Let’s not forget who ended our season last year.
Let’s not forget what Hanley said about "beating our fuckin asses" on the last day.
Let’s not ever forget what Sunday, September 30th felt like.
Now...what better way to establish our 2008 club then by Johan going up & in on Hanley to start off the game? Knock him on his ass and begin the season with a new KICKASS swagger.
Willie is never going to be the animated guy so many fans lust for in NYC. So if your manager isn't fiery & animated, you need to leave that to the players.
We all know what type of leadership and attitude a healthy Pedro brings to the table. I have no doubt that if he was getting the nod today that he would brush back Hanley early. Well, we have a new Pedro in town...his name is Johan. Now I want to see Johan establish his domincance.
This is your team now Johan.
Do what needs to be done.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
1986 all over again?
Flash back...it's 1986. I am 10 years old and my sports world is really at its peak.
In the spring, my beloved Boston Celtics (yes, I used to care about basketball at one point, in fact, I cared about them more than anything else back in 1984 thru June of 1986) just completed one of the greatest seasons of all time (they lost one game at home all year) behind the great Larry Bird.
In the fall, our New York Mets take home their 2nd championship of all time in one of, if not the, most famous World Series of all time.
And then in the winter, OUR WORLD CHAMPION NEW YORK GIANTS, take home their very first Super Bowl Championship crushing the Broncos in January of 1987.
Obviously, at 10 years old, I had no clue what it would take to possibly get back to this point of sports bliss.
Well, it's took 21+ years but I finally reached that bliss again on February 3rd. A day that I will never, ever forget. (the only other day I remember in sports by the date like that is June 14, 1994).
On the even of opening day, it is my dream to re-live 1986. While I could care less about the C's anymore, it would be damn cool if all 3 of these teams could make this dream come true all in the same year.
That said....LET'S GO METS!!
OK..Onto the season predictions....
Fink, Larry and I all have made our predictions for the year....Let's see who knows, or guesses, best..
Let's start out with the junior circuit:
AL East
Larry: Yankees
Fink: RedSox
Cooper: RedSox
AL Central
Larry: Tigers
Fink: Tigers
Cooper: Indians
AL West
Larry: Mariners
Fink: Mariners
Cooper: Mariners
AL Wild Card
Larry: Indians
Fink: Yankees
Cooper: Tigers
AL Wildcard Playoffs
Larry: Yanks over Indians; Tigers over Mariners
Fink: Tigers over Yankees; Red Sox over Mariners
Cooper: Red Sox over Tigers; Indians over Mariners
ALCS
Larry: Tigers over Yanks
Fink: Tigers over RedSox
Cooper: Indians over RedSox
And now the senior circuit (btw..ya think you can tell Fink and I are Mets fans and Larry is a Yankees fan from these picks):
NL East
Larry: Braves
Fink: Mets
Cooper: Mets
NL Central
Larry: Astros
Fink: Cubs
Cooper: Cubs
NL West
Larry: Rockies
Fink: Dodgers
Cooper: Diamondbacks
NL Wild Card
Larry: Mets
Fink: Phillies
Cooper: Braves
NL Wildcard Playoffs
Larry: Mets over Astros; Rockies over Braves
Fink: Mets over Dodgers; Phillies over Cubs
Cooper: Mets over Diamondbacks; Cubs over Braves
NLCS
Larry: Mets over Rockies
Fink: Mets over Phillies
Cooper: Cubs over Mets
World Series
Larry: Tigers over Mets in 6
Fink: Mets over Tigers in 7
Cooper: Indians over Cubs in 6 (one of these teams has to do it already)
LETS GET IT ON LADIES AND GENTLEMAN.
OPENING DAY...ENJOY IT!!!
In the spring, my beloved Boston Celtics (yes, I used to care about basketball at one point, in fact, I cared about them more than anything else back in 1984 thru June of 1986) just completed one of the greatest seasons of all time (they lost one game at home all year) behind the great Larry Bird.
In the fall, our New York Mets take home their 2nd championship of all time in one of, if not the, most famous World Series of all time.
And then in the winter, OUR WORLD CHAMPION NEW YORK GIANTS, take home their very first Super Bowl Championship crushing the Broncos in January of 1987.
Obviously, at 10 years old, I had no clue what it would take to possibly get back to this point of sports bliss.
Well, it's took 21+ years but I finally reached that bliss again on February 3rd. A day that I will never, ever forget. (the only other day I remember in sports by the date like that is June 14, 1994).
On the even of opening day, it is my dream to re-live 1986. While I could care less about the C's anymore, it would be damn cool if all 3 of these teams could make this dream come true all in the same year.
That said....LET'S GO METS!!
OK..Onto the season predictions....
Fink, Larry and I all have made our predictions for the year....Let's see who knows, or guesses, best..
Let's start out with the junior circuit:
AL East
Larry: Yankees
Fink: RedSox
Cooper: RedSox
AL Central
Larry: Tigers
Fink: Tigers
Cooper: Indians
AL West
Larry: Mariners
Fink: Mariners
Cooper: Mariners
AL Wild Card
Larry: Indians
Fink: Yankees
Cooper: Tigers
AL Wildcard Playoffs
Larry: Yanks over Indians; Tigers over Mariners
Fink: Tigers over Yankees; Red Sox over Mariners
Cooper: Red Sox over Tigers; Indians over Mariners
ALCS
Larry: Tigers over Yanks
Fink: Tigers over RedSox
Cooper: Indians over RedSox
And now the senior circuit (btw..ya think you can tell Fink and I are Mets fans and Larry is a Yankees fan from these picks):
NL East
Larry: Braves
Fink: Mets
Cooper: Mets
NL Central
Larry: Astros
Fink: Cubs
Cooper: Cubs
NL West
Larry: Rockies
Fink: Dodgers
Cooper: Diamondbacks
NL Wild Card
Larry: Mets
Fink: Phillies
Cooper: Braves
NL Wildcard Playoffs
Larry: Mets over Astros; Rockies over Braves
Fink: Mets over Dodgers; Phillies over Cubs
Cooper: Mets over Diamondbacks; Cubs over Braves
NLCS
Larry: Mets over Rockies
Fink: Mets over Phillies
Cooper: Cubs over Mets
World Series
Larry: Tigers over Mets in 6
Fink: Mets over Tigers in 7
Cooper: Indians over Cubs in 6 (one of these teams has to do it already)
LETS GET IT ON LADIES AND GENTLEMAN.
OPENING DAY...ENJOY IT!!!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Ready to get it started
Hey guys!
I'm back!
As I sit here watching the Rangers-Flyers game, I've come to the realization that it's time to get the blog up and running again on a frequent basis. After all, the baseball season has officially started..well, kinda. I mean I was actually up at 6 am this morning and watching the Sox-A's game but it just didn't feel like Opening Day. I wonder why? Oh, right. It was 6 am and they were playing in Japan! Does anyone out there understand why MLB keeps this charade of going to Japan thing a regular thing? I mean the NFL went to Europe this year (what team won that game again?) and played their game on Sunday at 1:00 pm, just like every other NFL game. MLB goes to Japan, granted much further than London, and plays their games at 6:00 am in a quasi-Opening Day situation!! Then the two teams, who play 2 games in Japan, fly back to the US and play 3 MORE EXHIBITION GAMES before, once again, starting the season on Monday. Seriously, can anyone explain this? Why can't they play exhibition games in Japan in early March? What is the need for these "real" games? Please someone tell me!!
OK..I will pull it together
So... I decided I am going to blog today on my spring thoughts on the Mets and then follow up in the next couple days with my season predictions.
I went to spring training again this season. Actually went to the very first game to see Johan face the Cardinals. This is a picture is his first actual unofficial pitch as a Met.
As you can see by these pictures, I took Nate with me and he loved it. He chanted "Lets Go Mets" and entertained all the senior citizens in our section all game long. (he made it to the 7th..easy)
Anyway, Johan didn't look great that day but man has he looked great since. This guy is just unreal good and I still can't believe we have him.
Pedro also has looked awesome and I can't wait to see him on Opening Day (thank you once again Dani!!!). Ollie has looked strong and then, of course, we have our Maine man John, who has basically looked like Cy Young this spring.
The 5th starter...well, this is the price we pay for having Johan and Pedro. Lets just all pray Duque can get it together by June.
The starting pitching really looks great. I can't say enough about it.
The bullpen...well, let's first all celebrate that we don't have Mota!!! Yeah!! Wagner still is great as much as he kills us all sometimes. Heilman will be solid, as usual. Feliciano will do his job. Then really, are we confident about anyone else? Schoenweiss? Is this Register guy actually going to be on the team or will the Rockies reclaim him? I guess Duaner is the wild card here. We need him to come through.
On the hitting side...man, this team should be better. I mean we have Reyes, Castillo, Beltran and Wright. But really with Alou down and Delgado making believe he is 56 years old, what do we have in the 5-9 spots? Is it possible Ramon Castro will be the 6 hitter at times? Is Ryan Church ever going to hit the ball and does Howard Johnson really need to be changing his stance? (really, HoJo is our hitting coach?) Is Angel Pagan our LF? Did Brian Schneider talk to Michael Strahan about taking camp off entirely? Is Easley really are backup 1st baseman? I mean is it my imagination or should 140 million get you more guaranteed offense than this?
This all said. I think we are going to have a great season. As the Giants proved once again, defense wins championships. In baseball, defense is pitching (along with actual defense) and we have the best starting 4 in baseball.
I can't wait until Monday.
Good to be back...
LETS GO METS!
I'm back!
As I sit here watching the Rangers-Flyers game, I've come to the realization that it's time to get the blog up and running again on a frequent basis. After all, the baseball season has officially started..well, kinda. I mean I was actually up at 6 am this morning and watching the Sox-A's game but it just didn't feel like Opening Day. I wonder why? Oh, right. It was 6 am and they were playing in Japan! Does anyone out there understand why MLB keeps this charade of going to Japan thing a regular thing? I mean the NFL went to Europe this year (what team won that game again?) and played their game on Sunday at 1:00 pm, just like every other NFL game. MLB goes to Japan, granted much further than London, and plays their games at 6:00 am in a quasi-Opening Day situation!! Then the two teams, who play 2 games in Japan, fly back to the US and play 3 MORE EXHIBITION GAMES before, once again, starting the season on Monday. Seriously, can anyone explain this? Why can't they play exhibition games in Japan in early March? What is the need for these "real" games? Please someone tell me!!
OK..I will pull it together
So... I decided I am going to blog today on my spring thoughts on the Mets and then follow up in the next couple days with my season predictions.
I went to spring training again this season. Actually went to the very first game to see Johan face the Cardinals. This is a picture is his first actual unofficial pitch as a Met.
As you can see by these pictures, I took Nate with me and he loved it. He chanted "Lets Go Mets" and entertained all the senior citizens in our section all game long. (he made it to the 7th..easy)
Anyway, Johan didn't look great that day but man has he looked great since. This guy is just unreal good and I still can't believe we have him.Pedro also has looked awesome and I can't wait to see him on Opening Day (thank you once again Dani!!!). Ollie has looked strong and then, of course, we have our Maine man John, who has basically looked like Cy Young this spring.
The 5th starter...well, this is the price we pay for having Johan and Pedro. Lets just all pray Duque can get it together by June.
The starting pitching really looks great. I can't say enough about it.
The bullpen...well, let's first all celebrate that we don't have Mota!!! Yeah!! Wagner still is great as much as he kills us all sometimes. Heilman will be solid, as usual. Feliciano will do his job. Then really, are we confident about anyone else? Schoenweiss? Is this Register guy actually going to be on the team or will the Rockies reclaim him? I guess Duaner is the wild card here. We need him to come through.
On the hitting side...man, this team should be better. I mean we have Reyes, Castillo, Beltran and Wright. But really with Alou down and Delgado making believe he is 56 years old, what do we have in the 5-9 spots? Is it possible Ramon Castro will be the 6 hitter at times? Is Ryan Church ever going to hit the ball and does Howard Johnson really need to be changing his stance? (really, HoJo is our hitting coach?) Is Angel Pagan our LF? Did Brian Schneider talk to Michael Strahan about taking camp off entirely? Is Easley really are backup 1st baseman? I mean is it my imagination or should 140 million get you more guaranteed offense than this?
This all said. I think we are going to have a great season. As the Giants proved once again, defense wins championships. In baseball, defense is pitching (along with actual defense) and we have the best starting 4 in baseball.
I can't wait until Monday.
Good to be back...
LETS GO METS!
Monday, February 04, 2008
Grown men crying...
OK...I think it's sunk in now. WE ARE SUPERBOWL CHAMPIONS. Yes, "WE". You, me, Fink, Henry, Larry, Danny, Hersh, Yarkon, Jerry, Sarah, Saul, Bubba, Stenzler (and his entire tailgate crew), Jay Frank, Hy & Dan, Simon, Jeff Hersh, Sonny, Venokur (yes, you too), Will Rose, Bubba's cousin, The Hefty Lefty, Cousin Stephanie and Cousin Dennis, etc etc, WE are SUPERBOWL CHAMPIONS!!!!!
I've been trying to decide what to write since about noon today, which was about the time I started to actually feel like a human being again.
I really didn't think I could put into words what I wanted to say and how I feel. Frankly, I still don't. Days like Sunday, wins like Sunday, only come around a few times in our lives, if we are lucky, and I wanted to make sure I wrote something worthy of a time like this.
By the time tonight rolled around I was so tired I didn't think I had the energy to blog at all.
Then I checked my email...
In my inbox were 2 pictures that in this fan's humble opinion tell the story by themselves.
My friends...I give you Myself and Larry celebrating victory in New Jersey and Danny & Hersh celebrating victory in Arizona. The looks on these smiling faces say it all....
Pure Joy...
This is why we watch sports my friends. This is what it is all about.
I've been trying to decide what to write since about noon today, which was about the time I started to actually feel like a human being again.
I really didn't think I could put into words what I wanted to say and how I feel. Frankly, I still don't. Days like Sunday, wins like Sunday, only come around a few times in our lives, if we are lucky, and I wanted to make sure I wrote something worthy of a time like this.
By the time tonight rolled around I was so tired I didn't think I had the energy to blog at all.
Then I checked my email...
In my inbox were 2 pictures that in this fan's humble opinion tell the story by themselves.
My friends...I give you Myself and Larry celebrating victory in New Jersey and Danny & Hersh celebrating victory in Arizona. The looks on these smiling faces say it all....
Pure Joy...
This is why we watch sports my friends. This is what it is all about.
TEAM Victory Led By Eli, "Tuck Rule"
A long way away from that dark snowy night at Foxboro stadium in January of 2002 when the Pats beat the Raiders to advance to Super Bowl XXXVI, which they would go on to win, a different type of Tuck Rule played a big part in determining the winner of Super Bowl XLII. This time, the Tuck Rule went the other way!
The Giants were relentless on defense and set the tone for this game with non stop pressure on Tom "Booty" Brady by their 4 man front. While Osi and Strahan each had great games and were in Brady's face all night long, it was Justin Tuck who was the difference. At 6'5" 275 this chiseled monster of a defensive lineman wreaked havoc on the Patriots and was the key to the record setting performance by Big Blue. With Tuck shifting up and down the line N.E.'s O-Line was hard pressed to keep the pressure off of Brady.
Big Blue set a Super Bowl record by holding the Pats to 81 total yards in the first half, put Brady on his back 18 times (5 of them sacks), and held New England to a season low 14 points on their way to victory. Justin Tuck was more than NE could handle on his way to 6 tackles, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble. His presence was felt throughout and the defense never stopped coming. Attack Attack Attack is what this defense was all about and with the pass rush as dominating as it has been all year, Big Blue played their type of game.
On the flip side the Giants O-Line held their own and gave Easy Eli a chance to secure a spot in Super Bowl history and he did so by winning Super Bowl MVP!! Eli was calm and cool as he led the GMEN on 2 80+ yard TD drives, the last of which was the 83 yard drive with 2:39 left which resulted in the game winning TD to Plax. David Tyree caught 2 of the biggest passes of his career (and franchise history), one of which will go down as one of the great catches of all time as he leaped and secured a 33 yard bomb from Eli (who survived a mosh pit to make the throw) against his helmet with a 59 seconds left. The rest of the receiving core came up big as well with huge contributions from Boss, Smith, and Toomer. Of course, let's not forget the huge 4th and 1 conversion with 1:34 left by BJ. What a team effort this was!
I'm still not sure what I witnessed last night but I do know this. Although we started the season with low expectations, a broken defense, and uncertainty at Quarterback, we finished the season with a Dominating Defense, a Franchise Quarterback, and a Super Bowl Victory!!!
GGGGMMMMEEENNNNNNNN
The Giants were relentless on defense and set the tone for this game with non stop pressure on Tom "Booty" Brady by their 4 man front. While Osi and Strahan each had great games and were in Brady's face all night long, it was Justin Tuck who was the difference. At 6'5" 275 this chiseled monster of a defensive lineman wreaked havoc on the Patriots and was the key to the record setting performance by Big Blue. With Tuck shifting up and down the line N.E.'s O-Line was hard pressed to keep the pressure off of Brady.
Big Blue set a Super Bowl record by holding the Pats to 81 total yards in the first half, put Brady on his back 18 times (5 of them sacks), and held New England to a season low 14 points on their way to victory. Justin Tuck was more than NE could handle on his way to 6 tackles, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble. His presence was felt throughout and the defense never stopped coming. Attack Attack Attack is what this defense was all about and with the pass rush as dominating as it has been all year, Big Blue played their type of game.
On the flip side the Giants O-Line held their own and gave Easy Eli a chance to secure a spot in Super Bowl history and he did so by winning Super Bowl MVP!! Eli was calm and cool as he led the GMEN on 2 80+ yard TD drives, the last of which was the 83 yard drive with 2:39 left which resulted in the game winning TD to Plax. David Tyree caught 2 of the biggest passes of his career (and franchise history), one of which will go down as one of the great catches of all time as he leaped and secured a 33 yard bomb from Eli (who survived a mosh pit to make the throw) against his helmet with a 59 seconds left. The rest of the receiving core came up big as well with huge contributions from Boss, Smith, and Toomer. Of course, let's not forget the huge 4th and 1 conversion with 1:34 left by BJ. What a team effort this was!
I'm still not sure what I witnessed last night but I do know this. Although we started the season with low expectations, a broken defense, and uncertainty at Quarterback, we finished the season with a Dominating Defense, a Franchise Quarterback, and a Super Bowl Victory!!!
GGGGMMMMEEENNNNNNNN
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Let's Do it for Henry!!
Among the 600 or so articles I have read since Tynes was good from 47, there is one name that keeps coming up when you read the quotes from the old time fans of the Giants & the NFL...the late, great Wellington Mara.
As he was often referred to, Wellington was the NFL's Last Patriarch. One of the great men that literally built the NFL to the power house it has become today.
As I have mentioned before, Wellington died a few hours after Nate was born & there was a brief discussion in the hospital about his middle name actually being Wellington. Naturally, this idea was shot down so quickly by my beautiful wife, Jayme, that she tells me she doesn't remember this conversation at all. That's OK though, because little does Nate (& Jayme) know now, but his birth and Wellington's passing will always be linked in my mind. Hopefully greatness was passed along (at least that is what I like to believe).
While Wellington was the Last Patriarch of the NFL, this got me thinking about the Last Patriarch of my Giants world. One Mr. Henry Cohen.
Let me explain.
Henry is my good friend Danny's grandfather & my good friend Jerry's father. Henry is 88 years old and has been a Giants season ticket holder since 1936.
Henry has been to more Giants games than any person I have ever met and truly has been a fan as long as the Mara's have been a part of the Giants.
When I first started attending Giants games with Hersh and Danny, Henry was there bright and early every game tailgating there with us.
Several seasons back, Henry's health began to slowly deteriorate and getting up and down from his seats in the upper deck became more and more difficult. Henry and Jerry wrote a letter to the Giants expressing their desire to be moved somewhere more convenient for Henry.
A few weeks later they received a letter from Wellington Mara himself with their new tickets in a location that is much more easily accessible to the exits. Henry would continue to come to the games for many more seasons.
Then two seasons ago Henry's legs began to fail him a bit more and getting around became quite difficult for him. He still would love to come to games but you could see how painful it was for him. He was still the coolest guy at the tailgate by far so he would never say how much he was hurting but you could see it.
Eventually it just became too hard for him to come to the games and Danny and Jerry (and Sarah) emotionally told all of us that our Patriarch would no longer joining us on Sundays. He would be there in spirit but home in Queens watching the games.
Well my friends, I know the Giants don't know Henry, but many of you do. Henry, like many of us, is also a Mets fan and like us all, hasn't seen a championship since 1990 for either of these teams. Hopefully Henry will be around for many more Super Bowls but as they say, you don't know when your team will get back to the Super Bowl again so you better win it the first time.
If there is ever a person to rally around for this Giants team, it is our Patriarch of parking lot 6F. It is Henry Cohen.
LET'S DO THIS FOR HENRY!!
LETS GO GIANTS!!
As he was often referred to, Wellington was the NFL's Last Patriarch. One of the great men that literally built the NFL to the power house it has become today.
As I have mentioned before, Wellington died a few hours after Nate was born & there was a brief discussion in the hospital about his middle name actually being Wellington. Naturally, this idea was shot down so quickly by my beautiful wife, Jayme, that she tells me she doesn't remember this conversation at all. That's OK though, because little does Nate (& Jayme) know now, but his birth and Wellington's passing will always be linked in my mind. Hopefully greatness was passed along (at least that is what I like to believe).
While Wellington was the Last Patriarch of the NFL, this got me thinking about the Last Patriarch of my Giants world. One Mr. Henry Cohen.
Let me explain.
Henry is my good friend Danny's grandfather & my good friend Jerry's father. Henry is 88 years old and has been a Giants season ticket holder since 1936.
Henry has been to more Giants games than any person I have ever met and truly has been a fan as long as the Mara's have been a part of the Giants.
When I first started attending Giants games with Hersh and Danny, Henry was there bright and early every game tailgating there with us.
Several seasons back, Henry's health began to slowly deteriorate and getting up and down from his seats in the upper deck became more and more difficult. Henry and Jerry wrote a letter to the Giants expressing their desire to be moved somewhere more convenient for Henry.
A few weeks later they received a letter from Wellington Mara himself with their new tickets in a location that is much more easily accessible to the exits. Henry would continue to come to the games for many more seasons.
Then two seasons ago Henry's legs began to fail him a bit more and getting around became quite difficult for him. He still would love to come to games but you could see how painful it was for him. He was still the coolest guy at the tailgate by far so he would never say how much he was hurting but you could see it.
Eventually it just became too hard for him to come to the games and Danny and Jerry (and Sarah) emotionally told all of us that our Patriarch would no longer joining us on Sundays. He would be there in spirit but home in Queens watching the games.
Well my friends, I know the Giants don't know Henry, but many of you do. Henry, like many of us, is also a Mets fan and like us all, hasn't seen a championship since 1990 for either of these teams. Hopefully Henry will be around for many more Super Bowls but as they say, you don't know when your team will get back to the Super Bowl again so you better win it the first time.
If there is ever a person to rally around for this Giants team, it is our Patriarch of parking lot 6F. It is Henry Cohen.
LET'S DO THIS FOR HENRY!!
LETS GO GIANTS!!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
January 2008 - The perfect sports month
Let's look at the top of this blog.
Read the headline with me:
My good friend Jeff Cooper and I, Jason Fink, are huge Mets fans and decided to create a blog regarding the state of the Mets, MLB, the NY Giants, as well as other sports related events that go on. With the NFL season around the corner you may start to see some other posts on the pathetic state of our beloved NY “Football” Giants. What can I say, we are gluttons for punishment.
That was written on August 13th of last year.
Today is January 29th 2008.
Wow how much has changed since then. I think somewhere between then and now was the worst collapse in baseball history but today that seems like a distant memory.
Today was media day at the Super Bowl(!!!!) and for those who didn't get a chance to log onto the nfl.com, it was freakin great. At 2 pm the Giants took the field. At NFL.com they had 6 live cameras you could click on to view a different interview. First it was TC looking his normal serious self saying his normal serious lines. Click over to Easy sporting his new QB scruff looking calm, as usual, and giving the media everything they could ask for and more. Then I click over to the coolest man in NY, Plax, who looks just about as bad ass and confident as any human being can look getting ready for the big game. Click to Strahan essentially doing stand-up comedy. Click to Pierce looking ready as ever with his shades on at all times. It went on and on. Media Day! The Giants are in the Super Bowl! Is this real? It's all still mind boggling.
Such a fun hour watching them.
I go back to work and eventually to a 4 pm sales meeting. I come back to my desk about 40 minutes later to 6 text messages on my phone, countless IMs, 4 emails and 3 voicemails. This all could only mean one thing. I click on Fink's IM first. CAPITAL LETTERS ARE THE WORDS "COOPER" AND "JEFFREY" over and over. Links are sent to 3 different sites by 4 different people. Yes folks, it has happened. The Mets and the Twins have struck a deal and the best pitcher on the planet is now a New York Met.
WELCOME TO NEW YORK JOHAN SANTANA!
Honestly, I don't fully understand how Omar pulled this one off. I really don't. How did he get Johan without giving up a single premium prospect in return?
Lets say the Twins were to have kept him and lost him in free agency to the Mets. Thy would've received 2 first round draft picks as compensation in return for the signing. Is this deal really better than 2 1st rounders?
I mean for my entire life I have heard about Nolan Ryan for Jim Fregosi. In recent years it has been Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano.
Today, I think Omar has single handedly tried to make up for both of those trades by stealing the best pitcher of the 21st century.
What a month!
3 playoff wins!
A Super Bowl appearance!
And now Johan!
Now let's kick February off with the biggest win of them all!!
I will be back with some Super Bowl XLII thoughts later in the week
I.O.W.T.
Read the headline with me:
My good friend Jeff Cooper and I, Jason Fink, are huge Mets fans and decided to create a blog regarding the state of the Mets, MLB, the NY Giants, as well as other sports related events that go on. With the NFL season around the corner you may start to see some other posts on the pathetic state of our beloved NY “Football” Giants. What can I say, we are gluttons for punishment.
That was written on August 13th of last year.
Today is January 29th 2008.
Wow how much has changed since then. I think somewhere between then and now was the worst collapse in baseball history but today that seems like a distant memory.
Today was media day at the Super Bowl(!!!!) and for those who didn't get a chance to log onto the nfl.com, it was freakin great. At 2 pm the Giants took the field. At NFL.com they had 6 live cameras you could click on to view a different interview. First it was TC looking his normal serious self saying his normal serious lines. Click over to Easy sporting his new QB scruff looking calm, as usual, and giving the media everything they could ask for and more. Then I click over to the coolest man in NY, Plax, who looks just about as bad ass and confident as any human being can look getting ready for the big game. Click to Strahan essentially doing stand-up comedy. Click to Pierce looking ready as ever with his shades on at all times. It went on and on. Media Day! The Giants are in the Super Bowl! Is this real? It's all still mind boggling.
Such a fun hour watching them.
I go back to work and eventually to a 4 pm sales meeting. I come back to my desk about 40 minutes later to 6 text messages on my phone, countless IMs, 4 emails and 3 voicemails. This all could only mean one thing. I click on Fink's IM first. CAPITAL LETTERS ARE THE WORDS "COOPER" AND "JEFFREY" over and over. Links are sent to 3 different sites by 4 different people. Yes folks, it has happened. The Mets and the Twins have struck a deal and the best pitcher on the planet is now a New York Met.
WELCOME TO NEW YORK JOHAN SANTANA!
Honestly, I don't fully understand how Omar pulled this one off. I really don't. How did he get Johan without giving up a single premium prospect in return?
Lets say the Twins were to have kept him and lost him in free agency to the Mets. Thy would've received 2 first round draft picks as compensation in return for the signing. Is this deal really better than 2 1st rounders?
I mean for my entire life I have heard about Nolan Ryan for Jim Fregosi. In recent years it has been Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano.
Today, I think Omar has single handedly tried to make up for both of those trades by stealing the best pitcher of the 21st century.
What a month!
3 playoff wins!
A Super Bowl appearance!
And now Johan!
Now let's kick February off with the biggest win of them all!!
I will be back with some Super Bowl XLII thoughts later in the week
I.O.W.T.
Now I Really Have the Shakes..
Super Bowl AND JOHAN SANTANA!! Are you frickin kidding me. I can't type much more b/c my hands are shaking too much. Coop - pick it up when you get home.
WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW
WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW
Monday, January 21, 2008
I am very happy to be here! - Prince Akeem, 1988
OK, so my favorite 80s comedy came through for me and I look like a prediction genius.
That oblong pigskin ball really went through the big H.
We are in the midst of the greatest playoff run in New York Football history. In fact, this could be the greatest playoff run in New York Sports history.
When has a NY team had to go on the road 3 games in a row in increasingly hostile conditions each week, capped off by the 3rd coldest game in NFL history at the great Lambeau Field against the once great Brett Farve, and won all 3 to advance to the biggest game in sports? THE SUPER BOWL!!! Say it with me. SUP-ER BOWL
I mean NOBODY picked this team to go to the Super Bowl. NOBODY. Not even the most loyal fans I know. Not me. Not you. Not even our good friend Larry who picked them to finish 11-5 this year predicted this one.
Let's put some of this in perspective when I mean nobody predicted this. I know a few friends, some of whom actually tailgate regularly with, who were seriously debating on whether or not they should go to the Giants-Patriots game on December 29th. I know a couple of first year tailgaters this year who sold their tickets to the game (lesson learned I hoped). I know yet others who are regular tailgaters who decided to vacation during this game (again, fellas, you wait for the schedule to come out, then book the trips). Lastly, I have a very-good-season-ticket-holding friend who had the opportunity to go to the Super Bowl weeks ago and turned it down. My point being, loyal fans, even the most die hard and crazy of us never dreamt this could happen in our wildest imaginations. This team won 6 homes games for us in the past TWO seasons. 3 this year and none since OCTOBER 21ST. Nate was still 1 then!!! We had seen Eli and Co. fail so many times at home it became almost expected. But they kept winning on the road and a swagger was formed. And then came Buffalo and a defensive effort that has carried us on through to the Super Bowl showed its face. Then the above mentioned Pats game, the loudest regular season home Giants game I ever remember attending. We let it slip through our hands after being up 28-16 in the 3rd. Eli threw that 1 INT and the game was over. Brady and Co. were still too confident but the Giants swagger reached new heights during that game that we have used to go on this great run.
TC and Spags and Reese and most importantly, the players believed in themselves and have seemed to gain confidence with each play, each series, each quarter and most certainly each win, in the playoffs. While Tynes took a few weeks off all of our lifespans at the end of regulation, he brought us the ultimate joy in OT.
Really can't say enough about this team. From top to bottom, they have over-delivered in every way imaginable.
Of course, the big win got me thinking of another late 80s comedy classic. Although a different sport, the great Major League (1989) contains one of the great underdog stories in sports movie history. As we face off once again against the hated and undefeated New England Patriots, I find this one to be quite appropriate:
Lou Brown: Can I have your attention, please?
Lou Brown: I have something I think you all ought to know about. It seems that Mrs. Phelps doesn't think too highly of our worth. She put this team together because she thought we'd be bad enough to finish dead last, knocking attendance down to the point where she could move the team to Miami... and get rid of all of us for better personnel.
Roger Dorn: Even me?
Lou Brown: Even you, Dorn.
Eddie Harris: What if we DON'T finish last?
Lou Brown: She'll REPLACE you with somebody who WILL. After this season, you'll be sent back to the minors or given your outright release.
Jake Taylor: [Jake stands up] Well then I guess there's only one thing left to do.
Roger Dorn: What's that?
Jake Taylor: Win the whole fucking thing.
That's right my friends...we're here, against all odds...NOW LETS WIN THE WHOLE FUCKIN THING!!
LETS GO GIANTS!!!!
That oblong pigskin ball really went through the big H.
We are in the midst of the greatest playoff run in New York Football history. In fact, this could be the greatest playoff run in New York Sports history.
When has a NY team had to go on the road 3 games in a row in increasingly hostile conditions each week, capped off by the 3rd coldest game in NFL history at the great Lambeau Field against the once great Brett Farve, and won all 3 to advance to the biggest game in sports? THE SUPER BOWL!!! Say it with me. SUP-ER BOWL
I mean NOBODY picked this team to go to the Super Bowl. NOBODY. Not even the most loyal fans I know. Not me. Not you. Not even our good friend Larry who picked them to finish 11-5 this year predicted this one.
Let's put some of this in perspective when I mean nobody predicted this. I know a few friends, some of whom actually tailgate regularly with, who were seriously debating on whether or not they should go to the Giants-Patriots game on December 29th. I know a couple of first year tailgaters this year who sold their tickets to the game (lesson learned I hoped). I know yet others who are regular tailgaters who decided to vacation during this game (again, fellas, you wait for the schedule to come out, then book the trips). Lastly, I have a very-good-season-ticket-holding friend who had the opportunity to go to the Super Bowl weeks ago and turned it down. My point being, loyal fans, even the most die hard and crazy of us never dreamt this could happen in our wildest imaginations. This team won 6 homes games for us in the past TWO seasons. 3 this year and none since OCTOBER 21ST. Nate was still 1 then!!! We had seen Eli and Co. fail so many times at home it became almost expected. But they kept winning on the road and a swagger was formed. And then came Buffalo and a defensive effort that has carried us on through to the Super Bowl showed its face. Then the above mentioned Pats game, the loudest regular season home Giants game I ever remember attending. We let it slip through our hands after being up 28-16 in the 3rd. Eli threw that 1 INT and the game was over. Brady and Co. were still too confident but the Giants swagger reached new heights during that game that we have used to go on this great run.
TC and Spags and Reese and most importantly, the players believed in themselves and have seemed to gain confidence with each play, each series, each quarter and most certainly each win, in the playoffs. While Tynes took a few weeks off all of our lifespans at the end of regulation, he brought us the ultimate joy in OT.
Really can't say enough about this team. From top to bottom, they have over-delivered in every way imaginable.
Of course, the big win got me thinking of another late 80s comedy classic. Although a different sport, the great Major League (1989) contains one of the great underdog stories in sports movie history. As we face off once again against the hated and undefeated New England Patriots, I find this one to be quite appropriate:
Lou Brown: Can I have your attention, please?
Lou Brown: I have something I think you all ought to know about. It seems that Mrs. Phelps doesn't think too highly of our worth. She put this team together because she thought we'd be bad enough to finish dead last, knocking attendance down to the point where she could move the team to Miami... and get rid of all of us for better personnel.
Roger Dorn: Even me?
Lou Brown: Even you, Dorn.
Eddie Harris: What if we DON'T finish last?
Lou Brown: She'll REPLACE you with somebody who WILL. After this season, you'll be sent back to the minors or given your outright release.
Jake Taylor: [Jake stands up] Well then I guess there's only one thing left to do.
Roger Dorn: What's that?
Jake Taylor: Win the whole fucking thing.
That's right my friends...we're here, against all odds...NOW LETS WIN THE WHOLE FUCKIN THING!!
LETS GO GIANTS!!!!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Prince Akeem predicted this one 20 years ago
Prince Akeem: Sir, did you happen to catch the professional football contest on television last night?
Cleo McDowell: No, I didn't.
Prince Akeem: Oh, it was most exhilarating. The Giants of New York took on the Packers of Green Bay. And in the end the Giants triumphed by kicking an oblong ball made of pigskin through a big "H". A most gripping victory!
Cleo McDowell: Son.
Prince Akeem: Yes?
Cleo McDowell: If you want to keep working here, stay off the drugs.
Prince Akeem: Yes.
When I spoke with Fink this morning, he brought up something Larry and I talked about throughout the season. That something is the kicking game of one Lawrence Tynes and how he has not really had to make a big kick all year. Then Fink and I discussed how this game would likely be a low scoring one where we may need said leg.
Instantly my mind flashed to my favorite comedy of the late 80s.
I've been quoting lines from this movie for as long as I can remember and this exchange has always been one of the best.
Now it takes on a whole new meaning.
3 days until the game and it's all I can think about.
The NFC Championship game....who would've ever guessed it?!?!
I can honestly say that this has been the most enjoyable run I can remember in recent times for any of the teams I root for. Being the underdog is just so much fun.
All hail Prince Akeem!
Cleo McDowell: No, I didn't.
Prince Akeem: Oh, it was most exhilarating. The Giants of New York took on the Packers of Green Bay. And in the end the Giants triumphed by kicking an oblong ball made of pigskin through a big "H". A most gripping victory!
Cleo McDowell: Son.
Prince Akeem: Yes?
Cleo McDowell: If you want to keep working here, stay off the drugs.
Prince Akeem: Yes.
When I spoke with Fink this morning, he brought up something Larry and I talked about throughout the season. That something is the kicking game of one Lawrence Tynes and how he has not really had to make a big kick all year. Then Fink and I discussed how this game would likely be a low scoring one where we may need said leg.
Instantly my mind flashed to my favorite comedy of the late 80s.
I've been quoting lines from this movie for as long as I can remember and this exchange has always been one of the best.
Now it takes on a whole new meaning.
3 days until the game and it's all I can think about.
The NFC Championship game....who would've ever guessed it?!?!
I can honestly say that this has been the most enjoyable run I can remember in recent times for any of the teams I root for. Being the underdog is just so much fun.
All hail Prince Akeem!
Friday, January 11, 2008
3rd Time's a Charm?
Let's hope so!
Big Blue heads into Dallas this week to face the hated Cowboys and their new mascot (Jessica Simpson). While the Giants may have been a a few plays (big plays.lol) away in each of the previous 2 meetings we should not kid ourselves. The 'Boys were clearly the better team and probably, well certainly still are. However, the better team doesn't always win. It all comes down to which team plays better on gameday.
With the loss of Shockey and Kiwanuka, and key injuries late in the season to Ohara, Madison, and Kawika, many have stepped up (boss, webster, ross, etc) and the Gmen have survived not only the regular season (in which they exceeded most expectations) but a top rated Bucs defense to secure Eli's first playoff win.
Kevin Boss has stepped up and provides Eli a big target and the potential to make some big plays in big spots. Oh, and some little big man named Ahmad Bradshaw has been lightning in a bottle and may be the explosive home run threat that helps take us over the top this time around.
With Madison's status still up in the air and yet another injury to Dockery that will keep him out of the game, this will likely be a shootout at the you know what. Big blue will need to eat up the clock and make some big plays to keep Jessica Romo on the sidelines.
After a solid showing against the undefeated Pats (thanks for the update goldberg) and a strong performance in Tampa, it's all about momentum and the Giants have it. Take it to 'em and make this Eli's 2nd playoff win.
Go BIG BLUE!!
Big Blue heads into Dallas this week to face the hated Cowboys and their new mascot (Jessica Simpson). While the Giants may have been a a few plays (big plays.lol) away in each of the previous 2 meetings we should not kid ourselves. The 'Boys were clearly the better team and probably, well certainly still are. However, the better team doesn't always win. It all comes down to which team plays better on gameday.
With the loss of Shockey and Kiwanuka, and key injuries late in the season to Ohara, Madison, and Kawika, many have stepped up (boss, webster, ross, etc) and the Gmen have survived not only the regular season (in which they exceeded most expectations) but a top rated Bucs defense to secure Eli's first playoff win.
Kevin Boss has stepped up and provides Eli a big target and the potential to make some big plays in big spots. Oh, and some little big man named Ahmad Bradshaw has been lightning in a bottle and may be the explosive home run threat that helps take us over the top this time around.
With Madison's status still up in the air and yet another injury to Dockery that will keep him out of the game, this will likely be a shootout at the you know what. Big blue will need to eat up the clock and make some big plays to keep Jessica Romo on the sidelines.
After a solid showing against the undefeated Pats (thanks for the update goldberg) and a strong performance in Tampa, it's all about momentum and the Giants have it. Take it to 'em and make this Eli's 2nd playoff win.
Go BIG BLUE!!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Thought of the day
Here is my thought of the day courtesy of a IM conversation between Larry and I:
Coops7 [3:11 P.M.]: ok..so here is what i was going to blog about today. why wouldn't the NFL make the playoff seeding based on records rather than the division winners and wild card games. instead of having 2 games with meaning this weekend, there would be at least 8. The Giants would be playing for a home game this weekend. The Jags would be playing for a home game against pittsburgh rather than traveling to pitts again in the middle of january when they just smoked them there 2 weeks ago.
Coops7 [3:11 P.M.]: it makes no sense to me
lawrenceG22 [3:11 P.M.]: the nba and nhl do it
Coops7 [3:11 P.M.]: I was actually going to write PK about this
lawrenceG22 [3:12 P.M.]: u can seed by division and wild card - but the home team should have the best record
Coops7 [3:12 P.M.]: fine, i would even do that. All I know is that the Jags are the 3rd best team in the AFC and are seeded 5th
Coops7 [3:13 P.M.]: and it would all but eliminate the "resting guys" mumbo jumbo
lawrenceG22 [3:13 P.M.]: its an extremely valid point
Coops7 [3:13 P.M.]: yet one that is hardly brought up this week
lawrenceG22 [3:14 P.M.]: hardly - i thought about and didn't speak to anyone about it
Coops7 [3:11 P.M.]: ok..so here is what i was going to blog about today. why wouldn't the NFL make the playoff seeding based on records rather than the division winners and wild card games. instead of having 2 games with meaning this weekend, there would be at least 8. The Giants would be playing for a home game this weekend. The Jags would be playing for a home game against pittsburgh rather than traveling to pitts again in the middle of january when they just smoked them there 2 weeks ago.
Coops7 [3:11 P.M.]: it makes no sense to me
lawrenceG22 [3:11 P.M.]: the nba and nhl do it
Coops7 [3:11 P.M.]: I was actually going to write PK about this
lawrenceG22 [3:12 P.M.]: u can seed by division and wild card - but the home team should have the best record
Coops7 [3:12 P.M.]: fine, i would even do that. All I know is that the Jags are the 3rd best team in the AFC and are seeded 5th
Coops7 [3:13 P.M.]: and it would all but eliminate the "resting guys" mumbo jumbo
lawrenceG22 [3:13 P.M.]: its an extremely valid point
Coops7 [3:13 P.M.]: yet one that is hardly brought up this week
lawrenceG22 [3:14 P.M.]: hardly - i thought about and didn't speak to anyone about it
Thursday, December 20, 2007
The New York Football Giants
OK. Let's be honest, all I want for Christmas, if I celebrated it, is a playoff victory from the Giants! After 2 seasons of making the playoffs and then bowing out in the first game (the Panthers game is one I will never forget), how nice would it be to win a playoff game in a season most predicted a last place finish?
How about that game today!?!?!?!
What is such a gross shame is that none of this O-line was voted to the pro-bowl this week. They did such a great f*cking job today opening up holes all over the line for the 2 backs to run through. I mean that Bradshaw (more on him in a moment) run was all the Oline. Jacobs long run was all from a great block. This line had the 2nd best average yards per game in the NFC coming into today (the Vikes lead the NFL) and all they did today was ring up 291 on the ground and raise that average to nearly 139. 139 yards per game on the ground folks...you can give me all the complaints you want about Eli but give me 139/rpg and the most sacks in football and lets go to war in the playoffs against this weak NFC.
7 straight road wins. Seven! I mean what team wins 7 on the road and just 3 at home? Oh, right. The New York Giants!
Let me clear one thing up now, and this is mostly for the fellas with tickets. I will be there on Saturday around noon. Danny is booked to come in as well. This will be his 10th game of this season, ALL ON THE ROAD. I fully expect each and everyone of you who call yourself Giants fans to be there along side of us. Whether it is rain or snow or whatever. Sure the Pats are 15-0. Sure the game will mean very little or maybe even nothing to the Giants. But this is what makes us the season ticket holders. When many of you (and I won't name names right now) decided not to come to the last game, your dedication was questioned. To not show up and celebrate the 2007 season, cheer them into the playoffs and of course have one last great tailgate with your extended family, will answers those questions. So many times we have heard that Giants Stadium is not an intimidating place to come play. Do you want to continue to be part of that problem?
OK, a couple of other notes:
- Bradshaw! Finally, the kid is unleashed. Great speed. Nice moves. Do we let Ward walk and make this tandem the 2008 backfield?
- Toomer. What a true professional. What a career. What a bounce back from last week. I can't say enough about Toomer.
- Congrats TC. 10 wins! Who would've thought that was possible. (except for Larry)
- Spags. Can we say enough about him either? I think Strahan may just sign on again just because of him. Best move of the off season by far.
- Kavika! Seriously, I remember the day we signed him. Larry and I were like "OK, nice signing" in hopes of more to come. Nothing more came. Look at them now.
- The Pro-bowl. Let me get this straight...baseball votes at the half-way mark for the all star game, so basically does the NBA and the NHL. Why does the NFL vote with 2 games to play? I mean I get that the actual pro-bowl game means nothing but why not just wait until the end of the year and vote? I seriously don't get this at all. It's like whatever you do in the last 2 games means nothing? You could carry your team into the playoffs single handed in the last 2 weeks and that would be meaningless in the pro-bowl voting. Just a weird system.
OK, that's it for now.
For everyone reading this...I hope you and your families have a very Merry Christmas, had a very Happy Chanukah and have a GREAT NEW YEAR!!!
How about that game today!?!?!?!
What is such a gross shame is that none of this O-line was voted to the pro-bowl this week. They did such a great f*cking job today opening up holes all over the line for the 2 backs to run through. I mean that Bradshaw (more on him in a moment) run was all the Oline. Jacobs long run was all from a great block. This line had the 2nd best average yards per game in the NFC coming into today (the Vikes lead the NFL) and all they did today was ring up 291 on the ground and raise that average to nearly 139. 139 yards per game on the ground folks...you can give me all the complaints you want about Eli but give me 139/rpg and the most sacks in football and lets go to war in the playoffs against this weak NFC.
7 straight road wins. Seven! I mean what team wins 7 on the road and just 3 at home? Oh, right. The New York Giants!
Let me clear one thing up now, and this is mostly for the fellas with tickets. I will be there on Saturday around noon. Danny is booked to come in as well. This will be his 10th game of this season, ALL ON THE ROAD. I fully expect each and everyone of you who call yourself Giants fans to be there along side of us. Whether it is rain or snow or whatever. Sure the Pats are 15-0. Sure the game will mean very little or maybe even nothing to the Giants. But this is what makes us the season ticket holders. When many of you (and I won't name names right now) decided not to come to the last game, your dedication was questioned. To not show up and celebrate the 2007 season, cheer them into the playoffs and of course have one last great tailgate with your extended family, will answers those questions. So many times we have heard that Giants Stadium is not an intimidating place to come play. Do you want to continue to be part of that problem?
OK, a couple of other notes:
- Bradshaw! Finally, the kid is unleashed. Great speed. Nice moves. Do we let Ward walk and make this tandem the 2008 backfield?
- Toomer. What a true professional. What a career. What a bounce back from last week. I can't say enough about Toomer.
- Congrats TC. 10 wins! Who would've thought that was possible. (except for Larry)
- Spags. Can we say enough about him either? I think Strahan may just sign on again just because of him. Best move of the off season by far.
- Kavika! Seriously, I remember the day we signed him. Larry and I were like "OK, nice signing" in hopes of more to come. Nothing more came. Look at them now.
- The Pro-bowl. Let me get this straight...baseball votes at the half-way mark for the all star game, so basically does the NBA and the NHL. Why does the NFL vote with 2 games to play? I mean I get that the actual pro-bowl game means nothing but why not just wait until the end of the year and vote? I seriously don't get this at all. It's like whatever you do in the last 2 games means nothing? You could carry your team into the playoffs single handed in the last 2 weeks and that would be meaningless in the pro-bowl voting. Just a weird system.
OK, that's it for now.
For everyone reading this...I hope you and your families have a very Merry Christmas, had a very Happy Chanukah and have a GREAT NEW YEAR!!!
Sunday, December 09, 2007
The Return
New York Sports in the Holiday Season
After a few month hiatus, I have decided to make a long overdue return performance in lieu of all the sports fun over the past few days and weeks.
It's been exactly 9 weeks since my last real posting. The day after the debacle that ended the collapse. I tried to keep it going the week after with some half hearted Giants blogging but I really just needed a break.
In the past few weeks, I have started to get many requests for a blog update, so with that, I give you Cooper's team-by-team thoughts on the the NY Sports Scene....
Let's start it off with the pigskin.
The New York Giants
Say what you want about Eli, we are 9-4. NINE and four. Go back to the "experts" picks prior to this season and show me anyone who had them in the playoffs, let alone tied for the 3rd best record in the conference and 5th best in all of the NFL.
Let me stop here for a second and tell you all that my good friend Larry Goldberg picked the Giants to go 11-5. He picked this VERY early in the offseason and stuck with it through everything. He swore by the schedule and especially by the run game, by Reese, by Eli and by one Brandon Jacobs. And while he may have been off about Jacobs' season yardage, NOBODY knew that Derrick Ward would emerge as such a force during the season or that BJ would be such a, um, well, ya know, his prediction looks pretty damn good right now. Hats off my friend. I never doubted ya for a second. OK, that is a lie. I told him he was crazy about 50 times and after we started off 0-2, let's just say I was talking to Larry a lot in a not so complimentary way.
Anyway, we are 9-4. In a way, I already feel like people will look at this season and say if we don't win a playoff game, it's a failure. But those are the same people that had Coughlin fired after the Tiki retirement game in Philly and were bashing Reese all offseason for not doing enough (just checking but can is the left tackle still a problem? Is Kavika Mitchell a crappy LB signing? Were you not disappointed to lose Kiwanukah for the year? How's Luke doing down there in Tampa?). The reality is we have won 6 road games in a row (The first Giants team since 1962 to do that) and will go on the road in the playoffs for the second straight season. If we go to Tampa (say hi to Luke) and win, people will say great! Eli got is first win, he is finally on his way. If we lose, they will want Coughlin fired and call for Eli's head yet again and call the season a failire. We are now going to be expected to win on the road in the playoffs and that, for me, is never a good position to be in. That said, it's been a helluva season to date and with two 8:00 home games left, a lot of cold weather ahead of us.
A few comments on yesterday's game...
Anyone out there that thinks this is a better team on the field without Tiki is not watching the same games I am. Jacobs really needs a lesson on holding onto the damn ball (ditto D. Ward last week). Can't TC give them the same speech he gave Tiki when he came to town? It's definitely a closer and more complete team without Tiki in the locker room but on the field...no way!
How bout that Kavika Mitchell?!
Gutsy performance by Pierce. Really played like a GIANT.
Plaxico is a special player. Really didn't think he had that kinda game in him.
2 games in a row Coughlin has given the ball back to the other team with under 2 minutes to play and both times the defense has won the game. Hats off to Spags and his boys for doing so.
THAT SAID. What is with the pansy ass play calling on offense late in these 2 games?!?! Get the ball back with just under 2 minutes to play and run BJ 3 times for 9 yards and punt so the Eagles get a chance against 2 rookies safties and the moronic prevent D. Great playcalling Gilbride.
We got very lucky that goal post was there, didn't we?
The New York Jets
I really don't have much to say here.
Maybe just a few questions
Is he a Man or a Mangenius? Just wanted to make sure.
Was Thomas Jones still a great trade?
Is it me or are all Jets number 1 picks since like 2002 busts?
Will this team show up next week with any pride for their coach or will they be a part of ass kicking history?
Onto the Hot Stove...(I will try to keep it short)
THE New York Mets
Milledge: I have had a lot of time to think about this one and while I think it made us a better team for 2008, I was an LMillz fan and will really regret giving him up if he finally matures in Washington. That said, putting Lastings Milledge in the same outfield as Eiljah Dukes could go down as one of the all time greatest or all time craziest calls in recent baseball history.
Schneider & Church: Schneider will become a fan favorite. He is a just a baseball player. He will knock in as many runs in key spots as LoDuca has and will play MUCH better defense. Will he knock the ball off the end of his bat into the OF for singles all the time? No. He will ground into more DPs than you and I will like but he will be a positive. (Estrada will not be on the team by the way..he will be non-tendered). Here is my statement about Ryan Church. He is a younger, slightly more athletic Shawn Green. And not the Shawn Green of the 01 & 02 Dodgers but rather the Shawn Green of last season. Is that a bad thing? I don't think so but I do think we need another bat somewhere on this club.
Essentially Church replaces Green which is a wash. Schneider replaces LoDuca. An offensive downgrade (depending on how much PT Castro gets) but a defensive upgrade. The rest of the team is the same exact thing (Wright, Reyes, Castillo & Delgado in the IF, Alou, Beltran in the OF. Marlon, Easley, Gotay, Chavez and Castro are the bench). I think they need a right handed 1B/OF who has some pop that can play against lefties in place of Church and can back up Delgado/Alou when they are out injured (sorry, it's happening). Really wish I had someone to throw out to you guys that I like who is a free agent but I just don't. Maybe they give Gomez the chance in the OF? I don't see him developing enough as a hitter to carry that much of a load yet. Speaking of Gomez....
Johan?!?! Not sure if I believe what I have been reading but if we have to give up 5-6 young guys to bring him in, I do it in a heart beat. He would instantly make us the team to beat in the NL (damn does the NL suck compared to the AL these days!) for years to come. I don't want to get carried away about this cause these rumors can make you crazy.
So far Omar gets a C. Much work to do.
New York Yankees
They have spent FOUR HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS on the following 5 players (age in parentheses): Alex Rodriguez (32), Jorge Posada (36), Mariano Rivera (38), Andy Pettitte (35) and Bobby Abreu (34). In every single one of these deals, the Yankees bid against no other team. Yes, there were rumors that the Mets wanted Jorge but aside from that, no bid was made or allowed to be made on these 5 players. Yet, this team decided to commit $400 million on their own players who haven't won a playoff series since 2004.
So clearly, from this spending behavior and age of the players, you would think this club is a "win now" team, right? Well, ya see, they have this new owner named Hank and oh boy is he a hoot. Hank decided to give the $400 million but now is listening to Brian Cashman and holding on to his 3 pitching prospects instead of going out and getting a 29-year old Johan Santana, the best pitcher on the planet.
The Yankees are about to sign Latroy Hawkins to replace the departed Jose Vizcaino and this is what Cash calls rebuilding the pen.
Who the hell knows what is going on in the Bronx. All I know is they did a great job getting these kids hyped up enough to become big names and now they won't use them to go get the biggest name of them all. Weird team these days.
The other sports..
New York Rangers
GREAT OT win today against the Devils! Shanny!! The King really is fun. Too bad Goldberg and I went on Monday and sat in row A and they got shutout and Henrick looked like crap. Today was a good one. Marty is still amazing but we are 4-0 against them this year. That is great.
New York Knicks
I don't know anything about this sport at all but I do read the papers and this team makes the Jets look like winners. Isiah makes Herm Edwards look like a great coach. James Dolan makes Al Davis look like a genius owner. I feel bad for you Knicks fans out there.
College football
I have been bashing this minor league sport for years so it does feel like a bit triumphant when a season like this one rolls around. Calling a team "National Champions" this season goes beyond comical into a whole new stratosphere of stupidity. Everyone sucks! They can make up 30 stupid bowl game names and give all the money they want to these schools for making it to these bowls but this sport will always be sham until they create some type of playoff format.
OK..that is all I got for you guys...
It's good to be back!
After a few month hiatus, I have decided to make a long overdue return performance in lieu of all the sports fun over the past few days and weeks.
It's been exactly 9 weeks since my last real posting. The day after the debacle that ended the collapse. I tried to keep it going the week after with some half hearted Giants blogging but I really just needed a break.
In the past few weeks, I have started to get many requests for a blog update, so with that, I give you Cooper's team-by-team thoughts on the the NY Sports Scene....
Let's start it off with the pigskin.
The New York Giants
Say what you want about Eli, we are 9-4. NINE and four. Go back to the "experts" picks prior to this season and show me anyone who had them in the playoffs, let alone tied for the 3rd best record in the conference and 5th best in all of the NFL.
Let me stop here for a second and tell you all that my good friend Larry Goldberg picked the Giants to go 11-5. He picked this VERY early in the offseason and stuck with it through everything. He swore by the schedule and especially by the run game, by Reese, by Eli and by one Brandon Jacobs. And while he may have been off about Jacobs' season yardage, NOBODY knew that Derrick Ward would emerge as such a force during the season or that BJ would be such a, um, well, ya know, his prediction looks pretty damn good right now. Hats off my friend. I never doubted ya for a second. OK, that is a lie. I told him he was crazy about 50 times and after we started off 0-2, let's just say I was talking to Larry a lot in a not so complimentary way.
Anyway, we are 9-4. In a way, I already feel like people will look at this season and say if we don't win a playoff game, it's a failure. But those are the same people that had Coughlin fired after the Tiki retirement game in Philly and were bashing Reese all offseason for not doing enough (just checking but can is the left tackle still a problem? Is Kavika Mitchell a crappy LB signing? Were you not disappointed to lose Kiwanukah for the year? How's Luke doing down there in Tampa?). The reality is we have won 6 road games in a row (The first Giants team since 1962 to do that) and will go on the road in the playoffs for the second straight season. If we go to Tampa (say hi to Luke) and win, people will say great! Eli got is first win, he is finally on his way. If we lose, they will want Coughlin fired and call for Eli's head yet again and call the season a failire. We are now going to be expected to win on the road in the playoffs and that, for me, is never a good position to be in. That said, it's been a helluva season to date and with two 8:00 home games left, a lot of cold weather ahead of us.
A few comments on yesterday's game...
Anyone out there that thinks this is a better team on the field without Tiki is not watching the same games I am. Jacobs really needs a lesson on holding onto the damn ball (ditto D. Ward last week). Can't TC give them the same speech he gave Tiki when he came to town? It's definitely a closer and more complete team without Tiki in the locker room but on the field...no way!
How bout that Kavika Mitchell?!
Gutsy performance by Pierce. Really played like a GIANT.
Plaxico is a special player. Really didn't think he had that kinda game in him.
2 games in a row Coughlin has given the ball back to the other team with under 2 minutes to play and both times the defense has won the game. Hats off to Spags and his boys for doing so.
THAT SAID. What is with the pansy ass play calling on offense late in these 2 games?!?! Get the ball back with just under 2 minutes to play and run BJ 3 times for 9 yards and punt so the Eagles get a chance against 2 rookies safties and the moronic prevent D. Great playcalling Gilbride.
We got very lucky that goal post was there, didn't we?
The New York Jets
I really don't have much to say here.
Maybe just a few questions
Is he a Man or a Mangenius? Just wanted to make sure.
Was Thomas Jones still a great trade?
Is it me or are all Jets number 1 picks since like 2002 busts?
Will this team show up next week with any pride for their coach or will they be a part of ass kicking history?
Onto the Hot Stove...(I will try to keep it short)
THE New York Mets
Milledge: I have had a lot of time to think about this one and while I think it made us a better team for 2008, I was an LMillz fan and will really regret giving him up if he finally matures in Washington. That said, putting Lastings Milledge in the same outfield as Eiljah Dukes could go down as one of the all time greatest or all time craziest calls in recent baseball history.
Schneider & Church: Schneider will become a fan favorite. He is a just a baseball player. He will knock in as many runs in key spots as LoDuca has and will play MUCH better defense. Will he knock the ball off the end of his bat into the OF for singles all the time? No. He will ground into more DPs than you and I will like but he will be a positive. (Estrada will not be on the team by the way..he will be non-tendered). Here is my statement about Ryan Church. He is a younger, slightly more athletic Shawn Green. And not the Shawn Green of the 01 & 02 Dodgers but rather the Shawn Green of last season. Is that a bad thing? I don't think so but I do think we need another bat somewhere on this club.
Essentially Church replaces Green which is a wash. Schneider replaces LoDuca. An offensive downgrade (depending on how much PT Castro gets) but a defensive upgrade. The rest of the team is the same exact thing (Wright, Reyes, Castillo & Delgado in the IF, Alou, Beltran in the OF. Marlon, Easley, Gotay, Chavez and Castro are the bench). I think they need a right handed 1B/OF who has some pop that can play against lefties in place of Church and can back up Delgado/Alou when they are out injured (sorry, it's happening). Really wish I had someone to throw out to you guys that I like who is a free agent but I just don't. Maybe they give Gomez the chance in the OF? I don't see him developing enough as a hitter to carry that much of a load yet. Speaking of Gomez....
Johan?!?! Not sure if I believe what I have been reading but if we have to give up 5-6 young guys to bring him in, I do it in a heart beat. He would instantly make us the team to beat in the NL (damn does the NL suck compared to the AL these days!) for years to come. I don't want to get carried away about this cause these rumors can make you crazy.
So far Omar gets a C. Much work to do.
New York Yankees
They have spent FOUR HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS on the following 5 players (age in parentheses): Alex Rodriguez (32), Jorge Posada (36), Mariano Rivera (38), Andy Pettitte (35) and Bobby Abreu (34). In every single one of these deals, the Yankees bid against no other team. Yes, there were rumors that the Mets wanted Jorge but aside from that, no bid was made or allowed to be made on these 5 players. Yet, this team decided to commit $400 million on their own players who haven't won a playoff series since 2004.
So clearly, from this spending behavior and age of the players, you would think this club is a "win now" team, right? Well, ya see, they have this new owner named Hank and oh boy is he a hoot. Hank decided to give the $400 million but now is listening to Brian Cashman and holding on to his 3 pitching prospects instead of going out and getting a 29-year old Johan Santana, the best pitcher on the planet.
The Yankees are about to sign Latroy Hawkins to replace the departed Jose Vizcaino and this is what Cash calls rebuilding the pen.
Who the hell knows what is going on in the Bronx. All I know is they did a great job getting these kids hyped up enough to become big names and now they won't use them to go get the biggest name of them all. Weird team these days.
The other sports..
New York Rangers
GREAT OT win today against the Devils! Shanny!! The King really is fun. Too bad Goldberg and I went on Monday and sat in row A and they got shutout and Henrick looked like crap. Today was a good one. Marty is still amazing but we are 4-0 against them this year. That is great.
New York Knicks
I don't know anything about this sport at all but I do read the papers and this team makes the Jets look like winners. Isiah makes Herm Edwards look like a great coach. James Dolan makes Al Davis look like a genius owner. I feel bad for you Knicks fans out there.
College football
I have been bashing this minor league sport for years so it does feel like a bit triumphant when a season like this one rolls around. Calling a team "National Champions" this season goes beyond comical into a whole new stratosphere of stupidity. Everyone sucks! They can make up 30 stupid bowl game names and give all the money they want to these schools for making it to these bowls but this sport will always be sham until they create some type of playoff format.
OK..that is all I got for you guys...
It's good to be back!
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Congratulations Jason & Val!
For those who actually still check this blog these days and didn't hear the big news.
Fink and Val got engaged this past weekend!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Fink and Val got engaged this past weekend!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Monday, October 08, 2007
It's the sport of kings...better the diamond rings
Football....
At half time, the ramp was packed full of angry Giants. Jerry, Danny and I met in our usual spot and all 3 of us had very annoyed looks on our faces.
We were losing to the freakin Jets! Eli Manning had a 0.0 rating and was 3 of 10 for 22 yards and an pick. Plex had no catches. Jacobs fumbled.
The feel good of last week's thumping of the Eagles had worn off and we were looking at the prospect of losing to the Green guys for the first time since 1993.
Would TC respond? Or would we start hearing about his job security again?
Then the 2nd half began. First series. 6 plays. 80 yards. 5 of those plays on the groud with the ridiculously large Brandon Jacobs taking it to pay dirt to cut the lead to 3. Leon Washington, the Jets only exciting player, than returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score to push the lead back to 10.
Then a few punts. Then the Giants had the ball back. 9 plays and 68 yards later, Jeremy Shockey (welcome to 2007) romped into the endzone and it was back to a 3 point game.
And then a star was born. Pennington drove the ball down the field. Throws into the end zone to Cotchery...PICK OFF AARON ROSS. Get used to that name folks.
Giants get the ball at the 2. They go 98 YARDS!! Plax to pay dirt on a ridiculous stiff arm. Giants lead 28-24!!
And then.....AARON ROSS AGAIN! This one on a duck from Chad. Aaron takes it in the end zone and the celebration was off.
Manning was 10 for 15 for 164 and 2 Tds in the 2nd half. Plex has five grabs for 124 yards, all in the 2nd half. Jacobs had 20 carries and his first 100 yard game. Evem Ward added 56 yards and a touchdown on 13 attempts. (Can someone name this tandem something? Like maybe REALLY BIG THUNDER and Lighting?) And most important, Aaron Ross had 2 HUGE interceptions and we FINALLY may have a lock down corner.
A few more Giants points before we move on...
1. Just so i'm clear, Can David Diehl play LT in this league?
2. Is Mathias Kiwanuka a problem playing LB?
3. Do we miss Tiki Barber and his locker room diatribes?
4. Does everyone want to fire Reese?
3-2 with the Falcons, 49ers and Fins up before the bye.
Non-football quick hits...
1. Is the Phillies next pep rally scheduled at City Hall today? Seriously, how has there not been more made about this? They had a freakin quasi-parade for winning the division BEFORE THE PLAYOFFS STARTED!
2. JOBA! JOBA! Oops sorry, wrong blog.
3. Ubaldo Jiminez and Manny Corpas!! Doug Davis and Livan Hernandez!! Rockies!! D-backs!! Your 2007 National League Championship series, next on TBS!!
4. OK, some quick yankees. How does Torre bring in Joba in a 8-3 game last night?!? Did he not realize they were up 5 runs and play again today? Likewise, how does he bring in Rivera on Friday in the 9th of a tie game to face the bottom of the order rather than bring in Vizcaino in the 9th to face 7-8-9 and then have Mo for an actual save opportunity in the 10th or 11th or whenever? Did he think he was at Yankees Stadium? Seriously, what Steinbrenner announced is just not cool but can you really blame him? Torre is making Willie look like a smart man.
5. Avery out for a up to a month, rough start to the season, Rangers.
I will be back later with a review of this past sunday's tailgate.
At half time, the ramp was packed full of angry Giants. Jerry, Danny and I met in our usual spot and all 3 of us had very annoyed looks on our faces.
We were losing to the freakin Jets! Eli Manning had a 0.0 rating and was 3 of 10 for 22 yards and an pick. Plex had no catches. Jacobs fumbled.
The feel good of last week's thumping of the Eagles had worn off and we were looking at the prospect of losing to the Green guys for the first time since 1993.
Would TC respond? Or would we start hearing about his job security again?
Then the 2nd half began. First series. 6 plays. 80 yards. 5 of those plays on the groud with the ridiculously large Brandon Jacobs taking it to pay dirt to cut the lead to 3. Leon Washington, the Jets only exciting player, than returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score to push the lead back to 10.
Then a few punts. Then the Giants had the ball back. 9 plays and 68 yards later, Jeremy Shockey (welcome to 2007) romped into the endzone and it was back to a 3 point game.
And then a star was born. Pennington drove the ball down the field. Throws into the end zone to Cotchery...PICK OFF AARON ROSS. Get used to that name folks.
Giants get the ball at the 2. They go 98 YARDS!! Plax to pay dirt on a ridiculous stiff arm. Giants lead 28-24!!
And then.....AARON ROSS AGAIN! This one on a duck from Chad. Aaron takes it in the end zone and the celebration was off.
Manning was 10 for 15 for 164 and 2 Tds in the 2nd half. Plex has five grabs for 124 yards, all in the 2nd half. Jacobs had 20 carries and his first 100 yard game. Evem Ward added 56 yards and a touchdown on 13 attempts. (Can someone name this tandem something? Like maybe REALLY BIG THUNDER and Lighting?) And most important, Aaron Ross had 2 HUGE interceptions and we FINALLY may have a lock down corner.
A few more Giants points before we move on...
1. Just so i'm clear, Can David Diehl play LT in this league?
2. Is Mathias Kiwanuka a problem playing LB?
3. Do we miss Tiki Barber and his locker room diatribes?
4. Does everyone want to fire Reese?
3-2 with the Falcons, 49ers and Fins up before the bye.
Non-football quick hits...
1. Is the Phillies next pep rally scheduled at City Hall today? Seriously, how has there not been more made about this? They had a freakin quasi-parade for winning the division BEFORE THE PLAYOFFS STARTED!
2. JOBA! JOBA! Oops sorry, wrong blog.
3. Ubaldo Jiminez and Manny Corpas!! Doug Davis and Livan Hernandez!! Rockies!! D-backs!! Your 2007 National League Championship series, next on TBS!!
4. OK, some quick yankees. How does Torre bring in Joba in a 8-3 game last night?!? Did he not realize they were up 5 runs and play again today? Likewise, how does he bring in Rivera on Friday in the 9th of a tie game to face the bottom of the order rather than bring in Vizcaino in the 9th to face 7-8-9 and then have Mo for an actual save opportunity in the 10th or 11th or whenever? Did he think he was at Yankees Stadium? Seriously, what Steinbrenner announced is just not cool but can you really blame him? Torre is making Willie look like a smart man.
5. Avery out for a up to a month, rough start to the season, Rangers.
I will be back later with a review of this past sunday's tailgate.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Last Night:
Kaz Matsui started the rally for Colorado in the bottom of the 13th with a leadoff double.....just saying
The End
My apologies for not getting this up sooner but Sunday was a long day and I needed yesterday to recover and gather my thoughts…
The first and most frequent question I received since Sunday was “Are you OK?”. I answered this in the most honest way possible. “Not yet. But I am not shocked”.
The retort has been something like this each time “Jeff, how are you not shocked, your team just went through one of the greatest collapses in sports history and you are one of the biggest fans of the Mets I have ever met!?
Let me explain…
I didn’t want to believe it, but the collapse didn’t start in September. It started in June. My friend Mark, a friend from college who I hadn’t spoken to in years prior to this season but has now become a good friend thanks to our shared loved for this franchise, had been telling me all year and my Dad had the same message. “This is not a good baseball team”.
I didn’t want to believe that. We were in first again. We held first place over the past 2 seasons more than any team in the game. We were robbed of a World Series appearance by Yadier Molina and the lucky Cards and we were going to show the world that we were back this year and ready to right our wrong.
We came out of the gate playing inspired baseball. Reyes and Beltran were killing the ball in April. Wright came out of his early season funk in May. John Maine was an early Cy Young favorite. And then June hit.
Read this sentence slowly. From June 1-September 30, the New York Mets were two games under .500.
Crazy, right?
So while blowing the 7 games with 17 to play and 1 game with 3 to play is truly devastating (yes Glavine, it’s devastating), this has been going on for 4 months.
After the games on May 31st we were 34-18. From then on they went 54-56.
Does that sound like a playoff team to you? It sure doesn’t sound like one to me. How could I be shocked when my team won more than 4 games in a row once?
Which brings me to my points about the ball club moving forward:
1) Omar deserves A LOT more heat than he is getting. The questions to fire Willie are warranted but it was Omar’s choice not to make any big free agent pitching signings. It was his choice to not bring back the Bradford’s and Oliver’s. It was his choice to trade away Owens, Lindstrom, Bell, Ring, Bannister, etc. It was his choice to bring in Schoenweiss, to re-sign Mota, to re-sign a 45-year old El Duque and a 48-year old Julio Franco. It was his choice to not help re-shuffle the bullpen during the season when it was painfully obvious that we were 2 arms short at least. It was his choice to fire Rick Down, (a Willie guy) and hire Rickey Henderson (a known slacker in the clubhouse). Etc etc.
I have been a HUGE Omar fan since the Day the Wilpon’s gave him the keys. But a 54-56 record is not just a reflection on the manager. It’s a reflection on the team overall and the man who built the team. It’s still In Omar We Trust but he has a very big offseason ahead of him.
For the record, I believe Willie should be back.
2)Quick hit on the free agents and what I think we need:
- Thanks for being a Met to: Tom Glavine, Paul Loduca, Jeff Conine, Damian Easley, Shawn Green, David Newhan, Brian Lawrence, Mike DiFelice, Sandy Alomar Jr., Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele. You can argue about LoDuca but I am not interested in a 35-year old catcher on the down side of his career who loses his temper way too often.
- Guys who will be back but we don’t really want: Duque (signed a 2-year deal), Mota (2-years), Schoenweiss (3 years), Wagner.
- Possibly on the move: Milledge, Heilman, Pelfrey, Gomez.
- Questions: Castillo, Alou, Marlon (being him back)
3) Things that need to be addressed:
- I still think, as I have all year and most of last year that we need a #2 hitter. I know Reyes had an awful September but slumps are part of baseball and he is far from our problem. I liked Castillo’s fit on this club but the guy is a singles hitter who bunts 40% of the time. I know some people want Castillo back and I would be fine with him as the #8 hitter but we must get an impact player to bat second next season. This team could score 75 more runs next season with a capable bat in the 2 hole.
- The starting rotation: Pedro, Maine (playing all 2nd half with a hip injury that requires surgery makes me love this guy even more. What a game on Saturday) and Ollie are locks to start the season. Pelfrey went 3-1 in the 2nd half after a ridiculous 0-7 first half but he was still getting hit very hard. Opponents batted over .298 against him this year and .304 in the 2nd half. He has talent but harnessing that in NY is easier said then done. Not sure if he has a spot or not. Let’s be honest, we need a #1 starter. I know there are very few out there but this has to be on top of Omar’s to-do list.
- The bullpen. Do I need to say more?
It was a terrible ending to a very long season. It was both sad yet quite relaxing to go home yesterday and have no game to catch. I will watch the playoffs as I am a baseball fan at the core but it will be with very little emotion.
To end…I want to say a special thanks to the people who I spent the season with the most: My co-blogger Jason, my friends and co-workers Dani and Lynne for the nightly email chain. Mark (you were right buddy, they suck), Goldberg (although he’s a Yankees fan, he is also a great baseball fan who puts up with my daily Mets rants), the entire Giants tailgate and lastly to my Dad. For if not for my Dad, I would not be a Mets fan.
My Dad just had surgery on his knee last week. He was in the hospital recovering as we were finishing off the end of the collapse and I was calling him to update him on a regular basis. For those of you who know my father, he isn’t exactly the most optimistic fan. But ya see, he has a reason he is this way. He grew up in Brooklyn in the 30s and 40s and lived through season after season of heart break. He, like many other baseball fans of that generation naturally took on the Mets as their new team in 1962, 6 seasons after the Dodgers and Giants left town.
On Sunday, my Dad called after the game as I was in the parking lot readying for what was to be the best Giants game I can remember in a long time. We exchanged the same type of words each of you guys did with your loved ones and as the conversation ended, the only thing I could think of was the famous words of his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers…
Wait until next year….
Thanks to all for reading…please pass this along to any fans you know and I would love your comments.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Devestation
I will be back later with a full season review and thoughts on the biggest regular season collapse in baseball history.
At least Big Blue came through last night.
14 hours at Giants stadium. 1 season lost. 1 season re-born.
At least Big Blue came through last night.
14 hours at Giants stadium. 1 season lost. 1 season re-born.
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