It pains me to write this. It really does. 

It may be time for “Mo”…to go. Well, not “GO” go…but step aside as the Yankees’ closer.

Like I said…it pains me to write this. I am a huge Mariano Rivera fan. He may be the greatest relief pitcher of all time. He’s a certain Hall of Famer, and one of the classiest players ever to wear Yankee pinstripes.

But right now, he’s just not getting it done. He’s already given up four home runs this season…including (for the first time in his career) back-to-back homers to the Rays last night. And, they haven’t just been home runs…they have been game-changing (or game-losing) home runs.

Oh, it pains me to write this. But, for now, at least…Mo needs to step aside as closer.

Joba Chamberlain should take that role.

Joba has shown he can be a decent starting pitcher. But, I’m not seeing Don Drysdale or Nolan Ryan when I see Joba as a starting pitcher. I do see Goose Gossage…or maybe even Mariano Rivera…when he comes out of the bullpen.

Joba has shown he can be an intimidating force out of the bullpen. No worries about facing the opposing lineup 2 or 3 or even 4 times. With his near-100mph fastball, he can come in for an inning and simply blow a team away to close out a game.

And, he’s young. He could be the Yankees closer for the next 15 years.

It’s easier to replace a number 4 or 5 starter than it is to replace a Hall of Fame closer. The Yankees have that rare opportunity.

Mo is still a very good pitcher. But, right now, he’s just not getting the job done as closer. His ERA is near 4. To his credit, he hasn’t walked a batter this year, while striking out 17. But, he is not saving games.

The season is still young. Mo is not (39, or so they say).  Before the season gets out of hand, the Yankees need to do something. Make Joba the closer.

Did I mention that it pains me to write this?

(photo courtesy Getty Images)

After the Yankees lost their first two games of the season, I decided that desperate times called for desperate measures.

Something had to be done.

And, I had to do it.

So, I found a bottle of Derek Jeter “Driven” cologne that I had somewhere in the bathroom…and gave myself a couple of squirts. 

The Yankees won.

So, I did it again yesterday.

And, the Yankees won.  Again.

Okay, I’m not superstitious (yes I am!)…but I’ve given myself a couple more squirts of “Driven” today.

Can the Yankees make it three in a row?

Great win for Chris Drury and the Rangers last night, as they beat Montreal, 3-1, at the Garden. 

Florida lost to Philadelphia…so the Rangers now hold a 2 point lead for the final playoff spot, with two games left to play.

Hang in there, Rangers!

By the way, if you were at the game last night, did you hear me doing the general PA announcing? Not the goals or penalties…but, the general in-house stuff. You know…“Fans, the Garden has a great selection of food and beverages for you…”  And, of course, “Don’t forget to stop by the Rangers Team Store at Gate…” I like doing the PA for Rangers games…but, it’s sure a lot different than the non-stop exhausting pace of basketball when I do the Knicks! 

(photo courtesy Getty Images)

Tonight’s the night! The Yankees and Mets will christen their new ballparks tonight. The Yankees host the Cubs at the new Yankee Stadium…while the Mets will play Red Sox at Citi Field. Okay, these are just exhibition games - they won’t count in the standings. But, they’re the first games ever in the new stadiums!

I like this photo of the two Yankee Stadiums next to each other.

The new ballparks are magnificent! You can get an inside look at both new ballparks - including video and photos - here.

Sure, the weather forecast looks lousy. There’s a decent chance we’ll get rained on…at least a little.  But, that doesn’t matter - it’s baseball season!  I’ll be at Yankee Stadium tonight. I have some co-workers who will be over at Citi Field.

  Here’s a nice pic of Citi Field. I think fans will really enjoy both stadiums.

See ya at the ballpark!

(photos courtesy Getty Images)

I was very sad to hear that the outstanding sportscaster Len Berman will be leaving WNBC-TV Channel 4 here in NYC. 

Here’s a Newsday story about his pending departure.

I’ve never met Len Berman.  But, just from watching him, I can tell you that he’s about as good as they come. 

Not flashy. No ridiculous hyperbole.

Just the sports. Done well and done right.

My WCBS 880 colleague, sports director Jared Max, had this to say about Len Berman this morning.

Mr. Berman says he’s ready to try some new stuff. I’m guessing he’ll be very good at whatever he chooses to do.

I wish him luck.

(Photo courtesy WNBC-TV)

Just a quick one today…

Christine Brennan raises this very interesting issue in today’s edition of USA Today.

In a nutshell: You probably saw President Obama’s NCAA Men’s Basketball bracket (he’s picking North Carolina).

Christine Brennan asks…Why no NCAA Women’s bracket?  After all…the president is the father of two active daughters!

Interesting.  What do you think?

I did the public address announcing for the Knicks game against Sacramento last night at MSG. On paper, it appeared to be a battle of a mediocre team (Knicks) against an absolutely terrible team (Kings).

Well…one of the teams was terrible.

The Knicks lost to Sacramento, 121-94. Yup…a 27 point loss at home to the worst team in the NBA. The worst road team in the NBA. A team that had not won a single game against the Eastern Conference all season.

Although they haven’t been mathematically eliminated, I think we can pretty much stick a fork in any more talk of the Knicks making the playoffs.

As a PA announcer, last night was frustrating. The announcer can keep the crowd in the game with the tone, volume and inflection of his voice. But, it sounds silly to get too excited when the home team makes a basket…and cuts their deficit to 28 points! There’s just not much you can do. 

  There was some entertainment late in the game, though. In the 4th quarter, actor Anthony Anderson (you’d recognize him from Law & Order and a whole bunch of other TV shows and movies) got up and started dancing a couple of timeouts. Once, he landed in the splits. Once, he landed flat on his back (ouch!)…and, then he started breakdancing - spinning around on his head! I with that video would show up on YouTube!

His Law & Order castmates S. Epatha Merkerson and Jeremy Sisto loved it! And, it provided some welcome relief from an otherwise miserable game.

Okay, I apologize for being away for a while. You want to hear my legit - but still really lame - excuses?

#1. My home laptop died. Seriously, just up and died. That was about a month ago. I could still get email on my Palm Treo handheld, but the concept of blogging from home went away in a hurry.

Well, hooray! I’m now the proud owner of a new laptop. So, no problem getting back to the blog, right?

 Um…

#2. I forgot my blog log-in password.  I have so many passwords for so many things that I just plain forgot it when I didn’t use it. I had to go digging through some old emails from web editor Roxanne Geyer to find the password.

Yes, I know…such drama.

So, now I have a new laptop and my log-in password. And, my first post is about a 70 year old ex-boxer!

I ran into Chuck Wepner tonight at Rosie Radigan’s in Jersey City. Chuck was once known as “The Bayonne Bleeder.”  He was a journeyman heavyweight who went 15 rounds with Muhammad Ali in 1975. He lost, but he went 15!

He even knocked down Ali in the 9th round. 

Silvester Stallone later admitted that he watched that fight…and, that Chuck was his inspiration for “Rocky.”

At the age of 70, Chuck looks great! He has his wits about him, and still works as a wine and spirits distributor. And, he’s a really nice guy…who let some guy he’d never met pose for a picture with him!

  Chuck says there’s a move being made about his life as “The Real Rocky”…with Vince Vaughn to play Chuck Wepner. Should be interesting.

You never know who you may run into a dinner. And, to think that I thought Jersey City Mayor Jeremiah Healy - who was there when I walked in - would be the most famous person I’d see at Rosie’s!

Aren’t you glad my blog is back?

It was a tale…of two Rods. 

On the same day the Mets apparently wrapped up a deal with record-setting reliever Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez, another Rod was in the news.  And, this one may really need a save.  

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (bluh-GOY’-a-vitch) was hauled in by the Feds for allegedly trying to sell his appointment of Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate replacement to the highest bidder.  Blagojevich is also accused of interfering with the Tribune Company’s attempts to sell the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field…because he was angry at the Chicago Tribune for some critical editorials, and wanted some members of the Tribune editorial board fired.

When I got my first whiff of this story from radio news compadre and Facebook friend Rob Hart of WGN-AM (a Tribune Company station, by the way), I figured Blagojevich had been nabbed in some run-of-the-mill corruption bust.  The governor had been linked to a shady campaign fundraiser named Tony Rezko.  Surely that was the basis for his arrest.

Whoa.

 CLICK HERE and listen to my full interview with Illinois Lietanent Governor Pat Quinn.

   These allegations against Blagojevich blow my mind.  I lived and worked in Chicago for more than 20 years.  I know the political culture there, and the nasty track records Illinois governors have for corruption (Blagojevich’s immediate predecessor, George Ryan) is in federal prison on a corruption conviction). 

But, these charges are incredible.  Trying to sell his appointment of Obama’s replacement in the Senate?  Interfering with the Tribune’s business, because the editorial board was critical of him.  You couldn’t write a movie script this good (although, if you do, my chosen title is “Roddergate”).

Even U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald - a guy who’s been around, and has handled some huge federal cases - seems to be shocked by the scope of Blagojevich’s alleged criminality.  Or, should I say alleged dopiness?

So, while Blagojevich, a die-hard Cubs fan, is in the doghouse…the Mets get much-needed help for their bullpen

Bullpen, Doghouse.  Good Rod, Bad Rod.

I’m not sure even K-Rod can save this one for Guv-Rod. 

(Photos courtesy Getty Images)

So, the New York Football Giants have suspended Plaxico Burress for the rest of the season.  Good for them.  Let’s hope it’s only the beginning.  Let’s hope #17 (and what the Hell kind of number is that for a receiver, any way?) has played his final game for the Giants.  Period.  

You know, it’s not even so much this one incident.  I’ve been around pro sports long enough to know that athletes can be an odd bunch…and, they can attract an even odder (is that a word?) bunch.  They often align themselves with street thugs who hang around to ride the jocks’ gravy train to babes, booze and bling.  And, sometimes, they can be the targets of over-zealous fans or worse (see the case of another Giants receiver who was recently robbed at gunpoint).

I can almost see Plax’s desire to protect himself - although, I would have suggested a legal method.  

And, I can almost picture that unfortunate incident.  Plax carrying a drink in the club.  The gun starts to side down the inside of his pants leg.  Plax grabs for it.  The gun goes off.  Ouch.  I don’t think Plax’s intended goal here was to shoot any one - especially himself.

But, like a boxer jabbing away for 12 rounds, this is an accumulation of wounds.  The reputation.  The big contract.  The hold-out.  The “I was taking my kid to school” AWOL incident.  And, now the gun thing.  And, the alleged cover-up.

Like so many other truly gifted enigmas, Plaxico Burress has become more trouble than he’s worth for the New York Football Giants.  There is no denying that he is among the very best receivers in football.  But, there’s also no denying that he’s become a distraction for the best team in football…a team that appears on a course to return to the Super Bowl.  The Giants don’t need that distraction.

Do I think Plax should go to jail?  We’ll let the courts decide that one.  Do I think he should be banned from football?  No.  But, I think the Giants should find a way (and I’ll bet there are clauses on top of clauses in that contract) to cut their ties with Mr. Burress.

You’ll note that, playing without Burress after the shooting, the Giants rolled to a convincing win in Washington.  Eli Manning found enough good receivers on the field to pass for more than 300 yards.  These are not, it turns out, the New York Football Plaxicos.  Life goes on.

I think we’ll see Plaxico Burress on an NFL field again someday.  But, hopefully, it won’t be in the red, white and blue of the New York Football Giants. 

I’m picturing silver…and black.  “Michael Vick…back to pass.  Throws across the middle.  Caught by Burress.  Touchdown Raiders!”  We’ll see.

(photo courtesy Getty Images)