Where is the Love?

With the men's basketball season home-opener against SUNY Old Westbury only three days away, there are a lot of things for Hofstra fans to be excited about. With four returning starters and a decent showing at the Charleston Classic the team looks to be in much better shape than they were last year. The big question is, will the fans be excited? While I would not go so far as to say that the basketball fans are bandwagon fans, it is a shame that it is the only sport on campus with a respectable fanbase. Even more disappointing is just how much it relies on any given season's performance. While I am no better for not committing myself to go to a lot of games, I wish Hofsta was a school where the students lived and died by their team. I think if Hofstra could make a good push like back when they were incontention for the dance with George Mason, but that's a lot to ask from the team. Hopefully, a good start to the season will bring fans out, and hopefully there will be something for student to go crazy over.

This holiday season, the Miracle on 34th Street may not so much have to do with Santa as it does with the impressive records being posted at the Garden. While the Rangers have put up respectable records in recent years, with the addition of Zherdev they are burning up. The bigger story, however, is the turn around the Knicks are experiencing since the departure of head coach, Isaiah Thomas. While many figured Thomas’ departure would be for the best, few expected them to get off to such a good start. With Crawford and Randolph averaging around 20 points a game as long as everyone stay healthy they seem in good shape. So far they have not hit the toughest part of their schedule, but with the Celtics only a few games away it should be interesting to see how they match up. While a season cannot be determined by the first few weeks of play, maybe Knicks fans have something to be hopeful about this holiday season. I wouldn’t be surprised if for Christmas, jerseys would be on a lot more Christmas lists.

Honor Roll

People love to root for the little man. Why? I couldn't tell you, but what I do know is that during the World Series, many AL east rival fans where pulling for Tampa Bay players. That's why first baseman Carlos Pena's recent AL gold glove is nothing short of refreshing. Pena who was all around the league before settling with the Rays is one of a few new infielders to nab the award and with only 8 errors on the season, it comes as little surprise. So while a gold glove is no World Series ring, Rays fans still have something to smile about. This season was not a fluke by any means, and with a few offseason transactions, there is always next year to look forward to.

Player Hatin'

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said if Pacman Jones can find the light, he can one day return to the NFL. Goodell is in no way lenient and I think he is handling the manner appropriately but should the league take more severe actions to set a precedence? On the radio show, Mike and Mike, Goddell said, "I've been consistent on this one. He has to recognize his responsibility to play in the NFL." The bigger issue is are professional sports doing enough to help these players recognize the responsibility. Like baseball’s Darryl Strawberry, Jones has had a large number of legal mishaps. There is no way the NFL or any league should be held responsible for a player’s conduct, but is time for someone to be made example of. A year ago Commissioner Stern made it a rule that basketball players should show up for work dress like they are going to work. Many star players decried this rule and even said it was discriminatory, but I do not see that. I see it as Stern making the players known that if they want a job, they must adhere to the company’s rule. It is indeed a profession and to act or look disrespectful is to disrespect one’s boss. Regardless of the situation, some players need to get their stuff together, or get out.

0-No!

New York fans are neither as vicious as Philadelphians nor as pompous as Bostonians. However, New York fans are willing to drop a team like its hot faster than anyone. While no one is about to be dropped (the Knicks were dropped long ago after Van Gundy) it is amazing to see who the prized pupils are as of late. This week New York fans saw two undefeated streaks snapped; on Sunday the Giants and then on Wednesday the Rangers. Obviously, the losses came in due time, but the streaks are impressive none-the-less. The Giants, the reigning champions, have been called the best team in football lately and at the start of last season, who would have ever thought that? Even losing there flagship players, Tiki Barber and Michael Strahan, in the past two season has been unable to slow them down because of the emerging youth. The Rangers have finished at or around third in the Atlantic conference in the past few years and are of to a lovely start. Fans, do not hold your breath- things go south fast. Teams fade, they face injuries and the firs week is no indication of how the season is going to go. However, it is something for New Yorkers to get a little excited over. Maybe not gloat, but at least a little smirk. Seasons last months for a reason, but in New York, maybe this year it will be a winter wonderland.

Big Blue Looks to Bounce Back

History most certainly has a way of repeating itself. Last year after a rocky 0-2 start, Michigan bounce back to win eight straight. Now, while they only have a one-game win streak going, with a win over ninth ranked Wisconisin things are looking up. Can they carry the momentum that propeled them from a 15-0 half time deficit? It is a bit hasty to say they will cruise over the Big East, but being home home against Illinois, a team they have a good track record definitely helps.
So far, Michigan's Achilles ' heal has been switching over to Rodriguez spread offense. Last week, Threet threw for negative yards in the first half. That is unacceptable, especially since Threet earned the starting spot after handling the spread better than fellow QB Nick Sheridan did.
Currently, Illinois is the slight favorite but I do not see Michigan's defense being unable to contain Juice Williams and the rest of the Illini. I would say there is a lot of pressure on Michigan's defense if the team wants to hang in there until bowl season.

Time Out for the Wide Out

After missing practice Monday for a "family emergency," the New York Giants are slapping Plaxico Burress with not only a fine but he has to sit out during a one game suspension to boot. While that may seem like a harsh penalty to some, (primarily Mr. Burress and his agent), the main issue was that Burress did not so much as give the organization a phone call. Rather, he did things his way.
"Plax is Plax, he does what he wants." Said Steve Smith.
Everyone knows that age old cliche about a certain vowel that's absent from team, so we won't repeat, but it goes without saying this is not the kind of impression to leave on your teammates. For lack of a better phrase, Smith said that Burress was unreliable and selfish. Burress is undoubtedly an immense assest to the team and last season he selflessly played with a beat up ankle. Also, unlike former teammate Jeremy Schockey, he does not bad mouth them during every waking moment.
However, he plays for Tom Coughlin. Nevermind that any coach or boss for that matter deserves call, he plays for Tom Coughlin. Tom Coughlin. There are 80 year-old catholic school nuns who are more flexible with rules than Coughlin. Is the severity of the punishment fair? That is hard to say, but when a player carries himself in a manner that is cavaliere, he most certainly deserves punishment. Benching also hurts him more than it does the Giants; he may be the star wide receiver, but there still is Smith, Amani Toomer and a few others. Players take notice, time out is still an option.

Hard Times in Ann Arbor

At 1-2 right now, it’s hard to remember the days when the Wolverines were a dominant force on the gridiron, let alone a national powerhouse. Going into last season, Lloyd Carr’s program was ranked as high as 5th in the nation by some publications. After a disappointing 0-2 start and an embarrassing loss to Appalachian State, the program seemed doomed. Although last year’s boys were able to turn things around a bit and gained a presence in the Big 10, Carr still stepped down and in came Rodriguez.

I am a die-hard Michigan fan and I like to think I bleed blue, but I have always had a soft spot for Big East football. With that in mind I was hopeful that the Big East’s most successful coach would be able to turn things around. While this may be a rebuilding year, the team is going to have a lot to work on during this off week. After finally settling on having Steven Threet start at quarterback Michigan will have some direction, but he’s still not one to catapult his team to a national ranking. While it is obvious Michigan is hurting with the loss of some key players, they still have to figure out away to compete in the Big 10.I cringe to think about how things will go down next week against Wisconsin. It seems Michigan is so far gone these days, that no one remembers how good they were three years ago, let alone a decade. This may be an off week, but let hopes it’s not an off season.

Retirement…A Tiring Ideal

Michael Jordan made it popular and Roger Clemens made it nauseating. This summer when Brett Favre announced his return nearly all of Green Bay was in upheaval. Someone who had a team built around him for over a decade had hung up his cleats only to put them, and it was as though the option was no longer there.

When athletes are so special that they are at the top of their game and they carry with them that certain mystique, it is hard to deny them the right to go out on their own terms. It does, however, become difficult when it affect the careers of their teammates and even the face of the game. In Green Bay, it had become Aaron Rodgers time, and while Favre will forever be revered by Packer fans, the organization and fans alike believed his time had come.

This past week, Tour de France legend Lance Armstrong announced he looks to be back for the 2009 race, peddling it out with his old racing team, Astana. Since Armstrong’s retirement, Astana has been banned from the race for resistance in efforts to clean up doping. While Astana’s 2009 fate is still uncertain, Armstrong has said he would go as far as to appeal to French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, to get his team back in the hunt. Armstrong, who last won in 2005, will undoubtedly be a contender to win the race next summer, but will that race be enough for him?

It is not up to a fan to decide when a player should or should not retire. Playing the game is not just the player’s career, but often the defining factor in his or her life. The problem is what become of the player when the game is about to change. For Favre, his team moved on and for Armstrong, his team got banned. With team sports, can one player so greatly command the scene? In these cases it is obviously not an issue of money. Maybe it is for glory or maybe it is for another record, but if it is for a genuine love for the game, then athletes have the right to keep on playing.

Yet despite this right, it is still selfish. Athletes cannot be forced into retirement, but they should know when to bow out gracefully. The face of their respective sports change and with that change comes a call for new talent, new fan fair, and a new icon. Both mean have done so much for their sports, but enough is enough. It’s time for new heroes, and all this indecision has grown quite tiring.