And so it goes…









The superstar supercedes the system. Cause it’s not a game. It’s a business. Show Business. Dolan wants tushies in his seats. Tushies attached to deep pockets that can shell out hundreds of dollars for bad seats and thousands for good ones—and pass along the cost to the consumer for the fancy Garden renovation And like any Broadway producer eager to maximize returns on his investment, the number one asset is star power. Skill, talent, experience, teamwork, dedication, selflessness in service to consistency and long term success—fuggetaboutit. This is New York baby, not Utah.

Anyone who knows anything about Cablevision, the Dolan Family (I know a few who have worked closely with James the hirsute heir—some who made big money there and left for humbler pastures in order to save their souls) or what goes on in the offices at MSG isn’t surprised at this latest development.

Wonder if Isaiah Thomas is waiting in the wings. I doubt it, but still wouldn’t be surprised. Walsh now looks like the lucky one who got out of the nuthouse early.

As a fan though, and I’m just speaking for myself, there’s no upside. Even if they start winning, they’ll be ugly wins. Melo in isolation with everyone clearing to the other side so he can do his schoolyard stuff and go 11 for 28 every night? And when guys tend to stand around on offense, it spills over to defense too. Hustle begets hustle and loitering begets bums.

I was no big D’Antoni fan, but I liked him. He seemed like a good guy and a fair guy. It’s no secret that all the players (minus one) liked and respected him too. Amare came to NY in no small part in order to play for him. But maybe D’Antoni was too mellow for Melo. Maybe Woodson is better equipped to crack the whip. Last night he said he’s gonna “make damn sure” that players are held accountable. Maybe all those years in Utah drained out whatever “street” D’Antoni had him and maybe only some street smart tough love can wipe that self-satisfied smile off Melo’s mug. Goodbye Mike, hello Mike, and let’s go Mets.

JUST IN CASE...

...you were wondering why I suddenly shifted the focus of this blog onto the sports scene when
1. I don't really follow sports that closely (compared to others like: teddyvegas.blogspot.com)
2. I'm certainly no expert, nor do I have any inside info you can't find easily elsewhere
3. I am more a man of words than action, and sport is all about action...

...unless of course, you're the spectator, in which case its a feast for anyone with an appetite for the metaphorical or even the metaphysical. A very simple and quick search reveals that there is great wisdom and wit to be found on the diamonds, gridirons, courts, rinks and numerous fields of collision and concussion.

"The trouble is not that players have sex the night before a game. It's that they stay out all night looking for it." - Casey Stengal


Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very un-orderly world. If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can't get you off. --Bill Veeck

The key to managing is keeping the 12 guys who hate you away from the 12 who are undecided. -- Leo Durocher

"Baseball is religion without the mischief." - Thomas Boswell

"A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings." - Earl Wilson (Earl Wilson?)

"My sister's expecting a baby,but I don't know yet if I'm going to be an uncle or an aunt." - Chuck Nevitt

"Kids are great. That's one of the best things about our business, all the kids you get to meet. It's a shame they have to grow up to be regular people and come to the games and call you names." - Charles Barkley

"The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed.” - Martina Navratilova

"When we started, it was based on lies. It's changing now. There are no secrets in the business. You've got to come with the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. It's becoming very confusing." - Don King

"Any American boy can be a basketball star if he grows up, and up, and up." - Bill Vaughn

I've found that prayers work best when you've got the bigger players. --Knute Rockne

'My parents have been there for me, ever since I was about 7.- David Beckham

Catherine Russell.

Ellen and I Caught her live a few years back at a local library in Hastings-on Hudson (thanks to friends J.and B. who live there and are plugged into all the cool cultural happenings)
and she’s the real thing. Her dad was Louis Armstrong’s long-time musical director and her main thing is vintage jazz/blues songs of the bygone days of honky-tonk bars and dance halls. Check out more at:

http://catherinerussell.net/html/about.php

This song isn’t vintage, though it sounds like it. It was written by the eclectic and one of a kind Rachelle Garniez, who I saw one night on a street corner in the East Village playing the accordion and blowing minds with her musicianship and Marx Brothers worthy comic flair and wit. Couldn’t find Cat singing the song on camera, so here’s the audio with pictures…you can see lots of Cat and Rachelle on YouTube.