Mets Should Get it Done with Michael Bourn

Michael Bourn is the top free agent position player still on the market

Before the 2012-2013 MLB offseason even kicked off, the one free agent I wanted the New York Mets to make a play for was Michael Bourn. Given that the Mets haven’t pursued any big name free agent since the ill-fated and historically awful contract handed out to Jason Bay, the chances of that seemed astronomically small. Surpringly, Bourn’s name has increasingly been linked to the Mets over the past several weeks to the point where they appear to have emerged as the favorites to land the prized free agent center fielder.

In order for Bourn to sign on the dotted line, though, there are two hurdles that need to be cleared: his contract demands, and the draft pick compensation the Mets would have to give up. Bourn’s agent, Scott Boras, has been consistently asking for a minimum contract of 4 years at $15 million per season. Given how the Mets have been pinching pennies since 2011, that may be out of Fred Wilpon’s price range. Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog.com says the Mets would prefer a 3 year contract worth $40 million.

More Fantasy Football Photos

Bobby Inzalaco has done it again. Enjoy.

 

And this is my new team logo courtesy of Liam:

Former Laker McLaughlin Impressing Overseas

Oswego State Graduate Brenden McLaughlin Shown Here During Oswego's National Championship Season

Former Oswego State forward Brendan McLaughlin, who tallied 150 points in a celebrated career for the Lakers, has found a new home across the Atlantic. The 2009 graduate is in his first season playing for the ECDC Memmingen Indians of Germany’s Bavarian Landesliga.

Despite being a rookie, McLaughlin has taken no time in showcasing his abilities to his European hockey brethren. In just 23 games, McLaughlin has tallied 49 points, an average of over 2.1 points per game. Those 49 points are good for second overall in the league and only one point behind the league leader, fellow Canadian Ron Newhook.

History Repeats Itself for Buffalo: Collapse Eerily Similar to 2008 and Sends Bills to 7th Straight Losing Season

The mentality that Bills fans have been quite familiar with over the last 12 seasons

As my friends and I have been prone to say over the last few years: You know it’s December because Bills fans are talking about the NFL Draft. For the 2nd time in the last four seasons, the Bills won 5 of their first 7 games. They’ll also finish below .500 despite the hot start for the 2nd time in the last four seasons.

In 2008, the Bills were 5-1 for the first time in 15 seasons. They started November with a home loss to the rival Jets that sent them into a tailspin and went on to lose 8 of their last 10 games. Fast forward to 2011 and the script is nearly identical. Buffalo was 5-2 heading into November and faced the Jets at home again. Unfortunately, this season has been more of a freefall than a tailspin as the Bills haven’t won a game since October. With the remaining two games left on the schedule against division leaders, it seems more likely than not that Buffalo will end the season with 9 straight losses. It really is sickening.

Bills Face Jets – Out to Prove They’re Real Deal… Again

Fred Jackson Will Try to Help the Bills End Their 3-game Losing Streak to the Jets

I’ll be the first to admit: I am a critical Bills fan.

I wasn’t always this way. But there has been little to be excited or happy about as a Bills fan since there were 16 seconds left on the clock in a game against the Tennessee Titans on January 8, 2000.

The Bills have only sniffed the playoffs once since that fateful day and only have one winning season in the ensuing 11 years. They have suffered through too many seasons with guys manning the huddle named Johnson, Losman, and Edwards. Drew Bledose even lost more games than he won in Buffalo and came up empty when the team needed him most in the final game of the 2004 season.

But those memories are starting to be forgotten thanks to a 5-2 start by Buffalo this season. The 5 wins include a monumental victory over the New England Patriots,  who the Bills had lost 15 straight to, in a game the Bills came back from being down 21-0.

The thing that worries me is I’ve seen this before.

The Best Fantasy Football Logo You’ve Ever Seen.

Courtesy of Chris Hill. His genius knows no bounds.

My take after a 1-3 start:

I am now a paltry 2-5, but I do have Jackie Battle. So:

Thanks to Liam for actually making it since I don’t know what the Mac equivalent of “Paint” is.

 

 

 

 

 

Carmelo Returns Home

Wallace Spent Only 2 Seasons As A Knick But It Was Enough To Make Me A Fan

I have to say that out of all the major sports, the NBA is easily my least favorite league. I have, however, been a Knicks fan ever since they drafted one of my favorite Syracuse alums ever in 1996: John Wallace. Putting him on a team with Patrick Ewing, who was always a favorite of mine in “NBA Jam”, really sealed the deal and made me a Knicks fan for the next 15 years.

There hasn’t been much for Knicks fans to cheer about over the last decade. They haven’t been to the playoffs since 2004 when they were swept in the 1st round by the New Jersey Nets and haven’t had 40 or more wins since 2000. But all that has been forgotten at least for today (and probably the next few days) as Brooklyn native Carmelo Anthony has returned home in the most highly anticipated blockbuster trade this season and, arguably, in Knicks history.

As a Syracuse fan first and a Knicks fan second, I love this trade. When Carmelo was drafted 3rd overall by the Nuggets in 2003 (what were you thinking taking Darko Milicic 2nd Detroit?), I started following the Nuggets and rooting for them out West. I was glad to see the franchise go further than it had ever been with Anthony at the helm by getting to the Western Conference Finals in 2009 only to fall to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Carmelo is one of the best players and shooters in the game. Simply put he’s a superstar. A superstar who will bring his skills, and seven consecutive playoff trips, to Madison Square Garden and probably extend his playoff streak to 8 years.

I do have to wonder, though, why there are so many people out there against this trade. I’m not denying that the Knicks had to part with some serious assets, but I absolutely think it was worth it.