Rest in Peace, Tommy.

As a life long Yankee fan and historian, i was saddened at the passing of former Yankees’ pitcher Tommy Byrne this week in Wake Forest, North Carolina. A Baltimore native, Byrne was a member of seven world championship Yankees teams and was named the Comeback Player of the Year in the American League in 1955. Following his playing days he was involved in several businesses as well as Wake Forest politics, where he was once town Mayor. Byrne served as a gunnery officer aboard the U.S.S Ordronaux 617 in World War II. Byrne was 87 years old when he passed this week. Rest in peace, Tommy. Yankee fans will always remember you. 

What a Place!

If you have never been to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, you are missing out. Nestled in the middle of New York State, this charming hamlet is the home of our shrine to the national pastime. Whether  you are a casual baseball fan or not, the Hall of Fame is the home of the legends of the game. : Ruth, Cobb, Johnson, Lajoie, Mantle, Ted Williams just to name a few. Their accomplishments live forever in annals of this great game and museum. It is a crime for any baseball fan not to make at least one visit to Cooperstown.

Whatever happened to the NIT?

I’m 49, and when i was a teenager in the 1970’s, the National Invitation Tournament was more competitive then the NCAA Final Four!. There were only those two tournaments . No Pre season NIT- WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?.With the growth and popularity of March Madness, especially on television, the NIT has been relegated as a second rate tournament. How the mighty have fallen! The finals of the NIT are played in one of the world’s great venues, Madison Square Garden and nobody notices. That is awful.

Poor Arthur Blank!

You know, it is tough being a team owner. When Bill Parcells suddenly changed his mind and went to the Dolphins and disappointed Arthur Blank, i felt for him. After all, it has been a difficult season for him and the Falcons organization. Michael Vick going to prison, Bobby Petrino suddenly resigning late in the season and now, Parcells disappointing the team’s owner. If Mr. Blank went out on a drinking binge, I wouldn’t have blamed him. He has had a rough year. Mr. Blank, take a moment, and relax. Take your time looking for a director of football operations as well as a coach. Emmitt Thomas was a fine player in his day. He may be a bit old at 64, but for the next two to four years, he may be the best man for the job until a younger candidate comes along. Or, maybe he could be your director of football operations and you look for another coach. Sometimes, the answer is right under your nose!

Should Tom Coughlin Go?

As a transplanted New Yorker and a football Giants fan, i wonder if head coach Tom Coughlin should be replaced in the off season? That is an interesting question as the Giants shoot themselves in the foot as the playoffs loom on the horizon. All they need is a win to cement a playoff appearance but they keep losing to teams they should beat. Is that the coach or the players. Well, the coach and his staff prepare them for the game and at times, the Giants show signs of brilliance and at other times, they look like they couldn’t beat a bad high school team. In the locker room, the Giants appear to be a cohesive team as compared to last season when a few players, Tiki Barber for instance, loudly aired their complaints in the newspapers. That hasn’t occurred this season and that works in Coughlin’s favor. No contract extension has been made public and i believe that is an indication that Coughlin’s tenure is coming to an end. Former Steeler’s head coach Bill Cowher is available and i’m sure that the Giants will move heaven and earth to make him the Giants head coach despite his comments that he wnats to take a two year sabbatical from coaching. I believ he is honest about that but if the price were right and the team were competitive, Cowher would curtail his sabbatical and get back on the sidelines.

Congratulations Tim Tebow!

In what has been a bizarre college football season that has had many twists and turns history was made. Time Tebow, quarterback for Urban Meyer’s Florida Gators became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy and it was about time. Despite the Gators not being able to defend their national championship crown, Tebow was a thrilling player who put excitment in to every game. Ther have been several underclassmen who had exceptional seasons over the years who were never seriously considered for the Heisman. It was the parlance of mostly seniors and an occasional junior. Tebow’s selection has changed that and hopefully underclassmen who have exceptional seasons will win this high honor more often in the coming years.

What will be their legacies?

The fall out from the Mitchell Report will be felt for some time. In this steroid era the question must be asked about the two most prominent players mentioned in the Mitchell Report: Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. The question is: What will be their legacies? Arguably the greatest player and pitcher of their generation will be forever labeled as “cheaters” by the sports writers and public. Should their career accomplishments be accompanied by an asterisk? That remains to be seen until unmistakable proof is put forth for public scrutiny. Will it effect their induction in to the Baseball Hall of Fame? At this juncture I would say yes and it should. Both players had Hall of Fame caliber careers prior to to alleged steroid abuse. Clemens has vehemently denied any steroid use. Well prove it! Senator Mitchell, despite being a board member for the Red Sox, usually doesn’t make accustaions lightly so put forward the evidence that would clear your names, Roger and Barry. If you can’t, then as the adage goes, take one for the team and admit your errors in judgment. Fans and writers can be forgiving if you take responsibility for your actions. Bonds has bigger worries then the steroids allegations. Lying to a federal grand jury is a serious charge and he likely will receive jail time and should. Once again, poor judgment comes back to bite you Barry. Don’t you ever learn?

Dear Jerry Jones

An open letter to Dallas Cowboys’ owner, Jerry Jones:Dear Mr. Jones,I read with some interest this week about Jessica Simpson and how she appears to be a problem for your team. Well, Tony Romo ought to know by now that women weaken legs. Well, Tony, if you want to be a Super Bowl champion quarterback, then sacrifices are going to have to be made. See Jessica or any of your other main squeezes after the season when you will need their assistance. By the way, as a long time N.Y. Giants fan, I must admit I thought this whole thing was laughable. But, I will tell you this: next season, if you are still seeing the lovely Miss Simpson or not, I wouldn’t be surprised to see her sitting in the Giants luxury box wearing a Cowboys jersey while sitting with the Giants front off ice and ownership. Lets go Jessica!

Bill is at it again!

It wasn’t surprising to me what Bill Parcells did this past week. He has done that before when he was a head coach. Playing both ends against the middle and sticking it to some unsuspecting owner. Besides that, the man does know football and is a good judge of talent. He will bring the Dolphins back. I’m not sure he would coach again . When he left the Cowboys he said he had enough and I believe him. The man is 66 years old and he has nothing to prove as a coach. His experience and knowledge will be invaluable in his new position as director of football operations for the Dolphins. The Dolphins are on the dung heap of the NFL and have no where to go but up. Parcells will instill a winning attitude within the organization and I belive that Cam Cameron will be replaced as head coach. Parcells prefers coaches he knows and trusts and who know him as well. It has been a dismal season in Miami but a new era is about to begin.

Grand Old Game

It begins with a bat, a ball and a glove.The cheers of “Peanuts, scorecards and cold beer!”The umpires yelling:”Play Ball”The fans giving them the Bronx cheerFree agency, huge salaries and the cloud of steroidsThreaten to hurt baseballIt may never be the sameBut, it is still a grand old game.Bases loaded, bottom of the ninth, your team down by a runAnd your hero steps up to the plateYou are sitting on the edge of your seatBut, now, you wonder, what is he using to cheat?My childhood heroes never had to use the”juice”Baseball truly has changed since my younger daysMy childhood heroes like: Mick, Say Hey, Duke, Sandy, Gibson and Hammerin’ Hank played with a passion I seldom see these days.Today’s players are bigger, stronger, faster, and certainly, better paid.But to me , its not the same.I long for those heroes of my youthBut we can’t go back in time.That is the truth.Baseball , through all its troublesStill kindles hope eternal every SpringOh, how I love this grand old game!