Another Lost Year in NY Sports

As a new year starts, a quick thought on three lost sports seasons in New York. The Mets and Jets have just finished seasons which started with much hope and expectations and ended with colossal choke jobs. The Knicks, well, we can consider their season over even before the all-star break, which begs the questions: What is wrong with these three teams that play in the largest market in America and have deep pockets?

The summer of '08 was supposed to make us all forget the major collapse suffered by the Mets last season. It was suppose to erase the memories of blown ninth inning saves. It was suppose to make us forget one of the, if not the worse pitching performances in Mets history. Yes, you know the game, the one where major free-agent flop Tommy Glavine could not record an out in the biggest game of his ill-fated Mets career. However, all we were left with were more sad memories and heartache as the Mets waved goodbye to Shea Stadium like only they could manage. It was another blown lead to the hated Phillies, who to add insults to injury are now World Series Champions. Once more the Mets were put out of their misery by the no-frills, low cost, last place Marlins. This time around, the Marlins not only eliminated the Mets, but also ruined what should have been a happy farewell for Shea Stadium. Once more they wasted a pitching gem the day before they were eliminated. All-world ace Johan Santana took the ball on three days rest and gave the Mets a performance that we will always remember. No one will deny that they missed closer Billy Wagner, but the true problem was the "core" of the team. Beltran, Reyes, Wright, and Delgado all came up small once more, stirring rumors that the core needs to be changed.

Will the summer of '09 be different? Will the Mets treat the fans to a playoff run similar to '06? Will Citi-Field be witness to the first World Series since '86? Billy Wagner's career in Flushing is over, but in comes K-Rod and Putz to try to shore up a bleak bullpen situation for the Mets. Once again the men in Flushing will only go as far as Beltran, Delgado, Wright and Reyes can take them. Anything less than a division title is a total disappointment for a team in such a big market and such deep pockets.

Where as the Mets keep their fans on the edge of their seats as they fight for the playoffs, the Knicks are simply unwatchable most of the time. The most expensive team in the NBA that plays in the world's most famous arena is a collection of misfits and role players. The one bright spot this season has been the vanishing of Isaiah Thomas and his band of clowns. Also out are Brooklyn icon and perennial loser Stephon Maubury, whose last good game might have been when he was winning his only championship with Lincoln High School. Mike D'Antoni has banished Eddy Curry, whose best moments are most likely at the local McDonald's. Jerome James (yes, he is actually still on the Knicks) is now the most expensive 12th man in NBA history and the Knicks are trying to create salary cap room for 2010. To this effect, free-shooting and erratic Jamal Crawford is now chucking up shots for Golden State. In the mean time, Knick fans have to pay premium price to watch a team led by mediocre players such as Chris Duhan, Al Harrington, and Tim Thomas. There is little hope for Knicks fans for the rest of this season and the whole of next year. That’s at least another 120 games of losing basketball as we hope to hit the lottery in the summer of 2010 with Wade, Boch, or the big prize....King James himself. Knicks management better get this right. Knick fans will be patient in the hopes of landing one of those high price free agents, but if this is not the case, D'Antoni and company may want to head for witness protection.

However, The Mets gave us 1986 and that magical run to the subway series in 2000 and the NL East Title and a gut wrenching NLCS loss in 2006. The Knicks gave us those rough and tumble Pat Riley teams led by hall of famer Patrick Ewing, the Allen Houston runner in the lane to eliminate Pat Riley’s Heat, the 4-point play, and Charlie Ward's supplex of punk PJ Brown, but the Jets???? Well besides Joe Nameth's finger wagging, its been "the same old Jets." There was that flash when the Big Tuna (Bill Parcells for those who have been living on Mars) led the Jets to the AFC title game in which they had a 10-0 lead over the Broncos in Denver at halftime. Since then........well I'm thinking......NOTHING! Vinny got injured early the following season and the Jets have never recovered. Glen Foley and Ray Lucas disguised themselves as starting QBs and the Jets have been losers ever since that ill-fated AFC title game in Denver. Chad Pennington proved to have the heart and desire to be a winner, he just didn’t have the physical tools. All of which makes this last season even more tragic for Jets fans. Eric Mangini was given a revamped offensive line, a hall of fame QB and 7 pro-bowlers, and did he do with it? Well is started well enough with an 8-3 record, with away wins at then undefeated Tennessee and at arch nemesis New England. The media was talking about an all New York Super bowl and Brett Favre looked like he was going to finally bring the Jets to the promised land. Then everything went wrong. Brett Favre ended up with 23 INTs and the Jets crashed to a 9-7 finish, with the final insult coming on the last day of the season. With their fading playoff hopes on the line, the Jets hosted the Miami Dolphins led by Chad Pennington. Pennington came to the Meadowlands and finished off the Jets in route to a division title and a playoff berth. Now the Jets are left to wonder if they will ever be winners again. Brett Favre will most likely retire (for real this time) and Eric Mangini has been told to clear his office ASAP. Wasted were All-Pro performances by Thomas Jones and Revis. Wasted was an opportunity to win a division which was without its best player since the first play of the season...Tom Brady. The Jets have no capable QB in waiting and who really wants to coach this team? Seems like there may be a 2-12 season in the future with no hope in site for the Jets. At least they are not the Lions right? Just another year for THE SAME OLD JETS.....

All of this may sound like complaining and whining, however, we are talking about teams in the biggest market in America. Nothing less than winning in acceptable with teams with a payroll the size of which is almost embarrassing.