The Week in Sports

As football fans begin the long depressing night that is the NFL off-season, these is one last gasp--and one last chance to buy a box n a pool. The Pro Bowl airs tonight on ESPN (no network coverage for the NFL all-star game) at 7:30. To fans, this is just one last chance to see some of their favorite players. Although the Jets has three palyers going: John Abraham, Curtis Martin and Kevin Mawae, it has been long known that Abraham would not play. Now it looks like Martin is out as well, so the only Jet on the field looks like it will be Mawae. Well, so much for the Pro Bowl, but if your really interested, click here for the coverage at NFL.com. The only mild human interest story coming out of this week's Pro Bowl is the teaming up of the Barber brothers, Ronde and Tiki, for the first time in the Pro Bowl. Whatever.

So what is there to do today, sportswise?

Well first, you could analyze goings on around the various sports leagues. For example, Yankee's Jason Giambi apologized--for something, he didn't quite make it clear for what--this week. He's taking a lot of criticism for this in the press and it is well deserved. Here's just one example. In a related vein, Jose Conseco will be on 60 Minutes tonight to hawk his latest book detailing steroid abuse in the Majors. It's a given that MLB will take no action whatsoever about the allegations in the book.

In Mets news, Darryl Strwaberry will reportedly be working for a while as an instructor for the Mets in spring training. The Times points out that he is only the latest of the '86 Mets to rejoin the team. In other Mets news, new Cuban pitcher Aley Soler may miss the start of camp because of a dispute with his agent who has been suspended by the player's association.

In soccer news, congratulations to the US national team or defeating Trinidad and Tobago in a World Cup qualifier match. The US next faces Mexico on March 27th.

In Jets news, Herm Edwards announced that shoulder surgery on Chad Pennington was successful. In other Jets news, when asked about his ability to coach Randy Moss, Herm Edwards responded very positively. Whether that means anything, we'll see. Finally, the Jets also made a few coaching changes. The team announced yesterday that John Zernhelt will become tight ends coach and Dick Curl as the assistant to the Head Coach. Zernhelt was former head coach at the Citadel and Curl has been a Jets assistant for the last three years at an offensive assistant and as special projects coach. (Base10 wonders if the Jets has an ordinary projects coach. If not, this might be the job for him!)

Finally, in hockey, the NHL season is all but over. Owners have stated that if a deal could not be done by this weekend, a shortened season would not be played. Unless a rabbit can be pulled out the negotiating hat, it looks like Sir Stanley's Cup will stay home this year. A shame really. Hockey fans are very loyal, but there aren't enough of them. In the long run, this turn of events is probably better for the sport. The imposition of an NFL style salary cap and revenue sharing will make the sport more competititve.

If you get tired of analysis and actually want to watch something, there's always college hoops. But in this field, Base10 is unfortunately ill-equipt to comment. Wisconsin plays still-undefeated Illinios at 1PM. For local interest, St. Johns plays Seton hall tonight at 7:30.

Meanwhile over at the PGA, golfers are competing in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Phil Mickelson is so far in a commanding lead.

So in the end sportsfans, just try to wait until next week for the Daytona 500.
- posted by Base10 @ 11:38 AM