I'm Following the Crusader Crazies!

This Saturday is the big showdown between Bergen Catholic and Don Bosco. You can bet the Don Bosco faithful and the "Crusader Crazies" (Bergen Catholic's student section of fans) will be out in full force. I'm going to follow the Crazies from start to finish. From putting on the face and body paint to chanting and screaming in the stands. We're doing a "day in the life" of the Crusader Crazies and it will air on SportsTime next week and on the web (for those who don't get Time Warner).

I'll have more info on this soon. Check back!

Don Bosco Rolls Over St. Joe's, Eyes Bergen Catholic

Strictly business. That's the best way to describe Don Bosco's win this afternoon against the St. Joseph Regional High School Green Knights. St. Joe's kept things close in the first half, down just 14-7 at halftime. But the Ironmen (7-0) slowly and methodically picked apart the St. Joe's defense. Brett Knief found tight end Alexander DiSanzo wide open several times during the game for big pass plays over the middle. Don Bosco's defense clamped down and stopped the Green Knights running attack.

At the end of game handshake, many of the players on both teams were smiling, hugging each other, and joking around. It was clear that these two teams knew each other. DiSanzo said, "We look forward to this game. We're friends with a lot of the guys on their team. We were joking around this week, teasing each other about this weekend. It's great to play them."

Quarterback Brett Knief had a solid game behind center. His eyes are on the showdown with Bergen Catholic next week. "Every year, we live, breathe, and think Bergen Catholic. It's the big game. We're going to have to practice hard. We're ready."

Thousands of fans, parents, and alums were at the game, but some former St. Joe's players I talked with on the sideline said there weren't as many people at the game this year than in years past.

Bergen Catholic (7-0) won their game against Nutley on Saturday 34-6. Don Bosco Prep and Bergen Catholic will meet Saturday night at 7:00pm at Don Bosco.

We will have all the highlights and interviews on SportsTime, Time Warner channel 10, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 7:30pm. If you do not have Time Warner, you can also download the video highlights on our new website - www.njsportstime.com - We will be launching our new site this week and I will post information about it on this blog.

Bosco Game Postponed

For those of you who don't know already, the Don Bosco/St. Joe's showdown will have to wait one more day due to the rainy weather. The game has been re-scheduled for tomorrow (Sunday) at 1:00pm.

Useful State Tournament Info

With soccer, volleyball, and football NJ state tournaments just around the corner, things can get kind of confusing. Luckily,the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association website does a nice job of breaking down all of the schedules and dates.

http://www.njsiaa.org/tournaments.aspx

Brackets for volleyball and soccer should be out by this weekend and can be found at:

http://www.njsiaa.org/BRACKETS/FallBrackets.aspx#2007_Girls_Volleyball

For now, when you click on the brackets link, it will just show blank team names and links.

Enjoy the state tournaments and make sure you tune in to "SportsTime" for all of the highlights - we'll be there from beginning to end. (Yes I had to plug the TV show... AGAIN... I can't help myself).

Leonia is State Tourney Bound

For the first time in their 9-year history, the Leonia girls soccer team is going to the state tournament. We covered the girls a lot this season on SportsTime and the girls have looked impressive behind Katie East and Eva Alba. The Leonia girls volleyball team has also qualified fr the state tournament. They have been red hot as of late, winning three in a row. Their last game of the regular season is this Tuesday against Ridgefield - a warm up for the tourney.

Giants Win 5th Straight, but It's Not Where You Start...

... it's where you finish. The old cliche and it works. Since 2004, the Giants are just 8-16 in the second half of the season. I'm a Giants fan, and I'm really glad they're winning against NFL powerhouses like the Falcons, 49ers, and Jets. But their next four games (after they demolish the Dolphins in London next week), will be the true test for the Giants. They have the Cowboys, Lions, Vikings, and Bears - none of which are pushovers. I'm still not convinced with the Giants offense. Their defense has anchored much of their scoring opportunities during this win streak, but what happens when they face a solid offensive line like the Vikings or Cowboys? Can the Giants put the same pressure on QB's against stronger lines? We shall find out. Either way, the next month will let us all know if the Giants are for real.

Keep an Eye on this Game

The rain last night postponed some games until today and there is a full slate of high school football games. One game to watch out for is the Ridgefield Park vs. River Dell match-up. Should be a good game, and I'm not just saying that because we're airing the highlights on Sports Time! (although if you would like to see game highlights, it will air this Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 7:30). But enough with the shameless promotion:

The Golden Hawks are unbeaten and Ridgefield Park has been red hot as of late. Should be a close game.

Jeff Feagles Sighting at Bosco Game

Ok I know what you're thinking... Jeff Feagles? Who cares? Isn't he the Giants punter? It may not seem like a big deal, but it does make a fun story. Jeff's son C.J. is the punter for the Ridgewood football team. C.J. has never played football and just started punting for the team this year. His first few punts in last night's game were a bit shaky, but he put it together and had some decent boots in the second half.

I spoke with Jeff at halftime and he was excited to see his son out there. A proud punter and a proud father.

Now let me just defend the punters of the world for a second. Punters never get the media attention or the credit they deserve. They are in the shadow of the glitz and glamour of running backs and quarterbacks and playmakers. But when push comes to shove, when you're playing a field possession game, when it's pouring rain, you're going to count on your punter. So the next time you're watching a football game, take a moment and appreciate the guy with the golden leg.

Bosco Stays Unbeaten But Looked Beatable

I covered the Don Bosco Prep vs. Ridgewood game tonight. The Ironmen took care of business as they do every week, 28-0. But don't let the score fool you. The Ridgewood Maroons came to play and put up a fight. They forced three turnovers in the first quarter and held the #1 ranked team in New Jersey to a slim 7-0 lead at the half. Hundreds of screaming Ridgewood fans smelled upset. But Don Bosco made their adjustments at the half, stuck to their bread and butter running game, and did not make any mistakes to pull off the win.

But here is the bottom line - if Bosco plays the way they did in the first half tonight against St. Joe's Montvale or Bergen Catholic, they will be beaten - plain and simple. Bosco played a sloppy game overall. Penalties, two interceptions, and a lost fumble kept Ridgewood in the game.

Coach Toal said "St. Joe's Montvale is a very good team, and we aren't going to beat them if we play like we did tonight." Toal told his players at halftime that they were "shooting themselves in the foot." He was referring to the costly turnovers and penalties.

Dillon Romain and Tony Jones scored touchdowns to continue their impressive seasons.

Next up for Bosco, they hit the road to play St. Joseph's Montvale, with the Bergen Catholic Crusaders waiting in the rear for their showdown in November.

Can Bergen Catholic beat Bosco?
Absolutely. Bergen Catholic is a bigger and more physical team. Their offensive line is one of the best in the state. They will be challenged though by a very tough Don Bosco front 7. Should be a terrific game. Bosco has more depth and that should prove to be the difference.

Life After Torre

I think the most fan and player-friendly pick to replace Joe Torre would be Don Mattingly - one of the most popular Yankees of all-time - a perfect fit. But will Torre even be fired? I know it's only been three days since the Yanks ended their season, but I got a weird feeling Torre is staying. No proof, no evidence, not even an argument. Just the warm fuzzy feeling...

Cool High School Team Name

I'm covering a girls soccer game today and the nickname for the Teaneck High School girls soccer team is the "Highwaywomen." Absolutely love it.

Official New York Mets to New York Yankees Conversion Form

For those Mets fans who are actually considering switching, take a look at this conversion application that was forwarded to me. I hear applications are coming in record numbers and it's competitive!

Enjoy the playoffs baseball fans!

NEW YORK METS TO NEW YORK YANKEES CONVERSION FORM

Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of the New York Yankees Fan Club. Due to an unprecedented volume of requests, we are currently processing only fan conversion registrations for New York Met fans.

Conversion requests from other teams will be accepted once all Met requests are processed. We expect this to take a number of weeks based on the current backlog of requests.

Please take a few moments to fill out the conversion form below to help us get to know you better and prescribe any required counseling to recover from your previous fan experience.


Name: ________________________________________________________________

Last (Please Print) First MI


Address:
__________________________________________________________________



# Street
___________________________________________________________________

City State Zip


1. Please indicate the last time you watched the NY Mets win the World Series:

[ ] 1969 (Please leave this form at the front desk of your nursing home)

[ ] 1986

[ ] Have never witnessed this event



2. Please indicate your favorite moments in Mets history: (Check all that apply)

[ ] Nolan Ryan traded for Jim Fregosi

[ ] Timo Perez forgets to run in the World Series

[ ] Scott Kazimir traded for Victor Zambrano [ ] Al Leiter allowed to throw 164 pitches in a World Series game

[ ] Joel Pinero(American League reject) shuts the Met's out 3-0

[ ] Knocked out of 1st place With 17 games remaining & a 7 game lead

[ ] Bobby Valentine thrown out of the game comes back with fake mustache & glasses

[ ] Armando Benitez cracks under pressure

[ ] Paul Loduca caught with 19 year old Huntington girl



3. Reasons you believe the Mets have not won a World Series since 1986:
(Check all that apply)

[ ] Lack of Pitching

[ ] Lack of Hitting

[ ] Poor Management

[ ] Lack of Defense

[ ] Bad calls by Umpires



4. Have you experienced any of the following after another inevitable Mets loss: (Check all that apply)

[ ] Headache

[ ] Uncontrolled Anger

[ ] Heartache

[ ] Holes punched in doors or walls

[ ] Nausea

[ ] Smashed TV screens

[ ] Depression

[ ] Avoided Yankee fans for days or weeks



5. Is October your least favorite time of year?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No



6. Are you tired of saying "Wait till next year?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No



7. Are you ready to admit that:

a) Joe Torre is a better manager than Booby V or Willie.

[ ] Yes [ ] No

b) Derek Jeter is better than Jose Reyes.

[ ] Yes [ ] No

c) The Rocket never intentionally threw at Piazza.

[ ] Yes [ ] No

d) The American League is far superior to the National League.

[ ] Yes [ ] No

e) The DH Rule is a great thing.

[ ] Yes [ ] No

Once you have completed this form, please forward to Yankee Stadium. Then burn all your remaining Mets clothing, memorabilia, and associated reminders. After reviewing your request, the Yankee Fan Club will contact you with notification of acceptance or rejection.


If accepted, you will receive:

* A recommended recuperation program which includes a recording of Frank Sinatra singing "New York, New York" over and over again

* An opportunity to obtain tickets to the 2007 World Series at Yankee Stadium

* Posters of Jeter & Rodriguez in Yankee uniforms wearing their championship rings

* A dart board sporting a picture of Omar

* A copy of our popular handbook, "Harassing Met Fans for Fun and Profit"

* A coupon for a future poster of Johan Santana in a Yankee uniform

* A special DVD of Jose Reyes defensive highlights and a never-before-seen video of his audition for the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz singing "If I Only had a Heart"

* A one-year subscription to a weekly support group for ex-Met fans in your area



If rejected, you will receive:

* Our pity and condolences, plus a 26 second video capturing the past 30 years of Mets highlights in head-to-head competition against the Yankees narrated by Tom Seaver.



I hereby renounce the NY Mets for all eternity on this the _______day of_________________, 200__











__________________________________



(Signed)





(Office Use Only)









[ ] Approved

_________________________________________

George M. Steinbrenner





[ ] Declined

• Location: NYC
• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

A Little Yankee Poutporri for ALDS Game 1

Some things to watch out for in Game 1 between the Yanks and Indians.

A Rod has often been criticized for not being clutch in the playoffs. Maybe his luck will change in Cleveland. He batted .538 with three homers at Jacobs Field this season.

The Yankees better hope that Game 1 is scheduled at night. Chien-Ming Wang is 13-2 in night games compared to just 6-5 during the day (4.05 ERA). Maybe he's just a night owl.

Mariano Rivera will look for a measure of revenge in this series. The last time the two teams hooked up in the ALDS (1997), he was at the mercy of a Sandy Alomar homer that ended the Bombers season. Even though it was ten years ago, I doubt Mo or the Yankees forgot about it.

And for you TV geeks out there, TBS will be broadcasting the Division Series this year. And if this were 1995, TBS would have one heck of a batting order - Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken Jr., and Frank Thomas are covering the games as analysts and color commentators.

My prediction: Yanks lose Game 1, take the series in 4.

(All stats were found on MLB.com)

Thank You Craig Biggio

Craig Biggio played his last game Sunday. He's retiring and will most likely be a Hall of Famer. Thanks for the memories Craig. BaseballReference.com does a nice job of breaking down his career stats and accomplishments.

The Amazing Mess

With 17 games to go, the Mets held a comfortable 7 game lead over the Phillies. Things looked great for the Amazins... well until Sunday September 30th, 2007. With one of the biggest collapses in Major League Baseball history, I've been walking around the streets of Brooklyn, NY, and I can't help but hear that some Mets fans are actually considering crossing over. That's right... Mets fans not only rooting for their cross-town rival New York Yankees, but actually wearing the navy blue pinstripes. In fact, my brother-in-law already shredded his Mets t-shirt and called me to tell me he's rooting for the Yankees. My reaction: Are you kidding me? Now I understand that the overwhelming majority of Mets fans would laugh at the idea of rooting for the Yanks. But for those considering it, I wonder if you were ever truly a Mets fan in the first place? Not to mention what gives you the privilege to cross over? Is that going to make things better? I don't think so. What ever happened to the "You Gotta Believe" or "There's Always Next Year." With every loss there is always opportunity. For the Mets... it might be bad right now... but pitchers and catchers is only a few months away...