An Evening at the Round Table

0

Written on 2/16/2010 by Jim Cerny

Just wanted to put up a quick note thanking Daniel Akeson and Greg Donahue of The Blueshirt Bulletin for asking me to take part in a Writers Roundtable (well actually the table was rectangular, but you get the gist...) and Q&A with Rangers' fans last night in Midtown.

It was a pleasure chatting with the fans, answering their questions, and sharing stories from my current work and past. And I appreciate that they didn't stone me---or at the very least boo me---when I recounted my days as the play-by-play voice of the hated Islanders! Much appreciated everyone!

I should have known it was going to be a good night when I walked into the room where the meeting was being held by The Rangers Fan Club and someone shouted from across the room "Hey Jim! It's me, Sal! I used to call you all the time on Rink Rap!"

Well, shoot, of course I remembered Sal! He was one of the awesome regulars who phoned in on my hockey talk show in the '90's. People like Sal made that show a popular hit, and really helped launch my career in the NHL. So, hell yeah, I remember Sal; and it was a pleasure to be able to thank him in person for his long-time support.

And making the night the more fun was to be able to share the roundtable with Andrew Gross, my friend and fellow Rangers' beat writer for The Record in New Jersey. Needless to say we had a few laughs, and even shared some of them with the fans!

Like the time Gross and I drove to Montreal in October to cover Rangers-Canadiens. At the border the patrolman spoke in rapid-fire French then English, and a befuddled Gross replied in Spanish!!! What the hell was he thinking? Needless to say the patrol guard was not amused, spitting out, "I ask you a question in English and in French, and you answer me in Spanish!!!" That we ever were allowed to pass through and into Canada is only by the grace of hockey. Explaining that we were hockey writers helped smooth over the situation! Great job Gross, as I have kept reminding him for months since!

In any case, off topic for a bit, but thanks to all the fans who showed up last night, including a fellow Franklin and Marshall alum! Small world that I run into a fellow F&M classmate at a Rangers Writers Roundtable!! Crazy!

And keep up the good work, Dan and  Greg. Blueshirt Bulletin has a neat history, beginning with my friend Rick Resnick's orginal monthly Rangers newspaper in the '90's to the current edition and web site produced by Dan and Greg now.

Finally, here's a plug for two hard-working guys: for further info on Blueshirt Bulletin, check out their web site today!

Posted in , , , , | Comment Now!

Rangers Radio Debuts with Mike Keenan on Friday

1

Written on 10/15/2009 by Jim Cerny


As you can well expect I am fired up to host the brand-new weekly podcast talk program, Rangers Radio, over at NewYorkRangers.com.

While I love serving as the beat writer for the team's official site, broadcasting is still very much in my bones. So the chance to chat Rangers hockey with my co-host Steven Gelbs, while also interviewing current and former members of the organization, and answering the fans e-mail questions, is going to be a lot of fun, plain and simple.

And we have a very special guest for the first show, former Rangers (and Flyers...and Blues...and Panthers...and Bruins...and Flames...and, well you get the idea) head coach Mike Keenan. Expect Keenan to look back at the magical 1993-94 season (it's already been 15 years...incredible!), while also analyzing the current state of the Rangers in his new role as guest hockey analyst for The MSG Network.

Here is complete information on the show from the Rangers official team site.

I have reported on the NHL for 20 years, and for much of that time, I have covered the New York Rangers, whether as a radio reporter, talk show host, reporter for The Rangers Fax Report (remember that oldie but goodie from the mid '90's?!), or as beat writer. Because of that experience, I have many stories to share and insight to dispense.

And if nothing else, I'm good for a few laughs along the way!

Speaking of laughs,  Andrew Gross from The Record in northern New Jersey plugged Rangers Radio in his blog this morning, while also sharing a funny tale about how he crushed my career as play-by-play voice of the New York Islanders earlier this decade. It's funny stuff, and it's 100 percent the truth!!

You should be following Andrew's blog anyway, but definitely check out today's post.

And come join Rangers Radio at NewYorkRangers.com, this week and each week to follow. It's going to be a fun journey.

As a side note, I am considering hosting a weekly NHL podcast based on this Rink Rap blog---seperate from Rangers Radio---not just Rangers-related, but chock full of NHL news, opinions, guests, etc. If you like---or hate---the idea let me know. You might be able to sway my decision one way or the other.

Posted in , , , , , , | Comment Now!

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)