All Hands On Deck! The (Champion)Ship Is Taking On Water and Fast!

"Gossip needn't be false to be evil -
there's a lot of truth that shouldn't be passed around."
~Frank A. Clark~

This has certainly been one crazy season for our New York Yankees. Yesterday, while in transit, I got a ton of emails about this whole Alex Rodriguez situation. Instantly, I found myself in an internal debate about what my response should be. And while I certainly understand the fascination...the real question I asked myself was, what right do the fans have to know anything about how a player chooses to spend his time off the field?

Now, how you choose to answer, most likely will depend on which side of the fence you find yourself. Beat reporters are concerned with getting quotes, computing stats and competing for story angles. Gossip writers and paparazzi don’t play by the same rules. Wives, girlfriends, family members and friends of the players stammer to protect themselves everyday against the over zealous masses, who are eager to find a way inside their world. Fans are nearly blood thirsty for any tidbit of information. They practically feel entitled to know every single thing about the players they love or the players they love to hate. And, the players themselves are schooled each spring on ways to handle all of the above.

So what’s the answer? Where is the line?

It would be naive and even foolish for anyone to assume they know the intimate details or the intricate nature of a player’s personal relationships. Speculation has started more fires than factual information when it comes to those in the public eye...and like it or not, athletes are now a big part of that.

Major League Baseball is the last of a dying breed. They’ve always been a fortress of sorts, with unwritten “gentleman’s rules”, and basically a good-old-boy’s club. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying that what happens on the road, stays on the road and until now, that’s always been the case.

When Jim Bouton penned the now infamous book, “Ball Four” in the early 70’s, many players scoffed at the notion that one of their own would be so forthcoming about locker room talk. But in the last thirty years, the influx of trash television, tabloid fodder, and Internet accessibility has ensured that nothing is private anymore.

Rodriguez, stepping out on the town with a woman other than his wife may be news in the gossip circles because of his cross over ability, enormous contract and over all high profile but it has nothing to do with baseball. Or does it?

Some people justify the dehumanization of ARod by citing his enormous contract or all of the countless advantages his ability to play baseball has brought into his life. But at the end of the day, he is still a human being. Money, fame and (mis)fortune do not change that. Whether you are a CEO or a garbage man...We’ve all gone to work with a hangover or been upset at the office because of some personal dilemma we may have been dealing with at the time.


It’s up to each individual to decide where that line exists. As someone who knows what its like to be on both sides of the fence, this particular issue presents a unique challenge for me. When things happened in my small corner of the universe, it was those same seedy reporters knocking on my doorstep, hoping that my integrity had blurred, asking me to talk about personal things, and crossing that line.

I am a firm believer that every person has the right to tell his or her own story and when that option was taken away from me, I shouldn’t have been shocked. In my first book, I certainly use my experiences as inspiration but that’s where it ends. Everyone knows that sex sells but those stories are better served written as fiction. Because when they are told in the sports section, they run the risk of cheapening everything that happens on the field....and after all, for the fans, isn’t that what it should be about in the first place?

Alex Rodriguez works hard on the field, is a tremendous athlete and has rebounded this season from last year’s scrutiny by putting up more astounding numbers. This recent onslaught may have sealed the deal for ARod to opt out of his contract at the end of the year. So congratulations folks, not only do we have a GM in the hot seat, manager woes, never ending steroid talk, pitching needs and all around debauchery ...but now we’ll probably have to find a suitable third baseman.

They didn’t call it the Bronx Zoo for nothing and now that the floodgates have opened, everything is about to change. At this point, we can only hope the ship can weather this storm.

Enjoy your off day, boys.

Have fun dodging the paparazzi.

The Times Agrees With Tiffy!

Well, okay Harvey Araton of the NY Times doesn't say it exactly the same way that I did but you'll get the point... Check out his article in today's paper if you get a chance, "At Least Give Giambi Some Credit"

The Angels are in town tonight and since they are the only team in the Joe Torre Era with a winning record against the Yankees, it should be a decent indicator of things to come for this team. Now's as good a time as any for a little pop quiz.

This weather is absolutely amazing! As a Jersey Shore girl, I hope you city folks get a chance to enjoy it this weekend!

Happy Memorial Day! May you eat, drink, be safe and most of all...Let's Go Yanks!

What's The Deal?

When news of Jason Giambi possibly testing positive for amphetamines started spreading yesterday, I was automatically suspicious. Not that I think an admitted steroid user is above taking something to speed up his fabulous world, but the timing of the whole thing sure looked like a strategically planted diversion.

Any fan that is now suddenly vocal or irate with Giambi for being one of BALCO's boys certainly has a right to their own opinion. However, let's not forget that aside from the way Major League Baseball has chosen to (or not, depending on your take) deal with the whole steroids mess, there's no real story here. Jason shouldn't get a medal for telling the truth to the grand jury but given the cowardly way some of his contemporary's have handled the situation, he should be given the courtesy of not being tried twice for the same crime.

Everyone knew what he meant when he sat in the Yankee dugout that fine day a few years ago and addressed the media...admitting that he couldn't admit as to what he had admitted to. It was mayhem. Giambi was booed and catcalled in every stadium in the country. Especially in Oakland, where ironically enough, those fans benefited the most from the Balco Bash Brothers nonsense. But now that some time has passed ... people forget or choose not to remember.

Giambi and others are responsible for what they put into their bodies. But some of those guys have no idea what the heck they're taking when they have a cold or allergies. A doctor gives them some prescription, the trainers give them some vitamins... Its a totally different world, folks. But no one is more guilty of turning the other way than Major League Baseball.

By leaking this report that Giambi might have tested positive, enough doubt is cast to make him the focus. It takes the light off of what he was talking about. If his credibility is questioned, people don't focus on the real issues. The fact that the MLB collectively is responsible for the product they put out there on those fields night after night. They cant have it both ways...

You can bet if Giambi never ran his mouth last week...there would be none of this mess...and whatever your personal opinion is, I hope you fans can understand that.

Mike and the Mad Dog had a field day dissing him and I'm sure all other media outlets followed suit. Personally, I was never a fan until I met the guy. Say what you want but Jason is by far one of the most down to earth and genuine people around. He loves this game and this team and all the tradition that comes along with both....He went out there every single day when everyone wanted him to crack or stink or quit... His biggest mistake was hoping that MLB would step up to the plate and account for their actions the same way he did.

Well, enough of the heavy stuff...On to something more important than the integrity of the game....tonight's an off night for the Yankees and also the Annual Derek Jeter Turn2 Event. Should be interesting to see who the Captain's date is.... don't act like you aren't curious!

A Million Thank You's Are Not Enough!

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." ~Albert Schweitzer~


I just wanted to post a heartfelt thank you to all my friends who have stood by me in these last few months. Your undying love and support has made all the difference in what was by far the most difficult time of my life.

Sometimes we have trouble seeing the big picture when life throws us a few curve balls but it's true that everything happens for a reason! Win or lose...it's interesting to look around and realize who is standing behind you. Right or wrong, my family and friends have been in my corner and that is all any girl could ever ask for.

Life is short, people make mistakes and shit happens but when its all said and done, I've truly been blessed.

Most of you know the exciting news about recent developments in my career and I'm looking forward to the new journey the next few months will surely bring. It really is true that success is not measured in how many times you get knocked down but rather...how many times you get back up!

From the bottom of my heart, I say thanks.

Tiffy

PS. What a great night! Life is good and the Yanks beat Boston! Who could ask for more? I'm off to celebrate....

No Sweep Til Boston!

"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.
Nothing can be done without hope or confidence."
~Helen Keller~

Tyler Clippard did his thing last night and helped the Yankees stave off getting swept by the dreaded Mets.

Somebody COOK Already!

"Most people never run far enough on their first wind,

to find out if they've got a second."

~William James ~

Chicago: NOT my kind of town... and judging by the almost lethargic way the Yankees have been playing, I sure hope that Queens is the remedy for a rebound.

It seems this team takes one step forward and two steps back. Its frustrating to watch because we’ve been so spoiled in the past. As a fan, I’m trying to stay on an even keel but as May trolls on, its getting difficult.

Speaking of difficult, Kyle Farnsworth went on a Chicago radio station this morning and shot his mouth off about the inner workings of Roger Clemens’ special family perks...perhaps Krazy Kyle would better serve the team if he worried about finding the strike zone and making that slider he’s so in love with...actually SLIDE. When Farnsworthless is talking like he’s the pulse of this team...you know there’s a problem. Seriously, dude...

But alas the recent Yankee struggles have more to do with offense (what offense?) And less to do with the bullpen drama that seemed to plague the early part of the season. With Abreu and Cano looking like the little lost Latino tandem up there, its hard to start a rally....let alone keep one going.

There is one good thing in all of this hot mess, at least now there are a few empty seats on the Yankee bandwagon that was so packed in the late 90's...You remember those days, right? Come from behind heroics, stellar pitching, warriors on the field, and a few smiles. Now we’ve got private security stalking every move, clubhouse attendants tending to the silly needs of spoiled superstars, aging and injured egos... Not necessarily the makings of perfection.

On paper, lots of things look good... a recipe is just that...but at some point...someone’s gotta bake the freaking cake.

Get to cooking fellas or get the heck out of the kitchen!

Trainwreck Crew Takes It On The Road

"God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers."

~Jewish Proverb~

The Trainwreck Crew started out as a small, exclusive club with a few qualified members but now it seems everyone wants in! To be considered a human trainwreck is not necessarily something one would normally aspire to achieve. However, one look at the charter members and it’s clear that perseverance and sketchy behavior are essential for survival in the game, in the bars and in life.

A few weeks ago, when a Trainwreck member (allegedly) crashed his lovely truck into the back of an unsuspecting parked pick-up...it was clear that nothing would be the same. Now, the crew is in the planning stages of a roadtrip to nowhere...how appropriate! Getting banned from bars in other cities is always so much fun!

We must pay special homage to the great Trainwreck folks that just don’t give a damn about rules and logic. Wings, The Hunter, and the Red Cheek Redneck: Or as we like to call them, the Three Warriors of Recklessness. From the outside looking in it’s hard to tell exactly who, if anyone, is in control.

The board of directors for the Trainwreck Crew are:
Dr. Crash
The Preppy Wonder
Jersey Shore Princess
and the Duchess of Debauchery

I realize that most people don’t have a clue as to what I am talking about...and so in that case, I’ll now talk about something you all can understand.

The Yankees head to Chicago tonight minus their manager, Joe Torre who will return to NY to be at his brother’s bedside. Word is that Frank Torre has taken a turn for the worse. The Skipper is scheduled to rejoin the team in time for Tuesday night’s game against the White Sox.

Today the Yanks wasted a terrific effort by number 46. I know, I know...its only May. But if this team doesn’t light the fire soon, there will most certainly be some changes made. Either out of panic or necessity...it won’t be pretty.

Whether you’re a momma or not...I hope you enjoyed being a woman today. Too many times girls disrespect each other out of insecurity, jealousy or just plain stupidity. So by all means, if you happen to see a chick wearing a pair of fantastic shoes or a killer designer dress...don’t be afraid to compliment her. We aren’t in competition with each other...well, not all the time anyway. Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate being a woman, accept the love from those around you and find blessings in the ones you love.

Well, I’m off to enjoy the view. Catch you later this week....

The Beauty In Ugly

"The most beautiful makeup of a woman is passion.

But cosmetics are easier to buy."

~Yves Saint Laurent~

By now, everyone knows those glossy tabloid magazine covers have been airbrushed to no end. Our favorite celebrities have flaws that modern technology can digitally wipe away as if they never existed in the first place. Hollywood never shows its thorns...but baseball does.

Roger Clemens may have returned to a hefty paycheck, but rest assured he’s gonna give it all he’s got. He may be featured on a glossy magazine cover or two but, when the game, the season or the career are on the line...passion is the only thing that will matter.

The players aren’t acting...sure, some may only care about the money but those guys get exposed soon enough. Money never matters in the heat of the battle, in the heat of the summer, in the heat of a pennant race. The truth of the matter is, most of the players have a deep love for this game and it is exactly this passion that draws us in, that makes us fall in love with a team, with a player, with the idea of victory.

Baseball is the ultimate conversation. It is the tango of all tangos, the chess match of all chess matches. But while the game itself is fodder enough for poetry and passion...there are tremendous hidden capacities that affect the outcome.

Pitchers work while battling hangovers or other personal demons lurking in each fastball. Hitters think too much and end up swatting the air. Fielders struggle with routine ground balls. Mangers fumble while juggling the ins and outs of a bullpen, a pinch hitter, or an untimely ejection. Front office people worry about their jobs while trying to justify signings and trades and mistakes.

And all the while, the fans fall in love or fall out of love with the performance of passion as it plays out on the field in front of them. Fans reach over the fences, a few will race onto the field in moments of extreme stupidity. Some listen to the talk radio stations and adopt those theories as truth, some know better than to trust the media’s take on this great game.

If you really want to love anything, you can’t do so with your eyes. You must love it blindly, with your entire soul. We’ve learned that the games aren’t played on paper and what seems like an attractive line up or pitching match-up, often times lets us down. It’s like this in love too....the most beautiful connections are born out of passion. Passion is the glue that holds things together, whether in moments of victory or defeat... without passion we are merely applying make-up to an ugly face.

It’s too early to tell if signing the Rocket is merely applying some cosmetic fix to a deeper problem but one thing is for sure, this team is not going to lay down in May. We’ve got far too much talent, heart and pride to let a slow start be the demise of an entire season. We’ll get rid of the dead weight and the cream will rise to the top...

And when it matters, the Yankees will be there...fabulous flaws and all.

One Step Forward...Two Steps Back

The very minute that Roger Clemens became a Yankee my Blackberry was inundated with texts and calls. Everyone wanted to talk about the Rocket’s return to the Bronx. I was daydreaming during the seventh inning, imagining the possibility that Scott Proctor could have a second career in the UFC and I didn’t want to think about Clemens, his ‘retirement’ Hummer or the fact that healthy hamstrings are on shortage this season.

Look, I’ve got to be brutally honest when it comes to this whole Rocket return...I wish we didn’t need him, I wish Carla Pavano would man-up or leave, I wish that the strength and conditioning coaches were magicians... but alas, here we are.

In all of the hype and hoopla it’s easy to get distracted. Late last night I had a long conversation with a good friend of mine who happens to be a baseball player. Like Roger he’s a pitcher and from Texas...so when he found out that the big guy was a Yankee again, he called to get my take on it. We chatted for a while and he asked if I thought the Yankees were now in that ONE STEP FORWARD...TWO STEPS BACK scenario.

After tonight’s loss...I say, as long as the BLOWPEN gets some rest, I don’t care if my grandmother has to go out there and eat up some innings.. We need help! Someone please tell Farnsy those hunting glasses arent working! And who the hell was that man wearing Mo's jersey tonight? This is not fun!

Someone please suspend me for 4 games... I promise not to appeal.

Scott Proctor Means Business!

I have a confession to make, I love it when the bullpens empty. Now don't get me wrong... I don't want the boys to get hurt or anything but hey, a little fire is good to see!

Now, I know some people will criticize Josh Phelps for a seemingly needless tackle of Seattle catcher, Kenji Johjima, at home plate today, but not me! Sometimes, in baseball and in life, you need to show your teeth and let the world know that you're still kicking and scratching away!
No one will argue this 2007 Yankees team has been knocked around by injuries and such this season. So its good to see there's still some fight left in this old dog.

After Seattle got their payback by hitting Phelps, we all thought the battle was over. Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez have been plunked quite a few times but Yankee pitchers seemed to be reluctant to retaliate. But Joe Torre's favorite goto guy, Scott Proctor decided to keep the party going when he hit Yuniesky Betancourt causing the bullpens to empty! The fans want to root for guys they know will go to war with each other. So it was good to see that Proc didn't back down even when Betancourt pointed his bat in the reliever's direction. Let's get the blood boiling, folks! It's good for the heart.

Kind of reminds me of those tough as nails Knicks teams of the 90's. (Hello, Mr. John Starks!) If nothing else, it was rather amusing watching Brian Bruney come chugging out of the pen. Maybe it's my crazy Italian temper that relates to this sort of drama but I just love it. Things like this have a way of pulling pieces together.

Sure, we may have lost a few battles but this war is far from over. Speaking of wars, the Yankees are getting a old reliable soldier back!

Overshadowing all the craziness on the field, Roger Clemens took the microphone in the 7th inning and tossed his hat back into the pinstriped ring! The Rocket knows a little something about having a commanding presence inside, intimidating hitters and flexing certain muscles....a few things this team has been missing. Maybe Carla Pavano can learn a thing or two...Okay, now I'm really getting ahead of myself...because that's a miracle that even the magic of Yankee lore can't foster.

Even still, the sun is shining brightly this Sunday afternoon...All is not lost my little soldiers...this team fights on! (Wonder if the Rocket is going to be returning that yellow Hummer now...)

PS. Someone needs to buy Scottie a beer tonight! And if you're looking for something candid and interesting to read, check outPete Abe's Q and A with fan favorite, Jason Giambi.. You just got to love this guy, he's one of the most real fellas around!

Krazy Kyle Worth Something Today

“The will to win is worthless if you don't get paid for it.”
~Reggie Jackson~

Yanks took the first game of today's double header 4-3 over the Rangers thanks, in part, to the stellar pitching of Kyle Farnsworth. Now, I know what you're thinking...and yes he'll always be FarnsworthLESS to me but after seeing the power and speed of his fast (but straight) ball today, a girl might be forced to rethink such harsh nicknames.

Clearly, Kyle was inspired by the motivational tactic I was trying to utilize and felt that he had something to prove to me...the former regional cable reality television hack that I am. All that matters is the Yanks picked up a much needed victory...the specifics are not important.

If you'll excuse me now, I have to get ready for tonight's game.. (And also prepare to move myself into the witness protection program) Because when Krazy Kyle and the boys come home late tonight, I'm afraid someone is going to teach him how to read and then he's going to be really mad at me. (Don't laugh, there's a lot of down time for a bullpen guy who barely pitches twice a week.)

Way to go, Kyle! Even pitching every third day, you're still ahead of Carla Pavano!

You Have To Be Kidding Me!

Rookie Phil Hughes was pitching no hit baseball in Texas just a few minutes ago…until the HAMSTRING DEMON struck again.

This is absolutely insane, ridiculous, preposterous! There is no excuse!

Now Mike Myers is in the game… I have nothing to say.

If you’ll excuse me, I’m off to Texas to straighten this whole thing out. It’s a dirty job but somebody has to step up and clearly the Yankee strength and conditioning coaches are on vacation this year.

I've been looking for a new job anyway....