Back in the Big US of A

In my previous blog, I mentioned that it was quite possible that two world champions in two different sports would be crowned within 48 hours. The Texas Rangers and St Louis Cardinals have ruled that possibility out now - thankfully, as it means the World Series' lifespan for 2011 will be over a week with games 6 and 7 to be played on Thursday and Friday afternoons NZ time.

Thanks to some up and down form, huge hitting and questionable bullpens, it is still hard to pick who will win this series. There is plenty resting on game 6 in St Louis on Thursday - one more Rangers' win and they would be world champions for the first time in their history but they have to do it at the Cardinals' home where they have been mostly imperious in the playoffs, and one where they can back themselves to level the series and take the World Series to game 7.

Colby Lewis will open the pitching for the Rangers having only allowed 1 run in his last game while Jaime Garcia has been magnificent at Busch Stadium and pitched seven shutout innings in Game 2.

With no NFL, NBA or college sport really to interfere, America's focus on their Wednesday night viewing should be on Busch Stadium as the most riveting World Series reaches its climax.

Staying on baseball, the New York Yankees' Curtis Granderson is looking to bring America's national sport to... Eden Park, Auckland.

Yes the same stadium which witnessed New Zealand's greatest moment of glory in a while yet is being lined up as a potential venue for the MLB. Surely it would be in the pre-season in March given that the MLB is played during what would be New Zealand's wet winter months.

Interesting move - you would have thought that Westpac Stadium would make a better fit for a promotional MLB game with its genuine oval shape. After all, Eden Park is already an awkward sport for that other game with ball and bat.

But if it does happen, I'd be keen to watch. And Eden Park would have done it all: union, cricket, league, football...

Update on the NBA lockout:
Still no resolution in sight with a further 2 weeks of games cancelled. The stars are coming up with their own invitational tournaments to fill the time. It looks like the 2011-12 NBA season will be a stillbirth unless something can be done as soon as possible.

So here's some NBA archive footage to keep you entertained while the men sort it out.