Robert Weintraub

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

724. SETON HALL PIRATES VS CINCINNATI BEARCATSJANUARY 9, 1958MADISON SQUARE GARDENQUALITY OF PLAY—8.29DRAMA—5.51STAR POWER—9.42CONTEMPORARY IMPORT—6.37HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE—8.86LOCAL IMPACT—6.06TOTAL: 44.51“BECOMING THE BIG O”During the Golden Age of college basketball in NYC, many stars were invited to play at Madison Square Garden in showcase games that were highly anticipated by local hoop fans and media, who seldom got to see these greats in person.

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

726. NEW JERSEY NETS VS ST. LOUIS SPIRITSABA EASTERN DIVISION SEMIFINALSGAME FIVEAPRIL 15, 1975NASSAU COLISEUMQUALITY OF PLAY—7.23DRAMA—8.67STAR POWER—7.19CONTEMPORARY IMPORT—7.15HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE—7.17LOCAL IMPACT—6.88TOTAL: 44.49“BAD NEWS FOR THE DOCTOR”In all the annals of team sports, there has perhaps never been a squad quite like the St. Louis Spirits of the old American Basketball Association.

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

728. NEW YORK RANGERS VS PHILADELPHIA FLYERSEASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALSGAME SEVENAPRIL 30, 2014MADISON SQUARE GARDENQUALITY OF PLAY—8.66DRAMA—8.52STAR POWER—6.11CONTEMPORARY IMPORT—6.75HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE—6.57LOCAL IMPACT—7.86TOTAL: 44.47“THE SURE THING”New York Rangers—clutch franchise? It’s hard to use that descriptor for a club that has won just a solitary Stanley Cup in 85 seasons. But in a particular slice of big moment import, they were unbeatable.

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

730. NEW YORK RANGERS VS PITTSBURGH PENGUINSAPRIL 9, 1993MADISON SQUARE GARDENQUALITY OF PLAY—7.16DRAMA—5.43STAR POWER—9.46CONTEMPORARY IMPORT—7.65HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE—8.47LOCAL IMPACT—6.28TOTAL: 44.45“SUPER STREAK”On New Year’s Eve, 1988, the great Mario Lemieux became the only player to ever score five goals in five ways—even strength, power play, shorthanded, penalty shot, empty net—in a single game, against the Devils in Pittsburgh.

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

732. DUKE BLUE DEVILS VS RHODE ISLAND RAMSNCAA TOURNAMENTEAST REGIONAL SEMIFINALMARCH 24, 1988BRENDAN BYRNE ARENAQUALITY OF PLAY—7.27DRAMA—7.44STAR POWER—7.46CONTEMPORARY IMPORT—8.25HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE—7.19LOCAL IMPACT—6.82TOTAL: 44.43“RHODY GETS RAMMED”The University of Rhode Island Rams hoops team in 1988 was coached by “Turnaround Tom” Penders, who was just beginning to build his reputation as a quick builder of programs.