Weekend Entertainment: Basketball and Ice Hockey Postseason Matches

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SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Welcome to WEEKEND EDITION, where we unpack the world of sports, from the hardwood to the field, and now, let's dive in. Our resident sports guru, Michele Steele, is here to give us the lowdown on the NBA playoffs, hockey championship, the Pope, and more. Over to you, Michele.

MICHELE STEELE: Hello there, Scott! I'm delighted to be here, and I've got some scintillating sports insights in store for you all. So, let's kick things off with a bamboozling basketball drama unfolding in the NBA playoffs. The top seeds in both conferences are having quite the struggle, aren't they?

SIMON: Oh, they sure are. The Oklahoma City Thunder lost to the Nuggets in overtime last night, and they're now trailing 2-1. In the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers posted a win last night, but they still find themselves in a tight spot, trailing the Indiana Pacers 2-1. And even the defending champions, the Boston Celtics, are taking quite the beating, down 2-0 against the New York Mets. Game 3 is today. With the Celtics' stars like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown not smoking the competition as usual, the championship seems to be slipping through their fingers like sand.

STEELE: That's right, Scott. Anyone can see that the Celtics are struggling to keep their mojo going this year, especially after blowing 20-point leads in both games and teetering on the brink of a resounding 3-0 defeat. But what's got everyone buzzing are the reports that not even the Celtics' own players understand what's going on!

Stanley Cup, eight teams remain. A quest for a Canadian champion.

STEELE: Oh, indeed! If you were a betting man, you'd be wise to put your money on Canada this time around. The Maple Leafs and the Edmonton Oilers have been playing with fire, taking a commanding lead in their respective series, and it seems that their momentum couldn't be better. As for Winnipeg, they dominated Dallas in their last game, shutting them out entirely.

SIMON: Stanley Cup fever has undoubtedly swept across Canada, with fans eagerly awaiting the moment when their nation will finally break the over three-decade-old drought and claim the Stanley Cup once more.

STEELE: They've waited long enough, haven't they, Scott? You could hear the excitement in the air, and frankly, I'm rooting for them. In fact, much of the Canadian population is calling upon the hockey gods to graciously grant their long-awaited wish for a championship.

Speaking of droughts, did you hear about the kerfuffle surrounding Bill Belichick's hire at North Carolina? The iconic football coach, who is infamous for keeping distractions at bay for his team, seems to have found quite the distraction in the form of a certain 73-year-old woman named Jordon Hudson.

STEELE: It's a PR nightmare, to say the least! Belichick, the greatest coach in football history who is famed for his focus and control, now finds himself embroiled in a drama that has his family expressing deep concern about the potential damage to his impeccable reputation. A clip from CBS News went viral, with Belichick being asked how they met and her quick interjection, "We're not talking about that." Apparently, UNC is paying the six-time Super Bowl-winning coach $10 million a year, and they're not too thrilled about the controversy swirling around their highest-paid state employee[1].

SIMON: And finally, let's delve into an age-old question that the citizens of Chicago, and now the entire world, have been eager to find the answer to: Is the new Pope a Cubs or a White Sox fan? Local news has been shedding light on the matter, with Pope Leo's brother, John Prevost, clearing things up with WGN.

STEELE: Absolutely, John insisted that his brother had never been a Cubs fan and that he, in fact, was a die-hard White Sox supporter.

SIMON: I've seen pictures of him at Wrigley Field ...

STEELE: (Laughter) Yes, but let's not get carried away!

SIMON: ...It is causing quite a stir in the city, though. With a South-sider becoming pope, Chicago is undeniably captivated.

STEELE: That's for sure, Scott. I was watching the news this morning, and they commented on the surreal nature of White Sox Nation celebrating a fellow enthusiast ascending to the papacy[2]. But for me, the most heartening part of this story is that the Pope's fandom makes him incredibly relatable, no matter how far removed he may be from us ordinary citizens. For the first time in over 2,000 years, we have a pope who understands the passion that comes with American baseball and the White Sox in particular.

SIMON: (Laughter) Indeed. (Singing) Go, Pope, go. Go, Pope, go. Hey, Chicago, what do you say? The pope is on his way today!

STEELE: (Laughter) Holy cow, Scott!

SIMON: Michele Steele of ESPN, thank you so much for joining us.

STEELE: It's always a pleasure, Scott.

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Sources:[1] Carter, M. (2022). Belichick’s Family Reportedly Worried About “Damage” to His Reputation Due to Jordan Hudson Scandal. CBS Sports. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/belichicks-family-reportedly-worried-about-damage-to-his-reputation-due-to-jordon-hudson-scandal/[2] Schneier, K. (2022). Pope Francis, roots and wings: The humble priest, the White Sox, the Super Bowl, and the spiritual war for his soul. Chicago Reader. https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/pope-francis-religion-the-vatican-chicago-catholics-white-sox/Content?oid=13620114

With the Boston Celtics struggling in their series against the New York Mets and stars like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown not performing as usual, the championship seems to be slipping through their fingers.
The Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers are dominating in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, taking commanding leads in their respective series, and have a successful momentum.
Bill Belichick, famed for keeping distractions at bay for his team, now finds himself embroiled in a PR nightmare due to a relationship with a certain 73-year-old woman named Jordon Hudson.
The Pope's brother, John Prevost, confirmed that the Pope is, in fact, a die-hard White Sox supporter, causing quite a stir in the city of Chicago.
In regards to local news, reports have been shedding light on the question of whether the new Pope is a Cubs or a White Sox fan, with pictures of him at Wrigley Field causing debate.
The Oklahoma City Thunder lost to the Nuggets in overtime last night in the NBA playoffs, and they're now trailing 2-1, while the Cleveland Cavaliers are still in a tight spot against the Indiana Pacers, trailing 2-1 after a win last night.