Not that I personally miss it, but it is sad that the two sides -- at times sounding quite childish -- could not save the hockey season. The value to the union of standing up for the players to the degree that they lose a season and might very well have a worse option next time is unclear. Anyway, not that I remember it, but Miracle is an enjoyable movie (Kurt Russell is great) about the U.S. team beating U.S.S.R. back in 1980.
[To underline the point, this is a very good movie, and arguably deserving of some sort of Academy Award nomination (2004 film). The movie is a superior ensemble effort, a true "movie event" that works on many levels with few false notes. Finding Neverland is not as good. The director has few movies under his belt, but Tumbleweeds is a fine film as well: an ultimate "chick flick" that excels in its own field.]
I'm not a big basketball fan, but even if I was, local action would not be thrilling. There was some noise made that the NY (NJ) Nets came back from a lousy start to a clear playoff run. This is no longer case, especially after over a month of lackluster play that in no way put them above the fray in the game's weakest division. The NY Knicks just stink and recent trades were greeting with head shaking, especially since a bad team just added salary, but only received so-so long term contracts in return (and draft picks from teams so good that they are likely of little value). An important principle is underlined: talent alone does not make a team nor does a limited payroll, though both are central. It is what you do with what you have -- believe me, it is a clear way to make a bad situation much worse.
The principle applies to the NY Mets, which still does not have a championship team on board for the upcoming season. The reason for promise, however, is the fact that there appears to have been a mentality shift. This not only is a matter of picking up a few good players, including a light hitting first baseman who promises to bring good defense and personality. It also includes the work ethic being put forth by the new manager as well as (hopefully) new and improved strength and conditioning (including a new medical team). Last year's team had problems, but like the Knicks inability in January to win five games, the talent alone offered better opportunities. Mets fans have a reason to be cynical, but realistic optimism promises some reason for hope.
Meanwhile, two things recently dominated NY sports talk. First, the Red Sox allegedly had one major interest after winning the World Series: getting on A-Rod's case. I don't know how media created this story is, but the whole matter made the players look like babies. Second, the steroid issue, including Jason Giambi's apparent rehabilitation, failure to come clean (so to speak) to the press aside (the legal reasons involved were mostly understood). Since baseball as a whole, including the media, let steroid (ab)use run rampant, specific blame on a guy that actually came clean in grand jury testimony is unfair. [The new rules still are rather weak.] His past performance, however, is to be seen in a different light.
OTOH, Barry Bonds -- as his biggest fan in NY radio talk sadly noted, clearly a steroid user -- rejected any attempts to come clean or apologize. The guy comes off as an asshole and his upcoming home run record fully tainted in my mind. I'm supposed to compare him to Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth, even though a good chunk of the home runs were made after the steroid use began? Yeah right. And, this idea that true fans will basically just forget about such things once the season begins also appears to me to be bull. Sure, I'm not going to be rooting for Jason (and Gary Sheffield, another user) to choke or anything. [I note that no current Mets player has been highlighted as a user.] Still, if a player is still using, it taints things. It matters.
Anyway, the Yanks did their penance last October. I personally lost my patience with them when they could not get a freakening run after having two shots at the World Series (they would have beat the Cards) in extra innings. I really did after their lackluster performance in Game Six with Jon Lieber -- who could have saved their bacon yet again with a bit of help -- giving them a shot to win. Lieber was let go for his consistency with Jaret Wright eventually filling his role. Some talk is made of there only being four "real" Yankees left -- those who played in 1996-2001. I know this: the team has not been the same since then.
The Yanks have Randy Johnson now and might get another shot at that ring. Who knows. Tell you what though, the Mets have more life in them, more potential excitement. The Yanks, dare we say it, are a bit boring and lost their sheen. A World Series ring is necessary to get it back. Tino Martinez and Mike Stanton might be back, but it will be a bit harder to truly get that mojo back. After all, the ultimate Mo (Mariano) got beat by the Red Sox.
[To add a comment. The ultimate problem with the team, surely one that compares negatively to the golden years of 1996-2000, is the lack of true role players. Miguel Cairo and Jon Lieber sort of played this role, but the team was not as well-rounded as it once was. This is not just a matter of one or two less dependable arms and showed itself in particular in Games Four and Five. The teams of old would have had one of those special moments from the players ... not this time. The 2005 Mets offers this nuance, though the overall talent level remains on a lower level, and it is perhaps its most promising area.]
It was the beginning of a bad end of the year for NY sports ... first Spring Training game is this Wednesday on ESPN. Mets and Marlins. I'm ready.