Being a sports fan is hard these days.  Sports is supposed to be an escape from reality but unfortunately has become reflective of it. 

(1) Plaxico Burress was booked yesterday on gun possession charges.  (2) Starbury has been banned from the Knicks.  (3) Former New York Ranger Sean Avery was indefinitely suspended for inappropriate comments about an ex-girlfriend.  (4) Notre Dame Head Coach Charlie Weiss is holding on for dear life in South Bend.

(1) Everyone knows that Plaxico was stupid/unwise/whatever adjective you want to use.  The Giants were right to suspend him.  Mayor Bloomberg has threatened to throw the book at him.  He's big on anti-gun violence and is going into an election year for a controversial third term.  I generally have a favorable opinion of Mayor Bloomberg but he should have put the term limits issue to a vote of the citizens, NOT the City Council.  A Burress trial is the perfect non-partisan distraction to the election, economy, and everything else going on. 

(2) The Knicks, their fans, and Starbury are all losers in the Starbury saga. 

(3) Avery's inappropriate comments really hurt the NHL when it needs a lift.  Avery asked if a camera was present and unloaded on an ex-girlfriend.  The NHL should unload on him for a while.  Yeah, see you next season Sean.  He'll probably only get a few games but deserves more.  It's not the first for him.  Martin Brodeur didn't shake his hand after last season's playoffs and I can't blame him.  It's not only waving his stick in front of Brodeur but the trash he unloaded about Brodeur's personal life.  Not cool and I don't like the D*vils.

(4) Notre Dame fans need to take a timeout.  Yes, Charlie Weis hasn't lived up to expectations.  But who do you bring in to replace him?  The Pope?  He's busy and would probably pass on the job if offered to him.  JH, his brother Brendan, and I threw other names around earlier today via e-mail.  I don't think Jim Tressel would ever leave Columbus as he is a native Buckeye.  Urban Meyer is having fun in the sun at Florida.  Nick Saban has rebuilt Alabama quicker than I hoped almost two years ago, January 3, 2007.  Saban has said that the Alabama job is the last job he will take before retiring.  Most importantly, I don't see any of them going to South Bend because they have a better chance of being successful in their current jobs than taking the Notre Dame job.  Why tarnish your reputation? 

Why take the Notre Dame job?  OK, yes, you will make millions.  (The buyout on Weis' mega millions contract maybe the only thing that buys him more time in South Bend.)  But, you have to deal with alumni and fans who think Knute Rockne is still the coach.  The administration watches your every move.  Notre Dame's high academic standards make it hard for them to recruit the student-athlete to come to South Bend.  Let's face it, other top schools have easier academic standards than Notre Dame.  Notre Dame has become a victim of its own success.  The Irish are haunted by a 21st century "Four Horsemen" of alumni, fans, administration, and academic standards.  It results in a plague and pestilence over South Bend.

If Weis doesn't survive, I think current Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach Jon Gruden will take the Notre Dame job if he wants it.  His main defensive assistant, Monte Kiffin, may go help his son Lane who was announced as Phil Fulmer's replacement at the University of Tennessee.  Gruden literally grew up in the job as a ball boy.  He knows all the glory and pitfalls of the job.  He has a Super Bowl ring with the Bucs.  Returning the Irish to national prominence would cap a coaching career.           

I stepped back to listen to the Knicks game tonight on ESPN 1050.  The Knicks lost but played the Trailblazers tough.  I can live with that.  Sports at last, NOT courtroom, egos, or other drama plaguing the sports world. 

I also listened to the Canadiens-Thrashers game on NHL GameCenter which rocks.  My high school French was a little rusty but it was good to listen the game.  I also texted Steve who was at the game as an after hours conference activity with Richard from the Mount Everest Base Camp trip.  Steve described the game as a "religious experience".  That's what sports should be.  Allez Les Habitants allez!  Go Habs go (Canadiens nickname)!  I'm looking forward to Steve's write-up tomorrow.

Posted by The Tank on the Sports Roller Coaster in NY.          

I was writing a LeBron James article while on the bus back to the City.  But, SATT is on the cutting edge of the sports world.  For instance, Editor in Chief and PermaGuest Outlaw Jack reported (via Blackberry Pin) that Giants Wide Receiver Plaxico Burress reportedly accidentally shot himself in Midtown Manhattan.

To quote Jack, it was a "flesh wound through the soft tissue of the thigh."

Will Burress play again?  According to ESPN, Burress will NOT play in the Giants big showdown at the Redskins.  If the Giants win, they pretty much seal the NFC East as well as #1 seeding and home field advantage through the playoffs. 

How idiotic can Burress be?  Was his weapon registered?  Why doesn't he have private security detail who are probably better trained in weapons and self-defense?

Burress may have cost his or somebody else's life.  Of much less importance, he may have cost the Giants a chance to defend their championship.

Posted by a bewildered Tank in NY.

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 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.

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.

The New England Patriots got a slap on the wrist by only paying a total of $750,000 in personal and team fines.  They lost a first round draft pick if they make the playoffs but they already have San Francisco's pick.  Big deal.  If the NFL really wanted to come down on the Patriots (which they don't), they would have fined them like the Formula One McLaren Team had to pay $100 million and loss of constructors' (or manufacturers') points after they were caught spying.  Constructors' points are a big deal with the bragging rights and sponsorship gravitas that accompanies it.  

If the NFL wants to stomp out cheating, they need to come down even harder on the Patriots.  Give the big money fine to charity and award the Jets a victory or at least a tie.  If they don't, the appeals process is a joke and will only encourage future cheating.  Why are the Europeans taking the lead sports in cracking down on cheating in Formula One and the Why Barry Bonds is Lucky Not to Be in the Tour de France?  Are Americans sports federations whimps?  Or, does money trump everything including integrity in sports?  Probably a little of both. 

That said, I don't condone cheating.  I suspect that Eric Mangini has known about this for years and possibly even participated it when he a Patriot assistant.  I don't have any evidence of this yet but how would he known had he not done it himself? 

For a Boston - New York rivalry that is already pretty fierce, this adds fuel to the flames.  Bill Belichick is way over qualified to coach in the NFL; he should be Secretary of Defense.  SecDef (Secretary of Defense) Belichick would find Bin Laden in a week and the War on Terror would be won in a month.

Posted by the Tank in NY.