Heading into Steve Cohen’s press conference yesterday, many New York Mets fans were ready to eviscerate him, almost regardless of what he said. Short of firing Billy Eppler, Buck Showalter, Jeremy Barnes, Jeremy Hefner, and the food vendors for the Brooklyn Cyclones, it was bound to be a bloodbath. However, in an unusually candid (for an owner) interview, Cohen laid forth his direction for...
Throughout baseball history there are certain players who make a quick ascent to the majors, ready to dominate and live out a dream they’ve had since childhood. These players are few and far between, as the maturity factor and lack of experience can instantly overwhelm young athletes. Then there’s the case of Dwight Gooden. Selected fifth overall by the New York Mets in the 1982 MLB...
DOC A Memoir By Dwight Gooden and Ellis Henican In the mid 1980’s no pitcher was more feared and more dominant than the Mets young superstar, Dwight “Doc” Gooden. Gooden arrived in New York in 1984 as a shy nineteen year old from Tampa and became a pitching sensation overnight, Times Square even held an 105 foot mural of Doc on the mound. His first season he was named Rookie of the year; his...
It’s hard to believe that Derek Jeter is not playing today – or, for that matter – for a couple of weeks. He’s on the 15 day DL and will return a couple of days before the Yankees play at Citi Field over the Fourth of July weekend. We all know that Derek often plays hurt because he can. This time, he can’t. In fact he will have another birthday on June 26th which...
I wanted to make a special post in remembrance of those we lost this past year. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, however these are immeasurable as I’m sure you will all agree. Sparky Anderson 1934 – 2010 Jim Bibby 1944 – 2010 Phil Cavarretta 1916 – 2010 Mike Cuellar 1937 – 2010 Willie Davis 1940 – 2010 Walt Dropo 1923 – 2010 Bob Feller 1918...
The All-Star break is usually a time of rest and reprieve for many Major Leaguers and fans alike. On July 13, just 9 days past his 80th birthday, George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees, passed away from a massive heart attack. His life and career was tumultuous and as NBC Sports columnist Mike Celizic said, He was lauded, loathed and lampooned, respected and reviled, feared and...
“It was a beautiful thing to observe, all 36 oars working in unison.’’ – late Cardinals announcer Jack Buck quipping he had seen George Steinbrenner’s yacht. It is a timeless quote about a timeless subject, George M. Steinbrenner, the demonstrative, cantankerous and blustery owner of the New York Yankees, who died today of a heart attack at age 80. Buck’s comment has long been the perception of...
As you may have heard, this morning at 6:30 AM in Tampa, Florida, New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner passed away after suffering a massive heart attack. We want to extend our condolences on the passing of one of the giants of the game and a New York icon. Rest In Peace George. “He was an incredible and charitable man. First and foremost, he was devoted to his entire family —...
It was once said in a famous quote, “Only Nixon could go to China”. Back in the sixties the Communist states of China and the Soviet Union broke off their strategic alliance. Nixon saw this as an opportunity to gain a Cold War edge on the Soviets by warming up to the Chinese. It was quite unorthodox considering China was still an enemy state. Yet, Nixon was probably the most perfect figure at...
Sources have told Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune that commissioner Bud Selig plans to step down after the 2012 season, when his contract is up. The good news is that we’ll be rid of him in three years. The bad news is we still have to endure him for another three years. Hopefully he won’t foul up the game more than he has already in his Napoleonic reign. Selig was first named as...
“There is a strange charm in the hope of a good legacy that wonderfully reduces the sorrow people otherwise may feel for the death of their relatives and friends” – Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra Legacy. Each one of us will leave one behind when...
On Thanksgiving Day, Wallace Matthews basically wrote an article just for the sake of bashing the Mets. He could have probably gotten away with that since Newsday is based in New York. Outside of the state of New York, I assure you, Wallace Matthews would be without a job. There’s a fine line in journalism that should never be crossed. Ever. The Miami Dolphins are 0-10 (soon to be...
