John Tortorella Out as Rangers Coach

After four and a half years as the coach of the New York Rangers John Tortorella has been let go and is now looking for a new job. In his time as Rangers head coach, Torts finished with a record of 171-115-29 in 315 games. In those years the Rangers made the playoffs four times, but never made it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Tortorella, hired to replace Tom Renney with 21 games remaining in the 2008-09 season, achieved some success with the Rangers but couldn’t match the Stanley Cup title he earned in 2004 with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Now according to reports there was another factor leading to him getting fired from New York. A source told the New York Daily News that “multiple players” and some “top guys” wanted the coach gone. According to the New York Post, “Sather had no intention of dismissing Tortorella … until a critical mass of players informed the GM that the coach’s overbearing personality had become a roadblock to success.”

Now don't get me wrong there were a few other factors that could have been factored in to him getting fired. Not winning a Stanley Cup for one thing is a factor. Also struggling in the playoffs, a lack luster powerplay last season. We all know he has a fiery personality, and that has been put on display more than once, both behind the bench and during some of his postgame interviews. That may have been a factor as to why he hung around as long as he did as the coach. But in the minds of some the negatives outweigh the positives and he is out of a job.

What surprises me is that he had a lack of backing from his players. The players were the ones who wanted him gone. I think you could somewhat start to see it that the Rangers players somewhat gave up listening to him during the 2nd round loss to the Bruins. I don't care how good of a coach you are, if the players on you're team aren't listening to you and aren't supporting you, then you will not be a success and quickly out of a job. Tortorella is the career leader in wins by a U.S.-born coach with 410. He was an assistant coach with the Rangers in the 1999-2000 season and took over for John Muckler as head coach for the final four games. Tortorella was then hired by the Lightning and he was their coach for seven seasons, going 239-222-36-38 and earning the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in the championship season.

A replacement wasn’t named immediately, but Sather hopes to have a new coach in place by the NHL draft on June 30. So now this leads to the debate as to who is going to take over as the new coach of the Rangers. Former NHL coaches Lindy Ruff and Alain Vigneault could be candidates. Sather wouldn’t speculate on them or whether anyone currently employed by the Rangers would be considered. Also there have been rumors running around like crazy that former Rangers players like Mark Messier and Adam Graves could also be considered as the possible new head coach. Sorry but as I mentioned in the post yesterday, it isn't always the case that former players become good coaches. So I can't really see either Messier or Graves being the answer. Lindy Ruff from what I can tell would be the best fit for the Rangers as the new bench boss.

Will there be a right answer for the Rangers problems? Only time will tell!

Episode #6

Episode #6 is up and running of our show so sit back relax and enjoy the show:

Brian Urlacher Calls It A Career

After spending the last 13 years intimidating opposing players around the NFL, Brian Urlacher has decided to finally hang up the pads and call it a career. In 182 appearances with Chicago, Urlacher started nearly all of them, while recording 41.5 sacks, 22 interceptions, 11 fumbles forced, 16 fumble recoveries, and a team-record 1,779 tackles. Urlacher  was an eight time Pro Bowler, a five time All-Pro  he won the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2005), Football Digest Defensive Player of the Year (2001) NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2000) NFC Player of the Month (December 2010, January 2011) NFL Rookie Defensive Player of the Month (10/2000) NFL 2000s All-Decade Team Chicago Bears season tackles record (153, 2002) Chicago Bears career tackles record (1,192) Consensus All-American (1999) UNM Male Athlete of the Year (1999) UNM season record for most tackles (1999).

The numbers he put up during his career only tell part of the story. What also made him so special was the intimidation factor. Brian Urlacher was one of the more intimidating middle linebackers in football. The physical style of play is what defined the playing career of Brian Urlacher. So now that he has called it a career, it brings about the debate of where does he rank among the all time greats at the middle linebacker position.

Well there are two ways to look at it, where does he rank in the modern era and where does he rank all time. In the modern era there is only one other middle linebacker I would consider taking over Brian Urlacher, and that would be the also recently retired Ray Lewis. As far as all time consideration goes, I would put Urlacher in my top five of the greatest ever. Ahead of him is a pretty good class which includes Ray Lewis, Jack Lambert, Mike Singeltary and Dick Butkus. Now this is just based on the position of middle linebacker alone. If you want to include outside linebackers as well, then Urlacher may be just outside my top ten, but he is by far one of the two best middle linebackers to play in my lifetime.

Brian Urlacher may be a lock for the pro football hall of fame in Canton Ohio

Episode 5

Well well well another week another episode of the show. The latest episode of Solly & Steve on sports is up and running here it is for you're listening pleasure:

Steve Smith Rips Mark Sanchez

As if things couldn't get any tougher for Jets Quarterback Mark Sanchez, this happens. During an interview on the Drive on 610 WFNZ, Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith said " He sucks" and "I wouldn’t let Mark Sanchez throw me a paper bag sandwich."

Now this coming from Steve Smith is a bit surprising. First of all why would you even be talking about Sanchez in the first place? Second of all Steve Smith, who plays for another team all together has no interactions at all with Sanchez. I know that Steve Smith is a big time wide receiver, that fact is obvious. But he is one of the last guys I would have seen ripping Mark Sanchez.

Now as much as I really hate to say this, me being a Jets fan, but to a degree he's right. Sanchez can throw a football we know that. As of late however, Sanchez hasn't looked like a true starting quarterback in the NFL. Sanchez was benched twice late last season, which shows how much of a fall from grace he has had over the past few seasons. Promising a true training camp competition at the position, New York signed David Garrard and selected West Virginia’s Geno Smith in the second round of last month’s draft. Garrard now plans to retire due to lingering knee issues, leaving the starting job up for grabs between Sanchez, Smith, McElroy and Matt Simms. Sanchez threw 18 interceptions last season and couldn’t hold on to the ball when pressured, lowlighted by the infamous “Buttfumble” on Thanksgiving night.


So as you can see, Steve Smith is somewhat right in his dumping on Sanchez. This could make things real interesting when the Jets play the Panthers in week 15, that is if Mark Sanchez is still the starting quarterback.

No Show This Week

Due to conflicting schedules, Solly & Steve on Sports is taking a week off. But fear not we will be back with a brand new show for you're listening pleasure next week!

Episode #4

And now for you're listening pleasure here is our latest episode


Stay tuned right here to the sports blog where we will be posting all of our shows

Solly & Steve on Sports Episode #3

After the first two shows here is episode #3

Solly & Steve On Sports Episode #2

Well we already gave you our first show and here is episode #2

Solly & Steve on Sports Pilot

With a few shows already under our belt here is our latest episode

LeBron James Wins MVP

For the 4th time in the last five years, LeBron James is named the NBA MVP. James, 28, became the youngest player in NBA history to win four MVPs after receiving 120 of 121 first-place votes by league media members and analysts. The lone other first-place vote went to Knicks star Carmelo Anthony. It was the second time a player fell one vote short of an unanimous MVP selection, with Shaquille O'Neal also receiving 120 of 121 first-place votes in 1999-2000. But coming up short of a unanimous selection didn't overshadow a historic feat for James, who joined Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to win at least four MVP awards. Thunder forward Kevin Durant finished second to James in MVP voting for the second straight year, with Anthony third, Chris Paul fourth and Kobe Bryant fifth in votes. And in the time span of LeBron's titles, Derek Rose is the only other player to win MVP, which he did in 2010-11.

Now there are some people who can argue, and they have a decent argument, that Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks should have won it over James. And the same sort of argument can possibly be said about Kevin Durant of the Thunder too. Here is the thing though. Yes Durant and Carmelo were both key to their team's success this year, but this isn't the award for team MVP this is the award for League MVP.

While it is true that statistically both Durant and Anthony had better scoring years LeBron had a better all around game than both of those other guys. I know some people have the view that with MVP, it should go to the player who has the biggest impact on their team. It is true that with Carmelo and Durant out of the lineups, both the Knicks and Thunder aren't as good as they are with those guys in their respective lineups. But with this argument, this MVP award goes to the best player in ALL of basketball. I'm not saying that Anthony and Durant didn't have great years, because trust me they had great years. The thing is that LeBron was just better all around.

I know LeBron had more of a supporting cast around him in Miami than Carmelo did in New York, and than Durant had in Oklahoma City. He still has to be a very good basketball player in order for the Heat to be a great basketball team. It's just LeBron had a better all around game this season and was very deserving of the MVP this year. So congratulations to LeBron James on winning his 4th MVP Award!