Thanks and Happy New Year

No end-of-year reflections or pearls of wisdom shall be dropped from my virtual pen as we turn the page onto 2009.

Thanks to all you regular LCG readers, those who stop by from time-to-time and even the passer-bys.

This blogging thing sometimes helps keep a man sane and all the comments and (mostly) kind words and thoughts are always appreciated. For 2009, I plan to continue to call 'em as I see 'em and hope to get a few people nodding their heads in some sort of agreement - or not.

Hopefully, I'll be welcoming Erie's Scribe back into the fold in 2009 after he's done putting the sleeper hold on that feisty letter of the law. For those looking for our Jets and Mets predictions for 2009...one word. Pain. In heavy doses. But, alas, we look forward to the masochistic experience.

For the next few days at least, I plan to dump a plethora of unhealthy things into my body and watch a similarly harmful amount of college and pro football. If I can remain upright and clear-minded, I shall opine on the early sports happenings of 2009. If not, I won't...or something.

Peace out, y'all.

The Stars of the Downtrodden

Can Anyone Here Me Out Here?

Consider them the All-Stars of the scrap heap. The diamonds in the rubbish. Shining stars in bastions of darkness. Their teams didn't sniff the playoffs. These players aren't booking any sort of travel to Hawaii - at least not for a Pro Bowl.

Yet, they are just as deserving of some recognition as anyone else. It's not their fault that they play in crappy media markets for squads that ended the season about a thousand miles from .500 ensuring with their putrid play that national audiences would rarely see them in action.

So, we took a look around the League at the rosters of the downtrodden to see who was due for a little more love. Here are 10 players wallowing away in relative obscurity who did a damn fine job for their squads in 2008. Maybe in '09 their teams will put more than five wins together so that someone might actually notice:

1. Julian Peterson, Seattle Seahawks: While he's certainly not an unknown, Peterson's performance in Seattle went less recognized then in prior seasons. Regardless, the four-time Pro Bowler out up stellar numbers, recording 86 tackles, along with five sacks and four forced fumbles for the 4-12 Hawks.

2. D'Qwell Jackson, Cleveland Browns: Tell me you've heard of D'Qwell Jackson, and I'll tell you you're full of s*&t. I'm a very big football fan, and if you gave me 20 chances to name the NFL's leading tackler in 2008 it wouldn't have mattered. Even with 50 shots, Jackson wouldn't have come across these lips. After accumulating 154 tackles, two forced fumbles and three interceptions the third-year linebacker out of Maryland deserves at least a few shout-outs, no?

3. Oshiomogho Atogwe, St. Louis Rams: Nobody noticed much of anything in St. Louis this year except a whole lot of losing. Which could explain why Atogwe's name is not tossed around all that much among NFL commentators and pundits. But maybe it should be. We're certainly not saying anything derogatory about Ed Reed (we would never), but five picks, six forced fumbles and 85 tackles is nothin' to sneeze at neither.

4. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions: A ray of hope in an abyss of darkness, C.J. continued his rapid development in 2008. Consider the leaps...from 48 catches in his rookie campaign to 78 receptions in '08...756 yards t0 1,331...four touchdowns to 12. Calvin is the man in Detroit, which is like being called skinny in a room full on contestants on the Biggest Loser. It's nice, but...Let's hope for his sake a few wins are in the cards for next year's Lions. It's about time some more folks got to see this kid. Megatron lives, indeed.

5. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars: If you're like me, you knew Jones-Drew was a nice, little back. You've seen this bowling ball bounce off of folks and break big runs. I give you credit, though, if you don't see the Jags play very often and are aware of just how good an all-around football player is Jones-Drew. A few numbers to nibble on for we, the less enlightened:

- 824 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns
- 62 catches for 565 and another two scores
- Oh, yes, and lest we forget 13 kickoff returns for another couple hundred yards

6. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs: Name a great current Chief. Ready. Set. Go. Tony Gonzalez? Good answer. Very original. And, yes, he's ridiculous. Another fantastic year and one more Pro Bowl invitation. But do you know about Mr. Bowe? The second-year receiver out of LSU quietly racked up 86 grabs, over 1,000 yards and seven TDs. Who knew? Chances are the country will hear more about Bowe and a lot more of the talented young Chiefs once the Herminator is shown the door.

7. Kirk Morrison, Oakland Raiders: Another little-known tackling machine, Morrison ranked second in the NFL trailing only D'Qwell. Morrison registered 135 stops. He also added a sack, an interception and two forced fumbles for Rob Ryan's bunch.

8. John Carlson, Seattle Seahawks: It's rare a rookie leads an NFL team in receptions. But a rookie tight end? Probably doesn't bode well for your team's playoff chances, but it does say a bit about John Carlson. Carlson, in his first season out of Notre Dame, paced the 'Hawks with 55 receptions and also got into the endzone five times, more than any of his teammates (wow, that's really bad).

9. T.J. Houshmanzadeh, Cincinnati Bengals: While everyone zapped on and on about Ocho-whatever, T.J. Who's-your-mama just kept on proving he's the best, most consistent receiver on the Bengals, not to mention one of the top pass catchers in the AFC. Although his numbers were down slightly with Harvard gunslinger Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm for half the season, TJ still managed over 90 catches, 900+ yards and four TDs. Think maybe he misses Carson Palmer? Just a wee bit?

10. Jason Hanson, Detroit Lions: First off, at 0-16 you're damn right the Lions were getting another player on this list. So, here's our real question. How in the world did Jason Hanson not make the Pro Bowl? Honestly, I watch the Giants every week being in the NY market. I understand the old man had a good year, but how 'bout Hanson?! Sure, he missed one of 22 field goals. Give the man a break. He did go 8-for-8 from 50+. I don't remember hearing a stat like that...like ever. Seriously. It ain't easy being a Lion, I assume.

Another Jets Season Gone...Like So Many Others

Another season has come and gone for my Jets. What was once cause for hope, has long since been eradicated. Where there was opporutnity, it has vanished. And now once again the future is...uncertain at best.

The ride back from the Meadowlands last night was not particularly somber, fans were neither bitter nor shocked. Instead, it was an all-too-typical atmosphere. These are the Jets. They had provided false expectations and failed to deliver. Which is to say the season fell perfectly in line with our collective expectations of this perpetually underachieving franchise.

So now, the news will swirl around Favre and Mangini and shoulders and coordinators. I will tune it all out. Outside of my man Leon Washington, I have no love for anyone wearing green-and-white at this particular juncture and that goes for those wearing helmets as well as those donning headsets. However, I've done my ranting and raving and have lost the motivation to continue.

Come late summer I will again read the reports from training camp of renewed energy, emerging stars and, quite possibly, the promise provided by a new regime. And, like a sucker, I will get wrapped up in it all again. Such is being a fan.

For this moment, I bid a not-so-fond farewell to the J-E-T-S and another season of predictable disappointment.

I wonder if there are any takers for Favre Jets jerseys on eBay?

Absurd Bowl Game Names a Longstanding Tradition

A Bowl Game Whose Time Has Come, Don't Ya Think?

I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for the Kohler.com Toilet Bowl to be announced one of these days. It just seems like a no-brainer, but what do I know from marketing.

Anyway, as I sat here over this brief holiday break, I mourned for a moment on behalf of bowl games gone away. Classics from the days of my youth like the Blue Bonnet Bowl, the Aloha Bowl and the stupendously-sponsored Poulan Weed Eater Independence Bowl. Yet, little did I know that there are so many classic bowl games that have come and gone over the history of postseason college football.

With the help the always-insightful Wikipedia, here are a few fallen soldiers whom you may not be as familiar with...may they collectively rest in peace alongside the galleryfurniture.com Bowl.

The Bacardi Bowl: An ode to the rum of Cuba, this fine bowl game was played seven times going all the way back to the classic LSU-Havana University match-up back in 1907. The last B-Bowl took place in '46 with Southern Miss taking down Havana in a 55-0 squeaker.

Refrigerator Bowl: The Fridge Bowl was played annually in Evansville, IN from 1948-1956. Sam Houston Teachers College took down Middle Tennessee State back in '56. Why the Refrigerator Bowl? Evansville, IN was known as the "refrigerator capital of the world" back in those days.

The Salad Bowl: Yes, there was a salad bowl. Bowls with prefixes that typically go quite naturally with the world "bowl," oh forget it. The Salad Bowl???!! The Salad Bowl was a precursor to the Fiesta Bowl and took place during those crazy late 40s and early 50s similar to the Fridge.



Glass Bowl: The Glass Bowl. The. Glass. Bowl.


Oil Bowl: In a shocker of shockers, this game was played in Texas.

Raisin Bowl: Not to be confused with the California Raisin Bowl, or California Bowl, with all them dancin' raisins...this storied affair took place in Fresno from 46-49.

Frighteningly, there are more terrible bowl games in the graveyard which you can feel free to peruse here. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a Meieneke Car Care Bowl to take in...

Motor City Bowl Only an Hour Away!

People, the 2008 Motor City Bowl is about an hour from kickoff. Get your popcorn ready. It would take a miracle to get me off of my couch tonight. No, not really.

Plaxico's Wife May Want to Consider a Career Switch

By now, you've likely seen and heard the most recent Plaxico news. He's getting sued in Florida for rear-ending a woman in his Mercedes three days after his insurance expired.

And, oh yes, and then there's the whole stockpile of guns and ammo at home, along with his infamous faulty sweatpants and the like, gathered up via an old-fashioned search warrant served up at his home in Jersey.

So, why do we voluntarily bring this beaten-to-death story up again in its latest incarnation? Is it to harp on Plaxi's stupidity? Nah, we're over and done with that. What's got us thinking is more Burress's wife. With a hat tip to Doug Gottlieb of ESPN Radio who mentioned this while filling in for Tirico and Van Pelt today, maybe Mrs. Burress should re-consider her chosen career path. What does she do you might ask? Duh, she's an attorney. You know, one whose job has something to do with an at least basic knowledge of like, laws...and stuff.

This begs many questions, questions. We simply don't have the time. But all we can say is really??!!

Behold the Unbeatens, and Those Treacherous Pre-Conference Schedules

Fight On, Go-Pher

Need a break from the football, so we decided to take a quick whirl around the college hoops world. Figured it was worth seeing who still carried an undefeated record as teams turned their eye toward their respective conference schedules.

For those dying with curiosity, you can count Pitt, UConn, Oklahoma, Clemson, UNC, Wake, Illinois St., Stanford and Ohio St. in the class of the unblemished. Ahh yes, for all you Gopher fanatics, the University of Minnesota can also hold their chest out with pride over an 11-0 sprint out the gate. Or maybe...

See, this is what gets me about the whole March Madness craziness come Selection Sunday. So, this year I'm going to remember Minnesota when they start talking about that bubble thing. Now, I'm a big Tubby Smith fan. Think the guy's a good coach, got a somewhat raw deal in Lexington and he's going to do good things with this program (already has). And, yes I realize you need to boost that win total to hit that magic 20-win mark and increase your chances to go dancing and all. But, c'mon. Really?

Shall we, folks? Let's take a brief journey.

The Gophers opened up their campaign with the University of Concordia-St. Paul. Granted the Golden Bears recently took down Northwestern, but they play in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. What, you ask? Exactly. 1-0

Next up? Bowling Green who has already dropped games this season to Central Arkansas and Savannah St. 2-0.

It goes on like this for the most part...

Georgia St. 3-0
Colorado St. (the Mountain West, a conference we can identify!) 4-0
Eastern Washington 5-0
North Dakota St. 6-0
Virginia (at least one "big conference" team) 7-0
Cornell 8-0 (my alma mater's no slouch, not to mention their schedule to date should make Minnesota embarrassed in comparison, but still)
South Dakota St. 9-0 (to complete the Dakotas swing)
Louisville 10-0 (we give them credit for this win)
Southeastern Louisiana 11-0
High Point ????

Maybe the Golden Gophers are for real, but how is one to know with a schedule like this? Even my Hoyas, who are notorious for a joke non-conference schedule, managed to cram Drexel, Wichita St., Tennessee, Maryland and Memphis into their first 10. UConn's taken on three top 20 teams. Oklahoma's defeated two. Clemson at least goes to Charlotte, Miami, Illinois and USC.

We're just saying...

I Was Kind of Only Kidding...

With this whole bit. Not that I'm surprised or anything. One down. Wonder when the next one shall fall into the pinstripe lair.

Torture is Being a Fan of the Jets (and Mets for good measure)

And Another Favre Pick...Ha-Ha!

Torture [tawr-cher]

-noun
1. the act of inflicting excruciating pain, as punishment or revenge, as a means of getting a confession or information, or for sheer cruelty.

Tell me. What is this punishment or revenge for? What did I do to deserve this? Oh, my apologies. This would fit into the "sheer cruelty" clause of the definition. I blame my mother. Yes, that's right. She who brought me into this world. My Brooklyn-born matriarch, the one who adopted both the Mets and Jets with open arms and hath passed along fandom of these two pain-inducing franchises to her first-born. It is she whom I can thank for this wretched cross I now bear.

For those of you familiar with my allegiances, this rant was about as predictable as an ill-advised, off-balance, cross-field, leave-your-mouth-agape-in-horror Favre pick. I really can't take this s&!t anymore. Seriously. This is getting freakin' ridiculous. Two epic collapses was bad enough. Two late summer meltdowns topped off with a Phillies World Series win should be all I am asked to handle. But now this? This...this...I can't even describe it.

Can someone tell me what happened to the team that manhandled Tennessee? And what exactly is going on in the heads of Schottenheimer and Man-retard? I'm sorry is 4.6 yards a run inadequate for you guys? Do you have something against Thomas Jones and Leon Washington? Hell, Tony Richardson ran for 34 yards on five carries. Oh yes, it was snowing and miserable. But, of course. That makes total sense. In that case, I completely agree. We should abandon the run and have Brett chuck the ball up 31 times and see how many of those can be in-game hail marys.

Lest we leave you out Mr. Sutton, you oh master of defensive scheming. Perhaps we should forget about the blitz for this weekend, eh? Why put any pressure on a career backup in horrible conditions? No, let's see if we can crank up our defense enough to rack up an enviable zero sacks. And since we were so admirably locking down the always-potent Maurice Morris, let's not even run blitz, on the oft-case we select the right hole and cut a runner off from advancing seven yards unscathed through a vacant gap.

And, oh yes, Mr. Mangini. You, you inspirer of men. What's the matter? Couldn't find the right movie to fire up the troops on another west coast swing? No local boxers available to light that fire? It's alright. Your expressionless countenance evokes tremendous confidence and an urge to fight from this fan, so my guess is it has a similar effect on your players.

Are you comatosed? Or was your face just frozen? You looked like you wanted to go inside and put on your warm and fuzzy socks in the first quarter. Alas we forget about your well thought out fourth-and-two decision with 2:20 left in the fourth. Hmmm, maybe taking this "risk" from our own 20-yard line with all three timeouts left wasn't the best of decisions. Perhaps? Moron.

And, of course, we can't forget the players themselves with special kudos to Mr. Favre. One awful interception and a series of horribly underthrown balls only added to the joyousness of yesterday's abortion in the Pacific Northwest. We'd rake the defense over the coals, but 13 points is not entirely deserving of chiding (although one could certainly make the case that the 100+ yards from Mo Morris certainly is).

Honestly, it sounds cliche, but I do feel it would be immensely easier to be a fan of the Bungles, or the Pirates, some perennial loser where futility is a foregone conclusion. Instead, I've got the Jets and Mets. Perpetually just good enough to make you think they're not what they really are...LOO-WHO-SUUURS.

When do pitchers and catchers report so I can start this whole dreadful process again? At least we can watch Matt Cassell and Belichick try to make another run, and have Chad stick it to us on Sunday. So, I've got that going for me...which is nice.

A New Chapter in the Tale of Michael Oher About to Be Written

There was a time when Michael Oher didn't know his own name. This coming summer, Roger Goodell will likely call it out early in the first-round of the 2009 NFL Draft. And, just like that, a young man who was without a family, a school, a home or a future less than 10 years ago will sign a contract likely to guarantee him millions to play left tackle as a professional.

If you're a sports fan like I am, there's a decent chance Michael Oher is not an unfamiliar personality. The protagonist of Michael Lewis's 2006 bestseller The Blind Side will take the field for his final collegiate game on January 2nd in Dallas, as he and his Ole Miss teammates face Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl.

I made a point of following Oher during his first two seasons in Oxford. After reading The Blind Side, it was as if some strange magnetic-like force was compelling me, almost imploring me, to pay attention and not forget about the kid from Memphis. Lewis's human interest story within a story had sucked me right in and refused to let go.

However, after ducking back into relative obscurity on below-average Rebels teams, I'd recently lost my discipline in tracking the tale of Michael Oher. In part, it's the resurgence of Ole Miss that helped force #74 back into my consciousness. It just so happens it seems a rather natural time to re-visit Oher as the next chapter in a remarkable story is about to be written.

Those taking a first glance at the 6' 5, 320-pounder, never mind those who have seen his feet, might easily assume his spot at left tackle playing for an SEC school in a major Bowl game is far from stunning. Physically gifted, Oher is an imposing figure who has been tagged for future stardom since his early teens. It all seems quite logical, a typical trajectory for an atypical athlete.

However, for those who have not heard the tale of Michael Oher, the Rebel left tackle's ascent to 2008 pre-season All-American, his run as a now four-year starter and his nearly bulletproof status as a a high first-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft was about as far from a foregone conclusion as such things can be.

Without rehashing what is a great true story from Lewis, both in the context of its breakdown of the evolution of the left tackle position in professional football and the incredibly enrapturing human interest story of Oher (if you haven't read, read the book now), here's an excerpt of the synopsis from the publisher of The Blind Side:

When we first meet the young man at the center of this extraordinary and moving story, he is one of thirteen children by a mother addicted to crack; he does not know his real name, his father, his birthday, or any of the things a child might learn in school. And he has no serious experience playing organized football. What changes? He takes up football, and school, after a rich, Evangelical, Republican family plucks him from the mean streets. Their love is the first great force that alters the world’s perception of the boy, whom they adopt. The second force is the evolution of professional football itself.

The book itself, although at times hellbent on hyperbole for dramatic effect (whether factual or feigned), is phenomenal. And, if nothing else, it compels you to do one thing -- root for this kid.

Well, almost four years later, with what had to be a ton of additional pressure (and, yes, probably some more opportunity) as a result of the success of The Blind Side, I'd say the kid done alright. Earlier this month, Michael was one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy, awarded to the nation's top interior lineman.

He's started every game during his career at Ole-Miss and has twice been named first-team All-SEC including a unanimous selection this season. Oher put a bow on his collegiate resume a few weeks ago with one more noteworthy award - first-team All-American.

Three years ago, nobody would've expected Ole Miss to be ranked #20 in the country and playing in the Cotton Bowl (with Houston Nutt at the helm no less). Ten years ago, the concept of Oher playing organized football (at any level) was even a more ridiculous proposition.

Sometimes the inconceivable can happen. It's already happened with Michael Oher, and it continues to happen. As the next chapter in his tale gets ready to begin, I, for one, will still be cheering him on and anxiously anticipating each new page.

Lucious Linkage

Couch Brownies Jersey for Sale, Any Takers?

Thank goodness for all the talented and more dedicated sports bloggers out there. Without them, I couldn't completely draft off of other people's work in order to keep up some sort of posting volume. A couple near back-to-back JFK to LAX jaunts has got us hurtin' for certain. We'll be back with a vengeance in no time. To keep you entertained, some nuggets from the Interwebs.

Cleveland sports-obsessed blog Waiting for Next Year takes an entertaining tour of the graveyard of Browns jerseys from the year 1999. So, wait, Courtney Brown didn't pan out?

Our friends at NESW Sports share the priceless video of the TNT NBA crew re-enacting the Bush shoe-tossing incident with Sir Charles as the target. Maybe I'm buying into the spin, but these guys always seem to actually being having fun and not hate each other. Perhaps it's why it consistently delivers high entertainment value.

Wait, agents can be slimy, distrustful and two-timing? Am I the only one who watched Jerry Maguire? Cush was his. His!!

Brandan Roy is, like, really good. Perhaps more people should start paying attention.

And, finally, can we just take a second to say WTF on all this Mark Texiera talk? Really? It's Mark-freaking-Texiera. Am I missing something? Is this guy a perennial MVP candidate, and I just missed the memo?

Anyway, more to come and a bit more regularity in the next few weeks. I think...

Cowher Power

Coming Soon to a Sideline Near You?

How'd you like to be Bill Cowher right about now? Back in January of 2007, the 15-year Steelers coach and face of the modern Stillers organization announced he was stepping down. In an age where "NFL head coach" and "stability" go together like Stephon Marbury and the New York Knicks, Cowher managed to remain on the sidelines for a single team for a decade and a half. And he didn't just take up space.

Cowher, who currently sits at 15th on the all-time list of the NFL's winningest head coaches left the League to spend more time with his family in North Carolina and now is seemingly enjoying a comfortable spot in front of the camera as part of CBS's Sunday pre-game crew. His run in the 'Burgh was inarguably impressive. A .623 winning percentage. Nine division crowns. Two AFC Championships. All topped off with that "elusive" Super Bowl win in 2006.

Now, Cowher, should he want to come back to the sidelines, wields the most leverage of any candidate on the market. Nobody out there could command what he may be able to command. And the opportunities will be there. Already, Chiefs fans are hoping that Carl Peterson is only the first of two dominoes to fall. The one they seem to be talking up most on message boards and on the comments sections of online articles and blog posts as the desired replacement for "Herm the Germ?" You got it, he of the notable scowl.

The rumblings are even louder in Cleveland, with the noise reaching such decibels that mainstream sites are finding themselves compelled to comment on what are apparently rumors and only rumors. Even though Dick Jauron snagged a contract extension earlier this season, I've read the rants of Bills fans, disenchanted with their team's collapse, espousing the perfect solution for the Buffalo franchise. Yep. You guessed him?

Seemingly half the League is being led by men whose jobs, if not seriously in jeopardy, are certainly less than stable. Would Cowher be the right man in Big D should the Cowboys sputter in their final two games? He would certainly be the antithesis of Wade Phillips. Personally, we'd be intrigued by the Jones/Cowher dynamic. What about teams with long traditions and loyal fan bases, like Green Bay or Washington? And then of course there's the much more real positions that will be coming open in Cincy, San Diego, Detroit and St. Louis. Cowher to Jacksonville? Who knows?

Point is, you've got a potential Hall of Fame coach (debatable) who is only 51 years old and only a few years removed from a Super Bowl. He's sitting in the booth, a tantalizing shiny toy in the window for those looking to kick-start their team or elevate a winner to elite status.

Cowher seems to like his perch as the wild card favorite, content for now to simply watch the carousel go round and round. The question is: where will it stop? Wherever and whenever it does, chances are the cash register will be ringing to a pleasant tune for Coach Cowher.

Random Tuesday Musings

Chizik = Bad

Been busy so apologies for the intermittent writing. A lot going on in the world of sports, here are our brief thoughts on a few of said things.

Barkley's Right

We've always liked Sir Charles, although we certainly get those who don't. He's loud. He stirs the pot. He invites controversy. That said, his critique of Auburn's hiring of Chizik and his claim that race was a factor doesn't seem far-fetched. In fact, in lieu of Mark Sclabach's comments on Outside the Lines, and the sheer volume of commentary around the discussion overall, lend some creed to the argument. As a side note, we had thoughts on Gill last November. Just saying...

I'm an Idiot

At my advanced age, I've moved away from fantasy football and "real" sports betting. I've got enough things threatening my heart health and peace and well-being that I don't need to have my stomach churning during the fourth quarter of a blowout hoping the Bucs throw Warrick Dunn a screen pass so he can get the eight yards I need to win a week.

So, I'm only in one pool. It involves picking every NFL game, every week, against the spread. I had managed to get myself into fifth place going into this weekend and am still hanging around there despite a 7-9 week. Why am I an idiot? Because I picked the Browns last night to cover a 14.5 point spread. Eagles at home + fighting for the playoffs + Ken Dorsey = no-brainer. Apparently, not for me. Perhaps I should consider logic as a strategy for the final two weeks.

Buzzer Beaters are Great

As I said a few weeks ago, I'm not ready to get into college basketball -- yet. Still, whether it's the tourney or not, how great is the college hoops buzzer-beater? There's something about the combination of drama, real emotion from the kids and the fans that makes it one of the best happenings in sport.

Speaking of...just to get you a bit in the mood for March a bit early. You know something's memorable when you can just say a name and it evokes a memory...Edney, Laettner, George...

Yanks Say "F&*k It," Lock Up Lowe, Teixeira and Manny

The New York Daily Times Post

YANKS SAY "F&^! IT," LOCK UP LOWE, TEXIERA AND MANNY
Team Also Adds Stable of Relievers to Bolster Pen

December 13, 2008

NEW YORK -- While the dust settles in Las Vegas following Major League Baseball's winter meetings, the lights continue to burn bright in the New York Yankees front office -- day, night and every waking minute in-between.

GM Brian Cashman knows there is no sleep for the weary. Following a season in which the Bronx Bombers embarrassed themselves with a second-place finish, Cashman and the Yanks made a splash earlier this week locking up C.C. Sabathia through a combination of cash, money, loot and incentives. A.J. Burnett was next wooed to the Big Apple by piles of green and plenty of scratch. The moves caused eyebrows to raise around the League, given the pinstripers traditional hesitation to dole out big-money deals and their increasing tendency to penny pinch.

As we had the chance to sit down with Cashman this weekend, it was clear however that the mentality of this once-frugal organization has shifted. During our brief Saturday morning interview, the buzz of the mobile phone and deal-making was constant and omnipresent. Numbers that would seem mind-boggling to the common man - not to mention half the organizations in baseball - ping-ponged their way around the room with a strange and frightening mixture of frivolity, ambivalence and, some might say, recklessness.

After we briefly discussed the behind-the-scenes work that led up to the Sabathia and Burnett deals, Cashman dropped a bombshell. He revealed that by weekend's end he expected free agents Derek Lowe, Mark Texiera and Manny Ramirez to officially join the Yankees 2009 roster. With my mouth agape, I asked Cashman, somewhat incredulously, "how?" He responded with candor. "We need players, we've got money. So, f*&^ it, right." Simple enough logic.

While the GM turned his attention back to his rapidly-evolving roster, I tried to run through the Yankees lineup for the coming year. An infield of Texiera, Cano, Jeter and A-Rod...an outfield with the addition of Manny...what could be the best starting rotation in baseball...are there any..." As if reading my mind, Cashman picked up his head, the sides of his mouth curled upwards and a smile that was equal parts mischievous and evil spread across his face. "We figure Fuentes and and Cordero should us a good lefty-righty 1-2 to get to Mo. Hoffman is more of an insurance thing at this point in his career."

It seemed like a full 30 seconds of silence then passed. Cashman continuing to show off that grin, me stunned into mental and physical paralysis. Finally, the man in charge of re-stocking the Yankees concluded our interview.

"F&*^ it, right?"

- Cecilio's Scribe

NBA "Surprise" Stats Edition: Jeopardy-Style

A: Who is the League Leader in Field Goal Percentage

Back in the day, I could name every head coach in the NBA and probably a good number of starting fives. Call it the game, my age or whatever, but I'm way out of touch these days. Since the days of Oak Man, Mace and crew, my interest for the Knicks and the NBA overall have followed a parallel and extreme downward arc. Baseball and football have undoubtedly stolen my heart as I ascend into my 30s.

That said, I'm still a psycho sports fan by most standards. Just because I'm not tuning in on Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday (say it after me...), doesn't mean I like being uninformed. I still enjoy a good showdown between top teams and chances are I'll be locked in come playoff time. Hell, I'm even diggin' me some Suns-Lake Show at this moment. But, for now, I need to check myself every once in awhile.

Sure, knowing the top scoring guys in the League doesn't require a whole lot of actual viewing. But what about those league leaders who the even way-above-casual NBA fan wouldn't even think to think about? A-ha...a-ha...where's the spoon, right?

No need to worry, I'm on it. Here's your list of those players lurking just beneath those household names we all know about on various NBA leaders lists. Test your knowledge. You may be surprised, surprised. Well, at least I was...

Q: I'm a second-year pro out of Arkansas and am currently fifth in the League in steals averaging 2.22/game. I'm joined in the top five by more familiar names including Rondo, Paul, Kidd and Wade. People say I'm rounding out into a pretty solid NBA player.

A: Who is Ronnie Brewer, Utah Jazz



Q: After spending most of my career with a Western Conference team, I've found my way East. I currently average 24.4 ppg, more than Joe Johnson, Kevin Durant, A'mare Stoudamire and Vince Carter.

A: Who is Devin Harris, New Jersey Nets



Q: Only Chris Paul is averaging more assists than I this season. I'm dropping more than nine dimes a night, and I haven't missed a free throw in 48 attempts. How you like them manzanas?

A: Who is Jose Calderon, Toronto Raptors



Q: I am most well-known for my status as a ginger athlete. Oh yes, I also lead the Association in three-point percentage. 51% Pretty sick, right? That's just how I roll.

A: Who is Matt Bonner, San Antonio Spurs



Q: I'm second only to Dwight Howard in rebounds per game averaging 12+ to go along with mu 15 points. I also lead the NBA in amount of product used on my stylish locks. Feel it. Love it.

A: Who is Andris Bedrins, Golden St. Warriors

Q: I am currently rank third in blocks per game. They call me the Birdman. Bedrins has nothing on my 'doo.

A: Who is Chris Andersen, Denver Nuggets


We hope you learned something.

K-Rod Shea-Bound

Orgasmic Celebrations, Coming to Shea Soon!

First off, business travel blows. Just thought I'd get that out of the way. In other news, my Mets apparently went out and signed the best closer on the market to a three-year deal. I should be exuberant. Instead, I am completely...whatever.

The pain of the last two seasons' nose dives still cuts deep and my Met fan cynicism, a trademark of our strange little cult of followers, is at an all-time, biting acerbic high. My initial thoughts? Can't be upset about the signing. Everything on paper clearly declares K-Rod the cream of the available crop, and the entire crop for that matter. My second thought? His arm is going to fall off in 6-9 months and this will be another colossal failure of a signing.

I guess that's why I'll tune in and hop the 7 train again this year to repeatedly torture myself. At least I'll be paying off my season tickets for the next decade. So, I've got that going for me...which is nice.

Best. T-Shirt. Ever.

OK, maybe I'm crazy-late to the game on this one, but this t-shirt is phenomenal. For those of you who've kept up with me from the start, I threw up a video about a soon-to-be NFL rookie out of Cal named Marshawn Lynch two summers back. The title of that post was "Marshawn Lynch is Pure Comedy." No, really, you can like click on it here.

Anyway, long since then "Beast Mode" has become a constant source of humor for everything from his trademark grill to his breakdown of the local Buffalo dining scene. He's a celebrity of sorts in the blogosphere and on Yardbarker.com where he recently announced a contest for kids in which the best "beast mode impersonator" will receive a toy - we think. As Marshawn himself explains, it's the "I'm ya daddi boi toy give a way." But, of course.

Anyway, in the course of trying to read up a bit more on Beast Mode's kid-friendly contest, I did some perusing around marshawn23.com and came across this tremendous piece of mechandise. If I was a kid in Buffalo, I would be on this t-shirt in minutes. For real.

Extending My Personal Road Losing Streak

Another House or Horrors

Just continuing my west coast swing, y'all. Thanks for staying with me. On Saturday, I caught some Pac-10 action in Northern Cali with the Cal Bears destroying what is an absolutely atrocious University of Washington team. At least Ty's boys came out and showed some fight for their lame duck headman. Goodness gracious. People are bemoaning the state of professional sports in the state of Washington, but how bad are the area's major college football programs?

Sunday we continued our kind-of-not-really-annual tradition of going to masochistic viewing of Gang Green live and in person on the road. This year's house of horrors? Candlestick. Not fun. OK, actually, as usual, it was sh&*ton of fun. Not sure when you "grow out of" making road trips with your high school buddies to watch pro sporting events, but I have a mind to continue to push the envelope.

That said, for the love of Rich Kotite, this is getting ri-gosh-dang-diculous. For the third straight time, my journey to watch the Jets away from the hideous confines of the Meadowlands has yielded another loss. Another pitiful, awe-inspiring embarrasment of a loss. Good times. Nothing like being a loser in the enemy's stadium.

Anyway, we can't or won't elaborate my more and will try to catch up on this whole blogging thing as the week progresses and another road loss that I had the pleasure of witnessing in person fades into the distance.

Am I Supposed Care About College Hoops Already?

Random thoughts are all I may be able to offer for a few days. Traveling around on bid-ness and not a ton of time to tap into my inner creative. However, with hotel TVs becoming a more familiar travel companion, I've found myself almost being forced to watch college hoops. And it's painful. The weird thing is I used to love college basketball. Tonight, I was watching Indiana for a few minutes was embarrassed that I couldn't have told you Tom Crean was the Hoosiers head coach prior to this evening.

As a wee buck, I was the kid staying up for the third game of Big Monday or Super Tuesday to catch up on Long Beach St. Couldn't get enough. Didn't matter the conference, day of the week or time of night. Now, I can't tolerate anything before conference tournaments. Like, nothing. Maybe Duke-Carolina. Maybe.

When did this start happening and why? I can't really figure it out. Perhaps it was when Mateen Cleaves starting racking up first-team All-American honors year-after-year. My reasons are likely similar to many others who remembered teams like the Runnin' Rebels who boasted four or five NBA players -- all of them upperclassmen. Now, there's nothing even close.

The real question: am I the only one? If you're like me, an early thirty-something wondering where his passion for college roundball has vanished, and have an explanation please give it to me. I want to love again. I really do.

Start a Facebook Group, Get on ESPN

I have no celebrity aspirations. Besides arrogantly believing I could do a better job than a large number of current NFL and college color guys, I do not yearn to be on the tube. However, for those who dream to see themselves on the Worldwide Leader talking sports, here’s the key to fulfilling your fantasy. Ready? Start a Facebook group.

That’s what Austin Talbert did. The UT undergrad, ticked off like the rest of Longhorn Nation about the bone job his beloved Bevo-ites were heading towards, started a group called “Texas Did Beat OU 45-35, Lest We Forget.” In the process, Talbert may very well have helped launch that 45-35 “movement” in Austin which has led to massive amounts of related signage and gear, as well as a uniting battle cry for Texas-backing message board junkies everywhere.

It also landed him on ESPN (probably didn’t hurt that his first name is Austin, too). While I was prepping for a business trip this morning, I had ESPN First Take (on mute, of course) providing a soothing background glow. At one point, I glanced up only to see this young man’s face.

So, I flicked the volume back on and listened for a few minutes to a reasonably articulate young man share perspective on the thoughts of Texas Longhorns fans in the wake of their drop to #3 in the latest BCS rankings. The “founder” of “Texas Did Beat OU 45-35, Lest We Forget.”

The moral of this story? As usual, we don’t really have one. We found the development neither good or bad, but just interesting. You could use it as an opportunity to rail on citing their need to bring in a teen to analyze one of the sports weekend's biggest stories. Or, you could just as easily say “hey, that’s pretty cool. Would rather hear a kid at the school talk about the mood on campus then bleed out the ears compliments of Skip Bayless.”

We’re still not sure where we fall on the continuum. At the least, young Austin is a living breathing sign of the times, another testament to the popularity and influence of this new-fangled InterWeb. So, go forth and socially-network you crazy millennials. Who knows, you could wind up with your mug on ESPN.

Oh yes, as a side note, based on a prior relationship I "adopted" the 'Horns as my favorite college football team a few years back given the void in the NYC metro area. This is B.S. So, bitch all you want, Mr. Talbert. We may even join your "Facebook group."

NFL Weekend Reveals Teams Are Who We Thought They Were

Photo: Mlive.com

"They are who we thought they were! They are who we thought they were!"

Denny Green's words seemed to sum up my thoughts on the NFL holiday weekend slate and results. I don't engage in fantasy sports of any kind, but I am in one pool where you pick every game each week against the spread. There are all sorts of ways to get paid, however, the big bucks come for those near the top of the heap overall at season's end.

Good news? I was sitting at fifth heading into this week. Bad news? If anything, my standing should fall a bit, as I'm 7-8 heading into tonight's Monday night affair. Gotta make a move. Gotta make a move. Regardless of my mediocrity this week, hindsight is remarkably clear. And, the more we look at it, nothing should really be that surprising.

A rapid-fire whirl around the League complete with recent performances and how they simply prove those squads are what we thought they were (or should've known they were):

My beloved New York Jets are who we thought they were...a much improved team that is not ready to be mentioned in the same sentence with "elite" anything. Their defense looked reminiscent of last year's porous crew, and the offense just wasn't in sync. Crappy performance, plain and simple.

The Denver Broncos are who we thought they were...a young-as-heck up-and-down team that can score with anyone provided their line gives Cutler a chance to sit back there and fire away, which is exactly what they did yesterday. Continuing the tradition of stick-anyone-back-there-and-zone-block, former fullback Peyton Hillis galloped for 129 yards through freeway-sized holes. Gag me with a spoon, but I do sorta get the Favre-Cutler comparisons. Just sayin...

The Tennesse Titans are who we thought they were...the best team in the AFC based on great coaching, strong running game and terrific defense. At the same time, it is still Kerry Collins behind center and an average crop of pass-catchers. Still, if Trent Dilfer...

The Detroit Lions are who we've always thought they were...an embarrassment. I would say Marinelli needs to go, and he probably does, but I'm not really sure a HOF coach could do much. Just putting on that uniform seems to be a recipe for disaster.

The Dallas Cowboys are who we thought they were...dangerous. Explosive with Romo. Frightening when he and T.O. are clicking, Barber is running and Witten is catching. I think the talent is there to be a factor in the postseason. Question is whether they can get there. Status of D. Ware will be big.

The Seattle Seahawks are...OK, you know what, they're not. I don't get this one that much. I really don't. This week I picked Dallas to cover a big spread, but almost every other week I've found myself questioning whether Seattle really is that bad. I guess they are, doesn't mean I get it.

The Philadelphia Eagles are who we thought they were...I think. Their Thursday thrashing of Arizona completed my 3-0 Thursday. To me, this was the no-brainer of the week. Donovan with something to prove...Arizona with a long trip East...national television (sort of). I just didn't see the Cardinals coming into the Linc and leaving division champs. Is this a one-week mirage, though? My gut is that the Philly is going to come out and give the G-Men a much better run than the 'Skins just did. We shall see.

The Dolphins AWWTTW...playing smart football, solid defense, all with Chad "The Ultimate Game Manager" at the helm. This team could go 9-7. If that happens, they'll likely miss the playoffs but that doesn't change the fact that Tony Sparano is the indisputable NFL Coach of the Year. Or is Mike Smith? Damn it, why is nothing straightforward anymore?

The Rams...stink. Better with Steven Jackson but still very stinky.

The Bucs AWWTTW...well-coached with a still-stingy defense and a painfully adequate offense. A recipe for another 10-win season and early round playoff exit.

The Saints...actually surprised me their performance in Tampa. We thought they would get thoroughly handled on the road. When you're leading rusher is Pierre Thomas with 34 yards, you live with Brees and die with Brees. He's carried that team all year but three picks against the Bucs down there isn't going to get it done.

The Ravens...are better than we thought they were. Yes, it was the Bengals. But, if Flacco doesn't throw the ball to the other team, this Baltimore team reminds me a lot of the Titans. I'd want no part of the Ravens in December.

The Bengals...have officially mailed in the season. Adios, Marvin.

Carolina...we're still just not sure. Call us cynical.

Pack...painfully average, although we really like Rodgers despite his mistakes.

Indy...we're not sure what this team is all about.

Cleveland...ditto.

Buffalo...WTF!? Home against the Niners and fighting for your playoff lives and that's who you come out and play? Apparently, these are the same old Bills. Maybe a little premature on the contract extension for Jauron?

The Redskins AWWTTW...above average, but not by a whole lot. Portis plays his ass off every week. Until Campbell proves himself to be anything more than a mediocre NFL QB, Washington isn't making much noise.

The Giants AWWTTW.

The Chargers...have Norv as their head coach.

The Atlanta Falcons are not who we thought they were...they're the real deal. And when we say real deal, we don't mean Super Bowl contenders. We do mean a legit playoff team and one that can go on the road and win. Something we didn't expect from them.

KC and Oakland AWWTTW...but we admit to not giving Tyler Thigpen his fair shakes.

The Stillers AWWTTW...that doesn't mean that I like how Big Ben is playing. Don't see this team making another run like they did a few years back.

The Pats AWWTTW...we were waiting to claim that they were their old selves again if Cassell could perform adequately against a tough defense, even at home. He did not. They are not.

Da Bears AWWTTW...why I chose them to cover last night is an excellent question for which I have no answer. They never seem to play well in domes, and I made the misstep of thinking Kyle Orton is something he isn't.

The Vikings AWWTTW...sub in Favre for Frerotte and Super Bowl talk wouldn't be out of the question, right? Regardless, I think Gus has done a pretty admirable job. Another scary team. AD is a freak, and we love him.

That's all I've got, team. Until later...