This and That
Each week I'll talk about the world of sports ...
• Here we go, the Yankees are at it again. Just before the trade deadline, they hit the jackpot by adding Damaso Marte to the bullpen and Xavier Nady to the line-up in a deal with Pittsburgh. Wow, what additions to the team. Nady is hitting .330 while Marte gives the team a lefty to help set up Mariano Rivera. Brian Cashman does a super job and for those who wonder why they are in the playoffs every year, just look at the deals to get stronger when life is tough.
• The Red Sox really needed a win Sunday night against the Yankees. Jon Lester came through as Boston jumped out to an early lead. Terry Francona's squad didn't want to be swept at Fenway, and you could tell right away there was some urgency. It was an emotional series as Joba Chamberlain started it off with a brilliant outing, winning a pitcher's duel against Josh Beckett in a 1-0 thriller. Mariano Rivera came through with 1 2/3 innings of solid relief on Friday to save the win for Chamberlain.
• The Brett Favre soap opera goes on and on. Will he end up in New York playing for the Jets? Could he be heading to Tampa Bay to star under Jon Gruden? I will always look at Favre as a Green Bay Packer. It is sad that he will not finish in Green Bay, where his legacy is obvious.
• CC Sabathia has made a huge difference since coming over for the Brewers. He has pitched brilliantly, giving Milwaukee a major lift in the starting rotation. The combination of Sabathia and Ben Sheets could be tough come playoff time. The addition of Sabathia and Ray Durham sent a message that the Brewers are contenders and the reaction of the team has been obvious. Sabathia could break the bank come free agency. Will the pinstripes in the Bronx pay CC the kind of big bucks Johan Santana got across the way at Shea Stadium?
• Speaking of the Mets, manager Jerry Manuel has them playing well. Look at what the offense did against the Cardinals & 24 runs in three games! It is a great story and this team has come out of nowhere after the Willie Randolph soap opera. This team is a legitimate contender for the NL crown. Let me tell you, the Phillies and Marlins are going to be tough in the NL East. My friends, I don't think Florida is going to go away. By the way, somebody should get in the ear of shortstop Jose Reyes. Come on, enough is enough & being enthusiastic and energetic is one thing. When you start to act and show up your opponents with your antics, it gets old very quickly. I'm telling you, people in the baseball world are not happy watching him the way he is. It is about maturity and maybe someone should have Reyes look across town and see the class shown by Derek Jeter.
• The USA basketball team sent a message loud and clear in its opening exhibition game, a blowout win over Canada. Even without LeBron James, it was an M&M'er, a total mismatch. The team showed it is ready and fired up to go after the gold. This will be a tough team to beat because it has all the pieces in place. I can't see the American squad coming home from Beijing without the gold medal. I don't think anyone will compete with them because of the passion and pride instilled in them by Mike Krzyzewski, Jerry Colangelo and the coaching staff.
• With the Hall of Fame honoring Goose Gossage, Dick Williams and Bowie Kuhn over the weekend, here are four guys I really feel belong in the Cooperstown shrine: Jim Kaat, Bert Blyleven, Jim Rice and Andre Dawson. Just go look at their numbers and understand what they meant to baseball. Kaat and Blyleven didn't always play on great teams and the same can be said for Dawson. Rice was a feared hitter and I have heard several former pitchers say they did not want to face him.
• Is this the week that Roger Federer finally gives up the world number one ranking? Rafael Nadal is breathing down his back at No. 2, and the tournament in Cincinnati could see a changing of the guard if Federer struggles. It is amazing to note that at age 22, Nadal has already won 30 ATP Tour singles titles, including the Rogers Cup in Toronto last week.
• Congratulations to Jon Bon Jovi, Ron Jaworski and the Philadelphia Soul for winning the Arena Bowl championship. Philadelphia almost found a way to give up a big lead in the fourth quarter, but it was able to hang on for the W!
