As the month of June comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on one of the best months in sports in recent memory. A few 
of the highlights include:
- The NHL Stanley Cup Finals pitted a Cinderella Story versus one of the Original Six. The #7 seeded Philadelphia Flyers defied all odds and overcame an insurmountable deficit in their opening playoff series only to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. It took the Chicago Blackhawks, thirsting for their first sip from the Cup in 49 years, six games to turn this Cinderella into a pumpkin.
- The NBA Finals added another chapter to the storied rivalry between the Lakers and the Celtics. It was another classic in this lengthy story between two teams that between them own over half of the NBA titles ever won. The cast of characters included the Celtics’ Big Three (plus Rondo) versus Kobe. The series went back and forth and lasted seven games, only to conclude with LA adding another banner to the rafters and a ring for Phil’s big toe.
- Golf’s US Open was played at the always breathtaking Pebble Beach Public Course. The conditions again made some of the world’s greatest golfers look like us common folk. On Sunday, the leaderboard included a couple lesser knowns, a pair of former Open Champions, Tiger and Ernie Els, and perennial runner-up, Phil Mickelson. In the end, it was Northern Ireland’s own, Graeme McDowell, who outlasted the field and ended Europe’s 40 year drought without a US Open Champion.
- Wimbledon recently got under way, and despite the Queen’s first visit in 33 years, the talk of the tournament is the epic battle between American John Isner and France’s Nicolas Mahut. The match lasted over eleven hours and ended with Isner taking the fifth set 70-68.
- The World Cup is in full swing, and despite the best efforts of a few inept referees, the American squad has emerged with their first group stage victory since 1930. And, all it took was a dramatic goal by Landon Donovan in the 91st minute that is being called the biggest goal in US soccer history, and I guess what you could call “The Miracle on Spikes”.
June will be a hard act for July to follow, blow your Vuvuzela to that!
Re-printed with permission of the author.
Pat Schueppert is a contributor to Sports Climax who grew up on the frozen tundra and bleeds Green Bay Packer green and gold. The Wisconsin native, while staying loyal to his teams in his home state declares he has never worn a ‘cheesehead’ and “The Bears still suck!”..
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