Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Giants honored at White House
As customary the White House honors every year has the Super Bowl champs come to be celebrated and meet the President. It is truly an honor to do so. As you can see to the left that President Bush was given his own Giants jersey.“It turned out to be really one of the great, legendary football games in our nation’s history.” “You won the gratitude of your fans. The New York Giants fans love these Giants.” the President said.
Another priceless quote from the President was, “This is a great team that worked together.” “You won the Vince Lombardi Trophy - and you won the deep gratitude of the 1972 Miami Dolphins.”
That is some good stuff. Thank you Mr. president. Hopefully when the Giants return next year the new President will have half of the funny remarks you made today.
For me I'll never get tired of talking about the greatest Super Bowl of all-time and today's event was just another reason to remember and smile. I think every Giants fan during some point of everyday should stop and take a moment to think about that game. I'm willing to bet no matter how your day is going remembering the Super Bowl will bring a smile to your face.
Breaking News!!!! Sean Avery Hospitalized
According to the N.Y. Daily News Rangers LW Sean Avery has been rushed to a hospital with a cardiac arrest. No other details at the moment. Will post as soon as details are made available.
UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SEAN AVERY SIDELINED FOR REMAINDER OF SEASON
New York, April 30, 2008—New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that forward Sean Avery suffered a lacerated spleen in last night’s game, and will be sidelined for the remainder of the season. He was taken to St. Vincent’s hospital after the game, and was admitted following a CT scan. He is expected to make a full recovery during the off-season.That is very good news considering what has happened. Sean Avery may not be liked amongst the players and fans around the league but to us Ranger fans he is GOD. I hope he recovers soon. I hope this starts a blaze with the team to complete the near impossible and come all the way back to beat the Pens. I hope the Rangers resign him. I'll keep you updated on this if anymore details are released.
FINAL UPDATE!!!!!
Rangers forward Sean Avery hospitalized
By IRA PODELL
AP Hockey Writer
NEW YORK (AP) _ New York Rangers forward Sean Avery has been hospitalized after
lacerating his spleen during a playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
In a statement Wednesday, the team said the noted agitator was taken to St.
Vincent's Medical Center after New York's 5-3 loss Tuesday night and was
admitted following a CT scan.
Avery, whose spleen was not removed and isn't expected to need surgery, likely
will be hospitalized for a few days, team spokesman John Rosasco said.
Michael Fagan, spokesman for St. Vincent's Medical Center, said Avery is in
"stable" condition.
Rosasco said it's unclear when Avery was injured, but the forward complained
during the game of pain that got worse. Shortly after the game, Avery went in a
car from Madison Square Garden to the hospital with team physician Dr. Andrew
Feldman.
"He walked into the hospital," Rosasco said. "He was never in a
life-threatening situation."
Avery's mother, Marlene, told the Toronto Sun that Avery's spleen had not
ruptured, but he had suffered internal bleeding.
The spleen is an organ about the size of a fist on the left side of the body,
behind the stomach. It helps the body fight infection and filters the blood. A
person can live without a spleen, although they lose some of their ability to
fight infections.
The 28-year-old Avery will be out for the remainder of the season, the Rangers
said, but is expected to make a full recovery.
New York trails Pittsburgh 3-0 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference
semifinal series and can be eliminated as early as Thursday night in Game 4 at
the Garden. The Rangers went 33-14-10 with Avery in the lineup this season and
9-13-3 when he was sidelined with injuries.
Avery was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings in February 2007 and
sparked the team's playoff run in which the Rangers went 17-6-6 in games he
played following his arrival.
"We're definitely going to miss him," forward Ryan Callahan said after practice
Wednesday. "He's a real big part of the team. He's come up with some real big
points, scored big goals and obviously gets under the other team's skin.
"It's a tough loss to lose him. But we've got a lot of guys in here. Guys have
to step up, and we have to concentrate on the next game."
Avery had an assist on the Rangers' second goal Tuesday night.
"He's an important part of our team, obviously. There's no doubt about it,"
forward Brandon Dubinsky said. "At the same time, we have a job to do and it
starts (Thursday) night. We can't sit here feeling sorry for ourselves and
being sad and having the 'poor me' thought because one of our players is out."
Avery, set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season, is known for
pushing the envelope on the ice and off it.
In the Rangers' first-round victory over New Jersey, Avery frustrated the
Devils and goalie Martin Brodeur. The highlight came in Game 3 when Avery
planted himself in the crease with his back to the action and faceguarded
Brodeur.
"I've played for 15 years in this league. I've been watching games for 33
years. I had never seen that in my life," Brodeur said.
The NHL moved quickly to forbid the activity.
Nonetheless, Brodeur was so incensed by Avery's antics that he refused to shake
his hand after the Rangers' clinching victory in Game 5. Avery tied for the
team lead with three goals in the series.
In his NHL time with the Detroit Red Wings, the Kings and the Rangers, he has
elevated a knack of riling people into an art form. His targets find themselves
mouthing off, or worse, getting so angered that they draw a penalty.
"On the ice, things always happen," Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. "It's
emotional and intense. Guys are not the best of friends on the ice, but you
never want to see someone's health in jeopardy. I think we all wish him the
best.
"He's a guy who brings a lot of emotion to his team. I think we are a good
example, we learned from when we lost some guys that other guys step up. When
you lose guys you push harder to be better. So I don't think any of us will
take that for granted."
Avery has also had an ongoing feud with 41-year-old Penguins forward Gary
Roberts, who has yet to play in this series. Despite his 21 seasons of NHL
experience, Roberts lost his cool during a November game and took a 4-minute
high-sticking penalty against Avery that led to a goal in a Rangers victory.
"A guy like that, they take it a little bit more of an insult after you
disrespect them and all they've done for the game and how great they are,"
Avery said then of Roberts.
Roberts called Avery "an idiot" after his antics with Brodeur, but took a
softer tone when told of the injury.
"There's hockey and then there is life and your health. You don't wish that on
anybody," Roberts said. "I don't know Sean personally away from the rink.
Obviously, we've had our comments throughout the media, but truthfully when it
comes to this kind of stuff you just hope that he makes a full recovery."
Beloved List- Lawrence Taylor
L.T. The Greatest linebacker of all time. What can I say that none of you don't know. The man is just the greatest. No matter who wears number 56 in all of football everyone knows that number is associated with L.T. It pisses me off to see a running back call himself L.T. when everyone knows that when you say L.T. you immediately think of Lawrence Taylor. That is what being great is all about.
Beloved List- Patrick Ewing
The Big Man. The Franchise. By far the most beloved Knick of all time. Although he never brought a championship to the Knicks mainly because of my Chicago Bulls he played very hard and left it all on the court. Recently inducted to the Hall of Fame. Forever to be honored at MSG with his number being retired. There as a symbol to future Knick players on what it takes to be a Knick. I guess this current roster doesn't look at the retired numbers above their head.
Beloved List- Mookie Wilson
He was apart of the biggest play in franchise history. He hit the ball that went through Buckner's legs allowing the winning run to score in game 6. Which catapulted the Mets to their second ever world championship. Mookie is forever a hero and is beloved to this day and for generations to come. Hell even Yankee fans love him. They did beat the sox you know. Thanks Mookie.
Beloved List- Lou Gehrig- The Iron Horse
One of baseball's greatest player. Gehrig was beloved by the fans because he was a humble man who played everyday without question because it was expected of him. He played second fiddle to Babe Ruth but together they made an unstoppable force helping them to win championship after championship. Perhaps and sadly he will be remembered most by the disease that took him away. Which now carries his name. My favorite Yankee of all time and I never even got to see him play. That is how much he is loved today by the fans.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Beloved List- Derek Jeter
The current captain of the Yankees. The man is a winner. He plays hard, he plays hurt, he wins. He cares. How could you not love the man. A future inductee to the Hall of Fame. The Yankees version of captain clutch. The Man!!!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Beloved List- Phil Simms
The most important quality to being a beloved athlete in New York is that you got to have heart. The fans demand that you play with passion and actually show that you care. Phil Simms definitely had heart. Winning a championship helps your cause too. Phil is very deserving of being on my list. The man played with heart and guts. He was apart of 2 of the 3 super bowl championships for the Giants. He should be in the hall of fame in my opinion. Hell he was the first to say "I'm going to Disney Land". What better reason to love the guy.
Beloved N.Y. Athletes
I was sitting around watching old sports clips and I was thinking of putting together a list of the most beloved N.Y. athletes of all-time. The list will include videos if I can find one to show how loved the player is. The list will not be in any kind of order so don't treat it that way. If there is anyone you think I may have missed then please let me know and I'll see if they are worthy of being put up. I hope you enjoy.
SUPER BOWL CHAMPS GIANTS draft day part 2
Well in my opinion and as a bias Giants fan I love what they did. They addressed all needs and even pick up some more depth in the defensive end and quarterback category. Bronx Banter has broke it down for me and here is the official scouting reports
Mario Manningham
Selected by: New York Giants
Round: 3
Pick (Overall): 32(95)
WR | (5'11", 181, 4.549) | MICHIGAN
Scouts Grade: 83
Flags: (C: CHARACTER) Problems on and off the field (D: DURABILITY) Player that
can't stay healthy
Strengths: A true playmaker at the wide receiver position. He has been one of
the most productive pass catchers in college football the past three seasons. A
homerun hitter both as a vertical route runner and after-the-catch. Has a knack
for producing in the clutch. Is deceptively fast. It almost seems as if he
lulls defenders to sleep at times. A defender will be running step-for-step
with him before he turns on an extra gear as the ball begins its descent it's
a closing burst seen on film that can't be measured in a 40-yard dash time. He
is able to consistently generate separation from man-coverage. Gets in and out
of breaks quickly and does not need to gear down much at all. He is a savvy
route runner who consistently gets DB's to bite on his smooth double-moves.
Possesses a rare ability to adjust to the ball thrown over his shoulder, as
well as concentration when competing for jump balls in traffic and/or near the
sideline. Displays very good leaping ability and wins more jump balls than most
receivers his height. He can pluck the ball naturally on the run. Gets upfield
in a hurry with very little wasted motion. Is a shifty and quick runner after
the catch. Displays good vision as an open-field runner, as well.
Weaknesses: Is lean with only adequate height. Needs to improve his strength
and become more physical. Generally gets away with using quicks and savvy to
beat the press but he will run into trouble versus bigger and stronger cover
corners with good press-man technique. He would much rather work the perimeter
than go over the middle. He occasionally will lose focus and will disappear
from games. He is a bit of a prima-donna. He knows how talented he is so he
doesn't always work at the game as passionately as he should. He has had some
off-the-field issues, so monitoring his character will be important for team
that drafts him. He is clearly disinterested when it comes to stalk blocking in
the running game. Has almost no experience in the return game/special teams,
either. He missed some time in 2006 with a knee injury and his slender build
adds to the concerns for his long-term durability in the NFL.
Overall: Manningham played 12 games and made three starts as a true freshman,
finishing the 2005 season with 27 receptions, 433 yards and six touchdowns. As
a sophomore, he had 38 catches for 703 yards (18.5-yard receiving average) and
nine TDs. Manningham played in 12 games in 2007 (he served a one-gap
team-issued suspension against Eastern Michigan), logging 72 receptions for
1,174 yards and 12 TDs. His 97.8 receiving yards per game ranked first in the
Big Ten and 10th in the nation. In three seasons, he also had 31 carries for
181 rushing yards. Manningham made a name for himself in college as one of the
nation's most dangerous vertical threats. But there's a lot more to his game
than simply catching the deep ball, which is important considering his lack of
elite size and top-end speed. He is a skilled route runner with a knack for
using subtle moves to separate from coverage. He also possesses good hands and
run-after-catch ability. Unlike many former Michigan receivers that failed to
live up to the hype in the NFL (David Terrell, Marquise Walker and Jason
Avant), Manningham has the quick-twitch athleticism to translate his college
production to the next level. So long as he remains motivated and stays out of
trouble off the field, Manningham has the tools to emerge as a Tory Holt type
weapon for the team that drafts him in the mid-to-late portion of the first
round.
Bryan Kehl
Selected by: New York Giants
Round: 4
Pick (Overall): 24(123) (traded up with Pittsburgh from 130)
OLB | (6'2", 242, 4.679) | BYU
Scouts Grade: 76
Flags: (A: AGE) Player may be older or younger than usual
Strengths: Quick and makes plays in the backfield. Has good size and tall
enough to add bulk to frame. Keeps head up, flows well and does a nice of
scraping down the line of scrimmage. Displays adequate upper body strength,
locks out arms and makes it difficult for offensive lineman to grab on. Takes
good pursuit angles and closes down cutback lanes. Has above-average range,
plays with a good motor and is a sideline-to-sideline run defender. Frequently
walks up to the line of scrimmage, explosive enough to turn the corner and
shows decent closing speed coming off the edge. Gets adequate depth, reads
quarterback's eyes and covers a lot of ground when asked to drop into zone
coverage. Showed improved ball skills last year and flashes the ability to make
the big play in coverage. Blocked a punt in 2005 and can contribute on special
teams.
Weaknesses: Plays far too upright and gets driven back at times. Hands aren't
active enough and he takes too long to shed blocks once reached. Moves well
laterally but takes too long to open hips when forced to turn and run, lacks
the second gear to recover once caught out of position and is going to have a
difficult time matching up with NFL tight ends in man coverage. Shows good
balance and jumps over cut blockers but needs to do a better job of using his
hands to protect legs. Doesn't show great body control in space, fails to wrap
up at times and is an inconsistent open field tackler. Missed the 2003 and 2004
seasons while on a church mission and age is a concern.
Overall: Kehl arrived at BYU in 2002 and appeared in 11 games at linebacker,
finishing the season with 14 tackles. In 2005 and 2006, he played in 24 games
(13 starts, all in '06) and combined for 100 tackles (nine for losses), three
sacks, one forced fumble and seven pass breakups. As a senior in 2007, he
played all 13 games and had 91 tackles (11.5 for losses), four sacks, one
forced fumble, three interceptions and four pass breakups. Kehl served a
two-year church mission from 2003-'04. His older brothers Ed and Brandon both
played football for the Cougars. Kehl has to improve his ability to shed
blockers and he has his limitations in coverage but he's an active run defender
and relentless pass rusher capable of disrupting plays in the backfield. He
should also contribute on special teams, which helps his value as a mid-to-late
round pick.
Jonathan Goff
Selected by: New York Giants
Round: 5
Pick (Overall): 30(165)
ILB | (6'2", 245, 4.629) | VANDERBILT
Scouts Grade: 61
Strengths: Is tall, well built and very athletic for size. Plays with a mean
streak and is physical at the point of contact. Shows the ability to fluctuate
weight but seems to be at his best when playing between 235 and 240 pounds.
Keeps head up and shows good lateral mobility when scraping along the line of
scrimmage. Does a good job of fighting through trash and keeps blockers off
legs. Plays with good balance and shows good body control. Intelligent player,
reads keys, plays with good discipline and takes very few false steps. Takes
outstanding angles in pursuit and makes plays form sideline to sideline. Is a
strong, wrap-up tackler and rarely misses in the open field. Shows
above-average instincts when turned loose on the blitz and has above-average
closing speed. Gets deep, almost never gets caught peeking into the backfield
and shows good range when asked to drop into zone coverage. Though still needs
to work on reading routes so he can jump them has good ball skills and flashes
the ability to make the big play in coverage. Tough and is durable. Plays with
a good motor.
Weaknesses: Lacks elite lower- body strength and has some trouble when forced
to take on bigger blockers in the phone booth. While flashes great upper body
strength and did a better job of shedding blocks during senior year still
doesn't use hands all that well and can take too long to disengage once locked
on. Has good top-end speed for size but takes too long to open hips when forced
to turn, lacks the second gear to recover once caught out of position and is
going to have trouble sticking with faster backs in man coverage.
Overall: Goff arrived at Vanderbilt in 2003 and redshirted the year. In his
first three seasons (2004-'06), he played in 34 games (27 starts) and recorded
194 tackles (nine for losses), 3.5 sacks and an interception. As a senior in
2007, he started all 12 games at middle linebacker and finished the season with
93 tackles (six for losses), 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups,
an interception and a blocked kick. He closed out his Commodores career having
made 39 consecutive starts, dating back to his freshman year. Like a lot of
other inside linebackers in this class Goff has to get stronger in his trunk
and improve his ability to anchor against the inside run but he has the bulk
and frame to improve in that area. In addition, he is a relentless competitor
who shows excellent range both as a run defender and dropping into coverage so
he projects as an early fifth round pick.
Andre Woodson
Selected by: New York Giants
Round: 6
Pick (Overall): 32(198)
QB | (6'4", 229, 4.839) | KENTUCKY
Scouts Grade: 71
Strengths: Possesses prototypical NFL quarterback size. Is tall with adequate
bulk and room on his frame to add 10 more pounds. Has proven to be extremely
accurate. Displays very good touch and timing. Possesses very good arm strength
(just a notch below elite level such as JaMarcus Russell). Can drive the ball
downfield vertically and can fit the ball into tight spots in the intermediate
passing game. Gets great zip on deep-out throws. Is competitive and has proven
capable of leading his team from behind (Louisville and LSU in 2007). Teammates
believe in him. Is tough; will stand in the pocket and take a hit when
following through on a throw when necessary. He has been durable throughout his
career. While he lacks ideal quickness, he does build speed as he goes and he
also gets set quickly on drops.
Weaknesses: His delivery is too slow. Dips the ball before throwing it and
takes too long to get from start to finish. Still makes some questionable
decisions. Is improved in this area but still tries to force too many throws.
He gets happy feet in the pocket, pats the ball a lot when he doesn't know
where to go with it and will telegraph some of his throws, as a result. Needs
to do a better job of reading coverages while dropping. Lacks ideal mobility.
Not a very sudden athlete. Does not buy much extra time with his feet and he
won't ever be much of a running threat. It seems on film like he has small
hands? Has some trouble controlling the ball at times and doesn't always seem
comfortable selling pump fakes.
Overall: Woodson was redshirted in 2003. In his four active seasons at Kentucky
(2004-'07), he played 44 games (38 starts) and completed 791 passes on 1,278
attempts (61.9 percent) for 9,360 yards and 79 touchdowns compared to 25
interceptions. Woodson also rushed for five touchdowns. As a senior, his 40
touchdown passes set school and SEC records. He finished the year with 327
completions on 518 attempts (63.1 percent), 3,709 passing yards and just 11
interceptions. Woodson has prototypical size, excellent arm strength and good
accuracy as a passer. He also is a proven playmaker in the clutch. However,
Woodson has a hitch in his delivery and it takes him too long to get rid of the
ball. With the speed in the NFL and the defensive backs' ability to break on
and attack the ball, Woodson needs to get this fixed or he risks getting a lot
of his out routes taken back the other way for defensive scores. Furthermore,
while he has made significant strides mentally, Woodson still needs to break
some bad habits, such as locking on to primary target too frequently. Woodson
still has enough upside to emerge as a solid NFL starter but he must find a way
to speed up his delivery without affecting his accuracy as a passer much
easier said than done. Woodson's stock has taken a sizeable hit from early in
his senior season, when he was soaring up draft boards following big
performances versus Louisville, Arkansas and LSU. Woodson is a bit of an enigma
right now but he should come off the board in the second-to-third round range.
Robert Henderson
Selected by: New York Giants
Round: 6
Pick (Overall): 33 (199)
DE | (6'2", 276, 4.75) | SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
Scouts Grade: 30
No scouting report on him. For a last pick strictly a depth pick just in case Strahan decides to retire.
I give the Giants an A. You may think I'm just being a homer but when you can get a first round quality receiver in the 3rd round you move up on my grading system. They addressed all needs in two secondary players and a couple of line backers. They needed another receiver but struck gold with Super Mario. They added depth at the QB position finally allowing the G-men to get rid of the hefty lefty and Wright. They added a defensive end who is just a filler pick because although I believe Strahan will be back they just don't know and it adds depth to a position that rarely stays healthy over the past few years. Great drafting. So with that scoring system and the added bonus of fans not killing the Giants on the radio adds up to a scoring of an A. Now of course the E-girls, Cowfags and redforeskins drafted decently but you know how this season will play out. McNabb will get hurt and the E-girls will stumble. The Cowfags will have a good season and probably make the playoffs only to have RoHOmo blow it again like he has been known to do. The Redforeskins just suck period. They will finish last in the east. I see no reason why the Giants shouldn't be on top in the division followed by the Cowfags, E-girls and the Skins. I can't wait for training camp.
Jets draft day part 2
So after a decent first day of the draft the Jets didn't have a pick until the fourth round. In the fourth they took San Jose State corner back Dwight Lowery. Not bad you can always use another shut down corner. Now finally in the fifth round they finally picked a quarterback. They got Tennessee QB Erik Ainge. Ainge is a solid quarter back. There is nothing special about him but then again I would say not even seeing him that he is already better than the Chad. Clemens you are on notice. This kid most likely won't see the field at any point this year but that only means that Clemens better have a breakout year or the following year will see Ainge at the helm. Next round they got another needed position when they got Kansas WR Marcus Henry. The 6'4", 207-pound receiver should see a lot of action this year depending on how fast he picks up the offense and at some point will be a starting wide out because Coles will get hurt again. Now I like this pick. The Jets final pick selected Nate Gardner, OT from Arkansas. Garner, who checks in at 6'6" and 325 pounds will help stable a weak offensive line and help improve the run. OK so overall I give the Jets a b- on the drafting. They did fill some needs but there is nothing special about any of the picks with the exception of Vernon Gholston. They also lose points because of a bad trade to move up to get a tight end. Horrible deal. Jets also lose points because all I keep hearing from the fans is how bad the Jets drafting went this year. So that is why you get a b-. You did get a quarterback and receiver that you needed. You nailed it on the head with a instant star pass rusher. The rest of the picks were so-so. My take is that it is the Jets and no matter what they will screw it up somehow. 1969 was a long time ago folks and I see nothing thus far to change my opinion that the Jets haven't arrived. You still have to beat the Pats. Good luck gang green.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
SUPER BOWL CHAMPS GIANTS Draft part 1
Now that the party is over it is back to work for the New York giants who want to repeat as CHAMPS this year. So what are the needs? The biggest needs are on the defensive side of the ball. Some of you may be scratching your head saying why? They held the "mighty" Patriots to only 14 points in the Super Bowl. Well that was because of the great pass rush applied by Strahan, Osi and Tuck. The weak link is in the secondary with the loss of Gibril Wilson they need to add a safety and a cover corner. They did both. With the 31ST pick of the draft. The New York Giants select safety Kenny Phillips from THE U-niversity of Miami. From my buddy the Bronx Banter
1 31 (31) NY Giants Kenny Phillips S Miami (Fla.)
Strengths: Continues to add bulk to his frame while maintaining competitive
speed for the position. Changes directions well, shows good burst out of cuts
and is capable of matching up with slot receivers as well as tight ends in man
coverage. Times jumps well, fights for the ball while it's in the air and can
come down with jump balls. He fills hard when he reads run, closes well and
looks to make the occasional kill shot when it's lined up. Flashes ability to
read routes well, shows good range in zone coverage when he diagnoses the play
on time and he has enough athleticism to cover the deep middle on those
occasions. Vocal, gets teammates into position and is a leader on the field.
Weaknesses: Doesn't read keys all that well and takes too many false steps. Is
undisciplined at times and compromises the defensive scheme as a result. Has
the second gear to recover in most situations but can be overaggressive, is
vulnerable to play action and gets caught out of position too much. Flashes the
ability to deliver the big hit but he will back down from some challenges he's
not certain he can win, as well. Lacks elite ball skills; a prospect with his
natural ability should be more of a play maker. Takes too long to shed blocks,
occasionally avoids contact and is going to be more effective playing off the
line than he'll be lining up in the box. Takes some poor angles to the ball,
can overrun plays and should make more plays in pursuit. Durability is somewhat
of a concern; missed the final three games of the 2006 season with a broken
thumb and battled a lingering ankle injury in 2007.
Overall: Phillips started the final 11 games of his true freshman season in
2004 finishing with 88 tackles including 58 unassisted tackles and three
tackles-for-loss. He also recorded an interception, a fumble recovery and four
pass breakups that year. Phillips started the nine games he appeared in during
the 2005 season finishing with 71 tackles including six tackles-for loss. He
also recorded four interceptions and six pass breakups up that year. Phillips
started the 11 games he played in during the 2007 season finishing with 82
total tackles including 54 unassisted tackles and six tackles-for-loss. He also
recorded two interceptions, five pass breakups and three forced fumbles last
year. Phillips took a step backwards as a junior and would have been better
served by returning to school for his senior year. While part of his struggles
can be chalked up to a lingering ankle injury that limited his range a bit, it
still doesn't explain his inconsistent recognition skills and failure to play
with the same passion on an every down-basis. If properly developed and
motivated, Phillips can emerge as a versatile starting safety in the NFL.
However, Phillips' ceiling is not nearly as high as some of the past great
Hurricane safeties, which is why we tag him with a fringe first-round grade.
That is about the player bio I've seen yet and is why I always trust my scouting reports from the Bronx Banter.
Now to the second round. Giants select CB Terrell Thomas from USC. I like this pick as well. Madison is getting older and with Ross and Webster this will allow Thomas to take his time and learn the defense and most importantly not get thrown into the mix right away. Solid pick. Bronx Banter scouts him as-
2 32 (63) NY Giants Terrell Thomas CB USC
Strengths: Is tall, well-built with good top-end speed. Can be effective in man
and zone coverage but at his best playing press-man. Is physical and
aggressive, using long arms and strong upper body to take receivers out of
their routes at the line. He is instinctive in coverage and knows when to turn
and look for the ball. Displays good ball skills and is a natural play maker. In
zone, he does a good job of keeping everything in front of him and reading the
QB's eyes. Gives a good effort and is very productive in run support. Fills
hard, takes solid angles and is a reliable open-field tackler. Versatility
gives him extra value; has experience playing safety and covering kicks. Great
intangibles. Coaches and teammates speak very highly of his leadership skills
and work ethic.
Weaknesses: Multiple injuries (dislocated right shoulder in 2003 and left
shoulder in spring of 2007, as well as torn ligaments in right knee in 2005)
generate considerable long-term durability worries. He's instinctive but he
also tends to freelance at times and can get in trouble by being out of
position. He's fast for his size but he does lack elite fluidity in his hips
and will have some trouble keeping up with smaller, quicker WR's on double
moves in the NFL. Struggles to find the ball over his shoulder and is much more
effective when the play is in front of him.
Overall: Thomas arrived at USC in 2003 as a safety but red shirted the year
after suffering a shoulder dislocation in fall practice and undergoing surgery.
He moved to corner back and in his first three seasons (2004-'06) played in 26
games (15 starts), posting 64 tackles (three for losses), four interceptions
and 15 pass breakups. As a senior in 2007, he started all 13 games at right
corner back and had 45 tackles (4.5 for losses), three forced fumbles, four
interceptions and seven pass breakups. In 2005, Thomas suffered torn ligaments
in his right knee and underwent season-ending surgery, missing all but the
Trojans' first two games. He also had surgery after dislocating his left
shoulder in 2007, sitting out spring drills. Thomas is at his best when working
in press coverage but he does not possess the fluid hips to be left alone on an
island very often in man-coverage at the next level. He seems best suited to
play in a physical zone-heavy scheme and probably will max out as a No. 3
corner in the NFL. On the positive side, he has some extra value because of his
experience at safety and covering kicks. However, his laundry list of injuries
will undoubtedly cause him to slip even though he started all 13 games last
year. Thomas projects as a third or fourth round pick.
Nice job Banter. OK Other needs the giants need to fill is Linebacker and a Wide Receiver. I have faith in Jerry Reese he didn't let us Giants fans down last year. I trust he will fill the needs.
On a side note. Controversial T.E. Jeremy Shockey was not traded and as of now is still the starting T.E. for Eli Manning. I'll be back tomorrow with the follow up to the draft with SUPER BOWL CHAMPS GIANTS Draft part 2. Enjoy the rest of the draft.
Jets Draft part 1
OK Jet fans lets see how you did on the first day of the draft. Lots of holes to fill on a very mediocre team. You had the 6Th pick. Lets see what you did. With the number 6 pick the New York Jets select D.E. Vernon Gholston from THE Ohio State. Great pick. The man is the pass rushing Defensive End that you've been missing since the days of John Abraham. From the New York post"
Gholston, a Michigan native, did not play football until his sophomore year of high school, but he played well enough thereafter to earn a scholarship to Ohio State. While there, he set a school record with 14 sacks in his junior season, adding to a list of impressive numbers.
In addition to the sacks record, Gholston ran the 40-yard dash in 4.56 seconds and bench-pressed 455 pounds. The Jets cited his speed, strength and “long limbs,” believing they had found the perfect outside pass rusher for their 3-4 defense." I think that pick will work out well for you fans.
Now the Jets also made a trade. I don't understand this one. They traded their second rounder number 36 overall and number113 in the fourth to the packers to get number 30 in the first round only to use it on T.E. Dustin Keller out of Purdue. Why? do you honestly believe that he wouldn't of been there at 36? Jet fans at the draft were flipping out. So After making a great first pick the Jets immediately went back to their usual bad drafting. You Jet fans know what I'm talking about so don't get mad at me. So you got a nice possession tight end. Great!! Who is gonna throw it to him. I still believe that you're weakest position is QB. I understand you have to go with Clemens and the Chad but it is not looking good. I think Bret Farve is available. Wink Wink. Today you must draft a wide receiver. Your receiving core is old and injury plagued. Memo to Mike Tannenbaum YOU NEED A WIDE RECEIVER!!! Despite the bad trade the Jets were able to fill a couple of needs. They badly needed a pass rusher and now they got one. They need a tight end with baker possibly on his way out and now they got one. I'll be back tomorrow with Jets Draft part 2. Enjoy the rest of the draft folks.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Delgado may be next superstar to get the axe
Carlos Delgado was benched finally due to his crappy play all around. I listen to the sports talk shows just about everyday and when it comes to the Mets the overall complaint is that Delgado is finished and GM Omar Minaya has to get rid of this bum. Delgado who had an unDelgado like year last year is even worse thus far this year. The difference now is that he is a year older and is a couple of months from being 36. At 36 you have to expect that he is regressing and a rebound is highly unlikely. Most likely he will be released because I really can't see anyone trading for him. The Yankees have someone like Delgado his name is Jason Giambi. The difference is Giambi is still a threat to go yard. All I ever see from Delgado now is a strikeout waiting to happen. So where do the Mets go from here? What options do they have? Do they stick it out with Delgado? I doubt it. Moises Alou maybe makes the switch to first in order to minimize his injuries? Perhaps. Bring someone up from the minors? I don't see it happening. With the way this team is underachieving a rookie wouldn't help with the hitting. No they need a veteran pressence. I see a trade being made to get an established but cheap option at first. Maybe someone like Kevin Millar out of Baltimore. Dan Johnson who recently cleared waivers can probably be obtained real cheap. So Omar its your move. Clock is ticking.
D-day is upon us. The DRAFT is here!!
We are just a little over 3 hours away from the start of the draft. Not much that I'm going to say here but just wanted to say that I will cover both the Jets and the Giants draft picks at the end of the day and will do the same thing after tomorrow's draft day. Then on Monday I will sum it all up and give you all my takes on both teams. Who will the Jets take at 6? Will Jeremy Shockey be traded? Who will the Giants pick at 31? All will be answered today. Stay tuned should be a good day.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Girardi will earn his money this year
Hey Joe you think managing the Marlins was hard. Welcome to Yankee Universe. Where in this universe the parts of god is played by Hank and Hal Steinbrenner. The part of Jesus Christ is played by Brian Cashman. I hope he has got some miracles up his sleeve. I know it is early but the season thus far has not been going so well. Joe has had to deal with a shitty schedule, no hitting, the young guns with 9 plus earned run averages, injuries, injuries and injuries. Oh yeah and a ineffective bullpen. With the exception of Joba and Rivera the bullpen has been sucking. Bruney might be the best option leading up to Joba but he has been hurt with a ankle injury. Farnsworthless is his typical suck ass self and now he has an hurt elbow. Hawkins sucks too. This guy to me seems that he can get the first two outs and then he can't retire the next four batters. What the hell is wrong with you guys? So what if Joba lost the game last night. No One is perfect. I don't want perfect I want consistent. Rivera is the best closer of all time because he is consistent. Joba has been consistent since he came up last year. The other guys have been consistent too. Consistently bad. This is the hell the Girardi has to deal with daily. Now he'll need to bring up some new arms to fill the void. Edwar Ramirez perhaps. Maybe even Darrell Rasner. Probably both. Folks the offense will come around. A-Rod will be back. Cano will hit. Giambi well Giambi hopefully will come around. This team will hit. The pitching is what will decide the fate of the team this season. That is where Girardi will earn his paycheck. Managing the bullpen specifically the middle relief is the toughest part of his job. If Joe can't get these bums to pitch consistently good then the Yankees are going to lose a lot of games. I believe that Joe will be a great manager and I believe that what happens this year will go a long way in determining that. Specifically the way he manages the bullpen will determined that.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Update on Avery Rules t-shirt: My rant on Bettman
WOW!!!!! That was quick. Way to go Gary Bettman. For those who don't know who Gary Bettman is. He is the ass that currently is killing the NHL. I'm not going to be p.c. here I'm going to rip this douche bag a new one. According to the New York Post the Avery Rules t-shirt has been killed by Gary Bettman. Apparently the story goes the NHLPA sought and received permission from Avery and had gotten permission from some NHL executive that gave the go ahead. The only problem is that Bettman was not notified of this. So probably being pissed from not being consulted he killed the whole idea. Way to go Gary. That is why the league is drowning. That is why the only national network that shows your games is VS. VERSUS!!!!!!!! The outdoor channel!!!!!!!! I FUCKING HATE YOU!!!! I'm getting off point about the AVERY RULES t-shirt but I'll get back to my Buttman rant in a minute. So now that the MONEY MAKING Avery Rules shirt has been killed. You know that the NHL exec that gave the go ahead will surely be out on his ass. That is unfortunate. This guy should be voted the next commissioner. He is obviously well qualified to run the league. He knows a good idea when it hits you in the face. Now back to you Bettman. Everyone knows I hate you. I want your resignation. You are a cancer to the NHL. Why you are still employed is well being anything I can ever comprehend. I hope someone shows you this blog. I hate you like the Knick fans hate Isiah Thomas. Lets see where do I start. Under your tenure you've seen a strike and a lockout. You've manage to let ESPN get rid of you only to resurface on VS. Sure NBC has some games but ESPN gave you more coverage. By the way does anyone know what channel VS is on? Check your cable or satellite listings. I never see any commercials or promos for upcoming games unless I'm on VS. PUT SOME DAMN COMMERCIALS ON OTHER CHANNELS. I don't know maybe on ESPN so sports fans can see them. Who knew when the All-star game was on? Not me. You know why? I didn't see one commercial for it. The only good thing you managed to do is rape the players union during the lockout. OK great. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut. I want your job. Apparently all you have to do is show up and do nothing. You're the asshole that probably leaves before 5 too. How much do you make? Whatever it is you're way overpaid. Now for a league that struggles to get new viewers you should be willing to cash in on anything that will market the league. I once heard a saying that really if you think about it is a true saying. You ready? Now clean the shit out of your ears. OK here it goes. There is no such thing as bad publicity. I know you're slow so I'll explain. Even when the only thing that people talk about when it comes to the NHL is the bad stuff such as fighting, stick waiving or an t-shirt idea. You need to look at it as GREAT! people are talking about the league. IT MAKES PEOPLE WANT TO WATCH. Eventually they may see something they do like and that is how you promote the league. Basic business jack-ass. If you need anymore tips feel free to email me at angry-irishman@FIRE_BETTMANS_ASS.com.
NFL minor legue forming?
The answer is maybe. If Marvin Tomlin, the founder and chief executive of the prospective United National Football League has his way there will be. I like this concept. I've been a big supporter of this idea for many years. The new league is set to open in '09. The concept would have an 8 team league playing from January to April which would showcase college players who may not have been good enough to be drafted. The games would be played in college stadiums. The league would allow NFL scouts to be able to come and sign this players to an NFL roster. Beautiful idea. make friends with the NFL. Theres always hidden gems out there that some teams will like to have such as a special teams player or somebody that can add depth. I'm in favor of this league and I hope it works out. For you rich people out there owning a franchise is as easy as 1.5 million dollars. You heard me right. Chump change folks. Yes sir you can own a team in the new United National Football League. I'm getting out my check book now. I got dibs on a New York Franchise.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
REEBOK cashes in on the "Avery Rule"
Reebok with the approval from the NHL has licensed a t-shirt mocking the now famous Avery Rule. Get you're wallets out and buy this shirt. Yes I'm pimping this shirt. I'm going to get one. What A great Idea. The NHL finally has done something right. They took a heated topic and has found a way to make money on it. That is smart business. Even Sean Avery is behind it. He gave permission for his name to be used. How many of you are willing to bet that Martin Brodeur is pissed off right now. He is probably drowning his sorrows in ice cream the FATSO. It never gets old. Not sure when the shirt will be made available but keep an eye out for it and enjoy
Welcome to the Yankee Universe baby A-Rod
A-Rod was not in the Yankees lineup yesterday which was expected. His wife Cynthia gave birth to a healthy baby girl. A-Rod's quad injury couldn't of happened at a better time. He will be away from the team I assume for the next couple of days while he gets his family situated and as an added bonus he can rest up his quad and not have to go on the DL. I like to wish the best for Alex and his family and as a Yankee fan I hope this puts a charge into him that will carry the team to a championship. Which if you read my Pope blog you'll remember that god is a Yankee fan and the lord works in mysterious ways.
Monday, April 21, 2008
I knew the Pope was a Yankee fan
Yesterday the Pope visited Yankee Stadium in what seemed to many unsuspecting Catholics and Christians alike as a giant mass was really a giant blessing to the Stadium and team. There was no horns or church organ music to usher the Pope in. He came out of the bullpen to the tune of Enter Sandman. Just like it does when Rivera comes in goosebumps were felt by all in attendance. After a few warm up blessings the pope stood on the mound and struck out the demons and nonbelievers in order. He exercised the demon in Mike Mussina restoring his fastball back to a respectable speed of 90-91 miles an hour instead of the bp fastball of 83-84. He told Joe Girardi to stop allowing his staff to pitch to Manny Ramirez. Instead he said that god wanted more pitchers to throw at his head. I agree. The Pope then went to Joba smiled and went on his way since god has already touch Joba's right arm. He blessed the Stadium and said "I have blessed this Stadium. This cathedral of baseball. I'm allowing the ghost, and spirits of past to work it's magic one last time." "Well at least until the big move across the street next year." The Pope was rolling and pitching a perfect game. During the seventh inning stretch Ronan Tynan even came out to sing "God Bless America". The Pope even sang "Take me out to the ballgame" . Then the Pope continued to blow through the mass. It was a perfect game after all. When the mass concluded he then burned a red sux jersey and yelled "GO YANKEES!!!!!!!!!!!!". What a perfect Sunday in the big ballpark in the Bronx. For here on out I expect great things from the team now. Why wouldn't I? God after all is a Yankees fan.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Avery: Fatso forgot to shake my hand
Classic Sean Avery folks. Love him or hate him the man is an effective player. He may not be the most skilled player on the ice but without a doubt he was the most important player in the first round. He was in Brodeur's head all series. What fatboy did sorry excuse me Martin Brodeur did at the end was a classless act. Now some might disagree but for all of us athletes that have gone through this in any sport know that there have been plenty of guys hands you don't want to shake but you do anyway. Lets face it win or lose you suck it up and shake the hand.It's not like they both were trying to ignore each other. Avery said it best in the video. That is why he is GOD to the New York fans. That is why the Rangers are moving on and the classless Brodeur will be home watching the Rangers move on while he is home eating twinkies.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Hated Farnsworth earns respect from Yankee fans
The very hated Kyle Farnsworth made a stride towards finally earning respect from the Yankee fans. In the 7th inning of a 7-3 loss to scumbag bahhhhhston redsux he three a 98 miles an hour fastball at Manny Ramirez's head. I think he had to. Manny has been killing the Yanks this year and in yesterdays game he had two home runs. Manny has been too comfortable in the batters box and Kyle just let him know that he probably shouldn't be digging in the box. I love this. This is what drove me nuts about Joe Torre. He never would of allowed that. His motto was we have more stars than anybody else so we don't want our guys to be getting hit. Ok Joe that is a sound theory. I'm not telling you to go out and start a beaming war. My only point here is that you stick up for guys who are getting hit. Jeter is constantly hit from the redsux. I can't remember a series that the red suxs haven't hit Jeter or anyone else. This is why I love Joe Giradi. He brings an old school mentality to the team. If you hit us we will hit you. No more crap about taking the high road. Too many years have gone by with the Yanks refusing to make their presence known. Well last night Kyle Farnsworth made his presence known. This team will not take crap anymore. I love the classic excuse too. “It just slipped,” Farnsworth said. “I’m just trying to be aggressive, trying to go in on him. But the ball slipped on me. It happens sometimes.” I love it. Here is another one. “We hit one of their best players last night,” Ramirez said. “I guess they wanted to send a message.” That is correct Mr. Ramirez. See you are not as dumb as you appear to be. Next time you'll think twice about digging in. Hey big douchebag. Yeah you David Ortiz. You're on notice. DON'T DIG IN MY BATTERS BOX.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Should he stay or should he go?
Controversial tight end Jeremy Shockey has been the target of Giants fans ever since the Giants won the super bowl. Weather it is fair or not the question has to be asked. Are the Giants better with him or without him. Lets look at the facts. First the pros. Since Shockey's arrival to the team in 2002 the man has been a force. He may not have the best numbers among the leagues elite TE but he is a team player. Despite his occasional moments of talking out of his ass he does go the extra mile to help his offense score. Most notably by run blocking. He is one of the best run blockers in the league. He is a player that every team has to game plan for. He is a spark plug. He is that guy when it it 3rd and 8 and you absolutely have to have that first down he will get you 10 or 11 yards pumping up his teammates and the crowd. He is a leader and despite what the fans have been saying his teammates publicly support him saying that he is NOT the reason they won the super bowl. Guys like Manning and Toomer say that you can't replace a guy like Shockey. Perhaps that is true. Now the cons. He is very upset that the fans are killing him and is very open to being traded. He hasn't said anything since being hurt. Fans would love to hear that he is committed to staying and working on winning a second title. The fact that he is not at the VOLUNTARY camps working with Eli when you know KEVIN BOSS is. The fact that he wasn't at the parade or team celebration at the stadium. Now my personal feelings are if you trade him then you need to get a very good draft pick or someone of equal talent because anything less would prove to me that Reese was just trying to unload him and took whatever offer he could get. I hope they don't trade him. I think the possibility of a two tight end set with Shockey on one side and Kevin Boss on the other makes the Giants offense that much more scary for opposing defenses. I think that it is something worth trying. I honestly believe that Shockey will come into the next season with something to prove. I for one want to see what the kid can do. We are a little more that a week away from the draft and we all will wait and see if he survives the draft day trade rumors. It is out of our hands now. Just throwing this out there but without Shockey the roster currently has 5 other tight ends including super bowl hero and fan favorite KEVIN"second coming of Bavarro" BOSS. Just thought I'd share that to all of you.
Giambi: DH vs. 1B. My friend's interpretation
Love him or hate him Our starting first baseman is Jason Giambi. I'm going to post a rant from my friend Jen who brought this to my attention. So it would really be unfair for me to take credit for this rant. Here you go
Mr. michael,
if you agree with me, you should write a blog my darling & if you disagree, you can stick it in your keester...
i am watching the yanks wallop the rays right now and i have often thought over the last few weeks about the only good thing i like about joe girardi thus far...his willingness to play giambi at first (more often than torre did) and more importantly his faith in giambi's defensive abilities. He stated early on that he plans to play giambi at first 4-5 games per week and I was pleasantly surprised to hear that. contrary to ALL reports over the years on giambi's so-called "lack of defensive skills", i have always thought him to be at the VERY least an adequate first baseman. his offensive numbers are so much higher when he is NOT a DH (the stats definitely support this: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060223&content_id=1320606&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy)
Tell all those anti-Giambi fans to face this too: he can dig a ball out of the dirt with the BEST of them. I just watched him, yet again, save one of the infielders (this time it was a-rod) an error by digging out a poor throw. He also has great reflexes...i saw a line drive rocketed at him last week sometime that he made a great pick up on; yes that should be pretty fundamental, but to hear people talk about his poor defensive skills sometimes you would think he can't even catch a line drive hit right at him. The absolute ONLY lack I see in giambi's game at first is that his range is definitely a little less than some of the other first basemen around the league. The question is then I suppose, are we willing to give up an occasional hit up the first base line to his left (less likely on the line b/c he covers this pretty well) or between first and second to his right? Don’t forget, we have a second baseman who can and does have a hell of a range to maybe pick up a tiny bit of the slack in the hole. Ahh, but back to the question....give up an occasional hit due to giambi's slightly limited range in exchange for what, you ask? For a batting average out of him that is consistently markedly higher (anywhere from 60-100+ points higher) as a position player vs a DH. The answer is crystal clear for me. I hate to say it, I love joe girardi for this decision.
Man, did I HATE giambi when they first got him. I never thought I’d end up being his champion. Boy oh boy. Maybe one day I’ll write something like this about A-Hole. Haha. That’ll be the day.
Interesting article:
http://www.observer.com/2008/giambi-tries-reverse-irreversible
Monday, April 14, 2008
Sean Avery is GOD
Sean Avery is regarded throughout the NHL as a pest and is hands down voted around the league as the most hated player in the game. To the New York Ranger fans he is GOD. The man is a genius. Sean Avery during last nights o.t. loss to the hated dirty jersey devils was a genius. He outsmarted the devils and the league. In fact the league today has amended rule number 75 goalie interference due to Avery's actions. From nhl.com " New York Ranger forward Sean Avery’s controversial face-guarding of New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur in Sunday’s Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Series was dealt with by the League in a swift and decisive manner Monday.
Avery made headlines across the hockey world Sunday night when, during a 5-on-3 power play, he stood with his back to the play and waved his arms in front of Brodeur to distract the goalie. At another point, he also held his stick in front of Brodeur’s mask and waved the stick back and forth in another attempt at distraction.
Later in the power play, Avery scored a goal with a one-time shot – after he had abandoned his bizarre tactics. New Jersey went on to win the game in OT, 4-3, and now trails the series 2-1 with Game 4 Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
"I've been watching games for 33 years and I have never seen anything like that in my life," Brodeur told the New York Daily News. "If it's within the rules, it's within the rules. The official came over and said it probably wasn't something that should be done."
Monday, the League made sure it would not happen again as Senior Executive Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell issued a statement about the League’s position.
It is considered an interpretation of Rule 75, concerning goaltender interference.
"An unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty (Rule 75) will be interpreted and applied, effective immediately, to a situation when an offensive player positions himself facing the opposition goaltender and engages in actions such as waving his arms or stick in front of the goaltender's face, for the purpose of improperly interfering with and/or distracting the goaltender as opposed to positioning himself to try to make a play." I love this guy. Pure genius. It serves two functions of importance. One it disrupts brodeur and second it disrupt the rest of the devils. Now that Avery is a marked man and you better believe that he is a marked man the rest of the rangers should be able to get better scoring chances. Game 4 should make for a very interesting game. Here is the video. You decide what to make of this.
Just another day in the Yankee Universe
To our left is a picture of a dirty red sux jersey. Why is that important you may ask? It is important because it was buried in the foundation of the new Yankee Stadium. Some scumbag red sux fan placed the david "I'm not on the juice" ortiz jersey in the concrete hoping to curse the new stadium for all time. As a Yankee fan this outrages me. To think that some scumbag could get away with doing this reassures my dwindling faith in people. But wait as the today's news reaches me I was happy to hear that justice has been served and all is right once again in the Yankee universe. Two union construction workers knew the location and when the brass was made aware of the this travesty spared no expense to have the cancer cut out. Yankee president Randy Levine said the extracted jersey would be cleaned up, put in a display case along with a Yankees Universe T-shirt and sent to Boston. There, the Ortiz jersey and Yankee T-shirt will be auctioned to benefit the Jimmy Fund, the Red Sox’ primary charity, which is affiliated with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. I love it. A cut out cancer to help save cancer. That is the very definition of poetic justice. You know that if the red suxs ever build a new fenway paaaaark then you know someone will place a Yankee jersey in the foundation but unlike the idiot scumbag red sux fan no one will see him do it. I wonder which red sux killer Yankee jersey will it be. Babe Ruth? Bucky Dent? Aaron Boone? Derek Jeter? I cant wait for that day to come.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
WE WANT THE CUP
It is that time of the year. It is playoff time in the NHL and the New York Rangers are looking to bring the Stanley Cup back to the city. Tonight starts what I and other Ranger fans hope will be the first win out of 16. They mission starts in Jersey. The hated devils stand in the way. It should a tough series due to how close the teams are but the Rangers did beat them 7 out of 8 times over the season so I'm confident the playoffs will go the same way. I feel with the talent and heart of this team they can make a run at the cup. I would like them to follow in the foot steps of the New York football Giants and shock the world. We'll find out starting tonight.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Patrick Ewing named to the HOF
Patrick Ewing was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame today. He was the man in the middle for the Knicks from '85 to '00. He is probably the most popular Knick of all time. He is the franchise leader in just about all their statistical categories. In my opinion very worthy of the honor.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Rangers lock up a playoff spot. The Quest begins
The New York rangers are in the playoffs yet again. They locked up a spot last night by beating the heated rivals the New York Islanders 3-0. The King registered his league leading 10th shout out of the season. The 17th of his young carrer. The capt. Jaromir Jagr had a pair of power play goals and got the third from Martin Straka. My take of the playoff run. I have high expectations. I think with their defensive system they play they should be able to limit the scoring chances of any team they play. The only problem I see is lack of scoring. Now I don't expect them to score 5 goals a game but I do expect 2 to 3 goals a game. They play to passive for the players they have. I believe that if Jagr, Gomez and Shanahan play hard they will go far. I believe in the clutchness of capt. clutch Chris Drury. That man for some reason is always in the right places at the right time in the playoffs. So My hopes are extremely high and I would like to see the Rangers win the cup and become the second New York team this year to win a championship and restore the winning ways back to this city.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Stop me if you've heard this one
Pedro Martinez is hurt again? The reports of his latest injury is being described as the famous pull hammy. He is listed to be out for 4 to 6 weeks. I'm going to put this down on print for all of you to read so when this happens you can come back to this post and say I was right. Pedro will not finish the season. He is the living example of that game operation. There is always something wrong with him. Hey Pedro maybe you should rehab you're whole body and not just your arm. If you neglect the lower half of your body then you will get hurt. Here is something you might not be aware of. YOU NEED YOUR LEGS TO PITCH TOO. Where do you think the force comes from. Everything starts with you're legs. The End result is what comes from your arm. So the way I see it is he'll be out longer than 6 weeks. When he comes back he'll then hurt his arm and his season will be over. That is my prediction. Now you may be thinking that I obviously hate Pedro. You couldn't be more wrong. I hated him when he was on the red suxs. Now that he is a Met I've grown to like him. I pull for him not only because he is a good pitcher but I pull for him because he is a personality that baseball needs. See you in two months Pedro.
The savior of the Knicks? Time will tell. After what seems has been a lifetime of misery for Knick fans Jim Dolan may have just provided the only ray of hope. He Hire former Gm then later president and CEO of the Pacers Donnie Walsh. Walsh will be the director of basketball operations making him the lone man in charge of restoring a winning tradition to the Knicks. He will most likely fire the hated Isiah Thomas as gm ans head coach by the end of the year. He will have the tough task of trying to evaluate the garbage of talent assembled by Isiah. Who stays and who goes? I say with the exception of Crawford get rid of them all. Especially starburry. The Knicks has so many needs where do you start. Well I believe you start at the top and work you're way down. I'm not sure if Walsh wants to act as the GM also but if not then he must hire someone who can EVALUATE TALENT. Not someone who throws tons of money at guys who suck. I'm all for spending money on free agents but ones who will fit into the scheme of what you are trying to accomplish. After Isiah gets the boot you must then hire a coach who will earn the respect of the players that remain. One who is so respected that GOOD free agents would want to come over and play. Then hopefully strike gold in the draft. God knows you'll have a top 5 pick. I believe the Knicks need a big man in the middle. What they dont need is another point guard. I think they have 40 on the roster. Either way whatever Donnie Walsh does he will have a tough job ahead of him and I wish him the best of luck. P.S. FIRE ISIAH!!!
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
A farewell to Shea
Shea Stadium. Opened on April 17, 1964. A weird coincidence. April 17Th is my birthday. Now I'm not a Met fan but I have been to Shea Stadium. I was there a few times in the late 80's watching guys like the straw and doc. To me the only thing that stadium sets itself apart from the others is that home run apple. I love that thing. Even as a Yankee fan I still think that apple is pretty cool. Some facts about Shea. Named after William A. Shea, who the key person who battled to bring National League baseball back to New York following the departure of the Dodgers and Giants in 1957. How many of you knew that? The Yankees classed up the joint by playing their home games there while renovations to the stadium was being done in 1974 and 75 seasons. Then again in 1998 while some repairs were being done. The New York Jets and football Giants played there. That must of been a sight. Soccer and boxing has been there also. Many concerts has been preformed there most notably by the Beatles. Very cool. Shea has been a stable to the people of queens and as they wait for the new Citi Field to open next season they line up to go to the games at Shea for the final time trying to become part of history and for one more sunny day hold on to the memories while at the same time gaining new ones. Memories most notably being the Buckner play in 86. Moments like that live through the hearts and minds of every Met fan forever. I hope some Met fans read this blog and comment on it. I'd like to hear from all of you. What will you miss about Shea and how you're feeling on the last season. I want to know how you'll feel about Citi Field.
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