Mangini's Last Stand Ends in a Loss

Mangini's Last Stand Ends in a Loss
by: Brian Bohl | Senior Writer - NY Sports Day | Monday, December 29, 2008

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — Help didn’t come for the Jets in the form of either a New England loss or a Baltimore defeat. In the end, it didn’t matter.

After losing four West Coast games to non-playoff contenders, some would argue the Jets didn’t deserve a break. Yet even a late, if undeserved, holiday gift wouldn’t have made a difference since the Jets failed to take care of the only thing in the team’s control in a season-ending 24-17 loss to Miami.

Chad Pennington, who the Jets cut in training camp after acquiring Brett Favre, threw for 200 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions in helping the Dolphins clinch the AFC East title at the Meadowlands. Favre couldn’t match his counterpart, continuing his end-of-season struggles with the Jets losing four of its final five contests.

The three-time MVP was intercepted three times, including one returned for a touchdown and a costly pick to Andre Goodman with five minutes left and the Jets trailing by seven. Pennington basically ended his former team’s season, converting a quarterback sneak on fourth down on the ensuing drive to prevent a comeback.

“The hardest part is the finality of it, especially when you expect to go on,” Favre said. “It was a tough pill to swallow, but I had a blast working with these guys. It was a lot of fun. It’s disappointing where we are now, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Pennington spent eight seasons with the Jets before getting cut in training camp. Sunday afternoon, the former Comeback Player of the Year out-dueled Favre and extracted revenge in front or the organization that allowed him to join a division rival right before the season started.

Miami took the lead for good midway through the third quarter when Pennington showed plenty of arm strength— a source of criticism from some fans and media members during his time in New York—in finding Anthony Fasano in single coverage in the back-right corner of the end zone. The 20-yard scoring strike put the Dolphins up, 21-17, and sent Pennington to the playoffs for the first time since he led the Jets to a wild card berth in 2006, marking Mangini’s first year on the job.

“It’s not a revenge factor, it’s really not,” Pennington said. “It was strictly about winning the championship and knowing we controlled our own destiny to be AFC East champions.

“It just so happened that it had to come through New York. That’s how it is with sports and athletics, and that is the only way fate would have it. It truly wasn’t about revenge. I have great relationships and friends in New York. The Jets organization was great to me for eight years.”

Mangini said he expects to back for a fourth season, though he also said he has not discussed his future with owner Woody Johnson yet. He has one year remaining on his current contract.

“Yeah, I do,” Mangini said when asked if he expects to return. “Like I said, we don’t discuss that. We have never discussed it throughout the course of the season, but that’s my anticipation.”

Favre extended his NFL record when he notched his 463rd career touchdown pass but once again had his season cut short when he tried forcing a ball into a tight spot. Last season, it was a pick against the Giants in the NFC Championship game. This time, Favre’s last meaningful pass came off a no-huddle screen pass intended for Chansi Stuckey that instead went into Goodman’s arms at the Miami 28-yard line.

Should Favre retire, his last pass officially went for an incompletion to Jerricho Cotchery with the ball at the Jets 1-yard line. But that just might be a footnote to the Jets blowing an 8-3 start to finish 9-7 and out of the playoffs for a second straight season.

As he exited the Giants Stadium tunnel, there is a chance the remaining fans of the announced crowd of 79,454 saw Favre’s last game. The future Hall of Famer did not say if he will return for a second season with the Jets and said he will get a MRI on his throwing shoulder Monday before making any decision on his future.

“It would be easy to sit here and make excuses. I’m sure that during the course of the year that there were some throws that I know I could make, but I didn’t,” Favre said. “Other times, I made some good throws. I hope that it was not a factor in my throws this year. We’ll know more tomorrow.”

Baltimore already beat Jacksonville before the Jets game finished, eliminating Gang Green from postseason contention. But the Jets still had a chance to knock out Miami and send Pennington home.

Instead, Pennington extracted revenge and kept New England out of the playoffs as well. The Jets nearly sent the Patriots into the party, since a win would have handed Bill Belichick and the defending AFC champions the division crown. Favre hit Leon Washington on a shovel pass on third-and-eight and then found Laveranues Coles on a crossing route that allowed the veteran wideout to speed into the end zone, putting the Jets went up 6-0 with 6:47 left in the first.

A bad snap prevented a successful extra point attempt, allowing the Dolphins to take the lead just before the two-minute warning when Pennington found Ted Ginn on a go-route in the left corner of the end zone. Dwight Lowery got in front of Ginn on the coverage but failed to jump in time to deflect Pennington’s on-target toss.

Just 18 seconds later, Favre faked a handoff and tried to find Washington in the flat. Instead, he threw the pass right to defensive end Phillip Merling, who took it in 25 yards for the Miami touchdown. Around the same time, Baltimore’s Ed Reed intercepted Jacksonville’s David Garrard’s pass, preserving the Ravens 10-point lead that ultimately sealed the Jets fate.

Jay Feely drilled a 28-yard field goal with time expiring to cut the deficit to 14-9 at halftime, giving the Jets some life. The team parlayed the late score into another successful offensive series on its first drive in the second half, capped by Washington’s 10-yard touchdown run that put the home team up, 17-14, marking the last time the Meadowlands crowd had a reason to cheer.

“It’s tough and it hurts a lot when you work so hard,” Washington said. “In December, we had the chance to control our own destiny and that’s where you want to be. We didn’t take advantage of the opportunities we had.”

The Jets lost road games to teams with losing records, dropping contests in San Francisco, Seattle and Oakland. Two of those teams made in-season coaching changes and all three were playing for nothing more than pride against the Jets. Some players pointed to the missed opportunities as the reason why the Dolphins were wearing the hats that read “AFC East Champions.”

“We took teams, not lightly, but we went into games and didn’t execute,” Washington said. “It’s hard and we are not making excuses for ourselves. We didn’t come out and play the game we needed to play. We prepared well in practice. We practice really hard but when we get into the game, we can’t translate it. That the most disappointing thing.”

http://www.nysportsday.com/news/combined/Manginis-Last-Stand-Ends-in-a-Loss.php

WRHU Jets vs. Dolphins Radio Report First aired on the station's morning show, Dec. 29, 2008

Guerin Scores 400th

Guerin Scores 400th

by: Brian Bohl | Senior Writer - NY Sports Day | Saturday, December 27, 2008

UNIONDALE, NY — Bill Guerin didn’t hold up a ceremonial puckwith the No. 400 written over it for the cameras the way Mike Bossy did when he became just the second player in history to score 50 goals in 50 games in the 1980-81 season.

But Guerin’s game never was about gaudy goal totals. Unlike Bossy, who spent his entire career with one franchise, Guerin has played for seven different franchises. He has brought his dependability—nine straight seasons of at least 20 goals—to nearly every part of the country and became just the 79th player in NHL history to score 400 career goals when he pushed in a shot past Toronto goaltender Vesa Toskala in a 4-1 victory Friday night at Nassau Coliseum.

Bossy and Bryan Trottier are the only other two players to reach the milestone in an Islanders uniform, leaving Guerin in some pretty good company. The right winger now has 13 goals this season on his way towards extending his 20-goal streak to a full decade.

“I’ve been able to stick around in this league for quite some time and had some success, and it’s a big thrill for me,” Guerin said.

The 16-year veteran scored his most goals with the Devils, recording 108 in 380 games with the team that drafted him fifth overall in 1989. Guerin played in New Jersey from 1992-1998, playing on the Stanley Cup-winning squad in 1995.

Guerin twice scored 40 goals in his career. The Worcester, Ma. native’s best season came for his hometown Bruins in 2001-02, when he scored 41 goals. He became a captain for the first time in his career when he joined the Isles before the start of last season and is considered one the veteran leaders on a team that is trying to develop prospects like first-round pick Josh Bailey, who tallied an assist on Guerin’s 399th goal in the second period of the win over the Maple Leafs.

“It’s awesome for Billy,” coach Scott Gordon said. “Everybody on the bench was extremely excited for him. It’s quite an accomplishment.”

Guerin is just the eighth United States-born player to reach the plateau, becoming the first since John LeClair reached the mark in March 2006. He joins Hall-of-Famer Joe Mullen and other All-Stars like Mike Modano, Jeremy Roenick, Keith Tkachuk, Tony Amonte and Pat LaFontaine on the list.

“Looking around the league at some of the Americans coming up, hopefully that will change soon,” said Guerin, who was also a member of Team USA when it won the 1996 World Cup championship. “I’m proud to be a part of the few guys who have done it.”

Guerin recalled his first career NHL goal coming against the Hartford Whalers at what used to be called the Hartford Civic Center (now the XL Center) when he found the net on Oct. 28, 1992.

Drafted fifth overall by New Jersey in 1989, Guerin notched his first career goal with the Devils against the Hartford Whalers on October 28, 1992. The season before, Guerin was called up from the team’s AHL affiliate in Utica and appeared in five regular season games, registering zero goals and one assist.

As an interesting statistical fact, Guerin scored three goals in six games in the playoffs before the Devils were bounced in the first round, giving him goals on his playoff ledger before his first official goal. Only regular season totals are counted as part of his 400 mark.

“You never forget your first one,” Guerin said. “It was a long time ago, but it was at the old mall in Hartford. You cherish every one of them and hope it’s never the last.”

WRHU Bill Guerin 400th Career Goal Report Dec. 29, 2008

Isles Crush Leafs on DP's Return

Isles Crush Leafs on DP's Return

by: Brian Bohl | Senior Writer - NY Sports Day | Saturday, December 27, 2008

UNIONDALE, NY — December has been anything but a festive season for the Islanders. The club entered Friday night’s contest against Toronto with a 10-game losing streak with the possibility of completing a win-less month.

But on the day after Christmas, Isles fans were finally treated to some benefits of the organization’s self-described youth movement augmented by a career milestone from the team’s veteran captain in a 4-1 victory over the Maple Leafs at Nassau Coliseum.

Bill Guerin scored twice, picking up his 400th career NHL goal, in helping his team win for the first time since Nov. 29. First-round picks Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey each added points and goalie Rick DiPietro made his first start since Oct. 25, earning his first victory of the season as the Isles avoided its longest losing streak in 13 years.

DiPietro, who previous appeared in just three games before undergoing an operation to repair a torn meniscus in his knee, stopped 28 of 29 shots faced. The netminder looked sharp in turning aside all nine Toronto power play shots, leaving the Maple Leafs scoreless on four chances with the man-advantage.

“I felt good,” said DiPietro, who has undergone surgeries to both knees since signing a record 15-year contract in 2006. “Anyone who knows me knows patience isn’t one of my many virtues. It took a lot of growing up and a lot of maturity for me to sit out and wait for the right time.”

Bailey, the Isles first-round draft pick last summer, was originally credited with his first career NHL goal with a shot through traffic 6:25 into the second period. The 19-year-old had to settle for the assist when a scoring change properly awarded Guerin the goal after the veteran winger tipped Bailey’s shot off the post and into the net for a 2-1 Isles lead for what proved to be the game-winner.

Guerin’s tally put him just one goal away from the milestone, and the four-time All-Star became the 79th player in league history to reach the 400-goal mark when he pushed in a rebound to build a 3-1 edge. Toronto goalie Vesa Toskala stopped Chris Campoli’s point-blank shot before Guerin buried home the rebound.

Guerin became the eighth United States-born player to reach the plateau and the third to do it as an Islander, netting his 13th goal this season 2:34 into the final period. Freddy Meyer added the insurance goal nearly six minutes later.

“I’ve been able to stick around in this league for quite some time now and had some success, and it’s a big thrill for me,” Guerin said. “Hopefully this is a win we can build off of. It’s big for us.”

The news wasn’t all good. Andy Hilbert suffered a hairline fracture in his foot. Hilbert was drilled with a shot attempt nearly 14 minutes into the second period, staying on the ice momentarily before getting up and skating slowly to the bench.

Yet DiPietro’s return got the announced crowdof 15,173 into it early, and not because of his puck-stopping skills. DiPietro sprung Okposo for his third goal. After taking the outlet pass off the bench-side boards, Okposo fired a wrist shot from the right circle that went by defenseman Jeff Finger, hit the shaft of Toskala’s stick and bounced into the net for the opening goal just 3:47 into the contest.

DiPietro set a new franchise record on the play, picking up his 14th career assists to pass Bill Smith for most career assists by a goaltender. Smith had 13 assists and a goal, leaving DiPietro one point away from setting the points record as well.

Toronto could only get one shot by DiPietro, who blocked Jaime Sifers’ initial shot from just inside the blue line before Lee Stempniak pushed home the rebound. DiPietro said the victory will hopefully propel the team to its first winning streak since Nov. 22-24, when the club posted back-to-back road wins against Buffalo and Montreal.

“This has been coming,” he said. “We’ve been working towards it each game. The forecheck has gotten better. The offensive-zone puck possession has gotten better. Our ‘D’ has gotten better.

“We’ve been taking strides to get to this point. It was a big win for us tonight and we’re hoping this will turn things around for us.”

Flyers prospect Giroux will fit well in the new NHL

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Section Toolbar: Homepage News Sports B-Section Editorial/Op-ed Features

Flyers prospect Giroux will fit well in the new NHL

By Brian Bohl in Sports

Issue date: 12/11/08

PHILADELPHIA- Claude Giroux skated down the ice and was in perfect position near the right circle to slam linemate Boyd Kane's feed past the glove of the opposing goalie.

The goal capped a three-point night for Giroux, who could be the Flyers' best prospect. Next month will mark his 21th birthday, though the right winger could be playing in the Wachovia Center with the big club shortly.

But even more impressive for Giroux was his second assist when the teenager sent a no-look pass to Kane in the slot, helping the AHL's Philadelphia Phantoms post a 6-3 win over the Hartford Wolfpack (Rangers affiliate) Friday night.

Just three months ago, Giroux struggled to make those crisp passes or display the scoring touch that enticed the Flyers to draft him with the 22nd overall pick in 2006. The Hearst, Ontario native didn't impress coach John Stevens and his staff in training camp when given the chance to make the season-opening roster.

After playing in two NHL games before a brief five game stint with the Phantoms last season, the Flyers decided to literally send Giroux across the parking lot.

The Wachovia Spectrum shares a parking spot with the Flyers home arena, with the 41-year-old arena serving as the Phantoms home. The building, set to be demolished after this season, once housed the Flyers and NBA's 76ers. Now it is home for budding stars such as Giroux, who is using the demotion as motivation.

Giroux registered 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points through 26 games in his first full professional season. Playing wing on a line centered by Phantoms captain Jared Ross and flanked by Kane, the 5-11,180-pound forward said he is finding a comfort level.

"With the Flyers, I didn't play like I wanted to," Giroux said. "I didn't work hard. Obviously, I didn't deserve to make the team but I learned from that and I'm just trying to work hard and maybe have a chance soon."

John Paddock went 36-23-6 as the coach for the Ottawa Senators last season before going back to his roots in the AHL. The 54-year-old took over the Phantoms head coaching duties this season and said Giroux has improved nearly every facet of his game since the first game.

Paddock, who has led three different franchises to Calder Cup championships, coached future NHL star Jason Spezza at the start of his minor league career and is hoping Giroux can translate his skills to the next level.

"He's a real intelligent player," Paddock said. "He's very skilled and competes like crazy. He just needs to get used to the pro game. To be in the NHL, there's an experienced factor and [players] are a little bit stronger. But he's a really good player."

Giroux scored 125 goals in 187 games in juniors, registering 321points for the QMJHL's Gatineau Olympiques. Yet he struggled in October, scoring two goals in eight games with just one multi-point game and a minus-five rating.

Since then, Giroux has racked up seven multi-point games, including a career-best three-point effort against the Wolfpack last week.

"The first five games, he wasn't a really good player for us for what we expected," Paddock said. "Expectations are high for him. He puts pressure on himself, so he had to adjust to understand that our league is a very hard league to play in. But he's such a character guy that when he realized that, he picked up his game up and he's been one of the better players in the league."

Giroux's improved play could mean another stroll across the street to help the Flyers make a potential playoff run. Philadelphia entered Tuesday sixth in the Eastern Conference. Joining a big-city team for a stretch run would complete the hockey journey for a player born in a town with a population of less than 6,000, where Giroux said he started playing when he was four or five years old.

"I'm trying to control the things I can control and if they think I'm ready to make the step, I'll make the step," Giroux said. "If not, I'll play the whole year down here. It's all about them. If it was [up to] me, I'd love to be there right now. But if they think I'm not ready, then I respect their decision."

"Traditionally, we have targeted bigger, more physical players," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said to the team's website in 2007. "But Claude was a player high on our list. We view him as an excellent blend of skill and smarts, and a player with a very competitive attitude and a definite desire to win.

"Basically, he's the perfect player model for the new NHL."

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© Copyright 2008 ~The Chronicle

WRHU Claude Giroux Audio Report: Originally aired Dec. 9, 2008

All pictures by Brian Bohl

Hofstra Chronicle Islanders Report

Section Toolbar: Homepage News Sports B-Section Editorial/Op-ed Features

Just because the rink is cold doesn't mean you play in the basement

By Brian Bohl in Sports

Issue date: 12/11/08

UNIONDALE, NY- Five losses in the past six games put the Islanders in the Eastern Conference cellar just two weeks after the club was one period away from beating the talented Pittsburgh Penguins to climb back to. 500.

But on that night on the eve of Thanksgiving, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby showed why they are two of the best players in the NHL, completing the comeback that ignited the Islanders freefall. Coach Scott Gordon's team has surrendered 98 goals through 28 games an

d is batting Toronto to become the first team to allow 100 goals this season.

An army injury continues to sideline Kyle Okposo, the Islanders 2006 first-round pick and one of the few players who actually can be considered part of a "youth movement" the Islanders have embellished to shrug off responsibility for what will most likely be another playoff-less campaign.

Mike Sillinger's return from a hip injury means the Islanders have three forwards older than 35 playing on the top two lines, joining Bill Guerin and Doug Weight has the other two veterans who should be traded if only to give them the chance to contribute to a contender instead of wasting their golden years in a half empty Nassau Coliseum.

But before ignoring the final 54 games, there is hope that the franchise can build towards the future. Blake Comeau was expected to be one of the main beneficiaries of first-year coach Scott Gordon, who replaced Ted Nolan. Gordon was touted as the perfect man to bring out the best in young players, which resulted in a successful run as an AHL coach.

Comeau didn't profit from the move initially. Gordon and GM Garth Snow demoted the 22-year-old to minor league Bridgeport. Instead of sulking, the forward tailed 19 points in 19 games, including four goals to get the call up to the big league club.

In his three games with the Islanders, the team's 2004 second-round pick has played with the same confidence he demonstrated as a Sound Tiger. Comeau has logged more than 10 minutes of ice time in all his contests and scored his first NHL goal since March 24 when he found the net against the Flyers at the Wachovia Center Tuesday night. His presence might energize a unit that is only two points better than the league's last-place team.

"It's a good group of guys in here," Comeau said. "We want to learn from our mistakes and not have it come back and affect us for the next game."

With Okposo and Frans Nielsen rehabbing their injuries, 2008 first round pick Josh Bailey and Comeau could be the only two forwards worth watching. Should Snow move Guerin, Weight, Sillinger or any other veteran at the trade deadline, Comeau might even be expected to play 17-20 minutes per game to replace the departed production.

Comeau showed flashes of potential in his first full NHL season last year, recording eight goals and seven assists for 15 points in 51 games in 2007-08. The 6-1 right-winger never put up gaudy goal totals in his five seasons with the WHL's Kelowna Rockets, though his two-way ability and hitting prowess made him the 47th overall draft pick four years ago. That physicality was on display in first game with the Isles this year, as Comeau racked up three hits against the Thrashers. He has been credited with four hits overall since getting the call up.

"A big part of my game is being physical," Comeau said. "I can't take anything for granted. I have to play physical every night and earn my spot in the lineup every night

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© Copyright 2008 ~The Chronicle

Section Toolbar: Homepage News Sports B-Section Editorial/Op-ed Features

Deficit delays beach dredge

By: Brian Bohl

Posted: 12/11/08

When the Army Corps of Engineers started work on a $5.7 million project in January to dredge Jones Inlet in Point Lookout, civic and government leaders said the undertaking was just the opening salvo in a long-term effort to combat coastal erosion and protect property.

But New York's budget deficit could delay the start of the $120 million storm damage reduction project that would protect waterfront homes against flooding in Point Lookout and neighboring Long Beach, Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Beach) said.

A large-scale storm damage reduction project would extend the benefits of the dredging project to Long Beach and Lido Beach. Donald Cresitello, the Army Corps of Engineers' project planner for the Long Beach study, said the primary purpose of the Point Lookout undertaking was to expand passageways for boats to navigate safely, with the coastal fortification an ancillary benefit.

Cresitello said a storm damage reduction project differs from simple dredging in that it calls for the implementation of new groins, which are jetties that extend from the shore to curtail erosion. It also would help block water from extending into Point Lookout's nearly 600 houses along the Great South Bay.

"The plan we have on the books looks at building dunes, rehabbing existing groins and add new groins in the Point Lookout area," said Cresitello, who added that $40 million of the $120 million would be allocated for Point Lookout. "Basically, your primary benefit is the reduction of damages from wave attacks and erosion."

But experts said erosion-control measures are not one-time fixes. Like roadwork, any type of dredging requires occasional touch-up work, though there are provisions for repairs in Jones Inlet.

"A maintenance-dredging permit is good for 10 years, so that allows them the time to do the project once and possibly if it needs some more work, to come back at a subsequent point in time if in fact it's needed," said Bill Fonda, a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation spokesman.

Weisenberg joined with State Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) to help acquire state funding for the Point Lookout dredging project after water came within 10 feet of some of the hamlet's 600 houses following a nor'easter in 2007.

Another influx of private money might not be as readily available. Army Corps of Engineers officials said storm damage reduction project construction could start within two or three years if the funding comes through-something lawmakers said is questionable in the current economic climate.

Weisenberg said Nassau lawmakers would like to secure financing for the plan but said he is not optimistic about acquiring funding as the state tries to slash an expected $12.5 billion deficit projected for 2010.

With Democrats controlling both houses of the state Legislature and the governor's office for the first time since the New Deal, Weisenberg said it's possible the plan could be approved if state finances improve, though he also said that is a long shot.

"We're not talking about beach restoration or anything else," Weisenberg said about the state government. "Any money that was laying around is gone. No one is going to give you $100 million and say 'go fix the beach.'"

Joe Olha, the Army Corps of Engineers' Jones Inlet project manager, said Point Lookout's beaches were replenished with 640,000 cubic yards of sands during a project that stretched from Jan. 13-March 3. The venture also removed sand by a jetty in the inlet, clearing the way for boats to navigate the area safely. Jones Inlet connects the Great South Bay to the Atlantic Ocean.

Herb Abbe, the president of the Point Lookout Civic Association, said the dredging project was a positive first step that will be nullified without the benefits of a storm damage reduction project.

Abbe, who called the Jones Inlet work a "band-aid" for the long-term erosion problems, said residents who live on Parkside Ave. and adjacent Ocean Blvd. are worried about flooding if nothing is done.

"The dredging of the inlet was fairly successful and while we've lost a lot of the sand already because of the nor'easters and storms, the trick is still the storm damage reduction project," Abbe said. "It's going to give us a continuous dune and extend the jetties, and with that, we hope to have better protection in terms of getting rocked by Mother Nature."

Lillian Hess Tanguay, an associate geology professor at Long Island University-C.W. Post, said unlike some other public works projects, the need to continually infuse funds to maintain coastlines makes it a prime candidate to be passed-over for other endeavors.

By putting the dredged sand just west of the inlet, on the eastern end of the barrier beach, Hess Tanguay said the government can have a relatively inexpensive means of providing sand that needs to be reapplied constantly.

"One of the problems politicians have with beach replenishment as a fix for beach erosion is that as soon as they do a dredging project, a few storms come, and the sand is moved," she said. "But they aren't really spending money if they just take the dredge material and dump it close by. It's a lot cheaper to dump it there."

While politicians will try to find funding for public works projects when the new Legislature meets for the first time in January, planning officials said the details for a storm damage reduction project are being finalized in a re-evaluation report.

"We would then move into plans and specs before construction," Cresitello said. "This would be contingent on federal and non-federal funds."

Abbe said local lawmakers came through before and is hopeful a deal can be reached, but added the community is realistic about a modified timetable that could start in the next decade.

"We're optimistic, but with the financial crisis and the budgetary constraints that face the federal government and state and local governments as well, I don't think it's going to happen in the immediate future," Abbe said.

Cresitello said delaying storm damage reduction measures would put the safety of beach-goers and residents at risk.

"You run a general risk of loss of beach and dune through continued erosion and possible damage to public infrastructure as well as life-safety issues."

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© Copyright 2008 ~The Chronicle

Point Lookout Follow Up Story Part I

Point Lookout Follow-up Part II

Med School to use Jets' former home

Section Toolbar: Homepage News Sports B-Section Editorial/Op-ed Features

Med School to use Jets' former home

By Brian Bohl in News

Issue date: 12/11/08

Barbed-wire fences still surround Weeb Ewbank Hall, which once was a bustling center of activity as the Jets headquarters before the NFL franchise moved out in August. Vacant parking lots and padlocks on the doors have turned the north campus-based building into a dormant facility.

But that will change in 2009. The University's top priority for the year will be converting the 35,000-square foot building into the home of the medical school, which will welcome its first incoming class in September 2011.

New conference rooms, faculty offices and an anatomy lab will be part of the building's overall makeover, Joseph Barkwill, the University's vice president for facilities and operation said. Request-for-proposals for design and engineering firms will be going out later this week.

Medical school faculty and administration officials could move into the building by August 2010, according to the preliminary timetable. The request-for-proposals will allow the University to hire an architect who can create a design that will allow the University to garner accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.

"By accreditation requirements, the building has to be operating one year prior to the first class being admitted into the program," Barkwill said.

An economy in recession has forced many universities and for-profit companies to scale-down or halt renovation and construction endeavors. Yet Barkwill said the Jets facility renovation and a redesigned rec center are projects that will move ahead as scheduled. University officials also said that a struggling financial market could be advantageous.

"Universities like us, we don't plan for one year," Barkwill said. "With the economy, we are looking at deferring some projects. We know we're going to do the Jets facility and we already have the design in place for the rec center.

"On the flip side, one of the benefits is that construction and architecture firms need work and will be more competitive in pricing. So, we want to take advantage of it. We are going to put them out for bid and see if we can get favorable pricing. If we can, we'll move forward with it."

Other construction and renovation projects for the University include:

n The design is in place for the renovated rec. center, where the north end will include four rooms. The University will expand the weight room that ties into the current weight room and build a pilates and a multi-purpose room. Upstairs, the conference room will be taken out and the entire space will be turned into a room for cardio exercise equipment. A new track will also be constructed along with a redesigned lobby.

"We anticipate that if we get bids in February or early March, we'll either start in May or September," Barkwill said. "We don't want to take down the facility for any appreciable amount of time."

He also said the Plant wants to start and complete before one of the semesters and to try not to have it in the middle of the semester. "We can do more work in the summer than we can in the winter. It will be 12 months if we get two summers in there or 15 months if we get only one summer in," he said.

n With the Jets gone, Barkwill said there will be refresh work in Colonial Square this summer, which is scheduled to include general maintenance, a new paint job and new furniture in some of the living quarters.

n The lounges in all the towers will be refurbished by the end of the summer in 2010.

n The indoor athletic bubble and adjacent fields in the complex will be leased out at night, with the University athletic department still using the facilities during the day.

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© Copyright 2008 ~The Chronicle

Project with Jesse Webster

New York Sports Day story

Putz Ok With Setting Up

by: Brian Bohl | Senior Writer - NY Sports Day | Friday, December 19, 2008



FLUSHING, NY - Mets general manager Omar Minaya walked into the team’s palatial home clubhouse inside Citi Field for the first time Thursday. One day after introducing free

-agent pickup Francisco Rodriguez as the new closer, the GM presented the second part of his retooled bullpen, appearing with J.J. Putz in what the organization hopes will be the first of man y good moments in the new ballpark.

Putz, acquired in a three-team, 12-player trade, was Seattle’s closer from 2006 until his move to Queens. The right-hander, who turns 32 in February, racked up 91 saves the past three years for the Mariners, said serving as the set-up man was not the ideal situation but insisted he won’t have any problems protecting leads for Rodriguez.

“I’m fine with the role,” Putz said. “The bottom line is that I want to win. I haven’t had the chance to do that in Seattle. To come to a team that’s built to win right now, I’ll pitch in the sixth, seventh; whatever it takes to get us a championship.”

Putz compiled a 3.08 ERA in six seasons in Seattle, going 22-15 with 101 saves. Minaya acquired the 6-5, 220-pound hurler in a deal that jettisoned Aaron Heilman, Endy Chavez and Joe Smith.

In playing his entire career in the AL West and facing K-Rod as an opponent in Anaheim , Putz said he is happy to be a teammate of the record-setting closer. Putz admitted the situation is not ideal for someone used to closing, though he said he is looking forward to backing up Rodriguez, who set Major League Baseball’s single-season save records with 62 for the Angles last season.

“I’m just glad I don’t have to watch him on the other side anymore, because he killed us.” Putz said. “He’s a lot of fun to watch. He’s been as dominate as anyone in this game the last few years. He’s not a bad guy to have to set-up for, I guess.”

Ribcage and elbow injuries limited Putz to just 47 games last season, though the Trenton, Michigan native has logged a career 337 strikeouts in 323 innings. He is signed through 2009 and the Mets hold an $8.6 million option for 2010 with a $1 million buyout.

“Everything feels great,” Putz said. “I’ve been throwing for a couple of weeks now. I’ve been working out since November. Everything feels good and I’m ready to go.”

He owns a career 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings and offered brief scouting report to Mets fans unfamiliar with his work following his years pitching on the West Cost.

“I’m a high energy guys when I’m out there,” Putz said. “A power pitcher; and my out pitch is my split finger.

“It wasn’t the ideal situation. I really like closing. But I’m just going to take it an innin g earlier, so it’s not going to be that big of an adjustment.”

Putz said he is healthy following injuries last season. The Mets had a “Welcome, J.J.” sign on the centerfield screen during his photo session with Minaya and COO Jeff Wilpon. Next to Citi Field, the demolition of Shea Stadium continued, and Minaya said the change to a new facility w ill also lead to a change in results at the end of games. The Mets blew 29 saves in 2008, with only Seattle and St. Louis (31) racking up a higher number.

“Last year was a year when we had difficulties at the end of the game,” Minaya said. “This year, by adding Rodriguez, by adding J.J., we feel very good about our team. We’re excited about it.”

WRHU J.J. Putz and News Pictures of Citi Field

Hofstra Chronicle Islanders Article

Section Toolbar: Homepage News Sports B-Section Editorial/Op-ed Features

MacDonald honored as one of NHL monthly stars

By Brian Bohl in Sports

Issue date: 12/4/08

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The goaltender generated headlines by simply skating on the ice. There were no shots fired at the netminder who didn't wear pads. No wingers buzzed the crease trying to create scoring chances. And there were no chants from the crowd.

Joey MacDonald was named of the NHL's Three Stars of the Month for his solid November. But Rick DiPietro made news by simply getting on a rink after his Oct. 27 knee surgery. "It's been a long time," DiPietro told reporters. "I've been looking forward to getting back or at least getting on the ice."

MacDonald has allowed the Islanders to stay within .500 following DiPietro's second knee surgery of the year. In the third year of a 15-year contract, DiPietro will undoubtedly get the chance to earn his starting job back as soon as he is healthy.

In the meantime, MacDonald has done a stellar job trying to shed the career minor leaguer tag. The 28-year-old continues to thrive with the first sustained playing time of his NHL career, making 14 straight starts from Nov. 3-29. During that span, he went 8-5-1, recording a .916 save percentage.

MacDonald entered the season with just 17 games of NHL experience in brief stints for the Isles, Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins. But the seven-year pro provided coach Scott Gordon with something DiPietro has not been able to deliver: consistency. MacDonald led all goaltenders in minutes played (842) last month and also faced the most shots (439) while finishing tied for the most wins in November.

Considering MacDonald's career numbers before the season opener and it was questionable if the Halifax, Nova Scotia native would even make the roster. Yet he earned the league's third star, joining perennial All-Stars Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin for the November honors.

Gordon continues to rid the hot hand, keeping MacDonald between the pipes. While the Islanders enter Wednesday with an Atlantic Division-low 22 points, the club is still just four points behind Carolina for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

At least Gordon's job security should be solidified for the time being. The first-year coach appears to have he backing of general manager Garth Snow, especially with the 10-12-2 record despite DiPietro playing in just three games before the operation. That's in contrast to Carolina, which fired Peter Laviolette Wednesday.

Laviolette led the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup championship just two years ago. But like his too-brief reign as the Islanders coach, Laviolette was let go despite a solid record and a history of success.

Gordon is the Islanders fifth coach since 2003, a run of instability that started with Laviolette's dismissal. Whether Gordon can avoid his fate is uncertain, though MacDonald's hot play could keep the heat off him, at least until DiPietro returns.

As for the former No. 1 overall draft pick, DiPietro gave his understudy praise and said the team is improving its propensity for blowing late-game leads.

"I think they played well," DiPietro told reporters after practice Tuesday. "We had a couple of breakdowns late in games that have cost us some wins, but the effort's been there.

"The system's working well and Joey's played really well."

Joey MacDonald WRHU Audio Report

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Photo Project Slide 5

Family Affair:

Muhammad Ali did not attend Hofstra's conference on the boxing great. But Ali's daughter, Maryum "May May" Ali (pictured right) was a featured speaker at the Reflections of a Fighter panel and was in the audience for the discussion with reporters who covered her father's career.

Photo Project Slide 4

The Third Man in the Ring:

Famed boxing referee Arthur Mercante attends Muhammad Ali panel. Mercante was the official in the ring for many of Ali's most famous fights, including his bouts against Joe Frazier and George Forman.

Mercante, a New York resident for 60 years, refereed more than 120 fights in five continents before retiring. He officiated ALi's first fight againist Frazier, which some historains have dubbed the "Fight of the Century."

(Brian Bohl)

Photo Project Slide 3

Famed cartoonist Bill Gallo, who started working for the Daily News in 1941 and continues working for them to this day, shows off one his favorite drawings about Muhammad Ali.

(Brian Bohl)

Photo Project Slide 2

Students and non-Hofstra University members came out to the Guthart Cultural Center Theater on Nov. 13 for panel on Muhammad Ali.

The panel was called "On the Raod with Ali: Trainers, Promoters and Journalists."

(Brian Bohl)

Photo Project Slide 1

Nearly 200 years of combined sports reporting experience: Veteran journalists who covered Muhammad Ali.

Left to right: WRHU Professional in Residence Ed Ingles, NY Times Pulitzer Prize-winner Dave Anderson, former Daily News writer Phil Pepe and Daily News cartoonist and columnist Bill Gallo (Photo Brian Bohl)

Journalism Multimedia Rally Coverage

Sarah Palin, the US Republican vice presidential candidate, is just the second woman to run on a major party ticket. But female supporters at a rally for Barack Obama in Eisenhower Park criticized the Alaskan governor, along with running mate John McCain, hours before the final presidential debate at the University’s Mack Sports Complex Wednesday.

Barbara Bellantonio, an East Meadow resident, said she voted for Dwight Eisenhower the first time she was eligible to cast a ballot for a presidential candidate. Now, the 71-year-old said she is hitting the campaign trail in support of Obama.

“I feel it’s so important that we elect him,” Bellantonio said. “I’ve never been involved in a campaign like this. I’m going on bus trip to Pennsylvania with the campaign on Saturday. I hung flyers on utility poles. I’ve never done that my whole life.”

Bellantonio was one of about 1,000 supporters, union and political activists who set up chairs and blankets on the lush green lawns in front the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theater Wednesday afternoon. She said she voted for the park’s namesake in her first presidential election in 1956 but no longer supports the GOP in part because of Palin.

“The thought of Palin as being the vice president is just too much to bear,” Bellantonio said. “Her stance on abortion, her views on climate change and the way she’s inciting crowds to say terrible things; I’m embarrassed for her.”

The rally came at a time when a Siena College poll reported that Obama surged ahead 22 percentage points in New York over McCain, leading 58-36 percent according to the 631 likely voters.

Rally organizers encouraged those in attendance to visit a booth set up with lists of phone numbers to registered voters in swing states like Ohio, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin in order to encourage voter turnout for the Obama-Joe Biden ticket for next month’s Election Day.

Carol Schlitt was one of the volunteers handing out phone numbers to other Obama supporters, where numbers for registered voters in Ohio were disseminated. She said the numbers were acquired from Ohio’s Board of Elections

“They are not all Democrats, but they are registered voters,” Schlitt said. “We’re trying to identify voters who support the campaign and then make sure they get out and vote on Nov. 4. Ohio is surrounded by battleground states, so we have a dozen phone banks running every week on Long Island…to try and help us with the swing state votes.”

Zach Stern, a student at Nassau Community College, said he is excited about voting for the president for the first time and said he is voting for Obama because of his social agenda.

“Obama’s very passionate with what he wants to do. It’s time for a change,” said Stern, who said he disagrees with McCain’s stance on abortion. “A woman has the right to do whatever she wants with her body. People who are against that; it’s just [puzzling] to me.”

Suffolk County Legis. Jon Cooper supported Obama over New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic primary. Cooper was rewarded by serving as the emcee for the event, sharing the title with Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi.

“We weren't always all together, but we're together now,” Suozzi said.

David Crosby, Graham Nash, Bruce Hornsby and local musicians were slated to perform. No McCain backers or protesters were visible before the free concert, though Republican lawmakers in the media spin room said before the debate McCain still has a chance to gain ground on Obama despite slumping in national polls.

“I think the American people want to understand how he’ll strengthen our economy as it heading towards another rough road,” former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romey said. “I think his policies strengthen America and will get us out of a recession faster and keep it from being deep."