Wang should speak up about Isles' dire situation

November 16, 2008

It's so easy to envision the details of the Islanders' Lighthouse Project sitting in a thick manila folder somewhere in the Town of Hempstead offices this morning, collecting dust in a pile of to-do items.

Recent columns

• New Isles' arena talk a hot button

  November 15, 2008

  It's so easy to envision the details of the Islanders' Lighthouse Project sitting in a thick manila folder somewhere in the Town of Hempstead offices this morning, collecting dust in a pile of to-do items.

• Former Jet Toon overcomes post-concussion syndrome to lead active life

  November 13, 2008

  These days Al Toon is far more active than your typical 45-year-old entrepreneur. The former Jets receiver has several real estate ventures, owns fast food franchises, is involved in running a bank, serves on the boards of several companies and also stays busy watching his four children compete on various athletic stages.

• Catching up with Charlie Ward

  November 8, 2008

  When the Rockets fired Jeff Van Gundy a little more than two years ago, his coaching staff was let go, too. So Charlie Ward found himself unemployed, suddenly staring at what he termed a family decision.

• Charlie Ward now a two-sport coach

  November 7, 2008

  When the Rockets fired Jeff Van Gundy a little more than two years ago, his coaching staff was let go, too. So Charlie Ward found himself unemployed, suddenly staring at what he termed a family decision.

• Former athletes vie for office

  November 4, 2008

  Taking a break from the big election that is taking place today, voters across the nation also are determining whether four former sports figures will represent them in various levels of government.

• In the long run, pleasure overshadows pain

  November 3, 2008

  Delirious.

• Driving NYC Marathon course a losing experience

  October 31, 2008

  It's going to take the winner of the New York City Marathon on Sunday roughly two hours and change to complete the 26.2-mile, five-borough course.

• Rain builds World Series intrigue

  October 28, 2008

  Rain interrupted the potential clinching game of the World Series Monday night, putting the series temporarily on hold, and now so many people this morning are up in arms for a variety of reasons. Yet, here's the bottom line: What this does is make the World Series considerably MORE interesting.

• All Islanders need to do is follow Rays' model

  October 24, 2008

  The Islanders are basically hockey's version of the Tampa Bay Rays, circa any year from 1998-2007. They're young, painfully bad and they play before too many empty seats in a thoroughly outdated arena.

• Ickey Shuffle creator not a fan of self-promoting celebrations

  October 14, 2008

  Long before the days of Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens celebrating touchdowns with Sharpies, cell phones and showing off their back side, there was the Ickey Shuffle.

• Ray Knight, Mets remain apart

  October 10, 2008

  As unbelievable as the Mets' 1986 World Series title was, so is this: 22 years have passed and there's still an uneasy separation between the franchise and Ray Knight, the World Series MVP.

• Okposo says the future is now

  October 8, 2008

  You know Garth Snow's Islander youth movement is in full swing when you meet Kyle Okposo, one of the poster boys of this the-kids-are-our-future theme to the season. Let's put it this way: he isn't allowed to legally drink, and he would probably need a pretty good fake ID to get by a bouncer. He looks that young.

• College baseball program a Manuel labor of love

  October 7, 2008

  Jerry Manuel might manage the Mets for two more years, or he might stick around for another decade. Who knows? But this much is certain: Whenever it's time for Manuel to pack up his belongings and head home, he won't be retiring from baseball.

• Sparky Lyle happy in independent baseball

  October 3, 2008

  A few days ago Sparky Lyle won another championship in the independent Atlantic League, his fourth in 11 years as Somerset Patriots manager. No other manager in league history has won more than one.

• Free-agent smorgasbord for Yankees, Mets

  October 2, 2008

  Major League Baseball's postseason is under way, but are Mets and Yankees fans really thinking about Cubs-Dodgers or Red Sox-Angels?

• Yankees, Mets will have plenty of big names to pursue

  October 1, 2008

  Major League Baseball's postseason begins Wednesday, but are Mets and Yankees fans really thinking about Cubs-Dodgers or Red Sox-Angels? The second after the final pitch was thrown for each team, everyone's thoughts go to next year, and how the Mets and Yankees can avoid similar fates.

• Shea Stadium will have slow death

  September 30, 2008

  To those Mets fans frustrated enough to want Shea Stadium blown up to rid the franchise of the stench of another September collapse, you're going to be disappointed.

• Can't come up short on Jeter deal

  September 30, 2008

  Brian Cashman, or whoever the next Yankees general manager turns out to be, is going to be faced with an awfully difficult decision soon, perhaps as early as one year from now.

• Shea boo birds should give these Mets a break

  September 25, 2008

  The challenge for the Mets in the next four games is to find a way to make the playoffs despite one of the least reliable bullpens in the history of contenders. The challenge for their fans is to fill Shea Stadium and hold back on booing.

• Orosco plans to say good-bye to Shea

  September 17, 2008

  As the Mets search for nightly answers to their bullpen woes, they've got to be willing to exhaust any option. So what do you think the chances are that Jesse Orosco might still get a lefty out?

• A tale of two Mets collapses

  September 17, 2008

  Watching the Mets lose these days, it's hard not to rub your eyes and say, 'Haven't I seen this before?' You have. The similarities between The Collapse, circa 2007, and the sequel that is currently in production right now are stunning, to say the least. Have a look:

• Brady down, but don't count Patriots out

  September 8, 2008

  We're coming off hands down the best sports weekend in months, with so many interesting stories to comment on. So no wasting any more time. Let's get right at it.

• Subway Series remains special for Mlicki

  May 16, 2008

  The annual installments of the Subway Series surely don't pass without Mets fans thinking of Dave Mlicki and that memorable shutout he pitched in the first ever Mets-Yankees regular-season game in 1997.

• Amityville's Fraser optimistic about Villanova -- and his NBA dream

  March 28, 2008

  So you think Villanova making the Sweet 16 as a 12 seed is an upset?

• Giants' win ranks among NY's best

  February 4, 2008

  Now whenever you mention those special teams such as the 1969 Jets, 1969 Mets, 1986 Mets and the 1994 Rangers, you have to include this Giants team. They made history, and will forever be remembered and cherished for it.

• Getting carried away

  February 1, 2008

  In an effort to see the trick plays the Giants and Patriots are working on, I asked the people at Goodyear to take me for a ride in their blimp.

• Where are they now? Matt Bahr

  January 30, 2008

  Doubt and uncertainty have to be foreign emotions for kickers. The most successful ones tend to be completely self-confident, never a doubt entering the mind, regardless of the situation. Maybe that's why former Giants kicker Matt Bahr always has had such strong convictions -- and still does today. Bahr told Newsday this past week that he was one of the Giants who in 1991 spearheaded the campaign to have the players wear yellow armbands to support the troops overseas.

• Catching up with Y.A. Tittle

  January 18, 2008

  Yelberton Abraham Tittle, famously known as Y.A., enjoys a laid-back, simple life. He's 81 years old, resides just off the San Francisco Bay and still reports to work at the insurance agency that bears his name. He said he goes in to the office for a half day three or four days a week, mainly to avoid his honey-do list.

• Catching up with Mackey Sasser

  December 8, 2007

  Like every head coach or manager on every level of baseball, one of Mackey Sasser's responsibilities at Wallace Community College in Dothan, Ala., is to throw daily batting practice.

• Former Yankee Phelps remembered more for 'Seinfeld' episode

  November 30, 2007

  Ken Phelps, for the record, was a fan of "Seinfeld" before his name came up in that hilarious conversation between Frank Costanza and the fictional George Steinbrenner.

• Outside Steinbrenner's house looking in

  October 17, 2007

  George Steinbrenner's home here in South Tampa is so large, it has its own name. We know this because it says so on one of the signs that hangs on the black metal gates blocking his driveway. One sign lists his address. The other says, "The Anchorage."

• Dolan's taped deposition raises behavior questions

  September 19, 2007

  When James Dolan's video deposition appeared in court yesterday afternoon on the oversized television, you couldn't help but take note of how large his head appeared on screen. Based on the arrogant way he conducted himself on tape, that's how he likes it.

• Dan Reeves says NFL can't stand for cheats

  September 12, 2007

  In Dan Reeves' 40-plus years in the NFL, he has seen, heard and witnessed countless stories of players peering in at defensive coaches as they gave their players signals.

• For Astros' Biggio, Long Island and Shea are home

  September 9, 2007

  Having spent his formative years as a sports junkie in Kings Park, Craig Biggio got to know Shea Stadium pretty well. He said he enjoyed watching the meteoric rise of Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry and even managed to sit in the upper deck with a few college buddies for one of the epic Mets-Astros games in the 1986 National League Championship Series.

• Pepitone to A-Rod: "Big deal!"

  September 6, 2007

  It didn't take long for Joe Pepitone to hear about how Alex Rodriguez hit two homers in an inning last night. The former Yankee was nearing the end of a day-long promotional appearance in Scranton, Pa. when one of his dinner mates told him the news.

• Fan predicted he'd catch Bonds' 756 HR

  September 5, 2007

  Matt Murphy doesn't want to come off as arrogant, doesn't want to sound pompous, doesn't want to seem entitled. That's why the 21-year-old from Elmhurst has said since the day he caught Barry Bonds' record-breaking 756th home run that his goal when he bought Giants tickets for August 7th was to witness history.

• When life gets in the way of itself

  September 4, 2007

  Now that Roger Clemens is out for who-knows-how-long with an ailing elbow, the Yankees have to rely even more on rookie Ian Kennedy to pitch them into the playoffs. This creates a cruel twist for Kennedy.

• This guy Ian Kennedy was born ready

  September 2, 2007

  Ian Kennedy wasn't allowed in the Yankees' dugout or clubhouse Friday because he wasn't officially on their active roster yet, so the 22-year-old rookie had to scout the Devil Rays' hitters elsewhere. His parents' midtown hotel room seemed as good a place as any.

• Revenge for '06 Boston Massacre?

  August 28, 2007

  With a month left in the regular season the American League East race is all but over, and for the first time since 1997 the Yankees won't win it. Boston has it all wrapped up, leading by eight games with 31 to play.

• So much for Vick's 'hard-fought' trial

  August 27, 2007

  There are so many gruesome reasons to be outraged by Michael Vick right now that I understand that lying about his involvement in dogfighting is not at the top. But now that he has officially pleaded guilty in court this morning, are we supposed to just forget that it wasn't long ago when he and his lawyers were telling us he wasn't involved?

• Job security not an issue for SJU's Roberts

  August 24, 2007

  This is a big season coming up for Norm Roberts, no doubt about it. It will be his fourth year at the helm of the St. John's men's basketball program, and everyone associated with the team realizes it's of utmost importance for St. John's to improve on the court.

• Think 30-3 is bad? Try 103-3

  August 23, 2007

  How about those poor, hapless Orioles. Imagine how it felt to be on the field as the Rangers kept scoring all those runs, 30 unanswered to be exact, en route to becoming the first major-league team in more than 100 years (!) to score 30?

• What will Mitchell do with these names?

  August 22, 2007

  You better believe there are several major leaguers waking up Wednesday wondering (a) if Kirk Radomski mentioned his name to George Mitchell and (b) what exactly is Mitchell going to do with this information?

• Don't count on Pedro just yet

  August 21, 2007

  It's never been done. . .

• First he saw Mantle's 500th HR, then A-Rod's

  August 10, 2007

  When Alex Rodriguez recently joined Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle as the only players to hit their 500th career home run in a Yankee uniform, Larry Lapka of Massapequa Park was inducted into an even more exclusive group.

• Father has concerns about Joba's move to pen

  August 1, 2007

  With top Yankee pitching prospect Joba Chamberlain in the process of converting to be a reliever so he can join the major-league bullpen, you would expect nothing but excitement at the Chamberlain house in Lincoln, Neb.

• Ozzie Smith: Fans will honor Aaron over Bonds

  July 25, 2007

  Barry Bonds is only three homers from eclipsing Hank Aaron's career mark of 755 and etching his name in baseball's hallowed record books as the reigning home-run king.

• Quiet country road rocked by Vick's indictment

  July 19, 2007

  The house that Michael Vick is alleged to have used to train pitbulls for dogfights is on a long rural road that is described by locals as the essence of country living.

• How's this for a job? Try representing Sheffield

  July 18, 2007

  As we all know by now, Gary Sheffield said some crazy stuff in his interview with HBO's "Real Sports," which finally aired last night. But overshadowed by his controversial comments about race and steroids was an amusing and telling admission by the former Yankee slugger.

• A Sheffield-Mitchell meeting seems unlikely

  July 17, 2007

  Say what you want about George Mitchell's steroid investigation and his obvious conflicts of interest, but the former Senator and his underlings certainly deserve credit for acting swiftly when they sense a big opportunity. And getting Gary Sheffield to talk to them would be huge.

• Before Shea, Milledge played in Williamsport, Pa.

  July 13, 2007

  Did you see what Lastings Milledge did last night? Did you see the way he scored from first, how he slid into home, how he snuck his hand in at the last second?

• The best of Rickey being Rickey

  July 12, 2007

  Rickey Henderson is back in uniform and on a major-league roster, albeit in the coaches section. But we all know being the Mets hitting coach is not his first choice of an occupation. All year he's been saying he thinks he can still play in the majors, even at age 48. Just give Rickey a chance.

• Unlike New York, New Jersey tests for steroids

  July 6, 2007

  If New York really was serious about testing its high school athletes for performance-enhancing drugs, the state's officials wouldn't have to look all that far for a good working model.

• Sean Hill (still) has some explaining to do

  July 3, 2007

  Finally, Sean Hill can hide no longer.

• Smyth trade was a mistake

  July 2, 2007

  You can give the Islanders credit for acting boldly and aggressively at the trade deadline. They traded for the best player available in the hopes of (a) a long playoff run, and/or (b) convincing Ryan Smyth to sign a long-term contract.

• NBA Draft dream so close for this NYC hoops star

  June 28, 2007

  New York City native Quinton Hosley arrived home last night around the same time the power stopped working across the city. Which made perfect sense, really, because he was starting to feel as if time wasn't moving, anyway.

• Don't laugh! Sheffield's predictions were accurate

  June 27, 2007

  We really don't want to defend Gary Sheffield and his propensity to open his mouth and say something controversial, then change his mind 20 minutes later. We witnessed his act up close the last three years, and it was as disturbing as it was entertaining.

• Nathan, Stony Brook benefited from each other

  June 21, 2007

  It's easy to make the argument that Joe Nathan played a very significant role raising the profile of Stony Brook University's baseball team. Only four years after the Giants drafted him in the sixth round, Stony Brook made the leap from D-III to D-I.

• Think things are bad with the Mets? Think again

  June 18, 2007

  While watching the Mets continue their June swoon last night at Yankee Stadium, I found myself thinking about other more difficult times for the Mets. Times when it was a struggle to win games all season long.

• Who knew Plainview produced basketball coaches?

  June 13, 2007

  A little more than a week ago, around the same time Billy Donovan provided everyone with a great impersonation of a high school senior reneging on his new prom date so he could go with his old girlfriend, another Long Islander made some NBA news that slipped under people's radar.

• Never too early to preview baseball's trade deadline

  June 12, 2007

  You know what's the best thing about baseball's amateur draft? Once it's over, baseball's trading season officially gets started. This is the time when GMs really start to focus their attention on what they're going to do at the trade deadline, perhaps our favorite time of year.

• The man who gave up Bonds' first HR

  May 30, 2007

  Nearly 21 years have passed since Barry Bonds hit the first of his 746 career home runs (and counting), and the pitcher who gave up that historic shot understandably doesn't remember it.

• Steroids testing in high schools long overdue

  May 24, 2007

  Eighteen years ago, in the year 1989, Jason Giambi was an 18-year-old high school senior, Barry Bonds was a talented major-leaguer but by no means considered a threat to Hank Aaron's home-run record and the company named BALCO was a decade from entering our vocabulary.

• Was that blood or red paint?

  April 26, 2007

  More than two years after the fact we still don't truly know whether that really was blood on the sock of Boston's pitcher / publicist Curt Schilling during the 2004 postseason. Last night, however, we received an interesting second-hand admission that it was staged with - get this - red paint.

• For Yankees, the end of an awful era

  April 25, 2007

  Once Phil Hughes steps on the mound tomorrow night, Yankee officials will be relieved, and not just because their battered pitching staff is getting what they hope to be a boost. It's also because the mere fact Hughes is pitching in a major-league game will end a forgettable run of horrific drafting.

• Hughes is ahead of schedule

  April 24, 2007

  Is it a desperation move or out of necessity? How about both? No matter how you look at it, the Yankees are turning to Phil Hughes to pitch on Thursday, and that's way ahead of the schedule they had planned for him.

• NHL: Refs made right calls

  April 17, 2007

  After watching the Islanders fans' idiotic trashing-the-ice display and then hearing several players question the referee's calls after their 3-2 Game 3 loss, I got a little tired of the belly-aching.

• Time has passed Imus by

  April 10, 2007

  The only way this whole Don Imus saga is going to go away is by you, the listener, taking action. It's time to hit the mute button on his show, change the station, and look the other way. It's time for him to leave.

• Back home, the Dubielewicz family celebrates

  April 9, 2007

  For all you Islanders fans who could barely bring yourself to watch the shootout against the Devils yesterday in fear of what horror might take place next, just think of what was going through the minds of Wade Dubielewicz's parents.

• From The Boss to The Donald?

  April 2, 2007

  This whole guessing game regarding whom George Steinbrenner is going to pick as his Chosen One is fun, but not complete. Let's not overlook the possibility that The Boss's family could simply cash in on this pinstriped-empire after George is gone.

• Bookmark this Web gem

  April 1, 2007

  So where do you get your news these days? It's OK. You can admit it. We already know what most of you are going to say, anyway. It's the Internet, not the newspaper. Don't be ashamed. The world is changing, and you're on board with it.