The plug was officially pulled on Willie Randolph nearly an hour ago. Reported by the Daily News, word came down on WFAN’s overnight show via Tony Paige at around 3:20 AM.  

For a silly reason only known to Mets management, they waited until the team flew across the coast 3,000 miles away and won their first game of a six-game road trip 9-6 over the Angels on the bat of Carlos Beltran’s two home runs. Ironically, it was their third win in four pulling them within a game of .500 (34-35).

How does this make sense? Firing Randolph after a win is one thing but having the nerve to allow him to fly with the ballclub and get a final ‘W’ before giving them the axe is bush league. Or as he referred to it as Omar Minaya sharpening the machete three weeks prior.

As it turned out, Willie was ultimately proven right about the untouchable Mets GM giving him a vote of confidence being the “kiss of death.”

Sadly, the proverbial writing was on the wall when rumors resurfaced heading into the weekend via WFAN SI baseball reporter Jon Heyman who hinted that the former Yankee second baseman’s job could be in serious jeopardy. Why they waited until after they flied out to the Pacific is baffling. The timing just seems eerie. Already on Paige’s show in the last half hour, both FAN beat reporter Ed Coleman and Daily News Met beat writer Adam Rubin have trashed the move referring to it as “bush league” and “classless.”

Also out along with Randolph are pitching coach Rick Peterson and first base coach Tom Nieto. Former White Sox skipper Jerry Manuel will take over managing duties on an interim basis while Ken Oberfell, Dan Warthen and Luis Aguayo were all promoted.

Not only was this a move the organization knew they were forcing Minaya into but the GM was non-committal as to whether Randolph’s staff would be in uniform for last night’s game. There’s a right and wrong way to handle this kind of stuff. Sadly, the Amazin’s led by the dumb and dumber Wilpon duo chose the wrong path and come out looking pretty small.

The only salvation for Randolph is that the awful last month where the dark storm clouds were hanging over his head ready to strike at any moment are finally over. Perhaps that’s for the best. Clearly, this classy a man didn’t deserve the kind of second rate treatment he received. It had a similar feel to how lowly Hank Steinbrenner and nerd Randy Levine mistreated Joe Torre last year making him feel unwanted and wisely walking away before winding up across the coast in Dodger blue.

Now, the Mets have no more excuses and neither does a fanbase who had favored getting rid of the manager despite the improvement it showed in his three-plus years even capturing the NL East for the first time since 1988 getting within a game of the World Series two years ago.

Unfortunately, Randolph’s tenure will best be remembered not for how close they came but rather for the awful collapse last September blowing a seven-game lead with two weeks left to the Phillies to miss the playoffs.

Even with his team underperforming, Willie always kept a straight face and calmly answered questions when the situation had to be extremely stressful.

Is this the right move for the Mets going forward? We won’t know the answer until three months from now. They’re capable of playing much better. Maybe the change will work sparking energy.

Once the skipper goes, that usually means the players or guy who organized the roster are next. The pressure’s on the personnel to perform. If they don’t and miss October again, you could see an entirely different roster next year.

For now, it is what it is. Bush league.

Copyright Wikimedia Commons 

This is mostly a blog about sports with some music sprinkled in. However, there are sometimes big events which can’t go unnoticed. Such was the case Friday when we heard the shocking news about Tim Russert announced by WFAN’s own Mike Francesa.

The Buffalo native was only 58 when he suffered a massive heart attack tragically passing away to the shock of many doing what he loved. Russert was doing a taping in the nation’s capital for NBC when he was stricken. Unfortunately, it was too late for paramedics to save him.

This was a very important person who had an excellent reputation as a political news reporter hosting NBC’s popular Meet The Press since 1991. I’m not going to say I knew Russert well but watched and listened to the man enough to gauge that he was very genuine and had a passion like few others in the TV industry. I frequently remember him appearing on Imus In The Morning before their falling out last year involving the Rutgers women’s basketball team.

His style of reporting was fun and frequently put political candidates on the spot during his shows. His style was kind of like a trial lawyer where he’d ask tough questions because at one time, he was on. The man also had a good sense of humor spelling out in magic marker on a board, “Florida, Florida, Florida,” about the controversial 2000 Presidential Election. He also nailed what 2004 came to by accurately mentioning Ohio in similar fashion.

Watching former colleague Tom Brokaw break the news and then be interviewed on the NBC News at 6 here in New York, it was quite obvious how heartbroken he was.

As I sat here watching Brokaw speak so highly about Russert, I just thought about how brave it really was. How many could really be put on the spot like that and eulogize a close friend with cameras rolling? At one point, the NBC veteran who used to anchor the NBC news got too emotional and was basically reduced to tears.

This was really hard to watch which might be why like so many, I was touched. The slight heavyset man with the bright smile was gone and way too soon. He had built his career by working on a couple of Democratic campaigns including former New York Governor Mario Cuomo some 26 years prior before eventually leaving politics to join NBC News where he eventually became the Washington Bureau Chief in 1988.

Russert became a recognizable face to so many households who appreciated his honest approach. He never acted like a Democrat doing his job the right way without any bias setting a proper example.

Both this year’s Presidential candidates each paid tribute to him Friday as did many others:

Sen. John McCain said “Tim Russert was at the top of his profession. He was a man of honesty and integrity. He was hard, but he was always fair.”^[33] Sen. Barack Obama said: “I’ve known Tim Russert since I first spoke to the convention in 2004. He was somebody who over time I came to consider not only a journalist but a friend. There wasn’t a better interviewer in television nor a more thoughtful analyst of our politics, and he was also one of the finest men I knew.“^[33]

Not only was he an accomplished reporter but also went on to pen a few books including a best selling autobiography a few years ago entitled, “Big Russ and Me” about growing up in an Irish-oriented neighborhood in the Southern part of Buffalo.

Russert also bled for his two hometown sports teams the Bills and Sabres. He would’ve given anything especially to see the Bills win a Super Bowl. The man was a good sports fan who also liked the Yankees before becoming a Nationals fan and also liked the Wizards.

No matter the topic, the personable kid from Buffalo who was married to Maureen Orth and celebrated his son Luke’s college graduation from Boston College with a trip to Italy would always chime in giving his views.

He will be sorely missed by all.

R.I.P. Tim Russert (1950-2008)

[yahooBecky Hammon called traitor ]
Becky Hammon has turned against her own country. Well, that’s at least what Team USA women’s basketball Olympic coach Anne Donovan thinks about the former Liberty star’s decision to play for Russia this summer.

The 31 year-old American who is one of the better WNBA guards wasn’t asked by Team USA to play for them until recently. Instead, she’ll hoop it up with Team Russia. Though she grew up in the States, Hammon has played in a league over in Moscow for CSKA during the offseason and attained Russian citizenship earlier this year.

Maybe if the Rapid City, South Dakota native who starred at Colorado State got the impression she was wanted a little more by Donovan, the current San Antonio Silver Star wouldn’t be trying to help Russia win Olympic Gold. She didn’t get bent out of shape about the reaction to the story instead putting a positive spin on it.

Sure. This story is a bit strange. But I can’t say I blame her. Donovan’s certainly acting like a baby.

If the video doesn’t work, try the link below:

Hammon chooses Russia over USA

When I think of Ken Griffey, Jr., I’m immediately reminded of my childhood watching the the kid with the wide eyed grin and enthusiasm come up with the Seattle Mariners and play the game of baseball the way it was meant to be.

Just watching the way he played his position in center field was always a treat because you knew he’d do everything possible to track a deep drive down sacrificing his body which a few instances led to injuries and is the biggest reason he’s not our home run king instead of Barry Bonds. Cause as great a fielder as Griffey was, he was even more priceless at the plate where at any given moment, you could witness that sweet stroke which has now produced 600 career home runs after last night.

Finally, the 38 year-old veteran Red took his place among the all-time greats joining Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Sammy Sosa as only the sixth MLB player to reach 600 for a career. The magical moment occurred when he waited on a Mark Hendrickson hanging curve on a 3-1 count in the first and connected for a two-run shot to right field in Florida.

“I don’t think I touched any of the bases. I sort of floated around,” Griffey said to reporters afterwards while receiving plenty of congrats from Red teammates and Hall of Famers Aaron and Mays.

“My father hit 152 home runs, and that’s who I wanted to be like,” he added of the man he started his career with back in Seattle even becoming the first father/son combo to hit homers in the same game.

Like his 400th and 500th dingers, the special moment came on the road.

“Pretty much everybody knows my track record,” he pointed out of the trend.

So, will there be 700 for a popular player who’s in the final year of his contract?

“I enjoy baseball and as long as I can go out there and help a team win I’ll do it.”

Congrats to one of the finest players this generation’s ever seen. He’s not only been the kid with the smile who played the game the right way but an even better role model off the field.

Even when you broke my heart during Game Five of the 1995 ALDS series rounding third like your life depended on it to beat the Yankees in extras, I knew and always appreciated how special a player you really were.

Thanks for being who you are! :D

Photos copyright Getty Images

No mas once was used to describe a super welterweight championship rematch between Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran. It definitely applied to Rafael Nadal’s latest French Open win at Roland Garros where earlier today he not only defeated world No.1 Roger Federer but dismantled the classy 12-time grand slam champion.

Just how thorough was the 22 year-old Spaniard’s domination in becoming the first man since tennis legend Bjorn Borg to win four in a row on the red clay? Against one of the best players the sport has to offer, the No.2 ranked Nadal dropped only four total games easily defeating Federer 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 before a stunned Philippe Chatrier crowd in Paris.

Quite frankly, this was one of the best performances you’ll ever see by a tennis player in a championship. To hand the 26 year-old Swiss No.1 arguably his worst defeat with so much at stake was stunning to say the least. For a third straight year, Federer was attempting to become the sixth male tennis player to complete the career grand slam by adding the French Open title to his distinguished repertoire. On this day however, it wasn’t to be as he couldn’t muster much against tennis’ most dominant clay court performer.

Unlike the last two finals they played there in which Federer got a set off Nadal before dropping the final couple to fall in four sets, he couldn’t make it competitive despite some strong support from a pro-Roger crowd who wanted so badly to see the popular player make history. Instead, what they got for their money was a virtuoso performance by the No.2 ranked player in the world who matched Borg by four-peating improving to a remarkable 28-0 at Roland Garros.

In  fact, his huge victory ranked as one of the most lopsided French Open finals in history bringing back visions of Borg taking apart Guillermo Vilas. Rafa also became the first men’s champion to not drop a set since the aforementioned Swede did it back in 1980.

Much like he was on hand at The Championships to present Federer a fifth consecutive Wimbledon crown, Borg was on hand to personally congratulate Nadal for matching another one of his records making it the first time he was back on that court in 27 years.

Of course, it was extremely disappointing that such an anticipated rematch turned into a rout. Federer just wasn’t sharp getting broken right away in the opening game by a determined Nadal who amazingly broke two more times to easily take the opening set dropping just a game.

When he continued to control play with top heavy groundstrokes from both sides of the racket forcing Federer to do much more running than normally, it looked like the rout was on at 2-0 in the second set making it eight of the first nine games. But just when the top seed looked out of it, he picked up his game finally finding the lines to hold and break back for two all.

Following a rare narrow escape for Nadal during a service game, Federer again held for three apiece and then applied the pressure looking to go up a break in the set. However, like great champions often do, the world No.2 fought off a couple of break points to hold for 4-3. It took some steam out of his opponent who in the very next game dropped four points in a row from 30-Love up when Nadal scooped up a backhand down the line winner to take a 5-3 lead.

The feisty Spaniard didn’t have any trouble serving it out for a two set lead. From there, a mistake prone Federer couldn’t find the range suffering a rare bagel when a forehand went long to give Nadal a fourth straight French Open title.

Just how special was his performance against his best rival? He won the last nine games. Something almost unheard of against such a great champion.

Clearly, Nadal was in a rare zone. According to stat tracker, he committed just seven unforced errors to Federer’s 35. He also slugged 15 more winners (Nadal-46, Federer-31) and broke one of the game’s best servers a ridiculous eight times in 17 opportunities.

Federer, who usually is very stingy on serve won 49 percent of his first serve and just 21 percent on second serve (5 of 24). It’s rare that you see him so bewildered but that was exactly the case Sunday as he couldn’t find an answer against an unreal opponent.

Nadal’s triumph was so thorough that he didn’t even celebrate opting to just run to net and shake Federer’s hand out of proper respect.

Even stranger was that Federer didn’t pass on a live TV interview on court following his toughest loss with NBC’s John McEnroe instead exhibiting such class under difficult circumstances giving all the credit to his opponent. When McEnroe told Nadal he was the best player he’d ever seen on clay, the modest Spaniard deflected attention opting to say that Borg was still better having won six French Opens- two more than he has.

It could be just a matter of time though given how well he’s playing on that surface. Will anyone ever get the better of him?

This was about as disheartening a men’s tennis slam final as I can recall. Federer’s body language wasn’t good throughout. Even when he elevated his level, you never got the sense that he felt he could win and make history. Perhaps that’s how intimidating Nadal’s become on clay. He plays amazing defense going from D to offense better than anyone on that surface hitting sliding winners which defy logic.

Borg said if he played Nadal, he would be more patient. You wonder how a match between tennis’ two greatest clay courters would go. Maybe in a simulated match cause that’s not happening anytime soon.

The bigger question is can Nadal finally conquer Federer on grass at Wimbledon after losing in two competitive finals including a classic five setter last year? Borg indicated that he thinks the No.2 ranked player will win the tournament this time around which still would be an upset considering how special Federer is on his best surface. He’s every bit as special as Nadal on grass as Rafa is on the red surface.

Figure the top two players to get stiff competition from No.3 Novak Djokovic and big serving American Andy Roddick.

It all starts a couple of weeks from now.

[yahooGirl takes on the boys] 
I’m not sure this is going to work but if it doesn’t, so be it cause this story was too good to pass up. It’s about a 12 year-old girl Jaime Nared who dominated against girls so much in Portland, Oregon, the six foot kid began playing basketball against boys. She continued to flourish so much so that the league banned her from playing against the other gender.

Nared so dominated her league that she averaged better than 30 points-a-game. Now, she just is allowed to practice with the boys but not participate due to what the league director termed was that they acted different when she was out on the court. Huh? She needs to play regardless of such silly reasoning.

Not surprisingly, when interviewed by ABC News, Nared indicated that her dream was to make the NBA. Maybe that won’t come true but you never know. However, the WNBA was nice enough to have one of her favorite players Los Angeles Sparks’ Candace Parker tape a message to her and even give her a jersey. Pretty cool stuff.

It’s not everyday you find such a unique story. Credit to yahoo for linking it up.

Editor’s Note: The clip isn’t properly loading. Here’s the other link below:

12 year-old takes on boys

Yes! You actually heard right!!!!! The Denver Nuggets last night scored 168 points in regulation!

No. This isn’t a joke. Or at least it’s not quite April Fool’s yet. Maybe the Nuggets had the luck of the Irish the night before St. Patty’s Day. Or maybe the Seattle Sonics even with green in their uniforms just really are that pathetic.

Heck. Even Team Dumb and Dumber Clown Management 101 hasn’t quite sunk to that level.

When I was checking boxscores late last night after my Hard Hits show with the usual cast of characters in JPG, Rob “Kraze” Davis and Nate Sousa, I figured it was some sort of misprint. How could any NBA team score that many points without at least a couple of overtimes?!?!?!?!?!

Maybe that answer is best left for the participants in a historic game which saw Denver score at least 40-or-more in three of four quarters. Oh btw…they took it easy and racked up a cool 36 in the second.

I’ve seen quarters where the Knicks give up a ton but man. I can’t imagine what it must’ve been like to watch that. What happened? How did the Nuggets finish with over 60 field goals made on 100 or 101 shots??? That’s over 60 percent. Even if you aren’t good at math, duh!

I think the craziest thing was that their bench got nearly half finishing with 74 featuring a ridiculous four players in double digits with J.R. Smith & Chucky Atkins getting 19 apiece while Linas Kleiza netted 17 and somebody by the name of…

YAKHOUBA DIAWARA (try pronouncing that 10 times fast) also contributing 11!!!!!

Gee wiz. So what did some of the participants on the winning side have to say about scoring a season high 84 first half points and 168 total in just the required 48 minutes. Well at least last I checked anyway.

Kenyon Martin (11-of-13 FG, 23 pts, 8 rebs):

“A lot of people are going to think it’s a misprint. A lot of people will think there’s no way they scored that many points. It’s unbelievable. There are no words for it.”

“It’s hard to beat a team when you get 44 assists and making the extra pass. It’s tough to beat a team when you play like we did tonight.”

“Like the Rockets winning 22 straight, it’s unheard of on this level. Scoring 168 points in regulation is unheard of. Hopefully we can take what we did these last three games at home onto the road trip.”

Marcus Camby (triple double-13 pts, 15 rebs, 10 ass):

“I’ve never been a part of a game like this where we won by so many points and scored so many points. This is definitely a game I’m going to keep in my archives.”

Denver coach George Karl:

“There was no way that I couldn’t enjoy the game, not from the way we played offensively”

The poor Sonics unfortunately will have to deal with this for quite a while until they become good again when they relocate. What did they have to say?

Chris Wilcox:

“We just lost tonight. We lost by a lot. That’s just something you’re going to have to look back on. It’s just something you’re going to have to live with.”

Seattle coach P.J. Carlesimo:

“We get beat that badly, there’s no excuse for that. It matters a lot because we’re professionals and we’re trying to compete—and we didn’t compete tonight.”

Not surprisingly, Denver’s 168 point explosion which included 24 points from Allen Iverson and 26 from Carmelo Anthony became a new team record for most points in a regular season game eclipsing the previous franchise mark of 163 against the Spurs on Jan.11, 1984.

So, will it ever happen again? Probably not unless there’s a game which needs triple overtime.

Here’s the historic box:

Nuggets score 168 in regulation

Oh btw…the final score was 168-116. That’s a 52-point margin. Wow!

Me thinks one team needs a whole LOT of practice sliding their feet and doing suicides.

I wonder what JPG thinks…

With the NCAA tournament brackets about to be revealed over on CB$, there is a history making game of sorts over at ABC as the Houston Rockets are about to extend their amazing winning streak to 22 straight.

When the streak began, they were on the outside looking in in the ultra competitive Western Conference. Now, up by 13 with under a minute left against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers (with no Pau Gasol), they’re going to win No.22 in a row and believe it or not, move into sole possession of first in the conference with an impressive 46-20 mark.

So, before the unbelievable streak began, Rick Adelman’s club were just four games over .500. The 22-game win streak is the second longest in NBA history. They passed the 1971 Milwaukee Bucks a couple of days ago but still trail the 1971-72 Wilt Chamblerlain Lakers by a cool 11 for the all-time mark.

Can they match it? Probably not. The schedule this upcoming week shall only get tougher when they host league best Boston and then travel to New Orleans, Golden State and Phoenix.

No easy opponents there. You have to applaud what they’ve accomplished thus far in improving to 10-0 without Yao Ming.

So what was the key today in a game which leading scorer Tracy McGrady didn’t score until the final quarter saving all 11 for crunch time, point guard Rafer Alston caught fire nailing eight triples to pace the Rockets with 31.

Reserve guard Bobby Jackson also came off the bench and scored 19 shooting an efficient seven-of-nine from the field and also grabbing six boards.

The Rockets outscored the Lakers 35-27 off the bench.

If there was one other big key (and when isn’t it), their stifling aggressive D on Kobe forced him into 22 misses (11-of-33 FG). So even though he led his team with 24, it wasn’t the most productive because he had just a couple of assists. And yes. They’re a very different team with Gasol. Just wait till the big guy gets back along with Metuchen, NJ product Andrew Bynum.

Kudos still go out to the Rockets as they march on.

AP Photo Courtesy Getty Images by Al Messerschmidt

Last week, new Yankee skipper made a big stink about Ellis Johnson’s collision at the plate with catcher prospect Francisco Cervelli. In comparison to what took place yesterday in the latest Spring Training incident between the Bronx Bombers and D-Rays, it paled in comparison thanks to Shelly Duncan’s antics.

While trying to stretch an infield hit into a double, the big first baseman/designated hitter got his spikes up dangerously high while sliding into Tampa Bay second baseman Akinori Iwamura yesterday afternoon igniting a near brawl with predictably both benches clearing before things settled down.

While no punches were thrown despite Rays’ outfielder Jonny Gomes jumping up on top of Duncan to protect a defenseless teammate, there were heated words from each side afterwards.

“In Tampa, that play you saw at home plate was a good, hard baseball play. What you saw today was the definition of a dirty play,” Tampa manager Joe Maddon fumed to reporters of a game which also saw Yankee lefty Heath Phillips immediately tossed for hitting Rays’ prospect Evan Longoria with a pitch.

“There’s no room for that in our game. It’s contemptable. It’s wrong. It’s borderline criminal, and I could not believe they did that.”

Both sides were warned prior to the meaningless exhibition game. So much for that thought process.

“I’m pretty sure the spikes weren’t that high. They were pretty much going straight at the glove,” a defensive Duncan expressed later though replays seemed to indicate otherwise. “I’ve done it before. Never had a reaction like that.”

If the second-year player competing for playing time in a crowded lineup was trying to send a message, he certainly got Tampa Bay’s attention.

“No question that was a blatant attempt to hurt Aki,” Maddon declared.

“It was set up. It was planned. It was premeditated. It’s all the above. I don’t know what the difference is between that and a high stick in hockey. But it was that bad.”

Who knows what was going on through Duncan’s mind? His new manager did voice a strong opinion a few days prior basically indicating that his team won’t get pushed around. Previous Joe Torre teams always went about their business quietly on the field and didn’t push the envelope. It’s clear that with a new sheriff in town, Girardi’s trying to set a different more aggressive approach.

“You don’t ever want things to get ugly, and I don’t think it got ugly. I think the umpires stopped it before it got ugly,” Girardi indicated.

“Shelley told me that he was taught when you’re going to be out, you go after the ball. … Shelley made a hard, aggressive slide, and I would have to look at a replay to really determine what I thought.”

Meanwhile, Gomes played down his role in the latest incident which also saw Yankee coaches Bobby Meacham and Kevin Long ejected.

“I wasn’t really trying to get a shot in on him. I probably could have done a lot of things worse,” he said. “But it is a baseball field, and there are fans and kids watching.”

So, what will happen when these AL East competitors get together for 18 serious games during the 2008 season? Will there be fireworks?

“When we go out and play the Yankees the next time, we’re going to play it hard and play it right. Period,” Maddon said getting in one final dig. “That’s how we come to the ballpark every day.”

One thing is clear. It should be quite interesting when the two teams get together for real early next month when the Rays visit The Stadium for four.

Keep your calendars circled.

AP Photo Courtesy NY Post

Billy Crystal is finally getting his wish. No. His distinguished career isn’t making a comeback. However, if anyone knows the popular and likeable never too serious soon to be 60 year-old New York actor, the man who signatured the phrase, “You Look Mahhhvvellous” has always been an avid Yankee fan.

Well, on the day before he turns 60, Crystal will get to fulfill one of his childhood wishes by donning Yankee Pinstripes. Yes! That’s correct. The actor will get his chance to take the field when the team takes on the Pirates Thursday down in Tampa.

Of course, the newest member of the Yankees wil be put through a tenuous workout later today by new skipper Joe Girardi.

“Billy Crystal’s done a lot for this organization. It’s ownership and our way of rewarding him, saying thanks for everything you’ve done,” the first-year Yankee manager remarked to reporters including an outraged NY Post writer Kevin Kernan who couldn’t stomach the idea in a column entitled, “Comic Disbelief.”

Here, Kernan takes the Yankee organization to task for daring to actually be different during Spring Training no less and not as business like:

“The Yankees and Bud Selig have joined hands here to make a mockery of the game. Doesn’t Selig have more important things to do? Yes, baseball is entertainment, but the Yankees don’t need to be fulfilling Crystal’s baseball fantasy or granting his birthday wish. Let Crystal play in an Old-Timer’s game if he needs to put on the uniform.”

Don’t ya think Mr. Kernan is taking this thing a tad too personally? We’re talking about one Spring Training game! Isn’t exhibition supposed to be fun? I also always thought baseball should be as well and sometimes, when you watch the Yanks, it isn’t because of the ridiculous mantra. Win it all or it’s a failure.

Kinda takes the fun out of it, huh?

Kernan goes on to say:

It seems like Crystal has been hanging around the YankeesNew York Yankees that long, trying to get close to the players. Now he is a player. He will wear the same uniform as Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Jeter and Rodriguez.

Isn’t this why they created Fantasy Camp?

Big deal. It’s meaningless and will be fun. Maybe Kernan’s still mad at picking the Knicks to win the NBA championship back in 1992-93.

He just seems to have something shoved up his butt. Would anyone care to take any guesses?

Kernan concludes by providing some of Crystal’s baseball background:

Billy was captain of his Long Beach (N.Y.) High School team and batted .348 his senior season. They say he’s one of the best baseball players in Hollywood today, which isn’t saying much. The fans will probably give Crystal a standing ovation.

“I’m looking forward to helping the younger players, which by the way, is all of them,” Crystal added. “Oops, I have to go, Scott Boras is on the phone.”

The joke’s on the Yankees.

Why is that exactly? Because a well known actor who happens to love the Yanks is getting a birthday wish a day early. Has Kernan ever had a lifelong dream that didn’t include writing depressing stories filled with jealousy? Man. Everyone has something they always wanted to do.

And besides. Crystal will actually lighten the mood in the dugout. What is really so bad about this?

In my book, only two words sum it up.

Just Mahhhvvellous.