HeatFanNY

The following is an interesting article I just read on ESPN.com by John Buccigross: Should fighting be banned in the NHL? I wanted to get your attention and that sentence usually does the trick. For the basis of this discussion, I'm using Ross Bernstein's book, "The Code: The Unwritten Rules of Fighting and Retaliation in the NHL." It's available at some bookstores and everywhere on the Web. For the casual hockey fan, it is an excellent textbook on the who, what and why of NHL fighting. For the hard-core hockey fan who has a basic understanding and opinion on all aspects of the game, it is a book filled with excellent stories from the players themselves. I don't think the book will change your opinion on fighting, but, like any book, it will stretch your brain and initiate further thought. In my mind, the stars of the book are Marty McSorley and Tony Twist. I've never met McSorley, who is currently a rookie San Jose Sharks television analyst. I have spent some time with Twist, who did a few "NHL 2Night" shows with me after he retired from the NHL in 2000. After our first show together, we went out with the entire "NHL 2Night" crew at a quasi-"dive" establishment that was definitely not Ruby Tuesday. That night, I saw Tony do a shot through his nose -- a good starting point in describing one's experience with Tony Twist. Twister wore a white T-shirt and jeans. He looked like a refrigerator, a tattooed refrigerator who was funny, engaging and an endless storyteller. Twister spoke an octave higher than you would expect and at a pace that resembles Martin St. Louis' legs. I enjoyed Tony's capsules in Bernstein's book more than anything. Tony should write a book. I knew a few things that night as I shoved countless mozzarella sticks into my piehole: Tony was 6-foot-1 and around 235 pounds. I am 6-foot-3 and close to 200 pounds. That would seem like a fair fight. Rest assured, Twist could kill me in 12 seconds. He was the bodyguard, I was the prima donna; The chance of someone starting any trouble with me was about the same as me ever abstaining from fried cheese; If someone did try to start something, Twist, even though we had met just hours before, would have had my sinewy back. Because we were on the same team. That is the closest television host/NHL right wing analogy I can construct in trying to determine what someone like Twist meant to someone like Chris Pronger or any of his St. Louis Blues teammates during the late '90s. That is why some women not named Katie Holmes prefer to be around large, brave men. That is why boxers have bodyguards named "Tank." They feel safe. In those cases, violence sometimes still occurs, primarily because of the presence of "bodyguards." As readers of this space know, I love NHL fights. They are usually exciting, honorable and consensual. Probert vs. Tomi; Peat vs. Stock; Neely vs. Tocchet; Boogaard vs. Chuck Norris. Fights can add entertainment value, change a game and have fans talking for days, especially when someone like Jarome Iginla drops the gloves. Still, I find it difficult to comprehend that people come to NHL games for fights. That is an awfully expensive night out for something that isn't guaranteed to happen, and, if it does happen, it may be short and unmemorable. There are plenty of ultimate-fighting highlights on television today. I understand hockey is the final frontier for sanctioned bare-knuckle fighting, but UFC matches are close enough. I guess the question is, how many fans would not watch or attend a game if the possibility of a fight was greatly reduced? Ross' book certainly is a pro-fighting tome. That stance is set on the cover, which advertises a forward written by McSorley and Twist. All the arguments for maintaining fights in the NHL are well-crafted in the book. Again, as an NHL fan, I have no problem with fighting. NHL hockey is primarily what I watch at home and what I watch at work while preparing for "SportsCenter" or ESPNEWS on Thursday Nights from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. ET when we talk lots of hockey. As I've stated here before, low television ratings don't affect my NHL fan self-esteem. I don't care if the NHL never adds another fan. If they just replaced us with a new passionate fan when we die, I'd be fine. The popularity of the NHL has no bearing on my love for the sport. I'm certain the fan base's intimacy is a healthy percentage of my attraction. Case in point: As the NFL has become more popular over the last 20 years, I've liked it less. With that in mind, if the NHL paid me a large consulting fee to be a part of an NHL think tank, where ideas are thrown around in an attempt to enhance the game and, perhaps, grow it, I would construct the following arguments on fighting, complete with devil's advocate responses (D.A.). 1. The presence of possible fighting deters cheap hits and dangerous stick play. Devil's Advocate: Mandate full-facial protection, like the NFL. Eye injuries would virtually disappear and dental premiums would probably plummet; or severely penalize stick and head infractions to the point that players can't afford to purposely cross the line. The price would be huge. 2. We need enforcers to protect the stars. Injuries would increase for the most talented players if they were open season for contact all game, every game. D.A.: When Tom Brady or Marvin Harrison or Shaun Alexander is "jacked up," NFL players don't fight. Even on an illegal hit, players rarely react with fighting. Sometimes there is pushing and shoving, but the 15-yard penalty is bad enough. If the NHL had five- or 10-minute penalties on hits from behind, or 10-minute penalties on intent to injure, those plays would probably decrease. Shouldn't all NHL players be open to receive legal hits? Quarterbacks are protected, but that's because they are often defenseless in the act of the forward pass, as are punters and kickers while kicking. Their minds are on something else. A runner or receiver or returner knows the deal. All hockey players need to keep their heads up and be prepared to get hit. 3. What about people like Ryan Hollweg of the Rangers or Cam Janssen of the Devils, who run around slamming into people yet neither has scored a point this season? What if one of them tears Sidney Crosby's ACL on one of those torpedo hits? Would a decrease in fighting increase the chances of that happening? D.A.: That's possible, but if that happens this season, what would happen? Players would fight, and then someone would try to take out Brian Gionta or Patrik Elias or maybe Martin Brodeur. Is that a better alternative? And just because the NHL banned fighting, that doesn't mean there still wouldn't be fights. Baseball and basketball still have fights. Someone can still jump Hollweg and pound at his face, the crowd will be fired up, the player will be ejected and Hollweg will get a 10-minute intent to injure penalty. Then, he'll probably get suspended for 10-15 games. But if Hollweg or Janssen chooses to play a physical game with legal hits, why should he or someone else have to fight? Take out hitting if you're going to do that. As long as they keep their elbow pads and shoulder pads away from the opponent's head, why can't they bodycheck whomever they want? Maybe we would have a more exciting game with more hitting. Imagine if NFL players had to fight after a good hit. There would be fewer big hits. Of course, hockey is different because play isn't over after a big hit. It usually continues, building a player rage. The end of a football play has a natural drop-off. It's what makes the sport a tough watch in person and a better watch on TV. We get plenty of replays. 4. People come to NHL games for the chance to see a fight. It is a tension that other sports just don't have. It's the gut of the game. It keeps people honest and helps separate the rugged from the weasels. Hockey is the most honest sport that way. Other sports have players talk and strut and dance, but, among those, who are tough and who are poseurs? In the NHL, we know who is or isn't the real deal. My guess is Terrell Owens is not Jarome Iginla, a star who fights. Joey Porter of the Steelers would probably back it up with his fists. D.A.: If fighting were banned, how many fans would stop watching? More people watch the Olympics and the Stanley Cup playoffs than the regular season. The Olympics have no fighting and the Stanley Cup playoffs have virtually none. If anything, fighting keeps hockey as an extreme sport. Extreme sports, while entertaining, do not garner mass appeal. Ultimate Fighting is a growing sport that will probably flatten. The NHL is probably still viewed as an extreme sport by much of North America. That's cool for the hard-core fan, but it may scare off the casual fan. Mom doesn't want Sparky to see Derek Boogaard break Todd Fedorur's orbital bone or see Nick Kypreos sleeping in a pool of his own blood. That is part of the game for the hard-core fan, but "extreme" to most of the sporting world. They will take their kids to see professional wrestling -- while it's exciting and well-produced, it's still staged. 5. What if someone dies in a fight? These men are getting bigger and stronger. These aren't the days of 5-foot-10, 190-pound players, or even 6-foot-1, 220 pounds. This is 6-foot-7, 270 pounds of bare-knuckle fighting on a rock-hard surface. Even Ultimate Fighters have a padded surface. People die from hitting their heads on natural and artificial ice every year. It's why USA Hockey coaches now have to wear helmets in practice. What do we do if someone dies? We all know it would be on CNN, Fox, MSNBC, "Today" and all the rest for weeks, just like the Todd Bertuzzi incident. Hypothetical tragedy aside, we know this isn't fair in terms of equal time, and perhaps we should not even concern ourselves with this scenario. These same shows have never shown a second of Alexander Ovechkin or Sidney Crosby doing something extraordinary. But a fighting death will define the sport to a greater degree than the Bertuzzi moment did, way more than if someone fell headfirst into the boards and died. In some people's minds, a player death from a fight would have a more negative dynamic simply because they'll know fighting was technically allowed in the game. It's one thing if fighting was against the rules; then, it could be better described as an accident by two out-of-control athletes. But, until fighting is banned, hockey will appear to be an extreme sport, and people generally, though not always, avoid activities that they deem "extreme." Some dissuade their children from such activities even if they partake in them. This all would be bad, something that could fill us with guilt if we saw it coming and didn't take measures to diminish the chances of a hockey mom and dad losing a child. D.A.: Let me get back to you on that one. This sure makes an interesting topic. If fighting was extinct in the NHL, I would still watch. What do you guys think?

Well once again the Giants show their true colors. Once again the defense comes up lame when the game is on the line. Everytime the offense scores a tying or go ahead touchdown or field goal, the defense lets the opposition march right back down the field and score with ease. It has been like this all season. Giants defense is just pathetic! The offense is just as bad thanks to Eli Manning. I don't believe Eli Manning has what it takes to succeed with the Giants. This team is the least disciplined team I have ever seen. Coughlin must go!

As a die hard Yankees fan I say good ridence to Randy Johnson. The only reason he won 17 games last year was because the Yankees would score like 10 runs a game every time he started. Now I say get rid of Carl Pavano and let's try starting some of the young guys like Humberto Sanchez, Philip Hughes or Darrell Rasner.

Personally for me I would rather play the Cowboys in the playoffs than the Eagles. The Eagles right now look like one of those teams that could make a run to the Super Bowl. They kind of remind me of the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals.

Did anyone happen to catch tonight's Rangers-Capitals game. The Rangers finally played with some emotion. 4 fights in the game tonight. The highlight had to be Brendan Shannahan taking on Donald Brashear. It was so great to see the Rangers play with this mean streak. So long 7 game losing streak.

Thank goodness for Tiki Barber. Next up for the Giants either the Cowboys or the Eagles. Bring them on!

The Heat aren't very good. The Heat aren't very good without Shaq and Wade.

The following is from ESPN.com MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Memphis Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello became the first NBA coach to lose his job this season on Thursday, as he was fired following a 6-24 start. Grizzlies president of basketball operations Jerry West announced Thursday that Fratello has been "relieved of his coaching duties." A search for an interim head coach will begin immediately, West said. Fratello, the seventh and winningest coach in franchise history, went 95-83 since being hired Dec. 2, 2004. A 16-year coaching veteran, he became the 19th coach to win 600 games on March 4, 2005. His teams have qualified for the NBA playoffs in 11 of his 16 seasons as a head coach. The Grizzlies were hamstrung from the beginning of the season as they were without their best player, Pau Gasol, who was injured during the FIBA World Championship. Gasol returned to action earlier this month. The team has also had to deal with the distraction of the franchise being put on the market by majority owner Michael Heisley. After winning 45 and 49 games respectively the past two seasons, the Grizzlies lost eight of their first 10 games to start the season before enduring losing streaks of seven and five games, the latter of which is current. Fratello's last game at the helm was a 112-96 loss Wednesday night to the Milwaukee Bucks. "Unfortunately, this season has been one of disarray starting this past summer," Fratello said in a statement released by the team. "I am sorry I have not been able to find a way up to this point to turn things around, and I understand why a change needs to be made." West said he planned to hold a news conference Friday morning at FedEx Forum in Memphis. "I'd like to thank Mike for the contributions he made to the Grizzlies organization," West said in the team statement. "He is a great coach and friend, and he did an outstanding job guiding this team to two playoff appearances in Memphis. We just felt it was time to make a change and move in a different direction based on our record and future goals." Does this mean he will be back broadcasting Heat games and TNT?

Hey everybody, I am moving to Miami next month from New York and wanted to see if anyone knew if the Direct TV sports pack offers the New York sports channels such as YES and MSG? If so do they show the Yankees and Rangers games? Thanks for the help!

Doesn't anyone think the Giants paid a little too much for Barry Zito? Look at what happened to Kevin Brown or Mike Hampton after they got such a big contract.

I think getting swept in the 1st round is just as bad as not making the playoffs.

The following is from ESPN.com: Barry Zito is staying in the Bay Area with the San Francisco Giants. Sources told ESPN's Peter Gammons that the former Oakland A's pitcher has agreed to a seven-year, $126 million contract with the Giants. The deal, agreed to late Wednesday night, includes an $18 million option for 2014 that could increase the value to $144 million, an unidentified source told The Associated Press. Zito is scheduled to have a physical Friday, and the Giants planned to announce their agreement with the three-time All-Star later in the day. His decision to sign with the Giants first was reported on MLB.com. Zito's deal ties for the sixth largest overall, matching the $126 million, seven-year extension agreed to this month by Toronto and center fielder Vernon Wells. Previously, the largest contract for a pitcher was Mike Hampton's $121 million, eight-year deal with the Colorado Rockies before the 2001 season. Texas, Seattle and the New York Mets also pursued Zito, the top available pitcher on the free-agent market. The 28-year-old left-hander spent the last seven seasons across San Francisco Bay pitching with the Oakland Athletics, and staying in the area appeared to be a factor in his decision. As part of his agreement with the Giants, Zito will fund the construction of youth fields in the San Francisco area through his foundation. Only Alex Rodriguez ($252 million), Derek Jeter ($189 million), Manny Ramirez ($160 million), Todd Helton ($141.5 million) and Alfonso Soriano ($136 million) have contracts with more guaranteed money. Zito's is the 14th $100 million deal in baseball history and the fourth of the offseason following agreements by Soriano (Cubs), Wells and Carlos Lee($100 million with Houston) New York's initial offer was for about $75 million over five years, and the Mets were prepared to go somewhat higher in average salary but were wary of offering a longer deal. Texas had told Zito's agent, Barry Zito, that it would withdraw its proposal if it wasn't accepted by the end of the week. Zito is 102-63 in 222 career starts, including a 16-10 mark with a 3.83 ERA in 34 starts last season before becoming a free agent. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound 28-year-old was drafted in the first round, ninth overall, by the A's in 1999 and made his debut the following season. By 2002 he was a star, making his first All-Star team and winning the American League Cy Young award. His 23-5 record led the league and he also boasted a 2.75 ERA. Zito was also an All-Star in 2003 and last season. Zito helped the A's to the playoffs in his first four seasons, but Oakland lost in the divison series every time. Only last season did the A's break through, beating the Twins in the ALDS before losing to the Tigers in the American League Championship Series. Zito's postseason career record is a mere 1-5, but he boasts a 3.25 ERA. Zito has been known for his durability. His 173 starts over the past five years rank first in Major League Baseball. In his career, Zito's accomplishments have earned him approximately $18 million, the amount he will reportedly make per season with the Giants.

Also what teams out there would be interested in Gary Payton and Antoine Walker? None. That's just great.

Tough loss tonight for the Heat. Loved how they battled back after losing Wade for the game. Does anyone know if Dwayne Wade is going to miss any games? Thank god the X-rays were negative and the wrist was just sprained. Does anyone out there agree with me and think that Chris Quinn should get some more minutes? Also what teams out there would be interested in Gary Payton and Antoine Walker?

I get enough Rangers talk from my friends in NY. They're making the playoffs, book it. Don't worry. The Rangers may make the playoffs but they will get swept in the first round just like last year.

The following article was in today's New York Daily News written by Bill Madden and Anthony McCarron: While the Yankees continued engaging multiple teams in trade talks about Randy Johnson yesterday, they also came up with a possible option to replace him in their starting rotation: Barry Zito. According to a baseball official familiar with the Yankees' thinking, if the Yanks are able to complete a trade involving Johnson - they have talked to the Diamondbacks and Padres, among others - they will investigate what it would take to sign Zito, the best starter left on the free-agent market. If the Yankees' interest in Zito becomes serious, it would put them in direct competition with the Mets, who have been interested in the 28-year-old lefty all along. The Mariners, Rangers and Giants are also believed to be pursuing Zito. If Zito is not the answer, perhaps Roger Clemens is. The Yankees want to convince The Rocket to make a dramatic return to the Bronx to join his friend, Andy Pettitte, who came back from the Astros earlier this month. Clemens, however, has not decided whether to pitch or retire, though Pettitte said last week he believes his buddy will play. In any event, the Johnson trade talks have had an effect on the free-agent market, with executives around baseball wondering "how this affects Zito," as one National League official put it. "Do the Yankees move in on that?" the official added. At the very least, the Yanks' potential involvement could delay Zito's decision as his high-powered agent, Scott Boras, tries to pit clubs against each other. In an effort to have as many options open as possible, the Yankees are hoping to resolve talks about Johnson by the end of the weekend. In return for the 6-10 lefty, who has 34 victories in two seasons in New York but never has appeared fully comfortable, the Yankees want a player who can help them next season - at the very least. According to the official, the Bombers might be willing to kick in part of Johnson's $16 million salary for 2007 if it meant they would get better players in the deal. Johnson has a full no-trade clause in his contract and, according to two baseball officials, the Yankees have not approached his representatives with a trade to approve. Johnson has not requested a trade, the executives said, but the Yankees began discussions with other clubs when GM Brian Cashman made a condolence call to Johnson after the recent death of the pitcher's brother and Johnson told the GM it was important to him to be near his family. Johnson's offseason home is in Paradise Valley, Ariz., a suburb of Phoenix, and he has family in California. The Diamondbacks publicly acknowledged talks with the Yankees yesterday, when team president Derrick Hall told MLB.com that Arizona GM Josh Byrnes "has had significant talks with the Yankees, but we have not been able to make a match at this point." Arizona is generally considered to be flush with young pitching talent, with Edgar Gonzalez, Enrique Gonzalez, Dustin Nippert, Ross Ohlendorf, Micah Owings and Dana Eveland among the most attractive young arms. While the D-Backs are mostly a youthful team, they could be looking to lure back Johnson, their franchise icon, to spark interest from fans - Johnson won four Cy Young Awards and a World Series ring with Arizona. The Padres, meanwhile, could offer righty reliever Scott Linebrink, a player the Yanks have admired. But he stumbled in the second half last season, which may have cooled the Yankees' interest. Linebrink was 6-2 with a 2.74 ERA before the All-Star break last season, but was 1-2 with a 4.64 ERA afterward. One prominent agent said he had heard talk of the three teams being involved in a possible deal in which the Yankees would get Linebrink. The Dodgers are also believed to be involved in talks about Johnson. Hong-Chih Kuo, the Taiwanese lefty who started Game2 of the NLDS against the Mets, could interest the Yanks. The Giants are also believed to be interested.

The following article was in today's New York Daily News written by Ralph Vacchiano: Desperate Tom calls audible Changes play-callers for finale BY RALPH VACCHIANO DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER As Giants tune out Tom Coughlin... ...the coach demotes John Hufnagel (l.)... ...and hands off play-calling duties to Kevin Gilbride. In a move that could be the last act of a desperate man, Tom Coughlin stripped John Hufnagel of his play-calling duties yesterday in the hopes of giving his dead team "a spark." Coughlin made the decision late Sunday night, just hours after the Giants' woeful performance in a 30-7 loss to the New Orleans Saints. He then informed the much-maligned Hufnagel on Christmas morning that quarterbacks coach Kevin Gilbride will call the Giants' plays in Washington on Saturday night. Coughlin will serve as his own offensive coordinator, replacing Hufnagel, who has been reassigned to do "advance" work for the rest of the coaching staff. "John Hufnagel is not a scapegoat here," Coughlin insisted. "He is not. But we need a change, we need a spark, and that's the way it goes. How can you look at the production of Sunday and not think that, 'OK, there's some issue here?'" Clearly, after the Giants put up just 142 yards - seven fewer than Saints rookie running back Reggie Bush had by himself - there were major issues. In fact, the offense looked so bad that, according to sources, co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch were likely going to demand that Coughlin fire Hufnagel after the season anyway - that is, if Coughlin isn't fired himself. And Hufnagel's offense - ranked 14th in the NFL - has been under fire from his players for nearly two years. Tiki Barber has been a frequent critic, and Plaxico Burress has taken shots. Hufnagel was clearly the target when Barber and tight end Jeremy Shockey each made their infamous "We were outcoached" remarks - Barber after the Giants' playoff loss to the Panthers last season, Shockey after the Giants were routed by the Seahawks in September. But despite the criticism, Coughlin said he hadn't considered making the move until "the last few weeks." And though he insisted he had no specific problem with Hufnagel's play-calling, the Saints debacle combined with the fact the Giants still have a great chance to get in the playoffs if they beat the Redskins, made him feel like he had no other choice. "The point of Sunday, in my opinion, was the time in which I thought we had to do something," Coughlin said. "That's simply stated. I thought that Sunday, there was no doubt that our offensive team needs a change, needs a spark." Coughlin considered taking on the play-calling himself, as he did for at least three of his eight years in Jacksonville, but decided the best choice was to turn to Gilbride, who was his offensive coordinator and play-caller in Jacksonville in 1995-96. Coughlin also hopes Gilbride, who has a close relationship with Eli Manning, will be able to spark the struggling quarterback, who was an embarrassing 9-for-25 for 74 yards against the Saints. Still, Giants players seemed to doubt that the move will have any effect on a team that was demoralized and humiliated in front of their home fans on Sunday. When Coughlin informed them of the change yesterday, most were surprised. But none of them knew what it really meant. "How much does it really change things?" asked right tackle Kareem McKenzie. "Realistically, today is Day 1. It's not like he's had weeks to change the whole playbook. This is week 17. Let's be realistic about it." "Our offense wasn't playing real well and obviously the Saints game was our worst performance," Manning added. "We couldn't do anything right, but that wasn't the coaching or the play-calling. I didn't think (the switch) was necessary. But that's what happens." Even Coughlin conceded: "The offense won't change. You won't see anything totally different. You'll see basically the same approach. But you have a different person in the play-calling situation and we'll see how that goes." Coughlin had to try something, after watching the Giants lose six of their last seven games and knowing he'll likely be fired if they lose one more, even if it was at the expense of Hufnagel - a man he called "one of the hardest workers I've ever been around. "I don't believe in scapegoats," Coughlin insisted. "This was, simply stated, to create some kind of spark."

I wouldnt trade Jason Taylor for anything the Giants have but Id still like to see Eli on the Dolphins. UMENYIORA is only 25. He has alot of good years ahead of him. The Dolphins defense is getting old with Zach Thomas, Jason Taylor and company. As bad as things are for the Giants at the moment, I still think they have a better shot at winning a Super Bowl than the Dolphins. I think this proposed trade helps the Dolphins look to the future and also helps my Giants. Also if Tom Coughlin gets fired, I hope the Giants do everything they can to persuade Charlie Weis to leave Notre Dame and come to New York (New Jersey actually) and lead the Giants to a Super Bowl. Charlie Weis is GOD in Notre Dame right now and there is no way that man goes anywhere for the time being....he is just too popular in South Bend You never know. The Giants could offer him full control of the team. Remember the Giants need a new general manager after this year. Ernie Acorsi is retiring. I read an article in the Daily News that says the Giants might try and persuade Weis to leave Notre Dame. As it is Tom Coughlin is already getting desperate. He took away the play calling from offensive coordinator John Hufnagel. He gave the play calling duties to quarterback coach Kevin Gilbride. Now if the Giants win Saturday night and get into the playoffs, then I think Coughlin will keep his job but if they lose and miss the playoffs then the Charlie Weis rumors will swirl everywhere.

Coughlin has lost control of this team. He needs to go and Charlie Weis needs to coach this team. If the Giants are stuck with Eli Manning, Weis will help turn his career around and I think he can turn this team into a winner.

oh god....try being a Flyers fan....then talk. The Flyers are pretty bad this year but look at the bright side you are only 20 points behind the Rangers in the standings and there is still like 4 months left in the season. The way the Rangers have been playing the past month, the Flyers will catch up to the Rangers.

Hey any Rangers fans here? If so are we going to ever win another game this season? It is now a 6 game losing streak with no end in sight. On a night where Lundquist played pretty good in goal, the Rangers could not put the puck in the net past Rick DiPietro. Since when did the Islanders learn how to play defense? My brother who is an Islanders fan can't stop bragging about how great his Islanders are. Is there any hope for the Rangers?

I wouldnt trade Jason Taylor for anything the Giants have but Id still like to see Eli on the Dolphins. UMENYIORA is only 25. He has alot of good years ahead of him. The Dolphins defense is getting old with Zach Thomas, Jason Taylor and company. As bad as things are for the Giants at the moment, I still think they have a better shot at winning a Super Bowl than the Dolphins. I think this proposed trade helps the Dolphins look to the future and also helps my Giants. Also if Tom Coughlin gets fired, I hope the Giants do everything they can to persuade Charlie Weis to leave Notre Dame and come to New York (New Jersey actually) and lead the Giants to a Super Bowl.

Let's stop making excuses for Kobe's poor game. He's a selfish player, who will never be like Michael Jordan. Kobe will never win without Shaq. I do see Wade winning a title without Shaq eventually.

I wish the Dolphins had Eli. The Dolphins can have Eli Manning. How about I offer the Dolphins Eli Manning and Osi Umenyiora for Jason Taylor and that Lemon guy at quarterback. I like the way he plays better than Eli. At least Lemon can move around in the pocket.

i heard all the eli bashing for a while now. i listen to evan cohen, a giants fan on espn 760 that has bashed eli manning since pretty much day one. he said that he was making stupid mistakes all the time and shouldn't be doing this becuase of his pedigree. i thought he was just an eli basher and ranting. last year, he blamed eli and called the giants a mess after that playoff embarssment. and this year, he cannot stand this team becuase they make so many mistakes and are just a total mess. he wants the whole team dismantled right now, and is rooting for the patriots until eli and coughlin are gone. that saints game proved that the giants don't desrve the playoffs. that was just terrible football. on another note, i'm glad the chargers got rivers instead of eli...looks like they got two teams, falcons with vick and the giants with eli. You should hear the sports radio stations here in New York. They are pretty much saying the same thing and I agree, this team is a joke, just like the Yankees. Just shows that all the talent in the world does not guarantee a championship. Maybe Brett Favre will play for the Giants next year and send Eli Manning to the bench.