Double Issue: Sports Week(s) (continued)

In the world of Major League Baseball trades and free agent signings have been happening right and left as well as arbitration offers and other transactions.

The Trading block has seen elite players such as Javier Vazquez, Edgar Renteria, Johnny Estrada and Lyle Overbay move to new homes.

In a move that will strengthen what is already arguably the best pitching staff in the AL, the White Sox acquired Vazquez in exchange for Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez and Luis Vizcaino. This move will be a great one for both teams.

The Red Sox ship Edgar Renteria out to the Braves for Andy Marte, giving up on the shortstop just one year after signing him. Look for Renteria to have a breakthrough year and for the Red-Sox shortstop problems to continue.

The Blue Jays continued there flurry of offseason moves by acquiring Lyle Overbay. Overbay, a highly overrated player will not prove to be much of a difference on this Blue Jays team.

The Yankees discarded Tony Womack to the Reds for a couple minor-leaguers, doing away with the infielder/outfielder just a year after bringing him to the Bronx.

The Braves sent catcher Johnny Estrada to Arizona in a move that I do not fully understand.

The Cubs fill their leadoff spot and centerfield void by acquiring Juan Pierre from the Marlins fire-sale for a handful of young pitchers.

The Yankees get Ron Villone as part of the aforementioned fire-sale, for a minor leaguer.

Free agent signings have seen the Tigers overpay for starting pitcher Kenny Rogers ($16M, two years) and closer Todd Jones ($11M, 2 years). The free agent market has also lost marquee catcher Ramon Hernandez to the Orioles (4 yrs, $27.5M), Paul Konerko opting to give the White Sox a 'hometown discount' and signing for five years and $$60M (he and new acquisition Jim Thome will likely split time at DH and first-base), and Trevor Hoffman and Bob Wickman both sign with their previous teams the Padres and Indians respectively (1 yr, $5M and 2 yrs $13.5M respectively).

In arbitration, the big news was the Houston Astros declining to offer to Roger Clemens, meaning that the free agent superstar right-hander cannot speak with or sign with the Astros until May 1. Rumors have already been swirling about Clemens possibly signing with the Red-Sox, Yankees, Cardinals and Rangers. Clemens did mention that those would be the four teams he will talk with if he decides not to retire.

The Yankees offered arbitration to three players with the agreement that they would not accept, giving the Yankees until January 8th to come to terms with the players. Bernie Williams (close to a one-year, $2M deal), Al Leiter (leaning towards retirement), and Ramiro Mendoza (signing a minor-league contract) are those three players. The Yankees bring in two pitchers to help bolster their bullpen. Mike Myers signs a two year contract and Octavio Dotel, a one year deal.

The New York Mets did not offer arbitration to Roberto Hernandez, opting to let go one of their most reliable setup/specialty pitchers of 2005. Also not being offered by the Mets were Miguel Cairo, Mike Piazza, Braden Looper and Doug Mientkiewicz as well as six others.

Much more has gone on in the MLB world, including World Baseball Classic news, and I will report in the upcoming articles.

Until then...


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Double Issue: Sports Week(s)

Much has occurred in the last two weeks on many sports fronts. The four big games, NBA, NHL, NFL and MLB have all seen much action.

In the NBA, Pat Riley has taken over as head coach of the Miami Heat, triggering speculation that he forced Stan Van-Gundy out, even though Van-Gundy claims he left for family reasons. In my mind there is no reason not to believe Van-Gundy, and that is the problem with today's sports journalism. one journalist decides that maybe Riley forced him out so then other journalists start reporting that as fact. For whatever it's worth, I believe Stan Van-Gundy.

The NY Knicks continue to shame the name of Madison Square Garden basketball even with Larry Brown at the helm. The leagues highest scoring team, the Phoenix Suns have been held four straight games without 100 points - huh? Tim Duncan and the Spurs continue to soar as do the Detroit Pistons under new head coach Flip Saunders. The Clippers are still the better team in Los Angeles, and despite career games by LeBron James the Cavaliers (including one where he scored 52-points) are struggling, going 3-7 in there last 10 including three loses in a row. Ron Artest has requested a trade jumping on the wagon of multi-millionaire athletes not being happy where they are.

In the NHL, the NY Rangers continue their resurgence, while the Pittsburgh Penguins continue to struggle to the point that led them to fire the head coach. Wayne Gretzky and the Phoenix Coyotes continue their come back as Gretzky proves he can translate the greatness to coaching. The St. Louis Blues checking in at 6-17-4 this morning, have put their incredible playoff streak in jeopardy. After having qualified for the playoffs 25 consecutive seasons, it's looking more and more unlikely. That streak is the longest current postseason streak in professional sports and the third-longest of all-time.

In the NFL, the last two weeks I have gone a combined 21 for 32 in my picks, having been victim of a couple of upsets. Week 13 saw the Jaguars march out and win a game even with their star quarterback sidelined - possibly for the rest of season. Also in week 13 the Panthers managed to finally beat Michael Vick, the Dolphins and Ravens scratch out one-point wins with 6 six seconds left and the Chiefs beat the Broncos in the most exciting game of the day, in which the score kept switching back and forth. In the Monday night football game in week 13 the Philadelphia Eagles were handed a slaughtering at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks. The final score, 42-0 was the largest margin of victory in a Monday night game in its history.

Week 14 had the Indianapolis Colts continue their march to perfection improving to 13-0, while - surprisingly - the New York Jets manage to pull off a win. The Vikings win their seventh straight game and are in major contention for the playoffs. The Redskins win a 'must-win' and are also surprisingly back in the hunt. The Bengals need a last minute field goal to pull away a victory from the suddenly surprising Cleveland Browns, and the Giants pull out a win in overtime (this time on a good Jay Feeley field goal) vs. The Eagles, albeit an ugly one. The Cowboys managed to maintain their position in the NFC East with a victory over the Chiefs and the Packers win the Sunday night game over the sinking ship being the Lions.

In the Monday night game that saw two second-cousins square off in Michael Vick and Aaron Brooks, the Falcons pull off an impressive victory over the Saints at the hands of Vick's running game and - get this - his passing game! Vick threw a 54-yard TD pass to Roddy White and he also ran for two scores. Before the game however, was when the excitement came for the New Orleans Saints when Brooks went off at commissioner Paul Tagliabue, owner Tom Benson, and the NFL in an exclusive interview on WestwoodOne. Brooks stated his displeasure with the way the team was treated in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.

In other NFL news, Brian Westbrook was added to the long list of Eagles injuries, going down to an injury that may even keep him out part of next season. The Jets, ,with their surprising victory over the Raiders, have made it even more unlikely that they will get the first draft pick improving to 3 wins leaving 3 two teams behind them in that category, the Texans and the 49ers.

In NCAA football, the Virginia Tech Hokies showed that they were not really ready for a high-scale game, losing to the Florida State Seminoles in a a game that was far worse than the final score dictates. The USC Trojans and the Texas Longhorns soared to easy blowout victories, 66-19 and 70-3 respectively.

Reggie Bush wins the Heisman trophy collecting the most first place votes since O.J. Simpson, and becoming the third Trojan to pick up the award in the last four seasons joining QBs Carson Palmer and Matt Leinert. Vince young of Texas came in second and Leinert a distant third.

(to be continued...)

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Eric A. Kimmel Himself

On Wednesday night December, 7th I was asked by chair-people of the JCC bookfair if would like to pick up Eric Kimmel at the airport. I knew who Eric Kimmel was, being that I grew up reading his books, some of which are personal favorites of mine - "Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins" and "The Adventures of Hershel Ostropol" - and I thought it would be cool to meet him. I agreed to make the pick up and collected all the necessary information.

I got to the airport early, but his flight had landed even earlier, and once I got in I could not find Mr. Kimmel. Walking around with my little sign reading "KIMMEL" I looked from person to person for people that looked like the picture I had pulled up online. Finally, after thinking that Eric had already taken the hotel shuttle, I exited through the far door of the airport and held out the sign in last attempt to find him. As I walked out, there he was sitting on the bench - without luggage! We met, shook hands and he started to explain how his luggage had in fact not arrived.

As we got into the car, I thought I would offer Mr. Kimmel dinner. He graciously accepted to my surprise and I took him to my sister's house for the dinner she had prepared. (She too was excited to meet the author of her favorite book growing up!) Eric introduced himself to the family and started to read stories to my niece almost immediately. When my father mentioned right before dinner that he was going to daven maariv, Eric got up found a siddur and davened with us. That was a pleasant surprise!

After dinner, which was filled with questions and stories I shuttled Mr. Kimmel to his hotel in Virginia Beach, taking a quick detour past the Sandler Family Campus to show off the building.

The next morning as Eric first came into the building, I purchased one of his books and he autographed it for me. Later on, after Eric had been telling stories to the Hebrew Academy students, I spotted a copy of "Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins" I grabbed it right away, and Eric signed it for me. I expressed my thoughts of possibly giving it to someone as a gift when Eric handed it back to me. He had inscribed the following "To Levi: This one you keep for yourself!". That ended those thoughts!

When Eric spoke to the kids and told them stories, he did voices and even acted out some parts! I think they all had fun. I sat in a couple of his sessions, just so I could here the stories straight form the man who wrote them. After he was done we wished each other well, and that's my story about meeting Eric A. Kimmel himself!

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Stay Tuned...

Please stay tuned...

New articles coming this week...

"Saturday Night on the Town"
"Eric A. Kimmel Himself"

Plus... A 'Double Issue' "Sports Week..." (because I did not do one last week!)

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The Day I Met Art Shamsky

Who is Art Shamsky? Arthur Louis Shamsky was a pro baseball player that played for the Reds, Mets, Cubs and Athletics. He won a world series with the New York Mets in 1969, recording the last out as a pinch-hitter in the only game the Mets lost in that series.

Art Shamsky once played a game in which he homered to tie the game and then hit two extra inning homers in his next two at bats (the Reds - his team then - lost). The next game, Shamsky hit a homer in his first at bat tying him with a select few individuals that have homered in four consecutive at-bats.

in 1968 Shamsky was traded to the Mets and he hit .300 with 14 HR and 47 RBI that seaoson for them..

Art Shamsky was a member of a Mets ballclub that was part of an incredible era in sports history. With the country in a tumultuous state with the Vietnam War and other events happening, the Mets came into the world series with the oddsmakers putting them as a 1-100 chance to win. They proved the world wrong beating the then mighty Baltimore Orioles. Prior to the Mets series appearance the New York Jets played their way to a football championship game (now called Superbowl III) and beat the Baltimore Colts in a game that they were 17 1/2 point underdog. After the Jets and Mets captured their sports crown the New York Knicks went on to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA finals. To date this is the only time that three city teams have won consecutively. It was the first championship for all three of those teams.

Art Shamksy being part of one of the three teams and knowing members of the other teams well, dreamed of compiling a book with the amazing story of New York sports in a time of confusion in the country. The book, The Magnificent Seasons, captures the story from the view of many different folks around the country. Shamsky interviewed many for the book including New York Governors, Mayor of Baltimore at the time (who's three teams, including the Bullets - who were ousted by the Knicks in the first playoff round - met the three NY teams in the postseason) Vietnam War Vets, Broadcasters and more. The book is an excellent compilation of facts and information about these three championship teams in trying times.

Art Shamsky was one of a few Jewish pro-baseball players back then. Which brings me to why I met Art Shamsky. The local JCC is currently having their annual bookfest, and they usually bring in authors to speak and sign books. This year Shamsky was chosen to come and talk and have a formal book signing. Art came to town on Sunday, December 4th, and spoke for about 40 minutes. In his speech he told this story when asked if he ever encountered anti-semitism while playing: "One year the Mets had a doubleheader on Yom Kippur and I decided to sit out both games. I was not at the ballpark. The Mets won both games 1-0, with each games starting pitcher driving in the lone run (only time in history). When I came back to the stadium and looked in my locker there was a big sign that said 'hey, Art, why don't you sit out the rest of the season!

Mr. Shamsky took questions and I asked him to tell us what he thought of Omar Minaya and the Mets recent moves (that was when they had only signed Wagner and acquired Delgado). He went on to explain that he likes Omar and that the moves seem to be the right ones, they look good, and he thinks that the all the moves will make a difference.Shamsky said: "they still have some needs, a catcher, some bullpen help, but we'll see how it turns out".

Afterward Shamsky signed books for guests and to me he wrote "To Levi: even though you're a Yankee fan, I hope you enjoy the book!" When I asked Art "when you made that final out in that World Series game, did you keep the ball or give it to Doug Mientkiewicz?" he had a good laugh with me.


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Fish For Sale...

The Florida Marlins have opened up the newest store on the block. Of the nine players on their 2005 opening day starting line-up just one remains, and he has been shifted to a new position. Miguel Cabrera the young homerun hitting player has been shifted from the outfield to third base and nearly all his teammates have been removed from the team. First baseman Carlos Delgado, traded to the NY Mets; Second baseman Luis Castillo, traded to the Minnesota Twins; Third baseman Mike Lowell, traded to the Red Sox; Outfielder Juan Pierre, traded to the Cubs; Catcher Pal LoDuca, traded to the Mets. The opening day starter was Josh Beckett and he has since been traded to the Red Sox with Lowell and setup man Guillermo Mota. Opening Day closer Todd Jones was lost to free agency, signing with the Detroit Tigers. Outfielder Juan Encarnacion and shortstop Alex Gonzalez as well as five other everyday players were not offered arbitration and Pitcher A.J. Burnett left via free agency as well signing a monster-deal in Toronto.

It seems that we have seen this occurrence before. In 1997 the Florida Marlins won the World Series with a whole slew of big-name players and salaries. Before the team even had a chance to cherish the win they were dismantled. Then owner Wayne Huizenga ordered Dave Dombrowski, then GM, to shed all the big salaries. He did just that trading away Moises Alou, Robb Nen, Devon White, Jeff Conine (who was back with the team from 2003 - 2005, and was not offered arbitration), Kevin Brown and Dennis Cook before 1998 even arrived. Before Spring training he also managed to trade away starting pitcher Al Leiter. The following May, Dombrowski dealt Gary Sheffield, Bobby Bonilla, Charles Johnson and Jim Eisenreich getting Mike Piazza and Todd Ziele in return. Piazza was traded after playing just five games and Ziele, two and half months later, was also shipped.

This time however, after having won the World Series over the New York Yankees in six games in 2003, the Marlins organization tried to keep the team up to competing and hoped to get a new stadium and also hoped that fans would come to baseball games that were not in October. Neither of these ever happened and Jeffrey Loria's money was swiftly swimming away. I guess at this point he just felt it was time to make a point and keep some money for himself rather then invest in a team that doesn't have any really loyal fans. Exploring possibilities for the team to move is a very good move for the Marlins ballclub, and with any luck they may just find a city to land with fans that will cheer their hometown team even when they are not in the World Series.

In exchange for the players the Marlins have traded in their 14-day trading spree they received 14 highly touted prospects (one to be named) including 10 pitchers. All of these players would seem to have a legitimate chance of making the '06 squad, which may not prove to be any better than a AAA-team.


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Sports Week...

Baseball moves are coming quickly as the Winter Meeting in Dallas fast approach. In the last week we have seen Billy Wagner hit New York in style, Kyle Farnsworth right behind him to the crosstown rival Yankees. Tom Gordon leaves the Yankees for a chance to be closer again with Philly. LA Dodgers get their man in Rafael Furcal. Trade rumors are swirling, free agents are comparing... And it looks to be another exciting off season.

A little note about the Mets and all their big moves so far and still to come. If and when the Mets sign a big name catcher and acquire relief pitching help they will be one of the best teams in the National League - on paper! With Billy Wagner rounding out the 'pen, Carlos Delgado in the middle of the lineup, just imagine adding Bengie Molina to the mix and maybe Jorge Julio perhaps. This team should be pretty good, and I think this is the year they really contend - seriously.

Last week in my football picks I went 10 for 16 a drop in my performance form the previous week. Some of them were upsets and others should have turned out differently (Giants and Seahawks come to mind). The six I incorrectly picked to win are as follows: Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants and New York Jets.

There was also quite a few overtime games last week for a change. The New York Giants lost in overtime to a then 8-2 Seattle Seahawks team. The Seahawks did not give up even though in my opinion the Giants played the better game. It all came down in the end to THREE missed field goals on the part of Jay Feeley. Feeley was offered the chance to win the game for the Giants three times, once at the end of regulation and twice in overtime. Two of them were long and was not so long. Feeley had the chance and did not come through and cost his team the game.

The Chicago Bears continued to prove that they are for real and the Minnesota Vikings reminded the public about their playoff ambitions once again winning their fourth consecutive game. The Indianapolis Colts proved that they can even play terrific ball up against the big time teams two, and improved their record to 11-0. The colts were serious straight out the gate scoring a touchdown on their very first offensive play of the game - a 80-yard touchdown pass from Peyton Manning to Marvin Harrison who was wide open way down the field.

The Jets Brooks Bollinger looked pretty good in the teams losing campaign against the New Orleans Saints which ended the Saints six game losing streak and extended the Jets streak to six straight losses.

In Hockey, the New York Rangers put on a performance that has never been done in NHL history winning a Shoot-out game after 15 shots. The winning goal came on a trick-shot from a defense-man.


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