Psychologically, I am ready to be done with the NHL and the NBA seasons. So I’m predicting that they end this week. My picks for the Sounders have been atrocious — I call for the win, they lose; I call for a loss, they win — so I’m just going to keep quiet this week and see how things pan out.
University of Washington: NCAA track and field championships, June 8-11 in Des Moines, IA.
PREDICTION: UW senior Kyle Nielsen and freshman Megan Goethals capture NCAA titles in javelin and 5000 meter run.
Not only will Goethals win her first NCAA title, she will lead a Pac-10 sweep in the event (Stanford runners finishing second and third) with a sub-16-minute finish. Washington freshman sprinter Maurice McNeal comes in fifth in the 400 meters and confirms what normal people already know: that 400 meters is too far to be considered a sprint. He recommends the NCAA change name of the event to the 400 meter grind.
NHL Finals: Vancouver at Boston, Monday and Wednesday
PREDICTION: Revenge is a sweet sweep. Canucks win games 3 and 4 in Boston
Vancouver takes Canadas first Stanley Cup since Montreal in 1993. But the team doesnt wait to do it in front of its home crowd. Instead, Canuck assistant coach Rick Bowness, who was fired by the Bruins 19 years ago, takes great satisfaction sipping from the Cup on Bostons ice. Tim Thomas rejects retirement rumors.
NBA Playoffs: Heat at Dallas (games 4 and 5); Dallas at Heat Sunday, game 6
PREDICTION: Heat win the series, 4-2, on its home court.
After winning 88-86 Sunday night to take a 2-1 series lead, the Heat get the series back to Miami next weekend, where the Heats triumvirate of King James, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade combine for 73 points in game 6 to win the title. Basketball fans outside of Miami are disgusted by what appears to be the purchase of a championship, but are flustered with the fact that the Mavericks $90 million payroll is $20 million greater than the Heats. Ultimate clutch player Dirk Nowitzki lands the Dallas Mavericks charter plane after the pilot locks himself in the bathroom.
MLB: Mariners at White Sox (Mon-Wed) and at Tigers (Thurs-Sun)
PREDICTION: Mariners salvage the Midwest road trip in bizarre fashion
Chicago spent the weekend getting beat up by Detroit and are inadequately prepared for the arrival of the Seattle freight train, which has won 15 of its past 20 games, including Sunday’s thriller against Tampa Bay when the M’s came back from deficits of 3-0 and 5-3. Pineda, Fernandez and Vargas sweep through Chicago. But the Mariners run into a peaking team in Detroit Thursday and lose three in a row. In the trip finale on Sunday, Mariners salvage a win when Chone Figgins draws a catchers interference call with the bases loaded.
WNBA: Minnesota Lynx at Storm, 7 p.m. Saturday, KeyArena
PREDICTION: Storm win, 82-69
Future All-Star Maya Moore carries the Lynx against the Storm. But for the league’s No. 1 draft pick, her team is too much dead weight to lug around. The Storms new acquisition, veteran WNBA player Katie Smith, comes off the bench and combines with fellow Olympic gold medal teammate Sue Bird for 25 points.
