Back In The Saddle...

Hi everybody.

I'm back.

Been away for a few days.

I've been in mourning (not pictured) since my Yankees were eliminated ignominiously from the playoffs.

As such, we have some catching up to do.
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FINALLY SOME FUN


Let's start with the Canes game this weekend.

There aren't TOO many X's and O's to take away from it.

The simple fact is this: The Canes had FUN for probably the first time all year. That's what it looked like to me.

The opening of the season has been a little joyless for me.

The opening game was meaningless. Ohio State was frustrating. Pittsburgh was pressure packed. Clemson was a struggle. FSU was an embarrassment. Duke was sloppy.

Finally, the Canes went out and had a good time.

The iconic moment from the game was Sean Spence literally SPANKING Brandon Harris following an interception. Doing the bulldance, feeling the flow, working it, working it.

I have a friend who has the AUDACITY to say that it wasn't worth 15 yards.

OF COURSE it was.

15 yards I'd HAPPILY accept (I know coach Shannon would not agree with me).

But it gets better for Miami.

There were players YELLING at each other on the sidelines (Vaughn Telemaque is quickly becoming a leader)... The guys were jumping up and down dancing to a song.

EMOTION, PASSION, dare I say it? A bit of swagger.

Congrats to Randy and the Canes.

They really needed that.
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TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE REPLAY

May I submit to you Sunday's Dolphins game.

Everyone always argues, "IF you have replay, it takes the human element out of the game."

Well, there was replay.

Many humans looked at a piece of video for the key play in that game.

They ALL got it wrong.

Replay isn't fool-proof and it certainly isn't idiot-proof.

Big Ben seems to get away with EVERYTHING doesn't he?

Still, the Miami Dolphins need to look in the mirror.

You don't beat the Pittsburgh Steelers by kicking field goals.

That's a great opponent with a bad-ass defense.

Valiant effort, not good enough.

Dol-fans should be pissed.

Dolphins players need to get better.
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BRONX BUMMERS

Thanks to Robinson Cano, Mariano Rivera, and CC Sabathia for making this Yankees season enjoyable for me.

They were the only three players who consistently performed and acted like they were ready to win another championship.

What a moment to epitomize a season.

The Yankees go down as AROD stands lonely at the dish, haplessly watching the 3rd strike go by.

It was a weak title defense.

They didn't even win the division.

Joe Girardi pushed just about EVERY wrong button he could throughout the series.

But even so, Texas was the better team.

The hardest part for me to take has been waching the decline of Derek Jeter.

Let's hope it was just a bad year.

I suspect it could be worse.
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COWBOY DOWN

Can't wait for Monday Night Football.

The Giants have the Cowboys in a position to END their season.

It's a MONSTER division game.

And I couldn't be more concerned!

The Cowboys have nothing and so, they have nothing to lose.

This game can begin their turnaround.

They are a team that's made a living shooting themselves in the foot (save me the Plaxico jokes).

But there's no question that they have talented players.

On the other hand, The Giants have a knack for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

However, I don't trust Tony Romo.

And yet, as much as I love watching him play, Eli Manning scares me sometimes in big games.

So yeah, I have no idea what's going to happen.
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GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT

As for the OTHER Giants, the San Francisco Giants, how can you not root for them? (other than being a Dodger fan)...

If anyone has a "team of destiny" look to them, it's the Giants.

They have AMAZING pitching, they are riding the hot bat of Marlins cast-off Cody Ross, and they have a bullpen that looks like a soup kitchen.

I swear, when they run out, I'm not sure if I want to cheer for them, or give them a sandwich.
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GONE IN A FLASH

There's something else happening this week.

What the hell is it?

Thinking, thinking...

Oh yes, the Heat open Tuesday night in Boston.

CANNOT wait.

Dwyane Wade said on twitter he will no longer be going by Flash.

I've been inspired.

Can you please stop calling me wonder woman?

Thanks,
The Management

Making Peace With Jacory's Interception Problem...

I'm guessing that I'm in the same place as most Canes fans concerning Jacory Harris (not pictured).

I love him, but at times, he drives me ABSOLUTELY NUTS!


Heading into FSU week, I wish I could say I'm fully confident in the Canes quarterback: I'm not.

And yet, somehow I'm confident in the Canes offense.

Does that make ANY sense?

Absolutely not.

But nothing about this Canes team is logical.
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Take the first half of Saturday's game at Clemson.

At the half, Miami was up 27-13.

Jacory had 4 touchdown passes (matching a career-high), three of them were to future high-draft pick Leonard Hankerson, and yet, I was annoyed.

How is that possible?

Despite the touchdowns, Jacory had ALSO thrown 2 drive-killing interceptions, one that was picked off in the endzone.

While most of us have NEVER read a defense before in game-speed, I think we can all see when the safety is drifting over and a guy is doubled.

Why can't Jacory?
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The 'will he get better' question keeps coming up.

Tick, tock.

Dude's a Junior.

He started 1 game freshman year, 13 as a sophomore, and now 4 as a Junior.

I think the whole 'inexperience' argument is out the door.

Sadly, I think Jacory is what he is going to be.

Can it work?
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The BEST analogy I have to watching Jacory is my experiences on Sundays, watching my beloved Giants.

Eli Manning does the SAME thing that Jacory does.

Rain or shine, big lead or not---- at least once or twice a game---- Eli throws a pass that makes a little piece of me die.

Death, taxes, and a dumb Eli throw.

You only have to hope that 1. it doesn't come at the worst possible time 2. it's not a pick-6.
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I think that's where I'm at with Jacory.

I've moved passed denial, depression, bargaining, I'm at acceptance.

My name is David and I cheer for quarterbacks who throw ill-advised interceptions.

Eli won a Super Bowl and a Super Bowl MVP.

Maybe Jacory can win.

Until then, I'll be the guy curled up on the couch in the fetal position saying "WHAT THE ***K WERE YOU THINKING? WHO WERE YOU THROWING THAT TO? HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF *NOT* LOOKING AT YOUR PRIMARY TARGET?"

Football's bad for my health.

Brotherly Beatdown...

The Manning brothers (not pictured) met on Sunday night.

It was the most lopsided brotherly beatdown since Cain and Abel squared off.

After the game, Peyton took the high road.

He turned down an interview request by NBC's Andrea Kramer.

Why would he want to say anything bad about his brother?
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Peyton, are you out of your mind?

What's more fun than teasing a sibling, particuarly after a humiliating loss?

How is it, that I've never been able to live down some losses in Tecmo Bowl from the mid 90's, but you just kicked your brother's ass (in front of the country), and don't want to say a word?

My brother would've RIPPED the mic out of Andrea Kramer's hand and free styled a rap about being the superior Lang.

He would've hired a gospel choir to sing: "I'm Better Than You," "Mom Loved Me More," and "We Haven't Told You Until Now, But, You're Adopted"... and a host of other tunes that he wrote during the week.

The final score would've been spray painted on my house.

I would've done the same.
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See, but I think Peyton's a little smarter than that.

I think *NOT* doing the interview is the ultimate form of teasing.

Thought you'd pull a fast one.

Not only did you prove you are the superior quarterback, but now, you also look like the better person.

You didn't just get straight A's, you also helped little old ladies across the street.

I'm on to you Manning.

Nice try.
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To be perfectly honest, Peyton shouldn't be SO hurt that his team beat his brother's.

This was a regular season game.

They both have Super Bowl rings and MVP trophies.

Little brother will be fine.

I think Peyton made a bigger deal about it by NOT talking at the time.

Winning a regular season game is nice, teasing a sibling lasts a lifetime.

He almost made it seem like it was a bummer.

Please.

Poor Cooper.

A Night Of Interesting...

That's right.

I'm referring to the NFL draft picks (not pictured).

To be honest, I watched the draft out of the corner of my eye because I was doing my day(night) job.

But, honestly, how much attention do you need to pay to watching a pick every 10 minutes or so??
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First question, what's up with all the man-hugs?

What about Roger Goodell says "Hug me?"

I enjoyed the players' ethusiasm, but, what happened to the era of the firm hand-shake?

These guys ran up like contestants on "The Price is Right."

It's the commish, not Bob Barker.

Whatever happened to Barry Sanders' act like you've been there before?
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I'm happy for Tim Tebow.

But it's really not about Tim Tebow.

It's about LOGIC and BEING RIGHT.

I was on the radio about a month and half ago, and I said on the air, Tim Tebow will be a first-round pick.

The host who was on after me (whose name rhymes with Dadum Dooperstein) mocked me. First, he asked me, off-air and to my face, why I think Tebow was first round worthy. He said, he was hearing that Tebow would go in the 4th round or so (he claims he said 3rd round, I think he said 5th, let's just split the difference).

Dadum asked me why did I think Tebow would go in the first round. I said, because I have eyes. If you've watched Tebow play the last four years, you'd realize, he's a good football player.

He's excelled at every level and dominated the college game. Why wouldn't a pro team give a player with his unique skill-set a shot??

Then, this host went on the air during HIS show and essentially called me an idiot. I guess having an original thought (which turned out to be right) is far less interesting than parroting what you read in a draft guide.

So, on ONE level, I was really happy because I was called out and MOCKED. And yet, it turns out I was right. There's no better feeling in the world.

Additionally, a friend of mine with whom I NEVER agree on matters pertaining to sports, agreed with me on this one.

So we were right, and the mocker was wrong.

Will Tebow be successful in the pros? I don't know. I think he's the same as about every other draft pick, flip a coin.
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I now hate AL Davis.

Skeletor picked up Rolando McClain.

That's who I wanted for my New York Giants.

Instead, New York goes with the D-Lineman from South Florida who COULD be an effective pass rusher.

I just hope that doesn't spell the end of the Osi-era.

72 is one of my favorite players on the team.

My dad tells me, Osi (i'm not going to bother spelling his last name or my friend Ari will ride me like SeaBiscuit) was made by Michael Strahan.

Perhaps.

But I would've liked the Giants to address the linebacker position.

FREAKING Al Davis.
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I think the Dolphins would've taken CJ Spiller if he were around. I really do. Instead, they said, let's get a 2nd round pick, let's move down. We like this big bad defensive tackle from Penn State. We can plug him in.

I don't think Dolphins made this pick because they were trying to replace Jason Taylor.

I think the Dolphins were indifferent to Jason Taylor because they knew they could make this pick.

Will he be any good?

I don't know.

He's big.

Parcells likes him.

Getting him at 28 instead of 12 probably saves the team a few bucks.
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As a Giants fan, I hate to see Dez Bryant end up in Dallas. That was a fantastic pick and a really good fit.

I think Jerry Jones got his guy.

The Cowboys organization says, they can take care of him.

Name me a big-time wide receiver who isn't a diva?

Everyone would've said Marvin Harrison, you sure about that?

Dez was a steal.

Austin, Whitten, Dez.

Now if their quarterback didn't suck, they'd have a shot to be a really good offense. (a pet theory of mine, the Cowboys will NEVER win with Romo).
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How about this?

I think the Lions did well!

They got Suh *And* the running back Best (his name) out of Cal.

Those are two quality players who I've seen.
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Coverage-wise, I must differ to my brother on this one.

The draft is one of the ONLY events where, it's pretty much just as good to read the paper the next day.

I'll admit, when the Giants and Dolphins are "on the clock" my heart races a bit. But that's because I'm a nerd.

The actual talking that takes place, either on NFL Network or ESPN, is MOSTLY garbage.

I just want to hear WHO the pick is, and then see a few clips of him.

Give me context and information, not bloviating.
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My favorite draft moment was actually on the radio. An hour before the first pick was made, I tuned to 940 am and had the privledge of hearing Jim "Mad Dog" Mandich back on the air.

I'll say it again, best radio personality in this market, and it's not even close.

What a treat to hear Jim and Jimmy Cefalo back together.

I can't wait to hear the Dog calling Fins games during the season.

It'll be music to my ear, but good, unlike Justin Bieber.