Michael and Dan are later joined by Korbid Thompson of the Warning Track to discuss the passing of Mets legend Gary Carter, who died February 16 from brain cancer.

In part two, Michael welcomes in Hall of Famer and St. Anthony’s basketball head coach, Bob Hurley to the show to talk about his 22-0 Friars. Can St. Anthony repeat as state and national champs? Coach gives us some insight, and Hurley also dishes out about Linsanity.

Listen to Part I

Listen to Part II

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My Two Cents new Podcast is available starring Steve and Connie Mack. The show features Philadelphia sports talk as well as special guests. Hear Steve and Connie break down the Phillies, Flyers, 76ers, and Eagles.

You can listen on MTRMedia.com’s new 24/7 online radio station by clicking here. You can also subscribe to our Podcast in iTunes. (Search for MTRMedia.com) or listen by clicking on the link below.

Listen to My Two Cents live on Thursday nights at 10:00pm EST or on replay on MTRRadio.com!

Listen to MTR Radio on your Android Device by clicking here, on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod by downloading our FREE new app from the iTunes Store (search for MTR Radio), or on your Windows Phone, Blackberry, Palm, and Samsung Bada by clicking here for the FREE app. Search for MTR Radio and add it to your presets.

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At 3 pm, Michael will welcome in St. Anthony’s basketball head coach, legend and basketball Hall of Famer, Bob Hurley to the show to talk about his 23-0 Friars. Can St. Anthony repeat as state and national champ?

And finally, Michael remembers the life of former Mets and Expos great Gary Carter, who passed away Thursday due to brain cancer. Korbid Thompson of the Warning Track will join us for a few minutes at 2:30. Mets’ fans call in with your memories of the “Kid.” Call us at 609-910-0687.

It’s a Linsane and mournful edition of the Open Mike, and you can hear it today live at 2 pm on MTRmedia.com. Hit the listen live button, or Tap That App on your iPhone or iPad!

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Listen live to our shows Monday through Friday and call in at 609-9100-MTR. Listen to MTR Radio on your Android Device by clicking here, on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod by downloading our FREE new app from the iTunes Store (search for MTR Radio), or on your Windows Phone, Blackberry, Palm, and Samsung Bada by clicking here for the FREE app. Search for MTR Radio and add it to your presets.

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A two point loss at the hands of the Boston Celtics, was in some weird sorts an improvement for a team that had shown almost no ability to score on a consistent basis, let alone play any defense, as New York stood at an abysmal 8-15. Things got so bad for the Knicks that they found themselves in a battle with the other underachieving New York/New Jersey basketball franchise, the Nets, for the toilet of the Atlantic Division.

The Knicks entered the 2011-2012 season with high expectations. Coming off their best season in years, fueled by the signing of Amar’e Stoudemire and the mid-season acquisition of Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks qualified for the playoffs at 42-40, but more importantly had ride themselves of the stench of ten horrific years in PR and salary cap hell thanks to the buffoonery of owner James Dolan and his accomplice Isiah Thomas.

Yet, to sit and say that the Knicks as a franchise was all the way back was a bit overrated of a statement. Being a .500 team in New York is not good enough; and when the Knicks got off to a horrendous start, with Stoudemire struggling and Anthony playing the role of the “ball-hog” the Knicks looked like a dead team walking. It was only a matter of time before Mike D’Antoni paid for it with his job.

Then Lin happened.

By now everyone knows the story of Jeremy Lin, and to say his feats of late have been nothing but miraculous is the understatement of the year for sure. But, more importantly, Lin has done something to the NBA that no player in the post 1999 lock-out years, yes I’m going back that far, has done for a league that has failed to capture the attention away from the NFL and Major League Baseball.

In a year where the NBA returned from another nuclear winter, Lin has made fans forget about the bitter lockout that almost canceled the season. He has brought fans back to the game faster than anyone would have imagined, and faster than Tim Duncan and the Spurs, and Kobe Bryant and the Lakers did back in 1999 after that lockout.

Everything that NBA Commissioner David Stern wants the NBA to become, Jeremy Lin has done in about a week and a half!

He is more than just a basketball player, and more than the latest hero for the Knicks, Lin has become the cultural and global icon that the league has craved for years.  Granted Lin is a born and raised American, having grown up in California, but his Taiwanese descent makes Lin a marketable face for the league overseas, and what better town to represent than New York City, the melting pot of the world!

Just check out Lin’s jersey sales. The Knicks website says that Lin jerseys are sold out and won’t be available again until the end of April! NBA.com says that Lin jerseys won’t become available again for another two-three weeks, and forget looking at Modell’s or Dick’s Sporting Goods, because those sites say Sold Out as well.

In all my years watching professional sports, I have never seen one player become this big, this fast. When Ichiro Suzuki came to the States to play for the Seattle Mariners, his jersey never sold out the way Lin’s has. Derek Jeter’s jersey never sold out like this when he made it big in the late 90′s, nor did Alex Rodriguez or Ken Griffey Jr, or Albert Puljos.  While people came to the ball park in droves to see these great players play, the home crowd never cheered for the visiting super star the way people seem to do for Lin. Just look at Lin’s three pointer in Toronto, as the entire Raptors crowd cheered on the Knicks star.

Lin’s vast popularity in NBA circles is even trumping that of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. While both Bryant and James are two of the most successful players in the league, they are not the most popular. Many dislike Bryant for his perceived arrogance, ball-hawking style, and his poor relationships with the humble Shaquille O’Neal and coach Phil Jackson.

James could have become the next Michael Jordan, if he didn’t take the money and run to Miami last year.

James is the only current NBA superstar, who experienced the kind of wide fanfare that Lin is experiencing now. James was credited with resurrecting a dead Cleveland Cavaliers franchise, was known as a good teammate, and his dynamic style of play at a young age made even the most experienced NBA players look bad. Remember when James was cheered at the Garden, whenever the Cavs came to town? Those days are gone, as James is now looked at as a typical greedy individual, who cared more about money than creating a Jordan-like legacy in Cleveland.

Some have even compared Lin’s national and international popularity to the “Tebow Time” sensation that swept the football world this year. Tim Tebow’s fan-base has grown for several reasons. One: he has beat the odds, much like Lin, winning ball games even though he lacks prototypical quarterback skills. Two: the religious right has grown to love Tebow for his devote Catholic  persona, as he wears his religion on his sleeve from “Tebowing” to thanking his “lord and savior Jesus Christ” before every interview.

Yet, the real reason Tebow has become a cult figure, in part, has to do with his loud and vocal detractors. There are a lot of people who hate Tebow for his far-Right stance on religion and social issues. People usually do the “Tebow” as a way to mock the quarterback for his religious beliefs. People also hate the fact that a quarterback, who completes only 40 percent of his passes has been so successful so far in his career.

As far as one can tell, Lin doesn’t have those same detractors, at least they are not as pronounced.

Lin is global. His humble, down to earth personality, and surprising take over as the leader of the Knicks has taken every fan out by storm. While many have been wondering how much longer Linsanity can continue, the young star continues to impress. Even when he was playing some of his worst basketball against the Raptors, Lin still managed to post 27 points, and proved to be the deciding factor in the Knicks victory.  First time it might be luck, but by now people have to accept it as real. Lin is THIS good.

He has rescued a franchise that has been dormant for well over a decade. A franchise that once thought Stoudemire and Anthony would be the faces of the franchise; it is the image of Lin pumping his fist after a big basket that has become the face of the Knicks franchise. And why not? The Knicks fan who has suffered through so much deserves it, even if it feels like 15 minutes of fame.

Will Lin always make the big shot? no. With 37 games remaining, it’s unreasonable to think the Knicks will be this unbeatable for the rest of the year. They will lose their share of games, and Lin will miss a open shot here and there. Remember he’s only 23 years old, he’s still learning how to run an NBA offense, and still needs to learn how to kick the ball out to open men, instead of driving to the rim.

But, if the kid can master his relationships with both Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, to say the Knicks finish 25-12 down the stretch and get into a competitive playoff series with the Heat or Bulls is not out of the question. And who knows, if the Knicks do get into the brackets, maybe Mr. Lin will have another trick or two up his sleeve.

Let Linsanity Live!

- Michael Cohen, Host of the “Open Mike” Program Friday’s 2-4 pm

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The Flyers

Is Ilya Bryzgalov the right goalie for this team?
It doesn’t matter.
If the Flyers make a run during the playoffs, either it will be Bryzgolov or backup Sergie Bobrovsky in goal.
The Flyers just need to get everyone healthy, which hopefully will be near the end of the season.
Their youth should stay strong during the playoffs. Whether the veterans can stay healthy and contribute, is the key to the season.
Playoff percentage: 95. Stanley Cup: 65.

The Phillies
World Series champ 2008.
Went the World Series in 2009 and were in the playoffs every year since.
Yet I see an aging team with its core past its time.
Out Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rolllins and Placido Polanco, who were is going to play a full season?
The Phillies have depth including Lanyce Nix and Ty Wiggington.
They have improved the bench and the backend of the bullpen with the addition of Jonathan Papelbon.
It is a question mark how the new parts are going to respond to the old.
However, it does seem that in spite of improving the closer’s position, the Phillies have concerned themselves with being better off replacing parts for the long haul better than they were in 2011.
It is going to be a fun ride.
Playoff possibilities: 98 percent. World Series victor: 79 percent.
2008 might be playing into my thinking, but the Phillies do present the best hope of winning a World championship.

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For the sixth straight game Knick point guard Jeremy Lin has taken not only New York, but the whole NBA by storm. Lin hit a 3-point shot with 0.5 seconds left to lift New York to a 90-87 come from behind victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Early in the first half the Raptors had as much as a 17 point lead over the Knicks. The Knicks were outscored by Toronto through the first three quarters, but turned the tables in the fourth scoring 24 to the Raptors 12. Lin finished with 43:10 minutes of playing time, 27 points and 11 assists. By the second half Amare Stoudemire and Lin had the pick and roll working well. It was Stoudemire’s first game since his brother’s death.  It looks like Stoudemire, who played 33:36 minutes and scored 21 points, will mesh well with Lin at the point. When Carmelo Anthony makes his return, we will see if the three can work well together and lead the Knicks to a playoff birth.

Lin is the first player from Harvard in 50 years to be in the NBA and only the second Asian currently on an NBA roster. He was cut three times, but has shown in this run that he the real deal. Many critics are waiting for the clock to stroke midnight and see if Cinderella will turn into a pumpkin. Not just yet, as the “Linsanity” continues to grow and prosper.

Teammate Jared Jeffries told the media, “Right now his confidence is at an all-time high and our confidence in him is just as high.”

Also the Knick fans are on a high that they haven’t seen in many years. Tonight the Knicks are back at home to play the Sacramento Kings and expect the faithful to be out in full force as the Lin

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On part two of the Open Mike program from February 10, 2012, Michael Cohen and Karen Vankat talk about the potential moves that could be made by the New York Yankees in the coming weeks. Will the Bombers trade A.J. Burnett to the Pittsburgh Pirates for outfielder Garrett Jones? What does it mean for the Yankees rotation?

Mike and Karen also go back over the Super Bowl, and what the Giants super triumph means for the Jets and their future plans.And what’s up with Rob Gronkowski imitating “The Night at the Roxbury?” And the Jeremy Lin mania is also discussed in this hour.

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On this edition of the Open Mike show, host Michael Cohen breaks down the results from Super Bowl XLVI between the New York Giants and New England Patriots, and answers some questions about the legacies of both Eli Manning and Tom Brady, as a result of this super match-up.

Michael is joined by Karen Vankat to go over the Bowl game, and look ahead to the baseball season for both the Yankees and Mets. Michael also discusses the new phenomenon that has hit New York in the form of Jeremy Lin. Is Mr. Lin the real deal for the Knicks?

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[[posterous-content:pid___0]]My Two Cents new Podcast is available starring Steve and Connie Mack. The show features Philadelphia sports talk as well as special guests. Hear Steve and Connie break down the Phillies, Flyers, 76ers, and Eagles.

You can listen on MTRMedia.com’s new 24/7 online radio station by clicking here. You can also subscribe to our Podcast in iTunes. (Search for MTRMedia.com) or listen by clicking on the link below.

Listen to My Two Cents live on Thursday nights at 10:00pm EST or on replay on MTRRadio.com!

Listen to MTR Radio on your Android Device by clicking here, on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod by downloading our FREE new app from the iTunes Store (search for MTR Radio), or on your Windows Phone, Blackberry, Palm, and Samsung Bada by clicking here for the FREE app. Search for MTR Radio and add it to your presets.

[[posterous-content:pid___1]]

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