Friday, three New York Jets were at the Haitian Consulate in Manhattan packing boxes that will be sent to Port-Au-Prince, Haiti as part of earthquake relief. David Clowney, James Ihedigbo, and Vernon Gholston along with other NFL players will travel to Haiti March 15-18 as part of "Hope for Haiti." They will endeavor to get that country back on its feet after the devastating earthquake in January. We wish them well... Of course, we were there as they prepared for their trip. We couldn't help and talk a little football... We asked them about new Jets corner back Antonio Cromartie and possible Jets running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who met with Jets brass on Friday... Listen In... after the jump... You'll hear from Ihedigbo, Gholston, and then Clowney.

The Yanks backup catcher said today that he’ll wear the same gigantic protective helmet that David Wright wore last year after he was hit in the head with a pitch.

Even Jorge Posada has taken to calling his understudy “Gazoo.”

You’ll recall that Cervelli was hit last Saturday by a 94-MPH heater right in the dome. It gave him his second concussion since the World Series – apparently he was concussed during a winter league game.

Unlike David Wright, who (most likely) ditched the helmet after a few games because it was uncool, Cervelli said he’s choosing safety over sauve-ity.

Considering that the helmet is about the ugliest/funniest/least fashionable thing ever worn on an athletic field of play – you know he means it.

So here’s to Cervelli and to our future as fans with the Great Gazoo helmet. However saddened we were when David ditched it we now rejoice it’s return atop the soon-to-be gargantuan head of Francisco Cevelli.

In the immortal words of Mike Myers' grandpa character in "So I Married An Ax Murderer," "LOOK AT THAT HEAD.....IT'S LIKE AN ORANGE ON A TOOTHPICK!!"

Matt Estreich for The Huddle

Just a note here-ENOUGH OF TIGER WOODS!

All day it’s either he’s coming back at the Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Invitational in 2 weeks. OR is it The Masters? Word is out that Eldrick has hired former Presidential adviser Ari Fleischer to aid with his “comeback.”

Bay Hill is supervised by Woods’ management company, but Augusta would give him more insulation from the media throngs and multitude of fans he’ll see.

Either way: I don’t care! All Tiger, all the time has run its course. Let me know when Woods is back in the swing of things (on the golf course) and I’ll get back to you.

The Mets have begged us (media & fans alike) to put 2009 in the rear view mirror and focus on THIS year. The team’s slogans this year have been “WE BELIEVE IN COMEBACKS” (as an advertising campaign) and “PREVENTION AND RECOVERY” in the clubhouse at Port St. Lucie. Basically, put last year’s injury plagued team out of your mind, and move forward.

After today’s news regarding Jose Reyes, it may be time for a new slogan: “WE BETTER PRAY FOR A MIRACLE.”

First the apparent good news: The Mets shortstop is NOT in any type of life threatening danger. His overactive thyroid seems to be a matter of inflammation, and he’ll be OK. THANK GOD for that. In the grand scheme of things,

Reyes’ well being is the most important thing. If Jose could live a “normal” life but never play baseball again, that is still a plus. A man’s welfare is priority #1.

Now that we know Reyes will play again, it is safe to wonder about this season. With Carlos Beltran already out till possibly June, that makes 2 of the “core” lineup guys (David Wright & Jason Bay being the others) that won’t be around to start the season.

Even if Reyes and Beltran WERE healthy, there are enough questions: pitching, second base, catcher & bullpen to project maybe 83-85 wins for the team. That’s better than last year-but not enough to keep fans happy-or guarantee Jerry Manuel & Omar Minaya are still employed at the end of the season. The Mets year could already be derailed less than 3 weeks to Opening Day.

On the call you’ll hear from Mets GM Omar Minaya and Jose’s agent Peter Greenberg.

Take a listen to find out why you probably won’t see Reyes on the field until AFTER opening day….sheesh!:

CONFERENCE CALL HELD BEFORE TODAY'S GAME AT 1PM AGAINST THE RED SOX: THE HIGHLIGHTS

*on the call GM Omar Minaya and Reyes' agent Peter Greenberg

*Reyes OUT 2-8 weeks, NO physical activity, nothing that can raise his heart rate
(this is bad. even when he is cleared, he still has to get into shape. He won't be able to maintain AT ALL during this "off time".) Greenberg says Reyes will be "idle" after he gets the all clear to resume activities.

*Secondary tests on thyroid levels showed a spike upward even though controlled activity earlier this week. He will have blood tests each week to check levels

*Treatable and curable. No medication needed. Reyes must watch his diet closely.

*Greenberg: a virus or dietary cause may have triggered the initial thyroid trouble.

*Veteran Alex Cora could be the Mets opening day starting shortstop or even 20-year-old Ruben Tejada.

STATEMENT FROM THIS MORNING:

FLUSHING, N.Y., March 11, 2010 – The additional blood tests confirmed that Jose Reyes's thyroid hormone blood levels are elevated and he is hyperthyroid. Mets Medical Director Dr. David Altchek last night spoke with Jose and his representatives. As prescribed by the doctors and specialists, Jose’s treatment plan is to rest, refrain from athletic activity and make changes in his diet. The doctors will monitor Jose's thyroid levels through regular blood tests. Once Jose’s thyroid levels return to normal, he will be cleared to resume baseball activities.

It also says a lot that former players like Pro Bowler Ray Rice and Titans defensive back Jason McCourty come back to Piscataway to support guys going through the nerve-wracking experience.

We were there today for drills ranging from the 40-yard dash to the standing broad jump.

Rutgers has turned several out top draft picks this season, and 2010 shouldn’t be an exception.

Offensive tackle Anthony Davis is a near lock to be drafted in the first round (though he wasn’t a Pro Day today…he worked at the NFL Combine last week in Indianapolis) and defensive back Devin McCourty could do anywhere between the first and third rounds.

Take a listen below to all the awesome stuff we’ve compiled from Pro Day. There’s a couple ways you can go about it:

1) There’s a Cliff Notes version of the afternoon in the first video player.

2) But if you want more (and trust me, it’s good stuff), we’ve added complete interviews with guys like Rice, both McCourty’s, wide receiver Tim Brown, and coach Greg Schiano.

Check it out:

Question: What are some comments you’ve heard from the fans during batting practice?
A: "You’re still my Tiger."

Q: What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned about the Yankees that maybe surprises you?
A: The fans. They want to win right now. That started as soon as I got down in February, with no games on the schedule. There was already talk about repeating. Rightfully so. And the amount of people coming out to watch us practice -- not even a game.

Q: What players have you gotten to know?
A: Derek Jeter gave me a ride home from Bradenton (after an exhibition game with the Pirates). Alex Rodriguez was in the car, too.

Q: Was there a point during that ride where you said, "What’s going on?"
A: At first glance, you think, "Do I call home and tell my friends who I got a ride with?"
Derek drove. We were trying to find out how to get home. His GPS was showing up a little different than my iPhone. We were a little confused, and then we made it back.

Q: How much are you following the Tigers?
A: On my iPhone, one of my bookmarks is still the Tigers’ Web site. There’s no reason for me to delete it. I always want to see what’s going on with some of the guys because of the relationship I’ve had with them.

Q: You’re such an optimistic, forward-looking person. By the time the Tigers were going after Johnny Damon, did you give any thought to, "If they want Damon, why was I traded?"
A: I hadn’t thought about it. I knew he was a free agent. Getting Johnny Damon to any team is going to be an added help. He gets on base; he steals bases; he hits home runs; and he hits for average. So any team would have wanted to get him. The fact that Detroit wanted to get him didn’t roll into my head. I was just waiting to see where he signed.

(Courtesy: Detroit Free Press)

I mean, come on, after what happened last season, you really aren't going to tell your bosses which doctors you visit??!?!? Did you simply forget to call the GM or Asst GM and say "hey my surgeon just told me to visit this Canadian doctor, is that okay with you guys?" No instead, ARod throws everyone off during Spring Training (I know, I WAS THERE!) when the news breaks and the Yankees brass are just finding out he visited Dr. Anthony Galea for treatment following his hip surgery. (Galea is accused of trafficking illegal drugs, including HGH, into the US. He has said he only treated the 3rd baseman with anti-inflammatories) I remember the look on Brian Cashman's face when he told us reporters, he didn't know ARod had seen this guy. "That's all I can tell you right now" Soon after that, the team released a statement: in short the Yanks said they never gave ARod permission to see Galea. Hey Alex, the team won't protect you if keep blindsiding them, especially the Yankees! No matter how good you might be, the Yankees are better.

Then there's the Mets...isn't it enough we have to worry about what players will do on the field? Do we now have to be concerned with calls not being made to the right people? How can anyone trust the team did all it could during the offseason, when there are 1700 different stories on what Carlos Beltran said about his knee surgery to GM Omar Minaya and what Minaya and Owner Jeff Wilpon interpreted, blah blah blah? Is Ben Sheets' agent out there saying, oh so that's why they didn't call? Just saying....

I got over that Beltran miscommunication and in speaking with everyone down in Port St. Lucie, I was satisfied with the responses. NOW, Reyes is saying he has a sore throat while the team is literally emailing a statement to all media personnel CONFIRMING an overactive thyroid. OH NO, NOT AGAIN? (and that's not just Mets PR talking) When the results came out, there should have been a discussion with players, managers et al. to figure out what the group will say publically, in English, Spanish, Japanese, whatever! Today, Minaya had to correct all miscomments and stress that he talked to Reyes and his agent and the doctors. Everyone is on the same page. WHOOSH! If I was an owner, I would know every little thing possible my athletes, especially the ones under a microscope, are doing. My father, an international track and field coach, knows even the Tylenol his athletes take for a headache. It's better to be safe than sorry. As an athlete, I would know to "check in" first. It's like a teenager who goes from the library to a friend's house, let me just call Mom so she knows where I am. Get back to basics. We aren't talking about being grounded. Now, it's the loss of millions of dollars in wages and the respect people will have for you. I don't risk that and I am not making $17, $25 mill....I'm no dummy!

2009-10 STANDINGS
BIG EAST
Syracuse 15-3
Villanova 13-5
West Virginia 13-5 .
Pittsburgh 13-5
Marquette 11-7
Louisville 11-7
Georgetown 10-8
Notre Dame 10-8
USF 9-9
Seton Hall 9-9
Cincinnati 7-11
Connecticut 7-11
St. John's 6-12
Rutgers 5-13
Providence 4-14
DePaul 1-17

Not much to watch these days with the Knicks, or my Nets, for that matter. But maybe a little bit of interest when the Knicks face the Spurs in San Antonio on Wednesday. Eddy Curry will take the floor for the first time since having surgery on his left knee on January 18th. What will he bring to the table? I don't think anyone knows. But my thought is: Can Curry show something, anything that might make him attractive trade bait. Donnie Walsh has almost completely undone the mess that Isiah Thomas made. The only thing left... get rid of Curry's contract. That would open up even more cap space. So if Curry plays well in these last few games for the Knicks, maybe Curry makes himself valuable to another team and the Knicks can dump him. He practiced on Tuesday and of course, we were there. Listen to what Curry, Mike D'Antoni, and David Lee had to say... after the jump

While the Yankees prepare to defend their World Series title in Tampa, Yankee brass made an announcement at the New Stadium in the Bronx. The Stadium will host the inaugural Pinstripe Bowl on December 30th. The game will be a matchup of the 3rd seeded Big East school against the 6th seeded Big 12 school if neither of those schools are in the BCS. Notre Dame will be considered as a replacement if need be. It will be the first bowl game at Yankee Stadium in 48 years. You can see the game on ESPN. New Era Cap Co. Inc is a sponsor of the event. They held a press conference at the Stadium and of course we were there. Listen in... after the jump.

Its a very popular genre right now... Perform for me and I'll make you famous. You see it on American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, America's Got Talent, etc. Well the Mets have their own version. They are conducting an anthem search... The winner, of course, gets to sing the National Anthem at Citi Field before a Mets game. Many auditioned today. The rules were, sing any song besides the National Anthem... the good singers advanced to the next round. Here are some samples... Listen in... after the jump.

By Glenn Petraitis

As I previously wrote, he is apparently a good football player, but as far as being a father to his 7 kids in 5 different states, well, that's another story.
My eyes popped out of my head when I read in the Post today, sources say the Jets fronted Cromartie $500,000 of his 2010 salary, to take care of his outstanding paternity issues.
So they paid him off to get rid of a distraction. Seriously? Is that the best way to handle this problem? Might a better way to handle it be, not signing him at all. Is this the kinds of problem-child you want on your roster. What happened to character guys.
Remember, this is the same team who fined Rex Ryan 50K for flipping-off a rude fan, who was heckling him non-stop. What? What kind of point were you trying to make there by fining Rex, who by the way, did it with a smile on his face? I believe the point was, you won't stand for that type of behavior from anyone in your organization. Am I right? But here we are, just a couple weeks removed from Rex's bird incident, wondering what the Jets are thinking with the signing of the serial Green Sugar Daddy! We were there when Cromartie met the New York media for the first time. Listen in... after the jump!

Baseball and steroids, perhaps the most sickening combination since peanut butter & fluff sandwiches, won't go away. Just when you think you can move on, tidbits float in on drips and drabs to remind us that pure sport is GONE from baseball.