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

Tuesday’s Thoughts

While wondering if there is any team that can beat the Miami Heat in a best of 7 series, here is what's on my mind this morning:

* It's been a week since the Toronto Maple Leafs were knocked out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and I still haven't gotten over it. The loss was extremely painful after having a 3 goal lead in the third period. In retrospect, I guess if someone would have told me in January that they would go seven games in the first round of the playoffs with the Bruins I guess I would have taken it. One has to wonder if they had faced Montreal in the first round if they would still be playing right now.

* The Leaf off season will be very interesting as GM Dave Nonis has some decisions to make. I was very encouraged by his end of the season press conference. His position on Tyler Bozak is right on the money: would like to keep him but at the right price. If Bozak goes I would love to see the Leafs give Joe Colborne a shot at the center spot between JVR and Phil Kessel. That is provided they don't make a trade. Getting another top 4 defenseman should also be a need though they don't grow on trees and would have to be acquired via trade. As I have stated before the future is bright for the Blue and White: the youngest team to make the playoffs.

* Speaking of interesting off seasons, the New York Knicks will have to figure out a way to get more help for Carmelo Anthony. The Knicks were terrible in providing secondary scoring in the Indiana series. The old folks home dressed in blue and orange needs to be adjusted in a big way. From everything I read, the Knicks don't have a lot of options due to being in cap space hell so it will be very interesting to see what they do going into next season.

* Credit to Iman Shumpert for telling it like it is by saying that the Knicks didn't get the job done and as a result the season was not a success. As New York's youngest player, if Shumpert can improve his offensive game he may be a much better number 2 scoring threat than J.R.Smith.

* The NBA cannot be happy with a Final Four consisting of San Antonio, Memphis, Indiana and Miami. Hardly big market teams. Ratings should be awful.

* The Toronto Raptors kicked Bryan Colangelo up to the executive offices and out of his General Manager's position. Isn't this what Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment did with Brian Burke??

* It's really stupid how there is this allegiance on the part of some Canadians toward the Ottawa Senators because they are the only Canadian based team left in the playoffs. Like none of the other teams have Canadian born players. It's as bad as the morons in Boston chanting "USA, USA" when the Bruins were playing the Maple Leafs.

* Here's hoping the Penguins dispatch of Ottawa in short order.

* Would love to see a Chicago-Los Angeles Western Conference finals.

* Here's hoping that Norv Turner is true to his word and the Browns give Brandon Weeden an honest shot at being the number one QB for the Cleveland Browns.

* Had to laugh at all of the flutter about the Browns signing QB Brian Hoyer. Really???

* Last night's come from behind victory over the Baltimore Orioles may have been the biggest win for the New York Yankees so far this year. Travis Hafner had two big RBI's, including the game-tying 9th inning home run. Vernon Wells drove in the winning run in the 10th inning after Ichiro led the inning off with a double. Hafner plated his second RBI driving in Wells to give the Yanks a big insurance run.

* For the first time all year the Yankees have me excited about this season as some of the Baby Bombers are starting to play. David Adams has been a breath of fresh air as he has been contributing offensively including his first home run of the season last night off of Freddy Garcia. Austin Romine has been swinging the bat well and the Yanks have been getting a contribution from Preston Claiborne. It's great to see some young blood and gives you reason for some hope for better days long term.

* Kudos to Yankee Manager Joe Girardi who has done a remarkable job with a patchwork lineup. Of course, it also helps having a pitching staff that as of Monday morning was second in the American League in ERA.

* The Buffalo Bills made a good move in promoting Doug Whaley to be their general manager. Everything seems to indicate that Whaley is the type of young mind the Bills have been in need of. As many of you know, I am not a Bills fan but this could be a good move.

* As far as the other professional sports team in Buffalo, the Sabres' big announcement is that they signed John Scott to a one year contract. Whoopie!!!!!

* And finally, prayers go out to the people of Oklahoma in dealing with one of the worst natural disasters in this country's history.