The King Will Come Forth and Speak to the People

According to reports, Lebron James--yes, the King--will make his announcement of which team he has chosen on Thursday, July 8th at 9:00 PM on ESPN.

Get your popcorn ready...I wouldn't splurge on champagne, New York. Maybe save that money for something more worthwhile.

The Prokhorov Files: Mikhail Prokhorov's Plan

Chris Broussard from ESPN posted a very interesting article presenting some notes from a Nets' board meeting after their free agent tour. The article notes many of Mikhail Prokhorov's beliefs, visions and reactions to the present and future of the New Jersey Nets.

Personally, I think Prokhorov leaked these notes to the press himself to continue to lure free agents with his gusto and global dreams.

It's an interesting read, though, whether you are a Nets fan or not.

Spoiler: Prokhorov thinks the Nets will get LeBron.

Knicks Cap Post Amar'e

Here is a breakdown of the Knicks' current salary cap situation by ESPN's resident capologist and charming man, Tom Penn. Take it away, Tom...

Welcome to New York, Amar'e!

It's finally official: the Knicks and Amar'e Stoudemire have agreed in principle on 5 year, $99.7 million deal (a Max deal) to bring the star power forward to the World's Most Famous Arena.

There are a lot of various opinions on this signing (including mine), but at least all Knicks' fans can finally exhale, as we now know the Knicks will not completely strike out on all the top free agents.

It will be interesting to see who the Knicks, and now Amar'e, can get to build around him. Already, the Nuggets have nixed the notion of Carmelo Anthony being traded this year.

Tony Parker and Chris Paul might be possibilities, but the ever-growing reality of the situation is pointing more towards Luke Ridnour to help implement the pick-and-roll game that Stoudemire thrives in. (Yes, I can hear the groans already.)

Before you groan, though, Knicks' fans, be happy and thankful your franchise has once again at least found a direction and a realistic chance to be at least partial players in the playoffs.

We need it. Be happy. Exhale.

Kobayashi Arrested at Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest; Chestnut Wins

Takeru Kobayashi, hot dog eating extraordinaire, was arrested July 4th at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island. 

Apparently, Kobayashi was in the crowd wearing a "Free Kobi" shirt along with his support group when he tried to come up on the stage and enter the contest without permission. The NYPD gladly arrested him and carted off the Asian hot-dog eating man to the slammer. He was released the following day on bail and is due back in court on August 5th.

Meanwhile, Joey "Jaws" Chestnut, Kobayashi's rival and three-time defending champion, won his fourth straight "Mustard Belt" (I'm not making this stuff up) by gorging himself with 54 hot dogs and buns. 

Below is a video of Kobayashi getting arrested. I have to say I'm surprised how feminine he looks:

David Wright Overtakes Polanco for Starting 3rd Base at All-Star Game

The 2010 MLB All-Stars have been announced.

After weeks of trailing a player who has had less RBIs all season than he has had in just the month of June, Mets' Third Baseman David Wright has overtaken Placido Polanco in the final vote tally for the starting spot at the 2010 All Star Game. 


He joins Jose Reyes as the only other Mets' all star.

So way to go New York Mets' fans. You outdid Philly and restored some order and sanity to this world...and All Star Game.

Three-Way-Trade for Knicks?

Am I Nostradamus and just don't know it?

Minutes after posting that the Knicks might want to consider using the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 3-way trade involving David Lee and Al Jefferson in order to land Tony Parker, as Stoudemire promised he could make happen (as a Knick), ESPN Insider has posted a rumor of a three-way trade the Knicks are considering:

Minnesota Timberwolves receive David Lee in sign-and-trade

Golden State Warriors receive Al Jefferson

New York Knicks receive Monta Ellis

Ummm...how do I say this without sounding desperate? Oh, screw it.

DONNIE WALSH: DO NOT TRADE FOR MONTA ELLIS. HE HAS A BLOATED CONTRACT, DOES NOT PASS THE BALL, AND IS ALLEN IVERSON-LITE AND ALLEN IVERSON NEVER WON A TITLE. HE WAS A CANCER ON HIS TEAM LAST YEAR AND GOT SUSPENDED FOR GETTING INJURED IN THE OFF-SEASON AND THEN LYING ABOUT IT.

Okay, whew, I'm done.

To be honest, I don't think the Knicks are seriously considering this deal, especially at this time. It appears to be one of those flash rumors ESPN likes to post just to keep people interested on a slow day.

Amar'e: I Can Get Parker and Carmelo to NY

It wouldn't be the Fourth of July if there wasn't some good ol' American making a ridiculously bold claim that would undoubtedly ruffle the feathers of those around him. So, thank you Amar'e for telling the press that if you come to the Knicks, you could promise that Tony Parker and Carmelo Anthony would follow you.

As I mentioned before when it was revealed that the Knicks had an agreement in place with Stoudemire, one of the immediate plusses of an agreement would be that Stoudemire could be used as a recruiting tool. 

Well, apparently, he doesn't care if he is signed or not, he still plans to recruit. 

However, as much as he could be recruiting for the Knicks, he also might just be hyping up his ability as a recruiter so that the Knicks will give him his contract already (especially since there have been no other rumors of him getting Max offers elsewhere).

For the moment, though, let's take Amar'e at his word and see if this is even a possibility.

First, it has been rumored earlier this Spring that Tony Parker would be open to a trade to the Knicks. The only way this would occur is if a) the Knicks strike out on other free agents and b) the Spurs are willing to do a sign-and-trade with David Lee most likely being the centerpiece in the Knicks' side of the deal. The Spurs do have George Hill waiting in the wings behind Parker, but I have to believe David Lee is not the missing piece the Spurs need to make one last charge at the title with Tim Duncan. Thus, I think the Knicks would have to work some sort of a three way deal with maybe the Wolves involved and trading Al Jefferson to the Spurs?

Second, Carmelo Anthony has recently been offered a 3 year, $65 million extension from the Nuggets. Although he has not signed yet, most people believe it would be crazy not to take that much guaranteed money and run. However, there has also been some noise that if he does not sign the extension soon, the Nuggets will begin to consider trades so as not to lose him next summer for nothing. If he did become a free agent next summer, the Knicks are currently scheduled only to have $10-12 million in cap room, so they would need to trade some players to clear space in order to give Max dollars to Melo. However, considering how easy it became for the Bulls and Heat to pawn off players for cap room, I'm pretty sure the Knicks could figure something out by 2011.

If all this worked out, it would be a very very nice consolation prize to losing out on LeBron.

Happy Fourth!

God Bless America and things that make us truly American like watching Hulk Hogan flex around a wrestling ring.



Enjoy this and play this loud and proud today.

Two More Big Names Off the Market

According to reports, both Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce have agreed to re-sign with its team, the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics, respectively. 


Both players agreed to take less money in order to give their respective teams more financial flexibility in pursuing other free agents, trades or re-signing some of their own players. 


Will the decision to take less money to help out the team become a trend with other big name free agents?


Well, if the dream scenario of the "Big Three" in Miami is ever going to work out, it appears Chris Bosh will at least have to take less money. According to reports, the Raptors have now soured on the idea of doing a sing-and-trade to help Bosh get a little more money. 


Although there were brief rumors before free agency that Nowitzki might be interested in the Knicks, no one has expected him or Pierce to sign with anyone else, so this should not affect either the Knicks or the Nets' plans. 

Mets Set Target Date for Beltran's Return

Before this afternoon's game against Washington, Mets manager Jerry Manuel told the media that the organization is not planning to push recovering center fielder Carlos Beltran to return before the All-Star break. Instead, the Mets have circled July 15 on their calender as the most likely return date for Beltran, who is currently rehabbing in Single-A Port St. Lucie.

Mets, Coming Off Win, Get Ready to Face Strausburg

After beating the Nationals to even the series last night, 5-3, the Mets prepare to face MLB poster-boy and flame-throwing phenom, Stephen Strasburg, today at 4:10 PM ET.

Funnily enough, the Mets already have two players with career hits off Strasburg, albeit in the Minors. Both Ruben Tejada and Jesus Feliciano hit singles off Strasburg in his final start before he debuted in the Majors. In fact, Feliciano was the last batter Strasburg faced in the Minors.

It should be interesting to see how the Mets' hitters handle him today.

Pitching for the Mets is R.A. Dickey, which makes for one of the most odd pitching match-ups in the MLB this season.

Who Made More Impressive Pitch to LeBron? Knicks or Nets?

According to ESPN's Chris Broussard's twitter account, the Nets have made the most impressive pitch to LeBron James going into today.


I'm not really sure how much that means or if it is even true, but it is worth noting, nonetheless.


However, if Mr. Broussard is reporting accurately, you have to wonder what the Nets did or said, because Ian O'Conner from ESPN New York detailed the Knicks pitch, and...wow, let's just say, it sounds pretty freaking impressive. I got goosebumps just reading about it.

Joe Johnson Getting Cold Feet?

Maybe he realized the extra year and $30 million wasn't worth staying with one of the most unsuccessful franchises in league history. 

Or maybe he thought he'd like to have a chance at actually winning TWO playoff series in the same year.

Well, whatever the reason is, Joe Johnson is now deciding to hold off on agreeing to the Max contract the Hawks offered him on the first day of Free Agency.

Apparently, he is trying to decide if it would be a better career move to play for the Bulls or Knicks. Well, Mr. Johnson, let me answer this one for you: Yes, of course it would.

The Knicks' Basketball Argument

Count Chris Sheridan as one of the believers.

Although many people are ruling out the possibility of LeBron coming to the Knicks, Mr. Sheridan provides a compelling case for why the Knicks' baskteball pitch might have been as powerful as the financial pitch.

Apparently, the Knicks stressed two things: 1) how their current crop of players are a much better fit for LeBron than any other team can offer, and 2) how much more financial flexibility the Knicks have going forward to add more players around him.

The first argument is an interesting one, because it goes along with something I've said before, the biggest rivals, the Chicago Bulls, have been completely overhyped in what they have to offer. Derrick Rose, while a great penetrator and passer, is an abysmal 24% from 3-point range. On the other hand, Toney Douglas, who does need the ball in his hands to be effective, shoots 39% from behind the arc, while Mo Williams, LeBron's PG last year, shot 43%. Sheridan goes on to point out how the Knicks have many more shooters, while the Bulls have nobody who is great from behind the line.

(Personal Note: I also laugh when I hear that Joakim Noah is considered a selling point to LeBron. He is only a more glorified version of Anderson Varejao, and I think LeBron is probably a little tired of kicking the ball out to him. Okay, sorry guys, had to get that off my chest. It's been there for a while.)

The second argument is a very underrated angle that is often overlooked by people, myself included. With so many teams clearing cap room in order to sign to Max free agents, there has been the perception that if a team scores two big free agents, they will be set up perfectly to win a title. However, since all these teams are so heavily gutted, financial flexibility going forward will be crucial to putting the right players around these superstars. While the Heat will have no way to maneuver their cap space next summer unless they give up Michael Beasley, and the Bulls will need to give extensions of Noah and Rose in the coming years, the Knicks instead will have a valuable trading chip in Eddy Curry's expiring contract (Thank You Eddy!) or they could choose to let the contract run out and make a push for another  Max player next Free Agency, when Carmelo Anthony might be available.

In conclusion, while the first point has been harped on heavily before and it might impact LeBron's decision making, the second point is where the Knicks might have a chance in winning him over.

Building a team is something that will take time, even if you land two Max free agents. The fact that the Knicks have maneuverability in the near future makes their outlook even brighter if things fall into place this summer.

Wade Moving Back Home?

After meeting with the Knicks yesterday, Dwyane Wade requested a second meeting with the Bulls to discuss a possible deal with his agent present. Although he left the second meeting last night without making a commitment, there are reports that say he is leaning towards signing with the Bulls, but is on the fence due to his loyalty to the Heat.

Only making things more interesting was the fact that Chris Bosh stopped by during part of the meeting, too. Therefore, it is looking as if the chances of a Bosh-Wade combo signing in Chicago might be a strong possibility.

So why does Wade want to leave the sunny beaches of South Florida now?

Well, apparently, he has finally began to think about how difficult it would be to build a team around him, LeBron and Bosh with only two other players under contract and no more cap space to use.

You kind of knew that the players were eventually going to figure this out and realize that the Miami "Big Three" pipe-dream was nothing more than that, a pipe-dream. (I can't even imagine how bad a team Miami will field if they lose Wade. I mean who the hell would go there? They might push for the regular season worst record.)

How does this affect the Knicks and Nets? Well, it never seemed like Wade was seriously considering either team. Both teams are focused on LeBron as the prize. The only worry, though, is that if Wade goes to Chicago, then Bosh will most likely, which only leaves Carlos Boozer as an option for the Nets, and the Knicks seem settled into the notion of adding Stoudemire anyway.

Finally, the best part of this for Knicks' fans is reveling in the fact that everything is blowing up in Pat Riley's face. Something tells me that during the next few days, Riley's hair might actually be a little ruffled.

(Note: I just realized I've been spelling Dwyane Wade's first name incorrectly as Dwayne this whole time. Weird spelling, that's all I got to say about that.)

Knicks' Cap Breakdown

Here is ESPN's Capologist, Tom Penn, breaking down the Knicks salary cap situation. He is the former assistant GM for the Blazers and Grizzlies.

Vick in the Doghouse

It appears that the Philadelphia Eagles might be ready to cut ties with Michael Vick, after there have been conflicting reports on whether Michael Vick was still present at his birthday party when one of his friends, and previous co-defendants, was shot.

I remember when some Jets' fans last year were suggesting that we go out and get him. Thank God Mr. Tannenbaum left that stone unturned.

As the N.L. East Turns...

A bizarre week in the N.L. East continues to get stranger. First came the news that the Florida Marlins had signed former Mets closer Armando Benitez to a minor league contract. A few days later, the Mets and Marlins played a three-game series in Puerto Rico amid a carnival-like atmosphere that included vuvuzelas, constant loud music, and a seventh-inning stretch where cans of beer were thrown into the crowd (à la the t-shirt launch, only more ridiculous). After a long rain delay in Wednesday night's game, the woozy Mets boarded a flight to Washington, D.C., which touched down in the District as many inside the beltway were heading off to work. Predictably, the Mets sleepwalked through last night's game, managing just one run and wasting a gem from Johan Santana. (The Mets have only averaged 2.41 runs in games pitched by their ace this season.)

Adding another wrinkle to the absurdity, David Wright and Placido Polanco are somehow neck and neck in the All Star voting for the N.L.'s starting third baseman. The final ballots were cast last night, with the results to be announced on Sunday. And yes, Wright trailed Polanco in the latest tallies despite recording more RBIs in the month of June than Polanco has all year.

The latest weird twist in the division is the return of 'El Duque' Orlando Hernandez. The Washington Nationals have reportedly signed the 44-year old to a minor league deal tonight to join the same organization as his half-brother, Livan. Hernandez last pitched in the majors way back in 2007 with the Mets. Moments later, New York, not to be outdone, announced that they had come to terms with Brian Bruney, assigning the righthander to AAA Buffalo. This is the same reliever who, while with the Yankees last season, came very close to getting into a brawl with Mets' closer Francisco Rodriguez just last year after Bruney labeled K-Rod's post-game celebratory antics "a tired act" and "embarrassing."

Old adversaries united behind a common cause? Check. B-list 90s celebrities? Check. Several careers being extended far too long? Check. I could go on, but I already think we've got enough for a CBS daytime soap opera.

Cavs Believe LeBron is Staying?

According to an interesting article I found on TrueHoopBlog, the Cavs' brass appears to be giving the impression to those who interviewed for the Head Coaching gig that LeBron staying in Cleveland was a done deal.

Brian Shaw, the current Lakers' assistant coach, who interviewed for the Cavs' Head Coaching position, told reporters that the Cavs did not address the topic of LeBron leaving, and when he asked about the back-up plan in case LeBron did leave, the Cavs' front office brushed it off as a non-issue.

Pretty interesting stuff. Either the Cavs' are just in denial (a strong possibility in my mind, and a mentality that might actually be necessary to confront this process), or LeBron is 95% ready to return unless he is BLOWN AWAY by some other team's pitch.

It's hard to believe that the latter is the case, so I'd say the Cavs are probably in denial, and considering the tortured history of Cleveland fans, I'd understand why.

What a sad life those people lead...

Stoudemire, Knicks Getting Close to Agreement?

On the heels of the news that Amare Stoudemire would almost certainly not return to the Phoenix Suns next year, there are reports today that the Knicks and Stoudemire have the "framework" in place for a 5 year, $100 million deal.

Sources, however, have pushed the point that the deal is NOT finalized and both the team and the player have not yet committed 100%.

If the Knicks and Stoudemire do agree to complete this deal before finding out what LeBron, Wade and Bosh are planning, should it be considered a surprise? Is it indicative of their progress negotiating with other players, like LeBron?

Well, my first reaction was that I am just happy the Knicks have been this aggressive and are not looking to wait solely on LeBron. If they do that, they will lose out on other players who could be signed now with an aggressive approach from the front office. Obviously Stoudemire is not the prize of all prizes in free agency, but, when comparing him to Chris Bosh, the supposed #1 Power Forward in Free Agency, he stacks up pretty well. Besides the fact that Stoudemire is two years older at 28 and has had microfracture surgery on his knee, which, granted, cannot be overlooked, he has played in more playoff games (52-11), averaged more points in his career (21.4-20.2), more blocks (1.4-1.2), and has had a higher field goal percentage (54.4%-49.2%) than Bosh. Finally, Stoudemire is also very familiar with D'Antoni's system, and there is no guarantee that Bosh's game would fit the system well, since he has been a half-court player offensively during his career.

The other aim of signing Stoudemire this early would be to use him has a recruiting tool, considering they do not have any players that would be able to do that on the current roster. Now would Stoudemire be able to convince LeBron or Wade to come to New York? Although it would seem unlikely to work, Stoudemire putting in a recruiting pitch for the Knicks could only improve their already dire chances at scoring either top player. Plus, Stoudemire, unlike Bosh or Boozer, would not just be telling LeBron to come to New York simply because they are there. Instead, Stoudemire could actually sell D'Antoni and his system, which might be the only chip, in terms of basketball, that the Knicks have.

Therefore, in final, if the Knicks and Amare agree to a contract before others sign, it will be a calculated risk by both parties, but it will be a risk that at least the Knicks should be taking.

Stoudemire's Suns Career Likely Over

Sun's owner, Robert Sarver, and his penchant for penny-pinching is apparently what led former GM, Steve Kerr, to head back to his old gig at TNT.

That move didn't sit well with their star and soon-to-be free agent, Amare Stoudemire. And, apparently, neither did an offer for $96 million over 5 years with playing time stipulations included.

After Stoudemire turned down the deal, the Suns quickly moved on and signed Hakim Warrick to a 4 year, $16 million deal to "replace" him.

It's too bad, at least from an NBA fan perspective, as Stoudemire was a perfect fit for the Suns' offense and a ton of fun too watch with Steve Nash.

From a NY fan perspective, though, the chances of Stoudemire coming to the Knicks or Nets have now significantly gone up. The only other team that appears to be somewhat in the running is the Heat, but their focus appear to be on acquiring the "Big Three" of LeBron, Wade and Bosh.

Personally, I don't see how Stoudemire would fit in with the Nets' new defensive-minded and demanding coach, Avery Johnson. Thus, the Knicks appear to be a much better fit considering the history with D'Antoni in Phoenix. Then again, who would he be playing with in New York? That is the question.

So many questions...so many answers coming in due time.

I Wanna Be A Billionaire So F***ing Bad...

Not only is this the title of one of the worst songs ever made, but Lebron James has made it clear in the past that he also would like to become a billionarie so f***ing bad.

As a result, the Knicks, in their pitch to LeBron, stressed that he could become a billionaire if he played for the Knicks. In fact, they hired a branding agency called Interbrand to help make their pitch with a slideshow.

According to Interbrand, which accounted for tons of variables, LeBron would have the best opportunity to make a billion dollars with the Knicks over other teams. Here is the list below, courtesy of TrueHoopBlog:

46.6% likely to earn a billion dollars in New York. The strong Knicks' team brand, combined with a shortage of past titles, makes it ripe for James to be seen as heroic to a huge market with national and international media exposure.

1.3% likely to earn a billion in Cleveland. His "hometown hero" status helps Cleveland leapfrog Chicago, as does the Cavalier's lack of past success -- win a title there and they'll love you forever.

1.0% likely to earn a billion in Chicago. The challenge there comes from the "high threshold for creating that legacy" thanks to Jordan's six titles and a fanbase that is not easily wowed.

0.0% likely to earn a billion in Miami. Interbrand finds that in Miami "low can avidity, size of fan base, media reach do not able brand stretch."

Anybody notice anything strange about this presentation? I think Mr. Prokhorov and Jay-Z would. The Knicks and Interbrand compared his marketability to every other competitor except the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets, who play in virtually the same market. Now, his marketability might be higher with the Knicks, but the Nets almost surely would be right behind them.

Something tells me that James Dolan is scared out of his mind by Mikhail Prokhorov. And I love it.

Varitek Joining Martinez, Rest of Team, on DL

Just as the Mets have received some helpful news with Utley going on the DL with Polanco, the Yankees are finding that the injury fairy has been even kinder to them this year.

With a DL list that already includes Dustin Pedroia, Josh Beckett, Victor Martinez, Clay Bucholz, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jeremy Hermida and Mike Lowell, the Boston Red Sox announced today that Jason Varitek will be sidlelined for 5-6 weeks with a broken foot.

Since their lineup is decimated, the Red Sox will be relying heavily on their pitching to keep them in ballgames.

Given that the Yankees are relatively healthy right now, one would hope they could separate themselves from the Red Sox by four or five games by the end of July.

With the mercurial Devil Rays possibly imploding at any moment, the month of July could be a big one for the Yankees.

Bobby Bonilla, Overrated Player, Underrated Businessman

According to a report by Mike Sielski of the Wall Street Journal, Bobby Bonilla has essentially fleeced the Mets of almost $25 million, and, quite frankly, it was either complete genius by him or complete stupidity from the Mets' front office.

After the 1999 season, a year in which Bonilla gave the Mets a solid .160 BA with 4 HR and 18 RBIs, the team clearly did not want to keep him for his final year at the $5.9 million he was owed. Therefore, the Mets decided to buy out the final year of his contract.
Okay, that makes sense. Let's not even go into why they would re-acquire him in the first place after his first failed stint with the team.

However, this is where things get a little tricky. Instead of simply buying out his contract for a little less than the $5.9 million that they owed him and paid him to leave the team, the Mets wanted to defer his payments with interest, so that they could spend this money right away. While baseball economics were different even only ten years ago, I don't see how the Mets could not afford to pay Bonilla his buyout upfront and still pay other players a total of $5.9 million. (This is the same team who gave Bonilla a 5 year $29 million contract earlier in his career for no justifiable reason.)

Anyway, let's go to the result: the Mets, starting in 2011, will start paying Bonilla annual payments of $1,193,248.20 for the next 25 years that total $29,831,205, or 505% MORE THAN THE FINAL YEAR OF HIS ORIGINAL CONTRACT.

(I can feel Mets' fans cringing at these numbers.)

The Mets have had no comment on the issue other than to say, "It's old news. There's nothing new here."

However, Bonilla was happy to chime in for the story.

"Hey," Mr. Bonilla said, "a blind squirrel can find an acorn."

Sayonara Takeru Kobayashi? Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Might Lose Asian Cult Hero

According to reports, Takeru Kobayashi, the little Asian man who has a staggering propensity to eat more hotdogs than can possibly fit into a human his size, might not be permitted to enter the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest at Coney Island on July 4th. (Sigh)

Apparently, the issue stems from a contract negotiation over exclusivity rights that need to be agreed upon in order to enter the event. At the moment, the chances look slim the Asian eating machine, who won the event for a record six straight years from 2001-2006, will make it into the event.

Although I normally could really not care about people who choose to gorge themselves for a living, I do have a soft spot for Kobayashi. When I watch the highlights on SportsCenter the following day, I like to make myself believe I am watching a sport and he makes me believe that for a few seconds. Unlike the other competitors, who make me feel like I'm stuck in trailer park, Kobayashi resembles something of an athlete and superstar with his highlighted hair and chiseled six-pack.

So, here's to you Takeru Kobayashi. I hope you are given the opportunity to stuff around sixty hot dogs down your throat. Make your country proud!

Questionable Managing of Pitchers, Sleepy Bats Doom Mets

The Mets lost to the Nationals 2-1 Thursday night on a walk-off sacrifice fly by Ryan Zimmerman. Santana got back on track and pitched very well, only giving up one earned run over seven innings, but, as has been all too common this season, the Mets' offense supplied no support.

Due to the rain delay for the last game in Puerto Rico, the team did not arrive at their Washington hotels until 7 AM, and Jerry Manuel thought that contributed to the dormant bats.

However, as much as the lack of hitting could be to blame for Thursday night's loss, some of Jerry Manuel's suspect pitching changes could also be considered part of the problem.

After throwing only 97 pitches after seven innings of one run ball, Santana was pulled by Manuel, because the coach wanted the pitcher to end his start on a good note. Huh? Wouldn't Santana feel like he ended his start on a better note if he left the game with the team winning? As Santana made clear after the game, he did not want to come out:

“No, not at all,” he said. “I felt pretty good throughout the whole game. I felt that everything was working. My fastball, my changeup and my slider was working pretty good. But Jerry is the manager and makes the decisions, and he decided what was good for me.”

Furthermore, the Mets bullpen had just been used a lot in the San Juan series, so seeing if Santana could handle the eighth would not have been such bad risk.

Unfortunately, Manuel's mistakes did not end there. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth and in need of a strike out, ground out or pop-up, Manuel decided to put in the wholly unstable Ryota Igarashi instead of closer, Francisco Rodriguez. Granted, Jerry has tended to overwork K-Rod this year, but to put the game on the line with your most inconsistent relief pitcher was simply throwing in the towel. Furthermore, Jerry's stubborn and simplistic explanation is enough to incense any New York Mets' fan:

"All the walk-off losses on the road is indicative of an eighth-inning guy," Manuel said, referring to their collective lack of proficiency this season. "That's where an eighth-inning guy pitches. It's basically that simple."

Sadly, Jerry's belief that a tied ball-game on the road with bases loaded is not the time to bring in the closer might prevent the Mets from winning a few close games that they will need to overcome the Braves and Phillies in the NL East race come September.

Even scarier for me, though, is that Manuel is married to his philosophies and not willing to conform his decisions to the nuances of the night;'s game or the pace of the season.

I hope I'm wrong, but I'm afraid Manuel is going to cost the Mets more games than he is going to win for them.

Rudy Gay, Mr. Plan F, Off the Market

Although this will not have many New York fans' losing sleep, Rudy Gay has reportedly re-signed with the Memphis Grizzlies for 5 years and just over $80 million.

He did not seem to be even on the Knicks' radar, although there were rumors that he was more of a target of the Nets. Even so, neither team was banking on him being the cornerstone of it's franchise.

However, if LeBron and Wade sign elsewhere, and Joe Johnson is leaning toward re-signing with the Hawks, there will be scarce options for scoring wingmen.

As this week progresses, it should become more and more interesting as each player begins to announce a deal, as other franchises will probably begin freaking out as the free agent pool dries up. Some teams are surely to be embarrassed.

Imagine for one second that the Heat, now with only two players under contract, lose out on LeBron, Bosh AND Wade, and are stuck trying to field a team with the scrums of the free agent class. It would just be too good to be true. If I was the Heat's PR guy and that happened, I would just leave.

(The scary thing is that the same scenario could apply to the Knicks.)

Chuck D and Cheese Country Both Hate Brett Favre

(Chuck D giving Bret Favre a local Wisconsin greeting.)

Chuck D, the lead rapper of Public Enemy and also a big-time Jets fan, recently sympathized with Packers' fans over Brett Favre's sheisty ways.

According to reports, Flavor Flav was wearing a Bret Favre jersey when he was preparing to do a stage-dive at a concert in Wisconsin. Chuck D asked the crowd how they would feel about catching Flavor Flav in a Favre jersery. The crowd responded by booing. He said he could relate to their sentiment due to Favre's one year fling with the Jets.

Reactions:
First off, I had no idea that Chuck D was a Jets fan. That's awesome.

Second, nothing makes me smile more than when us big city guys can connect with those in middle America over how much we hate Bret Favre. I've never seen someone alienate a fan base more and more every year, but I smile every time Favre does.

Sabathia, Yanks Avoid Three Game Sweep to Mariners

Whew... That was close. Getting swept is bad, but for it to happen to the Mariners, a team who's season is already on life support, would be downright embarrassing.

Enter Sabathia. After watching Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez baffle Yankees hitters the past two nights, CC dominated, throwing 8 innings and giving up only 1 earned run as the Yanks won 4-2. Mo finished off with a scoreless ninth and received his 18th save of the season.

The Yankees' bats also finally woke up, as A-Rod hit a huge two-run home-run in the bottom of the eighth after the Mariners tied it up in the top half of the inning.

With the victory, the Yankees have temporarily extended their AL East lead to 1.5 games over the Red Sox.

The Best Free Agent Class Ever?

There is no doubt that talent-wise, this Free Agent class is the strongest in NBA, if not sports history. However, there does seem to be one glaring hole in this class's resume--Championship Rings. If you analyze the top 5 free agents (thus excluding Paul Pierce and his 1 ring)--LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson and Amare Stoudemire--their playoff resumes are surprisingly weak. The lone NBA Championship Ring belongs to Dwayne Wade, but he can thank Jerry Buss and Shaq for that as well as some questionable foul calls in finals that year.

In studying LeBron, you want to give him a pass because of how dominant a player he can be (See: Game 5, Eastern Conference Finals, 2007) and the poor level of talent surrounding him for many years. However, after his lackluster performance against Boston in this year's Conference Semifinals. Frankly, it appeared that he either did not care as much or he did not think he could overcome the Celtics. Either way, though, red flags flew sky high.

Chris Bosh's career has included only two trips to the playoffs, both resulting in first round playoff exits to New Jersey (4-1) and Orlando (4-2). Granted Bosh has fallen into the same category as LeBron by being surrounded by less than exemplary talent, but the lack of success he has had as the leader of a team should make anyone question signing him if not signing LeBron or Wade, as well.

Joe Johnson has a more interesting and more difficult career to gauge. As a role player in Mike D'Antoni's offense, Johnson flourished in the 7 seconds or less system the Suns employed. In fact, he was a key member of the Suns' team that pushed the Spurs championship team to the brink of elimination in 2007. Later on, as the leader of Hawks, Johnson did show off a real ability to dominate in the First Round series in 2008 against the Boston Celtics, the eventual Champions. He pretty much singled handedly pushed the series to seven games by scoring at will in the 4th quarter at home. However, two second round exits later, Joe Johnson and the Hawks are stuck in neutral. Although he must deserve some credit from taking the Hawks from bottom feeders to a second round playoff team, he will need LOTS of help to get over the next hump.

FInally, Amare Stoudemire has played in multiple Conference Finals and five playoffs total. While his offensive ability is unquestionable, the Suns' success is largely due to the their offensive system and the fact that future Hall of Famer, Steve Nash, was its point guard. Although, offensively, Stoudemire can be seen as a cornerstone for a franchise, his defensive liabilities hinder his ability to lead a team deep into the playoffs.

Thus, in the end, the most ballyhooed Free Agent Class ever has five young stars, but only one ring. I'm not saying that these guys do not deserve the hype, but it makes me believe only one team with cap room is going to come out of this summer as a possible contender over the next five years.

Fingers crossed, it's the Knicks.

I'd say Nets, too, but at least they have a team if they swing and miss.

Utley Out for 5-6 Weeks After Thumb Surgery

Just when Mets' fans thought the stars could not align any more perfectly this year, there are reports today that Phillies second baseman Chase Utley will be out 5-6 weeks following surgery on his sprained right thumb. He joins third baseman, Placido Polanco, on the DL for the foreseeable future.

This is another opportunity for the Mets to try to widen the gap between themselves and the Phillies. With Jason Heyward of the Braves recently being put on the DL, too, the Mets have a chance to head into the All-Star break in first place.

Somehow, though, I feel Mets' fans aren't too confident that will happen.

Well, There Goes One Option (Maybe)

Although there were whispers that the Atlanta Hawks were not going to be able to spend the type of money to lure Joe Johnson back to the dirty bird city, there are reports today that the Hawks are prepared to offer Mr. Johnson the Max over six years ($119 million). Furthermore, Johnson appears to want to stay in Atlanta:

Johnson's representatives were also scheduled to meet with the Knicks and Heat as well, but Johnson's first choice is to stay in Atlanta, a source told ESPN.

This could be a big blow to the New York Knicks, as Johnson appeared to be heavily a part of their Plan B if LeBron and/or Wade decided to sign elsewhere, and also possibly a part of their Plan A, as there were whispers that LeBron considered Johnson a worthy sidekick to His Highness.

How the Philadelphia Phillies Got Three More Home Games...

So this is why the Toronto Blue Jays-Philadelphia Phillies series was moved from Toronto to Philly? What a travesty.



This might make you feel a little better, though, Mets fans...

Peaceful G20 protest at Queen & Spadina from Meghann Millard on Vimeo.

Lebron, You Could Become "Ionic" Here!

It's really too bad that Boston isn't competing with us for LeBron this summer. It would just be too easy...even with James Dolan.

Coach Ryan to Author Own Book

According to reports, Rex Ryan, the head coach of the New York Jets, has penned a deal with Doubleday publishing to write a book that is part autobiography and part football strategy. (I'm personally just hoping it's a series of quotes or pieces of advice that he or his father have said in the past.)

The book is set to be published next Spring. Should make for some good summer 2011 reading.

Bosh's First Meeting...Houston Rockets?

With all the talk about Bosh basically following Wade or LeBron wherever they decide to go, should we maybe consider Bosh joining a team all by his lonesome? Well, according to reports, this is exactly what Houston Rockets' GM, Daryl Morey, would like you and Mr. Bosh to believe.

Apparently, the Houston Rockets have singled out Mr. Bosh to be their No. 1 Free Agent target. Although they do not have the necessary cap room to sign him outright, they have more than enough assets to pull of a sign-and-trade deal that the Raptors have reportedly been very open to, especially considering their GM recently admitted that it is "likely" that Bosh will not be coming back.

So, should the Knicks and Nets be worried? Well maybe not worried, but at least they should be put on notice.

If say, LeBron decides to stay with Cleveland and Bosh gets cold feet on being only the fourth player under contract with the Heat after Dwayne Wade presumably resigns, the Rockets suddenly become a very interesting option for him. First, Bosh is originally from Texas, having grown up in Dallas. Second, the supporting cast the Rockets field is well, very impressive even after possibly trading Aaron Brooks, Jordan Hill (that would kill Knicks fans, wouldn't it?), Jared Jeffries and David Andersen, as Chad Ford has suggested.

This would be their roster if this trade was consummated:

C-Yao, P-Chris Bosh, 3-Trevor Ariza, 2-Kevin Martin, 1-Kyle Lowry
Bench-Luis Scola, Shane Battier, Chase Buddinger, Chuck Hayes, and Patrick Patterson

That is not a bad sell, especially considering the other options would be to play with very little support on the Knicks or to play with very unproven talent on the Nets. The Bulls would also have to be considered a serious player if this whole scenario played out, but I have to believe Bosh would see more promise in the Rockets' stacked and physical lineup than the overrated Bulls' foundation of Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose.

Granted, there is a pretty big catch here: Yao.

Will he be healthy? And will he be able to make it through a whole season?

My guess: Yes, he will be healthy to start the year, but will only play 50-60 games. However, now that he will not be the focal point of the offense, there will be less wear and tear on him and hopefully they could pace him so that he would be healthy for the playoffs. And worst comes to worst, Luis Scola is inserted back into the starting lineup, and things didn't turn out so badly two years ago when that happened.

New York Yankees Blanked by the King (No, Not That King)

Considering all the talk about King James in New York right now, it was only fitting that King Felix would want a little attention, as well. I mean, he is royalty after all.

Well, he made it onto the back-pages today by throwing a complete game shutout with 11 K's against the Yankees to help the Mariners win their second straight game against the defending champs, 7-0.

Javy Vazquez actually pitched decently again (continuing his dubious streak of pitching well against some of the worst hitting teams in the Majors), but with the bats dormant and the bullpen falling apart, the Yanks never really had a chance or even mounted a comeback.

Mets Win Final Game in "San Juan Series"; Reyes Out, Though

The Mets, back to their old road woes, lost their first two games to the Marlins on Monday and Tuesday, but were able to salvage a 6-5 win behind some timely hitting from David Wright and recently promoted third catcher, Josh Thole. Mike Pelfrey had an uncharacteristically poor game giving up 12 hits and allowing 4 earned runs over only 4 2/3 innings pitched. However, the Mets' bullpen continued their impressive streak by giving up only one run over the last 4 1/3 innings.

However, the Mets did not leave San Juan on a completely positive note, as Jose Reyes sat out the final game with some stiffness in his lower back or side, depending on if you believe the Mets or Reyes himself. Although it does not seem major, this injury bears watching, as Reyes' laundry list of past injuries have made us cringe every time he stubs his toe. If Reyes is out for a significant amount of time, it would be a huge blow to the Mets' offense, especially since Reyes was just getting hot.

If he does go down on the DL, though, you would assume Tejada would be moved over to shortstop and Alex Cora would step into second base until Luis Castillo is healthy.

With Pagan also not healthy right now, the Mets powerful 1-2 punch at the top of the lineup has been transformed into jsut Jesus Feliciano and Ruben Tejada. Considering that, the Mets have to be even more excited that they were able to pull out a 6-5 victory last night that allowed them to stay only 1.5 games back on the Braves in the NL East.

David Lee doing Free Agency the old-fashioned way

Although most of this year's top Free Agents have decided not to go on a tour of all the prospective cities they might be playing in next year and instead have had the team's representative's come to them, David Lee is taking the opposite approach (which might make the Knicks and some of their fans a little uncomfortable).

Already, Lee has lined up visits with the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves and the Knicks' now BIGGEST rivals, the New Jersey Nets.

As Chris Sheridan pointed out, both the Heat and the Bulls are probably going to wait and see how the bigger names play out before making a firm offer to Lee, but the New Jersey Nets, on the other hand, might be more willing to steal Lee away instead of waiting for Bosh, Stoudemire and Boozer to make up their minds.

Personally, I have to disagree with Sheridan here. Prokhorov just put up a billboard that read, "The Blueprint to Success." How is he going to sell David Lee receiving $12-13 million per year over five years as part of that blueprint. Those Knicks' fans who he wanted to convert into Nets' fans would just laugh in his face if he signed Lee before waiting to see what happened with the bigger names. David Lee, for all his talent, grit, and hustle, was able to put up solid numbers on some teams that were really brutal to watch. Signing Lee for that much money this early in Free Agency is the Blueprint to a First Round playoff exit, but not the NBA championship Prokhorov promised.

Sources: Scott in talks to become next Cavs coach

Former New Jersey Nets and New Orleans Hornets head coach, Byron Scott, is reportedly in talks to become the next head coach of Cleveland Cavaliers.

Scott led the New Jersey Nets to consecutive trips to the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003. Scott led the Hornets to the playoffs in 2008 and 2009 before being fired after only nine games this past season. Known as a coach who prefers veteran players over nurturing young talent, he would seem like an ideal fit for a playoff-contending team, such as the Cavaliers. Obviously, LeBron James is the key to the team remaining a contender.

How does this affect the Knicks and the Nets in their pursuit of Free Agency's golden prize? Well, not that much really, if at all. If the new coach was Phil Jackson, I'm sure the league would perk up and listen, but Byron Scott is simply an above-average coach at this point in his career.

Your thoughts?

Mikhail Prokhorov...Jet Setter

In case any of you have yet to have the good fortune of seeing Mikhail Prokhorov do flips in the air on a Jet Ski to some weird rock music, well, it's okay, I'm here for you.



Mikhail maybe could take LeBron out into the Hudson and show him a thing or two... Too bad they're competing with Miami Beach.

Henry Leaving Barca. Next Stop: Red Bulls?

Thierry Henry, the legendary striker of Arsenal and World Cup fame, may be coming to the New York City area in the not so distant future. According to reports, Thierry Henry has agreed to leave FC Barcelona under "mutual consent." After an illustrious career at Juventus, Arsenal, and most recently Barcelona, Henry had finished last season with just four goals. However, his scoring prowess and overall class would be a huge boost to the Red Bulls, the MLS, and U.S. Soccer. The fact that Henry is a prolific goal-scorer
(instead of a midfielder with a good cross) will only help in his notoriety in the States.

Although one should never count their chickens before they hatch, only last summer, Henry basically predicted the move would be completed.

In case anyone needs a refresher course on how impressive Henry is, enjoy the video below:

James Dolan: We Will Break You!

I'm loving the new Nets ownership. How can you not love Mikhail Prokhorov? First, he does a 60 Minutes interview where he does flips on a Jet Ski and says,

"And frankly speaking, I like women. In my heart I am still teenager. And I am very open and I don't want to hide this."

Then, in his first press conference after assuming control of the Nets, he promises a) that the Nets will make the playoffs next year, b) that the Nets will win a championship within three years, and c) he will turn Knicks fans into Nets fans.

In case James Dolan wasn't already wetting himself, Mikhail Prokhorov made sure that his presence would be felt every day with a new 222-by-95 foot billboard situated only a few blocks from Madison Square Garden with the Nets logo, himself, and Jay-Z that reads, "The Blueprint for Greatness"

The best part:

"The signage is strategically placed, according to sources with knowledge of the project, within the sight line of the Knicks' offices at the corner of 34th and 8th."

Maybe the Knicks shouldn't bring Allan Houston to Cleveland

According to reports, the Knicks are supposed to bring Allan Houston with them to Cleveland to help with their pitch to LeBron.

It sounds like a good idea, but maybe they should practice with him a little bit before they arrive...

The First of Many Sleepless Nights in the Sleepless City

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to Sleepless City Sports. This blog's goal is to be covering everything sports and more that takes place in "the city that never sleeps." Although this is our stated goal, we also are not afraid to veer from it from time to time and tackle topics off the beaten path.

Considering that tonight is eve of the start of the most anticipated Free Agency in sports history, and NBA GM's from around the league, and within the Tri-State area, will be getting very little sleep tonight and every night this week as they run up their frequent flyer miles, we decided why not kick this blog off with a little discussion of the NBA, and most specifically the New York Knicks and the New Jersey/Newark/Brooklyn (2012) Nets.

Ever since a slew of the NBA's youngest superstars decided to not sign Max deals for the maximum amount of years (six) and instead sign only four year extensions, GM's around the league took notice and started shifting their budgets, so that they could have a chance at signing one, if not two, of these young franchise players. Furthermore, when Danny Ainge helped the Celtics win a championship by pulling off the coup of acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen and finding a group of cheap players to surround his new "Big Three," a belief around the league became that if you went for broke and got a couple of franchise players, you could just worry about fielding a full squad down the line. These GMs embraced the comical mantra my friend James likes to say when he is in a bind, "I'm going to let future James handle that."

This now popular approach to "building" a team is at the forefront of the NBA's Free Agency period. The New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls have all used this blueprint in preparing for Free Agency. (Note: The Clippers have apparently been employing this philosophy since 1981 when Donald Sterling bought the team. I'm assuming they simply haven't fallen in love with any free agents since then. Right?) The irony of this go-for-broke mentality is that these teams gut themselves of many of the resources that would make it attractive for a player like Lebron James to come to their team in the first place.

For instance, the Miami Heat, after making a few financially driven trades, now have only two players under contract for next season, Mario Chalmers and Michael Beasley, while the Knicks have a staggering FOUR players under contract, Wilson Chandler, Eddy Curry, Toney Douglas and Danilo Gallinari. (Note: Bill Walker’s contract is also guaranteed if the Knicks keep him after Aug. 1, as is expected.) Basically, Donnie Walsh is going to be coming to Lebron Thursday in Ohio and saying,

"Lebron, do me a solid here. I've basically got rid of anyone with talent on this team so that we could sign you and whoever you want. In fact, I will be stepping down as GM, so you or William Wesley or Maverick Carter or whoever you want can become the GM and decide who you want on your team. I'm begging you, Lebron! I can't return to New York and tell our fans our starting line up is going to be Wilson Chandler, Eddy Curry, Toney Douglas, Danilo Gallinari and Bill Walker. You got to help me out."

Let's hope Donnie's husky voice with James Dolan playing the guitar in the background will make it sound more enticing than it reads.

Basically, in the end, the Knicks and its fans' hopes ride on one thing: has Lebron been lying this whole time in saying that his decision will be a "basketball decision?" If he hasn't been lying, sorry guys, we're screwed. Really, really screwed. If instead he does have a love affair with New York (not Newark), the Garden, and being New York City's first ever King, then get the confetti ready, the Canyon of Heroes is beckoning. Unfortunately, it's a much tougher sell than I think any of us would ever have predicted. In fact, if Donnie pulls this off, Obama should hire him to sell some of the new General Motors' cars. God knows, our economy could use it. However, if Donnie wants to have a shot, he might want to bring Larry Johnson with him.

Moving past the Knicks for a second--I know, how could I?--to the Nets, let's look at their approach to getting here and their plan of attack in Free Agency. (Note: First off, I have to admit that after the great Knick years in the 90s, right around the time Scott Layden handed over the cursed touch to Isaiah Thomas, I became a big Nets' fan when they made their two-year run in the NBA Finals. I've had a soft spot for them ever since. It didn't hurt either that Rod Thorn seemed to have a clue to what he was doing when the Knicks had none. Just had to get that out of the way.)

Unlike the Heat and the Knicks, the Nets actually have some players (more than four) on their roster that might inspire LeBron to think, these guys could be part of my "Big Three." While the Knicks have Danilo Galinari and the Heat have Michael Beasley, the Nets could offer only Brook Lopez and be able to whet the appetite of Lebron more than those players would. However, the Nets have more--both talent and number of players--in Devin Harris, No. 3 overall pick Derrick Favors, Courtney Lee, and last year's No. 1 pick, Terrence Williams. Although this group does not scream 2011 NBA CHAMPIONS NEW JERSEY NETS, they do form a strong young core that could complement a superstar talent or two admirably in creating a perennial Championship contender. Furthermore, unlike the Knicks, they have retained their first round draft picks in the coming years.

However, the Nets, like the Knicks, are banking on the same thing: LeBron's decison is not a basketball decision. If it is, the Nets can't really compete with the Bulls, Mavericks, or even Heat (assuming Dwayne Wade re-signs) on paper at this point. If, as they hope, LeBron's decisions is more than just a basketball one, in comes Jay-Z and Mikhail Prokhorov. (Note: Avery Johnson does not matter one way or the other here, really.)

It's really a new era in sports now where owners and players can actually be friends and break through the employer-employee barrier. It's not like Reggie Jackson was ever going to spend a night out on the town with The Boss, but that scenario is more than a possibility if LeBron joined the Nets. You're telling me Jay-Z and Mikhail Prokhorov could not put together one hell of a night? More importantly, though, if Lebron is looking to market himself and become a global icon, Prokhorov is a man to follow. With over $13 billion in his back pocket and the unbridled confidence to announce that "We are going to turn Knicks fans into Nets fans," you couldn't fault LeBron and his "team" for believing Prokhorov and the Nets to be their best bet to universal stardom.

It'll be interesting to see what happens, because no matter what transpires in this next week or so, we will finally learn on thing: what matters most to LeBron. All we can hope, as New Yorkers, is that it is something close to what either one of our teams can offer.