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Alex Rodriguez was awarded the AL MVP yesterday, and award that he richly deserved for his regualr season performance. The voting occurs before the playoffs, which eliminated his awful post-season from consideration. A-rod was the superior player to second place finisher David Ortiz, and the debate over the matter was a bit trumped up. Alex said the right thing in voicing his desire to trade the MVP for Ortiz' world series ring, as he was already an MVP before we brought him to town.We brought him to win us rings, and he has to deliver in October.

The Knicks won their second straight game in Utah last night, and defense was the word of the day in an UGLY game. The Knicks held the Jazz to a shot-clock era low 62 points. While much of the action was poor, two straigh road wins are encouraging. Larry Brown's imprint has always been defense, and the team may be catching on. The Jazz were without Kirilenko, Boozer, and Giricheck, and the offense showed this absence. I am encouraged by the jumpshot of Channing Frye. The rookie picked up several cheap fouls which limited his time on the floor, but he demonstrated an 18-20 jumper that I did not know he possessed. Jamal Crawford continues his maddening ride. Just when I am ready to write him off as helter-skelter, after getting another crossover swiped by a defender for a fast-break layup, he comes back and shows offensive flair and clutch shot-making ability. I may not always be thrilled by the play, but if this is going to be a grinding 70-point a night team that wins and contends, I will take that over the up-and-down style we have seen in recent years.

Anyone who wants to discount the effect that Owens has on the Eagles, citing the fact that the Eagles made it to the playoffs before him and without him down the stretch last year, I submit this year's T.O.-less games as Exhibit A for the defense. This team has no runners, and the rookie who was supposed to make us forget Owens' absence dropped a pass in the final seconds. This pass would have put the Eagles well in Akers range for the GW field goal, and Owens would most certainly have hauled it in. McNabb has to throw all the time, and he can not count on his receivers. His running game is not fooling anyone, and the O-line can only do so much. He takes a beating now, and if he is injured and T.O. is out this team is not much better than the 2 wins squads around the league.

With yesterday's passing of WWF wrestler Eddy Guererro, I reflected on the damage that drugs and steroids does in that industry. When my buddies and I watch old tapes, or talk about old wrestling, it amazes me how many guys are dead. They dont make it past 40 a lot of times, and I honestly expected news like this when I saw a 5'7" man carrying 230 pounds of muscle, and smashing his body night after night. A sad reality that may never be addressed.

Thats all for now. enjoy the day