Many will want SU to comment on the NY Rangers’ chances of winning the Stanley Cup this year. I did check out the game last night as my hockey viewing is limited for the most part to this time of year. I also did some research and there is room on the Rangers’ bandwagon so I am all set. Close, low scoring affair last night but the Rangers held home ice for game 1. For those in the SU intergalactic subscriber base, feel free to comment on their chances this year as they come in with the best record in the regular season.
SU is ready for the NBA playoffs. While I had been previously high on the Spurs’ chances to repeat, losing that final game dropped them from the #2 seed to #6 and a first round series with the Clippers. SU has a funny feeling about the Clippers this year – might be their last year to play together with this current roster. SU says they will beat the Spurs in this round but Golden State has been the gold standard all season with only 2 home losses. They are finals bound out West. In the East, SU would love to see a real team make the finals like the Hawks but I think we have not seen Cleveland play its best ball of the year as of yet. Plus, SU is rooting for JR, Shump and Mosgov on the Cavs and their high octane style of play. But a Cavs-Hawks Eastern Conference finals would be a lot of fun. Warriors over the Cavs in the finals.
Mets’ win streak is at 5. They are doing what SU said was necessary in April and getting off to the hot start. It’s a young team with a no name offense. I am dividing my viewing time between the Yankees and Mets more than usual as when the Yankees are up, I am only interested in watching A-Rod at the plate. Actually, watching the Yankees this year is like watching them play on Jackie Robinson Day every game where all the numbers are 42. They all look the same — boring.
Finally, interesting comments from Melo yesterday. I am sure the NBA beat writers will go over his words like Talmudic scholars. He sort of likes the triangle offense, he would be willing to be the #2 option on offense (er, righteyo on that one) and this is a big off season for Phil Jackson. Let SU translate for you: management has one more year to show improvement with the roster before he wants out and demands a trade. Remember this date next year: SU has spoken.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
Anything goes in hockey as number 8 seeded teams have won and everything else in between 1-8 on a regulalry inconsistent basis. However, with a somewhat biased opinion the Islander will surprise some teams and when they play the rangers i look at this match as a toss up.
BU. ranked #2 lost in the frozen four finals to a #15 team out of 16 slots. Their path was easier than BU’s but still at the end of the dasy their goal tender was hot and cariied them through to victory… 49 saves he had to make.
The Ynakees might even finsih worse than my predicted 79-83 record. They nee to be 15 games behind by the end of May so they can really clean house, look toward the minor league and then head to the bank for next season and be prepared to spend $300m. This will clearly be a Met’s town for the next 2 years +. Ever since you had a powerful overhead was the last time the Yanks seemed rudderless… and even more so today. There are no all star candidates at all here. The pinstripes have been replaced by pin dots in Yankeeland.
PS Derek Jeter’s timing to call it a day couldn’t have been better timed.
Always good to hear from one of SU’s original subscribers. As the Yankees are in the early stages of 25 of 35 games on the road, they could easily be out of the race by late May. Management does seem committed to going younger and cheaper so I would be surprised if they decided to sign more expensive help. You also wonder if Girardi could survive another non-playoff season which would be 3 in a row. He clearly is not the problem (see his boss) and that would be a shame for him as he passed up the Cubs job and now that one is taken by another big name in Joe Maddon.
Mets offense won’t be “no name” for long. Lucas Duda, for example, is showing signs of developing into one of the top hitters in the league. He has always had great promise, given his power and plate discipline, but he is now hitting lefties well and showing more aggression when it’s called for. .300 BA, .375-.400 OBP, 35-40 HRs and 110-120 RBIs, are real possibilities this year.
Whoa! Those are PED era numbers. Nowadays, 20 homeruns and 90 rbis gets you on the All-Star team and in the MVP conversation. The SU team will be sure to give you props if he even comes close to these numbers. But we like to see the optimism of the Mets fans.
Would love to see the Rangers win. Playoffs is all about the team peaking at the right time and goal tending. Rangers have a good shot at winning this year if Lundquist continues to play great.
Al, you can feel the City uniting behind the Rangers. Of course, being the favorite instead of the upstart challenger brings its own pressure. I like the way the NHL plays every other day for the first round vs. the NBA which drags it out over 2 weeks.