Super Bowl Week was full of hype and anticipation.  I intended to post my pick on Thursday or Friday but waited for an injury update on Dwight Freeney.  Most of the attention has focused on Dwight Freeney’s ankle.

 

I apologize to Buffalo Steve, Johnny Versace, and Linda for not posting the pick yesterday but had an emergency work issue to deal with.  This is how I break the game down. 

 

(1) For the Colts to win:

(A) Protect Peyton Manning.  Saints Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams wants to hurt Peyton Manning.  I think the Colts offensive line will be on extra guard and Peyton will throw shorter, quicker throws.

(B) Dwight Freeney.  The more he plays, the better chance the Colts have.  He hasn’t practiced all week but has getting all types of treatment including acupuncture and sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber.  It is purified oxygen which helps the body heal.  Dr. Dan has one so I usually spend 30 to 60 minutes in it.  It is a legitimate, non-performance enhancing drug healing mechanism. 

 

Freeney will be used mostly in third down pass rush situations.  He'll play about 20 or so downs if healthy.  If he can’t play, Mathis has lots of experience. 

 

(C) Contain Reggie Bush.  Kick the ball for a touch back on kickoffs and wide on punts.

 

(2) For the Saints to win:

(A) Drew Brees has to have a big game.  The Colts have some injuries in their secondary and need to take advantage of it.

 

(B) Jeremy Shockey: He's in his home town.  He doesn’t get as much attention as he did with the Giants.  If the Saints wide receivers are covered, Brees has to go to Shockey. 

 

(C) Take advantage of Colts mistakes.  The Colts won’t turn the ball over five times like the Vikings did in the NFC Championship Game.

 

 

(3) Intangibles: Expected the unexpected.  Joseph Addai doesn’t get lots of carries but is a key factor.  If he can run well and catch passes out of the backfield, it will help the Colts.  One thing is for sure, there will be an unsung hero.

 

 

Super Bowl XLIV Prediction: Colts (-5) cover and win 38-31.

 

Bet the over on 2.5 crowd shots of Kim Kardashian.

 

The Tank’s Bottom Line: New Orleans is the sentimental favorite and I will root for them.  However, if the Colts win, I will be happy for my brother who is a Colts fan.  If Peyton wins another Super Bowl, it will lessen the talk about the greatness of Tom Brady.  Remember, the Patriots haven’t won since they got rid of Vinateri.  Plus, the taped the Rams Super Bowl practices.  Lastly, Pierre Garcon is playing for family back in Haiti.  All in all, it’s a win-win for me. 

 

Posted by an excited Tank.

Editor in Chief and Perma Guest Outlaw Jack’s birthday is today.  I appreciate Jack’s friendship as he always sends along great ideas for the blog as well as other non-baseball interests.  For instance, he sent a link earlier this week that the Yankees trophy is touring the Far East.  It ironic that it is one step closer to Bobby Valentine’s dream of closer global baseball cooperation.  The MLB and Japan league trophies will be side-by-side. 

 

The second irony is the fact New York teams started winning since Steve and Kathleen moved to Hong Kong. 

 

The Tank’s Bottom Line: If the Yankees repeat after Steve and Kathleen move back to NYC in the fall of 2010, it will then be a coincidence.  Only time will tell.  Until then, Happy birthday Jack!

 

Posted by The Tank.

There has been lots of rumors flying around about Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush.  It is true that they have been dating for some time.  Rumor had it that Reggie would propose to Kim only if he won a Super Bowl ring.  I went straight to the source, Kim’s website.  Kim blogged it was a joke.  Reggie confirmed it earlier in the week.  He would rather get a Super Bowl ring from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. 

 

But, hey, love works in strange ways.  I don’t know what Reggie will do.  The precedent to propose is there as a Boise State player proposed to his cheerleader girlfriend after beating Oklahoma on the Statue of Liberty play in a BCS Bowl Game a few years ago.  What a great play!  The engagement was unique and kind of romantic.  She never knew it was coming just like Oklahoma didn’t know the Statue of Liberty play was coming. 

 

The Tank’s Bottom Line: Reggie has enough pressure on him this week than to think about relationship issues.  He has to hold on to the ball and stay healthy. 

 

If you are betting, take the over on the line that there will be more than 2.5 crowd shots of Kim Kardashian. 

 

Posted by The Tank taking it to bank for his readers.

Former Syracuse star and Colts All-Pro defensive lineman Dwight Freeney has a partially torn ligament in his right ankle.  This is very critical as Freeney’s is a speed rusher.  Freeney is so fast that he sacked Michael “The Dog Murderer” Vick 4.5 times in a single game in college.  He can definitely make Drew Brees’ life very uncomfortable.

 

It will affect how he rushes the passer as he uses spin, swim, and other moves to get to the quarterback.  Since his right ankle is injured, he won’t be able to spin as quickly (or at all) to his left to go inside and then go outside if the play dictates it.  The Saints know this and will make the necessary adjustments. 

 

This injury affects the game so much that I may switch my pick from the Colts to the Saints.  Therefore, I am going to hold off until Saturday to get the latest on his injury before posting my pick.

 

Posted by The Tank.  

Good News: Jose Reyes was able to sprint 90 feet yesterday.  It was a huge first step as speed is the main part of his game.  This is encouraging news.

 

Bad News: JJ Putz was quoted on a Chicago station over the weekend that the Mets medical staff did not comprehensively evaluate him when he was traded to the Mets nor properly treated him when he was injured.  Putz’s absence hurt the Mets. 

 

The Tank’s Bottom Line: The Mets medical staff needs to do a better job of evaluating and treating players.  They need to coordinate with Omar and the rest of the Mets executives.  If not, the Mets may face a repeat of 2007-2009. 

 

 

Johan looks good, Jose looks good, onto the next step.  Let’s hope 2010 is better than 2007-2009.

 

Posted by The Tank.  Banner link courtesy of Linda.

Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan is in Miami to coach the AFC All Stars in the Pro Bowl.  He went out to an MMA event.  After ribbing from Dolphins fans, Rex made an obscene gesture.  It is too bad that he did it but it was the heat of the moment.  Rex’s apology is here. 

 

Posted by a disappointed Tank.  

Former Mets manager Bobby Valentine spoke last week at the Japan Society on the East Side of Manhattan.  He is the only manager to lead a Major League, the Mets, and Japanese League, Chiba Lotte, teams to the World Series of their respective leagues.  

 

 

Bobby told many great baseball stories from the minor leagues to Major Leagues and Japanese Leagues.  His life and career bridges the cultures from the time a Japanese surgeon operated on him.  Japanese and American baseball preceded and survived WWII.  Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig played in Japan.  While Bobby thought he was the first to wear a Japanese glove, it was actually Lou Gehrig.  After his glove broke, Japanese players gave Gehrig a Japanese glove.  

 

Japanese baseball fans are so rabid that they often quit their jobs to root for their teams in the summer.  Bobby pulled no punches and gave a candid analysis of the game in Japan today.  He was concerned that the custodians of the Japanese game are not making the necessary reforms.  Sound familiar?  We’ll get to that later. 

 

Time for questions.  Ken Belson of the New York Times moderated the question and answer session.  An attractive woman near the front of the room asked Bobby if he would return to the Mets.  Bobby shaded his eyes from the bright lights.       

 

 

His answer: He felt like a "girl who got dumped".  “It all depends...I would accept your offer,” he added.  For the record, I would accept any job the beautiful young lady asked.  :-)

 

He answered other questions with wit, humor, and honesty.  When asked about George W. Bush, Bobby replied that he was “a special man” who was one of three people who fired him.  He enjoyed working with President Bush when he owned the Texas Rangers.  "I am Yankees fan too," he said as he had dinner with former Yankee and SATT buddy Joe Pepitone the night before.

 

As the question and answer period came to a close, I was finally recognized and asked the last question.  I prefaced my question about the stewardship of the game with regards to what else…steroids.  “If I truthfully answer the question counselor..." Bobby started in his reply.  He emphasized regulation and enforcement.  

"I am as much as fault.  Tony (LaRussa), Joe (Torre), the commissioners office” taking responsibility for steroids.  He wondered how Congressmen who may take “little blue pills" can ask players about steroid usage.  He also said that "fans were guilty". 

 

I was honored that to meet Bobby afterwards.  We happen to share the same birthday, May 13, though a few years different. 

 

 

The Tank’s Bottom Line: I am grateful to Linda for telling me about the event.  I am grateful to meet Bobby and hope he comes back to the Mets.  Most importantly, he helped bridge cultural barriers between Japan and America.  I had the pleasure of meeting Ken Belson from the Times as well as Japanese and America baseball fans.  One fan showed Bobby this banner of Chase Lambin of the Houston Astros.

 

 

Baseball helped bridge cultures and heal the wounds that followed WWII.  Bobby hopes for a truly World Series with the MLB Champion versus Japanese Champion meet midway in Hawai'i.  It would be a championship game for charity.  I hope his dream succeeds.

 

Posted by a grateful Tank reporting live from the Japanese Society on the East Side of Manhattan.

Arizona Cardinals QB Kurt Warner announced his retirement yesterday.  Warner was a true rags to riches story.  While trying to keep his football dream alive playing in the Arena Football League, Warner bagged groceries in Iowa.  He made it to NFL Europe and then the NFL winning two regular season and one Super Bowl MVP. 

 

He was a class guy on and off the field.  The Saints had so much respect for them that they held him up instead of drilling him into the ground after he threw a pass.  Granted, he was clocked hard but cleanly while trying to tackle a Saints defender who intercepted his pass.  But, it is hard to find some who would say a bad word about him.

As for his football qualifications, Warner had five great years with the Rams and Cardinals.  His stint with the Giants in between wasn't his best.  Warner showed Eli Manning the ropes and helped him become a Super Bowl Champion.  Warner then took over for Matt Leinart and came close last year.  Knowing that Wayne Chrebet and others still suffer from headaches years after retiring, I don't blame Warner for retiring. 

 

Contrast Warner’s story with Washington Wizards gun-toting guard Gilbert Arenas.  Arenas was suspended earlier this week for a year by NBA Commissioner David Stern.

 

The Tank’s Bottom Line: Human beings aren’t perfect and make mistakes.  However, I expect a level of decency from people.  I am glad I don’t live in Washington DC anymore and would be in danger with Arenas at the Verizon Center.  It’s sad to see Warner go and hope that Arenas is banned forever from the NBA.

 

Posted by The Tank.  This article is dedicated to Vicky who is an Arizona Cardinals fan. 

Mets GM Omar Minaya said he had “full autonomy” in an interview on SNY yesterday.  Really?  Why wasn’t he at the Carlos Beltran press conference?  Does he or the Wilpons sign the checks?  Why is he only content with getting Jason Bay?  What reality is he living in?

 

Yankee GM Brian Cashman doesn’t have autonomy.  He was interviewed on The Michael Kay Show on ESPN 1050 this afternoon.  He talk about the budget that the Steinbrenners gave him.  He made an offer last week for $6 million year including $3 million deferred but rejected by Damon.  Where else was Johnny going to get this?  Cincinnati?  Oakland?  Detroit?  Kansas City?

 

Johnny MIGHT get the money elsewhere.  But, his best chance at baseball immortality is to stay with the Yankees and get 3,000 hits.  Hall of Famers make lots of money in retirement at card shows.  So Johnny make more in 2010 elsewhere but he’ll make less in 2020 and beyond as a possible Hall of Famer (after retiring in 2014 or so).  Can his body hold up for five seasons with other teams instead of four seasons with the Yankees?  Where else is he going to be able to hit in between players like Jeter and Teixeira? 

 

Cashman complimented Johnny’s talent but he was “tired of waiting” and “couldn’t agree on market value”.  “I’m sorry I didn’t address his value,” Cashman added. 

 

Johnny now counters that he is open to a mid-season trade with the Yankees.  It’s a shame it came down to this. 

 

Posted by a saddened Tank in Hot Stove Land.

Randy Winn signed a one year, $2 million contract with the Yankees today pending a physical.  This all but eliminates the possibility of Johnny Damon returning to the Yankees as the Yankees budget hit the $200 million mark which is something that GM Brian Cashman wants to avoid.  Unless something drastic like a major trade happens, Johnny Damon played his last game as a Yankee.  This all could have been avoided if Johnny and his agent Scott Boras moved quicker and less greedy.  It’s a shame as Johnny is a great guy to have around the clubhouse and a productive player.

 

In good news, Johan Santana had a good throwing session in Port Saint Lucie yesterday. 

 

There are rumors about John Smoltz coming to the Mets.  I don’t another over-the-hill Brave is the answer for the Mets.  The Mets need more pitching now.  In the meantime, I have not renewed my Mets partial ticket plan.

 

Posted by The Tank.