The A-Rod Situation

(Go on take the money and Run A-Rod.)

So I realize I haven't made a new posting since last Friday. College has kept me very busy over the past week and a half and now that I have some downtime we can discuss some issues...


Apparently, Alex Rodriguez and his ego-building agent Scott Boras believe they are bigger than the game of baseball. In the bottom of the 6th inning during the World Series, Fox Sports Analyst Ken Rosenthal reported that A-Rod would elect to opt out of his contract with the New York Yankees and essentially making him a free agent. A news break that sent a shock wave through baseball fans nationwide.



Yankees GM Brian Cashman has said repeatedly throughout the season that if A-Rod chose to opt out of the remaining three-years of his contract and become a free agent, the Yankees organization would not pursue him on the open market.

As a Yankee fan this really got to me, considering I have sympathized with A-Rod since he became a Yankee. I was at Yankee Stadium on Opening Day 2004 and was so excited that I purchased a Rodriguez jersey. I had high hopes for the superstar short-stop turned third-baseman.

Through his ups and downs as a Yankee I always stood up for him. A-Rod criticisms ranged from his "inability" to produce in the postseason to his sometimes shoddy defense and the fact that after winning the AL MVP trophy in 2005, he finished the 2006 season with 35 HR, 121 RBI and a .290 batting average. Which to me are VERY good numbers, I will take those numbers from any third baseman for a full season of work.

There are a number of reasons why I used to stand up for A-Rod, but not quite anymore. Let's face it the Yankees haven't had a legitimate pitching staff since 2001 with the combination of Mike Mussina, Andy Pettite, Roger Clemens, Orlando Hernandez and Ted Lilly. As we all know pitching wins championships, you cannot slug your way through the postseason like A-Rod tried to do the past three seasons because the pitching staff was lousy. In trying to slug through the postseason A-Rod ended up swinging at bad pitches and hurting his team.

So there he goes, the richest man in baseball just got richer. It makes me wonder why he would want to make more money which will only make him more vulnerable to criticism. Considering the fact that people already despise of him because he hasn't won a World Series despite being the highest paid player in the Major Leagues.

What A-Rod did was a slap in the face to the game of baseball. The World Series is the most coveted event in baseball and he has to make a news break in the middle of the game proclaiming that he will be turning his back on the Yankee Faithful like Joe Torre and Rudi Guiliani have in the past week?

That is ridiculous, he had until 10 days after the World Series to declare himself a free agent why did he have to do it in the middle of the World Series? He gave the Yankees no time to find a new manager, although they did yesterday in the form of Joe Girardi whom I believe is an excellent choice, nor did he give them anytime to discuss a possible contract extension with him.



I hope wherever A-Rod ends up he is practicing his golf swing every October in hopes of someday winning a championship in the PGA Senior Open because he will not bring any team a World Series. I used to idolize the man, now I believe he is nothing but a money hungry, conniving and ambitious monster, who can play baseball but never win a championship because of his selfish ways.

Shame on you Alex. Now I know why even your own fans booed you.





As for the hiring of Joe Girardi as the new Yankee manager, I believe it is a great decision. He brings a whole different type of hands-on teaching that Joe Torre used to do, but has cut-back on in recent years. I believe he was the better candidate over Don Mattingly because he has previous managerial experience, you can't deny the fact that he won NL Manager of the Year in 2006 with the Florida Marlins.

Hopefully he's a reincarnation of former Yankee manager Billy Martin. Girardi is charasmatic much like Martin was, he is a former Yankee, like Martin, and because of the fact he played with Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada, I believe there is a strong possibility that they might resign to play for their former teammate, whom they enjoyed winning three World Series rings with.

It's a Great Day in Boston, Not so Great in the NBA

Yesterday was a huge day for sports, especially in Boston…


After a Game 1 romping of the Colorado Rockies, the Boston Red Sox won Game 2 of the World Series 2-1 in a very close game, and are now up 2-0. The Red Sox pitching staff followed up Josh Beckett’s gem with a brilliant performance of their own, thanks to modest efforts by Curt Schilling, Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon.


A notable performance was given by Rockies rookie pitcher Udalo Jimenez, although he only went 4 2/3 innings. He had remarkable control in the beginning of the game, however the fire-baller lost control in the 5th inning and was removed from the game after allowing an RBI double to Mike Lowell.


No. 2 ranked Boston College won despite being down 10-0 at halftime to No. 8 ranked Virginia Tech. Boston College QB Matt Ryan completed a 24-yard touchdown pass with :11 seconds left in regulation to secure a 14-10 victory.


Ryan had a remarkable performance, although he allowed 2 interceptions. The Heisman Trophy candidate finished the game passing for 285 yards, and 2 touchdowns. By leading his team to victory despite the 10-0 halftime deficit, he made a strong claim for the Heisman, which is awarded to college football’s most valuable player.


A shocking development is also under way regarding NBA Commissioner David Stern. He announced yesterday that due to the fact that every single referee in the NBA is linked to some form of gambling, he will seek no punishment of them. Furthermore, he announced he is drafting new gambling rules and those very same referees will be now allowed to gamble in a number of ways.

An internal investigation of NBA referee’s revealed that all 56 of the league’s referees have violated the league policy regarding gambling. That policy also bans any form of legal gambling, including lottery tickets, poker games (for money), and casino gambling.

I personally believe they should alter the league policy to allow for referees to partake in state lottery. Casino gambling should not be allowed because the integrity of the games they officiate will be in jeopardy. Considering the fact that anybody can place a bet in Las Vegas on a sporting event via the internet, these referees should not be allowed to partake in casino gambling.

RUDI THE RED COAT

I just so happened to wake up this morning and visit the website for the New York Post. As the website loaded, I saw one of the most astonishing images in my life.

Former New York City Mayor and current Republican Presidential candidate, Rudi Giuliani, announced that he is backing the Boston Red Sox in the World Series.

My jaw dropped upon reading this.

How could this former New York City Mayor be sporting the logo of the biggest rival to his "beloved" New York Yankees? This is the man that has a designated seat at Yankee Stadium waiting for him on the side of the home dugout, whenever he wants to attend a game. He is also the man that led NYC through its darkest days after 9/11. And when the Yankees are down in the 9th inning who appears on the scoreboard in center field screaming "Let's Go Yankees!"?

That's right Rudi Giuliani does.

Now he is just another wagon jumper, trying riding the hottest ticket to the White House. After all every politician does it. He's just trying to get people to vote for him, but personally I think he is going to lose a lot of votes due to this. He is becoming reminiscent of John Kerry in his bid for the White House in 2004. (Does the term "flip-flopper" occur to anyone?)

At first I wasn't sure what to think about the situation. But as a die hard New York Yankees fan, I couldn't let Rudi get away with this one, I needed to rip into him a little bit and give him a peace of mind. Especially because Joe Torre has already abandoned ship and with the futures of such All-Stars as, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettite, and Alex Rodriguez, in doubt, due to free agency.

I hope Rudi loses his personal seat at Yankee Stadium and they never, EVER put him on the big screen in center field again. The man is a fraud and a disgrace to the Yankee Empire!

If you're voting Republican this upcoming election, Vote Duncan Hunter for President in 2008!

Poor Tom Brady: How Could We Do You This Injustice?

Tom Brady, the All-American hero for the New England Patriots, threw 6 touchdowns for a career high, leading the Pats to 49-28 rout of the Miami Dolphins. Brady was unfortunately overshadowed in two aspects. Tennessee Titans place kicker Rob Bironas hit his 8th field goal to seal a 38-36 victory for the Titans over the visiting Houston Texans. He became the first kicker to ever hit 8 FG's in a game and set a record for points in a game by a kicker with 26.

On the other hand is the obvious, those Boston Red Sox. They completed a magnificent comeback down 3-1 in the ALCS against the Cleveland Indians to win the American League Pennant and advance to the World Series. Struggling through the first four games the Red Sox were reawakened in Game 5 thanks to a stellar performance by flamethrower Josh Beckett Friday night.

The big question at hand was, how would 40 year old Curt Schilling answer the call in Game 6? He pitched extraordinarily well, going 7 innings allowing 2 earned runs on 6 hits, no walks and scattering 5 strikeouts in a 12-2 rout of the Cleveland Indians. However we must not forget J.D. Drew's 1st inning grand slam off Cleveland pitcher Fausto Carmona in that game. Drew definitely regained his trust in Red Sox Nation especially with a particular friend of mine. (Can't call him Nancy Drew anymore)

Then came the pivotal Game 7 or as I like to refer to it as, The Night the Rookie Took Over. A night where Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz were somehow stymied by Indians junk-baller Jake Westbrook. (They were a combined 1 for 8 in the game, Manny collected an RBI single) It was rookie second baseman Dustin Pedroia who sealed the victory with a 2 run home run in the bottom of the 7th inning giving the Red Sox a 5-2 lead. He further contributed with a bases loaded double that cleared the bases in the 8th propelling the Red Sox to an 11-2 victory and giving them the AL Pennant.

So what more does Tom Brady have to do? If you ask me Tom just keep winning! Baseball is almost over. You'll get your curtain call buddy.