THANK YOU, ANNIKA

HER CAREER ENDED UNCEREMONIUOSLY LAST WEEK, BUT ANNIKA SORENSTAM CONDUCTED HERSLEF WITH THE USUAL COMPOSURE AND CLASS A CHAMPION COMPORTS THEMSELF WITH. 72 TITLES, THIRD ALL-TIME SAYS IT ALL. ARGUABLY, THE GREATEST FEMALE GOLFER EVER, MS. SORENSTAM IS A GREAT EXAMPLE HOW A GREAT ATHLETE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT SPORT THEY PARTICIPATE IN, SHOULD CONDUCT THEMSELVES. THANK YOU, ANNIKA.

ROMO PROVES HIS VALUE TO THE COWBOYS!

IF YOU HAVEN’T GUESSED BY NOW, THEN YOU KNOW THAT I AM A NY GIANTS FAN. GIANTS’ FANS DON’T LIKE THE COWBOYS AND VICE VERSA. BUT, I MUST ADMIT, THEY ARE A TALENTED TEAM. TONY ROMO’S VALUE WAS NEVER MORE EVIDENT THEN WHEN HE WAS OUT WITH A BROKEN FINGER. AS HE GOES, SO GO THE COWBOYS. BUT, LET ME MAKE SOMEHTING CRYSTAL CLEAR, UNTIL HE TAKES THEM TO A SUPERBOWL, YOU CANNOT MENTION HIM IN THE SAME SENTENCE WITH ROGER STAUBACH OR TROY AIKMAN. THEY WON FIVE TITLES BETWEEN THEM. ROMO, LIKE DANNY WHITE, CRAIG MORTON AND DON MEREDITH, DIDN’T WIN A TITLE. BUT, MORTON, DID TAKE THEM TO SUPER BOWL FIVE, WHERE THEY LOST TO THE COLTS ON A LAST SECOND FIELD GOAL BY JIM O’BRIEN 16-13, IN 1971. SHOULD THE COWBOYS FAIL TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR, LOOK FOR JERRY JONES TO FIRE HEAD COACH WADE PHILLIPS AND BRING IN SOMEONEELSE-PERHAPS BILL COWHER. NOW, THAT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING TEAM-JONES/COWHER.

WHERE WILL C.C. WIND UP?

WHERE WILL C.C. SABATHIA WIND UP? THAT IS THE QUESTION OF THE DAY. WHILE I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HIM IN YANKEE PINSTRIPES NEXT SEASON, I DON’T THINK HE WILL BE. WHY? JUST A GUT FEELING. THE YANKEES HAVEN’T BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH TOP LINE FREE AGENTS IN RECENT YEARS. MY PREDICTION, AND I HOPE I AM WRONG, IS THAT HE WILL EITHER STAY IN MILWAUKEE OR WIND UP WITH THE ANGELS. HE PUBLICLY STATED HE LIKED THE MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY BUT MONEY TALKS, SO WE WILL SEE. IF THE YANKEES DON’T SIGN HIM, I THINK IT WILL BE A LONG SEASON IN THE BRONX IN 2009.

CLASS OF THE NBA? HARDLY!

I must be missing something! The Boston Celtics are the NBA World Champions-are they not? I thought so. So, why are the LA Lakers being called the “class of the NBA ?”  Didn’t the Celtics crushthem in the NBA Finals? Yes, they did. Kobe Bryant is a fine player- maybe the league’s best. But, lets face it- he is no Magic Johnson. The Lakers-class of the NBA- until the Celtics are dethroned- no way!

TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW!

Afte 35 years at the helm of the NY Yankees, George Steinbrenner has transferred ownership to his youngest son, Hal. A quiet man, Hal with leave his own stamp on a franchise that has more history than some countries. He certainly is 180 degrees from his father, who was as flamboyant an owner as there has ever been in American sports. While he has been justly criticized for his impulsive moves over the years, one thing must be said: few owners in any sport have wanted to win as much as Steinbrenner has. Every owner should want to win that badly. As for Hal, he does have a tough act to follow. I am certain he will do very well.

A DIFFERENT SORT OF PREACHER

He played major league baseball in a much different era. An era free of free agency, high salaries and with only 16 major league teams. “Preacher ” Roe was a durable , crafty left handed pitcher for the then, Brooklyn Dodgers. Arguably the most beloved team in history, the Dodgers bespoke Brooklyn around the world. They played in an era when there were three major league baseball teams in New York City and from 1947-57, one of those teams, in some cases two teams, met in the world series. “Preacher” Roe passed away last week at the ripe old age of 92. Trust me, that “Preacher” will never be forgotten in Flatbush. Rest in Peace.

THANKS, HERB!

FOR EVEN THE MOST CASUAL BASEBALL FAN, THE NAME HERB SCORE IS WELL KNOWN. AS A YOUNG PITCHER WITH THE INDIANS IN THE MID 1950′S, SCORE, A SOUTHPAW, HAD A BLAZING FASTBALL AND IN HIS FIRST TWO SEASONS, HE HAD HALL OF FAME POTENTIAL. THAT WAS, UNTIL ONE NIGHT IN 1957 WHEN FATE DEALT HIM A CRUEL FATE. SCORE WAS HIT IN THE FACE WITH A LINE DRIVE BY THE YANKEES’ GIL MCDOUGALD. NEITHER MAN WAS THE SAME AFTER THAT. SCORE NEVER REGAINED THE FORM HE DISPLAYED IN HIS FIRST TWO YEARS AND MCDOUGALD RETIRED BY 1960. SCORE WENT ON TO BECOME A POOPULAR INDIANS BROADCASTER AND ENTERTAINED BASEBALL FANS WITH HIS ENTHUSIASM AND STORY TELLING. HE PASSED AWAY TODAY. THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES, HERB. WE WILL MISS YOU. 

TITANS KEEP ROLLING ON!

It isn’t pretty, but the Tennessee Titans just keep pounding every opponent into submission. They rushed for under 50 yards against a good Bears’ defense, but still won 21-14 as Kerry Collins experience and leadership have made a big difference in the absence of Vince Young this season? Vince who? The Titans’ defense has been stingyn as well, giving up an average of 12 points per game. They will make some noise come play off time.

TAXES AND BASEBALL

NOW, AGENTS ARE MEETING WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE CLIENTS ABOUT POTENTIAL OBAMA TAX INCREASES AND HOW IT WILL EFFECT THEIR INCOME. OS MUCH FOR PLAYING FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME BUT THOSE IDEALISTIC DAYS ENDED LONG AGO, IF THEY EVER EXISTED AT ALL. MLB PLAYERS MAKES HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY SO TAX BRACKETS SHOULDN’T BE THAT BIG AN ISSUE UNLESS THEY HAVE SQUANDERED THEIR MONEY. I DON’T FEEL EMPATHY FOR THEM. WHY SHOULD I? IF OBAMA WANTS TO SPREAD THE WEALTH AROUND THEN SEND ME SOME. I COULD SURE USE IT.BY THE WAY, IF THAT HAPPENS, WILL WE HAVE A SOCIALIST BASEBALL LEAGUE? GOD HELP US ALL! 

IT WAS TIME!

IT WAS A DIFFICULT, PAINFUL DECISION. BUT, IT WAS A CORRECT ONE. iT WAS TIME FOR HEAD COACH PHILLIP FULMER TO STEP ASIDE FOR THE GOOD OF THE UT FOOTBALL PROGRAM. IT IS TIME FOR NEW BLOOD TO STEP IN AND ENERGIZE A DORMENT PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN RESEDING FOR SOME TIME DESPITE FULMER’S EFFORTS TO RIGHT THE SHIP. LET’S WISH HIM WELL.