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Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Over the weekend Al and I ventured to Philly on a sort of holy metal pilgrimage ... we went to the Hard Rock Cafe, where the top music memorabilia attraction is a Flying V guitar belonging to none other than late heavy metal legend and Ozzy Osbourne collaborator Randy Rhoads. It was pretty awesome, there were also some rare Ozzy photos and posters and Randy's guitar case, and Al was sure to get plenty of pictures of stuff that once belonged to his musical inspiration. Definitely a worthwhile trip. GIANTS UPDATE: Big Blue made a few personnel moves yesterday, most notably releasing defensive backs Terry Cousin and Omar Stoutmire to clear the way for second-year pro Gibril Wilson and the recovering Shaun Williams to get more playing time. The Giants are still said to be in "good" position regarding their salary cap status, having also released DT Martin Chase and DE Lorenzo Brommel, and will gain another $5 million of cap room when QB Kurt Warner's contract is voided next month. They should be pursuing upgrades at the offensive line and wide receiver positions ... they've already missed out on free agent T Walter Jones, who re-signed a long-term deal with the Seahawks, and WR Jerry Porter, who re-upped with the Raiders. However, in addition to standout free agent receivers Muhsin Muhammad, Plaxico Burress, TJ Houshmandzadah, David Patten and David Givens, veterans such as Derrick Mason and Laveranues Coles should also be available in the near future. I certainly hope to see one of these gentlemen in the blue and red next season. Also, looking ahead to the 2006 season, one possible major addition could be the hiring of Patriots VP of player personnel, Scott Pioli, as general manager. Current Giants GM Ernie Accorsi has hinted on more than one occasion that 2005 could be his last season before retirement, and Pioli also just signed a one-year deal with the Patriots, turning down a multimillion-dollar offer from Seattle. Media reports say that the young Pioli, mastermind of the Pats' championship success since 2000 and a N.Y. native, considers the Giants' GM position to be a "dream job," so the stars could be aligned after this season for an incredibly smart hire. Thursday, February 17, 2005
Apparently, John Lennon was a metalhead ... Anyway, I should touch on the NHL season cancellation ... It's a real shame, but the bigger shame is that not too many people care or even realized it was gone. The only good thing that could come out of this is that when and if the league returns, there are sure to be some improvements to the game and how it is marketed and played. The economic situation, in terms of salary caps and revenue sharing, isn't the only thing that has to be fixed. They've got to make the sport itself more appealing to the average fan and TV viewer. Cut down on a few of the whack warm-weather expansion teams or those that can't carry their own weight in terms of fan support. My pal Steve had an interesting idea - split the league in half among Canadian and American teams and have the two champions meet in the Stanley Cup finals (don't know if it'd be totally possible, but hockey belongs in Canada, the international matchup would create a healthy rivalry and create more interest). Come up with a revenue sharing plan to help the small-markets be more competitive and create parity. Adjust the size of the ice as well as the rules to make the sport more of an offensive showcase instead of a neutral-zone trap snorefest, which the average fan can't appreciate. Go to a shootout instead of a regular overtime period. Cut down the regular season by about 10-15 games or so. Reduce some of the exorbitant ticket prices so families can attend more games (after all, the game is best appreciated in person). And begin to market the game's young stars through advertising and cross-promotion so they become household names. The hockey purists will probably have a problem with some of these innovations, but I'm willing to bet they'd settle for them as opposed to the alternative, which is no hockey whatsoever. Whether it takes a few more months or a whole additional year, I hope that the powers that be will be smart enough to reassess the game and make the necessary changes so they can come back even stronger. NEW YORK YANKEES SPRING TRAINING PREVIEW Here's a quick glance at some news and notes as the Yankees convene in Tampa, Fla., for the team's 103rd spring training session .... HELLO: P Randy Johnson, P Jaret Wright, P Carl Pavano, 2B Tony Womack, 1B Tino Martinez, INF Rey Sanchez, RP Mike Stanton, RP Felix Rodriguez, RP Buddy Groom, OF Doug Glanville, OF Damian Rolls, RP Ramiro Mendoza GOODBYE: P Javier Vazquez, P Orlando Hernandez, P Jon Lieber, 2B Miguel Cairo, OF Kenny Lofton, 1B Tony Clark, 1B John Olerud, INF Enrique Wilson, P Esteban Loaiza, RP Felix Heredia, RP C.J. Nitkowski, P Brad Halsey, 1B Travis Lee The Yankees being the drive toward another American League East title and, more importantly, a return trip to the World Series. With the embarrassment of last year's ALCS collapse against the Red Sox behind them, they've revamped three-fifths of their starting rotation in an effort to make it back to the Fall Classic. Most important is the acquisition of starter Johnson, a legitimate No. 1 who can counter Curt Schilling or any other ace out there. All in all it should be another fascinating season in the Bronx, so let's take a look at some of the issues to keep an eye on as spring training unfolds: BIG UNIT ADJUSTMENT: Things didn't go so smoothly on Randy's first day in NYC, when he clobbered a cameraman. The media spotlight shines pretty brightly down at Legends Field, and although it's nothing compared to the Bronx during a big series, how will Johnson handle it? He has a tendency to be grumpy, but at 41 he's an old pro and should be able to keep his head clear as the season approcahes. JUICE IS LOOSE: The steroid controversy is running rampant through baseball, and the Yankee clubhouse is no exception. Jason Giambi has already apologized - no one knows for what, exactly - and the Yanks' other BALCO client, Gary Sheffield, is now talking smack about Giambi being a baby. The questions don't appear to be going away any time soon, and we have yet to see how the fans will react, so how will the buff Bombers and their teammates respond from here on out? And more importantly, can Giambi be productive without any more injections in his gluteus maximus ("that's the butt muscle," as Jose Canseco reminds us)? THE OLD GET OLDER: The Yanks opted to go with a "youth movement" in their starting rotation by adding 29-year olds Pavano and Wright. Other significant acquisitions include Johnson (age 41), Stanton (37), Martinez (37), Womack (35) and Sanchez (37), giving them the oldest average age (31.8) of any major league club. The only significant everyday player under the age of 30 is Alex Rodriguez (29). Can the creaky Bronx Bombers stay healthy throughout the spring and remain that way down the stretch? WAR OF WORDS: The already heated Yanks-Sox rivalry has escalated to new heights in the offseason, with Boston's Trot Nixon and former Bomber hero David Wells recently firing verbal shots at A-Rod, saying he's not a "true Yankee" and so on. Maybe they're right, but who made them the judge of all things New York? If you ask me, they're getting just a big cocky over there after their one World Series title ... I don't know if the best strategy is to provoke a team that's already motivated by the embarrassment of last year's ALCS. Will New York fire some trash talk back at them, or stay quiet and let their actions speak for them on the field as the season opener approaches? BOLSTERED BULLPEN: Last year the Yanks had one of MLB's top crop of relievers ... until the end of the year when they needed it most. Middle relief specialist Paul Quantrill faded fast after a severe case of overuse by Joe Torre down the stretch; Timid Tom Gordon choked (almost literally) against the Sox and was vomiting in the bullpen a couple times before pitching; even the great Mariano Rivera got touched up by Boston when the Yanks had a chance to close out the series. All those guys are a year older now - can they return to the dominating form of most of the regular season, or was the postseason shakiness a harbinger of things to come? And will there be anyone else in the pen that Torre and Co. can count on? The Heredia Experiment is thankfully over, but who says former Yankee standout Stanton (acquired from the Mets in exchange for Felix the Cat) will fare any better at age 37? They are in desperate need of a lefty, and he's one of Torre's guys, so he's got a good shot if he's effective. Another ex-Bomber, Mendoza, is back thanks to a minor-league deal, but he hasn't been the same since the two sides first parted company a couple years ago. Rodriguez has had little consistency throughout his career ... I think the Yanks are expecting big things from Steve Karsay now that he's fully rehabbed from two years of injuries, and Tanyon Sturtze seems to have found a home and the trust of the coaching staff. Torre says he plans to take 12 pitchers on his roster, and if you pencil in the five starters and big three relievers, that leave four spots, with Stanton, Mendoza, Karsay, Sturtze, Brett Prinz, Scott Proctor, former Trenton Thunder pitcher Chien Ming-Wang and recently signed lefty Buddy Groom all in the mix ... Well that's it for now, I'll have special spring training reports from Tampa soon from my Jay's World staff reporters (a.k.a. my mom and dad) with all the latest as we get closer to opening day. Monday, February 07, 2005
Well the smoke has cleared, Super Bowl XXXIX is over, the New England Patriots are officially a "dynasty" and the Eagles .... well, let's just say they did what they do best - choke. No shame really in losing to a team like the Pats, who appear to be unstoppable. The Birds should have just as good a team returning next year, if not better, but as many teams will tell you (Pats included), there's no guarantee that you'll be back in the big game next year.
That being said, here are some random thoughts from SB XXXIX: - Kudos to Terrell Owens. I can't stand his attitude or his antics as you may be well aware, and the fact that he's an Eagle makes it even more intolerable. He seemed a little too proud of his accomplishment after the game, too, given the fact that his team just lost the Super Bowl ... but you have to give him credit for his performance (nine catches, 122 yards) considering the ankle injury (you may have heard something about it leading up to the game) ... - On the other hand, let's take a look at the performances of two of his fellow wide receivers, Todd Pinkston and Freddie Mitchell. Stinkston did have a decent game (4 for 82), but ended up leaving with cramps and had to get hydrated. Apparently the cool, 65-degree weather was too much for him to handle, and he forgot to drink any liquids prior to the biggest game of his life. And as for The People's Chump, the Eagles should probably put his mugshot on a milk carton ... oh wait, according to the box score he had one catch for 11 yards. Way to put your money where your mouth is. - What were the Iggles thinking at the end of the game? I realize it wasn't the only reason they lost, but the failure to use the no-huddle and the lackadaisical pace by the offense when they needed two scores with six minutes left was almost mind-boggling. I figured Andy Reid and company thought it was the third quarter or something at first ... why would you kill so much time, then force yourself to rely on a onside kick? As it turned out, they ended up holding the Pats on their final series, getting the ball back almost at their own goal line with 50 or so seconds .... but it could have been a lot more time or better field position had they not wasted so much time at the end. - So, are the Pats a dynasty? The D-word has been tossed around a lot lately, and I think it's justifiable, as long as you use it in the context of the present day. They haven't quite been as absolutely dominating as, say, the Packers of the '60s or Steelers of the '70s ... but you must consider the fact that they are dealing with more regular season games, an extra round of playoffs, and free agency. That makes what they've accomplished these past few years even more remarkable. They may not dominate for a 10-year stretch, but they are indeed a modern-day dynasty. - Boy, were the commercials disappointing. I didn't get to give the broadcast my full attention because I was at work, but I had my eye on just about everything ... and they sucked. There really wasn't anything that stood out or made a lasting impression, and for some reason I think that's basically the purpose of an advertising campaign. What I would give for a return of the Bud Bowl .... - My prediction was a little off, although I did get the winning team right this time. In my mind, Tom Brady has probably already stamped his ticket to the Hall of Fame despite not getting another Super Bowl MVP award. Basically he just has to be average for a couple more years, and barring any unforseen injuries he will likely be a no-brainer. - And speaking of the HOF, how the heck did Harry Carson not get in again? Nine Pro Bowls, two-time All-NFL selection, and key member of a dominating New York Giants defense that won two Super Bowls ... sure he was overshadowed by Lawrence Taylor, but who wasn't? Things won't get any easier next year, when the field of eligible players will include Troy Aikman, Reggie White, Warren Moon, Andre Reed, Thurman Thomas and holdover Michael Irvin. Friday, February 04, 2005
SUPER BOWL SYNOPSIS
Time for my annual SB picks, where I add my two cents to the already saturated media coverage and hype surrounding the Big Game. I'm sorry, but two weeks is entirely too long a break before the Super Bowl ... it only invites the stupidly inane and unending shit about everything from Tom Brady's place in history (greatest athlete of all time!) to Bill Belichick's I.Q. (smarter than Einstein!) to Jacksonville's cultural standing (apparently it's the worst American city ever, at least according to the pompous sports writers who get to go to the Super Bowl for free each year) to T.O.'s status (will he play? will he start? how many plays will he run? could he die?) ... Yeah, don't even get me started on that sonofabitch and his ankle injury, for god's sake enough about it! Do we need detailed X-rays of his leg, press conferences from every doctor around the country, gossip about how fast he was running in drills, or frank discussions about his spirituality (God is apparently an Iggle fan and will miraculously heal him for this game, it's part of his plan ... in fact I think Moses prophesised something very similar in the Old Testament) ..... Anyway, believe it or not the Patriots and Eagles are actually going to play a game of football some time on Sunday, they are going to try to fit it in somewhere between the 72-hour pregame show (including Howie Long Presents the Top 50 Super Bowl Officiating Bloopers of All Time) and the premiere of the future smash-hit animated comedy Futuram-, I mean Family Gu-, I mean American Dad .......... and now, my game breakdown: How can you go against the Pats? They've proven time and time again that they will do what it takes to win the big game. It's not that they're necessarily more talented, but someone always steps up in the right spot when they're put in a position to succeed. If Corey Dillon isn't effective on the ground, Kevin Faulk will catch a pass out of the backfield. If the Eagles shut down Deion Branch deep, David Patten or David Givens or Daniel Graham will catch a big short pass. If the offense can't get it done, the defense will force a turnover just at the right time. And if all else fails, Adam Vinatieri will come through in the clutch. I'm not saying the Eagles have a bad team. The defense is solid and should keep it close. And Donovan McNabb has really come a long way and seems to be evolving into a consistent, elite QB. He hasn't yet carried his team to a victory in a game that they'd otherwise lose, though, and he'll have to do that here. I also think Terrell Owens will also be a factor - even if he can't play the whole game or really be a force, just the sight of him lining up will be enough to fire up his teammates. Still, I just can't see them upsetting the Patriots. You can say what you want about the mindset of the Birds, but you have to think they're overjoyed to have finally gotten this far after three straight NFC title losses, and all of this Super Bowl stuff is new and foreign to them. New England, meanwhile, knows what it takes to win it all on the big stage. It's a case of "been there, done that"; they've tasted success and they're hungry and focused for more. They'll do whatever is necessary to stamp themselves as modern-day dynasty and elevate Brady to the pantheon of the game's greatest QBs, from Starr to Bradshaw to Montana to Elway. They've come too close to let this one get away, and Belichick just won't allow it. I'll admit I'm biased, but this is a no-brainer: Patriots 30, Eagles 17 MVP: Tom Brady |
