Bleacher Report - Articles by Michael Abenante

NFL Kickoff 2009 Running Diary: Steelers Vs. Titans

Michael Abenante — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:25:23 -0400

Due to my not being able to control my excitement over the new NFL season, and since I'll be glued to my seat for the whole game, I thought I'd run a diary of the experience. And we're just about ready for kickoff!

8:25 Al Michaels' hair looks especially wispy tonite. And sprayed on. I can barely see him thanks to the glare radiating off of Collinsworth's smile. BOOM!

8:38 Boy, Harry Connick, Jr. has really lost a step or three. I could've cracked my knuckles with more harmony than he just sang our National Anthem with. Who booked this act? Was the other guy from Wham! not available?

8:39 Andrea Kramer asks Mike Tomlin about the pitfalls of defending a championship. Tomlin thinks she was asking him what he was doing later. Hilarity ensues. Not really.

8:40 Cut to a shot of former Steelers WR Nate Washington riding the exercise bike on the sideline. Working hard to earn that fat new contract Tennessee gave him based on nothing but potential, I see.

8:41 And we're under way! Nice return by Pittsburgh to start.

8:43 Quick third down, beautiful pump fake by Ben—looks like he either underthrew Mike Wallace or overthrew Hines Ward. Either way, punt.

8:43 Booming first punt of the season, downed at the two-yard line.

8:45 Almost a safety! Yikes, Tennessee better try something different than running up the gut tonight.

8:47 Third down play, quick outlet pass to Chris Johnson and Polamalu just made a play on him he'd only make in Madden. Bad blood between these two dating back to last season. Three-yard loss and a punt.

8:51 The Pitt O-line is in alot of trouble this year. No holes for Fast Willie Parker and teams will be burying Ben all season at this rate. Might have to rename Roethlisberger "Dig Ben".

8:55 First down reverse field run by Johnson and a flag for an out of bounds hit on Polamalu picks up 32 yards for the Titans.

8:56 Bo Scaife wide open for 20 yards over the middle. Didn't expect the tight ends to be so involved right from the start.

8:58 Third and seven; Polamalu makes a perfect play towards the sideline to break up a pass on a seemingly wide open Scaife. He's easily the best safety in the league.

8:59 Bironas misses the FG attempt from 32 yards out. Not what Tennessee needs on this night. Should be a low-scoring game with can't miss "gimme" FGs.

9:01 Mendenhall just totally felt Ben up. It's not "sexy time," Rashard. Botched hand-off, no gain.

9:01 Another third down, another sack. An all-out blitz nails Ben before the play could even develop. Punt. Could be a running theme this year for Pittsburgh.

9:02 Pittsburgh owner Dan Rooney immediately hits the waiver wire and signs recent Bengals waiver Gus "American Idol" Parrish to help his struggling O-line. The team loves his resemblance to Randy Jackson, feels he'll fit right in with head coach Omar Epps.

9:07 Sitting here praying that Greg Olsen has a monster season in Chicago to make passing on Scaife in two fantasy drafts worth it. Another nice catch and pickup. Just great.

9:08 I agree with ESPN fantasy whiz Matthew Berry—LenDale White will always be "Fat" LenDale White to me.

9:09 Al Michaels notes that if "LenDale White lost 40 lbs by getting off tequila, then I'm getting on tequila so I can then get off of it." Al, hitting the tequila before the NFL season is not a good idea, just ask Shawne Merriman. Sometimes the jokes write themselves...

9:10 Umm, did I say Polamalu is the best safety in the league? Good, because I meant it. Ridiculous one-handed interception, leaping and reaching behind him for the pick to stop a good-looking Tennessee drive. Wow.

9:12 And no sooner than I finish typing that sentence does Ben toss a duck out to the Tennessee D. Titans ball. Big crowd letdown there. Loss of Pittsburgh momentum.

9:19 Pittsburgh's blitz packages are starting to show up now. These three consecutive plays—tackle for loss on Johnson, incomplete pass from Collins with a man in his face at the snap, and finally a sack.

9:23 Now praying that Greg Olsen has a monster season to validate passing up Heath Miller in two fantasy drafts also. Every completed pass has seemingly been to a TE. That might be an official stat. Not sure.

9:25 An FWP sighting! Breaks through the line...oh wait, that must've been because of a holding. Yes it was. Bring it back, guys.

9:26 Loving Collinsworth in the booth. They should use this footage in next year's Madden. Hypercritical is always more entertaining than the standard announce booth fare.

9:28 Big throw and catch for Pittsburgh under heavy pressure. Anxiously awaiting our first "San Antonio Holmes" reference of the season.

9:30 I don't think any other NFL player has had as many concurrently cool commercials as Adrian Peterson has these days. Nike Pro Combat. Don't even know what that is, but I'd buy it.

9:33 OK, we get it. LenDale White stomped on the Terrible Towel last year. It's a towel. I step on towels all the time when I'm cleaning. If you can wave it in people's face when your team wins, you have to deal with people blowing their noses in it when they beat you. Man up, Pittsburgh.

9:36 Polamalu flagged for pass interference. If that's pass interference, let's just tape flags to everyone's hips now. Offsetting penalties, repeat down. Are the refs still warming up for the season?

9:39 Troy is racking up penalties now, Collins is beating the pressure. Looks like Pittsburgh will force Collins to beat them with his arm all night. Stacking the line against the run.

9:40 Jeff Fisher is such an underrated coach. He's truly elite. That guy knows how to build and maintain a winning team. His players would take a bullet for him. Except for Vince Young, who shouldn't be around firearms at all. Ever.

9:42 Blocked FG! Bironas is living his nightmare. When Pittsburgh wins, this will be why.

9:44 Al reminds us all that there have still been no points scored in 2009. I'm betting some points are going to be scored in 2009. You heard it here first, people.

9:46 Aaron Eckhart's career has been up and down—Thank You for Smoking followed by No Reservations, eventually leading to The Dark Knight and now Love Happens. Aaron needs to slow down and start really reading those scripts. Commercial highlights Jen Aniston, though, so not all bad.

9:49 Hines Ward with the biggest reception of the game so far with Pittsburgh driving in the two-minute offense. Ward is just a warrior. He's more skilled than he gets credited for being.

9:51 TOUCHDOWN! Perfect pump fake and deep pass to San Antonio for the score. Michaels points out that Holmes has bookended 2008 and 2009 with TD catches to end last season and start this one. The game might end this way. No really.

9:52 Polamalu going to the dressing room for a head start on therapy. Return is questionable.

9:54 Tennessee in one-minute drill mode. Collins loads up, pumps and underthrows a now wide open Kenny Britt who turns the catch into a 57-yard reception.

9:55 TOUCHDOWN! Wow, open throw to Justin Gage for the score in the front corner of the end zone. This Pittsburgh defense is lost for a handful of plays without Polamalu on the field. Steelers fans, be afraid.

9:57 It's amazing how long Ben holds onto the ball. The O-line is porous, but they don't have a prayer against any rush if they have to hold it off for over six seconds. Another sack.

10:01 Well-run drive by Pittsburgh, heads-up play by Ward and Mewelde Moore, both making yardage and stepping out of bounds to preserve one second on the clock for a FG attempt. But a penalty wipes the play out. Time for a kneel-down or an end zone heave. Wasted opportunity.

10:02 It's a heave! And an INT! And a return by the speedy Cortland Finnegan. And he's still going...and he cuts back and is still going...now he has a wall of blockers! He's still going, avoids another tackle...he might break this! Oh he's driven to the sideline and tackled at the 20. Wow. Can't believe the last two minutes of this half.

Halftime. I'll be back for the second half, folks. Need a frosty beverage.

10:20 And we return from halftime with the announcement that Polamalu is done for the game. Al lets us know it's because Troy "has a knee". Hey, I have one too!

10:24 We're middling along to start the half. Collins drops back, hits Scaife again on a short pass, but this time he's leg tackled and seems to be in serious pain. Oh, he dropped the ball! That's a fumble ladies and gentlemen, and Pittsburgh recovers. My sanity is safe now that the fantasy era of Bo Scaife might have come to an early end.

10:27 I think we have a pulse on FWP. Third and short. Run up the middle with Parker was a worse idea than dating Kim Kardashian. Stopped for a loss. Punt.

10:29 Finnegan muffs the fair catch at the Pittsburgh 10-yd line. Barely recovers. Tennessee takes over.

10:31 The wife is home. Brief pause to show some affection.

10:38 Punt by Tennessee and a solid start to a drive by Pittsburgh. Short connections over the middle. Nothing open deep and outside. BTW—what is that tarp taped along the sideline? It looks slick and not secured. It screams "torn ACL" to me. Weird.

10:46 It's astonishing how wide open the middle of the field is without Polamalu on the field for Pittsburgh. They're making Tennessee's TEs look like Randy Moss and Wes Welker.

10:48 This Levi's jeans commercial made my head hurt. Nonsensical. Nothing to do with jeans. As long as it's not a Wrangler commercial.

10:51 Pittsburgh hasn't abandoned the run game yet. Not sure why not. At some point you have to adjust and decide that FWP isn't an effective inside runner and try to get him bounced to the outside, where his speed makes a difference. Bad game plan.

10:55 There's a Vince Young sighting! Did you know he beat out Patrick Ramsey for the backup QB spot? We're all proud of Vince.

10:57 I must say, Kerry Collins looks more than solid. I think he's a victim of not having playmakers at the receiver positions. The guy has a cannon but nobody that can get free deep consistently. Elite defenses will always be able to shut this offense down. Doesn't bode well for the playoffs again.

10:59 Bironas is back and hungry for blood. From 47 yards out...it's good! Titans lead 10-7.

11:01 Snoop Dogg is in the hizzzzzouse! Was unaware that he was a long time Steelers fan. Could've swore he was down with Raider nation...maybe I'm just connecting his West Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiide connections with his sports team preferences.

11:05 Heath Miller with another catch. That gives him 1,000 yds on the night. Did I mention that I passed him by in fantasy drafts?

11:08 Ben is on the run again. O-line is exhausted. Kearse just came unabated to the QB and buried Ben. The entire season just flashed before Steelers fans eyes. Wow. I've said that alot tonight. At this rate of being driven into the ground, he's really earning that new "Dig Ben" nickname.

11:13 Has a team ever been drawn offside by an obvious fourth down lineup and snap count? That's what I thought. FG coming up.

11:16 Tie game, 10 all. Three minutes left in the game.

11:18 Just for Men commercial featuring Emmitt Smith going grey. His "beard is weird" apparently. It ended with him groping a cheerleader. He'll be hearing from the commissioner tomorrow.

11:21 Collins completion, letting time run down to two-minute warning. Smart, solid, safe football. Safe football loses more games than it wins, coincidentally.

11:23 Two wasted opportunities, two thrown away balls. Couldn't pick up a first down. Punting back to Pittsburgh at the two-minute warning. You just knew Pittsburgh would be in this spot.

11:25 Shanked Tennessee kick, short field, Steelers takes over at their 44-yard line. Chances that Pittsburgh loses this game in regulation—one percent. It's amazing how some teams always put themselves in this position. Excuse me as I grumble bitterly and stare down at my Jets jersey.

11:31 Hines Ward has never been so open in his career. Huge gain to end the game...wait, WHAT? FUMBLE?! Titans recover at the five-yard line! What a lapse in judgment by Ward. He needed only to fall on the ground to run the clock out and try the game-winning FG. This is why I love the NFL. Anything can happen as long as there's one second left on the clock and somebody isn't thinking clearly.

11:33 Steelers trying to force a turnover or the Titans to have to punt before regulation ends. Won't work. The clock isn't their friend.

AND THE RUNNING DIARY IS GOING INTO OVERTIME! NFL KICKOFF! WOOOO!

11:39 And we're underway again, Pittsburgh wins the coin flip. A relieved Hines Ward looks...well...relieved.

11:41 Ward on the first-down catch. Absolutely ready to redeem himself.

11:42 Heath Miller with his 50th catch of the night. Nice gain of about seven.

11:45 San Antonio for the first down, and Pittsburgh is officially driving for the win now.

11:46 Ben drops back, lots of pressure...avoids a sure sack and throws while falling down, right through everybody's hands. You have to throw the ball away there. I don't care how tough you are. He had a receiver but he also had three Titans in the area. Could've been game over the other way.

11:47 Ben has time now, looks all over, launches the ball down the middle of the field for rookie Mike Wallace (no 60 Minutes jokes here. I don't think 60 Minutes jokes exist anymore. Not my demographic. I'll leave that to Peter King.) down to the 10! Okay, let's try this again...chances Pittsburgh loses this game in OT? .00000000000000001 percent.

11:48 Reed lines up for the 33-yd FG attempt for the win, aaaaannnnnd...it's right down the middle! Steelers Win!

11:51 Andrea Kramer wears alot of makeup. Thank goodness for HD or I wouldn't have known that. Hines Ward still looks like he wants to cry over his fumble. "Dig Ben" towing the politically correct company line of having to prove themselves as a team and win another title, not defend the old one. Blah blah blah...this reminds me of why athletes like Terrell Owens and Ochocinco are newsworthy—because everyone else is just so vanilla and boring. Ugh.

11:55 I hope you enjoyed following the game along with me tonight. Very exciting season awaiting us, and this was a great way to kick it off!

Refueled? How 2009's NY Jets Stack Up Against The AFC East

Michael Abenante — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:03:12 -0400

With training camps completed and rosters close to finalized, we now take a closer look at how the new look New York Jets stack up against the competition within their division.

The Men in Charge

The Jets aggressively pursued the outgoing Rex Ryan to be the new leader of the franchise.

Ryan wasted little time in proclaiming that neither he nor his team would be intimidated by another coach or team in the AFC East, singling out the Patriots' coach Bill Belichick and starting a trash-talking battle with Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder.

He also wasted no time importing three members of his vaunted Baltimore Ravens defense, which helps. Clearly, Ryan's attitude is a stark and necessary change to the Jets' way of life if they were ever going to be taken seriously as playoff contenders.

That being said, Ryan has much to prove. He is pedigreed in the art of developing and implementing defensive units and packages that utilize player strengths and take advantage of offensive units' weaknesses, but this is his first head coaching job ever.

It's trial by fire in the competitive AFC East as he stands opposite the likes of Belichick and Parcells disciple Tony Sparano on the sidelines four times per regular season.

Belichick is, of course, Belichick, and Sparano has the complete support of his front office and proved that he can effectively game-plan according to his talent, winning the division last year.

In Buffalo, Dick Jauron is on the hot seat and under pressure to produce an exciting offense—at least more exciting than scoring zero points. After managing to score no points in the preseason, Jauron fired his offensive coordinator last week and scrapped the no huddle "K-gun" offense.

Jauron's defenses have traditionally been solid in his other stops when he has served as coordinator, but he has yet to build anything worthwhile in Buffalo. Look for that trend to continue, as Jauron will undoubtedly be sunk by his roster.

With more seasoning and another opportunity to remake the roster in his mold, look for Ryan to make his mark on the Jets and this division very soon.

The Generals

When a franchise invests what the Jets have invested in Mark Sanchez, immediate results are expected. Experience cannot be substituted for at the QB position and growth needs to be seen from week to week.

Jets personnel and fans have witnessed this already in preseason, as Sanchez made some bad reads, threw an INT, and took some sacks only to bounce back after those moments and lead his huddle once more against some of the stronger defenses the NFL has to offer.

Sanchez showed confidence and patience in himself and teammates to make plays and his capacity for growth and making plays was such that incumbent backup Kellen Clemens would've had to play like Brady to force the team to stagnate Sanchez' further development in order to name him the starter.

And speaking of Tom Brady, yes...he's back.

Flanked by weapons such as Randy Moss and Wes Welker, Brady successfully translated his leadership skills and grittiness from his time as a "game manager", into his new role as "fantasy first round draft pick."

Brady has the arm and the intelligence to air the ball out deep down-field, as well as a knack for performing well in clutch moments. Clearly he is at the top of the sport when healthy, and for the first time in his career Brady's health is a question mark in 2009.

Outside of Miami, the general belief is the Dolphins' successes of last season won't be easily duplicated this year.

With teams more prepared to defend the wildcat offense this year (with many teams even copycatting the scheme themselves) while playing the tougher schedule of a division winner, a quick hook for the weak-armed Chad Pennington in favor of the younger, stronger Chad Henne could be looming if the team gets off to a slow start or the offense sputters.

In Buffalo, incumbent Trent Edwards is healthy once again to start a season and has a shiny new toy to play with this season in Terrell Owens.

Lining up opposite the solid Lee Evans, Owens could have plenty of opportunities to make plays in the passing game with Edwards under center for 16 games, particularly with the mandate from ownership that the Bills score points.

Couple this with Marshawn Lynch's three game suspension to start the season and Edwards' biggest concern will be staying healthy behind one of the worst O-lines in the NFL.

While kept upright, Edwards is a solid leader and has shown flashes of brilliance for the Bills. But he has missed time due to a concussion and a groin injury in his first two seasons. It's hard to bet on Edwards making it through 16 games, but if he does he is the Bills franchise QB.

For now, all of these teams have some questions to answer at the QB spot. Without the luxury of an elite play-making receiver, Sanchez must play smart football, spread the ball around to multiple targets, and make some plays with his arm.

Brady is the class of the division, while the other QB's all have something to prove to their respective teams. Sanchez has plenty of slack to work with, and he'll need every inch of it to get through this season and call it a success.

The Playmakers

For the Jets, there are two things certain in life—Thomas Jones will put up elite rushing numbers and Leon Washington will provide the highlights.

With a committee of WR that are unproven and inexperienced, Mark Sanchez will be handing the ball off to these gentlemen often. It would be fascinating to see more two-back sets in the plans featuring them together, forcing defenses into tough positions.

Washington is as versatile a threat as one could ask for both in the rushing attack and special teams, while Jones simply lowers his head and punishes defenders particularly close to the goal line.

The addition of draft pick Shonn Greene should help elevate the running game to new heights as he helps spell Jones throughout the year.

Sanchez seems to be developing a budding connection with WR David Clowney in the same fashion that Chad Pennington and Laveranues Coles once did.

With the solid Jerricho Cotchery as the possession receiver, Chansi Stuckey providing random acts of greatness, Wildcat WR Brad Smith, and emerging star TE Dustin Keller in the mix, the Jets could give defensive coordinators fits.

At the time of this writing, the Jets were still scouring the waiver wires looking for WR help, but nothing is imminent.

In New England, one looks no further for game-breaking ability than to Randy Moss and Wes Welker. But the Pats suddenly have an intriguing logjam in their backfield, as for the moment they are carrying four running backs, all of whom have different attributes and contribute differently.

Laurence Maroney is running out of chances to be a featured back in the NFL, while the old men of the group—Kevin Faulk and Sammie Morris—can be counted on to deliver big plays whenever they are needed.

The most intriguing of the bunch might be newcomer BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who ran wild during preseason games and forced his way into the game-plan. This year, the Pats could be a much more balanced and dangerous offense than in 2007 and 2008.

The Dolphins have some key play-makers that they'll work to get the ball to again this season. RB's Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams complement each other very well and Brown is a proven featured back.

WR Ted Ginn Jr., a high first round pick of the previous regime, has the speed and ability to be a game-breaker but is hampered by the lack of strength in Pennington's arm. His main impact will likely remain stretching defenses deep and in the kick return game until a switch at QB occurs.

Miami also returns one of the top defensive units in the NFL as well as an improving O-line alongside 2008 No. 1 pick Jake Long. The key to Miami's season will be how much they must rely on deception in their offense to hide their lack of down-field ability against a much tougher schedule.

Regardless of how many individual talents Buffalo might have on their roster, the sum is not greater than its parts.

T.O and Lee Evans should provide a large chunk of the offense, but with little other help on the field given the three game absence of RB Marshawn Lynch and a patchwork offensive line protecting QB Trent Edwards, it's hard to see exactly how the team can expect anything beyond a handful of wins this season.

Yes, the outlook on backup RB Fred Jackson is positive, but the Bills will need more than that to open opportunities for Owens and Evans.

Overall, no team can claim the quality of play-makers that the Pats can. Their key position players know what it's like to win and were able to win 11 games in 2008 in a toned down offense playing with a QB who hadn't started since High School (Matt Cassel).

They are dangerous on every snap. The Jets are likely a few seasons and one big play WR away from sustained production as a unit.

The Men in the Trenches

Make no mistake, the New England defense was not its usual reliable self last season, and this year looks like it will be a bigger struggle for this unit. Perhaps no team in the NFL has ever lost so much leadership, experience, and ability on that side of the football than the Pats have before this season.

Gone are Bruschi, Vrabel, and Seymour, replaced by lower draft picks and free agents.

The backs patrolling the secondary are pedestrian at best, as a replacement for departed 2008 free agent Asante Samuel has yet to be found.

The Pats offense alone will be counted on to win games more this year than ever before. A Bill Belichick coached team will always be well prepared and special teams should prove no different. Wes Welker returning kicks can be a difference maker and help shorten the field for every New England possession.

The Jets, of course, have Rex Ryan. And that counts for something. The strong point of the Jets in recent years was their defensive unit and their ability to create turnovers.

I expect that trend to continue under Ryan and his schemes and blitz packages.

There is also merit to be found in the strength and depth of the linebacking corps (Scott, Harris, Pace, and occasionally Gholston), a healthy Kris Jenkins to stuff the run and Shaun Ellis on the end to pressure the QB, the unchaining of ball-hawking captain Kerry Rhodes and his new mate Jim Leonhard along with shutdown corner Darrell Revis and a hopefully rejuvenated Lito Sheppard rounding out the secondary.

Pace and Ellis will both serve suspensions to start the season, but by season's end this unit could turn out to be one of the better units in the league.

Miami's defense was average last year and kept the team in close games. While remaining solid and intact, the unit will have to improve in order to meet the demand of a tougher schedule. Last year's unit was in the bottom 10 defending the pass and top 10 in defending the rush. They will quickly be tested in the first three weeks of 2009 by the likes of Matt Ryan, Peyton Manning, and Philip Rivers. An 0-3 start is not out of the question.

Buffalo's defense is middle-of-the-pack also, with strengths in opposition to Miami's. Nothing has drastically changed about their unit, so it's reasonable to expect the same type of season from the Bills D.

What Does 2009 Hold?

While Brady and company are still among the elite in the NFL, there are plenty of questions to be answered and obstacles standing in their way of another SB run.

The defending division champion Dolphins will be looking to prove that they are not a one-year wonder and qualify for the playoffs again this year.

The Jets are a work in progress and should be viewed as such. Mark Sanchez will likely be a very good NFL QB and could potentially be great if given the chance to grow and correct mistakes. The Jets have the foundation of a playoff contender in place and will need to come together as a unit through this season and in the future, as every good team does, while adding some key pieces.

UFC 99: More Coming Out Party Than "Comeback"

Michael Abenante — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:15:16 -0400

So often in MMA, Pay-Per-View under-card matches make an event worth the price of watching, and UFC 99: "The Comeback" should be no different.

This Saturday night, two highly-touted heavyweight contenders, Cain Velasquez and Cheick Kongo, square off in a match in which the winner may find themselves on the fast-track to a Heavyweight title shot

Kongo (14-4-1 9 TKO) is a veteran fighter who knows how to win three-round fights and is on a three-match winning streak, while Velasquez (5-0 5 TKO) is a young knockout artist who has yet to be tested or put on his back.

This is a great matchup of experience and unknown potential, hopeful hype versus impressive consistency.

Much to Prove

Many believe that Kongo, stepping into this fight on short notice for the injured Heath Herring, will have earned what should be his best shot at the Heavyweight title if he can defeat the undefeated Velasquez. That shot would come against Brock Lesnar or Frank Mir, whoever leaves July's UFC 100 as the undisputed Heavyweight Champion.

This is the biggest fight of both men's careers, but for very different reasons.

The young Velasquez has more than a few years ahead of him to prove himself a champion, while Kongo may not have many chances left, at 34 years of age, to ascend the mountain in the once again crowded Heavyweight division.

Velasquez himself has noted that he believes he probably isn't seasoned enough to receive the next title shot if he wins Saturday.

A victory over Kongo, KO or otherwise, still validates Velasquez as a true contender and not simply another product of hype, as some before him have proven to be.

If the win comes via knockout, Cain proves that he has power to drop seasoned heavyweights and larger men. If the win is a grueling one, Cain has the chance to display his decorated wrestling background and conditioning.

A win for Kongo by any means illustrates the necessary growth and consistency in a decorated fighter eager to become a champion and legitimizes his current win streak.

Raising Cain

Velasquez seems focused for this challenge and showed no reticence in approving the change in opponent. If anything, his camp seems incredulous that Kongo accepted with short preparation.

Egos aside, this will be our first chance to see Cain Velasquez fight a man that he shouldn't be able to physically dominate.

It's conceivable that Velasquez's typical aggression could result in another quick KO, but it could also leave him prone to a powerful counter from an opponent who should be expecting that.

On paper, Kongo's kickboxing style seems to contrast well against Velasquez's wrestling and heavy handed striking. Cain has good reason to be confident in his power, as his record indicates, but may be better suited being more patient in this fight.

Cheick-mate

The overall key may lie with Kongo's desire to obtain that elusive title shot and how it effects his instincts.

Overlooking Cain and looking toward his next match would be grand folly and a mistake Kongo likely won't make. Though the self-imposed pressure might be Cheick's greatest obstacle in this match. Fighting the undefeated Velasquez will be test enough without also having to fight nerves and tightness.

If Velasquez chooses to keep to the plan that brought him to this point, he will be aggressive in his striking, which could overwhelm Kongo or allow him chances to counter very early.

Kongo's strength is in his striking and stand-up, and the more chances the kickboxer and karate champion receives to connect a big kick or punch simply means more chances for a quick end for the young Velasquez.

Sudden Victory?

In Heavyweight fights, more than others, one solid counter punch can end a fight quickly, and it often does.

It could be great strategy, then, that Velasquez try to take the fight to the ground if the opportunity presents itself.

Yet, Cain has only fought beyond the first round once, and Kongo could use his size and strength to wear down Velasquez in the clinch or grapple, making the fighter work harder than ever before. If Kongo can use ground skills to test Velasquez's stamina, he could exhaust him and open up opportunities for ending the fight.

Velasquez is merely a purple belt in MMA jiu-jitsu and likely isn't very comfortable on his back, a weakness Kongo should exploit if an early KO doesn't present itself to him.

Saturday night's UFC 99 is a loaded fight card that features fan-friendly, "action" matchups. Two of the strongest men in the ring that night will fight to prove their worth—one as the present, and the other the future—in the Heavyweight division.

Photo credit: MMAvu.com

Speaking to the Notion of Banning Pro Wrestling in Any Way

Michael Abenante — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:17:12 -0400

The writers behind the articles pointedly calling for Pro Wrestling to be "banned from Bleacher Report" can't possibly be surprised by the fervor and backlash created by their pieces.

The truth is that pro wrestling has always been like our little brother or sister: it's always OK for us to pick on them and beat them up a bit when we're bored or feeling frisky, but nobody else is allowed to, or we absolutely jump to their rescue blindly.

But members of this humble wrestling writers' community, I implore you not to let the recent, poorly conceived attempts at op-ed journalism incite your inner grapplers!

What is the necessary response to these ideas and statements made to upset so many? The concept of "banning" anything in the modern era that is not harmful or fatal to a life (animals included, as we've learned by now) is hateful, close-minded, and just not well-thought through in this day and age.

"Banning" the field of pro wrestling from this website would be no different than, oh I don't know, "banning" books that some find useless or offensive from libraries.

We've covered this before. Think "Fahrenheit 451."

Aside from the obvious argument that the community has its own designation separate from "true" sports as pointed out numerously before my writing this, there seems to be no understanding by anyone who isn't a long-time or die-hard fan that there exists a level of sport and competition in pro wrestling that goes undetected much of the time.

One wonders why anyone who professes not to watch wrestling or enjoy wrestling would feel the need to put down wrestling and its level of "competition"? Very few of us, if any, truly understand the competition involved, fan or not.

Wrestlers are people, men and women, some fans of wrestling and some not. Their struggles to be noticed, to build long careers, to avoid working in uncomfortable environments and to support families is no different than any of us who work "meaningless" jobs for the pay or notoriety.

Their struggles are also no different than the men who spend their prime years working out and practicing skills in attempting to make a pro football team in the summer, or to make a Major League Baseball team in the spring.

In fact, their paths are quite similar in that minor league players of all types must not only perform well (almost) year round but also wait their turns to be called up to the major league level and compete for a roster spot.

This is the intense level of competition aspiring wrestlers face, including veterans, in trying to secure their places within a company.

And unlike the intense competition found in a sport like football, in wrestling there are only two real major league organizations to work for, and not 32.

I'd put a bunch of aspiring wrestlers and their work ethics up against any huddle of Raiders any day, by the way.

It is a level of competition hidden behind a black curtain that goes unseen by people all-too-ready to dismiss pro wrestling for any reason, great or small.

To dismiss the SPORT and the people who watch it, discuss it and write about it here on B/R is just as insulting to the memories and bodies of work of great performers and, reportedly, great people such as Eddie Guerrero and Brian Pillman and countless others whose losses make me sad as I type this paragraph.

I, for one, stake my claim that pro wrestling as an exhibition of physical prowess and psychology is equally as scripted as any professional boxing match.

I'd make the same claim against all sports, as the sentiment across the US grows feverishly at how ridiculously bad officiating is in our pro "sports".

To the writers, I challenge you to take a moment to watch the upcoming NBA Finals beginning tonight and mark my words at how the entire series will play out: the home team will win every close game after being given every chance to win them by the referees.

And the home team that loses at home will likely be Orlando, chiefly because they are not located in L.A.

Every close call or non-call will go the biggest star's way. The results will favor the home team and in the end the series will favor the largest market involved.

How that is different from Vince McMahon deciding to use whomever has the most heat or pop in a main event story/angle at any given time?

Why are we all right with being easily able to assume that Kobe Bryant will get all the calls he needs to succeed in basketball in the same way that I can watch RAW and understand when John Cena will win a match or not?

In 2007, I watched referees snatch victory from the Baltimore Ravens not once, but TWICE in a professional game, in order to give the New England Patriots extra chances to keep their undefeated season alive, which they did.

Both calls were admittedly incorrect, after the fact. TV networks gained millions in viewership and ratings and ad dollars because a large market team with a recent history of success, was making history, and the league latched onto this franchise for all it was worth.

The Ravens meant little to the league and were insignificant to history, and belittled by the leagues "rules".

So how is that different from the Montreal screwjob, when Vince McMahon recognized that his future did not lie with Bret Hart? Or Eric Bischoff pushing Bill Goldberg to a title run past everyone, not for his skills but for what he was worth to the organization?

To conclude this diatribe in defense of a SPORT that I've loved my entire life, I challenge the writers of those articles meant to spark debate and elicit "reads" to look at the bigger picture, understand what you criticize and in what manner.

Steer clear of ignorant generalizations and old-fashioned cliches or stereotypes when setting out to attack a mainstream form of entertainment, regardless of how rabid the following is.

But most importantly, do not be so naive as to think that labeling an activity as "professional" grants it immunity from being "scripted" or "planned" or even "choreographed." Money rules the world, and pro sports are as easily swayed by it as any predetermined venture.

Before any of us questions the level or even existence of competition in pro wrestling, let us understand the athletes' work, their lives and their struggles.

Then think of how many billions of "professional" dollars are wasted on "professional" athletes every year, in all sports, that neither care as much nor compete as hard as most wrestlers do.

And to think that anyone would want to ban me from writing anything that drips with this much passion in the year 2009 on any website is really just scary.

LeBron's Legacy Lies in Cleveland

Michael Abenante — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:09:50 -0400

2009 was the defining season of LeBron James' career, from start to bitter end. The season he chose to become the best basketball player he can be.

2009 will also cement his career as a Cleveland Cavalier. THE Cleveland Cavalier.

Regardless of which baseball cap he prefers to wear.

Playoff Mismatch

The Orlando Magic was the only team able to dominate LeBron James' 66-win Cavaliers during this entire NBA season and they ultimately sent James & co. home for the long summer.

If not for a miracle buzzer-beating, three-point shot in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, this series becomes a sweep and perhaps this article is not written because James must flee the embarrassment as quickly as his Nikes will carry him.

But Cleveland's Game 6 loss to the Orlando Magic serves only as the latest checkpoint in the evolution of LeBron James. The King received no help from his court in the series' deciding game Saturday night in Orlando, and little aid in the rest of the series.

That will assuredly have to change next season.

Contrasting the teams, the reason for Orlando's dominance over Cleveland is clear: the depth and youth throughout their roster. Cleveland lacks both of these traits, particularly on their bench, and were not helped by the play of the rest of their starters.

Cleveland may have no individual answer to Dwight Howard, but no team in the league has an answer to LeBron James. On most every night, Cleveland wins that statistical match up. The problem clearly lies with the remainder of the team.

LeBron's supporting cast was a dismal failure in the Conference Finals, and for the entire post-season averaged a total of 56.7 points for every 48 minutes played, compared with LeBron's 40.9.

Intangibles such as interior defense and rebounding were also hard to come by against an active Orlando squad, save for some key plays by Anderson Varejao. The names Wallace, Szczerbiak, and Smith did little to shake Orlando's confidence.

James was not selfish in his accumulation of his gaudy stats either, averaging over seven assists per game throughout the playoffs and over eight against Orlando. His teammates simply did not perform when needed most.

No Disrespect

But much as he did during his run this past summer with the USA Redeem Team, LeBron seems likely to motivate himself to greater heights after this setback.

James has already shown how he has internalized his quest for a title with his storming off the court after defeat, not acknowledging Orlando's team or the media.

As James noted in an interview session on Sunday, "It's hard for me to congratulate somebody after you just lost to them. I'm a winner. It's not being a poor sport or anything like that. I'm a competitor."

Fight or Flight?

Of course, the speculation of LeBron leaving Cleveland will now continue with far greater fervor as many believed his departure from the Cavaliers (namely to New York) would hinge upon whether or not Cleveland won this NBA Championship.

To this, James responded, "I feel great about this situation that's going on. You want to continue to get better, that's all you can ask. We got better and I feel this team will be better next season."

Obviously, LeBron James makes any team he joins vastly better than they were without him, the Knicks included.

It is clear that Cleveland must improve their roster further and should have the ability to do so quickly given their owner's willingness to spend money on a winner.

But if they were to make no adjustments to their current team, Cleveland is still infinitely better than every team in the Eastern Conference and possibly the West too.

Financially speaking, we also know that no NBA team can offer James more money than Cleveland can according to the rules of free agency.

With the collective bargaining agreement expiring soon and a battle between owners and players almost sure to explode in some fashion after 2010, perhaps James signs a maximum contract extension now rather than wait only to find his market, and credibility in Cleveland, dried up.

But let's face facts, regardless of his location, LeBron James will not lack for endorsements or show business opportunities, regardless of what the media and sales pitches tell us.

These riches and opportunities are to be the keys to his departing Cleveland for the world's largest media market, and one only has to study James' words and career thus far to understand that his ties to Cleveland are far greater than extra money on his Nike contract or being able to say he plays at the "World's Most Famous Arena," Madison Square Garden.

More to LeBron's Legacy Than Money

Without King James there is no basketball in Cleveland, as the franchise was facing sale and possible relocation before winning the NBA Draft Lottery (coincidentally and luckily enough) and the "LeBron Sweepstakes."

The hometown kid has made much more than good, and every step of the way James has taken the chance to acknowledge his Ohio upbringing and his ties to the community.

With his status at 24 years old as already the greatest player in franchise history and the inevitability that he will retire as the most successful Cleveland or Ohio sports figure ever, one has to wonder if the grounded James would discount this immense legacy for a few dollars more or television cameos.

In this day and age that finds people almost breeding professional athletes, a talent such as LeBron James is still rare. He is prodigious in what he does on the basketball court, and a breath of fresh air off of it.

He is already an icon in his hometown and is assured of retiring in nothing less than a blaze of glory.

James also has the chance to realize that, as many of his predecesors failed to understand, his legacy would be tainted if he wore any other jersey, or worse, one day became a rented player simply to win a championship.

His career will be judged in the media by how many titles he wins, but in search of greatness and satisfaction, LeBron James will ultimately weigh how meaningful his legacy or any potential titles would be if they weren't won in Cleveland.

And he'll stay home where he belongs.

Credit: The Associated Press for quotations

Cock of the Walk: The Red Rooster Is the Worst Gimmick Ever

Michael Abenante — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:45:51 -0400

What makes a gimmick bad, or in far too many cases, truly awful?

One can readily classify a gimmick as simply a character idea that includes requisite costume, ring gear, and accessories. Those have included everything from men dressed as women, clowns, hog farmers and even hockey players.

Usually, these are niche characterizations hatched within the mind of an out-of-touch promoter or "good ol' boy" and meant only to fill a "void" in a show or telecast.

In the case of the subject of this article, I'd sure like to meet the demographic that was waiting to be served by this character.

Birth of a Failure

But if we look a bit deeper we see the true reason horrendous gimmicks are born—an assumption that talent isn't enough to excite the fans; An indictment that a person's style and ability are not enough to generate money.

The standard of a terrible gimmick is not simply whether we laugh at what we see, or how often we wonder what writing committees were thinking when they green-lit an idea, but rather by how much talent is being masked by the atrocity and wasted, for how long and to what magnitude.

The list of performers that overcame such circumstances grows year by year.

One only needs to read Terry Taylor's biography or note that he performed as this character, The Red Rooster, at numerous pay-per-view extravaganzas (including Wrestlemania!) to understand how devastating this gimmick was to Taylor's career.

Is This a Clucking Joke?

Let's follow this chicken, ahem...I mean rooster, across the road, shall we?

Terry Taylor is no stranger to bad gimmicks and ring personas, as he has assumed nearly as many AKA's as a fugitive, including such creative visions as "Scary" Terry Taylor, "Terrific" Terry Taylor, and "The Taylor Made Man."

In hindsight, Mr. Taylor might have been far better off never finding out the lengths of WWF's creativity in the late '80s.

Accomplishments

In his travels across wrestling territories like the NWA, WCCW and UWF Taylor was recognized as a star and popular babyface. His blond hair and wide smile often sending the country ladies into fits. Promoters ate this up and Taylor found himself feuding or tag teaming with the biggest stars in those territories.

Taylor was a top hand everywhere he worked and held numerous major heavyweight, television and tag titles across the US. He was voted "Most underrated wrestler" by The Wrestling Observer in 1991 and 1992, an acknowledgment of his consistency and ability.

It is also proof positive that the Rooster gimmick served only to relegate a talented (yet nomadic) wrestler to the mid-card and below unnecessarily.

Is He Really Strutting Like That?

From the initial "cock-a-doodle-doo" of his canned 80's entrance theme, to his dyed-red cockscomb Mohawk and his loose, head-bobbing, rooster-esque strut every fan was instantly aware that it was time for something to happen- usually a bathroom break.

But those "Rooster Boosters" who didn't run for the toilet were treated to 10 second bursts of technical wrestling placed between rooster cackles and wing flapping gestures meant to be taunts.

In seeking some possible rational explanation of this lame gimmick or the inspiration behind it, one might draw some connection between the character and the Las Vegas swingers club of the same name, opened in 1982.

That is at least plausible, even if still horrendous. That connection has never been established, try as people might to rationalize why a grown man would subject himself to this embarrassment.

There is a also a theory that Taylor upset management with his abrasiveness and cockiness and was then purposely subjected to this humiliation for almost the entire duration of his contract because of it. That seems cruel and unusual punishment, and definitely didn't help the organization either and seems far-fetched.

It is more commonly believed that the idea was pitched by Bobby Heenan with the belief that one day Taylor would rebel from Heenan's camp and be a bigger babyface draw than he had ever been. This angle culminated in a "squash" match at Wrestlemania V.

You read that correctly—The Red Rooster was featured in a match at the event where the Mega Powers collided.

Almost every pro wrestler claims that performing at Wrestlemania is their dream and the biggest thrill of their careers, and to be granted a victory is the pinnacle. Perhaps Taylor feels that way, but what use is being at Wrestlemania in a role such as his was, not allowed to actually perform?

I'd almost rather be outwrestled by Lawrence Taylor.

He Can Fly, He Can Fight, He Can Crow!

In looking back at this decisively idiotic wrestling gimmick, we can also attempt to rewrite history and let our imaginations discover possibilities never realized by WWF/WWE in promoting The Red Rooster. I've taken the liberty of including a few ideas here for your approval that I believe might have garnered ratings and captivated bored audiences everywhere.

The Red Rooster - Koko B. Ware feud: Easily could have been a high-flying (pun definitely intended) rivalry to decide who is truly the Big Bird on the street, culminating in a huge pay-per-view "Bird Cage Match" featuring Bald Eagles tied to perches outside the cage who don't care about what's happening inside the ring. This style of match was made successful by Al Snow, the Big Boss Man and a band of pooping rottweilers.
The Red Rooster joins Raven's Flock- In an attempt to be accepted for being "different", the Rooster turns his life over to Raven's teachings and dyes his Mohawk black. Taylor defends his choice by telling the fans to "stick it".
The Red Rooster gets a tag team partner: After being attacked by the Hog Farmers, Henry and Phineas Godwinn, the Rooster is aided by bird of the same feather The Gobbledy Gooker! As the two are left in the ring after "cleaning house", we the audience witness the birth of "The Birds of Prey." Or "Pray." Either one fits, really.

The Rooster revolutionizes wrestling after slapping his boss, Vince McMahon, in the Crossface Rooster Wing before Steve Austin was ever able to give him a Stunner. Over the next five years, McMahon torments Taylor by refusing to fire him and instead gives him a new terrible gimmick each month to act out. Eventually, the entire McMahon family gets involved in the dispute before Matriarch Linda McMahon sides with the Rooster, books him in main events all over the world and is committed to a sanitarium for it.

Sadly, we are left to wonder what could have been, and Terry Taylor must live with having had to carry what can now be considered the worst gimmick in wrestling history.

Memorial Day Remembrance - The Real ECW

Michael Abenante — Fri, 22 May 2009 13:09:51 -0400

Every Tuesday night as I flip through television channels, I'm coldly reminded that I've lost a part of me forever.

I scroll through page after page of flickering rubbish and eventually find myself fixated on three letters staring back at me from a field on my screen preceded by the channel notation of The SciFi Network... ECW.

Three letters, countless memories, and one broken heart.

Usually I simply shake my head in disbelief or disgust as my mind hearkens back to the sounds of it all- obscene, chanting fans, chairs and garbage can lids smacking flesh and bone, edgy interviews and promos that featured swear words. I then picture images both bloody and artistic as I quickly continue to scroll through my channels, deflated.

But not this Memorial Day weekend. I need to eulogize my lost love after 25 years of loving and breathing and studying this business, losing countless members of my extended family along the way. I suffer through the sad iteration of "edgy" wrestling on this SciFi Network being called ECW. I spit upon the ground as I typed that last sentence.

I choose to remember the real ECW, for everything that it was and everything it wasn't.

How ECW Hooked me

It was a Sunday morning, and my younger brother woke me up excitedly to tell me that he discovered the greatest thing he'd ever seen as a wrestling fan the night before. It aired Saturday night on the MSG Network at 3am, and it was a real wrestling show, he explained. As he went on ranting breathlessly about backstage promos that had to be censored and a wrestler using a cheese grater on his opponent's forehead, he added that he had taped the whole affair so I could see it myself.

And see it I did.

I had come to believe that sports entertainment was very black and white, good and bad but always very fake. Realizing that early on was like learning that my mom was Santa Claus and also left a dollar under my pillow when I lost a tooth. But it didn't stop me from trying to cheer Hulk Hogan to a Wrestlemania VI victory over the Ultimate Warrior.

What I watched that morning changed my life and the way I saw my then favorite pasttime, wrestling. It changed the way I saw sporting events as a whole and the way I acted as a fan. It changed the standards I apply to everything I watch.

Realistically Speaking

The performers of ECW were doing the same moves as the superstars of the WWF/WWE and NWA/WCW were doing at the time, often much less impressively or sloppier. They didn't look like those stars did, for the most part, lacking tans and glistening muscular bodies.

Their character names and storylines were a mix of gritty and strange and mysterious. Some were nonsensical but funny. They didn't sound smooth on the microphone when speaking, like their lines had been rehearsed or placed on a cue card.

The fans weren't well behaved and the women valets looked as if they'd been dragged from local strip clubs.

The camerawork made 'Cloverfield' feel like a ride in one of Miss Daisy's Cadillacs.

The promos were as realistic as portraying a fictitious wrestling program as a true grudge match or street fight can be. The line between made-for-TV babble and blood feuds had permanently become blurred.

Storylines and plot arcs didn't ignore what happened on the card the night before or on last week's TV show. Years down the road, rivalries still burned and made for great drama without being overwrought.

And that's what made all of them so important and real.

There was a feeling that these mostly average people who loved wrestling the way I did were giving everything they had to replicate what we loved to watch. They were doing what I did in my friend's basements and living rooms. They talked about each other the way we wanted them to, about the business.

There was a palpable vibe when you watched this program that the people behind ECW understood that there was an untapped market to produce a professional grade product but with an uncensored, guerrilla style. And it seemed that they produced it just for me.

Of course, the blood, guts and death-defying stunts didn't hurt either.

Oh Yes, There Will Be Blood

Blood can be had by lightly digging the small corner of a razor blade into one's forehead, creating a crimson mask from a papercut. When used to intensify a story, it can be quite effective. When drawn from a man's forehead after bending a steel folding chair over it because it was the closest object in your vicinity-

Well, that's just plain fun.

The blood spilled at an ECW show rarely felt unnecessary or gratuitous. Fans were never paid back in blood. The athletes that figured they could only get over with us by showing some blood (as if they were actresses trying to score their big breaks by taking their clothes off in a B movie) never stuck around for long.

ECW separated the men with wrestling in their blood from the wrestlers who wanted to use it as a stepping stone to something more. But they never held it against the truly great ones that left their locker room because those men proved that world class talent could be found, nurtured and thrive in ECW.

Men like Chris Jericho, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit (he is still one of my favorites of all-time, recent past be damned) and Rey Mysterio proudly carried their ECW resumes with them as they ascended the ranks.

They bled when it mattered most. They tried new things in front of crowds that would point out their every error, slip or fall. They were allowed to put on the marathon, scientific matches they wanted to, making them as wild as they could imagine.

And they were eventually rewarded with lots of money, belts, and fame by other organizations to replicate it.

OH MY GOD!!!!

ECW helped pave the way to a more exciting product and a quicker pace to matches, new ring psychology. Smaller wrestlers were given the canvas they craved to paint masterpieces in the ring, a luxury that no other organization in the US would afford them.

Sadly, this still remains the case today. How many talents have we missed or lost because of the lack of an outlet for them to produce and express themselves?

My tastes dictate that I vastly prefer to see a four month long feud between wrestlers rather than an awkward 2 week set of matches and interviews leading up to a $50 PPV. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither are good wrestling stories or rivalries.

A major PPV 4 times a year was the formula for ECW's early success- an idea that came from the early blueprint of the WWE.

I understand there are now stockholders to answer to an money to be made, but the only reason those stockholders exist today is because the first stockholders were us fans.

Is the-wrestling-brand-that-shall-remain-nameless-on-SciFi somewhat watchable? I guess so. Do I hate everything about this version? No I don't. I simply despise the principle of using those letters to take advantage of me by selling me an inferior product, at a much higher cost and greater regularity.

Slapping those three letters on just any production involving young wannabe's and castoffs from the Monday and Thursday night shows is like slapping me in the face. The soul of ECW can't be duplicated. The hunger and creativity that fed the character development and story arcs can't be bought.

No amount of "Extreme rules" matches can ever make me forget the real thing, because "extreme" wasn't a set of rules to follow, it was a style. A style born of the performers and that enthralled its fans.

Vince Should've had the Undertaker Defeat the ECW name in a Buried Alive Match

I'm sure it would have been more interesting than another Inferno Match against Kane.

So I remember ECW, the real ECW. I remember feeling like I was watching something taboo in a darkened room at 3am, made just for my guilty enjoyment. I keep the memories alive on DVD and old VHS tapes on the bottom of my bookshelf.

I remember when a bunch of average people got together to create something bigger than they imagined and let me in on the deal. I remember stories and personalities that put the stale, old and ridiculously stereotypical ones of today's wrestling to shame, so much so that they still rehash them and present them as new under their WWE brand name.

I know I can never have any of it back, no matter how bad the business ever gets or how hard those hasbeens (no, my affection doesn't blind me) like Shane Douglas try to hold on and rekindle the flame every few years.

And every time I see a good match between Jack Swagger and Christian, I'll close my eyes and shake my head a bit and wonder how long and great their rivalry could've run if it happened in the old ECW.

But I remember too much to let that go silently unmarked.

EC Dub! EC Dub! EC Dub!

Giving the Rich More Credit: Why the Yankees Are So Hot

Michael Abenante — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:57:08 -0400

It's been a long while since the New York Yankees dugout was so lively, and not in a phony or empty sort of way. Players laugh and smile these days, moving to the top step of the dugout to get a closer look at the action and getting genuinely excited for their teammates successes.

Yes, genuinely excited.

Since Game Four of the 2004 ALCS, no two words could be more inappropriate in describing the Yankees or their fans. Much of the confidence and determination that rebuilt the modern era Yankees into the sports empire it is disappeared as the most important parts of the team left the team and the game.

No, Paul O'Neill isn't walking through that door ladies and gentlemen...Tino Martinez isn't walking through that door.

And we no longer have to wait for them to. The Yanks have new faces and personalities to pick up the championship mantra now. As important as replenishing the roster and farm system has been, the key lies in the new focus on the types of people brought in to play baseball for the club.

It's no coincidence that the personality of the team has changed so drastically with the additions of free agents C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira along with the trade with Chicago that brought Nick Swisher to town.

GM Brian Cashman essentially turned Mike Mussina, Jason Giambi, Bobby Abreu, Kevin Brown, and Carl Pavano into these four players.

Sabathia has become a team leader, extending himself and his home to teammates, along with carrying his share of the pitching load on his hefty left shoulder.

Burnett has brought his 12-6 curve ball and a mastery of the AL East with him to New York, as well as his penchant for pranks and hitting teammates in their faces with pies.

Mark Teixiera, always portrayed as a loner and a businessman, chose the Yankees rich offer over plenty of others because New York was where he wanted to play for the next decade. From his first press conference until now, he has been nothing but passionate in his play and affable with teammates, the media, and fans.

Entire chapters of the bestselling novel "Moneyball" were dedicated to Oakland GM Billy Beane's obsessive pursuit of drafting Swisher, as he envisioned him to be the Athletics' "very own Dykstra" (as in Lenny Dykstra the gritty, trash-talking outfielder for the Mets and Phillies). Nick has obviously shared some of his enthusiasm for the game and his confidence with his teammates, had for such a minor price.

Couple these moves with the development of an existing core of young players, such as Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, and Brett Gardner and the emergence of regular pitchers Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes among others in the bullpen, and it's clear these are not the Yankees of 2005-2008.

And what about the man responsible for the transfusion of new blood in the roster?

Brian Cashman restocked his farm system, perhaps not with can't-miss prospects but solid developmental players and draft picks. In doing so, he also lowered the Yankees' mammoth payroll and is clearly focused on creating a strong pipeline between the farm and Major League club.

The plan seems to be to nurture young talent and eventually open the purse strings only to keep that home-grown talent at home.

Yes, sometimes even the team with the most money deserves some of our credit.

This Just In: Human Beings Have Killed Sports!

Michael Abenante — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:48:53 -0400

Sure, I belong to the race of humans.

Every day I see, hear, and read at least one thing that makes me question my fellow man and wonder how people can be so good, yet so terrible or—weird.

But, never do I question my brethren more than when I'm watching a sporting event. Never. The amount of time spent wondering what exactly I've just watched compared to the time spent relaxing and enjoying a game as a passive experience is no longer close.

My friends, in the world of sports human beings have become obsolete, both as fans and as officials.

No longer are we able to differentiate between a knee high strike and a curve ball in the dirt.

We no longer have the desire to allow large men to play contact sports through means of contact.

No longer do we have the capacity to understand what actions are intentionally hurtful and which are incidental, nor do we seem able to judge punishment for these actions rationally.

We see amazing, come-from-behind ninth innings, two minute drives, and fourth quarter comebacks in almost every game now and never question why or how it happens so often. We then chalk our growing frustration with modern sports up to our getting older and more miserly in our ways, becoming harder to please and impress.

We can call exactly what will happen in a game and when because we feel it coming. Officials do too, and their job seems predicated on affecting the outcomes of games according to that flow.

We continue to watch and root and buy. We spend money and time caring—maintaining loyalty. We watch great sports battles decided by phantom fouls, home court advantages, and TV ratings. We stay tuned. Even though we've been cheated.

We are as much to blame as the puppets known as refs, umps, and line judges are because we enable them.

We, the unwashed masses, are led to believe by labor unions and former players that without human error as part of our games, they will be hollow and meaningless experiences.

They've already become hollow and meaningless because we like our sports reality the way we like our television reality—brainless and scripted. Some of us prefer to watch an obviously fixed boxing match while others prefer watching celebrities go to rehab. It doesn't matter which you choose because you feel empty afterward regardless.

Sometimes it just seems that the scripts are too predictable.

One day, I might remember the day when umpires were replaced by QuesTec and referees were replaced with robots. If I do, I'll probably just mutter something about how much better it was when I was younger before everything changed.

But that will just be the human in me talking.

Have the Amazin's Met Their Leader Yet?

Michael Abenante — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:49:52 -0400

No, they haven't, but that's because they're looking for one.

Leadership means different things to different people, and in the realm of professional sports, that meaning gets blurrier by the win or loss.

Some athletes lead by quiet example, while others choose to broadcast their emotions to the wide world. There is a thin line between separating being "laid back" and becoming just another face on the bench, sideline or in the dugout.

In listening to the recent debates regarding the Mets' need for a leader, one might wonder if every successful sports entity truly needs an outspoken leader to succeed. In terms of singular success, it's not a necessity.

Most championship clubs celebrate winning only once in a window of a few years, and in those cases usually rely on their talents, consistency, and some luck to come out of the grind of a season as winners. They never need to announce who their captain is. That bears itself out on the field.

That need seems to come from clubs that should be perennial contenders, that consistently underachieve (or in the case of the Mets, choke) or that simply ply their trade in large media markets.

To put things in perspective, how many small market Major League teams would happily listen to trade offers for David Wright? And how many others would gladly accept Carlos Beltran's silence in exchange for his defense and offensive production? Is Johan Santana less of a leader because he is soft-spoken?

It's a sad fan's luxury to boo players of this caliber (A-Rod, anyone?) or question their leadership qualities when they've grown to expect the unreasonable.

But as the Mets begin to lose more games due to a lackadaisical approach to playing baseball and indifference for the game's fundamentals, the real problem becomes clearer: Where is their heart?

Team chemistry is too often thought of in terms of how well a locker room gets along and believes in the game plan, how it follows its leaders. The Mets are a team made up of the wrong mix of talent and dedication, and wouldn't need one leader if more members of the team took it upon themselves to lead by performance or lead by being a positive, social teammate.

The public demands someone be accountable, to step in front of the cameras and microphones to explain where the burning desire to utterly wipe the smirk from Jimmy Rollins' face is. That's really what Mets fans want; what they need.

Pedro Martinez served this role cheerfully, but became a non-entity due to injuries. Billy Wagner attempted to be a galvanizing force, but lacked the charisma, success or credibility to be taken as anything more than an abrasive loudmouth. No other has attempted to fill the void, and they probably don't have to.

Heart is the missing ingredient in this formula, the elixir Mets fans are so ready to drink. It is the one thing that money can't buy for a team that is worth upwards of $147 million—the desire to be the best in the world.

10 (or maybe 11) Questions for QB Mark Sanchez:

Michael Abenante — Tue, 19 May 2009 20:05:30 -0400

1. Why did you choose to become the first QB in almost two decades to leave USC early?

2. After starting so few games at USC, what do you think made you such a high draft pick?

3. What do you think made your draft position so unpredictable?

4. What, if anything, did you learn from your legal experiences in 2006 while at USC, when you were accused of sexual assault?

5. If you had your choice of where to be selected in the draft, what NFL team besides the Jets would you have chosen and why?

6. Do you believe you can, and will, be the Jets’ starting QB to begin the 2009 season?

7. What is your greatest asset or skill coming into your first NFL camp and competing to be a starter? Where do you need the most improvement?

8. Would you consider yourself a gunslinger and play maker, or closer to a game manager?

9. How do you feel about being the new marquee name in town and playing in the largest media market in the world?

10. Are you feeling any pressure to be the face of the franchise? If so, do you think any of that pressure comes from being drafted immediately following Brett Favre’s departure?

Just Say No to Plaxico!

Michael Abenante — Tue, 19 May 2009 19:51:48 -0400

Grand visions dance in my head, of a 6’5” gazelle of a receiver draped in the same green and white (and sometimes awful blue and gold) I wear every Sunday, receiving deep passes from a gun-slinging new QB. I picture having my very own Brady-to-Moss connection to root for.

Then I recover my senses and remember that I’ve had these types of visions before and know what they lead to…a season of forced smiles…awkward press conferences…the No. 4 jerseys being launched from every deck and promenade at Giants Stadium on December 28, 2008. I remember now.

Yes, the Jets need some impact help at the wide receiver position.

No, the Jets current roster of pass-catchers won't make any defense stare at their schedule in trembling fear at the prospect of having to contain them.

Yes, the Jets took a major risk in letting their steadiest receiving threat walk away, Laveranues Coles, in the same offseason they drafted a new potential franchise QB that will need all the reliability he can gather on the field with him (whenever he actually takes the field).

OK, so why is Plaxico Burress not already signed? Wait, jail? Up to three years?

I say "no," the Jets should not sign the troubled star if he’s ever free to resume his playing career.

I give a resounding “yes!” to building a foundation of talented younger players and veterans who use holsters or leave their firearms in their glove compartments. Please allow the locker room to develop a positive chemistry before adding any malcontents to it.

It's exceedingly reasonable to argue the merits of inviting a high-impact player like Burress to join your team, especially so for the eternally second-fiddle Jets. Every recent attempt they’ve made at stealing the back pages of the New York newspapers has either fallen flat or looked increasingly desperate.

On the surface, bringing in Brett Favre or Burress has some football logic to the notion, but scratch at that surface for 16 games and you'll discover that these moves are not meant to build anything positive having to do with more than one season of football.

The Jets have lacked this sort of player forever, admittedly. Without question, the Jets are a playoff contender with a healthy and happy Plaxico Burress on the roster. But frankly, the Jets are a playoff contender right now.

A short term, incentive-laden deal would do Burress plenty of good but the Jets none, as the team has too many question marks across the field to expect his addition to impact them greatly or for a very long time. The list of available WR help is currently short, but the Jets committee of receivers proved last year that they can be serviceable, and come much cheaper and without baggage.

And that’s really the point: the very best version of Plaxico Burress brings today’s Jets team no closer to a Super Bowl than they already are. In truth, the scrutiny and frenzy surrounding the move would probably do more long term damage than any immediate good. Burress was Giants royalty and they thought they'd be better off without his presence, regardless of how many games they may win after.

In light of that, the Jets can’t allow themselves to be settled upon again by another reclamation project. For the Jets, flying under the radar should be preferable to rejoining the circus.

The 2009 New York Jets: Are Their New Wings Ready For Take-Off?

Michael Abenante — Sun, 17 May 2009 12:33:39 -0400

Last season, the New York Jets desperately wanted to be a team built to win now, but this season seem content with winning soon instead, and rightfully so. Jets fans should be excited about its new foundation and the prospects of watching a young, talented team begin to grow together and perhaps carry the team into the playoffs.

After a torrid start to begin the 2008 season, buoyed offensively by the threat of having a QB under center that could throw a football more than 20 yards and highlighted by an emotional defeat of the New England Patriots, the Jets fell victim to age and injuries in the second half. Inexperience and chemistry became major problems for the team in the final stretch, as derisive chatter began to filter from their locker room to the media and QB Brett Favre fought a biceps injury that limited the offense’s effectiveness. A talented yet inexperienced defensive unit could not pick up enough of the offense’s slack, and the Jets’ season of high-flying hopes spiraled back to earth, crashing and burning on the turf of Giants Stadium on the final Sunday of the season.

Major changes were on tap for the 2009 edition of the Jets and quickly came to pass after the devastating season ending loss to the Chad Pennington-led Miami Dolphins, chief among them being the hiring of former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan as the team’s new head coach and new mouthpiece. The team then followed last off-season’s spending spree with a relatively subdued signing period, with the biggest name on their list of targets being LB Bart Scott, who the team inked to a long term contract. Scott was a mainstay of the Ravens’ staunch defense whom Ryan hopes will bring leadership and intangibles to the roster, along with his 433 career tackles.

Other key additions to the roster come on the defensive side, as the team traded conditional draft picks to the Philadelphia Eagles for CB Lito Sheppard, signed S Jim Leonhard away from the Ravens and brought in 14 year veteran and Dolphins and Patriots mainstay Larry Izzo. Izzo is considered Special Teams royalty and should boost that unit for the Jets along with adding depth to the LB rotation in Ryan’s 3-4 and 46 defensive schemes.

While Sheppard is expected to team with ball-hawking Pro Bowlers CB Darelle Revis and S Kerry Rhodes in the Jets’ defensive backfield to shut down opposing passing attacks, his health has always been an obstacle to his potential. Leonhard is an undersized, and once undervalued, safety who found his niche in Ryan’s gritty defense in Baltimore and joined Scott in quickly reuniting with their former coach in New York. These moves should pay large dividends for the Jets on defense and special teams, adding depth, experience and talent to the Jets corps and providing the energy and rotation the team sorely lacked in the stretch run toward the playoffs last season.

The offense was certainly not ignored this off-season but most feel the attention it merits hasn’t yet been paid to it. The Jets did identify that the team no longer has interest in employing placeholder QBs and a vanilla, low-impact offensive approach, and desires strong performances, presence and leadership from the QB position and in doing so traded up in the first round of the draft to select USC QB Mark Sanchez to fill that void. Sanchez’ aptitude for the playbook and his relationships with teammates and the media this summer will go a long way to determining whether he is the franchise QB the Jets have been missing for almost their entire history.

The team is also in need of help at the WR position, having allowed top receiver Laveranues Coles to sign with the Bengals in free agency and doing nothing yet to upgrade that corp. The team continues to monitor the status of veteran stars Marvin Harrison and Plaxico Burress, and could bring either one in before the season begins to some effectiveness. However, there are weapons at the other positions in WRs Jerricho Cotchery, Brad Smith and Chansi Stuckey, while Dustin Keller should continue to develop into a solid pass catching TE and will have to after the team allowed incumbent Chris Baker leave via free agency.

Another developing plot heading into Jets voluntary camps that could have major ramifications on the upcoming season has been the vocal unhappiness of both running backs Leon Washington and Thomas Jones over their respective contract situations. While the team has been negotiating with Washington on a new contract and hefty raise from his rookie contract, Jones is moving into the tail-end of his contract, paying him far less than his previous two seasons and could find himself a salary cap casualty. Seemingly in anticipation of this situation, the Jets traded up in the third round of this year’s draft to select dynamic RB Shonn Greene out of the University of Iowa and it does not seem farfetched that Greene could become a backfield tandem with Washington, while the Jets part ways with Jones and free up cap space to fill other needs, such as WR. However, Coach Ryan witnessed the success a team can have employing three RBs with different styles last season in Baltimore and it is not out of the realm of possibility to think a Jones-Washington-Greene tandem could be devastating to NFL defenses and powerful support to a rookie starting QB.

The Jets offense is still a work in progress, but moving beyond the specter of Brett Favre should also prove to be a galvanizing source to many players in the locker room, whether they believe Favre’s arrival to be the driving force behind their Super Bowl hopes and 8-3 start in 2008, or they believe that 2009 should end better solely because of his absence. The defense and special teams units showed flashes of brilliance last year and kept the Jets in games that it might not have won otherwise, and should be vastly improved through their draft and free agent additions and new coaching philosophy.

One thing is certain- during this current building (not rebuilding) phase, team chemistry will be more critical to the Jets’ success than ever before. And if things work on the field as well as they seem to appear on paper, 2009 could prove a turning point in the direction of the franchise.