The Yankees and the world lost a true gentleman, Bobby Murcer, on Saturday.  Bobby died at 62 after courageous battling brain cancer.

Bobby played for the Yankees from 1965 to 1974 and 1979 to 1983.  He also played for the Giants from 1975 to 1976 and the Cubs from 1977 to 1979.

According to the "New York Post", he was the only Yankee to play with Mickey Mantle and Don Mattingly.  He replaced fellow Oklahoman Mantle in centerfield.  He gave one of the eulogies at Thurman Munson's funeral on August 6, 1979, and then drove in all the RBIs in a 5-4 comeback win that night in the Stadium.

After his playing career ended, he went to the broadcast booth.  He taught us how the game was played.  He was a good guy who played the game and lived life the right way. 

He was diagnosed with brain cancer in late 2006.  He fought the good fight and most importantly did it with grace and class.

Bobby was a great player on some bad teams but never complained because he was even a better person.  R.I.P. Bobby.  You were always #1 (before Billy Martin took your number).  You will be #1 in Our Hearts.

Posted by a grieving Tank in NY.

Editors Note: Steve and the Tank have off today for the All-Star break, so guest blogger Kevin McCall visited the Sports Museum of America and posted about it here.

If you live on Long Island like me it's very likely that you live hours away from the nearest sports hall of fame. For this reason, I recommend visiting the new Sports Museum of America during your next trip into Downtown New York City. Opening on 26 Broadway two months ago as part of a restoration of Lower Manhattan, the Sports Museum of America is the only museum in the U.S. to encompass all the sports Americans love. It was created in partnership with over 50 individual sport hall of fames, which donated artifacts to the museum. Each room is dedicated to one particular sport and equipped with computers linked to archives for the sport as well as televisions that show highlights of each moment that made fans stand up and cheer. They further enhance the experience by putting you inside the game, and also help educate the casual fan.

My visit began in the Immersion theater where I viewed a ten minute presentation highlighting some of the great moments in various sports. I then entered into the first exhibit, the Heisman Gallery the largest room in the entire museum. This is the new home of the Heisman Trophy, college football's top honor. Photos and biographies of all the past winners are shown on the wall. It's a little over done, but that's expected because it was a big reason for the museum's construction in the first place. The award winning ceremony will now take place at this location.

The next room honors all athletes who have thrived on the world's biggest stage, the Olympics. Medals won by track star Jesse Owens and world class swimmer Michael Phelps lie behind a glass case. Cubicles with items from the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" as well as the 1992 "Dream Team" can be viewed.

The following part of the museum was my personal favorite, the baseball exhibit. The sound of hardwood hitting a baseball and shouts from a vendor could be heard in the background, which kind of grew on me after a while. I snuck a picture of the World Series trophy, taking it with the camera on my cell phone, which is most likely the only way you will walk out with a photo of anything in the museum. An interactive experience allowed me to try different pitching grips on baseballs such as the knukleball thrown by Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield. Bats used by Seattle Mariners leadoff hitter Ichiro Suzuki and slugger Ken Griffey Jr. could be picked up. Displays included artifacts from the first women's softball league and the Negro League are also included.

The basketball room is more small and narrow than the others, but includes memorabilia from major basketball cities such as Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and of course, New York. Large college basketball exhibits highlight the rivalry between the North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils.

The room dedicated to soccer contains the most secular items, some of which are pretty out there. The sports bra worn by Brandi Chastain in the 1999 Women's FIFA World Cup is one of them. The article of clothing became famous when Chastain threw her shirt off in celebration of her game winning goal against China that sealed the title for the U.S. Golf clubs used by all the greats from Sam Sneed to Tiger Woods are displayed in the golf exhibit. The tennis section contains rackets used by greats such as Andre Agassi and Billie Jean King. The auto racing section is largely dedicated to Dale Earnhardt as the infamous number 3 on his race car is displayed in a case especially for him. The inside setup of an old car used by NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon can be viewed. The museum did not forget about the fans of extreme sports. Most artifacts in this area are from the collection of skateboarding mogul Tony Hawk. X games medals are displayed in a case with snowboards and bicycle handle bars.

Next are the hockey and football rooms. The hockey experience allows people to put their head inside a goalie mask and view different shots. I found the commentary by Mike Richter unnecessary and annoying, but it gives you a great perspective on just how fast the puck comes at the goaltenders in the game. Any New York Giants fan will especially appreciate the case honoring this past Super Bowl.

Along with the trophy is the helmet worn by wide receiver David Tyree when he made his drive saving catch to propel the Giants to the game winning touchdown and ending the hopes of a complete undefeated season for the New England Patriots. I stared in awe for a few minutes at the visible marks the football left on the helmet!!

The final few rooms of the museum honored those athletes who defined an era. They excelled in more than just their sport, but in overcoming racial discrimination barriers and paving the way for social revolution in America. The achievements of Jackie Robinson, Billie Jean King, and Roberto Clemente are honored among others.

Finally, the museum commemorates the common folk who have made the sports industry as large as it is today, the fans. Through private donations, the museum has accumulated a collection of cards, pins, hats, and jackets representing various players and teams. Broadcasters are also honored in this area, as microphones and other artifacts from ABC Sports are on display. This section also includes a fantastic experience in which I had the opportunity to play a broadcaster and make up my own call for a great moment in sports!!

Overall, the Sports Museum is a phenomenal place in which fans of all sports can interact, relive the defining moments, and view a wide variety of memorabilia. I recommend it for someone who isn't a sports fan at all, for they will still be amazed by the courage and determination of those represented in the Hall of Halls. Admission is

$27 for adults (ages 15-59) and $20 for children (4-14). Children under 4 are free while students with current identification and senior citizens can enter for a discount of $24. If you find it too expensive to visit the museum, stop by the store next to the entrance. Sports nuts can purchase numerous merchandise for their favorite sports and teams at a discounted price. For more information, visit www.sportsmuseum.com.

After I let go of the Jets moving to New Jersey earlier this week, Steve replied Friday afternoon that he will never stop hating Bon Jovi for reasons that I can not describe in this family friendly blog.  Those were famous last words as Linda e-mailed me and asked if I had a Bon Jovi CD.  I didn't but bought one Friday afternoon.  I snuck the CD to Linda earlier today as we were going to the Catskills for our practice Everest Base Camp hike.  Bon Jovi's "One Wild Night Live 1985-2001" became part of our soundtrack of our roadtrip.  Steve tried to pretend that he didn't hear the music but he couldn't avoid it.  I already feel "We're Halfway There" to Everest Base Camp.   

Seriously, kudos to Steve for organizing the trip and to Linda for renting and driving the car.  It was great meeting Norm and Donna.  They are really cool.

I ended the day going to Central Park and watching the Bon Jovi concert which was MLB's kickoff for All Star Game Weekend. 

Posted by The Tank "Livin' On a Prayer" Live in the Catskills and Central Park.

 

We're excited.

The Mets took us back on Tuesday night at Shea to a time when Steve and I were Jets fans.  It was a time of innocence before we stabbed in the heart and back by a move to Giants Stadium in New Jersey.  My heart was first broken in the 1980s by the Yankees loss to the Dodgers in the 1981 World Series.  David Stockman leaving the Reagan Administration was another low point in 1982 as I felt deficits would go higher.  I won't go to my father's hospitalization on prom night which also happened to be my parents' wedding anniversary in 1987.

The Jets played at Shea from 1964 to 1983.  Joe Namath, Wesley Walker, and the New York Sack Exchange dominated the headlines and our hearts.

It all came crashing to an end when the Jets moved to Jersey.  You can't fault them from a business perspective.  The Giants offered them a better revenue sharing deal.  I eventually became a Bills fan and Steve swore off the NFL.

Anyway, the Jets returned to Shea one last time to say farewell.  Can I cheer "J-E-T-S!" one last time to let the past go?

Marty Lyons, Greg Buttle, and Wesley Walker threw out the first pitch below. 



More on those guys in a upcoming post.  When I become attached and emotionally involved in something, it's hard to let go even when I got hurt.  Be it girlfriends or sports teams, The Tank is here in the trenches with and for you.

Back to the present.  Steve blogged the Mets 3-1 series victory at the Phillies this past weekend.  It's exactly what the Mets needed.  It helped them close ground on the Phillies to 2.5 games, get above .500, and have a three game winning streak.  If the Mets win at least four out of the next six games before the All Star Break, they will have some momentum going into the second half of the season.

John Pelfrey got out of a bases loaded jam in the first without giving up a run.

Reyes lined out for the first out.  Chavez singled, Wright walked, and Beltran hit one over the right center wall.  The crowd goes crazy.  Mets 3 - Giants 0.  Easley struck out.  Delgado walked on 3-2.  Tatis struck out.  I page Linda and Steve but don't hear back from them.

Reyes singles with two out in the second but is caught stealing. 

Yankees 2 - Rays 0 in the third according to the Shea Scoreboard.

DW hits an infield single in the third.  Beltran singles and DW advances to third.  Easley grounds out into a double play so no runs were scored.

Big Pelf singled to center to open the fifth.  Jose Reyes popped up and the rally ended.

While I went to the restroom, the Mets added another run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 4-0.

Argenis Reyes first hit as he pinch hits for Big Pelf in the bottom of the 7th.  The other Reyes, Jose, bunts his way to first.  DW lines out but Beltran singles Argenis home for his for run scored.  Mets 5 - Giants 0.  Ace Frehey's classic "Back in a New York Groove" blares over the speakers.  Are the Mets back in a winning groove?  Easley singles to center and Jose scores.  Mets 6 - Giants 0.

Schoenweis pitched a shut out eighth.  The crowd goes nuts when the Phillies lose to the Cardinals 2-0.  'Phillies suck" chants echo throughout my section.

How is Boston coming back against Minnesota?

Perma Guest Outlaw Jack checks in with Yankee updates.  Go Andy Go!  Mega thanks Jack!

Tatis hits a blast over the Game Number sign in center.  Mets 7 - Giants 0.  "I've got the power indeed."  Joe Smith comes out for the ninth and gets out the side.  "Put it in the books," to quote Mets broadcaster Howie Rose.  Sam is smiling at his fellow Canadian band BTO "Takin' Care of Business".   The Jets flag flies proudly in the breeze.  I let go.  I am free now. 





Posted by The Tank reporting live from Shea Stadium in Queens.

Jason Giambi's mustache has taken on a life of its own. The Yankees today are playing an afternoon game and giving away fake Bobby Valentine style mustaches in honor of Jason Giambi. In reality they want you to "support the 'stache' and vote to get Giambi in for the last slot for the all-star game.

The Mets have the same campaign, minus the 'stache, for David Wright.

Internet voting ends on Thursday at 5pm. Vote here.

Four games in as many days in Philadelphia was make or break for the Mets season. The Mets entered Philly on our nations's birthday for an important 4 game set with the first place Phillies. The Mets were 1 game under .500 and 4.5 games out of first.

Game 1.

The series did not start well. Mets ace Johan Santana pitched a great game, allowing only 2 earned runs over 8 innings. The Mets in their typical fashion did not support Santana and he was in line for a no-decision when Sanchez blew the game in the bottom of the 9th. The Mets lost, fell 2 under .500 and a 5.5 games out of first. Since the Phillies had Happ pitching against ace Santana, it was a game the Mets had to win and they didn't. All hope seemed lost and it looked like the Phillies would take a split or even the series 3-1. Mets fans were not happy and were questioning manager Jerry Manuel's decision not to leave Johan in the bottom of the 9th. (Remember it was pouring rain and tied, Manuel made the right call. If he left Santana in and Santana gave up a run, the media would be saying "Why the hell did Jerry leave Santana in?"

Game 2.

Ken, Helen, Kathleen, and Steve arrive at Citizens Bank Park the top of the 2nd inning with the Mets up 1-0. (Kathleen needed Starbucks, some things come before baseball for other people.)

Our tickets were in the nosebleeds and even there it was a great view of the stadium and the game. This is a great park, the nicest park I have visited so far (which includes of active parks: Shea, Yankee, Fenway,  Camden Yards, Skydome, Safeco Field, Angels Stadium, and Dodger Stadium.) The ticker takers give me a dirty look since I am wearing my "Vamos Mets" tee shirt. They referred to Citi Field as "Copy Cat Stadium."

I saw the Mets play at other stadiums and the fans were not nearly as hostile. Jose Reyes strikes out and they shout "site down you $$$-hole!."

John Maine pitches well through 5 innings but his only hit is a 3 run home run to Ryan Howard and the score is tied up 3-3. In the bottom of the 5th John Maine felt a problem with his non throwing arm and was taken out of the game with 2 strikes and 2 outs on Ryan Howard. The fans were screaming "Bring in Home Run Heilman!!" I just sat and watched and prayed. Heilman pitched exactly one pitch and struck out Howard. Game still tied 3-3.

The Phillies tag the Mets bullpen for a run in the bottom of the 7th and it does not look good. I am thinking about 6.5 games out. But I spy the Phillie Fanatic down on the field boxes and take his photo, that cheers me up somewhat, while I hate the Phillies, I love the Fanatic!

The top of the 8th, Brian Schneider has a pinch hit double to drive in two runs and the Mets tack on one more to make it 6-4. While no lead is ever safe at Citizens Bank Park,  I feel confident enough with Sanchez in the bottom of the 8th to leave my seat for the first time and hit the men's room.

In the top of the 9th the Mets rallied for 3 more runs. I felt better. The obnoxious Philly fans started to leave. Then they bring out the rain delay tarps! There was almost no rain! We decided to leave and watch the bottom of the 9th from a local bar. Mets win and are now back to where they started when they woke up on July 4th.

Game 3.

This was a game the Mets needed to win. You need to follow-up a nice come backer from the night before with a win. It looked that way after the ever consistent Oliver Perez tossed 7 scoreless innings and the Mets headed into the bottom of the 9th with a 2-0 lead. Billy Wagner gives up a 2 run home run and you can only expect the worst. Luckily the Mets win in the top of the 14th. 3.5 games out.

 

Game 4.

The Phillies are eager to take the rubber game and undo the damage of the last two games. The Mets had to win again, they had to follow up with a win after the dramatics of the night before. The Mets take an early 10-1 lead and I turn the game off to watch some Tour de France. I flip back at one point and it is 10-5, still no big deal, then 10-7, then Billy Wagner makes it 10-9 with 2 outs and runners in scoring position. Luckily the Mets hold on and are now 1 game over .500 and only 2.5 games out.

The Mets may have been sloppy, but they did eak out 3 games against the Phillies. A little luck on Friday and it would have been a 4 game sweep. The Mets are now 7-3 in 2008 against the Phillies so there can be no talk about the Phillies in the Mets head anymore.

That said, the Mets need to follow up this series with a major run into the All-Star break. Six home games against teams that are under .500 should be a 5-1 run leading into the break. If the Mets fail to do that, the season is over. If the Mets do go 5-1 or better, they should be headed into the second half a game or so out and right on the Phillies tail. It will be hard for the Phillies to hold on the NL East, they don't have the pitching to do so, they are an offensive club. But if the Mets don't show up, the Phillies will walk away with the East. The situation has changed for both teams, we will see how they both respond.

Posted by Steve in Citizens Bank Park

Each Yankee-Red Sox game takes a life of its own.

Thursday night's game wasn't much of one as the Yankees didn't show up.  Lester pitched a five hitter and the Red Sox won 6-0.

Joe Girardi held a 32 minute closed door meeting after the game.  Joel Sherman asked him about it but Joe wasn't talking about it.  Little need to as the Yankees haven't been playing up to snuff.

The Yankees came out swinging on Friday and took a 3-0 lead.  But, Johnny Damon hurt his shoulder when trying to catch a ball.  The Red Sox went on to win the game 6-4.  Johnny ended up going on the DL for the first time in his career on Sunday.

Saturday was a cardiologist special.  Moose pitched six great shutout innings.  The bullpen did its job and preserved a 2-0 lead into the ninth.  Mariano uncharactericalistically gave up a run and then loaded the bases.  He struck out the final batter before I almost had a coronary as the Yankees held on for a 2-1 victory.

A-Rod had a second inning solo shot against knuckle ball pitcher Tim Wakefield.  Joba pitched six innings.  The game went to extra innings.  Youth will be served.  Gardner hit a single up the middle as Cabrera sprinted in from second for the 5-4 victory in 10 innings against Papelbon. 

Keep the Faith!

Posted by The Tank on the Yankee Rollercoaster.

Today's men's Wimbledon final was something I have never seen before. After being delayed by rain, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer squared off in the finals, a rematch from the French Open finals (Nadal won) and a rematch of the last two Wimbledon finals (Federer won both, and 5 in a row.)

Federer is a machine and has won 40 matches in a row at the All England Club as well as an unbelievable 65 in a row on grass. Going into the finals Federer had not dropped a set this tournment, so he was expected to cruse to his 6th Wimbledon in a row.

But Nadal took an early lead winning the first two sets 6-4 and 6-4. Up by a few games in the 3rd set, the sky opened and there was an hour and a half rain delay. (This is when the Tank called me about the need for retractable roofs, next year Centre Court will have one.)

After the rain delay, facing 1 game from elimination, Federer fought back. He forced a tie-breaker in the 3rd and won that, then fought back again, facing two championship points in the fourth and forced yet another tie-breaker, which he also won. Now it was down to a fifth and decisive final set and Federer was on a roll.

But Nadal would never say die and fought back. Neither side broke each other in hours. Night was coming and there are no lights on Centre Court. When the match looked all tied up, rain fell again.

After the delay, the match continued and was tied up. No tie-breakers in the last match. At the 4:16 mark, the match surpassed Conners-McEnroe in 1982 in longest final every played (not counting the rain). Nadal finally broke Federer after about 4:30 of play and went up 7-6 in the last set to serve for the victory. It was only the 4th break of the match for Nadal (Federer only broke Nadal once). It was almost completely dark, about 9:15pm in London, a Wimbledon match never went this late. With the match about to be called for darkness and with two more match points served up, Nadal finally won the match, becoming the first person to win both Wimbledon and the French Open in the same year since Bjorn Borg did it in 1980 (who was there to congratulate Nadal.)

Forget Conners-McEnroe, this is the most exciting match I have ever watched.

Congratulations to Rafael Nadal!

Posted by Steve, in awe.