I hate the Yankees.  Well, I don’t hate them, I actually need them.  Having grown up in New England, it’s my birthright to despise all teams from the great state of New York.  Rivalries are a tremendous aspect of sports culture, and part of the reason teams are so exciting and watchable.  If the Yankees, or Yankee fans, weren’t around to hate the Red Sox, what would the world be like?  And would we ever have traded Babe Ruth?

But sports are more than what we see on the surface, team sports in particular.  They’re an expression of life that exists within a framework.  Some games have stricter limitations.  NBA Basketball, for example, works within four twelve-minute quarters.  Baseball, on the other hand, has no clock. The game is over when it’s over.  Or if it’s called because of rain. 

In order for teams to be successful, they need the ability to gel as a unit.  The players must understand their roles, and the truly exceptional must lead by example.  But maybe I’m getting ahead of myself here.  Let’s begin at the beginning, naturally. I’ll use basketball as my model here.

The Frame

Basketball is played on a large wooden rectangle.  The two teams have 5 players each on the floor.  Time, as stated earlier, subsists of four twelve-minute quarters with a break at halftime. 

The Objective

To score more points than your opponent in the set arena within the established time-frame.

How do the good teams succeed?

1)      They understand the game.  They also understand that it is in fact a game. They allow themselves to have fun while working toward a common goal.

2)      They talk to one another.  Communication is key for any team to be successful.

3)      They keep their eyes open.  They stay focused.  They’re aware of what’s happening and, if they’re truly astute, they’ll see what’s coming.

4)      They listen.  #2 would be useless if not for #4.  But they have to be willing to listen.  Part of this means setting aside ego and personal achievement for the benefit of the team.

5)      They understand momentum.  You’ve got to strike while the iron is hot.  Pushing yourself and your team to a high level also means that you have to continue to work to stay there. Which segues nicely to the next-

6)      They work hard.  They’re not lazy. 

7)      They’re unselfish.  Having the ability to make your teammates better is an attribute you’ll often hear involving exceptional players.  Great teams are the unselfish teams.  A great player could score 50 points, but the team will have to work even harder to pull out a victory, and often times they’ll lose.  

8)      They’re balanced.  Keeping everyone active and involved provides a balanced attack.  It doesn’t allow the opposition’s defense to load up on a particular player.  Everyone, even the role players, is a viable threat.

9)      They know how to improvise.  Playing within a structure doesn’t always necessitate structured playing.  Sometimes you have to get creative, lest you become complacent, and predictable. I suspect many professional athletes would’ve been fantastic jazz musicians. 

10)   They enjoy playing with each other.  And while this may not seem like the case at times, Shaq and Kobe come to mind first, I’d be willing to bet that at the end of the day, and the end of a successful championship run, the moments of joy and camaraderie they shared on the court far outweigh the petty nonsense that often exists off of it.  Winning usually helps.  Losing teams fight a lot.

Apply this list to aspects of your own life. It can be as grand or as small as you’d like.   Friendships? Marriage?  Your career?  Who are the players and what is your role?  Most importantly, what is your goal? 

I often like to envision the entire world population as a team.  Our arena is our planet.  Our time-frame is our lifespan.  Our opposition?  Ourselves.  A paradox, for sure, and unfortunately, we’re a very hard team to beat.  But it’s our own self-rivalry that keeps up living, breathing, fighting, and vital.  We’re constantly trying to improve and evolve. 

Our Ultimate Goal?

Maybe we can’t quite see it clearly yet. But we know we’re working towards it.  The clock keeps ticking and once we’re too tired to play, the next generation will play for us.  And hopefully, if our team scores at least 100 points, everyone will get a free taco. 

I hate that the Phillies made it to the World Series. Being a Mets fan, you can see why this is so upsetting to me. Also, I really wanted the Dodgers to win, just so Joe Torre would have that. But I guess he already one uped the Yankees. They didn't even make it. Currently we have the BoSoxs and the Rays battling it out for the A.L. Championship. I really hope the Rays win. I want them to win it all. After so many years of being the worst team in baseball, I think they deserve it. So there you go. That's basically what I feel.

Watch the Bisbing-Leben fight this Saturday on SPIKE!

The Infields: Angels vs. Red Sox

First base: Texeira vs. Youkilis

Second Base: Kendrick vs. Pedroia

Third Base: Figgins vs. Lowell

Short Stop: Aybar vs. Lowrie

Catcher: Napoli vs. Varitek

Overall the Sox have an advantage in the field with the possible exception of SS. They also have an advantage hitting considering Youkilis(312-29-115) and Pedroia(2nd in AL .326) will surely garner some MVP votes. Figgins and Kendrick have the speed and Napoli(20 HR in 227 AB) is a much better hitter than Varitek. With Texeira(358-13-43) in 54 games, whose the AL version of Manny, The Angels can compete but still don't have it.

Advantage: Red Sox

The Outfields: Angels vs. Red Sox

Left Field: Anderson vs. Bay

Center Field: Hunter vs. Ellsbury

Right Field: Matthews vs. Drew

Designated Hitter: Guerrero vs. Ortiz

This is tough to call. Fielding is fairly even. Matthews has the edge over Drew, Bay has the edge over Anderson, and Hunter and Ellsbury are even. Hitting has to go to The Sox as long as Drew is healthy although that is close also. Experience also goes out the window as everyone in the outfield with the exception of Bay has played in the playoffs before.

Advantage: Red Sox barely

Starters:

This will be close also. Beckett will make a difference back in Boston for game 3. If he is healthy and dominant(1.73, 6-2, 3CG) as he can be in the playoffs then the Sox have a great shot. Lester outdueled Lackey and Matsuzaka and Santana are pretty even.

Advantage: Red Sox maybe

Bullpen:

This is one spot where The Angels have it. K-Rod has had a masterful year and although Okajima, Lopez, and Delcarmen(combined 2.77, 6-4) is pretty solid and Masterson looks good, they don't compare to Shields, Oliver, and the rookie Arredondo(combined 2.40, 23-7). Papelbon working on 15 and 2/3 scoreless in the postseason but this was K-Rod's year.

Advantage: Angels

Prediction: Red Sox in four. This is tempered by the fact I am writing this after game 1 and that I think Beckett will be fine. Also I feel whoever does win this series will go to the World Series.

1. Josh Beckett: Unless Beckett can turn around the miserable season he has been having, the Sox are doomed. Instead of a step forward after his remarkable 2007 season, when he got screwed out of the Cy Young Award, he has taken a step back toward the 2006 season. He’s been injured, inconsistent and average. He struggles to find the strike zone.
2. Injuries: Schilling, Lowell, Drew….. all players who would help the Sox win the Series are on the DL at the end of August. Lowell and Drew could still come back to help the Sox in the post season, but it may be too little too late.
3. No protection for Papi: The Sox don’t have that feared hitter behind Papi, thus Papi will get fewer good pitches to hit, or no pitches to hit (intentional walk).
4. Bullpen: The bullpen is full of inconsistent underachievers, with the exception of Papelbon.
5. Road Weary: Unless the Sox pass the Rays and win the division, they will be playing as the Wild Card team, which means no home field advantage, and we all know how atrocious they are on the road.
6. Wild Card: If the Sox do win the wild card, that means a first round series with the Angels. Good news for the Sox is at least the season will end in Boston.
7. Centerfield: I think Ellsbury is tapering off as the season goes along. Last year he came out of nowhere in the post season, where he was fresh. This year I think he will be tired and not as productive. And Coco Crisp? I don’t need to elaborate on him. Except for a good month in August, Crisp is not the answer for Boston.
8. Varitek’s offense: I know Varitek is the leader of the team, and he calls a great game, but that is where his value ends. He is no where near as productive as he has been in the past. He is old and tired.
9. Back part of the rotation: Wakefield, Buckholtz, Byrd….. I am not buying that as a rotation that can help the Sox. And Beckett, Matsuzaka, and Lester are not the dominant pitchers you need to go far in the playoffs.
10. They won last year: Repeating is not easy to do these days. The road to back to back World Series Championships is difficult, and I think the Red Sox are a little bit short this year.

As treacherous as the sight was for those who bore witness, it was more significant than many probably realize. Papelbon's latest jig was a result of the Red Sox clinching a birth in this year's playoffs and in doing so, officially knocking the New York Yankees “outta there!” It's a fact, folks. The 2008 Major League Baseball Playoffs will be the first postseason not including the Bronx Bombers since 1995.

1995! Derek Jeter just dropped to a B-List Celeb. The last time the Yankees missed the playoffs, I had just discovered girls and pimples. Jeter was probably in the same boat (ok, I'll concede his immaculate skin hasn't likely ever seen a blemish). Look at us now! You know the saying, “The more things change…”

Speaking of change, what happened to the pinstripes this year? Was it the loss of the Boss? Is there a new curse related to Joe Torre? Are Yankees legends punishing the team for tearing down their old and sacred stomping grounds? There are a lot of conspiracy theories out there and even more excuses, but no amount of propaganda can change the facts: The Yankees just weren't good enough this year.

I don't want to hear about injuries either. Ask the Tampa Bay Rays how it feels to completely breakdown in the middle of a pennant race and still keep their Division lead. The Tigers and Indians were both expected to contend in the A.L. Central and floundered “because” of injuries. The list goes on. No more excuses.

Let me also say this. I downright loathe the Boston Red Sox. However, my feelings on the Stockings are flattering compared to my view of the Yankees. For far too long they have bought victories and employed MLB's version of Phil Jackson, a superhero coach with average knowledge of the game but an uncanny ability to control super-duper-stars and their even-larger-than-their-pocketbook sized egos. The Yankee bandwagon was the size of Tampa Bay (the city, not the Rays' fan-base). For too long you couldn't go out in public without seeing three guys in white tank tops carrying their extra large button downs over their shoulders and rocking their NY hats to the side, Sabathia style. Now, the Yankees are almost rebuilding and, like the second half of a game of Oregon Trail, fair-weather fans are falling off the wagon. Or getting cholera.

I am happy for Derek Jeter because he deserves a rest. I'm glad he broke the hits record at the Yank before it gets demolished. I am excited for A-Rod. With a postseason off, fans might forget how bad he plays in October. I am downright ecstatic for Jason Giambi. He gets an extra month to experiment with freak mustaches that can snap him out of his cold spells next season.

Folks, the Yankees will not make the playoffs. What's more, if the Red Sox lose, we won't have to watch Papelbon dance again. And what is up with those Rays!  And I almost forgot, the Angels will be there too. The AL postseason is shaping up to be unlike any we have seen in over a decade.

There are only two problems:

1. If the Red Sox lose in the Divisional Series, they might be out in time for one of the celebrity dancing shows to grab a closer. And,
2. I just came back from the store and saw three guys in white tank tops carrying their extra large button downs over their shoulders. They were rocking Rays caps.

The more things change…

Ever since the MLB has expanded its playoff to include 4 teams for each conference instead of 2, the extra round of playoffs has made the post season even better and has given more cities something to bite their nails over in late September. This year is no different.

So review how the playoffs are still in flux and who are the heavy hitters going in to the 2008 chase for the World Series. We will start in the American League since the biggest story of the year is in that league.

First we have to look at either what we call the greatest turn around in professional sports history or a sure sign of the apocalypse. We need look no further than the Tampa Bay Rays. Who incidentally were the Devil Rays. The team has officially cut the Devil from their name at the end of 2007. And speaking of the devil. This team has been only existed since 1998 and going into the 2008 season had a total of 644 wins and 972 losses. They only reached 70 wins once in a season. There best season being 70 wins and 91 losses in 2004. So the fact they are 93 wins and 62 losses as of Sept 22, 2008 with a few games left to play is mind boggling.

The MLB Manager of the Year award should now be named the Joe Maddon (present Manager of Tampa Bay) award. The fact that they have made the playoffs is just as amazing. Also this team is built to last for years to come.

Also this year the California Angels have established themselves as the odds on favorite to go all the way. They are as complete of a team as is out there. In the American League they are in the top ten hitting teams, top five pitching, and top ten in fielding. They have quality veterans and a very good manager in Mike Scioscia.

The mighty Boston Red Sox are lurking in the shadows however and the Rays and Angels are keeping a close eye on them. The Red Sox still are the defending World Champions and can get hot. With Josh Beckett and Jon Lester as a 1 and 2 punch in your starting pitching rotation you can compete with the top staffs of your league. However the Red Sox will surprisingly be the Wild Card team.

To round out the AL playoff picture will be either the Chicago White Sox or the Minnesota Twins. The Twins continue to be a great story. This is a team who does not have and/or spend the cash that the big boys do and they still make or flirt with making the postseason almost every year. They even traded their ace Johann Santana to the New York Mets.

The White Sox having win the World Series just a few years ago are a legitimate party crasher. If they can get timely pitching they could give someone trouble.

Also all of these Twins have experience over Tampa Bay. Sometimes that makes a difference in the playoffs. The only other question of the playoff picture is will anyone in Tampa Bay actually go to a game? They have been so horrific and insufferable that they have no fan base. Will this start a new trend?

The other huge story is the Evil Empire New York Yankees coming up short for the first time in a long time. Personally I am not surprised they have been teetering on the edge of disaster for a few years now. If you follow baseball you realize that offense is not what puts you over the top. You have to be able to pitch. The Yankees have gone to the old and injured well to many times with their pitching staff. While they have brought a couple youngsters along, they have let their staff run extremely thin. Naturally after a couple injuries they were spent. I think this is good for baseball also. It proves that money is not the only answer.

Now we come to the National League. The only clear picture here is the one painted by the Chicago Cubs. They are the NL version of the Angels. The starting 3 pitchers Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden and Ryan Dempster is as strong of a playoff rotation there is out there.

The rest of the playoff line up is a little blurry at this moment. In the NL East the Philadlphia Phillies are coming together at the right time. Their pitching staff has become steady and their bullpen has been pretty reliable as of late. The offensive capability of this team is scary for anyone playing them. They have 3 hitters, Ryan Howard (46), Chase Utley and Pat Burrell with 30+ home runs and Jasoon Werth has 23 homers. All in all 7 Phillies have double digit home runs this season. They also have good speed and great defense. This team is a group that could get hot and make it to the World Series.

Out in the NL West the Dodgers are clinging to the Division lead. They are a decent team but on paper they look like a first round loss waiting to happen. Arizona is looking up at them 2 games back but may have run out of time. The Diamonbacks are out of the Wild Card picture all together.

The New York Mets have had their usual over hyped season or underachieved depending on your opinion of the team. Yes they spend money but they also overvalued their pitching staff. Especially their bullpen. Don't get me wrong the Mets are a solid team, there was just more credit given than earned. After all this is basically the same team that lost a 9 game lead last season with 17 games left in the season! Yes they want out and got Johann Santana but they have no one to protect his work when he leaves a ball game. The Mets still have a shot at the Wild Card though because the Milwaukee Brewers also are choking down the stretch. One of those teams will limp into the playoffs. It is doubtful that either team will win in the first round. On paper though it looks like Milwaukee should have a quality pitching staff. Ben Sheets has had some health issues though and the others have been erratic. Except C.C Sabbathia of course.

Conventional wisdom would have the Chicago Cubs playing the California Angels of Los Angeles (stupid name) in the World Series. My wish would be the Philadlphia Phillies beating the Red Sox or the Angels in the World Series.

History and the broadcasting network would love the Cubs to beat whoever for there first World Series victory in 100 years! The Chicago Series pitting cross town teams the White Sox versus the Cubs would haev some intrigue also. The ultimate TV rival would be the CUBS versus the RED SOX for ratings potential.

I SAY GO PHILLIES!

Ted was born in San Diego as Teddy Samuel Williams. He was named after his father Samuel Stuart Williams. His birth certificate was changed to Theodore, but everyone called him Teddy still. Him and his family were a mix of Welsh and Irish. He lived on San Diego's North Park at 4121 Utah Street. He attended Herbert Hoover High School. He played baseball at his high school. While in high school he had offers from the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Yankees. He didn't go to play with them because his mother thought he was too young to leave home, so he signed with the Padres, a local minor league team.

Main Accomplishments

Ted played for the Boston Red Sox and was accepted in 1939. He caused the rivalry between the Yankees and the Red Sox. He was on the all-time and all-century team. He was given the American League MVP Award. He was in the 500 home run club. His number was retired in 1984 and he was elected it into the baseball hall of fame in 1966.

Goals

The main goal on Ted Williams was to be the best hitter in baseball, and he was. He was successful because he made his goal a reality. He was influenced to keep going to baseball because he was very good in his high school baseball career.

Major Influences

He influenced kids to be very good at baseball and possibly even influence people to make it to the major leagues. He made people try and copy his swing. He influenced people to come and watch him play because he was such a good ball player. He also influenced pitchers to throw very aggressively, in order to strike him out and not let him get a hit.

Personal Opinion

I think that this person was very successful in his life. He was one of the best baseball players in the history of baseball. He was successful because he made his dreams reality. He made many baseball accomplishments, like MVP, got his number retired, etc. His accomplishments show how much of a good baseball player he was in his lifetime.

  As for the Yankees, ARod's contract has been the forefront of the news. He makes more then some teams. He certainly makes more than half the teams in the NHL (which the NHL should be getting more than ARod). I find this appalling and laughable. Like he needs that much money. But who cares about the Yankees, cause I certainly don't. A bunch of overpaid whiners who can't seem to get it together. Let's hope that this season is not tainted by news of steroid use amoung the players. And let's hope that this season is not only exciting, but our teams fair well. And by that I mean, let's hope the New York Mets kick ass this season. Until next time sports fans.

In most circumstances the player is already on a team with playoff potential, but the dollar bill holds more value than a championship. In few circumstances you see players like Tom Brady take a pay cut to bring in a big name receiver like Randy Moss. This is a true testament to Brady's unselfish attitude toward the game of football, he is playing to win games, the money will take care of itself. It is a rare commodity to find a player who is willing to take a pay decrease in order to benefit the team rather than themselves. The Detroit Red Wings did the same thing years back, having a few players cut their pay to bring Dominic Hasek to town.

The selfishness of players can make me sick sometimes, I get so tired of hearing about how hard Reggie Bush had it in college. He broke one of the only rules the NCAA strictly enforces, and that is to not take money or handouts from agents or businesses as a collegiate athlete. He was hands down one of the most explosive college backs in the history of the game, he was capable of scoring at any time in a game. After a disappointing finish to his college career, then his descending draft pick, and soon after the rumors of taking handouts, Reggie didn't seem so intimidating anymore. He was struck with an unfortunate injury this past season, but wasn't even close to averaging 100 yards a game when he was a starter. The only time I have heard Bush's name in the news recently was when US Weekly covered his engagement to Kim Kardashian, and who honestly cares about that?

Jevon Walker and Asante Samuel proved to be disappointing in their contract years, with hold outs and slow negotiation. Walker found greener pasture by moving to Denver, he got the money Green Bay wouldn't give him, but he also got a quarterback who has a better chance of winning the lottery than the Superbowl. Samuel negotiated his contract, which was very lucky for the Patriots, because he could generate a lot of turnovers for almost any other defense in the league.

In certain circumstances a hold out may be for a just reason, but most cases seem to be out of selfishness. Players are concerned about their income rather than the game, the game comes after they know their salary. Free Agency has done a lot of great things for sports, but have also changed the way fans view a career. Growing up I remember watching Ray Bourque try and try again playing for the Bruins, it wasn't until the very end of his career he was traded to the Avalanche to final win the coveted Stanley Cup. It was a common completely normal thing to spend your whole career in one spot and maybe move teams once, now it seems our favorite players move teams as much as a bandwagon fan.

All in all, sports have become a corporate industry, like everything else in America. Each sport is it's own separate business trying to make the most money possible. College sports are full of passion and undying rivalries, mostly due to the income the players make, nothing. Professional sports change rivalries due to who the media perceives as rivals, but their is no more Cowboys vs 49ers build up, or Bruins vs Canadiens, the only rivalry that hasn't died are the ones instilled in baseball. The Yankees and Red Sox will be a forgotten rivalry when the apocalypse hits. The only thing we have to remind us of the true glory days of Professional sports cost about $60 at Best Buy.