The Yankee Bowl

The Yankees are officially in the college football bowl business.

The team announced this morning that they have created "The Yankee Bowl," which will feature the No. 4 team from the Big East against the No. 7 team from the Big 12 beginning in 2010.

At this rate, they might as well create "Yankee University" and have their own football team featured in the game!

Bobby Valentine Deems Mets "A Tragedy"

Yes Yes YES!

You guys know I've been wanting this for awhile now.

Bobby Valentine is sending signals that he wants back in as Mets manager!

Says Bobby V:

"I followed it [the Mets season] from afar, and I have some friends
there that I've shared tears with because I think it's been a
tragedy.

"It's been disappointment after disappointment, and I don't think
anybody could have fixed it as the season was going on.

"As soon as it seemed like things were getting better, they seemed
to get worse. That's what it looked like from afar. I wasn't a day-by-day
follower, but I was kind of a fan that was really disappointed and upset by the
outcome."

If anyone can turn this tragic ship around, it's Bobby!

C'mon Wilpons. Make the Mets relevant again!

(Are they even still playing, or did they forfeit the season?)

Which Way Will Mark Teixeira Go?

Mark: Derek, how do you think I will play in October?

Derek: Geez, I don't know, but don't listen to that guy.

Alex: I don't know what you are talking about, I'm ignoring you, BITCH!

Today's Boston Herald posed an interesting question: Will Mark's October go the way of Derek Jeter's clutch successes...or Alex Rodriguez's miserable failures?

Please vote in the poll on the right!

Thanks to all who voiced their predictions on the Yankees' playoff fate. Most of you seem to think that they are going all the way. Hopefully, you guys are psychic!

Meet Tino Today!

Yankees legend Tino Martinez will greet fans in front of the "Yankee Clipper" ferry before it departs for Wednesday's last regular-season home game.

The "Yankee Clipper" leaves for Yankee Stadium from West 38th Street and the Hudson River in Manhattan. Martinez will greet fans from 3 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

For schedules, prices and additional information, call 1-800-533-3779.

Tell them the Yankee Princess sent you!

Derek, Mo Honored in Surprise Ceremony

Before the start to yesterday's game, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera were honored for their recent achievements...unbeknownst to them.

(In case you are living under a rock, Derek just recently passed Lou Gehrig to become the all-time Yankees hits leader, and Mariano recorded his 500th save against the Mets back in June).

The Yankees showered them with gifts that crazed sports memorabilia stalkers can only dream of.

Mariano received the bullpen bench from the old Yankee Stadium and the Citi Field pitching rubber from the night he earned his historic save. His family was on hand to help him celebrate.

Derek was presented with home plate and first base from the night he broke the hits record. He also received the two seats he crashed into while making his famous diving catch against Boston in 2004, and the sign hanging above the old stadium's runway (he would always tap it his way out to the field, see the sign above).

David Cone, Tino Martinez, Yogi Berra, Dave Winfield and more were on hand to shower #2 and #42 with love. Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte had some nice words to say about their longtime teammates.

"I'm really proud that I got a chance to play with you," Posada said. "I think you guys represent what the Yankees are all about."

"You guys haven't changed from Day 1. Y'all deserve it," Pettitte said. "Obviously, we are so proud of y'all. It has been a privilege and an honor to play alongside of y'all."

Hopefully, "y'all" will be having another ceremony in the spring, but this time it will include everyone on the team!

For more pictures from the evening, click here.

PS- The icing on the cake? The Yankees had their 15th walk-off win last night, thanks to rookie Juan Miranda's single off former Yankee Kyle Farnsworth's leg that drove home Eric Hinske.

NFL: Week 3 Roundup

Since the Giants game was a snoozefest (Tampa Bay is the equivalent to a JV high school team), I'd rather point out some of the more interesting scenarios that played out this weekend...

Like, the Detroit Lions winning their first game in two seasons (against a NFC East foe no less, the Washington Redskins). Their fans must have celebrated like they won the Super Bowl!

Or, how about Brett Favre and the Minnesota Viking's come-from-behind victory over the San Francisco 49ers? Not only is Brett thriving in the Twin City, but his most recent success comes on the heels of his highly-anticipated matchup with the Green Bay Packers.

And, what about the Pittsburgh Steelers going from champs to chumps? They are 1-2 on the season, and coming off a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, of all teams!

We have to also mention the abysmal start to the Eric Mangini regime in Cleveland. Honestly, after his Jets disaster, how did he land another head coaching job so soon (if ever)?

And speaking of those Jets, they are 3-0 and flying high with Mark Sanchez at the controls.

Do you think Terrell Owens is enjoying his time in Buffalo? I think not.

Ahhhhh, you gotta love all the NFL drama!

OUCH!

Michael Strahan's new Fox sitcom Brothers is getting horrific, terrible, rotten reviews.

Will you tune in tonight to see our favorite gap-toothed sack artist try his hand in acting?

Kardashian and Her Sports Beau Marrying This Weekend!

And I'm not talking about Kim and Reggie!

Khloe Kardashian and LA Laker Lamar Odom are tying the knot...after a month of dating!

The two celebrated their last hours of freedom last night, and their nuptials are set for this Sunday.

Let's start taking bets now. How long will this honestly last?

A Combination Celebration?

It's Yankees vs. Red Sox time!

In a weird twist of events, the two enemies may be celebrating their accomplishments together come Sunday.

I'm looking forward to the Yankees clinching the AL East, but I'm kind of over the 2009 MLB regular season, and that includes this series. Let's just get the playoff show on the road!

Kenny Phillips Gone For the Year, Career in Doubt?

Click here for an in-depth look at Kenny Phillips' season- ending injury.

Flozell Adams Paying the Price for Dirty Plays

The Dallas Cowboy left tackle was fined $12,500 yesterday for kicking Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora in last weekend's game.

That's pocket change for a NFLer, but I'll take it.

Ever the class act, Adams' reaction to Tuck's resulting injury was, "A shoulder injury? From a supposed kick? Tell him to stay up. It ain't my fault."

A part of me wants to fast forward time to December 6, when these two teams square off again.

This is just too much fun!

Injuries Plaguing the NYG

Do the Giants and the New York Mets use the same trainers?

I kid, I kid. But my boys better get well in a hurry!

Let's start with Cowboy killer Kenny Phillips. He may be sitting out the rest of the season with cartilidge damage in his knee, although that has not been 100% confirmed.

Justin Tuck is questionable for Sunday. His shoulder is not 100%, but as he said, "the season is a marathon, not a sprint."

Domenik Hixon, who was also injured in the Dallas game, is listed as day-to-day.

Breakout star Mario Manningham is also battling a shoulder injury and had limited duty in practice.

Other injured Giants? Aaron Ross (hamstring), Kevin Dockery (hamstring), receiver Hakeem Nicks (foot) and halfback Danny Ware (elbow).

So You Had a Bad Day...

But I'm sure it wasn't as bad as the one Plaxico Burress and his family endured.

Click here to reading a touching account on how Plaxico's day played out.

PS- They won't release him to be present for the birth of his daughter? That sucks.

USA: Thanks, Curt!

Curt Schilling won't be running for Ted Kennedy's U.S. Senate seat.

Good. We don't need any more buffoons in office.

Next!

New Poll

Thanks to all who voted in the New York Jets poll (even the one person who picked "since when do airports rank their planes" haha). But most of you seem to think that it's too early to tell if they are for real, and I agree with you. Time will tell!

Please take the time to vote in today's poll about the New York Yankees playoff chances!

Congratulations!

The Yankees are officially heading back to the playoffs!

They were in when the Texas Rangers lost earlier last night, but their victory over the Angels (thanks to an A-Rod clutch hit [!]) was the icing on the cake!

Raise those champagne flutes Gatorade bottles, boys!

Miami Goes Hollywood

Where do you think these two went last night looking all dapper?

I bet you didn't a guess a football game!

Taking a page out of the Cowboys gaudy playbook, Steven Ross and the Miami Dolphins threw an opening day extravaganza that had it all...but a victory by the home team.

But Dolphins fans, who cares if your team lost 27-23 to the Colts and is starting the season at 0-2? You were watching in the A- list company of Jennifer Lopez, Mark Anthony, Gloria Estefan, Venus and Serena Williams, Jimmy Buffet, Helio Castroneves, Dwayne Wade and Tiger Woods.

Doesn't that count for something?

Yankees Limping Into October

While their magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 1, the New York Yankees have been anything but magical.

Never mind that they lost to the Angels (surprise, surprise) last night, 5-2. This team, which has dropped six of its last 10 games. is playing straight-up uninspired, erratic ball.

"We need to start winning series. We haven't done it for awhile. That's not who we've been this year," said manager Joe Girardi.

Now would be a good time to start. Let's take these next two games from LA, and then come home to host Boston and put them out of their misery!

"Plaxico Burress: Behind the Bars" (?)

This morning, Plaxico Burress will start his two-year jail sentence.

The 32-year-old hopes to have a NFL comeback after his release from the slammer. That remains to be seen, but for now, is he resurrecting his reality TV career?

The New York Daily News caught up with Plax while he was out enjoying his last night of freedom. They noted that TV cameras were following him and his family around.

That's all the world needs.

Good riddance!

Why So Serious?

Ha..ha ha..ha ha ha.. (in creepy Heath Ledger/Joker laugh)

Yankee rookies were forced to dress up as characters from Batman as part of the teams annual "hazing" ritual.

From left: Radar gun operator Brett Weber as the Joker, video coordinator Anthony Flynn as Robin, rookie pitcher Mark Melancon as Batman, Yankees rookie shortstop Ramiro Pena as Catwoman, rookie pitcher Michael Dunn as the Riddler, and massage therapist Lew Potter as the Penguin.

(I have to say, Pena makes a smashing Catwoman. Meow!)

Now that I think about it, what did Derek have to do? Does anyone know?

The Downfall of Joba Chamberlain

It really makes me upset.

Just a couple years ago, Joba Chamberlain was baseball's Next Best Thing. His stuff was electrifying; his attitude infectious.

But then the Yankees had to go and screw it all up with their "Joba Rules." You can imagine that the conversations have gone a little something like this:

"Joba is a starter..no wait, he's a reliever. He can throw 35 pitches in a game..ok, let's graduate him up to 75..85..3 innings..6 innings..down to 25..up to 45..down to two innings. Ok, let's go back to the drawing board. He should be a reliever right? Oh wait, now we have Phil Hughes in the 'pen, he's doing great. Ah crap, now we have no choice to leave him in because our starters are injured. But let's treat him like a reliever, even though he's a starter, and even though he will eventually be a reliever again!"

In other words, it's not completely Joba's fault. The Yankees have completely screwed with this guy's psyche and, in turn, his career.

His latest disaster came yesterday against the Mariners, as he gave up seven runs and six hits in three innings. It's scary. How can we trust him to come up big in October?

But then again, how could Joba trust the Yankees with anything?

Was There Anything Else on TV Last Night?

At least the Cowboys were winners in something last night.

The Giants-Cowboys game on NBC cruised to a 16.5 rating, easily beating everything in their time slot, including the Emmys.

This is the best rating NBC has had in the four-year history of "Sunday Night Football" and the best for any regular-season NFL game in prime time since 1998.

On second thought, maybe it's not a good thing for Big D that so many people tuned in.

T.O.'s 2 Cents

Terrell Owens "re-Tweeted" the following message, after the Cowboys loss to the Giants:

"Dallas just found out they had a T.R. problem not a T.O. problem !!"

I guess since Tony Romo is no longer his quarterback, all bets are off.

Love the fact that T.O. is trying to stay relevant (besides his reality show, which I admit has become my guilty pleasure of the summer).

Wait, did I just say that?

Victory: Oh How Sweet It Is!

A face only a mother could love

Before the Giants' epic victory in Dallas, the New York Jets pulled off the upset of the week by beating the much-hated New England Patriots, 16-9. The Jets looked good...really really good. I like everything they got going on right now, especially head coach Rex Ryan and his attitude.

Let's see if they can keep it up. After all, we all remember what happened to Gang Green last year.

What do you think? Are the Jets for real? Will they falter yet again? Or is it too soon to tell? Cast your vote on our homepage!

Game 2: Giants 33, Cowboys 31

Does it get any sweeter than this (as far as September NFL games go)?

Dallas Cowboys. New York Giants. Opening night for the new Cowboys Stadium- a 1.12 billion dollar, 100,000+ seat spectacle. Jerry Jones, beaming with pride (and dollar signs). Tony Romo, forgetting how to throw a football. A back-and-forth seesaw battle in front of the country with THE VISITORS coming away victorious, while the home team is left in shambles.

Yes, a beauty indeed.

That being said, the Giants did not come away unscathed, and they have plenty of work to do between now and their matchup in Tampa on Sunday.

HIGHLIGHTS:

*+4 in Turnovers: Enough said.

*Manning to Manningham (and Smith): Mario Manningham had his coming out party Sunday night. Leading up to last night, Mario only had 7 career receptions. Last night, he had 10, for 150 yards and a TD.

Giants fans know what Steve Smith can do, but he solidified his stance as Eli's #1 go-to guy. SS had 10 catches for 134 yards and a TD. Cris Collinsworth (actually) praised Smith for being one of the best route-runners he's ever seen. Coming from that Giants hater, that's huge!

*Eli (in the last couple minutes): Is there anybody else in the league you would rather have in the 2- minute drill than Eli Manning? The Giants seriously should consider going no huddle throughout the whole game. Ok ok, I know that's not really possible, but Eli does best when he just lets his instincts take over. When he, um, thinks, that's when he gets into trouble.

*Offensive Line: While they didn't create many holes to get the run game going, they gave Eli plenty of time to throw the football and make smart, clean decisions.

*Lawrence Tynes: He certainly earned his paycheck last night. Kudos to him for not getting rattled and making the game-winning kick (again) after the Cowboys questionable, to-the-millisecond timeout.

*Kenny Phillips: Not only did he lead the team with seven tackles (along with Michael Boley), he picked off Romo twice, including the heads-up play where he caught the pass that bounced off of Jason Witten's foot.

LOWLIGHTS:

*Red Zone Offense: Seriously, the Giants should have put up double the points last night. But for whatever reason, we cannot score touchdowns in the freakin red zone! This season, the Giants are 0-8 when inside the other team's 20.

*Run Game: The Cowboys did a very good job in keeping Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw in check.

*Run Defense: The Cowboys ran an inexcusable 251 yards against us. Marion Barber had a monster game, running for 124 yards.

*Lawrence Tynes: He gives me a heart attack every time he lines up to kick- and that includes extra points! He missed a 29-yarder in the third quarter, and his first attempt at the game winner was verrrrrrrry close.

*Injuries: Seeing Justin Tuck on the sideline with his arm in a sling is definitely not a good sight. (Thanks to a cheap play by Flozell Adams). Domenik Hixon also left the game with a sprained left knee.

QUOTES:

Antonio Pierce: “It was the ugliest homecoming (team) they’ve ever asked to come. We appreciate the welcoming. We appreciate the 100,000 people cheering us on. And it was good watching ourselves on TV (on the much-hyped video board).”

Brandon Jacobs: “[This] is the nicest thing [victory] I’ve ever been a part of. The place is loud, the place is very clean, it’s a beautiful place. But this is definitely one of the best games I’ve played as far as coming in and ruining this whole thing for them.”

Welcome Back!

I took an unannounced and unexpected summer hiatus (and I deeply apologize for that), but I am back with a new layout and a new lease on my sports-blogging life!

I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful sports Sunday, which hopefully will end with the Giants embarrassing the Cowboys at their new stadium opener!

Catch y'all tomorrow!