New York is already the sports and media capitol of the world and yet this year its getting even bigger. In case you forgot the New York Giants won the Super Bowl last year adding another notch to the New York greatness belt. So what do they do this year well all they have done was post a 9-1 record through 10 games, and are arguably the best team in the league. Getting their last win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday as they ran for 207 yards on the team with the best run defense....not so much. All of the prognosticators said there is no way the Giants can bounce back with the losses of Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan, Gibirl Wilson and Kawika Mitchell. Yet Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, Fred Robbins, Cory Webster and Aaron Ross have this defense heralded as the main component for a repeat of the 2007 season.
Then there are the New York Jets. In the off season the Jets were poised to turn their fortunes around so they opened their wallets and did just that. Inking Alan Faneca, Calvin Pace, Kris Jenkins, and Brett Favre are now paying off in huge dividends. This past Thursday the Jets topped the first place Patriots to leap frog them and take the thrown in the AFC east. The run defense has improved dramatically with Jenkins plugging up the middle with his 350 lbs+ frame. Now being 7-3 the Jets are ready to face off with the 10-0 Tennessee Titans and really be put to the test. Brett Favre has been slinging the ball around like he did in Green Bay and has the Jets offense looking potent. Rookie TE Dustin Keller has become a great target for Favre along with Lavereus Coles and Jerricho Cotchery. Could the Jets and Giants both be on their way to first round byes in the playoffs?? Or better yet begin to book their tickets to Tampa...
Then we move to the other dominant story in New York, the Yankees and Mets. For the first time in 14 years the post season was vacant in the room which was reserved for a New York franchise. The off season brings enormous questions for both teams. The Yankees have freed up 80 million in cap space and are ready to unload on the free agent market. #1 target is C.C Sabathia. They have already placed their offer of 6 years for 140 million. The richest contract for a pitcher in history. #2 on their list is A.J Burnett. Their offer for him came today supposidly for 5 years and 80 million. The next intriguing options for the Yankees are Derek Lowe and Mark Texieria. Oh and lets not forget the bombers are interested in acquiring Jake Peavy from the Padres. (Give them Robinson Cano, Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes or Austin Jackson and call it a deal!) Its clear that the opening of the New Stadium will bring change to the Yankees line up and rotation as they will do all it takes to win. High Payroll and all.
The Metropolitans have issues of their own like the bullpen that were catalysts for 30 blown saves this past season. So with Billy Wagner out for the season a closer is priority #1 for the Mets. Names being floated around surround Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez. Rodriguez's agent wants 100 million over 5 years. That's 10 million more than Mariano Rivera, the greatest closer of all time who set the reliever contract record last season by getting 15 million a year. Other names out there Brian Fuentes and Kerry Wood. The Mets are in desperate need of all bullpen help as their leading candidate for closing and being a big player is Aaron Hielman...how did that work out last year. Priority #2 for the Mets is to get another starter. Oliver Perez is a free agent will they bring him back? Pedro Martinez apparently has said he is looking at other places to pitch and probably has outstayed his welcome. As far as position players the Mets are pretty set. Their left side of the infield is set for years. 2nd base is still a question mark and Carlos Delgado was given a 1 year extension. The Mets could get a veteran like Raul Ibanez to play left field while Dave Murphy matures more.
Then last but not least are the lovely New York Knicks. The Knicks are actually winning. That's right winning not losing like we are use to. The hire of Mike D'Antoni has proven to be a success thus far. The Knickerbockers are the highest scoring team in the league and are actually a threat. Stephon Marbury has all but been banned from the Garden and Eddy Curry iis literally to fat to play. But the face paced, shooting 7 seconds or ill kill you offense that worked so great for the Suns is clearly doing well in the big apple. Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph have been key components in D'Antoni's full octane style of play averaging close to 20 points a game, and for Randolph he is adding a slew of rebounds and is a walking double-double. Chris Duhon has given them stable point guard play, someone who has a pass first mentality and gets assists. How long can this New York team play this well, will we be able to mention the Knicks and the playoffs in the same sentence once again? Then comes next season....at forward number 23 from Akron Ohio...LeBron James?? Hey you never know
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