Eli Manning

Eli Manning called it quits this week, retiring from the only NFL organization he has ever known the New York Giants.  Eli who comes from a football family, his dad Archie played for the New Orleans Saints and brother Payton played for the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos.  This season when Eli was benched for rookie, and hopefully new quarterback Daniel Jones, he discovered he did not like being a backup and with no guaranteed starting jobs available it was called a career.  There is always something to be said for guys who play their entire careers for just one team.  He has over 200 consecutive starts and although he has just a .500 record as a starting quarterback he is a two time two time Superbowl Champion and MVP.  His best games came arguably in the biggest moments the Super Bowls against the New England Patriots and the NFC Championship game up at chilly Lambeau Field and many more.  With these career accomplishments, especially the two Super Bowls, I believe Eli will end up in Canton.  This upcoming season his #10 will be retired by the Giants and the number will not be worn again.   

MLB hall of fame

Derek Jeter got the call from the hall, that we all knew was coming this week.  Derek was never your prototypical five tool player, he was a lifetime .310 hitter, was never a home run hitter with only 260 lifetime, he didn't have the best range or the strongest arm, but when you add it all together it adds up to a Hall of Fame career.  When Derek was drafted it was said that the only place this guy is going is Cooperstown.  Derek who was born in New Jersey grew up in Michigan was drafted by the Yankees out of high school and signed on with the team, foregoing college at Michigan University.  His career did not get off to the smoothest start, with getting sent back to the minor leagues in 1995 and almost getting traded. Then in 1996 Derek won the AL rookie of the Year and the first of his five championships.  Derek was never about individual stats, he wanted to win, and win championships.  He played on some great teams which were in contention year in and year out, Derek only played in one home game that did not mathematically count, his last game in Pinstripes.  It meant a lot for the 14 time all-star who retired with the sixth most all time hits all time and the most my a Yankee, becoming the first with 3,000 hits which he did with a home run in a 5-5 game, to be named captain.  Derek had many career defining plays from the Flip in Oakland to his dive into the stands, to hit 3,000k and his last hit at Yankee Stadium.  He was a winner in every way and missed out on being a unanimous selection by one vote but that is just icing on the cake, he's still in.  He is now a family man and a team owner of the Miami Marlins and over seeing their rebuild.  In July he'll take his place in the Hall of Fame among the legends of the game.
Larry Walker who was drafted by the Montreal Expos but played most of his career for the Colorado Rockies was also elected to the Hall this week.  One could argue that Larry's career numbers were influenced by the altitude of Coors field although he continued to put up Hall of Fame numbers on the road. 

MLB sign stealing

I don't want to talk about this topic much longer, we'll survive this.  When the Houston Astros were accused of and then acquitted of using a center field camera with an elaborate set up which involved trash cans to steal their opponents signs.  The Boston Red Sox also did this on a slightly smaller scale.  So far three managers A.J hinch (Astros Manager), Alex Cora (Astros bench coach at the time and now former Red Sox manager) and Carlos Beltran (was hired to be the Mets manager and Astros player who was critical in the process) have lost their jobs.  We have three MLB teams that need managers and baseball is reeling.  I've said it once and i'll say it again sign stealing within the white lines is fine but when technology becomes involved it's illegal.  I hope this scandal doesn't go any because you would be opening a pandora's box that can't be closed, if you open up all sorts of investigations on other teams.  Did we investigate every player during the steroid era, do we investigate every single World Series losing team to make sure it wasn't thrown on purpose like the Black Sox.  Rob Manfred laid down the law and made an example of people and hopefully this will put a stop to this kind of thing, maybe players shouldn't be allowed back in the video room during play.  Players on these teams especially will have to answer questions about sign stealing when they get to spring training in about a month, hopefully their answers are reasonable.  We've gotten through scandals before and we will again, but for now let's get back to playing the game of baseball.           

Conference Championship Sunday

The NFL playoffs have been good football.  After four good games last week we'll decide who will participate in Super Bowl LIV on Sunday.  The AFC is first a 3pm, when the high flying Kansas City Chiefs will host the Tennessee Titans.  The Titans continued to impress last week by going into Baltimore and beating the top seeded Ravens behind Derrick Henry and his 195 rushing yards, It looked bleak in KC for about the first 17 minutes as the Chiefs fell behind early to the Houston Texans before out scoring them 51-7 over the final 40 minutes.  The Chiefs will host their second straight Conference Championship game, this team behind quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce can score fast, the Titans will run the ball behind Henry but this week they're going to need quarterback Ryan Tannehill to make a play and with what he has shown i don't know if he can lead a team to a Super Bowl.  I will take the Kansas City Chiefs (-7) over the Titans to advance to the Super Bowl.  Later Sunday we have the NFC Championship between the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers these teams got here in less dramatic fashion with the 49ers dominating the Vikings and the Packers coming out on top in a well played game with the Seahawks.  San Francisco has been the most dominant team all season behind quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and a good defensive line, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers have had somewhat of a resurgence although I still worry about Rodgers not being on from the start and the defense showing up.  I'll take the San Francisco 49ers (-7.5) over the Green Bay Packers in a game the Packers will win because the 49ers will not cover the 7.5, this game will be closer 20-17 or so.                     

NFL divisional weekend

We're here the last weekend of NFL football on both Saturday and Sunday, unfortunately the games Sunday are late but it's football.  After a great weekend of football last we with two overtime games, divisional weekend with all large point spreads outside of the late game Sunday can't be as good can it.  The big news from last week is the Patriots lost.  Let's get started in game number 1 the Minnesota Vikings visit the San Francisco 49ers in the bay area.   Last week we learned we can trust kirk Cousins and the Vikings cousins, although Minnesota might have a little magic, it will run out this week, I'll take the 49ers (-7) to advance to the NFC championship.  The Tennessee Titans who beat the Patriots last week will head to Baltimore.  Although the Titans will run the ball and probably look good doing it, the Baltimore Ravens (-10) are the more complete team here, and will move to the AFC championship.  Kansas City will host the Houston Texans who needed a second half comeback and overtime to beat the Buffalo Bills.  It is now or never for Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs who do not have a good playoff record.  This is the opportunity for the Chiefs (-10) and they advance to the AFC championship.   In maybe the best game of the weekend the Green Bay Packers host the Seattle Seahawks.  Green Bay's defense doesn't always show up and Aaron rodgers has looked a little off this year, Seattle is not your normal #5 seed they were a yard away from winning the division and now Beast Mode is back in full.  I'll go with the Seattle Seahawks (+4.5) on the road in Lambeau Field, to advance to the NFC championship.     

New York Knicks

There needs to be a NBA basketball pulse in New York.  I am in my 30's and the Knicks have not been relevant in my lifetime.  This is a proud franchise that is alienating star players and coaches from coming to NYC.  Jim Dolan has run this franchise into the ground and Steve Mills, Scott Perry and the revolving door of coaches has not helped.  Knick fans need and excuse to be loud and turn Madison Square Garden into a real home court advantage.  New York has good fans and they will show up to watch their team, and the Knicks need a pulse.       

Wild Card weekend, NFL

After another topsy turvy, unpredictable NFL season it's playoff time, we'll soon see who will be matched up in the SuperBowl.  After a season that saw Andrew Luck retire, Drew Brees set all kids of records, Marshawn Lynch come back, the Oakland Raiders play their last season in Oakland before moving to Las Vegas and the LA Chargers and LA Rams playing their final seasons before opening their shared stadium in LA.  It's now playoff time where the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, and Green Bay Packers have all earned top seeds and will be off until next weekend.  First up we have wildcard weekend, in the first game we have the Buffalo Bills going up against the Houston Texans in Houston.  I believe the Bills can be dangerous at only I believe 2.5 point dogs on the road, but I won't give them the win here against a somewhat playoff experienced Houston squad which will activate J.J Watt for this game.  I'll take Houston in game#1.  In Saturday's night cap the Tennessee Titans will visit the New England Patriots who will be playing on wildcard weekend for the first time in 10 years.  By the numbers this shoulld be a pretty evenly matched game, but although this is not your normal Pateroit squad, I think the Patriots with the experience, Tom Brady and being at home win this one by maybe 10 or more.  I'll take the Patriots.  On Sunday in the first game the Minnesota Vikings will visit the New Orleans Saints.  I am picking Drew Brees and the Saints at home in this one.  In the Sunday night cap the Seattle Seahawks visit the Philadelphia Eagles. Philadelphia barely won their division at 9-7 and were hamstrung by injuries last week on the other side of the ball Russell Wilson is having another good year and now Beast Mode is back.  In this one I am picking a road team and the Seattle Seahawks.  Not much separates any of these NFL playoff teams.           

NFL playoff Power rankings:
1. Baltimore Ravens
2. New Orleans Saints
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. San Francisco 49ers
5. Seattle Seahawks
6. Green Bay Packers
7. New England Patriots
8. Buffalo Bills
9. Minnesota Vikings
10. Houston Texans
11. Tennessee Titans
12. Philadelphia Eagles