I was just reading that all of the major sports leagues and the NCAA are attempting block the state of Delaware from legalizing betting on sports.

Does anybody else find this somewhat hypocritical, since so many of these sports have ties to Las Vegas and are now putting many of their showcase events right in Sin City (NBA all-star game, NHL awards show, for examples)?
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I’ve been meaning to promo Christopher Higgins’ scheduled appearance at “12 Angry Mascots,” July 30 at 7:30 pm at Comix comedy club, which I believe is at 353 W. 14th in NYC (you might want to check that). Also appearing is “Mets Weekly” host Julie Alexandria.

It’s a sports-comedy variety-talk show, featuring stand-up comedians and sketch actors performing sports material – spoofing current events, creating original characters, etc.  The show culminates in two interviews with sports personalities or athletes.  This month, Higgins will be interviewed, along with Mets Weekly host Julie Alexandria.

The Boston Bruins are about to sign Derek Morris, according to this report. He’ll do well there. Hard to believe he’s only 30. I don’t know if the Rangers could have afforded him, or if he fit the plans, but he was pretty solid, if unspectacular, in the short time he played in New York.

Thanks to blogster TR-808 for the tip.

Just heard some sad news, and it may not mean much to you, but Herb Hammond passed away after a battle with cancer. Herb was a Rangers scout for a long time, beginning in 1989 with the hiring of Neil Smith.

It’s impossible to quantify his contributions, but obviously he was part of the regime that began the quick franchise turnaround from laughingstock to Stanley Cup championship in 1994. Hammond was the Rangers New England scout at that point, having worked at Brown University the previous seven years as hockey coach and assistant athletic director. He coached at Plattsburgh and Oswego state colleges prior to that, and was a high school hockey coach starting in 1958.

And, like so many of those who were associated with the ‘94 team, Herb was just a real good, high-character, quality person. We will miss him.

You can read his obit here.

Well, at least Marian Gaborik is healthy at the moment … we think.

How’d you like to be Chicago, which had that nightmare glitch by GM Dale Tallon, who didn’t tender his qualifying offers to restricted free agents on time then had to scramble to over-pay them before they became unrestricted, then got himself kicked upstairs?

How’d you like to be Chicago, which now has learned that its 12-year, $62.8 million deal for Marian Hossa is off to this start: He will miss the beginning of the season after shoulder surgery?

Here’s the story from NHL.com.

I’ve been asked by one of our loyal blogsters here to join him tonight.

The Mouth, as you know him, hosts a blog talk radio show—the topic being hockey—at Ranger Crisis. He asked me to be his guest tonight around 9:30 p.m. I believe we will be taking some questions. So join us by clicking here, or by going to this address: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Ranger-Crisis.

This is a few days old, but it’s a Q&A with Evgeny Grachev from hockeysfuture.com.

Here’s what’s left on the NHL free-agent market, from NHL.com. I am not sure how up-to-date this list is, since Dane Byers is still listed as a free agent and the Rangers announced that they had signed him.

And there may be a few more free agents added to the mix as teams walk away from salary arbitration decisions (Nik Zherdev?).

Here’s the official release:
RANGERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH FORWARD ENVER LISIN 

    New York, July 21, 2009 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with restricted free agent forward Enver Lisin.
    Lisin, 23, was acquired by the Rangers from the Phoenix Coyotes, in exchange for Lauri Korpikoski on Monday.  He skated in 48 games with Phoenix last season, registering 13 goals and eight assists for 21 points, along with 24 penalty minutes.  Lisin established career-highs in games played, goals, assists, points, penalty minutes, game-winning goals (two), and shots (105).  He tied for second on the team in even strength goals (12), tied for third in goals scored at home (eight), and tied for fifth in total goals.  He posted four multi-point performances, including a career-high, three-point effort on March 30 against Dallas (two goals and one assist).  In addition, Lisin recorded six points (two goals and four assists) in 10 games with the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League (AHL) this past season.
    The 6-2, 200 pounder has skated in 78 career regular season games in three seasons for the Phoenix Coyotes, registering 18 goals and 10 assists for 28 points, along with 46 penalty minutes.  Lisin made his NHL debut on October 14, 2006 at Nashville, and recorded his first career point with an assist in his next game on October 17, 2006 at St. Louis.
    Lisin has also appeared in 70 career AHL contests with San Antonio, collecting 20 goals and 23 assists for 43 points, along with 36 penalty minutes.  In 2007-08, Lisin established AHL career-highs in games played (58), goals (16), assists (19), and points (26).  He also posted a career-best, seven-game scoring streak from November 27 vs. Milwaukee to December 14 against Quad City, registering eight points (three goals and five assists) over the span.
    In addition, Lisin skated in 116 career contests with Kazan Ak-Bars of the Russian Super League (RSL), recording 21 goals and 11 assists for 32 points, along with 48 penalty minutes. The Moscow, Russia native was originally Phoenix’s second round choice, 50th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

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This leaves only Dubinsky and Zherdev unsigned among the RFAs. Zherdev’s arbitration hearing is July 31.

Arthur Staple of Newsday wrote a column about Chris Drury, and how it will be up to him to deliver coach John Tortorella’s message this season (does the Clutchmobile make deliveries?).

Anyway, it’s a good column. You can read it here.
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There’s a new poll down the right side of the page. Wade Redden edged out Donald Brashear in the previous poll (your least favorite Rangers acquisition?).

Sorry for the system asking for passwords. Apparently it’s a company-wide glitch. Our tech people are aware of it and working on it, and hopefully going to resolve it.