Superbowl Preview

When looking at the two teams scheduled to participate in Super Bowl XLII, it’s obvious they took completely different routes in getting to the NFL championship. The New England Patriots, of course, ran the table through the regular season before knocking off both the Jacksonville Jaguars and San Diego Chargers in the playoffs for a combined 18-0 record. Things weren’t quite as easy for the New York Giants, who suffered through some inconsistencies early in the year before righting the ship late in the season to secure a wild-card playoff berth. Viewed going in as perhaps the playoff team most unlikely to ruin New England’s perfect season, the Giants ripped off three consecutive road victories to advance to the big game.

Despite the Giants’ lowly status as the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoffs and the fact that they were pretty much an afterthought as far as legitimate contenders heading into the post-season, they do have the components to pull off the ultimate upset. But for the unlikely to happen, they are going to have to play flawlessly Sunday.

The Giants actually had New England on the ropes during week 17 as the Patriots attempted to cap off the first perfect regular season since the 1972 Miami Dolphins, but Tom Brady and crew pulled victory from the jaws of defeat late in the game. Despite coming up on the short end of the score, New York proved they could play with the big boys, and gained the confidence they needed to make a big playoff run.

During their successful stretch run, it’s no coincidence that quarterback Eli Manning appears to be coming into his own. Granted, he hasn’t put up Brady-esque passing numbers, but he has avoided the big mistakes that have plagued him throughout his career and made the big plays when he has needed to. It helps tremendously as well that his favorite target, Plaxico Burress, appears to be as healthy as he has been since early in the season despite playing on a bum ankle.

Speaking of ankle injuries, Brady has been hobbled by what has been labeled a high ankle sprain, but is expected to play. Obviously, if the injury hinder’s his mobility, it works to the advantage of the Giants, who are fantastic at pressuring opposing quarterbacks with just their front four.
And that’s the key, in my opinion, to beating this unbeaten Patriots squad. You have to get in Brady’s face and make him uncomfortable, which is easier said than done considering the job his offensive line does in blocking for him. Rushing just three defenders and dropping eight into coverage, as Jacksonville did on many occasions in their playoff loss, just doesn’t work. Sooner or later, one of his many talented receivers will find a hole in the coverage and nine times out of ten Brady will find him. To win this game the Giants have got to pressure Brady with their front four, and keep him off balance with occasional blitzes from different areas of the field.
New York also matches up well with their run game against a Patriots defense that has had problems with the power ground game at times. Starting running back Brandon Jacobs is a bruising back, weighing in at a whopping 265 pounds. The Giants will try to use him to wear out the Patriots linebackers, who are among the smartest in the league, but are getting up there in age. Facing a big, powerful guy like Jacobs following a grueling 16-game schedule, along with two playoff games, could be a stiff test for the Pats. And they can’t forget about Ahmad Bradshaw, who offers a nice change of pace with a bit more speed and shiftiness. He’s a deceptively powerful runner in his own right.

The Patriots ground game has picked up recently as well despite a slow start. The lack of a running game early on, however, can probably be blamed more on the fact that the Patriots simply had so much success throwing the ball that they didn’t need to run it much. As the weather has turned colder and the conditions haven’t been quite so conducive to throwing the ball 80% of the time, New England has turned more and more to RB Laurence Maroney, who should be relatively fresh after having carried the ball less than 200 times during the regular season.

For the Patriots, though, everything offensively traces back to Tom Brady. Somehow the Giants have got to get him out of his game and force him to make a couple mistakes. And if they happen to get New England against the ropes again, they can’t let them off the hook. You can win the battle against Brady & Co. all day long, but if you give them one chance to beat you at the end, they will.

The fact that the Giants played the Patriots so well gave them the confidence they needed to get through the NFC playoffs, but I’m not sure it works to their advantage in a rematch. Bill Belichick is perhaps the best coaching mind in the NFL, and there’s no doubt he will have something in store to counter the success New York had the last time around. That, along with Bellichick’s motivational skills, gives this game the potential for a blowout this time around, in my view.

I don’t know that this game will turn into another classic Super Bowl blowout, but I do think the Patriots will pull away to a double-digit win in the end.
Prediction New England 31, New York 13

Huge shoes to Phil !

Johan Santana, baseballs best pitcher, is now a NY Met. If there is one person to be ruled out that wanted Johan in Met jersey, it wasn't Hank Steinbrenner. More than anyone in the Yankee hierarchy did he want to trade for Johan and once said publicaly that the Bombers had the made the best offer and the Twins knew it. It's a good thing the Yankees didn't go along with making the trade to the Twins because a trade that included Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, and Ian Kennedy would have ripped the Yankees reguardless to Johan or not. If theres one thing the Yankees need right now, its probably pitching. If theres one thing the yankees don't need, it's probably more of a payroll. As of 2007 the Yankees had the highest payroll in the MLB with a team payroll of $218 million annually. To sign Johan Santana the yankees would have to add at least another $20 million for the next 5-6 years, if not more. Not to mention giving up there young pitching talent and phenom Phil Hughes. Hughes pitched in the 2007 season earned a record of 5-3 with a 4.14 ERA. Now, for a starting rookie pitcher to have an over .500 record with an ERA just above 4.00 in the American League isn't too shabby! Not to mention his no hit bid through 7 innings after leaving the game due to injury. The choice for the Yankees keeping their young brass was a good one. If my the All-Star break Santana is 10-2 and Phil hughes is basking away in triple A, or on the DL, Brian Cashman would definatly have some explaining to do. As expected you would probably hear it from the Son of Slam echoing in Cashmans ear "I told ya so!". Boy does Cashman have to prove himself this season. His three year extention he made ends at the end of this season. Although Steinbrenner would have loved to have Johan Santana on his starting rotation he knows that they made the right move. Pitching is a priority for the Yankees, but they are relying on their young one's to power up the rotation. A rotation lead by veteran Andy Pettitte leading young blood into the battlegrounds should be an interesting season against the stacked up rrotation of the World Series Champion Red Sox.

Chein-Ming Wang vs Josh Beckett

Andy Pettitte vs Curt Schilling

Phill Hughes vs Daisuke Matsuzaka

Mike Mussina vsTim Wakefield

Ian Kennedy/ Joba Chamberlin vs Jon Lester

OH BOY! Are we looking at a close AL East Race? You Bet!

side note: The Toronto Blue Jays have improved their team this offseason making them an even more powerful third place team than they were last year!

Santana!

I could have started off by putting some cool NY Post title like "Santastic" or "Santamental value" but I figured one word is enough to describe what this one's all about.

Yesterday the New York Mets agreed to a trade with the MLB's best pitcher in the last 5 years. Johan Santana's numbers were 94-44 with a 3.03 ERA and 1381 K's in 1301.2 innings. He has dominated the American League (where the better hitters lay) and almost guaranteed a win every five games for the Minnesota Twins. Now, Santana will do all that and more. He is now in the National League, where in some divisions .500 usually gives u division, and in a Mets uniform. Let’s break down this trade.

The Mets received Johan Santana and gave the Twins Carlos Gomez (Speedy 21-year-old prospect hit .232 in 125 at-bats last year.) Phillip Humber, (2004 first-round draft pick underwent Tommy John surgery in 2005 and posted a 7.71 ERA in three appearances last September.) Kevin Mulvey (Mets' top pick in 2006, righty struck out 113 in 157.2 innings in 27 starts, all but one at Double-A Binghamton last year.) and Deolis Guerra (19-year-old righty went 2-6 with a 4.01 ERA for Single-A Port St. Lucie last year.)

Now if you ask me, I think it was a steal for NY now and in the future. The Mets needed that one top of the rotation starter after last years September collapse and Glavines departure to Atlanta. The Mets will heavily benefit this deal. If you got a couple of grand to invest your safer putting it in a 3-1 that Mets take division than in the stock market. Thank You Omar, now Mets fans can sleep well

SP- Johan Santana
SP- Pedro Martinez
SP- Oliver Perez
SP- John Maine
SP-Orlando Hernandez
SP- Mike Pelfry

Wow try picking 5 from those guys. We have now landed ourselves as favorites of the National League!

Caught up in a Net

How many triple doubles does it take Jason Kidd to finally ask for a trade? J-Kidd has already 11 triple doubles this season. According to Kidd "There used to be a time where a triple double meant a sure win!" Unfortunately for him it's not like that anymore. Out of the 11 triple doubles he got this season, six were converted into losses. After Sunday’s loss against the leagues worst team Kidd told reporters that he would like to stay with the team and help with the problems their facing. The Nets are indeed in a hole losing their last 9 games. Granted that seven out of the nine were western teams which are up in their game, but with started like Vince Carter, Jason Kidd, and Richard Jefferson a 32 point loss to the Kings is just unacceptable. It was reported last night that Jason Kidd confirmed to ESPN Magazine that he indeed wanted to be traded before NBA's February 21 trading deadline. With a great year thus far, third in the league in APG, can you blame the Nets star for his request? All he wants is his stats to be recognized!

Now, why is it that a team like the nets who have two starters averaging 21 PPG or more, a point guard that any team would love to have in their backcourt, and a conference where 15 games under .500 seems to be a lock for the playoffs is struggling so much? Out of the last nine games the Nets played 8 were against playoff contending teams. The Nets just looking for that spark of momentum against that one big team don't seem to get that big break. This past Sunday’s loss against the Timberwolves pretty much shot them down to the dirt. The T-Wolves scored the game's final 10 points to cap off a 33-15 run. With 9:57 left, Vince Carter's basket in the paint gave the Nets an 80-65 lead. New Jersey suffered a total defensive collapse and made just three shots from that point. Richard Jefferson scored 35 to lead the Nets and Carter had 25 points. Jason Kidd had 11, but none in the fourth quarter. It’s all in the Defense! Games will not and cannot be won without defense!

Knick Knotes

The New York Knicks are climbing up the ladder from the basement into contention. Accroding to power rankings New York was ranked 25th in the leage, and due to a recent hot streak there moving up and land at 21!

The Knicks have started their gold rush into the west last night against the Golden State Warriors and play in the west coast for the next four games. The last time the Knicks played the Warriors they lost by 28 points and that was the game where we first heard of the MSG famous "Fire Isiah!" chants. This time we played in their home and only lost by 2. Is that an improvement or is a loss a loss? Considering the way the Knicks have been playing lately, that is most definatly an improvement. They won their last five out of eight games including wins against Detroit and Washington.

Whats contibuting to the Knicks sudden spurge of wins? consider the following

- Isiah Thomas was told by Jim Dolan that if team doesn't turn itself around then he is the first to leave. Isiah is now put on the spot and his team doesn't want him gone. If we look back at the comfortable positions of Isiah, we see that thats when the knicks will fall. Isiah was given an extention last season to stay with the knicks as head coach and won only 6 more games the rest of the season. This season Dolan said Isiah is here to stay, the knicks returned home with an 6 game losing steak, which eventually became 8. Isiah knows how much is at stake, now his team looks serious.

-Starless: No point guard? No problem! Stephon Marbury had surgery on his left ankle this past week. Although Marbury is the knicks face the past few seasons, it seems the knicks play better without him and gives other players like Crawford, Robinson and Jones to play to their fullest. Now lets see where the knicks will put themselves now that they are confident a cocky point guard is sitting on the bench fighting with his coach about his playing time.

-Lee factor: Isiah has finally listened to what Knicks fans have been wanting since last year. "Start David Lee!" The Knicks head coach has given Lee more starts and overall more playing time in the last couple of weeks. Eddy Curry took the hit this time, and is getting less playing time. Curry is not a factor to why we are losing, but he is a factor to why we lose the 2 or 3 point games. Curry is lazy, he isnt a good shooter on the line, cant get up for rebounds as good as lee, and all these put together is a player who hurts his team.

-Mix n Match: thomas has also been mixing up his starting rotation in the last couple of weeks. Keep it that way! Robinson is a hustler, Collins is making a name, and Jamal is just fabulous lately! If this rotation keeps getting mixed and matched so that all the players have sufficient playing time it increases teams confidence and all the more so followed by a win!

Now we come to the part where i would be asked "Hey Don, are the Knicks making the playoffs?" i would answer like this. "If they keep there game going consistantly the way they are now, being only 4.5 back the 8th seeded Pacers, then not only will they make the 8th seed, i'll go as far to say i think they can get the 6th seed!"

Coming up for the knicks, Hitting up the west side, Lakers, Jazz and Trailblazers. LETS DO THIS!!

Prince Novak

Top ranked Roger Federer's streak of 10 consecutive grand slam finals have come to an abrupt end last night when 3rd ranked Novak Djokovic defeated him in the semi-finals 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5). The 2 time defending champion did not look as though he was the top ranked player in the world. Maybe it had a lot to do with Djokovic's 13 aces and 50 winners.

Djokovic advances to his second consecutive Grand Slam final where he will meet unseeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France, currently No. 38 in the South African Airways Rankings. The meeting between the two young stars will be the first. Tsonga has never reached a grand slam quarter final let alone a final. At 20 year, 250 days, Djokovic will be the sixth youngest finalist at the Australian Open since 1968. This kid is a growing threat to Nadal and eventually to Federer's unchallenged reign at first.

In my personal opinion if Novak Djokovic drops one set I will certainly be surprised. Djokovic has been playing the most consistent tennis since the U.S Open in September. During that stretch he grabbed the #3 spot from American Andy Roddick. I have ruled out Tsonga of this tournament 2 times already, maybe he can pull off a surprise. Tsonga, only 22 years old, is hoping that this will be his big break in the tennis world to show he is for real, and gain some spots in the rankings. It will be no surprise that if Tsonga wins the Australian open he goes from being unranked top the ATP's top 20.

Go figure...

-At this time last year Roger Federer has a 3,345 point lead over second ranked Rafael Nadal, now that lead has slimmed to 1400. Could we have a new #1 by the years end?
-In January 2007 Novak Djokovic was ranked #16 with just 1,650 points, trailing Federer by 6,490 and Nadal by 3,145. Now Djokovic is ranked #3 and is trailing Nadal by 1,465 and Federer by 2,865.

I am excited to see how the upcoming tennis season unfolds. The clay road to Roland Garros is only weeks away. Will Nadal keep his crown of clay? Or will Djokovic, Federer have other plans for him?

Stay tuned for Australian Open coverage and Superbowl preview!

Underdogs Rule!

Unless the Giants win the Superbowl, Celtics lose to Minnesota, and Memphis State loses to UCF during the first week of February, I think it’s safe to declare this week the official upset week. America has done their part in cheering on their underdogs, but have we come to a point where even the favorites should be worried?


On Sunday, the New York Giants upset the favorite Green Bay Packers in overtime. The Giants, in simple words, were basically written off not only by sports writers, but even by local New York papers. After the memorable upset win, the Giants are now headed to the Superbowl against the 14 point favorite Patriots. New York has made the improbable run to the Superbowl by defeating three of their playoff opponents, while not being favored once, and on the road for all three. Do the Giants have what it takes to march down 5th ave with the Lombardi Trophy? If they did it three times in three consecutive weeks, why not a fourth?!

The Patriots are clearly favored due to their spectacular offensive season. Tom Brady has had the best QB season in history, Randy Moss has had the best WR season in history; a defense that has shown to be pretty effective so far this playoffs. For the Giants to win this game, it will take more than just pressuring Brady the way they did with Brett Farve. New York hasn't sacked Farve all game, but the defense did make some key contributions in other areas by forcing 2 turnovers, including the interception by Corey Webster, to eventually lead to the game winning Field Goal. The Giants must also keep Moss in his cage to make this game even worth watching. During the regular season, both Baltimore and Philadelphia covered Moss limiting him to a combined 77 yards lost to the patriots by 3 or less. So do the Giants have a chance? I'm not going to go as far to say as the 14 point spread is way too much, but the Giants are indeed way in this one and can bring one back for New Yorkers.


The Australian open in Rafael Nadal's eyes looked as if he will finally reach a Grand Slam finals hard court. Rafael Nadal was opposed against the unranked Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Last night Rafael Nadal found out what Australian Open fans already knew, Tsonga is for real! Tsonga dominated the favored Nadal in the Semi-finals in Australia 6-2, 6-3, 6-2. Although ranked #2 in the world, Nadal has never reached a hard court final in his tennis career. He was looking to score some points here and make and reach the big game, but Tsonga had other plans. Tsonga is for real and he has been playing great tennis so far, but will I go as far to say that this kid will beat Federer or Djokovic? Absolutely not! There is no way I will put Tsonga even in the same sentence as our #1 ranked defending champion. Tonight, Federer will face Novak Djokovic to see who will play Tsonga in the Australian Open finals. Djokovic is 1-5 against Federer, but beat him the last face off they had. Either of the 2 that make the finals will be extreme favorites over Tsonga. Just to give comparisons as to what kind of favorites we're looking at, imagine the New England Patriots facing the 0-8 Baylor State college team.


Maryland added to the week of upsets by getting a big win of their own by defeating the undefeated Tarheels(1). Maryland was trailing by a small margin all game long, and showed their fortitude to bounce back after North Carolina pushed ahead by four in the final 2 1/2 minutes. After Ellington missed a 3-pointer and a driving shot, North Carolina could only watch as Tyler Hansbrough's last gasp 3-pointer bounced off the rim at the horn as the Terrapins ran to midcourt to celebrate. The Tarheels cannot afford to let this loss get to them. Indeed, they lost their #1 spot to Memphis, but they have to bounce themselves back and regain life in themselves and continue their winnings. They are on there best start in 2 decades and they don’t want to let this loss ruin that.

Upsets are inevitable in sports; Cinderella stories will happen. With the right game and the right encouragement, anyone and everyone can upset their favorite. Please see 2007 and 2006 NL Champions, and the Knicks short winning run last week.

The Semi's Of Sydney!

Ok, my first sports blog will be written about the final 4 in the Australian open.

Let’s start off with the match, so far, of the tournament. Roger Federer will face the young 20 year old Serbian, Novak Djokovic. Roger Federer is looking to get within one to the tennis grand Slam King Pete Sampras. Djokovic has been impressive lately as of the end of last season by eliminating the worlds top 3 in the Indian Wells tournament, Roddick (3) in the quarters, Federer(1) in the semi's, than facing Nadal(2) in the Finals and taking him down in the 4th set. Federer is an impressive 5-1 against Djokovic, but cannot underestimate his opponent. Novak made the semi's or higher in each of the last 3 grand slams and has earned his spot as now being the 3rd ranked in the world. Federer's impressive play has only been on hold this Australian only once when he faced unranked Janko Tipsarevic, who took him to 5 sets. A prediction by me would undoubtedly put the modern tennis king in the finals. Federer will beat Djokovic in 4 sets going to a tie break in 1.

Now who will Federer see in the finals...?

Rafael Nadal (2) will be hitting against unranked Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who has had an impressive tournament resume. Tsonga has beaten Murray, Lopez, and Youzhny. He's been playing fairly hard and reached 4 sets 2 times and had 5 tie breaks so far this tournament. Rafael Nadal on the other hand has for lack of better word cruised through this one winning in straight sets including one retired match against Paul-Henri Mathieu. These 2 have only faced once, that was in the U.S. Open and Tsonga matched Nadal in the first set but was just shy and Nadal took it in straight sets. My word? I say Rafael Nadal has an easy one here and will take down the French, Tsonga, in straight sets to anticipate yet another exciting final against Roger Federer (1) and Rafael Nadal (2).

Rafael Nadal

Stay Tuned for Semi's Results and Finals match up preview.