* When are people going to realize the wrong local hockey coach is one of the nominees for NHL Coach of the Year? Pete DeBoer of the Devils should have been one of the nominated coaches and not the Rangers’ John Tortorella. Why? DeBoer coached a team that was not picked by anyone to make the Stanley Cup playoffs this season and the Devils recorded over 100 points during the regular season, not that far behind the overrated Rangers. Considering the Devils have advanced to the Stanley Cup semifinals, overlooking DeBoer as one of the candidates looks like a crime now. But since he is not on the list of candidates, the winner should be Ken Hitchcock of the Blues. No way should Tortorella win that award.
PETER BROWN
Berkeley Heights, N.J.
NBC’s Sing Off
* Is NBC kidding? On all of their hockey broadcasts they can’t find enough time (a lousy two minutes) to show the singing of the national anthem? They have a four-hour broadcast to fit in commercials, but the almighty dollar dictates that they play commercials over the anthem! Someone should inform NBC they are thriving because of the great country they do business in. The anthem is part of the hockey tradition. Cut out the commercials for two minutes and show us the anthem!
ROSS MANNINO
Nutley, N.J.
Dickey does it
* When talking about the best pitcher in New York today, I think you have to skip over CC Sabathia, Johan Santana, Ivan Nova and even a healthy Mariano Rivera. The man with the best stats, the most consistent outings and the logical choice to pitch the first Mets no-hitter is none other than knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. He has given new life to a very average team and raises the question: Why are there no other knuckleball pitcher in the majors today? Luckily, the Mets can use his talents every fifth game.
BILL GREEN
East Fishkill, N.Y.