Payback's a Cliff

 - Cliff Lee might have etched himself in New York and Philadelphia lore for opposing reasons. It was not a matter of if, but when. That's what Yankees fans thought. Well, "IF" became "NOT". Cliff Lee decided to to head back and rekindle some brotherly love. The second he rejoined the Phillies they had duplicated what the Atlanta Braves had when they showcased what at the time was thought to be the beginning of a pitching and championship dynasty.
   Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Steve Avery were the most dominant foursome ever assembled in the modern era. What happened afterwards was history.
  

Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury pose serious problems for all teams.


The Yankees have been at the short end of the free agency stick for the past 3 weeks. Adrian Gonzalez finally joined the Red Sox. A move no one was surprised by. The true surprise came in Carl Crawford joining them [Red Sox]. Everyone figured the Anaheim Angels and Yanks were the front runners in the Crawford sweepstakes. The thought of Crawford and Ellsbury on the base paths is a scary notion.

   Did the Yankees contract negotiations with Jeter affect their progress with Cliff Lee?


So the Yankees re-signed Derek Jeter which was a little more drawn out than it should've been. Perhaps that affected the Yankees persuit of one Clifford Lee. Who knows, but at the end of the day the Yankees got their man. They re-signed Mariano Rivera which was a given, even though Boston made a serious pitch (pun intended) to him. The Yankees will have to rely on their bullpen and the big guy. Losing Kerry Wood is a big lost. Joba Chamberlain will be "the guy". CC Sabathia will have ot carry the load once again. Andy Pettite seems like a huge question mark and Phil Hughes will have to show reliance for a full season. The staff is questionable and AJ Burnett now seems like an expensive mistress. The offense is going to be put on full display this season because the pitching is suspect.

CC Sabathia will be asked again to anchor and carry the Yankees rotation after the Cliff Lee debacle.
The Red Sox are the favorites to win the division...............but something tells me the YAnkees won't lay down. I'm just saying.

PICKS & THINGS - WEEK 11

Mutual respect from both quarterback is undeniable. Both will battle this weekend in a highly anticipated matchup betweem the two AFC powerhouses.

Well, here we are in week 11 and there are several great dog fights (sorry Vick) lined up for us to watch. The NY Giants go into Philly to take on their NFC East longtime rivals with a rejuvinated Mike  Vick and Eagles squad who deconstructed Mike Shanahan's hapless Redskins. We also have a battle between the two premiere quarterbacks and franchises in not just this season but in the decade in Indy versus New England. That being said here are my picks for this weeks Pu Pu Platter.

*****DISCLAMER - Do not bet your kid's college tuition, Target money, Christmas shopping money or grocery money. My picks are only for entertainment and for showing off at a bar to impress a girl or pretending you know what you're talking about.

 

CHICAGO @ MIAMI - PICK - CHICAGO

 

BUFFALO @ CINCINATTI  - PICK - CINCINATTI

 

DETROIT @ DALLAS - PICK -DALLAS

 

WASHINGTON @ TENNESSEE -PICK - TENNESEE

 

ARIZONA @ KANSAS CITY  PICK - ARIZONA(UPSET)

 

GREEN BAY @ MINNESOTA - PICK - GREEN BAY

 

HOUSTON @ JETS - PICK - NY JETS

 

OAKLAND @ PITTSBURGH - PICK - OAKLAND(UPSET)

 

BALTIMORE @ CAROLINA - PICK - BALTIMORE

 

CLEVELAND @ JACKSONVILLE - PICK - CLEVELAND

 

TAMPA BAY @ SAN FRANCISCO - PICK - SAN FRANCISCO

 

SEATTLE @ NEW ORLEANS - PICK - NEW ORLEANS

 

ATLANTA @ ST.LOUIS - PICK - ATLANTA

 

INDIANAPOLIS @ NEW ENGLAND - PICK - NEW ENGLAND

 

NY GIANTS @ PHILADELPHIA - PICK - GIANTS

 

DENVER @ SAND DIEGO - PICK - SAN DIEGO

 

*****DISCLAMER - Do not bet your kid's college tuition, Target money, Christmas shopping money or grocery money. My picks are only for entertainment and for showing off at a bar to impress a girl or pretending you know what you're talking about.

 

 

So.......What's he worth?

-- So what is he worth? ... Are we talking batting average? CAREER .314 - Or are we talking hits?  CAREER 2,926 and ALL-TIME Yankees hits leader passing Ruth, Gehrig and DiMaggio - Maybe we're talking runs scored  -1,685 .... Hey? How about runs batted in - 1,356....sacrifice bunts and flies? ...WHO KNOWS.....the list goes on and on.

Who is Derek Jeter? And what's he worth? To who?

For Yankees fans he was a reason to cheer. He was a reason to have faith. He was the reason you thought you had a chance to comeback from a 5 run deficit and tag on a win. He was the only guy Yankee haters "kinda liked".

For 16 years the "DE-REK JE-TER"!!! chants resounded throughout Yankee Stadium. He gave the final speech to send off the House that Ruth Built. A huge honor in itself. He was the face of the Yankees when many and still hate the pinstripes. Still in all, Derek Jeter was the guy you wanted on your team. Whether it was the Yankees, the Dodgers, the Cardinals or the Tampa Bay Rays.  D.J was the guy. Love him or hate him. You respected number 2.

B.J. Upton and Hanley Ramirez both wear the number 2 because of Jeter. That's high praise when both players are regarded as one of the best at their respective positions.

Jeter's heroics in the late 90's and early 2000s have landed him in baseball royalty. He's also influenced alot of present stars.


So when it's all said and done it will be Yankees fans who win. Not because of the money or the specifics of the contract but because the fans actually matter in this drawn out chess match. Yankee fans get to see a rarity in sports. A guy who's "home grown" and not only a fixture but a player who's a throwback.

I listen to my dad and grandfather talk about Mantle, Clemente and Mays...Bob Gibson, Koufax and Walter Johnson.....what do they have in common?
They played the game "the right way". That term or phrase gets thrown around(I just did it) alot nowadays. But it's true.

Jeter is of that ilk. He doesn't hit the most homeruns or drive in the most runs but he's at the ball park day in and day out.
The biggest compliment I heard from baseball legend Peter Gammon was "Derek Jeter is the guy you want your kid to watch warming up and play the game" ...nuff said.
I've been to roughly 20 Yankee games in my lifetime and the two guys I watched were Don Mattingly and Derek Jeter.
Both will be Yankees forever..I hope.

Number 2 is a Yankee staple ... and the face of the world's most renowned franchise.


Sure his range has diminished even though he never had much to begin with. He can't hit 30 homeruns as a DH because heck, he never did. What Derek Jeter brings to the Yankees is incomparable and immeasurable by any single stat. The guy is the face of the world's most renowned franchise. He's respected by his peers and managers. A former Blue Jays first base coach once said "You can hear Jeter running down the first bas line after every groundball hit and I expect the same from our guys". He has led by example.

It's not a matter of IF but a matter of WHEN. Hopefully this gets resolved sooner rather than later because the last thing the Yankees' brass, Jeter and most importantly their fans wants is a bitter shortstop. The whole Yankee dynamic will change for the worst. They need to hold on to the guy that is the one player that everyone regardless if you're in Kansas, North Dakota, LA or New York can agree on. It makes all the dollars and sense in the world.

NFL SUNDAY PICKS & THINGS - WEEK 10

Ben Roethlisberer and the Steelers will try to slay the New England Patriots and plant their feet as AFC North big dogs.

ATL @ BAL - For some reason Baltimore has not looked like Baltimore this season. Maybe they're going from Ravens to Orioles. Atlanta has a better squad and Matt Ryan is becoming upper tier material.
  PICK - ATL

DET @ BUF - Guess what folks? Detroit is pretty good. Their defense is stopping teams and is gaining confidence. I have Detroit in a close one.
PICK - DET

MIN @ CHI - NFC North matchup and Brett Favre is feeling at home. That being said. I have da Bears winning this one.
PICK - BEARS

NY JETS @ CLE - PICK NYJETS

CAR @ TB - PICK - TB

HOU @ JAX - PICK - HOU

CIN @ IND - PICK - IND

TEN @ MIA - PICK - MIA

KC @ DEN - PICK - KC

DAL @ NYG - DAL - PICK GIANTS

SEA @ ARZ - PICK - ARZ

STL @ SF - PICK - STL

NEW ENGLAND @ PTTSBURGH - PICK - PITT - HOME TEAM RULES

MNF - PHI @ WASH - PICK - PHI EAGLES

WE'LL SEE!
I'm just saying"

Air Jordan XVI Commercial

Is he Manny-nough?

Manny Pacquiao (Left) will try his hand at taking down the much taller and bigger Antonio Margarito on his way to winning a title in his 8th weight division.


  --When Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao steps into the ring on Saturday night in Dallas to face Antonio Margarito he will have more than just the weight of the Philippines on his shoulders. He'll have the extra weight Margarito holds over him to deal with. Margarito is naturally the bigger man. In fact, if you were to see both men walking next to each other on the street you would probably think Pacquiao was Margarito's step son. The fact is these two fighters will be squaring off as somewhat equals tomorrow night for a stake at the vacant Junior Middleweight title. A bid that has Pacman within striking distance of another title in his 8th different division. Quite impressive by any measuring stick. However, this battle will not take place at the MGM Grand or at Caesar's Palace it will take place at Jerry's Palace. The 50 quadrillion dollar stadium that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones built for his Superbowl...err, Playoff....err....umm professional, damn, well they play in the NFL team. When Nevada and California denied Margarito a boxing license for the fight the state of Texas swooped in and will reap the benefits of what seems to be a lucrative fight by any sports standards. If Pacman can draw 50,000 to fight Joshua Clottey than selling Margarito, a Mexican fighter with a better chance to win, will be a piece of cake.

Coming into the fight Pacquiao's intensity and concentration were questioned not by the media, not by fans, but by his own trainer Freddie Roach. I don't know how this will affect Pacquiao because Roach probably knows how to push Manny's buttons and has the remote control but I DO know how it will affect Margarito. The "Tijuana Tornado" will come out blazing..trust me. I think he knows his best chance to beat Pacquiao is early...very early. Pacquiao is most vulnerable early in the fight. Damn I wish I had a film room to review tape...OH! wait"...YouTube!..I'll be back... ..... ...... ...... (10 minutes later) OK, I'm back. Yes. I was right, anyway back to my point. If you watch most of Manny's fights he takes a while to heat up and that's because he is a perfect reflection of his trainer Freddie Roach. EVERY TIME I hear Freddie Roach during an interview the guy brings up "The Game Plan". "We have a game plan for De La Hoya, we have a game plan for Hatton, we have a game plan for Mother Teresa". The guy watches more film than Siskel and Ebert. He's meticulous and his fighter does whatever he designs and tells him to do. What a luxury when you have fighting machine who doesn't get tired and will take the other guys punches until you say "Okay Manny, now' you can go get him".

Pacquiao and Freddie Roach's patience early in fights has translated to many late round knockouts and stoppages in Senator Pacman's campaign as champ.

Margarito by any stretch of the imagination is no slouch. The guy pulverized Cotto and was one of the most feared fighters in the welterweight division. Heck, I think Floyd avoided him for some time because he honestly thought Margarito has a shot at beating him. He was the guy that would beat you or would kick your ass even if you got the win. He gained notoriety after the hand wrapping incident. In my opinion, that's worst than using steroids or HGH in baseball. In boxing, when you cheat you can't only hurt someone, you can kill them. That being said, his true skill and mettle will be tested on Saturday night against the premiere fighter in the business. I watched Margarito early in his career and what impressed me most was his grit and determination. A true staple of Mexican fighters. Now, I'm not going to sit here and write a gushing statement on how Mexican fighters are warriors and that they fight their butts off and so forth. That's understood. But he was built like that and will always show flashes of his machismo. However, i saw him fade against Mosley when pressed and hit with combinations. Something Pacman does very well when he smells a weakened or tired opponent. Margarito needs to stick to his strengths. His height and overall size. He should use it to his advantage and do what De La Hoya attempted to and that's bully him. Antonio does that well and watching him fight in the past further backs up my statement. He would wear opponents down by breaking them up downstairs and slowly chopping the tree.

Nonetheless, his skills aren't the talk of the town for this affair. Unfortunately, the suspension is what most people are talking about leading up to the fight. I really think the hand wrapping thing got to him. He cheated..point blank. I'll give you my opinion on the whole situation. Antonio Margarito said he didn't know his trainer put something in his hand wraps..hmmm. Bullshit. I boxed for 8 years and trained fighters for 3 and believe me if someone even put a piece of gum in my wraps I would've noticed. Nuff said.

Antonio Margarito has alot to prove on Saturday night against the heavy favorite Manny Pacquiao.

That being said...here are my picks, advantages and weaknesses for both fighters:

MANNY "PACMAN" PACQUIAO

Speed - Manny has become a master of speed and combinations at close quarters. His wars with Barrera, Erik Morales, Marquez and Cotto will pay dividends in this fight. He knows how to fight inside and move out when he needs to . A trait instilled by Freddie Roach. He does the damage and gets out of harms way (most of the time) GRADE - A

Power - Pacman is one of the hardest hitters pound for pound in not only his but in any division. Capable of knocking an opponent out with either hand or any punch at any time. He throws punches from any angle and when you don't see the punch it tends to hurt more. His best punch is his straight left which he uses as a kind of power jab when he leads with it. Once he starts landing it with frequency he tends to follow it with a quick right hook which usually hurts. If you start seeing the right hook, the fight is usually over pretty soon. GRADE - A

Defense - Pacquiao's offense often leads him to be put in vulnerable spots during exchanges. Most of the time he wins those because of his great chin, quickness and power. If you hit the guy first chances are you change the direction of his punch. However. Pacman's defense is not that good. He tends to put his head down when punching close. His defense is his offense so I see Margarito hitting him often and with ease until the mid to later rounds.

GRADE - C

Chin - He can take a punch. Nuff said

GRADE - A

ANTONIO "The Tijuana Tornado" MARGARITO

Speed - Margarito is definitley lacking in this department. His speed is not present but he does make up for lack of speed with force. What does that mean Hiram? It means that I might not be as fast as you but I'm going to throw the punch as hard as you and hope it lands. MArgarito will give Pac trouble by landing a heavier punch after Pac's first two.

GRADE - C+

Power - Her's where the fight gets close and very very interesting. Both fighters can crack. However the question has always been if Pacquiao can take a bigger and hard hitting fighters punch. He has shown it in the past with Barrera, Morales and Marquez but those guys were his size. De La Hoya was the biggest guy he faced but he didn't land many hard shots during that fight. The law of averages shows that Margarito will eventually land a solid, hard shot on Pac. But how will he react? I think Margarito is going to land some hard shots early and we'll see if how Manny reacts. Antonio hits very, very hard so it's going to be interesting.

GRADE - B

Defense - Here's another case of no defense by way of hard hitting offense. The Tornado's defense is suspect and I see Manny landing a lot of shots later in the fight and eventually wearing him down if Margarito doesn't take him out early. I predict a swollen eye or cut by the 4th or 5th round due to Manny's combos. "Can I get a number 2 and supersize it please"

GRADE - C

Chin - Very very good. Until he fights good fighters. And he's been stopped before by Mosley. He'll take 5 to land one and it works until you fight a guy that hits like 5 people.

GRADE - B

MY PICK

DRUMROLL PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Manny Pacquaio by decision. I think Manny is not going to be able to knock Margarito out but he will do enough to hurt him and garner respect through out the fight. Any time Margarito gets frisky Pacman will remind him who he is. It will eventually go to the scorecards with Manny taking home the jewelry.

*****DISCLAMER - Do not bet your kid's college tuition, Target money, Christmas shopping money or grocery money. My picks are only for entertainment and for showing off at a bar to impress a girl or pretending you know what you're talking about.

I'm just saying.

Carmelo Anthony - WHAT IF...

There might not be many smiles left in Denver for Carmelo Anthony

Deb's PC, Office Room -- Call it wishful thinking or call it a possibility. Either way I'm writing about it. So I must have heard something that made me walk over to the computer and make a fool out of myself. After reading on ESPN that Melo stated on the Scott Van Pelt Show that it was 'Time for change' I felt I wanted to give my opinion. Who cares?
Over this past summer following (James Earl Jones voice) "THE DECISION", a couple of NBA superstars came out and stated their desire to leave their respective teams also for bigger and better things. Chris Paul the star point guard for the New Orleans Hornets and Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets both came out and said they wanted to be traded. Well, kind of. Both men shortly there after reneged on their statements and eventually stayed with their teams, for now. Chris Paul released a statement through a "Team Representative" that he had all the intentions of staying a Hornet and was looking forward the future even with the new management in place. "Even with the new management in place" ? As if the new management was a substitute teacher. You know the one you would sneak out of class on while they wrote on the chalkboard. The one you told that your real teacher let you leave an hour early everyday. Now back to the "bigger and better things". I use the word "better" very loosely because it's part of the phrase. Because New York was not better than New Orleans and was definitely not better than Denver. It is however bigger. Which leads me to my next and main point. Carmelo Anthony needs the Knicks and the Knicks need him (sound familiar). ........hold on, I'm having a summer of Lebron moment here......Ok, I'm back. What was I saying? Oh yeah, let me re-phrase that. Carmelo "wants" the Knicks and Knicks really "want" Carmelo. Think about it. I wrote a blog a couple of days ago on how the Knicks want to bring respect back to New York. So far they've taken the right steps. Sure we didn't get Lebron or Bosh or Wade or Boozer or..damn, well we got Amare. I like Amare but we need one more piece. Not to win it all but to be a real, real threat. I mean I want the Knicks to walk into The Staples Center and hear "New York Sucks New York Sucks!!!!" or walk into Boston and hear "Beat New York Beat New York Beat New York"...well that will never happen but you know what I mean. If the Knicks get Anthony the whole dynamic will change. They can spread the floor out and create havoc. D'Antoni's system favors Melo's style of play. He is in my opinion the second best scorer in the league. He was the best until a guy named Kevin Durant was drafed by the OKC Thunder..I mean the Seattle Supersonics. Melo was made for New York. He was born in New York with his family later moving to Baltimore. He played at Syracuse and won the Chips there. Don't get me wrong, Denver is nice and all if you like snowboarding, skiing and Coors Light commercials but Carmelo belongs in a big city. Seriously, I'm not trying to dissrespect Denver in anyway but the biggest celebrities in Denver are John Elway, the South Park gang and the Coors Light train. The fans in New York will love him and his game. I miss the days of the Garden being packed to full capacity. I miss the playoffs and the energy around the city in the summer when the Knicks were good. Dammit I miss Marv Albert saying "Yesssss" !

Harlem? Is that a sign Melo? hmmmmmm

Melo's going to score there's no question about it. So what else does he bring to the table? I've seen Carmelo Anthony mature before my eyes. He was the nation's darling as a Diaper Dandy x 100 with Syracuse when he lead them to the promised land and left for the NBA. In all honesty he could've been a Top 5 pick straight out of high school. He battled Lebron for rookie of the year honors and has been a top flight superstar his whole career. Attitude issues arose (surprise surprise) when he got in trouble with the law. But he's been melo ever since....sorry I couldn't resist. He was questioned as a teammate. He proved everyone wrong when he showed his leadership on the US Olympic team so much that Kobe priased him as the unspoken leader of that team. He has garnered the respect of his peers. again I bring up Kobe because, well he's Kobe and the only people he compliments are himself and his puppet from the Nike commercials. When asked how it was going up against Anthony in the 2008-09 Western Conference Finals Bryant said it was like wrestling a grizzly bear. I was privelaged enough to sit on my couch (front row baby VIP) and watch Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony put on one of the greatest displays of scoring and one-up-manship in a long long time when they faced eachother last year the first game right after the All-Star Game. James put up a triple double scoring 43 points 13 rebounds and 15 assists while Melo's stats weren't too shaby either 40 points 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Denver when on to win the game in OT. Say what you want but I would love to see the Knicks get him. Maybe they will maybe they won't either way it gives the Knicks a little more hope. But for now they must build off what they currently have in place which is pretty solid.

HALL OF PAIN - Boxing Hall of Fame To Announce 2011 Inductees on Dec. 7th

My Laptop, 2nd Floor -- On December 7th Boxing's Hall of Fame will announce next year's class for induction in Canastota, NY on June 12th. I heard about it a couple weeks back and was reminded today when I read a blog that Dan Rafael of ESPN wrote regarding his voting. Rafael is great writer and a great source in the boxing forum. He also is a part of the Boxing Writers Association of America. So I decided to put finger to key and share my thoughts on 2 names he voted for and quite frankly are as elite as they come.

"Weighing in at Two-Hundred and Fif-TEEN Pounds! Out of the Brownsville section of Brooklyn by way of Catskills, New York... introducing The ONE, the ONLY- IRON -Mike- Tyson!!!!" I got goosebumps just typing that. Michael Gerard Tyson was for much part of the mid to late 80s not just the most dominant man in boxing but in ALL of sports. He brought heavyweight boxing back to it's peak and made it the center of the sports world. He was a destructive force with a purpose that had no weakness at the time. He was a heat seeking missle that never missed it's target. Even if you didn't watch or follow boxing at the time you would stop what you were doing if Iron Mike was on the tube. You praised him and prayed for his opponent (well kinda). When he defeated Trevor Berbick on November 22, 1986...uhh when I say "defeated" I meant destroyed him, he unified the heavyweight title it changed boxing. It was the beginning of the "Tyson Era".

I remember..yes.. I'm having a moment..ahem! I remember the first time I ever saw him fight on regular TV. I don't remember the day or the year. It had to be around 87'. What I do remember is poor Marvis Frazier, son of the boxing legend "Smoking" Joe Frazier and at the time a real "test" for Tyson. I know it wasn't live and it was being re-broadcasted on ABC. They had this big promo about Tyson before the fight. So naturally I was intrigued. My dad came out of the kitchen and asked me what I was watching and why the Yankees game wasn't on anymore. I gave him a quick briefing as only a 7 year old could and he sat on the couch and watched. Little did I know he already knew the outcome. (In a 7 year olds voice)"Then the bell rang and then the flurry came and Marvis got hit with a left hook and his body twisted like my GI JOE and then the referree stepped in and then...." you get the picture. Well, that picture followed Tyson many times after that. He was the Piccasso, if you will of those pictures. His battles with Donovan "Razor" Ruddock were both brutal and beautiful to watch. He beat some tough guys on his way to the top. Including Tony Tucker, Terrel Biggs, Frank Bruno and a clearly outmatched Michael Spinks. Then came Tokyo when he met Jame "Buster" Douglas and lost what in my opinion was the greatest upset in all of sports history...YES...all of sports history. Douglas was an underachiever who had an outer body experience that night. Tyson was sluggish and clearly had not trained or prepared properly. His corner faltered and had no idea what to do when Mike was actually in a real fight. It was terrible to watch as a Tyson fan. Watching Tyson reaching for his mouthpiece on the canvas was an image I could not believe. After Douglas beat Tyson he lost the title in his very next fight to Evander Holyfield. By then "Buster" had become a mere "Bust".

                                         Tyson and Donovan "Razor" Ruddock
Tyson ended up coming back to fight after he served his jail sentence and win a share of the heavyweight title. Until he lost to Evander Holyfield twice and became infamous for "Ear Gate" where paper wasn't what was being shredded. The second demolition of Frank Bruno prior to Holyfield was the reason I ended up at the boxing gym at the Boy's Club of New York on 10th street. Later that week I took up boxing. I must've watch that tape a million times. I would try to mimick and set up whoever I sparred with to throw the same combination Tyson finished Bruno with to the dismay and ire of my then trainer George. "You can't try to kill everybody" he say in his spanglish accent.
Tyson never regained his old form and quite frankly, I don't think anyone else will. Because it just wasn't human.

"El Leon de Culiacan" or the lion from Culiacan. Julio Cesar Chavez was as great a fighter as there will ever be in the sport. He won titles at Jr. Lightweight, Lightweight and Junior Welterweight. He is regarded as the greatest Mexican born fighter in their proud and illustrious history. Chavez would hunt down his opponents with a goody bag of accurate and heavy handed punches. Although not fleet of foot (no one will ever mistake his footwork with Usher's) he was a master at the cutting the ring off and shrinking it by about 10 feet. His body attack was legendary and feared. The man could fight in a phone booth if he had too. He was very hard headed also. Not in the stubborn sense, although he would will most foes into submission. I mean he was literally "hard headed". His last name should've been Flintstone. opponents would always complain about how hard his head was.
His record of 107-6-2 86 KOs is also as remarkable as JC. For a stretch in his career he was regarded as the best "Pound for Pound" fighter in the world. I still remember my dad and uncles collection of "Guantes" magazines. Guantes (spanish for gloves) was a spanish boxing magazine that often featured the best fighters of the day on their covers. I remember seeing Chavez and Robert Duran on the cover quite frequently.

Some of his most notable wins came against - Roger Mayweather, Hector "Macho" Camacho and Edwin Rosario. But his 3 most notable fights to the casual fan would be 3 controversial ones. One was his lost to a then young Oscar De la Hoya. De la Hoya said he grew up idolizing Chavez as a Mexican-American growing up in Los Angeles and was widely criticized for basically doing his job. He beat a much older Chavez and opened him up early in the fight. With blood flowing everywhere the fight was eventually stopped. Many Mexicans lost alot of respect after the fight and it changed alot of their views on De la Hoya.
Chavez eventually met De la Hoya again a couple of years later and lostby TKO. Another fight was against young budding star Meldrick Taylor of Philadelphia. The 2 met in a fight that was stopped late...how late? Try a couple of seconds before the final bell rang. Taylor boxed early but the weight of Chavez' fist and constant pressure of JC caught up to Taylor. Taylor took alot of heavy shots during he fight and quite frankly was never the same. Today Taylor suffers from slurred speech and shows signs of being a bit punch drunk.
A true tetament of how great and yet how brutal this gladiator's sport can be.
Chavez also met Pernell 'Sweet Pea" Whitaker only to stay undefeated  via a very controversial unanamous draw. Many felt Whitaker had won that fight and the outcome was widely criticized by various media outlets. I still remember the cover of the Sport's Illustrated cover showing 'Sweat Pea" with the headline 'ROBBED".
Still, Chavez will go down as the one of the greatest fighter in history and in the modern era few did it better than Julio Cesar Chavez.

With the NBA Season Looming Will the Lakers 3-Peat...again?

Let's get something straight and out of the way. I've never been a Lakers fan, nor will I suscribe to their Book of the Month Club. But I have alot of respect for them. Whether you like them or not the Lakers win and win big. Kobe Bryant is welding and working on his 6th ring. Yes 6. A number that seemed astronomical when Shaq took HIS talents down to South Beach after the 2004 season. Yet here we are staring the 2010 NBA season square in the eyes and guess who's team is leading the pack...again? Yes, the Miami Heat are going to be good, real good. Calling them "The Sexy Pick" is like saying you kind of like Katy Perry in an Elmo shirt on SNL (YouTube it). So everyone is expecting an all palm tree finals. That being said I will still give the upper hand to the Lakers. They have the best closer in the game in Kobe Bryant (...awaiting boos.......). Hate him or love him the guy is ruthless and deadly. He IS Jordan reincarnated. The only difference between him and Mike is the internet. MJ had flaws that no one got to see on an everyday basis like Kobe. I'm not defending his attitiude but Mike was guarded by the media like the Pope. I'm just saying. MJ made mistakes and was arrogant but the media now is 100 times faster to publish stories and make you look bad. Miami will be tough in the East and considered the forerunner (although I always thought the race had to begin to be considered). While Lebron is probably the greatest physical specimen ever to lace up the kicks since Shaq he lacks something in the end. I've always had these discussions at work with regards to the whole "Kobe vs Lebron" thing. And I always said the samething EVERYTIME. Lebron is the best player in the NBA for the first 38 minutes of the game. But  for the remaining 12, I'll take Kobe anyday. Lebron still lacks the killer instinct Kobe has ( til this day I still think Lebron boated to Miami to not deal with the last shot). The Lakers also have better chemistry and history in the big games to look to. They've been through more as a unit. They've lost in the Finals and won in the Finals so they know what to expect. Quick Fact - Did you know that if the Lakers win this year Phil Jackson would've 3-peated 4 times?!?! Crazy. Oh yeah, the Lakers have Phil Jackson. That dude that's led 11 teams to champaigne in June. Although something tells me Sir Patrick Riley will be going into the phonebooth, loosening up the tie, grabbing the clipboard and becoming "SuperCoach" before seasons end if the Heat hit a bump in the road. It will be interesting but I'll always take the champ. Just like in boxing you have to take the belt away from a champion. The judges, in this case the writers and "experts" can't just hand it to you. you have to suit up and play for 48 minutes and see who's left standing when the smoke clears.

NFL SUNDAY PICKS & THINGS - UPDATED with results

It's that time of the week. The time that every pro football fan waits for. Here are my picks and thoughts for this weekends upcoming games.

***DISCLAIMER - If you bet your mortgage or son's college tuition I will not pay. These picks are only to be used in office pools, at a bar or to impress somebody.

CIN @ ATL - I have Atlanta at home. The Falcons are always tough at home. I think the loud atmosphere at the Georgia Dome will help the Atlanta Falcons cause. Look for Roddy White to have a big day against the Bengals secondary. Matt Ryan is almost unbeatable at the Dome.
Pick - ATLANTA FALCONS -  Result - WINNER

WSH @ CHI - This is a tough one. Chicago and Washington had high hopes in the preseason and seem to be a mirrow image of one another as far as producing goes. I'm going with Washington on this one. Both teams match up well and I will always give the advantage to the team that suits up at home.
Pick - WASHINGTON REDSKINS - Result - WINNER

PHI @ TEN - I could be bias because I have Chris Johnson on my fantasy football team (stay tuned for my Start Em Sit Em). But I'm not asking the Titans to this dance. The Titans have a looming question at QB with both Kerry Collins and Vince Young nursing injuries that hamper their best attributes (Collins middle finger & Young's knee). The Eagles are 3-0 on the road. I rarely pick the road team unless it's at Detroit (sorry) but I'm going with Philly on this one. I guess you can say "I have more at 'stake' than Philly" - Jay-Z
Pick - PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - Result - LOSER

JAC @ KC - Kansas City has been the suprise thus far this season. It doesn't hurt when you have basically hire every ex-New England coach on your team and the old GM. I have Kansas City killing Jacksonville in this one. I cannot see JAX going into Arrowhead and beating the Chiefs. BTW who's Todd Bouman?
Pick - KANSAS CITY CHIEFS - Result - WINNER

PIT @ MIA - Easy, 4 words "Ben Roethlesberger is Back"...did I spell that right? That James Harrison guy might be a little pissed too.
Pick - PITTSBURGH STEELERS - Result - WINNER

CLE @ NO - Thank you! A gimme.
Pick - NEW ORLEAN SAINTS - Result - LOSER

STL @ TB - I'm going with the Rams on this one. They're playing well and Tampa is not. What? You wanted more? It's St. Louis at Tampa and we're not talking the World Series.
Pick - ST. LOUIS RAMS - Result - LOSER (1 point)

SF @ CAR - Man would I breathe a sigh of relief if I was in that San Francisico locker room after winning (finally) last week. Mike Singeltary probably punched each and every player in the face before that game. Talk about 'The Hurt Locker". I have San Fran winning this one to save their lives (again). Oh Yeah, I think alex Smith will have a big day too.
Pick - SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS - Result - LOSER

BUF @ BAL - We'll see what Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and company have to say about the new NFL fines on hits first hand....sorry Lee Evans, Fred Jackson and Roscoe Parrish... :(
Pick - BALTIMORE RAVENS - Result - WINNER

ARI @ SEA - Both teams are well matchednand with 1st place in NFC West on the line I'll give the nod to Seattle. Marshawn Lynch was a big pick up from Buffalo and I think Matt Hasselback is hitting his stride now that Lynch in the backfield. Should be a good game at Qwest Field.
Pick - SEATTLE SEAHAWKS - Result - WINNER

OAK @ DEN - As bad as the Oakland Raiders have been the last err.......well you get the idea. I have this one being close. For some reason Oakland always plays Denver tough ( personally think Al Davis sends booze and strippers to the Boncos hotel rooms the night before) ...anyway. I have the home cookers in this one.
Pick - DENVER BRONCOS - Result - LOSER

NE @ SD - I really think after the Randy Moss trade Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are on a "WE CAN PASS PASS" parade and will continue to do so with Deion Branch. Even though I'm taller than all the Pats receivers Brady is good at finding the open man. This one is tough but I got the Patriots winning in SD.
Pick - NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - Result - WINNER

MIN @ GB - Folks, we've arrived to the fun part. The Vikings versus the Packers at Lambeau Field. This one is the ultimate toss up. Brett Favre returning to the field that made him a legend and introduced him to Cameron Diaz in "There's Something About Mary". Randy Moss showed the folks at Green Bay that the moon isn't always in the sky (damn I want that Joe Buck sound bite). Aaron Rogers is ... well , what about Aaron Rogers? Exactly. He wants to torch the Minnesota secondary and beat the Vikings on Brett..err sorry, his turf! I still think Minny will win this one. You've got an erratic (which is good in this case) Favre, Randy "Throw the rock up and I'll catch it" Moss and oh yeah, what's that guy's name....AP?  No, not the Associated Press. Adrian "Remember Me?" Peterson. Tough one for the home crowd.
Pick...finally - MINNESOTA VIKINGS - Result - LOSER

NYG @ DAL - What happens in Dallas, stays in Dallas. Just kidding. The Cowboys want to prove that they can contend in the NFC and beat the G-Men. There's only one problem. The Cowboys can't protect Romo and the Giants bring it! Dallas passes all day and when you give Osi, Tuck and Co. (Trademark) time they will eventually kiss the QB on his mouth ... Pause....I like Ahmad Bradshaw on the fast turf.
Pick - NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS - Result - WINNER

WEEK 7  PICKS RECORD  8-6      OVERALL 8-6

"I'm just saying"

The Knicks Aim to Bring Respect Back to New York

Long gone are the days when an opponent would drive to basket and was greeted by a tree...an Oak tree that is. Or someone drove the baseline and was greeted with Mase in the Face. Or when a certain number 33 would either dunk or shoot in the opponents face and carry an entire city on his broad shoulders. The Knicks spoiled New York fans for a long time, but little did we know that not going all the way wasn't that bad. In a city that took on the Yankee motto that if you don't win it all, you shouldn't win at all, some things were taken for granted. Our Knicks were in the playoffs EVERY year from 1990 up until 2000. We were a game and a John Starks 3 pointer from winning it all in 94. I still get into my bath tub time machine whenever they replay those games on the MSG Network.We expected to make the playoffs all the time. It was a foregone conclusion. I laughed back then when I saw fans of less fortunate teams begging to make the playoffs. Well folks, the New York Knickerbockers are that team now. They need all the help they can get. Mr. James and Bosh didn't make the task any easier. The Celtics added a much slower and lethargic Shaquille O'Neal, but something tells me that he'll be motivated this season as he stares across the U.S. coast after Kobe sports that 5th ring. The Orlando Magic are still potent. Atlanta can still cause trouble, so to say the Knicks have their work cut out for them is a huge understatement. The chances of Miss America becoming president of the United States is more likely than the Knicks winning the championship anytime soon. Amare Stoudmire was not, by any means, the savior of the Knicks franchise. Many thought (including myself) that he would be the Robin to the super hero that would rescue the team. That never happened. There are still rumors and whispers that Carmelo Anthony might join the Knicks Fire Department and help extinguish the Miami Heat. But for now, Amare is the main guy. A seasoned Danilo Gallinari proves to be a scoring threat and poised to breakout and become an opponents coachs' nightmare.Wilson Chandler is probably one of the most underrated but effective players in the game both offensively and defensively. The addition of Raymond Felton may prove to be a key factor in the Knicks success. It's well documented that an effective point guard is needed to run Mike D'Antoni's system and will help Stoudmire dominate (Google Steve Nash). Anthony Randolph was a great chip they received from Golden State in the David Lee trade. He reminds people of a young and more athletic Marcus Camby. Ronny Turiaf provides a tough presence and will be good off the bench. The Knicks must play with a chip on their shoulder every game to rekindle the aura of the old teams. They must prove that they are who we think they are (as I wrote that I conjured images of Denny Carter flipping out and still decided to leave it). A good and tough team. Although D'Antoni's system is more offense-based, toughness should never leave the New York Knicks. You can score alot and still be tough. We'll see what happens. That being said, I still have some money in my bank account for a Carmelo Anthony Knicks jersey...I'm just saying.

Yank'd out of Texas

The inevitable was looming. Everybody saw it coming after the 5th inning in Game 6. And perhaps, before that. After listening to Nick Swisher's interview with Craig Sager folllowing the Yankees' Game 5 win in Yankee Stadium there was a sense of optimism. "Yukan do it"! Shades of Adam Sandler's "Waterboy" line echoed in the back of my mind. Heck, I'm a die hard Yankees fan and I got excited listening to him gush out confidence, but reality hits hard like a freight train. Unlike the pitch that lightly, but so obviously hit Swisher's leg in game 4. There were so many moments that the Yankees didn't take advantage of and it seemed like everytime there were 2 outs the Texas Rangers would score. It was their time. 'Their' meaning the Texas Rangers..obviously. The same Rangers we said could hit the lacing off of a basebal but were expected to give up as much runs as the Boston Marathon. The Rangers who were expected to score 8 or 9 runs but give up 10. But there was Mr.Irony sitting in the seats.The old gun slinger, now owner, Nolan Ryan was present and witnessing the product he put on the field. Criticized for the old school adage that a pitcher should pitch until "me can't no more". Regardless of pitch count or the "clicker", your stuffs potency should be the reason your pitching coach picks up the Bat Phone and calls the bullpen. Guess what? It worked. The Yankees bats were stifled for the whole series. The Texas Rangers are going to the World Series. How does that sound? It sounds great in Texas. It is what it is. The better team won and it wasn't really close.