IS THERE A TIGER IN THE WOODS?

What is happening to the best golfer that ever lived, where has he gone? Barely making the cut yesterday, Tiger Woods is now Pussycat Woods, and if he continues to slip, I will drop the cat altogether, But fear not, he will come roaring back and be known as Lion Woods.

But let’s face it, being 4 over at 148 and just making the cut at Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida is not vintage Woods, and Tiger better find his way out of the woods straighten his driver out and keep the interest of golf at an all-time high with his roaring comeback.

My prediction; watch out Mickelson, there is a tiger in the tank and he’s coming back as king of your jungle.

I’m excited about Chansi Stuckey out of Clemson being a big playmaker for the Jets this coming season, a newer offensive threat to go along with Crotchery and Coles as more depth is added to the receiving corps while shoring up both the defensive and offensive tackle positions that needed help last season.

Second round draft pick David Harris is a welcome addition to the defense who hails from that tough Michigan linebacker crew, an area that the Jets are really in need of help. Add Jacob Bender from Nicholls State on the offensive line, and you have a quality draft.

This weekend should start to tell us all something as the first of the mini-camps opens at Hofstra University and the rookies are all under the microscope.

Until later…

A STINKER!

Wow, but it really was a stinker! I watched the Yankees take on the Texas Rangers, and did they explode, spewing carnage all over the field! Trouble is the Yankee pride was what exploded. Botched play in a run down, no pitching and in spite of no errors, no fielding to speak of cost the New Yorkers dearly.

Are the Yankees too old now? Is the team they have on the field and the one in the trainer’s room or on the Disabled List too old? Have they relied too heavily on free agency rather than development? I can’t believe that they are, I think that the team that had the best record in baseball last season can’t be this lousy. I feel it is early in the season, and that tweaking, getting on track is needed and too much of a comfort zone with the manager along with no relief pitching are the culprits.

BOLD PREDICTION: Joe Torre is gone by September!

I was thinking back to when Hank Aaron was making his run for the Babe Ruth lifetime homer record, and how the nation was behind this fine gentleman in his quest, and how today with Barry Bonds looking to do it and the nation is at least divided 50-50 about wanting his arrogance to do it. The game of baseball is not only a game of inches, but of records and breaking them and knowing they all will be broken at one time or another, but also when someone of Bond’s ilk makes a run for it; it saddens and cheapens the whole process.

Until next time…

A QUARTERBACK KEEP

I can’t understand the surprise on everybody’s lips about Notre Dame Quarterback Brady Quinn dropping down to the #22 pick in this year’s draft. It would seem to me that if there were a pressing need for a quarterback, he would have gone sooner. Stands to reason that without a quarterback your team has no potential to win, no real leadership, and a sudden need to draft one or at least trade for one becomes evident.

Speaking of need for a quarterback, I often feel that both the Giants and Jets need one. Eli and Chad, or Chad and Eli, still has no real ring to it. Chad has a so-so arm and Eli a so-so talent that will permanently reside under the shadow of his Dad and Brother.

Chad is a leader but I’m sorry, he reminds me of Opie on the Mayberry USA show, while Eli reminds me why I’m not such a Giant fan.

Come to think of it, with the mini-camps started or about to, maybe those two can stay in camp until September and work on their game a little more.

Bold prediction for the upcoming football season: Colts don’t repeat, New England gives it a strong run and the Jets win their division in spite of the Patriots and Chad Pennington!

HERE’S HOPING

Now that Barry Bonds is closing in on the record, and we all know he cheated, plus lied to the Feds, I think that what is needed is for Barry to be arrested on the homerun before tying the record. Do I sound mean? I hope not as mean as screwing up the baseball books with Mr. Bond’s cheating.

Do you think Roger the Rocket Clemens is really coming back because his teammates need him, or to get a few (quite a few) million bucks for a half season of work? I would love to hold a gun to George Steinbrenner’s head like that, except as a Met fan I might pull the trigger before collecting a contract.

Now that the Mets have shaved their heads, does this mean they won’t lose anymore this season? I don’t think the Braves ever did that. I remember the A’s of the early 70’s growing hair, not shaving it off. They didn’t win everyday, just often enough for a threepeat.

MR PERSONALITY THE SANDMAN

I’m beginning to believe that opposing batters recognize Mariano Riviera not by his face but by the number on his back this year. After each pitch, the hitter swings and Mariano turns to watch the flight of the ball into the stands. Seems that what Rocket promises to give, Mariano promises to give away.

I see where A Rod is starting to lose his sudden newfound love, as the heroics are missing and the Yankees continue to lose.

Why are there so many issues with the Yankees, why can’t they just play, or even win anymore? Seems that each player they bring in has a personality issue. With all that is going on, firing the kid Miller as the physical trainer does make sense. He brought with him a new way to get ready for a game, which is quickly turning from physical preparation into physical rehab.

Meanwhile the Mets wasted a good effort in the 5th inning against the Giants with Oliver Perez victimized then the whole inning exploding. First the Shaun Green error, then that lousy call by the second base umpire on a bogus homerun by some bum who doesn’t hit homers, the ball clearly hitting the top of the wall bouncing back into the field, and not going over it. I remember Cleon Jones making that play at Shea in 1969, the ball hitting the fence in left field, but bouncing up and into Jones glove where he turned around and threw a runner out at the plate, diffusing a rally.

Until next time.

HELLO WORLD

Welcome to the wonderful world of my sports opinion. I know it sounds somewhat presumptuous that I think anyone cares, but I figured, what the hell.

Roger Clemens getting about $900,000 a game is presumptuous when you think that if he doesn't last an inning at some start, or the Yankees don't make the playoffs, the money is wasted. How much can you afford to waste WHEN YOU BUY A TICKET TO YANKEE STADIUM, TO PAY THIS GUY?

I see where a lot of Jet fans are wringing their hands over the draft picks they made, but they forget that big acquisition they made from Chicago a few months ago for a certain running back.

Speaking of running back, how about those St. Louis Cardinals, looking like anything but world champs after winning the World Series. Seems every team but the Yankees have a bad year after a World Championship. Notice how the Yankees have not won a World Championship in this century? Don’t count the year 2000 that was the end of the last century.

Baseball Commentary

Well the baseball season is in full swing, and the Mets are in the front once again. The problem seems to be that the rest of the division is right on their tail or ahead by a game.

Willie Randolf is doing an excellent job with a lot of talent, which just goes to prove as casey stengal once did that if you have the horses you win.

By far and away the best player in baseball for excitement is Jose Reyes, another Jackie Robinson if ever there is one. Makes the opposing pitchers jerky and the catchers nervous, and the umpires who already are blind, so blind they have to call him safe whenever he runs or steals a base. Generally he is on fi9rst base before he even hits the ball. That is fast!