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

Tuesday’s Thoughts

While wondering if it's April 19th or November 19th, here is what's on my mind this morning:

* The most exciting playoff games are in the National Hockey League.  The emotion, the desperation and the fan involvement is just incredible,  The Bell Centre in Montreal last night was unbelieveable and the Ranger-Capitals and Duck-Predators game on Sunday were really entertaining and far surpass watching an MLB, NFL or NBA playoff game.

* While watching the NHL playoff games it had me thinking about the last time the Maple Leafs were in the playoffs.  Guess I was spoiled from 1999 to 2004.  The intensity was unreal and I lived and died with them.  However nothing can match the 1992-93 playoff run that I still blame Kerry Fraser for missing Gretzky's high-stick on Doug Gilmour in overtime in Game 6.  In case you don't remember, minutes later Gretzky scored the game winner which pushed the semi-final series to Game 7 that the Leafs lost in a heartbreaker.

* Having the NHL Center Ice package I watch a lot of games and listen to a lot of different broadcasters.  There are some really bad ones out there:  Howie Rose, Rick Jennerat to name a couple.  But one guy who is right up there is Jack Edwards of NESN.  Last night, he was brutal.  Crying after every non-call against the Canadiens and at one point screaming at Roman Hamrlik to "get up" after a collision with Michael Ryder where Edwards was accusing Hamrlik of trying to draw a penalty.  May Hamrlik been trying to draw a penalty? Possibly.  However, did it call for Edwards to literally be screaming??  No way.  Flat out terrible.

* It was reported that Mike Leake, pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, was arrested for shoplifting at a store in downtown Cincinnati.  Alledgedly Leake removed the tags off of a bunch of t-shirts, the total cost being $59.  Are you kidding me??  This guy makes $425,000 a year and he has to steal t-shirts!!  I can't wait to see what he has to say at a press conference today.

* Sunday night I watched the Knicks-Celtics playoff game and I have to say I was into it.  My first favorite NBA team was the 1969-70 Willis Reed Knicks team.  I guess I've always been an estranged Knicks fan and I strayed during the Larry Bird Celtics years.  But they have me back again.  It was really a tough one to lose against an experienced playoff tested Boston team.  Not sure why Amare Stoudamire didn't touch the ball in the last 3 minutes of the game.  It was obvious they couldn't stop him.

* Carmelo Anthony had a terrible game Sunday and it was capped off by his decision to take a three point shot when a two pointer sends the game to overtime.  He better play tall tonight.  There was a funny take in one of the NY dailys: "Marsh- Melo Anthony".  More to come if Anthony doesn't produce.

* The NFL 2011 regular season schedule comes out today and I don't sense as much anticipation as in years past and rightfully so.  Personally, I'm a huge Browns fan but if the season was canceled I could care less.  I'm sick of the smugness of the NFL.  The product is boring and terrible.  I've maintained all along that if it wasn't for gambling and fantasy football the NFL ratings would plummet.

* The MLB baseball season heads toward the end of April and there have been some surprises.  The Indians and Royals have played well and the AL East isn't much better than the NL Central.  It will be interesting to see how long it lasts.

* And finally, I'm simply amazed at the number of empty seats that are shown at Yankee Stadium.  The Sunday night game against the Rangers was embarassing.  They showed a shot of the Stadium from above and I couldn't believe the number of empty seats throughout the Stadium.  Could you imagine if their record was 5-9 as opposed to 9-5???  I guess that's what happens when you price out the die-hard fans.  You'll probably see more die-hard Yankee fans at the Rogers Centre tonight in Toronto!!!