THE SPORT HOT NEWS

There have been 15 second round NBA play-off games. Only once have the road team come away with a victory. The home teams have a 14 - 1 record.......Why?

We here at 5 on Five have put our crack research department on notice........We want to find out why these play-off caliber teams .....play so well at home..........yet so poorly on the road.

There are theories..........there are facts......

First ...........let's examine the facts:



The ball itself...........courtesy of Wikipedia........

The National Basketball Association (NBA) allows only one official ball: The ball must be the official NBA game ball manufactured by Spalding. The ball is orange in color, 29.5 inches in circumference and weighs 22 ounces (size 7). It must also be inflated to between 7.5 and 8.5 pounds per square inch. Starting in the 2006 season, the NBA switched to a new ball from Spalding that had a synthetic surface and a modified rib pattern (See section below).

Until 2005 the ball had a leather surface. On December 11, 2006 the NBA decided to revert back to the old leather ball due to numerous player complaints, lawsuits and injuries from the synthetic ball. Spalding has manufactured the official NBA game ball since 1983.

OK ........so it's the same ball.......every game.....

But what about the dimensions of the basketball court? Again, here is Wikipedia:

This diagram is for the dimensions of every court in every arena for every team.

All courts are the same..........home and away....... the basket is the same height ........the ball the same size....

So ...........then............what is it?

You just saw some very factual information........now .......let us theorize..............

Is it travel time?...........Every team has charter flights........Every team uses plush hotels.....

What about pre-game meals..........girl friends? Rental cars? The rides on the bus to and from the hotel? Too many trips to the local bars? Couldn't find a barber? Couldn't speak the language? (Toronto)..........

The referees perhaps? Well........maybe a little....(they're only human)..........but no........they are not the answer to all these blow outs.

The answers may lie in the unknown..........home crowds creating an adrenaline that flows through the home team players veins......an adrenaline flow that is still a mystery to scientist. On any given home court...........that player........runs a little faster, jumps a little higher, sees that basket a little bit better.......... and sends a psychological message to the road team.

We........still ..........don't know.........14-1..........and the games weren't even close. If some one out there has the answers...........please come forward........and solve this mystery........once and for all. It can't just be the crowds........or could it?

Doris Burke started playing basketball in the second grade. She was a standout high school player before going to Providence College where she held seven basketball records upon graduation.

I am sure Mrs. Burke knows the game of basketball. I am sure Mrs. Burke is a good human being, a loving wife, and is a decent parent to her two children.

I am sure Mrs. Burke handled her duties covering the WNBA and womens' college basketball extremely well.

However, I am not so sure Doris Burke should be the color analyst for the NBA play-offs on ESPN.

Call me what you want........but I just don't feel her. That voice ......is just not suited .....does not resonate with guys. As a side line reporter........maybe. But as the second voice in the booth? I think not.

You mean to tell me out of all the male broadcasters and analysts..........ESPN could not find......one? In their efforts to continuously break new ground, the world wide leader may have out thought itself.

It just doesn't fit. When Mrs. Burke is calling an NBA game.......I tend to change the channel or mute the sound. Message to the suits at ESPN..........."You experimented..........it didn't work......now move on. "

A womens' place...........is ..........a lot of places......just not in the booth........in the NBA play-offs.......on national television.

Again......this is why we love ourselves........some Charles Barkley.

Those of you who saw the movie "Anchorman" will appreciate this clip, courtesy of TNT Sports:

Obama wins North Carolina......Hillary wins Indiana......At times, we delve into the political world. No matter your preference, (Democratic or Republican) you have to have some kind of interest in what's going on in the Democratic Primary race. Fast facts: Most Black People cast their votes for Obama...... Most White females prefer Hillary........Most White males hate Hillary......even though Obama's record in congress is more liberal. Both are trying to fit in with the common folk.......though Hillary has made millions over the years, and Obama was not raised in the ghetto.

The fact remains..........these two......Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton..........are politicians..........They will say anything........do anything........just to get elected. What we as voters have to do is look beyond the daily rhetoric..........beyond the sound bites on CNN.....beyond the one liners and catch phrases........beyond the hype.

We have to ask, " Who would be a better leader for this great nation? " It's not even about who would be in a better position to defeat John McCain in November..........This is the here and now.......Make a selection.....(And I'm saying this to the Democratic Party) The longer these two are allowed to split the party, the more likely a Republican will be in the White House in January of 09.

With the final results in from the last major primaries .......the total delegate count is .....

Barack Obama .................................1,842

Hillary Clinton .................................1,686

Total needed for nomination....... 2,025. With a race so close.......and with each candidate garnering over 250 superdelegates, you can see this is going all the way to the convention floor. Should make for some awesome blogging.


A horse is a horse........of course, of course......



Those PETA folks (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) are at it again. Ask Michael Vick about PETA and how this group is the absolute last group in earth you would ever want to piss off. In Mondays' edition we mentioned the unfortunate death of the filly Eight Belles in the 134th Kentucky Derby. Well now, PETA wants the jockey barred from racing again.....as well as charges brought up on the trainer. Over 10,000 human beings are dead in Myanmar because of a killer cyclone and these morons are worried about .......one .....dead..........horse? Talking about priorities? PETA just doesn't get it........now .....then..........never!




Feeling "chipper"..........

Larry Wayne (Chipper) Jones has always been an above average .....border line great baseball player since his little league days. He was the number one overall pick in the 1990 Major League Baseball draft, selected by the Atlanta Braves.......In 1990 , he won the Most Valuable Player Award for the National League.

But this year........Chipper is better...........than the Chipper we have come to know. Over the last few years , Chipper is known as much for his easily injured body.....as for his baseball abilities . At 36..........we all thought his best years were behind him......Enter 2008.......

Chipper leads the majors in batting average, .426..........has hit 10 home runs and has 29 rbi's. If the season ended today, he would be the favorite to win his second MVP. I have been rather harsh on these Braves.....but Chipper has been a bright spot in a thus far mediocre season.





Finally..... Mothers' Day sneaked up on us this year........It's this Sunday.....for all you procrastinators ............There is just something about........a mom, a mama, a mother, a ma, a mommy........that no other person could ever replace.

(1) The Atlanta Hawks..........laid a huge egg Sunday in game 7 of the first round NBA playoff series in Boston. Alright already..........I did pull a few muscles jumping on that Hawk bandwagon.......but........99-65? This was ugly! How ........in the name of Larry Bird........did the Celtics ever lose three games to this team? I know Boston fans are wondering.



(2) The Cincinnati Reds have got to be the worst team in baseball. Over the weekend, the Braves swept the pathetic Reds 3 games to zero...........and none were even close. I watched much of this series.....and I'm here to tell you.....The Reds can't pitch..........can't field..........and can't hit. And they made a ton of base running blunders as well. Have to feel sorry for manager Dusty Baker. He inherited a bloody mess.



(3) The Kentucky Derby is still the most exciting 2 minutes in all of sports. Big Brown ran away from the field........and our condolences are with the owners and trainers of second place finisher .....filly........ Eight Belles..........who was euthanized after breaking her two front legs.



(4) Will Junior ever win again? Dale Earnhardt, Jr came oh so close Saturday night in Richmond, Virginia..........but.......Kyle Busch spun him out with 7 laps to go. Junior was leading the race at the time. Such is racing ..........I guess.....But it's interesting to watch grown men put each other into the wall .......and 180 mph.



(5) Kobe is the MVP.......Period....If Kobe Bryant does not win this years' NBA Most Valuable Player Award...........there's something wrong in basketball land. Kobe is the best player on arguably the best team this year. And that's enough for me.

Oh what a feeling..... at least for the city of Atlanta.

Those young and inexperienced Hawks .......those Hawks no one picked to win this series.... forced a game 7 last night by besting the Boston Celtics, 103-100.

You gotta believe........but you also have to be realistic. Game 7 is in Boston once again, where in the 3 prior games, Atlanta was blown out by 20+ points each time.

But that's tomorrow. Let us bask in the delight this team has given to this city. It has been a while since the NBA was relevant in the ATL.

A balanced attacked was Atlanta's winning formula. The Hawks had 6 players in double figures and held Boston's big three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen to 17, 22, and 20 points respectively.


"Shock the world" has become the battle cry. And why not? All the other first round series are over and done. And the team which entered the post season with the worst record lives to play another game.

Smile.......ATL. It doesn't get much better than this. Enjoy it now.....It could all be over in about 26 hours.

Until then........Cheers

An amazing thing happened the other day....

In an NCAA womans' softball game, a player for Western Oregon hit an apparent home run. But the players' knee gave out after rounding first base. Unable to continue (it would have been an out if her players had helped her)............she sat at first base....

This is when the opposing team, Central Washington , decided to lift her up unto their respective arms .......and carry her around the bases.....to home plate.......to .......defeat them.

Take a look:




All I can say...........is......only in womens' sports ....would this ever happen. Are you kidding me?