The Giants continue to make life difficult for themselves and their fans this year. In addition to blowing several games earlier in the year due to poor clock management and some questionable play calls, they had a chance yesterday to grab control of the NFC East. SU had its doubts as the Giants have played poorly coming out of the bye week for about the last 400 hundred years. They were truly unwatchable yesterday until late in the 4th quarter. Then, when just needing to make a stop on 3rd down, of course they couldn’t and you end up with a well-earned loss. Truth be told, they are not a good team but Eli is having a great season running a hurry-up style offense where he can change plays at the line of scrimmage – something SU has been pushing for several years. Kevin Gilbride held him down for a number of years but he has thrived this season despite having little running game and a revolving door in the offensive line. They still have a shot at the division as 8 wins may very well be enough.
This week’s Jets-Giants match-up is now a huge game for both teams who are on the bubble for the playoffs. We will unlikely see any big hugs at Met Life Stadium come this Sunday. Is it just me or does it seem wrong that Carmelo Anthony had Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh over for Thanksgiving dinner when he would be facing them in a game the next night? Did Bernard King have Larry Bird over for dinner? Was Bill Russell welcome at Willis Reed’s house? Is it just the fans who care nowadays about winning and rivalries? SU believes that professional athletes all belong to the same fraternity in this era and there is too much Big Papi-like hugging going on. The exception is the NFL where the level of spearing and head-hunting is scary.
The Patriots finally went down to defeat as Brady continues to lose all of his offensive weapons. SU does not believe they will come out of the AFC for the Super Bowl as you have to wonder who will still be standing on that roster come January. While it’s not obvious who might beat them in Foxboro (long-time SU subscriber J. Gross is putting his money on the Pittsburgh Steelers who are great on offense but give up a lot of big plays on defense), you have to think even Tom Brady needs a few of his receivers to still be healthy to get to the Super Bowl.
On the college front, all of a sudden, there is a clear path to a final 4 of Alabama, Clemson, Michigan State/Iowa and Oklahoma. You would have to think that Ohio State belongs in that group but they will likely pay the price of just playing a bad game last week in the rain at home. Going to the 4-game playoff system is a major improvement and college football continues to be a lot of fun to watch – especially late in games where no lead is safe. Of course, if North Carolina beats Clemson or if Alabama is upset by Florida, chaos will reign.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
Ohio state got thoroughly beaten by Michigan State. They are out.
Florida is 17 1/2 point underdogs to Bama with no QB, an average special teams but a very good defense. Bama smells blood and will easily win. Mich St. vs, iowa will be a great game. All 5 teams are worthy. I actually believe Clemson is the weakest of this group.
When you lose 3 starting offensive lineman it doesn’t matter who is at QB. He will be ineffective. Randle-El dropped 3 well thrown balls and had one bounce off his body for a pick. Eli was not on top of his game but he deserved better than the numbers suggest. The Giants actually played pretty well defensively until their last time on the field.
All superstar basketball players unfortunately can do what they please. It’s too bad. I agree that there is too much love amongst competitors. In football you only see that after a game. In hockey you only see that at the end of every playoff round and only for 1-3 seconds as they stand in line to shake hands….. that’s it. I haven’t check those ferocious Bocci ball games or badminton slug-fests. I hear Sumo wrestlers are a tight (ass) group.
Melo was probably just interested in hearing about what winning a championship felt like. Or maybe getting out of the first round. Or possibly even getting into the first round.
The Jets / Giants game should be a good match up. Both teams definitely need the W though you never know if the good/bad Jets/Giants will show up or the other way around.
They were probably playing “Monopoly,” but with different rules.
What professional sport is pure in our middle aged eyes anymore? Only Hockey. Between the Internet, Twitter, 24/7 on TV… all hungry for more and more stories it actually hurts more than helps sports . The days of Wide World of Sports on ABC showing the nasty crash the skier jumper had will always stick out in all our minds…… as a dangerous SPORT… a form of entertainment but focusing on the sport itself. Today, playing the organ right up to the very last second before someone takes a foul shot… really??? Is it that necessary. maybe its the melody which is keeping us awake during many a Knick game.
PS If “George” watched a Yankee game on TV and saw all those luxury seats half filled while half of those attending most are on their cell phone When a home run is hit, maybe a few stand and a few others clap politely back there…. Really? George would blow a gasket.
Or maybe Melo was sharing with them how happy he was that he didn’t sign with the Lakers to join Kobe in LA.
Oh… that’s a good thought.
Now, I like the 24-hour news cycle for stories and Twitter does make things more entertaining. The challenge is to wade through the junk and the silly exchanges of tweets that may be totally off topic. But I totally agree with the live entertainment during the games. Quite frankly, I don’t need to be entertained during the breaks in the action. Don’t need the guys jumping on trampolines to dunk the ball, t-shirts being shot into the stands, trivia quizzes, kiss-cams, and the blaring music. And yes, the Legends seats are an embarrassment to see half-filled most nights. Andy, I am sure the Met fans will be happy to save you a seat on their band wagon so you can enjoy the more spirited Met crowds at Citifield.
My wardrobe does not do electric blue and sunburst orange…. and the toll over the Whitestone should be discounted off the ticket price. Besides that the Mets were definitely more entertaining down the stretch. I did root for them as all New Yorkers should. Islanders, Knicks and Mets…. how did these colors come together?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_New_York_City
Holy Cliff Clavin!!! Nice find Seth.