The Media and Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez finally said he was sorry to the public with a handwritten apology on the eve of his return to the New York Yankees.

A-Rod should be given credit where it is due. No matter how he apologized, he would be criticized for it. But the fact is he did apologize. Rodriguez should realize every time he does something, anything at all, writers are going to kill him for it.  If it had been a typed apology, he would be criticized for being disingenuous. If he held a press conference, he would be criticized for his body language and tone. A lot of people are criticizing him for handwriting the note, but it does add a personal trait to the apology.

Apologizing is hard to do, as evidenced by the difficulty Lance Armstrong has with them. He went on with Oprah to confess that he cheated to win all seven of his Tour de France titles in an appearance that was widely panned as staged and insincere. 

Image Credit: ridethepine.com

Athletes have a distinct responsibility as a public figure to have class and an attitude that Rodriguez hasn't always exemplified.  There has always been a lot of comparison between Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, but they have become complete opposites. Alex Rodriguez is the most hated player in baseball and Jeter serves as a role model to many people and his career is often considered to be done "the right way." 

Let's face it, Alex Rodriguez has cheated with PEDs, lied numerous times, and attempted to sue the Player's Association. His behavior was inexcusable.The punishment fit the crime. 

But while he does seem to be the poster child for Performance Enhancing Drugs in the MLB, people seem to forget there are other players that have used and lied. He is the sole punching bag for sports writers and baseball fans. 

Does anybody remember Ryan Braun? Let's take a walk down memory lane for a second. 

The Brewers star told players around MLB prior to 2012 spring training that the man who collected his urine sample that tested positive for synthetic testosterone was anti-Semitic in an attempt to discredit him. He took oath upon his own life that he was telling the truth. He stood before microphones a few years ago and talked about how he would never cheat, and how he was offended at the accusation, and that he literally would stake his very life on his integrity. "I would be bet my life that I'm clean," Braun told CBS Sports in 2012.

Here a few questions: What makes A-Rod so different from players like Braun? Why does he remain the reoccurring joke of baseball? When will it finally be the time to move on? 

Yes, Alex Rodriguez did lie and cheat, but there are far worse things that other have athletes have done off the field, yet are welcome back to play their sport. The media and fans have moved on from those athletes. While I think Performance Enhancing Drugs have greatly hurt baseball, I don't think A-Rod is that different from the rest of us. I think many people would take a drug to improve at their occupation to get paid more money. 

#FORG1V3

Article by: Christine O'Connor

Twitter: @christineeeeO

NFL, MLB PostSeason, Plus Pre Season NBA & NHL; THE WEEKEND WRAP UP aka PANIC! PANIC! PANIC!

Image Credit: JimFeist.com

by: Sean McCaffrey

Twitter: @NYCTheMiC

BULLSMC@aol.com

In this world we live in, where we can put rocket ships in outer space, perform life changing surgeries and master baking cheese inside the crust of a pizza slice, it still baffles me how we can not create a phone that has a battery life of more than one hour. 

Yesterday, Sunday, October 12th, was a huge sports day for the NY area. Not only did the Giants & Jets play key games, the New York Rangers had their home opener. Carrying over from last season’s unexpected success, where even the most hardcore Ranger fan, like myself, has to admit the team overachieved a bit (Goalie injuries in both the Philly & Montreal series & avoiding the Bruins), the Rangers hosted “RANGERS BLUESHIRT BOULEVARD”. For the event, the Rangers shut down all of 33rd street from 7th to 8th Ave, and had numerous fan activities, live bands on a nice set and was just a great day to bond & enjoy laughs with other Ranger fans. The event started at 12pm and ended an hour before game time, at 6pm. While this was going on the Jets took the field as well.

For Jet fans, and as talked about in previous columns here, at HipHopShortstop.com, the Jets are just a mess. Jets fans have no reason to panic because there are really no expectations. It’s been the same cycle for 45+ years. The only difference between the Jets and a wife is that the Jets will always fuck you. It’s just what Jet fans are used to. How can you panic when you know the Jets will be rolled time and time again?

However, for the NY Giants & The NY Rangers, the two teams with the most success in recent years, as the Giants are the only team in the NFL to have won 2 Superbowls in the last 6+ years and the Rangers fresh off a Stanley Cup appearance, panic has set in. Or at least that’s the feeling I got when I finally got home from the Rangers game on Sunday night.

I should mention I got home an hour earlier than I expected, due to Hank laying a big fart & questionable officiating, so it was time for me to head to the LIRR after the second period. If the Rangers were in such a fan friendly mood, as evident by their “BLUESHIRT BLVD”, they should’ve gave a refund to every fan that attended last night’s crapfest. But we’re fans, win or lose, and you take the good with the bad.

Due to my phone battery lasting as long as a Walker extra on “The Walking Dead”, I couldn’t keep up with live play-by-play and fan reaction on social media at the game in between periods. To note, it’s amazing that no matter where we go in life, whether it’s a bar, restaurant, a bathroom, or where ever, our first thought is “WHERE ARE THE MOTHER FUCKING OUTLETS?” We live in a world where we crave and need to steal electricity where ever we are. Our precious phones consume our lives, and you are probably nodding your head, as you read this column on your phone.

My rant on these watt sucking contraptions aside, when I finally got home & rushed to my nearest outlet, I caught up on all the Giants & Ranger fan reaction. Being a diehard fan of both teams, and perhaps borderline obsessed, I read countless articles and fan comments on social media as the Eagles were blowing away the Giants.

Image Credit: NYDailyNews.com

It was nothing but doom and gloom, but fans of both squads need to remember several things. Going to the hockey first, the Rangers never have hot starts. Last year they were 3-7. The Rangers are also missing their starting center in Derek Stepan, their biggest free agent of the off-season, defensemen Dan Boyle & the straw that stirs the drink of the Rangers, Mats Zuccarello, was held out due to his physical play the night before. Being 1-2 is not the end of the world. You play 82 games.

What is cause for concern is how Henrik Lundqvist’s game has been exposed in recent games. No doubt about it, when it’s all said and done, King Henry or Hank, as he’s called by True Blue fans, is going to the Hockey Hall of Fame. He’s a great goalie. He’s just not the best goalie. Hank has had the fortune of having dedicated shotblockers (especially in the Coach Tort years) & superior defensemen, with the likes of McDonagh, Girardi & Staal. I am one of the Ranger fans that believe Jonathan Quick just flat outplayed him in the Stanley Cup. Hank is known to give up leads time and time again. In crunch time, I would rather Rask from Boston or Quick as my netminder.

That being said, hockey fans need to realize that the goaltending isn’t as elite as it was in previous generations, where defense was a strength. The NHL is always trying to increase scoring. The game gets harder and harder for goalies. This will always be the way, as high scoring games is how NHL executives think they can convert casual and new fans to their product. 

For the Ranger fans going crazy right now, relax. It’s only 3 games. The NHL is all about just making the playoffs, because once you’re in, anything can happen. Just look at the LA Kings two cup runs. Let the injuries, lines gelling and time pass, and you will see, the Rangers will be a top 3 seed.

Moving along to the NY Giants. The NY Giants talked more shit than any other game they’ve ever played, and in return, got a nice big heaping pile of crow to eat for their efforts. I can’t imagine how red Couglin’s face was during his closed doors meeting with the players after that pile of shit. This was the ugliest Giants game in a while, but the Giants are known for this. In recent Superbowl years, they’ve had piss-poor starts, only to make Tom Brady cry at the end of the season.

The old adage in football is “ANY GIVEN SUNDAY”. And it’s true. How many times have we seen under dogs win? Anything can happen. Just this past week alone, the mighty Steelers got rolled by the lowly Browns while the Cowboys, primed for their usual December collapse, handed the Superbowl defending champions, the Seattle Seahawks, a rare home loss.

Image Credit: Matt Rourke; Associated Press

Things aren’t looking good in Giants land, especially in the wake of Victor Cruz’s potential season-ending injury, but it’s hard to forget that last year, the Giants started 0-6 and if they could’ve beat Dallas in the latter weeks of the season, they could’ve potentially won the division. Up next on the docket, those same Dallas Cowboys.

For the Giants, you have to hope that this Philly ass raping, a raping that looked like it came straight out of “OZ”, is the raping they need to wake the fuck up. However, I do believe Eli Manning needs to be bitch-slapped unmercifully every time he does that stupid shoulder shrug or throws his hands up in the air after every bad play. But he has two Superbowl rings, which is 2 more than the Eagles have, so who am I to question his methods?

Calm down Giant fans, we’re in for a roller coaster. We have seen glimpses of greatness and know that this team can win on any given day. We’ve seen it before. Never doubt Tom Coughlin, a rare breed who despite his old age, always changes & adapts to the times. I would never bet against him. A win against Dallas, and everyone is puffing out their chests again. But, don’t forget, one win or one loss doesn’t define one team.

Image Credit: Brian Monzo/WFAN

QUICK NOTES:
- Happy to see the Alex Rodriguez of the NY Rangers, Rick Nash, starting off strong. People forget he was out 6 weeks and had post-concussionsymptoms last year. This is his first true healthy season with the blueshirts. It’s time to live up to that contract. So far, he’s been the player we all thought he would be.

- Anthony Duclair, who I wrote a piece about on here, at HipHopShortstop.com, has played 3 excellent games, already notching two assists. I’ve seen the kid play 4 times live. I think he’s the real deal. Let’s hope he continues at this level and isn’t a flash in the pan. The Rangers need to get young, and could use a legit bonafide young blood superstar. The second coming of Manny Maholtra would be a travesty.

- Poor, poor, poor Don Mattingly. The guy can’t catch a break. I must wonder if it rains where ever he goes too. He will probably lose his job over this latest collapse. Despite having the highest payroll in all of MLB, his teams can’t get into the World Series. This latest playoff blunder shouldn’t rest squarely on his shoulders, as his bullpen was terrible & his offense let him down, but it’s just business to fire a manager after a letdown like the Dodgers had.

- Who would’ve thought that the St. Louis Cardinals & The San Francisco Giants would be the most successful franchises in all of baseball in recent years? I think whoever comes out of this series wins the whole thing. Both fanbases are loyal too, so it’s hard to root against them, as a fan with no bias either way. They have built top-flight organizations. Maybe the lowly Mets should take notes.

- It’s time for Odel Beckham Jr. to break out. This injury to Cruz could make Beckham, well, the next Victor Cruz.

- The whole Forg1ve3 and Re2pect stuff needs to stop. It’s already jumping the shark. People are using it for everything. Just stop. Enough. Let Jeter have his thing and stop bastardizing and trivializing it.

- Kevin Durant could be out 6-8 weeks. I wonder how many times in Oklahoma, the front office just keeps banging their heads over letting James Harden walk for nothing.

Aaaaaaaand, that’s a wrap.
Feedback, comments, questions, hate mail can all go to:
Sean McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com
@NYCTHEMIC
HipHopShortstop.com

The Return of Alex Rodriguez: Are Yankees fans ready to Forg1v3?

(Rodriguez photo Credit: Getty Images/Jonathan Daniel)

By: Cyndi Riegger
Twitter: @Label_Whore_Art

With a somewhat harsh reality settling in for Yankee fans, a post Core
Four season starts in 2015. The thought of what the team is currently
capable of is the subject of some worry. For most, the thought of what
it means to be without beloved captain, Derek Jeter, is sending folks
into a “The sky is falling” type of mentality and giving life to the
idea that hope is lost for the team unless Brian Cashman makes some
important moves in the offseason.

The start of the 2015 season also means the return of one of baseballs
most notorious headline grabbers: Alex Rodriguez.

His eminent return is receiving mixed reviews, as one would expect
given the reason he had to leave baseball to begin with (For those of
you who have been living under a rock, Rodriguez was suspended the
entire 2014 season due to his involvement in a Bio-genesis scandal). A
theme of perhaps offering forgiveness, as per a timely shirt designed
by Bleacher Creature extraordinaire, Vinny Milano aka Bald Vinny, that
emulates The Captain's Jordan “Re2pect” campaign; is making its way
around social media.

(Bald Vinny t-shirt photo is courtesy of Vinny Milano's Twitter: @baldvinny)

Rodriguez's t-shirt simply reads “Forg1v3”, which it sounds like most
fans are prepared to at least try to do next season. But, what does
this mean for the Yankees?

Already, the once star third baseman's age and physical condition has
come into question. The effectiveness that a 39 year old could
possibly have in the physically demanding position of playing 3rd base
and the possibility of A-Rod spending some time at 1st base to relieve
a frequently injured and ailing Mark Teixeira.. Via a report by Bryan
Hoch on MLB.com, it was said Manager Joe Girardi has run the idea by
Rodriguez. It, however, did not mention Rodriguez's reaction or
readiness to do so.

Still, with the 2014 Yankees season over, the return of Alex Rodriguez
could serve as some sort of comfort for those missing a more familiar
name and face on the roster. With big names like Jeter, Rivera,
Pettite and Posada now gone, thus ending an era for the team, perhaps
a newly invigorated Rodriguez might be what the team needs.

At 39 and having missed an entire season of play, Rodriguez's at bat
presence is sure to have suffered, though given his work ethic which
no matter what scandal he has been involved in, has always been
reported as remaining at a high level; this Yankee fan is certain it
has been worked on at length in his time away. With any luck, A-Rod
can be reconditioned in Tampa next Spring and Bronx ready by Opening
Day.

Til then, Brian Cashman has some work ahead of him to hopefully
rebuild the team known for its love of championships and with any
luck, they'll see one in 2015 with an enthusiastic and focused Alex
Rodriguez perhaps leading the charge.

New York Yankees Update:: Cashman, A-Rod, and more.

cbssports.com

The New York Yankees are suffering through an average season. As of writing this, they're 9 games back in their division and likely out of the wild card race. Mets' fans would be thrilled with this season. Knicks' fans, sadly, would be equally happy. Yankees' fans? Displeased. Who's to blame? Injuries? The players? GM Brian Cashman?

The knock on the Yankees has been the same since the strike of '94. They buy teams. They have more money than anyone else, and they use that to buy the best players. And, to a certain extent, that's true. The problem with this view, though, is no one knows who the best players are going to be this year, next year, or even, really, next game. Scouts, metric stats, and players' history can only tell you so much. After that, it's a crap shoot. You can only hope your team makes the best decision it can with the information it has.

Absent of a history of injuries for a player, injuries are impossible to predict, and they've cost the Yankees dearly this year. I'm going not to list all their injuries, but at one point almost their entire starting pitching rotation was on the DL. The Yankees' current DL would earn more than half of MLB's teams.

Professional players got where they are for a reason, and they, with very few exceptions, always play their best. Players go hot or cold, sure, but there's way too much money on the line for them to take games off. Rarely can the players be blamed, exclusive of themselves.

So injuries played a part. The players are doing what they can. What's Cashman's role? He signed all these players. He spent big money on Tanaka. He re-signed A Rod. Oh, and most importantly, his contract is up.

Blame Cashman if you want. Blame injuries. Blame average play. But what happened is this: the Yankees ran into a leagueful of bad luck. In times like this, we all would like to lay the blame on one person, one source. If we just get rid of X, everything will be fine. If it was that simple, Brian Cashman wouldn't have his job, you would. Given everything that's gone wrong since A Rod's suspension, an outside shot at a wild card ain't bad.

The Yankees have said they expect A Rod to be healthy and ready to play next year. This is part gamesmanship, and part lobbing a ball into A Rod's court. Of course they expect him to be ready to play. He's still on the payroll.

Yankees' fans are pissed about this year. They're pissed at Cashman. They're pissed at A Rod. Let's remember, though, as we say goodbye to Jeter this year, that Cashman and, yes, A Rod had as much to do with the championship, division titles, and memories since 2004 as Jeter did. Maybe what's missing is the support.

Josh Henderson

T: @verybadwrong

A-Rod Being MOCKED in a new "NO RESP3CT" YouTube Commercial

   

For shame. Absolutely appalling. Watch this video here, as A-Rod is being TORTURED, once again. 

Did you laugh? Well I damn near cried. This is so tasteless and DISRESPECTFUL. You can call him a "cheater" all you want, it's HIS prerogative if he chooses to use ENHANCEMENTS, that help him be a better performer, on the field. To judge someone on the choices they make on what they decide to do with THEIR life, is just absurd. There is NO doubt in my mind that Alex, is 100% passionate about baseball. His love for the game is something I could sense from years and years ago. 

I always have, and always will, defend A-Rod to the GRAVE! Everyone makes mistakes, and his mistake was PETTY in my eyes. Sure, he's done plenty to hurt his team and teammates, but you all are SO quick to forget about the times he's HELPED the team. Booing him when he comes off suspension, as he's slumping, then cheering for him, and prasing him once he starts hitting the ball again. This is one of the MANY reasons that makes me ASHAMED, to be a Yankee fan! MOST (current) Yankee fans, have got to be the most CONFUSED people I've ever witnessed! Such hypocrites! 

(YES Network footage, August 5th, 2013)

(Front Page of The Record, Bergen County New Jersey, August 6th, 2013)

(Wide spread of the Daily News, August 6th, 2013)

YES! That is ME holding that sign! 

by:: Dana Pelotta; Blog Owner/Editor In Chief)