Rangers Lost Tough Game to Lightning 4-3 in 11-Round Shootout Thursday at The Garden

The New York Rangers lost to the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in a tough 11-round shootout Thursday night at The Garden. Head coach John Tortorella was facing his old team once again and saw some familiar faces on the ice. The story of the game was rookie Mats Zuccarello coming up from Connecticut who took Marian Gaborik’s spot in the lineup. After the game Mats said:

“I came in here pretty nervous and thinking a little too much, but as the game went on I got more and more the feel of it,” said Zuccarello, who skated on a line with Derek Stepan and Brandon Dubinsky. “My game was OK. I got a lot of help from Dubi and (Sean) Avery and guys talking to me telling me what to do. I felt good about that.”

Zuccarello is small in stature but made some amazing plays during the game. His talent was seen immediately as he controlled the puck well in the offensive zone. Mats was sent back to the Whale to play in Sundays game but will most likely return to the Rangers for Mondays game against the visiting Islanders. Mats even scored in the shootout. The Blueshirts came back twice and most importantly tied it 3-3 in the 3rd period to earn a point in the standings. Two of Tampa Bay’s goals were on scored on Ranger giveaways and they’re too talented a team to give them scoring chances like that. Artem Anisimov had another strong game leading the way with six shots on goal. For a while in the early part of the season AA was in Tortorella’s doghouse. The Rangers goal scorers were Ruslan Fedotenko at the 11:16 minute mark of the 1st period, Alex Frolov just 12 seconds later and Derek Stepan at 11:18 of the 3rd period. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist was visibly upset after the game and had this to say in the dressing room afterwards:

“When you lose in the shootout, as a goalie you take it pretty personally,” said Lundqvist, who finished with 21 saves, including three in overtime. “Points are huge in the end, and I wanted to make that extra stop to get the win. It was very frustrating at the end.”

The three stars of the game, all Rangers were: Alex Frolov, Derek Stepan and Artem Anisimov.

Merry Christmas and “…All I know is that Santa’s Sleigh is Making it’s Way to the USA…”

Merry Christmas to all and I do wish it was Christmas today. I loved this bit from Saturday Night Live. Ho ho ho to all. (You may have to sit through a commercial before viewing video).

SNL Christmas Song | Movies & TV | SPIKE.com

Devils Fire MacLean and Bring Back Lemaire for Third Time

Devils’ GM Lou Lamoriello fired first year head coach John MacLean and brought back his old friend Jacques Lemaire. The Devils hope the third time’s a charm for Jacques. Lamoriello said today that he needed to make a change and firing MacLean was the first needed step. I posted on my blog that MacLean was the best hiring as head coach since he was a great Devil player and was coaching in the Devil organization for six years before being named head coach of the AHL Lowell Devils last season. Lemaire flew down from Montreal today after Lou picked up the phone and asked him to come back to the Devils. Lamoriello gets a lot of respect and has many men loyal to him, including Lemaire. It was a shame seeing MacLean lose his position but I’d be lying saying I’m not loving the Devils 9-22-2 record thus far this season (2-8 in their last ten games). Earlier this evening I predicted a 3-1 NY Islander win tonight over the Devils at the Rock in NJ. So far it’s 3-1 Islanders early in the 2nd period.

Rex Ryan’s Wife Puts Best Foot Forward as Rex Goes Toe to Toe with Media

Yesterday the New York Daily News led with the cover story of a woman who’s a look-alike of Rex Ryan’s wife Michelle in foot fetish videos. The audio of one of the videos sounds a lot like Rex Ryan. During the Jets’ daily press conference yesterday Ryan deflected questions from the media, stressing that:

“This is a personal matter…”

All I can say is that it appears Rex likes to smell his wife’s feet! If that helps the Jets win then I’m all for it! The videos were also made three years ago while still with the Baltimore Ravens What really concerns me is Santonio Holmes turf toe, not Michelle’s toes. I hope Holmes is ready to go this Sunday afternoon against the Bears in Chicago.

Jets in Heap of Trouble Over TripGate

Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano received a call from the New York Jets’ strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi apologizing for tripping Nolan Carroll along the Jets’ sideline. It’s out Sparano’s hands and in the hands of the NFL. The Jets have already taken Alosi’s pay for the balance of the season but he has not lost his job. More will be revealed as the Jets look like a team on the outside looking in on the Playoffs. I once saw former Pittsburgh head coach Bill Cowher almost tackle an opposing cornerback who picked off a ball thrown by his quarterback. The difference was he had the look of murder on his face but didn’t touch the player.

Heading to The Garden as Rangers Host Hated Ovechkin and Capitals

The New York Rangers are hosting the Washington Capitals and the hated Alexander “The Great” Ovechkin. I used to love Ovie’s passion but my opinion has changed after last season. He plays on just the north side of dirty a lot and gets away with it for the most part. It should be great seeing Ranger defenseman Marc Staal go up against Ovechkin as they always put on a good show. On December 23, 2008 we were at The Garden to see the Rangers play the Capitals at The Garden and the Rangers were up 5-0 at the midway point of the game. During the second TV timeout I watched Ovechkin skate to the bench and start slamming his stick inside the bench, arms flailing as he was screaming at his teammates. The very next shift he scored a goal and the Capitals ending up winning that game.

REALLY Back On Track with My Blog

After even more days away from my Blog I’m really back on track with postings beginning today.

Jets Go 9-2 on Season with Huge Thanksgiving 26-10 Win Over Visiting Bengals Last Night

The New York Jets are 9-2 on the season after their 26-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at the New Meadowlands Stadium last night. The fans must have listened to head coach Rex Ryan's plea to be in their seats for the kickoff. Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens wouldn't shut up during the days leading up to the game and for all their yapping they were shut out by the Jets secondary. Jet kicker Nick Folk put the Jets on the board with a 27-yard field goal midway through the 2nd quarter and the Bengals took the 7-3 lead on a 5-yard touchdown pass by Carson Palmer to Jordan Shipley. The Jets attempted another field goal just before halftime but Folk just missed. Palmer was intercepted twice by Jim Leonhard and Antonio Cromartie on good defensive plays. Brad Smith scored the first of two touchdowns as he ran out of the Seminole formation. Smith took the ball around the left end and sprinted 53 yards for the score. The extra point gave the Jets the lead 10-7. Jet quarterback Mark Sanchez was intercepted but hooked up with Santonio Holmes for a 13-yard touchdown pass. The extra point gave the Jets a 17-7 lead. Early in the 4th quarter the Bengals kicked a field goal to cut into the Jet lead 17-10. On the ensuing kickoff Smith struck again and returned the kickoff 89 yards for the touchdown. That play brought me to my feet and after the extra point by Folk extended the Jet lead to 24-10. Midway through the 4th quarter Trevor Pryce got to Palmer in the Bengal end zone and threw him around like a ragdoll for the safety. That made the score 26-10 and that's how it ended. Sanchez went 16-of-28 for 166 yards with 1 TD and 1 interception. Palmer was kept from doing much going 17-of-38 for 135 yards with 1 TD and 2 interceptions. The Jets running game combined for 170 yards on 37 carries, with a big chunk coming from Smith's run. The Two Dopes from Cincinnati (Owens & Ochocinco) were held in check with only 7 catches between them for a combined 58 yards. I thought Ochocinco was supposed to change his name back to Johnson if he was shutdown by Revis Island last year in the playoffs. EightFive obviously hasn't lived up to his own hype against Gang Green.

Jets Give Fans Thanksgiving Gift with 26-10 Victory Over Bengals Tonight

The New York Jets gave their fans a terrific 26-10 team victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. I will post more on the game tomorrow. J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS.

Video Message from Twentieth Manager of the New York Mets Terry Collins

Here is a video message from the new New York Mets Manager Terry Collins:

Collins said they’re going to Spring Training prepared to win and play baseball in October. Since they’ve moved the World Series into November let’s play then too! I like his attitude and I hope it translates into winning baseball because this crew needs its badly.

Back On Track with My Blog

After ten days away from my Blog I'm back on track with postings beginning this morning.

Going to Madison Square Garden as Rangers Host Ex-Head Coach Tom Renney and His Oilers

My Wife and I are looking forward to going to the 12:30 PM matinee at The Garden as the New York Rangers welcome their ex-head coach Tom Renney and his Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers are reeling already and the Rangers should win this one.

"I’m coming in as the enemy," said Renney, in his first season as the Oilers coach after going 164-121-42 for the Rangers from Feb. 25, 2004 to Feb. 23, 2009. "I am going to allow myself the opportunity to bump into people. … I never thought it was so bad I couldn’t walk in with my head up."

Renney is a class act and deserved better when coaching the Rangers. He brought the Blueshirts back to the Playoffs after the lockout and gave us something to cheer about. I’m looking forward to seeing him and I hope he has his chewing gum in hand!

Rangers Come Up Short in 5-3 Loss to Capitals at The Garden Tuesday

The New York Rangers came up a little short in their 5-3 loss to the Washington Capitals last night at Madison Square Garden. Brian Boyle played very well and had his second 2-goal game and did everything he could to earn a natural hat trick. The Blueshirts’ defense has to play more consistently and unfortunately Henrik Lundqvist let in a couple of soft goals by his standards. The Capitals all shot high and it paid off. It was good seeing Brandon Dubinsky get into a scrap with defenseman Mike Green, who I think is just this side of dirty. I could not believe that Derek Boogaard scored his first goal as Ranger. He never scores and is among the league leaders in fighting majors. The Big Man picked up the puck along the left boards, streaked into the offensive zone and blasted a slap shot into the back of the net. I was offered a ticket to the game but couldn’t get back to town in time to go. Maybe it’s better that I watched that one on TV. My Wife and I are going to root on the Rangers at The Garden this Sunday afternoon for a 12:30 PM matinee.

Thoughts on the Red Bulls 2010 Season and Short Playoff Run

The New York Red Bulls went from worst to first in the Eastern Conference this season after last year’s nightmare. There were a couple of big name additions to the team in Designated Players Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez but rookie defender Tim Ream and midfielder Joel Lindpere really made a difference. Ream played well enough to grab MLS Rookie of the Year honors and Lindpere never stopped running and making plays. The inaugural season of Red Bull Arena was a grand success. Head coach Hans Backe managed the team very well and changed the thinking in the locker room and on the field. Captain Juan Pablo Angel’s contract is up and things do not look promising for an extension and certainly not at DP money. Angel was the only thing bright spot with the club for a few years and I hope they do the right thing by him and not kick him to the curb. On the other hand Henry is making good money and needs to stay on the field and earn it. A lot of us were very disappointed with the first round Playoff loss after blowing the home leg of the Eastern Conference Semis at Red Bulls Arena last Thursday night. I was at the 3-1 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes with friends and we weren’t happy with the way the Red Bulls played. It would have sweeter had they made it to Toronto for the final match and brought the Cup back with them.

Blog Postings Later this Evening on Red Bulls, Rangers, Jets, Giants and Knicks

I’ve been MIA of late from my blog but will have postings later this evening on the Red Bulls, Rangers, Jets, Giants and Knicks. Some good things have happened with these teams but there has been some pain as well.

Mets Manager Search Update from GM Sandy Alderson

From the New York Mets via email:

November 4, 2010

Dear Mets Fans:

As you may have heard, today we interviewed two candidates to become the next Manager of the Mets.

The process got off to a good start with Bob Melvin and Dave Jauss here for interviews. I'll be meeting with Wally Backman, Terry Collins and Chip Hale this weekend in California.

We plan to speak with more candidates next week and hope to announce our new Manager as soon as possible.

We will be back to you again with more information soon. Thanks for your ongoing support.

Sincerely,

Sandy Alderson
General Manager

Red Bulls to Play San Jose Earthquakes in Second Leg of Eastern Conference Semifinals at Red Bull Arena Tonight

My friend and I are looking forward to going to Red Bull Arena as the Red Bulls host the San Jose Earthquakes tonight in the Second Leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Another friend will be sitting in front of us with his Wife and Fathers-in-Law. It should be interesting sitting next to the Supporters as they will be loud. The Red Bulls may have the services of Thierry Henry as he nurses his knee injury. The best case scenario is having Henry on the bench at the start of the game and bringing him into the game only if needed. Ideally the Red Bulls will win this evening without needing Henry on the field. He could then keep resting his knee and be ready for the Eastern Conference Finals next week at home. A draw or win will get the Red Bulls into the next round.

Mets Reduce Ticket Prices for 2011 Season

From the Mets via email:

METS REDUCE TICKET PRICES FOR 2011
Full Range of Adjustments Includes Average Price Decrease of 14% from 2010, Season Ticket Holders to Receive 10% Discount Off of Lower 2011 Prices, Increased Exclusive Benefits and Services, Unique Experiences

FLUSHING, N.Y., November 3, 2010 - The New York Mets today announced a restructured ticket pricing program for 2011 that includes a reduction of ticket prices by an average of more than 14% from last season. In addition, season ticket, ticket plan and group ticket customers receive an additional 10% discount.

Within the 14%-plus average price decrease, the Mets have made a full range of market-based adjustments to Citi Field's 41,800 seats:
• Ticket prices for 62% of the ballpark have been reduced
• More than half of all seats have double-digit price reductions
• 18% of the seats have been cut by 20% or more
• 8% of seats have price decreases of 30% or more
• Several seat categories have modest increases that average approximately 5%

Rangers Playing Well Winning Five of Last Seven Games

The New York Rangers are playing good hockey without three of their veteran players. Marian Gaborik, Chris Drury and Vinny Prospal are all out recovering from injuries leaving it up to the young guys. The new Number 1 line of Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, and Ryan Callahan are playing like veterans. They are scoring goals and playing great hockey. On top of that Brandon Prust is one of the unsung heroes on this team. Prust forechecks and plays all out every shift. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist is also on top of his game in the early going of the season. The Rangers are currently in second place of the Eastern Conference and need to stay close to make the playoffs. The season is a grind and has just started but it’s very encouraging to see the Blueshirts playing well without three of their top players.

Packers Shut Out Jets 9-0 at New Meadowlands Stadium Sunday

The New York Jets’ offense looked completely out of sorts in their 9-0 loss to the Green Bay Packers at home Sunday. Quarterback Mark Sanchez had 2 interceptions again this game and looked awful in the 1st half. He made adjustments and played much better in the 2nd half but couldn’t get the ball into the end zone. The Jets were shut out for the first time in four seasons. It was a shame as the defense played a great game and kept the high powered Packer offense out of the end zone as well. The bright spot for the Jets was the excellent game played by David Harris who had 9 tackles (8 solos), 1 sack and 3 quarterback hits. Sanchez was 16-of-38 for 256 yards and 2 interceptions with a terrible QB rating of 43.3. The Jets defense kept Packer quarterback Aaron Rodgers to 15-of-34 for 170 yards and a slightly better QB rating of 59.7. The Jets rushing game was kept in check with LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene combining for 22 carries for only 76 yards. New York’s wide receivers had 5 drops on the day including a key crossing pass to Santonio Holmes that would have most likely netted a touchdown. A lost fumble by Brad Smith didn’t help the cause either. I met Steve Weatherford in Morristown, NJ tonight at an Irish Pub that hosts the Inside the Jets ESPN 1050 New York Radio show and told him the fake punt he ran was a ballsy play. Midway through the 1st quarter, on 4th down from the Jets’ 20-yard line and 18 yards to go, Weatherford ran the ball for a fake punt down the right sideline. He came up a yard short and that’s a play that has to be made if you take the shot. I just wished he could have extended the ball before getting downed. He said “But it still didn’t work.” I told him it was still a great play. I guess it would have been greater if he got that 1st down. On top of it all the steady kicker Nick Folk missed his only field goal effort. The Jets need to regroup as they visit Detroit to play the Lions this Sunday.

Red Bulls Shut Out Earthquake 1-0 to Take First Leg of Eastern Conference Semis Saturday

The New York Red Bulls shut out the San Jose Earthquake 1-0 on the road Saturday night to take the first leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Joel Lindpere scored for the Red Bulls in the 56th minute when he settled a Juan Pablo Angel shot that was headed away then put the ball into the far right corner of the net to give the Red Bulls the 1-0 lead and win. The frustration was plain to see on head coach Hans Backe’s face as the Red Bulls missed three golden opportunities to score in the 1st half. It was good seeing some of the Supporters present at San Jose cheering for their team. In fact it seemed at times that they were louder than the San Jose fans. The second leg is scheduled for this Thursday, November 4th at Red Bull Arena, the Cathedral of Football. Juan Pablo Angel will most likely be teamed with 17-year-old rookie Juan Agudelo again as Thierry Henry is nursing a right knee strain. More tests will be done today on Henry’s knee so hopefully he will be available off the bench. Salou Ibrahim and Tony Tchani should be ready to go this Thursday.

Cablevision will Broadcast Packers vs. Jets Today on Fox 5 New York

As you may know Cablevision and News Corp have come to a resolution so you will be able to see the Jets host the Packers this afternoon on Fox 5 New York. If the visiting team is from the NFC then Fox will broadcast the game. If the visitors are an AFC team then CBS has broadcasting rights. At least you won’t have to schlep to a sports bar at 1:00 PM to see the game. Darrelle Revis is reportedly 100% and I’m looking forward to seeing how the defense plays today.

Red Bulls vs. Earthquakes in First Leg of Eastern Conference Playoff Semifinal Series at Buck Shaw Stadium

The Red Bulls visit San Jose to play the Earthquakes at Buck Shaw tonight in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series. The game is televised on MSG2, which is Channel 414 on Cablevision in the Greater New York City area starting at 10:00 PM EDT. The game will also be televised in progress on MSG+ at 10:30 PM since the Rangers, Knicks and Islanders are all playing tonight. Unfortunately the Red Bulls will be without Thierry Henry, rookie Tony Tchani and Solou Ibrahim. That’s going to be a tall order for the Red Bulls on the road and I’d be happy with a tie and ecstatic with a victory. Goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul will have his hands full and captain Juan Pablo Angel and Dane Richards on the right wing will need to play very well. Another rookie Juan Agudelo may get the start, having limited MLS experience. One good thing is that Agudelo has made the most of his minutes recently. LET’S GO RED BULLS!

A Message From Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson

Here is a video message from the Mets’ GM Sandy Alderson. I hope he hires a manager that won’t make the following mistake upon his introduction to the press that Alderson made:

"I view the position of general manager of the Oakland - excuse me, of the New York Mets…"

There actually may be hope for this team in 2012. By the way, I wanted to sit in the seat Sandy's sitting in but it's an absolute fortune. It's right behind the plate, very similar to box seats on the rail above home plate in the old Loge Section at Shea Stadium. Citi Field's version is a couple of hundred dollars plus for a regular season platinum level game.

Take a Citi Field Tour this Fall

Here is your chance to take a guided tour of Citi Field this fall. My Wife and I took the tour of Oriole Park at Camden Yards last year and thought it was excellent. With the poor play the past couple of seasons maybe the Mets should pay us to go!

Mets Get Their Man and Hire Alderson as General Manager

It has been reported that the New York Mets have their man and hired Sandy Alderson as their new general manager. This is the start of a new era for the Metropolitans and will hopefully bring credibility to the organization. The first order of business will be to deal with the dead wood on the team.

Metropolitan Hospitality: Host Your Holiday Party At Citi Field

If your firm is doing fabulously well this year then here’s your chance to host your holiday party at Citi Field. At some point in the evening all guests should shuffle down to the field to run the bases. Now that would be worth the price of admission.

Red Bulls to Play San Jose Earthquakes in Eastern Conference Semifinals

The New York Red Bulls will play the San Jose Earthquakes in the two-leg, aggregate goal Eastern Conference Semifinal Series. The Red Bulls will make the trip to Buck Shaw Stadium for the first leg on Saturday, October 30th and will return to Red Bull Arena on Thursday, November 4th for the second leg. I hope Thierry Henry is ready to go. To purchase tickets click here. LET’S GO RED BULLS!

Henrik Lundqvist Continues to Dominate the New Jersey Devils in Rangers 3-1 Win at MSG Sunday

Henrik Lundqvist continues to dominate the New Jersey Devils as the Rangers defeated their rivals from across the Hudson River 3-1 on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden. The King had 27 saves and played extraordinarily well in the 3rd period to secure the victory for the Blueshirts and improved to 3-2-1. Lundqvist improved his record to 19-7-5 with 1.89 goals against average and .934 save percentage with 4 shutouts in 31 career regular season starts against the Devils.

Congratulations to Red Bulls for Clinching First Place in the Eastern Conference of MLS

Congratulations to the Red Bulls for clinching first place in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer. The turnaround from worst to first in one season is amazing. I will post more on the Red Bulls later today.

Just Watched New York Yankees Lose to Texas Rangers in ALCS – Mike Francesca Gave Pitcher Colby Lewis and Rangers No Respect

The New York Yankees were just defeated by the Texas Rangers 4 games to 2 in the American League Championship Series. The Rangers outpitched them, out hit them, out ran them and flat out destroyed them. I subjected myself to listening to Mike Francesca on WFAN-AM yap on and on incessantly about “Andy, Andy, Andy, Andy, Andy” and tidbits such as “’Cause they’re the Yankees!” What a joke. Francesca gave absolutely no respect to Colby Lewis and the Rangers who blew away the Yankees. All Francesca could do was speak about Andy getting the ball tomorrow night and all the pressure the Yankees were putting on Andy at his age. Mike obviously forgot about Game 6. Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan could not have been more humble in accepting the American League Championship trophy. The Rangers will go onto their first World Series.

A GM Search Update from Mets Ownership

From the New York Mets via email:

October 22, 2010

Dear Mets Fans:

We are bringing back Josh Byrnes and Sandy Alderson for a second round of interviews with Fred, Saul and me. Josh is scheduled for Monday and Sandy for Tuesday as we continue our search for the next General Manager of the Mets. 

John Ricco and I spoke personally with Allard Baird, Rick Hahn, Logan White and Dana Brown earlier today to thank them for their interest and taking the time to interview with us.

We will be back to you with more information regarding our new GM soon.

Sincerely,
Jeff Wilpon
COO

Update from Mets Ownership Regarding GM Search

From the New York Mets via email:

October 21, 2010

Dear Mets Fans:

As you may know, earlier today we completed the initial round of interviews with six talented candidates to become the new General Manager of the New York Mets.
Each was extremely impressive - Allard Baird, Rick Hahn, Josh Byrnes, Sandy Alderson, Logan White, and Dana Brown. All reiterated their desire and interest in pursuing this opportunity.
We will be in direct communication with each as we narrow the candidate pool by early next week. We subsequently will invite the leading candidates back to meet with Fred, Saul, and me.

We have an outstanding group from which to select our new General Manager. We look forward to sharing more information with you soon.

Sincerely,

Jeff Wilpon
COO

Going to Red Bull Arena for Red Bulls’ Season Finale Against Revolution

I’ll be meeting friends, going to the Ironbound in Newark for some grub then onto Red Bull Arena for the Red Bulls’ season finale as they host the New England Revolution. Unfortunately Thierry Henry will not be on the pitch again tonight as he rests his knee. Since the Red Bulls are in the playoffs head coach Hans Backe will not take any chances with Henry. Unfortunately Henry has not been on the pitch long enough to make a real impact and I hope he’s ready to go and is a force in the playoffs. A victory tonight would clinch first place in the Eastern Conference and home field advantage through the playoffs. It is Fan Appreciation Night and we’re looking forward to having a great time. LET’S GO RED BULLS!

Marc Staal Wearing “A” as Second Alternate Captain of New York Rangers and it is Well Deserved

The Rangers defenseman Marc Staal wore an “A” on his jersey last Monday night against the Avalanche at Madison Square Garden. I said during training camp last season that Staal will be the Rangers captain one day. Being named alternate captain is well deserved, if only on a temporary basis while Vinny Prospal recovers from knee surgery. I would not be surprised if the Rangers name another alternate captain while the captain Chris Drury recovers from his fractured finger injury but it must be earned.

Staal was asked when he found out:

"Before warm-ups. Obviously it's an honor. It's a nice thing that they put the responsibility of that on me."

Jets Sit Atop the AFC East at 5-1 with NFL’s Best Record Heading into Bye Week

The New York Jets have won five games in a row to bring their record to 5-1, the NFL’s best as they head into their bye week. My Wife, friends and I witnessed their opening night loss to the Ravens unfortunately as it was their worst game by far. Good teams find a way to win and lesser teams find a way to lose. A big difference I see between this team and the team from last season is that mentality. The Jets played very well down the stretch last season but this team has found a way to win the games they may have lost last year. When the defense has not been the best the offense has picked them up, and vice versa. The special teams and kicking game have been outstanding and in fact better than predicted. Not signing running back Thomas Jones and kicker Jay Feeley were thought to be questionable moves but they’ve proven in the early going to have been the best moves the team could have made. Not signing those two players freed up money for running back LaDainian Tomlinson and kicker Nick Folk. Another unsung hero is little mentioned punter Steve Weatherford. Braylon Edwards has not dropped the ball (well he dropped one pass last game that would have been a first down) as he had in the past and Santonio Holmes should get more comfortable in the offense. My main concern is the status of Darrelle Revis’ hamstring injury and if the bye week will help him get to 100%. Head coach Rex Ryan describes Revis at 90% but from what I’ve seen he’s no where close to that. The signing of defensive end Trevor Pryce may be the steal of the season as it relegates Vernon Gholston back to special teams exclusively. When I saw #77 Kris Jenkins (The Human Truck) not get up from the turf on the sixth play of the season I thought the defense would take a huge hit. However nose tackle Sione Pouha has filled The Human Truck’s shoes admirably. There is a long way to go but the Jets have been terrific thus far.

Red Bulls Look to Preserve First Place in Eastern Conference with Season Finale Victory Against Revolution at Red Bull Arena Thursday – Also Fan Appreciation Night

The New York Red Bulls are looking to preserve a first place finish in the Eastern Conference as they play their regular season finale at Red Bull Arena tomorrow night against the New England Revolution. I will be going to the match with three friends and we’re anticipating a good effort from the Red Bulls. Their last game on Saturday at Philadelphia was brutal. They did not play with passion in the 1st half and were not only missing Thierry Henry who sat out an injury incurred during practice but they were missing all creativity in the midfield. The Red Bulls will have their hands full tomorrow night with New England’s midfielder Shalrie Joseph, who attended St. John’s University. Thursday will also be also Fan Appreciation Night at Red Bull Arena.

Message from Mets Ownership Regarding GM Search

From the New York Mets via email:

Dear Mets Fans:

We have heard from many of you over recent weeks offering suggestions and ideas on how to assemble a winning team. Thank you for taking the time to contact us. Your interest and support of the Mets is greatly appreciated.

We have been hard at work since the end of the season exploring ways to improve our club. As you likely know, this week we interviewed five candidates for General Manager - Allard Baird, Rick Hahn, Josh Byrnes, Sandy Alderson, and Logan White. They all are intelligent, creative and passionate about winning. They conveyed their honest assessment of our franchise and discussed how we can move forward on our pledge to give our fans the winner that they deserve.

We are continuing our search and expect to hire our new GM in the next few weeks. We will be in contact with you with more information and details soon.

Thanks again.

Jeff Wilpon
COO

Postings Monday Morning on Jets, Giants and Red Bulls

I will post more Monday morning on the Jets, Giants and Red Bulls.

Maple Leafs Defeated Rangers 4-3 in Overtime at Garden Friday and Lose Gaborik and Drury to Injuries

The Toronto Maple Leafs came into Madison Square Garden Friday night and ruined the Blueshirts home opener with a 4-3 overtime victory. We saw the Leafs outplay the Rangers for the majority of the game on both ends of the ice and bombard Henrik Ludqvist with 38 shots on goal. Michal Rozsival, who was met with boos unfairly by the crowd during the introductions, scored the games first goal at 7:58 in the 1st period on a wrist shot from the right point. Rozy also led all Rangers in over 28 minutes of ice time. Toronto scored three unanswered goals in the 2nd period to take a 3-1 lead. What hurts a lot more is losing sniper Marian Gaborik and Chris Druty in the 2nd period to injuries. Gaborik suffered a separated left shoulder on a boarding penalty by Toronto’s Colby Armstrong and Drury fractured the same index finger he just recovered from. Sean Avery challenged Armstrong and he skated away from Avery. Brian Boyle scored at 2:10 in the 3rd period on a much needed goal to bring the score to 3-2 and the Rangers played a much better game from that point on. Former Ranger Colton Orr, who I used to love, was once again a dope in front of his old fans. Orr took a bad roughing penalty just seconds after Boyle’s second goal. At 3:49 in the 3rd period the Rangers’ Ruslan Fedotenko and Avery were called for penalties. The Blueshirts did an outstanding job of killing off the two man 5-on-3 advantage. Boyle came though again by scoring the tying goal at 6:19. The game went into overtime and Toronto came out on top by Phil Kessel’s power play, his second goal of the game. Marc Staal was called for a joke of an interference penalty and that gave the Leafs the 4-on-3 advantage. On the trip home we were talking about the injuries to Gaborik and Drury and that Alex Frolov will need to step up. The Rangers have a tough schedule the first month of the season and will need to play well at home to not lose ground in the early going.

Going to Rangers Home Opener at Garden in Original Six Matchup with Maple Leafs

It’s been 55 years since the New York Rangers have hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs in their home opener. My Wife and I are looking forward to sitting in the green seats once again. I will post more on the Blueshirts later tonight and tomorrow morning.

Jersey's Team Community Report – October 2010

From the New Jersey Devils via email:

New Jersey Devils are pleased to release the October 2010 Community Report. We hope you take a moment to read about the Devils' commitment to New Jersey's communities.

Mets Offering Family Fleece Sale – Haven’t the Mets Fleeced their Fans Long Enough?

The New York Mets continue to discount their garb. I can’t help but think that they’ve fleeced us long enough! Next season will hopefully be yet another new beginning for the Mets but in the interim you can keep warm in one of these fleeces.

Jets Host Old Friend Brett Favre Tonight as Vikings Play Jets at New Meadowlands Stadium on Monday Night Football – Randy Moss, Adrian Peterson and Visanthe Shiancoe Will Be a Handful

The New York Jets play the Minnesota Vikings tonight at the New Meadowlands Stadium on Monday Night Football and will see the return of their old teammate Brett Favre. The Vikings traded for Randy Moss this week and I expect The Golden Arm to throw the ball his way early and often. The timing could not be better for Gang Green as Calvin Pace returns from right foot surgery and Darrelle Revis returns from his hamstring strain. The most exciting addition could be Santonio Holmes, who will play his first game as a Jet. First order of business for the Jets will be to contain Viking running back Adrian Peterson. Second order of business will be to make their old friend Mr. Favre terribly uncomfortable in the pocket. They will have to knock him down and make him pay for keeping the ball until the last moment. Third order of business will be to keep the ball out of Moss’ and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe’s hands. Revis Island is back in business and the game promises to be a good one. It makes me cringe thinking of Favre getting sacked multiple times two seasons ago as a Jet. Sitting in the upper deck of Giants Stadium I remember my Wife saying to me “HE'S GETTING THROWN AROUND LIKE A RAG DOLL!” He sure was and Favre’s horrific play began from there. Well he’s just visiting now! J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!

Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake Play to 0-0 Tie at Red Bull Arena Saturday

The New York Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake met at Red Bull Arena on Saturday afternoon and played to a scoreless draw. Dane Richards and Bouna Coundoul (Bouna Time) were not in the lineup for the Red Bulls as they played matches for their respective countries. Thierry Henry played the game on the left wing, a position that did not sit well with him when he played for Barcelona and Greg Sutton was in goal. Much of the game was played in the middle of the field with not a lot of shots on goal. The early part of the game was controlled by RSL but then the Red Bulls took control for the rest of the 1st half. They had five scoring chances in the half but could not muster a goal. RSL had two excellent chances in the 1st half and hit the post on both shots. Just before halftime there was a questionable foul called on Roy Miller just inside the box that resulted in a free kick for RSL. The referee called the foul but did not call it inside the box. The free kick did not get past the wall and the Red Bulls went into the locker room with the game scoreless. New York had chances in the 2nd half but could not capitalize. Dane Richards and his speed were missed on the right wing. It was the kind of game that could have been 2-0 RSL or 4-2 Red Bulls. It would have been nice if Juan Pablo Angel put away one or two of his headers. Henry could not get a shot on goal and many of his passes were picked off by RSL's defense. Rafa Marquez took a shot from outside the box but it missed wide of the far left post. I’d like to see Marquez shoot more from there. Angel’s status after this season has not been discussed publicly by the team and I wonder if that means the Red Bulls will look in a different direction. Two Red Bulls were called for yellow card fouls (Chris Albright and Roy Miller).

Francisco Rodriguez (K-Rod) Hall of Shame Inductee #9 with Shame-O-Meter Rating of 7

New York Mets closer, or should I say future ex-closer Francisco Rodriguez (K-Rod) is the ninth inductee into my Hall of Shame with a Shame-O-Meter Rating of 7. After the Met game at Citi Field on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 Rodriguez was charged with third-degree assault on 53-year-old Carlos Pena who is the father of his ex-girlfriend. Pena had bruises on his head and said he was punched by Rodriguez after Pena interrupted a profane outburst by K-Rod outside the Player’s Family Lounge at Citi Field. That’s the guy I want on my team! The Mets punished him a couple of games and naturally pitched him the following weekend as they were holding onto their slim playoff hopes at the time. After discovering that Rodriguez tore a ligament in his right thumb the Mets placed him on the restricted list and stopped paying him. Naturally the MLBPA is coming to his rescue. On September 14, 2010 Rodriguez appeared in Queens Criminal Court as he tried to explain why he sent 56 text messages to the mother of his children, 19 of which were sent while in Venezuela. The great thing is that an order of protection is against him in that country! I am happy to hear that K-Rod is taking anger management classes but I doubt they will do any good. Rodriguez is scheduled to appear in court again on November 10, 2010 as his attorney is working a plea deal with the prosecutor. The bottom line is that he should be banished from the New York Mets organization forever. It would quite a joke if K-Rod shows up in a Met or Triple-A Buffalo Bison uniform next season. I hope I don’t hurt my thumb when I smash our two K-Rod bobbleheads.

Devils Home Opener, Yankees ALDS Playoffs and Rangers – Will Post More on These Stories and More Saturday Morning

• Devils lost season opener 4-3 at Rock in overtime to the Dallas Stars

• New York Yankees are up 2 game to none in best-of-five series against the Minnesota Twins

• New York Rangers season opener tomorrow night at Buffalo against the Sabres

I will post more on these stores and more Saturday morning.

Sean Avery Sporting What Appears to be the Rangers 2010-11 Alternate Third Jersey

Here’s a picture of Sean Avery sporting what appears to be the Rangers 2010-11 alternate third jersey. I haven’t seen anything officially confirmed but I’m sure it this is true then the Rangers’ website will be all over it. Last year I posted on my blog how I loved the blue road jerseys from the late 70s with New York across the front and this version is a throwback from the early Original Six era.

Rangers Trimmed Training Camp Roster by 6 Players – Sign Former Islander and Penguin Forward Ruslan Fedotenko to One-Year Deal

The New York Rangers have trimmed their training camp roster by 6 more players to get down to 23 (which includes Chris Drury and Vinny Prospal who are injured) and may be ready for the start of the NHL season. The following players were assigned to Hartford Wolf Pack: Ryan McDonagh, Pavel Valentenko, Dale Weise and Mats Zuccarello. Two players were waived: Todd White and Tim Kennedy. Waiving both players was a planned move and done in case another player or two becomes available in the next day or two. The Rangers signed former Islander and Penguin forward Ruslan Fedotenko to a one-year deal. He’s played very well in the preseason and I think he’ll work out well. I’m still hoping to see a top line center in a Ranger jersey on the ice for opening night though.

Jets Defeated Bills 38-14 at The Ralph Sunday to Go 3-1 on Season and 3-0 in AFC East

The New York Jets travelled to Upstate New York to play their division rival Buffalo Bills Sunday and came away with a huge 38-14 victory at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Jets rushing game was excellent Sunday. LaDainian Tomlinson led the way with 19 carries for 133 yards & 2 TDs and Shonn Greene with 22 carries for 117 yards. It was the first NFL game for rookie Joe McKnight who carried the ball 4 times for 12 yards late in the game. The Jets offense clicked all game and quarterback Mark Sanchez was the centerpiece who went 14-of-24 for 161 yards and 2 TDs. In four games thus far Sanchez has a quarterback rating of 105.3, 8 touchdowns, 67.3% completion ratio and the biggest stat, no interceptions. That is the single biggest change for Sanchez this year compared to last. He also sat out the 4th quarter and Mark Brunell came in to finish the game. Wide receiver Braylon Edwards continues his great play with 4 receptions for 86 yards and 1 TD. Tight end Dustin Keller has emerged as Sanchez’s favorite target and he was huge on Sunday with 4 receptions for 28 yards and 2 TDs. Last night my Wife and friends and I went to the Grasshopper off the Green in Morristown, NJ for the Inside the Jets radio show and autograph signing session. I said to Keller “5 TDs, 250 yards?” As he nodded and smiled I told him “keep winning and get ready for the Pro Bowl baby, you’re a Pro Bowler.” Linebacker David Harris and safety Jim Leonhard had 4 tackles and the team had 3 total sacks. Shaun Ellis (The Big Cat) left the game with a knee injury but an MRI taken yesterday reported no damage thank goodness. The Big Cat may be ready for the showdown this week against Brett Favre and the Vikings on Monday Night Football. The NFL recognized Breast Cancer Awareness Month where game balls had pink ribbons, players wore pink cleats, wristbands, gloves, chin straps, sideline caps, helmet decals and towels. The NFL will auction all equipment with all proceeds benefiting The American Cancer Society.

Rangers’ AHL Affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack will Change Name to Connecticut Whale Sometime this Season

The New York Rangers’ AHL affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack will be renamed to the Connecticut Whale sometime this season. Howard Baldwin and Whalers Sports & Entertainment will take control of the business operations of Hartford's American Hockey League. Maybe I should get some signatures on my Wolf Pack jersey soon. The old Hartford Whalers played in the same arena before moving to Carolina and changing their name to the Hurricanes after the 1996-97 season.

"Based on internal discussions and significant feedback from both Whalers fans and Wolf Pack fans, we've chosen a name that touches on our past but also signifies this new era in Hartford hockey," one source close to Baldwin said. "Fans have always referred to the Hartford Whalers as the 'The Whale,' so it's a very familiar name."

Mets Fire Manuel and Relieve Minaya (aka Goodbya) of Duties as Executive VP of Baseball Operations & General Manager

As we all expected the Jerry Manuel/Omar Minaya (aka Nomore Goodbya) Era is over. Why keep Nomore around any longer? It’s the equivalent of moving Razor Shines over to first base since he was absolutely brutal as a third base coach in 2009. I received from the Mets at 11:47 AM via email:

October 4, 2010

Dear Mets Fans:

Thank you for your support during another extremely disappointing season. Like you, all of us at the Mets had high expectations for 2010 and we did not come close to meeting them. Since reaching the National League Championship Series in 2006, we have underperformed. The failure is unacceptable and we share your anguish.

As Ownership, we are ultimately responsible and have determined that changes are necessary to produce a winning team for the long term.

Earlier this morning, we relieved Omar Minaya of his duties as Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations & General Manager, and advised Jerry Manuel that we are declining to exercise the club's option on his contract as Manager for 2011. We appreciate all that Omar and Jerry have done for the Organization and thank them for their time and effort. Changes like these are never easy, especially when dealing with people you like and respect.

We feel a fresh perspective in the leadership of our baseball department will elevate the performance of our club. That person will work with Ownership to hire a new Manager and will be responsible for creating a winning culture.

We have a lot of work to do to regain your confidence and support. Thank you for the opportunity to do so.

Fred Wilpon
Chairman & CEO

Saul Katz
President

Jeff Wilpon
COO

Red Bulls Shut Out Wizards 1-0 Saturday to Clinch a Playoff Berth and Take Over First Place in the Eastern Conference – What a Difference a Year Makes

My friends and I went to Krug’s in Newark on Saturday for burgers then walked over the Jackson Street Bridge to the Cathedral of Football to root on the Red Bulls. It was one friend’s first trip to Red Bull Arena and he was impressed. We were happy to sit next to the supporters and root on the Red Bulls as they shut out the Kansas City Wizards 1-0 in front of what looked to be close to a sellout crowd. With the victory the Red Bulls clinched a playoff berth and leapfrogged over Columbus to take over first place in the Eastern Conference. Dane Richards scored the lone goal early on in the 6th minute which was his 4th goal in the last five games, just amazing. He has made a quite a turnaround this season and has become one of the most valuable players on the team. I was disappointed to hear from one friend that Rafa Marquez would sit this one out but happy to see Thierry Henry on the field. Recent addition Mehdi Ballouchy played a little deeper in the midfield for Rafa. This was not the type of game the Red Bulls have been playing lately with a lot of ball control and possession. It was marred with turnovers and giveaways in their own end of the field that often left Bouna Condoul (Bouna Time) to be the last line of defense. Bouna Time made save after save and was a machine in goal for the Red Bulls as he had 12 saves. I kept saying the Red Bulls need to play the game in KC’s end of the field. Marquez was sorely missed and I hope he’s back soon to take on the role of Man in the Middle. Henry looked a bit slow and didn’t have that burst to the ball as it was serviced to him. On two occasions TH14 could not get to the ball quickly and that gave time for the Wizard defenders to break up the play. The Red Bulls had scoring chances in the 2nd half as Henry came streaking down the left side and missed just wide of the far post and Richards was one-on-one with the keeper along the right side and hit the near post. Carl Robinson was subbed in for Henry very late in the game. As the Man of the Match voting appeared on the screen my friend asked me who it should be, and I said it had to be Bouna Time. The rest of the fans felt the same way and it was well deserved. With each save he got me out of my seat. Three Red Bulls were called for yellow card fouls (Roy Miller, Carlos Mendes and Mehdi Ballouchy). My Wife and I are looking forward to going to the Cathedral of Football next Saturday vs. Real Salt City and She’ll get to wear her new scarf. LET’S GO RED BULLS!