Happy Holidays to all! As December begins and people try to find gifts for each other, hoping to have something to inspire them to actually purchase these gifts and get them into the "spirit", New Yorkers need to be aware of inspiration coming from their sports teams. So, just when you thought watching the battle between the Yankees front office and Derek Jeter's camp was going to give you the winter blues, poof!! There it appears, like a shooting star, much, much more to be thankful for if you are a NY Sports fan.
The NY Knicks, after losing out on the Lebron Sweepstakes, have shown life again and have a real star in Amare Stoudamire. The team has also found some superb support by way of Raymond Felton, rookie Landry Fields and 6th man of the year, Wilson Chandler. The Knicks are in a super weak Atlantic Division and find themselves in the thick of it early on. Usually by this point they are in last place, 5-7 games under .500. They are now 10-9 and the next two teams below them (Toronto Raptors/NJ Nets) are both 5 games under .500 and don't seem to have much fight in them. This is not a ticker tape parade for the Knicks, it is just a recognition of change in talent and of a step in the right direction. The Knicks can and might possibly tear off a 6 game losing streak, but for now, they are playing well and have found some good rhythm.
The New Meadowlands is now home to two top NFL teams. The Giants have gotten past serious injuries to their offense and are in a tie for the NFC East division. The Giants defense has come back to life, getting enormous pressure on the opposing quarterbacks, and containing the run. Eli Manning has made plays when he needs to, while getting support from his ever changing running game. Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw continue to swap starting spots and if they can keep the turnovers down, they will be an effective weapon down the stretch. The NFC as a whole is much weaker then the AFC this year, which will only help the Giants in the long run as they try to keep hold of a playoff spot.
The Jets are tied for the best record in the NFL and are playing sound football. They can always work on something, but for the most part are an elite team. Their test will be going into New England this Monday night and leaving unscathed. However, it doesn't end there, because the Jets will need to keep their undefeated road record in tact when they go to Pittsburgh and Chicago, two really difficult places to play. The Jets have, at the least, secured another winning season, something which Eric Mangini and company could never accomplish. Prior to the Rex Ryan era, there wasn't any consistency with Jets . Now, Ryan has instilled his philosophies and way of dealing with the game and that has translated into success.
The NY Rangers are doing well......
The Yankees had a good season, not of course in the eyes of the Steinbrenner's, but in relation to other Baseball teams, they did. The Yankees will always spend, spend, spend and have a roster full of expensive names, able to fill the expensive, cushioned seats at the new, expensive Yankee Stadium. The Tampa Bay Rays will lose some significant talent to free agency this year, the Boston Red Sox contract with the Devil that they signed back in 2004 has expired and there aren't any other teams in the AL East, so expect the Yankees to be back in the playoffs......UNLESS....the Yankees do not bring back Derek Jeter. If they play hardball (PUN) with Jeter and his agent and allow him to leave, then the team should be prepared to suffer the consequences of letting the pretty face of the franchise wear something other then pinstripes. Although Jeter is on the down swing of his career, he IS the Yankees and has been for his entire career. No other player during his time in baseball, has meant more to a team or been as loved and popular for such a long period of time. Not to mention, he has been clutch during the biggest games and has been at the top in both defense and hitting almost every season. The Yankees will not survive the fallout if they let Jeter end his career somewhere other then the Bronx. Of course, things will work out and the Yankees will get Jeter back into uniform for the start of Spring training, along with Cliff Lee. Giving them, what could be, the best 1,2,3 in baseball, Sabathia, Lee and Hughes (Burnett will be a great #5).
The NY Mets, unfortunately are not in much of a position to contend anytime soon, but they are making the right moves in their front office, letting Omar Minaya go and changing managers. Which can be something fans can be thankful for. Who they have chosen for these positions, are yet to show whether they can make a difference or not. As for the talent in Flushing, there isn't much there. What used to be one the most solid corner of the infields in the NL, has turned into a rotation of shortstops and one third baseman that's afraid of the outfield walls. The best outfielder the Mets had this season was Angel Pagan, who makes 1/16th of what Carlos Beltran makes and wasn't nearly as touted as Jason Bay was last off season. The Mets pitching situation is just that, a situation. Other then Johan Santana (coming off another surgery) nothing else is there for the Mets in means of pitching. Nothing.
So NY Sports fans, bask in the glow of above average play, just shy of mediocrity and be thankful that you don't live in Cleveland!
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