The Name Game

Is it me or are there a growing number of football players with unusual names? My mother always told us that she gave all of her kids short names in case we were slow and couldn't spell them.

She may have been right on one account.

But the names of some of these athletes have me scratching my head. Boys named after horses? Who names a kid "Colt"? JaMarcus? Does this border on child abuse?

First I saw Colt Brennan at Texas and then Colt David pops up at LSU.

(Note: I checked the Mississippi State roster and there is no Feline Louis or Canine Williams listed)

There is a BenJarvus, a LaDerrick AND a Sen'Derrick (because Derrick just wasn't good enough), an Eryk (you think he got irritated when he saw cups with the names "Erik" and "Eric" at the local Great Adventure?), a Quindarius, a T-Bob (the son of former Saints QB Bobby Hebert...what the hell was HE thinking? maybe it was all the blows to the head while playing for that awful franchise).

Don't get me wrong....I'm sure these are all terrifc gentlemen....after all, I don't want Shukree coming to find me and drop me like it's hot or anything....

Maybe the government needs to declare some type of Martial Law and take over the naming of all kids South of the Mason-Dixon line.

Because we DEFINITELY don't want to commit abuse like this.

Poor guy.

There's Only One October...

"Do you REALLY think the Yankees are going to make the playoffs?"

-- Local Shill prior to a spring softball tilt when the Yankees were 14 games out

"Yes."

-- My response

"Cat, you're crazy."

-- Local shill

How much did it suck to be a Mets/Rutgers/Jets fan this past weekend?

I hope Local Shill is doing OK.....I didn't have a chance to check in with him or many other Mess fans to see if they jumped off a cliff after the debacle that was the month of September. While I have received numerous emails/texts from Mess fans after the Yanks have lost in the playoffs (Keywords: "In the playoffs"), I opted to use some restraint. I had the picture of ARod with a pocketbook sent to me by many...including one Sandman, who was seen purchasing Prozac and various other "medications" after a certain Hall of Famer let his squad down.

Maybe he's still on the Braves payroll.

As I was watching the Phillies eliminate our friends from Flushing, this popped on the TV. I couldn't believe they aired Dane Cook playing up the Mess playoff appearance.

I understand how much it hurts and what it feels like to have other people (especially Yankees fans) dwelling on this....but if you're going to dish it out, then you have to be willing to take it. Those days after Boston rallied back from an 0-3 hole were dreadful. I know the "What number is Babe Ruth" comment is coming from Joe Pendleton.

Cheer up though....only 5 months till pitchers and catchers report!

Moving on from that train wreck (why don't they just rename CitiField, Brittany Spears Park?)

It came as a surprise to many that Rutgers wasn't able to knock off Maryland. Well, anyone who takes a look at this defense realizes that this isn't the same unit as a year ago. Plus, Brian Leonard's absence seems to have left some question marks with leadership. The Scarlet Knights didn't show as much energy as I saw in the win against Louisville last season.

Everyone is crazy about Greg Schiano, and I don't want to start second-guessing the guy...especially when no Rutgers coach has been able to do what he's been able to do on the job. But he has more bad losses in his tenure (even over the past 3-4 years) than he has victories. This was just more of the same.

Here's a quick overview....I didn't go back to 2004 because that loss to New Hampshire cancels out any argument someone could have with the with against Michigan State.

Great/good wins...Louisville (2006).....the greatest win in Rutgers history...28-25. Fans storm the field and people actually aren't embarassed asking for the red Rutgers Football shirt anymore.

Ruggers sokkah? That's a different story. Why is the man to the right smiling? Could it be the 3-6-1 record and 7th place record in the 8-team Big East Red Division? I love how the history section of the boys soccer page ends at 1997. Have they played any games since I graduated?

Two trips past the first round of the NCAAs in 10 years isn't acceptable.

As for football, that's pretty much it. There hasn't been another game all season that Rutgers won that they shouldn't have won. Yes, there have been close calls (WVU and Arizona State), but a loss is stil a loss.

Bad losses

2005--33-30 OT loss to Illinois. The opener on national TV turns into a stenchfest when Elizabeth product E.B. Halsey sends the game into overtime with a late TD reception and rally from a 20 point deficit.

2006--Following a win against Louisville, the Scarlet Knight end an undefeated season and national championship talk with a 30-11 loss in a huge letdown game. I'm just thankful TE Brett Celek won't be playing in this weekend's affair.

2007--A 16.5 pt favorite to Maryland turns into a 34-24 loss. What could have been worse? It's an ACC school and we all know what we think of that conference.

You can't lose to Cincinnati for the 2nd straight year this weekend. If Rutgers can hold onto the ball, it should be able to pull out the victory.

Now, it's on to the first round for the Yanks. There have been plenty of debates on the radio and TV regarding what would be the reaction like if ARod goes 0-for-4 in the first game against the Indians tonight. Despite an MVP season, ARod is still under plenty of pressure to get the job done....and that starts with game 1. That's definitely going to be a harbinger for the rest of the series.

World Series Pick: Yankees vs. Rockies (can anyone stop Colorado at this point?)