And Down The Stretch They Come!

Tonight is as exciting a night as any baseball fan, and yes even a Mets fan, could ask for.  Today is the last day of the regular season but it is also the beginning of the playoffs as four teams are fighting for the two wild card spots.  In the American League the Red Sox and the Rays and in the National League the Braves and the Cardinals.  What more could we possibly ask for?

In the American League history will be made either way.  We will have witnessed either the Rays pull off the greatest September comeback or the Red Sox commit the greatest September collapse in history.  The Red Sox lead the Rays by 9 games in the wild card standings to begin the month.  If the Red Sox do falter they will own a dubious distinction.  They will own the worst collapse in regular season history and will have made the greatest comeback in postseason history having comeback from down 3-0 in a seven game series against the Yankees on their way to winning the 2004 World Series.

In the National League the Cardinals have come on down the stretch and showed the resilience of the veteran team that they are.  The rumors of Albert Pujol's demise have been greatly exaggerated and it was his turn around this season that seemed to kick start the late surge by the Cardinals.  Meanwhile the Braves lead by Chipper Jones, Dan Uggla (of bot4q.com fame), and an extremely talented but young bullpen have seemingly hit the wall.  Although I am a Mets fan first I am a National League fan and it will be interesting to see which one of these storied franchises comes out on top.

I personally will be rooting that all four teams win their respective games forcing one game playoffs between the Rays/Red Sox and Braves/Cardinals.  This is exactly why the 'wild card' was a great idea for baseball.  It is also exactly why adding another wild card spot in each league is a terrible idea.  It's very rare that game 162 matters for any one team.  Even rarer that it matters for four.  Another wild card spot will make it matter for no one.  Except of course the rest of the American League east.

Tony _omo

Like many of you I have watched and scrutinized the performances of Tony Romo over the last 6+ seasons.  That being said, I have also expressed the opinion that I think Romo is the best QB in the NFC East.  This is no small admission as I am a Giants fan.  That opinion is obviously based mostly on perceived talent than it is on results.  

Now Romo has given us many reasons to question him.  Whether it be dropping the snap on a potential game winning FG or turning the ball over at the most inopportune times, which has happened to him on numerous occasions.  Or going to Mexico during a bye week, with then girlfriend Jessica Simpson, only to return and have the Cowboys lose the playoff game the next week and being blamed for it.  An incident made more famous by Terrell Owens coming to his defense in the post game press conference. See below:

It is now time to stop the Tony Romo hating.  It is time to stop questioning his ability and decision making.  It is time to stop calling him Tony 'Homo'.  His performance on Sunday should have earned him the respect he deserves from all fans of football.  Romo played the second half and overtime with fractured ribs and a punctured lung and led the Cowboys to a come from behind victory.  Gutsy, gutsy performance.  

It has been  said often that Romo plays the game a lot like, and some times too much like his idol Brett Favre.  A gun slinging mentality that has often gotten him criticized.  Well he showed another Favre characteristic on Sunday and that is toughness.  Keep playing that way Tony.  That Favre guy had a pretty good career.  Just please stay away from the text messaging.

I Pledge Allegiance

As we all gather today to cheer on our favorite teams please take time to remember who our real heroes are.  Thank you to the brave men and women of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Army National Guard, and Coast Guard.  Freedom isn't free.  Many of your brothers and sisters have paid and some of you will pay the ultimate price to protect our way of life.  Also thank the men and women who serve our communities locally in law enforcement and as fire fighters.  You are all our heroes.  Your selflessness is what makes OUR country the greatest country on Earth, and while it takes center stage today on the tenth anniversary of 9/11, it should be celebrated everyday.  I thank and salute you all.

The land of the FREE and the home of the BRAVE.

Who Let The Dogs Out?

The video speaks for it self.  Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!

We don't need no "meows", we don't need no cats. WE NEED MORE DAWGS!

You Play..To Win..The Game

Here's the scenario.  It's fourth and goal from the one yard line.  It's and untimed play due to a defensive penalty at the end of the game.  You are down 42-34 against the defending Super Bowl champions who are playing at home.  A touchdown and two point conversion ties the game.  What do you call?


If you are New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton apparently you call a running play and hand the ball to your rookie RB.  You must have forgotten that your team last year was the worst short yardage team in the league.  You must have forgotten that during your time in New Orleans your teams have never been a team that was able to pound the ball in.  You must have forgotten your QB was extremely hot and had thrown for more the 400 yards and 3 TD's at that point in the game.  You must have forgotten that earlier in the game in a similar situation you could have kicked a field goal but you went for it and called a pass play, a play that didn't work but still plays to your teams strength.

Sean Payton simply out coached himself.  Everybody on the planet knew that the Saints should call a pass play, including the Packers.  Which is exactly why they stacked the line to blow up a running play.  Then knew that Payton's "creativity" as an offensive play caller would get in his own way.  He knew that everybody on the planet just knew he would call a passing play.  So he called a run.  The ball was snapped, Drew Brees handed the ball to Mark Ingram, Ingram took off and before he left the ground it seems 5 Packers had left their feet and were jumping over the line to stuff the rookie.  He never had a chance.  You sure fooled us Sean Payton!  HELLO!!  You play, to win, the game!  That's Latin for "put the ball in your best players hands and run a play that your team can actually pull off".

Rain Drops Keep Falling.....

The game between the Yankees and the Orioles on Tuesday night was delayed for more than fours.  I repeat FOUR HOURS!!  This is longer than what most games actually take to start and complete, even Yankee games.  While weather had a tremendous impact on a few sporting events this past weekend, it's affect on MLB leads me to one conclusion.  As much as it pains me to say it, it is time to shorten the MLB season from 162 games.

What the ideal number would be I'm not sure, maybe back to 154 games would suffice, but something has to be done.  No fan should be made to wait through a steady rain for the game to start.  The game was delayed and not postponed because at this point in the season there are no more make  up days.  Rescheduling it for a double header wasn't an option because each team played different teams the next day and don't meet again in NY this year.

Shortening the season will allow for more potential make up days and also allow the players a few more days off during the season.  It will also help with post season scheduling now, and if MLB adds another wild card team, it will keep the World Series from being played in November.  Avoiding another potential weather disaster if games are played in cold weather areas.

So I plead with you MLB, please shorten your season.  Or pay tribute to Ernie Banks and schedule more double headers.
"Let's play two!" -Ernie Banks (HOF shortstop for the Cubs)



Friends and followers if you would check out the podcast The Sports Goof.  The show is just two guys goofing on sports, hence the title, and is great.  I have a segment on episode 12 previewing the upcoming NFL season.

Don't Let Down Your Garrard!

David Garrard was cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars today.  Three days before the start of the 2011 NFL Season.  This may fly under the radar with most fans but I take some exception to it for a number of reasons.

One, because of how late they decided to make the move it gives Garrard almost no chance at catching on with another team as a starter.  He may get an opportunity somewhere as a back up but Garrard should be starting somewhere.  There simply are not 32 QB's in the NFL who give their team a better chance to win.

Two, the Jaguars knew they were going to turn the team over to the QB they drafted in the the first round of this years draft anyway.  Why not release Garrard at the start of camp so that he could catch on with another team and at least compete for a starting job.  With all he has done in Jacksonville he had earned the right to be treated better on his way out.

Three, it's move like this that show just how ruthless, and at times hypocritical, the NFL can be.  They talk about commitment and sacrifice for the team, yet the players can be cut at any time without warning.  These owners do not care about the contracts they have with the players so why are the players bound by them?   This is why I have no problem when players hold out for more guaranteed money, for many of them it's the only portion of the contract the team will actually honor.

So I say to the players......GET THAT MONEY WHILE YOU CAN!