NY Sports News

The voice of the New York Islanders during the team’s glory years, hall of fame broadcaster Jiggs McDonald is synonymous with the team’s success and is respected as much as any of the former players that held the Stanley Cup above their heads for the team. However, over the past two seasons, McDonald has had the chance to come back and do more than a handful of the team’s games, thus getting a front row seat to all of the action and has come to his own conclusions on the direction the team is going in. Chatting over the phone from his home in Florida, McDonald tells New York Sports Day what he thought of the Islanders’ season and what hockey fans should expect from them in the future.

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NEWARK, NJ - After a dramatic finish in Game 1, the Newark Bears were able to tack on late insurance runs this time to avoid having to overcome another late-inning lead. The Bears swung their way to a 10-6 victory over the Lancaster Barnstormers in Game 2 of their doubleheader. Newark got off to a quick start in the bottom of the second. Starter Tim McClaskey walked Cory Aldridge to start the inning, and then got two outs before walking Tim Sweeney. Scott Knazek made him pay by smashing a line drive over the left-center field wall for a three-run homer to give the Bears a 3-0 lead.

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Simon Leads Bears To Win in Game 1

NEWARK, NJ - Randall Simon got his first chance to be the hero for Newark in Game 1 of their doubleheader with Lancaster Barnstormers. Simon came up big in a pressure situation, singling in the winning run with the bases loaded in the bottom of the final inning to win 4-3. However, the game began with the Bears falling behind. Lancaster wasted little time getting on the board scoring in the top of the first inning. Michael Woods led-off with a double over right fielder Jose Herrera’s head. Danny Gonzalez then sacrificed Woods over to third and Brian Stavisky sent a fly ball to right field that was deep enough to score Woods.

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Jets Draft Picks Get the Green Light

HEMPSTEAD, NY - One week can make a world of a difference, especially if you happen to be one of the players selected at the NFL Draft. The whirlwind of hearing your name read on stage, to getting on the practice field for the very first time as a professional can be exhilarating, to say the least. For the six players selected by the New York Jets, it became business as usual. Last weekend, the team held their first mini camp of the offseason at Hofstra University. Vernon Gholston, the Jets’ first round pick and sixth overall, tried to keep his expectations in perspective at this early juncture. “Just to learn the system,” the former Ohio State defensive end said. “Obviously, being at rookie camp, we’re all rookies here. Some guys are fighting to make the team. The thing is to just learn and grow and to take everything you can from this.”

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Lazzari's Sports Roundup -- 5/10/2008

Looking back at last weekend's Kentucky Derby, we were reminded of the pageantry and celebratory joy so synonymous with horse racing; sadly, we were also privy to the cruel aspect of the "great sport of kings" as filly Eight Belles broke down shortly after finishing the race and was immediately euthanized. Yes, as race winner Big Brown now continues a Triple Crown quest, it's this special filly's remarkable second-place finish that I'll always remember about the '08 "Run for the Roses." Yes, she DID hang with the "big boys" and put it all on the line; my colleague Jeff Jacobs (Hartford Courant) included winning jockey Kent Desormeaux's post-race comments in a column he wrote last Sunday--with the jockey reportedly saying, "My horse showed you his heart--Eight Belles showed you her LIFE." Amen, Kent--and may this special horse's life--AND heart--never be forgotten..........

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Ducks Drop Both Games of Double Header to Crabs

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — The Ducks enjoyed an offensive explosion in Game 1 and a stellar performance from the staff ace in the nightcap of a double-header against Southern Maryland yesterday. But the Ducks still walked away empty handed. Four pitchers surrendered 13 walks to lose a slugfest in the opener and closer Joe Valentine blew his first save of the season, allowing the Blue Crabs to score two runs in the top of the ninth for a 4-3 loss in Game 2. Randy Leek did his best to fill the stopper role, giving up just two runs on five hits in 7 2/3 innings. Valentine picked up the final out in the eighth before struggling in the last frame as the Ducks were swept in the day-night twin-bill.

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Ducks Walk Into Ugly Loss in Game 1

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY - On paper, the Ducks pitching was supposed to be a huge asset entering a doubleheader against Southern Maryland. Jon Searles entered the opener with carrying a perfect earned run average through two starts. A strong bullpen also helped the Ducks compile the lowest collective ERA in the eight-team Atlantic League. But those gaudy statistics looked like an aberration after three Ducks pitchers surrendered 13 walks and 14 hits, leading to a 12-8 defeat to the Blue Crabs in the opener in the ugliest game of the season at Citibank Park. How poor was the pitching? First baseman Rob Cafiero was the most efficient Duck hurler, tossing a scoreless ninth inning in a mop-up appearance. Both teams combined for 20 walks, 28 hits and 50 base runners.

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Nothing Mystical About This Pre-Season Opener

NEW YORK - The pre-season is a time to become acclimated to players, and to see how certain players react in game conditions. Specifically, the inexperienced players, many of whom hunger for more court time. It is not a time to reflect on the won-loss record, or any silly statistic, which will have relevance at a later date. Thus, when two of a team’s better players are not even present, there will be something missing. And, that is the first dilemma that Pat Coyle encounters this season. The New York Liberty coach, now in her fifth season, was without Janel McCarville and Loree Moore for the matinee against the Washington Mystics but, given its lack of importance, didn’t fret too much. “We have the bulk of our players coming back,” noted Coyle, “and we have added solid pieces to the mix. Last year was last year; this is a totally different team. It will be interesting to see how quickly we can [gel] together.”

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Avery Ok As Rangers Break Up

GREENBURGH, NY – If the Rangers advanced to a Game 7 tomorrow night in Pittsburgh, Sean Avery said he would be there. “I was ready to play tonight,” he said, “if they would have let me.” Probably not, and the loss in Game 5 made it a moot point. With the Rangers now packing their things for the summer, Avery - fresh out of the hospital with a ruptured spleen – joined his teammates in exit interviews with the coaches and the media. “We came into this year with high expectations,” Avery reflected. “Unfortunately it didn’t work out that way. We were beaten by a team with tremendous young players who outworked us. It sucks. There’s nothing fun about that. On good teams you use that as motivation. That’s what it has to be, motivation and over the summer whoever is going to be a Ranger has to use that.”

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Lazzari's Sports Roundup - 5/3/2008

A message for N.Y. Mets fans: If some of the veterans on that team had aged like supermodel Carol Alt has over these past few years, I can almost GUARANTEE that more championship banners would be displayed throughout Flushing Meadows at this point in time..........TRIVIA QUESTION: What NHL player holds the league record for most losses in a season by a goaltender? Answer to follow..........Detroit Lions safety Kalvin Pearson was recently arrested on domestic violence charges and held without bail in Tampa. I'm just wondering if he was issued a generic prison shirt or a Cincinnati Bengals jersey..........

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Recent Features • An Offseason of Blueshirt Change - by Joe McDonald on Monday, May 5, 2008 • Wagner Scores Big Points - by Derek Felix on Friday, May 2, 2008 • With Backs To Wall Rangers Fight Back - by Joe McDonald on Friday, May 2, 2008 • Bears Open Home With 15-9 Win - by Mark Krulish on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 • Rangers Backs Against Wall - by Joe McDonald on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 • Ducks Pull Out 10-6 Win Over Bears - by Brian Bohl on Monday, April 28, 2008 • Dragons Continue to Roll - by Brian Bohl on Sunday, April 27, 2008 • Bogus call helps Crosby and Pens draw first blood - by Derek Felix on Saturday, April 26, 2008 • Ducks Open With Win - by Brian Bohl on Saturday, April 26, 2008 • Bears Open Season With Loss on LI - by Mark Krulish on Saturday, April 26, 2008 Current Mets News NY Hockey Report Pro Baseball Central SportsDay Mets Blogs SportsDay Yankees Blogs