Sports Week...

Being that last week was short with thanksgiving and all, I had plenty of work to do and did not find time to write much. Over the holiday I just got plain lazy! I will not write long, but I will point out a few interesting things. Last week I put in my picks for the weekends football and it was the first time I had made picks all season. After Monday Night football I was 12 for 16 in my picks, and that's not bad. The four I got wrong are as follows. I picked the Redskins to beat the Raiders, the Dolphins to beat the Browns, the Panthers to beat the Bears, and in the Monday Night game I picked the Packers to beat the Vikings. Oakland and Cleveland simply got lucky while Chicago showed that they are for real and Minnesota proved that they are not done. I have placed my picks for this week, including the two games that were played on thanksgiving and I will report later on in the week.

In baseball, three large scale trades stole the spotlight this past week with Boston acquiring Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell, and Guillermo Mota from the Marlins for a handful of very promising prospects including shortstop Hanley Ramirez. The New York Mets acquire superstar first-baseman Carlos Delgado from the fish for Mike Jacobs, Yusmeiro Petit and another minor leaguer. The Chicago White Sox acquired Jim Thome from the Phillies for Aaron Rowand seemingly filling the first base position. All these trades have great potential of being terrific for all teams involved except I most certainly hope that it turns out to be a fluke for the Boston Red Sox. Maybe Beckett will get some blisters!!

oVeR AnD oUt!!

A-Rod is the MVP (and also Pujols... Finally)

What is the real definition of an MVP? Is it meant literally, the most valuable player? Helped his team in the way no one else helped his team? Did he carry his team to the playoffs? Did he contribute to all aspects of the game?

Or, is it meant to be given to the best player? The one who hits for the highest average and most homeruns? The one with the most RBI's and runs scored. What is the true meaning?

Whatever your definition of this award might be this year the awards were given to players that represent both definitions. Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees in the American League and Albert Pujols of St. Louis Cardinals in the National League. These two players made there case to win the award by doing both, carrying their teams to the playoffs and putting up great numbers. Both of them were in the top three in the triple crown categories in their respective leagues while making it count for first place teams.

A-Rod came through for a struggling team early in the season with clutch hitting and great base running. His greatest performance as a Yankee, if not in his career, highlighted his season. On a great baseball in the Bronx, A-Rod belted a two-run and three-run homers, a grand slam, knocking in a total 10 runs. All that came off of the American League Cy Young Winner! The case being made for David Ortiz to win the MVP was a good case but I think in the long run it came down to the fact that A-rod played terrific defensive baseball to go with the offensive numbers he put up. Ortiz, a DH, did not play many games in the field, usually only getting field time in a National League park. Ortiz's numbers were out of this world, but so were A-Rod's. My opinion is that for a DH to win an MVP he needs to have numbers that are better than a player that plays the field. In addition if A-Rod had been a bad fielder, than you might have had a better case to give award to Ortiz, but that wasn't the fact. A-Rod was a gold-glove caliber third-baseman, and that swayed a lot of voters his way.

Albert Pujols finally got the MVP award he has so been deserving. After finishing in the voting second place to Barry Bonds each of the last three years, justice was finally served. His closest competitors Andruw Jones (Atlanta Braves) and Derrek Lee (Chicago Cubs) made great runs at the award, but in the end it came down to the most complete player. Pujols hit for average and power, stole bases, knocked in runs and scored runs. All that coupled with Pujols' great fielding a team leadership is what earned him the award.


"Who will be the MVP? A-Rod or Big Papi?"
Good Question? The answer is in!


oVeR AnD oUt!!

FedEx Field Rocks...!!

Well, I know it's been quite long since that amazing weekend I spent up in Northern Virginia, which culminated with a classic battle between to NFC East rivals at FedEx Field in Landover, Md, but I still would like to write about it.

Of course it all started out, much to my chagrin a day earlier than I expected. We left Norfolk on Thursday and went up and spent the night at Steve's grandparents so we could get to the airport in the morning to pick up some of his cousins.

Friday we all (Steve's cousins included) went out for pizza (at the request of Rabbi Deitsch) to Mama Leah's in Rockville before heading to the homes of hour hosts that the Rabbi was so kind to arrange.

Friday night Steve, Tzvi and I had a wonderful Shabbos dinner at Rabbi Leibel Faijnland's house with much niggunim and l'chaims. Shabbos day there was a kiddush at the Chabad House where I gave a small talk about Chabad in Norfolk and the new Sandler Family Campus. Later on, after a visit to the Rabbi's house I took a much needed Shabbos nap, being that on Friday night I had gotten about an hours worth of sleep, no joke (I was wheezing and had no inhaler, and was battling a stuffed nose and a crappy bed all night!).

Motzei Shabbos was this party for Steve's grandparents that Steve insisted I come too, and I was happy I went. When I first got there I only knew 7 other people (Steve, his mom and dad and four cousins that spent Shabbos with us) but by the end of the night i was talking with many people after meeting the rest of Steve's exciting family. During the party i had a little pocket radio and i was listening to the Va. Tech - Miami game and when people found out i became the live scoreboard updater, even for people i didn't know. In the long run it turned out to be great fun. After the party we went out to the hotel where all Steve's cousins were and hung out there drinking beer,watching TV, telling jokes and just chatting for about two hours before we went back to our host and called it a night.

Sunday we woke early and davened Shachris at Chabad, and enjoyed their wonderful breakfast. After that we went to the brunch at Ruth and Harry's for the grandparents, of course not being able to eat. At the brunch we met up with Eric who had our tickets for the game. Eric is Steve's cousin and he has a bunch of seasons tickets to FedEx Field, and still felt he needed to sell them to us. i was not thrilled about that but was thrilled to see the game.

We left for Maryland at about 1:30 and we went to the kosher store up in Rockville and met with Ralph Rotfus for Lunch at the local kosher Chinese joint. Afterward we went to purchase beer for our tailgate party until we discovered that in Maryland you can only by beer in liquor stores, and that liquor stores are closed on Sunday. After much aggravation and searching we did find one place open and we bought two 24s and marched our way to the stadium, picking up Joe and Larry Sifen at their hotel on the way. Larry had a parking pass for us, really close to the stadium and we got a great location for the tailgating.

We setup our grill and started the party. This was an amazing party. We played catch, grilled, drank, cheered, argued, joked, and plain out and simple had amazing fun! We tailgated for almost four and half hours. We went through plenty of beer, hot dogs, hamburgers, and steaks, and enjoyed time with a group of Steve's friends that joined our party. We harassed eagles fans as they passed and marched in unison with the Redskins Marching band as they marched through the parking lot (a special perk for those who tailgate).

We finally entered the stadium about 10 minutes to gametime and made our way to our seats. During the second half of the game Tzvi and I went to the skybox that Larry and Joe were on complimentary 'box visitor' passes that Michael had sent for us. Up there we got 'complimentary' beer and soda, and smuggled a few for Steve back at the regular seats. We stayed until the end of the game, which by the way was awesome and ended with the Redskins besting the Eagles 17-10. Afterwards we went back out to our grill and continued to grill a little more before finally making our way out.

after stopping to drop off Larry and Joe and then the group of Steve's friends, we finally got on the 495 back toward Ruth and Harry's we got there close to 2:00 and managed only three hours of sleep. We left at 5:00 AM to return Tzvi to the airport and then Steve drove to Fredericksburg before i finished the journey.

Wow, what a trip!!

Hope to do it again sometime... But until then...

oVeR AnD oUt!!

Sports Week...

Well another very exciting week was thrown at us in the NFL. Giants-Vikings, WOW. Redskins-Buccaneers, WOW. Records are made and broken across the league. A spectacular and emotional Monday Night Football matchup between NFC East rivals, which you could say was a must-win for the losing team. Are the Bengals, Bears, Broncos, Jaguars, and Seahawks for Real?

On Football Sunday last week the football fan world was treated to a number of spectacular games and plays. Vikings come to NY needing a win to stay alive and having lost all four games on the road this season. Opposing them is a NY Giants team that seems to be in charge of their division at 6-2 having gone 5-0 at home and not allowing an offensive touchdown in two straight games. The Vikings using a second string QB and the Giants fully proud of their young star's achievements, the game turned out the most unexpected. Eli Manning throws four interceptions as the Giants turn the ball over five times. The Vikings help the Giants continue their no offensive touchdowns allowed streak, but strike in very unexpected ways - three times. The Vikings became the first team in NFL history to return a interception, a kick-off and a punt for touchdowns. Even after all these mistakes, the Giants rally to tie up the game at 21 late in the fourth quarter, but with the clock winding down the Vikes kick a 48-yard field goal for the win. Now that was an unexpected turnout if you asked me.

Another Exciting game was played on Sunday afternoon between the Washington Redskins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in a game that saw to left-handed QBs start in a game for only the second time in history. The Bucs are using a promising young QB in Chris Simms and the Redskins of course going with their regular, comeback player of the year candidate Mark Brunnell. Simms ends up coming out on top after the game flip-flopped back and forth with the Bucs eventually winning on a terrible call by officials, even after it was reviewed by the booth! If you were watching closely you would notice that Mike Alstott's elbow was down before the goal-line. So how is it possible that ball was in if his hand wasn't? This game was the Redskins to win and they let it get away with two late penalties which set-up the 'mis-called' two point conversion.

In Chicago a long, long record was broken. Get this, the 49ers' Joe Nedney attempts a 52 yard field goal that goes short and wide to the right of the post. Standing in the endzone is a man that will run his way to the record books. The Bears' Nathan Vasher catches the missed attempt and brings the ball out. Vasher caught the ball over his shoulder, then after his brief hesitation sprinted to the 15, reversed his field direction with a sudden spin move and picking up a convoy of blockers. Seconds later he was in the endzone with an unprecedented 108-yard missed-field-goal-touchdown-return - the longest play in NFL history. The previous record, also coming on a missed field goal attempt was 107-yards.

In an emotional Monday night matchup Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Bill Parcells leads his team to an amazing victory just hours after attending the funeral for his younger brother Don Parcells, 62. At a post-game press conference Parcells spoke little but did say this: "I got a message there today that said, 'Don't have a troubled heart.' And I don't. I've got those guys in there." In a game that saw Philly really miss T.O. and also saw their star quarterback go down injured, the Cowboys were trailing by 13 points with under four minutes to go in the fourth quarter. The radio announcer said "it would be eerie if this game turned out like that game where Dallas lost to the Redskins after leading by 13 late in the fourth" He was in for quite a surprise. Drew Bledsoe engineers an incredible drive down the field resulting in a touchdown and less then 21 seconds later Roy Williams read Donovan McNabb perfectly intercepting a pass and returning it 46 yards for what would turn out to be the winning touchdown. A failed 60-yard field goal attempt by the Eagles fell way short and sealed the Cowboys amazing come from behind victory.

In the world of the diamond, free agency is heating up as bidding wars begin for some of the games premier players while trade talks, awards and steroids fill the headlines. The new steroid penalty plan (50-100-life) has been agreed upon by players and owners and Donald Fehr and Bud Selig have received the praise of Congress. A-rod wins the AL MVP while Albert Pujols takes the NL honor, finally getting one for himself, after finishing second in the voting in each of the last three seasons to Barry Bonds who was on the shelf most of the season. Yanks keep Hideki Matsui, an integral part of their team. Boston attempts to retain Johnny Damon insulting him with a 3-year $27 million offer in the process. Scott Eyre signs with the Chicago cubs for two years, $11 million.

Hockey keeps netting baseball-like scores and college football keeps up with its trademark lopsided games including counts of 56-5, 48-7, 51-3, and my two favorites of the weekend, Texas over Kansas 66-14 and South Carolina State against Morgan State 65-15.

In basketball, many NBA teams remain consistent, some on the winning end and some on the losing end. The Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks remain winless at 0-8 each and we do know they can't both go 0-82, only because they play each other on December, 2nd which is sure to be a memorable game! The Detroit Pistons under new head coach Flip Saunders are 7-0. Larry Brown has led the Knicks to a disappointing 2-6 start while the Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant reunion is off to a 4-4 record out of the gate. In College Hoops the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer highlighted the scoreboard Thursday night, especially the nightcap which resulted in #16 Syracuse walloping unranked Texas Tech 81-46 in a game where two Hall of Fame coaches squared off for just the fourth time in history. Those coaches, Jim Boeheim and Bobby Knight had a combined 1856 victories coming into the game. Boeheim is 4-1 versus Knight but Knight's one win came in the NCAA national championship game in 1987 when he was with Indiana.

Well until next week...

oVeR AnD oUt!!

Simchat Torah Chabad Style

The following is the article i wrote for the Southeastern Virginia Jewish News:


Sisu Vsimchu Bsimchat Torah, Utnu Kavod Latorah… Let us rejoice together on Simchat Torah and give honor to the Torah.

For just that reason more than 150 people gathered at the Chabad House in Norfolk on Tuesday night, October 25th. Programs for adults and kids were run simultaneously.

The evening started off with a grand two course Kiddush for all, and shortly thereafter the children were ushered to a program of their own so they could experience Simchat Torah for themselves. Mendy Margolin and Rashi Brashevitzky, along with help from all of Chabad of Tidewater’s staff and volunteers planned an evening filled with fun and games. The two performed a creative puppet show starring Tali and Benny, taught Torah songs, and taught about Simchat Torah.

Just when you didn’t think more fun was possible, in walked the highlight of the evening, Harold Wood. Mr. Wood, a professional juggler and entertainer is world renowned and has even performed at the White House – twice! Mr. Wood entertained, and kept the children excited for almost forty minutes, with his charm, humor and of course juggling.

After Mr. Wood completed his act, the children, accompanied by the advisors, marched downstairs into the sanctuary where they were honored with the dancing and singing of the third hakafa. More than 60 youngsters sang the songs they had just learned and danced enthusiastically for almost 15 minutes, as parents and friends stood around the perimeter clapping and singing along.

While all this was going on, Rabbis Aaron Margolin and Levi Brashevitzky were conducting Hakafot. Hebrew versus were chanted aloud as the gathered crowd circled the bima – Torah reading table – seven times. In between each circle there were many rounds of joyous song and dance. The dancing and singing went on for several hours and was capped off with a final round of dancing on the sidewalk. Men gathered in one circle as women gathered in another and rejoiced this final dance of Simchat Torah night. Children enjoyed the dance as well and many of them were even offered the chance to hold a Torah, with the help of an adult of course!

Afterwards the Torahs were accompanied back to the Aron Hakodesh as the very joyous prayers came to an end. All who were there had a visibly good time, including the many new faces at Chabad House. For all who are curious, feel free to join us next year on Saturday, October 14th, 2006 and enjoy Simchat Torah the Chabad Way!

For Information about Simchat Torah or any other holiday or educational program that Chabad of Tidewater offers feel free to contact us at 757-616-0770


oVeR AnD oUt!!

Mariano Rivera Robbed (and other awards)

The baseball off-season is in full swing and that means that its time for baseball Awards. Rookie of the years awards as well as Managers of the year and Cy Young awards have been handed out. I have my own opinions as to who I think should win each award, and for the most part I am disappointed.


ROOKIES OF THE YEAR:
The American League winner was Huston Street (closer, Oakland Athletics - 23 of 27 saves, 1.72 ERA, 72 strikeouts, 78.3 innings) with 15 first place votes and a total of 97 points. Street beat out Robinson Cano of the Yankees who got four first place votes and a total 57 points. Cano (2B, .297, 14 HR, 62 RBI, 78 runs scored) played terrific baseball down the stretch and was one of the main reasons the Yankees made the playoffs.

This award should have been given to Cano based on big at bats, games played, and mainly because his team made the playoffs. He stepped out onto the big stage to fill a hole left by a struggling Yankee second-baseman, and performed far above expectation. Yes Street had a splendid year with stats to prove, but here I think Robby Cano should have been given the edge.

The National League award was given to Ryan Howard (3B, Philadelphia Phillies, .288, 22 HR, 63 RBI) and it was well deserved on his part. Howard was followed by Willy Taveras (OF, Houston Astros, .291, 31SB, 82 runs scored) who did not have nearly the RBI or HR count that Howard tallied.


MANAGERS OF THE YEAR:
American League winner Ozzie Guillen was of course the easy selection based on performance of his team and where they ended up. However dig into the duties of the manager and you may look at this whole thing differently.

Firstly we have to take into consideration what a manger does. His responsibilities include game-time decisions of course, but also included here are team chemistry, clubhouse talks, player development, and other things not within game-time. Secondly we also have to consider player achievement. Remember managers don't go out there and hit homeruns, throw strikes or steal bases; the players do. Yes Ozzie deserves the award, he has performed all the above mentioned in a great fashion, but in my opinion it does not compare to the job that Joe Torre, or even Eric Wedge did.

My winner here is Joe Torre for being able to mend a clubhouse full of some of the biggest salaries and talents in the game and pull out a division champion season yet again. When his pitchers weren't pitching and hitters not hitting, Torre pulled them all through with his wisdom of the game and brilliance in the clubhouse and on the field.

National league manager of the year went to Bobby Cox. Yes 14 straight division titles is phenomenal. Yes the season he had with all those rookies is incredible. And finally, Yes, I think Bobby should have won this award. But if you look at vote totals, why in the world is Phil Garner so far behind?

Bobby Cox had 152 points (28 first place votes) , followed by Tony Larussa's 52 points (2), and then Phil Garner with 38 points (zero first place). Phil Garner took a team that wasn't supposed to make it anywhere to the World Series. He led the team from a 18-32 record on May 30th, to a 89-73 record at seasons end, which came with a wild-card spot for the playoffs. The Astros had a 71-41 record throughout June, July, August and September.

His team had no offense basically, and everyone knows they had great pitching (hence 3 of their starters in the top six in Cy Young voting). I'm not saying Garner should have won the award, but where is the respect for a man who did great things with his team? Not even one first place vote. How is it possible that none of the voters gave him enough credit to deserve a first place vote? I don't understand! And I certainly don't understand why Tony Larussa received first place votes. He had the best offense in the league coupled with great pitching (Cy Young winner included). Don't ask.

The remaining two first place votes went to a deserving Frank Robninson for what he did with the Washington Nationals.


CY YOUNG AWARDS:
Sometimes I think voters for this award look at total wins and place their vote. My reason for thinking this is result of Bartolo Colon (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) winning the American League Cy Young. Colon had 3.48 ERA while going 21-8 pitching 222.2 innings striking out 157 walking 43 and serving up 26 home-runs.

Great stat line right? Sure it is, but not when you put it up next to the stat lines of New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera and Minnesota Twins starter Johan Santana.

Mariano Rivera went 7-4 with a 1.38 ERA. He struck out 80 batters, walked only 18 and gave up a measly 2 home runs in 78.1 innings pitched. The big to do for Rivera was his dominance in closing games. After blowing the first two saves of the season - against the Red Sox no less- Rivera converted his next 31 from April 9th until August 11th, just over four months!. In that four month stretch Mo gave up an unbelievable four earned runs only one of which was in a save situation. That means he allowed four earned runs in 50 innings! For those fifty innings from April 9th until August 11th Mo sported an 0.72 ERA that's not human my friends!!

All my first place votes would have gone to Mariano Rivera based on his dominance at his job, and is inhumane abilities.

If however you feel that the Cy young must go to a starter there was still a better choice out there than Bartolo Colon in the being of Johan Santana. Santana was far more dominant than Colon only he finished with less wins. Santana's stat line looked like this: 16-7 (five less wins, one less loss than Colon) 2.87 ERA (more than half a run better), 33 games (tied), 3 complete games (one more), 2 shutouts (two more), 231.2 innings pitched (9 more), 22 homers allowed (four less), 45 walks (two more), and 238 strikeouts (81 more).

Only big difference here is Santana's five less wins. In nearly every other category Santana had the edge in a sizeable fashion, except walks where Santana walked two more. His ERA was more than half a run better. He pitched one more complete game and two more shutouts than Colon (zero). He pitched nine more innings and surrendered four less home runs. The biggie here is Santana's 81 more strikeouts in just 9 more innings pitched. Do the math and decide for yourself. this years Cy Young winner in the American League did not deserve it. He should have been in third place!

In the National League a well deserved award was handed to Chris Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals. I spent the past few weeks thinking that it should go to Dontrelle Willis of the Florida Marlins because I though that for a guy to have 10 losses and sport such a low ERA (2.63) showed that he did not have great run support.

However, Willis apparently did have the run support a pitcher desires with his team scoring five or more runs in 12 of his wins and in nine of those his team backed him with six or more runs. Willis also earned some of his losses by giving up five or more runs in five of them. Carpenter's run support ran along the same lines with his team backing him with five or more runs in 16 of his 21 wins. Each were shutout once. Carpenter won backed by three or less runs four times and Willis did so seven times. Carpenter did not allow more than three earned runs in any of his wins, Willis did once. Carpenter finished the season with a 21-5 record, 2.83 ERA and 213 strikeouts against 51 walks and 18 homers allowed over 241.2 innings pitched. He also tallied up 7 complete games of which four were shutouts. Willis' had very similar stats going 22-10 with his 2.63 ERA. Willis struck out 170, walked 55, and allowed only 11 homers in 236.1 innings. His season totals included 7 complete games of which five were shutouts. The main difference is not in the stat line of these two fellows, it is in their undocumented performances.

The above mentioned "earned losses" for Willis against Carpenter's "undefeated stretch" is no comparison. The feat by Carpenter can be broken down like this: After a loss to the Boston Red Sox on June 8th his incredible run began. In each of his next 16 starts, Carpenter lasted at least seven innings and allowed no more than three earned runs, and the Cardinals won all 16 games. He totaled 17 straight starts without the Cardinals losing and 18 in a row without being charged with a defeat himself.

The close total votes, 132 for Carpenter (19 1st place votes) and 112 for Willis (11 1st place) shows how close this race was, and that it came down to dominance and achievement rather than the stat line itself.

I don't want to get into it now but I do think that Andy Pettitte should have received more than the 1 vote he received. The same can be said for Chad Cordero (1) and Roy Oswalt (2).

If it were for better run support, Roger Clemens would have been the clear-cut winner with his razor thin ERA of 1.87. Clemens team was shutout nine times when he pitched and in five of those the final score of the game was 1-0! In the nine shutouts Clemens had an ERA of 1.27 (60 points lower than his season ERA). Had his team provided the offense Roger would have had a 22-8 record to go with the out-of-this-world ERA and his 185 strikeouts. WOW!


To sum up:

ROY:
AL:
Winner: Huston Street
Robbed: Robinson Cano (maybe biased a bit here?!?)
NL:
Winner: Ryan Howard
Good Call

MOY:
AL:
Winner: Ozzie Guillen
Robbed: Joe Torre (maybe a drop biased here too!)
NL:
Winner: Bobby Cox
Robbed: Phil Garner (should have gotten more votes but not the award)

CY YOUNG:
AL:
Winner: Bartolo Colon
Robbed: Mariano Rivera - or Johan Santana (if it must be a starter)
NL:
Winner: Chris Carpenter
Good Call


Well people, there you have it...

oVeR AnD oUt!!

Sports Week...

More happenings in the sports world... More T.O. drama. Jets downward spiral is almost complete. Trade talk, managers on the move, baseball in the air. Knicks and Larry Brown are 0-4. Are the L.A. Clippers really 4-0? Hockey is in full swing.

So Mr. Owens, getting in front of a camera once again, and saying something stupid, once again!! T.O. Is losing credibility and friends all throughout the entire National Football League. He has been suspended by his team for four games without pay and he has been deactivated for all games from then on. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that the Eagles will either trade or release the disgruntled yet talented player, come seasons end. I would also like to point out in response to T.O. saying that his team would be better off with Bret Favre as QB rather than Donovan McNabb: If Bret Favre was your quarterback you'd be 1-7!! Eagles fans are actually taking this whole thing very well. They all hate him and are happy to see him go. Here's to the Eagles and There Fans!!

The, J-E-T-S, JETS-JETS-JETS, S-U-C-K, SUCK-SUCK-SUCK!! Firstly, a team to have the number one and two quarterbacks go down in the same quarter of the same game has probably never happened before, so I hope all diehard football fans got to see it then, because it will also never happen again! Now to put this sorry story into perspective: LaDanian Tomlinson - a running back - Has thrown 3 TD passes; that's one less than the entire NY Jets QB team. The Jets have played Chad Pennington, Jay Fiedler, Brooks Bollinger and Vinny Testaverde, and no that is not some kind of record. There are even teams that started five different QBs in its first five games! Anyways, for the Jets its time to start thinking about losing so we can get a great draft pick and pick up someone like Vince Young, Reggie Bush or Matt Leinert. Please, Please tell me the Jets don't plan to pick up T.O. in the offseason. If they do my switching to the Redskins will be official!

Hideki Matsui will most probably re-sign with the Yankees before the deadline that is stated in his contract. If he doesn't, the team will be obligated to release him and he will become a free agent and the Yankees will not be able to sign him until May, 1, effectively ending his tenure in the Bronx. Hopefully the Yankees see how important this man is to the team averaging 24 homeruns, 110 RBI, in his three seasons in New York, to go with his .297 career average for those three seasons. If Hideki is not re-signed, Oy Vey! I read a rumor that the Yankees are planning to switch team mentalities and go with a little bit of a youth movement. In that I mean that the team is seriously considering not signing a center-fielder and asking Bubba Crosby to do the job. The Yankees do plan to go with Andy Phillips, as a backup first baseman and lefty batter of the bench. Lets Go Yankees, and hopefully next season we will be able to say "First Place Yankees" from beginning to end!

Basketball has turned out many surprises already, and yes, to me the Knicks starting 0-4 under Larry Brown is a surprise!. The Clippers starting 4-1 should be a surprise to anybody. Phil and Kobe getting along is a little of a surprise! All I got to say is, sit back, buckle up, and enjoy the '05-'06 season-ride...Here We Go!!!

I would like point out something interesting this year in hockey. In the last season ('03-'04) there were two games the entire season where both teams scored six points or more. This year its different with the new rule changes. Last Saturday alone there were two games with each team scoring six or more!! Hockey is definitely more exciting with higher scores. I told myself after the lockout that I would not become a hockey fan again... But hell, its not working!! Go Rangers!!

Sorry but this week there weren't any exciting records or shows put on in the NFL... Hope to report some more next week!!

Until Then...

oVeR AnD oUt!!