GREATEST SPORTS MOMENTS

We looked at the best of the best in terms of players, but what about moments in sports that went beyond the ordinary? Winning a World Series or Super Bowl is not ordinary, but sometimes the winners are no surprise.

One of the most electrifying moments in sports occurred way back in 1980. Today we look at one of them in a series of moments to recognize.

USA! USA! USA!

It wasn’t for all the marbles, but it was close enough to draw the attention of the world, it was the world stager of the Olympics, and the venue was hockey. It was the middle of the cold war, world tensions were high and the two biggest adversaries in peacetime would meet on the ice!

The USA had a team o teenagers, kids who were put together months before to learn to plat with each other, and then go out and represent their country. The Russians had a team of pro’s: seasoned and probably the best hockey team overall in the world. Weeks prior, these two teams met in an exhibition match and the Russians skated away with a 10-3 victory, but it wasn’t that close. This was the Semi-Finals, whoever won, went on to face Finland and play for the gold.

The game that day drew interest, but it wasn’t total, based on the fact the Russians would send pros against amateurs in international competition, and had already beaten the young Americans. The teams met, and traded goals, as the game went back and forth, the young Americans were filled with fight, like Americans do when they have to, and when the final buzzer sounded, the USA was on top! The USA would face Finland for the gold and win, completing the improbable, a gold medal.

That’s all I wrote, folks!

THE BEST OF THE BEST

With the wind-down of the NBA and NHL playoffs beginning, and Major League baseball in full swing, I got to thinking about some of the greatest athletes of all time. The sports world is a great place to go and learn, learn about amazing feats, or learn how to read. When I was shut in with health problems of any sort, going to the record books was interesting and made the time fly by.

THE ‘BABE’

I guess I would start with Babe Ruth. If you look at the impact he has had on not only baseball, but sports in general and society as a whole, you see what I see. He ignited interest in baseball, first as a pitcher, then as a fearsome hitter: he set the standard for greatness, and the record that still stands for 154 games, 60 homeruns. His form of steroids was hotdogs, which he ate at ‘Ruthian’ proportions, while setting ‘Ruthian’ numbers on the field. His personality was bigger than life itself, and he was admired and respected for his heart as well as his power.

MICHAEL JORDON

How could you not mention his name as #2? He remade basketball: he is the barometer for all the rising NBA stars since his retirement. The one thing about him was his consistency. He played the game like it should have been played, giving all he had, every game he ever played. His skill was not only: scoring baskets, but how he scored, how he got there, and his determination, carrying every team he played on, on his shoulders. From his college days at UNC to Chicago, he was the greatest. Record: scoring average NBA Finals - 41.0 (1993)

Record: Regular Season Career Scoring average 30.1 Points per game in Playoffs, career average - 33.4
Record: NBA Scoring Titles-10 (1987-93, 1996-98)

Record: Consecutive NBA Scoring Titles-7(1987-93)

Record: most points in a playoff game – 63 against Boston on May 20, 1986, first round)

Record: most Finals MVP-6 (1991-93, 1996-98)

Record: All-Defensive First Team - 9 (1988-93, 1996-98)

Record: total points, playoffs, career - 5,987

Record: Field Goals Attempted, playoffs  - 4,497

Record: Free Throws Made, playoffs - 1,463

Record: Consecutive games with 10 or more points  - 866

Record: Slam Dunk Contest Titles -2 (1987-1988)      

MUHAMMAD ALI

AKA Cassius Clay, AKA: “The Greatest” like Michael Jordon, he was the Babe Ruth of his sport, boxing.  Ali took the sport of boxing and did something no other boxer did as well, make you hate him, love him, root against him then root for him! Ali brought color to the drab sport of boxing, making careers for his opponents was well as himself. His poetry, (Float like a butterfly, stink like a bee) predictions and outrageous statements all hyped his fights, bringing additional untold millions into play.

JIMMY BROWN

To this day some fifty years after he played, Jimmy Brown invites comparisons to his ability, record and punishing play in the NFL. Playing in a shorter schedule than they do today, if he had played those additional games, he would have set records no one could have beaten. When he hung up his spikes, he then took on the acting field where he carved out a niche for himself. Brown’s claim to the title of greatest running back of all time is supported by statistics. In 118 career games, Brown averaged 104.3 yards per game and 5.2 yards per carry. No one has come close to those career stats!

WAYNE GRETSKY

The “Great Gretsky” as he was known from when he was 9 years old, lived up to that title all his playing life. When he retired in 1999, he had scored 2,857 points in the NHL. Gordie Howe, Gretzky's idol as a youngster, has the second most points in NHL history and he's more than 1,000 points behind him. Gretzky has more assists (1,963) than any other player has points. Known primarily for his playmaking, Gretzky has scored a record 894 goals in his 20 NHL seasons. When few players were scoring 100 points in a season, Gretzky was surpassing 200. Four times he accomplished this feat, the only four times it has been done, peaking at 215 in 1985-86. Of the 11 times a player has scored more than 161 points, Gretzky has done it nine times and Mario Lemieux twice. Gretzky shocked the hockey world by scoring 92 goals in 1981-82, beating Phil Esposito's record of 76 by 21 percent. Gretzky also has the second best season mark, with 87 goals in 1983-84. Nine times he scored more than 50 goals in the eighties.

That's all I wrote, folks!

SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS

What ever happened to the doubleheader? The Mets brought back their Banner Day, but somehow it didn’t feel right. It needed to be sandwiched between two games like it used to be.

QB PROTECTION

It seems like the NFL has gone to great lengths to create rules that protect the quarterback. With all the safeguards in place to keep the quarterback whole: pretty soon he won’t need pads and helmet. I recall the days when the helmets were made of leather, and they didn’t have face guards.

CELTICS/HEAT

Should be an interesting matchup, and I look forward to seeing what becomes of the Heat. If they can’t win this series, will they start to break up as a unit?

RAJON RONDO

But the man, point guard Rondo is arguable the quickest and fastest PG in the league and is right up there in steals. Rondo is an excellent passer who can set up for Pierce, Allen, Bass and Garnett in the post.

In the 76er’s series, he was Mr. Clutch, setting the tone and stage for the 7^th game victory the Celtics had to have. But then, he did that pretty much throughout the playoffs.

THUNDER/SPURS

Manu Ginobili scored 26 points as the Spurs won their 19th in a row - tying the NBA record for the longest winning streak so far in the playoffs – in a come from behind: fourth quarter victory to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-98 in Game 1! It is one series I would not go out on a limb to predict the outcome of.

YANKEES COMING ALIVE

Thanks to Mark Teixeira ignoring the old adage that it is better to make contact than to swing for the fences. In the last two games since he changed his mind about hitting style, and has hit 3 homers as of this writing, resulting in Yankee wins.  

Hope your holiday weekend was good.

That’s all I wrote, folks!

DWIGHT HOWARD

How do you clean up a lousy reputation, one that makes you into a clubhouse demon, a coach-killer, a destructive force to the whole team?

One way would be to win, and finding the place to do that is going to take some doing. Here is a guy that made trade demands, and when the Los Angeles Lakers a team of talent and championships became available, he wanted New Jersey?

Does Dwight Howard think he will win in Brooklyn more than he did in Orlando?

The answer to that question is ‘No!’ But is that the real question? Maybe he is looking for something else, like being a media star in the New York media? I don’t think Orlando, or Brooklyn or even Chicago will matter as far as championships go, but where can he be a big fish in the pond, and increase his star power.

Will the Nets win the lottery Wednesday? If they do, will they keep it, pick Anthony Davis or trade it for Dwight Howard? The Magic have an interest in what the Nets decide, to land that pick make a deal?

THINGS SEEM TO BE SHAKING OUT

The season is now at the point where we have an idea of who the contenders are in Major League Baseball. The prognosticators for the most part can breath a sigh of relief, because what was expected seems be happening.

There are a few exceptions still, but then baseball has a history of the unexpected. Just reference the ’69 Mets and you can then make an interesting comparison to the Baltimore Orioles or Washington Nationals of today.

The Yankees and Red Sox seem to have found a grove of their own, and the Mets seem exciting this season. It is early yet, but by the All-Star break, everyone will be in place. If you look at the standings today, both leagues seem to mirror the other, the Eastern divisions seem to be in  a real battle while in the Western divisions, the leaders are running away.

That’s all I wrote, folks!

THE DEVILS WERE IN THE DETAILS

The NY Rangers had a fantastic season. They won their division outright, had the second best record in the NHL and got far in the playoffs, but it wasn’t good enough. 1994 was in the past, should have been forgotten and the revenge factor of the NJ Devils goalie Martin Brodeur for what occurred in 1994.

So the game went into overtime, and not even 2 minutes in and the whole season came crashing down on the Rangers. All that great season doesn’t matter anymore. No one will remember who the loser was, and worst still, no one will even care. All the hope of training camp, all the excitement of the season, the final standings and even the playoffs mean absolutely nothing to the Rangers and their fans now.

MIKE WOODSON GETS HIS

The NY Knicks and Dudley Dolan did the right thing: they signed Mike Woodson to a decent contract. Woodson received a deal for three years worth between ten and twelve million, for taking the Knicks to a new level of play, getting the respect of the players and securing them a place in the playoffs. His record of: 12-6 proved that he should have the job and deserves it. To Dudley’s credit, he never entertained talking to Phil Jackson, perhaps the greatest coach in NBA history.

If you have the pieces to win you win, that was what Phil Jackson proved, as did Casey Stengel and Joe Torre once, what you do with the pieces is what makes you a great coach.

Mike Woodson earned his chance to coach on the greatest stage in sports, the New York stage, and he is a great basketball mind. He has most of the pieces, and now he has to shape it into something called a winner, with his own imprimatur.

That’s all I wrote, folks!

50 YEARS OF JOYFILLED PAIN

The New York Mets are celebrating 50 years as a franchise, a team with a tradition not their own and a legacy of easy fulfillment.

Being a Mets fan for 50 years has taken its toll on me. But why do I root for a team that has a lifetime record as of 2011 of: 3,832-4,166? Hard to answer.

They seem to be the continuous laughing stock of baseball, an icon for failure, yet every year thousands of others and me come out to support them. It’s in their genes, and it can never go away, thank God!

It started out 57 years ago when the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants, archenemies and perennial haters of the New York Yankees left New York for the sunny climate of California.

Once the two teams left New York, a sudden void descended on New York, on Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens too. Half the baseball fans in New York were National League fans, and the Yankees, as hard as I might try, could not win me over.

They are a team with a lifetime record of: 9,670 - 7,361, one would think it easy to jump on the bandwagon and root for a winner. Many former Giant and Dodger fans did start to root for the Yankees, but I always suspected just how loyal most of them are. It is hard to erase the disappointment the Yankees rained down on Dodger and Giant fans.

There was a human element that ran through both the Dodgers and Giants organizations, and it never existed with the Yankees. In spite of their winning constantly, the Yankees tot his day have no color, no real personality, nothing to connect them to their fans except a merchandising of the team and logo. When I see the Yankee logo displayed I see fans that say: “Hey, I’m a Yankee fan, they are the best, that is why I root for them.” I wonder how long the logo will stay if they start to lose for more than one year in a row?

Back in the 40’s and 50’s, Yankee Stadium was just another boardroom or extension of a corporate headquarters. The fans dressed in suits complete with wing tipped shoes and fedoras. Over in Ebbet’s Field and the Polo Grounds, the stands were filled with stripped polo shirts, t-shirts and sneakers, there ere no such thing as designer sneakers. These were U.S. Keds, and they were the everyday day footwear of poor street kids.

The Dodgers did have a little more style than the Giants, with their own mascot in Emmett Kelly, the Sym-Phony Band, the first black man to play major league baseball, and a dialect that to this day evokes “dem bums”!

The Mets are the Brooklyn Dodgers, re-incarnated! They have taken their cue though: NOT from the Dodgers, but from their fans, the same fans and the bloodline of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants.

There is very definitely a human element in the Mets, a kind of “Wait-‘til next year” attitude, and a resignation to losing with the hope of someday seeing a winner. If the Mets were as successful as the New York Yankees, they would not be as much fun to watch, the emotion of rooting for them would be lost, and who really cares when there is NO drama in a game. Just ask a Yankee fan.

The Yankees have the tradition of winning, they have their fans and a fan base, but it is a sandy soil they built it on, the Mets have built theirs on the hard bed rock of pure love for their losers, and an acceptance of the fact that tomorrow brings more rain, but also more love.

There was the 1962 inaugural team who lost the most games ever, the 1986 Mets who won the third most games ever, and the Miracle Mets of ’69, there was the curse of the black cat, marvelous Marv Thornberry, a fake mustachioed manager, and the fact that they made their home debut on Friday the 13^th. And who can forget the mediocrity of the 1973 season, one in which you were told: “You gotta believe!’ There was the sign man, the big apple popping out of a hat, banner day, the chant: “Let’s Go Mets!” Casey’s hype and a NY City boy named Franco, and of course their theme song: ”Meet the Mets!” They were always and truly “Amazin’! They went from 9^th place in ’68 to World Champions in ’69! And will anyone ever forget the two great catches by Ron Swaboda or the one by Tommy Agee in the ’69 Series? Or how about the batted ball by Mookie Wilson that eluded Bill Buckner that turned around the ’86 Series?

Happy Birthday, New York Mets!

That's all I wrote, Folks!

REVISITING PETE ROSE

The biggest sports controversy today remains his ban from Baseball and Pete Rose’s eligibility for the Hall of Fame.

If I may quote from Wikipedia: “Rose, a switch hitter, is the all-time Major League leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053) and outs (10,328).^[1] He won three World Series rings, three batting titles, one Most Valuable Player Award, two Gold Gloves, the Rookie of the Year Award, and made 17 All-Star appearances at an unequaled five different positions (2B, LF, RF, 3B & 1B).”

OK, he bet on baseball games including on his own teams, both as a player and a manager. These are the facts generally known to exist, and that he agreed to his ineligibility from baseball.

The books may be closed on the facts, but if you can include his records in the record book, recognize what he did as a ball player, that you should then expunge the records or reinstate the man. It seems that Major League Baseball is taking a position of unfairness, utilizing his name and records to sell baseball!

Let’s face it, someone will come along and challenge Pete’s records, and MLB will capitalize on it to sell tickets and hype the game. Is that right?

I can see the cheaters being excluded from the hall, they cheated and inflated their numbers artificially, and Pete Rose put the numbers up naturally, without cheating. His crime is he likes to bet, and we all know Pete Rose would never bet against himself, that along should qualify him for the Hall.

So, do you reinstate him?

If you do, you run the risk of having someone else betting on baseball and against his team, so how do you set a rule that makes sense? He did what he knew was wrong, but did it anyway. That was against the rules that he deliberately broke.

Would it make more sense to rule that Pete Rose was wrong, fine him and then put him in the hall? Is the severity of the punishment maybe too over the top? His being disgraced on the world stage of sports should be enough, and maybe what you do is deal with these cases on a case-by-case basis, those that bet on the game and those that bet against their interest with the idea of making money by deliberately throwing the game?

I’d love to hear form you on this.

That’s all I wrote, folks!

AS RIVALRIES GO

One of the oldest continuous rivalries seems to take on an interesting dimension these days!

The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox are in a race for last place, or so it seems. Currently the Sox are in the lead, holding a solid one game lead under the Yankees. The Red Sox seem to be with a win streak on their way up, while the New York seems intent on moving on down.

It seems that the pitching has not been that reliable, and the talk of the leagues is that the hitters can’t hit in situations where they have men in scoring position. Couple that with the power outage of Alex Rodriquez and the poor hitting of Mark Teixeira and his recent ailments.

The question is quickly becoming: when will the Steinbrenner’s lose patience with the GM Cashen and Manager Girardi?

Nothing would discourage an owner more than a $200 Million payroll and not wins. This is a team who is struggling early on that thrives on the tradition of winning and nothing less. It also expects its millionaires to hit with runners in scoring position, which is what they are paid for.

Derrick Jeter is the only steady force the Yankees seem to have right now. Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson have not come through in the clutch, and Swisher seems to have disappeared.

This weekend, one quarter of the season is over, every team is still in it. But the Yankees are the same old team, with an emphasis on old. The fact to the matter is how much longer will Jeter hold up? How much long longer will A-Rod, with his surgically repaired knees hold up and is his power affected by the wear and tear? I would start to look for grumblings coming out of the front office after the Memorial Day weekend, and the owners making statements about change.

That’s all I wrote, folks!

PHIL JACKSON A BROOKLYN NET?

Somehow the idea doesn’t sit well. Phil Jackson is a great coach, no question about it. If Phil Jackson who is rumored to being considered for the Nets were to take the job, it would be totally out of character. Jackson has taken on both the talented Chicago Bulls, then the Los Angeles Lakers, and has walked away a winner each time.

The above is not to say anyone could have coached those teams, but it does say that even if you have the players, you have to coach them into a winning system. If you don’t know how to coach, then no mater who you have on your team, it won’t win!

But Jackson was always a smart basketball man, first as a player on the NY Knicks then as a coach, and throughout his career he has been a winner. If the Nets were able to convince Jackson to sign on, then the probability is that the Brooklyn ets would have as many fans as the Knicks, would at least draw even with their rivals and may even beat them out in the division.

Right now, the Nets are a paper team, with nothing to talk about, they need star power, and talent. Phil Jackson is that star power, and he would draw all kinds of talent to the Nets, making him a lethal force and an thorn in Dolan’s obnoxious side.

But just think what it would bring to the New York area basketball fans? The passion of Brooklyn vs. New York would once more be alive, this time in basketball! I personally believe that the New York fans are the most sophisticated by the sheer number of media outlets that exists to them and the many teams they house. Phil Jackson would be tremendous, and a lot of fans would be crossing the river to root for the Nets.

But what would happen if Dolan got the bug to signing Jackson himself? Two things would happen, one he would have stolen the thunder away from the Nets once again, making them look like losers, and two, there would be a whole revamp of the core players on the Knicks. Guys like Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire would have problems adjusting to the system that Jackson would demand. The situation may become more like it was with Mike D’Antonio.

Couple all this with the fact that the Knicks were on the verge of signing a 5-year extension with Mike Woodson, Dolan would look like the jerk that he is. Woodson should be given the chance to mold the team the way he needs to, and let him go against Jackson. He should be rewarded for how he handled the Knicks with all the injuries and drama. The playoffs were a gift to Knick fans since at the beginning of the years no one was sure they’d make it there.

That’s all I wrote, Folks!

POWER OUTAGE

Mark Teixeira $23 Million

When I plug something into the wall for power, I expect it to work, and work the way I paid for it to. If it doesn’t I fix or get rid of it, this is a simple logic.

There is a major league team right now that seems to be languishing in mediocrity that should be excelling: the New York Yankees are becoming a curios lot. Two players in particular are getting obscene amounts of money this year to perform, Mark Teixeira $23 Million and Alex Rodriguez, $30 Million.

For A-Rod, $30 Million a year, a .270 average with 5 homers does not cut it. Raul Ibanez is being paid $1.1 Million, has a .273 Batting average, and 9 homeruns!

Alex Rodriguez, $30 Million.

Mark Teixeira $23 Million: 5 homers and a .226 average! A quarter of the season has been played and still these two players seem to be faltering. One of the things that  the press and fans both have picked up on is A-Rod’s seemingly loss of power. His lack of power for who is was and now is not, is very telling.

With the highest payroll in baseball at over $190 Million a year, the Yankees are nowhere to be seen in the standings. If it weren’t for Ibanez, Cano and Granderson, there would be very little offense generated.

The New York Yankees are a perfect example along with the Philadelphia Phillies with the second highest payroll in baseball: for the case against the long-term contract, and being locked into a situation you can’t extricate yourself from.

The economics of having a mega superstar being paid $15 Million a year and then going down with a serious injury, is crazy, you can’t replace the talent, it hardly ever works. The last time the Yankees sent in a replacement with equal or better ability, Wally Pipp sat down with a headache for Lou Gehrig, and salaries weren’t an issue for the GM.

Ryan Howard

The Phillies have Ryan Howard, their centerpiece of the offense, and sidelined so far this season from an injury sustained at the end of the World Series last season. In 2010, the slugging first baseman agreed to a $125 million, five-year contract extension that could keep him with the Phillies until 2017. Where is he now? How is he worth the costs? This seems to be driving th costs of the game to such an extreme that fans will soon lose interest in the team, an inclination to attend games and an eventual financial dilemma.

That’s all I wrote, folks!

WHAT’S GOING ON?

If you look at the standings these days, you can’t help but ask the question: What’s going on?

It seems like everything is out of place, upside down and completely out of whack. The Phillies are down, the Angels are down, the Red Sox and Yankees are nowhere to be found, while the Dodgers are running away with it, and there are surprises, surprises, in the Orioles and Braves! I know it is still early, but by Memorial Day things will start to shake out, and if they stand like they do today, are we looking at some new dynasties?

MARK OF A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM

Is the way they can come back from a demoralizing loss and win the next time out. The New York Rangers are just such a team. They are good and should be the next Stanley Cup champions. Of course you never know, but they should have the power, and strength to do it.

LUNDQVIST

But leave it to the Broadway Cardiac Boys to wait until the third period to ice the game, with goals by: Girardi, Kreider and Callahan, and an outstanding effort once again by goalie Lundqvist, to turn another shutout, this one 3-0.

Not that the Devils didn’t show, they did, just not enough as Lundqvist turned away 36 shots on goal.

Game 4 is tonight in New Jersey.

ON THE BRINK OF DISASTER!

WESTBROOK

Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant have created some last quarter thunder, and the results are that Kobe Bryant and his Lakers ore on the precipice of disaster! Negating a Laker surge in the first quarter of 29 points, the Thunder came booming back with 32 of their own in the fourth quarter to come from behind and put themselves in position to eliminate the Lakers.

I’m sure there are a lot of fans who would love to see Kobe go home along with his Lakers. Westbrook scored 10 of his 37 points during that fourth-quarter surge, while Durant tallied 31 points and hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 13.7 seconds left, as the Thunder seized control of their second-round series with a 103-100 victory!

The Oklahoma Thunder is 7-1 in playoff games.

That’s all I wrote, Folks!

AMID THE PAIN

With the amount of injuries going around the leagues this early in the season, and some left over from last season, two pitchers from New York have sparkled by coming back.

Johann Santana of the New York Mets, after a prolonged absence from the pitcher’s mound, shoulder surgery looming as a setback, proved that it doesn’t have to be. He has pitched spectacularly this season.

After 43.2 innings, Santana has given up just 37 hits, 14 earned runs, struck out 46 and walked only 14! His era is 2.89, which tells you he has not had the run support he needed to better his 1-2 record in 8 games!

All the media was saying how they wondered how close to his old-self he would be. That he would never be the old Santana, but that it would mean that the Mets were left holding this contract that once held hope, and now didn’t seem to meet the expectations.

Well, surprise, surprise, he is better than ever! Santana has incredible numbers, just no luck with run support.

Across the river in The Bronx, another guy has come back from retirement. Once again, after a hiatus that was self-imposed, Andy Pettitte picked the game of his career, after a so0-so start. Going out after the Cincinnati Reds, Pettitte pitched 8 shutout innings striking out 9, in his first win since July 8, 2010, ending a Yankee 3-game losing streak.

You can’t really count the first game he started and was just OK. There he was a little nervous, a little anxious and needed to get comfortable. He’s comfortable now, and all seems right once again in the Yankee world.

When you look at the Yankee pitching staff as it is now, Pettitte’s return was not only timely, it was the cavalry and U.S. Marines coming to the rescue, all wrapped into one!

38 years old is not all that old for a pitcher, some pitched into their 60’s, reference Satchel Paige, but the long layoff and his age makes this remarkable for almost a span of almost 2 years!

Their comebacks make baseball all the more exciting this season, especially for New York fans.

HOW CAN THEY HAVE A SUMMER OLYMPICS…

…without baseball?

The IOC has voted baseball off the island. How can this be? How can you have a sport that is international, played in both: North and South America, Asia and Europe, and not have it as part of the international competition?

There are issues with Major League Baseball in that there is no recess during the baseball season, so that the professionals can compete for their country. The world stage and a chance for more individuals to appear to the world and be discovered, and the IOC said: “No baseball!”

Does the need to have professional players rule the sport in the Summer Olympics? Is it possible that the world could field amateur and semi-professionals, not part of the MLB world?

Powerhouse teams like The Dominican Republic, Japan, Korea, Cuba and Mexico have some great talent which appears on the field every year. The opportunity for unknown kids, kids who practice everyday to become well known, and maybe be discovered by the world and Major League Baseball is thrown away. With all due respect to the committee: Are you kidding me!

Another issue with MLB is their drug testing policies, they have not stepped up, and the IOC feels that that would leave the other countries non-professionals at risk of being cheated. MLB has been slow in policing themselves, and only since Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens have the changes they did make seem to take effect.

If I had my way, there would be NO professionals competing in any sport. Hockey, basketball or soccer, and of course baseball. Let the amateur shine in the spotlight. Let the pros get paid. Being the best in the world mean self-dedication without the smudge of money in the Olympic venue.

Of course where baseball goes, so goes softball. Think of the thousands of young women who would like to take the fields in international competition and show their skills. They practice hard and play everyday, is that fair to them? There is NO other international stage, or world stage, or even big enough stage for women to show their softball talents, and so some exciting talents and games are lost on the world forever.

That’s all I wrote, folks!

WAS COLLINS WRIGHT?

Terry Collins

David Wright

The New York Mets are making a strong run for a playoff spot as of this writing. They are within range to take over the division lead, and for the most part are in every game.

The game is out of hand, you are down by a lot, you see Carrassco throw at someone, and you know the opposition will throw back. Your best hitter is coming up: you know he is the target, what do you do if you are Terry Collins?

Many ‘experts’ believe that Collins should have let Wright hit. I wonder what they would have said if Collins did, and Wright got hit in the head? I guarantee you the those who wanted him to stay in would have been screaming: ‘How could you leave him in, in a situation like that?’ He is the franchise right now, there is everyone else, after David Wright.

David Wright did a great job of objecting, but I suspect he was very happy not to go up as a target. The show was good for the team, he established himself as the team leader, willing to take one for the team.

Sorry, I can’t buy it.

WHY THE DOUBTS?

Once again no matter what you do you can’t make everyone happy. Take the New York Rangers. They had a 1-0 lead over the Devils and everyone questions if they can still further beat the Devils! For everyone’s concern, they had the second best record in the league, in a very tough division. They are the best team in the 2012 Hockey Season!

WAIT UNTIL MEMORIAL DAY

That is when the first third of the season is over. It is where the teams that are bad start to get worse, the teams that are good get better, and everyone else settles in for the long haul.

They are already writing off the Yankees, only a few games off the pace, The Angels are lost as are the Marlins, and forget Boston. Let’s wait for the Memorial Day weekend and see where we stand with these teams. The Washington Nationals look like they are starting to come down to Earth, the Braves are looking alive and the Mets are surprising. But will they be where they should be on Memorial Day weekend? And how about those Orioles?

That’s all I wrote, folks!

THE OLD DAYS

Recently in a Mets/Brewers game, after a homerun, and hit batter by the Brewers, the Mets decided to take out their best hitter David Wright. The manager, Terry Collins is from the old school, and rather than have Wright retaliated on, took him out of the game.

The incident brought to mind stories I’ve heard of old time ball players and I’d like to share a few. For instance…

There was Ty Cobb, meaner than a junkyard dog, who openly sharpened his spikes in front of the opposition, as he got ready to bat, with the intent of using those spikes when he slid into the second baseman, spikes held high!

Of course one of my favorite stories was about Frenchy Bordagaray, an old Brooklyn Dodger back in the 40’s who once got into a heated argument with the umpire. The Ump took offense when Frenchy spit at the ump and was fined. Asked about the fine the next day by a sports writer he said: “It was more than I expectorated!”

Dirty Jack Doyle. Because of his aggressive playing style, Doyle was known as “Dirty Jack,” often feuding with the Umps, fans, opposing players, and even, at times, his own teammates and the hot dog vendor in the stands. Once in Cincinnati in 1900, Doyle slugged an umpire after being called out on a steal attempt. Fans jumped from the stands as the two got into it, the players separating the two fighters. Doyle was arrested.  

At the Polo Grounds the next year, while being harassed by a fan, he jumped into the stands and hit the fan once with his left hand, reinjuring it after having broken it several weeks earlier.

Doyle hated John McGraw, due to a feud that started when they were teammates at Baltimore. McGraw was appointed manager of the Giants, and his first act was to release Doyle, who was batting .301 at the time.

It wasn’t always fights and meanness: sometimes it was just plain old fun.

When Yogi Berra showed up for his first season at Yankee Stadium, he went to his locker an started to dress for a game. When it was time for him to don his spikes, he reached down into the bottom of his locker and the spikes would not move! His teammates nailed his shoes to the bottom of the locker!

Of course there is the story about Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford and Billy Martin, who out hunting one day drove through this farm area. Since they needed permission to hunt on this particular farm, they stopped at the farmhouse and asked for permission, and it went something like this: Mickey and Whitey went into the farmhouse to talk to the farmer, leaving Billy asleep in the back seat of the car. The farmer gave the two ballplayers permission, and asked them if they would do him a favor and shoot an old sick mule on their way out. The Mick and Whitey decided to play a joke on Billy and say that the farmer said NO to their request to hunt, then they would drive by the old mule and shoot it.

Getting back into the car they drive by the mule after telling Billy the farmer said no to their request to hunt, one of them aiming at the mule and shooting it. Suddenly they hear a shot ring out, and Billy lowering his rifle.

“That will teach him, I got his cow too!” said Billy.

Well, as Yogi once said: “Baseball is 90% mental, the other half is physical.“

That's all I wrote, folks!

THERE’S ALWAYS A FIRST TIME

It seems the Rangers have something to prove.

No team in the NHL has survived 2 seven game playoff series and survived to win the cup. If the NY Rangers beat the Devils from New Jersey, they come a bit closer to realizing the dream.

BRODEUR

If this series isn’t exciting enough, the last time the Rangers won the cup, they beat a young 22 year-old goalie named Martin Brodeur. That was a 7 game fight to the finish, and 17 years later after guaranteeing Mark Messier’s guarantee, they hope for a repeat.

Tonight is game 2 at Madison Square Garden, the Devils who are well rested, face a razor sharp Rangers team, having no real turnaround time for the Rangers. Are they tired, are they playing on adrenalin, is it emotion that has them skating? Tonight could tell a lot.

Hendrik Lundqvist was once again proving why he is considered one of if not the best in the business, turning away all 22 attempts on goal, and his fifth career playoff shutout! Rookie Chris Kreider, defenseman Dan Girardi, and Artem Anisimov all had a goal and an assist in the third period as the Rangers turned on the heat in the third period and seal things for themselves.

BOSTON CELTICS

The division winning Boston Celtics are showing their age. Losing Monday night to the Philadelphia 76er’s, after squeaking by the game prior, the series is tied at 1 apiece. This is not the scenario the Celtics wanted, nor is it the psychological edge they had in mind.

The 76er’s are a young team, and let’s face it, Doc Rivers’ bunch is limping, bandaged and braced, crawling onto the parquet floor to play. The momentum has shifted, as has the venue, and after a great season by Boston, it looks like things maybe in jeopardy. Hang on, this will only get better!

Both teams are defensive teams, both are not playing as well as they would like, shooting 42% for the series and the Celtics only 27% of their 3-pointers, and the 76er’s showed they can match up well with the division leaders, especially after almost pulling out the opening game of this series.

Welcome to the wonderful world of playoffs!

That’s all I wrote, folks!

FRANK FRANCISCO

When the Mets announced they had signed Frank Francisco, I was surprised. The former Texas Ranger, then Toronto Blue Jay was a closer, but closers usually stay in one place. He did for 6 seasons at Texas, but then only 1 season with Toronto.

Then once he started to pitch for the Mets, I could see why he didn’t stick, with a high ERA, he is not a Mariana Rivera, more like a batting practice machine.

Inside of 3 days he has coughed up 9^th inning leads and blown saves. The Mets lost 2 of 3 to the Miami Marlins, when in fact they should have swept the Marlins. In the National League East, that 2 games lost could mean all the difference for a playoff spot. It is time for Frankie Boy to go.

MOTA MESS

'K' ROD ESCORTED BY 2 YANKEE FANS

It is not the pitching results that make me say this, not the point that he blew it with a division rival, that his era is over 6, no it is a more important reason. When you call in a reliever, you expect him to have ice in his veins, an unflappable attitude, a calm and collected presence. If he becomes unsettled with one bad call or pitch, which leads to more bad pitches, and suddenly, every call the umpire makes becomes an issue to the pitcher.

As an admitted Mets fan, it was appalling to watch Frankie Boy blow up and become unraveled. He had an issue with the umpire about what he thought should be called a strike, and then started cursing the ump, and when they took him out, he started jawing the ump, having to be restrained by his manager, coaches and teammates!

PITCHED LIKE A PUTZ

Frankie Boy, did you realize how unprofessional you are, that NO TEAM should ever trust you again, and that you are lucky all the childishness didn’t happen in New York? I wonder what awaits you if you return on the mound in CitiField?

It seems the Mets find them OK, there was ‘K’ Rod, who lost it, J.J. Putz, Oliver Perez and the ever popular Guillermo Mota, all making lasting impressions for ineptitude, bad attitude and that non-team spirit.

So Wilpon, Alderson, and Collins, get rid of the bum, NOW!

That’s all I wrote, Folks!