BIG WEEKEND

The biggest Christmas present you can bring to N.Y. fans is this weekend that shapes up! First off, on Saturday, Christmas Eve, the New York Giants square off against their co-tenants, the New York Jets. What is at stake is the playoffs for both teams, and only one can walk or limp away from the game victorious.

The Jets need the win to stay alive, and let’s face it, where would the playoffs be without Rex Ryan? Tom Coughlin meanwhile has a lot to worry about. If he loses, and the Giants don’t make the playoffs, he is gone. Another late season collapse should not be tolerated.

It is an interesting matchup, both teams coming off embarrassing loses on Sunday, and should be motivated. It is Manning vs. Sanchez, Pierre-Paul vs. Ferguson, Big Blue vs. Gang Green, NFC vs. AFC, that will be fun. I hope to see a great game, and I am predicting the Giants will win it. Somehow, the Giants are in a better position to win the playoff spot that the Jets are of keeping theirs.

Joe Namath will disagree with me, but he is only going by his hunches also, even though his are more credible. But from the results of the season so far, Eli Manning has the knack to move his team when it counts the most, with the game on the line. That is not to say that Sanchez hasn’t in the past, but Manning has the experience. Sanchez has proven though that he will be a great quarterback, and someday, both may be the best in the business.

In regular season play, the teams have met 11 times, and the Giants have won 7 times.

Here is the final bit of interesting comment that came from my brother-in-law John, a true blue Big Blue fan. He asks the question: so what if they (Jets or Giants) get into the playoffs, are they good enough to beat the teams they will face?

CHRISTMAS DAY

The NBA season finally opens, and the New York Knicks go toe-to-toe against the Boston Celtics. This is interesting from a NY fans perspective as to just how good the Knicks really are. Will their backcourt hold up? Can they match well against a really good team like the Celtics?

Although Baron Davis will not play until the earliest February, and maybe later, the team does seem to be on the verge of something special, but not there yet.

The Celtics will be starting the final season of real championship hopes as the big three will begin their final season together. The expectations were high until they found out that Jeff Green will undergo heart surgery and will miss the season. Knowing Boston, I feel they will find a way to win anyway. Doc Rivers will get the right combinations out there on the court when it comes to lineup sets and create things to happen for the Celtics.

ANDRUW JONES AND THE YANKEES

Looks like there may be a fly in the ointment for the NY Yankees and Andruw Jones! Seems that although it is a mutual admiration society of two parties, very little progress is being made to sign Jones on. The Yankees are in need of right-handed power to share duties in the outfield. But wouldn’t you know it, so are some other teams, one being a club up in the Boston area called the Red Sox.

The 34 year-old veteran who is a lifetime .256 hitter, had an adequate year for the Yankees last year, batting .247, with 13 HR’s and 33 RBI’s.

WAS IT SOMETHING I SAID?

My words come back to haunt me, and frankly I’m glad they do. The New York Islanders have won another game! This time in Winnipeg, a shootout win, topping the Jets 3-2!

Montoya was injured in the win, as Nabokov came in to replace the goalie and held on for the win in overtime. Nabokov was tested only once when he fended off a Andrew Ladd wrist shot with only five minutes left to play in regulation.

BRONCOS TO WHISTLE PAST THE GRAVEYARD?

John Elway granted Kyle Orton's request to move on, now Elway may be getting left out of the postseason.

Kyle Orton, former Denver quarterback, who now pitches the pigskin for Kansas City, could conceivably return to Denver in 10 days and beat the Broncos right out of the playoffs, if KC wins that game. It is a risk that Elway knows will haunt him for a long time.

According to Elway: “If we beat Buffalo and Kyle helps [the Chiefs] beat the Raiders, it won’t matter, If that happens, we’d be able to thank him when he comes in here.”

Good luck Mr. Elway!

ANYONE SEE CECIL’S PRINCE?

Prince Fielder is still exploring the free agent market. There are a bunch of teams that are interested in him. Toronto, Miami, Texas, Chicago, Seattle Baltimore and Washington to name a few are the places Prince has visited. Not surprising is that the Yankees and Red Sox are not interested since they are locked in at first base. I keep thinking that maybe, just maybe the Cardinals might sign him, and help the fans of St. Louis forget about Albert.

Whatever happens, Prince will make a determination, and that team will be known as Fielder’s choice! (Gosh, I can’t believe I wrote that!)

That's all I wrote folks!