NHL fans proud to be nuts

Mike Vaccaro
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OPEN MIKE

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — My favorite line about hockey fans and hockey playoffs comes from John Madden, the ex-Devil who always kept enough of the fan he used to be growing up in the Parma Court housing projects in Toronto to understand what he saw and what he heard every April.

“It isn’t just that hockey fans are nuts,” he told me once, “it’s that we’re proud to be nuts. It’s that if you looked at us and told us we weren’t nuts, we’d get in your face and scream, ‘What the hell do you mean I’m not nuts?’”

Yes. Only in hockey can calling someone three bricks shy of a load be considered a term of endearment, but for those of you who will spend the next few days, weeks or — with luck — months living and dying with the Rangers or the Devils or with whomever your hockey team of choice is, you understand. You get it.

I sent an email to an old college friend whom I know to be a fanatical Sabres fan the other day, after Buffalo’s manic rush for the eighth seed came up short with a gut-slashing loss to the Flyers. I received an automated response, the kind you usually get when someone’s on vacation. All it said was this:

“Not talking today.

“Not e-mailing today.

“Not eating today.

“Not sleeping tonight.”

And the next day, I got the same reply. But you know that. The hockey playoffs are the most intense time of the year to be a fan who cares about a team. Yes, baseball and basketball and football inspire their own intense devotions, and nobody will accuse you of being a slacker fan in any of those games. But hockey is different. For one thing, the games themselves are different starting now, a different level of caring and intensity and passion.

For another, hockey itself is just different. On so many levels, almost all of them charming. What other sport gives you the three-star system every game, the kind of thing that seems like it was dreamt up by kids playing street hockey? What other sport gives you the playoff beard, which turns the on-ice team photo for the eventual Stanley Cup champion into a ZZ Top convention? What other sport has something as quirky as the Cup itself as its ultimate prize, with the promise of every team member taking it on a tour for a day through a hometown’s restaurants, saloons and God only knows where else?

Seriously: Can you imagine Derek Jeter tossing the Commissioner’s Trophy into a pool somewhere? Can you imagine Eli Manning dining with the Lombardi Trophy at the empty seat to his left? Can you imagine Carmelo Anthony with the Lawrence O’Brien trophy ... well, at all?

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Mike VaccaroFollow Mike, John Madden, hockey playoffs, hockey playoffs, Fla., hockey fans, Parma Court housing, hockey team, street hockey

Nypost.com

Questions surround OSU receiver heading into draft

In the second of a four-part series leading up to the draft, The Post looks at wide receivers and tight ends. Next week: running backs and offensive linemen.

Considering Justin Blackmon was voted college football’s best receiver in each of his two seasons as a full-time starter, you would think the NFL’s peanut gallery would be silent.

Yet here we are.

The prolific Oklahoma State product appears almost certain to be the first wideout picked in the April 26-28 draft, but scouts aren’t entirely sold on Blackmon, despite those two relentlessly productive seasons for the Cowboys that ended in the Biletnikoff Award each time.

Justin Blackmon

Not only did Blackmon refuse to run the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine because of a hamstring injury, but he also turned up shorter (6-feet-1) and lighter (207 pounds) than expected and struggled in the receiving drills while he was in Indianapolis.

Combine that with the DUI arrest Blackmon got during the 2010 season and the extremely spotty NFL track record of Oklahoma

State receivers, and it becomes easy to see why several teams have Notre Dame’s methodical Michael Floyd and even Baylor speedster Kendall Wright higher on their draft boards this spring.

The concern is that Blackmon, despite a school-record 2011 season in which he caught 111 passes for 1,782 yards and 20 TDs, will wind up being more of a possession receiver in the NFL than a game-breaker like Calvin Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald.

There’s nothing wrong with a reliable possession receiver, of course, but ...

Though Blackmon reportedly ran a 4.45 40 at his pro day last month, he had predicted a 4.2. And scouts have long felt Blackmon lacked the elite, top-line speed necessary to be a team’s No. 1 receiver.

Blackmon also must deal with the fact many teams are gun shy about Oklahoma State receivers in general, considering Adarius Bowman and Rashaun Woods didn’t pan out and first-rounder Dez Bryant — the player Blackmon replaced — has yet to reach his potential in Dallas.

What Blackmon doesn’t lack is confidence, even comparing himself with Terrell Owens in his prime and admitting he had a few give-me-the-damn-ball moments in college.

“I’m going to be somebody who is going to be out there fighting,” Blackmon said at the combine. “I’m going to be working when no one is watching. I’m always going to be dependable and someone that you can count on.”

Teams wish they could say the same about the tight ends in this year’s draft, but former Ravens coach Brian Billick wasn’t alone during the combine when he called the group one of the worst he had seen in a while.

Thanks largely to Aaron Hernandez’s emergence, clubs now like for their tight ends to slim down and be able to line up at receiver, too. But any team hoping to replicate the Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski-Hernandez 2010 goldmine at tight end probably will have to wait until next year.

Coby Fleener, one of Andrew Luck’s favorite target at Stanford, is the only tight end getting a consistent first-round grade, and even he isn’t considered a sure thing because scouts question how much of Fleener’s success stemmed from having an NFL-ready quarterback throwing to him.

bhubbuch@nypost.com

Where Giants stand

There’s a need for both positions, as No. 3 receiver Mario Manningham signed with the 49ers, leaving behind second-year Jerrel Jernigan, slow-developing Ramses Barden and returning-from-injury Domenik Hixon to battle for a big role in the offense. Giants have taken a look at South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffery, who should be there at No. 32 if they want him. Now that they’ve signed Martellus Bennett from the Cowboys, it’s doubtful the Giants would go tight end in the first round, but if they do, Coby Fleener of Stanford is the best pass-catcher in the draft.

— Paul Schwartz

Where Jets stand

The Jets face an interesting dilemma when it comes to drafting a wide receiver. It is a huge need for them, because they have Santonio Holmes then a bunch of unproven players. But they have committed to being a run-heavy team this season. If Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd is available when their 16th pick arrives, they might have to take him. Otherwise, expect them to grab a receiver in the second or third round.

— Brian Costello

Justin Blackmon, Blackmon, Michael Floyd, Michael Floyd, NFL, receiver, receiver, receiver, Notre Dame, tight ends, tight ends, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma State, the Cowboys, Justin BlackmonNot, Coby Fleener

Nypost.com

PSAL baseball roundup: Becaj no-no leads FDR past Lincoln

Arben Becaj threw a no-hitter and struck out 10 over five innings as FDR blanked Lincoln, 11-0, in Brooklyn A West baseball on Thursday.

Henry Dominquez homered and drove in three runs, Brandon Rivera had two hits, scored twice and knocked in two more and Becaj scored once and had two RBIs for FDR (2-2). Lincoln is still winless at 0-4.

Beacon 14, West 50th Street 7: Isaiah Sakany tripled, doubled scored three runs and drove in two, Avery Perez had two hits and scored three runs and Caleb Kerbs had two hits, two RBIs and scored two runs for Beacon (4-0) in Manhattan A West. West 50th Street is 0-4.

George Washington 19, FDA 0: Randy Rodriguez had three hits, scored two runs and drove in four more, Alexis Torres had two hits, scored twice and drove in three and Raimi Sanchez scored four runs for George Washington (3-0) in Manhattan A East. FDA is 0-4.

Manhattan Center 8, Brandeis 3: Dabian Canales had three hits, scored twice and drove in a run, Jerry Liang added two hits, two RBIs and scored two runs and Alex Sanchez tripled and knocked in two runs for Manhattan Center (2-2) in Manhattan A East. Brandeis is 0-3.

New Dorp 8, Petrides 2: Matt McCormack triples, had two hits, scored twice and drove in two, Gary Anderson had two hits and two RBIs and Thomas Sheridan fanned five in five innings pitched for New Dorp (2-3) in Staten Island A. Petrides is 1-5.

Curtis 6, Susan Wagner 4: Adrian Rodriguez had two hits and scored twice and Chris Moran added two hits, scored a run and drove in a run for Curtis (4-1) in Staten Island A. Wagner is 3-2.

Tottenville 8, McKee/Staten Island Tech 0: Matt Tanzi fanned seven in five shutout innings for the win, Stephen Notaro drove in two runs and Darren Hanzich added an RBI and scored a run for Tottenville (4-1) in Staten Island A. MSIT is now 2-3.

William Bryant 13, Richmond Hill 6: Adonis Lao fanned 13 over six solid innings of work and had three hits and two RBIs, Nick Alvarez doubled twice, scored twice and drove in three runs and his twin brother Chris Alvarez added two hits and scored three runs for Bryant (4-0) in Queens A West. Richmond Hill falls to 0-4.

Mott Haven 10, Morris 3: Elvis Hernandez had three hits and four RBIs, Justin Barbot had two hits and scored twice and Arbely Soto had three hits and drove in two runs for Mott Haven (2-2) in Bronx A East. Morris is 1-3.

Aviation 7, Forest Hills 0: Junior Ramirez struck out 10 over six innings for the win, Angel Marte and Trevor Roskind each scored twice and Patrick Villafana notched an RBI and scored a run for Aviation (2-2) in Queens A East. Forest Hills is 0-4.

Newtown 4, Lane 0: Luis Estevez homered, drove in two runs and scored twice and Jonathan Guzman allowed just one hit over five innings and struck out four for Newtown (2-1) in Queens A West. Lane is0-4.

CLASS B

Arts & Business 11, Grover Cleveland 1: Brian Quezada had four hits, scored twice and an RBI, Andrew Lopez had two hits and three RBIs and Oliver Hernandez scored three runs for Arts & Business (3-2) in Queens B Central. Cleveland is 1-1 in Queens B North.

Grady 11, Sheepshead Bay 0: James Smith had three RBIs, Rafael Escalera scored twice and drove in two runs and Brandon Caratozzolo struck out 13 in a five-inning, no-hitter and also had three hits and scored two runs for Grady (4-0) in Brooklyn B South. Sheepshead Bay is 0-4.

Bathgate 10, Fannie Lou Hamer 1: Bryan Dominquez had two hits and two RBIs and also struck out 10 in a complete-game effort, Jonathan Cespedes had two hits and three RBIs and Albert Gonzalez had two hits, scored twice and drove in two runs for Bathgate (4-0) in Bronx B South. Fannie Lou Hamer is 0-4.

Stevenson 8, Grace Dodge 1: Benny Amadiz had four RBIs, David Gonzalez and Kilvio Garcia each scored twice and Fermin Gonzalez and John Carlo Santana both drove in two runs apiece for Stevenson (4-0) in Bronx B North. Grace Dodge is 0-3.

Millennium 9, Tilden 6: Robert Martino fanned 12 in 6 1/3, Wilson Ventura homered, scored twice and drove in two runs and Jason Vacca also scored two runs for Millennium (3-1) in Brooklyn B South. Tilden is 1-4.

Martin Luther King Jr. 10, LaGuardia 4: Chris Taylor had three hits, scored four runs and drove in three, Case Bongime had four hits and three RBIs and Harold Volquez added two hits, scored a run and added an RBI for MLK (4-0) in Manhattan B North. LaGuardia is 2-2.

OTHER SCORES

Banneker 6, Cobble Hill 3

Erasmus Hall 4, Prospect Heights 1

Norman Thomas 15, Luperon 5

zbraziller@nypost.com

Manhattan A East, Staten Island A. Petrides, Manhattan A West, Manhattan Center, George Washington, RBIs, Staten Island A. MSIT

Nypost.com

The Post Line

NBA

Favorite

Line

Underdog

NETS

8

Wizards

Thunder

3

PACERS

HAWKS

8

Pistons

HEAT

8 1/2

Grizzlies

RAPTORS

8 1/2

Cavaliers

SPURS

12 1/2

Hornets

BUCKS

14 1/2

Bobcats

MAVERICKS

7 1/2

Blazers

NUGGETS

6

Suns

JAZZ

8

Warriors

LAKERS

8

Rockets

NHL

Favorite

Line

Underdog

BLUES

$145-165

Coyotes

Home team in CAPS
Nypost.com

Now Falcone says ‘maybe’ to bankruptcy

After weeks of crowing that bankruptcy is not an option for his faltering wireless venture, troubled hedge-fund honcho Phil Falcone yesterday said he is “seriously considering” seeking a voluntary bankruptcy for high-speed startup LightSquared.

Falcone told Reuters that a voluntary bankruptcy would allow him to avoid wiping out equity stakeholders, including his hedge fund Harbinger Capital Management, and buy him more time to find a solution to regulators’ threats to pull the plug on his troubled venture.

Falcone’s sudden admission that bankruptcy is, in fact, on the table came hours after The Post exclusively reported that a group of creditors, led by billionaire investor Carl Icahn, was itching to demand a debt-for-equity swap and force Falcone, LightSquared’s biggest backer, out of the picture.

Falcone’s gargantuan flip-flop suggests he is desperately searching for a way to keep the company out of creditors’ hands and protect his $2.9 billion investment, observers said.

“He must have concluded that he’s not going to be able to command a majority of the first-lien debtholders to support him,” said Tim Farrar, a tech consultant with TMF Associates in Menlo Park, Calif.

The Post reported yesterday that holders of LightSquared’s $1.6 billion debt — a group that includes Icahn, David Tepper and Andy Beal — have until the end of April to decide whether to declare the loan in default due to a number of breaches, including Sprint Nextel’s decision to nix a deal to become LightSquared’s main carrier.

Farrar said a bankruptcy could also save the firm’s shaky partnership with UK satellite operator Inmarsat by putting a freeze on the contract.

LightSquared has been spiraling down since the Federal Communications Commission in February promised to pull the plug on the venture amid opposition from powerful agricultural and defense industries, which have complained the high-powered network would interfere with their costly GPS devices.

Phil Falcone, Harbinger Capital Management, Carl Icahn, Falcone, hedge fund, LightSquared, Federal Communications Commission, Andy Beal, David Tepper

Nypost.com

Tiger and McIlroy take spotlight, but plenty of other Masters challengers

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. Tiger and Rory.

Have you heard enough of those two names in the lead-up to this week’s Masters?

If you have listened to the “experts,” you undoubtedly have been led to believe that no player other than Woods and McIlroy has a prayer to have the Green Jacket slipped over his shoulders as the 2012 Masters champion.

The headline in one national sports magazine previewing the Masters screamed: “Two Man Game.’’

The cover of a golf magazine featured an artistic rendering of Woods and McIlroy as boxers on a poster, portraying them as the main event at the Masters, which starts Thursday.

AP

DON’T FORGET US: Even though the likes of Phil Mickelson, Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald are stars in their own right, they have been overshadowed this week by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

There are other prominent players in the field this week who take umbrage to the notion that there are only two horses in this race.

“It’s not a two-man tournament,’’ Adam Scott, a runner-up last year, said. “It’s a good story for everyone to write about. There is no doubt Rory has elevated himself. And now Tiger winning a tournament again kind of validates [himself] — as if he needed to validate anything to anyone.’’

Lee Westwood, whose personality is a blend of cynical humor, acerbic and feisty, reminded reporters: “Rory has never won here and Tiger has not won here since 2005.’’

“So,’’ Westwood went on, “I think everybody in this room would have to be naïve to think it is a two-horse race, wouldn’t they? I think Phil [Mickelson] might have a little bit to say about that. Luke [Donald] might. And I might.’’

Mickelson, who has one fewer Green Jacket in his closet (three) than Woods (four) and has won two of them (2006 and 2010) since the last time Woods was fitted (2005), didn’t flinch when asked about not being included in the pre-tournament talk as one of the top favorites along with Woods and McIlroy.

“I’m cool with it,” Mickelson said. “I don’t have a problem with it. I am where I am and I’m fine with it.”

Donald is the No. 1 player in the world based on the computer rankings, but because he’s never won a major, he’s not truly considered on the same level as Woods and McIlroy.

“Obviously, Tiger is always the guy that pushes the needle the most and Rory is getting a lot of attention now, but for me that’s probably a good thing,’’ Donald said. “I can kind of go about my business and get on with things.’’

Geoff Ogilvy finished in a tie for fourth last year and isn’t ready to hand the title to Woods or McIlroy.

“Most guys that are coming here, the ones who are competitive, are coming here to try to win the golf tournament,” Ogilvy said. “They don’t see the tournament as Rory versus Tiger.

“But I think most people would say that if we want to win this tournament we have to beat Rory and Tiger. I don’t think they’re the whole show, but you have to beat them to win. You assume they are going to be in the picture with nine holes to play [Sunday].’’

Exhibit A in support of the argument against the two-horse-race theory is defending champion Charl Schwartzel, the nondescript South African who came from nowhere to steal the Masters last year when he birdied the last four holes in the final round.

There were as many words written about Schwartzel in the days leading up to last year’s Masters and through the first three rounds as there are women members at Augusta National.

The fact is, for all the big names who have been favored to win the Masters during the last five years, there have been more surprise winners than favorites — unless you claim you expected Zach Johnson (2007), Trevor Immelman (2008), Angel Cabrera (2009) or Schwartzel to win Green Jackets.

“The people who say there are only a half-dozen or a dozen guys who can win are you guys,’’ Johnson said, referring to the media. “My year is a perfect example. I was not one of the dozen guys that anyone thought would win.’’

Said Scott: “Someone can come up and surprise, and hopefully that’s me.’’

mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com

Tiger Woods, Tiger, Woods, Rory McIlroy, Green Jacket, Green Jacket, Luke Donald, the Masters

Nypost.com

Today's primaries: Would a Romney sweep soften up Santorum?

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Sample ballots from digital voting machines are taped to a window in Potomac, Md. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images / April 3, 2012)

It’s election day and that feeling in the air is springtime, not anything approaching the excitement and anticipation that marked earlier days in the primary season. (At least among political junkies and those who get paid to care about such things.)

The outcome in Tuesday’s primaries in Maryland and the District of Columbia seems preordained, with Mitt Romney certain to win both. Rick Santorum, his chief rival, didn’t even make the ballot in Washington, D.C., and virtually ignored its next-door neighbor. In effect, he ceded the front-running Romney 56 delegates — adding to the 572 he already has – before the polls opened.

The result in Wisconsin, the day’s biggest prize, also seems pretty much set, with Romney expected to carry the Badger State and make it a three-for-three Tuesday, claiming most of the state’s 42 delegates and pushing Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, even further to the campaign margins.

As Michael A. Memoli noted in an earlier post, while there are still 19 states left to vote after Tuesday —including mega-states Texas and California — the focus of the presidential contest has increasingly shifted to the general election fight between former Massachusetts Gov. Romney and President Obama.

Still, there are a few things to watch as the returns come in. The polls close in Washington, D.C., and Maryland at 8 p.m. EST (5 p.m. PST) and in Wisconsin at 8 p.m. CST (6 p.m. PST).

There is, of course, the possibility — however slight – of a Santorum upset. And while it wouldn’t rank up there with Truman beating Dewey, it would be a shock nonetheless, once more setting the teeth of the Republican Party establishment to gnashing and its collective hands to wringing. A Wisconsin victory would give Santorum an enormous boost heading into the next contest —a must-win showdown in Pennsylvania on April 24 — and set off another flight of what’s-wrong-with-Romney speculation that would only deepen his difficulties against Obama in the fall.

But the chances of that happening are only slightly better than Obama showing up for work Wednesday wearing a Cheesehead and doing a touchdown dance on the carpet of the Oval Office.

So failing that, here are some other things to look for:

1. Does Romney win Wisconsin by a lot or a little? On several occasions, Romney had the chance to put the race away. He repeatedly fell short in the South, and his close wins in Michigan and Ohio were far from a knockout punch. Romney finally showed some winning mojo two weeks ago in Illinois, which, looking back, may prove the turning point in the acrimonious Republican fight. Another big win in Wisconsin would mean the Republican nomination is signed, sealed and virtually delivered to Romney.

2. Does the former governor make any inroads among the voter groups most resistant to his candidacy? In state after state, Romney has run weakest among evangelicals (many of whom are dubious of his Mormon faith); among voters who says it is important to nominate a true conservative (many of whom question the core of Romney’s convictions); and among less-well-to-do voters (who heard him say he has friends who own NASCAR teams, he owns two Cadillacs, “I like being able to fire people,” etc., etc.) Republicans will most assuredly come around to Romney once he’s the nominee; anybody-but-Obama is their mantra. But to compete in the industrial states of the Midwest and Northeast come November, Romney is going to have to improve his standing with blue-collar independents and other less-affluent voters.

3. How’s turnout? Republicans have stayed away from the polls in droves this election season. In Maryland, officials suggested that turnout on Tuesday could fall to near-record lows. After the 2010 GOP landslide, there was much talk of an enthusiasm gap, the notion being that dispirited Democrats would stay home while Republicans sprinted – not even taking the time to walk – to their nearest polling place, so desperate would they be to rid the country of President Obama. Republicans still loathe the incumbent. But they’re not especially thrilled with any of the potential GOP replacements, repeated surveys have found. Turnout in the primaries doesn’t necessary correlate to turnout in the general election. But there is a reason why Democrats feel good about the get-out-the-vote operations they have been quietly building across the country while Republicans fret about their late start.

4. What does Santorum have to say? He’ll be speaking Tuesday night outside of Pittsburgh, just south of his hometown, effectively opening his campaign for the Pennsylvania primary three weeks from now. While it’s just about mathematically impossible for Santorum to win the nomination outright, his goal is to deny Romney the 1,144 delegates he needs to clinch, sending Republicans to an open convention in August in Tampa, Fla. The thought leaves many in the GOP gasping for air —there are Kabuki productions with more spontaneity than the party’s national nominating pageants — but Santorum insists a floor fight for the nomination would be a healthy thing for the party.

First, though, he needs to win Pennsylvania to maintain even the smallest shred of viability, something Santorum himself acknowledges. The question is how he sets about doing so and whether he continues the scorched-earth campaign he has been waging against Romney—“the worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama!"—or begins modulating his tone and bowing to what many, if not Santorum, see as the inevitable. His speech Tuesday night to a national audience—presumably after suffering a string of losses – will signal the direction Santorum chooses to take.

mark.barabak@latimes.com

Original source: Today’s primaries: Would a Romney sweep soften up Santorum?

Mitt Romney, Romney, Romney, Rick Santorum, Santorum, Santorum, Wisconsin, Maryland, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, President Obama, Washington, D.C., Potomac, Md.

Latimes.com