THE GOOD:

New York Yankees
Another good week lands the Bronx Bombers in this category. Mark Teixeira continues his hot hitting and A-Rod is showing signs that he is almost back completely offensively. It remains to be seen what they will get out of Chien-Ming Wang, as they have moved Phil Hughes to the bullpen (for now). The rain delay on Friday helped the Yankees in a big way as that enables the rotation to be switched around so that Wang isn't pitching against the Red Sox (thank god).


Roger Federer
I would never try to even imitate someone who knows tennis, but this guy is down-right dominating as he took home the French Open title, which tied the record for most Grand Slam titles wins.


Roy Halladay
Another complete game shutout this afternoon. Two dominant wins this past week, including a complete game shutout today, lands Doc Halladay here. Not hard to argue.


Phil Mickelson
Glad to see that Phil's wife's prognosis is good. After she was diagnosed with breast cancer, Phil left the game and was absent for a few tournaments. Luckily it looks like it was detected early and Mickelson is back with the tour.


Stanley Cup Finals
Game five not withstanding, you have to give credit to the Penguins for winning both games at home after being beaten up good in Detroit for the first two. After the Red Wings beat up on the Pens in game 5, 5-0, they are just a game away for a repeat Cup. We will find out Tuesday night if we have the same result two years in a row...Red Wings in 6. (If G Chris Osgood could have only played this well during his time with the Islanders).

Pavel Datsyuk Staying with the hockey theme, after missing a huge chunk of playoff action with an injured foot, Datsyuk returned in game 5 and had two assists. Defintely may be what puts the Wings over the top.

Livan Hernandez
Mets fans have to be thrilled with what they have gotten out of Livan his last few starts. Sure they were against the likes of the Nationals and well, the Nationals, but a win is a win and he has surely helped to spell the bullpen who is not only shorthanded, but also in need of a rest whenever it is possible.


THE BAD:

David Ortiz
My, how the mighty have fallen. From World Series hero, to a struggling DH who's true age is now being questioned. There are more theories as to why he has fallen from grace than hits by Ortiz so far this year. Interesting to say the least...

Brett Favre
So he apparently did have bicep surgery...Just another twist in Favre's annual saga of whether to stay retired or not. That 'deadline' that the Vikings imposed certainly expired quietly, no?


Pittsburgh Pirates
By trading OF Nate McLouth to the Braves earlier this week, the Pirates have proved yet again, that they serve as a AAA team for contending teams. I understand not being able to afford good players when you are a small market team, but...

A) His newly signed contract wasn't terrible (3 years, $15.75 mil).

B) How can you expect to build any kind of fan base when they have no one to hold on to on a long-term basis?

John Sterling
Not only does he mess up 20 more calls this week, but perhaps the worst one in recent memory is when he starts with his "A-bomb from A-Rod' when it was in fact Hideki Matsui who hit the home run. Not very appropriate, and that is as far as I am going with that one.


THE UGLY:

New York Mets Medical Staff
Okay, I know you can't really blame injuries on any one person, but this is just rediculous. This past week, JJ Putz had to go under the knife and have elbow surgery which will keep him out 2-3 months and it a tear in Jose Reyes' hamstring was discovered which will keep him out another 2-3 weeks. The schedule gets harder as the injuries continue to pile up. Omar's phone bill must be through the roof, as he HAS to be trying to make a deal.

Who next? John Maine...apparently may be dealing with a little bit of dead arm. Stay tuned.


Lakers-Magic Game 1:
Not trying to jump the gun or anything, but for an NBA Finals matchup that looks to be good on paper, game 1 was a complete dud. The Magic left all that momentum they had built during the Eastern Conference Playoffs back in Orlando.

(UPDATE) Okay, so game 2 going to overtime helps, but still doesn't take away from the awful game 1 performance by Orlando.

Frank Wren
The General Manager of the Atlanta Braves, made a PR mistake, even if he was telling the truth. You can be sure that he was not happy that his comments about Tom Glavine were made public. Glavine, who was released earlier this week by the Braves after working toward one last comeback, was apparently told by Wren that he wasn't capable of getting an out any more, among other insulting things. This left John Schuerholz to try and fix things, as Glavine has threatened to file a grievance with the Players Union. Not to mention the timing of his release, which was right after he sold out the Braves' affiliate stadium which can't give away tickets to games...


My Fantasy baseball team's performance
Come on, I have to be able to vent somewhere...

THE GOOD:

New York Yankees
A-Rod's return has continued to pay dividends as Mark Teixeira has been on an absolute tear. Chien-Ming Wang seems to be getting closer to being at least a shell of his former self. Seventeen straight games without an error isn't bad either.

New York Mets (Minus Saturday)
Push aside the Mets and their lineup on Saturday afternoon. Despite all of the injuries, this team has continued to win. I know that the schedule has been so easy its funny, but hey, you can only play the teams that are on your schedule. Things defintely pick up toward the middle and end of June.

Zach Greinke
He has been so good, I put him here without an explanation.


Thomas Jones & Leon Washington
Both have made their returns to Jets camp. This doesn't guarentee by any means that either one will be happy and quiet all Summer long through training camp, but at least it is a step in the right direction as both seek new contracts.

Orlando Magic
The run continues. Ever since Dwight Howard called out Stan Van Gundy, things have been wonderful for the Magic. They took out the NBA's 'best team' in six after beating the defending champs in seven. Now it is full speed ahead as Kobe and the Lakers await them.

Detroit Red Wings
For a city and state that is teetering with all the bad automotive and economical news, the Red Wings are once again proving why Detroit is 'Hockeytown'. Up 2-0 on the Penguins and looking for a repeat championship...The last team to repeat as cup winners would be the Detroit Red Wings (96-97, 97-98). If only this franchise didn't play hockey, how much credit it would receive from the rest of the sports world. *sigh*

Syracuse-Cornell Lacrosse Game
I don't even know how to pretend to know lacrosse, but even I can appreciate the national title game last week. Sport at its best.


THE BAD:

John Sterling & Suzyn Waldman
I think I have a better chance of accurately knowing what is happening in a given Yankee game by not listening, rather than listening to these two call a game.

Jake Peavy
Man up and go to the American League if you happen to be traded there.


Puppet Commercials
So much for LeBron Vs. Kobe. The NBA has to be happy with getting at least one in, and Dwight Howard and the 'magical' (sorry) run that they are on has certainly become a story in and of itself.

THE UGLY:

Brett Favre
Putting him here is just too easy, but must be done. Until he officially retires and gives us all the chance to appreciate what he has done, this cat-and-mouse game that he plays each and every off season is beyond old.

Drew Rosenhaus
Can't feel good to be dumped when you are one of the most reputable and established sports agents in the business. Anquan Boldin did just that after Rosenhaus' inability to get a new (bigger) contract or force a trade.

Saturday Afternoon Mets
The lineup card speaks for itself. Carlos Beltran leaving the game early with a stomach bug and Tim Redding starting the game doesn't help.

1. LF Angel Pagan
2. RF Fernando Martinez
3. CF Carlos Beltran
4. 3B Fernando Tatis
5. 1B Daniel Murphy
6. 2B Ramon Martinez
7. C Brian Schneider
8. SS Wilson Valdez


MLB All-Star Fan Voting
I like having a say in things...but as baseball fans, are we serious about Manny Ramirez even being considered as an All Star for the 2009 season?

GOOD

NHL Game 7’s on Thursday
Despite the disappointment that was Penguins-Capitals Game 7 on Wednesday, the NHL’s two game 7s on Thursday night were classic. The Hurricanes beat the Bruins in OT while the Red Wings scored with just three minutes left to beat the Anaheim Ducks. Let’s hope the Conference Finals are as entertaining…


New York Yankees
I have a funny feeling they may flip-flop between categories this year, and they have already. Winning five straight, and the way in which they did it definitely earns them a spot here. Three straight walk-off wins at home against the Twins have not only helped to increase the noise and life in the stadium, but also their place in the AL East. Hopefully guys like Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez (2 home runs in the last two games) have turned the corner.


New York Mets
Okay, so the first 4-game sweep of the Giants would have put the Mets over the top, but winning 3-out-of-4 in San Fransisco and 11 out of 14 overall is definitely something to be happy about. The real questions for this team become, how do they replace Carlos Delgado in the lineup and what kind of damage does back-to-back series’ in Los Angeles and Boston plays out?


Zach Greinke
Won his seventh game of the year this past week and continues to be THE BEST story in Major League Baseball this year.


Roy Halladay
Halladay won his eighth game of the season this afternoon (Sunday). It will be interesting to see what kind of price tag he commands IF Toronto ever falls out of the running.


Denver Nuggets
They have continued to evolve into a dangerous basketball team. Chauncey Billups might be the answer to this team’s problem in getting over the hump. Carmelo Anthony, Nene, Kenyon Martin and the rest of the team have all blended well with Billups and his leadership on the court.



BAD

Lakers-Rockets Series
I know I know, you are going to say, why would you put a series that has gone seven games in the bad? I put them here because the games themselves were all one-sided after game three. The road teams were absolutely awful in this series. On top of that, the Lakers left a lot to be desired as they get ready to take on the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.


Dwight Howard
Lucky his team is in the Eastern Conference Finals…Yes he is a clear-cut all star in this league, but can he accomplish a bit more before he calls his head coach out?


Wayman Tisdale
Sad story as Tisdale, just 44 years old, passed away earlier this week after a battle with cancer. He was an All-American at Oklahoma and played for three NBA teams (Pacers, Kings and Suns). He was also a very established jazz musician in his year after basketball.


Joe Maddon
The Rays manager makes this list because of a typo. Before today’s game, he handed the umpire a lineup card with both Ben Zobrist and Evan Longoria listed as third-baseman, (Longoria was supposed to be the DH). Because of the error, they lost their designated hitters spot and their starting pitcher, Andy Sonnanstine was forced to hit third in the lineup. The fact that the Rays were able to still win the game helps keep Mr. Maddon away from ‘the ugly’, (I am sure he is relieved).




UGLY

Roger Clemens
His interview this past Tuesday was basically pointless. It was like he obtained a copy of his testimony on Capital Hill, printed it out, and re-read it, no matter what the question. And, as posted during the week on this very blog, he disagreed with genetics and said that his STEP-FATHER has a condition that he was worried about inheriting. Good lord.


Washington’s effort in Game 7
Fresh off of Alex Ovechkin’s guarantee in game 6, the Caps laid an absolute egg in game 7 and sent the fans in Washington D.C. home with ojeda.


Mark Cuban
How much does this guy love the spotlight? Tells Kenyon Martin’s mother that her son is a thug…Is that something you could see a George Steinbrenner saying? For as much as Cuban puts a fresh face on owners of professional sports franchises, it is that same trait that hurts him and makes him look like an idiot at times.


Mike Pelfrey See the GB&U (Good, Bad & Ugly) Handbook. Three balks in one game is grounds for an automatic bid to ugly.




---Be sure to listen in tonight from 5-7 pm to our show, Speaking of Sports. A guest list is to come, but big things are planned, so stay tuned.

As always, you can call in and be live on the air… 845-624-1300

Or IM the show: speakingofsports

Comments are always welcome here as well.

Welcome to the newest feature of the Speaking of Sports Blog. Each Sunday night, we will go through The good, the bad, and the ugly of the previous week in sports.


THE GOOD
RYAN ZIMMERMAN
His hitting streak is now at 28 games. Now he is officially half-way to Joe D.'s magical mark of 56 straight games with a hit. Many have entered this territory just to fail, but when they do, it is worth the attention of the entire nation...


NEW YORK METS
Per Barry's comment in a previous post, he is 100% correct. This is still a mediocre team with a lot of holes to fill. But you cannot argue with winning seven straight games, no matter who the opponent is.


ZACH GREINKE
This story is the best in baseball. For all the steroid scandals and other random B.S. that haunts baseball these days, stories like Greinke's are what make this game special. Go to SI.com to read more (if you haven't already) on his comeback from bouts with depression and anxiety to now being the most dominant pitcher in the game today.


JOHNNY DAMON
Single-handedly saved the Yankees trip to Baltimore. The only guy in the Yankees' lineup that is hitting with any kind of consistency. Go down the list, from Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano to Mark Teixeira, no one else seems to be able to come up with a clutch hit.


NHL PLAYOFFS
How many overtime games does it take to grab the attention of the average sports fan? Not only has the Penguins-Capitals series become an instant classic, the Canucks-Blackhawks series along with the Ducks-Red Wings series have both featured tremendous games, with all that you would expect from playoff hockey.


HOUSTON ROCKETS
If someone tells you that they saw the Rockets taking this series to at least six games, they were lieing to you. After their loss in game three, not many people gave them a chance to even compete in game four. Add in the fact that Yao Ming is out for the rest of the playoffs with a broken foot, and them tieing up the series is nothing short of miraculous.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
To win all seven of their playoff games thus far, by double-digits makes them worth of a spot under 'the good,' no?


206
This marks the all-time high for hits to our blog in a single day. Thank you.


THE BAD

NEW YORK YANKEES
This Yankee team is missing a lot right now. And I don't believe in attributing it all to the injuries. Yes they have been hit hard with the injury bug (for the second year in a row now) but all teams face injuries, and it is the good teams that can find a way to overcome them.


YANKEE STADIUM
Forget the all of the problems with the rain delays and the security guards not having a clue that last Monday's game was actually going to be played. Yankees' brass have officially eliminated any kind of home-field advantage by limiting the ability of the real fan to sit in either the upper deck or bleachers. I just don't have enough room to type the rest. For more, listen to our show.


CHUCK DALY
One of the NBA's legends passed away this past week at the age of 78 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. A man who led the Detroit Pistons to back-to-back championships and who also coach the original Dream Team in 1992, Daly is in very exclusive company when it comes to NBA Head Coach royalty.


NEW YORK JETS
Expressing interest in Adam 'Pacman' Jones. Seriously?


THE UGLY


SUMMER OF BRETT
This whole repeat of the 'will he, won't he play this year,' saga is only appealing to ESPN. Whoever types the ESPN Bottom Line is surely working overtime these days... Stay tuned (because you have no choice).


MANNY RAMIREZ
Well at least he took the heat off of A-Rod...Just another black eye for baseball. This is a bit more intriguing just because of the timing. Ramirez is the first significant player under baseball's new system to be caught and suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs. I would love to be a fly on the wall for his meeting with Dodgers' owner Frank McCourt.


DAVID ORTIZ
Big Papi's sudden power drought leads to a lot of speculation. He has not hit a homerun in over 120 at bats and the path that he has taken over the past seven years fits the perfect mold for someone who has done some kind of cheating. Comments, anyone?




---Please feel free to comment on the banter above, and be sure to listen to Speaking of Sports, tomorrow (Monday) from 5-7 pm.

www.speakingofsports.org

845-624-1300
AIM Screename: speakingofsports