Bleacher Report - Articles by Nick Antonicello

Is 16-0 an Accomplishment or Albatross for Colts and Saints?

Nick Antonicello — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:32:21 -0500

The New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts are both 11-0 and headed for the No. 1 seed in their respective conferences with a possible Super Bowl match-up to end a story book season for both franchises.

For the first time in NFL history, we have two undefeated and untied teams after 11 weeks of competition. While the thought of each team chasing a perfect season will never be spoken about, should the 1972 Miami Dolphins keep that champagne on ice for now?

The decision by Patriot Head Coach Bill Belichick to go for an undefeated season in 2007 questions the whole rationale of trying to chase perfection given their upset defeat at the hands of the New York Giants, 17-14 and finish the season 18-1.

Any reasonable fan of the game will tell you that while the Miami Dolphins are the only undefeated team in the Super Bowl era, they are hardly considered one of the best teams of all-time. The 2007 New England Patriots by any standard were heads and shoulders far better than the Don Shula led Dolphins who were led by the aging Earl Morrall (38) when Bob Griese was injured early in the 1972 season.

Morrall and Griese threw for just 15 touchdowns compared to Tom Brady's record setting 50. While the Patriots put up 589 points and 6,580 total yards, Miami posted just 385 and 5,036!

Even if you account for the fact the Dolphins played just 14 regular season games, the Patriots still scored 523 point in the same stretch and 5,959 total yards in a true, apples to apples comparison of regular season statistics.

In 1972, the Dolphins had several close contests and scares with the Vikings in Week Three (16-14), Buffalo in Week Six (24-23), the Jets in Week 10 (28-24).

In the Divisional Playoffs the Dolphins needed a last minute score to defeat the Cleveland Browns 20-14 and would have been eliminated in the first round if not for five interceptions thrown by Brown Quarterback Mike Phipps!

For the Patriots, they were never seriously challenged in 2007 until Week Nine when Brady outdueled Peyton Manning for a 24-20 victory. The Baltimore Ravens would give the Patriots all they could handle in Week 13 in a 27-24 loss while the Giants would also force the Patriots to work harder than usual to reach a perfect season in the Meadowlands with a 38-35 win to finally go 16-0.

With another come-from-behind win Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts seem to have the hardest road to 16-0.

They have a very hot Tennessee Titan squad now on a five-game winning streak of their own led by a rejuvenated Vince Young, the former Texas All-American.

The Colts then have the Broncos, the Jaguars, Jets and finish with the Buffalo Bills at Orchard Park, New York. Of there last five games, only the Bills are out of playoff contention.

New Orleans at 11-0 travels to Washington, DC to play the Redskins and then to Atlanta to play the Falcons. The Redskins are out of playoff contention while Atlanta is on the brink of elimination. They then have the Cowboys at the Superdome which could be a potential first round match-up in the playoffs and then the Saints finish with Tampa Bay and Carolina.

Other than the Cowboys, the Saints at worst should finish 15-1 or possibly 14-2 with the Minnesota Vikings just a game behind for home field advantage throughout the playoffs. That should be more than enough motivation for the Saints to try to stay undefeated as long as the Viking remain a single loss behind.

Two undefeated teams in the Super Bowl would make for a historic moment in the NFL, but just don't count on it just yet. The burden of carrying a 16-0 record into the playoffs seems to be more than enough pressure for any team to handle when trying to win the Super Bowl isn't pressure enough!

The goal is to become a Super Bowl champion, not an undefeated season.

Having said that, I look for both the Saints and the Colts to sit the regulars once home-field advantage is secured as they prepare for the greater goal of winning the championship of the NFL.

Patriots Slip To 7-4, Jets Can Climb To .500 Thursday vs. Bills

Nick Antonicello — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:47:29 -0500

With the New Orleans Saints routing the New England Patriots Monday night 38-17, the Patriot lead in the AFC East slipped to two games with five still to play.

At 5-6, the New York Jets can take a major step back into playoff consideration with a win in Canada against division rival Buffalo.

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees made mince meat of the New England secondary with five touchdown passes and has 27 on the season. If you had to compare the efforts made by the Jets and the Patriots in the Superdome, New York was at least in the game most of the way!

For the Jets, the future comes down to a Thursday match-up in Canada, which in all likelihood will determine if the Jets will have anything to play for other than pride for the rest of December, particularly the final game of the season against Cincinnati.

It is only fitting the Jet playoff hopes come down to another game with the Buffalo Bills.

In the first meeting of the season, the Jets squandered a 210-yard rushing performance by Thomas Jones in a 16-13 OT loss thanks to five picks tossed by rookie QB Mark Sanchez. Sanchez was a miserable 10-29 for 119 yards and no touchdowns.

Despite 319 yards on the ground, turnovers gave the game to Buffalo.

It was in that contest that quarterback Trent Edwards went down, and Ryan Fitzpatrick took over the Bills on offense. Fitzpatrick was less than mediocre, as he went just 10-25 for 116 yards with one pick and one touchdown.

But the Bills broke a three-game skid this week with an upset of the Miami Dolphins to move to 4-7 under new Head Coach Perry Fewell who replaced the fired Dick Jauron.

Fitzpatrick played well, going 17-26 for 246 yards and one pick, as well as a 51-yard strike to a revitalized Terrell Owens who had five receptions for 96 yards. Darrelle Revis will have his hands full once again after shutting down Pro Bowlers Randy Moss & Steve Smith since the bye week.

With just three games separating first from the worst in the AFC East, the Jets are once again getting another opportunity to remain a playoff possibility.

While 9-7 might make it for some, 10-6 seems to be more realistic for the Jets unless they get plenty of help along the way.

With the game at a neutral site, the Jets should have an emotional advantage after a solid performance in the Meadowlands. The Bills should be just as pumped to end the Jets' faint playoff hopes by sweeping the season series, which would leave New York a dismal 1-5 in divisional play for 2009.

It will be that poor divisional record that separates the Jets from mediocrity to a legitimate playoff contender, and that's too bad because this team should be playing in the post season despite some key injuries and growing pains of a rookie starting quarterback.

December, January Have Been Harsh for New York Jets

Nick Antonicello — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:28:43 -0500

As the New York Jets enter the chill of December at 5-6, they'll avoid the elements this week with the Buffalo Bills as they play indoors in Toronto, Canada versus the bitter cold of Orchard Park, New York.

While considered a Buffalo home game, the Jets have an the opportunity to reach .500 at 6-6 at a neutral site instead of the home field advantage the Bills would enjoy at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Historically, the months of December and January have been hard on the New York Jets.

In this decade alone, the Jets have entered the December chill .500 or better six times only to go 18-23 in December and 1-2 in January. Since 2000, the New York Jets are 56-55 for the months of September, October and November while just 19-25 in December & January!

The Jets have gone .500 or better only three times in this decade for the month of December (2002, 2004 and 2006). In all three instances, the Jets made the playoffs.

There best December was in 2006 when the Jets entered that month just 6-5 only to finish 4-1 in December and 10-6 overall. In 2008 the Jets entered December 8-3 only to go 1-3 for December and finish 9-7 and out of playoff contention.

While the Jets are just a mediocre 75-80 this decade, they have qualified for the playoffs four times, the most of any stretch in franchise history.

While considered a cold weather team, the Jets have not been cold weather winners much like their counterparts the New York Giants who seem to revel in the elements.

But with just 5 games to play the Jets will play indoors at Toronto, at Tampa Bay, home for Atlanta, on the road at Indianapolis and finish the season at home against Cincinnati on January 3rd for the final game at the Meadowlands.

In effect, the Jets will play indoors twice and in warm weather at least once while hosting the Falcons who already lost to the Giants earlier this season at East Rutherford while finishing up with Cincinnati.

Hopefully for the Jets, that final home game could have playoff implications but mean little to the Bengals who should finish as the #2 , #3 or #4 seed. If that's the case, the schedule in December could be favorable for at least a 9-7 finish which just might mean a 17th game in 2010.

New York Jet Defense, Revis Harass Carolina Panthers in 17-6 Win

Nick Antonicello — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:10:51 -0500

The New York Jets played there most complete game of the season since toppling Tom Brady and New England Patriots in Week Two (16-9) as Darrelle Revis scored the team's first defensive touchdown of the season in a 17-6 victory.

The Jets improved to 5-6 with five games to play with playoff possibilities still on life support.

While mathematically still in the hunt, the Jets will need to virtually run the table at 10-6 and hope for the best with various tie breakers working against Gang Green.

The defense harassed Panther quarterback Jake Delhomme all day long as he continued to play the worst football of his career.

Delhomme finished 14 for 34 for 130 yards and 4 more INT's that led to two Jet scores. The Jets got to Delhomme 3 times as he overthrew receivers and looked erratic all day long.

The running game was no better as the Jets held DeAngelo Williams to just 40 yards on 16 carries of which 18 came on one carry. Jonathan Stewart carried the ball 9 times for 35 yards and 13 came on one carry. Take away the two big ground gainers, and the Jet defense held the Panthers to just 44 yards all day long!

The only bright spot for the Panther offense was the fact Williams reached the 1,000 yard mark as he pushed his overall total for the season to 1,022.

Mark Sanchez distributed the ball well today as 5 receivers made receptions with Dustin Keller grabbing 4 balls for 68 yards and Braylon Edwards catching an additional 3 balls for for 40 yards. While Sanchez didn't throw any touchdowns, he managed the game well with a magnificent 13 of 17 for 154 yards and just one INT.

A silence fell over the Meadowlands in the second half when Sanchez was forced out of the pocket and ran to his right looking for the first down marker. The Panthers Richard Marshall grabbed the rookie from behind and forced him out of bounds with Sanchez apparently grabbing at his left knee.

Sitting out for three plays, Sanchez returned after Kellen Clemens briefly took control of the offense and the Jets were forced to punt. Clemens looked flat as he underthrew his receiver and it only confirmed the need for the franchise to get themselves a legitimate back-up for Sanchez as the weather gets colder and the possibility of injury greater in the season's waning weeks.

Only Jet owner Woody Johnson and GM Mike Tanenbaum can explain why this franchise refuses to invest in a real back-up for the rookie Sanchez!

Upon his return Sanchez threw an ill fated interception which could have opened the door for another second half collapse and Panther comeback.

Steve Smith would make a spectacular catch in the end zone despite great coverage by Revis, but Jet Head Coach Rex Ryan challenged the ruling on the field and Carolina was forced to settle for a John Kasay field goal to make the score 14-6 with about 12 minutes left to play.

The final score came with roughly four minutes to play as Jay Feely booted a 47-yard field goal to extend the Jet lead to 17-6 all but sealing the victory.

After weeks of Rex Ryan talking about his defense, the unit led by Darrelle Revis actually came to play.

Revis proved again why he is an elite, shutdown defender as he held Pro Bowler Steve Smith to just two receptions and no touchdowns. Revis doubled his interception total for the season at four and the Jet defense looked every bit aggressive against the run holding the Panthers to just 75 yards on the ground.

Thomas Jones had another good outing with 75 yards on 25 carries increasing his season yardage total to 959 on a total of 216 carries. With 5 games remaining, Jones is poised to reach 1,000 yards for the fifth consecutive time next week as he improved his all-time yardage total to 8,774 and his 57th lifetime rushing touchdown.

The Jets received some help with the Buffalo Bills defeating the Miami Dolphins 31-14 which leaves both clubs tied at 5-6. Unfortunately for the Jets, the Dolphins hold all tie breakers and the Jets would love to see the New Orleans Saints knock off the Patriots Monday night which would leave New England at 7-4 and the Jets just two games behind in the loss column with five to play.

The Jets will play division rival Buffalo on Thursday in Toronto, Canada in what should be regarded as a neutral site as the Jets seek to get back to .500 in a must win scenario. The Jets are catching a break as they'll play indoors versus playing at night in chilly Orchard Park where the Jets have historically played poorly in sub zero conditions in past December contests.

With Mark Sanchez showing lots of guts and managing the offense quite well, the Jets just might be able to play themselves back to respectability with the faint hope of a playoff spot should they continue to win while getting some needed help along the way.

Desperate Carolina Panthers, New York Jets Play to Stay NFL Playoff Relevant

Nick Antonicello — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:25:07 -0500

Both teams are on the hot seat with no room for error if the postseason is even a remote possibility for the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers come Sunday in the Meadowlands.

Both 4-6, and both 2-3 on the road as well as at home, the Carolina-New York match-up features two struggling quarterbacks that rely on the running game to get them started. Both hope to get closer to .500 come the final gun.

Jake Delhomme and rookie Mark Sanchez are probably the two worst starting quarterbacks in the NFL outside of Bruce Gradkowski of the hapless Oakland Raiders. Delhomme, who has just 8 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, is playing worse than the rookie Sanchez, who has 10 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Delhomme has passed for 1,885 yards while Sanchez has 1,791.

Both teams bring a strong running game to the table with the Jets' Thomas Jones and his 884 yards rushing and the Panthers' DeAngelo Williams, who currently has 982 yards on the ground. Both Williams and Jones should eclipse the 1,000-yard mark come Sunday afternoon.

While the Panthers have the slight edge at wideout with Steve Smith, he's not having a Steve Smith season with just 45 receptions and four touchdowns in 2009. The Jet passing game has been equally mediocre as Jericho Cotchery and Dustin Keller have been virtually invisible these last two weeks and the Jets could use some production from Braylon Edwards as well if this is going to be a competitive contest.

Despite a complete collapse at 1-6 after the 3-0 start, Jets coach Rex Ryan is sticking with Sanchez as the starter for better or for worse.

Sanchez is coming off his worst game as a pro last week in New England. He threw four picks in a game that has left the Jets all but dead for any tangible postseason possibilities.

Based on the numbers, both teams seem equally matched in terms of personnel and production. The difference seems to be in the coaching, where John Fox has played through some rough patches while the Ryan-led Jets seem to look worse and worse as the season continues to become another typical Jet debacle.

A win by the Panthers would leave them 5-6 with some faint playoff chances should they run the table and get to 10-6. The same would hold true for the Jets, but the schedule seems much tougher than anticipated and if New York could just get back to .500 football, fans will have some hope that Ryan is in fact the right guy to lead the team into a new facility come 2010.

But should the Jets continue to slide, one has to look real hard at keeping Rex Ryan around after all the promise he guaranteed the day he was anointed head coach by the Jet brain trust that seems more like a brain fart.

Jets' Sanchez Would Be Wise To Emulate Former Giant Phil Simms

Nick Antonicello — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:25:02 -0500

Since the New York Jets see no value in bringing in a mentor for the struggling Mark Sanchez, it looks like former New York Giant great Phil Simms sees potential in this USC standout.

The former Super Bowl MVP, and a first round draft pick himself in 1979, sees plenty of upside in the rookie and that's a good thing for a player in an organization as dysfunctional as the New York Jets.

Simms is not only a great evaluator of talent, but has a son in the NFL and understands the rigors and trials of becoming a successful starting quarterback in the National Football League.

Thirty years ago Phil Simms was an unknown college quarterback from Moorehead State who swelled into the first round when the San Francisco 49ers worked him out, and even considered passing on a guy named Joe Montana from Notre Dame to get the services of this injured prone kid from Kentucky.

But New York made Phil Simms the seventh pick, and he led the Giants to a 6-4 record as a starter passing for 1,743 yards, and 13 TDs, and 14 INTs in 1979.

Between 1979 and 1983 several injuries, and a lack of confidence by a new head coach named Bill Parcells, saw Simms go the bench in 1983 where he would stay til the sixth game of the season when he found himself in an annual competition for the starting job with Scott Brunner.

Simms would finally wrest the job from Brunner once and for all in 1984, as Simms tossed for over 4,000 yards with 22 TDs as the Giants got back to the playoffs and began their march as a dominant force in the NFC along with the Niners, Redskins, and Bears.

Simms solidified himself in the eyes of Parcells and the organization as a great quarterback with his 22-25 performance in Super Bowl 21, when he outgunned the great John Elway of the Denver Broncos for the first of two Super Bowl rings in his fourteen year career with Big Blue.

Phil Simms finished his career with 95-64 record as a starter and a .597 winning percentage, which should be good enough for a call from Canton sometime in his future.

Phil Simms has gone on to be one of the game's better color analysts with CBS and a featured motivational speaker and author. If Mark Sanchez can be half of the talent, individual, and leader of former Giant great Phil Simms, his career will be a bright one.

Ten Reasons Why the Jets Are 4-6

Nick Antonicello — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:24:07 -0500

There are many reasons why the New York Jets are a sub .500 football franchise. Poor recruiting to the biggest media market in the Unites States, the New York Jets have played second fiddle to the New York football Giants much the same way the New York Mets are the second team to the New York Yankees and why nobody really cares how badly the New Jersey Nets play because the New York Knicks is what matters when it comes to basketball in New York. But the most significant reason why the New York Jets are so dysfunctional is due to the ownership. Leon Hess may have been beloved, but the seeds of that dysfunctionality were set in his regime. That same atttitude persists in the lack of leadership displayed by Woody Johnson, the third owner in franchise history. It seems no matter what move they make it's always the wrong one. From passing up on Dan Marino in the NFL Draft to failing to secure a stadium for themselves on the Westside to losing Bill Parcells to the Cowboys and Bill Belichick to the New England Patriots, the New York Jets can't seem to get out of their own way while lacking a savvy football executive to set this team on the right path once and for all. It seems as long as Woody Johnson is the final decisionmaker, the Jets are destined to a term of lifetime medicrity and consistent failure no matter how hard he tries.

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A Report Card For NFC Coaches

Nick Antonicello — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:04:10 -0500

Unlike the AFC, the NFC has 11 of it's 16 head coaches with winning lifetime records and half the league .500 or better for 2009. The depth of experienced coaches seems to lie in the NFC with Tom Coughlin (14 years), Andy Reid (11 years) and John Fox with 8 seasons at the helm. The NFC has three rookie coaches in Raheem Morris (Tampa Bay), Jim Schwartz (Detroit) and Steve Spagnuolo (St. Louis) with a combined record of just 3-24! Is it that tough to coach in the NFL or are these team that bad? While some Eagle fans may disagree, from top to bottom Andy Reid in my opinion is the best head coach in the NFC with a lifetime 102-66 and 5-4 this season. Reid has been to the conference championship 5 times with 1 Super Bowl apperance and 7 trips to the post season in 11 seasons. Unless Philly collapses, this should make an 8th trip and while he hasn't won a Super Bowl, Andy Reid is without question the best coach in franchise history. I rate Andy Reid an "A" without hesitation for his body of work in Philadelphia and a "B" for the job so far this season.

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A Report Card for AFC Head Coaches

Nick Antonicello — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:57:28 -0500

Of the 16 head coaches in the American Football Conference, only 7 enjoy winning records. A testament to the revolving door mentality of owners and their insistence on trying to develop new coaches versus investing in those winners who are now analysts instead of teachers of the game. Despite his decision to got for it on fourth down as if he were the Dallas Carter coach in Friday Night Lights, Bill Belichick is 144-89 with a .618 winning percentage who has no peer in today's coaching ranks. Currently 6-3, Belichick 33-8 over the last three seasons.

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What are the Clippers thinking?

Nick Antonicello — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:08:47 -0400

Is there something in the water where the Clippers operate? Why would the Clippers trade Zach Randolph, the only legitimate scoring threat on the roster to make room for rookie Blake Griffin? In 39 games Randolph led the lowly Clippers with 20.9 points per game on a team that almost lost 70 games! Why would you trade a defiinitive scorer while keeping an aging Marcus Camby and ailing Chris Kaman?

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Will Blake Griffin be the next Clipper bust?

Nick Antonicello — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:19:53 -0400

In 2002 the Houston Rockets took Yao Ming. In 2003 the Cleveland Cavaliers got LeBron James. In 2004 the Orlando Magic acquired Dwight Howard. All of these teams are now playoff clubs that will challenge for the NBA championship in the upcoming season. What kind of players have the Los Angeles Clippers taken when they the No. 1 pick? Don't ask and I won't tell. With the Clippers taking all of the air out of this year's NBA Draft by announcing Blake Griffin as the No. 1 pick, will this just be more of the same for the hapless Clippers for if it wasn't for bad luck and owner Donald Sterling, they would have no luck at all!

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The Belichick Coaching Tree: In Need of Some Water?

Nick Antonicello — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:13:22 -0400

While no one will question the success and Hall of Fame credentials of New England Head Coach Bill Belichick, the saps that have fallen from this tree hardly spell success in the NFL. In fact, those considered Belichick disciples in the NFL currently have a combined record of 71-90 (Mangini, Saban, Crennel & Groh). With a winning percentage of just .440, does any mere association with Bill Belichick guarantee an interview for an NFL coaching job?

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Hey Rex Ryan: Shut-Up and Coach!

Nick Antonicello — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:00:18 -0400

Why would a 46-year old first time head coach get into a war of words with a marginal NFL player in the same division you face twice a year? Why would a person who's coached in the NFL for 13 years even engage another player from a rival club? Why would a head coach who's never won a single game waste his time in a publicity stunt against a relatively unknown player? Welcome the 2009 version of head coaching for the New York Jets! As if watching Herm Edwards and Eric Mangini underperfom and fail in the same capacity, you think the new head coach would have the sensibility to simply coach and build your own team and simply avoid such sophmoric activity?

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Will a 15th NBA Championship End the Era of Phil and Kobe?

Nick Antonicello — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:43:04 -0400

Eleven NBA Championships with the Knicks, Bulls and Lakers. 23,820 points in 948 games. A .725 winning percentage. A Most Valuable Player Award & two-time scoring champion. The Father of Zen and the triangle. The child prodigy who became the heart of the Lakers. With a 2-0 lead against the Orlando Magic, what will be left for either Phil Jackson or Kobe Bryant to accomplish should they bring a 15th championship back to Los Angeles?

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Reggie Bush or Leon Washington?

Nick Antonicello — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:42:04 -0400

Reggie Bush, the #2 overall pick of the 2006 NFL draft has got it all! The looks, the moves and the chicks to be considered a star that's off the field success is probably more impressive than someone once considered a can't miss pick, another Gale Sayers! For Bush's time in New Orleans has been mixed, if not disappointing given his draft status and contract . Now regarded as a specialist of sorts offensively, was Reggie Bush an overhyped mistake at #2?

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Randy Johnson: The Biggest Winner of Them All?

Nick Antonicello — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:22:28 -0400

At 45, Randy Johnson is poised to become the second oldest pitcher in major league history to reach the 300-win plateau. Phil Neikro was first at 46 in 1985 with the New York Yankees. Randy Johnson's big arm and knack for winning on a consistent basis for over three decades makes him one of the most durable pitchers since Warren Spahn or Nolan Ryan! A winner no matter where he played, Johnson's four consecutive Cy Young Award wins is probably the least recognized feat in baseball today. With four consecutive 300 strikeout seasons, Johnson is poised to reach the 5,000 strikeout plateau sometime in September of 2010.

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Will the Media Get Off Michael Vick's Back?

Nick Antonicello — Mon, 25 May 2009 23:09:04 -0400

The NFL's No. 1 overall pick in 2001 and three-time Pro Bowler is back on the market.

Will there be any interest in any NFL franchise jump starting the abbreviated career of Michael Vick?

With a record of 38-28-1 (.560 winning percentage) in six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, Michael Vick is entering the prime of his career if anyone is interested in bringing Vick to their club and all the baggage that comes with it.

Any club that makes an attempt to sign Michael Vick will be ridiculed by a hypocritical press parked out in front of his Hampton, Virginia home.

Doesn't this man have a right to earn a living at what he does best, which is throw and carry a football? Is Michael Vick to be ostracized from his employer the NFL because the media just won't allow Vick back in the league? Are NFL franchises just too scared to sully their own brand with a media circus that is sure to follow if Vick were to be invited to an NFL camp this summer?

With a career passing rating of 75.7, 71 touchdown passes, and 52 interceptions, Michael Vick seems to be almost an undervalued football talent that could probably start on half of the NFL's rosters today! In the age of the "wildcat," who wouldn't want Michael Vick as an offensive weapon?

So, is he worthy of a second chance?

That seems to be the question as most NFL teams are more than willing to ignore Vick's release from prison and treat him as practically a player in retirement. While the Vikings seem more than willing to negotiate a one-year deal almost as dumb as the Jets' folly with Brett Favre, isn't Michael Vick tailor-made to play in place like Minnesota?

I don't like what Michael Vick did. Most people don't.

In fact most people probably have a real hatred for Michael Vick. Killing man's best friend is no way to make friends and influence people. It showed a brutal side to a guy whose character was considered by some as questionable.

But Michael Vick should be allowed to make a living again and turn his life around.

Mike Tyson was convicted of rape and his career was hardly stalled by a much more heinous crime.

Should Michael Vick get a second chance?

There will be plenty of discussion on that very issue as the closer we get to training camp.

Forcing someone to sit in their house all day with a media parked on your lawn isn't exactly fair treatment for anyone. He served his time. He was released from prison.

When does the circus called the media go away?

Is Hitting For The Cycle A Meaningful Achievement?

Nick Antonicello — Sat, 23 May 2009 22:51:33 -0400

Is hitting for the cycle the hardest, yet the most insignificant of statistics in the great game of baseball?

The cycle makes for great clips on ESPN and local television, but does hitting a single, double, triple and home run in the same game really matter - especially if you lose the game?

In a team sport dominated by individual feats, the cycle (in my opinion) is not worth following.

When a player hits for the cycle, is it a greater feat than hitting four homers in one game?

That's exactly what Lou Gherig did in 1932 when Yankee teammate Tony Lazzeri hit for the cycle and completed the full house with a grand slam!

Bob Meusel and Babe Herman hit for the cycle three times, but neither are in the Hall of Fame.

Willie Mays never hit for the cycle. Neither did Babe Ruth or Hank Aaron for that matter.

So is the cycle worth tracking?

How is it a tangible and meaningful statistic to any player, or to the ultimate goal of winning versus losing?

While I struggle with the relevance of hitting for the cycle, I think about those who hit for the cycle with an inside-the-park homer. Is that even less relevant?

How about the time between cycles?

Hall of Famer George Brett of the Kansas City Royals hit for the cycle in May of 1979, and a second time in July of 1995, some 11 years after the first!

How about some feedback? Is hitting for the cycle a meaningful statistic for us to fawn upon, or ignore?

Is Jim Thome Hall of Fame Worthy?

Nick Antonicello — Tue, 19 May 2009 02:05:46 -0400

He has never won MVP.

He has never won a World Series.

He doesn't even play the field.

But with 547 homers and counting, Jim Thome could wind up in Cooperstown and one must wonder if the 500 home run plateau is still a legitimate benchmark for Hall enshrinement in the era of steroid abuse?

While his numbers compare to the likes of McCovey, Killebrew, and Jackson, Thome has only led the majors in home runs once (47).

An All-Star just five times in 19 major league seasons, Thome seems to be a product of health and longevity versus talent and dominance.

The DH has never led the league in RBI's, Hits, Doubles, or Triples, but does have a home run for every 13.6 at bats—leaving him No. 1 in home runs among active players and No. 4 all-time!

With a .278 career batting average and and nearly 7,500 at bats, Thome has just 2,071 hits and 1,506 RBI's that places him fiftieth on the all-time list.

Since 2005, Thome has been, for the most part, a full-time DH with unimpressive field statistics. He has played the field just 29 innings with the White Sox since playing 52 games with the Phillies in 2005.

In the post season, Thome is equally unimpressive with a lifetime .221 average— over fifty points below his lifetime average with just three World Series homers.

In many ways, though, Jim Thome will redefine what it means to be a Hall of Famer. Like the relief pitcher before him, does a specialized player such as Thome deserve Hall status?

For the most part, Jim Thome has been a small market favorite in places like Cleveland and Philadelphia where the national media does not congregate. Had Thome played in the National League longer, his numbers would seem more respectable.

Even though Thome's single season home run at bats have been impressive, his batting average has fallen over time and his inability to have 150 hits per season on a consistent basis will be another number to overcome in reviewing his overall contributions to the game of baseball.

Jim Thome, in my mind, is on the bubble. If he can continue to stay healthy and get enough at bats to push him closer to 600 home runs, it will be difficult to keep him out of the Hall of Fame.

But for now, Jim Thome needs to do something dramatic in his final years to ensure Hall of Fame status.

Bynum Holds Key to Los Angeles Lakers Path to Another NBA Crown

Nick Antonicello — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:15:24 -0400

For the Lakers to get back to the NBA Finals, center Andrew Bynum must bring his "A" game for the rest of the playoffs.

Kobe Bryant can score 40 or 14, but an NBA Championship hinges on the play of the only big man on the Lakers roster who plays "big" when he wants too in the paint on both ends of the court.

For the most part, the Lakers have been Jekyll and Hyde for the first two rounds against marginal competition. The fact the Lakers needed seven games to close out the Houston Rockets speaks to how hungry this team really is and how focused they are at this point of the season.

The fact Cleveland is undefeated in the playoffs (8-0) with an inferior talent pool speaks to the discipline, focus and leadership skills of LeBron James while Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson are forced to offer rhetorical excuses as to why a team with the most talent (8-5) doesn't seem to show up night in and night out!

While we're just half-way there to crowning a new NBA champion, the road to that championship is a lot tougher than the Lakers think. The Denver Nuggets are playing at a very high level with Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups leading the way.

More importantly, Billups championship attitude is evident as the Nuggets replaced the charismatic and controversial Alan Iverson with a true winner in Chauncey Billups!

The bottomline for the Lakers is that they can score at will, but play defense every other appareance down the court. Inside, the Lakers are soft and can be dominated under the boards. Gasol, Odom, and Ariza will provide Los Angeles with plenty of scoring opportunities while the bench remains questionable and thin.

Luke Walton remains erratic and Derek Fisher looks old the deeper the Lakers get closer to another championship final.

In yesterday's easy win in Game Seven, the Lakers played stifling defense with Bynum playing a real force with 14 points. Kobe didn't have to score, just distribute and manage an easy victory because the Lakers decided to play defense up and down the court.

Overall, Denver matches up well with Los Angeles and this series could easily go the distance. The Lakers need to control the tempo and dominate the inside with Andrew Bynum.

If Bynum continues his on again, off again play, we could have Cleveland sweeping the Finals with an easy route of Denver unless Jackson and Bryant can motivate the big man to play to his potential.

The Greatest New York Yankee Manager of All?

Nick Antonicello — Sat, 16 May 2009 23:14:40 -0400

Who is the greatest Yankee manager of all-time?

Joe Torre? Miller Huggins? Casey Stengel? Joe McCarthy? Billy Martin? Ralph Houk?

Between these six Yankee skippers, they won an incredible 37 pennants and 25 World Series! No other franchise has had this kind of managerial success that spans across eight decades!

MILLER HUGGINS

The first of the great Yankee managers who coached Babe Ruth as well as Lou Gherig, compiled .591 winning percentage with 1,067 wins and 719 losses. Overall, Huggins posted a record of 1,413 wins and 1,134 losses and a .555 winning percentage.

Under Huggins, Yankees teams won six pennants and four World Series Championships.

JOE McCARTHY

With nine pennants overall and eight with the Yankees, McCarthy posted a lifetime record of 2,125 wins and 1,333 losses for a .615 winning percentage.

As Yankee manager, McCarthy was an incredible 1,460-867 for a .627 winning percentage and seven World Series championships. McCarthy managed such Yankee greats as Gherig, Bill Dickey and the Yankee Clipper himself, Joe DiMaggio.

CASEY STENGEL

The most colorful of all Yankee managers, Stengel had the pleasure of managing the likes of Mantle, Berra, Ford, Howard, Martin, Slaughter, Rizzuto, and host of other pinstripe legends.

Stengel posted an impressive 1,149-696 for a .623 winning percentage in which the Yankees won ten American League Championships and seven World Series rings. Overall, Stengel posted a mediocre 1,905-1,842 for a .508 winning percentage. Like Joe Torre, Stengel managed both the Yankees and the New York Mets.

RALPH HOUK

Arguably the most underrated manager in baseball history, Houk managed the likes of Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Elston Howard, Clete Boyer, Bobby Richardson, Yogi Berra and Tony Kubek. Houk managed the last of the great Yankee clubs of the early 1960s and came back to manage the very mediocre Yankee clubs of the late '60s and early 1970s.

Houk was 944-806 with a .539 winning percentage and captured three American League Championships and 1 World Series Championship in New York. Overall, Houk was 1,619-1,531 with a .514 winning percentage with three pennants and two world championships.

BILLY MARTIN

Billy Martin has the distinction of managing the team four different times while winning three American League championships and two World Series with the Yankees.

Martin is best remembered for his aggressive managing style and classic dugout confrontation with controversial Yankee great, Reggie Jackson in which he pulled the Hall of Famer from game for what he described as "dogging it" on a routine fly ball that dropped in for a base hit in a series against the Red Sox in Fenway Park.

Martin was an impressive 556-385 for a .591 winning percentage with the Yankees and posted an overall 1,253-1,013 for a .553 winning percentage. Like Houk, Martin is deserving of Hall consideration for his managing tenure.

JOE TORRE

The man who grounded into a double-play with the Mets to give them the 1969 divisional title, the 1971 National League MVP led the majors with a .363 batting average. This nine-time All-Star catcher and two-time manager of the year never played in a post season game.

With 1,173 wins and 767 losses, Torre posted a .605 winning percentage with six pennants and four World Series titles.

Torre managed the Yankees to the playoffs every season with such stars as Jeter, Rodriguez, Posada, Rivera, O'Neill, and Wells. With another divisional title already under his belt with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Torre has the best record in the majors at 25-13 with a six-game lead!

Overall, Torre is 2,176-1,860 for a .539 winning percentage.

While the history of the Yankee baseball is rich on player performance, some of the greatest managers also wore the pinstripes and they have the rings to prove it.

Rome, Russo Or Francesa? Who Best Covers Sports on the Radio?

Nick Antonicello — Wed, 13 May 2009 22:29:46 -0400

While the Internet has become a great source for immediate sports news, scores and information, opinions and point-of-views reign on sports talk radio.

Sports talk radio is a dominant format in the New York/New Jersey metro market, the fragmentation of media allows the format to be national as in the case of Jim Rome and subscriber-based, as in the case of Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo of SIRIUS/XM radio.

But the grandaddy of all sports talk is "The Fan," 66 Sports Radio AM in New York where the complete programming day is dedicated to local takes by local hosts on the world of New York sports.

The anchor for The Fan is none other than Mike Francesa and his program which has been in drive time for nearly 25 years.

Formerly partnered with Chris Russo, Francesa has been on his own for about 10 months and his ratings have remained strong despite the break-up of "Mike & The Mad Dog."

For Russo, taking a local perspective national has had its struggles.

While Russo is a hard core sports fan, he lacks the presence and stature of a Francesa in terms of the command of the big four: baseball, football, basketball, and the NCAA (college basketball & football).

Because Russo has never been identified as a "homer" of sorts for any of the New York-based teams, his fans seem to like him more for delivery than content.

With Jim Rome, you have a whole different approach to sports talk radio.

Based in Los Angeles, Jim Rome's "jungle" has slowly grown to one of the leading sports radio shows on the dial.

Funny, fierce and no holds barred, Jim Rome is not your father's sports talk show, but rather an abrasive and different way listeners interact with the host as well as the top-shelf guests Rome delivers to his mostly Gen-X audience!

Jim Rome has successfully weaved his web site as well as technology into the application of sports talk. He is a photogenic and cutting edge host that in many ways is a disciple of Bob Costas, but Rome lacks the overall sports knowledge of older generation analysts like a Francesa.

For Rome, it's about a greater discussion and that's how does the issues of sports apply to the overall culture and issues of the day?

While Rome does extremely well in markets like Los Angeles as well as secondary markets like a Buffalo or college town communities, he has yet to make a real impact on the New York media market, which is ground zero for talk radio.

While Francesa remains a parochial choice of the old guard radio listener, Chris Russo seems more apt to follow the Jim Rome model of building a national following on day-to-day issues and themes vs. simply following particular teams like the Yankees in the summer and the Giants in the fall.

Mike Francesa. Chris Russo and Jim Rome. Three different sports radio hosts with differing approaches on how best to deliver the sports issues of the day.

Mark Sanchez: Just Another Chad Pennington?

Nick Antonicello — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:13:13 -0400

Jet fans believed Woody Johnson, Mike Tanenbaum, and Rex Ryan brought them to the "Promised Land" after the assistance and generosity of the Browns, who traded their first round pick to the Jets, giving them the opportunity to select quarterback Mark Sanchez with the fifth overall pick.

While former Jet coach and current USC guru Pete Carroll thinks Sanchez left his program high and dry, the general rap on this Jim Plunkett look-a-like is that he has an average arm, but great football instincts and feet.

Didn't we hear this all before?

Wasn't there a guy named Chad Pennington who had Jet fans making comparisons to Joe Montana before a slew of injuries had him run out-of-town ending up South Florida, where he rejuvenated the 1-15 Dolphins back into the playoffs with an 11-5 record last season?

So if Mark Sanchez doesn't have the cannon most observers believe an NFL quarterback needs to be successful, why did the Jets pick a Chad Pennington prototype in the 2009 NFL Draft?

Crickets.

Was Chad Pennington tough enough to play in the NFL? Absolutely. Did Chad Pennington win in the NFL?

He is 43-34 with a .560 winning percentage.

What about size?

Pennington is 6-3 while Sanchez is 6-2. They both play at 225lbs.

While Pennington played at Marshall University, Sanchez played on the national stage at USC and won a Rose Bowl against Penn State.

So, where’s the huge contrast between Chad Pennington who the Jets couldn't cut, release and run out-of-town fast enough, versus Mark Sanchez, who they fell in love with and were willing to giveaway the store to get in this draft?

Why the disparity? Why the disconnect in thinking about two players who bring almost the exact same size and skill set to the NFL?

Should the Fans Judge Manny?

Nick Antonicello — Sun, 10 May 2009 22:58:38 -0400

Why should fans be outraged by the actions of the now suspended, Manny Ramirez?

Is cheating in today's baseball just part of the game?

Since Major League Baseball refuses to engage the issue of steroids, the average baseball fan is immune to the consequences of cheating.

Commissioner Bud Selig has taken a "blind eye" to the scandal for over a decade.

He ignored the Sosa/McGwire scandal because that home run derby brought fans back to the ball parks. His inability to manage the Barry Bonds' controversy has tainted the two greatest records of a game built on statistics!

So should Dodger fans be really shocked by the actions of Manny Ramirez?

Is baseball under Selig truly able to reform itself? Should baseball be allowed to continue to self-govern given the magnitude of these scandals?

The answer is no.

It's time for federal intervention. When former players have no problem lying under oath, they know baseball doesn't have the ability to change or reform the game.

Quite frankly, the game is out-of-control and so the players are a mere reflection of that reality.

So what are the fans to think?

Given the outrageous price of tickets, cable rates and the cost to simply buy a cap or jersey, should the fans play the role of judge in a world that has blurred the lines of good and evil, right and wrong?

Like all fans, Los Angeles is a forgiving fan base.

They forgave Kobe Bryant and they will forgive Manny Ramirez. For this isn't the role of the regular fan. Their job is simple: Support the team in good times and bad and come to the games to support Dodger blue.

So is it necessary for Manny Ramirez to apologize or to put forth some phony and staged reflection process?

Who is this for?

The media who takes this "holier than thou" approach to the very athletes they cover?

The suspension could cost the Dodgers the division. The suspension will cost Ramirez some $7 million dollars in lost salary. Most fans will agree that in itself is more than enough to endure given the fact Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa were never suspended a game or lost a cent to the numerous transgressions they are accused of during their collective careers.

No, the fans will be just fine. They know these people are just human. They are a reflection of a society that accepts the likes of OJ Simpson, Bernard Madoff, and others who seem above the law and immune from the truth.

The Forgotten DiMaggio.

Nick Antonicello — Fri, 08 May 2009 22:48:11 -0400

Dom DiMaggio, like in life, will always be the brother of Joe DiMaggio first, and Red Sox great second. While most baseball fans probably don't even realize Joe D had a brother who played major league baseball very well for more than decade, his passing marks the lost art of gratitude, grace and loyalty in professional sports.

Dominick Paul DiMaggio played 11 seasons in Boston and was named an American League All-Star seven times. While playing in his brother's shadow, Dom DiMaggio also had to play in the shadow of another legend, hitting sensation Ted Williams.

In his 11-year tenure with the Sox, DiMaggio was named on MVP ballots six times while batting over .300 5 times while posting a .298 lifetime batting average and having a 34-game hitting streak of his own in 1949!

DiMaggio had over 700 plate appearances in 1941, 42, 48, 49 & 1951. He led the American League in runs scored twice (1950-51) while leading the league in at-bats in 1948 and again in 1951. He led the American League in triples in 1950 with 11 and stolen bases (15) in 1950.

The Red Sox and stock market were the passions of Dominick DiMaggio. Known as the "Little Professor" because of his size and the fact he wore glasses, Dom DiMaggio is one of the true class acts of major league baseball and a credit to the Red Sox franchise on and off the field of play.

The passing of Dom DiMaggio closes the book on a magical era in baseball and a tremendous rivalry between two the game's great franchises.

Chad Billingsley Will Lead The Way With Manny Ramirez Out Of The Lineup

Nick Antonicello — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:28:35 -0400

Chad Billingsley is the real deal.

For the first time since the days of Fernando Valenzuela, Dodger fans have a true ace who can go out an almost guarantee a win every fifth day!

At 5-0 and a 2.21 ERA, Chad Billingsley has pitched brilliantly for Joe Torre and the blue crew. Giving up just 11 runs in 40 innings pitched, Billingsley has racked up 42 strikeouts while averaging over nine strikeouts per nine innings pitched!

At his current pace, Billingsley could start 36 times and pitch close to 250 innings with just as many strikeouts! Given his awesome start, Chad Billingsley could be handed the ball to start the mid-summer All-Star game for the National League as well as be a top contender for Cy Young consideration come the fall!

While the Manny suspension will no doubt cripple the offense, the Dodgers still have enough within that lineup to compete day in and day out. This is youthful squad that knows how to win close games while also winning on the road.

At 21-9 and a .700 winning percentage, the Dodgers are playing great baseball and I believe will respond well to an emotional loss like losing Manny Ramirez.

The Dodgers are a good team with or without Manny Ramirez. The bullpen has been solid and with Chad Billingsley leading the way, the Dodgers should respect as division champions and make a real run for the National League pennant.

Gooden and Strawberry: What Should Have Been Hall of Fame Careers.

Nick Antonicello — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:50:13 -0400

It's ironic that as the New York Mets play .500 baseball in a brand new facility that seems to honor the Brooklyn Dodgers more so than the true legends of the past, little if any reference has been made to the two greatest Mets of all, Dwight Gooden and Daryl Strawberry.

Had the scourge of drug abuse and a free wheeling culture of greed that predicated the game in the 1980s didn't take these two hostage, that rotunda at Citi Field might be appropriately named for one of these truly great players.

Between 1984 and 1990, the New York Mets enjoyed preferred status over their Bronx rivals and without question owned New York.

While these two were teammates, the NY Mets won more games, made more playoff appearances and won a magical world championship that will forever be remembered as one of the most improbable comebacks in major league baseball.

Between 1984-1994, Dwight Gooden won 157 games while losing just 85 for a winning percentage of .649. Doc had two seasons with over 250 K's while winning the CYA once and finishing in the top 7 five times!

Daryl Strawberry averaged 31.5 homers in his 8 years with the Mets or 252 of his 335 lifetime home runs. Strawberry was named to eight straight All-Star teams while winning the Rookie-of-the-Year Award in 1983 and placing in the top ten for National League MVP four times!

While Strawberry had a miserable World Series in 1986 (.208), his 27 homers and 93 runs batted in at the age of 24 made him the most feared player in a lineup that included Keith Hernandez as well as HOF Gary Carter.

Like Strawberry, Gooden did not perform well in the 1986 World Series (0-2, 8.00 ERA) which makes the Mets victory all the more improbable!

But the story behind both Strawberry and Gooden is not what they did, but what they didn't achieve. Strawberry averaged nearly 100 RBI's a year in New York and was on pace to reach 500 homers in just 15 seasons. His statistics by age rival Reggie Jackson had he stayed drug free and healthy.

With Gooden, his initial three-year stretch with the Mets from 1984-1986 had Doc with 58 wins, 19 losses, 35 complete games, 13 shutouts and 744 strikeouts!

While some will yearn for the days of Stengel, Al Jackson and Gil Hodges, others will remember Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman and Tommie Agee. But for real Met fans, those years between 1984 and 1988 were the truly renaissance years of this franchise with home grown talent and a 1986 team that was as talented as talented could be!

For the true heroes of Shea Stadium and the New York Mets are Daryl Strawberry and Dwight "Doc" Gooden, the best Mets ever to wear the blue and orange.

Mike Tyson: Overrated, Overhyped, or Simply Misunderstood?

Nick Antonicello — Mon, 04 May 2009 22:34:01 -0400

Iron Mike Tyson at the age of 20 was the most feared heavyweight since the days of Rocky Marciano.

A vicious puncher, Tyson ran off opponent after opponent under the careful and protective eye of Cus D'Amato, the same trainer who cultivated the career of another heavyweight, Floyd Patterson.

It was D'Amato who orchestrated Patterson's rise in the heavyweight division in an elimination title bout with an over-the-hill Archie Moore, the light-heavyweight king.

While Patterson fought the likes of Brian London and Pete Rademacher, D'Amato refused title shots to more deserving contenders like Eddie Machen, Cleveland Wilson, and the eventual heavyweight champion, Charles "Sonny" Liston!

Between 1985 and 1986, Tyson fought carefully chosen, lackluster opposition to bulk up what looked liked an impressive 27-0 record with 25 knockouts. The two fights that went the distance were with Mitch "Blood" Green and James "Quick" Tillis, two fighters already past any legitimate prime.

In 1986 Mike Tyson defeated journeyman heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick (49-11-1) in two rounds. It was apparent the younger Tyson was too much for the aging Berbick.

Tyson picked up the WBA title with a 12-round decision against James "Bonecrusher" Smith. Tyson's one-round devastation of the undefeated former champion Michael Spinks in Atlantic City (1988) secured his place as boxing's undisputed champion

But what was the level of talent during the Tyson era?

Trevor Berbick. Pinklon Thomas. James Smith. Tony Tucker. Larry Holmes. Tony Tubbs. Tyrell Biggs. Michael Spinks.

Where's the talent?

Where's the serious competition?

Where's Mike Tyson's epic battles like Ali/Frazier, Ali/Norton or Robinson/Lamotta?

Who was Mike Tyson's signature opponent?

With the exception of an aging Larry Holmes, are any of these former champions even considered good heavyweights, much less anything else?

With the passing of Cus D'Amato & Jimmy Jacobs, and the assumption of power within Team Tyson by Don & Carl King, the unraveling of the greatest money machine in boxing history began!

After easy victories over Frank Bruno and Carl "The Truth" Williams, Tyson's activity inside the ring practically diminished with just seven fights between 1990 and 1995 ending with the upset knockout of Iron Mike by James "Buster" Douglas in Japan.

Tyson defeated British Champion Frank Bruno again in 1996 and then lost via TKO to Evander Holyfield in one of the most anticipated fights in boxing history.

Six months later Tyson was disqualified in the ear biting incident that, in effect, ended his career as a serious contender for the heavyweight crown.

Tyson lost three of his last four fights and was knocked out three times. Between 1997 and 2005, Tyson went 5-4 with two no decisions in his bouts with Andrew Golota and Orlin Norris.

When one truly examines the career of Mike Tyson, it is a record against a mediocre lot of heavyweights that did not include Riddick Bowe, arguably the best heavyweight in the same time span, and a lopsided knockout loss to Lennox Lewis.

Given the circumstances surrounding Tyson's controversial career, were we robbed of what could have been after such a spectacular start and downward tail spin after Tokyo?

Given the weakness of the competition, and the inability of Tyson to comeback in any serious fashion after the Buster Douglas debacle, the Tyson myth of supremacy against journeymen fighters and under par contenders in the chaotic alphabet soup era of multiple governing bodies during the 1980's and 1990's leaves Mike Tyson well out of any list of greatest champions and squarely places him in the category of what could have been one of boxing's all-time greats.

Mike Tyson, like so many other athletes of his generation (Strawberry and Gooden come to mind first), had self-destructive tendencies that robbed them of the true greatness they failed to reach.

For this is not an indictment of the Tyson resume, but a look back on something that could have been and wasn't.

New York Jets: Thank You Eric Mangini!

Nick Antonicello — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:35:53 -0400

Eric Mangini did more for the New York Jets on Saturday than any single decision he made during his 49-game tenure as head coach.

He solved our quarterback dilemma once and for all!

Yes, Eric Mangini who decided to trade down twice in the first found of the NFL Draft gave the Jets the saviour we've been seeking since Leon Hess shipped Joe Namath to the west coast to end his career. A career that was ravished by injuries behind another USC standout, Pat Haden.

Say what you want about Mike Tanenbaum and Woody Johnson, but they made the best deal possible for the best available player to quarterback this team for years to come! It was a gutsy decision that in the end could be wrong, but I'm rooting for Mark Sanchez to be successful, more so than Brett Favre or anyone else that has called signals for this franchise in the last decade.

For the Jets finally understand the purpose of the NFL Draft.

This is where you find a quarterback. This is how you build a team.

If Mark Sanchez is half as good as the praise he's received, the Jets' rebuilding process might not be as long as we think.

As a perennial second guesser, why did Seattle let Sanchez slip to five and why did Mangini pass on this classic, drop-back quarterback who's mechanics are perfect for the NFL?

Someone once said never ask a "why" question. You won't be happy with the answer.

So I'll bite my lip and enjoy the moment. The Jets have a big time prospect coming to the Meadowlands.

Now that has to be good news!

Yankee Pride Changed with Yankee Greed!

Nick Antonicello — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 02:50:15 -0400

The $1.6 billion Taj Mahal known as the new Yankee Stadium hardly represents the dozens of world championships. Nor does it represent the legends of Ruth, Gherig, DiMaggio, Berra, Mantle, Jackson, or Jeter.

It represents greed, plain and simple.

Built and supported on the backs of overtaxed New Yorkers, the new Yankee Stadium represents a new kind of corporate greed and insensitivity.

With a pair of good seats costing well over $1,000 for a single game, the thought of purchasing court side seats at the Garden to see the uninspiring New York Knickerbockers seems somehow inviting!

With Yankee brass proclaiming that they don't want to talk about empty seats and ridiculous ticket prices, how can one ignore what's so obvious to the everyday Yankee fan who's best chance to see a game is on the YES network?

The Yankee owners have become greedy and the recession is only showing how stingy they've become.

The Joe Girardi era has been less than stellar and these outrageous ticket prices only call for Yankee fans to demand greatness each and every pitch. And, why not? Most Yankee fans will refer to back pages of the tabloids to actually see the inside of a public facility they purchased.

It's time for Yankee management to get with reality and start discounting ticket prices so that fans can see the games. Few people can afford a $1,000 night out at the ballgame.

If the Babe, Lou, or The Mick were still alive, then they would be outraged by the $10 beers and $500 ticket prices!