Reynolds' Rap
Play It Again In 2010
The U.S. men’s national team made its presence known at the Confederations Cup in South Africa, capping a surprising run to the final with strong Nielsens for ESPN. After dropping group play matches to defending 2006 World Cup champion Italy and No. 5-ranked Brazil by 3-1 and 3-0 counts, it appeared as if Uncle Sam’s Army would have to make the trek home from Johannesburg without hav ...... Read More
Comments (0)Futbol Finances
There has been plenty of news in the soccer world of late and only some of it pertains to the U.S. national team making a dramatic comeback in the FIFA Confederations Cup and now having a chance to end Spain’s record 15-game international winning streak in the semifinals today in South Africa. Rather, this is about rights deals and potential rights deals here and abroad, and if they somehow ...... Read More
Comments (2)Back at The Black
After Thursday’s washout at Bethpage Black, my brother-in-law Art and I ventured back out to the U.S Open Saturday. With the forecasts for another afternoon deluge, we left a little bit earlier than for the opening round. Indeed, we arrived at Willets Point before 7 a.m., to find the lot underneath the L closed. Spinning around to Citi Field, we made it through an open gate. As an added bon ...... Read More
Comments (0)Bethpage Black: We Hardly Knew Ye
Here’s one for the 19th hole. Except, in this case, we never got out. First-round tickets to the U.S Open. At the bear known as Bethpage Black. The people’s course. Where Tiger triumphed in 2002. Sweet! Save for the rain, skies more grey than black, and a forecast for more of the wet stuff. Undeterred, our threesome was playing through anyway, anyhow, anywhere. My brother in law Art ...... Read More
Comments (1)Postseason (Viewer) Appreciation
On the eve of the Open at Bethpage and with Wimbledon about to serve up its fortnight, it’s time for one last look at the NHL and NBA playoffs, two of the most exciting postseasons in recent memory. For the NHL, there were six series that went the distance, including a pair of decisive contests that felled the Big Apple teams — the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers - on the same ...... Read More
Comments (0)Kobe's Work Is Done -- For Now
Kobe doesn’t have any more work to do on the court — at the moment. Keyed by a 16-0 run midway through the second quarter, the Los Angeles Lakers never looked back at the Orlando Magic Sunday night, netting their 15th NBA championship. The Lakers victory gave coach Phil Jackson a record 10th title, as Big Chief Triangle’s tie with the late Red Auerbach at nine championships we ...... Read More
Comments (0)Roll Seven For Game 7
NBC got its wish with Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, an exciting contest that wasn’t decided until Pittsburgh’s goalie Marc-Andre Fleury dived across the crease to deny Detroit’s Niklas Lidstrom with one second left. Fleury’s heroics stopped the game from extending into overtime, which would have disrupted its local news flow and Conan’s Tonight Show at 11:30 ...... Read More
Comments (0)Fed Ahead
Actually, not yet. Roger Federer, earning tennis’ career Grand Slam, equalled Peter Sampras’ total of 14 majors with a straight-set win over Robin Soderling at the French Open. Federer conquered Soderling, the slayer of Roland Garros’ King of Clay Rafa Nadal last Sunday, in Fed Express fashion. The Swiss racquet artist jumped out early, winning the first 6-1. With Soderling be ...... Read More
Comments (0)Just Don't Do It
Game 1 was over early in the third quarter, a case of Kobe doing too much work, elevating over and twisting around and under Courtney Lee and Mickael Pietrus. Over on Versus’ final NHL telecast of the season, the Pittsburgh Penguins were squaring the Stanley Cup Final series at two games apiece in The Igloo against the Detroit Red Wings. So, it was back to The Finals. But Kobe was on the b ...... Read More
Comments (0)NBA Championship Carriage Consolation
It might not be Kobe and LeBron and the level of Nielsen love that would have come from a Cleveland-Los Angeles Finals, but the NBA scored big today. The pro hoops league bookended the start of its playoffs and tonight’s championship round with renewal deals for its in-house service with the nation’s two largest distributors. Back on April 16, NBA TV announced a pact that will push t ...... Read More
Comments (0)Bjorn Again With Rafa's Roland Au Revoir
Bjorn Borg still rules. For the second consecutive year, the phlegmatic (I’ve always wanted to write that) Swede saw a modern-day challenger to his Grand Slams records swatted away. Rafael Nadal, the heretofore undefeated king of Roland Garros with 31 consecutive match victories, went out in four sets to Borg’s unheralded countryman, Robin Soderling. Seeded 23rd, Roderling prevented ...... Read More
Comments (0)Stanley Cup Final: Scheduling Offsides
The chase for Lord Stanley’s Cup in 2009 has largely made for boom times for Versus. Comcast’s national sports network has taken a few hits: by some criticizing its coverage; because it counts 20 million fewer homes than ESPN; and among those longing for the putative halcyon days of puck coverage on the worldwide leader. But Versus, now in its fourth year with the NHL, has skated alo ...... Read More
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