Elena Carvell apears ready for Game 5. Credit: Don Bersano / Bersano Photography

So the best-of-seven series is tied 2-2 with each team losing a game on home ice. Meaning it’s the same as if the Hawks won the first two and lost the next two. Except, of course, the Hawks are much better off having won the most recent contest because … because someone thinks it’s meaningful. Each game is different. Each game has pressure. After Game 5 Saturday at the United Center, one team will be on the brink of capturing the crown, while the other will be one defeat away from going home to ponder what might have been.

The Game 4 victory was the third overtime game of the series. Meaning? Meaning fans paying premium prices to view in person are getting closer to their money’s worth than if the games were to have ended in regulation time. Also meaning television viewers are spending more time in front of a screen than they had envisioned.

All in all, entertaining. And for the participants in the game itself, tiring. Brent Seabrook scored the game-winner at 9:51 into the extra period. The Hawks had early leads that evaporated. For details, kindly go somewhere that covers the games in greater detail. After all, the cast and crew around here is nothing if not superficial. And proud of it. We tend to focus on things such as the Ice Crew members, models in Hawks and/or Bruins attire, etc. Add happy to do so. In fact, thanks to the wonders of modern technology (and thanks to photographer Don Bersano, who emailed the accompanying image late in the game), we have a picture of Elena Carvell in an outfit that should appeal to Hawks fans — and other folks, too.

Does it get any better than this? Well, if you’re an NBA fan, it does. Game 7 is Wednesday in Miami with the Heat trying to repeat as champions and the San Antonio Spurs standing in the way. And something says there is greater mass appeal — in Chicago and elsewhere in the United States — in the NBA than the NHL. Which doesn’t mean the Stanley Cup is less entertaining to hockey fans. Merely fewer of them.

Speaking of mass appeal, the Hawks’ success has been music to the ears (as well as eyes and hearts, etc.) of a wide range of folks. Included is the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the direction of music director Riccardo Muti. A reliable source informs that Muti first was encouraged to perform “Chelsea Dagger” — the tune the Hawks play at the United Center after they score a goal — three years ago (you may recall the Hawks winning the Stanley Cup in 2010). Apparently genius cannot be rushed. Better late than never. As always, the highbrows around here are happy to provide a CSO musical interlude. The rest of us are happy to provide the Fratellis music video for the tune:

There always is room around here for video featuring one of our favorite females, April Rose. So here goes:

If it’s Thursday (and chances of that seem pretty good that it is, especially because yesterday was Wednesday — provided that today is June 20 or a subsequent Thursday), then it is time for another edition of “Sports & Torts” at noon Central time with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris.

The guests for the June 20 interview program are Mike Ditka (a man who needs no introduction but we will give “Da Coach” one anyway in honor of his career as a tight end and coach with a Super Bowl championship from the 1985 Chicago Bears) and Curley Culp (the former defensive lineman who is a 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee).

If you are unable to tune in for the live show, it will become available on podcast at Talkzone.com later in the day.

And here is where we go for our daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks ever so much to the hard-working — no, not hardly working — editorial and video staffs at elliottharris.com and their approach to defining “gratuitous”):

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Nic is a member of the Miami Heat dance team. Credit: Miami Heat

* It’s unclear whether Bettman has enough time before Game 4 Wednesday in Boston to see whether NBA ref Joey Crawford also can lace up a pair of skates. And for the uninitiated, that would be a reference to the ref who seems to turn up at games of importance that impact the league’s best interests. Conspiracy theorists, take note. Oh, wait. You already have — and did — before Game 6. The mathematical-computations department at elliottharris.com has confirmed with a fairly high degree of certainty that if the Hawks win Game 4 to tie the series 2-2, the Cup finals will go at least six games.

* Speaking of the NBA Finals, for all those LeBron James fans and/or haters out there in cyberspace, there’s only one more game left in his season. After which people — depending on their allegiance — will be happy to tell you or anyone else (especially if they’re using the asocial form of communication known as “social media”) how the Heat star compares to Michael Jordan.

* Speaking of the Cup finals, winger Marian Hossa, who missed the Hawks’ Game 3, is expected to be back for Game 4. Of course, he was expected to play in Game 3. With NHL coaches — Chicago’s Joel Quenneville is merely one of them — relying so much on secrecy, you have to wonder whether the next target of Edward Snowden (he’s the guy in the news about the U.S. government’s secret “spying” program) might be the NHL’s secretive efforts that use such subversive prhases as “upper-body injury” (which is Hossa’s state of disrepair), “lower-body injury,” etc.

* Speaking of hurting, there is Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo’s batting average: .241. For June he is hitting .157 with two doubles and three runs batted in (the RBI all in a game June 5. His last homer came on May 18. He sat out the Cubs’ 4-2 victory Tuesday at St. Louis after playing in the first 68.

* Speaking of a June swoon, Cubs right-hander Jeff Samardzija recorded his first June victory as a starter. He had been 0-8. Samardzija entered the game with a 2-8 record and 7.14 ERA for his June pitching performances.

* Speaking of playing in all the Cubs contests this season (well, we were for the short-attention-span readers), the only player to have done so is shortstop Starlin Castro, whose batting average isn’t even so-so. By going 0-for-4, his average dropped to .238. Time for a game off. Well, if manager Dale Sveum can figure out who to start in Castro’s place.

* Speaking of hitting, Paul Konerko went 4-for-4 as the White Sox lost 7-5 to the Twins in Minneapolis. It was the Sox’s 13th loss in its last 15 road games. Speaking of hitting the road, Konerko’s performance may raise his trade value, if the Sox decide to move the veteran first baseman/designated hitter. If nothing else, Konerko did raise his batting average to .248. Good luck finding another team tempted by that.

* Speking of tempting teams, the downside to the NBA season ending in Game 7 is the end of NBA dance-team performances (though we night find a reason to run some during the idle summer months).

For all the time that some of us spend on Twitter and/or Facebook, it occasionally pays off. No better example (from Tuesday at least) than for following broadcaster Andrew Siliciano, who tweeted about a couple of videos featuring NFL cheerleaders performing Taylor Swift’s “22″ tune. Many thanks to him for providing the YouTube links:

Here is where we go for our daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks to the never-ending efforts of the editorial and video departments at elliottharris.com and their broad definition of “gratuitous”):

Advertising opportunities are available on ElliottHarris.com. For information and rates, contact sales@elliottharris.com.

Miss Finland 2009 Essi Poysti likely would cheer countryman Tuukka Rask, the Bruins goalie. Credit: Miss Universe

* With the Boston Bruins winning 2-0 Monday (June 17) to take a 2-1 series edge and Game 4 on Wednesday in Boston, the Hawks don’t have much time to try to fix their anemic power play. Then again, after going 0-for-5 in Game 3, they couldn’t fare much worse — unless the Bruins commit more penalities or the Hawks manage even fewer than the four shots on goal they managed during those power plays. After a quick consult with the mathemeatical calculation department at elliottharris.com, we feel fairly certain that the numbers say that’s not even one shot per power play.

* Hockey minds greater than mine (which is to say just about anyone on the planet) say it’s very difficult to score without taking shots on goal and very difficult to win without scoring. Hey, where else can you get insight like this?

* Better to take an imperfect shot than wait to take the perfect shot that never materializes. Someone please tell Hawks defenseman Duncan Keith, among others.

* Of course, teams don’t have to score on power plays to prevail. In which case they have to score some other time — either at even situations or short-handed.

* Face facts. Or faceoff facts. The Hawks just might need to do better on faceoffs than they did in Game 3 when the Bruins held a 40-16 advantage on puck drops. For the Hawks, Michal Handzus went 0-for-10 and Dave Bolland 1-for-7. Jonathan Toews was 8-for-19. Boston’s Patrice Bergeron was 24-for-28 on the draw, including 8-of-10 against Toews and all eight against Handzus. Once again, I have no idea what any of that means other than the Bruins retain puck possession. And it’s extremely challenging to score without the puck.

* For those scoring at home (or elsewhere), you’re doing better than the Hawks have been recently on the ice. The Hawks have gone 122 minutes, 26 seconds (pretty sure that equates to slightly more than two regulation games) without a goal.

* Speaking of not scoring, it appeared for a while Monday night that the Cubs also would be 2-0 losers to the Cardinals in St. Louis. The final score was 5-2 with the Cubs scoring a run in the eighth o a Nate Schierholtz single and one in the ninth on Darwin Barney’s home run. Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro — the future of the franchise — are hitting .241 each. Rizzo has 53 strikeouts in 261 at-bats and Castro 54 in 286 at-bats. Meaning the future sure seems like it will look like the past.

* The bright side of Chicago baseball (about the same wattage as a refrigerator light bulb) is the White Sox winning 4-2 at Houston to end a four-game losing streak with three of those to the Astros. Dayan Viciedo had a bases-loaded triple — his second three-bagger in two days. Meaning — with two triples for the season — Viciedo has two more than shortstop Alexei Ramirez, who has played 20 more games.

* Hey, if the Boston Celtics are willing to trade Kevin Garnett, rather than send him to the Los Angeles Clippers, couldn’t they trade him to the Bulls? Even at his advanced age, Garnett would be a tremendous addition for coach Tom Thibodeau for a season or two. And Thibodeau came to the Bulls from Boston, where he was an assistant under Doc Rivers. who may replace onetime Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro as Clippers coach.

As we have been doing around here during the Stanley Cup finals (thanks to the sage advice of a creative fellow — which means he is not affiliated with elliottharris.com), we have paid tribute to Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask by featuring fetching females from his native Finland. All of them have been Miss Finland. In that running the photos and videos of these lovely ladies has absolutely no impact on the outcome of any contests, the editorial and video staffs around here agree we might as well continue running them. Today we are happy to have Essi Poysti, the 2009 Miss Finland, adorn this space.

And here is where we go for our daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks, as always, to the editorial and video staffs at elliottharris.com for their efforts and for having no clue what “gratutious” — among many other words — mean):

Advertising opportunities are available on ElliottHarris.com. For information and rates, contact sales@elliottharris.com.

Miss Connecticut Erin Brady was named Miss USA 2013 on Sunday,

* All the whining on social media — and elsewhere — probably won’t change the view of Cubs management. Just as it won’t change the status of Marmol as trade bait. Which means no matter how much the Cubs might like to part ways with Marmol, they won’t be giving him away. And no team in its right mind is going to offer much, if anything, for him.

* Next up for the Cubs are the Cardinals starting Monday in St. Louis. The Cardinals have baseball’s best record. If it’s any consolation to Cubs fans (and the guess here is that it is not), the Cards lost a weekend series to the Miami Marlins whose record is even worse than the Cubs’. Keep hope alive? That might be tough to do in St. Loo.

* Elsewhere in the world of ignominious (whatever that means) performances, the White Sox lost to the Astros 5-4. The Sox have lost four n a row with the last three against the Astros. If it’s any consolation to Sox fans (and the guess here is that it is not), the Astros did not sweep the series. Well, not yet. The teams play Monday night.

* Perhaps lost in the Sox loss was infielder Jeff Keppinger drawing his fourth walk of the season (in 212 at-bats that don’t include walks). Meaning it’s conceivable he could reach double digits in bases on balls by season’s end. Sox slugger Adam Dunn struck out three times to give him 83 for the season. Meaning it’s conceivable he could reach triple digits by the All-Star Game and 200 by season’s end.

* Voting began Sunday for the WNBA All-Star game that will be July 27 in Connecticut. To cast a vote, you can go to wnba.com. You will have to register to vote. Voting end July 14. The starters will be announced during the July 18 ESPN2 telecast of the Phoenix Mercury-Los Angeles Sparks games. Reserves will be announced during the July 23 telecast of the New York Liberty-Indiana Fever game. You humble correspondent will go out on a limb and say Chicago Sky rookie Elena Delle Donne will be on the East squad.

* Speaking of the Sky and the all-star contest, a Sky player was the MVP of the previous WNBA all-star game. And that would be … Swin Cash. Playing for the Seattle Storm and the West. She had 21 points and 12 rebounds in a 118-113 loss in 2011 (there was no contest in 2012 because of the Olympic Games). Cash and Lisa Leslie are the only players to be two-time all-star MVPs.

* Speaking of the Sky, the team did not have much in the way of all-star performances early (or late, to think of it) in Sunday’s game at Atlanta. The Dream took leads of 16-2 and 21-4. The Sky tied the game at 56 before Atlanta finished the third quarter leading 66-57 in an eventual 88-74 Dream victory. Delle Donne scored a career-high 25 points for the Sky (4-2). Reserve guard Allie Quigley added 14 points, all in the first half. Angel McCoughtry led Atlanta (6-1) with 23 points. On the bright (???) side, the Sky is undefeated at home. On the less bright side, the Sky isn’t home until June 26 (two more road games before then).

* Speaking of winning at home, the Miami Heat needs to do so for two games after losing Game 5 of the NBA Finals to the host San Antonio Spurs 114-104. The Spurs lead 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Manu Ginobili started for the first time this season and had 24 points and 10 assists. You might say he played like a Manu possessed.

* You have to wonder whether Miss Connecticut Erin Brady being named Miss USA 2013 on Sunday might shift momentum to the Boston Bruins, who host Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals against the Blackhawks on Monday. Especially with the series tied 1-1. OK, maybe you don’t have to wonder. But you might wonder whether the mere mention of that suffices as reason to run her photo (and a reminder: There is no need to justify running such images around here, as long as your humble correspondent is in charge.

Thanks to the efforts of Nicole Moneer (one of this site’s favorite females), there are video interviews from the weekend’s NPC Junior Nationals in Rosemont, Ill. Among her work are interviews with Vera Mallet (figure champion), Carly Lobato fitness champ), Erica Blockman (physique champion) and Yasmin Ali (bikini champion):

I have not figured out how to avoid having text run alongside these videos rather than underneath.

And here is where we go for our daily dose of non-gratuitous video (as determined by the editorial and video departments at elliottharris.com that have a generous definition of “gratuitous). And speaking of generous, included in today’s effort is video from Ramona Valerie Alb — plus others:

Advertising opportunities are available on ElliottHarris.com. For information and rates, contact sales@elliottharris.com.

Guess who was at The Squared Circle on Saturday? Lisa Marie Varon (left), Robbie E and Brooke Adams. Enjoying lunch and quality time together, as wrestlers often do.

* What the Hawks’s 2-1 overtime loss means (other than the best-of-series is tied 1-1) is Monday’s Game 3 will be pivotal. As the third games generally tend to be because they either give a team a 2-1 or 3-0 lead. After which Game 4 becomes pivotal. In case you hadn’t figured that out, but you probably already had. The Game 2 result also means the series will go at least five games. Where else can you get analysis like this? Mind-boggling, I know.

* Despite Saturday night’s loss to the Bruins, the Blackhawks still could sweep the best-of-seven Stanley Cups finals — if Coach Q would only use Mini-Ditka on skates. With the Hawks winning 173-0 in each game — at least. OK, not really, but being realistic is not what being a fan is all about anyway. Unless you are a fan of all-powerful mini-Ditka. In which case even the unrealistic and/or unreasonable appears to be realistic and/or reasonable. #becauseitsthecup

* Speaking of unrealistic, it’s hard to believe the Cubs are on something called a winning streak. Three in a run, whaddya know. Then again, it is against the New York Mets, whose record is even worse than the Cubs’.

* Speaking of streaks, the St. Louis Cardinals — who possess the best record in Major League Baseball (44-24) — have not lost consecutive games since April. Which is a good way to have a winning record. Someone might want to let the Cubs and White Sox front offices know about that. And all that talk about how the Cubs will be a contender in a few years? Someone might want to tell the Cardinals, who have an abundance of young, talented pitching to go with a blend of veteran and young position players who can hit and produce runs.

This is my idea of work: Posing with Lisa Marie Varon and Brooke Adams.

* Speaking of producing runs, the Cubs have a .299 on-base percentage (OBP being a key to scoring runs, rumor has it). If it’s any consolation to Cubs fans (and the guess here is that it might be slightly), the Sox have an on-base percentage of .293.

* Speaking of on-base percentages, Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo improved his to .336 with three walks in five plate appearances. He went 0-for-2 to drop his batting average to .249. Meaning the folks in Cooperstown can take their time before thinking about working on a Hall of Fame plaque for him.

* Speaking of the Sox, there is this from MLB.com’s Scott Merkin. He provided this nugget via Twitter before their game Saturday night at Houston: The White Sox have a 6-17 record in first games of a series this season. They are 11-10 in the second game. Which means they now are 6-17 in the first games of a series this season and 11-11 in the second games. And no doubt some Sox fans think it’s Ken Williams’ fault the team doesn’t have more second games and fewer first games of a series this season. OK, math never was a strong subject with some of us. And logic was?

* While we’re talking a little Sox, a reminder to Jordan Danks: When you are batting .120 and manager Robin Ventura puts you in as a pinch runner, it is best not to get picked off second base (or any base) to end the game. Which was exactly what happened in the 4-3 loss to the Astros.

In tribute to Finnish goalie Tuukku Rask of the Bruins, here is Miss Finland 2010 Viivi Pumpanen, who no doubt is a hockey fan.

* Speaking of using your head, commissioner Bud Selig might want to do something to protect pitchers from line drives — such as helmet liners or a reasonable facsimile thereof — so that players like Tampa Bay’s Alex Cobb (who suffered a concussion on an Eric Hosmer liner back to the mound Saturday against Kansas City) might have some form of protection. And, yes, that was a long, convuluted sentence. In that batters have all sorts of padding to guard against pitches that hit them, it would seem only reasonable. Preferably before someone is killed by a batted ball in a big-league game.

* Seattle Mariners catcher Henry Blanco, who once toiled for the Cubs. hit a grand slam in the Mariners’ 4-0 victory vs. the Oakland A’s. It was his first grand slam since 2000. He is the oldest Mariner (41 years, 290 days) to hit a grand slam. Not bad for his first game with Seattle after being acquired Friday from the Miami Marlins. Just guessing — based on his slam numbers — he won’t hit another during his big-league career. Unless he plays till he’s 54 or so.

* Random statistical note: The Cardinals have as many road victories this season (25) as the Cubs (13) and Sox (12) combined.

* For those wondering why there are photos that feature Brooke Adams (also known as Miss Tessmacher), Robin E and Lisa Marie Varon (also known as Tara), the reason is simple: because. Because Brooke and Robbie were in Chicago and lunched at The Squared Circle (2418 N. Ashland Ave.). That is the establishment owned and operated by Lisa Marie and husband/chef Lee.

* A Happy Father’s Day for all to whom that may apply.

As we have done recently (thanks to a creative fellow not affiliated with elliottharris.com — which explains the creative component), here is another Miss Finland, as we pay tribute to Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukku Rask, a Finnish fellow. Today’s Miss Finland is Viivi Pumpanen, who held the 2010 title:

Here is where we go for our daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks to the incredible efforts of the editorial and video departments at elliottharris.com and their broad definition of “gratuitous”):

Advertising opportunities are available on ElliottHarris.com. For information and rates, contact sales@elliottharris.com.

Pia Pakarinen serves as a consolation prize for Bruins fans.

* Speaking of long-ago titles, June 14 also marked the 15-year anniversary of Michael Jordan hitting the game-winning basket for the Bulls against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City to complete the Bulls’ second three-peat. It was a wonderful way for MJ, who had 45 points in the Game 6 triumph, to end his career. Well, until he un-retired and ended up playing with the Washington Wizards. The comeback diminished his legacy in the view of some, but not his bank account.

* Speaking of impressive performances, left-hander Chris Sale struck out 14 Astros but lost 2-1 Friday on two unearned runs. Perhaps not the way he wanted to lower his earned-run average or the team’s standing in the American League Central, where the Sox are in last place.

* Speaking of last place, the battle in the National League Central for the cellar should be one of the summer’s highlight (lowlights?) as the Cubs — the current occupants — and the Brewers battle it out. Or down and out, as the case may be. FOr sox fans, there’s the South Side Not-Much-Hitmen and the Minnesota Twins in the struggle to avoid the bottom. On the bright (???) side, NFL training camps open next month.

In tribute to Andrew Shaw (what an excuse), it’s Miss Canada 2013 Riza Santos.

* Speaking of the Cubs, third baseman Ian Stewart is appealing his 10-game unpaid suspension that they gave him for tweeting his displeasure with the organization. He must be forgetting that’s the same organization that gave him a $2 million contract that he accepted for the 2013. Of course, he no doubt did not envision spending most of the season with the Cubs who play in Des Moines rather than in Wrigley Field.

* Speaking of suspensions, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Ian Kennedy was banished for 10 games for hitting two Los Angeles Dodgers near their head with pitches, the second one against opposing pitcher Zach Greinke and leading to a bench-clearing brawl Tuesday. Kennedy is appealing the suspension. “I think they’re trying to set an example,” Kennedy said. If commissioner Bud Selig really wanted to set an example, he would have suspended Kennedy for far longer.

* New Bears coach Marc Trestman says his football team can learn from hockey’s Blackhawks. Well, maybe if the Bears have to play on ice someday.

* We would be remiss not the mention the NBA with that best-of-seven seme 3ries tied 2-2 between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurts. Let the record show that in a series that is tied after four games, the winner of Game 5 has a 100 percent certainly of leading the series 3-2. Not to be confused with the Stanley Cup finals after one game. Let the record show that the team that wins the first game and follows that with a Game 2 triumph generally has a better chance to win and definitely has a 2-0 series lead. And, yes, a lack of math skills is what drove some of us into journalism/writing/whatever this is.

OK, so no Miss Finland material for a day or so. Well, the idea behind that creative concept (meaning said concept came from someone imaginative who does not toil for elliottharris.com) was a sort of homage to the Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask, who is from Finland. So today we feature the 2011 Miss Finland, Pia Pakarinen.

In the name of equal time (and because Adrew Shaw, a Canadian, had the winning goal in triple overtime in Game 1, we will be glad to provide a Miss Canada video, too, featuring the 2013 winner Riza Santos.

And here we go with our daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks to the ever-diligent editorial and video departments at elliottharris.com and the reality that they have no clue what “gratuitous” — as well as numerous other words — means):

Advertising opportunities are available on ElliottHarris.com. For information and rates, contact sales@elliottharris.com.

Revenge from WrestleMania XX? No, it’s merely Molly Holly clowning around with Lisa Marie Varon (formerly WWE’s Victoria) on June 13, 2013,.

The evening — after having watched baseball for much of the afternoon thanks to the wonders of cable television — help promise. The choices involved Game 4 of the NBA Finals, a trip to a Chicago restaurant to see a couple of legendary wrestlers (female variety, my favorite type) or go to a photo studio to see a couple of women who compete in teeny bikini-type outfits (also among my favorite types).

Well, having seen the Twitter musing of former Chicago Sun-Times colleague Jim O’Donnell that assured the Miami Heat would defeat the San Antonio Spurs because the NBA needed to come up with some way to rival the NHL’s triple-overtime Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals between the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks, I opted not to sit on the sofa (or anywhere) and watch that contest. With the Heat actually beating the Spurs, that decision seems to have been a good one.

And so it was that I headed from the suburbs to downtown Chicago. The choice then was a photo shoot at friend Don Bersano’s studio or a visit to The Squared Circle (2418 N. Ashland). What to do? The answer was fairly simple: both.

Under no particular deadline (as demonstrated by the reality that this is being typed early Friday), there was no need to have to decide between the two.

First stop was The Squared Circle to visit with Lisa Marie Varon (who wrestles as Tara for Impact Wrestling, formerly known as TNA). Earlier in her career, when she was with WWE, she was Victoria. It was under that identity that she faced Molly Holly in 2004 at WrestleMania XX. And took a barber’s shears to Molly Holly’s hair after Victoria was victorious in their bout.

No hard feelings were apparent Thursday when Molly (Nora Greenwald in real life) dined at Lisa Marie’s restaurant. While I waited to chat with the two lovely ladies, their WrestleMania match was being shown on the television sceens at the establishment with a full house of patrons looking on.

For more of Ashley Kurtenbach and Kay Jordt, you’ll have to wait for aother day.

Once the videotaping an interview and taking a few photographs with Lisa Marie and Molly was complete, it was off to Bersano Photography and the chance to meet bikini competitor Ashley Kurtenbach and figure competitor Kay Jordt. Two more lovely ladies to chat with and interview.

There are video interviews with them, but the editorial department at elliottharris.com decided to hold them until a later date when those video interviews could be accompanied by photos taken by Don Bersano rather than your humble correspondent. Having seen a few of the many photos that Don took — and also having viewed part of the photo shoots he had with Ashley and Kay — something says it will be worth the wait to run the interviews with his photos.

All in all, not a bad night. Even if it has become almost 5 a.m. as this is being typed. Oh, the sacrifices we make to produce a daily product for your enjoyment (and, truth be told, mine as well).

Rest assured that the powers-that-be for the “Sports & Torts” show with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris on Talkzone.com are doing their best to arrange having Tyler Suess as an in-studio guest one of these Thursdays. Because of her busy schedule, that might not come about for several weeks. Something says it will be worth the wait:

And here we go with our daily dose of non-gratuitous video (in no small part because of the endless efforts of the editorial and video departments at elliottharris.com and the fact that their defition of “gratuitous” knows no limits):

Advertising opportunities are available for ElliottHarris.com. For information and rates, contact sales@elliottharris.com.

It appears that bikini competitor Maddie Abrams also looks good in Blackhawks attire. Credit: Don Bersano / Bersano Photography

* If the Hawks 4-3 Game 1 victory didn’t end at the stroke of midnight, it couldn’t have been more than a few strokes after. Given the nature and length of the contest, it would not be surprising if a few folks didn’t have strokes — or close to them — while watching the action.

* Not being knowledgeable about hockey (not have I ever claimed to be), I was curious to find out Charo was a member of the Bruins. Wondered where Xavier Cugat was (oh, yeah, he’s dead) before learning the player actually is Zdeno Chara.

* Among the benefits of the game going three overtimes, photographer/friend Don Bersano had time to transmit a Hawks picture to use with today’s effort. Shortly before the game-winning goal, he emailed a photo of bikini competitor Maddie Adams, the 2013 NPC Illinois State Championships winner in Bikini A. Maddie will be competing this weekend at the Junior Nationals in Rosemont, Ill. She is trained by Jake Baumgartner. Oh, and she is a Hawks fan.

* From Jeff Nuich of Comcast SportsNet Chicago comes this statistical item of note: Teams winning the first game of the Stanley Cup finals have won NHL championships in 56 of 73 seasons (76.7%) since 1939. OK, so I did a little calculating of my own: Teams winning the last game of the series have won 100% of the time.

* Speaking of Comcast SportsNet, Game 1 lasted so long that it looked for a while that “Blackhawks Postgame Live” would air shortly before Game 2.

* As long as we’re going to use material from other sources, here is a tweet (for those unfamiliar with the noun, that’s what people do on Twitter when they send out messages) Andrew Siciliano, who once toiled in Chicago radio before finding fame and fortune in Los Angeles as a multi-media threat, posted this during the second overtime: Derrick Rose may be back before this hockey game is over….

* Speaking of using other people’s tweets, here is the always entertaining Jim O’Donnell, the highly talented scribe who has toiled for the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and Daily Herald (among other outposts): Length of game, fatigue forced downgrade of Chelsea Dagger to Chelsea Paring Knife.

* The White Sox postponed their Wednesday night game early in the day because of the likelihood of bad weather (and, some might say, because of the certainty of the Blackhawks playing).

Molly Holly, who once was part of WWE, is scheduled to be at The Squared Circle on Thursday evening. Probably not in this outfit.

For those who are fans of former WWE personality Molly Holly or of food and/or drink, be advised that she is scheduled to be at The Squared Circle (2418 N. Ashland, Chicago) on Thursday at 7 p.m.

As readers of this space — and quite possibly non-readers of this space (but those people wouldn’t be reading this, would they?) likely know, The Squared Circle is owned and operated by Lisa Marie Varon and her husband/chef Lee.

Lisa Marie used to be Victoria in her WWE days. She is known nowadays in wrestling circles — or squares, as the case may be — as Tara. As in TNA Tara. TNA also being known nowadays as Impact Wrestling.

And while we are talking about wrestling and attractive females, here is something that Christy Hemme passed along on Twitter. In case anyone was wondering whether it is worthwhile to follow her (and in case you are confused, the answer is: yes):

If it’s Thursday (which it most definitely is at this hour — provided that yesterday was Wednesday or today is a subsequent Thursday), then it is time for another edition of “Sports & Torts” on Talkzone.com at noon Central time. The June 13 show with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris features two members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame: quarterback Warren Moon and defensive tackle Alan Page.

For those who miss the noon show, it will be available later in the day on the Talkzone.com site.

And here, as usual, is where to go for your daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks to the efforts of the editorial and video departments at elliottharris.com and their borad definition of “gratuitous”):

Advertising opportunities are available on ElliottHarris.com. For information and rates, contact sales@elliottharris.com.

Is 2013 Playboy Playmate of the Year Raquel Pomplun on this week’s “Sports * Torts” show? Find out below. Or don’t. It’s up to you.

* Some people are picking the Bruins to prevail. Tell Hawks fans so they can be outraged and take such selections as a personal insult.

* Speaking of the Stanley Cup, for those excited by such things, Comcast SportsNet Chicago will televise “Blackhawks Morning Skate Live” at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. “Blackhawks Morning Skate Live” also will also air on CSN on Saturday (June 15) at 10:30 a.m. and June 22 and June 26 if necessary).

* Speaking of championship series going the distance, the Miami Heat can only hope its NBA Finals against San Antonio goes at least six games. The Spurs took a 2-1 series lead with a 113-77 victory Tuesday. LeBron James had 18 for the Heat. He has not had a 20-point game in the series. Michael Jordan never scored fewer than 20 points in a Finals game. Not to say King James is as great a talent that has walked onto a basketball court. Different players. Different teams. Different Finals success. Jordan’s Chicago Bulls reached the NBA Finals six times and won each time. James has lost twice in three previous Finals appearances. On the bright side, the Heat is faring better than James and the Cleveland Cavaliers did in losing the 2006-07 title to the Spurs in four games.

* If Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Ian Kennedy doesn’t receive a severe suspension for hitting Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke in the head with a pitch after hitting Yasiel Puig in the head earlier in Tuesday’s game, commissioner Bud Selig ought to have his head examined. How about 50 games, Bud?

* There’s nothing quite like giving up nine runs in five-plus innings to increase your trade value as a top-of-the-rotation pitcher or to tempt your current team to sign you to a long-term contract. Just ask Cubs right-hander Matt Garza, who has a 6.26 earned-run average. Gee, the Cubs commit four errors, and all the team’s runs are earned in a 12-2 loss to Cincinnati. Cubs pitchers just can’t catch a break. Or perform particularly effectively against the Reds, who lead the season series 9-2.

* The Cubs suspended third baseman Ian Stewart without pay for an indefinite period after he took to Twitter to post critical comments about the organization. All in the hope that the team would release him from his Class AAA exile to Iowa, where he has struggled. Stewart later issued an apology and closed down his Twitter account. Guessing if he wants to be freed from the Cubs organization, he will have to kiss his $2 million contract goodbye. Yeah, I’d probably shut up and spend the summer in Des Moines for that kind of money.

* Speaking of making mistakes by Cubs third basemen (on the field rather than on Twitter), Cody Ransom committed three Tuesday to give him six for the season. If it’s any consolation to Cubs fans (and the guess here is that it is not), he also hit a home run to give him seven.

* Speaking of onfield errors, the White Sox committed three in a 10-inning, 7-5 loss to the visitng Toronto Blue Jays. The three errors led to three unearned runs and gave the Sox 42 erros this season (compared to 70 in 2012). The Sox have allowed 23 unearned runs (they yielded 30 last season). Maybe the Sox need to hit the Comcast Fundamentals area at U.S. Cellular Field.

* The only .300 hitter in the lineup for the Cubs for Wednesday’s game figures to be pitcher Travis Wood (.308), whose name rhymes with “good” — which is as close to good as the Cubs figure to be any time soon. The only other Cub hitting .300 is backup outfielder Ryan Sweeney (.345).

* Speaking of .300 hitters, the White Sox can claim second baseman Gordon Beckham (.314 in 51 at-bats) but no position player with 52 at-bats or more.

Miss Finland 2012 Sara Chafak. You were expecting Tuukka Rask?

As noted yesterday (Monday, June 10), a wise man (again as noted, meaning he is not affiliated with the fine folks at elliottharris.com) suggested running Miss Finland photos. All in the name of hockey, of course. With the Boston Bruins featuring goalie Tuukka Rask of Finland, that request seemed more than reasonable.

Of course, there will be those in cyberspace who see these as merely another excuse for gratuitous photos. And, of course, this is anything but that. First of all, as has been noted time and again, those of us around here have yet to encounter anything approaching what could be deemed “gratuitous.” And secondly, we also are providing video. Yes, our efforts to try to inform and entertain know no limits.

So today we are pleased to offer another Miss Finland. Yesterday we had Lotta Hintsa, the 2013 Miss Finland. Which is her name rather than mangled English for “a lot of hints.” Today we have the 2012 Miss Finland, Sara Chafak. Plus if you look at at least one of the following videos, there are other contestants from the 2012 pageant. If you comphrehend Finnish, it might enhance the viewing experience. Or perhaps not.

Let the record show that the folks behind “Sports & Torts” on Talkzone.com still are in pursuit of 2013 Playmate of the Year Raquel Pomplun to appear on the show co-hosted by David Spada and Elliott Harris on Thursdays at noon Central time. No, she will not be on the June 13 program. Sorry to say. Happy to say the guests will be Pro Football Hall of Famers Warren Moon and Alan Page.

And here we go with our daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks to the diligent efforts of the editorial and video departments at elliottharris.com and the fact that they do not know the meaning of “gratuitous,” among many other words):

Advertising opportunities are available on ElliottHarris.com. For information and rates, contact sales@elliottharris.com.

* Continuing to wonder about TV ratings, if you do care, why? Does it really make you feel better if you know after the fact that many others also were watching? Does it somehow validate you and your fandom? Have you sought professional help? And if not, why not? Are are you in a fog?

“Tarafied” received much critical acclaim Saturday at The Squared Circle.

* Speaking of fog, that was the highlight in the Cubs’ 6-2 loss to Cincinnati at Wrigley Field (unless, perhaps, you’re a Reds fan) and delayed the Toronto-White Sox game at U.S. Cellular Field. The Sox prevailed 9-6. If it’s any consolation to Cubs fans (and the guess here is that it is not because they are approaching the point of being inconsolable, if they aren’t always there), fans at the ballpark probably didn’t see Brandon Phillips’ grand slam land in the stands.

* Adam Dunn hit two home runs, went 4-for-4 and drove in five runs for the Sox. Meaning if there ever is an expansion team in London, Dunn likely would be a big hit over there — provided the fog doesn’t lift. Speaking of lifting, Dunn raised his batting average to .181. Cubs pitcher Scott Feldman went 1-for-2 and raised his average to .192. Then again, Dunn didn’t give up five runs in six innings.

Filmmaker Matt Goldberg and Lisa Marie Varon, the star of his “Tarafied” documentary that was shown at her restaurant.

* Still speaking of fog, the stuff that rolled in and blanketed both ballparks provided a perfect chance for Chicago Sun-Times reporters to show off their photographic skills by taking what would look like blurry, amorphous images. Or is that setting bar too high for the paper that fired its photo staff? Not sure management there is focused on the visual as much as it is on breaking a union. Get the picture? Yes, and it’s not a pretty one — that much is clear.

* Speaking of management making hard-to-fathom decisions, in case anyone wonders about how the NHL works, the media hotel for Monday and Tuesday (June 10-11) for the Stanley Cup finals that start Wednesday at the United Center was in Gurnee, Ill. Which makes perfect sense — if you have to travel to Milwaukee and not to downtown Chicago.

* For wrestling fans (or those in search of a good lunch), Brooke Adams (also known as Miss Tessmacher) and Robbie E will be at The Squared Circle (2418 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago) from 1-3 p.m. Saturday (June 15). That is the dining and drinking establishment owned and operated by Lisa Marie Varon (wrestling’s Tara of TNA/Impact Wrestling fame and formerly WWE’s Victoria) and her husband/chef Lee.

* Speaking of Lisa Marie and her restaurant, that was the site and she was the subject of a screening Saturday of Matt Goldberg’s film “Tarafied.” A standing-room crowd enjoyed the 5 p.m. showing that I attended with several familiar faces in the crowd (and that means you, Nate, among others). There was to have been a 10 p.m. showing, too. Your humble correspondent did not stay around for that. Filmmaker Goldberg, whose documentary was shown at the recent Cannes Film Festival, did. Which must have made for a long day/night — considering The Squared Circle was showing the Blackhawks game that went two overtimes. My only complaint about the film, which included interviews with a variety of wrestling figures and provided a behind-the-scenes look at Lisa Marie’s wrestling world? It was too short. Maybe Goldberg can find a way to produce a director’s cut extended version for viewing another time.

* And if you miss Brooke at The Squared Circle, she was will be at PCW’s “Dream Night” at the Don Preston Center, 14500 S. Kostner, Modlothian. The Saturday evening event is scheduled for 6 with doors opening at 5. Other special guests scheduled to attend are Rikishi and Scott Hall. Tickets ($15) are available by clicking here.

A wise man (meaning someone other than anyone affiliated with elliottharris.com suggested running photos of Miss Finland, thereby creating some tangential link to the Stanley Cup final matchup between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins. The link being the Bruins have a Finnish player in goalie Tuukka Rask. So who is Miss Finland 2013. Well, the editorial staff around here was thinking about giving you a lotta hints. But we couldn’t think of any. Miss Finland is Lotta Hintsa. Really. Even if the name does sound like something from a James Bond book/movie.

This photo really does not need a caption. But then what would the caption writers at elliottharris.com have to do? Other than gawk, that is.

Hintsa does have a sports link because her father is a Formula 1 doctor. The 24-year-old also had a relationship with driver Lewis Hamilton about six years ago. Hey, but who doesn’t do a few crazy things to upset our parents when we are teenagers.

That’s a lotta info about Hintsa.

But wait. There’s more. She also apparently is in a relationship with hockey player Kristian Näkyvä.

Anyway, the editorial staff around here thought the concept of running Miss Finland photos — 2013, among other years — is a worthy concept. And to take that thought a step further, this site’s video department figured adding a video element to the idea would be nothing short of a public service to the visitors to this web site. And upper management around here is all about public servive and winning the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service (or its cyberspace equivalent). So here we go with some video:

And here is the spot where you generally can find non-gratuitous video to view — just for you (OK, and anyone else who happens upon this site). All thanks to the editorial and video departments at elliottharris.com for their conscientious efforts (and extremely broad definition of “gratuitous”):

Advertising opportunities are available on ElliottHarris.com. For information and rates, contact sales@elliottharris.com.