St. John’s gets Their Man - Hired Steve Lavin as New Head Coach of the Red Storm Tuesday

St. John’s hired Steve Lavin yesterday, former coach of the UCLA Bruins, to coach the Red Storm. I hope this means a new found credibility to the program and some New York City hometown high school players will want to stay home. As reported by redstormsports:

QUEENS, N.Y. - Red Storm Director of Athletics Chris Monasch announced on Tuesday that Steve Lavin - whose seven-year coaching record at UCLA included six NCAA Tournament appearances, five trips to the NCAA Round of 16, and six seasons of 21 wins or more - will be the 19th head men's basketball coach in St. John's University's 102-plus years of storied tradition on the hardwood.

"This is an opportunity of a lifetime to be able to return to the sidelines coaching college basketball at a school like St. John's that has such tradition and heritage in terms of the history of basketball," Lavin said. "Then you add the academic dimension, as well as New York City and Madison Square Garden, it's as good as it gets.

Rangers Win Big Game 4-3 over Islanders at Coliseum (aka Mausoleum) Tuesday

The New York Rangers defeated the New York Islanders last night 4-3 at the Coliseum (aka Mausoleum). Thanks to my friend for taking me as it was worth the trip from NJ. Michal Rozsival wore the second A as alternate captain with Callahan out. The 1st period was slow for the Blueshirts and the Islanders took the game to them. The Rangers committed a couple of dumb penalties and one cost them. I was telling my friend that I love Mark Streit, defenseman for the Islanders, and a couple of minutes later he scored a power play goal on a slap shot from the top of the left faceoff circle. Blake Comeau added another goal at 12:09, Islanders up 2-0 where Henrik Lundqvist wish he had that one back. The Rangers definitely missed Ryan Callahan and Sean Avery in that 1st period, both still out with injuries. The Blueshirts were outshot 9-4 in the period. The Rangers committed two more penalties to start the 2nd period and did a great job killing off a 5-on-3 for a minute. That turned the game entirely toward the Rangers. The Rangers scored 3 on goals by Vinny Prospal at 1:14, Olli Jokinen at 12:57 and Marian Gaborik at 17:15. It was great to see Gaborik score his 40th goal of the season. John Tortorella kept switching lines looking for a spark and found it in the 2nd period. P.A. Parenteau seemed to be on the ice the entire game. The Rangers had 15 shots in the 2nd period. Defenseman Marc Staal scored at 5:05 in the 3rd period, Rangers up 4-2. The defensemen pinched in all game long and it paid off. Islander Blake Comeau scored his 2nd goal of the game at 13:27 to bring the Islanders within one. That was another goal that Lundqvist should have stopped. It was a very good, tough fought game. Lundqvist had 25 saves on 28 shots. The Rangers power play looked awesome late in the 2nd period where Islander goalie Dwayne Roloson made huge saves. The three stars of the game were Olli Jokinen, Vinny Prospal and Blake Comeau.

Making Trip to Nassau Coliseum (aka Mausoleum) as Islanders Host Rangers Tonight

I’ll be making the trip to the Nassau Coliseum (aka Mausoleum) with my friend as the New York Rangers will be visiting the New York Islanders. This should be a tough fought game with lots of hitting. There is still an outside chance for the Rangers to make the playoffs so a win tonight is a necessity. Hopefully Ryan Callahan and Sean Avery will be playing as well.

Will the Mets Pitch their Way to an 81 Win Season in 2010?

For this late a date in Spring Training the New York Mets have too many question marks, especially with the pitching staff. Did the “wind” do Mike Pelfrey in yesterday? Come on give me a break. He’s worlds away from being a stud starting pitcher and should be very close to ready to go by this point. What makes me think he’ll be different in 9 days compared to yesterday? Oliver Perez’s WHIP (walks + hits /innings pitched) will most likely lead the National League in no time. John Maine scares me too much for words. I actually like Jon Niese as the 5th starter. If Pedro Feliciano is the setup man for Francisco Rodriguez then a good lefty specialist is needed now. Hisanori Takahashi is our only other lefty option in the bullpen. The Schmoozer Steve Somers has a great bit with Jenrry Mejia, singing new lyrics to the West Side Story song Maria. I love it. Nelson Figueroa flat out stinks. The Met organization owes it to it’s fans to be honest and direct. I hope this isn’t smoke and mirrors by Omar Minaya (aka Nomore Goodbya). Let the games begin and remember to say a prayer for our pitching staff.

Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan Loses 30 Pounds after Surgery – Look for a Svelte Rex Coming to a Sideline Near You!

Rex Ryan, head coach and resident big man of the New York Jets has lost 30 plus pounds thus far after having a successful lap-band procedure performed on March 13th at NYU Medical Center. Last week I heard Evan Roberts on WFAN give Rex a hard time for not losing weight like everyone else. How did Roberts get his job? He’s in his 20’s and routinely speaks about sports that he has no knowledge of and players he’s never seen play. Rex tipped the scales at 338 pounds before the procedure and Ryan knows how important it is to lose weight for his and his family’s sake. Look for a Svelte Rex coming to a sideline near you! More info as reported by nypost.com and wcbstv.com and wcbstv.com.

Rangers Lost Key Game to Maple Leafs in Overtime 3-2 at Air Canada Centre Saturday

The New York Rangers managed to earn 1 point in the standings but gave away an important 2nd point in the process. The Rangers recalled PA Parenteau from the Hartford Wolf Pack due to the injury to Ryan Callahan and it paid off immediately as he scored at 10:25 in the 1st period on a nice backhand. Brandon Dubinsky scored the 2nd Ranger goal at 19:49 in the 1st period on a nice play coming behind the goal and shooing towards the crease. The puck hit Leaf goalie Jonas Gustavsson’s stick and slipped into the net. Ex-Ranger and fan favorite at the Garden Colton Orr tried immediately to engage Jody Shelley but nothing happened between the two heavyweights. It’s hard to believe but Parenteau had more ice time then sniper Marian Gaborik. The Rangers played veteran defenseman Anders Eriksson as rookie Matt Gilroy was a healthy scratch. Marc Staal led the team with ice time of over 24 minutes and played a solid game against the top line of the Leafs. Henrik Lundqvist played well but just looked bad on the last two goals and was visibly angry at the winning goal scored in the 2nd minute of overtime. Lundqvist slammed his stick against the boards as he skated toward the bench. Forward Aaron Voros suited up and played on the 3rd line. Uncharacteristically head coach John Tortorella rolled 4 lines and gave lots of ice time to the 4th line since they’ve been so effective. Sean Avery left the game and headed to the dressing room after he was checked against the back boards by big defenseman Luke Schenn. Dion Phaneuf tried engaging early in the game but Avery but Sean showed great restraint. Having Avery out of the lineup while he’s been playing so well doesn’t help matters for the Blueshirts. The Rangers remain in 10th place in the Eastern Conference visit the Islanders Tuesday. The three stars of the game were Leaf Nikolai Kulemin, Leaf goalie Jonas Gustavsson and Henrik Lundqvist.

Red Bulls Defeated Chicago Fire 1-0 at Red Bulls Arena Saturday

The New York Red Bulls defeated the Chicago Fire 1-0 in grand fashion. A great win in their new arena, that’s been heralded by their supporters as the Cathedral of Football. It was great seeing two members of the Red Bull parachute jumping team land on the field during the pregame. The weather forecast called for a temperature of 39 at the start but it certainly dropped to freezing or lower by the end of the match. We sat a few sections away from the Chicago Fire supporters and were serenaded by them the entire night. Midfielder Joel Lindpere scored the lone goal for the Red Bulls in the 62nd minute. He looked fast all night in the middle of the field. A ball was headed out by the Chicago Fire and Lindpere struck the ball well that sailed into the upper left corner of the net. Lindpere scored the first goal at the new arena last week and the first of the official season, a sign of things to come. Defenders Mike Petke and Tim Ream played well. Forward Macoumba Kandji couldn’t get anything going all night. Forward and captain Juan Pablo Angel was welcomed with loud cheers but looked a little slow at times. Goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul made an excellent save on a free kick in the 62nd minute of the match that preserved the lead. At times Coundoul was out of the goal and was caught completely out of position but the Fire could not convert on that play as the ball sailed above the crossbar. We had a great time and look forward to our next match in May.

Heading to Red Bull Arena as Red Bulls Host Chicago Fire in Home Opener

My Wife and I will be attending the Red Bulls MLS home opener tonight at the new Red Bulls Arena. The Red Bull looked solid in a 3-1 win over Santos FC in a friendly match last Saturday. The arena looks beautiful and looking forward to the match.

Rangers Defeated Rival Devils at Rock 4-3 in Shootout Thursday

The New York Rangers defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-3 in a shootout at the Prudential Center last night. In a must win for the Blueshirts they came up big in the closing seconds of the 3rd period. The Devils took the early lead on an Ilya Kovulchuck goal in the 1st period. The game was sluggish in the 1st period but picked up quite a bit in the 2nd. Brandon Dubinsky tied the game 1-1 at 7:32 of the 2nd period on a nice power play goal from the left faceoff circle. Dubi pulled the puck back and let a snap shot go that scored. In the 3rd period the Devils would take the lead and the Blueshirts answered with a goal to tie the score. Artem Anisimov, centering the 4th line, scored at 9:40 of the 3rd period. Artie’s been playing a lot better since he’s been playing with Jody Shelley and Brandon Prust. With Henrik Lundqvist already on the bench for a minute the Rangers swarmed the net trying to tie the game at 3. Erik Christensen took the puck behind the Devil goal and made a brilliant no look behind the back pass that went between Devil defenseman Colin White’s skates to Ranger Captain Chris Drury in front of the net. Drury pushed the puck past Marty Brodeur for the tying goal with 16.5 seconds to go, 3-3. The overtime period went scoreless and then onto the shootout. Christensen scored on a slick move coming down on Brodeur. Henrik Lundqvist came up big in the shootout by stopping all 3 Devils attempts. The Rangers won in a tough hard fought game. Coming back each time the Devils took the lead. The Rangers travel to Toronto for another must win game against the Maple Leafs. The three stars of the game were Chris Drury, Jamie Langenbrunner and Patrik Elias.

Rangers Shutout Hated Islanders 5-0 at Garden Wednesday

The New York Rangers defeated their hated division rival New York Islanders 5-0 last night at Madison Square Garden in an inspired performance. The Rangers scored 3 unanswered goals before the second TV timeout in the 1st period. Their defensive was excellent and made it easy for Henrik Lundvist to earn the shutout. This is what the Blueshirts needed and they have another game scheduled with the Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum (aka Mausoleum) next Tuesday. I’m hoping to go to that game with my friend. Marian Gaborik was electric and played like he did early in the season. His second goal was unbelievable where he took a pass as he streaked down the left side at the blue line. He lifted his skate and picked the puck ast it banged off the boards. He didn’t have to slow down and chance it getting poked away. He came in low and went top shelf off his backhand, an excellent goal. Sean Avery played well, too. I lost count of the number of breakaways he had. Gaborik missed on two chances for a natural hat trick but had another 3-point game with 2 goals and 1 assist.

Head coach John Tortorella as reported by rangers.nhl.com:

“We’ll have to be better in every way, every facet of the game (tonight),” said Rangers head coach John Tortorella following this morning’s optional team skate in Newark. “Honestly, the New Jersey Devils are a better hockey team (than the Islanders). It’s going to be a closer checking game; there’s going to be more things for us to fight through as to create offense; we’re going to have to defend better. They are where they are in the standings because they are that good.”

It was good seeing alternate captain Ryan Callahan in the starting lineup after his tough game in Boston. Artem Anisimov had a solid game centering the 4th line with tough wingers Brandon Prust and Jody Shelley. I expect them to get ice time tonight as well. The Rangers are still on the outside of the playoffs looking in and each of the remaining games is a must win or at least a one point games. It will be a challenge keeping Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk at bay and if they play on separate lines it will be that much tougher. Lundqvist has to be perfect and in the zone, as he’ll most likely see 40 shots on goal. The three stars of the game were Marian Gaborik, Sean Avery and Henrik Lundqvist.

Thoughts on Jets Offseason Moves Thus Far

Here are a few thoughts on the Jets wheeling and dealings thus far: 

• Cutting Thomas Jones to sign LaDainian Tomlinson for the same money and terms may backfire. TJ had toughness Tomlinson can’t even dream of and was respected by the fans and his teammates. I can’t call Tomlinson LT as there was only one LT and his name was Lawrence Taylor
• Cutting Lito Sheppard and signing Antonio Cromartie will prove to be a good move. Cromartie cannot land on Page Six of the New York Post and must play nicely on Revis Island
• Trading Kerry Rhodes for draft picks was a good move. Kerry was campaigning for the Pro Bowl on the Jet’s website during the season which was a complete joke. He played better after not starting but did not meet expectations
• Signing Braylon Edwards was a good move. He’ll need to minimize his drops and become the first go to option for Mark Sanchez
• Agreeing to be featured on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” next will hopefully be worth watching. Rex Ryan said if he gets down to 200 pounds he’ll challenge Mark Sanchez for those GQ issues. I hope they have more open practices this season as it was fun attending one last season

Disheartening to Hear Doc Gooden Left Scene of Accident while Under Influence of Drugs in NJ Tuesday Morning

As reported by espn.com:

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. -- Former Major League Baseball star Dwight Gooden has been charged with driving under the influence of drugs and leaving the scene of an accident.

The former pitcher for the New York Mets and New York Yankees had his child in his vehicle at the time of the two-vehicle crash around 9 a.m. Tuesday, Franklin Lakes police Capt. Joseph Seltenrich said.

Gooden was taking his 5-year-old son, Dylan, to school, according to multiple media reports. Police said no one was hurt.

Gooden also was charged with child endangerment and motor vehicle violations, authorities said. They wouldn't release details, including the type of drugs.

Gooden, 45, was released on his own recognizance until a municipal court hearing. It was unclear whether Gooden, who has waged a well-publicized battle with alcohol and drugs, including cocaine, had an attorney.

I am a huge Met fan and hearing this just broke my heart. I was hoping to see Doc at Newark Bears games this year when they host the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League but he no longer works with the Bears. Hearing that Doc had his son in the car is most disappointing. I heard a caller speak on WFAN last night with Steve Somers (aka Schmoozer) who said he knows Gooden and that Doc was on a prescription drug, I hope he gets the clarity and help necessary to better himself and not put his family in jeopardy any longer.

Rangers Could Use the Hanson Brothers

The New York Rangers are in dire need of offensive scoring and toughness in their defensive zone. I’m not happy that they will most assuredly miss the playoffs this year but at least I’ll save money on tickets for the Garden home games! The Hanson Brothers are a tad on the insanely dirty side so maybe they won’t be the right fit. Actually I don’t like dirty hockey players but miss the tough hockey played by the likes of Jeff Beukeboom and Adam Graves. A shutdown defensemen should be tops on the Blueshirts offseason shopping list. Wouldn’t it be great if we had Brooks Orpik for six years rather than Wade Redden (although Redden has been better this year vs. last, but come on now!). Sean Avery should be good to go tonight but Ryan Callahan may be scratched. Olli Jokinen is no longer on the power play and may center the 3rd line tonight. I guess he’s not that interested in playing in the Garden next year.

Own a Piece of Yankees History with Yankee Stadium Memorabilia!

If you’ve recently hit the Lottery or are independently wealthy you can buy a couple of seats and bolt them next to your Shea or Giants Stadium seats. If they’re not in the budget you can go with a piece of freeze-dried grass! I’d prefer an autographed framed picture of the 8+ steroid using Yankees from the 2000 World Series Championship team!

Rangers Host Islanders Tonight at Garden and MSG will Televise in 3D – Viewing Party at Theater at MSG

As reported by nhl.com:

Television history will be made Wednesday when the Rangers host the Islanders at Madison Square Garden. The MSG Network will make the latest battle between the rivals the first hockey telecast ever produced in 3D, and MSG will also be the first network in the U.S. to offer a live 3D sports telecast to home viewers. 

The 3D telecast also will be shown to a sell-out crowd of 2,400 ticket holders at The Theater at MSG, with Rangers alumni Mark Messier, Adam Graves, Ron Duguay, Nick Fotiu, Ron Greschner and Dan Blackburn in attendance.

More information on the broadcast and the game can be found on msg.com and rangers.nhl.com.

Some Unexpected Good News from Mets – Jose Reyes to Return to Training Camp Tonight and “Resume Baseball Activities”

Jose Reyes’ thyroid levels have returned to normal and will be flying to Florida tonight to return to the Mets training camp. He is ready to “resume baseball activities” but I don’t know how long it will take him to actually swing a bat, field ground balls and run the bases in a game. Assuming he was in excellent physical shape already I would hope to see him in a game very soon. The jury’s out as to whether he’ll be in the Opening Day lineup April 5th but this is indeed ahead of schedule. I hope to God he doesn’t start the season on the disabled list.

Nets CEO Brett Yormark Shouts at “Unknown Fan” Wearing Paper Bag Over Head Monday at IZOD Center

The New Jersey Nets’ CEO Brett Yormark shouted at an “Unknown Fan” who wore a paper bag over his head to hide his identity in the horrible 99-89 home loss to the Miami Heat. This reminds of the New Orleans Aints Fans years ago and the Unknown Comic. What the hell was this guy thinking? Yormark has to have a clear head in this situation. His team on the floor absolutely sucks and may break the record for the fewest wins in an NBA regular season (current record 7-63 with 12 to play). I thought about wearing a bag more then once at Citi Field last year. As reported by espn.com:

Yormark then doubled back toward the fan, identified by the New York Daily News as Chris Lisi of Middletown, N.J.

It was at that point that Yormark, Lisi and a friend of Lisi's got into a shouting match, with reporters and photographers nearby.

Lisi told the Daily News that the CEO initiated the exchange by asking him why he had a bag on his head. Lisi's response -- "because the Nets are so good," according to the paper. Yormark then snapped at him and walked off, Lisi told the Daily News.

What’s Up Jerry?

The New York Mets have more then a few issues already this Spring Training. Ike Davis was just sent down and will most likely start the season at Triple-A. Davis was hitting .480 (12-for-25), 3 HRs and 10 RBIs this spring. They probably don’t want to pay him more money to play in the Big Leagues. Fernando Martinez is hitting .447 (17-for-38), 3 HRs and 11 RBIs but won’t start at centerfield for the MIA Carlos Beltran. Daniel Murphy is hitting a whopping .133 (4-for-30), 1 HR and 4 RBIs. To say Davis is only hitting Double-A pitching and won’t be able to hit Major Leaguers, what can you say about Daniel Murphy? The Mets pushed the company line that he was working with Keith Hernandez at first base and the assumption was the entire spring. The truth is he worked with him for 2 1/2 days and I heard that from Keith Hernandez last week. Keith went on a trip with his wife since it was their anniversary. Working with Hernandez is an excellent no brainer move but it must be for the entire spring to be truly effective. Davis’ defense may even a step below Murphy's if you can believe that but I say let’s play the kids. The crime of omission and not telling the truth has to stop Jerry. Let’s change Ruben Tejada’s #79 to a real infielder’s number and have him play shortstop until Jose Reyes returns. I’m sick of seeing Alex Cora at shortstop although he’s hitting well thus far. Realistically Tejada is not ready for the Major Leagues so he’ll get some experience at Triple-A as his highest level has only been Double-A.

Bruins Defeated Rangers 2-1 at TD Garden Sunday as Playoff Hopes Slip Away

The New York Rangers lost 2-1 in Boston yesterday in a game that was clearly a must win. The Blueshirts power play was non existent and simply could not score. Boston goalie Tuukka Rask stopped 23 shots on goal, mostly from the sides. The Rangers could not get quality scoring chances and let the game be taken to them. The Bruins were more physical and dictated play. Henrik Lundqvist was very good in goal again for New York stopping 29 of 31 shots and came up big by stopping Daniel Paille’s penalty shot late in the 2nd period. This was another game that Lundqvist should have earned the win but the offense could not score. The worst thing happened late in the 2nd period when Ryan Callahan collided with big Zdeno Chara on an icing play. Callahan the second leading scorer on the team missed the entire 3rd period. There is no news yet on his status. Sean Avery had a large target on his back and was getting knocked around pretty good along the boards.

Vinny Prospal as reported by nhl.com:

"Sure, this was a team that we're chasing and we needed those points," forward Vinny Prospal said. "It's a big loss for us, but, on the other hand, we can't just say it's over."

Let me be the first to say it’s over. While watching the game my Wife said “They don’t deserve to play in the playoffs” and She’s right. At 8:30 in the 2nd period Chara committed a high sticking double minor on Marian Gaborik. The Blueshirts had no shots on goal, just a few blocked shots in front and that hurt most. At 16:56 of the 3rd period Michal Del Zotto scored the lone Ranger goal to avoid the shutout.

Lundqvist as reported on nhl.com:

"It's been an effort the past few weeks to try to stay positive," Lundqvist said.

I know Henrik’s speaking for the team but the same is felt by the fans. One positive thing was seeing captain Chris Drury have 5 shots on goal. The three stars of the game, all Bruins were: Tuukka Rask, Steve Begin and Vladimir Sobotka.

Red Bulls Defeated Santos FC 3-1 Saturday in Friendly Match Red Bull Arena Opening

The New York Red Bulls defeated Santos FC from Brazil 3-1 in a friendly exhibition match Saturday night as they christened their new arena. The sellout crowd was into it from beginning to end and were delighted when the Red Bulls took a commanding 3-0 lead into halftime. The MLS Commissioner was on hand during halftime and announced that a new five-year collective bargaining agreement was reached earlier in the day. The Red Bulls kept the pressure on the entire game and played a very physical style. To them it was more then an exhibition and the new head coach Hans Backe has said as much. In the 10th minute the Red Bulls Joel Lindpere scored on his own rebound, Red Bulls up 1-0. Mike Petke scored in the 43rd minute that started on a corner kick by Carl Robinson, Red Bulls up 2-0. Mac Kandji scored on a shot to the upper left corner of the net, Red Bulls up 3-0. Santos FC made many substitutions in the 2nd half with no ill effect to New York. Red Bull goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul made some excellent saves and was substituted with 10 minutes left in the match. Santos FC scored a goal in the closing minutes of the match to avoid the shutout. My Wife and I will attend the opening season match this Saturday night at 7:00 PM and I bet that will be a sellout as well.

Red Bulls Open New Red Bull Arena Tonight vs. Santos FC from Brazil at 6:00 PM

The New York Red Bulls open their new Red Bulls Arena tonight at 6:00 PM in Harrison, NJ to a sell out crowd as they host Santos FC in an exhibition match that will be televised by MSG. Harrison is the hotbed of American soccer dating back to Scottish immigration from the 1800’s. The 25,000 seat arena is located across the Passaic River from Newark. The Red Bulls open their 2010 season next Saturday night and my Wife and I will be attending that game. The Newark Trolley has routes from the Ironbound and Broad St. Station that stop at the arena, free of charge. It looks like we’ll be visiting the Spanish Pavillion restaurant in Harrison before the game.

Mike Jarvis Hall of Shame Inductee #7 with Shame-O-Meter Rating of 4

After the firing of Norm Roberts today I have to induct Mike Jarvis into my Hall of Shame with a Shame-O-Meter Rating of 4. Jarvis coached at St. John’s for just over 5 seasons and posted a 110-61 record. He brought the Johnnies to the NCAA Elite Eight in his first season in 1998-99 with players such as Ron Artest and Erick Barkley. Jarvis was fired just six games into the 2003-04 season. The Mike Jarvis Era had a lot of drama and too much to ponder right now so I wanted to give a shortlist of his career at St. John's.

Here are Mike Jarvis' Greatest Hits:

• Alienating New York City high school head coaches and recruits with his attitude
• Sex scandal involving several players with a stripper in a Pittsburgh hotel room
• Center Abe Keita allegedly paid $300.00 per month by Jarvis’ staff during his four-year career at St. John’s. Red Storm forfeited 43 wins in which Keita played in
• St. John’s put itself on NCAA probation
• Players leaving the University directly due to Jarvis
• Guard Willie Shaw became the second St. John's player to be arrested when the police said he was caught smoking marijuana on a Queens street along with Marcus Hatten, the star of the NIT 2003 Championship team

Norm Roberts Fired Today as St. John’s Red Storm Head Coach

Norm Roberts was fired today as Men’s Basketball head coach of the St. John’s Red Storm after six seasons at the Queens, New York City University.

As posted by redstormsports.com:

St. John's Director of Athletics Chris Monasch announced on Friday that the University will part ways with Norm Roberts, who will not be retained after six seasons as head men's basketball coach. Monasch will begin an immediate national search to find a successor, who will serve as St. John's 19th men's basketball coach as the University prepares for its 103rd season on the hardwood in 2010-11.

"Coach Roberts took over a very challenging situation and has advanced our program in many respects. We appreciate the class and integrity he exhibited in his six years at St. John's. His student-athletes always represented the University in ways consistent with our values, and he has significantly improved the pool of basketball talent since he arrived," said Monasch. "We have high expectations for our program. Along with demanding that our program is run with integrity and that our student-athletes achieve academically and in the community, we expect a high level of success on the court consistent with our tradition."

This is a real shame as Roberts took over a program in turmoil. If schools like St. John’s could recruit the best players in the New York City area they would blow away the Duke’s and Kansas’ Roberts couldn’t keep the local talent at home. I for one saw Roberts bring the school back to respectability after the sex scandal and cash payouts to players during the Mike Jarvis years. The team played their hearts out for their head coach the other night in the NIT and it would have been great seeing the Johnnies play in the NIT Finals at Madison Square Garden. I wish Norm well as he’s a class act.

Rangers Sing Blues as St. Louis Defeated Rangers 4-3 at Garden Thursday

The New York Rangers lost a very tough game last night 4-3 as the hands of the St. Louis Blues at Madison Square Garden. What hurts most is that the Blueshirts came up with no points in two straight home games and didn’t move up in the Eastern Conference standings. The Atlanta Thrashers won two-in-a-row and are now tied with the Rangers for 9th place in the Conference with a game in hand. Sitting in my seats it was dizzying keeping track of the all the line changes John Tortorella was rolling during the game. Lundqvist was far from perfect allowing 4 goals on 16 shots with the Blues hitting a couple of posts. The first Blues goal was scored at 1:10 in the 1st period on a shot that needed to be stopped as it sailed glove high. At 5:52 in the 1st period Ryan Callahan scored a tip-in power play goal on an Olli Jokinen shot from the point. At 17:02 of the 1st period Marian Gaborik scored to make it 2-1 Rangers. At 2:21 in the 2nd period a long wrist shot somehow got past Lundqvist to make the score 2-2. A few minutes later Erik Johnson took the puck coast-to-coast ala Brian Leetch and scored a power play goal to give St. Louis the lead 3-2. That was another goal that should have been stopped. It was the second intermission, time to meet friends and get ice cream. No more Haagen-Dazs dark chocolate and vanilla ice cream bars sold at the Garden! What gives? As we walked in after the 2nd intermission the Blues committed two penalties that gave the Rangers a 5-on-3. I looked up at the scoreboard and saw 1:17 left in the first penalty. I told my friend “We need at least one and maybe two goals here.” The Rangers did nothing and couldn’t even get a shot. That’s the story of the Rangers season unfortunately. Wade Redden scored the tying goal at 7:11 in the 3rd period on a nice shot from the top of the left face off circle. A minute plus later Jody Shelley lost the puck along the left half boards by the blue line. I was screaming “WATCH NUMBER 9” and bam, Paul Kariya streaked down the slot and scored on a perfect pass and tip-in, St. Louis up 4-3. Callahan simply lost Kariya on that play. Gaborik had two assists and had a 3-point game. The Rangers visit Boston on Sunday for a 12:30 PM matinee on NBC. The three stars of the game were Blue Paul Kariya, Marian Gaborik and Blue Brad Boyes.

Heading to Garden as St. Louis Blues Play New York Rangers Tonight

I’m heading into the City to see the Rangers take on the Blues in another must win game. They need to play as well as they did on Sunday to win this game. I’m going with my friend and will meet up with two more friends at the game. LET’S GO RANGERS!

Red Bulls Arena Ready for Action as Santos FC Visits Saturday

The New York Red Bulls will be opening their new arena Saturday night as they host Santos FC from Brazil in an exhibition game. The new arena seats 25,000 and is built specifically for soccer which promises a much better fan experience then attending games at Giants Stadium. My Wife and I will be at the MLS season opening game on the following Saturday, March 27th as the Red Bulls host the Chicago Fire. Red Bulls Arena is located in Harrison, NJ just outside the City of Newark.

Memphis Tigers Defeated St. John’s Red Storm 73-71 at Buzzer in 1st Round of NIT at FedEx Forum in Memphis Wednesday

Wesley Witherspoon scored 18 points, including the winning layup as time expired, to give host Memphis a 73-71 victory over St. John’s in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament on Wednesday night. It was a heartbreaking loss for the Johnnies as the team played well for their coach Norm Roberts. I would not be surprised if St. John’s wants to change direction and replace Roberts after six years of service. The Tigers shooting was excellent, going 51.1 percent from the field and 55.00 percent from outside the 3-point arc. St. John’s tied it with less then 17 seconds lefts in the game on a long 3-point jumper from the left side. I was yelling “don’t foul” as Witherspoon came down the lane on the left side and shot high off the glass. My heart sunk when I saw the ball roll in. That’s the story of the Johnnies season. D.J. Kennedy had an excellent game, scoring 18 points (FG 6 of 12, 3Pt 4 of 9, FT 2 of 2). Memphis native Anthony Mason, Jr. scored 17 points (FG 5 of 10, 3Pt 3 of 5, FT 4 of 5).

Bobby Gonzalez Fired Today as Seton Hall Pirates Head Coach

Bobby Gonzalez was fired today as Men’s Basketball head coach of the Seton Hall Pirates after a 19-13, 9-9 Big East record.

As reported by nj.com:

In a swift and decisive move Wednesday morning, Gonzalez was fired not for wins and losses, but for his personal behavior and that of his players.

Repeated contentiousness with Seton Hall administrators, including a strained relationship with athletic director Joe Quinlan

Berating of officials during games, and even opposing coaches and players. Gonzalez accumulated more than 20 technical fouls during his tenure, and he was suspended for the Pirates’ Big East Conference opener during the 2008-09 season

Moreover, the transgressions of the players brought in by Gonzalez weighed in the decision — most notably this season.

Jose Reyes’ Thyroid Imbalance Issue is a Nightmare

Last week the New York Mets’ press release indicated that Jose Reyes has a thyroid imbalance and would require further testing. Reyes said on ESPN Deportes that he doesn’t have a thyroid problem, in direct contradiction with the Mets. What the hell is going on with this team? It appears that the star players are looking out for their own hides with no regard to the organization. I just hope Reyes gets in the lineup sometime this season before the All-Star break. Omar Minaya (aka Nomore Goodbya) hasn’t said much since last week. What is the over/under on the Reyes’ comeback? How many weeks will it take him to get in baseball shape? I hope to God it’s not a side effect of HGH. We will see.

Rangers Defeated Hated Flyers (aka Effers) in Stellar Fashion at Garden Sunday and Lose Horribly to Canadiens at Garden Tuesday

The New York Rangers played two games in the past three days but both were complete opposites. The game the Blueshirts played on Sunday was a total team victory. The game they “played” last night was pathetic. Coach John Tortorella has preached all season that the top players must play like top players and contribute. That simply hasn’t happened enough as it should. It was a joy being at the Garden Sunday to watch the Flyer fans sink in their seats as the 3rd period wound down. They were yapping a lot in the 1st period but slowed down quite a bit as the game progressed. Watching the team’s effort or lack thereof last night was painful. I’m a diehard fan and will always be, but I hope the team shows some emotion and fire tomorrow night against the St. Louis Blues. I’ll be there with my friend and hope they show up. Henrik Lundqvist has been their best player and it’s a crime that he doesn’t have more wins. This reminds me of some of the Met pitchers over the years who had great starts but received no run support from the team. Henrik can’t score goals, but it’d great seeing him get the occasional assist.

Heading to Garden as Rangers Host Flyers (aka Effers) in 3:00 PM Matinee

The New York Rangers will play the hated Philadelphia Flyers (aka Effers) at Madison Square Garden this afternoon in a must win game for the Blueshirts. The Rangers have to play a tough, mistake free game to beat the Flyers (aka Effers). I can see big Jody Shelley taking on Daniel Carcillo by the second TV timeout of the 1st period. We’ll be sitting in the Blue Seats today.

St. John’s Coach Norm Roberts’ Job in Question

The Red Storm coach Norm Roberts' job may be in question as the Johnnies had another tough season going 17-15, 5-13. St. John’s won one game in the Big East Tournament this year but lost in a tight game two. Unfortunately the Johnnies can’t compete with the better teams in the Big East. The Big Ten and ACC are attempting to poach teams from the 16-team Big East Conference and this may affect St. John’s even more.

Islanders Defeated Devils 4-2 at Nassau Coliseum (aka Mausoleum) Saturday

Wearing their throwback jerseys from the glory years of the early 80's the New York Islanders defeated the visiting New Jersey Devils 4-2 yesterday at the Coliseum (aka Mausoleum). With their win the last place Atlantic Division Islanders kept the Devils out of a first place tie with the hated Penguins. The Devils power play continues to be missing in action, going 0-for-3 yesterday and giving up a shorthanded goal. After hearing that Islander captain Doug Weight will be out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury the Islanders gave the large crowd something to cheer for with the win. Thanks to my friend I’ll be going to the Ranger/Islander game on March 30th at the Coliseum (aka Mausoleum). The three stars of the game were all Islanders: Mark Streit, Dwayne Roloson and Blake Comeau.

Back on Track with Blog Postings

I’ve been MIA with blogs postings of late but am back on track and will keep up with the sports that are played and loved.