I wanted to wish all of our readers a Safe, Happy, and Healthy Thanksgiving!  Thanksgiving is often the best holiday because you don't have to deal with the stress of gifts but enjoy food, family, and football.  How's that for a trifecta?!

I am grateful for your readership and support, even Kathleen is slowly coming around. 

Posted by The Tank in a food coma.

The Washington Redskins lost at home last night to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football, 23-6.  It was an important game as they are both playoff caliber teams. 

The game was even more important as it is a predictor of who wins the presidential election.  If the Redskins won their last home game before the election, the party in power won.  The opposite was true. 
Therefore, a Steelers win last night pre-sages an Obama victory. 

For data since 1940, please check out the following summary.

During halftime, ESPN anchor Chris Berman interviewed both candidates.  Berman was fair and should be a moderator for a future presidential debate.  You know SATT will carry the day.  Let's hope Steve uses Kathleen's parents' address in New Jersey so we can be constitutionally eligible as both the President and Vice President can't be from the same state.  The most recent example is Vice President Cheney who had to change his residence back to Wyoming when he was living in Texas as the former CEO of Halliburton in 2000.  But, running in 2008 was lots of fun and appreciate the support, especially from Vermont Bill.  

Get out and vote!

Posted by The Tank in NY.

Unless you have been living under a rock, you've probably heard about the Brett Favre Soap Opera. 

He retired from the Packers in the winter.  But, he recently changed his mind.  He said he was pressured to retire.

Brett reached out to the Minnesota Vikings, THE Packers' fiercest rival.  But, he used a cell phone the Packers provided him.  Big mistake and the Packers leaked it when Brett tried to use the court of public opinion to force the Packers' hand.

After NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated Favre, Brett and his wife traveled to Green Bay over the weekend.  You would have thought the Pope was back in town given the media coverage.  ESPN Radio was giving minute-by-minute countdown as his plane arrived in Green Bay on Sunday evening.  It was too much.  I had to switch to business news on Bloomberg Radio.

Where Do We Go From Here:
Brett returned to his home in Mississippi.  The Jets have offered a fourth rounder to the Packers which goes to a first rounder depending upon the Jets performance according to the FAN.  Ouch!  That's it for a first ballot Hall of Famer who is better than Pennington and Clemens?  The Jets need to show they are doing something but not spend too much.  Who knows where he'll end up?  Jets?  Tampa?  Kids Pee Wee Football League?  Retirement?  

Posted by an exhausted Tank in NY. 

UPDATE: The Jets signed Favre.  Watch this page for more commentary and analysis as the season approaches.

The sports world has been filled with steroids, dog fighting, gambling, and other scandals over the past year.
                                     
It's refreshing to learn of and write about the women's college softball game in Washington State.  Hard luck senior, Sara Tucholsky, never hit a home run in her career.  When Sara finally hit her home run, she collapsed before reaching second base from an injured leg.  Her teammates could NOT help her as she would be called out and credited with a single.
                                                       
After a few tense moments, her opponents, Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace, carried her around each base, she touched it with her leg, and then they carried her home.  Sara was greeted by emotional teammates at home plate.

Sportsmanship carried the day.  Good job ladies!
                                       
Posted by an uplifted Tank in NY.  Mega thanks to PermaGuest Outlaw Jack for the links and story idea!

I had the pleasure of meeting Baseball Hall of Famer and 1986 Mets World Champion catcher Gary Carter in Midtown Manhattan last week.  He was autographing his new book, "Still a Kid at Heart: My Life in Baseball and Beyond".
                             

Speaking of kids, I asked him to autograph a copy of the book for my 12 year nephew Elijah.  Elijah is playing Little League baseball, soccer, and other sports thank God.

Gary mentioned that many school districts across the country are cutting physical education programs.  I knew this and we discussed the alarming rate of childhood obesity.  I mentioned that I was watching a 220 pound 12 year old boy who was on the "20/20" program a few years ago.  It is scary because of the future health ramifications.
       
It was great that Gary continues to inspire and hope that school districts get with the program.  We should all be "kids at heart". 

Posted by an inspired Tank reporting live from Midtown Manhattan.

The Washington Nationals opened the US part of the season by beating the Atlanta Braves 3-2 on a walk off home run by Ryan Zimmerman.  President Bush threw out the first pitch at the brand new Nationals Park in our nation's capitol.                

When I lived in DC in the mid 1990s, the neighborhood that the new stadium was pretty bad.  I kept my head down hoping not to get shot while I looked for an apartment there.

I'm really happy that baseball is back in the nation's capitol.  I hope politicians, public policy wonks, and others who lead our country take a chance to chill out, catch a ball game, and find a way to solve our problems.  They should leave the name calling to the other team's players. 

Play Ball!

Posted by an optimistic Tank in a DC frame of mind.

Angels fan Roland Flores threw a water bottle that hit "Metal Mike" Piazza last season.  Piazza thankfully wasn't hurt.  He kept his cool and didn't run into the stands like Ron Artest.  Granted, it was harder to climb into the stands like in basketball but didn't answer violence with violence. 

Piazza used the non-violent justice system and Flores was sentenced to 30 days.  Flores can't go to the Angels Stadium for three years.  Fans can boo their or opposing players but not resort to violence.  Let's hope Flores' sentence discourages others from doing so in the future. 

Posted by The Traveling Tank in Florida.

I met Roy at my friend Robert's house in Tampa, Florida, in May 2004.  We went to a Yankees at D-Rays game that night at Tropicana Field.  Mariano happened to get his 300th save that night and I did my best impersonation of the "Yankeeees Win!"  I was so enthusiatic that Robert asked me to settle down because he had to do business with the clients he brought along. 

Roy needed a new liver and was on the waiting list for years.  He should have passed a couple of years ago but he fought the good fight, stayed positive, and inspired all who met him.  He finally got his new liver over the weekend but he passed on Easter morning. 

Though we rooted for opposing teams, we always liked and respected each other and our love of baseball.  You'll be missed Roy.  You'll be going to a place where everyday is Opening Day. 

Posted by a grieving Tank in NY.

You know you are getting older when your childhood heroes get diagnosed with cancer.  One of mine is Graig Nettles.  Graig was the reason I played third base in Little League.  His outstretched lounging catch against the Dodgers in the 1978 World Series Graig is still etched in my mind like yesterday.

Prevention and checkups are key.  Graig's brother Jim advised him to get tested as it runs in their family.  After the Father's Day Run Against Prostate Cancer in 2005, I was tested for prostate cancer and thankfully didn't have it.  The doctor told me to come back in 2010 when I turn 40, God Willing.    

Graig is going to under prostate cancer surgery on April 8 at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York according to Yankees.com and ESPN 1050 AM.  Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.  

I plan to run the NYC Marathon a fifth and final time this November, touch wood, as a member of Fred's Team raising funds for cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.  I will do so in honor of the living like Graig and in memory of the passed on like Doug Stern.  

Posted by a somber Tank on the road to defeating cancer.

The Yankees traveled to Virginia Tech yesterday to help with the healing there caused by a deranged gunman last April. 

The Yankees met with students and visited the 32 stone memorials remembering each victim.  It was a very sobering moment the players.  I watched Derek Jeter on TV last night and he referenced the healing after the September 11 attacks.

The Yankees played the Virginia Tech baseball team and won 11-0 in a seven inning game.  Life is more important than baseball.  May the Virginia Tech, September 11, Oklahoma City, and victims from other tragedies never be forgotten.  

Posted by a somber Tank in NY.

I didn't want to believe my eyes when PermaGuest Outlaw Jack informed me of a YouTube video showing Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez participating in a cockfight in the Dominican Republic. 
                                                        
As I said and wrote about Roger Clemens, Pedro is innocent until proven guilty.  The video could have been (a) doctored, (b) used a celebrity impersonator, (c) done long ago before Pedro learned the errors of his way, or (d) some of the above.
 
Upon further research, I was shocked to read in AM New York that Pedro admitted to it.  He was an honorary soltadore, the person who releases the chickens to fight.  The chicken that Pedro released reportedly died.  Fellow Dominican and Hall of Fame Pitcher Juan Marichal also participated as a soltadore in this shameful event.
                          
Animal cruelty is wrong and shouldn't be tolerated, much less celebrated.  Though cockfighting is legal in the Dominican Republic, I will have to boo Pedro the next time at Shea.  As an honorary Dominican, he let me and others down.

Posted by a disappointed Tank, animals and humans best friend.

In early 2008, I find myself a Jets fan rooting for the Giants in the Super Bowl (I hate New England more than anything else), trying to buy tickets to Yankee Stadium (All Star game, going to a game before the stadium closes) and going to a NJ Devils game on Saturday night (have to check out the new arena.)

All of this while waiting nervously for the Mets to announce the contract extension for Santana. (The Phillies are still talking trash.)

Enjoy the Super Bowl this weekend!

Posted by Steve in New York

The Knicks continue to play like the Bricks and quitters that they are.
                                     
I rarely advocate quitting except in smoking cigarettes and other unhealthy behavior.  The Knicks have become an unhealthy psychological influence on the entire NYC area.  Children are most vulnerable as they are being taught that quitting pays and pays handily for the Knicks players who have quit on Isiah and the area.  I think it is time for the Knicks to either fire Isiah or cancel the season.  Since the Dolan's are being blackmailed by Isiah and/or too busy counting their ever growing Cablevision revenue like monopoly money to care, it is time to cancel the remainder of the season in a humanitarian measure.  Forfeiting the games will not differentiate much from the final result which is almost always a loss.
              
What should the Knicks be replaced with?

Led Zeppelin comes to mind.  The recently reunited rock legends did a special concert in London.  20 million people inquired for the 20,000 tickets so the demand is definitely there.  
                                     
I was too young to watch Led Zeppelin in their hey day so I would love to watch them live in concert at the Garden.  I am a big fan of reunion concerts and was fortunate enough to see The Police, Genesis, and Van Halen in 2007 at the Garden.  I am offering the Dolan's an honorable and profitable way out as they made lots of money off me last year in concerts instead of Bricks games.               

All Knicks players will be paid from the massive TV money that the Knicks make from MSG and the national (ESPN/TNT/NBA TV/etc) contracts.

Those networks would make more money from Led Zeppelin - only 1 in a 1000 got to see the London concert.  This ratio is much better than currently want to see the Bricks.

Other interested parties affected by the cancellation of the Knicks season:
         
(1) Concession vendors: I think more merchandise will be sold at a Zeppelin concert instead of Knicks games.  Who wants to buy a Knicks jersey and be laughed at in public?  You would look cooler in a Zeppelin t-shirt.
                   
(2) Knicks City Dancers: Dancers often want to get into singing and acting.  This would be the perfect career opportunity to be backup singers and dancers for Zeppelin.  They would make more money as backup singers instead of a measly $50 per Knicks game.
                    
(3) Knicks City Kids: Same as above.  They can help Robert Plant hit the high notes on some sounds with their growing and maturing voices.  It is better for the children to listen to Zeppelin instead of Fall Out Boy.  Today's youth is in dire need of musical education.                                 
                             
(4) Knicks Announcers: I think John Andres is probably more of a do-wop fan of  Dion and Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge than Zeppelin.  However, I think he would be happier introducing Led Zeppelin and providing song by song commentary than commenting on the dire state of the Knicks.

Marv Albert could stop by for old times sake to introduce "Whole Lotta Love".  Yessss!!!!
                    
Is there precedent for replacing sporting games with concerts at the Garden?

Yes, Billy Joel played 12 Garden concerts during the NHL lockout a couple of seasons ago.  I was lucky to get the last concert to the last of the "12 Gardens" which is also the title of the DVD that he released afterwards.

Are you with me?  If you happen to go to a Bricks game, please start the Zeppelin chant.  

See you at the Zeppelin concerts at the Garden. 

Posted by an excited Tank in NY.

2007 was an incredible full of highs and lows.  I was lucky and honored to meet so many great people like Playboy's Miss November 2007, A-Rod, Ozzie Smith, and many others.  It was fun covering traditional sports like baseball, football, hockey, and basketball.  It was even funner covering non-traditional sports like Amateur Female Jello Wrestling and Girls Only Pillow Fighting League.      

It also marked the first full calendar year of SteveAndTheTank.com.  Though very challenging with ever changing work and travel schedules, Steve and the Tank were able to post every day from far away places like Pakistan, Egypt, The Bahamas, and New Jersey to name a few.           
 
        
What to look for in 2008:

(1) Will Steve and The Tank be elected to vice president and president, respectively, on the Baseball Integrity ticket in November 2008?  On behalf of Steve, many thanks in advance for your support.

(2) Whoever you vote for, you can rely on SteveAndTheTank.com to give you all the sports, scoops, perspectives, and insight you can count on.
      
Best wishes to you and yours for a healthy and happy 2008.

Posted by a grateful Tank in NY.

The first annual Steve and the Tank person of the year for 2007 is Barry Bonds. (Yes Barry Bonds.) The person of the year is the person who, better or worse, defines the sporting year. We at Steve and the Tank could not think of anyone else more deserving of this distinction.

2007 was a very turbulent year.

2007 saw Barry Bonds break Hank Arron's home record, Tom Brady's record 50 TD passes, Randy Moss' record TD receptions, and the Patriots cheating in their first game on the way to a perfect record breaking 16-0 season.  2007 saw milestones like Tom Glavine's 300th win and Roger Federer steamroll his way to several records. We also saw one of the greatest collapses in sport history when the Mets lost the NL East in the final week of the season.

And yet this year was filled with too much scandal and sadness. The year opened with news of Denver Broncos Darrent Williams' murder in a drive by shooting and ends with Jim Leyritz charged with DUI and manslaughter. In between is Sean Taylor's murder, Michael Vick convicted of dogfighting and Barry Bonds indicted for lying.  Not to mention the NBA refs cheating and  almost the entire elite riders in the 2007 Tour de France dropping out for doping.

And then of course the Mitchell Report. While Yankees fans still think the Irish Catholic who brought peace to Northern Ireland somehow was loyal to the Boston Red Sox, the Mitchell Report, despite all of its flaws, cast a very dark shadow over the nation's pastime.

2007 was a year of records and scandal. Like it or not, Barry Bonds is the face of 2007 as he is the epitome of records and scandal.

Posted by Steve in New York waiting for a better sports year in 2008.

The fallout from the Mitchell Report continues to envelope the baseball world, especially NY baseball players.  According to AM New York, 15 players who played for the Yankees and 12 players who played for the Mets at one time or another.
                                              
Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, David Justice, and others have been named.  Andy admitted yesterday to using HGH twice for an elbow injury according to Bloomberg Radio.  Roger denies using performance enhancment drugs. 

Another of the 85 players named was David Justice who was on Michael Kay's radio show on 1050 AM Radio Friday.  Justice said Senator Mitchell nor his team did not contacted the YES Network nor his business manager.  Justice's phone number has changed twice in the past year as his home burned down and for other reasons.  Justice was said that former Yankee trainer Brian MacNamee did offer him HGH.  He said it is not a steroid.  Justice turned down MacNamee's "siren song" offer. 
                
There are fundamental flaws with this investigation.  Can the "evidence" hold up in a court of law?  Maybe.  People are named but are they tested?  No.  They are guilty until proven innocent.  They have to wage their battle in the court of public opinion.  Senator Mitchell is judge, jury, and prosecutor.            

Is this his report an exercise in nothing?  (1) No, it was an effort to shine the light of day on the past to improve the future.  The only good thing that will come out of this is that kids will hopefully be discouraged from using performance enhancing drugs.  (2) It is also an attempt to salvage what little is left of Bud Selig's legacy.  This report is really indicative of what is wrong of his Commissionership.  For instance, when the All Star Game was still tied in extra innings a few years ago, he declared a tie and didn't have a home run contest or some other way to end it.  No one went home happy and the same is true with the Mitchell Report.  People were thrown under the bus and their reputations were sullied forever.  They have little chance to defend themselves -- guilty until proven innocent.                                      
   
Given Senator Mitchell's record, it's hard to question his integrity but we all have biases.  As I have written in the past, Senator Mitchell also happens to be a Red Sox director which he stepped down during the investigation but was seen on the field at Fenway Park earlier this season wearing a Red Sox sweater.  He should have recused himself from any ballpark.  The bias is true for Commissioner Selig himself.  Only under intense pressure, he transferred ownership of the Milwaukee Brewers to his daughter Wendy a few years ago.  But seriously, do you think she isn't going to listen to her dad?  Exactly.  Baseball isn't going to be truly fixed until there is an truly independent commissioner and not with ownership ties.  Where have you gone Peter Ueberroth?
                                              
Yes, players from all 30 teams were named but only a non-star from the Red Sox was named.  Were Red Sox sources similar to Radomski on the Mets and MacNamee on the Yankee discouraged, covered up, and/or overlooked?  I don't think Senator Mitchell himself but perhaps someone on his staff did.  As many questions that the Mitchell Report answered, the more questions need to be asked.
                                                 
The IOC stripped Marion Jones of her medals earlier this week.  MLB won't strip Clemens and others of Cy Young awards and World Series rings for allegedly used performance enhancement drugs.  However, will he still go to the Hall of Fame?
                    
As I predicted months ago, don't be surprised if politicians jumped into the fray, especially Republican President candidate Senator John McCain who has been on the forefront of this issue.  Senator McCain was on ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike in the Morning on Friday morning.  This is not an endorsement of Senator McCain but an observation of this continuing story.    

Posted by a saddened and skeptical Tank in NY.

On the day that Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in jail for his part in a dog fighting ring, a television station here in Austin, Texas, will be airing Charlie Brown's "I Want a Dog for Christmas".  Coincidence?  I'm not sure what lurks in the mind of television executives but it is timely.

I hope Michael Vick learns his lesson and this discourages future dog fighting.  R.I.P. to all the dogs in Bad Newz Kennels.  They are in the dog wing of Heaven.
             
Posted by the Traveling Tank in Austin, Texas.

I was shocked and dismayed to learn that former NYC Mayor Rudy Guiliani said that he would root for the Red Sox in the World Series while campaigning in Massachusetts.
                          
I understand that he is from an older generation who are loyal to their respective leagues.  I remember Linda telling me that her Mom roots for the National League team in the World Series even if it isn't the Mets.  For instance, after the Mets lost to the hated Braves in the 1999 NLCS, she rooted for those very same Braves who were thankfully swept by the Yankees.  (Full Disclosure: I was at Game 4 of the Sweep.)
                        
Even if you have a gun to your head, a Yankees fan can't root for the Red Sox.  (The only possible exception of Ronjon.  Happy Birthday Ronjon!)
       
As for Mayor Guiliani, he lost many friends (and possibly votes) in NY and elsewhere.  There are many Yankees fans in swing states like New Jersey and Florida.  We'll see what affect that has next year.

Contrast Mayor Guiliani with his possible general election opponent, Senator Hillary Clinton.  Senator Clinton claims to be a "Yankees fan" but grew up a Cubs fan.

Finally, current NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg may run as an independent in 2008 for President.  He grew up a Red Sox fan and has diplomatically eluded the issue.
               
These politicians need to get with the program and be with the people.
                                          
Bottom Line: The USA and NYC are doomed unless you vote SteveAndTheTank.com as your presidential ticket.  Steve is 35 and I am 37 so we are constitutional eligible to be Vice President and President, respectively.  I ask for and hope to have your support.  Go Rockies!
                                     
Posted by the Tank on the road to the White House.

 

 

I follow the NBA pretty closely but am shocked to learn of the latest accusations of an NBA points fixing scandal.  40 year old referee Tim Donaghy is the son of a college referee.

From different accounts that I have heard, it is very difficult to fix games because every referee is graded on every call they make and don't make.  How he shaved points is beyond me and possibly the NBA and the FBI.

After low television ratings in last month's NBA Finals, this scandal is the last thing the NBA needs.  The integrity of the sport is at stake. 

I hope to write less about scandals and off the field nonsense and get back to on the field stuff in the near future.

Posted by a puzzled Tank in NY.

Was Vick not yet suspended because he is one of the faces of the NFL?  The second highest paid player?  I am not a mind reader but you have to be a fool not to follow the money.  At least Nike had the decency to suspend the launch of his shoe.   

 

Yes, Vick deserves his day in court but the NFL doesn't need to be distracted by this scandal and should suspend Vick for the season like Pacman Jones.  You can't have one standard for superstars and another for everyone else.  It's not a good example for kids, sponsors, etc.  Training camp opens in a few days.  Your move Commissioner Goodell. 

 

Posted by an angry Tank in NY. </