Delayed Reaction: The UCONN women, Favre and Amare

I have some free time so let me go ahead and give you my take on a few things in the news this week.

UCONN Women's Basketball
First it was the streak, Geno Auriemma's rant and a wide range of opinions regarding the 90 game win streak's significance. Now the mighty have fallen, and my bet is that Geno Auriemma couldn't be happier, but why?

The truth is to say that women's college basketball stands in the shadow of the men's game is the understatement of a century. But if we've learned anything from the past decade, it's that hype sells and Auriemma could sell an HDTV to a blind man. Instead of basking in the glory of his streak, Auriemma dove head first into starting a controversy and it was brilliant. The following week was dominated by discussion of women's basketball, when was the last time that happened? And I mean women's basketball, not Don Imus.

Now that UCONN lost to Stanford last night, the same team that handed them their last loss back in 2008, perhaps the storm will settle, but as a testament to this streak's success for women's hoops, I can't deny that if come tournament time, if UCONN plays Stanford, I'll be watching.

The Penske File
Gary Williams, former co-host of sirius/xm and Mad Dog radio show Gary and Phillips in the Morning remarked several weeks ago that Roger Goodell's "investigation" into the Brett Favre/Jen Sterger alligations of sexual misconduct were equivalent to "The Penske File," and that couldn't be more true.

For those unfamiliar with "The Penske File," the reference is to an episode of "Seinfeld" in which George, unsure of whether he has or has not got a new job, decides to show up to work anyway. Countless hours are spent working on "The Penske File," however George is actually locked in his office, sleeping.

It comes as no surprise that Goodell's ruling is both inconclusive and conveniently timed. The NFL was afraid of the ramifications of suspending Brett Favre. The story itself would be shattering to the already tattered legacy of the NFL great. So after making examples of countless NFL players, some of which were not charged with or convicted of crimes, but were punished as such, Goodell has decided to throw Favre a bone, what a joke.

Consider that Isiah Thomas' behavior in a somewhat similar situation cost Madison Square Garden $11.6 million. Now doesn't Favre's fine of $50,000 seem like a slap on the wrist?

Here's Something That Grinds My Gears
The Knicks are remarkably improved from a year ago. Amare Stoudemire has given them an offensive force in the paint they have not had since the Ewing era and Ray Felton honestly could be the team's best point guard since Clyde. BUT it pains me to read a box score and find that Stoudemire who is listed as about 6' 10", was out-rebounded by Dwight Howard 18-4 in the Knicks' loss to the Magic last night. Look inside that number and you'll find Howard had 9 offensive rebounds, or more than double Stoudemire's total output for the game. That is just not a winning formula.

That's all for now. Wishing everyone a happy and safe New Year. Comment with your own take on these subjects or anything else!

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Rex Reaches Crossroads, Must Define Himself

Hype is an amazing thing. It can make a great player hated, serve as a mechanism for unrealistic expectations and become a gravitational force for attention. The New York Jets have made it all three.

Rex Ryan has done nothing but bring hype to the Jets since he took over last season. Some of it has been good considering the team certainly no longer feels like the Giants' less talented little brother, but some of it has led the Jets into an incredibly uncomfortable position.

After all, in what world do we live in that an early morning Braylon Edwards DUI arrest easily trumps a much more important and tragic story such as the apparent suicide death of Denver Broncos' Wide Receiver Kenny McKinley?

But that is the world the Jets are living in now and regardless of how many big personality players are inhabiting the Jets' locker room (aka the 'Animal House'), the man who is responsible is the same man who must fix the problem, yes I mean Rex Ryan.

The second year coach has done a world of good for the franchise. He has identified himself with the fan base, befriended his players to a point where they play hard for him and to this point has proven himself as maybe the best X's and O's coach the team has had since Bill Parcells. But an undeniable string of ugly events has cast a dark shadow on the team, changing its perception from the lovable underdogs of last year, to a hated band of misfits this year. It must stop now.

Ryan has to prove that he can put his foot down, the obvious next step in his coaching maturation. He has to create a divide between him and his players and that is something that will be tough, but necessary for him to do. If he doesn't, there will be story after story on the misfit Jets, some of them could potentially trump the Edwards incident, the foul language on Hard Knocks, the Ines Sainz debacle and even Ryan himself flipping the bird to some obnoxious Dolphins fans.

His own career depends on it. Honestly, how many incidents/distractions will it take for the Jets zoo to run them out of contention? With a team of trash talkers and players with substance/personal conduct issues, what clout will he hold if he looks for another head coaching job if he can't prove he can control a team?

The change should start with Braylon Edwards Sunday night. the NFL and NFLPA labor agreement prohibits the Jets from suspending or deactivating Edwards for the game, but the Jets have already said he will not start. The question is, will he play at all, and if so, how much? The right move would be to sit him the entire game and make him (or at least try) learn a lesson about putting his team in a bad situation.

More likely, Edwards will sit the first half. After all, the Jets are short of wide receivers as it is (Santonio Holmes is suspended until week 5) and a divisional game at Miami is no time to waive a white flag, especially with all this hype.

Breaking Down the Jets...Groan

Sitting on my couch, my home Revis jersey on and a cold one in my hand, only one phrase was fitting for Monday night's debacle at the Meadowlands.

Yes, is was the words of Chicago Bulls announcer Neil Funk of "NBA Hangtime" fame echoing in my head, "What a disaster," over and over and over again.

Where to begin is tough, as it always is when discussing the Jets woes, so I'll lay out the analysis in no particular order, lets start with concerns.

1) Kris Jenkins is out for the season with a tear to the same ACL that caused him to miss all but six contests last season. This is sad on a number of levels, not the least of which is that he worked hard to come back a fully recovered and potentially more effective version of himself. His hard work lasted less than one quarter, and his career may now be over. The good news is that Rex Ryan was gracious enough to tell us which leg was injured...

2) The Jets Secondary was horrible last night and horrible truly does not say enough about the play of Antonio Cromartie and Kyle Wilson last night, each cost the Jets multiple times on horrendous penalties, seemingly all when the Jets had forced the Ravens into difficult 3rd and long situations. Unfortunately, these situations only proved difficult for the pair of corners not on Revis Island. I never thought I'd see the day when I was SCREAMING for Dwight Lowery to get into the game in place of Wilson, but the rookie was just flat out not ready. Rex says that Revis will be on Randy Moss all game against the Patriots on Sunday, I'll be interested to see how the size dependent Cromartie does against the speedy Wes Welker.

3) No question that Mark Sanchez and the offense were looking to control the ball and not cough it up to the Ravens, but it seemed like Sanchez was using his progressions as a formality to go through before hitting the check down. I'll be the first to tell you that he has to be careful with the football, but less than 80 passing yards against a team with a depleted secondary? Yikes. Also, Shonn Greene anyone?

It's very difficult to be anything but Mr. negativity, but there were a few positives to be had. Lets give out the game balls.

1) Shaun Ellis, I assume is the longest tenured Jet and maybe one of the most underrated defensive ends EVER. Here's a guy who rarely if ever has a full practice because of his knee, but yet on the first defensive snap of the season turns the corner for a sack and forced fumble. When Jenkins went out, all Shaun did was what he always does, stuff the run.

2) Sione Pouha is another run stuffer who gets no glory. He stepped in for Jenkins after last year's injury and took over without missing a beat. He won a starting job this year and if he continues to play the way he has, don't be surprised if he makes a pro bowl this season.

3) Brad Smith....I had to pick someone on offense, he was the least terrible. Runner up is Ladanian Tomlinson who also wasn't terrible.

This Sunday is going to be a tough one for the Jets. They host the Patriots who romped the Bengals last week. I wasn't too high on Cincinnati to start with, so we'll see. It's not a must win for the Jets, but it would help them a TON. A lot of people look at the season in quarters, the 0-1 Jets have the Patriots followed by road games against the Dolphins and Bills, both of which the Jets should win if they hope to win a division this season. They've already lost one home game, you don't want to start 0-2 before you even hit the road. If they beat the Patriots, they have a good shot at starting 3-1, doesn't that sound nice?

* Notes*
--While Darrelle Revis was his normal self against the Ravens, there were some apparent negatives from him missing camp. Being talked about is Rex admitting he didn't have Revis on Anquan Boldin to try and spell him some extra running, not being talked about is the affect the holdout had on Kyle Wilson. Nick Mangold said he DIDN'T hold out in part to help with the mentoring of Matt Slauson and Vlad Ducasse, Wilson didn't have the luxury of Revis, instead he had Antonio Cromartie as a mentor, I won't go further on that point. Also, people take for granted that Wilson was a starter lined up on one side of the field during preseason and training camp, he's now being asked to play in the slot, sometimes an easier task sometimes not, particularly for a rookie who hasn't done it at this level.

--I personally don't think the Jets have the cash to do it, but expect rumors about acquiring Albert Haynesworth to begin shortly, especially if the defensive line has issues on Sunday. On the issue of the D-line, I think Vernon Gholston is going to see plenty of time against the Patriots, if that doesn't work, when Calvin Pace comes back the Jets might try to pair him with Jason Taylor on the outside and move Bryan Thomas to defensive end, a position he played during the Mangini era.

Why Revis Will Return Sooner Than Later

Despite a flurry of reports over the past few days that a Darrelle Revis contract is near, it once again appears that the two sides are far apart, however that does not mean a deal won't come. Whether or not the rumblings, rumors, tweets and "sources" are have any merit, I suspect that a peace treaty is near and Revis will be in camp before the regular season begins, and yes, when it happens, it is OK to cry in happiness (or sadness if the Jets are on your favorite team's schedule this season.

Let's be clear, I have no sources or inside information, but at the end of the day the league's best corner will have to fold, unless of course, the Jets do first. While what he wants and what the Jets are offering may never be the same thing, the Jets offer will always be the highest he can get, and any offer is worth more if you don't miss regular season games.

Keep in mind a few things here, like it or not, Revis is under contract for three years including 2010. The Jets don't have to trade him and as long as he holds out, it barely costs them a thing. Certainly they won't trade him before or during this season because there isn't the risk of losing him at season's end to free agency anytime soon.

Lets say that Revis sits out all of 2010 (It pains me to write this), we've all heard the prospect of an uncertain labor outlook and a possible lockout in 2011. If a lockout were to occur (and many believe it will), Revis runs the risk of being off the field for two years and through it all, still being under contract with the Jets.

In that scenario, even if the Jets decide to trade or release him what is the likelihood of him getting top dollar? What will top dollar even look like at the start of the 2012 season? One thing we know about the NFL is that players get paid on performance. This is a 'what have you done for me lately?' league, that's why Revis is lobbying for a new contract, and that's why the same contract won't be there in the future. No owner or GM in their right mind would give a then 27 year old cornerback who hasn't defended a pass in two seasons a 7 year, $140 million contract (that's what one of the Jets offers is estimated at), no matter what he did in 2009.

Believe me folks, the Revis agents are aware of this. They also know that coming off of last season, one of the finest (and most hyped) seasons for an NFL cornerback in quite some time, now is their chance to bargain and get the best possible deal.

That best deal has to come from the Jets, and Revis knows it. It's just a matter of what that contract offer is at the last possible moment to sign. One side will fold, but if the Jets don't, Revis will have to.

ESPN's "Ethics" Trump Objectivity

One of the most important lessons in journalism I was ever taught was not to befriend those you cover. The reasons aren't outlandish, or even difficult to understand.

What would happen say if you were out drinking with your best friend, married with kids, and he negotiated his way back to a Motel 6 with a woman half his age. Your friend doubled as the Mayor you cover. It's a fine line, but an important one.

That is why ESPN's new "decision" is disturbing. On Wednesday, the "world wide leader" published a report detailing an under cover reporter's observations of LeBron James' adventurous night on the town. According to a New York Daily News article, James and his friends were depicted in the ESPN article to be drinking and hanging around with scantily clad women. James was presented a cake by go-go dancers and his sky high ego was on full display.

It's not shocking that after 15 minutes, ESPN took this article down, saying that the article had not gone through the proper editorial process, but with James and ESPN virtually tied at the hip these days, I suspect there was a little more than a red pen.

The following is taken from the Daily News article:

"Digital media editor Rob King said in a statement Thursday that the author of the article, Arash Markazi, "did not properly identify himself" and "we are not comfortable with the content because of the manner in which it was reported.""

In other words, ESPN wasn't "comfortable" with disparaging their number one ratings producer, shocking.

I don't expect this story would have been taken down if Randy Moss was the perpetrator. Or Ron Artest. Or even Kobe Bryant. After all, none of those guys chose ESPN to do a self-serving one hour TV special on where they would play next.

Quite frankly it's a cover up and it should deeply disturb professionals in the media the world over. ESPN wants to protect their brand, that's fine, but their brand shouldn't be the same as the one they are covering. It's unethical.

Tabloids Pulling for Darrelle

If Darrelle Revis reads the papers he'd be pretty upset if he read this, so would Mike Tannenbaum. Click the link and you will see that no less than 7 defensive backs on THE JETS ROSTER are set to earn more than Darrelle Revis this season, unbelievable.

This is the latest in a series of columns aimed to get the Jets to put up the money for their all-pro cornerback who is demanding to be the highest paid corner in the league, which he should be.

I get the sense in the media that this is less about the actual decision making of Tannenbaum than the longing of beat reporters to see the Jets be good again, after all its been over 40 years.

Tuesday Morning Quarterback: Chris Paul and others...

Just a few thoughts as I sit and wait for something to do at work....

1) Don't read too much into Chris Paul's meeting with the Hornets owner yesterday. He may say he wants to be in New Orleans for years to come, but realistically he HAS to say that. The trade market isn't good enough for the Hornets to get much return, and lets face it, the Hornets don't have the goods to create a winner around him, save the draft. Expect Paul to play nice for now. If he proves his knee is healthy, his trade value will skyrocket at the deadline and then again around draft time.

2) Last season the Nets avoided setting the record for the NBA's worst record in a season, but rest assured all of you who root for failure, check out the Timberwolves roster, they in theory could shatter the record. Keep in mind, their oldest player is Luke Ridnour at 29 and there highest paid player is Michael Beasley, yes the pothead Michael Beasley.

3) Despite the fact that the Jets have brought in guys with "bad 'tudes" all off season, that does not mean bring in TO is a good idea.

That's all for now!

Yankee Midseason Report

Below I'll give you some grades and explanations about the working parts of the Yankees so far this season.

Jorge Posada- Grade- C: Jorge got off to a hot start, but really has been plagued by injury ever since. I think he can still hit, and having him as a switch hitter in the lineup is crucial for the Yankees success. That being said, it's time for him to transition into being a full time DH because his days behind the plate at age 38 are numbered. Defensively he's never been great anyway, and with mounting injuries and growing age, it's only going to get worse.

Mark Texeira- Grade- C: I "wasn't worried" about Tex all the way through June, but when he still wasn't hitting, I must say I was perplexed. Still he picked it up in July, leads the team in homers and is on pace to knock in over 100 runs. His defense is the best the league has to offer at first base and if July was any indication, Mark could improve himself to a B+ by the end of the year.

Robinson Cano- Grade A: Sure he had a late slump, but he's still hitting over .330 and given how bad his first halves usually are, there is plenty to be happy about with Robby. He's having his biggest power year and if he hits in the second half the way he has in the past, he may just add an MVP trophy to the World Series ring he got last year. Also of note is how good of a defender this guy has become–should win a gold glove.

Derek Jeter- Grade B: It hasn't been a great year for Jeter, but remember, he's 36 years old now. You'll notice how cautious the writers are being about his lack of production, and that's partly because he's a legend, and partly because I think we all expect him to snap out of it. My guess is that he ends up over .300 like he does every year, no big deal.

Alex Rodriguez- Grade B+: What is it with this guy? He's leading the team in RBI, has a number of big hits, and is till under fire for not having the same HR totals as before. He's had some injury problems that have probably limited the HRs, but he seems to be getting healthier and that could help.

Brett Gardner- Grade A+: Best defensive player on the team, leads the team in steals and OBP, is hitting over .300 and managed 5 homers in the first half. Best part about it? NOBODY KNEW.

Curtis Granderson- Grade C-: I thought about going with the D+ on this one, but he has been injured and still has managed some big hits. His problems against lefties are well documented and he's going to have to start hitting.

Nick Swisher- Grade A-: He's flamboyant, the ladies love him and finally, he can hit. Swisher has revamped his swing and actually is having a consistent year. He can hit out of any spot in the order and basically has. Flexibility in the lineup is something the Yankees have had this year that they didn't have much of last year and Swish and Gardner are the reasons why.

CC Sabathia- Grade A: He started rounding into his second half form a little early this year and went from looking like he was having a down year to being in Cy Young contention pretty quickly. He's a big dude, but he's a GREAT pitcher.

AJ Burnett- Grade C: If C really is average, than he's been a C his whole career. Sometimes he looks like an ace, sometimes he looks like a scrub. Remember those grit it out performances that Clemens used to have? AJ doesn't have those. It's dominance or futility and nothing in between. Still, as long as Dave Eiland has been around AJ has pitched well this year, hopefully he can keep it up the rest of the season, but don't count on it.

Andy Pettitte- Grade A+: At this point all you can be is amused when Andy talks about retirement come the conclusion of EVERY season. He's been the best and most consistent pitcher on the team and clearly the fans have forgiven Andy for his HGH use. Andy COULD win a Cy Young award this year, that would be his first.

Phil Hughes- Grade A-: We may have gotten a little ahead of ourselves when we had Hughes winning the Cy Young award after May, but he really has been good. The big question for the second half is going to be how he holds up since he has not thrown this many innings in any season in his life.

Javier Vazquez- Grade B-: He started off the season as bad as Yankees fans remembered him from the first go around, but after Girardi skipped his spot in the rotation, he's been brilliant. Hats off to Girardi, though Vazquez still worries me in a big spot.

Joba Chamberlain- Grade D: The honeymoon is over and the divorce papers are filed. Inconsistent stuff mixed with an inconsistent head have plagued Joba since his return to the bullpen. I mostly blame the Yankees for this, but Joba is no longer a kid and he has to pitch better. Kind of reminds you of Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn does it not?

Mariano Rivera- Grade A+: He's 40 and he's pitching like it's 1998. In fact he's been pitching like that the whole time. Quite simply he's STILL the best closer in the game and that in fact makes him the best closer ever. Much like George Steinbrenner, Yankees fans will miss what they never knew they had if he ever stops pitching, maybe he will in 10 years, we'll see.

Joe Girardi- Grade A-: He's guided the ship through a number of injuries and the defending World Champs have the best record in baseball. He has to figure out his bullpen still, but that's really been his strength in his first two years as Yankees skipper.

Overall- Grade A-: People may say I should give them an A for having baseball's best record, but in all honesty, the Yankees can play better. The bullpen sans Rivera has been a mess and the offense, though oft-injured has struggled at times. The Yankees starting rotation is the best it has been, maybe ever and the team is strong defensively as well. While Tampa and the Red Sox have had more dominating stretches than the Yankees, its the bombers that have played most consistently, and that's why they're in first.

Thoughts on Mr. Steinbrenner

I never had the chance to meet the Boss and for me to write an obituary on him would be counterproductive, perhaps he himself would even fire me for it. But what I can do is comment on the thoughts of others, trying in some ways to construct the legacy of a man who changed baseball perhaps more than any other.

When reading the memories of those who knew him what strikes me most is quite simply the one thing that always surrounded George Steinbrenner: controversy.

Few have ever had the unique ability to alienate someone, chastise them for failure and run them out of town the way that Mr. Steinbrenner did. But maybe fewer had the ability to come full circle and make things right again.

As much as seven championships defined the Boss on the baseball diamond, so did his relationships with Dave Winfield, Mel Stottlemyre, Yogi Berra, Billy Martin and of course, the Yankee fans. All of these people admittedly despised Mr. Steinbrenner at one time, but by the time each saw their days with him come to an end, they all loved George.

In a day and age where good and evil are so starkly divided in sports, Mr. Steinbrenner had the rare distinction of being both. Compassionate, caring, charitable; ruthless, demeaning and hot-tempered, the Boss fit them all.

Fans and owners of every team loathed the man who once discouraged free agency in baseball, and then wrote the book on how to use it. While he was blasted for using is vast resources to assemble a baseball dynasty, much to the detriment of other small market teams, not a single person would have complained if he had owned their team.

The man who saved the Yankees also saved the lives of so many through scholarships and donations, the construction of schools and baseball diamonds alike. And yet he helped create an economic situation in baseball so divisive that small market cities throughout the country hated him, but he certainly did not hate them.

Mr. Steinbrenner evolved from a rash abrasive owner, so hell bent on winning that he even ran his Yankees into the ground in the 1980s, only to reemerge from suspension smarter, stronger and more meticulous than ever. A man so determined saw that the best way to improve the team was by changing himself, and it worked.

Mother Theresa will be remembered after her passing for all the good she did. Hitler was remembered for the bad. But, George Steinbrenner will be remembered for both and it is because of that, that he may be the most influential man the game has ever seen.

No King, but New York Still in Better Place

Donnie Walsh spent two long seasons steering the New York Knicks in the direction of intended failure waiting for his opportunity to bring LeBron James to New York, thus saving the Knicks, restoring basketball relevance to a city that pined for it. While part B of that plan failed, Walsh has still won.

The idea of having James (who I will no longer refer to as LeBron) had Knicks fans salivating and while some may see Walsh's salary purge and subsequent tenure of losing as a failure, the Knicks now have something they have not had since the 1990s: the ability to operate.

With the ridiculous contracts of Jared Jeffries, Zach Randolph, Cuttino Mobley and Stephon Marbury off the books and Eddy Curry's big gut soon on the move, the Knicks have gained the financial flexibility needed to operate a basketball team, and that goes beyond signing free agents.

Now, the Knicks can make trades that don't require them taking back burdensome contracts and old washed up players. They have useful, youthful pieces that can both help the team win now and be part of a trade for a bigger name down the road. They have an enticing star in Amare Stoudemire, a young shooter with length in Danilo Gallinari, a traditional and useful point guard in Ray Felton and finally, a team ready to compete.

Let me put it this way. I believe that the Knicks will be in the playoffs this coming season. But if they don't they can add pieces. That has never been the case before, and for Knicks fans, that is a reality not seen in a while.

From Cleveland to Greenwich to Orange and Blue

Sources have now confirmed that "Decision 2010" will take place at the Boys and Girls Club in Greenwich, CT, a suburb of NYC. Jared Dudley, of the Suns, has said that sources inside the Knicks have told his own sources that LeBron has informed the Knicks that he will in fact team with Amare Stoudemire come 9pm eastern tomorrow.

Believe what you want, but I have said from day one that New York would end up being the best fit for LeBron and I still believe that to be true.

At some point, King James has to decide what his best chance to win a championship is, what is best for him and his family, and what is best for his brand. The way the dominoes have fallen thus far, the Knicks look like an intriguing landing spot.

Speculation remains that LeBron may team with Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade in Miami and take a pay cut to play with the superstar duo, but I find it hard to believe that LeBron is going to share the spotlight with Wade, who is already revered as a hero in Miami. If he wants his legacy to be mentioned in the same discussion as Michael Jordan, he has to be the lead dog on several championship teams. Ask Kobe Bryant about the difference in perception between being the alpha dog versus second fiddle.

If indeed Miami is out of the running, LeBron will have to decide what is the best situation to compete with the two-headed monster forming in Miami. While most believe the Cavaliers are still the front runners, they return virtually the same supporting cast that failed to reach the Eastern Conference finals the last two years. Couple that with the idea that Miami will be much improved, Orlando and Boston appear to be going nowhere and teams like the Nets, Knicks and Bulls (even without LeBron) are improving, the Cavaliers ability to compete at the level may be waning.

Teaming with Amare Stoudemire, the LeBron and the Knicks would instantly have the front two to compete with Miami and with their added cap flexibility once Eddy Curry's contract comes off the books, the Knicks look pretty formidable. Add roll players like Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler, plus whatever appeal of NYC that attracts the King, the Garden's atmosphere is much more appealing than ever before.

I will admit my bias as a Knicks fan, however it is possible. The Chicago Bulls, apparently have agreed to terms with Carlos Boozer and presumably in their estimation are still alive in the race for LeBron. However while many may take that as a last ditch effort to lure him, the move could also be an indication that the Bulls don't expect LeBron to head to Chicago. Boozer makes sense for them without adding LeBron as the team has needed a low post scorer for years. This gives them a formidible front court with Joakim Noah to balance with Derek Rose in the back court.

Regardless of what happens, tomorrow night stands be an interesting evening, and I'll be sure to watch.

****

Please let us not discount the idea that James is a bright man, would he really leave Cleveland, bring himself into the New York fire minutes from the Knick practice facility and announce he was signing with Cleveland, Chicago or Miami? That would be a disaster not fit for a King.

Competitive Imbalance: Bringing the DH to the National League

In all honesty one of my favorite parts of interleague play has always been watching American League pitchers take their hacks in National League ballparks. Seeing AL managers cringe as prized commodity's of their ball clubs rip away at 92 mph fastballs, reaching on a bloop single over the shortstops head and watching their over sized legs tread around the base paths like molasses climbing Everest is for lack of a better word, enjoyable. Sad as I'll be to see it go, the time has come.

The Designated Hitter is a rules anomaly, as much responsible for saving the sport as it soon will be for ruining it and as I rack my brain for similar situations to compare it to in other sports, none exist. What if AFC roster sizes were different than the NFC, forcing some players to play offense and defense? Or if a possession arrow was used for jump balls only in Western Conference NBA games? Just proposals of these would bring uproar to their respective sports, which is why I propose baseball change their DH policy.

The DH was enacted in 1973, with the hope of spurring some offense in an era dictated by pitching. The AL tried it as an experiment, and the National League took on the persona of the traditionalist. Thirty-seven years have passed since Ron Bloomberg became the first DH and the decline of the National League has never been more apparent.

From 1973-1980, each league won 4 World Series, the NL won 24 WS games while the AL won 23. From 1981-1989 the AL claimed 6 WS titles, winning 27 games with the NL winning 24. I understand at this point that my argument holds no credence, but it was the past two decades that are worth an examination.

From 1990-1999, the AL won another 6 WS with the National League claiming 3 (no world series in 1994). During this decade the AL had 29 wins compared to the NL's 20. From 2000-2009, the AL won 6 WS with the NL capturing 4. The AL's record in those games- 31-19. Here's how the final stats add up:

WS Won:

AL- 22

NL- 15

Records in WS Games:

AL-110-87

NL-87-110

Each decade since the DH was enacted saw the American League get progressively more dominant. Consider that since 1990, the AL has had 5 WS sweeps, compared to the NL's 1. Since 1973 the AL has had 6 sweeps, compared to the NL's 2. In the last 7 years, the AL has had more sweeps (3) than the NL has had since 1973 (2).

The discrepancy is a bi-product of deeper lineups, better hitters and more seasoned pitchers, but it has been the AL's ability to manipulate the DH that has widened the gap in recent years. Originally used for big bat, little leather stars, the focus has now shifted to using the spot as rest stop for players throughout the season. Team's can keep a player's strong bat in the lineup and give him a "half day off." They can use a player with an injury at DH while he recovers, so long as the injury is only related to his fielding, but the DH also has other advantages.

The AL can accommodate aging stars, no longer fit for the field who still can produce at the plate, but more importantly in the team's revenue. How much would the Marlins want an iconic player like Vladimir Guerrero to DH for them, if for nothing more than to put some fannies in the seats? How long can St. Louis reasonably expect to keep Albert Pujols at first base? Same thing for the Phillies and Ryan Howard. Would the Red Sox have won a championship without the DH rule? After all, the beloved Big Papi would have no position. These kind of players can be revenue boosters well into their late 30's and the National League stands to miss out on all of them and the money they bring, unless they adopt the DH.

It is for the reasons I just mentioned that the NL should add the DH, and while some argue that the AL drop the DH, that isn't a reality. After all it was offense (albeit tainted) that won back the fans following the 1994 strike and it is offense that sells tickets now.

While fun for me, watching pitchers hit has become detrimental to the game, especially given pitchers high priced, longstanding guaranteed contracts and the increased ability of getting injured while batting or running the base paths (Let's remember that Chien Ming Wang may have had his career upended by a foot injury while scoring a run for the Yankees two years ago).

Baseball's traditions are glorious, but let us not use that as an excuse to look past an evolving game. Pitchers need to pitch, hitters need to hit, and let's face it, the rules need to be the same....after all, it is tradition.

Texas Wins Big for Big East and more....

OK fans, you can take off your hard hats and come out from the bomb shelter. The decision by Texas to stay in a downsized, but more lucrative Big 12 means the aerial assault on college athletics has ended, at least for now.

Much like the aftershocks of an earthquake, the defection of Texas and subsequently Texas A&M and Oklahoma to the Pac-10 super-conference would have been felt across the nation, including the football poor, basketball rich Big East.

In the short term, the realignment would have likely added Kansas to the Big East, but the long term would have been a disaster. Composed of a handful of football/basketball schools and a plethora of basketball only (or FCS) football teams, the football heavyweights would be left in a bind, playing in a sub par BCS conference while the Pac-10, SEC and Big 10 ruled the land....relocation would be imminent.

As wonderful as the NCAA basketball tournament is (and I have argued for a similar format in football), the hoops revenue does not compare to that of football. Teams claiming to have football programs like Syracuse, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and even South Florida would be forced to move, taking some perennial basketball contenders out of the best hoops conference in the land...that doesn't even mention Notre Dame which is potentially a couple years from defection to the Big 10 itself.

Since Texas and its little brothers didn't run away from home, the balance of power hasn't shifted dramatically, and at least for now the Big East will survive.

***

- The Jets need to sign Darrelle Revis. He deserves to be highest paid corner in the league and as the team has a history of blowing up these sorts of situations, they better act quickly on this. Signing key players, particularly fan favorites like Revis would help sell some of those PSLs the team can't seam to get rid of. Not to mention Revis is the sole Jets jersey I own (save Brett Favre).....

- Call me unpatriotic if you wish, but I am not into this World Cup. Any sport in which a tie is considered a good outcome, I'll have trouble watching. As Herman Edwards famously said, "You play to win the game."

- I still maintain that the Lakers will win the NBA Championship, but the player rotation has to change if it's going to happen. Paul Pierce walking in front of Ron Artest during foul shots late in the game reaffirmed what we already knew...Artest is a head case. After the incident, he missed 3 straight crucial foul shots and failed to foul Rajon Rondo, a bad foul shooter, late in the game, instead allowing Rondo to throw it back to Ray Allen, one of the best. Look for the offensively inept Luke Walton to play on offensive possessions late in the game for his decision making while Artest sticks to the only thing he is good at, defense.

Rest Assured: Could Innings Limit Bar Hughes from All Star Game?

As Phil Hughes, the Yankees young ace in the making takes the mound tonight, he will look to add to his All Star credentials, but the Yankees and Joe Girardi may have other thoughts.

Hughes has been brilliant this season, only Andy Pettitte has been better in the Yankees rotation and to this point, Hughes' numbers could warrant a trip on what could be a jam packed charter plane of Yankees headed for Anaheim this July.

Before tonight's start against the Orioles, Hughes' six wins were good for second in the AL. He is fifth in the league with a 2.70 ERA, third in WHIP at 1.06 and has a team leading 57 strikeouts in just 56.2 innings of work, not bad for a guy making his first full run as a starting pitcher.

But even though his numbers seem deserving, if he is not voted one of the five top starters by the players, Hughes' fate as an All Star will be directly in the hands of his (and the AL team's) manager and taking him could be risky.

The Yankees, for better or worse have put Hughes on an innings limit this season, likely somewhere around 175. While in typical Joe Girardi fashion nothing has been released, it has been rumored that the team is planning on using scheduled off days surrounding and including the All Star break to give Hughes a sort of "midseason rest" helping to limit his innings and keep him strong for the stretch run.

If this is indeed the case, Girardi is caught between a rock and a hard place. If he selects Hughes for the game, he doesn't need to have him actually pitch, but in baseball, the all star game decides home field advantage for the World Series so having useable pitchers on the roster is certainly a factor. If he doesn't take Hughes he runs the risk of upsetting his young star, especially if Hughes clearly deserves it.

Frankly I am not a fan of innings limits in general, though I do believe this plan makes worlds more sense than the disaster employed to ruin Joba Chamberlain last year. My view is let him pitch in the game, one or two innings won't hurt Hughes and in fact with a long layoff, getting some meaningless innings in might actually help keep him fresh.

Girardi however, has the final call and if Hughes is lucky, the call will be his name on the bullpen phone.

James' Destiny

I don't know if LeBron James will be a Knick next season. I don't know if he'll be a Bull, a Clipper, a Heat (is that grammatically correct?) or even...gasp...a Cavalier. What I do know, is that the frenzy has begun.

ESPN reported earlier that Cavs coach Mike Brown's firing was imminent and rumors surfaced that Kentucky head man John Calipari was "LeBron's hand picked next head coach". As of 3:15pm this afternoon, both rumors have been denied, for now.

As for James, the NBA's heir apparent has been dethroned as "King" and reappointed as "Jester" in some media circles causing mechanics of doom to bury him in with the likes of perennial losers that lack the "killer" mentality.

I'd like to take this opportunity to remind everyone who has turned against LeBron because of a bad series that despite his poor effort, despite his lack of titles and yes despite the comparisons to Michael Jordan, he's still just 25 years old.

Knowing I'm a Knicks fan, friends have already told me to count my blessings; that while James is the only thing stricken Knicks fans have had to keep afloat these past few years, now he may not be worth it. I assure them, they're wrong and here's why.

1) Forget the idea that the Cavs lost only because James played badly. Basketball is as much a team game as any and it takes a complete team to win in the playoffs. I'm not defending his play, but just remember that Jordan won nothing without Scottie Pippen and Kobe Bryant didn't win without Shaq until he got Pau Gasol last year. The easiest comparison of teams to make is to the Lakers and there is no argument that either Gasol, Lamar Odom or Ron Artest are all better wingmen than the disaster of players Danny Ferry and the Cavs have put together: Larry Hughes, Mo Williams, Big Z (not going to try and spell it), downside of his career Shaq and now Antawn Jamison. The star should carry the team, but other options are needed to spread the floor and keep defenses guessing, that isn't the case with the Cavs, but players aren't the only reason.

2) Mike Brown WILL be fired and he should. I said this last year and I'll say it again: this guy does not coach offense. If Lebron doesn't bring the ball up, he gets it at the top of the circle. He backs up with his dribble (contrary to anything a coach has ever taught) and then tries to attack open space. He's gifted, and he can play like that, but NOT if the defense knows its coming, and they do. The biggest tool any defense in any sport can have is to know what the offense is going to do. How about LeBron posts up once in a while? What if they ran him off a screen? Maybe instead of pushing the tempo ONLY when LeBron wants to, they make it a focal point to run early, you know since he's the best open court player in the league....Do you see my point?

3) But most importantly, a player's legacy is not created in one day, not in one series or season. Only did Jordan become Jordan after 6 championships were won, not when he was 25, and not after his first ring. Is Kobe's legacy cemented? Did Kevin Garnett winning a title change how the world viewed him for the positive? I would argue the opposite.

So Knicks fans, Cavs fans, Nets fans, Heat fans, Bulls fans, Clippers fans and basketball fans of any kind, I urge you to relax. LeBron James is someone special, and I would imagine he can't wait to show it.

The New (Hughes) meets The Old (Beckett)

It's safe to say that the "Huuuughes" calls from the stands will be replaced tonight with "boos" in Fenway tonight. Yes, much like Mike Mussina "Moooooose" a similar sound will bare down on the Yankees young "born-again" phenom, but for the 23-year-old, a raucous crowd at Fenway might not play a factor.

Hughes has been brilliant so far, yielding just 10 hits in his 25 innings of work, sporting a 3-0 record and a 1.44 ERA. Yankee fans are finally seeing the oft-talked about talents of the former first round pick come to fruition, albeit years after comparisons to Roger Clemens captured the awe of the pinstripe pride.

In fact Hughes may resemble Mussina much more than he does "The Rocket". A low-mid 90s fastball that cuts and ducks a variety of ways and a curveball that generally goes north to south, but can also be found going east to west when the situation calls. But as many have pointed out, it's his changeup that has transformed the pitcher from a guy the Yanks' "shoulda" traded for Johan Santana to a guy that if the season ended today would be the number three man in the Yankees playoff rotation.

Still, it is more the idea of Hughes' changeup that has changed than the pitch itself. Watching his last start, a 7 inning 4 hit shutout against the White Sox, I noticed that his arm slot changes when throwing the pitch, something that hitters will notice as time goes by, but still, it is one more thing to pay attention to for hitters.

Remember people, he's 23 years old and the changeup is a new pitch for him. What happens if he develops it more? What happens if he gets better command of his other pitches? Both of these things will happen and the Red Sox tonight will get the first glimpse of a dominant Yankee starter, because Hughes is a new pitcher.

Wednesday's Thoughts: From Four to Floor?

Javier Vazquez has already failed once as a New York Yankee, and that's why the Yankees fans aren't exactly crying that Joe Girardi has elected to skip his "fourth" starter this weekend against the Red Sox.

Fans were told that Vazquez's second run in the big apple would be different; that he know longer faced the pressure of being a top of the rotation guy and that now he could 'just pitch'. Instead, Vazquez to this point has been even worse than disastrous 2004 that caused him to be shipped out Arizona for Randy Johnson.

Skipping Vazquez against the Red Sox is the right thing to do for a number of reasons, the least of which is how poorly he's pitched this season. His record in big games is not so hot, as his then manager Ozzie Guillen so bluntly pointed out in 2008.

There's little chance the Yankees are too concerned about the confidence of Vazquez, but the track record just isn't good. For Yankees fans, the season has started out all too smoothly, and Vazquez is setting himself up to be the goat of the regular season, a trouncing by the Red Sox just won't do.

While some have already called for trading Vazquez, it is unlikely the Yankees brass is on the same page. The Yankees, albeit in good conscience have set themselves up to NEED him and so far, the need has only increased.

Phil Hughes has been spectacular, but with an innings limit at 170, I have to wonder if the Yankees would even consider him as a potential playoff starter (schedule changes mean they can't use 3 starters as they did last season). The problem with the system they have set up (and failed with last season) is that the deeper into games Hughes pitches, the shorter it is before he comes out of the rotation.

The fact is that the Yankees need Vazquez to be their fourth guy, but for that to happen, the fans will have to support him too. That won't happen if he gets pounded by the Sox.

Friday's First Round Thoughts: The Jets, The Giants, Tebow and ESPN

The Jets

It wasn't what I expected, but overall I like the Jets drafting Kyle Wilson, a cornerback. Why not add to the secondary? If this kid can play, and Rex Ryan seems to think he can, it is going to be very hard for teams to move the ball against the Jets with Cromartie, Wilson and oh yeah, Darrelle Revis ball hawking. And you thought they blitzed a lot last year....

This season marks the best version of Jets cool aid I've ever had, I hope they don't change the recipe.

The Giants

I like them taking Jason Pierre-Paul here. The Giants historically have always had a big time pass rusher, at least when they are winning (Lawrence Taylor, Michael Strahan), so it comes as no surprise that the Giants go that route in the first round. I don't know him well enough to predict if he'll make an impact right away, but Osi Umenyiora is now VERY expendable and that should make Giants fans salivate.

Speaking of Cool aid...

Who slipped some to Josh McDaniels? Drafting Tim Tebow in the first round is going to bite the Broncos hard. After four years of college, I still don't see what it is about this guy that is so compelling. I couldn't teach proper throwing motion if I had a gun pointed to my head, but even the highlight package ESPN showed last night showed throws from Tebow that surely would be picked off in the pros.

At least Tebow knows how to conduct a professional interview. His interview with Jeremy Schaap was filled with regurgitations of "I'm such a great leader. I'm going to do what it takes to win a super bowl. It's about the team. I'm such a wonderful role model."

Is anyone else sick of this guy? Enough Already! Perhaps Tom Jackson said it best (the only time last night) when he said, "In the NFL you can only lead if you are on the field."

And You, ESPN...

For the first time I actually really wished I had NFL Network for the production quality. What ESPN did last night was disparaging to TV networks everywhere. The team, fearlessly led by Chris Berman included Steve Young, Tom Jackson, John Gruden and Mel Kiper and only Kiper had any clue as to what to say and when. Young can't spit a sentence out, Gruden has no on air presence and how many of you saw Chris Berman's freakout when he didn't know he was on the air?

Also, how do you ever have suspense in a draft if you show a potential selection beaming while on the phone being hugged by his family and friends MINUTES before he is selected. They did it with Bradford and I thought they would stop doing it after that, realizing their mistake but then again, this is ESPN, they make no mistakes....right?

Jets and Giants Draft Preview with Sean Perry and Alex Wolff

Giants Need to Fill Holes

By Sean Perry

The Giants got out of the gate quickly last year only to limp to the finish line as injuries, poor attitude and underwhelming talent cost them games in the second half of the season. The team has been relatively quiet in the off-season and is looking to fill several areas of need in the draft. I expect the Giants to fill holes at these four positions:

Giant’s team needs:

Cornerback: The Giants struggles in the secondary last year cost them a trip to the playoffs. No one player can shoulder all the blame, however, safety was a particularly glaring problem. In my opinion the Giants front office did a commendable job overhauling their safety positions with the addition of Antrelle Rolle in addition to the return of Kenny Phillips from injury. The Giants could use a cornerback in the first round to make their secondary complete, and the addition of a top flight corner could help turn a position of weakness into a position of strength.

Possible Pick: Junior Kareem Jackson from Alabama could be available to the Giants at 15 and would be a good fit in the revamped secondary.

Offensive Line: The offensive linemen were the unsung heroes of the Giants Super Bowl run in 2008 and are not necessarily a problem area for the team right now. With that said, they can’t be counted on to continue delivering elite level play as the memory of that magical run fades. There is some legitimate concern about the lack of depth and age along the O-line and an infusion of fresh blood would not hurt in the long term.

Possible Pick: Mike Iupati from Idaho could be a blue-collar contributor and a tempting choice for the Giants in the first round.

Running Back: With Brandon Jacobs on the downside of his career and Ahmad Bradshaw in and out of prison, it would be nice for the Giants to acquire a quality running back in the early rounds of the draft.

Possible Pick: If CJ Spiller of Clemson falls to the Giants at 15 every Giants fan will be ecstatic and the Giants will take him. If Spiller is scooped up earlier as most expect, look for the Giants to move up in the second round to select Ryan Mathews out of Fresno State.

Linebacker: The Giants linebacker corps faltered before vocal leader Antonio Pierce got hurt and completely fell apart once he was lost for the season. Despite the glaring issues, the team did little to address the weakness at the linebacker in the off-season. The Giants will have to draft at least two linebackers this year and would be wise to get a potential starter for the 2010 season while players of that caliber are still available.

Possible Pick: Ronaldo McClain of Alabama seems like the obvious pick at 15 and when all is said and done, will be the Giants first pick and starting middle linebacker next year.

* * *

Jets Will Look to Upgrade Already Great Defense

By Alex Wolff

Uneasy, nervous, ignorant, pessimistic and downright disturbed. That is how Jets fans typically feel around this time of year. When the rest of the National Football League is anticipating the next great star to come to their team, fans of gang green are wondering how the enigmatic franchise will mess it up...this time.

But this year the Jets are in an unfamiliar spot, and no, I don't mean drafting so late in the 1st round at 29. Methodically, the Jets have filled basically all of the needs that I or anyone else for that matter projected when their season ended. Here's how they've been filled:

Cornerback: Antonio Cromartie comes in to fill the void opposite Revis Island.

Wide Receiver: Braylon Edwards is back and in comes Santonio Holmes, after his four game suspension that is.

Defensive End: Love him or hate him, opposing quarterbacks should be afraid of him, Jason Taylor is the newest Jet.

The Jets return the best offensive line in the game and the best defense. They added Mark Sanchez as the franchise signal caller in last season's draft and have already filled out their roster with high priced and profile free agents, which poses a whole other set of problems for a team that has no crucial position to draft for.

ATTITUDE. Cromartie has fathered a million children by roughly that same number of women in the same number of states. How will his mind ever be on football? Edwards isn't exactly t he most clear headed guy either, in fact I seem to remember him getting booted out of Cleveland, and it wasn't for having bad hands around the football...Taylor's career is known for three things: sacking the QB, deriding Jets fans, and dancing with the stars. Only one of those is football related.

It's that simple, the Jets have a ton of talent, and a ton of personality, making the personalities work together is the single biggest need for the Jets, and I propose they address that on draft day. But how you ask?

"With the 29th selection in the NFL draft, the New York Jets Select... Dr. John F Murray, Palm Beach, FL!"

That's right folks; the Jets should select a noted sport psychologist. It's perfect. He'll follow the team around and deal with all the issues that are sure to arise. From dealing with Bart Scott, Jason Taylor, Rex Ryan, Cromartie, Holmes and so on, this is the perfect solution.

OK OK OK, I get it, you want to know what the Jets will really do. They really are in a unique position, they don't need any one player to fill a need so they can actually pick the best player available.

My best guess is that they will try to fill Free Safety, since they just signed Taylor. If USC's Taylor Mays falls to them, expect the Jets to grab him. An athletic safety from USC, Mays can fill the "void" that was Kerry Rhodes. Mays projects to be more of a project at this point, but he would see significant playing time in year one, and what better way to get it than in a defense that has such a strong secondary.

If Mays is gone, or I'm wrong (I know it seems impossible, but it does happen) expect the Jets to draft a DE. Despite the fact that they signed Taylor, he is more of a short term fix and will play mostly on third downs. This is a need they must address for the future and expect them to do so in the second round if they draft Mays in the first.

Tell me why I'm wrong with comments!

One More Time Anticipation Brews for Hughes

What typically is a time of turmoil and unrest in Yankeeland has been, well, quiet. This season's spring training and the first two weeks of real play have gone smoothly for the Yanks at a time when in years past, members of the media are haplessly spending their time negotiating solutions for the Yankees problems more full of potential than is reality.

However tonight, the seemingly one question facing the Yankees, will begin to get answered and as Phil Hughes, once depicted as the next Roger Clemens takes the mound this evening after beating out Joba Chamberlain for the rotations fifth spot. Yankee fans like myself are eager to see the answer.

It still seems like yesterday when I was sitting in my New Hampshire apartment, in 2007, a sophomore in college watching MLB TV to see 'the second coming' pitch against the Rangers. On his way to a no hitter, Hughes, who hit spots like no rookie I'd ever seen released a pitch, and limped off the mound.

The rest of the story is up and down. Hughes never regained his form that season, though he did have quite the playoff performance against the Indians. Hughes won a spot in the rotation in 2008, but injuries again limited him to just 34 innings. Last season, the right hander was mostly a reliever, and did well, however it is a far cry from what the Yankees fans thought they had when Brian Cashman decided against trading him and Ian Kennedy for Johan Santana two years ago.

In no way is tonight's start, Hughes' first of the year a last chance. But a solid outing would go a long way in restoring hope in the young right hander who is quickly shedding label of youngster and could find himself with that of bust if he doesn't pan out.

His stuff is good, we saw that in relief last year, 92+ fastball, great curveball and a solid change up, but commanding those pitches will be the key and in this league, command is typically what separates the men, from the boys, or this case, the questions from the answers.

NCAA Tournament Picks

There's something about March Madness that brings out the best, worst and most importantly unlucky side of me. As far as sports go, this time of year is about as exhilarating as it gets, especially given that my former institution of higher learning, (New Hampshire) has about as much chance of being invited to the dance as Nancy Pelosi does at being invited to the next RNC.

Quite simply it is 63 games. Sixty-three of the best games of the year, all packed into a 20 day stretch. The beauty is that all of us: from the casual sports fan, to the diehard bracketologist, to the person who had a brief, but moderately enjoyable encounter with an orange ball around the age of six, will try to predict the outcome of them all.

I will join the nation in pretending to be nostrahoopous, but I issue this warning first, to all of you who will live and die with your picks, eat, sleep and live the tournament, close your mind to your day job only to gaze hopelessly into the streaming video of games online. Your picks will be wrong, as will mine, but remember, it is that one chance that you will be right, that one special year, that makes it all worth it.

Midwest Region: Ohio St. Emerges

The odds on favorite to come out of the midwest is indisputably Kansas. They earn the distinction as the number one overall and I think they've got a pretty clear run into the round of 8.

The bottom part of this bracket is absolutely loaded: Tennessee, Georgetown, even Georgia Tech have really good teams that could make a run, and that doesn't even mention Ohio St.

When making picks, I look at two factors above all else, how strong is the conference you play in, and who's got the best player. For me, Georgetown played in the best conference and Ohio St. (Evan Turner) has the best player. The Hoyas get into the sweet 16, but their inconsistancy bites them there. Turner wins the game for Ohio St. and the Buckeyes go onto beat Kansas for a spot in the final four.

West: Orange Talent Too Much

There's not much to say here. Syracuse has the best team in this bracket. What killed the Orange in the Big East tournament was lack of momentum and momentum is something Syracuse will have and have thrived on in the past (who can forget Gerry Mcnamara).

Kansas St. is incredibly talented, don't get me wrong, but I think Syracuse is just more prepared for this tournament. The zone will be firing on all cylinders by the time they play in the elite 8, and by then, it will be too late for K- State.

East: Might as Well Throw a Dart (But aim it at Kentucky)

By far the most intriguing regional. In my eyes West Virginia deserved a #1 seed, but still ends up with a tougher road than the other #2 from the Big East Villanova (we'll get there). This bracket has the second most entertaining five-twelve matchup in Cornell taking on higher seeded Temple. Potential story line is that IF Cornell does get past Temple, they have a chance to make a nice run into this thing, at least the best an Ivy League school has done in about 100 years.

Kentucky has the most talent, and that's why I think they will ultimately emerge out of this bracket, but they will face some tests along the way. The Wildcats youth (now a staple of John Calipari teams) sometimes makes them play down to the opponents level, but in the end, the combination of Wall, Cousins, Patterson and Bledsoe is the most talented in the country by far.

Look for one of the epic battles in the last 10 years when Kentucky plays West Virginia in the elite 8.

South: Wait, Didn't the NIT Start Yesterday?

Filling out the bracket, I looked at the South and my jaw dropped. Duke is overrated, and Villanova by no means deserves a #2 seed. Then I start asking myself the all important question: which of the other teams can beat these overrated teams? And in this bracket, I truly don't know.

The argument could be made that Villanova has the easiest road in the tournament, period. Louisville is not that good of a team, but they will find a way to beat Duke and subsequently find themselves pitted against Nova in the elite 8 for a great Big East matchup which Louisville will somehow win and will face Kentucky in one of the biggest hyped semifinal games in tournament history.

Purdue got hosed when they got a #4 seed and will be ousted by Siena, who actually has a chance to make it to the final four if they play some inspired basketball here.

Final Four and Championship:

I won't analyze this yet because as I said before, I will be proven wrong shortly anyway, but here are my predictions on the outcome.

Ohio St. over Syracuse

Kentucky over Louisville

Championship: Kentucky over Ohio St.

There it is folks, my shot in the dark that may possibly be right. We'll see 63 games over the next 20 days, but only one team will be a national champion.

My complete bracket is below, click it to make it bigger.

Comment with thoughts or your own picks!

Three Thoughts: The Jets, Expanding the Field and Reggie vs. the Knicks

This blog hasn't been updated since Sean and my Super Bowl predictions of which I was once again proven wrong, but I'm back, and so is my karma (I hope) so here are some thoughts on the pressing issues of the my day.

1) Will Ex-Bolt LT Provide Green Thunder

Aside from that being a headline masterpiece, LaDainian Tomlinson's recent signing with the Jets has all the NY papers, NY fans, and yes even the likes of me feeling a little deja vu. After all, New York sports fans have grown a bit sour on bringing in high ego, low production and overpaid aging stars (see Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson, Gary Sheffield, Mo Vaughn etc.). But there is a little bit more to LT than the aesthetics.

It's clear that Shonn Greene will be the Jets feature back and while fans are upset about the departure of Thomas Jones for the heir apparent Tomlinson, consider the entirety of the Jets roster. Greene will be the feature back regardless of whether it's Jones or LT behind him. LT, coming off a few down seasons and sensing the end of his stories and hall of fame career isn't as likely to demand carries as Jones would. Jones, coming off his second straight stellar year was and is a class act, but it certainly wouldn't sit well with him to play second fiddle to Greene, at least not as much as it would to LT who seems to have accepted that role. Is it a great fit? I don't think so. If Greene gets hurt, LT is not a strong enough back to carry the load for a long period of time. The idea that he is a change of pace back is just false as him and Greene are virtually the same type of runners. Leon Washington is the change of pace guy here, and the Jets better be pretty sure he is healthy, and very sure that they won't lose him in free agency, or this figures to be a very one-dimensional Jets backfield.

2) Don't Expand the Field

I think I'll expand on this more in the weeks to come, but what is the use in expanding the NCAA tournament field? Sorry, I'll answer my own question, MONEY. But that is the only reason I can think of. Remember friends, by going from 65 to 96, or 128 teams, we're not increasing the amount of title contenders in the field. National Championship winners usually come from the top 16-20 teams if not higher. The teams that would be added go directly to the bottom and will mostly be around for that first game, before losing. You're adding another game in essence because of some possible disagreements regarding who does or does not get in at THE BOTTOM OF THE FIELD. Too much the focus is on the bottom, the last four in, who coincidentally are the FIRST FOUR OUT. These teams are better off in the NIT or another tournament where they actually have a chance to win. March madness is the greatest tournament that United States sports has to offer. I've long made the argument for college football to adopt such a system because it is so great. Quite simply, don't fix what isn't broken.

3) For Once, ESPN Shows No Bias

Like most Knick fans, I figured ESPN's 30 for 30 edition of "Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. the Knicks" would be another biased misinterpretation of one of the great rivalry's in NBA history. The idea that this was a one sided rivalry pains Knicks fans who know the truth: that Patrick Ewing, John Starks and the Knicks got to Reggie just as much as he got to them. Sure there was the 8 points in 16 seconds to win game 1 in 1995, but there was also the Knicks getting past the Pacers in 1993, 1994 and more currently in 1999-2000 (a short mention of this was made during the credits of last night's 30 for 30). I was happy to see that ESPN showed both sides of the rivalry and really captured how intense New York City was during that decade.

Instead of tear fans of the orange and blue down, this program reminded me how electric New York can be when good basketball is played at MSG. The emotion displayed in all the games the Knicks played against Indiana was more than the team has shown in the last decade and the children growing up now only know the Knicks as a loser. The NBA doesn't have a rivalry like the Knicks and Pacers, and given the softness of play and the constant curtailing of the league's diminishing image, the NBA may never again have a moment as significant as John Starks head butting Reggie, or Reggie grabbing his neck and crotch while staring down Spike Lee. All we can hope for is that somewhere out there, LeBron James saw the show last night and maybe just maybe Chris Bosh was watching too and the both of them realize how special this city can be, when basketball is special too.

I'll take you through the tournament soon and then Sean will come back and we'll do some spring training baseball.

Please comment with thoughts!

Super Bowl Podcast

Championship Sunday Picks with Special Guest!

Once again 2-2 last week, putting me at a mediocre 4-4 for the playoffs. That's a little upsetting but at least the Jets are alive and kicking!

This week we bring in Sean Perry to tell me why I'm wrong about this and I'm sure he's got some good reasons. So without further ado, here are the Championship Sunday Picks for the right to play in the Super Bowl.

Sunday, Jan. 24: Jets (+ 8) @ Colts:

Sean's Pick: A rematch of the week 16 game that saved the Jets season and the ’72 Dolphins special place in NFL history. The Jets are an eight point underdog, and seem to have more confidence in their chances than the Vegas odds makers (ask Rex Ryan). The Colts have won all 15 games in which their starters have played four quarters this season, and are led by legendary pitchman Peyton Manning. The Jets are faced with a tall order going into the Colts building, Manning and the Colts are precise and well timed on offense and minimize the weaknesses of their undersized but speedy defense at home, thanks in large part to a friendly crowd and dry turf. The Jets best bet is to confuse and pressure Manning, forcing him to turn the ball over and provide their run-heavy offense with beneficial field position, allowing them to shelter rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. I think a few quick strikes by the Colts offense (minus Reggie Wayne who will be stranded on Revis Isle) will force the Jets away from their run-first offense and force turnovers from the inexperienced Sanchez. The Jets are still a year away from where they need to be, and Manning has been here too many times in the past to let this one slip away.

My Pick: Colts 23, Jets 13

Alex's Pick: I'm no different than any Jet fan and I won't pretend to be. I really want this game, perhaps worse than I've ever wanted this team to win, but I need to be objective. The Colts are a different animal than the Chargers, but not that different. The Chargers are a Donkey, the Colts are a Mule, a little extra pizzaz, but same general idea. Big TE that can catch, star QB, star WR, only difference is that the Colts aren’t so likely to choke as the Donkey’s did last week. The key for Gang Green is to play their game. Run the football, play the defense and score enough points to win. Everyone wants to look at the first matchup earlier in the year and talk about the Colts pulling their starters, but the Jets were winning at halftime in Indianapolis. Poise and field position will be huge for both teams. The Jets had five turnovers for 37 yards compared to the Chargers 10 for 87, last week and it mattered. The Colts will be better prepared, but as much as it seems like nothing has changed, Tony Dungy isn’t the coach anymore. Peyton is great and I thought in week 16 he moved the ball as well as anyone has against the Jets highly touted secondary all year. Kerry Rhodes against Dallas Clark is the matchup to look for. Also, how does Peyton handle the blitzes? Whichever team does better on 3^rd down when the Colts have the ball will win. OK, I’ve done my diligence, looked at this from an objective view. Don’t roll out of bed and reach for a beer on Monday, all the green won’t be for St. Patrick’s Day.

My Pick: Jets 16, Colts 7 (same as Super Bowl III)

Sunday Jan. 24: Vikings (+4) @ Saints: America’s sweetheart Brett Favre ventures down to Bourbon Street in a game that is sure to provide plenty of offensive fireworks. Each team looked impressive last week, dismantling their opponents with relative ease, and I expect a close one to decide this year’s NFC champions. It will be a fast-paced and entertaining game that will come down to playmakers and turnovers. The Saints have a stable of running backs including Reggie Bush, who returned from Witness Protection last weekend, as well as a capable and deep receiving corps. The Vikings have emerging stars Sidney Rice and Visanthe Shiancoe who have developed a great rapport with their elderly quarterback. The problem with the Vikings coming into this game is the disappearance of golden boy Adrian Peterson, who has struggled to produce as the Vikings have shifted toward a more pass-oriented attack. The difference in this game will be crucial turnovers by Favre, who seems to have wrestled control of the Viking’s offensive playbook away from head coach Brad Childress, a man who is perhaps better suited for the job of night shift manager at Arby’s. Each team will make big plays, but the Saints will make more.

My Pick: Saints 37, Vikings 31

Alex’s Pick: Hey, just because the Jets are playing earlier in the day doesn’t mean you should sleep on this one! Come one, come all to see the Saints and Vikings star in the hit NFL Film “The Greatest Show on Turf….X2!) High flying offense, shots down field and best of all, no defense allowed! OK maybe I’m pumping up the offense too much, but there will be touchdowns in this game and lots of them. I think the fact that the Saints are favored is because they’re at home, as well they should be, but if I’m handicapping this one, it’s a pick ‘em game if there ever was one. The focus will be on Favre as far as ESPN and the rest of the world is concerned, but Adrian Peterson is well over due for one of his dominant insane performances. He breaks a run early, the Saints battle valiantly, but the teams trade scores, Vikings hold on and then maybe, just maybe we’re all truly two weeks away from seeing America’s Hero, Brett Favre retire (for good?).

My Pick: Vikings 41, Saints 34

Be sure to comment and check Back for a wrap up with Sean on Monday!