The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Wooing Isles to state seems like a pipedream
Register columnist Chip Malafronte says the NHL returning to Hartford any time soon seems little more than a pipedream. But that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t absolutely love to see the city get lucky.
Sure, the big game is tonight and we’ll be watching. I suppose. But, as always, it’ll seem anticlimactic after this afternoon’s airing of the Puppy Bowl.
• So Hartford wants the New York Islanders. The first thing that sprung to mind when the news broke was a quote from Uncle Junior in an old “Sopranos” episode. “Well, I want to (date) Angie Dickinson. Let’s see who gets lucky first.”
Nothing is official yet, but it sounds like the Islanders will soon be booted from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center because the team isn’t doing much financially for the building. So it’s hardly surprising that Gov. Dan Malloy, thirsty to revive Hartford’s NHL legacy for some time, offered up the XL Center as an “interim” solution and, maybe, their new permanent home.
It’s political grandstanding, but fairly harmless. There’s nothing to lose by dangling the keys to the building. Plus, it’s good publicity for Malloy that gets folks reminiscing about the past and dreaming of the future, even if it’s unrealistic.
Because the Islanders have better options, either with a new building in New York City or Quebec or elsewhere. And Hartford’s downtown minor league baseball stadium, still yet-to-be-completed, has done little to help the city’s reputation.
The NHL returning to Hartford any time soon seems little more than a pipedream. But that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t absolutely love to see the city get lucky with a New York starlet.
• It’s hard enough to beat Bill Belichick when he’s only got a week to prepare for an opponent. Two weeks is an eternity. The Patriots are going to grab a comfortable halftime lead, and then hold off a late Falcons surge to win. Again.
• When it comes to sports championships, Atlanta doesn’t have much of a resume. There was the Braves’ World Series title in 1995. Unless you’re counting the Atlanta Xplosion’s two championships in the Independent Woman’s Football League. And we assume you’re not. So that’s all there is.
• Fans with nothing invested in either team today might be pulling for the Falcons because the franchise needs something to hang its hat on aside from, I don’t know, Steve Bartkowski and an owner that likes to dance.
I’m rooting for the Patriots solely for the potentially awkward meeting between Roger Goodell and Tom Brady on national TV. Will they shake hands? Probably. But here’s hoping Brady pulls his hand away at the last minute, mockingly runs it through his hair and says, “Psyche.”
• There’s eight games left in the Ivy League regular season, but Yale is playing like a lock to make the league’s first postseason tournament next month in Philadelphia. And potentially as the top seed.
• Atlanta’s assistant general manager is former Central Connecticut State football player Scott Pioli, a former Patriots and Chiefs executive who hand-picked several impact players for the Falcons in the college draft since being hired two years ago.
Nick Polk, a former assistant coach at Southern Connecticut State, is the Falcons’ director of football operations.
• Among those with state connections on Super Bowl rosters today are Bloomfield’s Dwight Freeney and UConn products Nick Williams and Blidi Wreh-Wilson, all members of the Falcons.
The Patriots have three players represented by Branford agent Joe Linta: receiver Malcolm Mitchell along with defensive backs Jonathan Jones and Cyrus Jones. All three are rookies.
• An ESPN story this week attempted to find the origin of Matt Ryan’s ubiquitous nickname, “Matty Ice,” which happens to rhyme with the preferred party beverage of college students across the nation. It’s been a while since we last purchased Natural Ice, aka “Natty Ice,” but if memory serves correctly, a 12-pack went for about $4. Also, the stuff tasted like someone collected remnants from empties at a frat party and mixed it with hot dog water.
Anyway, ESPN interviewed a few old coaches and teammates, but the investigation proved inconclusive. This is too bad. Because it would be a revelation to know Ryan’s moniker derived not from his coolness under pressure, but that he used to double-fist truly terrible beer.
• Faux rage on sports talk TV has been the trend for some time now. The hosts shout and pretend to be mad at each other, hoping it’ll draw ratings or go viral. But one of these days, someone’s throwing a punch on TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” and Charles Barkley just might be the recipient.
• If I was in the White House, my first three executive orders would be to abolish the designated hitter, make the drive-thru at Dunkin’ Donuts for coffee only (you want a Big ‘N Toasted egg and cheese? Take it inside, pally) and designate the Monday after the Super Bowl a national holiday.
No matter what your political views, things could always be worse.
• Baseball season is right around the corner. In fact, pitchers and catcher report next week. There’s hope for 2017, after all.