The group then traveled to Rhode Island to participate in a prep school tournament. The students and staff returned to New York City on the weekend for a round of sightseeing. Orellana said the trip had several purposes, to play basketball on U.S. soil, which most had never done, expose the youngsters to the eyes of U.S. scouts and give the players the experience of seeing New York City and the East Coast.

Orellana is an experienced basketball coach with many years of experience of coaching in the United States. He was an assistant coach at Division I colleges on both U.S. coasts, St. Francis in Brooklyn, Farleigh Dickinson in New Jersey and in California at the University of California-Irvine and the University of California-Fullerton. He also coached youngsters on the high school level and internationally in Venezuela.

In 2004, Orellana left his position in California to follow his dream of founding a basketball school overseas where he could help international players gain a scholarship to Division I colleges in the U.S. His first effort in this regard gave him the knowledge and experience to begin the Canarias Basketball Academy three years ago. Spain’s archipelago may seem a strange place to develop talented basketball players, but thus far,

Orellana has been successful. After his team’s game against Monroe, Orellana explained, “It was always a dream of mine to establish a basketball academy. We [CBA] offer an alternative to U.S. prep schools. Ninety per cent of our boys are looking for a scholarship to U.S. universities and ten per cent are hoping to play professionally in Europe. This experience has given me my greatest satisfaction. These are great kids. They have no baggage. They only want to play basketball and improve.” Approximately 30 of the 50 current students are from the United Kingdom. The director said, “We’ve had great success with U.K. players.”

The U.K.’s Danny Thompson is one of the British successes. After two years at the CBA, Thompson was given a scholarship to Fordham University in the Bronx this fall. Thompson reacted to the news with exuberance, “Everything about Fordham University excites me,…getting a world class education, living in New York City and playing in the Atlantic 10.”

He spoke with gratitude of his experience at the CBA, “My two years at CBA have been great. I can’t imagine being more prepared for the next level. I want to thank CBA for what they’ve done. People have all kinds of opinions about CBA but unless you’ve lived it, you can never understand how valuable it is.”

Thompson was joined at Fordham this season by a second CBA alum, Farho Alihodzic. The Bosnian native was a member of Great Britain’s U20 National Team. The 6-10 post-player has started several games as a Fordham freshman this season. An additional one dozen CBA students were given Division I scholarships to U.S. colleges during the past two years.

On Saturday, February 6, after a contest with Charlotte, Fordham’s head coach, Jared Grasso, spoke very enthusiastically of Orellna and the CBA, “Their coach [Orelllna] was an assistant coach when I played in the NEC. We developed a very close relationship. He does an excellent job over there. He’s very good at what he does. They hold three practices a day.”

He explained the reasons why CBA students make a fine fit at Fordham, “In Fordham, you could recruit in Europe because you can sell New York City and our fine education.” Grasso’s strongest words of praise for the CBA were, “I would send my son there.”

Last night’s game against the Islanders was a call to arms for the Rangers. Are they are a team or are they just a collection of overpaid veterans just looking to collect their check?

After benching Wade Redden and Ales Kotalik, the Rangers responded and thanks to an ill advised Islander starting of a very tired Dwayne Roloson, who gave up three goals on the Rangers first five shots in their eventual 5-2 win.

“I think, collectively, as a team, we responded well and everybody realized what they had to do,” right wing Ryan Callahan, who scored two goals in the match, said. “I think it’s a little bit of both. Obviously, Hank is the backbone of this team and he made some key saves.”

Lundqvist made sure the Rangers had a chance as he stopped the Islander onslaught during the first 10 minutes of the game when the Isles outshot the Rangers 10-1. Being up for the challenge, Lundqvist kept the Rangers in the match as his teammates got their legs.

“It’s happened a lot of times in this building,” Lundqvist said. “They come out flying and we have a tough time settling in. It was important for me personally and for the team to stay in there. I don’t know how we had the lead after the first period, but we did.”

But a win is a win and the Rangers will now move forward with maybe with a new found lease on life. There’s no word on Redden and Kotalik, both of who sat in the press box for the match. After a shouting match between the defenseman and coach John Tortorella, Redden was worked out by assistant coach Mike Sullivan and then expressed his displeasure to the media.

“Not real pleased about it, honestly,” Redden said.  “To be singled out – I know the team’s going through struggles and everyone’s got to be better.  The fact that I’m sitting out – I mean, I’m not real happy about it.”

Redden acted like he was losing money here, but let’s remember his $39 million contract will still be paid even if he’s sitting on the bench. And for him to be “singled out” is a joke, because he’s been playing this way for a year and a half.

Yet, you have to blame Sather for that signing, yet he will still get paid as well. Even though some morning show commentators were saying he was set to get canned, the Rangers president’s job is safe for now.

And you can look for Tortorella to go as well, but at least the coach has abandoned his old offense first mantra and started to do some neutral zone trapping over the past two weeks.

So, all is well for one night at least as the Rangers try to save the season. But is this just one night or a start of something big?

We will soon find out.

“This was a difficult decision, but we felt that we needed a new direction at this time,” said Fordham Director of Athletics Frank McLaughlin in a statement. He added, “It’s a priority of the University to have a successful program in the competitive Atlantic-10 Conference.”

Last season the Rams finished 3-25 overall, finishing 14^th in the conference with a 1-15 mark and failed to make the post season tournament for the first time.  That led to rumors and speculation that Whittenburg would be dismissed but he returned for a seventh season and recently signed a contract extension for another three years.

Whittenburg was hired in 2004 after leading Wagner College to their first NCAA Tournament the year before. He could not be reached for comment but sources said Whittenburg was disappointed and would release a statement soon.  Others on the Fordham campus, including alumni who are major supporters of the basketball program up at Rose Hill reportedly had been looking for Whittenburg to be dismissed.

He complied a 69-112 record with the Rams and is 136-162 overall as a head coach in eleven seasons.  Assistant coach Jared Grasso will take over as interim head coach the remainder of the season. He will guide the Rams for their next game Saturday evening up at Rose Hill when Fordham takes on Bowling Green State University.

As the Rams struggled last season there were reports that Whittenburg got into clashes with numerous players, including one of his leading scorers Chris Bethel. Regardless Fordham has difficulty when it comes to stability retaining a head coach. Whittenburg succeeded Bob Hill the highly touted NBA coach who signed a 10-year million dollar contract.

After Fordham defeated Sacred Heart up at Rose Hill two weeks ago, their first win this season. Whittenburg commented a bit about the dismal campaign last year. “We really did not have a leader and there was too much outside influences that disrupted the kids,” he said.  There were references to outside coaches who knew his players, even some family members that may have caused some dissension by being too influential.

Alumni assisted in bringing Hill to Rose Hill paying for some of his salary, and Hill after a mutual decision to leave is still being paid.  McLaughlin said an immediate search is on as to who would guide the Rams in the future and Grasso is under consideration.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

On June 12, athletic director Jim Spartano named Weimer the head baseball coach of Utica College.  Weimer, now in his fifth season of professional baseball and second with the Bluefish, is ironically amidst the best season of his career.  In 13 games, Weimer is 1-0 with a team-best 0.98 ERA and 10 strikeouts.  The new head coach has held opponents to a .217 batting average and has given up just two earned runs.

It was a tough decision, but he is confident that he has made the right choice.

“Obviously I want to keep playing because I’m pitching so well,” said Weimer.  “But at the same time, if I can’t get picked up with the numbers I’m putting up and the success I am having now then I guess it’s a good sign that the time is right.”

Coaching was something that Weimer always planned on getting involved in after his baseball career.  Despite playing professional baseball for the past five years, he has found time to be the assistant coach at Mohawk Valley Community College from 2004-2009 and he has been an instructor at the Field of Dreams athletic facility in Utica since 2003.

The Pioneers certainly can use Weimer’s pitching knowledge, as the team compiled a 7.10 ERA and a 5-27 record this year.  Junior captain and starting pitcher Chris Pallas is excited to play for the current Bluefish next year.

“I am extremely excited,” said Pallas.  “During the interview I felt he had a world of baseball knowledge and experience.  He is a great candidate for the job and I am 100% positive that he will help our pitching staff in every aspect.”

Weimer believes that his professional baseball experience is one reason why he was chosen for the job and he plans on basing his baseball philosophy on a strong pitching staff with a good defense behind them.

“I believe that if we turn the blowout games into competitive games then that’s a matter of two or three wins instead of losses next year,” said Weimer.  If we build at that rate every year then we should be a good program in the next few years.”

Assistant Coach Chris Parkinson has been in constant contact with Weimer since he took the position nearly three weeks ago.  Parkinson met with Weimer this past Monday and came away with a “great vibe.”

“He has a very calm and collective, intelligent demeanor,” said Parkinson.  “He doesn’t seem like he is going to be overly taken back or surprised by anything.”

The six-foot-two inch relief pitcher has been accustomed to getting out of jams or troublesome situations throughout his career.  Weimer was selected out of Le Moyne College in the 15^th round (428^th overall) by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 2003 Major League Baseball draft.

At Le Moyne, Weimer was 20-7 with a 2.13 ERA with 22 saves in 85 career appearances.  As a senior, he went 7-1 with a 0.74 ERA and seven saves as the Dolphins won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and earned a bid to the NCAA tournament.   Part of his success was a result of his sidearm pitching style on the mound.

Growing up, Weimer always threw sidearm when he played baseball at the park or on the playground.  It just felt natural to him.  When he arrived on campus, Weimer was not sure if he would be a shortstop or a pitcher after playing varsity baseball at New Hartford High School.

“I was a shortstop growing up so I would always throw the ball across my body,” said Weimer.  “When I pitched, I would throw more of a three-quarters angle.  The coach convinced me to throw sidearm and I picked it up immediately with instant success.”

The sidearm approach helped Weimer become a powerful closer for the New Haven County Cutters of the independent Can-Am League in 2006 and 2007 as he racked up 20 saves both years.

With the season-long struggles at the back-end of the bullpen, Weimer may begin to see more save situations the rest of the season.  For now, Weimer is just focused on finishing his last season the best he can and possibly getting one last shot at affiliated baseball.

“I never got the opportunity to play at Double-A or Triple-A which is something I really wish I had done,” said Weimer.  “But who knows, maybe in the next few months something might happen and I will definitely pursue the opportunity if given.”

Parkinson is assured that the experience Weimer is getting this year on the mound for the ‘Fish will gain him immediate respect in Utica’s clubhouse next year.

“I can assure you that he will be respected immediately just by in the way I saw his presence during the interview process, from meeting and talking to him daily and from seeing the letter he wrote to every player,” said Parkinson.

No word as of yet, who step in behind the bench, but according to multiple sources it will probably be former Tampa coach John Tortorella, with Sather trying to hammer out a deal as we speak. Newsday reports, one veteran in the locker room saying the new coach “will be a hard-ass” which will fit Tortorella’s profile and the Journal News said that Lundqvist said the team will meet the new coach tomorrow, meaning it will be someone not under contract with the Rangers right now.

According to published reports, the general manager Glen Sather decided to pull the plug this morned around 12 p.m. Renney addressed the team, and then Sather.

Renney leaves the team after five years behind the bench with a 164-121-42 record. An very organized coach, he was widely regarded as the man who turned around the franchise, by making the playoffs for the last three season. But after veterans Jaromir Jagr, and Brandan Shanahan left the club, the Blueshirts seemed directionless this season and had trouble scoring on special teams situations.

And then after going 2-7-3 in the last 11 games and falling out of the race in the East, Sather pulled the plug on Renney.

Sather will be speaking later on a conference call.

Bill Sheridan

After losing defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to the St. Louis Rams over the weekend, Tom Coughlin wasted no time naming his replacement, tabbing linebackers coach Bill Sheridan for the job.

The 50 year-old held that position for the past four seasons and working under Spagnuolo the last two years will allow him to continue the system his predecessor learned in Philadelphia.

“I’m sure, as much as anything, that’s Tom’s motivation for promoting from within, whether it was me or Peter Giunta, (was) to keep the defense in place,” Sheridan said to reporters. “It’s obviously a proven, excellent system that Steve brought from Philadelphia.

“You’re obviously going to have a slightly different tint to it, because you have a different coordinator and will get different input from whoever Tom brings in from outside to complete the staff.”

Coughlin wanted continuity, since the Giants performed so well under Spagnuolo. Sheridan will continue the system, while maybe making a tweak or two.

“Bill is a very good football coach,” Coughlin said to reporters. “He does an excellent job of teaching, of reinforcing what we aspire to be with our defensive team. He’s coached our linebackers, he’s given a big assist to Steve in all that he has done.”

Before coming to the Giants, Sheridan was an assistant coach in college, with stints in Michigan, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Maine, Cincinnati and Army.