I'd planned to spend Tuesday evening reading, but turned instead to the wise basketball philosopher Dominique Wilkins.
Opening night for the Hawks, and new sensation Dejounte Murray, drew me to the vaudeville routine of 'Nique and play-by-play partner Bob Rathbun, one of my favorite TV pastimes over the years. Bob and 'Nique were in good form, pausing for a reflective moment in which 'Nique recalled his close friendship with the late Boston Celtics great Bill Russell.
After the quick demise of the Braves, I was happy to see Murray, Trae Young and John Collins hold off the Houston Rockets. I also enjoyed spirited sideline reporter Lauren Jbara joining an impromptu dance with joyous Hawks fans.
Murray scored 20 points, with an admirable 11 assists. The most promising sight for the long defensive-challenged Hawks was Murray dashing down the court for uncontested dunks after making steals - he finished with five. The Hawks could contend for the NBA finals, if Murray and Young can keep working together.
Oh my goodness, I even found myself watching the end of the Memphis Grizzlies-New York Knicks game on ESPN. The devil-may-care Ja Morant pulled the Grizzlies to an overtime win.
Guess who scored 20 points for the Knicks, including the three-pointer that put them into overtime? It was Cam Reddish, for whom I had high hopes when he played for the Hawks and has been a dud for the Knicks until he awakened on the banks of the Mississippi. Now Knicks fans hope he'll be the second coming of Linsanity.
Switching to Ted Turner's old station TBS, I watched my childhood team Houston Astros beat the Yankees. The familiar voice of Braves color analyst Jeff Francoer, mercifully free of the irritating tics that mar his Braves broadcasts, described the action along with play-by-play announcer Brian Anderson and color analyst Ron Darling. Francoeur, called "Frenchy" by Anderson, held his own in the crowded booth.
Bob Costas, who annoyed some critics with his verbose play-by-play work during the Yankees' win over the Cleveland Guardians, was relegated to studio hosting duties, replacing Atlanta favorite Ernie Johnson Jr., who returned to the TNT NBA desk. It'll be another long winter and early spring with Johnson and Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny "the Jet" Smith.
Just when I think I've cured my sports addiction, it keeps pulling me back in.
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