Thanksgiving - complete.
The season of giving, sharing and everything else that feels good has begun. However, before heading out to the malls, before making plans for the holidays and before hanging the garlands and opening my heart to the carols, one has to take a moment to slow down before moving forward. After all, this is a time when all moments tend to enter a warped vortex that fast forwards the remaining days of the year. And with just that, a mere few days, giving thanks before the end of the year is essential. Now you may say, aren't I a bit too late? Possibly. However, one day to give thanks cannot capture how much you have appreciated 2007. Yes, as we turn the corner on the final stretch of the new year, this weekend has opened my eyes to give thanks for a few things.
Yankees 1st Round Exit in 2007 Playoffs - One has to be thankful for the early exit as it allowed us to realize the greatness of an era, the class of a manager, and the sudden need to change the philosophy of the organization. Thirty may be the new twenty in Jay-Z's world, but in the industry of sports, thirty is just old. The Yankees now realize this, and have decided to go in the direction of the youth movement. I am thankful for this. One also has to give thanks that they haven't suddenly become cheap (Over $400 million to re-sign three players).
Mets Collapse Down the Stretch - One has to be thankful for the New York Mets collapse. As hard as it may be to find something positive from such a catastrophic collapse, the Mets were humbled, basically punched in the mouth as they stumbled over themselves, coughing up a seven game lead in the month of September. The Mets now realize that they are not as invincible in the NL East as they thought. The Mets now realize how unreliable their band-aid pitching staff is. I am thankful for the collapse.
New York Jets Abysmal Record - One has to be thankful for how lifeless the Jets have been in the 2007 campaign of a season. Coming off of a playoff year, many knew the Jets were not a great team, but far from a horrible one. The Jets have lost games not by being outplayed, but by showing no heart at all. Their will to win has gone as far as a Chad Pennington deep ball. The Jets and Mangini now realize that a 3-4 is not a defense in their future, nor is Chad "I can lead, but I can't throw" Pennington. I am thankful for this season.
New York Knicks & Circus - One has to be thankful for the circus the Garden has become, and the sideshow that follows it in the 07-08' New York Knicks. This year was one full of anticipation and enormous hope as Knick fans everywhere were finally ready to exhale a breath of hope, followed by an inhale of success. Instead, we received a guilty sexual harassment case, a missing player on a milk carton, an eight game losing streak, and a revolt of the entire Knick fan base. All this has exposed not just the issues surrounding the team or Isiah Thomas, but the lack of leadership throughout the entire organization (Pointing right at you, James Dolan). I am thankful for the beginning to this season.
G-Men Consistency - One has to be thankful for the Giants consistency. The Giants are able to get on a winning streak and as always, have shown signs of burnout as the season winds down. It has been their blueprint. However, in their consistency, they bring some sort of dignity and success to New York. I am thankful for the New York Giants.
Yes, thanksgiving is complete. The curtain is closing on 2007. New York fans have a lot to be thankful for, but so little to show for it.
Our famine continues...
The season of giving, sharing and everything else that feels good has begun. However, before heading out to the malls, before making plans for the holidays and before hanging the garlands and opening my heart to the carols, one has to take a moment to slow down before moving forward. After all, this is a time when all moments tend to enter a warped vortex that fast forwards the remaining days of the year. And with just that, a mere few days, giving thanks before the end of the year is essential. Now you may say, aren't I a bit too late? Possibly. However, one day to give thanks cannot capture how much you have appreciated 2007. Yes, as we turn the corner on the final stretch of the new year, this weekend has opened my eyes to give thanks for a few things.
Yankees 1st Round Exit in 2007 Playoffs - One has to be thankful for the early exit as it allowed us to realize the greatness of an era, the class of a manager, and the sudden need to change the philosophy of the organization. Thirty may be the new twenty in Jay-Z's world, but in the industry of sports, thirty is just old. The Yankees now realize this, and have decided to go in the direction of the youth movement. I am thankful for this. One also has to give thanks that they haven't suddenly become cheap (Over $400 million to re-sign three players).
Mets Collapse Down the Stretch - One has to be thankful for the New York Mets collapse. As hard as it may be to find something positive from such a catastrophic collapse, the Mets were humbled, basically punched in the mouth as they stumbled over themselves, coughing up a seven game lead in the month of September. The Mets now realize that they are not as invincible in the NL East as they thought. The Mets now realize how unreliable their band-aid pitching staff is. I am thankful for the collapse.
New York Jets Abysmal Record - One has to be thankful for how lifeless the Jets have been in the 2007 campaign of a season. Coming off of a playoff year, many knew the Jets were not a great team, but far from a horrible one. The Jets have lost games not by being outplayed, but by showing no heart at all. Their will to win has gone as far as a Chad Pennington deep ball. The Jets and Mangini now realize that a 3-4 is not a defense in their future, nor is Chad "I can lead, but I can't throw" Pennington. I am thankful for this season.
New York Knicks & Circus - One has to be thankful for the circus the Garden has become, and the sideshow that follows it in the 07-08' New York Knicks. This year was one full of anticipation and enormous hope as Knick fans everywhere were finally ready to exhale a breath of hope, followed by an inhale of success. Instead, we received a guilty sexual harassment case, a missing player on a milk carton, an eight game losing streak, and a revolt of the entire Knick fan base. All this has exposed not just the issues surrounding the team or Isiah Thomas, but the lack of leadership throughout the entire organization (Pointing right at you, James Dolan). I am thankful for the beginning to this season.
G-Men Consistency - One has to be thankful for the Giants consistency. The Giants are able to get on a winning streak and as always, have shown signs of burnout as the season winds down. It has been their blueprint. However, in their consistency, they bring some sort of dignity and success to New York. I am thankful for the New York Giants.
Yes, thanksgiving is complete. The curtain is closing on 2007. New York fans have a lot to be thankful for, but so little to show for it.
Our famine continues...