Ranking the top 10 sports events June 5-11 you won’t want to miss:
NO. 1: 71st NBA FINALS: WARRIORS VS. CAVALIERS
Details/TV: Games 3 and 4 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Wednesday and Friday at 6 p.m., Channel 7
In a very odd way, Cavs fans who have purchased tickets for these two games are essentially adding to a pot of money that goes toward paying a severance package to their former head coach, Mike Brown, a Warriors assistant who assumed the role of Golden State’s acting head coach in Steve Kerr’s absence. When Cavs owner Dan Gilbert OK’d the firing of Brown for a second time in May 2014, four years after he also fired him in 2010 (leading to a short stint with the Lakers) in between, Brown had not finished a five-year, $20 million deal That deal was spread out over six seasons, all guaranteed, with whatever he’s been given by the Warriors deducted from that. None of that should be lost on Clevelanders who watch Brown now try to help orchestrate the Cavs’ demise on their home court. “You would call it luck, being blessed, being in the right spot at the right time,” Brown recently said. “It’s the circle of life, like ‘The Lion King.’ Everything comes back around, I guess.” That’s just how Brown rolls, and now, it’s payback time, with some off days to enjoy a trip to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
NO. 2: NHL STANLEY CUP FINAL: PREDATORS VS. PENGUINS
Details/TV: Game 4 at Nashville, Monday, 5 p.m., Ch. 4
“Unofficially, five catfish were thrown on the ice,” said NBC’s Liam McHugh after Saturday’s Game 3. “Officially, five goals were scored by the Preds.” And with that 5-1 win in Nashville’s first Stanley Cup Final home game, the Preds have a shot at making things even with Game 4. The Ducks know all about “Smashville” results.
Also this week: Game 5 at Pittsburgh, Thursday at 5 p.m., Channel 4; Game 6 at Nashville, Sunday at 5 p.m., Channel 4
NO. 3: MLB: NATIONALS AT DODGERS
Details/TV: At Dodger Stadium, Monday and Tuesday at 7:10 p.m., Wednesday at 12:10 p.m., SportsNet LA (Monday game also on ESPN)
The stars have aligned for an afternoon matchup of Clayton Kershaw (7-2, 2.28, 91Ks in 83 innings, 0.90 WHIP) and Stephen Strasburg (7-1, 2.91, 81Ks in 74 ⅓ innings, 1.05 WHIP) in the series get-away day between the two who last met in the NLDS. Bryce Harper, who has finished off an MLB-mandated suspension, has struck out 10 times in 15 at bats in his career against Kershaw. His one hit against him: A solo homer, accounting for a .067 batting average in the regular season.
Also this week for the Dodgers: Vs. Cincinnati at Dodger Stadium, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 p.m., Sunday at 1:10 p.m., SNLA. Saturday is Old-Timers Game
NO. 4: TENNIS: 116th FRENCH OPEN
Details/TV: At Roland Garros Stadium in Paris, women’s final, Saturday, 6 a.m., Ch. 4; men’s final, Sunday, 6 a.m., Ch. 4
Second-seeded Novak Djokovic and No. 4 seed Rafael Nadal are aligned to meet up in the Friday semifinals, with top seed Andy Murray not having any easy time of it thus far in his side of the bracket. With Venus Williams’ fourth-round exit on Sunday, there are no more American women players left, and there’s a real chance a pair of French women will meet in the final for the first time in the history of the tournament as an international event.
NO. 5: 2018 WORLD CUP SOCCER QUALIFYING
U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM vs. MEXICO
Details/TV: At Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Sunday, 5:30 p.m., FS1, Univision
The U.S. (1-2-1) has four points in the hexagonal qualifying standings, sitting fourth behind Mexico (10, at 3-0-1), Costa Rica (7, at 2-1-1) and Panama (5, at 1-1-2). All four of those American points have come under new coach Bruce Arena since replacing Jurgen Klinsmann. Now the USMNT battles the altitude, smog, 87,000 fans and knowing it has only won once, in 2012, at Mexico’s Estadio Azteca, where the home team has a 40-2-7 record there in World Cup qualifiers since the stadium opened in 1966. Mexico defeated the U.S. 2-1 on Nov. 11 in Columbus. More info: www.ussoccer.com
Also this week: USMNT qualifier vs. Trinidad and Tobago at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., Thursday at 3:50 p.m., FS1
NO. 6: HORSE RACING: 149th BELMONT STAKES
Details/TV: At Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., Saturday, 3:50 p.m., Ch. 4
The oldest of the Triple Crown events dangles a $1.5 million purse for a mile-and-a-half journey, with $800,000 to the victor. Classic Empire will be the early favorite after his tough finishes in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Neither the Kentucky Derby winner (Always Dreaming) nor the Preakness champ (Cloud Computing) are entered here. More info: www.belmontstakes.com
NO. 7: MLB: ANGELS at ASTROS
Details/TV: Friday at 5:10 p.m., Saturday at 1:10 p.m., Sunday at 11:10 a.m., FSW
The updated June 1 odds from Bovada.lv have the Astros, sitting with the best record in the MLB, as the 19-4 favorite to win the 2017 World Series, up from 8-1 on May 3. The Angels remain at 66-to-1 for some reason. Houston has already taken five of the seven previous meetings against the Angel this season. Matt Shoemaker, who has lost twice against Houston, is aligned to start in the series opener.
Also this week for the Angels: At Detroit, Tuesday and Wednesday at 4:10 p.m., Thursday at 10:10 a.m., FSW
NO. 8: WNBA: SPARKS vs. SKY
Details/TV: At Staples Center, Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet
The Sparks’ 15-point win in New York almost a week ago has put them back above .500, but the Sky is falling in Chicago — it is 1-6 with four losses in a row.
Also this week for the Sparks: At Dallas, Friday at 5 p.m., SSN; at Phoenix, Saturday at 7 p.m., SSN
NO. 9: NCAA COLLEGE SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES
FLORIDA vs. OKLAHOMA
Details/TV: At ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla., Monday at 4 p.m., ESPN
So are we still out of sorts that No. 1-ranked Minnesota didn’t get a fair shake in all this? The Gophers didn’t make it to the final eight, and they’re definitely not among the final two, where the Gators face the defending champion Sooners. It’s a best-of-three with Game 2 on Tuesday (5 p.m., ESPN) and one more on Wednesday if necessary (5 p.m., ESPN)
NO. 10: BEACH VOLLEYBALL: AVP NEW YORK OPEN
Details/TV: At Hudson River Park Pier 26/25, Sunday at 1:30 p.m., NBCSN
Event three of the 2017 season goes to NYC for the third year in a row in the shadow of the Manhattan skyline. Qualifying is Thursday, main draw starts Friday, eliminations are Saturday and the finals are at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to be determined. More info: www.avp.com
ALSO:
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SPECIAL OLYMPIC SUMMER GAMES
Details: At Long Beach State, Saturday and Sunday.
At the track and field stadium, the Opening Ceremonies are at 9:30 a.m. Saturday with the Closing Ceremonies at 3 p.m. Sunday. More than 1,100 athletes are expected to compete, with the help of 300 coaches and 3,000 volunteers at venues such as the Pyramid gym, the Long Beach Rec 9-hole golf course and the pool. More info: sosc.org/summergames
