Back to basics

Mets baseball!  Reviewing our spring stats thus far, Lucas Duda is killing it: .325 w/ 4 HR in 40 ABs.  Nice start.

Murph is over .300.

Ike is scrapping.  Stuck at the mendoza line with 1 HR in 45 ABs.

Jason Bay looks like he's up to his old tricks.  .229 w/ no HRs.

Justin Turner has 8 hits in 53 ABs, a sweltering .151 pace.  Looks like he should pay the role of Tim Bogar convicingly.

Who the heck is our CF?

I am SHOCKED!!!

Where is the love for Tebow-mania???

Wait...you guys aren't excited by this?

You mean this was a horrible mistake that will make what was looking like a bad season completely awful?

You think Sanchez will throw himself off the GWB after he throws his first pick of the season and the "We want Tebow" chants destroy his fragile psyche?

Hmmm...I guess you're right. This probably isn't worth getting excited about...unless you're a Fins fan--BOOYAH, SUCKERS!!!

BWAHHAHAHAHAHA!
P.S.--What's the over under until Cromartie tries to shank Tebow in the locker room? I give it 6 days into training camp...

One of my favorite YouCon moments

As if you needed another reason to root for Duke,

try this one on for size:  Obama roots for the Holes, and dislikes Duke.  From Mike Corey's blog, The Devil's Advocate:

Q: Obama filled out his tournament bracket with Andy Katz again this week, and once again picked UNC to win at all and chose Duke to lose earlier than we Duke fans might have hoped. As a longtime political writer, why do you think Obama–and politicians generally–engage sports like this? How successful do you think it is from a political perspective? And with Obama, how genuine do you think it is–or how genuinely does it come across to voters? 

Harwood: Obviously basketball has been really important in Obama’s life and still is. So no doubt he enjoys it (with help from Reggie Love, as you know). But showing that enjoyment is a good way for politicians to connect with voters on a personal level on topic THEY really care about. BTW, I interviewed Obama very soon after Duke won the 2010 championship. I asked him for a congratulatory high-five and he pulled his hand back at the last second. He later sent the WH photo of that moment with the inscription: “I rarely high-five Duke people.”

Bold is my emphasis.

Fab Melo out for 'Cuse

per the interwebs, their star frosh sophomore (my how the time flies) C will not be able to play in the NCAAs due to eligibility problems. For the record, I had them losing in the second round WITH Melo.

NCAA Tourney

Weird year this year.  With the exception of Kentucky, lots of parity.

UK seems head-and-shoulders above the field, much like Duke 99 or Houston 83 (two teams, incidentally, that failed to win the natty).   Will UK fulfill Calipari's NC dream this year, at least temporarily?  Looks to me like U Conn and Baylor are the toughest teams in their way, at least until the final game.  The odds seem ever in their favor.

Meanwhile, the continued exodus of NBA talent from high major programs (except at Carolina) seems to have caught up with a lot of schools: parity is the word.  After Butler making two final games in a row, and VCU And George Mason going to the FF in recent years, I do not have a hard time believing that  schools like Xavier, New Mexico, UNLV, St. Mary's or Gonzaga could make a deep run.  Or that teams like Belmont, Harvard, or Davidson could win a game or two.   You cannot convince me that, say, Cincinnati is head-and-shoulders above San Diego St.  Just b/c Cinci plays in a high major gives them little.  I'm not convinced the level of play in Big East (after 'Cuse), ACC (after UNC), or B10 was much better than the Missouri Valley, A10, or Mountain West this year.

Anyhow, I hate to admit it, but this is the first year I haven't had Duke in the winner circle on my bracket.  I've always felt like they had a chance, even in the "down" years (by Duke standards).  This year, I don't see any chance.  Getting by X or ND is just a 50-50 proposition, and this team will not beat Baylor.  No chance.  Only way Duke gets to a FF is if UNLV takes out Baylor AND Conn takes out UK.  Slim, slim, odds--basically zero.

So who do I like this year?

I like the South bracket.  UK is the prohibitive favorite, IMO, and their loss to Vandy in the SEC tourney final was probably the last piece of the puzzle they needed.  Their young arrogant team may now have just enough incentive to listen to Cal and avoid getting sandbagged on the road to N'Awlins.

If it's not UK, I like Baylor second best to win the tournament.  That regional final could be an epic game.

Out of the West, I'm pretty chalk.  While Mich St. is probably not a 1-seed most years, they have Izzo, and that's usually worth 2 tourney wins on its own. And their region is pretty soft.  I like Mich St. to win the region, but Mizzou and 7-seed Florida are real threats as well.  I like 13-seed Davidson as the lowest seed to make the Sweet 16.

The East will be a bracket buster, IMO.  I like 8-see Kansas St. to take out 'Cuse early (again).  I'm going with Wisky in round 1 but Montana could upset them.   I like FSU to make the regional final in the bottom half of the bracket, and I like Vandy in the top half of the bracket.   I'll defer on picking the winner--get back to me if the game materializes.

UNC drew an absolute cakewalk through 3 rounds in the Midwest.  I could easily see Creighton beating Bama (score another one for mid-majors), and Temple getting past Cal or USF.  A second round Temple-Michigan game would be one to watch.  Ultimately irrelevant, as neither team can get past UNC (assuming Henson plays).  In the bottom half of the bracket, G'Town looks good for another early departure (doubt they'll see S16), and Kansas should roll into the Regional Final as well.  UNC-Kansas, in St. Louis, should be the other epic regional final (along w/ Baylor-UK), and I like Kansas to win.  They have the size to neutralize Zeller, and the better coach.

So my FF picks: UK, MSU, Vandy/FSU, Kansas.

Best chance to make FF from each power conference:

ACC: UNC
Big East: Marquette ('Cuse got a murderous draw)
SEC: UK (not an easy draw, but they can handle it)
B10: Mich State
B12: Mizzou (like their odds slightly better than KU at making FF b/c of the weak West regional; even though I've got KU and not Mizzou getting to FF)
PAC 12:   Whatever team can scream "Noonan" in unison.

If you've got any ideas how the PAC 12 could improve their odds, please let me knwo.

Harkless entering the NBA Draft

Money based decision, obviously.  Still, I think this kid is doing himself a disservice.  You have 3 years to show you deserve a big second contract.   Mo is going to need to add a lot of muscle to succeed at the next level.    Hope it works out for the kid, but I think he's making a mistake.

Johnnies / ND

Nice win for the Johnnies, dropping 2nd place Notre Dame into 3rd in the Big East.  This team has a good bit of young talent.  It's a shame that Lavin got sick, b/c I would've liked to see what he could've done with a whole season to teach these guys and bring them along.  I guess the bigger news is that he's doing well, and God willing, will be back full-time next season.

Great News!

It'll all be O.K., Mets Fans.  See below:

“

They shouldn't be concerned about us owning the franchise, because we intend to own the franchise for a very long time. Whether they're happy about that right now or not, I don't know.

”-- Fred Wilpon on his team's fans

Gary Carter, RIP

A true Mets great and a champion.

If I had to pick an '86 Met that was going to die young, it hardly would've been the clean living Mr. Carter.  What cruel irony.

You will be missed, Gary.

Johnnies @ GTown today

Let's go Storm.

Linsanity

OK, so this kid actually has me interested in the NBA for the first time in years. Read his backstory here. If you can't root for this kid, there's something wrong with you. Schooled on fundamentals. Drilled himself silly. Immensely skilled, but unlike most such players growing up nowadays, he worked hard to hone that skill into something remarkable. Almost didn't get a chance (and let's face it, race prolly had something to do with that). Gets his chance. Kills it. And remains team-first to the core. This morning I actually checked the paper to see when the next Knick game is.

DUKE STUDENTS GOING WILD AFTER UNC BUZZER BEATER

I miss these days: If you'd like to see the polar opposite reaction, check out this link at around the 2:15 mark.

Austin Rivers Game Winning Buzzer Beater - Duke Beats Carolina

OK, it's official

Rex and Mr. T have officially jumped the shark.  They obviously do not want Sanchez to succeed.  Meh.

Gronk doing the Shockey....

At the 55second mark he busts out with the Roethlisberger! What a tool. They just lost the Super Bowl right?

Superbowl scores

I've got Big Blue, 27-23.

Namath on Sanchez

Good 'ole Broadway Joe.  Granted, he hasn't exactly been winning Rex's "favorite guy award" the last 12 months, but Namath's criticism has been pretty much on point.

Here's part of what he had to say about Sanchez, which I also think is pretty much on point:

Saturday at noon!

Showdown time!

Of course, by showdown, I mean a thorough ass-kicking of the Johnnies. Hopefully they can keep it within 20 or so to avoid total humiliation.

C'mon Ravens

So far Ravens D has done its job, if only the offense could step up. 3-3 right now. I'd imagine Ravens will need at least 24 to win, possibly more than 30. For some reason teams find it tough to keep Pats below 30. Which is strange, because at the end of the day when you strip it down to basics, all they have is Gronkowski and Welker. Their RBs are not standout, Deion Branch is 37 years old, and while Hernandez is good he's not the matchup nightmare that Gronk is.

Tomlinson on this season

A great interview, with some very telling quotes from a guy who's been around, y'know?

Tomlinson said quarterback Mark Sanchez and wide receiver Santonio Holmes, in particular, had a rocky relationship. “It is as bad as I’ve ever been around, honestly,” Tomlinson said of the locker room. “And I’ve been around some locker rooms and quarterback-receiver situations and what-not. But it was as bad as I’ve been around.”

This is the type of football team that they wanted,” said Tomlinson, the NFL’s fifth-leading rusher. “Mike Tannenbaum, Rex Ryan are both brash, in-your-face type of style—say whatever you want, just get it done on the field. And then it leads to other things, as guys are calling each other out and saying, `I’m not getting the ball’ or whatever it may be.”

Tomlinson was asked if he would bring back both Sanchez and Holmes, given all the problems. “Whew, that is a tough one...”

OK, so I can read between the lines there. LT's take on Holmes?

“In all seriousness, Santonio, obviously, he is a great player,” Tomlinson said. “There are some things that obviously he needs to work on as far as being a leader.”

His take on Sanchez?

“He is not a lazy guy,” Tomlinson said. “He puts in the time after practice in the film room. He can get it done. He just has to have pieces around him to help him get it done.”

Playing for Rex?

“I love playing for Rex,” Tomlinson said before adding that he wished the coach would tune down the bravado.

“I don’t mind every now and again saying we are going to win a championship,” he said. “Maybe at the beginning of the year just saying, `Hey, our goal is to win a championship.’ But at the same time every week if you are calling out a team on certain things, I think it puts a little extra on your team. Guys really want to go out there and say, `Let’s shut this guy up. Let’s shut these Jets up, just end their season.”

In retrospect... (re Mark Sanchez)

Would Jet fans rather have not made that trade (1st, 2nd, 3 players) to move up and draft Sanchez and instead draft Josh Freeman at the 17 pick (coincidentally TB got that pick, the Jets' from Cleveland.)

Take into account Sanchez unheralded 4 road playoff wins and Freeman's great first full season and subsequent "sophomore" slump in his 2nd full season. Would love to hear thoughts. As a football fan I believe Josh Freeman has the brighter future and has yet to pose shirtless, in skinny jeans for GQ... so he clearly has my vote.

Ding dong, the Schott is gone

While I was never as rabidly anti-Schott as a lot of the jets fan base, I was also strongly in the camp that didn't care for all his fancy play calling and thought he was holding back our offense. IMO he had to go, and possibly so does Sanchez. I'm willing to give Sanchez one more season under a new coordinator and system, but to say he's on thin ice is an understatement,

In any case I look forward to a more straightforward offense next season that undertands our strengths and plays to them.

I also hope that tannenbaum and co. have learned their lesson that you can't just swap out that many pieces, especially solid locker room guys, and expect a cohesive team. They failed to observe the greatest lesson from belisuck - you don't need the best players at every position, but you DO need a team that is smart and plays together as a well-oiled machine. In contrast, the three ring circus that is the jets continues to be dragged out in the public spotlight.

After the progress in 2009 and 2010, last season was a real kick in the sack.

F-Mart has been closed for business

Well, there goes another classic Mets 5-tool prospect.

Fernando Martinez has been waived.

Unfortunately, this time they weren't able to trade him before his imminent failure as a major leaguer (unlike Alex Ochoa or Alex Escobar...).

Cotchery

Watching that TD catch by Cotchery I can't help but think we dodged a bullet there. Luckily we got rid of him...who needs solid receivers who have tremendous character and play through fierce injuries for you? That's certainly not the jets way, and not the type of locker room we're looking to build.

Close one indeed.

Should T be fired?

At this point I'd say no--he's primarily a capologist, and just one member on the team that makes personnel decisions. Keep in mind, T was just as involved in going out and getting the high character guys that Mangini wanted, as the, er, talent-at-any-price guys that Rex has coveted.

Guys that Tannenbaum drafted or brough in as undrafted FAs working with Mangini:

Where there's smoke, there's fire

Leave it to the wide-eyed college kid, the one who knows something about winning after his team took home a BCS championship at 'Bama, to see things as they are and lay it out there:

Another example of Rex culture in action

From ESPN NY:

 Cornerback Antonio Cromartie, asked if the New York Jets gave full effort in Sunday’s season-ending 19-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins, took a thinly veiled swat at the offense.

“Maybe on one side of the ball,” Cromartie said

I just can't believe this is true

Are the Jets serious about bringing Santonio back next year?

A sampling of quotes:

The Jets had a Defensive Coordinator?

Bang up job, sir. What does it take to not get promoted in this league?