Thursday Take Twos

After the exciting NFC and AFC Championship weekend, there haven’t been many sports stories since. In New York, Gang Green hired their next head coach. Rex Ryan, former defensive coordinator in Baltimore, will replace Eric Mangini. Ryan will call plays for the Jets but it’s still unknown whether or not Brett Favre will be back. My opinion is to look elsewhere for a quarterback. Ryan needs to start his head coaching career with a clean slate. Favre’s future figures to fix the flailing Jets, but his gun slinging gambles clearly don’t make the cut with the current crop of players. New York should focus on building and solidifying the defense, especially up front. A strong tackling and pass rushing defense would lay the foundation and perhaps the Jets could acquire someone in free agency like a Ray Lewis. As for the quarterback, the draft might be the best option if there aren’t any decent available trade options. The Jets have a legitimate running back, Thomas Jones. They also have a playmaker in Leon Washington. Favre is too selfish a star to be the signal-caller. The AFC East is New York’s for the taking if Tom Brady sits out another year in New England.
What are the Mets waiting for? Sign Manny Ramirez for two years please. If it doesn’t work out, there are no long-term obligations. If Manny succeeds and the team wakes up to make the playoffs, the move would be a huge payoff for Omar Minaya. Maybe Ramirez would remain in Queens for the remainder of his Hall of Fame career. He is a New York native and the flair the Mets desperately need.
Jeff Kent announced his retirement from baseball yesterday.
The New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils have battled it out this week for first place but it is the Devils who head into the all-star break as number one.
Venus Williams fell victim to the 46th ranked Spanish player down under today.
Wake Forest lost a heartbreaker at home to Virginia Tech 78-71 for their first loss of the season.
The Islanders a rumored to be moving to Kansas City in the future but they finally notched their first game of 2009.
And finally, some team out there actually wants Stephon Marbury. The belligerent baldheaded basketball player could be shipped to a team in Greece.