In 2003, the NBA changed from a best of five to a best of seven series in the first round of its playoffs.

There are four teams very grateful for that decision this week. Boston, Orlando, San Antonio and Portland all lost at home to underdogs in post-season openers over the weekend.

Chicago was an 8 1/2 point underdog against the Celtics, Philadelphia  9 1/2 points to the Magic, while Dallas and Houston were each 4 point ‘dogs facing the Spurs and Trailblazers, respectively. The 76ers trailed Orlando by 18 in the third quarter and came back to win. Favorites Cleveland, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Denver were victorious in Game 1.

AP Photo/Elise Amendola

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The longer series benefit the favored clubs because that reduces the likelihood of an upset by a lower seed. Until the finals, the higher seeds host games 1, 2, 5, and 7. In the finals, which begin June 4th and may last as long as June 18th, the higher seeds are home for games 1, 2, 6 and 7. This year, the Cavaliers, Lakers, Celtics and Magic are the top four seeds.

PRO BASKETBALL TRIVIA QUESTION:

Which NBA team had the best playoff record for one season?

Embarrassing Performance:

On Sunday night, Atlanta and Miami went nearly seven minutes without either scoring in the fourth quarter of their NBA playoff encounter. The Hawks tallied 14 points in the period, but won, 90-64 as the league’s leading scorer Dwyane Wade and the Heat managed only SEVEN points in the 12 minutes. Ugly!

Miami has averaged just 73 points in three outings against Atlanta this season—-and is 0 and 3.

TRIVIA ANSWER:

The 2001 Lakers have the best playoff record in NBA annals—-15 and 1. Their only defeat was in Game 1 of the Finals to Philadelphia in overtime.

Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

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As the Stanley Cup playoffs begin in the National Hockey League, there is one major upset brewing. The eighth-seeded Anaheim Ducks downed the best regular season team—-San Jose—twice on the Sharks’ ice. San Jose had lost just five of 41 games at home all season.

Since 1994, the # 8 seed has stunned the # 1 seed in the NHL post-season seven times.

San Jose out shot Anaheim, 79 to 43 in the two games, but the Ducks prevailed, 2-0 and 3-2.

Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

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In his first two Stanley Cup playoff starts, goalie Jonas Hiller of the Ducks stopped all 35 shots at him in the shutout and 42 of 44 in Game 2. The Sharks were 0 for 12 on the power play in those games, taking 25 shots. The 27-year-old Hiller was a standout in the top Swiss league and the world championships.  San Jose must capture four of the next five games, and three will be played in Anaheim.

New York’s Rangers also took two on the road in Washington to start that series. Boston, the number 1 seed in the East, is looking for its first playoff series win in 10 years and grabbed a 2-0 edge over Montreal which is 0-7-1 against the Bruins this season. Detroit, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, Chicago and Vancouver are leading their series.

AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

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After the first two weeks of the major league baseball season, there have been some unexpected developments.

SENSATIONAL START:

Florida Marlins 11-1 First Place 5 game lead

SURPRISING SO FAR:

Toronto Blue Jays 10-4 First Place
San Diego Padres 9-4 One game out of first place
Seattle Mariners 8-5 First Place
Kansas City Royals 7-5 First Place Tie

DISAPPOINTING DEBUTS:

L.A. Angels of Anaheim 4-8 Last Place
Tampa Bay Rays 5-8 Last Place
Philadelphia Phillies 5-6 Fourth Place 5 1/2 games back

Remember Philadelphia and Tampa Bay were in the World Series last fall.

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

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After losing their first five games, seven of  eight, and eight of 11, the Cleveland Indians set a major league record last Saturday at the new Yankee Stadium. They came up with the most runs any major league team had ever scored in the second inning of a game—-14.  Another mark was set. The 14 runs and 13 hits in the second are the most allowed by the New York Yankees in their storied history.

BASEBALL TRIVIA QUESTION:

What is the modern big league record for most runs in an inning by one team?

Elijah Dukes

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Washington Nationals outfielder Elijah Dukes was benched, fined 500 dollars, and threatened with a demotion to the minor leagues Saturday when he showed up FIVE minutes late at the ballpark. Dukes had been autographing baseballs at a Little League event. Manager Manny Acta said, “He was late for work, he broke a team rule, and we are going to change the culture here. He was doing something that we encourage our players to do. He was out in the community doing something for some Little League program and just showed up late to work. We have to lay the law on whoever.”

The Nationals entered this week with by far the worst record in baseball——1 and 10. Acta could be fired soon. Will anyone miss him?

TRIVIA ANSWER:

17.  The Cubs scored that many runs in an inning against the Braves in 1908, and the Red Sox equalled it in 1953 playing the Tigers.

Photo credit: Hunter Martin / Getty Images

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37-year-old pro golfer Brendon Todd accomplished a most unusual feat last Thursday and Friday while playing in a Nationwide Tour event in Athens, Georgia.  Todd made a hole-in-one at the same hole both days. Todd used a 7-iron when the 17th hole played 157 yards the first day, and an 8-iron when the distance was 147 yards the next day. Brendon is the first player in the 20-year history of the Nationwide Tour to ace the same hole twice in the same tournament. Those shots helped Todd play the first two rounds in 5-under par. But, a 79 on the final day left him in a 50th place tie at 7-over, and he won $ 1, 884.

Only five players in PGA Tour history have registered two aces in a single event, the biggest name being Bob Tway. Just two men ever did it in the same round.

How many holes-in-one were made on the PGA Tour in 2008? 26.

On Sunday, I attended a friend’s 90th birthday party, and on Monday, I went to the 90th birthday dinner of another friend. That might not be a record, but it was wonderful to honor two quality  gentlemen—-Charles Lees and Walter Kaufman.  Congratulations!