Random Ramblings
It's all about what I think
By: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
February 1, 2009

For all that's happened this week it's a pretty quiet Sunday. So I thought I'd just shoot around sports in general and give my not so learned opinion on what's happening out there in the athletic world.

First of all, I did a little tune up on the old blog here. I decided that in addition to the blog being called "Pride in the Pinstripes" I'd give my column a spruce up and call it the "7th Inning Stretch." Catchy huh? Along with the new moniker I added a nice little banner to commemorate the new title.

Ok, now that the housekeeping is out of the way for now I want to address a couple of things.

Super Bowl XLIII is the big ticket of the day. The biggest one day event in all of sports is due to kick off at 3:00 p.m. EST in Tampa, Florida. It's the first appearance ever for the Arizona Cardinals, and they'll be facing the Pittsburgh Steelers who are no strangers to the championship game. For the Steelers they'll be going after some history of their own. If they win today it will be the franchise's sixth championship win since the NFL and AFL merged, breaking a tie with the San Francisco 49ers who also have five rings.

The Steelers are 6-1/2 point favorites. Talking to people about the game this is a Super Bowl in which neither team is really disliked. There are no villains. With your head you have to go with the Steelers. On paper they have a much better defense than the Cardinals. Pittsburgh was no. 1 in the league in total defense (no. 1 against the pass-156.9 yd/G; 2nd against the run-76.9 yd/G). Arizona, on the other hand, no. 28 in the league in total defense (no.22 against the pass-221.3 yd/G; no. 16 against the rush-110.3 yd/G).

However, on the other side of the ball the Cardinals fare much better. Their offense was no. 4 overall in the league (no. 2 in passing-304.7 yd/G; no. 32 in rushing-73.6 yd/G). Pittsburgh was no. 20 overall (no. 14 in passing-225.4 yd/G; no. 23 in rushing-105.6).

The Cardinals have the biggest intangible of all in QB Kurt Warner. Warner has made the team from the desert like the Phoenix, rising out of the ashes to play one last game on the biggest stage in sports. If the Cardinal offensive line can give Warner time he can make life miserable for the Steeler secondary. One thing is for sure, Warner is a proven winner, who won't get rattled by Pittsburgh's constant blitzes.

That's why I'm picking with my heart. I'm taking the Cardinals in an upset over the Steelers, 27-24. Arizona wasn't supposed to be anywhere near the Super Bowl, but just ask the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and the Philadelphia Eagles if they belong.

From the cheaters never prosper department. It looks like the Giambi Brothers, that's Jason and Jeremy, may be slated to testify in Barry Bonds' upcoming perjury trial in federal court for lying to federal investigators about using performance enhancing drugs. Unfortunately for the Giambi boys their eventual honesty will land them in the hot seat to tell all they know about BALCO and trainer Greg Anderson's use of calendars to lay out regimens for using P.E.D.s. Other former players, such as Gary Sheffield and Randy Velarde may testify as well.

This subject looks like it will never go away. On deck: Roger Clemens.

Another "kiss and tell" author, Jim Bouton, has weighed in on the subject of writing books about things that go on inside the clubhouse. "What's the big deal? It isn't as if Joe Torre is revealing things that people didn't know," the former Yankee pitcher told the Daily News this past Friday. "There was no doubt that A-Rod wasn't a team guy; that's been known for a while."

Bouton, whose 1970 book, "Ball Four," gave readers a peek at what goes on inside the locker room away from the adoring crowds. Bouton said that he finds it funny that people still cling to the fantasy secrecy of the clubhouse.

"It is almost 40 years later," he said to reporters. "Why in the world anyone is still talking about the sanctity of the clubhouse is beyond me. Baseball and the Yankees should feel lucky that this book is generating so much attention in January... there is no job hitting a ball with a stick unless a lot of people are convinced it's important."

He had a word of advice to past, present and future players who don't want unflattering things said about them in books: "Books are going to be written. Therefore, don't act like a jerk."

I agree with Jim about not being a jerk, but when he says things like, 'It isn't as if Joe Torre is revealing things that people didn't know,' I wonder who are the people he's referring to? My guess is he means people on the team and within the organization. I'm sure people like A-Rod and George Steinbrenner know that those people know about the hiccups in their personalities. Nonetheless, that doesn't mean they want the world at large knowing these things.

Like I alluded to in an earlier article, these things never end on a positive note. Feelings are hurt and trusts are broken. I'm sure there are people who won't talk to Bouton to this day, and the same thing is going to happen to Torre. For him to think he can ever associate with George Steinbrenner, Brian Cashman, Alex Rodriguez, et al, in the same light is being extremely naive.

Lastly, the Red Sox coming to terms with catcher and team captain Jason Varitek for a new two-year contract was a no-brainer. True, 'Tek is no longer an offensive force at the dish, but there is much more to Varitek's value to Boston than swinging a bat. It's a term often used in association with Derek Jeter. Intangibles.

Varitek is a proven leader. He is a strong presence in the Red Sox dugout, and his pitchers trust him to call a great game. Boston needs to rely on its pitching staff to get through games and to put a new catcher into that situation is neither fair nor smart. Varitek's signing will give the Red Sox time to groom a replacement, and for the replacement to glean as much knowledge as he can from 'Tek's experience. As much as I hate to admit it, it is a perfect marriage between player and team.

Enjoy the game today.


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