In My Humble Opinion, Week One: Phil Jackson, Brett Favre, and the Yankees

Hola and thanks for reading the first ever edition of Dan Pieroni's "In My Humble Opinion."

Before we begin, let me take some time to discuss what this column is all about and some ground rules for commenting.

This column will be very similar to my "Tuesday Morning Running Back Column" expect that it will entail all sports, as well my thoughts on popular culture.

Except for this week, the column will consist of nothing but bullet points, and will not employ any of the long introductions that are prevalent in the former column.

I will do this column once a week throughout the summer until the NFL season begins, after which I will focus my attention solely on "Tuesday Morning Running Back" and the occasional general column.

I would like this piece to be be highly interactive, therefore, I'm going to include a weekly trivia question, in which selected correct respondents will have their names printed in the following week's column.

There will also be a weekly poll question that I invite you to vote on.

I also invite comments on any of my opinions, although I'd appreciate it if the following rules are followed regarding comments.

1. Please feel free to be as honest as you'd like, but please keep your language clean.

2. Only one trivia answer per user please.

3. Please do not use the comment page or my profile page to promote your work. I understand that you're trying to build an audience, but isn't that everyone's goal here? If something interests me, I'll find it on the front page, and if it really interests me, I will become your fan. 

So without any further ado, let's begin.

• Thanks for reading the long-winded intro, I promise next week I will cut right to the chase.
• I wouldn't be surprised if Stephen Strasberg makes an immediate impact for the Nationals this season. They could use some excitement in their drab existence as an MLB franchise.
• This week's quiz: What current MLB broadcaster was selected first overall in the first-ever MLB draft in 1965?
• The Red Sox drafted Carl Yazstremski's grandson Michael. I'm rooting for him to make an impact someday.
• It is painfully evident that the Yankees are in desperate need of a setup man. It's even sadder that a member of the starting rotation is the best man for the job and Joe Girardi hasn't realized it yet.
• I'm tired of reading articles about how Phil Jackson is in poor health and the only thing that keeps him coaching is his pursuit of Red Auerbach's record for most NBA titles as a coach. Just win this series Phil so I don't have to hear you complain about your painful hip anymore.
• Likewise, the Kobe winning without Shaq articles are tiresome too.
• Is it me, or does Phil Jackson look like Colonel Sanders when he allows his beard to grow?
• I was a huge Pete Sampras fan back in the day. You may even say that I was a groupie for him. However, I'll be a man and admit that Roger Federer has dominated tennis like no man ever has in my lifetime.
• Will Brett Favre ever stop jerking the media and the Vikings around? Yes or no Brett? It should be an easy decision for a man your age.
• If anyone else but Dan Bylsma beats Claude Julien for NHL Coach of the Year, I'll shave my head.
• Conan O'Brien's only true competition should be sleep.
• The Sporting News says that Pedro Martinez has had workouts with both the Cubs and the Rays this week. Here's hoping he can contribute to someone, although I personally would hate to see him in a Rays uniform.
• If not for the Red Wings, the Detroit sports scene would be more painful than watching a Nationals game.
• I know I took some heat for including Padre broadcaster Ted Leitner in my list of best radio voices because he's egotistical, but that is precisely why I like him. He's so wooden and unfunny that it amuses me a man like him can become a major league broadcaster. Thus, he is a must listen for his outrageous opinions and self-worship.
• If hell had a broadcast team it'd be Ted and Suzyn Waldman
• I don't know about you, but if I were marooned on a remote island with Heidi and Spencer Pratt, I'd resort to cannibalism.
• Finally, if Manny were to star in a remake of a Hollywood movie, I'd love to see him in the Ivan Reitman film "Junior" all that female growth hormone he took has to amount to something, right?