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Levine the new 'face of evil'
2007-10-20 13:50:00
In the aftermath of the dismissal of New York Yankees Manager Joe Torre, it is obvious the team is no longer run by George Steinbrenner -- or any Steinbrenner.The new boss is Randy Levine, team president and long-time Torre hater, who has taken advantage of George's decline to grab authority.Levine has long been suspected of being the primary Tampa source of the backstabbing directed at Torre in recent years. There are also those who think it was he who arranged Steinbrenner's conversation with Ian O'Connor in which Steinbrenner said Torre wouldn't be back if the Yankees lost to Cleveland.If the Yankees are the Evil Empire, the New York Post's Mike Vaccaro says Levine is truly "the face of evil."Now the Yankees are run by a tangle of titles, by a couple of Steinbrenner sons and a gaggle of in-laws and headed by a professional politician named Randy Levine who never has made any pretense about the fact he is unconvinced that Torre personally hung the moon in the night sky.Torre ...
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Friday Funnies
2007-10-19 13:15:00
The following was paid for by the Trent Edwards for Buffalo Bills Quarterback Committee.One more from the Bills, whose fans weren't celebrating when this night ended.They probably really felt like doing something like this.
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Shame on the Yankees
2007-10-19 04:30:00
Right now, I am ashamed to be a fan of the New York Yankees .The Joe Torre Era is over. It's not so much that Torre is out that bothers me. Though I disagree, you can make an argument that it was time for a change.I'm bothered, though, by the way this was done. If the handling of Torre's dismissal (which, in reality is what it was) is any indication of the type of franchise the Yankees are to become as George Steinbrenner declines and allows others to make decisions the Yankees could be in for a long, hard, disgraceful fall.Oh, sure, in theory Torre turned down the job. The offer the Yankees made him, though, had "insult" written all over it. A one-year deal for $5 million (a $2 million pay cut), with performance-based incentives and a club option for 2009.It was an offer the Yankee bosses (whoever they actually are now) surely knew Torre would not accept.Torre served the Yankees incredibly well for 12 years, winning four World Series, going to the playoffs every year and bringing...
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Torre tells Yankees to stick it!
2007-10-18 22:53:00
Joe Torre walked away from the New York Yankees today, and if he had to go I'm glad it was his choice. The Yankees made him a 1-year, $5 million offer with $3 million in performance bonuses and an option for a second year.After 12 years Torre decided he had had enough, and that the Yankees weren't offering enough. Good for him.What happens now? Who knows?An era is over, and you could see a vastly different Yankee team next season.
More About: Stick , Tells , Tick

Viewing the headlines
2007-10-18 04:56:00
The New York Yankees can't seem to decide what to do with Joe Torre.Is he hired? Is he fired? Will Don Mattingly replace him? Does he want the job? Nobody seems to know for sure.While the Yankees continue to make headlines for doing nothing, there really are things happening in the world of sports. Let's take a look at some of the stories making headlines.The Colorado Rockies are in the World SeriesHow the hell did that happen? The Rockies swept away both the Phillies and the Diamondbacks to get to the World Series. If you say you saw this coming, you're a liar. The Rockies can hit, they can field and they have just enough pitching.Kimmel banned from MNFWhat on earth made Kimmel think picking on former Monday Night Football analyst Joe Theismann, while visiting with the MNF crew, was a smart thing to do. An ESPN spokesman called Kimmel's shots and Theismann "classless and disappointing." Maybe ESPN will re-consider this whole "guest in the booth" thing they seem to be so fond of...
More About: Headlines , Viewing

Eli is climbing the food chain
2007-10-17 13:04:00
Just how good has New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning been so far this season? During Monday night's broadcast of the game against Atlanta ESPN's Ron Jaworski, who is to quarterbacks what Mel Kiper is to the NFL Draft, said he would rank Eli 8th currently among starting NFL quarterbacks. I don't have the list of the seven QBs Jaworski puts in front of Eli, but where he ranks on the quarterback food chain is always a fun game to play. So, let's do that. During the off-season Sports Illustrated's Peter King told us Eli was the 22nd best of the 32 projected starters. To me, that was just further evidence that King is off his rocker. Not a chance there are 21 better quarterbacks around the NFL than Eli. But, fast-forwarding to right now, are there only seven in the league who are better? If you go by the NFL's screwy Quarterback Rating System Manning is not even close to the top 10. By that measure, he has a QB Rating of 83.7 thru 6 games, 17th in the league. Such luminar...
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Yankees' Power Dance about to begin
2007-10-16 13:46:00
You are, of course, familiar with the 'Hokey Pokey,' that crazy dance you find at too many drunken parties. Well, what's going on right now with the New York Yankees is one giant 'Hokey Pokey.'Put Joe Torre in. Put Joe Torre out. Put Torre in and shake him all about.Put Hank (right) and Hal Steinbrenner in. Put Hank and Hal out. Put Hank and Hal in and shake 'em all about.Put King George in. Put King George out. Put King George in and shake the old geezer all about.Put A-Rod/Mo/Jorge and the rest of the free agents in. Put 'em all out. Put 'em all back in and shake 'em all about.You get the idea.What I will call the Yankee Leadership Council (King George and his many minions who want some authority) meets today in Tampa to discuss Joe Torre's fate and begin figuring what next year's team will look like.It's a mess. Not only does nobody really know what is going to happen, nobody knows who is really making final decisions on anything.Could be The Boss, depending on whethe...
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Kudos & Wet Willies
2007-10-15 13:07:00
It's Monday, so that means it's time for 'Kudos & Wet Willies.' So, let's go.Kudos to ...• Vinny Testaverde. How can you not start here? Testaverde, 43, signed with the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday, then started Sunday and led them to a 25-10 victory over Arizona. Testaverde was 20-of-33 for 206 yards and a touchdown.• The New England Patriots. Challenged for the first time all season, the 6-0 Patriots rallied from behind to rout the previously unbeaten Dallas Cowboys, 48-27.• Adrian Peterson. In case you hadn't noticed, the rookie Minnesota running back is pretty good. Peterson had an electifying day Sunday against Chicago, gaining 224 yards on 20 carries. He scored on runs of 73, 48 and 35 yards. For good measure, he returned a kickoff 53 yards to set up the game-winning field goal.• The Colorado Rockies. Twenty wins in 21 games and a 3-0 lead over Arizona in the NLCS. Nobody saw this coming. It's gotta kill Mets fans to watch Kaz Matsui play a flawless se...

Red Sox have the upper hand
2007-10-14 15:00:00
It's simply not as much fun to be a New York Yankees fan as it used to be.Things changed forever, of course, on that fateful night in 2004 when the Boston Red Sox wiped out that 0-3 deficit and beat the Yankees in the ALCS. The Red Sox winning the World Series made it even worse.The most fun I ever had as a baseball fan was taking my son, who was then 9, to Fenway Park for a Yankees-Red Sox game. Sitting down the right-field line, I taught him the meaning of "1918,' and each time the Sox fans got started he proudly stood on his chair and shut them up with a "1918" chant.Those days are, of course, long gone.It is now Red Sox fans who are kicking the Yankees. And there is nothing Yankee fans can do about it except sit silently, take it and hope our day will come again. And soon.The Red Sox have a title more recently than the Yankees, and might be on their way to another one. They have the AL East championship. Right now, Sox fans have all the ammo.Murray Chass of the New York Times ...
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'Greek' says
2007-10-13 01:22:00
To paraphrase Chris Berman, nobody circles the wagons like The Greek . After a miraculous week that nearly saw my Bills pull off the upset of the year, it's time to make my picks for Week 6. Granted, the old adage is to quit while you're ahead, but I have contractual obligations that I must fulfill for the next 12 weeks + the playoffs. Since last week's system of just making picks without commenting on each game worked so well, we'll give it another try this week. Cincinnati at Kansas City (+3)Houston at Jacksonville (-6.5) Miami (+4.5) at ClevelandMinnesota at Chicago (-5)Philadelphia at NY Jets (+3.5) St. Louis (+9.5) at BaltimoreTennessee at Tampa Bay (-3)Washington at Green Bay (-3) Carolina (+4.5) at ArizonaNew England at Dallas (+5.5)Oakland at San Diego (-9.5) New Orleans (+6.5) at SeattleNY Giants at Atlanta (+3) Last Week: 9-4-1Season: 28-41-8

Friday Funnies
2007-10-12 12:41:00
Well, it's Friday Funnies time again. I mentioned the other day that my son is a Cleveland Indians fan. I hope he never becomes this kind of fan.• Soccer fans are a little 'over-exuberant' sometimes.• The next-best-thing to being at Wimbledon.• Like horses, some people are real mudders.• Don't mess with this Granny.

Comebacks aren't always a good idea
2007-10-11 06:02:00
Hasn't Vinny Testaverde been a pro football player since before the AFL-NFL merger? It sure seems that way. Testaverde, 43, is back in the NFL again, having signed to be a backup quarterback for Carolina, which has lost Jake Delhomme for the season.In the NBA, Allan Houston, 36, has decided to try a comeback with the New York Knicks after two years away due to bad knees.These two comebacks got me thinking about other notable comebacks. Some that went OK, others that were regrettable. Let's look at some of them.• Michael Jordan, Wizards version. The greatest player in NBA history got away with one comeback in Chicago, but the 'MJ Goes to Washington' show should never have gotten off the ground. Sure, Jordan averaged 22.9 and 20.0 points per game in his two seasons with the Wizards, but the team was terrible and Jordan was nowhere near the dominating, electrifying player he had been. He was an old, slow guy who couldn't jump and relied on guile and brute strength to score. I w...
More About: Idea , Good , Always

For Torre, a slow death
2007-10-10 06:03:00
The Joe Torre Death Watch is continuing in New York.The Yankees, it seems, will not treat Torre with the dignity and respect he showed during his 12 years as manager. Not only will they fire him, but it seems they are going to let him twist in the wind for a while before they do it."Have some patience. Things take time. There will be a process and we'll work through that, and it will lead us where it leads us," general manager Brian Cashman said. "My speculation is I'm not going to have anything to report in the coming days.""There's nothing decided yet," said Hank Steinbrenner, a son of the owner and a team senior vice president.This is precisely what I hoped would not happen. Whether he deserves to go or not (and I think he doesn't), Torre doesn't deserve to be treated like this. Four World Series titles, 12 playoff appearances and the respect of most everyone who has ever dealt with him should earn him better treatment than this.Don Mattingly, whose name is front and center ...
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New low for bawling Waldman
2007-10-09 19:28:00
Memo to New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner: When you're done tossing Joe Torre, the best Yankee manager of my 47 years, in the trash like a piece of rotten meat, please, please throw Yankee fans a bone and get rid of Suzyn Waldman!The Yankees radio broadcaster sniffled all over whatever shreds of professional dignity she had left last night, crying on the air while "reporting" from the Yankee locker room after the season ended last night. You can hear it here.Waldman is, of course, little more than a Yankee fan with a microphone. Her gleeful "oh my goodness" rant during the Roger Clemens returns announcement was embarrassing to anyone who follows the Yankees.Now this.C'mon, George. Do us all a favor. Get rid of the screaming, sniffling insufferable Waldman and give anyone who listens to Yankee games a break.

It's hurricane season in the Bronx
2007-10-09 13:28:00
I am too stunned to think straight right now. The New York Yankees season is over. The Joe Torre Era in the Bronx might be over. The A-Rod Era in the Bronx might be over. It’s entirely possible, especially if Torre is gone, that several other Yankee stalwarts have played their final game in New York. I’m in disbelief. I was sure the Yankees would win Game 4. Sure that Chien Ming-Wang would pitch well and the Yankees would be playing Wednesday in Cleveland for a berth in the ALCS. That, of course, didn’t happen. The Indians won, 6-4, and will play the Boston Red Sox for the right to advance to the World Series. In New York, it may as well be winter. Another dark, dreary discontented off-season has begun too soon. Right now, I can’t think about all the reasons why this happened. After three straight first-round playoff exits I should be used to this. But, I’m not. The Yankees season is over. The storms around the Bronx, though, are just beginning.
More About: Season , The Bronx , Hurricane

'Kudos & Wet Willies,' late Monday edition
2007-10-08 21:11:00
We're running late today, but here is our weekly Monday edition of 'Kudos & Wet Willies.'Kudos to ...• The New York Giants. From an 0-2 start to 3-2 with Atlanta, San Francisco and Maimi the next three weeks. The Giants could be looking at 6-2 at the halfway point of the season again. My guess is not too many people saw that coming.• The Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. If anybody picked those two teams to meet in the NLCS when the season started, I'd like to meet that person.• Phil Hughes. The baby-faced Hughes bailed out the Yankees last night, hurling 3.2 innings of outstanding relief after taking over for Roger Clemens last night. Without Hughes' effort, no way the Yankees are still playing today.• Marion Jones. For finally coming clean about her long-suspected steroid usage.• Stanford. Saturday's victory over then No. 1 USC was another stunner in a college football season full of them.Wet Willies to ...• Roger Clemens. May...
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Yankees live for another day
2007-10-08 13:09:00
So, the New York Yankees live to fight for at least one more day following Sunday night's 8-4 victory over Cleveland.Thank you Victor Martinez, for throwing to the wrong base on Melky Cabrera's swinging bunt and opening the door for a Yankee rally.Thank you Trot Nixon, for helping the cause by misplaying a base hit and allowing a couple of extra runs.Thank you Jake Westbrook, mostly for not being CC Sabathia or Fausto Carmona.Thank you Johnny Damon, for delivering the three-run 5th inning home run that gave the Yankees the lead and finally allowed this team to exhale.Thank you Joe Torre, for keeping the focus on the game despite the threat looming over you from George Steinbrenner. Torre even got Yogi Berra to deliver a "it ain't over 'til it's over" speech to the players before the game.Thank you Phil Hughes, for pitching like the savior the Yankees hoped you would one day become. Four dominant, shutout innings in relief of the wounded, ineffective and probably finished Roger ...
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Steinbrenner roars back to life
2007-10-07 14:31:00
George Stein brenner is back! And that is bad news for Joe Torre.It's been a long time since Steinbrenner, 77, acted like the bullying, belligerent, brash New York Yankees owner of his younger days.In an interview with The Record's Ian O'Connor Saturday, though, Steinbrenner showed he's still got it. If the Yankees don't rally to beat the Cleveland Indians, King George told O'Connor Torre won't be back."His job is on the line," the Yankees' owner said in a phone interview. "I think we're paying him a lot of money. He's the highest-paid manager in baseball, so I don't think we'd take him back if we don't win this series."This was classic Steinbrenner. Choosing one reporter he apparently has a good relationship with to deliver his message. Throughout his years with the Yankees, that has been a classic Steinbrenner ploy.Steinbrenner also debunked any thoughts that he doesn't make decisions about the team any longer.I have full control," Steinbrenner said. "I'm doing all r...
More About: Life , Back , Roar

NFL picks: 'Greek' says
2007-10-06 14:28:00
It's time for a moratorium on the witty comments next to each game until I can get my head on straight here and get some picks right. I'm sure some of you are wondering when the witty comments actually happened, but trust me, they were there. Anyway, onto the Week 5 picks and what I hope will be the start of something better then we've seen through the first quarter of the season. Carolina (+3) at New OrleansJacksonville (-2.5) at Kansas CityDetroit at Washington (-3.5)Atlanta at Tennessee (-8)Miami (+5.5) at HoustonSeattle (+6) at PittsburghCleveland at New England (-16.5)Arizona at St. Louis (+3)NY Jets (+3) at NY GiantsTampa Bay at Indianapolis (-10)San Diego at Denver (-1)Baltimore at San Francisco (+3.5)Chicago (+3) at Green BayDallas at Buffalo (+10) Last week: 4-10Season: 19-37-7
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Uh, Dad, thanks for nothing!
2007-10-06 04:36:00
For a New York Yankees fan like me, there has been a lot of misery involved in watching the Yankees lose the first two games of their American League Division Series to the Cleveland Indians.Thursday's 12-3 blowout was embarrassing. Friday night's bug-infested 2-1 11-inning loss was torture. Knowing that another Yankee season that promised a happier ending is on the verge of going up in smoke is sickening.Worse than all of that, however, is the taunting I am having to endure from my wife and 11-year-old son.See, when my dad was alive he turned my youngest child into an Indians fan. I don't know how he did it. But, he did it. And now that is haunting me.I made a small $2 wager (his choice) with my son regarding the outcome of the series. Thursday night I was bombarded with "you better get your 2 bucks ready" taunts.Friday morning, of course, he was prancing around the house proudly wearing his Indians cap and rubbing it in. Friday night, more of the same. Only now, my wife -- wh...
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Friday Funnies, Letterman edition
2007-10-05 13:08:00
My New York Yankees got their collective asses kicked by the Cleveland Indians last night. Thank goodness it's time for 'Friday Funnies ,' because I need to laugh.None of these has anything to do with sports, I know. But, I love David Letterman and I need the comic relief, so this week you get a whole mess of Letterman clips.Memo to my good buddy, Pete. Watch these, laugh a little, enjoy the sunshine and remember that the world didn't end when Chien Ming-Wang spit the bit last night.Here's an interview done just last week with Paris Hilton. Dave, of course, won't let go of the 'Paris in prison' angle.Dave grills Bill O'Reilly.O'Reilly vs. Letterman, Round 2Dave meets BoratA Bill Gates spoof.I could go on and on with these. I leave you, though, with a Letterman clip that isn't funny. I love this song by 'Evanescence,' though, so you get to hear it.
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Torre deserves to stay
2007-10-04 13:30:00
The New York Yankees begin their quest for a 27th World Series title tonight in Cleveland. Is this also the beginning of Joe Torre's final days as Yankees manager?With Torre's contract up at the end of the season that, of course, has been the focus of much of the media coverage leading up to tonight's first pitch.Let me be clear. I'm a Torre guy. I've said this before, and I haven't changed my opinion. Regardless of the outcome over the next few days or weeks, Torre, 67, deserves to be back next year. And the year after that. And the year after that if he chooses.Pick on Torre's bullpen management if you want -- and I know many of you want to. But you can't argue with the results. Four World Series titles, albeit none since 2000, and playoff appearances in all of his 12 seasons. No one is better suited to handle the egos of the Yankees clubhouse, the expectations that surround the team year after year and the media horde that follows them everywhere.Newsday's Shaun Powell...
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Viewing the Blogosphere, Yankees edition
2007-09-12 21:01:00
The New York Yankees appear to be headed to the postseason again -- albeit this time as the American League's wild-card team -- and that seems to have plenty of folks in the blogosphere spouting off. With that in mind, let's go Viewing the Blogosphere , Yankee-style.• With Roger Clemens hurting, here's an idea on something Kyle Farnsworth and the long-forgotten Carl Pavano can do to actually help the Yankees. Bugs and Cranks• It's beginning to sink in on the Tigers and their fans that they won't be going back to the playoffs this season. I wonder if Gary Sheffield thinks he's on the right team now. Again from Bugs and Cranks• There is always a red-hot team nobody wants any part of once the playoffs begin. This year, that team is the Bronx Bombers. Epic Carnival• Jason Giambi will likely get most of the starts at first base in the playoffs. Does his offense help the Yankees more than his defense can hurt them? New York Times
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ESPN: Facts take backseat to network's self-promotion
2007-09-12 13:21:00
ESPN has become a joke.The network that drove the boom in 24-hour-a-day sports coverage, and made sports full-time in-your-face entertainment, is now about the least credible source of sports information among major media outlets.In some ways, ESPN has become the National Enquirer of sports news, seemingly making it up as they go along to suit their purposes.ESPN's latest screw-up was Chris Mortensen's incorrect report that New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning will miss a month with a shoulder separation.The Giants have said he is day-to-day with a bruised A-C joint, and noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews has cleared him to play this weekend if he can tolerate the pain.Mortensen is sticking to his story despite the fact that he appears to be way off base."Here's how good I feel about the story: Pat Hanlon (Giants VP of communications) has never lied to me and I don't believe he's lying to me now," Mortensen said.Mortensen's Manning miscue is nowhere near on the same...
More About: Facts , Promotion , Romo , Espn

Joba: The perfect successor to Rivera
2007-09-11 13:47:00
Joba Chamberlain should never start a game for the New York Yankees. Not this year. Not next year. Not ever.It may not have happened by design, but the Yankees have already found the place where the 21-year-old phenom with the 100-mile-per-hour fastball belongs.Coming out of their bullpen to the tune of Tim McGraw's "Indian Outlaw" for the next 10-15 years to blow away hitters at the end of games.He's the perfect replacement for Mariano Rivera , who is still as good as any closer in the game but can't go on forever. Rivera, regarded by many as the best closer of all time, will be 38 next season. He will be a free agent at the end of this season, though the Yankees will undoubtedly re-sign him.Father Time will catch up to Rivera soon, however. And Chamberlain should be the guy who steps in as the next Yankee closer.For years now Yankee fans had to wonder how the team would replace Rivera when Father Time finally catches up to his devastating cutter. There didn't seem to be anyone ...
More About: Perfect

Kudos & Wet Willies
2007-09-10 06:12:00
Kudos & Wet Willies, where we give credit to the best and hurl scorn at the worst, will be a Monday staple here at 'Valentine's Views.' Here's this week's edition.Kudos to ...• Alex Rodriguez. The amazing A-Rod Show continues, as he has now homered in five straight games. He now has 52 home runs, 140 RBI and should unquestionably be the American League MVP. With 19 games left he might just get to 60 if pitchers keep challenging him.• Justine Henin. Henin won her seventh Grand Slam tennis tournament Saturday, capturing the U.S. Women's Open. The divas like Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams get all the attention, but Henin gets the wins. She isn't the most popular player in the world, just undoubtedly the best.• Pedro Martinez. He's hardly the Pedro of old, but his victory over Houston Sunday gives him two wins in two starts. It also has to give the Mets hope that he can help them avoid last season's post-season meltdown and get to the World Series.• Randy Moss. How...
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'Friday Funnies' return
2007-09-07 13:17:00
We haven't done a 'Friday Funnies ' in a while here at Valentine's Views, and I think we need to get back to our roots a little bit. We're going to try to make 'Funnies' a regular Friday feature, beginning today. So, here is this week's version of 'Friday Funnies.'• The Oakland Raiders can't seem to sign JaMarcus Russell. FanIQ pokes a little fun at the Raiders. Maybe they really should have drafted this kid.• Rumors and Rants, one of my favorite blogs, has a hilarious look at which NFL quarterbacks you want as your wingman when you're looking for some action.• We didn't think anybody would actually need to be told this, but Epic Carnival reminds us that wakeboarding and bridges are not a good combination.• More reading for you, but from Basketbawful here is a list of Shaq's top 13 nicknames.
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Thoughts as the NFL season kicks off
2007-09-06 13:31:00
The Saints march into Indianapolis tonight to open the NFL season. With that in mind, let's march around the league with a few observations as the new season kicks off.• As head coaches these guys make great coordinators.In San Diego Norv Turner takes over for Marty Schottenheimer, who lost a power struggle with GM AJ Smith and then lost his job despite going 14-2. Norv is a terrific offensive coordinator, but he's 58-82 as a head coach. How he keeps getting chances is beyond me.The situation is much the same in Dallas, where all anyone can talk about is how much more relaxed things are at Valley Ranch with Wade Phillips taking over for Bill Parcells. Umm, maybe so, but Phillips is a definite downgrade from Parcells. Zero playoffs wins for Phillips vs. two Super Bowl titles for Parcells and 10 seasons in which he has taken a team to the playoffs.Memo to the folks in Miami. It says here that Cam Cameron, moving from offensive coordinator in San Diego to head coach of the Dolphins...
More About: Thoughts , Season , Kicks , Seas , Kick

Picking the winners and losers
2007-09-06 13:06:00
Here are the inaugural weekly NFL selections from friend of the blog, Bryan 'The Greek.' Does 'The Greek' have a clue? His selections will run every Thursday, so we'll spend the season finding out.New Orleans at Indianapolis (-6) -- The Colts start their championship run against a tough opponent, but at home, I can't see them winning by less than a touchdown.Denver at Buffalo (+3) -- The Bills look like they can put up points on anyone and a revamped offensive line should give the passing and running games time to thrive. Denver has a lot of questions marks on both sides of the ball, and this one will be closer than a lot of people think.Miami at Washington (-3) -- Miami looks awful in every aspect on offense. Washington doesn't look much better, but I'll take Portis, Moss and Campbell over Brown, Ginn-py and Trent "Where Am I" Green.Pittsburgh (-4.5) at Cleveland -- It's Pittsburgh at Cleveland. Nothing else needs to be said.Tennessee (+6.5) at Jacksonville -- Do you think...
More About: Winners , Losers , Picking

Squirrel proving to be Yankees good luck charm
2007-09-05 06:05:00
The New York Yankees appear to have a new mascot -- and no, I'm not talking about Shelley Duncan.It's Right Field Ratatosk, a squirrel who has mysteriously been making making appearances during recent games, scampering up and down the screen attached to the right field foul pole.RFR first appeared last week when the Yankees were sweeping the Boston Red Sox. That prompted the New York Times, taking itself way too seriously, to dig up the story of a mythological squirrel to show that this was a bad omen for the Bronx Bombers.I beg to differ. Where was Ratatosk over the weekend when guys named Andy Sonnenstine and Jason Hammel (yeah, I don't know who the hell they are, either) pitched the Devil Rays to victories over the Yankees? Where was he Monday when the Mariners beat up on the Yankees for their first victory in 10 games?Taking a long Labor Day holiday weekend, apparently.But last night, with the Yankees in danger of slipping back into a tie for the wild-card lead with Seattle, ...
More About: Good , Luck , Charm , Good Luck