Okay, so you might be asking yourself, or not.  What does a team born in Baltimore in the year 1901 have to do with the Yankees?  Well, that’s where it all started for the Yankees.  They were originally the Baltimore Orioles, then in 1903 they moved to New York city, calling themselves the New York Highlanders. Who knew?  Trust me I had no clue.  Did you?  Sileno, you probably knew that, didn’t you?  They officially became the Yankees in 1913.  It’s all history after that.  So many great ballplayers have graced the field at Yankee Stadium, it’s jaw dropping to think about.  Household names such as: Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Yogi Berra, Don Mattingly, Reggie Jackson and Derek Jeter.  Wow.  I mean what?  I could keep throwing out names, but you get the point.  I said a few weeks back that I wasn’t going to drop names.  Oops.  I would though give my right arm to have a chance to sit and hear these guys share stories, well maybe not my right arm.  Maybe my right pinky toe.  I’m just saying.

The 2009 N.Y Yankees.  Congratulations.  You guys definitely earned your rings, whether they were fitted in Philly or not.  Who knows?  The Yankees won the Series for the 27th time, the most in MLB history.  27 titles is the most of any professional franchise, period.  Impressive.  I believe that’s why Joe Girardi, the Yankees skipper wears number 27. Makes sense.  I wonder if he’ll wear number 28 next year?  Food for thought.

Alright, so now that I have given the Yankees the kudos they deserve, now I’m going to tell you how I really feel.  This was the 1st season the Yankees played in their new 1.5 billion dollar stadium. 1.5 billion.  Holy ghost Batman, people are starving.  Ahhhh, it doesn’t matter.  If we build it, they will come.  I’m just saying.  The Yankees payroll was an astonishing 208,097,414 million dollars, to be exact.  33 million went to A-Rod.  21.6 million went to Derek Jeter, I wonder how Jeter feels about making 11.4 million less than A-Rod?  The next highest team payroll goes to, wait for it.  The other N.Y team, the Mets coming in at 145,367,987.  Damn.  The Philadelphia Phillies payroll was 111,209,046, the team that the Yankees beat to win the World series.  That’s almost 100 million dollars difference in their payrolls.  I guess money can buy championships.  MLB baseball needs a freaking salary cap. I’m just saying.  Hideki Matsui, a.k.a Godzilla, the Yankees designated hitter won the World Series MVP.  I’ll give it to you, you’re the 1st Japanese player to win a MVP trophy.  But damn, you would think with all those millions floating around they could hire someone to teach you how to speak English instead of hiring a translator.  Just my opinion.  I guess it really doesn’t matter as long as you’re getting MVP trophies and what not.  Please people, don’t read into that too much.  I’m just saying.  N.Y Yankees fans have got to be the worst.  Loud, in your face, bad winners and even worse losers. I will say, not all of you Yankees fans drive me nuts, but this one does.  Here’s what I had to listen to while watching the game last night.  Mike you’re okay with me.  For real.

I must say that I don’t understand what it’s like to be a Yankees fan.  I’m a Cubs fan, all day, all night.  I picked up this bad habit from my Pepaw.  I still love him, regardless.  I obviously don’t know what it’s like to win.  Hell, the Cubs can’t even win a post season game, if we’re fortunate enough to make it to the post season.  Damn goat.  I’m still a Yankee hater, just for the record.  Ahhhhh.  How I do love the underdog.  I always have and always will.  That’s the story of my life.  I’m just saying.

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The NFL.  How is it you keep me glued to the t.v every Sunday?  Am I that bored?  Do I need to get a life?  Is it my fantasy players?  Hell no, I love it.  I’d love it even more if the Redskins would do something.  Oh well.  For the record my shirt is still in the dirty laundry basket.  I’m gonna make it short and quick this week.  The NFL in London, I don’t know.  Money,  money, money.  Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints do it again.  The Pittsburgh Steelers defense scored 2 TDs vs. the undefeated Minnesota Vikings.  Kudos.  Thanks for the fantasy points.  N.Y Jets Mark Sanchez, welcome back rookie.  Carolina Panthers QB Jake Delhomme, see you dude.  I like calling North Carolina home. Not anymore.  That will be all.  Maybe Bojangles will still let you sell chicken for them?  Holla.  Monday night’s match-up between the NFC East’s, my Washington Redskins and the Philadelphia Eagles will probably be like watching a train wreck.  Redskins, it’s about time you win a game. Both teams are struggling and desperately need a win. I’m not sure who needs it more though.  I’ll settle for about 3 fantasy points from Redskin TE Chris Cooley, which would give me a win this week after 5 straight loses.  That’s horrible when I’m pulling for one player to get some yards and a score, instead of my team.  Fantasy football, I like you, but you take away from me enjoying a good ole’ fashion NFC East Monday night match-up.  I think I’m finished with you.  Hell, I don’t know.  Probably not.  I say this every year, Matty will tell you.  I’m just saying.

The N.Y Yankees do it again.  40 AL titles.  Kudos to you.  Even though I don’t like you.  The Philadelphia Phillies vs. the N.Y Yankees.  The World Series starts on Wednesday night in the city that never sleeps.  Great t.v people, tune in.  Damn, I just realized that it’s almost the end of October.  Baseball runs longer and longer every year it seems.  I guess if Reggie Jackson played for the Yankees in this day and age, he would be called Mr. November instead of Mr. October.  Hmmmm.  I’m just saying.

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It’s official, my team the Washington Redskins suck, real bad.  Just for the record I hope we lose the remainder of our games this season, at least then we could get a good draft pick next year, unless we’ve given them all away for big name players that are all washed up.  I’ll look into that.  Rich boy owner Daniel Synder kills me, (bleep,bleep,bleep).  That will be all.  Holy touchdown Batman. Tom Brady, the Patriots QB threw 5 tds in the 2nd quarter alone.  Wow.  The Patriots went on to embarrass the Tennessee Titans.  59-0.  Ouch.  Another game that stands out for me is New Orleans Saints vs. the N.Y football Giants.  Both teams were undefeated going into yesterdays game.  Drew Brees put on another clinic, throwing for 4 tds. The man is on a mission.  Brees has been making plays all season and is by far the ultimate leader of his team.  Work it out Brees.  I’m just guessing here, but the city of New Orleans could probably use something to cheer for.  I’m just saying.  Mark Sanchez, what happen?  3-0 start for you and the N.Y Jets only to lose the next 3.  I was excited for you guys, you had me believing.  Yesterday you played like a rookie, throwing 5 interceptions, and 1 in overtime.  Neither the N.Y Jets or the Buffalo Bills looked like they wanted to win this game.  Buffalo won on field goal in the closing minutes of OT. I mean what?  The Bills, really. I’m just saying.  Monday nights game features the 5-0 Denver Broncos vs. the 2-2 San Diego Chargers.  Should be a good one. I think I’ll just watch this game with the t.v on mute and listen to some music.  Jon Gruden please be quiet and let Jaws talk.  Shhhhhhhh!  I’m just saying.

Yo check it, you guys see how my Redskin shirt is in a basket of dirty laundry?  That’s exactly how it will stay until they win a game.  I’m still Redskins all day, but geez.  That shirt could stay dirty for awhile.  I’m just saying.

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Oops my bad, I got caught up in some BS.  Football everybody, baseball everybody.  Does anyone care?  I do, so hop on the October sports wagon.  Okay, how about we talk some baseball for starters.  Once again those damn N.Y Yankees are in the ALCS championship series again after sweeping the Minnesota Twins in dramatic fashion.  I despise ARod. I’m just saying.  Really, do Yankees fans even like this over-paid, steroid using, womanizing bum?  Sileno do you like ARod?  Yeah, you probably do as long as he is getting hits.  Can’t blame you.  You can’t take anything away from the Bronx bombers, they’re good.  N.Y will have their hands full though with the LA Angels of Anaheim .  Go figure that.  LA of Anaheim?  The Angels are truly that, Angels.  Young pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed early in the season by a drunk driver.  Adenhart was only 22 years old.  R.I.P.  Look for this young mans number 34 on the Angels jerseys.  The Angels have rallied around his passing all season long.  The Angels also have gotten here with some great hitting and pitching and find themselves 36 outs away from the world series.  Good luck, you’ll need it.  Poor St.Louie, damn they got swept by Joe Torre and the LA Dodgers, just as the Dodgers sweep the NL Central Cubs last year.  Bring on the tears.  Poor Cubs and that goat.  Now the Dodgers must face the defending world series champions, the Philadelphia Phillies and Ryan Howard.  Howard you should have meet with the lil’ girl and not taken the ball away from her after hitting your 200th home run back in July.  Bad Karma.  How did that work out for you guys in Philly?  I’m just saying. The Phillies took out the Colorado Rockies in 4 games to advance. Philly took care of the Dodgers in last years NLCS in 5 games.  LA will be looking for revenge, LA has beaten the Phillies 4 out 7 games played this regular season.  The regular season is over though, and it’s a new day.  I would love to see Joe Torre and the Dodgers face the Yankees in the World Series.  Talk about revenge.  Torre managed the Yankees for 12 years winning the World Series 4 times.  Torre is an excellent manager and is very familiar with the Yankees line-up.  Joe love LA.  I’m just saying.

Tune in tonight as LA and Philly take the field to get the division series started.  N.Y and the Angels play Friday night. Should be some intense games, it’s the post-season and every pitch, at-bat, and out are huge.  Don’t miss it.  So, I didn’t mention many names or stats in my blog, if you want stats and name dropping, go to ESPN.  I just give you my opinion and a basic round up.  I also didn’t talk football.  Monday I will be ranting about football, so bring it back and feel free to call me out.  Damn I love Sundays.  I’m just saying.

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The futures game will be played today.  This game will include some of the minor leagues top prospects and surely give you some insight into your next years fantasy draft.  Should be fun to watch.  The futures of game players definitely have something to prove.  I’m positive these futures are ready to put on their big league cleats.

Now, for the home run derby that goes down Monday night.  That’s what I’m talking about.  My favorite event of the All-Star break.  4 AL power hitters and 4 NL power hitters square off.  The NL contestants are all first basemen, Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols, Adrian Gonzalez and Ryan Howard.  The Al contestants consist of Nelson Cruz, Brandon Inge, Carlos Pena and Joe Mauer.  My vote for who will win the home run derby would have to be Pujols.  Pujols has home field advantage, he plays for St. Louis where he’s been playing since 2001.  Pujols leads the majors with 32 homers on the year.  Yeah, these others cats don’t have a freaking chance.  I’m just saying.

I have to give some kudos to last years home run derby star Josh Hamilton, although he lost in the final, he put on an amazing show.  Hamilton hit 28 homers in the 1st round, a home run derby record.  The home run derby took place at Yankee Stadium last year and Hamilton became a fan favorite of the Yankee stadium crowd.  Hamilton plays for the Texas Rangers.  Of course their wasn’t a Yankee competing in the home run derby.  Go figure.  Yeah, I’m a Yankee hater, sorry.  Hamilton also brought along his 71 year old coach from his teenage years playing in Raleigh, N.C. to pitch for him.  Hamilton has struggled with alcohol and drug abuse in the past, and is now clean and sober, which makes this story that much more interesting. Read about it.  Local boy does good.  I’m just saying

The 80th All-Star game happens Tuesday night.  Not a big fan of this game.  It’s stupid.  Wake up Bud Selig and grow a pair.  Just my opinion.  The fans vote for the All-Stars who get to play, which is pretty cool but it should be for the fans, nothing else.  The winner of this game gets home field advantage in the world series.  Changes the whole complex of the game.  Makes no sense to me all at.  All-Star players and managers that might not even see the post season have a say in who gets home field advantage in the world series.  This is supposed to be the All-Star break, break I say.  Are you kidding me.  Watch if you must.  I probably will not be watching this game, well maybe I’ll take a glimpse.  I’ll probably be watching my friends, the Leeves and Project Tritium take care of business on stage at the Blind Tiger.  Most excellent tunes and surely to be much more entertaining.  I’m just saying.

Let’s go Cubbies.  Yeah I know, the loveable losers.  What can I say. I like the underdog.

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The final series between the Detroit Redwings and the Pittsburgh Penguins has been electric. Sidney Crosby of Pittsburgh is fun to watch, he is always around the puck. I’ve had a hard time getting into it since the Canes took an early exit, but I still peek here and there. Detroit took an early 2-0 series lead but Pittsburgh has fought back to tie the series up at 2 a piece.  The Detroit Redwings are like the N.Y Yankees of the NHL.  Hockeytown and what not.  I’d probably say at this point I’m pulling for the Detroit.  I have a friend of mine, Chris Luebke who lives and breathes Detroit, anything Detroit.  Except for Eminem I would suspect.  So if another Stanley Cup for Detroit makes Luebke happy, then come on Detroit. That’s all I’m saying.

They’re playing basketball.  We love that basketball.  They’re playing basketball.  We love that basketball.  Kurtis Blow.  That’s right.

Cleveland.  What happen?  No really, what happen? You guys were playing great.  I guess one player doesn’t make a team after all.  The magic ran out, in Orlando.  Lebron will have to wait another year to try an earn a title.  Maybe he can go to sportsmanship summer camp or something in the off season.  After being elimanated in game 6 by Orlando, Lebron left the court without shaking hands with any Orlando player.  Disappointing.  I mean really?  Didn’t  they teach you that in college?  That’s right, you didn’t play college ball.  Kobe either.  Too bad for you guys.  The likes of Gary Williams or Coach K would’ve set your asses straight. King who?  Kobe what?  Oh well.  And I liked you Lebron? Akward.

So it’s the LA Lakers and Kobe vs. the Orlando Magic and Dwight Howard.  Kobe is trying for his 4th title while Lakers coach Phil Jackson is looking to win his 10th, wow 10 titles. Of course he won 6 of those titles with Mr. Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. If the Lakers win he would pass Red Auerbach with the most titles of any coach in NBA history.  Auerbach won 9 titles with the Boston Celtics.

Game 1 is in the record books.  The Lakers put a hurting on the Magic beating them 100-75.  Ouch.  Can the Magic regroup?  Obama predicted that the Lakers would win in 6 games.  Obama knows his b-ball.  Obama picked the Tarheels to win the NCAA championship and they did just that.  I’m just saying.  Dwight Howard didn’t do much to help the Magic, going 1-6 from the field, scoring 10 of his 12 points from the free throw line.  Howard had no dunks, none.  That’s rare.  Kobe perhaps had one of the best playoff performances of his career, scoring 40 points, grabbing 8 rebounds and dishing out 8 assists.  I’m not a big fan of Kobe, but the cat is a superstar in a town of movie stars.  Kudos to him.  Although, I still wouldn’t let the guy baby sit my kids, if I had any.  Just my opinion.  The Lakers look unbeatable.  Time will tell.  So check this out, here’s a few stats that are interesting.  Phil Jackson’s teams are 43-0 when winning game 1 of any playoff series.  Who knew?  Orlando, since becoming a franchise is 0-5 in the finals. The numbers don’t lie.  Call me superstitious.  I’m just saying.

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