Brady on Cover of SI again- OH NO?!

Tom Brady was on the cover of SI last year just prior to the season. He proceeded to blow his knee out on a questionable hit by The Chief's Bernard Pollard. Although the Pats managed a very good record of 11-5 they failed to make the playoffs. The bad news is Brady is back on SI's cover. The good news is Tom Brady appears to be back and if he is WATCH OUT NFL!
Once the future HOF QB went down last season the balance of power was said to have shifted. The Jets, with antique QB Brett Favre, were supposed to win the AFC. Unfortunately the Dolphins dashed both the Pats and Jets dreams.
This year Brady seems determined to prove to the league once again his greatness. The sixth round draft pick is accustomed to having doubters and nay- sayers about his abilities. This season, assuming a healthy receiving corps headed by Randy Moss and Wes Welker, along with other added offensive weapons in Fred Taylor, Joey Galloway, Fred Taylor and a healthy Laurence Maroney, and a versatile Kevin Faulk, the Pats are pissed off and poised to make another run at the Big Prize.
With a younger defense short on linebackers, the Pats may just have to bludgeon teams to death as they did two years ago when the entire NFL whined about them " running up scores".
With a younger more athletic defensive backfield the Pats hope to re-capture a Dominating Defense, confusing opponent's QBs along the way. Jarod Mayo is coming off a stellar season and the Pats will be counting on him to lead the "D" along with the likes of Richard Seymour, Vince Wilfork , and Tedy Bruschi.
We still have a long way to go before NFL season heats up but look out world Brady is Back.

Has Papi Lost His "Pop"?

In 2005 David Ortiz was given a plaque from Larry Lucchino, Red Sox President and CEO. The plaque read:"The Greatest Clutch Hitter in the History of the Boston Red Sox, David Ortiz, #34."

Since his arrival in Boston in 2003, Big Papi has hit 231 HRs with 820 RBIs. He has thrilled the Fenway Faithful with numerous game winning hits and has been a formidable foe in the Sox line-up.
A force to be reckoned with.
In 2004 Oriz hit Game winning home runs in game 3 of the ALDS versus Anaheim ( actually a series winning HR). He followed that up with a game winning extra inning blast in game 4 of the ALCS vs. the Yankees to become the first player in MLB history to hit two walk off HRs in the same post season. That victory put in motion the chain of events that led to the precedent setting historic series come back from the brink of elimination. Game 5 of the '04 ALCS presented Papi with another opportunity to chisel out his legacy. His epic 10th inning, 10 pitch at bat ended with a single which plated Johnny Damon with the game winning run.

A legend was born and thrived for the ensuing 4 years.

Until this year Ortiz has more than lived up to his "clutch" hitting reputation. From 2003- 2008 seasons with the Sox, he has 16 walk off hits, including 10 homers. His reputation and place in Red Sox and MLB history have, like the bricks at the front gates to Fenway Park, been cemented into immortality.

But, alas, a wrist injury incurred last season, coupled with the departure of Manny Ramirez, have left Papi with no "pop". Ortiz played in only 109 games last season with 23 Home runs and 89 RBI's. Papi entered the 2009 season, looking leaner and determined to show the world he could still hit without the dread locked doofus Ramirez protecting him in the lineup. Thus far, in 35 games, the big fella has a paltry 27 hits with zero home runs and 15 RBIs. It all came to a head last week in Anaheim when a miserable 0-for-7 performance, leaving 12 men on base, tying a Red Sox record. This led to manager Terry Francona giving the DH the entire weekend series against Seattle off to refresh and reflect.

Last night his offensive struggles continued- going 0-3 with 2 K's, watching his batting average fall to 203.

The question now becomes: Is Big Papi finished? Has he fallen faster than guys like Cecil Fielder, Mo Vaughn, and Jim Rice? Has his swing slowed to a snail's pace making him incapable of getting around on the inside fastball? Has his swing gotten too long? What do Theo Epstein et. al. do with Ortiz? None of the options is pleasant. Placing him lower in the lineup. A stint with Pawtucket and former hitting coach Ron Jackson? Trade for another DH? Victor Martinez of the Indians and The National's Nick Johnson have been involved in trade whispers. It's not like Ortiz has no protection in the lineup. Jason Bay, Boston's cleanup hitter, has been on fire this season with 11 HRs, 40 RBIs batting almost 300 with an OPS of 1.054.

For now Red Sox management seem willing to stick with #34. I'm inclined to do the same. The guy has produced too much for too long. Too often, in the sports community we as fans and media are quick to the trigger to either anoint a rookie as "the next great superstar" or an aging veteran as "finished". Remember Mike Lowell. Everyone said he was washed up to the point where The Marlins forced him on The Sox in the Beckett trade. Since arriving in Boston Lowell has been all All Star and -oh by the way- won the World Series MVP in 2007.

I'll stick with Big Papi. After all he has contributed to the Sox I think we the fans owe him a little loyalty..... but Theo- let's also keep that cell phone charged just in case.
- Steve

ELLSBURY STEALS SHOW IN SOX SWEEP OF YANKS

The first series of the year between baseball's biggest rivals, The Red Sox and the Yankees is now history. The Sox swept the series, winning each game in unique come from behind fashion.
The first two games of the series were of epic proportions. Game one saw Mariano Rivera, baseball's greatest closer, blow a two run lead with two out in the ninth when Jason Bay took him to one of the deepest and highest parts of Fenway. Rivera's body English was not enough to prevent Bay's shot from clearing the 37 foot high green monster in dead center field. Kevin Youkilis' walk off home run in the eleventh secured the victory.

Game two's pitching match up, Beckett versus Burnett, had all the makings of a low scoring pitcher's duel. Apparently no one told neither the pitchers nor the hitters of either team. Both pitchers gave up eight runs. Burnett, the Yanks $88 million dollar off season FA pick up squandered a 6-0 lead. It was the largest deficit the Sox overcame against the Yanks since 1968. The game see- sawed back and forth with the Yank bull-pen fully imploding and the Sox ultimately tagging the Yankee's beleaguered bullpen ( the third worst in baseball ) for an additional 10 runs,leading to a 16-11 final.

With the Yanks desperately needing to salvage a win, Andy Pettitte was sent to the mound against Red Sox youngster Justin Masterston.The Sox versatile slingshot submariner out-dueled Pettitte while Jacoby Ellsbury stole home in a straight out steal. An inexcusable mistake for the Yankees inasmuch as catcher Jorge Posada specifically warned Pettitte to keep an eye on the Sox Speedster. Couple that with the fact that JD Drew, a lefthanded batter, allowed Posada a clear view of the runner, made the theft of home even more unlikely. Ellsbury is by far the fastest Red Sox this writer has ever seen and is yet another product of the Sox fertile farm system which continues to produce quality MLB players.

This series exposed the Yankees biggest weakneess and The Sox biggest strength: their respective bullpens. The Sox pen leads the majors with a 2.57 ERA. In the last 37.1 innings
Red Sox relievers have allowed a measly 5 earned runs leading the team to its current 10 game win streak . The Yanks on the other hand have the third worst bullpen in MLB.

These are not our father's Red Sox my friends. Pitching, Defense, and Speed are now key components in Boston's philosophical approach to the game.

Manny who?

Yes, we still have a long way to go in the season, and Sox fans are realistic about the formidable foes in the division, but things certainly have changed since their 2-6 start.

- Steve

YANKS VS SOX-- ROUND ONE THIS WEEKEND- JOBA "JUICED"

The first of 18 regular season "holy wars" between the Red Sox and Yankees begins this weekend at the Fenway Park, baseball's great green grand cathedral. Compelling pitching match ups are lined up for all three games kicking off with game one's match up between Justin "Joba" Chamberlain and Jon Lester. Both teams enter the early season series with identical 9-6 records; the Red Sox having won their last seven in a row, and the Yanks coming off a 14 inning win against Oakland on Melky Cabrera's two run home run.

The series is already heating up with "Cops" star, admitted drunk driver, and New York Chamber of Commerce member Joba "The Hut" Chamberlain, and Sox slugger, David Ortiz.
Big Papi has taken exception the Joba's headhunting of Kevin Youkilis. "None of that, man -- just play the game the way it's supposed to be, and that's about it," Big Papi was quoted as saying between games of a doubleheader yesterday. People in NY think Ortiz needs to pipe down. WRONG!

In the past two years, Chamberlain has shown he is nothing more than the cowardly lion pictured above when pitching against one of the Sox premier hitters. Youkilis, a 2008 AL MVP candidate , is hitting a torrid 429 with four home runs and 958 OBP, and who's head has been a favorite target of Chamberlain's. Joba, you may recall was suspended back in 2007 for twice throwing at Youk's head on successive pitches.

He continued his gutless antics last year versus the Sox first baseman. Hey, no-one denies Youk has a rather large dome and "pitching inside" is part of the game the Yankees pitching staff has forgotten over the past few years but, please - no head hunting.

One hopes Joba exercises better judgement in his pitch selection this weekend, than he did in October 2008, in Lincoln Nebraska, when he decided to get behind the wheel of his 2006 BMW after a night of heavy drinking. A bottle of Crown Royal, 3/4 empty,was found on the front seat of the car and Joba pleaded guilty to DUI.

Over the past several years Ortiz has been a Yankee killer and many have questioned the lack of intestinal fortitude of the Yank pitchers to pitch inside. The pinstripe philosophy has changed and more batters are being brushed off the plate. All well and good but anyone who throws at a specific batter's head as frequently as Chamberlain has with Youkilis is looking for trouble.

Any headhunting will DEFINITELY not be tolerated by the Sox staff. The Sox have been pitching inside and intimidating opposing hitters for the past several seasons, leading to two World Series Championships.

Is a sober Joba willing to take the heat if he beans a Bo-sox player then sees one of his hitters go down when a Beckett 95 mph fastball winds up in Mark Teixeira's earhole?

Show some guts and good judgement Joba: pitch (and drive) responsibly. Oh yeah-- one more thing-- lay off Yogi Berra's height- he may be small is size but you will never reach the heights he has realized in baseball history. Think about that while you're pouring that next bottle of booze down your throat....

Let the games begin.

-Steve

"STARTING N-Y-N-E" Next Show on April 26 at 9 pm

Hey-- don't forget our next show is on Sunday April 26th. We'll be on for two hours from 9-11 PM EST. We are on WGBB 1240 AM in NY or on the web at: http://www.sportsradiony.com/

Click on the "listen now" graphic at the top of the sportsradiony link and check us out. Call us up at and take us on at (631) 888- 8811 to talk New York and New England Sports.
Our guests will include:
Ralph Vacchiano of The NY Daily News, we'll talk a little NFL draft, Big Blue, and NFL topics. Additionally Brian Monzo from WFAN and contributing blogger to www.snyrangers.com
will join us to discuss the NHL playoffs and the Rangers. Looks like a great show- we'll see you on the radio......
-Steve

CLASS-LESS CANADIAN FANS BOO U.S. NATIONAL ANTHEM

The resurgent Boston Bruins are one game away from moving to the second round of the NHL playoffs. Last night the Bruins fought off Montreal's initial onslaught, overcoming a one goal deficit and ultimately winning 4-2 . Chuck Kobasew iced the game with a last minute empty net goal which sent the unruly, disgraceful Montreal fans homes to a well deserved night of misery. Fans flooded the exit gates after the 4th goal and are now looking at a three game to none deficit against their arch rival Bruins.



The behavior of the classless Montreal fans came early- before the game as a matter of fact. The Montreal fans once again booed the US National Anthem as it played. It has become customary for Montreal fans to BOO the anthem of our great country before all playoff games against the Bruins.... Where does this animosity come from? What ever happened to the graceful, classy Canadian players and fans? The link below is from a game in Montreal a few years back but the message is the same- disrespect the US our neighbors to the south--


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2qFfuLy_fs


Sac re bleu Mon Ami!!! ( Is that how you spell that?)



Perhaps no-one needs to look further than the photo above or click the link to another YouTube video below to find an answer as to why Montreal cannot hold a stick- no pun intended -to the US and its cities like Boston and New York.

Don Cherry a Canadian citizen and hockey analyst who once coached the B's understands the class of the Boston sports fan, "sticks it " the Canadian fans:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TxpxFqAV4I&feature=related





Lets' face it the guys in the photo will not be bringing the potato salad to the next Mensa meeting. I wonder where they got those really cool hats....... ( Mensa is an organization of people from every walk of life whose IQ is in the top 2% of the population of the world)





I guess one cannot expect much from a country who's second most popular sport behind hockey involves two nitwits with brooms sweeping ice so that a rock can glide to its intended destination. Who the hell ever thought Curling was a sport to begin with? The Maids of Montreal?
Hey Montreal it looks like it may be time to go cry in your Maple syrup.
Hey-- don't forget our next show is on Sunday April 26th. We'll be on for two hours from 9-11 PM EST. We are on WGBB 1240 AM in NY or on the web at: http://www.sportsradiony.com/
Click on the "listen now" graphic at the top of the sportsradiony link and check us out. Call us up at and take us on at (631) 888- 8811 to talk New York and New England Sports.

Our guests will include:Ralph Vacchiano of The NY Daily News, we'll talk a little NFL draft, Big Blue, and NFL topics. Additionally Brian Monzo from WFAN and contributing blogger to www.snyrangers.comwill join us to discuss the NHL playoffs and the Rangers. Looks like a great show- we'll see you on the radio....

- Steve

CITI FIELD: “SHEA" OR “NAY” ?

The Mets ushered in a new era in the history of their franchise when the gates were finally opened for the first regular season game at the new $ 800+ million dollar Citi –Field this week. The new Mets’ home is beautiful and has many of the modern amenities now found in the new “modern retro look stadium”. Wide open concourses, every concession from hot dogs, to sushi, to “five-star” restaurants. HD televisions are everywhere. Brand new bathrooms into which one may enter and use without fear of contracting an illness are now available.

To be sure the stadium is a huge upgrade and big difference from Shea Stadium. Ebbetts Field was used as a starting point to design the new digs. Citi-field is a place that Met fans can be proud of—that’s if they can afford a ticket a snack and maybe a souvenir. With an average cost of a family of four of almost $260, or an increase of over 3% from last year, one has to wonder how many families in an economic downfall will make such a commitment of their entertainment dollar. Sadly, even the home opener against San Diego was about 1000 short of a sell out. Opening day, in a new park, and not even a sell out? What does that say about the economic conditions and ticket prices?

I had an opportunity to be at Citi-Field for the first of two exhibition games versus the Red Sox.
A beautiful facility to be sure but there are many new features to the park that have this writer scratching his head.

Fans enter the park through the Jackie Robinson rotunda: a beautifully designed homage to the first African American to cross the color barrier in MLB. Pictures of Robinson adorn the walls and a huge “42” is on display in front of which many fans have their photo taken. I think remembering Robinson’s feat- as MLB has done by retiring his number throughout the majors - is a tribute which Robinson has obviously earned. Robinson’s achievement was truly remarkable and its impact on baseball and American culture cannot be ignored nor overstated. My question is: why would the Mets have the entrance of their new facility dedicated to a player who never played in a Met uniform? Where are the tributes to the likes of Gil Hodges, Tom Seaver, Tommy Agee, Darryl Strawberry, Doc Gooden and other Mets who actually contributed to World Series championships? The only tribute I saw to actual former Metropolitans was a series of banners hanging from the wall outside of the park to the right of the rotunda entrance, shown in the photo above.

The park has an inordinately high number of seats with “blind spots” or obstructed views of the playing field. One would think with the all the modern technology used such as CAD ( Computer Aid Design) to design new buildings, that each seat would have a view of the entire playing area. For the price a fan pays, shouldn’t the whole field be in view?

Another problem I have with the Stadium is that nothing really “brands” the park as the home of the Mets (except if you want to count the new HR apple and portion of the old score board which is located atop a concession stand in deep center field.)
All the seats are green. One sees orange and black on the outfield wall – the colors of the former NY and current SF baseball Giants. No-where does one see the colors of orange and blue- the Mets colors.

Nooks, crannies, and planned peculiarities of the playing area are now part of all new parks and Citi Field is no different. The right field area ( check out the video) where the field juts out and the wall rises at about a 40 degree angle goes straight then falls about 40 degrees as well as the color of an advertisement matching the color of the orange line trimming the top of the wall will make HR calls a challenge! There are also many small poles in that area which the ball can hit and carom in a million different ways. To me it’s too much “trickeration”. The right field second level harkens back to the old Tiger stadium where porch actually hangs over the field of play. A ball hitting the façade in that area can bounce off and back into play – it is not a HR.

I did not have the chance to buy any concessions as the lines for food were waaay too long. The five star restaurant looked like it had empty seats though. By the way, when did the American pastime go from $10 seats and a hot dog to $250 seats and five star restaurants?

Is Citi-field an upgrade over Shea? Of course – at a cost of over $800 million much of which is taxpayer dollars—it should be. Could it have been designed better with the average fan, the backbone of baseball in mind? Absolutely!

To that we say: "Pay ball"! Errrrr Play Ball!

-- Steve