I have absolutely had it with Alex Rodriguez. This guy cannot opt out of his contract and leave New York soon enough.

In last night's game up in Toronto, Jorge Posada hit a pop fly with 2 outs to the third baseman Howie Clark. A-Rod was running between second and third and yelled out something as he passed Clark. Clark thought he said "I got it" or "mine", meaning that someone else on the Blue Jays was calling for the ball. Clark backed off and the ball dropped scoring a run and the inning continued. The Blue Jays were incensed at A-Rod and called his antics "bush league". Rodriguez said he yelled out "Hah" as he ran by.

Like I've said in the past, I do not like Alex Rodriguez. I never had, even going back to his days when he was a rookie in Seattle. There is just something about him that has always rubbed me the wrong way. Well this is just another example. His own team didn't even back him on what he did, and that says it all. I agree that it was a "bush league" move. As soon as it happened, I thought here we go again. To be fair, if someone else on the Yankees had done that, it probably would not be as big of a story as A-Rod. Everything is always amplified with him. Also, what he did wasn't against the rules, but it is a move that should be left in the sandlots.

When I played baseball in high school at Ansonia, we played against a team in the NVL that was notorious for pulling "bush league" plays like this. One game, our lead-off hitter Mark Gesner got on first base. I don't believe he was ever thrown out stealing and always led the league in stolen bases. So he took off for second going for the steal. The opposing catcher never had a chance of throwing him out so instead he threw a sky high pop up in the infield. Then a player on their bench 'clinked' two aluminum bats together to make a sound as if our batter had swung and popped it up. They all started yelling "I got it" and Gesner was hung up confused between 1st and 2nd. Luckily our first base coach was paying attention and was able to get Gesner on a base safely.

I just wish A-Rod would keep his mouth shut. I am pretty sure that the next time Toronto plays the Yanks, Rodriguez will be getting a ball in his ear. The Jays will not forget this, and you know what, neither will anyone else around baseball. New York is playing at Fenway Park tomorrow night and you can be sure that the Boston fans have some creative chants and signs ready for A-Rod's first at bat.

What would you do if you were Matt Harvey (this week's high five airing Thursday at 5:00/11:00 and on Sunday Sports Replay)? He is a senior pitcher at Fitch High School in Groton with a million dollar right arm. Check that. His arm could be worth hundreds of millions before his career is over. He throws 96 miles an hour. He mixes speeds and leaves hitters frozen with what his father and coach Ed Harvey calls a "dirty" curveball. But right now Matt faces a dilemma.

It's a decision we should all be so lucky to have to make. Harvey has a full ride to North Carolina. But as the top pitching prospect in the country, yes the country, he could go very in high in next week's baseball draft. And if and when he does, he will be offered millions to sign. So should he take the money and start his pro career or get the education first?

To me, this is a no-brainer. Go pro now! I am all for education and had the college loans to prove it. A top quality education is something no one can ever take away from you. But the opportunity to make millions playing baseball can be taken away with one injury.

Take the money now, Matt. You can always go back to college and earn your degree. In fact, because of the leverage he will have, whatever team drafts him, will probably pay for his education (whenever he chooses to take college classes).

Who knows if Matt Harvey will be the next Brian Taylor or the next Roger Clemens. I just hope he gets rewarded for his gift. College is wonderful. In some cases, truly the best four years of your life. But what's worse... accepting millions to go pro, never making it and then going back to school a rich man or going to North Carolina, getting hurt and ending up in a slow pitch softball league. I love slow pitch. Played it for years. But the financial opportunity right now may just be too good to pass up. Matt Harvey is that good. We should all be so lucky to have such good choices.

You are probably off. I am at work. But don't worry. I am not bitter. You are out of the office because it's Memorial Day. We are all free and I hope safe because of the people we honor on this day. Let us not forget why we are a country (to set an example for the world of what freedom can do) , how we became a country (see the revolutionary war), and what it means to be an American (and that's where the sports part comes in).

Marquise Hill understood American freedom. He was a Patriot, though his calling wasn't overseas in Iraq. His trenches were far less dangerous, the battlefield (which really it isn't) of the NFL as a New England Patriot . Hill was blessed with talent---6 foot 6 and 300 pounds of muscle and speed. But his greatest gift may have been his generosity. He helped rebuild countless homes after Hurricane Katrina.

Hill's body was found today on a Louisiana Lake. The Patriots defensive end apparently drowned from a jet ski accident. Folks in the New Orleans area are now drowning in their tears.

The Duke Lacrosse team understands American freedom too. They lost the National Championship but won a court case that proved the innocence of three of their former players and vindicated their program. Some of the Duke players cried when they lost to Johns Hopkins today for the title 12-11. But better to carry the title of national runnner-up than national disgrace. The only disgrace is how the case was handled. One of our great American rights is that we are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty.

Roger Clemens understands American freedom as well. He chose to sign with the Yankees on his terms. I wonder if he regrets it now? Not the part where he gets 20 million for four months of work, but pitching for what appears to be a terrible team. But what a great country when you can earn a 20 million bucks in a summer for throwing a baseball.

We are so blessed to be Americans. Is our country perfect? Of course not. Are any of us perfect? Remember why you have today off. Remember those who serve our country. Remember those who gave their lives for our country. And remember that we all can do our part without going to the Middle East. Volunteer. Coach. Help someone who needs it. Share your time, talent and treasure. It won't make you a patriot. But it would carry on the legacy of a former New England Patriot.

I haven't had a real interest in an NBA event in a long time. Sure I was happy when Richard Hamilton won a title a couple years ago with Detroit, but I didn't necessarily watch any games unless we were showing some highlights on the news. The NBA has been so irrelevant to me for so long, until last night when the NBA Draft Lottery happened.

Let me take a step back and say that yes I am a Boston Celtics fan. It pains me that I actually have a rooting interest for a team in the Old Towne. However, when I was a kid, the NBA was king and it was led by Larry Bird. Bird is probably just behind Dave Righetti and Dan Marino as my all-time favorite athletes. He was so much fun to watch and there wasn't a bigger competitor on the hardwood than Bird. I never missed a national broadcast of the C's and religiously checked the box scores to see what damage Bird had done the night before.

I never saw Larry play in person, but in my one and only trip to the old Boston Garden to see the Celtics play (it was the first year of Bird's retirement), the Legend showed up. I had goose bumps when the crowd chanted "Lar-ry, Lar-ry, Lar-ry" as I looked to see #33 just a few yards away from me.

After Bird's retirement, I latched on to Reggie Lewis as my new favorite player. I loved the athleticism and energy he brought to the team. Needless to say, I was shocked while a freshman at UConn when I heard of his tragic death. That day was probably when my interest in the NBA really started its decline.

But back to last night. It was supposed to be a big night for Boston. They were supposed to get the number one draft pick. They were supposed to get the rights to draft Greg Oden. They were supposed to turn the franchise around. They were supposed to start to climb back to where they were in their glory days.

Gerry Brooks and I watched in great anticipation last night. It was a time to have a little excitement again for the Celtics and the NBA. But then the unthinkable happened. The Celtics logo pooped up in the envelope for the 5th overall pick. Gerry and I groaned in disbelief. It just didn't seem fair.

Jeff Jacobs had a great column today in the Hartford Courant. He said the Celtics had a chance to matter again in Connecticut, instead they are still irrelevant. Maybe in another 10 years the Celtics will get a shot at another franchise player...but I wouldn't count on it.

Connecticut Sun Coach Mike Thibault is a special man. He led the Sun to back to back WNBA Finals. He was an assistant coach on two Magic Johnson Laker Championship teams. And he helped draft some guy named Michael Jordan. But as I said in my piece on Coach Thibault tonight, his success is defined not by all that he has won, but by all that he has lost.


5 of Coach Thibault's siblings died of Cystic Fibrosis. Five! His sister Ann Marie lived the longest, dieing at the age of 21. That was her goal he told me, to live to 21. She died a few weeks later.


In doing the story, Coach Thibault and his wife and kids could not have been any kinder. They are great people with a unique perspective on life. Coach Thibault wants his players to enjoy their journey this season. Clearly he and his family do.


Nancy Thibault, his wife, was re-doing their basement and gave me an old disco ball when I was at their house. I'm not sure who is enjoying it more....my three kids or Dad? Nancy, we got a lot of use out of that relic last weekend! More importantly, every time I see it I will be reminded of a wonderful family and all that they have endured. Thanks for sharing your painful story. I hope it inspires someone to share their time, talent or treasure that can ultimately lead to a cure.

Let me start by saying two things: the Red Sox are the better team and the Yankees are a mess. To borrow a line from my father, "It's just that simple".

There is almost no need to comment on the Sox. They get big hits, they make big plays, and they get big pitching performances. I was one of the people going into last night's game thinking that Julian Tavarez would get rocked. So many Sox fans were saying that he was a great number 5 starter and all I kept saying was that his era was above 5! Well he shut down the mighty Bombers, so I'll eat crow.

A couple points I want to make about the Yanks:

1. Can Mike Mussina please stop whining and complaining and start pitching. This guy has an excuse for everything. We all knew after he got the loss that he would complain about his extra day of rest. He is probably still blaming his bad outings on the Japan trip 2 years ago! The Yanks got this guy to be an ace, and outside of a hand full of games, he has been a disappointment. I am sick of him being referred to as "cerebral". If he is so smart, how about he figures out how to get him and this team out of their funk.

2. The New York Daily News is reporting that Jason Giambi has tested positive for amphetamines within the last year. If this is true, is it really that surprising. He has all but said that he was a steroids user. I am done with this guy. I wasn't big on bringing him in as a free agent, and I am sick of all the bad publicity that follows him around. There is a rumor that the Angels have offered Mr. Do Everything Chone Figgins and another player for Giambi. You know, the Yanks need his 30 home runs, but I think I would make this trade and put Figgins in center and move the pathetic arm of Johnny Damon to DH duties.

3. General Manager Brian Cashman has to go and Joe Torre does not. Changing the manager now serves no purpose because there is no one qualified to take his place. On the other hand, Cashman is responsible for complete and total busts like Carl Pavano, Kei Igawa, and now Bobby Areau (although I believe that he can still turn his season around). There needs to be some sort of shake-up and someone needs to be held accountable.

These are just a few of the problems that are surrounding this team right now. Do I think their season is over...of course not. Until I see a little asterisk next to their name in the standings eliminating them from postseason play, I never give up. If I had to place a bet though, I say right now the Sox win the division and the Yanks will fight through the end of September for he wild card spot. This team is too good to play this bad for so long. Just imagine if Jeter and Posada have not been as hot as they are, they might only have 10 wins!

This blog starts with some random thoughts and I hope eventually makes a point. I just got off the phone with a buddy who is a member at Oakmont. He says not to expect scores under par at the U.S. Open this summer. In his words, "if it's off the fairway, it's death." My friend shoots low 80's at Oakmont. His score last weekend.....93!

I want to thank the folks with the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Northern CT Chapter for everything Sunday. They gave me an award for my contributions to the game of football. As I said yesterday, it is humbling, but also kind of a joke to me. The fact is, I hope to spend the rest of my life telling stories about football on tv and radio and will still never repay the game what it has given me.

My aforementioned friend from Pittsburgh and member at Oakmont represents much of what the game gave me. His name is Win Smathers. He was our fullback during my fours years at Dickinson College. Unlike me, Win was a great football player. I was a one year starter and the ultimate one hit wonder. Win started all four years mostly blocking for our All-American tailback Mike Birosak. Biro broke records. Win broke open holes. And Win never complained about not getting the ball. Ultimately, his toughness always belied his somewhat privileged upbringing. Today, he is a successful businessman and father of two working in Pittsburgh

Win, like so many of my teammates remain close friends. I hadn't talked to him in nearly a year and within second today I knew exactly who it was. Win, represents what football gave me, close friendships. But the game also taught me discipline, teamwork, dedication, setting goals, dealing with adversity and on and on. Clearly, the student athletes honored at the luncheon yesterday learned those qualities from the game as well. More importantly, they carry those lessons into the classroom and the community.

Now let me going back to giving my friend Win a hard time. Something he promises Oakmont will give the best players in the world next month.

As you read in Kevin's blog, yesterday was the 2nd annual Mark W. Carey Memorial Open at the Golf Club at Oxford Greens in Oxford. It was a day to celebrate the memory of my wife's brother, who died suddenly from brain cancer just two years ago, and to raise money for the educational funds for his two your daughters, Nikki and Tarrah.

I cannot begin to thank everyone that was there or who donated something to our cause. Last year we had approximately 75 players in the field, and this year that number jumped up to over 120!

This year the tournament really had me emotional. I broke down on the drive to the golf course just thinking about Mark and all the tournaments we played together with his father and brother. He loved playing golf, he loved being competitive, but most of all he just loved being around his family on days like yesterday. When I got home, my wife and I watched Kevin's 6:00 sportscast. Once again I was brought to tears to see Kevin tell Mark's story. So then I logged on the computer and read Kev's blog, and you guessed, I cried again. We all know where Mark rests in our hearts, but when others treat Mark's memory as important, it really hits close to home. So I got up from my chair, and just like Kevin said, I hugged my daughter Marisa.

Mark's wife, children, parents, siblings, and friends will always miss him, but what he has meant to all of us individually will remain strong. On behalf of the entire Carey family, I thank all those that helped us out yesterday or in the past. Your generosity and kindness will always stay with us.

I played in the Mark W. Carey Memorial Open today. Unless you know Mark, you probably never heard of it. No one wins a Green Jacket. No one gets a check. And there is no one named Tiger teeing it up. The fact is, I didn't even know Mark. He was our sports producer Don Laviano's brother in law. Knowing Don's character, that makes Mark a great guy. But why you should you care? I hope in a few minutes for some of the same reasons that I do.

About two years ago, Mark was diagnosed with a brain tumor and died just a few weeks later.
Gone. Just like that. He left behind a wife, two kids and lots of friends and family. So today's event was a fundraiser to help his family with the skyrocketing cost of education. Mark's girls are still young, but someday they will go to college.

I point all of this out on this otherwise perfect day in Connecticut to maybe make you stop and remember what is really important in life.

I could not have played any worse today. But who really cares. By the grace of God, I will go home tonight to my wife and three healthy kids. Too often in the sports world and in life we forget to count our blessings. I'm sure Mark Carey would tell you to count yours. Mark loved golf. But I think he would tell you now that missing a two footer isn't the end of the world

Saturday night I was in Boston with our best friends, Bob and Mary Place. There are no two better people that I've ever met, except maybe their son Jeffrey. I was nominated for an Emmy on a story we did on Jeffrey last year. He overcame five brain surgeries to return to Little League baseball. Jeffrey is doing much better now, but someday may have to revisit what remains of his tumor.

So when our story on Jeffrey didn't win an Emmy Saturday it was easy to have perspective. My lasting impression of his story (besides our meeting with Joe Montana, his favorite player who just happened to visit NBC 30) will be what his father Bob said, "just hug your kids and tell them that you love them."

Sometimes life really is that simple. It's not about making birdies. It's about making it easier for Mark Carey's kids to go to college. It's not about Emmy's. It's about a story that maybe inspired someone else going through a difficult ordeal.

Life is short. Sometimes shorter than we will ever know. Hug your kids. Tell them you love them. And remember what is really important. Thanks to Mark and Jeffrey for giving me a reminder.

Call me Nathradomus. Today I take out my crystal ball and look into the future of sports. Just promise not to hold me to any of these predictions.

1) If Derek Jeter stays healthy he will someday break Pete Rose's record for career hits. Jeter is more than half way there and with hits in 63 of his last 66 games, is showing no signs of slowing down.

2) A-Rod will break Barry Bonds home run record in the next ten years. And then Albert Pujols may top A-Rod. As always, it is all dependent on staying healthy.

3) The Red Sox will win the World Series again in the next two years. With Papelbon closing, Beckett emerging as an ace (let us not forget his performance in the '03 World Series) and the middle of that order, I love the Sox chances.

4) The UConn Men will win one more National Championship before Jim Calhoun retires.

5) Maya Moore and Tina Charles will lead the UConn Women to at least one if not two titles in the next few years. National Titles!

6) Phil Mickelson will win the Traveler's Championship this June.

7) Tiger Woods will someday play in Cromwell. Just don't ask me to tell you when.

8) The UConn Football team will win more games than last season this fall (4-8 in '06). But they are still a year away from being a really good team.

9) Hartford will never get NHL hockey again.

10) I will never break 80 on a golf course, unless a 79 for 15 holes counts!

11) The Mets pitching will ultimately let the team and fans like me down in October.

At first glance, it sure doesn't seem right that Roger Clemens can come back and pitch for four months and make more than most of us and our spouse and our parents and our cousins and our second cousins and our neighbors all put together will make in a lifetime. It just doesn't seem right.

The "Rocket" will make about 18 and a half million for his fourth month part time job this summer with the Yankees. And when the "stress" of pitching every fifth day sets in he can always pack up as he chooses and fly home to Texas to see his family. For working America, and even poor old guys like Jason Giambi, who have to earn their money over a full season it just doesn't seem right. But this is America where capitalism rules. And Roger Clemens is simply cashing in on the leverage he has built up over 23 seasons and 7 CY Young Awards of perhaps the best pitching ever. Is that right? Sure it is. He has earned it.

I truly believe that any of us are worth what someone is willing to pay us. Did any of you sell your house for far more than you ever could have imagined in the last 10 years? Of course. Was it right? Sure it was. We live in a free market system. We can envy Roger Clemens. We can question the Yankees. But the system works. None of the Yankee players today seemed to care that Clemens was getting the special treatment. Giambi even joked he'd carry Clemens bags.

How much money does a Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks or Will Farrell command in the movie business? Is is fair that it far exceeds some of their peers who may be more talented? Perhaps. But those actors, to name a few, have built up a reputation that commands and demands top dollar. If you stop going to their movies, their agents will no longer to bring in those enormous contracts. The free market usually gets it right.

This may finally be it for the "Rocket" who turns 45 in August. To me, he's the greatest pitcher ever. That's why I will drive 2 hours to the Bronx this summer with my son and drop at least 200 bucks to see Clemens pitch and not think twice about it. But I wouldn't get in my car for anybody. I shop at Walmart. But when it comes to making the push to see the Yankees over my beloved Mets, I want buy a "Rocket" not a Rasner. And that's why the Yankees move makes sense to me.

Cue up Elton John's "Rocket Man" and Def Leppard's "Rocket" because the Rocket is returning to the Bronx.

Roger Clemens has signed back with the New York Yankees today. The Clemens lottery is over and the Yankees have hit the Powerball, but does The Rocket have any more power left in his fastball? As my old Magic 8-Ball used to say, "all signs point to yes". He was only 7-6 last year with the Astros, but still had a 2.30 ERA. He threw 113 innings and still was able to strike out 102 batters.

I am not a Clemens fan, never have been. I was one of the people that was upset when the Yankees traded David Wells for Clemens in the 1998 off-season. He spent 5 seasons with the Yanks and won two World Series titles with them (1999 & 2000), but I never thought he was the reason they won those years. My main reason for not liking him stems from when he was with Boston and Toronto and always was throwing at guys like Derek Jeter. I really disliked him too after he went through all this hoopla in 2003 for his "retirement" and then has played the last 3 years with Houston. I was actually hoping this year he would sign with Boston, because I thought it would have been great drama to play him in a Boston uniform again. I dreamed of Jeter taking him deep to win a game.

But that is not happening, and for the Yankees' sake, that is a good thing. Now I have to root for this guy again, and you know what, he is probably going to be real good despite being 44 years old. He will give the team a shot in the arm, and this team does need some stability on the pitching staff.

The best sign today was when Clemens made the dramatic announcement in the 7th inning at Yankee Stadium today, his new teammates all were smiling and looked genuinely excited that The Rocket was going to be joining them. Even grumpy old Mike Mussina showed some emotion today. If Clemens is going to inspire this team to go on a long winning streak, then I guess I am all for it.

Speaking of the announcement today, leave it to the Yankees to make it a spectacle. I can't wait to hear all the Red Sox fans whine about it and say they didn't want or need him (Curt Schilling has already said this). The Yanks return to Fenway park on Friday June 1st for a three-game series. You can bet Clemens already has that series circled on his calender...or at least his personal assistant does; he can sure afford one with the $4.5 million dollars he is going to be making per month in New York.

Joe Torre just pulled a hamstring filling out tonight's lineup card. Okay, the skipper is fine. But the Yankees string of hamstring injuries is troubling. Mussina, Wang and now Phil Hughes have all missed time with hamstring problems. If this was a slow pitch softball league comprised of a bunch of beer drinking high school buddies, I would get it. But three Major League pitchers out with the same problem causes concern.

The Yankees, namely G.M. Brian Cashman, brought in a new strength and conditioning team this year. Clearly something isn't working. Ever heard of stretching? Of course these guys stretch. But something must not be right. And it needs to be fixed or the first people the "Boss" should fire are the strength and conditioning guys.

I can't blame them for Jeff Karstens breaking a bone his leg after getting hit by a line drive. That is a "freak" injury. But the hamstring problems and even perhaps Carl Pavano's injured forearm make me wonder. Now I've gotta go. I want to stretch out before I head out to the set for the six o'clock sports.

Yankees broadcaster Bobby Murcer said at the beginning of tonight's game that he hoped he was a good luck charm for the Bombers who have lost 8 of their last 9 games. Forget about the game and forget about the Yankees being in last place, the Yankee family got a victory tonight just by having Murcer back in the broadcasting booth.

Murcer was diagnosed with a brain tumor this past Christmas Eve and had surgery a few days later. He has been absent from the Yankee team except for a brief appearance on Opening Day, but tonight he rejoined his comrades in Arlington, Texas as the Yankees play the Texas Rangers. He says he feels great and that he is ready to work his full schedule of games this year. Yankee fans all over the world could not be happier.

Murcer is one of those unlucky Yankees in that he never won a World Series with them. He was traded before the Bronx Zoo won two titles in the late 70s (he did play on the 1981 Yankees team that lost to the Dodgers in the World Series but was hitless in 3 at bats). To me, Murcer seems like one of the nicest guys in baseball. Joe D told me that Murcer is one of the classiest men in the business. He is also a very popular Yankee. I never got to see him play, but many older Yankee fans immediately made Murcer their favorite Yankee when he took over for Mickey Mantle in center field.

To me, his story really hit close to home. My wife very suddenly lost her brother Mark two years ago from brain cancer. When I heard Murcer's tumor 5 months ago, I was really saddened because it made me think of Mark and the pain that he and his family has gone through. I do have to admit that I thought the worst for Bobby Murcer. So to see him tonight talking baseball and having fun doing what he does best, I could not be happier for him and his family. It makes you realize that it really doesn't matter that the Yankees started the day at 9-14 because Bobby Ray Murcer already won.

Welcome Back Bobby!