The Intermission That Won Game One For The Rangers

While watching the second period of tonight's Eastern Conference Final Game 1 between the Devils and the Rangers, you could visibly tell the Rangers had played 14 games in the first two rounds.

They started the game setting the ice ablaze. They were all over the ice and controlled most of the first period while peppering Martin Brodeur with 8 shots.

After the first intermission, the Devils came out and owned most of the second. The Rangers looked like a very fatigued group while giving every ounce of energy they had. Things looked even more bleak at the 17:15 mark of the period when Brandon Prust took an unexcused roughing penalty. While never giving up, looking gassed and desperate for rest, they got through the remaining 2:45 of the period unscathed.

Then came the intermission. Of course we'll never know what was said in the locker room between periods because, as you know, John Tortorella is not a man of words with the media. But you have to wonder if it was simply the 20 minutes of much-needed rest that the team needed.

53 seconds into the third, the Rangers took the lead for the remainder of the night. On the power play (go figure), boy wonder Chris Kreider possessed the puck along the boards so patiently as he was hounded by two Devils penalty killers. He then found an undetected Dan Girardi fresh on the ice after a change who blasted home a one-timer that ended up being the game-winning goal.

The goal for Girardi was a huge one as he was having a very unGirardi-like game. In the first, he tried to pinch on the blue line to prevent a Devils scoring chance and he was beaten badly by Zach Parise. Ryan McDonagh made a tremendous play getting back on defense stopping Parise on the breakaway without taking a penalty.

In said wretched second period, Girardi was behind his own net and tried to flick the puck up the ice over Dainius Zubrus in front of the net. The puck ricocheted off Zubrus and was nearly tapped in for the series' first goal.

The goal by Girardi set the tone for the remainder of the period and the Rangers owned it in its entirety. Kreider tacked on the 2nd goal on the power play and Artem Anisimov closed the book with an empty netter for a 3-0 victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final.

A complete victory all around for the Rangers stamped with the second postseason shutout for NHL MVP nominee Lundqvist. Seven more to go to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup. I can't believe I'm saying that.

Rangers Fans: Move on from Game 5

I begin to write this at 6:43 PM ET on the day following the Rangers heartbreaking loss in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden. Since that deflating loss, for the most part, all I have heard are Ranger fans complaining about how poorly they've played and how the season is over.

Stop it.

Get over Game 5. There's nothing you can change about anything that happened in Game 5. Let's move past the poor passing, the extinct power play and Chris Neil's hit on Brian Boyle. Enough. Move on.

While you're at it, quit saying the season is over. If you want to write this team off before they are actually eliminated from the postseason, I don't want you rooting for this team anymore. Go root for the Devils. Seriously, go.

Have you forgotten what took place across the river just a short while ago with my beloved Giants? Throughout the entire season I was asked the same questions every week: "Why do you keep going to games and rooting for that team?" "Why are you wasting your time and effort with that team?" "You can't be serious thinking they're going to win."

That same team I was told to stop rooting for won the goddamn Super Bowl.

Two seasons ago, the Bruins had a 3-0 series lead on the Flyers. Flyers won and went to the Cup Final.

Look, I get it. The Rangers aren't playing their best hockey right now. They haven't scored in five consecutive periods plus 2:42 of overtime. They're on the brink of elimination trailing 3-2 in the Cup quarterfinals. Things look a bit bleak.

You don't stop rooting when you're a fan. If you do, you can't call yourself a fan. There's a reason they put up 109 points in the regular season: they're a good hockey team.

If they lose tomorrow, they lose and I'll be heartbroken. But don't be negative about them now. Have some faith.

Rangers in seven.

Carl Hagelin Suspended 3 Games for Hit on Daniel Alfredsson -- This Is My Head Exploding

In one of the most mind-boggling moves in recent NHL history, the league has suspended Carl Hagelin for three....yes THREE games for this hit on Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson:

It was most certainly a dirty hit and Alfredsson was injured on the play (no word as to whether Alfredsson will play in Game 3 tomorrow). But while Brendan Shanahan slammed Hagelin with a three-game ban, what Shea Weber did to Henrik Zetterberg a few nights ago in Nashville warranted a mere slap on the wrist:

Watch each of those again and tell me what you think is worse. Weber did not commit a hockey play. Instead, Weber grabbed Zetterberg's head and slammed it against the glass like it was a turnbuckle at Royal Rumble. What was Weber's penalty? A fine of $2,500. That's it. This is an embarrassment.

I am more than just angry with this decision. This is a complete joke. Yes, Hagelin warranted a suspension, but to compare these two incidents and say Hagelin's is worse is more of a crime and you give him three games? Seriously?

Shanahan gave his reasons for Hagelin's suspension but I disagree wholeheartedly about the length of it. Because Alfredsson suffered injury and Zetterberg walked away that made it worse? If Zetterberg had suffered a concussion would Weber have been suspended? It should be about the act of the penalty, not completely based on the severity. What Weber did to Zetterberg was disgusting and he'd be in jail if he did it out in public (and I'm a huge, huge Shea Weber fan).

Shanahan also goes on to say that Hagelin has never been fined or suspended for an illegal act committed on the ice either. I find myself again asking why he received three games. Why such a lengthy suspension in the playoffs for a player not known for being dirty.

Meanwhile, Matt Carkner, a guy that's known to be an enforcer, goes out of his way to pummel Brian Boyle's head in and gets one game. ONE GAME!

Carkner was on the wrong side of the ice from his defensive positioning. Carkner personally assaulted Boyle who was unaware that Carkner was attacking him and gets one game. That is NOT a hockey play. That is a personal attack. Hagelin finished his check, albeit illegally. But that was a hockey play.

Carkner's sole intent on that "play" was to inflict injury on Boyle. There was no other reasoning behind it. He gets less of a suspension than Hagelin. My mind is blown.

I can't wait to see what Shanahan gives to two members of the Penguins who went out of their way to inflict pain on the Flyers today.

After Brayden Schenn delivered a punishing, legal hit to one of the Penguins, Arron Asham, a known dirty player, comes in an cross checks Schenn right across the jaw. How many games will Asham be suspended?

Later in the game, James Neal leaves his feet and charges Sean Couturier and no penalty was called:

Neal seeked Couturier out and delivered a punishing blow. Couturier looked very woozy when he skated off the ice as well. How many games will Neal receive?

This is a complete joke of inconsistency and I'm heated.

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UPDATE: 9:48 pm - 4/15/12 - RANGERS STATEMENT:
The New York Rangers accept the NHL’s three-game suspension of Carl Hagelin and will not pursue an appeal.  However, we are thoroughly perplexed in the ruling’s inconsistency with other supplementary discipline decisions that have been made throughout this season and during the playoffs.  We will have no further comment on this decision.
     ....good for the Rangers to speak out on this. Let's be consistent, eh?

UPDATE: 10:41 am - 4/16/12 - ALFREDSSON SKATING:

Reports all over the net are saying that Alfredsson is on the ice in morning skate. This is a surefire bet that Alfredsson will play tonight in Game 3.

     ....the Rangers need to retract their statement and appeal the suspension asap. If Alfredsson misses no time in the series and the punishment is based on the severity of the injury and NOT the intent like Shanahan said, Hagelin should miss no time and get the exact same fine that Weber received. This makes the suspension look so much worse. Much, much worse. Hagelin is not a dirty player and Shanahan recognizes this. He even said on WFAN this morning that Hagelin is "a good kid." To give him three games in a playoff series, Alfredsson had to miss time. But he's not. If the suspension is reduced to one game, or two max, I'd be OK with it.

John Tortorella Slams Penguins After Controversial Play

UPDATE - FRIDAY 4/6: Tortorella fined $20K for his postgame comments and Orpik receives no suspension. This is a complete joke. Tortorella speaks a factual statement about the Penguins and Orpik goes out of his way to illegally hit Stepan. The NHL dropped the ball on this one.



Rangers head coach John Tortorella delivered a verbal uppercut to Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik and the Penguins organization following a knee-on-knee collision with center Derek Stepan. The replays clearly show Orpik sticking his knee out to make contact with Stepan and Tortorella did not take kindly to it.

"It's a cheap, dirty hit," Tortorella said. "I wonder what would happen if we did it to their two whining stars over there.  I wonder what would happen. I'm anxious to see what happens with the league with this. Just no respect amongst players. None. It's sickening."

There have been no reports on the severity of Stepan's knee injury, but he did not return to the game in the few minutes remaining on the clock.

Tortorella has become the third significant person this week to openly criticize the Penguins after analyst Mike Milbury and Philadelphia Flyers assistant coach Craig Berube. Tortorella did not stop there.

"It's one of the most arrogant organizations in the league. They whine about this stuff all the time and look what happens. It's ridiculous. But they'll whine about something else over there won't they? Starting with their two (expletive) stars."

I wish there was a camera on me as I watched Tortorella speak on the postgame show. Eyebrows raised, jaw dropped.

It is about time there are strong words being thrown out at the Penguins. It is about damn time.

You might not think so, but I take a ton of heat from Penguins fans every single time I say anything anti-Sidney Crosby. There is no doubt Crosby is the best player in the NHL. None. Yet he constantly whines every time someone just simply breathes on him.

The most recent incident came this past Sunday in a game against the Flyers. He put a late hit on rookie Brayden Schenn along the boards. Seconds later, Schenn repaid the favor by crosschecking Crosby in the back. An eye for an eye. You're even, right? Nope. Crosby looked around for the nearest official. Much to my dismay, Schenn did not receive a penalty.

This points exactly to Tortorella's comments tonight. It seems the Penguins' mentality is: "we can do it to you, but you can't do it to us."

Finally it is not us, the fans, that are openly barking harsh words at Pittsburgh. People are taking notice and tensions are boiling over. I'm surprised it's taken so long.

Rangers Clinch the Atlantic and I'm Damn Proud

As the clocked trickled down in the final seconds of last night's game between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers, I could feel the smile growing across my face as I did the goosebumps all over my body. The Rangers clinched their first Atlantic Division title in 18 years.

Within minutes of the Rangers winning the division on the ice of an arch enemy, I started to realize just how big of a deal this is. Ranger fans all across social networks were posting various status updates, tweets and photos in a barrage of excitement I have never seen regarding this team. This night may have been the biggest night for me as a Ranger fan in my life.

You may say to yourself, "the biggest night of your life should be back in June of 1994 when they won their first Stanley Cup in 54 years." Be that as it may, I was only 10 years old and wasn't as rabid a fan as I am today. I also did not realize the ramifications of what a Cup victory had done to a fanbase deprived of a championship for over half of a decade.

Quick side story: I had never watched a full Rangers game prior to them winning the Cup in '94. I had watched bits and pieces, but neither of my parents were hockey fans and I got into the sport on my own. We lived in Connecticut and I did not get MSG in the town that I had lived. On the night of Game 7, New York's FOX 5 said they'd broadcast the final few minutes of the game and dad said he'd let me stay up on a school night (I know...weird I got a local New York channel in CT but not MSG...I tell you it's awful living in that state). We had a horrendous thunderstorm in town that night and just as FOX was about to toss to the game, we lost cable. I had to run to my bedroom to listen to the final call on the radio.

If that had happened to me at this age, I promise you I would suffer from cardiac arrest and die on the spot. I'm convinced there would be no other outcome to that situation.

Since that night, my fandom for this team has steadily grown into a massive love affair. In the past 18 years, the highest rating I could possibly give one single Rangers season would have to be mediocre with the exception of a loss in the conference finals in 1997.

The Rangers had an eight-year, seven-season drought of missing the postseason (every NHL fan lost in the year of the lockout). Since '97, they have only twice reached the conference semifinals. This is why this year's division championship means so much.

Yeah, it's merely a division championship. I've seen more division championships as a Yankee fan than I have follicles of hair on my head. But, it's been nearly two decades since the previous one for the Blueshirts. This is the most we've had to celebrate this team this century and I'm going to milk every last drop of it.

Should the Rangers not bring the Stanley Cup back to the Canyon of Heroes on a June morning this year, we cannot consider this season a loss. While we all should be very optimistic of how far the Rangers can go in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, we should also embrace what we've had to enjoy this season. This team gives an all-out effort every night they take the ice. This has by far been the best season this team has brought us in a long, long time.

One Image Sums Up Current State of Giants and Jets

While I spent my Monday night perusing through Twitter-space like I usually do, I came across the photo above. My first reaction: that was the most fun I've ever had attending a football game (replacing the 12-sack game the Giants had against the Eagles in 2007). My second reaction: this single photo perfectly sums up where each organization is at right now: the Giants....standing tall, victorious, Super Bowl champions. The Jets...weak and desperate.

Eric Smith's last ditch effort to stop Victor Cruz's 99-yard, season-turning touchdown reception, captured in this single frame, serves as a metaphor for the state of desperation for the Jets. How? They just traded for Tim Tebow.

As the Giants continue to reign supreme in the greatest city in the world, the Jets made a P.R. move to steal the tabloids. Today they gave their new backup quarterback a nationally-televised press conference while they their starting quarterback got a conference call that was not allowed to be broadcast live. The Jets just gave Mark Sanchez an extension, yet it's his understudy that gets all the attention. It makes zero sense. Zero.

Sidenote: Jets owner Woody Johnson, head coach Rex Ryan, GM Mike Tannenbaum and Sanchez were not at the Tebow presser. Go get 'em, Timmy!

Perhaps the most criminal thing to come out of this media circus is that Tebow will most likely get more media attention than two-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback Eli Manning, who owns the city and the stadium. I'm sure it doesn't bother Eli based on his on-camera personality, but it sure bothers me and it's going to be forced down my throat so long as Tebow is a Jet.

For at least this coming season, Tebow and the Jets can claim they play in the home of the Super Bowl champions. Your team may have the tabloids, but the real team will have the rings.

Rangers Grab 2 Huge Points in Toronto

Before I get to the story, I'd first like to thank former co-worker, good friend and rabid Giants fan Ryan Doyle for volunteering to create the new custom header for the blog. He used an impulse photo I took while riding the East River Ferry and created an incredible logo. Thanks dude. You can follow him on Twitter if you choose at @ODoyle_Rulez. I will warn you, he's a bigtime Giants fan but also loves the Red Sox and Bruins. I suggest a follow from September-February only. OK now onto the first-place Rangers...

The New York Rangers currently have as many points as there were canines in a classic, animated Disney cinematic masterpiece: 101. The eclipsed the century mark in points with a dramatic shootout victory in Toronto with the game-winner scored by (guess who) Ryan Callahan.

While the Rangers continue to tread water atop the Eastern Conference, the two points earned last night were extremely important to hang onto the first place position. At the same time last night, just east in the same province of Ontario, the NHL's hottest team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, lost in regulation for the first time in over a month in Ottawa. To say the Penguins have been hot is an understatement and they just got that Crosby fella back (I'll refrain from personal feelings on Crosby, but just for today).

Now the Rangers have a three-point cushion on second-place Pittsburgh with seven games to play (Pittsburgh has eight remaining).

In five of those next seven games, the Rangers will be getting the absolute most out of their opponents. Winnipeg is fighting for their playoff lives and the atmosphere at the MTS Center on Wednesday will be electric as it is every night. Boston is out for vengeance as they're 0-2-1 vs the Blueshirts this season.

Then the Rangers embark on perhaps the toughest two-game stretch of the season: at Philadelphia and at Pittsburgh. Both the division rivals still have a shot at the Atlantic division title and top spot in the conference. It also helps that there's a bit of bad blood between each of the squads.

Last game of the season is home vs Washington in a possible playoff preview. As of right now, the Capitals are not in the top eight in the east. They are two points behind eighth placed Buffalo with a game in hand, and it appears Alex Ovechkin has found his former self and has turned it on. Based on recent playoff meetings between the Rangers and Caps, it'd be sweet revenge to either send them home on the season's final day or in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Any way you slice it, it seems the Rangers can't fall back further than fifth in the east. However, should the Rangers get the four or five seed, they'll either play Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in the first round. Either series can easily go seven games and could physically drain the Rangers. This is why the top seed is extremely important.

My Worst Nightmare: Tim Tebow is a Jet

Tim Tebow is coming to my city. New York's other football team has acquired Tebow from the Denver Broncos in exchange for a 4th round draft pick.

I chose to dismiss the rumors that the Jets were interested in him because I couldn't fathom this ever happening. I mean, they just signed a subpar Mark Sanchez to a very wealthy contract extension, so why would they give up anything for the worst quarterback I've ever seen play professional football?

As I was driving home listening to Evan Roberts break the news on WFAN, I nearly crashed. OK maybe that's a bit of an overstatement, but needless to say, I was, and still am, extremely shocked. Joe Benigno, Jet superfan and Roberts' co-host, immediately said the organization is a "disaster." I turned the dial to ESPN 1050 to only hear Stephen A. Smith say the exact same thing.

The Jets in no way can say they're committed to Sanchez. Peyton said no, so they gave Sanchez a big pay raise and a few more years on a contract. Then within a few weeks they trade for another quarterback.

Does Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum realize what he just did? Does he have any idea what he just said to Mark Sanchez? He just created the biggest possible circus you could imagine in the sports media capital of the world. We haven't even reached the 2012 NFL Draft and there's already a mega QB controversy in the Jets locker room. Who do they go with? Sanchez, who regressed in 2011 from his decent seasons in 2009 and 2010 or Tebow, who is a flat out awful quarterback.

Who do we blame for this? Peyton Manning for telling the Jets no and taking Tebow's job in Denver? Victor Cruz for his 99-yard touchdown which ended the Jets season and sprung the Giants to another Super Bowl title? Rex Ryan for his necessity for being on the back pages of the newspapers?

Regardless of who we blame for this, I can't wait for this to blow up in the Jets faces. If you think Santonio Holmes had a problem with Sanchez, can you imagine what he'll say about Tebow? An hour before the Tebow trade news broke, Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie tweeted against bringing Tebow in.

Are the Jets really that upset because the team they share a stadium with just hoisted another Lombardi Trophy that they had to make such a bizarre move? The Jets are so desperate for attention in this city and it's an absolute joke. Ever since my beloved Giants beat the Patriots (again) in the Super Bowl, the Jets logo has basically disappeared from the city (and it's been beautiful). They are the little brother in this town and do whatever they can to grab the headlines. It's kind of ironic that they're the little brother, but the Giants' little brother QB has won more Super Bowls than that franchise.

If Tebow thought he had haters before, he has absolutely no idea what he's about to get into. Tim Tebow will not survive the New York media. No way, no how. Every Jet fan I know is hammering this move and they're already hating on Tebow (which I've done since his freshman season at Florida).

The media coverage for Tebow throughout the 2011 season (and his entire career at Florida) was beyond insufferable and now he's coming to New York. He's going to be everywhere. He might be bigger than Namath just because of the amount of media that has grown in the nearly 50 years since he won the Jets their only championship.

I'm sick to my stomach about what we're about to experience.

Step One Complete: Rangers Are Playoff Bound

For the first time since pre-Y2K, the Rangers clinched a playoff spot before April and not by the skin of their teeth. With a 4-2 win over the hated New Jersey Devils, the Rangers became the first team to clinch a postseason berth in the Eastern Conference.

Now, I can't stand writing game stories, but tonight feels a bit different. While I missed the opening trifecta of brawls in the first three seconds of the game (relax, I was at work), I was able to see the replays. Devils coach Peter DeBoer was out to send a message, which isn't a surprise in a rivalry like this. He put his tough guys on the ice and the Rangers made them pay. Stu Bickel vs Ryan Carter: win for Bickel. Mike Rupp vs Eric Boulton: win for Rupp. Brandon Prust vs Bryce Salvador: win for Prust. To see three fights taking place simultaneously was equally as bizarre as it was amazing.

Just over a minute later, Brandon Dubinsky (finally) scores and the Rangers had the momentum and never looked back. As the Garden crowd aired out chants of "MAAAARTYYY" to the Devils portly goaltender, you can tell just from watching an illegal online stream of the game how electric the atmosphere was.

This marks the sixth time in the last seven the seasons that the Rangers will play after their 82-game regular season schedule. But this is such a different team than in years past. It's not the usually-frustrating squads that are barely making it into the playoffs. It's a fun, confident group of guys that have all bought into John Tortorella's system. These guys play for each other and it's clear every time they take the ice.

We don't have to worry about Olli Jokinen in the shootout. We don't need Jody Shelley to score two goals for them to get to that shootout. We don't have to worry about other teams needing to lose to get into the playoffs. They're in. On March 19. After a total team effort win against a team that every fellow Ranger fan absolutely despises. This is so mind-bogglingly great and I'm going to enjoy it just like every other Ranger fan should.

Sidenote: Mats Zuccarello has been a tremendous spark plug since being recalled from the Connecticut Whale. I was a huge fan of that kid last season and was hoping to see him sooner this season, but he's here and he looks like he's going to stay. And I'm calling him Duke Zuke 'Em. It may not catch with everyone, but I personally love it.

Granted they have the Red Wings coming into town on Wednesday which will be one tough contest, tonight, I am not worried about that. The Rangers are in the playoffs before Easter and I'll have a beer to that. Now let's go get that Cup.

Addressing the Rick Nash to Broadway Rumors

When the casual hockey fan hears a rumor that their favorite team is in the market to trade for a top-tier player, the immediate reaction is: go get him! Of course you want nothing but the best players wearing your team's sweater....everyone does.

Rumors surfaced a few weeks ago that the New York Rangers could possibly be in the market for Columbus Blue Jackets 5-time All-Star and 2-time 40-goal scorer, left wing Rick Nash. I've always been a Nash fan so this especially perked my ears.

So instead of a rapid reaction and social network posts (which some of you have known to see from me), I did a bit of research. I went to one of my favorite hockey websites, capgeek.com, to check out what Nash's contract status is.

I knew Nash had received a large contract a few years back to keep the face-of-the-franchise in Columbus....a franchise that has struggled since it's inaugural season in 2000-01 (I'm still trying to figure out, of all places, the NHL settled on Columbus for a professional hockey team). Nash has a cap hit of a whopping $7.8M through the 2017-18 season.

The big rumor I saw came in yesterday's edition of the New York Post (it's the Post, I know). The rumor, reported by Larry Brooks, was the Rangers sending Brandon Dubinsky, top prospect Chris Kreider, and a first-round pick to Columbus. If this trade were to go through, it'd be a fair deal for a the 27-year old winger.

However, and this is a big however, the Rangers are easily the best team in the NHL's Eastern Conference. They have a solid core of young talent, including the (slim) potential of Kreider joining the team in time for the playoffs. They have a $6.7M cap hit with Brad Richards through 2019-20, a $7.5M cap hit with Marian Gaborik through 2013-14 and nearly a $7M cap hit with the best goaltender in the NHL, Henrik Lundqvist, through the same year.

Wojtek Wolski's cap hit of $3.8M does come off the books at the end of the season as he's set to become a restricted free agent. Don't look for the Rangers to retain him. But after next season Derek Stepan, Ryan McDonagh, Carl Hagelin's entry level contracts all expire and they become restricted free agents as well and they need to be retained.

For the Rangers to add Nash at that price in the current financial status the team is in would be irresponsible. Of course I'd love to have Nash on this team....he's an overall great player, but what the Rangers have here is something special. They have a team fully committed to their coach John Tortorella and they play a full 60 minutes every night. They're aggressiveness on the forecheck, backcheck, and in the neutral zone is something to truly admire.

With that said, the Rangers should add another scorer to their team. Perhaps Ducks winger Bobby Ryan, who the Rangers were rumored to trade for just a couple months back, is available. Another name surfaced recently with the Rangers is Hurricanes winger Tuomo Ruutu, who recently suffered the dreaded upper body injury. Buffalo winger Brad Boyes could also be an optoin, but it's certainly less attractive.

Whichever way the Rangers look like after the February 27 trade deadline, there is great excitement around this hockey club. They have a legitimate chance of bringing the Stanley Cup back to New York City.

My Philly Fan Experience at Rangers vs Flyers

As many of you know, I was fortunate enough to attend the 2012 Winter Classic back on January 2 at the beautiful Citizens Bank Park. I expected to see many New York Rangers in attendance due to the magnitude of the event. This was the first time the Rangers played in a Winter Classic and it was only a straight shot down the New Jersey Turnpike to Philadelphia.

I felt as if I wasn't going to feel too much of a wrath from the Philly faithful and I really didn't. While I was tailgating, I got the usual blabber from fans of the Philadelphia Flyers but nothing terribly brash. In fact, the rudest comment I received while I was in the ballpark was as I was barking at Scott Hartnell was "way to keep it classy, New York." Class? Someone from Philly is talking about class? That was hysterical.

Then outside in the parking lot, one proud Philadelphian told me he hoped I died in a car crash on the way home. Way to keep it classy, Philly.

The next day the video of Flyers fans pummeling....and I mean pummeling....a Rangers fan outside of Geno's Steaks after the game (who was a serving police officer and Iraqi veteran). It was one of the most gutless acts I've ever seen performed. At the time, I didn't know if I would ever set foot at a Philly sports event again.

A couple weeks had passed and I was offered a ticket to Saturday's Rangers/Flyers matchup. I immediately told myself, yes, I'm going. I figured Philly fans had learned to tone it down and nothing would happen to me phyiscally, and I was right, for the most part.

In the first period, trailing by one, the Flyers scored and tied the game up. I sat in my seat and didn't say a word. Until I felt a (maybe) three-year-old kid poke me in the side with a mini hockey stick. You're going to tell me a kid that young came up with that idea on his own? I did nothing. Whatever.

The Rangers scored five times and the only time I jumped up and yelled, was when Ryan Callahan (my favorite player in the league) netted his second career hat trick (both against the Flyers). I was yelled at to sit down. Again I did nothing. Whatever.

After the Rangers took a 5-2 lead in the third, the arena started to empty out. I tell you, it's a great feeling going into the home of the arch enemy and watching it empty after your team crushed theirs. As the clock ticked toward zero and I stood up and started clapping. The Philly bravado cursed down upon me and I think I felt a peanut hit me in the back. For a third time, I did nothing. Whatever.

I stepped outside Wells Fargo Center and heard a knock on the glass from the inside. I looked to my left and saw two extremely brave Flyers fans flipped me the bird. That's when I gave them the patented Derek Jeter fist pump.

Then two tremendous women who you can't wait to bring home to mom drove by in an SUV screaming "f**k you Ranger piece of s**t!" In return, a simple smile and wave.

Maybe these people are upset the Rangers have beaten them in seven straight games. Maybe these people assumed I went to a parade for the Super Bowl Champs last Tuesday when they're team was supposed to win the whole thing. Maybe these people are still bitter their beloved Phillies were beaten in six games by the New York Yankees in the 2009 World Series.

Or maybe these people know their city is inferior to mine.

Pump The Brakes On The Eli HOF Talk

BREAKING: the New York Giants won the Super Bowl. Alright quick! Everybody! Is Eli Manning a Hall of Fame quarterback?!

Can we stop with this already? We're not even 72 hours removed from him hoisting the Lombardi Trophy (again). Can we just embrace what we just saw and let it soak in? We've become such a rapid-reaction society with the whole digital media and nonstop, around-the-clock sports coverage that this has gotten out of hand.

I've tolerated the Eli HOF talk over the last few days, but I haven't been totally comfortable with it. At the beginning of the season, many Giants fans were ready to throw this guy to the dogs. His 2010 season was pretty ugly. He threw 25 interceptions, granted many of them were not on him. There were a painful amount of drops and tips by his own receivers (no, seriously, there were a lot).

Don't get me wrong, I love Eli Manning. I've always supported him and he's handled himself extraordinarily well in the toughest media market on the planet.

At the start of this past season, a reporter asked him if he was in Tom Brady's class and an "elite" quarterback. I didn't believe he was at the time, but he said he was. He was put in a no-win situation, so what do you expect him to do? I'd rather him say he was than to say he wasn't a good quarterback. He went out and backed up his words with the best season of his career and threw for nearly 5,000 yards and was flawless in the postseason in route to a second Super Bowl MVP.

I posed the question to a few of my Pittsburgh buddies last night about Ben Roethlisberger. I don't remember the whole world immediately saying he was a HOF QB after his second Super Bowl win, but according to them, it was there. One said: "nobody is a HOF'er midcareer. that's like watching half a movie & saying it's picture of the year." I couldn't have said it better myself. I mean, Eli's just turned 31 last month....he's got at least five or six years ahead of him.

In a story released today, Kurt Warner, a HOF in my book, said Eli isn't a HOF'er....yet. He said he needs a few more years like 2011 to be considered, which I can't argue with.

But why is this even a discussion right now? Can we all sit here and enjoy what we just saw? Why is winning a Super Bowl not enough right now? It's a monumental accomplishment that every Giants fan should be embracing and making the most of. Can Eli be a HOF'er? Sure, and I think Sunday's win helps build a very strong foundation. I just think we're all doing ourselves a disservice to the Super Bowl win to already start talking about Canton.

They Passed on the Tuna

The 2012 NFL Hall of Fame class was announced tonight. Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy, Willie Roaf, Dermontti Dawson, Jack Butler and Curtis Martin. There were a few notable omissions at the wide receiver position in Andre Reed, Tim Brown and Cris Carter (still can't believe Carter's not in). However, the most glaring omission to me: coach Bill Parcells.

Parcells is most likely the most respected head coach I've seen in my 27 years of existence. In his 22 seasons as a head coach, he had a losing record in just five. He went to three Super Bowls and won two of them with my beloved Giants.

The Big Tuna revolutionized the Giants franchise in the mid-1980's (yes, with the help of a couple Hall of Fame linebackers and a stud QB). It's also very easy to say he built the foundation of the tremendous success of the New England Patriots with Drew Bledsoe (but if Mo Lewis hadn't knocked out Bledsoe then would we ever had known who Tom Brady was?).

He's atop one of the most impressive coaching tree in the history of the NFL. Let's start with the two coaches playing in Super Bowl XLVI: Tom Coughlin and Bill Belichick, who were both on his Super Bowl XXV winning staff along with Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel. Super Bowl winning head coach Sean Payton was on his staff in Dallas as well.

While I'm still upset he "retired" following his second Super Bowl victory with the Giants, if it wasn't for him, the Giants may have continued to be a laughing stock throughout the 1980's and may not be what they are today. He is no doubt a Hall of Fame coach and hopefully is elected in 2013.

Hello, Mets? Are you there?

DISCLAIMER: I am not a Mets fan. I am a Yankees fan. A diehard Yankees fan. I do not have any ill feelings toward the Mets. In fact, I think it's great for this amazing city of ours when they and the Yankees are both playing good baseball. But since this blog is going to be about the sports teams of New York, there will be the occasional post regarding the Mets, Jets, and Islanders (until the Isles move to Kansas City).

It's been an awfully quiet offseason for New York's lowly Mets. It's been so quiet, I feel compelled to write about them because a serviceable starting pitcher signed with a team in their division today.

Earlier today, Edwin Jackson agreed to a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals. Jackson, coming off a World Series victory with the St. Louis Cardinals, has been solid for most of his career.

Is Jackson an ace? No. But he certainly would have bolstered the Mets questionable rotation. I call them questionable even with a healthy Johan Santana. Dillon Gee has potential, Mike Pelfrey has been a disappointment, Jonathon Niese is OK, and R.A. Dickey is busy climbing mountains.

Think about it, have you heard the Mets involved in any rumor this offseason? In all seriousness, have they? Hell, the biggest news the Mets have made this offseason is shortening the fences at Citi Field. They haven't been rumored to get one single player to improve that team. I mean, just look at the team they're going into 2012 with.

Infield: Ike Davis was injured last season, but he'll be very productive. Daniel Murphy is a defensive disaster. They have a young prospect in Ruben Tejada at short. And a lame duck David Wright at third. I'm guessing they're going to trade Wright at some point this season. I mean, they had to learn from the Jose Reyes blunder, right? Every baseball fan in America, aside from a few very loyal Mets fans, knew Reyes was as good as gone at the end of 2011. So why not get something in return for him? The bigger question with Wright is, no one knows if he's staying or leaving after 2012.

Outfield: Lucas Duda in right who showed he can hit when he was given the time. Andres Torres in center and that biggest New York bust since A.J. Burnett in Jason Bay in left.

Bullpen: hey wait a second, I found two moves the Mets made this offseason! They added Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco, which helps solidify the back end of the bullpen. Ramon Ramirez, Bobby Parnell, Pedro Beato, Tim Byrdak, Manny Acosta, D.J. Carrasco, Josh Stinson and Chris Schwinden. Who?

Since when did a team in the biggest market in the country become such a small market team? This just isn't right.

And I give credit to the Mets fans. They're arguably the most loyal fan base in baseball. You can say the Yanks, Boston, St. Louis, Chicago fans are loyal, but the Mets fans are just as, if not more, loyal. They may not always fill the ballpark, but you walk around New York and you can see and feel the presence and the passion. The Mets fan bleeds Mets blue. They don't deserve this. Not in the slightest.

On top of that, they have to deal with the Yankees everyday. Boy, do I feel bad for you guys. But I respect you for sticking with that team in the thick and thin.

One example of their passion has been through recent hashtags on Twitter. They've been making fun of their ballclub on the social network and I have to say, they've been utterly hilarious. Today's hashtag was #MetsRejectedPromotionDates. Take a minute to read a few of those.

The Wilpons need to sell this team to someone who can restore the pride this organization once had. They have not tried at one point this offseason to improve the roster. They've sat their and watched every other team improve while they have done nothing.

It Feels Like 2007....No Really....It Does

I've read and heard a lot of arguments that the run the New York Giants have had to Super Bowl XLVI mirrored their run in 2007. While I agreed with it, I didn't realize just how much the 2011 Giants remind me of the 2007 Giants:

• The 2007 and 2011 teams both started the season 6-2.
• They both beat every team in the AFC East (albeit, the 2007 team did it in the Super Bowl).
• They both lost a home game late in the season to an undefeated team (each by the score of 38-35).
• They both were swept by a fellow NFC team in the regular season (sorry to be a downer).
• They both played an NFC South team in the Wild Card round (and scored 24 points in each game).
• They both went to the home of the #1 seed in the Divisional Round and won.
• They both went to the home of the #2 seed in the NFC Championship and won on a Lawrence Tynes overtime field goal.
• Oh yeah, they're playing the Patriots again in the Super Bowl.

However, there is one glaring difference between the two teams: the offense.

In that dream season of 2007, the Giants heavily relied on the running game of Brandon Jacobs, Reuben Droughns, Derrick Ward, and the tremendous, late-season emergence of then rookie (and 7th-round Draft choice) Ahmad Bradshaw.

The 2011 Giants running game finished dead last in the regular season in the entire NFL. Which is never the case with this franchise. Never.

Now let's take a look at the passing game....or should I say the Eli-te passing game? Prior to this season, Eli Manning was put in a no-win situation when he was asked if he considers himself an elite quarterback. What did Eli do? He said yes!

Did I agree with him at the time? No, but I loved his confidence. Do I agree with him now? You bet your butt I do.

Manning's 2007 season was nothing to write home about. Remember the four interception game vs Minnesota (3 of which were returned for touchdowns)? Remember the ghastly performance on a Sunday night at home vs Washington with a whopping 34 incompletions? OK I'm sorry...I'll stop. But we have to realize how much Manning has grown and matured in his eight-year career.

Manning's passed a lot of tests this season and now has his team back in the Super Bowl. He threw for nearly 5,000 yards. Think about that. That's never been done in the great history of this Giants franchise. It's amazing!

Manning did this after losing his number one tight end (Kevin Boss) and number two wide receiver (Steve Smith), both who he's played with in the previous four seasons. Oh....and he did this is in a drastically shortened offseason because of that whole lockout thing.

Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham improved from their already good form. Jake Ballard has been a great find at tight end. And some undrafted guy that does some salsa dance when he finds paydirt hasn't been to shabby either....what's his name? Oh yeah, Victor Cruuuuuuuuuz!

Manning has answered every question and every critic of his (which there were a few) and passed just about every test this season. The only question I see surrounding Eli now is: "Is he better than Peyton?"

Stop it.

The Day That Started My Football Life

I've been wanting to start this blog for some time now, but I could never find the right time to get it going. However, now as my beloved New York Giants will be playing in San Francisco for the NFC Championship, I felt compelled to and you'll find out if you decide to read further. I'll probably get a couple reads here and there (thanks, Mom)...but I'm just doing this for me and to get my thoughts out there....OK so anyway:

I can remember it as clear as if it was yesterday. In front of the TV, praying one kick would send my New York Football Giants to their second Super Bowl.

I really had no idea of the implications of what I was about to watch. I didn't know that if Matt Bahr's kick was no good that the Giants wouldn't play another (meaningful) game until the following September. I was unaware of the tumultuous history that my dad grew up with watching that team.

I was sitting on the floor in front of my parents' television in the living room of our house in Danbury, CT. I saw a couple huddles along the Giants sideline of players in prayer circles. Then Bahr struck the ball with his right foot sending it through the uprights with no time remaining on the clock. The Giants were on their way to Super Bowl XXV. My dad lost his mind. I mean really....lost it. So what did I do? The exact same thing. I remember crying my eyes out in tears of joy, not knowing why at the time.

I don't remember anything else from that game. I don't remember the furious physicality of the hits from that took place. I don't remember John Taylor's long 3rd quarter touchdown reception. I don't remember Gary Reasons' long scamper on a fake punt. I don't remember Leonard Marshall nearly ending the great Joe Montana's career with one devastating sack. I don't remember Roger Craig fumbling the football on San Francisco's last possession or Lawrence Taylor's recovery of said fumble. I only remember that one kick and the melee that ensued in my living room.

Had I had known what my dad put up with from that franchise throughout his life would I have celebrated more or remembered more of that game? Had I known what I'd deal with throughout the rest of that decade with the Giants (especially at the QB position -- yes I'm talking to you Dave Brown, Kent Graham, and Danny Kannell), would I have embraced it more? I have no idea, I was six for crying out loud. My main concern at the time was trying to beat Super Mario Bros. 3, let alone emotionally vest into a sport I knew very little about.

Now these two teams are meeting up in the same building at 6:30 ET this coming Sunday with the same prize at stake (oh, and in 1990, the Giants lost a one-possession game earlier that season in San Fran, just like they did this season). I will be emotionally wrapped around every second that ticks off that game clock. For the unfortunate few of you that have watched a playoff game with me, you know how big of a nerve-wracking roller coaster I'm on watching any of my teams in the playoffs....and I wouldn't have it any other way.

For those of you who have not seen the kick, or just want to re-live it, click here.