Bay's Day, Pac/Money, Be Quiet Brett, Tiger

Jason Bay's 4-year, $66 million contract is the second move the Mets have made this week after acquiring Kelvim Escobar. Mets fans wanted Roy Halladay or John Lackey, but when that didn't happen Omar Minaya had to do something. I don't see huge improvement in these moves, I like Bay, but he won't get the Mets into the postseason. The rotation is weak, third place in the NL East awaits.

I am becoming more and more upset about the drug related talks that have been emerging from the Pacquiao/Mayweather promotions. It has been hard enough to deal with Tiger being a bigger sex fiend than David Duchovny in Californication. Cheating on his supermodel wife, disrespecting his children and permanently altering his legacy was enough. Now, there are talks of Manny Pacquiao possibly using performance enhancers or at least dodging tests. Say it aint so! The deal is Pac has refused taking random blood tests throughout the upcoming HBO 24/7 episodes that will lead up to the March fight. Instead, he wants to only take three tests (one during kickoff of show, 30 days before fight and immediately after bout) to prove he is clean. What is being questioned is this second test, Pac has said he won't take a test within 2 weeks of the fight because it would hinder his training. Well, in the 24/7 series for his previous fight with Ricky Hatton he is shown on air taking such a test inside 30 days. And, um, he knocked Hatton out in the second round with one of the most impressive punches I have ever seen (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQYgDfDIkR0) fast forward to 2:23. So I don't think his point is valid, which means he could be lying and if that is the case...what is the deal? This fight is in danger of not happening and Bob Arum, Pac's promoter, has said another fight will be announced for his fighter if this falls though. With that said, Arum wants this fight as much as I do and promises to try to talk things out with Pac.

I don't copy and paste. I read, study and say what I feel. However, when Mr. Rick Rielly preaches, I listen. He has been preaching about Tiger for days now. This sums up how I feel about the #1 golfer in the world and his story compared to all the others...

>Do you agree with sports writers who call this the No. 1 sports story of the decade?

"No. The No. 1 sports story of the decade was Tiger Woods winning all four majors in a row (Tiger Slam No. 1). And if it wasn't that, it was Lance Armstrong overcoming 14 tumors to win seven straight Tour de Frances. And if it wasn't that, it was Michael Phelps winning 14 gold medals over two Olympics. Because if we're going to let a guy cheating on his wife overtake those three unthinkable achievements, then we really aren't sports fans after all." Also, honorable mention goes to Usain Bolt, the 2004 Boston Red Sox and the influence of the 2003 NBA draft class.

I'm so tired of Brett Favre's off the field presence. He retires every season, cries, sells Wrangler jeans, comes back, doesn't care about anyone but himself, always gets what he wants, calls his head coach by his first name and never seems to be happy. Exhale. He is having a tremendous season and has done a lot for the Minnesota Vikings. He is 40 years old and playing like a guy in his fourth season. However, he is leading his team to another late season meltdown, which in the past, has led to an early exit from the playoffs and disruption in the front office. The Vikings have lost 3 of 4 and no longer look like the 10-1 monster they were earlier. He has been bickering with Brad Childress lately about plays and his gametime judgement. Since when was Favre Terrell Owens? Be quiet. This is not your team, you have a huge role, but you aren't Adrian Peterson and Jared Allen. I'm Sorry. Play hard and do your job, the entire country is tired of seeing you complain.

SNL, Nate-Gate, Pinstripe pick-ups

First... What's the difference between Tiger Woods and Santa Claus?

Santa stops at 3 Ho's.

Sorry... Anyway.

Sports figures have hosted SNL before on many occasions and provided memorable performances. LeBron, Peyton, etc. However, something tells me that when Charles Barkley gets his shot on January 9th (he hosted once in 1993), it'll be classic. He is a respected NBA analyst for TNT and is one of the best player to never win a championship. He is also a clown. He got himself into some trouble earlier this year after being arrested with a prostitute. He makes ridiculous claims on the regular and has become one of Frank Caliendo's most popular targets ("That call was turrible!"). He also has a hell of a gambling problem. Despite all of his antics, its hard to turn the channel when he is speaking. He is a smart guy when it comes to sports and I anticipate him having at least a couple classic moments when he hosts in a couple weeks.

The Knicks and Nate Robinson are quickly approaching the end of their time together. Robinson has not played his usual role with the team this season and the Knicks are 8-3 in December. The team is responding to coach Mike D'Antoni's desire to play defense and move the ball on offense. Over their past eight games, New York has held its opponents under 100 points with defense Knick fans haven't seen in years. Robinson has played all of eleven minutes this month. He hasn't scored since November. He is visible on the bench, rooting for his team and not being cranky (ie: Allen Iverson). However, the team is moving in the right direction and he has played absolutely no part of it. Donnie Walsh acknowledges it would be impossible to trade his contract (he is owed $4 million this year), but a $1 million buyout and moving him is realistic. The Lakers, Bulls, Kings and Magic have all shown interest in the energetic little man. Walsh is said he is only interested in getting a player with an expiring contract in return. We'll see what happens, but with the Knicks only a game out of the eighth spot in the east right now, don't be surprised if Robinson is on another team in a months time.

The Yankees have had another solid offseason acquiring a handful of quality players without giving up too much in return. This past week Brian Cashman has worked out deals that have yielded Nick Johnson and Javier Vazquez both former Yankees. Johnson will provide a solid backup at first base and consistency at the DH position with the departure of Hideki Matsui. As far as Vazquez, he eats up innings and strikes out a lot of batters. He has pitched over 198 innings in each of the past ten seasons and has finished in the top-4 in K's over the past four seasons (2006-2008 with Chicago White Sox, 2009 with Atlanta Braves-2nd in NL). He is very tough to hit from the wined up, but has trouble in pressure situations. Hopefully the Yankee bats will provide enough run support that the "pressure situations" will be at a minimum. He went 15-10 w/a 2.37 ERA and 238 K's in 2009. Guys that pitch 200+ innings and get 10+ wins every season aren't that common, especially when you can pencil them in as your fourth starter. Not to mention his signing allows Joba Chamberlain to start the season in the bullpen, which boosts the Yankee's pitching overall for 2010.

On a side note, I find it surprising that in Bobby Cox final year, Atlanta is moving an asset in Vazquez for a fourth outfielder. They save some money, which they did by giving away Rafael Soriano earlier this month. Ownership clearly doesn't care as much about competing as it does about saving money. I'm happy to be a Yankee fan!

Quickies

Kentucky point guard John Wall is the best freshman in the country playing like a fourth year senior. He is making John Calipari's young wildcat team look like the real deal. Calipari is saying his team has four losses, regarding multiple two point wins his team has been lucky to pull out. Fact is the fourth ranked wildcats just beat UCONN in Madison Square Garden behind another standout performance by Wall. He finished with 25 points including the go ahead bucket in the final minute. Husky's head coach Jim Calhoun put 6'9" Stanley Robinson on Wall in the final minutes, hoping the lanky forward would stop the true freshman. No luck, 9-0, next up Indiana at Assembly Hall.

Manny Pacquaio has agreed to a 50-50 split when he meets Floyd Mayweather on March 13th. The fight is anticipated to eclipse the all-time pay-per-view record of 2.44 million buys (Mayweather v. De La Hoya, 2007). The fight is being held in March, not May (which HBO preferred) due to Pacquaio's plans to run for a congressional seat in the Philippines. The only other issue still being addressed is location. One venue that will not be hosting the fight is Cowboy's Stadium in Arlington, TX. Although Jerry Jones is looking for big time sporting events to take place in his castle that seats more than 100,000, this fight won't be one of them.

Allen Iverson has been warmly welcomed by Philadelphia 76'ers fans. They loved him and are glad to see him return to the city he once put on his shoulders. However, Iverson isn't ready yet and although his life is playing basketball, he has no legs. Ty Lawson ran circles around him a couple nights ago and AI missed an open lay up last night against the Pistons. I'm happy to see him back and in Philly. I was happy to see him pass up the final shot and feed Andre Iguodala (who missed the shot). He will find his legs and eventually take 25 shots a game. Then, and only then will all be right in the world.

The Yankees acquired Curtis Granderson in a three team trade that headlined the winter meetings. They lost Phil Coke, Ian Kennedy and minor league standout Austin Jackson. They get Granderson who is an average outfielder and very balanced offensive player. He has some pop, speed and scored 100+ runs last year. His average fell in 2009 and he struck out 141 times, but those numbers don't stand out as much when countered with his power and stolen base numbers. I like this trade because it shows the Yankee's aggressive mentality even after winning the world series. I question giving up on Jackson, a youngster who has true potential. He looked like he would eventually become a Granderson type player with a low price tag. Oh well. Look for the Yankees to package Joba Chamberlain and Jesus Montero (Mike Piazza 2.0) in a deal for Toronto Blue Jay's ace Roy Halladay. If that happens, the 2010 rotation would be absolutely bananas.

Mike D'Antoni continues to keep Nate Robinson on the bench, his DNP total up to four. The Knicks are playing solid basketball and making a real effort on defense. This has been the main factor in Robinson's benching of late, he can't guard anyone. Yea he can score in bunches and brings real energy to the team, but the Knicks need to stop teams to win and having a 5'7 two guard makes that difficult. Could he run the offense better than the mediocre Chris Duhon, unfortunately no. He in no way is a pass first player. Duhon knows how to run the pick in roll on the NBA level and that often is the Knicks bread and butter. In addition, young Tony Douglas continues to play hard and brings a defensive presence to the team. Sorry Nate, but get comfortable.

Quick Hits

Danilo Gallinari dropped 27 and 10 on the Phoenix Suns who came into the Garden last night with the best record in the L and plans to stomp on former coach Mike D'Antoni. It's funny how the Knicks can play so well one night and like dogs the next. Anyway, Gallo has struggled with consistency, but is starting to validate being selected 6th overall in the 2008 draft. Hopefully Knick fans will be able to stop comparing him the Eric Gordon who was selected next and has gotten off to a better start to his young career. I am on the Gallo bandwagon. I like the idea of LBJ kicking the ball out to him next season.

Allen Iverson's career has come full circle. He will rejoin the 76ers and try mesh with the young team. Elton Brand, Andre Igoudala and sweet Lou Williams have a respectable foundation in place. It will be interesting to see if AI can play with the team instead of controlling it. Maybe he allows the brotherly love to spread through his veins and Philly makes a run at the 8th spot.

Drew Brees is no joke. He made the dismantling of the New England Patriots last Monday look effortless. Yes, his receivers are monsters, but he looks like he can do ANYTHING. He makes all the throws. He is the heart of that team, which is the heart of that city. We will see if he proves to have a better season than Brett Favre and Peyton Manning; but regardless of the numbers he has earned his place as one of the best.

I want to see Austin Jackson in pinstripes next season.

Ron Artest told a reporter he used to drink Hennessy during halftime of games when he played in Chicago. Anyone shocked by this?

There have been a bunch of stories lately about how NFL coaches and scouts put so much time into draft picks but often make mistakes. Players like Alex Smith, JaMarcus Russell and even Reggie Bush come to mind. With Tim Tebow's collegiate career coming to a close I feel like he is a sure thing. He reminds me of Ben Roethlisberger. A big guy with wheels and heart. Colt McCoy is polished and has a cannon, but I just don't have the same gut feeling about him as Tebow. I am no GM, but doesn't Tebow to the Tampa Bay Bucs make sense?

Bernard Hopkins promised his late mother he would stop fighting at 40 years old. Well, he is 45 in a few weeks and he is fighting tonight at Temple University in what he claims is "not a tune up" fight against Enrique Ornelas. He has proven to still be a top tier fighter with upset victories over Kelly Pavlik, Antonio Tarver and Winkey Wright in recent bouts. Tonight's fight is the first of three, which he intends to conclude with a fight against career rival Roy Jones Jr. He says he is "squeaky clean" and you can make your own thoughts about that. I just wonder if he sees the current condition of Muhammad Ali and Freddy Roach and if the means anything to him. Because if it doesn't, it is already too late for B'Hop.

A legend.

On January 12, 2005 I wrote an article about a standout senior on my high school's football team. He had been invited to play in a national All-Star game in Shreveport, La. that was not only an honor resulting from four years of hard work, but the opportunity to play before hundreds of attentive coaches. It wouldn't be the last time Matt Featherston travelled south to play football.

The Max Emfinger High School All-American Bowl Classic proved to be the launching point for the talented linebacker/tight end. He recorded three sacks and played with the passion he was known for back home in Poughkeepsie. He played, he excelled, he showed the potential to perform at the next level. In doing so he caught the attention of Texas A&M coach and scouts.

He was named the MVP of the game. The rest is history.

Featherston would be the only player east of the Mississippi to play in College Station for Aggie nation. The overgrown kid with the huge smile and humble mentality left his hometown and committed to a lifestyle and college experience most kids only get to dream about. Football would take over for the next five years in a way it does only in Texas, where everything is bigger. Football is one of those things.

Matt finished with 122 tackles his senior season as a Pioneer captain, good for second in the state of New York according to MaxPreps.com. He also accumulated 481 receiving yards and six touchdowns as a tight end. He played the game with heart, power and focus. He lived in the weight room. He stood out on the field. He was a presence in the community.

"It is remarkable. He has a level (of dedication) that is matchless to other kids who say they want to do the same thing, until they realize the road is so challenging," said Matt's mother, Cheryl Haines. "He looked at the road and obstacles and just stayed on the course."

The path led him to Texas A&M.

He would be redshirted in 2005 and take the year to absorb the college game, speed and wealth on information. He would get bigger, stronger and smarter. He'd be ready in 2006.

The 6'2'', 255-pound linebacker would make his college debut against the Citadel and record 4 tackles. He would play pieces of every game that season, tally 26 tackles and record a fumble against Texas Tech. The OG had landed.

In 2007, the Aggies played in the Orange Bowl against Miami and Featherston made an impact with multiple tackles for losses in the biggest game he'd ever played.

As a junior Featherston had the best season of his four years at A&M. He started every game at middle linebacker. He finished the season tied for the lead in tackles with 94. He notched a career best 16 stops against Arkansas State. Against Army and Colorado number 46 forced crucial fumbles to help the Aggies win both games. He would earn second-team All Big 12 honors courtesy of The San Antonio Express-News.

In his final season Featherston would use his athleticism to fit into a hybrid defensive position called the Jack. Paired with Von Miller, Featherston focused on attacking the quarterback and disrupting the pocket. Often matched up against the biggest outside linemen, his speed and power became as important as ever. I watched Matt and the Aggies destroy New Mexico in the season opener. He was all over the field. Against Texas in the season finale, Featherston was on Colt McCoy's heals all night long.

I played basketball with Matty when we were about twelve. I remember being able to throw him ally oops from mid court and watch him lay the ball in with ease. We would play baseball for years together, he once hit a ball 400+ feet through goal posts that no one ever thought would come into play. His heart always was in football. His heart was always in everything he did.

His final home game was on Thanksgiving, it was nationally televised due to the rivalry surrounding Texas vs. Texas A&M. After speeding home to catch the start of the game, there was an imposture #46 on the Aggie defense! Who was this Haines? Where is Featherston? With his mother in attendance for his final game the overgrown guy with the big smile and humble mentality had his mother's name on his shoulders. He never forgot where he came from.

I have a lot of respect for Matty. Not just because he grew up around the corner from me or because he made me look like John Stockton in 12-year old CYO basketball games; because he had a goal and he accomplished it. He worked his ass off from 9th grade through his senior year of college. He kept his body in tremendous shape while putting it through hell Saturday after Saturday. All in a place very different from where he grew up.

I hope he enjoyed the ride as much as his friends and family have enjoyed watching it.

Thataboy Matty!