Been There Before

"'Today we are all Philadelphians,' Kevin Cullen, metro columnist for the Boston Globe, told [Daniel Rubin of the Philadelphia Inquirer]. File this under: The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

Hello, Pedro. Nice to see you taking on the Yankees - again.

Well, Dear Criss, my Phillies prediction is half-way coming true, so far. They're in the World Series. Now they only have to win three more games. They embarrassed you yesterday. Whoa. And their pitcher made y'all look a little silly. He's a little strange but fascinated me. I'm really excited about this series. If they pull off a win tonight, they have a chance to win it all quickly in Philly. Don't drag this back to NY. Don't be fools.

On a Sox note, the bench coach, Brad Mills, went to the Astros to become the manager. Do we have an opening for 'Tek? Would he even want this? But then some of the other coaches there have more experience (i.e. John Farrell). But who knows! The Globe wrote, "Asked if he might turn to an internal candidate as his next bench coach, Francona said, 'I hope so. I really hope so.'" Just don't let him go. Come on!!

I'm so sorry for being Brett Favre's PR person lately, but he'll be back in Green Bay for the first time as a - gulp - Viking. That's gonna be good. This season is actually turning out to be very interesting.

Phillies-Yankees still tied in the sixth. Give us a break down of the results.

Roxy

Photo: Getty Images

Blog Hog: World Series

Let the games begin. This one is for all the marbles.

Good luck, Yankees!!!

Photo: Ray Stubblebine, Reuters.

Subway Series, Second Version?

The Yankees are World-Series bound! Woooo-hooo!!! After 6 long years, the Yankees are back where they belong. It took a while but they're there now. Let's hope they can finish what they trained for.

Too bad your nightmare came true, Dear Roxy.

I'm so proud of the way these guys played. They showed a lot of heart. And some of the guys that hadn't been hitting, showed up in Game 6, except for a few, of course ([cough] Nick). It doesn't matter now - new series, new games.


The Phillies, who took the train to New York City, are a great team so this, too, shall be a tough series. This means I'll be biting my nails, start pacing, heart racing... you know all of those symptoms, Rox.

In football, wow, what a tough week to be a Miami fan. First, the Canes lose in OT and then the Dolphins blow it up - in grand style. The biggest disappointment thus far. That's just sad. Let's see if either team can rebound.

Yankees!!!

-Criss

Photos: Bill Kostroun & Ray Stubblebine, Reuters.

Blog Hog: Truly Super Sunday

This is your Super Bowl, Dear Criss. Amazing game, just superb! These two will come back to meet for the Super Bowl. I have no doubt. And what a game it will be. I haven't been so excited in a long time.

When Pittsburgh scored, Minnesota came back with some crazy punt return for a touchdown and vice versa. The game was never over, except that throughout the whole game, the commercials would randomly cut in, the feed would get stuck, or Fox would cut the game before it was over! Awful. Did you see that Vikings guy knock over the poor ref? Was that the same guy who had a call made against him by that injured ref earlier in the game? Hm.

And when we send NFL teams over to England, can we please send TWO good teams to impress the other country we're trying to expand to in the future? Maybe next year we can send the Lions and the Raiders. Is anyone thinking over in New York? Sigh.

Tomorrow morning, I hope the news announces that the Angels won, but they have a tough, tough task ahead of them. We'll see.

Roxy


AP photo

Ah, Those LA Express Days

Oh, you are right, Dear Criss. The UConn story is just so sad. Nothing happens in Storrs, and then this happens. This poor boy. There's no reason whatsoever for him to have died. Whatever happened to fist fights? The violence every day is ridiculous.

So you wanna talk Yankees? You know the little baggie on the airplane (a.k.a. barf bag)? I need one every time I read your posts. Look, it's obviously over for the Angels. And someone out there (like my sister) is saying, "But the Red Sox did it!" Yeah, the Red Sox made history with their comeback, and it's not gonna happen again with anyone else in our lifetime. It's over. History isn't made by everyone. It'll be Yankees-Phillies, and the Phillies better not disappoint!

Hey, did you by chance watch that USFL documentary on ESPN ("Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL?")? It was really interesting. And they interviewed Steve Young - whose birthday just passed - ahem. Check it out if you see it on. You won't believe how many people played in that league, like Reggie White, for example.

Well, keep me posted on the playoffs. Let me know who I need to be rooting for to beat the Evil Empire.

Roxy


Photo: Peter Brouillet, Getty Images

Falling Into Place

The Yankees are one game away from the World Series, Dear Roxy! I'm excited, moody, happy and nervous all rolled up into one. It's been a while since I've felt this way about the Yankees, but this feels just right.

And although they played great in New York and in Game 3 at Angel Stadium, only to lose in extra innings, the Yankees' bats, except for ARod's and Jeter's, were not alive. Thankfully that all changed yesterday. Hopefully it'll continue throughout. We all know pitching wins games, but we need a little offense, too!

And how about C.C and ARod? Tell me how you feel about them, Rox.

On the NLCS, the Phillies are en fuego. I think it might be a little too late for Joe Torre and the Yankees, not that Manny cares. That guy is a joke!

What happened this weekend in the NFL? Oh yeah, Eli lost and Peyton and the Wildcats didn't play. The Dolphins get an undefeated team this weekend. I can't wait to watch that game!

Sad news about UConn and Miami's Jasper Howard. When will the violence stop? RIP.


Get well, Charlie Davis. Team USA and the fans are rooting for your speedy recovery.

-Criss

Photo: Chang W. Lee, NYT

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO THE MOST WONDERFUL LITTLE HUMAN BEING I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING.

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY, CHRISTOPHER!

Junior's Back

Enough of the Yankee blog hog moments! Whoa!

I think the Angels are on the brink of blowing it. If they can't pull out one game in NY, what are they gonna do, Dear Criss. Yes, they're going back to California, but they can't depend on home field advantage, because this will go back to NY. What a drag. And the Phillies! Oh my. Pull your act together! Although, as my sister pointed out, it could potentially come down to Joe Torre playing his old team, and if that's the case, you know who I'm rooting for - and it's not the Yankees.

Did you catch any of the Viking's game today? Brett Favre just barely won. The Vikings led the game most of the time, then Flacco gave his best and nearly won, but the kicker missed the field goal in the last two seconds. The Pats are playing in the snow (snow?!) in a blowout against Tennessee. It's halftime, so there's still a chance of losing this one. The Steelers got they're win. What's going on with your Manning boys? (Yawn.)

But Junior Seau is back! Wouldn't it be nice for him to finally win a Super Bowl? But unfortunately, the Pats don't look too pretty this year, a la Red Sox. Nice to see him. If only Vrabel and Bruschi would return, too. That team is hurting.

Roxy


AP photo

Blog Hog: ALCS

Good luck, Yankees!!!

Kick some butt.
-Criss

Photo: Mike Segars, Reuters.

Blog Hog: WildFins

What an awesome win for the Miami Dophins, Dear Roxy! They couldn't have scripted it better!

With five touchdowns and five lead changes in the fourth quarter alone, the Wildcat offense scored the winning touchdown with seconds left. How sweet a victory =)

I was definitely nervous, especially since they lost a close one on opening week, but the way the offense was playing throughout the whole game, I knew they had a chance to at least tie it, and they won it! Woo-hoo.

They'll be playing three tough teams in the upcoming weeks, but I think this win shows the NFL that Miami is here to stay!

-Criss

Photos: Hans Deryk

One Series Down!

Do you mean "Go Angels" since the Twins are down and out, too, Dear Roxy?

The Yankees have done it! They made it pass the Division Series for the first time in 5 years - 5 years! I gotta admit I was a bit nervous, especially during Game 2, but the Yankees pulled through and they're off the to the ALCS to play the Angels (I'll get to your Red Sox soon).

The Angels are as tough as the Mighty Twins, maybe even tougher, so I'm a bit nervous about this series as well. Hopefully they'll pull through en route to the World Series!

And the best part of it all, is that C.C and Alex played great. I'm so glad they played as good as they did. Let it continue!

Sorry about V-Tek and the Sox... not! You know how I feel about 'em. OK, maybe a little about V-Tek, but not really ;)

Go Yankees!!!!

In football, what a great win for the Canes, although I don't think there was any doubt that they were going to win this one.

Good luck to the Dolphins tonight!

The Colts and Giants are 5-0. It's great to be a Manning, isn't it?

-Criss

Photo: Eric Miller, Reuters

Down and Out in - Boston.

Hey - who's that guy at the bottom of the picture with the scruffy beard? Oh, it's Varitek! What - he wasn't catching today when we lost? What about the last game and the one before? No kidding?! What was the common denominator here versus previous championship years? Hm, let me think. Looks like to me, having him in makes a difference. Call me crazy. And him not hitting - before you bring up that excuse - is not the reason for the team's demise this year. No, Dear Criss, other bats need to be active. Varitek's batting average didn't bring this team down.

The Pats? Well, apparently they were depressed about the Sox. (At least the Steelers cheered me up a little.) The 49ers have a better record than the Pats! And I'm not knocking them. You know I have a soft spot for them since Steve, Joe and Jerry.

So, like you said, I would know if we would win today just by reading the Sox roster and looking for the starting catcher - even if I tried to hold onto some hope. The roster never lies. And Papelbon? Don't get this broken record started. Trade everyone except Dusty, Jacoby, Lester and Youk. Varitek's gonna retire anyway.

Go Twins.

Roxy

Photo: Getty Images

Yankees in October

I'm lighting a candle as we speak, Dear Roxy.

The playoffs are set and we're going against the mighty Twins! "Who woulda thunk it?" Only the Twins would have. I mean, what a great weekend for Minnessota. First Favre and now the Twins. That game was pretty awesome. I was hoping for 7 more extra innings, but I think we got enough.

Now they're nice and tired for the Yankees. Picture perfect.

I see the security guard's (my best friend) point. The Yankees don't always play great against the Angels, especially on the west coast, but I would never root for the Red Sox. I'm just gonna size up the competition as I did during yesterday's game.

I'm so excited and nervous. Ahhhhh. Are we getting together this weekend? Let's talk some October baseball over pizzas. =)

-Criss

Photo: Richard Perry, NYT

Candlelight

Please, Dear Criss. Why don't you go light a candle and bow down to those incredibly wonderful and sweet Yankees of yours who are just hitting every record and helping old grandmas cross the street?

Now the crazy (but we love him) security guard at work decided that he will root for the Red Sox because he (as in your kind) doesn't want to go up against the Angels. Thanks. Will you root for my Sox, too, then? I know you secretly do. By the way, when I heard the crowd gave Varitek a standing ovation during the last regular season game on Sunday, I had to contain myself. Where's the Kleenex?

But how about that Brett Favre? Wow. Was he going crazy or what? That was quite the statement he made with such a performance. He just looked like he wanted it, like he was, as the players say, "hungry." There was passion and drive. It's one for the archives. Hope NFL Films caught that one. And listen, I've had my years of drinking the Brett Favre Hatorade (trademark by Criss) during the '90s when he would beat my Steve Young, but somehow after winning that AMAZING 1999 wild card game, I've found a way to let go and heal. Steve Young to Terrell Owens. I can hear the call that day: "OWENS, OWENS, OWENS!"

My Pats barely survived, and the Steelers didn't look 100 percent strong. But it's the W that counts, right? Everyone better be in the tape room today. No exceptions, Brady.

Roxy

Photo: Todd Warshaw, Getty Images

Warm October

ARod went into the last game of the regular season needing 2 home runs and 7 RBIs to become the first player to have 30 home runs and 100 RBIs in 13 straight seasons, and he did just that – in one inning! What a way to end it, Dear Roxy.

With that said, I think his great hitting will continue in the post season. Same goes with C.C. A lot has been said about these two in the postseason, and how bad they’ve performed in October, but I think this time it’ll be different. I sure hope it is, at least.

We now await the Tigers-Twins playoff game. It’s exciting and I’ll be watching the game, but I wonder if this waiting game will affect the Yankees in any way? I obviously won’t be rooting for either team, but it’ll give me an opportunity to size up the competition (because in my heart I’m playing, too).

The Canes and Dolphins won this weekend, as well as St. Thomas Aquinas. Good weekend for Miami-Dade County teams, well, except for FIU. They’ll get there though.

Peyton and Eli won, too! Peyton is now behind Brett Favre and hometown favorite Dan Marino for third all-time in TD passes. What a great feat. In the meantime, little brother Eli had a no-contact injury. New York fans are now holding their breath as they await the MRI results. Hopefully it nothing he can’t handle.

But back to baseball - Good luck, Yankees. Kick some post-season a**!

-Criss

Photo: AP

Wake Me When It's Over

Lester is back on the mound after your cronies hit the ball toward his leg in an attempt to knock him out. Okay, so that would be a really hard plan to execute, but you know I can't take you guys, Dear Criss. Barf! At least we're tied in playing each other this season, so there's maybe an ounce of dignity.

What a lousy season. (And I don't even want to talk about the Toronto blowout. By the way, who's Dusty Brown?) It's so silly to even be in the Wild Card. So here's my latest prediction: The Phillies take all. I know that you will disagree. I know you are already sizing your ring and planning the parade, but hold on, lady!

Now I'm probably the last one to see the video, but holy cow! Tim Tebow went OUT after that hit. Oh my goodness. But here's my thought: I watched some of that game - the second quarter - and the score was ridiculous! I thought they would take him out of the game. Did they? No. They should've. It's ridiculous. Did I already say ridiculous?

Truth is, I'm a little sad because deep down inside I believe this is Varitek's last season. Not that I want it to be, but I think it will be. And now they're saying this may also be true for Wakey. What will I have when they're gone? Who will I look to as my new fave? Who will I cheer for? There's a new face every day! Sigh.

I'm sticking to football.

Roxy


Photo: Jared Wickerham, Getty Images