Rivalry and the NBA

The greatest thing in sports are the rivalries that are created within teams, organizations, and fans. I think what made the NBA great in the 80s and 90s what not so much about Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan, but the rivalries that ensued with those players and other teams and players. The NBA right now has one great rivalry, and one that has to cross conferences, of course, I am talking about the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. Rivalries are what makes a league go. There is nothing more intriguing for any fan base. Can you imagine Major League Baseball without its Red Sox - Yankees rivalry? Or the NFL without its great Giants - Cowboys rivalry?

I also believe that rivalries start in the playoffs, so just anointing the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics as rivals is wrong. Just because they are supposed to be great and could potentially meet in the playoffs does not make them a rival at the moment. It has the potential to be a great rivalry, but not right now. The players don't make the rivalry, the history of competition, and particularly in the playoffs, creates a rivalry.
I grew up on some great rivalries, especially in the NBA, with most involving my hometown team, the Knicks. Patrick Ewing's Knicks had to deal with Reggie Miller's Indiana Pacers and Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls in the mid 90s. They were great rivals because they all were great teams constantly battling in the playoffs. Later in the decade the Miami Heat, lead by Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway became New York's nemesis. Again, it became a rivalry because of countless playoff matches and the general dislike the players had for each other.
So when Paul Pierce laughed off the notion that the Knicks are a rival to his Boston Celtics, he was right in dismissing it.  The Knicks have a lot more to prove, more respect to be earned, and a lot more games to be played, especially in the playoffs.

Based on Precedent

One word came to mind when I heard the news that Cliff Lee was going back to the team that dealt him away a year ago, precedent. Cliff Lee had precedent with the city of Philadelphia and the Phillies organization. He was there before and obviously loved being apart of such a successful franchise, especially in recent years. He knows exactly what he is getting into, which is just the opposite if he joined the New York Yankees.

Turning down more years and more money, 30 million to be exact, Cliff Lee showed everyone it isn't just about accumulating the most money, at least not for him. With his decision, Lee killed the hopes for  the Yankees and Rangers, as well as all the teams in the National League East that are not named the Phillies.
He goes back to a team that is in the best position to reach the World Series for the next couple of years or so. But that is the same scenario with the Yankees and arguably the Rangers as well, so what is difference? Precedent. Or maybe the Yankee fans treatment of Mrs. Lee really had something to do with Cliff's reluctancy to sign that lucrative contract. The Phillies arsenal of starting pitchers that will surround the lefty most likely equated in Lee's decision, now clearly having the best rotation in the game.
Maybe Lee also took into consideration that he gets to go back to the National League, the league that rarely has to do deal with such lineups as the Yankees and Red Sox. The League that will bolster numbers for any starting pitcher, lets face it, its the pitchers league. Its also the league with less competition, the Phillies have a greater chance of reaching the World Series than any team in the A.L.
I also think its safe to say that Cliff Lee may not be much of a risk taker or a gambling man. Or maybe he and his wife just have a soft spot for Philadelphia, I mean who could resist those cheesesteaks.

How Amare has NY Caring Again

I knew Amare Stoudemire was a really good player, one that could create a buzz for the New York Knicks again. We knew he would make the Knicks relevant and better right away. His size, speed, and athleticism were things that I knew he'd bring over from Pheonix. I originally thought he was the product of Steve Nash, a two time MVP, and without him, he could not be as sharp on the offensive end. Boy was I wrong, all he really needs is a good point guard, ie. Raymond Felton. What I did not know about him is the intangibles he brings to the game. His mere presence in the paint challenges any offensive player, whether its making them change their shot or creating fear of a block.
When they got off on that rocky start, we thought, here we go again, same old Knicks. But somewhere along the way they found their identity as a team. One that has a great one to two combo in Raymond Felton and Amare Stoudemire. Can you imagine if LeBron James did come here? Now that would have been a big three. But that doesn't matter now, because Stoudemire has proven he doesn't really need another prolific scorer. He wanted the challenge of being the veteran, the leader of a young and promising team.
Raymond Felton is the perfect compliment to Amare Stoudemire. He is a guy who knows how to get the best out everyone on the floor, a real commander, as a point guard should be. Felton and Stoudemire run the pick and roll as good as anyone in the league.  But they're not doing it all themselves.
Danillo Gallinari, along with the emergence of Landry Fields has given New York solid outside shooters from the wings.
Everything is going right for the Knicks and for the first time, in a long time, Madison Square Garden could potentially host a, dare I say it, a playoff game.
And maybe, just maybe a 'Melo delivery may be in the works for 2011.

World Series Start

This is why I love sports, the unpredictable factor going into any game. In game 1 of the World Series we saw two of the best pitchers in the game getting knocked out in the early part of the game. The Giants showed that Cliff Lee is human and you can hit him, just ask Freddy Sanchez. Lincecum did not have his best stuff, yet battled and got out of early jams.
And all of sudden what we thought was going to be a low scoring affair, ended up being quite the slug fest. The Rangers showed us that they would not go down without a good fight, scoring three runs in the ninth. Vlad Guerrero in right field looked very rusty, but I have a feeling Ron Washington is going to stick with his clean up hitter in game two as well.
I like the Rangers in game 2, mainly because of C.J Wilson and how comfortable the Rangers offense was in the ninth inning of last night's game. C.J Wilson is one of the best pitchers that no one talks about, he also saw the aggressive Giant approach, and may use that against them in tonight's game. This series might go six or seven because of how much fight each team has.

Music

Music is more than notes on a piece of paper. It's more than just a melody or beat. Music is more than rhyming words. It's more than the sound of different instruments crashing together. Music is about so much more. It's art, it's entertainment, it is whatever you want it to be.
It can tell a story, it can reveal a story, music is a story. It can help you understand. Music can just be that perfect escape, without going anywhere. If you don't want to understand something, music is there to create something you won't get. It can answer questions, and create more questions all at the same time.
Music is a celebration. How would we look if we danced to silence? What would a wedding or
birthday party be with no sort of music?
Music is apart of us all. It helps us run that extra half mile and drives us to new hopes. It can also help us wind down, even fall asleep. It teaches us lessons that the classroom cannot. It builds our character and helps us find who we are and who we want to be.
Music creates hopes and dreams that we didn't know we had or even think were possible. Music can help us break out of our shell and tear down the walls we've created. It can create a confidence in ourselves and others.
It can be really loud or soft, and it won't matter. Both can have the same impact.
It is universal and constant. Music is timeless, it cannot be deleted.
Music does not have any prejudices or ignorances. It won't let us down or abandon. It is always there. Like our baseball team in April, it brings optimism for what might come along. It does not come with fears or feelings of uncertainty.
Music is NYC on a spring day.
Music is the sun setting on the Hudson.
Music is the sound of laughter.
It is whatever we see beauty in.
Music is relief. It helps us remember, honor, and restores faith. It is an expression of love. It gives us this all, and never asks for anything in return.
It can help us forget. It is whatever we want it to be. Can you name anything else that can do this?
Music and life go hand in hand. Can you imagine life without music?

The "Ace" in the Hole

The Yankees are loaded with superstar names who create "celebrity headlines" alla Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, but its the guys on the right side of infield who turned the Yankees into a team, not just a bunch of all stars at every position. Although Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano are all stars at their respected positions, they simply are baseball players and nothing else. 

Cano, in particular also seems to be the engine starter of the Yankee offense. It is really difficult to give credit to one guy of this collective murders row lineup, but Cano is the M.V.P of these Yankees. His swing is one of the most fluid you will ever see. We all knew Cano had the potential to be this good, his swing is not something he finally learned, he always had the sweet swing. Its simply raw talent and ability. 
Teams, just like Texas try to have a Cano neutralizer on their staff, but in countless times, Robinson comes through even against these "lefty specialists". He makes this very difficult game look extremely easy. Reggie Jackson describes his play brilliantly. Calling him the Mariano Rivera of position players is the best way to sum up everything Robinson Cano is. Its a shame he is apart of such an elite group of hitters because he may not get all the credit or recognition he deserves. I sometimes feel as though being on the Yankees makes a player better than he really is, but I don't believe that when it comes to Cano. This guy can hit like this on any team. Baseball writers who vote for M.V.P also have some biases against Yankees, which is why he may get overlooked in the race. 
His defense also makes him one of the best all around players in the game, and I still feel he could be the heir apparent to Derek Jeter at shortstop. His arm strength is not even in question, I think a transition could be in the plans for the future.  
The matchup that I am most intrigued with this postseason is Cliff Lee verse Robinson Cano. Lee is one of, if not, the best left handed pitcher in the majors. Its a battle of the bests, and who comes out on top may be the propeller into the World Series for their respected teams.  

Why the Yankees are Different

Along with the Philadelphia Phillies, the Yankees lineup, one through nine, is the best in the game. That is no secret, it has been for quite some time now and that fact won't change any time soon. So while everyone questions the reliability of the starters after the C.C Sabathia, here is my loaded question, does it even matter who is pitching for the Yankees after C.C? Do you really think Carl Pavano and Duensing are going to limit the Yankees lineup to a miniscule amount of runs, I just don't see that happening. 

Also, the Twins just don't know how to tame the animal that is the Yankees. How shocking would it be if the Yankees fall to the Twins this time? Pretty shocking. I truly believe that talent, over anything else, prevails in the post season, and the Yankees just have more of it, at least against the Twins. So while Gardenhire keeps leading his club to division titles year after year, that Yankee wall will also be there to block their ultimate goal. The Twins are the Braves of the 90s, they seem good enough to make it, but just lack the killer instinct when the lights shine the brightest. The Yankees real worry will come in the Championship series when they will have to battle a team of equal talent in the Tampa Bay Rays. 
The other series that should also have a clear winner is the Reds verse Phillies match up. Lets face it, anyone going up against the Phillies right now is going to be a heavy underdog. I knew this would have been the year the Reds finally knocked off the Cardinals, but they just don't have enough to derail those Phills. The Phillies are very much like in the Yankees, even if one of their big 3 falters they still will  somehow find away to win, especially with the bats. So will we see a repeat of last years World Series? The bats will tell that story.