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Ben Archives
When Omar Minaya was named Mets general manager following the 2004 campaign, he inherited a 71-91 club with a lackluster roster and low expectations. The prior regime lead by Jim Duquette (whose follies I chronicled in detail in an earlier piece) had set the organization back with a series of blunders headlined by trading pitching phenom Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano and stunting the growth of Jose Reyes, playing him out of position at 2B in favor of Kaz Matsui. Additionally, outside of two promising stars - Jose Reyes and David Wright - that had been recently promoted to the Majors, the cupboard was bare in the Mets minor league systems due to poor drafting and the mismanagement of prospects.
The arrival of Minaya ushered in a new era for the Mets. The Wilpons truly believed in Omar from the start and Fred Coupon, as many Mets fans had dubbed him, opened up his checkbook in 2005. The Mets landed two big time free agents in Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran to help sure up the team's starting pitching, lineup and team defense. In addition, young speedster Jose Reyes was moved back to his natural position at SS and flourished stealing 60 bases while his 3B counterpart David Wright enjoyed a breakout season belting 27 homeruns to go along with 102 RBIs and .306 batting average. Overall, the Mets improved 12 games in 2005, going 83-79 and the expectations going into the 2006 season were the highest since 2000.
The 2006 New York Mets were projected to be a serious contender for the NL crown before the season began but the questions lingered regarding the strength of the Mets pitching staff and whether Jose Reyes and David Wright could repeat/build upon their 2005 performances. However, as the season wore on the team's play silenced the critics and the Mets established themselves as the clear favorite to represent the NL in the World Series. The Mets nearly went wire to wire in the NL East, compiling 97 wins and winning the division by 12 games in what was the most dominant regular season performance by the franchise in 20 years.
Much of the credit for the team's 2006 success has to go to Omar Minaya as this was his finest hour as Mets general manager. Minaya pulled off a series of savvy moves in the offseason and during the regular season, improving the team exponentially each time. The most heavily publicized move was the signing of Billy Wagner which finally gave the Mets a bonafide closer and solidified the bullpen.
While the Wagner signing was essential, Minaya's true genius was on full display in his trade acquisitions. Minaya did some extensive shopping at the Marlins fire sale, coming away with first baseman Carlos Delgado and veteran catcher Paul Lo Duca for next to nothing. Then he landed unheralded outfielder Xavier Nady from the Padres in exchange for a disgruntled Mike Cameron. Delgado, Nady and Lo Duca would all enjoy solid 2006 campaigns and help make the Mets lineup one of the more dynamic in baseball.
Minaya's best work on the trading front came in a series of 4 deals between January and the trade deadline which helped to bolster the pitching staff in 2006 and beyond. One of the more under the radar moves was completed on January 4th, 2006 trading Jae Seo at the peak of his value for young reliever Duaner Sanchez. Sanchez would go on to open the season with 21 scoreless innings while Seo struggled mightily in LA and was eventually dealt to Tampa. Sanchez became a key cog in the Mets bullpen and his season ending shoulder injury sustained in a cab accident would hurt the team's chances immensely come playoff time.
On January 21st, the Mets and Orioles completed a deal that sent Kris Benson to Baltimore for Jorge Julio and John Maine. That deal was followed by a trade on May 24th shipping Julio to Arizona for Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez. The final deal came at the trade deadline on July 31st as the Mets landed Oliver Perez and Roberto Hernandez from the Pirates in exchange for Xavier Nady. These moves helped the Mets advance to the 2006 NLCS after a string of injuries ended the seasons of Pedro Martinez, El Duque and Duaner Sanchez. Further, Maine, Perez and Hernandez continue to be fixtures in the Mets' rotation while Sanchez will help bolster the Mets pen with his return in 2008.
2006 ended with a disappointing NLCS loss in 7 games to the St. Louis Cardinals and much of the blame went to the injuries that depleted the staff down the stretch. Entering 2007, the Mets were the odds on favorite to take home the NL. The team returned a similar lineup and pitching staff with the exception of Pedro Martinez who would be out until August and was looked upon as the perfect storm of veterans and youngsters, poised to make a serious championship run.
The Mets did make a few signings, bringing in Moises Alou to bolster then lineup and Scott Schoeneweis as a lefty arm out of the pen. However, Minaya's 2006 trading magic did not carry over in 2007 as deals which included relievers Henry Owens, Matt Lindstrom, Heath Bell and starter Brian Bannister yielded low returns and hurt the team's depth. The deadline deal for Luis Castillo was the lone win for Minaya, as it gave the team a veteran 2B and #2 hitter.
The 2007 Mets also encountered injuries, but this time the team counted on some of their prospects to pick up the slack. Lastings Milledge and Carlos Gomez filled in admirably in the outfield while 2006 draft pick Joe Smith did a great job out of the pen. In addition, 2007 Oliver Perez and John Maine established themselves as solid starters each winning 15 games.
By now, the Mets demise in 2007 have been clearly documented. The team lead the NL East for a majority of the season and entered the final 17 games with a 7 game lead over the Phillies before experiencing a monumental collapse. The Mets fall from grace concluded in emphatic fashion with an 8-1 drubbing at the hands of the Marlins in front of a sellout crowd at Shea.
The wounds inflicted by "The Collapse" are deep and Mets fans have experienced a tumultuous winter. However, the arrival of Venezuela's prodigal son and a clean bill of health for the man who goes by the name of Pedro have revitalized the fan base and more importantly raised the team's spirits. Rather than dwelling on the past, the Mets and their fans are looking forward to 2008 with one of the best clubs they have ever fielded.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of the 2008 New York Mets Team Preview focusing on the upcoming season.
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 The New York football Giants just completed hands down the greatest playoff run in NFL history and one that will never be topped. Since the inception of the wild card round in 1970, 9 wild card teams (including the Giants) have beat the odds and made it to the Superbowl. Five of those 9 teams went on to win the Superbowl however, three enjoyed a home game in the opening wild card round - eliminating them from consideration for the greatest run. That leaves the 2007 New York Giants and 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers as the only teams to win 3 road games en route to becoming champions of the football world.
The Steelers certainly had a tough road to reach Superbowl XL, beating divisional rival Cincinnati in a hostile wild card round matchup before upsetting Indy at the RCA dome and Denver at INVESCO field. However, Pittsburgh's run is hurt by the fact that they avoided facing the defending champion Patriots and were actually 3.5 point favorites in the Superbowl against a solid but far from dominant Seattle Seahawks squad.
While Pittsburgh's run could be described more as destiny given that Superbowl XL was played in Jerome Bettis' hometown on the heels of his retirement, the Giants run can summed up in one word: improbable. The improbability of what occured is not merely about the team's superb play or the outstanding performances from unexpected sources. The true historical brilliance of the Giants run from an afterthought in the NFC to Superbowl champions is a product of three things:
1) How the playoff picture played out.
2) The significance of the opponents beaten.
3) The circumstances under which the Giants prevailed.
When I say the Giants playoff run will never be topped, I am not saying another wild card team can't run the table and defeat the top 2 seeds in their conference then proceed to beat the NFL's best overall team in the Superbowl. In the modern age of NFL parity, there is a distinct possibility this could happen again in the next 5-10 years. My point is that no team will ever have the oppurtunity to overcome a greater set of odds on their way to a Superbowl championship. Let's take a look back at the Giants playoff run and highlight significance of each win:
Wild Card Round - Tampa Bay Bucaneers & Jeff Garcia
The Bucs and Giants don't have much of a history; however, the Giants and Jeff Garcia sure do. Garcia's heroics led to the greatest Giants meltdown of the modern era, a 39-38 loss at San Francisco in the wild card round of the 2002-03 playoffs. Garcia continued to haunt the Giants as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles last year, beating them in the regular season at Giants Stadium before knocking them out of the playoffs. The Giants began their championship run by exacting revenge on their old nemesis leading to a date with his partner in crime.
Divisional Round - Dallas Cowboys & Terrell Owens
The Dallas Cowboys had beaten the Giants twice in the regular season and put up gaudy offensive numbers against the big blue defense both times. They entered the game loaded on both sides of the ball, well-rested and armed with Giants killer Terrell Owens. TO was a key cog in the Giants' demise at San Francisco and continued to drop monster numbers and L's on them as a member of the Eagles and Cowboys. New York would make the third time a charm against Dallas, riding two Amani Toomer touchdowns and a great defensive effort to a narrow 21-17 win. After the game, a sobbing TO confessed his love for his QB and the Giants were off to frigid Green Bay.
NFC Championship Game - Green Bay Packers - Ice Bowl Revisited
After knocking off the NFC's #1 seed, the Giants prepared to play 2007's team of destiny, Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay had earned a home game by way of Dallas' surprising loss and the script couldn't have been laid out any better for Favre. The Packers had dismantled the Giants in week 2, beating them 35-13 in Giants Stadium and now got an opportunity to face them at the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, a place where Brett Favre has been more or less invincible over his career. The game that would go down as 3rd coldest in NFL history when temps hit -4 degrees, would end on a 47 yard FG by Lawrence Tynes - the first opposing kicker to make a 40+ yard field goal at Lambeau field in the playoffs, EVER.
Superbowl XLII - New England Patriots On The Brink Of Perfection
New England had become the first team to ever reach the 18-0 mark following a win against the San Diego Chargers and now all that stood in the way of the first perfect campaign in the modern era was the New York Giants. Like the Cowboys and Packers before them, the Patriots had also beaten the Giants in the week17, a win that clinched the first 16-0 regualr season in NFL history. While the Patriots entered on the brink of perfection, the Giants were in the midst of becoming a dubious footnote to the Patriots brilliance. There was a very real possibility that the two biggest wins of the Patriots season, 16 and 19 would be at the expense of New York. Well, that wasn't to be the case as the 12 point underdogs pulled a rousing upset stunning the Pats 17-14.
OK, let's recap here at what transpired in these four games:
- Defeated Jeff Garcia and Terrell Owens in the playoffs for the first time ever.
- Beat the Cowboys in Dallas after losing twice to them in the regular season.
- Participated in the third coldest game in NFL history.
- Beat Brett Favre at Lambeau Field.
- Lawrence Tynes became first kicker to ever make a 40+ yard field goal at Lambeau Field in the postseason.
- Ended the Patriots bid to become first team to go a perfect 19-0 in the modern era, defeating them in the Superbowl after opening as 14 point underdogs.
- Overall, won 3 straight conference playoff games on the road, defeated top two seeds in conference and an undefeated team in the Superbowl.
When you add up the improbable nature of the run based on low expectations attached to the team's playoff prospects, the Giants' youthful exuberance and the magnitude of the obstacles overcome, it is safe to say that as Giants fans or may be even sports fans in general, we will never experience anything remotely close to the events of January 6th through February 3rd, 2008.
Cherish this moment big blue faithful because championships like this are often won once in a lifetime.
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Being a Mets and Giants fan, I don't concern myself with the New England sports scene. I was too young to remember Mookie Wilson's grounder roll through Bill Buckner's legs, effectively ripping the hearts out of Red Sox nation and placing a dark cloud of despair over an area stretching from Rhode Island to Maine. Living in New York and being friends with numerous avid Yankee fans I've been an outside observer to the ferocious New York-Boston rivalry, but have never had the opportunity to participate first hand.
Fast forward to last Sunday as the Giants lead by a cast of improbable heroes including a QB who was a draft bust as recently as week 15, a cornerback left for dead on the bench mid-season and a WR braving the -4 degree temps with a busted ankle, knee and pinky took down mighty Brett Favre in Lambeau in an overtime thriller for the ages. As journeyman Lawrence Tynes joined the history books becoming the first kicker to successfully make a 40+ yard field goal at Lambeau in the postseason, (it was a 47 yard FG to be exact) I lay on my living room floor hands raised to the heavens when it dawned on me: very fittingly, it was up to New York to derail the perfect season once again.
We have been there before. It was week 17 and the Giants had been given the thankless task of stopping New England's quest for the first ever 16-0 season. All week the questions loomed: Would the Giants play their starters in what was a meaningless game a week before the wild card round of the playoffs? If the starters began the game how long would they play? Would head coach Tom Coughlin be willing to risk injury to deny Tom Brady and Bill Belichick the NFL's first look at true 16 game regular season perfection?
Three road playoff wins and a Superbowl berth later and the Giants' on-field performance speaks louder than words. Tom Coughlin did in fact play his starters for the entire game and while New England achieved perfection that fateful night in East Rutherford, NJ, the Giants valiant effort and spirited play gave them the added confidence needed to get by the best the NFC has to offer and move onward to Arizona.
On February 3rd, the Giants and Patriots meet one more time in Superbowl XLII and I am prepared to say that a New York win on Sunday would dwarf any of the sports-related heartbreak the Empire State has ever inflicted on the greater New England area in the past. Forget Bucky Dent, Bill Buckner and Aaron Boone, no sports team has ever had more to lose in one game then the 2007-08 New England Patriots.
The Giants enter the Superbowl as 14 point underdogs, picked to lose by everyone expect their fans and hopefully family members. The Patriots on the other hand arrive in Arizona 18-0, one win away from attaining absolute perfection and establishing themselves as the single best sports team of all-time. A Patriots loss in a game that has been all but handed to them by every "expert," talking head and fan in the football community would go down as perhaps the greatest upset in the Superbowl era.
Although the Patriots stands at destiny's door, on hallowed ground never before touched by any NFL team, they also remain one loss away from going down in infamy and becoming a punchline for all eternity. In the end, New England's season will not be judged by 18-0, but rather by either 19-0 or 18-1. If the New York Giants are the ones handing them that 1 in the loss column, the ghost of Babe Ruth can finally take a breather.
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At this point, it was starting to appear as if the Giants offense may be done scoring for the day. As it turned out the offense wouldn't so much as get another first down following the go ahead score. Thus, the collective hopes of the Giants and their faithful fans laid with the defense - a tired and injury-depleted defense at that.
To say the Cowboys dominated the time of possession on Sunday would be an understatement. The Dallas offense had the ball for nearly 37 minutes, running 69 plays; 28 more than the Giants. Adding to the tall task that lay ahead in the final 7 minutes was a shoulder injury sustained by Aaron Ross before the start of the fourth quarter which reunited him with fellow CBs Sam Madison and Kevin Dockery on the sidelines. If I told you before the game that to win, the Gmen would have to fend off two late go-ahead drives starting around mid-field with RW McQuarters and Geoffery Pope playing prominent roles in the pass defense would you have still tuned in?
Well that is exactly what the Giants did in nerve-racking fashion with one of the most inspired displays of team defense I have witnessed in all my years as a fan of the Big Blue. The first Dallas drive inside the 7 minute mark would get as far as the NYG 41 yard line before falling apart, thanks in large part to a Kawika Mitchell sack as well as a costly intentional grounding call on Tony Romo. The Giants defense started getting to and hitting Romo late in the game forcing him to rush throws with pressure ultimately resulting in two sacks.
Following another Giants 3 and out, the stage was set for Tony Romo to earn his first playoff win in dramatic fashion and for me to go on suicide watch. Being a Giant fan I have been on the receiving end of some terrible playoff losses which featured similar scripts. Sucking down beer like it was the anecdote for my nerve-induced nausea I paced in my living room, hands in pocket. Panicked text messages poured in and while I checked them during the commercial breaks I was too nervous to reply. I found myself living each passing moment by the code of my strange superstitions, developed entirely during the 4th quarter - stand in the same spot, keep hands in pocket, put beer bottle down while play is in progress, rinse and repeat...
Amidst the late game madness, was a sequence of events which was so surreal I pinched myself to make sure I wasn't stuck in a bizarre lucid dream. It began with Tony Romo completing an improbable shovel pass on the run to Jason Witten for a gain of 18 yards to the Giants 22. Immediately after the play, Fox cut to a clip of Brett Favre completing a similar type of circus pass on Saturday versus the Seahawks as Joe Buck gushed about Romo's virtues.
With my guests and I already visibly rattled, we are then taken to a close up of a fiery Jerry Jones clapping with great intensity on the Dallas sidelines, Superbowl rings blinging in the setting Texas sun. Finally, with the room now comatose, the Fox cameras head back to the field capturing Justin Tuck writhing in pain on the Texas Stadium carpet.
As demoralizing as that sequence was, it served to make the game-ending interception by RW McQuarters that much sweeter. The Giants had overcome great odds in avenging their lone road loss of the season, raising their record away from East Rutherford to an incredible 9-1. And, as always, to the victor goes the spoils. A bumbling, disheveled Wade Phillips looking like he just got bounced from a dive bar at 3am. A frowning Tony Romo left searching for answers and the icing on the cake, a sobbing TO feebly defending his QB.
With two ghosts of playoff past - Jeff Garcia and Terrell Owens - sent packing, the Giants now head on to Green Bay for what promises to be their toughest test of the season: Brett Favre in Arctic Lambeau.
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The Minnesota Twins are Major League Baseball's biggest tease. For the past few months, they have been flaunting their Venezuelan golden boy to anyone who would listen (or afford to listen) inundating sports websites and television programs with a myriad of rumors, most completely worthless. Johan Santana is the prize here friends, and he has been linked to about half the teams in baseball at some point. But for fiscal, need-based and/or cosmetic reasons there have always been only three possible teams that make sense: the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and New York Mets.
Back when the madness that is the "Santana Sweepstakes" began, a buddy of mine Phil, a Yankee fan and a co-contributor over at the Fantasy Sports Experience, told me flatly that the Mets would land Santana. He reasoned that the offers made by the Yankees and Red Sox were merely done for posturing. Essentially, the two teams were (to borrow a great line from season 2 of The Wire) "pissing on each other's leg" as they engaged in a high stakes game of keep-away.
Looking back objectively we all should have seen this coming. Baseball has clearly entered a new age where the prospect has more value than ever and the behaviors of the Yanks and Sox over the past 2 years exemplify this fact. Both teams are actively funneling more money than ever into buidling dominant farm systems rather than blowing money on the free agent market and it is working. Yankee and Red Sox pitching prospects have enjoyed a lot of success at the minor and more importantly major league level. Thus, it would stand to reason that there would be no need for either team to meet the hefty price tag it would take to land Santana from both a prospect or fiscal standpoint.
Naturally, the Twins have waited it out because let's be honest the Yanks and Sox can definately offer the best package of prospects if they wanted to. But amidst all of the smoke screens that were thrown up by the AL East rivals - offers that were nearly completed/reported to be complete, half-hearted deadlines, withdrawals from talks, re-entering talks, lowered interest, raised interest, etc. - the Mets and Omar Minaya always sat with a quiet confidence on the sidelines. They looked on as the media and experts poked holes in all of their prospects and made cases against potential offers knowing their day at the forefront of the sweepstakes lay ahead when the posturing was done.
Following the controversal Ryan Church trade, I wrote that although I liked what the trade did for our current roster, it's overall effect would be marginal unless we landed a frontline starter. As time wore on after that trade with the Nats and no Santana deal had been made, I slowly became a believer that the Mets would bring him to New York.
Overall, the Mets have been the best fit for Santana all along:
- Have the money to sign him long-term for big money (he wants 6 years-150 Million).
- Biggest need coming into the offseason was for an inning-eating front-line stater to slot in front of Pedro, Maine and Perez.
- This need is exasperated by the fact that the Mets have a deceptively old roster. While they have great young players like Reyes and Wright, this team also has many vets and aging stars at several key positions including Delgado (1B), Castillo (2B), Alou (LF) and of course the ever-important Pedro Martinez who is in the last year of his deal. Their best chance to contend for a World Series is this year.
- The Mets play in the National League, which means the Twins don't have to worry about Santana coming back to haunt them a few times a year.
- Santana wants to play in New York.
- Most importantly, despite all of the reports about the Mets not having the prospects of the Yankees or Red Sox, they have what the Twins need: Top-tier corner outfield & center field prospects (Fernando Martinez & Carlos Gomez) with power and speed as well a selection of young pitcher with relief and starting pitching upside (Kevin Mulvey, Deolis Guerra, Phil Humber, Mike Pelfrey)
All of this aside, I did not want to write about Santana until we saw what the Mets would be willing to offer, as I was still concerned about two things. The Mets weren't willing to give Santana the long extension or big money deal and/or although our prospects are good, we were overvaluing them and wouldn't make a legit offer.
After news broke mid-week that Fred Wilpon had publically given Omar Minaya the financial green light to bring Santana on board, my cautious optimism and lingering traces of skepticism melted away and now I firmly believe the Mets will complete a trade for Santana by month's end. The current package reportedly being offered include Deolis Guerra, Carlos Gomez, Kevin Mulvey and Phil Humber. While this is a decent haul for the Twins, I don't think this deal happens unless the mets include their top prospect Fernando Martinez who some claim is the heir apparent at the plate to Juan Gonzalez and could be up by the age of 20.
I am pretty sure the Mets will give in eventually and include Fernando Martinez in order to get Santana and personally I am all for it. While the farm system would be depleted, the Mets would retain Arron Heilman in the bullpen (for better or worse) and keep their top pitching prospect, Mike Pelfrey, who could slot in as a 5th starter or a power bullpen arm depending on how we use El Duque. This provides Willy with added options and some good flexibility throughout the pitching staff. Also, keep in mind we have 3 first round picks this season, so the opportunity is there to begin restocking the farm system.
Most importantly we will be filling our biggest need, getting a pitcher who has dominated the American League for the last 4 seasons, posting a win-loss record of 70-32 with an ERA well under 3.00 during that time. Not to mention he has picked up two Cy Young's in that span. Coming to the lighter-hitting National League, to a great pitcher's park, backed up by a solid defense and good offense, Santana would immediately be the front-runner for the Cy Young award and the Mets instantly become the NL favorite to reach the World Series.
Remember Mets fans, for every Jose Reyes there is a "5-tool prospect" like Alex Escobar and for every Josh Becket, AJ Burnett and Dontrelle Willis a Generation K. Given the makeup of this roster, it is time to surrender to our inhibitions and live in the now. With Johan aboard, the pieces are in place for 2008 to be the year we bring a World Series championship back to Queens.
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The news that the Atlanta Falcons have requested to speak to Steve Spagnuolo in regards to their open head coaching vacancy has made more tan a few Giants fans nervous and downright uncomfortable. Spags has done a tremendous job in his first year in New York, implementing a fast, aggressive defensive scheme that has been exciting to watch and very effective at shutting down opposing offenses. The Giants rank 7th in the NFL in overall defense and lead the league in sacks with 53.
The Giants haven't exactly had great luck with their offensive and defensive coordinators in recent years. John Hufnagel's offenses stalled more often then my old 1988 Nissan (which set a single season record for AAA service calls in 2003) while Tim Lewis' defenses looked like they were made of paper mache' and were very accommodating to the run.
Spags is the most talented coordinator we have had since John Fox left in 2002 to become the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, leading them to a Super Bowl a year later. Thus, please don't blame Giants fans if they are a bit overprotective of our young defensive coordinator as other teams come calling for his services. We knew this day would come eventually, but not this soon.
The chances of Spags leaving are compounded by the Falcons search for a new GM. Chris Mara, the Giants current VP of player evaluation, and Eagles GM Tom Heckert are the top candidates for the open GM spot in Atlanta and are both familiar with Spags. Heckert has known him since his days with the Eagles dating back to 1999 while Mara has worked with him this season. It is thought that both would make a big push to bring him on board as head coach if they are named GM.
While the interest in Spags is a bit disconcerting, have no fear faithful Giant backers, I don't think the boy wonder is going anywhere. According to most accounts, he is quite happy in New York and with only one year of experience under his belt as defensive coordinator, he does not quite feel ready to make the leap to head coach just yet.
We will know more after the playoffs as the Giants have temporarily denied the Falcons request to speak with Spagnuolo. The two sides will meet once the Giants are eliminated from contention to discuss the position. Until then, Spags should have only one thing on his mind: figuring out how to stop the potent Cowboys offense on Sunday.
UPDATE: Pete Carroll is now being considered the front-runner for the position after reportedly speaking with Falcons' owner Arthur Blank. This is some good news...
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 Recently, I began writing for a new fantasy sports blog appropriately named the Fantasy Sports Experience. While Giggin On Ya is still my first love, FSE allows me to feed my fantasy sports fix and that my friends is a good thing.
Anyway, from time to time I will link to some of the fun articles we do over there; sparing you from the detailed analysis that is not so much fun unless you are really into fantasy sports. This week, we decided to live blog the awesomely bizarre Roger Clemens press conference. Follow the link below and enjoy.
Link
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Taking a break from his busy schedule of judging fashion shows on Project Runway, exploting/berating ex-teammates for personal gain and being generally effeminate, Tiki Barber will attend the New York Giants-Tampa Bay Bucaneers playoff game on Sunday. In an article for his excellent Giants blog at the Star-Ledger, Mike Garafolo reports that Tiki announced his intentions to attend the game last night on his Sirius Radio Show - "The Barber Shop" - which he co-hosts with his brother, Bucs cornerback Ronde.
The article states that Tiki found himself in a "quandary" this week in regards to his rooting interest and has settled on a compromise. He will stand on the Tampa sidelines BUT also wear a Giants hat explaining to Ronde on the broadcast: "Dude, I'm rooting for you but I am a Giant. Sorry, brother..."
Well Tiki, I think I speak for most Giants fans when I say don't bother wearing our team's colors come Sunday. You showed your true colors earlier in the year when you tossed Eli under the bus to further your announcing career, tarnishing the sanctity of the locker room in the process. So while I thank you for firing up the Gmen this season and helping to improve team chemistry by retiring, you need to remember that you are no longer a Giant. Now, you are merely another talking head... a rather large one at that.
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New years is a time for reflection. A time to take stock of the things done in the past year with hopes that we will learn from our mistakes and become better for them. Yesterday, GM Isiah Thomas gave Head Coach Isiah Thomas a vote of confidence that his job is safe. Yes you read that correctly, couldn't make that up. So much for the 2 week deadline for criticism Isiah placed on himself. By the way, the team went 1-5 during that stretch...
Judging by the last 4 years under the leadership of Isiah Thomas and James Dolan, there is about as much reflection on past failures at MSG as there is accountability. Rather, Knicks management likes to look ahead, focusing on how best to save face and deflect blame while not caring in the slightest about winning or the fans.
With the holiday season coming to a close, now is as good a time as any to look back on the wonderful things Zeke and Jazzy Jim have given Knicks fans over the last four years.
1. Stephon Marbury - If you like losing basketball, then Marbury is your man at the point. Before coming to NY, Steph had built an extensive losing resume, from alienating Kevin Garnett and breaking up a young, talented T'Wolves squad to winning a paltry 0 playoff series. Isiah recognized this and brought his preternatural ability to fail to the Knicks. Over the past four years Starbury has registered 0 wins in playoff games and 1 remarkable scene of infidelity in a truck while killing any team chemistry that has sprouted up from time to time. Luckily, we still have 2 more seasons of him at about 21 million per year...
2. Steve Francis - Because having Stephon Marbury on the roster wasn't enough the Zeke pulled a savvy trade to create the losingest backcourt possible at the highest cap number imaginable. Trevor Ariza and Jalen Rose's expiring contract were traded away to acquire "The Franchise." Like they say at MSG "you've got to give something, to get nothing."
3. Eddy Curry - For the bargain basement price of two first round picks, two second round picks and enough bad contracts to ensure zero cap flexibility for the forseeable future, the Knicks received a "franchise center" with a history of weight and heart problems. To his credit, Curry did begin to come into his own a bit last year averaging 19 points and 7 rebounds a game. Fortunately, Isiah refused to trade him at the peak of his value this summer, instead opting to pair him with Zach Randolph to form an interior defensive presence almost as intimidating as
Steve Nash sans the shot blocking ability.
4. Jerome James - According to Isiah, Big Snacks was acquired for his "girth" not his ability to consistently fill a DNP spot. According to NYC buffets, business has never been better.
5. Jared Jeffries - Using the familiar negotiating strategy of outbidding himself, Isiah was able to sign bonafide offensive blackhole Jared Jeffries to an untradeable five year contract in 2006. Two years and roughly 10,000 unnecessary pump fakes later, Knicks fans are glad to have a guy who brings such "intangibles" as missing layups and being an overrated defender to their roster.
6. No All Stars - The natural progression from Isiah's free agent signings and trades bring us to the fact that the Knicks haven't had a player appear in the All Star Game since 2001. Conversely, several Knick players and personnel have appeared in court during that time...
7. Anucha Browne Sanders - Winner of the largest payout ever for a game of HORSE at MSG, 11.6 million dollars.
8. Head Coach Isiah Thomas - From the makers of General Manager Isiah Thomas, comes an inept head coach with no control of his players and a 41-70 record over the last two seasons. Puzzle piece pins sold separately.
9. Double Digit Losses - One of the key accessories included with Head Coach Isiah are blowouts as the Knicks lead the league with 14 double digit losses this season. I was going to research the number of double digit defeats over the course of Thomas' tenure but decided it was best if the loaded gun on the table remains next to the half-empty bottle of Jameson rather than my temple.
10. Isiah's Contract Extension - This post has focused primarily on Isiah; however, it wouldn't be fair to James Dolan if we didn't mention his contributions to Knicks fans. Not only can the fat man play some serious jazz music and grow a goatee but he also appears to have an uncanny sense for detecting "evident progress" where there is none. Since signing Isiah to a 3 year extension worth 24 million dollars late last season, the Knicks are 12-36. Thus, everytime you look to the Knicks sidelines and see Isiah with his head in his hands or staring blankly from the bench you know who to thank.
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Although the Giants were an accessory to the Pats perfection last night, they have nothing to be ashamed of. For four quarters the Gmen battled arguably the greatest team in NFL history tooth and nail, actually leading for a majority of the game. The lead ballooned to 12, 28-16, following an impressive Eli Manning touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress with 9 minutes to go in the third quarter. However, it was all Patriots after that as they scored 22 unanswered points punctuated by Tom Brady's 65 yard TD pass to Randy Moss which put the Pats up for good while breaking several individual regular season records - most passing TDs by a QB and most receiving TDs by a WR.
The positives for the Giants could be found all over. Eli Manning played his best game since week 1 at Dallas throwing for 252 yards, 4 TDs and only 1 INT. Manning looked composed and his decision-making was crisp as he looked very comfortable running the offense. Eli's play was bolstered by a healthier supporting cast featuring a few new faces.
The emergence of Kevin Boss (officially dubbed "The Big Bossman" last night although he does not hail from Cobb County, Georgia) really helped to balance the offense and give Eli added options in the passing game. While I respect Jeremy Shockey for playing through injury this year, his inability to run crisp routes coupled with his propensity to give up on plays was hurting this offense. Last night, Boss was able to run hard, true patterns which ultimately lead to a TD reception where he beat Rodney Harrison over the middle and he showed great hustle throughout. The latter was exemplified on a play in the second quarter when Eli eluded two tacklers near the Giants end zone, rolled left and hit Boss for a first down after Boss had followed Eli across the field. I just feel like a banged-up Shockey might not have been able to make either of those plays.
Sticking with the injury theme, Plaxico Burress looked as healthy as we've seen him in the second half of the season. He was running with good speed on his deep routes, was able to run patterns effectively and displayed good jumping ability on a long reception in the first quarter. When Plax plays well, the attention he draws opens up more space for everyone else to operate, putting Eli in a greater comfort zone. Another dinged up Giant who showed no ill effects of past injuries and played very well was Brandon Jacobs. He displayed soft hands in hauling in the first TD of the game and had some signature hard-nosed runs, running over Tedy Bruschi on a few occasions.
Three young guys who shined yesterday and can be difference makers come playoff time include:
- Dominick Hixon - starting in place of Ahmad Bradshaw as the primary kickoff returner, had several solid returns including one taken 74 yards to the house against a stout Patriots special teams.
- Gerris Wilkinson - replaced an injured Kawika Mitchell in the first quarter and was flying all over the field. Wilkinson played well against the run and was decent in coverage given the circumstances (having to stay with Randy Moss on a few plays).
- Steve Smith - made some plays in the passing game, giving Eli a formidable third option to Plax and Toomer. Smith showed good hands on a few second half receptions and could be a valuable weapon both due to his solid route running and potential as a deep threat out of the slot.
Unfortunately there were also a few injuries headed by center Shaun O'Hara and Kawika Mitchell who left with knee injuries and Sam Madison who left the game with an abdominal injury in the fourth quarter. O'Hara and Madison are indispensable members of the Giants O-line and secondary respectively, we will know more about their status later in the week. If either can't go, it would be a big blow to those respective units.
I feel that I have written enough about the general negativity/cynicism of Giants fans surrounding this team. Here's to hoping that people are beginning to realize this young team's promise heading into the playoffs and beyond. Next stop: Tampa.
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The way the New England Patriots' 2007 season has played out to this point reminds me of the 1993 western Tombstone. For those of you that do not have an unhealthy obsession with the film, the plot revolves around wild west lawman Wyatt Earp (played by Kurt Russell in arguably his finest hour). The movie begins with Wyatt and his two brothers, Virgil and Morgan, moving to the up and coming town of Tombstone, Arizona with hopes of leading a simple family-oriented life free from the burden of maintaining the law in the lawless west. Being a western, this is not how things shape up for the Earp family as a vigilante group of cowboys, lead by Curly Bill Brocius and his fantastic mustache, take exception to the "law dogs" setting up shop in their town.
The cowboys attempt to run the Earps out of town and Wyatt (the family figurehead) turns the other cheek for a while hoping to abstain from a return to a life of violence. However, two events - the shooting of Virgil and murder of Morgan - leave him with a fiery vendetta against the cowboys that can only be quenched with bloodshed. Eventually, a fully motivated Wyatt along with buddy Doc Holliday and cowboy defectors the ruthless duo of Texas Jack and Turkey Creek Johnson set out to destroy the cowboys. What follows is an improbable cameo by Charlton Heston and a montage of the fearsome foursome killing cowboy after cowboy in every way possible.
As I watched this movie the other day, I couldn't help but think of the Patriots. This was a team up to last year's AFC championship game loss at Indy which was modest in the way they approached playing the game as well as building their roster. Now, Bill Belichick has become Wyatt Earp and the shootings of his brothers - the AFC Championship game loss = Virgil losing use of his arm and Spy Gate = the murder of Morgan - have changed the Pats focus from simply beating opponents to absolutely overwhelming them. Tom Brady is the Holliday to Belichick's Earp fully having his back and hired guns Randy Moss and Wes Welker quickly bought into Belichick's cause and have raised their games to a new level. Aside from a close call in Baltimore and a gut check in Indy, the Patriots have been downright unstoppable beating opponents ranging from the Cowboys to the Dolphins in dominating fashion.
Tonight at Giants Stadium is the final showdown. Just like Tombstone didn't end until Doc Holliday finished off his nemesis, defacto cowboy leader Johnny Ringo (who was in the unfortunate position of being the second fastest gun in the west to Holliday at the time), the Patriots remain one step from completing their revenge upon the NFL.
Overall, the Giants matchup decently with the Pats. They have the ability to rush the QB with their front four and control the game on the ground with a consistent running game. Given the fact that blustery conditions are the norm at Giants stadium this time of year, the Pats pass game may be slowed a bit and the maligned running game will no doubt be tested. These factors could result in a closer game then many people expect if the Giants can take care of the ball (this means you Eli).
Tom Coughlin has shown no indication this week or from his past coaching exploits that he intends to rest the starters. With about an hour to gametime, it appears everyone from Plax to Brandon Jacobs will start and play a considerable amount. It will serve as an excellent tune up for some of the Giants youngsters, especially the guys in the secondary - Aaron Ross, Kevin Dockery and James Butler - going up against arguably the league's finest wide receiving corps and QB. Additionally, Ahmad Bradshaw has a good opportunity to further develop his game, facing a very active front 7. The experience gained tonight against one of the league's best defenses will help him to continue building on his week 16 breakout performance with an eye towards the playoffs where he will be needed.
Given that I expect a physical game tonight (Coughlin and Belichick would have it no other way) let's first and foremost hope for an injury-free game. If the Giants can play at a high level on both sides of the ball they will arrive in Tampa with added confidence when the second season begins next week.
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We here at Giggin' On Ya make no apologies for not getting you guys a Christmas gift. You see, we don't celebrate Christmas, as any of you who have been jocking my shit for awhile surely know by now. And while it may have been a function of a new city for me, I wasn't even entirely certain when the Hanukkah fell on the ol' calendar this year. This is not abnormal. For years, due to final exams and things of that nature, it was always a surprise to get the "Happy Hannukah" phonecall on that first night, what with it always being a different date, ranging anywhere from right after Thanksgiving to several days past Christmas. And so it is not only acceptable, but pretty much expected at this point, that presents from Becky arrive not so much during Hanukkah, as around Hanukkah. Sometimes wrapped. Sometimes not so much. I fucking suck at wrapping presents. Gift bags were invented for people like me. But I digress.
Yes, the gift-giving holidays are over (unless you count a raging New Years Day hangover a gift, in which case you and I will get along juuuuuust fine). But we here at the GOY (ironic?) believe that it's never too late for the holiday spirit. And so we would like to give to you, dear readers, the Holiday Gig List. For the most deserving of gigs for the past year.
Ben and I went back and forth for a few hours nominating those worthy of a year-end gig. He, especially, would like you to know that not all gigs are necessarily representative of the views and opinions of both giggers.
I bet you can tell which are from Ben, and which are from Becky.
Come open up your shoddily wrapped present, after the jump....
Continue reading "Your Holiday Gig List" »
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The Giants floundered out of the gates Sunday, finding themselves down 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. With 40-50 mph winds blowing and rain relentlessly falling on Ralph Wilson Stadium making conditions deplorable, the Giants offense struggled to consistently move the ball. Conversely, the Bills were seemingly calling all the right plays, keeping the Giants D off-balance by capitalizing on a slick turf that neutralized the team's defensive speed. Suddenly, playoffs aspirations were becoming more questionable by the minute as a showdown with the all-mighty Patriots lay on the horizon. Essentially two options lay in front of the Giants with 45 minutes to play: win today and clinch or lose and face the prospect playing a must-win against one of the finest teams in NFL history.
Fueled by two Buffalo Bills special teams miscues - a botched punt by Brian Moorman and roughing the kicker on safety Donte Whitner - the Giants stormed back (pardon the terrible pun) to tie the score on two Brandon Jacobs TDs from 6 and 43 yards respectively. After 30 minutes of play the Giants lead 17-14.
The second half got off to an inauspicious start as Eli Manning threw an interception on the first play, leading to a Bills TD a few plays later to make it 21-17. However, this would be the last lead Buffalo would enjoy thanks to the Giants defense which stepped up in crunch time yet again. Kawika Mitchell made arguably the biggest defensive play of the season, returning a Trent Edwards interception for a touchdown giving the Giants a 24-21.
The nail in the coffin came following an impressive defensive hold as little used rookie RB Ahmad Bradshaw ripped off a dynamic 88 yard touchdown run putting the Giants up 10. On the next Bills possession Corey Webster closed out the Bills funeral proceedings with the Giants' second interception return for a td on the game.
Key contributions came from all over the place as this was a true team win. Amani Toomer showed a lot of fire and grit in Jeremy Shockey's absence reeling in several huge third down conversions while compiling 99 yards receiving. Osi Umenyiora's relentless pass rush forced Trent Edwards' hand on a bunch of throws and Kawika Mitchell supplemented his potential game winning interception return for a TD with two sacks and sure tackling. The biggest contribution however came from the Giants RBs and O-line who more or less dominated this game. The RBs combined for 291 yards and 3 TDs lead by Brandon Jacobs (145 and 2 TDs) and Ahmad Bradshaw (151 and 1 TD).
The Giants fought back from a 14 point deficit on the road against a formidable foe, in wretched conditions no less, to clinch a playoff spot for the third straight year. Most impressively, this win marked the seventh straight on the road for the Giants who's lone road loss came in the shootout in Dallas on opening day.
The Giants win combined with Minnesota's loss on Sunday night clinched the 5 seed and sets up a date at Tampa Bay in the first round. So what is with the high level of cynicism among Giants fans? Why do the newspaper articles and fan commentary throughout the web focus on negatives like Eli Manning's recent play or Brandon Jacobs' durability rather than this team's heart or inspired play on the road? If I didn't know any better, I would assume that the Giants were eliminated from playoff contention weeks ago and were preparing to make a high draft pick in April.
In fact, it is getting to the point where Giants fans actually appear unhappy about making the playoffs because they don't want to be "disappointed again." Maybe we should ask the fans in Arizona, Detroit or Miami how to deal with these issues of consistently rooting for a playoff team. I am almost certain Lions fans will have no problem remedying our woes by lending us Matt Millen for a few seasons to decimate our roster.
Looking back at the beginning of the season, many of the "experts" predicted a last place finish for the Giants in the NFC East with about 5-6 wins. A majority of Giants fans I know and around the web set similar expectations for the team with the optimists saying .500 was a good goal in what was to be a rebuilding year after Tiki's retirement.
Well a funny thing happened on the way to a top 10 draft pick, we OVERACHIEVED people. The running game and offense really hasn't skipped a beat after Tiki chose Project Runway over football, better acclimating himself with his feminine side. A collection of good young backs lead by Brandon Jacobs have run well behind an ever-improving young o-line and Plaxico Burress has emerged as one of the elite WR in the business. Most importantly however, a Giants defense that was soft and ineffective under the reign of Tim Lewis (creator of the swiss cheese defensive scheme with a genuine, inherent ability for ruining talented NFL defenses and alienating star players) has transformed into one of the fastest and most aggresive units in football under first year coach Steve Spagnuolo. Additionally, as is the theme throughout the roster, many of the key guys on defense are still pretty young or freaks (Strahan) who will be around for a while. Overall, this roster will continue to improve and has a chance of being good for some time to come.
Considering all of the positives and promise displayed this season, topped off by a playoff game against a beatable opponent, it is shocking that so many Giants fans remain fixated on dissecting and trashing Eli Manning's performance. I agree that Eli has struggled late in the season; however, it hasn't all been bad. Eli played well in a win at Detroit when the Lions were playing at a high level and he engineered an improbable 4th quarter comeback in Chicago. Yes he has played terrible the last three games and the Minnesota game is inexcusable but look at the numbers for the opposing QBs in the last two games which took place in terrible conditions.
Looking around the league, analyzing the stats and game to game performances of other young QBs, it becomes apparent that there are more than a few growing pains that go into developing into a good QB. Carson Palmer has struggled with all his weapons in Cincy, Phillip Rivers has matched Eli's performance at best while Jay Cutler remain inconsistent in Denver. Additionally, other young QBs like Vince Young and Alex Smith have struggled mightily and regressed from their performance level of a year ago. The fact is, Eli is by no means perfect and has plenty to work on; however, so do many other young, promising QBs carrying the franchise label around the NFL.
It's important to remember that this makes three straight playoff appearances for Eli as a starter and by all accounts, he has the full respect and confidence of his teammates in the locker room due to both his late game performances and playing through a shoulder injury all season without so much as uttering a complaint or missing a game. If his teammates are content with Eli and are displaying patience and restraint with him, what more reason could the fans have to follow suit?
Saturday January 5th at 8pm the Giants will take the field for a playoff game looking for their first postseason win since 2000. Rather than focusing on petty negatives and setting impossible standards on this young team, take a step back Giants fans. Understand how far they have come since opening day and be excited that there is a lot of potential yet to be realized in the future. But most of all, sit back and enjoy the game as a devoted fan and leave the Giants bashing to trained professionals like Daryl Johnston
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Last Sunday night was cold and windy at Giants Stadium. Actually it was ridiculously cold and windy. Trust me, I was in section 321 wearing every article of winter clothing known to man short of a full body latex ski suit. So you can imagine my surprise when Kevin Gilbride, pronounced Kill-Drive around the Meadowlands these days, followed up a 19 yard Brandon Jacobs run off right tackle with three straight passing plays into the swirling winds. Quite a gameplan for a team that is among the league leaders in team rushing yards and has a stellar offensive line.
When all was said and done, Eli Manning had thrown 52 passes with 34 incompletions (2nd most all-time in a single game) and the Giants WRs had dropped around 10 of them. The Giants lost to Michigan legend Todd Collins and the Redskins setting up another win and in opportunity this Sunday at Buffalo.
The Bills were eliminated from playoff consideration last week; however, they loom as a difficult team to beat at home, just ask the Dallas Cowboys. They come into this game healthy with only Roscoe Parrish being listed on the injury report among their core players. With weather conditions calling for rain and wind that will make the artificial turf at Ralph Wilson stadium slick, this game should be Brandon Jacobs' time to shine.
The big man flourishes in sloppy games as evidenced by his 131 yard outburst in London and it is imperative the Giants establish him early. The Giants offense has been at their best this season when they feed off of the ground game, allowing it to set up the pass rather than forcing the issue as we saw against the skins. Jacobs is the key to the Giants moving the ball effectively against the Bills and it is important to establish him early in order to allow Eli Manning to settle into a comfort zone.
On the defensive side, the slippery conditions could be detrimental to the Giants speed rushers coming off the corners. The Bills have an up and coming young QB in Trent Edwards but lack explosiveness in their passing game outside of the underrated Lee Evans. The Giants D will need to focus on Evans; however, the Buffalo offense usually goes as Marshawn Lynch goes. The rookie RB is the would be ROY if not for Adrian Peterson and is a dynamic back. If the Giants can contain Lynch, not letting him get to the corners they should be able to control the tempo of the game.
This game might be the biggest game of the Coughlin-Eli era, as most Giants fans still do not believe in this team's ability to win a big regular season game, let alone a playoff game. Their performance on Sunday will go a long way in showing what this team will be capable of as we head towards the playoffs.
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Despite the giant pink slip-related madness that ensued outside of MSG yesterday afternoon, nightfall brought a strong performance from a motivated Knicks team. Following the Pacers debacle on Monday, I wrote that as currently constructed and coached, this team was headed nowhere. Like a majority of Knicks fans I want to see Isiah go. But as I have always contested, Stephon Marbury's play at point guard is the Knicks' biggest problem.
I attended last night's game, my first of the season, and was glad to see the young Knicks playing hard with Stephon Marbury out of sight and mind if only for one night. The offense looked crisp and selfless, there was a discernable energy both on defense and on the boards and the team generally looked to be in harmony on the court as well as on the bench. Here are a few observations from last night's win and my thoughts on what the Knicks should do going forward:
- Although he is far from perfect, Jamal Crawford is clearly our best option to run the offense. We know Jamal's strengths: ball-handling, getting to the rim and (although streaky) mid to long range jump shooting. We also know his vices: weak defender, turnover prone, careless with the ball, etc. However, dating back to the Larry Brown regime, Crawford's most redeeming quality has been his team-first attitude and willingness to learn and improve. Crawford dramatically raised his game under Brown's tutelage, developing better all-around skills (especially passing) and increasing his basketball IQ. He is the Knick that is coolest under pressure and according to most things you read, the one that garners the most respect in the locker room due to tenure and his poise. Last night, Crawford played a controlled game at point guard maintaining a good balance between passing and scoring. He made many good decisions and a few bad ones, but given the opportunity to run this offense his instincts will improve and he can make those around him better.
- Fred Jones, who I admittedly have trashed on a regular basis, is a good fit at the two spot beside Crawford. Given the fact the Knicks have so many guys that need the ball in their hands to be effective, Jones serves to balance out the lineup providing hustle, some defense and the ability to finish in transition.
- When Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph are on the court together, the offense is stagnant. Guys aren't moving or cutting, basically everyone is standing around watching Crawford try to create on the perimeter or the ball is force fed inside to one of the bigs and never seen again. I can't stress this enough so I'm going bold on ya - David Lee must start and play at least 35 minutes a night. Like Jones, Lee doesn't need the ball to be effective; however, that's where the likeness ends. Lee generates his own points through offensive rebounds and smart, persistent cuts to the basket where he is developing into an excellent finisher down low. In addition to his excellent rebounding skills, his athleticism and proclivity in starting fast breaks with solid outlet passes keeps the Knicks moving and injects life into the offense. A starting 5 of Zach Randolph, David Lee, Q, Fred Jones and Crawford is the most balanced and effective at both ends of the floor.
- Which brings us to Eddy Curry. He has had a hard time getting going this year and his game has regressed noticeably from a year ago. Watching him last night, I think this is a product of him being put in spots where he is less likely to succeed. As my co-worker Dan points out almost daily, Eddy Curry "is what he is," in other words he's a big that's only as good as the situations you put him in. I don't feel that his game will ever mesh with Randolph's for the simple fact that neither is a good passer and as such it will be difficult for them to develop a high-low chemistry. In addition, when they are on the court together there simply isn't enough room for them to both operate and each of their games are restricted and worse off for it. A second unit featuring Eddy Curry as the lone big will give him an opportunity to own the block and draw favorable matchups. Additionally, Randolph should be able to use his athleticism more with first unit due to the added breathing room. Maybe it will even persuade him to pass a little more...
- As for the remainder of the bench, Nate Robinson deserves at least 20-25 minutes a night. Nate is a guy that can pick a team up when down and make things happen on both ends, especially in the transition game. Another guy I came away impressed by was Malik Rose who offers the Knicks a solid veteran defensive presence at forward. Countless times Rose provided excellent weak side help in defending Lebron and even got an emphatic block. He's a good option to rotate in at the 4 spot for brief stretches. Jeffries and Balkman are also decent plays based on the matchup. Balkman is very skittish and hasn't seen a pump fake he didn't try to block into the stands. He has good defensive skills and is explosive in transition, however he must develop greater poise before getting viable minutes. Essentially, the Knicks rotation should not exceed 8-9 players.
- Finally, I simply don't see Steph fitting in with this current roster. He will most certainly be relegated to a backup role, coming off the bench for 25 minutes or so. Unfortauntely, I don't see any scenario where his presence off the bench helps this team. I feel, as always, he will try to do too much on the offensive end in terms of scoring and hurt the rhythm and tempo of the offense as a whole. I fear this selfish play will be further exasperated by his reduced minutes and serves as the biggest threat to the Knicks overall success.
The reasons for Steph's absence from the Knicks are tough, it is never easy to lose someone you love, especially a parent. However, from a purely basketball stand point - based on last night's play and the team's performance when he is on the court - the Knicks are best served with Marbury out of the equation. Isiah isn't going anywhere folks. The best thing we can do this season is cut ties with Marbury as soon as possible and roll the dice with Zeke's boys. As I said yesterday, this is the only way the young guys will truly develop as a unit and the best chance that the fans and management alike have to see what exactly we have here.
Steph will not be joining the team in Charlotte for Friday's game, let's see if the Knicks can build on the Cavs blowout....
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Mike Dunleavy Jr. He was my guy, he was my guy I tell you. For three straight seasons - 2004-05 to 2006-07 - I drafted him onto my fantasy teams and believed that he would develop into a good all-around NBA basketball player. Unfortunately, year after year he failed to live up to expectations; never fitting into Nelly's system and eventually getting shipped to Indiana where he continued his inconsistent play. This year I was officially done with him and for the first time my fantasy basketball team did not open with Mike Dunleavy Jr. in the starting rotation.
Naturally, Dunleavy has finally started to come into his own this year, flourishing in Jim O'Brien's fast-paced offense in Indiana. He is currently averaging career highs in points, assists, 3 pointers, 3 pt %, FG %, FT %... more or less across the board. So when MDJ went off for a career-high 36 points last night doing a little of everything - hitting circus jumpers, off-balance layoffs in transition and ripping threes - against my pathetic Knicks, it hurt on many levels.
First off, MDJ should never go off for 30+ points. If your team can defend at all, a big MDJ game should be of the 20 points 5 rebounds variety not 36 and 7. Secondly and most importantly, its simply time to accept the fact that this Knicks team is going no where with Lord Marbury at point guard and The Zeke coaching. The Knicks play with no fire or defensive acumen and run an unorganized offense reminiscent of a mediocre high school team.
This team has quit on its coach yet given they play in the parallel universe known as Madison Square Garden, coach has gotten a full vote of confidence from the owner. Basically, we as Knicks fans are totally screwed for the forseeable future unless a miracle (Marbury buy out & Isiah firing) were to occur. While it wouldn't remedy all of the problems associated with the current roster, it would at the very least give the young talent an opportunity to develop; allowing us the fans to finally see what exactly we have here.
So until there is a little light at the end of the tunnel or any signs of life in general, it is just easier to write about performances by the opposition. You can read about the poor play of the Knicks and the organization's general dysfuntion in your favorite New York paper. Wednesday night, I make my season debut at MSG as the Knicks take on Lebron and the Cleveland Cavaliers. I mean, he's no MDJ but that LBJ he's got some game... should be interesting to see if the Bron Stopper, Q-Rich (ha), can hold him under 36.
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This past Monday, the WWE rolled out a three hour Monday Night Raw special event commemorating the 15th anniversary of the show. Given the significance of this occasion, we decided to blog this event live along with our two resident wrestling experts, Josh and Big Larry.
FINALLY, the WWE has come to Giggin On Ya... follow the jump and enjoy.
Continue reading "Monday Night Raw 15th Anniversary Special - Live" »
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A Few Thoughts While Reading The Mitchell Report
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Now that the smoke has cleared and Roger Clemens' legacy has been thoroughly soiled (although he remain a first ballot lock for the Hall of Fame in my opinion) it is time to reveal the final results from the Mitchell Report Fantasy draft held Wednesday night:
Ben - 4 (Brian Roberts, Barry Bonds, Troy Glaus, Roger Clemens)
Phil - 3 (Juan Gonzalez, Eric Gagne, Lenny Dykstra)
Josh - 3 (Kevin Brown, Miguel Tejada, Mark McGwire)
Commenter John - 0 (thanks for coming out)
I am happy to report that Giggin On Ya is the big winner in the MRFL having defeated a slew of worthy competitors. However, there will be ample opportunities to settle the score in the future once the MLB releases multi-million dollar reports focusing on HGH, amphetamines and most importantly the rise of illegal pepper games.
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I just finished reading through the Mitchell Report (some damning information regarding Clemens in there, wow) and put together a comprehensive list of players named in the report. Some of the more prominent and/or surprising players mentioned in the report are presented in boldface.
- Barry Bonds
- Sammy Sosa
- Raphael Palmeiro
- Mark McGwire
- Gary Sheffield
- Juan Gonzalez
- Ken Caminiti
- Jose and Ozzie Canseco
- Ismael Valdez
- Lenny Dykstra
- Wally Joyner
- Derrick Turnbow
- Jason Grimsley
- Manny Alexander
- Mark Carreon
- Hal Morris
- Matt Franco
- Jack Cust
- Alex Cabrera
- Miguel Tejada
- Larry Bigbie
- David Segui
- Paxton Crawford
- Jason and Jeremy Giambi
- Armando Rios
- Marvin Bernard
- Bobby Estalela
- Benito Santiago
- Randy Velarde
- Brian Roberts
- Tim Laker
- Josias Manzanillo
- Todd Hundley
- Rondell White
- Roger Clemens
- Andy Pettitte
- Chuck Knoblauch
- Gregg Zaun
- David Justice
- F.P. Santangelo
- Glenallen Hill
- Mo Vaughn
- Denny Neagle
- Ron Villone
- Ryan Franklin
- Chris Donnels
- Todd Wiliams
- Phil Hiatt
- Todd Pratt
- Kevin Young
- Mike Lansing
- Cody McKay
- Brenden Donelly
- Nook Logan
- Daniel Naulty
- Jay Gibbons
- Kent Mercker
- Adam Piatt
- Jason Christiansen
- Mike Stanton
- Stephen Randolph
- Jerry Hairston Jr.
- Paul Loduca
- Adam Riggs
- Bart Miadich
- Fernando Vina
- Kevin Brown
- Eric Gagne
- Mike Bell
- Matt Herges
- Gary Bennett Jr.
- Jim Parque
- Chad Allen
- Jefff Williams
- Howie Clark
- Rick Ankiel
- Paul Byrd
- Troy Glaus
- Jose Guillen
- Gary Matthews Jr.
- Scott Schowenweis
- David Bell
- Darren Holmes
- John Rocker
- Matt Williams
- Steve Woodard
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The following list of players was compiled by a person who is closely connected to MLB. I received the list from a trusted friend who has access to a lot of news sources and vouches for its accuracy. Again, this is by no means the official final list of players, but I feel it has a lot of legitimacy.
- Brady Anderson
- Manny Alexander
- Rick Ankiel
- Jeff Bagwell
- Barry Bonds
- Aaron Boone
- Rafael Bettancourt
- Bret Boone
- Milton Bradley
- David Bell
- Dante Bichette
- Albert Belle
- Paul Byrd
- Wil Cordero
- Ken Caminiti
- Mike Cameron
- Ramon Castro
- Jose and Ozzie Canseco
- Roger Clemens
- Paxton Crawford
- Wilson Delgado
- Lenny Dykstra
- Johnny Damon
- Carl Everett
- Kyle Farnsworth
- Ryan Franklin
- Troy Glaus
- Rich Garces
- Jason Grimsley
- Juan Gonzalez
- Eric Gagne
- Nomar Garciapara
- Jason Giambi
- Jeremy Giambi
- Jack Kindregan
- Jose Guillen
- Jay Gibbons
- Clay Hensley
- Jerry Hairston
- Felix Heredia Jr.
- Darren Holmes
- Wally Joyner
- Darryl Kile
- Matt Lawton
- Raul Mondesi
- Mark Mc Gwire
- Guillermo Mota
- Robert Machado
- Damian Moss
- Abraham Nunez
- Trot Nixon
- Jose Offerman
- Andy Pettitte
- Mark Prior
- Neifi Perez
- Rafael Palmeiro
- Albert Pujols
- Brian Roberts
- Juan Rincon
- John Rocker
- Pudge Rodriguez
- Sammy Sosa
- Scott Schowenwies
- David Segui
- Alex Sanchez
- Gary Sheffield
- Miguel Tejada
- Julian Tavarez
- Fernando Tatis
- Mo Vaughn
- Jason Varitek
- Ismael Valdez
- Matt Williams
- Kerry Wood
UPDATE (11:50am) - Just received an email from someone over at Bloomberg. They are about to release a similar list over the newswire; further corroborating the accuracy of the preliminary list posted above.
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Tomorrow at 2pm, former Senator George Mitchell will reveal findings from an extensive 20 month investigation into steroids in baseball that may implicate as many as 80 former and current MLB players. On the heels of what promises to be a hellacious day in the baseball world, Giggin On Ya has decided to conduct the first (and last) Mitchell Report Fantasy Draft. Two special guests, Josh and Phil, will join me in building fantasy teams consisting of players that we feel will be named in the Mitchell Report. The following rules apply:
The draft lasts 11 rounds and each manager must select: 1 C, 1 1B, 1 2B, 1 SS, 1 3B, 3 OF, 1 U, 1 SP and 1 CL/MR
Players that have admitted to steroid use and/or been suspended by MLB may not be selected.
One point is awarded for each player implicated in the Mitchell Report.
Without further ado, here are the draft results and final rosters:
Round 1 - (1) Josh - Miguel Tejada, (2) Phil - Ivan Rodriguez, (3) Ben - Barry Bonds
Round 2 - (4) Ben - Rickey Henderson, (5) Phil - Lenny Dykstra, (6) Josh - Mark Mc Gwire
Round 3 - (7) Josh - Brady Anderson, (8) Phil - Mike Piazza, (9) Ben - Rey Ordonez
Round 4 - (10) Ben - Brian Roberts, (11) Phil - Juan Gonzalez, (12) Josh - Eric Chavez
Round 5 - (13) Josh - Bernie Williams, (14) Phil - Brett Boone, (15) Ben - Roger Clemens
Round 6 - (16) Ben - Yorvit Torrealba, (17) Phil - Jason Schmidt, (18) Josh - Dante Bichette
Round 7 - (19) Josh - Larry Walker, (20) Phil - Bobby Bonilla, (21) Ben - Melvin Mora
Round 8 - (22) Ben - Albert Pujols, (23) Phil - Jim Edmonds, (24) Josh - Roberto Alomar
Round 9 - (25) Josh - Sandy Alomar Jr., (26) Phil - Walt Weiss, (27) Ben - Roberto Hernandez
Round 10 - (28) Ben - Vince Coleman, (29) Phil - Eric Gagne, (30) Josh - Kevin Brown
Round 11- (31) Josh - Mo Rivera, (32) Phil - Rich Aurillia, (33) Ben - Troy Glaus
Josh
C - Sandy Alomar Jr.
1B - Mark Mc Gwire
2B - Roberto Alomar
SS - Miguel Tejada
3B - Eric Chavez
OF - Brady Anderson
OF - Bernie Williams
OF - Larry Walker
U - Dante Bichette
SP - Kevin Brown
CL - Mo Rivera
Phil
C - Ivan Rodriguez
1B - Mike Piazza
2B - Brett Boone
SS - Walt Weiss
3B - Rich Aurillia
OF - Juan Gonzalez
OF - Bobby Bonilla
OF - Jim Edmonds
U - Lenny Dykstra
SP - Jason Schmidt
CL - Eric Gagne
Ben
C - Yorvit Torrealba
1B - Albert Pujols
2B - Brian Roberts
SS - Rey Ordonez
3B - Melvin Mora
OF - Barry Bonds
OF - Rickey Henderson
OF - Vince Coleman
U - Troy Glaus
SP - Roger Clemens
MR - Roberto Hernandez
Check back tomorrow after the release of the report for the final tally and to see who the big winner is...
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While many see today's Michael Vick sentencing as a resounding victory for animal rights, I see it as a sorry defeat for a flawed legal system. In a nation where we've seen athletes like Ray Lewis avoid a murder rap with the old "asleep at the wheel" defense (didn't work for La Russa), Leonard Little run down a mother of four while intoxicated yet serve no jail time or NFL suspensions, Kobe simply pay his way out of a rape charge (and a divorce) and OJ... (enough said) we are conditioned to believe that athletes can get away with anything. Resentment at this air of legal privelage coupled with the growing attention given to the behavior of athletes following incidents like the Pacers-Pistons brawl has fueled an ever-growing rift between athletes and fans that transcends sports. Eventually, an athlete was going to be made an example, but I never imagined it would be done in such a bizarre fashion.
Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison today for his funding of the Bad Newz Kennels dogfigthing operation and killing pit bulls. It all started innocently enough in April with word that Vick might be involved with dogfighting and could face state charges on the matter. In the 8 months to follow, we saw the newly-formed federal investigative arm of PETA - oh wait that doesn't exist it must simply be the smoke screen known as the federal government - make this a federal case conducting numerous searches of Vick's property. We saw Henry Hudson, a self-professed animal lover and outdoorsman, be appointed as the judge on the case. I mean isn't that the equivalent of a diehard Lakers fan serving as the judge at the Kobe rape trial? How can he not hold a bias? Finally, in a country with an estimated 40,000 dogfighting operations and an average sentence of 6-12 months for first time dog fighting offenders, we saw Hudson sentence Vick to a prison term exceeding the reccomended maximum sentencing guidelines by 5 months.
Now I have never really been a Michael Vick fan and I am in fact a dog owner. My sheltie Dusty is a handsome pup and I appreciate him. Did Michael Vick deserve to go to jail for these crimes, yes; however, should the sentencing have gone over guidelines, absolutely not.
There are some strange undertones to this sentencing including the federal government's desicion to intervene in this particular investigation. But what I find more interesting is if slowly the life of a dog, the charmed pet in American culture, is worth nearly as much as that of our fellow man? The question I continue to ask myself is if Michael Vick was running a cockfighting ring, what are the chances he would be suiting up for tonight's game, sporting a pair of Nike Air Zoom Vick 5s and one of the NFL's top 10 best selling jerseys?
I'd say near 100%.
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Earlier today in the AAA portion of the Rule V draft, the New York Mets selected Garry Bakker, a 24 year old pitching prospect left unprotected by the Chicago White Sox. A fellow graduate of Suffern High School, Bakker will get the opportunity to pitch for the Mets AAA team this upcoming season. If all goes well, hopefully Rick Peterson will be touching his shoulder during a mound visit at Shea Stadium or Citi Field in the near future.
We at Giggin On Ya wish him the best of luck.
For more information on Garry Bakker click here (courtesy of The Baseball Cube).
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Earlier today, many Met fans found themselves up in arms as the team acquired Ryan Church along with Brian Schneider in exchange for the young Lastings Milledge. The outrage could be seen across internet message boards, comment sections, sports talk radio and my company email inbox as Mets fans lashed out at management for dealing one of the organization's more promising young positional players. The deal was not only lambasted by fans but also by respected baseball analysts including the venerable Keith Law, one of the better judges of talent among the experts.
On the surface this deal looks like a "heist" (as Law so bluntly put it) by the Nats. However, upon examining the numbers and considering the New York Mets current situation, this is a potentially beneficial deal in the short-term (next 2-3 years) given the following stipulation: the Mets go out and land a front-line starter such as Erik Bedard, Danny Haren or to a lesser extent Joe Blanton.
Ryan Church is an intriguing player in my eyes. Similar to Xavier Nady when he was acquired prior to the 2006 season, Church hasn't gotten the opportunity to play everyday in his career, but has performed well in a platoon role with limited at-bats. Last season, while playing in cavernous RFK stadium in a poor lineup, Church hit .272 with 15 HRs and 70 RBIs, good for a share of the team lead, in only 470 ABs. His OPS was around .800 where it has stood for most of his career; a good indicator his numbers are not a fluke and he may have room for improvement. While not eye popping, those numbers in regular playing time which is roughly 550 ABs extrapolate out to approximately 18 HRs and 81 RBIs, well above the average production for a #7 in an NL lineup where he will most likely hit with the Mets.
Church is also a solid defensive outfielder with the ability to play all three outfield positions. He will serve as a defensive upgrade in right field and pair with Carlos Beltran to cover a lot of ground. Outfield defense is especially important for the Mets as their pitching staff is comprised of fly ball pitchers that put a lot of balls in play.
The other player acquired in this deal is Brian Schneider, an excellent defensive catcher who provides the Mets with stability at the catcher position. Schneider's ability to throw out baserunners is a big asset in the NL east, a division laden with speedy base stealers. Given the Mets offensive prowess, he is a better fit than Johnny Estrada who is very poor defensively and Ramon Castro who is injury prone.
I believe that given this team's aging key pieces - Pedro, Alou, Castillo, Delgado and Wagner - the window for fielding a championship team falls in a 2-3 year window. The additions of Church and Schneider bring great intangibles in terms of defense and leadership (Schneider is great at handling young pitchers and has worked with Maine in the past) in the short-term. These players are the type of role players that can put a talented roster over the top. However, if the Mets fail to land a frontline starter using their remaining chips - Carlos Gomez, Mike Pelfrey, Phillip Humber and/or Aaron Heilman (on the verge of a total implosion) - then this deal's immediate impact will be marginal and the Lastings impressions may be disastrous.
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Yesterday, I posted with my thoughts on the state of the Knicks and the fallout from Stephon Marbury going AWOL. I approached this ugly situation with my glass half full and considered Marbury's actions as the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. I also chose to defend Isiah's desicion to bench Marbury, seeing it as a sign that he is growing as a coach, realizing the negative impact Steph has on the young roster. The final line of my post read as follows:
"Marbury has shown his hand Isiah, now it's your move."
Essentially, Isiah had finally reached the crossroads of his Knicks coaching tenure and this was his chance to give his "team first" mantra some teeth. He was in a position to prove to the 14 other players on the Knicks roster as well as the fans that Marbury's selfish, me-first actions would not go unnoticed this time. He had the opportunity to set a refreshing precedent in the Knicks locker room that if you feel you are above the team, your detrimental actions will be met with the appropriate discipline whether it be a fine and/or suspension (both of which were more than warranted in this instance). Most importantly, before yesterdays game Isiah Thomas had the opportunity to begin to change the culture of a downtrodden franchise by putting a hefty dent in the tyrannical reign of Lord Stephon over the Knicks roster.
Unfortunately for Knicks players and fans, Isiah Thomas' response spoke volumes about the sorry state of the New York Knicks. The cover-my-ass mentality of the team's upper management was on full display for the world to see as anyone who cares about this team got to see first hand the dirty motivations that drive descion-making around these parts. Stephon Marbury was not punished for skipping out on his team, rather he sat out the first 9 minutes of the game before playing 34 minutes including crunch time late in an 84-81 loss.
Earlier today, a damning article surfaced (reported first by Johnny Ludden of Yahoo! Sports) stating that before the Clippers game, Isiah Thomas had sent Jamal Crawford to gauge whether the team felt Marbury should play in that night's game. Ultimately, Isiah told Jamal Crawford that if one guy spoke out against Marbury playing, he would be benched. As it turns out, Crawford and the Knicks held a vote which unanimously declared that Marbury should not play in Wednesday night's game.
After reading this article I felt like a fool. I had put my faith in Isiah calling him the right man to oversee the growth of this roster. Given his tremendous leadership qualities and no nonesense attitude as a player, I expected him to make the right move. I was certain he would vouch for the 14 guys, all of whom he has brought in and molded in his tenure in NY, over the one guy that he was finally done placating. But it was not to be and remained business as usual at MSG - save your ass first focus on the success of the team second.
Now, perhaps Isiah was caught in a Playmakers scenario, with James Dolan playing the role of Wilbanks and Stephon being a carbon-copy of DH without the game-changing talent. However, Isiah had to of known that even if he appeased the owner in order to keep his job, his actions would lose him the respect of his players and hit him where it hurts most - the team's on court performance.
Ultimately in New York, if you don't win, you don't stick around long. Ask Larry Brown, Ray Handley or the immortal Richie Kotite. To date, Isiah has defied this logic but given the events of 11/14, the end of the Zeke regime is just around the corner.
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Coming into the NBA season, my plan was to wait five game before writing any material regarding the play of the New York Knicks. This is because during the Zeke regime in NY, I have experienced a myriad of dizzying highs and lows which have often occured in a span of just a few days. Thus, I am conditioned not to shell out praise prematurely and to take every win with a grain of salt because disaster is always lurking with this team... whether it be at an afterhours HORSE game or in the backseat of a truck.
Watching the Knicks pull off a classic win against the Denver Nuggets at a MSG last Tuesday, I was compelled to jump on the computer and bang out a gushy post applauding all the wonderful things I had just seen. Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph effectively coexisting on the court. Jamal Crawford and Stephon Marbury looking like a two-headed floor general, showing a great ability to score as well as make the right pass. The knicks young, versatile bench players - D Lee, Nate and Balkman - providing a little bit of everything be it defensive grit, scoring or rebounding when the team needed it most. Balkman's sick "Hustle Harder" tattoo which is spread out on the back of his calves. Lastly and most importantly in my mind, Isiah Thomas coming into his own as a coach and sticking to an 8 man rotation with defined roles.
However, as much as that win brought back memories of the old days at MSG, when opponents knew it would take a hard-working 48 minutes of basketball to beat the Knicks in NY, I stopped myself from writing and decided to wait the extra two games as originally planned. I cannot begin to describe how much things have changed in one week but I also cannot honestly say I am shocked either.
Stephon Marbury has looked terribly out of place ever since the Denver game in which the Knicks played a more wide open run and gun style to match that of the free wielding Nuggets offense. Against the Magic and Heat, two teams that play conservative, slow-down styles on offense, Steph struggled to run the Knicks half court offense effectively and the team looked better with Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson and Mardy Collins at the helm. Marbury's reluctance to sacrifice scoring in favor of consistently feeding Curry and Randolph in the post coupled with his bad habits of driving wildly to the rim early in the shot clock and forcing shots when he is not prominently involved in the scoring all take their toll on the flow of an offense.
The news of Steph leaving the Knicks before their game in Phoenix and returning home broke Tuesday, just as I was getting ready to pen my first Knicks post and as such I decided to let all the details unfold. Basically the Cliff Notes version of the confrontation goes as follows. During the plane ride to Phoenix, Steph learned through Eddy Curry that he would be coming off the bench for the Suns game. Steph then confronted Isiah and they got into heated argument on the plane. Finally, Steph left Phoenix and headed back home but not before telling teammates (according to the Daily News):
"Isiah has to start me, I've got so much (stuff) on Isiah and he knows it. He thinks he can get me. But I'll get him first. You have no idea what I know."
Quite a mess; however, it may take an incident of this magnitude to remove Marbury from this roster, a move i feel will improve the team this year and into the future. The fact is, the Knicks have a very above average young roster and Marbury's ball hoggery and poor decision-making has stunted their growth. The core guys - Curry, Randolph, Crawford, Nate, David Lee, Mardy Collins, Balkman and Q Rich - are unselfish, hard working and collectively display a variety of complementary skills. I feel that once given the opportunity, these guys will function well as a unit and develop into a winning team together with (i can't believe im saying this) Isiah Thomas being the right man to oversee their growth.
I am as heavy a critic as Isiah as you'll find; however, if he sticks to his guns with Marbury and either benches, or buys him out (a move I have been waiting over 2 years for as trading is out of the question regardless of what Chris Sheridan says) this organization can finally get out of neutral and dive head first into the process of grooming a winner in the not-to-distant future.
Marbury has shown his hand Isiah, now its your move.
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It is amazing how many quirky in-game promotions sports franchise run these days, often at the bidding of a large corporate sponsor. I've always been particularly interested in those that give us fans some burn, whether it is a t-shirt launch leading to a small scrum for the right to own a cavernous XXXL t-shirt that would serve as Grady Jackson's pajamas or a moment on the jumbotron making a fool of ourselves.
While light-hearted in nature, many of of these in-game promotions pose some inherent dangers to certain fans in attendance. The over-zealous fan (pictured above) reaching aggressively for a t-shirt who accidently falls over the upper deck railing without Reggie Jackson to break his fall on the ground (long-awaited, well-placed Naked Gun joke). The married man casually attending a ballgame with his attractive mistress who gets caught on Kiss Cam. Or how about this scenario: It's bat day in Philadelphia and the drunken Phillies fan next to you just realized you are related to JD Drew.
Eventually one of these gags was bound to go wrong and it was revealed this week that in 2006 it did indeed. A lawsuit filed against the St. Louis Cardinals by the mother of a 17 year-old Illinois girl (identified in court papers as "A.B.") alleges the team failed to properly screen the text messages being posted on the ballpark's message board as part of a phone company promotion. The incident occured during a school field trip to the big Cardinals-Royals game (the midwest's answer to the heated Orioles-Nationals in-state, interleague rivalry back east that eats up all the headlines each summer) and the text was apparently sent by one of the girl's classmates. The result was the posting of a message on the big screen at Busch Stadium reading "A.B. has an STD. Eww."
The girl is suing the Cardinals for 25k in damages and while (according to court papers) she does not have an STD, her story has hit home with athletes ranging from Michael Vick to Michael Vick.
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What better time to bang out this week's edition of the Gig List than following a tough Knicks loss. Overall, the Knicks looked good against a fired up King James on the road. Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry prospered on the floor together, Nate Robinson looks much improved both offensively and defensively, D Lee has polished his offensive game a bit and Jamal Crawford continues to develop as both a scorer and passer. Many positives to take into the home opener Sunday against the artists formerly known as the 2006-07 Boston Celtics, the Minnesota T'Wolves. I am going to hold off assessing this Knicks team until the 5 game mark, at which point all GOY readers should be ready for some analytical fury!
Anyway, this has been a loaded sports week. The Red Sox championship has made their fans 45% (arbitrary number) more obnoxious and unbearable while Martina Hingis showed us that the 1986 Mets have nothing on her in the drug department. Guess she doesn't mind the all-white outfit requirement at Wimbledon eh! A lot of good giggin candidates this week, so lets get to it:
1. Scott Boras & A-Rod - Scott Boras chose the 8th inning of Sunday night's World Series game 4 to announce that A-Rod was opting out of his Yankee contract and would become a free agent. While critics claim that the timing for the announcement was classless and this was a blatant attempt to overshadow the game, Boras explained that it was the only time he had available to send out the email. "You have to understand, I am a busy man. Between all the high-profile athletes that I represent and the added shifts I had to take on tending the gates of hell in exchange for JD Drew's 70 million dollar contract, there was simply no other time I could have made the announcement." Boras went on to add that he has nothing but the utmost respect for the Red Sox organization and general manager Theo Epstein. "Theo has done a great job building the Red Sox roster. If it wasn't for his savvy desicion-making do you think I'd be talking to you from this lavish yacht, the SS Heist? I think not. Now if you'll excuse me I need to grab my pitchfork, the Prince of Darkness does not tolerate tardiness."
2. Curt Schilling - Not to be outdone, Curt Schilling super-blogger/genius/plus-size pinup model rediscovered the art of the handwritten letter this week, penning letters to each of his Red Sox teammates bidding them farewell. Fortunately, we found one of the letters Schilling wrote crumpled in the trash can behind Fenway Park and would like to share it exclusively with our loyal GOY readers. Addressed to staff ace Josh Beckett the letter read:
Dear Josh,
Your performance in this year's playoffs was awesome. However, you have a long way to go before you can be considered in the same class as me, the great Curt Schilling. Come talk to me when you pitch with a bloody sock or have a hair style that rivals my awesome spikes "ace."
Best Wishes,
Curt
PS - Don't even think about starting a blog because you are not as smart as me.
Interestingly, when asked about his letter from Schilling, Kevin Youklis had no idea what we were talking about. "Oh Kevin, he didnt receive a personal handwritten letter from me," Schilling said. "I found out the other day Kevin is a Jew and since his people killed my lord and savior Jesus Christ, I have nothing to say to him."
3. Andy Reid - Andy Reid's two sons Britt and Garrett Reid were sentenced to 23 month prison terms, resulting from a slew of drug and gun charges. Reid, regarded as one of the top coaches in the NFL as well as one of the curviest, made it clear today that he will stay on as the head coach of the Eagles despite his family turmoil. Adding insult to injury, Judge Steven O'Neill gave a damning description of the Reids calling their home a "drug emporium" and stating that they are a "family in crisis." Reid said that he is grateful for all of the support he is receiving from the NFL community. "Michael Irvin has reached out to us as have Ricky Williams and Bam Morris. The funny thing is, they each asked for Britt and Garrett's cell phone numbers at the end of our conversations. I had to remind them that the boys are not allowed to have cell phones in jail." The Reid boys, raised on the mean streets of Montgomery county (an affluent suburb of Philadelphia) went as far as to proclaim they enjoyed "dealing drugs in the hood." Now it appears, they'll have to worry only about protecting their trunks.
4. Roy Williams - Taking time out from getting beat deep by WRs on the practice squad, Roy Williams responded to Donovan Mc Nabb's assertion that the Eagles are still the team to beat in the NFC east due to the fact they won the division last year and 5 times since 2000. Williams, whose Cowboys play the Eagles on Sunday in Philly where they have lost 7 of their last 8, responded with the following:
"Right now, they are in no position to talk about 'everything goes through Philly.' Some teams went to Philly and they beat them. No one is worried about 'You have to go through Philly. 'You have to go through Dallas, you have to go through Washington and you have to go through New York, too. Everybody feels they are the best. Right now, it's just about how you play ont he field, that proves you are the best."
After a reporter pointed out that all of the NFC East teams are aware they must play each other on the road this season and that his closing lines were a simple-minded cliche', the strong safety chased the reporter into the parking lot, dragging him down from behind by the collar of his sports blazer. Williams was penalized 15 yards for the tackle and the press conference was ended prematurely. The reporter (ACL) is out for the season.
5. Joe Torre - An unlikely candidate to be on the Gig List, Torre was nominated this week by Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Scott Proctor. Formerly of the Yankees, Torre used Proctor in 12 of 17 games earlier this year. The excessive workload would eventually send the reliever to the DL with a tired arm. He was traded to LA soon after in exchange for Wilson Betemit. Upon hearing of Torre's hiring as the new Dodgers skipper, Proctor legally changed his name to Chad Curtis in hopes of being thrown under the bus by Torre and traded. When that failed, Proctor sawed off his right arm in order to as he put it "quit delaying the inevitable."
Big Game Prediction: Pats 31 Colts 21
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The NBA landscape was altered fairly drastically this offseason when several high-calibur players and two legitimate superstars defected from the Western Conference and landed on Eastern Conference teams. It's hard to characterize the overall effect this player movement has had on the balance of power in the NBA as arguably the three best teams - San Antonio, Phoenix and Dallas - still reside out west and I would even venture to say that Houston and Utah are better than any team the east has to offer.
When evaluating the Eastern Conference, it is important to look at three things:
1) The number of east teams that improved this offseason - The additions of Jason Richardson to the Bobcats and Rashard Lewis to the Magic bolster the starting lineups of two up and coming teams with young cores. The arrivals of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett have Boston looking like a title contender and perhaps the class of the east while Zach Randolph gives the Knicks an excellent chance of getting into the playoffs.
2) The eastern teams kept their core players and rosters intact - The Nets resigned Vince Carter, keeping Kidd, RJ and Carter together while Detroit resigned Chauncey Billups, bringing back their unquestioned floor general. In addition, emerging teams like Chicago and Toronto addressed small needs and come back with the same cast of young players, now with added game experience. Another under-the-radar move was Mo Williams resigning with the Bucks. At 25, I am almost positive that he isn't the next Mike James and could develop into one of the better scoring point guards in the NBA. But again, this is the NBA and we are dealing with the world of guaranteed money here. If Williams came into camp weighing 285 lbs. and missing two fingers on his shooting hand I wouldn't be surprised.
3) The players returning from injury - Tanking was occuring at an unprecedented clip last season with players dropping left and right for a variety of reasons ranging from the ever-popular "stress fracture" to a hang nail. This is why my fantasy basketball roster consisted of Mardy Collins, everyone's favorite sex offender Ruben Patterson and the pride of USC (South Carolina of course!) Terrence Kinsey in the final weeks. With tanking not set to being again until March, players like Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut are now healthy again for the Bucks and the Hawks return Josh Smith and Joe Johnson. Speaking of the the Hawks, they have looked surprisingly good this preseason with Acie Law IV running the show.
The result is the east being a wide open conference in which every team has at least an outside chance to make the playoffs (yes even Atlanta and Philly). While Boston and Chicago are considered the early season favorites, there are multiple candidates for seeds 3 through 8 come playoff time.
The outlook in the west is much clearer with the five teams I mentioned before - San Antonio, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston and Utah - being locks for the playoffs and legitimate title contenders. Denver and Golden State should also make the playoffs and could push the elite teams a bit. The only slight intrigue comes in the form of the 8 seed which should go to the Lakers given a happy Kobe but may be taken by the upstart Hornets pending everyone stays healthy (especially CP3 and Tyson Chandler).
Beyond the playoff contenders, the West features a cast of rebuilding teams that have poor rosters and little hope. The NBA's two worst teams reside in Minnesota and Seattle with Sacramento, Memphis and a beat-up Portland team not far behind. The Clippers without Elton Brand and Shaun Livingston are also looking at a long season. This discrepancy between the top and bottom teams makes the west terribly top heavy and uninteresting until playoff time.
So now without further delay, from the man who prognosticated Dallas' demise in the first round of this year's playoffs, here are my predictions for the 2007-08 NBA season:
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
1. Boston
2. Toronto
3. New York
4. New Jersey
5. Philadelphia
Central
1. Chicago
2. Detroit
3. Cleveland
4. Milwaukee
5. Indiana
Southeast
1. Orlando
2. Miami
3. Charlotte
4. Washington
5. Atlanta
Playoffs
1. Boston
2. Chicago
3. Orlando
4. Detroit
5. Toronto
6. Miami
7. Cleveland
8. New York
Eastern Conference Finals - Boston over Chicago in 6 games
Western Conference
Northwest
1. Utah
2. Denver
3. Portland
4. Seattle
5. Minnesota
Pacific
1. Phoenix
2. Golden State
3. LA Lakers
4. LA Clippers
5. Sacramento
Southwest
1. San Antonio
2. Dallas
3. Houston
4. New Orleans
5. Memphis
Playoffs
1. San Antonio
2. Phoenix
3. Utah
4. Dallas
5. Houston
6. Denver
7. Golden State
8. New Orleans
Western Conference Finals - San Antonio over Phoenix in 7
NBA Finals - San Antonio over Boston in 5
For further analysis, check out our friends at Garbage Points who have spent an inordinate amount of time preparing detailed previews for each NBA team.
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Giggin' On Ya has been on extended summer vacation and thus it has taken a considerable amount of time to follow up the initial edition of The Gig List. However, we are going to take Isiah Thomas' approach to the last four months - forgetting they ever happened - and look forward to the fine folks that deserve a good giggin on this 24th day of october...
1. Rudy Giuliani - In a move that roughly equates to Hulk Hogan joining the nWo, Rudy Giuliani announced this week during a campaign fundraiser at a Boston restaurant that he will be rooting for the Red Sox in the 2007 World Series. Giuliani, who was awarded four honorary World Series rings by the Yankees during his term as mayor of New York City and who hails from Brooklyn, explained that he is rooting for the hated Sox because he is an "American League fan." He then went on to add that given his New York roots, he would also root for the Mets in the World Series and the Democrats if they win the election in 2008.
2. City of Philadelphia - If you enjoy championship droughts in sports, unattractive people and running stone steps during training, I have the city for you. A survey of 60,000 people released by Travel & Leisure magazine, ranking 25 major cities in a variety of categories, found the people of Philadelphia to be the least attractive. This is especially distressing news for a city that also ranks in the top 10 in obesity and unkempt mustaches. Philadelphia mayor John F. Street, sporting a partial fu-manchu and a hair style that is a cross between an afro and flat top, said the city is prepared to take added measures to increase the attractiveness and general health of its citizens. "These survey results are a wake up call to city hall and the citizens of Philadelphia. In the next few months, we will be implementing new initiative calling for more rigorous gym class regiments for children in K-12 and free seminars for female citizens focusing on the most effective ways to eliminate undesirable chest and facial hair." When asked about his most controversal piece of legislation which would set a quota on the number of cheesesteaks that may be consumed in the city each week, the mayor was more conservative with his response. "We have received mixed reviews on the cheesesteak quota and will explore ways to alter the bill in order to keep everyone in the city satisfied." One of the staunchest opponents of the cheesesteak crackdown, Eagles head coach Andy Reid, could not be reached for comment as this article was written during lunchtime.
3. The Hackers who took down the Colorado Rockies online ticketing systen - You messed with God's baseball team fellas. Don't be surpised if upon waking tomorrow the collection of computer porn you have painstakingly put together over the years has vanished, your beloved character "BoneCrusherLadySexer007" which you live vicariously through in World of Warcraft is deceased, your Ovaltine tastes like urine and nothing is like it seems... in other words your parents have kicked you out of their basement, your dwelling since the Reagan administration.
4. Green Bay Packers Fans - After attending the Giants-Packers game at Giants Stadium, I came away disgusted by a majority of the Green Bay faithful. While I understand that the diet of the average Wisconsin resident - beer, cheese, sausage, brats and babies - is conducive to creating the mamouth masses of flab that are the Green Bay Packers fan base, it was the rude, surly demeanor they displayed that I found shameful. In this 20 second YouTube clip, a young Packers fan simply gets owned.
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After nearly four months of silence, Giggin' On Ya is back and after much soul searching I for one have finally found religon. I haven't found the usual suspect which accompanies a fall from grace, Jesus, and I wouldn't know where to begin in my quest to find Buddha or the inspiration for 6 seasons of 24, the ever-popular Allah. No, my savior in these troubled times doesn't reside above, but rather walks among us.
These have been tough times for the avid New York sports fan such as myself. The Mets folded like a lawn chair down the stretch, turning the entire city of Philadelphia into baseball fans for one glorious September. As I watched the white towels furiously waving in Philadelphia as a gutsy Phillies team overcame a 7 game deficit in the final 17 games to win the NL East I felt unprecedented pain and anger. A combination of the hatred Shawn Marion feels everytime he sees Amare Stoudamire lacing up his sneakers before a game mixed with Shawn Kemp's anguish when filling out his minion of child support payments each month. The demise of the Mets coupled with the demoralizing state of the New York Knicks franchise has made this a truly trying time. But I'm glad to say I have been vindicated friends as on Sunday, September 30th I put my faith in the upstart 2007 New York Giants!
Leaving Shea Stadium that Sunday with the final nail emphatically placed in the Mets 2007 season by the Marlins, I was thoroughly demoralized. After my life was saved due to the advent of suicide windows in my 18th floor apartment and I gave up my search for rat poison, I sat down to watch the New York Giants. Twelve sacks later I was reborn! Five straight wins later I am a staunch believer in this team, even toying with the possibility of turning my cautious optimism into full-blown optimism for the first time in my Giants fanhood.
The biggest reasons for the Giants revival: the play of the defense (couldn't be any worse after the first 2 weeks) and the continued brilliance of the offensive line. The accomplishments of the defense have been well-documented - allowed 55 points in the last 5 games, lead the NFL in sacks, rivaling the rams offense in TDs - but this offensive line is doing things that are unheard of by Giants standards. If I told you two years ago that in 2007 the Giants offensive line would be in the top 5 in least penalties and sacks allowed what would you have said to me? Probably something unpleasant but yes these are the facts through 7 games! Chris Snee, Shaun O'Hara and Kareem Mc Kenzie are legitimate pro bowl candidates (especially Snee, he better make it), David Diehl has made a seemless transition to left tackle and Rich Seubert is just a nasty man in the trenches.
The sparkling offensive line play has improved all phases of the offense from Eli Manning's production (where are the idiots who were calling for Lorenzen now), Plax's ascent to a top 5 WR and Brandon Jacobs development into one of the better young running backs in the NFL. This guy has unique size and a load of talent, it will be fun to watch as he establishes himself this year.
Beyond on-field performance, the biggest difference between this team and Giants teams of the past 5-6 years is the positive attitude that flows from these guys and the continuity in the locker room. This is a tight knit group that legitamately has each others back and Tom Coughlin deserves a lot of credit for this. In developing the player council and softening his controlling demeanor he has helped build an understanding with his players, making them willingly buy in to his philosophies.
Finally, a bulk of the credit must also be given to Tiki Barber for a) retiring, removing a lot of tension and negativity from the locker room b) bashing the Giants in an effort to build his on-air persona resulting in the team becoming closer as a group and c) providing such transparent analysis on Football Night in America that the well-groomed Jerome Bettis looks like Bill Bellichick by comparison. Thanks again Tiki, I will never forget those magical wild card round losses you lead us to during your prime.
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Sam Perlozzo was fired yesterday as the manager of the Baltimore Orioles. Although I know little about the Orioles organization or Perlozzo's managing abilities, I do know he was not to blame for the team's poor play. How do I know this? Look no further than Mr. Jim Duquette, the Orioles VP and former GM of my New York Mets.
During his illustrious Mets tenure, Duquette is credited with:
- Signing 0-tool player Kaz Matsui to play shortstop, moving a young player named Jose Reyes to SECOND BASE in the process.
- Bringing in Braden Looper and his awkward "struggling on the toilet bowl" facial expressions to close.
- Low-balling Vlad Guerrero to the tune of 3 years 30 mil, with the explanation that Vlad has back problems. That same year he went on to win the MVP in Anaheim and his 5 year 69 mil contract is a bargain.
- Trading Scott Kazmir for a 29 year old pitcher with a history of elbow problems (refuse to mention his name).
- Overpaying for Kris Benson and single-handedly destroying the starting pitching market as we now know it. Somewhere, Barry Zito is kissing a framed picture of Jim Duquette while lighting up a cigar using a c-note.
This collection of savvy moves with the Mets netted Duquette a front office position with the Orioles in 2006 where he has failed to establish a plan and more than lived up to his reputation as a lousy judge of talent.
Duquette started off his Orioles run the only way he knows how - with a lop-sided trade that serves to weaken his organization while taking on payroll. The acquisition of Kris Benson for Jorge Julio and John Maine provided Baltimore with an overpaid, oft-injured pitcher and his outspoken wife Anna, a woman ready to sleep with the entire locker room at a drop of a hat. While Baltimore added an elite DL candidate and easy ass the Mets turned Julio into El Duque and saw John Maine blossom into a solid starting pitching. Essentially, Duquette has done far more to help the Mets in his tenure with the Orioles than during his stint in Queens.
This off season, with Kris Benson firmly entrenched on the DL for the season, Duquette and his partner in crime, executive VP Mike Flanagan sought out some "veteran" arms to round out the rotation. This effort lead to the acquisitions of the artist formerly known as Jared Wright who peaked in 1997 and the human rain delay Steve Trachsel who has never peaked. With the starting rotation "set", Duquette and Flanagan turned their attention to the bullpen. They proceeded to overpay every aging arm available on the market including Chad Bradford and Jamie Walker - 2 situational relievers who would now be asked to work full innings - and Danys Baez, a shaky fireballer with a homerun problem (brilliant move bringing him to the launching pad in Camden Yards). With over 50 million invested in unreliable pitching, Jay Payton and Aubrey Huff were signed to round out the lineup. In related news, Miguel Tejada was placed on suicide watch.
Point is Sam Perlozzo had no chance to win with this roster. First off, the lineup can’t hit for power in a hitter’s park. Second, the starting pitching staff (sans Erik Bedard) is a collection of guys who are either young and lack control or old, injury-prone and just awful. Finally, the bullpen, the supposed strength, has seen young closer Chris Ray sputter and the new guys Walker and Bradford struggling mightily after fast starts. Wonder if that has to do with the fact they haven’t been anything more than situational relievers for the past couple years??
Frankly, the Orioles did Perlozzo a favor by firing him. Between the dimwitted management team and overbearing owner Peter Angelos calling the shots, the Orioles might be the most depressing team in the Majors right now. Sorry Orioles fans, this might take a while to fix…
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As I decompose at my desk on this beautiful Monday in Manhattan like a roided Rey Ordonez during the 2002 baseball season, I'd like to introduce a new feature to this blog of ours: The Gig List. For those of you not familiar with the concept of "gigging," it is a term that can be used to denote a state of superiority or ownership over another individual. Essentially, if I gigged on ya, at some point in time I OWNED you. My counterpart Becky will explain this phenomenon in detail later this week.
Now without further delay, I introduce the inaugural class of the gig list:
1. Richard Jefferson (or as he is known in the New Jersey gay community "RJ")
Becky has already broken the most important news story - the inexplicable engagement of RJ to a female. I dont know about you, but the first thing that came to mind when I heard about this was the superb ESPN series Playmakers. The show focuses on the culture of the locker room, personal lives of players/coaches and the fickle nature of management in professional football. During the series, it is revealed that the team's pro bowl tight end, Thad Guerwitcz is gay. To hide his homosexuality, Thad gets engaged to a smoking hot woman to alleviate any doubt about his sexual preference among his teammates. Now, I'm not saying RJ's gay or he will be exposed... im just telling you what came to mind when I heard the news.... the parallels are there... moving on...
2. The New York Mets
The Mets are struggling right now having lost 11 of their last 14 games. The Carloses have looked bad at the plate, failing to produce in RBI situations while Tom Glavine has had a few tough outings in a row. To make matters worse for Mets fans, this rough stretch has coincided with the Yankees righting the ship, winning 14 of 17 including 2 of 3 in the subway series this weekend.
Fortunately, the Mets remain in first and are slowly getting back their starters including Jose Valentin and Shawn Green with Lastings Milledge and Moises Alou on the horizon. Personally, I think the Mets will get back on track this week at home and go 4-2 in the upcoming 6 games versus Minnesota and Oakland. Meanwhile, the Yankees should continue to stay hot in interleague play, making it very tough to be a bandwagon New York baseball fan but easy for those who claim to "root for all New York teams."
3. Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant reiterated his trade demands and continues to tease downtrodden Knicks fans everywhere by including New York on a short list of teams he would waive his no-trade clause to play for. Look, Kobe isn't getting traded. Simply put, the Lakers couldn't get equal value for him in any trade and have no obligation to move him.
As such, here is my plea to you Kobe: Please stop making these demands. I don't need this sense of false hope in my life. It has already forced me do things I am not proud of such as read a Chris Sheridan blog or listen to an Isiah Thomas' interview on the Stephen A. Smith show. For the love of G-d, put us out of our misery with a cliched interview establishing your undying allegiance to the Lakers and end this fiasco. Now if you will excuse me I am going to destroy my ear drums with some jagged Cheez Doodles.
4. NFL Busts Past and Present
Kudos to BradyFan83 on YouTube for this brilliant song parody focusing on a myriad of NFL draft busts entitled Mr. Upside. Try to name all the busts pictured and pay close attention to the lyrics; they are hilarious. Here's to you Blair Thomas, you're finally getting the attention you deserve pal.
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As a whole, the first round of the 2007 NBA Playoffs have been terribly underwhelming. The eastern conference has seen 3 sweeps already in which the mighty central is 12-0 versus the crummy southeast division. This includes the defending champion (sad) Miami Heat who got dominated by the Bulls and set the blueprint for what the St. Louis Cardinals can expect in their "title defense." The Nets-Raptors series has been interesting, with an experienced Nets team showing some serious moxie in taking a 3-2 lead into the swamp tomorrow night. I'd comment further on Vince Quitter's WNBA inspired play in Canada, Jason Kidd's brilliance (I'd take Kidd and Nash over any point guard on the planet) and why Bostjan Nachbar is a poor man's Brent Barry but I will step aside and leave this series to my counterpart Becky.
Out west, San Antonio and Phoenix have advanced in 5 games while the Houston-Utah series has been mediocre at best with the home team dominating the first 5 games. Overall, the level of excitement in these 7 playoff series is on par with AC Green's sex life during his playing days.
This brings us to Golden State-Dallas and our savior Baron Davis, the only man reliving the days of gangster rap’s prominence with his authentic Suge Knight issue beard. The Baron has been devastating in this series and the catalyst to all of Golden State's high-flying success in the first 5 games. He is putting up 26 points a game and getting to the basket at will attracting the attention of 2 or 3 defenders. While his assists are down in the series, his reckless abandon to the rim has opened up the court for the Warriors supporting cast in creating open 3s and easy put back baskets. It is no accident that Stephen Jackson and Jason Richardson are averaging 20+ points a game while the tattooed wonder Matt Barnes and Mickael Pietrus have been solid contributors from 3 point land. In addition to his offensive brilliance, The Baron has raised his defensive intensity and, like Stephon Marbury before him, has shocked us with his ability to defend one on one and force turnovers. He is averaging 2 steals a game this series and those steals more often than not have been turned into fast break buckets.
Getting off The Baron's jock for a minute, Don Nelson and the entire Warriors team deserve a lot of credit. Defensively, the Warriors have been a revelation in the playoffs and their execution on offense has been superb. On defense the Warriors have 38 steals against the usually sure handed Mavs and have actually committed less turnovers on offense than their opponent. This is shocking given the Warriors’ chaotic style and the remarkably fast pace they play on offense in contrast to the Mavs’ more conservative ball control oriented offensive game. I think above all else, the turnover statistic has been the best indicator of Golden State's dominance over Dallas through the first 5 games.
The credit on defense must be given to Nellie. His delayed double teams on Dirk along with Stephen Jackson's in your face defense have totally demoralized the Hasselhoff enthusiast for the majority of the series (sans the final 2 minutes Tuesday night) and the excellent player placement in shading the passing lanes have allowed the undersized Warriors to utilize their speed on D and force countless turnovers. The old grizzly bear really knows the Mavs well and his disheveled mock turtleneck-blazer combinations will soon become the wardrobe of choice for old alcoholics forced to dress professionally in a formal setting. Lord knows, Nellie would rather show up to Oracle tonight in a loose fitting hawaiian shirt with comfortable shorts featuring a waistline-friendly elastic band and sandals.
Speaking of tonight's game, ESPN and their Maverick jocking analysts (no one picked Golden State to win the series) continue to play the "Dirk shifted the momentum of the series with his play in the final 2 minutes" card. Now, let's think about this for a minute. Game 5 had all of the classic makings of a Dallas blowout going in: high seed at home in an elimination game usually leads to a resounding win by the home squad and with Dallas up 21 in the second quarter it really looked like this wasn't going to be the Warriors’ night. Funny thing is Dallas once again imploded and GOLDEN STATE WAS UP 9 WITH 3 MINUTES TO GO IN DALLAS. Sure they ended up losing, but they dominated the final 28 minutes of that game on the road erasing a huge deficit in the process and had The Baron not fouled out, I am pretty sure Dallas would be finished. So my question is - How is this going to do anything but make the Warriors even more confident for game 6 in the absolutely insane Oracle Arena where Dallas has yet to win this year?? They have dominated Dallas at home and away and to imply as ESPN has that now the pressure is on Golden State is a complete joke. How could the pressure be on an 8 seed no one believed in other than Oakland residents and a certain man at Giggin’ On Ya, rather than a 67 win team that is close to being on the receiving end of the biggest upset/embarassment in NBA history? Exactly.
So tonight, loyal Warriors fans, raise up in Oaktown. May the deafening support from the sea of yellow result in a Dirk Nowitzki charter plane leaving for Deutcheland Friday morning and more Baron to enjoy in round 2.
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This weekend, the NFL takes over Radio City music hall for the 2007 NFL Draft and unlike past years, I don't find myself all that excited. Being a Giants fan, I have found the past few seasons emotionally draining given the team's erratic play and propensity for coming up short. The G-men have been plagued by an overwhelming amount of injuries to key players and failed to live up to the expectations placed on them, making it a very frustrating experience to follow this team at times.
The 2006 season is a perfect example of this as the G-men got off to a hot 6-2 start and in the midst of their most dominating performance, a thumping of division rival Dallas in Big D, the injury bug began to bite. Within the next few weeks the team would lose a myriad of starters including both defensive ends, #2 WR, #1 corner, strong-side outside linebacker and left tackle among others in a season that would ultimately result in a wild card round defeat to the Eagles and an unceremonious end to the Tiki Barber era.
With the bitter taste of playoff defeat to a hated rival still fresh on every Giants fans' pallette, it appears many fans have turned the blame to Eli Manning aka the most convenient scapegoat. I for one am sick and tired of hearing that this kid is already a draft bust and is the root of this team's problems. Additionally, any Giants fan who has ever said or even considered that the Giants start Jared Lorenzen should simply stop watching football or find a new team to follow that is a better fit for their non-existant football IQ, say the Houston Texans.
I am pleased the Giants gave Eli an extension this offseason and still believe strongly that he is going to be a special quarterback. In his first 2 years as a starter, Eli has taken the Giants to the playoffs twice and shown discernable talent and inherent skill in doing so. I feel that the Giants fanbase and too oftern talent evaluators around the NFL thought he would step into the saddle and immediately morph into big brother Peyton. Well I have news for you, Peyton Mannings come along once a decade if your lucky and Eli simply needs to find his own way.
Plenty of good QBs past and present have taken 4-5 years to develop a comfort zone and shine in the NFL. Look at Drew Brees who San Diego nearly left for dead after he completed his dismal third season in the NFL. In his 4th season, he broke out throwing for 3100 yards and 27 tds en route to becoming the top 5 Pro Bowl caliber QB you see today. Eli's numbers have been on par if not better than other young starters around the league and the "step back" he took last season can be attributed to more than just his desicion-making. The ridiculous rash of injuries that plagued the Giants would have hurt the play of even the most veteran signal callers. The Giants lost Amani Toomer, Eli's go to guy at WR because lets be honest, Plax does not run intermediate routes he just makes plays down the field and his left tackle Luke Petitgout who was replaced by Bob "head bangin" Whitfield, a complete waste of life offering little protection against the blind-side pass rush.
So Giants fans I implore you to bite your tongue about Young Eli, because wouldn't you rather be in the minority that stuck with him through the bad rather than the fickle majority that will have to flip their scripts once he reaches his potential? The choice is yours Big Blue backers....
Now, onto the draft, the Giants have been surprisingly quiet this offseason and management has done nothing to improve an aging roster with several glaring holes. In fact, this roster appears to be weaker now than when we last saw it at The Stink in January. Gone is Tiki Barber and while I will refrain from bad mouthing him, let me just say Tiki's parting shots at Tom Coughlin, his incessant whining and timeline for revealing his retirement last season may potentially overshadow his on-field accomplishments . Personally, I think we are in good hands with Brandon Jacobs who is a beast in the Larry Johnson mold, big and nimble with break away speed (you'll see) who can run inside and out. Reuben Droughns was a nice addition and offers the Giants an extra back who can really pound the ball.
However, I think the guys who have left totally outweigh the talent that has been added to the roster. While Chad Morton (stinks) and Carlos Emmons (good riddance) deserved their pink slips, cutting Lavar Arrington was a poor choice. The guy is still a solid linebacker when healthy, had a favorable incentive laden contract and was showing flashes of returning to form last year. Another player who could have easily been retained was Brandon Short, a veteran linebacker with a mean streak who played at a high level last year. Short also had a cap-friendly contract however he was not resigned. Finally, the worst move of all in my opinion, was the release of Luke Petitgout. Left tackles dont grow on trees and the Giants let him go with a half-assed back up plan of moving David Diehl to left tackle. The team wants to give Rich Seubert more PT at guard due to the nastiness he can add in the trenches as the Giants pound the ball more this year with their big backs; however, weakening the most important o-line position to do so is ridiculous.
These offseason moves play a huge factor in the team's drafting strategy as not only do we need to address linebacker and cornerback but now we also must find an offensive tackle to develop. To make matters worse, this draft is weak at the tackle position with the top 2 guys Joe Thomas of Wisconsin and Levi Brown of Penn State projected to go in the top 10. That leaves many experts to believe the Giants will be taking Joe Staley (no relation to the DUCE) of Central Michigan with the 20th pick overall. While Staley appears to be a a smart and coachable tackle with good upside, im not sure he would immediately offer a significant improvement over Diehl. If the Giants don't truly believe this guy could be our left tackle for the next 5-7 years, then its my opinion we are better off addressing our most glaring weakness at outside linebacker with Joe Beason, Paul Posluszny or Lawrence Timmons. Im in favor of drafting Timmons and think his tremendous speed and athleticism in the Demeco Ryans mold would be ideal for our defense and a nice complement to the instinctive Antionio Pierce. In the second round I've grown fond of Maryland cornerback Josh Wilson who while a bit undersized at 5 foot 9 inches, is a playmaker with good speed and is a fine kickoff returner, which fills another need.
This is an important draft Giants fans, lets hope Jerry Reese can get it done.
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Yeah, I know the NBA playoffs are in high gear, well some of the series anyway, (RIP Orlando and Washington) and I should be writing about them... However, after watching 24 on Monday night, it is my duty to address state of the show. So as Nets fans scour the internet for Jason Kidd injury reports and Warriors fans everywhere strap on their kevlar vests in anticipation of game 3, allow me to show you how Ricky Schroder (aka Ricky Stratton, the wuss from Silver Spoons) has turned a once proud show into an unintentional comedy free-for-all.
Before I get into it, let me begin by giving you my credentials. I have watched every episode over the past 6 seasons including the first episode of season 1, which got me immediately hooked. I have been a loyal fan and avid defender of the show's crazy twists, unrealistic plots and Jack's immunity from using the bathroom or eating for 24 hour intervals since day 1. Now lets get on with this...
24 offered a fresh look at a dramatic series utilizing the real-time gimmick, strong dialogue and intriguing plot lines that offered shock value yet were easy to follow and never compromised the story. Along with the quirky nuances, another key to 24's success has been the development of characters that viewers can relate to and form opinions about. Throughout the seasons, numerous main and supporting characters have come along meeting this dynamic and have gone down in 24 folklore. These characters have come and gone, however, in each season it was the cast of supporting characters around Jack Bauer that have laid the foundation for the show and helped to effectively play out the outrageous plot lines in a believable fashion. In essence, like any good team, it is the role players surrounding the superstar that have helped propel the show to the heights it has reached.
As far back as I can remember in the show, Jack Bauer has always had a sidekick (a Pippen if you will) that fans adored. This character along with the person running CTU have been crucial to the success of the plot. For the first 4 seasons, Jack's right hand man was Tony Almeida, who is to this date one of the most popular characters in 24 history. No true fan will forget the brilliant scene in season 4 where Jack calls "the only person he could trust" and Tony Almeida appears with guns blazing to save the day. Now, Almeida's character developed slowly over the first two seasons before he was truly embraced as Jack's right hand man. Similarly, Curtis Manning, the man who would eventually replace Tony as Jack's go to guy was slowly developed into a great character we could identify with in season 4 and after Tony's death he emerged as one of the more popular characters on the show.
With this in mind, it is very easy to identify the single moment season 6 went awry, the death of Curtis Manning in episode 4. Manning was killed by Jack and this time, no character had been developed behind him that could step up and take the reigns. The show had a huge hole to fill and they filled it with all 5 feet 6 inches of Ricky Schroder (no relation to Jay Schroeder), a poor man's David Caruso, who is about as believable as a federal agent as Zach Morris is as an NYPD cop.
The introduction of agent Mike Doyle has been an unadulterated disaster, as I for one (don't think I'm alone on this) cannot relate to his character at all and laugh to myself when he goes into one of his tough guy routines. The sight of puny Ricky Schroder interrogating Nadia was disgraceful and it's never good when you think to yourself "I wonder if Nadia could take this sissy." I doubt you would you get that feeling if Curtis or Jack were in on the interrogation.
As the season has progressed, they have attempted to work this lifeless red-headed monstrosity further into the show and it just gets worse and worse. At this point, everytime there is a scene with Schroder in it I cant contain my laughter. Whether the little guy is pacing around with his stupid "serious" look, getting in the face of Milo (another crumby character who reemerged after a 5 year absence to go from being a nerd they picked in conjunction with a raid to one of the head guys at CTU; another terrible angle) who can definately beat his ass or simply trying to perform any kind of agent duty, I just can't take it seriously.
Now to be fair there are plenty of other problems with this season. There are too many storylines going on at once, they keep rehashing old plots (presidential impeachment, nuclear bombs in LA), Wayne Palmer is the president and now Nadia is inexplicably the head of CTU! (Great move by the writers eliminating Bill Buchanan from the equation since he was one of the only good characters remaining!)
Regardless, when all is said and done and I have to pin the collapse of 24 on something, I will not hesitate to point to the replacement of Curtis Manning with Mike Doyle as the key reason for the show's downfall. Ricky Schroder, you have just been gigged on.
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With the tanking, fabricated injuries and inane referee sub-plots that defined a truly crumby NBA regular season behind us, the playoffs are finally upon us. So as Billy Knight scouts yet another "athletic swingman" while educating himself about the up and coming position known as "point guard" and MJ bides his time before killing Bernie Bickerstaff followed by the Bobcats cap room, future and AM's funky spirit (not necessairily in that order), lets make some predictions!
East
Detroit in 4 - Will Orlando even average 80 points a game in this series? Maybe if Dwight howard can throw down 40 dunks a night...
Cleveland in 4 - With the Agent down, Lebron will have to find a new Wizard to mess with at the free throw line. Enter Deshawn Stevenson!
Toronto in 6 - The only thing Canada hates more than Vince Carter is an athlete with a bad attitude that quit on his team to force a trade for selfish reasons. So either Vince or Gary Sheffield.
Chicago in 6 - After coming close to knocking off the Heat last year, the young Bulls will take this series in 6. Immediately after game 6, Bulls GM John Paxson will place a phone call to Isiah Thomas expressing his gratitude for Zeke's integral role in building the current roster and invite him to be his guest of honor at the NBA draft lottery. They will then discuss the finer points of Isiah's childhood growing up on the southside of Chicago.
West
Houston in 6 - Tmac and Yao will push the Rockets by the Jazz in a well played series, sending Carlos Boozer home to start on his inevitable journey of becoming the next Proactiv solution spokeperson.
Suns in 5 - Lakers are a mess and the Suns should handle them easily, however the Mamba will go off in one game and keep the Lakers from being swept. Meanwhile, Phil Jackson will continue to be stoic on the sidelines and forget that just being stoic and zen-like isnt going to cut it when you only have 1 future hall of famer on your roster and not 2.
Spurs in 6 - Denver will steal 2 games at home but stands little chance of beating Duncan and company in San Antonio. Look for Duncan to be targeted by the refs this series as fall out from the Joey Crawford incident. Too bad Duncan didn't heed Melo's advice about not snitchin'... snitches are bitches Tim, remember that next time my man.
Warriors in 7 - That's right, since I dont think Dallas is coming out of the west im just going to pick them to lose in round 1 for no good reason, other than...
Golden State has won 6 of the last 7 including a sweep of the 3 games this year.
The Baron is healthy and after all I've been through with him he owes me this series.
Most importantly, the only thing bigger than Nellie's waistline is his disdain for Dallas and Mark Cuban. The old grizzly bear will be pulling out all stops in this series which could lead to some phenomenal old school Nellie meltdowns, he is the Lou Pinella of the NBA, I'm pumped.
Ok, lets fast forward to the conference finals and get to the special birthday wish!
Conference FInals
East- Chicago vs Cleveland
West - Phoenix vs Houston
NBA Finals - Phoenix vs Cleveland
2007 NBA Champions - Phoenix Suns
I'd like to wish a happy 46th birthday to Don Mattingly! The fact the Yankees blew a 4 run lead in the 8th inning against Boston on your birthday (with Mo Rivera on the hill no less) speaks volumes about your propensity for losing. Your resume both on the field - one playoff appearance, yanks win world series immediately after your retirement, wade boggs rides horse - and on the bench - arch rival red sox become first team to come back from 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series, wade boggs still a dick - displays a predanatural instinct for losing and I salute you.
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Now, let me start off by saying that I am not a Golden State Warriors fan nor do I pretend to be one. I am in fact a loyal fan of the New York Knicks and will continue to be until default. However, this is not the time to discuss my distaste for Jared Jeffries (basketball's version of a 0-tool player, in other words Rey Ordonez) or the fact that Mardy Collins has gone from being a carbon copy of Rick Brunson - an easily exciteable towel waving 12th man, limited to garbage time play - into a viable NBA-caliber point guard with upside in a span of a month. I will also choose not to elaborate on how, through consistent interaction with several unflappable and biased Knicks fans at work, I have talked myself into the "Isiah was handed a tough hand by Scott Layden and has made great strides in the past season" camp. I will discuss these things following the draft... that is, unless the Bulls get the 1 or 2 pick in the lottery. At that point, I can be found locked in a dimly lit room blasting "Go NY Go" on repeat while staring at my John Starks "The Dunk" poster all the while reconsidering my life desicions and gently weeping.
Anyway, enough of the Knicks talk because today, April 18, 2007 belongs to the Golden State Warriors and their "win and in" matchup with the Portland Trailblazers. It is well known that the Warriors havent reached the playoffs in 12 seasons (the longest playoff drought of any NBA team) making tonight the biggest game the franchise has played in a long time.
Throughout my time following the NBA, I have held an inexplicable fondness for the Warriors. Run TMC saw the rise of my favorite point guard of the early 90's in Tim Hardaway and Chris Mullin's flat top, which ranks as arguably the stiffest haircut ever worn by a white basketball player with apoligies to Greg Ostertag pseudo flat top-crew cut. The Warriors were also integral for me in the Sega Genesis era. They were my team in all EA sports basketball games from Bulls vs Lakers featuring Tim Hardaway's patented "UTEP 2-Step" special move to NBA Live 95 which saw Chris Mullin's left-handed majesty behind the arc and a young, innocent Spree taking it hard to the tin.
Even after the Warriors sank to the bottom of the NBA ranks, a process that began with the arrival of Syracuse "legend" the immortal Billy Owens and was cemented by the departures of Webber and Nellie, they remained interesting. No team held a more "intense" practice session then the lowly Warriors in the PJ Carlisimo era and when John Starks, my favorite Knick of all-time, was traded naturally he ended up in Golden State.
The arrival of Baron Davis - the man responsible for ruining 4 of my fantasy basketball teams in the last 3 years, but who will be drafted by me next year because of my unconditional love and "feeling" at the start of each year that this will be "his year" - in 2005 and his pairing with Jason Richardson got me back on board with this franchise. Now with Mike Montogomery's blank stare long gone and the cranky Don Nelson back in charge, the team is infinitely fun to watch and a consumate threat to drop or allow 130-140 points on any given night. A mid-season trade sending the blackhole known as Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the pride of the Irish Troy Murphy to Indy yielded two athletic scorers in Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson. Harrington and Jackson are great fits for Nellie's "run and gun system" and helped make the team more explosive and well-rounded. (Insert cheap Stephen Jackson "run and GUN" joke here, because I wont be the one to incite his crazy ass). In addition, Monta Ellis has emerged as a budding superstar and with a healthy J-Rich and Baron, this team has finished the season strong.
So tonight, in Portland, Oregon, the Golden State Warriors can erase 12 forgettable years with a win and give their loyal fans, weird mascot and ornery coach the playoff berth they so desperately desire. May the spirit of Run TMC be with you.
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