Joseph, Brombey doin work; NBA, Stanley Cup Playoffs Predictions
Joseph “Bama Golf” Donald made a prophetic prediction a couple of weeks ago when he predicted Matt “Fitzie” Fitzpatrick to win the RBC Heritage. Great stuff from Bama G, who is a terrific predictor.
“Spike Me Up” John “Brombey” Bromberg, another winner in his own right, correctly picked the three year old thoroughbred, Commandment, ridden by Flavien Prat and trained by Brad H., Cox, to win the Florida Derby. Brombey was down at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, FL. about 20 miles north of Miami. It’s in between Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
Brombey’s reaction was epic. This is called, as now LSU basketball coach (again) Will Wade , would say (paraphrasing), “a strong — reaction.” Here’s Brombey’s electric moment when he showed his ticket that he would be cashing on Commandment.
Brombey’s classic reaction. (Video courtesy of Amy “Sweetie” Bromberg).
Great stuff from the fellas. I care a lot about my commenters. Walter, Excedrin, Bama Golf, Spike Me Up, MB, Derrick, WT, EHS ’80, and Charles B. Perkins make my day when I see their comments on the Blog, and also relish getting private emails from K Sevier, my illustrious wife, Chris “CK” King from Nashville and Bo.C. from Dallas.
Matt “Fitzie” Fitzpatrick hit a four iron from 204 yards to 13 feet in the playoff of the RBC Heritage and canned the birdie putt to outlast the great Scottie Scheffler and capture the Tartan Jacket and the $3.6 million first place check that came with it. I texted Joseph and he told me he just likes Fitzie’s toughness. I agree with that. Fitzie and his brother, Alex , just won the Zurich Classic at TPC Louisiana at 31 under, as ‘Fitzie” hit a bunker shot from 20 yards to a foot on 18, and Alex tapped in the birdie putt on the par 5 to secure the one shot Fitzpatrick brothers’ victory over a couple of other teams and earned Alex his PGA Tour card. Alex will now be playing in the Signature Event this week, the Cadillac Championship, at Trump National Doral, the Blue Monster Course. Should be terrific. Fitzie, Matt that is, is sitting this one out. The first place prize is once again $3.6 million as is the custom for Signature events, and there is a stellar field with Scheffler the 3/1 favorite at this point. More on the Cadillac tomorrow in my Preview/Predictions column on that classic tourney.
And the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby is Saturday. At present, the favorite is Renegade, the Arkansas Derby winner from March 28th at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, 55 miles southwest of Little Rock. That was the same day Brombey won at Gulfstream Park with Commandment. Renegade is a 9/2 favorite presently. Commandment is at 9/1. Renegade, trained by Todd Pletcher, a two time Derby winner, will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.. The horse is in the No.1 Post position, a pretty tough post to win at. Commandment, trained by Brad H. Cox, will be ridden by Luis Saez, is at 9/1. Flavien Prat, the winning jockey on Commandment at the Florida Derby, will be riding Louisiana Derby champion Emerging Market. Emerging Market’s odds are at 13/1. Chad C. Brown is the horse’s trainer.
I’ll have a lot more on Saturday with a Preview and Predictions column for the 152nd Run for the Roses.
Now to the Playoffs in the NHL and NBA, along with my predicitions of which teams I like to win those respective Leagues’ championships.
Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference
Conference Semifinals
TB Lightning over Buffalo Sabres in 7
Carolina Hurricanes over Pittsburgh Penguins in 7
Both hard fought series.
Conference Finals
Hurricanes over Lightning in 7
Carolina edges out a superbly talented Tampa team to make the Stanley Cup Finals.
Western Conference
Conference Semis
Anaheim Ducks over Utah Mammoth in 7
Colorado Avalanche over Dallas Stars in 6
Conference Finals
Avalanche over Ducks in 5
Stanley Cup Finals
The Avalanche won the you would call it the “dreaded” President’s Trophy for having the best record/most points during the regular season. The last team to win the President’s Trophy and the Stanley Cup was the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks. See a lot of Blackhawks games on the TV and banners on the walls on my favorite TV shows, Chicago Fire and Chicago PD. Fire is on for its 14th season and PD is in its 13th season. Both are renewed for 2026-27. Amazing shows. I’m on season 9 of Fire and season 6 of PD. A lot of Blackhawks stuff on those shows. But I believe in this curse that is winning the President’s Trophy. So I’m going to take a very strong Carolina team in a thriller.
Hurricanes over Avalanche in 7
Conn Smythe Trophy, Most Valuable Player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs
Sebastian Aho
Coverage on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS and truTV with the Finals exclusively on ABC. Goes into June.
NBA Playoffs Predictions
Eastern Conference
Conference Semis
Cleveland Cavaliers over Orlando Magic in 7
Celtics over Knicks in 6
Conference Finals
Celtics over Cavs in 6
Western Conference
Conference Semis
OKC over Lakers in 6
Denver Nuggets over San Antonio Spurs in 7
Conference Finals
OKC Thunder over Nuggets in 6
NBA Finals
I’ll take the Boston Celtics to win their 19th Championship in their 80 year franchise existence. The Celtics have won 18 now and the Lakers have 17. Interesting competition still ongoing.
Celtics over Thunder in 7.
Finals MVP
Jaylen Brown
Coverage on ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock and Amazon Prime with the Finals exclusively on ABC.