Long Island and sports have always gone hand in hand. From the pee-wee stage to the big stage. Go to a local game and you will see excited coaches, parents and just plain fans. It doesn't matter if it's a Dragons linebacker making the tackle or your nephew in a Pop Warner game. We can't get enough of it. And lucky for us, there is certainly a lot to choose from.
Professionally speaking, Long Island is loaded with teams in all different sports.
Long Island Rough Riders, USL 2nd Division - The Rough Riders brought professional soccer to Long Island in 1994. In their second season, big name players such as Tony Meola, Giovanni Savarese and Jim Rooney led them to a 19-1 record and the league championship. They once again took home the trophy in 2002 and look to add to that this season when it kicks off in April at the Mitchel Athletic Complex.
Long Island Ducks, Atlantic League - Born in 2000, the Ducks have become the model franchise in the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Team owners Frank Boulton and former New York Met Bud Harrelson have given the fans on Long Island a wonderful product, and they have not disappointed. The 6,000 plus seats at Citibank (formerly EAB) Park in Central Islip are rarely empty, and the family atmosphere created by the staff is second to none. The team mascot, Quackerjack, is the Ducks' most recognizable face, much to the chagrin of Harrelson and Justin Davies, the West Babylon native that has been with the team since day one. The excitement at the ballpark reached peak levels during the Ducks fifth anniversary season when they qualified for the playoffs for the first time and rode the momentum all the way to winning the league championship in 2004. Their seventh season is just around the corner, starting on May 3rd in Bridgeport against their rivals, the Bluefish.
New York Dragons, Arena Football League - New York Dragons, Arena Football League- Islanders owner Charles Wang acquired the Iowa Barnstormers AFL franchise in 2001 and relocated the franchise to the Nassau Coliseum. The name was changed to the New York Dragons and indoor football fans hoped that the franchise would last longer than the two failed attempts for arena football at Madison Square Garden (the New York Knights in 1988 and the New York City Hawks in 1997-1998.) The Dragons have had success since their move east, winning three consecutive Eastern Divisions heading into the current season. The team lost their two top quarterbacks to season ending injuries and is 6-4 to remain in playoff contention. Aaron Garcia, the most prolific AFL quarterback in the league's history, went down with a fractured tibia in a week five win at home versus the Orlando Predators. Newly acquired QB Nick Browder has given the team a spark and hopes to continue the team's playoff appearance streak.
Long Island Lizards, MLL- In 2001, the Lizards were founded as a member of Major League Lacrosse and won the league championship their first season and once again in 2003. They have finished in first place in the American Division three times. They brought the popular sport of lacrosse to the professional ranks and look to build on their success when their season starts in May. Their home field is the Mitchel Athletic Complex.
Bleeding blue with the New York Giants Newsday OpEd Newsday > Opinion > OpEd Bleeding blue with the New York Giants Published: February 3, 2012 8:45 PM By TOM DANIELS When I was growing up on Long Island in the 1960s, New York Giants home games were often blacked out in the New York City TV market ...
Plaza Sports Gears for Giant Super Bowl. Patch.com By Rich Arleo Like much of Rocky Point, and Long Island in general, Plaza Sports is gearing up for another New York Giants Super Bowl. Customers in search of Giants apparel don't have to look far as they will find jerseys, sweatshirts, t-shirts and ...
NY state of mind at Hub bar Boston Herald By Tenley Woodman Boston is made for sports fans ? as long as you're rooting for the home team. But even New York Giants supporters have a place to call home in the heart of Patriots [team stats] Nation: The Greatest Bar at 262 Friend St. At least 400 ...
Former Elmira reporter enjoying first Super Bowl Elmira Star-Gazette Roderick Boone, 36, covered high school sports for the Elmira Star-Gazette from 1999 to 2002. He has been the New York Jets beat writer for Long Island's Newsday for the last three seasons and is in Indianapolis this week covering the Super Bowl.
Giants fans bring their magic to Super Bowl Newsday Kessel, former Long Island and New York Power Authority chief, said it's not just the shirt and hunger pains that assure a win. "I rock back and forth," he said on the streets here Friday, joined by his wife, Diane. One loyal Giants fan who said he ...
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