Halladay Last of Dying Breed

While the Lakers were busy closing out the Phoenix Suns in what should have been the most interesting sporting event on TV this weekend (sorry French Open, it's still Tennis), Roy Halladay dominated the Florida Marlins en route to throwing the 20th Perfect Game in MLB history.

At 7-3 with a 1.99 ERA, Halladay is once again proving to be one of the best pitchers in baseball. The more exciting part is to see this accomplishment by one of the last throw back pitchers in the majors. In the model of Greg Maddux, Nolan Ryan, Warren Spahn and Bob Gibson, Halladay is an innings eater with a fixation for throwing deep into ball games. While Maddux and Ryan couldn't be much more dissimilar, neither wanted to see the closer warming behind them to close out a game. Halladay takes pride in the same approach. In an era when middle relievers are paid millions and four runs over 5 2/3 justifies a quality start, it's refreshing to see someone like Halladay. While others like Livan Hernandez are known to jump into 120 and 130 on pitch counts, no one else maintains mastery of both velocity and control so late in the game.

Without sounding like a toothless traditionalist with my mind in the 1950's, it was only a generation ago when teams carried four-man rotations and pitchers traditionally went late in games. The last 30-game winner was Denny McLain in 1968 and no one has come close in the last fifteen years. Cy Young winners can now win half as many games (Tim Lincecum, 15-7 in 2009) and still hoist pitching's most prominent award. The last Cy Young winners to even have 30 decisions were both in 1996 (Pat Hentgen, John Smoltz). While Halladay certainly won't win 30 games this year, and is unlikely to finish with 30 decisions, he will be a bullpen saver and put the brakes on a losing streak.

Ubaldo Jimenez look out, Roy Halladay is coming for you.

Conference Finals

After a combined 5-0 start for the Lakers and Celtics it was looking as though the NBA Conference Finals were nothing more than a formality in reuniting the 2007-08 Finals that went to the Celtics. The Suns' inability to stop the Lakers was matched only by Orlando's ineptitude on the offensive end against a stifling Boston defense. Now with the series at 2-2 in the West and 3-2 Boston in the East, it's looking like a whole new series.

Orlando has taken the last two from Boston and in the process of dominating Game 5, took some key Celtics' players out of the game. With a pair of technical fouls Kendrick Perkins was ejected from Game 5 and would have faced suspension in Game 6, but after one was rescinded today by the league, he is eligible to suit up. While we know Perkins will be in the lineup when the series resumes this weekend, the same can't be said for Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Marquis Daniels just yet. Both suffered concussions during Game 5 and along with Rasheed Wallace (back), could be limited in Game 6.

For the Suns tonight's game in Los Angeles will be the story of the series. The Lakers are 18-0 all time in Game 5s at home when tied 2-2 and coach Phil Jackson knows just how important this game will be. Kobe Bryant wasn't shy in calling out his teammates after a disappointing loss in Game 4 where the Lakers inexplicably forgot how to defend.

Despite a resurgence by both Orlando and Phoenix, I would be surprised if we don't see a rematch of the '08 finals. Look for Kobe and the Lakers to come out and make a statement in Game 5 tonight and Boston to buckle down and close things out in The Garden this weekend.

Michigan Optimistic with Soft Sanctions

This week the University of Michigan imposed sanctions upon its own football program for violations of exceeding practice and workout times as allowed under NCAA rules. Here is a breakdown of the sanctions Michigan has placed upon itself.

-Cut practice time by 130 hours over the next two years
-Ban certain staff members from attending practices, games or coaching meetings

Overall, the University is stating that it disagrees that Rich Rodriguez failed to create an environment of compliance with NCAA Rules. Truly this was the only play that new Michigan Athletic Director David Brandon had, but in my opinion is unlikely to save the team from harsher penalties coming from the NCAA or Big Ten when it is reviewed in the coming months.

While the self-imposed sanctions are new, the allegations are not. This has brought around another wave of Michigan faithful calling for Rich Rod's head, nothing has changed from five months ago when the season ended. Rodriguez and AD David Brandon know this is a make or break season for the coach. Eight to nine wins and a bowl game buy Rodriguez another year; a losing season and he'll be searching for a mid-level job in the ACC or Big East. While the mood in the fan base appears to still be down on Rodriguez and the direction of Michigan Football, there is a lot of optimism building in Ann Arbor both about the upcoming season and the team's ability to dodge tough probation from the NCAA by beating them to the punch with their own sanctions.