Mike O'Connell

You can’t have a blog like this one and not note the passing of one of the finest sportsmen in human history: Willie Mays.

Friday on Math and Musings you’ll hear me mention the Say Hey Kid, not because he died but because I just happened to mention him. (The episode was recorded before we knew of his death.) His last professional game was more than 50 years ago, though somehow I probably thought of him three or four times a week.

So now among other things the “greatest living ballplayer” tag is up for grabs. It’s up for pleasant debate, and somehow we’ll come up with a more or less unanimous choice.

Griffey? Bonds? Other?

One thing I know.

It’ll be someone I saw play.

I’ve now reached the age where I can say I saw the greatest.

I could take this a few different ways.

But right now all I can think is, I wish I’d seen Willie Mays.

R.I.P.

‘Round these parts (that would be Loudoun County, Virginia) today is the last day of school.

And in classic teacher fashion… I’m giving a test.

Yup, break out the #2 pencils today when you tune in to Math and Musings.

My son wasn’t exactly thrilled when I pitched him the idea, but I think the episode came out pretty good.

Enjoy.

I usually rely on my child or VHS tapes to help relive my youth, but these days that duty has fallen upon a couple of athletic teams competing for championships in their respective sports.

When I was a kid the best team in the NBA was the Boston Celtics, and the best team in the NHL was the Edmonton Oilers.

Here we are 40 years later and history is repeating itself, once again letting me relive my aforementioned childhood.

Celtics did their job last night, moving up two games to none in their series against the Mavs.

The Oilers have their work cut out for them, but that work can become much easier with a win tonight in Miami.

Come on, Edmonton, we can’t let an ice hockey team based in Florida win the Stanley Cup.

(Fifth year in a row, by the way, that a team from Florida has appeared in the Finals while a team from Canada hasn’t one since 1993.)

The Oilers? Ils sont dus.

Any guesses on the twin anniversaries Friday?

Hint: Like young Bartholemew on an ancient episode of The Simpsons, I spend much of the month of June cashing in as many birthday coupons for free stuff as I possibly can.

Many things in this world we don’t really need…

until you get a coupon for a free one.

Today’s episode of Math and Musings begins with serious discussions about colonial history and ends with discussions about Pop-Tarts and amusement parks.

Yes, I had my son with me but actually I was the one picking the topics.

I’m young at heart.