A FAN'S DISGUST.....

There was an announcement last week about the Giants raising their ticket prices about 7%...no surprise after winning the Super Bowl. But, the experience I had buying tickets for another NY team makes this worth mentioning.

First some background - I've been a lifelong Yankees fan and attended my first game on June 8, 1968. My father purchased box seats about 12 rows from the field. I still have the ticket stub...the tickets were $8 each. A few years later, a neighbor gave me a seat from the original Yankee Stadium they had bought and I still have it. It's a curiosity piece to my 11 year old daughter.
With this being the last season at the original stadium, I thought I'd take my daughter to a game to let her see where the seat came from. Now, I know ticket prices for box seats are expensive, but I'd pay for the experience for my daughter - after all, part of being a father is sharing some of the things you had as a child. Well, I'm either the father of the year or the biggest sucker on the planet - for a box seat to a Yankees game - it costs $280 each. I spend almost $600 to give my daughter the same experience my father paid less than $20 for 40 years ago.
I'm absolutely stunned...and I remembered how I thought pro football tickets were so expensive when I was young. It's amazing how football is now considered a reasonably priced ticket when compared to baseball, which has 10 times the number of home games and in some cases, costs 2 to 3 times more per ticket. And baseball wonders why fans are turned off the game....By the way, a quick check shows the Mets charge $117 and the Red Sox charge $125 for the comparable seat...

It's a sad reality - I'll go to the game and enjoy the experience with my daughter, realizing I will be giving her something that's out of reach for alot of kids...but, it will be a looooong time before I set foot in the new Yankee Stadium. Guess I'll move my seat into the living room and sit there to watch games...

ANOTHER GOOD SIGNING...

QB David Carr gets a deal fromt he Giants to backup Eli...and I can't quibble about this signing. He's a decent experienced backup if the need arises...Looks like the Fat Guy will be on his way off the roster...

WARD BACK IN FOLD...

More good news for Big Blue...RB Derrick Ward, one of the pleasant surprises this season, is back...signed a contract after being a free agent. Let's hope he stays relatively injury free...

DOES $$$$$ BUY CHAMPIONSHIPS???

As the off-season rolls on, the question Giants fans are wondering - can money buy you a championship? With the Jets opening their pocketbooks and playing alot of green to improve their team...do the Giants have to answer? Well, let's see - the Giants were free agent players two years ago (signed a bunch of defensive players) and made the playoffs, but lost in the first round. Last year, they laid low...and won the Super Bowl.
It was interesting to see the observation that Gang Green is built to win now and the Mangenius has no excuse for not making the playoffs with all the money invested.

BRETT FARVE IS BRETT FARVE IS...

...RETIRED!!!! A somewhat surprising announcement out of Green Bay Tuesday afternoon, that Farve will hang up his shoulder pads. His last game was that loss to the Giants in January.

I don't know if it's me or what, but, I can't get into any football talk...I still want to enjoy the Super Bowl win...guess there's little time to do that these days...

Don't look now, but the J-E-T-S are spending big bucks to rebuild in a hurry...but that doesn't always win championships (see Mini-Me in Washington and Jerry Jones in Dallas)

THE EXODUS BEGINS!!!!

As the free agency period begins, the Super Bowl exodus starts...already the G-men lose a key LB and DB, as the players cash in on their team's success. Can't blame them...there's a limited window of opportunity to make big $$$$. But, now you know why it's sooooo tough to repeat and build a dynasty - players take the $$$ and run after a Super Bowl win. As time goes on, we begin to appreciate teams who are consistant winners every year...while neither one Super Bowls, the Bills 4 straight Super Bowls and the Eagles 3 straight championship game appearances are impressive for the way the team's continued success even after players left for greener pastures. GM Jerry Reese will have his hands full trying to make it 4 straight playoff appearances.