Boston and New York. Two cities constantly competing in every sport. When it comes to basketball, the Knicks and Celtics games get a little hot occasionally. In the world of football, the Patriots beat the Giants in the final game of the 2007 regular season completing their perfect 16-0 regular season. The same game in which Tom Brady and Randy Moss set new NFL touchdown records at their position respectively, with a dramatic TD pass late in the fourth quarter. However, New York would get the last laugh on the grandest of stages. Minutes away from the unfathomable 19-0, the Patriots defense failed to hold off Eli Manning and the Giants offense. The pursuit of perfection came to a screeching halt, all of New England fell silent in shock, and the city of NY had once again struck a crucial blow to their arch-enemy. You have no idea how painful that was reliving all of that just now. So many emotions come to the surface: anger, disappointment, frustration, bitterness, rage, determination, I could keep going. Remember though, the city of New York has TWO football teams. When the Jets hired Rex Ryan to be their new head coach they might as well of injected the Patriots/Jets rivalry with steroids. Ryan made sure to let everyone know "I'm not here to kiss Belichick's rings". Thanks for the heads up Rexy, the Hoody was getting all his shiny championship gear ready so you could pucker up. As a Patriots fan, I gotta be honest and say I love that the Jets brought this guy in. He's just so easy to hate, pick on, and laugh at. A sports lover's dream villain! These two franchises have been connected in so many incredible ways. None more important than perhaps the hit the Jets delivered 10 years ago yesterday. What hit am I talking about? Perhaps, the most imperative moment in history of the National Football League. The year was 2001 and with the horror and devastation of 9/11 only a couple weeks old, the nation looked to the NFL to provide a timely remedy. And when linebacker Mo Lewis of the Jets delivered that crushing shot to Pats quarterback Drew Bledsoe (injuring him so severely that he had to be rushed to the hospital for internal bleeding) it appeared as though the Pats title hopes had also taken a season-ending blow. Boy were we wrong. Onto the field trotted a man that would soon become one of the greatest clutch players in the history of the game. Tom Brady went on to lead New England to a surprising Superbowl victory, one of three championships, and now he is poised to take his seat in the Hall of Fame one day. Fast forward to last season, Patriots finished the year with the best record in the AFC and when they demolished the Jets in December on a cold Monday night in Foxboro, everyone penciled them as conference champs. Too bad New York had other ideas. Led by Mark Sanchez, Rex Ryan, and a defensive line that made Brady's life hell for about three hours, the Jets dominated New England, thus eliminating them from the playoffs and sending them home to think about what could have been. See any trends here? These two cities love making life a LIVING HELL for each other. Which leads us to...
Red Sox, Yankees, nuff said. Arguably the best rivalry in sports takes on a whole new life this weekend when the slumping Sox head into the Bronx to face the 2011 AL East champs (damn that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth). Here's what we know: the Yanks clinched the division crown after defeating the red-headed step child of the division, the Rays. All season long New York and Boston have been battling for the top spot in the division and now Boston is hanging on for their postseason lives. The first game was rained out Friday night setting up for a doubleheader on Sunday. Boston will send Lester, Wakefield, and Lackey (cringing in fear) to the mound for the three game set. They will be opposed by Garcia, Burnett, and Nova. The Yankees catcher Russell Martin was quoted a few days ago saying "I hate the Red Sox". Really Russell? No way! Say it ain't so! Well guess what buddy, Red Sox Nation hates you too! Sorry, I told you it's hard to keep my emotions in check sometimes. Martin went on to say "anything that gets the Red Sox out is awesome to me." Does that answer all your questions on how the Yanks will play their bitter rivals this weekend? The members of the Red Sox woke up to a pleasant surprise this morning, the Rays and Angels both lost last night, increasing their lead for each for the wild card. The Beantown bombers have take 11 out of 15 games from the Yanks this season so there is reason for optimisim. In fact the Sox are undefeated this year in the Bronx. I don't expect another sweep, I mean let's be honest with the way Boston's been playing a team of high school kids could beat them right now. I see the Sox winning tonight and splitting the doubleheader tomorrow... GO BOSOX!!!
P.S. - I wrote this earlier this afternoon and thought I posted it, however I was mistaken. Yes, I know my prediction for a Boston victory was wrong. I saw the Yanks won. Yes, it's extremely aggravating. I'm beyond frustrated with my beloved team. No, we are not throwing in the towel. Oh yeah, and LET'S GO BLUE JAYS!!!! Beat the Rays... PLEASE!!
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