Top Twenty Moments of the Year in New York Sports

It's almost the end of 2012, and that means a countdown of the greatest moments of the year for New York sports. New York saw it's share of success this season in the sports world, the Giants winning Super Bowl XLVI, the Yankees going to the ALCS once again, and the New York Rangers emotional playoff run that ended all too soon against their Hudson River rivals.

So let's get to the countdown already.

Here are numbers 20-16 for 2012:

20. Tim Tebow comes to New York

 That's right Tim Tebow made the best moments of 2012. I mean he does own the back pages wearing the jersey of the team that owns the back pages (the New York Jets if you're not sure). Tebow was traded to the Jets for a fourth round pick, or was it a fifth round pick? Does it really matter? He has 29 rushing attempts for 87 yards! But to his credit he has completed six of seven passes for 39 yards.

19. Giants win first home playoff game since 2000

 The New York Giants finished the regular season with a 9-7 record, good enough to win the NFC East and host the Atlanta Falcons during the Wild Card round. The Giants beat the Falcons 24-2 thanks to Eli Manning's three touchdown passes, and two fourth and short stops by the Big Blue defense. It was the Giants first playoff in their new home, and their first home playoff win since 2000.


18. Knicks break their playoff losing streak

April 29, 2001. That's how far back you have to go for the Knicks last playoff win. The Knicks were trailing three games to none to the Miami Heat, and were in danger of getting swept out of the first round yet again. Game 4 was in Madison Square Garden, and although the Knicks chances of actually winning the series were long gone, the Knicks had the chance to stop the franchise's thirteen game playoff losing streak. The Knicks beat the Heat 89-87 behind Carmelo Anthony;s 41 points and Amare Stoudemire's double-double. The Knicks losing streak was history, and so were the Knicks in Game 5 losing 106-94.


17. Islanders moving to Brooklyn after 2015 season

I didn't say all of these moments would be positive ones, just look at number twenty (LOL). The Islanders have decided to take their talents to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn after their lease at the Nassau Coliseum expires in 2015. Nassau County residents had the chance to keep their team, but voted against the renovation of the Coliseum. All I can say is good luck to the Brooklyn Islanders, but a new home doesn't mean the team will suddenly start winning again.


16. Wright becomes Mets All-Time hits leader

David Wright is the Mr. Met of the last twenty years, yes even more than Mike Piazza. Wright has established himself as one of the greatest players in the Mets organization, and by the time he retires, he will be the greatest. On September 26, 2012, Wright took another step towards Met greatness when he passed Ed Kranepool for number one on the Mets All-Time hit list. Wright hit a little dribbler down the third base line and beat it out for his 1, 419th career hit. Wright is a free agent this off season, but he will most likely be back in the Mets uniform, I hope.


There are still 15 moments left from 2012 for New York sports, but don't expect to see any about the Jets, we are trying to keep it positive from here on in.

Islanders Make Moves in Free Agency

Islanders Open Up Free Agency: Boyes and Carkner

The Islanders opened up the start of the NHL free-agency period by signing Brad Boyes and Matt Carkner to deals today. 

Brad Boyes RW Shoots R:

Boyes inked a one a year, $1 million dollar deal. A winger and former 40 goal scorer will look for a comeback year, while the Islanders look to keep catching lightning in a bottle with their garbage bin shopping routine.

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Boyes hasn’t scored 20 goals in a season for the last four years. It is easy to see him slotting with John Tavares and Matt Moulson on the first line if the Islanders don’t land any big name free agents. The Islanders hope Boyes will put up Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau like numbers, as PA signed with Avalanche this past week.

Matt Carkner D Shoots R:

Carkner landed himself a 3 year $4.5 million dollar contract. Carkner will add size to what is a small defensive unit the Islanders currently have. Carkner is an enforcer and will see time on the team’s third defense unit.

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Carkner will join Lubomir Visnovsky as the newest defense to join the Islanders this off-season.

Written by Joseph Thompson

Rangers, Islanders Make Moves on First Day of Free Agency

The New York Rangers and New York Islanders wasted no time re-signing and signing on the first day of free agency.

The New York Islanders added to their defense, and signed Matt Carkner from Ottawa. Carkner signed a three-year deal worth $4.5 million. Carkner is a hated foe of the Islanders cross-town rival New York Rangers when he went after Rangers forward Brian Boyle during their first round playoff series last season. Carkner is not known for his offensive ability, but known more for his physical play. The Islanders also signed Brad Boyes from Buffalo. Boyes and the Islanders agreed on a one year contract worth $1 million.

The Islanders also lost two players to free agency. P.A Parenteau signed a four-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche, reportedly worth $16 million. Micheal Haley left the Islanders, but did not leave New York. Haley signed with the New York Rangers on Sunday afternoon.

The New York Rangers had a busy day restructuring their roster as well. The Rangers re-signed defenseman Stu Bickel, and also signed veteran big man Arron Asham, which leads to the news most Ranger fans did not want to hear. Fan favorite Brandon Prust signed a four-year deal with the Montreal Canadiens. The Rangers also lost another big man in John Scott, who signed with the Buffalo Sabres. The Rangers also added former New York Islander Micheal Haley.

The Rangers have still shown interest in Rick Nash of Columbus, among other big name free agents still on the market.

More to follow as free agency will heat up over the next week.

2012 Rangers and Islanders Draft Selections

The NHL Draft was held this past weekend in Pittsburgh, and here are the Rangers and Islanders draft selections.

New York Rangers 

 Brady Skjei, Defenseman- 28th overall pick 

Cristoval "Boo" Nieves, Center- 59th overall pick 

Calle Andersson, Defenseman- 119th overall pick 

Thomas Spelling, Right Wing- 142nd overall pick 

New York Islanders 

Griffin Reinhart, Defenseman- 4th overall pick 

Ville Pokka, Defenseman- 34th overall pick

Adam Pelech, Defenseman- 65th overall pick 

Loic Leduc, Defenseman- 103rd overall pick 

Doyle Somerby, Defenseman- 125th overall pick 

Jesse Graham, Defenseman- 155th overall pick 

Jake Bischoff, Defenseman- 185th overall pick

More will follow about these draft picks.