According to Produce News, folk in the U.S. eat a staggering 81 million pounds of avocados on Cinco de Mayo. Also
Hope you enjoy it with some Hoops, Hockey, and Golf!
Okay @YouTheReader, there is a good chance you may have never heard of this 1956 tune by Jim Lowe called Green Door. Since I’m writing the book in real-time about the trials & errors of how to grow a Sports Media Publication using music in the year ‘23, here’s a valuable lesson: When your Grandma sends you a song that she thinks reminds her of you, you write up a piece in your first available No Football Friday slot and let them ask questions later.
Ripley’s Week to Week Notes Believe It Or Not, this song replaced Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender” as number one on the US pop charts on November 17, 1956. "Green Door" was backed by the orchestra of songwriter Davie, with Davie also playing piano, and by the vocal group the High Fives. The track was arranged by Davie, who added thumbtacks to the hammers of his piano and sped up the tape to give a honky-tonk sound. (Source: Way Back Attack)
Well if you’ve been reading long enough you already know I have this thing (Week to Week Notes) where I get older but just never wiser. Midnights become my afternoons. This is just a reminder for those who may have forgotten or might be new here.
Alright, I’ll get serious, the Green Door may have quite a few meanings of symbolism in this song. For starters, Speakeasies during Prohibition were often located behind doors painted green. In Chicago, The Green Door Tavern on North Orleans Street is an Irish pub that opened in 1921. There is also the fact that, traditionally, a green front door reflects wealth, health, and safety. I could be off base but let’s face it I’m the only one on planet Earth right now doing a @RapGenius to Green Door so I can wing it, you could sort of combine the two meanings and say that Jim was seeking to join the “it” crowd.
The Green Door wasn’t Jim Lowe’s first song, he actually did write a song called “Gambler’s Guitar” that was a massive hit for Rusty Draper in 1953. The fact that Jim Lowe wrote a song that was a hit and he didn’t receive the acclaim Draper did with his words could represent Jim Lowe knocking on the Green Door and not being allowed in.
The eyeball peeping and the smoky room definitely insinuate a speakeasy. Speakeasies also used to have passwords to get in, “Joe sent me”, not being one. Lucky for Jim Lowe, this song was a huge break for him and he was able to land a career as a disc jockey from 1964 to 2004. The icing on the cake was that Lowe was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard.
After Rookie Season, I currently don’t have any secrets up my sleeve. It feels sort of nice to be an open book about Week to Week Notes now.
Wanna Be A Baller: Conference Semis ‘23
Western Conference
Nikola “Joker” Jokic dropped 39 points with 16 rebounds in Game 2. Jamal Murray went for 3 points in Game 1, but do not under any circumstances call him Bubble Boy because it reminds you of how he went off in the NBA bubble playoffs. Can the Denver Nuggets lend the Yankees Aaron Gordon to play Right Field in Aaron Judge’s absence? Michael Porter Jr. was called the X-Factor of this series by Kevin Durant and thus far has scored a total of 16 points in the series - not a great sign for the Suns considering the X-Factor hasn’t even done anything. Anytime I see the name, Bruce Brown, I immediately think of Spurs’ Bruce Bowen. KCP has been wet from 3 this series shooting at a 58.3% clip and going 4 of 4 Game 2. I didn’t know Georgetown’s Jeff Green was still in the NBA, good for him!
In Game 2, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant combined for 59 points. You would think that would be a pretty good sign for the Suns but the rest of the team scored a whopping 28. Deandre Ayton will need to do a much better job at containing the Joker or this series will be cooked in the Phoenix dry heat. Chris Paul is already starting to use the classic playoff injury excuses. Torrey Craig, Josh Okogie, and Bismack Biyonmo are just happy to be mentioned. The Suns showed a little bit of fight at the end of Game 2, maybe Devin Booker getting into it with Bruce Brown could wake them up.
Series Prediction: Suns in 7. Taking the Nuggets when they’re up 2-0 would be boring.
Steph Curry’s playmaking ability was on display in Game 2 as he had 12 dimes. Klay Thompson had one of his vintage playoff games when the Warriors needed it, scoring 30 points on 8 of 11 from 3. Andrew Wiggins is first in 3-point contested shots in these playoffs - opponents shooting just 31.7% when guarded by him. (Source: @SplashBrosMuse) Jordan Poole allegedly spent $500k to go on a date with Ice Spice. Draymond Green probably heard that and wanted to clock him again. Kevon Looney and Gary Payton II are the reliable vets who know their roles.
LeBron has always loved to wait in the weeds at the beginning of playoff series. I get that he is up there in age, but I still feel like he’ll give us one more classic in at least of these games against Curry. Anthony Davis (no relation if you’re wondering) is very up and down per usual but in theory should be the best player on the court. The Lakers are 5-0 in the playoffs when D’Angelo Russell scores 17 or more. Austin Reaves has come back down to Earth in this series. Rui Hachimura has scored 107 points in the playoffs. The rest of the Lakers bench has scored 108 points. Jarred Vanderbilt had a great game guarding Steph in Game 1 and was taught a masterclass of efficiency in Game 2. Dennis Schroder will continue to try and guard Steph Curry as well.
Series Prediction: Warriors in 7. Probably the last LeBron vs. Warriors matchup so enjoy.
Eastern Conference
Jimmy Butler looks like he’ll be back, he has an ankle, but is practicing fine. Bam Adebayo has trade rumors leaking in the middle of the playoff series, that’s interesting. With Jimmy Butler out in Game 2, Gabe Vincent and Caleb Martin combined to score 43 points chucking up 3s. Kevin Love has had one odd career. Kyle Lowry saw 31 minutes in Game 2, fatigue could be a factor in Game 3. Duncan Robinson has only shot 23% from 3 thus far in this series.
Jalen Brunson is the first Knicks player with a 30-point playoff game at the MSG since Carmelo Anthony (who was sitting courtside) in ‘13. Julius Randle was back in the lineup in Game 2. RJ Barrett has more Playoff Series Wins (1) than Zion Williamson and Ja Morant, the guys drafted ahead of him at 3. Josh Hart is the 1st Knick to record 10+ PTS, 10+ REB, and 9+ AST in a playoff game since Walt Frazier in 1972. (Source: @cynicalknicks) Steph Curry gave Immanuel Quickley the advice that “Honestly, shooting is all confidence. Even if you miss some shots your confidence shouldn’t change…you could miss 50 shots in a row but if you know you’re still a shooter, you’re still a shooter…doesn’t change.” (Source: Slam Online) Obi Toppin played great in Julius Randle’s absence in Game 1 with 18 points and 8 boards. Mitchell Robinson saw fewer minutes in Game 2 than Isaiah Hartensetin which is something to look for as Thibs may consider making some adjustments.
Series Prediction: Heat in 7. The last thing I’m trying to do right now is mush the Knicks.
With Joel Embiid out Game 1, James Harden had one of his best playoff performances ever while scoring 45 points including the dagger to win it. Harden & Tyrese Maxey played great in Game 1 without Embiid and awful in Game 2. Tobias Harris is just steady chilling in the corner, same old same old. Embiid can’t afford to miss another game in this series. Please ignore De’Anthony Melton in the stats above, that should be Shake Milton. I had to Google who Paul Reed, he is nicknamed “BBall Paul" and played for DePaul. PJ Tucker just keeps giving us classic playoff stat lines but continues to be in playoff rotations so he’s doing something right.
Jayson Tatum forcefully shoved a ref and is lucky he isn’t getting sued. Jaylen Brown is out here trying to look like Batman with a mask. Marcus Smart still takes dumb irrational shots. I can’t imagine spending more than a minute on a Derrick White sentence. Malcolm Brogdon just seems like a nice wholesome guy so I’ll lay off. Robert Williams III and Al Horford are quite the contrast in Bigs, they’re almost like completely opposite players.
Series Prediction: Celtics in 7. I’m 100% hoping to mush the Celtics.
‘Chel Stanley Cup Playoffs ‘23
Western Conference
Game 1 of this series started off with an insane 1st Period where 6 goals were scored in the game’s first 15 minutes. The Kraken got off to a 4-2 start before the Stars tied it up at 4 a piece with 7 minutes to play in the 3rd Period. Seattle’s Yanni Gourde gave the Kraken Game 1 of the series with an OT goal.
It should be worth Noting that in Game 1, Joe Pavelski became the oldest player in NHL History to score 4 goals in a game in Stanley Cup playoff history. He also put one in the back of the Net in the Stars’ victory in Game 2.
Series Prediction: Kraken in 6 games. The common saying is that home ice means nothing in the playoffs, but Seattle doesn’t have the Sonics so they’re fully invested in releasing the Kraken and now hold the host advantage after stealing Game 1.
Leon Draisaitl scored 4 goals for the Oilers in Game 1. Edmonton lost but Draisaitl joined the elite company of Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux as the only hockey players to have 50+ points in any 25-game playoff span. I may not know too much about the greatest sport played on ice, but I know those names.
Series Prediction: Oilers figure it out in 6 games, led by Leon Draisaitl obviously.
Eastern Conference
The Panthers have taken a commanding 2-0 series lead after trialing 2-0 in Game 2’s 1st Period. They scored 3 straight with Gustav Forsling sniping what would be the game-winner in the 2nd Period.
Series Prediction: The Maple Leafs make it a series but the Panthers prevail in 6 games.
After Tris-State pins and needles Tri-State 7 game series, the Devils went numb in Game 1 against the Hurricanes. Carolina’s Jesperi Kotkaniemi sent Devils goalie, Akira Schmid, to the bench after the Hurricanes went up 3-0. Lindy Ruff after the game said “It had nothing to do with our goalie. I could’ve taken multiple players out.” He laughed and wouldn’t comment on who would start for Jersey in Game 2 tonight at 8 PM ET on TNT but I’d guess it’s Schmid again.
Series Prediction: Carolina Hurricanes in 7 games, although honestly, it wouldn't be the worst thing to have the Devils make a run so Week to Week Notes can have a bit more juice to talk about locally.
1.5, 1, .5, or 0 Game
I’m not sure if this is sort of already a thing but I’m testing out this new thing with the NBA and NHL Playoffs. It’s not an exact science, it’s pretty dumb, but read me out. With these playoff series, I like picking a winner and trying to guess the number of games. If I pick the team and # of games correctly I give myself 1.5. If I pick the right team and I’m a game off (Game 6 and the series goes 5 or 7), I’ll give myself 1. If I get the right team and I’m 2 games off it’s 0.5. If the team picked ends up losing, it’s 0. This is just an easy way for me to keep track of picks for the Playoff Series and something new.
NBA
At the moment, my average with the NBA is 0.5625.
NHL
At the moment, my average with the NHL is 0.4375. I told you Pucks on Net would decide the Panthers-Bruins series.
The Wells Fargo Championship Champions for Education, based in Charlotte, NC, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) foundation created when the tournament was founded by Wells Fargo, Quail Hollow Club. This tournament serves as the principal fundraiser for the organization's efforts to support local and regional charitable organizations. Established as a PGA Tour Event in ‘03, it has quickly become a favorite among players and spectators alike.
Leaderboard After Round 1
Tommy Fleetwood tied his low first-round score on the PGA TOUR with a 65 (‘19 PLAYERS Championship). Xander Schauffele for EAGLE from 42 feet out on the 10th (GIF’d below).
Patrick Cantlay offered up a quote on his pace of play bit, “ If you really wanted to make guys play faster, you would put the tees up and you would put easier hole locations and the greens would roll at 10 if you really wanted it to, and you hope it never blew more than 10 miles an hour. When you get really tricky days and the greens are really fast and the hole locations are on lots of slope, it’s going to take a longer time to play. But like I’ve said before, rounds on Tour have pretty much taken the same amount of time for a number of years now and I don’t think they’re going to set up the golf course in a way, like I said, to make rounds, you know, go a lot faster.” Translation: I fell asleep reading that quote. I don’t know, maybe let the guy play 18 with a golf cart, nobody got time for this shrimp. Adam Scott looked like me trying to chip on the 11th hole yesterday. He followed that up with a 62-footer for Birdie, something I will never accomplish in my lifetime.
Rory McIlroy has won the Wells Fargo Championship 3 times, the most of any golfer in the tournament’s history. The ‘10 Tournament was actually Rory’s first-ever PGA Tour title. His other two wins came in ‘15 and ‘21. Going into Round 2, JT Thomas was sandwiched between McIllroy and Max Homa on the leaderboard. JT Thomas has since made a bit of a move in Round 2 (check out the GIF below). Max Homa is the defending Wells Fargo Championship winner of ‘22. He and Rory are the only golfers to have won multiple times as he also won back in ‘19.
For all @YouTheReaders going down to Quail Hollow this weekend, keep this in your Back Pocket.