Okay, 2009 is feeling kind of strange and I’ve got some questions about what’s going on. There have been some weird deals, odd decisions and bizarre behavior.
Cleveland Browns: Last week the Browns fired head coach Romeo Crennel, former Bill Belichick protégé, and yesterday hired Eric Mangini, former Bill Belichick protégé. In four seasons, Crennel took the Browns to a 24- 40 record. Mangini, who was let go by the New York Jets last week, was 23- 25 in three years with the Jets. Mangini got a four-year deal from the Browns. Crennel took his team to a 4- 12 record this season. Mangini got the Jets to a 9- 7 record. Crennel’s Browns finished fourth in their division while Mangini’s Jets were third in the AFC East.
So my question is—why hire Mangini? Is he really that much better? Why give the guy a four-year deal? Is he that good? Are the coaching ranks in the NFL that thin? How did the Browns go from Bill Cowher, who they wanted and but he turned them down, to Eric Mangini? Is there no in between? Just wondering.
B.C. Eagles: I’m talking about both the B.C. football and basketball Eagles. First the football Eagles. They had warned head coach Jeff Jagodzinski that his job would be in jeopardy if he interviewed with the New York Jets. The franchise was interested in Jagodzinski replacing Mangini. Jagodzinski did interview with New York on Tuesday and he was fired by Boston College on Wednesday. I applaud Jagodzinski for not caving into B.C. and I give the Eagles’ football organization a grade of “F” for class. And then there’s the B.C. basketball Eagles. They knocked off the number one team in the nation—the UNC Tar Heels—this past weekend and earned a Top-25 ranking and then they lost to the Harvard Crimson 82- 70 last night. It wasn’t even close. Think maybe they’re out of the national rankings next week? They should be!
Boston Celtics: A slide is only good in baseball and that means that the slide the Celtics are on is frightening. The team can’t seem to buy a win, having lost on Wednesday to the Houston Rockets 85- 89. The Celts have lost six of their last eight and are now 29- 8 and a mere 10.5 games ahead of second-place New Jersey. Yes, Boston has lost three straight but their stats are sound and they possess the third best winning percentage in the NBA. Call me in March if they’re in third-place in the Atlantic Division and out of the playoff picture. (I don’t really think it’s frightening—that was sarcasm.)
New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox: The Yankees are spending too much money on guys who will, once again, break down and Boston is after Smoltz—a 41 year-old pitcher! My god, watch out, the Rays are going to take it again and the Jays or O’s may capture the Wild Card. The Yankees have spent over 3 billion dollars since 2000 to not win the World Series and the Red Sox are showing signs of dementia with Smoltz. C.C. Sabathia, who the Yanks signed last month, should be in his prime at 28 years old. But has anyone noticed that he’s FAT? I mean—F-A-T! Last season he was 17- 10 with 35 starts and an ERA of 2.70. That’s great! But the two seasons before, when he started 18 and 17 games, he won a total of 17 and lost 10. And by the way, New York’s Rivera, Posada, Damon and Matsui, all starters, have great breakdown potential too. I’ve got a feeling that the tide is turning in the AL East and I’d like to see both the Yanks and Sox out of the post-season.
Ottawa’s Jarkko Ruutu: I’m thinking after Tuesday night’s game between the Senators and Sabres, that Ottawa’s Jarkko Ruutu should be playing with the Sharks. That’s some mean bite he’s got! Here’s what happened. Buffalo’s Andrew Peters, a known enforcer, took a swipe at Ruutu. Peters shoved his glove into the Ottawa player’s face. Ruutu bit down on Peters’ glove, cutting into his thumb, drawing blood and ripping the glove from his hand.
Rutuu, in some sort of adolescent denial, said he never bit Peters. But replays of the incident, which are currently a big hit on YouTube, showed that he did take a definitive bite out of the Buffalo player’s hand. Rutuu has been suspended for two games without pay.
My question—is this anyway for a hockey player to act? Fighting is one thing but cannibalism is another. Next time these two teams meet, I think Rutuu will get the stuffing beat out of him. Of course his bite is worse than his bark.
2009 has been an odd year so far. And it’s barely a week old!
