Brunson Has Career Playoff Game as Knicks Top Sixers in Game 4

KNICKS 97 - SIXERS 92 -- NYK leads Series 3-1 

Jalen Brunson is a beast! The Knicks point guard put up a performance for the ages when he broke the Knicks franchise record for points in a playoff game, scoring 47 in the Knicks 97-92 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center in Philly. 

 The Knicks lead the best of seven series 3-1. New York can finish it off on Tuesday night in Game 5 at the Garden. 

"We just kept fighting and found a way to win," Brunson said immediately afterwards on ESPN. "I'll look back when I retire. Seriously this is great right now, it helped us get a win, but it won't do anything for us going forward," he added in the postgame. 

Brunson willed the Knicks all day. His floater with 6:40 to go in the second quarter, tied the game at 29. He later gave the Knicks a 34-32 lead on a 15-foot jumper with 5:31 to go before halftime. 

Still the game was a struggle for the Knicks, who found themselves down 10 points, 61-51 with 7:05 to go in the third quarter. 

But Brunson and the Knicks didn't give up. With 1:32 to go in the quarter, Brunson's huge 26-foot three ball, answered a loud three by Joel Embiid, bringing the Knicks back to within one-point at 73-72. 

Finally with five seconds to go in the third, Brunson hit another floating jumper to tie the game at 76. He then converted on a free-throw to give the Knicks a narrow 77-76 lead. 

No matter the situation, Brunson was there to pull the Knicks out of the fire. In the fourth quarter alone, he was connecting on both free throws and jumpers to keep the Knicks in front of the Sixers. He wouldn't let them fail. 

For their part, O.G. Anunoby posted 16-points, and Miles McBride added 13-points of his own in the victory.

Did the Jets Land Aaron Rodgers Successor in Jordan Travis?

 You see the headline. Did the Jets land a successor in Florida State's Jordan Travis? 

It's a very unfair question, but it is one that has taken hold Jets Twitter since the Jets selected the former Seminole in the fifth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday.  

Travis's selection was one of many jaw-dropping moves by Jets GM Joe Douglas and crew over the weekend, but this is a move for Travis that is a total 'wait-and-see.'

Certainly Travis -- who is only six-feet tall -- had a tremendous career at FSU, especially his final two years on campus.  In 2022 and 2023 combined, Travis threw for nearly 6,000 yards, 44 touchdowns and just seven picks. Last season he had 20 TDs and two interceptions, before suffering a brutal lower leg injury that he is still rehabbing from. 

 Some say that had Travis not gotten hurt, he would have been a second or third round selection. Who knows really. The Jets got him in the fifth round. Certainly he is talented, but to expect him to be the true heir apparent when Rodgers retires -- whenever that is, is a extremely presumptuous. 

Let the kid learn as a third stringer the next couple years, and if the Jets feel he can contribute and compete down the road, sure he can enter the conversation. But truth be told, the true heir to the Rodgers QB thrown is likely STILL not on this roster. And likely won't be for at least another year or so. 

Let's us not forget that in a couple of years, Travis might have to impress a whole new GM and/or Head Coach. So nothing is guaranteed here. 

Yes, the Jets did a good job using the fifth round as a value pick for a quarterback. And  history has shown that you never know with a quarterback late in the draft, but nobody in their right mind should expect Jordan Travis to turn into Tom Brady overnight. 

If there is one thing Joe Douglas did well in this draft is he drafted based on value. He got the big left tackle that can help now and in the future with his first round pick of Olu Fashanu.  Later, Douglas added a much needed slot receiver with speed in Malachi Corley with his third round selection. 

Drafted Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen to compete with Izzy Abinakonda for the back-up running back slot, who can also give Breece Hall a breather every so often was a stroke of genius in the fourth round. 

Taking CFL corner back Qaun'tezz Striggers was a head scratcher. No doubt he has a great story. He left the game to care for his family when his father died, then tried to get back into later, and after much rejection ended up in the CFL. Striggers is a great story. Can he be a special teams player or nickle guy? We'll have to wait and see. 

Giants Went For Need Not Headlines in NFL Draft

 Many thought that the New York Giants would be a team to watch in the NFL Draft this weekend. Many were speculating the team would draft a quarterback early, with the aim at replacing incumbent Daniel Jones, despite the fact he has three years left on his contract. 

Instead, the Giants played it close to the vest. They went with the safe picks, addressing various needs across the broad spectrum of the football team. Kudos to Joe Schoen and company for doing the right thing.

The Giants have a lot of issues. Sure Daniel Jones didn't play well in 2023, but he was also injured most of the time. The Giants added a capable back-up in Drew Lock, and everyone's favorite Jersey guy, Tommy DeVito is still on the roster too. 

The Giants didn't need to add another quarterback to the mix to muddy the waters of what had been a muddy off-season after Saquon Barkley joined the Eagles. 

 Taking Malik Nabers with the sixth overall pick was smart. It gives Daniel Jones a weapon he desperately needs at wide receiver. The G-Men have not had a dynamic play-maker at wide out since Odell Beckham left, lets be honest. Nabers might be that guy. 

As for the rest of the selections, the Giants added needed depth in the secondary with safety Tyler Nubin of Minnesota, and cornerback Andru Phillips of Kentucky. The G-Men got burned a lot last year in the second level, so adding two top defenders was paramount. 

The Giants also drafted a tight end in Penn State's Theo Johnson, who could step in if Darren Waller either retires or gets hurt again. The Giants hoped that Waller would take their offense to another level last year. That of course never transpired. 

Johnston is 6-foot-6, and had seven touchdowns last year with the Nittany Lions.  

In short it was a solid, if not unspectacular draft for the Giants.

Jets and Giants Open Draft with Smart Moves

 

The New York Giants and Jets played it safe on the first night of the NFL Draft, filling in needs, while not rocking the boat and creating drama.

In short, the two New York City-based teams were the anti-Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night.

 The Falcons created plenty of drama when they decided to use the eighth overall pick to take Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., despite the fact they had just signed Kirk Cousins to a five-year $180 million deal. A deal both sides can get out of after year two. Still the move sent shockwaves through the NFL.

 There were a lot of Giants fans who apparently wanted the Giants to create the kind of drama Atlanta did. 

Many were all aboard the train to get a new quarterback in town to compete with Daniel Jones. Obviously, the Giants opted not to stir the pot. They are paying Jones upwards of $160 million over four years. So instead, Big Blue gave Jones a present in speedy LSU receiver Malik Nabbers.

Nabers is explosive. He led the country with 120 yards per game and 27 missed tackles. His six-foot frame makes him perfect for both the slot and down the sideline as a burner. Perhaps the Giants have their most explosive receiver since Odell Beckham. Ironically both players hailed from LSU.

New York Jets Give More Protection for Aaron Rodgers

The New York Jets were expected to take a playmaker with the 10th overall pick, but were unable, according to Connor Hughes of SNY, to swing a deal to move up in the draft to get receiver Rome Odunze. Hughes later reported that the Jets didn’t have much interest in tight end Brock Bowers, calling the interest a “smokescreen.”

 Instead the Jets took offensive tackle Olu Fashanu after swapping the 10th and 11th overall picks with Minnesota. The move is a sound one for Gang Green. Yes, the Jets signed Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses in the off-season, but both players are 33-years old, and are coming off injuries. The Jets can’t afford anything to happen physically to Aaron Rodgers again. Getting a pass protector for today and the future made all the sense in the world.

As seen on Fox Sports Radio New Jersey!

Knicks Show "HART" in Series Opening Win over Sixers

 KNICKS 111 - SIXERS 104 

The Knicks were all about "HART" on Saturday night as shooting guard Josh Hart lit a charge into Madison Square Garden that could be heard all the way down I-95 as he powered New York to a thrilling 111-104 win over the Philadelphia 76ers at the Worlds Most Famous Arena. 

The Knicks lead the best-of-seven opening round series 1-0. 

Josh Hart. Getty Images

 

Hart dropped down 22-points, tied for the game's lead with Jalen Brunson, but it was the way in which Hart did it that stood out. Hart was 4-of-8 from downtown; three of those shots came in the fourth quarter as New York pulled away with the victory. 

His final three-ball with 1:55 to go, which was quickly followed up by a three from OG Anunoby had the Garden crowd on its feet, as they chanted, "Go New York, Go New York, Go!" 

It wasn't a one-man show, of course. No sir. Because for a large portion of the night, Miles McBridge was great too for the Knicks. 

His 21-points off the bench energized the New York crowd, who chanted "DUUUUUUUUCE" each time he got his hands on the ball and started driving through the lane, looking for a shot. 

 

McBride's driving layup with 8:25 to go in the game gave New York an 86-84 lead. It was a huge shot in the arm for the Knicks, who had watched Philadelphia storm back in the third quarter to take an 82-79 lead going into the Game One's final stanza. McBride's efforts helped turn the tied fairly quickly.

Later, McBride's 24-foot three pointer gave New York a 91-86 advantage, putting New York firmly in control. From there Brunson and Hart stepped on the gas the rest of the way. 

Mitchell Robinson who took the brunt of some hard fouls against Sixers big man, Joel Embiid, still held his own against Philly's best player. He kept Embiid under 30 points, and recorded 12 boards for the Knicks.  

Overall, the Knicks were just the better team from down town, hitting on 45 percent of their three-point attempts vs. the 34-percent rate for Philadelphia. That was the difference. When the Sixers had a chance to bump and get physical with the Knicks, New York withstood it and took delivered the punishment right back. 

The Knicks and Sixers will meet again Monday night in Game 2 at the Garden. 

Oh, and there is hockey on Sunday too. The Rangers open their playoff series with Washington. What a time for the Garden. 

Mets Win Thriller in L.A., Extend Winning Streak to Six Games

 METS 6 - DODGERS 4 

The New York Mets remain red hot, and continue to build on one of the best stories in the early going of the 2024 season. New York survived a slog of a ball-game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, winning 6-4 to extend their winning streak to six games, and assure a fifth consecutive series victory. 

Starling Marte who has been on fire since the Cincinnati Red series more than two weeks ago, had himself quiet a day on Saturday. Marte had two hits, and drove in four, including launching a mammoth three-run homer to dead center that proved to be the difference. 

 Marte was batting only .192 on April 5, is now batting at .275 with four homers and 12 RBI on the year. It's no coincidence that the Mets recent success has been tied to the right fielder. 

Two seasons ago Marte was the key to the Mets success in that team winning 101 games in 2022. When he went down with an injury at the end of that season, the Mets limped to the finish line, and got knocked out by San Diego. 

Last year, Marte was just never himself as he battled injuries. 

This year he's healthy, and is giving the Mets the man they've missed. 

It also helps that Francisco Lindor appears to be turning the corner offensively. His two-run bomb on Friday night in LA, and his two RBI day on Saturday, are great signs. 

Harrison Bader, who enjoyed a four hit day on Friday, had a rough day on Saturday, going 0-for-5 including bouncing into grounder with the bases loaded in the first inning. 

Seriously though this game was a battle of attrition. 

 

The Mets pitching staff struggled to find the strike zone, as 10 Dodgers wound up walking, including three-walks to Shoehei Ohtani. Yet, each time the Mets found a way to get out of trouble. In fact, the Dodgers left the bases loaded four times on Saturday. 

It's hard to pinpoint one big moment, because there were so many. 

With the Mets clinging to a 5-4 lead in the sixth, Drew Smith found a way to jam Max Muncy on a grounder to first with the bases loaded. Pete Alonso -- noticing that Smith was late to break toward first, dove for the bag and beat out Muncy to record the out and preserve a one-run lead. 

Later in the eighth inning, Edwin Diaz had to come in to a pressure situation with Mookie Betts on first and the middle of the order coming up for LA. Diaz didn't have his best stuff, walking both Ohtani and Freedie Freeman to load 'em up. 

Diaz then fired back and struck out Toscar Hernandez and Max Muncy to get out of trouble. Reed Garrett locked things down in the ninth. 

The win was huge. The way it was done was even better. This team is something else. 

NOTE: Francisco Alvarez will need to undergo surgery on his thumb. There is no timetable for his return, but manager Carlos Mendoza is hopeful to have him back this season.

Yankees Voice John Sterling Bids Adieu in Retirement Ceremony

 John Sterling called New York Yankees baseball for over 36 years. But, on April 20, 2024, he hung up his microphone for the final time. 

Sterling officially retired as lead voice of the New York Yankees, ending one of the great careers in broadcasting history. 

From his unique home run calls to his catchphrase, "Yankees Win, DAAAAAAAAAAA Yankees WIN!!" everything Sterling did in the broadcast booth became synonymous with the Bronx Bombers unparalleled success of the late 90s'/early 00's, and inspired a generation of Yankees' fans to boot. 

On Saturday, the Yankees honored Sterling with a live press conference followed by an emotional on-field presentation. 

Even at 85-years old, Sterling still has the pipes of a master. He will be missed. 

 

On Friday, I spoke with The Athletic's Brendan Kuty, who has known Sterling for 11-years for this week's Fox Sports on the Road.  Take a listen to the interview here!

Mets Formally Retire Doc Gooden's No. 16

It was not a easy road to immortality, but Doc Gooden is finally there in the pantheon of Mets legends. His number 16 was officially retired Sunday prior to New York's 1:40 first pitch against the Kansas City Royals. 

 The Doctor joins the likes of Keith Hernandez, Mike Piazza and Tom Seaver to have his number retired by the organization. Darryl Strawberry will join Gooden in having his number 18 retired later this summer. 

Gooden's up and down career with the Mets and Major League Baseball is well documented. 

When he came up in 1984, Gooden was must see TV. In his first two years, Gooden was easily the best, and most dynamic pitcher in baseball. 

Gooden racked up strikeouts with alacrity. In 1985, the best year of his career, Gooden struck out 276 batters and won 24 games with the Mets. His ERA in '85, a microscopic 1.85. He was by all definitions: electric. 

Still, as we all know, drugs, alcohol and legal trouble consumed Gooden's life. It was well documented now via Gooden himself that he didn't attend the team's 1986 World Series parade due to drugs. 

Gooden tried at several points to rehabilitate his life and career. The Yankees gave him a shot in the mid-90s, and he rewarded their belief in him by tossing a no-hitter in 1996. In 2000, after various stops, he returned to the Yankees, and was a member of a World Series winning team. He even pitched against, and beat the Mets on a Saturday afternoon at Shea with the Yankees in the first game of a now infamous double-header that is best remembered for Roger Clemens beaning Mike Piazza in the head. 

The legal troubles for Gooden persisted until most recently in 2019, when was arrested for cocaine possession in July of 2019. 

To his credit Gooden has tried to battle his demons, and has remained clean from what we understand now. 

He's giving life another shot, and that's great to see. 

His speech on Sunday was awkward. It bubbled up some bad feelings, when he reflected on how the Mets didn't have room for him on their rosters in the last 90s/early 00s. There were even boos when he mentioned the Yankees. It was in a word: weird. 

 Well. Now's he enshrined in Mets history forever. Hopefully he can continue to educate those in need about leading and living their best lives.

Mets Remain Hot, Topple Royals to Open Weekend Set

 The New York Mets remain red hot on Friday, toppling the Kansas City Royals 6-1 at Citi Field to open a six-game home stand. The victory cements the Mets sixth victory in its last eight games, and comes a day after the Amazin's plated 16 runs against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday. 

Brett Baty and Jeff McNeil continue to rake for the Mets. Baty had two hits, including a two-run double in the fifth inning that extended the Mets lead to 5-1. 

Baty is now riding a seven game hitting streak. 

McNeil slapped three hits on Friday, showing more signs that his early season slump is a thing of the past. 

McNeil drove in the go-ahead run in the fourth inning. 

Meanwhile, Pete Alonso laced his sixth home run of the year, when he smacked a laser that just got over the left-center field wall for a solo homer in the eighth inning. 

Luis Severino struggled with his command, but found a way to tough out five innings, allowing only one run - a solo blast by Salvador Perez, while striking out four and walking four. Severino is now 1-1 on the year for the Amazin's. 

The Mets (6-7) snapped the Royals seven game winning streak, and in so doing, are only a half game back of Philadelphia for second place. New York remains 2.5 back of Atlanta for first in the NL East.

Mets Offense Romps Past Braves, Take Initial Series

 The New York Mets appear to be finding a groove offensively. And what better way to do so then in a series against their arch rivals, the Atlanta Braves.

The Mets rolled past Atlanta to the tune of 16-4 on Thursday, taking two-of-three in the mid-week series. Suddenly the Mets have won five of seven after an horrific 0-5 start, and are just 2.5 back of Atlanta in the NL East. Yes, it's only April, but as much as people wanted to bury the Mets after their opening series against Milwaukee, they have shown some life ever since.

Maybe they can make something of this season after all.

In the three games against Atlanta the Mets scored 29 runs, that after struggling to score 25 runs over their previous nine games heading into the series.

More importantly the contributions are coming from all over.

Stars of the Game:

• J.D. Stewart's two run bomb gave the Mets a 7-0 lead. He has now homered in two of the last three games for the Amazin's.
• Brandon Nimmo stays red hot at the plate. After collecting four hits on Monday, Nimmo racked up a pair of hits, drove in a pair and scored twice. His RBI double in the second inning gave New York a 2-0 lead. He would later score on an error. Nimmo hit .556 in the three game series.
• Brett Baty is coming into his own both defensively and with the bat. He had another RBI single on Thursday, and is hitting .311 on the year.
  
  
• Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez both had huge days. McNeil had two hits and three RBI in the win, while Alvarez continues to rake with two more hits, and two more RBI. Alvarez's six RBI are now tied for the team lead with Baty.
• The exclamation point came from Tyrone Taylor -- the same guy who provided the game winning hit against Detroit a week ago, cracked a grand slam homer in the ninth inning to blow the game wide open!