METS: APPLE & MANNY

During the 2007 season the website savetheapple.com was created in order to create a petition to save the home run apple that was in Shea Stadium and put it in the new Citifield. They got 9,133 signatures! Back then their plans were to auction it off to the highest bidder, but now after the petition was created they now say it will be placed on the concourse and some rumors have it back in its place beyond the centerfield fence.

The reason I bring this up is because there is another petition going around for Mets fans to put Manny Ramirez on the team. To sign the petition just click here.

Question of the Day

JETS: MATCH.COM

With Bill Cowher now off the list for the NY Jets Head Coach here is the my top list for the job:

1) Bill Parcells - no questions here
2) Steve Spagnuolo - Jets need a defensive minded head coach and he is the guy
3) Jon Gruden - if he is fired he is a guy that gets an immediate turn-around from his teams
4) Mike Shanahan - offensive-minded coach whose offense revolves around the running game..hello Thomas Jones
5) Mike Holmgren - for Favre
6) Steve Mariucci - for Favre

My list revolves around the idea that what has been lacking to the Jets isn't necessarily the players on defense, but the overall scheme of it. If we can get a defensive minded coach like Spagnuolo to setup the defense with a wide of range of blitzes this defense can be one of the better ones in the league.

JETS & GIANTS: 2009 OPPONENTS

I know its a little early to look at next season but here are the opponents the Jets & Giants will face in 2009:

JETS

Home:
Dolphins - Division
Patriots - Division
Bills - Division
Bengals - Random added game
Titans - AFC South
Jaguars - AFC South
Falcons - NFC South
Panthers - NFC South

Away:
Dolphins - Division
Patriots - Division
Bills - Division
Colts - AFC South
Texans - AFC South
Raiders - Random added game
Saints - NFC South
Buccaneers - NFC South

As you can see the Jets will face the AFC & NFC South this year (combined only had one losing team this year, Jaguars) and their 2 random games are @ Oakland again (for some reason the NFL keeps scheduling these two teams every year) and home to the Bengals again (2nd year in a row).

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GIANTS

Home:
Cowboys - Division
Eagles - Division
Redskins - Division
Falcons - NFC South
Panthers - NFC South
Raiders - AFC West
Chargers - AFC West
Cardinals - Random added game

Away:
Cowboys - Division
Eagles - Division
Redskins - Division
Saints - NFC South
Buccaneers - NFC South
Broncos - AFC West
Chiefs - AFC West
Vikings - Random added game

So the Giants play the NFC South (best division in football record-wise) and the AFC West (worst division in football) as well as the @ Vikings and home to the Cardinals (both division winners).

BAD KARMA

Bad karma is something that I never really believed in.
I was always from the school of thought that if something was supposed to happen it will happen , regardless of your bad karma or not.

Recently, I have changed my views on this topic.
The reason being , is solely because of the Jets most recent collapse.

You see, I'm one of the few Yankee/Jets fans.
So I know my share of sports disappointment's.
Thank Goodness though that I am Not a Mets/Jets fan.
If that were the case I probably would not be here typing this post. I would either be in a mental asylum or rather at the edge of the Verezanno bridge.

Over the past few seasons, Since the Yankees basically have been a non factor. I got the next best thing.
In case you were wondering what that may be , let me tell you .
Every Yankee fan , whether he likes to admit it or not .
Loves to see the New York Mets fail.
Its not because us Yankees fans despise the Mets .
But We love to see the Mets fans suffer in anguish.
I know that sounds kinda sick and twisted.
But what do you expect from us? Mets fans have as much hatred for the Yankees than the love they have for the Mets .
Its only natural for Yankee's fans to have mutual feelings.

So when the Mets Collapsed for the second straight season to their FLORIDA rival , I was down right jubilant.

Not only did I rub it in every single Mets fans that I know faces.
I declared that September should be renamed , "Another Amazin Mets Collapse Month " .
I realized it wasn't catchy enough to get the rest of the world to agree with me so I quit my campaign.

The 2008 NFL season started out so promising for the New York Jets.
With the Acquisitions of a hall of Fame QB in Favre and the rest of the Pro Bowlers . The Jets were primed to make a serious push at the post season. In the NFL , once you're in the Post season, anything can happen.

So you could imagine, Myself along with most of the Jets fan base was reved up for the roller coaster ride that the Jets always provide. Except this season , the general pulse of Jets Nation was "this year is different"

I don't know why, but every freakin year I fool myself and say this will finally be the season.
I seem to forget that this team has broken my heart time and again.
I seem to forget that this is a cursed organization and no matter who the personal on the field or off, that we will never win.

And you know what? I probably will forget these facts at the start of next season as well. But that's the beauty of football and the rest of sports for that matter.

After the Jets handed the Undefeated high and mighty Titans Their first loss of the season and ran there record to 8-3 , you could imagine the sudden SUPER expectations the Jest have suddenly painted themselves.

Newspapers , radio shows, power rankings, you name it . Were all just putting the Jets in the Championship game, some even the Superbowl.

Not only was I buying into the fact that this Jets team is Different . I was already looking to purchase Playoff tickets!

With a relatively soft schedule for the remainder of the season.
You couldn't even dream of them managing to not make it. Every aspect of The Jets , either Offense, defense and even special teams were flat out dominant.

this is where the bad karma comes in.
I rooted so hard for the Mets NOT to make it. I also rooted SO hard for the FLORIDA marlins to give the Mets the final knock out punch. To my dismay, I was granted my wish.

As the Jest were in the final stages of there most recent debacle .
It was only befitting it came by the hands of the hated FLORIDA rival.

To add insult to injury. Once fan favorite Chad Pennington (still is) who was casted off to make way for the big bad Brett Favre.Was the face of the Dolphins. Gave the Jets A Knock Out blow of there own.
This also added a new wrinkle in the Bill Parcels saga.

I truly believe this was a typical case of bad Karma.

JETS: REPLACEMENTS

Now that Mangini is gone who is the next Head Coach for the Jets?

1)Mike Holmgren - If you want Favre back this is the guy you go after
2)Steve Marriucci - Again appeals to Favre
3)Bill Cowher - Hard-nose coach may be what this team needs
4)Marty Schottenheimer
5) Steve Spagnuolo - Great Defensive Coordinator possibly good Head Coach
6) Brian Schottenheimer - Current Offensive Coordinator - has been interviewed by other teams
7) Bill Parcells - Can opt out of current 4 yr 12 mil contract in January and receive all 12 million (best fit)

If you have an interesting Head Coach for the Jets let me know in the comment section

JETS: MANGENIUS NO MORE!

Less than 24 hours after being eliminated from playoff contention the Jets fire Head Coach Eric Mangini

PRESS CONFERENCE AUDIO


Rumors are swirling as to what the main reason for this firing was
Some say it was the collapse
Some say it was the Jets listening to Favre and how he was brought into the principal's office to talk about all his bad INTs..so maybe they are trying to keep Favre..
GM Mike Tanenbaum mentioned the fans in the press conference so maybe this has to do with those expensive PSLs
Whatever the reason this team is looking for a new head coach after having winning seasons in 2 of the last 3 years
Whoever is the new head coach he will have a great base with a good offensive line, RB, D-line and a secondary that needs a couple of players
My issue is that the Jets needed a safety and another corner last yr and Tanenbaum did not deliver and it showed
Other firings include Browns Head Coach Romeo Crennel and GM Phil Savage, Lions Head Coach Rod Marinelli
On the other hand the Raiders are expected to keep their coach Tom Cable and the 49ers have signed Mike Singletary to a 4 or 5 yr deal

NFL: PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

AFC

#6 Ravens @ #3 Dolphins - Sunday 1pm CBS
(only team Miami beat last yr was Baltimore)
#5 Colts @ #4 Chargers- Saturday 8pm NBC

#1 Titans will play lowest seed of the two winners

NFC

#6 Eagles @ #3 Vikings - Sunday 430pm FOX
#5 Falcons @ #4 Cardinals - Saturday 430pm NBC

#1 Giants will play lowest seed of the two winners

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Divisional Playoffs
Saturday, Jan. 10
AFC:Lowest Seed at Tennessee, 4:30 p.m., CBS
NFC: Highest Seed at Carolina, 8:15 p.m., FOX

Sunday, Jan. 11
NFC: Lowest Seed at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m., FOX
AFC: Highest Seed at Pittsburgh, 4:45 p.m., CBS

Conference Championships
Sunday, Jan. 18
NFC: To be determined, 3 p.m., FOX
AFC: To be determined, 6:30 p.m., CBS

Super Bowl
Sunday, Feb. 1 in Tampa, Fla.
AFC vs. NFC, 6 p.m. (NBC)