Celtics, Bulls make history

The Boston Celtics-Chicago Bulls series that concludes today is more than simply entertaining. It might be the NBA's greatest series ever.

Not only has the series gone a full seven games, but the teams have played seven overtime periods over four contests, including a triple-OT thriller in Game 6.

With All-Star Boston forward Kevin Garnett out with a knee injury, Chicago's speed and athleticism figured to be a good matchup against the aging Celtics.

But this good? No way.

Consider how the series stacks up with others that went the distance.

-- Los Angeles Lakers-New York Knicks, Finals, 1970: When Willis Reed jogged onto the floor before Game 7 despite a serious leg injury, the Madison Square Garden crowd erupted. New York fed off the emotion to win, 113-99.

-- Celtics-Lakers, Finals, 1984: After a humiliating Game 3 loss, Larry Bird called his teammates "sissies." The series turned the Celtics' way in Game 4 when Kevin McHale clotheslined Kurt Rambis.

-- Atlanta Hawks-Celtics, Eastern Conference semifinals, 1988: Bird outscored Dominique Wilkins 20-16 in the fourth quarter to lead the Celtics to a 118-116 Game 7 victory.

-- Lakers-Sacramento Kings, Western finals, 2002: The Lakers' Robert Horry's buzzer-beating 3-pointer in Game 4 tied the series, and disgraced referee Tim Donaghy later alleged officials called Game 6 in a manner to ensure an L.A. win to force a seventh game.

• HEY, WATCH WHERE YOU THROW THAT THING! -- The University of Oregon is known as a track powerhouse, the location for the movie "Animal House" and for wearing gaudy football uniforms.

It's also home to a men's Ultimate Frisbee team that plays without pants. At least some of its players did in a game against Oregon State.

Now the nation's No. 3 team -- yes, there are national rankings in Ultimate Frisbee, a club sport -- has been sidelined by the school.

"If this had been an isolated incident, we would have treated it much differently," said Jeff Gibb, a member of the student board that made the decision. The team already was on probation for a party where police discovered five kegs of beer and minors hiding in the attic.

Oregon's players were miffed to see their season end -- but apparently not bothered by the sight of each other's hind end.

Co-captain Steve Kenton told the Eugene (Ore.) Register-Guard: "I came to the UO to play Frisbee."

His family must be proud.

• IT COULD BE MY FAULT -- Expect changes in attitude now that Jimmy Buffett is involved in the business side of the Miami Dolphins.

But if he tries to encroach on Bill Parcells' turf and interfere in player personnel, Buffett will wish he was back in Margaritaville.

• MILITARY PLANNING -- The Armed Forces Bowl wants Navy in its game. Makes perfect sense.

So an agreement was reached -- for 2013.

Should the Midshipmen not be bowl eligible, the spot will go to an at-large school.

COMPILED BY MARK ANDERSON LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL