Last Week Recap: I was 0-3 last week. Darn Texas Tech and Florida! I am 6-7 on the season.

The Week's Fearless Picks:

#12 TCU loses at #8 Utah.

#20 Georgia Tech loses at #19 North Carolina.

#1 Alabama wins at #16 LSU. This could pit this year's national champion against last year's national champion. Add in former LSU and current Alabama Coach Nick Saban comes home. Expect the Tigers to be extra super duper fired up for this Bayou Battle. Go Tide!

#9 Oklahoma State loses at #2 Texas. Watch for Texas to rebound after last week's classic against Texas Tech.

#21 Cal loses at #7 USC.

Written by The Tank and posted by Steve in NY.

Lost in all of the election and football hoopla, the Yankees declined the options on Jason Giambi and Carl Pavano. This frees up $35 million in salary and is probably a good move (well Pavano is a no brainer.) Giambi may still come back at a cheaper price. Andy Pettitte wants to be back, but we will see what the Yankees decide.

After losing Johan Santana last year, the Yankees need to make a big move. I don’t think that CC Sabathia will land in New York, he will either go to LA or stay in Milwaukee. That leaves Jake Peavy. The Yankees are considering trading Phil Hughes and Austin Jackson according to the NY Daily News.

In other NY baseball news, Carlos Beltran and David Wright won the gold glove.

The Yankees were quite interested in CC Sabathia this offseason and it looks like he may stay in Milwaukee. He was offered a 5 year, $100 million contract, so the bidding starts there. At the end of the day Steve and the Tank will predict that CC will stay in Milwaukee. The Yankees will have to go after other free agents or trade for some arms. Jake Peavy is available via a trade, but will the price be too high?

Unfortunately all teams need arms. We are not so sure what the market looks like yet.

Here is one indication. Orlando Hernandez, who turned 43 recently, is working out in Miami and has said he is not retiring. El Duque did not pitch a single game for the Mets last year.

Is this a sellers market? So many teams need pitching, so it could appear so. But the economy is in recession territory, so will that change things and make it a buyers market? Only time will tell. 

Posted by Steve in New York

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.

I dodged a big bullet before Sunday's race.  I felt like a hammer hit the top of my left foot last Friday, October 24.  Therefore, I passed on running the 5 mile Poland Spring Run with Kal, Kathleen, and Linda a couple of days later.

The pain persisted and I went to physical therapy on Monday, October 27.  One of my Deep Water Running buddies diagnosed it as a stress fracture and another diagnosed it as plantar fasciitis.  I was about to cry as my whole year of training including Everest Base Camp was in jeopardy.  However, I got another opinion on Tuesday.  Dr. Dan diagnosed it as tibialis muscle starting below the knee and it goes along the shin and becomes a tendon near the foot.  Basically, it's "only" tendonitis and I was medically cleared to run thank God!

I asked Dr. Dan to give me the arnica painkiller shots on marathon morning.  (Arnica is a non-steroidal pain killer.)  I also took 6 Advils before and during the first half of the race to get me through.  Since this is my fifth and final NYC Marathon, I'm going down swinging.

That said, I almost slipped near the start.  I liked the rolling start in waves but couldn't find my 4 hour 15 minute pace group.  I only saw the 3:50 and 4:30 pace groups.  I thankfully paced myself pretty well through the first half at 1 hour 58 minutes. 

The painkillers and Advil kicked in and I couldn't feel my legs on the 59th Street Bridge.  Wait, this feels like the road to Pengboche except for Steve telling me to stop at the top of the hill but the hill just kept going and so did I.

Speaking of Steve, it was great seeing Steve, Kathleen, and Linda on First Avenue!  Thanks for showing up and cheering me on!   

After the race, it was great hanging out at the Fred's Team Party with Karen and her friend Francis, Kal's Party, and Runner's Post Party at the Hammerstein.  After being up for almost 23 straight hours, time to catch up on football games on Sportscenter and get some sleep.

On Monday at Tavern on the Green, I met up with my friend Claire and her Mum Brenda from the UK.  I had never met Brenda before but she recognized me because she was standing right next to Steve, Kathleen, and Linda while they were cheering for me on Sunday.  What are the odds of total strangers meeting someone who just happens to stand next to someone out of 2.5 million spectators and 40,000 runners?  Pretty long, eh?  I guess I should buy a Lottery ticket. 

Anyhoo, Claire and Brenda are both big Paula Radcliffe fans.  Paula was supposed to be at the Boathouse in the morning where Claire and Brenda tried to see her.  However, she ended up going to Tavern on the Green but Claire and Brenda didn't see her there.  Claire and Brenda said why don't we take a chance and back to the Boathouse.  Sure, I said because the Boathouse was on my way to physical therapy at Dr. Dan's office.  We confirmed that Paula was inside.  Before she came out in less than a half hour, Men's Marathon Winner Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brasil came out and Claire took this photo.



Paula Radcliffe then came out a few moments later and we're pictured below.  



Bottom Line: Since I ran the first half at 1 hour 58 minutes, I wanted to run a little faster around 4:15 or less.  But, I got a 4:34 PR.  I can still walk and grateful for that.  The stress fracture/tendonitis was a big scare.  The weekly pain in physical therapy over the past year has been pretty fierce and I'm afraid of long term injuries. 

Moreover, I want to quit while I'm ahead to focus on shorter races and my music career.  My voice has healing powers which can foster world peace.  For instance, if Joe the Plumber can get a country music contract, then my first album should sell at least 10 million copies/downloads.  I have sung karaoke on six out of seven continents (except South America) and word is spreading of my musical talent.  As the founder of Slavic country hip-hop, I have immediate cross over appeal.  I didn't need a DJ to cross me over because the I have two "DJs" in my last name. 

My next and last marathon is the North Pole Marathon with Dr. Dan and Kal is not for a PR.  It is for only to (1) destination before the ice melts, (2) celebrate Admiral Perry's 100th year visit to the North Pole, and (3) raise money for cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center as a member of Fred's Team.   Mega thanks to those who have already donated!  Due to the economy being in the tank (no pun intended) and North Pole Marathon in April, I asked Fred's Team to keep the fundraising webpage open until May 1, 2009.  So, if you can't donate now, please donate when you can.

https://fredsteam.mskcc.org/fundraising/Controller?action=userHome&user_id=35640&event_%20id=113

I've been through a lots of blood, sweat, and tears over the years but it's been worth it.  After September 11, I had to rebuild my friend base as many of my high, college, and other friends left NYC, got married, or dropped off the map.  I am grateful for the Antarctica trip as one of the key points in my life.  There would be no Steve and The Tank, Everest Base Camp trip, etc. without it.  When you take unique trips, you meet special people and I am blessed to have made many life long friends. 

Posted by a grateful Tank reporting live from the NYC Marathon in the world's greatest city. 

The Tank is running his penultimate marathon today and Queens born Kara Goucher is trying to bring home a first place finish in the NYC Marathon today for the USA. We’ll be cheering them on, live from Mile 18 on First Avenue in Manhattan. Stay tuned…

Dropped to 7th in the batting order in mid-June, Carlos Delgado was left for dead. But after the 9 RBI day at Yankee Stadium in late June, Delgado put up MVP numbers in the second half of 2009 hitting .308 with 27 homers and 80 RBIs in 84 games from June 27 on. Delgado finished with an average of .271 and 38 hr and 115 RBIs.

Yesterday the Mets picked up his 2009 option, costing them about $12 million.

“Carlos is a key part of our plans for 2009, and we wanted to let him know as quickly as allowed that we wanted him back,” Omar Minaya said. “Yesterday—the day following the conclusion of the World Series—was the first day that we could pick up the option per the contract. It was our full intent to promptly close our deal with Carlos, and that’s what we did.”

This leaves First Base taken care of, unless the 36+ year old Delgado drops off production next year. The Mets still need to address the situation at second base (dump and eat Luis Castillo contract is the likely action), the bullpen (most likely trade Heliman and Schoenwis), get a closer (please sign K-Rod!) and get a starter or two to fill in the back of the rotation behind Santana, Pelfrey, and Maine. They need to also sign someone who wants to win, a leader for the team.

Posted by Steve in New York

Last Week's Review: 1-2 and 3-3 on the season.  Darn Dolphins (beating the Bills)!


This Weeks' Fearless Picks:

Jets lose a close game at the Bills.

Cowboys lose a must win game at the Giants.  Let's see which Giants team shows up.

Posted by The Tank in NY.

It was hard to tell what was more historic Wednesday evening.  Senator Obama's purchase of 30 minute of prime time TV ad time just before the game, the uniqueness of continuing a rain delayed game, or the dramatic finish?

First, congratulations to the Phillies for beating the Rays in the fifth game, 4-3.  I was unfortunately wrong in my prediction of the Rays winning in six games.

Bottom Line: The Mets and Yankees have lots of work to do as the World Series teams are teams in their division.  It is a miracle that the Mets contended as Lidge saved 51 consecutive games going back to his time with the Astros at the end of 2007 while the Mets had no bullpen to speak of.  The Mets must get K-Rod or a similar talented closer.  The Phillies clearly have the better bullpen, manager, chemistry, etc.

The Yankees have their work cut out for them too.  Mike Mussina will announce in a few days if he will return or not.  That will affect the degree of desperation that the Yankees go after CC Sabbathia or other premier starting pitching free agents. 

Posted by a concerned Tank in NY.