Thursday, January 24, 2008

A RANGER FOREVER.....

Tonight marks a milestone in NY Sports history as the city and the NY RANGERS honors one of its own, BRIAN LEETCH by raising his number up to the rafters of iconic Madison Square Garden.

A member of the NY Rangers for 16 of his 17-year career, LEETCH played in 1, 129 regular season and 82 playoff games for the Blueshirts; During that time, he won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's Rookie of the Year (1988), two Norris Trophies (League's Best Defenseman), a Lester Patrick Award (Outstanding Service to Hockey in the United States), a Conn Smythe Trophy (Stanley Cup Playoff MVP), and of course, the Stanley Cup itself (in 1994). He was also an 11-time NHL All-Star, and a 3-time U.S. Olympian and a member of the 1996 World Cup Hockey team that won the title. Not to mention the numerous team records that he holds. An impressive resume!

During his tenure with the RANGERS, other players got higher recognition and the spotlight from time to time, but BRIAN LEETCH was in my opinion, the rock of the team; the glue that kept the team together for many years. His understated demeanor and blue-collar work ethic endeared him to Ranger fans and the magnitude of his popularity was evident when he was traded away to Toronto towards the end of his career (a move that still pains him to this day).

Tonight, the Garden honors one of its own and I am proud to say that I will be among the many that will be there for the special occasion. It should be a memorable night for a guy who brought the fans of NY hockey nothing but great memories. If you aren't lucky enough to score a ticket for tonight's event (and tickets at last check were going for upwards of $2000. each), you can catch the ceremony live on TV at the bar as we will telecast the ceremony in its entirety.

Congrats, Leetchie, you deserve it!


ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF BREW CREW PROFILES


MR. LOW-KEY (Member for a couple of years..)

HT: 6'2"

WT: A couple of pints over a Half-Barrel keg.

HOMETOWN: Douglaston, NY

DRINK OF CHOICE: Smirnoff Orange and Soda, followed by a few glasses of red wine.

WELL-KNOWN TRAIT: Sitting at the bar and staring at his newspaper whenever he doesn't feel like being bothered. Will sometimes stare at the same page for hours....

TIPPING POINT: Very Generous.


BABY GIRL (Member for a couple of years...)

HT: 5'6"

HOMETOWN: San Francisco, CA

DRINK OF CHOICE: Bud Light, with a few Irish Car Bombs sprinkled in between...

WELL-KNOWN TRAIT: Spreading good cheer to everyone, making awesome peanut-butter balls for the Brew Crew and dancing all over the goddamn place.

TIPPING POINT: Generous.


MR. CHIPS (Member for a couple of years)

HT: about 6'

WT: ????

HOMETOWN: From the dreaded "Parts Unknown"....

DRINK OF CHOICE: A "Set" (A bottle of Bud Light, accompanied by a "Gentleman's").

WELL-KNOWN TRAIT: Leads the bar crowd in rousing renditions of New York Giants' fight songs. Carries copies of directions to his apartment in his pocket for the cab driver, "just in case...."

TIPPING POINT: Very Generous.



TONIGHT: "Lite Nite Thursdays" (4pm-10pm), $4.00, All LIGHT BEERS (bottles and drafts)!


NuFF Said