Anthony Mason Passes Away

                           

Former New York Knicks forward forward Anthony Mason passed away this morning at the tender age of 48 after battling congestive heart failure.  His hard nosed style and determination made him a staple of the Knicks during the 90's.  From his cool hair cuts and the way he pestered opponents in the pain, he profoundly endeared himself to the New York faithful and helped put the mecca of basketball back on the map.  There may be others that can do what he did but for anyone who watched him, there will never be another Anthony Mason.

What is the Future for the Yankees?

                        

The Yankees offseason was very mum for their standards, adding only a few components (Andrew Miller, Didi Gregorious, Justin Wilson), while bringing back others (Stephen Drew, Chase Headley, Chris Young) to fill open slots as role players. In addition, they were out bid by the rival Red Sox for Cuban prospect Yoan Moncada.  The minimal action from the team is sure to have many scratching their heads asking what's next for the Bronx Bombers.

In years past the Yankees were the juggernauts of free agency, signing whomever they wanted for whatever price without a care in the world.  However, the new luxury tax and revenue sharing has allowed the rest of the league to catch up.  Other teams are now spending big and locking up their youth, preventing them from entering the open market where sharks like the Yankees usually lie in wait. They are now forced to sit idly as those teams build up their rosters to competitive standards. This places a greater emphasis on developing talent from within, a formula that has worked for them in previous years but has been abandoned for far too long.

As of right now the teams future still seems to be up in the air.  What they choose to do will be entirely up to them.  We can only hope that they learn from past mistakes and build something that can last for a long time, otherwise there could be trailing days ahead.

To Fix Things, The Knicks Must Start Small

The Knicks are going to have more cap space than any other team in the NBA this summer. In most circumstances it should mean they can lure any top tier free agent they want, but given how abysmal this year has been that's not going to be the case.  It won't be easy to convince players like LaMarcus Aldridge or Marc Gasol to come away from their current situations, so it's best for the Knicks to target other mid tier players that would best suit what they want to do.  Building a proper team that way could make things a lot easier come 2016 when players such as Kevin Durant, Lance Stephenson (potentially), and (dare I say) Lebron James hit the market.  That cannot happen unless they focus on improving the roster this off season.

Here are some upcoming free agents I think would be good targets:

 

Aaron Afflalo - A good shooter who can spread the floor and hold his own defensively.  His game would work well with Carmelo Anthony and the triangle offense.



Tobias Harris -  He has a high upside with his quickness and scoring ability.  It also helps that he is a native New Yorker and has already expressed interest in joining the Knicks.



Robin Lopez - The Knicks need a solid, defensive minded, and good rebounding big man.  He would bring a nice dynamic that can be counted on on a nightly basis.



Amir Johnson -  Another good rebounder with the skill to score in the paint. He's also willing to get physical down low, something that has been lacking on this team for a while.




Greg Monroe - If there is a player that resembles what Amare Stoudemire was for the Knicks minus the injuries it's Monroe (Though he is a much more capable defender).  He can score, rebound, and is effective around the rim.  Likewise, he will have no problem adjusting to a system like the triangle. However, should the team get the top pick and draft Jahlil Okafor, bringing him in could potentially jam things up on the roster, but having him as an alternative is not a bad thing.



Reggie Jackson - The teams need of a quality point guard couldn't be more evident. Jackson is a quick guard who can break a defense down with his slashing style and high motor.  He may cost a little more than the others, but signing him would be an instant talent upgrade.



Goran Dragic - Here is the ideal triangle offense point guard.  He can set up teammates, hit open shots at a high rate, and provide stabilization for a volume shooter like Anthony.  The only problem is he could decide to stay in Miami and not take the chance in signing with the Knicks given their current situation. Nevertheless, the team should still take a shot at him.

Yankees Baseball is Back

The Yankees officially opened spring training today, beginning their preparations for the new MLB season.  The fresh start brings new hope and also new questions as to what to expect for the season. Here are some of the questions that face the team coming into 2015.

What will Didi Gregorious bring to the table? - The Yankees acquired Gregrious in an off season trade, foregoing making any major signings to replace Derek Jeter.  The 25 year old brings his quick glove and sharp defensive IQ to a position that is sure have many eyes trained towards it considering the legacy The Captain left behind.  His bat is not much to write home about, but perhaps the advent of two new hitting instructors could give him the chance to sport high production numbers.

Who will be the 5th Starter? - Right now the Starting Rotation consists of Sabathia, Tanaka, Pineda, and Eovaldi.  With Nova not expected to return until sometime in July, the Yankees are going to have to get a good look at the young arms and see who deserves a shot in the majors. There are also players like Chris Capuano and Scott Baker who could compete for the role, but the ultimate decision will be up to who can be impressive enough to earn the chance.

How will Alex Rodriguez be used? - After all that has surrounded him for the past 2 years, Alex Rodriguez will make his rather depressed return to baseball.  At 39 no one knows exactly what to expect out of the beleaguered third baseman.  Chase Headley is the new starter and Garrett Jones will probably get most of the plate appearances at DH, so Rodriguez will probably see limited time.  If he can prove his bat is still good that Yankees will be sure to make a place for him, otherwise he will become the most expensive bench man in sports history.

Can Mark Teixeira Return to form? - Things have not gone to well for Teixeira since his first season in pinstripes. His batting average has gone down consistently the past 4 years and he has battle a deluge of injuries that have sidelined far too much.  Hopefully he can get back the form he had in 2009 and be productive for a team that lacked any production all of last year.  Limiting his time in the field could be the answer, but with a potential logjam at DH good conditioning will have to do.

Who is the closer? - Betances had a tremendous rookie campaign as he posted outstanding numbers working as the setup man.  With David Robertson now with the White Sox, one would believe he is a shoe in to be the next man for the job.  However, the signing of Andrew Miller has put the role in a bit of flux with the team thinking about using a two closer system. While that does have great potential to work very well, only one of them can truly be the have the spot.

How Far Can The Islanders Go?

                      

The 2014-15 season has been a revelation for the Islanders, they sit atop the Metropolitan Division and have played some of the best hockey anyone has seen in years. It has rejuvenated a once dormant fan base and filled them with anticipation of what this team can accomplish this season and beyond.

Already sporting 38 wins (Their most since 2008) with plenty of hockey to go, the Isles are poised to reach the 50 win mark for the first time since 1983-84, a season in which they reached the Stanley Cup Finals. The prospect of that itself should give fans plenty of reason to be optimistic as to what these Islanders are capable of.  Strong leadership and even stronger team play has them primed for a playoff push that will make many loyal Long Islanders proud

The team will make certain that this season is not remembered as a mere Cinderella story, but as the start of a new era of success and excellence.

Giants Must Add Depth to Fleeting Roster

             

With the Scouting Combine fast approaching and the draft on the horizon, the Giants must make vast improvements to fill gaps and add depth to their roster.  Though there are plenty of NFL hopefuls to choose from, it will be important to pick out the players whom are most capable of helping the team for both the present and foreseeable future.  Here are some of the positions that I feel are top priority and the prospects they could look to go after.

Offensive Lineman - The constant shuffling the offensive line has gone through makes a clear need to add a durable and adept lineman that can fit into a starter’s role immediately.  With the word being that Justin Pugh will be moved inside to guard, this leaves an open tackle spot that is undoubtedly important to the success of the offense.

Potential Targets; Ereck Flowers OT (Miami), Brandon Scherff OT (Iowa), Cameron Erving OT (Florida State)

Saftey - Antrelle Rolle is an impending free agent and the Giants should not wait to see if he chooses to return.  It is best to look for a suitable replacement right now to avoid getting jammed up in the waiting game.  They could find good value in a safety that possess the physical tools and intelligence like Rolle should they choose to go that way.

Potential Target:  Landon Collins (Alabama), Anthony Harris (Virginia), Clayton Geathers (UCF), Jaquiski Tartt (Samford)

Linebacker - Though Jon Beason is currently under contract, he still could be released if the team deems it financially necessary, especially given his injury history.  That would leave a hole in the middle of the defense, but it would also give the flexibility to move a young stud into the role much like the Panthers did to Beason with Luke Keuchly.  It's been a long time since the Giants drafted a power line defensive player, they could decide to end that drought this this year.

Potential Targets:  Eric Kendricks (UCLA), Vic Beasly (Clemson), Benadrick McKinney (Miss State)

Defensive Line - Jason Pierre-Paul seems to be safe with the franchise tag expected to be placed on him, but were does that leave the rest of the line?  It's been 4 years since the Giants have been able to sport a fearsome front line that every team was afraid of.  Filling in open slots with smaller signings is nice, but it has gotten them nowhere, so a shakeup could be in order.  Giving Steve Spagnuolo good young lineman to work with will be a very nice perk to have given his success with players like Tuck and Umeniyora, both of whom were Pro Bowlers under his watch.

Potential Targets; Danny Shelton DT (Washington), Mario Edwards Jr. DT/DE (Florida State), Malcom Brown DT (Texas), Randy Gregory DE (Nebraska), Markus Golden (Missouri)

Finding the ones who fit is never easy since there is risk/reward with almost every player.  However, the need to add the best possible talent to the roster is essential to any chances of the Giants being a consistent contender for years to come.  

Knicks Buy Out Stoudemire

                            

As All Star weekend came to a close the Knicks officially bought out and release Amare Stoudemire, ending his tenure in New York.  Though things did not go as hoped, no one will forget how he helped re-invigorate and lift a team out of a decade long stupor.  Stoudemire took a chance that no other free agent would and the Knicks and their fans will be ever thankful for it.

However, the fact that he missed so much time during his contract had to be frustrating to him and the front office.  To sign for such a large sum only to miss a majority of the next 4 years made for a harsh reality that both the Knicks and Stoudemire had to came to grips with.  With the rebuilding process in full effect, Amare's yearning to play for a contender, and Carmelo Anthony now the centerpiece, a parting of ways was the best way to go.  Stoudemire is now free to go wherever he pleases. Now alleviated of his cap strangling salary, teams that were once too shy will be more than welcome to bring him aboard.  He may not be the payer he once was, but his game is still effective enough to provide a spark off of any bench.  Hopefully he can find the fulfillment he could not achieve in his unfortunately disappointing Knicks career.

Carmelo Anthony Must Shut It Down

                                 

Carmelo Anthony has battled both a bad knee and less than stellar (to put it mildly) Knick team this season.  Given these circumstances I don't think anyone will blame him for taking an extended vacation.  It was very clear that the team would not compete for anything but a lottery pick this year.  However, not even Anthony could predict just how lousy it would actually get.

As the team stumbles into the All Star break and onward, all eyes will be aimed at free agency and a desperately needed roster turnover. Though his loyalty and competitive spirit are truly commendable, Anthony has no reason to jeopardize health for a lost cause.  It's best to let this deplorable season blow over and wait for the actual reinforcements to arrive.