Ted Ginn returns a kickoff for a TD

The Jets are crashing... After starting the season at 3-0, they have lost 4 of their last 5 games. Sunday, they lost to the Miami Dolphins. The Fish have swept the season series against the Jets, dealing them losses in games that have come down to the last play. The Jets allowed two 100 yard kickoff returns to Ted Ginn and the offense and defense could not make enough plays to offset Ginn's heroics. We were at the Meadowlands to get the Jets reaction after the game. We start with a very annoyed Bart Scott who takes a sarcastic jab at the Dolphins.

Bart Scott
 

Rex Ryan
 

Mark Sanchez
 

Will tonight be the night? I still say, "no", the Yanks WONT beat Cliff Lee this series, but they are on track to win #27 in the Bronx. Nice and tidy in front of their home fans.

By the way, I still say Charlie Manuel threw away this series by NOT pitching Lee in Game 4. Huge mistake. Manuel couldn't let this series get to 3-1, and Lee was the only way to stop that from happening (plus he'd have him for a potential appearance in Game 7...probably not going to happen now).

Great game tonight that featured what some are calling the biggest hit of Alex Rodriguez's career. I guess you could argue his two-out double off Brad Lidge was his biggest hit ever.

But my favorite play of the game came a couple minutes earlier when Johnny Damon stole second base, then, realizing nobody was covering third swiped that bag, too.

I love this World Series! I love baseball! I love the nervous energy the WS has created across the city and beyond. I mean the Yankees are just a game away from their 27-th world title. But I am struck by how the Yankees dominated all talk radio today even the non-sports ones. (well except NPR, thanks Brian Lehrer!) I understand the Yankees/Phillies are big news but when there are big elections across the Tri State area, I am concerned. It seems from what I heard, that folks knew more about why Andy Pettitte was pitching in Game 6 (from his little rest to his previous game stats) than information (real information) about Mayor Bloomberg's education record.

I went to vote at my local polling station and saw the names before and after mine were blank, which means those folks haven't voted yet (I hope). There were some biggies in my area: D.A., Mayor, County Executive,and City Council. From NY to NJ, there are many positions up for grabs that have a huge impact on many of our lives. So why do people in general not care so much? Polls are down all over but mention the Yanks and it's electricity. Elections aren't as exciting as the World Series. I think anyone can agree with that. I just hope we, as a group, know that whether the Yankees win or lose, our lives will go on. What they do in the 2009 World Series won't affect whether my child's school has an arts program, whether my taxes go up...but who we put in office WILL.

It took nine years since the last one, but the Yankees are finally World Series Champions again, besting the Phillies 4-games-to-2.

Seems like it was a different hero every night for the Yanks, and tonight was no exception with Hideki Matsui’s record-tying six RBI night.

But of course title #27 was a group effort and WE HAD THE LOCKER ROOM COVERED, talking to nearly everyone and anyone wearing pinstripes.

We’ve got all the video below, so click to hear from:

Jeter, Mariano, A-Rod, Pettitte, Nick Swisher, AJ, Hughes, Joba and Brett Gardner.

Way to go Yanks! Enjoy!

Congratulations to the Yankees on their 27th World Championship. It is very well deserved. They were the best team in baseball once Alex Rodriguez returned to the club in May.

The Mets? It has to be a tough day for the club and more so for their fans.Their season pretty much was done June 12th, when Luis Castillo dropped a pop up that cost the Mets a game at Yankee Stadium. Still, if you're a fan of this blog, you know that I officially "ended" the Mets season on July 17th. The only sound you hear at Citi Field is the wind howling past the Shake Shack. I got several looks, curious to hilarious, wearing a Mets cap today.

As the Yankees celebrate their title, I hope that Fred and Jeff Wilpon wake up and see that it is days like today, with fans rejoicing and media outlets going gaga over the Yankees (rightfully) that should spur them to make the right moves to bring a World Championship back to Flushing. Right now, the Mets are as relevant in the Big Apple as air conditioning at the North Pole.

With the World Series in the books and the Yankees' victory parade a few short hours away, we felt it fitting to unload the best of the best video from last night's victory celebration.

As you know, our cameras were rolling after the final out, as intrepid anchor Lolita Lopez and the rest of the PIX sports crew interviewed a bunch of the Bombers (check it out two posts down).

What you didn't see, though, were the rest of the festivities from inside the locker room, on the victory podium and on the Yankee Stadium field.

What follows is a short compilation of the best moments from the Yankees' World Series party last night....Game 6's "Greatest Hits," if you will.

Some moments are candid, some were meant for all to see, and others just an excuse to show champagne being poured on everyone.

Check it out:

Ok, so now that baseball season's over, what are we supposed to watch?

The obvious answer is football, basketball and hockey.....3/4 of our sports! But if you're like me, you just can't ease into the "lesser" three so easily after seven months of fantastic baseball.

Thought I'd be able to make the transition tonight, given that EVERY New York-area basketball and hockey team was playing....but nope....just wasn't that exciting.

Nights (other than NFL Sundays) during the wintertime don't get much more jam-packed than tonight, and I was still left wondering "now what?"

Anyone else feeling this same way?

Oh boy, there’s trouble in Giant-land.

Big Blue laid another big egg at the Meadowlands today, falling to the Chargers 21-20…their 4th straight loss since opening the season 5-0.

Lots of second-guessing to go around for all you Monday morning quarterbacks.

Personally I would have liked to have seen the Giants go for it on 4th down on their opening drive instead of opting for the (eventually botched) field goal attempt.

And then of course there was Tom Coughlin’s decision to play it conservative in the 4th quarter after Terrell Thomas picked Philip Rivers.

With 1st and goal at the 4 the Giants did the following: penalty, short pass, run, run.

I know the penalty set them back, but they had 3rd and goal from the 9 with Jacobs and chose to run instead of taking a shot at the end zone.

To me that was the uninspiring play call that doomed the Giants.

But don’t take my word for it (Reading Rainbow, anyone?)….here’s what Big Blue had to say after their Big Stinker.

Listen to Eli Manning, Shaun O'Hara, Brandon Jacobs, Kevin Boss and Corey Webster:

Now that the baseball season is FINALLY over, I thought I could finally catch my breath, a sports induced break. Yesterday was a strange day for me. For the first time in OVER 8 MONTHS, there was no baseball-exibition, regular season, All Star or postgame to worry about. No baseball whatsoever.

But then, you realize: All the awards are given out (like the AL Gold Gloves today), then the "hot stove" league as free agents hit the market. You just NEVER get a break with baseball. We're only about 90 DAYS from pitchers and catchers reporting for spring training.

Then I got to thinking: All our sports overlap. Baseball went into November this year because of the foolhardy World Baseball Classic. When I was born, America's Pasttime ended NO LATER than mid October.

Check out football. Back in the day, there was only 1 game on Thanksgiving Day. Now, thanks to advertising dollars, there are 3. Good chunks of America will be sleeping when the Giants play the Broncos, right here on PIX, too. Thanks to the day we stuff ourselves, we'll be ready to nap rather than cheer on Big Blue. The NFL now goes into February, as the NHL and the NBA become relevant. BUT-spring training now begins in February instead of March.

College football used to end January 1st. Today: up to 35 cash cow bowl games from Mid December through the BCS Title game the first week of the year. Hockey and hoops: 9 months-most of which is ignored till playoff time. The Knicks won their last title in early May of 1973. Now, the Finals go past mid June, as does the NHL.

Less than 7 weeks till Christmas, and all the major sports are in play. Sports never takes a vacation because, like it or not, money generated ratings make the world go round. Why else would there be 5 games on Christmas Day?

I shouldn't be surprised. I saw holiday catalogs in August. It's all commercialized. I can remember the days when the Yule Log ran on TV Christmas Eve AND Christmas Day, a traditional part of a restful holiday. This Christmas, I'll probably be stuck with playoff lacrosse and an inspiring Gossip Girl holiday extravaganza.

I had the best time hanging out with the Long Island Hurricanes. They were kind enough to allow me into their first practice of the season this past Saturday. As a female athlete, I never underestimate an ALL woman team but I was even more impressed by the tenacity, toughness and the multitasking talents of the ladies. They are women of all ages and all skill levels. I must admit, I was initially going to step on the ice and try to play but chickened out. Even the novices look pretty damn good and hockey is not something I take lightly. I will be taking lessons soon! Check out the story in the video player and GO HURRICANES!

For more information on the team and the Port Washington Family Skating Center:
http://www.pwskating.com/

Jeez!!!....can the Yankees catch a break these days??

This might be a day late but it’s no less relevant – WHERE THE HECK IS ROBINSON CANO’S GOLD GLOVE!!

Sorry, I shouldn’t use such strong language, but this one really burnt my biscuits!

Placido Polanco, the capable 2nd baseman for the Tigers took the title (announced yesterday) instead of Cano.

Usually when I write blogs such as these questioning an award (MVP, Cy Young, etc.), I like to back up my argument with some cold hard facts. But I’m not even going to go there this time.

Do you really care about Cano’s UZR versus Polanco’s? What about his VORP? I say B-S!!

It was another star-studded turnout for the 7th annual Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation Gala tonight at Chelsea Piers.

A mix of current Yankees, former Bronx Bombers and celebrities mingled on the red carpet long enough for us to ask them a couple of questions.

In addition to giving all a chance to say why they support Torre and his worthy cause, the Yanks and their 27th championship were also a hot topic.

Also discussed were the Yankees’ current free agents, what it was like for former Yanks (Torre, Don Mattingly, Don Zimmer and David Cone) to watch their former teammates win the World Series, and Derek Jeter’s acting ability.

Click below to hear from this eclectic bunch:
Yankees: Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano
Dodgers: Joe Torre and (my personal hero) Don Mattingly
Former Yankees: David Cone and Don Zimmer
Actors: Steve Schirripa and James Lipton (Host, ‘Inside the Actors Studio’)

Enjoy!

Another week, another stinker by a New York football team.

This time around the honor goes to the Jets, who didn't bother showing up for the first half against a below average Jacksonville team.

It wasn't until the 3rd quarter that the Jets' vaunted "D" made an appearance, but alas, it was short-lived as the Jets crumbled on the last drive of the game.

The Jags drove into Jet territory, Maurice Jones-Drew made the unselfish play of the year opting to take a knee in order to burn clock instead of accepting a gimmie touchdown and Jacksonville kicked the game winning field goal as time expired.

Take a listen to the interviews below and you'll get a sense that the Jets know they let one slip away today, and the theme going forward is "finishing games."

That's certainly something the Jets didn't do today.

Enjoy:

Bill Belichick

Couple of things from the NFL this weekend... Sunday night Bill Belichick made a gutsy call and it backfired on him. I'll leave that for last. Let's start with the Jets and supremely confident Rex Ryan. His defense needs to go back to the drawing board... Whenever they needed a big stop Sunday against the Jaguars, they came up small. Second quarter... 4th and 4... David Garrard throws to Mike Thomas. Keeps the drive alive. Then in the 4th on the Jags winning drive... 3rd and 9.... again, Garrard finds Thomas. Another crucial conversion. Then there was the Maurice Jones Drew play and you know the rest.

I don't blame the offense for the loss. I thought they played pretty well... except for Mark Sanchez's interception that should have been a pick 6 if the guy didn't trip over the 10 yard line... But Sanchez after the game was ridiculous. He actually read from a piece of paper in the post game presser. I guess his line of thinking was that if he touches on subjects that are of interest, then the media will not ask him those questions, thus taking "The Hammer" away from the media. He should know better and if he doesn't someone should tell him. Just go up to the microphone talk to the media, answer their questions and go on about your business. When did he have a chance to prepare this little cheat sheet anyway? Maybe during the Jags final drive because the defense did nothing to get their offense back on the field.

Meet Kevin Laue...nice guy, good student, and great basketball player. Kudos to Manhattan College for taking a chance on the 6'11" center when others would not.

Laue is believed to be the first one handed athlete to play Division I basketball. Check out the video player or after the jump!

Mark Sanchez called ‘my bad’ today after his weird post game press conference Sunday following the Jets’ loss to Jacksonville (click to watch the weirdness below).

If you’re not hip to Sanchez’s latest gaff, here’s what happened:

After the game Sunday, the Sanchize stormed the post game podium, told the gathered media (yours truly included) that he was going to read from a prepared statement (a tattered piece of notebook paper), then proceeded to go a mile a minute spewing talking points while motoring through his media responsibilities.

It was all very strange. And from a TV perspective, very unusable as far as sound bites go.

Again, take a listen for yourself…the video is below. I’m sure you’ll agree it was a tad askew.

Anyway, the new news today is that Sanchez said he knows the unconventional rant “didn’t go over very well” and that he believes it’s “hopefully a one-time mistake.”

Here’s to hoping the rook learned his lesson.

As it was going on, the 20 or so media members in the room were looking around at each other with “what the hell is going on here” looks on their faces.

Ditto for the Jets’ PR staff, as I spotted a pair of them whispering to each other while Sanchez was imploding on the stage.

Ok. That’s pretty much it for this blog. I’ll now accept any comments you guys may have but I can’t imagine you’d have any now that I’m done.

So the Knicks are considering bringing in Allen Iverson. I have mixed feelings on this, as should most Knicks fans, Apparently the Knick brass has misgivings about A.I. too.

The Knicks and Allen Iverson…will it happen?

I’m sure you’ve been inundated with everyone’s two cents these past few days on whether AI is a good fit at MSG, but who cares what blogger nerds like me think (and Bobby, who weighs in one post below).

We caught up with a couple of Knicks tonight and got THEIR opinion – the only ones that matter, really – on whether or not they think Allen Iverson is a good fit with the Knicks.

Check out the video below for interviews with David Lee, Jared Jeffries and Chris Duhon (who will lose significant playing time if Iverson becomes a Knick – you can feel the tension!!).

Whose side are you on?

Of course I'm referring to Nate Robinson's three pointer that he shot into his own basket today after the first quarter buzzer sounded in the Knicks/Nets game.

In case you missed it (what were you doing instead.....something silly like "going outside?"), the Knicks inbounded in their own half of the court with half of a second on the clock, and instead of shooting 3/4 court at the Nets bucket, Robinson waited for the horn to sound, then immediately shot a three-pointer into his own hoop. It was actually a pretty nice shot.

When he walked back to his bench, though, MIke D'Antoni was livid. Nate played roughly the first minute or so of the 2nd quarter then sat the rest of the game.

So now that you have the background, whose side are you on?

Hooray!, the Giants are finally back in the win column after today’s 34-31 overtime triumph against the Falcons.

But the win wasn’t without worry….the defense blew another fourth quarter lead and needed Eli and the ‘O’ to bail them out in OT.

Meanwhile, Manning threw for a personal Giants Stadium record 384 yards in the win, showcasing the big-play ability of Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks and new favorite target, Kevin Boss.

Boss, by the way, is quickly becoming the best tight end in the league….you heard it here first.

Unfortunately, same can’t be said for the defense. Even though they got back Aaron Ross today, the Falcons still picked apart Big Blue when it mattered.

And of all things, they get a short week coming up, having to turn it around for Thursday, Thanksgiving day against the Broncos…..(right here on PIX 11!!).

Consider this your appetizer. We were in the locker room post game and put together some interviews with Coach Coughlin, Eli, Osi Umenyiora and Barry Cofield.

Enjoy! (and don’t fill up before the main course!):

Hey GREAT news, Mets fans. The team will go with a new pinstripe jersey that is a combination of retro and current workings. It will lhave a similar look to the one Nolan Ryan and the rest of the 1969 World Championship club wore while having the players names on the back. The team is also doing what it should have done LAST YEAR: Adding more team colors at Cit Field, a Hall of Fame, and entrances named after Met icons like Casey Stengel & Gil Hodges.

That is good news. Better (a year overdue) late than never. Considering the high prices fans pay to get into Taxpayer Bailout-er, Citi Field, creating a dinstinctive "Mets" home is a big step in the right direction. Go to Yankee Stadium or Citizens Bank Park, and you immediately know the Yanks or Phillies play there. Citi Field in 2009 might as well have been the interior of the Staten Island Mall.

For all the fan-friendly stuff being done (and I can say openly I want a spot on the committee that selects Met favorites for the team's Hall of Fame) there's only one way for the team to get back in the good graces of it's fan base. WIN!!

Any other year I’d invite you to pass out at 5:30 on Thanksgiving Day after your traditional turkey overload, but this year we offer a reason to overcome the Turkey Hangover:

The Giants are on Channel 11!!

No longer are we at the mercy of crappy Lions and Cowboys games…the NFL’s brilliant idea of adding a third game to the night time slot has paid off for us.

In case you’ve been living under a 22-pound turkey for the past month, the Giants are in Denver tomorrow to tangle with the Broncos.

As an added treat we’re airing like a million football movies all day leading up to our pregame show.

Intrepid anchor Lolita Lopez is currently a Mile High, headlining the show out in Denver tomorrow, beginning at 7:00.

I’ve seen the plan for the show, it’s jam-packed with all sorts of good stuff, so make sure you check it out.

What else are you going to do tomorrow night? Go for a jog? Please.

Just duct-tape the remote control to your hand and make sure it’s locked on PIX for Giants/Broncos.

I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

(…..now, if only the Giants will keep up their end of the bargain….)

Matt Estreich for The Huddle

It was a Thanksgiving-themed beat down tonight on PIX, as the Broncos embarrassed Big Blue 26-6 out in Denver.

The Giants just looked sluggish tonight and were beaten in all facets of the game. Talk about saving your worst for PIX.

Oh well. At least this game will probably be looked at as a milestone this season:

That being when us fans and the rest of the league finally realized that this 6-5 Giant team is NOT a playoff team.

They won’t get the wild card and they’re currently two games back of first place Dallas.

Clearly the only reason they still have (a fleeting) playoff hope has nothing to do with their play, rather the crappiness of the teams above them.

But if tonight’s awful showing proved anything, it’s that where the Giants have been traditionally strong in recent years – the running game and pressuring the quarterback – they are sorely lacking today.

I know it’s been beaten to death, but Brandon Jacobs is really running differently this season. He’s a north-south runner who’s constantly trying to bust it outside. Don’t believe him when he says he hasn’t changed his style.

And the once vaunted defensive line barely laid a finger on Kyle Orton tonight.

Kyle Orton! The guy’s slower than your fat uncle making his way to the Thanksgiving table for thirds.

I hate to say it, but this team is going nowhere fast.

Matt Estreich for The Huddle

The Jets won the battle of the desperate teams today at the Meadowlands, out-uglying the Carolina Panthers, 17-6.

Jets fans delighted in somebody other than Mark Sanchez throwing a ton of interceptions….that being Jake Delhomme and his four picks.

(**Caution, Mr. Sanchez: take a look at Delhomme and see what will become of you if you continue throwing the ball so carelessly).

And how about three cheers for Kerry Rhodes!! Can Rex Ryan bench him every week?

ZERO interceptions all season and then two today after being cast to the backup role in favor of Eric Smith (who led the team with eight tackles, all solo).

Also with a pair of picks was Darrelle Revis, including one for a touchdown that deflected off the foot of Steve Smith and right into Revis’ belly…he brought it back 67 yards for the score.

But my favorite stat of the day has to be this: The Panthers’ six point output marked the fourth time the Jets have allowed single digit points this season.

To put that in perspective, the league’s stingiest defense when it comes to points allowed per game, the Colts, has done it only twice.

With all that said, it’s time for me shut my yap and let the guys who actually played the game tell you about it.

Take a listen to Rex Ryan, Darrelle Revis, Mark Sanchez, Thomas Jones, Nick Mangold and Braylon Edwards:

Nets Fire Coach Lawrence Frank

Sunday Morning the New Jersey Nets surprised no one when they "Relieved" Lawrence Frank of his coaching duties. The Nets started at oh and 16 (before Sunday's Lakers game) and you knew the writing was on the wall. Before his firing, Frank was the longest tenured coach in the NBA's Eastern Conference. He won more games than any other Nets Head Coach (225) but he also lost more than any other (241). Frank started his Nets coaching career with 13 straight wins and ends it with 16 straight losses.