New York now moves on up the standings as they are now tied for third place in the East as the playoff push continues. Tonight’s win was sweet for Liberty in more ways than one. In terms of the stats four players reached double digit scoring, while the entire team was able to play in tonight’s game. New York was 69.2% shooting from the three-point line as two players displayed some fine shooting from beyond the arc. Those two players were guard Cappie Pondexter who led with 23 points and Leilani Mitchell who had 15 points.

To go beyond the stats from tonight’s game; the Liberty along with the rest of the WNBA honored survivors of Breast Cancer, as before today’s game the Liberty gave pink basketballs to select survivors.  The whole Garden was a shade of Pink to celebrate and honor those survivors. For starting point guard Leilani Mitchell, she was one of the many players who were affected by the disease as she lost her mother last year to breast cancer.

“I played for her today,” Mitchell said after the game. “I was really thinking of her throughout the game.”  The thoughts of her Mom inspired her shooting 4-of-6 from the three- point range, to along with six assists.

Head Coach Anne Donovan had this to say of her point guard, “Leilani came back and Lei was Lei. She is one of the best three-point shooters in the game and we have a ton of confidence in her. So when she is aggressive like she was, it frees everyone else up.”

“You can tell that Lei was really emotional out there today,” Guard Cappie Pondexter said after the game. “It is a really tough thing to go through, but she did a great job for us tonight. The guard earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the second consecutive week. Pondexter holds the Liberty record for most Player of the Week honors in what is still a young 2010 season. The only other player to nab two was Janel McCarville, who accomplished the feat in 2008.

“It is our defensive intensity,” Pondexter said of the win. “We did a great job of stopping key players like Crystal Langhorne, Katie Smith and Lindsey Harding.” Pondexter also shot 4-of-6 from the three-point range, while also dishing out six assist.

The Mystics who had complete control of the game in the first quarter of play lost total control. As New York cut into and eventually got a well earned victory in the last three quarters of play. New York’s defense attributed to five steals tonight along with a number of shot clock violations to help in the win.

“The key to good defense and passing is it all about giving and trust,” Center Taj McWilliams-Franklin said after the game. “Our defense is contingent on trusting each other. We know when someone is going to be there, and when they are not saying something. That kind of trust only comes with playing with each other.”

On the shot clock violations the center said, “It feels great, it is always like hey if you can do it once let us do it again, you almost get spoiled. It feels good but you also need to do something on the offensive end of the court.”

Taj looking more like the Tasmanian devil cartoon, as the center recorded 12 points, four rebounds four assist and one steal. The center showed some aggressive play in the inside post, while also having some sweet spin shots during the course of the basketball game. The heart and hustle of the center was noticed at the 2:22 mark in the third quarter when Coach Donovan took the center out for a breather. A good majority of the crowd in the Garden stood on their feet to applaud the effort of the center in the game.

“I love it- I love playing- I love competing,” the center said. “There is that feeling when you play sports that you can’t get anywhere else. You want people to be glad that they spend their money to come out to see you.” She would continue to say, “You want to give everything you have out on the court and that is something over the years I have tried to do.

Also giving her all was forward Planate Pierson, who had one of the sweetest shots in the game tonight. Pierson who drove in for a lay-up had the ball spin once around the net before going in. On the night as a whole Pierson had this to say, “It is really inspiring to have been part of the pre-game ceremony with the breast cancer survivors. They are a positive influence for cancer survivors.” Pierson would tell this story as well, “They all said thank you to us when we handed them the pink basketballs, and we were all like thank you for being here today.”

New York will go on to face the fourth-seeded team in the Western Conference, the Minnesota Lynx. The two teams will play on Sunday, August, 8 at 7:00 p.m. On Friday the Liberty will be back to Eastern Conference play as they face the Atlanta Dream, before returning back home on Saturday, August 14 to face the defending WNBA champions Phoenix Mercury with the MSG telecasted game to tip-off at 7:30 p.m.

“We can continue to climb and take everything one game at a time,” Leilani Mitchell said of the playoff push. “We just need to play hard and bring energy like we did most of the game tonight and we will be alright.”

——————————————————————————————————————————-

Charity Note: On Saturday August 14 prior to the 7:30 p.m. game the New York Liberty along with the Garden of Dreams Foundation is set to host annual school supply drive. The first 500 fans who bring unused supplies such as pencils, notebooks, crayons will receive a special commemorative Liberty item. Collection bins will be set up in the mall area as fans enter The Garden.

Nice job by the NFL and its players and coaches with all of the pink equipment being worn on Sunday and Monday night to help fight breast cancer. All football lovers enjoy the type of the stuff listed below, but a cause like that is the type of stuff that really matters, and kudos to the NFL for doing it part, and doing it well. Let’s all hope it helps.

#5: LIONS DOMINATE STATS, BUT BEARS CRUISE TO VICTORY

Usually, by looking at all of the key statistics in a football game boxscore, you can tell which team won, and how easy it was. And then, there are those games when you look at the stats, and then the final score, and say “How did that possibly happen?” Detroit at Chicago on Sunday was definitely the latter. The Chicago Bears had 11 fewer first downs (25-14), 183 fewer passing yards (308-125), ran 28 fewer plays (78-50), and controlled the clock for exactly 13 minutes less (36:30 to 23:30). The Lions even led 14-7 after the first quarter, and it was still tied, 21-21, at halftime. And yet, the Bears not only won, they won huge, 48-24, outscoring the Lions 27-3 in the second half and 41-10 over the final three quarters. How did Chicago do it despite the large statistical disparities going against them in several major categories? Well, the Bears won the turnover battle 2-0, scored 10 points off Detroit miscues, started the third quarter with a 102-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by rookie Johhny Knox, and they did win one key statistical category: outgaining the Lions 151-90 on the ground.

#4:  SHARPER & SAINTS ‘D’ INDOCTRINATE SANCHEZ TO THE NFL

This was certainly nothing new for safety Darren Sharper, it’s just that Jets’ quarterback Mark Sanchez had never witnessed it in person before. The four-time pro-bowler Sharper, entered Sunday’s game with 57 career interceptions and 8 touchdowns during his brilliant 13-year career out of I-AA (now FCS) William & Mary. Now, make that 59 picks, 10 touchdowns, and one huge headache for the Jets’ offense on Sunday. The Jets and Sanchez had been cruising along at a surprising 3-0, with the rookie Sanchez limiting his mistakes a lot over the first three weeks. However, that was all before the Jets’ trip to New Orleans. Welcome to the NFL, officially, Mark. The Saints’ defense, which has surprisingly played at as high or even a higher level than their vaunted big-play offense, showed Sanchez how tough the NFL can be for a rookie quarterback. Not only did New Orleans hold Sanchez to just 138 passing yards on only 14 completions in 27 attempts, but they sacked him four times (once for a fumble recovery in the end zone for a touchdown), and intercepted him three times –- two of those by Sharper, who returned a second quarter pick for a 99-yard touchdown, and who later sealed the win with his second interception late in the fourth quarter.

#3:  “COACH” PALMER SALVAGES A WIN THAT ALMOST GOT AWAY

What a rollercoaster ride it was on Sunday afternoon in Cleveland for the Cincinnati Bengals. But then, what else should we expect this year for a teams who’s played four games in which all have gone down to the wire? After all, the Bengals blew a game late on a fluke play against Denver, before rallying to beat the defending champion Steelers, before winning in a tough place like Green Bay, before struggling a lot on Sunday with the lowly Browns… who they jumped out to a 14-0 lead against (rollercoaster on the way up), only to give up the next 20 (whoosh! rolling back down fast!) and fall behind 20-14… before Carson Palmer found Chad Ochocinco for a touchdown (back up again) to… win the game, 21-20, right? Nope! Rollercoaster going down again… the PAT was blocked! So… overtime, tied 20-20. The Bengals, who were involved in the only tie game in the NFL last year (you remember, when Donovan McNabb thought they might play another overtime?), then wait more than a full quarter later to finally get their opportunity to win, 23-20, on a Shayne Graham 31-yard field goal just four seconds before Cincinnati ended in a tie for the second straight season. But, hold on… here’s the added fun that led to the game-winning field goal… Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis had no qualms with ending in another tie. He was all set to have his team punt, facing a 4th-and-11 at the Browns’ 41 with 1:04 left in the game. But, his quarterback adamantly protested enough to convince his coach to let the Bengals go for the win. With his receivers covered, Palmer ran for the first down himself, leading eventually to the field goal by Graham, who not only had that PAT, but also an earlier field goal attempt blocked, both by Cleveland nose tackle Shaun Rogers… on a side note, this game was about as even as could be stats-wise (yes, I know, we already did a stats one with the Bears and Lions), BUT for a game that came within seconds of ending in a tie… First Downs: 22-21, Browns; Total Yards: 395-375, Browns; Rushing Yards: 154-146, Bengalis; Passing Yards: 249-221, Browns; Interceptions: one each; Fumbles: one each; Penalties: Bengals 6 for 46 yards, Browns 5 for 44 yards; and, Third Down Efficiency: Bengals 5-for-18; Browns 6-for-19.

#2:  FAVRE MAKES THE PACK WISH THEY HAD HIM BACK…

WHILE ALLEN SACKS THE PACK AND PUTS RODGERS ON HIS BACK

(aren’t football poems fun?)

This was the long-awaited Monday night matchup. It might not have been quite as big as it will be when Brett Favre goes back to Lambeau as a visiting player for the first time, on November 1st, but it was still a sight to see… and one to forget, for Green Bay Packer fans. Not only did Favre torch the fellow NFC North franchise he’ll eventually represent in the Hall OF Fame for a 135.3 quarter back rating (going 24 of 31 for 271 yards, 3 TD’s and no turnovers), but on a night when Favre’s successor in Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers, came to the Metrodome and posted a career-high 384 yards, the Packers couldn’t protect Rodgers enough to win. Jared Allen went nuts with 4½ sacks of Rodgers, and he, Favre, and the rest of the Vikings sent Green Bay as 30-23 losers, back to The Land O’ Cheese (not to be confused with cheesemakers Land O’ Lakes… though, that is ironic since Minnesota is the land of 1,000 lakes). Favre said it was “just another game.” Come on Brett, credit to you for backing it up by playing so well against your former team where you became a legend, before things got unfortunately sour. But, do you really expect us to believe those words? We know you must still be reveling in beating the Packers even as you get set to go to St. Louis next (wow, talk about a complete 180 as far as hype, pomp, and circumstance, going from Favre & the Vikings vs. Packers on Monday night, to the awful Rams on a regular Sunday afternoon).

#1:  “PEY” DIRT

(this was way shorter after that last title)

… as in ESPN’s Stuart Scott’s favorite description for a football player scoring a touchdown and finding “pay dirt.” Only, when it’s Peyton Manning having yet another stellar performance, leading to Manning tying Drew Brees for most touchdown passes in the NFL (9), it’s instead called “Pey Dirt,” or at least that’s what I just made up. Hmmm… Colts fans, let me know your size and how many of those blue and white “Pey Dirt” t-shirts you’d like to order, and I’ll get them made up for you. Well, at least after I check into a few NFL licensing legality items, decide on pricing, and check into some copyright things first. But, I digress… Manning was once again outstanding in the Colts’ 34-17 dismantling of the Seattle Seahawks, after opening a 34-3 lead midway through the fourth quarter, with the Colts’ future Hall Of Famer throwing for 353 yards while completing 31 of 41, and throwing 2 touchdown passes and just one interception.

As Seattle coach Jim Mora put it, “We played greatness today. He’s one of the finest of all times.” Manning even topped himself on Sunday. He’s thrown for over 300 yards in each of the Colts’ four games this season, marking the first time in Manning’s storied career that he’s eclipsed the 300-yard mark in four consecutive games. That accomplishment is also a franchise record, but here’s a few more of those for this season, thus far: In addition to tying Brees with the 9 TD passes, Manning now leads all NFL passers in Quarterback Rating (114.5), Passing Yards (1,336), Passing Yards Per Game (334.0), and he’s second (behind only Ben Roethlisberger’s 73.2 percent) in Completion Percentage at 70.8 percent… Meanwhile, the Colts just keep on quietly winning with Manning steering the ship. The 2007 New England Patriots got all the attention (deservedly so) for their perfect 16-0 regular season, but Manning and the Colts have now won 13 consecutive regular season games, dating back to last season, and we hear little about that. And, if the NFL did things as they should, like not sending last year’s 12-4 wild-card Colts to San Diego to play the 8-8 Chargers in a home playoff game that San Diego didn’t deserve, maybe we’re talking now about the Colts on a current 17-game win streak overall, and being this year’s defending champions instead of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although postseason success for Manning and the Colts is certainly debatable, you have to go all the way back to 2002 (when Indianapolis was 10-6) to find a year in which Manning and the Colts won fewer than 12 games during the regular season. That’s 79-21 over the past 100 regular season games, covering the last 6¼ regular seasons. Very impressive, even by Manning’s high standards.

A holdover Monday finally gave the Long Island crowd something to cheer about and also something to groan.

First you had Lucas Glover, who fought through and won his first major. A 29 year-old South Carolinian, who grew up a Yankee fan showed more heart than his favorite team has in the past month.

“It just played hard, bottom line,” said Glover, who shot a 73 on the final 18 to take the Open with a minus-4 for the tournament.

But as good of a story Glover is, Phil Mickelson made the final day.

Through the first 12 holes, the Lefty – who was playing for his wife, diagnosed with breast cancer – was dropping darts on the course. And then on the 13th, Mickelson looked like he had the momentum to take the elusive tournament with eagle on a par-5 to tie Glover.

“It put me right in position,” Mickelson said. “I thought I needed to play most likely under par to have won outright. As it turned out, that’s what I needed to do.”

But then Mickelson went down hill. Bogeys on the 15th and 17th was too much to overcome for the fan favorite, who was treated like a rock star by the Bethpage crowd, finishing at par for the final 18 and 2-under for the tournament.

“Certainly, I’m disappointed, but now that it’s over, I’ve got more important things going on,” he said.
“Oh, well.”

No one will blame Mickelson for not caring, his family comes first, yet his whale of a last day saved this tournament from being a total washout. The USGA tried to screw the fans after Thursday’s washout, but then gave gave those ticket holders Monday and, ultimately their money’s worth, as the long course at Bethpage did not disappoint once again.

“I don’t know if I have enough energy to do anything crazy,” Glover said. “It was a long and crazy week with the delays and the weather and the back-and-forth to the course and all that. And that’s the first time I’ve contended in a major. Mentally, I was done.”

And thus closes another chapter at Bethpage Black.

Yep, that inevitable moment finally came last week; you told the world you were walking away from professional football. I guess many of us knew your retirement day would eventually arrive, but the reality of you not suiting up next season has yet to sink in. Without you, Brett, the game of football becomes just a little bit different–and NOT in a better way. All I can do now is send along my gratitude for 17 wonderful years, Mr. Favre; hear me out for just a bit.

Thanks for becoming synonymous with that ONE franchise over the years, Brett; oh yeah, you threw five passes in a Falcons uniform when you were a struggling rookie, but once you arrived in Green Bay, you immersed yourself in the Packer tradition, won a Super Bowl, and went NOWHERE else. Your devotion to one team happily reminds me of another athlete named Brett–George of the Royals–another guy who truly understood the meaning of the term “loyalty.”

Thank you for being there EVERY week, Brett. Your record string of 275 consecutive starts for a QB (including the postseason) says it all about your love for the game and unmatched desire to compete. I know there were weekends when you weren’t even CLOSE to feeling 100% physically, Brett, but even the Wisconsin National Guard would have had trouble keeping you out of uniform on those particular Sundays. I know that streak meant a lot to you; it TELLS a lot about you, too.

Thanks for showing us your “human side,” Brett, and the ability to fight back. Yeah, there was the painkiller addiction, your affinity for booze, and your wife’s battle with breast cancer. You faced each individual battle and bravely overcame each–perhaps the game of football being your “saving grace” throughout it all. In my opinion, your vulnerability contributed to your “regular guy” image, Brett; yeah, you were never really different than any of us except for the Superman-like heroics you’d demonstrate on any given Sunday.

Thanks for personifying what the term “guts” is all about, #4. With tears in your eyes, you scorched the Raiders for 399 yards passing and four touchdowns the day after your Dad passed away in 2003–knowing he’d want you play. I remember you saying after the game that you felt like your father was watching that night, Brett; I watched, too–in total amazement.

Thank you for your immense enthusiasm, Mr. Favre. You always reminded me of a little kid on Christmas morning the way you approached each game. Your joy was truly GENUINE every time you threw a TD pass–a record 442 of them in all. I’d love the way you’d sprint to the end zone to meet your wide receivers after a scoring strike; I’m almost convinced you ran faster in those celebratory situations than you did when you were chased in the pocket by 300-pound linemen. Yeah, no doubt–you just LOVED football. My colleague Jeff Jacobs of the Hartford Courant recently wrote this about you: “Favre never played quarterback like a corporation. He played it like a country boy.” Yes, how true–and SO refreshing.

Yes, again, the WAY you played football was incredible, Brett–and I thank you for that. You were the master of improvisation, the gun-slinging escape artist, and the true “sheriff” in Titletown, U.S.A. Sounds like the roles of a movie star, huh, Brett? Well, you were a star, for sure–without all the Hollywood glitter.

Thanks for proving many of us wrong when you came back for another season in 2007, Brett. Yours truly was among those who were convinced your playing days should have ended after a very mediocre 2006. You responded by throwing 28 TD passes and taking your team to the NFC title game. Yes, I guess the doubters out there always fueled you, Brett, ever since those many football fans uttered “Who?” when your name was mentioned during the 1991 draft. They’re ALL familiar with you now, Mr. Favre–trust me.

Thanks for leveling with us when you called it a career, Brett. While acknowledging you can still play the game, you also uttered, “I’m just tired.” Yeah, 5,377 competions and over 61,000 yards passing–both records–can do that to you. And thanks in advance for STAYING retired, Brett; you may have not won another Super Bowl–as was your wish–but you truly went out on top. It’s time, Brett. You’re now at the very top of an esteemed list of all-time Packer greats. You were the poster boy for toughness, for Lambeau Field, and for Green Bay in general. In short, you were the Bobby Layne of your day–with a championship ring.

Finally, thanks for the show of raw emotion at your press conference, Brett. The tears flowed as you struggled to find the right words to convey that you were done with football–a game you played with a “blue-collar” flair. Yes, even a tough guy can cry, Mr. Favre.

Thanks, #4, and best of luck.