Jonathan Davis’ Blog

By winning four NBA titles together, five division titles and several other individual accolades in their NBA careers, Los Angles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson and guard Kobe Bryant have both etched their names as the very best in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Their continued success has made them household names to their teams and to the league. On Feb. 1^st and 3rd, they each both reached the top of some very prestigious records in Lakers’ history.

At the 4:13 mark of the third quarter on Feb. 1^st in at the Memphis Grizzles, Bryant moved passed Jerry West to become the all-time leading scorer in Lakers history by scoring a fast break lay up. He scored 44 points in a losing effort to the improving Grizzles 95-93. That total of points now stands at 25,246. 

Feb. 3^rd, Jackson reached the top of the Lakers record books as he passed Pat Riley as the all-time leader in victories by a head coach with his team’s 99-97 win versus the Charlotte Bobcats at Staples Center. He reached the total of 534 victories on that night and overall has 1,082 wins in his coaching career with the Bulls and Lakers, where he is now the all-time winner with both franchises.

What makes Kobe’s accomplishment of passing a legend like West, who is the symbol of the NBA represented by the logo is that he was the one as Lakers’ General Manager at the time that made the trade for Bryant from Charlotte on draft night 14 years ago.

From the beginning, they built a very special relationship that has helped Bryant become one of the best in the game today.

“To me he’s a complete player and somebody who just scores that ball doesn’t appeal to me very much,” West said last Wednesday on NBA TV. “But this guy is a total player and I remember when he was 17 years old, I felt like a father to him to be honest with you and to watch him get to this point in his career is really thrilling for me, even though I don’t have contact with him anymore.”

“I’m so happy for him, but more importantly, for the people of Los Angles. There having an opportunity to watch a player of a decade. That doesn’t happen very often.”

NBA TV analyst and former player Brent Barry said, “Just the fact that Jerry West has this relationship with Kobe Bryant I think is really something special. He truly was instrumental in the first couple of seasons for Kobe in Los Angles. Helping him understand what this game is about. Helping him understand how much talent he has, where to focus his energy. A special night for us to watch Kobe do what he did.”

On the night that Jackson became the record holder for wins in Lakers’ history said to FOX Sports West sideline reporter Michael Eaves that he has been “lucky enough to coach some great players. Been a great run for us here in L.A.”

To really understand the significance of what Bryant and Jackson both accomplished a week ago, we have to go back to the beginning.

In the early stages of Bryant’s career, he was trying to live up to the hype of being a draft selection out of high school and making it big in the pros.

From the minute he made it to the “City of Angels,” even though he was not getting the time right from the beginning to play under then head coach Del Harris, he worked like clockwork to get to the point he is at now.

As the first few years went on, he began to live up to those high expectations individually, but as far as getting the Lakers to be at that level he wanted to get to was not materializing. In the late stages of the 1990s, the Lakers despite playing well in the regular season, were unable to have that same success in the postseason as they lost in the Western Conference Semifinals three times (1996, 1997, 1999) and in the Western Conference Finals in 1998. After their loss to the eventual NBA champion San Antonio Spurs in 1999, the lockout shortened season, the Lakers in the off season, hired Jackson to be their head coach.

In year one under his guidance the Los Angles Lakers won 67 games. They defeated the Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns and the Portland Trail Blazers in their march to the NBA Finals where they defeated the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers in six games to win the franchises first NBA title since 1988.

They would follow that up with two more titles in 2001 where they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers and in five and swept the New Jersey Nets in four games to capture their third consecutive NBA crown.

In the years that followed though, things got very rough for the Lakers as they lost to the eventual NBA Champion Spurs in the Conference Semis that ended their championship reign in 2003. In 2004, the Lakers made it back to Finals, but lost in five games to the Detroit Pistons.

Three days after that setback, the Lakers relieved Jackson as head coach, which many thought was done by the wish of Bryant. That same off season the Lakers traded the other centerpiece to their three straight titles Shaquille O’Neal to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Brian Grant and Caron Butler.

That fall, Jackson came out with his fifth book titled “The Last Season,” which was an intimate look at the 2003-04 L.A. Lakers. The book was very critical of Bryant, who Jackson called him in the book “uncoachable.”

Without Jackson and O’Neal, Bryant was out there by himself to lead the defending Western Conference champions of the past season and the team won just 34 games and failed to make the playoffs. The last time that happened was in 1993-94.

One year later, Jackson was re-hired by the Lakers and they made the playoffs as the seventh seed in the West. They faced the second seeded Phoenix Suns in the quarterfinals.

In Game 4 of that series Bryant hit a game-winning jumper in overtime that gave Los Angles a 99-98 victory that gave them a 3-1 series lead. The Suns rallied to win the final three games of the series and beat the Lakers in seven games to move on the Semis.

The next season the Lakers made the playoffs again as the 7^th Seed and again they faced the Suns in the first-round. This time the Suns handled the Lakers very easily as they defeated them in five games.  

In that off season, it was reported that Bryant was unhappy with the Lakers as a team and that he wanted to be moved because he felt he could not take the team that he was a part of.

The team did not move their star player and face of the franchise and as a result the team came together that season, particularly when the made a trade in the middle of that season that brought Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzles for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton and the draft rights to Pau’s brother Marc Gasol. 

In 2007-08, the team went 57-25 finishing with the best record in the West and won the Pacific Division.

In the postseason they swept the Denver Nuggets in the quarterfinals in four games. In the Semis, they defeated the Utah Jazz in six games and in the Conference Finals they defeated the defending NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs in five. The team though lost in the Finals to their arch rivals the Boston Celtics in six games.

The next year the Lakers went 65-17 again winning the West and the Pacific Division. In the quarterfinals, they defeated the Jazz in five. In the Semis, they defeated the gritty Houston Rockets in seven games. In the Conference finals, they defeated the Nuggets in six. In the Finals, they defeated the Eastern Conference Champion Orlando Magic 4-1 to capture their 15^th NBA crown. Bryant captured his fourth ring and his first without O’Neal by his side and Jackson won his 10^th title as a head coach, passing the legend of the NBA sidelines, the late Arnold Jacob “Red” Auerbach.

“It’s a tribute to me to be able to say I played versus Kobe Bryant and played versus Phil Jackson teams,” said NBA TV analyst and former 76ers guard Eric Snow.

“Yes we are witnessing history. I think these two guys are going to go down as Phil Jackson arguably the best coach and Kobe Bryant one of the best players to ever play the game.”

What has made Bryant and Jackson so special when you really take a real good look at it is their inner drive to succeed. Their endless pursuit of perfection; the laser sharp focus on the task at hand and maybe more than anything else is the fact that they could not be where they are without the other.

Jackson was able to accomplish the number of wins because he had great players like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in his days in Chicago. He also had great role players like B.J. Armstrong, Bill Cartwright, John Paxson, who hit many a big shot in the Bulls first three-peat from 1991-93 when they beat the Lakers, Portland  Trail Blazers and Suns, Cliff Levingston, Scott Williams, Horace Grant just to name a few. In the second three-peat in 1996, 1997 and 1998 titles over the Sonics and the Jazz twice he still had Jordan and Pippen, but he had to compliment them, Toni Kukoc, Ron Harper, Luc Longley, John Salley, Brian Williams, Scott Burrell, Steve Kerr, Dennis Rodman, Jud Buechler, Randy Brown and Bill Wennington.

In Los Angles to go alongside O’Neal and Bryant in their three-peat in 2000, 2001 and 2002 over the Indian Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Nets, Jackson had role players like Harper, Salley, Grant, Derek Fisher, Devean George, Robert Horry, Rick Fox, A.C. Green, Tyronn Lue, Glen Rice, current assistant coach Brian Shaw, Mark Madsen, Lindsey Hunter, Samaki Walker and Mitch Richmond.

Along with the great players, Jackson had the two most important things every great coach needs in order to succeed at capturing the title. A great coaching staff in the likes of Tex Winter, who help to create the now well known Triangle Offense that has been a staple of the Bulls and Lakers, Jim Cleamons, Johnny Bach and Frank Hamblen to name a few.

“I think that’s the one thing all great coaches know how to do,” said former Laker great and current Fox Sports West NBA analyst Norm Nixon.

“Manage the personalities on the team. Allowing the great players to be great and allow players to play.”

For Bryant like all the great players Jackson has coached, he was able to become great by his evolution of becoming a leader who could got out on the court and perform as a leader and eventually though work on his own became someone his teammates around him can trust. He like Jordan showed that trust particularly in big moments.

For both Jackson and Bryant, they reached the top of the Lakers record books through hard work, relentless determination and most important of all, overcoming obstacles and staying in the moment.

As a result, they both this season are hungry to win another title as they continue to write their own stories in the Lakers history book.

Statistics, names, references and quotes are courtesy of www.espn.go.com; Feb. 2^nd, 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. edition of NBA TV’s NBA Gametime. en.wikipedia.org and www.basketball-reference.com.

In just 24 hours from now we will have Super Bowl XLIV between the New Orleans Saints versus the Indianapolis Colts features two of the top seven scoring teams in the National Football League (NFL) in 2009. We have a match-up between the two top scoring offenses. Two teams with prolific signal callers. Two head coaches who have earned their stripes to be at the pinnacle of greatness. We also have two teams trying to achieve more than just winning a championship for just themselves.

At the start of this season the Indianapolis Colts were very different from the previous six seasons. They had a new side line general in former quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell, who replaced Tony Dungy who retired after the 2008 season, that saw the Colts lose in the American Football Conference (AFC) Wild Card round at San Diego Chargers 23-17 in overtime.

Quarterback Peyton Manning’s go to receiver that he had when he came into the league 12 seasons ago Marvin Harrison was released in the off-season. While he still had all-world tight end Dallas Clark and wide receiver Reggie Wayne, they had three new receivers who now had to play a major role in the offense in rookie wide receiver out of BYU Austin Collie, sophomore receiver Pierre Garcon and third year wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez.

Things looked very shaky for the team at the beginning of this season when Gonzalez was lost after a Week 1 14-12 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars with a he sustained in the first quarter. The question now was how the team was going to respond without a guy who has a grasp of a very complicated offense.

In Week 2, the Colts answered that question with a profound just fine as they compiled 356 yards of total offense 295 through the air. Clark had 183 of those yards, including an 80-yard touchdown pass from Manning to make the score 7-0.

In a game in which the Dolphins held the ball for 45:07 of the 60 minutes and lead 23-20 in the fourth quarter, Manning and the Colts capped a 4-play 80-yard drive with a 48-yard touchdown strike to Garcon. That was his only catch of the contest.

From that point forward, the Colts hit their stride and rolled up 12 more consecutive wins to go to 14-0 by Week 16. In their match-up with the New York Jets in the next to last week of the regular season, the Colts decided to rest some of their starters in the second half of that game and their lead went from 15-10 to a 29-15 defeat that not only ended the Colts quest for a perfect season, but it put an end to an NFL record 23 consecutive wins in the regular season. The team then lost its last game of the regular season at the Buffalo Bills 30-7 as the starters once again played very little.

The Colts finished the regular season tying a franchise record with 14 victories going 14-2 in the regular season. They won the AFC South division for the six times in seven seasons.

Manning, in winning his 4^th Most Valuable Player award of his career, threw for 4,000 yards for the 10^th time in his 12-year career with 4,500, 33 touchdowns and just 16 interceptions with a career best completion percentage of 68.8.

Wayne and Clark each had 100 receptions and had 1,264 and 1,106 receiving yards respectably in 2009 and each had 10 touchdown receptions. The new receivers Collie and Garcon had 47 and 60 catches respectably. Collie had 676 receiving yards and seven scores while Garcon had 765 receiving yards and four scores. While four-year running back Joseph Addai had a less than stellar season running the football, he still finished the season with 828 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns, while also scoring three receiving touchdowns.

Defensively, the Colts finished 8^th in scoring defense by surrendering just 19.2 points per game. Defensive ends Dwight Freeney (13.5) and Robert Mathis (9.5) had 20 of the teams 34 sacks. That is not bad for a team that lost a number of stalwarts on the defensive side of the ball this season in safety Bob Sanders, linebacker Tyjuan Hagler and cornerback Marlon Jackson.

In the playoffs, the Colts defeated the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional round of the AFC playoffs 20-3. After a 234 rushing performance in 52 attempts in their 33-14 win at the New England Patriots in the Wild Card round the week before, the Colts defense held the Ravens to just 87 yards on ground. Sophomore running back Ray Rice who had 159 rushing yards and two scores a week ago was held to just 67 yards on the ground. The Ravens turned the ball over four times after forcing that man against the Pats the week prior. Ravens signal caller Joe Flacco who was a modest 4 for 10 for 34 yards a week ago went 20 for 35 for 189 and had two interceptions. Manning in comparison was 30 for 44 for 246 yards, two touchdowns and just one interception.   

The Colts won this game with two touchdown drives in the second period. The first one came on a 14-play 75-yard march from their own 25-yard line that made the score 10-3. The second score came on an 8-play 64-yard drive from their own 36-yard line that made the score 17-3.

In the AFC Championship Game versus the Jets, things did not start well for Colts. After holding the Jets in check for the first quarter, they hit their mark with two scoring drives that ended in end zone finished. The first came on an 80-yard strike from rookie QB Mark Sanchez to wideout Braylon Edwards that made the score 7-3. After the Colts added another field goal from place kicker Matt Stover, the Jets scored again on a 9-yard touchdown to tight end Dustin Keller capping a seven-play 77-yard drive that made the score 14-6.

Trailing 17-6 in the late stages of the second quarter and having been sacked twice already, Manning went to work against Rex Ryan and his Jets No. 1 ranked defense and put together a 4-play 80-yard drive from their own 20-yard line that ended in a 16-yard touchdown pass to Collie that cut the lead to 17-13 at intermission.

In the second half, the Colts offense engineered two touchdown drives and one that ended in a field goal in that ended the Jets chances and gave them a 30-17 victory to win their second AFC crown in the last four seasons.

Manning went 26-39 for 377 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions and Manning became the first player in NFL history to have seven games of 300 passing yards or more in the postseason, which broke a tie between recently retired Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner and Hall of Fame signal caller of the San Francisco 49ers Joe Montana.

Collie and Garcon, who were both questions marks at the start of this season, had the games of their lives. Garcon, a native of Haiti, had a career day with 11 receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown. Collie had seven catches for 123 yards and a score.

With the Colts victory, Caldwell became the fifth rookie head coach to reach Super Sunday. He will try to join former 49ers head coach George Seifert and former Baltimore Colts head man Don McCafferty as head coaches who have won it all in their first season as a the lead man on the professional gridiron sideline.

For the New Orleans Saints, their run to their first appearance on Super Sunday in franchise history started back in 2006.

Back in 2005, the Saints and the city of New Orleans dealt with the most destructive natural disaster known in United States history as Hurricane Katrina severely damaged the city. At one point the Superdome which is home to the team of the “Who Dat” nation was a refuge for thousands that survived the disaster.

It was no help to the team either as they were displaced to both Baton Rouge, LA and San Antonio, TX for that season. It resulted in a 3-13 year for the Saints who essentially played all 16 of their games on the road. It ended with a 27-13 defeat at the NFC South division champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In the off season, the team fired then head coach Jim Haslett and hired former Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Sean Payton. They also signed a brand new signal caller in former San Diego Charger Drew Brees. In the draft, they selected all world running back out of the University of Southern California and Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush and in the 7^th round they selected Hofstra product in wide receiver Marcus Colston.

They began 2006 a new in winning at the Cleveland Browns 19-14 in Week 1 and followed that up with a 34-27 win at the Green Bay Packers in Week 2.

Their home opener versus the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3 was one for the ages as the Superdome, which once was a symbol of the devastation and the displacement of many New Orleans and Gulf Coast residents was the site of how the city was on the way back and the football team did not disappoint.

The onslaught began when the Saints held the Falcons to a three-and-out on their first possession and Special Teams ace Steve Gleason block the punt of Michael Koenen and was picked up in the end zone by Curtis Deloatch that gave the Falcons a 7-0 lead and they never looked back. The Falcons could only manage a field goal as the Saints were victorious 23-3.

The team would go 10-6 that season winning the NFC South division and the No. 2 seed in the NFC, which earned them a first round by. Brees earned his second trip to the Pro Bowl with a stellar season of 4,418 passing yards, 26 TDs and just 11 Ints and a passer rating of 96.2. Bush in his rookie season gained 1,307 total yards in rushing and receiving and scored eight touchdowns. Colston in 12 games played in 2006 had 70 receptions for 1,038 yards and eight touchdowns.

In the postseason the Saints hosted the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Playoff round and they defeated them as they did in Week 6 back by the same score of 27-24 to advance to the franchises first NFC Championship Game.

Brees was magnificent going 20 for 32 for 243 yards and a touchdown. Running back Deuce McAllister rushed for 143 yards and scored a touchdown. The Saints out gained the Eagles on the ground 208 to 123 and in total yards 435 to 355.    

In the NFC title game at the Chicago Bears the Saints did not get off to the grandest of starts as four of their first five scoring drives ended in punts and their third drive ended in a fumble. The No.1 Seeded Bears converted four of their six scoring drives into three field goals and a touchdown to take a 16-0 lead.

The Saints got back into the contest when they converted an 8-play 73-yard drive from their own 27-yard line into a 13-yard touchdown by Colston that cut the deficit to 16-7.

On the second play of the Saints opening drive of the second half, Bush took an 88-yard pass to the end zone that cut the deficit to 16-14. That is as close as the Saints would get as the Bears scored 35 unanswered points to capture the NFC crown 39-14 earning a trip to Super Bowl XLI.

While the Bears were unable to contain Brees as he went 27 for 49 for 354 yards and two scores, they out gained the Saints on the ground 196 to 56 and they forced four Saints turnovers.

The next two seasons were setbacks for the New Orleans Saints as they finished 2007 with a 7-9 record finishing 3^rd in the NFC South. They followed that up with an 8-8 record in 2008.

A big reason why the Saints had a serious drop off in wins since 2006 is because of a defense that surrendered an average of 24.2 (25^th in the NFL) and 24.6 points per contest (26^th in the league) in 2007 and 208 respectably.  That wasted two very strong seasons by Brees who followed he 2006 season with 4,423 passing yards 28 touchdowns compared to 18 interceptions in 2007. In 2008 he threw for the second most passing yards in NFL history with 5,069 with 34 touchdowns compared to 17 interceptions.

This past off season, the Saints looked to fix their problems on the defensive side of the ball the Saints signed Gregg Williams to be their new defensive coordinator. In free agency they signed veteran safety Darren Sharper, defensive end Paul Spicer and safety Pireson Prioleau. In the draft, they selected in the 1^st round with the 14^th overall pick defensive back Malcolm Jenkins out of Ohio State.

While the defense was still ranked 20^th in scoring defense giving up 21.3 points per game, they were in the middle of the pack in sacks with 35. Defensive end Will Smith had 13 of those sacks. The Saints ranked 3^rd in the NFL in interceptions with 26, with Sharper ranking first in the NFL with nine picks and three of them he took  back for touchdowns. 

The improved defense along with their top ranked offense that averaged 31.9 points per game, the Saints got off to their best start in franchise history winning their first eight contests. Their 26-23 victory at the Falcons brought their record to 13-0 which set a record for an NFC team going that late into the season without a setback since the AFL-NFL merger. That eclipsed the mark held by the 1985 Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears.

The team would face a bump in the road to close the season when they proceeded to lose their final three games of the season to the Cowboys in Week 15 at home 24-17; in Week 16 at home to the cellar dweller Buccaneers in overtime 20-17 and at the Carolina Panthers in Week 17 23-10.

The team would finish the season 13-3, setting the franchise record for victories. Brees was sensational again with 4,388 passing yards, 34 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions.

The question now was how would a team that finished with the No. 1 seed in the NFC bounce back after a rough conclusion to a season that began so well.

In the Divisional Playoff Game versus the Arizona Cardinals, the team got back to their old selves. After giving up a 70-yard touchdown run to running back Tim Hightower, the Saints defense held the Cardinals who scored 51 points in their Wild Card game versus the Green Bay Packers a week ago, only managed just seven points the rest of the way in a 45-14 victory.

Brees was magnificent in going 23 for 32 for 247 yards and three touchdowns. Bush was very good himself with 84 yards rushing and a touchdown while also running back a punt 83 yards for a touchdown.

The Saints defense in holding Arizona to just seven points in the final three quarters forced two turnovers and held the Saints to 1-8 on third down conversions. Cards QB Kurt Warner who was stellar a week ago with five touchdown passes and just four incomplete passes was just 17 for 26 for 205 and an interceptions.

The defense came up even larger in the NFC Championship Game versus the Minnesota Vikings. While they surrendered 310 yards of total offense, 165 of which came on the ground and surrendering 28 points, they forced five turnovers.

Brees while gaining just 197 yards passing on 17 for 31 did throw three touchdowns.

In a back and fourth game that went to overtime, the Saints managed put themselves in a position to win the game when the took the lone possession of the extra stanza 10 plays gaining 39 yards, it set up second-year place kicker Garret Hartley who banged in a 40-yard field goal that gave the Saints a 31-28 win over the Vikings and a the team’s first NFC crown in franchise history.

For both of these teams, they have taken different roads to get to Super Sunday. In just 24 hours, one of these teams will have their dream become reality on Sunday.

If the Colts win, it will be their second title in the last four seasons. Peyton Manning will have won his second Super Bowl to go along with his four MVP trophies. Coach Caldwell will become the third African American head coach in NFL history to lead his team to a Super Bowl joining his former boss Tony Dungy and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.

If the Saints are victorious on Super Sunday, it will be the team’s first title, but more than anything, it also be an end to a journey that has taken 43 long and sometimes very difficult years for the organization and the fans who have supported the team through a lot of trying times.

Information and statistics are courtesy of www.espn.go.com, en.wikipedia.org, www.nfl.com and www.pro-football-reference.com

From the first moment he got his chance to make a name for himself in the NFL, quarterback Kurt Warner made every moment count. He played well in big moments on the field and was even more of an impressive pro off the field. He was respected by his teammates as well as the organizations and fans he played for each Sunday. Last Friday in Tempe, AZ, the great signal caller closed this great chapter of his life.

On Friday, Warner announced his retirement from the NFL after a 12-year career in which he played for the St. Louis Rams (1998-2003), the New York Giants (2004) and the Arizona Cardinals (2005-2009).

He amassed incredible statistics in his career that should land him in the Hall Fame. He threw for 32, 344 yards, 208 touchdowns compared to 128 interceptions. His 1,156 passing yards in three Super Bowl appearances is the best in NFL history and those three games individually are the three highest passing yardage games in NFL history. The other four QBs he is ahead of are  three current and multiple Super Bowl winners Hall of Famers Joe Montana, John Elway, Terry Bradshaw and current New England Patriots signal caller Tom Brady Warner’s 93.7 passer rating is the 3^rd best of all-time. He is the 2^nd quarterback in NFL history to throw 100 or more touchdowns for two different teams, the other is Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton who did it with the Minnesota Vikings and the Giants. He won two Most Valuable Player Awards (1999 & 2001) and was named Super Bowl MVP in Super Bowl XXXIV. He recorded 58 300-yard passing games and five games of 400 yards through the air. In the postseason he had a 9-4 record.

“Twelve of the best years of my life, but I want everybody to know that I’m excited about the next 12,” Warner said to reporters last Friday.

“I’m excited about spending more time with my family and seeing what God’s going to do next. I’m leaving at the right time at the right time and because I know that, it’s easy for me to walk away and say, ‘hey that is what it is. A great chapter; a great period in my life that I will never forget and its meant so much to me, but I don’t worry one bit about looking back and wishing that I played longer. I think it’s the perfect time and I’m ready.’ ”

To fully understand the greatness of Warner, you first have to learn where he began his football journey.

After he graduated from Regis High School in Cedar Rapids, IA, the Burlington, IA went onto the University of Northern Iowa where he was third on the quarterback depth chart until his senior year in 1993 where he threw for 2,747 yards and 17 TDs in leading the Panthers to an 8-4 record and a birth in the Division I-AA Playoffs. He was named the Gateway Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

Despite his great senior season, he was not selected by any NFL team in the 1994 NFL Draft. He did receive an invitation to try out for the Green Bay Packers in training camp of that year. He competed for a spot on the team against signal caller Brett Farve, Mark Brunell and former Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer. Warner was released from the Packers before the start of that season.

With no NFL future in site, Warner returned to Cedar Rapids and worked the night shift as a shelf stocker at the Hy-Vee grocery store for $5.50 an hour, while also working as a graduate assistant coach for the Northern Iowa football team.

The next year turned to the Arena Football League (AFL) and signed with the Iowa Barnstormers. In his three seasons with the team, Warner was named to the AFL’s First-team All-Arena in 1996 and 1997 and led them to three consecutive Arena Bowl appearances. On top of that he was named 12^th on the AFL’s 20 best Arena Football players of all-time.

His impressive performance earned Warner a tryout in 1997 with the Chicago Bears, but an injury to his throwing elbow from a spider bite sustained on his honeymoon with his wife the former Brenda Carney Meoni derailed his chances.

In 1998, Warner final broke through into the NFL and was signed by the St. Louis Rams in 1998. He was assigned to the NFL Europe’s Amsterdam Admirals that year and led the league in passing yards and touchdowns.

The next year, Warner was promoted to back-up quarterback as the Rams signed Trent Green to be the team’s starter. On Aug. 28, 1999, the Rams whole outlook on the season changed as Green tore his ACL.

It was then that Warner was named the starter and then skepticism followed as the Rams were seen by many to be the bottom feeders of the NFL as they had been throughout the 1990s.

In a press conference prior to the start of the season, then head coach Dick Vermeil said to reporters, “We will rally around Kurt Warner and we’ll play good football.”

That is exactly what happened for the St. Louis Rams as Warner in his first NFL start versus the Baltimore Ravens threw for 309 yards and three scores as they won 27-10.

Warner became the first QB in NFL history to throw a touchdown pass in his first three starts.

He proved the league that he and the Rams were the real deal in the team’s fourth contest as they hosted the Kings of the NFC West the San Francisco 49ers, who won the division 12 of the past 13 years as well as beating the Rams in 17 of the previous 18 meetings. The Rams showed on that day they were not the same team of the past as Warner threw four first half touchdowns in leading the Rams to a 28-10 halftime lead. He would finish with five scoring throws and the Rams won 42-20. Threw four games, Warner threw 14 TDs and the Rams were undefeated at 4-0.

The team would finish the season 13-3, winning the NFC West as well as capturing home-field advantage in the NFC. Warner finished the season with 4,353 passing yards, 41 TDs and a 65.1 completion percentage. The Rams high-powered offense led by Warner and skilled players like all-world running back Marshal Faulk and wide receivers Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Ricky Prohel and Az-Zahir Hakim, the Rams offense was nicknamed, “The Greatest Show on Turf.”

In his first start in the postseason on Jan. 16, 2000, Warner and the Rams high octane offense kept the pedal to the metal as they defeated the Minnesota Vikings 49-37. Warner threw for 391 yards, five touchdowns and completed 82 percent of his passes.

In the NFC Championship game, the offense struggled for most of the game against a very stingy Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. The Rams offense only managed a field goal by place kicker Jeff Wilkins and a safety through the first three quarters trailing 6-5. With 4:44 remaining in the game, Warner threw a 30-yard TD to Proehl that gave the Rams an 11-6 led and that they would never relinquish as they won the NFC over the Bucs by that score.

In Super Bowl XXXIV, Warner and the Rams hung with the AFC Champion Tennessee Titans for most of the game. Warner as he had all season managed to come up with a big play. In the fourth quarter, he threw a strike to Issac Bruce that he took to the end zone 73 yards to give the Rams a 23-16 lead. A goal-line stand by the Rams in the closing moments gave them the victory 23-16. Warner earned MVP honors with 414 passing yards, two touchdowns. He became the six player in NFL history to win the Super Bowl MVP and Regular Season MVP joining Hall of Famers Bart Starr, Bradshaw, Montana, Emmitt Smith and Steve Young.

The start to the 2000 season was no different as Warner continued his fine play with 300 plus passing yards in the first six contest, which tied Hall of Famer Steve Young and throwing 19 scores in that stretch. They would increase their record to 6-0.

The team unlike a year ago faced some adversity as Warner injured his hand and missed some time. The team despite strong play from back up Trent Green went 4-6 in the final 10 games to finish the season 10-6. What contributed to the Rams up and down play in the final weeks was a poor defensive unit and that Warner interception rate went from 2.6 percent (13 Ints) in 1999 to 5.2 percent in 2000 (18 Ints). The result the Rams lost to the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card round of the 2000 NFL Playoffs 31-28.

As a result, the team traded Green to the Kansas City Chiefs in the off-season and nine of the 11 defensive starters for the Rams were let go and current Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith was hired as the Rams defensive coordinator.

The result, the Rams were back to their winning ways as the team go off to its 3^rd straight 6-0 start in 2001. Warner amassed 36 touchdowns, completed 68.7 percent of his passes, but he did throw 22 interceptions. His great season earned him his second MVP award and the team clinched home-field advantage in the NFC and had the best record in the NFL with a 14-2 mark.

In the playoffs, they defeated the Green Bay Packers 45-17 in the Divisional round and then defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 29-24 in the NFC Championship Game to earn their second NFC crown in three seasons.

In Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans against the New England Patriots Warner threw for 365 yards, which at the time was the second-highest in Super Bowl history. Unfortunately, the Rams were unable to turn that yardage into points as the Pats defense stymied the Rams offense for the first three quarters.

St. Louis was able to get back into it thanks to a 1-yard touchdown by Warner and a 26-yard strike to Proehl that tied the game at 17 all. New England after that score marched down the field and place kicker Adam Vinatieri knocked in the game-winning field goal as time expired and the Pats won 20-17 to win their first of three Super Bowls.

The team would never be the same and neither would their great signal caller. Over the next two seasons Warner would go from a Super Bowl champion and the toast of the town to an often injured and unproductive leader of the Rams offense. The culmination of his demise came in the 2003 season opener when Warner fumbled the ball six times in the Rams 23-13 loss at the Giants. He would be replaced by current Rams quarterback Marc Bulger, who would lead the team to 12 wins in their final 15 games. The team finished atop the NFC West with their 12-4 record, but lost in the Divisional round to the NFC Champion Carolina Panthers in double overtime 29-23.

In the off season, the Rams released Warner and he was signed a two-year deal with the Giants on June 1, 2004.

He began the season very well in leading “Big Blue” to five victories in their first seven outings in 2004. Following a two-game slide to the Bears and the Cardinals, Warner was replaced by his understudy rookie Eli Manning. The team went 5-4 under Warner (6TDs, 4 Ints) but finished 1-6 with Manning under center as the team and went 6-10 in 2004.

In the early part of 2005, Warner signed with the Arizona Cardinals and almost immediately was named the starter under then head coach Dennis Green. While he showed flashes of brilliance that made him special in St. Louis, he did have his struggles. Throughout his first two seasons with the Cards, he would battle with young QBs like Josh McCown and Matt Leinart to be the starter.

Things came together for Warner in 2007 under new head coach Ken Whisenhunt. He threw 27 touchdowns in 14 games, one shy of the Cardinals all-time record and the team finished 8-8 that season.

The next season, Warner was even better throwing a team-record 30 touchdowns and just 14 picks, completed 67.1 percent of his passes and had a 96.9 quarterback rating. The team finished the season just 9-7, but won the NFC West for the first time since 1975 and earned their first playoff birth since 1998, the year they defeated the Dallas Cowboys in Dallas in the Wild Card round 20-7 on Jan 2, 1999.

In the post-season, they defeated the Atlanta Falcons at home in the Wild Card round 30-24 on Jan. 3, 2009. Warner went 19 for 32 for 271 and two touchdowns

The next week the Cards defeated the NFC South winner Carolina Panthers and won 33-13 in the Divisional round. Warner was 22 for 32 for 220 yards and two scores. The win not only avenged a 27-23 setback in Week 8 at the same venue, it also represented the Cards first victory on the East Coast in 2008. 

On Jan. 18, 2009, the Cardinals hosted their first NFC Championship Game at home as they played against the Philadelphia Eagles. Behind a 279-yard passing four touchdown performance by the veteran signal caller, the Arizona Cardinals did the unthinkable and defeated the Eagles 32-25 to earn a trip to their first Super Bowl.

In Super Bowl XLIII versus the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cardinals started the game very flat as they trailed 10-0 in the early going. The team got on track late in the second period as Warner threw a 45-yard strike to Anquan Boldin to the Steelers’ 1-yard line. He would then throw a touchdown strike to tight end Ben Patrick to cut the lead to 10-7. In the closing moments of the 1^st half Warner led the Cards down the field on an eight play 87-yard drive, but the drive was killed by a interception by linebacker James Harrison who took the pick back for a 100-yard touchdown, which became the longest play in Super Bowl history and gave the Steelers a 17-7 lead at intermission.

After the Steelers tacked on a field goal by kicker Jeff Reed to make the count 20-7 in the third quarter, Warner and the Cardinals went to work in the fourth period with floating score from Warner to Larry Fitzgerald early in the fourth. They would later then get two points on a safety. Then on their own 36-yard line, Warner threw a strike down the middle to Fitzgerald that he took 63 yards to the end zone that gave Arizona a 23-20 lead on the Steelers with 2:37 remaining in the contest.

The Steelers though went 78 yards on eight plays that culminated in a 6-yard touchdown to Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes in the corner of the end zone that gave Pittsburgh the lead and eventually the victory 27-23.

In the contest, Warner went 31 for 43 for 377 yards and three touchdowns with just one pick. In the second half alone, he was 19 for 25 for 242 yards and two touchdowns.

After that many thought was this it for Warner because he was a free agent and he was looking for a solid deal that would pay him about $14 million per season. In the beginning of free agency, which started on Feb. 27, 2009 things did not look good for him coming back to Arizona as the he and the organization could not come to an agreement. He even talked to the Cards division rivals the 49ers, who offered him a contract that was worth more than what the Cards offered him at $20 million for two years. On Mar. 4, 2009, Warner did resign with Arizona a two-year deal worth $23 million total with $4 million for each of the next two and a $15 million signing bonus.

In 2009, Warner was as good as ever as he threw 26 touchdowns to just 14 interceptions and had a QB rating of 93.2 and completed 66.1 percent of his passes. The team won its second straight NFC West crown going 10-6.

In the postseason, he delivered one of the all-time great performances in postseason history with a 29 for 33 for 379 yards and 5 touchdowns in the Cards 51-45 overtime victory by the Cardinals in the Wild Card round versus the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 29. He also recorded the second highest quarterback rating in NFL postseason history with a 154.1 rating and became the second quarterback to throw five touchdowns in a playoff game twice and the first to do it since the merger of the NFL and AFL.

The next week, the Cards season ended at the hands of the eventual NFC representatives in the Super Bowl as the New Orleans Saints defeated Arizona in the Divisional round 45-14. Warner went just 17 for 26 for 205 and had an interception.

The story of Kurt Warner is a classic example of what it means to stick with it. There were many times he could have let his dream go and no one would have given a care if he did. By him sticking with it, he showed that dreams can come true.

He also showed that you gain respect from your teammates and your opponents when you go out there and make a name for yourself in the biggest of moments both on and off the field.

“He’s a phenomenal player, but I think people will remember him as being a better man than as a football player,” Vikings defensive end Jared Allen said last week at the Pro Bowl.

“He set such a good example for young quarterbacks not only on the football field as a QB, but as a person,” Texans signal caller Matt Schaub said at the Pro Bowl last week.

With all of great numbers there one that illustrates what Warner did in his career with the Cardinals and Rams. He is one of three QBs to win a playoff game for a team coming off nine or more losing seasons in succession. The other two signal callers to do that are current ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer and former Cardinal Jake Plummer. For someone to take two perennial cellar dwellers of the NFL and turn them into teams of relevance should more than guarantee that Warner is selected to be a Hall of Famer in five years.

“No doubt; No question about it,” Cards safety Antrell Rolle said at the Pro Bowl last week. “If he doesn’t go first ballot, I don’t know anything about second ballot for him First ballot.”

“He’ll get my vote any day,” said his Cards teammate Darnell Dockett last week at the Pro Bowl. “For him to come into an organization that was not winning, to turn around take a team like the Arizona Cardinals to the Super Bowl and turn around the next year, win a division, to win a game in the postseason. What do you say about that?”

Whether he reaches the Hall of Fame on his first year of eligibility, the career of Kurt Warner proved a number of things. Anything is possible when you hang in their; that when one door closes you find another one to open. More than anything, when you have faith in yourself and show what you can do, that is how people develop faith in you and respect what you do. You also respect someone that you had a chance to meet in person as I had a chance to do about six years ago when I saw him with his family in Toys “R” Us in New York City with his family.

I think the host of ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown Chris Berman, Chris Carter and Mike Ditka put it best last Sunday at the Pro Bowl.

“The game was better because he played in it,” said Ditka.

“I think it’s a legacy of anything is possible,” said Carter. “We all had dreams and aspirations of playing in the National Football League, but none of our stories don’t even stand up to Kurt Warner and his story. It’s a real legitimate story and I believe that the human being is better than the football player that we’ve seen.”

“The NFL will miss him as a person and off course as a quarterback,” said Berman.

Information, statistics and quotes are courtesy of 1/29/10 4 p.m. edition of ESPN’s NFL Live; Fox Sports Arizona; 1/31/10 5:30 p.m. edition of ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown; www.espn.go.com; en.wikipedia.org;

Some might call him old. Others might call him insane. Many wonder how someone like him can still be on television. Well when you have seen and done as much as this man has, reported on a lot of it and be able no matter how many changes are made to keep up with the times, this Upstate New York native has made himself into an institution that we tune in to see at the end of the 7 p.m. hour each Sunday and just yesterday, he dropped another rock into the puddle of age.

Yesterday, CBS’ ’60 Minutes’ essayist and curmudgeon Andy Rooney, just turned 91 years old yesterday and one thing is for sure, he has not shown any signs of slowing down.

To really understand that this man has still got it, he currently has a girlfriend who he simply calls, “my friend,” according to a USA Today article. For someone who lost his wife Marguerite (Marge) Howard, who passed away six years ago to deter him. He got back out there and found someone. Not bad. On top of that, he still drives on his own and when asked about it he replied, “Yes. I drive.”

The one thing though that is very special to Rooney and his wife Marge are there four children that they had together. Daughter Emily who is a former executive producer of ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings and is the current television host, executive editor and creator of WGBH’s Greater Boston and Beat the Press.

Son Brian has worked as a correspondent for ABC News since the 1980s. Emily’s twin sister Martha is the Chief of the Public Services Division at the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, MD. The third daughter Ellen works as a photographer in London.

What we most know Rooney for is his 31 years on ’60 Minutes,’ but he is much more than that. He has a weekly syndicated newspaper column. This past November, his 16^th book Andy Rooney: 60 Years of Wisdom and Wit was published.

He is also a unique journalist in that he even said that computer is better than a typewriter even though he still has his old Underwood typewriter that he said he could never “bear to throw it away.”

In fact he is someone that does not throw away much to begin with. In his cluttered office at CBS News, he still has a barbell he has not used in years.

One of the most treasured possessions that Rooney has in his office is a framed handwritten 53-year-old note on the wall behind his hand built walnut desk that simply reads “WOW.” It’s from celebrated essayist and children’s author E.B. White about Rooney’s 1957 TV adaptation of White’s famous essay, “Here is New York.”

Rooney says that White was, “the best there was.” When he passed 25 years ago, Rooney wrote, “Seems terribly wrong, but I’m probably better known than he was. As the phrase goes in the newspaper business, I couldn’t carry his typewriter.”

When you watch and listen to Rooney each Sunday night on ‘60 Minutes’ it is part history lesson, which is a good thing and part comedy routine, which is always good because we all can use a laugh. It can also be a great deal of distain because he can also be very grumpy, which at times can be expected from someone his age. However, with someone of his greatness, there is always a method to the madness.

He says which is true that our society consists of a whole lot of “nonsense.” As we have seen during his commentary that he is not shy of saying what he feels about that so-called nonsense that happens on a daily basis. While hearing that kind of objective opinion, which we definitely get regularly from the likes of radio personality Rush Limbaugh and FOX News commentator and radio personality Glenn Beck, can be refreshing, it can also be very vindictive, arrogant and distasteful, but the one can always be said about these three in particular, they say what is on their mind and they do not care about the consequences from viewers or management.

Rooney was suspended by CBS for three months back in 1990 for his remarks to a gay newspaper were criticized as homophobic. CBS rehired Rooney four weeks later after the ratings for ’60 Minutes’ suffered a 20 percent drop.  So while the stories that are told each week by the likes of Steve Kroft, Scott Pelley, Morley Safer, Lesley Stahl and Bob Simon of today, Rooney’s end of the show words are an important part of the program.

For those of you who want to know how did he get to the point he is now. Well it all began for Rooney in 1941 when as a junior at Colgate University; he was drafted by the Army, where he was arrested in Florida for sitting in the back of an Army bus alongside African American soldiers.  

One year later he joined the Armed Forces’ newspaper staff, Stars and Stripes in London. It was also in this time where he met the three legends of CBS News, Edward R. Murrow, United Press reporter at that time Walter Cronkite and Stars and Stripes correspondent Don Hewitt, who was the creator of ’60 Minutes.’

In 1944 he flies on the U.S.’s second bombing raid on Germany; lands on Utah Beach in Normandy 72 hours after D-Day and writes his first book, “Air Gunner,” with Bud Hutton.

Five years later, he joins CBS as a writer for radio and TV personality Arthur Godfrey.

Rooney made his first appearance in our living rooms in 1968 as one of two silhouetted figures who were dubbed “Ispo” and “Facto” who would banter in a short lived segment on ‘60 Minutes.’

Rooney quit CBS in 1970 after they refused to air his piece, “An Essay on War,” but he would narrate his piece one year later on PBS, while at the same time joining ABC News along with correspondent Harry Reasoner.

He would return to CBS in 1972 as a writer, producer and narrator for stories on ‘60 Minutes’ and other broadcasts.

Rooney found his place where he know him today in 1978 when his segment “Three Minutes with Andy Rooney” aired that summer replacing “Point/Counterpoint. The segment which is the last segment of each ‘60 Minutes’ broadcast is said by each correspondent “A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney,” which was the title of his first book which became a best seller.  

For a lot of us, we will know Andy Rooney as a grumpy, unsatisfied, blunt and old man who gives his point of view on certain topics at the end of broadcast on ‘60 Minutes.’ He should be known as someone who was great at what he did. He was a wonderful father to his children and passed down some wisdom to them that have made each of them very valuable to the media world. He took part in some life changing event in American history. More than anything what Andy Rooney showed us is that it doesn’t matter how old you are, it is how you feel. He obviously feels great and that is why he is still at the top of his game as we see each week.

Information and quotes are courtesy of the Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010 edition of USA Today and en.wikipedia.org

This past Sunday the Cincinnati Bengals lost at the San Diego Chargers 27-24 thanks to place kicker Nate Kaeding’s 52-yard field goal at the gun. The loss by the Bengals ended all hopes of being the No. 2 seed in the American Football Conference (AFC) and a first-found by. The loss paled in comparison from what the team had to deal with this week when a member of their family who embodied the team’s sudden turnaround this season tragically lost his life.

Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry passed away last Thursday morning after sustaining very severe injuries when he was thrown from the back of a pickup truck that was being driven by his fiancée Loleini Tonga, of Charlotte, N.C. He was 26 years old.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said that Henry died at 6:36 a.m. that day. He leaves behind his fiancée the aforementioned Tonga and their three children.

Henry’s sudden passing shocked the entire Bengals organization as they heard about the situation an hour before meeting at their regularly scheduled 11 a.m. time with reporters. While many of the players did not speak to the media, those who did very saddened by this tragic event.

“Chris was a very good friend of mine. Really extremely close. It’s said to see that it’s come to this point,” Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco said to the media on Thursday while fighting back tears. “He was doing everything right. My grandmother always says you never question the man upstairs on decisions he makes. Everyone makes mistakes, but I don’t see how Chris was supposed to go already, especially when he was on the right path.”

Ochocinco wore a No. 15 jersey to practice yesterday in memory of Henry. He did flirt with the idea of wearing Henry’s jersey in yesterday’s contest, but did not. Instead he went to his knees upon scoring a 49-yard touchdown reception and said repeatedly “85 and 15 always be 100 ways for us to be great.” After the game, he dressed in the locker area that the team had in honor of Chris Henry.  

“This is definitely sad,” said Bengals guard Bobbie Williams. “He’s a young kid that was definitely on the right path to doing right and trying to do right by himself and his family.”

Even in an important win that clinched the AFC West division and essentially the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs, the Chargers (11-3) understood the gravity of what the Bengals were going through.

“I can’t say enough about Cincinnati and the way they responded,” said Chargers head coach Norv Turner. “The week had to be a tough week for them…It’s a difficult thing to deal with. My hats off to Cincinnati and what they were able to do.”

Henry had played in eight games this season where he had 12 receptions for 236 yards and two touchdowns. His 19.7 yards per catch led the Bengals. His season came to an end when he suffered a broken forearm in the Bengals’ 17-7 victory versus their AFC North rival the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 8. He was placed on injured reserve.

“We are greatly saddened by today’s tragic news about the loss of Chris Henry,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said on Thursday to NFL.com. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chris’ family, including his Bengals family. We have been in contact with the Bengals to offer our support through this difficult time… I ask you to keep Chris Henry and his family in your thoughts today.”

Henry was rushed to the hospital on Wednesday after he was found on a residential road in Charlotte. According to a 9-1-1 call to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Henry was in the bed of the yellow truck with a tag that read F-150. It was revealed in that call the Henry was on the truck shirtless with just black pants, black sneakers on and he was beating on the back of the truck.

An eyewitness to the situation told ESPN’s Shannon Spake that when she ran outside and got to Henry, he was laying flat on the ground unresponsive and foaming at the mouth.

The police for now are calling the case a domestic dispute, but it is being looked at by Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s Homicide and Traffic Safety Units. No charges have been filed to Tonga.

In his days at West Virginia, Chris Henry used his talents to the equivalent of 93 receptions for 1,878 yards and 12 touchdowns in his three seasons. He redshirted his freshmen year of 2002. He was named Big-East Conference freshmen of the year in 2003 and received All-Big East second-team honors.

In 2005, the Bengals selected him in the 3^rd round of the 2005 NFL Draft and helped the team right from the get go with 31 receptions, 422 yards and six touchdowns in his rookie seasons. He helped the team make the playoffs for the first time since 1990. They unfortunately lost in the Wild Card round to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers 31-17.

Henry’s troubles off the field began in the final month of 2005 season when he was arrested for marijuana possession in northern Kentucky. After the playoff loss to the Steelers, he was arrested on gun charges in Florida. In total from Dec. 2005-Sept. 2006, Henry was arrested four times in seven months.

That history of trouble resulted in Commissioner Goodell suspended Henry the first eight games of the 2007 NFL season because of his countless violations of the NFL personal conduct policy. That suspension that occurred on April 10^th of that year also came with a serious warning that if Henry did not change his ways that his professional football career would be over.

An alleged assault of a valet attendant at Newport on the Levee in Newport, KY on Nov. 6, 2007, a second arrest in Orlando, FL on Dec. 3, 2007 for violating his probation, which he was found guilty on Feb. 21, 2008 and a punch to a man named Gregory Meyer, 18 as well as the throwing of a beer bottle through the window of his car ended Henry’s time with Bengals. He was released on Apr. 3, 2008.

On that same day, the judge presiding over the case of Henry’s assault charges called him a “one-man crime waive.”

After all that the Bengals had to deal with Henry, nobody thought he would be back in the NFL again. He was resigned by the Bengals on Aug. 18, 2008 to a two-year contract. He was suspended for the first four games of that season. He returned to the field on Oct. 4. He finished 2008 with 19 receptions for 220 yards and two scores.  

According to the Cincinnati Bengals beat writer for the Cincinnati Enquirer Joe Reedy, after Henry was released from the team, the Bengals kept in contact with him for a 4 ½ month period and learned that he had cut ties with those that had a bad influence on him and that he had stabilized his life with his fiancée and their three children.

“I’m just totally different,” Henry said on the June 11 edition of ESPN’s First Take. “Got my mind set on just being a professional athlete. Trying to be a great teammate and trying to get our team to the playoffs. I just made a total 360 with my whole life really.”

“Chris was a guy I believe and our team believes was heavily misunderstood,” says Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer. “A lot of speculation who Chris was, but the only guys who knew Chris and knew how big a heart he had. How kind he was. How gentle and soft of a heart he had were the guys in our locker room. The guys that was close to him.”

It is that evolution that Henry showed until his untimely passing why the Bengals (9-5) have gone from next to last in the AFC North (4-11-1) to the top.

“He signifies this football team,” says guard Andre Whitwhorth. “Nobody believed he could turn his life around. Nobody believed this football team could turn around…and we both did it and he signifies everything we are.”

From his three years at the University of West Virginia to his five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, Henry was a talented player who had the makings of becoming a very special football player. For all of that talent he displayed on the football, his showed his immaturity off the field as he had many run-ins with the law and it eventually cost him his football career. When given another chance by the Bengals, he was headed in the right direction. Unfortunately, that evolution was cut short.

Tomorrow, the Bengals will fly to New Orleans. LA for the funeral of Henry. According to ESPN’s Bob Holtzman, the team will take a chartered plane that seats 182 people and is expected to carry a full compliment of the people of the Bengals.

Information, quotes and statistics are courtesy of en.wikipedia.org; www.espn.go.com; Thursday 12/18/09 5 p.m.edition of ESPN 2’s Outside the Lines First Report 12/17/09; 12/17/09 4 p.m. edition of ESPN’s NFL Live; 12/17/09 5 p.m. edition of FOX 5 at 5; Friday, 12/18/09 edition of Newsday; NFL.com

To become a champion of your sport, particularly in the pros, it takes a number of factors. Great coaching, a core group of players who take the team mantra to heart and expect the rest of the team to do the same, the emergence of a unknown player to the public but someone well known in the confides of the team, a well known player emerging at key moments when he has failed in the past and most important management who works behind the scenes to give the team the best chance to win. It is because of these factors that the New York Yankees, in their new stadium into the late night of Wednesday Nov. 4, reached their goal.

At about 11:49 p.m. in front of 50,315 fans and many others watching on television, the Bronx Bombers defeated the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 7-3 to win the Fall Classic 4-2 and claim their 27^th World Series, the most in the four major North American professional sports. It was the team’s first champion crown since 2000 when they defeated the cross town rival New York Mets in five games.

One of the major reasons the Yankees were able to win their 27^th title was because of the 2009 World Series Most Valuable Player, Designated Hitter Hideki Matsui.

In just Game 6 alone, the first full-time DH to win MVP hit a two-run homer in the 2^nd inning, a two-run single in the 3^rd inning and a two-run double in the 5^th inning. Along with his three hits in the contest, he drove home six runs, which tied a World Series record with Bobby Richardson in the 1960 World Series between in the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Yankees. While Richardson captured MVP honors, the Yankees lost the series 4-3. This time around, the Yanks won behind Matsui’s who went 8 for 13 (.615) at the plate, three homers and eight runs batted in.

“It’s an awesome. It’s just unbelievable. I’m surprised myself,” Matsui said to FOX Sports’ Chris Rose after the game. “It’s certainly different. All I can say right now is I feel great. I’m so happy right now.”

Matusi who also won three baseball titles in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants (1994, 2000, 2002) and became a free agent at the end of the series added, “I hope it all works out that way. I love New York. I love the Yankees. I love the fans here. I hope everything works out well. I’m just happy right now.”

Another big reason for the Yankees winning their first title in nine years is because of the “Core 4” that have been the anchor of the greatest franchise of professional sports, pitcher Andy Pettitte, shortstop and team captain Derek Jeter, catcher Jorge Posada and closer Mariano Rivera.

The fabulous foursome, who will one day be immortalized in Yankee lore and in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, each made solid contributions in the postseason and particularly in the World Series.  

Jeter, who became the Yankees all-time leading hitter earlier this season, had a .344 batting average, hit three home runs and drove in six runs.

“It’s good to be back. This is right where it belongs. It is special,” said Jeter. “We heard a lot of predictions coming into this series. Our team went on the field. We played the game the right way and we deserved to be standing here right now.”

 Starting pitcher Andy Pettitte and closer Mariano Rivera each added another chapter to their glorious postseason careers.

With victories in Game 3 and Game 6 of the Fall Classic, Pettitte brought his record to 18-9 in the postseason. The 18 victories, by the 15-year veteran are the most of any major league pitcher in postseason history.

“I’m a benefit of all of the great teams I’ve been on. I’ve had a lot of postseason starts. I’ve had a lot of wonderful players surrounding me. Got a lot of people praying for me continuously,” said Pettitte who rejoined the Yankees in 2007 after three season with the Houston Astros and his first Yankee stint from 1995-2003.

“I tried to give it my all tonight; tried to get locked in. I felt like I shuffled again, but we got through it, we got a win. Mo [Rivera] closing it out. I got one for the thumb.”

Speaking of Rivera, in his four appearances in the 2009 World Series, he recorded saves in Games 2 and 4. His record in the postseason is 8-1 with a 0.75 earned run average. With his two saves in the World Series, he now has 39 saves in 44 chances. He has recorded 106 strikeouts and has allowed only 20 men to reach base safely on walks.

How important has Rivera been to the Yankees? They have had a four run lead, including Game 6 of the World Series, 204 times when Rivera is on the mound, they have lost just once.

“You can’t describe it,” Rivera said after the game. “It’s a rush that you go through your whole body and you know it’s over.”

A major cog in Rivera being able to keep batters off balance in the clutch is catcher and fellow 15-year veteran Jorge Posada.

It is because of him that not only Rivera has been great throughout his career, but he was a major reason that the new acquisitions from this past off season C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, the winner of Game 2 that got the Yankees back into the series, were able to thrive.

“These guys did it. We did a lot of things well during the year. We got C.C. and Burnett here to really get us to where we are and that’s the reason why we won because of pitching,” said Posada.

While the “Core 4” once again showed they can shine in the bright lights of the MLB postseason, it was the emergence of Alex Rodriguez that helped the Yankees get back to the top of the MLB mountain.

The start of the 2009 season was one that A-Rod would have loved to put behind. At the beginning, he admitted to the use of steroids from 2001-2003 at a press conference at the beginning of Spring Training in Tampa, FL. This came on the heels of his agent Scott Boras announcing that the Yankees first baseman would opt out of the final year of his 10-year $252 million dollar contract, making him after the 2007 season. The announcement drew a great deal of criticism from many is that the announcement came as the Boston Red Sox were wrapping up their four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies in the World Series and the fact that the they did not meet with Yankee management before the decision.

After admitting publicly to the use of steroids at a press conference, Rodriguez had arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip. It is the same hip that revealed a cyst from a MRI that was taken prior to the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Rodriguez was supposed to play in the classic with the Dominican Republic, but withdrew once what was revealed from the MRI.  

The Yankees without A-Rod struggled out of the box starting the season at 13-15. Rodriguez returned to the lineup on May 8 against the Baltimore Orioles and hit a three-run homer on his first at bat. Eight days later, he hit a two-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the 11^th that gave the Yankees a 6-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins, who they defeated in the American League Division Series.

When the season reached its conclusion, Rodriguez recorded his 12th consecutive season and 13th in 15 opportunities of 30 home runs and 100 RBIs, breaking a tie with Manny Ramirez of the Los Angles Dodgers Babe Ruth of the Yankees and Jimmie Foxx of the Oakland Athletics, Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and Phillies for the most in MLB history.

The question remained, could Rodriguez finally deliver when it really counts in the postseason. Coming into the 2009 playoffs, A-Rod dating back to the 2004 ALCS, Rodriguez had been 0 for 29 at the plate with runners on base. In that hitless span, he stranded 38 runners in 61 postseason at-bats.

That all changed in Game 1 of American League Division Series versus the Minnesota Twins, when Rodriguez had 2 RBI singles, both coming with two outs and in Game 2, he added another RBI in the 6^th inning and he hit a game-tying homer off of Twins closer Joe Nathan in the bottom of the 9^th inning that tied the score at 3-3. The Yankees pulled away in dramatic fashion when Mark Texieria hit the game-winning walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11^th that gave New York a 4-3 win and a 2-0 series lead. In Game 3, Rodriguez came through again as he hit a solo shot in the top of the 7^th inning, which was followed by another solo blast by Posada that gave the Bronx Bombers a 2-1. They would add two more runs at the top of the 9^th inning and Rivera came on to recorded the final four outs and the Yankees won 4-1 to sweep the Twins 3-0 in the final game at the Metrodome.

In Game 2 of the American League Championship series against the Los Angles Angels of Anaheim, Rodriguez came through again in hitting a game-tying homer in the bottom of the 11^th inning off of closer Brian Fuentes that tied the contest 3-3. The Yankees won 4-3 when Jerry Hairston, Jr. scored on an error at the bottom of the 13^th inning.

The Yankees would go on to defeat the Angels 4-2 in the series and Rodriguez would go 9 for 21 with three homers and six runs batted in.

Rodriguez would continue his postseason resurgence in the World Series against the Phillies as his deep hit down the right field line off of a camera perched atop the wall was first ruled a double was changed to a 2-run homer that cut the deficit 3-2. The Yankees would outscore the Angels 6-2 over the final five innings winning Game 3 8-5 and taking a 2-1 series lead.

Rodriguez snatched victory from the Angels again in Game 4 as his drove in the go-ahead run off of Phillies’ closer Brad Lidge. The Yankees won 7-4 and took a commanding 3-1 lead.

Despite another strong performance by A-Rod, going 2 for 4 at the plate with 3 RBIs, the Yankees lost Game 5 8-6, but still lead the series 3-2.

The team would close the deal back home in Game 6 as Rodriguez went 1 for 2 with two walks and two scored runs, helping the Yankees finish the Phillies and finally garnering his first championship and helping the Yankees win their 27^th.

To show how far A-Rod has come in this postseason as a Yankee, he posted 18 runs batted in, a new Yankees postseason record.

“I know when that when a lot of people ran the other way, my teammates, coaches and organization stood right next to me and now were standing here today as World Champions,” Rodriguez told Fox sports Chris Rose after the game.

He also said to ESPN’s John Shomby, “There’s nothing you do individually in this career that can compare to winning a championship with 25 guys that buy into one thing and that’s winning.”

While having great players who rise to the occasion in big moments, their willingness to be great in those moments does not happen with a leader who preaches those principles like team manager Joe Girardi.

If there is anyone who understand the importance of keeping your eye on the prize, what is truly important to the success of this franchise and the value of sacrificing your individual goals for what is important to the team is Girardi.

In his four seasons in pinstripes, the former catcher helped the Joe Torre lead Yankees to three World Series crowns. They won behind the beliefs of sacrifice, focus and willingness to want to be great and achieve the impossible which they did. They enjoyed being around one another, they respected each other and they accepted the challenge of being great, a challenge that not only comes from those in the media, but from within from ownership and the fans.

“I never got to stand up here before as a player, but as a manager, this one’s for the boss and his family. The job the Steinbrenner family did. Brian Cashman and his staff with putting this team together,” said Girardi, who became the 9^th Yankee manager to guide his team to a World Series title.

“Well the guys have been through it so much and I think it’s the job that they do putting this club together, every year. Its unbelievable how this team came together in spring training and their willingness to be unselfish and play the game the right way and that’s why we won.”

Off the 27 Yankees championships that have been won, seven of them have come in the Steinbrenner era, led by George Steinbrenner. From the day the former Cleveland-based shipbuilder purchased the Yankees on Jan 3, 1973 for $8.7 million, the goal of the team was based on winning and a major part of that process was getting the players and coaches that could make that dream into a reality.

The Yankees won their first title in the Steinbrenner era in 1977 behind “Mr. October” Reggie Jackson, who signed from Oakland that off season and they signed former Yankee second baseman Billy Martin to be manager. They would repeat in 1978.

This past off season, the Yankees became very busy in free agency again signing Sabathia, Burnett to anchor the pitching and they signed Texieria and Nick Swisher. The result, Yankees back win another title.

While, George has not been as present around the team since 2006, as he has spent most of his time in Tampa, FL, his influence is still presence thanks to his sons Hal, who is the Managing General Partner/Co-Chairperson of the Yankees and Hank who serves as Senior Vice President.

“On behalf of the team, the organization, I got to thank all of you fans. You are the greatest in the world,” Hal told the fans after the Yankees beat the Phillies.

“You’ve been here day in and day out all year long supporting us. Without you this doesn’t happen and dad, I know you are at home watching with mom. This one’s for you.”

With their 27^th championship won, the question is can the Yankees win back-to-back titles like they did 11 years ago. It all depends on what happens this off season. Can they resign Matsui and lead off hitter Johnny Damon? Can they score another big time free agent and can they stay humble and play the way they did in 2009? Only time will tell. 

Information, quotes and statistics are courtesy of 11/5/09 6 p.m. edition of ESPN’s Sportscenter; telecast of Game 6 of the 2009 World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees on WNYW FOX 5 broadcast by Tim McCarver and Joe Buck of Fox Sports and en.wikipedia.com/2009 World Series; 2009 New York Yankees/Alex Rodriguez/George Steinbrenner/Hideki Matsui/Joe Girardi.

To become a champion of your sport, particularly in the pros, it takes a number of factors. Great coaching, a core group of players who take the team mantra to heart and expect the rest of the team to do the same, the emergence of a unknown player to the public but someone well known in the confides of the team, a well known player emerging at key moments when he has failed in the past and most important management who works behind the scenes to give the team the best chance to win. It is because of these factors that the New York Yankees, in their new stadium into the late night of Wednesday Nov. 4, reached their goal.

At about 11:49 p.m. in front of 50,315 fans and many others watching on television, the Bronx Bombers defeated the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 7-3 to win the Fall Classic 4-2 and claim their 27^th World Series, the most in the four major North American professional sports. It was the team’s first champion crown since 2000 when they defeated the cross town rival New York Mets in five games.

One of the major reasons the Yankees were able to win their 27^th title was because of the 2009 World Series Most Valuable Player, Designated Hitter Hideki Matsui.

In just Game 6 alone, the first full-time DH to win MVP hit a two-run homer in the 2^nd inning, a two-run single in the 3^rd inning and a two-run double in the 5^th inning. Along with his three hits in the contest, he drove home six runs, which tied a World Series record with Bobby Richardson in the 1960 World Series between in the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Yankees. While Richardson captured MVP honors, the Yankees lost the series 4-3. This time around, the Yanks won behind Matsui’s who went 8 for 13 (.615) at the plate, three homers and eight runs batted in.

“It’s an awesome. It’s just unbelievable. I’m surprised myself,” Matsui said to FOX Sports’ Chris Rose after the game. “It’s certainly different. All I can say right now is I feel great. I’m so happy right now.”

Matusi who also won three baseball titles in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants (1994, 2000, 2002) and became a free agent at the end of the series added, “I hope it all works out that way. I love New York. I love the Yankees. I love the fans here. I hope everything works out well. I’m just happy right now.”

Another big reason for the Yankees winning their first title in nine years is because of the “Core 4” that have been the anchor of the greatest franchise of professional sports, pitcher Andy Pettitte, shortstop and team captain Derek Jeter, catcher Jorge Posada and closer Mariano Rivera.

The fabulous foursome, who will one day be immortalized in Yankee lore and in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, each made solid contributions in the postseason and particularly in the World Series.  

Jeter, who became the Yankees all-time leading hitter earlier this season, had a .344 batting average, hit three home runs and drove in six runs.

“It’s good to be back. This is right where it belongs. It is special,” said Jeter. “We heard a lot of predictions coming into this series. Our team went on the field. We played the game the right way and we deserved to be standing here right now.”

 Starting pitcher Andy Pettitte and closer Mariano Rivera each added another chapter to their glorious postseason careers.

With victories in Game 3 and Game 6 of the Fall Classic, Pettitte brought his record to 18-9 in the postseason. The 18 victories, by the 15-year veteran are the most of any major league pitcher in postseason history.

“I’m a benefit of all of the great teams I’ve been on. I’ve had a lot of postseason starts. I’ve had a lot of wonderful players surrounding me. Got a lot of people praying for me continuously,” said Pettitte who rejoined the Yankees in 2007 after three season with the Houston Astros and his first Yankee stint from 1995-2003.

“I tried to give it my all tonight; tried to get locked in. I felt like I shuffled again, but we got through it, we got a win. Mo [Rivera] closing it out. I got one for the thumb.”

Speaking of Rivera, in his four appearances in the 2009 World Series, he recorded saves in Games 2 and 4. His record in the postseason is 8-1 with a 0.75 earned run average. With his two saves in the World Series, he now has 39 saves in 44 chances. He has recorded 106 strikeouts and has allowed only 20 men to reach base safely on walks.

How important has Rivera been to the Yankees? They have had a four run lead, including Game 6 of the World Series, 204 times when Rivera is on the mound, they have lost just once.

“You can’t describe it,” Rivera said after the game. “It’s a rush that you go through your whole body and you know it’s over.”

A major cog in Rivera being able to keep batters off balance in the clutch is catcher and fellow 15-year veteran Jorge Posada.

It is because of him that not only Rivera has been great throughout his career, but he was a major reason that the new acquisitions from this past off season C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, the winner of Game 2 that got the Yankees back into the series, were able to thrive.

“These guys did it. We did a lot of things well during the year. We got C.C. and Burnett here to really get us to where we are and that’s the reason why we won because of pitching,” said Posada.

While the “Core 4” once again showed they can shine in the bright lights of the MLB postseason, it was the emergence of Alex Rodriguez that helped the Yankees get back to the top of the MLB mountain.

The start of the 2009 season was one that A-Rod would have loved to put behind. At the beginning, he admitted to the use of steroids from 2001-2003 at a press conference at the beginning of Spring Training in Tampa, FL. This came on the heels of his agent Scott Boras announcing that the Yankees first baseman would opt out of the final year of his 10-year $252 million dollar contract, making him after the 2007 season. The announcement drew a great deal of criticism from many is that the announcement came as the Boston Red Sox were wrapping up their four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies in the World Series and the fact that the they did not meet with Yankee management before the decision.

After admitting publicly to the use of steroids at a press conference, Rodriguez had arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip. It is the same hip that revealed a cyst from a MRI that was taken prior to the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Rodriguez was supposed to play in the classic with the Dominican Republic, but withdrew once what was revealed from the MRI.  

The Yankees without A-Rod struggled out of the box starting the season at 13-15. Rodriguez returned to the lineup on May 8 against the Baltimore Orioles and hit a three-run homer on his first at bat. Eight days later, he hit a two-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the 11^th that gave the Yankees a 6-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins, who they defeated in the American League Division Series.

When the season reached its conclusion, Rodriguez recorded his 12th consecutive season and 13th in 15 opportunities of 30 home runs and 100 RBIs, breaking a tie with Manny Ramirez of the Los Angles Dodgers Babe Ruth of the Yankees and Jimmie Foxx of the Oakland Athletics, Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and Phillies for the most in MLB history.

The question remained, could Rodriguez finally deliver when it really counts in the postseason. Coming into the 2009 playoffs, A-Rod dating back to the 2004 ALCS, Rodriguez had been 0 for 29 at the plate with runners on base. In that hitless span, he stranded 38 runners in 61 postseason at-bats.

That all changed in Game 1 of American League Division Series versus the Minnesota Twins, when Rodriguez had 2 RBI singles, both coming with two outs and in Game 2, he added another RBI in the 6^th inning and he hit a game-tying homer off of Twins closer Joe Nathan in the bottom of the 9^th inning that tied the score at 3-3. The Yankees pulled away in dramatic fashion when Mark Texieria hit the game-winning walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11^th that gave New York a 4-3 win and a 2-0 series lead. In Game 3, Rodriguez came through again as he hit a solo shot in the top of the 7^th inning, which was followed by another solo blast by Posada that gave the Bronx Bombers a 2-1. They would add two more runs at the top of the 9^th inning and Rivera came on to recorded the final four outs and the Yankees won 4-1 to sweep the Twins 3-0 in the final game at the Metrodome.

In Game 2 of the American League Championship series against the Los Angles Angels of Anaheim, Rodriguez came through again in hitting a game-tying homer in the bottom of the 11^th inning off of closer Brian Fuentes that tied the contest 3-3. The Yankees won 4-3 when Jerry Hairston, Jr. scored on an error at the bottom of the 13^th inning.

The Yankees would go on to defeat the Angels 4-2 in the series and Rodriguez would go 9 for 21 with three homers and six runs batted in.

Rodriguez would continue his postseason resurgence in the World Series against the Phillies as his deep hit down the right field line off of a camera perched atop the wall was first ruled a double was changed to a 2-run homer that cut the deficit 3-2. The Yankees would outscore the Angels 6-2 over the final five innings winning Game 3 8-5 and taking a 2-1 series lead.

Rodriguez snatched victory from the Angels again in Game 4 as his drove in the go-ahead run off of Phillies’ closer Brad Lidge. The Yankees won 7-4 and took a commanding 3-1 lead.

Despite another strong performance by A-Rod, going 2 for 4 at the plate with 3 RBIs, the Yankees lost Game 5 8-6, but still lead the series 3-2.

The team would close the deal back home in Game 6 as Rodriguez went 1 for 2 with two walks and two scored runs, helping the Yankees finish the Phillies and finally garnering his first championship and helping the Yankees win their 27^th.

To show how far A-Rod has come in this postseason as a Yankee, he posted 18 runs batted in, a new Yankees postseason record.

“I know when that when a lot of people ran the other way, my teammates, coaches and organization stood right next to me and now were standing here today as World Champions,” Rodriguez told Fox sports Chris Rose after the game.

He also said to ESPN’s John Shomby, “There’s nothing you do individually in this career that can compare to winning a championship with 25 guys that buy into one thing and that’s winning.”

While having great players who rise to the occasion in big moments, their willingness to be great in those moments does not happen with a leader who preaches those principles like team manager Joe Girardi.

If there is anyone who understand the importance of keeping your eye on the prize, what is truly important to the success of this franchise and the value of sacrificing your individual goals for what is important to the team is Girardi.

In his four seasons in pinstripes, the former catcher helped the Joe Torre lead Yankees to three World Series crowns. They won behind the beliefs of sacrifice, focus and willingness to want to be great and achieve the impossible which they did. They enjoyed being around one another, they respected each other and they accepted the challenge of being great, a challenge that not only comes from those in the media, but from within from ownership and the fans.

“I never got to stand up here before as a player, but as a manager, this one’s for the boss and his family. The job the Steinbrenner family did. Brian Cashman and his staff with putting this team together,” said Girardi, who became the 9^th Yankee manager to guide his team to a World Series title.

“Well the guys have been through it so much and I think it’s the job that they do putting this club together, every year. Its unbelievable how this team came together in spring training and their willingness to be unselfish and play the game the right way and that’s why we won.”

Off the 27 Yankees championships that have been won, seven of them have come in the Steinbrenner era, led by George Steinbrenner. From the day the former Cleveland-based shipbuilder purchased the Yankees on Jan 3, 1973 for $8.7 million, the goal of the team was based on winning and a major part of that process was getting the players and coaches that could make that dream into a reality.

The Yankees won their first title in the Steinbrenner era in 1977 behind “Mr. October” Reggie Jackson, who signed from Oakland that off season and they signed former Yankee second baseman Billy Martin to be manager. They would repeat in 1978.

This past off season, the Yankees became very busy in free agency again signing Sabathia, Burnett to anchor the pitching and they signed Texieria and Nick Swisher. The result, Yankees back win another title.

While, George has not been as present around the team since 2006, as he has spent most of his time in Tampa, FL, his influence is still presence thanks to his sons Hal, who is the Managing General Partner/Co-Chairperson of the Yankees and Hank who serves as Senior Vice President.

“On behalf of the team, the organization, I got to thank all of you fans. You are the greatest in the world,” Hal told the fans after the Yankees beat the Phillies.

“You’ve been here day in and day out all year long supporting us. Without you this doesn’t happen and dad, I know you are at home watching with mom. This one’s for you.”

With their 27^th championship won, the question is can the Yankees win back-to-back titles like they did 11 years ago. It all depends on what happens this off season. Can they resign Matsui and lead off hitter Johnny Damon? Can they score another big time free agent and can they stay humble and play the way they did in 2009? Only time will tell.

For many people when they leave this world, they hope to have a great impact on people. They want to earn the respect of others through their work and how they lived their life. One actor showed us that through his roles on the big and small screen and how he bravely battled a disease that ended up taking his life.

On Sept. 14, actor Patrick Swayze, who made his name in Hollywood in two hit movies, 1987’s “Dirty Dancing” and “Ghost” in 1990 passed away after a brave 20-month fight with Stage IV pancreatic cancer. He was 57 years old. He is survived by his longtime companion and wife of 34 years Lisa Niemi.

Swayze was diagnosed with the disease that took his life in late January 2008 and underwent chemotherapy and other treatments at the Stanford University Medical Center. Reuters reported in a March 5, 2008 that Swayze “has a very limited amount of disease, and he appears to be responding well to treatment thus far.” Swayze’s doctor confirmed that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but insisted he was nowhere close to death as reports suggest. Despite repeated tabloid claims that his death was imminent, Swayze continued to actively pursue his career.

“Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months,” Swayze’s publicist Annett Wolf said in a statement last Monday night to Newsday.

Swayze was born on Aug. 18, 1952 in Houston, TX, the second of six children to choreographer, dance instructor and dancer Patricia “Patsy” Yvonne Helen and engineer draftsman Jesse Wayne Swayze. Swayze mother also owned a dance school where one of her students was Niemi, whom he met when she was 15 and he was 19. They were married 23 years later.

In 1972, Swayze moved to New York and trained at the Harkness Ballet School and the Joffrey Ballet School, which led him to his first pro acting job as Prince Charming in, “Disney on Parade.”

After a brief period of time working on Broadway in the role of Danny Zuko in the original “Grease,” Swayze headed to the West coast where he got his first serious film role in the 1979 film “Skatetown, U.S.A.” He followed that up with roles in films “The Outsiders” (1983), “Grandview, U.S.A.” and “Red Dawn” (1984) and a six episode role in the 1985 ABC television miniseries “North and South”

Two years later came his shining moment in his role as Johnny Castle in “Dirty Dancing.” He along with his co-star from “Red Dawn” Jennifer Grey turned a low-budget project that was only to be shown in theaters for just one weekend into the first film to sell one million copies on video, earn over $300 million worldwide and spawn several alternate versions, ranging from a television series, stage productions and a computer game.

The famed line that people always will remember Swayze’s character is when he Grey’s character Frances “Baby” Houseman, “Nobody puts baby in the corner.”

Swayze earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role of Castle and he sang one of the songs on the “Dirty Dancing” soundtrack “She’s Like the Wind,” which he originally co-written with Stacy Widelitz for the film “Grandview, U.S.A.” The song became a top ten hit and has been covered by other artists.

“When I think of him, I think of being in his arms when we were kids, dancing, practicing the lift in the freezing lake, having a blast doing this tiny little movie we thought no one would ever see,” Grey said in a statement on the Sept. 15 edition of ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

After appearing in several movies that flopped at the box office, Swayze was cast in another iconic movie “Ghost” alongside Whoopi Goldberg current co-host of ABC’s “The View” and Demi Moore.

“This was a well fought battle,” said Goldberg. “Patrick fought like the dickens to survive it, to get through it. He never thought of himself as someone who was dieing because as he said to another good friend of mine, ‘Were all dieing.’ His attitude was until it kills me, I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing. Because of Patrick Swayze, I got that movie “Ghost” and because of Patrick Swayze, I have an Oscar and there you are.”

The other good friend that Goldberg said Swayze said that “Were all dieing,” was with Barbara Walters, with whom Swayze did his last interview.

In the interview, Swayze said that he wanted to concentrate on living instead of chasing staying alive. He told Walters that he was in the beginning of the battle with cancer and that he expected it to be a long hard battle that he was going to win according to certain rules.

She asked him what rules? He replied, “The rules that the cancer isn’t going away. What winning is to me is not giving up.”

Walters then asked Swayze was he scared. He answered, “I don’t know? I’d be either truthful or stupid as to say no. But then I immediately when I say that, I have to say yes I am. I don’t know what’s on the other side. It tests everything I believe in. I’ve pulled off ten months, when most people would have been dead long before now. So I’m going moment to moment. I’m going, ‘I can live through this. I can live through that. I’ll live through the next one. Just keep throwing it at me.”

Swayze also told Walters that what has helped him continue the fight against his cancer at the time was humor and something he says to himself.

“The thing is that we all dying,” he told Walters. “That makes me feel good periodically to say that. Were all dieing, it’s only a matter of when.”

He then remembered a very powerful line from “Ghost” that he told Demi Moore’s character Molly Jensen, “I love you Molly. I’ve always loved you. Lesson no matter what happens the spirit went on….It’s amazing Molly. The love inside take it with you.”

“It’s all you can take with you and I think that it validated that one for all of us that the only thing you can really take with you when you die is the love you have,” Swayze said to Walters.

It was that love that made Swayze into the great actor we have known him to be. That love gave him the strength to conquer his heavy drinking habit when his father passed in 1982. It also helped him beat alcoholism, which he began when his sister Vicky committed suicide in 1994. A major reason he was able to get over those hurdles was his Niemi, his wife of 33 years.

What also helped Swayze to keep going forward was he starring role in the A&E FBI drama “The Beast,” where he played FBI Agent Charles Barker, which began on Jan. 15, 2009. Swayze worked 12-hour days in his starring role between bouts of Chemotherapy.

In September 2008, Swayze appeared on the ABC, NBC; CBS simulcast “Stand Up to Cancer,” where he appealed to the general public for donations to make the initiative count.

He received a standing ovation from the audience when he said, “I dream that the word ‘cure’ will no longer be followed by the words ‘it’s impossible’. Together, we can make a world where cancer no longer means living with fear, without hope, or worse.”

He then after the show remained on stage and talked with those who have cancer. Laura Ziskin, executive producer of the show said, “He said a beautiful thing: ‘I’m just an individual living with cancer’. That’s how he wants to be thought of. He’s in a fight, but he’s a fighter.”

He made a name for himself on the big and small screen. He was a masculine man with a heart of gold. He showed us that you can be someone who is a movie star and personable to those who watch him. More than anything, he showed that in the greatest test of his life, he never ran away from it and he never asked why him.

He made a line that he delivered in a 1981 episode of M*A*S*H really apply to his battle with cancer that ultimately took his life.

“It’s seems to me I have got a right to do what I want with the time I got left.”

Information and quotations are courtesy of en.wikipedia.org,  9/15/09 11 a.m. edition of ABC’s “The View,” 9/15/09 edition of the New York Post, 9/15/09 edition of Newsday 9/15/09 6:30 p.m. edition of NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams and 9/15/09 7 a.m. edition of ABC News’s “Good Morning America.”

He has played in more in a New York Yankee uniform than George Herman “Babe” Ruth, Jr. Has more total bases than Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra. Scored more runs than Joe DiMaggio and hit more doubles than Mickey Mantle. On Wednesday, the current captain and shortstop of the Yankees tied another record of another great team captain that has stood for over seven decades and has a chance to break that record tonight in front of the New York faithful.

In their 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, two nights ago, who they have defeated in all four games this week, Derek Jeter with his third hit of the night, a two out single, in the bottom of the 7^th inning, he tied Henry Louis “Lou” Gehrig as the all-time hits leader in New York Yankee history at 2,721. Jeter tied a record that has stood for 72 years.

When the Yankee captain stood on the first base bag after the hit, he received a rousing ovation from the audience of 45,848, which included his parents Dr. Charles and Dorothy Jeter. The celebration lasted close to 1 ½ minutes and included many flashbulbs from cameras.

While the moment was very special, it was mute at the time because the Yankees (91-50) were trailing the Rays (72-68) 2-0. That all changed when first baseman Nick Swisher with runners on first and third hit an RBI single that cut the deficit to 2-1. Then catcher Jorge Posada hit a pinch hit 3-run homer off of pitcher Grant Balfour that gave the Yankees the lead at 4-2. Pitcher Phil Coke came in at the top of the 9^th inning and earned his second save of the year and helped the “Bronx Bombers” secure their 23^rd victory in their last 27 outings at home.

“I really didn’t know what to do,” Jeter said after the game. “We were losing at the time so I’m just trying to get on base and hopefully help us win this game, but I took a moment to soak it in.”

His parents, particularly his father Dr. Charles did what most parents do when their child achieves something remarkable, so their pride and appreciation for the moment.

“This is exciting. Really,” Dr. Jeter said after the hit occurred to the Yankee’s Entertainment and Sports Network (YES). “I can’t stand here and say it’s not exciting because you’re looking at Gehrig and all the other players in Yankee history that he’s passing. There are monumental men in Yankee history. For my son to be anywhere in the conversation with the hits, I’m excited about it, really!”

His three hits in four tries at the plate 48 hours ago ended his 0-for-12 slump in recent games. He first hit was a bunt off of pitcher Jeff Niemann to the third base side. After grounding out in the 3^rd inning, Jeter got his second hit of the night in the fifth as he hit a double to centerfield that went over the head of B.J. Upton. Jeter had a chance to pass Gehrig and set the all-time hit record in the eighth, but Balfour walked him, which drew a chorus of boos from the crowd.

“”I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t thinking about it because pretty much everywhere I’ve gone this entire home stand,” Jeter said. “I’ve been hearing it on the streets, in cabs, fans saying, ‘When are you going to get a hit? I kept telling them I’m trying, but I thought what the fans did was pretty special. They’ve been great this whole home stand. I’ll remember this day.”

While many players might have made breaking a monumental record like this at the top of their list in the same situation, Jeter has done what he always has done in his 15 seasons in Yankee pin stripes. Just take care of the business at hand and worry about the game. That is something that his manager Joe Girardi said prior to Wednesday night’s action.

“He’s a humble man that really just wants to worry about winning. He doesn’t want to worry about the hoopla of a record that he’s about to break. Just not who he is,” said Girardi, who played with Jeter at the beginning of his Yankee career.

Rays manager Joe Maddon echoed the respect he has for Jeter when he said after the game, “He carries himself in a manner that is worthy of passing Gehrig.”

That level of respect and focus is something that Jeter learned from his parents Dr. Charles and Dorothy.

“I’ve talked with Derek not specifically about Lou Gehrig, but about living in the moment sometimes,” Dr. Jeter said to ABC 7 Eyewitness News Sports reporter Jessica Taff before the game on Wednesday.

Derek’s mother Dorothy also said to Taff that, “He’s going to get it. One of these days and that’s great and I just want him to play good ball and have some wins so we can go into October.”   

It is in October where both of these Yankee captains have shined. In his 17 seasons with the Yankees, Gehrig won six World Series rings. In his prior 14 seasons with the “Bronx Bombers” Jeter has won four titles, which also includes a World Series Most Valuable Player honor that he received in 2000 when the Yankees defeated the cross town rival Mets 4-1.

In his first season in 1996, he was the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year with his .314 batting average, 10 homers and 78 RBIs. He has been a 10-time All-Star selection, winning the All-Star Game MVP in 2000. Won three straight Gold Gloves (2004, 2005, 2006), a three-time Silver Slugger Award recipient (2006, 2007, 2008) and the 2006 AL Hank Aaron Award recipient as the top hitter.

One day he will have a plaque of his own in Monument Park in the New Yankee Stadium. He will one day be in inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Tonight versus the Baltimore Orioles, Jeter will have a chance to add another part to his legendary resume as a Yankee as their top hitter of all-time.

His only objective as it has been from the very beginning of his professional baseball journey is to win and let everything else take care of itself.

“He’s one of the classiest  people to have ever played this game and I have the up most respect for him and its just kind of mind boggling to have my name next to his,” Jeter said to YES sideline reporter Kim Jones on Wednesday.

Quotes, statistics and information are courtesy of: 9/10/09 12:30 & 6 a.m. edition of ESPN’s “Sportscenter;” 9/10/09 edition of Newsday; www.newyork.yankees.mlb.com; en.wikipedia.com; 9/9/09 6 p.m. edition of ABC 7 Eyewitness News with Bill Ritter and Liz Cho and www.abclocal.go.com;

At the University of Arizona, he used his talents and work ethic to become a two-time consensus All-American, won Morris Trophy Award as the Pac-10 best defensive lineman, three-time First-team all Pac-10 and tied a NCAA Division-I record with 52 quarterback sacks. In his 13-year in the National Football League (NFL), he helped lead his team the top of the league while garnering a few team records in the process. Last week, he hung up his cleats for good and started the next chapter of his life with the “World Wide Leader in Sports.”

On Aug. 31, New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi announced his retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons, all with the Pats.

In his 13 seasons with the Pats, the 3^rd round selection of the 1996 NFL Draft helped lead his to five Super Bowls (XXXI, XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX and XLII) winning three. He was part of eight American Football Conference (AFC) East titles and five conference championship teams. In Bruschi’s 13 seasons with New England, they won including the playoffs 68.2 percent of their contests (144-67 record) he played in. His 189 regular season appearances are more than any linebacker in team history. The 22 playoff games Brushci played are the most in team history and his five Super Bowl appearances are second most all-time in (NFL) trailing only former NFL nose tackle Mike Lodish who played in six Super Bowls, four with the Buffalo Bills and two with the Denver Broncos, in which he won a ring both times.

“Over my career, I worked so hard to have this day more like a celebration because this would be so much harder for me if there was more that I wanted to accomplish. If there were anymore goals left on the table,” said Bruschi, who recorded 30.5 sacks and 12 interceptions in his career. “I think of everything that I ever wanted to achieve in this game and I was able to achieve those goals. Being a Patriot my entire career, I’m very proud of.”

What Bruschi will be remembered for more than any tackle on a ball carrier or a sack on an opposing signal caller was how he came back to the NFL after being diagnosed with mild stroke back on Feb. 16, 2005, just days after playing in his first Pro Bowl.

He was taken to the hospital after suffering from several symptoms, which included temporary numbness, blurred vision, and headaches. He suffered from a patent foramen ovale, a congenital heart defect which leaves a small hole in the wall separating the left and right atria of the heart. Bruschi also suffered from partial paralysis and was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital.

After several months of rehab with Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, MA, Bruschi announced he would miss the entire 2005 NFL campaign.

On Oct. 16, 2005, the Pats announced that Bruschi was medically cleared to resume his professional football career and rejoined the team at practice three days later. He was officially re-activated to the squad on Oct. 29, 2005 and played the following the next night versus the Buffalo Bills on ESPN’s “Sunday Night Football.”

Following the 21-16 victory over their division rivals, Bruschi was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week by the NFL and received the 2005 Comeback Player of the Year, an honor he shared with Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith. He also received from the Patriots the Ed Block Courage Award. It is an award that each of the 32 teams in the NFL vote for one member of their team who, in the “eyes of his fellow teammates, is a source of inspiration and courage.” Each March, the 32 players are honored at the Ed Block Courage Awards held in Baltimore, MD. It is here where the players receive their trophy award - a pewtered game football helmet with their team’s logo on both sides (exceptions: Cleveland Browns - No logo - and Pittsburgh Steelers - only one logo on right side) atop a beautiful base, with the player’s name, team and year engraved on it.

In 2007, Bruschi wrote about this experience in a book entitled, “Never Give Up: My Stroke, My Recovery, and My Return to the NFL.”

His play on the field as well as his leadership were endearing to his teammates and to his former head coach Bill Belichick, who at the press conference of Bruschi’s let his normal stoic demeanor go and showed real emotion for someone he described as “a perfect player.”

“You know I’ve had the privilege of coaching a lot of great players and leaders in the National Football League and I’ll just put Tedy up their with all of them and above all of them,” said Belichick.

On Tuesday’s edition of ESPN’s “NFL Live” it was announced that Bruschi will be joining the “World Wide Leader in Sports” as a football analyst on “Monday Night Countdown.” He will also, according to a report from WBZ-TV in Boston, be writing a weekly column for ESPNBoston.com.

He was a great player as a collegian at Arizona. He was a great player in the NFL for the New England Patriots and helped them achieve greatness. He will know attempt to do the same on the media side. If takes the same approach as he did on the gridiron, he will be just fine.

Quotes, Statistics and Information is Courtesy of: en.wikipedia.com; 8/31/09 7 p.m. edition of ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown,” 9/8/09 4 p.m. edition of ESPN’s “NFL Live” and www.patriots.com.