Mitch at Large: 2009 Will Be the Year!
It looks like a banner year for New York sports fans
by: Mitch Levites
2009 has all the indications of being a banner year for New York sports fans.
Yes, I am well aware of the tanked economy, the recent turmoil in the Middle East, and the sad fact that Ryan Seacrest will again be allowed back on network television next week. But there is still reason to be happy, despite these troubling developments that continue to surround us.
BASEBALL
First off, if you're a Yankees fan, how can you not be ecstatic over the recent free agent signings of C.C. Sabathia, A.J.Burnett, and Mark Teixeira? There's also the anticipation of the new Yankee Stadium opening this spring that has everyone counting down the days to the first pitch of the season.
But the best thing about being a Yankees fan right now is that the biggest waste to ever wear the respected pinstripes – Carl Pavano – is officially gone. That's right, I kid you not! The Cleveland Indians, for some inexplicable reason, went out and signed this guy as a free agent. Pavano, who has made even Bernie Madoff look better by comparison, has been Ponzi scheming Yankees management and fans for the past few years by taking their money and doing absolutely nothing in return!
Mets fans should be equally pumped as well. They're also getting a brand new stadium, even though talks are still underway for naming the new place "Bail Out Park." I think it's catchy and hope it sticks. It also looks like Derek Lowe will join the Mets family in the coming days and the bullpen, represented by K-Rod, will insure the team doesn't implode again in September when things heat up.
HOCKEY
On the ice, the New York Rangers have finally put together a younger team for another run to the Stanley Cup. They are a very contentious team with an experienced group of core players, which includes Chris Drury, Scott Gomez and "Henrik The Great" to name a few. How young has this team gotten? Let's just say it's been refreshing to see that nobody on this year's Rangers team likes to eat dinner at 4:30 or watch "Matlock" during the off days.
Islander fans will have a tougher season than their crosstown rivals, but they still should be positive and encouraged about their franchise's chances in the coming years, mainly because they have a coach in Scott Gordon who has managed to get the most out of his players. This is one overachieving group of players that lack the marquee names that other teams possess. But what they lack in talent, they come very close to making it up in effort.
FOOTBALL
Football has never been so promising as it was for both local teams this year, and the trend should continue next year as well. The Giants, despite the loss of Plaxico Burress, have shown no signs of not repeating as Super Bowl Champs. Amazingly, Burress' near-tragedy has actually produced one positive thing to come out of this incident. The Giants and league officials have announced next season that Under Armor will now start supplying teams with actual armor for their players when they're out in the clubs.
Jet fans, which flirted with a Super Bowl vision mid-season, saw their team's chances go down the tubes faster than the Dow, should at least be satisfied that Brett Favre – a man who has the mind and passion of a 23-year-old, but the arm of Abe Vigoda – probably won't return next year. And honestly: How many Jets fans were upset Eric Mangini got canned? Not since the Hindenburg tried to land in Lakehurst has a group crashed and burned in Jersey like this year's Jets. Things can only get better in 2009.
Happy New Year everybody!
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