Because of Gary Bettman’s lousy television contract, the Stanley Cup Final schedule is being dictated to the NHL, its teams, the players and their fan base by the programmers at NBC Sports.

The first two games of the Stanley Cup finals are going to be played back to back this weekend in Detroit because NBC doesn’t want to take up its valuable weeknight primetime schedule with NHL hockey. Bettman acquiesces because he needs the exposure for the NHL and he’ll take it anyway he can get it, even if it means putting the game and it’s players to disadvantage.

After garnering good ratings with the Winter Classic, one would think that NBC would be willing to put the Stanley Cup Finals up against its schedule of all repeat sitcoms on Monday night, thus allowing both teams a day off in between games. Televising the Stanley Cup Finals in primetime might also attract fans who might not watch midday on a weekend but would watch on a week night. But, that would make too much sense.

Having back to back games on Saturday and Sunday is a win/win situation for Pittsburgh, whose younger legs might not be so weary come Sunday, as opposed to the beat up Red Wings.  Doesn’t it play into Herr Bettman’s hands to give the Penguins every possible advantage. The Cindy Crosby/Gary Bettman love fest continues.

For me, the best possible scenario is for the Red Wings to sweep and for the NBC ratings to be dismal this weekend. Well, maybe a sweep is too hopeful but I’ll take a  Red Wings victory anyway they can get it.I wonder how the officials will try to hand the series to Penguins.  Let’s see if they’ll make up any “new rules” during this series. Perhaps they’ll drag out the old “goaltender interference penalty on Tomas Holmstrom” chestnut that worked so well last year. Maybe another intended but not blown whistle to waive off a goal. 

If the Wings do prevail, their victory will be besmirched for the simple reason that for yet another year, we will have to watch that smarmy little pisher of a Commissioner hand out the greatest trophy in sports.

LET’S GO RED WINGS

Posted under New York Rangers

What with the economy being the way it is and the team regressing, I am curious to know how many subscribers intend to renew their season tickets this August.

I will be polling those who read this sight three times, today, after the draft and again on July15th. I think that would present a fair picture of how readers here are feeling about future of the Rangers and current subscriber’s commitment to the team and the organization.  

If you are a subscriber, please respond to the poll below based on your feelings at this time. I realize that the readership here is small but I value your opinions.

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Posted under New York Rangers

Please excuse my departure from hockey on this space for a moment and indulge me in a Mother’s Day moment.

Most little girls in our society don’t usually form precious childhood memories at sporting events or arenas. Fortunately, for myself and my daughters, we were not most little girls. Last night at Shea StadiumCitifield, I got the best Mother’s Day gift in my 24.5 years as a mother. I got to be with my family as we saw our family “brick” for the first time on the Fan Walk at Citifield. It had just the effect I’d hoped it would have, broad smiles on the faces of my children and my husband.

As we walked from the parking lot to the ballpark, we saw the markers for Home Plate and the bases from Shea. It reinforced how close by the new building had been to Shea during the construction. I’m glad they commemorated those spots. So much had happened in the now seemingly small diamond of acreage, both for the Mets and my kids.

Imagine being 10 and 13 years of age and dancing with your friends in the on deck circle at Shea Stadium. My girls had the privilege of doing just that several times on Irish Nights at Shea. They got to see the lockerooms, the dugout, meet some players and be on the field before and during the game. Best off all, their families and siblings got to see them share our culture with the entire stadium as well as enjoy the game.

When the opportunity to become part of the history of the new Stadium and remember Shea was first offered, it was a no brainer. My husband pooh pooh the idea initially saying that we could better spend the $200.00. I reminded him of  how proud and happy we were to have the girls exhibit their sport, Irish Step Dancing, to the fans of America’s favorite pastime on the biggest stage  on which they had ever performed. He conceded the point.

I made it a family Christmas gift and wrapped up the “souvenir” replica brick and put it under the tree. All the quizzical and underappreciative comments were forgotten last night when the impact of the gift hit home. I explained to my girls that their grandmother was first a Dodger fan and later a Met fan. I explained how together with my parents I saw the Mets win their first pennant all those years ago in 1969.

Now, we, as a family, were commerating our history as Met fans, the games we attended together as a family, as New Yorkers of Irish descent and as fans of the most Amazin’ team in baseball.  Even  though  my daughters and I have never put bat to ball (or stick to puck for that matter), we are Met fans and Ranger fans. It is a part of our family’s heritage.

I also purchased the “family brick” with the future in mind. My mother is no longer here to watch the Mets with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. I will rest in peace knowing that when my children have children and grandchildren, they can go to Met games, see the “Brick” and tell their children the stories about the baseball and the Irish dancing and the fun they had over the years as fans of the New York Metropolitans.

Citifield is a beautiful ballpark. It’s a destination in itself. With all there is to do and see, I’ll have to go several times just to get acclimated. The concessions and food choices are top notch. My daughter, the vegetarian, was able to eat well  while the rest of us enjoyed the regular stadium fare. I loved the little “Market” behind the Pepsi Porch which had salads, pasta and even Italian pastry. The prices were not unreasonable and the food was good. The Shake Shack was jammed. Get there really early to eat there. So many choices, so little time.

I have only two complaints. They need better lighting in the stair ways coming down from the Upper Deck to the Rotunda Roof  Concession Area behind Home Plate. Also, they could use some “you are here” maps like in shopping malls all over the park showing where the escalators and elevators are located and egress to all the different levels.

Mets Go Bragh

The Hurleys

Irish Night ‘98

Happy Mother’s Day

Posted under New York Rangers

Every year about this time most ladies are changing over their closets from winter to spring and summer wear. Now is the time when we gals re-evaluate what we have and whether to  keep or toss what no longer works in our wardrobes. The five year old espadrilles that have seen their day, the yellowing white pants that defy bleach and hot water, the skirt you bought on sale that never fit because you never lost those ten pounds all need to go. You need that space in your closet for a few new pieces. So too, the New York Rangers.

They say a gal can never have too many black tee shirts. Well, in my opinion the Rangers currently have too many black tee shirts in their drawers.  Among the  men in black  for the New York Rangers this season were Drury, Gomez, Nasland, Redden, Rozsival and Voros. Too bad Glen Sather paid Donna Karan prices for these guys and got Old Navy quality.

Color Avery, Callahan, Dubinsky, Girardi, Korpikoski, Lundqvist, Sjostrom, Staal, Zherdev and Valiquette blue. They are all worthy of  hangers in my Rangers armoire.  As unresricted free agents Antropov, Betts, Mara, Morris and Orr are in that red danger zone and may or may not be here come September.

Shopping requires money and in today’s economy one should pay in cash. Sather has proven that Jim Dolan has plenty of cash but the League won’t let him spend it. The Rangers have precious little cap space. They got lucky today when Marcus Nasland retired, thus saving the Rangers around $4 million in salary for next season. He’s off the books. In order to acquire the players needed to move this team forward and to re-sign their restricted free agents, the Rangers need to move a couple of big contracts. If you have a ceiling on what you can spend, it goes without saying that one must shop wisely.

I would not go after Kovalchuk now and trade away the farm for a guy that will be an unrestricted free agent next July. While it would be nice to get rid a big contract like Gomez or Rozsival, I would not be willing to sacrifice the additional players and picks that Waddell would want to accomplish such a trade.

Bringing in Brian Gionta to complement Gomez is like buying yet another overpriced black tee shirt. Gomez hasn’t really fit well with anyone since he arrived. Why continue to pound a square peg? At $7.25 million ridiculous dollars for the next four years Gomez clearly needs to be moved, even if it’s for little in return. Just getting his contract off the books will be worth it. If we can trade Gomez without losing too much as the sweetener, Sather should be all over it.

Wade Redden at $6.2 million for the next 4 years must be bought out. If Dolan’s money is no object, getting rid of Redden is truly addition by subtraction. Rozsival would be an easier move at $4 million. The Rangers might get something of value in return but I’m not so sure losing Rozsival is a good idea until we see if any of the kids in the system are ready to make the jump to the NHL. It might be smarter to keep Rozsival, at least until next year’s trade deadline.

Shopping the clearance racks isn’t always the wisest thing to do. Better to work with what you already have then to break the bank on a flashy new item. As I deduced two off seasons ago, Glen Sather is no woman. He failed to match his shoes and handbags back then when he acquired both Drury and Gomez. Let’s hope he doesn’t make that mistake again.

If Sather can clear the cap space, and that’s a really big  “if”, there are a lot of great unrestricted free agents out there. The question is how much will they want and who will be willing  to join the circus that is the “Tortorella and Avery Show” currently playing at Madison Square Garden. Stay tuned for “Shop ’til You Drop, Glen”.

Posted under New York Rangers