Today the resurgent Jets lead by Brett Favre defeated the undefeated (10-0) Titans 34-13. The Jets had command of the game, controlling possession and holding the Titans to only 13 points. Favre looked in command, driving down the field in the final minutes for an insurance TD late in the game. That insurance TD not only put the game out of reach for the Titans, it was also Favre’s 20th TD pass of the season, his 14th consecutive season of doing so, an NFL record.

After defeating the Patriots at home last week n a grudge match, the Jets came up big today on the road against the top team in the NFL and increased their playoff chances. A Jet v Giants Superbowl?

Posted by Steve in New York

K-Rod’s agent provided the Mets with medical information and is waiting for an offer. The Mets are clearly interested and it is a buyers market, so don’t expect this to happen soon. That said, it is in the Mets best interest to sign their closer before the GM Winter Meeting in early December so they can start the process for trading and signing a brand new bullpen as well as a starter.

Speaking of which, do the Mets bring back Pedro and Perez? If I were the Mets I would try to get Pedro at a bargain basement rate with a pay for performance plan. They can negotiate based on that Pedro owes the Mets nearly two full seasons from all his time on the DL in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Oliver Perez? Well he and his agent may have him overpriced right now. I would take the chance and let him shop himself around and make an offer after Perez has some exposure to the market. Then the Mets should throw some money at Lowe or Burnett. Imagine this rotation:

• Johan Santana
• Lowe or Burnett
• Mike Pelfrey
• John Maine
• Pedro or Perez

Not to bad, but also not that likely. The Mets will probably have to trade for a young 24 year old arm and then concentrate in the bullpen.

As for the outfield, Murphy and Pagan are most likely to platoon in left as the payroll dollars will be focused on the bullpen and starting rotation.

Posted by Steve in New York

After 30 years, the Boss, George Steinbrenner, gave up official control of the Yankees to his 40 year old son Hal yesterday.

The Boss lead an investment group that purchased the Yankees from CBS for $8.7 million in 1973 and was an innovator, realizing early on how free agency would change the game. Signing Goose Goosage and Dave Winfield ushered in the Free Agency Era. He was so effective at this and the other teams did not catch on to the change right away that my late grandfather in the early 80s called him “Stein-grabber”, because he would grab the NL star free agents. My grandfather was an old school baseball fan and thought free agency was ruining the game.

With his big signings and blockbuster deals, George saved the Yankees twice, once in the mid 70s and then again in the mid-90s after his own mess of the team after his banning from baseball. The Yankees won 6 World Series and 10 AL pennants in his reign.

“I realize it’s a great responsibility,” said Hal Steinbrenner. “My dad is, needless to say, a tough act to follow.”

Really?

I will argue that the Boss’ tactics, while fun, were not as productive as the numbers show. The golden years of the Yankees were after his ban: 1996-2001, where they won 4 World Series, including 3 in a row, countless division titles and went to the playoffs from 1996-2007. His “saving” of the Yankees in the 90s was by letting others grow the minor league system and not trade them away or sign as many free agents and lose draft picks. A lot of this building went on when the boss was banned. Prior to 1996, the Boss changed managers 20 times and was famous for feuding with manager Billy Martin.

By the mid-90s, the Yankees settled on one manager for over a decade and built the core of their championship teams from their farm system, not trades and free agency. Name the stars that have lead the Yankees over the past decade: Jeter, Riviera, Posada, Pettitte, etc, they were all from the farm.

The minute the Yankees lost the streak in 2001, old George was back. Rumors about firing Joe Torre were all the buzz and the Yankees went back to the superstar signings: Jason Giambi was the first one, and then I predicted the golden age would be over. Then came tons of other flops: Randy Johnson, A-Rod (the jury is still out on him, but his post season performance has proven otherwise so far), etc. Letting Joe Torre go last year, no playoffs this year.

So Hal looks like he is going to continue the path of his father. Too bad.

Posted by Steve in New York

Last Week's Review: I was 2-1.  The Bills were wide right AGAIN on Monday night with 38 seconds left against the Browns or I would have been perfect.  Darn it!  I am 9-5 on the season.

This Week's Fearless Picks:

The Jets lose at the undefeated Titans.  The Jets will put up a good fight.

The Bills win at the Chiefs.

The Giants win at the Cardinals.  Their Arizona magic continues after this past February's Super Bowl victory.

Posted by The Tank in NY.

Last Week's Review: I was 2-0 and 13-7 on the season.

This Week's Fearless Picks: This is Rivalry Week with some awesome matchups.  These games are better than the New Year's Games because they are "play-in" games to get the New Year's Invitation.  Plus, no New Year's Day hangover.

#15 Michigan State loses at #8 Penn State.  The winner wins the Big Ten Title.

#14 Brigham Young loses at #7 Utah.  These are fierce in state rivals.

#20 Pittsburgh loses at #19 Cincinnati.  The winner wins the Big East Title.

#2 Texas Tech wins at #5 Oklahoma.  This is the hardest game of the week, if not season, to pick. 

Rivalry Picks:
Michigan loses at #10 Ohio State.


Local Picks:
Syracuse loses at Notre Dame.

Posted by a psyched Tank in NY.

It was an honor talking again to one of my favorite athletes and people, NBA Hall of Famer Earvin "Magic" Johnson.  I first met him in Los Angeles in July 1991 when I won a bronze medal in team handball for the North Region in the U.S. Olympic Festival.  But, it was years before digital cameras so today I finally had my chance to get my photo with Magic.  Wooo!

During our brief reunion, I told him how I predicted a Lakers championship in the 2008-2009 season.  I think Bynum is a difference maker.  He gave me the thumbs up.  Keep the faith!  Go Lakers!  Go Magic!

Posted by a psyched Tank reporting live from Midtown Manhattan.

The "Heidi" Bowl was 40 years ago today.  The Jets were leading the Raiders 32-29 with 65 seconds left.  NBC decided to cut to the classic movie "Heidi" because of contractual obligations.  During those infamous 65 seconds, the Raiders rallied to beat the Jets 43-32.  Fans were furious at NBC for changing the game to the movie and Jets fans were even madder at the Jets for losing the game.

Wednesday will be 30 years since the "Fumble" for Giants fans and "Miracle at the Meadowlands" for Eagles fans.   The Giants were leading the Eagles.  Jeff Pisarcik fumbled the ball transferring it to Larry Csonka.  Eagles defensive back Herm Edwards scooped up the ball and ran into the end zone for the winning touchdown.  Yes, that Herm Edwards who went onto coach the Jets and currently coaches the Chiefs.  "You play to win the game!" is one of Herm's many great motivational phrases.


Bottom Line:

(1) To avoid another "Heidi" Bowl, network executives think twice before ever cutting away from a game.

(2) To avoid another "Fumble" or "Miracle at the Meadowlands", football teams on all levels who are winning take a knee at the end of the game to avoid a loss.

Posted by a reflective Tank in NY.

The action returned to Prashanth's place on the Upper West Side for UFC 91.  Prashanth and I are big MMA fans, especially UFC.  So it's good to back at Prashanth's place.  Prashanth knows MMA as well as anyone, even the broadcasters.

The first fight was in the 185 pound weight class.  Demian Maia won by a rear naked choke out at 2:13 of the second round.  Prashanth is high on Maia who is a big jiu-jitsu expert.  That's one of the things that I love most about MMA is that you see the different styles used and which fighter can execute better. 

The following fights were pretty brief including Gonzaga knocking out Hendricks in 1:01 of the first round by TKO.

Since the fights were moving along pretty quickly, the UFC put some undercard guys I had never heard of.  Not bad MMA but just didn't know them.   One guy is literally like a video game and can hit you from anywhere.  Watch this space for them.

50 Cent was in the audience promoting his new album coming out on December 9.  50 Cent picked Brock Lesnar like I would below.  Hey, we musicians have to stick together. 

Back to the main card.  Ken Florian, or K-Flo, won by a rear naked choke submission at 4:03 of the first round over Joe Stevenson.  K-Flo is a pretty articulate guy who was a former "Senior Project Manager for a Harvard based Translation Services Company for the Financial Translation Division".

Now, to the main event, former NCAA and WWE Wrestling Champion Brock Lesnar faces reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture.  Couture is a 45 year young Hall of Famer who hadn't fought in a year because of a contractual dispute. 

I picked Lesnar in the second or third round because of his 50+ pound weight advantage and Couture hadn't fought in a year.  Couture is a living legend but giving up too much size to Lesnar.

Lesnar was smart not to start the first round rushing out and expend lots of energy.  Couture is too smart and would wear him down.  Lesnar had the points advantage in the first round but Couture hung in there.

Things changed in the second round when Lesnar hit Couture in the temple.  Couture was knocked down.  Lesnar immediately pounced and then hit Couture with at least 20 "fists from hell" according to the announcer.  Lesnar won the fight and the UFC Heavyweight Champion at 3:07 in the second round.

Congratulations to Brock for successfully making the transition from the Greco-Roman and pro wrestling rings to the top of UFC!  Thanks to Prashanth for hosting me!

Posted by a grateful Tank in NY.

The Yankees are busy in the hot stove season. 

The Yankees offered CC Sabbathia $140 million for 6 years yesterday according to ESPN 1050 and Editor in Chief and PermaGuest Outlaw Jack. (Mega thanks Jack!)  This is slight increase over the Mets offer to Johan Santana last year.  Given the money the Yankees are saving on expiring contracts (Giambi, Pavano, etc), the Yankees can afford to pay CC what he wants.  I wouldn't be surprised if the final number is $145 to $150+ million.  CC will also make more in endorsements than he would in Milwaukee.  So the ball is in CC's court if he wants to pitch in New York, Milwaukee, or somewhere else.  I hope the Yankees get CC and/or Burnett from the Blue Jays.

On Thursday, the Yankees traded Wilson Betemit and two prospects for Nick Swisher of the Chicago White Sox.  I hate to see Betemit go but it gives the Yankees a switch hitter who can play first base and the outfield.  They gives the Yankees options after Damon's contract expires at the end of 2009.  2009 will be a big year to see if Gardner can hit big league pitching and/or Melky Cabrera bounces back.  Competition is good and Swisher is another option.  I don't think the Yankees will re-sign Damon in 2010, at least not to another four year contract if Gardner and/or Cabrera don't work out.  Anyway, we'll cross the 2010 bridge when we get there but we're setting the chess pieces in place.

Given the Swisher signing, it probably means that Angels free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira won't come here.  He either wants to stay with the Angels and/or the Yankees are laser beam focused on pitching.  My only concern about Swisher is that he hit .219 last season.  He needs to hit .250+ next season, God Willing.

Next week is big as we'll find out if Mike Mussina wants to come back.  You know that SATT will cover it.  Keep the Faith!

Posted by a cautiously optimistic Tank in Hot Stove Land.