Thursday, July 25, 2013

July 25, 2013, Atlanta Braves-New York Mets Major League Baseball regular season game story for Metro Newspaper in NYC

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 5:01 PM

July 25, 2013, Atlanta Braves-New York Mets notebook for Metro Newspaper in NYC

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 5:00 PM

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

July 16, 2013, New York Mets using All-Star Game as a showcase feature story for Metro Newspaper in NYC

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 4:28 PM

July 24, 2013, Atlanta Braves-New York Mets Major League Baseball regular season game story for Metro Newspaper in NYC

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 10:23 AM

July 24, 2013, Atlanta Braves-New York Mets notebook for Metro Newspaper in NYC

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 10:22 AM

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

July 17, 2013, Major League Baseball All-Star Game game story for Metro Newspaper in NYC

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 10:55 AM

July 17, 2013, Major League Baseball All-Star Game notebook for Metro Newspaper in NYC

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 10:54 AM

Monday, July 15, 2013

July 16, 2013, Matt Harvey will start the All-Star Game news story for Metro Newspaper in NYC

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 10:09 PM

July 16, 2013, National League All-Star Game notebook for Metro Newspaper in NYC

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 9:58 PM

July 13, 2013, Montreal Impact-New York Red Bulls MLS regular season game story for Canadian Press


HARRISON, N.J. -- The mood in the Montreal Impact's locker room on Saturday was as candid as it was unforgiving.

It is time for thorough introspection.

"I think we've tossed enough (games) out already," said goalkeeper Troy Perkins after the Montreal Impact lost 4-0 to the New York Red Bulls.

Montreal, which is 1-3-2 in its last six games, fell to 9-5-4 overall. The Impact and Red Bulls (9-7-7) have the most points in the Eastern Conference with 31 points apiece. However, Montreal is still first overall in the conference because it has played two fewer games than New York. The Red Bulls also have two more losses than the Impact.

"When you're afraid like this -- we (knew) we had to score some goals and (earn) some points here -- but when you don't believe in something, you don't have a chance," said Impact manager Marco Schallibaum. "The team that comes from far away to be in first place is good. But to stay there is very difficult because everybody wants to beat you.

"We must be stronger on the field. That's why I say they (were) too afraid. When you're (in) first (place), you must play like a top team and in the first half we weren't a top team."

Facing a New York team that had entered the game having lost three of four, the Impact had eight shot attempts on goal and Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles only had to make four saves. His most difficult saves were diving stops in the 49th and 71st minutes.

"We didn't score tonight," said Montreal midfielder Justin Mapp.

That was somewhat problematic as New York spent the majority of the match dictating play. The Red Bulls finished the game with 11 shots on goal.

"At some point it is probably frustrating," Perkins said of the New York attack. "Over the past four games it's been like that."

Thierry Henry, Eric Alexander, Tim Cahill and Peguy Lyuindula scored for New York. Henry also added two assists.
Henry was directly responsible for New York's first three goals. He set up Alexander's game-opening goal at the 10 minute mark with a quick pass. Alexander split three defenders in the box before driving a shot past Perkins to the far left corner to give New York a 1-0 lead.

Five minutes later, Henry doubled the advantage when he tapped Fabian Espindola's crossing feed into the net.
New York midfielder Tim Cahill headed Henry's corner kick in the 63rd minute past Perkins to increase the Red Bulls' lead to 3-0.

"He's a good player," Schallibaum said of Henry. "He's been showing us for 20 years he's a good player. We know the quality (of) Thierry Henry and he (showed) us again tonight. Congratulations."

Lyuindula ended the scoring with a penalty kick goal in the 87th minute. The forward was taken down in the box and he converted for his first goal in the MLS.

"Peguy has a vision of the game that's better than most people," said New York coach Mike Petke. "He sees things, his control is great; he's a setup man he hasn't been able to find the back of the net. As a forward that's frustrating.

"I think it's very important that Peguy stepped up and took that shot and converted it. It's all about (scoring streaks) and it's all about confidence for forwards specifically. So now hopefully we could count on one more (forward) that's going to get on a roll. That would be great."

Midfielder Davy Arnaud (45th minute) and Defender Matteo Ferrari (61st minute) were assessed yellow cards.

The announced attendance was 17,235 included a small but energetic Impact cheering section in the upper deck.


http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=427676

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 9:56 PM

Thursday, July 11, 2013

July 12, 2013, Ilya Kovalchuk retirement from NHL news story for Metro Newspaper in NYC

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 7:31 PM

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

July 11, 2013, NHL notebook for Metro Newspaper in NYC

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 6:27 PM

July 11, 2013, Dominic Moore sidebar for Metro Newspaper in NYC

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 6:13 PM

Tuesday, July 09, 2013

July 9, 2013, Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2013 news story for Metro Newspaper in NYC

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 9:39 PM

Tuesday, July 02, 2013

July 2, 2013, Zack Wheeler's growing pains news story for Metro Newspaper in NYC

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 12:17 PM

July 2, 2013, New York Mets notebook for Metro Newspaper in NYC

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 12:15 PM

Monday, July 01, 2013

July 1, 2013, Ottawa Senators NHL draft sidebar for Canadian Press


Senators GM Bryan Murray focuses on draft with no trades available

 

By Denis Gorman, The Canadian Press | The Canadian Press – 10 hours ago
 

NEWARK, N.J. - On a day that was marked by movement, there simply wasn't a trade available for Bryan Murray.

So the Ottawa Senators general manager was only too happy to use the 17th overall pick on Edmonton Oil Kings centre Curtis Lazar on Sunday.

"Obviously the biggest thing Curtis that is, is a competitive person," Murray said Lazar. "He's been compared to me as a hard-nosed, competitive guy in the National Hockey League. He scores. He's had a real good career doing that."

Lazar recorded 61 points (38 goals and 23 assists) in 72 games with Edmonton last season. Fourteen of his 38 goals came in the final 20 games of the regular season. While the offensive numbers are strong, the organization views him as an all-around forward.

"(He's) the type of player we were looking for," said assistant general manager Tim Murray. "He's a complete player. He's gritty and competitive. He can play the game.

"I think he has a very good offensive game. I think he's compared to those competitive guys like (Los Angeles Kings captain) Dustin Brown because they are complete players and have an offensive game to them, and they play with an edge.

Added Tim Murray: "He's not being compared to the energy players of the world of the National Hockey League. He's being compared to guys with energy and grit and determination, but also the guys that score goals. I expect he's going to score 30 goals, for sure, for us. He's certainly going to score skill goals. He's going to fit into the mould that we're trying to represent."

Along with Lazar, the Senators took goaltender Marcus Hogberg, right-winger Tobias Lindberg, defenceman Ben Harpur, centre Vincent Dunn, right-winger Chris LeBlanc and centre Quentin Shore.

More than being good fits for the Senators, the primary reason that all seven players are headed to Ottawa for prospect development camp is that nothing materialized over the weekend despite a hyper-charged marketplace.

"As happens very often, and in particular the first round, if you have a decent position you're very reluctant to give that position up," said Bryan Murray. "I talked to some people that would have had to move a number of picks back to make it work for them. The price was quite substantial. I had a couple offers to move down as the draft was going on. We felt there was a player there that we didn't want to pass on, so we didn't move backwards. It's totally understood it's tough to move."

One area in which he made headway was with Daniel Alfredsson, as the Senators general manager said he spoke with Alfredsson's agent, J.P. Barry over the weekend on a new deal for the Senators' captain.

"We talked about how we could get a deal done," Murray said. "We talked about term, threw numbers back and forth slightly. Nothing firm. He's going to go back to Alfie and talk to him again. I will do the same thing on my part. Hopefully we'll talk in the next couple days."

When pressed on the word term, Murray acknowledged the possibility of a multi-year contract for the 40-year old.

"Not necessarily one year," Murray said. "I mean he might want to play 10 more years. He's a guy that just seems to thrive on playing. It doesn't necessarily have to be a one-year deal. It may well end up being that but we may talk a little more."


http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/senators-stand-pat-curtis-lazar-first-round-nhl-211028592.html

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 11:57 AM

July 1, 2013, Winnipeg Jets NHL Draft sidebar for the Canadian Press


Jets select defenceman Joshua Morrissey with 13th pick in NHL draft

 

By Denis Gorman, The Canadian Press | The Canadian Press – 11 hours ago
 

NEWARK, N.J. - Claude Noel hopes drafting Joshua Morrissey helps the Winnipeg Jets take another step towards strengthening a thin prospect pool.

"We're trying to get a cycle of development going," said the Jets head coach. "As a young franchise (that) cycle hasn't completely started."

Winnipeg picked Morrissey 13th overall in Sunday's NHL draft, and Noel hopes the addition of the defenceman along with the development of young players such as Jacob Trouba and Mark Scheifele quicken the Jets' growth next season.

"It's really exciting to be part of the Jets organization," said Morrissey. "It's definitely a pretty cool experience.

"I always wanted to go to a passionate city and have passionate fans, and I got my wish."

The Jets also acquired Michael Frolik from Chicago for the 74th and 134th picks. Frolik recorded 10 points in both the regular and post-season for the Stanley Cup champions, while playing on an energy line.

"Frolik fit what we were kind of looking for from a winger standpoint, someone that's a really good penalty-killer, someone that is a former two-time 20-goal scorer at the National Hockey League level," said general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff.

"Works extremely hard. You saw how he played in the Stanley Cup playoffs. That's when he does play his best. He's someone that really competes and I know will be looking for an expanded role in our group."

A mobile defenceman, who said he patterns his game after Norris Trophy finalist Kris Letang, Morrissey recorded 15 goals and 32 assists in 70 games with Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League last season.

He also had three assists and 22 penalty minutes in seven games for Canada in the World Under-18s.

"I think I'm a two-way defenceman with an offensive upside. I like to compete hard and my biggest assets are my skating and my hockey sense," Morrissey said. "I have to work on my defensive game but my offensive side has really flourished."

According to Morrissey, he had an inkling that the Jets were interested in him after four meetings.

"The meetings with the Jets (were) amazing," Morrissey said. "They were good guys. They had a lot of good things to say. It seemed as we talked, things just clicked. I definitely left there feeling pretty good."

While Morrissey is planning on attending training camp with the Jets, it seems unlikely that he will make the team. The 18-year old is just 186 pounds, has WHL eligibility, and Noel said the team does not want to stunt the development of any of its young players.

Included are Trouba and Scheifele. While Noel believes the last two first-round picks — Trouba was the ninth overall pick in 2012, Scheifele was selected seventh overall in 2011 — should be "on or near the team," he was not willing to say the defenceman and centre were entering camp needing to earn a NHL job.

"We don't need them to overplay the situation," Noel said.

Along with Morrissey, the Jets selected centre Nicolas Petan, goaltender Eric Comrie, centre James Lodge, right-wing J.C. Lipon, centre Andrew Copp, and defencemn Jan Kostalek, Tucker Poolman, Brenden Kichton and Marcus Karlstrom.


http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/jets-select-defenceman-joshua-morrissey-13th-pick-nhl-204036851.html

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 11:53 AM

July 1, 2013, New Jersey Devils made the biggest splash at the NHL Draft news story for Metro Newspaper in NYC





























http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/nhl/2013/06/30/devils-make-biggest-move-at-2013-nhl-entry-draft/

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 11:47 AM

July 1, 2013, UFC middleweight fighter Chris Weidman profile for Metro Newspaper in NYC


New York

Metro.us▶ Sports▶ MMA
By Denis GormanPublished:

Weidman in for fight of his life at UFC 162

UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz v Weidman

Chris Weidman was in Albany with Lorenzo Fertitta speaking to politicians about the legalization of mixed martial arts in New York when the UFC co-owner asked for a private moment.
In that instant, Weidman heard the words he had longed to hear.
“[Fertitta] actually said, ‘Hey, I just [want to] let you know I spoke with [UFC President] Dana [White, who] spoke with Anderson Silva [last] weekend and you’re fighting [him],’” Weidman said following a recent training session at Ray Longo’s gym in Garden City. “I said, ‘Awesome.’ It’s one of those opportunities of a lifetime. Fight the greatest of all time.”
On July 6, Weidman will challenge Anderson Silva for the UFC Middleweight Championship at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center at UFC 162. Weidman enters the fight with 9-0 record as a professional. He is 5-0 in the UFC. His last win was a second round knockout of Mark Munoz last July that solidified his status as the middleweight division’s top contender in the eyes of UFC executives.
“I think he’s proven himself,” Longo said of his star pupil. “The training so far has been going great. [His] sparring looks good. I think he’ll be peaking at the right time. I couldn’t be happier.”
Neither could the UFC, which is pleased with how Weidman has responded to additional media responsibilities. On this day, the UFC’s in-house television production staff and News 12 Long Island were filming the session. UFC 162 marks the first time the Baldwin, Long Island, native will headline a pay-per-view card.
“Chris has handled it well,” White wrote in an email to Metro New York. “It’s certainly been an adjustment for him. He’s skyrocketed to the top of the division and is now facing the greatest fighter of all-time, so all of the big media outlets across the world want to speak with him. But he comes from a good camp led by a guy like Matt Serra, who knows what it’s like to handle the media before big fights.
“He’s a laid back guy. I don’t think the big fights intimidate him. He’s got good people around him and he’s laser-focused on becoming UFC champion. This is the biggest opportunity of his life, so I’m sure he’s got a million things running through his head. But he looks like he’s handling it well.”
Still, there is a decided difference between preparing for the fight and actually stepping inside the cage. Especially against Silva, who has overwhelmed opponents with a well-earned aura of invincibility and athletic genius.
Silva has won 33-of-37 career fights, and has a perfect 16-0 record in the UFC. The 16 wins have Silva tied with Hall of Famers Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture for second most in UFC history. Eleven of Silva’s 16 wins have come via knockout, the most in UFC history. His 17 knockdowns is a UFC record and his 67.8 percent striking accuracy is the highest in UFC history.
Perhaps more vital to Silva’s incredible success than his power and striking is the Brazilian’s ability to discourage opponents. In his last fight, Silva decimated Stephan Bonnar in the main event of UFC 153 last October, losing in the first round of their light heavyweight fight via first round technical knockout. But it’s how Bonnar lost that resonates.
Backed against the cage, Silva dropped his hands to the side, an invitation to Bonnar to land strikes. Except whenever Bonnar threw a punch or a kick, Silva swayed to the left or to the right to avoid the strike. It was an unspoken message that was as brash as it was true: You are not good enough to beat me. You are not good enough to share the octagon with me. Moments later, Silva mercifully put an end to the fight with a knee to the midsection followed by flurry of punches that sent Bonnar into retirement.
As one would expect, Weidman and has camp have discussed how to combat Silva’s air of confidence.
“You have to address it,” Longo said. “Right now, Anderson Silva has the Mike Tyson aura going. [Guys are] losing fights before they even got in there. What’s key to me about that is I don’t think Chris is going to do that. We’ve talked about it. Anderson Silva is going to see a totally different fighter than what he’s normally used to seeing. This guy is not crumbling before the fight, and he brings a skill set unlike anybody he’s ever fought before. So that’s going to be the difference.”
The closest anyone has come to beating Silva was Chael Sonnen at UFC 117. Sonnen used his wrestling to keep the majority of their middleweight title fight on the mat. Yet for all that Sonnen accomplished in the fight, he still submitted to a triangle armbar with 1:50 left in the fifth round.
So why should the average fan think Weidman can beat Silva?
“If Anderson [Silva] has had any trouble so far, it’s been with wrestlers,” Longo said. “I think Chris Weidman is Chael Sonnen times 10. Chris Weidman can strike. Chris Weidman can do jiu-jitsu. He can wrestle. I think Chael had the wrestling down. He didn’t really have the striking down as [needed going into a fight] with Anderson Silva. I think if he had better jiu-jitsu, he could have threatened to submit Anderson. If the fight goes to the floor, Chris will be looking for the submission. It’s hard to keep playing defense with a guy like that on [you].”
- See more at: http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/mma/2013/06/30/weidman-in-for-fight-of-his-life-at-ufc-162/#sthash.zSH95qjf.dpuf





























http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/mma/2013/06/30/weidman-in-for-fight-of-his-life-at-ufc-162/

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 11:46 AM