GO YANKEES!

A three-game sweep of those pesky Minnesota Twins put my Yankees back in the ALCS for the first time since 2004 and we all know what happened that year. The opponent this time will be a very, very talented Los Angeles Angels team that is playing as well, if not better then the Yankees. The Angels gave the Bronx Bombers a rough time this season but this is for the American League title, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

ABOUT TIME, UT!

With a 45-19 rout of Georgia Oct. 10, the Tennessee Vols may have turned the corner and salvaged a season. Quarterback Jonathan Crompton had a great game at long last-passing for over 300 yards and four touchdown passes while the defense was its usual stubborn self. Good job, fellas!

A ONE AND ONLY!

Hard to believe but it is 53 years ago today that mychoice as baseball’s greatest moment took place: Don Larsen’s perfect game in the fifth game of the 1956 world series between the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers at Yankee Stadium. He threw only 97 pitches. Home plate umpire Babe Pinelli retired after the game. Mickey Mantle hit a solo home run and ran down a deep drive to left centerfield off the bat of Gil Hodges. Sal “the Barber”Maglie was the losing pitcher and it remains the only perfect game thrown in world series competition. “Gooney bird” Larsen was household name after that October day. While his overall career may be described as mediocre, for one day, he was perfect.

Baseball’s greatest moment?

Saturday, Oct. 3 for many is just another day on the calendar. But, for baseball fanatics like me, it is the 58th anniversary of what is arguably baseball’s greatest moment: Bobby Thomson hit the home run known as”the shot heard ’round the world.” Thomson’s three run home run off of Brooklyn Dodger pitcher Ralph Branca capped an amazing comeback by the then NY Giants to win the  NL pennant in the final game of a three game playoff at the Polo Grounds in NYC. Both men are alive and well. Both are in their 80’s and are well remembered for this  moment that remains frozen in time.

REMEMBER *61

Forty-eight years ago today, one of baseball’s greatest feats was accomplished: Roger Maris swatted his 61st home run at Yankee Stadium off of Boston’s Tracy Stallard in a 1-0 win for the eventual world champion Yankees. The baseball commissioner, Ford C. Frick, who was a “ghost writer,” for Babe Ruth years earlier, put an asterisk next to this and all record set that season because it was the first year of a 162 game schedule. It had been a 154 game schedule for years. The asterisk stayed for many years until 1991 when then commissioner Fay Vincent, declared the asterisk be stricken. Unfortunately, Maris died six years earlier of cancer at age 51 never knowing the record was his alone.

Let’s celebrate Bobby Cox

Longtime Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox has announced that 2010 will be his last as Braves’ manager. I may be a Yankees fan, but let’s be fair: Cox has had a GREAT managerial career in the major leagues. I chuckle when people say he only won one World Series. Well, lets examine his career: 14 consecutive division titles, five NL Pennants and one World Series-not counting his years with Toronto. And people question his ability. Need I remind people that Earl Weaver won seven division titles, four pennants and one World Series and nobody questions his managerial skill. Bobby Cox, who broke in as a player with the Yankees in the late 60’s as a third baseman, has carved out a great career and I look forward to him being enshrined in Cooperstown. It is well-deserved.

Did the real Vols show up?

After a 63-7 beating of helpless Western Kentucky, the UT Vols again lost to UCLA, this time 19-15. Which is the real Vols? My answer would be the latter. A strong defense and a mediocre offense. Hopefully, Lane Kiffin can get this straightened out but I am afraid it won’r be against Florida.

Watch Out for Ole Miss!

The road to a national title goes through Gainesville, FL, but watch out for Ole Miss. Yes, Memphis gave them a battle for three quarters until Jevan Snead shook off the cobwebs and lead the Rebels to a 45-14 win, but the Rebels will be in the hunt for SEC and national honors. Houston Nutt has taken the talent left him by Ed Orgeron to the next level. Watch out and don’t take them lightly.

LET’S SEE WHAT HAPPENS AGAINST UCLA

I was glad, like many UT fans, to see the Lane Kiffin Era get off to a rousing start with a 63-7 win over Western Kentucky. But, let me be blunt; they should have beaten Western Kentucky 63-7! UCLA, a game that UT gave away last season, will be more of a test this year. Why? Revenge for such an embarrassing  loss to a Bruins squad that was defeated 59-0 the following game last year. The Vols don’t have to win the SEC title this year but they don need to post at least eight wins for it to be a turn around year. Let’s cheer them on!

GEHRIG WOULD BE PLEASED!

Very soon, a long time NY Yankee club record will be surpassed. 68 years after his death, Lou Gehrig’s team record of 2,721 career hits is about to be eclipsed by another classy Yankee captain, Derek Jeter. At age 35, Jeter is playing some of the best baseball of his illustrious career. In this era of free agency, I cannot see Jeter in a uniform other then of the Yankees. He is this era’s Joe DiMaggio; graceful, charismatic and a winner. He will retire as a Yankee and I am certain he will be the first player to spend his entire career in pinstripes to reach the coveted 3,000 hit club