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Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
NFL star Chris Spielman's wife loses cancer battle
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
College student mistaken for deer, shot to death
Man allegedly paid teens to spit in his face
Retired firefighter who broke color barrier among those being honored
Angel Food Ministries helps stretch grocery dollars
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
For your Saturday entertainment …
Akron Zips:
Two blowouts, one night
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Holmgren expresses interest in Browns position
Kent State Sports:
Singletary update
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Indiana Pacers – Here’s to LBJ and Free Throws
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Bowling season starts today
All Da King's Men:
Headed For Disaster
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Federal Judge Declares DOMA Unconstitutional
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Colloquium at University of Akron
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Friday, Jun 13, 2008
We interrupt what could shake out to be a classic NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. For what you say?
Anyone notice that a deep, booming voice has been missing throughout this playoff season?
Basketball hall of famer Bill Walton, one of the nicest guys in sports broadcasting, and his spot-on commentary have been absent for much of the hoops season.
Much to his dismay, the former Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics star has been laid up in his San Diego-area home with severe back and hip problems. He suffered the injury after arriving home Feb. 25 from the NBA's All-Star Weekend.
''I just could not move and the pain took me to the floor, and I spent the better part of six weeks just on that floor. I couldn't blink. I couldn't do anything,'' he said. ''I certainly could not drive. I ate my meals on the floor, and I would just go to the doctor all the time.''
Only now has he been able to emerge from his health-imposed exile. He returned to ESPN's SportsCenter on Thursday.
As ebullient as Walton always sounds on the air, he sounded more so on a recent conference call. It's not difficult to assume that being back to work would make someone happier than days of working with physical therapists, acupuncturists, massotherapists and doing serious work in the gym.
''A week ago I went to a social event; a few days ago I went to a restaurant; and last night I was able to attend the game and I was able to see our son, Luke, personally for the first time since All-Star Weekend,'' he said. ''The doctors who wanted to operate (on his spine) at the beginning. I was able to put that off.''
Walton plans to continue his therapy and hopes to return to broadcasting full time.
Ratings wallop
No, the ratings don't matter said NBA Commissioner David Stern. Tell that to ABC (WEWS Channel 5 locally).
They continue to bask in the nostalgic glow of the Celtics-Lakers series. Game 3 proved to be the highest rated yet with more than 14.5 million viewers. That's up 53 percent over last year's Game 3 between the Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs.
Guess it shows what happens when you get two teams steeped in tradition in the championship series. It didn't hurt that the Lakers were down 2-0 either.
On the links
NBC and ESPN couldn't have written a better script for the two days that they share coverage of the U.S. Open Championship at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif.
So why the happy-happy-joy-joy smiles all around?
Tiger and Phil. Golf's most notable rivals — and Southern California natives — are paired in the first two rounds ensuring some intense scrutiny on the part of both networks more than likely. NBC's Johnny Miller knows that and he realizes at least one of them wants it badly.
''I did talk to Phil about it, and I can't say that he acted like he was too thrilled about it, but he knows how to play with Tiger and he wants this championship more than any other that he has ever played in,'' he said. ''The fact that he grew up in this area, I would say Phil would trade any of his championships for this United States Open, and I really believe that.''
In the first round Thursday, Mickelson shot a 71, Woods 72.
ESPN will broadcast parts of round two today across 15 of its entities. It will feature early afternoon coverage from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and afternoon broadcasts, beginning at 5, and going well into prime time.
NBC will have the final two rounds from 4-10 p.m. Saturday and 3-9 p.m. Sunday. But will also have afternoon coverage today from 3-5 p.m.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/sportsblitz/.
We interrupt what could shake out to be a classic NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. For what you say?
Get the full article here.
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