Just A Quick Note About Rutgers Football

My people, Rutgers Football is back like cooked crack. Their dominate 49-16 win over South Florida today pushed their record to .500 at 5-5. They are also now 4-2 in conference play and fourth overall in the Big East.

Lets compare to the other bloggers and see how there schools are doing this football season

University of Pennsylvania : 5-4 (4-2 in Ivy League Play).

Drexel University - 0-0 (do not exist)

Seton Hall University - 0-0 (do not exist)

Well by the looks of things, it seems I have the advantage and am able to talk the most trash when it comes to my teams football season.

small note to keep in the back of your minds

Michael Crabtree - 78 rec. 1010 yds. 18 tds. 12.9 yds/rec

Kenny Britt - 68 rec. 994 yds. 5 tds. 14.6 yds/rec

pretty close right?

Prospect Watch: Tyler Flowers

Tyler Flowers has never generated much hype as a prospect, but he is having a breakout season in the Arizona Fall League. In just 62 at-bats, Flowers leads the AFL with 10 HRs, while posting an impressive .387/.458/1.000 line (Yes, he actually is slugging 1.000)! Drafted in the 33rd round of the 2005 draft by the Atlanta Braves, the 21 year old catcher has shown consistent improvement every season in the minors. Last year he batted .281 with 17 HR and 88 RBIs for class A Myrtle Beach.

Its only a matter of time before Flowers starts showing up on top prospects list. At 6'-4'' 245 lbs, Flowers has the frame of a big league catcher, and he continues to produce at the minor league level. Last year, Flowers was a surprise non-roster invitee to spring training, and the organization had nothing but praise for him. According to Bobby Cox, "He hits the ball probably as hard as anybody we've got," which is high praise for a relatively unknown 21 year old. If he remains on track, Flowers may reach the big leagues by 2010. But with Brian McCann behind the plate, the Braves are in no hurry to rush Flowers. Barring a trade, Flowers will most likely end up as a first baseman, and I feel like he has the potential to develop into a .300/30+/100 type of player. But as it is with all prospects, only time will tell.

Mike D'Antoni Proving System Over PG

Let's rewind back one year.  The Knicks were off to another horrendous start under then head coach and President of Basketball Operations Isiah Thomas.  The starting lineup on opening night was Eddy Curry, Zach Randolph, Quentin Richardson, Jamal Crawford, and Stephon Marbury.  After countless lineup changes, sexual assault scandals, and quarter pounders consumed by Eddy Curry, New York Knicks owner James Dolan finally came to his senses and dismissed Isiah Thomas as head coach and President of Basketball Operations.  In came former Phoenix Suns top man, Mike D'Antoni.  

Renowned for his offensive genius and "Seven Seconds or Less" attack, he brought the run and gun mentality to MSG.  In Phoenix, he was supplied with an MVP and an All-Star cast which helped him average 58 wins a season in his four full seasons as coach.  Running the show was MVP Steve Nash, who many considered to be the engine behind the offense, not the system itself.

One year later with essentially the same roster from the 2007-2008 season which managed to win a pathetic 23 games, here is D'Antoni again working his magic. Through the first nine games of the season, the Knicks are 6-3, tied for the fifth seed if the playoffs started today, and are three games over .500 for the first time since December 29, 2004.  Some of you may remember this date as the day Stephon Marbury boldly declared himself the "best point guard in the NBA."  The biggest offseason import was career backup point guard Chris Duhon.  With career averages of 6.9 ppg and 4.5 apg, hardly the engine and floor general he had with Steve Nash in Phoenix.  However, D'Antoni is proving his critics wrong and winning over the MSG crowd with his great basketball mind.  A look at the numbers shows this record isn't just a fluke and that his players in Phoenix did not make the system.  The Knicks are averaging a league leading 104.8 ppg and are fourth in the league at 23.2 apg.  Both numbers up from last years putrid offense which averaged only 96.9 ppg and 18.7 apg.  An enormous change from this group who were labeled as selfish last year.  

The starting lineup for this years squad is Zach Randolph, Wilson Chandler, Quentin Richardson, Jamal Crawford, and Chris Duhon.  Crawford is proving to the NBA he can be a winning player and is averaging a career best 21 ppg.  Zach Randolph has rejuvenated his career and playing team basketball for the first time in his life. Within the flow of the offense he is averaging 20.1 ppg and is third in the league in rebounding at 12.3 a game.  The man has bought in so much to what D'Antoni is preaching, he even dishes out an assist every game.  

After an offseason where D'Antoni was essentially kicked out the door by the Suns and was mocked for passing on the Chicago Bulls job, (a team who would eventually land number one pick Derrick Rose and was seen by many as the perfect point guard for his system) the Knicks were happy to embrace D'Antoni as its savior.  He is changing the culture, winning the crowd, and showing the fans of New York the changing times literally by benching Eddy Curry and Stephon Marbury for the entire season.  The season is still a long way from being over and there's a chance either of the two could still play, but the early returns show that D'Antoni's mind and basketball sense matter more than the players on his roster which is a welcomed attitude after the prior regime.

Michael Crabtree: A Man Among Boys

I have a new man crush, and his name is Michael Crabtree. After a phenomenal redshirt freshman campaign (134 receptions 1,962 yards 22 TDs), Crabtree has brought his game to a whole new level in 2008. The 6'-3'' 215 lb reciever is averaging exactly 2 TDs per game, and has scored in every single game this season. He is is a consistent, certified stud.

When I watch Crabtree, the first thing that comes to my mind is Andre Johnson. He has all the tools to succeed at the next level: size, speed, intelligence, and athleticism. You name it, hes got it. He is a complete player, destined for NFL stardom. In my opinion, Crabtree should be in the running for the Heisman, right alongside his counterpart Graham Harrell. If Crabtree declares for the 2009 draft, he will almost certainly be a top 5 pick, and depending upon which holds that pick, he may very well go #1 overall.

Heres a closer look at Michael Crabtree's 2008 season by the numbers:

1,010 Yards
78 Receptions
18 Touchdowns
7 Games with 8 receptions or more
6 Multi-touchdown games
1 Miracle game winning catch

Penn vs. Drexel on ESPN! (seriously)

You're probably reading this headline and thinking to yourself, who the hell cares? But considering that I go to Drexel and Mike goes to Penn, I figured this was newsworthy. Especially considering that it has been more than 80 years since Drexel has hosted Penn.

The game will be part of ESPN’s college hoops marathon, which will feature 14 games spread over 23 consecutive hours, beginning at midnight on November 18th. The game tips off at 10:00 AM. The game figures to be a good one, considering that last years contest was an overtime thriller, with Drexel coming out on top 67-59. Despite lofty preseason projections last year, Drexel struggled to a 12-20 record, good for last in the CAA. And things aren't getting much better considering all-CAA center Frank Elegar graduated last year. However, Drexel is a young team which relies on superior defense and strong guard play. I don't really know too much about Penn's team, but I do know that they are physical and well coached. This should be an excellent game.

I will be attendence, sitting in the front row painted blue and gold. Unfortunately, Drexel's new basketball stadium is still under construction and the DAC currently seats only 2,000 fans. Last years contest at the Palestra was packed with at least 5,000 fans. So this will likely translate to a very loud and enthuisastic crowd at the DAC. Drexel may not be the best team in Philly, but there is good reason for their reputation as "the best fans in Philly".

Griffey: The Best Who Ever Lived

As much as I like to deny it, the end is near for my childhood hero. Ken Griffey Jr. turns 39 this month and his career is slowly nearing the finish line. The Grif has been past his prime for quite some time now and may no longer be able to be a starting outfielder for a contending team. It's been a long time coming since Griffey was the best player in the game. The kid with the sweetest swing in the bigs.

While I fondly remember watching "The Kid" make highlight catches and blast home runs all throughout growing up, kids today must think that Griffey is just a injury-prone old guy who isn't that cool. But that couldn't be farther from the truth. Griffey was the epitome of cool. After he came up, everyone kid was wearing their hats backwards and rocking their shoulders when they hit. The walls of my room were covered top to bottom with everything Griffey you could think of: pictures, posters, bobbleheads, starting line-up guys, anything. I didn't go anywhere without my Mariners hat on and I'm from central New Jersey. I've never even been off the east coast! On every baseball team there was nearly a brawl to wear no. 24 and be like Junior.

One quote from Griffey sums him up, "As long as I have fun playing, the stats will take care of themselves." Back in his days on the Seattle Mariners, Griffey was on top of the world. Everyone loved the new kid who did everything and always wore a huge smile to the park. Sadly, when Griffey left to go to Cincinnati, the storybook tale didn't continue. He had to shed his famous 24 and took on no. 30, eventually honoring his father by switching to no. 3. Junior was a star whenever he played, however, he was riddled with injuries and rarely played in a full season. By the time he got over those injuries, he was well past his prime and into the twilight of his career. Last year, Griffey was traded to the White Sox and it just didn't seem right to see him don the no. 17 jersey.

By the time he is done, Griffey will be a sure-fire, first-ballot hall of famer. He's won 10 gold gloves, was named to 10 straight all-star games, won an MVP, and was named to the All-Century Team despite only playing 10 seasons in that century! Also, Griffey will have over 2700 hits, 620 hrs and 1800 rbi's. Not to mention, Griffey lost parts of or most of 6 seasons due to his rash of injuries, not to mention the strike season of 94 when he was off to a blistering pace and put up .323/40hr/90rbi's in only 111 games! That's a fantastic 162 for any other player. Thinking about what could have been for Ken Griffey Jr. always makes me a little sad. Griffey could have been regarded as the best who ever played with over 800 lifetime home runs. But, there's no telling what he would have accomplished with a clean bill of health, so we'll all just have to wonder.

Every summer, even today, I pray that Griffey will enter the Home Run Derby and show off the sweet swing that helped him mash so many home runs. Sometimes, I find myself perusing eBay, looking for people who are discarding old Griffey jerseys or shoes, anything to relive his glory days. I wear my old school Mariners Griffey shirt all the time and still have his poster on my wall for all to see. I've never been starstruck of any celebrity or athlete, but if I ever got the chance to meet Griffey, or even see him across a crowded room, I think I would lose consciousness.

Now, before his 20th season, Griffey is going to be in search of employment and possibly, one last hurrah to get a ring. Now that the Phillies have won the big one, I'll be hoping in the back of my mind that whatever team he signs to wins it all, because he deserves it. After years of being over shadowed by the steroid era and injuries, Griffey deserves gratification for his abilities and all of his hard work. Now, I beg you: appreciate him while you still can. Sometime soon it's all going to be over and only in Cooperstown will we be able to celebrate his illustrious career. I know that I'll always remember him as the backwards hat wearing, home run king. When I have children and they have children, I'll constantly be telling stories of Ken Griffey Jr., the best baseball player who I ever saw, and in my mind, the best this sport has ever seen.

Thank Heaven, It's a 7-11

For the past 10 years or so, many residents in the Kendall Park area have been going to the convenience store known as "Circle K", on the corner of Beekman Road and Route 27. Circle K has also been called "K" and "Kwik Farms" and has a reputation for having less than quality goods, rude and arrogant employees, and a late night mischief spot for teenagers. Many residents to go grab a quick gallon of milk, loaf of bread, lottery tickets, or a cup of coffee on the way to work. It recently was announced that the Circle K was being taken over and becoming a 7-11. As of today, November 13, I am happy to say the renovations are almost complete and the sign is hanging high above the building. My words can not express the meaning of how potentially clutch this can be for Kendall Park. Finally, a reliable convenience store that the people can trust, with a wide variety of low priced items.

A solid convenience store is something that could possibly bring a community together. We've all see what the WaWa in Dayton has done. For years now it has been a place where people can satisfy their hunger or thirst, grab some cash out of an ATM, and most importantly where you can run into friends from the past and catch up on things. I feel like 7-11, the most well known convenience store in the United States can do just that for Kendall Park.

A 19 year old local, and 15 year resident of Timber Ponds in Kendall Park, Vineesh Manchanda sounds off on the arrival of 7-11.

"I am ecstatic. I've been a fan of 7-11 ever since I saw Appo run his own "7-11." Their slurpies are the bomb, and I cant wait to spend my summer nights hanging out there"

Here are some little known facts about 7-11 that people may or may not know.

1. 7-Eleven is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven, Inc., operates, franchises and licenses more than 7,500 stores in North America.
2. 7-Eleven operates in 14 countries.
3. California has more 7-Eleven stores than any other state – about 1,200.
4. 7-Eleven sell the most hot dogs in Washington, D.C., coffee on Long Island, nachos in Colorado; and Big Gulp® drinks in sunny Southern California.
5. 7-Eleven gives out free slurpies to everyone on July 11. (Its official birthday)

As you can see, 7-11 has been a popular and consistent place for people all over not only the nation, but the globe. Maybe now you can see why I am hyping up this new addition to Kendall Park. Having this be about a one minute drive from my house, I will utilize it to the fullest. I hope that this has the impact on people that I know it can have. So readers, if you're trying to get to me and aren't sure of where I am, check the 7-11, there is a 90% chance of me being there. God bless 7-Eleven.

Free Agency Blitz

Its that time of year again, and it almost feels like Christmas. In just over an hour, 330 players will hit the open market. This years class is headlined with big name stars, including CC Sabbathia, Manny Ramirez, and Mark Teixera.

With all the hype around Manny, CC, and Tex, I thought I would take a closer look at the other 327 free agents. These are the players I'm more interested in, because the first three will receive outrageous multi-year contracts, that they will probably not live up to. Here are some of the key free agents I've got my eye on.

• Joe Beimel- The best reliever you've never heard of. Beimel was lights out last year posting a 2.02 ERA in 71 appearances. His high WHIP is a little bit of a concern, but at just 31 years old Beimel is in his prime and poised to build of last years success.
• Casey Blake- Blake may be a little old, but hes a model of consistency. You can expect .270 20 HRs 80 RBIs year in and year out. But more importantly Blake plays the game the right way, and he's the type of guy I want on my team.
• Jason Varitek- I've always considered Varitek to be overrated, and I was disgusted to see him make the all-star team this year. However, according to a 2008 players poll, Varitek is the best in the majors at calling games. This is something that doesn't show up in the stat sheet, and Varitek has long been a key ingredient to the success of the Red Sox. He may not have much left in the tank, but he will come at a big time discount after last years offensive mess.
• Pat Burrell- Public Enemy Number #1 to Mets fans (recently replaced by Shane Victorino), this man has caused a great deal of pain and suffering for me. But I can't help but respect him. He is one of the worst defensive players in the entire league, but Pat the Bat can flat out hit. He might not be a good fit for National League teams, because within the next year or two he will probably become a full time DH.
• Milton Bradley- Another man who I really don't like, I'm actually surprised that there isn't more hype surrounding Bradley. Last season, Bradley had a breakout season, overcome his ADHD and nearly lead the American league in batting. Clubhouse issues may be a concern, but if Bradley can remain healthy and consistent, he will be a steal for whoever signs him.

Miami Dolphins... Playoff Bound?

After hearing nothing but Brett Favre's name on ESPN the last few weeks of summer, it got me thinking. Who benefited the most from this deal? Initially I thought it worked out equally for both teams. The Jets get arguably the best QB of all time, and the Packers get to move on and develop their star waiting to happen. Although it seems to be working out great for both teams, I feel like the Miami Dolphins got the best end of this deal. In 2007, they went 1-15 and were the laughing stock of the league. After bringing in mastermind Bill Parcells and hiring Tony Sporano to take over the head coaching duties, the fish are already 5-4, second in the AFC East and just 1 game out of first place. Even if the Dolphins lose every game from here on out, it would still be a tremendous turnaround. Now, how are the Fish doing it?

Yes Parcells is a football genius and knows how to turn teams around. And yes, Tony Sporano is proving to be a solid coach. But I'm pinning their success on Quarterback Chad Pennington. Yeah that's right, you read correctly, Chad Pennington is a major part in why the Dolphins are a legit contender this year. Miami got Pennington for basically nothing because the Jets dropped him. He is a veteran QB who knows how to manage the game and has been limiting his mistakes dramatically this year. Many critics (including myself) have bashed Pennington in the past for not being able to throw the ball down field, but after seeing him bomb a 40 yard touchdown pass to Ted Ginn Jr, it seems that Chadwick has improved that area of his game. With Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams complementing him nicely in the "Wildcat" offense, and Joey Porter talking the talk and walking the walk on defense, Pennington and the Dolphins seem ready to make a serious run for the playoffs. From here on out, they have an easier schedule than any other team in the league. With games they should win against the Raiders, Rams, Chiefs, and the 49ers. Their other 3 games are division games against the Pats, Bills, and Jets. (Miami already beat New England and Buffalo this season) Don't be surprised if the Dolphins get into the playoffs with 10, maybe 11 regular season wins.

If this should happen, this might be the best 1 season turnarounds the NFL has ever seen. From barely winning 1 game last year, to potentially having a 10 win season and getting into the playoffs is something no fan, expert, or even the Dolphins could have imagined. So keep on eye on Miami from here on out, they really are a great story. Miami's last game of the season is at the Meadowland against division rival New York Jets. Wouldn't it be great to see Pennington and company have a shot at the playoffs in the last game of the season against the team that cut him? I sure think so.

Are These Guys Really NEXT?

ESPN the Mag's NEXT issue is on shelves soon and they've rolled out their annual big four for us all to debate over. Every year, they seem to get the top obvious two right and then pitch two reaches on you. Then they choose their top guy (or girl) and give him the cover. This year is no different.

In years past, they have chosen some bonafide superstars as NEXT, which in some cases wasn't difficult to see. There are always the second-tier NEXT-ers who have varied in fame from Star to Nobody, but I'm just looking at cover guys for this quick recap. NEXT started off in 1998 with the two spot-on choices of Alex Rodriguez and Kobe Bryant. A-Rod and Kobe are both arguably the marquee players in their sport and made NEXT look real good right off the bat. Kordell Stewart also got on it, but ESPN is trying to get everyone to forget that. In '99 Randy Moss and Keith Van Horn shared the cover, you can see how that one turned out. Then in the following years, Vince Carter ('00), Yao Ming ('01) and Brian Urlacher ('02) became solid choices who all are leading great careers with various shades of superstar status and production.

The came '03, where LeBron James was the easiest NEXT choice that there will ever be. He is a Super-Mega-Ulta Star who may be the NEXT-best ever. Then, they coupled that with the worst NEXT selection ever in, you guessed it, Kaz Mazui! This one is a terrible, terrible miss. Kaz couldn't be less ordinary in every way. He plays good defense but that hardly makes you NEXT. Anywho, Adrian Peterson, a certifiable stud, brought it back in '05, but Reggie Bush ('06) isn't producing up to the off the charts potential he so often showed at USC. Dwight Howard ('07) has been an absolute monster and should make the NEXT crew at ESPN look real smart for years to come. Then, Joba Chamberlain to follow in '08, who is looking like he rode the Yankee hype machine straight to the cover.

So if recent history repeats itself, the '09 NEXT should be spot on. So here's my rundown of the participants:

• David Price: This fireballin' lefty exploded on the MLB scene this October by shutting down the all-mighty Red Sox and gaining national attention in the process. The former #1 draft pick has exceeded all expectations by blazing an almost immediate trail to the bigs and mowing down nearly every hitter in his way. Couple his dominant fastball with a power slider and other plus off speed stuff and Price should be a great frontline starter for years to come. Right now, Price is riding the hype machine hard and all indications point to him not disappointing. Other possible MLB NEXT-ers are Jay Bruce and Tim Lincecum, but Price is the best choice. Bruce isn't exciting enough nationally and Lincecum has already accomplished a ton. Price gets the ever-important (or not) Mike seal of NEXT approval.


• Matt Ryan: Ryan is already front-runner for the Rookie of the Year and we're only half way through the season. First round QB's are so often busts that Matty Ice is a tremendous breath of fresh air. The Falcons are fun to watch and surprising everyone, who saw this coming?!? Ryan is poised in the pocket and throws a beautiful deep ball. He deserves this NEXT and at this moment looks more than ready to make good on his selection. Another NFL worthy NEXT would be San Fran's Patrick Willis who is a MON-star LB, who led the NFL in tackles last year as a rookie. He's long been a Cheap Seats favorite, but you wouldn't know that because we only started so recently ago.


• Joey Logano: I don't waste time talking Nascar. It's not my style.


• Ricky Rubio: I've been intersted in this guy ever since I heard he could be the next Pistol Pete Maravich. "The Pistol" was the only of his kind, so to be compared mentioned together in the same breath, must say something about Rubio. He'll never be Maravich because he lacks the pure shooting, but Rubio is a dynamic playmaker who'll be wow-ing crowds in an NBA city near you. Also, Rubio managed to shine on a Spain team with many NBA caliber players in Rudy Fernandez (a fantastic rookie with the Blazers), Pau Gasol (the Lakers star PF), Marc Gasol (a young Grizzly - I think - with wild potential) and great Raptors PG Jose Calderon.

When it comes down to it, I've got to endorse Matt Ryan as the next ESPN NEXT cover guy. He's already showing the key intangibles to be a great QB and is leading an average Falcons team to the contending season that they never saw coming. Also, he shares the name of Cheap Seats Founder Matt (Ryan). That has to stand for something. What kind of self-respecting blog would we be if we couldn't support someone who's practically our own!? In Matty Ice we trust!