The Mets are actually doing something right! I am no Mets fan, can't turn my back on my Yankees, but I am very happy for the Mets making a little imprint on this season so far. They are winning, and getting all of their die hard fans excited. Being a NewYorker, I can proudly say that they aren't embarrassing us yet.
If they keep up the good work, maybe I can finally get myself out to their new stadium, Citifield, and cheer on the underdogs. I hear it is beautiful there, and it is much closer than the long hike to the Yankees Stadium.
Good luck Mets! You are a New York team after all, give us a good name.
stephanie
Monday, April 25, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
So Long Knicks...
The drought of playoff wins at Madisson Square Garden continues for the New York Knicks.
In two home games that felt more like practice for the visiting Boston Celtics the Knicks wer swept out of the NBA playoffs. It wasn't supposed to be this way considering the Knicks almost took both Games 1 & 2 in Boston.
This was supposed to be the revival of the Garden. The statement was supposed to be that the Knicks were ready to contend for an NBA title with Carmelo Anthony & Amar'e Stoudemire leading the charge. Instead it became a statement of how far away they were from contention. Now this sweep can be handicapped by the fact that the Knicks lost Chauncey Billups near the end of Game 1, but thi isn't the story. The Celtics treated this series like it was a scrimmage. They never saw the Knicks as a threat and treated them that way.
Now with being bounced from the playoffs the Knicks will have to do a lot of soul searching. They have to decide on keeping both Donnie Walsh and Billups, on how to inprove a depleted bench, and if they have enough to even try to go after Chris Paul.
For now though, so long Knicks. The next series for Celtics (most likely the Miami Heat) will show whether they were that good in this round or whether the Knicks were that bad.
In two home games that felt more like practice for the visiting Boston Celtics the Knicks wer swept out of the NBA playoffs. It wasn't supposed to be this way considering the Knicks almost took both Games 1 & 2 in Boston.
This was supposed to be the revival of the Garden. The statement was supposed to be that the Knicks were ready to contend for an NBA title with Carmelo Anthony & Amar'e Stoudemire leading the charge. Instead it became a statement of how far away they were from contention. Now this sweep can be handicapped by the fact that the Knicks lost Chauncey Billups near the end of Game 1, but thi isn't the story. The Celtics treated this series like it was a scrimmage. They never saw the Knicks as a threat and treated them that way.
Now with being bounced from the playoffs the Knicks will have to do a lot of soul searching. They have to decide on keeping both Donnie Walsh and Billups, on how to inprove a depleted bench, and if they have enough to even try to go after Chris Paul.
For now though, so long Knicks. The next series for Celtics (most likely the Miami Heat) will show whether they were that good in this round or whether the Knicks were that bad.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Oh Barry.
Accused of lying about his steroid usage, in 2003! I understand the problem with using steroids, frankly it deteriorates the integrity of the game. But how can you go back in time and take that back? You can't! Why slander someones name years after and put him through hell because of a mistake in the past.
Everyone has skeletons in their closet. Do what you must to him, try to keep it private. That's all. When the final decision is made, and all of the rumors die down Bonds will make his statement of apology, I'm sure. Then the news will be all over the tabloids. Because there are rumors and accusations I do not agree with following them as if it is truthful.
Stephanie Ida
Everyone has skeletons in their closet. Do what you must to him, try to keep it private. That's all. When the final decision is made, and all of the rumors die down Bonds will make his statement of apology, I'm sure. Then the news will be all over the tabloids. Because there are rumors and accusations I do not agree with following them as if it is truthful.
Stephanie Ida
Sunday, April 10, 2011
: Charl Schwartzel wins Masters!!
This Master's golf Tournament was probally one of the most memorable Masters in several years. there were four major stories to talk about.
1. Rory Mcllroy implodes-After Rory McIlroy brought a 4-shot lead into the final round, the lead evaporated within just about 2 holes. Rory, who would eventually shoot 80, looked like a deer in headlights and could never get untracked. We’ve seen this happen before to final round leaders–Dustin Johnson, Nick Watney, Jason Gore–but it’s always painful to watch. The worst was on the 10th hole, where Rory duck hooked the ball into a tree, causing a ricochet of the ball in between 2 houses near the golf course. There’s no out of bounds apparently, so Rory had to hit the ball from in between the 2 houses. Rory couldn’t recover from behind the houses and ended up triple bogeying. That was all she wrote for Rory–only he had to play 8 more excruciating holes on his way to a back nine 43.
Rory McIlroy between 2 houses after bad drive on 10th hole at Augusta
2. Tiger charges with a 31 on the front nine but fails down the stretch: While Rory McIlroy was imploding, Tiger Woods made a massive comeback and actually was tied for the lead at -10 at one point. With the back nine (which is supposed to be the easier nine) still ahead of him and the most momentum of anyone on the course, Tiger seem poised for his 15th major victory. But Tiger three-putted the short par-3 12th for bogey–which took some steam out of his round. His putter seemed to sputter from there. Tiger clawed his way back with a decent eagle-look from 8 feet away on the 15th, but Tiger’s putt lipped out. He had to settle for birdie, the last he would make. That was it for Tiger.
3. Adam Scott and Jason Day come within a shot: Then for a stretch it looked like Adam Scott would win. He had the outright lead for a couple holes at -11 and then -12. We should also mention fellow Aussie Geoff Ogilvy who birdied 5 straight holes to tie Tiger’s finish at -10. Meanwhile, Adam Scott’s playing partner and fellow Aussie Jason Day birdied the last 2 holes to tie Scott at -12. But by then, Charl Schwartzel had taken the lead.
4. Charles Schwartzel birdies last 4 holes to win: Back-to-back-to-back-to-back birdies–wow! Charl also holed out on the third hole and chipped in at the first hole. So it was his day!! Congrats, Charl!!
1. Rory Mcllroy implodes-After Rory McIlroy brought a 4-shot lead into the final round, the lead evaporated within just about 2 holes. Rory, who would eventually shoot 80, looked like a deer in headlights and could never get untracked. We’ve seen this happen before to final round leaders–Dustin Johnson, Nick Watney, Jason Gore–but it’s always painful to watch. The worst was on the 10th hole, where Rory duck hooked the ball into a tree, causing a ricochet of the ball in between 2 houses near the golf course. There’s no out of bounds apparently, so Rory had to hit the ball from in between the 2 houses. Rory couldn’t recover from behind the houses and ended up triple bogeying. That was all she wrote for Rory–only he had to play 8 more excruciating holes on his way to a back nine 43.
Rory McIlroy between 2 houses after bad drive on 10th hole at Augusta
2. Tiger charges with a 31 on the front nine but fails down the stretch: While Rory McIlroy was imploding, Tiger Woods made a massive comeback and actually was tied for the lead at -10 at one point. With the back nine (which is supposed to be the easier nine) still ahead of him and the most momentum of anyone on the course, Tiger seem poised for his 15th major victory. But Tiger three-putted the short par-3 12th for bogey–which took some steam out of his round. His putter seemed to sputter from there. Tiger clawed his way back with a decent eagle-look from 8 feet away on the 15th, but Tiger’s putt lipped out. He had to settle for birdie, the last he would make. That was it for Tiger.
3. Adam Scott and Jason Day come within a shot: Then for a stretch it looked like Adam Scott would win. He had the outright lead for a couple holes at -11 and then -12. We should also mention fellow Aussie Geoff Ogilvy who birdied 5 straight holes to tie Tiger’s finish at -10. Meanwhile, Adam Scott’s playing partner and fellow Aussie Jason Day birdied the last 2 holes to tie Scott at -12. But by then, Charl Schwartzel had taken the lead.
4. Charles Schwartzel birdies last 4 holes to win: Back-to-back-to-back-to-back birdies–wow! Charl also holed out on the third hole and chipped in at the first hole. So it was his day!! Congrats, Charl!!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Mets can't escape Madoff aura
By: Dan
The New York Mets have a lot going of issues to deal with in the 2011 season. A new manager in Terry Collins who's been out of Major League Baseball for almost a decade. The team's ace Johan Santana is once again starting the season on the disabled list. Their closer Francisco Rodriguez is still with the team after a turbulent end to last season involving a domestic abuse incident. All these events will work themselves out with time but one incident will haunt the team for at least the entire season.
That is the ties between the team's owner Fred Wilpon and disgraced Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff.
Wilpon is currently a party in a sealed lawsuit brought by former trustees that invested with Madoff at the behest of Wilpon. The suit alleges that the close business ties between Wilpon & Madoff would suggest that Wilpon must have known of his friend's fraudulent operation. The main part of their relationship involved Wilpon investing deffered amounts of long-term contracts of players like Bobby Bonilla with Madoff.
This lawsuit along with allegations that Madoff provided money for luxury suites in Citi Field, the new home of the Mets, has brought unwanted attention to both MLB and the team. The lawsuit is so prevelant that it had to be addressed by the team's television play-by-play team during the first game of the season.
This will continue for a long time. When a team's ownership is involved with a man that destroyed the financial lives of individuals, businesses, and charities it may never go away.
The New York Mets have a lot going of issues to deal with in the 2011 season. A new manager in Terry Collins who's been out of Major League Baseball for almost a decade. The team's ace Johan Santana is once again starting the season on the disabled list. Their closer Francisco Rodriguez is still with the team after a turbulent end to last season involving a domestic abuse incident. All these events will work themselves out with time but one incident will haunt the team for at least the entire season.
That is the ties between the team's owner Fred Wilpon and disgraced Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff.
Wilpon is currently a party in a sealed lawsuit brought by former trustees that invested with Madoff at the behest of Wilpon. The suit alleges that the close business ties between Wilpon & Madoff would suggest that Wilpon must have known of his friend's fraudulent operation. The main part of their relationship involved Wilpon investing deffered amounts of long-term contracts of players like Bobby Bonilla with Madoff.
This lawsuit along with allegations that Madoff provided money for luxury suites in Citi Field, the new home of the Mets, has brought unwanted attention to both MLB and the team. The lawsuit is so prevelant that it had to be addressed by the team's television play-by-play team during the first game of the season.
This will continue for a long time. When a team's ownership is involved with a man that destroyed the financial lives of individuals, businesses, and charities it may never go away.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Tiger back to his Old Swing Coach
Tiger has returned back to Butch Harmon, his swing coach under which he had the most success. For those of you who dont know, Butch Harmon is the most well know best golf teaching prfessional in the Golf Industry and has helped Tiger perfect his swing through out several years of his golfing career. This after spending less than a year with controversial new swing coach Sean Foley who has changed tigers swing in the last year and six years with Hank Haney who has taugh tiger in previous years.
A statement from Woods: “I’d be a fool–a complete fool–not to go back to Butch. Let’s face it, I made a mistake, a big mistake in ever leaving Butch. No slight to Hank or Sean, I love them both like cousins, but I just trusted my swing the most with Butch. And the results weren’t bad, either.” I love the idea of Tiger going back to Butch Harmon, but this is a really risky move right before the Masters. Seriously, how can Tiger expect to unlearn, in one weekend, the swing taught by Sean Foley over the past 9 months and the bad habits developed under Hank Haney for 6 years? So why would Tiger take this risk on the eve of the Masters? Is he that desperate with his swing?
Also I wonder what Phil Mickelson, Butch’s star pupil, had to say about this. Lefty probably thinks this all is a bad joke. But I am ecstatic to hear that Tiger Woods finally has come to his senses! If anyone can pull off a revamp of a swing in a weekend before the Masters, it’s Tiger–and Butch! Only time will tell if it was the right decision and I am curious to see how well he will do in the up and coming tournaments.
A statement from Woods: “I’d be a fool–a complete fool–not to go back to Butch. Let’s face it, I made a mistake, a big mistake in ever leaving Butch. No slight to Hank or Sean, I love them both like cousins, but I just trusted my swing the most with Butch. And the results weren’t bad, either.” I love the idea of Tiger going back to Butch Harmon, but this is a really risky move right before the Masters. Seriously, how can Tiger expect to unlearn, in one weekend, the swing taught by Sean Foley over the past 9 months and the bad habits developed under Hank Haney for 6 years? So why would Tiger take this risk on the eve of the Masters? Is he that desperate with his swing?
Also I wonder what Phil Mickelson, Butch’s star pupil, had to say about this. Lefty probably thinks this all is a bad joke. But I am ecstatic to hear that Tiger Woods finally has come to his senses! If anyone can pull off a revamp of a swing in a weekend before the Masters, it’s Tiger–and Butch! Only time will tell if it was the right decision and I am curious to see how well he will do in the up and coming tournaments.
Friday, April 1, 2011
opening day
After the Yankees won their first regular season game yesterday, they look pretty solid. I believe that the Yanks could still be very dominating down the stretch. Everything was working for them yesterday, from their offense to the their lights out bullpen. Teixeira and Granderson went deep yesterday to boost the Yanks for six runs. Sabathia was also impressive, going to six innings and giving up three runs. Finally their bullpen was lights out. Chamberlain came in for C.C. in the 7th and was dominating, then newcomer Rafael Soriano came in for the 8th inning to set up Mariano Rivera on yet another save.
stephanie--
stephanie--
Sunday, March 27, 2011
How 'The U' & 'The Fab Five' expose the NCAA
By: Dan
ESPN over the past two years has produced a series of documentaries dubbed '30 for 30' in light of being on the air since 1979. The entire series has been praised throughout the television industry for its detail in some of the sporting world's biggest events.
Two of these documentaries have stood out in particular. One is 'The U' which highlighted the rise of the University of Miami (FL) football program into a powerhouse. The other is 'The Fab Five' which showed the journey of the 1991-1995 University of Michigan mens basketball team featuring players like Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, & Jalen Rose.
While both films revolve around two different sports programs in two different universities something ties them both together. That something is the fact that both films show the NCAA & those unversities have benefited financially from these programs while the players themselves didn't reap those same benefits. Each film highlights this hypocricy is its own way.
On 'The U' players such as Bennie Blades & Tolbert Bain spoke about how they saw UM build new buildings for academics mainly using money coming in from the success of the football program. Another former player, Steve Walsh, spoke about seeing star players on the team dressed as burglars going out to steal car stereos just to make pocket change. Then there is the stories of players being paid by Luther Campbell, a rap mogul and current candidate for Mayor of Miami-Dade County, in order for the player to not commit crimes for money.
On 'The Fab Five' the players spoke about how the general public viewed them as living rock star lifestyles when they actually lived meagerly. Jalen Rose, who is an executive producer of the film, recounts walking around a mall and seeing a pair of Nike sneakers on the window being sold as 'the Fab Five Nike.' To Rose that showed him how much they were losing out financially while other interests gained form his success. The most blunt tale came from journalist Mitch Albom who wrote a book about the Fab Five. He told a story of him following Chris Webber in which the young man asked him for money to put gas in his car. While walking around a strip mall Webber saw that a store was selling his Michigan jersey for $75. Webber then told Albom about the price of the jersey and how had to ask for gas money while others profited from him.
These are just a few examples of how the NCAA exploits student-athletes for billions of dollars while the players are barely making ends meet. These two films should be a rallying call for student-athletes to fight to get their fair share of the pie.
ESPN over the past two years has produced a series of documentaries dubbed '30 for 30' in light of being on the air since 1979. The entire series has been praised throughout the television industry for its detail in some of the sporting world's biggest events.
Two of these documentaries have stood out in particular. One is 'The U' which highlighted the rise of the University of Miami (FL) football program into a powerhouse. The other is 'The Fab Five' which showed the journey of the 1991-1995 University of Michigan mens basketball team featuring players like Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, & Jalen Rose.
While both films revolve around two different sports programs in two different universities something ties them both together. That something is the fact that both films show the NCAA & those unversities have benefited financially from these programs while the players themselves didn't reap those same benefits. Each film highlights this hypocricy is its own way.
On 'The U' players such as Bennie Blades & Tolbert Bain spoke about how they saw UM build new buildings for academics mainly using money coming in from the success of the football program. Another former player, Steve Walsh, spoke about seeing star players on the team dressed as burglars going out to steal car stereos just to make pocket change. Then there is the stories of players being paid by Luther Campbell, a rap mogul and current candidate for Mayor of Miami-Dade County, in order for the player to not commit crimes for money.
On 'The Fab Five' the players spoke about how the general public viewed them as living rock star lifestyles when they actually lived meagerly. Jalen Rose, who is an executive producer of the film, recounts walking around a mall and seeing a pair of Nike sneakers on the window being sold as 'the Fab Five Nike.' To Rose that showed him how much they were losing out financially while other interests gained form his success. The most blunt tale came from journalist Mitch Albom who wrote a book about the Fab Five. He told a story of him following Chris Webber in which the young man asked him for money to put gas in his car. While walking around a strip mall Webber saw that a store was selling his Michigan jersey for $75. Webber then told Albom about the price of the jersey and how had to ask for gas money while others profited from him.
These are just a few examples of how the NCAA exploits student-athletes for billions of dollars while the players are barely making ends meet. These two films should be a rallying call for student-athletes to fight to get their fair share of the pie.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
What is it with obnoxious fans?
I am an avid fan of certain sports teams, however, I absolutely despise those fans that live, breathe, and bleed 'their' team. Just like religion, to each is own! You root for your team, and I'll root for mine; what
is your problem that you feel compelled to push your team down my throat? I do not judge if you're a fan of a terrible team, cough Boston, and I will not rub it in your face that my team is better, in certain circumstances, so leave me be. I went to a sports bar the other night, and the most obnoxious and beligerent guys,dressed in their favorite jerseys,were screaming at a complete stranger because they did not like the team he was representing.
What type of fan are you, that it makes it okay for you to be a jerk towards any person who enjoys cheering on an underdog or stellar team? There are people that enjoy getting their hopes up every year then being let down when it comes to crunch time (sorry, Jets).
If you cannot accept that everyone has their own opinion and it is none of your business,nor does it effect you...then stop going out into public! Please and thank you.
Stephanie--
is your problem that you feel compelled to push your team down my throat? I do not judge if you're a fan of a terrible team, cough Boston, and I will not rub it in your face that my team is better, in certain circumstances, so leave me be. I went to a sports bar the other night, and the most obnoxious and beligerent guys,dressed in their favorite jerseys,were screaming at a complete stranger because they did not like the team he was representing.
What type of fan are you, that it makes it okay for you to be a jerk towards any person who enjoys cheering on an underdog or stellar team? There are people that enjoy getting their hopes up every year then being let down when it comes to crunch time (sorry, Jets).
If you cannot accept that everyone has their own opinion and it is none of your business,nor does it effect you...then stop going out into public! Please and thank you.
Stephanie--
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Yanks upgrade their bullpen
This year the New York Yankees have upgrading their bullpen with new addition such as Rafael Soriano and lefty specialist Pedro Feliciano. With these additions the Yanks will seem to be more confident down the stretch in the 6th inning onward. With Damaso Marte already a lefty specialist that can handle left handed batters left in the game, the Yankees can now depend on another southpaw from the pen to handle tight situations against lefties. The Yankees bullpen has dramatically improved and I predict will definitely be a major strength for them throughout the season.
Stephanie--
Stephanie--
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Here Comes The Lockout!
By: Dan
Well, it has happened.
The long feared NFL collective bargaining stalemate has arrived. With it comes the risk of no football in 2011. While the NFL draft will still go on as scheduled on April 28 the rookies being selected won't know if they will actually report to the franchises that selected them.
These along with other fears that raise the specter of the cancellation of the 1994 World Series has football fans in a frenzy. The general public on the other had isn't as worried and has considered this to be a battle between billionares & millionares. That is not the case at all.
Sure the primary combatants are the owners and the players, but there are other casualties of this battle. They are the stadium vendors, maintanance crews, city governments, restaurants, and sports bars surrounding the stadiums. Football is the most popular sport in the country and as such provides a lot of revenue to all the aforementioned groups. With no football being played that revenue is lost. While a stadium can host concerts and other events it will hard to bring those events to them. Event planners know in advance to not book a stadium during football season & to add them now would be a risky move.
Without any revenue to provide income the businesses surrounding the stadiums would be in financial limbo, especially in this recession. City & county governments would lose their revenue provided by a cut in parking fees. Maintanance crews would be without work and would have to be thrown into a bleak job pool.
It may seem like a fight between people that have a lot of money, but it's the people that depend on their entertainment who will be paying the price if this doesn't get resolved soon.
Well, it has happened.
The long feared NFL collective bargaining stalemate has arrived. With it comes the risk of no football in 2011. While the NFL draft will still go on as scheduled on April 28 the rookies being selected won't know if they will actually report to the franchises that selected them.
These along with other fears that raise the specter of the cancellation of the 1994 World Series has football fans in a frenzy. The general public on the other had isn't as worried and has considered this to be a battle between billionares & millionares. That is not the case at all.
Sure the primary combatants are the owners and the players, but there are other casualties of this battle. They are the stadium vendors, maintanance crews, city governments, restaurants, and sports bars surrounding the stadiums. Football is the most popular sport in the country and as such provides a lot of revenue to all the aforementioned groups. With no football being played that revenue is lost. While a stadium can host concerts and other events it will hard to bring those events to them. Event planners know in advance to not book a stadium during football season & to add them now would be a risky move.
Without any revenue to provide income the businesses surrounding the stadiums would be in financial limbo, especially in this recession. City & county governments would lose their revenue provided by a cut in parking fees. Maintanance crews would be without work and would have to be thrown into a bleak job pool.
It may seem like a fight between people that have a lot of money, but it's the people that depend on their entertainment who will be paying the price if this doesn't get resolved soon.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
How to get Cheap Front row Seats.
The 2011 NCAA March Madness college basketball tournament begins in under a week. While most fans sitting court-side in the first 8 rows will shell out lots of cash for their tickets, you don’t have to. Currently, March Madness 2011 sweet sixteen tickets in that area are going for $800 on ticket reseller sites like Stubhub and Ticket Networks. You don’t even need a dime to snatch those prime seats, just two important qualities – patience and humility.
First of getting a cheap ticket for a March Madness game requires patience. Lower level tickets will go to booster club members of the hosting team as well as the college basketball teams coming to March Madness.The worst upper level tickets are sold at the same price to local fans. Since you probably don’t have access to the booster tickets, don’t buy tickets on the initial sale at the top like my friend did. The week prior to the game the price of nosebleed tickets will drop faster than LeBron’s approval rating did. The resale value of March Madness 2011 tickets will follow a free market rather than a communistic one the NCAA sold under.
By having patience, those nosebleed seats will drop to $50 or so the week of the game. Last year I went with my friend and his father to the March Madness West regional sweet sixteen. We watched Butler upset Syracuse from the upper level. With about 3 minutes left in the game we worked our way down during time outs to the lower level portal by the Syracuse basketball fans. All I had left to do was show ask the gracious exiting Syracuse basketball fans for their ticket stub. In no time we scored 5 lower level tickets to use for the next game between Kansas St. and Xavier. Three of those tickets were on the 8th row behind Xavier’s bench!
So my lesson learned with my trip out to visit my friend was neer waste money on front row tickets when all you have to do is wait for the final few minutes of the game which r always the most exciting, and go sweet talk people walking out throwing out their stubs.
First of getting a cheap ticket for a March Madness game requires patience. Lower level tickets will go to booster club members of the hosting team as well as the college basketball teams coming to March Madness.The worst upper level tickets are sold at the same price to local fans. Since you probably don’t have access to the booster tickets, don’t buy tickets on the initial sale at the top like my friend did. The week prior to the game the price of nosebleed tickets will drop faster than LeBron’s approval rating did. The resale value of March Madness 2011 tickets will follow a free market rather than a communistic one the NCAA sold under.
By having patience, those nosebleed seats will drop to $50 or so the week of the game. Last year I went with my friend and his father to the March Madness West regional sweet sixteen. We watched Butler upset Syracuse from the upper level. With about 3 minutes left in the game we worked our way down during time outs to the lower level portal by the Syracuse basketball fans. All I had left to do was show ask the gracious exiting Syracuse basketball fans for their ticket stub. In no time we scored 5 lower level tickets to use for the next game between Kansas St. and Xavier. Three of those tickets were on the 8th row behind Xavier’s bench!
So my lesson learned with my trip out to visit my friend was neer waste money on front row tickets when all you have to do is wait for the final few minutes of the game which r always the most exciting, and go sweet talk people walking out throwing out their stubs.
Goodbye to the Old Yankees
This spring training, for Yankee fans, has been eventful.
Andy Petitte, a long-time starting pitcher for the Yankees, has retired; Catcher, Jorge Posada, has been assigned to a designated hitter, and no longer will be taking on the catching duties. Newcomer, Russell Martin and third year Francisco Cervelli will be taking over the duties behind the plate.
With Petitte's retirement, and the departure of starting pitcher Javier Vasquez, The New York Yankees have invited a few one time successful veterans to their spring training facilities, to try out for some vacant spots in their rotation. Freddy Garcia, who had success with the Seattle Mariners, has been invited, along with the former Dominican superstar and 2005 Cy Young Award winning Bartolo Colon. Rookie, Ivan Nova will also have a chance to compete for a starting role in the rotation. It will be interesting to see who will emerge as the victor.
The Yanks didn't stop at just the pitching staff, they also invited veterans Eric Chavez and Ronnie Belliard to the spring training camp, to fill in some utility work needed in the infield.
It will be a different look for the Yanks; however, there is still one quintessential goal for them:
bring home, to the city of New York, a world championship trophy!
--stephanie
Andy Petitte, a long-time starting pitcher for the Yankees, has retired; Catcher, Jorge Posada, has been assigned to a designated hitter, and no longer will be taking on the catching duties. Newcomer, Russell Martin and third year Francisco Cervelli will be taking over the duties behind the plate.
With Petitte's retirement, and the departure of starting pitcher Javier Vasquez, The New York Yankees have invited a few one time successful veterans to their spring training facilities, to try out for some vacant spots in their rotation. Freddy Garcia, who had success with the Seattle Mariners, has been invited, along with the former Dominican superstar and 2005 Cy Young Award winning Bartolo Colon. Rookie, Ivan Nova will also have a chance to compete for a starting role in the rotation. It will be interesting to see who will emerge as the victor.
The Yanks didn't stop at just the pitching staff, they also invited veterans Eric Chavez and Ronnie Belliard to the spring training camp, to fill in some utility work needed in the infield.
It will be a different look for the Yanks; however, there is still one quintessential goal for them:
bring home, to the city of New York, a world championship trophy!
--stephanie
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Selling your team's soul Isiah/Dolan style
By: Dan
Suddenly everyone in NYC is a Knick fan again.
With the signing of Amar'e Stoudemire and the acquisition of Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets the New York Knicks became fashionable once again. People that have hidden themselves under paper bags for a decade are now donning their blue & orange jerseys with their chests out. Barber shops no longer change the channel when Knick games come on. All five bouroughs are now flying the flag of their team for all to see.
So far they been rewarded with a 5-3 record since the team traded for Anthony along with Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter, Renaldo Balkman, and Shelden Williams. Unfortunately something is being lost in the euphoria of the Knicks being relevant in the NBA once again after the Anthony trade.
The fact is that the Anthony trade has the stench of Isiah Thomas all over it.
Now full disclosure here, I'm a long-time Miami Heat fan. That doesn't mean I'm going to trash the Knicks without merit simply because they are the Heat's most bitter rival. This trade however is just too obscene to ignore.
One would have to have been Helen Keller to not notice that Anthony made it clear that he wanted to play in New York. That put the Nuggets in a position where they either traded him or watched him walk away leaving them with nothing. It also gaves Knick General Manager Donnie Walsh time to undo the mess that Thomas left behind.
Walsh was doing a good job of building the Knicks from the ground up and had a plan once they lost out on LeBron James & Dwayne Wade. He zeroed in on Anthony but didn't want to pay too high a price for him & knew he could aquire him via free agency in the end. Suddenly though orders from above told him to get Anthony at all costs. Those orders were coming from owner James Dolan, but it was really the design of Thomas.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports in an article titled 'Thomas' influence grows within Knicks' went into great detail about how much weight Thomas still has with the Knicks by way of his cronies in the front office & being in Dolan's ear. Thomas has seduced Dolan to the point that he had Dolan completely humiliate Walsh and undermine his authority. Thomas has pushed for Walsh's plan to be imploded in order to get Anthony by pulling off his signature style of trade. That is vastly overpaying for a player that would have been aquired for less.
Whether it was Stephon Marbury, Eddie Curry, & now Anthony, a Thomas trade has always given more than needed to attain players. The most damaging currency has been in draft picks. In the Anthony trade the Knicks not only traded more draft picks away but also gave away four potential starters. The worst pieces given away were Raymond Felton and Danilo Galinari. Felton will be especially hurtful given that Billups won't stick around long.
So enjoy the euphoria Knick fans! Feel proud that your beloved franchise is relevant once again!
Just don't say you weren't warned when you realize that cost of this feeling is your team's soul.
If you want to read Wojnarowski's article here's the link:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-thomasknicks022011
Suddenly everyone in NYC is a Knick fan again.
With the signing of Amar'e Stoudemire and the acquisition of Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets the New York Knicks became fashionable once again. People that have hidden themselves under paper bags for a decade are now donning their blue & orange jerseys with their chests out. Barber shops no longer change the channel when Knick games come on. All five bouroughs are now flying the flag of their team for all to see.
So far they been rewarded with a 5-3 record since the team traded for Anthony along with Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter, Renaldo Balkman, and Shelden Williams. Unfortunately something is being lost in the euphoria of the Knicks being relevant in the NBA once again after the Anthony trade.
The fact is that the Anthony trade has the stench of Isiah Thomas all over it.
Now full disclosure here, I'm a long-time Miami Heat fan. That doesn't mean I'm going to trash the Knicks without merit simply because they are the Heat's most bitter rival. This trade however is just too obscene to ignore.
One would have to have been Helen Keller to not notice that Anthony made it clear that he wanted to play in New York. That put the Nuggets in a position where they either traded him or watched him walk away leaving them with nothing. It also gaves Knick General Manager Donnie Walsh time to undo the mess that Thomas left behind.
Walsh was doing a good job of building the Knicks from the ground up and had a plan once they lost out on LeBron James & Dwayne Wade. He zeroed in on Anthony but didn't want to pay too high a price for him & knew he could aquire him via free agency in the end. Suddenly though orders from above told him to get Anthony at all costs. Those orders were coming from owner James Dolan, but it was really the design of Thomas.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports in an article titled 'Thomas' influence grows within Knicks' went into great detail about how much weight Thomas still has with the Knicks by way of his cronies in the front office & being in Dolan's ear. Thomas has seduced Dolan to the point that he had Dolan completely humiliate Walsh and undermine his authority. Thomas has pushed for Walsh's plan to be imploded in order to get Anthony by pulling off his signature style of trade. That is vastly overpaying for a player that would have been aquired for less.
Whether it was Stephon Marbury, Eddie Curry, & now Anthony, a Thomas trade has always given more than needed to attain players. The most damaging currency has been in draft picks. In the Anthony trade the Knicks not only traded more draft picks away but also gave away four potential starters. The worst pieces given away were Raymond Felton and Danilo Galinari. Felton will be especially hurtful given that Billups won't stick around long.
So enjoy the euphoria Knick fans! Feel proud that your beloved franchise is relevant once again!
Just don't say you weren't warned when you realize that cost of this feeling is your team's soul.
If you want to read Wojnarowski's article here's the link:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-thomasknicks022011
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