Tuesday, April 30, 2013

April 30, 2013, New York Islanders playoff preview for Metro Newspaper in NYC


New York

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Metro.us▶ Sports▶ NHL
 
 
 
By Denis Gorman
Published:

Islanders playoff preview: Time to make some noise

John Tavares has developed into one of the best players in the NHL. But he faces a stiff test against Pittsburgh. Credit: Getty Images

Collectively, the New York Islanders had a goal heading into the truncated 2013 NHL regular season: To be a playoff team.

They can consider it mission accomplished. The Islanders will participate in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since the 2006-07 season.

Now that the Islanders are in, though, the objective has changed. Now, it’s about making noise.

“We understand that we have to be way better to make any run in the playoffs,” Matt Martin said after the Islanders beat the Panthers, 5-2, April 16 at the Coliseum. “We’re not going to beat some of the better teams in the league in a seven-game series if we play like that.”

Success and failure are enmeshed with attention to the game’s details. For the Islanders, implementing those details will be paramount if they are to upset the Eastern Conference’s top-seeded Penguins in the best-of-seven series beginning Wednesday night at the CONSOL Energy Center.

“We’ve talked about how our team is built and how we have to play as a team,” Islanders head coach Jack Capuano said after the Islanders beat the Flyers, 4-2, April 9 at the Coliseum. “They’re buying in, not only in the framework and structure of our team but in one and other. They’ve been real good, from top to bottom.”

Pittsburgh won four of the five regular-season meetings between the two teams, outscoring the Islanders, 17-9. The Islanders only win was a 4-2 decision on Jan. 29 at CONSOL Energy Center.

The Penguins were among the most active teams at the trade deadline, adding defenseman Douglas Murray from the Sharks and wingers Brendan Morrow and Jarome Iginla from the Stars and Flames, respectively. The veteran trio added grit, depth and skill to an already-potent Penguins squad. Pittsburgh’s 3.38 goals per game average was the NHL’s best in the regular season.

By any appreciable measure, the Penguins are a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. But there are reasons for the Islanders to feel confident heading into the series.

The Islanders finished the final month of the regular season with an impressive 8-1-4 mark, including wins over playoff squads Boston and Toronto.

“It’s huge,” Martin said after the win over Florida. “We’ve grown up a lot as a team.”

Among the reasons the Islanders were successful this season was their ability to play an up-tempo, forechecking game. The Islanders finished the year sixth in the NHL with a 2.81 goals per game average.

Top-line center John Tavares’ 28 goals and 47 points were third- and 10th-most in the league. He was followed by Michael Grabner (16 goals), linemates Matt Moulson and Brad Boyes (16 goals and 10 goals, respectively) and Josh Bailey (11).

“We’re playing much better,” Tavares said after the April 9 win over the Flyers. “We’re giving ourselves the best possible chance we can.

“I like our chances. We’re playing well and we have to keep building off the things we’re doing.”

This will mark the fourth time overall and the first time in 20 years the Atlantic Division rivals have met in the playoffs. The Islanders have won all three series. David Volek’s goal 5:16 into overtime of Game 7 of the 1992-93 Eastern Conference semifinal eliminated the then two-time Stanley Cup champions.

Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman for comprehensive coverage of the Islanders and Rangers throughout the postseason.


http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/nhl/2013/04/30/islanders-playoff-preview-time-to-make-some-noise/

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 1:32 PM

Monday, April 29, 2013

April 28, 2013, What is next for Chael Sonnen? column for MMA-Insider.com


What's Next For Chael Sonnen After UFC 159?

John Moorehouse posted on Sunday, April 28, 2013 at 7:12 PM in UFC
What's Next For Chael Sonnen After UFC 159?

NEWARK, N.J.—Chael Sonnen did not need to utter a word.

His face told you the story.

A small hematoma grew on the right side of his head. A thin, singular strip of petroleum jelly ran down his nose. 

Bruises dotted his face.

This was a man who had been in a fight.

And lost decisively.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship opens for business on Sunday with Jon Jones still as its Light Heavyweight Champion after he TKOed Sonnen at 4:33 of the first round of their title fight Saturday night at Newark, N.J.’s Prudential Center.

“I’ve only been beat up twice,” Sonnen said after he fell to 28-13-1 [6-6 in the UFC] as a professional. “And that was number two.”

The devastation was as quick as it was predictable. Jones was a -750 favorite leading into the fight and with good reason. Jones entered the match with a 17-1 [11-1 in the UFC] record and had won eight fights in a row, including four successful title defenses.

Last night, in front of 15,227, Jones beat Sonnen at his own game.

The champion brought the fight to the challenger, and the two began jockeying for position. It was not long before the 25-year old Jones overpowered the 36-year old Sonnen. Three times Jones wrestled Sonnen to the canvas. After the third takedown, Jones unleashed a flurry of punches before the fight was stopped.

“He was in on my leg before I knew it. I don’t think I’ve been taken down three times in my career. [He] took me down three times in one round,” Sonnen said.

“He’s a lot better than I thought. He’s the best fighter that I’ve ever fought.”

Better than Anderson Silva?

“Jon’s better,” Sonnen said. “The last thing I want to do is disparage Anderson Silva but it’s tough for me. I whipped him for 30 minutes. He whipped me for less than 30 seconds. I whipped Jon for zero seconds and he whipped me the entire fight.”

The question for both is what’s next. The rivalry between Sonnen and Jones, which began after UFC 151 was cancelled and carried over to The Ultimate Fighter reality show where the two coached, is over.

Jones talked about a potential fight against Alexander Gustafsson during the post-fight press conference. Earlier in the week Jones said he wanted to break Tito Ortiz’s record for most successful title defenses in light heavyweight division history before taking on superfights and making the move to the heavyweight division.

While Jones can look forward to fights, Sonnen is at the point where he has to inspect the state of his career. He seems disinclined to accept fights that don’t lead to title shots at 185 and/or 205 pounds.

“I’m definitely not,” Sonnen said when asked if he was considering announcing his retirement. “What are you going to do? I lost to two guys, one much younger. What are you going to do, put me with Wanderlei Silva? I don’t know who else I’m supposed to beat around here.”

What Sonnen does have going for him is that he is a highly regarded studio analyst on UFC Tonight. UFC President Dana White told reporters at Thursday’s media session at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden that Fox executives “love” the loquacious Sonnen.

“I like to fight but I love this business,” Sonnen said. “There are so many different opportunities that are out there now that weren’t here a number of years ago. Broadcasting is one of them.

“You look at Dana as the world’s greatest promoter but you forget he produces five TV shows. He’s also in gaming—we just signed a deal with EAS. What we do with the magazine and the fact that it’s booming. He’s never once promoted it from behind this counter. Our magazine is in multiple countries and in every state in the country. There [are] a lot of things I’d like to do and the magazine is one of the things that has my interest. So as far as being done with the company, I love this company but as far as getting in the ring, that comes to an end at some point. I am by no means saying that happened tonight but at some point it comes to an end and I will find something else for myself to do. With the business.” 

You can follow Denis Gorman on Twitter at @DenisGorman

Image Credit: Graphic provided by UFC
 
Tagged: Anderson Silva, UFC, Dana White, Jon Jones, Chael Sonnen, UFC 159, Newark


http://www.mma-insider.com/News/tabid/78/MMAi/888/Whats_Next_For_Chael_Sonnen_After_UFC_159.aspx

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 1:47 AM

April 28, 2013, Jon Jones cements complex legacy at UFC 159


New York

 
 
 
Metro.us▶ Sports▶ MMA
 
 
By Denis Gorman
Published:

Jon Jones cements complicated legacy at UFC 159

Jon Jones has a complicated relationship with UFC and its fans. Credit: Getty Images

It was a scene as awkward as it was uncomfortable.

Jon Jones stood behind Roy Nelson inside the Theatre at Madison Square Garden Thursday afternoon. The stars of the Ultimate Fighting Championship were in New York to promote Saturday night’s UFC 159 pay-per-view event and were preparing to square off for photos with their opponents.

“Two of your favorite people,” Jones said to UFC President Dana White in reference to himself and Nelson. Nelson has earned White’s ire for what the executive believes is an unprofessional attitude toward his career.

Jones and Nelson convulsed in laughter. White smiled uneasily and turned away.

It was the briefest of moments but it encapsulated the conundrum that is Jones.

Who is he? What is he?

The first question is complex. The second is straightforward.

Jones is still the UFC’s Light-Heavyweight champion after dispatching Chael Sonnen with a first-round TKO Saturday night at UFC 159. Jones is now 18-1.

“I knew in that five minutes who the better fighter was,” Sonnen said.

Jones met Sonnen in the middle of the cage at the bell and engaged his opponent in a wrestling match. Eventually, he muscled Sonnen against the cage and began peppering the top contender with strikes before referee Keith Peterson stopped the fight.

Simply, it was a display of graceful malevolence in a four minute and 33 second span.

“I wanted to Chael Sonnen Chael Sonnen,” Jones said.

Mission accomplished.

“He was in on my legs before I knew it,” Sonnen said. “I don’t think I’ve been taken down three times in my career. [He] took me down three times in one round. He’s a lot better than I thought. He’s the best fighter I’ve ever fought.”

But will Jones’ malevolent genius be appreciated?

For all of Jones’ physical gifts and career success, he has not captured the adoration of mixed martial arts fans.

It is the oddest of conundrums. Society values greatness in all forms. So it would stand to reason that Jones would be respected, if not beloved, for his meteoric rise to the top of the premier MMA organization in the world.

Nevertheless, by his own words, Jones acknowledged he has “haters.”

Certainly, some of it is jealousy. Jones has become one of UFC’s cornerstones — along with Anderson Silva, Ronda Rousey and Georges St. Pierre — at the grizzled age of 25. Yet for those who loathe Jones for his youth and success, an equal number despise him for his actions and words.

His first public misstep occurred last May 19 when Jones was arrested for DUI in Binghamton, N.Y. after he crashed his Bentley into a pole. The Ithaca, N.Y. native subsequently had his license suspended for six months and paid a $1,000 fine.

“I got a DWI,” Jones said with more than a hint of irritation in his voice Thursday. “It was last year. It’s like everyone’s comeback every time they want to get at me.”

Three months later, Jones’ refusal to accept a short notice fight with Sonnen after Dan Henderson had to pull out of the scheduled light-heavyweight title fight with a partially torn knee ligament at UFC 151 caused the cancellation of the card.

In an oft-profane conference call to announce the card’s cancellation, White said it was a “selfish, disgusting decision” that hurt 16 fighters and the company. Jones responded by writing a tweet in which he blamed the cancellation of UFC 151 on “old man” Henderson “and his knee.”

His decision and subsequent snit did not win him many fans. Neither has his tepidity regarding a potential superfight with UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

“We’re in the fight business,” Sonnen said, adding that Silva and Jones should have been calling White requesting the fight. White noted that Silva called him to ask for a fight but would not divulge if he asked to fight Jones or St. Pierre.

Jones, who spoke during the week about moving to heavyweight, is one successful title defense away from passing Tito Ortiz for the most in light-heavyweight division history. In the post-fight press conference, Jones expressed interest in a fight against Alexander Gustafsson.

Before Jones left the press conference to have a fractured big toe on his left foot examined, he was asked if he thought he could go down in history as the greatest light-heavyweight in UFC history.

“I owe it to myself to be great,” Jones said. “Life is good.”

Follow MMA writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.


http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/mma/2013/04/28/jon-jones-cements-complicated-legacy-at-ufc-159/

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 1:43 AM

April 27, 2013, New Jersey Devils-New York Rangers NHL regular season game story for SportsXChange

Rangers seem to be playoff ready
 
By Denis Gorman, The Sports Xchange | The SportsXchange – Sat, Apr 27, 2013 7:30 PM EDT

NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers believe they have found their game.

Their confidence in themselves comes at a most opportune time, on the eve of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"We are where we need to be," Dan Girardi said after the Rangers' 4-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers finished the truncated season with a 26-18-4 record, compiling a 10-4-1 record in the final month of the season.

"April was a good month for us," Girardi said. "We played our style of hockey and won in different fashions."
Ryan Callahan, Rick Nash, Brad Richards and Derek Stepan each finished with two points. Nash scored two goals, while Callahan and Stepan each recorded a goal and an assist, and Richards had two assists.

By winning, the Rangers passed the New York Islanders for sixth in the Eastern Conference. New York is guaranteed to start the playoffs no worse than seventh, and could be the sixth seed if the Ottawa Senators do not earn at least three points in their next two games.

"I am happy with the way we have handled ourselves the whole year," coach John Tortorella said. "I think we made some big plays (and won) some big games to keep us afloat during the tough times.

"That's what it is about, just find a way to get points and they did that with more consistency, and sustaining more within a game the last four or five weeks."

Stepan opened the scoring 2:37 into the game with his 18th goal of the season. John Moore intercepted Ryan Carter's clearing attempt, and dumped the puck behind the net, where Callahan gained control. The New York captain backhanded the puck to Stepan, for the one-timer.

"I just need to be in the right spot lately and (linemates Callahan and Carl Hagelin) just find way to get me the puck," Stepan said.

Callahan and Stepan combined on New York's second goal. With the Rangers shorthanded because of Taylor Pyatt's penalty, Stepan sprung Callahan for a breakaway with a home run pass. Callahan bore down on Johan Hedberg and snapped a shot between Johan Hedberg's legs.

The top line of Hagelin, Stepan and Callahan has recorded 41 points in the last 15 games. "It's been a really good line," Tortorella said. "It's been a very good line."

Nash increased the lead to 3-0 late in the second. Following an offensive zone faceoff loss, Richards stole the puck from Adam Larsson and fed Nash for his 20th of the season.

Nash's goal came shortly after the New York left wing was wrestled to the ice on a semi-breakaway by Ilya Kovalchuk, but no penalty was called. "I'll leave that to the pros," Nash said in response to a question about the non-call.

Nash finished a personal game of tic-tac-toe with Richards and Mats Zuccarello in the Devils' zone with his second goal of the game 5:30 into the third period.

"I thought that line, (when) we put it together the last game (a 4-3 overtime win Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes), I thought it ignited (Nash)," Tortorella said. "Hopefully it will continue."

 Henrik Lundqvist stopped 20 shots to record his second shutout of the season. Lundqvist has 45 career regular season shutouts, four behind Hall of Famer Eddie Giacomin on the Rangers' all-time list.

"I feel good," Lundqvist said. "Especially the last three or four weeks."

New Jersey ended the season with a 19-19-10 record. Ten of the Devils 19 losses came on the road. Hedberg made 17 saves.

"We were not good," Devils coach Pete DeBoer said. "It was a bad situation that we did not handle well."

 NOTES: Henrik Lundqvist made his 14th consecutive start and the 23rd in New York's last 25 games. "He's fine," coach John Tortorella said. "You guys (the media) talk him into being tired. He's fine and I want to keep progressing as a team. We'll just try to keep on playing here."... New York scratched defensemen Matt Gilroy and Roman Hamrlik, and forwards Brian Boyle and Ryane Clowe. ... New Jersey scratched defensemen Mark Fayne, Eric Gelinas, Bryce Salvador and Alexander Urbom, and forwards Krystofer Barch, Matt D'Agostini, Tom Kostopoulos, Andrei Loktionov, Harri Pesonen and Mike Sislo. ... Salvador has missed the last eight games after being struck in the wrist by Zdeno Chara's slapshot in New Jersey's 5-4 loss to the Bruins on Apr. 10. "He's not ready to play," coach Pete DeBoer said. ... Johan Hedberg was New Jersey's starter in goal for the regular-season finale. ... The game was Brad Richards' 900th in the NHL. ... Rick Nash will play in the playoffs for only the second time in his career. He was a member of the 2008-09 Columbus Blue Jackets team that was swept in four games by the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. "No," Nash said, when asked if he had any memories of that series. "It was quick." ... New Jersey, which was eliminated from playoff contention by New York last Sunday, lost 15 of their final 21 games. "It was a lot of things. I don't think you could narrow it down," DeBoer said. "We had some opportunities to bounce back-and we played some good hockey in order to give ourselves the opportunity to bounce back, but we just never found a streak."


http://sports.yahoo.com/news/rangers-seem-playoff-ready-233024931.html

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 1:39 AM

April 26, 2013, UFC 159 press conference notebook


UFC 159 Notebook: GSP To Fight Hendricks & More

Denis Gorman posted on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 11:17 PM in UFC
UFC 159 Notebook: GSP To Fight Hendricks & More

NEW YORK—Whether a proposed superfight with Anderson Silva will ever take place is uncertain.

What is certain for Georges St. Pierre is his next opponent.

“Johnny Hendricks is next,” UFC President Dana White said during a 45-minute press briefing with reporters at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden Thursday afternoon. White, Jon Jones, Chael Sonnen, Alan Belcher, Michael Bisping, Cheick Kongo and Roy Nelson were in New York to publicize Saturday’s UFC 159 from the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

“And soon. He’s next,” White said of Hendricks, who has long stumped for a title fight against St. Pierre. Arguably one of the most devastating punchers in the UFC, eight of Hendricks’ 15 wins are via TKO or knockout.  

St. Pierre’s name has been linked to a possible superfight with Silva for years. However, St. Pierre has been decidedly lukewarm about that bout.

“At one point before his knee [injury], he wanted that fight. So I don’t know where his head is at now. Saying he can go down to [155 pound division]; he’s a pretty big dude. It’s interesting.” White said. “If he doesn’t want do the superfight, nobody’s going to pressure him to do the superfight. It’s up to him.”

Don’t expect to see St. Pierre-Hendricks to air on free TV.

“He’s the biggest pay-per-view guy on the planet,” White said when asked if the fight would be the main event of a free TV card. “That would hurt.”
*   *   *

White was still shaken up by the tragic events in Boston last week.

“I’m going there [Saturday] after the fight. This is really personal,” said White, a native Bostonian.

“It impacted me. Big time.”

He said he will meet with Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and the family of Martin Richard, the 8-year-old who died in the Patriots Day bombing. White said he, Fox and UFC will donate money.

“This whole thing is really terrible. Anybody here who is a New Yorker and lived in New York [on Sept. 11, 2001], look what happened here. [When] it happens in your hometown, it’s crazy,” White said.

“I think about all the times I went to Marathon. And it’s a holiday, kids are out of school. Just cowardice.”

*   *   *

Much of yesterday was spent discussing the ongoing battle to legalize Mixed Martial Arts in New York. 
Professional MMA is banned in New York, yet the state allows amateur, unsanctioned bouts to be fought.

“It’s a bunch of bullbleep,” White said. “It’s just crazy. And the thing that I hate about amateur MMA? There’s no such thing. What it means is I can put on an event and don’t have to pay the talent. So you cruise in under the amateur thing. There [are] things happening here all the time that are unsanctioned, dangerous, not good for the people that compete in it, but [New York State] will let them put on events but not the organization [where] fighters are being paid and paid well.

“The amount of money that can be made in The City, the list goes on and on. It’s just such a bunch of bullbleep.”


You can follow Denis Gorman on Twitter at @DenisGorman. He'll be tweeting live from UFC 159 on Saturday and covering the event for MMA-Insider.


Image Credit: MMA-Insider file photo
 
Tagged: UFC, Dana White, MMA, Denis Gorman, amateur MMA, UFC 159, press conference, Georges St. Pierre, GSP, Johnny Hendricks, sanctioning, New York


http://www.mma-insider.com/News/tabid/78/MMAi/882/UFC_159_Notebook_GSP_To_Fight_Hendricks__More.aspx

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 1:32 AM

April 26, 2013, UFC 159 preview for MMA-Insider.com


Sonnen, Jones Talk Title Fight At UFC 159 Presser

Denis Gorman posted on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 11:10 PM in UFC
Sonnen, Jones Talk Title Fight At UFC 159 Presser

NEW YORK—So, Chael Sonnen, why should the public at large purchase Saturday’s UFC 159 event?


“This is the biggest fight in light-heavyweight division history,” Sonnen said Thursday morning at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden.  


“They’ve sold this venue out faster than any other venue. We’ve already sold more commercial establishments—pay per views—than any show. We’re trending 17 percent ahead of what Georges St. Pierre and [Nick] Diaz did, which is the biggest fight so far of the year. If you don’t want to see the fight, don’t see it. But you’re going to be the only one.”


Sonnen and the stars of the UFC 159 pay-per-view were in New York to advertise Saturday’s card. The event will emanate from The Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. 


“They’re going to miss the biggest fight in the history of the light-heavyweight division,” Sonnen said. “Everybody’s tuning in for this fight. This is the biggest match of the year.”


Sonnen will meet Jon Jones in the main event for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Jones has been champion since Mar. 19, 2011, when he defeated Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua for the title at UFC 128.


Should Jones win on Saturday, he will have defended the title five times. Jones said this week that he wants to tie UFC Hall-of-Famer Tito Ortiz’s record for successful title defenses in the division before moving onto super fights and jumping up to heavyweight. Ortiz successfully defended the Light-Heavyweight title six times between 2000 and 2002 before losing a unanimous decision to Randy Couture at UFC 44 in 2003.


“The competition that Jon Jones has faced in the last year-and-a-half in the light heavyweight division is far tougher than what Tito faced at the time when he was the champ,” UFC President Dana White said yesterday when he met with reporters. “Jon Jones is undefeated.  Tito has that record because he was here for so long.” 


Saturday’s fight is eight months in the making. Sonnen accepted a short-notice fight with Jones for UFC 151 last August after the champion’s scheduled opponent, Dan Henderson, suffered a partially torn knee ligament.


Arguing that he had not prepared for Sonnen, Jones passed on the fight and White subsequently canceled the show. It was the first pay-per-view cancellation in UFC history. Had Jones accepted the fight, it would have been Sonnen’s second fight in 56 days. He was knocked out by Anderson Silva in the second round of their Middleweight Title fight at UFC 148.


Sonnen routinely ridiculed Jones following the cancellation of UFC 151, leading the company to announce in October that the rivals were named coaches on the now-completed seventeenth season of The Ultimate Fighter.


Historically, The Ultimate Fighter has been a platform for two rival coaches to create animosity and interest for an upcoming fight. However, as the two spent time around each other, something resembling respect developed between Sonnen and Jones.    


“I had him wrong. He’s a good, nice, decent person and that was refreshing. And good for him, [but] it doesn’t make a bit of difference to what I’m going to do to him Saturday night. There can be only one champion,” Sonnen said. “I think Jon’s the best but I’m better; I think he’s great but I’m greater.”


“I have a better understanding of who he is as person,” Jones said. “I just get it now. I get that he has Chael, the fighter. There’s Chael, the promoter, and there’s Chael, the kind gentleman. There [are] three different people. I just pay attention to the kind gentleman when he wants to do that. I pay attention to the fighter and when starts getting those veins popping out of his neck, I just turn him off.”  

Follow Denis on Twitter @denisgorman. He'll be tweeting live from UFC 159.
Image Credit: Graphic provided by UFC
Tagged: preview, UFC, Dana White, Jon Jones, Chael Sonnen, Denis Gorman, UFC 159, press conference, Newark, New Jersey, New York City


http://www.mma-insider.com/News/tabid/78/MMAi/881/Sonnen_Jones_Talk_Title_Fight_At_UFC_159_Presser.aspx

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 1:29 AM

Thursday, April 25, 2013

April 26, 2013, UFC fighter Chael Sonnen criticizes New York State legislature news story for Metro Newspaper in NYC


New York

 
 
 
Metro.us▶ Sports▶ MMA
By Denis Gorman 
Published:

UFC’s Chael Sonnen blasts New York for anti-MMA legislation

Chael Sonnen didn't back down when asked about the ban on MMA in New York. Credit: Getty Images

Chael Sonnen offered a challenge to New York State legislators: Be honest about why Mixed Martial Arts is banned in New York.

“Just come clean,” Sonnen said during his media availability Thursday morning at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden to promote Saturday night’s UFC 159 pay-per-view card at the Prudential Center. Sonnen will challenge UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones for the title in the main event.

Sonnen was joined by Jones and semi-main event fighters Alan Belcher, Michael Bisping, Cheick Kongo, Roy Nelson and UFC President Dana White at the two-and-a-half hour media session.

“[The legislators should admit], ‘Listen, we don’t have the courage to stand up to the unions. They gave us a bunch of money and they put us in office. We’re not skilled enough to go into the private sector and do anything. We really need these jobs we have, so we’re going to go ahead and keep you out,’” Sonnen said.

New York and Alaska are the only states in which professional MMA is illegal. The sport has been banned in New York since 1997 when Gov. George Pataki signed a bill to prohibit professional, sanctioned fights.
Strangely, Muay Thai, kickboxing and amateur MMA is legal in New York.

“I think they can legalize any laws that they want. They have somehow banned 32-ounce cups of Coca-Cola in New York City. So as long as they follow the democratic process I’m all for it. The problem that I have is representation has not been restored in New York. You will not find a New Yorker that doesn’t want this. But their legislature doesn’t have the courage to go and represent the people that put them in office,” Sonnen said. “To find courage within a state legislature is extremely rare.”

At the time, the sport was labeled “human cockfighting” by Sen. John McCain, a label the UFC continues to struggle against. White said yesterday he and the UFC’s owners, Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, have spent 13 years trying to “educate” lawmakers and journalists about the sport.

Bills legalizing MMA have passed the state Senate each of the last four years, only to be stalled in the Assembly. Earlier this month, the state Senate passed a bill that would legalize the sport.

But White is pessimistic that the bill will pass the Assembly due to the efforts of the Culinary Union. The union has waged a long and costly battle with the Fertittas over their Las Vegas casinos’ employment of non-union employees.

Had the bill passed, the UFC was going to have its 20th anniversary show at Madison Square Garden and it is believed that the main event would have been a superfight between Jones and UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva.

“We don’t need New York but New York could damn sure use us. We have evidence that we could bring in $10 million in a 24-hour period to this city. We have evidence that if we bring Expo — which Dana White has very clearly said he would do — we could bring in $40 million in the course of a week. The actual number was $60 million but I’m just rounding it down to 40 so no one argues with me,” Sonnen said.

“If New York doesn’t want it, we’ll go right across the bridge to New Jersey and sell out like we’re doing Saturday. We’ll go to Connecticut, which just legalized it. We’ll go to any of the other 47 states in the country that want it. New York needs us. We don’t need them. That’s my stance.

“This isn’t just a sport anymore; it’s an industry. If they don’t want industry in New York and that’s the choice of the New Yorkers, then I completely respect that. My pushback is that is not what the people are saying. My pushback is that here we are in New York in a packed Madison Square Garden media room and the competition is going to take place 12 miles away. It’s going to go over the bridge which means the taxes and the gross receipts are all going to go to Gov. [Chris] Christie’s state. That’s on New York. If they don’t want business, we can’t force it upon them.”

Follow MMA writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.


http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/mma/2013/04/25/ufcs-chael-sonnen-blasts-new-york-for-anti-mma-legislation/

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 11:06 PM

April 26, 2013, UFC 159 press conference notebook for Metro Newspaper in NYC


New York

 
 
 
 
Metro.us▶ Sports▶ MMA
By Denis Gorman 
Published:

Sonnen-Jones appointment viewing at UFC 159

Jon Jones will put his title on the line Saturday night. Credit: Getty Images

The UFC Light-Heavyweight title fight Saturday night will be appointment viewing.

At least, that’s Chael Sonnen’s view of things.

“This is the biggest fight in light-heavyweight division history,” Sonnen said. He will fight reigning champion Jon Jones in the main event for the title.

“They’ve sold this venue out faster than any other venue. We’ve already sold more commercial establishments — pay-per-views — than any show. We’re trending 17 percent ahead of what Georges St. Pierre and [Nick] Diaz did, which is the biggest fight so far of the year. If you don’t want to see the fight, don’t see it. But you’re going to be the only one,” Sonnen said.

“They’re going to miss the biggest fight in the history of the light-heavyweight division. Everybody’s tuning in for this fight. This is the biggest match of the year.”

Jones has a 17-1 overall record and is 11-1 in the UFC. His only loss was a first-round disqualification to Matt Hamill in “The Ultimate Fighter 10″ finale in December 2009. UFC President Dana White said yesterday he does not think the loss should count. Instead, he blamed referee Steve Mazzagatti for the decision.

Sonnen has a career record of 28-12-1. He is 6-5 in the UFC, but has lost two of his last four fights. Both losses came to UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Silva submitted Sonnen at UFC 117 and won by TKO at UFC 148.

So what’s the difference between those fights and the one that will take place Saturday night?

“I think Jon’s the best, but I’m better,” Sonnen said. “I think he’s great, but I’m greater.”

Jones slams Mitrione

Jones has talked in recent days about moving to heavyweight. There is one fighter in the division Jones has no use for, and it has nothing to do with his skills inside the octagon.

“No,” Jones said Thursday when it was suggested Matt Mitrione could be his first opponent at heavyweight. “He’s not worthy.”

Jones was troubled about Mitrione’s comments regarding transgender fighter Fallon Fox. During an interview earlier this month with Ariel Helwani on the “MMA Hour,” Mitrione called Fox “a lying, sick, sociopathic, disgusting freak,” and added “He had a gender change, not a sex change. He’s still a man. He was a man for 31 years. He’s a man. Six years of taking performance-dehancing drugs, you think is going to change all that?”

The UFC fined Mitrione an undisclosed amount. He is scheduled to fight fellow heavyweight Brendan
Schaub on the UFC on Fox 8 card on July 27 in Seattle.

“I think he’s terrible for that. It’s ridiculous,” Jones said. He noted he was a “fan” of Fox’s, saying she is “a strong person.”

“It’s like, ‘shut your mouth,’” Jones said.

Follow MMA beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.


http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/mma/2013/04/25/sonnen-jones-appointment-viewing-at-ufc-159/

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 11:02 PM

Monday, April 22, 2013

April 21, 2013, New Jersey Devils-New York Rangers NHL regular season game story for Metro Newspaper in NYC


 
 
 
Metro.us▶ Sports▶ NHL
 
By Denis Gorman 
Published:

 

 

Rangers continue playoff momentum with win over Devils 

 

Ryan Callahan and Henrik Lundqvist celebrate after the win over Washington. Credit: Getty Images

The two-word mantra “still alive” was being espoused from all corners of the Rangers’ room Sunday afternoon.

“We are trying to climb in the standings,” captain Ryan Callahan said after the Rangers 4-1 win over the Devils Sunday afternoon at the Garden.

The Rangers are 24-17-5 this season, and have won three in a row. The Rangers have 52 points with three games remaining — all against teams who are out of the playoffs.

“We aren’t looking behind us,” Callahan said. “It’s another two points. Now we have to get more.”

Facing a hated rival who was playing the second game of a weekend back-to-back, and was the team that eliminated them from the Stanley Cup playoffs last May, the Rangers were focused on starting quickly.

They did just that.

Callahan pinballed Carl Hagelin’s behind-the-goal-line feed off of Martin Brodeur’s skate just 34 seconds into the match.

The Rangers are 16-2-1 this season when scoring first.

“We have been getting some bounces,” Callahan said. He later flipped in a power-play knuckler 5:13 into the third period that pushed the advantage to 4-0. “[We are] getting some chances. [Derek Stepan], Hags and I have been playing well together. It’s just a matter of converting when you have opportunities.”

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Energized by the quick goal, the Rangers surged and led 2-0 at intermission. Stepan scored the other goal in the period with a redirection of a Ryan McDonagh pass. The Rangers had more shot attempts, 16-10, in the period.

Taylor Pyatt’s first goal since Feb. 26 increased the lead to 3-0 at 11:56 of the second period.

“We were just trying to be simple and use our forechecking strength,” McDonagh said. “Get in their zone and grind it out.”

The Rangers accomplished their goal, and in doing so drove the Devils to distraction.

For a team that needed to win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, the Devils spent much of the afternoon expressing frustration toward referees Chris Rooney and Francois St. Laurent.

Devils head coach Pete DeBoer was assessed a game misconduct with 15 seconds remaining and was ejected. A bench minor against the Devils for abuse of officials was assessed in the first, and Patrik Elias was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty early in the third.

“There was frustration,” DeBoer said. “It’s obviously not the way you want to go out. But that’s how it ends for us. We will have to regroup and move forward.”

The Devils will miss the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, and for only the fourth time in the last quarter century.

“It hasn’t sunk in,” DeBoer said. “I think you don’t want to think about it until it’s actually a reality. [There is] no other word than disappointment.”

To a man, the Rangers expressed no satisfaction in eliminating the Devils from the playoffs. Three hundred and thirty-one days earlier, at the Prudential Center, Adam Henrique’s tap-in 63 seconds into overtime sent the Devils to the Stanley Cup final while the Rangers began a summer overhaul that saw the organization eventually acquire Rick Nash.

“We weren’t worried about them or that,” Callahan said when asked about eliminating the Devils. “It’s all about us and it has been all year.”

“We weren’t thinking about last year,” McDonagh said. “This is a totally different [season] and we’re trying to fight for our lives.”

The Rangers went 1-for-6 in 9:15 worth of power-play time. The Devils did not convert on either of their two power plays.

Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves. Andrei Loktionov scored his eighth goal of the season with 6:30 remaining to keep the Devils from being shutout. Brodeur allowed all four goals on 22 shots.

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.


http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/nhl/2013/04/21/rangers-continue-playoff-momentum-with-win-over-devils/

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 1:09 AM

April 21, 2013, New Jersey Devils-New York Rangers notebook for Metro Newspaper in NYC


New York

 
 
 
Metro.us▶ Sports▶ NHL
 
 
By Denis Gorman 
Published:

 

Rangers Notebook: Goals coming for Brad Richards

Brad Richards has picked up his game as of late. Credit: Getty Images

Don’t call it a comeback. Brad Richards has played the same game all year.

“My game hasn’t been that much different,” Richards said after the Rangers’ 4-1 win over the Devils Sunday afternoon at the Garden.

The center finished the match with two points, and now has seven points (four goals and three assists) in the last three games.

“Hopefully they keep coming.”

Even though head coach John Tortorella prefers not to publicly rank his lines, Richards has become the third-line center following the trade deadline acquisitions of Ryane Clowe, Derick Brassard, Derek Dorsett and John Moore.

Centering Clowe and Mats Zuccarello, Richards has 11 points in the 10 games since the April 3 deadline.

“[It’s] been an up-and-down year,” Richards said. “We want more consistency.”

Devils irked

Let’s just say NHL referees Chris Rooney and Francois St. Laurent should not ask the Devils to offer any job assessment evaluations.

The Devils were penalized seven times for a total of 14 minutes. Of the Devils’ seven penalties, two were bench minors and one was a game misconduct assessed to head coach Pete DeBoer with 15 seconds remaining.

“He knows we’re out of the playoffs and everybody is frustrated and just 15 seconds left,” Ilya Kovalchuk told reporters when asked about DeBoer’s ejection. “You don’t have to put on a show. We all respect the refs and we know their job is not easy, but you just have to respect the other people too.”

“A little frustration on my part that two of our players would get unsportsmanlike conducts in an elimination game,” DeBoer said. “The sensitivity of some of the officials is beyond me.”

Rooney was part of the officiating team which called Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final, along with referee Dan O’Rourke and linesmen Derek Amell and Jean Morin.

Midway through the first period of that game, Steve Bernier was assessed a 10-minute misconduct for boarding Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi. The Kings scored three power-play goals en route to a 6-1 win that ended the Devils season.

When asked if the Devils harbored resentment toward Rooney dating back to Game 6, Ryan Carter told reporters, “I’m smart enough not to answer that.”

NHL notes …

» Despite the win, the Rangers are in eighth with the same amount of points (52) as the Senators. Ottawa holds a game in hand.

The Senators host Pittsburgh tonight. They finish the season with a game Thursday in Washington, at home Saturday night against the Flyers and in Boston Sunday night.

» Both the Rangers and Devils have three games remaining this season. The Rangers will be in Florida on Tuesday and Carolina on Thursday, while the Devils host Montreal and Pittsburgh on those days. The teams will meet at the Garden on April 27 to conclude their regular seasons.

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.


http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/nhl/2013/04/21/rangers-notebook-goals-coming-for-brad-richards/

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 12:58 AM

April 21, 2013, New Jersey Devils-New York Rangers NHL regular season game story for SportsXChange

Rangers win, focus on making playoffs

By Denis Gorman, The Sports Xchange | The SportsXchange – 4 hours ago
NEW YORK -- It was not about payback for the New York Rangers. 
It was about giving themselves a chance to reach the Stanley Cup playoffs. 
"We weren't thinking about last year. This is a totally different year and we're trying to fight for our lives," Ryan McDonagh said after the New York Rangers' 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden. 
New York improved to 24-17-4 this season. The Rangers and the Ottawa Senators have 52 points, but New York is still in eighth place in the Eastern Conference despite the win. Ottawa is in seventh. New York has one more win than Ottawa, but the Senators do have two fewer losses and have a game in hand. 
The Rangers. who were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals last year by the Devils, have won three in a row and six of their last eight games. Since the April 3 trade deadline in which the Rangers acquired Ryane Clowe, Derick Brassard, John Moore and Derek Dorsett, New York is 7-2-1. 
"It gave us more lines and it has allowed us to have a little more consistency in the middle of our lineup," Rangers coach John Tortorella said of the trade that sent Marian Gaborik to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Brassard, Moore and Dorsett. New York acquired Clowe from the San Jose Sharks on April 2 for second- and third-round draft picks in June and a conditional selection in 2014. 
"These guys have come in and added some more grind to our game, more skill. I thought it was a good deal for both teams." 
Eight Rangers finished with at least one point, led by Ryan Callahan, Derek Stepan and Brad Richards, who each finished with two points. Callahan scored two goals, and Stepan and Taylor Pyatt each added one. 
"We had some puck luck around the net," Pyatt said. His goal gave New York a 3-0 midway through the second period. The goal was his fifth of the season and his first since Feb. 26. 
"The confidence comes back and everyone feels a little bit better about themselves," Pyatt said. "We've played some good hockey the last few games." 
Among the key components to New York's improved play has been Richards, who has seven points in the last three games. It is only his third such stretch of multi-point games this season. 
"Hopefully, they keep coming," Richards said. "My game hasn't been that much different." 
Callahan opened the scoring 34 seconds into the game when he banked a Carl Hagelin pass off goalie Martin Brodeur's skate for the game's first goal. Stepan's goal 11:26 later was the game-winner. He tipped Ryan McDonagh's centering pass past Brodeur. 
 "That was a big deal for us, making sure we score the first goal," Callahan said of New York's start. The Rangers led 2-0 at the first intermission and were up 4-0 early in the third period. 
Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves for the Rangers. His lone mistake was yielding Andrei Loktionov goal with 6:30 left. 
The loss eliminated the reigning Eastern Conference champions from Stanley Cup playoff contention. The Devils have missed the playoffs only four times in the last 25 seasons. New Jersey fell to 17-18-10 this season. 
"There was frustration," Devils coach Pete DeBoer said. "It's obviously not the way you want to go out. But that's how it ends for us. We will have to regroup and move forward. 
"It hasn't sunk in it. I think you don't want to think about it until it's actually a reality. No other word but disappointment." 
NOTES: The Rangers skated with the same lineup as the one that scored 14 goals in its previous two games, both wins. ... Lundqvist made his 11th straight start in goal. He entered the game having played in 39 of the Rangers' 45 games. ... Brodeur entered the game with a record of 47-29-20 and nine shutouts along with a 2.11 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage in 96 games against the Rangers. ... New York scratched Brian Boyle and defensemen Matt Gilroy and Roman Hamrlik. ... DeBoer announced that defenseman Anton Volchenkov and Andrei Loktionov replaced Mark Fayne and Jacob Josefson. Krystofer Barch, Tom Kostopoulos, Bryce Salvador, Steve Sullivan and Alexander Urbom were also scratched. ... New York will finish the road portion of its regular season with games at Florida on Tuesday and at Carolina on Thursday. ... New Jersey has two home games remaining this season, on Tuesday against Montreal and Thursday against Pittsburgh. New York and New Jersey will culminate the season series on Apr. 27 at The Garden. The Rangers entered the game with an all-time record of 102-85-27-6 against the Devils. ...New Jersey was assessed two minor penalties for abuse of officials and unsportsmanlike conduct, and DeBoer was given a game-misconduct late in the third period. "You can't do that in the last seconds in front of everybody," Ilya Kovalchuk said of referees Chris Rooney and Francois St. Laurent ejecting DeBoer. "Fifteen seconds left, you don't have to put on a show."


http://sports.yahoo.com/news/rangers-win-focus-making-playoffs-233037604--nhl.html

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 12:55 AM

April 20, 2013, Tyson Fury U.S. boxing debut story for Associated Press

Tyson Fury stops Steve Cunningham to win US debut

The Associated Press – Sat, Apr 20, 2013 7:54 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) -- Tyson Fury stopped Steve Cunningham with a right hook 5 seconds before the end of the seventh round of their heavyweight bout on Friday to win his United States debut.

I was just hunting him down like a deer,'' Fury said. ''I think it was a good performance.''

It was the 15th knockout for the Briton, who is 21-0. Cunningham fell to 25-6.

Billed an IBF voluntary eliminator fight, the matinee card at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden was an attempt to showcase Fury to American boxing fans. The bout aired on NBC Sports Network.

Nineteen of Fury's first 20 fights occurred in the United Kingdom. His only other North American fight was an eight-round defeat of Zack Page at Quebec City's Pepsi Coliseum on Dec. 18, 2010.

Fury taunted his American opponent by dropping his hands, exposing his chin and shouting ''come on'' during the first round. Fury's disdain cost him when he was dropped 18 seconds into the second round with a right hook to the chin. Following the knockdown, Fury began attempting to tie up Cunningham in the ropes.

Of Fury's first 20 fights, 19 happened in the United Kingdom. His only other North American fight was an eight-round defeat of Zack Page at Quebec City on Dec. 18, 2010.

The American showcase nearly turned into a disaster for Fury, who was dropped 18 seconds into the second round with a right hook to the chin. Fury had taunted Cunningham by dropping his hands, exposing his chin and shouting ''come on,'' during the first round.

''I didn't come here to play any games although I did,'' Fury said. ''He got me with one.''

Following the knockdown, Fury spent the remainder of the round along with the third and fourth rounds attempting to tie up Cunningham in the ropes.

After being deducted a point for a head butt in the fifth round, Fury began to surge. He started to use his length and reach to keep Cunningham on the outside while landing power punches, culminated by the knockout punch.

''I turned it into a dogfight,'' Fury said. ''I was expecting to put on a good boxing performance. That was a perfect example. You have to get on with your business and fight on.''

Cunningham fell to 25-6. The former IBF Cruiserweight Champion said he has no interest in dropping back down to that weight class.

''I got to talk with my team and see what's going on,'' Cunningham said. ''I feel like I performed.''

The Fury-Cunningham bout was the main event of a six-fight card.

Curtis Stevens won an eight round unanimous decision over Derrick Findley in the semi-main event. Stevens improved to 24-4. Findley dropped to 20-10. Judges Robin Taylor and John McKaie ruled in favor of Stevens, 78-74, while judge Don Trella gave the NABF Middleweight Champion a 79-73 ruling.

''I knew I was winning the fight clean,'' Stevens said.

Stevens took control in the fourth in which he staggered Findley with a hook to the chin and repeated body shots. The two middleweights spent the majority of the bout trading blows, although the furious pace they set began to take its toll on the fighters in the fifth round as Stevens and Findley engaged in clinches following exchanges.

''It felt great to go eight rounds,'' Stevens said." It was excellent for me to get in rounds. It was great for me.''

Calbert Lewis fell to 0-3 after being knocked out by Adam Kownacki (5-00 1:43 into the second round of their heavyweight fight. Hughie Fury, Tyson's younger cousin, moved to 2-0 with a first round TKO of Alex Rozman (1-1). Edward Valdez (12-10-2) could not come out of the corner for the third round of his lightweight fight against Karl Dargan (13-0) with what was announced as ''an injured hand.'' Josh Harris improved to 9-6-1 with a fifth round TKO of Albanian Sevdail Sherifi (9-2-2).


http://sports.yahoo.com/news/tyson-fury-stops-steve-cunningham-221901367--box.html

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 12:39 AM