25 years and counting

Currently watching the Cardinals-Rangers World Series, Game 6, with Texas needing three more outs for their first ever championship, I felt it time to reflect on the 25th anniversary of my beloved Mets only World Series title of my life.

I went to bed crying after the Red Sox homered twice in the second inning to go up 3-0. Thankfully, my mom woke me up when the Mets tied it at 3. Ray Knight homered soon after my waking, putting the Mets ahead for good. Darryl Strawberry hit a monstrous home run in the 8th for some insurance. In the ninth, Jesse Orosco delivered the 2-2 pitch. Marty Barrett swung and missed. I went ape shit and this is what it looked like on the field.

                                                         VICTORY!

Thanks Mets! Now go out and get me another one before I die.

"Behind the bag!"

                                                            MOOK! 

25 years ago today, Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully uttered these three little words. Mets' fans all over New York, including myself, age 9, went crazy. Just moments prior, Boston was leading Game 6 of the 1986 Series 5-3, with two out and no one on base. They were on the verge of their first title since 1918.

Then it happened.

Gary Carter singles. Kevin Mitchell singles, Ray Knight singles home Carter. Bob Stanley uncorks a wild pitch to Mookie Wilson that allows Mitchell to come home and tie it at 5. Then it's Mookie's "little roller up along first..." Bill Buckner watches it go through his legs. Mets win. See you in Game 7.

No matter how many times I watch it, or talk about it, it will never not make me smile.

Tebow's time?

There are many people in the world of sports that consider themselves experts. You see them on television, listen to them on the radio, and read what they have to say in newspapers. Since Tim Tebow completed his senior season at the University of Florida there have been lots of experts voicing their opinions. They said that he'd never be selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft. The experts showed they aren't perfect prognosticators when the Denver Broncos selected Tebow with the 25th pick of the first round.

As expected, Tebow spent most of his rookie season as the backup to Kyle Orton. He saw some action in short yardage and goal line situations. Ran for a few short touchdowns and even tossed a short touchdown pass on his first NFL attempt. Denver turned to Tebow to start the final three games of 2010 after Orton and the Broncos stumbled to a 3-10 record, dead last in the AFC West. Tebow went 1-2 in his three starts, completing just under 50% of his passes with four touchdowns and three interceptions and a passer rating of 82.1. Pedestrian statistics and plenty of rookie mistakes, but that's what should be expected of a young quarterback. In his lone victory, he rallied the Broncos from a 23-10 deficit to Houston by throwing and running for two scores in the final 11 minutes giving the Broncos a 24-23 win.

Tebow's 2011 began with many questions as well. Should he be the starter? The experts said no, once again. The Broncos' coaching staff apparently agreed as Tebow was dropped to third on the depth chart behind Orton and Brady Quinn. The Broncos started slowly again in 2011 under Orton and while trailing San Diego 23-10 at halftime, Tebow was called on again to take the reins starting the second half. Tebow engineered two second half touchdown drives and had his last chance pass fall incomplete in the end zone as the Broncos fell 29-24.

Tebow was named the starter on Monday and all the experts came out again to bash him.

   How many of you get this fired up for a team that's lost 16 of their last 21 games?

Now I'll be the first to admit, I don't believe Tebow is never going to be Joe Montana, Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. I will say it's time for the experts to let the guy have a chance before the bash him anymore. If he fails, they can gloat all they want, but if he proves them wrong, they should apologize to him publicly since they have tried writing off his career before it even has a chance.

Tebow isn't your typical pocket QB, but there have been plenty of successful NFL quarterbacks that used their other athletic abilities to lead teams to victories on the field. And there's those intangibles experts like to talk about. He's a great teammate from everyone you ask. He's a monster in the workout room. He's a winner. In his three years as a starter for the Gators he posted a 35-6 record, winning the Heisman Trophy and a National Championship. He puts points on the scoreboard, as he tossed 88 touchdowns and rushed for another 57. Yes, college isn't the NFL, but so far at the pro level he's accounted for 13 TD's in 12 games.

For whatever reason, the running athletic quarterback has always been knocked at the NFL level. The experts say they can't succeed. Well, experts let me prove you wrong with four names: Randall Cunningham, Fran Tarkenton, Steve Young and Michael Vick. All four known as mobile, athletic quarterbacks, and with the exception of Young (who didn't start full time until he was 30, while learning behind Hall of Famer Joe Montana), all completed less than 60% of their passes.

                     W-L-T       Comp. %    Pass yards   TD/INT      Rushes-Yards   TD
Tarkenton    124-109-6      57.0           47003        342/266       675-3674         32
Cunningham   82-52-1       56.6           29979        207/134       775-4928        35
Young            94-49-0       64.3           33124        232/107       722-4239        43
Vick               47-35-1       55.8          15945        101/65         690-4948         32

They all had winning records. Young won a Super Bowl. Tarkenton started three Super Bowls, but came away without winning the big one. Cunningham led his team to the playoffs eight times. Vick has been to the playoffs in four of his eight years as a starter, and has years left to play still.

Now I'm not proclaiming Tebow as the next in this line of great athletic signal callers. Maybe he will be. Maybe he won't. At the very least, he's earned the chance to prove to every expert that says, "he can't do it", that he can. One thing I can guarantee is that Tebow will give every ounce of sweat to helping the Broncos win each and every week. That's what happens when you put your heart into doing what you love most.

I'm behind you, Tim. I'm no expert, but I'll at least give you a chance.

Back from the abyss...and bitching!

I've watched a ton of football in my days here on Earth. I've learned that sometimes the refs screw up a call. Sometimes it goes your way. Sometimes it doesn't. Today, I have to say that refs flat out screwed the Jets with bad calls. Maybe it's Rex Ryan's fault for talking up his team in the media and creating resentment among the masses, who I guess enjoy all those boring press conferences where coaches droll on about "giving 110%" or "taking it one game at a time." I love Rex from a fan's standpoint, but maybe it's time to turn the bravado down a notch until the calls start to balance out a little.

            "Hey, ref. He touched me and I stumbled to the ground. Where's the flag?"

Apparently when you play for the Patriots you can run into opposing defensive backs, fall down, and you get a pass interference call. Tom Brady whines after every pass he throws that falls incomplete. So I'm guessing that maybe the refs are just tired of listening to that little bitch whining all game long and they throw flags just to appease him. Whatever. Call me a bitter Jets fan, if you must. I'm not. I fully expected the Jets to get smoked today, but they actually played a solid game on both sides of the ball today and had a chance to get a win.

***Apologies for my long hiatus. Will be more regular with the postings. ***

All clear football fans...

  

One of many fans excited for the return of football.  "ROAR."

If you haven't heard, the NFL's players and owners agreed on a new, ten-year collective bargaining agreement yesterday, ending the 100+ day lockout, and assuring that sports bar owners and fantasy football enthusiasts all over America won't have to commit mass suicide due to lack of Sunday football. 

Free agency begins Friday night and Adam Schefter might explode with all the updates he'll be tweeting day and night. Lots of big names will be available including cornerback Nnamdhi Asomugha (please don't make me pronounce that, I can't believe I even spelled it right without checking first); receivers Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, Sidney Rice, Steve Smith and Randy Moss; running backs Cedric Benson, Ahmad Bradshaw, Joseph Addai and DeAngelo Williams; quarterbacks Marc Bulger, Matt Hasselback and...Brett Favre?

                                                          YEP! 

Favre, who at the end of every season since seemingly the start of this century, has retired, only to return when some team backs up a truck full of money to his house in Mississippi. Brett, you're in that club of all-time greats like Unitas, Montana, Marino, Elway, Manning and Brady. Just stay retired this time and leave Jenn Sterger alone so she doesn't have to go through life thinking all men are creepy.

Enjoy it, football fans. Disaster averted.

@#$% you, penalty kicks!

The USA has Hope, so they'll be back in 2015 for another shot at the title.

Penalty kicks suck.

They should never have to decide the outcome of an epic soccer match like they did today at the Women's World Cup Final. Penalty kicks are completely nerve-racking for players. Goalkeepers are pretty much guessing which way to dive, and the shooters are trying not to think about how they could possibly miss a 24-foot wide net from twelve yards away with only one player glued to the goal line until the ball is struck. In essence, PK's are like a chess match, not a soccer match. Not that intelligence isn't a part of sport, but how many other sports change the way the game is played to decide their champion? Play the game to conclusion. All goals in soccer are climactic. Why not have a "golden goal" overtime that lasts indefinitely and have the ultimate climax to close a tournament? Can you hear me, FIFA?

The United States and Japan locked up in a seesaw battle in which every time the favored Americans went ahead, the relentless Japanese women equalized minutes later. A lot will be made of the missed opportunities the US had early in the game, and that penalty kicks would have never been an issue if the US converts just one of the five or six chances they had in the first half, but they didn't get the bounces. Japan did, and they deserved to raise that trophy today.

Young Alex Morgan, soon to be plastered on countless teenage girls (and boys) walls, put the US up 1-0 in the 69th minute, only to see Japan's Aya Miyama tie it up twelve minutes later after the US defense got a bad bounce on a clearing attempt in the box. The head of Abby Wambach put the US back in front as Morgan threaded a beautiful pass over the Japanese defense and on to the deadly melon of Wambach who easily potted it for her fourth goal of the tournament. With the title seemingly in the Americans grasp, Homare Sawa equalized off a corner kick for Japan with just three minutes remaining, drilling home her fifth goal of the Finals, and clinching the Golden Boot award as leading goal scorer.

                     Abby Wambach did all she could to help the USA to the title.

After Americans Shannon Boxx and Carli Lloyd missed the first two penalty kicks, the writing was on the wall. Japan clinched their first World Cup title by scoring the 3-1 win in the PK round. The game is better suited to having a sudden death period to decide the true championship, like hockey does, or any other sport for that matter.

One goal to decide it all.

Next stop...the World Cup Final

  The lovely Alex Morgan celebrates her first Women's World Cup goal.

The USA is on it's way to it's third Women's World Cup final thanks to late heroics again in a 3-1 semifinal victory over France. Striker Abby Wambach once again headed home the go-ahead goal in the 79th minute off a corner kick from Lauren Cheney. Wambach's goal tied her with Michelle Akers as the all-time leading US goal scorer in WWC history.

Alex Morgan, a favorite here at The Wasteland, added her first ever WWC goal in the 82nd minute to seal the deal and catapult the Yanks in to a Sunday match-up with surprising finalist Japan. The ladies from the Land of the Rising Sun knocked off Sweden in the other semifinal 3-1, following their epic upset victory over tournament host Germany 1-0 in the quarters.

Get on that bandwagon, America! Final stop is Sunday at 2 p.m.

Holy posters, Bruce!

                                                        "I'm Batman"

Football? Futbol? Wait, make that soccer

Alex Morgan wants you to have a Fanta and watch more soccer. 

When you grow up a sports fan in the United States, you're expected to love baseball. After all, it's the national pastime. A passion for football also is a pre-requisite here, and some would argue that the NFL has surpassed MLB as the #1 sports choice in the States thanks to fantasy football and endless coverage from ESPN. I've always been a serious fan of both of America's games, but I've also always been a soccer fan ever since I first started playing as a five-year old kid growing up on Long Island.

Why soccer doesn't have the appeal of other major sports here in the States, I will never understand. Maybe it's the low scoring. Then again, when a goal is finally scored it's the biggest explosive moment in all of sports. Most recently, I'm sure many recall Landon Donovan's goal in extra time to send the US past Algeria and in to the Round of 16 at the 2010 World Cup. Possibly it's the fact that diving and poor refereeing seem to influence the outcome of games all to often. Maybe it's the fact the the US has never been a major power on the world scale, well, at least the US men haven't. That brings me to yesterday...and the US women.

Since FIFA began ranking countries in world soccer, the US Women have never been ranked lower than second in the world, only taking a backseat to Germany over the years. They currently sit at #1. Five Women's World Cups have been contested and the US Women have come away champions twice (1991 and 1999) and finished in third place three times. To put this in perspective, the US Men's highest world ranking was fourth in 2006 and best World Cup finish was third place...in 1930. Around the world, the names Hamm, Foudy, Akers, Chastain, Fawcett, Scurry and Lilly are women's soccer legends for anchoring the Cup champs of '91 and '99...and they're Americans. As for the men, outside of maybe Landon Donovan, most of the world will be pretty quiet when talking about American soccer superstars throughout the years.

Yesterday's quarterfinal between the US and Brazil was a classic. US takes an early lead on an own goal from Brazilian defender Daiane. Brazil evened the score after five-time player of the year, Marta, scored on her second penalty kick attempt. US goalkeeper Hope Solo saved her first attempt, but was controversially found to have left her line early and the save was disallowed. Not the first sign of sketchy refereeing against the US as central defender Rachel Buehler was unjustly red carded for fouling Marta in the box moments earlier. Marta put Brazil ahead 2-1 with her second goal of the game in the second minute of the overtime period. The score remained the same until the waning seconds of the overtime, when midfielder Megan Rapinoe hit the most perfectly placed left-footed pass these eyes have ever seen onto the head of striker Abby Wambach, who proceeded to rifle it into the back of the net, tying the game 2-2, and sending the game to penalty kicks to settle the match. I've watched this goal at least a dozen times since it happened and I'm still in awe. As a former player and fan of this beautiful game, it doesn't get any better. Everytime I watch it I want to charge through a wall. It truly brings tears to my eyes, and that's saying a lot.

                                              Go crazy, ladies!

Following the Rapinoe-to-Wambach crescendo, the US prevailed 5-3 in penalty kicks as Solo again showed why she's the best goalie in the world, as she thwarted Brazil's third attempt by Daiane with a diving save to her right. Ali Krieger converted her penalty kick to clinch the win for the US and send them to a semifinal meeting with France on Wednesday.

Now, Americans are suddenly talking soccer again. I know it won't last, but it should. Everytime someone says that soccer is boring, this clip should be played. If this doesn't make you want to watch soccer, then you shouldn't be watching sports. Memories are what breed legends. Babe Ruth's "called shot." Joe Montana to Dwight Clark for "The Catch." Michael Jordan switching hands while driving through the lane on the Lakers. Al Michaels asking "If you believe in miracles?" as USA Hockey upset the unstoppable Soviet Union in 1980.

If you're not watching, you're missing out. Even if it's soccer.