 Monday, February 04, 2008
Super Upset! The Tank Wins Free Cold Stone Ice Cream
Most of the gang convened at PermaGuest Outlaw Jack's and Michelle's place in Queens for the Super Bowl.
Kathleen was the only real Giants fan out of the dozen or so people gathered. Jack is a Jets fan, Steve is an ex-Jets fan, JH is a Vikings fan, and I am a Bills fan. You get the idea. We put our differences aside and all rallied behind the Giants. JH printed out multiple copies of the Bridget Moynahan mask but I was the only one to wear it. Linda bought a birthday cake for Jack's birthday on Tuesday the 5th. That's the real Super Tuesday. Happy Birthday Jack!
I explained the Boston Sports Apocalypse to the newbies. Everyone understood the Biblical and sports implications of this game. Steve set aside his dislike of Eli as everything was on the line. "Go Eli!" Steve shouted below. Steve promised to have a drink every time Eli did something good and he was pretty hammered by the end of the night.
Steve rooting for Eli is almost as profound as me rooting for Rex Grossman who I am considering suing for accelerating my hair loss after his erratic play screwed up my picks.
Ralph, Hannah, and Juliette were total stangers but we clicked within minutes. No need for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers during the Halftime Show. We entertained ourselves when Michelle put on the Sarah Silverman/Matt Damon and Bill Gates YouTube videos. Adam, Jack, Hannah, and Juliette introduced me to the Guitar Hero video game. Joe was entertaining in his own unique way.
There were lots of ups and downs but we stuck together and rooted the Giants onto the 17-14 victory. As a New Yorker, I received immense satisfaction from the Giants stopping the Boston Sports Apocalypse which started with the Red Sox winning last year and the Celtics being the best team in the NBA.
I was right that the Giants would beat the spread but never so happy to be wrong about the Patriots losing though I would have been right in winning wire to wire for the second straight season with the Colts and Patriots, respectively. I am also happy that Buffalo Steve, his wife Teresa, and their daughters (my Goddaughters) can sleep better at night as they won't have to hear the Bill Belichick being compared to his hero and former Steelers coach Chuck Noll.
Mega thanks to PermaGuest Outlaw Jack and Michelle for throwing a great Super Bowl Party!
Congratulations to die hard Giants fans like Kathleen and her parents, PG, Brooklyn Pete, Queens Pete, David, and Eddie Trunk. Congratulations to me for winning the free Cold Stone Ice Cream bet! 
Posted by an overjoyed Tank in football Heaven.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Taking in a game at The Rock
I got off the PATH train at Newark Penn Station last night and followed the sign to the "Prudential Center" only two blocks away. Better know as "The Rock," it looks like a great building. I can't believe how awesome it looks actually. So good that it drew me to New Jersey on a Saturday night, and to see the Devils no less. 
Once inside the arena is awesome. Our seats were high up in the nose bleeds but the vantage point for the game was great. The seats were a little and beer very expensive (even for sports arena prices), but the place was great and the atmosphere fun. 
Oh yea, the Devils defeated the LA Kings 6-3. On the ride home on the PATH we saw a spectacular view of Ground Zero. 
Posted by Steve Live! From The Rock in Newark New Jersey.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Tom Brady's Achilles Heel
Athletes are rarely rattled but there is a way to get under everyone's skin. Tom Brady is no exception. Local rock station Q104.3 recently made a great point about trying to get under Brady's skin.
"Tom and Bridget dated for two years, and Bridget got pregnant around the time they broke up -- a split that was curiously close to the time that he started dating Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen. Their relationship has been, well, frosty ever since; Bridget even named their son John Edward Thomas Moynahan, not only leaving out the Brady name but giving him the initials JET! (And you know how the Patriots loooove the Jets...)"
Boston Red Sox fans tried to distract my buddy A-Rod with masks of a blonde similar to the young lady that he was hanging out with in Toronto last year. This is New York's turn to return the favor.
To do so, please go to the following links: http://www.q1043.com/pages/images/BridgetMoynahan.pdf If you're going to the game, please wear the mask. If you are within earshot of Tom Brady, please ask him about his illegitimate son. This technique worked once before when I asked Chipper Jones in Game 4 of the 1999 World Series at Yankee Stadium about his illegitimate son and we all know who won that World Series in a four game sweep.
Go Giants! Bridget, If you are still single, so is The Tank.
Posted by The Tank in NY.
 NFL | Playoffs
 Saturday, February 02, 2008 1:36:04 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Friday, February 01, 2008
Strange Start to 2008 For Steve
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
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Super Bowl Prediction
Two Weeks Ago: I was 1-1 in the Conference Championship games and 34-14 on the season.
Super Bowl Prediction: The Pats were my Super Bowl pick going back to the NFL Draft and my pre-season picks. I normally like being correct. I want and need to be wrong as the Boston Apocalypse is upon our door. World peace and harmony hangs in the balance.
However, I have to be intellectually honest to you, my dear readers. After much deliberation, I think the Patriots will win 27-17 but there is some consolation for the gamblers that the Giants will cover the 12 point spread. I have a free Cold Stone ice cream riding on the line. The Giants are such under dogs that I will get a free Cold Stone ice cream if the Giants win. If the Giants lose, I owe the bettor nothing. Talk about an underdog.
How can the Giants win?
(1) Soften up the Patriots defense with Bradshaw the speedester and Jacobs the bruiser. This keeps Tom Brady and the potent Patriots offense off the field.
(2) Give Tom Brady different looks. Yes, Tom Brady is a very smart quarterback. White Fedora Mike and I suspect that last week's leg boot was a ruse. BUT, just maybe, a rush can slow him down or make him make an uncharacteristic mistake.
Keep the faith! Go Giants!
Posted by a prayerful Tank in NY.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Good Trade
The trade of outfielder Carlos Gomez, and pitchers Philip Humber, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Mulvey for Johan Santana is a good one and a good one for both teams. Gomez has Jose Reyes style explosiveness and Humber can throw strikes and can evolve to a 15+ game winner. The Mets get someone who can help them win now-adding about 5+ more wins, 100 more innings and a much less tired bullpen to the mix. The reason why this trade is so important to the Mets is that last year the pitching staff did not have a losing streak stopper and did not pitch enough innings. That lead to an overworked bullpen, which blew more games than most Mets fans can remember and wish to count. What failed them in 2006 was the lack of an ace who can win 3 games in a 7 game series. Johan Santana changes all of that. Barring injury, he will give the Mets a solid 5 years of Cy Young contention. An anchor in the rotation, a mentor for Maine and Perez, and 200+ innings and 200+ strikeouts. He also takes the pressure off the young pitchers on the staff. The Mets should have no problem beating out the Phillies for the NL East, but will have a hard time facing either Arizona or Rockies. The Mets as an offensive team have had the underdog status in our analysis in 7 game series against good pitching since they did not bring good pitching to the table. Omar has finally gotten the memo, pitching wins pennants. The Mets projected Opening Day Rotation: Johan Santana: 29 years old Pedro Martinez: 36 years old John Maine: 26 years old Oliver Perez: 26 years old Mike Pelfrey: 24 years old Posted by Steve in San Francisco
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Santana Rumor: To the Mets?
The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported on Sunday Johan Santana is expected to be traded within the next 10 days. Also on Sunday, NY Newsday reported that the Mets are still the favorites. Boston.com is also reporting the Mets (and not the local Red Sox) as the front-runner. Rumors from the papers also say that the Twins will probably not include both of the Mets' top outfield prospects, Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez. The rumor of the day is that it would be Fernando Martinez, Ryan Church and at least two other prospects, including maybe Mike Pelfrey. A four for 1 deal with the Twins? Should Omar make this trade? You bet, the Mets would only lose 3 young prospects and gain a 29 year Cy Young starter. Keeping Carlos Gomez is the icing on the cake. If Omar pulls this trade off, Steve and the Tank take back all the calls for his head. This is a very risky strategy, waiting until early February to pull off this trade, hoping that three things go right: The Twins get desperate to move Santana before the season starts when he is more valuable, the Twins realize that they over played their hand, and the Yankees and Red Sox stay on the sidelines. Posted by Steve in San Francisco (Who according to the local press out here are going to be "rebuilding" in 2008.)
Monday, January 28, 2008
Brian Leetch - Forever a Ranger!
Do you know where you were on June 14, 1994? I do. I was on the campus of SUNY Buffalo hanging out after graduating college. I wasn't a Ranger fan at the time. Brian Leetch wasn't either as he grew up a Bruins fan in Connecticut; I grew up a Canadiens fan in beautiful Upstate New York, AKA Appalachia according to Governor Spitzer. (Speaking of Linda's "favorite" politician, Governor Spitzer, along with Messrs. Sarbanes and Oxley have pretty much handed New York's financial capital standing to London. Thanks for nothing!)
Back to hockey. I was happy for New Jersey Dave, a roommate from freshman year and huge Ranger fan who often referenced 1940. I lost touch with NJ Dave but knew he was somewhere smiling celebrating the Stanley Cup.
Fast forward nearly 14 years to this past Thursday night at the Garden. I wasn't there but enjoyed listening to the ceremonies on ESPN 1050 Radio and watching it on MSG while eating some ribs at Brother Jimmy's BBQ on the Upper West Side.
As always, Sam Rosen did a great job emceeing the event. Sam and JD are as good as it gets when it comes to calling hockey games. Only former Bruines coach and current CBC Hockey Night Canada host Don Cherry is in their league.
Leetch was introduced to thunderous applause and cheers. It was a reunion of many of Leetch's 1994 teammates. The retirees (Giacomin, Gilbert, Messier, and Richter) wore blue jerseys in honor of their numbers being lifted to the rafters of the Garden. Leetch had the honor of announcing that teammate Adam Graves would be the next number retired. The crowd erupted and the look on Graves' face was priceless.
As John the European would say, no one throws a ceremony quite like the Garden. It's hard to disagree. Congratulations Brian! Welcome to hockey immortality!
Written and posted by The Tank in NY. Photo courtesy of PermaGuest Outlaw Jack reporting live from the world's greatest arena, Madison Square Garden.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Djokovic Wins His First Major - The Australian Open!
Novak Djokovic "finally" won the big one, the Australian Open, this morning in Melbourne.
The 20 year old Serb defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in four sets 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 on Saint Sava's Day, the patron saint and father of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
After watching Novak lose to Rodger Federer last September in Flushing Meadows at the US Open (permalink), it was gratifying to see Novak win for personal and political reasons. During former War Criminal in Chief President Clinton's illegal bombing of the former Yugoslavia in 1999 (there was a tie in the war authorization vote in the House of Representatives), Novak and other Serbs including my relatives had to deal with life and death issues every day and night. Twelve year old Novak was luckier than most as he was able to go to Germany for safety.
The tennis world is far better for Novak, Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic, Janko Tipsarevic, and others surviving those 78 consecutive days of illegal and immoral bombing of a sovereign country. There are many more fighting cancer, birth defects, and other health ailments caused by depleted uranium used during the bombing.
Congratulations Novak! We're proud of you! Many years of health and championship tennis!
Posted by The Tank in Tennis Heaven getting closure after the US Open last September pictured above.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
The Santana Watch Continues
The Twins signed first basemen Justin Morneau to a huge six year, $80 million contract, according to MLB.com, and Michael Cuddyer for $24 million for three years according to the Seattle Times. What does that mean for Johan Santana? The possibilities include:
(1) Staying with the Twins. This is not likely unless the cheapstake Twins ownership may not spend the money. Mr. Pohlad is worth $3.1 billion and is the 114th richest person in America according to Forbes. Muckety.com does a great job of detailing Mr. Pohlad's assets, holdings, and connections. Mr. Pohlad was so cheap that he able to convince the state of Minnesota to pay for a new stadium. But, hey, the rich stay rich is by using other people's money (OPM).
(2) The new GM has taken his time, as he should, to get the most value for Santana. It's hard to argue because the Mets may have to part with five of their best seven minor league products. However, with each passing day, Santana's value diminishes. He has to be dealt by the trade deadline, or he will probably lost to free agency.
Will the Twins pay Santana or trade him? If Omar doesn't pull the trigger on this deal, it's time for Steve to be the next Mets GM. Pitchers and catchers are less than three weeks away.
Posted by The Tank in NY.
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