"Dear Diary"

After updating the blog twice in a 4 day period, I came under criticism for blogging too frequently. My friend from Long Island told me so. My blog followers cried too much, too soon. My wife began to crack “Dear Diary…” jokes, and questioned whether I was spending my time properly. Truth be told, it does not take me very long to finish one of these, once I get rolling.

In addition, my self-indulgent fantasy football blog rubbed quite a few people the wrong way. The presence of a few of my own players in the breakout discussion was enough to steer some away.

Given these high demands, and the increased scrutiny that the blog’s strong start (...more self indulgence) got off too, I spent many a minute over the past week shuffling through topics for my next blog.

Many pleaded with me to blog about the fantasy football playoffs. A few wanted a blog about the Patriots-Jets. One bowling coach wanted me to blog about the New York Knicks (who knew?).

I decided that since I had opinions about all of these things, and since they are all going on right now, that I would write a "potpourri" blog to deliver my take on everything.

P.S....the same friend from Long Island who told me that I was blogging too much just recently told me that he was yearning for a blog from me. Ask and you shall receive.

The New York Yets Crash in New England

Fireman Ed wasn't leading any cheers last Monday Night.

“Y…E…T…S…Yets, Yets, Yets” … as in, we haven’t done anything, “yet”. The game was one of the most hyped regular season games in NY Jets history. The Jets and Patriots both came in at 9-2 with a chance to take a commanding hold of the lead in the AFC East. The Jets came out and absolutely spit the bit (this is a PG-rated blog). They were outplayed in every way, shape, and form. Rex Ryan was exposed in the spotlight by challenging a puzzling spot on the first drive, before going for it on 4^th down (If you knew you were going for it anyway, why challenge the play?). He also lined up Nick Folk for a 53-yard field goal attempt in swirling winds on a cold night. It was a rough one for Rex.

I still am a fan of his confident, “we got swag’” style. I think his team eats it up. I think he has to be smarter about it. He had the right angle in his Tuesday media address, in terms of the team moving forward and putting the loss behind them. Then he compared them to the ’85 Bears. Come on dude…use your head.

Jay Cutler gets Suh-ed by a Lion

I’m lukewarm on the NFL’s new emphasis on illegal hits. I see plays on which defensive players launch themselves at receivers in a manner that can be very dangerous. It’s one thing to lay a big stick to jar the ball loose. It’s another to do so with intent to injure. Jameel McClain’s hit on Heath Miller last week on Sunday night was completely out of line. I thought it was one of the worst hit’s I’ve ever seen.



How does that turf taste? Maybe now you'll wipe that stupid frat boy smirk off your face.

 That said….what the hell was up (I can say “hell” in a PG blog) with the personal foul call on Ndamukong Suh? Jay Cutler was running with the ball in open space as Suh chased him down from behind. Suh violently shoved him down from behind, contacting his upper back. He was flagged on the field for Unnecessary Roughness. I think it was BS, but the aftermath was even more puzzling. After the replays showed that Suh CLEARLY had not contacted Cutler’s head, the league still fined him $15,000. It’s not his fault Jay Cutler fell down like a dish rag. Damn I can’t stand Cutler (see previous blogs....and the photo above).

Jeter and Yanks Work It Out

We get to see the Jeter fist pump for at least 3 more years.

Phew. I never really thought Jeter would sign elsewhere, but I grew uncomfortable as the negotiations progressed. I’m glad they came to an agreement, and I’ll get to see Jeter play the next 3 years in pinstripes. He deserves every penny.

Jeter spoke candidly about the process. Making it very apparent that he was not happy with the Yanks saying he should test the market. His agent kinda started it, but regardless, I don’t want to see DJ unhappy. Hopefully this blows over. Winning cures a lot.

The New Evil Empire?

The Boston Red Sox had a down year last year. Yes, they finished third in the AL East with an 89-73 record. However, they lacked the offensive firepower to drive in runs consistently. Pedroia, Youkilis, and Ellsbury were out injured for significant portions of the year. They had to give consistent at bats to guys like Bill Hall, Daniel Nava, and Darnell McDonald (who resurfaces on a roster every 3 years). While Boston certainly had its pitching issues (see Beckett, Josh and Papelbon, Jonathan), the offense was something that surely lacked in 2010.

I didn't know that Dunkin Donuts sponsored the Red Sox. Maybe I'll get my coffee elsewhere in the morning.

Here we are in early December at the winter meetings, and Theo has opened up the pocketbook, scraped up some loose change, and made the two biggest splashes of winter free agency. They traded for the only valuable Padres offensive player in the last 10 years, Adrian Gonzalez. The Sawx then made Carl Crawford, who will turn 29 next year, one of the richest players in MLB history. His contract is the largest ever for a position player who has never hit 20 home runs. There is $20 million a year hoping his legs hold up.

Once featured on a Topps card together, the Red Sox hope that Crawford bares a resemblance to Henderson when it comes to durability over time. Rickey was a productive player well into his mid-to-late 30's.

If they do, he’s Rickey Henderson in 2017 when the contract is up. If they don’t, he’s Vince Coleman. OK, that comparison was a bit much, but you get the idea. If he doesn’t have stolen bases as part of his game, he is a very good outfielder, but not a $140 million player. Right now, he’s got them. Let’s see what the future brings.

My take.....OVERPAID, BAD CONTRACT

Break Up the Knicks

Here we go. I’m actually doing it. What good blogger doesn’t respond to what his people want. Without further ado, a blog on the New York Knicks.

When approached by my 2^nd favorite Spotswood Charger (Trg Bone #1) last week to blog about the Knicks, I tried to think of players that I knew on the team. Amare was obvious. I had heard in the off-season they had acquired Raymond Felton. I knew they had lost David Lee to the Warriors. I also knew they had Danilo Gallinari. I knew that Mike D’Antoni was their coach, and that they didn’t play any defense.

The first time I saw what Landry Fields looks like was when I Google-imaged this picture!

Admittedly, the NBA has been a virtual non-factor for me for quite awhile. I don’t like that players get paid a ton of money, while being unpolished with little social awareness (see Arenas, Gilbert). I don’t like how nobody plays defense, and how I can never tell what a foul is. Most of all, I don’ t like that the Knicks stink every friggin’ year. Maybe things are changing.

Since the blog plea, I have paid special attention to the Knicks. I looked up their roster that day and found that they had an impressive, overachieving rookie named Landry Fields who was a major spark plug. I began to watch parts of games. If things continue to go well, I could be watching full Knicks games by the end of the month.

I’m not going to go into a lot of detail here for two reasons – #1 I have yet to watch a full game, and #2 I don’t want to get too excited too soon. The Knicks are currently 14-9 and in 2^nd place in the Atlantic Division. I’ll be honest, until I wrote this blog I had forgotten it was called the “Atlantic” in the NBA and not the “East”. I heard on WFAN the other day that this is the first time in 10 years the Knicks have been 5 games over .500. Sounds about right.

Keep it up Knicks…and I’ll dedicate a full blog to you after the Super Bowl. For now, this is as much as you’re getting.

The Devils SUCK

The headline says it all. Can’t score, can’t play defense. Getting out-hustled. Marty’s aging and banged up. All the things they say about a team when they are reeling, can be said about the Devils.

I have a $250 Devils jersey (unsigned, with no name on the back, by the way) that I have yet to don this year.

Damn...I could've gotten this jersey for $100 cheaper than the one I have now.
I'll always remember my first Devils-Flyers game. Wait...I think I mean "never" instead of "always".

It’s hanging up in my basement next to my Cowboys jerseys and my Rutgers football and basketball jerseys. A de facto “Wall of Shame”…