EL BARRIO, EL BRONX – Another week is done and and another Friday night has come. Today’s topics will cover the good, the bad and as always the ugly-results for me as a sports fans. The New York Mets, NFL News, the New York Knicks, NBA News, the New York Rangers. Plenty of ugly there.
Good News: The Knicks’ season is over. The Rangers made the playoffs, Manchester United won on Wednesday and Barcelona lost.
Bad News – The Knicks will be back next season. The Rangers drew the red-hot Penguins in the 1st round of this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs. ManU won a quarterfinal of a weak FA Cup, while Barcelona lost in the Champions league. Man U’s arch rivals Manchester City made the Champions league semis and Liverpool made the Europa league semis.
The Grotesque: The Mets. They are at 4-5 despite all the hype and hope to start the season. The greater disgrace is news that the Mets took player jerseys worn during the emotional first game back at Shea Stadium after the 9/11 attacks and secretly sold them all. The game in which Mike Piazza hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves on Sept. 21, 2001. The game in which the Mets players gave hope and order back to a grieving city. Jerseys from THAT game sold off by Mets ownership-always long on greed and woefully short on class and common sense.
NFL: The LA Rams redux decided to make a big splash now that they are in LA. As if doing HBO’s Hard Knocks wasn’t enough, they made an insane trade for the First overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft. The Tennessee Titans receive the Rams 2016 15th, 43rd, 45th, 76th picks and 2017 1st Rd and 3rd Rd picks while the Rams receive Tennessee’s No. 1st, 113th, 177th picks. Yep-the Titans swiped 2 first round picks, 2 second rounders, and 2 third round picks. Considering that neither of the top two QBs available Jared Goff and Carson Wentz are considered “can’t miss,” this is clearly a desperate attempt to make a big splash in an easily bored LA market. This feels like the Ricky Williams and Herschel Walker trades all over again. It also feels like a scene right out of “Draft Day.”
New York Knicks: I would stop writing about the Knicks but I can’t help it. Just when you think they will go quietly-they don’t. Phil Jackson seems to think he is blameless. Carmelo Anthony is talking about winning now and of his window of opportunity closing. Maybe Carmelo should try and pass more and be a team guy? PFFFT!! We know that won’t happen. Send him to Cleveland or a team that needs a scorer and loafs on defense. Is it too late to send him to Chicago??
NBA: Congrats to the Golden State Warriors for topping Michael Jordan and the Bulls’ 72 win season record. Before anyone discounts this achievement, it’s worth noting that the league now has more international players than ever so the the talent pool is actually deeper than 20 years ago during Chicago’s run. The other big news is that the NBA has approved sponsor endorsements on Jerseys. You can expect other pro leagues to follow. 
New York Rangers: The Blueshirts are in trouble. Henrik is hurting, Captain Mc is still out. The window is closing on the Rangers. Lundqvist is 34. How much longer does this group have? A large number of young players have been traded and an unfortunate 1st round draw of the Penguins seems to scream “tee times” in May this year.
Come back tomorrow for Cheesy Bruin!
P.S.: I am pushing for the MtM get-together for the Summer to be a wiffle ball game with the Matts as captains and lots of day-drinking. MtM fans are welcome to be part of the game. Who is in and how do we make it happen?
