Bynum and Gasol's double-doubles and Bryant's defense allow Lakers to take Game 5 in playoff series

After depressing losses in Game 2 and 3 in the 1 v 8 playoff series in the Western Conference against Kevin Durant and the young Oklahoma City Thunder, the Los Angeles Lakers took game 5 on tuesday, now leading the series 3-2. The Lakers, from the beginning of the game, dominated the Oklahoma, forcing the Thunder to only score their first points just 11 seconds past the 6-minute mark.

The two key Lakers big men troubled the Oklahoma City Thunder throughout the whole game, with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum both recording double-doubles in the category of points and rebounds.

With NBA Superstar, Kobe Bryant still struggling to achieve 100% health, Kobe had little impact on the offensive end. However on the defensive end Bryant displayed his true All-Star calibre with his stifiling defense against guard Russell Westbrook who had been hurting the Lakers throughout the playoff series. Putting intense pressure on Westbrook, Bryant and the Lakers kept one of Thunder's key players to 15 points and forced him to 8 turnovers. Hitting the floor, seven times, Bryant and the Lakers stuck to Westbrook like super-glue, bumping him on fast breaks and creating a traffic jam every time he drove to the basket.

Kobe's ability to stick to Westbrook shook the young Oklahoma side up, with Oklahoma's coach admitting that it put them off "He did a good job guarding Russell...That kind of threw us off a little". The Oklahoma side had no answers to the brilliance of the Los Angeles Lakers whom seek to attain back-to-back NBA Championships defeating the Orlando Magic in the final series last year.

Game 6 is on Friday at the Oklahoma, where LA look to clinch the series and Oklahoma will try their best to even up the series and take it to Game 7 which if happens (very unlikely), will be played at the well-renowned Staples Center in LA.

GO THE LAKERS!

Image: http://www.nba.com/mulitmedia/photo_gallery/1004/thunderlakersG5/content.2.html

Inter In, Barca out

In the deafening noise at the Nou camp made by Barca’s 98000 loyal fans in the final 10 minutes, Jose Mourinho Conquered his super rivals 3-2 on aggregate despite a 1-0 semi final second-leg defeat.

It’s a game of intelligent defending and sheer determination and Mourinho’s counterattatcking tactics proved decisive and practical again. In spite of the controversial dismissal of Thiago Motta in the first half and Gerard Pique’s late goal for Barca at the 84^th minute, Inter successfully protected their 3-1 lead from the first leg, and survived after 20 shots from their cornered rival. Not surprisingly, Barca completely dominated the opening stages and reached 80% of the possession early on, while Inter seemed comfortable and well prepared for that. The game was quite cagey before Thiago Motta was sent off for a hand-off on Sergio Busquets. It made Inter’s situation even harder and they beagn to play a more defensive game. Barca were camped in Inter’s area for the remainder of the first half, but nothing changed on the scoreboard. In the second half, offside trap played by Inter were effective and Guardiola’s side had little to do except for hopeful crosses to Ibrahimovic, who couldn’t been seen many times tonight before was substituted at 64 minutes. Barca’s fans sensed victory when Pique scored a goal after collecting Xavi’s pass, though it might have been an offside. The Catalans almost made it when Bojan broke free in the Inter box and lashed into the roof of the net in injury time, but the referee had given a handball against Yaya Toure in the build-up long before. When the final whistle blowed, for the first time in 38 years Jose Mourinho-inspired Inter Milan have reached the final of the European cup.

"It's been 38 years since Inter played in the final," said Mourinho. "This is not a team of young players who can wait 15 years to make the final - they will not have another 10 opportunities to play in one." By Jose Mourinho

Bayern Munich through to the final

The Bavarian giants knocked out French side Lyon to advance to the Champions League final in Madrid in May. Bayern won in comfortable fashion, winning 3-0. A hat-trick from Ivica Olic secured their plane tickets for the final, though they go to the final without one of their superstars Franck Ribery, after UEFA handed the 27-year-old a three-match ban for his first leg semi-final sending off. A statement released from the Bayern camp said "We can't justify this ruling in any way and consider it completely wrong". That said Bayern are looking to appeal the three-match ban for Ribery.
Check out the highlights and goals from the link below
http://footyroom.com/lyon-0-3-bayern-munich-2-2010-04

To me Bayern seem to be the team to beat having already knocked out Manchester United, though they will either face Inter or Barcelona and will seem to be the underdogs compared to Inter/Barcelona. They have been brilliantly coached Louis vaan Gaal with each game they play they seem to be improving showing more cohesion within the team. So do you think they can win the final without Ribery? Only time will tell come May at Madrid



sources for images, quote and video
http://images.brisbanetimes.com.au/2010/04/28/1387301/olic2-420x0.jpg
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article7110529.ece
http://footyroom.com/lyon-0-3-bayern-munich-2-2010-04/

posted by mike-manutd

Eukonkanto (Wife Carrying)

For most of us doing a 250m track with jumps & a water trap is hard enough but if your in Finland they go one step further. Do all this while carrying your wife on your back. Thats Insane


Image by http://cdn-i.dmdentertainment.com/cracked/wong/wifecarry2.jpg


EUKONKANTO FACTS
Originated in finland as a Joke
Now has world championships
entails 250m, 2 jumps and a water trap
the 'wife' can be any female, actual, friend even a random
15second time penalty if you drop your 'wife' not to mention an ear full

This is an odd and insane sport
Is this an actual reason to tell to your beautiful wife that it would not hurt to lose a couple of kilos (in fact could hurt less)




Image by http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Estonian_Carry_style.jpg


My verdict... I give EukonKanto a 7/10 Kaotic Approval
If your in Finland and can go watch, heck join in, it could be fun or it could be the end of your marrage, watching would be hte safe bet.

More Insane Sports to come.
KAOS