COHEN'S CORNER SPORTS

As the late Yogi Berra once said, "it's deja vu all over again."  That will be the case when the New York Knicks tussle with the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, a rematch of sorts via the 1999 Finals. Not only was that the last time the Knicks appeared in the Finals, it was the beginning of the Spurs dynasty as a young Tim Duncan won the MVP, and the Spurs thrashed the Knicks in five games.  That Spurs team was laden with veteran talent from Avery Johnson to Sean Elliot leading the front court. Former Bulls point guard Steve Kerr (who we all know would one day become a successful head coach in his own right), was a role player on that San Antonio team. But all the focus at the time was on David Robinson who was seeking his first NBA title after a storied decades long career.   Duncan, who at the time was in his second year in the NBA was the future star and face of the franchise back in '99.    Little did we know back then it was the first of five...

After 27 years the New York Knicks are back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.  Thanks to another dominating offensive showcase, the Knicks blasted the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, assuring a sweep and plenty of rest before the Finals begin June 3.  For the long suffering Knicks fan who had witnessed year upon year of horrendous basketball, front office blunders, bad public relations, and even worse press, this is the moment you have been waiting for.  You have every right to be giddy.    If you witnessed the days when the Patrick Ewing era ended in a ECF loss to the Pacers back in 2000, which followed his trade to the Seattle SuperSonics that off-season, this is for you!  If you remember when an exhausted Jeff VanGundy resigned at mid-season in 2001; if you remember Antonio McDyess; heck, if you lived through the embarrassment of the Isiah Thomas era's (that's right era's), this one is for you.  ...

The New York Knicks are now one win away from the franchise's first trip to the NBA Finals in 27 years.  Led by another outstanding offensive performance from Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges, the Knicks pounded the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-108 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.   The Knicks never trailed in the contest as Cleveland had literally no answer to stop the Knicks on the offensive boards. The Knicks did whatever they wanted to. From screens, to post-ups and open shots without any defensive pressure.  Hit the open man in the lane? Check.  Kick the ball out to an open man in the corner to hit a three? Check.  Drive through the lane with numbers? Check again.  It was a clinic by New York.  By the end of the contest it looked like Cleveland had totally given up as Brunson glided to the hoop uncontested for an easy layup that gave New York a 118-102 lead with 1:49 to play.  As the Cavs limped and staggered on the court, the chant...

 What would the Knicks do to follow up their virtuoso fourth quarter performance in Game 1? Well, how about finding a way to outlast the Cavs in Game 2.  Powered by Josh Hart's 26 points, and timely shooting from Jalen Brunson and Mikael Bridges (19 points each), the Knicks held off Cleveland 109-93 on Thursday night at the Garden.    It wasn't easy. Give credit to Kenny Atkinson's Cleveland Cavaliers. The former New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets Head Coach had his team ready to go on Thursday night.   The Cavs fought hard in Game 2 and showed no signs of a hangover from their devastating Game 1 defeat. Heck, Cleveland had a 27-24 lead after one quarter, and this games was tied at 53 in the third quarter before New York ripped off runs of 18-0 and 23-5 to all but put the game on ice.  Let's discuss it in our daily vlog!   

 If you had turned off the television set, or got up to do something else with at around 10 after 10 at night last night, nobody would have blamed you.  That's because the New York Knicks trailed the Cleveland Cavaliers by 22 points with 7:39 to go in the fourth quarter. By all intents and purposes the game was over.  Then a miracle happened.  A sudden surge by Jalen Brunson and the Knicks, who couldn't hit the side of a barn let alone a basketball hoop, were charging back on an 18-1 run that was highlighted by Brunson's three with 3:30 to go cut Cleveland's lead down to just five points.  The Cavs who had a 99.9 percent chance to win four minutes earlier, saw their chances narrowed down to 85 percent. Still within reason.  But this was a different circumstance. The Knicks would not be denied. A 44-11 run by New York, including overtime pushed the Knicks to their greatest playoff comeback victory in franchise history.   When it was all said and do...

 Well here is a story nobody saw coming. Former Mets closer Edwin Diaz has been linked to a cockfighting ring in Puerto Rico thanks to incriminating social media posts, according to multiple reports.  Fox News reports that Diaz, who now pitches for the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, appeared in tournament graphics in "full Dodgers uniform." He has also been open about his families participation in the blood-sport, which is banned in the United States.  "  Diaz described cockfighting as a pastime he has followed since childhood and confirmed that his family entered four roosters into a recent tournament." Meanwhile, " Champion jockeys Jose Ortiz and Irad Ortiz Jr. were also identified in social media footage tied to the events. According to the report, the Ortiz brothers, who recently dominated the Kentucky Derby , appeared on video collecting cash bets at one of the alleged cockfighting gatherings ," according to the same report....