Results tagged “sports”

• Bucks 102, Knicks 87: Where to begin on this one? The Bucks shot 74 percent from the floor. They went on a 23-2 early to ice the game .They outscored the Knicks, 40-22, in the first quarter. Brandon Jennings, whom the Knicks passed over for Jordan Hill, had 22 points and eight rebounds. David Lee's 18 points led the Knicks, now 1-6 and losers of three straight.
Continue reading "Last Night's Action: So How Bad Are the Knicks?"

The last time the Chargers came to New York the result was the infamous “Snowball Game”. While there is no snow in the forecast, Giants fans are in an ugly mood, thanks to a three-game losing streak. In many ways this team is facing its first real crisis point since Week 15 in 2007 when they had to beat the Bills to make the playoffs.

• Cavaliers 100, Knicks 91: Is finishing within nine points of the Cavaliers a moral victory. What about holding LeBron James to 33 after he scored 53 in his final trip in the building last year. To answer the first question, not when the team trailed by 23 at the half. As for the second, James shot 12-for-17, had eight rebounds and nine assists, so he was hardly in check. Larry Hughes had 18 (Larry Hughes!) and David Lee led the Knicks with 21. The Knicks, now 1-5, have Milwaukee on the road on Saturday.

The Rangers don't travel out to Edmonton every year, so when they do, they like to take advantage. They did just that in a 4-2 win over the Oilers on Wednesday. Ales Kotalik had a goal and two assists as the Rangers snapped a four-game losing streak away from Madison Square Garden. Marian Gaborik, Christopher Higgins and Ryan Callahan also scored for the Blueshirts, who faced Tom Renney, an Edmonton assistant, for the first time since they fired him last season. Both of Higgins' goals this season have come in the last two games.

     

Yankees 7, Phillies 3: For the first time since 2000 and the 27th time in franchise history, the New York Yankees are the World Champions of baseball. The Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies four games to two behind the bat of Hideki Matsui and the solid pitching of Andy Pettitte. Matsui was 3-4 in the game, including two two-RBI hits off Phillies starter Pedro Martinez and two more RBI against Phillies reliever Chad Durbin.

Vancouver 4 Rangers 1: New York’s trip our west started off badly. Against a depleted Vancouver club, the Rangers were outshot and out worked as they gave up three goals in the third period. The game featured two major altercations in the third period, which the league will almost certainly have something to say about. The lone bright spot for New York was Christopher Higgins scoring his first goal of the season. A lot was expected from Higgins this year, so maybe this will get him back on track.

Now that the World Series will see at least a Game 6, we have another day to enjoy Yankees fans talking smack about the Phillies and Phillies fans ridiculing the Yankees. Last night, the Daily Show tackled the rivalries that New York and Philadelphia fans have with each other in the Clash of the Cretins (yes, there was a woman with a Jagermeister thong outside her jeans—and she also had a "tramp stamp").

In the wake of Meb Keflezighi's stunning NYC Marathon victory on Sunday — the first win by an American citizen since 1982 — a battle has erupted in the running world over whether or not the Eritrean-born athlete qualifies as an American runner. Though he didn't start training or running competitively until he immigrated to the United States at age 12, many claim the Keflezighi should be considered an East African runner because of his heritage, the Times reports.

• Philadelphia 8 Yankees 6: AJ Burnett went on three-days rest and he blew up in a huge way. Burnett couldn’t record an out in the third and he ended up surrendering six runs, the big blow coming on a three-run homer from Chase Utley. The Yankees actually had a chance in the ninth. Trailing by three runs, they put the first two runners on, but Derek Jeter grounded into a double play, which did score a run. Johnny Damon singled and Mark Teixeira came up as the tying run, but struck out to send the series back to the Bronx.

You know that the Yankees are thrilled to be in the World Series, but the Knicks should be equally thrilled that the Yankees made it. The World Series is distracting attention from their miserable start. Last night may have included a great fourth quarter comeback, but the fact remains that the Knicks allowed Philadelphia to shoot an astounding 61% from the field. Even the most optimistic Knicks’ fan has to realize the bitter truth- LeBron isn’t going to come to this team unless something radical changes.

For the first time in 27 years, an American man has won the NYC Marathon. Meb Keflezighi — who achieved Olympic bronze in Athens — crossed the line at 2:09:15. The 5-foot-5½, 122-pound Eritrean immigrant set a personal best in his 13th NYC Marathon, crossing the line about 40 seconds ahead of second-place finisher.

• Yankees 8, Phillies 5: Things looked bleak when Andy Pettitte gave up three runs in the second inning. But Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run homer in the fourth that was originally ruled a double, but then reversed by the umpires with instant replay, and then the Yankees -- helped by an Andy Pettitte RBI single -- scored three in the fifth. They added a run each in the sixth, seventh and eighth and now own a two games to one lead in the World Series. Hideki Matsui and Nick Swisher also had homers, and Johnny Damon had a critical two-run double.

The Giants are at a big point in their season. After a 5-0 start, built mostly against inferior teams, they have lost two straight to good teams. Now, they have to head down to Philadelphia for a game with the Eagles, the team that knocked them out of the playoffs at home last year. A win would restore confidence that New York is a playoff-caliber team while a loss, and the upcoming schedule, would threaten to send the team into a spiral. So the stakes are high and when you add in the fact that the Philadelphia crowd will be in a New York-hating frenzy, this should be a very good game.

• Bobcats 102, Knicks 100 (2 OT): A rally from a 21-point deficit and a 14-point margin at the start of the fourth quarter didn't give the Knicks anything more than a moral victory. They didn't lead until the second overtime, but some shaky defense gave the game to the Bobcats. Chris Duhon played 55 minutes. Danilo Gallinari had 16 off the bench, and Nate Robinson had 17 before fouling out. David Lee had the line of the game with 17 points and 18 rebounds. This game won't score any style points, but it did provide late drama. The Knicks open their home campaign Saturday against Philadelphia.
Continue reading "Last Night's Action: Knicks Drop A Heartbreaker"

• Yankees 3 Phillies 1: The Yankees gave AJ Burnett a lot of money this offseason to pitch in big games and he delivered on Thursday night. Burnett, who would have had a shutout with better defense, allowed only one run over seven innings and struck out nine. Pedro Martinez almost matched him, but he was touched up for two home runs, one by Mark Teixeira that tied the game at 1 and one by Hideki Matsui that put New York up 2-1.

• Philadelphia 6 Yankees 1: The Yankees looked like a team totally overwhelmed by circumstances while Cliff Lee looked like Orel Hershiser in 1988. CC Sabathia was good, allowing only two runs, both solo shots to Chase Utley, but Lee was much better. He dominated the Yankees, going the distance and he probably would have had a shutout if Jimmy Rollins hadn’t airmailed a throw in the ninth. The Yankees bullpen imploded in the 8th and 9th with Phil Hughes and Brian Bruney the chief culprits. New York will have to hope for a better result against Pedro Martinez in Game 2.

   

The Yankees are headed to their 40th World Series, but they will have to beat the defending-champion Phillies in order to capture their 27th crown. The Phillies are battle-tested and have a lineup that can belt it out of the park. Four different hitters had more than 30 home runs and the Phillies made quick work of their first two playoff opponents, losing only two games along the way.

For basketball fans in New York, the upcoming NBA season is really all about next year. July 1, 2010, to be precise; the exact moment when free agents like LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh hit the market. It’s a strange year because you won’t have much to root for and apart from a few core players; the Knicks and Nets will be willing to trade away players in exchange for cap space next summer. And don’t forget Knicks’ fans, former GM Isiah Thomas traded away the 2010 number one pick for Stephon Marbury, so the draft lottery isn’t a possibility.

Rangers 5 Phoenix 2: New York got back on track, thanks to two goals from Marian Gaborik, but Gaborik also had to leave the game in the third period with an obvious limp. Gaborik stressed after the game that the injury he suffered had nothing to do with previous injuries that limited him in the past few years. But, he wasn’t sure when he would return to the ice. Vinny Prospal added a goal and two assists while Enver Lisin had two points.
Montreal 3 Islanders 2 (OT): Jeff Tambellini’s second goal of the night tied the game late in the third, but the Canadiens scored in OT to send New York home with a loss, but a point.

Joe Girardi has managed the ALCS erratically from pulling relievers at odd times to leaving starters in too long. But one thing he got right was starting CC Sabathia on three-days rest for Game 4, a move that worked out perfectly and put the Yankees in control of this series. And that is why he should turn to a fully rested Sabathia tonight to try and put the Yankees back into the World Series for the first time in six years.

• New Jersey 4 Pittsburgh 1: The Devils did what only one other team has accomplished this year- they beat the Penguins. Mark Frasier got things going with a goal in the first and Martin Brodeur stopped 32-of-33 shots to make Pittsburgh 9-and-2.
• Montreal 5 Rangers 4 (OT): New York blew 3-1 and 4-2 leads as the Canadiens stormed back and earned the win in extra time. Scott Gomez had two assists in his first game as a Canadien against the Rangers and New York now has a three-game losing streak.
• Washington 3 Islanders 2 (OT): Maybe it’s a New York thing? The Islanders also blew a two-goal lead as the Capitals scored twice in the third period and then again in OT to earn the two points.

The Giants will try and right the ship after last week’s humiliation at the hands of the Saints when they face the defending NFC champs, Arizona, on Sunday night. Arizona has a dangerous passing game, with three very good wide receivers in Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Bolden and Steve Breaston, but there running game has been mediocre at best. That should allow the Giants to put more defenders into coverage and hopefully, get C.C. Brown the help he needs

• Angels 7 Yankees 6: The Yankees overcame a miserable start by A.J. Burnett only to have their bullpen give the game away. New York put the first two runners on in the first, but failed to score while the Angels jumped all over A.J. Burnett for four runs in their half of the inning. And that’s exactly where things remained until the seventh. With two outs, Mark Teixeira delivered a bases-loaded double to clear the bases and put the Yankees on the board. A-Rod was intentionally walked and Hideki Matsui followed with a single to tie the game. Robinson Cano followed with a triple to put New York up 6-4.

They needed until their seventh game, but the Islanders finally won a game, 4-3 over Carolina, albeit in a shootout. They also blew a two-goal lead in the third period before recovering to win the shootout. Matt Moulson, Andy Sutton and Tim Jackman each had a regulation goal. When the shootout rolled around, it was rookie John Tavares sealed it. Dwayne Roloson earned the win in net. The Islanders, now 1-3-3, travel to Montreal for Thursday's game.

• Angels 5 Yankees 4 (11 innings): Joe Girardi made some strange moves in this game, but his last move, removing David Robertson and putting Alfredo Aceves in is what ultimately lost the Yankees the game as they fell to the Angels. Aceves came in with two outs in the 11th and gave up two-straight hits, the second the game-winner, as the Angels clawed back into this series.

If you were planning on ducking out of the office to watch Game 3 of the ALCS at a bar, you could go really hardcore by taking the train to the Bronx and watching the game at Yankee Stadium. After consulting with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., the Yankees are opening the Stadium Field Level and Great Hall to the public to watch the broadcast of the game in Anaheim, which has a start time of 4:13 p.m. (EST) with Andy Pettitte pitching for the Bronx Bombers and Jared Weaver starting for the Angels.

      

The Giants were shellacked by the New Orleans Saints, with the Saints winning 48-27, while the Jets were terrible, losing to a bad Buffalo team in overtime, final score 16-13.

The Rangers have jumped out to a 7-1 start which is evoking comparisons to last year’s squad which won it’s first five games, but then faltered through the rest of the season before blowing a 3-1 lead in the playoffs. And while it is too early to predict that the 2009-10 Rangers will avoid walking the path that the 2008-09 Rangers did, some important differences have emerged.

This game took over five hours, but it leaves the Yankees in the catbird seat in the best-of-seven ALCS. Alex Rodriguez hit a game-tying homer in the bottom of the 11th. Is it safe to retire the "he's not clutch" storyline? In the 13th, the Yankees took advantage of Maicer Izturis' throwing error, as Jerry Hairston, who led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice, scored. Starters A.J. Burnett and Joe Saunders dueled to a draw, each allowing two runs. Alfredo Aceves served up the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th, but Rodriguez saved his and his teammates' bacon. Derek Jeter had a solo homer and an error that proved meaningless. Robinson Cano had an RBI triple and two errors that proved meaningless. Was this a classic, or just long?

The Giants have spent the last three weeks feasting on the dregs of the NFL. Sunday things will get much harder as they head to New Orleans for a battle with the undefeated Saints. The game marks a homecoming for Eli Manning, who grew up in the area, but has never played in the Superdome. It will also be the first meeting between the Giants and their former star, Jeremy Shockey. Shockey has always been an emotional player and you can expect him to be really amped up on Sunday.