http://www.ramirezcobos.com/ en-us Fri, 24 May 2013 13:47:47 -0400 http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/nightmare-scenario-for-rangers-to-miss-playoffs.html Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:27:09 -0400 By Bob BirgeHere is a nightmare scenario for the New York Rangers to miss the playoffs:-- Ottawa clinches a playoff spot on Thursday with a win at Washington, which has nothing to play for after clinching the Southeast Division with a 5-3 victory ove ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/still-rooting-for-a-canadian-team-to-win-the-stanley-cup.html Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:43:46 -0400 http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/move-to-brooklyn-good-for-islanders-nhl-1470.html Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 -0500   With Charles Wang unable to get a new arena for his team in Nassau County, I've been giving my college buddy, a huge Islanders' fan, a hard time for the past couple seasons. I've told him that he better get used to rooting for the Kansas C ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/remembering-the-scooter-1156.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500   Monday marked the fifth anniversary of the passing of beloved former Yankees' broadcaster Phil Rizzuto. To mark the occasion, this is something I wrote about the great Scooter before the start of the 2009 World Series between the Yankees an ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/despite-issues-yankees-in-prime-position-as-all-star-break-nears-1038.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500   Sometimes it seems the Yankees don't compete against the rest of the American League as much as they compete against themselves.   After gaining a split of a four-game series against the White Sox with Sunday's 4-2 victory, the Yanke ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/yankees-string-of-dominant-pitching-continues.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500   The Yankees' run of impressive starting pitching continued Sunday as Ivan Nova allowed one run over 7 2/3 innings in a 4-1 victory over the Nationals.   New York extended its winning streak to nine games while completing its third co ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/yankees-keep-winning-despite-risp-problems.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 The Yankees must really be on a roll.   They finally won a game without hitting a home run, defeating the Nationals 5-3 in 14 innings on Saturday for their eighth straight victory.   The Yankees actually are on fire, winning 12 of t ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/can-derek-jeter-make-a-run-at-pete-roses-hit-recordg-991.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500   Every day, it seems, Derek Jeter is setting some record or achieving a milestone.   Recently, he scored his 1,800th career run to pass Ted Williams for 17th on the all-time list.   Already this season, the 37-year-old Yankees ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/whats-in-a-nameg-a-look-at-nhl-nicknames.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/thursday-marks-18th-anniversary-of-rangers-stanley-cup-win.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500   Yeah, we know the Kings won the Stanley Cup on Monday but before we wrap up the season, we have to point out that Thursday marks the 18th anniversary of the most famous moment in New York Rangers' history.   On June 14, 1994, the Ran ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/kings-left-no-doubt.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500   Even as they rolled into the Stanley Cup Finals with a 12-2 record, I wasn't convinced the Kings were the best team.   Part of that may have been denial and part of it may have been a natural inclination to look down on the Western C ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/devils-continue-pursuit-of-history-951.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 With their 2-1 win on Saturday, the New Jersey Devils became the first team to force a sixth game of a Stanley Cup Final after trailing three games to none since Detroit in 1945.   Now the Devils will be looking to become the second t ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/devils-stay-alive-beat-kings-3-1-944.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500   If there is one weakness that the Los Angeles Kings have demonstrated during their remarkable postseason run, it's winning the fourth games of series.   The Kings were unable to win their first Stanley Cup on Wednesday, falling to th ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/kings-mighty-impressive-still-no-match-for-old-oilers-937.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500   If the Kings finish off the Devils on Wednesday, they will complete a 16-2 postseason, matching the 1988 Edmonton Oilers for the fewest losses en route to the Stanley Cup since the first round of the playoffs was expanded to a best-of-seven ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/kings-on-verge-of-unlikely-title.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500   If the Kings win two more games, they will become perhaps the most unlikely Stanley Cup champion in the expansion era and not just because they will be the first No. 8 seed to drink from Lord Stanley's Cup since the current playoff format w ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/kings-win-in-ot-again-2-1.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500   This marks the first time the first two games of a Cup final have gone to overtime since the 1951 final between the Leafs and Canadiens.   All five games of that series were decided in extra time, the only time that has ever happened ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/nhl-starting-to-revert-to-pre-lockout-ways-922.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 Call it the eye test.   When you follow a sport for more than 40 years, you like to think you know what you are watching and from watching this year's Stanley Cup playoffs, our observation is that the NHL is regressing toward the bad old d ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/rangers-season-ends-in-typically-heartbreaking-fashion.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 Of course it had to end exactly the way it did.   The Rangers couldn't have just lost 2-0 on Friday. Oh, no, that would have been much too easy. Instead, they have to tease us, raise our hopes, then crush them, leading to a massive letdown ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/happy-anniversary-friday-marks-18th-anniversary-of-mark-messiers-guarantee-905.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500   Friday marks the 18th anniversary of Mark Messier's famous guarantee, but they'll be no such proclamations  from the current Rangers heading into Friday's game six because there was only one Messiah.   He came to New York with f ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/remembering-brian-leetch-903.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/being-a-rangers-fan-hurts-so-good-902.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 For a few, fleeting moments, it was 1994 all over again.   When Martin Brodeur gave up a brutal goal to Marian Gaborik 17 seconds into the third period that allowed the Rangers to complete a stunning comeback from a 3-0 deficit, the miracl ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/tortorella-hoping-prayer-ignites-rangers-struggling-offense.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500   Rangers coach John Totorella says he is adopting a new approach in an attempt to get offense from slumpingtop six forwards Ryan Callahan, Marian Gaborik, Brad Richards and Carl Hagelin -- prayer.   I don't know what else to tell you, ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/nothing-compares-to-rangers-devils-classic-in-1994.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500   After three pretty tepid games in the Eastern Conference finals, the intensity level certainly picked up in game four Monday night.   The third period featured a shouting match between coaches John Tortorella and Pete DeBoer, who cle ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/rangers-prust-suspended-for-game-four-890.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 This has to be the most bizarre stat of the playoffs:In odd-numbered games (1, 3, 5 and 7) the Rangers are 9-1 with the only loss being their game five defeat to Ottawa in the first round.In even-numered games (2, 4 and 6), however, the Rangers are 1 ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/rangers-try-again-to-take-command-of-a-series.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 For the seventh time, the Rangers will try to grab a two-game lead in a playoff series when they take on the Devils in game four of the Eastern Conference finals on Monday at the Prudential Center.The Rangers 0-6 when they are coming of a win that ga ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/king-steals-game-three-for-rangers.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 So who knew the Rangers and Devils were going to re-play game one?Saturday was a virtual carbon copy of the series opener: scoreless through 40 minutes, then the same two players for the Rangers - Dan Girardi and rookie Chris Kreider- score in the th ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/hard-to-win-cup-without-goals-879.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 Great research by my man Larry Brooks of the New York Post pointing out just how hard it is historically to win a Stanley Cup when you can't score.The Rangers are averaging 2.12 goals per game in the playoffs. According to Brooks, only one team -- th ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/tortorellas-act-growing-tiresome.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 Maybe it was funny the first or second time John Tortorella blew off one of his press conferences in under two minutes, but his act is growing tiresome.His curt and rude answers and utter disdain of the media shouldn't be tolerated by a league that i ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/devils-rebound-to-even-series-872.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 Maybe the story in game one of the Eastern Conference finals was not the Rangers overcoming their fatigue but the Devils being slowed by rust after having six days off.The Devils sure looked to have quicker legs Wednesday and took control late in the ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/brodeurs-quotshoot-to-injurequot-comment-creates-stir-869.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/tortorella-irritated-by-cell-phone-ringing-during-press-conference-868.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 No matter what adjectives you use to describe Rangers coach John Tortorella -- fiery, abrasive, gruff, grumpy, sarcastic and old school are a few that come to mind -- the man does not suffer fools well.A funny scene unfolded Monday night when a cell ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/rangers-draw-first-blood-866.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 For the third time in these playoffs, the New York Rangers have drawn first blood. Dan Girardi, Chris Kreider and Artem Anisimov each had a goal and an assist and Henrik Lundqvist recorded 21 saves Monday as the Rangers blanked the Devils 3-0 in the ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/role-reversal-for-rangers-devils-862.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 As the Rangers and Devils prepare to begin the Eastern Conference finals on Monday night, the role reversal is nothing short of astounding.For years and years, the Rang ers -- and other teams -- complained about the Devils' neutral zone trap that ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/rangers-devils-set-for-sixth-playoff-meeting-858.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 The Rangers and Devils will be meeting for the sixth time in the playoffs. There are squaring off in the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1994. Rangers won four of the five previous series.Here is a brief look at the playoff meeting ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/rangers-survive-another-grueling-seven-game-series-857.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 If you're a Rangers' fan, you may feel like these playoffs have added 10 years to your life.The Rangers have played 14 playoff games -- two grueling seven-game series -- and they are only halfway there. And every game is the same, a one-goal margin ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/nervous-time-for-rangers-fans.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 Less than 24 hours from Armageddon, the mood in Rangers Nation is one of nervousness.Rangers' fans have to be much less confident heading into Saturday's game seven against the Capitals than they were in the previous game seven against Ottawa.The big ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/second-game-seven-could-be-a-problem-for-rangers-caps-winner.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/punchless-rangers-cant-get-it-done-841.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 Eighty-eight seconds.That's all you really needed to watch because once Alex Ovechkin rifled a blast from the slot past Henrik Lundqvist 1:28 into Wednesday' s contest, you knew the series was headed back to Madison Square Garden for game seven on ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/critical-for-rangers-to-close-out-caps-on-wednesday-840.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 The Devils' 3-1 series-clinching victory over the Flyers on Tuesday makes it even more important for the Rangers to close out the Capitals on Wednesday.If the Rangers fail to do so, they will be forced to a seventh game for the second time in as many ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/rangers-take-series-lead-with-miraculous-win-834.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 Your first reaction -- assuming that your heart is still beating - is that the Washington Capitals can not possibly recover from the stunning turn of events at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.But you might have said the same thing after the R ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/nhl-playoffs-are-great-but-more-scoring-needed-829.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 After watching the eighth-seeded Los Angeles Kings close out of a sweep of the St. Louis Blues with a 3-1 victory Sunday afternoon, we got to thinking.The intensity of the Stanley Cup playoffs is unmatched in sports and every hockey fan loves the phy ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/rangers-let-capitals-back-in-series-826.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 And so the pattern continues for the Rangers: win games one and three, lose games two and four.For the fourth time in the playoffs, the Rangers squandered a chance to go up two games in a series as the Capitals rebounded from their triple-overtime lo ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/rangers-caps-back-in-action-on-saturday-afternoon.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 Hopefully recovered and r efreshed from Wednesday's epic triple overtime victory, the Rangers face the Capitals in game four of their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Saturday afternoon (12:30).After beating the Capitals 2-1 in the fourth-lo ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/marian-gaborik-wins-longest-rangers-game-in-73-years.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 The longest Rangers' game of my lifetime brought back a flood of memories from that night in 1971 when Pete Stemkowski scored the Rangers' last triple overtime goal.I was 12 years old and already listening to Marv Albert and Bill Chadwick call Rang ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/nhl-playoffs-not-the-same-without-local-broadcasters.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 Because I have been accused of living in the past and because I might never see another Cup, I often listen to  Sam Rosen's play-by-play at the end of game seven of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals.After Craif MacTavish wins the final faceoff again ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/rangers-fall-to-capitals-3-2.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 We know we wrote the Rangers off after they fell behind 3-2 against Ottawa and were proven wrong, but we're going to say it again.The Rangers cannot survive if they continue to play the way they are. Every night is like a high-wire act without a sa ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/tortorella-named-finalist-for-adams-trophy-798.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 Rangers coach John Tortorella has been named as one of the three finalists for the Jack Adams Award, which is the presented annually to the NHL's top coach. The other finalists are Ottawa's Paul MacLean and St. Louis' Ken Hitchcock. Tortorella, who ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/rangers-look-to-grab-2-0-series-lead-vs-caps-797.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 The Rangers will look to grab a 2-0 lead in their series with the Washington Capitals when they host game two at Madison Square Garden on Monday night (7:30 p.m.)That was something the Rangers were unable to accomplish in the first round against th ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/kreider-delivers-again-for-rangers-792.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 Chris Kreider said he was at a loss for words, and who could blame him?Three weeks ago, the 20-year-old was leading Boston College to an NCAA championship. Now he is the darling of the Madison Square Garden faithful.For the second time in three games ]]> http://sportsideo.com/blog/bobbirge640/all/lundqvist-named-finalist-for-hart-trophy-783.html Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 Every Rangers' fan knows that Henrik Lundqvist is the team's most valuable player and now the league is recognizing it as well. "The King" has been named as one of three finalists for the Hart Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL's Most Valuable Playe ]]>