 Saturday, March 03, 2007
Cozumel Tequila Tasting Seminar
After a very bad experience of drinking Jose Cuervo Tequila in the summer of 1993, the Tank threw up on a friend's floor that he was subletting from. Since the Tank is the "world's heaviest lightweight drinker", I dared not challenge tequila's supremacy in any decade in the near future.
Therefore, I employed the assistance of my Cozumel roommate, Michael from Utah, to sample tequila bottles for friends and family back home. Michael happens to be of Japanese descent but many people think he looks Mexican and they started speaking to him in Spanish.
When Cozumel tequila vendors like the gentleman pictured below asked Michael if he would like to taste tequila, the Tank replied in Spanish that Michael would. They were a little surprised that a gringo looking hombre like the Tank could speak Spanish. Hey, five years of high school Spanish, a year of college Spanish, and travels to the Spanish speaking countries like the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico (Tijuana in 1996), and Argentina have served the Tank well.
Michael and the Tank continued to work as a flawless team as Michael sampled drinks and the Tank negotiated the best discounts for friends and family. Since Michael is from Utah, he enjoyed himself as Utah is pretty restrictive on alcohol purchases because of Mormon control of the state. For the record, the Tank doesn't have a problems with Mormonism as I would gladly forsake alcohol (empty calories and usually not good tasting tasting) and marry three wives as on the HBO hit show "Big Love". Say no to alcohol and say yes to being married to Chloe Sevigny, Jeanne Tripplehorn, and Ginnifer Goodwin. 
El Tanque escribio en Cozumel y Nueva York.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Welcome to Spring Training!
I normally don't get too excited about Spring Training but the Knicks have the Tank singing the blues.
My main goals with Spring Training are too make sure veterans tune up and stay healthy as well as young talent has a chance to develop.
The Yankees and Mets thankfully had good games yesterday. The Yankees and Mets continued their momentum this afternoon with come from behind wins against the D-Rays and Cardinals, respectively.
Posted by The Tank in NY.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
The Knicks Are Killing Themselves and Stressing Out The Tank
The Knicks came out flat and confused against the Celtics last night in Boston. Granted, Nate Robinson, Jamal Crawford, and David Lee didn't play but the Knicks had enough to beat the NBA's worst team, the Celtics.
The Knicks were down by as many as 23 but rallied back to take a two point lead at 81-79 after Starbury's three pointer. Yes, I said Starbury.
If the Knicks don't make the playoffs, they will rue the three out of four games they lost to the Celtics this season. Put another way, 20 percent of the Celtics 15 victories in 57 games have come against the Knicks. Not the mark of a good team.
Anyway, thank God that Spring Training baseball games are starting. Play ball!
Posted by the Tank in NY.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Knicks Needed a Win in Beantown Tonight
The Knicks had a great win on Monday night beating Shaq and the Heat 99-93 at the Garden. They need to continue their momentum as they are only 2.0 games out of playoffs behind the Nets, Heat, and Magic who are tied for the seventh and eighth spots. Only two of these four teams will make the playoffs as everyone from the Pacers to the Pistons are a pretty sure bet to make the playoffs.
If the Knicks want to make the playoffs, they have to beat the Celtics in Boston tonight. Yes, Jamal Crawford is most likely out for the season. David Lee may not play tonight because of injury. They have to find a way to win against the lowly Celtics. Are the Knicks a playoff team? Games like tonight will help answer this question.
Posted by the Tank in NY.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Where Will the Rocket Roger Clemens Pitch in 2007?
As the Tank was returning from Mexico via the Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport yesterday, the car passed by Minute Maid Stadium, home of the Houston Astros. The Tank's thoughts joyfully changed to baseball and the 2007 status of home town hero and free agent pitcher Roger Clemens. As the Tank was talking to friends before our flights took us to our different home towns a few minutes later, the Tank didn't focus too much on Clemens' status.
However, in a weird karamic way, Clemens' name came up again as the Tank returned home and started to catch up on NY sports on 1050 AM ESPN Radio. Michael Kaye had a good interview with ESPN reporter and Baseball Hall of Fame Writer Peter Gammons. Gammons gave some interesting perspective on Clemens agents trying to get top dollar which is to be expected. Gammons also referenced Clemens' respect for Joe Torre and Derek Jeter.
Should Clemens return to New York? Steve and Linda passed on him last year for the Mets but the Tank would sign him in a heart beat for the Yankees. Even part time, Clemens is a future Hall of Famer and has a great work ethic to inspire young pitchers and hopefully even veterans like Mike Mussina (as unlikely as it would be given Moose's stubbornness). More importantly, Clemens would be pitching with his best friend, Andy Pettitte. At the advice of the Tank's therapist, the Tank is trying to forget that Andy ever left the Yankees as the pain was felt all the way to the cellular level. The Tank's source whose sister worked at MLB "guaranteed" that Andy would return in 2004 but the source jinxed the Yankees and the Tank.
Therefore, the Tank will not "guarantee" Rocket's return to pinstripes, only guaranteeing prayers for his return. Speaking of prayers, I echo Steve's thoughts and prayers for the X-Man, Xavier Nady, for a fast and speedy recovery. Thank you very much! Sincerely, The Tank
Posted by a hopeful Tank back from vacation in NY.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Well Wishes for the X-Man
It was very sad to see Xavier Nady go. Now it looks like more bad news for the X-Man, he was hospitalized this week for intestinal inflammation and will be examined tomorrow to determine if he has a chronic condition. The doctors asked him if he had a family history of Crohn's disease, the same disease that eventually sidelined Tho Fleury. Crohn’s disease is a chronic, episodic, inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by transmural inflammation.
Apparently the X-Man’s cousin has Crohn’s and the doctors are just being extra safe. Keep the X-Man in your thoughts.
Posted by Steve in New York.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
ACC v Big East
Steve’s parent’s St. John’s and the Yankees of College Basketball Duke (18) have a contract that started today that has them play each other once each season over the next four years. ACC and Big East. A great thing for SJU and for Duke as well since SJU is a rough and tumble college basketball program. The boys from Queens usually play on cement courts and ride the subway to Madison Square Garden for the game.
As we walk into today’s sell out game at the World’s Most Famous Arena, a few minutes into the game, SJU was down 14-4. As we settled in, SJU was playing great defense, but not shooting and when they did, they shot poorly. Around 24-8 I started to worry. At t half it was 34-10 and I started to get tons of SMS from my friends mocking me.
St. John’s started to show some life in the second half. They come out strong, immediately getting a three pointer and then another field goal to get 50% of their first half points in the first two minutes of the second half. St. John's then began to show some life and had a nice little 10-2 run to pull to 46-29 with 9:35 to go. However, Duke came right back with a three point shot and the game was pretty much history. The Red Storm did make it respectable and had an 8-0 run, to pull to 51-39 with 4:15 left. The defense was still strong and at this point SJU played much better than the score implied, but the score on the scoreboard is what counts. The final buzzer was Duke 67-SJU 50. Duke has now won 4 straight over the former Redmen.
In the end, MSG was sold out, the crowd was buzzing and the decision to have Duke play SJU is a good one. Looking foward to next year's game.
Posted by Steve, Live from the World’s Most Famous Arena.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Cozumel Greetings
As some of you know, the Tank is on vacation in Cozumel, Mexico.
Before dinner starts in a few minutes, I checked my e-mail and wanted to check in and say hello to all our great readers. I'll be back in the City That Never Sleeps Soon with reports on my adventures in a few days.
Posted by the Tank in Cozumel, Mexico.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Willie Wanted to Bunt
Cliff Floyd said the other day that Willie wanted to bunt in the bottom of the 9th in Game 7 then changed his mind. Let's not second guess Willie, he did a great job and got the Mets all the way to Game 7.
I'll miss Cliff, but not that much.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
The Rickey Effect
2006 will be remembered for the Mets winning the NL East in a commanding fashion, their first division championship since 1988. Even thought starting pitching broke down completely (every opening day roster starter went down at some point in the season, and several of the replacements went down too) the bats did not break down. Carlos Beltran had an MVP year, the kind of year that Mets fans expected when he came over. People will argue that he “adjusted” to New York, I will argue it was the influence of Carlos Delgado in the clubhouse and behind him in the lineup. (Just look how David Wright’s numbers went down in the second half when Xavier Nady was no longer protecting him.)
Another reason the Mets had such a great year was Jose Reyes, the most exciting player in Major League Baseball. The Mets hired Rickey Henderson, the best leadoff hitter of all time, last year in Spring Training to work with Reyes. They worked on at-bat discipline, reading the pitcher, pitch selection and more. Rickey Henderson’s effect on Jose Reyes has been amazing. Rickey also came back mid-season for a follow-up (which was not really needed.) Jose already has the talent, now he has the experience and patience to foster it all the way to Cooperstown. Reyes had the kind of year that the wins championships. Rickey is back in Florida to work with Reyes this spring. Expect more of the same in 2007.
Posted by Steve in New York.
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