New York Sports

It's an exciting time for the New York Sports world. The Giants just won a Super Bowl, the Knicks are relevant and good again, the Rangers have the best record in the Eastern Conference and have a real chance at the Stanley Cup and the Yankees are retooled and primed for another run deep into October. (almost always in the playoffs and World Series) Victor Cruz inspired the Giants, Jeremy Lin has come off the bench and given the Knicks the spark they need and Henrik Lundqvist is giving the Rangers that spark in the net.  The Knicks are in all likely hood not going to win a championship this year but anytime you have sports teams in all four seasons relevant at the same time, it is a good time be be a fan in New York.      

spring training outlook, change of address for Burnett

When pitchers and catchers report to George M. Steinbrenner field in Tampa, FL for spring training tomorrow, a pitcher will be missing.  The Yankees were able to unload A.J Burnett to the Pittsburgh Pirates, with New York picking up about $20 of the $33 million left on his contact.  At first the thought was to pitch A.J every 5th day and let him eat innings for you, he's durable and good for 30+ starts a year.  Once the Yankees were able to trade for Michael Pineda and sign Hiroki Kuroda for the rotation, it became very apparent that A.J was going to have to battle for a spot in the rotation.  A.J was not going to be comfortable battling for the rotation, he wasn't comfortable battling in games. (he would have his good games but overall was very inconsistent)  Now that the Yankees have pitching, they were able to dump A.J and paying most of what was left on his contract was going to be the only way.   If Larry Rothschild (Yankee pitching coach) who is one of the best pitching coaches in the game couldn't fix A.J, I don't know if a change of address will work.
Jorge Posada will also not be there, he retired last month.  It will be strange not seeing Jorge in camp.  For the most part he was not all that visible last year when he was a full time DH, and only caught in one game.              

Lin-sanity

There is finally good NBA basketball being played at Madison Square Garden (MSG) again.  Knick fans, who have been starved for good basketball have been going crazy over point guard Jeremy Lin.  For the last year the undrafted Harvard product which no one wanted, Lin has been on the end of NBA benches and in the D-League.  In February Lin emerged as force to be reckoned with in New York, when he came off the bench a couple weeks ago the team became better.  When Lin was inserted into the line up, guys like Laundry Fields, Iman Schumpert, Steve Novak and company became better (they weren't scared to shoot or drive the ball)  because all of a sudden their was a real point guard (not someone who wants the ball for himself) to distribute the ball.  Lanes are opening for them to drive to the basket and they're sharing the ball.  Jeremy Lin came in and turned this team around at a time when both Amare Stoudmire and Carmelo Anthony were out of the lineup.  With Stoudmire and Anthony scheduled to return within the next week (Stoudmire tonight), will those two be able to coexist with Lin.  Can the full knick team be able to share the ball, not have the guys I mentioned go back to the bench for 48 minutes a night and play with a point guard who knows how to distribute the ball.  The stars will have to adjust because this team is winning now, and now guys can play their natural positions.  Jeremy Lin has become a star and basketball starved New York Knick fans have a reason to cheer.  Just remember when you're watching Jeremy Lin that the knicks are 13-15 (2 games under .500) and probably not set up to win a championship this year.  Miracles do happen in sports but feature years are more set up for the Knicks, there is now hope in New York.                        

Super Bowl, wrap

The New York Giants are Super Bowl Champions!!  Indianapolis was a great host, and at the end of the week the NY Giants won their second Super Bowl in four years. (both over the New England Patriots)  A Giants safety on the Patriots first play from scrimmage, began the scoring and was really the difference in the game.  Later in the first quarter Eli Manning hit Victor Cruz for seven points.  After the Giants scored nine points in the first quarter, the Patriots went on to score 17 unanswered points until the half way mark of the 3rd quarter when the Giants tacked on two field goals.  With New England winning 17-15 going into the 4th, Eli lead the giants on one more 9 play, 88 yard game winning drive.  The Patriots made an effort after Ahmad Bradshaw (tried to stop on the 1 yard line to run more clock but couldn't) scored the winning touchdown, Tom Brady led his team 8 plays and 29 yards which ended in a failed attempt at a hail mary.  If it wasn't for the safety, the touchdown which the Giants scored would have only put them up two and a New England field goal would've won the game.  Brady did not play a great game for New England, he seemed a little off, for example the pass to Wes Welker was thrown behind him.  On the other side of the ball Eli, who has shown he is as calm as can be under pressure is becoming an elite quarterback.  Tom Coughlin, who is far from done coaching further cemented his name for enshrinement into Canton.  Bill Belichick lost his second Super Bowl in a row after winning three, all by three points during spy gate.  Their might be discussion starting about Belichick being a tad overrated.  The Giants have built a little legacy, with two Super Bowls in four years and (all) five within the last 25 years.        

super Bowl XLV: Pick

Its time for Super Bowl XLVI, the New York Giants and the New England Patriots will square off Sunday night in Indianapolis.  The Patriots may have been lucky to get here, but they deserve it and its football. (sometimes the ball bounces your way)  The Patriot defense might be slightly better then we give them credit for, but for the most part their explosive, tight end (Welker, Hernandez, Gronkowski) oriented offense carries them.  The Giant defensive line found themselves, the second half of the season but they are carried by their receiving core of Cruz, Nicks, and Manningham.  Both tams will have to run the ball, not to win the game but to keep the other team honest.    The Giants will throw it deep on you while the Patriots game is primarily played within 20 yards of the line of scrimage.the key to this game will be how the Patroit DBs matchup with the giant receivers.  The Patriots are playing games with the injury report again, Gronkowski has a high ankle sprain but he will be playing in the Super Bowl (the biggest game of his life) at about 80%.  A win would put Tom Coughlin on the fringe of the Hall of Fame and turn Eli Manning into an elite quarterback who might be better then his brother.  The Patriots need this game for their legacy, they won three Super Bowls, all by three points but that was eight years ago.  I think the Giants are defiantly the better all around team, they will have to get pressure on Brady who will have to figure out a way to get the ball to those tight ends.  I'll take the NY Giants (+3) over the NE Patriots, to win the SuperBowl and ride down the Canyon of Heroes.  This will be a high scoring game on the turf in Indianapolis. (31-24 Giants) Giants +3