COHEN'S CORNER SPORTS

 It was a night of sports, politics and patriotism at the Prudential Center on Wednesday night as the New Jersey Devils welcomed back Jack Hughes following his game-winning goal for Team USA at the 2026 Olympics.  “I’m so proud and so happy that the men’s and women’s hockey teams brought the gold medal back to America,” Hughes told the crowd. “And I’m so proud to represent the New Jersey Devils organization and to represent the great state of New Jersey.” Hughes and Team USA have enjoyed a huge and well deserved showing of support from fans, including basking in their success with trips to the White House and the State of the Union.  Oddly, amid these divisive political times we have been living in for the better part of the last decade, a number of Democrats sat on their hands when President Donald Trump introduced Team USA at the State of the Union address.  How is celebrating Team USA such a divisive issue? All because a President that they vehemently dislik...

 A year ago Aaron Glenn said of the task before him and the New York Jets heading into the 2025 season, "We're built for this shit."  We all know how that quote boomeranged back at him last season.  Well on Tuesday, Glenn offered a new hot quote when asked about taking over play-calling duties after a wild hiring cycle where the Jets were once believed to be all in on hiring Wink Martindale, before a sudden change in strategy.  "To me play-calling is my super-power."  OH BOY!! Put a pin in that one.   If Glenn's history as Defensive Coordinator and play-caller with the Detroit Lions is any indication, it could be another long year for Gang Green.  Under Glenn, the Lions were ranked as follows: 29th, 32nd, 19th and 20th in overall defense during his four years in the Motor City.   Not to mention, his Lions defense was shredded by the Washington Commanders in the divisional playoffs in 2024.  "There are things I have to improve on," G...

Former Mets legend Darryl Strawberry sounded off on Pete Alonso's departure from the New York Mets this off-season, saying Monday that the slugger would one day "wake up just like I did and regret you didn’t stick where you’re at.” Oddly enough on Tuesday, Strawberry tried to walk back t hose comments, stating:   “I was talking about the mistakes that I made of leaving,” Strawberry said Tuesday from Clover Park, where he is serving this week as a guest instructor. “This is not about me and Pete. I love Pete. And I always had hope that he would stick around and be the guy to break all the numbers." The comments are interesting, mainly because Alonso and Strawberry share the distinction of being the franchise-leading home run leader. Alonso passed Strawberry last summer.  In Strawberry's case, he left the Mets in 1990 he did so with a strained relationship with the front office, and wound up signing a five-year deal with the Dodgers after rejecting a lesser deal fro...

 It took a New Jersey Devil to get gold for Team USA. Devils forward Jack Hughes netted the game winning goal 1:40 into overtime as Team USA defeated Team Canada in the Gold Medal Game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.   Hughes who missed a month this year for the Devils, netted the game winner despite having one tooth knocked out. His effervescent smile with a bloody and broken tooth with the stars and stripes draped over his shoulders is going to be a photo that will live on for decades to come.  Don't believe me? Think about it.  Whenever a seminal moment happens and the U.S. flag is involved it is guaranteed to be part of immortality. Think of the images from Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iowa Jima to the planting of the flag on the surface of the moon. The artwork of Washington's crossing of the Delaware; the raising of Old Glory by firefighters on 9/11, and even the moment President Trump raised his fist in the air after a bullet grazed his ear....

 Baseball is back baby!  And what a way to open the season than to have one of the game's biggest free agent signings from this past winter have an immediate impact.    In his first game in Baltimore Orioles attire, former Mets slugger Pete Alonso cracked a two-run homer in Baltimore's 2-0 spring training victory over the New York Yankees.    The homer was Alonso's only hit of the day in three trips to the plate. But the impact of the slugger in the Cresent City is already being felt. Meanwhile the Mets are running with basically a platoon at first between Jorge Palonco, Mark Vientos and Brett Baty. This should be a storyline we will follow all year.  Heck even social media was having a field day!   As for the Yankees they were held to three hits on the afternoon. Jazz Chisholm (1-for-1) and Austin Wells (0-for-3) were the only notable Bombers in action on Friday afternoon.   

 MLB Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark is expected to resign from his position amid a federal investigation that was opened last year by the Eastern District of New York regarding using licensing money or equity to enrich themselves, according to the New York Times and The Athletic .  The Department of Justice opened an additional investigation in October, according to the Times.  Clark who played from the Detroit Tigers, New York Mets and Yankees in his career has been the head of the players union since 2013.    This news comes at a wild time for baseball as the league is starring down the prospect of a work stoppage in 2027.  The Time cites a statement from MLBPA executive subcommittee member Brent Suter (a pitcher of the L.A. Angels of Anaheim) that bargining sessions were expected to start this summer, and hopes to keep things stable toward that end.  It is not known who will serve officially as Interim Executive Director, b...