Long Island Ducks Ready to Begin Ninth Season 04/25/08 Back on opening day in 2000, the Long Island Ducks were an unknown entity playing in an independent league in only its second season. Nine years later, the team has become a part of the community and a perennial playoff participant.................................................. Joe Pietaro Shea Swan Song 04/10/08 Baseball in April is always special, and the home opener is a day that breathes new life into the players and fans alike. Trying to forget about the Mets’ September collapse was made easier by the return of baseball in New York, National League style.................................................. Joe Pietaro Yankees Staff Looking Shaky 03/28/08 All the questions could have been avoided if the Yankees just pulled the trigger on the most obvious of needs and make the deal for lefthanded starter Johan Santana.................................................. Joe Pietaro Dull Crystal 03/14/08 Spring Training may not be the World Series, but it still serves a purpose. Exhibition games are still played for a reason let it be reps for regulars or important at-bats for a player trying to grab the last spot on the roster................................................... Joe Pietaro Leading by Example 02/28/08 Taking nothing away from his 18-year career, Mike Mussina has been a quality pitcher in the American League. 250 wins, an ERA under four and over 2,500 strikeouts will give you credibility. But these are the Yankees that we're talking about......................................................... Joe Pietaro Clemens Grilled on Capitol Hill 02/18/08 After nearly five hours of testimony, both Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee appeared to be worse for wear......................................................... Joe Pietaro SuperMann 02/06/08 Glendale, AZ- Being the underdog is a familiar scenario for the New York Giants. Heading into the 2007 season without Tiki Barber, the team was not expected to qualify for the playoffs........................................................ Joe Pietaro Giants Ice Packers in OT for Super Bowl Bid 01/21/08 Even the most loyal of Giants fans have to admit that they woke up this morning and had to check the score to ensure that it wasn’t a dream........................................................ Joe Pietaro Gossage Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame 01/10/08 Being elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame is the ultimate compliment for a player. Since the first class in 1936, the names read like a ‘who’s who’ for greatness........................................................ Joe Pietaro Shedding His ‘Genius’ 01/03/08 A year ago, the entire metropolitan area media – and national, for that matter – was lauding the rookie head coach of the New York Jets.......................................................... Joe Pietaro Giants Show Their Cards 12/27/07 Say what you want about the inconsistent play of Eli Manning, the mass of injuries and the questionable calls of head coach Tom Coughlin.......................................................... Joe Pietaro Send Simon Packing 12/21/07 It didn’t make any sense when the Islanders decided to bring back Chris Simon this season after he was suspended 25 games for mauling Ryan Hollweg of the Rangers......................................................... Joe Pietaro Baseball’s Steroid Investigation No Shock 12/13/07 So we may finally have proof that Roger Clemens used performance-enhancing drugs. The long-awaited George Mitchell Report was made public on........................................................ Joe Pietaro Nets’ PG Sits Out Knick Game 12/06/07 The explanation was that All-Star point guard Jason Kidd missed Wednesday night’s 100-93 defeat at the hands of the Knicks due to a migraine, but the Nets front office is going to have the headache if the rumors are true........................................................ Joe Pietaro The Great Santana 11/30/07 Johan Santana is a difference maker, the type of player that can rejuvenate an organization that forgot their season lasted into September........................................................ Joe Pietaro Is Kellen the Long-Term Answer at QB? 11/24/07 The task at hand was not an easy one, and no one should have expected anything spectacular out of a second-year quarterback versus a 9-1 team on the road....................................................... Joe Pietaro A-Rod and Yanks Talking Reunion 11/16/07 The Yankees may have lost all the respect they almost earned for once. When third baseman Alex Rodriguez opted out of his enormous contract during Game 4 of the World Series...................................................... Joe Pietaro Knicks Climb First Mountain of Season 11/08/07 Every game is an uphill battle for the New York Knicks. After a dismal season a year ago and an offseason full of off the court issues.......................................................... Joe Pietaro Yankees Introduce Girardi as 32nd Manager 11/02/07 Nothing could take the sting away from losing a manager (and person) such as Joe Torre.......................................................... Joe Pietaro Ahead of Devils, Rangers in Early Going 10/24/07 The New York Rangers grabbed all the headlines in the offseason. Signing big ticket free agents such as Chris Drury and Scott Gomez will do that in this town........................................................... Joe Pietaro Torre Walks Away from Yankee Offer 10/19/07 After twisting in the wind since the Yankees were ousted by Cleveland in the American League Division Series, Joe Torre turned the tables on George Steinbrenner.............................................................. Joe Pietaro Giants Ready for Prime Time 10/15/07 After starting the season with two losses, the New York Giants looked like a team that had no chance to reach the playoffs.............................................................. Joe Pietaro Yanks Scalped in ALDS Opener 10/05/07 After finishing the regular season as one of the hottest teams in baseball, the Yankees had to feel confident heading into the American League Division Series............................................................. Joe Pietaro Jets Look to Stay on Track 09/28/07 0-2 is not a death sentence, even in the competitive short regular season that is the NFL............................................................. Joe Pietaro Avoiding the Collapse 09/22/07 A seven game lead with 17 to go seemed to be quite a cushion, even for a team that had not been playing its best baseball............................................................. Joe Pietaro Starting QBs Questionable After Week 1 Injuries 09/14/07 The game of football is a rough, contact sport. Injuries are part of the equation and must be expected throughout the season............................................................. Joe Pietaro Giants Stare Down Cowboys in Opener 09/07/07 Some match-ups just work regardless of when they take place. Take the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys, for instance............................................................ Joe Pietaro Eddie Griffin - What Could Have Been 08/31/07 A life cut short is always a sad story. Regardless if someone was a basketball player or fan, to die at the young age of 25 cannot be viewed as anything else but a tragedy.............................................................. Joe Pietaro Prince of The Pitch 08/25/07 It might not be baseball or football just yet. The sport of soccer has a long way to go in terms of popularity in the United States..................................................................... Joe Pietaro Bills to Pay and Fish to Fry 08/18/07 AFC East: Top Heavy or 4-Way Battle? Jets Look to Fly High with Revis in the Fold...................................................................... Joe Pietaro Bonds Hammers His Way into the Record Books 08/11/07 The look on his face was one of exuberance, relief and satisfaction...................................................................... Joe Pietaro Kids in the Hall 08/03/07 Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn were used to being in front of large crowds. Playing for a combined 41 years during their careers (including three different World Series), large masses of cheering humanity came natural to them. Until Sunday, that is...................................................................... Joe Pietaro Glavine Wins Number 299 with 6-3 Decision 07/27/07 When the Mets signed Tom Glavine as a free agent in 2003, they knew that they were acquiring a future Hall of Famer...................................................................... Joe Pietaro Ex-Yank Accuses Torre of Racism 07/18/07 There are reasons why talented athletes are traded numerous times during their career....................................................................... Joe Pietaro Clean Slate in Second Half 07/10/07 The Long Island Ducks had a good first half, but not good enough. Leading the North Division for a good part of the season, they won only three of their last 10 games to bow out of the top spot...................................................................... Joe Pietaro Bold Moves by Isiah Strengthen Knicks 07/04/07 Isiah Thomas had to do something to make a splash. After having the Chicago Bulls swap picks with his team from 23 to nine from the Eddy Curry trade................................................................................... Joe Pietaro Jets' Veteran Sparring With Contract Situation 06/28/07 Jets’ head coach Eric Mangini is not a man of many words. Anyone witnessing his briefings to the press can attest to that........................................................................................ Joe Pietaro Brooklyn Cyclones Open Things Up in Style 06/20/07 Coney Island has a carnival atmosphere to begin with. And the Brooklyn Cyclones did not miss a beat with their home opener on Tuesday night at Keyspan Park....................................................................................... Joe Pietaro Early Season Test 06/14/07 There is never a good time to lose five straight games is. But some are worse than others and that is the situation for the New York Mets....................................................................................... Joe Pietaro Mets Fly Catchers Are Dropping Like Flies 06/08/07 Besides suffering their first three-game losing streak of the season, the Mets lost more than a ballgame on Wednesday night at Shea Stadium...................................................................................... Joe Pietaro Garcia Has Dragons Fired Up 06/03/07 Aaron Garcia has meant so much to the New York Dragons over the years. But perhaps nothing can be compared to this season..................................................................................... Joe Pietaro The Boss Speaks 05/28/07 Years ago, it was commonplace for New York Yankees’ owner George Steinbrenner to make statements to the media..................................................................................... Joe Pietaro Rookie Righty Rescues Bombers 05/21/07 Things seemed bleak for the Yankees prior to the third game of this year’s installment of the Subway Series.................................................................................... Joe Pietaro Early Start Dooms Long Island Ducks 05/16/07 The Long Island Ducks introduced a new starting time for weeknight games on Tuesday at Citibank Park when they hosted the Somerset Patriots................................................................................... Joe Pietaro Yanks' Rotation Gets a Boost with Clemens Announcement 05/09/07 The sideshow otherwise known as the New York Yankees proved once again that they do everything with a little flair.................................................................................. Joe Pietaro Deuces are Wild 05/02/07 Madison Square Garden was ablaze once again on Tuesday night as the Rangers held on for a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres to even their Eastern Conference Semifinals series at two games apiece.................................................................................. Joe Pietaro A Dinosaur of a Task Ahead 04/27/07 With the Knicks once again leaving their fans thirsty at the playoff watering hole, basketball fans in New York have two choices. Turn on sitcom reruns during the NBA post-season or become followers of the New Jersey Nets................................................................................. Joe Pietaro Blueshirts Give Atlanta a Thrashing 04/19/07 What a difference a year makes. In the opening round of the 2005-06 NHL Playoffs, the New York Rangers were on the short end of a three games to none deficit.................................................................................. Joe Pietaro 7-Run Eighth Inning Caps Off Amazin’s Come Back 04/10/07 A record crowd of 56, 227 packed a chilly Shea Stadium to cheer on the Mets in their home opener on Monday afternoon................................................................................. Joe Pietaro Mets Get Measure of Revenge in St. Louis 04/02/07 Game 7. NLCS. Shea Stadium. Everything was lined up with a raucous sell-out crowd gearing up for a trip to the World Series................................................................................. Joe Pietaro Fonzie Rides into Long Island 03/18/07 You can’t go home again. That old saying did not ring true when the Long Island Ducks announced recently that they acquired infielder Edgardo Alfonzo................................................................................ Joe Pietaro The Drive for the Honda Classic 03/08/07 A picturesque Florida golf course. Sunny skies overlooking the green grass. The competitors all looking to take home the hardware............................................................................... Joe Pietaro Snow Storm at the NHL Trading Deadline 03/02/07 Speculation approaching the February 27 NHL trading deadline was that the New York Islanders were going to be sellers instead of buyers.............................................................................. Joe Pietaro Home Style Win Over Magic, 100-94 02/21/07 The first game back after the NBA All-Star break. All the glitz and lights of Las Vegas Boulevard have faded and it’s back to business and the daily grind............................................................................. Joe Pietaro With Yanks’ Impending Changes, 2009 Will Bring More 02/14/07 All things must pass. Learn to love change. Whatever saying you want to use, it may pertain to the Yankees............................................................................ Joe Pietaro Indy knocks off Chicago, 29-17, for Super Bowl 02/06/07 Fever pitch. Dolphin Stadium was ready to explode with anticipation of the opening kick-off........................................................................... Joe Pietaro Rangers’ Captain Speaks Up and Steps Up 01/27/07 Jaromir Jagr has gone through his illustrious career as a superstar. Throughout his tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins, he even had times when he shined as bright as the great Mario Lemieux.......................................................................... Joe Pietaro Road Weary Titans Await Home Opener 01/14/07 Lacrosse is a huge sport in New York, especially out on Long Island. Through youth organizations, high school, and college......................................................................... Joe Pietaro Knicks Fightin’ Mad (& Bad) 12/18/06 Maybe this is one way of taking some of the attention away from the growing list of New York Knicks bad performances at home......................................................................... Joe Pietaro Another Southpaw to Come Aboard the Gotham Express? 12/12/06 The recent baseball meetings in Orlando had a few moments of excitement around the baseball map........................................................................ Joe Pietaro Giants losing grip on season with 4 game skid 12/03/06 They hired him to be the disciplinarian they didn’t have in Jim Fassel. He was supposed to come in here and right the ship and not allow any distractions from the locker room affect the team’s play on Sundays....................................................................... Joe Pietaro A look back at what has made it special 11/24/06 Thanksgiving time conjures up memories from all walks of life. And sports are no exception...................................................................... Joe Pietaro Young guns gettin' it done for the Knicks 11/20/06 Their record may not show it. And the casual follower may scoff at the notion..................................................................... Joe Pietaro Strong Island tips off in their second ABA season 11/17/06 In their inaugural season, the Strong Island Sound made a lot of noise................................................................. Joe Pietaro Seeing Red 11/09/06 What a difference a year makes. Maybe. We’ll see after the big Thursday night match-up on ESPN, which pits the Cinderella team from Rutgers against the Louisville Cardinals. Both teams are 8-0 so far in the NCAA season......................................................................... Joe Pietaro T.O. should just GO! 11/06/06 What exactly was Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones thinking when he took on the dependent known as Terrell Owens?........................................................................ Joe Pietaro Will the Knicks knock their knack? 11/01/06 The 2006-07 New York Knicks are looking to erase the nightmare that was last year and hope that all these fresh starts transcend into wins........................................................................ Joe Pietaro Jets reach last season’s win mark after Week 7 10/25/06 Herman Edwards had success during his five-year Jet tenure........................................................................ Joe Pietaro Mets dealt a losing hand by Cards in NLCS 10/22/06 So now that it's all over and Mets were sent home by the Redbirds, what do we take away from it?....................................................................... Joe Pietaro By George, Torre Will Return 10/17/06 Maybe the winning has become so frequent that it is a shock when they lose. The New York Yankees have not been the most successful franchise in sports for nothing....................................................................... Joe Pietaro DiPietro pulled after 6 goals in Isles opener 10/10/06 On the heels of Wang inking goalie Rick DiPietro to a 15-year contract, the young netminder was shelled for six goals in Phoenix before being mercifully pulled by new head coach Ted Nolan...................................................................... Joe Pietaro A Giant Letdown 10/07/06 No one said that it was going to be easy. As soon as the NFL schedules were released, the first three games for the New York Giants stood out..................................................................... Joe Pietaro Mets Ace Breaking Down In Year Two of Deal 10/02/06 When the New York Mets signed right handed pitcher Pedro Martinez in the winter of 2004 to a four-year $53 million dollar contract, speculation was that it was a two-year investment with an added two with a gamble.................................................................... Joe Pietaro The 'Bridge' to the Championship 09/29/06 This is the way it should be. Two rivals fighting it out all summer in both halves, with one team winning the first and the other taking the second................................................................... Joe Pietaro Mets Clinch the Old Fashioned Way, Yanks Back In 09/25/06 The inevitable happened this past week. Both the Mets and Yankees clinched their respective divisions, assuring themselves home field advantage in the Divisional Series.................................................................. Joe Pietaro Mets and Yankees Waiting for Their First Opponents 09/20/06 By both New York baseball teams having the luxury of basically sitting back and watching, the Wild Card races in Major League Baseball have gone on quite well without either team.................................................................. Joe Pietaro Some NY Sports Heroes Have A Story Too 09/15/06 If you haven't seen the movie 'Invincible' starring Mark Wahlberg as Philadelphia Eagle Vince Papale, you're doing yourself a disservice.................................................................. Joe Pietaro Yanks well on their way 09/12/06 What appeared to be a fight to the finish will end up a one horse race. September will not be the same as the Yankees pulled away from the Boston Red Sox towards the end of August................................................................. Joe Pietaro Mets still looking for their first franchise no-hitter 09/08/06 Think of all the great names that have stood upon the pitcher’s mound at Shea Stadium................................................................ Joe Pietaro Are you ready for some football (changes)? 09/05/06 It used to be that you needed a program to find out all the roster changes on the teams in the first week of the NFL season............................................................... Joe Pietaro Add another to Pavano’s laundry list of injuries 08/30/06 Talk about one of your all-time busts. Fortunately for the Yankees, they have overcome it and have the money to spare.............................................................. Joe Pietaro Back end of both NY clubs' rotations give glimmers of hope 08/25/06 Being one of the weakest part of practically every team in baseball, the number four and five starters of both the Mets and Yankees have been a mystery at times, and a disaster at others............................................................. Joe Pietaro Mets and Yanks could give NY another Subway Series 08/22/06 What would be better in this thrilling New York baseball summer than topping it off with a Subway Series?............................................................ Joe Pietaro LaVar Arrington and Big Blue look to repeat 08/16/06 The Giants kick off their 2006 season on September 10th against the Indianapolis Colts in primetime for the return of NFL action on NBC............................................................ Joe Pietaro Mets set-up men become paramount 08/12/06 Mets General Manager Omar Minaya had some potential deals on the table during the weekend of the Major League Baseball trading deadline........................................................... Joe Pietaro Jets prepare for season with a new outlook 08/06/06 After last season's 4-12 disappointment, the Jets are looking for a fresh start with their new hierarchy.......................................................... Joe Pietaro Pull the trigger, Omar 07/30/06 The Major League Baseball non-waiver trading deadline is approaching. Come Monday July 31st, there may be a lot of player movement. Who will be the sellers and who will be the buyers?......................................................... Joe Pietaro Islanders shake-up gives Garth the GM seat 07/25/06 Does Garth Snow know what he is getting himself into? Going from the back-up goalie to General Manager is not the usual move......................................................... Joe Pietaro Long Island Ducks clinch another playoff spot 07/21/06 With the Long Island Ducks clinching the North Division First Half championship recently, it will be their third consecutive post-season appearance........................................................ Joe Pietaro Just a few thoughts (Part 7) 07/17/06 Talk about a lousy birthday. On the Fourth of July, George “The Boss” Steinbrenner turns 76 years young and the Yankees get clobbered 19-1 by the Indians in his home town of Ohio....................................................... Joe Pietaro Mets recall their Double-A phenom pitcher 07/12/06 How much longer could the Mets have delayed the inevitable? The back end of their starting rotation has been a mess basically the entire season...................................................... Joe Pietaro 252 million reasons to boo 07/05/06 Alex Rodriguez put himself in a no-win situation by becoming a New York Yankee..................................................... Joe Pietaro Rough homecoming for Pedro 07/01/06 Pedro Martinez made a triumphant return to Fenway Park on Wednesday evening when he started the middle game of a three-game interleague series.................................................... Joe Pietaro Maybe soccer isn’t our game after all 06/26/06 The whole world calls soccer their national game besides one country.................................................... Joe Pietaro Ducks’ newest star goes yard in first place showdown 06/22/06 Juan Gonzalez has hit many big home runs throughout his 16-year major league career................................................... Joe Pietaro Mets, Yanks and Ducks start off hot 06/19/06 The baseball season may only be approximately one third old and summer has not officially started, but our local baseball teams are all playing well enough to think big.................................................. Joe Pietaro Multi-agency investigation to clean up baseball 06/13/06 First we had Congress holding hearings on Capitol Hill last year................................................. Joe Pietaro The 2006 World Cup and its impact on sports 06/09/06 International sports. The Mecca of global domination. Sure, the Olympics are a great measuring stick for individual and team sports................................................ Joe Pietaro Give Milledge a ‘High-5’ 06/07/06 Give Lastings Milledge a break, Willie Randolph. I know that you come from the ‘corporate’ Yankees, and have their mentality of ‘act like you have been there.’............................................... Joe Pietaro Bryan Trottier once again an Islander 06/05/06 The full page ad the other day in New York Newsday said it all- Welcome home Bryan. One of the all-time great New York Islanders, Bryan Trottier, is back with the team............................................... Joe Pietaro Mr. Bonds’ first and only visit to Shea this weekend 06/03/06 The San Francisco Giants are coming to town this weekend for a three game series against the first-place New York Mets.............................................. Joe Pietaro My memories at Shea 05/30/06 Badly in need of a new place to play, the New York Mets announced that they will build a brand new ballpark in the shadows of Shea Stadium, to be ready by opening day 2009............................................. Joe Pietaro The homer explosion and baseball's ignorance 05/26/06 A few years before the Mark McGwire-Sammy Sosa home run derby in 1998, the long ball had become chic............................................ Joe Pietaro Mets and Yanks on the trading hot seat 05/24/06 We haven't even reached Memorial Day and both New York baseball teams are at a crossroads in the season........................................... Joe Pietaro Willie Randolph and his questionable decisions 05/21/06 Monday morning quarterbacks are a dime a dozen. It’s easy to critique a move or non-move when the game is over.......................................... Joe Pietaro Jorge keeps us on edge game after game 05/19/06 The off-season trade for starter Kris Benson to the Baltimore Orioles for reliever Jorge Julio has been criticized since it was first rumored......................................... Joe Pietaro Larry Brown saga is even surprising for these Knicks 05/17/06 When you thought you had seen it all, the New York Knicks even trump themselves. What was promoted as a coup and a master-mind decision by General Manager Isiah Thomas only one year ago is now blowing up in his face........................................ Joe Pietaro The ‘Baby Bombers’ of Staten Island 05/14/06 They are called the ‘Baby Bombers.’ The Staten Island Yankees are accumulating titles just as the parent club has....................................... Joe Pietaro Mets Single-A affiliate is a real home town team 05/11/06 When the New York Mets placed one of their minor league teams in Coney Island in 2001, everyone knew it was a brilliant idea...................................... Joe Pietaro Yankees manager is one special New Yorker 05/09/06 When people hear the name Joe Torre, they immediately think of what a great manager he has been for the New York Yankees..................................... Joe Pietaro Just a few thoughts (Part 6) 05/06/06 Scott Kazmir pitches another gem against the Boston Red Sox, this time beating their ace, Curt Schilling.................................... Joe Pietaro Ducks ready to go in season number seven 05/02/06 Hard to believe that this is already the seventh season of Long Island Ducks baseball. What started out as a 'maybe' in 2000 has turned out to be one of the most popular attractions on the island................................... Joe Pietaro Jets shore up their 'O' line in draft 04/30/06 With so many holes to fill on both sides of the ball, the New York Jets and their new front office really couldn't make a mistake whichever way they went in the 2006 NFL Draft. Let me rephrase that.................................. Joe Pietaro A Jolly Green Decision 04/28/06 The new hierarchy of the New York Jets only has a few days left on vacation. Not in the literal sense, but from the scour of the media and their long, suffering fans................................. Joe Pietaro The Knicks and the parting facade 04/26/06 The other day, the New York Knicks closed shop for the year with a big family hug................................ Joe Pietaro Collapse as big as the Empire State Building? 04/23/06 The New York Rangers are going to leave their die-hard fans as blue as their hockey sweaters if they don’t wake up fast.............................. Joe Pietaro Rest of the Flock 04/19/06 I wrote an earlier article about the Long Island Ducks’ fan-voted list of “The Flock Top 15.” At the time it was written, numbers 15 through five were named............................. Joe Pietaro Strong Island ousted by SoCal in ABA 04/16/06 The Strong Island Sound ran out of magic. After winning 10 consecutive games and reaching the Final Four of the ABA in their inaugural season............................ Joe Pietaro Mets Warm Their Fans on a Chilly Day 04/14/06 Ah. Opening day. A fan's delight after suffering through meaningless spring training games that were finished with Double A players............................ Joe Pietaro Yankees and Mets and All The Early Hype 04/11/06 Baseball in New York. It’s as old as the game itself. Gotham rules America's Pastime in the Golden Age of baseball, cornering the market with the New York Yankees, Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants............................ Joe Pietaro “…And Carry a Big Stick.” 04/08/06 The famous quote from Teddy Roosevelt, “Talk softly and carry a big stick: you will go far,” may not be the rallying cry of the Long Island Rough Riders............................ Joe Pietaro When the Games Were on Channel 9 04/06/06 Remembering back when I was a kid, there was no cable television, satellite dishes and other modern day conveniences........................... Joe Pietaro Pavano and Wright - Yankee Busts 04/02/06 When the New York Yankees signed free agent right handed starting pitchers Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright to long term contracts in the winter of 2004, the reviews were mixed.......................... Joe Pietaro Dragons Weather the (Indoor) Storm 03/30/06The New York Dragons of the Arena Football League have had their share of problems so far this season. Similar to the New York Jets, they have lost their starting and back-up quarterbacks to season-ending injuries......................... Joe Pietaro The Madness of March Marches On 03/26/06 It happens every spring. We get ready for the NCAA Tournament by filling out our brackets and try to figure out the inevitable upsets. And we're always shocked when they happen........................ Joe Pietaro The NY Nets closed out the ABA in style 03/24/06 This season marks the 30th anniversary of the 1975-76 New York Nets winning the last ABA championship. One of the 'outlaw' league's premiere franchises captured the crown that closed the book on the ABA before the merger with the NBA....................... Joe Pietaro Shooting Star (bury) 03/21/06 It comes as no surprise that the feud has taken center stage in this dismal Knicks season. Head Coach Larry Brown and Point Guard Stephon Marbury have taken it to the next level...................... Joe Pietaro Just a few thoughts (Part 5).....03/19/06 The USA gets more lives than Morris the Cat and still cannot advance to the Final 4 in the WBC. They did not play hard and the teams that beat them did. End of story..................... Joe Pietaro Steroids, Gambling and America's Pastime 03/16/06 Barry Bonds has been raked over the coals with the pending release of a 'tell all' book on his steroid use..................... Joe Pietaro The Jets and their quarterback situation 03/13/06 The Jets recently restructured quarterback Chad Pennington’s contract to give them some salary cap relief. But it was clear that the new administration is not huge supporters of the incumbent, who is rehabbing from his second shoulder surgery.................... Joe Pietaro The World Baseball Classic- good idea, bad execution? 03/10/06 The World Baseball Classic tournament has received a lot of criticism. Some of it is warranted, but it became overkill on the New York sports talk airwaves................... Joe Pietaro Long Island Ducks on the hardwood, too 03/07/06 Recently I wrote a column on the Long Island Ducks hockey team from 1959-1973. Some people may have been surprised that there was a team with that name before the baseball team that exists today.................. Joe Pietaro Long Island Ducks on Ice 03/06/06 The Long Island Ducks were launched in the year 2000 as an independent minor league baseball team in the Atlantic League................. Joe Pietaro Bright lights on Broadway 03/01/06 The New York Rangers embark on the second half of the NHL regular season after heading into the Olympic break leading the Atlantic Division with 78 points................ Joe Pietaro Just a few thoughts (Part 4)..... 02/27/06 One thing that really bugs me is a guy misses his first free throw and his teammates all make it a point to come give him 'five'. What does that represent? ................ Joe Pietaro "That's Yankee-land" 02/25/06 The small quote from Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman, "That's Yankee-land", says it all. Another Spring Training camp, another controversy. What would Yankee fans do without one?................ Joe Pietaro Steph and “Franchise”- can they co-exist? 02/23/06 The Knicks recent trade of Trevor Ariza and Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway to the Orlando Magic for Steve Francis will bring up the question that will be asked over and over- can Francis and Stephon Marbury survive together?................ Joe Pietaro Just a few thoughts (Part 3)..... 02/19/06 The Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers now have 'one for the thumb'. The Seattle Seahawk fans would like to give the officials one of those digits on their hands in appreciation for the hard work that they put in calling a fair game. And believe me it isn't a thumbs up................ Joe Pietaro Getting to the top of the Flock 02/16/06 The Long Island Ducks held a vote on their web site for the fans to pick their choices for “The Flock Top 15”. Over their six years in existence, the Ducks have had many fan favorites and colorful players. The players are announced weekly on the Ducks web site................ Joe Pietaro New York Knicks - Curry-Goat 02/13/06 The Knicks have been looking for that big man in the middle since Patrick Ewing left. Eddy Curry was acquired to fill that hole. He has been too inconsistent for the first half of this season to be considered that player............... Joe Pietaro The New York Jets go 'thirty-something' 02/10/06 The Jets have swept the plate clean and are looking for a fresh start. When you finish 4-12 and have as many question marks as they do right now, that’s not exactly a bad thing. This group definitely fits the old saying- the new ‘kids’ on the block............... Joe Pietaro Will the Islanders head east? 02/07/06 Charles Wang has tried to make changes and improvements for a while now. The owner of the New York Islanders wanted to update the current facility, the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum............... Joe Pietaro Long Island’s ABA basketball team that you’ve probably never heard of 02/04/06 There’s a professional minor league sports franchise on Long Island that offers a family friendly atmosphere, affordable tickets, free parking, in-game promotions, approachable players who are happy to sign autographs, and a mascot that is a large bird.............. Joe Pietaro Just a few thoughts (Part 2)..... 02/03/06 So Braden Looper has moved on to the Cardinals. He'll be replacing the boo-birds for red birds. I'm sure the Metropolitan faithful are checking their pocket schedules for his first visit to Shea. I'll save you the trouble. Mark down August 22nd. Don't get all hoarse too soon. Kaz needs a little lovin’ from you too............... Joe Pietaro Dragons clawed by Kats in season opener 57-28 01/31/06 The New York Dragons were looking for a fast start to the AFL season in defense of their 3 straight division titles. They welcomed the Nashville Kats to the Nassau Coliseum on Saturday night for their season opener in front of 11,126 fans. Too bad the crashers ruined the party.............. Joe Pietaro The Mets pitching staff- do they have enough? 01/28/06 With the recent trades of starting pitchers Jae Seo and Kris Benson, many people have asked the question if the New York Mets may have traded away an area of strength to clog their middle relief with a bunch of question marks. Have they overcompensated by cutting their nose off to spite their face?.............. Joe Pietaro Just a Few Thoughts 01/27/06 Well, the big game is approaching. Break out the junk food and cold beverages for another Super Sunday. Too bad the real football fans and the players have to take a back seat to rock stars performing a ridiculously long halftime concert, a bunch of stupid commercials, and pool boxes being cared about more than who won. What happened to the marching bands?.............. Joe Pietaro
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
