New York Jets's New York Jets friend's fan blogs

I hope that Mr. Donnie Walsh goes out there and gets Ramon Sessions. This young baller out of Nevada can be Raja Bell like for Mike D'Antoni's Knicks. No, he won't guard the two, but he can be a good player against the point. Raja Bell might have been a bit of an overstatement, but I really think they need depth at the point. Duhon and Douglass cannot be the full plan. I could see Monta Ellis finding his way with the team. Golden State has depth at his position, and although they are committed to him, I could see them working something out. I just believe that with the team staying the way it is, the season will be just like last year, even with the addition of Hill and Douglass. Nate and David are still unresolved, and training camp is 10 weeks away or there about. I think it's about time

Continue reading "I mean, really Knicks??"

                The Yankees look good. Their offense is #1 and their pitching is 17th, behind The Mets, surprisingly enough. It shows how much the injuries truly have derailed The Mets, but that's not the purpose of this blog. I think at 70-43, they have shown themselves to be the class of the league right now. Compared to this time last year, when they were 63-56, 9 games out. That difference of 8 games, and three very important piece to that 8 games difference in Teixeira, Sabathia, and Burnett. From this, i gather that players make it difficult to run away with their division, and if it weren't for an 0-8 start to The Redsoxs, the ead would be bigger, like the payroll and play dictates. The Yankees can only de-rail themselves and The Redsoxs, lost like the bully that needed to be confronted and defeated to completely forget all apprehensions. They have all things lined for a run at the World Series for real, and it would be fitting for the new stadium to experience the World Series after the old stadium missed the playoffs for the first time in 13years.                                                                                       

Continue reading "A little something to show..."

As the free agent market is all but dried up for the summer of 2009, Donnie Walsh continues to work the back channels of the team player personnel. They are even doing their due diligence, in taking a look, or speaking to former household names, such as Jerry Stackhouse, Jason Willams, and Jamal Tinsley. These players are passed their prime, but i guess put in the right situation, help a team contend for a championship. But, contend for the bottom seed in the playoffs? I don't think so. My opinion is that of, making sure the New York Knicks have an identity on the basketball court. Last year an identity was being established. They had the ability to put points on the board. Much like any team that is given the freedom to play, and not have to be robotic in running plays all the time. Their defense caused them to falter down the stretch. Their inability to have a stable head given them sound direction and passing. If The Knicks had the Chris Duhon of the first half of the season, during the second half of the season, they still don't make it to the playoffs. I thought that Duhon was only a good signing if he had Marbury there also. (I guess Duhon wished he really consider that Orlando offer, and Walsh offered him that money early in the free agency period if i remember correctly.)

Continue reading "Knicks still searching...."

Baseball is a game of numbers.

When it comes to the Los Angeles Dodgers this season, their impressive numbers seem to indicate why they have the best record in baseball thus far. But when looked upon closer inspection, my instincts tell me that the Dodgers impressive numbers fail to tell the whole truth.  

Additionally, some of the unorthodox numbers, the numbers that are usually swatted away like a fly, reveal that the Blue Crew may be in a bit of trouble come October.  

In terms of hitting, the Dodgers numbers are solid. They have some of the most talented young hitters in the league. With players like James Looney, Russell Martin, Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp, the young guns have a 279 batting average, good enough for second in the league. Add in Manny Ramirez to the mix and the Dodgers are also seventh in the majors in runs and sixth in RBI’s.

Continue reading "The Los Angeles Dodgers numbers are Misleading!!!"

Dave Dameshek, an ESPN.com podcaster gave kudos to Andre Agassi today ( http://sports.espn.go.com/stations/player?context=podcast&id=4352192) on his podcast for his infamous mantra “ Image is everything” which Agassi stated in a Canon commercial over fifteen- years ago.   Still, Dameshek argued, Agassi’s words seem fitting today as some top athletes currently find them-selves in a position of trying to restore their image due to off-field episodes that seemingly rattled their once squeaky clean perception.   On Tuesday, TMZ released the feared truth; Lebron James was in fact dunked on by a Syracuse Guard named Jordan Crawford several weeks ago at the Lebron James Camp in Ohio. James reportedly may have confiscated the tapes, with the help of some Nike representatives until TMZ finally got a hold of them, somehow.   In a book entitled The Beckham Experiment, author Grant Wahl explained, with the help of Los Angeles Galaxy star Landon Donovan, that it was indeed Beckham’s unwillingness to embrace the savior of American soccer that disallowed the sport from gaining any ground in becoming a main stream sport in America.        Ben Roethlisberger will not only be fighting off defensive lineman next year but also some woman in a civil law suit who is accusing him of rape.   Michael Vick wants to find a team to play for and be forgiven for killing dogs ( or having them killed) while Manny Ramirez is trying to battle back from a 50-game suspension for doing drugs.   Because of their unfortunate off the field episodes, all of these for-mentioned athletes have one thing in common; they all have an image to be restored. However, the only way for these athletes to ever be perceived by the fans and the media as the cream of the crop again is to do what Adrian said Rocky should do; win.   After being accused of rape in 2003, Kobe Bryant lost endorsement deals, respect from some of the fans and the media, and most of all his integrity. A few years later Bryant ranted on sports talk radio shows complaining that he needed better teammates that could help him win. The next season, Bryant was booed by his home fans at his first home game and ridiculed by opposing fans on nearly every road trip.     But slowly but surely Bryant worked himself back into public approval. In 2008 he was the NBA’s MVP, in the 2009 Olympics he helped lead team USA back to the gold,  and in the same year his Lakers were the world champions. While there are still people who dislike Bryant, let’s concur, most fans and journalists today associate Bryant with words like champion, winner and phenomenal athlete, as opposed to all the other negative things that use to pop into their minds.   Less than a year after Ray Lewis was acquitted of murder chargers due to a plea bargain he chose, he returned to the NFL, and led his team to the Super Bowl while garnering MVP honors. Although Lewis was not chosen after the Super Bowl to repeat those infamous words “ I am going to Disneyland” by Disney World, Lewis has steadily inched his way back into public acceptance. Since the 2001 Super Bowl Lewis has been featured in commercials, done numerous television spots, put on the cover of Madden 2005, been involved in community services, and been selected to numerous pro bowls and is still highly regarded as one of the best linebackers in the league. While we can’t solely attribute Lewis’ resignation to his 2001 Super Bowl MVP, we can certainly conclude it was the match that ignited the fire.   While Muhammad Ali was supported by many fans for deciding not to enter an unpopular war, some of the media was not as approving . After three years of not being allowed to fight, Ali returned to the ring to defeat nearly every foe in his way and eventually regained the title by defeating George Foreman. Today, almost nobody calls Ali unpatriotic or points to his unwillingness to go to Vietnam. I think it is safe to say that Ali’s success after being allowed to fight again left no room for ridicule; His success simply overshadowed his questionable decisions.   Beckham, Vick, James and Big Ben all should try to take similar routes to take back up to the top. Sure, giving charity is nice, having your family by your side is touching, and appearing in commercials is a good gesture, but nothing says more than winning. Just look at Alex Rodriguez whose image is shakier than a Los Angeles earthquake. No matter how may MVP’s he wins, Yankee fans will only forgive A-Rod if he helps them win a ring.   If Beckham wants to quite the Los Angeles Riot Squad at games, he must lead the Galaxy to a winning season, embrace the LA scene, pay for his team’s dinner, and perhaps even win a championship. If not, than enjoy your flight back to London and thanks for nothing.   Vick cannot just come back and play-football, he has to enable fans to fall in love with his joy stick speed again. Maybe even take his team to the playoffs all while being a good teammate.   Ironically, James decided not to shake hands with the Orlando Magic after losing in the Eastern Conference finals. James confiscation of the tapes at his camp shows the same characteristic; poor sportsmanship. No matter what happens, if James continues to fail, media and fans will helplessly point to the two incidents as an indication of James’ failures. Mantras such as “ James cannot win because he does not know how to lose like a man” will certainly be uttered by some.   Roethlisberger is sord of an enigma because he has already won two Super Bowls. If he gets out of the mess he is currently in does he have to come back and win another Super Bowl to re-envent his image? Not necessarily, since he is already a proven winnner, but I guranatee that if he does come back and continue to be succesful that the incident in Lake Tahoe will be all the more easy to be forgotten, guilty or not guilty. If he returns and never wins again, than talk of “ Ben only won the big one because he was in a proven sysytem” will be all the eaiser to say.    If we dare, let us take a tip from Manny Ramirez. After coming back from suspension Ramirez has batted 347, with four home runs and 17 runs batted in. While the rest of the world may have issue, Ramirez is adored in Dodger land, ala take a look at Wednesday night’s grand slam. A lot of that has to do with the fact that the Dodgers are in first but put it this way, if Manny was batting 215, with one home run and three RBI’s since his return, and the Dodgers were in last place, would he still obtain standing ovations?   I understand that winning does not cure all. A murderer is not fully forgiven if he lifts up the championship trophy, nor should he be. My gist, however, is that above all winning can replenish an image more than Gatorade can quench your thirst.   Don’t agree? Then why aren’t guys like Mike Tyson and Allen Iverson note-ably thought of for their outstanding talents first and foremost? Because their off- the field and even on -the-field misshapes have never been followed up with great success.   This argument as a whole might also seem simplistic. It is human nature that when somebody does something bad, you tend to forgive them after a while, especially if they do a good dead. But some things cannot go over-looked. Can a wife ever forgive her husband for cheating, no matter how many good deeds he does? But that is the beauty of sports. In almost all cases, winning can make fans and media forgive. Doing steroids is bad until you hit a grand slam in the World Series, right?   Charles Barkley once suggested and was even ridiculed for stating that athletes should not be looked at as role models. “A million guys can dunk a basketball in jail; should they be role models?" Barkley argued. While Barkley was urging fans to simply evaluate a player based on his on the field performance we as fans can never make that leap. Image, like Agassi said, is everything and the only way to ever restore a damaged one is to come back on the field and win.  

Continue reading "James, Vick, Manny, Beckham and Big Ben take a look in the mirror"

Dave Dameshek, an ESPN.com podcaster gave kudos to Andre Agassi today, ( http://sports.espn.go.com/stations/player?context=podcast&id=4352192) on his podcast for his infamous mantra “ Image is everything” which Agassi stated in a Canon commercial over fifteen- years ago. Still, Dameshek argued, Agassi’s words seem fitting today as some top athletes currently find them-selves in a position of trying to restore their image due to off-field episodes that seemingly rattled their once squeaky clean perception. On Tuesday, TMZ released the feared truth; Lebron James was in fact dunked on by a Syracuse Guard named Jordan Crawford several weeks ago at the Lebron James Camp in Ohio. James reportedly may have confiscated the tapes, with the help of some Nike representatives unt

Continue reading "James, Vick, Manny, and Beckham take a look in the mirror."

Dave Dameshek, an ESPN.com podcaster gave kudos to Andre Agassi today, ( http://sports.espn.go.com/stations/player?context=podcast&id=4352192) on his podcast for his infamous mantra “ Image is everything” which Agassi stated in a Canon commercial over fifteen- years ago. Still, Dameshek argued, Agassi’s words seem fitting today as some top athletes currently find them-selves in a position of trying to restore their image due to off-field episodes that seemingly rattled their once squeaky clean perception.On Tuesday, TMZ released the feared truth; Lebron James was in fact dunked on by a Syracuse Guard named Jordan Crawford several weeks ago at the Lebron James Camp in Ohio. James reportedly may have confiscated the tapes, with the help of some Nike representatives unti

Continue reading "James, Beckham, Vick and Manny take a look in the mirror."

The Knicks are headed in the right direction. Although I think Donnie Walsh is old school, I love the consistency the teams he control has. He seems like the type of President willing to listen to well thought out ideas.  Mike D’Antoni was a great hiring, and Mark Jackson or Patrick Ewing would have been a nice story to write, but Coach D’Antoni has won 60 games before. I am glad that we were unable to get J-Kidd.  He is a great player, but we don’t want the Knicks to stay an old team. We also don’t need New Jersey’s traded player. He showed Marbury who the better point guard was, after Marbury claimed he was, back in 2005. That’s a side point. I believe in Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, and even David Lee. We just need to surround these guys with players willing to do the thinking on the court, and be the leader. Sounds a lot like J-Kidd, it’s just that some players don’t need to be a Knick. Much like Penny Hardaway, or Glen Rice, a former great that was just a few years late. I like how the free agency market has opened up for the organization now and I the future.  

Continue reading "Read this Knick fans....Take that Alan Hahn..."

The Knicks are looking to add Jason Kidd to the mix, I hope it is smoke screens for  Sessions. Who is the second best point guard in free agent market this year? Stephon Marbury, Allen Iverson, maybe Bibby, since he reportedly re-up with the Hawks. There isn't a hard line. Its just a well researched, highly discussed opinion, of who will fit in a particular system. Mike Bibby is a tested professional in pressure situations. His Atlanta team finished a little bit shorter than his Sacramento teams did in the playoffs. He knows how to play in space and stretch the floor himself too. The Hawks are smart to keep him. Sessions is the next best option beside trading for a player. He doesn't shoot the three very well, but that could be a good thing, he'll got to the basket more frequent.  Some beat writers believe that Nate Robinson will not be back and i buy that, (dont agree) but as a commodity that he seems to be, why not sign and trade him? Teams that want him, need to pay the price he's worth. I think that David Lee has to be a more expendable player, the Knicks need a knock down shooter, his 61 double doubles help and are impressive, but that didn't get them in the playoffs, kept them in contention, but they can replace his boards with players on the roster now. That is not fair to call Lee expendable, but he's a higher commodity. He has been a pefect professional since he became a Knick, and I'd love to have him on a different team, with a different system. We need game changers, lane cloggers, and defensive intimdation, and frustrators. A contenders need a player like Lee, and he'll be a great supplemental piece.

Continue reading "More Knicks thoughts..."

When Shaquille O’Neal received his first and only Most Valuable Player Award in the 2000 NBA season, he quoted the great Aristotle; “Greatness is not a singular act but a habit, you are what you repeatedly do,” O’Neal had quoted.

Now-a-days it is tough to judge O’Neal’s consistency. While he has helped lead three separate teams to the NBA finals, he took the Phoenix Suns the last two seasons to the bottom cellar, locked the door and threw away the key. Regardless of his numbers with the Suns ( 17.8PPG and 8.4 RPG) this last year, his incapability to run up and down the floor coupled with the Suns inability to play a half court offense ultimately caused the Suns their present demise.  

To say whether or not O’Neal will go down as the greatest center of all time will hinge on his future season, with his new, new, new, new team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. When judging the term the “greatest” we like to think of centers such as Wilt, Kareem and Hakeem, guys that have stayed with their current teams for most or all of their careers, and were always great enough to keep them competitive.

Continue reading "Shaq's legacy will be decided by season with Cleveland."