Weekend of Atonement

I LOVE SPORTS

What a weekend in NY Sports, right?

First off, a SPECTACULAR Sunday in New York with all 4 local teams winning. The Jets barely pulled it out against the Fins. The Yankees topped the Jays once more with the half drunk Sox losing as well (side note: one really bad thing about the wild card is the "clinched a playoff berth" experience that occurred Saturday night for the Sox. Hey guys, we didn't win anything but we are in the playoffs and that is all that really matters anyway so let's pour champagne on each other!! Just a strange situation) and our beloved Giants and Mets both held on in dramatic fashion to make it a perfect day in New York.

Now, let's talk about the team that this blog is dedicated to first & foremost, our New York Mets. Does it feel like a 3-game winning streak to anyone? It sure doesn't to me. A week ago today I drove home from the Meadowlands depressed at both the Giants and Mets losses. The Mets had just been swept at home by the Phils and were headed to Washington. It only got worse as we lost 2 of 3 there and went to Florida and lost the worst game of the season on Thursday night. On Friday, at work, I listed to the FAN callers sound like they were all ready to jump off the Triborough or at least throw Willie off it. And then the weekend came. We started the fast on Friday night and the Mets started the drama. At 12:45, after a 2 hour plus rain delay I finally went to bed..starving, but with a win. The Phils won too, of course, and the lead remained at 1.5. I awoke, OK Nate awoke, at 7:15 Saturday morning. No food all day though Yom Kippur. Napped for 3+ hours in the afternoon. Woke up at 3:15. At 4:00, the next game of torture arrived. Watched the Mets during the home stretch of the fast. Finally, an easy game. As the game wrapped up, bagels and lox and whitefish and egg salad and tuna and herring and any other Jewish appetizing you can name was devoured by yours truly (actually I hate herring but it sounded good in the sentence). The Mets won, the Phils won but the magic number was at 7.

And then today came. A beautiful day when I awoke from the sounds of my child yelling for my wife to come get him. I went to my brother Barry's in the morning to help him build a sukkah. Jews have no building skills at all so it took us 4 hours. I left with the Mets down 3-2 and jumped in the Jeep to race back home for the end of the game and beginning of the Giants. I stopped at a local deli for some sandwiches & drinks when Moises came to the plate with 2 on. Base hit and a tie game! I run into the deli, order 2 sandwiches. Run back out to the car. Del-god-o bomb! High five Jayme (she didn't care). 6-3 Mets.

But of course..this team can't make it easy. Heilman let's up 2 in the 8th, which should have been 3 easy. Wagner (where the hell have you been) lets up a bomb to Uggla in the 9th. Tie game. Extras.

This is where the fun started. Giants kick off.

Back and forth, back and forth my TV went. From channel 234 to 235 back to 234 back to 235. Over and over, over and over. Then some minor leaguer walked Jose. Followed by a clutch hit by Luis. Followed by the MVP with possibly the biggest hit of the season. 7-6 Mets. The best hitter I have seen in a long time, Moises, then lined out into a fluke DP to end the inning. Back to the Giants...playing horribly...Back to the Mets...and in the pen ready for the close was none other than Aaron Sele. He comes on and gets 2 guys easy and for some strange reason Willie comes out to get him. Brings in Shoe-in-face. Somehow he gets his 2nd save of the series! Mets win! The Phils lose on top of it and the Magic number is 5. Wow.

Back to 234. Giants just not getting it done. The half ends on a particular low not and they are down 2 TDs..17-3. Well, if one team can come back, why not the other? The Sandwich, aka Reuben Droughns punches in 2 tough running 2nd half TDs and Plax makes a sick catch and run to top a great come from behind win led by the missing BIG BLUE DEFENSE. A HUGE goal line stand ended it with great plays made by Kawika Mitchell on 3rd down and rookie Aaron Ross on the final play of the game.

Games balls to Derrick Ward for a terrific effort on the ground (running more on 1st down would only add to his production Kevin), The Sandwich for his 2 Tds, Mathias Kiwanuka (7 tackles, 2 sacks and a forced fumble), Plax (for a great second half after a horrible 1st) and Spags for he defensive effort today. - the entire defense allowed just 81 yards and zero points on the 2nd half. Incredible job defense!

Next week is gonna be a fun one out at the Meadowlands. Sunday Night with the Eagles. I invite anyone and everyone out to the tailgate. It's sure to be one of the best of the year.

Onto another week of baseball my friends. Hopefully next Sunday I just care about the Giants as the Mets are resting up.

LETS GO METS. LETS GO GIANTS