This week, Danny shared his thoughts on some of the top stories in the sports world:
—You might see that there’s no mention of the result of Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final in this edition of the paper. That’s strictly a deadline issue. With Game 7 on Wednesday night, the paper is printed well before we know who hoisted la Coupe at the TD Garden.
Well, regardless of who won it, Tuukka Rask should have the Conn Smythe locked up. The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded to the MVP of the entire playoffs. Rask has been just that. And even if Rask didn’t get the job done on Wednesday night, he should’ve still received the Conn Smythe.
The last player of a losing team to win the Conn Smythe was Anaheim Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere in 2003, after the New Jersey Devils defeated the Ducks in the Stanley Cup Final.
Win or lose, Rask has been the best and most impactful player throughout the entire playoffs. He’s the MVP, regardless of what the result was of Game 7.
—You have to be a real piece of trash to shoot David Ortiz. Now, I say that not knowing the full story, if there is a full story. But I mean, seriously, who would want to kill Big Papi, especially in his native Dominican Republic? That’s absurd.
I’ve been to the Dominican. Once you get inside the resort, the place is paradise. Recent news might tell you otherwise, but I’d definitely go back in a heartbeat.
Ortiz will probably want to go back at some point too. And an absolute legend like Big Papi shouldn’t have to look over his shoulder anywhere, nevermind in the Dominican.
There are reports that Ortiz allegedly had an affair with someone’s wife, and that this put the target on his back, literally. Ortiz was shot in the back on Sunday night at a bar in the Dominican. He’s had multiple surgeries to repair damage from the bullet that went through him, and was flown to Boston on a plane that the Red Sox sent to save him.
What a crazy sentence that last one was to write.
Multiple suspects have since been taken into custody in the Dominican. Some reports believe it could’ve involved a hired hitman.
I mean, now we’re getting crazy with the Ortiz gossip. But it would only make sense. What other reason would somebody have for shooting Ortiz?
Regardless of the reason, I think I speak for everyone other than the gunman when I say I’m just glad he’s going to be OK.
But on second thought, maybe just stay in Boston from now on, Papi.
—The world is soft. It’s getting softer. Kevin Durant is the latest example. No, not because he suffered an Achilles injury in Game 5 of the NBA Finals that ended his season. But because now there are people blaming the Golden State Warriors for that said injury.
Unreal. Yeah, it’s the Warriors fault that Durant returned from a calf injury and played in an NBA Finals game with no restrictions while his team trailed in the series 3-1.
Credit to Durant for working his way back onto the court and being willing to suit up even though he might not have been feeling 100 percent. Before Game 5 in Toronto, he hadn’t played since the second round against Houston.
But to think that the Warriors forced him to return is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Don’t you think that if somebody, anybody, from the Warriors organization tried to force Durant to play injured that we would’ve heard about it? And you know why we would’ve heard about it? Because it would be a major story. And you know why it would be a major story? Because Durant would be absolutely pissed if he was getting bullied by anybody not named Kevin Durant.
Durant is a superstar. He’s got a huge contract to sign this summer. He doesn’t have to — and won’t — do what he doesn’t want to do. To think otherwise is just downright foolish.
But unfortunately, there are big-name NBA talking heads who want to pin Durant’s Achilles injury on the Warriors organization, saying they pressured him into playing and returning from his calf injury too soon.
Soft. We’ve gone soft.
Let’s say the Warriors were trying everything they could to get Durant medically cleared and get him back on the court as soon as possible. Would that be a bad thing for a team that’s trying to win an NBA Championship? Of course not. But the world’s gone soft.
And if Durant didn’t want to play and risk further injury, he didn’t have to. Nobody forced him to do anything. It’s unfortunate he got hurt again. But nobody should be blamed for it.
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