Steve and I noted many times during the season that the Mets really let Johan Santana and themselves down with anemic run support.  It cost the Mets a chance at the playoffs and Johan a better chance at the Cy Young.  Johan lost out to Tim Lincecum of the Giants who had a 18-5 record and 265 strikeouts. 

Lincecum had less to work with than the Mets.  He played on the fourth place Giants and had 25 percent of their 72 wins.  Let's hope Johan gets more run support next season.

Posted by The Tank in NY.

Veterans Day Remembered:  It is always important to thank all those who have served our country, especially in combat.  For those who have passed in the line of duty, may their memories be eternal.


Last Week Review: 3-0, touch wood, and 7-4 on the season.


This Week's Fearless Picks: Since the Jets are playing on Thursday night at the Patriots, I have to make my predictions earlier this week so you can make money.  Good luck! 

The Jets win at the Patriots.  This is a national NFL Network game with first place on the division on the line.  No Tom Brady for the Patriots and the Jets have Brett Favre.  Yes, the game is in New England but I think the Jets defense will force Cassel to make mistakes.  Given Thomas Jones' success, watch the Jets to try to mix it up with Brett taking chances with some long passes as part of the Mangini-Belichick chess match.  The winner is in the driver's seat to make the playoffs. 

The Ravens lose at the Giants. 

The Browns lose at the Bills on Monday night.

Posted by a grateful Tank in NY.

The Bricks/Knicks beat the undefeated Utah Jazz at the Garden yesterday, 107-99.  The Jazz were my pick to win their division and were undefeated going into yesterday's game.  The Knicks are now 4-2. 

This is all without the Knicks' best player, Stephon Marbury (AKA Starbury), who has been benched.  Starbury marches to his own drummer like me.  According to ESPN 1050's Stephen A. Smith, Starbury does not have an agent.  Starbury is very religious and only answers to what God tells him too.  Starbury used to play for Coach Mike D'Antoni so I am sure that there is something more to D'Antoni benching Starbury. 

If the Knicks aren't going to play Starbury, then they should trade him and get some players in return.  This will also help free up cap space to go after LeBron James, D-Wade, or another top player in two seasons.  I think D'Antoni has shown that he is in charge and that it is his team, not the players.  Cut bait with Starbury either in a trade or buyout. 

I want retire the Bricks name to described the Knicks as Isiah Thomas is no longer the coach, the players' attitude is better, and the team is playing a better up tempo style.  However, I reserve the right to call the Knicks as the Bricks if they go back to their bad old ways.

Posted by a cautiously optimistic Tank in NY.

Yesterday was a big day for New York baseball fans.  The Yankees moved home plate from the Stadium to the New Stadium.  Mega thanks to Editor in Chief and PermaGuest Outlaw Jack for the story idea.  Home Plate is covered but is pictured behind me below.

Across town, former Mets manager Willie Randolph took a job as the Brewers bench coach. 

Good luck to Willie and the Yankees home plate!  May the Yankees score many runs in the New Stadium, God Willing!  Keep the Faith!

Posted by The Tank in NY.

Last Week Review: I was 1-1 last week.  I am 4-4 on the season.

This Week's Fearless Picks:

The Bills lose at the Patriots.

The Rams lose at the Jets.

The Giants win at the Eagles.

Written by The Tank and posted by Steve in NY.

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.