Jimmy Clausen, c'mon down!!!

Words can not describe the amount of happiness running through my veins as the announcement came through that my Carolina Panthers had picked up Jimmy Clausen.
For the past three years, the Cats have been struggling with inconsistency at the QB position. Jakey D was effin' up royally and it seemed that nobody in the entire organization gave a crap.
But this year will be different. This year, we've got (we hope) at least two solid QBs. They're young and they'll make mistakes, but I'd rather have them than some old guy making mistakes. #shotsfired #poorcleveland
This year will be one of rebuilding and restructuring. While we do have a pair of running backs in D'Angelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, we can't just fun the ball every down. We've got an awesome receiver in Steve Smith and picked up two receivers with a lot of potential in drafting Brandon LaFell and QB/receiver Armanti Edwards.
Nobody has even mentioned re-signing Mushin Muhammad and that's unfortunate. I think he was solid in that No. 2 position. I must say though, with Edwards coming in as a QB/receiver, a part of me hopes he turns into another Hines Ward. Ward has been so effective as a receiver, folks forgot he was a QB in college.
Even if Edwards turns into another Ward, what good will it do if we don't have anyone who can get him the ball? My hope is that Clausen, Edwards and LaFell are able to bring with them the tenacity needed to get us to the post season. They'd better hope so, anyway, or Foxy will be looking for a job come mid-season.
I hope that the offensive coordinator won't be too scared to put the ball in the air. Right now, we've got a rep for ALWAYS running the ball. I hoping that with Clausen's arrival and Matt Moore already being in the groove, we'll be able to shed that and Carolina can become the team to beat in the NFC South. Lord knows nobody wants to deal with the mouths of Eb the Celeb and 12 Kyle if my boys fall to theirs. *shudders*
All in all, I'm happy with the way we came out in the draft. Now let's get to training camp! I might even be tempted to head down I-85 South to Spartanburg to see what the fellas are up to. I might even stop being so cheap and spring for some Panthers tickets this year. Who knows?

Johan Is Ready, Are You?

These days I've been deleting any and all emails I receive from Mets.com. You could say I'm more than a tad bit bitter about the 2009 season, I don't care.

But this morning an email from them contained the magic words that made me jump off the couch and log onto my computer: "Greetings From Johan Santana..." YESSSSSSSSS!!

The email included a video link with a message from my beloved from Port St. Lucie, Florida, where the team has their mini-camp. (click on the link to see how much my boo bear's English has improved!)

And then on the commute into work, I see a great action shot of Santana on the back of the Post. Have I died and gone to heaven? Could it be true? His injuries will not keep him from shittin on hos during the 2010 season?

On September 1st, Johan underwent surgery on his elbow- to remove some goddamn BONE CHIPS (WTF?)- and I know I was not alone in my fears that he would be out for a lot of the 2010 games if not the whole season. Whenever these players go under the knife, especially so late in the season, you just never know what's going to come of it.

But after throwing 24 pitches on the mound at the mini-camp without incident, Santana declared himself ready for spring training. "The ball was coming out pretty good," he stated in the Post article. "I don't feel anything in my arm, so I think everything should be alright."

Can it be? Will it be? I want a championship win for the Mets and Santana and myself so bad I can TASTE IT. This news has been the first light at the end of the dreary, gloomy Mets Fan Tunnel that I've seen in months.

Is it really OK to put on my Optimism Cap and exhale now?

Introducing The New Met: #44, Jason Bay

While baseball enthusiasts like myself await news from spring training and eagerly anticipate open day games, alllllllll the power plays and deals are being made to fix what may (or may not) be broken with teams that didn't make the big show in the fall. Like my precious Mets.

We had a bunch of tiny problems that snowballed into HUGE problems, and one of them was a lack of power hitters. That's where Jason Raymond Bay, formerly of the Boston Red Sox, comes in. Especially because it's looking rather iffy on whether or not Carlos Delgado, who's currently playing in the winter league in Puerto Rico, will be resigned.

(Personally, I used to like Delgado a lot but he hasn't consistently brought an A-game onto the field in a hot minute. IF he doesn't return I wouldn't shed a tear. We're trying to win championships here, not hold on to washed up has-beens...OH MY GOD...now I sound like management!! *sigh*)

Bay is supposed to be our ace in the hole hitter, or at least one of them, and was signed to a four year, $66 million contract on that expectation. Sports pundits are saying he's a strong player and a great addition to the team, and Bay seems genuinely happy to be a Met, so I will give him a pass until about June. After that if dude is messing up I'm gonna BOO his stank behind whenever he has an at bat. I've done it before (Beltran...I'm looking at you...) and I'll do it again.

My one concern is that he's reportedly not a strong outfielder. And I mean, sure, hit the ball out of the park and get us on the scoreboard but dammit, don't start dropping balls out there or it's going to be a problem. Also, he passed the physical BUT he's had recent injuries that hindered his face time on the field. Lord knows the Mets don't need anymore injured players!

Still, welcome aboard Jason. I'm sure you'll get a warm reception during your first game at CitiField...just don't make us regret it.

And for the love of Pete: stay off the juice!! *side eye for Mark McGwire*
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Bay's Stats:
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Height: 6' 2", Weight: 200 lb.
Debuted w/the Expos on 5/23/2003 (my 28th birthday, heeeeyyyyyyy!)
In 2009, Bay had 36HRs, 119RBIs and 142hits

Dangerous Game

Football is a violent game to say the least.

If you've never played the game, you can't imagine the phyiscal toll that it takes on the body. Just imagine being in a car accident every 35 seconds and that's what it feels like being in an NFL game. Over a period of time, it takes it's toll on the body. Those who play the game rarely think about the long term affects that it'll have on the human body.

A study came out last week that talks about the links between concussions and their long term effects. It also talked about the link with dementia. Some of the former players are feeling the effects of years in the game. Last week, CNN's Lou Dobbs addressed the issue on his show. The panel of guests included my uncle, Pro Football Hall of Famer Harry Carson. They discussed the links to the long term affects of years of football will have on the human body. My uncle and I have had many discussions about it. He was once diagnosed as having post-concussion syndrone. He suffered many concussions during his 13 year Hall of Fame career. Unlike nowadays, teams would hurry to get a player back on the field.

Check the video...

http://bit.ly/p9M4Q

AFL officially OVER!!!

I only got into the AFL in the last 2 years after knowing a couple players in the league. It still didn't do what the NFL does for me, but anything to make the football season longer is alright with me, even if the field is smaller and the rules are different.

The league left a lot of players to dry last season when they announced they would be taking a year off because of finances. Many players depended on that money and had no back up plan. Some struggled to make ends meet for the last year all in hopes of being back on the field this year. Well now that time will never come. According to ESPN, the Arena League has suspended operations indefinitely.

My heart sincerely goes out to all those players. Some literally put their lives on hold for that league with promises that they would only be out for one year. Hopefully those players will have an opportunity if this United Football league comes about, or maybe they can play in the Canadian Football League since a couple of friends have done well up there as well. Either way, it saddens me that so many great players no longer have a platform to do something they love.