NBA playoffs have already had exciting finishes

Most people who have read my column over the years know that I'm a basketball junkie with a strong preference for college hoops.

I also really like the NBA -- and, for my money, that league's athletes rank as among the best in the world -- but I never thought professional games carried quite the excitement and pageantry of the collegiate variety.

What has been happening recently in the playoffs, however, might start getting me to change my tune.

Sure, I'm always going to be partial to college basketball. But, wow, have there been some tremendous NBA games in the last week or so.

For a while, none stuck out more than Monday's Timberwolves-Kings classic, which Minnesota won 114-113 in overtime after blowing a big lead late in regulation.

Because of working at night, I don't get to watch many of the NBA contests from start to finish, other than catching quick glances at the sports department TV or catching the end of the West Coast tilts after we've met our deadlines. Most of what I see is because of ESPN's SportsCenter. (Where would we sports fanatics be without that marvelous invention?)

But it just so happened I had Monday night off, which allowed me to watch every bit of that Timberwolves-Kings thriller --and what a thriller it was.

I've got to admit I'm a little partial to Minnesota, not only because I really like Kevin Garnett -- he's a great player who carries himself with class on and off the court -- but also because I'm rooting for ex-Ohio Valley Conference star Trenton Hassell to do well.

Hassell, who I -- along with many Southeast Missouri State University fans -- watched torment the Indians and the rest of the OVC during his days at Austin Peay, is having quite a series against Sacramento. The starting guard, primarily a defensive specialist for Minnesota, has really stepped up his offense as the Kings concentrate on trying to stop the Timberwolves' big three of Garnett, Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell.

Of course, Monday's game was trumped -- at least for its finish -- by Thursday's Lakers-Spurs thriller. While the game itself was not played all that well, the final, frantic moments certainly made up for any shortcomings as Tim Duncan and Derek Fisher both hit amazing shots.

Duncan's 18-footer against tight defense with less than one second remaining appeared to hand the Spurs a victory, but Fisher trumped San Antonio's center with his miraculous 18-footer at the buzzer that gave Los Angeles a 74-73 triumph and a 3-2 series lead entering Saturday night's home game that ended after our deadline.

Some unbelievable games to be sure -- I didn't even mention Friday night's Game 5 between the Nets and Pistons, won by New Jersey 127-120 in triple overtime -- and the playoffs haven't even reached the conference finals round yet, so plenty more classics figure to be in order.

Thank goodness for SportsCenter.

I'm not about to pass judgment on Kobe Bryant -- at worst he's guilty of rape while at best he's guilty of adultery, which is still plenty serious although it won't land him in jail -- but the way he's able to play so well with the physical and mental stress he's under is pretty amazing.

Good luck to former Southeast assistant men's basketball coach Gary Abner as he heads to Tennessee-Chattanooga for a similar position.

Gary is a class act and a really good guy who figures to go a long way in the profession.

A young man with strong local connections is wrapping up quite an athletic career at Strafford High School near Springfield, Mo.

Mike Call, a Strafford senior, attempted a second consecutive rare double Saturday when he competed in the district track meet.

Last year, Mike qualified for state in two spring sports --track and golf. He was the only Missouri prep athlete to compete in those two state events. He finished third in the Class 2 high jump.

Mike recently once again qualified for the state golf tournament and was a heavy favorite to make it back to state in track entering Saturday's district meet.

Mike, who stands 6-6, was also an all-district basketball performer. He averaged 14 points, six rebounds, five assists and two blocks per game for a 24-5 Class 3 team.

Now that's some athlete.

As for his local connections, Mike's father Don Call is a Central High School graduate who played basketball at Southeast in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Mike's mother is also a Cape Girardeau native, his grandparents still live here and his sister teaches at Clippard Elementary.

Mike and his twin brother, Mark -- who missed going to the state golf tournament by one stroke -- were actually born in Cape. Mike attended Southeast's basketball camps in grade school before the family moved.

It's almost hard to believe that today's 1 p.m. contest against Tennessee Tech will mark Southeast's final home baseball game of the year. The season has just flown by.

The Indians have not been nearly as invincible at Capaha Field this year as in the past, but they are still tough to beat at their friendly confines, thanks in large part to the big crowds that always show up for games.

There is always a great atmosphere at Southeast home affairs and that has been especially true the last two years, thanks to the great organ playing of Jeremy Boyer. Jeremy, a Southeast student, donates his time and plays some fantastic tunes to help get Southeast fans fired up.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.