Boston gained a 2-0 series lead with late surges in each contest. The Bruins dominated Game 1 in overtime and Brad Marchand made sure his team went home with the victory. Boston took over in the third period of Game 2, cruising to a comfortable 5-2 win and 2-0 series lead.

For the second time this year, the Rangers face a 0-2 series hole before taking the ice at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers were able to win four of five games against the Washington Capitals, but no team in NHL history has overcome multiple 2-0 series deficits. The Rangers must find ways to score against the tenacious Bruins squad.

New York’s goalie, Henrik Lundqvist, is currently dealing with a minor shoulder injury. Lundqvist vowed that the injury will not slow him down.  The Rangers must slow down Marchand, who has four points, two goals and two assists in two games. Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci each have three assists.

Getting to tonight’s game may be a hassle, but we recommend checking out the brand new Penn Plaza Parking for fast and easy parking. The Rangers have won their last three home playoff games at Madison Square Garden. Let’s hope they can notch their fourth consecutive victory tonight.

New York, NY (May 15, 2013) – On the morning of August 18, thousands of baseball fans, runners, walkers, cancer survivors, and their friends and family will gather at Yankee Stadium to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Damon Runyon 5K at Yankee Stadium.  One of New York’s most unique summer events, the Runyon 5K is the only charitable run/walk that uses the iconic Stadium as its course.  Since the inaugural event in 2009, the 5K has raised more than $2 million for the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation’s groundbreaking efforts to strike out cancer.

Registration is open at www.damonrunyon.org/yankeestadium. Participants are responsible for a $40 registration fee and a $60 fundraising minimum. After July 1, the registration fee increases to $50.

The first heat of competitive runners will take off from the start line inside Gate 4 at 9:30am, followed by later heats of runners and walkers, with the last heat taking off in the early afternoon. Participants will wind through the legendary ballpark’s concourses and ramps, climb stairs between levels, and appear on the centerfield video board as they take two laps around the warning track that circles the field.  Friends, family and supporters will have a chance to watch the race from the Delta SKY360° Suite overlooking home plate and meet the Damon Runyon scientists their contributions help support.

Last year’s event drew a capacity crowd of 4,000 participants – from 5-78 years old and traveling from 35 states.  Click to see videos and photos of the 2012 Runyon 5K.

As always, 100% of all donations raised by participants will directly support the nation’s most brilliant young scientists, pursuing cures for all forms of cancer. “Over the past five years, the proceeds from the Runyon 5K have allowed us to fund amazing cancer researchers doing incredible work,” said Lorraine W. Egan, President and CEO of the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. “Our 5K participants are making breakthroughs possible – it’s as simple as that.”

The Runyon 5K is the latest chapter in the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation’s long history with the Yankees.  After the Foundation’s establishment in 1946, Joe DiMaggio was on its Board of Directors and Mickey Mantle was an active fundraiser.  Damon Runyon himself was a New York writer who began his career as a baseball journalist, revolutionizing how the game was covered and often reporting on Yankees games.

The 2013 Runyon 5K is presented by MetLife Foundation, with additional support from Brick-Run Sports Physical Therapy, NYSID, 24 Hour Fitness, NBC 4 New York, the New York Daily News, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and the New York Yankees.

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION

To accelerate breakthroughs, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation provides today’s best young scientists with funding to pursue innovative cancer research.  The Foundation has gained worldwide prominence in cancer research by identifying outstanding researchers and physician-scientists. Eleven scientists supported by the Foundation have received the Nobel Prize. Since its founding in 1946, Damon Runyon has invested more than $260 million and funded more than 3,380 young scientists.

Instant Baseball: The Baseball Instagrams of Brad Mangin, profiles hundreds of Instragrams photos taken by MLB fans. ESPN’s Pedro Gomez wrote the foreword, so make sure you check it out. It’s a great book and a must-have for any baseball fan. Buy it here today!

Dylan Dethier isn’t your average college student.

At seventeen, Dethier couldn’t help but think he’d never really did anything with his life. Two months before his freshman year started, he deferred college for a year to boldy go on where few, if any, golfers have gone before–to drive solo across country and a play a round of golf in all 48 states. In 18 in America: A Young Golfer’s Epic Journey to Find the Essence of the Game, Deither, now a 21-year-old junior at Williams College, tells a remarkable account of the courses he played, people he met, and the lessons he learned about America and himself. 

Buy A Copy Today!

Every caddie has a story: the salty Scot looping for tourists in the birthplace of the game, the congenial old Southerner impart time-earned wisdom on the hallowed fairways of Augusta National, the clean-cut mini-tour player earning quick cash to fund golf dreams of his own, the solitary vagabond, the master of the quick fix, the leveler of hard truths. They travel from port to port, walking and playing the most beautiful golf courses in the world. Nobody gets rich. There is no retirement plan. They only have each other–a brotherhood of crazy, colorful characters. Golf is the language they speak, and in most instances, the only thing they know as well. This is the life of the club caddie.

Loopers: A Caddie’s Twenty-Year Golf Odyssey by longtime caddie, John Dunn, is a stirring, candid and often laugh-out-loud funny narrative that chronicles the decades he spent caddying and playing historic tracks like Augusta, Shinnecock Hills, Olympic Club, Bandon Dunes, and the Old Course at St. Andrews. Dunn never expected that his summer job as a caddie at the local course in Connecticut might turn into something more. The lifers–as in ‘caddies for life’–that plied the link were an ensemble of misfits and degenerates that made the caddie yard look more like an OTB parlor than anything resembling a country club. Dunn’s stories are assuming, honest, and very good!

Buy it today!

The Pacers and Knicks are set to tip-off in less than two hours. Here are three keys to the series and my prediction..

Carmelo Anthony’s Decision Making: Anthony has all of the physical tools required to be a superstar. However, his decision making let him down in Round 1. Mike Woodson’s offensive system is predicated on ball movement, finding open shooters, and drives into the paint. Anthony settled for way too many contested, long two-point shots against the Celtics, which kept Boston in the series. Anthony must use his low post game to find easy buckets and dish to open shooters when double teams collapse. The Pacers are a young, impressive defensive team that will bait Anthony into contested two points. Anthony must demonstrate patience and the willingness to give up the ball for the Knicks to advance.

continue reading…

Baseball and race relations have a long storied history together in America. Tom Dunkel’s new book, Color Blind: The Forgotten Team That Broke Baseball’s Color Line, argues that when we speak of Jackie Robinson, Curt Flood, and other pioneers, we should also include Neil Churchill’s 1935 barnstorming squad from Bismark, North Dakota in the discussion.

During the Great Depression, one of the most improbable teams in baseball history was assembled by one of the sport’s most unlikely champions. A decade before Jackie Robinson broke into the Major Leagues, Churchill signed the best players he could find, regardless of race. Churchill field an integrated squad that took on all comers in spectacular fashion. Church drafted stars from the Negro Leagues, including Quincy Troupe, Hilton Smith, Ted Radcliffe, and the great Satchel Paige. Color Blind enlightens readers on this forgotten team.

Buy it today!

Everyone loves watching his or her favorite athlete shell out outrageous cash for stupidity. Our friends over at SeatCrunch provide this graphic which is very interesting. Enjoy!

The New York Jets entered the 2013 NFL draft with countless needs on both sides of the ball. Coming off one of their most disappointing seasons in recent memory, the Jets traded Darrelle Revis to Tampa Bay for the 13th selection. Today, I’ll share my thoughts on each of the Jets’ selections:

Round 1, Pick 9: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

Some mock drafts had Milliner as high as third overall, which may indicate value. Milliner was the consensus best corner back in the draft and will attempt to fill the void left by Revis. However, I’m not sure if this pick makes sense for general manager, John Idzik’s long term goals. By trading Revis, Idzik implied that no one corner back can be THAT valuable. Paying $15 million per season for a corner back may seem outlandish to an organization that values depth. The only issue is–the Jets don’t exactly have a ton of depth, so using a Top 10 pick on another corner back makes little sense. The public is not privy to medical reports, so the Jets may know that Revis won’t return to his level of dominance. However, this argument is a tough sell given Tampa Bay’s willingness to offer Revis a $96 million contract extension. Overall, the handling of the corner back position has been flat out odd.

MV Analysis: I’m not a scouting guru, but given Milliner’s track record and the need for a Revis replacement, the Jets seemed to get a good value at Pick 9. 

continue reading…

Seven months before hitting free agency, Robinson Cano fired his agent, Scott Boras, in favor of rapper Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports group. Cano is Roc Nation’s first client and the Roc will handle Cano’s PR/marketing initiatives. “At this point in my career, I am ready to take a more active role in my endeavors both on and off the field,” said Cano in a statement released on Roc Nation’s site.  “I am confident that the pairing of Roc Nation Sports and CAA Sports will be essential in helping me accomplish my short- and long-term goals.  I am making this important decision now so I can keep my focus on helping the Yankees succeed in 2013, while minimizing any distractions for me and my teammates.”

Roc Nation owner, Jay-Z, intends to become a sports agent for football, baseball, and basketball. Given Cano’s new affiliation with Jay-Z and Roc Nation, it’s difficult to imagine the 29-year-old second baseman leaving the Yankees. The Yankees made Cano a ‘significant offer’, but Boras clearly wanted to test the free agent market. Even though Cano’s Yankees lost their opening game to the Red Sox, you can start placing your bet on New York teams throughout the summer. It’ll be a very interesting season in the Bronx and throughout Major League Baseball. The action will certainly be entertaining.