GOODBYE JORGE POSADA

***POSADA TO ANNOUNCE RETIREMENT***
For a guy with as much pride and stubbornness as Jorge, this is a pretty big decision. Those of us who follow the Yanks all year, could tell that Posada was on his last legs, but Jorge didn't seem to think so. I hoped I wasn't going to see him struggle through games in another uniform, until an ignominious release took place, but it looked like that's what Posada was going to make happen. I read that he told his agent not to solicit offers but merely field those that came his way. None did. Maybe that's what changed his attitude. Whatever it was, I'm glad to see him leave before any embarrassment, such as the great Willy Mays stumbling around the Mets outfield, trying to prolong a great career.
So now two of the "Core Four" have retired with the third likely to go after this season. Jorge was a clutch player on the field and a clubhouse presence that will be missed. Thank you, Jorge.

***GIANTS WIN BIG***
I don't write about football too much, but I have always been a big Giant fan along with the Jud of Phoenix. I don't know how far they'll go, but yesterday was fun at least.
Two comments: At the half, the 10 or 15 Fox analysts (how many actually were there?) said there were two "questionable spots" on the ball. Actually I thought that pretty much EVERY spot was questionable. I have no idea what the line judge was looking at, but it wasn't what I was seeing.
For most of the beginning of the game, the Falcons were stuffing the Giants running game and pressuring Manning like crazy. Then, late in the 2nd quarter, the Giants changed their offensive line set up. Instead of lining up straight across, they set their guards, tackles and tight end into "V" formation, which gave the linemen a little more time to adjust to the rush of the Falcons front four. After that, everything began to click.
Did anyone else realize that, although the final score was 24-2, the Giants actually scored ALL the points in the game?

***THEY SAID IT***
"Just a reminder, if the groundhog sees his shadow Feb. 2, that means six more weeks of college bowl games." -- Brad Dickson
"The University of North Dakota finally bowed to NCAA pressure and agreed to change its Fighting Sioux nickname. UND will now be known as the Stomping Suh." -- Dwight Perry
The Vatican is hoping that Tebow won’t have to play against The Saints! -- TC Chong

There is a controversy brewing over the Hall of Fame: what to do about the PED users. Some sportswriters are upset that the burden of choosing - deserving or not deserving - has been thrust upon them and they don't like being put in that position. Well, as Mike Lupica likes to say, "Shut up!" You get the honor of voting, so take the responsibility, too. Bob Ryan of Boston has done just that:
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7438726&categoryid=2378529

CP-