Sports Update

Nothing is settled in the resumption of the Celtics-Lakers rivalry at the highest level. Not only is 2-0, two wins at home, not in any way conclusive, I don't think even the full series' result will settle things. This is going to go on for years, like in the '80's (and early '60's).

I was wrong in my prediction that Celtics-Lakers would have to await the return and full flowering of Andrew Bynum (in another season). Bynum's development should happen, though, and may swing things more decisively toward the Lakers in future years. In the meantime, Pau Gasol's acquisition from the Grizzlies (for nothing, in the short term) made up for Bynum's loss and has made the difference in the Lakers' getting there.

The Celtics should have the greatest sense of urgency, so I picked them. Now, with a 2-0 lead, they're probably favored, but as I say, nothing has happened yet.

Big Brown Bowel Movement

The no-longer-steroidally-enhanced-enough winner of the Derby and Preakness pinched a major brown loaf at Belmont Park Saturday.

The scandal is probably about the false pretenses under which the 3-year-old's stud management was sold (on Preakness Day), rather than the artificial enhancements, the trainer Dutrow's flop sweat, or the jockey's easing up the 1-4 favorite with over a quarter mile to go.

Those who are looking for an investigation of this result and the shoddy practices it suggests will be disappointed. When you're talking about horses, instead of humans, the main reason to oppose steroids (or genetic manipulation, or even cloning) goes away, in the minds of most. Though the trainer's braggadocio is considered bad form under Old School rules, forward-looking statements are not illegal--not even betting for your horse, or even against it, as far as I know.

A bad drug regime may have caused Big Brown's unsuccessful movement, but that's no one's loss, except Brown's, his folks', and those who bet on him.

I've seen too many presumptive Belmont Stakes winners fold to have believed in that one, though I had no clue which longshot to pick. I probably would have gone with the stretch run horse that finished tied for 3rd.