns.

*Tonight the Eastern Conference championship round begins when the well-rested Miami Heat travel up to Detroit to face the Pistons, who barely averted a Cleveland Cavaliers playoff upset.  The Heat will look to avenge a series loss in the conference championship to the Pistons last season.  The question is, will the new pieces acquired during the offseason - Jason Williams, James Posey, and a bit more importantly, Antoine Walker - pay dividends this time around?

In MLB, there was much ado about nothing when Barry Bonds and Albert Pujols’ teams faced off in San Francisco.  Pujols went 1-for-4 with a double, as Bonds went 1-for-3 with a single and a walk.  Let’s see what unravels tonight.

*In other games, the Yankees got absolutely crushed in the first game of their series with the Boston Red Sox last night, losing 9-5.  The Yankees scored four ninth inning runs off of ineffective former closer, Keith Foulke, which skews how badly the Yankees lost.  Jaret Wright looks to get the Yankees on track, facing highly-effective knuckleballer, Tim Wakefield.

*Chicago Cubs pitcher, Kerry Wood, makes his second start of the season against the young Florida Marlins lineup.  Wood who missed most of the season up to this point, went five innings, giving up four runs on three homers, as well as striking out six while walking none against the Washington Nationals.  If Wood can chill with the long ball, he’ll go a long way.

*When the Baltimore Orioles take the field at Seattle facing the Mariners, rookie pitching prospect, Adam Loewen will take the hill for the O’s.  Loewen is one of the prized proscpects in the organization and it will be interesting to see how the lefty will do as he could possibly stay up in the Big Show with Daniel Cabrera hurt and the other pitchers on staff, aside for Kris Beonson, have been underachieving.

*In Kansas City, Detroit Tigers pitcher, Kenny Rogers, looks to become the league’s first eight win pitcher as he deals to the anemic Royals, who actually are almost 100% better when hitting at home due to the gaps of Kauffman Stadium.

In the NHL, we go up North as the Western Conference series moves to Edmonton.  The Oilers have a 2-0 lead and look to push the Anaheim Mighty Ducks to the brink of elimination.  Dwayne Roloson has been amazing in goal for the Oilers and has been holding the Ducks offense to a mere one goal per game.

Well, folks, enjoy the games!