New York, New York: One Tough Apple

After hearing the back and forth banter between Jets' current quarterback and football legend Brett Farve, I though, "Wow, New York is one tough town for athletes to play in."

It takes a certain type of athlete to thrive in that town, and no one embodied the persona like Joe Willie Namath. He guaranteed a victory in the 1969 Super Bowl III and delivered with a 16-7 victory over heavily favored Baltimore Colts.

After the victory, the only one in Jets' history, Namath could do no wrong. A mink coat on the sidelines, above; beautiful women; Broadway Joe's a New York City restaurant; and legendary all-night drinking in town.

Next Stop, Cooperstown

Whether it be a 10-year, $275 million contract with the New York Yankees in 2007 or a highly public affair with the mega superstar singer, Madonna, Alex Rodriguez fits the mold of a high profile, highly paid athlete in New York.

Never mind failing in cluch situations and less than spectacular playoffs, he is a member of the 500-home-run club and the key cog of the New York Yankees.

Mr. October

Reggie Jackson, the man known as Mr. October, was the crown jewel of the 1997-'78 New York Yankee World Series championships. Jackson's crowning achievement came with his three-home-run performance in Game Six of the 1977 World Series.

Despite fights with fiery manager Billy Martin, angry teammates, and a big clubhouse persona, Jackson was the player "that stirred the drink." Big money for those days, the Yankees signed Jackson to a five-year contract, totaling $2.96 million, on Nov. 29, 1976.

A Tragic Superstar

He was the next great player after Joe DiMaggio. A midwestern boy who hit 54 home runs the year, teammate Roger Maris then broke Babe Ruth's record.

Health promblem plagued his early career and he died in his early '60s, a possible product of a hard drinking life. But he finished his career as one of the all-time Yankees and was a folk hero among fans.

Mickey Mantle played his entire 18-year major-league professional career for the New York Yankees, winning three American League MVP titles and playing for 16 All-Star teams. Mantle played on 12 pennant winners and seven World Championship clubs. He still holds the records for most World Series home runs (18), RBI (40), runs (42), walks (43), extra-base hits (26), and total bases (123).

Mr. Knick

A small center for his era, Reed made up in heart what he lacked in size. In the 1969-'70 season, the Knicks won a franchise record 60 games and set a then-NBA record with an 18-game win streak.

In1970, he became the first player in NBA history to be named the NBA All-Star Game MVP, the NBA regular season MVP, and the NBA Playoff MVP in the same season.

Reed's most famous performance took place on May 8, 1970, during Game Seven of the 1970 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers in Madison Square Garden. Due to severe thigh injury—a torn muscle that had previously kept him out of Game Six—many doubted he would even play in Game Seven.

Yet he surprised the fans in attendance by walking onto the court during warmups. Starting the game, he scored the Knicks' first two field goals on his first two shot attempts, his only ones of the game.

It was all the inspiration the Knicks needed, as teammate Walt "Clyde" Frazier went on to score 36 points. The Knicks won the game 113–99, giving New York City its first NBA title.

The moment he walked onto the court was voted the greatest moment in the history of Madison Square Garden. Pretty heady status. And he is probably considered the greatest Knick of all-time.

If I Can Make It There, I Could Make It Anywhere...

I gasped when I saw the 2008 edition of the Madden NFL football video game. It was a picture of Brett Favre in a Green Bay Packers uniform. D'oh! Maybe that was the reason the Jets did not make the playoffs this year and caused the firing of Eric Mangini.

I heard some Jets fans say that the Favre trade was the reason the Jets did not make the playoffs and caused the firing of Mangini. Favre had his moments in New York and was not terrible, but boy, in other ways, it was a bad start to a shaky New York marriage.

Fellow players called him distant and standoffish. Not a great start in the Big Apple. We will see what the future brings. A Hall of Famer for sure, but will they take away the key to the city?