It is one of my favorite sports trivia questions.

When is the last time a road team won Game 7 of the NBA Finals?

1978.

Washington’s Bullets defeated the Supersonics in Seattle, 105-99. Thirty three years ago.

That would have been the curse Dallas would have had to overcome if it had been forced into a deciding seventh game tomorrow night in Miami.

Jason Terry (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Instead, the underdog Mavericks made it three straight victories and four wins in the last five games Sunday night as they earned their initial NBA crown with a 105-95 triumph over the host Heat in game 6. Jason Terry scored 19 of his 27 points in the opening half for Dallas, making eight of his 10 shots from the field. Dirk Nowitzki sank just one of his 12 field goal attempts in the first half, but his Mavs were still in front by two points at intermission. The 7-footer from Germany warmed up after the break, connecting on eight of 15 to finish with 21 points.

Dirk Nowitzki (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

In all my years of covering sports, I cannot recall any athlete gaining in stature during the postseason like Nowitzki did in this season’s playoffs. We knew he was a very good player, but Dirk showed us in series against Portland, the Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City, and Miami why he is a great performer. Nowitzki was the obvious choice for Finals’ Most Valuable Player.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

It was a bitter blow for Miami stars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Five years ago, Wade was on the winning side in the Heat-Mavericks’ championship series. James and Chris Bosh joined Wade this season,
and many basketball experts forecast both an Eastern Conference and NBA trophy for Miami. After it was over last night, Wade sought out Dallas players on the court to offer congratulations, then told reporters the Mavs
had earned the title. James could not get off the floor fast enough, failing to show the class that Dwyane did. LeBron is now 2 and 6 in playoff elimination games after averaging under 18 points in these Finals—nine below his regular season average. He also was a disappointment when it came to scoring in the final quarter of the contests against the Mavericks. I’ve never heard as brutal a question as James received at the post-game media conference last evening. A reporter asked, “How do you feel knowing so many people were hoping you would fail?”

All in all, it was one of the most suspenseful NBA Finals ever with close games throughout. Chalk one up for the “good guys.” Even Dallas owner Mark Cuban kept his mouth shut during the Finals and was quietly humble after his team’s achievement.

An update…..in the 27 times the NBA Finals have been tied at two victories apiece, the winner of game 5 has nabbed 20 championships. The Mavs took game 5 this year.

In hockey, when the Stanley Cup finals have been deadlocked, 2-2, the victor in game 5 has gone on to win the Cup in 15 of 21 cases. Vancouver beat Boston in game 5 this year and can wrap it up tonight at Boston in game 6.

HOCKEY TRIVIA QUESTION………

When is the last time an NHL club from Canada won Lord Stanley’s Cup?

Roy Oswalt

Before this major league baseball season began, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Boston Red Sox were the oddsmakers’ choices to reach the World Series this fall. Nothing has changed.

ODDS TO WIN THE WORLD SERIES

Phillies 3-1
Red Sox 9-2
Yankees 6-1
Rangers 8-1

No other National League team has odds lower than 12-1.

Source: Las Vegas Hilton

The average length, in seasons, of a major league baseball position player’s career, according to a study of nearly 6,000 pros during the 20th century…………is 5.6 years.

Sources: University of Colorado and The Wall Street Journal

David Einhorn

David Einhorn recently committed to buying a share of the New York Mets. In the 2006 World Series of Poker, Einhorn finished 18th, and won $ 659,730. He donated his winnings to charity.

Source: World Series of Poker

HOCKEY TRIVIA ANSWER:

In 1993, Montreal defeated Los Angeles to claim the Stanley Cup.