NEW YORK JETS: Rex Ryan Apologizes for Middle Finger at Dolphin Fans

Last night at an MMA event in Miami Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan gave a cursing signal to Dolphin fans that has appeared all over the web today. Well today, he apologized:

[Rex] Ryan: “It was stupid and inappropriate. I wouldn’t accept that type of behavior from one of the coaches or players and it’s unacceptable from me. I apologize to the Jets organization, the National Football League and NFL fans everywhere.”

[Jets GM Mike] Tannenbaum: “Rex showed extremely poor judgment and his conduct was inappropriate. He knows he was wrong, has apologized and we have accepted his apology. Any other actions regarding this incident will be addressed internally by the organization.”

Rex, I like you, but you can’t do those actions. Period.

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VARIOUS: Free Bird on Conan

Free Bird with Will Ferrell to end the Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien. A righteous end to a sad conclusion of a show not given enough time to shine.

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PGA TOUR: The PGA Tour Reacts to Groove Issue

Here’s a primer about what has happened in the last 2 days regarding Phil Mickelson and the new iron and wedge groove regulations for 2010:

“It’s cheating, and I’m appalled Phil has put it in play,” Scott McCarron said in Friday’s edition of The San Francisco Chronicle.

Mickelson is among at least four players at Torrey Pines using a Ping-Eye 2 wedge that was made 20 years ago and has square grooves. Such grooves now are banned on the PGA Tour because of a new USGA regulation this year that irons have V-shaped grooves.

The square-groove Ping wedges remain legal, however, because of a lawsuit that Ping filed against the USGA that was settled in 1990. Under the settlement, any Ping-Eye 2 made before April 1, 1990, remains approved because it takes precedence over any rule change.

The PGA Tour released a statement today which reads as follows:

In light of the public comments that have been made regarding the use of pre-1990 Ping Eye 2 irons in competitions sanctioned by the PGA TOUR, it is important for our players, fans and the media to understand the following:

• Under the Rules of Golf and the 2010 Condition of Competition for Groove Specifications promulgated by the USGA, pre-1990 Ping Eye 2 irons are permitted for play and any player who uses them in PGA TOUR sanctioned events taking place in jurisdictions of the USGA is not in violation of the Rules of Golf; and

• Because the use of pre-1990 Ping Eye 2 irons is permitted for play, public comments or criticisms characterizing their use as a violation of the Rules of Golf as promulgated by the USGA are inappropriate at best.

Commissioner Finchem will address this issue in greater detail on Tuesday, Feb. 2 during a regularly scheduled player meeting and with the media during the 2010 Northern Trust Open.

My thoughts on the issue will come in a future post but one thing is clear: this issue is not about to go away.

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TV SPORTS: President Obama Becomes an Analyst During Duke-Georgetown on CBS

Today, President Barack Obama joined the CBS broadcast booth in the 2nd half of the Duke-Georgetown game and did some commentary with Verne Lundquist and Clark Kellogg:

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PGA TOUR: 2010 CBS Sports Golf Announcers

This post is going to look really familiar to one I did last year, but after today’s news, it will look slightly different:

For most weeks:

18th Tower — Jim Nantz and Nick Faldo
17th Tower — Ian Baker-Finch
16th Tower — Gary McCord
On Course Reporters — David Feherty and Peter Kostis

On some weeks, Bill Macatee will replace Jimmy in the 18th Tower, Bobby Clampett will either be a tower announcer or on course reporter, and Verne Lundquist appears on The Masters and PGA Championship coverage.

Also, this year Peter Oosterhuis’ role will only be reprised on CBS at The Masters and PGA Championship, where I’d assume he’d man the 17th tower.

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PGA TOUR: Where Is Peter Oosterhuis on CBS Sports’ PGA Tour Coverage?

When I tuned into 3rd round coverage of the Farmers Insurance Open today on CBS Sports, I expected to see Peter Oosterhuis manning the tower at 17 like he has for almost 20 years. But he wasn’t there. And here’s why:

This week is the first week of network television as CBS is on the case. But what the golf fan doesn’t know yet is that one of there stars, Peter Oosterhuis won’t be a part of most of the CBS telecasts this year. His contract ran out last month and CBS who is looking to save a million dollars this year decided not to renew it. So it means that Oosty, who has manned the tower at 17 for close to 20 years won’t be a part of CBS telecasts. Now the news isn’t completely bad, CBS did sign him up for the Masters and the PGA Championship so he will be a part of those telecasts. While CBS was discarding one of the most popular announcers of all time, Golf Channel saw a golden opportunity and they hired him to do all of the Thursday and Friday telecasts that they do with CBS. So we won’t totally lose Oosterhuis. Sky Sports in England also jumped into action, Oosterhuis has done Sky for years and now he will now be a part of seven of their live PGA Tour coverage, giving folks in England a better understanding of the game. So I guess the good news is that Oosterhuis won’t fall off the face of the golfing world like Steve Melnyk did when ABC showed him the door several years ago.

CBS, I love your golf coverage, but that was a mistake. While he wasn’t my favorite announcer, he did bring a unique flavor to the broadcast that will be missed. At least we’ll still have him at The Masters, The PGA Championship, and on the Golf Channel.

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GOLF: John Daly: “I’m Done” With Golf

In an absolutely unbelieveable interview that aired today on Golf Channel, John Daly, winner of the 1991 PGA Championship and 1995 British Open says he is done with professional golf. From the interview:

Q: What’s next?

A: I’m done.

Q:What do you mean you’re done?

A: I’m done.

Q: Done with what?

A: Golf.

Q: You’re not going to tee it up anymore?

A: No.

Q: Why?

A: I can’t compete.

Q: Do you honestly feel that?

A: Yeah.

Daly is a part of a new Golf Channel reality show, “Being John Daly,” which premieres on the channel March 2. The whole Q&A can be found at the above link.

Unbelievable. The guy can draw a crowd but has gone through so many issues — drugs, drinking, desire to even play the sport and give 100% — but after going through weight loss surgery seemed to be on a path to rededicate himself to the sport. But if you believe him, he’s now done.

ESPN.com’s Jason Sobel’s thoughts on the matter are here.

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NEW YORK JETS: Mark Sanchez Knee Roundup

Here’s a good overall review of the Mark Sanchez knee situation from NJ.com’s Manish Mehta:

Mark Sanchez, who visited noted orthopedist James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., this week, may require some sort of surgery on one of his knees. Tannenbaum was cryptic on which knee would go under the knife. The rookie quarterback suffered a sprained right PCL against the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 3. He suffered a left knee injury in college.

“They looked at both knees,” said Tannenbaum, who was confident that the quarterback “will be ready well before (training) camp” if he needs surgery. The GM said the organization will “make a decision pretty soon” whether Sanchez will undergo surgery on one of his knees. The other knee, Tannenbaum said, would require rehab.

While it’s good news that it’s not the right knee and is minor surgery, this is a bad sign at least to me. The reason is that he needed the offseason workouts to refine his QB skills and go through the progression that it takes from your rookie year to your 2nd year to become a really good NFL quarterback. Now he may not be able to get that practice until around training camp, and that may not be a good thing heading into the 2010 season.

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NEW YORK JETS: Updates On Those Who May Leave

The Daily News’ Rich Cimini writes today about the Jets who have contract issues heading into this offseason. With apologies to those who may get offended by big block quotes, here we go:

Here’s a quick analysis of Tannenbaum’s state-of-the-union address yesterday, breaking it down by individual player:

* Thomas Jones: The two sides are in different ballparks. You have to figure that Jones wants a contract extension, coming off a career year. But it sounds like the Jets don’t want to dole out that $3 million signing bonus. I’d say it’s 50-50 that Jones returns.

* Vernon Gholston: Tannenbaum says they’ve decided to keep him. I almost fell out of my chair when he said there’s no objective data that suggests Gholston isn’t passionate about football. Throw out the data, Mike, just trust your eyes and ears.

* Kerry Rhodes: Bizarre situation. The Jets now say they want him back, and they say there are no contractual issues (i.e. a proposed pay cut) in the way. So why does Rhodes need to have another sitdown with Rex Ryan? I think the Jets have presented a set of ground rules to Rhodes, demanding total commitment, and they’re waiting on his response. It still wouldn’t shock me if they trade him.

* Braylon Edwards: He’ll get the first- and third-round tender. Sounds like they really want him back. We’ll take them at their word.

* Kellen Clemens: He’ll get a second-round tender (his draft round), but that doesn’t mean he’s back. Got the impression that Tannenbaum wants to add a backup with more experience.

* Leon Washington: He’ll get a tender, probably a second- or first-round tender. It sounds like he’s ahead in his rehab schedule, but it might be a reach to say he’s going to be 100% by next season.

* Alan Faneca: The Jets want to keep the OL together, but they may try to come after some of Faneca’s $7.5 million in salary.

My take:

1) Thomas Jones — The Jets need to find a way to keep him, even if it’s just a one year deal. I don’t think he has 3 or 4 years left in them, yet he does so much for the Jets on and off the field that he has to be brought back for next year in my opinion.

2) Vernon Gholston — Why the heck are you bringing him back? Please, explain this to me. He is using up a roster spot that could be used for someone who can HAVE AN ACTUAL AFFECT ON THE GAME. Get rid of him, please. Thank you.

3) Kerry Rhodes — I actually don’t have as much against him as some other Jets fans do — and he played great down the stretch. So if they can work it out and keep him, I’m all for it.

4) Braylon Edwards — It sounds like the Jets are likely to keep him, and I’m all for that as well.

5) Kellen Clemens — Let him go, bring in a veteran, even if he doesn’t win the backup job, and let him tutor Mark Sanchez.

6) Leon Washington — BRING HIM BACK!!! No matter what it takes he is the game changer the Jets have and need. BRING HIM BACK!

7) Alan Faneca — That offensive line is a menace and needs to stay a family. Bring him back to the Jets. Please.

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BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN FANS: When Did You Know That The 2007-2009 Run Would Be Special?

Sometime last last year or early this year I crossed/will cross the 5 year mark of being a member on the Backstreets.com message boards. And I’ve learned a bunch of things about Springsteen fans in that time. One of them is that is that there is something about Bruce live that hits you and grabs you in. It may have happened 30 years ago, or maybe it was a concert last year that took you from a casual fan to a diehard or got a new fan on board.

So my question for this topic is what was that moment in the last 2 1/2 years that told you that this run was going to be/is special? There are some on this board that strongly hated the D&D and SSB tours, so what about this ESB run lured you in? It could even be a moment that didn’t happen in with you in attendance at an arena or stadium, but was reading that a certain song got premiered, etc.

For me, it would probably be opening night in Hartford, October 2, 2007. I went into that show with the lowest expectations I will probably ever go into an ESB show with (after previous opening nights have had their issues). But I turned out to be very wrong and even though it wasn’t a perfect show it was a damn rocking show for opening night and there was 1 point that really was the exclamation point.

After Town Called Heartbreak (yea, remember that was played on the Magic Tour? lol) there was a delay and I turned to my dad and said “is this really an audible on night 1?” It wasn’t that big a deal, Darkness for Born in the USA, but the fact that Bruce even considered calling an audible told me this band was further along than a lot of people probably imagined they would be by 10/2/07.

And so it began. What’s yours?

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