NEWS ITEM-DEVILS ELIMINATE RANGERS AND BATTLE FOR THE STANLEY CUP

The best promotion for the National Hockey League has ended, the New Jersey Devils eliminated the New York Rangers 4 games to 2, and now battle for the rights to Lord Stanley's Cup, the symbol of team excellence in hockey. The area battle was one for the ages - the Devils fierce forechecking, timely scoring and great goaltending proved to be too much for the neighbors from Manhattan. For excitement, tension, physical play, and finese there is nothing that is as passionate as the NHL playoffs. 

With their win, the Devils begin play this week against the Los Angeles Kings in hockey's ultimate battle with New Jersey holding home ice advantage. Much like the last series this one figures to be physical and feature great goaltending. The Kings are a bigger team than the Rangers so it will be interesting to see if the Devils forechecking is just as effective. The pick here is New Jersey in 6

NEWS ITEM-YANKEES A .500 TEAM?

It's hard to beleive with thier $200 million plus payroll that this is all we are going to get from the Yankees this season. We are now past the 1/4 mark into this baseball season and the Yankees are mediocre at best. Poor starting pitching and awful hitting with runners in scoring position make a terrible combination. What bothers me most about the Yankees is the lackadaisical way they go about thier business. They laugh, smile for the camera and meanwhile they are being made to look foolish, lazy, and slow by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim...again!  Fellas, it ain't funny! 

What has happened to Alex Rodriguez? He is a $30 million singles hitter all of a sudden...blowing bubbles. Hey Alex, throw a helment, smash a water cooler, DO SOMETHING. 

Derek Jeter has found the fountain of youth but as expected he's cooled off a littie bit. Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeria, Nick Swisher, and Russell Martin look way to comfortable to me for bieng drastic underachievers so far this season. Even Joe Girardi is having a bad season. Joe, WAKE UP! The Yankees approach of waiting for the 3-run homerun is not working and the team appears stale. 

I realize that the team is stuffed with free agents making alot of money and does not feature alot of speed. How about making the defense move around by starting runners and using the hit and run? By no means am I qualified to be a big league manager, but I have to say it...my beloved New York Yankees have become hard to watch.