The Greatest

The SEVEN
June 27th, 2011


I. Greatest Of All Time

Last time I wrote in this space I was preparing to go to Boston and see the Elements of the Universe, Earth Wind & Fire, in concert at the Bank of America Pavillion. EWF was celebrating their 40th year in the business...which led me to think about the late and still King of Pop, Michael Jackson, who died exactly two years ago after forty years in the public eye on a day that I will always remember, June 25th - which happens to be my anniversary...which is why I was in Boston.

Now and forevermore Michael's music will be highlighted in and around the date of his death - and whenever his music is played, it is impossible to come away from it with anything but the realization that MJ - like Ali, another Greatest - is "the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be." With that said, back to Earth Wind & Fire.

It was a little cooler out there than I would have preferred, and the Bank of America Pavilion is a covered, yet outdoor, amphitheatre - so I was a little concerned prior to the beginning of the concert. But not to worry after all; Earth Wind & Fire lit that place up so tremendously that the temperature was never an issue again! To a man, they were incredible - individually and collectively!

The group's original leader, Maurice White, no longer tours with the group, but their other original members - Verdine White, Ralph Johnson, and Phillip Bailey - have it totally under control along with the other fantastic musicians that make up the rest of the band. You may not remember or realize how many hits they recorded - and I say that because I was out there thinking about what else they would have to sing, and I found I had forgotten many essential EW&F tunes. Truly they are one of the greatest musical ensembles of this or any era...so if you have a chance to catch their show, don't miss it.

II. Greatest Playoffs

The supposed deadline prior to an NBA lockout is June 30th...which is fast approaching. Coming off of what has to be one of the most entertaining playoffs of all time, the league must realize...or at least they should...that this is not the time - from a PR/momentum standpoint or from the standpoint of being in the midst of a struggling economy - to present internal labor issues between what are essentially groups of affluent people. David Stern and the NBA owners need to take heed of the negative impact the NFL lockout is having on its business, go ahead and take the lockout off the table, and then sit down and get a deal done.

III. Not Nearly The Greatest or No Way

To the surprise of no one, Rep. Michele Bachmann announced her candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination today...and as a Democrat and supporter of President Obama, I am about thisclose to sending her a donation to further her efforts. I would love it were she to go deep into the primaries - much less win the Republican nomination; in my opinion, an Obama-Bachmann race would produce a Nixon-McGovern type result in the presidential election, and sweep the Democrats back into control of the House.

I'm still not too pleased about her implying that Obama was un-American and terming his administration a "gangster government" - and I'd hate to think it's because he's Black - but for now all I'd say to her is that before you attempt a presidential run, you have a debate challenge on the floor already from a sixteen-year-old high school sophomore from New Jersey named Amy Myers. Amy has challenged Bachmann to a debate on U.S. history and the Constitution - and considering Bachmann's track record of statements, I might have to bet on Amy.

IV. Way or No Surprise

Rep. Bachmann's displeasure notwithstanding, anyone that can count should have realized that ultimately the Gay Marriage measure would pass in New York State. Better stated, any New York politician that can count - votes, that is - knew this day would come. And anyone that can count money - specifically the $140 million that has been estimated to flow into the NYC economy this year as a result of the bill's passage - knew this day would come.

V. Greatest Surprise

Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman quit abruptly last week, and will be replaced by former New York Mets manager Davey Johnson. No, Nats fans, Johnson will not be bringing Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, Ron Darling, Sid Fernandez, Keith Hernandez and the rest of the 1986 guys along.

All kidding aside, the Nationals have been playing much better this year - and all this before their great prospects Strasburg and Harper have come up to make their respective impacts. Riggleman was apparently upset that management would not reward him with a longer/better contract in light of his good work...but once again, we see another situation where folks can't iron out differences offstage to the benefit of all.

VI. October Surprise

The real surprise in baseball would be if the Philadelphia Phillies did not win the National League East this year. If the truth be told, they have a five game lead at present and haven't really played to their capability. But there are a few teams to watch that may very well come back and cause trouble in their respective divisions:

American League - Tampa Bay Rays, Chiacgo White Sox, Los Angeles Angels.

Neither the Red Sox nor the Yankees have pulled away in the East, which gives opportunity to the Rays, who still await better play from B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria. The Central division is definitely up for grabs, and the Twins' injuries have dug the frequent Central champs into a big hole - so look out for Ozzie Guillen to get his North Side crew into the hunt. Same for the Angels of Anaheim.

National League - Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies

Likewise, the NL Central and West lack dominant teams this year - with apologies to the World Champion San Francisco Giants, in part due to the season-ending injury to catcher Buster Posey - which provides an opportunity for the defending Central champion Reds to come back. In the West, Colorado has a history of being a strong second-half team, so being six games out may not be insurmountable for them.

VII. Once The Greatest

The Williams sisters were both eliminated at Wimbledon today. I'm not one that races home to watch tennis, but I certainly watched more during the past few years that the sisters dominated women's tennis. Hope they can make it back to the top.