The Final Score

Loyal Final Score reader Nick -- well, he may not be loyal, but he sure reads us a lot -- wants to know why I call the Islanders that.

Here's why, Nick:

Facts are facts, and you are free to believe that a team that in the last few years

-- Signed its goalie to a 15-year contract
-- Hired a Cup-winning GM and then let him leave because he couldn't work in their ridiculous management structure
-- Hired their backup goalie as the new GM
-- Plays in the worst facility in sports
-- Has the lowest attendance in the NHL by far despite what even you have to admit is a rather obvious fudge factor
-- Has an owner who admits knowing nothing about hockey and then meddles in all important decisions
-- Is trying to peddle a 'youth movement' even though they don't have the prospects to carry it out
-- And I won't even get into the previous regimes and what they did before Wang bought the team

. . . is not a laughingstock. And you are free to express that view. If this were 1984, I'd be singing the Islanders' praises here. It isn't. They are what they are.

As I've explained here before, there's nothing I would like more than the Islanders to become a model franchise that consistently contends for the Cup and plays in a state-of-the-art arena. It's good for Long Island, good for Newsday.

But I'm not going to ignore the truth when it's right out there. Neither is Jim and neither is Chicago Norm. And all of us felt that way and expressed as much long before Newsday was even a glint in Charles Dolan's eye.

Remember when the Yankees were a laughingstock in the 80s? The Mets in the 70s? The Knicks up until the day they fired Isiah? The Rangers in the early period of the Sather era? The Giants under Ray Handley? The Jets, well, for a lot of their history?

It just happens to be happening to the Islanders now. You wishing it away does not make it so. If the team gets to a level of excellence that honors great fans like you, I'll be the first one to write about it.

I hope for your sake they get there.

What a July for The Final Score!

Here are some highlights:

--We smashed our page-view record by a large margin. I am not permitted to mention specific numbers; let's just say it went from thisamount to THISAMOUNT. Thanks to all of our loyal readers and commenters.

-- Newsday was sold by the bloodsuckers at Tribune Co. to the nice, smart people at Cablevision for $650,000,000. I am told the price would have been $649,999,999 if The Final Score had not been included.

-- Since some of you think the sale has taken away our objectivity, here's a finger in your eye: The Knicks are still not a good team, the Rangers still don't get enough bang for their bucks, and the Liberty are irrelevant in the greater sports scene. The WaMu theater is nice, though.

-- None of those realities mean the Islanders are not a laughingstock of a franchise. They are. And we're going to keep saying it as long as it continues to be true or they move to Oklahoma City, where Chicago Norm will also move to become the new franchise's Zamboni driver.

-- Anthony participated in the world's worst Live Chat. Three questions. It was very, very funny.

-- Jim played paint ball with Islanders rookies. There was a column and video.

-- Chicago Norm posted about 98% of the items. Most were about celebrities and things that happen in Chicago. Because of this, CN has been promoted to full-time. Just as soon as we can, CN will get a picture and a bio on the top left of this page.

Hey, it's your fault! CN joined and the page views went through the roof.

-- A new feature, NASCAR talk, was initiated. So far, it's pretty much been one of us posting an item that says, "Hey, there's a race this weekend...who do you like?"

But we promise to put up more interesting NASCAR items in August. Remember, NASCAR fans, The Final Score is your place to chat.

And Jim is doing something with NASCAR this weekend that is going to kick off what I have just decided is going to be "NASCAR Month" on The Final Score!!!!!

-- Oh, and we had to permanently ban one commenter for the first time in The Final Score history. This person is free, however, to visit and comment on Newsday's other blogs.

Also in August:

-- We promise more debates, more A-Rod and Madonna news, more photos of deep-dish pizza, more honest Islanders commentary, more encroaching on Neil Best's territory, more wacky minor-league promotions, more links to WNBA brawls.

More more more. How do you like it?

Thanks for the great July.

Probably not.

But it's a question worth asking because ... in spring training new Dodgers manager Joe Torre asked pitcher Joe Beimel to cut his shoulder-length hair.

However, Torre apparently didn't demand that Beimel cut his hair.

He asked him nicely.

Why did he ask, not demand?

"I don't want to change anybody's personality," Torre told the Los Angeles Times during spring training. "To me, individuals are very important. Sure, we want to think as a team, but individuals are what it's all about."

Manny clearly has his own personality.

When Ken Griffey Jr. dons his White Sox jersey for the first time, it won't have No. 3 on back.

As Jim pointed out the other day, that number belongs to Harold Baines, and it's been retired in his honor since the late 1980s.

Griffey could go back to No. 30, the number he wore with the Reds before changing it to 3 in honor of his three kids. but Nick Swisher has that. Griffey's number in Seattle was 24, but that belongs to Joe Crede.

My guess is they'll give him that big, fat, juicy No. 1 that belonged to deposed secondbaseman Danny Richar, who went to Cincy along with pitcher Nick Masset in the deal that brought Junior to Chicago.

None of this is really important, but, hey, it's all I've got.

There should be a rule in pro sports.

If you've made more than $100 million, you are not allowed to ever, ever, ever complain about your contractual situation.

Here's hoping Manny's ploy backfires...

I know, her next race isn't until Aug. 9 at Kentucky Speedway.

But I just went to her website, anyway, and it's a high-tech blast.

You can never accuse Danica of false modesty. Her theme song is SuperGirl, sung by Saving Jane.

Did I mention that her site, with the song playing constantly, is a blast?

(That's according to Foxsports.com)

Chicago Norm presumably is excited about this news.

Alex Rodriguez was expected to file papers today in Florida in response to Cynthia Rodriguez's divorce suit, according to a report on In Case You Didn't Know's website.

Quoting from ICYDK.com:

"In the documents – expected to be filed Thursday morning – A-Rod admits the marriage is “irretrievably broken.” But he points out that Florida is a “no fault state” and chastises his estranged wife, Cynthia Rodriguez, for mentioning “immaterial and impertinent” issues like his alleged “extra marital affairs and other marital misconduct.” "

I don't have anything original to say about this, but here's the entire ICYDK post, if you're interested.

The above AP photo is from last New Year's Eve, when Alex and Cynthia were not getting a divorce.

My first class ever at St. John's University was speech, a core class for all freshman, I believe. It was in a corner classroom on the fourth floor of Marillac Hall, with about 10 to 15 others. I still remember it well.

One of them was this guy.

His name is Keeth Smart. He's from Brooklyn, and he's a really, really good fencer. He's going to the Olympics to represent United States, just like in 2000 and 2004.

I know: this story stinks compared to Chicago Norm having Fritz Peterson as a bowling professor in college.

The Reds have dealt future Hall of Famer to the White Sox, pending Junior's approval.

I won't bore you with a lot of White Sox talk, but . . .

Although I'm sure than Junior will be a welcome presence in Chicago, this trade only makes for the Chisox if GM is on the verge of unloading Paul Konerko or Ozzie Guillen got drunk (see post below) and has decided to bench him or have him share playing time with Nick Swisher, hitting .230.

Swisher, a natural first baseman, currently plays center for the Pale Hose. And Konerko is hitting .214 after going 1-for-4 Wednesday night in Minnesota.

As for Griffey's approval, Chicago has been in first place for most of the campaign and aging veterans rarely turn down one last chance to frolic in the postseason.

Hit "continue" to read Mark Gonzales' report from chicagosports.com, or to post a comment.

Another month in the books toward my goal of running my first marathon. It was a good training month ... up until when I woke up yesterday. Somehow I pulled a muscle in my upper back, right below my neck, and it hurts when I turn my head. Not good.

My hunch is that it is related to my nine-mile run on Monday; I ran around noon and the heat got to me. By the end I was really beat, and looking back I bet my upper body was really tense. So that's that. I'll just have to wait until the pain goes away before I run again.

June: 55 miles.
July: 79 miles.

93 days to go.

If you're ready to talk about the Pocono 500 click here.

Here's a pretty funny video in which Steve Nash and Baron Davis mock the trailer from the Will Ferrell Step Brothers movie.

In a move that I may never fully understand, the Tigers sent Ivan Rodriguez to the Yankees for Kyle Farnsworth.

So, I-Rod joins A-Rod in the House that B-Ruth Built.

And this weekend, the Angels come to town, meaning under the right circumstances I-Rod and A-Rod would face K-Rod.

I'd say more, but the Farnsworth deal has me at a loss for words.

I was in the car for the eighth inning of the Yankees-Orioles game, perfect timing to hear John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman talk about Chad Moeller's unlikely turnaround from getting cut in spring training by the Nationals to backup catcher on the Yankees for the rest of the season.

Whoops!

Pudge Rodriguez? They can't be serious.

So what was all that talk from Brian Cashman about not being optimistic about another trade, and how he had nothing hot... And I guess we don't need to determine whether Gregg Zaun is an upgrade over Moeller. And one last note on I-Rod -- he had 515 plate appearances last season and walked only nine times. How is that even possble?

According to the eBay listing, this game-used road jersey was worn by none other than Mets great Alex Trevino during the 1979 season.

Four bids so far, with the leading bid sitting at $102.51.

Oddly, the last name was removed from the back of the jersey.

Oh, and in case this helps: That was Trevino's rookie year and he hit .271 with 11 doubles and a triple in 207 at-bats for Joe Torre's Mets.

Happy bidding!

Ken Davidoff thinks so. And I admit it's a tad crazy to trade your top two or three prospects for a soon-to-be 35-year-old who is owned $17 mil per year for the next four years. Especially on a team that's trying to get away from giving money to old guys.

All that said, I'm sticking with my thoughts. Here are more reasons:

1. I don't believe in Fernando Martinez, Jon Neise or Eddie Kunz. This is nothing against them; it's more a result of the Mets' uninspiring drafts in recent years (except for the emerging Mike Pelfrey). I wonder where these guys three would rank on the depth chart of a organization with an average farm system, not a barren one like the Mets.

2. Yes, Ichiro is having a down offensive year by his standards. (.298 / .357 / .375). But I'm giving him a pass here because he had an awful April and since then is hitting .312 with a .375 OBP. Plus he's playing on a pathetic team and has stolen 34 bases in 37 tries. He still can be a game-changer on offense.

3. His defense and arm are second to none.

All that said, again, it ain't happening. And there's a reason why no team has asked me to pull an Ernie Accorsi and go from sportswriter to GM. So take it for what it's worth...

I don't know the answer. Gregg Zaun wants out of Toronto, the Jays want to trade him, but GM J.P. Ricciardi says nobody has expressed interest in Zaun. Here's the story.

Zaun has thrown out 10 of 41 would-be base-stealers, a 24.4 percent clip. Moeller has thrown out 7 of 20, which is 35 percent. Zaun was in the Mitchell Report, too.

Probably best to stick with Moeller.

2004

The Mets acquired Victor Zambrano and Bartolome Fortunato from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in exchange for Scott Kazmir and Jose Diaz.

Sorry.

In my just-filed Web column, I suggested the Mets send their top three prospects to Seattle for Ichiro.

I would explain my reasoning, but then you'd have no reason to read my Web column.

I'll post a link when it's up. And I promise I won't bring a bullhorn to Shea and scream "Get Ichiro!"

Along the same lines, WGBB 1240 AM radio host (and Final Score reader) Mike Silva wrote a blog entry that the Mets should take a flier on Carl Everett, who is currently ripping up Frank Boulton's Atlantic League playing for Frank Boulton's Long Island Ducks. You can read his reasoning here.

I'd pass on Everett.

Great Ozzie Guillen quote.

When asked about benching the slumping Paul Konerko he answered:

"I don't know. I got to get drunk first and then I'll make a decision.”

I think he was kidding.

I never knew that fantasy football could be so interesting. So, this is why Stephen Haynes is so devoted.

I'm also pretty sure that this video should get at least a PG rating.

Because I have a mind that for some reason remembers very odd (and oftentimes meaningless) facts, I know Alex Rodriguez has the nickname A-Rod copyrighted.

A few posts down I mentioned that it was Seattle broadcaster Dave Niehaus (who was just honored by the Hall of Fame) who gave Alex the nickname. And Alex liked it so much, he made sure it would only be his.

He said so in a Q&A in 2004 with a reporter from a paper that is not Newsday. Okay, it was Anthony McCarron of the Daily News. But I didn't tell you that, ok?

Anthony asked Alex if Niehaus copyrighted it.

Alex said, "I did. I have all the rights to A-Rod now."

Aaron Rodgers, the Packers quarterback, likes to play this name game in which you take the first letter of your first name and combine it with the first three or four letters of your last name.

That would make teammate Charles Woodson's nickname C-Wood, Donald Driver D-Dri and, I suppose, Brett Favre would be either B-Fav or B-Far, depending on how well you spell.

That's so cute.

Except that Rodgers' nickname crosses a line.

Woodson was quoted as calling Mr. Rodgers A-Rod in an AP story today and Anthony's eyes popped out and I think his head exploded, which is why he didn't post this story himself.

Anyway, the Packers can call each other anything they want up in Cheese World, but some things are sacred. If you want to give yourself a nickname, you shouldn't be stealing someone's thunder. It would be like me calling myself Norman Mailer, or Norm from Cheers.

What's Aaron Rodgers done, anyway, to deserve to be equated with Alex Rodriguez, future Hall of Famer? I'll bet Rodgers has never even met Madonna.

The late Aurelio Rodriguez could have been called A-Rod, and if he had, maybe Alex Rodriguez would have a different nickname today.

But our A-Rod is the only A-Rod, and those football fools better watch out.

Well, actually Mickey and the Fridge.

This weird duo is the attraction Saturday at the Oklahoma Redhawks game against Las Vegas.

The team will be giving away Mickey Mantle bobblehead dolls and William "Refrigerator" Perry will be on hand to sign autographs. Word is that the Fridge is still the size of a refrigerator, only now it's a side-by-side.

The Mantle bobblehead shows him as a Commerce Comet.

Mantle is very big in his native Sooner State.

AT&T Bricktown Ballpark is at Mickey Mantle Plaza, on the corner of Reno Ave. and Mickey Mantle Drive and there's a huge Mantle statue outside the park. Plus, the end seat in each row of the park bears a Mantle plaque.

In case you're wondering, the picture above is the bobblehead that they're giving away. The big bobblehead on the right is Chicago Norm Jr. posing by the Mantle statue last year.

Ichiro Suzuki accomplished a rare milestone Tuesday night, collecting his 3,000th hit -- Mariners and Japanese League combined.

Click here for the Associated Press story out of Arlington, where Ichiro reached the unusual milestone with a leadoff single.

Newsday, and the Final Score, are now property of Cablevision.

The keys changed hands today and Cablevision extended the welcome wagon to its new employees by handing out goody bags. Mine included a new assignment - director of the Knicks City Dancers.

I know I speak for both Jim and Anthony when I say that all three of us are lifelong Liberty fans.

And now, let the Islanders face-painters begin complaining that we (Newsday) are going to be biased in favor of the Rangers, which are also owned by Cablevision.

We won't, but you can rant anyway.

Nineteen years ago, the White Sox traded Harold Baines and Fred Manrique to the Rangers for Scott Fletcher, Sammy Sosa and Wilson Alvarez. Why do I mention that? To give me an excuse to bring up two things:

1. Three weeks after they traded him the White Sox retired Baines' number. I've been laughing about that for 19 years now. The guy was 30 years old, they had just traded him and they retired his number?!?! I love how he returned to the White Sox twice - in '96 and '00.

2. Not counting Pete Rose or any player not yet on the ballot, guess who has the most hits and is not in the Hall of Fame? By my count it's Baines with 2,866.

I did not even notice this until Brooks Simpson pointed it out in a comment.

There are no classes at Madison. Just football, basketball and beer.

This will all make sense if you scroll down past the next post. Or if you're really lazy, just click here.

Although the Chicago Cubs are in Milwaukee tonight, fighting to hang on to first place in the NL Central, more than 30,000 people plan to be at Wrigley Field for a minor league baseball game.

The official word is that Wrigley is hosting a minor league game for what is believed the first time in the ballpark's 94-year history but I can tell you from watching the Cubs play the Phillies in 1961, and for that matter most of the 60s, that plenty of minor league baseball has been played there.

Besides getting the chance to chug Old Style at the world's largest beergarden, the big draw is the Peoria Chiefs, managed by Cubs icon Ryne Sandberg. Yes, those are the same Chiefs that got into that horrible brawl in Dayton.

Being the Cubs' farm team, the downstate Chiefs will be the home team although the opposing Kane County Cougars play in the next county.

The typical minor-league atmosphere will prevail at this game, including dizzy bat races and silly mascots. Pretty much like any other game at Wrigley.

While Adam Abramson and Mike Rose are busy posting college football rankings on Campus Confidential, the wild and crazy guys at The Final Score would rather think about partying.

And thanks to the Princeton Review, we've got the list of the top-20 party schools in the US.

So who's No.1? Why it's those beer-guzzling, sun-soaking, sports-loving Florida Gators.

``The fact that we have three national championships in two years is probably a major contributing factor,'' Guzzling Gators university spokesman Steve Orlando told the Associated Press. ``We know our students like to have a good time.''

No. 2 is Mississippi.

No. 3 goes to Rose's beloved Penn State Nittany Lions.

No New York schools appear on the list. We can understand why Army wouldn't be a party school (it's ranked No. 11 among stone-cold sober schools, listing below), you'd think that Hofstra would have scored some points. After all, there's a McDonald's across the street and a Popeye's Chicken just a few blocks west.

Anyway, in case you're a parent looking for the right place to send your high school seniors. . .

Here are the top 20 party schools:

1. University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.

2. University of Mississippi, University, Miss.

3. Penn State University, University Park, Pa.

4. West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.Va.

5. Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.

6. Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, Va.

7. University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.

8. University of Texas, Austin, Texas.

9. University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, Calif.

10. Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla.

11. University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.H.

12. University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.

13. University of Colorado, Boulder, Co.

14. Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind.

15. Tulane University, New Orleans, La.

16. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Ill.

17. Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz.

18. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn.

19. University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

20. Loyola University-New Orleans, New Orleans, La.

And the top 20 stone-cold sober schools:

1. Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.

2. Wheaton College, Wheaton, Ill.

3. U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn.

4. College of the Ozarks, Point Lockout, Mo.

5. Grove City College, Grove City, Pa.

6. U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.

7. U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.

8. Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass.

9. Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, Calif.

10. Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Mich.

11. U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.

12. Wesleyan College, Macon, Ga.

13. Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, Needham, Mass.

14. City University of New York-Queens College, Flushing, N.Y.

15. Webb Institute, Glen Cove, N.Y.

16. Berea College, Berea, Ky.

17. Agnes Scott College, Decatur, Ga.

18. City University of New York-Baruch College, New York.

19. Simmons College, Boston.

20. Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pa.

In the above AP file photo, Florida and Georgia football fans, including one with a beer bong, stand atop a bus before their annual game billed as "The world's largest outdoor cocktail party."

No game in Detroit Monday, but they did continue bringing down the house.

The stadium huggers -- Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy -- still have until Aug. 1 to preserve a portion of the ballpark, but each day there's less and less to save.