Rocking the Bronx !

With the Yankees off to a hot start I felt that it would be appropriate to post this Video. The Yanks are most definitely rocking the Bronx this season.I look at the video and say thank god that I was only three years old at the time. This is pretty embarrassing,especially since at the time the Yanks had not won a Trophy since 1978 and were playing as well as the modern day Royals.

--Matt Saur

The crazy world of MMA

It has been a crazy month in the world of Mixed Martial Arts. We have seen BJ Penn lose the lightweight title to Frankie Edgar. The same guy who was openly criticized for being too small for the weight class. We saw Anderson Silva make a complete fool of himself and remind us that whenever he is listed on the pay-perv-view it's a safer bet to go out to a bar or restaurant to see the fight rather than fork up the fifty bucks to order it yourself. And finally we have seen another example why the UFC is the number one mixed martial arts promotion in the world and is the face of American MMA.
If you don't know what I'm talking about go to youtube and search "Jake Shields post fight". What will come up is an impromptu challenge followed by a mugging by a camp of fighters that had no business shoving or shouting at anybody. Jake Shields and Jason Miller are grown men and they could handle each other. There was no reason for Gilbert Melendez(Strikeforce Lightweight Champion), Nick Diaz(Strikeforce Welterweight Champion), and his little brother Nate Diaz(UFC Lightweight) to jump Jason Mayhem Miller the way they did.
This isn't Bully Beatdown and this isn't MTV. This is a mixed martial arts event being played all across the country on CBS. Yes, Miller should not have challenged Shields at that time but it's still no excuse for what the Cezar Gracie camp did following that challenge. Both Diaz's should be suspended for a year along with Gilbert Melendez. This isn't the first time this has happened. It was not too long ago that Nick Diaz crashed KJ Noons victory party at the Elite XC Event "Return of the King". Nick and Nate pulled the same stuff then and we all saw what happened to Elite XC. Just another reminder on why the UFC remains the number one Mixed Martial Arts company in the world.
Some closing notes. WEC is live on pay per view this weekend and is being headlined with the Featherweight Championship of the world being on the line as champ Jose Aldo defends against the California Kid Urijah Faber. I'm going to agree with the general consensus and say that this one will be a barn burner all the way to the point where Aldo finds a whole in Faber's game and stops him. Just like Urijah says
You live by the sword and you die by the sword". Expect those words to come to fruition this Saturday night.
Expect to see Ben Henderson squeak out another win against Donald Cowboy Cerrone. These two are so evenly matched it's crazy but I see Henderson's stamina carrying the day and earning himself another unanimous decision. And finally expect Mike Brown to reaffirm himself as the number one contender for the WEC Featherweight Championship. He will steam roll Manny Gamburyian this weekend and any other Featherweight not named Jose Aldo. All the fights will be on Saturday night, make sure to tune in because your not gonna want to miss it.

WCWP Sports
Brian Rodriguez

Mayweather vs Mosley

It's almost here. Finally, after twelve years of will they or won't they? Floyd Mayweather and Sugar Shane Mosley are finally going to square off with Welterweight supremacy on the line. They're a lot of variables playing into this fight. Mosley is coming off of a year and a half layoff.
The last time we saw him in the ring was when he destroyed Antonio "Pinocchio" Margarito in a fight that exposed the world to the cheating tactics of Margarito and the brilliance of Shane Mosley. Shane used amazing footwork and angles and demolished Margarito from start to finish. Many would argue that Margarito head wasn't really into the fight but that has nothing to do with Shane. All should point to Mosley's new trainer Nazim Richardson who implemented a full proof game plan for the fight. Stick and move and keep sticking until he falls. Can he do the same to Mayweather? That remains to be seen.
The last time we saw Mayweather was last fall against an over matched and overweight Juan Manuel Marquez. The fight was just a reminder that Mayweather remains among the Elite in the sport. He is not however the pound for pound best fighter in the world. That distinction belongs to Manny Pacquiao and will stay with him until Mayweather takes that fight. Mayweather looked just as fast and sharp against Marquez as he did against Ricky Hatton. But Hatton and Marquez are both smaller and slower then Mayweather. Mosley on the other hand is the same size with quick hands and explosive power. So who do you pick?
I've been thinking about this one for a while and as much as I'd like to see Mayweather getting knocked out, I just don't see it happening. Mosley is still quick and is definitely the better power puncher of the two, but I don't see any of Mosley's hard blows being able to land cleanly on Floyd. Floyd will use his speed and technique to frustrate Mosley for much of the fight. Shane will make it very competetive but in the end, Floyd will come away with the unanimous decision. Which will hopefully pave the way for biggest fight that could be made in boxing. Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather.

WCWP Sports
Brian Rodriguez

French Open Preview

It has been an interesting couple of weeks in tennis. We have seen the resurgence of Rafael Nadal and have seen up and comers like Robin Soderling and Fernando Verdasco make their case to take the French this year, but lets not get too carried away. Anyone who thinks just because Roger Federer is winning the French Open based on their being no pressure on him is sorely mistaken. Yes, he broke Sampras's record and yes he looked in top form dismantling Andy Murray at the Aussie Open final but this is tournament will be on clay.
A clay surface that has been ruled for the last six years by Rafael Nadal(with the exception of last year because of knee tendinitis). Last Year we saw the King of clay get kicked off his thrown by an aggressive Robin Soderling. Only to see Soderling look hesitant and unsure against Federer in the final. Yes Roger Federer is possibly the best tennis player of all-time, but not on every surface. This is a surface that Nadal was born to play.
If last week's final in Monte Carlo was any indication on what we might see in Rafa over the next couple of weeks, let the WTA on notice. Rafael Nadal is back and with a vengeance. Expect Nadal only to drop a set against Federer in the semi-final before dispatching Novak Djokovic in the final and cementing his status as the best clay court player in the world. Now what to expect from others?
Expect Andy Murray to make a run before being dealt a crushing blow in the quarters by Novak Djokovic or Fernando Verdasco. Expect Djokovic making it to the final as long as is his stamina and fitness holds out. And expect Roger Federer to make a push before being stopped by Juan Martin Del Potro or Nadal. Both younger, more agile clay court players. We might see one or two stunners during the draw but the fact remains if Nadal can stay healthy. He's your best bet.


WCWP Sports
Brian Rodriguez

DJ Mbenga goes Blonde

In last night's Lakers-Kings game, Ron Artest bleached his hair in order to look like Sisqo. Lakers Center DJ Mbenga dyed his hair and ended up looking like a fool.



David Beckham seems to like it...

And just for the heck of it:




-- Max Caster

Nick Swisher's Championship Ring

Yanks Right Fielder Nick Swisher posted pics of his 2009 World Series ring on Twitter:





Pretty sweet...

The Bombers have the Angels again today at 1pm.

The lineup for New York goes as such:

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Johnson DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Curtis Granderson CF
Nick Swisher RF
Brett Gardner LF

Javier Vasquez RHP

Joel Pinero is pitching for the Halos.


-- Max Caster

Chan Ho Park gives us too much info

I think (and hope) it was a joke as you could hear his teammates hysterical in the back ground , even Mariano was laughing. But still i now know not to share a bathroom with Park.

--Matthew Saur

Jets Land Santonio Holmes

From PFT:

Yesterday, we reported that Holmes is facing a four-game suspension under the substance abuse policy. Tonight, we're told that the Steelers have traded Holmes to the New York Jets.

It's the second time in less than a year that the Jets have swung a deal for a former first-round receiver. Last October, they acquired Braylon Edwards from the Browns.

Like Holmes, Edwards also is facing a likely suspension after pleading no contest to an assault that occurred only days before he was traded. Also, both players are signed through 2010.

Suddenly, HBO's Hard Knocks got a lot more interesting.

UPDATE: Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post reports that the Jets gave up a fifth-round draft pick for Holmes, who was the MVP of Super Bowl XLIII. A fifth-round draft pick for a former Super Bowl MVP.


My jaw is on the floor. Not just because the Jets got Holmes, but because they only gave up a 5th-rounder. Regardless of suspensions, Tannenbaum got a steal.

So... can we stop complaining about the Jets not having enough receivers?


-- Max Caster

Cluess Takes Iona Job

From the NY Daily News:

Iona College will announce Tim Cluess as its new head coach Thursday, the Daily News has learned.

Cluess, who spent the last four seasons at C.W. Post and turned the Pioneers into a Division II power, was off the radar for the most part as Iona Athletic Director Pat Lyons played his coaching search close to the vest. Fran Fraschilla was originally thought to be the frontrunner for the Gaels job left vacant when Kevin Willard left to take the head job at Seton Hall. But when Iona and Fraschilla decided to go their separate ways, it was thought the Gaels would go back to the Rick Pitino coaching tree and hand the keys of the program to Cardinals assistant coach Steve Masiello.

But Cluess, a New York guy who has had success wherever he has coached came on strong at the end and his track record is what swayed Lyons to hand him the job.

"The guy has an 80% winning percentage in his career," a source close to the situation told the News. Cluess' overall record at C.W. Post is a stellar 98-23.



After getting to know Coach Cluess a little bit over the course of last season, I'm sad to see him leave CW Post. But of course I wish him the best of luck and nothing but undefeated seasons at Iona. It'll be difficult for his replacement to match his answers to my smart-ass interview questions or his intense, yet hilarious, demeanor on the sidelines.

Hopefully I can get a hold of him soon, one way or another. If not, good luck, Coach.


--Max Caster

Jets Looking at Jason Taylor

From ESPN:

Miami Dolphins free agent linebacker Jason Taylor, who became a television star on "Dancing With The Stars," is dancing with the New York Jets on Wednesday.

Taylor arrived in New York on Wednesday and is being heavily recruited by the Jets, according to a source. The Jets have been interested in signing Taylor since the start of free agency but didn't have the ability to sign him. Under the terms of the uncapped season, because the Jets made the AFC Championship Game, they had to lose a player to free agency be able to sign a player.


Aside from the obvious questions like 'Can a former Dolphin be accepted as a Jet?' and 'how much does Jason Taylor look like Xerxes from the movie 300?' there's a more pertinent issue with this.

Can Jason Taylor fit into the Jets defense? I the Jets do need depth on the D-Line, but I'm not confident that Taylor can do as well as he can playing inside the tackles. If he were to be used as a pass rusher, he'd have to play outside linebacker, which is not his natural position.

Taylor could be better than Bryan Thomas and is a definite upgrade over Vernon Gholston, but the Jets can't give a 35-year old, out-of-position defender a boatload of money. As any questionable signing goes, I'll say get him if he's cheap.

Hopefully the Jets don't turn into a retirement home for washed up stars.


--Max Caster

Stephen Curry likes Dodgeball

Dodgeball is a great movie.

That is all.

--Max Caster

Vescey Wants Knicks to Get Manu

From the NY Post:

While the Knicks' silo of salary cap room has fans hypnotized into believing the summer signing LeBron James and/or Dwyane Wade isn't hallucinatory, I fantasize of soon seeing Manu Ginobili trippin' the night fantastic for the home team at the Garden.

With the announcement that Kobe Bryant inked a three-year Lakers extension, other than Wade, there's not another guard I'd rather ogle on both sides of the ball, or crave more . . . and reconciled injuries notwithstanding. Manu, who will be 33 on July 28, is averaging 25 points since becoming a Spurs starter 14 games ago when Tony Parker got hurt.


Sorry, Peter (Not Steve, nor Brian), but I disagree with the purpose of the column. While I'll agree that Manu Ginobili is and will be overshadowed by the free agency of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, I believe that the overshadowing warranted.

As pointed out, Ginobili is going to be 33 years old. If I'm trying to build a championship team as the Knicks are, I'm not starting with the oldest guy available. If I had to pinpoint a guard that New York can realistically sign, it'd be Joe Johnson. Johnson will be 29 next season, and while he isn't the youngest man on the market, I'll take it. He's a great leading scorer and has been the best player on the Atlanta Hawks for the last several years, during the team's rise in the East.

Johnson is open to the idea of coming to New York according to reports that surfaced in the past couple of months. And there haven't been contradicting reports and responses from Johnson regarding free agency. He'll test the waters, and the Knicks have a nice roster to entice him to come. Not to mention, the Knicks play -- or at least intend to -- a similar style to the Hawks' up-and-down game. So Johnson would seem like a seemless fit and more effective than Manu Ginobili in the long run.

That being said, let's get LeBron!


--Max Caster

Draft Express' Jon Givony Talks NBA Draft

Tonight on College Basketball 2Nite, Brandon Steinberger and myself interviewed Jon Givony, President of DraftExpress.com. We asked him about the tournament and about specific players in terms of helping/hurting their stock through their play in March Madness.  We also asked him about a bunch of other sweet topics including:

- How much stock do scouts put into a player's March Madness?

- Prospects left in the Final Four

- Who should stay in class? Who should earn the cash?

- Most talented Big Man in the Draft

And More!

Jon was nice enough to post our interview on the site where you can listen to here!

Here is an epic trash talk session between incoming UNC Freshman Harrison Barnes, Reggie Bullock, and Kendall Marshall versus Duke's incoming freshman Kyrie Irving.  Draft Express managed to get these guys to do it, and we talked to Jon about it as well.

-Matt Soldano