NY Aviators Win In Brooklyn's Home Ice Opener

ART OF THE HOME ICE OPENER:

Broome County Barons

vs.

NEW YORK AVIATORS

As/of - November 12, 2010

Aviator Sports Center

BROOKLYN

Arrive at 6:25 p.m.

Scout out a good place to sit. 

Section 8 is right next to the player's entrance, the press box, and is near center ice.

Reach in pocket; take out money;

Buy reasonably priced ticket to Opening Night.

Secure a game program at the front desk.

Then stop and admire the Aviator Sports Center Trophy Case.

Take a picture of Brooklyn's

2009 NEPHL CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY

On the way to your seat, stop and say hello to

ACE

By then it will be time for pre-game introductions..

...and for you to rise and take off your hats for

the singing of our National Anthem.

Finally, time to drop the puck.

After a little of this and a little of that..

..the Barons jumped out to an early lead.

They took that lead into the locker room with them after the first period,

but not before THIS!

For you Zamboni Buffs out there..., here you are;

A Zamboni.

He did a good job, didn't he?

The AVIATORS came out for the Second Period...,

...kicked things up a couple of notches...,

..and started putting up their own numbers on the scoreboard.

Then, there was another one of THESE!

Once that was settled they played some more hockey.

And the Second Period ended with the Aviators leading 3-2.

During the Second Intermission,

we were entertained by The Human Slingshot.

The Aviators started the Third Period ahead 3-2.

But then, the game was delayed as the Refs had to make quick repairs

to the ice surface.

Which resulted in a whole lot of this..

..and this.

Once the ice was patched-up and play resumed, the Aviators scored two more times

increasing their lead 5-2.

The remaining time wound down and

The New York Aviators won their Brooklyn Home Ice Opener.

These guys are,

"The Coolest Guys in Brooklyn"

Then it got quiet and we all went home happy.

End.

Mike.BTB

N.Y. Aviators Hockey ~ Opening Night in Brooklyn

NEW YORK AVIATORS HOCKEY

OPENING NIGHT

TONIGHT

November 12, 2010

Broome Barons

vs

NEW YORK AVIATORS

Aviator Sports Center, Floyd Bennett Field

BROOKLYN, N.Y.C.

The "Coolest Guys in Brooklyn" haven't started the 2010-2011 season in the most spectacular fashion, wrestling with a 2-5 record.  They've been 'barnstorming' since October 29th when their season got under way.  Tonight, finally, they play their home ice opener in front of their eagerly waiting Brooklyn Rooters.  And maybe, being reunited with their fans is just what the Doctor ordered to get them started on a winning track.  They may be struggling at the moment but they already have shown a flair for the dramatic.  In their two wins, one came in overtime and the other victory was gained in shoot-out.

Matthew Puntureri leads the team with 6 goals.  Andrew Scampoli and Casey Mignone both have 4 goals apiece.  Center Jesse Felton leads the team in penalties with 27 minutes served.  Kevin Druce has started 6 of the 7 games in net for the Aviators.  He owns a .893% Save percentage and a 3.65 Goals Against Average.  He's allowed 22 goals while stopping 183.

The A's will remain home for four games; three against the Barons and one versus the Danbury Whalers.  The Akwesasne Warriors maintain an early lead in the Federal League with a 6-2 record while we find ourselves on the opposite end currently in last place.  Now that the schedule calls for some home games, this is where we balance things out.

Come out and cheer on the "Coolest Guys in Brooklyn" as we try and make this game the first of many we'll have plenty to cheer about.  Let's give these guys the ultimate Home Ice advantage and show the Federal League what playing hockey in Brooklyn is all about.

I'll be there doing my part.  Will you?

MIKE.BTB

NYRangers ~ Up and Down, Face Buffalo ~ NJD, NYI

Up And Down Play Could Feel Worse:
NYRangers ~ The Blueshirts have drifted back to .500 clutching a 7-7-1 record with white knuckles after getting shut-down by the Blues and then losing a free-for-all against the Capitals in the third period Tuesday night..  They are an injured squad with little to no room for errors.  That in a nutshell is Rangers' Hockey right now; having to play perfect hockey.

When you look back on the games they've played against the tougher teams in the League; Boston; St. Louis; Chicago; Washington; Philadelphia; - you see mixed results.  What the Rangers have done in this young season is take care of the Maple Leafs and the sedated Devils.  A loss against the Hurricanes was hard to swallow.  And the beating the Thrashers gave us was deflating.  That's our season.  We all saw this coming.  We knew we'd be an up and down team.  We knew because of our overall limited size especially on defense, lack of a shooting sniper on the wing and shortcomings at center.  We knew.

Even before injuries took their toll on this team, even going back to last season and camp this year, there's been a conversation about Brandon Dubinsky that no one wants to admit they were taking part in.  But like an 800 pound gorilla in the room wearing boxing gloves, the notion Brandon Dubinsky needed to be more to this club, especially this year, has been thumbing around and poking everyone in the back then looking away when we turn to see who's questioning someone so beloved by the fans.  No one was flatly willing to say Dubinsky needed to be a star right now.  They wanted to.  But he sure is playing like one just in time.

Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan are among League leaders in points; centered by Artem Anisimov and challenged by Coach Torts, they are becoming an effective 1st Line force.

Henrik Lundqvist showed up to MSG feeling ill tonight so Marty Biron will get the start.  He has been a good addition.  He's been a solid back-up in his few games played so far.  This will pay huge dividends for us in February and March if he continues his effective early showing.

The Rangers take on Buffalo tonight who won a wild game that ended in Shoot-Out last night over the New Jersey Devils.  Like the Devils, Buffalo is clearly struggling right now.  The Rangers are coming into tonight after Tuesday's loss to Washington but have a day's rest in hand.  Buffalo will be skating back to back nights, but should be feeling good after last night's victory.  But Buffalo's win last night only improved their record to 5-9-2.

Someone with whom it's been my pleasure interacting with recently (thank you Twitter), my new "Buffalo Insider" (yes you!), not too long ago shared with me his belief that the time may be upon the Sabres' management to break this group of core players up.  Coach Lindy Ruff is certainly not the problem with our Western Brothers.  But I'm certainly not looking for them to correct themselves tonight against the Rangers.  Tomorrow is fine Buddy!

Boogaard is a scratch for the Rangers tonight.  Tonight Marian Gaborik makes his return to the ice.

TONIGHT

Buffalo Sabres

vs.

NEW YORK RANGERS

Madison Square Garden,

33rd Street and & 7th Avenue

New York City


Sabres    2
Rangers 3
OVERTIME ~ FINAL

.

Post Game ~ Battle of the Back-Up Goalies
Unbelievable!  Are hockey sticks made of peanut brittle these days?  Ryan Callahan had a wide open net in the 2nd period, took a shot off a pass when his stick fractured into pieces like an icicle.  That was just one moment of numerous opportunities either team had to put this game out of reach from each other.  Who ever got the third goal would win and both had incredible chances to get it in regulation time. 

In the Battle of the Back-Ups, however, no one did.  Buffalo's Ryan Miller did not play due to injury.  Henrik was sick so Marty Biron started and was stellar making 29 quality saves versus two against.  Biron literally and quite figuratively 'saved' this game for the Blueshirts.  The MSG crowd had a heart-attack moment at 4:10 of O.T. when the Rangers carelessly turned the puck over in the neutral zone giving the Sabres a two on one the other way.  Somehow Marty Biron thwarted that and a very short time later, Artem Anisimov would clean up a Girardi shot and find net for the winning goal.  But know well, Marty Biron made big saves all night long against his former team.

Marian Gaborik made his return to the ice tonight; a very welcome sight for the Blueshirts.  But the star of tonight's game after Marty Biron was C-Aterm Anisimov; my Duke!  He scored the Rangers' second goal tonight and wristed home the winning goal in overtime.

I think everyone one at MSG, at home watching and me included were waiting for the 3rd period meltdown.  But it never came.  Even when Brian Boyle got called for tripping at 6:06 in the 3rd period, the Rangers held tight and killed off the penalty bringing the clock down to 4:05.  Again, thank Biron.

At the 8:43 mark of the 3rd, the Rangers went on the PP but couldn't convert.  They went 0-5 on the power play tonight.  Buffalo goalie Enroth was equally up to the task tonight as was Biron.  he made very impressive stops all night long.

Fedotenko scored our first goal tonight and Artem Anisimov took care of the rest.  Upon the winning goal and the lighting of the lamp, Coach Torts pumped his fist in exultation, collected himself, then walked off into the MSG night;  Happy.







A BeDeviling Season Continues for New Jersey:
NJDevils ~ It's amazing what $100 million dollars can do to someone; namely Ilya Kovalchuk.  Of course I say that in jest but don't things like that always have a double sentiment.

In last night's shoot-out against Buffalo, Ilya Kovalchuk took his turn with the puck...and lost it.  He didn't get a shot on goal as he lost control of the puck then waived his stick in failure.  That vision of strange happen-stance is totally metaphoric of the strange season for the Devils thus far.  New Jersey has not won at home yet this season and Martin Brodeur sat out his second game nursing a shoulder which is so unDevil-like.  This season has been nothing short of Chiller Theater at The ROCK.  It's been that Devilish for them.  You might have to go back to the early 80's to see worse play from a Devils team.

They scored four goals last night but they've been haunted by bad defense all season and last night they got the Black Cat Treatment suffering a bit of Bad Luck.

Coach Mac can only be thinking, 'What's Next?'

Boo!




Long and Winding Road; Can't Wait To Get Home:
NYIslanders ~ They have lost their last eight games in a row.  It seems as if they've been on the road forever.  The Islanders have played only three home games in the last epoch.  They are still on the West Coast itching to get back to the Island; I'm sure.  This road trip has been nothing short of disastrous for them.

As a matter of fact, the last time I commented on the Islanders in the earliest days of this season, I believe I called them the best team in the Metro area...at the moment, that is.  That's what the win/loss records said.  Since then, the ice under their skates has melted and they're sinking like a bag of rocks.

Tonight they play San Jose and Los Angeles Saturday.  Then finally, they can come home to heal their wounds and play a home game against Tampa Bay.

Mike.BTB

Latest Peek at Atlantic Yards Construction Site

As of November 10, 2010

Here's the latest look into the Atlantic Yards construction site.

  

Since Ground Breaking Day back in March, the project has evolved from just pushing dirt around.  A massive circular foundation is taking form that will one day, in the not too distant future, support the Barclays Center which will house Brooklyn's member team in the National Basketball Association.  The goal is for the Nets to open the 2012-2013 season in Kings County.

Click to enlarge.

The progress is a welcome sight.  Visually at least, future supporters of the club have something tangible to work with now.  It seems like a millennium has passed since the original plan to bring the Nets to Brooklyn was announced back in 2004.  It was a long, rough and tumble, hard fought struggle for Bruce Ratner, and still, his problems have not subsided.  There was a time when Brooklynites, to include myself, thought this project and the eventual relocation of the Nets would never happen.  And while much of the greater Atlantic Yards project is still in questionable status, the Barclays Center site is buzzing with activity.  Mikhail Prokhorov has since been added to the equation as the team's new principal owner and the appreciable progress being made in construction have excited this Brooklynite.  It is with great anticipation I await the Nets arrival into the Borough and by that, reinstating our Professional status; stripped from us in 1957.  Two years is still a long ways away and anything can happen between now and then.  But this giant concrete circle in the ground at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush is a signal that our day is coming.

Click to enlarge.

Before any ribbon cutting ceremonies, there's a brewing matter regard how to brand this team and promote it.  Branding the team after New York is an unwelcome consideration by some and me.  It's said the Knicks are also meeting this with resistance and for that I'm thankful.  For my part branding the team under the auspices of NEW YORK and not BROOKLYN would be a huge mistake.  I do not say that because I live here.

In this new and still young century, branding this team as a Brooklyn enterprise could, and I believe will become, one of the most powerful Brand names in the NBA, and with a competitive team, one of the most powerful Brand names in all of sports.  I truly believe that.  A jersey sporting Brooklyn across the front would be an instant best seller.  This is my humble belief.

(Brooklyn Nets jersey graciously provided by Junior's Restaurant.  Thank You.)

A name change for the team is also being considered.  The first name I heard under consideration came to me via NetsDaily.com on Twitter.  Please check out the details in a possible name change on NetsDaily's web site HERE.

The original comments came from Sam Amico who writes for http://msn.foxsports.com/nba.  On November 9th, Sam Amico made these comments on Twitter:

"Nets will no longer be called Nets when they move to Brooklyn in two seasons, by the way.  One name being floated is "Ballers", says insider."   2:57p.m.

"Team in Brooklyn will also have to be called "Brooklyn".  Knicks don't want another "New York", and word is, they made a stink about it."   2:57pm

"I vote for Brooklyn Dodgers.  Sure don't think you can call them the Brooklyn Americans like the old NHL team, since their owner is Russian."    3:00pm

Find Sam Amico on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/SamAmicoNBA

On PBS-Channel 13,  I once learned one out of every seven people in America can trace their family history back to and through Brooklyn.  That is National reach my friend.  They didn't put a guy from Brooklyn in every war flick for nuthin' ya know..!  I was careful to say "this century" because for many of us "older people",  the Establishment is still represented by Boston and Los Angeles.  But moving forward, is it dealing in hyperbole to say an NBA franchise in Brooklyn will, within short time and positive competitive progression, become one of the elite Power Brokers of the NBA?

I honestly don't think it is.

If The Billboard Wars are any indication of the coming times and is indicative of a new burgeoning inner-city rivalry, winters will be getting awfully hot in New York City in the near future.  But because the Atlantic Yards project is still in it's construction infancy, many still may not be grasping the enormity of the coming situation.  I have every confidence in saying this will become the preeminent in-season rivalry in the NBA.  Once the move is realized and things settle down, TV networks will salivate to feature this match-up as best it can.  Expect this game on your flat-screens during Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, MLK Day and everywhere else the League and the Networks can figure out scheduling.

Pffff!

G'head; say it.  It's OK.  It's not too early to start practicing.

"Live...!  from the Barclays Center in Downtown Brooklyn...."

Sounds sweet doesn't it?

*..and a special Thank You to "NoLandGrab" for correcting

my principle/principal error; duly noted and corrected.

That's what having neighbors is all about   ; )

Mike.BTB

New York Aviators ~ Article Link

Article; Link

While looking to make a comeback, 12 New York Aviators hockey players share a beach house.

BY Vinnie Rotondaro
Tuesday, November 9th 2010, 4:00 AM
Read the article as it appears in the New York Daily News HERE.

(Bachner for News)

Members of the NY Aviators Hockey team pose for a photo on the stoop of the team house.

It's just like MTV's "The Real World," where strangers are thrown together in one house - only this time with rock-'em sock-'em Brooklyn pro hockey players living in Queens.

A dozen members of the Marine Park-based New York Aviators are working it on the ice - and living together in a cramped beach house in Rockaway Park, Queens.

"It's like a frat house, only without a college and an education," said Nicholas Kuquali, 25, a defenseman from Pittsburgh, who shares a rail-thin room with John Goffredo, 23, a center from upstate Orange County.

This season's 18-member team is hoping to make a comeback after the team's league - the North East Professional Hockey League - went under last year.

The Aviators are now part of the Federal Hockey League - and the team aims to win the championship.

"We have some guys that play rough and tough and that's the Brooklyn persona," said coach Rob Miller during a practice session at the the Aviator Sports and Events Center on Flatbush Ave.

Decked out in white-and-red scrimmage jerseys, the Aviators were bulleting down the ice and hammering each other into the boards during a drill.

After practice, 12 team members hopped into cars and drove across the Marine Parkway Bridge to the Beach 120th St. house, where they have lived since last month.

The house is stuffed with hockey players, residing military-style - sleeping on cots and couches, some in dining rooms and sunrooms.

"There will be no cliques on this team," said forward Chris Holmes of Brick Township, N.J. "There's no room!"

"This is the game room, the hangout room and my bedroom!" said 23-year-old center Jesse Felten of Wisconsin as he sat on the downstairs sofa that doubles as his bed.

Packs of Skoal chewing tobacco and an empty can of Fosters beer cluttered a coffee table. The sounds of warfare blared from the house TV, where center Angelo Serse was playing Medal of Honor on Xbox.

Pranks? None yet, though the housemates believe that it's just a matter of time. Group meals? Only one so far: Chicken pasta, cooked by Canada native Steve Obelnicki.

"It actually wasn't bad," said defenseman David Inman of San Diego, who graduated from Yale last year. A 776-page biography of Michelangelo sat heavy on top of his nightstand.

Just like the team, the house chemistry is a work in progress, said Jarrett Rush, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound defenseman.

"It could go either way," he said. "I mean, everybody says they're neat. We'll see about that. It's similar to being on the ice - everyone holds everyone else accountable."

But at the end of the day, he said, it's winning that matters most. "We're playing to win the championship," said Rush, of Pennington, N.J. "That's the goal."

The Aviators' first home game is Friday at 7:05 p.m. against the Broome Barons. For a schedule of games, go to www.newyorkaviators.com


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2010/11/09/2010-11-09_while_looking_to_make_a_comeback_12_new_york_aviators_hockey_players_share_a_bea.html#ixzz14qFbnBbO
 
 
 
 
 
Mike.BTB

NYGiants ~ O-Line; Oh No!

I made mention how hurtful Week 9's blow-out victory over the Seahawks was to the Giants.  It's time to read the bed charts.

Shaun O'Hara has been hobbled pretty much all season; ankles, feet, toes, nails...name it.  David Diehl will be out for several weeks with a partially torn hamstring.  He made a radio appearance this afternoon where he said his mind was on playing this weekend.  Don't count on it.  It's highly doubtful he plays.  Kid Adam Koets is out for the season.  The Kid who's been filling in quite admirably for Center Shaun O'Hara is done with a busted knee.  That's tough!  Kareem McKenzie has been banged up also.

The entire left side of the Offensive Line from the center, guard to tackle is decimated.  Today, Jerry Reese's signing of Shawn Andrews during the off-season looks nothing short of brilliant.  He will be sorely needed this week.

The Giants' Offensive Line IS our season.  You can take that to the bank.  If you've been reading my postings about Big Blue, you know I've been preoccupied about two things; the Offensive Line and Brandon Jacobs (aside from Coach Gilbride).

In the year of our most recent Super Bowl victory, our Offensive Line was healthy all year long.  That's the key and there-in lies the rub.  Last year was short circuited by injuries.  After starting out 5-0, week by week, injury after injury, the season went south.

When Jerry Reese was hired as General Manager, taking over for a retiring Ernie Accorsi, one of his first moves was releasing Offensive Lineman Luke Pettigout.  He was a penalty flag waiting to happen.  From that moment forward, this Giants Offensive Line, when healthy, has been among the most dominating units in the NFL.  When Chris Snee, David Diehl, Shaun O'Hara, Rich Seubert and Kareem McKenzie are healthy and in the line-up together, they dominate the line of scrimmage like very few others, if any, in the League.  This Offensive Line has been and still is a a great line.  Health is what hampers the unit now.  Injury compromises their greatness.  The fortunes of the Giants' season start and end here.

Eli's blind side is in peril.  This means Coach Gilbride will have to bring the two tight end sets to the left side.  And perhaps Kevin Boss has caught his last pass for the next couple of weeks.

Oh yea, Coach Gilbride; I'm forced out of necessity to put my personal gripe with Coach Gilbride aside for the time being.  If there's anyone who's going to coach his way out of this predicament, it's him.  I mean that.
I admitted before, and I'll do it again here; I think he's among the best Offensive Coordinators in Football today, and we are damn lucky to have him.  I'd even venture to say he's the best we've had since Ron Earhart, if not better.

Now Coach has got to do what Coach has got to do to alleviate the burden on our crippled O-Line.  Screen passes, draw plays, moving the pocket, pulling guards, throwing to the backfield, three step drops...all those little and basic things that disrupt defensive aggression at the line.

I don't think we should be taking too many chances having Eli throwing 40 passes Sunday with a suspect left side.  To say Dallas is struggling is an incredible understatement.  But more specifically their defense has been atrocious.  Sure they fired their Head Coach Wade Phillips and may get a little motivation from promoted coach Jason Garrett Sunday.  But maybe it's still best if we gave them an intensive dose of Brandon Jacobs?  I still don't trust Dallas and I'd like to beat them in an old school way.  Make them stop the run.  Simple run blocking schemes and power running may just be what the Doctor ordered.  Don't mock at the simplicity of the thought.  Just line up and put it in your mind to blow them off the line of scrimmage.  New Coach or not, the Cowboys are a deflated team with little spirit left.

I think Sunday's game plan calls for something other than our customary 7 step drop and locating our receiving corps.  And I have every confidence in the world Coach Gilbride can game plan accordingly with regard to our O-Line situation.

Was my preoccupations with the O-Line and Brandon Jacobs considered obsessive and petty now?  There's two philosophies at work here and I'm just trying to find the common ground.  There's a difference between what Coach Gilbride wants to, and likes to do (because he's an ego-maniac)...and then there's the things we absolutely have to do in trying times.

Ahmad Bradshaw is ignoring all kinds of ailments to his body.  There is still another 8 games in the season.  Bradshaw is only 5'10" (?) and only slightly heavier than...say, Dave Meggett was.  THAT'S why it's been important for us to ensure Brandon Jacobs was getting enough carries, and keep building up his effectiveness.  He's been a model citizen since HelmetGate and deserved the touches.  There were plenty of play-calls available for Jacobs, were not for Coach Gilbride's penchant to throw the ball to all the cardinal points of direction when he's up in games 35-0.  He treats the running game like a red-headed step-child at times.

*sigh*

This week is in Coach G's hands.  He's free to Coach Sunday as he sees fit without any criticisms from me on the other side.  I always root scared; another thing I admitted once before.  But this week I'm riding Coach's back to Daylight.  Right now, he knows best.  But I'll be back on him like a  puppy sniffing for Snausages in a few weeks hopefully coinciding with returning health to some our Offensive Line.


Mike.BTB

NYMets ~ TRIUMVIRATE By The BAY

Sandy Alderson, in short order has assembled a Front Office that should send shivers down the backs of National League Ball Clubs, Executives and Owners alike.  Fresh off hiring J.P. Ricciardi to be his right hand man, Sandy Alderson very recently secured the services of Paul DePodesta, now formally of the San Diego Padres, to be Over Lord of Minor League Operations.

Mets' TRIUMVIRATE By The BAY

All the Mets need to do is hire their manager and we'll be all set to Rule The Galaxy!!

Ahahaha.  AHAHAhaha.  AHHHhahahahaha!!!

But seriously, the transformation of the Mets' Front Office has been nothing short of remarkable.
Sandy Alderson not only has given this organization the blood transfusion it so desperately needed, he transplanted some vital organs along the way.  If you probe through the analogues of Front Office personnel employed by the Post-Payson Mets, you would have to look back to the days when Frank Cashen mentored Joe McIlvaine, Jerry Hunsicker and a young aspiring Steve Phillips, to find a plethora of Executive talent such as the Mets have assembled within the last handful of days.

Forever and a day it seemed, one of the more popular Met Fan mantras was the 'ol...

"A Fish Rots From The Head" - when speaking of Met upper management.

Well....Look now, because that old routine is rapidly getting smaller and smaller in the rear-view mirror every day Sandy Alderson rules the road along Roosevelt Avenue over at Flushing By The Bay.

Somewhere in all our glee over this Autumn's developments, we should take a second, remember and thank the Wilpons, both Fred AND JEFF, for electing to take a radical departure from their past practices.

I personally thank them for finally going off campus and breaking the chain of in-house promotions, familiar hires and their insistence on maintaining their "self-described" collegial and family type business model.  I thank them for their delicate handling regarding fan concerns in an age when so many of us get trampled-on by the Corporate Monsters of life.

With the assemblage of this new Front Office, it is evidently clear the Wilpons are committed to delegating complete autonomy to Sandy Alderson and his structured business and Baseball model.  With the hiring of J.P. Ricciardi and Paul DePodesta, the media, fans, and foes alike, will be hard pressed to find an instance or reason to find issue with Jeff Wilpon and repeatedly tagging him as a meddler; me included.

The SAUL B. KATZ DILEMMA appears to have found it's remedy. 

To the Founders of the Feast!

Pics shamelessly lifted from:
BlueJays.gearupforsports.com
shysterball.blogspot.com

 

Mike.BTB

NYKnicks ~ Zeke May Never Haunt Halls of MSG Again; Link

Every Basketball minded fan around the city has by now, no doubt, heard about Isiah Thomas' fantastic revisionist tales and the buff-job he's trying to spin about his days at MSG.  What sheer lunacy!  Many in and around the media have been tossing out the word delusional to describe Zeke's state of mind.  Michael Kay conducted an interview with Isiah on the heals of the initial shock waves Isiah's comments created soon after speaking with Ian O'Conner earlier for Ian's ESPN.com.  Point ~ Michael Kay was right when he said delusional was the absolute wrong word to describe Zeke's state.

Me?  I'd use Machiavellian; as Machiavellian as he's ever been and exactly the way we remember him.

Delusional?  Hardly.  Zeke was, as always, just being true to himself.  I heard nothing during Michael Kay's interview nor read anything in Ian O'Connor's transcript which leads me to believe Isiah Thomas was acting unlike anyone but, Isiah Thomas.  You can read Ian O'Connor's article HERE.

This day, his tact of choice was that of victim trying to vindicate his good name, playing on people's sympathies to again one day be in a position to avenge a wrong perpetrated upon him by the NBA; namely mocking his executive achievements and stripping him of his post.  What makes this day from left field any different from any post-game Q&A he played host to while he was Sith Lord of MSG?  He took responsibility for nothing 'wrong' then, and paints pictures of the past resembling a Botticelli now.

Above all, what has Knick fan's anxieties on high alert today, is the closeness, bond and friendship Isiah Thomas maintains with Sir James Dolan; Rey of MSG and our New York Knicks.

Donnie Walsh might be calling the shots now but we learned and know well, Zeke never really went away.  The scepter of his possible return has been making the hair of Knicks fans stand up from Coney Island to City Island, electrocuted and shocked that Zeke still, somehow, arches into our affairs in the third year after his removal from office.

Well I have good news for you Knick fans.  Please read this great article by Adrian Wojnarowski at Yahoo! Sports.  This article might, once and for all time, put our fears to rest regarding Zeke's MSG Come-back and possible Swan Song at the New Garden.

If what this article says is true, there will be no Rising like the Phoenix for Isiah.  In the mean-time there is only lunacy..., just like in Hitchcock's, The Birds.





Mike.BTB

NYG Week 9 ~ Silence in Seattle; Giants Romp

Mission Accomplished.

The New York Football Giants Seized the Moment!  And they did it in a Big Blue way. 

The Giants tarred the Seahawks' feathers late Sunday afternoon leaving even Seattle's cricket population silenced.  The home crowd turned Seahawks' Green in their gills as they gasped at going down 21-0 in the blink of an eye and were never heard from again.

In the 1st quarter, Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for two early touchdowns.  Brandon Jacobs busted loose for a big gain, then Coach Gilbride abandoned the run and proceeded to make me lose my mind over the 2nd and 3rd quarters throwing the ball everywhere from Seattle to Singapore.  I'm going to deal with Coach Gilbride in following posts because the guy is a complete ego-maniac.  With 4:00 left in the first half he was still throwing the ball all over the place.  We were winning 35-0!!

Eli Manning was the beneficiary of Gilbride's ego, making Coach G look good by passing for three touchdowns and no interceptions.  This ain't "Tiki Barber's" Eli Manning folks.  Eli is now officially a beast.  But I'll get into all my Man-Crush Lust later when I really deal with the finer things Blue (and Coach G).

Seattle never had a chance nor should they have.  The Giants took care this week not letting their opponent linger around.  They had them down early, buried them and ensured they stayed there.

The Giants are now 6-2 and have a firm grip on the Conference.

Everything came together,  exactly as I foresaw. (Check out my last two pre-game posts).

You do not yet realize the Power of the Blue Side! 

...And that's about as much gloating that you'll be hearing from me because this game was hurtful to my Offensive Line.  David Diehl went for x-rays on his hip.  Kid Adam Koets sprained his knee.  Kareem McKenzie's status is still unsure after the game.  And of course, Shaun O'Hara did not play.

My concerns about playing after a BYE have been laid to rest and the Giants are successfully building their foundation for December Football.  But first things first; the Dallas Cowboys come to the city for a visit next week.


*Next Post:  More of me ranting about Coach Gilbride the maniac; Brandon Jacobs; Eli and whatever else Blue's my mind.


Mike.BTB

NYJ Week 9 ~ Sanchez Lands Jets Safely in O.T. Win

Super Bowl Talk Regurgitation Syndrome:

It happens every year right around the time we have to set our clocks back and right before the winter solstice approaches.  Precipitated by Jet Nation hyperbole,  pre-season media hype and Labor Day bar-b-ques, the cumulative effects of hyping up the Jets while chomping on Turkey Burgers, kielbasa, flank steaks and hot dogs all the while being washed down with a Coors-Light 24-pack, ultimately results in a chest burning pain accompanied by the up-chucked, nasty taste of re-digested proclamations and irresponsible Super Bowl Exclamations uttered in heightened states of frenzy, by the Gagged Green Faithful.

That's exactly what the Jets would have been listening to all week with a loss today.  A loss to Detoit would have been disastrous.  Coach would have been lambasted as the team would have been accused of suffering from Acid REXflux; Grid-Iron Gerd or lack of 'JETstro'-Intestinal Fortitude.

The flight to Detoit was a little bumpy but the Jets are in very good shape this evening.  Nothing was really lost last week as a result of today's win.  But to the Faithful Followers of the Green Team, lets try taking things one week at a time now.  That was almost another embarrassing post-game media session Coach REX was looking forward to.

Would someone remind Mark Sanchez he's a quarterback and that he's not auditioning for Dancing with the Stars?!  Look at him and look at his Happy Feet.  No quarterback is successful with footwork like that.  And that footwork is born of insecurity.  Right?  Right?  (See 4th Quarter).

For a second consecutive week, he was needed to carry his offense to victory, because that's what the game begged for as it played out.  Who knows what LT was thinking as he crossed the middle in the 4th quarter.  But that's the kind of thing that has been stymieing this offense.

Two turnovers leads to not enough possession time and 11 penalties called for 100 yards is a killer.

That's the way everyone was feeling when the score was 20-10 Detroit.  Be honest.

But Sanchez came on strong, and late, with a dandy pass to Dustin Keller with 3:00 minute left and then Mark ran it into the end-zone himself on a QB sneak to make the score 20-17 LIONS with 2:46 left.

With 1:54 the LIONS committed a terrible error in judgement, saving the JETS at least 30 seconds of game time with an incomplete pass on third down.  All they had to do was run the ball and the clock.  The Jets, with no timeouts got the ball back as a result of Detroit's awful decision.

At the Jet 45 yrd line, with no time-outs, Sanchez completed to LT over the middle, and had a flag tacked on to it.  That put the Jets at the Detroit 28 yrd line with 40 seconds left.  A draw play took them to the 20 yrd line with .20 seconds left.  They spiked the ball with four seconds left in the game.

Sanchez did well to bring them down the field.  LT made up for his daydream earlier and the Jets wound up tying the game on a field goal as time expired.  The game would go to Overtime tied 20-20.

The Jets received the kick-off to start Overtime and brought the ball back to the 32 yrd line where they would start their possession.

On the second play of Overtime,  Mark Sanchez hit Holmes over the middle for a gain of 52 yards highlighting a good second half of Football for him.

The Jets moved the ball further to the 13 yard line where they went straight for a 30 yard FG attempt on third down.

The kick was good and the Jets won in Overtime 23-20.  It was a great finish by the Jets.  So I guess you have to call it a great win.

Mark Sanchez can take his Happy Feet out dancing tonight.  He earned it.  Last week, not so much.  This week he got it done.



Mike.BTB

NYKnicks ~ "FIELDS" of Orange, and The Blues

How can you not have taken notice of the all-around superlative effort this early afternoon by Knicks' rookie guard LANDRY FIELDS.  Except for one turnover midway through the third quarter in paint traffic, he played a very effective and controlled game in a rare starting role......up until he hit a wall midway through the third quarter.

Credit him with a beautiful pass from the top of the free-throw circle down into a slashing Stoudemire in the paint in the first half; 5 rebounds, 2 assists, a block and a steal; 8 points in 20 minutes.   However, he negated himself with foul trouble as the third quarter closed in typical rookie fashion.  He got baited into every infraction, leaving his hands out for a reach in foul and leaving his feet on a three point attempt.  Till this point there was still a lot about his game to rave about today and the Knicks as a whole.

The Knicks continued their cohesive, team oriented, defensive minded play into the third quarter and appeared as if there were going to win their third consecutive game, this time against the Sixers this afternoon in an MSG matinee.  Wins against Chicago and Washington backing up a victory today would have made the Orlando game a distant memory and would have had the CITY all a-buzz tomorrow.



But the Knicks were not without their problems this game.  The Knicks allowed the Sixers to score 7 straight points to tie and take the lead as the third quarter was about to expire.  Turiaf running the floor after a Knick blocked shot on the defensive end, fought for a lay-up ..and the foul!  He made the free throw and the quarter expired with the Knicks up by one.; 81-80.

Toney Douglas sat with 5 fouls most of this time,  but for the most part the Knicks controlled the affair.  They lost control at other times; hence the one point lead after three quarters. 

Anthony Randolph slammed down the Knicks' first possession of the fourth quarter.  But then the Knicks began to falter even more on defense.

At 9:00 they trailed 87-85.
At 8:00 they trailed 89-85.

The Sixers continued to get to the line by walking and playing into Knicks' miscues (all game long).  The Knicks didn't learn and kept getting induced into the fouls.  But, the Knicks still managed to regain the lead; 91-90 with 5:26 left.

Douglas finally made it back into the game with 5:00 remaining.  But at the 4:00 mark Philly recaptured the lead 95-94.   With 3:28 left Toney Douglas might have wanted to stay on the bench because Coach D was furious with him for lack of hustle and allowing the Sixers to bury a Three-pointer adding to their lead.  It really was a weak effort on his part.  Coach was justified.

Turn-overs, bad passing and a 10-2 run by Philly had the Knicks reeling with 2:30 left.  Their shooting went ice cold and would continue fruitless for another minute till Stoudemire hit one of two free throws at 1:30 left.  Stoudemire would go to the line again at 1:10 and again would shoot 1 for 2.

Philly led 102-96 with 0.40 seconds left. 

To think, the Knicks once led by 9 points in the third quarter before Landry Fields and the Knickerbockers started to unravel with about 6:00 minutes left in that quarter.

Between .40 and .26 the Knicks had about 5 opportunities under the glass to get two points.  Five shots went up; neither found the bottom of the net; incredulous. I had visions of Charles Smith swirl in my head for a moment.

The Sixers would win this game 106-96 on the Knicks' home court sending everyone home with a sour taste in their mouths for the rest of the still young day outside.

Philly clamped down on defense and the Knicks shooting went into hibernation. Philly outscored the Knicks 26-15 in the fourth quarter.  Bad passing and turnovers doomed the Knicks after starting this game very promisingly.  And like I said, Landry Fields was looking real smooth out there until his game curdled along with the rest of the Knicks.

Instead of getting carried away with ourselves tomorrow because the Knicks won three in a row, the talk will be sounding a little skeptical but with a lot of hope sprinkled in.  Coach D'Antoni will get hammered because our defense faltered down the stretch.  Some will feel better because the team, despite today, still notice an appreciable difference in this team than teams of the recent past.

Should we be killing the Knicks after today's game?  Yea sure, for a game and a day.  But let's get over this one quick.  We blew it, OK?  But today and this season is still far more fun to watch than this team was three and two years ago.



Mike.BTB