Jets tripping

Now that he's retired, Brett Favre and his true love - no, not Jenn Sterger - finally got around to getting married like they've long planned yesterday.  Good luck, you crazy kids.

Seems the New York Jets defence isn't taking well to coach Rex Ryan saying they weren't good enough on Sunday in their 10-6 loss to Miami.  Says defensive end Shaun Ellis: "I guess we needed a shutout."  Think there's a divide in that team between the offence and defence?  I'd bet that.  Hard.  Former Miami Dolphin (among others) Zach Thomas looks at the tripping incident Sunday in the Jets/Dolphins game and provides pretty compelling evidence that the Jets lined up people to get in the way intentionally with Sal Alosi tripping a Dolphin, as we all now know.  Dirty.

Very classy of UEFA boss Michel Platini and FIFA boss Sepp Blatter to pile on the losing bids for the World Cups in 2018 and 2022.  Platini calls the Qatar win for 2022 "something beautiful" while BlatterEngland "bad losers" called for their complaints in the aftermath of the 2018 vote in which Blatter declared England the best technical bid that ended up receiving all of two votes, most likely given Blatter's huge influence over the lesser lights that comprise most of the voting committee.  Franz Beckenbauer, as respected a man as there is in the game, hammered FIFA for the leaking of vote totals, which were to be secret, and said he's lost confidence in the organization of which he is a part.  Oh, it gets better:  there's now word that Qatar paid $10 million for each FIFA vote.

Wallace Matthews at ESPN.com says Derek Jeter's anger at the press conference announcing his new contract is misplaced, and he should be ecstatic to get the contract he received.  Matthews also says if Jeter was sour over the negotiations, wait until he hears from GM Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi that he isn't fit to lead off or play short stop every day.

Manchester City's Carlos Tevez sure changed his mind about being on the right side of Manchester after leaving United in the summer of 2009.  Nevermind that he was scoring with great regularity, that the team is improving greatly and a threat to win titles, or that he is the highest paid player on the team, or that he's the team's captain, he wants out in the January transfer window because, in the end, it really is all about Carlos Tevez.  Shame really, he's a fantastic player who works hard, but clearly is a bit of a headcase.

Remember the giant controversy over the Dallas Cowboys scoreboard being too low and punts hitting it?  Well, it hasn't happened in a regular season game yet.

Las Vegas over/under on New York Knicks wins this season was set at 35.5. They'd reach 36 by going only 20-37 rest of way

Jose Canseco is going off the deep end any moment now, if he hasn't already. Check out his tweet at the right.

NBC Sports looks at the Cliff Lee signing by the Philadelphia Phillies and says it is too early to pencil them into the World Series.
Cliff Lee is the first major free agent the New York Yankees targeted in 20 years (Greg Maddux being the last) that the Yankees missed out on.  Pretty decent track record, and pretty decent record over the last twenty years.  So far, the Yankees Plan B includes Canadian catcher Russell Martin - nice - and Mark Prior, a big reach albeit with no risk on a minor league deal.

The first time Toronto Raptor Jose Caleron missed a game due to soreness, I was impressed because nobody had ever to my knowledge missed a game before for that reason.  History is always impressive, no?  After that, I started to question his toughness.  The times after that - I've lost count - I started to think maybe I was being too harsh.  Who could expect a guy with a contract pushing eight figures a year to show up for work and play through a boo-boo?  And now that he's missed another road trip, well, I'll say it: he's a pussy.

So-bad-hia

If 10 Major League Baseball teams dropped payrolls by $10 million or more this off-season, what do you figure that means for NHL teams going into this off-season?...the Seattle Sounders have sold more season tickets than the Mariners. Who would've guessed that?...Cleveland Indians pitcher and last year's Cy Young winner Cliff Lee never gave up more than 6 runs in a start last year. Yesterday? A converted touchdown and Cinderella's chariot turned into a pumpkin...the Champion's League quarter finals start this week with two games each of the next two days. Today, Villareal host Arsenal and Manchester United host Porto, where they'll annihilate a team in over their heads...wonder if the Toronto Blue Jays fans at the Rogers Centre throwing things on the field will be front page news the way Toronto FC was last week in Columbus? Somehow I doubt it. Always easier to pick on soccer, after all. Barely got a mention in this morning's Toronto Star despite the Tigers walking off the field for 9 minutes...Jose Canseco has a theory that the reason Manny Ramirez received a one year offer is because he must be one of the 104 failed drug tests from 2003 and owners are trying to insulate themselves from a bad deal made worse if the list is made public. That, or he killed his image by tanking on the Boston Red Sox, is 36, has Scott Boras for an agent, and with the BoSox and Yankees out of the mix the market was greatly limited...there's a movie out called "Fanboys"? I had no idea there was a film even in the works covering Jose Calderon's fans...not much to say about last nights NCAA final, other than it was a total stomping from the opening whistle. Not sure if UNC was that much better than everyone else, or if they just really raised their game last night and have Michigan State's number. Somehow I found the tourney less compelling than prior years...the new and as-yet unnamed Dallas Cowboys stadium has the world's biggest screen, and it cost more than the original stadium cost to build...not a great start for CC Sabathia in Yankee colours, shelled and nary a strikeout. That said, if he starts as cold this year as last but finishes how he did last year, nothing to fear...your PTP for today is already up. A rare occasion where I think playing the home team on the run line - remember, they get one less at bat if they're up after 8 and a half - but liking the Cards to stomp the Pirates. Enjoy another + dollar value winnner!

Scudeto Smackdown!

If, as it sounds, the performance enhancing drugs issue ends up bringing "The Rings" - Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, and Jorge Posada - to stand next to A-Rod at the opening press conference that might rival media day at the Super Bowl, that can only be a good thing for him and the Yankees. Sidebar: I got in at 5-1 on the Yankees to win the World Series this year. Incredibly short odds in a brutal division with Boston and Tampa Bay, but better than the 3-1 you used to get in the hey-day...if you're in the top 50 in men's tennis, you're required to specify one hour per day that you are available - and where you'll be - for drug testing. That's ridiculous. If I were under such a regime, I'd offer up 4am-5am daily...AC Milan and Inter Milan will lock horns in a match that could all but clinch the Italian Serie A championship for Inter. Expect fireworks, literal in the stands, figurative on the field. Go AC!...the Olympics are a year away, and the fine folks at SI.com are getting ready for the hockey tourney by looking at the potential U.S. and Canadian national teams. No doubt more to follow...by tomorrow, all Spring Training camps will be open in MLB. Here's a solid overview from Jayson Stark on who made moves, who didn't, and other things to look for this season...I'm sure you've all seen the "Mighty Putty" infomercial by now. Here's an alternate version...The Onion Sports Network delivers this obituary for A-Rod. Funny stuff...baseball's 40-40 club: Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, Alex Rodriguez and Alfonso Soriano. One of these is not like the others, so far at least...in the Pop Culture Grid in the February 16th issue of Sports Illustrated, former Toronto Raptor and now Milwaukee Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva answered "Toronto" to "______ is completely underrated." Make of this what you will...looked so good at 2-0 after the first frame for the Pittsburgh Pens PTP, but somehow, the Toronto Maple Leafs pounded them - again - and it was a 6-2 Leafs win. Today, playing the Anaheim Ducks at home at -1.5 +139 against the terrible Atlanta Thrashers. If you're looking for other options, liking the under in the NBA All-Star game at 263, and Manchester United over Derby in FA Cup play, despite the -1 -1.5 -106 split line. Man U doesn't concede goals to anybody of late, though of course, I do fear the Kuszcak-in-goal (or Foster) factor in non-EPL games. Tough..have a great Sunday. May the winners be ours!

Friday, December 5th, 2008 - Triano Loves Rock

The best name I've heard so far for Plaxico Burress: 2-Plax...why the World Baseball Classic seems amateur: Alex Rodriguez played for the U.S. in the inaugural edition. Next time around, he's playing for the Dominican Republic. Part of me hopes it is as a shortstop just to remind some New York Yankee fans that the best shortstop on the team plays third...Don Cherry told Jim Rome that Sean UNS-Avery's™ comments were worse than a hit from behind. Not sure about that, Grapes. As classless and out of line as it was, nobody's spine was under threat. Why I think Avery is done in Dallas, and perhaps the NHL: when you're willing to leak personal information, how is your own team to trust you? I'm quite sure Avery has seen some things with teams past and present - guys straying from their wives while on the road, drugs and such - and nobody wants a guy like that around that will say anything to anyone. He's Jose Canseco without waiting until he's done in the game. Word is the Stars are looking to get out of the contract signed this past summer. Check out his exchange with an elderly fan in Nashville earlier this season, which the NHL allegedly knows about. How was he not booted from the league for that? Avery got six games, and has been ordered to go to counselling...the Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins game in Toronto this weekend is sold out, we're told. Anybody else smell a work?...Jay Triano - 1-0 lifetime as Toronto Raptors head coach after winning a game last year - makes his debut with a toughie at Utah. Memo to Triano: Welcome to 1-1...Toronto Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson benched Tomas Kaberle for the first period of a 6-3 loss last night in Phoenix, and he promptly went out and played horribly. His days in Toronto are winding down fast...have a great Friday.