Day 43: The Yanks, Hideki Matsui, Big Baby and more

HEADLINES

1) The New York Yankees clinched their 27th World Series championship last night with a 7-3 win in Game 6. Are the Yankees the best franchise in professional sports?

Ben: Well, best has so many meanings. If you mean best, as in they win the most, then yes, they are the best. But, if you mean best, in that other teams want to model their organization around them, I would say no. Teams like the Marlins, Patroits, Braves, Steelers, and Colts are examples of franchise that other organizations/franchise want to model themselves after. The Yankees just spend a bunch of money on the greatest players of the previous year, and try to bash their way to a title. Those teams I stated above, earn their titles by developing and growing their team. So, to answer the question...I don't think so.

Boz: As much as it pains me to say it...yes they are. The Yankees have won almost 25% of the World Series that have been played. No other team can say that they've won a quarter of the championships played in their sport. There are a lot of good franchises out there with the Celtics, Lakers, Patriots, etc., but the Yankees top them all. They hadn't won a World Series since 2000 and to Yankees fans and the organization, that was a huge drought. Other teams would be proud to say that it had only been nine years since their last title. Not the Yankees, that's why their the best franchise.

2) Hideki Matsui was named the World Series MVP after having six RBIs in last night's clincher. However, Matsui only played in three of the six games played during the series. Are you alright with Matsui being named MVP?

Ben: No. If you are going to use the reasoning that relievers can't win the MVP, and DH's can't get into the Hall of Fame, then you have to limit the people that get the World Series MVP. Derek Jeter had a fine series, A-Rod had a great playoffs, Rivera was unhittable. I just don't think playing in half the games constitutes a MVP series in my mind. Matsui was definitely a great player the 3 games he played, I just don't think it was good enough.

Boz: I am perfectly fine with Matsui being named MVP. Yes he only played in two other games but in those two games he was 3-for-6 with a home run. That means he was 6-for-10 with two home runs and seven RBIs during the series. He literally had the best series. A lot of players had a solid series for the Yankees including Jeter, Damon and maybe even Tex and A-Rod. But none of those players had an outstanding series which is why I am alright with Matsui being named MVP.

3) In more World Series news, after leaving the stadium, Yankees manager Joe Girardi stopped to help flag down police officers to aid a woman who was in an one-car accident. Girardi had to run across eastbound traffic on the Cross County Parkway, where officers say traffic can get up to 80 mph. What do you make of this random act of kindness from Girardi?

Ben: Obviously it was nice to do - but there's a reason people drive past others on the side of the road. You don't know what this woman was like. She could have been an axe-murderer, a drug addict, or a Red Sox fan. Girardi could have died or been seriously injured if this goes the other way, then we are talking about him being an idiot instead of a saint. Great for Girardi, but maybe think a little harder about it next time.

Boz: It's good to see Girardi do something like this just hours after winning the World Series. I'm sure that Girardi had one hell of a party to attend but yet he was able to take some time to help someone who had been in an accident. 90 percent of people would just drive right on by and they didn't just win a World Series title. I applaud Joe Girardi in his random act of kindness and I hope that the rest of the world takes notice.

4) Glen "Big Baby" Davis has stated that he will eventually try playing in the NFL but only after he becomes a great player in the NBA. Do you think that Big Baby will play in the NFL?

Ben: Is he for real? C'mon Davis, you aren't the kind of athlete that can make it in the NFL. Just because you are heavy, and tall, doesn't mean you can play in the NFL. I mean, you aren't playing basketball because of a broken hand, guys in the NFL play with injures like that EVERY WEEK.  You can't hang, just stick with being a role player in the NBA.

Boz: No, because he said that he only wants to try to play in the NFL after he is a great NBA player, all-star calibur. He'll never be all-star calibur. He'll always be a good role player. I know he put up good numbers in the playoffs but I could average 15 points per game if other teams had to worry about guarding Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo first. Apparently he was a good two-way football player in high school as a defensive lineman and tailback, but he I don't foresee him wearing a NFL uniform anytime soon.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICK 'EM

Last week               Ben: 2-4                  Boz: 4-2
Season                    Ben: 41-20              Boz: 33-28

1) Illinois at Minnesota (Saturday, 11 a.m.)

Ben: ILLINOIS. I don't know why I do this to myself, but I think the Illini woke up last week.

Boz: MINNESOTA. I know Illinois showed some signs of life last week with a win over Michigan but this one is on the road and the Gophers are trying to get bowl eligible. Gophers pick up the win.

2) No. 24 Oklahoma at Nebraska (Saturday, 7 p.m.)

Ben: OKLAHOMA. Nebraska has been too up and down for me lately.

Boz: OKLAHOMA. The Sooners are still a talented team without Bradford under center. Nebraska has played better this year than past seasons but are too inconsistent to pick them for the upset.

3) Navy at No. 22  Notre Dame (Saturday, 1:30 p.m.)

Ben: NOTRE DAME. I think they are going to have trouble with the triple option of Navy, but Notre Dame's defense can't stop anybody anyway -- so that shouldn't be anything new.

Boz: NOTRE DAME. The Irish are playing at home and they get their other dynamic wide receiver back in Michael Floyd. The Notre Dame offense will be even scarier for the rest of the season and getting Floyd back will aid in Jimmy Clausen winning the Heismann.

4) Northwestern at No. 4 Iowa (Saturday, 11 a.m.)

Ben: IOWA. I can't pick against the Hawks. I'm pulling for them the rest of the season.

Boz: IOWA. I know the Hawkeyes have struggled lately with lesser opponents, but it won't happen in Kinnick this Saturday. Hawks to 10-0.

5) No. 16 Ohio State at No. 11 Penn State (Saturday, 2:30 p.m.)

Ben: PENN STATE. I don't know why but I think Happy Valley will be too tough for the Buckeyes to overcome. Penn State makes a case for a BCS bowl this week.

Boz: OHIO STATE. I'm taking the upset with the Buckeyes on the road. Both defenses are tough but I think this will by Terelle Pryor's breaking out party.

6) No. 9 LSU at No. 3 Alabama (Saturday, 2:30 p.m.)

Ben: hmm...LSU. I really think Alabama wins this game, but for some reason feel like I need to pick against the Tide to get this one. The SEC is just BEGGING for 'Bama and Flordia to go undefeated, but LSU might have a chance to stop that from happening. I'll take the Tigers in an upset on the road.

Boz: ALABAMA. I love the Crimson Tide defense and they'll decide who wins this game. It'll be a low scoring game but the Tide get just enough to win this one at home.

HAPPY HOUR

Ben: Happy Birthday to Sally Rehn. We are heading out to celebrate my fiancee's mom birthday later today and I feel like she deserves a shout out on the blog as well. She's been great to me in the nearly seven years I've known her and this is the small recognition I can repay.

She also shares a birthday with Jerry Stackhouse. Look back at that Tar Heels team and tell me it wasn't LOADED. Stack, 'Sheed, Jamison. Happy birthday Stack.

Boz: Happy 36th Birthday to Johnny Damon! It can't get any better to be celebrating your birthday and winning the World Series on the same day. Damon is a career .288 hitter and is just four RBIs away from 1,000. He'll be a free agent this winter and after hitting 24 home runs and 82 RBIs it looks like he'll reach 1,000, but who know if it'll with the Yankees or not.