(“The TEN” is not a top ten but ten items worth being included in “The TEN”)
- Bill Walton, who led UCLA to two national titles and won two NBA Championships, passed away Monday after a battle with cancer at the age of 71.
- The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Dallas Mavericks 105-100 Tuesday night in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. The Mavericks still lead the series 3-1.
- The Boston Celtics beat the Indiana Pacers 105-102 Monday night to complete a four-game sweep in the Eastern Conference Finals.
- The Dodgers swept a doubleheader from the New York Mets Tuesday wining 5-2 in 10 innings and 3-0 to snap a five-game losing streak.
- Softball: Ganesha’s Kalena Lemus was named Miramonte League Pitcher of the Year.
- MLB umpire Angel Hernandez has announced his retirement after 33 years.
- In the 1973 championship game against Memphis State, Bill Walton led UCLA to an 87-66 win scoring 44 points as he shot 21 of 22 from the field.
- Walton, who won his NBA titles with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977 and the Boston Celtics in 1986, turned to broadcasting after retiring from the NBA. He spent over 20 years as a broadcaster originally joining ESPN and ABC in 2002 as a lead analyst for the NBA before turning to college basketball in 2012.
- The Houston Texans signed wide receiver Nico Collins to a three-year, $72.75 million extension.
- “I’ve had 36 orthopedic operations, have two fused ankles, my knees, hands and wrists don’t work, I now have a fused spine, other than that, everything is great.” – Bill Walton.
Notice that all the critics of Walton’s sportscaster style have zipped their lips tight. This is death getting its moment of respect, which is really everyone showing their own fear of that final act. Everybody gets nice things said about them when they die, a grace period that lasts for about three months, after which time it’s open season on all your faults.