Daily Sports News

The wait is over…. The Magic have won their first NBA final after 20 years. So there is no blaming them for all the fanfare, which seemed as if they had won the series…..

There was no stopping the Magic as they held off the Lakers to a four point victory, 108-104, in front of their home crowd, at the Amway arena. This was pulled off in a nice fashion after they put up a nine point lead in the fourth. With this victory, they stopped the Lakers’s victory parade and made even Bryant look vulnerable…. Most of the Lakers’s shots ended up in the loo.

In seven tries, this is the first victory for the Magic, and this means a lot to the fans as well as the franchise. The Magic improved their shooting immensively with a record 62.5 success rate. However, it was a bad day for Kobe despite leadig all the scores wit 31 pts as he missed a key free throw and then turning over the ball, dribbling it off his foot. But from the Magic side, it was a complete team effort as five players scored atleast 18pts. Dwight Howard had 21 pts, Lewis 21, Alston 20 while Pietrus and Tukoglu had 18. Playing their first final at their home since 1995, the Magic managed to erase that 6 consecutive losing streak. They were destroyed by the Rockets 14 yrs ago. The Magic lost the first two games, by 25 pts and by 5 pts, respectively. Still despite a success rate of 62.5, the game was close call as the Magic couldn’t control the Lakers very well. This success rate managed to eclipse the Bull’s 18 year old record.

“I’ve said it throughout the season and throughout these playoffs,” Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said.

“The one thing that you can’t question about our team is their resilience in situations like that, whether it’s from game to game, minute to minute our team will keep playing.”

Then again, the praise must be with the Magic, as the managed to keep the heat n the Lakers and pull off a victory as the talks of the team’s resiliency showed. Moreover despite Phil Jackson’s experience and mind games, his statements backfired as it was like poking the Magic with a stick after their bitter losses. And so, no matter which team should be up 2-1 now, the Magic feel they are right back in this series and believe they can pull off, what according to their critics has been claimed impossible. The Magic not only avoided a sweep, but managed to give the soon to be scuttled Amway Arena, three more games which will be a great meal for their hungry fans.

“We were taking better shots tonight,” Howard said.

“We didn’t rush. We attacked. That allowed us to get some easier shots. Instead of us shooting the ball with a big guy Lamar Odom or Gasol in our face, we did a good job of getting to the rim. Skip (Alston) did a good job of attacking and allowing guys to get open for free shots.”

So, have the Lakers began celebrating too soon????

One of the best farewell presents a team could offer to their coach was done by Chelsea, with and excellent win over Everton 2-1 in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. Though Everton had a dream start to the match when striker Louis Saha put Everton ahead after just 26 seconds and also scored the fastest goal in FA Cup Final but the day surely belonged to Chelsea.

Chelsea scored two amazing goals to get back into a 2-1 lead through strikes Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard scoring in 20th minute and the 72nd minutes respectively.

Chelsea was the hot favorite to qualify ahead of United for the Champions league when they conceded a last minute goal which resulted in a draw, taking United to the final. On Sunday Chelsea proved a point that they were the best side in English Club Football.

Chelsea, playing under Hiddink for the last time before he returns to coaching Russia’s national team, equalised after 20 minutes when Didier Drogba rose virtually unmarked to head past Tim Howard.

Frank Lampard said in a post match interview

“It was amazing, to be 1-0 down in one minute, we showed a lot of character. We basically dominated the game. The second half wasn’t quite so good, but I was always felt like we could win the game so I’m pleased to get the goal to help us win it.”

This win also helped England defender Ashley Cole to win his fifth FA Cup winner’s medals, the highest since the tournaments. He had previously won three with Arsenal and now has two with Chelsea.

Hiddink is a post match interview said

“We are very demanding on each other but that is a strength, they know how to react when they are on the back foot. That is why I like them. It hasn’t just been an in between job for me, it has been more than that. This is one of my biggest adventures, to win at football’s mecca is quite something.”

David Moyes the Everton coach gracefully accepted defeat and said

“Chelsea were the better team, however, we made a semi-final last year and now a final this year and the guys are growing in stature out there.”