0-3 Comebacks

0-3 comebacks
Three teams in major pro team sports have rallied from 0-3 holes in a playoff series. They were the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, the 1975 New York Islanders and the 2004 Boston Red Sox. Its never been done in the NBA.

Here is a historical breakdown:

League	0-3 Defecits	Comebacks
NBA	72	0
NHL	140	2
MLB	26	1

Suns Rise to Conference Finals

Former teammates Nowitzki and Nash embrace after game six Friday night. League MVP Steve Nash outdid himself again, scoring 39 points, including a game-tying three-pointer with 5.7 seconds left in regulation, to lead the Suns to a 130-126 overtime win in Dallas and a trip to the Western Conference Finals. Shawn Marion also lit up the scoreboard, notching 38 points and 16 rebounds for Phoenix. The Suns will host San Antonio for Game 1 on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. (PST) on ABC. (NBAE/Getty Images)

No more Miller Time

Indiana Pacers Reggie Miller is hugged by Detroit Piston player Tayshaun Prince in the closing seconds of a 88-79 loss to Detroit. The loss ends the season for the Pacers and the career of Miller, who spent all of his eighteen years playing for Indiana.
(AP Photo/Tom Strattman)

ONE MORE!

The Suns are one win away from their first trip to the Western Conference Finals in twelve years.
Why is this big?
Phoenix has made only six trips to the conference finals in their 37 year history winning just twice to advance to the NBA finals (1976 and 1993).
They have never won a championship.
37 years, folks.
No other NBA team has been around longer and never won.
(The Cavs and Clippers have never won, but joined the NBA two years after Phoenix.)

Only eight teams from the three major professional sports combined have been around longer and never won a title.
The NFL's Vikings (1961) Falcons (1966) and Saints (1967).
Baseball's Angel's, Rangers (1961) and Astros (1962).
The NHL's Kings and Blues (1967).

Amare finished with 33 points 18 rebounds and 3 blocks, and Nash followed his 48 point performance with a a triple double, 34 points 13 rebounds and 12 assists. Phoenix can close the series Friday night in Dallas, 6PM PST on ESPN.

I cant pick one.

Sony has just unvelied the new Playstation 3, due out in spring 2006. So I guess I'll start my countdown today...
364 days to go.

Trifecta

First it was Steve Nash winning the NBA's Most Valuable Player award, then it was Mike D'Antoni accepting Coach of the Year honors. Tuesday it was Bryan Colangelo's turn, as the Suns' president and general manager received the NBA Executive of the Year award, presented by The Sporting News, during a press conference at AWA. Check back to suns.com for the full video webcast of the announcement, which marks just the second time in NBA history (Bulls, '96-97) that all three awards were collected by one franchise.

48 not enough

Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash sits on the bench during a time out during Game 4 of the Western conference semifinals against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas on Sunday night. Nash scored 48 points in the 119-109 loss to Dallas. The best of seven series is now tied 2-2. Game 5 is Wednesday night at 6PM PST on TNT. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)

Poster

Phoenix Suns center Amare Stoudemire (32) slams the ball through the basket above Dallas Mavericks guard Jerry Stackhouse during the first half in Game 3 in Dallas on Friday. Phoenix went on a 15-0 run that led them to a 119-102 win which gives them a 2-1 lead in the best of seven playoff series. Before the spurt was over, fans were booing and heading for the exits.
(AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)

JJ

Suns guard Joe Johnson underwent successful surgery to repair a broken bone in his left eye socket Thursday, after suffering the fracture during an ugly fall in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals Wednesday night. His return is unclear and he hasnt missed a game since coming to Phoenix in February 2002. Send him a get well wish here.

"Sorry, we're closed"

Oregon would lose more than 1,000 military personnel and all Portland-based F-15 fighter jets would be transferred to other states under a major base closure and realignment plan announced Friday.

According to a list released by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, the Umatilla Chemical Depot near Hermiston and the Naval Reserve Center in Central Point would be closed, and the Air National Guard base in Portland would be significantly reduced in size.

The plan drew immediate fire from some members of Oregon's congressional delegation, including Republican Sen. Gordon Smith. They worried about the loss of jobs and protecting the state.

Rep. Peter DeFazio, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, also objected to the plan.

"I have a hard time understanding how the military can effectively maintain Homeland Defense in Oregon and the Pacific coast, when they're moving all the operational capabilities away from the Portland Air Guard Station," said DeFazio, D-Ore.

The list of effected Oregon bases:
Navy Reserve Center Central Point: Closing, loss of seven military jobs.

Umatilla Army Depot: Closing, loss of 127 military and 385 civilian jobs.

Portland International Airport Air Guard Station: Realignment, loss of 112 military and 452 civilian jobs.

State total: Loss of 246 military and 837 civilian jobs; 1,083 jobs lost overall.

The Pentagon also wants to close the Army's century-old Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The world-reknown facility opened in 1909 in the nation's capital, and has treated presidents and foreign leaders as well as soldiers and veterans.

Baby, its cold outside

Live view of downtown Portland on a chilly Tuesday night.

AOL treats Florida emergency emails as spam

Emergency managers in Indian River County thought a great way to get their message out was by e-mail, but AOL disagrees.
The Internet service provider is treating the emergency coordinator's address as a source of spam.
The idea was to offer quick alerts about hurricanes, tornados and other weather emergencies, and about 4,200 subscribers signed up for the service.

When the AOL CD comes in the mail or pre-installed on your computer... Well... you decide.

Appeals court blocks TV anti-piracy tech rules

A three-judge panel for the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia threw out rules requiring built-in, anti-piracy technology to let broadcasters and studios prevent digital shows from being copied and shown on other TVs, computers or video devices.

The Federal Communications Commission exceeded its authority in requiring such technology in digital televisions and consumer devices sold after July 1, the judges said in a unanimous opinion.

The decision guarantees — for now, at least — that people buying the next generation of digital televisions will be able to record and watch their favorite shows without any interference from Hollywood.

NBA's Most Valuable Player: Phoenix's Steve Nash

Image credits top to bottom: azcentral.com, REUTERS/Jeff Topping, REUTERS/Jeff Topping, (Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images) and (Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images)

Nash doesn't fit mold of NBA MVP
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
May. 8, 2005 12:00 AM
Steve Nash knows how hard it would be to walk in Shaquille O'Neal's shoes. He got a pair of O'Neal's Size 22 shoes, one signed to each of Nash's twin baby girls, at this year's All-Star Game.

Outshining O'Neal for MVP honors seems as unfathomable as wearing O'Neal's shoes, but so has just about everything else Nash has accomplished in basketball. He picked up the sport in eighth grade and immediately declared NBA plans to his parents. Only Santa Clara offered him a scholarship out of high school in the hoops hinterland of Victoria, British Columbia.

Nash will sheepishly accept the Maurice Podoloff Trophy today and become the most improbable, non-traditional MVP winner in the award's 50 years. He's Giacomo in Nikes.

"I don't think I ever dreamed about this reward," the unassuming star said Saturday, relenting to reports of his victory. "I don't know what to say. I just kept trying."

Regardless of his roots, Nash's basketball feat is remarkable. Except for 6-foot-8 Magic Johnson, Nash is the only point guard to become MVP in the past four decades. Nash is 6-3, at best, but has magic in his passes. He has Magic's same unselfish qualities to often give up his shot to make his teammates better and happier, even though his shooting touch is one of the game's best at all distances.

It started with putting a promising soccer future on the shelf and dribbling to school. It continued despite being booed upon arrival at his first two NBA stops. When Phoenix drafted him, the fans booed, and Danny Ainge called him a "safe pick." When he went to Dallas, he was hurt and inaccurate, prompting more boos.

Today, his fancy but efficient play and its effect on the Suns' turnaround is fodder for a change in how entertaining teams may be in the future.

"It's really a testament to the game of basketball," Nash said. "I think it's great for the sport."

Now Nash has as many MVP awards as O'Neal - one. He will hold a trophy that his childhood idol, Isiah Thomas, never got his hands upon. Thomas got one MVP first-place vote in his career, but Nash still wonders if he will ever be as good as Thomas.

Canada does not. His native country's love for Nash ranks just below its affection for hockey, the maple leaf and Wayne Gretzky. Nash was on Saturday's front page of his hometown papers here and in British Columbia.

More than a dozen Canadian media outlets are here for today's MVP award presentation and Monday's Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.

"The buzz is awesome," said bartender J.D. Twa, who works at the Colwood Sports Bar and Grill in Victoria. "They consider it a win for Canada. It's like when Team Canada plays in the Olympics or World Championships. He's like the Wayne Gretzky of basketball. There are 21 TVs in here, and every TV is on him."

Today, the MVP trophy will be hoisted not by one of the game's behemoths or leading scorers. It's Nash, the former lacrosse all-star and MVP of the British Columbia high school soccer championships.

"There's no better feeling really than to make your whole country proud," Nash said. "It's an incredible amount of positive energy coming my way."

Ditching Microsoft Could Save Education Millions

The Times Education Supplement has published the results of a BECTA (British Educational Communications and Technology Association, the Government's ICT agency) study. The report shows an average saving of 24% per computer in schools using Open Source over those using Microsoft systems.

Oregon Ranks 48th in Computers Per Student

Students in Oregon have a hard time getting good access to a computer, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Education Week.

"I had a Big Mac attack..."

Authorities are looking for a 20-year old inmate who walked away from a minimum-custody crew working on the grounds outside the Oregon State Penitentiary Monday morning. Eduardo Vaca-Garcia was last seen around 7:05am walking west on State Street.

Yahooooooo! comes to Oregon

Yahoo has picked Hillsboro as home to a new 170-person service center due to open in August.

More Oregonians uninsured, put off treatment for chronic disease

A new study says the number of Oregonians without health insurance is on the rise. The study says 613,000 Oregonians lack health coverage. That's about 19 percent of working adults in Oregon.

Smith: Troops May be Home for Good in October

Oregon's Republican Senator Gordon Smith said yesterday that local troops could start coming home from Iraq permanently in about six months.

Thank you and goodnight

Memphis Grizzlies Jason Williams (R) hugs Phoenix Suns Steve Nash after the Grizzlies loss during Western Conference Playoffs in Memphis, Tennessee, May 1, 2005. The Suns swept the first round playoffs as they defeated the Grizzlies 123-115 to advance to the next round. REUTERS/Tami Chappell

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