Monday, March 31, 2008

A visit to the Garden

By: Frank Carpano

I took my two young kids to their first Boston Bruins game at the TD Banknorth Garden this past weekend.

We got a behind the scenes tour prior to the game. It’s amazing the manpower and equipment that goes in to the video board. I’m told it’s the only High-Definition video board in the NHL.

In the control room prior to the game there were no less than 8 people preparing to coordinate what the fans saw during the game. That doesn’t count the cameramen scattered throughout the arena. The number of people involved rivaled a crew that would be at the game to produce a regional telecast.

The show on the video board was “the show within the show”. While I was zeroed in on the game, my kids loved that video board. Between the hockey game and the video board there was literally not a moment of down time. What an event a Boston Bruins game has become for the fans in the stands.

The Bruins beat Ottawa 4-0 in a very important game for the B’s. It’s a different experience watching a game in-person instead of on TV. I found myself watching things that television doesn’t give me. It was mainly some of the battles between players not directly involved in the action. It reaffirmed what I have known for a long time, it’s not always the most talented players who win the battles in an NHL game. It’s the strongest. The weaker players were constantly muscled off the play or pushed out of position.

And is it any wonder that a guy like Zdeno Chara is a force. At 6 foot 9 inches tall (the tallest player in NHL history), Chara towers over the opposition. And he’s 6 foot 9 without skates (Add another 3 inches )!

My only problem with the Bruins play on this day was the powerplay. Every time Chara was out there on the point during a man advantage, it seemed like the Bruins were determined to set up his shot, almost to the exclusion of another player who may have a better scoring opportunity! If it was that obvious to me from my perch, imagine how obvious it was to the Senators.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

PC coach search Update

by: Frank Carpano

ESPN.com is reporting that Providence College has asked George Mason University officials for permission to speak with basketball coach Jim Larranaga.
Larranaga is a PC graduate and led George Mason to the Final 4 in 2006

And for those of you dreaming of St. Joe’s coach Phil Martelli on the Friars sideline, check this out on Philly.com

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Bits and Pieces

By: Frank Carpano

• The New Jersey Nets are building a new home in Brooklyn. Luxury suites range in price from $300,000 to $540,000. Food is extra.

• The Yankees and the Mets are trying to purchase their current stadiums that will soon fall victim to the wrecking ball. They want to cash in on the memorabilia fans will want to purchase from Shea and Yankee stadium. They anticipate quite a market for old stadium seats, bricks, etc. I have to admit, when they tore down the old Boston Garden, I bought a brick that still sits in my home office.

• How odd was it to see a live Red Sox regular season game at 6am! If the TV ratings are good, what are the chances that the Red Sox or Major league baseball will schedule a couple of morning games to compete with the Today Show and good Morning America!

• As great as the Patriots have been at rehabbing players with character flaws, I can’t see Pacman Jones being a good fit. Just too much baggage.

• Speaking of the Patriots, I drove past Gillette Stadium last week. I couldn’t believe all the construction going on there. God bless Bob Kraft for transforming his Gillette Stadium property into a yearround destination.   

• My only question is, what impact will the new construction have on football parking on game days. Good luck with that!

• More rumor than fact surfacing regarding the search for the next Providence College basketball coach. That’s what happens when you basically have a committee of one. PC Athletic Director said that he will handle the search with the blessing of PC President Father Brian Shanley. But it won’t stop us from trying to find out who the next coach of the Friars will be. Stay tuned!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

High School Hockey Championships Change dates

By: Frank Carpano

The Rhode Island Interscolastic league has changed the schedule of the Cox Sports Frozen finals.

All Series are a best of 3 games.

The Series is as follows:

Division 1 Mount Saint Charles vs. Hendricken
PC’s Schneider Arena

Game 1 Monday March 24 7:30pm
Game 2 Tuesday March 25th 7:30pm
          * Game 3 Wednesday March 26th 7:30pm

Division 1A Barrington vs. Burrillville
PC’s Schneider Arena

Game 1 Thursday March 20 8:00pm
Game 2 Saturday March 22 3:00pm
          * Game 3 Thursday March 27 8:00pm

Division 2 St. Raphael vs. Cumberland
PC’s Schneider Arena

Game 1 Thursday March 20 6:00pm
Game 2 Saturday March 22 1:00pm
          * Game 3 Thursday March 27 6:00pm


Division 3 Narragansett vs. South Kingstown
URI’s Boss Arena

Game 1 Saturday March 22 7:30pm
Game 2 Monday March 24 7:30pm
          * Game 3 Tuesday March 25 7:30pm

* if necessary

Monday, March 17, 2008

The Search is on at PC

by: Frank Carpano

• The search is on for a new Providence College Basketball Coach. PC Athletic Director said Sunday that he hopes to have the process completed prior to the Final 4. He said he has a short list of candidates he’d like to interview. There will not be a search committee, Driscoll said that he will handle the search with the final decision belonging to Providence College President Brian Shanley.

• Driscoll said that fans have been emailing him with the name of the person they would like PC to hire. The name most frequently mentioned? Bob Knight.

• I can’t imagine that Knight would be interested. But if he was, I can’t imagine that considering his past, that PC would seriously consider him.

• I’m told that Knight, when asked on ESPN about the Providence job, he said: “No comment”.

• Driscoll also said that he has spoken with all of Welsh’s players. He said they are disappointed by Welsh’s departure, but they plan to stay at Providence College.

• The Providence Journal’s Kevin McNamara reported today that PC recruit Bilal Dixon, a 6-8 forward from New Jersey, still plans to attend Providence College.

• Tim Welsh showed a lot of class by showing up for the final edition of the PC Coaches’ Show on NBC 10. That show was taped barely 24 hours after Tim learned that he would not be returning to coach the Friars.

• Welsh indicated that he’d like to begin his job search immediately. 10 years ago, Welsh was at the Final 4 in San Antonio when he got the call that he would be the next coach of the Friars. The Final 4 will be held once again in San Antonio in 3 weeks. Here’s hoping that Welsh has similar luck.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Tim Welsh - Class and Dignity

Frank Carpano

I just spoke with Tim Welsh regarding today’s news.  I must admit that his reaction did not surprise me.  He handled our brief conversation with much class and dignity.  He said that this is what happens in his line of work. He gave no indication of his future plans. 

NBC 10’s Joe Kayata will do an on camera interview with Welsh this afternoon. You can see it at 6+11 on NBC 10.  Welsh will also appear on the Tim Welsh Show Sunday at 11:15 on NBC 10.

And keep checking this space for the latest info.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

PC-West Virginia @ the Big East

by: Frank Carpano

If past performance was any indication, it appeared that Providence College came out in the proper mind frame and with the proper game plan for today’s Big East tournament game against West Virginia.

When Providence performs poorly they tend to stand around on defense and make poor decisions on offense. They showed none of that in the first 15 miunutes of the game. However, the end of the first half brought the Friars famous offensive dry spell.
The Mountaineers outscored them 13-2 to finish the first half.

The second half and the gamed was decided in the final minutes. The Friars had several opportunities down the stretch to take the game away from WVU but made poor shot selections and also turned the ball over a couple of times.

It appeared from the start that Weyinmu Efejuku would play a crucial role in this game.
He led the Friars in scoring with 12 points on 4 for 15 shooting.  Not the kind of performance that wins games for you.

Providence coach Tim Welsh said after the game that defensively he couldn’t be happier with his team’s performance. He noted that the breaks just didn’t go their way down the stretch.

Big East Tournament

by Frank Carpano

I am an unabashed lover of the Big East Basketball Tournament. In it’s more than 2 decades here at New York’s Madison Square Garden, I have missed maybe twice.

It’s a combination of things that has captured my affection. There is New York City, New York. The city so nice they named it twice. It’s the best and worst of everything. I love the energy of this city and the endless options for things to do. There are Sporting events, museums, Broadway showws, and great restaurants. But clearly on this week, my focus is on college basketball. Madison Square Garden is another reason to love this event. It is the most famous basketball arena in the world. Known not only for the pro basketball and hockey that is played here regularly, but also for the legendary boxing and concerts that have been staged here.

For the kids on the Big East teams who grew up in the Metro New York area, this is the holy temple of basketball.

Since I watch more Big East Conference college basketball games than any other conference, I am more familiar with the players and coaches. Good are the legends like Louie Carnesecca and John Thompson, but hall of famers Jim Calhoun and Jim Boeheim are still working the sidelines. And Rick Pitino coached teama are always a lot of fun to watch.

And this tournament is famous for it’s legendary games. There is one almost every year. And with the way league play went during the regular season, I think we can expect more of the same this year.

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Bits and Pieces 3/5/08

By: Frank Carpano

Bits and Pieces 3/4/08

• I recently caught up with Warwick’s Sara DeCosta . She’s the woman who played on 2 Olympic medal winning US Hockey teams. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 10 years since she won the Gold medal in Nagano. It was the first time I interviewed her since the 2002 games in Salt lake City. Then, she was single and living at home. Boy how times have changed. She is now married with 3 children 3 years old and under. And as happy as she was when she was playing on her sport’s biggest stage. It’s great to see an athletes second act as happy as the first.

• Another former Schoolgirl surfaced recently. Classical High School grad Christina Batastini is one of the most successful basketball players to come out of Rhode Island. She had a great college career at Stanford and went on to play pro ball overseas. She is now the coach at the Lincoln School in Providence and has a very successful business coaching and mentoring young basketball players.

• Patriot linebacker Mike Vrabel was in Providence to speak at the New England Turf Growers conference. He spoke about how tough it was on his young kids and their friends after the Pats lost the Super Bowl. Sounds like he handled it beautifully, explaining that life doesn’t always turn out the way you expect.

• Did you really expect Randy Moss to leave New England. Not after the most successful year in his NFL career.

• Hockey for Hunger: A group of media representing local TV, radio and newspapers are taking on a group of Politicans in a charity hockey game Thursday March 6, 2008, 8pm at the Cranston Veterans Arena in Cranston. NBC 10’s Bill Rappleye has organized this event to benefit the Rhode island Community Food Bank. There is no set admission charge. Organizers hope folks will donate a few bucks or bring a canned good for the Food Bank. Olympic gold medal hockey player Sara DeCosta-Hayes will be participating in the game