Robert Weintraub

1 week ago | weintraubr.substack.com | Robert Weintraub

736. NEW YORK ISLANDERS VS EDMONTON OILERSSTANLEY CUP QUARTERFINALSGAME TWOAPRIL 17, 1981NASSAU COLISEUMQUALITY OF PLAY—7.63DRAMA—7.06STAR POWER—7.65CONTEMPORARY IMPORT—6.25HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE—7.77LOCAL IMPACT—7.93TOTAL: 44.39“POTVIN POWER”The 1981 New York Islanders were a fearsome machine, defending Stanley Cup winners and possessors of the league’s best record. They were heavy favorites to repeat as champs.

2 weeks ago | weintraubr.substack.com | Robert Weintraub

738. NEW YORK KNICKS VS MIAMI HEATEASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALSGAME THREEMAY 12, 2000MADISON SQUARE GARDENQUALITY OF PLAY—5.44DRAMA—8.32STAR POWER—6.73CONTEMPORARY IMPORT—7.95HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE—7.47LOCAL IMPACT—8.46TOTAL: 44.37“THE BOUNCE”One of the signatures of Pat Riley’s teams has been his ability to continually find and maximize players who have slipped through the cracks. Some were playing in Europe, others the American minor leagues like the CBA.

3 weeks ago | weintraubr.substack.com | Robert Weintraub

740. NEW YORK ISLANDERS VS WASHINGTON CAPITALSPATRICK DIVISION SEMIFINALSGAME THREEAPRIL 13, 1985NASSAU COLISEUMQUALITY OF PLAY—7.54DRAMA—7.63STAR POWER—7.79CONTEMPORARY IMPORT—7.45HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE—6.66LOCAL IMPACT—7.28TOTAL: 44.35“THE EMPIRE STRIKES AGAIN”There was a time when the team with the reputation for being hardest to kill off in a series was the New York Islanders.

4 weeks ago | weintraubr.substack.com | Robert Weintraub

742. MEXICO VS BULGARIAWORLD CUPROUND OF 16JULY 5, 1994GIANTS STADIUMQUALITY OF PLAY—7.15DRAMA—8.19STAR POWER—7.52CONTEMPORARY IMPORT—7.55HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE—6.75LOCAL IMPACT—7.17TOTAL: 44.33“YOU BALKAN TO ME?”On July the Fourth, 1994, USA Soccer fans thought their nation earned itself a slice of respect by playing Brazil tough in the World Cup held in the States.

1 month ago | weintraubr.substack.com | Robert Weintraub

744. NEW YORK ISLANDERS VS PITTSBURGH PENGUINSEASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALSGAME ONEAPRIL 10, 2019NASSAU COLISEUMQUALITY OF PLAY—8.06DRAMA—7.78STAR POWER—6.54CONTEMPORARY IMPORT—7.65HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE—7.00LOCAL IMPACT—7.28TOTAL: 44.31“BARRY-ING THE PAST”Usually when a coach walks away from his team after winning a championship he or she is retiring from the bench.