New York Giants Owner Mara Upset About Travel
Came out this week that Giants’ owner John Mara is upset that his squad must make the two thousand mile 
trek to Denver for its Thanksgiving clash with the Broncos. “I don’t mind playing on Thanksgiving,” Mara said. “My complaint is sending us all the way to Denver on a short week.” In fact, he was so irked by the scheduling that he filed a complaint with the NFL; which made me wonder. Is that complaint hotline for the exclusive use of petty, carpetbagging owners that were born on third and thought they hit a triple? Or can it be used by life long season ticket holders being screwed out of their seats by Mara’s Personal Seat Licensing extortion? Sorry, Johnny, if you’re looking for sympathy, you came to the wrong place.
NFL Football Serves Its Biggest Turkeys On Thanksgiving
Football and Thanksgiving are synonymous in the minds of many sports fans. Can’t see that continuing into the next generation with an annual NFL slate featuring terrible matchups. This year, Bruce Goodell’s boys serve up two of their worst; The Raiders and Lions. Thanks, guys. If you need me, I’ll be watching the Godfather marathon on AMC.
Nets Basketball Fans Don’t Grow In Brooklyn
So, now Nets’ owner Bruce Ratner wins his eminent domain battle to evict homeowners and build his Atlantic Yards empire in Brooklyn. Got news for you, Brucie. Brooklynites aren’t dummies and won’t soon be drawn to that mess you call a basketball team. If you build it, they won’t come unless you can play.
New York Jets Get Defensive With QB Sanchez
If you’re scoring at home, now that Derek Anderson and JaMarcus Russell have been benched, Jets’ QB Mark Sanchez is, officially, the worst starter in the league. And how does Gang Green plan to address this? With Head Coach Rex Ryan, hired on the strength of his defensive expertise, taking a more active role in the rookie’s development. Who knows, maybe Sanchez will be more receptive to a defensive guy seeing as how receptive defenders have been of his passes. However it works out, it’s another example of the Jets not getting it right. Last off season, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was a candidate for the head job that eventually went to Ryan. Amazingly, they decided to retain Schottenheimer. No team but the Jets would then force an offensive coordinator on a new coach; he’d hire his own guy. That Sanchez has gotten worse as the season has progressed is an indictment of both the Jets and Schottenheimer but, at least, an indication that they got one right in not hiring him to lead the team. Hey, when you’re a Jets fan, you have to take your victories where you can find them.
Notre Dame Football Coach On Way Out
After last week’s loss to Connecticut, it’s a foregone conclusion that Notre Dame will pull the plug on the Charlie Weis era. As they start their search for a replacement, one criterion is more important than any other. They must sign their first choice for the spot. The Notre Dame job was once thought of as the greatest in sports. So much so that Lou Holtz, who coached at a number of schools, always had a clause in his contract that allowed him to leave if the Irish came calling. But, in recent years, that perception has been diminished; much to Notre Dame’s detriment. Bob Davie got the job back in 1996 after Gary Barnett thumbed his nose and headed to Colorado. Before Ty Willingham was brought in, George O’Leary was hired then dismissed due to inaccuracies on his resume. Then, when Willingham flopped, Urban Meyer was thought to be on his way, only to take the job at Florida and leave Notre Dame with second prize once again. Given the fact that Weis is due $18 million on his way out the door, I’m wondering if it isn’t a better idea to keep him on until that Dream Coach is available. It’d certainly be a more productive solution than settling once again.
“Christopher is Well”
About nine years ago, I first met a young man named Chris; at the time, all of eleven years old. He was a quiet, private kid and remains so to this day which is why I’m only using his first name. His dad and I worked together on Wall Street and I convinced John to send Chris to the week-long basketball camp upstate where I was a coach. Every day, during each meal and then again before lights out, I’d check on the kid to make sure things were going well. Always got the same answer. “Yeah, fine.” Nothing more. By the end of the week, one that saw him take home an All Star trophy, I told John that I wasn’t sure Chris had enjoyed the camp. “Of course he did”, John said, “he’s just quiet.”
Chris went on to become a classmate of my son in high school. They were very much alike in many ways and became friends and teammates. They bonded while playing for a JV coach who worked them hard and challenged them every day and they both responded. Each came out of his shell and emerged as a productive player; feeding off the confidence of their coach and their faith in all of their teammates. It was one of those seasons where the record didn’t matter much as all of the young men improved as players and people. They were each given a nickname as well, and one look at Christopher’s winter-white, freckled face instantly gave him away as the one they called, “Irish.”
About a year after Chris left high school as the captain of the varsity basketball team, we learned that doctors had found a mass in his chest. Chris would undergo chemotherapy treatment with an uncertain prognosis. His incredible physical condition, one that had actually masked some symptoms, would allow doctors to aggressively attack the tumor and they started almost immediately. I remember being terrified for Chris, my friend John, their family and even of telling my own son what had happened. I’ll always remember the night we went to visit. Chris was wiped out from a treatment and was actually too weak to even speak. When I entered the room shortly after my son, I was struck to see these two strong, young men, silently holding each other’s hand. I won’t ever forget that image.
Six months later, Chris finished his last treatment and was told there were no longer any signs of the tumor. He showed up at a basketball game at his old school and was mobbed by the many coaches and former classmates so happy that their good friend was doing better. Given his quiet demeanor, it had to be one of the worst moments of his journey. But he tolerated it very well.
It’s been a tough five years or so for a lot of us. I’ve been struggling over the last few weeks to find the spirit of the season and avoid being dragged down emotionally by the difficult times in which I find myself while drawing very little consolation from the fact that I am but one of many going through the same thing. Then I saw the envelope on the table. It was big, like a wedding invitation and my first reaction was dread as an expensive gift is certainly not in the budget. When I opened it, however, my heart was suddenly filled with the happiness of the holiday. It was a note from Chris and his family; updating his condition and thanking all for their support. I had a hard time reading it, however, as my eyes instantly filled up after seeing the first three words: ”Christopher is well.” Happy Thanksgiving.
however, it was the vaunted Gil Lock of 
Rules? I have to admit, when I first heard that they were looking to limit his innings this year, I thought it would be based on his level of success. He’d pitch somewhere around 160 innings as the fifth starter due to days when he’d be pushed back or skipped altogether to keep the others in the rotation on their normal, five day cycle. If he finally developed the command that had been lacking since he was taken out of the bullpen, everyone would benefit and he’d be in the 180 range. The lunacy that has transpired, however, boggles the minds of even the strictest of the pitch-count police.
