As the Rangers begin their quest for their first Stanley Cup, Post columnist Steve Serby caught up with the captain, Ryan Callahan.
Q: Do you actually have dreams ... or daydreams ... of holding the Cup?
A: Yeah since you’re a kid you do, you’ve always dreamt of that moment. When you’re a kid, you’re playing street hockey outside, you’re always talking about winning the Stanley Cup, or it’s Game 7, and gotta score that goal (smile). We take the first step [tonight] in hopefully getting that dream to come true.
Q: What drives you?
A: I think winning, trying to get to that ultimate goal, and get that prize, which is obviously the Stanley Cup. I think that’s what drives you day in and day out, just trying to get there, and trying to help your team get to that point.
NHLI via Getty Images
Ryan Callahan
Q: What message would you like to give Rangers fans about this team starting tonight?
A: I think right through everybody, we’re a passionate team, we’re excited about the playoffs, and hopefully we can make this city proud of the way we work and what we do on the ice. I hope they see that every night we go out there and we try to win, and we do everything we can to win.
And hopefully, at the end of the day, we bring home something that they’ll always remember.
Q: How realistic is that?
A: We feel like it is, it’s a long road. I mean, playoffs are hard. It’s a lot of good teams, and you gotta catch breaks along the way.
But we got a team in there that believes, and I think that’s the first step.
Q: What’s the difference in intensity level in the playoffs?
A: It’s faster, it’s more physical, every little play means something ... if you don’t get a puck in, you don’t get a puck out, could be the difference in a series. It definitely intensifies, and you realize that right away.
Q: What is your one single playoff moment?
A: For me personally, probably scoring two goals against Atlanta my first playoff experience at the Garden.
Q: Do you remember the first time you stepped on the Garden ice?
A: You’re in amazement. I think that warmups, I felt like I wasn’t even touching the ice (smile), it’s so surreal being able to go out there and play.
Q: What do you see the role of captain being?
A: For me, it’s to lead by example, try to do everything the team tries to embody, and do it best you can to have the guys follow.
Q: Do you study captains in other sports?
A: No, not too much. A guy that I’ve kind of admired and looked up to is a guy like Derek Jeter, the way he’s handled the New York media, and how he presents himself on the field and off the field is a guy that I was always a fan of, and now that I’m (team) captain in New York is another guy that I look up to.
Next >
1
2
3
4
HELSINKI — Nokia Corp. saw its share price plummet 14 percent on Wednesday after it warned that heavy competition will hit its first-quarter earnings, especially in developing markets, and that it expected no improvement in the second quarter.
The world's largest cell phone maker said multiple factors had hurt sales, particularly in the fast-growing markets of India, the Middle East and Africa and China.
The Finnish company has increasingly been losing out to competitors in the lucrative top-end smartphone sector, against Apple Inc.'s iPhone and brands using Google Inc.'s popular Android software, including Samsung. But it's also been squeezed in the low-end by Asian manufacturers making cheaper phones, such as China's ZTE.
Nokia said operating margins in the first quarter were "approximately negative 3 percent." Previously, it had expected them "around break-even, ranging either above or below by approximately 2 percentage points."
It said it sold 71 million mobile phones in the quarter — down from 108 million in 2011 — with net sales of €2.3 billion ($3 billion), while smartphone sales halved to 12 million units from a year earlier.
The profit warning was coupled by other bad news from the cell phone maker, which acknowledged a data connection problem with the Lumia 900 just two days after a high-profile launch in Times Square in New York and elsewhere in the United States.
Nokia said it would compensate American Lumia 900 users with $100 in credit at AT&T because of the software problem, as well as providing an updated Lumia 900.
Wednesday's news spooked investors, who sent Nokia's share price down more than 14 percent to close at €3.27 ($4.29) on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.
CEO Stephen Elop described the performance as "disappointing" for the company that had pinned hopes on posing a new challenge against chief rivals with new Windows-based Lumia smartphones, first launched in Europe in November and later in the United States and China.
"Our devices and services business continues to be in the midst of transition," Elop said. "Within our smart devices business unit, we have established early momentum with Lumia, and we are increasing our investments in Lumia to achieve market success."
In the first quarter 2012, Nokia said it sold more than 2 million Lumia phones at an average price of €220. On Wednesday it unveiled a new version of the Lumia 610 which will give customers near field communication technology, or NFC, allowing users make payments at adapted sales tills and exchange data with handsets with similar technology.
Elop also told analysts that Nokia would launch new products in the second quarter, take "tactical pricing actions in the near term" and would speed cost-cutting measures and "pursue significant structural actions if and when necessary."
Earlier this year, Nokia announced 4,000 job cuts — on top of 10,000 last year — and said it will stop assembling cell phones in Europe by 2013 as it shifts production to Asia, where the majority of component suppliers are based, to cut costs and help it reach markets faster.
Nokia has been the leading handset maker since 1998 but after reaching its global goal of 40 percent market share in 2008 it has gradually lost ground, falling to below 30 percent market share last year.
In a major strategy shift, it began a partnership with Microsoft Corp. last year, launching its first phone with the Windows operating system in October, aimed at clawing back lost ground. But analysts said it would take several quarters before the company's success could be measured.
Hannu Rauhala from OP-Pohjola bank in Helsinki said Nokia had lost market share quicker than expected — especially in China, its largest market — and that Windows-based phones had not managed to compensate for the loss.
"The market share shifted from Nokia to cheap Android phones in China," Rauhala said. "The interest will be increasingly turning to the second half of the year when we'll see Windows tablets and new generation Windows phones ... and if they are competitive and able to challenge Samsung and Apple."
Nokia is due to report first-quarter earnings results on April 19.
The Espoo-based company, near Helsinki, employs some 130,000 people, down from more than 132,000 a year ago.
HELSINKI — Nokia Corp., Apple Inc., Stephen Elop, market share, Google Inc., China, China, Nokia, share price, Lumia, cell phone, Samsung
John Crudele
Start worrying.
And ask yourself this: Is this the sort of stock market I really want to invest in? Do I want my hard-earned and hard-saved money — cash that’s perhaps set aside for retirement or the kids’ college education — at the mercy of Wall Street’s casino culture?
Stock prices slid again yesterday.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 213.66 points, or 1.7 percent, to 12,715.93. The market is now in the longest slump since last November.
And people who know about this sort of thing are openly talking about the beginning of a new bear market — an ill-defined period of falling equities prices and investor agita.
Ike Davis can see the wisdom in receiving a day off about now.
The Mets first baseman is still searching or his first hit of the season after going 0-for-4 in a 4-3 victory over the Nationals last night at Citi Field. Davis is 0-for-15 this season.
Before last night’s game, manager Terry Collins had indicated he planned to give Davis tonight off against Nationals lefty Ross Detwiler. Justin Turner would get the start at first base.
“Honestly, it’s probably smart right now to give me a day,” Davis said. “Do I want to come out? No, because I want to get a damn hit. But it’s a lefty, I haven’t gotten a hit all year and [Turner] needs to get some at-bats. It’s smart managing, I think, right now.”
Davis was diagnosed with Valley Fever in February. Though he hasn’t displayed symptoms of the disease, the Mets will be careful not to overextend him. Davis said he is scheduled to be examined today and have blood work, as a follow up to his February diagnosis.
Though he is hitless for the season, Davis said his approach remains solid.
BOX SCORE
“I’ve hit some balls hard, but I just can’t get them into fair territory,” Davis said. “The pitchers are making some decent pitches on me, but they haven’t really left anything over the heart in the last four games. They’ve been hitting their corners it feels like every time.”
The home cooking at Citi Field might need seasoning, but it isn’t necessarily slop.
With Mike Pelfrey starting last night, the Mets could claim to starting eight homegrown players — a first in the organization in a non-September or October game since 1990.
Ruben Tejada, Daniel Murphy, David Wright, Davis, Lucas Duda, Josh Thole, Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Pelfrey all came up through the Mets’ farm system. Jason Bay, who played briefly in the minors for the Mets in 2002, was the only member of manager Terry Collins’ lineup who didn’t begin his career in the organization.
“The Mets should be pretty proud of this lineup,” Collins said. “It’s a tribute to the scouting system, the player-development system, homegrown players in the big leagues.”
Previously, the Mets had eight homegrown starters in the lineup on April 19, 1990, against the Cubs.
That lineup included Gregg Jefferies, Keith Miller, Darryl Strawberry, Mark Carreon, Dave Magadan, Barry Lyons, Kevin Elster and Dwight Gooden. Howard Johnson was the only member of that game’s lineup who came from outside the organization.
“A lot of these guys came up together that are in this lineup,” Collins said. “This organization was ridiculed for not having a very good minor league system, but we’re running a pretty good lineup out there, and they’re all Mets.”
Though Collins recently broached the possibility of using Nieuwenhuis in the leadoff spot, the manager isn’t rushing to unseat Tejada, who had a career-high four hits on Sunday.
“[Tejada] is starting to get his swing down, that’s the most important thing,” said Collins of his 22-year-old shortstop, who was 1-for-3 with a double. “He had been hitting the ball in the air, that’s not where he’s going to make his living, hitting fly balls. He’s a line-drive hitter. Just start getting in the routine of getting the balls he can get on base with. That’s the thing we saw last year in the second half of last season.”
mpuma@nypost.com
Terry Collins, Mets, Ike Davis, the Mets, manager Terry Collins’, Justin Turner, Ross Detwiler, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Nationals
After a week of upheaval we have some minor changes and avnew member heading into the holiday break.
Fontbonne Hall slides a spot behind Archbishop Molloy to No. 4 after falling to Mary Louis. St. John Villa dropped out after opening the season 0-2 as Notre Dame Academy, coached by Tony Curatolo, topped son John’s Villa squad.
Debuting is defending Ivy League champion Horace Mann fresh of its lopsides season-opening win over Trinity. League schedules are light this week outside Brooklyn/Queens.
Here are this week’s rankings:
1. St. Joseph by the Sea (1-0) (Last week: 1)
An Rong Xu
TMLA and Julie Canova picked up a big win over Fontbonne Hall last week.
Sea showed a little bounce back this week. Despite a fine pitching performance from Jackie Cautela they fell 2-0 to Edison (N.J.). It was the junior ace who provided the decisive blow with bases clearing double in a 3-0 win over Preston.
Next: Notre Dame Academy (April 10, 12 p.m.)
2. Moore Catholic (1-0) (2)
Moore was quiet last week and won’t get back to meaningful games until late this week. It starts with Notre Dame Academy on Thursday and then rival St. Joseph by the Sea visits Sunday with CHSAA Staten Island supremacy on the line.
Next: Notre Dame Academy (April 12, 4 p.m.)
3. Archbishop Molloy (2-1) (4)
Some early morning hitting practice paid off for the Stanners against rival St. Francis Prep. After the Terriers tied the score at 4 in the top of the sixth Molloy responded with five runs in the bottom of the frame thanks to RBI hits from Taylor and Dana Moss for a 9-4 win.
Next: Christ the King (April 9, 3:45 p.m.)
4. Fontbonne Hall (2-1) (3)
Following a fast start, the young Bonnies hit their bump in the road. They watched Mary Louis get out to a 6-1 lead after three innings and could not complete a comeback, falling 9-8. Fontbonne will try to rebound against St. Francis Prep on Monday in Queens.
Next: No. 6 Mary St. Francis Prep (April 9, 3:45 p.m.)
5. Preston (2-0) (5)
If there was any doubt the Panthers are for real they proved it last week, losing to Archdiocesan power St. Joseph by the Sea just 3-0. Co-ace Megan Kelly’s only real blemish was a three-run double to Jackie Cautela. Preston faces Mary Louis in a non-league game Tuesday.
Next: @ Sacred Heart (April 17, 4:15 p.m.)
6. St. Francis Prep (2-1) (6)
Coach Ann Marie Rich said she was baffled by her team’s defensive performance against rival Archbishop Molloy. Still the Terriers rallied to tie the score at 4-4 behind Jessica Menna and Nicole Lomangino, only to see it slip away in the bottom of the six. A big game against Fontbonne is on tap this week.
Next: No. 4 Fontbonne Hall (April 9, 3:45 p.m.)
7. Mary Louis (2-2) (7)
After starting 2-0 Mary Louis righted the ship in a big way. It followed a win over Christ the King up with an impressive performance to beat Fontbonne Hall 9-8. Alyssa Paolicelli was the spark in the leadoff spot going 3-for-5 with three runs scored, had a two-run single and turned two double plays.
Next: @ No. 6 St. Francis Prep (April 11, 3:45 p.m.)
8. Poly Prep (1-0) (9)
The Blue Devils got off to a strong start last week, beating Riverdale, 14-7, in impressive fashion. Poly Prep is the six-time defending NYSAISAA champion and looks to be the team to beat in the Ivy League this year. Veterans like Jacquie Kennedy, Katie Friel and Kerri Saputo will be looked to for leadership and consistency at bat and in the field.
Next: Fieldston (April 13, 4:30 p.m.)
9. Cardinal Spellman (1-1) (10)
The Pilots saw their game with St. Barnabas rescheduled and will have to wait until April 17 to hit the field again against Maria Regina. Spellman appears to be headed in the right direction under its new coaching staff and ace Tiffany Rondon is primed for her best season yet.
Next: Maria Regina (April 17, 4:15 p.m.)
10. Horace Mann (1-0) (NR)
Mia Farinelli pitched well and just about everyone hit – especially Sara Land and Jamie Gropper – in a rout of Trinity in Horace Mann’s opener Wednesday. The Lions were undefeated last year until the NYSAISAA final, where they lost to Poly Prep. There’s no reason to believe Mann, with just about everyone back, won’t be just as good.
Next: Hackley (April 11, 4:30 p.m.)
New: Horace Mann (1-0)
Dropped out: St. John Villa (0-2)
On the bubble: Notre Dame Academy (1-1), St. John Villa (0-2), Riverdale (0-1), Christ the King (0-3), Fieldston (0-0), Bishop Kearney (2-0) and St. Edmund (3-0)
mraimondi@nypost.com
jstaszewski@nypost.com
Fontbonne Hall, Fontbonne Hall, Archbishop Molloy, Archbishop Molloy, Archbishop Molloy, St. John Villa, St. John Villa, Notre Dame Academy, Notre Dame Academy, Mary Louis, Mary Louis, St. Francis Prep, Horace Mann, Ivy League champion Horace Mann, Jackie Cautela, Jackie Cautela, Poly Prep, Fontbonne
The 2011-12 season has been full of one devastating injury after another for the Nets.
None, however, have harmed the team as much as the first one, when Brook Lopez suffered a stress fracture in the fifth metatarsal in his right foot against the Knicks in the Nets' second and final preseason game.
That injury, and the subsequent sprained ankle that Lopez suffered in Charlotte on March 4, have limited Lopez to five games this season, a number that won't increase after Nets general manager Billy King announced prior to Friday night's game at Prudential Center against the Wizards that Lopez will be shut down for the remainder of the season.
"Brook will not play for the rest of this year," King said. "He is healing nicely but with 10 games to go and him being a free agent and looking for the future, we'll sit him down for the rest of this year.
"By the end of the season he should be pretty healed. At the end of the season, we’ll do a CT scan."
King said that he spoke to Lopez's agent, Arn Tellem, while in Los Angeles, and the two decided that the best thing to do would be to shut down the 7-footer, who is set to be a restricted free agent this summer, for the rest of the season.
"It was a collective effort," King said. "But everybody thought it was best for the young center not to risk anything for the rest of the year."
Lopez is now the sixth Net to be ruled out for the season, joining Damion James, Jordan Farmar, since-released Keith Bogans and since-traded Shawne Williams and Mehmet Okur.
The Nets entered the season hoping to pair Lopez with Deron Williams to form one of the league's best inside-out combinations. But, instead, the two have only managed to play 17 games together since Williams was acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Jazz last season.
With Fred Kerber
tbontemps@nypost.com
Brook Lopez, Billy King, Deron Williams, stress fracture, Shawne Williams, Nets, Prudential Center, Arn Tellem, Damion James, fifth metatarsal
Peter Vecsey
HOOP DU JOUR
LOS ANGELES — By clandestinely calling for Stan Van Gundy’s job at season’s end, Dwight Howard almost certainly saved it — though I doubt that’s what a scheming management mole had in mind when he leaked Howard’s disgraceful demand to the cuddly coach, who proceeded to break the news at Thursday’s shootaround to a rapt fourth estate assembly.
After all, how does the Magic organization profit from keeping Van Gundy’s boat afloat?
His retention wouldn’t quite establish Orlando as a mecca for wandering tribes of prominent free agents or pacify any employee in particular. What choosing Van Gundy over Howard would do, however, is earn management a merit badge from fans fed up with the DeVos family catering and caving to bratty pinups.
EPA
WALK ON: Magic star Dwight Howard turns his back on coach Stan Van Gundy during last night’s loss to the Knicks.
As we all fondly recall, Rich DeVos sanctioned a Penny Hardaway-captained rebellion against Brian Hill. He felt so bad he rehired him years later, only to get him fired the conventional way, for not winning.
Now we have in the works Howard’s personal insurgency against Van Gundy.
In that the owner caught all denominations of grief for capitulating to one domineering inmate, does anybody really believe he’s going to sell out another warden?
On the other hand, I can practically visualize the exodus of both Van Gundy and Howard — barring, of course, Dwight’s signature to stay two additional years (the maximum allowable by league law) than the one he opted-in for (2012-13) just before the stroke of the Feb. 15 trade deadline.
Certified coach-killer notwithstanding, it’d be tough for Van Gundy to survive that kind of commitment from the NBA’s glossiest centerfold, I say with sincere skepticism, and easy for DeVos to endure the repercussion.
Let’s be sure to revisit that hypothesis in early July. For the moment, give Howard credit: Just when we thought a departure couldn’t be any more disreputable than The Decision, he limboed under that bar. For the moment, let’s deal with the untimely seepage of an unacknowledged accusation against him three weeks before the start of the playoffs.
How utterly loopy is that? Publicly indicting Howard as a smile-in-your-face back-stabber is not the best way for a coach to motivate his disenfranchised player, I’m guessing.
Then again, the roundabout revelation (see Feb. 26 column) forcefully opens a skylight Howard can be hurled through come summer to the accompaniment of thunderous applause.
And we all know who’ll be there waiting patiently calling for a fair catch.
The Nets have been and continue to be Howard’s most faithful and ardent suitors. They were eager to make a reasonably fair deal for him before the season and at a moment’s notice right up until the deadline.
And they’ll be amply equipped with players, draft picks and salary space ($23,457,307) to compensate the Magic sufficiently, as well as relieve them of some toxic waste, when the new cap figures kick in the second week of July.
I believe that’s what’s going to be the deal, no matter how much Mavericks owner Mark Cuban romances Howard and Deron Williams.
I believe both will be on billions of billboards throughout Brooklyn when the Nets open up there next season.
I believed the moment Howard made that chintzy one-year obligation to the Magic … long before some shadowy management figure conveniently clued in Van Gundy and he dropped a dime on Dwight … before the loonies playing in the Magic’s bin and running it began to plot against one another.
Now I’m convinced! Particularly after learning Howard is eligible for a two-year extension.
Given what’s going down in Orlando, If I were Nets coach Avery Johnson, I’d ask for the same security
Oh, by the way, Orlando continues to consider itself a title contender. All above bets are hereby hedged or off the table completely should that turn out to be true and the Magic win the championship or reach The Finals. In that case, none of this nonsense will matter or be remembered.
***
This just in from column contributor Bruce Littlefield: “If rising free agent Jeremy Lin signs with the team across the bridge they ought to change the team’s name to the BrookLIN Nets.”
It’s official: As evidenced by being outscored 44-22 at home by the Raptors, Doug Collins has lost the 76ers. Disorganized, listless, indifferent and embarrassing are a few words that come to mind.
If Collins has defined roles for his players I sure can’t tell. Who’s the distributor? Jrue Holiday? Evan Turner? Andre Iguodala?
Switching positions and starters at this point, does he really expect continuity and efficiency?
Thaddeus Young, one of the best runners of the floor in the league is now in a jog — a total of 18 points in his last three games. Six of his most recent he hasn’t even gotten to foul line. He’s looking like a bad imitation of Rasheed Wallace.
Some players have packed it in, but DeMarcus Cousins isn’t one of them, notes column contributor Ricky St. Jean. “The touchy one is on a tear. The last 10 games he’s playing as well as any center in the league — 24.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, 8.7 free throw attempts and 48 percent from the field.”
Big man coach Clifford Ray seems to be getting through to Cousins when others failed miserably.
peter.vecsey@nypost.com
Stan Van Gundy, Dwight Howard, Van Gundy, Van Gundy, coach, coach, coach, Orlando, Orlando, Magic organization
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Distinct sights and sounds at Augusta National defined Thursday’s Masters opening round, particularly as it pertained to the so-called “Big Three’’ — Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson.
First came the sound of Woods’ opening tee shot, a sniping hook that clanked off a tall pine tree to the left of the fairway and left him miles from the green. A short time later, Woods hit an even more gnarly tee shot on No. 2 — so far into the left woods he had to take a penalty drop.
On both holes, Woods miraculously scrambled for par, which is where he finished for the day, shooting a 72 that could easily have been an 80.
Getty Images
ROUGH TIMES: Tiger Woods hits from the rough on the first hole yesterday. Woods parred the hole and finished even for the first round, five strokes behind leader Lee Westwood.
A few hours later, it was Mickelson slicing a tee shot so far into the left woods on the 10th hole he immediately moaned, “Oh no,’’ and called for a provisional ball before the follow-through to his swing was complete.
A bizarre search-and-rescue mission for his ball, which included some beer-toting spectators milling around in the bush, followed but the ball wouldn’t be found.
Mickelson would take triple bogey — just his second triple in 75 career Masters rounds spanning 19 years — but he rallied to finish 2-over for the day thanks to a long birdie putt on 18.
McIlroy doubled the first hole and sent his approach shot on 13 into Rae’s Creek, but with birdies on 17 and 18, he salvaged a 1-under 71 on a day when he didn’t have his best stuff.
This hardly was the smashing start so many expected from the three most compelling players in the world based on the heightened anticipation entering the first major of the year.
While the “Big Three’’ struggled, Lee Westwood prospered, seizing the first-round lead by shooting a 5-under 67 to stand one shot clear of Louis Oosthuizen.
Though it was only the first round, visions of winning his first career major championship cannot help but be dancing in Westwood’s head.
“It comes into your mind immediately if you really want one,’’ Westwood said. “I’ve won pretty much everywhere and all that is left to do is a win a major championship. I’ve come close recently.’’
Westwood, 38, has 33 international victories, is a seven-time Ryder Cup player.
“I’ve been in this position a lot recently, been in contention,’’ he said. “I was trying to cruise my way into the tournament today and get in a good position and hopefully stay there. It’s nice to get off to a good start and have a platform to build from.’’
Westwood hit 16 of 18 greens and had a run of four consecutive birdies from No. 5 through 8 that ignited his round. He has shot par or better in eight of his past nine rounds at Augusta.
Each of the “Big Three’’ walked away from Thursday feeling lucky, because they all could have shot their way out of the tournament but didn’t.
“I hit some of the worst golf shots I’ve ever hit,’’ Woods said, adding that he fell into “old motor patterns from a few years ago.’’
“I’ve been trying to work through it, but every now and again it pops up,’’ Woods said. “And it popped up today. I hung in there, stayed very patient and grinded my way around.’’
Mickelson described the mess he made on No. 10 as “Tarzanish, hoofing through the jungle.’’
“I didn’t even know there was jungle in there. I’ve never been that far left there before,’’ Mickelson said. “I’ve never lost a ball at the Masters — other than in the water. It was nuts that ball was so far left.
“But,’’ Mickelson added, “I made a lot of mistakes and I’m only 2-over, and I’m excited about that.’’
So is McIlroy, who said, “I didn’t feel like I had my best out there today, but to finish under par I’m very pleased.’’
mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com
Tiger Woods, Woods, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson.First, Augusta National, Mickelson, tee shot
EXCLUSIVE
Eager to marry the popularity of social gaming with real-life betting, Zynga is in talks with casino company Wynn Resorts about a potential online gambling partnership, The Post has learned.
Zynga, which sees huge revenue potential in moving from pretend to real-life wagering, needs to form partnerships with casino operators in a number of states if it is to cash in on an expected boom in Internet gambling.
Neither Zynga nor Wynn Resorts responded to requests for comment.
At least 20 states are considering legalizing online gambling after the Justice Department reinterpreted a decades-old federal law in December and found it only banned sports betting and not other forms of online gambling.
Since the DOJ move, Zynga CEO Mark Pincus has been touting the company’s prospects for parlaying its popular virtual poker game into real-life betting, calling the possibilities “mind-blowing.”
While Pincus is waxing poetic about poker, experts said the odds are stacked against the social media upstart, which will need to partner with more than just Wynn to become a major player.
Among the problems: Most of the proposed state legislation would restrict online licenses to those who already are licensed to run a state gaming operation. Wynn only operates in Nevada.
New Jersey, for instance, has a bill that passed the state Senate and is now in the Assembly that would grant Internet licenses only to those with computer servers based in Atlantic City casinos.
“Our goal is to help existing casino operators. We don’t know anything about Zynga,” state Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee Chair Ruben Ramos Jr. told The Post.
In Connecticut, Native American tribes have reportedly said the state would be violating its agreement giving them exclusive casino gaming rights if it issued an online license to anyone else.
Likewise, Iowa in its pending bill offers online licenses only to those already authorized to operate state gambling boats and racetracks.
US Digital Gaming founder Richard “Skip” Bronson said, in a state-by-state scenario that “the existing gaming interests are most likely the ones who will be getting the licenses for Internet gambling.”
Sources said Zynga may try to move first in the UK, where online betting is already legal, though competition is stiff.
Indeed, Facebook, which does not want to host online gambling on its own site, has held conversations with UK online bookmakers William Hill and Ladbrokes about offering Facebook users access to their sites, a source said.
Reps for Facebook, William Hill and Ladbrokes did not return calls and messages seeking comment.
Stern Agee Managing Director Arvind Bhatia said if Zynga is unable to participate meaningfully in legalized online gaming here, its shares could fall as much as 10 percent because investors have baked into the share price expectations of new gaming revenue.
“I think, given that its core market is slowing, the potential gaming revenue is important.”
jkosman@nypost.com
Wynn Resorts, Zynga, Zynga, online gambling, Mark Pincus, Ruben Ramos Jr., Internet licenses, social gaming, gaming revenue, casino operators, online gaming, Facebook, Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee Chair, William Hill, Justice Department
Adlai Stevenson handed DeWitt Clinton its first league loss in stunning fashion.
Keyana Brown Wiggins went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored and Maranda Diaz was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored as Stevenson scored five times in the seventh to beat visiting Clinton, 8-7, in PSAL Bronx A softball Monday.
The Governors (5-1), who have won six of the last seven division titles, were up 7-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh. Savannah Lopez went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored for Clinton.
Stevenson (3-3) got back to .500 with the victory.
Susan Wagner 12, CSI/McCown 2: Taylor Sarcone went 1-for-3 with a home run, four RBIs and one run scored and also gave up no earned runs on two hits with eight strikeouts in five innings for Wagner (4-0 Staten Island A). CSI/McCown is 0-4.
McKee/Staten Island Tech 12, Curtis 2: Blayse Halvorsen went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored and gave up one earned run on two hits with five strikeouts in five innings to lead MSIT (3-1 Staten Island A). Christina Rubin and Natalie Vantuyn each had two RBIs. Curtis is 0-4.
Telecommunications 11, Bushwick 2: Cristina Morales gave up one earned run on three hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings and Sydney Resto went 1-for-3 with two RBIs to lead Telecom (4-0 Brooklyn A). Kiara Johnson went 2-for-3 with two RBIs for Bushwick (1-2).
Bronx Science 17, Walton 16: Elizabeth Reddy and Maheen Kahn each went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored to lead Science (4-2 Bronx A). Walton is 2-4.
Midwood 32, Lincoln 22: Celina Rivera went 4-for-5 with eight RBIs and five runs scored and Riley Lenahan was 4-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored to lead Midwood (1-1 Brooklyn A). Lincoln is 0-4.
CHSAA BRONX/WESTCHESTER
Preston 9, Good Counsel 0: Jessica Signore and Danielle Kibler each had RBI singles during a four-run fourth inning for Preston (3-0). Julianna Orrico added two hits and two RBIs. She tossed three innings for scoreless relief while striking out six allowing just one hit. Starter Kristie Davidow allowed no hits, walked one and struck out six during four innings of work.
PSAL CLASS B
Frank Sinatra 10, Info Tech 0: Deborah Witthauer didn’t give up a hit or walk over five innings, but did hit a batter, and April Uhl went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored for Sinatra (5-0 Queens B-I). Info Tech is 1-4.
FDR 37, Canarsie 3: Sabrina Escoto went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and five runs scored and Giovana Rosado didn’t give up a hit in three innings for FDR (3-1 Brooklyn B-I). Canarsie is 0-4.
Pace 19, Fashion Industries 11: Lilisbeth Castillo went 1-for-1 with three RBIs and three runs scored and Destiny Sanchez and Krystina Batista each had two RBIs for Pace (4-2 Manhattan B-II). Fashion is 3-2.
Richard Green 23, MLK 5: Elia Irias went 2-for-5 with four RBIs and two runs scored and Alyssa Ratcliffe Weber was 4-for-4 with four RBIs and four runs scored to lead Green (2-2 Manhattan B-III). MLK is 1-3.
Morris 25, Bathgate 7: Tiara Brown went 1-for-1 with five RBIs and three runs scored and Chasity Quinones was 1-for-1 with four RBIs and two runs scored for Morris (5-1 Bronx B-II). Bathgate is 2-4.
Kennedy 31, Grace Dodge 6: Amely Del Rosario went 3-for-4 with six RBIs and five runs scored and Amanda Lugo and Naomi Rodriguez each had four RBIs for Kennedy (2-2 Bronx B-I). Grade Dodge is 0-5.
Grady 19, South Shore 8: Kristal Anthony went 4-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored to lead Grady (5-0 Brooklyn B-I). South Shore is 1-3.
CHSAA BROOKLYN/QUEENS 'A'
St. Edmund 17, St. Saviour 7: Veronica Cupo was 4-for-4 with four RBIs and Julia Falcone also had four hits, including a triple, and drove in two for St. Edmund (3-0). Nicole Quintana went 4-for-4 with a 3-run homer. St. Saviour is 2-1.
NON-LEAGUE
Edison (N.J.) 2, St. Joseph by the Sea 0: Jackie Cautela allowed five hits, walked one and struck out 10 in seven innings, but allowed two solo homers for St. Joseph by the Sea in non-league. Sea managed just three hits off College of Charleston-bound hurler Valarie Cassel.
OTHER SCORES
InTech Academy 9, American Studies @ Lehman 8
John Bowne 11, Jamaica 1
Mott Haven 20, South Bronx 5
Roosevelt 15, Columbus 12
Transit Tech 16, Banneker 15
Edison 24, Hillcrest 12
Queens Vocational 21, Queens Metropolitan 5
Flushing 22, Robert Wagner 6
mraimondi@nypost.com
RBIs, Adlai Stevenson
Profile
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=92.1)
emmanueltg- emmanueltg
Syndicate
