tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Round 2 – NHL Playoffs

Last night wrapped up one of the most exciting 1st rounds of the NHL playoffs that I can ever remember.  In the East, 3 of the 4 series went to a Game 7.  The last 7 nights have had at least one overtime game.  We've seen blown 3 goal leads, teams being up two games and losing the series, and in the case of the Vancouver Canucks, a team being staked to a 3-0 lead in the series only to win the series 4-3 with an overtime win in Game 7.

It will be hard for the 2nd round to match what we have seen already.  The East has some pretty interesting matchups.  Boston will take on Philadelphia in a rematch from last season which saw the Flyers storm back from 3-0 deficit to win the series and send Bruin fans to jump in the Charles River.  This year I think will be different.  This series will be a bruising one as it always is when these two teams meet.  The Bruins will have the edge in goal but so did the Sabres and it didn't matter to the Flyers.  Both teams fought through adversity in the first round.  This one could go 7 games because both teams have shown tremendous resiliency.  In the end, the Bruins will not forget what happened last year.  They also will be at full strength while I'm not sure what the status is of Chris Pronger and Jeff Carter.  I'm going to take the Bruins in 7.

Washington-Tampa Bay will have all kinds of offensive stars on the ice and should be very entertaining.  It will be interesting to see how the long lay-off will effect the Capitals.  I think the Lightning were fortunate to be facing a game Pittsburgh team that was perservering without their two big stars: Crosby and Malkin.  One would have to wonder how last night would have ended if those two were on the ice in the final 90 seconds of regulation when the Penguins were on the power play.  I think the Lightning may have a slight edge in goal.  In the end, the Capitals should prevail but it will take them 6 games to do it.

In the West, Vancouver will meet the Nashville Predators, who finally advanced past the 1st round of the playoffs.  The Canucks could be poised for a good run in this series after having weathered the Chicago storm.  There is no question the Canucks have more fire power and more talent.  But the Predators are a tough defensive team who has a goalie, Pekka Rinne, who can match Roberto Luongo.  The Canucks should win this one 4-2.

Perennial Western powers, Detroit and San Jose, will face off in what should be an excellent series.  I think the goaltending is even as they can be very good or they can be mediocre.  The Red Wings made easy work of the Coyotes while the Sharks struggled with the upstart Kings.  In the end, I'm going with the Red Wings to win this one in six games.

As I've stated before there is nothing like the NHL playoffs.  Every rush, every faceoff could mean victory or defeat, advancing or elimination.  If your team is in it, the series consumes you every day and you end up being a nervous wreck.  Sit back and lets hope the 2nd round is as good as the 1st.

The NFL can’t get out of it’s own way!!!

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/league_and_players_deserve_unnecessary_945l1kIsgwcuN5lNbLzKdJ

Yesterday the 32 NFL teams opened up their training facilities as a result of Judge Nelson's ruling lifting the league's lockout.  When the players arrived they were told they couldn't use the weight room.  They couldn't talk to their coaches.  They basically had nothing to do but to leave.  This from the league who's Commissioner says he cares about the fans.

Steve Serby's article (above) really puts this whole thing into perspective.  It was the league who locked the players out.  It was the league who wants more of the $9.3 billion pie even though not one team is losing money.  It is the league that has been given a legal set back but continues to want a legal fight which will threaten the 2011 season.

What really is astonishing is that there is no recognition of what the average fan is going through right now.  $4.00 a gallon gas prices, higher food costs as a result, frozen wages if your lucky to have a job and the uncertainty as to what's next.  In the mean time, the NFL is going to fight over how they are going to divide the $9.3 billion pie with their employees.  Insensitive, you bet it is.  Arrogant, the NFL is the most arrogant sports league around.

If Commissioner Goodell truly cared about the fans, he would not be writing a column in the Wall Street Journal to defend his position while trashing the players.  What he should be doing is getting on the phone with DeMaurice Smith, scheduling a meeting with their respective negotiating teams and agree to continue talking until a deal is done.  The negotiation should be easy beacuse this isn't the NHL or NBA where franchises are in financial trouble.  This is about the small market owners wanting more money and the big market owners looking to appease them.  Whatever happen to acting in the best interest of the game.

It will be interesting to see what kind of reception Goodell gets at the draft on Thursday.  If I was there I know what I would do every time he stepped to the podium: boo his ass like there was no tomorrow.  Maybe that type of reception will shock some sense into him and send a message to the arrogance that is the NFL.

1st Round NHL Playoffs: Awesome!!!

In my opinion there is nothing more exciting than the NHL playoffs, particularly the first round and this year has been no different.  Best series without a doubt has been the Canadiens-Bruins series.  An Original 6 rivalry, long-storied playoff history and the Chara-Pacioretty incident has really made this a compelling series to watch.  Not to mention two unreal overtime games that has seen the Bruins storm back after losing the first two at home to take a 3-2 lead in the series.  Game 6 at the Bell Centre will be wild.

The Buffalo-Philadelphia series has been a war of attrition with the Sabres looking to close out the Flyers today at HSBC.  Quite honestly I'm not surprised as the Flyers played terribly the last 6 weeks of the season.  The Capitals closed out the Rangers 4-1.  The back breaker was Game 4 at MSG when the Rangers blew a 3 goal lead in the 3rd period and ultimately lost in overtime.  The Caps look they might be poised for a late run.

The Pittsburgh-Tampa Bay series has also been interesting as Steve Stamkos finally broke loose in Pittsburgh.  But what really needs to be emphasized is the great work that Coach Dan Bylsma has done with his team.  How many teams could be on the verge of advancing without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin?  The truth be told the Penguins have really exhibited teamwork without their big stars since early January.

While the Red Wings rolled over the Coyotes, the Kings are giving the Sharks all they can handle which doesn't surprise me in the least.  I guess we are witnessing why Jonathan Quick was on the US Olympic team last year as he has been outstanding making 51 saves last night.  And then there are the Nashville Predators, the Rodney Dangerfields of the NHL, who lead the Anaheim Ducks 3-2.

But what has become one of the most intriguing series is the Chicago-Vancouver match-up.  The Canucks had the defending champs on the ropes as they swept the first 3 games.  But the Black Hawks have roared back running Roberto Luongo out of the net in the last two games.  Game 6 is tonight at the United Center.  It will be wild and if the Hawks win tonight I think they will win Game 7.

If the rest of the Stanley Cup Playoffs are anything like what we have seen thus far, its going to be an awesome Run to the Cup.  The only thing that could be better was if the Maple Leafs were in it.  Wait until next year!!!!!

Francesa Nails It: The NFL Is A Disgrace!

On Tuesday I had the opportunity to watch Mike Francesa on the Yes Network.  Later that evening, the NFL was going to come out with its 2011 schedule.  As Francesa appropriately stated, it's kind of ridiculous that they had to devote a whole show on their own NFL Network to unveil their upcoming schedule.  A schedule that could be moot if reason doesn't prevail.

As the show went on, Francesa accurately (in my opinion) characterized the whole NFL situation.  "It's the haves and the have-mores."  And what he was referring to was not the players and the owners but the haves are the owners of the Bills, Bengals, Panthers, etc. and the have-mores are the owners of the Cowboys, Giants, Jets, Redskins, etc.  This is where the problem lies because the haves are pissed off that they are not making as much money as the have-mores.  But understand, the haves are making money.  Lots of money.

You need to know that I consider Mike Francesa an NFL guy.  He loves the NFL.  In fact, I would consider him a defender of the NFL.  This is a guy who used to be on the old NFL Today on CBS.  He has plenty of contacts throughout the league and that's why I enjoy his Sunday morning show during the football season.  That's why when he lays out his opinion on the lockout, like he did on Tuesday, it makes me know that my own perception of what was going on is accurate.

Several times Francesa referred to the NFL owners as pigs and that the whole thing is a disgrace.  I couldn't agree more.  As he accurately pointed out, the NFL is not losing money.  There are no NFL teams that are losing money.  This is not the NHL which had a shutdown for a year because  teams were on the brink of solvency.  This is not the NBA, where teams are losing money and a shutdown/lockout is imminent.  This is the NFL with an annual revenue take of 9.3 billion dollars.  That's more than MLB, NBA and NHL combined!!!!

In the end, the only ones suffering will be the fans and those businesses in the 32 cities that depend on the NFL season to make a profit.  But Commissioner Roger Goodell says the NFL cares about the fans.  Doesn't look that way to me.  The NFL gouges its fans.  Think about it.  Every new stadium has now what is called PSL's.  In other words, in order to have the honor of purchasing season tickets you have to purchase a personal seating license.  What a freaking  joke!!!!!  By the way, these PSL's are in the thousands.  Have you bought a beer or anything to eat at an NFL game???  Unreal.

Then let's look at the NFL Sunday Ticket.  First, you have to be a DirecTV subscriber which only gives you the privilege to purchase the NFL Sunday Ticket.  A purchase that is $335 for a 17 week season.  MLB Extra Innings and NHL Center Ice (which I subscribe to) are much cheaper and you get more games over a longer period of time.  It's a joke!!!

I'm in agreement with Mike:  The NFL IS A DISGRACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The New York Mess

I can remember vividly being in New York City the summer of 2007.  This was the baseball season after the Mets came oh so close to going to the World Series as they lost a heart breaking series to the St. Louis Cardinals 4 games to 3.  The future was bright.  In fact, I remember the big debate at the time: which team had the better left side of the infield: David Wright & Jose Reyes or Alex Rodrieguez & Derek Jeter.

Being in New York for a few days that summer, Mets fans and some neutral observers were giving the edge to the Mets.  The Met duo was younger and they gained valuable experience looking to kick the door down to the World Series after coming so close the previous year.  The Yankees were older and ARod couldn't come up big when it counted and Jeter was losing it in the field.

4 years later the debate seems almost laughable.  Wright and Reyes will never be ARod and Jeter.  Never.  Even at their advanced age, in the clutch give me Jeter & ARod.  It's time for the Mets to start over and that means moving one if not both of the supposed building blocks of a Met renaissance which has never happened.

I really like David Wright as a player and as a solid baseball citizen.  The fact remains that the kid has not exhibited the ability to carry his team when they needed him.   I would think the Mets could get a solid return in any trade for Wright.  Reyes??  That's another story in my mind.

Reyes has extraordinary ability both as a fielder and a hitter.  His speed is a valuable weapon.  However, the constant nagging injuries and the boneheaded plays ( like getting picked off on a sacrifice bunt) makes Reyes expendable.  He is in a walk year and I would be shocked if the Mets don't move him at the trade deadine.

When I was in New York the summer of 2007, the Yankees were in a dogfight to make the playoffs and the Mets were cruising along.  However, it was the Yankees who played in October and it was the Mets who blew a 7 game lead to be knocked out of the playoffs.

It's time for a Met overhaul.  They owe it to their fans.  Beltran, Reyes and Wright are not and have not got it done.  With a new GM who has no allegiance to these players its time for the Mets to move on.  The time is now.  Otherwise, Met fans will continue to be relegated to second class citizens in NY baseball.

Another Tough Knick Loss

Last night was probably one of the most courageous basketball game I've seen played by a team in a long time.  The New York Knicks, already down their point guard. lose their star power forward early in the first quarter yet still had a chance to pull out a playoff win in Boston against the fabled Celtics.  However, as what happened on Sunday, the Knicks couldn't close it out and lost 96-93.

In Game 1, Carmelo Anthony came up small and had a chance to win the game and failed.  But last night, Melo carried the Knicks on his back scoring 42 points and grabbing 17 rebounds to lead his team, a team on this night devoid of any other stars, to nearly pulling off one of the great playoff game upsets in league history.  Let's face it without Chauncey Billups and losing Amare Stoudemire early, the Knicks were left with Anthony and 4 other guys.  It kind of reminded me when I was in junior high and we played this one team who had a very good guard who could make shots from all over the place.  Second time we played them we doubled him most of the night and ended up winning 72-20.

On this night, the Celtics couldn't stop Melo until when it counted.  In the last 2 minutes or so, as soon as Anthony touched the ball Big Baby Davis collapsed on Anthony along with Paul Pierce making it impossible for Melo to take a shot. As a result,  Jared Jeffries was a recipient of two opportunities to score.  The first one he converted to put the Knicks in front.

The second one was a disaster.  After Kevin Garnett put the Celtics ahead 94-93, the Knicks still had time to set up a play to win the game.  Coach D'Antoni called timeout.  The Knicks knew Melo would be doubled and sure enough he was leaving Jeffries open.  Melo dished it off to Jeffries who, instead of going up hard to the basket, tries passing it off and Garnett steals the pass.  Game Over.  Another heartbreaker.

Can the Knicks bounce back??  In my opinion, they can provided that Amare can play Friday night.  With some luck, the Knicks could be up 2-0.  Melo showed that he can deliver in the clutch.  Can you imagine what might have happened last night if Amare was in the game in the final seconds.  Do they double Anthony which results in Amare being open for that last shot???

I don't think we can be that critical of guys like Toney Douglas, Turiaf or Jeffries.  In fact, Jeffries and Douglas were the only other Knicks in double figures besides Anthony.  The rest of the team was just non-existent.  Bill Walker was 0-11 from the field.  Landry Fields has seemed to regress since the Melo trade.  In the end, it was Melo against the Celtics Big Three.  It was a valiant effort.  One that gives you hope, along with frustration wondering if things would have been different if Stoudemire had played the whole game.  If he's back on Friday, the Knicks can still win this series.  If he's not back, this could be over on Easter Sunday.

Fan Violence Out Of Control

Opening day series between the Giants and Dodgers resulted in the beating of a Giants fan outside Dodger Stadium leaving the man still in a coma.  A Jets fan and his son were attacked outside of Cleveland Browns Stadium.  A husband and wife who happened to be rooting for the Toronto Maple Leafs had to leave HSBC Arena because they were threatened and verbally assaulted.

I've been attending sporting events for over 40 years.  I've witnessed plenty of attacks on people.  I've been the subject of attacks.  All because of what team I was supporting.  By the way, it doesn't matter how old you are either as I have witnessed kids being taunted and mocked.  As a 13 year old I had a beer dumped on me because I happened to wear a Leaf jersey to a Sabres game at the old Aud.  It was the first Leaf jersey I ever had.

What's the root cause of such stupidty???  The answer: alcohol.  Go to a NFL game and see what goes on in the parking lots.  The amount of beer consumed is unbelievable.  If you had the 5 cent deposit for all the bottles and cans of beer consumed for the past decade you could probably pay off the national debt.

Now don't get me wrong, I love having a good time at a game including having a few beers.  In fact, since the Browns have been back the best part of going to a game has been the tailgating.  However, some people develop beer muscles and are going to show their team loyalty by going after other fans who paid money to get into the game but happened to be rooting for the other team.

I've attended football games at Notre Dame.  There is massive tailgating that goes on before the game.  And I can tell you that beer and other alcoholic beverages are consumed.  But I have never witnessed any fan violence.  The main difference between the college game and the pro game: no beer sold inside the stadium.

What would be the odds of beer sales being prohibited from pro sporting events???  Slim and none.  Yet, that's where the problem lies.  I love sports and there's nothing like supporting your team.  But when you have to fear being attacked it's gone over the top.  That's why I usually will only go to a game when my team is home.  Even then I'm disgusted when I see fans of opposing teams being ridiculed. 

A young man lies in a coma in Southern California because he happened to be a Giant fan.  What a sad state of affairs.  Actually, its enough to make you sick.