The Legend of Cecilio Guante

Damn Good First Two CFB Weekends, Eh?

2010-09-03T00:05:00.013-04:00

Alright, I've got the college football bug now. And is it me or is are the scheduling g-ds cooperating to such a degree that the first few weeks of action are looking tastier than ever? Maybe my memory is fading...such could likely be the case. But I certainly don't immediately recall quality ranked match-ups early in the season like we have to look forward in 2010. I'm used to cream puffs and maybe a weak out-of-conference kind of contest pretending to be a real test. But have you checked out the first two weeks of this here season, people?

Well, let's just put aside the you-knew-it-would-be-good Pitt/Utah game that went to OT before the Panthers fell and crapped away any lofty dreams they may have harbored. Let's look to Saturday...and Monday. I don't have the time or energy to break down why each of these is so money, but just take my early word. If you can find some time, check out LSU against a depleted Tar Heels squad in Atlanta on Saturday in a battle of two top-25 squads.

If that doesn't tickle you, give a peek at Oregon St. as the Beavers try to squash the lofty titles hopes of the #6 TCU Horned Frogs. Still not satisfied? Sit tight for a top-10 showdon in week one. Boise and Va Tech. As much as I'd like to finally believe in the Broncos, I'm hard pressed to take the blue turf warriors over the Hokies in their general territory.

Then...then...if week one didn't get you going, consider some of the names meeting up in only week two:

- An intriguing out-of-conference clash as Georgia Tech travels to Lawerence, KS to face the Jayhawks

- The Georgia Bulldogs face SEC foe South Carolina at the Gamecocks following a surprisingly (in my mind) easy SC win over Southern Miss where Garcia and Lattimer made the offense look alive for Spurrier

- The Bowden-less #20 Seminoles take their show on the road to Norman, OK and the #7 Sooners. It won't take long to find out about Jimbo's FSU crew

- Then, if you're still hungry, the #13 Canes and #2 Buckeyes...

- And for the cherry on top, stay tuned for two of the most storied programs in all of college football - #19 Penn St. and top-ranked Alabama - in a lovely nightcap.

I'm fired up. How 'bout y'all?

College Football Kickoff: 15 Reasons to Rejoice!

2010-09-02T18:53:00.030-04:00

Yes, Hook Us, Indeed

This is my annual tribute to college football. It's now entering year four and is slightly updated each year (no time to re-write the list each year, plus it's timeless...right?). Please jump in on the comments...

Tonight. College football is here to-night. Oh, happy, happy day. Tonight, I've got a late dinner, but you can be damn sure I will watch Hawaii/USC. The outcome or relative competitiveness of the game means little. Sign. Me. Up. I have absolutely no affiliation with either of these fine institutions, but I'm ready to rock. Why? Because I love college football.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not that different from most other red-blooded American alpha male types living in this country. Sundays are devoted to The League. And Mondays. Sometimes Thursdays. Saturdays later in the fall. Give me the Jets at 1 and Giants at 4 (or any other game for that matter), and I’m the proverbial pig in sh*t. Toss in another FOX or CBS game to jump with and top it off with a decent Sunday night game? It doesn’t get much better than that.

But that doesn't mean a quality Saturday can't hang right there with the NFL's best slate. College football just has something. Maybe it’s the uniforms, the passion, the rivalries…maybe it’s the crowd, the youth, traditions, the number of schools you can follow...

All I know is that I can sit and watch an early Big Ten game (albeit only if in a decent haze from the previous evening), followed by some ACC afternoon action and into the night with the SEC and Big 12. I have not one logical reason for rooting for any team. I didn’t go to LSU or Florida. I am not a Notre Dame alum or Michigan Wolverines fan. I grew up in a NYC suburb and my alma mater -- well, they’re really good at lacrosse.

Back to what it is about college football. I can’t put my finger on it. So, here are only a few of the things that immediately come to mind in no particular order. Those of you who either (a) attended an institution with big-time college football or (b) have witnessed multiple games of a big-time program in-person, please share/comment/testify.

By the way, I'm making an exodus to Oxford and the Grove this October. Watch out for this here Yankee. I like pretty gals...wearing fancy clothes for no reason...and football...and bourbon...and awesome tradition...and, oh am I excited about this one. Sorry, sidebar, back to some overall reasons for college gridiron awesomeness.

15. Overtime Games: OK, so maybe they can get a bit ridiculous based on the college OT format. But, still, is there much better drama when a major conference rivarly game heads to extra sessions and the stategery comes into play? Love. It. Plus, it helped produce the greatest game I've ever seen.

14. The Grove: Just the idea of it has always seemed so right in so many ways. Now, I will experience it. I look forward to reporting back, my people.

13. Howard's Rock: There are dozens if not hundreds of traditions tied to over a century-plus of college football. Call me old-fashioned, but there's something about the simplicity, longevity and sense of shared experience tied to the simple action of rubbing that rock that gets me every time.

12.Passion: Every game is the beginning and end of all things. The players play that way. The coaches coach that way. The fans celebrate that way. I approve.

11. Those F-in Golden Domes: I can't stand Notre Dame. Watching them wallow in mediocrity the past few years has actually been quite pleasurable. That's why it's so difficult to say something nice about Notre Dame football. But those helmets, and the tradition surrounding them, is pretty damn cool.

10. Helmet Stickers: Sure, they might seem a little amateurish, but they make sense for the college game. I'm a big fan of the tomahawks at FSU and the dog bones at Georgia. I don't even mind the weed stickers they throw on those silver melon protectors in Columbus. If nothing else, it's a pretty quick way to identify the sick mofos on the field.

9. Stadiums with Nicknames: It’s not Alltel Stadium or Raymond James, for the most part (I still can't believe there's a Papa John's stadium, but I guess a college campus is as appropriate a place as any), and that's a good thing. The Swamp. Death Valley. Between the Hedges. The Shoe. Nice.

8. Fight/Stadium Songs: You can debate the best until you're blue in the face. Fact is, you didn't go to the school and yet you still hum along to the fight song. That's pretty big time. I'm also a sucker for those teams that make the trip over to the hometown stands following a little "Eyes of Texas" or "Rocky Top." Good stuff. Even seeing the stands shake at Camp Randall to House Of Pain is pretty cool.

7. SEC Cheerleaders: Sure, you can talk to me about SC's Song Girls. I also love the gals in chaps down in Austin. And, yes, the ladies from Sun Devil country (along with their Pac 10 counterparts) have proved stellar in the past. But pound-for-pound, other stuff for other stuff, I’ll take the collective “body of work” of the lovely ladies from the likes of Florida, LSU, Georgia,'Bama and the like. Give me some SEC.

6. The Option: Doesn’t matter who runs it on any other level, it still looks infinitely prettier when some well-oiled collegiate machine breaks it out. I for some reason could never take my eyes off Oklahoma when they used to run it in the 80s and 90s (unstoppable). It's even impressive to watch the service academies run the option with such discipline (although not quite as exciting).

5. Pushups. Cannons. Galloping Steeds. Stampeding Buffaloes. Slobbering Dawgs. War Eagles. Check out this list if you’re not getting the idea yet.

4. Enter Sandman: This could have easily been incorporated into a bullet devoted to traditions (and probably should have been), but I feel like it deserves a stand-alone. I've never been to Blacksburg, VA. Frankly, I haven't heard the crowd at many other college football stadiums in this country. I do know one thing. I still remember this game, and this intro, six years later. Awesome.

3. B.M.O.C.’s: Sure, being the star point guard at UNC is probably pretty cool. The stud laxer at Hopkins? He can likely strut around campus like his sh*t don't stink. But there are few teenagers or young 20-somethings in the world who can preside over an institution like the quarterback of a major D1 powerhouse. Hmmm, let's see who might be a decent example...

2. Bands: Actually, I don’t like them. I really don’t. Even that dotting the "i" thing. They could go away along with the wave. Fill up the time with #7. We're not conference-biased, either.

1. Bowl Games: Playoff, schlayoff. Sure, the system could use some fixing. But let's not do anything rash that would sacrifice what makes the college football post-season great. Frankly, I'm a little disappointed at the number of games now taking place ridiculously early and offensively late. January 1st should be an absolute bonanza where it's not about finding the best game, it's about finding the three best games to jump to and from. But bowl season is still a celebration of endless bounty -- and so is college football. Let the fantastic-ness begin.

Me, Mom, Mets and Martyrdom

2010-09-01T22:58:00.010-04:00

I’ve landed in Chicago…with my mother. It’s the eighth time we’ve done this. The first occasion was back in 'round 2002. I was 25 years old and our maiden exodus was to Bank One Ballpark and Arizona. This upcoming one could be the worst, though. In this particular instance, more than all the other years, it’s a martyrdom on a different level. One could argue, in fact, that it’s pure madness. Let me explain briefly. And, yes, of course it has to do with the Mets.

Back those many years ago, before I was lucky enough to be married, on a decent career path and maybe mature enough to think such things through, my mother (bless her heart) offered up a proposition. Short story. My dad and I had just returned from a journey to Italy that was memorable on countless fronts – and we spoke of it often and passionately. From connecting with relatives not seen in 50 years, tracing ancestry, spending time with family, taking in the landscape, sounds and food you can’t re-create. My mother listened…and in her completely not-ever-subtle manner…made it clear. She was jealous.

As a son (with this mother), you don’t want that on your conscience. I asked a simple question: what do you want to do? Her answer? The Brooklyn-born, semi-Bonkers, four-newspaper-a-day-reading, Mike and The Dog habitual-listening (when Russo was still married to Francesca) hoping-against-hope Mets fan wanted to go and see the Mets on the road with her son. Not one game mind you, but an entire series. Even as a nutbag sports fan and Mets miser myself it seemed much. Multiple days off work? Cross-country trips? But I had no choice really, I acquiesced.

Fast-forward to 2010, our single trip to Arizona ended up a launching pad for a tradition that lives on. The woman, and I love her to death, has long defeated Italy in sheer man-hours taking the “son bonding” title years back. And in the same way my father-son voyage created unforgettable and treasured moments, such has been the case too with mom’s “annual” Mets road trip We’ve hit San Diego, Colorado, Arizona, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Boston, zig-zagging across the country with no clear logic aside or requirements aside from not repeating a stadium.

All of which explains why I’m in Chicago. Tradition and devotion to a ritual that goes way beyond a team. And it would have to right? Because there is no other explanation for two sane people traveling distance to watch these teams play multiple games against one another.

Yes, this trek to see this 2010 edition of the Mets play a perhaps equally-embarrassing Cubbies crew truly takes the cake. From a sheer baseball perspective, outside the chance to introduce mom to another venerable ballpark (I’ve been once but watched from a rooftop behind the outfield wall through eyes clouded by probably a dozen or so beers), there’s not much redeeming here. In other years, our trips had been earlier in the summer, when one could at least pretend games still mattered and that the Metros might make a run at something. This year? This September? Bad choice if drama is an intended part of the agenda.

Instead, we’ll wait on a team three games under .500 (maybe four by the time they arrive!), limping into Chicago with little dignity, no apparent fire and barely a mathematical chance of a postseason berth. Of course, honest Mets fans have know this team was nothing more than mediocre for months. But the possibility of seeing lineups like the one they trotted out this week? I don’t know if I could have even imagined it even a few months back.

Luckily, we’ve got a few good restaurant reservations and will do a bit of sightseeing here and there. On Friday and Saturday (even my delusional mother acknowledged the insanity of attending the full series), we’ll head to Wrigley. Perhaps we’ll be able to look back and talk about how it was the first time we saw the great Jenrry Mejia start on a Major League mound. Who knows, the Mets might even win a game or two.

On the contrary, chances are better it will be ugly. Reality is it will be meaningless in the standings The Mets are done and, in many ways, the concept of traveling to see them ‘perform” is laughable. But tradition is tradition. We’ll have a good time. And maybe, just maybe, one of these years we’ll get to see a team on the road to a championship...

Mets Lineup Inspires Fear...In Its Fans

2010-08-31T17:48:00.008-04:00

I've long passed the point of being at a loss for words as it relates to the 2010 New York Mets. The fact that I'm going to watch this team play two games on the road this week deserves its own post (which I'll try to get to later tonight).

In the meantime, I simply could not ignore this...this...thing I saw first at Mets Blog earlier. Oh. My. Goodness. Drink this in sports fans.

It really is quite amazing isn't it. Take a long look. Savor it. Let it roll around your tongue for a bit, so you can truly appreciate the essence of it. The es-sence of stink.Words do not do this lineup justice, but we can only try. Yes, Pagan is out and unavailable. Still, the notion that the Mets still keeping talking about a pennant race, while trotting out this vaunted lineup is laughable. The sad thing is, you can't find new players. But you might want to consider perhaps shuffling them maybe a little bit? I don't know. Your choices here are crap and crappier.

Let's break it down a bit, shall we? Luis Castillo is our table-setting speedster. He of the broken-down body, seven steals and outfield grass power. Castillo, proud owner of a .238 average and six extra base hits in over 200 plate appearances is the spark at the top of the lineup. The scary thing is, this is the placement that might make the most sense. I have no real other suggestions for the leadoff hole.

Next, Manuel has placed the Mets only real power hitter of any salt batting second. With Castillo ahead of him, D-Wright should have ample opportunities to add to his team-leading RBI total tonight. I can feel it.

Batting third, the spot usually reserved for a team's best hitter, Carlos Beltran. Beltran's .216 clip and two dingers should instill fear in Braves pitching. But lest the Braves make a mistake and perchance give Beltran a free pass? Oh no, that is not something you wish to do. Tread lightly, Bravos. Because awaiting you in the cleanup spot is none other than JEFF FRANCOUER. Was that your fear-filled recoil I just felt? Methinks so. One word comes to mind: dangerous.

The youngster Ike Davis sits behind Frenchy. Again, I've got no real problem with this, I guess. "The Animal" Chris Carter, who's produced in the cleanup spot recently, instead hits seventh. Carter will get his second at-bat versus a left-handed pitcher this year. He was unsuccessful in his only other attempt. If only Fernando Tatis was still available! Oh yes, Carter is hitting behind Henry Blanco. Blanco bats sixth in this vaunted lineup. Where can we go from here, one might ask?!

Well, with Reyes still out, the...is there a synonym for "light-hitting" that conveys even light-er hitting...anyway, Ruben Tejada bats eighth. Tejada is batting .172. Tejada is batting .172. Tejada...sorry, starting to lose it for a second, there.

Well, that's what the Mets are rolling out on the field tonight in "support" of Jon Niese. They sport (minus Niese) a spiffy .240 team average. Knowing this team, they'll go out and make me look a fool and put up a 10-spot or something. However, on paper, this is one of the more depressing lineups in recent memory. Takes me all the way back to the 2009 glory days of Cory Sullivan, Brian Schneider, Anderson Hernandez, Fernando Tatis and friends headlining our lineup. Ahh, such sweet recollections. Best of luck, Mr. Niese. You can thank Jerry Manuel and your teammates later, I'm sure.

The NFL Kickoff: The Most Frightening Moment in Sports?

2010-08-26T22:20:00.015-04:00

Trained Mercenaries

I'm watching "Monday Night Football," and I couldn't be more excited to get this season started (particularly given the Mets sorry state of existence). There are so many reasons to love football. And, just like many red-blooded Americans, the vicious hitting is one of the most entertaining elements of the game for me. Even at home on the couch, it's often a bone-crushing stop that elicits the most passionate and enthusiastic reaction -- the oohs and ahhs. Yet, I couldn't help but think of one thing during the Pack-Colts game tonight. I sure hope it never happens, but the NFL kickoff is becoming a deadly-caliber play.

Is it me or is anyone else watching kickoffs with just a bit of held breath? How many years can players get bigger, faster, stronger and a very, very serious injury be avoided? Sure, quarterbacks getting laid out from the blind side or receievers prone to being drilled as balls sail over the heads or off tipped fingers are still primetime for punishment. But the kickoff is starting to elevate to another level.

You knows those crazy ESPN Sports Science segments where they tell you how much force is delivered by Brandan Jacobs at top speed or Ndamukong Suh bursting off the line unabated? Well, I don't want to see or hear the results of what "science" says about the impact a 6'3, 250-lb. linebacker-type who runs a 4.4/40 sprinting at top speed some 60-something yards and laying the lumber to a 190-lb return man? I don't need to get the physics lesson. I've seen it....and it's ugly.

Yet, we thirst for that kind of head-hunting viciousness -- and so do the players. Keeping contain and breaking up the wedge is all fine and good. But today's player, particularly the part-time special teamer, is so drunk with the vision of SportsCenter highlights dancing in their head, they are dreaming about that same knockout punch. They want the lights out, leave your man motionless, no arm-wrap, shoulder shudder tackle.

One of these days it's going to be the perfect storm. Someone's going to come clean, some nasty, jacked freak of an athlete, and collide head to head with an unsuspecting and/or unprotected returner. I just hope no matter how nasty the hitting gets, these guys keep getting up. I just have one-eye half-shut these days. For me, the NFL kickoff has become one of the most frightening play in sports.

Hard Knocks Missing Something

2010-08-25T23:54:00.010-04:00

Still Love It, But Something Missing

I've been pretty much in love with Hard Knocks since Billick and the Ravens in 2001. It's the perfect combination for a former high school player who loves all the human drama, the behind-the-scenes stuff and in-game action and equally enjoys the film room sessions and chalkboard talks. Anyone who's been here knows I've been fired up since spring that this great show was coming to cover my team. All that said, from the perspective a self-proclaimed (and proud) HK aficionado even moreso than as a Jets nut, this season has been lacking.

I've been struggling with exactly what it is that's missing. Every season of Hard Knocks has been inherently unique. Its respective awesomeness has been a result of some common elements along with slightly different ingredients combining in a way that made for powerful television. Ocho Cinco brought a special sizzle to the Bengals edition. The newness of it all made the Ravens HK unforgettable at the time. Herm was phenomenal in KC, whether intentionally comedic or likely the opposite. The Cowboys camp did such a masterful job of covering the fringe guys that I still keep an eye out and tabs on those dudes today.

Regardless, each show seemed to learn from the next. Yet, the special sauce was always some manner of blending of the on and off-field stuff, the x's and o's and sweat and sleds, the profane and the poignant. After giving it some thought, it's a bit of that off-field and "emotional" stuff that's leaving a void in this year's Jets version of Hard Knocks. Granted, there are two episodes left but there has been little mention or showing of players or coach's wives, children or families.

Nothing about rookies shopping for furniture or talks with parents about whether they're going to make the team. Nada ripping on their fashion, music choices, eating habits or anything else that would seem mundane but actually gives you a bit of a look into someone that you can only really get through shows like this (e.g. Sanchez loves the Taco Bell and, hence, the sweet lid). I realize some of that looks like it will come next week with the team back in New Jersey.

Even beyond some of the now seemingly standard HK stuff, there's also been little of the players casually hanging out either in the locker room, film rooms or beyond the field of play. It's seeing that interaction - just between guys b-s'ing - that ofen makes for the most compelling and/or humorous ingredient of HK.

Here's looking forward to HBO brings a little bit more of that sentiment back in these final episodes. Oh yes, and the footage of Revis signing that contract would be a nice touch, too.

Cedric Benson Is Indispensable? Whudda Thunk It

2010-08-25T23:35:00.004-04:00

Hail Me, King of the Bengals!

It's funny reading the "mainstream" media folks some times. It's actually comforting knowing that, no matter how much access they have and how well-trained, sometimes they're a whole lot like us recreational bloggers. One example: some times they really need to stretch to come up with a story idea. In a concept that seems positively "bloggorial" in its essence, ESPN.com today featured an online compilation of sorts entitled "The Indispesables," complete with cute, little comic-style illustration.

The concept reeks of somebody throwing ideas while mired in a creative rut, yet it's somewhat intriguing in the sense of generating a disproportionate level of vitriol from fans around the country: who is the most valuable or "indispensable" player on each team outside of the signal callers. Today, they tackled the AFC. And that's where I saw Cedric Benson...

Now, nothing against Ced, but it's a bit funny/ironic/interesting to consider Benson's name on this list as the one player outside of Carson Palmer that Cincy can't afford to lose. If only because the man's NFL future seemed at least somewhat precarious at the end of '08 following a few arrests and his release from the Bears following the season. Benson has since taken advantage of his opportunity and finished eighth in the NFL in rushing last season.

In the eyes of NFC North blogger James Walker, that's enough to make Cedric the Mr. Indispensable rep for Cincy.

CINCINNATI BENGALS: CEDRIC BENSON

Cincinnati is a team better defined by the sum of its parts. But if I had to pick the most important non-quarterback, it would be Benson.

The Bengals have two very good cornerbacks: Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph. They have plenty of receivers, including two who have put up Hall of Fame-caliber numbers in Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens. But Benson is the workhorse who makes it all work. Benson opens things up for the passing game, which was inconsistent last season, and he moves the chains to help keep the defense off the field.

Second-year tailback Bernard Scott will help Benson carry the load this year. He showed positive flashes as a rookie, but the former sixth-round pick remains unproven. With Cincinnati expected to pass more, Benson might not match his career-best 1,251 rushing yards from last season. But that doesn't make him any less important.

I can't argue a whole lot with the rationale. It still might give me a little pause, if I was a Bengals fan. Benson's been called a lot of things in his career, "indispensable" hasn't been one used that frequently. We shall see...

Raiders' Heyward-Bey Returns After Missing Week of Practice: He Was Pooped!

2010-08-25T18:20:00.008-04:00

Let's just say more than a few eyebrows were raised when the Oakland Raiders selected Darrius Heyward-Bey with the seventh overall pick of the first round in last summer's NFL Draft. His nine-catch rookie season didn't exactly silence the critics.

Well, Raider Nation may continue to have some questions about Heyward-Bey. Although I'd somehow missed it, the speedy receiver apparently just returned to camp/practice yesterday after a four-day hiatus. His ailment? Damn it, Darrius was just flat-out pooped, ya know? Tired. Tired. Tired.

Now, maybe there's more to it. There has to be, right? But "fatigue" seems to be the party line from Cable, D-B and the Raiders brass. If that's the case, Oakland may want to keep him out of games once the regular season starts. Because, wow, can those NFL contests get exhausting!

Somehow it all makes sense in Al Davis land. Will be interesting to see if Darrius overcomes his sleepiness, and maybe manages to sneak in a few receptions this season.

Is Revis Under the Tree Tomorrow? Pins and Needles

2010-08-24T21:04:00.006-04:00

I feel like a kid the night before Christmas, except the kicker is that the morning may come a big ole lump a coal and a sign from the anti-Santa saying: "Psych, these are the Jets! What exactly did you think would be waiting?"

Still, now that Tom Colishaw has established himself as a household name for every long-suffering Jets fan in the country, you can't help but get those butterflies at least a little bit. Maybe? Oh, how wonderful would a Hard Knocks Revis surprise be? I'd even let Darrelle slide if his ego got the best of him, and went all "Decision"-like drama by saving the reveal for the HBO cameras and a national audience.

Well, here's to waiting. Just in case you forget what we're waiting on...

Who Decided Fernando Martinez Was Good?

2010-08-23T21:33:00.004-04:00

There's plenty to bitch about the 2010 New York Mets. Hmm, what can I pull out of my hat of misery? Oh, here's one I've got. Fernando F-In Martinez. My issue? He stinks. I don't care if he's 21 years old. The thing that gets me? He's never been good, yet year after year Mets fans, press and brass talk about him like he's the "it" player of the Mets future? Who exactly decided he was a prospect? What qualities did he show? He has an athletic build and runs OK, has a nice swing and can catch a fly ball? Seriously, where did this illusion begin?

Looking at the stats, he's undisputably done absolutely nothing at the big league level. To be fair, the sample size is quite small, and F-Mart is quite young. Plus, he's hurt every other day. But how long is being young an excuse exactly? I also find it interesting that Martinez's "prospect ranking" has dipped from year to year. The more surprising part is that he's never torn it up anywhere to warrant any of his accolades. 116 games at the Triple-A level and a .268 average? 20 home runs? Am I missing something? Where, why, how and when did the hype train leave the station on this one?

Mets fans are suckers. We'll likely be waiting around for F-Mart to "blossom" years from now. It feels a little bit like Alex Escobar all over again. We'll see. For now, the Mets will predictably keep holding on. If we're lucky, maybe Martinez will eventually become the next Lastings Milledge. And, yes, that would be a good thing at this point.

Delonte West Gets 10 Game Suspension For Driving with Armory

2010-08-22T21:22:00.010-04:00

Delonte West was stopped over a year ago traveling on his motorcycle with multiple handguns, an 8 1/2-inch "Bowie" knife and a shotgun enclosed in a guitar case strapped to his back. As I mentioned last September, the ridiculous details of the case spoke to more than just athlete arrogance and recklessness but, rather, some deeper-seated issues. Delonte has had his share of problems, and his emotional well-being is and has been a legitimate concern for some time. That said, Delonte's sentence recently came down and was followed by a suspension handed down by the NBA. It's that ruling that's perhaps even more disturbing.

Now, I don't claim to know very much about the law or the "right" penalty for packing an arsenal worth of firepower while cruising down a public highway. Perhaps that's only worthy of home detention, probation and some counseling. So, following that punishment, the ball was in commisioner Stern's court, so to speak. The message sent to West? A 10-game suspension. Quite a message, huh?

Roger Goodell has made a name for himself by swiftly and strictly wielding his power to police the behavior of the league's players. The goal of his "player conduct policy" being to promote a certain manner of behavior both on and off the field, and shift perception of NFL players as out-of-control men who can act recklessly and without fear of repurcussion. His track record speaks for itself. In a somewhat similar case, Goodell suspended Tank Johnson for eight games - or half the NFL season - for weapons charges that paled in comparison to those of West.

So, the question is not what would Goodell have done if the tables were turned. There's little doubt in my mind that had a similar incident occurred with even a "mid-tier" name in his League, that Goodell would lower the hammer. Stern and the NBA have had their own image problems in the past. They have not gone away. What does a measely 10-game suspension say about how seriously he takes the crime committed by West? How in any way is this a deterrent to those packing heat across the NBA? Am I nuts for thinking this is a joke of a suspension?

Jersey Shame: 1993, Patriots Bledsoe

2010-08-19T20:47:00.008-04:00

My high school years were witness to many things strange things, one of those was an appalling amount of licensed apparel. From mesh shorts to t-shirts to hats, I must have been one of those teens helping keep brands like Apex One (this was a company at one time, right?) and Starter afloat in the early 90s. And while Champion shorts from every random university were par for the course, the pinnacle of branded apparel was always the jersey. The amount of money spent on authentic hockey sweaters, NBA tanks and baseball and football jerseys was staggering (um, thanks, mom). There were hits and misses, of course. However, all of us who went through this "phase" in our developmental years likely also has at least one hidden secret...one embarrassing purchase that you'd like to forget...at least one article of licensed gear that went against everything you stood for as a fan...one shameful mistake. Here's mine.

Even now I can't really explain it. Maybe it was the "modern" look of the at-the-time newfangled Patriot with its sleek silver countenance on the shoulder? Perhaps the patriotic melding of red, white and blue with that crazy subtle pinstripe thing going on put me in some sort of trance? Maybe it was a bizarre after effect of watching his stunning 1992 Copper Bowl performance? I can't pinpoint the reason. Likely, it was some strange combination of various forces. It's the same reason I owned a sought-after Dallas Cowboys Starter jacket around this time despite having no allegiance or affinity towards America's team, but, rather, a healthy dislike.

I guess the Drew Bledsoe 1993 Patriots jersey in blue was just too awesomely "cool" that I simply could not resist. But of course unlike my Bad Moon Rison jersey - which was awesome - the Bledsoe purchase violated all sorts of rules. As a diehard Jets fan even then, what could have possibly allowed me to make such a decision? How did so many receptors responsible for logic simultaneously shut down? The Jets-Pats rivalry was light years then from what it is today, but, still, I wouldn't have been caught dead in a Dan Marino jersey how could I don the colors of any division rival?

To this day, it remains inexplicable. And, for years, I was too ashamed to even acknowledge such a thing had ever occurred. Please share your shame in the comments. It's my hope that with this admission I can find solace in knowing others committed similar transgressions that could be chalked up to youthful ignorance and recklessness. It's the only way I may come to grips with it all.

Four Mondays 'Til MNF

2010-08-18T12:20:00.005-04:00

Four more Mondays until MNF saves our souls. Amusing new spot from ESPN. I'll be at the new Meadowlands, baby. Can. Not. Wait.

VitaminWater Follows D-Wright and The Situation with Busey and AD

2010-08-17T10:09:00.008-04:00

I don't necessarily always get VitaminWater's ads. But they make me laugh, and I write about them. So, some might say that's successful marketing. But who wants to get into a debate about communications effectiveness...I do that stuff during a normal day of work. No, instead, following up on their unique pairing of David Wright and the Jersey Shore's "Situation" back in the spring, we give you Adrian Peterson and Norman Tugwater...um, I mean, Gary Busey in "Time to Collect." With special guest appearances by Shaq! You figure it out. I can't explain it, but I know I like it.

Jets Preseason Opener: Things I Liked...and Didn't

2010-08-16T22:02:00.014-04:00

I can't help myself. Football, football, oh glorious, football. I won't even bother with particularly deep analysis. Here's what I take away.

Things I didn't like...
The early Sanchez pick
Offensive line pass protection
Penalties
Exaggeration by Jaws and Gruden on every damn throw by any quarterback
Gholston and Taylor silence...have a strange feeling this may be a theme into the season...hoping I'm wrong

Likes
Cromartie can still cover
Run defense - stout
Sanchez looked great following that tipped pick
Braylon's hands were sticky, not slippery
Holmes is dangerous
LT did nothing to contradict any of the talk that he could be a pretty damn useful lil'player for these Jets

In short, I was pleased with the ones. Here's the thing that bothered me, as it always does. Even the good news with the Jets causes me agita. Holmes looks like he is clicking with Sanchez and could be a real dynamic threat for us...for once. Oh yes, except he won't be here the first four games. Cro is the freakish athlete that could be the frightening tag team partner to Revis...but, oh yea, Revis...can't it all come together the way it's supposed to? Just once? Just let us see how it might turn out if all the stars aligned.

No? OK. Regardless, so great to be watching some football again. Whether they're a Super Bowl team, who knows...but they should be able to compete for the playoffs at least...to be extremely relevant in this League...and that's all I can ever ask. I mean, Hisanori Takahashi just closed a game for my other team...in mid-August.

Best of the Best: Making Fun of K-Rod

2010-08-16T21:18:00.013-04:00

There are no words. Instead, I can only choose to laugh. So, if you're going to treat yourself to some comic relief, you might as well go to the real hardcore Mets fans. They are the most tortured...the most passionate...the most masochistic...the most...well, because of all those things, hilarious. A few of my personal favorites from the comments sections of various Mets blogs following posts on the A-Rod season-ending injury news.

10. "We're basically the Bull Durham of MLB right now..." (Amazin'Avenue)

9. Every time I think Frankie can't get any dumber he does something like this. And TOTALLY redeems himself (Amazin' Avenue)

8. Can Francisco introduce his father-in-law to Ollie and Castillo? just saying.. maybe we can turn a negative into a positive here… (Mets Blog)

7. ...check please (NY Post)

6. Isn't there SOME way we can just euthanize this entire team and this entire season and just make belive neither of them ever existed? (NY Post)

5. your move Jeff, or Fred, or whoever the hell is in charge of this group of losers (NY Daily News)

4. This is awesome. F-RAUD 4LYFEEEEE (ESPN NY)

Oh, forget it...it's not even funny anymore. It's just depressing. Back to football...

It's Dickey!

2010-08-14T12:11:00.004-04:00

Is there anything else worthwhile to post about this team? No, there is only one thing.

The Money Clip from Hard Knocks Premiere

2010-08-12T09:52:00.006-04:00

I owe you fine readers, particularly the Jets faithful, a more in-depth breakdown of the season opener of Hard Knocks. Suffice to say, I'd been looking forward to it for some time. The quick verdict? Solid. The production quality and drama-injected feel is still there, and it's an even cooler watching when its "your team" they are profiling.

The introductory episode had its requisite moments - introducing the storylines, rolling into Cortland, player arrivals and even a quick jaunt out to a local watering hole. There were no Earth-shattering moments but, rather, the first episode helped establish what most Jets fans already know - there are some characters on this team who are going to make for some damn good TV.

All that said, despite the very central storyline of the Revis holdout that will likely continue to be a focal point of subsequent episodes no matter the outcome or (please, please) resolution, Sexy Rexy stole the show. As my wife noted, it was very much the Rex Ryan Hour brought to you by HBO right from the start. And you know what? I'd watch that every week for sure.

Yes, I'm looking forward to a deeper dive into the players and their personalities on and off the field. It's those quick snapshots into the lives of players beyond what we see each day - whether at home on the bus or in the locker room - that make this show so fantastic. And as a former film fiend, I can't wait to see a little more of Schotty, Pettine and the staff breaking down depth charts and x's and o's.

For now, though, the largest figure of the show (snack fines or otherwise) is undoubtedly Rex. Jets fans can't help but love his bring it on attitude. Haters have plenty of reason to hate. Yes, he's brash...supremely confident...straight shooting...full of expletives. I get why he rubs people the wrong way. But for a franchise that's been a punchline for more than a few years it's incredibly refreshing to Jets Nation. No scene better encapsulated that Ryan aura and the swagger he brings (and is trying to further instill) to this team than the following. Courtesy of The Jets Blog, the language makes it NSFW. Oh, but it is poetry, is it not? Enjoy it for as long as it stays up. My favorite mini-snippet comes at the 1:21 mark. Classic.

Is This Revis Thing THE Omen? Please, no...why...

2010-08-09T22:48:00.009-04:00

Why? Why must this sh*t always happen? It's always something. As a fan of the Mets and Jets, I've been trained for decades to wait for the proverbial other shoe to drop. Nothing is ever as perfect as it seems. All good things halt and return to predictable disappointment. Even when the stars align, some element is bound to throw them slightly off kilter. So can you blame me for starting to get that funny, uncomfortable feeling in my stomach? Am I crazy for feeling like this Revis thing just might be just the latest mutation of a forever-morphing curse upon the teams I love? I fear it may be true.

It really hit home today. With the most recent comments from Woody, Rex and Mike T., the reality of a Revis-less Jets is one you can't help but to at least ponder -- and the notion is sickening. It's gut-wrenching not just for all the obvious reasons surrounding Revis's skills. Moreso, the thought is so agonizing to even consider because it's EXACTLY the type of thing that would happen to this team. More talent than ever before...the right young players peaking at the right time...a coach's bravado that's yet to become too played out with a group of men...it would all be too perfect. The possibility of a pair of gifted cover corners surrounded by talent to spare? Way too good to be true...especially when you consider these are the Jets.

Unfortunately, I can see it all too easily. The derailment that began in the dog days of August. The grumblings that couldn't help but leak their poisonous fumes into the locker room. Cameras from HBO only exacerbating the situation. We'll be reciting the "do you remembers," speaking about early spring when we were muttering about the Super Bowl and allowing ourselves to dream long before Rexy ever scribbled "soon to be champs" on the side of that ESPN bus.

Ugh, I can see it all now. The rearview mirror looking back to early August when you first got that nauseous sensation of the unforeseen downfall of the Jets fantasy season, the one you dreamed about for as long as you can remember, first crept up in your throat. Yes, the Revis holdout is starting to feel like that thing about to cloud an otherwise pristine sky. I can only hope the storm subsides and rolls out soon and that 24 trots onto that practice field to Cortland cheers. It would be my Sawatanayo moment. But, alas, I see no glittering sea of splendor around the corner. Instead, I spy darkness set to shatter an otherwise clear and sunny outlook. These are the Jets, so this must be our omen.

Remember "Road Warriors?" Mets are the OPPOSITE

2010-08-08T22:06:00.009-04:00

The Mets are on life support, and that's only if you feel like looking at the mathematics of it all. Anyone who watches this team regularly can tell you that one must demonstrate a pulse to still be considered "alive," and this squad has long since failed to show any signs of such a thing.

All that said, it still hit me like a ton of bricks when, following the Mets loss to the Phillies this afternoon, I read that the Mets have not beaten an NL team in a road series...THIS SEASON...since...THIS SEASON!!
I don't know if I'd just missed this stat before or simply chosen to ignore it.

Regardless, it's pathetic and emblematic of so much that is wrong with this Mets team. And, for the record, I'll point again to this late June post as just one of our ailments. JUST. SAYING. Yes, there are much bigger problems. Too many to list. For now, perhaps we can chase the title of Road Losers to rival the G-Men of a few seasons ago. It's always good to strive for something.

If I Had to Say Goodbye...Au Revoir, NBA

2010-08-08T16:15:00.011-04:00

I love sports. Pretty much all of them, so the idea of giving one up, particularly of the so-called majors, would be unpleasant, if not unimaginable. But what if one of them had to go away tomorrow. Which could you deal with the easiest? I got to thinking about that the other night. Why? Who knows? Explaining the inner workings of my mind is a frightening proposition. Still, I considered this question and included the four professional "majors" PLUS college football and college basketball in the equation -- just because I can. The verdict? Although I can see why and how others could make strong arguments for casually coping with the dismissal of any of these divine diversions, my choice to go (if forced) would be the NBA.

Here's the thinking. Feel free to question the logic, as I have no doubt many of you will. Hence is the point (if any) of such a post...spark some debate and maybe make some people think, if only for a nanosecond.

NFL: Do I even have to say more, here? Really. The mere notion of our Sunday (Monday, Thursday and sometimes Saturday) savior disappearing is incredibly frightening. I NEED the NFL more and more each year. It's like a physiological thing that increasingly occurs with age. That's why the mere mention of a lockout, no matter how real, is too much to fathom. It would be chaos. The murder rate would increase. Divorces would skyrocket. Unspeakable deviant acts would take place. OK, maybe not, but it would be awful. Enough said on that...

College Football: I know some people really don't get this, but my passion for college football runs as deep if not deeper than for the pro game. G-d forbid anything ever happen to the NFL, the gloriousness of the nationwide pomp and circumstance surrounding college football would be the only solace. The rivalries, the emotion, the excitement...I'm a CFB junkie. So, no, I don't think I could part with that too easily either.

MLB: As much as the Mets drive me completely insane, it's nothing compared to what might occur if baseball were to vanish. Sure, the 162-game schedule seems like a marathon to many. For others, though, the almost-every-day nature of the game is what makes it so fabulous. Without baseball on each weekday night during the sultry summer, what could keep a man from going crazy? Plus, it's the national pasttime. Even if it's not, killing baseball would be unpatriotic.

College Hoops: If it was merely a regular season, you could take it. Snatch it up and discard, I wouldn't miss it. During my youth, I was known (OK, mocked) for being that guy who was routinely up for the midnight finale of the Monday ESPN triple-header featuring Long Beach St. and UNLV, or some other thrilling duel. Back then, college hoops was right up there with NCAA pigskin. But the appeal has faded significantly over the years. The one-and-done environment has zapped the spirit for me and made following any team or "class" of players basically impossible. However, it's the madness that would keep it off the chopping block for me. Sure, we're heading towards a 384-team tournament with billions of dollars of sponsorship money locked into it in the next decade...but, for now at least, March Madness is still just about as good as it gets in terms of must-watch sports.

NHL: If you follow this blog and know my sports fan "tendencies," the NHL would be the natural sport you might think I'd be ready to abolish. Not so fast, my friend. While I can not claim to have caught much regular season action, I still would hesitate to eradicate the ice from our sporting landscape. More than any of the other sports, there's something genuine and pure and less...I don't know...business-y than the rest. Sure, there's litte fact behind that assertion, but you kind of know what I mean? If anyone "deserves" to be spared, it's more of those blue-collar hockey guys, right? Plus, I can say without any hesiation that the NHL postseason is and continues to be the best in pro sports.

So...where does that lead us? Which sport would be terminate if the fate of the planet depended on it? Call me crazy, but I'm going to have to say the NBA. Now, maybe it's because I'm pushing 33 and the league is no longer relevant to me for whatever reason. Or maybe it's more accurate to say its relevance has diminished in lockstep with the free fall into irrelevance of my formerly-beloved New York Knicks. Whatever the reason, the current NBA would get my axe. The regular season has become immensely boring for me, and the playoffs - aside from that phenomenal Bulls/Celtics showdown in '09 - have left me largely uninspired. Throw in what may be the dawning of the "superteam" era paired with the broader constant shuffle of players and coaches, and the NBA feels less and less worthy.

Of course, this is all just a trip down to hypothetical island. What say you? Which of these would be tops on your list, should the power of annexing a major spectator sport be placed in your all-powerful sports fan hands?

Drew Brees is the Face of the NFL

2010-08-05T23:02:00.012-04:00

The Undisputed King of the NFL. Right?

It probably hit many fans long before I've come to the realization -- or should I say the strong opinion. There is no real way to assert that someone is or is not the face of the NFL. Such a thing is inherently not a fact-based proposition. But it occured to me today that despite the omnipotence of Manning, the allure (no matter the counter current of hatred) that surrounds The Gunslingerm, and the magnetism of young players like Chris Johnson and Adrian Peterson, there is only man who has emerged as the new IT representative of the National Football League.

LT has faded. Receivers like Moss and even Rice before him can no longer stake claim to the title. Quarterbacks are predisposed to assuming the throne of lead actor in the NFL's annual drama, but it's no longer about Peyton or even Tommy Terrific. Nope. One man is the league's poster boy...its spokesperson...arguably, its best player. Well, hello, Drew Brees.

Yup, Peyton may still deliver "cut that meat" lines better than any player in the game and sport a sick Sprint-inspired mustache time and again, but Brees has, at least temporarily, knocked him off the pedestal. Super Bowl MVP. Leader behind one big part of a city's emotional resurrection. Endorser to more and more brands by the day. Madden cover boy. Brees is everywhere, and it's not hard to see why. His numbers are off the chart. The story of the Saints is one of the best in rececnt team sports memory. Plus, he's been highly involved in the NO community and is a former Walter Payton Award Winner, all of which were factors in SI naming Brees Sportsman of the Year in 2009.

In early 2010, BusinessWeek tagged Brees 25th on their list of Power 100 athletes - a measure that seemed to combine and assess marketability, personal earnings, popularity and overall notoriery among the American public. Interestingly, they had this to say at the time supporting that ranking:

Why he's on the list: Brees is the leader of the league’s best offense, which powered the Saints transformation from doormat to dangerous. Having come back from reconstructive surgery himself Brees and New Orleans are the kinds of comeback stories America loves. By taking the Saints to the Super Bowl he’s already proved he’s a hero. If they win, he could run for president

Well, the Saints came marching into Miami soon after that piece was written. They strolled out with the Lombardi trophy and Brees the MVP award. The image of Brees atop the podium, son in arms as confetti rained down around him sticks in my memory, as I'm sure it does millions of football fans and those who only catch the season's ultimate finale each year. And while Brees may not be quite ready for the oval office, I would argue he's at least secured the crown of King of the NFL for now.

Random 10

2010-08-03T22:32:00.012-04:00

Stream-of-consciousness random 10. Ready. Go.

1. With the recent and well-publicized conditioning test failures of folks like Mt. Cody (delightfully pictured in all his athletic goodness to the left) and Albert Haynesworth, it got me thinking about that old "Superstars" show they used to have on ABC with folks like Jerry Rice paddling canoes, tackling obstacle courses and doing sprints on the beach. Wouldn't it be funny to see a fat NFL version? Sort of the opposite of an athletic showcase...just observing these dudes try to tackle basic physical activities like climbing, jumping rope. I think it would be hilarious. Someone get on this.

2. Brett Favre announced his 15th retirement today. Reportedly. I call b-sh*t. Over/under 10 days before he's "wavering." Any takers on the over?

3. Just watched an 11-minute Hard Knocks preview on HBO. Nothing has changed from this post. Can. Not. Wait.

4. Speaking of the department of redundacy department. R.A. Dickey, you are the f-in man. That is all.

5. Colt Brennan was cut by the Skins earlier this week. I am no prophet, but I do recall quite a few folks ripping this post a few years back. I'm just saying...

6. Does the NBA opening week schedule usually get this much hype or am I losing my mind? Really? Now that we know these guys are playing for the Heat - which we've known for a bit now -- can we relax? They have to play someone to open the season. Oh gosh, it's the Celtics! The site of LeBron's last failure as a Cav! The DRA-ma! Puh-leez.

7. You know how for the past few years I keep writing that my anticipation of football season seems to get greater and occur earlier each season? Well, it's happening again. Maybe the Mets late-season irrelevance/crumbling has something to do with this trend...perhaps...just maybe?

8. The Hard Knocks mini-episode served to remind me that Jason Taylor is a Jet. It's going to take me a long time to get used to that. Like after he's retired, maybe I'll admit it.

9. The O's won their first game with Buck Showalter at the helm. Hence, the "Orioles take flight under Showalter" headline. Fine, I'll just let it go. Guess winning a game when you've got 32 wins against 72 losses and are a few hundred miles out of it is kinda taking flight. Enjoy it, Baltimore.

10. Why is nobody talking about Josh Hamilton? The whole drug recovery thing got old, I get it. Trust me, I certainly had a hard time sitting through Rick Reilly's "Homecoming." Well, how about just talking about what he's doing on the field? Yes, Hamilton has somewhat established himself as an All-Star caliber player since he arrived in Texas. But the man is absolutely KILLING IT this year. I'll admit, I don't watch much American League baseball, so his name plastered across the leaderboards jolted me to realize just what a 2010 he's having. Hamilton is in the top 10 in seven major offensive categories. He leads the majors with a .362 average. He's second in slugging. Third in OPS. Along with his lofty average, he's belted 23 home runs and driven in 75. In July Hamilton struggled...he only hit .418...which is pretty pathetic when you considered he hit .454 BOLD. EXCLAMATION! in June. Hot damn, Mr. Hamilton.

My 2010 Mets All-Stars (Sort of)

2010-08-02T21:37:00.013-04:00

Scream It Out: MVP! MVP!

The Mets are down 4-1, but, I'll be honest, I'm not watching. My wife put on the "A-Rod Pursuit of 600," something that would typically cause me to vomit or violently bash the remote to smithereens but who was I to protest? What, I had to watch the Mets? Watch them do what exactly? Pathetically limp to the finish line with even less life than previous seasons? Nah. I'll pass.

In the meantime, I got to thinking about these Mets anyway. Everyone is talking about all the pieces of garbage that need to go or should've been exiled long ago. I agree with those critics wholeheartedly. But who deserves kudos? Not just who is having a good season...that list is small to begin with. But, instead, who are the Mets All-Stars based on a different set of criteria. Forget about knockout stats. Which players are performing at or above their ability and - here's the kicker - seem to actually give a sh*t.

So, I took a long think on this on who these type of All-Stars would be. I'm lying. It took about five minutes. Here were my findings:

R.A. Dickey: As mentioned before, the man is a g-damn revelation. I can't get enough of him. In retrospect, he should have jammed that ball up Manuel's rear-end when he tried to take him out. Now, that's what we tortured fans want -- a little fire! Based on my All-Star criteria above, Dickey is the Mets MVP. A castoff who's resurrected his career and isn't about to take for granted the opportunity and shot he's got to pitch every fifth day.

Pedro Feliciano: This guy pitches every friggin' day...for this bunch. And, for the most part, he does his job pretty stinking well. 59 appearances and a 2.79 ERA. As usual, lefties are struggling against Pedro hitting .238. Did I mention the guy is seemingly out there every day? For this team?? I can't stress that enough. And, bless his heart, he continues to appear to want the ball in any situation.

Angel Pagan: Pagan has taken his opportunity to play every day and proved he's learned a heckuva lot since last year. He's playing smart baseball, and his performance in the the field and at the plate has been just about as good as anyone on the roster. Angel, who'd previously logged 88 games as a high-water mark (in '09), has come into his own as a regular. In 97 games, he's hitting .313 with a .375 OBP, nine home runs and 47 ribbies, 24 steals, and, more importantly, an energy and hustle that is mostly absent from the rest of the team. Pagan has been the most consistently good player who appears to care if the Mets win or lose.

Elmer Dessens: Dessens is with his eighth major league team. For the past few seasons, he's managed to snag minor league deals and somehow hang onto a career that, at age 39, seem to have long passed him by. Only Dessens, whose career ERA is 4.47, has been rock solid for the Metros. #64 in the program but #1 in our hearts, good ole Elmer is sporting a 1.93 ERA in 30 appearances. Think about that. The 30 appearances are staggering enough. Add in the under-2 ERA, and it's very difficult to wrap your head around. Dessens is a 2010 Mets All-Star.

David Wright: Like many Mets fans (I think), there is still a part of me that wants more from David Wright from a leadership standpoint -- or at least for it to look more like he's taking that role and running with it. Plus, perception or reality, that late-inning clutch situation thing seems to elude him. Still, the man leads the team in most important offensive categories and continues to play a solid third base.

Chip Hale: Yup, every good All-Star team needs a coach of some sort. My nomination is Chip Hale. The third base coach has been wisely agressive all year. I can recall few times when I've questioned any decision Hale has made with Mets runners on the basepaths. That cannot be said for many other members of the Mets coaching staff.

Honorable Mentions: Niese and Ike. Both have been largely more than a fan could've expected or hoped for. Their future is bright. But, then again, this is the Mets.

There you have it, folks. My 2010 New York Mets All-Stars. I thank these men for coming to work and doing their jobs to the best of their abilities -- and pretending to care. It's more than can be said for plenty of your cohorts.

Time for a New Ringtone Mets Fans? It's DICKEY!

2010-07-29T17:45:00.003-04:00

I've been thinking about a new ringtone for a bit now. Can you think of a better one? "It's Dickey!" should be ruling Mets' fans phones right now. The man is a marvel. My favorite tidbit from the Mets recap following this afternoon's R.A. G.E.M.

Even lately, as he sputtered to an 0-3 record over his last five starts, Dickey still managed to produce a 1.89 ERA in those outings. Now, he owns a 2.32 ERA, which would rank fourth in the National League behind Josh Johnson, Roy Halladay and Adam Wainwright -- All-Stars all -- if he had enough innings to qualify.

Indeed, it's Dickey...