On his travels for ESPN America, Aaron Murphy had the pleasure of working with a huge NY Rangers fan, a long-time SportsCenter host,  an accomplished author and a true American broadcast icon.

LINDA COHN is considered a pioneer for women sportscasters. She has graced television sets for over 18 years as one of the first full-time female sports anchors.

Linda has been  a constant mainstay on ESPN’s SportsCenter since July of 1992. Today you can see her regularly on SportsCenter and check out her book “Cohn-Head” at: www.lindacohn.net

After their NHL Premiere assignment together in Stockholm, Sweden, Murph recently caught up with Linda for a follow-up chat.

---

Murph On Ice – Great to talk to you again Linda, thanks for taking the time from Bristol to join me here on ESPN America!

Linda Cohn – My pleasure Murph, thanks for taking the time to chat with me!

MOI- Linda, when we worked together in Sweden I found out just how much you enjoy the NHL and the Rangers! What are your top three Ranger moments of all time?

MOI – The Rangers are having a pretty good campaign thus far, how crazy would New York be if this current group could go far into the playoffs and maybe even the Stanley Cup?

LC- Crazy would just be one of the ways to describe it if this edition of the Rangers go far in the playoffs and win the Cup. While there is a long way to go, this team has shown it has pieces it did not have before. Good leadership in Ryan Callahan, experience and skill in Brad Richards and role players who can all make a name for themselves on any given night. If it happens and the Rangers go far, NYC will be ready as always to celebrate!

MOI – You’ve had some pretty cool moments working in television, what’s your favorite interview or guest from the past few years on SC?

LC- Favorite guest as of late … No question there – when I got to interview Henrik Lundqvist following the Ranger games in Stockholm. I didn’t want it to end and I even made him laugh with my goalie expertise! (laughs)

MOI – That was a fun moment! Do you ever get nervous or ‘star-struck’ when you meet sporting celebrities? Any individual in particular?

LC – Hey, I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t get a little nervous meeting some sporting celebrities! I’d have to say the time I met Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan on the very same night at the very same party! I not only got over my nerves, but it was such a wonderful experience I had to write about it in “Cohn-Head”.

MOI- When you are dealing with athletes from all the different leagues (NBA, MLB, NFL), what do you think is the main difference that sets hockey players apart?

LC – No question, hockey players are the nicest, most humble and most media friendly. Why? Because they haven’t been pampered since birth.  They’ve always had to carry their own bags, play the game at all hours of the night or morning … and have even lived away from home to play the game they love, and it certainly shows.

MOI – Your trip to Sweden for the NHL Premiere was your first trip to Europe I believe, can we hope to see you on this side of the pond again – maybe for the NHL Premiere next season?!

LC – Loved my first trip to Europe. Murph … seeing the Rangers open their season in Stockholm was special. How many people do you know who’s primary reason to go to Europe was to see the Rangers! I think my next trip overseas will be a little more well rounded though!

MOI- You’ve attended some big events in your career, what are your three most memorable sports stadiums/venues in North America and why?

LC – Top three sports venues? Madison Square Garden – I love the place, followed closely by the old Montreal Forum, and finally the Glendale Stadium in Arizona where I saw my Giants pull off the most improbable upset, beating the unbeaten Patriots in Superbowl 42. That building will always be special because of that!

MOI – And finally, tell us you’re top three athletes of all-time and why?

LC – The number one athlete all time for me is Mark Messier, because nobody willed a team to win a Stanley Cup like he did with the Rangers in 1994.  He also did it in Edmonton with and without Gretzky.

Number two would be Michael Jordan for obvious reasons!

Number three is a tie between all those pro athletes who were told they were too small, too weak, too slow or simply not good enough to make it to the big time. It’s one of the reasons why I love sports so much … The opportunity athletes have to prove people wrong.

MOI – Well said. Thanks again Linda, this has been a pleasure! Enjoy the rest of the NHL season.

LC – No problem Murph, anytime! Stay in touch.

You can follow Linda on Twitter @LindaCohn

You can follow Murph on Twitter @MurphOnIce

ESPN America’s Podcast Crew discuss the NFL, chat with ESPN NHL analyst Barry Melrose about the latest hockey news and with ESPN columnist Jim Caple about the MLB after the Cardinals’ World Series win.

This podcast can be downloaded via iTunes

You can also follow ESPN America on Twitter or Facebook to get the latest updates on TV scheduling, competitions, blogs, etc.

WATCH LIVE SPORT ON ESPN AMERICA
College Football
College Basketball
National Football League*
National Hockey League*
* Certain regions only

ESPN America’s Aaron Murphy, Dennis Moloney and Patrick Sturgeon chat with Mike O’Hara from the MLB Fan Cave and also discuss the latest news from the MLB playoffs, College Football and the NFL. Murph also updates the NHL TV rights issue below.

This podcast can be downloaded via iTunes

You can read Aaron Murphy’s Murph on Ice blog here and follow him on Twitter at @MurphOnIce

You can read Patrick Sturgeon’s weekly previews of NCAA Football and NFL here

You can follow Mike O’Hara at the MLB Fan Cave on Twitter at @MikeyOh21

You can also follow ESPN America on Twitter or Facebook to get the latest updates on TV scheduling, competitions, blogs, etc.

WATCH AMERICAN FOOTBALL ON ESPN AMERICA

College Football on ESPN America
Click here for details and latest TV schedules, etc.

NFL on ESPN America
Viewers in Europe can watch the NFL season and ESPN’s Monday Night Football – Click here for more details and latest TV schedules, etc.
Viewers in the UK and Ireland can tune in to NFL Monday Night Football on ESPN. Click here for more details.

Click here to enter our NCAA Football Pennant, Monday Night Football and other prize competitions.

NHL UPDATE

Aaron Murphy writes: Further to my note about NHL rights in my previous “Murph on Ice” blog Cruel Summer, I can give you the latest PR release from ESPN on this subject:
NHL Fans – we understand your frustration and questions about the present situation in Europe regarding NHL coverage. We are currently in discussions about this and as soon as there is any development we will ensure you all know. Please note, that we do not discuss private business matters in public, so will not be able to post about these discussions on social media. You can contact us at support@espncustomercare.com

Aaron Murphy reflects on a tragic NHL offseason, interviews Barry Melrose, and covers the current NHL rights situation on ESPN America.

As a fan of any sport, we only want a few things from our chosen favorite’s off-season. We want expediency. We want our team to improve, we want things to be smooth and without drama. We need to have the feeling that the next season is coming and that things will be back to normal soon in our sporting lives.

This is every summer for me. I wish that hockey was back, I dream about it, as I get anxious for the physicality and speed which makes up the most exciting game on the planet. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy baseball, and love the summer, but hockey is what fuels my sporting passion.

This summer started upbeat. It seemed that the offseason would be full of fantastic stories from the Boston Bruins and their Stanley Cup parties. They ran up a $150,000 bar bill at a casino back in June and we just knew they would enjoy the dog days of summer, and provide us with some off-ice entertainment.

There were of course a few questions we all wanted answered too! How was Sid, and would he play again? Would the Leafs make some big moves to break the playoff slump? Would greats like Lidstrom and Selanne come back for one more year? Fun questions, things that tickled our off-season hockey brains. Nothing serious, just things at the back of our collective hockey heads.

But all these nagging questions and fun thoughts to pass the summer were nothing compared to the events that would crop up and sink our spirits throughout the summer of 2011. The worst summer of all for the hockey community.

We actually had a glimpse of what was to come. It was to foreshadow a long period of sadness and grief for everyone around hockey.

A sad reminder of the frailty of life. The frailty of people no matter how tough they may be. May 13th will long be remembered as a shocking and sad date. It was the date that a larger than life player was lost to us forever.

Derek Boogaard the ‘Boogy Man’ was as big and as tough as they come in a hockey player. At 6’7 and 265 pounds, there weren’t many larger on the ice than Derek. Boogaard had a tough year in New York battling concussion and maybe his inner demons. Many surrounding the giant knew of his addictive personality and his past troubles. Despite these warning signs, no one could have predicted his death on May 13th after a night of drinking and drug taking.

His death was ruled ‘accidental overdose’ with the cocktail of booze and pills he had consumed before returning to his Minneapolis apartment that night. It was a huge blow. Derek had just returned from rehab, and seemed in high spirits to get back to his career and be healthy after the concussions and issues he battled last season. His death seemed pointless and unfair. It was indeed a wake-up call that life is precious, and we should always be on the lookout for friends and family who may have similar problems to the ones Boogaard bravely fought.

The hockey world mourned Boogaard. Life went on though. The NHL playoffs got more interesting, and the on-ice battles and triumphs helped us all move forward from the May tragedy.

In an eerie bit of coincidence, the Canucks were to be vanquished in seven hard fought games against Boston. They lost this fight without one of their toughest battlers.

Rick Rypien was a tough guy. He wasn’t as big as Boogaard, but at only 5’11 and 180 pounds Rypien packed a punch. He was missed by his teammates against the much more physical Bruins without a doubt in that final series.

Rypien was not with the Canucks to fight their battles because of his own demons. He was on leave from the club to deal with ‘personal issues’ away from hockey. The Canucks had granted him that time. He had in fact been on a similar break a few years ago (2008-09), again in the midst of a hockey season. His ‘personal issues’ were well known to his employers and teammates alike. Rypien had been dealing with a life-long struggle with depression.

It’s one of those taboos in the professional sports world. These men are larger than life heroes who are tough as nails right? They surely have no emotional problems or personal issues right? Well the whole system couldn’t be more wrong. Rypien’s death on August 15th was ruled a suicide, after a shocked family member discovered his body in his Alberta home. Despite the warning signs, despite the past history, no one could help Rypien. He had ended his life and his battle with a force none of us could possibly understand. He was no coward, we know that. But he was sick with a disease that is not supposed to prey on professional sportsmen in our macho psyche. He lost a battle off the ice that no one could help him win.

The hockey world again mourned the loss of one of our own. We thought that surely this was it for the tragedy this offseason. We thought it couldn’t get worse. We were wrong.

There was no one in hockey more liked than Wade Belak. Despite his years as a tough guy in the NHL, even the guys he fought liked him! Wade’s smile and self-deprecating humor were legendary. He had just retired as a player, but had many opportunities lined up. He had a wonderful wife and family. It appeared that Wade had so much going for him. Wade was another behemoth, at 6’5 and 230 pounds, there surely was nothing he was afraid of or couldn’t handle.

Then on August 31st our beliefs and our faith were once again destroyed.

Belak was found dead in a condominium he was staying at in downtown Toronto. He had been there preparing to appear on a Canadian Television show Battle of the Blades. The police said the cause of death was not ‘suspicious’ and the case was treated as a suicide. After the death had made the news, the truth started to come out. Belak had hidden his depression for years. Only those close to him knew about it. Unlike Rypien who had a more public battle, Belak had hidden his affliction with a big smile and a fantastic wit and sense of humor. How bad were his inner problems that all the success and love in the world could not stop him from wanting out? It was a sucker punch of epic magnitude. A death that shook us all and continued the horrible trend of hockey’s darkest summer. The loss of Belak proved that we could not possibly understand his disease. It was something that was immeasurable and left us all empty.

For all the sadness we had poured out for Boogaard, Rypien and Belak, we could never have been prepared for September 7th.

I was waiting for a flight in Lisbon, Portugal. I had been at an affiliate meeting for ESPN America. It had been a successful few days, and I was looking forward to getting on my flight back to London. I received a text from a hockey colleague in Toronto. The words on my phone will stay with me a long time “KHL team killed in plane crash, what are you hearing?” I wasn’t hearing anything. I was in shock. About to board a plane myself, and pretty much punch drunk from the summer’s earlier tragedies, this one took my breath away. I was a zombie. I did not tell my colleagues of the news. I didn’t want to speak of a plane crash as we were about to board one. It was surreal and I felt empty and confused about all the horrible news that had transpired since May.

The Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team was taken that day. Every one of them has perished. It is not a hockey tragedy. It was a world tragedy. They were on their way to a game in Minsk and the start of the KHL season. Excited about the start of a new campaign, and full of hope with new Head Coach Brad McCrimmon at the helm. McCrimmon was a fantastic NHL player and was an assistant coach in Detroit. He wanted to be a head coach and took his opportunity in Russia. It’s unbelievable.

Other former NHL players on the plane that fateful day were – Ruslan Salei, Pavol Demitra, Karel Rachunek, Karlis Skrastins, Josef Vasicek, Alexander Yasyunov, Alex Karpovtsev and Igor Korolev. All gone far too soon. All pursuing their love of playing hockey. If there is kind sentiment for their families it is indeed that fact – they died being what they loved – hockey players.

We all mourn in our own way. We all feel for the families of all those lost this dark summer. We pray that we will not have another period like this in hockey or otherwise. It has been a cruel summer.

In search of answers and maybe even some wisdom to make sense of it all, I spoke with my ESPN NHL colleague Barry Melrose about all the summer’s tragic news. His wise words summed up a lot for me.

“For those of us that love hockey, the start of this NHL season can’t come fast enough. I don’t think the hockey world has ever had a summer like this past one,” Barry told me. “Every bit of news was bad and every story was worse than the last one ending with the terrible plane crash in Russia. We need good news, good games, good stories and good thoughts.”

“The great game of hockey will help in most of these areas and our great athletes will do the rest,” Barry continued. “Make sure we don’t forget the stories of this summer, but from now on let’s focus on all the great things this time of year has to give us.”

Amen Barry … I think we can all agree with that.

And finally …

Many of you hockey fans have emailed us and posted on Facebook / Twitter asking about the status of NHL on the channel. Unfortunately, I don’t have a definitive answer, but I have asked the ESPN America management team on behalf of our viewers, readers and social media community. At the moment, I was told, that while negotiations continue the company is only able to say the following:

“We are still in discussions with the NHL’s rights holders about rights in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region and remain interested in continuing our coverage of the league if the right opportunity exists. We still have a valued relationship with the NHL and remain fans of the sport. We’ll share more information as it develops.”

Personally, I know that ESPN America does truly have a lot of hockey fans. The people I asked genuinely understand your questions and concerns, but don’t have an answer at the moment. So I’ll keep asking and share more if anything changes.

This has been “Murph on Ice” for ESPN America

Aaron Murphy has been covering the NHL for ESPN America for five years. He also covers other sports and special events for ESPNAmerica.com. Murph is also the host of the ESPN America Podcast, which is produced monthly and covers all sports you can see live on the network.

You can follow Aaron Murphy on Twitter @MurphOnIce

NAT COOMBS is a writer and broadcaster who hosts the chat show Talk of The Terrace on our partner channel ESPN, and both NFL & MLB coverage on BBC Radio Five Live. He also anchors the US sports podcast Americarnage and is a regular guest on ESPN Radio’s Fantasy Baseball Podcast.

Nat looks at the current MLB season and the new NFL season to gauge which players are set to rebound from past setbacks and loss of form (or, in some cases, freedom).

America loves a comeback kid; always has, always will. Frank Sinatra, Bill Clinton, and, to a lesser extent, the cast of the Police Academy movies (rest in peace, Charles ‘Bubba’ Smith aka ‘Hightower’ and the overall first round pick and a Super Bowl V winning lineman with the Colts).

And this sentimental attachment to an unlikely return to glory is perhaps most poignant in sports, where some of the most remarkable tales of fighting back from the brink (and beyond) can be found. Indeed both the NFL and MLB have an official “Comeback Player of the Year Award” – though it isn’t always necessarily awarded to the player with the most colorful back story, more so directly linked with improvement in that player’s overall performance on the field.

In recent years we’ve seen some diverse tales of redemption: Josh Hamilton [Texas Rangers] returning from crack addiction (and more) to play in a World Series and win a MVP award; Michael Vick rehabilitated (on the field anyway) after disappearing from the NFL for his globally-publicized incarceration, and indeed bagging the aforementioned NFL CPOTY Award.

On a less complex, but no less impactful level, you have less noticeable players like Bartolo Colon. Having played for five MLB teams since 1997 and winning the 2005 Cy Young Award with the Indians, the 38-year-old had seemingly been discarded as the poster boy of washed up, overweight has-beens. He was even reduced to pitching in Winter Ball this off-season to try to earn a ticket back to the Majors. And back he came, only to shock everyone and as a bona-fide starting pitcher (8-6, as I write this) for one of this year’s genuine contenders, the New York Yankees.

Second-guessing who may be the comeback kids next season in the NFL – officially or otherwise – is an interesting subject. Obvious candidates include Plaxico Burress – like Vick, coming back into the league after a period in jail, and recent Patriots’ signings Albert Haynesworth and Chad Johnson, who pack more baggage than Lady Ga Ga and her entourage flying into JFK Airport.

Then, there are some long shots who would represent the Rocky Balboa style underdogs, that includes: Rex Grossman of the Redskins (who took the Bears to the Big Show in 2006 and didn’t so much suffer a Super Bowl hangover as a ‘Super Sunday emergency ward stomach pump’) and Chad Henne of the Dolphins, providing he hangs onto the starter’s jersey, which quite frankly, would represent a success of significant proportions given the fact he’s even been booed in pre-season training by his own teams’ fans – like he’s a WWE heel squaring off against John Cena.

Whoever it is, in whichever league, they’ll have a hard ‘return to combat’ act to follow when it comes to the All-time Comeback Kids in North American sport. Listed below is my take on the best of the best across the four major leagues along with a college wildcard.

NFL – FRANK GIFFORD
Those of you who have been watching ESPN America’s Monday Night Football retrospective this summer will know Frank Gifford as a respected commentator. Less well-known, as a New York Giant, he was elected to the NFL’s 1950s All-Decade Team as a running back. Another of Gifford’s many football-related legacies was to inspire the “Comeback Player of the Year” award … and here’s why.

His All-Pro career came to a crushing halt back in 1960. During a game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Gifford was infamously knocked out cold by Chuck Bednarik – one the game’s hardest and meanest tacklers – suffering a severe head injury that forced him out of football.

Undaunted, Gifford miraculously returned to the Giants two years later. Equally surprising as his return was that he had changed positions from running back to wide receiver – catching 43 TDs (nine more than he’d rushed for), and became a star again. He even made the Pro Bowl again as a receiver, in 1964, and then promptly retired – for good. This makes sense when you consider that he’d made the NFC’s All Star team eight times and at three positions (RB, DB and WR). Frank even found time to pass for a non-QB record14 touchdowns (we’ll ignore the non-QB record six interceptions!). Oh! And to cap the comeback Gifford was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977.

MLB – 2004 BOSTON RED SOX

I’ve not gone for an individual player but a team that made an eight-decade comeback. (Hey, it’s my game, so my rules). The 2004 Sox had lived in the long, cold shadow of the New York Yankees for years. Red Sox Nation was desperate to break the ‘Curse of the Bambino’ having traded Babe Ruth in 1919 to their rivals instigating an 86-year stretch without a World Series crown.

Having come up short time and time again in the intervening years, fate pitted the old enemies against each other in the 2004 ALCS. The Yankees took a 3-0 lead in the best of seven series, which led to one of the most extraordinary sporting comebacks ever witnessed. The Sox fought back and ultimately won the series 4-3, exorcising the Curse, before going on to take the World Series.

Games 4 and 5 alone – with Boston so far on the ropes they were sitting in the cheap seats – went into extra innings. This late drama created a surreal atmosphere with play going past midnight in the chill of the October night. The Sox roster delivered a range of exceptional individual performances – from Dave Roberts’ pivotal stolen base in Game 4 to Curt Schilling’s bloody sock in Game 6. Most notable among all these solo efforts was a Series MVP display from David Ortiz who smacked a walk-off homer in Game 4 and a walk-off single in the 14th inning of Game 5.

NHL – MARIO LEMIEUX

There is no doubt that Montreal-born Lemieux is one of the great comeback stories across all North American sporting history.

The NHL’s first overall draft pick in 1984 – who Bobby Orr called “the most talented player I’ve ever seen,” – retired not once, but twice, because of serious health issues. Not forgetting he missed 50 games in 1990-91 after back surgery, number 66 still goes down as one of the NHL’s all-time legends. Lemieux won the Hart Trophy and scoring title in 1995-96 – having sat out the entire previous season. In 1997, he was forced into ‘early’ retirement to battle cancer and was immediately elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame on what he had achieved in his stellar career.

Not content with all that had gone before and having beaten the Big C, he strapped his skates back on in 2000 and played another five seasons for the Pens. He was still at the top of his game and was a key player in Canada’s 2002 Olympic gold winning team.

In 2006, he was then diagnosed with an atrial fibrillation (causing irregular heartbeats), which forced him to retire for the second and final time.

NBA – EARVIN ‘MAGIC’ JOHNSON

I haven’t chosen Magic based on his post-comeback performance, despite the fact that he is undeniably one of the games’s all-time greats, but for the symbolic nature of his re-appearance after the announcement that rocked and shocked the sporting world, in 1991, that he was HIV positive.

At that time no major professional athlete – and very few public figures of any kind – had publically announced that they were carrying the HIV virus, and sufferers were overwhelmingly found within the homosexual communities, which propelled Johnson, who contacted the disease from heterosexual partners, into the, then, most unlikely, role of spokesperson for education and awareness of the disease.

Having already built a Hall of Fame, five world titles and three MVP career, his subsequent “post-retirement” performances at the 1992 Summer Olympics – as part of the US Dream Team – were infrequent due to a knee injury, but the inspirational manner of his appearances in Barcelona, and the hope and belief they gave thousands of people, irrespective of the specific nature of their individual problems, was as brave as it gets.

NCAA – MARCUS DUPREE

One of my favorite back from the scrapheap stories has been poignantly recorded in ESPN’S remarkable 30 for 30 documentary The Best There Never Was. Be sure to catch it next time it airs on ESPN America [or see trailer below]. The clue to my favoritism is in the title: Dupree was a prolifically talented high school running back (87 TDs), so good that when you watch the tape back, it genuinely appears as if you’re watching a video game.

The much courted phenom eventually settled on signing with Oklahoma. He starred in his freshman season and even forced Coach Barry Switzer to adapt his legendary wishbone offense to a Dupree-orientated I-formation. Despite his success on the field, he suffered a series of injuries including a bad concussion, took terrible advice that saw him transfer to Southern Miss and then found himself ineligible to play anymore in the NCAA and left his new team without ever playing for them.

Turning pro, in 1984, he was signed by the New Orleans Breakers to the newly-formed USFL, where he was horrifically injured in the season opener and was told, before he turned 21, that he would never play football again.

Six years later, the great Walter Payton visited him and talked him into getting back into shape. Dupree shed almost 100 pounds and wrote to every NFL franchise. The (then LA) Rams gave him a trial, and offered him a contract. He only carried the ball 68 times in the NFL before retiring, but the very fact he made it there after such a problematic injury and prolonged absence, is all you need to know.

Let me know if you agree with my list, and even better let me know if you don’t [comments welcome below or via ESPN America Twitter or Facebook]. Because, like most opinions subjectivity is key. Other than the fact that Police Academy 5: Operation Miami Beach is Oscar worthy. That’s a stone cold fact.

Follow Nat on Twitter

LIVE SPORT ON ESPN AMERICA

You can follow the MLB regular season ending pennant races and then the postseason and the World Series on ESPN America. Click here for more details.

Viewers in Europe can watch the new NFL season and ESPN’s Monday Night Football  – Click here for more details.
While viewers in the UK and Irleand can tune in to the NFL on ESPN. Click here for more details.

The new NCAA College Football season is also available throughout Europe on ESPN America – click here for details.

SPORTCENTER‘s MICHAEL KIM writes a North American Sports blog for The Independent newspaper in the UK.

Click on the links to go to The Independent website to read Michael’s blog.

15th Dec: Predictions for Week Fifteen of the NFL

9th Dec: Predictions for Week Fourteen of the NFL

1st Dec: Predictions for Week Thirteen of the NFL

25th Nov: Predictions for Week Twelve of the NFL

10th Nov: Predictions for Week Ten of the NFL

3rd Nov: Predictions for Week Nine of the NFL

Michael had a bye week in Week Eight as he was in London at the NFL game.

21st Oct: Predictions for Week Seven of the NFL

14th Oct: Predictions for Week Six of the NFL

7th Oct: Predictions for Week Five of the NFL

30th Sep: Predictions for Week Four of the NFL

9th Sep: Predictions for the opening weekend of the NFL

26th Aug: Fantasy sports are no dream for The Talented Mr Roto

1st Aug: It’s not just cricket - the MLB video replay debate crosses the pond

1st Jul: MLB assessment at the mid-season stage

17th Jun: How the Dallas Mavericks conquered the NBA

6th Jun: The impact of the NFL lockout on agents

Click here for earlier blogs from Michael.

Michael Kim is the host of SportsCenter, ESPN’s flagship US sports news show, now airing in the UK on ESPN America every weekday morning live from 6:00am UK with an updated show at 10:30pm UK.

As well as watching Michael every weekday on SportsCenter, you can follow him on Twitter.

It’s been a busy time for sports here at ESPN! ESPN America’s Aaron Murphy, Dennis Moloney and Patrick Sturgeon wrap-up the Stanley Cup, NBA Final, and look over the top stories in MLB! Murph has a guest on the phone from Boston, and a special announcement about the MLB All-Star game in Arizona. Have a listen to the ESPN America podcast here:

Don’t forget that you can follow along all summer for all your sports news and info on Facebook and twitter.

“Murph On Ice” and the rest of the ESPN America Podcast crew preview the 2011 Stanley Cup Final between the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins.

It’s been a busy time for sports here at ESPN! ESPN America’s Aaron Murphy, Dennis Moloney and Patrick Sturgeon wrap-up the Stanley Cup, NBA Final, and look over the top stories in MLB! Murph has a guest on the phone from Boston, and a special announcement about the MLB All-Star game in Arizona. Have a listen to the ESPN America podcast here:

Don’t forget that you can follow along all summer for all your sports news and info on Facebook and twitter.

Well NHL fans – what a ride this 2010-2011 hockey season has been for us all! From my time in Prague way back in October covering the Coyotes and Bruins, to the All-Star Game in Raleigh in January, and of course being in Boston for Games three and four last week – this has been a phenomenal journey.

I had a weird feeling back in Prague that Tim Thomas and the Bruins had some plans up their collective Black and Gold sleeves – but I had no idea of how grand those plans were!

Tim Thomas had a season for the ages. This guy has had to scrape and fight for his job, and ultimately respect from NHL fans and media alike. Will this Conn Smythe effort finally bring him into the talk of the greats in our game?! Thomas will surely win the Vezina trophy in Las Vegas next week, and no one can take away this playoff run. His 798 saves in the playoffs this season is the best total in history – enough said! Oh I guess his numbers were ok too – a .940 SV%, and a 1.98 GAA with four shutouts – superhuman.

I remember at the All-Star game that Bruins captain Zdeno Chara seemed restless when asked about his team and the issues they had against the Flyers in the last playoff run. He had a steely look – a look that said he had unfinished business and that he would attain his goal. It’s funny looking back now how focused and business-like both Chara and Thomas were. I guess Chara’s resolve paid off in this run – his plus-16 led all players. He was physical night in and night out, and a pillar of strength for Boston on the penalty-kill…he was a true leader – the definition of a Captain.

The Canucks had a great run – make no doubt about it. Beating the Blackhawks in seven in the opening round and showing great character after blowing a three game lead to advance. The Predators played hard against them, but they found a way to win, and the Sharks went all out. Ryan Kesler was on fire against the Preds and the Sedins got it going against San Jose. They seemed to be able to find a hero throughout to get the job done. Kevin Bieksa’s big goal will be remembered amongst Vancouver fans for years to come. The shame here is that there had to be a let-down for someone in this final. Canada’s Stanley Cup drought continues – going back to 1993.

The B’s are the first team in NHL history to win three game seven’s in one playoff run. They went the distance with bitter rivals Montreal, Tampa Bay, and of course again in the final. They swept the Flyers in round two to avenge the crushing defealt Philly handed them last season. You could say that the loss in round two of the 2010 playoffs – blowing a three game lead to lose at home in seven to the Flyers, was a galvanizing moment for the Beantowners. They knew they were better than that…they knew they had to make up for it.

The acquisitions at the trade deadline of Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly were also shrewd moves by Boston General Manager Peter Chiarelli. Both played huge parts in this incredible story – proving that depth – not big names wins championships.

The fans I encountered in Boston last week were hungry for a Bruins’ result. They had tasted glory with the Patriots, the Celtics and of course their beloved Red Sox all in the past seven years. I spoke with plenty of NHL fans who were calling it ‘the Bruins time.’ Well it has arrived – with a 4-0 Game seven gem. They have taken their place in Boston sports folklore. They have attained the top prize.

“You’ve been waiting a long time, but you got it,” Tim Thomas said to the fans, “You wanted it, you got it. We’re bringing it home.”

For the Canucks this could be their galvanizing moment. Falling just short of their goal must be beyond tough – but they know how good they can be. Losing Aaron Rome and Mason Raymond was hard on their lineup. Roberto Luongo’s struggles in Boston also a blow. But that team is a great team. That team – if they can re-group and come back strong and focused next season – could once again be Stanley Cup Contenders. We just have to hope that the riots in Vancouver in the aftermath of the loss Wednesday can soon be forgotten.

Bruins ‘grey beard’ Mark Recchi will leave the game on top as he announced his retirement after the win at age 43. Recchi is a testament to hard work and mental focus. While his younger counterparts on the Canucks – the Sedin brothers – struggled statistically in the series, Recchi had seven points in the seven games. ‘Rex’ as he is called by his teammates, leaves the NHL with three Stanley Cups (Penguins, Canes and now Bruins).

Well it’s been a pleasure to cover the NHL and some key events for ESPN America this year! Murph On Ice will be back next season bringing you along again for another great NHL run. Also follow us all summer long as we bring you all the hockey news and info during the offseason.

Well the Stanley Cup playoffs were an incredible ride on ESPN America! MLB takes center stage now, and our coverage brings you all the way through the World Series! You can follow along with all the baseball news and info on Facebook and twitter.