As we gear up for the NCAAs and the start of baseball season, a few random thoughts and observations this weekend:
- SU loved this piece by Andrew Marchand of espn.com about Jacoby Ellsbury having possible the worst free agent contract in Yankee history. SU is no Ellsbury fan and it’s depressing that he has 4 more years at $22 million a year left on his deal. But Marchand lays it out pretty starkly. I am guessing he won’t be getting that invitation to Ellsbury’s Christmas party this year.
- Just read that Noah Syndergaard signed this year with the Mets for $605,500. This should make Dellen Betances feel better.
- Did you see Derrick Rose’s response to a question about whether he likes playing in the triangle offense? In case you missed it: “S—, do I have a choice? Do I have a choice?” SU loves the honesty. I guess I have two reactions. First, listen to the coach and they are paying you a lot of money so do your job. Second, why is it that no player, and I mean no player, likes to play in this system in today’s game? I think that is more telling and Phil Jackson is from a by-gone era.
- At the end of last night’s Knick game, Melo took a game tying attempt with 2 players draped all over him and his teammates open all around the court. The fact that all of them had had better shooting nights did not come into play. SU asks this question: if Porzingis is the future, shouldn’t they run plays so that he is taking these shots? Or is he taking any shot in the last 3 minutes? Rose and Anthony freeze him out all the time at the end of the game. On the other hand, SU likes the strategy of going for the 1st round pick and tanking the rest of the season. Keep it going.
- SU is very concerned with my man Novak Djokovic. He lost a quarter finals match to Kyrgios this week and has really lost his nerve on the big points. He is just keeping the ball in play these days rather than going for it. Boris Becker had him playing more aggressively but he has reverted to playing defense which doesn’t cut it against a hot player on any given day. He needs to figure this out.
- Greg Bird hit 3 home runs this week. There is major relief in Yankee World unless the plan is to send him to the minors and go with Chris Carter to start the season. Stranger things happen every year in Tampa. But SU will hope cooler heads will prevail.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
The Knicks are a disaster. There is no way that they draw up plays that have a player taking a shot while teammates are open all around. These guys ignore the coaching and then blame the system. I don’t know if the triangle is any good or not but I know that the Knicks players cannot complain about it because they generally don’t do it.
The Ellsbury deal is awful (still better than Carmelo’s). Is it the worst in Yankees history? I don’t know. I’d say the ARod deal was pretty bad. Out of the ten years he spent one on the DL, one suspended and another as an instructor. Also production in the “good” years was up and down. And there have been other busts like Giambi, etc.
Syndergaard must have Matt Harvey’s PR firm working for him. I think there are three articles about him in today’s NY Times. I thought I liked him but I’m getting a little worried that the ego might become a problem.
I feel some sympathy for Melo. He can’t win regardless of what he does. Porzingas is certainly the future of this club but he is not ready yet to step up and lead it. With all of his flaws, Melo is still “The Man” on this team. He has always been a one dimensional player and he is showing signs of age but he has not thrown in the towel. The man does have pride which is more than you can say for many of the players and management on this team. The guy who should shoulder the blame is Phil. He was happy to take the money just like Melo. But at least Melo works to earn it. Phil is just cashing a check and acts like he can’t wait to get out of town. We’ve had a lot of dogs on the Knicks in the last 25 years, none bigger than GM Phil.
Just received a Gilt coupon for discounted tickets to see the Knicks at MSG for various games over the next few weeks. Here’s how they’re marketing the team:
• As the season draws to a close, Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis and the gang look to play spoiler against the playoff-hungry Washington Wizards. Other opponents on this home stand include the Pacers, Nets, Pistons, Heat and the Chicago Bulls.
• The Knicks are led by point guard Derrick Rose, who won the 2009 Rookie of the Year Award, and was named the NBA’s “Most Valuable Player” in 2011.
• The historic Madison Square Garden opened in 1968 and has played host to some the most memorable moments in NBA history.