HOT SUMMER SIGHTS
25 reasons to get excited about NYC sports calendar
Summer in the city. ... You could be crawling on the Cross Bronx Expressway interrupted by the sight of a battered baseball still orbiting off the bat of Aaron Judge.
Or a newsflash that the Mets have suffered yet another disheartening, disabling injury.
There can be tempers flaring at a packed Red Bulls-NYCFC game, or among Knicks fans who don’t like whomever Phil Jackson selects in the NBA draft.
Never a dull moment in this town, especially now that Judge has hijacked the summer and lifted the Yankees into a surprise pennant race. Here are 25 things to look forward to in New York this summer:
1
Amed Rosario’s expected debut: The Yankees have not cornered the market on phenoms. See Rosario field. See Rosario hit. See Rosario play shortstop the way the young Jose Reyes played it.
2
Gleyber Torres’ expected debut: Let the Torres vs. Rosario debate begin. Chase Headley is keeping the seat warm at the hot corner for the Yankees’ can’t-miss prospect.
3
Steve Nash Foundation Showdown (June 21): NBA stars Kyrie Irving and Tony Parker, and former Red Bull Jozy Altidore have participated in previous charity soccer matches at Sara D. Roosevelt Park.
4
A Knicks lottery pick (June 22): Phil Jackson could use another Kristaps Porzingis, but good luck with that picking eighth in the draft. Then again, just about anyone would help.
5
Two Nets first-round selections (June 22): The right men — GM Sean Marks and head coach Kenny Atkinson — are running the show. Terrance Ferguson ... Juwan Evans ... Tyler Lydon ... Josh Hart ... the long road back from the Billy King Era begins in earnest with picks 22 and 27.
6
The NBA Draft in Brooklyn (June 22): Barclays Center serves as the league’s nerve center, with the Celtics targeting Washington point guard Markelle Fultz and Lavar Ball talking the walk to the Lakers for son Lonzo — unless Magic Johnson has eyes for Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox.
7
The Devils having the top pick in the NHL draft (June 23): A once-in-a-generation opportunity to land their own Sidney Crosby. Or their own John Tavares. Specifically, a big, fast center like Nolan Patrick or an explosive center like Nico Hischier.
8
Bellator MMA at the Garden (June 24): You’ve been waiting six years for Chael Sonnen vs. Wanderlei Silva, admit it.
9
Red Bulls vs. NYCFC (June 24, Aug. 6): Extra security is needed to keep peace between the fan bases, and the Red Bulls are determined to defend their turf from the third-year interlopers.
10
Jorge Posada back in uniform for Old-Timer’S Day (June 25): It will be an emotional first Old-Timer’s Day for Derek Jeter’s 45-year-old longtime pal.
11
A 3-on-3 hoops league eague featuring formerr NBA stars (June 25): Doubtful that James Dolan will be showing up at Barclays Center too watch Charles Oakley playlay and coach, but other players in the league include Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups, Kenyon Martin and Mike Bibby. Other coaches include Julius Erving, Gary Payton, Rick Barry, Clyde Drexler and George Gervin.
12
Aaron Judge’s power in warm weather: Get ready for a summer of “It is high, it is far ... is it out of Yankee Stadium?” All rise in the Judge’s chambers. And everywhere else, for that matter.
13
The reloaded Mets with Yoenis Cespedes, Steven Matz and Seth Lugo back — and possibly Noah Syndergaard coming: It won’t be enough to chase down the Nationals, but the cavalry ought to keep the Mets in the wild-card hunt.
14
NBA free agency for the Knicks and Nets (July 1): Jrue Holiday or Jeff Teague, por favor, if the Zen Master can scrape up enough cap room to offer a max contract. The Nets reportedly have
their eyes on Otto Porter and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
15
NHL free agency for the Rangers and Islanders (July 1): Post hockey columnist Larry Brooks mentions Ilya Kovalchuk as an intriguing option, likely a signand-trade with the Devils. New Rochelle’s Kevin Shattenkirk would have to give the Blueshirts quite a hometown discount. Center Matt Duchene could be a desirable trade option for the Islanders, but GM Garth Snow’s priority is ...
16
A possible resolution on John Tavares’ future/ free agency (July 1): He is the captain and the face of the franchise, and he will be 27 in September. An eightyear, $80 million contract should keep him an Islander.
17
CONCACAF/ Gold Cup (July 7): The initial matches of North America’s most prestigious soccer tournament will feature French Guiana vs. Canada and Honduras vs. Costa Rica at Red Bull Arena.
18
U.S. Women’s Open at Trump Bedminster (July 13-16): Forty-five minutes from Manhattan, this will be the first U.S. Women’s Open in New Jersey since 1987. The winner undoubtedly gets a congratulatory tweet.
19
Juventus vs. FC Barcelona at MetLife (July 22): You really should want to buy a ticket to watch Lionel Messi strut his stuff for FC Barcelona.
20
Training camp for the Giants with Super Bowl aspirations and Eli Manning with targets galore (late July): Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall and Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram — a veritable score four to ease the burden on an elite defense.
21
Training camp for the Jets with Christian Hackenberg trying to win the starting QB job (late July): The 2016 secondround pick will supplant Josh McCown sometime in October. ... Can you say buttfumble?
22
A trade deadline when the Yankees buy instead of sell
(July 31): What a difference a year makes. GM Brian Cashman will look to add a frontline starter for the rotation and has plenty of blue chips thanks to last year’s shrewd trades and expert farm development.
23
Subway Series (Aug. 14-15 at Yankee Stadium, Aug. 16-17 at
Citi Field): How does Noah Syndergaard vs. Aaron Judge grab you? If Syndergaard isn’t ready, how about Luis Severino vs. Yoenis Cespedes? Or Aroldis Chapman vs. Cespedes? Or anybody vs. Judge?
24
The Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal dream final at the U.S.
Open (Aug. 28-Sept. 10): More fodder for the G.O.A.T debate. Federer, 35, has 18 Grand Slams, and Nadal, 31, has 15.
25
The nixing of Carmelo: Phil
Jackson wants to move Carmelo Anthony faster than he runs to cash a Jim Dolan check. As a last resort, there is the dreaded stretch provision, which could delay Melo’s departure until Aug. 31.