Memorial Day Weekend Preview!!!!! by Ronald Carthen

This will be my last written post until Tuesday so I can hang with my friends and family this Memorial Day Weekend. As we get ready for this holiday weekend to hang out in the beach, cookout and eat all the free food we can eat, there will be some great games on television that we can't resist. By the time I write again on Tuesday, we'll know who's playing in the NBA Finals, who will be the No. 1 contender for the UFC Light Heavyweight title, who get's the early lead in the Stanley Cup finals, if your favorite tennis stars will still be in the French Open, and how will the USA Men's Soccer Team play in their last home match before they head to South Africa. Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend and get ready for a great sports weekend.

Lakers vs. Suns Game 6 (Sat.) and possibly Game 7 (Mon.) on TNT

Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to finally end this series against Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns on Saturday. Kobe is averaging 33.0 points, 9.6 assists, 7.4 rebounds, and shooting over 53% from the field in this series. They have yet to find a way to win a game in Phoenix this postseason. They are having trouble away from the Staples Center going 3-4 on the road in the playoffs. I think Nash and the Phoenix Suns will win Game 6 and the Lakers will win in Game 7 on Memorial Day.

Magic vs. Celtics Game 6 (Fri.) and possibly Game 7 (Sun.) on ESPN

  

The Magic have a chance to do something that has never been done in the NBA. They can become the first team to be down 0-3 in a series and come back to win four straight to win the series. Dwight Howard has averaged 20.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, and shooting over 54% from the field in this series. The Celtics have to find a way to get him in foul trouble or else it's going to be a long night in Boston. Paul Pierce, averaging 23.0 points in this series had a bad Game 5 but I think he'll get it together in Game 6. I'm sticking with my original pick and the Magic will make history when I write again on Tuesday. 

UFC 114: Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs. Rashad Evans (Sat.) on PPV   

       

I'm looking forward to this sporting event more then any other event this weekend. Rampage vs Rashad Evans is going to be insane and the extra $45 to order it on Pay-Per-View will be worth. The winner of this fight will be the No.1 contender for the "Shogun" Rua's UFC Light Heavyweight title Both fighters will stand up in this contest and will give the fans one of the best show's in the octagon the fans will ever see. There feud on Ultimate Fighter and off camera makes this such a better fighter. My only concern is that Rampage hasn't competed in a fight since March 2009 when he defeated Keith Jardine. A 14-month layoff could be a huge diadvantage. Rampage's role as B.A. Barracus on the A-Team delayed their chances to fight months ago. If Evans speed and great wrestling skills play a huge role in this fights, he'll win by decision, but Rampage will win if he knocks him out. I have a funny feeling it's going to be Rampage by a knockout.

         Blackhawks vs. Flyers Game 1 (Sat.) & Game 2 (Mon.), Stanley Cup Finals on NBC 

The Stanley Cup Finals will kickoff this Saturday when the Chicago Blackhawks will meet the Philadelphia Flyers. The Blackhawks swept the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference Finals and defeated also defeated the Nashville Predators and the Vancouver Canucks to advance to the finals. The Flyers defeated the Canadiens in five games in the Eastern Conference finals to advance to the finals. They also defeated the New Jersey Devils and became only the 4th team in history and the third NHL team down 0-3 in a series and win four straight and advance to the East finals over the Boston Bruins. I'm ready to see the battle between the top two points leaders Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews, who leads the playoffs with 26 points (19 assists & seven goals) and Flyers center Mike Richards, who's second with 21 points (15 assists and six goals). I'm going to pick the Blackhawks in seven but I won't be surprise if the Flyers can steal one in Chicago and win it all.

French Open at Roland Garros on ESPN and NBC 

    

This weekend we will learn who will move on in the French Open. We'll see if Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, and Serena and Venus Williams will continue to do well on the clay tennis courts. I'm picking Federer and Serena to win this event.

USA vs Turkey at Philadelphia (Sat.) on ESPN2       

                   

The USA Soccer team will play in their final home friendly before the World Cup in South Africa. They will face Turkey at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. We'll see if Oguchi Onyewu will get rid of his rust after after his first game in seven month's when the team looked horrible in their friendly against the Czech Republic. I'm ready to see how Jozy Altidore and Landon Donovan will look and give US fans confidence before they face England in the WC opener.