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!