WHO WILL BE THE NEXT TEAM TO PARADE DOWN THE CANYON OF HEROES?
WHO WILL BE THE NEXT TEAM TO PARADE DOWN THE CANYON OF HEROES?
By: Matthew Blittner
The city that takes stars and turns them into legends. The city that creates grand elegant names for its' heroes.
In New York City we celebrate our teams with the most over-the-top celebrations imaginable. A big city with bigger names and all of that comes to a head in one grand place -- The Canyon of Heroes.
The "Canyon" runs along Broadway, from Bowling Green to City Hall Park. The ticker-tape parades that have been held along this route are the stuff of legend and occur whenever one of New York City's professional sports teams wins a championship. Originally these parades were held for returning war heroes -- that's how the Canyon got its' nickname. (*Note-National and International championships like the US Women's Soccer team in 2015 are also celebrated in the Canyon.)
The last time the Canyon was used for the championship celebration of a New York City team, was after the NY Giants beat the New England Patriots, 23-17, in Super Bowl XLVI. For those of you who don't follow the NFL, that was in 2012.
The new millennium has not been kind to the, "City of Champions." From 2000-today there have only been four New York City team celebrations: The Yankees in 2000 and 2009; the Giants in 2008 and the aforementioned 2012.
Every team wants to win their respective sport's championship, but it is so hard to do, and here in New York we have been spoiled with the constant success of our teams. The Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets, Rangers, Islanders, Knicks, and Nets have accounted for dozens of ticker-tape parades, but who will be the next one to celebrate in the Mecca of sports celebrations?
YANKEES
The franchise that has won more championships than any other team in North American professional sports, has been oddly quiet this millennium. With only two championships in 17 years, it seems like an eternity since the Bronx Bombers have basked in the glow of a city-wide celebration.
Fear not Yankees fans, a new dawn is approaching. With such homegrown talent as Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Luis Severino, and Dellin Betances guiding the team -- with more on the way -- the future is brighter than at any point since the beginning of the fabled, "Core Four," of Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, and Mariano Rivera.
METS
The team that has known more misery than success over the years, has been to the postseason in two consecutive seasons, including one World Series appearance.
The foundation of the team is its' homegrown pitching staff, and while injuries have thus far derailed their young careers, next season offers another opportunity to make good on their potential. With more homegrown talent joining them, the wait since 1986 could be over sooner than you think.
GIANTS
The last "New York City" team to hoist a championship trophy, has renewed optimism for this coming season. After ending a five-year postseason drought the Jints are among the early season favorites to win the Lombardi Trophy. And something tells me, that if they are to do it for the third time in 10 years, it will once again be at the expense of the New England Patriots.
JETS
A team that last won a championship in Super Bowl III (January 1969), is no closer to ending their drought then mankind is to successfully traveling backwards in time.
With the team high-command in disarray, and the on-field roster among the least talented in the NFL, it will be quite some time before Gang Green travels down the Canyon on floats.
KNICKS
See JETS.
NETS
See JETS and KNICKS.
ISLANDERS
A disappointing season last year, saw Head Coach Jack Capuano fired mid-way through the campaign, and ultimately the team missed the playoffs by one measly point. Amid concerns about where the team will be playing, and whether or not their captain John Tavares will re-sign come next July 1st, this is a team that could surprise a good number of people. The offseason addition of Jordan Eberle doesn't move the needle much, but overall the team should be a playoff contender, and as we all know, the playoffs are a crapshoot, so once there, anybody can go all the way -- why not the Isles?
RANGERS
This team has gotten tantalizingly close to hoisting the Stanley Cup a number of times since 2012. Three Eastern Conference Finals appearances; one Stanley Cup Finals appearance; and one President's Trophy have established this as an upper echelon team in the NHL. They are battle tested, and hungry, and after their offseason moves, are primed for another run at the Cup this coming season.
VERDICT
Three teams (Yankees, Giants, and Rangers), of the eight mentioned above, have realistic shots at capturing a championship within the next calendar year. Any one of these three teams could be the next one to parade down the Canyon of Heroes. Who will be the first?
The Yankees are still a season away from kickstarting another run of MLB dominance. The Giants, being preseason favorites usually doesn't mean a thing, but there's some fire to go along with the smoke. The Rangers, if they're going to do it, it's going to be this year. With Henrik Lundqvist getting up their in years their Stanley Cup window is closing, and it is unlikely that this team will be together long enough to make another run in a few years.
Take your pick on who will get to the Canyon first, but my guess, it's Rangers by the length of a Cup.
In New York City we celebrate our teams with the most over-the-top celebrations imaginable. A big city with bigger names and all of that comes to a head in one grand place -- The Canyon of Heroes.
The "Canyon" runs along Broadway, from Bowling Green to City Hall Park. The ticker-tape parades that have been held along this route are the stuff of legend and occur whenever one of New York City's professional sports teams wins a championship. Originally these parades were held for returning war heroes -- that's how the Canyon got its' nickname. (*Note-National and International championships like the US Women's Soccer team in 2015 are also celebrated in the Canyon.)
The last time the Canyon was used for the championship celebration of a New York City team, was after the NY Giants beat the New England Patriots, 23-17, in Super Bowl XLVI. For those of you who don't follow the NFL, that was in 2012.
The new millennium has not been kind to the, "City of Champions." From 2000-today there have only been four New York City team celebrations: The Yankees in 2000 and 2009; the Giants in 2008 and the aforementioned 2012.
Every team wants to win their respective sport's championship, but it is so hard to do, and here in New York we have been spoiled with the constant success of our teams. The Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets, Rangers, Islanders, Knicks, and Nets have accounted for dozens of ticker-tape parades, but who will be the next one to celebrate in the Mecca of sports celebrations?
YANKEES
The franchise that has won more championships than any other team in North American professional sports, has been oddly quiet this millennium. With only two championships in 17 years, it seems like an eternity since the Bronx Bombers have basked in the glow of a city-wide celebration.
Fear not Yankees fans, a new dawn is approaching. With such homegrown talent as Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Luis Severino, and Dellin Betances guiding the team -- with more on the way -- the future is brighter than at any point since the beginning of the fabled, "Core Four," of Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, and Mariano Rivera.
METS
The team that has known more misery than success over the years, has been to the postseason in two consecutive seasons, including one World Series appearance.
The foundation of the team is its' homegrown pitching staff, and while injuries have thus far derailed their young careers, next season offers another opportunity to make good on their potential. With more homegrown talent joining them, the wait since 1986 could be over sooner than you think.
GIANTS
The last "New York City" team to hoist a championship trophy, has renewed optimism for this coming season. After ending a five-year postseason drought the Jints are among the early season favorites to win the Lombardi Trophy. And something tells me, that if they are to do it for the third time in 10 years, it will once again be at the expense of the New England Patriots.
JETS
A team that last won a championship in Super Bowl III (January 1969), is no closer to ending their drought then mankind is to successfully traveling backwards in time.
With the team high-command in disarray, and the on-field roster among the least talented in the NFL, it will be quite some time before Gang Green travels down the Canyon on floats.
KNICKS
See JETS.
NETS
See JETS and KNICKS.
ISLANDERS
A disappointing season last year, saw Head Coach Jack Capuano fired mid-way through the campaign, and ultimately the team missed the playoffs by one measly point. Amid concerns about where the team will be playing, and whether or not their captain John Tavares will re-sign come next July 1st, this is a team that could surprise a good number of people. The offseason addition of Jordan Eberle doesn't move the needle much, but overall the team should be a playoff contender, and as we all know, the playoffs are a crapshoot, so once there, anybody can go all the way -- why not the Isles?
RANGERS
This team has gotten tantalizingly close to hoisting the Stanley Cup a number of times since 2012. Three Eastern Conference Finals appearances; one Stanley Cup Finals appearance; and one President's Trophy have established this as an upper echelon team in the NHL. They are battle tested, and hungry, and after their offseason moves, are primed for another run at the Cup this coming season.
VERDICT
Three teams (Yankees, Giants, and Rangers), of the eight mentioned above, have realistic shots at capturing a championship within the next calendar year. Any one of these three teams could be the next one to parade down the Canyon of Heroes. Who will be the first?
The Yankees are still a season away from kickstarting another run of MLB dominance. The Giants, being preseason favorites usually doesn't mean a thing, but there's some fire to go along with the smoke. The Rangers, if they're going to do it, it's going to be this year. With Henrik Lundqvist getting up their in years their Stanley Cup window is closing, and it is unlikely that this team will be together long enough to make another run in a few years.
Take your pick on who will get to the Canyon first, but my guess, it's Rangers by the length of a Cup.
The giants!!!!!!
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