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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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

My Irrational Love Of The Yankees...

It's after midnight and I'm having a hard time digesting the Yankees 8-0 loss to the Texas Rangers (not pictured).

Cliff Lee (who hopefully will be donning pinstripes next year) threw an absolute masterpiece.

It's a game that you MAY have expected to lose or at least struggle in.

And yet, here I sit at 12:25 disgusted and unable to sleep.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I fully recognize how silly the love of sports can be.

In my mind, I can do all the jumping jacks to talk myself down from being upset.

It's just a game.

One you didn't play in.

They'll get 'em tomorrow night.

You can't win every year.

Doesn't work.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To my credit, I've gotten better.

The year was 1995.

The Yankees had NEVER won a playoff game in my lifetime.

It was Don Mattingly's last season.

Game 5 of the opening round against Seattle.

The Yankees are UP in extra innings and for SOME ungodly reason, Buck brings in Jack McDowell to close it out.

Why?

Many people remember, Edgar Martinez doubled to drive in Ken Griffey Junior and end the Yankees' season in heartbreak.

What you may not have known is that a 14-year old boy in Hollywood, Florida dropped to his knees and wept.

I mean loudly sobbed.

I'm not sure if I cried that hard when my grandparents died (I realize how awful that sounds).

My parents gave me the lecture.

It's just a game.

There will be others.

You can't live your life like this.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
But I have, for the most part.

I've toned it down a bit.

Having a job, a girlfriend, and a life help.

But they're not the end-all, be-all.

The Yankees have carved themselves an immovable piece in my heart.

Watching their games is part of my identity.

More importantly for me, it brings normalcy and routine to the world.

The 162 game grind has them there for me every day, to follow the box scores, losing streaks, and wins.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And then there's the baseball playoffs.

So much tension in every single pitch.

Each moment can literally be the difference between a season's life or death.

With the Yankees everything is magnified because of their payroll, history and expectations.

Plus, they're old.

You never know when or if these guys will be back again.

There are no moral victories in the Bronx.

You're either champs or bums.

There is no middle ground.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And so I sit.

Staring at the beautiful skyline of downtown Miami.

My awesome girlfriend sleeps peacefully in the bed.

And all I can think about is why Girardi is throwing AJ instead of CC on 3 days' rest.

There's a reason fan is short for fanatic.

Worst Contract Year Ever...

Trust me, it pains me to say this.

I wish I (not pictured) could pretend it wasn't happening.

I have enjoyed every single game I've watched him play since he came up to the bigs.

But Derek Jeter has been awful this year.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Obviously, with DJ it isn't a matter of effort.

One of the traits I love most about Jeter is that he goes 100% at all times.

You never see him not hustling.

That said, the results have been atrocious this year.

I can't tell you how many times I've been driving in my car, and listened to John Stirling try to apologize away another double-play hit into by 'el capitain.'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let's look at his numbers.

Right now, we're in September, so this is an honest sample size.

He's hitting .266.

That's pathetic.

He's over .300 as a lifetime hitter, has over 2,500 career hits.

On-base percentage: .322.

That's TERRIBLE for a lead-off guy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leads me to 2 questions: 1. What Happened? 2. What do the Yankees do about him in the future?

The answer to number 1 could be, he got old.

He's 36.

Watch him run to first.

He's clearly lost a step.

That's natural.

But you can still be successful in baseball a step slower.

I'm hopeful that he's just having a bad year.

It happens, even to the best.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next question is about Derek's future.

His contract runs out at the end of the year.

Could the Yankees possibly ever let him go?

I highly doubt it.

Tell me an athlete who has engendered more goodwill in a town than Jeter in NY?

Doesn't exist.

But, as a Yankees fan you have to wonder, how long should that contract be?

If he looks a step slow now, what's he going to look like in five years?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ah, but there's hope.

That's because it's only early September.

The Yankees are 2.5 games ahead of the Rays for first place.

They will be playing in the Playoffs.

A good post-season, and Jeter can wash away the memories of this dreadful season.

Jeter just needs to remind everyone that he's greatest when the stakes are highest.

I just hope he still has it.

For the first time in his career, I'm not so sure.

Crawling To History

It's hard to defend AROD (not pictured) sometimes.

It really is.

His pursuit of 600 home runs can be called nothing short of embarrassing.

Today, my father, who has been watching the Yankees for over 50 years, told me AROD is his least favorite Yankee ever.

That's pretty harsh.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From a pure talent standpoint, AROD is one of the greatest of all-time.

That's hard to argue.

Yes, his numbers were inflated by his steroid use.

But he did play during the height of the steroid era.

But I'm not making any sweeping moral judgements on Alex based on history right now.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Instead, I want to talk about his last 40 or so at bats.

Ever since home run 599, AROD has been an absolute mess at the plate.

The man with power to all fields, now has power to none.

If any pitch is mildly in a sweet spot, he's almost toppling-over with self-congratulatory swings.

He's the definition of someone who is pressing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's annoying on so many levels.

Every time he comes to the plate, we have to wait while specially-marked baseballs are brought in so the historic event can be properly documented.

I wonder: Do the balls say "Choker," "wussy," or "egomaniac?"

Or are they really insulting?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Honestly, I think Derek Jeter needs to punch him in the face.

Alex's chase of a personal goal has put the Yankees' season on pause.

While this guy is putzing at the plate, the Yankees are sputtering.

And worst of all, Tampa is hot as can be.

The Yankees and Rays are now tied for first.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
But Alex doesn't care.

Every time he walks up to the plate, the flashbulbs are going, which is really all that he wants.

All that Alex is thinking about is his 600th.

All that Yankees fans want is a cleanup hitter who picks up his skirt and drives a ball into the gap once in a blue moon.

One day I'll tell my grandkids about AROD's race to history.

I just hope they aren't born by the time he finally ****ing does it!

Loss Of The Boss...

I couldn't believe I was standing at the Deli counter at Publix crying.

But, it's true.

I was standing there waiting to get sandwiches for myself and my girlfriend, and I was shedding tears over George Steinbrenner (not pictured).

This was absurd to me.

George was the owner.

That's it.

He wrote the checks.

He never caught a flyball, drove in a run, or stole a base.

So why did I care so much?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The short answer is that I'm a loser.

But that wouldn't make for a very interesting blog.

I didn't realize I had such an emotional pull towards Steinbrenner, until the day that he died (isn't that always the way).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I kept saying to myself: I feel like the Yankees died today.

I called my father (I know it's a cliche to say that baseball is between fathers and sons--- but it's true--- it's the most consistent part of our relationship).

My dad basically said, That's life.

He's a neurosurgeon.

Death is sort of par for the course with that profession.

And I appreciated his point of view.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I met George once when I was a kid.

It was at Spring Training.

He was surrounded.

He was wearing a white Yankees jacket.

I managed to find my way to approach him.

I was that kid.

I could ALWAYS get to the athlete and get the prized autograph (a skill that has served me well throughout my life).

He signed an autograph and was really nice about it.

But that wasn't it.

I once was able to get an autograph of the rapper Ice Cube at a Heat game (that was a good day) and yet I don't feel the same emotional pull towards him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After a day of thinking about it, I finally put my finger on why I was so upset.

My father grew up in the era of Mickey Mantle.

He still tells stories about taking the Subway to Bronx Science and seeing the Mick in the outfield.

Championships were expected.

I grew up watching Yankee games on WPIX.

As charming as Phil Rizzuto was, the Yankees sucked (he had more shoutouts than an award show, often at the expense of the broadcast, LOVED Scooter).

I felt the Yankees never gave Don Mattingly the team he deserved.

It always bothered me.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It bothered Steinbrenner just as much.

That's why I loved him.

Steinbrenner demanded excellence.

He would do WHATEVER was necessary to make sure the Yankee franchise was returned to its glory days.

Yes, there are people who say, it was Steinbrenner's suspension from baseball that allowed the Yankee dynasty to bloom.

He was out of the game, and so he couldn't trade away the likes of Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, and on and on.

I don't see it that way.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For better or worse, George Steinbrenner was America.

Unbridled capitalism and excess.

For crying out loud, he was born on the 4th of July.

Steinbrenner fancied himself a modern-day Patton and deluded himself into thinking he had more to do with the outcome of the games, than he actually did.

But, as a Yankee fan, I always knew this: He would try.

George cared about putting the ultimate product on the field, every day.

That's all you can really ask from an owner.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Many of my best memories in life revolve around the Yankees.

I kept the ticket stub from Game 1 of the 2000 World Series in my wallet until it evaporated.

I was at Duke.

I flew to New York.

My dad, brother and I had bleacher seats in right field for the first game of the Subway series.

The Yankees won on a hit by Jose Vizcaino. That building shook.

I remember flying to San Diego for the clinching game in the 1998 World Series.

I nearly crapped my pants when Jim Leyritz nearly hit the ball out for San Diego, but the ball fell short, and the Yanks completed the sweep.

I can't count the number of times my mother dressed a dog up in Yankees gear.

My mother would routinely pull me out of school to go to Spring Training games in Fort Lauderdale.

I never stayed home from school being sick, wasn't allowed, but Yankee games were sacred.

I've smoked countless victory cigars with my friend Will.

From March until November every year, I can count on the Yankees fielding a great to outstanding team.

I'm a jumpy dude.

The Yankees are one of a handful of things that can actually allow me to relax.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All of that is because of Steinbrenner and the culture that he reinstilled.

The Yankees were lost for a while.

Steinbrenner put them back on course.

I can't give him enough credit for that.

So yeah, maybe it wasn't so bad that I cried.

I really hope he's honored in November with Championship 28.

I promise when I'm smoking my victory cigar, I'l think of the Boss and say the one thing every Yankee fan should: Thank you!

Always Moving

Many of my readers have not hear of Colin Curtis (not pictured).

And to be honest with you, until Monday night, neither had I.

But at around 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, I got to watch Colin Curtis live out his dream.

I must admit I was deeply moved.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Curtis was the Yankees' 4th round pick in 2006 out of Arizona State.

And at around 12:15, Curtis drove a ball over the Arizona Diamondbacks' centerfielder to drive home a pair of runs for the Yankees.

But the story begins 10 years earlier.

At the age of 15, Curtis was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

Can you imagine?

According to his wiki page (so it must be true), Colin was given a book by Lance Armstrong that inspired him (hopefully it wasn't "how to dope").
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
But back to the magical moment.

I have to admit, there are certain events that ALWAYS move me.

I'm a mess at weddings.

I will often be moved at movies.

And yes, when I see someone get their first big-league hit, it's always touching.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
After his double, they cut back to a shot of Curtis in the dugout.

The entire Yankees team was waiting for him.

AROD gave him a hug.

Teixeira told him 'good job.'

Girardi gave him a fist-bump.

And Colin looked up in the stands where his brother could be seen mouthing "**CK Yeah", while his dad stood and applauded, and his mom was high-fiving and then texting.

After the game, his father walked down the stands to take pictures of his son being interviewed.

Does it get any better than that?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That's why I love sports.

Here we are.

It's the 8th inning of a Diamondbacks-Yankees game that has long since been decided.

The kid is pinch hitting.

And boom.

This incredible, life-changing, life-affirming moment.

Everything Colin Curtis went through in his life, beating cancer, those bus rides in the minor leagues... POOF.

All the struggle was gone in one swing of the bat.

He was now officially a New York Yankee.

It's always great to see someone's dream come true right before your eyes.

Or maybe I'm just trying to justify paying $180 a year for the Direct TV baseball package...

Dissed By The President...

This is a blog about AROD (not pictured).

The New York Yankees went to the White House on Monday. It's an honor reserved for champions. And frankly, I think one of the coolest perks of the job for the commander-in-chief.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As every President does, Barack Obama gave a nice 8 minute or so speech congratulating the champs on their accomplishments.

It was your stock speech, which, if you weren't a Yankee fan would bore you to tears (even if you were, perhaps you'd be bored).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allow me to preface this by saying, none of this is substantiated. This is merely *MY* interpretation of the events I witnessed.

The President singled out several Yankees for their achievements on and off the field. He praised Mariano Rivera for his great cut-fastball. He talked about Mark Teixeira donating money for a scholarship. Mr. Obama talked about meeting Jorge Posada at a charity event and the work Posada has done for children.

And then things got really interesting.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The President asked 'where's Jeter?' He turned around and found Derek Jeter, Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsman of the Year." Obama praised DJ for the way he carries himself, for being a consummate professional.

But my favorite part was seeing Alex Rodriguez standing right next to Jeter.

I'm sorry. I know the topic is played out and all. It doesn't impact wins and losses (as is evidenced by the championship they were celebrating).

But AROD had a TOUGH job masking his contempt for the fact that *HE* was not being recognized.

Let's be honest.

AROD had more to do with the Yankees winning their 27th championship than ANYONE. For the first time in his career, he was the BEST player in the world at the most meaningful time. He did a LOT to repair his image as a choke.


But, if you're the President, can you really single someone out who has admitted to using steroids?

You don't want to touch that controversy.

So you pick the safe choices.

But that leaves Alex there to stand with an uncomfortable grin.

No one ever said he wasn't pety.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That's an anomaly of being a sports fan.

You can like a guy, without actually liking a guy.

I think Alex can be vein, silly, small, phony, and self-serving.

But I don't care.

Our relationship isn't structured that way.

He hits home runs for the Yankees, and I smile.

He's useful to me so long as he's driving in runs.

When he's not, all the other elements of his personality which I see (be they real or imagined) become much bigger.

When he's hot at the plate, I praise the ballplayer.

When he struggles, I take shots at the human being.

It's not fair.

But then again he makes 25 million dollars a year and I have to fill out a timesheet every two weeks.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, I'll admit it's much more satisfying when the athlete or movie star or writer or rock star, is a good person.

When you can admire someone for WHO they are in addition to WHAT they do, it's an added bonus.

But at least for me, I usually don't care.

I tend to be results oriented.

Obviously it's great to form attachments to athletes, like the one I feel towards Dwyane Wade, but it doesn't have to be that way.

I think Woody Allen is truly a genius. As an artist, he's a hero of mine. As a human being, to put it kindly, he's a little shady.

My grandfather (who incidentally hated Woody Allen) once told me, the closer you get to someone, the more you learn their flaws.

That's why with hero-worship, it's best not to cloud our judgements with pesky things such as facts.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My only concern watching AROD try to mask his hang-dog look as 'others not named Alex' were recognized, was, how will it impact him on the field?

He can be fragile.

Any perceived slight can send AROD into a tail-spin.

Maybe the President dissed AROD on purpose.

He is a known White Sox fan.