Guru of Nothing
06-08-2005, 05:17 PM
Survey Says (http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/basketball/article/0,1406,KNS_629_3840327,00.html)
Celebrities pick Spurs over Pistons
By DAVID NIELSEN
June 7, 2005
The celebrities have spoken. If they're right, the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy will soon be on a 1,500-mile journey to San Antonio.
Eleven of the 20 celebrities contacted for the Scripps Howard Celebrity NBA Finals Poll predict that the San Antonio Spurs will knock off the defending champion, Detroit Pistons.
But Pistons fans shouldn't fret too much. Last year, only 25 percent of the celebrities picked Detroit to upset the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers.
No celebrities this year predicted a sweep. In fact, only two celebrities predicted the series would conclude in less than six games.
The NBA Finals begin at 9 p.m. EDT Thursday in San Antonio.
The results of the Scripps Howard Celebrity NBA Finals Poll:
GOV. JEB BUSH, R-Fla.: Pistons in six, now that they have beaten our beloved Heat.
KERRY WOOD, Chicago Cubs pitcher and Phoenix Suns season ticket holder: San Antonio in six, because I didn't think anyone could beat the Suns.
JULIUS ERVING, NBA legend: I'm picking the Spurs. It looks like with the quality of the Spurs and the Pistons it's going to be a long series and I think the Spurs are going to prevail.
LEROY NEIMAN, artist: The Pistons should win if they have anything left after stopping Shaq. It seems a tradition is being formed where NBA playoffs and Finals go the full seven games. The last one is the game that counts!
AL FRANKEN, radio talk show host: Pistons in seven because of (Richard) Hamilton.
DR. JOYCE BROTHERS, psychologist: I think the Pistons would have it. If you can get past Shaq O'Neal, you're pretty good.
DICK VITALE, TV basketball broadcaster: I think it's going to be a real donnybrook. The solid San Antonio Spurs behind one of the premier players in the game who gets very little national attention, Tim Duncan, will march on and beat the defending champs in six.
KEITH OLBERMANN, TV host, MSNBC: Spurs in seven because Tim Duncan introduced himself to me at the ESPY Awards years ago, called me 'Mr. Olbermann,' and said meeting me would be the talk in class the next day. Meaning he went to class.
BRIAN KILMEADE, TV co-anchor, "Fox and Friends": The Spurs will win in six games. They are the better team and are well rested. There is trouble on the sidelines with the soon-to-be exit of Detroit head coach Larry Brown.
SEN. JOHN CORNYN, R-Texas: I think the Spurs will win in six games, rather than just four, because after all they are playing against the defending champs who are quite tough competition. But, the Spurs are a class act and proven winners, and they will prevail.
SEN. CARL LEVIN, D-Mich.: It will be the Pistons in six. They're a balanced team that plays like a team.
TONY SIRICO, actor, "The Sopranos": San Antonio in six because they're smarter and bigger.
WILLIAM SANDERSON, actor, "Deadwood": San Antonio Spurs, if Tim Duncan plays all seven games, and I think the series will go seven games.
DONNIE WAHLBERG, actor: Detroit in six.
ALISON SWEENEY, actress, "Days of Our Lives": This is going to be a tough, well-matched series. I think it'll be Detroit in seven.
HALEY JOEL OSMENT, actor, he has picked the last six Super Bowl winners: San Antonio in six. When the Lakers were in their hey day, San Antonio was beating them.
LINDSAY TARPLEY, women's national team soccer player: Pistons in five. They just have that championship mentality. They're a team that always comes together to make the big plays to win the big games. Everybody steps up.
TED GIANNOULAS, San Diego Chicken: Spurs in seven games in a wild and tight series. Look for The Finals to be decided by just a single bucket - of basketball, that is, not chicken.
RICHARD SCHIFF, actor: Pistons in seven. I'd like to see them prove that they weren't a fluke. And old fashioned Eastern-style defense will always win out!
SHEILA KELLEY, actress: San Antonio in five games because I really like Texas!
(E-mail David Nielsen at nielsend(at)shns.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.shns.com)
Celebrities pick Spurs over Pistons
By DAVID NIELSEN
June 7, 2005
The celebrities have spoken. If they're right, the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy will soon be on a 1,500-mile journey to San Antonio.
Eleven of the 20 celebrities contacted for the Scripps Howard Celebrity NBA Finals Poll predict that the San Antonio Spurs will knock off the defending champion, Detroit Pistons.
But Pistons fans shouldn't fret too much. Last year, only 25 percent of the celebrities picked Detroit to upset the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers.
No celebrities this year predicted a sweep. In fact, only two celebrities predicted the series would conclude in less than six games.
The NBA Finals begin at 9 p.m. EDT Thursday in San Antonio.
The results of the Scripps Howard Celebrity NBA Finals Poll:
GOV. JEB BUSH, R-Fla.: Pistons in six, now that they have beaten our beloved Heat.
KERRY WOOD, Chicago Cubs pitcher and Phoenix Suns season ticket holder: San Antonio in six, because I didn't think anyone could beat the Suns.
JULIUS ERVING, NBA legend: I'm picking the Spurs. It looks like with the quality of the Spurs and the Pistons it's going to be a long series and I think the Spurs are going to prevail.
LEROY NEIMAN, artist: The Pistons should win if they have anything left after stopping Shaq. It seems a tradition is being formed where NBA playoffs and Finals go the full seven games. The last one is the game that counts!
AL FRANKEN, radio talk show host: Pistons in seven because of (Richard) Hamilton.
DR. JOYCE BROTHERS, psychologist: I think the Pistons would have it. If you can get past Shaq O'Neal, you're pretty good.
DICK VITALE, TV basketball broadcaster: I think it's going to be a real donnybrook. The solid San Antonio Spurs behind one of the premier players in the game who gets very little national attention, Tim Duncan, will march on and beat the defending champs in six.
KEITH OLBERMANN, TV host, MSNBC: Spurs in seven because Tim Duncan introduced himself to me at the ESPY Awards years ago, called me 'Mr. Olbermann,' and said meeting me would be the talk in class the next day. Meaning he went to class.
BRIAN KILMEADE, TV co-anchor, "Fox and Friends": The Spurs will win in six games. They are the better team and are well rested. There is trouble on the sidelines with the soon-to-be exit of Detroit head coach Larry Brown.
SEN. JOHN CORNYN, R-Texas: I think the Spurs will win in six games, rather than just four, because after all they are playing against the defending champs who are quite tough competition. But, the Spurs are a class act and proven winners, and they will prevail.
SEN. CARL LEVIN, D-Mich.: It will be the Pistons in six. They're a balanced team that plays like a team.
TONY SIRICO, actor, "The Sopranos": San Antonio in six because they're smarter and bigger.
WILLIAM SANDERSON, actor, "Deadwood": San Antonio Spurs, if Tim Duncan plays all seven games, and I think the series will go seven games.
DONNIE WAHLBERG, actor: Detroit in six.
ALISON SWEENEY, actress, "Days of Our Lives": This is going to be a tough, well-matched series. I think it'll be Detroit in seven.
HALEY JOEL OSMENT, actor, he has picked the last six Super Bowl winners: San Antonio in six. When the Lakers were in their hey day, San Antonio was beating them.
LINDSAY TARPLEY, women's national team soccer player: Pistons in five. They just have that championship mentality. They're a team that always comes together to make the big plays to win the big games. Everybody steps up.
TED GIANNOULAS, San Diego Chicken: Spurs in seven games in a wild and tight series. Look for The Finals to be decided by just a single bucket - of basketball, that is, not chicken.
RICHARD SCHIFF, actor: Pistons in seven. I'd like to see them prove that they weren't a fluke. And old fashioned Eastern-style defense will always win out!
SHEILA KELLEY, actress: San Antonio in five games because I really like Texas!
(E-mail David Nielsen at nielsend(at)shns.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.shns.com)