Stories from the Swamp

Mitchell Report Fails To Reveal "New" Information

2007-12-13T15:22:00.000-05:00

All 409 pages of the Mitchell Report are available to be viewed, and you need to skim through all of them to find the names we were all clamoring to see. There is no "list", as many hoped, but paragraphs dedicated to each player accused of wrongdoing. Among the major offenders, all the BALCO characters (Bonds, Sheffield, Giambi) appear, as well as Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. The report failed to include juicy names floating around this morning such as Albert Pujols and Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez. Aside from Manny Alexander and Brendan Donnelly, there is a startling lack of Red Sox. I'm intrigued to hear Senator Mitchell's reponse to the numerous questions directed at him for such omissions. There are several things to take in to account while reviewing the document, if you have the time. First and foremost, the findings are predicated largely on the testimony of former trainers who supplied the drugs to the athletes. Several of the players have paper trails, including checks to said trainers for large sums of money to purchase performance enhancing drugs, that pretty much seals their fate. However, there is a lack of support for several players included.

One player that I quickly followed up on was Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte. I'll be forthright in saying that my biases are difficult to hide concerning Pettitte, but take in to account the following. The alleged injections of human growth hormone administered by his personal trainer Brian McNamee occurred during the summer of 2002. MLB did not ban this substance until 2003. Therefore, he did nothing against the rules. Which brings us to the underlying issue in this "retroactive policing"; if there were no rules prohibiting the use of certain substances at the time, how can we punish players now for taking them? There's reason to believe that the drugs positively affected their performance and may leave some of their accomplishments tainted, but do we even know that for sure? It's an ethical dilemma that anyone can relate to. If there was a way for you to advance in your job that was morally questionable, yet technically by the books, would you do it? Almost everyone would say yes. Doesn't that make critics more than a little bit hypocritical?

Finally, now the question becomes, who to blame? Some will blame the players, some will blame the trainers, some will blame the coaches and executives. The report finds that everyone's to blame; one point I whole-heartedly agree on. However, I place most of the blame with greedy MLB executives. We've all KNOWN this is going on for years. The sport nearly died in 1994, and guess what saved it? The power surge of chemically enhanced Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire in 1998. If not for Victor Conte and BALCO, the startling details of the operation in "The Game of Shadows", or the increasingly accurate auto-biography "Juiced" by Jose Canseco, the MLB execs across the street on Park Ave would have never addressed this issue. Their league became flushed with cash. Revenues are soaring, attendance is through the roof, and baseball is second fiddle only to the NFL. They thrived on turning a blind eye to their problems and were hoping to ride the wave for as long as possible.

With that being said, it's not fair to put all the blame on MLB. Clearly the players who not only risked their own health, but set a poor example for America's youth, should not have gone down this path. But can you really expect some of the most competitive people in the world not to look for avenues to be more successful? Instead, I find the players union as culpable as the big wigs in Manhattan. For years they met drug testing policy with such resistance that it became impossible for any decent legislation to pass. It wasn't until 2003, when it became clear the sport needed to do something to save face, that they reached an agreement on a more stringent drug testing policy. Even then, players and trainers continued to find loopholes. Many turned to hGh, a drug undetectable by the league's testing procedures.

Sadly, there's one irrefuitble truth. No matter what laws get passed, or how sports attempt to clean themselves up, there will always be a market for athletes looking to gain a competitive advantage. That's why we think of them as super heroes. It's in their DNA. It's what makes them great. But it's also what makes them human.

The Black Cloud Over Manhattan; Mitchell Report to be Revealed Today

2007-12-13T11:06:00.000-05:00

Three hours from now, the sports world will turn its attention to midtown Manhattan where up to 80 players will be denounced for steroid use by former Congressman George Mitchell. At this point, it is tough to determine whether the list is comprised of players with failed drug tests or merely find themselves there by matter of heresay. Early reports suggest that the Yankees will suffer the greatest indignity with "several prominent players" being mentioned. Articles have already surfaced that cite a former Yankee trainer who has confirmed that Roger Clemens will appear in the report due to testimony given by the ex-employee. Herein lies one of the greatest flaws of this investigation, Clemens name will be run through the muck presumably without a failed drug test. I'm not suggesting he did not use performance enhancing substances (in fact, his body transformation would certainly provide evidence in support of these claims), but in the absence of a positive test result, the findings will have a lot of grey area. However, before getting to the more specific problems with this 20 month investigation, let's evaluate the man chosen to spearhead these efforts.

Senator Mitchell has been lauded for his superb congressional records and his knowledge of baseball certainly made him a prime candidate. But Mr. Selig, how do you possibly select a man with direct ties to an individual organization? Not only does he hold a cushy position with the Boston Red Sox, many reports suggest he is a passionate fan with strong allegiances to the ball club. I fancy myself as a man of integrity, but you better believe if I was running this thing that Derek Jeter's name would not appear on that list even if I had 10 failed drug tests in my pocket. For his sake, and the sake of the integrity of this report, there better be a fair representation of Red Sox on the list. Preliminary lists floating around the internet have pegged Jason Varitek, the Red Sox captain, as well as former Sox stars Nomar Garciaparra and Trot Nixon. It is important to emphasize PRELIMINARY, and may not be accurate. If these hold to be true, it will give more credence to the report. However, Mitchell's ties to the Red Sox will be a tough obstacle to overcome. He's already come under fire for the announcement of Paul Byrd's abuse of hGh just prior to pitching a pivotal playoff game against the Sox. But since Selig decided to take the investigation out of "baseballs" hands and turn it over to "government", it is important to note how undemocratic this process appears to be.

First of all, where's the due process? Has every player whose been listed been notified and had a chance to plea their case before their names get sullied? What recourse will the players have to defend themselves? In the absence of a positive test, can MLB justify any suspensions or docking of pay? If this report is predicated on testimony from ex-trainers and clubhouse attendants, what if they just don't like someone in the clubhouse? Are these men of great character? Is a drug peddler like Kirk Radomski to be trusted? The findings of this report must be questioned and deemed credible beyond reasonable doubt.

The efforts of baseball to retroactively police themselves is shallow at best. It's still tough to rationalize this tremendous undertaking by Mitchell and his staff, especially given the lack of cooperation from players. Only one active player has testified before the committee, and it is widely believed he only spoke of his own drug habits. Despite one's personal feelings on steroid use, I personally despise it, it is unconscionable to hold people accountable for taking substances that weren't illegal in the sport until 2003. The executives at MLB just needed to give a "mea culpa", take all the heat for turning a blind eye to their sports perversions, and move on. Major League Baseball is flush with cash, generating over $6 billion in revenue. For them to try and become beacons of moral integrity to save face at this point is hypocritical at best, more appropriately depolorable. Let's just hope that no player is falsely accused because I sense a lot of counter-suits are in the making. Baseball should have just taken the money and run. By attempting to "take this issue head on", they will run in to a lot more problems than they can possibly solve. Bud Selig was hoping December 13, 2007 would read on baseball's epitaph as "The day the black cloud was lifted". It seems that the storm is just beginning.

"Idiot" Democratizing the Fate of 756

2007-09-19T14:49:00.000-04:00

Outside of San Francisco, it's hard to find anyone who believes Barry Lamar Bonds' recent 756th home run is the new standard for baseball's most treasured record. A fashion industry kingpin, Marc Ecko, is determined to find out what America truly thinks of Bonds and his place in history. Ecko recently purchased the ball for over $750 K and has created a website that allows people to vote on its fate. While many fans applaud the move, Mr. Ecko has been called out by one harsh critic. It is being reported in a news story on ESPN.com that the new home run king has labeled the ball's new owner as "stupid, an idiot." Unfortunately (or, as an anti-Bonds crusader, fortunately) he couldn't be farther from the truth. What is being done is a stroke of marketing brilliance by the clothing line entrepeneur. At the very least, he and his brand are getting recognition for being tied with sports' most polarizing record. At best, he is being championed a hero of the people who hope to see the record viewed for what it is: a chemically produced farce. Not to mention Mr. Bonds himself has completely fallen in to the marketing trap. By opening his mouth, he has simply stoked the flames on this hot story and provided even more coverage to Ecko's efforts. No publicity is bad publicity, so he just made the plan look a whole lot smarter. And Ecko's bottom line a whole lot wealthier.

Regardless of the outcome, people are genuinely interested in the balls' fate. Whether they believe it should be handed over to the Hall of Fame, branded with an asterisk, or shot in to space (as the three options allow), people want to feel that they had some voice in how this conflict should be resolved. Personally, I'm rooting for it to be branded, and not just because I think of Mr. Bonds as a despicable figure. My reasons are far more sadistic. Could you imagine the predicament MLB and the Hall of Fame would be in? If the ball is publicly branded, how could they attempt to display a pristine one? How about Mr. Bonds' reaction to the Hall displaying the original in its altered state? Quite honestly, it would serve them right. If not for baseball's blatant encouragement of performance enhancing drugs, the game's integrity may still be intact. The sad truth is that most people believe all baseball stars are dopers, and it doesn't help that Bonds has a callous, abrasive personality to supplement his "alleged" use. So vote early, vote often, and hopefully the true results will be carried out in the upcoming weeks.

WANTED: Capable Outside Linebacker

2007-09-18T22:53:00.000-04:00

No team ever likes to lose a player, but the Giants may have gained an opportunity when reserve DE Adrian Awasom suffered a potentially season ending injury on Sunday. If he is put on Injured Reserve (which all reports indicate), the Giants will be in a position to add a player to the roster. With the shaky play of the linebackers in the seasons' opening weeks, an outside addition would be welcomed with open arms. Despite having seven players on the current roster listed at that position, bringing in another would allow the Giants to terminate the ill-advised Mathias Kiwanuka experiment. He could transition back to his natural defensive end position which is in need of a boost with the loss of Awasom, and the Giants could attempt to upgrade their greatest weakness during its first two games.

During the offseason, many feared the linebacker position would be a weakness. Many people were looking for the Giants to draft college standouts Jon Beason or Paul Pozluszny with their top pick. However, we were assured that with the signing of Kawika Mitchell and switch by Kiwanuka, the linebacking corps would be fine. After two standout performances by tight ends, it is apparent an upgrade is necessary. They failed to obtain Al Wilson via trade this offseason, but he remains a free agent. If he could be deemed physically fit, he always excelled in pass coverage. It would at least be wise of the Giants to re-visit this option.

Two games in to the season, there's many reasons for concern. With 14 left to play, there's plenty of time to right the ship. However, the long term issues bother me the most. New general manager Jerry Reese has proven very capable on draft day but has left this roster with many question marks. He's sat by in recent weeks as many veterans (Donovin Darius, Jeremiah Trotter) who could have helped this team tremendously were signed at low prices. As it stands, the Giants are dangerously thin at safety and have received no positive contributions from the linebacking corps. Reese looks to suffer from Isiah Thomas syndrome; great eye for amateur talent, but no ability to form a cohesive roster. Hopefully he uses this new opportunity to start turning things around.

New York In Need of Giant Shake-Up

2007-09-17T13:05:00.000-04:00

In getting off to their worst start since 1996, the Giants defense has surrendered an astounding 80 points in just two games. To avoid a devastating 0-3 start, the Giants will need to make some dramatic changes to a defensive unit that looks among the worst in team history. As has been the case in the Tom Coughlin era, they've struggled to get teams off the field on 3rd down. Along with attrocious tackling, lack of a pass rush, and a staggering inability to cover the middle of the field, opposing offenses will continue to score in droves. If the Giants are to salvage their season (isn't it awful to think it may be done in September?), they should seriously consider doing the following:

Give up on the Kiwanuka experiment. Did the organization think he could make the transition based on zone schemes that had him drop in to coverage a year ago? Many teams institute packages where the DE will shift in to coverage to throw off a quarterback's reads. Just because he was fortunate enough to have a couple interceptions hit him between the numbers, didn't mean he was capable of doing it on a regular basis. Kiwanuka is certainly extremely athletic and a gifted football player...with his hands on the ground. He needs to go back to his natural position instead of watching tight ends roam free.

Replace Kawika Mitchell until further notice. Mathias is not the only one LB getting burned in coverage. "Major" free agent acquistion Mitchell has been far slower than advertised. He's been lined up on the weak side, a position he's been unfamiliar with. Late in games, the Giants have turned to Reggie Torbor in passing situations, but he has not made much of an impact. The Giants are waiting for the return of Gerris Wilkinson, which could send Mitchell to the bench or to his more familiar SAM role.

Sign a veteran safety. Outside of Gibril Wilson, the Giants are extremely thin at safety. Giving the Free Safety position to James Butler and releasing Will Demps was a flat out mistake. Butler has struggled with his tackling and in coverage. Unfortunately, the Giants have no options behind him. The inconsistent rookie undrafted free agent Craig Dahl sits behind him on the depth chart, and seventh round pick Michael Johnson is the only other safety on the roster. Not making a run at Donovin Darius or Lamont Thompson (both of whom recently signed with the Dolphins) was another in the series of questionable decision making by the front office.

Get Aaron Ross on the field. I realize he was lifted in the 3rd quarter for cramps, but if the secondary is going to get torched, at least let him get some valuable game experience. Corey Webster has failed to show any progress, Sam Madison has shown hes on his last legs, and R.W McQuarters has never been anything more than a nickel back. The defending Jim Thorpe award winner for top college CB, Ross has a promising future in this league. That future could be now. Despite being beaten on the play, his deflection of a Brett Favre pass led to the Packers only turnover of the game. In a defense struggling to make plays, his presence could be instrumental in righting the ship.

However you slice it, the Giants need a major face lift. Whether that's the current starters looking themselves in the mirror and making a change (totally unintentional MJ pun) or some hungry back-ups proving they can play in this league, the defense needs to start showing a little pride. Rookie coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has shown his aggressiveness, but the defense's inability to get to the passer or cover the voids filled by blitzers' is alarming. The vaunted front four have registered zero sacks, with the team's only 2 coming from back-up Justin Tuck.

The offense has demonstrated it can move the football and will only improve with the return of Brandon Jacobs. Still awaiting word on Plaxico's bum ankle and the early diagnosis for rookie Steve Smith is not encouraging (fractured shoulder blade), but fortunately they have capable back-ups in Sinorice Moss and Anthony Mix. The offensive line has looked great in creating a pocket for Eli Manning and opening up holes for Derrick Ward. Without dumb mental errors by Shockey and Toomer, the Giants would have put up a bunch more points in yesterday's loss. It's hard to imagine the defense is this bad with a solid front four and some capable players behind them. Hopefully they can get everything clicking soon and turn this season around.

Oden, Durant, then ?

2007-06-28T10:56:00.000-04:00

The two most talked about stars in College Basketball are headed to the Pacific Northwest after sensational freshman campaigns, but after they are off the board, it's anyone's guess what will transpire in tonight's NBA draft. Portland has reportedly tabbed Oden as their man with the top overall pick, which all but guarantees Kevin Durant to the SuperSonics. Will it be Oden's longtime teammate Mike Conley Jr to the Hawks at three? More likely it will be Chinese sensation Yi Jianlian or Florida's Al Horford, but there is very little consensus on how the rest of the lottery will shape up.

Any amateur draft has its uncertainties, but the unsettled future of superstars such as Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and Jermaine O'Neal, whose names are all linked to trade rumors makes this one espeically tricky to figure out. The Celtics #5 selection has been involved in a host of trade talks, but they publicly pronounce they are reluctant to rid themsleves of their lofty pick. With two picks in the top 11, the Atlanta Hawks should be the major swing team of the night. Whether they offer the picks in a package for a superstar or look to acquire more picks, they have the most influence over how the draft will shape up.

Sure-fire lottery picks Durant, Oden, Conley Jr., and the Florida trio of Horford, Corey Brewer, and Joakim Noah have been spotted all over New York City promoting the game. Most of them are sure to get their autograph seekers, but there's one player who doesn't get enough attention. As a member of the two-time defending champion Florida Gators, it's hard to imagine a player being overlooked, but this guy will be special. I'm not talking about Noah or Horford, but rather the 6'8' swingman Brewer, who has an impressive skill set and a non-stop motor. His tremendous wingspan has made him a defensive stopper, as well as being a versatile offensive threat from on the wing. A sure-fire top 10 pick can hardly be described as a sleeper, but Brewer should immediately help any team he ends up on. I'd love to see what he could do in an uptempo system that likes to put a lot of pressure on the ball. He can get a bit too aggressive and be caught out of position on defense, but most of the time he ends up with the ball and an easy two on the offensive end. For selfish reasons I hope he inexplicably pulls a Brady Quinn to the Knicks, but some team will be lucky to have him in the top 10.

With their lottery pick dealt to the Bulls, who could be in the Brewer sweepstakes at 9, the Knicks have to wait until pick 23 for their only selcrtion of the night. According to most reports, the Knicks have locked in on DePaul junior Wilson Chandler. The words most often associated with Chandler are "athletic and versatile", two areas that would greatly improve any team. He's more polished offensively than last year's first rounder Renaldo Balkman and gives the team a much needed boost in the front court. A concern is whether he is enough of a presence on the defensive end to compensate for offensive minded Center Eddy Curry. With that in mind, the Knicks initially had interest in shot blocking specialist Shaun Williams. It's unclear whether he will fall to the Knicks because several teams ahead of them, including the Nets, have him on their radar. The Knicks have no second round pick, which like their first round swap is thanks to the ridiculous Eddy Curry deal, but with 14 players under contract a late draft choice would have a tough time sticking with the team. However, by signing Kentucky's Randolph Morris in March, they essentially picked up an extra first rounder.

For all the heat Isiah Thomas feels as an unsuccessful coach and general manager, draft night is where he shines. He has an undeniable talent of finding less sought after talent, yet inexplicably makes a lot of foolish moves through free agency and trades. While Eddy Curry has grown in to an offensive force, he's too one dimensional to ever warrant the package the Knicks gave up. The slew of picks they forfeited (and are giving away through next year's draft) to acquire him should be reserved only for the most elite, and even then it's questionable. Even with some shaky decision making in the front office, the Knicks have assembled a team capable of winning in a weak Eastern Conference. They've asserted tonight's pick will not be expected to make an immediate contribution, but he will need to do so if the Knicks are to end their playoff drought.

Why The Rocket Will Re-Launch in NY

2007-05-02T11:51:00.000-04:00

Yankee fans were floating on cloud nine for 6 1/3 innings last night. The future of the franchise looked the role by no-hitting a dangerous Texas lineup, the bats awoke to the tune of 9 runs, and the Bombers were en route to a crucial victory. Then Phil Hughes clutched his hamstring after an 0-2 delivery and all the good feelings washed away. In a 9-0 game, with the mounting injuries, it was a no-brainer to pull the kid. Later on we learned the injury will cost him 4-6 weeks. Another devastating blow in a rough early season.

The natural question on everyone's minds is will this latest injury expedite the Roger Clemens process? One would have to think so, but his agent Randy Hendricks remains tight lipped on the situation. There are really a multitude of reasons I believe he'll be back, but I'll get in to a few major ones with one caveat...we must remain at least on the heels of the Sox. He's not coming back to watch the playoffs on TV.

1) The Yankee organization remains largely in tact from his last trip here (Steinbrenner, Cash, Torre, Jeter, Posada, Mo) and he loves those guys. He'd welcome the chance to suit up for the execs and despite Rivera's early season troubles, would love handing the ball to him late in games.

2) He would love to be reunited with his best-friend Andy Pettitte. Pretty much the same as above, but deserves special mention due to their special relationship.

3) Boston embarrassed him last time he was there by saying he was in "the twilight of his career". Granted the man largely responsible for the decision, as well as the quote, is gone, Roger has too much pride for that not to hurt. I think there's more of a grudge there than people embrace.

4) He wants to wear a Yankees cap in to the HOF. What better way to justify that than to punctuate his career with another ring in NY, and another season (well, half) to put on his resume as a Pinstriper.

5) Not that he's the mentoring type, but if he could be considered "instrumental" in the progress of Mini-Rocket Phil Hughes, his legacy grows even greater. A man who names his kids all K's to recognize his strikeout wizardry clearly has the ego to take that in to account.

FOX will broadcast a Saturday Subway Series tilt in the Bronx on Saturday June 16th. The man making his season debut on the mound for the Bombers will be wearing #22.

Best Sports Week of The Year?

2007-04-05T16:24:00.000-04:00

Perhaps the greatest attraction to sports fanaticism is that it gives you a platform to assert your convictions. If your a Yankee fan, you'll talk to your face turns blue about why they're better than Boston. Drive down Tobacco Road to ask about what Coach K can do with his national championships, and you'll get vastly different answers over the course of just a few miles. Everything is up for debate and rarely will you find unanimity. So when I heard the first week of April dubbed "the best sports week of the year", I had to evalute whether the argument held any weight. I whole-heartedly agree with this statement and I dare anyone to convince me otherwise.

Let's get in to the specifics. First of all, the week kicks off with MLB Opening Day and the Men's Basketball NCAA championships, arguably two of the finest spectacles in sport. As people relish the fact baseball is back, a new (or in this year's case, repeat) champion is crowned in the culmination of THE best tournament in sports. Some golf nuts may argue with me on the latter half, but even if they do, the week concludes with the premiere golf event of the calendar year down in Augusta. Not enough? Check out the next generation of hoop stars at the U-19 Hoops Summitt with the best our country has to offer on the prep level and international gems waiting to be discovered. Even though the NHL can hardly be considered part of the "big 4" following its lockout, the regular season is coming to a close with exciting races for the final postseason berths.

What other single week has this much to offer? Last week in October with the World Series and the NFL hitting midseason form? Close, but not quite. First week of January with BCS games and NFL playoffs? Heaven if your a football fan, but no variety. There is no other individual week where 3 major sports are at peak interest. You can even make a good argument that opening day is more exciting to baseball fans than the World Series. Growing up a Yankee fan that hasn't been the case with me, but if you're team is a perennial bottom feeder, day 1 could be the only enjoyable game of the year.

So now I encourage any takers to find a better Sunday-Sunday than the week we're currently in.

Wang To Miss A Month

2007-03-24T11:45:00.000-04:00

The Yankees will be without number one starter Chien Ming-Wang for about a month according to statements made by GM Brian Cashman. Their Taiwanese ace tweaked his hamstring while running during a spring training workout a couple days ago. Young pitchers Jeff Karstens and Darrell Rasner are expected to fill the "short-term" void. Karstens has had a terrific spring and was believed to be in serious competition with Kei Igawa for the final spot in the rotation. It's likely that he's the front-runner. The injury also opens the door for Andy Pettitte to take the mound on opening day. He's been sidelined with back spasms, but both he and Cash seem optimistic the veteran lefty will be ready by April 2.

Eli Engaged

2007-03-22T22:50:00.000-04:00

A month and a half ago Peyton Manning made big news when he finally got his ring. Now his kid brother is in the news for giving one out. The fourth year QB proposed to his long time girlfriend Abby Crews, a girl he's been dating since their days at Ole Miss. With older brother in town to host SNL, Eli popped the question he's been waiting to ask for months according to family friends. Hopefully his brightened personal future will translate in to greater success on the football field.

In March Madness action two games have gone final, and two more higher seeds have moved on. Kansas and Memphis won tight games to advance to the Elite Eight. The number one Jayhawks survived a close battle with Southern Illinois despite a pace that favored the Salukis. As for Memphis, an unlikely missed layup by Acie Law IV with A&M up one opened the door for the clinching free throws. With A&M eliminated, my brackets have been officially busted. Like this country, I placed my faith in Texas (with UT and A&M) and have been sorely let down.

Giants on Verge of First Move

2007-03-20T16:02:00.000-04:00

Shortly after publishing an entry yesterday, reports surfaced that the Giants had reached an agreement with restricted free agent FB Vonta Leach. The Texans have a week to match the offer, but if they don't, would receive no compensation for his departure. Since Leach went undrafted and the Texans tendered him at the lowest level, the Giants can essentially acquire him as an unrestricted free agent. The only hook is that the Texans have the one-week window to match. Leach is regarded as a terrific, power-run blocker. With the RB tandem of Brandon Jacobs and Reuben Droughns, that is exactly the type of football the Giants will look to play. In that regard, the signing makes sense. But a fullback, with all of their needs? It doesn't seem like Reese has attacked the free agency period with a clear plan.

This offseason the Giants have said goodbye to their all-time leading rusher, two offensive tackles, two outside linebackers, a wide receiver, a cornerback, a kicker, and kick returner. They've filled those holes with one running back, and potentially his lead blocker. I'm a firm believer in building through the draft, but it's only 7 rounds long. With the free agent pool dried up, there don't seem to be many moves Big Blue can make. It appears the Giants will take a step backwards in 2007.

Tourney, Giants, and More

2007-03-19T11:55:00.000-04:00

I've been MIA the past week, but my commentary from March Madness can be found at http://mvn.com/ncaa-syracuse. Opening weekend featured some thrilling overtime games, but most of the higher seeds have survived. In other words, the people who know the least about college basketball are probably winning your office pool. My brackets were busted when the rest of the Texas Longhorns decided not to help out freshman sensation Kevin Durant. While he put together one of the finest seasons ever for a freshman, he can't compete with '03 Melo without that national championship.

With the sport's world transfixed on the Big Dance, there's not too much for NY sports fans to get excited about. The Giants are one of six teams in the NFL not to have signed a free agent and the Yankees are playing well but it's only spring training. On brighter notes, the Knicks and Rangers have played themselves in to playoff position. The Knicks thoroughly dismantled divison leading Toronto at the Garden yesterday and received a huge boost from rookie Renaldo Balkman.

Just a few hours after the Knicks win, the Garden hosted the city basketball championship. The game was broadcast on MSG and I tuned in to check out sophomore sensation Lance Stephenson. Stephenson plays for the Lincoln Railsplitters, the same high school team that made Sebastian Telfair a NYC legend, and many think the sophomore is the next Coney Island great. He did not disappoint, showing off great range and an ability to score in many ways. The biggest knock is his attitude. He showed no defensive intensity and looked very unhappy when he didn't get touches on the offensive end. In short, in many ways he showed that he's still a young kid. Lincoln dominated Boys and Girls High School to take home the city title, their fifth in six years. Remember the name though. Lance Stephenson will be playing elite D-I ball in a couple years.

Tourney Field Set With Some Glaring Omissions

2007-03-13T23:17:00.000-04:00

The field of 65 teams competing in this year's March Madness was revealed on Sunday, but a lot of attention has been focused on several of the teams who were not selected. As you can tell from this entry on my Syracuse basketball blog, the Orange could take the honor of most slighted. Instead of dwelling on that, if we re-visit Sunday's entry, I accurately projected 31 of the 34 at large bids. To put that in perspective, ESPN's bracketologist pegged 32 of the 34. Not bad for my first stab. All further "bracket banter" will take place at the aforementioned Syracuse blog. Please feel free to visit and engage in some discussion via the comments section.

Just to offer a sneak peek, my early national Champion is the University of Florida. I know, not really going out on a limb by choosing the defending champion and overall number one seed, but they feature one of the most talented starting fives in recent NCAA history. Also, consider the last team to repeat as champions were the Duke Blue Devils of 1991-1992 that feautred one of the best collegiate tandems (Bob Hurley and Christian Laettner) of all time. With their balanced scoring and unparalleled front court, the Gators are certainly the team to beat.

Projecting the Field

2007-03-11T17:51:00.000-04:00

With the CBS Selection Show just a few minutes away, I wanted to post my projected field. The 31 automatic bids have all been handed out, and there is sure to be plenty of controversy over the final 34. Below is my list for the 34 at-large teams (in no particular order):

Southern Illinois-MVC
Butler-Horizon
Wisconsin-Big 10
UVA- ACC
Virginia Tech-ACC
Duke-ACC
Boston College-ACC
Kentucky-SEC
Pitt-Big East
Louisville-Big East
Notre Dame-Big East
Marquette-Big East
Syracuse-Big East
Maryland-ACC
Texas A&M- Big 12
Michigan St- Big 10
UCLA- Pac-10
Washington St.- Pac-10
USC- Pac-10
Xavier- A-10
Tennessee- SEC
Vanderbilt- SEC
Texas- Big 12
Arizona- Pac-10
Nevada- WAC
Indiana- Big 10
BYU- MWC
Stanford-Pac-10
Drexel- Colonial
Purdue- Pac-10
Kansas St- Big 12
Old Dominion- Colonial
Georgia Tech-ACC

Apologies to:
Texas Tech- Very conflicted on this one. They have several huge victories, but the blowout loss to Kansas State in the Big 12 could have cost them a berth.
Florida St.- Like Texas Tech, several big wins. But they struggled a bit down the stretch and didn't advance far enough in the ACC tournament
Appalachian St.-Bowed out of the Southern Conference tourney early. Once considered a lock, played themselves out in their conference tournament.
Missouri St- Aside from their Wisconsin win, struggled against the RPI top 50. Didn't play well enough down the stretch.
Air Force- Early season darlings who even spent significant time in the top 25. Played terrible basketball down the stretch.
West Virginia-Played a weak Big East schedule and their signature win came against a Darren Collison-less UCLA team.
Oklahoma St-Like several other teams, started off hot but cooled down the stretch. Played well in the Big 12 tourney, but many thought they'd need to make the finals in order to be selected.
Arkansas-Run to the SEC title game not enough for the Razorbacks. Below .500 record in SEC will be downfall

Brackets are about to be announced, let's see how it turns out
Akron-

Giants Make First Move

2007-03-09T17:52:00.000-05:00

The Giants finally got their feet wet in the 2007 offseason, but not through free agency. Big Blue sent oft-injured WR Tim Carter to the Browns for RB Reuben Droughns. With the departure of Tiki Barber, GM Jerry Reese has made RB a top priority for the offseason. After unsuccessfully entertaining Dominic Rhodes, Reese acquired Droughns who was on his way out of Cleveland regardless. After the Browns signed Jamal Lewis, and are likely to draft Adrian Peterson with the 3rd pick, there was no way they'd pick up the pick roster bonus Droughns was set to make. The trade marks the end of the Tim Carter experiment in New York. There were high hopes for the speedy wideout whom the Giants made their 2nd round selection in the 2002 draft. They envisioned Carter being able to stretch the field with his track star sprinting ability, but injuries and inconsistency characterized his tenure.

The deal seems very low-risk, moderate reward for both teams. The Giants wanted a complimentary back to Brandon Jacobs, and Droughns is capable of handling a big work load. It would have been preferable to bring in a change of pace guy, especially with a smallish offensive line, but he's a quality back. Now that they brought in a veteran to share the load with Jacobs, hopefully they can start to turn their attention on their glaring defensive needs. For the Browns, Carter is a risk worth taking. If Carter could stay healthy, his ability to stretch the field could increase production from TE Kellen Winslow. They already have a solid starting WR duo of Joe Jurevicius and Braylon Edwards, and Carter's addition would offset the loss of Dennis Northcutt. Overall, not the blockbuster move Giants fans were looking for, but it's an upgrade with low risk involved. It's still puzzling why they've been passive in their pursuit of defensive help, but hopefully those answers will unfold in the next few weeks.

Giants Continue To Wait and See

2007-03-09T13:42:00.000-05:00

It's a great time to be a mediocre athlete in professional sports. On the heels of a baseball offseason that heaped riches on back-end starting pitchers, the NFL free agency period has matched their absurdity. Deals in excess of $7 million a year are going to unproven offensive lineman, a cornerback who didn't even make this year's Pro Bowl became the richest defensive player in NFL history, and somehow the Redskins continue to be buyers on the market. The free agency period, just a week old, has been curious to say the least. From the Giants standpoint, one has to wonder why Jerry Reese continues to sit on his hands. On the record, there have been only two confirmed visits and one (Dominic Rhodes) has already signed with another team.

The only thing that Giants fans have learned about Reese is that he refuses to overpay. As a result, the Giants have lost K Jay Feely and almost said goodbye to Shaun O'Hara. Unfortunately, the market has been set by inflating players' values. Perhaps Reese should be commended for standing his ground, but I put this question out. Is it a bigger sin to overpay for talent or to not put your football team in a better position to win football games? I'd say the latter, and if he continues to let the roster dwindle, he's committing a far greater sin. With a long string of cuts and retirements, the Giants have been left with gaping holes that have yet to be remotely covered. In fairness, only a week has passed and there is plenty of time until training camp. Unfortunately, most of the talent worth having has been signed.

The most puzzling thing to me has been their focus on offense. The two visitors, Dominic Rhodes and Kevin Curtis, are skill position offensive players. A great way to improve the offense would be to field a defense that can get them on the field. Last year the defense couldn't stop a jay-vee team from converting a third down, which took away from offensive production. With two outside linebackers departed, and a third likely on his way out (Brandon Short), the Giants need to bring in some bodies. Cato June and Donnie Edwards have been prominent names on their radar, but it is also believed Ike Reese would like to make the Meadowlands his home. Reese is a solid special teams contributor and would give depth to the linebacking corps, but he's not the impact player the Giants need. As for getting the defense off the field on third downs? A lock down corner is necessary, but unfortunately unavailable unless the Broncos meet Dre Bly's trade demands. Even so, his likely landing spot is Washington. Many Giants fans have been on the Roderick Hood bandwagon, but it's tough to envision him as anything more than a nickel back. Departed GM Ernie Accorsi attempted to re-tool key areas (think Secondary) with second-tier players last season and it didn't work. It looks like Jerry Reese has been priced out of this market and doomed to repeat the shortcomings of his predecessor.

Jets Steal Jones

2007-03-05T19:39:00.000-05:00

Michael Smith of ESPN is reporting that the Bears and Jets have reached an agreement that would send Thomas Jones to New York. The deal would also involve the teams swapping their second round picks. It's hard to rationalize this one from Chicago's standpoint. Jones had vocalized his displeasure with his contract and the Bears are notorious for being cheap. After the Super Bowl it became apparent he'd be available for trade, but this seems to be a steal for the Jets. Even so, they gave up a 1300 yard rusher to simply move up to the top of the second round. It's hard to imagine they couldn't have gotten a better package for Jones.

Now I'm certainly the furthest thing from a Jets sympathizer, but this is a brilliant move. They did not have to sacrifice any draft choices, and received a former top 10 selection in exchange for dropping 26 picks in the second round. Not only that, he's been incredibly productive for the past several seasons. If you throw in the extension they recently gave Jerrico Cotchery, the offense will be a force. Thomas Jones is the every down back they desperately needed, and it will allow Leon Washington to serve as the change of pace back. It will also take a lot of pressure off Chad Pennington, who amazingly continues to get the job done despite having no arm strength. The Jets got an absolute steal which should allow them to threaten the Patriots reign at the top of the AFC East.

Igawa Shaky in Debut

2007-03-05T16:27:00.000-05:00

Japanese import Kei Igawa, slated to be the Yankees fourth or fifth starter, had mixed results in his first action of the spring against the Tigers. In a little over an inning, Igawa walked three batters and gave up a couple of runs. On the bright side, he countered his lack of control with three strikeouts. The former Japanese strikeout leader struggled to spot his fastball, but demonstrated that his 0ff-speed stuff will certainly be dangerous to major league hitters. It can't be stressed enough that spring training is not a true indicator of success. Many pitchers will struggle with control, as we've seen with Igawa and Hughes. Also, it's important to take in to account that Igawa has had very little time to work with catcher Jorge Posada. As they gain familiarity, Posada will be able to put his pitcher in to better situations. There were a few pitches today where they didn't seem to be on the right page. That should fade with time. The Yankees will also benefit by having Hideki Matsui to consult on the field if problems arise. Posada has already suggested that he will bring Matsui in for mound meetings if he feels the situation calls for it.

Both teams played many of their starters, but the real fireworks came from a couple of young guys. Down a run with two outs in the ninth inning, Josh Phelps roped a single in to left field to set up Bronson Sardinha's walk-off homerun. Phelps will battle Andy Phillips all spring to be the right handed batter in the first base platoon with Doug Mientkiewicz. Sardinha has been limited to September call-up work and will almost certainly be headed to Triple A Scranton. Since wins and losses are basically irrelevant in spring training, the nicest part of the walk-off homerun was the celebration afterwards. The Yankees are known as an uptight, business-first group. Centerfielder Johnny Damon has infused some energy, but for the most part, displays of emotion are rare. Sardinha was greeted at home plate by the usual array of exuberant teammates you would expect from a mid-season walk-off victory. This may seem to be an insignificant observation, but the youthful Tigers taught the Yankees an important lesson in last season's playoffs. They came out and stole the series by playing with intense passion. If the Yankees can not find ways to get up for big games, they'll continue their World Series drought. Hopefully today's display is a sign of things to come.

Upon Further Review, Teams Making Moves

2007-03-02T19:49:00.000-05:00

A couple of hours ago it seemed as though teams were in no hurry to upgrade. As the day has progressed, teams have started to announce some major signings. Leading the way have been a few offensive lineman cashing in to the tune of over 7 million per season. The Browns will pay OT Eric Steinbach $49.5 million over seven years, a package that is worth $500,000 more over the duration than the seven years the Bills locked up Derrick Dockery for. In Atlanta, the Falcons upgraded their backfield by agreeing to terms with FB Ovie Mughelli.

Reports are surfacing on profootballtalk.com that Nate Clements will become the highest paid defensive player in NFL history. It is believed that the 49ERS have offered the former Bills conerback an eight year deal worth $80 million dollars. Elsewhere on the cornerback front, rumors are circulating that Fred Smoot will re-join the Washington Redskins. On a side note, how the hell are the Redskins always buyers in the market? They're the likely landing spot for top MLB free agent London Fletcher-Baker and in the running for others. While they have been unsuccessful in their past shopping sprees, it's still amazing they can afford to splurge every offseason. If both Smoot and Clements are indeed off the market, there's very little to get excited about with the remaining crop.

This means one of two things for the Giants. They can attempt the piece-meal solution to the secondary that Accorsi adopted with little success last season or hopefully turn their attention to other needs. If they do decide to bring in a few lesser pieces, there is a strong feeling that Eagles CB Roderick Hood would be an option. Personally, the Giants need to bring in a top notch corner whether it was a Clements type in free agency or an early draft pick. Trying to bring in a series of nickel-back types won't have the impact they need on the outsides. Free agent RB Dominic Rhodes was in town today, but a complimentary running back should be less of a priority than a LB or CB. Unlike other running backs, he's content being one part of a two pronged attack. That is a big plus considering how many egos the Giants currently have on their offense.

Free Agency Period Starts Slow

2007-03-02T18:02:00.000-05:00

With a flurry of activity yesterday, people were anticipating active general managers during today's first day of free agency. Instead, not many signings were made. The biggest news of the day surrounds the potential retirement of Jake Plummer. After the Broncos announced they had reached a deal to send the veteran QB to Tampa Bay, Plummer responded by saying he'd rather retire than switch cities. If he had agreed to go, it would have marked the second big trade in consecutive days. The Lions and Broncos agreed to a deal yesterday that sent coveted cornerback Dre Bly to Denver. In exchange, the Lions received Tatum Bell, George Foster, and a late round draft pick.

Although no signings have been made, early indications are that the 49ERS will be the most aggressive shoppers. Reports have surfaced that they are leading candidates to land CB Nate Clements and LB Adalius Thomas, perhaps the two most sought after free agents. It is likely they will land at least one of the defensive standouts. The bigger news has been the massive league wide cuts. Yesterday the Steelers cut ties with LB Joey Porter and the Saints with Joe Horn. Teams around the league kept trimming their rosters today, which should strengthen a "weak" free agent class. Hopefully the activity will pick up in the next few days.

Damon Jump Starts Spring Training

2007-03-01T14:29:00.000-05:00

Johnny Damon didn't waste any time bringing excitement to Legends Field this spring. On the first pitch Twins starter Carlos Silva threw, Damon homered to right field to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead. Coming off a career high 24 homeruns a season ago, the Yankees lead off man showed the long ball will continue to be in his repertoire. The following inning Jason Giambi took a Silva pitch over the right centerfield wall as the Yankees piled on five runs in the first two innings. Cather Jorge Posada and second baseman Robinson Cano also notched RBI in the early innings.

The Yankees also have to be encouraged by the outing of Chien Ming-Wang. He worked two efficient innings and five of the six batters he faced grounded out. For the next inning and a third, the future of the Yankee rotation Phil Hughes showed shaky control. There's no doubt this kid will be special, but his first outing of the spring featured more walks than strikeouts (two to one). Out of his 34 pitches, only 18 were thrown in the strike zone. Hughes hung a curve to Michael Cuddyer that he ripped in to the left centerfield gap for a double. On a positive note, he ended his day by striking out reigning AL MVP Justin Morneau. The players have had rave reviews about the young righthander during team workouts, so there's no reason for concern. During Spring Training games pitchers will often be victimized because they're not throwing their full arsenal. It's more like a glorified bullpen session, so their performances are basically rendered irrelevant. YES network commentators raved about Hughes' compact delivery and it did look eerily reminiscent of Roger Clemens motion. Everyone should hold off on the "Baby Rocket" monikers, but it's exciting to have a player of his caliber waiting in the wings.

Right now the Yankees are holding to a 5-1 lead, the lone run charged to Hughes as Cuddyer came around to score later in the inning. Newly acquired Ross Ohlendorf (in the Randy Johnson deal) is on the mound and features a hard sinking fastball a la Chien Ming Wang. The Yanks have received some tremendous defense, including a sliding catch by Hideki Matsui. It's nice to see that the devastating wrist injury he suffered last season has not intimidated him.

Lewis, Moulds headline NFL Cuts

2007-02-28T16:57:00.000-05:00

Just two days before the beginning of the free agency period and on the eve of many March 1 signing bonuses, general managers are deciding which of their own players are worth retaining. Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome felt that the price tag for the all-time leading rusher in franchise history was too steep. Although they announced intentions to try and re-sign him, Jamal Lewis could be suiting up for another team next season. The Ravens were not the only active team today. Long time WR standout Eric Moulds was sent packing by the Texans, along with two of his veteran teammates. Reports out of Minnesota indicate QB Brad Johnson will be leaving town and Miami QB Joey Harrington will no longer be soaking up the sun in South Beach.

If neither Harrington or Johnson anticipate winning starting jobs next year, they could fall on to the Giants radar. With only Tim Hasselbeck and Jared Lorenzen backing up Eli Manning, Big Blue would love a veteran understudy. I expect them both to pursue opportunities that would enable them to start, but there don't appear to be many open battles. With the Giants interest in Willis McGahee, it's obvious that RB is a pressing need in Jerry Reese's mind. Since the Bills are unlikely to accept the 4th round pick the Giants are dangling for McGahee's services, they could take a long look at Lewis. The Baltimore RB runs with the same bruising style of current back Brandon Jacobs. Reese has said he'd prefer a back who could change the pace when Jacobs sat, but a RB of Lewis' talent would be hard to overlook.

Florida Falls at Rocky Top

2007-02-28T11:45:00.000-05:00

It seems like every bubble team in search of a signature win has been managing to get one. Last night that trend continued when unranked Tennessee defeated the fourth ranked Florida Gators 86-76 on senior night in Knoxville. The final margin is not indicative of how lopsided this game played out from start to finish. Behind Chris Lofton, the Volunteers ceized an early lead which would grow to 27 at one point in the second half. A frenzied full-court press enabled the Gators to cut the lead to single digits, but the game never really felt in doubt. One has to believe that some recent remarks by Gator Al Horford might carry a lot of weight.

The junior forward suggested his team gets lacksadasical on defense when they're not having success on offense. When they made their charge in the second half, the defensive intensity picked up as buckets started to drop. This could be an issue for the defending champs come tournament time. For now, people need to stop the "what's wrong with Florida" talk. They've lost three out of four and all of a sudden it's supposed to be crisis time in Gainesville. It's better to drop games in late February than late March. There's enough time for Billy Donovan to address the issues, which primarily seems to be a lack of focus to start ball games. They routinely fall behind, but often can overcome with their enormous talent level. He should also address their attitudes. Many times throughout last night's broadcast you caught glimpses of Florida players who seem to have a sense of entitlement. If they are to repeat as champions, they have to realize it is not a birth right.

Finally, I must applaud UT women's coach Pat Summitt's cheerleading cameo. A few weeks ago I praised Bruce Pearl, and the same goes for coach Summitt. These two really understand that college athletics is driven by school spirit. To see one of the most respected people in their profession demonstrate the loyalty that is necessary to succeed on the collegiate level was refreshing. While her rendition of Rocky Top may have not been the sweetest it's ever sounded, her passion for UT athetics was properly represented. Many have lauded these "side show" efforts, but it in no way detracts from the action on the court. I do not believe Mr. Pearl or Ms. Summitt's actions were anything but genuine and good-natured. They emobody the passion of the students, fans, and alumni whose fervent fanaticism sets collegiate sports apart from their professional counterparts.

Crawford May Miss Remainder of Season

2007-02-27T16:39:00.000-05:00

You wouldn't have known it by the late three pointer he hit in last night's win over the Heat, but Jamal Crawford was playing with a stress fracture in his right ankle. That injury may keep him sidelined for the rest of the regular season and put a serious hurt on the Knicks postseason chances. The Knicks second leading scorer does not know when the injury occurred, but it may lead surgery. With Steve Francis continuously battling knee problems and David Lee confined to street clothes with a high ankle sprain, the Knicks could not afford to lose another weapon.

So what does this mean to the Knicks rotation? As long as Lee remains on the bench, it could spell more minutes for rookie Renaldo Balkman. He brings toughness to a team that lacks defensive intensity and has the quickness to defend on the perimeter. The Knicks could also turn to diminutive Nate Robinson. He's fallen out of grace after December's brawl and relative ineffectiveness, but could infuse the team with some energy for the stretch run. As opposed to Balkman or Jared Jeffries, he has the ability to compensate for some of the offense that will be lost with Crawford's injury.

Combine Goes Out In A Flash

2007-02-27T15:49:00.000-05:00

After several days of weighing, prodding, and examining the talent pool for the 2007 NFL Draft, the anuual Scouting Combine comes to a close today. Judging by the early results, it's going out in style. Under today's microscope were the defensive backs and many have made an impression with their times in the 40 yard dash. Michigan's Leon Hall, who many felt needed to prove he had enough speed to man the outside, may have answered many of his critics with a time of 4.38 seconds. That time, paired with strong results in the vertical and broad jumps, should have seperated him as the first corner off the board. However, he may face stiff competition from workout warrior Chris Houston of Arkansas. The former Razorback clocked the fastest forty time at 4.32 and set the standard on the bench with an astonishing 27 reps. Giants fans should take note of that name.

With the Giants glaring need for a corner, today's showcase was extremely important. I have been wondering why many draftniks seem to dismiss the idea of the Giants drafting Jim Thorpe award winner Aaron Ross. He has good size, is great in run support, and has a record of making plays on the football field. In a "Moneyball"-esque philosophy, I've always been concerned with people who quickly dismiss what guys have accomplished on the field. With circuses such as the scouting combine, people get obsessed with measurables. Ross, formerly of the University of Texas, has an impressive track record. Even though his performance today seemed to be middle of the pack, it shouldn't be the final indicator of his projected draft status.

A full list of today's results can be seen here.

The Rest Is Covered By Smoot

2007-02-26T14:09:00.000-05:00

While the NFL world has its attention on the scouting combine in Indianapolis, it's hard not to look ahead to the fastly approaching Free Agency Period. Beginning this Friday, it's shopping season and several NFL owners are sure to have their checkbooks ready. Giants fans are hoping that new GM Jerry Reese will bring home some new gifts, preferably a playmaking cornerback who can shut down opposing number one receivers. According to Adam Schefter of NFL.com, another prized candidate could hit the open market. Fred Smoot, of "water covers two-thirds of the earth, Smoot covers the rest" fame, is likely to be cut this week before he receives a bonus from the Vikings. If he becomes available, the Giants should certainly join the Smoot sweepstakes.

Aside from his cockiness and propensity to say a foolish thing or two, injuries have to be a red flag. He's played all 16 games only once in his 6 year career. His interception numbers have declined every year since a career high 5 in his rookie year, but that seems to be more indicative of teams throwing in the opposite direction. I'd also be wary of potential character issues. Smoot played a central role in the "love boat" scandal that rocked the Vikings two offseasons ago. Not to sound insensitive to the issues in that situation, but it's not shocking that wealthy young men would act in those ways. I don't think it's an indictment on many of their characters. Before digressing in to that, he can bring a lot of positives to the table. He's shown an ability to make plays and can stick with any receiver in the league. His price tag could be similar to fellow free agent Nate Clements, which at this point is too steep for the Giants pockets. With a recent "decline" in production he could come cheaper, which would be crucial in a potential Giants pursuit. He could be a very enticing solution to the Giants cornerback problems.

Giants Show Interest In McGahee

2007-02-24T14:27:00.000-05:00

When Tiki Barber walked away from the Giants in January, the heir apparent to his position seemed to be backup Brandon Jacobs. He may face some stiff competition for RB 1 if Jerry Reese can strike a deal with Buffalo to acquire Willis McGahee. The Bills announced that their starting running back, who will be a free agent after the 2007 campaign, is up for grabs. They've been pursuing trading partners and the new Giants GM has voiced his interest. Despite his talent, it makes sense for the Bills to shop him. He's vocalized issues with Buffalo and they run a real risk of letting him depart next offseason with nothing to show for it.

As surprising as it may sound, I don't know how much sense it makes for the Giants to pursue McGahee. They have needs at several other positions and are sure to lose early round picks to acquire a player of his caliber. The Giants would also have to work out an extension with the young back, which would cost them cap room for a long time to come. It's also a bit surprising, given his injury prone past, that Reese would be so intrigued. Reese has cut ties with several veterans with red flags about their health. On the bright side, he is only 25 and has shown tremendous ability in this league. He'd instantly upgrade an offense in need of another weapon and take a lot of pressure off Eli Manning.

Wade Sidelined Indefinitely

2007-02-22T14:15:00.000-05:00

The defending NBA champions were dealt a huge blow last night as superstar Dwayne Wade suffered a dislocated shoulder. Replays of the incident are tough to watch, especially watching a wheelchair bound Wade wheeled off the court writhing in pain. It's a frightful reminder that injuries play a much larger role in basketball than most people will acknowledge. On a broader scale, this injury could be a major factor in determining the Eastern Conference playoffs. Wade will be sidelined indefinitely and the Heat are sure to struggle in his absence. They're clinging to the 8th seed, only two games ahead of the Nets. If your a Heat fan, Shaq's 20 points and 16 rebounds have to be an encouraging sign. Head coach Pat Riley also returned to work, but the Nets are involved in trade talks and a change of personnel could energize them.

It will be interesting to see if the injury forces the Heat in to a deadline deal. There is a good chance Wade will miss the remainder of the regular season, possibly even longer. Another thing to keep an eye on is Scottie Pippen. One of the NBA's 50 greatest of all time, Pippen has expressed interest recently in joining a contender. He would not make an immediate impact, but could get his legs back in time for a playoff push.

The deadline is fast approaching and only a few minor deals have been completed. Across the river, New Jersey seems to be the most active shoppers but the Lakers appear unwilling to meet their asking price for star guard Jason Kidd. Although the deadline is at 3 PM EST, things probably won't be clear until this evening.

Bernie to Play The Waiting Game

2007-02-20T16:25:00.000-05:00

Lost in the A-Rod-Jeter "love-lost" fest has been the story of longtime Yankee Bernie Williams. As the two infielders indulge the reporters with sound bites on their relationship, Williams continues to sit sans-media attention and wait for a little more respect. Many players are standing up for the loyal centerfielder. The Yankees are walking a fine line with regards to how their treating a long time veteran and signs of a rift between the organization and closer Mariano Rivera are evident. It's obvious that pinstripe lifers Jorge Posada and Rivera, as well as their leader Joe Torre, are doing all they can to ensure Williams spot on the roster.

On the surface this issue seems complex. Do the Yankees owe him better treatment? There's a lot of grey area. Yes, he's had an amazing career. Yes, he's still capable of producing. Does that necessarily mean they have to guarantee him a coveted roster spot? Unfortunately, no they do not. It's actually surprisingly simple. Brian Cashman's decision to platoon at first and shift Giambi to DH keeps the team from holding on to a fifth outfielder. Anyone capable of rational thought knows that Melky Cabrera is better suited for the primary backup slot, so it leaves no room for Williams. The bigger problem I have is that, with the re-signing of Miguel Cairo, they're planning to keep four players on the roster capable of playing first base yet only four capable of playing the outfield. Considering two corner outfielders got injured last year, this does not seem to make a whole lot of sense. Forget his years of loyalty. Forget what the organization owes to him. Even put aside what it could mean to the future of Rivera in pinstripes. The Yankees need Williams in camp because a fifth outfielder is more important than carrying three first basemen.

Hopefully the team re-considers their roster plans and makes sure Bernie is in camp. According to Jon Heyman of SI, the waiting game may indicate he's more willing to take the Yankees offer.

Jeter: "There is no rift"

2007-02-20T14:32:00.000-05:00

A day after reporters enjoyed personal revelations from Alex Rodriguez, they were unable to pry similar information from Derek Jeter. As always, Jeter steered clear of his personal life as the media looked for a response to Rodriguez' remarks about their friendship. From Jeter's reply today, a few things remain very clear. No matter how much the New York media would love to expose Jeter's personal life, he will keep it hidden. Whether it's a fling with a celebrity, or personal relationships with teammates, they'll never get the full story. He alluded to that fear of "opening the flood-gates" with this:

"I understand my job is public, but your personal life is your personal life. Once you open that door, it doesn't stop," he said. "Away from the field, people want to keep tabs on how many times we go out to eat, things like that. That has no bearing on what we're trying to do."

Jeter has, and always will be, all about winning. He understands that teammates don't need to hold hands. They just need to be willing to fight for a common goal. The big knock on Jeter during the A-Rod era has been his reluctance to embrace the embattled star. I've said this before in a column about Mike and the Mad Dog, but I think it's ridiculous to suggest that Jeter needs to be more vocal of his defense of their third basemen. The captain acknowledged this today, continuing his emphasis that he will not tell the fans how to treat any of his teammates.

Many media types are quick to point out that Jeter seemed more supportive when Giambi endured his hardships. In a recent radio interview, Joe Torre gave a great explanation. He made a distinction between the two issues. Giambi's problems stemmed from off-field incidents, A-Rod's were a direct result of his poor on-field performance. They needed to be handled as seperate problems, and the captain acted accordingly. I really do not believe that Jeter has failed to back his teammate due to a perceived rift. Hopefully now that both players have weighed in on this issue, reporters can begin to look for a new story.

A-Rod Confirms Strained Relations with Jeter

2007-02-19T16:20:00.000-05:00

Does anyone remember the Yankees brawl with Seattle in which Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez playfully chatted as their teammates fought? Jeter's actions, and Chad Curtis' resulting harsh criticism, sent Curtis packing and proved to players league wide that the two shortstops were the best of pals. In an interview with reporters this morning, Rodriguez confirmed what everyone knew for years. Those days are long gone. He really picked an interesting day for this revelation. Today marked the first day of Spring Training for position players, a day already being hyped at Legends field due to the absence of long-time Yankee Bernie Williams.

Given a few hours to reflect on Rodriguez's comments, I've come to the following conclusions. First of all, it's almost refreshing to see A-Rod go against the grain. Since arriving in New York he's been so careful with his words, but anyone with a pulse could tell things were clearly strained from his published criticism of the Yankee captain. He figured he'd have to field questions about his and Jeter's relationship, so it was good to see him take the offensive. However, it will open the flood gates on the speculation that he'll opt out of his contract after this season. People will blow these comments out of proportion and it could be a lingering issue in the press. Any signs of tension between the two will be front page news and could serve as an unnecessary distraction. Will it actually be a problem? I think not. Athletes are too competitive to let petty differences affect their performance on the field. They both realize they need each other to play well in order to achieve their common goal of winning the World Series. Hopefully this disclosure, albeit not a surprising one, will start to put this issue to bed.

For more on this, check out this article available at MLB.com.

Bears Franchise Briggs

2007-02-16T17:51:00.000-05:00

For all Giants fans who thought Lance Briggs would test free agency to sign with New York, the Bears gave everyone a definitive answer. The Bears have chosen to designate Briggs as their franchise player. As per the guidelines of using this designation, Briggs will receive a one year deal in line with the average of the five highest players at his position. He's the perfect fit in their Tampa 2 scheme and it is no surprise that Chicago brass exercised this option. They will use the next couple months to work on an extension or else Briggs could become available next offseason. Teams still can acquire Briggs, but it would cost several draft picks and the Bears unwillingness to match the offer.

So where do the Giants go from here? Many Giants fans speculated the recent roster moves to free up cap space would lead to Briggs landing in New York, but it would have shocked me if the Bears didn't lock him up. Honestly, while he's a fantastic player, the skill set of Adalius Thomas could be a better fit with new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. anyway. I'm relatively certain he will not become an option, but the Ravens are extremely cap strapped. It would be foolish for them not to at least franchise him, but there's a chance he could sneak through the cracks. If he becomes available, although the Giants are in desperate need of a playmaking corner, he should be their top priority.

Hardaway Fires Shot at Gay Athletes

2007-02-15T13:23:00.000-05:00

I have the perfect premise for TV's next reality hit. It will be appropriately titled "Athletes Say The Dumbest Things" and will feature such gems as Tim Hardaway's gay bashing on Dan LeBatard's Miami radio show yesterday. Hardaway may have had a killer crossover, but he never could drop jaws the way he did on the air yesterday in one of the most disturbing bigotry-laced tirades in recent history. It's a re-inforcement of how backwards thinking some people in this country can be. The worst part? His lame excuse for an apology. It essentially amounted to "I shouldn't have said it when so many people would hear it BUT I mean every word of it".

Putting aside one man's beliefs, let's look at the bigger picture. The whole scene started by host Dan LeBatard simply asking for Hardaway's take on John Amaechi's recent publication. Just a quick summary, former Orlando Magic Center John Amaechi became the first retired or active NBA player to reveal his homosexuality. It's created a media craze; one in which I felt to be completely unwarranted at first. However, since everybody feels the need to comment on it, inevitably people were going to make off-color remarks. Exhibit A, Shavlik Randolph. The former Dukie, and now Portland Trailblazer, would not want a gay teammate to "bring his gayness" on him. Even King James who suggested he couldn't trust a teammate who chose to hide their sexuality from the team needs to insert his foot in his mouth. Luckily for them, they've been pushed to the back of the bus by Hardaway's "I hate gay people" rant. Before sounding off on that, let me explain why I felt this issue received excessive attention.

For a former player to make a stunning revelation to increase book sales (and hopefully awareness, I don't mean to belittle his biographical efforts), I didn't think such disclosure from a former journeyman could impact today's league. If a current player made this kind of announcement and the league had to deal with the ramifications in the locker rooms, I would have found it to be monumental. It just doesn't seem that how an ex-player dealt with being in the closet during his playing days impacts what it would be like for a player to be openly gay in the league right now. Until an active player deals with the obstacles, it seems like these kind of stories are obsolete. However, I'm singing a slightly different tune after the vast opinions being shared.

Surprisingly, "I'm not a role model" Charles Barkley has had the most positive feedback. He has emphasized that he has many gay friends and would have supported gay teammates. He even went so far as to assert that he knew of a few players that were gay, but opted not to out them because it is clearly their decision. It's a shame that counterparts such as Hardaway are not as enlightened. Now I'm not naive. There are plenty of people in this country who do not condone homosexuality, and probably never will. But to come out and say "I HATE gay people" relatively unprovoked is indefensible. Even if the question was "Do you like gay people", his answer wouldn't have had to be so inflammatory. He purposely took cheat shots at an already alienated section of the population simply because he had the captive audience for it.

Sadly, Hardaway will now field countless interview opportunities to defend his statements. That's why "Athletes Say The Dumbest Things" would be such a hit. The dumber the better, and the opportunities to "one up" yourself in stupidity are infinite. Now I just have to find someone to pitch it to.

Love Lost; Tiki fires shots at Coughlin

2007-02-14T17:38:00.000-05:00

Don't expect Tom Coughlin to send Tiki Barber a Valentine's day card. Coughlin's workhorse of the last three years had some tough words for his former coach upon being announced as a new member of the Today show. Barber believes that Coughlin's demanding practices took an excessive toll on his body and ultimately caused him to retire prematurely. While undoubtedly he will go down as one of the greatest Giants in history, as a die-hard fan, I'm begging Barber to stop with the disparaging remarks. Nothing can ever tarnish his legacy in Blue, but he's doing his best to alienate loyal fans.

As I've discussed in the past, Tiki's focus on life after football while still playing didn't sit well with many fans. We all understand he's articulate, intelligent, and well-suited for his post-football career. But he's decided to take a page out of Jerome Bettis' playbook. A year ago the Steelers great had an emotional farewell tour with a storybook ending. Very shortly after, he began speculating on his coach's future and rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. It's unfortunate that these stars feel such a desire to quickly acclimate themselves to their new professions that they step on the toes of the people who helped make their previous careers such a success. Now I am by no means an ardent Tom Coughlin supporter, and if you read the statements thoroughly they're not quite as malicious as headlines would suggest, but there's no reason for these parting shots. Hopefully Barber does not feel the need to create bad blood with an organization that treated him so well for 10 years and put him in a position to chase dreams of being alongside his hero Matt Lauer.

Whitfield joins Barber in Retirement

2007-02-13T11:28:00.000-05:00

Not often does a team undergo radical changes in February, but the Giants managed to do so yesterday. On top of the release of three veterans, two more filed for retirement. The paperwork was a mere formality in the inevitable retirement of Tiki Barber, but he was joined by veteran tackle "Head-Butt" Bob Whitfield. For those keeping score at home, the Giants lost two tackles, two linebackers, and a running back in one day. Aside from cutdown days in the summer, roster shakeups rarely take on this grand a scale. Given a little more time to think about the moves, the only plausible explanation is injury concerns. All three released yesterday have battled injuries, and two are rehabbing from catastrophic setbacks.

Fortunately, the Giants now have pretty considerable cap room and should be shoppers when the Free Agency period begins March 2. Unfortunately, they now have a lot of needs. The importance of a left tackle can not be devalued, and Luke Petitgout handled the role more than capably. Many people already felt outside linebacker was a need and it becomes amplified by the losses of the two guys who opened 2006 as the two starters. Everyone expected to see Emmons out the door, but Arrington is still very puzzling. He would have only cost the Giants significant money if he played well, and if he did, I don't think anyone would care about the extra money. The move cost the Giants against the cap and will only be validated if Arrington retirement rumors hold any weight. It seems that he and Spagnuolo would have made a great pair with the new coach's aggressiveness.

Although in the immediate aftermath I've been put off by these moves, it becomes clear that Jerry Reese must have some plans. He's not going to be passive, which hopefully translates to an aggressive pursuit of free agents. With experienced talent and coming off a second consecutive playoff berth, hopefully these are not signs of rebuilding. Reporters have also been speculating that Chad Morton and Tim Carter are on their way out as well. If Morton were to be cut, it would be long overdue. He no longer can contribute offensively and proved to be woefully ineffective returning kicks. Tim Carter has proven all "measurables" theorists wrong. Let me explain. This time of year scouts are salivating over fast 40 times and excessive reps on the bench. Coming out of Auburn, Carter was a "measurables" stud. His blazing speed and impressive strength made him a coveted second round selection, but he's been a bitter disappointment in Blue. Hopefully a change of scenery wouldn't revitalize his career because it would be painful to watch him succeed after the wealth of chances he received with the Giants.

If you can say one thing definitively, it's that this offseason should get very interesting. Hopefully the Giants are gearing up for some big moves, but we'll have to wait a few more weeks to see for sure.

Giant Shakeup

2007-02-12T18:20:00.000-05:00

Reports are sufacing that the Giants have released offensive tackle Luke Petitgout and linebackers Carlos Emmons and LaVar Arrington. As a loyal Giants fan, I have to ask why. It is no surprise that the Giants were expected to cut ties with the veteran Emmons, but letting go of Arrington and Petitgout is puzzling. Both had several years left on their contract and were expected to play big roles in the 2007 season. In terms of saving money, as most veterans become "cap casualties, the moves don't free up too much money. In fact, if my research is correct, it will actually cost the Giants $1.6 million to release Arrington.

Think you have theories about why the Giants collapsed in 2006? If you ask New York Sports shock jock Max Kellerman, he'll be glad to tell you it was the injury to Petitgout. I can't wait to hear what he has to say on this topic during his daily radio show tomorrow. Say what you want about his past issues with false starts, he's been rock solid protecting Giants quarterbacks blind sides since they drafted him. One of last year's fourth round selections, tackle Guy Whimper, does not seem ready to fill the void. As for Arrington, it seems that bringing in blitzing Steve Spagnuolo to run the defense perfectly fit his skill set. All reports were that he was ahead of the curve in his rehab and he signed a 7 year deal in the past offseason. With the departure of Arrington and Emmons, there are huge needs at the linebacking position.

To his credit, Jerry Reese is shaking things up in his early days as GM. Unfortunately, these moves do not seem to be the ones the Giants needed. I could understand if they were trying to rebuild, but they have the talent to compete right away. I'd be curious to hear what veteran Michael Strahan has to say about these moves, a man who's time to win a ring is quickly winding down. I'm not going to sugar coat it any further, these moves seem flat out nonsensical. I'm sure the decision makers are previewed to a lot more information, but on the surface these roster changes look to really hurt Big Blue.

Tiki Gears Up For Final NFL Game

2007-02-10T13:18:00.000-05:00

The Pro Bowl doesn't traditionally attract a big television audience, but many New Yorkers will feel inclined to tune in for a bit tonight. Long time Giant great Tiki Barber will be suiting up for the final time before submitting his formal retirement papers when he returns from Hawaii. With Frank Gore set to start and Steven Jackson waiting in the wings, touches may be limited for Barber. That won't matter for Tiki. He's just happy to be playing in a third straight Pro Bowl with twin Ronde. To make things even better, he'll be coached by Sean Payton, a man he credits for elevating his career to new heights. Given the circumstances I expect Payton to involve Barber in some fun ways, but I expect Tiki to baske in all of the interview opportunities he'll have throughout the game.

Out of the four all-star competitions for major spots (yes, I loosely include hockey), the Pro Bowl is the only post-season game. In seasons past they used a clever advertising scheme "One last, final last, game' to try and rope in NFL enthusiasts for one last time before a long offseason, but there's little attention surrounding this year's game. CBS is telecasting on a Saturday as opposed to the traditional Sunday, and the game is having trouble attracting stars. Many of the competitors from last Sunday's Super Bowl have pulled out for a variety of reasons and even Golden Boy Tom Brady opted for a Pebble Beach Pro-AmGolf tournament then to fill in for the injured Philip Rivers. The NFL has benefitted from a wealth of attention to its offeason, so a lack of interest in it's all-star festivities has not hurt the sport. Following the draft has become as intense a passion to the fans as regular season play, so the "offseason" does not last quite as long. Once the final whistles blows tonight, expect Draft 2007 coverage to hit the accelerator.

National Signing Day Creates College Football Buzz

2007-02-07T16:54:00.000-05:00

Certain regions across the country have their eyes glued to their computer screens today to check out high schoolers. No, not in a perverted way. It's the day when blue-chippers around the country sign their national letters of intent to play college football. Unfortunately with the extensive coverage paid to high school sports, most of the luster has been taken from this day. Most people know who is headed to their favorite program well before, but everything becomes official today. Not surprisingly the top classes are headed to USC and Florida, but the excitement extends well beyond those programs. It's being felt in football madhouses like the SEC country in the South, and the middle of the country powered by Big 10 fanatics. If your looking for a relative "Cinderella", it may be South Carolina. Having famed recruiter Steve Spurrier helps, but ESPN ranks them as the 4th best class in the country. Not bad for a team that only finished 8-5 a year ago.

Unfortunately, College Football does not have the same stranglehold in the Northeast. New Jersey and Pennsylvania are relative "hotbeds" for college talent, but the college programs have never quite caught up. Aside from Rutgers rise to prominence this season, there isn't much to get excited about in the Tri-State area. A once proud Syracuse program can't get out of the cellar in a diminished Big East and many Northeast programs are Division I-AA. The few big time recruits that arise in this area typically head to more traditional football schools like USC. Until New York and surrounding states start improving on the prep level, the College programs will continue to lag behind.

Pierce Headed to Hawaii

2007-02-05T21:48:00.000-05:00

There will be two Giants playing for the NFC in the Pro Bowl after all. Middle Linebacker Antonio Pierce earned a trip to Honolulu after Bears MLB Brian Urlacher canceled his. He joins Tiki Barber as the only Giants representatives. Tight End Jeremy Shockey had been voted in, but will sit out with a nagging ankle injury. While Pierce is there, it is rumored that he will put the full court press on soon to be free agent Lance Briggs. The two were teammates at the University of Arizona and Pierce reportedly has been in touch with the Bears LB about signing with the Giants. Briggs' pricetag will likely be too high for the Giants even if he hits the open market, but I fully expect the Bears to either put the franchise tag on or sign him to an extension.

It's great to see Pierce get a chance to prove he is one of the elite linebackers in the game. He's been the leader of the defense since signing before the 2005 season. Hopefully the Giants can get LaVar Arrington and Michael Strahan healthy next season to relieve some of the burden. If the Briggs rumors carry any weight, it will also be nice to have Pierce on a recruiting mission. His recruitment abilities are well documented by the Arrington signing. With Carlos Emmons most likely to be released and an aging Brandon Short headed for free agency, linebacker could be a pressing need this offseason.

Manning MVP But Ground Game Carries Colts to Championship

2007-02-05T12:58:00.000-05:00

Super Bowl XLI will be remembered for Peyton Manning winning his first championship and Tony Dungy becoming the first African-American coach to hold the Lombardi trophy. Neither of that would have been possible without the superlative efforts of running backs Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes. While not as highly touted a duo as their Bears' counter-parts, Addai and Rhodes carved up the Chicago defense for nearly 200 rushing yards. Both contributed in a variety of ways with Rhodes contributing over 100 yards on the ground and Addai setting a Super Bowl record with 10 catches out of the backfield. Either would have been strong candidates for MVP, but it's hard to knock the voters for selecting Manning. After an early interception, Manning rebounded to go 25 of 38 for 247 yards with a touchdown and that lone pick. As long as he didn't hurt their chances to win, it was pretty obvious that number 18 would walk away with the top individual honor.

It's hard to wrap-up the Super Bowl with any thoughts that haven't been played over and over on ESPN, but a few things really stood out in this game. First, it's unbelieveable how long the Bears stayed in this game. Despite moving with relative ease down the field, the Colts did not score with the same efficiency they're accustomed to. Sure, some credit belongs to the Bears, but it seemed Tony Dungy didn't want to embarass his friend. Even clinging to only a 5 point lead early in to the fourth quarter, the Colts played closer to the vest than I've ever seen from them. They're usually full throttle for 60 minutes and would let Peyton fling it with multiple touchdown leads. I'm sure the conditions factored in, but Dungy's decision not to kick a field goal late raises suspicion.

The Tampa 2 defense that the Bears often run allows for underneath stuff that Manning and Addai took advantage of. It's typically provides a bend, but don't break defense which it did for most of the night. However, the coverage breakdown that lead to Reggie Wayne's early touchdown proved the Colts should have taken more shots. Chicago safeties Chris Harris and Danieal Manning, although good players, will get caught out of position. Even through the rain and the effective running tandem made it smart to keep it on the ground, it seemed the Colts never really stepped on the gas pedal. Maybe they never intended to, but this was certainly not a typical Indy win. That being said, since they didn't do it in their traditional ways, maybe this victory is even more impressive. They came in and roughed up a more physical team. Even though the Bears raced out to the lead, the Colts were the more dominant team throughout.

Finally, the Chicago Bears must be concerned with Rex Grossman's psyche after his fourth quarter collapse. Unfortunately for Rex, most people won't remember that he started off the game relatively effective. He didn't take unnecessary risks and even made a terrific throw on his touchdown pass to Muhsin Muhammad. As the game progressed, Grossman started falling down a slippery slope. His footwork fell apart, leading to a pair of Colts sacks, and he got sloppy with the football under center. The two fourth quarter interceptions were poorly thrown balls, although the second seemed to be a result of a wet football. Bears managment has to determine whether he's their franchise quarterback or whether it's a need they might address in the draft. In fairness, this was his first full season as a starter and he guided this team to the ultimate game. He's a former first round pick and has the support of Lovie Smith. It doesn't seem that one quarter of poor play in the Super Bowl will weigh that heavily on the minds of Bears executives, but it's something to pay attention to in the offseason.

Super Bowl XLI Preview

2007-02-03T12:27:00.000-05:00

Football fans have been inundated with Super Bowl coverage for two weeks and are more than ready for XLI to kickoff. All of the "experts" have thrown their hats in the ring and overwhelmingly feel Indianapolis will leave Miami with the Lombardi Trophy. Two thirds of ESPN.com experts support the Colts, with MVP honors going to Peyton Manning. They've been installed as 7 point favorites and many fans are rooting for Manning to silence his critics. The amount of love being thrown the Colts way is even a bit unsettling. However, with the improvements made this postseason on defense, the Colts should win this game.

The Bears Will Win If... they can control the clock. This matchup feels eerily reminiscent to Super Bowl XXV between the Giants and Bills. The Bills came in with a high powered offense against a stout Giants defense. Both the Bears and '90 Giants relied on tremendous linebacker play, a strong ground game fueled by a tandem of backs, and opportune plays in the passing game. If the Bears can implement the clock control offense the Giants employed in XXV to keep the high powered Colts offense on the sidelines, they have a terrific opportunity to win this game. Lovie Smith adopted the Tampa 2 from his days under Tony Dungy, so it's not going to catch them by surprise. The Colts operate under the same system, so their offense is used to practicing against it. However, Chicago's personnel makes it a lot more effective. A big key for the Colts this postseason has been TE Dallas Clark. With LB Brian Urlacher roaming the middle in the Tampa 2 scheme, the Bears have allowed only one TE (Pats Ben Watson) more than 40 receiving yards all season. Shutting down Clark (as well as backup TE's Bryan Fletcher and Ben Utecht) will be a big key in the game. They also need to get strong play from their inexperienced safeties. Chris Harris and Danieal Manning must not get caught up in all of Peyton's gesturing and false audible calls.

Offensively they need to run the football. First and foremost, it will help control the clock. Next, and almost equally as important, the Bears need to stay out of clear passing situations. The Colts are at their best when they can attack the QB and Rex Grossman is at his worst with pressure in his face. Indianapolis is undersized on defense, but extremely quick. They have had tackling issues all season, so Chicago should spread them out and force them to make open field tackles. The Colts secondary is a bit banged up with starters Nick Harper and Bob Sanders on the injury report this week. Grossman's greatest strength is throwing the deep ball and the Bears can't be afraid to let him wing a few downfield. A deep strike early could get Grossman's confidence up and really change the tide of the game.

An X-factor in this game could be return specialist Devin Hester, in both a good or bad way. Against the Seahawks in their first playoff game, Hester struggled with ball control. However, he set a new record for return touchdowns in a season during the regular season. He's an explosive playmaker who could swing field position in the Bears favor. Could have a similar impact on this game as Super Bowl XXXI MVP Desmond Howard.

MVP will be...Thomas Jones. They need to run the ball well and Jones gives them a better chance to win. Cedric Benson has stolen some carries, but Jones is a more polished back.
Sleeper MVP...Ricky Manning Jr. Anyone remember his 3 interceptions of Donovan McNabb to put the Panthers in the Super Bowl? A real ball hawk who could bait Manning in to a key turnover.

The Colts Will Win If... they take care of the football. All season long the Bears exceled by creating turnovers. With a rookie as their featured back, Joseph Addai needs to focus on keeping the ball protected. Although Manning makes great decisions and is extremely accurate, he will sometimes try to make a mistake trying to fit a ball in a tight space. He's turned the ball over several times this postseason after throwing only 9 interceptions in the regular season. The focus all week has been on the Colts vaunted stretch play. They must run it effectively to set up the play action. If Manning can trick the Bears in to reading the run, his TE's will be able to get open in the middle of the field. Wide Receiver Marvin Harrison has struggled this postseason, so the Colts should get #88 involved early and often. He's smart enough to take advantage of the inexperienced safeties of the Bears and could find holes in the defense.

Much has been made of their defensive struggles during the regular season, but the return of safety Bob Sanders has re-energized this unit. The Colts bring him in to the box to stuff the run and he also brings tremendous ball skills in pass defense. With Nick Harper a game time decision, expect Marlin Jackson to get more playing time. His interception of Tom Brady sent the Colts to XLI. A big key to this game will be the tackling of the Colts linebackers. Cato June, a pro bowler a season ago, struggled at times this season wrapping up ball carriers. This Colts team can not allow the Bears to continue drives with poor tackling. As mentioned earlier, the undersized defense is at its best when it can rush the passer. They have a tremendous set of rush ends in Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. In sure passing downs, the front four is capable of bringing a lot of heat. Mid-season acquisition DT Anthony McFarland seems to finally be settled in the middle and has greatly boosted their ability to stop the run.

With all the attention being heaped on Bears KR Devin Hester, people overlook Terrence Wilkins. He's more than capable of a few big returns. The bigger story is Adam Vinatieri. Given a chance late in the game, the Colts know he will come up clutch. If the Colts play like they can, a field goal probably won't decide this game. His bigger impact could be how he kicks to Devin Hester. It'll be interesting to see if they give Hester a chance to burn them.

An X-Factor for the Colts will be Dallas Clark. If he can start getting behind Urlacher in the middle, the outsides will open up for Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison. He leads the team in receptions this postseason, but his bigger impact on this game will be opening things up for the playmakers on the outside.

MVP will be... Peyton Manning. I hate going with the masses on this, but if he gives voters even the slightest reason to vote for him they will. Other players could have a bigger impact, potentially one of his receivers, but everyone is anxious to see Manning as the MVP.

MVP Sleeper... Cato June. A bulk of the responsibility for stopping the run will be on June's shoulders. He's also had an impact this season creating turnovers, including a multiple interception performance against Tom Brady.

Preview: With Steve Young aboard the ESPN Sunday Countdown Crew, the pundits in Bristol have beaten the "Peyton Manning getting the monkey off his back" angle to death for this game. Steve Young spent years getting beaten by the Cowboys, but once he got by them, he torched the Chargers for 6 touchdowns in the Super Bowl. Now that Manning has gotten by Belichick and Brady, they all feel it's his time. It's hard to argue. The Bears defense has been phenomenal all season, but they're not as dominant as many would like you to believe. The losses of Safety Mike Brown and DT Tommie Harris have made this defense susceptible to giving up big chunks of yardage. They rely on turnovers, so if the Colts can protect the footballl, they'll be able to move down the field. If their defense can contain the tough Bears ground game and force Grossman in to obvious passing situations, rush ends Freeney and Mathis could have a field day. A late developing situation is the weather. It could be wet and messy on the field, which would definitely favor the Bears. However, and this may be my heart talking more than my head, I fully expect the Colts to walk away victorious.

Super Bowl XLI: Colts 31- Bears 21

His Airness' Heirs Struggle in Nationally Televised Game

2007-02-01T22:05:00.000-05:00

Jeffrey and Marcus Jordan are used to being the center of attention at basketball games. At opposing gyms they're heckled ruthlessly. Last night, they took their show to ESPN 2. Unfortunately for them, North Central guard Eric Gordon looked like the heir to the airness' throne. Gordon dazzled the crowd with 43 points and showed why he is one of the nation's top recruits. He looked like a man among boys, moving at entirely different speeds and already sculpted like a college player. His efforts sparked a dominant effort for North Central as they handed Loyola Academy their first loss of the season. The Indiana-bound senior even had a highlight reel reverse slam that invoked images of the famous 23 in the crowd. North Central fans appropriately dub him "Air Gordon", and he no doubt impressed the man rooting against him.

While ESPN turned its attention to the royal family of basketball, Gordon's story is the most compelling. Aside from being a spectacular recruit, his college indecision will be a major storyline in the Big 10 next year. His junior year, the shooting guard orally committed to Bruce Weber and the Illinois Fighting Illini. Weber stopped recruiting that position figuring he already had the best of the bunch. Unfortunately for him, the Indiana native wanted to head to Bloomington and finally felt comfortable once Kelvin Sampson took over for the maligned Mike Davis. Gordon switched allegiances and signed his future over to the Hoosiers. Illini loyalists have already sent threats to Gordon and he will undoubtedly be a marked man when the Hoosiers travel to Champagne to take on the Illinois.

For the Jordan brothers, it was a rather forgettable evening. The boys combined for 8 points and several airballs. Neither opt to wear 23, choosing 32 (Jeff) and 11 (Marcus) instead. They did combine on a nice alley-oop, the younger Marcus to big brother Jeff, early in the first quarter but provided little else to get excited about. Jeffrey, a senior, was recently selected for the Jordan All-Star classic but is undecided on his college choice. Marcus, a sophomore, promises to be a more sought after recruit as he matures. Both seem to be better distributors than scorers and certainly play smart basketball. They also shoot lefty, a strange diversion from their right handed father. Luckily for them, even their father didn't develop until he was a senior in high school. Unfortunately, they faced an opponent who will no doubt make an impact on the next level.

RSVP Pending, but Bernie gets Invite

2007-01-31T14:15:00.000-05:00

Yankee fans have spent several yearing preparing for LAB (Life after Bernie). His surprise return in 2006 pleased most Bomber fans, especially after he proved he can still contribute. However, with the emergence of young outfielder Melky Cabrera, Williams appears to be the odd man out in 2007. He has spent the offseason fielding questions about his baseball future and appears set to make one of two decisions. Either accept the Yanees invite or concentrate on his music. To many, the Yankees offer is being pereceived as a slap in the face. That insulting offer basically offers Williams a non-guaranteed, non-roster invite to the Yankees' spring training in Tampa. It does not come as much of a surprise, but the future of Bernie Williams is a polarizing issue for Yankee fans.

The Bernie Williams offseason saga tugs at the hearts of Yankee fans. Centerfield has always been a larger than life position in the Bronx and Williams has established himself as one of the finest players to put on the pinstripes. While he has certainly slowed down, he proved last season that he can still hit big league pitching. Unfortunately, the fact remains that he no longer specializes in any facet of the game. To be an important bench player, you must do something extremely well. As hard as it is to say for life-long Williams fans, most Bomber loyalists would prefer the young Cabrera.

With Jason Giambi to assume DH duties, a righty/lefty platoon at first, and Cabrera slotted for the fourth outfielder spot, it has long been speculated that Williams would be squeezed out. While that seems to be the likely scenario, it is not necessarily the case. Assuming he accepts the invite, it's not inconceiveable that he could make the roster. The Yankees could opt to take less pitching or lighten their load at first base. If Carl Pavano comes out this spring healthy, their need for pitching depth will diminish. They re-signed backup infielder Miguel Cairo,who could share time at first with the light hitting Mientkiewicz as opposed to keeping inconsistent Andy Phillips on the roster. No matter how this all plays out, Yankee fans certainly appreciate all Williams contributed to their organization. He's been a class act since day one and a tremendous embassador of the game. If Williams decides to end his career, number 51's next stop will be Monument Park.

Cablevision Ruining NY Sports

2007-01-30T16:55:00.000-05:00

For all cablevision customers interested in watching tonight's Syracuse-Notre Dame game: find a local bar. Tonight's Big East showdown is being shown on ESPN U, a channel not offered to cablevision subscribers. Add it to the list of specialized sports programming that cablevision continues to prevent its clients from viewing. It started off with the launch of the YES Network. Yankee fans were forced to either get DirecTV or miss a regular season worth of their beloved Bombers. Now it's stations such as ESPN U and the NFL Network who have been unable to strike a deal with the cable company responsible for many New Yorkers.

Were you interested in last Sunday's Senior Bowl showcasing most of the NFL's future stars? Needed a dish. Looking to follow your alma mater on ESPN U? Call DirecTV. Enjoyed watching the Knicks until Cablevision CEO James Dolan got his hands on them? Sure did. How many sports experiences can one man ruin for this region? Now I'm sure some of the blame must fall on these premium stations looking to push their product for a hefty sum. However, if other regional carriers have been able to find a compromise, I'm sure a deal could be made. For a sports enthusiast such as James Dolan, it's amazing that cablevision subscribers continue to get a raw deal on sports programming. Makes me really wish I had shelled out twenty bucks for the "Duck Folan" shirts that many Garden faithful sported during last year's NBA draft.

Tiger or Federer? Both Continue Domination with Weekend Wins

2007-01-29T14:03:00.000-05:00

Sitting only two strokes behind a couple of tour rookies, you had to have a creeping suspicion that Tiger Woods would prevail at the Buick Invitational. On Sunday afternoon he turned the two stroke deficit in to a victory by the same margin to give him 7 consecutive tour victories. As he continued his dominance stateside, Swiss tennis sensation Roger Federer stated his case for world's best athlete on the other side of the globe. Federer defeated Chilean Anthony Gonzalez in straight sets to win the Australian Open for his 10th career Grand Slam victory. More impressively, Federer did not drop a single set en route to the championship. The two champions have formed a friendly rivalry with a continued focus on raising the standard for greatness. With their titles on Sunday, the debate rages on over who excels at their respective sport at a higher level. Compelling cases can be made for both but, as difficult as it is to choose anyone over Tiger, Federer's opponents seem to have no chance of beating this guy right now.

Both athletes have accomplished unthinkable feats since turning pro. Neither has conceded the #1 ranking in their sport for several years, nor does it look like either will in the foreseeable future. Each of their professions have unique challenges that make their accomplishments stand out. For Tiger, the depth of the field in golf is unparalleled. At each tournament a new face can have a spectacular four days and compete in any event. He even started to develop a rival in fellow American Phil Mickelson. The tennis world seems to be lacking a true number two player. Rafael Nadal currently holds that distinction, but has only derailed Federer in the French. Many Americans hoped Andy Roddick's coaching change and improved play would give him a shot Down Under, but he proved no match for the world's number one. Federer is riding a career-high 36 match winning streak and does not appear to be slowing down. There's no questioning that Woods has been, and will continue to be, an uncomparable force in golf. However, Federer's incredible odds to complete the Grand Slam in 2007 gives him the slight edge.

Arenas says "I'd score 84 or 85" on Duke

2007-01-26T15:12:00.000-05:00

It's no secret that lots of professional athletes play with a chip on their shoulder. After being passed up by every NFL team, New York Giants LB Antonio Pierce carries a list of all linebackers taken in the draft that year. Whoever's not in the league anymore, their name gets crossed off. Despite going undrafted, he has very limited company from that once lengthy list. This act of vengeance is being far surpassed by Wizards star Gilbert Arenas. Coach Mike Kryzewski and his staff on Team USA left Arenas off the team competing at the World Championships last summer. In response, Arenas has sworn revenge on those assistants, namely Suns coach Mike D'Antoni and Trailblazers coach Nate McMillan.

Let me preface the following with this: the call and response trash talking between D'Antoni and Arenas is some of the most clever banter I've seen. After D'Antoni wondered aloud how Arenas would do against Kryzewski's Blue Devils, the Wizards star answered back in a blog on nba.com:

"He'd like to see what I'm going to do against Duke. I thought it was funny because if I have the chance to go back to college, I'll give up one NBA season to play against Duke. One college game that's five fouls, right? ... 40-minute game at Duke, they got soft rims I'd probably score 84 or 85. I wouldn't pass the ball. I wouldn't even think about passing it. It would be like a NBA Live or an NBA 2K7 game, you just shoot with one person."

First of all, tremendous credit to D'Antoni for his unbelieveable creativity in asserting "He's gonna kill Duke." With this little retort, he managed to poke fun at the absurdity of Arenas desire to get back at men who "wronged" him without directly lashing out at him. Since players with Arenas' personality will never avoid a chance for some media attention, he took the bait. He managed to arrogantly, yet with such a matter of fact tone, demonstrate how confident he is in his abilities. It's a bit unsettling how much Arenas wants to get back at Coach K and staff, but his underdog mentality has led to monstrous on-court results this season.

Some sports "purists" hate stories like these, but the fact remains that the sports industry lies in the same bed as the entertainment world. It's stars are celebrities and America is consumed by the lure of entertainers. End zone celebrations, media trash-talking, and larger than life stars all come with the territorry. Almost all sports networks make it a point to prove the entertainment value of the teams they cover. Playful spats in the media, such as the one between Arenas and D'Antoni, are inevitable with the amount of time players and coaches spend catering to all media forums. It is at least refreshing to see one with wit and ingenuity.

Raiders Winning Race to the Bottom: Lane Kiffin becomes NFL's youngest coach

2007-01-25T21:59:00.000-05:00

It's been a tumultuous several years for the Oakland Raiders. Their tail-spin begun after getting trounced by Tampa Bay in Super Bowl XXVII, but the situation continues to get worse. Rumors are circulating that Owner Al Davis is losing his mind, former star Randy Moss is not even a shadow of his former self, and Art Shell inexplicably received a second chance to run this once proud organization to the ground. Very few coaching candidates were brave enough to seek their recent head coaching vacancy. And who could blame them? There are very few bright spots in Oakland. They have some talent on defense, but their offense couldn't score on a Pop Warner team. Quarterbacks Aaron Brooks and Andrew Walter spent more time on their backs than inexpensive "escorts". One major selling point is that their on the clock with the first pick in the upcoming draft. With that in mind, Davis handed the keys to 31 year old former USC coordinator Lane Kiffin. The name should sound familiar. Kiffin's dad, Monte, runs the defense for coach Gruden in Tampa Bay. In his introductory post conference, the younger Kiffin promised to bring a "powerful" offense to Oakland. He knows a few things about powerful offense. He has spent the past six years working with Pete Carroll and the USC Trojans. Now that the Raiders have their guy, only one coaching vacancy remains. Kiffin is the youngest of the new head men, but none of the newly hired coaches are above the age of 45. A full list of the 2007 vacancies can be seen below:

TEAM	2006 COACH	2007 COACH	AGE OF NEW COACH
Arizona Cardinals	Dennis Green	Ken Whisenhunt	44
Atlanta Falcons	Jim Mora Jr	Bobby Petrino	45
Dallas Cowboys	Bill Parcells	??	??
Miami Dolphins	Nick Saban	Cam Cameron	45
Oakland Raiders	Art Shell	Lane Kiffin	31
Pittsburgh Steelers	Bill Cowher	Mike Tomlin	34

The average age of the new hires is slightly over 39 years. In comparison, the average coaching age around the league is over 50. It is interesting to evaluate age when examining NFL coaching positions because there is a very high turnover rate. Nearly three quarters of NFL coaches have been with their current team for three years or less. With young guys taking these jobs, it may be a sign of coaching stability for the future. It seems senseless to hire inexperienced coaches and not allow them a few years to put their stamp on the organization. Young leaders such as Kiffin and Tomlin should not be expected to create the instant turnaround enjoyed by Jets first year coach Eric Mangini. Hopefully all of these coaches will have ample opportunity to bring success to these underachieving franchises.

Keep Up with the Orange

2007-01-25T18:49:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to invite everyone to check out my other blog at: http://mvn.com/ncaa-syracuse/. MVN is an independent sports media company that runs a network of sports blogs covering a variety of sports and teams. So far I'm the only one covering the Syracuse Orange, but that could change at any time. I should be updating it pretty frequently to cover Orange basketball players past, present, and future. Please check it out and leave feedback.

Rocket Returning?

2007-01-23T15:56:00.000-05:00

The Yankees seem to think they're the likely landing spot for the Rocket. Today they announced that second baseman Robinson Cano will be switching his number from 22 to 24 if Clemens were to agree to sign. To refresh everyone's memory, 22 is the number Clemens wore during his last tenure in the Bronx. No one is trying to hide the motives behind the switch, not even Cano. According to the New York Post, Cano had the following to say:

"I was happy to give up the number to a future Hall of Famer if Roger comes aboard. Hopefully, he will be one of my teammates, I'll have the pleasure of playing with him."

Despite the switch, Clemens' camp remains mum on his intentions. In fact, agent Randy Hendricks went so far as to suggest a decision will not be made for quite some time. Just as it was a year ago, many speculate Clemens decision will come down to the Yankees, Red Sox, and hometown Astros. The Red Sox offseason spending splurge included $103 million (including the posting fee) to pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. It is believed they are happy with their projected rotation, but they'd probably feel comfortable adding Clemens to send Jonathan Papelbon back to his closer's role. They spent an excessive amount of money bringing Matsuzaka, as well as J.D Drew and Julio Lugo, to Fenway that their offer may not be able to reach the Yankees. Clemens' hometown Astros seems to be the best fit for personal reasons. He enjoyed being close to family and being able to spend off days at home. This offseason the Astros acquired Carlos Lee, the big bat they've been missing throughout Clemens tenure. However, they may have spend too much on him to make a competitive offer.

The Yankees were not willing to be flexible on Clemens schedule demands a year ago, but reportedly would be more open now that veteran Randy Johnson has been traded. It has also been reported that Clemens and Johnson were not on good terms, so the Unit's departure also paved the way. Not only that, the money they freed up by trading Johnson, Sheffield, and Jaret Wright gives them flexibility. The announcement of the number switch should not be perceived as Clemens' imminent arrival in the Bronx. However, it does not seem rational the Yankees would make this kind of announcement if talks were not under way. There's no way they can feel comfortable with their current starting rotation and Clemens could be the final piece. While Cashman has looked to cut costs and get younger this offseason, there's no doubt he'd break the bank to bring back Clemens.

Pearl Shows off School Spirit

2007-01-22T23:59:00.000-05:00

Bruce Pearl has not taken long to make an impact on the University of Tennessee. A year ago, his first season in Knoxville, he led the Volunteers to a #2 seed in the NCAA tournament and took home SEC coach of the year honors. He drew national attention for his flashy Tennessee orange blazer and his extreme enthusiasm on the sidelines. Tonight he again made news for his wardrobe selection, or more appropriately, lack thereof. At tonight's Lady Vols game versus top ranked Duke, Pearl sat shirtless with his players in the students section. His chest had a large orange "V" painted on as part of "Go Vols" (shown above, taken from http://msn.foxsports.com/wcbk/story/6398446). Save for the Boise State game, this is my favorite sports story of the new year.

Pearl's unbridled enthusiasm personifies what college athletics is all about. He understands that college sports is about the student-athletes. Having his players root on fellow students who fill a similar role on campus demonstrates everything that is right with amateur sports. School spirit seperates the NCAA from the professional ranks. By acknowledging and embracing that fact, Pearl shows his impact on the program is reaching far beyond their improvement on the court.

An Eighth makes Joseph Ninth Bengal Arrested

2007-01-22T17:57:00.000-05:00

On a day where Miami police officers exonerated Falcons QB Michael Vick of alleged marijuana possession charges, Cincinnati Bengal CB Johnathan Joseph picked up the slack. The Bengals 2006 first round draft pick was arrested early Monday morning when the car he was riding in got pulled over. Joseph reportedly reached for his backpack when asked to get out of the car, prompting the officer to seize the bag. The backpack contained a small bag of marijuana nestled next to a video game.

Joseph played extensively as a rookie and garnered a vote for AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. After an injury to veteran Deltha O'Neal, Joseph started the Bengals final seven games. While Marvin Lewis has helped resurrect this team from the ashes, the organization clearly paid a price for success. Following a successful 2005 season, the Bengals seemed to be in good position to repeat as AFC North champions. Instead, player arrests trumped victories 9 to 8 in the last nine months. Chris Henry lead the way with an astounding four arrests on a variety of misdemeanors, followed closely by fellow 2005 draftee Odell Thurman whose drunk driving chargers and failed drug tests cost him the 2006 season. Head coach Marvin Lewis has come under fire from several veterans who feel he needs to take stronger actions. The blame can not stop there. Eight of the nine players arrested this season have been drafted by the organization since 2003. Clearly the decision makers have been more concerned with taking Cincinnati out of the basement than drafting character guys. For some of these players their actions may be isolated and in no way a testament to their character. However, it is evident that several of these players do not deserve the opportunity to play football. In May, after the fourth arrest of Henry and the first for rookie AJ Nicholson, I cautioned on this blog that this could become a team epidemic. Several months later it has taken on Jailblazers proportions. The ironic part of this whole mess is the distractions prevented a talented team from performing up to their capabilities. Therefore the organization sacrificed character to win, yet could not even accomplish that goal. A message needs to be sent to these players by management. If they fail to, commissioner Goodell should hold the organization accountable and slap them with a fine.

Tuna Swims For New Waters

2007-01-22T15:31:00.000-05:00

After weeks of "will he stay or will he go" questions, Bill Parcells has decided to step down as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. The Bill Parcells four year plan didn't work in Dallas as it had in the past with the Giants and Patriots. He guided both of those franchises to the Super Bowl in his fourth year. His tenure with the Jets only lasted three years, so the theory had held its weight until the 2006 campaign in Dallas. With the emergence of Tony Romo around mid-season, prognosticators loaded up on the Cowboys bandwagon. However, a combination of late season struggles by the "next big quarterback" and a suspect defense tumbled big D out of first place in the NFC East. Romo's botched hold on a potential game winning field goal sent the 'Boys to a first round playoff exit.

Most NFL insiders are speculating that contractual issues led to his third retirement. While that is certainly feasible, many other problems were present. First of all, it is no secret that his relationship with "the player" was tenuous at best. It is being reported that Parcells often referred to T.O in coaches meetings as "his highness". The old school coach was often visibly irritated by Owens' charades. Furthermore, and this may just be optimism stemming from a division rival, Parcells' may not feel he has a true contender. Romo became a bit exposed as team's kept him in the pocket and he had trouble holding on to the football. There is a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, but Romo may not be as good as advertised. No matter what the reasons, Parcells will not return to sidelines in 2007. With his track record of coming back from definite retirememts it is not unfathomable that Parcells will coach again one day. However, he's not getting any younger and may finally be ready to call it a career. His two championships with the New York Football Giants should be enough to earn him a spot in Canton.

Samardzija to focus on Baseball

2007-01-19T15:13:00.000-05:00

You can take one name off Mel Kiper Jr's big board. Notre Dame wide receiver Jeff Samardzija has decided to give up football in favor of a pitching career with the Chicago Cubs. It is being reported that Samardzija, the Cubs fifth round selection in the amateur draft a year ago, received a five year deal worth $8 million to focus on baseball. If recent history is any indication, this may have been a mistake. Former Michigan QB Drew Henson, once projected to be the top pick in the NFL draft, chose the Yankees riches instead of a football career. After a few disappointing seasons in the minors, he is trying to catch on in the NFL. Cubs phenoms Kerry Wood and Mark Prior have failed to stay healthy which could be a product of the farm system.

Many people were excited by the prospect of another two sport star. The 1990's enjoyed the varying successes of athletes such as Brian Jordan, Deion Sanders,and of course, Bo Jackson. Samardzija made a name for himself by making acrobatic catches seem easy and setting new records for the Fighting Irish. His big frame and tremendous hands could have made a huge difference in many teams' red zone offenses. He originally intended to give both sports a try, but it's hard to fault him for choosing one over the other. College baseball does not receive much publicity, but he's been oustanding as a pitcher for the Irish. In 50 career appearances he has a 21-6 record with a 3.82 earned run average. The Cubs will have him report to their class A affiliate, which is managed by hall of famer Ryne Sandberg. It seems that he's played his last down as a receiver, but we can all hold out hope he'll try to become the next two sport star down the road.

Apple Doesn't Fall From The Tree- Big Brother Mike in trouble

2007-01-19T14:32:00.000-05:00

Marcus Vick heard all the critics. While he racked up misdemeanors, everyone asked "Why can't you be more like your big brother?" Apparently the two aren't so different after all. Just months after flipping off home town fans, Falcons quarterback Michael Vick could be facing further trouble stemming from an aiport incident allegedly involving marijuana. Flying from Miami to Atlanta, Vick was asked to hand over a bottle of water he was carrying due to a suspicious aroma. Against his will he handed the bottle over and was allowed to pass through security. It is reported that a security official retrieved the bottle from a trash can to further investigate. The police report, in regards to the bottle, stated the following.

"The bottle was found to have a compartment that contained 'a small amount of dark particulate and a pungent aroma closely associated with marijuana'. The compartment was hidden by the bottle's label so that it appeared to be a full bottle of water when held upright."

Vick is not the first athlete to be caught with drugs, and certainly will not be the last. The alarming thing is, why have that bottle on you at a commercial airport? Athletes too frequently believe they are above the law and take unnecessary risks. Not to condone drug use, but it's hard to believe they couldn't afford to just waste their remaining "stash" and purchase again in their next location. Their ego's lead them to believe they can get away with drug smuggling because they are larger than life. This particular case did not involve that, which makes it even more puzzling. If he merely carried a bottle that had marijuana residue, why not throw it out before you got to the airport? Was it a treasured water bottle bong that he and his friends created to smoke out of? It seems senseless that he would have kept the bottle unless he routinely used it to either smoke from or carry illegal substances in the hidden compartment. Either way, with all he stands to lose, the risk certainly outweighed the rewards.

In comparison to its steroid policy, the NFL is lenient against so-called "street drugs". Players are subjected to tests infrequently and the punishments lack severity. It almost seems like the league accepts that its players will participate in recreational drug use. Since it is not perceived that these drugs will enhance their performance on the field, owners and league officials cast a blind eye. The plight of Ricky Williams cast a light on recreational drug use, particularly marijuana, but a player needs to fail tests several times before penalties kick in.

This incident may have larger ramifications for Vick. With a new coach and many pundits questioning Vick's ability to lead a successful franchise, he's not guaranteed to be Atlanta's opening day starter. Lots of people are high on backup Matt Schaub and new head man Bobby Petrino could want to put his stamp on this franchise. Petrino has stated his offensive philosophy will be based around Vick, but the organization is clearly disturbed over this incident. If not for his league-high contract, Vick's starting quarterback position wouldn't be so solidified.

Gilbride Promoted to Offensive Coordinator

2007-01-18T22:54:00.000-05:00

The Giants announced today that quarterbacks coach Kevin Gilbride received a promotion to become the new offensive coordinator. His predecessor John Hufnagel left the team after being stripped of his playcalling duties prior to the regular season finale. Gilbride assumed those responsibilities in the Giants final two games and apparently showed enough to the organization to remain on board. He's been the coach most closely associated with Eli Manning throughout the young quarterback's career.

This move elicits mixed emotions. There are many positives to this move. Both owning families have stressed the importance of maintaining stability in the organization so retaining coaches aligns with that notion. He also brings over 30 years of coaching experience, including a head coaching stint in San Diego. The offense did show improvement during his two game tenure as play-caller and he has proven to be effective in that role in the past. However, the organization is concerned about the progress of Eli Mannning. Gilbride has had three years to work with the franchise quarterback and he has not progressed at the rate he should be. Ownership emphasizes continuity, but this is an organization in need of a new direction. Departed GM Ernie Accorsi has acquired playmakers who need to be allowed more freedom. In coaches Coughlin and Gilbride, the offense is adhering to an old school philosophy with new school players. A new face (or faces) would have been a refreshing look to an underachieving offense that is losing it's most valuable player. Now that they've decided to promote "in-house" for the offensive coordinator, they should look to fill other voids from outside. Bringing in someone like Steve Sarkisian (the USC quarterbacks coach) to work with Eli Manning would be a terrific move. Sarkisian is certainly a stretch as he searches for a head coaching position, but the Giants need to make a big move in whoever they bring in.

Newest SI rates Nichols best in Big East

2007-01-18T14:18:00.000-05:00

With the preseason hype surrounding Paul Harris and the perennial disappointing performances by he and fellow classmates, you can't blame people for overlooking Demetris Nichols heading in to the 2007 season. Behind torrid three point shooting in the Orange's first 19 games, Nichols has emerged as the Big East's top scorer. Most of his damage has come from beyond the arc, but his more aggressive play has also led to improved production in the paint. His free throw percentage has also improved to nearly 90%. In this week's Sports Illustrated, Nichols receives attention for his superlative efforts. Under "Three-Pointer" in the College Basketball section, the magazine said the following:

"Demetris Nichols is the best player in the Big East. Syracuse's 6'8'' senior forward was leading the league in scoring (18.9 points a game) through Sunday and was fourth in three-point shooting (47.1%) and 11th in blocks (1.39)."

That's pretty high praise considering the Big East features All-American candidate Aaron Gray of Pitt. Nichols has always possessed a tremendous shot, but was often gun shy in his first three years. He's playing with more confidence this year as the "go-to" guy. His impact on defense can not be underestimated. Along with Terrence Roberts and Daryl Watkins, the length in the back-line of Syracuse's 2-3 zone has caused fits for opponents. Boeheim has also long praised his man to man defense, citing his quickness to stay with guards and size to defend the bigs. With last night's game in the balance, Nichols drew the assignment of containing the hot shooting Marcus Sikes. When Syracuse goes to man, it is usually Nichols in charge of shutting down their top scorer. If he can avoid the scoring lapses that have plagued his career, Nichols should develop in to a lethal scoring option.

Also featured in this week's Sports Illustrated is blue-chip recruit Donte Greene. Greene comes from the same Baltimore area high school, Towson Catholic, that produced former star Carmelo Anthony. He grew up playing on Anthony's Team Melo AAU squad and considers himself a friend to the Nuggets star. His athleticism from the wing has earned him favorable comparisons to his predecessor at Towson Catholic. It was just announced that he, along with fellow 2007 recruit Johnny Flynn, was named to the 2007 USA Basketball Junior Select team. A few weeks ago the magazine focused it's high school sports section on two other recruits for next season Antonio (Scoop) Jardine and Rick Jackson. The two are teammates at Neuman-Goretti, a Philadelphia area high school. Flynn, Greene, Jardine, and Jackson form one of the nation's top recruiting classes for next season.

A Tale of Two Halves- Orange hang on despite sloppy second half

2007-01-17T22:03:00.000-05:00

Since arriving on campus in the fall of 2003, the class of 2007 have been like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. They've shown promise in spurts, but have a horribly inconsistent side that is scary to Orange fans. Tonight's victory over Cincinnati assumed the same identity. The Orange raced out of the gates and held a double digit lead for nearly the entire first half. However, the combination of hot three point shooting by the Bearcats and a high number of turnovers by the Orange allowed Cincinnati to take their first lead of the game with just over a minute to play. A pair of Eric Devendorf free throws with 12 seconds to go provided the go-ahead points in a 77-76 victory for the Orange. The win pushed the Orange to a 15-4 record and four victories in their first five conference games.

Orange fans have to be disappointed that their team couldn't put this game away earlier. The lead peaked as high as 19 at several points during the first half and the size of the front line gave Cincinnati fits. When Daryl Watkins and Terrence Roberts weren't blocking shots, they were altering them. On the offensive end Roberts was getting easy points in the paint, and the Orange outscored the Bearcats 18-4 in that department. Guards Josh Wright, Eric Devendorf, and Andy Rautins did a great job in transition, giving Syracuse a decisive edge in fastbreak points. The Orange can attribute a lot of their recent success in their ability to score in transition, but that disappeared in the second half.

Speaking of disappearing acts, the greatest display may have been put on by Terrence Roberts. Roberts dominated play in the first half; piling up 16 points and providing tremendous defense. He followed that up with just one point in the second half. Frontcourt mate Daryl Watkins wasted a tremendous opportunity in this game. Towering over the entire Bearcats roster, Watkins did not score a single point. However, he did key a tremendous first half defensive effort and ended up with eight blocks. Watkins has been playing terrific basketball but did not assert himself enough offensively in this game. Luckily, the Big East's leading scorer Demetris Nichols provided the punch offensively. He paced the Orange with 22, hitting four shots from beyond the arc. His only problem has been settling for the three. Nichols has shown his tremendous catch and shoot abilities, but needs to create more getting to the basket. The big guys received a boost with the return of Matt Gorman, although he did his damage from the perimeter. Gorman drilled two three pointers and allowed Boeheim to go with an eight man rotation for the first time in several games. With freshman Paul Harris only playing four first half minutes, an eight man rotation may be a bit of an overstatement.

Boeheim notoriously shortens his bench in Big East play, but it's tough to imagine why Harris is collecting splinters on the bench. Harris, the preseason choice for Big East newcomer of the year, has seen his minutes dwindle in conference play. He's struggled with his outside shot and has been very deferential to the upperclassmen. The emergence of Andy Rautins has certainly cut in to his minutes, but it's hard to imagine that a player of Harris' caliber will continue to sit and watch. Although Devendorf and Wright did a tremendous job distributing in tonight's game (15 assists combined), they continue to make questionable decisions. They are turning the ball over too frequently and the backcourt could really use Harris' tremendous playmaking ability. With seniors Roberts and Nichols fading for stretches, Devendorf bailed the offense out of its late game funk. He scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half to go with his team high 8 assists. The biggest problem plaguing Devendorf has been lacksadaisacal passes. Too often he tries to throw fancy passes in crowded areas. Wright's turnover problems have come from trying to do too much. Whether it's pushing the tempo too fast or trying to get too creative, his ball-handling has been a major source of concern.

Turnovers nearly cost Syracuse the game despite nailing 10 3's, shooting over 50% from the floor, and over 80% from the free throw line. Guards Devendorf, Rautins, and Wright combined for 10 of Syracuse's 21 turnovers while Cincinnati committed only 8 as a team. The visitors also connected on 13 three pointers, including 8 from forward Marcus Sikes. Star freshman Deonta Vaughn struggled for most of the night, but finished with 13 points and a team high 5 assists. Vaughn had seven of his points in the Bearcats 10-0 run late in the second half to cut the deficit to one. Appropriately it was Sikes 3 pointer with a 1:13 left that gave Cincinnati its first lead of the game at 75-73. Four clutch free throws in the final minute by Nichols and Devendorf proved to be the difference. A loss to the Big East's last place team at home would have been devastating for the Orange, especially with the way they dominated most of the game. Until the Senior class can give a consistent 40 minutes, the Orange will have to battle. However, if they can get more steady play, they have the experience and talent to be a very dangerous team.

Boggan Clutch in Big XII Thriller

2007-01-17T14:46:00.000-05:00

It's been a long road to Stillwater, Oklahoma for senior Mario Boggan, but what a sweet ride he's taking the Cowboys on now that he's there. Oklahoma State is the ninth school in eight years for the talented big man and for all those who haven't taken notice, he emphatically announced his arrival last night. With a leaning three pointer in the waning seconds of triple overtime, Boggan keyed Oklahoma State's victory over Big XII rival Texas. In a battle of the conference's two brightest stars, Boggan edged UT freshman standout Kevin Durant. Both led their teams with 37 points, while Boggan grabbed 20 rebounds to Durant's 12 boards.

While OSU's star had the bigger night, it's Durant's immediate impact that has taken the Big XII by storm. He's averaging over 30 points in conference play, peaking at 37 in two games this month. Surrounded by other talented freshman, the rangy wingman has drawn comparisons to former Syracuse standout Carmelo Anthony. Despite an off shooting night Durant scored in many different ways. He demonstrated excellent range, an ability to score down low, and most importantly commanded the ball with the game in the balance. It's clear that he'll be a one and done guy, but is already a leading candidate for Player of the Year honors. Texas must also be commended for how they fought back. Featuring a starting lineup of four freshman, the youngsters battled back in each overtime period. Freshman guard DJ Augustin looked very impressive getting to the basket and an aggressive defense led to fast break points to close gaps. With more collegiate experience, this will be a very dangerous team in March.

The most disappointing, albeit irrelevant, story line of last night was the OSU fans. Their team came in with a higher ranking, yet the fans stormed the court. Given the right circumstances, I'm certainly pro-court storming. It allows fans to interact with the players. The perceived accessibility of college athletes is part of what makes people more attracted to the NCAA than professional sports. But any game in which you are either ranked higher, favored, or should win prohibits a fan from rushing the floor. Great win for the Cowboys, huge loss for their fans.

Reese Named GM

2007-01-15T17:09:00.000-05:00

As expected, director of player personnel Jerry Reese received his promotion to General Manager of the New York Football Giants. On the day his predecessor Ernie Accorsi formally stepped down, the Giants announced Reese would be the man to replace him. Reese has earned respect in the organization with his scouting abilities for the NFL draft. In 1994, Reese took a position in the organization in the scouting department. His ability to identify talent has made him a valued employee ever since. He's been instrumental in several key draft decisions since assuming his previous role in 2003, including uncovering Osi Umenyiora out of Troy.

It has been presumed since last year that Reese would inherit the position. Once Scott Pioli decided to stay in New England, the move was pretty much confirmed. Reese led a solid 2006 draft for the Giants, but the bigger questions will be how he upgrades the team through free agency. He's a "draft-first" guy, so may not be willing to break the bank on a prized talent. Studying under the Ernie Accorsi school, pass rushers and cornerbacks should be on his mind. Roping in a playmaking corner should be his first priority when the Giants go on the clock with the 20th pick in the 2007 draft.

Lights Out- Pats Win, then mock Merriman

2007-01-14T21:48:00.000-05:00

The Bill Belichick led New England Patriots refuse to conform to NFL parity theories. In the rampant free agency era, teams are not supposed to consistently win. Especially with the way the Patriots go about their business. Old veterans become cap casualties and no-name newbies come in and get the job done. With a 24-21 win at San Diego earlier today, the Patriots advance to the AFC Championship game for the 4th time in the last six years. While Tom Brady led the charge, new faces like Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney were difference makers. No catchy nickname has been bestowed upon these recent Pats, but they've certainly earned their place among NFL dynasties. Even in a game where Brady struggled, he managed to make plays when the team needed them. They received the fortuitous bounces even the great teams need, and one play may have sent the Chargers to their early offseason.

Clinging to an 8 point lead late in the fourth quarter, Chargers safety Marlon McCree picked off an errant Brady fourth down attempt. Take a knee, and the Chargers can ride their MVP to grind out the clock. Instead McCree tried to make a play and learned a little more about the Patriots mystique. Jack of all trades Patriots wideout Troy Brown stripped the ball and fellow receiver Reche Caldwell recovered to re-claim possession. The former Charger Caldwell would be on the receiving end of a Tom Brady touchdown a few plays later that brought the Pats back within two. Taking a page out of Boise State's playbook, a direct snap to Kevin Faulk tied the game at 21. If you've watched the Patriots under Tom Brady, you knew what would come next. Given a chance late in the game, Brady led the Patriots in to field goal range. The only difference was that rookie kicker Stephen Gostkowski needed to convert, not Mr. Clutch Adam Vinatieri. Gostkowski connected for the decisive points, but left plenty of time for the Lightning Bolts. The Chargers drove to the Patriots 37, but a Nate Kaeding 54 yard field goal attempt fell short.

Despite some sloppy play, the excitement of the final period made this a memorable game. Unfortunately, the lasting images may have come from the postgame coverage. Cameras caught a frustrated LaDainian Tomlinson trying to get off the field, but apparently in a rift with several Patriots players. We would learn later his reactions stemmed from the Patriots celebrations. Speaking to the press after the game, Tomlinson had the following remarks:

"I would never react in that way. I was very upset," Tomlinson said. "When you go to the middle of our field and start doing the dance Shawne Merriman is known for, that is disrespectful. They showed no class and maybe that comes from the head coach."

Merriman has certainly earned a bulls-eye on his back since his failed drug test. Although it did not receive press at the time, Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel celebrated an earlier play with Merriman's trademark dance. We've seen this time and again with T.O mocking Ray Lewis, Hines Ward imitating Owens, and on several other occasions. The loss clearly just paid its toll on Tomlinson and it's understandable why he was so visibly upset. However, if you're going to call attention to yourself, you have to be prepared for this to happen. It's commendable that he stuck up for his teammate, but took it too far in calling Belichick classless. Tomlinson is undoubtedly one of the most professional men in the NFL, but this lapse in character will stick with him for a while.

Lewis Becomes First Sacrifice

2007-01-11T22:23:00.000-05:00

Once Tom Coughlin kept his job, it was clear the organization would place blame in other places. Today they started with defensive coordinator Tim Lewis. Lewis, Coughlin's first hire in 2004, lost his job after his unit ranked 25th in the league. Amazingly, he spent Wednesday with Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga interviewing for their vacant head coaching position. This certainly will not be the only coaching change and should signal a major transformation to the coaching staff. Unfortunately for Lewis he spent much of the season with starters who were originally intended for backup roles. That still does not justify many of their shortcomings. The defense's inability to generate a pass rush led to their 28th ranked pass defense. Stopping third downs, particularly long situations, and keeping teams from scoring in the red zone plagued the defense all season. He received some criticism early in the season for his misuse of free agent acquisition LaVar Arrington. It seemed throughout the season he used players in ways they were not effective and never really showed the innovative blitz packages that made him a prized commodity.

In other news, it is being reported that Jerry Reese will be promoted to General Manager next week. He has been highly regarded within the organization for years and recently been very instrumental in the draft process. The Giants enjoyed a very successful 2006 draft with Reese's heavy influence. He's the most qualified "in-house" candidate and is a very good fit for the job.

Bonds Failed Drug Test

2007-01-11T15:22:00.000-05:00

We've read through this script before. Pro Athlete X fails drug test because of lame reason Y. Of course, it is never the fault of the cheater. Whether it's a teammate, a substance the player thought followed regulations, or a vindictive masseuse (my personal favorite), athlete X is the victim. Suspensions are dolled out, excuses mocked but accepted, and X usually returns to the field. It all disintegrates due to lack of interest in the protagonist. Today the lead role got some star power. Reporter TJ Quinn of the New York Daily News has revealed that Barry Bonds failed a drug test for amphetamines in the latter half of the 2006 MLB season. Due to a labor agreement, the first failed drug test for amphetamines is supposed to be kept confidential. The players are enlisted in awareness classes, but are not subject to fines or suspensions. A second positive results in a 25 game suspension. However, Quinn unearthed Bonds' results and undoubtedly raised suspicions of his alleged steroid use.

Let's revisit the scenario above with Barry's gem. Barry Bonds fails drug test because he took the substances out of Mark Sweeney's locker. What a class act. What's with Giants and throwing teammates under the bus this year? However, there is no evidence that Sweeney failed any tests and he vehemently denied any foul play. This story comes at a critical time. The baseball world has its attention on Mark McGwire's failure to make the Hall of Fame due to the steroid cloud. Bonds is being investigated on possible perjury charges and MLB has been court-ordered to hand over drug tests from the 2003 season. It also brings to light MLB's varying policies on drug use. A first time steroid offender gets a 50 game suspension whereas amphetamine use warrants a slap in the wrist. Unfortunately, it's a not so surprising double standard.

Anabolic steroids increase muscle mass, which is why many people attribute the power surge of the late 1990s to players abuse of the substance. Amphetamines give a boost of energy and possibly additional focus. It's extremely helpful in withstanding the drain of a 162 game schedule. One reason you might think baseball would be more lenient on steroid use is the simple fact that long balls saved the sport. Officials turned a blind eye in 1998 while McGwire and Sosa salvaged the league. But now that teams are generating high revenues again, they're trying to retro-actively police the game. By enacting harsher penalties, Bud Selig is giving a "mea culpa" ten years too late.

Hidden underneath this big mess is Bonds' somewhat unclear future. Many believed he signed with the Giants, but the two sides have been hung up on the language of the contract. There is some speculation that the failed test could have huge repercussions on getting the deal finalized. Bonds currently sits 22 homeruns shy of Hank Aaron's all-time record so it would be surprising if the Giants don't break him back. Stranger things have happened. Just ask anyone who has failed a drug test.

Coughlin Keeps Job

2007-01-10T14:33:00.000-05:00

Tom Coughlin will be the head coach for the New York Giants in 2007 and possibly beyond. After thorough deliberation, President and CEO John Mara announced the Giants have agreed to a one year contract extension with the embattled field general. Keeping with Giants tradition, the Mara and Tisch family extended the coach's contract going in to the final year. He should be one of the few faces returning to the sideline. Several guys, including defensive coordinator Tim Lewis and special teams coach Mike Sweatman, are certain to be on the hot seat. John Mara defended his decision to retain Coughlin on the Mike and the Mad Dog show on WFAN, but made it clear that 8-8 is no longer acceptable for this franchise. He addressed many issues that should indicate where the organization is headed. It is also clear that Coughlin needs to lead the team past the first round of the playoffs or he will not coach for the duration of his contract.

With Ernie Accorsi's impending retirement next week, the vacant GM position looks to be filled "in house" with Coughlin's announcement. Mara recognized that the incoming GM should be on board with his decision to retain Coughlin. This could be a big reason the Patriots' Scott Pioli rejected the opportunity to interview for the position. Bill Parcells also adamantly denied contact with Mara. The likely candidate is current director of player personnel Jerry Reese. Long time scout, and brother of John Mara, Chris Mara should not be discounted. Big brother John clearly will not listen to nepotism critics and Chris' qualifications warrant a serious look. The position likely will not be filled until Accorsi officially resigns on January 15, but the decision should be made shortly afterwards. With the combine coming up next month, the Giants would like to have their decision makers on the same page.

Admittedly, I was one of the many fans who took consolation from the speculation Coughlin would be fired following a first round exit. I would never go so far as to root against them, but did find solace in the belief that he would be gone. Now that he's coming back, it's time to turn in to an optimist. My biggest problem with Coughlin has been the belief that the players won't play for him. Mara claims that they approached many of the veterans and received nothing but positive feedback. If this is true, I have no problem with him returning. In fairness, Coughlin is the first coach since Parcells to lead the Giants to the playoffs in two straight seasons. Play selection was this team's kryptonite, something that Coughlin did not have total control over. Don't get me wrong, I'm not pleased with the decision. However, I do believe he can get the job done with a face lift to his staff. He must break his loyalty to Kevin Gilbride and bring in a quarterbacks coach who can groom Eli Manning. The lack of quality coaches available also must be taken in to consideration. Presuming Norm Chow takes the Arizona job to reunite with Matt Leinart and Ken Whisenhunt is promoted to head coach in Pittsburgh, there are very limited options. Coughlin's hire was important to Wellington Mara, so it must have been anticipated John Mara will defend it for as long as he can. While many fans will attack this decision, it'll be important to see how the first major football decision without their fathers goes for he and the Tisches. The next decision should be a promotion for one of the current executives to the vacant general manager position. Giants fans should feel confident that the ruling families are headed by football saavy, capable men. Hopefully their first decisions will lead to long term success.

Bo Knows Homecourt advantage

2007-01-10T13:52:00.000-05:00

In the 1990's we learned theres very little that Bo Jackson doesn't know how to do. In the new millenium, its Bo Ryan who simply knows how to win at home. With a 72-69 win over rival Ohio State, the Badgers improved to 40-2 at home against conference foes under Bo Ryan. That record should only get better as Ryan features a deep team poised to play in early April. The final score is not indicative of how this game went, but the Buckeyes had a chance to force overtime. Shoddy late game free throw shooting by the Badgers opened the door for the Buckeyes, but a three point attempt by Jamar Butler clanked off the rim as time expired. Led by an outstanding performance by point guard Kammron Taylor, the Badgers were in command for most of the game. Senior playmaker Alando Tucker struggled from the floor making only 8 of 18 shots, but came up with plays down the stretch including his highlight reel fumbled jumper over Greg Oden. The Badgers also got strong efforts from defensive ace Michael Flowers and improving sophomore Marcus Landry. They have a tremendous scoring duo in Taylor and Tucker, a stiffling defense that creates a lot of turnovers, and a deep enough bench to play with anyone in the country. Even with a poor showing by vastly improving big man Brian Butch, the Badgers had enough to hold off a very strong Buckeyes team. However, as Oden heals and the young guys mature, the story could be different when they meet in Columbus.

With Oden limited by his hurt wrist, Ohio State continues to settle for a lot of threes. In their defense, they nailed a dozen of them last night. Big men Greg Oden and Othello Hunter were saddled early with foul trouble and forced Ohio State in to a more perimeter oriented offense. With Ivan Harris, Ron Lewis, Jamar Butler, and Mike Conley Jr. this team can beat you from the outside, but need more post production to make a run in the tournament. Oden has struggled when teams were able to throw a lot of big bodies at him (UNC, Florida, Wisconsin). Until he feels comfortable health wise, these problems could continue. Freshman swingman Daequan Cook struggled mightily last night, converting only one of eight shots from the field. None of the "Thad Five" had a particularly strong game, which is encouraging for Buckeyes fans for the rest of the Big 10 schedule. Losing at the Cole Center seems to be the norm in the Big 10, so things should only get better for the Buckeyes. With a loss in the football national championship and last night's basketball defeat, things can't get much worse.

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Gators Chomp Buckeyes

2007-01-09T17:20:00.000-05:00

If we've learned nothing else from bowl season, it's to expect the unexpected. A close second would be to discount the importance of a favorable quarterback matchup. Just a few days ago, JaMarcus Russell outdueled Brady Quinn in LSU's rout of Notre Dame. Last night it was Chris Leak's Florida Gators who overwhelmed the Ohio State Buckeyes and Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Troy Smith. While Leak looked impressive all night long, the Gators defense keyed the the palondromic drubbing. Jarvis Moss and Derrick Harvey chased Smith all night, creating two turnovers which aided the 41-14 rout. The Florida defense held Smith to only 35 yards passing. He completed only 4 of his 14 passes or one less completion than sacks (5) he took. Lots of talk centered around the massive Ohio State offensive line, but they looked like little boys messing with the front seven of Florida.

The game was touted as the speed of the SEC versus the power of the Big 10. Ohio State learned the harsh reality that speed kills. However, last night's loss coupled with Michigan's poor showing has to bring in to question the power of the vaunted Big 10 Conference. Furthermore, it empowers the belief that the non-BCS conferences should get a shot at the big boys. Regardless, this may have been the most thorough beating of all bowl games. Ohio State had more yards on its opening kick return touchdown (93 by Ted Ginn Jr) than it did for the rest of the game with only 82 total yards of offense. The absence of Ginn Jr., Smith's high school teammate and favorite downfield target, certainly hurt. Beyond that, you really have to question the job Jim Tressel did. On their only scoring drive, they were effective running the football with Antonio Pittman. After that, they essentially abandoned the ground game. He seemed to panic. Going for it on 4th and 1 only down 7 in the second quarter from your own 29 is stupid at best. They brought in bruising freshman back Chris Wells, but were stopped. Getting stopped on a telegraphed run on 4th and 1 is no reason to get away from running the ball, especially since the mistake only cost them three points. Many people are going to complain about the long layoff, which at over 50 days is ridiculous, but it did not cost Ohio State this football game. They ran in to a better who probably would beat them nine out of ten times.

While Tressel struggled, Urban Meyer's spread offense clicked on all cylinders. With an abundance of playmakers and the steady hand of Chris Leak, the offense looked other worldly. Since he runs an unconventional offense, the short passing game pretty much substitutes for the running game. With athletes like Percy Harvin and Andre Caldwell, this is very effective. Leak made all the right decisions and ended his tumultuous four year career in Gainesville on a high note. Running back De'Shaun Wynn showed off his power in the second half grinding out the clock. He teams with freshman quarterback Tim Tebow to be the thunder to Leak and his receivers lightning. Early in the game they capitalized on a few Ohio State special team penalties for great field position. However, as it was for most of the season, the real story was the defense. From the speed rush of the front four and the relentless pursuit of the linebackers to the ball-hawking skills of the secondary, this was the most complete defense in college football. They had playmakers on every level of the defense and cohesion certainly was not a problem. Rallying around the death of All-American Reggie Nelson's mom and the creation of the unity chain, these guys were all on the same page. The unity chain, worn in the waning moments by starting middle linebacker Brandon Siler, evoked memories of the Heat's "15 strong" of last year's championship. The chain contained fake dog tags with the names of every member of the defense. Being witness to "Team Turmoil" this season, the importance of team unity can not be underestimated. With the win, the Gators now hold both the Men's Basketball and Football national championships. It is the first time this has happened in the history of college athletics. Unfortunately for fans of any other school, the basketball team looks poised to repeat in April.

Taylor sacks competition en route Defensive Player of The Year honors

2007-01-05T14:35:00.000-05:00

Dolphins Defensive End Jason Taylor took a lesson from Florida coach Urban Meyer. If you complain about the competition, you could increase the chances of getting what you want. Although deserving of defensive player of the year honors, Taylor helped fuel the demise of Shawn Merriman's candidacy when he spoke out about the Chargers' star's supsension. Others spoke out in agreement, which certainly sparked debate whether a player who missed time due to punishment should be eligible for postseason awards. It is refreshing to see the voters hold players' accountable for breaking rules. Merriman, despite a league high 17 sacks in only 12 games, finished a distant third to Taylor and Broncos CB Champ Bailey.

Unfortunately, the story will be about Merriman's cheating more so than Taylor's fine season. Miami may have played well below expectations, but Taylor made plays all over the field. His 13 1/2 sacks were only a tiny portion of why he earned the award. Despite playing mostly as a down lineman, he recorded two interceptions which he returned for touchdowns. Taylor the turnover machine did not stop there. He forced ten fumbles, along with two recoveries. He essentially touched the ball more often than Dolphins receivers this season. Departed coach Nick Saban can only dream he gets to coach this kind of talent at Alabama.

Out With the Old, In With the New

2007-01-05T13:04:00.000-05:00

Brian Cashman's mantra this offseason has been cutting costs and getting younger. If the tentative agreement between the Yankees and Diamondbacks holds up, he'll have accomplished both of those goals with his most recent transaction. Last night it was reported the Yankees have agreed to send Randy Johnson to the Diamondbacks in exchange for Luis Vizcaino and three minor league prospects. It is believed the Yankees will pay roughly $1.5-$2 million of Johnson's salary for next season. Yankee fans should be enamored with this deal for several reasons. Whether it's his back or his age, Johnson never quite fit in as a Yankee. While he did win 17 games in each of his two seasons, his ERA ballooned to new heights. On top of that, the supposed ace pitched to a sparkling 6.92 ERA with zero wins in his three pinstriped postseason appearances.

The two sides have until Sunday to iron out the deal. Arizona wants back the guy who won 4 Cy Youngs and lead to them to a World Championship. That's not who they're getting, but his name alone should put more butts in the seats. He could fit in nicely to their rotation with reigning NL Cy Young winner Brandon Webb and Livan Hernandez. For the Yankees, they freed up money which is likely earmarked for Roger Clemens. There had been speculation that the disdain between the Rocket and the Unit would get in the way of bringing Clemens to the Bronx. Now that Johnson is headed for the desert, many feel the only ace left on the market could return to 161st Street. They also get a couple of young pitchers, Russ Ohlendorf and Steven Jackson, along with middle relief help (Vizcaino) and a 23 year old shortstop prospect. Even if the Yankees head in to the season as the roster is currently set, they have to feel pretty good. They've unloaded three older, overpaid players (Johnson, Sheffield, Jaret Wright) and started to restock their farm system. The rotation has question marks, but answers could come from stud pitching prospects Humberto Sanchez and Phillip Hughes. It would be nice if they could allow Hughes to mature for another year before throwing him in to the fire, but the young lefty is a nice insurance policy.

Lost in the Johnson madness yesterday was the signing of veteran 1B Doug Mientkiewicz. With Giambi slated for DH duties, the Yankees needed a sure handed first baseman. Mientkiewicz is about as nifty with the glove as they come and could benefit from being reunited with high school teammate Alex Rodriguez. The lefty, with limited offensive ability, could also benefit from the short porch in right. Although he's not young, his contract certainly didn't break the bank. With Andy Phillips second half slide, it was crucial for the Yankees to upgrade at first base. As spring training approaches, Yankee fans will just have to play the waiting game to see if Clemens will sign on to be the final piece of the puzzle.

Orange drop Big East opener

2007-01-05T01:42:00.000-05:00

Syracuse faithful have tried to be patient with the vaunted class of 2007. After three years of inconsistency, their senior year is put up or shut up time. If the Big East opener versus Pitt last night was any indication, this could be a quiet season. The Orange lost for the third time at the Carrier Dome this season and dropped to 0-1 in Big East play with a 74-66 defeat. Senior trio Demetris Nichols, Daryl Watkins, and Terrence Roberts played well in spots, but could not do enough to seal a big win. Beating a top ten team is no easy task, but the Orange had plenty of opportunities to do so. Pitt did not take the lead until the first basket of the second half, but would not relinquish it. Syracuse has showed time and again this season they will battle back from deficits, but with a limited bench last night it was very difficult. Matt Gorman sat out with injury, Terrence Roberts missed most of the second half after receiving a blow to the face, and freshman Mike Jones has left the team.

Lavance Fields paced Pitt with an impressive array of big threes and tough drives to the basket. Everytime Syracuse made a run in the second half, either Fields or backcourt mate Antonio Graves came up clutch. All-American candidate Aaron Gray struggled against the mixing defenses, finishing with 9 points and 9 rebounds. Credit Daryl Watkins with a tenacious defensive effort. Entering last night's game, Demetris Nichols lead the Big East in scoring. He showed why in the first half, scoring from all over the court. But as he has done in the past, he lost his aggressiveness in the second half. Pitt's defense made it difficult for him to get looks, but he still does not command the ball enough. He attempted only three shots in the second half and was a relative non-factor. The last of the class of '07, (I discount Matt Gorman because he came in with Carmelo) Terrence Roberts played pretty well before getting knocked out of the game. He still plays a bit too fast at times and takes some questionable shots, but got a few tough buckets in the paint last night.

The seniors aren't the only inconsistent ones. Several underclassmen need to play a huge role this season. They got a boost last night from a re-energized Eric Devendorf. Devendorf, whose been slowed by injuries and personal issues, showed what made him so impressive as a freshman last year. He is a pure scorer who does a great job of creating his own shots. However, when Boeheim benched Josh Wright for being careless with the basketball, Devendorf showed questionable decision making himself. If Wright continues to make these mistakes, more ball-handling responsibilites will be thrown on Devendorf. Wright has shown more of a scoring touch this season, but gets caught up trying to push the tempo. He's prone to turnovers, something this team can ill afford. The defense is most effective when it has time to set up in the zone, which is usually after made baskets. Having to play transition defense is not a good fit for this team. Inserted as a starter for the troubled Devendorf, Andy Rautins showed great range and good court vision throughout the game. He brings a lot of energy and will be good coming off the bench in the future. Last, but certainly not least, is highly regarded freshman Paul Harris. The most athletic player on the team, Harris seems content to defer to his older teammates. His inability to knock down long shots has let opponents play off him to limit his ability to get to the basket. He is a tremendous rebounding guard and playmaker. Boeheim should allow the ball to be in his hands more, and probably will with Wright's turnover troubles. If Syracuse wants to contend in the Big East this season, they will need to start beating good teams at home. They have a good mix of senior leadership and talented underclassmen. Boeheim just needs to continue trying to find the lineup that will blend together well.

Tomlinson runs away with MVP, Pennington voted best healer

2007-01-04T15:53:00.000-05:00

Two more NFL awards were handed out today by the Associated Press and neither winner should come as much of a surprise. LaDainian Tomlinson's demolition of the record books made him the easy choice for MVP. As the best player on the NFL's best team, 44 of the 50 voters deemed this a no-brainer. His former teammate Drew Brees finished a distant second, while Peyton Manning garnered the remaining two votes. Everyone knows the stats: leading rusher in the NFL, new single season TD record, even threw a couple of touchdowns. However, it may be his ability to take opponents focus off rookie QB Philip Rivers that is most impressive. Going in to the season, many prognosticators felt that the Chargers would struggle with a first year starter at the helm. If teams simply stuffed the box and made Rivers beat them, there was no way the Chargers could win. Tomlinson's domination has not allowed any team to do that. Even without top notch receivers, he managed to open up the offense enough with his running to get a first year starting quarterback to the Pro Bowl. Tomlinson has made the much maligned "Marty-Ball" seem fun. Coach Schottenheimer even dubbed him the best RB ever. A few more seasons like 2006 and it will be very tough to argue against him. However, people need to stop calling him LT. We all know who that's reserved for.

More controversial was the choice of Chad Pennington. The Comeback Player of the Year award is a bit ambiguous. It's difficult to determine the most important criteria in selecting a winner. Did the candidate have to miss a full season? Is it the player who battled adversity to have the best season? The runners-up for the award, Drew Brees and Carson Palmer, only left in their final games of 2005. Yet the severity of their injuries and the overwhelming success they had this season made them legitimate candidates. However, as difficult as it is for me to say this, Chad Pennington truly deserved the award. After suffering rotator cuff injuries two years in a row, no one believed the "pre-injury Chad" would ever come back. The Jets acquired Patrick Ramsey and drafted Kellen Clemons as insurance policies. They were again expected to finish in the cellar of the AFC East and there was no way the lame-armed Pennington could recover from injuries that only made his right arm weaker. Yet inexplicably, this man brought that other team from the Meadowlands to a 10-6 record and the fifth seed in a very competitive AFC. Until the day he hangs them up I will question his ability to throw a football, but Pennington simply knows how to get the job done. His timing with his receivers is impeccable and he doesn't make many mistakes. He continually makes "arm strength" look like an overrated evaluation of a quarterback. It's only fitting that the kid from Marshall gets the Comeback Player of the Year in the weeks following the release of the movie that portrays one of the finest comebacks in sports history.

Tigers Sweet in Sugar Bowl Victory

2007-01-04T14:53:00.000-05:00

The story's been the same for Notre Dame under Charlie Weis: play an elite team and get thoroughly manhandled. Weis' offensive prowess has been unable to compensate for weak defenses. Last night JaMarcus Russell and friends sieved through the defense to the tune of 41 points. Playing close to home at the Louisiana Superdome, Russell put on a grand show. He threw for over 300 yards with 2 scores, along with a rushing touchdown. After the whirlwind year and a half that the boys in the Bayou experienced, it was only fitting that Russell led the way. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, the LSU gymnasium hosted many refugees. Several more found shelter in Russell's small off-campus apartment. At times over 20 people were housed in his apartment as Russell went above and beyond the call of duty. With his performance last night, the next place he calls home will be able to fit many more than that.

One of the interesting sub-plots to last night's game featured the tale of two quarterbacks. Notre Dame's Brady Quinn, the early season favorite for the Heisman and presumed top pick in the NFL draft, has come in to his own under QB guru Weis. He's got the size, arm strength, and accuracy that have NFL scouts salivating. However, he's shown an inability to handle pressure. Teams that came and smacked him the mouth (Michigan and Georgia Tech), he struggled mightily with. Facing a quick defense last night, Brady completed well under 50% of his passes along with two interceptions. LSU's JaMarcus Russell has had his share of ups and downs. In his time as a starter he's been replaced for ineffectiveness, but recently has gotten all the validation he needs. After last night's win Coach Les Miles said, "I just think. I have the best quarterback in the country right now." One of the best for sure, and also one of the biggest. Russell is a beast. He's listed at 6'6, 257 pounds. Even at his size he can make plays with his feet and last night showed a tremendous ability to get the ball downfield. One game doesn't make or break one's draft status, but Russell certainly closed a lot of ground last night. If he decides to declare himself eligible for the draft, the Sugar Bowl showdown won't be the last we've heard of "Quinn vs. Russell".

Liar, Liar...Saban Accepts Alabama Job

2007-01-03T13:27:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder what $32 million dollars gets you? If your Alabama AD Mal Moore, a new acrobatic football coach who does a very nice 180. Just two weeks ago Nick Saban adamantly stated, "I'm not going to be the Alabama coach". Earlier this morning he made his decision to head to Tuscaloosa. Saban has been a widely sought after commodity for many years now. Dating back to his days at Michigan State he drew interest from the NFL, and that only grew stronger with his national championship as the head man at LSU. His two years in Miami have been sub-par, so Saban returns to the SEC with the Crimson Tide.

Following in the footsteps of Herm "I'm not coaching the Chiefs" Edwards, Saban managed to put his foot in his mouth in less than two weeks. It is a trend in coaching; sought after candidates who leave themselves no wiggle room. Look at the recent statements by Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis. There's been speculation that Tom Coughlin's job is in jeopardy if the Giants lay an egg in Philadelphia. Weis, a Jersey native and former Giants employee, is rumored to be a favorite if the job becomes vacant. There's no doubt coaching for the Giants would be a dream come true, but instead has pledged his allegiance to his alma mater. In recent weeks he made it clear, "I'm only leaving if I'm dead or fired". All things considered, those probably are the only ways he leaves South Bend. But if it's not, he's got a whole lot of explaining to do.

Ryans, Young Cap Impressive Rookie Seasons with Awards

2007-01-03T13:02:00.000-05:00

If their first seasons in the NFL is any indication, the class of 2006 is primed for big things. Today the Associated Press awarded Texans LB Demeco Ryans and Titans QB Vince Young the Defensive and Offensive Rookie of The Year honors respectively. Despite the depth and impact of this rookie class, these two young men clearly outshined their peers. Ryans established himself as the clear-cut favorite by leading the NFL in solo tackles. While all the attention surrounded number one draft pick and teammate Mario Williams, the Texans second pick of the draft ended up being the difference maker. An All-American outside linebacker at Alabama, the Texans coaching staff pushed Ryans inside. The move enabled him to be the center piece of a new unit and establish himself as a team leader. His gaudy statistical year, which included 133 solo tackles, made the decision very easy for AP voters. He garnered 36 of the 50 votes, well ahead of the second place finisher. Former Tide teammate, and current Bears defensive end, Mark Anderson finished second in the voting.

One of the men the Texans passed up, QB Vince Young, continued to demonstrate he simply just wins football games. After an 0-5 start coach Jeff Fisher benched Kerry Collins in favor of the rookie. All the tools that made him so impressive as a QB at Texas translated well in to the pro game. He led the Titans to eight wins in their final eleven games. His ability to make plays with his legs, as well as his arm, made Young nearly impossible to stop. Especially at the end of games. With a walk-off 36 yard run against the Texans in overtime and a 21 point fourth quarter comeback against the Giants, the league should be prepared for a career full of clutch play. If not for a late season ankle injury, this award could have gone to one of the most unlikely winners. A mere three picks away from being Mr. Irrelevant of the 2006 draft, Marques Colston became the Saints go-to rookie. He, along with Jaguars RB Maurice-Jones Drew, tied for second in the voting. Teammate Reggie Bush finished a distant fifth.

This guy has a job and I don't? Lions to retain team President Matt Millen

2007-01-02T19:48:00.000-05:00

The Lions can't do anything right. A full season of losing, and they manage to win their last game to lose the first overall pick. Six seasons well below .500, many squandered draft picks, and a very discontent fan base is still enough to allow Matt Millen to keep his job as team president. Move over James Dolan, we have found a more incompetent franchise owner. Lions owner William Clay Ford is set on retaining the league's most ineffective leader over the past six years. Despite snapping his streak of selecting a wide receiver in the first round of the draft for three straight years, the Lions resided at the bottom of the NFC North for the fourth time during Millen's tenure. They've won a meager 24 games over that time. That's only four a season. No other team has matched that level of futility in the same time period.

In the past two seasons fans have staged walkouts during the team's final home game, yet this man keeps his job. Just yesterday Jim Mora got fired two seasons after reaching an NFC championship game and Dennis Green's three year stay in Arizona is over despite his impressive coaching credentials. Apparently Ford didn't get the memo that the NFL is a win now league. There is good news in Detroit; Tigers' pitchers and catchers report to training camp at the end of next month to defend their AL pennant.

Boise State Seals It With A Kiss

2007-01-02T14:21:00.000-05:00

Life can't get much better for Boise State Running Back Ian Johnson. While 2006 may have been his coming out party, 2007 got off to a pretty good start for the nation's second leading rusher. In last night's Tostitos Fiesta Bowl he converted the game winning two point conversion and proposed to his girlfriend during the post-game show. However, Johnson is not the only one who had a memorable night. Senior Quarterback Jared Zabransky went from goat to hero in the span of a minute and a half. Coach Chris Peterson and his staff put on a show-calling display never before seen in crunch time. A hook and ladder sent the game to overtime, a former walk-on threw an overtime touchdown, and the Statue of Liberty play sealed the deal. The imagination, innovation, and intestinal fortitude displayed by the brain trust of Boise State inspired anyone who watched.

This may have been the finest of the four overtime bowl games in BCS history. With the game ending well after midnight on the East Coast, unfortunately many people missed the thrilling conclusion. To quickly recap, Oklahoma scored 15 points in less than a minute to take a seven point lead with around a minute to play in regulation. On 4th and 18, the Broncos converted a hook and ladder for the game-tying score with seven seconds to play. After the Sooners scored on their first play in overtime, the Broncos again stunned their opponents with trickery. Reserve wide receiver Vinny Paretta tossed a touchdown to tight end Derek Schouman on fourth down to set up the ultimate "I don't believe what I just saw" moment. Down one, the Broncos opted to go for two. With three receivers bunched right, Zobransky pump faked right before handing the ball around his back to Johnson who scampered in to the left side of the end zone untouched for the winning conversion. Guys don't have the guts to call this play in a Turkey Bowl; how about making that decision to win the biggest game in Boise State history. Again, not enough can be said about the coaching done by Peterson and his staff.

Aside from being an instant classic, this game had several deeper implications. First, it reminded everyone how flawed the BCS system is. There must be a playoff system put in place. College sports is predicated on unpredictability; every George Mason and Boise State needs its chance to shine. However, the need for a tournament extends beyond that. Heading in to yesterday's games many felt that Michigan deserved to playing for the national championship. They were thoroughly dominated by a USC team who couldn't beat an inferior UCLA to secure their own spot in the BCS title game. Again, anything can happen in college sports. Now, we all know with the revenue created by bowl games there is very little hope of ever getting the playoff system so many fans desire. Schools and conferences will be unwilling to risk the enormous paychecks they receive for participating in these games. But why not have your cake and eat it too? The bowl games could serve as hosts to playoff games and still culminate in a BCS title game. It could still be an enormous cash cow for participating schools and give more programs the opportunity to chase a national championship.

Second, the belief that "mid-majors" who run the table are not prepared to take on the big boys of the BCS conferences must be dispelled. The running theme of last night's game, as nauseating as it was, continued to be "David vs. Goliath". I say nauseating because they compared the two programs as if what happened in past years truly affected the outcome of this game. The only link to the past that these teams have is the ability to recruit, and that is a very indirect connection. Yes, Oklahoma is a name brand in College Football and can bring in top level high school talent. But no, it does not matter how many more Heisman trophy winners or National Championships they've won when it comes down to winning a single ball game. The fact of the matter is that Boise State won all 13 games on its schedule, while Oklahoma dropped three. Obviously there was disparity in who they played, but until the big programs are willing to be challenged, the Boise State's of the college world will be denied their fair shot. Just like Utah did in 2005, an undefeated small conference school controlled a "powerhouse" program. When the media hypes "David vs. Goliath" every time a matchup like this occurs, it only strengthens the misconception that the smaller conferences can not compete with the bigger conferences. Boise State had a phenomenal season and should receive a world of credit. Although they won't get a crack at Ohio State this year, hopefully their win will accelerate some change.

NFL Loses Bright Young Star

2007-01-01T22:27:00.000-05:00

New Year's day traditionally serves as a day of hope; an opportunity to start the new calendar year on the right foot. In Denver early this morning, the great feelings of a new beginning were short lived. After celebrating the holiday at a club in Denver, Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams suffered fatal gun shot wounds while seated in a limousine. A young, rising star for the Broncos, Williams' tragic death has hit the Broncos and NFL community hard. Every voice has echoed the same sentiments; Williams' engaging personality will be truly missed. It's often hard for fans to understand the mortality of professional athletes and today's tragedy is a cruel reminder. Most importantly, the family and friends have to deal with the premature death of a loved one. The reactions of his teammates and others around the league truly tell the story. Below are some thoughts from some of his teammates, but several more can be found at: http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/DEN/9902167

Broncos Teammate Nick Ferguson: "You had to see him around his family, you had to see him around his kids, you had to see him interact with everybody in the locker room. We're going to miss his presence, we're goin to miss the man in the locker room, we're goin to miss the man he could have had the potential to be."

Former High School Coach Anthony Criss: "He wanted to be a good parent, a good father, a good example for his kids. He will be missed."

Broncos Head Coach Mike Shanahan: "We all know that Darrent was an excellent player, but as a person, he was a first-class young man who brightened every room with his smile, attitude and personality. I cannot express how heartsick I feel at this loss."

The shooting death of Williams continues an alarming trend in Denver. Dating back to 2003, Steelers' linebacker Joey Porter and Nuggets guard Julius Hodge have also been shooting victims in the Denver area. Luckily the other two men survived their wounds. While it is a shame the Broncos lost such a talented young player, it is more important to realize that a 24 year old kid lost his life way earlier than he should have.

2007: The Year of The Coach?

2007-01-01T22:23:00.000-05:00

In a day filled with resolutions, hangovers, and College Bowl games, the biggest stories of New Year's 2007 have to do with coaching. From Bobby Knight becoming the winningest coach in Men's Division I-A College Basketball to another Bowl victory for Joe-Pa, the headlines were dominated by the men of the sidelines. Those two men stole the spotlight early in the day with Paterno securing his 22nd bowl win before many even got out of bed. At around the same time in Lubbock, Texas, Red Raider nation serenaded Coach Knight with Frank Sinatra's "My Way" to commemorate his milestone. Knight's uncharacteristic show of emotion clearly demonstrated the importance of the victory to family, former players, mentors, and apprentices. Unquestionably his most successful protege and the man most likely to break his record, Coach Mike Kryzewski heaped praise on his former coach. For all the criticism Knight takes about his abrasive ways, it is clear to those around him that it is merely tough love.

While college coaches were climbing new heights, the men of the professional ranks were falling from their perch. The axe fell on NFL coaches Jim Mora and Dennis Green after their teams failed to live up to expectations. Mora's Falcons were a disappointing 7-9 and Green could not get his offensive weapons firing in one of the NFL's weakest divisions. One of their former colleagues, Miami coach Nick Saban, reportedly will receive a formal offer for the vacant Alabama position. Once a coveted position held by such coaching greats as Bear Bryant, Alabama has struggled to find their new head man. It is believed that the compensation should be enough to paint Saban crimson, but no official word has been made. Finally, many in the Steelers organization are suggesting Bill Cowher has coached his last football game. Cowher is the longest tenured coach in the NFL, but many believed that 2006 would be his final season on the sidelines. Crushing division rival Cincinnati's playoff hopes with a thrilling overtime win would be a nice way for Cowher to make his exit.

Save The Best For Last; Tiki Sets Franchise Record In Final Regular Season Game

2006-12-31T00:43:00.000-05:00

Tiki Barber continues to defy logic. In the first few years of his career, he didn't have the size to be an every down back. When fumbling problems threatened to unseat him as the featured back, he managed to fix that. When he hit the running back wall of age 30, he inexplicably took his game to MVP-caliber heights. Finally, just when it seemed he resigned himself to his post-football career, Tiki torched the Redskins last night to virtually assure the Giants will make the playoffs. Barber set a new franchise record for rushing yards in a game with 234 and notched his first ever three touchdown performance as the Giants defeated the Redskins 34-28. If some of Barber's magic can rub off on the rest of the team, they will put up a fight in either Dallas or Philadelphia next weekend.

Everytime there's been a microphone in Barber's face, he's used it to conduct unofficial auditions. The comments he's made regarding his post-football life have lead many (including myself) to question his ability to focus and perform on Sundays. He answered all those critics emphatically by turning in the finest performance of his career. Unfortunately, his brilliant performance concealed several issues that could send the Giants to a quick playoff exit.

Giants-Redskins Preview

2006-12-30T14:30:00.000-05:00

Week 17 kicks off tonight with the Redskins hosting the Giants at FedEx Field. In their first meeting, the Giants were dominant in a 19-3 win at Giants Stadium. Unless you've been living under a rock the past two months, you know many things have changed. The Giants went from chic Super Bowl pick to "team turmoil", whose members haven't missed an opportunity for a detrimental sound bite. For the Redskins, Coach Gibbs benched starting quarterback Mark Brunell in favor of young Jason Campbell and an injury to Clinton Portis has led to the emergence of Ladell Betts. The Skins have been playing better football of late, including a win on the road in New Orleans two weeks ago. Running back Ladell Betts has eclipsed 100 yards in five consecutive games. No matter what the records, a December game between the Giants and Redskins will always be intense. Tonight figures to be no different.

The Giants Will Win If... they can stop beating themselves. Out of all the errors the team has made this year, the worst has been consistently putting themselves in bad situations with penalties. Coach Coughlin finally has made his players accountable and supposedly will bench major culprit Bob Whitfield. With the switch of play callers, the Giants hope Kevin Gilbride will put the offense in better situations to score points. It all starts with getting more touches for Tiki Barber. Between Eli's struggles and their inability to keep their defense off the field, the Giants must establish a consistent running game. In the passing game, someone needs to step up. The perfect man seems to be Sinorice Moss, who would allow Eli to develop an early rythym with some short passes and screens. His speed could be a great mismatch for a depleted Redskins secondary. Defensively, the Giants need to challenge Jason Campbell to beat them. He has a talented trio of WR's and a great pass catching tight end but is still very inexperienced. Betts has been extremely effective running between the tackles, so Barry Coefield and Fred Robbins need to get penetration. Antonio Pierce always has a chip on his shoulder facing his former team, so he should be ready to neutralize Betts. On special teams, they can not afford to give away great field position like they did last week. They could really use a spark from the kick return unit that has failed to produce all season. Again, this is an area where Sinorice Moss could be a difference maker.

The Redskins Will Win If...they can shut down the Giants running game. Eli Manning's struggles have been well documented, so the Giants should be expected to give a heavy dose of the ground game. The offense has been given a huge boost by the play of Ladell Betts. Since filling in for the injured Clinton Portis, Betts has topped 100 yards rushing in each of the last five games. He's taken a lot of pressure off inexperienced QB Jason Campbell. Campbell's numbers are nothing spectacular, but he's been efficient. He's shown the ability to make plays down the field and is starting to get better play from his receivers. Last year's December matchup in Washington turned out to be the Santana Moss show. The Giants had no answers for him and he could give a struggling secondary nightmares all day. If the offensive line can give Campbell time to throw, they should have opportunities to attack down the field. Defensively the Redskins have been susceptible to deep passing plays and that should continue now that cornerback Shawn Springs is out. Sean Taylor has terrific ball skills but can be caught being too aggressive. Like the Gians, they should stack the box and make Eli Manning beat them. With Shockey out and other receivers struggling, they need to make the Giants one dimensional.

Prediction: In the past two months, nothing has gone right for the Giants. They've squandered fourth quarter leads, they've shown dissension in the locker room, and they've nearly played themselves out of the playoffs. But that's just it: NEARLY played themselves out of the playoffs. With a win tonight, they're virtually assured of a playoff berth. For all that's gone wrong, one victory can change everything. Unfortunately, the Giants have been in this situation for weeks and still can't play well enough to win. The Redskins would love to spoil the Giants postseason plans, so I imagine they'll come to play. Former Redskin Antonio Pierce said earlier this week he expects the Redskins to be physical, so at the very least the Giants have to limp in to the playoffs battered. Everything surrounding this game indicates it will come down to who can run the football. The NFL has been so crazy this year, it'll probably turn in to a shootout. With a loss, the Tiki Barber era and Tom Coughlin era will come to a close. It may just be foolish optimism, but expect the Giants to get themselves in great playoff position.

Offense Limping In to Washington

2006-12-29T17:16:00.000-05:00

On the eve of the regular season finale, TE Jeremy Shockey and all purpose OL Rich Seubert did not travel with the team to Washington. They both have been ruled out for what may be the team's final game of 2006. In their place, expect Visanthe Shiancoe to start at TE and Grey Ruegamer to start at left guard. With Seubert out and Ruegamer starting inside, the Giants will have to rely on newly signed TE Darcy Johnson in multiple tight end sets. They have preferred to use Seubert and Ruegamer as additional blockers in those situations, but expect Johnson to be thrown in to the fire.

With Shockey out, there is additional pressure on the Giants' receivers to step up. Coughlin has shown desperation in many of his choices this week, so hopefully that'll lead him to give rookie Sinorice Moss a shot. Until he definitively proves he is uncapable of stepping up, I'm going to continue touting him as our best option behind Burress. As I've previously stated, this could be a big week for him to get involved. A matchup with his older brother Santana should have him focused and the Redskins secondary is depleted with an injury to Shawn Springs.

Tired of Tiki

2006-12-29T15:08:00.000-05:00

Let me preface the following paragraphs with this important piece of information: there is nothing Tiki Barber could ever do to erase how important he's been to the New York Giants for the past ten years. However, the more interviews he conducts, the more magazines that feature articles on him, and the more radio spots he does is making his impending retirement a lot easier to handle. Quite frankly, it is time for him to go. His heart is not in the game and the more evident it becomes, the harder it is to root for him. I've been fighting this feeling for weeks, but his constant dismissal of being sentimental about his last few games is troubling. He claims he's not focused on himself as part of an effort to put his team first, but it's clear that's not the case. Ironically, his general lack of focus is hurting the team far more than the "Me-Ki" label he was given earlier this year. The following quote appeared in today's Journal News. It reads like every other sound bite he has given the past few week's, but is especially telling in where his focus truly lies.

"My focus is on winning. That's what I've been thinking about for the last few weeks. Just like it wasn't overly emotional last week [the home finale]. I love this game, but I also have great excitement about what I'm going to do next."

Tiki's philosophical take on the next phase of his life may be endearing to network executives, but it's as nauseating as that face Eli makes after a foolish mistake. Look, we're all happy that his hard work has translated in to a very successful NFL career which will enable him television opportunities. But Tiki needs to learn, as far as his appearance and intelligence would have gotten him in life, it is nowhere as important as his NFL pedigree. To forsake that, to label it only as "a character I've been playing for 10 years" as he suggests in ESPN the Magazine, is a disservice to the New York Giants organization and his fans. No one can question he's still being productive when called upon, but that's more of a testament to his fierce competitiveness. And I would never suggest he's not trying to help win ball games, but to focus so much on his post-football days while still suiting up is unacceptable. I'm not questioning his decision to retire; he has every right to hang it up after this season. But leave the candid discussion about retirement until his playing days are officially over. The worst part of all is watching his mannerisms on game day.

The cameras follow him around as often as they can on Sundays, but all that can be seen are blank stares by a man already thinking about his post game interviews. For once, I'd like to see him in a group with the other running backs, giving out a few last pointers. Or maybe pulling his quarterback aside, telling him the days of relying on his all-purpose back are numbered so he better get his act together. Maybe he could talk to his ego-maniacal receivers, show them you can achieve great things with some class and a lot of hard work. Instead, he's fantasizing about being the next Matt Lauer. Think I was disgusted by the comments he made above? I'd rather watch the Red Sox 2004 Championship DVDs than have to read that again. Now I'm not trying to say Lauer is not good at what he does, or that Tiki shouldn't try and emulate a professional in a field that he's interested in. All I'm saying is save that talk for the offseason. Right now, he is a member of the New York Football Giants. He has always been the consumate professional, which should include being 100 percent focused on the tasks at hand for your current employer. He's certainly not doing that right now, and it's hard to handle. Saturday could be the last time Giants fans see Tiki Barber running for Big Blue. Unfortunately, they care about it a hell of a lot more than he does.

Coughlin Sick Of Head-Butts; Whitfield sent to the bench

2006-12-29T13:24:00.000-05:00

Tom Coughlin's week of shake-ups continued with the announcement that Bob Whitfield will be replaced at left tackle by David Diehl. Diehl's vacant left guard position will be assumed by Rich Seubert, if healthy. If he can't go, Grey Ruegamer would get the nod. While most Giants fans would like to see Coughlin fired, I must applaud the moves he's making to try and win this weekend. The biggest thing to question is what took Coughlin so long to make these moves. Whether it was purely speculation or had some substance, the shifting on the offensive line has been an issue since mid-November. In an entry from November 16th, I discussed several possibilities, one of which is the lineup Coughlin will be using this weekend. It's clear he is making a last ditch effort to save his job, but if he tried these things earlier, he probably wouldn't be facing the same predicament.

Whitfield has been woefully ineffective and surprisingly stupid. He committed two more personal fouls against the Saints, including his second headbutting penalty in four games. Either it's been such a long time since he's been a full time starter that he has forgotten the rules or headbutting wasn't expressly a penalty when he entered the league 15 years ago. Either way, his replacement is long overdue. It's a shame to interrupt Diehl's progress as an interior lineman, but desperate times call for desperate measures. He's big and quick enough to fend off speed rushers off the edge. If Seubert can play, there really isn't a drop off in production from the left guard position.

Other News and Notes:
Jeremy Shockey has missed practice all week with a sprained ankle and will be a game-time decision. If he has to sit, Vishante Shiancoe would get the start. I expect Shockey will do everything he can to play, but he's had nagging ankle injuries for quite some time. He leads the team in receptions and his absence would be a devastating blow to a struggling offense.

Some good news for Michael Strahan. Doctors have informed the star defensive end that he will not need surgery to repair the Lisfranc sprain in his foot. Strahan confirmed on his weekly WFAN spot that if he needed surgery, retirement would have been a very real possibility.

Zito Becomes Richest Pitcher Ever

2006-12-28T15:51:00.000-05:00

The prize pitcher of the 2006 free agent class found the highest bidder, but it wasn't who many expected. With the deep pocket Yankees, Rangers, and Mets in the mix, it did not seem likely Barry Zito would remain on the Pacific Coast. However, with a 7 year deal worth $126 million the Bay Area will retain one of its stars, just in a new uniform. Zito joins the San Francisco Giants to fill the void left by Jason Schmidt. The seven year deal is the richest package ever given to a pitcher and seventh all time. It also includes an eighth year option which would boost the package to $144 million. Now that the ace of the free agent class is off the market, it'll be interesting to examine how the remaining crop plays out.

With Zito gone, there's only one guy still considered a front line starter and his status is very questionable. If Clemens does decide to come back, the Astros, Red Sox, and Yankees seem to be the only likely destinations. This spells trouble for teams such as the Mets who are in the market for a top tier guy. Fresh off his impressive outings in the 2006 playoffs, there could be a competitive market for Jeff Weaver. He's widely regarded to be the best free agent pitcher not named Clemens. A wild card could be fellow Cardinal Mark Mulder. He proved to be just as effective as Barry Zito and Tim Hudson while part of the "Big Three", but has disappointed during his stay in St. Louis. A change of scenery, plus some luck curing up some nagging health issues, could make Mulder a steal.

Starbury Shines Bright; Knicks PG Nets 41 in 3 OT Win Over Pistons

2006-12-28T13:04:00.000-05:00

Although no one likes to admit it, the Melee in Manhattan may have lit a fire under the Knicks. Since the brawl the Knicks have won 4 out of their last 5 games, including 4 straight on their home floor. Last night the Knicks received a terrific effort from several key players in defeating a tough Pistons team after 7 periods of play. Even more incredible, the win vaulted the Knicks to the top of the division. Just to reiterate, the much maligned Knickerbockers are now in first place. Granted they are in one of the worst divisions in the history of the NBA, this team is actually putting a good product on the floor. There are many reasons to watch this team right now, below are just a few:

The Evolution of Eddy Curry. It is still hard to justify the steep price Isiah paid (and is still paying in draft choices) to bring the young big man to New York, but the 25 year old "veteran" is shaping in to one of the most talented Centers in basketball. With Shaq sidelined for a while, Curry has a good chance to be selected to his first All-Star Game. His strong play continued with 33 points last night, including 11 of 15 from the free throw line. Unlike many of today's big men, he knows his place is filling the lane. He can score in a variety of ways close to the basket and has not been trying to take shots out of his range.

The Return of "Starbury". A few weeks back, Isiah had his star point guard talk to former Knick great Walt "Clyde" Frazier. Although he may be terribly irritating to listen to on Knicks tv broadcasts, he may have struck a chord with their court general. To borrow a line from Frazier, Marbury is back to "swishin and dishin". His numbers are up all across the board and he's providing a ton of energy. With Robinson and Francis out of the lineup, it seems he enjoys having more responsibility in the offense. He's developed a nice rapport with Jamal Crawford, who has also played very well during this recent run. Isiah clearly trusts Crawford with the game on the line, opting to let Jamal let loose in the final seconds of every tight game.

The Sophomore Forwards. Whenever there's a discussion on Isiah Thomas, it always goes something like this: "He's never enjoyed success running a team, but he always has drafted well." Watching the progress of second year forwards Channing Frye and David Lee, it's hard to argue that. Frye, who enjoyed success as a rookie but struggled early in the year, is finding his rythym again. He knocked down a long range jumper at the buzzer to send the game in to triple overtime and totaled 26 points for the game. For many, the bigger story has been the emergence of David Lee. Lee has been a rebounding machine since his minutes have increased and leads the team with over 10 per game. Unfortunately, with the return of Jared Jeffries last night, he resumed his role as sixth man. For a team that struggled at the beginning of games to start the season, it seems more than coincidental that they've been more competitive since Lee cracked the starting rotation. Hopefully Isiah can realize this and keep the team rolling.

For all that's been made of the Garden crowd booing the home team, excitement is back in the world's most famous arena. Last night's thriller with the Pistons had the fans out of their seats and involved in all the key moments. As they say, winning cures a lot of ills. It's been a while since the Knicks have been perched on top, but the fans must have cautious optimism. The team is still five games under .500 with a lot of season to play. For Isiah Thomas, the current winning streak at the Garden has made his seat a little cooler but still has little chance of survival without a spot in the playoffs.

MLB Forced To Hand Over Drug Tests

2006-12-27T16:09:00.000-05:00

As part of the new collective bargaining agreement between Major League Baseball and the Players association, over 100 positive drug tests from 2003 were kept private by the league office. Earlier today an Appeals Court ruled that MLB is required to hand over the results of the tests to the committee investigating steroid use in baseball. The league office could petition the Supreme Court to hear the case, but only about 1 percent of cases submitted to the high court are ruled on in a given year (and who says Political Science and sports never mix). This is a significant blow to the players' association because it is only a matter of time that these names are leaked. With an estimated 100 failed tests, lots of current players will certainly be dragged in the mud.

From a fan's standpoint, this is a bitersweet victory. It's anyone's guess who will go down once the name's are leaked, but it will be refreshing to learn who the "clean" players are. However, the shadow cast by steroid use has become too large to definitively assess any of the innocent players. For the 100 or so who get caught now that the Government is in possession of the list, it simply means they were not smart enough to take a substance the league didn't or couldn't test for at the time(such as HGH or the BALCO designer steroids). It wouldn't be surprising if many of the men we suspect of steroid use (Bonds, Giambi, Sheffield, etc) do not appear on any of these documents. In terms of players being prosecuted, it does not seem likely this far after the fact. The presumed revelation of these lists will only serve to tarnish images around the league, not for them to face any punitive charges.

Playoffs?!? As crazy as it sounds, Giants nearly in control of destiny

2006-12-27T12:36:00.000-05:00

It would take a pretty convincing argument to persuade anyone to believe that the New York Football Giants are a playoff caliber team right now. However, if they win at Washington on Saturday, it is extremely likely they will hold on to the sixth seed in the NFC. The scenarios have been described over and over in articles all over the web. However, it always seems easier to learn from a graphic than discern sports writer babble. For Giants fans, the only 7-8 team of any concern is the Green Bay Packers. They own the head-to-head tiebreaker over Atlanta and Carolina, as well as the conference record tiebreaker over the St. Louis. Due to an identical conference record, no head to head matchup, and an even winning percentage in common games if both win their remaining game, the tiebreaker goes to Strength of Victory. Strength of victory is calculated by adding up the records of all the teams beaten by the team in question. For example, if you beat a 5-0 team and an 0-5 team, your strength of victory would be .500 (5-5) percent. Right now the Giants hold a huge advantage in this department, so the Packers need everything to break their way in this weekend's action. A lot to digest, right? With that in mind, below is an easy to follow chart on the only way the Giants could be left out of the Super Bowl tournament with a win.

SCENARIO FOR GIANTS NOT TO MAKE PLAYOFFS WITH WIN:
(All Packers Victims Projected to Win, All Giants Victims Projected to Lose)
PACKERS VICTIMS RECORD GIANTS VICTIMS RECORD
Detroit 3-13 Philadelphia 10-6/9-7
Miami 7-9 Washington 5-11
Arizona 6-10 Atlanta 7-9/8-8
Minnesota 7-9 Dallas 9-7
San Francisco 7-9 Tampa Bay 4-12
Detroit 3-13 Houston 5-11
Minnesota 7-9 Carolina 7-9
Bears 13-3 Washington 5-11

FINAL TOTALS: 53-75 52-76

*Philadelphia and Atlanta play each other in Week 17

As you can see, if all of the Packers previous victims win they will have a total of 53 wins compared to the Giants 52 if all of theirs lose. This chart only explains how the Giants DO NOT qualify with a win. What is not evident from this chart is that Dallas hosts Detroit on Sunday. If Dallas wins, the tiebreaker is clinched for the Giants. It seems pretty reasonable that a playoff team fighting for the division can beat arguably football's worst team on their home field. There are many other reasonable scenarios that put the Giants in the playoffs with a win, but the last part may be the trickiest. Getting a win, although its the only thing they can control, looks to be the toughest for them to handle.

The Giants are playing terrible football, but are hoping a change in play-calling duties can spark a stagnant offense. Instilling Kevin Gilbride as the play caller seems to be a way of improving Eli Manning. Gilbride is the man most responsible for dealing with the young quarterback and his selection may signal concern within the organization about Eli's lack of progress. Coach Coughlin suggested he'd been mulling the decision to strip Hufnagel of his duties, but it seems his loyalty to a long-time employee got in the way of rational decision making. Hufnagel has been connected to Coughlin for many years and the head coach has always been known for his dedication to people he trusts. It's just unfortunate that his own personal dilemma has disrupted the success of his football team for possibly an irreparable period of time.

Giants Lose Strahan For Season; Petitgout and Morton also placed on IR

2006-12-26T18:06:00.000-05:00

Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. Giants fans prayers were answered when star defensive end Michael Strahan returned to the field on Sunday, but now all are hoping that he hadn't. Just as the defense felt whole again, Strahan re-injured his foot and will miss the remainder of the season. Amidst renewed optimism with their favorable chances of making the playoffs, the Giants will also be without the services of Luke Petitgout. There had been hope the left tackle would be able to return, but he has not healed as quickly as the organization previously thought. The announcement of Morton was a mere formality after he tore his ACL in Sunday's home loss. For Giants fans, the losses of Strahan and Petitgout are devastating. Although Sunday's game left little to be desired, Strahan seemed to be very active after his long lay off. There was some concern he could re-aggrevate the injury, and obviously those trepidations were warranted. The status of Petitgout has always been more of a mystery, but everything out of Giants' camp suggested he'd be prepared as early as the season finale at Washington. His recovery has not progressed far enough for the Giants to feel he'd be ready anytime soon.

Obviously the bigger story is losing these three key components, but my bigger issue is with their replacements. Taking their spots on the roster will be WR Darius Watts, TE Darcy Johnson, and RB Robert Douglas. Some rationality can be given to the Watts signing. He's a young, speed guy who enjoyed a little success in his short tenure with Denver. The Giants receiving corps needed a bolster, and I have no problem bringing in outside help to do so. It seems there are better options out there with the recent release of Vikings WR Marcus Robinson, but Watts certainly had more signability. However, I don't possibly see a need for another TE and RB, no matter what their caliber. The Giants were content to enter the season with 2 Tight Ends and have had no problem using Rich Seubert in addition to Shiancoe and Shockey. Johnson has failed to catch on with the Giants in the past, and Tight End is one of the few positions the Giants are settled in. Another one of those positions is Running Back, but the Giants inexplicably signed Douglas off the Texans practice squad. First, how desperate for RB's do you have to be to sign a guy who couldn't catch on in the Texans backfield. Secondly, the Giants just flat out do not need any more running backs. When they placed Derrick Ward on IR last week, they promoted practice squad running back James Sims. That signing was curious enough, there was no need to add another guy who is not going to carry the football. With glaring needs on the defensive and offensive lines, how is that not addressed? I understand the Giants signed OL Steve Edwards when they released Chris Claiborne, but nagging injuries along with Petitgout's trip to the IR makes more linemen necessary. On the other side of the ball, the Giants are in desperate need of bodies. Right now the Giants are inexperienced and thin along the defensive line and could really use a run stopping end to spell Kiwanuka. It seems the incompetence from the sidelines is leaking in to the management office.

A lone bright spot is that John Hufnagel has been stripped of playcalling duties. According to Ralph Vacchiano, the Giants beat writer for the Daily News, Coughlin made the decision to give the offense a spark. The man now responsible for restoring order to the offense will be quarterbacks coach Kevin Gilbride. Since Hufnagel has set a very low standard, I feel confident Gilbride can bring more to the table. This move clearly signals that Coughlin fears for his job, as well he should. Even though a win virtually assures the Giants of a playoff berth, it is widely speculated that his abrasive style has not meshed well with Giants executives. Getting in to the playoffs may not even be enough to save his job, but you can be assured failing to qualify will certainly end his reign.

Cashman Not Done With His Christmas Shopping

2006-12-26T15:40:00.000-05:00

During the "hot stove" months, Yankee fans are always speculating which new faces will be in the Bronx by the holiday season. Brian Cashman's biggest gift this Christmas has been bringing back Andy Pettitte, but reports are surfacing that he may have an even bigger surprise. To the delight of many Yankees fans, it could involve getting rid of a past his prime star who never quite fit in his pinstripes. According to various baseball officials, the Diamondbacks are among several teams interested in acquiring Randy Johnson. Yankees brass have confirmed that Johnson approached the team about being moved closer to his home in Arizona. Johnson's representation has emphasized that he has not demanded a trade and would be happy to pitch for the Yankees in the upcoming season.

In the wake of the Johnson trade rumors, the Yankees now appear to be in the Barry Zito sweepstakes. Up to this point, the leading contenders to land the talented lefty have been the Texas Rangers and New York Mets. It is believed the Rangers could offer a more substantial financial package, but the Mets have been pitching their chances as one of the top contenders in the National League as their main selling point. Mets officials have already traveled to California to talk to the prized free agent, but with agent Scott Boras a decision is not expected soon. If nothing else, expect the price tag for Zito to rise. With the Yankees as potential bidders, Boras has incredible leverage.

The marriage between the Yankees and Johnson has been a rocky one. In 2006 he posted an ERA of 5.00 and has still not won a postseason game for the Bombers. Nagging injuries have been a concern and the Yankees would love to free themselves of the $16 million they owe the 43 year old this season. The Yankees would love to get younger in their rotation and reaching a deal with Zito would satisfy that. There's still only a remote chance the Oakland lefty will wind up in the Bronx, but if the Yankees can deal Johnson its likelihood will increase. Even if the Yankees don't land Zito, expect a lot of New Yorkers to rejoice if they can unload the Big Unit.

Bush-Whacked: Rookie leads rout of Giants

2006-12-24T16:49:00.000-05:00

In a game taking on great significance by the impending retirement of Tiki Barber, running backs did prove to be the difference in this game. Unfortunately for the home team, the tandem of Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister gashed the Giants defense for well over 200 yards. For the first time in his career Bush eclipsed 100 yards rushing in a game and both players reached the end zone. With receivers from both teams unable to catch the football, the sparkling play of Reggie Bush stood out. With the playoffs again on the line, the Gians played uninspired football despite the return of defensive leader Michael Strahan and the Meadowlands finale of Tiki Barber. Giants fans have to be wondering, if the team can't get up for a game like this, how can they ever? Emotions rode high through the first scoring drive, but the air came out of the sails with a crucial fumble by Chad Morton. The 2006 season has been a series of ups and downs for the Giants, but Sunday might have reached a new low. Discounting the first 2 and a half minutes of the game, the Giants couldn't have beaten a high school team. Several flaws were alarming not only for how they kept Big Blue out of this game, but because they have become troublesome trends.

Discipline and Emotion. After the 2003 season, the Giants brought in Tom Coughlin to crack the whip on a highly penalized team. Instead, the 2004-2006 Giants have become less disciplined than in the preceeding Fassel era. Penalties again plagued the Giants, including an inexplicable second headbutting personal foul on veteran Bob Whitfield in his last four games. Linemate Shaun O'Hara also picked up a personal foul, demonstrating the utter frustration this team is feeling. Coughlin's abrasive style has just not fit well with his players and has not translated in to smarter football. Another intangible provided by leadership, particularly coaching, is emotion. Aside from the first drive, the Giants were completely devoid of it. Players routinely jogged off the field, only to sit on the bench listless and dejected. The return of Strahan figured to help cure this problem, but having a timid quarterback who won't fire up his troops has really taken its toll on an offense full of egos.

Play-calling. Sean Payton put on a display of how to call a football game. Throughout the first quarter, with the wind at his back, he pounded the Giants with the pass. Even though they had little success, they gave the Giants something to think about. With the wind in their face in the second quarter, they used the run for a demoralizing 18 play, 89 yard drive that took over 8 minutes before Marques Colston capped it with a touchdown. The Saints were so effective in setting up the run with the pass that Brees suffered one of his worst outings of the season, yet won by 23 points on the road. Payton also demonstrated his aggressiveness, converting a couple of crucial fourth downs and not easing up even with a big lead. Conversely, the offensive minds of the Giants were again horribly ineffective. It is hard to know whose to blame, offensive coordinator John Hufnagel or head coach Tom Coughlin, so let's just consider them both guilty. Neither men have a good feel for a game and their play-calling reflects that. They're consistenly not aggressive enough and always seem to be two steps behind the other coaches. Coughlin constantly reiterates this in post game conferences with "we were expecting this, but they did that" statements, which clearly means they were not prepared for what the opponent would bring. While execution has surely lacked in recent weeks, the players do not seem to be put in good situations to win.

Execution. As much as the fans would love to blame everything on the coaches (the "Fire Coughlin chants" surely support that line of thought), the players simply did not execute today. The defense certainly wore down as the game went on, but that was mainly a resule of a woeful offense. Special teams got absolutely dominated as the Saints benefitted from great field position. There were three turnovers, to New Orleans zero, and the offense just never found a rythym. In a game filled with lows, the "straw that broke the camels back" seemed to be when Jeremy Shockey dropped an easy conversion in the closing minute of the first half. Down 13-7 and the ball near midfield, Eli's best pass of the day lead a wide open Shockey for what would have been a conversion on fourth and two. Instead the Pro Bowl TE let it slip through his mitts, and the Giants wasted a chance at a rare opportunity to move the ball in to Saints territorry. To that end, the Giants ran zero plays in Saints territorry. Let that sink in. Zero plays run on the Saints half of the field throughout the entire game. If there's ever proof of being thoroughly dominated in your home building, that is the telling statistic.

The Play of Eli Manning. With young quarterbacks coming up big all across the league, it is tough to continue defending Eli Manning. As part of he blockbuster draft day trade that brought him to New York, the Giants traded away several draft picks. The Chargers used them to select three guys named to this year's AFC Pro Bowl team. Even in a weak NFC for quarterbacks, Manning was undeserving. I'm still not ready to label this trade a failure, or definitively say Manning's a bust, but his nonchalant attitude and faulty mechanics are not getting the job done. The receivers certainly aided his 9 for 25 performance today, but Manning routinely throws the ball to the wrong spots. His decision making is still questionable and he seems reluctant at times to pull the trigger. This is a young, struggling quarterback whose coaches show no confidence in him through their play selection. While many other players certainly deserved to be called out for their ineffectiveness, you have to start with the supposed leader. Maybe it's not in his makeup to get in a guy's face, but he needs to find a way to control an offense full of egos.

Special teams and the passing game. When expecting a tight game, it is imperative to win the field position battle. In yet another sign of the rout, New Orleans average starting field position on 14 possessions was at their 43 yard line. To put that in perspective, the Giants only started one drive past their own 43 yard line and that was the final play of the game. Special teams must assume a lot of responsibility for the mismatch in field position, especially a costly fumble by Chad Morton deep in Giants territorry and a big Michael Lewis kick return to open the second half. They were not the only culprits. An ill-advised snap by Shaun O'Hara led to another fumble in Giants territorry and Eli Manning threw a late game interception. It is amazing how devastating the losses of Amani Toomer and Luke Pettitgout have been to the passing game. Teams are clearly not afraid to attack Whitfield and have forced the Giants to keep Barber in to block in many passing situations. He's responded with a pair of terrible personal foul penalties and Eli certainly seems concerned about his blindside protection. Tim Carter and David Tyree combined for more drops than catches today to continue their sub-par performance on the season. Someone needs to please explain to me why Sinorice Moss continues to sit on the sidelines. Today he proved to be ineffective with just one catch for no gain as well as a drop, but he's not even getting a chance to see the field. Even if the rookie only plays up to the miniscule standards set forth by the guys ahead of him on the depth chart, at least the coaches took the chance to give a stagnant offense a shot in the arm. Although not particularly effective on kick returns today, he showed enough to warrant more touches offensively. A showdown with his brother in Washington next weekend seems to be a perfect time to see what the kid has.

Sadly, this list could carry on for days without even scratching the surface of all the problems this Giants team has. The players preach that their talent will prevail, but they have not shown any cohesiveness or character in their two month slide. I'd be remissed if I didn't at least acknowledge the efforts of Will Demps. The lone bright spot in today's game, Demps flew all over the field making plays and never seemed to quit. Hopefully that attitude will rub off on the rest of the team as they look to continue their season. Despite their horrible play, they find themselves in a good position to still make the playoffs. They will enter week 17 as the sixth seed in the NFC Playoffs and hold tie-break advantages over several of the competing teams. It's time for this team to start performing up to the expectations they set for themselves. With a new General Manager coming in to town, next week's game could also be auditions for making next year's squad. In an unpredictable league, a lot can change in a week. Hopefully for the Giants they can buck the above mentioned trends and continue playing in January.

Giants vs. Saints Preview

2006-12-24T11:52:00.000-05:00

While Giants fans have accepted the fact that Tiki Barber will walk away after the season, missing the playoffs after a 6-2 would be totally unacceptable. The team has a chance to rebound in today's critical home finale versus the NFC South champion Saints. On the opposing sidelines will be one of the talented young coaches in the NFL, a man who rose to prominence guiding the Giants offense to the top record in the NFC in 2000. Once presumed to be the man groomed to take over the reins for Big Blue, Giants fans can just wonder "what if" as they see Sean Payton lead the Saints this afternoon. However, Coach Coughlin can score a big victory over the doubters with wins in the Giants final two games. In order to get that win, the Giants must accomplish the following:

Run the football effectively. Much has been made of Tiki's final home game and the star back has a chance to carry his team to the postseason. The Giants must get him involved early and often for two important reasons. First of all, the Giants are simply a better football team when Barber gets his touches. Second, controlling the clock keeps the explosive Saints offense on the sidelines. With Saints run stopping specialist Hollis Thomas sitting as part of a suspension, the Giants should be able to run the football at will.

Get pressure on Drew Brees. The Giants get a huge boost by the return of Michael Strahan. In his absence, opposing quarterbacks have had plenty of time to pick apart a below average secondary. Last weekend the Redskins showed a lot of pressure up the middle of the field which clearly disrupted Brees' rythym. If the Giants can get some big bodies in the passing lanes, the undersized Brees will have a tough time finding his talented skill players.

Get stops on 3rd down. The Giants inability to get crucial stops has plagued them all season. With injuries taking their toll on depth, a thinning defense has logged too many minutes. If they can't get off the field with stops on third down, expect more troubles holding leads in the fourth quarter.

Convert in the green zone. For such an explosive offense, the Giants inexplicably have struggled inside the green zone. Several key drives have stalled inside the 10 yard line, including two crucial ones against Philadelphia last Sunday. More plays need to be called for their tall receiving targets Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress. Their size needs to be used in mismatches when the field shrinks.

Spread the ball around. Often times Manning gets locked in to getting Burress involved and neglects his other receivers. Jeremy Shockey needs to get touches early in the game to keep the defense honest. The Giants have a home-run threat in Sinorice Moss, but for some reason continues to remain on the sideline. Moss can be a real gamechanger if they can get him on the field.

With kickoff about thirty minutes away, the Giants face the real possibility of being virtually eliminated from playoff contention with a loss. While everyone would like to "win one for Tiki", the bigger focus is winning one to stay alive. Getting Michael Strahan will be a huge boost. His leadership has been sorely missed and his presence on the field will force the offense to account for him. It could spell for a huge day for Osi Umenyiora. Offensively, the Giants need to establish the ground game. The Saints have struggled against the run and a lower scoring game favors the Giants. While they have played very well this season, the linebacking corps of the Saints is not capable of containing Jeremy Shockey. Number eighty needs to get his touches. For the Giants, the wild card could be Sinorice Moss. He may get an opportunity to return kicks and his speed could be a huge difference maker. If the Giants can get him on the field, he could be poised for a big day. Look for the Giants to play with a lot of energy and seal up an important late game victory.

Top 10 Tiki Moments at the Meadowlands

2006-12-23T13:38:00.000-05:00

Even though the Giants are hosting the Saints in a critical battle for their playoff lives, a major focus this week has been on Tiki Barber. With Barber determined to retire at season's end, the Giants all-time leading rusher is heading in to his last game at Giants Stadium. On the eve of Tiki's last home game, I've decided to reflect on his top NFL moments in the Meadowlands. Drafted in the second round out of Virginia in the 1997 NFL Draft, Barber made his mark early with versatility. Questions surrounded his ability to be an every down back and the Giants were cautious during the early stages of his career. Barber would rotate starts with Tyrone Wheatley and Gary Brown in his first few years, making more of an impact as a receiver out of the backfield and on special teams. However, an injury to Brown and the introduction of offensive coordinator Sean Payton allowed his career to soar. He has exceeded all expectations, becoming the Giants all-time leading rusher and only one of 3 men in NFL history with over 10,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards. Only time will tell if he gets a bust in Canton, but this will surely be the final season Giants fans see the number 21 on the field. In honor of his ten great years in New York, I've selected ten of the most memorable Tiki moments at Giants Stadium.

10. September 3, 2000 vs. ARIZONA
Twice as Nice: Tiki's first multi-TD game comes to start the 2000 season.

For the first time in his career, Tiki opened the 2000 season firmly entrenched as the main back. While the team had high hopes for Heisman trophy winning rookie Ron Dayne, Tiki was given the lion's share of the carries. Barber opened the season right with 144 yards on the ground and a pair of scores that included a 78 yarder. His 144 yards rushing were the most ever by a Giant in a season opener (which he later broke in 2003 vs. the Rams with 146).

9. October 23, 2005 vs. DENVER
Big block keys late game heroics: Tiki's extra effort allows for game winning score.

The game didn't start well for Barber as he lost a fumble on the Giants opening possession, but the resilient Barber would be instrumental in one of the great comebacks in Giants history. His 110 yards of offense included a spectacular 34 yard run to set up an early score as well as a four yard touchdown run to cut the Giants deficit to six points. While many will remember this game for Eli Manning's first glimpse as a late game hero, he never would have had the chance to shine if not for Barber's crucial block on the game winning score.

8. December 23, 2000 vs. JACKSONVILLE
Lightning Rushes For 1,000: As part of the vaunted "Thunder and Lightning" tandem with Ron Dayne, Barber eclipses 1,000 yards rushing for the first time.

As if that wasn't enough, his 113 yards of total offense allowed him to become the first Giants player to surpass 2,000 all-purpose yards in a season. With home-field advantage throughout the playoffs on the line, Barber's massive contributions all came with a broken arm. His rushing touchdown helped pave the way for a crucial victory that made the 2000 NFC Playoffs run through the Meadowlands.

7. January 14, 2001 vs. MINNESOTA
"Worst #1 Seed in History" Reaches the Super Bowl: Tiki eifficient in Giants rout of the Vikings.

While this game will be remembered for the aerial heroics of Kerry Collins and his receivers, Tiki's 90 total yards were an important contribution to the blowout. Still battling through a broken left arm, Tiki averaged nearly 6 yards a carry in the Giants biggest win of his tenure. Many prognosticators had written the Giants off; several going so far as to call them the worst number one seed in playoff history. After the blow out, late owner Wellington Mara pleasantly proclaimed the worst #1 seed in history was headed to the Super Bowl.

6. October 18, 1999 vs. DALLAS
Jack of all trades: Tiki sets Giants' record for all-purpose yards in a game.

The versatility that has made Barber such a standout professional was first put on display in this thrilling victory over the division rival Cowboys. After a relatively quiet first three quarters, Barber single-handedly took over the fourth quarter. The lone punt return touchdown of his career came early in the period as he gashed the Cowboys for an 85 yard score. During the game's final drive, Barber's 56 yard catch and run set up a chip shot game winning field goal.

5. August 31, 1997- vs. PHILADELPHIA
Rookie shows off to the home crowd: Rushes for a touchdown in his first NFL start.

The Tiki Barber Era got off to a quick start in the only August regular season game in Giants history. After seven years of watching bruising running back Rodney Hampton set many Giants rushing records, Giants fans were reluctant to accept a new face in the backfield. Starting in his first regular season game, the rookie carried 20 times for 88 yards and a score. He added 3 catches for 32 yards in an impressive 31-17 victory over Philadelphia. Although he still had a lot to prove, Barber made a great first impression.

4. January 2, 2004 vs. DALLAS
Move over Rodney: Tiki breaks record for most rushing yards in Giants history.

In a season with very few highlights, Tiki's monster effort in the season finale solidified his place in Giants history. With 95 yards on the ground, Tiki surpassed Rodney Hampton as the Giants all-time leading rusher. The Giants came in to this game riding an 8 game losing streak, including six under rookie #1 draft pick Eli Manning. Behind Tiki's two touchdowns (one rush and one receiving), the Giants got Eli his first NFL victory. Barber's 4 yard run on fourth down late in the game finished off the comeback. With no first round pick to look forward to in the upcoming draft, Giants and their fans were happy to end the 2004 season on a high note.

3. December 28, 2002 vs. PHILADELPHIA
Win and In: Despite 3 costly fumbles, Tiki rushes for over 200 yards to put the Giants in the playoffs.

In the season finale of 2002, the Giants controlled their playoff destiny. As the white towels the Stadium distributed to the fans said, "Win and In". To amplify the intensity, the division leading Eagles were trying to stand in the way. In what can only be described as a bittersweet moment in Tiki's career, Barber persevered through adversity for arguably his gutsiest game as a pro. Against a stingy run defense, Barber rushed for 203 yards on 32 carries but coughed up three fumbles. The last of his lost fumbles came with the score tied 7-7 in the fourth quarter at the Giants 26 yard line. NFC Pro Bowl kicker David Akers had a chance to win it with a 35 yard field goal, but again the Giants were saved by the "wide right" gods. In overtime Tiki would put the ball on the ground again, but this time he was able to recover. His 29 rushing yards in the overtime period set up Matt Bryant's game winning field goal. Although this game is remembered more for his fumbles, the Giants would have had no chance in this game if not for his 203 yards on the ground as well as 73 more in receiving yards. More importantly, they got the win to get in.

2. December 17, 2005 vs. KANSAS CITY
Reaching new heights: Tiki continues record-setting 2005 with Giants single game rushing record.

In Tiki's finest season, it's only fitting that his trademark performance came in front of his home fans. Barber rushed for a Giants single-game record 220 yards (surpassing Choo Choo Roberts previous mark of 218) on 29 carries with two electrifying touchdowns. His first score came on a remarkable 41 yard scamper in which he broke several tackles and carried the final pursuit in to the end zone on his back. In the fourth quarter and only a 3 point lead, Barber struck again from 20 yards out to wrap up the scoring. From a personal standpoint, this game was easily the loudest I've ever heard Giants stadium. The outpouring of affection towards Barber was unlike anything I've ever been around at Giants Stadium. Cheers of "MVP" reigned supreme in the Stadium and Barber sure looked deserving of it that day.

1. October 30, 2005 vs. WASHINGTON
Honoring a legend: Tiki runs wild after the passing of long time owner and friend Wellington Mara.

If there's one regular season Tiki cared most about winning, you could bet your house it was this October showdown with Washington. After losing long time team owner Wellington Mara earlier in the week, the Giants were playing with heavy hearts. Barber, along with teammate Jeremy Shockey, were at the beloved owners bedside early in the week to spend some of his final moments together. Against a long time rival of Mara's, Tiki wasted no time in paying his respects. On the first play from scrimmage Barber raced 57 yards and continued his torrid pace all afternoon. He finished with a then-personal best 206 yards and two touchdowns. The final margin of 36-0 proved to be a fitting tribute to their late owner, a man whom Barber gives a lot of credit for his success. For what it meant to such a special person in his life, it is hard to imagine Tiki remembering any other game as fondly as this one.

Nuggets Get Their Answer for a Missing 'Melo

2006-12-19T23:20:00.000-05:00

How do you respond to losing the top scorer in the NBA? If you're the Denver Nuggets, just go out and acquire the second leading scorer. In the aftermath of the league's decision to suspend their top two performers for a lengthy period, the Denver Nuggets struck a deal with the Philadelphia 76ERS to acquire Allen Iverson. One of the most celebrated Philly athletes ever, Iverson will be switching NBA uniforms for the first time since the franchise made him the top overall pick in the 1996 draft. While Sixers fans will have a tough time saying goodbye, the move couldn't come at a better time for Denver. Disregarding the fact he is one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, acquiring Iverson pushed stories of Saturday night's brawl to the back pages. They not only got a scorer they coveted, they were able to turn a negative situation in to a positive in a very short time.

For the immediate future, the edge goes to Denver in this deal. They bring in a bona-fide superstar to help contend in an ultra-competitive Western Conference. Iverson is capable of carrying the offense until Anthony returns and brings a lot of intangibles that Coach Karl covets in a player. Also headed to Denver is youngster Ivan McFarlin, an athletic forward who will only see limited minutes. Although the Nuggets benefit greatly from this deal, they gave up a lot to acquire Iverson. Gone is steady PG Andre Miller, reserve forward Joe Smith, as well as two #1 draft picks. Miller is a big guard who distributes well, can grab rebounds, and also gets to the basket effectively. Smith was only thrown in to the deal for his expiring contract, but can still give the Sixers a boost off the bench. I think the Nuggets will hurt more from the loss of Miller than people are anticipating. They are now left with Earl Boykins as their best true point guard, who teamed with Iverson, would make a tremendously undersized guard tandem. Either Iverson or J.R Smith will be relied on to handle the ball more than they're accustomed to if they want to keep enough size on the court. Also, Smith had finally been thriving as a true shooting guard, it'll be interesting to see if his progress is hindered by the acquistion of Iverson.

The only other question left to be answered by Iverson is whether he can co-exist with Carmelo Anthony. For the first time in his career, Iverson will be the number two guy. While his adjustment to the thin air of the Rockies will take place with Carmelo inactive, he will get a chance to mesh with Anthony in late January. Iverson's always been known to take lots of ill-advised shots and has had trouble getting teammates involved. With Andre Miller gone, the Nuggets will need someone to step up and create shot opportunities for everyone else on the court. If Iverson can help fill that void, this Nuggets team could be very dangerous when the playoffs roll around.

Garcia, Westbrook put G-Men behind the 8-Ball

2006-12-19T14:11:00.000-05:00

When the Eagles lost Donovan McNabb a few weeks ago they were written off by everyone. As has been the trend with several teams throughout the league, the Eagles have been revitalized by a Quarterback change. Jeff Garcia has rediscovered the mobility and accuracy that made him a rising star in San Francisco. Unfortunately for teams in the NFC, his emergence has put Philadelphia back in the hunt for a division title and in great shape to secure a wild card. With a 36-22 win over division rival New York, the Eagles assumed the fifth seed in the NFC playoffs and left the Giants clinging to the last spot. However, contrary to popular belief, the Giants do not control their own playoff destiny. They can blame their own inability to take advantage of opportunities on Sunday for the position they find themselves in.

An old NFL addage suggests that a team needs to win at home and play .500 on the road to be a success. For some reason, the Giants refuse to follow the first part of the formula. For the fourth time in seven games at Giants Stadium the Giants failed to put one in the win column. Losing at home to a division rival while fighting for their playoff lives especially stings. They continue to feel the loss of Michael Strahan, dropping to 1-5 without their star DE this season. The lack of a pass rush really exposes the secondary, which even when Corey Webster is healthy, has shown very little. There are several things the Giants must improve in their final two games in order to make the postseason.

First and foremost, their "green zone" offense and defense must improve. Twice on Sunday the Giants had goal to go situations and settled for three points. They could have turned a 14-10 deficit in to a comfortable 24-14 lead with more effective execution inside the 10. It seems as though the playcalling has been miserable in these situations, but the players must accept some accountability for not making something happen. On the other side of the ball, the defense gives up touchdowns at a higher rate in the "green zone" than any other team in the league. This is an alarming stat for a team that is in the thick of the playoff chase.

Sticking with the defense, the Giants need to stop people on third down. They are allowing drives to be sustained on third and long conversions which has two adverse affects. By the fourth quarter the Giants weakened defense is absolutely gassed and the offense doesn't have enough time to establish their ground game. The Giants are a tough team to stop when Tiki gets his touches, which also opens things up for the playmakers on the outside.

Aside from getting touches for Barber, the talented TE needs to be integrated early in games. With Manning clearly still feeling the loss of Amani Toomer, Shockey should emerge as his security blanket. As with establishing the run, getting number 80 involved in the middle of the field will open up more room for Burress on the outside. It is also shocking that Sinorice Moss has not been given an opportunity to make plays. Reports suggest he's unfamiliar with the playbook, which if true is inexcusable. However, if it's not, it's hard to imagine why a struggling offense has not looked to its best home run threat for a spark. With RB Derrick Ward being placed on Injured Reserve, he might also get a chance to resurrect an awful kick return unit. It may just be optimism, but I really think Moss could be a huge part of the solution in fixing an ailing offense.

With two games to play the Giants still have a chance. In the eyes of late owner Wellington Mara, if you have a chance at the playoffs in your last home game then the season has been a success. However, with the expectations heaped on this team in the preseason, making a run in the playoffs is the only thing that will satisfy the fans. The surge must begin this weekend in Tiki's finale at the Meadowlands, but hopefully won't end until February.

Daisuke Who? Yanks Make Kei Signing

2006-12-19T14:09:00.000-05:00

While bitter rival Boston spent over $100 million to bring Japanese ace Daisuke Matsuzaka to Fenway, the Yankees made a splash of their own in the Far East by agreeing to terms with left handed pitcher Kei Igawa. It is a deal reported to be worth $20 million over five years, but that cost jumps to $46 million if you include the posting fee. Igawa is expected to compete for the fifth spot in the rotation with Carl Pavano, but his signing could be more of a demonstration that the Yankees view Pavano as an expendable commodity. It has not yet been made official, but there are no foreseen circumstances that would disrupt the agreement. With the addition of Andy Pettite, Igawa could potentially give the Yankees three left handed starters to stifle Yankee killer David Ortiz and newly acquired Red Sox JD Drew.

Although Igawa does not have the upside of Matsuzaka, he performed admirably throughout his career in Japan. Last season with the Hanshin Tigers he pitched to a 14-9 record with a sub-3.00 ERA and 194 strikeouts. He's only twenty seven years old, and in a worst case scenario, could be a huge upgrade in the bullpen. While the Yankees are certainly not spending $9 million per yer on a glorified set up man, it could be a path they explore if a healthy Carl Pavano shows up in the spring. He also gives the Yankees some youth in an aging starting rotation. With back of the rotation left handed starters such as Ted Lilly getting $10 million a year in the crazy market that has been established this offseason, this could be a very smart investment for the Yankees.

Fallout from the Brawl

2006-12-18T19:27:00.000-05:00

As Bill Parcells likes to say, "put away the annointing oil". Just as NBA fans and experts were accepting Carmelo Anthony as an equal in the triumvirate (with Dwayne Wade and LeBron James), the NBA's leading scorer will start serving a 15 game suspension for his involvement in Saturday night's brawl at Madison Square Garden. The penalty was handed down earlier today when Commissioner Stern took another hard stand on cleaning up the image of his league. Teammate J.R Smith received ten games, as did Knicks guard Nate Robinson. Also receiving suspensions were the Knicks' Mardy Collins (6 games), Jared Jeffries (4 games), Jerome James (1 game), and the Nuggets' Nene (1 game). Along with the suspensions, both teams were fined $500,000 for their respective roles in the confrontation.

The "MSG Melee", as the media is trying to hype the brawl as close to the "Malice at the Palace" as they can, should be evaluated on several different levels. First, the involvement of Anthony escalates this issue in the eyes of NBA brass. The gifted class of '03 has become the face of the league. While James and Wade were quicker to gain elite status in the NBA, Anthony rose to prominence with a brilliant performance at the World Championships. That momentum carried in to the season where he is leading the NBA in scoring. Along with his sparkling play, Anthony began to erase the off-court issues that had marred the success he acheived in his first three seasons. He displayed his generosity with a $3 million dollar donation to his alma mater to build new facilities in Syracuse and by laying the foundation for a new recreation center in his original hometown of Baltimore. In the conference call Stern held to defend the league's actions he emphasized the punishment dealt strictly with Anthony's on-court actions. He continued to say he'd been proud of Carmelo's recent progress and felt that Saturday was not a proper reflection on the person he has become. Unfortunately, the league's actions will cost the Nuggets star fifteen games which could have the following repercussions. Despite averaging over 30 points a game, the extended absence could cost Anthony his first appearance at an All-Star game. Aside from the financial benefits he would receive from such an honor, it will deprive him of his first chance to take his place among the game's elite. From a team stand point, the Nuggets are 2-9 (entering tonight) without Anthony since he's entered the league. Currently they are holding the seventh seed in the Western Conference, but could lose ground in his absence. Anthony and J.R Smith were becoming one of the league's better 1-2 punches as the young Smith has found his rythym in the Rockies. Smith, the McDonald's High School All-American Game MVP from 2004, has rediscovered the great range and flashy athleticism that made him highly coveted out of high school. He will be replaced in the starting lineup by defensive star Yakoba Diawara and Linas Kleiza will assume Anthony's power forward duties. Although Coach Karl now faces an uphill battle, he claims no responsibility for the actions on Saturday night. He assigns that blame to Knicks coach Isiah Thomas.

Coach Karl is not alone in placing fault on the Knicks head man. Thomas, a member of the famous "Bad Boy" Pistons teams of the '80s, has never shied away from the physical nature of the NBA. His on camera warning to Carmelo Anthony and post game complaints about the Nuggets' questionable personnel decisions late in the game paint a pretty clear picture Thomas is no innocent bystander. However, this situation goes much deeper. Many believe Karl came to New York to defend good friend, and fellow UNC alum, Larry Brown's honor. This belief fueled Isiah to think Karl looked to run up the score, and it appeared that way with the Nuggets holding a secure double digit lead in the final ninety seconds with their stars still in the game. When Isiah told Anthony it would be a good idea to stay away from the paint with a devilish grin on his face, it is evident Thomas either knew his players were looking for a hard foul or personally ordered flagrance. However you slice it, Thomas needs to shoulder some blame. Anyone who's ever watched an NBA game knows flagrant fouls do not just die easily, so if Thomas specifically ordered the harmful foul it is unfathomable that he will go unpunished. As recently as November of this year, Thomas has been involved in bizarre on-court incidents. His high intensity as a player and now a coach often translate in to inappropriate displays on the court. Both teams were assessed a $500,000 fine but David Stern claimed it was a matter of setting a precedent. He wants to hold teams accountable in the future for the actions of their employees and said that the circumstances surrounding this particular incident did not play in to the levying of this fine.

When a group of competitive athletes get in to the heat of battle, there's always the possibility of extreme escalation. Fighting has always been a part of sports, but seems to be put under the microscope when on the basketball court. The biggest reason is the proximity to the fans. Unlike any other sport, fans are closer to the action in basketball than any other sport. There is an innate intimacy to sitting on the court, so when fighting erupts the spectators are perceived as being in real danger. If the criteria for handing out harsher penalties is keeping the fans safe, how come J.R Smith and Nate Robinson did not bare the brunt of the suspensions? The two of them wrestled in to the first few rows behind the basket and were most responsible for putting fans at risk.

For now, both teams will have to spend the holidays with a shortened bench. The Knicks are heading nowhere fast and the Nuggets severely complicated their hunt for a coveted Western Conference playoff berth. From an individual standpoint, Carmelo Anthony took a huge step backwards after an offseason littered with progression. He has handled a lot of adversity in his young career and hopefully will bounce back even stronger after this ugly incident.

Giants-Jags

2006-11-22T19:29:00.000-05:00

Amidst massive media attention questioning whether Eli is the right "mann" in New York, the Giants young QB made a lot of pundits look brilliant in posting his second consecutive miserable game. The loss can not be solely thrown on the right arm of Manning, but he must shoulder a good portion of the blame. Worst of all, he looks to be suffering from a lack of confidence. On many occassions in last night's game Manning looked reluctant to pull the trigger. When he did manage to get his throws off, many balls were simply not thrown in the right places for his playmakers to make something happen. It's hard to imagine he hasn't been distracted by the multitude of experts who have labeled his draft day acquisition as a mistake. The loss of Amani Toomer is certainly taking its toll. By Manning's own admission, the receiver had emerged as a guy he could trust to make a big play. A few things about last night's disappointing loss really stuck out:

Where's the emotion? It seemed ironic on the night ESPN did it's feature on "Ballin", the Giants defense attempted no jump shots. Many purists would point to this is as a good thing, but it's not a matter of being a fan who enjoys celebrations. The defense had rallied around the group effort; it became a unifying force that provided a huge spark on both sides of the ball. Although the defense had little to cheer about last night, it was a clear demonstration that for some reason the Giants were playing with no emotion.

Not capitalizing early. After a fumbled snap that pinned the Jags deep in their own zone, the Giants started their first possession at the Jacksonville 30 yard line. A short run and an offside set the Giants up with a 2nd and 3 at the 23. Manning drilled a ball in to the ground on an easy swing pass to Tiki, then overthrew Plax on a deep ball. Feely converted the 40 yard attempt, but on the road against a tough team you need to put more than three points on the board in that situation.

Play Selection. While the final score wasn't indicative of how poorly the Giants played, it also does not demonstrate how close this game remained throughout. Despite that, the Giants, as they so often have, abandoned the run. Although ineffective, Barber needs more than ten carries. Of those ten, several were on second down draw plays that fooled no one and most of the others were just poorly timed. He never had a chance to get in to any sort of rythym, which is inexcusable in a game where your quarterback is struggling. His sore thumb clearly affected his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, but he should have been given more opportunities in more suitable running situations. The coaching staff also needs to find ways to get #80 involved early in football games. It is well known that the offense is a far better unit when their gifted TE is getting early touches. Especially with no receivers stepping up in Toomer's absence, there is no reason Shockey is not getting the football.

Lack of a Pass Rush/Big Cushion on Receivers. The impact of Strahan and Umenyiora's absence has been monumental in the pass rush. Forcing William Joseph to move outside not only depletes their depth in the middle, but poses no speed threat off the edge. It is also becoming apparent that Sam Madison has been the best corner on the defense. Corey Webster is routinely giving "Dave Thomas-esque" (not the Wendy's guy) cushions on his receivers. This is not a problem when faced with diminutive speedsters such as Santana Moss, but to be giving the big receivers on Jacksonville that much space to make catches is ridiculous.

Did Shiancoe's cheap shot on Donovin Darius spark the Jags? It may have, and the team had every right to be mad. The more notable reason to look at this situation is how Darius' backup filled in admirably. Much is made about the Giants losses, but the reason they're made to look worse is because many of the fill-ins have played sub-par ball. For Jacksonville, Gerald Sensabaugh came in and performed brilliantly. Across the field, Tim Carter turned the ball over as the Giants were heading in for a score, Barber had to stay in the backfield to protect Bob Whitfield, Reggie Torbor had an opportunity to kill a Jaguars critical late game drive but failed to wrap Garrard up, and the two fill ins at defensive end failed to produce a pass rush. In short, the starters are sorely missed.

Tuck loses season to foot injury

2006-11-16T11:27:00.000-05:00

Luckily for the Giants, there is no cap on the number of players on the Injured Reserve. Unfortunately, that is one area on a football team where you do not want depth. The Giants announced today that DE Justin Tuck will miss the remainder of the season to undergo surgery on his foot. He has not officially been placed on IR, but should be in the immediate future. Tuck provided great depth on the defensive line and performed well on special teams.

In other injury news, General Manager Ernie Accorsi said LT Luke Petitgout will not be placed on IR. The Giants are optimistic that he could return at the end of the season. Accorsi claimed Petitgout is a quick healer and should be available in six weeks. The way Bob Whitfield has been playing, fans can only pray for a quick recovery. The much maligned Petitgout had cut down his penalties this year and performed admirably protecting Manning's blindside. Whitfield had been considered a capable backup, but struggles in consecutive weeks with Mario Williams and Alex Brown would suggest otherwise. There has been talk of shifting Rich Seubert inside and moving David Diehl out to tackle. It would be ashame to halt Diehl's progress at guard, be has the size and quickness to move outside. He's made the transition before and handled himself well at tackle. Another option that has not been discussed is simply inserting Seubert at left tackle. He's been a career interior lineman, but the Giants have used him as a second blocking tight end for most of this year. It's not unreasonable to think he could handle an outside rusher, but obviously management would have a better idea about this. The Giants also have fourth round selection Guy Whimper who was presumed to be the heir apparent to the LT position, but he is too raw and inexperienced to throw in to a playoff race. With Tyson Smith's promotion to the 53 man roster the Giants added T Jonathan Scott to the practice squad, but it is highly unlikely he would be an option.

With all of the injuries the Giants have suffered it is hard not to reflect on the big buzz out of training camp: this was not a typical Tom Coughlin camp. Everyone was raving about the softer, more laid back Coughlin and a less strenuous workout schedule. However, many injuries can be blamed on lack of conditioning. Obviously accidents such as a Bears defensive lineman rolling over Petitgout's leg can not be attributed to stamina, but it certainly seems to be an alarming trend after a relaxed camp. The Giants are on the verge of being destroyed by their growing list of walking wounded and it seems that more people should be held accountable.

Boston Wins Rights To Negotiate With Matsuzaka

2006-11-15T13:37:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday evening MLB officials confirmed that the Boston Red Sox posted the highest bid to the Seibu Lions for the rights to negotiate with prized pitching ace Daisuke Matsuzaka. The winning bid exceeded earlier reports and is reported at $51.1 million dollars. For those counting at home, this is roughly $40 million more than the Seattle Mariners spent to acquire the rights to negotiate with Ichiro Suzuki. Everyone seems to think Boston will come to an agreement with Matsuzaka and it was Major League Baseball's duty to make sure no "block bids' were made. However, I find it unfathomable that the two sides will agree to a deal after such an exorbinant bidder's fee.

Now that the price has been confirmed, start crunching some numbers. To make the math as simple as possible, assume Boston looks to sign Matsuzaka to a 5 year deal at roughly $13 million annually. If you tack on the $10 million per year to include the bidder's fee, this relatively unproven commodity is being given Alex Rodriguez money at $23 million per year. There's all this talk about his infamous "gyroball" which the pitcher himself denounces as true. Regardless, Clemens' proven Mr. Splitty is worth about $22 million and Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn's terminator was valued at even less. The only way this deal works is if Boras will accept a deal for significantly less than he thinks his client is worth.

Many people are scratching their heads at Boston's decision to break the bank. The major reasons that have been given are expanding their brand to the Far East and blocking the Yankees from making the deal. However, as has been pointed out, they shouldn't expect to profit from this move in the same ways the Yankees and Mariners have with their acquisitions of Hideki Matsui and Ichiro Suzuki respectively. Fenway doesn't have the available space in the ballpark for the massive Japanese advertising campaign the Yankees have run, and Seattle's proximity to the Far East makes pledging allegiances to the Mariners much easier. If the anonymous bidding system continues, there's no way to "mark your territorry" so making a signing or two does not make you a favorite in the future. Teams did this in the earlier years with the influx of Latin American talent, but that is made irrelevant with the posting system. In terms of blocking the Yankees, they have succeeded. With the sole negotiating rights, as long as Boston makes a "fair" offer the Yankees have absolutely no chance of adding Matsuzaka to their 2007 roster.

To be fair, Boston does have the money to spend. They're looking to upgrade their pitching staff and GM Theo Epstein knows he needs to win this year for job security. With the high bidding fee, Boras will be forced to accept less money for his client. Matsuzaka will be under intense pressure from the Seibu Lions, his current team, so they can pocket the $51.1 million they desperately need. While Boras has urged his amateur clients to sit out a year to improve their first paycheck, it seems less likely he will allow Matsuzaka to wait until he becomes unrestricted in 2007. Since Boras will undoubtedly have to take less money for his client than he would hope, he'll probably target a short term deal. However, the shorter the length of the contract, the more the team is spending per year on its bidding fee. This is sure to complicate the negotiation process and the deal should be in no way considered imminent. With Boras aiming to set a high standard for free agent pitchers with prominent client Barry Zito hitting the market, I don't expect him to accept a low-ball offer. The 30-day window given to broker a deal should be an interesting one. I still strongly believe Matsuzaka will not become a Red Sox, but stranger things have happened. If he does come to the states, Yankees fans are surely hoping for the second coming of Hideki Irabu.

Sheff Cooking Up Trouble

2006-11-10T15:02:00.000-05:00

Only in sports can you find a man so unhappy with making $13 million dollars in one year that he vows to make life difficult on any owner with the audacity to sign his paychecks. Welcome to the sick and twisted world of the Yankees soon to be departed star Gary Sheffield. After the Boss wined and dined the slugger personally, the Yankees signed Sheffield to a 3 year deal with an option year tacked on. After 2 successful years and one injury plagued campaign, the rocket-armed rightfielder is furious the team exercised the option. He has captured the media's attention with his recent rant that targeted Bobby Abreu and presumably Brian Cashman.

Much has been made about Sheffield's unhappiness in the offseason. First he complained about being moved to first base; a move that just a few weeks earlier he claimed to embrace. Once people began to speculate about his future with the team, he announced the team shouldn't pick up his option. When it became evident the Yankees would exercise the option, he made it clear that any team that wished to trade for him would be getting a disgruntled player. Up to that point, it was just Gary being Gary. This is not an unusual charade for him, he's always been perceived as selfish. He tried to erase that image by playing through pain his first two years to win the hearts of many Yankees fans, but his last tirade should close the door on his stay in New York. The fact is, he may be right that he's a better right fielder than Bobby Abreu and that certain Yankees executives are blocking him from speaking to George Steinbrenner. However, it does not change the fact that he is not the best option in the position he wants to play. Abreu has proven to be a terrific fit in the lineup, he can not be moved with the same ease Sheff can, and can give more good years to the organization. Whether or not "middle men" such as Brian Cashman are not allowing communication between Sheffield and Steinbrenner is relatively unimportant. Steinbrenner has been giving more power to his baseball people such as Cash and really shouldn't play a role in this drama.

In response to Sheffield's comments Brian Cashman took the high road with no comments, but team President Randy Levine took the bait. He addressed Sheffield's issues with the team and adamantly emphasized a very important piece of information: Gary Sheffield has no leverage. He does not have a no-trade clause, so anything the organization wishes to do with him they may. His ploy to try and dissuade teams from pursuing him with claims that he'll be unhappy should have very little effect on the market. He even went so far as to name destinations he would be happy with as if to draw interest from those teams, but the Yankees will only be looking for the best ways to improve the ball club. Yankee fans will have to respect the hard work he put in, but it will be hard to overlook how bitter the break-up is going. There is absolutely no way the Yankees can hold on to this guy after his disparaging remarks. A Yankee fan can only hope that his bitter feelings towards Yankees brass and his ferocious swing are shipped to a NL team.

Another One Bites The Dust; Toomer lost for '06

2006-11-08T16:17:00.000-05:00

Just when Giants fans thought the injury situation couldn't get worse, the team announced WR Amani Toomer will miss the remainder of the season with a partially torn ACL. The news seemed to come as an absolute shock as Toomer returned to the field on Sunday after he experienced pain in the knee. While it is only a partial tear, which meant Toomer could have elected to rehab the knee over surgery, he opted for the procedure that will sideline him until 2007. Toomer's 32 receptions on the year are tied for the team lead and his ability to make clutch plays will be sorely missed. As a long time fan of number 81, we are all hoping for a full recovery so he can add to his many Giants receiving records.

If there is any silver lining to this, second round draft pick Sinorice Moss returned to practice today and hopefully will return to the lineup on Sunday. If he can play up to his lofty draft status, he should be one of several players that need to step up in Toomer's absence. Although Toomer's loss should in no way be undervalued, the Giants have won despite losses to their receiving corps in the past. The 2002 Giants, that gelled in to an impressive offensive unit that put up 38 points in a playoff game, were down to Toomer and 7th round draft pick Daryl Jones. There are guys behind Toomer on this year's depth chart, and maybe outside options that could help the Giants survive this injury:

Tim Carter: The #2 wideout position should be his to lose. The Giants 2nd round pick in 2002 has never lived up to expectations. However, he has stayed healthier this year and could be a major weapon with his downfield speed. It is disconcerting that he failed to come up big against an overmatched Texans secondary this weekend, but he should be given every opportunity to fill the void. He has big-play ability, good size, and a good knowledge of this offense.

Sinorice Moss: General Manager Ernie Accorsi traded up to obtain the rights to the former Miami star in the 2006 draft. The organization has high hopes for the diminutive speedster and younger brother of Giant rival Santana Moss. He has only seen the field in one game this year, tallying one catch for four yards. Moss has been hampered by a quadricep injury he suffered at the NFL Combine in February. Widely considered as a top 3 receiver in this year's draft class, and by many as number one, Moss' big play ability would be a tremendous addition to the offense. Like Carter, should be given ample opportunity for additional reps.

Michael Jennings: Jennings has made the most of his oppotunities since his surprise addition to the 53 man roster out of training camp. The flashy, former track star from Florida State had no previous NFL experience but showed a knack for making big plays in the preseason. He has been used in many of the ways Giants fans expected Moss to be used, with short passes and some end-arounds. Outproduced Tim Carter in last week's 14-10 win over the Texans, but will probably remain lower on the depth chart.

David Tyree: The Giants special teams ace has battled injuries all year and the organization seems content with maintaining his current role. When given extended time as a receiver, Tyree has been impressive. In last season's finale against the Cowboys he lead the team in receptions and scored a touchdown. When Burress missed the second half of the Seahawks game, Tyree again became the main target. He does not possess the speed of Carter, Moss, or Jennings, but he may be more willing to make tough catches in traffic. He would be a good fit as a possession receiver, but it does not seem likely they would risk tiring him out on offense with his special teams prowess.

Anthony Mix: Mix is currently on the Giants practice squad, but spent the entire offseason with Big Blue. He impressed coaches and executives with his stellar play in spring mini-camps, but did not see a lot of action in the preseason. Unlike the receivers on the current roster, he has great size. Listed at 6'5'', it came as a shock to many prognosticators that Mix went undrafted in the 2006 draft out of Auburn. However, it seems unlikely with all the injuries on defense that the team would promote another Wide Receiver. If they do decide to add a receiver, Mix could be an intriguing option.

Charles Rogers: Admittedly, this one is a huge stretch. As previously mentioned, I do not envision the Giants adding a receiver to the roster. However, why not give this guy a look? I'd be remissed, and certainly abused by my college roommate, if I did not mention that his commercials alone warrant him getting a look. We all know his college stats, he's Charles Rogers, he had 68 catches and 13 touchdowns. He showed promise in the NFL before missing time with various injuries and could rejuvenate his career in a new environment. The chance to play for a Super Bowl contender could bring out the best in the former #2 overall pick in the draft. Also, playing alongside fellow Michigan State Alum Plaxico Burress could be a terrific opportunity.

Ocho Cinco owes Five Grand

2006-11-03T18:14:00.000-05:00

The "No Fun League" has again lashed out at its most colorful entertainer, fining Cincinnati Bengals star Chad Johnson $5,000 for wearing a velcro name plate on the back of his uniform that read Ocho Cinco. The name only appeared during pre-game warmups and was ceremoniously ripped off prior to kickoff by Carson Palmer. Johnson plans to appeal, and Roger Goodell needs to rip up that fine slip. Now more than ever, pro sports are seen as entertainment. Commissioners need to have a firm grasp of this and learn to let players be themselves so long as it does not have adverse affects on the game.

Stunts like "Ocho Cinco" do absolutely no harm for the league except when front office members over-react and issue fines. Players such as Johnson are simply conveying how lucky they are to be doing what they love for a living. Ocho Cinco's determination to take down DeAngelo Hall created more buzz than a normal interconference game would have made. Luckily, Johnson seems unfazed. He has already issued a warning for Ray Lewis: I'm going to hit him in the mouth. Who doesn't want to turn in to see the league's toughest player give Johnson exactly what he's asking for? The league is taking too many steps to alienate the common fan. I whole heartedly objected to the virtual elimination of end zone dances and find this recent action against Johnson even more absurd. If a player, such as "the player" in Dallas, brings negative attention to the league by all means dent their wallet. But to continuously come down on a player who does nothing but keeps fans on the edge of their seats is totally wrong.