Did I predict the Mets' fateful demise???

I recently found 2 pod-casting episodes I had to do for my Audio Production class last year. To be funny, I chose to talk about why the Mets would not Win the World Series (at the time, the Mets were considered favorites with the Johan Santana edition). 

They proved me wrong, didnt they? I'll be uploading them to my Youtube channel hopefully this week and since I only know how to upload movies with audio, you may crack on me for not being more tech-savvy. Take a listen...

www.youtube.com/thexultimatex

Shea Goodbye, You Didn't Deserve This...

Sorry for not posting in a while, it's been pretty hectic around here. With the Ranger pre-season games, work, and of course, the glorious 2nd Mets collapse in 2 years. 

Let me comment on this...

- The Mets owe their entire fan base a sincere apology for absolutely going out and gagging the final 7 games at Shea, ever. Its a disservice to any fan who puts their entire soul into a team that some of the members could care less of the outcome. 

- Who was the genius that decided to have the final Shea ceremonies AFTER the game and not before it? It's one thing to have it after a game maybe in August or in the beginning of September. But, on the last game of the year that could decide a playoff berth, and if you lose you go home?!?!?! Utter nonsense...

-Fred Wilpon, cut me a break. You have the audacity to come out a day after your team proved what a bunch of choke-artists they really are and say your team OVERachieved??? This team was built for a Championship! You underachieved...big time!!

I'm a Mets fan and the quotes I've read and just the overall state of this team sickens me to my core. I'm glad their season is over and I'm looking forward to change in the off-season. The core of the team needs an extreme facelift. The face of the franchise needs to be cleansed of the mess it has stumbled upon. You CANNOT come back in 09, in a new stadium, with the same team.

Until next time...

Giving New Meaning to Doubt

All summer I've read countless articles about arguably the best free agent left on the market at this point whose name we all know as Mats Sundin. Everyone, including myself, thought on July 1st, when free agency began, he'd have a home right away. If you had told me by Sept. 16th he'd still remained unsigned and unsure of where or if he even wanted to play, I'd say you're nuts. So, to all the head cases out there? Kudos to you...

Most of those articles named the Rangers as a likely suitor for Sundin's services, but the idea seemed too far fetched. Sundin, on Broadway, playing along side Jagr (a Ranger at the time), Gomez, and Drury? To me it felt too familiar to the Rangers of old; spending beyond their intelligence and basically buying their tee-times for May. However, in the days to follow, Jagr would leave along with his fellow friend Martin Straka, and always controversial and Vogue's best summer intern, Sean Avery. So, the Sundin notion started to make a bit more sense. Then, Glen Sather kicked the tires off on one the busier Rangers off-seasons in a while; a cleansing of sorts, getting younger, grittier, and faster by adding the likes of Zherdev, Voros, Rismiller, Kalinin etc. Now, the identity of the Rangers has changed. Other than Markus Naslund, another key off-season addition (the new Jagr if you play addition by subtraction here), no one is over the age of 31. The Rangers have become one of the youngest teams in the league in basically a blink of an eye. And, factoring the bonuses still owed to players, including Brendan Shanahan's from last season, Sather's expenses are right near the threshold of the Salary Cap ceiling. Once again, Sundin to NYR seems unlikely.

It's nearly 3 weeks till opening night in Prauge on Oct 4th. The Rangers are just beginning training camp. They're still right under the cap. Sundin is still in doubt about playing. All interesting factors to keep an eye on until the season starts. That aside, let me tell you what the Rangers should and NEED to do regarding Sundin; stay away from him. Buyer beware and here's why...

Despite the fact that he's 37, he can still produce (a 30g, 30a man last year). A team leader (captain of the Leafs for years). The possible missing piece to make this team an elite force in the East some experts say. But those aren't the reasons why I dont want him. It's very simple. He has shown no desire, no hunger, to play this season and win a Stanley Cup. Its nearly October and he still hasn't made up his mind and pretty soon it'll be too late. The Rangers need guys passionate about winning and have the desire to compete night in and night out. This season has a lot of outside variables seemingly working against the Rangers success this season. Too many things have to work out just right. At this point, I question Mats Sundin's desire. You have to if you're serious about winning. Plus, like I mentioned before, this team's identity has shifted to a younger, hungrier team. Mats Sundin doesn't fit into that. He's your veteran presence that you're hoping has enough left to provide enough production to win you games. It's another "what if" on the already hefty list and not close enough to a sure thing. Mats, despite your great talents and accomplishments, you're giving new meaning to the word doubt. I'll have to pass on you.

Until next time...

J. W.

My Welcome Post-Ranger Musings

Hey Readers,

My name is James Wrabel. I'm a 21 year old student at Kean University in Union, NJ, looking to get into either sports broadcasting or sports radio. Let me first say that I'm really excited to be writing a blog about what I'm passionate about-sports. I hope that you will continue to come back and read because you were able to feel how passionate I am through my writing and liked what you read. For the record, I don't claim to be an expert in any field, I just post my opinion on the matter, that's all. It may be something you disagree with or have never heard someone say before, but that's the whole point of reading; stimulate the mind and learn something. So be prepared for edgy, intriguing, and though-provoking material.

My teams of choice are The New York Giants, New York Mets, and New York Rangers. The latter is my personal favorite and will be what I mostly will blog about. On occasion I'll post something about the other 2 but be prepared to read about the Rangers.

So let's begin....

The NHL regular season is about 3 weeks away from beginning and time couldn't be going slower. I'm growing increasingly impatient waiting for that puck to drop. It's almost as if my life stops from June till October and the only way to bring me back is the feel of the chill in air from the fresh sheet of ice and the energy of a MSG crowd.

The Rangers were plenty busy this off-season, practically renovating their entire roster. Out are the likes of Straka, Avery, and the always enigmatic Jaromir Jagr. Coming to Broadway are a set of new faces to usher in a different era; one of speed, skill, and tenacity. The main offensive threat? A 24 year old phenom in Nikolai Zherdev. The PP QB to run the dismal and inefficient Rangers power-play of past years? 31 year old Wade Redden, coming off his worst statistical year in 07-08. The Veteran Leadership? Besides Drury and Gomez, 35 year old Markus Naslund, former captain of the Vancouver Canucks, the team he spent most of his career with.

You'll notice theres a few of many questions that can be asked about this new Rangers team. No one can be certain how well or poorly the Rangers will do this season. A significant portion of their success will ride on the theory that a change of scenery does an athlete good. Sometimes being put in with a different mix of guys and escaping the demons and failures of another team can revitalize a player and invigorate him with a new sense of confidence. But there's a reason its called a theory, its not an exact science. Sometimes a change of scenery does nothing or in worst cases is detrimental to that player. The Rangers are relying heavily on the change of scenery theory for Zherdev, Naslund, and Redden, who are needed to produce for the Rangers in order for them to win games this season. The spectrum of success and failure is so broad because there are so many uncertainties. Being a fan, my only hope is the Rangers play with heart and effort every night because if they do, no matter the outcome, you can feel good about the team you put enormous faith in.

Until next time...