A New York sports fan in Kansas

Happy Happy Joy Joy!

2006-09-23T20:47:00.000-07:00

Ok I am really showing my age in my title of this posting. I don't think Ren and Stimpy have been around for years have they? Oh well, it is appropriate to express joy of joys on this the day in which the Red Sox were eliminated. I know that they have been dead in the water for weeks now but it is great that they are OFFICIALLY gone. For that matter, I am also happy the other sox are just about done. I can't stand Ozzie. He is an Ass. I do think that Leyland is a class guy so I would be more than happy for him if he can win the division for the Tiggers. On second thought, I believe if the season were to end today the Bombers would get the wild card winner in the first round and I would much rather have the Tigers instead of facing the Twins rotation. Let the Twins and the A's beat each other up. I like our chances against the Twins in a longer series than I shorter one because of our depth. Well I hope that everyone had a great first full day of fall. I had a super one with getting a screen door on the sliding doors along with some other things that I been meaning to get accomplished. I need everyone to think positive thoughts for me as I am about to enter the world of a college science midterm. Yikes!!!! I am way too old to be doing this kind of crap. Anyways, a big Go Big Blue to the G-men tomorrow!

Umm I am not Sean Penn

2006-09-20T17:30:00.000-07:00

Who would think that the Yankees division winner could come upon the shoulder of the guy who problem has his name confused quite often. Sean Henn is the man of the hour for the pinstripers tonight. It is something to see he has a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning considering seemingly every Yankee under the sun has the day off. I guess the reality of it is that my favorite trait of the 2006 Yankees is on display tonight. Depth. It is amazing to look and see the numbers that guys like Melky, Scott Proctor, and Brian Bruney (I know I have dogged him in the past but I reserve the right to change my mind) have put up this year. I guess if all else fails maybe Boof Bonser to come through if the backing in method is needed to clinch the division. I hope that Derek, Johnny, and Jorge enjoy the night off they deserve it. Tonight will be the clincher one way or another.

Big Blue vs. Sea Gulls

2006-09-19T10:10:00.000-07:00

The brutal schedule for Big Blue continues this week. I think the time is now for the Giants to turn that corner and start winning with confidence because they deserve to be mentioned in the elite in the NFC. I know that many pundits had figured that the Giants would struggle under the weight of a tough schedule (the toughest schedule to be exact) but the bottom line is that they got that schedule because they were among the best in the NFC last year. This past Sunday was Eli's coming out party with the way he took the reigns and lead the team to a most unexpected victory in overcoming a 17 point deficit. The reality is that the NFC east is still a very weak division and for that reason I think the G-men will be able to repeat as division champs.

I'm Back......

2006-09-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

I am such a blog slacker. I know that it has been ages since my last posting. Life, work, and school have been punishing the last couple of weeks. Especially life, work, and school. Well it is nice to see the Yankees finally get to 3 for the magic number. I really hoped that they would have been able to wrap up the division against the Sox this past weekend but I guess the most important thing right now is for the Bombers to get everybody healthy for the post season. It really doesn't matter anyway since the Sox certainly aren't winning the division and are a long shot at best for the wild card. An older team like the Yanks are in really good shape heading into the post season with a healthy and rested Matsui and Mussina, and possibly Sheffield and Rivera. The last couple of weeks will provide the opportunity for these guys to get some work in and work out the rust before the playoffs start. Well I missed all of you out in blog land and look forward to getting back in the blogging saddle.

5 Days to kickoff!

2006-09-05T18:27:00.000-07:00

The Giants season is just five days away now. The Manning vs. Manning bowl should be a great matchup. The real difference in this game though is going to be Tiki. I know that the elder Manning is a stud but I think that the Giants will be up to the challenge. The running back matchups are more lopsided than the difference between the two mannings. Rhodes is a nice running back but I think that the Colts will sorely miss the Edge this year. He may not have been the back that he once was but he is still more than the Colts other options. Brandon Jacobs really showed unbelievable ability in the last preseason game but it seems like he is making great strides in becoming a more well-rounded back. I think it is crazy that the Giants are 3 to 3 1/2 point underdogs on a Sunday Night and the home opener. The Giants will win never mind getting points.

Happy Labor Day!!!!!!!!!

2006-09-04T08:34:00.000-07:00

Ah yes it is labor day, or as I like to call it the last Monday Night without football. Hey and even better yet is the fact that we even get a double header next week where we get to see the Redskins and Raiders lose their first game of the year. Yes unfortunately we do still get Tony K. I remember a time when labor day weekend was the kickoff to the football season. Does somebody want to tell Roger that the first thing he should do as the commissioner is push back the start of the season? Today and tonight still belongs to major league baseball. While I am bitching about everything when did ESPN decide not to televise a single baseball game on both the 4th of July and Labor Day? It is just unAmerican. ESPN in the here and now is just about cross-selling Disney and crappy ABC shows (sans Lost) anyways. It is funny to hear people talk about how "they remember when MTV played music videos" well I remember when ESPN was about sports. Does anybody watch SC anymore? It now runs 60 to 90 minutes and now if are lucky you will get 30 minutes of highlights and news. I really don't need to see some lousy/cheesy Stu Scott "gameshowesque" type of Q&A with a player. Oh how I miss the old days of Keith and Dan. I must be getting old. Tonight, the Yankees, Wang's quest for 20 continues. BIG WIN tonight.

18

2006-09-03T19:56:00.000-07:00

The Yankees have to be pleased with the help that they have been getting in the rotation. The addition of Cory Lidle along with the minor league help offered from Jeff Karstens and now Darrell Rasner has been heavenly. Darell Rasner was fantastic today and was great in his first outing as a reliever for the pinstripers as well. The difference between the Yankees and the Red Sox this year; DEPTH. The magic number is now 18. My prediction is that we will have the division wrapped up on September 16th. It would be sweet to wrap it up at home against the Red Sox. The only thing that would be sweeter is if we can eliminate the Sox from wild card contention in that same weekend. It is nice because the playoff drama is over and we can all enjoy the start of football season without the drama of whether or not the Yanks will be in or not. Go Yankees and Giants!!!!!!!!!

Maria NO!!!!!!

2006-09-02T19:15:00.000-07:00

Ouch the injury to Rivera really hurts. One can only hope that it is something that he is being shutdown for because of the large leads the Bombers have over the Sox. Boy the thought of Kyle Farnsworth closing games just sounds horrifying before it even happens. Although I guess that it is better to have him close and keeping Proctor in the setup role in which he has both been comfortable and succeeded. It is only a couple of days anyway at least all Yankee fans hope so anyway. I would guess that if the Yankees can keep breathing room between themselves and the Sox then Rivera will probably have more time off. It would be better to have him healthy for the postseason anyway. The loss today was softened by the Sox loss to the Jays. One thing that is kind of scary with the local Boys in Blue coming up this week is that they have gone 12-6 against playoff contenders in their last 18 including, of course the three game sweep of the Sox. Hopefully they can lend a helping hand and roll over this coming week.

Gary who?

2006-09-01T21:35:00.000-07:00

The Yankees trade for Bobby Abreu and Cory Lidle just continues to pay off. Both shined for the Yanks tonight. It will be quite interesting to see what happens with Gary Sheffield in the offseason. I know that the acquisition of Abreu would probably mean that Sheff's option wouldn't be picked up for 2007. I just can't even fathom what the Yankees lineup would be like though if they were to pick up the option and use Sheffield at DH or First Base next year. A lineup with a healthy Sheffield and Matsui, Jeter, A-Rod, Cano, Jorge, Giambi, Damon, and Abreu would have to be the best in the American League. The age-old question would be the rotation since it is very much old age right now. I shouldn't be thinking about 2007 quite yet because obviously there is still a lot of baseball and unfinished business to take care of in 2006.

AAAAAUUUUUUUGH!, Part Deux

2006-08-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

Well the Yankee woes continue on in California. Brian Bruney was awful yesterday. Really if a guy isn't good enough to make it in the 'pen of the D-Backs in the last couple of years then he shouldn't be good enough to be in the Yankees bullpen. Note to Cashman, get another arm for the pen in the next week before the trade deadline. The overuse of the bullpen throughout the regular season is alarming to me. We seem to have, at least in the last five years since winning our last series, our bullpens burntout by the time the postseason rolls around. I feel like we are on that same path this year. It is difficult to fault Torre because of the reality of how long in the tooth our rotation is and the lack of innings that reality creates makes alternatives few and far between. Oh well the saving grace is that the Sox are again matching our futility loss for loss. I can't believe that they are now 5 back in the wild card as well as the division. It is looking more and more like there will only be the division winner in the east being lone representative in the postseason. As long as that team is the Yankees that will be even sweeter. I would not feel any sympathy if the Sox didn't make the playoffs.

AAAAAUUUUUUUGH!

2006-08-25T18:13:00.000-07:00

I am so glad that the Yankees only have a six game west coast swing. Granted it is a typical west coast swing for the Bombers. They never seem to be kind to us. I am not sweating the fact that the Sox took two out of three in Anaheim (I am sorry but they are just LA wannabees) because they always play well there anyway. Let's just hope the Yanks have the same luck in Orange County. I am feeling pretty damn good about us holding on to the division regardless of what the Sox do. Let me just say that I thought Bobby A. would be a great acquisition but could anyone have possibly expected the kind of production he has had. Well it is only a couple of weeks until the Yanks are in town here in Kansas City. As much as I would love to go I just don't think it would be right for me to go. My Dad who has been a life long Yankee fan, and the main reason I am one, has been in the hospital for 3 months now and won't be out by the time the Bombers come to town so I am going to abstain. My Dad and I always go to the Yankee games together and it wouldn't be right or the same to go without him especially while he is in the hospital. Who knows maybe we can actually make out to a game to New York next year and that would make the wait all the more worthwhile. I know one of our greatest thrills was being able to see a Giants game at the Meadowlands for the first time in our lives back in December of 2001 against the Arizona Cardinals. It was a truly magical experience.

Are you ready for some football?

2006-08-25T17:55:00.000-07:00

Friday night isn't just for high school any more, or at least not in the preseason. I know that tonight is the "big" game of the preseason with the Giants and the Jets. I predict a big victory for the G-men. Yeah I can predict it even though the game has started since I am yet again doing scoreboard avoidance for the sake of being able to watch the rebroadcast on NFL network tomorrow afternoon. I don't know what I did before satellite and the nfl network. I will take Giants football even if it is tape delayed. If any one wants to contribute my NFL sunday ticket fund for me I will not argue. I must admit that it is getting a little tedious with the preseason stuff. They really need to do just two preseason games and 18 games in the regular season perhaps going back to the two bye weeks. An interesting note, I was listening to Vic Carucci this morning on a local sports talk show here in Kansas City and he was saying that the Steelers look scary and that Big Dumb Ben looks even better. I just have one thought on the Steelers heading into the upcoming season, just as last season, they will only go as far as bad officiating can carry them. Well here is hoping to a Big Blue victory over the Jets!

Yanks valiant in defeat

2006-08-23T07:04:00.000-07:00

Well the Yankees gave a great fight in going down in defeat to Seattle last night. The fact that they were in the game until the ninth given the hangover they were sure to be feeling after the five-game sweep of the Sox was encouraging. I am anticipating that both the Yankees and Red Sox will have difficult west coast swings after the grueling series and no days off before traveling across the country. My personal prediction is that by the end of next week the Angels and perhaps even the Jays will catch and surpass the Sox in the wild card standings. I would have started saying the Jays before the Angels but obviously the Angels can gain ground directly playing the Sox and then there is the fact that John Gibbons is a moron. The Jays were absolutely out of their minds to give B.J. Ryan and A.J. Burnett the kind of money they gave them in the offseason. You couple that with the fact that Gibbons is an idiot and, as long as minor league roommate Ricciardi is the GM he is not going anywhere, and the Jays are going to be a non-factor in this division for a long time. Between Gibbons challenging everyone to fights and another recent Jays manager in Tim Johnson making up Vietnam war stories one has to ask what is in the water in Toronto?

Way to go Jason!!!!!!!

2006-08-20T19:37:00.000-07:00

I know I shouldn't be talking in the fourth inning but it justs looks like more of the same for the Sox with Giambi's Home Run.

The Bruins sign Kessel!!!!!!

2006-08-20T19:15:00.000-07:00

Well I really have to give props to the Bruins for getting a deal done with Phil Kessel. I figured that he was heading back to school but the Bruins didn't cheap out and got the deal done. I am just really excited about the moves that the B's have made after the debacle of trading Thornton and Samsonov. I guess the reality of it is they weren't winning anything with those guys anyway. Adding a slew of quality defensemen, Marc Savard, and now getting the deal done with Kessel signals that the brighter days for the Bruins are not far away. Keep up the good work Peter!

Should it be this easy?

2006-08-20T18:58:00.000-07:00

I'm back. I am sorry that it has been a few days since my last posting but real life has called. On a positive note the honey do list looks much better. Well I have to be completely honest and say that I am completely shocked with the amount of ease that the Yankees have disposed of the Sox in the first three games of the series. Going into the series I would have just been happy taking two and only losing one game in the standings. Now I am thinking greedy and wanting all five. If we can win all five and put the Sox six and-a-half back, seven in the loss column, it will be tough for the Sox to dig themselves out. Not to mention the fact that if the Yanks could take all five it would leave the Sox about five games back in the wild card with two teams in front of them. Here is to hoping for some anti-climactic games in September. The picture in this posting is for Darth Marc.

NFC Predictions

2006-08-16T20:53:00.000-07:00

Ok here are my predictions for the 2006 season for the NFC. In the NFC East my pick is the Giants of course. I think that the winner of the NFC North will be the Green Bay Packers. My pick for the NFC South will be the Carolina Panthers. In the NFC West I predict that the Seattle Seahawks will win it. I think the two wild card teams will be the New Orleans Saints and the Arizona Cardinals as my dark horse. I hate to say it but I think the Panthers will represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. I do think that the Giants have the chance to go far in the playoffs but I just don't know if Eli is ready to make the leap from playoffs to Super Bowl but hopefully I am wrong.

There may be hope just yet

2006-08-15T19:01:00.000-07:00

Well when I began screwing around on the internet before starting this post the Sox had just tied up the Tiggers at 2 and the Boys were down to Baltimore. Sure Baltimore can't beat the Sox but they can beat the Yankees. Thanks for nothing I thought. I have since been able to step away from the ledge since the Yankees had since tied up the game on a Johnny Damon home run and subsequently taken the lead on a double by Robbie. Also, the Tiggers have become Tigers yet again and won 3-2 with a run in the ninth against the Sox. The five big ones are coming up this weekend and it would be fantastic if we could be four up going into the weekend. There are still a couple of games left so we will see if we can get there. Also, the Twinkies are winning and the Pale Hose are playing the local boys in blue so I am sure they can come back to put the Sox in third in the wild card. Go Yanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thoughts on the Chiefs

2006-08-14T19:19:00.000-07:00

I had to comment about the local team here for a change. In what has been the subject of great offseason debate here in Kansas City, Eddie Kennison has been asking for a contract extension and a raise. I have heard one idiot radio host here in Kansas City saying that teams game plan for Eddie Kennison and that Tony Gonzalez has benefited greatly from Eddie's presence. I have one person at work who would have you believe that Eddie Kennison is a first ballot hall-of-famer. I just think that his numbers are in large part the result of an offensive juggernaut and great game planning by offensive coordinator Al Saunders. Oh yeah, Priest Holmes running the ball probably doesn't hurt either. Don't get me wrong I don't think the guy is a bad receiver but he wouldn't be a number one receiver on any other team than the Chiefs. He did still rank 5th in the league in dropped passes. Also, when the complentary receivers to him have been among others, Sammy Parker, Snoop Minnis, Johnny Morton, Marc Boerigter, etc., you are going to have a lot of looks because there just aren't a lot of other options.

For the last time Damn Baltimore

2006-08-13T17:50:00.000-07:00

Well Baltimore didn't do any favors for the Yankees today as I speculated in my posting yesterday. Daniel Cabrera held true to form in stinking up the joint against the Red Sox yet again. He allowed 10 baserunners and 7 runs, all earned, in 4 innings. The guy was sent down when he admitted that he was pretty much a psychological mess. Well he sure looks like AAA is still the place for him given the fact the huge offensive numbers for the Red Sox was done without Big Papi, in what has very much been a Manny and Papi show this year. Weaver just completely dominated the Yankees as well. They are just killing us. Do we really have to play them again tomorrow night? Let's just go for a rain with no makeup of the game regardless what the weather might be.

Now for a posting nobody cares about....

2006-08-12T20:58:00.000-07:00

I just had to mention since I had watched the Chiefs-Texans game tonight that the Texans looked good. Ok maybe the Chiefs looked bad. The Texans were running that roll out that Gary Kubiak designed so well in Denver that Jake Plummer actually looked like a decent quarterback. Surprisingly, it was working so well for the Texans that not only did David Carr look impressive but so did Sage Rosenfels. Also, sixth-rounder Wali Lundy out of Virginia was very impressive running for 59 yards on 9 carries including a touchdown.

The Yankees Win, Theee Yankees Win

2006-08-12T20:48:00.000-07:00

Well it was good to see the Pinstripers get off the slide. Say this about Jaret Wright, the 00's version of the Yankees five and fly pitcher, he pitches well enough to win. Some of you might remember the original five and fly as Scott Sanderson the, umm, ace of the Yanks staff in the late 80's and early 90's. I think that it is difficult to call anyone an ace of those staffs. I guess if you can get five innings out of one of your back end of the rotation guys and get the results they have been getting from him one can hardly complain. Did I say damn Baltimore in my posting yesterday? Ok well damn Baltimore again for today. Tomorrow should be even more ugly as Daniel Cabrera goes for the O's. He sports a 1-4 record with a 9.62 era in 6 career starts against the Sox. I guess as long as the Yankees win who the hell cares about the Red Sox.

To my legions of fans.....

2006-08-11T21:51:00.000-07:00

Ok it is more like people who have stumbled upon my blog. It was a tough night for the Pinstripers tonight. A bit concerning that they have now lost three of four but at least the good guys are still in first place. Damn Baltimore couldn't offer any help. I really can't believe that football season is here already as well. I haven't checked the score on the Giants game tonight since I will be watching the tape delayed broadcast on NFL network at noon CST. It will be great to see how some of the first teamers look. I think that another season under Eli's belt and having worked with his receivers for a full year will lead to some great results for him this season. The opener featuring the Manning showdown is sure to be a doozy. Well here is to hoping for better results tomorrow for the Bombers.

Toto, I don't think we're in Boston anymore....

2006-08-10T21:51:00.000-07:00

Well kiddies the unthinkable happened tonight in the fact that the Red Sox were swept here in Kansas City. The fact that the Royals were throwing Runelvys Hernandez, yes that same Hernandez who walked nine twins in 4-plus innings in his last start, against 14-winner Curt Schilling would certainly appear to have the makings of a long bleak night for the local boys however the Red Sox did not disappoint in finding a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Losing five straight including two losses to Tampa Bay before being swept by the Royals points to the stark reality that the Sox season is over. I did already mention in previous posts that the Red Sox season is over right?

So long Harry

2006-08-09T10:40:00.000-07:00

The resignation of Harry Sinden as the President of the Bruins hits me with mixed emotions. In one respect he had been with the organization since 1961 but on the other hand the Bruins haven't won a Stanley Cup since 1972. He led them to their first Cup in nearly 30 years in 1970 but they haven't won a cup since he returned in the General Manager role in 1972. I read an article on Yahoo today where he says that there was a misconception that he was pulling all the strings since his return. I personally am not buying it, I think it was him that was pulling all the strings. I think that the Jacobs' are an abomination as far as owners go. The Bruins are the Chicago Cubs of the NHL. Through most of the late 70's and 80's the team sold out every game and yet the ownership had complained about not making enough money and spent sparingly. Make no mistake about it, the Bruins were one of the major ringmasters to the whole lockout/lost season debacle. They had no business griping. The bottom line is that they are cheap. I think that is the reason why they traded Joe Thornton and Sergei Samsonov. Granted I do have to give them credit for the moves they had made in this offseason but I only think they made those moves as a response to the reality that they have completely fallen off the sports radar.

Strange Night in Baseball

2006-08-08T20:18:00.000-07:00

What in the heck is going on tonight in the MLB. Mariano blew a rare save opportunity tonight by giving up a home run to Paul Konerko. It seems like a full moon kind of baseball season when the american league central is the best division in baseball. Who would have thunk it. Hopefully the Bombers can still pull it out as it in extra innings. The Red Sox appear to be on the verge of losing to the local boys in blue. The twinkies beat the Tigers. The good news is that if the Royals hold on the Red Sox will fall out of their tie for first in the wild card race. Strike that optimism on the Royals, Burgos is in and ready to blow the ballgame. Oh well.

He's Baaacckkk!

2006-08-07T10:25:00.000-07:00

Jeremy Shockey was back in practice after suffering a concussion on a hit from Will Demps last week. One can only hope that the injury was more a commentary of Will Demps being a hitting machine and not Shockey's propensity for getting hurt. Me thinks that Will Demps is not a hitting machine. Oh well I guess if nothing else the G-men did a nice job of adding some depth at Tight End with the signing of Boo Williams.

Jared Jeffries Officially a Knick

2006-08-07T10:12:00.000-07:00

Well Jared Jeffries is officially a Knick as the Wizards decided not to match the Knicks offer for the restricted free-agent. According to Yahoo! they are saying that it can be expected for the Knicks to make another move with this deal done since the Knicks now have four small forwards with Jeffries, Jalen Rose, David Lee, and Renaldo Blackman. Here would have been a thought, maybe small forward isn't a draft need in Blackman. I will be glad when the Knicks tank this year and we can finally be rid of Isiah. Now if Dolan only gave himself the same one year window there could be true optimism for Knicks Fans.

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-08-06T15:16:00.000-07:00

Ok no sports here. I just wanted to send a big shout out to my wonderful wife of 8 years and wish her a Happy Birthday. She is 39 years young today and the best thing that ever happened to me.

T.O. off to strong start

2006-08-05T23:29:00.000-07:00

"An MRI taken Saturday showed no damage to Terrell Owens' left hamstring, but the new Dallas receiver still isn't ready to get back on the practice field.
Owens missed his third straight day of work Saturday, this time sitting out an intrasquad scrimmage. He missed a morning walk-through to have the MRI.
"I'm not worried at all," said Owens, who has never had a hamstring problem before. "I know it'll get well. I know my body responds very quickly to treatment."
Owens rode a stationary bicycle so slow that fans razzed him to pick up the pace, and got off to do some exercises with trainers. Afterward, he stayed late to work with a rookie receiver, as he's done throughout his layoff. "

I don't think lazy, attitudinal loafer is actually picked up in MRI's. is it?

NHL Offseason Transactions

2006-08-05T20:49:00.000-07:00

I know that the baseball races are really heating up and training camps are underway, less than a week now until the Giants preseason opener against the Ravens, however I thought I would take the opportunity in this posting to link to an article that has a listing of the NHL offseason transactions through August 4. There have been a lot of big moves throughout the league. Whether it is Lindros going to the Stars, Bertuzzi to the Panthers, Demitra to the Wild, Pronger to the Ducks, or of course my favorite move of Marc Savard to the Bruins. I know that all the movement last year forced even the staunchest hockey fan to buy a program to figure out who was on there team so hopefully this will help a little bit with all of this years moves.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=nhldeals&prov=st&type=lgns

New England Sports Fans Relieved

2006-08-04T10:16:00.000-07:00

Many a New England sports fans were able to breathe a sigh of relief this past week when the Red Sox raised the white flag on this baseball season. With the fact that the baseball season will not expand beyond the first weekend of October, New England sports fan took joy in knowing that baseball would not infringe upon the Patriots season beyond their first few games of the season. Those first few games will not be overshadowed at all in September any way when you think about the fact that there won't be any meaningful baseball being played any how.

NHL Hall of Fame Props

2006-08-03T19:19:00.000-07:00

The upcoming induction of Harry Carson into the NFL hall of fame made me think about Hall of Famers from other sports. Namely my favorite NHL player of all time Cam Neely. He was inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame this past year and I am only waiting until now to give him props since I just started up my blog recently. Cam invented the power forward position as it is known today. He was tough as nails and wasn't afraid to take five in the box while still being a scoring machine. It was unfortunate that his career was cut short with the knee problems that he had but there is little doubt that he is the best power forward to ever lace up the skates.

Harry Carson:The Heart of the Giants

2006-08-03T09:59:00.000-07:00

This weekend there will be something that has been long over due that will be happening. That event of course will be the enshrinement of Harry Carson into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was the heart and soul of the Giants defense during the 1986 Super Bowl. While Lawrence Taylor was the clear superstar of the defense, Harry was there during the bleak years of the late 70's. It was fitting that a player that was such a great leader and captain for so many years have the chance to win a superbowl after a decade in the league. Below is a link to a story about Harry on nfl.com that is worth reading. Congrats Harry you deserve it!

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9571053

Is this hell?

2006-08-02T18:16:00.000-07:00

I know that everyone in the country is frying with the latest heatwave that seems to have hit the east coast and the plains alike. I just have one question to ask. Is going and sitting in 100 degree temperatures and having to watch a baseball team as bad as the Royals what a baseball fan would have to endure in hell? Just a thought. I will be glad our relief from the heat comes tomorrow. I hope that all of you who are enduring the brutal heat have relief from the heat soon as well.

Yanks win, take over first

2006-08-01T19:49:00.000-07:00

Well kiss the Red Sox good bye. The Yankees have taken a percentage point lead over the Red Sox in the AL east but don't expect it to be that close when it is all said and done. Again I just can't thank boy wonder Theo for not making any trades at the deadline to help the Red Sox. They didn't want to give up any players that will be in their future. Sounds like a Red Sox plan since their last youth plan took 86 years to bear any fruits. The difference between the Yankees and the Red Sox is that the Yankees do what ever it takes to win now.

Knicks 2006-2007 Schedule Announced

2006-08-01T12:21:00.000-07:00

The Knicks schedule for the 2006-2007 season was announced today. They open up at Memphis on November 1. Their home opener is against Indiana on November 4. They wrap up the season on April 18 at Charlotte. It will be a now or never season for Isiah Thomas so we will see how the team responds. Papers were submitted on the offer to Jared Jeffries today so it will be a week before it is known if Washington will match the offer on him or not. Lord knows the Knicks can use some size so hopefully they will not match it. Ernie can do that much for his former organization.

Forget publication predictions. Giants will win the East

2006-07-31T19:33:00.000-07:00

It has come to my attention lately as I have looked through the various football yearbooks this summer that the pundits are not very bright. The Giants, who just happened to have finished first last year, have done nothing but improve themselves. In spite of bringing in Moss through the draft in addition to the free agent signings of Lavar Arrington plus R.W. McQuarters, Will Demps, and Sam Madison pundits still have them predicted from second place to last place. I don't understand how the Eagles with their top receiver Reggie Brown, Cowboys with TO but Drew Bledsoe still throwing to him, and the Redskins with Mark Brunell at the helm have made themselves so significantly better to unseat the Giants atop the division. It will be the Giants again this year. Bank on it.

Wilson Added, Red Sox stay put

2006-07-31T19:12:00.000-07:00

The addition of Craig Wilson means even more depth and balance to the Pinstripers. He is a nice right-handed addition with power for days when either you rest Jason or can start at DH. He is batting .307 against left-handed pitchers and has double-digit home runs for the 5th time in his 6 big league seasons. The sweetest part is that all we had to give up to get him was Shawn Chacon who quite frankly should have been released by now. On another positive note while the Bombers added some real talent and filled needs the Red Sox decided to stand pat. Now to just hope the White Sox or Twins can win the wild card instead of the Red Sox.

Abreu, Lidle, two needs, one trade

2006-07-31T10:22:00.000-07:00

The Yankees were able to fill two needs with one trade and did not have to give up Phillip Hughes to do it. Here a couple of encouraging stats to point to for both players. Lidle has a 3.74 ERA in July and has won four of his last five starts. I don't think that pitching against lefties with the short porch in right will be as big of an issue as some might think. Pitching outside of a big hitter's park in Citizen's park he only gave up 5 home runs in 47 IP's which isn't too shabby. Abreu was hitting at .277 at the time of the trade but he was hitting .288 on the road compared to .267 at home. He should be aided by the short porch in right as well as being able to utilize his speed in the gaps at the stadiu. Also, plan on Abreu being the end of Gary Sheffield's time with the Yankees after this season. This move certainly can't hurt and will provide some real depth when Matsui comes back, perhaps as early as August. Melky would be a nice luxury to have as a fourth outfielder behind Matsui, Damon, and Abreu.

You grew up in Massachusetts and you are a Yankees fan?

2006-07-30T09:31:00.000-07:00

My Dad always said that when he grew up you were either a Dimaggio or a Williams fan. He happened to be a Dimaggio fan so he grew a Yankees fan and taught me well growing up. I am old enough to remember the old glory days of the late 70's Yankees and the tough times, yes those who like to whine about the Yankees, there were the tough times of the Stump Merill era in the late 80's and early 90's. My greatest Yankee moment was being at the playoff game of '78 to see Bucky Dent's Home Run.