IT WAS WELL WORTH THE WAIT

BY MARK HALPERN

     If you’re a sports fan there is one thing you want to witness, that team win a championship, there’s nothing like it. The last time the New York Knicks won the final was 1973, I didn’t get to witness that, as I wasn’t born yet. As a child, you’re born into rooting for specific teams, my father made me a Knicks fan. He worshiped the Knicks and  my mother worships the Mets, so that’s where two of my teams fall in. Throughout the years I have had the privilege of seeing one horrible playoff moment and one amazing playoff moment. I saw Reggie Miller do the unthinkable  and I was there when LJ hit the famous 4 point play. In 1999 the Knicks were in the finals and I decided to go to Vegas to be there betting (honestly, I lost my ass and then some) and watched them go down 4-1 to the Spurs. 

This begun the 27-year journey, between 1999 and 2026 I got to see many different forms of the Knicks line up. The Knicks over this Final’s drought had players of elite caliber such as Amar’e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Stephon Marbury and Julius Randle. During this time the Knicks made the playoffs but didn’t have the horses to go the distance. Former Knicks player and current assistant coach Rick Brunson convinced the Knicks to sign his son Jalen (who was drafted by Mavericks) so this team would have a floor general. Jalen Brunson’s performance outshined all the talking heads. Even when paired with Julius Randle they were better but, just not good enough. Brunson was coming up for a new contract in which he had earned the max contract but, instead left 113 million dollars on the table for the Knicks to make trades for Josh Hart and O.G. Anunoby and then have the flexibility to trade for Mikal Bridges. In an era where we talk about how much money players make, Jalen Brunson spreading the wealth to win a title says a lot about him and that’s why New York loves him. There was still the problem of a true big man. Julius Randle was good, but was too inconsistent. At the end of the 2024 season the Knicks made an aggressive three team trade that brought the final piece. Karl Anthony Towns (known as KAT) was brought in, in a 3-team trade with the Timberwolves and the Hornets. I loved and hated this trade. KAT is one of more versatile big men in the league with the ability to grab rebounds and play in low and can stretch the floor from the outside. The reason that I hated the trade was because  is it took one the best sixth men in the league in Donte DiVincenzo. Good News is that every Knick from fan to player wants him back so you never know there. Over the past three seasons the Knicks climbed the ladder from playoff birth to winning the finals.

     The 2026 season had its moments of concern especially during that horrible 8 game losing streak. Dan Ryans and myself had a podcast this season called “The 6th man up.” ( CHECK IT OUT ON THE SIN YOUTUBE PAGE) We did 27 shows and let’s face it our new podcast didn’t make them win but, I am sure someone saw it and it got them in gear. The trade deadline brought in Jose Alvarado who plays bigger than he is. Alvarado has re-signed and will be with the Knicks for three more years.. 

    I had become accustomed to making the playoffs, but I wanted to envision holding that trophy just like every other Knick fan and player. When the Knicks got their act together after falling behind 2-1 to the Hawks, New York witnessed greatness. The Knicks won 13 consecutive games and the vibes were as high as ever. The Spurs won a classic Western Conference Finals over the Thunder, creating a 1999 rematch. I was nervous. Either Western team they were going to face was gonna be an up-hill battle more of a mountain if it was the Thunder. The Knicks came out and stole both game one and had a huge comeback and stole game two brining it back to the most loyal venue Madison Square Garden. The Knicks Lost game three (I didn’t expect them to sweep them) with the Knicks Being up by two it’s okay to lose one. Game 4 will always (In my opinion) be known as the tip. Besides the greatest comeback in Finals history, with under a few seconds left Brunson shot a desperate three that just came up short but since Wemby was outside to contest his shot they had no real big man under the net and as the ball hit the front of the rim O.G. Anunoby comes flying in and jumps up with about four other players and tips the ball in and knicks win game 4.

    Game 5 we all know what happened. It was an up and down Battle but the Knicks seemed to own control throughout the game. I had my daughter record the last ten minutes before the Knicks win so I could have my reaction recorded. The last 20 seconds of the game I was running on pure adrenaline. Once the final desperation 3 went up and hit the back board and the time ran out, I went absolutely nuts and you can view the video on our X page @SINREAL (I dedicate my final moments to the great Richard Dreyfuss as his movie Let It Ride is one of my favorites) also it is a bit explicit at the end so ear phones if little ears are around. This moment is so special to me, for the Knicks to win their first title in 53 years, to have redemption from 1999, but most of all to share this moment with my kids, that’s what makes this title special.

RIFKIN REACTS : CARLOS MENDOZA FIRED

BY MIKE RIFKIN

On Friday Morning the New York Mets announced that Manager Carlos Mendoza had been relieved of his duties. Mendoza was in his third season as Mets manager and compiled a record of 206-199. The Mets got within two games of the World Series in his first season, but it’s been downhill ever since. The Mets missed the playoffs last season after the Marlins swept them on the final weekend of the season, and this year the Mets are 34-47 and have the third worst record in the National League. 

Yes, something had to give, the Mets are the biggest disappointment in Baseball and fans have reached another boiling point. The Mets are coming off a four game sweep at the hands of the Chicago Cubs, and were just dreadful, including a game where they had six errors. But was all of this Carlos Mendoza’s fault? The answer is no, Mendoza is just the fall guy or the scapegoat. The real people to blame are David Stearns and the players. Stearns gave Mendoza a very flawed roster and players he counted on to help this team just haven’t come through. 

In 2024 the Mets went on this magical run that was reminiscent of 2015, but since everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. Part of that is injuries, but another part has been regression on the part of the players. 

We can sit and talk about who the manager of the 2027 Mets (if there’s a season) should be. I don’t want to sit here and act like this season is a lost cause, there’s still half a season to be played. And while the playoffs seem unlikely most players are under evaluation and so is David Stearns.

FAILED

BY MIKE RIFKIN

Tuesday was another night at the office for the New York Mets, who lost 9-6 to the Chicago Cubs. For the Mets this is their third consecutive defeat after dropping the final two games in Philly over the weekend. In those three games the Mets have been outscored 30-11 and now sit 10 games under .500. 

Prior to the game Mets President David Stearns spoke to the media, as he does prior to every homestand. The most telling thing Stearns said was on the trade deadline and he said “I think we’re going to continue to give this team time to prove we can get back in this.” With Francisco Lindor on the way back, Stearns wants to give the team he put together a chance to fight back in the Wild Card race (they’re not catching the Braves). I know a lot of people have discussed the thought of letting Stearns go with what has transpired. How many of David Stearns moves since he took over have worked? The answer might just be Juan Soto and let’s be honest here, that was more about Steve Cohen’s checkbook. 

Two years ago the Mets were two wins away from going to the World Series, and now they have the third worst record in the National League and yet are only seven out in the Wild Card. Now, if you’re a fool like myself you say there’s a lot of baseball left, only to have these guys break your heart. 

I’m an optimist at heart and wanted to believe in this team. But David Stearns failed in one particular area, I’m not sure he realizes: there’s no connection with the fans. Look at what the Knick parade looked like, and you saw what they did over the course of the playoffs. Now, you look at the Mets and it’s just such a difference between watching a team and watching a collection of individuals. I’m not going to yell about Ewing, Benge, McLean and the young guys. Stearns gambled and thought a contact lineup was the way to go and that’s why he let Pete Alonso walk away, and he wanted to go Moneyball and play Polanco, Vientos and Bichette to basically combine to have Alonso’s numbers. Well, outside of this recent hot stretch for Bichette, that’s been a failure. Vientos is an absolute change of scenery candidate and Polanco has been as productive as me in the Met lineup. 

David Stearns better hope that Lindor can get hot like he did in 2024, or if the Mets continue to freefall what happens? Or has Stearns been given a heads up that he’s safe? Either way if the Mets are at home in October and right now there’s a good chance of that and Alonso is raking for the Orioles, David Stearns gamble will have failed. And even if he’s back next season, his clock is ticking.

A NEW PHENOMENON 

BY MIKE RIFKIN

Sunday was Father’s Day and for Keith Tkachuk he got the ultimate present. On Sunday it was announced that the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators agreed to a trade that would send Senators Captain Brady Tkachuk to the Panthers for draft capital including numbers nine and twenty five in the first round of the NHL Draft on Friday Night. Brady being sent to Florida will give him the opportunity to play with his brother Matthew, who has already won two Stanley Cups in Florida. 

Brady Tkachuk had a No Trade Clause in his contract with the Senators, and apparently when the two sides discussed the deal, Brady would only go to four teams : The Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and the Carolina Hurricanes. Now the Hurricanes just won the Cup and that makes sense, but Florida, Minnesota and Vegas what do they all have in common outside of they want to win? Oh, they’re also the three teams that Red Wings Captain Dylan Larkin told the organization he would go to when he requested a trade. Now both Larkin and Tkachuk were both members of Team USA, who took Gold in the Olympics and with their open trade requests would be joining other players from that team. If they were to join Florida Brady’s brother Matthew played for Team USA as did defenseman Seth Jones, if they were to join Minnesota defensemen Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber along with forward Matt Boldy, and if they were to join the Golden Knights they’d team up with forward Jack Eichel and defenseman Noah Hanifin. So, why only give three teams that you’d actually play for?

Could it have to do with Team USA?, Sure. Could it have to do with the fact that the Wild, Golden Knights and Panthers are all in to win? Definitely, but there’s something else here. And it’s something the NHL and its fans will either love or hate. It’s the fact that these No trade clauses are being given out like candy on Halloween. Even if it’s not a full no movement clause, there are a lot of players who have partials. Now, if the NHL wants to embrace a superteam era like the NBA has done in the past, that’s fine everyone loves a good villain. The NHL has already ratified a new CBA that’ll start in September and run through 2030. You have to wonder that in the next CBA they discuss the possibility of limiting the number of trade clauses per team. 

Is it cool that the Tkachuk’s want to play together? Sure. But limiting the amount of teams you’re willing to go to and handcuffing the current organization is mean. Now, I get it every competitor wants to win, but in the eyes of Sens fans now Brady Tkachuk is viewed as a villain and across the league in fans eyes he’s viewed differently. These are guys in the prime of their careers and limiting where you want to go hurts the team they currently play for, because if you limit yourself to one or two teams, the return won’t be as good because nobody wants to bid against themselves.

REINFORCEMENTS ARE ON THE WAY

BY MARK HALPERN 

No matter how you sliced it, the 2026 Mets were going to be different than the teams of yeas past. The front office did what they thought was a good job in putting together a team that could contend but, not necessarily based on power. The first half lets face it injuries have been a huge part of the Mets’ struggles. Mind you the Mets currently sit 6 games out of a Wild Card spot but, some major help is on the way.

    Mets fans were graced with the news two days ago that Fransisco Lindor, Ronny Mauricio and Tyrone Taylor have all begun rehab assignments. Lindor and Taylor played for Triple A Syracuse on Sunday and could be activated soon, Mauricio will have to gradually take his time. The New York Mets desperately needs their starting Shortstop and Leadoff hitter back. Lindor is the glue that binds this team together. He deserves a certain title but that’s for a different story. The team thrives on the energy he brings and the emotional balance in the locker room. 

   The biggest question is who stays and who goes. Mets will need to make a roster spot with Lindor coming off the IL. So, who becomes the odd man out? Right now in my opinion it’s got to be A.J Ewing. Even though he has been explosive and really showing what the Mets have ready, he needs to be playing every day and with Taylor and Mauricio not far behind Lindor we will see so other victims fall.

    With Lindor back the top of the Mets line will be more dangerous and certain players might start getting better pitches to help give this team Pitchers a fighting chance.

THREE REASONS : HOW THE HURRICANES WON THE CUP

BY MIKE RIFKIN

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in six games to capture the franchise’s second Stanley Cup (the first in 2006). Here are the three main reasons they won the Cup in my opinion.

  1. Rod Brind’Amour : The coach is a big reason why the Canes won the Cup. People can talk about the Eastern Conference being weaker this season, but the pressure was on the Canes and they dominated through the East. They swept both the Senators and Flyers and beat the Canadiens in five games. So there was no real adjustments to be made until the Stanley Cup Final., and in the Final Brind’amour made adjustments that really helped his team. We can talk about the switch in goal to Brandon Bussi, who was sensational when put in (3-1, 1.60 GAA, .931 save %). Bussi gave up six goals on 87 shots. But another move that Brind’Amour made was swapping Seth Jarvis for Jordan Martinook. Jarvis, had been on a line with Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov, while Martinook had been with Jordan Staal. Placing Martinook with Aho and Svechnikov gave them an aggressive forechecker, who helped them get some better opportunities, while Jarvis got some great looks on Staal’s line. Brind’Amour made adjustments, when his counterpart John Tortorella didn’t and that played a major factor. 
  1. JORDAN STAAL – Yeah, the Conn Smythe winner deserves a lot of credit for how he played in the Final. Staal was matched up against Jack Eichel for the majority of the series and it was a factor. Staal won almost 70% of the faceoffs, and he held Eichel to four assists and was a -3 in the series. Staal on the other hand was a scoring machine, he scored six goals, and only didn’t score in the clincher. Staal was also a major key on the Penalty Kill, which held Vegas to two power play goals in the series. 
  1. DEPTH SCORING – Eventually guys like Svechnikov and Aho got their’s, but the depth of the Canes was massive in this series. The Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall, Jackson Blake line continued their playoff dominance throughout the series. Nik Ehlers had a big series with four goals and nine points, Mark Jankowski even gave them a goal. When you have the depth and the fearlessness of playing anyone against any Vegas line it’s a massive advantage, and combine that with Carolina’s defense to move the puck and the Canes really did a number on Vegas. 

Carolina had all the pressure on them, to win the East because of how the season went. They got over the Eastern Conference Final hump and were able to achieve the ultimate goal. Repeating is difficult, but this Carolina team is deep and most of their key players are all signed long term.

THE TIME IS NOW

BY MIKE RIFKIN

On Friday Night Smackdown Cody Rhodes defended the WWE Championship against Gunther with Sami Zayn as the guest referee. Eventually Gunther got frustrated and powerbombed Zayn, and then after that things went as you’d expect. Which has led to a triple threat match between Rhodes, Gunther and Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Night Of Champions. 

In my opinion there’s only one person that should win the match… Sami Zayn. Zayn, is the only person in the match to never be the World Champion, and while he’s had opportunities in the past, WWE has refused to pull the trigger on him winning the big one. If they have Zayn lose at Night Of Champions, I don’t see how people can view him as a threat for the title, unless he wins Money In The Bank or something. 

Zayn has won every other major title in WWE, this is the one he is missing. If Sami, were to win they could continue either story with Zayn vs Cody or Zayn vs Gunther and it would be compelling. Both Gunther and Rhodes will win the title again. The other reason for putting the title on Zayn would be who would take the title off of Rhodes? If they wanted it to be Gunther, they should have done that at Clash in Italy. If they were to go with whoever wins King Of The Ring between Oba Femi and Jey Uso (hopefully it’s Femi) Femi vs Roman Reigns sounds like a better match than Femi vs Rhodes. And if they were to have Uso win the KOTR, there’d be an interesting dynamic because of their history, but I didn’t love the first Jey title run. 

Sami Zayn needs to win the title, he’s earned it. I don’t even think it has to be a long run, but just based on Sami’s history and what he’s done in the wrestling industry, he deserves to be the WWE Champion.

WORLD CUP MENU AROUND THE WORLD

By MARK HALPERN

    When going to a sporting event you are not only going for the enjoyment to watch your team play. You are there celebrating with other fans outside and inside the venue. The moment you step into the venue the waft of many different aromas hit the nostrils. The smell of different foods from sweet to savory make the taste buds dance. When we have an event like the World Cup you’re going to be able to really sample many delicacies from other countries (sometimes more wild than you would think.) This is a sample of a few countries main attraction dish at the World cup games.

MEXICO CITY: Lets face it, in Mexico you could picture a lot of items being thrusted to the fore forefront from Tacos to Enchiladas. However, the main attraction is a Saffron-Infused Tostada. Saffron is a very expensive spice and usually harvested in Afghanistan brings a crunchy corn tostada topped with a golden Saffron infused sauce. 

Los Angeles: In California along the beach lines the different kinds of fish restaurants fill the air and it doesn’t surprise me that the main attraction in LA is a Pacific Salmon Ceviche. In a hollowed out lime you have a prime piece of Pacific Salmon with jalapeno and splash of craft beer. A quick and tasty appetizer.

Toronto: Toronto has cooked up a nice spicy bowl you can take to your seat. A Bison Briyani which is Bison in a rich broth with rice and usually south American flavors.

Miami: Leave it to a hot city like Miami to put out a really cool refreshment. It’s not a drink but, a Mango and Chili Ice Cream that has given a real latin flair in a cool sweet dish.

Seattle: Now this isn’t Baseball so there are no crickets here but, Seattle has brought a Korean staple to an American Classic. A Kimchi glazed Corn Dog. Usually found more at fairs and carnivals the Corn Dog is dipped is this yummy glaze and with just a hint of Gochujang.

    Food has a way of bringing more people together than tearing them apart and what a job each Country and venue has done.

WHAT A CULTURE

BY MARK HALPERN

        I have attended so many different sporting events in my life. No matter the event you attend there’s always a constant (outside of having fun). Every venue that I have gone to nobody ever heard of a garbage can. I won’t say I never left something but if I did, I am sorry. I had the pleasure of running a small minor league stadium that could hold just about 5,000 people back in 2019. The amount of trash a night that we cleaned up was mounds upon mounds. That’s nothing compared to newer stadiums, that seat almost 40 or 50,000 people.

     The World Cup is being held right now and one country has come prepared to show what it means for them to attend. A recent Match at AT&T stadium showed the Japanese cleaned after their team’s game. The Japanese are very prideful people and love to attend sporting events, (watch a Shohei Ohtani start.) The fans stayed and cleaned up all the garbage not from what they might have had but, went around and cleaned up after everyone else as well. The Japanese are brought up to respect the cleanliness of their country and want to show that respect to every country that host them for these events. 

   To me the WORLD should look at what has been transpired and this isn’t the first time. Since the World Baseball Classic every game that Japan played the fans cleaned. I humbly respect and raise my hat to such great respect.  TO THE JAPANESE DOMO ORIGATO

IT HAS HAPPENED

BY MIKE RIFKIN

For the first time in 53 years the New York Knicks won the NBA Championship. For the first time since 2012 there will be a parade down the Canyon of Heroes, and for the first time in my life (soon to be 33 years) I’ve witnessed one of my teams win a title. 

One of the things sports can do is be a distraction from things that go on in the real world. And for the last two months, for roughly about three hours watching the Knicks was a distraction from what is going on in the world. Now, I am not the biggest Basketball fan in the world, but this team was so damn fun and likeable. 

If you were to ask me when I was a kid who would be the first team I get to witness win a title that I genuinely rooted for the Knicks wouldn’t have been the choice. I’m not old enough to really remember the Patrick Ewing era, but what I do remember was the Knicks bringing in big names and most of the time it flopped. For most of my childhood the Knicks were a laughingstock. 

July 12th, 2022, is a day that changed the entire fortune of a franchise. Jalen Brunson signed with the team. And while talking heads and pundits could question the contract, all Brunson did was endear himself to New York. He left money on the table for the Knicks to make moves to surround him with great players. He got a few of his college teammates, and then they add OG Anunoby and Karl Anthony Towns. But what they did was not just win a Championship for a city that pined for one, they brought back something that I had never seen in my life, they brought a swagger to Madison Square Garden. 

When we look at MSG they always show the celebrities at the games. Whether it’s Ben Stiller, Spike Lee, Timothee Chalamet, etc… they’re always shown but at the end of the day they’re all New Yorkers and Knicks fans. Yes, it’s been 53 years since the Knicks won it all, but this championship unites the state of New York and when you see people celebrate in the streets, because in a world filled with chaos, the Knicks have given us joy. And whether you’re a celebrity or another fan we’re all New Yorkers and we’re all Knick fans at the end, and in a time where we talk about the “superteams” a real team won a title, and that’s pretty damn neat.