Pay The Captain: Yankees Need to End Jeter Dispute

Derek Jeter was not pleased with the first contract offer from the Yankees

It has now reached the point of utter absurdity. For the first time in 10 years, Derek Jeter is a free agent. Jeter, whose historic career has produced 5 championships, the most hits in Yankees history, and a .314 batting average, has become an iconic player and the face of the most successful franchise in sports.

However, after the worst offensive season of his career and whispers that his age is affecting his range in the field, contract negotiations between Jeter and the Yankees have become complicated and have turned into a war of words through the media. The Yankees, who have reportedly offered Jeter a 3-year deal worth $45 million, believe they are being more than fair for a 36-year-old on the decline, coming off his worst statistical season in which he batted .270 and had an on-base-percentage of .340.

Moss to Titans: A Failed Experiment

The Tennessee Titans claimed the troubled wide receiver Randy Moss off waivers this week in a move the Titans hope will help them secure a playoff berth in a competitive AFC South division. This will be Moss’s 3^rd team this season, and there’s a good reason the Titans were the only team in the NFL who wanted him following his 4 game stint with his old team, the Minnesota Vikings.

While many people believe this will be a low-risk high-reward move that will greatly benefit a 5-3 Titans team, this is a potentially disastrous move that could derail a promising season for this team. Yes, Moss is one of the most talented wide receivers in the game, and poses a huge deep threat for all opposing defenses, but at the same time he is a chemistry-killing self absorbed poison, who unless placed in the perfect environment will inevitably cause problems and draw attention to himself in a negative way. They say a leopard never changes its spots and there are numerous reasons to believe that won’t happen here.

Should the NFL suspend players for “illegal” hits?

James Harrison's hit on Browns receiver Mohamed Masaquoi was one of 3 illegal hits on Sunday that led the NFL to decide to begin imposing suspensions on players

This week the NFL imposed huge fines for 3 vicious hits that took place in Week 6 games on Sunday, and voiced its intent to begin suspending players for these types of hits in the future. In what has become an extremely controversial issue for players, coaches, and fans, the league decided to take a firm stance in an effort to defend the safety of its players.

While anyone who knows the nature of the game of football understands that it is an extremely dangerous game and that often times injuries cannot be prevented, I fully applaud the NFL for its actions. The types of injuries that result from these kind of illegal hits are ones that can be prevented, and should be even if it means suspending players for extended periods of time.

Should NFL teams be forced to play starters after clinching playoff positioning?

 

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell must consider a rule change for teams resting their starters

 

As the 2009 NFL regular season has come to a close, and Wild Card playoff weekend approaches, the normal buzz of playoff anticipation and the firing of coaches is in the air. The end of the regular season has also brought with it talk of an important problem that needs to be fixed in the NFL. This season, talks of how the NFL should handle the problems caused by teams resting their starters in the last few weeks have come to the forefront.

Bronx Bombers sweep Twinkies and move on to face Angels in ALCS

Mark Teixeira hit a Game 2 Walkoff Home Run and helped lead the Yankees to a ALDS sweep of the Twins

With Mariano River’s last pitch, which produced a weak groundball to Derek Jeter, it appeared as though no time had passed since the Yankees teams of the late 90s and early 2000s dominated postseason play and earned the opportunities to play deep into October. This groundball, which Derek Jeter threw over to Mark Teixeira at first, concluded a 4-1 Yankees win over the Twins on Sunday night, giving the Yankees a 3-0 ALDS series sweep over the feisty Twins.

NY Giants 2009 Pre Season Analysis

The Giants kick off the 2009 season on Sunday against the Washington Redskins

As opening week in the NFL approaches, one of the most anticipated weeks in all of sports, I thought it would be good to have some pre -week 1 analysis on the Giants and to detail the NFC East, usually the most competitive division in football.

More posts on the rest of the divisions in the league will follow.

As we all know, last year the Giants had an extremely disappointing season, losing as the 1 seed in the first round of the playoffs to hated rival the Philadelphia Eagles. The season was especially disappointing as the Giants had been defending superbowl champions and had started the season 11-1 before the massive turmoil unfolded and led to the team’s ultimate demise. It wasn’t just the 1st round loss itself; it was the way in which the team lost, as it looked like an extremely mediocre team, unlike the one that had charged to an 11-1 start while obliterating anyone in its path.

League of Shadows: Sammy Sosa tested positive for steroids

 

Sammy Sosa tested positive for PEDs in 2003

You can check another one off the list. A New York Times article earlier this week revealed that former Cubs’ slugger Sammy Sosa tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in 2003. Sosa is the latest of many to finally be caught cheating while playing in an era of baseball that will forever have a cloud over it. The positive test comes from a test that was supposed to be kept secret and anonymous, but Sosa was unlucky enough to have his name and test result leaked to the press.

Kobe Bryant Leads Lakers to NBA Title

 

Kobe Bryant celebrates his 4th championship

On Sunday night Kobe Bryant led his Lakers to a decisive 99-86 road victory over the Orlando Magic, and to his ever-so elusive 4th championship. The series victory gives Kobe his 4th championship, and more importantly his 1st without Shaq, something he has been wanting to accomplish since Shaq left.

Boston Massacre: Sox sweep series

 

The Red Sox swept the Yankees and moved to 8-0 against them this season

 

 

As i wrote before in my pre-series article, this was more than just a June series. Last night’s 4-3 Red Sox victory over the pathetic Yankees gave the Sox the series sweep and makes them 8-0 against the Yankees this year.

The Great Lakes: Huge Victory in Game 4

 

The Lakers showed their strength and resiliency in game 4

The Lakers thrilling 99-91 overtime victory over Orlando in game 4 of the NBA finals tonight puts a dagger in the hearts of the Magic. The Magic controlled the game throughout and held a 10 point lead into the 3rd quarter on  a night where it appeared they would easily win to even the series, but the resiliency of the Lakers pushed the game into overtime and eventually enables them to come out on top.