The NBA Draft

I WATCH THE NFL DRAFT closely, but I have to admit I don't pay too much attention to the NBA and baseball drafts (or tomorrow's NHL Draft).

The Lakers won't be able to get too much help through the draft anyway, although, at some point, they're going to have to get younger. I think they have a second-round pick coming up; no big deal.

More blog entries by Tom Gillispie

• Resume for a writer and editor

• An editor's views on powerful writing

• Advice for be and would-be novelists

• Links to TG's stories online

• Favorite quotes

• What I do when I'm editing

Anecdotes by Tom Gillispie

• Wipeout at Death Valley

• Days with rainbows

• A desperate writer working in the dark

• Yer outta there!

• Phil will wait

Blog entries from The Auto Racing Journal:

• Angel in Black: Remembering Dale Earnhardt Sr.

(a book of great stories about the Intimidator)

• Then Junior Said to Jeff...

(the book of great NASCAR stories)

• My best day as a sports writer

• Jeff Gordon's milk toast to Dale Earnhardt

• Wayne Auton: A life in racing

Relief

IT WAS A RELIEF to see that the Lakers beat the Celtics in Game 7 Thursday night. It was the Lakers' 16th NBA title (one fewer than the Celtics' record 17), and I think it marked the first time the Celtics lost a Game 7.

If the Lakers are playing anyone, it's stressful, but it's worse with the Celtics. I've said that the NBA is at its best when the Lakers and Celtics are good at the same time, and it's true. There are tons of people out there who don't care for either team, but there's no NBA rivalry to match it.

The history alone -- with everyone from George Mikan and Bob Cousy to Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain to Jerry West and John Havlicek to Larry Bird and Magic Johnson to Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett -- is astounding. I don't think it's hyperbole to call this a matchup for the ages.

There was a downside to the victory, though.

It's funny, but the Lakers have won 11 titles during my time as a fan (1969 to present), and I've enjoyed them. But I'd enjoy a Miami Dolphins or Baltimore Orioles championship more. It's been 36 years since the Dolphins won and 27 years since the O's did it. Too long.

The Dolphins could win -- you never know (the Saints did) -- but the Orioles sure aren't going to win anytime soon.

EMAIL: tgilli52@gmail.com  TWITTER: EDITORatWORK

More blog entries by Tom Gillispie

• Resume for a writer and editor

• An editor's views on powerful writing

• Advice for be and would-be novelists

• Links to TG's stories online

• Favorite quotes

• What I do when I'm editing

Anecdotes by Tom Gillispie

• Good Samaritan

• The PRESS cap and my friend Mike

• Watching TV

• No luck with Billy Sims

• Wipeout at Death Valley

• Days with rainbows

• A desperate writer working in the dark

• Yer outta there!

EDITOR@WORK blog entries

• You really DO need an editor

• Reminders for would-be novelists

• What I do when I'm editing

• What I charge (it's a deal) and what I edit

• Slogging through the Internet

• J-school: More eyes on your stories

• J-school: Go out and learn

• Rookie mistakes for magazine writers

Entries from The Dog Blog

• Katie cried

• Growl and pull

• ... said the spider to ...

• The Dog Diary (2015)

• The Dog Diary (2014)

• 13-plus years with my dog Lady

• OOH! OOH! The stereophonic huskies

• What Lady and Michael Jackson had in common

Blog entries from The Auto Racing Journal

• Angel in Black: Remembering Dale Earnhardt Sr.

(a book of great stories about the Intimidator)

(the book of great NASCAR stories)

• My best day as a sports writer

• Jeff Gordon's milk toast to Dale Earnhardt

• Wayne Auton: A life in racing

The great hyped hope

IT'S HARD TO REMEMBER someone as hyped as Washington Nationals rookie pitcher Stephen Strasburg. And it's harder to remember someone who was that good in his debut.

Strasburg, who was held down to the minors until this week, struck out 14 batters in his D.C. debut, including the last seven batters he faced in his seven-inning stint. He twice hit 100 mph on his fastball and toyed with the Pirates.

Amazing.

Let's hope he has better long-term luck than David Clyde and other would-be wonders.

EMAIL: tgilli52@gmail.com  TWITTER: EDITORatWORK

MORE BLOG ENTRIES BY TOM GILLISPIE

• Resume for a writer and editor

• An editor's views on powerful writing

• Advice for be and would-be novelists

• Links to TG's stories online

• Favorite quotes

• What I do when I'm editing

ANECDOTES BY TOM GILLISPIE

• Wipeout at Death Valley

• Days with rainbows

• A desperate writer working in the dark

• Yer OUTTA there!

EDITOR@WORK BLOG ENTRIES

• You really DO need an editor

• Reminders for would-be novelists

• What I do when I'm editing

• What I charge (it's a deal) and what I edit

• Slogging through the Internet

• J-school: More eyes on your stories

• J-school: Go out and learn

• Rookie mistakes for magazine writers

ENTRIES FROM THE DOG BLOG

• Katie cried

• Growl and pull

• 13-plus years with my dog Lady

• ... said the spider to ...

• The Dog Diary (2014)

• YIP! YIP! The stereo-sound huskies

• What Lady and Michael Jackson had in common

BLOG ENTRIES FROM THE AUTO RACING JOURNAL

• Angel in Black: Remembering Dale Earnhardt Sr.

(a book of great stories about the Intimidator)

• Then Junior Said to Jeff...

(the book of great NASCAR stories)

• My best day as a sports writer

• Jeff Gordon's milk toast to Dale Earnhardt

• Wayne Auton: A life in racing