CAN IT BE?

Kansa City running back Priest Holms will seek absolution on the bench for at least the first 6 games, or maybe more if KC doesn’t need him anymore.

Meanwhile Defensive End Simeon Rice shops for a team using a mediocre list of achievements for the past few years. Did anyone actually see him play?

If the New Jersey Giants are smart, they would suit up Jerry Reese.

The Atlanta Falcons are dogged once again at quarterback as D. J. Shockley went down with a back knee, opening up the possibility that Eagles backup Kelly Holcomb will make us forget Roger Vick.


Houston Astros look to right a sinking ship by firing manager Phil Garner, and GM Tim Purpura, but will keep all their losers. Like taking bad whiskey and changing the bottle, but not the contents. Poor Cecil Cooper, he has been named the interim scapegoat until further notice. Houston is in the weakest division in baseball, so these so-called fixes should really work. Maybe Mr. McLame should change the stadium too, just for appearance sake.

Is there anyone better than Arizona right now? The Mets seem to be the only team that is getting stronger now by virtue of their regulars returning from the injured lists.

Speaking of which, that fat old man did a pretty good job on the Mets, I guess Mr. Wells is… well, well.

The other New York team, the former Highlanders, are thinking of pulling Taffy Mussina out of the rotation just for the hell of it. Seems he has a season of bad outings and everyone gets panicky.

You can send you comments to my wife, and all good one to:
joedelbroccolo@yahoo.com

NEW YORK EXCITEMENT

The pre-season football teams are in full swing this week, and you only have to watch one game to get your trills! Jets and Giants square off for “Bragging rights” to New Jersey.

Meanwhile NY hasn’t seen this much excitement in baseball since the 50’s, when the Dodgers, Giants and Yankees held sway over the city of NY. The Yankees have made it a race again for the division, while the Mets are playing like they deserve to win their division on sheer guts and determination. Losing the key players that the Mets have lost this year, and still being in first place with that suspect relief corps; you just have to tip your hat to them. Carlos Beltran looks like the money that was invested in him is paying off.

College football starts all over again, and in spite of the fact that USC leads the polls, baring major injuries, they will keep their ranking. We need a Woody Hayes or a Bear Bryant to bring back some of the magic of college football. It still is a more exciting and faster paced game than the pros play, and it is all passion and energy, with the only promise is pride.

College Basketball is full of surprises this year. This is the first time in a long time that Duke isn’t ranked in the top 25! What kind of college basketball is that? It will make it even harder for UNC, Wake and NC State to beat those guys. Look for a stronger finish from UNC than 4th in the rankings. Ohio State may be the overall favorite. Unanimous actually, and it looks hard to knock them off their perch. But who knows.

Taking a long weekend off from all this to visit the lovely seashore of Cape May, NJ. See you on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

Until next time

JOSE CAN YOU HIT?

The Long Island Duck’s Jose Offerman’s recent attack on Bridgeport’s pitcher Matt Beech is unprofessional to say the least, and criminal to say the most. However, I have to put some blame on the Duck’s manager Dave LaPoint who bares some responsibility for all this.

It seems that Matt Beech was pitching pretty good up to that point when Offerman was announced as the next batter. LaPoint called him back to the dugout and asked: “Can you hit this guy?”

Yankees seem to be handling the Tigers pretty well with an assist from Clemens, who pitched strikes instead of lemons. Gary Sheffield would love to hit Roger the rocket any day of the week, and usually does.

Don’t be surprised if the Red Sox don’t blow the lead to their arch rivals.

All things considered, the Mets did what they should have, on the road won five out of six games from a couple of bad teams. That is the way to win division titles.

Now that Bond’s has set a new home run record, and will every time he hits one, maybe they should start a second set of books for non-cheating.

Until next time

TAKE ME OUT OF THE BALLGAME

That awful sucking sound you hear is not the housekeeper’s vacuum cleaner, but it does emanate from the Meadowlands in New Jersey. Millionaires wearing green and white helmets, while looking for the exit sign for the NJ Turnpike, are making the sounds.

Paddington Bear at quarterback seems to be a disaster as usual. All his completions are a huge success for the defense he plays against. Kellen Clemens has a great sense of humor, actually referring to Paddington Bear as a “Quarterback”! Ya gotta love it!

Anyone who criticized Omar the Pennant Maker for getting Luis Castillo should have a look at last night’s double play against the Nationals. I still don’t think it’s possible, but the umps said so, and Washington didn’t protest.

Meanwhile Tiger Woods planned hiatus from Barclays Classic at Westchester Country Club should rub some people the wrong way, as it will kill some interest. Sponsors and gate will both hurt from the absence of the main attraction that made this whole FedEx Cup necessary. This event being the first in the playoffs, one would think needs all the players.

Woods the top-ranked player on the men's tour won his second straight PGA Championship last week and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational the week before that. Although both events were played in hot weather, and Woods looked washed out, this hurts the credibility of the winner if it’s other than Tiger at the end of the day. Besides, I like to think of a champion as someone who reaches back for that extra.

Until next time

NBA MADNESS

This year just for the hell of it, I selected a team of graduates of UNC and will see how they would fare during a season of NBA basketball by totaling their stats for the day.

I might try this with Duke and one or two more powerhouse colleges, and compare stats over a month. It might take a little time and effort, but what the hell, the cold days are coming and I’m retired. All I need is a computer and a cup of coffee.

Do the Yankees have what it takes to finish off the Red Sox, or are they just going to beat up on the lesser teams? They just lost to the Orioles in their fourth series this year, and now face the Tigers and then the Red Sox in Boston, I think the next road trip will speak volumes about the Yankees, one way or another.

Looks like another dismal season for the Oakland Raiders. Coach lane Kiffin has his hands tied enough to be hospitalized to get them untied. To make a bad team worse, their #1 draft pick and leader to be JaMarcus Russel decided he needs guaranteed money before he signs his contract. Probably looking for some time off with pay.

Did you know that Tom Seaver statistically is in the top 5 in most categories for a Hall Of Fame pitcher?

Number 10

Reading all the accolades for the scooter, #10, Phil Rizzuto, and being a Brooklyn Dodger fan when he played, I hated the man. But I must admit, he was something else. Only 5’ 6”, he could wreck you in a game, steal a hit from you as well as a base. Didn’t hit a lot of homers, but could hit them.

Speed and intelligence, grace and style, and one of the two great shortstops of the 1950’s in not only New York City, but Major League baseball.

Pedro Martinez is starting to make his comeback a little more meaningful. Although he pitched poorly statistically with a Single A lineup in the Gulf Mets, he is starting to get command of his pitches. A very good sign because it is “Spring training”. Needs to heat up is all.

NFL opens soon, and the main target is the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts. Jets should figure into the playoffs for sure, and with a break or two, maybe a division title.

Somehow I get the feeling that the dept of scandal in the NBA is far greater than Stern is leading me to try to believe. Stay tuned for that mess to get messier in a hurry if my hunch is correct. Referee Tim Donaghy pleaded guilty to two felony charges today and it will certainly rock the integrity of the NBA.

Expect to wave bye-bye to Flip Saunders if the Pistons don’t do it this year. My prediction; Bye-bye.

Until next time.

HEEEEEEEE”S BACKKKKKKK!

Greetings strangers! I’m back with more opinion and outrageous remarks to cast upon the sport’s world.

Where do I begin?

Well for starters, the Yankees are about to pull it off once again. Now that Mr. Steinbrenner is losing it or so it seems, I guess this one is for old times sake. From way back in the teens behind in games to 4 games at this writing, remarkable, they are in the pennant race, not just a wild card. It’s actually a Yankee surge and a Red Sox dirge again this year I fear.

The Mets seem to be playing like the Red Sox, so the Yankees gain on the Mets and Sox, becoming the NY team with the most wins, while closing the distance to the Sox.

Jet fans should not get their hopes up just yet with their pasting of the Falcons, sans Vick. The Falcons ran a lot of scrubbies in that game.

Had to love Glavin’s acceptance speech yesterday. Said in effect that it took a long time to warm up to the fans! Why was that Tom?

Barry Bonds did it, now we can put an asterisk on the whole record book, mainly because Bonds is in it.

Until next time.