Friday, October 19, 2012
Fan Interest As Silent As The Yankee Bats
What hurt the most was not my ankle; or the sympathy or empathy I might have felt for Derek Sanderson Jeter. It wasn’t even the fly ball that got past Nick Swisher and rolled all the way to the wall. Or even when Brett Gardner grounded out to second to finally put the Bombers in a 0-1 hole. What hurt the most was my view of sections 237, 334, and 434 completely empty. The lack of noise or luster at all when Andy Pettitte emerged from the dugout and took his long slow walk toward the right center field bullpen.
To call Yankee Stadium dead just 20 minutes before the first pitch of game 1 of the 2012 ALCS, would be an understatement. My cold hard bleacher seat also began to hurt my cold hard ass. Sporadic seats were available through the stadium. There were luxury boxes damn near empty.
Where were all the hard-core Yankee fans?
Looking up I saw the good year blimp. I was one of the few reminders that this was a game for all the marbles! The other sign was the boom camera in the batters eye seats, over near the Mohegan Sun Sports Bar.
The offense didn’t give us anything to cheer about. Well not at least until the 9th inning!
By the time Ichrio and Ibanez hit their two run homers in the 9th the stadium was half empty.
My beacher seat was $65.00 on stub-hub. In this economy it should be worth $25.00. For $25.00 I could have filled the stadium with 6 of my closest Yankee fan friends. At least then the Stadium would have been 6 peeps closer to a sell out!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
"USA" An American Sports Fan's Cheer
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E...A...G..L...E...S... EAGLES !!!
It's a chant I have heard in the oddest of places since moving to the Philadelphia area some eight years ago.
It is the marching cry of the Philadelphia Eagles, the cities NFL home team. I hear the cheer around the wood shop, outside my office in late October. I hear it in Jim's Cheese Steaks on South Street. I hear it during summer concerts, at the Camden river front, along the Delaware.
And, alas, I hear it in Citizens Bank Ball Park, during home games for the Philadelphia Phillies.
These “out of context” cheers, misplaced and peculiar, have always made me smile. Yes, crazy, emphatic, drunken sports fans entertain me! The passion and vigor that brings on an EAGLE cheer, shows that the setting for the cry makes no difference.
Sure, the correct placement for such a cheer is Lincoln Financial Field, or "The Link" as Eagles fans call their home. But any substitute host will do to announce a crazy loud-mouth fan’s allegiance.
In my experience, it happens most frequently with the Philadelphia Eagles, but it also happens in other cities, and in other sports too. I remember being at a Yankee game in the late nineties, and in-between innings they showed the Kentucky derby on the Jumbo-tron. The crowed went nuts watching the exciting race. I remember Yankee right fielder Paul O’Neil being locked into the Jumbo-Tron, watching the derby results. But the Kentucky derby and Major League Baseball have virtually no similarities. This “out of context” horse race was just as misplaced and lost on me then, as an Eagles chant at a Phillies game, is lost on me today.
So when I was at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday night May 1st 2011, I immediately thought the chants of: “USA… USA… USA”, were of a sporting related / out of context nature.
It happens all the time, is what I figured!
ESPN’s Sunday night baseball program held the rights to the marquee matchup of the Baseball weekend between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies. The final game of the three game set featured Cliff Lee for Philadelphia versus Chris Young for New York. The game represented the Mets last chance to salvage at least one game of the three game set.
The Old Man / TOM / Georgie / Old Man Geo / Geo The Lumber Jack / Pain In The Back Side/, first inquired about Phillies tickets on Thursday afternoon April 28th. I was on my way to a Yankee game that night, and was not too thrilled about the prospect of a Sunday night game, only three days later, especially since I was scheduled to be in New York over the weekend. Never the less, Georgie was hell bent on going, and so I humored him by looking up tickets on Stub-Hub. Lower level seating was economincal enough on Stub Hub for me to pull the trigger and order up two tickets.
TOM met me at my place in South Jersey around 5:30pm on Sunday, and by 5:50pm, we were entering the park.
The skies were overcast, the temperature had a slight chill, and the game was an offensive struggle. Neither team could get anything going with the bats. Fly ball after fly ball would carry to the warning track, before then falling into a fielders glove and go as a recorded out. 15 total fly ball outs had occurred before the 9th inning alone. Against typical occurrence, the South Philly evening air was simply not carrying the ball over the fence on this night. As the ninth inning approached, the game was deadlocked at 1-1. Ryan Howard had just tied the game with an RBI single.
It was just as the eighth inning was concluding, when suddenly, out of the blue, a small cluster of young fans seated several rows behind me, and along the right field line began an enormous cheer. A man keeping score in front of me began cheering too. He was wearing head phones and seemed to have just received some type of news. I assumed the news was sporting related, but I was a bit lost since the game I was at seemed to be the only live action in the world of sports at the moment. Raul Ibanez, engrossed in one of the worst slumps of his life, hand just grounded out to end the inning. So I knew the cheers had nothing to do with the Phillies.
Ryan Madson, the Phillies temporarily closer, came in to pitch the top of the ninth. At this point cries of “USA..USA..” were beginning to resonate behind me, and in the bleachers as well. Ryan Howard fielded a Jose Reyes ground ball at first base, and recorded the first out of the inning. Then fans all along the third base line, started going crazy! “USA … USA” was the proud mantra of the moment! Like so many times before in Philadelphia I figured it was some sports reference, which was just lost on me. TOM was trying to figure it out too. He asked me if there was a hockey game going on. I thought about it for a minute. And said no. I knew the Bruins were playing the Flyers, but series was idol, and still wouldn’t make sense. Next I jokingly said: “What are the Mets all Canadian?” It was around this time; I looked down and discovered several texts messages awaiting me on my phone. They confirmed what we all now know, and what half of the Citizens Bank Crowd had learned.
One of the world’s most evil and brutal tyrants had been brought to justice. A man personally responsible for the innocent murder of thousands of civilians had been killed. The “USA” chants were in joyous approval of the capture and execution of Osama Bin Landen.
What seemed to be misplaced “USA” cheers weren’t misplaced at all! With the entire world just a little more safe, the yin and the yang in balance, and a symbolic victory for our nation’s basic ideals, how could Met fans and Phillies fans not be united in our cries of “USA”.
I have never before discussed my politics on this blog. Since it’s creation in 2006, I have used it souly as an outlet for sports entertainment, opinions and commentary. I will continue that even today. My political opinions are extreme and often unbalanced. And so, I will continue to make a conscious effort to keep them from this site. However, that aside, one inning later, when they put the now famous fan on the Jumbo-Tron who was wearing the USA jersey, I got on my feet and began to cheer!
How fitting to be in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, the home of the Eagle, our national bird, when the USA had one of its finest moments in the never ending war on terror.
E...A...G..L...E...S... EAGLES !!!
It's a chant I have heard in the oddest of places since moving to the Philadelphia area some eight years ago.
It is the marching cry of the Philadelphia Eagles, the cities NFL home team. I hear the cheer around the wood shop, outside my office in late October. I hear it in Jim's Cheese Steaks on South Street. I hear it during summer concerts, at the Camden river front, along the Delaware.
And, alas, I hear it in Citizens Bank Ball Park, during home games for the Philadelphia Phillies.
These “out of context” cheers, misplaced and peculiar, have always made me smile. Yes, crazy, emphatic, drunken sports fans entertain me! The passion and vigor that brings on an EAGLE cheer, shows that the setting for the cry makes no difference.
Sure, the correct placement for such a cheer is Lincoln Financial Field, or "The Link" as Eagles fans call their home. But any substitute host will do to announce a crazy loud-mouth fan’s allegiance.
In my experience, it happens most frequently with the Philadelphia Eagles, but it also happens in other cities, and in other sports too. I remember being at a Yankee game in the late nineties, and in-between innings they showed the Kentucky derby on the Jumbo-tron. The crowed went nuts watching the exciting race. I remember Yankee right fielder Paul O’Neil being locked into the Jumbo-Tron, watching the derby results. But the Kentucky derby and Major League Baseball have virtually no similarities. This “out of context” horse race was just as misplaced and lost on me then, as an Eagles chant at a Phillies game, is lost on me today.
So when I was at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday night May 1st 2011, I immediately thought the chants of: “USA… USA… USA”, were of a sporting related / out of context nature.
It happens all the time, is what I figured!
ESPN’s Sunday night baseball program held the rights to the marquee matchup of the Baseball weekend between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies. The final game of the three game set featured Cliff Lee for Philadelphia versus Chris Young for New York. The game represented the Mets last chance to salvage at least one game of the three game set.
The Old Man / TOM / Georgie / Old Man Geo / Geo The Lumber Jack / Pain In The Back Side/, first inquired about Phillies tickets on Thursday afternoon April 28th. I was on my way to a Yankee game that night, and was not too thrilled about the prospect of a Sunday night game, only three days later, especially since I was scheduled to be in New York over the weekend. Never the less, Georgie was hell bent on going, and so I humored him by looking up tickets on Stub-Hub. Lower level seating was economincal enough on Stub Hub for me to pull the trigger and order up two tickets.
TOM met me at my place in South Jersey around 5:30pm on Sunday, and by 5:50pm, we were entering the park.
The skies were overcast, the temperature had a slight chill, and the game was an offensive struggle. Neither team could get anything going with the bats. Fly ball after fly ball would carry to the warning track, before then falling into a fielders glove and go as a recorded out. 15 total fly ball outs had occurred before the 9th inning alone. Against typical occurrence, the South Philly evening air was simply not carrying the ball over the fence on this night. As the ninth inning approached, the game was deadlocked at 1-1. Ryan Howard had just tied the game with an RBI single.
It was just as the eighth inning was concluding, when suddenly, out of the blue, a small cluster of young fans seated several rows behind me, and along the right field line began an enormous cheer. A man keeping score in front of me began cheering too. He was wearing head phones and seemed to have just received some type of news. I assumed the news was sporting related, but I was a bit lost since the game I was at seemed to be the only live action in the world of sports at the moment. Raul Ibanez, engrossed in one of the worst slumps of his life, hand just grounded out to end the inning. So I knew the cheers had nothing to do with the Phillies.
Ryan Madson, the Phillies temporarily closer, came in to pitch the top of the ninth. At this point cries of “USA..USA..” were beginning to resonate behind me, and in the bleachers as well. Ryan Howard fielded a Jose Reyes ground ball at first base, and recorded the first out of the inning. Then fans all along the third base line, started going crazy! “USA … USA” was the proud mantra of the moment! Like so many times before in Philadelphia I figured it was some sports reference, which was just lost on me. TOM was trying to figure it out too. He asked me if there was a hockey game going on. I thought about it for a minute. And said no. I knew the Bruins were playing the Flyers, but series was idol, and still wouldn’t make sense. Next I jokingly said: “What are the Mets all Canadian?” It was around this time; I looked down and discovered several texts messages awaiting me on my phone. They confirmed what we all now know, and what half of the Citizens Bank Crowd had learned.
One of the world’s most evil and brutal tyrants had been brought to justice. A man personally responsible for the innocent murder of thousands of civilians had been killed. The “USA” chants were in joyous approval of the capture and execution of Osama Bin Landen.
What seemed to be misplaced “USA” cheers weren’t misplaced at all! With the entire world just a little more safe, the yin and the yang in balance, and a symbolic victory for our nation’s basic ideals, how could Met fans and Phillies fans not be united in our cries of “USA”.
I have never before discussed my politics on this blog. Since it’s creation in 2006, I have used it souly as an outlet for sports entertainment, opinions and commentary. I will continue that even today. My political opinions are extreme and often unbalanced. And so, I will continue to make a conscious effort to keep them from this site. However, that aside, one inning later, when they put the now famous fan on the Jumbo-Tron who was wearing the USA jersey, I got on my feet and began to cheer!
How fitting to be in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, the home of the Eagle, our national bird, when the USA had one of its finest moments in the never ending war on terror.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
2011 MLB Player of The Year
The Ryan Dugan Player Of The Year is selected based on a players previous career statistics, overall team performance, and his potential to repeat the same level of athleticism in 2011, as he has over the rest of his career. I have to pick a man who is not only a team player, but a team leader. The player who most directly affects his team’s successes as a result of his individual performance. As Bob Costas once said “Unlike other sports where a team can continually give the ball to their best player, baseball is different. Babe Ruth, the greatest individual ever to play the game, only came to the plate once every nine times. It’s the individual within the context of the team that makes the game great.”
In the history of modern games, baseball may be the greatest example of a team sport. This makes it very difficult for me to select just one person who not only rises above the rest, but concurrently, elevates his team.
Traditionally I begin my process of selecting this one player by first eliminating positions, and situational players. Starting pitchers are usually the first to be eliminated simply because they work only once every five days, and its difficult for such a player to have great day-to-day impact on a teams overall successes. In fact, on this, the 12th anniversary of the Player Of The Year, only four times has a pitcher won the distinction, and only twice has it been a starting pitcher.
This past February, I was influenced tremendously by MLB-TV’s “Top 100 Players In The Game Today”. The top 100 MLB-players were broken down into a television series, where analysts and MLB-TV personalities ranked the best in baseball going into the 2011 season. I enjoyed their countdown immensely and agreed with most of it. (Although I would have ranked some of the players in slightly different order.) I used their top three finalists as a starting point to select my Player of the Year. Their three finalist were: 1. Albert Pujols, 2. Roy Halladay, and 3. Joe Mauer, in that order. I too finalized my “Player of The Year” pick down to these same three players, asking myself, which of the three affects his team the most dramatically?
My answer, and my 2011 Ryan J. Dugan Player of The Year: Minnesota Twins Joe Mauer.
I have already projected the Philadelphia Phillies to win the NL East. And I believe their starting pitching is so good, they could win the division with or without Roy Halladay. The St Louis Cardinals are going to get tremendous contributions from Albert Pujols this season, as they always do. And I have still projected St Louis to finish a distant third with or without Albert Pujols.
But, if the Twins were to lose Joe Mauer for any extended period of time, the Twins would drastically fall out of the AL Central playoff pitcher. Joe Mauer is a text book example of what I look for in a player of the year. He most drastically affects his teams successes. His contributions both offensively and especially defensively are invaluable to Minnesota!
Mauer has a .327 lifetime batting average in seven seasons. He has finished in the top ten in MVP voting in four in those seven seasons, winning it in 2009. But Mauer’s most critical contributions can be found defensively. He is arguably the best catcher in baseball today. His management of the pitching staff, and his leadership contributions make him the best of the best.
Joe Mauer is my guy in 2011! The Ryan Dugan Player of The Year.
The Player Of The Year Alumni
2000 Marino Rivera New York Yankees
2001 Pedro Martinez Boston Red Sox
2002 Jason Giambi Oakland Athletics
2003 Albert Pujols St Louis Cardinals
2004 Ivan Rodriguez Florida Marlins
2005 Hideki Matsui New York Yankees
2006 Albert Pujols St Louis Cardinals
2007 Johan Santana Minnesota Twins
2008 Matt Holliday Colorado Rockies
2009 Albert Pujols St Louis Cardinals
2010 Marino Rivera New York Yankees
2011 Joe Mauer Minnesota Twins
In the history of modern games, baseball may be the greatest example of a team sport. This makes it very difficult for me to select just one person who not only rises above the rest, but concurrently, elevates his team.
Traditionally I begin my process of selecting this one player by first eliminating positions, and situational players. Starting pitchers are usually the first to be eliminated simply because they work only once every five days, and its difficult for such a player to have great day-to-day impact on a teams overall successes. In fact, on this, the 12th anniversary of the Player Of The Year, only four times has a pitcher won the distinction, and only twice has it been a starting pitcher.
This past February, I was influenced tremendously by MLB-TV’s “Top 100 Players In The Game Today”. The top 100 MLB-players were broken down into a television series, where analysts and MLB-TV personalities ranked the best in baseball going into the 2011 season. I enjoyed their countdown immensely and agreed with most of it. (Although I would have ranked some of the players in slightly different order.) I used their top three finalists as a starting point to select my Player of the Year. Their three finalist were: 1. Albert Pujols, 2. Roy Halladay, and 3. Joe Mauer, in that order. I too finalized my “Player of The Year” pick down to these same three players, asking myself, which of the three affects his team the most dramatically?
My answer, and my 2011 Ryan J. Dugan Player of The Year: Minnesota Twins Joe Mauer.
I have already projected the Philadelphia Phillies to win the NL East. And I believe their starting pitching is so good, they could win the division with or without Roy Halladay. The St Louis Cardinals are going to get tremendous contributions from Albert Pujols this season, as they always do. And I have still projected St Louis to finish a distant third with or without Albert Pujols.
But, if the Twins were to lose Joe Mauer for any extended period of time, the Twins would drastically fall out of the AL Central playoff pitcher. Joe Mauer is a text book example of what I look for in a player of the year. He most drastically affects his teams successes. His contributions both offensively and especially defensively are invaluable to Minnesota!
Mauer has a .327 lifetime batting average in seven seasons. He has finished in the top ten in MVP voting in four in those seven seasons, winning it in 2009. But Mauer’s most critical contributions can be found defensively. He is arguably the best catcher in baseball today. His management of the pitching staff, and his leadership contributions make him the best of the best.
Joe Mauer is my guy in 2011! The Ryan Dugan Player of The Year.
The Player Of The Year Alumni
2000 Marino Rivera New York Yankees
2001 Pedro Martinez Boston Red Sox
2002 Jason Giambi Oakland Athletics
2003 Albert Pujols St Louis Cardinals
2004 Ivan Rodriguez Florida Marlins
2005 Hideki Matsui New York Yankees
2006 Albert Pujols St Louis Cardinals
2007 Johan Santana Minnesota Twins
2008 Matt Holliday Colorado Rockies
2009 Albert Pujols St Louis Cardinals
2010 Marino Rivera New York Yankees
2011 Joe Mauer Minnesota Twins
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Manny "The Ass Clown" Ramirez
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Since the time that I was just a boy, my uncle G.T. has expressed a strong desire to some day plan a trip to Cooperstown New York. Once there, our destination would be the Baseball Hall of Fame. In the Hall of Fames main concourse, the plan would then be to scout out the plaque of former Yankee, and stolen base king Rickey Henderson. Then the plan would evolve into befouling his plaque in a urinary relief exercise. (He wants to piss on Rickey’s plaque in layman's terms.) I, for one, have never fully understood my uncle’s horrid despise for Rickey. I had yet to become a huge Yankee fan in the late 1980’s when Rickey was in New York. But I’m sure my uncle was never a fan of Rickey’s flamboyant ego during his playing days. I also know that Rickey’s Yankee years surround controversy over his health. Rickey had a reputation , weather true or not, of faking injuries from time to time. Whatever my uncle’s reasons, I’m sure they are valid and legit enough for him to plan this trip.
Personally, I am all for it!
Not because I want to befoul Rickey’s plaque too. But rather because I have my own Cooperstown agenda!
I recently proposed to my uncle, that if he were to go to Cooperstown and befoul Rickey’s plaque, I would, at the same time, find the plaque of Manny “The Ass-Clown” Ramirez, and befoul his simultaneously. Now this trip is at least a few years off. It is souly based on the assumption that Manny will make the Hall-of-Fame. Which based on his steroid controversy, may keep him out. (One can only pray!)
The Los Angeles Dodgers were truly blessed the day they finally ridded themselves of Manny! Ramirez the former power hitting Red Sox slugger has spent the last two seasons in self-proclaimed Manny-Wood, aka Los Angeles California. The Dodgers had finally seen enough of Manny’s shenanigans, and traded him to Chicago the end of last year. This past winter, Manny signed with Tampa, and I project that the Rays will cut him too before the 2011 season ends. Manny deliberately had himself ejected in his last game as a Dodger last season. He quit on the Boston Red Sox, he quit on the Dodgers, he barely showed up for the White Sox. (One homerun and two Ribs in 24 games.) Now he starts a new season of stupidity in Tampa. The difference is now, Manny is in the twilight of his career. His age requires him to tread water twice as fast as everyone else, just to stay afloat. Trouble is that everything in Manny’s life has come easy and natural to him. Now that he has to maintain health, physical endurance, and stamina, without the God-given gift of a 20-year-old body, he will quickly lose interest, and resort to toxic distractions. I half hope that Manny does make the Hall of Fame. Just so I have something that represents him that I can use as a urinal!
Since the time that I was just a boy, my uncle G.T. has expressed a strong desire to some day plan a trip to Cooperstown New York. Once there, our destination would be the Baseball Hall of Fame. In the Hall of Fames main concourse, the plan would then be to scout out the plaque of former Yankee, and stolen base king Rickey Henderson. Then the plan would evolve into befouling his plaque in a urinary relief exercise. (He wants to piss on Rickey’s plaque in layman's terms.) I, for one, have never fully understood my uncle’s horrid despise for Rickey. I had yet to become a huge Yankee fan in the late 1980’s when Rickey was in New York. But I’m sure my uncle was never a fan of Rickey’s flamboyant ego during his playing days. I also know that Rickey’s Yankee years surround controversy over his health. Rickey had a reputation , weather true or not, of faking injuries from time to time. Whatever my uncle’s reasons, I’m sure they are valid and legit enough for him to plan this trip.
Personally, I am all for it!
Not because I want to befoul Rickey’s plaque too. But rather because I have my own Cooperstown agenda!
I recently proposed to my uncle, that if he were to go to Cooperstown and befoul Rickey’s plaque, I would, at the same time, find the plaque of Manny “The Ass-Clown” Ramirez, and befoul his simultaneously. Now this trip is at least a few years off. It is souly based on the assumption that Manny will make the Hall-of-Fame. Which based on his steroid controversy, may keep him out. (One can only pray!)
The Los Angeles Dodgers were truly blessed the day they finally ridded themselves of Manny! Ramirez the former power hitting Red Sox slugger has spent the last two seasons in self-proclaimed Manny-Wood, aka Los Angeles California. The Dodgers had finally seen enough of Manny’s shenanigans, and traded him to Chicago the end of last year. This past winter, Manny signed with Tampa, and I project that the Rays will cut him too before the 2011 season ends. Manny deliberately had himself ejected in his last game as a Dodger last season. He quit on the Boston Red Sox, he quit on the Dodgers, he barely showed up for the White Sox. (One homerun and two Ribs in 24 games.) Now he starts a new season of stupidity in Tampa. The difference is now, Manny is in the twilight of his career. His age requires him to tread water twice as fast as everyone else, just to stay afloat. Trouble is that everything in Manny’s life has come easy and natural to him. Now that he has to maintain health, physical endurance, and stamina, without the God-given gift of a 20-year-old body, he will quickly lose interest, and resort to toxic distractions. I half hope that Manny does make the Hall of Fame. Just so I have something that represents him that I can use as a urinal!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
The San Diego Save
Each year, when creating my crazy baseball prediction magazine, I have one recommendation of literature from the “Ryan J. Dugan Book Club”. Not that such a club really exists. It’s really just my chance to “book drop” in a feeble attempt to seem superiorly intellectual. I pretend to know how to read, and pretend to recommend books to others. But the truth is, very few people read in America any more, and the few that do, are not going to take any tips from me! But this year’s recommendation pertains directly to the San Diego Padres who perplex me when it comes to baseball’s final key ingredient: The Save.
I stumbled into a book signing at Borders about a year ago when author Fran Zimniuch spotted me checking out his book. He told me I have a striking resemblance to Shane Victorino and from there we engaged in a serious debate of baseball. The coversation centered around Fran’s book, Titled: Fireman- The Evolution of the Closer. I of course have an undying infatuation for my favorite closer/player, and in my opinion the best of all time: Mariano Rivera. Fran, although placing Rivera on the cover of his book, seemed to disagree quite passively. Fran was more interested in the origins of the closer role, and his personal friend, and favorite closer: Lee Smith. I bought his book, he signed me a copy, and now I’m recommending it to others. Imagine that!
But our closer conversation alas brings me to San Diego California, and to two Padres closers who have, in recent history that left me baffled. The first closer I have issue with would be the all time saves leader Trevor Hoffman. How can a guy with such little talent accumulate such astronomical save totals? (601 lifetime saves - the all time leader) Hoffman has never had a vital save in a big game, I.E. Playoffs or World Series. And in fact Hoffman usually choked in any playoff spots he found himself in. Hoffman threw an average fastball, and an above average changeup. Yet he is considered statistically the greatest closer in the history of baseball.
Thier second closer I have issue with, would be their present day closer Heath Bell. Bell was second in NL saves a year ago , behind only Brian Wilson. Bell was an over-weight, bullpen right-hander, who spent eight years in the Mets minor league system. Then in 2009 he exploded on the scene. First as the USA closer in the World Baseball Classic. Then Bell went on to a 42 save season. His pervious season high in saves: two. I just don't get it!
After reading Fran’s book, the reader receives a fine appreciation for how complex the save role is in baseball. And yet the Padres, from Hoffman to Bell, have made it look easy. They get top credit in save conversation. Truely amaizing!
I stumbled into a book signing at Borders about a year ago when author Fran Zimniuch spotted me checking out his book. He told me I have a striking resemblance to Shane Victorino and from there we engaged in a serious debate of baseball. The coversation centered around Fran’s book, Titled: Fireman- The Evolution of the Closer. I of course have an undying infatuation for my favorite closer/player, and in my opinion the best of all time: Mariano Rivera. Fran, although placing Rivera on the cover of his book, seemed to disagree quite passively. Fran was more interested in the origins of the closer role, and his personal friend, and favorite closer: Lee Smith. I bought his book, he signed me a copy, and now I’m recommending it to others. Imagine that!
But our closer conversation alas brings me to San Diego California, and to two Padres closers who have, in recent history that left me baffled. The first closer I have issue with would be the all time saves leader Trevor Hoffman. How can a guy with such little talent accumulate such astronomical save totals? (601 lifetime saves - the all time leader) Hoffman has never had a vital save in a big game, I.E. Playoffs or World Series. And in fact Hoffman usually choked in any playoff spots he found himself in. Hoffman threw an average fastball, and an above average changeup. Yet he is considered statistically the greatest closer in the history of baseball.
Thier second closer I have issue with, would be their present day closer Heath Bell. Bell was second in NL saves a year ago , behind only Brian Wilson. Bell was an over-weight, bullpen right-hander, who spent eight years in the Mets minor league system. Then in 2009 he exploded on the scene. First as the USA closer in the World Baseball Classic. Then Bell went on to a 42 save season. His pervious season high in saves: two. I just don't get it!
After reading Fran’s book, the reader receives a fine appreciation for how complex the save role is in baseball. And yet the Padres, from Hoffman to Bell, have made it look easy. They get top credit in save conversation. Truely amaizing!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Lets Execute Jeffery H. Loria
Last year, I wrote of my absolute distaste and despise for Florida Marlins owner Jeffrey H. Loria. I referred to him as: “A criminal of the worst kind!”
In the last 365 days, the actions, and my view, of Jeffery Loria have only gotten worse! In my humble opinion Loria should be in prison sharing a cell with Bernie Madoff! Or maybe an even better idea would be to give Loria the death penalty!
Last Spring, I made the case that the Marlins have been receiving millions of dollars from Baseball’s luxury tax and other MLB resources, and using those funds as the only means to pay for players salaries. Meaning that the Marlins have been pocketing the millions of dollars from ticket sales, concessions, parking, and personal club advertising, while having MLB front their entire player payroll. Pocketing revenue without spending any on the team,or signing free agent players, means a continued state of mediocrity for the Marlins on-feild product.
Trouble was, I had no proof. I could only speculate, based on some simple math, that the Marlins ownership was scamming their fans. The Marlins budget books were closed to the public, and only Loria knew for sure.
Jeffrey Loria was crying poverty!
Loria has always talked about what a struggling small market team he has in south Florida, and how those other means of revenue, (tickets advertising, concessions and parking) are actually in the red, and losing him money.
Loria’s cries of poverty have been abruptly followed by threats to move the team. Las Vegas or San Antonio were always suggested suitors. Loria’s only solution to keep the team in Miami, while making them profitable, was to build a new stadium, completely funded by the state of Florida. (After all, Loria was in the red! His organization had no money to help build a new stadium!) Loria took his poverty cries to the politicians of Miami Dade county. Loria finally convinced the state of Florida that a new stadium deal had to be publically financed, (paid by the tax payers) and he convinced them without ever having to open up the Marlins books, and show them his budgets.
WOW!
Then in August of 2010, the web site Deadspin.com, leaked all of the Marlins dirty laundry! (And man was it ugly!!!)
According to Dead spin, the Florida Marlins books showed a profit margin of 49 million dollars from 2007 to 2008. During that time the Marlins collected 90 million dollars from MLB resources. The clearly documented news devastated fans and tax payers in a struggling financially stricken state of Florida.
But by late August 2010, when the books were leaked, Miami Dade county had already approved the new Stadium deal, and the new Marlins home was being built. The total estimated cost for the new park is 515 million. Loria and the Marlins will pay absolutely none of that sum. The Florida tax payer, will pay for all of it.
Jeffery Loria has lied to his own fans, the politicians of south Florida, and worse of all, the tax payers, both fans, and non-fans of Major League Baseball. The criminal acts of this New York Art dealer, ( who’s personal worth is close to a billion dollars) is truly horrid. The ignorance of the political system in Miami Dade County is also guilty.
But this is what happens when the American people trust the wealthiest one percent of its citizens to always do the right thing when they are given all power and control of the nation. They abuse their power, take what they want, while making themselves more money , and losing all control of morality.
I say kill Loria!
Former President George W. Bush always said he supported the death penalty only because killing some one is such a powerful action it can be used to deter others from committing the same crime. The idea of the death penalty is to show other criminals the grave consequences for their actions.
Anyone who is going to ruin my national pastime, rob it's ball park fans, and steel tax money from school children, old ladies, and the infrastructure of our nation deserves to die! And maybe if we kill Loria, the fat cats on Wall Street will be detered from commiting similar acts of greed, if the consequece is your own execution!
In the last 365 days, the actions, and my view, of Jeffery Loria have only gotten worse! In my humble opinion Loria should be in prison sharing a cell with Bernie Madoff! Or maybe an even better idea would be to give Loria the death penalty!
Last Spring, I made the case that the Marlins have been receiving millions of dollars from Baseball’s luxury tax and other MLB resources, and using those funds as the only means to pay for players salaries. Meaning that the Marlins have been pocketing the millions of dollars from ticket sales, concessions, parking, and personal club advertising, while having MLB front their entire player payroll. Pocketing revenue without spending any on the team,or signing free agent players, means a continued state of mediocrity for the Marlins on-feild product.
Trouble was, I had no proof. I could only speculate, based on some simple math, that the Marlins ownership was scamming their fans. The Marlins budget books were closed to the public, and only Loria knew for sure.
Jeffrey Loria was crying poverty!
Loria has always talked about what a struggling small market team he has in south Florida, and how those other means of revenue, (tickets advertising, concessions and parking) are actually in the red, and losing him money.
Loria’s cries of poverty have been abruptly followed by threats to move the team. Las Vegas or San Antonio were always suggested suitors. Loria’s only solution to keep the team in Miami, while making them profitable, was to build a new stadium, completely funded by the state of Florida. (After all, Loria was in the red! His organization had no money to help build a new stadium!) Loria took his poverty cries to the politicians of Miami Dade county. Loria finally convinced the state of Florida that a new stadium deal had to be publically financed, (paid by the tax payers) and he convinced them without ever having to open up the Marlins books, and show them his budgets.
WOW!
Then in August of 2010, the web site Deadspin.com, leaked all of the Marlins dirty laundry! (And man was it ugly!!!)
According to Dead spin, the Florida Marlins books showed a profit margin of 49 million dollars from 2007 to 2008. During that time the Marlins collected 90 million dollars from MLB resources. The clearly documented news devastated fans and tax payers in a struggling financially stricken state of Florida.
But by late August 2010, when the books were leaked, Miami Dade county had already approved the new Stadium deal, and the new Marlins home was being built. The total estimated cost for the new park is 515 million. Loria and the Marlins will pay absolutely none of that sum. The Florida tax payer, will pay for all of it.
Jeffery Loria has lied to his own fans, the politicians of south Florida, and worse of all, the tax payers, both fans, and non-fans of Major League Baseball. The criminal acts of this New York Art dealer, ( who’s personal worth is close to a billion dollars) is truly horrid. The ignorance of the political system in Miami Dade County is also guilty.
But this is what happens when the American people trust the wealthiest one percent of its citizens to always do the right thing when they are given all power and control of the nation. They abuse their power, take what they want, while making themselves more money , and losing all control of morality.
I say kill Loria!
Former President George W. Bush always said he supported the death penalty only because killing some one is such a powerful action it can be used to deter others from committing the same crime. The idea of the death penalty is to show other criminals the grave consequences for their actions.
Anyone who is going to ruin my national pastime, rob it's ball park fans, and steel tax money from school children, old ladies, and the infrastructure of our nation deserves to die! And maybe if we kill Loria, the fat cats on Wall Street will be detered from commiting similar acts of greed, if the consequece is your own execution!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
NFL - The Commerical Capital of the World
You know what bothers me?
What gets in my chest cavity, and causes me so much fury that I want grab something heavy, and throw it through glass?
Let me tell you what infuriates me to unbelievable extremes.
What drives me absolutely bonkers is television commercial advertisements.
What bothers me even more then television commercial advertisements is their constant interruption when I am trying to watch a live sporting event.
No live sporting event is ravaged with more crude interruptions at the most inopportune times then that of the National Football League.
Just when a game is about to start, and the players begin to leave the side lines to take the field, inevitably, Jim Nantz, or Joe Buck, or Al Michaels or Mike Tirico say: “We will step aside for a moment, …your big game is up next.”
Just after the networks live coverage has: “stepped aside”, I am bombarded with nonsense and advertisements about cell phones, and cars, and lipitor and old lady cleaning supplies. All of which I have no interest in spending even a penny of my hard earned money on! Then, just after my disgust for all these sales angels reaches it’s apex, I get the particular networks television-programming lineup. “Watch our crappy comedy this Tuesday”. Or, “watch our detective drama this Thursday”. Or “tune in for our reality T.V. series Monday Night starting at 8:00pm”.
And of all these garbage shows, I am not going to watch a single one of them anyway. Why: because all these shows themselves will be loaded with more TV commercials about cell phones and cars and lipior and old lady cleaning supplies.
Freaking infuriating!
Then my announcer of the week says: “welcome back”. I watch one team kick the ball off to the other team, and as soon as a member of the kicking team tackles the receiver, I get the same vomit all over again. Jim Nantz, or Joe Buck, or Al Michaels or Mike Tirrico say: “We will step aside for a moment, 14:57 left in the first quarter.” Three seconds off the clock between commercial breaks!
More useless advertisements about T.V. shows, and American cars that I wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole.
Then the game comes back on, and two plays later, a member of the defensive line sprains his ankle, and cant get up off the turf.
What happens next?
Not a side line report, or a pre recorded interview segment with the games quarterback, or some commentary with interesting or inside camera shots of the stadium.
Nope instead we get an injury time-out, and another commercial break.
---
The NFL will receive just over three billion dollars from their television contracts this season. (Approximately 650million from NBC, 620million from CBS, 713million from FOX, and 1.1billion from ESPN.) And the NFL caters to these networks in every way imaginable. They let the networks call the shots once the game has begun. And the Directors in the production trailers hold more authority over an NFL game, then any head official does on the field.
While researching this subject matter, I found the following segment from Wikipedia.com and pasted it directly into this blog. I found the information truly appalling!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commercial breaks
During each half of a network-televised game, there are ten prescribed commercial breaks following the official kickoff. Two are firmly scheduled, and eight others are worked in during breaks in the play.[25]
Pre-scheduled commercial breaks:
· The end of the first (or third) quarter
· The two-minute warning of the second (or fourth) quarter
Other instances used for commercial breaks (eight total required per half):
· A timeout called by either team
· Instant replay stoppage
· Game stoppage after a score
· Game stoppage after a kickoff or punt (excluding the opening kickoff of each half)
· Game stoppage after a turnover
· Injury timeout
Two commercial breaks during the typical 12-minute halftime period are considered separate.
Networks are more apt to front-load their commercials in the first and third quarters, to prevent an overrun in the second and fourth quarters respectively. If a team calls a timeout and the network decides to use it for a commercial break, a representative from the broadcast crew stationed on the sidelines wearing orange sleeves makes a crossing motion with his hands to alert the officials. The referee declares it a "two-minute timeout."
Once a broadcast has fulfilled the 8 "random" breaks, game stoppages are no longer needed for commercials. The orange sleeve will hold his hands down in a twirl motion to alert the officials. If a team calls a timeout, the referee will declare it a "30-second timeout." Once any timeout in a half is declared a 30-second timeout, all remaining timeouts will be of the same duration.
Since the 10 total commercial breaks for the second half are to be finished prior to the end of regulation, commercial breaks are rarely needed in overtime situations. In many cases, overtime periods are conducted without any commercials. This also allows the extended broadcast to finish in a timely manner.
(Wikipedia.com)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It blew my mind to read the NFL’s network policy written so clearly in stone.
I knew as an avid football fan that the NFL and the networks were raking us all over the coals. But it wasnt until I did a goggle search, that I found out just how badly.
Since the average commercial break is 45 to 60 seconds in time, that’s over 30 minutes of commercials during a typical three-hour game.
But wait,there's more.
Just because a Network has front loaded its commercials and has met their required breaks, does not mean they will not try to fit in more if the game allows them to do so.
What the fan is left with is a feeling of wonderment. Questioning weather him/or her is watching an NFL football game or "the home shopping network".
This is obviously tolerated by fans most of all on Super Bowl Sunday. This is when most fans look forward to new, interesting, and funny advertisements debuting specifically for the big game. However, even then it leaves the specifics of the game watered down and diluted so badly that the athletes themselves are drastically affected.
Consider that fact that while the average football fan spends 45 to 60 seconds, ten times a half, frustrated in front of their T.V. set, the average player is doing the same thing while standing in a huddle. The fans and the players waiting for the sponsors to finishs their harrasment.
At least in baseball a commercial break in between innings does not impinge on the action of the game. (Not that its any less infuriating for a fan.) In baseball the teams have to change positions. One team has to either enter the dugout or exit it. And in the NBA and NHL their clocks are also stopped much less frequently for scheduled time outs then in the NFL. Their games just don’t allow the opportunities to stop the athletes and cut away from the action. (Not that they dont try!)
But that’s just not the case in the NFL. The NFL is about production before sport!
Football players frequently struggle to find a rhythm or pace, or a reason or rhyme to the constant stoppage of play, as a result of the random commercial. Now although these warriors of the gridiron are probably as frustrated as I am, you will never hear a single one of them complain. And why should they?
Standing around doing nothing is what is paying their million dollar salaries, maybe even more so then what they are doing in-between these moments of killing idol time while the commercials play out.
What gets in my chest cavity, and causes me so much fury that I want grab something heavy, and throw it through glass?
Let me tell you what infuriates me to unbelievable extremes.
What drives me absolutely bonkers is television commercial advertisements.
What bothers me even more then television commercial advertisements is their constant interruption when I am trying to watch a live sporting event.
No live sporting event is ravaged with more crude interruptions at the most inopportune times then that of the National Football League.
Just when a game is about to start, and the players begin to leave the side lines to take the field, inevitably, Jim Nantz, or Joe Buck, or Al Michaels or Mike Tirico say: “We will step aside for a moment, …your big game is up next.”
Just after the networks live coverage has: “stepped aside”, I am bombarded with nonsense and advertisements about cell phones, and cars, and lipitor and old lady cleaning supplies. All of which I have no interest in spending even a penny of my hard earned money on! Then, just after my disgust for all these sales angels reaches it’s apex, I get the particular networks television-programming lineup. “Watch our crappy comedy this Tuesday”. Or, “watch our detective drama this Thursday”. Or “tune in for our reality T.V. series Monday Night starting at 8:00pm”.
And of all these garbage shows, I am not going to watch a single one of them anyway. Why: because all these shows themselves will be loaded with more TV commercials about cell phones and cars and lipior and old lady cleaning supplies.
Freaking infuriating!
Then my announcer of the week says: “welcome back”. I watch one team kick the ball off to the other team, and as soon as a member of the kicking team tackles the receiver, I get the same vomit all over again. Jim Nantz, or Joe Buck, or Al Michaels or Mike Tirrico say: “We will step aside for a moment, 14:57 left in the first quarter.” Three seconds off the clock between commercial breaks!
More useless advertisements about T.V. shows, and American cars that I wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole.
Then the game comes back on, and two plays later, a member of the defensive line sprains his ankle, and cant get up off the turf.
What happens next?
Not a side line report, or a pre recorded interview segment with the games quarterback, or some commentary with interesting or inside camera shots of the stadium.
Nope instead we get an injury time-out, and another commercial break.
---
The NFL will receive just over three billion dollars from their television contracts this season. (Approximately 650million from NBC, 620million from CBS, 713million from FOX, and 1.1billion from ESPN.) And the NFL caters to these networks in every way imaginable. They let the networks call the shots once the game has begun. And the Directors in the production trailers hold more authority over an NFL game, then any head official does on the field.
While researching this subject matter, I found the following segment from Wikipedia.com and pasted it directly into this blog. I found the information truly appalling!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commercial breaks
During each half of a network-televised game, there are ten prescribed commercial breaks following the official kickoff. Two are firmly scheduled, and eight others are worked in during breaks in the play.[25]
Pre-scheduled commercial breaks:
· The end of the first (or third) quarter
· The two-minute warning of the second (or fourth) quarter
Other instances used for commercial breaks (eight total required per half):
· A timeout called by either team
· Instant replay stoppage
· Game stoppage after a score
· Game stoppage after a kickoff or punt (excluding the opening kickoff of each half)
· Game stoppage after a turnover
· Injury timeout
Two commercial breaks during the typical 12-minute halftime period are considered separate.
Networks are more apt to front-load their commercials in the first and third quarters, to prevent an overrun in the second and fourth quarters respectively. If a team calls a timeout and the network decides to use it for a commercial break, a representative from the broadcast crew stationed on the sidelines wearing orange sleeves makes a crossing motion with his hands to alert the officials. The referee declares it a "two-minute timeout."
Once a broadcast has fulfilled the 8 "random" breaks, game stoppages are no longer needed for commercials. The orange sleeve will hold his hands down in a twirl motion to alert the officials. If a team calls a timeout, the referee will declare it a "30-second timeout." Once any timeout in a half is declared a 30-second timeout, all remaining timeouts will be of the same duration.
Since the 10 total commercial breaks for the second half are to be finished prior to the end of regulation, commercial breaks are rarely needed in overtime situations. In many cases, overtime periods are conducted without any commercials. This also allows the extended broadcast to finish in a timely manner.
(Wikipedia.com)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It blew my mind to read the NFL’s network policy written so clearly in stone.
I knew as an avid football fan that the NFL and the networks were raking us all over the coals. But it wasnt until I did a goggle search, that I found out just how badly.
Since the average commercial break is 45 to 60 seconds in time, that’s over 30 minutes of commercials during a typical three-hour game.
But wait,there's more.
Just because a Network has front loaded its commercials and has met their required breaks, does not mean they will not try to fit in more if the game allows them to do so.
What the fan is left with is a feeling of wonderment. Questioning weather him/or her is watching an NFL football game or "the home shopping network".
This is obviously tolerated by fans most of all on Super Bowl Sunday. This is when most fans look forward to new, interesting, and funny advertisements debuting specifically for the big game. However, even then it leaves the specifics of the game watered down and diluted so badly that the athletes themselves are drastically affected.
Consider that fact that while the average football fan spends 45 to 60 seconds, ten times a half, frustrated in front of their T.V. set, the average player is doing the same thing while standing in a huddle. The fans and the players waiting for the sponsors to finishs their harrasment.
At least in baseball a commercial break in between innings does not impinge on the action of the game. (Not that its any less infuriating for a fan.) In baseball the teams have to change positions. One team has to either enter the dugout or exit it. And in the NBA and NHL their clocks are also stopped much less frequently for scheduled time outs then in the NFL. Their games just don’t allow the opportunities to stop the athletes and cut away from the action. (Not that they dont try!)
But that’s just not the case in the NFL. The NFL is about production before sport!
Football players frequently struggle to find a rhythm or pace, or a reason or rhyme to the constant stoppage of play, as a result of the random commercial. Now although these warriors of the gridiron are probably as frustrated as I am, you will never hear a single one of them complain. And why should they?
Standing around doing nothing is what is paying their million dollar salaries, maybe even more so then what they are doing in-between these moments of killing idol time while the commercials play out.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Michael Vick & Wild Card Weekend
I’m putting all my chips on one man and one team. I am boldly projecting the Philadelphia Eagles to return to a place of familiarity.
I am projecting the Philadelphia Eagles to make the NFC Championship game for the sixth time in the last ten years.
The team I am backing is of course the Eagles, but that afore mentioned “one man”, is their starting quarterback:
Michael Vick.
It’s a bold pick. Largely because the Eagles will be required to beat the Green Bay Packers this Sunday in Philadelphia. (4:15pm on Fox) Then they will be required to go on the road and defeat either the Atlanta Falcons or the Chicago Bears. From here on out, each team, in each potential game will be favored on paper over the Eagles. But with only two more victories, what was to be a rebuilding season will then be viewed as a tremendous success.
But it all starts and ends with Michael Vick.
Vick’s remarkable turn around story has been highly publicized since his return to the NFL last season. Signing with Philadelphia prior to the 2009, 2010 season, Vick was brought into the Eagles organization as a backup to quarterback franchise icon, Donavan Mcnabb. Watching primarily from the sidelines, Vick, would on occasion run a play out of the Eagles wildcat offense. Then when Mcnabb was traded to Washington prior to the 2010, 2011 season, highly prized rookie Kevin Kolb was scheduled to take over for the Eagles. Vick was to continue his backup role, with the occasional action as a running back / quarterback trick master. But a concussion suffered by Kolb in week one created an opening and an opportunity for Vick.
Then on Monday night, 11/15/2010, Vick scored a remarkable six touchdowns. He threw four into the end zone, and ran two in himself. (333 passing yards / 80 rushing yards) He flat out embarrassed the Washington Redskins. Looking so good in his victory, his performance propelled him into the League’s MVP conversation with Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
A month later on Sunday 12/19/2010, at New Giants Stadium, with just ten minutes left in the fourth quarter, Vick led his team back from a three touchdown deficit. First he threw a 65-yard pass to tight-end Brent Celek. Then he ran a 4-yard touchdown in himself right at the two-minute warning. Lastly, a 13-yard TD pass to Jeremy Maclin, tied the game. That touchdown came just 15 seconds later, after an onside kick. In the end, it was Vick and the Eagles with a stunning victory and a NFL East division title.
Since the massacre in the meadowlands, the Eagles have not won a game.
Losing their last two home games (two weeks ago to the Minnesota Vikings, and last Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys) Philadelphia has frequently looked lost and shaken. Many fans, commentators, and analysts are projecting an Eagle collapse. They are claiming that the top defenses of the NFL have caught on to Michael Vick, and have figured out his mobile antics out of the pocket. They clam that the league has developed new and improved ways to isolate Vick. They also claim that Vick is hurt, that the hits are taking their toll, and that he is both physically and mentally depleted.
Personally: I don’t buy any of it!
Vick has made a remarkable comeback this season both on the field and off. It was just over three years ago, in the autumn of 2007, that the media world couldn’t get enough of Michael Vick and for all the wrong reasons. Vick was leading the news, and headlining the papers. After his trial and subsequent conviction for financing a chain of illegal and underground dogfights, Vick spent close to two years in prison. The criminal blemish shattered his reputation and destroyed his football career in the mists of his prime.
But Vick came back.
First he won over Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL. Next he won over Andy Reid and the Philadelphia Eagles. Then maybe most amazing of all, he has progressively begun winning over avid animal lovers in the Philadelphia area. (At least those who also double as Philadelphia Eagles fans.)
Bottom line- Vick has shown a dedication, determination, and most important of all, a resiliency over the last 18 weeks in the NFL. The playoffs, as they always do, bring out the very best of the very best in professional football. Michael Vick will be no different this Sunday in his first playoff game in over seven years.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
The 2011 Winter Classic
The 2011 Winter Classic
It’s the first major professional sporting event of the New Year. It’s a holiday tradition, now four year’s old. It’s when the NHL brings professional hockey out doors for just one day, and celebrates the games origins as well as its present season. This year’s venue was Heinz Field in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, and a match up of two Eastern Conference rivals: the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals. One of the great many highlights is to watch a baseball field or football stadium convert over to an NHL hockey rink. Legendary parks like Wrigley Field and Fenway Park have been used in recent years, but this year, a home game for one of the sports most legendary franchises took center stage.
The game time changed at the very last minute in an attempt to accommodate the bleak weather forecast. Originally scheduled as a 1:00pm game, the NHL’s brass changed the game to prime time. 8:00pm on NBC was the new scheduled start, in hope that the precipitation would move out of the Pittsburgh area.
The backup plan would not pan out.
Mario Lemieux Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis (all three beloved Pittsburgh sports heroes’) dropped the first puck to begin the Classic’s Opening Ceremonies. After both Canada’s and America’s National Anthems were sung; the game was finally upon us.
The very first observation from Pittsburgh was the 46-degree temperatures that created very wet ice conditions. Then just minutes into the first period a stop in play occurred to repair a damaged glass panel above the wall. Then questions about the outdoor nighttime lighting were raised by the NBC announce crew. (Doc Emerick and Eddie Olczyk.) Then the rain started to pour down onto the ice. After five minutes of play, the nature of the outdoor event was still a bigger story then any of the action between the two-rivaled teams.
As the first period ended, neither team had scored, and after 28 shots on goal (Penguins 16 / Capitals 12) the Winter Classic was locked in a 0-0 no score. In fact the only real excitement in the first period at all, was an old fashion hockey brawl between Washington’s John Erskine and Pittsburgh’s Michael Rupp. The two men threw down their gloves and exchanged a furious cluster of blows before being separated. The fight would cost each player five minutes in the penalty box.
At 2:13 in the second period, an Evgeni Malkin break away, lead to his 14th goal of the season, and the first of the Winter Classic. The city of Pittsburgh went wild as the home team took the 1-0 lead.
Less then five minutes later, Washington responded with a goal of their own. On a Washington power play, Mike Knuble with a cluster of Capitals teammates in front of the Pittsburgh net, scored to tie the game at 1-1. Nick Backstro, and Mike Green, both had assists, as the wet cold Pittsburgh crowd became quite fast.
Then with just 5:15 left in the second, Penguin goalie Mark Andre Fleury was trying to clear the zone just behind his net. His attempt failed as the puck ricocheted to Washington right-winger Eric Fehr. Fehr’s snap shot, lead to his sixth goal of the year and gave Washington a 2-1 lead. Washington has 16 shots on goal while Pittsburgh had just 8, in the second period and the Capitals were beginning to pull away.
The third period was as offensively uneventful as the first period, with only one exception. That exception was Eric Fehr’s second goal of the game at 7:28 in the third.
With wind and intense rain, the ice began to puddle. And other then a very physical second half of the third period, no points were scored.
The fourth annual Winter Classic came to an end with the road team stealing away the victory. The Washington Capitals were the better team on New Years Day. But these two teams are very evenly matched. Both are elite of their Divisions, both have marquee players/captains, and both could see each other again in the post season.
Speculation regarding the 2012 Winter Classic has already begun. Every city in the U.S. and Canada want in on the NHL’s gem and prized possession. Rumored cities include: Denver, New York, Philadelphia, and Minnesota. Who ever gets the game one year from now, will get hockey’s most exciting, most publicized spectacle on the very first day of the new year.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Tim Lincecum
-
I think I am clinically depressed.
And no, it’s not because the words don’t flow into this Sports Blog as effectively, or more important, as frequently as I would like. It's because the season I love more then life itself is all but over.
The 2010 summer has passed us by!
Sure it doesn’t officially end until September 21st. But truth be told, you can stick a fork in it! The last grilled hot dog has been consumed, the final firework observed. The brutal humidity that is almost too much to handle, has casually vanished, and it’s dark by 8:00pm again.
One of the very few things that bring me comfort this time of the year, is to look back and reflect on the season that has just past. Certainly one of my top 10 moments of the summer was my trip to Anaheim for the 2010 MLB All-star game.
It was there that I had an autograph experience for the ages.
---
I had all but given up on receiving any autographs in Angels Stadium.
The Old Man and I have been buyer’s, hunters, and collectors of autograph baseball memorbilia for almost twenty years now. We had received some very good autographs the day before at the All-star Fan Fest at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Autographs from Fan Fest included: Bob Feller, and Rollie Fingers) Coming into Tuesday, we were hungry for more. However the pageantry that was the All-star game provided no such opportunity for the fans to mingle with players and acquire personalized memorabilia in an All-star experience.
The players did arrive by way of red carpet before the game. Yet only four, of the some forty players and coaches, stopped to sign anything for any of the fans. They were: Robinson Cano, Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Bruan, and Andre Either. (Cano and A-Rod only signed for about a half dozen fans.) Restricted to our seats in the upper deck, TOM and I had no player access during batting practice. It didn’t matter much anyway; none of the players were larking anywhere near the stands.
The game was a fantastic display of Major Leagues Baseball’s very best efforts to produce a ball game. The pre-game ceremonies, the lineups and introductions were all fantastic to watch in person. The game was...well, a microcosm of the “year of the pitcher”. No real offense was to be found anywhere, as power pitching ruled the day. As the 81st annual All-star game ended with a 3-1 National League victory, it was Brian McCann’s two run double that proved to be the difference.
When the game was over, TOM and I found more of the same with regards to player access. Police and security had made fan contact to the players virtually impossible. Plus the players had other obligations. Travel arrangements, meeting with family, and post game logistics were all high priorities. Autographs and fan friendliness was indeed on the very back burner.
The Old Man and I departed from our seats in the upper deck. As we exited the Stadium, we had made the decision to make one final walk around the outside of Angels Stadium. Our objective was to let the crowd clear out, and to avoid traffic. Plus we were still soaking in this once in a lifetime baseball experience.
We made our way around the stadium to the right center field exterior, where the Angels player’s parking lot is located. It was there that we witnessed first hand the madness surrounding the players exit. Fans of all shapes and sizes were present. A fan represented every team. Every jersey from every team could be seen from the well over 1000 fans waiting at the player’s lot. The Old Man and I had just sort of stumbled into the madness. Surround by bodies, screaming, and general disarray, I had seen enough and had turned 180 degrees around. The Old Man didn’t object to my change in course setting. If we were going to continue walking the Stadiums perimeter, we were going to have to bypass the crowd, and the barricades.
We began walking around this temporary alunimum mesh fence that was set up as an extension of the VIP parking lot. The fence’s entrance and exit were the only interest to the fans trying to catch a glimpse of each player. As soon as TOM and I moved toward the far end of the fence, the crowd thinned out immediately.
As we approached the far end of the fence, emerging in the darkness was what looked like a batboy signing autographs from within the fence.
I couldn’t see real well.
The darkness was strong, as we were well removed from the lights of the stadium. The parking lot had its share of street lamps, but for whatever reason, the area TOM and I found ourselves in, with this batboy kid, was very dark. Still, a small group of fans were swarming to the fence to get an autograph.
This skinny rail of a young man, looked like he was no older then 13-years-old, and was maybe 115 pounds soaking wet. He was not standing next to an insanely pimped out sports car. He wasn’t wearing a designer suit. He had no gold Jesus chain, or diamond ear rings. He didn’t have on a giant expensive set of headphones. There was no entourage with him. No crew of girlfriends. No wife and children.
These are all things I look to observe as a ball player comes and goes from the ballpark. This kid had none of those things.
He wore a pair of tight dark jeans and light gray sweatshirt with the hood covering his head. He had a burlap bag hanging off his shoulder and at his side. Standing right next to the fence, with just a single security guard, this young-man was taking baseballs from fans, and signing his name to them.
I thought to myself: “This is some kind of joke. There is no way this is an MLB All-star.”
As we got closer the crowd started to dissipate.
This was when I heard a fan who had just left the fence turn and say:
“Thanks for the Autograph Tim… Go Dodgers in the second half!”
His quote was met with a series of boos from the small crowd. Siding with Tim the crowd did not appreciate the fan’s snub.
I quickly asked another fan standing near the fence: “Who is that?”
The fan confirmed what I already knew.
It was San Francisco Giant All-Star Tim Lincecum.
I acted with lighting fast speed and pinpoint accuracy, pulling a baseball from one of the lower pockets of my cargo shorts. It was finding the proper pen that had stalled me. I began to panic as I saw Tim finishing up with the last fan at the fence.
As I have seen a million times before, a player will dictate the terms of his voluntary niceties at his own playful whim. If he decides he is all done signing autographs and you’re a seven-year-old kid crying your eyes out cause you didn’t get an autograph, well then too bad for you. If I was going to get a Tim Lincecum autograph, I need to work quickly before he decided to stop signing and walked away from the fence.
Finally, I was able to retrieve a Sharpe from my pocket. I handed Tim the baseball with perfect symmetry from the pervious fans exchange to mine. I could tell right away that Tim was different. He wasn’t signing autographs out of some imposed dutiful obligation. He wasn’t righteous or egotistical. He was signing autographs and talking to fans, because he wanted to. He was there because he wanted to be there, and because a rapport with the fans was important to him. He was so down to earth; I didn’t know what to make of it!
“Thanks a lot Tim! I’m a big fan.” I said, as he was busy touching my Sharpe to my baseball.
“You bet.” He replied.
“Can you sign one more for my dad?” I asked him.
Tom was struggling with the same issues I was, in trying to get his balls together in a very impromptu situation.
He gave me back my baseball and took the one from the Old Man.
“Were you eligible to pitch tonight Tim?” I asked him. I figured why not strike up a conversation with San Francisco’s pitching ace. After all, it was just Tom, Tim, a random security guard, and I clustered around the fence.
“Yeah I was. I just didn’t get called on. Wasn’t my decision… wasn’t my call.”
Was his reply.
“Well thanks again for the autograph. It’s really generous of you. And good luck in the second half. I really like your team to win the division."
As if I had to tell Tim!
It was so surreal! There's always this disconnect between my writings, my predictions, my conversations with friends and family. I talk about this stuff like I know something, but have no real contact with it at all. Yet here I was telling this baseball player, living and breathing right in front of me, that I liked his team on paper. Those closest to him, those that he calls teammates,… I like their numbers. I like them to collectively do great things.
Really…as if I had to tell Tim!
Just then, the Old Man replied. “Yeah he has you on his fantasy team.”
I was a flat out lie. but that’s just Tom. His comment annoyed me, and Tim could tell that I didn’t have him on my fantasy team. I could tell just by Tim's reaction to the expression on my face. To his credit, he just smiled and nodded.
“Well good luck to you Tim, and thanks again!” I said, as Tom and I began to walk away.
I wanted to say so much more! Suddenly I wanted to be Michael Kay. I wanted to be sitting in a YES studio in a comfortable chair, quizzing Tim Lincecum for a Center Stage interview.
I wanted to ask him so much more!
“Talk to me about growing up with your father teaching you pitching mechanics?”
“Tell me about your nick name the Freak. Do you even like it?”
“Where do you see yourself within the game within the next five years?”
All these questions eluded me while back in reality. I was stuck frozen in the moment. Trapped by my insecurities and struggling to reach out and push myself, I let the moment pass. Maybe it was the spontaneity of the whole scene. Maybe it was my struggle to still believe this was Tim Lincecum. (Based on my description, I would imagine you could see my struggle.) It was while all this was going on in my brain damaged mind, that I turned around and began walking back toward the fence.
“Hey Tim?” I called out.
“Do you mind if I get at picture?”
“Of course not.” He said, as he smiled for the camera.
“Thanks Tim… to be honest, I’m still a little star struck.”
I thanked him yet another time, before finally turning around to catch up with Tom.
The rest of the night was spent having Tom reassure me that it was indeed Tim Lincecum.
We looked at our signatures over and over. I looked up photos of his autograph on- line. And of course I looked back at his picture on my camera over and over again.
I will let you be the judge, as my photo of Tim concudes this Blog, and my baseball story from Anaheim California at the mid summer classic.
It was the last time I was truly happy!
I think I am clinically depressed.
And no, it’s not because the words don’t flow into this Sports Blog as effectively, or more important, as frequently as I would like. It's because the season I love more then life itself is all but over.
The 2010 summer has passed us by!
Sure it doesn’t officially end until September 21st. But truth be told, you can stick a fork in it! The last grilled hot dog has been consumed, the final firework observed. The brutal humidity that is almost too much to handle, has casually vanished, and it’s dark by 8:00pm again.
One of the very few things that bring me comfort this time of the year, is to look back and reflect on the season that has just past. Certainly one of my top 10 moments of the summer was my trip to Anaheim for the 2010 MLB All-star game.
It was there that I had an autograph experience for the ages.
---
I had all but given up on receiving any autographs in Angels Stadium.
The Old Man and I have been buyer’s, hunters, and collectors of autograph baseball memorbilia for almost twenty years now. We had received some very good autographs the day before at the All-star Fan Fest at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Autographs from Fan Fest included: Bob Feller, and Rollie Fingers) Coming into Tuesday, we were hungry for more. However the pageantry that was the All-star game provided no such opportunity for the fans to mingle with players and acquire personalized memorabilia in an All-star experience.
The players did arrive by way of red carpet before the game. Yet only four, of the some forty players and coaches, stopped to sign anything for any of the fans. They were: Robinson Cano, Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Bruan, and Andre Either. (Cano and A-Rod only signed for about a half dozen fans.) Restricted to our seats in the upper deck, TOM and I had no player access during batting practice. It didn’t matter much anyway; none of the players were larking anywhere near the stands.
The game was a fantastic display of Major Leagues Baseball’s very best efforts to produce a ball game. The pre-game ceremonies, the lineups and introductions were all fantastic to watch in person. The game was...well, a microcosm of the “year of the pitcher”. No real offense was to be found anywhere, as power pitching ruled the day. As the 81st annual All-star game ended with a 3-1 National League victory, it was Brian McCann’s two run double that proved to be the difference.
When the game was over, TOM and I found more of the same with regards to player access. Police and security had made fan contact to the players virtually impossible. Plus the players had other obligations. Travel arrangements, meeting with family, and post game logistics were all high priorities. Autographs and fan friendliness was indeed on the very back burner.
The Old Man and I departed from our seats in the upper deck. As we exited the Stadium, we had made the decision to make one final walk around the outside of Angels Stadium. Our objective was to let the crowd clear out, and to avoid traffic. Plus we were still soaking in this once in a lifetime baseball experience.
We made our way around the stadium to the right center field exterior, where the Angels player’s parking lot is located. It was there that we witnessed first hand the madness surrounding the players exit. Fans of all shapes and sizes were present. A fan represented every team. Every jersey from every team could be seen from the well over 1000 fans waiting at the player’s lot. The Old Man and I had just sort of stumbled into the madness. Surround by bodies, screaming, and general disarray, I had seen enough and had turned 180 degrees around. The Old Man didn’t object to my change in course setting. If we were going to continue walking the Stadiums perimeter, we were going to have to bypass the crowd, and the barricades.
We began walking around this temporary alunimum mesh fence that was set up as an extension of the VIP parking lot. The fence’s entrance and exit were the only interest to the fans trying to catch a glimpse of each player. As soon as TOM and I moved toward the far end of the fence, the crowd thinned out immediately.
As we approached the far end of the fence, emerging in the darkness was what looked like a batboy signing autographs from within the fence.
I couldn’t see real well.
The darkness was strong, as we were well removed from the lights of the stadium. The parking lot had its share of street lamps, but for whatever reason, the area TOM and I found ourselves in, with this batboy kid, was very dark. Still, a small group of fans were swarming to the fence to get an autograph.
This skinny rail of a young man, looked like he was no older then 13-years-old, and was maybe 115 pounds soaking wet. He was not standing next to an insanely pimped out sports car. He wasn’t wearing a designer suit. He had no gold Jesus chain, or diamond ear rings. He didn’t have on a giant expensive set of headphones. There was no entourage with him. No crew of girlfriends. No wife and children.
These are all things I look to observe as a ball player comes and goes from the ballpark. This kid had none of those things.
He wore a pair of tight dark jeans and light gray sweatshirt with the hood covering his head. He had a burlap bag hanging off his shoulder and at his side. Standing right next to the fence, with just a single security guard, this young-man was taking baseballs from fans, and signing his name to them.
I thought to myself: “This is some kind of joke. There is no way this is an MLB All-star.”
As we got closer the crowd started to dissipate.
This was when I heard a fan who had just left the fence turn and say:
“Thanks for the Autograph Tim… Go Dodgers in the second half!”
His quote was met with a series of boos from the small crowd. Siding with Tim the crowd did not appreciate the fan’s snub.
I quickly asked another fan standing near the fence: “Who is that?”
The fan confirmed what I already knew.
It was San Francisco Giant All-Star Tim Lincecum.
I acted with lighting fast speed and pinpoint accuracy, pulling a baseball from one of the lower pockets of my cargo shorts. It was finding the proper pen that had stalled me. I began to panic as I saw Tim finishing up with the last fan at the fence.
As I have seen a million times before, a player will dictate the terms of his voluntary niceties at his own playful whim. If he decides he is all done signing autographs and you’re a seven-year-old kid crying your eyes out cause you didn’t get an autograph, well then too bad for you. If I was going to get a Tim Lincecum autograph, I need to work quickly before he decided to stop signing and walked away from the fence.
Finally, I was able to retrieve a Sharpe from my pocket. I handed Tim the baseball with perfect symmetry from the pervious fans exchange to mine. I could tell right away that Tim was different. He wasn’t signing autographs out of some imposed dutiful obligation. He wasn’t righteous or egotistical. He was signing autographs and talking to fans, because he wanted to. He was there because he wanted to be there, and because a rapport with the fans was important to him. He was so down to earth; I didn’t know what to make of it!
“Thanks a lot Tim! I’m a big fan.” I said, as he was busy touching my Sharpe to my baseball.
“You bet.” He replied.
“Can you sign one more for my dad?” I asked him.
Tom was struggling with the same issues I was, in trying to get his balls together in a very impromptu situation.
He gave me back my baseball and took the one from the Old Man.
“Were you eligible to pitch tonight Tim?” I asked him. I figured why not strike up a conversation with San Francisco’s pitching ace. After all, it was just Tom, Tim, a random security guard, and I clustered around the fence.
“Yeah I was. I just didn’t get called on. Wasn’t my decision… wasn’t my call.”
Was his reply.
“Well thanks again for the autograph. It’s really generous of you. And good luck in the second half. I really like your team to win the division."
As if I had to tell Tim!
It was so surreal! There's always this disconnect between my writings, my predictions, my conversations with friends and family. I talk about this stuff like I know something, but have no real contact with it at all. Yet here I was telling this baseball player, living and breathing right in front of me, that I liked his team on paper. Those closest to him, those that he calls teammates,… I like their numbers. I like them to collectively do great things.
Really…as if I had to tell Tim!
Just then, the Old Man replied. “Yeah he has you on his fantasy team.”
I was a flat out lie. but that’s just Tom. His comment annoyed me, and Tim could tell that I didn’t have him on my fantasy team. I could tell just by Tim's reaction to the expression on my face. To his credit, he just smiled and nodded.
“Well good luck to you Tim, and thanks again!” I said, as Tom and I began to walk away.
I wanted to say so much more! Suddenly I wanted to be Michael Kay. I wanted to be sitting in a YES studio in a comfortable chair, quizzing Tim Lincecum for a Center Stage interview.
I wanted to ask him so much more!
“Talk to me about growing up with your father teaching you pitching mechanics?”
“Tell me about your nick name the Freak. Do you even like it?”
“Where do you see yourself within the game within the next five years?”
All these questions eluded me while back in reality. I was stuck frozen in the moment. Trapped by my insecurities and struggling to reach out and push myself, I let the moment pass. Maybe it was the spontaneity of the whole scene. Maybe it was my struggle to still believe this was Tim Lincecum. (Based on my description, I would imagine you could see my struggle.) It was while all this was going on in my brain damaged mind, that I turned around and began walking back toward the fence.
“Hey Tim?” I called out.
“Do you mind if I get at picture?”
“Of course not.” He said, as he smiled for the camera.
“Thanks Tim… to be honest, I’m still a little star struck.”
I thanked him yet another time, before finally turning around to catch up with Tom.
The rest of the night was spent having Tom reassure me that it was indeed Tim Lincecum.
We looked at our signatures over and over. I looked up photos of his autograph on- line. And of course I looked back at his picture on my camera over and over again.
I will let you be the judge, as my photo of Tim concudes this Blog, and my baseball story from Anaheim California at the mid summer classic.
It was the last time I was truly happy!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
First Pitch 2010
2010 Texas Rangers
Special points of interest:
· Key Fantasy Player: Michael Young
Three Keys to Victory:
*Young Strong Pitching Rotation
*Josh Hamilton
*Building on the success of 2009
· The X-Factor: Josh Hamilton
· Over Rated: Nelson Cruz
· Seasons End: A first place finish in the AL West followed by a quick elmination from the playoffs. Another year to build on for Nolan & The Rangers.
1. Ian Kinsler 2B
2. Michael Young 3B
3. Josh Hamilton CF
4. Nelson Cruz RF
5. Vladimir Guerrero DH
6. Jarrod Saltalamacch C
7. Chris Davis 1B
8. Julio Borbon CF
9. Elvis Andrus SS
SP) Scott Feldman RH
SP) Rich Harden RH
SP) Colby Lewis RH
SP) Derek Holland LH
SP) Brandon McCarthy RH
RP) C.J. Wilson LH
RP) Frank Francisco RH
Nolan Ryan / Chuck Greenberg
A group headed by club president Nolan Ryan and Pittsburgh attorney Chuck Greenberg are in the final stages of purchasing the controlling interests of the Rangers from owner Tom Hicks.
An official announcement was made by Hicks Sports Group several months ago. The final transaction is expected to be in excess of $500 million. The agreement is still subject to approval by Bud The Used Car Salesman. There is also still some financing on the part of Nolan and Chuck that needs to be completed.
But the when completed, the deal will mark a historic day in MLB. Never before as a former player, the caliber of Nolan Ryan, become an owner of a Major League Baseball franchise. More former players are sure to follow. Perhaps even my boy friend Derek Jeter.
2010 West Pick
I’m sure there will be plenty of skeptics who will disagree with my picking the Rangers to win the AL West in 2010.
However, is it really that crazy a pick?
Last season the Rangers finished three wins from hitting the magic 90 wins mark. A record they haven't achieved since 1999. They were just ten games behind the LA Angels, and I believe if the injury bug hadn't hit the Rangers so hard last season, they would have been a lot closer then 10 games. Texas lost their center fielder, catcher and closer for significant stints a year ago.
Now, with a fresh start, some new faces, and a winning year in 2009 under their belts, the Rangers are sure to be in a place to win the Division this year.
MLB First Pitch 2010
2010 Detroit Tigers
Special points of interest:
· Key Fantasy Player: Justin Verlander
· Three Keys to Victory:
*Rookies To Gel
*Bonderman to Bounce Back
*Ordonez Renaissance
· The X-Factor: Austin Jackson
· Over Rated: Brandon Inge
· Seasons End: AL Central Champions
1. Johnny Damon LF
2. Scott Sizemore 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera 1B
4. Magglio Ordonez RF
5. Carlos Guillen LF
6. Austin Jackson CF
7. Brandon Inge 3B
8. Gerald Laird C
9. Adam Everett SS
SP) Justin Verlander RH
SP) Rick Porcello RH
SP) Jeremy Bonderman RH
SP) Nate Robertson RH
SP) Armando Galarraga RH
RP) Jose Valverde RH
RP) Joel Zumaya RH
Key Departures
One of the things I love to do over the long and painful baseball-less winter is to watch as much MLB-TV as I possibly can. The content is not always great. Very little new news is reported. Much of the programming is old ball games from years gone by. But it was during a weekend this past January, while watching game-1 of the 2006 World Series, I made a very interesting observation about the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers lost in five games to the Cardinals in 2006, but they were, none-the-less a very dominate American League team that year. However as the 2010 season begins, two key components from that 2006 team will be gone. Those two players are none other then Curtis Granderson and Placido Polanco. And who will they now be playing for? Well none other then the two teams who were in the 2009 World Series. (Granderson with the Yanks, and Polanco with the Phillies.) Their departure leave the two biggest question marks in the 2010 season for Detroit. In order to finish at the top of AL Central again this year, Detroit will be relying an awful lot on rookie Center Fielder Austin Jackson, and rookie Second Baseman Scott Sizemore. If they can fill the big shoes left to them, then the Tigers will win the central.
2009's Worst Pick
Last season I projected a massive drop in attendance, payroll, and thus quality in the Detroit Tigers. But when I am wrong I am wrong! Lee Jenkins wrote a terrific September cover story for Sport Illustrated. In his three page article, Lee sings the praises of Tigers owner Michael Ilitch. The founder and creator of Little Ceasers pizza, Ilitch is as committed to the city of Detroit as he is to his Tigers on the field. In a market where small teams are scaling back and on the defense, Michael is on the move. He added talent to his team while only mildly cutting payroll. He lowered ticket prices, working with season ticket holders in an effort to get them to keep their tickets. And he cut deals with corporate sponsors like Chrysler to keep them within the Tigers organization. It’s fair to say that Tigers owner Michael Ilitch is responsible for my worst projection of 2009.
MLB First Pitch 2010
2010 New York Yankees
Three Keys to Victory:
Productive Outfield
Replacing Damon & Matsui in the order
Mariano Rivera
The X-Factor: Nick Johnson / Javier Vasquez
Over Rated: Robinson Cano
Seasons End: 28 World Series Titles/
Contract Extensions for Jeter, Rivera, and Skipper Joe Girardi
1. Derek Jeter SS
2. Nick Johnson DH
3. Mark Teixeira 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez 3B
5. Jorge Posada C
6. Curtis Granderson CF
7. Robinson Cano 2B
8. Nick Swisher RF
9. Randy Winn LF
SP) C.C. Sabathia LH
SP) Andy Pettitte LH
SP) A.J. Burnett RH
SP) Javier Vazquez RH
SP) Phil Hughes RH
RP) Joba Chamberlain RH
RP) Damaso Marte LH
RP) Mariano Rivera RH
The Captain
The Derek Jeter “3000 hits” watch begins with his very first at bat of 2010. Jeter, who currently stands at 2747 hits, is 49th on the MLB all-time list. Only Ken Griffey Jr. is ahead of Jeter in hits among active players. Jeter will likely accumulate 200 hits in 2010, which will leave him about fifty hits shy of 3000. Then, the 36 year old free agent will likely resign with the Yankees in the off season, and will have about five good years left in his career to compile as many hits as possible. When all said and done I predict that Jeter will finish just shy of 4000 career hits. That projection would put Jeter in third place on the all time hit list, behind only Ty Cobb and Pete Rose. Very very good company! Could Jeter beat Rose’s all-time hit record of 4256? Not likely. But it will be whole lot of fun watching Derek Jeter’s remaining baseball years in order to see where he finishes.
Free Agents
A combined 32-16 and a 3.70 ERA. A league leading 39 home runs, with 122 RBI’s and a 292 batting average. These are the combined statistics of the three most prized free agent signings prior to the 2009 season.
They are: C.C. Sabathia/A.J. Burnett /Mark Teixeira
Oh yeah! There is one more combination. A combined 62 million dollars paid by the Stienbrener family, and Yankee fans for their combined services last season. But few would argue that the money wasn't well spent. The players were available within the games system, the Yankees had the money within the games system, and the Yankees won the World Series within the system.
It hard to argue against the results. It’s likely the spending will continue, as will the winning. Next up another Championship.
“When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept for there were no more worlds to conquer."
Special points of interest:
Three Keys to Victory:
Productive Outfield
Replacing Damon & Matsui in the order
Mariano Rivera
The X-Factor: Nick Johnson / Javier Vasquez
Over Rated: Robinson Cano
Seasons End: 28 World Series Titles/
Contract Extensions for Jeter, Rivera, and Skipper Joe Girardi
1. Derek Jeter SS
2. Nick Johnson DH
3. Mark Teixeira 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez 3B
5. Jorge Posada C
6. Curtis Granderson CF
7. Robinson Cano 2B
8. Nick Swisher RF
9. Randy Winn LF
SP) C.C. Sabathia LH
SP) Andy Pettitte LH
SP) A.J. Burnett RH
SP) Javier Vazquez RH
SP) Phil Hughes RH
RP) Joba Chamberlain RH
RP) Damaso Marte LH
RP) Mariano Rivera RH
The Captain
The Derek Jeter “3000 hits” watch begins with his very first at bat of 2010. Jeter, who currently stands at 2747 hits, is 49th on the MLB all-time list. Only Ken Griffey Jr. is ahead of Jeter in hits among active players. Jeter will likely accumulate 200 hits in 2010, which will leave him about fifty hits shy of 3000. Then, the 36 year old free agent will likely resign with the Yankees in the off season, and will have about five good years left in his career to compile as many hits as possible. When all said and done I predict that Jeter will finish just shy of 4000 career hits. That projection would put Jeter in third place on the all time hit list, behind only Ty Cobb and Pete Rose. Very very good company! Could Jeter beat Rose’s all-time hit record of 4256? Not likely. But it will be whole lot of fun watching Derek Jeter’s remaining baseball years in order to see where he finishes.
Free Agents
A combined 32-16 and a 3.70 ERA. A league leading 39 home runs, with 122 RBI’s and a 292 batting average. These are the combined statistics of the three most prized free agent signings prior to the 2009 season.
They are: C.C. Sabathia/A.J. Burnett /Mark Teixeira
Oh yeah! There is one more combination. A combined 62 million dollars paid by the Stienbrener family, and Yankee fans for their combined services last season. But few would argue that the money wasn't well spent. The players were available within the games system, the Yankees had the money within the games system, and the Yankees won the World Series within the system.
It hard to argue against the results. It’s likely the spending will continue, as will the winning. Next up another Championship.
“When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept for there were no more worlds to conquer."
Friday, April 9, 2010
MLB First Pitch 2010
2010 San Francisco Giants
Special points of interest:
Key Fantasy Player: Tim Lienscum /Pablo Sandoval
Three Keys to Victory:
*Core needs to Gel
*Solid Bullpen
*Little help from NL West
The X-Factor: Pablo Sandoval / Aubrey Huff
Over Rated: Aaron Rowand
Seasons End: First Place Finish / NLCS trip
1. Eugenio Velez RF
2. Freddy Sanchez 2B
3. Pablo Sandoval 3B
4. Aubrey Huff 1B
5. Benjie Molina C
6. Mark DeRosa LF
7. Aaron Rowand CF
8. Edgar Renteria SS
SP) Tim Lienscum RH
SP) Matt Cain RH
SP) Barry Zito LH
SP) Jonathan Sanchez LH
SP) Madison Bumgarner L
RP) Sergio RomoRH
RP) Brian Wilson RH
Kung Fu Who?
Where you thinking what I was thinking last year? My big golden city thought of 2009 was: “Who the hell is Pablo Sandoval?” As it turns out Pablo is the 24 year old virgin superstar known as the “Kung Fu Panda,". Sandoval was a amateur free agent signing in 2003. Not a college prodigy or a number one draft pick; rather Sandoval flew below the baseball worlds radar until last spring. He finished last season with a .330 batting average with 25 homeruns and 90 Ribs. If the Giants are going to fulfill my 2010 projection, Sandoval is going to need to continue is quite dominance of the National League.
2010 Projection
I really like this team! I hate writing any baseball articles that make predictions based largely on my gut. I leave that kind of guessing to the OLD MAN. Throwing darts at a board full of baseball teams in order to pick my order of division rankings has burned me severely in years past. However based on nothing more then what I see on paper, I like to 2010 San Francisco Giants to win the National League East. I will give you my three gut reasons now.
First: 88 wins in 2009.
88 wins and a very respectable third place finish is nothing to shake a stick at. The Giants only finished seven games off the first place Dodgers last year.
Second: Deep Starting Pitching
Provided Barry Zito can continue to eat innings, and win as much as he loses, Crain and Lienscum will continue to carry this teams pitching rotation.
Third: New Acquisitions
Aubrey Huff, Mark DeRosa, and Freddy Sanchez (Sanchez acquired at the trade deadline in 2009) all round out a vastly improved lineup, and solidify a more quality defense.
That’s my case for a 2010 Giants Division Title.
Special points of interest:
Key Fantasy Player: Tim Lienscum /Pablo Sandoval
Three Keys to Victory:
*Core needs to Gel
*Solid Bullpen
*Little help from NL West
The X-Factor: Pablo Sandoval / Aubrey Huff
Over Rated: Aaron Rowand
Seasons End: First Place Finish / NLCS trip
1. Eugenio Velez RF
2. Freddy Sanchez 2B
3. Pablo Sandoval 3B
4. Aubrey Huff 1B
5. Benjie Molina C
6. Mark DeRosa LF
7. Aaron Rowand CF
8. Edgar Renteria SS
SP) Tim Lienscum RH
SP) Matt Cain RH
SP) Barry Zito LH
SP) Jonathan Sanchez LH
SP) Madison Bumgarner L
RP) Sergio RomoRH
RP) Brian Wilson RH
Kung Fu Who?
Where you thinking what I was thinking last year? My big golden city thought of 2009 was: “Who the hell is Pablo Sandoval?” As it turns out Pablo is the 24 year old virgin superstar known as the “Kung Fu Panda,". Sandoval was a amateur free agent signing in 2003. Not a college prodigy or a number one draft pick; rather Sandoval flew below the baseball worlds radar until last spring. He finished last season with a .330 batting average with 25 homeruns and 90 Ribs. If the Giants are going to fulfill my 2010 projection, Sandoval is going to need to continue is quite dominance of the National League.
2010 Projection
I really like this team! I hate writing any baseball articles that make predictions based largely on my gut. I leave that kind of guessing to the OLD MAN. Throwing darts at a board full of baseball teams in order to pick my order of division rankings has burned me severely in years past. However based on nothing more then what I see on paper, I like to 2010 San Francisco Giants to win the National League East. I will give you my three gut reasons now.
First: 88 wins in 2009.
88 wins and a very respectable third place finish is nothing to shake a stick at. The Giants only finished seven games off the first place Dodgers last year.
Second: Deep Starting Pitching
Provided Barry Zito can continue to eat innings, and win as much as he loses, Crain and Lienscum will continue to carry this teams pitching rotation.
Third: New Acquisitions
Aubrey Huff, Mark DeRosa, and Freddy Sanchez (Sanchez acquired at the trade deadline in 2009) all round out a vastly improved lineup, and solidify a more quality defense.
That’s my case for a 2010 Giants Division Title.
MLB First Pitch 2010
The 2010 St Louis Cardnials
Special points of interest:
Key Fantasy Player: Albert Pujols
Three Keys to Victory:
*Starting Rotation Health
*Top of the order Table Setters
*Albert Pujols
The X-Factor: Kyle Lohse
Over Rated: Yadier Molina
Seasons End: First Place Finish NL Central
Winners of the 2010 National League Pennant
1. Skip Schumaker 2B
2. Brendan Ryan SS
3. Albert Pujols 1B
4. Matt Holliday LF
5. Yadier Molina C
6. Ryan Ludwick RF
7. David Freese 3B
8. Colby Rasmus CF
SP) Chris Carpenter RH
SP) Adam Wainwright RH
SP) Kyle Lohse RH
SP) Brad PennyRH
SP) Rich Hill LH
RP) Trever Miller LH
RP) Ryan Franklin RH
Matt Holliday
On Thursday October 8th 2009, the St Louis Cardinals were three little outs away from tying their Division Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers at one game a piece. The Cards were up 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning. A pop up retired Andre Ethier. Manager Tony Larussa brought in closer Ryan Franklin. A fly ball to center retired Manny Ramirez. With one out to go, Left Fielder Matt Holliday dropped the third out on a fly ball by James Loney. After the error, three consecutive batters reached base before Mark Loretta hit a game winning single to center. 48 hours later, the Cardinals 2010 season was over. The error in left cost them everything.
Holliday and the rest of the St Louis Cardinals are eager for redemption. And this team is certainly good enough to attain it this October.
Big Mac Hitting Coach
On Monday, January 11, 2010 at approximately 3:00pm, Mark Mcgwire, (former Cardinal first baseman and current hitting coach) officially and formally came out of the closet. No, not that closet! He became just the latest former slugger of the steroid era to openly admit to using drugs. Now as I have said it a million times. I am done writing on the topic of roids. However I will say that I am thrilled to see Big Mac in the Cardinals dugout as a coach. Mcgwire himself has said, he has a rolodex of information he is just dieing to pass on to hitters. He will get his chance this season. I for one am excited to see his influence on the 2010 Cardinals.
2010 Cardinals
I am officially on the St Louis Cardinals band wagon! I am a firm believer that with two dominate starters, the best 3/4 batting order in the National League, and a very solid closer, the Cardinals will easily win out the National League Central. They do need a little help from the starting rotation after Wainwright and Carpenter. And offensive production beyond Pujols and Holliday is a must too. However the 2010 Cardinals are still my pick to win the National League Pennant.
Special points of interest:
Key Fantasy Player: Albert Pujols
Three Keys to Victory:
*Starting Rotation Health
*Top of the order Table Setters
*Albert Pujols
The X-Factor: Kyle Lohse
Over Rated: Yadier Molina
Seasons End: First Place Finish NL Central
Winners of the 2010 National League Pennant
1. Skip Schumaker 2B
2. Brendan Ryan SS
3. Albert Pujols 1B
4. Matt Holliday LF
5. Yadier Molina C
6. Ryan Ludwick RF
7. David Freese 3B
8. Colby Rasmus CF
SP) Chris Carpenter RH
SP) Adam Wainwright RH
SP) Kyle Lohse RH
SP) Brad PennyRH
SP) Rich Hill LH
RP) Trever Miller LH
RP) Ryan Franklin RH
Matt Holliday
On Thursday October 8th 2009, the St Louis Cardinals were three little outs away from tying their Division Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers at one game a piece. The Cards were up 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning. A pop up retired Andre Ethier. Manager Tony Larussa brought in closer Ryan Franklin. A fly ball to center retired Manny Ramirez. With one out to go, Left Fielder Matt Holliday dropped the third out on a fly ball by James Loney. After the error, three consecutive batters reached base before Mark Loretta hit a game winning single to center. 48 hours later, the Cardinals 2010 season was over. The error in left cost them everything.
Holliday and the rest of the St Louis Cardinals are eager for redemption. And this team is certainly good enough to attain it this October.
Big Mac Hitting Coach
On Monday, January 11, 2010 at approximately 3:00pm, Mark Mcgwire, (former Cardinal first baseman and current hitting coach) officially and formally came out of the closet. No, not that closet! He became just the latest former slugger of the steroid era to openly admit to using drugs. Now as I have said it a million times. I am done writing on the topic of roids. However I will say that I am thrilled to see Big Mac in the Cardinals dugout as a coach. Mcgwire himself has said, he has a rolodex of information he is just dieing to pass on to hitters. He will get his chance this season. I for one am excited to see his influence on the 2010 Cardinals.
2010 Cardinals
I am officially on the St Louis Cardinals band wagon! I am a firm believer that with two dominate starters, the best 3/4 batting order in the National League, and a very solid closer, the Cardinals will easily win out the National League Central. They do need a little help from the starting rotation after Wainwright and Carpenter. And offensive production beyond Pujols and Holliday is a must too. However the 2010 Cardinals are still my pick to win the National League Pennant.
MLB First Pitch 2010
The 2010 Philadelphia Phillies
Special points of interest:
Key Fantasy Player: Chase Utley
Three Keys to Victory:
*Middle of the batting order continued production.
*Bull Pen Bounce Back
*Roy Halladay
The X-Factor: Cole Hamels
Over Rated: Jimmy Rollins
Seasons End: Another Divisional Title.
The loss of Jayson Werth in the off season.
End of the Phillies five year run going into 2011?
1. Jimmy Rollins SS
2. Placido Polanco 3B
3. Chase Utley 2B
4. Ryan Howard 1B
5. Jayson Werth RF
6. Raul Ibanez LF
7. Shane Victorino CF
8. Carlos Ruiz C
SP) Roy Halladay RH
SP) Cole Hamels LH
SP) Joe Blanton RH
SP) J.A. Happ LH
SP) Jamie Moyer RH
RP) Ryan Madson RH
RP) Brad Lidge RH
Roy Halladay
It’s going to be hard for me to make the case, but here I go! The Philadelphia Phillies made a terrible move by acquiring the best pitcher in baseball: Roy “Doc” Halladay…….Let me try to explain.
When I first heard of the news that the Phillies had traded for Roy Halladay, just before Christmas in 2009, I was elated! First and foremost, I was thrilled to get Roy out of the American League, and away from the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees had to face Halladay four painful times last year. Now, in the 2010 regular season, the most they will face Doc is once.
But the real reason for my excitement was the idea that Doc Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels would all be pitching on the same team that also harbors the best offense in the National League. Then my co-worker/informant filled me in on the details. The Phillies had lost Cliff Lee in the three way deal to the Seattle Mariners. There went the rotation depth, I thought. But that part still didn’t bother me. Trading an ace for an ace makes sense if one ace is remarkably better then the other. A straight up Lee for Halladay deal would have been a synch. But where the deal really went sour was the loss of both top prospect, Kyle Drabeck, and lefty ace, Cliff Lee form the Phillies.
Kyle Drabeck was Philadelphia’s highest regarded pitcher on the minor league level. He was selected 18th overall in the 2006 amateur draft by the Phillies. Kyle is also the son of former Pittsburgh Pirate Doug Drabeck. Most scouts and baseball minds believe Drabeck is a future ace, and will be Major League ready by the second half of this year. The simple math of acquiring one pitcher, while giving up an ace and a top prospect is just too steep a price to pay. What’s worse will be watching Kyle Drabeck possibly develop into the games next Roy Halladay.
Now don’t get me wrong, the Phillies got a dominate ace who is going to win a ton of games for them this year when the signed Halladay. But at the same time, they already had that with Cliff Lee. They upgraded for sure, but at what cost? Cliff Lee and Kyle Drabeck in a rotation would have been better then Roy Halladay all alone.
You can be sure that die hard Phillies fans will be watching the Toronto Blue Jays box scores out of the corner of their eyes for the next few years. (Maybe even longer.) It’s bad enough what Joe Carter and the Jays did to the Phillies in the 1993 World Series. Now Drabeck’s dominance may be the next chapter in the Philly agony from north of the border.
The bottom line is any combination of two starters would have been far better then just Roy Halladay alone. Weather it was, Halladay & Lee / Halladay & Drabeck / or Lee & Drabeck, the Phillies should have never settled for such a high trade demand.
Phillies got gypped, and only time will tell how badly.
Jayson Werth
2010 is going to be the biggest year of Jayson Werth’s life!
The Philadelphia right fielder is in the final year of his two year deal with the Phils. Before 2009 Jayson had never played in more then 134 games in any one season. He was mainly a platoon outfielder with raw power and limited production. But as the 2008 World Series push unfolded, Werth became a intrical part of the Phillies Championship. Last season he became the Phillies everyday right fielder, and went wild! Werth hit 36 homers with 99 Ribs in 2009. He made the All-star team, and became the perfect man to hit behind Ryan Howard in the batting order.
Over Werth’s short 7-year- career, he had made a combined 6.3 million dollars (excluding 2010’s totals). If Werth is as good this season, as he was in 2009, he could make double his total career earnings on the free agent market in 2011 alone.
The trouble for the Phillies is that if Werth is that good, his services will be signed to another team in 2011. The Phillies are not in a financial position to sign Werth to a lofty multi-year deal.
So with each big hit, and each towering homerun hit by Werth in 2010, it will be bitter sweet for Phillies fans. Sweet that they are getting so much production from their power right fielder, who came from obscurity. But bitter knowing that his production will lead to his services away from Philadelphia.
This year's Phillies
Overall this team is in the middle of one of the most remarkable runs in National League history. Excluding the Braves of the 1990’s, Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine of 1975 /1976 was the last NL franchise to appear in back to back World Series. The Phillies have a great chance this year to make it three in a row. That feat hasn't been accomplished since the St Louis Cardinals did it in the mid 1940’s. I like the Phillies to continue to dominate the NL East in 2010. I am projecting them to fall short of the Fall Classic. But they are sure to be right in the mix come October.
Special points of interest:
Key Fantasy Player: Chase Utley
Three Keys to Victory:
*Middle of the batting order continued production.
*Bull Pen Bounce Back
*Roy Halladay
The X-Factor: Cole Hamels
Over Rated: Jimmy Rollins
Seasons End: Another Divisional Title.
The loss of Jayson Werth in the off season.
End of the Phillies five year run going into 2011?
1. Jimmy Rollins SS
2. Placido Polanco 3B
3. Chase Utley 2B
4. Ryan Howard 1B
5. Jayson Werth RF
6. Raul Ibanez LF
7. Shane Victorino CF
8. Carlos Ruiz C
SP) Roy Halladay RH
SP) Cole Hamels LH
SP) Joe Blanton RH
SP) J.A. Happ LH
SP) Jamie Moyer RH
RP) Ryan Madson RH
RP) Brad Lidge RH
Roy Halladay
It’s going to be hard for me to make the case, but here I go! The Philadelphia Phillies made a terrible move by acquiring the best pitcher in baseball: Roy “Doc” Halladay…….Let me try to explain.
When I first heard of the news that the Phillies had traded for Roy Halladay, just before Christmas in 2009, I was elated! First and foremost, I was thrilled to get Roy out of the American League, and away from the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees had to face Halladay four painful times last year. Now, in the 2010 regular season, the most they will face Doc is once.
But the real reason for my excitement was the idea that Doc Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels would all be pitching on the same team that also harbors the best offense in the National League. Then my co-worker/informant filled me in on the details. The Phillies had lost Cliff Lee in the three way deal to the Seattle Mariners. There went the rotation depth, I thought. But that part still didn’t bother me. Trading an ace for an ace makes sense if one ace is remarkably better then the other. A straight up Lee for Halladay deal would have been a synch. But where the deal really went sour was the loss of both top prospect, Kyle Drabeck, and lefty ace, Cliff Lee form the Phillies.
Kyle Drabeck was Philadelphia’s highest regarded pitcher on the minor league level. He was selected 18th overall in the 2006 amateur draft by the Phillies. Kyle is also the son of former Pittsburgh Pirate Doug Drabeck. Most scouts and baseball minds believe Drabeck is a future ace, and will be Major League ready by the second half of this year. The simple math of acquiring one pitcher, while giving up an ace and a top prospect is just too steep a price to pay. What’s worse will be watching Kyle Drabeck possibly develop into the games next Roy Halladay.
Now don’t get me wrong, the Phillies got a dominate ace who is going to win a ton of games for them this year when the signed Halladay. But at the same time, they already had that with Cliff Lee. They upgraded for sure, but at what cost? Cliff Lee and Kyle Drabeck in a rotation would have been better then Roy Halladay all alone.
You can be sure that die hard Phillies fans will be watching the Toronto Blue Jays box scores out of the corner of their eyes for the next few years. (Maybe even longer.) It’s bad enough what Joe Carter and the Jays did to the Phillies in the 1993 World Series. Now Drabeck’s dominance may be the next chapter in the Philly agony from north of the border.
The bottom line is any combination of two starters would have been far better then just Roy Halladay alone. Weather it was, Halladay & Lee / Halladay & Drabeck / or Lee & Drabeck, the Phillies should have never settled for such a high trade demand.
Phillies got gypped, and only time will tell how badly.
Jayson Werth
2010 is going to be the biggest year of Jayson Werth’s life!
The Philadelphia right fielder is in the final year of his two year deal with the Phils. Before 2009 Jayson had never played in more then 134 games in any one season. He was mainly a platoon outfielder with raw power and limited production. But as the 2008 World Series push unfolded, Werth became a intrical part of the Phillies Championship. Last season he became the Phillies everyday right fielder, and went wild! Werth hit 36 homers with 99 Ribs in 2009. He made the All-star team, and became the perfect man to hit behind Ryan Howard in the batting order.
Over Werth’s short 7-year- career, he had made a combined 6.3 million dollars (excluding 2010’s totals). If Werth is as good this season, as he was in 2009, he could make double his total career earnings on the free agent market in 2011 alone.
The trouble for the Phillies is that if Werth is that good, his services will be signed to another team in 2011. The Phillies are not in a financial position to sign Werth to a lofty multi-year deal.
So with each big hit, and each towering homerun hit by Werth in 2010, it will be bitter sweet for Phillies fans. Sweet that they are getting so much production from their power right fielder, who came from obscurity. But bitter knowing that his production will lead to his services away from Philadelphia.
This year's Phillies
Overall this team is in the middle of one of the most remarkable runs in National League history. Excluding the Braves of the 1990’s, Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine of 1975 /1976 was the last NL franchise to appear in back to back World Series. The Phillies have a great chance this year to make it three in a row. That feat hasn't been accomplished since the St Louis Cardinals did it in the mid 1940’s. I like the Phillies to continue to dominate the NL East in 2010. I am projecting them to fall short of the Fall Classic. But they are sure to be right in the mix come October.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Saints Win Super Bowl XLIV
It started on Sunday January 31st 2010 at 7:57pm Eastern Standard Time.
“I’m Scott Pelley. The Super Bowl is on CBS next week. We will be back in two weeks with another addition of 60 minutes.”
The weekly journalistic news program that has marked our times since 1968 had literally taken a back seat to the biggest non-holiday date of the calendar year:
The Super Bowl
From Sunday January 31st to Sunday February 7th the typical hype, excitement, and impatience grew more and more with every passing day. The theme affectionately known as Super Bowl week played out in Miami Florida. First, the media of news writers, television crews, journalists, and NFL insiders arrived in down town Miami. Then the players touched down from their charter flights in the sunshine state.
Tuesday February 2nd was media day.
The player/ reporter event was moved in doors on account of the unusually wet and cold Florida weather. The hot topics: Manning’s second Super Bowl, Dwight Freeney’s injured right ankle, and of course the City of New Orleans, and its Saints fans. The parties, dinners, live events, and social gatherings, continued until Friday, when the players went into seclusion. Super Bowl weekend arrived and the nights and days went by with their usual pace: sometimes fast, sometimes slow.
Then on Sunday February 7th 2010 the final day of the NLF season had arrived.
The NFC’s New Orleans Saints versus The AFC’s Indianapolis Colts
The preparation and build up all coming down to just one Sunday afternoon. For the two teams of ninety total players, and the millions watching around the world, the game was sure to play out one of two ways: One team would go home World Champions, the other in the agony of defeat.
At 6:10pm the madness and preparation went into overdrive. The game, just minutes away. The New Orleans Saints won the coin toss, not an uncommon occurrence for the NFC. The National Anthem had been sung, the final analysis had been discussed, and the last bathroom break, soda break, and snack break were over. Super Bowl Forty Four had begun.
The first position would show no reward for the Saints. Drew Brees did attempt one of his traditional long passes. But the results of the Saints first drive of the game, would be a “three and out”. Peyton Manning on the other hand, had no trouble moving the ball. His very first play of the Super Bowl was an 18-yard slant route completion to tight-end Dallas Clark. The Colts first drive would result in 11 plays over 5:53 minutes, and a Matt Stover 38 yard field goal. The Colts drew first blood, and the score was 3-0 halfway through the first quarter.
Score: Colts-3, Saints-0
Brees and the Saints once again looked lost on offense. They did convert a first down on a Reggie Bush catch, but soon after, they punted the ball back to Indianapolis.
It was on the Colts ensuing drive that Peyton Manning began incorporating Joseph Addai and the Indy running game into the Super Bowl. Powering down the field, Addai had two carries for 27 yards, during a series that concluded with a Colt touchdown. Manning’s 18 yard pass to Carcon was good for the first touch down of the day, and a 10-0 Colt lead at the end of the first quarter.
Score: Colts-10, Saints-0
It was looking early on as though a blowout was well underway.
However the Saints were not about to just roll over. It was a pair of unanswered field goals before half time, which kept the New Orleans Saints well within striking distance before “The Who” took the field to perform. The game could have been a lot closer, but Sean Peyton elected to try a fourth a goal play at the one-yard line. The Colts defense held, and so six points was the most New Orleans could muster up on offense through 30 minutes. It was safe to say, that when both teams departed from the field at half time, that Super Bowl XLIV was very much undecided.
Half Time Score: Colts-10, Saints-6
The second half started off as casual and nonchalant as any second half ever does. Twenty-Two total men lined up on the field, as the Saints prepared to kick the ball off to the Colts. But just then, in one of the most shocking plays in Super Bowl history, the Saints started the third quarter doing something that had never been done in Super Bowl history. The entire Saints team was in on it. Sean Peyton had tipped off the officials too. But the 106 million watching around the world were in shock! More importantly the Indianapolis special teams was in shock.
The New Orleans Saints, led by kicker Thomas Morstead attempted an onsides kick.
Morstead’s kick caught an entire nation off guard. The ball dribbled 12 yards before a cluster of players, both Colts and Saints, piled on top. The end result was a successful onsides kick and the ball belonged to New Orleans. Drew Brees then threw a series of short passes that ended with a Pierre Thomas touch down.
The Score: Saints-13, Colts-10
The first lead of the Super Bowl for the Saints would not last very long. Peyton Manning working a no huddle offense, charged his team down the field in his typical machine like fashion. Before anyone knew what happened, Joseph Addai was in the end zone for yet another Colt touchdown. The Colts re-established themselves and re-took the lead.
The Score: Colts-17, Saints-13
The Saints were still playing the roll of underdog. They added a Garrett Harley field goal to come within one point, 17-16. However the feeling that the game was going to come down to the last five minutes of the fourth quarter began to resin ate with everyone. And with the game on the line, Peyton Manning is Quarterback most everyone would want.
Drew Brees once again found the end zone. This time it was Jeremy Shockey, with the short pass catch good for six points.
The Score: Saints-22, Colts-17
I knew right then and there that the aggressive coaching of Sean Peyton would lead to a two-point conversion attempt. Brees threw yet another of his of his standard Super Bowl short passes. This time the pass was to Lance Moore. Moore caught the ball just outside the end zone, and just in front of the right pylon. Moore bobbled the ball as he fell to the ground. The ball was in the end zone, but it came to its rest out of Moore’s hands and on the turf. The initial call was an incomplete pass, but the ruling was overturned, after a video challenge, and the points were good.
The Score: Saints-24, Colts-17
“No problem.” I thought. The Colts have Peyton Manning: The greatest Quarterback of a generation. The Colts were sure to charge down the field and score. The game would be tied if nothing else. But with just less then six minutes left in the game, there was still plenty of time to determine a winner. Then in a move as shocking as the on-sides kick that started the second half, Peyton Manning did something I never would have expected. Driving down field, just six yards for the red zone, Manning sought out one of his favorite targets: Reggie Wayne. In an attempt to hit Wayne near the 20-yard line, Manning’s pass was read perfectly by Saints Cornerback Tracy Porter. As the ball flew through the air, Porter made it his destiny to steal it away from Manning and Wayne. Porter caught the ball with both hands at his chest. As if the interception alone was not dazzling enough for Saints fans, while equally devastating for Colt fans, Porter returned the intercepted pass 76 yards. The play concluded with Porter standing in the end zone having scored the game deciding touchdown. New Orleans went nuts! The game was all but over. Even the great Peyton Manning couldn’t lead his team back from such a devastating series of events. (Especially after just throwing the interception of a lifetime.) The final minutes of the game played out uneventfully.
When it was all over the Saints had won their first ever Super Bowl.
A team that was in shambles just five years earlier is now on top of the NFL. This was a franchise in rags. A team temporarily transplanted to Texas as a result of Hurricane Katrina. When the wounds of the deadly Hurricane began to heal, it was determined that the fate of the Saints would remain in New Orleans. But the fate of New Orleans remains in question even still today. A city that wanted so desperately to rally behind a winner in order to continue to help heal the wounds left behind from Mother Nature and a government that had failed its people had gotten its wish. New Orleans has something to celebrate. New Orleans has its Super Bowl Champion Saints.
“I’m Scott Pelley. The Super Bowl is on CBS next week. We will be back in two weeks with another addition of 60 minutes.”
The weekly journalistic news program that has marked our times since 1968 had literally taken a back seat to the biggest non-holiday date of the calendar year:
The Super Bowl
From Sunday January 31st to Sunday February 7th the typical hype, excitement, and impatience grew more and more with every passing day. The theme affectionately known as Super Bowl week played out in Miami Florida. First, the media of news writers, television crews, journalists, and NFL insiders arrived in down town Miami. Then the players touched down from their charter flights in the sunshine state.
Tuesday February 2nd was media day.
The player/ reporter event was moved in doors on account of the unusually wet and cold Florida weather. The hot topics: Manning’s second Super Bowl, Dwight Freeney’s injured right ankle, and of course the City of New Orleans, and its Saints fans. The parties, dinners, live events, and social gatherings, continued until Friday, when the players went into seclusion. Super Bowl weekend arrived and the nights and days went by with their usual pace: sometimes fast, sometimes slow.
Then on Sunday February 7th 2010 the final day of the NLF season had arrived.
The NFC’s New Orleans Saints versus The AFC’s Indianapolis Colts
The preparation and build up all coming down to just one Sunday afternoon. For the two teams of ninety total players, and the millions watching around the world, the game was sure to play out one of two ways: One team would go home World Champions, the other in the agony of defeat.
At 6:10pm the madness and preparation went into overdrive. The game, just minutes away. The New Orleans Saints won the coin toss, not an uncommon occurrence for the NFC. The National Anthem had been sung, the final analysis had been discussed, and the last bathroom break, soda break, and snack break were over. Super Bowl Forty Four had begun.
The first position would show no reward for the Saints. Drew Brees did attempt one of his traditional long passes. But the results of the Saints first drive of the game, would be a “three and out”. Peyton Manning on the other hand, had no trouble moving the ball. His very first play of the Super Bowl was an 18-yard slant route completion to tight-end Dallas Clark. The Colts first drive would result in 11 plays over 5:53 minutes, and a Matt Stover 38 yard field goal. The Colts drew first blood, and the score was 3-0 halfway through the first quarter.
Score: Colts-3, Saints-0
Brees and the Saints once again looked lost on offense. They did convert a first down on a Reggie Bush catch, but soon after, they punted the ball back to Indianapolis.
It was on the Colts ensuing drive that Peyton Manning began incorporating Joseph Addai and the Indy running game into the Super Bowl. Powering down the field, Addai had two carries for 27 yards, during a series that concluded with a Colt touchdown. Manning’s 18 yard pass to Carcon was good for the first touch down of the day, and a 10-0 Colt lead at the end of the first quarter.
Score: Colts-10, Saints-0
It was looking early on as though a blowout was well underway.
However the Saints were not about to just roll over. It was a pair of unanswered field goals before half time, which kept the New Orleans Saints well within striking distance before “The Who” took the field to perform. The game could have been a lot closer, but Sean Peyton elected to try a fourth a goal play at the one-yard line. The Colts defense held, and so six points was the most New Orleans could muster up on offense through 30 minutes. It was safe to say, that when both teams departed from the field at half time, that Super Bowl XLIV was very much undecided.
Half Time Score: Colts-10, Saints-6
The second half started off as casual and nonchalant as any second half ever does. Twenty-Two total men lined up on the field, as the Saints prepared to kick the ball off to the Colts. But just then, in one of the most shocking plays in Super Bowl history, the Saints started the third quarter doing something that had never been done in Super Bowl history. The entire Saints team was in on it. Sean Peyton had tipped off the officials too. But the 106 million watching around the world were in shock! More importantly the Indianapolis special teams was in shock.
The New Orleans Saints, led by kicker Thomas Morstead attempted an onsides kick.
Morstead’s kick caught an entire nation off guard. The ball dribbled 12 yards before a cluster of players, both Colts and Saints, piled on top. The end result was a successful onsides kick and the ball belonged to New Orleans. Drew Brees then threw a series of short passes that ended with a Pierre Thomas touch down.
The Score: Saints-13, Colts-10
The first lead of the Super Bowl for the Saints would not last very long. Peyton Manning working a no huddle offense, charged his team down the field in his typical machine like fashion. Before anyone knew what happened, Joseph Addai was in the end zone for yet another Colt touchdown. The Colts re-established themselves and re-took the lead.
The Score: Colts-17, Saints-13
The Saints were still playing the roll of underdog. They added a Garrett Harley field goal to come within one point, 17-16. However the feeling that the game was going to come down to the last five minutes of the fourth quarter began to resin ate with everyone. And with the game on the line, Peyton Manning is Quarterback most everyone would want.
Drew Brees once again found the end zone. This time it was Jeremy Shockey, with the short pass catch good for six points.
The Score: Saints-22, Colts-17
I knew right then and there that the aggressive coaching of Sean Peyton would lead to a two-point conversion attempt. Brees threw yet another of his of his standard Super Bowl short passes. This time the pass was to Lance Moore. Moore caught the ball just outside the end zone, and just in front of the right pylon. Moore bobbled the ball as he fell to the ground. The ball was in the end zone, but it came to its rest out of Moore’s hands and on the turf. The initial call was an incomplete pass, but the ruling was overturned, after a video challenge, and the points were good.
The Score: Saints-24, Colts-17
“No problem.” I thought. The Colts have Peyton Manning: The greatest Quarterback of a generation. The Colts were sure to charge down the field and score. The game would be tied if nothing else. But with just less then six minutes left in the game, there was still plenty of time to determine a winner. Then in a move as shocking as the on-sides kick that started the second half, Peyton Manning did something I never would have expected. Driving down field, just six yards for the red zone, Manning sought out one of his favorite targets: Reggie Wayne. In an attempt to hit Wayne near the 20-yard line, Manning’s pass was read perfectly by Saints Cornerback Tracy Porter. As the ball flew through the air, Porter made it his destiny to steal it away from Manning and Wayne. Porter caught the ball with both hands at his chest. As if the interception alone was not dazzling enough for Saints fans, while equally devastating for Colt fans, Porter returned the intercepted pass 76 yards. The play concluded with Porter standing in the end zone having scored the game deciding touchdown. New Orleans went nuts! The game was all but over. Even the great Peyton Manning couldn’t lead his team back from such a devastating series of events. (Especially after just throwing the interception of a lifetime.) The final minutes of the game played out uneventfully.
When it was all over the Saints had won their first ever Super Bowl.
A team that was in shambles just five years earlier is now on top of the NFL. This was a franchise in rags. A team temporarily transplanted to Texas as a result of Hurricane Katrina. When the wounds of the deadly Hurricane began to heal, it was determined that the fate of the Saints would remain in New Orleans. But the fate of New Orleans remains in question even still today. A city that wanted so desperately to rally behind a winner in order to continue to help heal the wounds left behind from Mother Nature and a government that had failed its people had gotten its wish. New Orleans has something to celebrate. New Orleans has its Super Bowl Champion Saints.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Wild Card Weekend / Wild Card Road Trip
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Maybe it was all the buzz I kept hearing on sports radio 660am (WFAN). Maybe it was the animated shouting of Mike Francesa, informing Jets fans that their victory over the Colts was a gift. Or maybe it was the rallying cries of Craig Carton, who all week long was coordinating a Jets prep rally, while planning to cross the Brooklyn Bridge in a Speedo. Carton was already proclaiming victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in wild card weekend. Maybe it was Chad Johnson informing the media his knee was fine, after he worked it out over a recent evening of sexual activity. (The story was featured in the New York Post). Or maybe it was just all the playoff hype and excitement that can be found in late January when the NLF’s playoff season kicks offs.
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Whatever the reason, I decided to take a look on Stub Hub to see what playoff tickets were going for in Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium for the Jets/Bengals wildcard game. NFL tickets are always ridiculously expensive. Even prices for a regular season game tend to be out of control. So when I fired up my computer I was expecting to see the same outrageous prices I was accustomed to. To my immediate shock, decent seats in the upper deck and end zone were available in Cincinnati for as low as $40.00. I was stunned! Surely this was not what I was prepared for! I could never see an Eagles or Giants game for $40.00 bucks even in the preseason, let alone the playoffs. About the same time that my eyes were discovering these ticket prices on Stub Hub, my fingers began texting my Misses. On a complete whim, I wrote: “do you want to go to Cincinnati?” Well I should have known better. One of the things she loves most about me is my spontaneity. Actually it’s a love hate thing, but in the case of an NFL cross-country road trip, it was all love this time.
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I began thinking about the long strange season for both these NFL teams I was about to see.
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The 2009/2010 Cincinnati Bengals were well documented on the HBO series “Hard Knocks” (a multi piece documentary commemorating their preseason and August practice schedule) to kick off the season. The stern leadership from owner Mike Brown, the dominating personality of head coach Marvin Lewis, and the usual antics of Chad Johnson, were all captured very intimately. The Cincinnati Bengals overcame tremendous adversity over the long football season. They overcame injuries, tragic deaths within the organization, a shaky second half, and a losing reputation throughout the league. (The Bengals have not won a playoff game since 1990, and have only made the playoffs once between then and now.)
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Then there are the New York Jets. They technically started their 2009/2010 season by losing Brett Farve and Eric Mangini. NFL coaching heir and defensive guru, Rex Ryan; and rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez quickly replaced them. Ryan, who New Yorkers rapidly learned, doesn’t do any thing small. His media comments are as large and outrageous as is his stomach. Ryan, wrote the Jets off after their week 16 loss to Atlanta, saying that his team had been “eliminated from the playoffs”. Then he came back a day later only to apologize for not knowing his team was still alive and in the playoff hunt. Then before his week 17 match up against the Colts, Rex made a Christmas wish list of players he wanted Indianapolis to bench.
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It was safe to say when we began our 630-mile drive to Cincinnati that this was arguably the most exciting match up of wild card weekend. It took us about eight hours to make the drive from central New Jersey. We did three plus hours on Friday night, and another five on Saturday morning.
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We arrived at Paul Brown Stadium in downtown Cincinnati right at game time. An insane amount of Bengals fans, wearing a sea of orange and black were slowly pouring into the gates around the stadium. There were some Jets fans to be seen, but they were certainly in the vast minority. The noise level was off the charts; the weather was freezing cold.
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Then with 67,000 NFL fans screaming at the top of their lungs, Jets kicker Jay Feely booted the football to the Cincinnati offense to open the game. Bernard Scott caught Feely’s kick at the 8-yard line and returned it 56 yards to start the NFL post season. The Bengals offense went to work on the Jets 36 yard line, and the roar of the crowd was as loud as it would be all day.
Just when it looked as though Cincinnati would have at least a field goal on their opening drive, a fumble recovery by the Jet’s Shaun Ellis led to the first turnover of the day. The Jets would run just six plays on offense before punting the ball right back to the Bengals.
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The Battle of two of the AFC’s top defenses was well underway.
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The first touch down of the game finally occurred with 7:13 left in quarter number one. Carson Palmer dropped a short pass to his left. Laveranues Coles caught the pass, and ran the ball from the 11 yard line, down to the front left pylon and scored the first Bengal points of the post season.
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The first quarter ended with the score 7-0 Cincinnati.
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I had yet to actually sit in my seat through a quarter of football. As it turned out, it didn’t sit more then five minutes during the entire game.
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The Jets and Mark Sanchez had a real hard time moving the ball on the Bengals. In the Jets first 19 plays on offense, they had just 2 first downs. They were looking more and more like the team that struggled down the stretch, before winning their last two games of the regular season. The Jets were trying desperately to break out of their funk by running the ball.
Finally at 12:41 in the second quarter, the Jets running game broke through. It was the run of Jets back, Shonn Green who tied the game. From 39 yards out Green entered the left end of the end zone once again scoring a touch down in the same magic corner of the field that Laveranues Coles had just scored in. Only now the Jets had tied the game at 7-7.
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On the very next Cincinnati possession, the Bengals would turn the ball over to the Jets yet again. A Carson Palmer interception put the New York offense back on the field. Then the play of the game unfolded right before my eyes. I watched as Mark Sanchez rolled out of the pocket, and to his right, while on the Bengals 45 yard line. He began running toward the Jets side line, while looking to pitch a short pass. When he saw that every eligible receiver within 10 yards of him was covered, Sanchez saw an open Dustin Keller near the 20 yard line. Sanchez threw a pass that met Keller down field, and the Jets tight-end took it from there. Keller reached the end zone, breaking the plain with the ball, good for a Jets 14-7 lead.
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The half-time score was, 14-7 the New York Jets over the Cincinnati Bengals.
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I am still having tremendous difficulty describing, in written word, just how cold it was Saturday night in Cincinnati. The Misses lost feeling in her toes, and had to shove a hand warmer down each of her sneakers at half time. I could feel my eyes getting cold, as they were exposed to the frigid air, and they began to water. I was shivering and shaking, and I had cracked open every hand warmer I had with me. As the sun went down the temperature fell well below 23 degrees. The Bengal crowd grew cold and quite, and the momentum was now with the Jets. At 2:23 of the third quarter Thomas Jones scored the Jets third touch down from 9-yards out. The score was 21-7 and the game felt all but over.
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Then Bengals star running back Cedric Benson gave the Cincinnati fans a glimmer of hope. Benson ran a 47-yard touchdown route, to make the score 21-14. The Cincinnati crowd came out of their slump and tried to rally around their team for a very brief moment. But then, on the very next possession the Jets Jay Feely kicked a 20-yard field goal, and the Jets were up by two scores with only 5:17 left in the game.
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The Bengals fate was sealed when Carson Palmer was sacked on his own 43-yard line. Jets defensive lineman, Shaun Ellis, engulfed Palmer’s body, and dropped him to the turf. It was 4th and 22 for Cincinnati, when Palmer hit the ground. The sack ended the game and the season for the Bengals. Mark Sanchez kneeled three times after the two minute warning, and the game was over.
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The final score to game one of wild card weekend was 24-14 the New York Jets over the Cincinnati Bengals.
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At the end of the day, the Cincinnati Bengals can only blame themselves. The turnovers, failed video challenges, and two missed field goals were the reason they lost on Saturday. The New York Jets did not beat the Bengals, the Bengals beat the Bengals.
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Watching Mark Sanchez and Rex Ryan exit the stadium from the tunnel just below me (slightly to the right of my section) was an experience like no other. They were so pumped up, grinning from ear to ear. They acknowledged all the die-hard/extreme Jet fans, which made the road trip, and were still hanging out, and cheering them on in the 90% empty stadium.
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For the Bengals the waiting game begins today. Its now 364 days of hard work and dedication, just to get back to where they were yesterday. The Bengals road to the 2010-2011 post season starts right now. It's the kind of grueling exercise that caused coaching legend Bill Parcells to retire from the sidelines. The waiting is truly the hardest part. Luckily coach Marvin Lewis is young and his sprit looks to still be strong.
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For the Jets, it’s on to San Diego. Another week of hype and excitement on WFAN. Another week of outrageous comments from Rex Ryan. Another sudden death playoff game on the path to the Super Bowl. But this time I will not be checking Stub Hub for San Diego Charger tickets. At least I don’t think I will
???
Maybe it was all the buzz I kept hearing on sports radio 660am (WFAN). Maybe it was the animated shouting of Mike Francesa, informing Jets fans that their victory over the Colts was a gift. Or maybe it was the rallying cries of Craig Carton, who all week long was coordinating a Jets prep rally, while planning to cross the Brooklyn Bridge in a Speedo. Carton was already proclaiming victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in wild card weekend. Maybe it was Chad Johnson informing the media his knee was fine, after he worked it out over a recent evening of sexual activity. (The story was featured in the New York Post). Or maybe it was just all the playoff hype and excitement that can be found in late January when the NLF’s playoff season kicks offs.
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Whatever the reason, I decided to take a look on Stub Hub to see what playoff tickets were going for in Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium for the Jets/Bengals wildcard game. NFL tickets are always ridiculously expensive. Even prices for a regular season game tend to be out of control. So when I fired up my computer I was expecting to see the same outrageous prices I was accustomed to. To my immediate shock, decent seats in the upper deck and end zone were available in Cincinnati for as low as $40.00. I was stunned! Surely this was not what I was prepared for! I could never see an Eagles or Giants game for $40.00 bucks even in the preseason, let alone the playoffs. About the same time that my eyes were discovering these ticket prices on Stub Hub, my fingers began texting my Misses. On a complete whim, I wrote: “do you want to go to Cincinnati?” Well I should have known better. One of the things she loves most about me is my spontaneity. Actually it’s a love hate thing, but in the case of an NFL cross-country road trip, it was all love this time.
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I began thinking about the long strange season for both these NFL teams I was about to see.
---
The 2009/2010 Cincinnati Bengals were well documented on the HBO series “Hard Knocks” (a multi piece documentary commemorating their preseason and August practice schedule) to kick off the season. The stern leadership from owner Mike Brown, the dominating personality of head coach Marvin Lewis, and the usual antics of Chad Johnson, were all captured very intimately. The Cincinnati Bengals overcame tremendous adversity over the long football season. They overcame injuries, tragic deaths within the organization, a shaky second half, and a losing reputation throughout the league. (The Bengals have not won a playoff game since 1990, and have only made the playoffs once between then and now.)
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Then there are the New York Jets. They technically started their 2009/2010 season by losing Brett Farve and Eric Mangini. NFL coaching heir and defensive guru, Rex Ryan; and rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez quickly replaced them. Ryan, who New Yorkers rapidly learned, doesn’t do any thing small. His media comments are as large and outrageous as is his stomach. Ryan, wrote the Jets off after their week 16 loss to Atlanta, saying that his team had been “eliminated from the playoffs”. Then he came back a day later only to apologize for not knowing his team was still alive and in the playoff hunt. Then before his week 17 match up against the Colts, Rex made a Christmas wish list of players he wanted Indianapolis to bench.
---
It was safe to say when we began our 630-mile drive to Cincinnati that this was arguably the most exciting match up of wild card weekend. It took us about eight hours to make the drive from central New Jersey. We did three plus hours on Friday night, and another five on Saturday morning.
---
We arrived at Paul Brown Stadium in downtown Cincinnati right at game time. An insane amount of Bengals fans, wearing a sea of orange and black were slowly pouring into the gates around the stadium. There were some Jets fans to be seen, but they were certainly in the vast minority. The noise level was off the charts; the weather was freezing cold.
---
Then with 67,000 NFL fans screaming at the top of their lungs, Jets kicker Jay Feely booted the football to the Cincinnati offense to open the game. Bernard Scott caught Feely’s kick at the 8-yard line and returned it 56 yards to start the NFL post season. The Bengals offense went to work on the Jets 36 yard line, and the roar of the crowd was as loud as it would be all day.
Just when it looked as though Cincinnati would have at least a field goal on their opening drive, a fumble recovery by the Jet’s Shaun Ellis led to the first turnover of the day. The Jets would run just six plays on offense before punting the ball right back to the Bengals.
---
The Battle of two of the AFC’s top defenses was well underway.
---
The first touch down of the game finally occurred with 7:13 left in quarter number one. Carson Palmer dropped a short pass to his left. Laveranues Coles caught the pass, and ran the ball from the 11 yard line, down to the front left pylon and scored the first Bengal points of the post season.
---
The first quarter ended with the score 7-0 Cincinnati.
---
I had yet to actually sit in my seat through a quarter of football. As it turned out, it didn’t sit more then five minutes during the entire game.
---
The Jets and Mark Sanchez had a real hard time moving the ball on the Bengals. In the Jets first 19 plays on offense, they had just 2 first downs. They were looking more and more like the team that struggled down the stretch, before winning their last two games of the regular season. The Jets were trying desperately to break out of their funk by running the ball.
Finally at 12:41 in the second quarter, the Jets running game broke through. It was the run of Jets back, Shonn Green who tied the game. From 39 yards out Green entered the left end of the end zone once again scoring a touch down in the same magic corner of the field that Laveranues Coles had just scored in. Only now the Jets had tied the game at 7-7.
---
On the very next Cincinnati possession, the Bengals would turn the ball over to the Jets yet again. A Carson Palmer interception put the New York offense back on the field. Then the play of the game unfolded right before my eyes. I watched as Mark Sanchez rolled out of the pocket, and to his right, while on the Bengals 45 yard line. He began running toward the Jets side line, while looking to pitch a short pass. When he saw that every eligible receiver within 10 yards of him was covered, Sanchez saw an open Dustin Keller near the 20 yard line. Sanchez threw a pass that met Keller down field, and the Jets tight-end took it from there. Keller reached the end zone, breaking the plain with the ball, good for a Jets 14-7 lead.
---
The half-time score was, 14-7 the New York Jets over the Cincinnati Bengals.
---
I am still having tremendous difficulty describing, in written word, just how cold it was Saturday night in Cincinnati. The Misses lost feeling in her toes, and had to shove a hand warmer down each of her sneakers at half time. I could feel my eyes getting cold, as they were exposed to the frigid air, and they began to water. I was shivering and shaking, and I had cracked open every hand warmer I had with me. As the sun went down the temperature fell well below 23 degrees. The Bengal crowd grew cold and quite, and the momentum was now with the Jets. At 2:23 of the third quarter Thomas Jones scored the Jets third touch down from 9-yards out. The score was 21-7 and the game felt all but over.
---
Then Bengals star running back Cedric Benson gave the Cincinnati fans a glimmer of hope. Benson ran a 47-yard touchdown route, to make the score 21-14. The Cincinnati crowd came out of their slump and tried to rally around their team for a very brief moment. But then, on the very next possession the Jets Jay Feely kicked a 20-yard field goal, and the Jets were up by two scores with only 5:17 left in the game.
---
The Bengals fate was sealed when Carson Palmer was sacked on his own 43-yard line. Jets defensive lineman, Shaun Ellis, engulfed Palmer’s body, and dropped him to the turf. It was 4th and 22 for Cincinnati, when Palmer hit the ground. The sack ended the game and the season for the Bengals. Mark Sanchez kneeled three times after the two minute warning, and the game was over.
---
The final score to game one of wild card weekend was 24-14 the New York Jets over the Cincinnati Bengals.
---
At the end of the day, the Cincinnati Bengals can only blame themselves. The turnovers, failed video challenges, and two missed field goals were the reason they lost on Saturday. The New York Jets did not beat the Bengals, the Bengals beat the Bengals.
---
Watching Mark Sanchez and Rex Ryan exit the stadium from the tunnel just below me (slightly to the right of my section) was an experience like no other. They were so pumped up, grinning from ear to ear. They acknowledged all the die-hard/extreme Jet fans, which made the road trip, and were still hanging out, and cheering them on in the 90% empty stadium.
---
For the Bengals the waiting game begins today. Its now 364 days of hard work and dedication, just to get back to where they were yesterday. The Bengals road to the 2010-2011 post season starts right now. It's the kind of grueling exercise that caused coaching legend Bill Parcells to retire from the sidelines. The waiting is truly the hardest part. Luckily coach Marvin Lewis is young and his sprit looks to still be strong.
---
For the Jets, it’s on to San Diego. Another week of hype and excitement on WFAN. Another week of outrageous comments from Rex Ryan. Another sudden death playoff game on the path to the Super Bowl. But this time I will not be checking Stub Hub for San Diego Charger tickets. At least I don’t think I will
???
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