Can NY Get A Break?
First it was the Jets’ Darrelle Revis snubbed as NFL Defensive Player of The Year.
Today, the Knicks’ David Lee was most likely the first man left off the Eastern Conference All Star roster (covered in the post below by Lolita).
Huddle blogger extrordinare James Piccoli and I had a healthy debate going about the Mets’ quiet hot stove season – leaving me to conclude that the Mets and Yankees are all of a sudden tightening their wallets.
Since when does New York ANYTHING not mean the most expensive or shelling out the biggest bucks? (I.E. – when do the Nationals or Angels outbid the Mets for starting pitching or the Yankees say goodbye to Johnny Damon over a few measly millions?).
The point is, something is afoot these past few months, and New York sports teams are getting the short end of the stick.
How can this be the 10th straight year the Knicks have gone without an All Star representative?
This from the league of the frozen envelope, ensuring New York got Patrick Ewing in the lottery.
What I’m saying is, I’m a New York fan and I want it all. We deserve it because the revenue we generate raises all boats.
Leagues do better when the New York franchise has a winner. Ask they NHL. The Rangers and Islanders have been awful lately and the league is struggling. (I’m sorry, I’ve never heard this alleged “Devils” team….).
Our weekend anchor, Glenn Petraitis said on the news the other night that the Pro Bowl is the worst All Star game in sports. I disagree – it’s the NBA All Star Game.
I never watch it…unless there’s a Knick in it. No David Lee means no me watching that nonsense.
Call it arrogant, call it entitled. Whatever. We’re New York fans and chances are we keep your team in business.
Give us our damn do.
Matt Estreich for The Huddle
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Comments: 6
Again, after spending $425M on free-agents in 2009 ( Sabathia, Burnett and Texeira) and $400M on existing players (Posada, Rodriguez, Rivera), the Yankees did not need to spend a penny this offseason.. Never put the Yankees in the same conversation with the Mets related to spending. Now, come on Matt. The Yankees still have a $200M payroll and many vindictive HATERS out there might say they bought the World Championship in 2009. I am a LOVER not a HATER, so I would not utter such derisive comments.
As for the Mets, it was a combination of them not wanting and/or unable (Madoff?) to spend money and not being impressed by the free-agent pitching offerings, with the lone exception of John Lackey. I am on record as actually agreeing with what the Mets have done this offseason. Just because this is not a popular opinion, it does not mean that it is not correct.
Even though I agree that David Lee should have made the team, I cannot go crazy over it.
First, I have little passion for the Knicks after the Isiah Thomas Error...I mean Era. Does the NBA All-Star Game really matter? Does the NBA really matter? Great league where about 4 teams might have a chance at the championship. Great league where the Nets may set an all-time record for futility with the least nimber of wins in a season and then must win a lottery for the John Wall sweepstakes.
I could go on about this dreadful league, but it would be like piling on. Is the NBA even relevant in New York?
How can the 10th consecutive year go by without an All-Star by the Knicks...Easy Question. Guitar Jimmy's team is terrible!!!! They are only rivaled by the other Guitar Jimmy team, the Rangers, in ineptitude.
As a Jets fan, I would have liked Darrelle Revis to be the Defensive Player of the Year, but cannot really go crazy over it. Who votes? Media members? They know....what?
I agree with Glen that the Pro Bowl is the worst All-Star Game, by far. The NBA All-Star Game is probably second.
Matt, did you get a chance to read Mike Lupica's piece in today's Daily News:
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2010/01/29/2010-01-29_new_york_yankees_gm_brian_cashman_conjures_up_budget_woes_to_demonize_johnny_dam.html
I do not share the same politics as Lupica, as he leans so far left, I do not understand why he doesn't fall over.
In addition, he is not the biggest proponent of the Yankees and George Steinbrenner.
That said, I think he was on point related to the Johnny Damon/Scott Boras vs. Brian Cashmen negotiation, or lack of negotiation.
The Yankees have never lost a player because of money. I challenge you to give me the name of a player they lost because they could not afford him.
To think the Yankees lost Damon because of a "budget" is folly. Cashmen, the thin-skinned General Manager of the New York Yankees and the "Super Agent" Scott Boras matched big ego for big ego and have hurt each other.
Remember, it was Cashmen that did not want to sign Damon, not this imaginary "budget."
Yankees and budget are the ultimate oxymoron.
Thanks for the link, that's a good take.
I can see where Lupica is right...I guess if the Yankees really do want someone they'll open up the checkbook.
As far as someone they can't afford, the answer is nobody. They can get whoever they want.
After reading that column, I can see why Damon is not back, but as a fan, that ego posturing bothers me.
One last though: It's amazing that the Yankees will have the least powerful outfield in MLB next season.
I think the take that Lupica had seems to be the consensus from all I have read and heard today. As far as the offense in the outfield, Curtis Granderson has hit 30 home-runs in previous years. He may at least equal Johnny's 25 from 2009. Will Nick Swisher have the same offensvie year in 2010 that he did in 2009? Randy Winn hit 2 home-runs while playing half his games in that spacious park in San Francisco. Brett Gardner is more legs than power.
Did you catch the inerview with Damon on Francesa's show. Go to the Fan's home page and you can hear it. He definitely wanted to stay in New York and feels he may play here again. Here is the link. Just follow it to Mike Francesa.
http://www.wfan.com/
I read excerpts from it. I can't listen to Francess-ka on my free time. Just can't do it.
I'll take your word for it, James.
Why, Mikey is a Yankees Fan. You two should be Pisans!!!