One year ago ScottJax went under the knife, ScottJax’s favorite song, NFL, Rays, Walker and more in this week edition of….

Let’s never forget what happened on September 11, 2001

Wow, today marks the one year anniversary of my hip replacement surgery. There are days that I walk fast, and there are days that I start off good and as the night progresses at work I start to slow down. My surgeon did not want me to do heavy lifting. But, in the Postal world you are suppose to be able to lift up to 75 pounds. In my 15 years in the Post Office I have never had to lift that much. But lifting 20 pounds can be a chore, not the least is the wear and tear of the hip. Still no running and hopping. That is to prevent strain on the hip. Bending down is better, though sometimes it takes a minute to get down and get up. But I don’t feel anywhere near the pain and discomfort I use to and that is good. The only bad thing is that I will need another hip replacement for my other hip. I am trying to hold off for four more years.

For a person who is a very upbeat person this is one of my favorite songs..

The Fighting Irish are going to join the ACC in every sport except football, yet they plan on playing 5 ACC football games a year. So are you in, or are you out of the ACC for football? It seems to me your all-in, except you don’t want to give out any of your $$$ your making from NBC.

The Tampa Bay Rays played the Yankees at home with a chance to surpass the first place team, yet only 28,585, 17,652 and 16,711 attended. MLB should consider moving the Rays.

Tulane’s Safety Devon Walker is in stable condition following an operation to repair a cervical spine fraction. The injury occurred during Saturday’s game against Tulsa, in a head-on collision with his teammate. See the video above.

Some NFL milestones were reached this past Sunday. Tom Brady is now in 5^th place on the all-time career touchdown list with 302. Brady also is in 5^th place in wins by a quarterback with 125. Peyton Manning threw is 400^th and 401^st touchdown pass, and is in third place. Bill Belichick recorded his 193^rd victory, which outs him in a tie for 8^th place on the all-time list with Chuck Knox.

Props got to go to RG3, as he led the Washington Redskins to an upset win over the New Orleans Saints, 40-32.

There is now talk that replacement refs will be around to at least week 5 of the NFL season.

David Aker’s kicked a record tying 63-yard field goal. Take a look at the expression on his face when he made it. Classic.

Andy Murray is the first British tennis player in 76 years to win a Grand Slam tournament.

Good-by to Andy Roddick, who retired after his match at the US Open. He won over $20 million during his 12-year career. He won 32 singles titles and 4 double titles and was 609-212 in career singles matches. His only draw-back was for as much talent as he had he only one 1 Grand Slam event and was the runner-up in four others (losing to Federer each time).

Is USC in trouble? Syracuse raked up 450 yards on offensive against the #2 team in the nation. Again, with all the offense Cuse racked up, they still lost, 42-29. Come to think of it the Orange had more total offense than the Trojans 455-445. Wow who would have thought that?? Syracuse is now 0-2.

Next up for Cuse, Stoney Brook.

Jerry “The King” Lawler is in ICU following a heart attack on Monday Night Raw. His son say he doesn’t look too well. There is talk that Lawler might have suffered brain damage. This is speculation due to the lack of oxygen that went to the brain following his collapse.

Is MLB babying its pitchers? It seems to me that no pitcher comes close to 275 innings, let alone 300 innings, which use to be the standard. It looks like maybe 3 pitchers will pitch 250 innings.

Til Next time

Scott

A legendary songwriter passes, High School Palace and Syracuse gets thumped. All this and ScottJax gets an autograph, in this weeks edition of…

Oh Yeah its Football Time!!

In something of a shock to USA Women’s soccer, Pia Sundhage will be stepping down as coach of the US women’s team. She lead USA to 2 Gold Medals in the Olympics. Pia took over the women’s team in 2007 and has been 88-6-10 since. She will be heading to Sweden to take over their women’s team.

Whenever rumors circulate that an NFL team is moving to Los Angeles it seems that the Jacksonville Jaguars are the team that gets mentioned the most. Jacksonville ranks 11^th in population with 945,942 people, 1,345,596 in the metropolitan area, yet ranked 50^th in television market. Now I have searched to figure out how Jacksonville can be ranked 50^th when your population is 945,942 is beyond me. It must have to do with government mathematics.

The Jaguars move was originally started by ESPN at the end of 2009 season when Jacksonville finished with an average attendance of 49,651 while going 7-9 (2008 Jags were 5-11). Since the 2009 season our attendance figures have gone to more than 62,000 people per game in 2010 and 2011.

The point I am trying to make is that 2008 - 2011 the Jaguars have had better attendance figures than the Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Oakland and St. Louis and yet you don’t hear anything mentioned about any of the leaving.

I think the Jags are here to stay, even with one trip to London a year. Oh I get a 10% discount because one home game going overseas.

Speaking of the Jaguars, I had the opportunity to get some autographs from former Jaguar players. One of them was with Donovan Darius, a former Jag who played college football at Syracuse.

Syracuse lost to Northwestern in an exciting game 42-41. It was a hearting breaking loss in that the Orange scored 4 consecutive touchdowns to finally take the lead, only to lose the game with 41 seconds left to play. I have to say Cuse lost the game with their miscues, a late hit as Northwestern’s quarterback was running out of bounds Cuse cornerback Keon Lyn helped him with a shove, then the flag. So instead of 4^th and six from the 18 yard line, it became 1^st and goal on the SU 9. On the next play, with Cuse dropping back 8 defenders, Northwestern threw the ball and WR Demetrius Fields caught the ball just as he crossed the end zone…

But that wasn’t the only problem, Cuse had 596 total yards and held Northwestern to 337 yards, 4 turnovers led to touchdowns in a game that Syracuse dominated.

Ryan Nassib set Syracuse passing game records for most pass thrown 65, completions 44 and 470 yards. He also had 4 touchdown passes. A truly great game. Too bad Cuse lost.

Next up for Cuse…USC.

It’s called Eagle Stadium, a $60 million dollar palace for the Allen High School Football team in Allen, Texas. Yep, you read right, a HIGH SCHOOL team. This at a time when there are teachers being laid off and schools closing due to budget cuts, and yet this school had to build a state-of-the-art stadium. Eagle Stadium is a sunken-bowl stadium on 72 acres and includes a high-definition video screen and Wi-fi for the 18,000 in attendance.

Legendary songwriter Hal David passed away, he was 91. He and Burt Bacharach penned many hits primarily for Dionne Warwick.

Does bring back some good memories.

Til Next Time

Scott

Party over for the Phillies?? Oh its hot across the Nation?? All this and more in this weeks edition of…..

This is my sweetheart, Kathy Ireland. She graced the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 3 times.

This is the weather for the past week in Phoenix, AZ. Its it hot there Harry?

It's not this hot in Jacksonville. Just the low 90's, but when your outside doing something it feels a whole lot warmer.

It was sad to read that Tennessee Titans receiver O.J. Murdock died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in Tampa, Florida.

What a way to make a first impression. Two rookies who were recently called up made quite an impression.

New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey struck out 11 Arizona batters in 5.1 innings on his way to a 3-1 victory. But, what was more impressive was that he went 2-2 and a double as a hitter.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Pirates Outfielder, Starling Marte was nothing short of sterling as he hit a homerun in his first major league at bat leading off for Pittsburgh. He ended up going 2-4.

I know that Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout is going to win the AL Rookie of the Year, but if it can be given to a team I would give it to the Oakland A’s. They are loaded with promising young pitchers and a rising outfielder.

We moan and groan about the announcers on ESPN, or about how the network messes up a sporting event. I for one would take ESPN over any other company with the exception of CBS. Every network has its vices, but at least ESPN gives sports every day. No one can say that.

I thought Howard Cosell was annoying as an announcer, but I can’t seem to stomach Bob Costas. Sometimes Costas doesn’t know when to keep quiet. Kind of like my wife when I am watching a Yankee game.

MLB trade deadline has come and gone and the dust has settled.

Cleaning house in Philadelphia as they traded Hunter Pence to the San Francisco Giants and Shane Victorino to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Gaby Sanchez is now with the Pittsburg Pirates. The Pirates also acquired pitchers Kyle Kaminska, Chad Qualls and Wendy Rodriquez. Plus they got Travis Snider. It is refreshing to see the Pirates trading for need in a run for the playoffs rather than cleaning house.

Ryan Dempster is playing for the Texas Rangers. He will be pitching to his former catcher Geovany Soto.

Yankees get infielder Casey McGehee from the Pirates.

Red Sox traded for pitchers Craig Breslow and Steven Wright.

St. Louis got pitcher Edward Mujica from the Marlins.

The Brewers traded Zack Greinke to the Angels for two Double-A pitchers and shortstop Jean Segura.

Til next time

Scott

Dodgers steal one, maybe two, Ichiro goes to NY, Rodman meets his dad, NFL criminal score-card. All this and more in this weeks edition of…

Another picture of Kate wearing a Yankee hat. Oh Yeah!!! Sorry Average Fan Detroit.

Sherman Hemsley, the man who played, George Jefferson, the only man to never take any shit from Archie Bunker, passed away this week. Sherman also had a 10-year hit in The Jefferson’s. In honor of his accomplishments I give you this:

A classic show. Thanks for the laughter Sherman. RIP.

What a dipshit Dez Bryant is. WWE’s Brodus Clay say’s to call your mama, not hit your mama. While Mama Bryant is no angel (hooker? Druggie?), there should be no reason to hit your mom. Bryant was accused of attacking his mom during an argument, hitting her in the arm and face, which is considered family violence. If convicted, Dez can get up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

Can’t families just get along?

Here is a picture of my mom (Georgette) and I taken two weeks ago.

My mom is rubbing the baby as was we all call my fat stomach.

See how my mom and I get along Dez. If you need any help give me a call.

Dennis Rodman met his estranged father, Philander Rodman Jr., following a basketball game in the Philippines. He had not seen his dad in 42 years and spent only 3 minutes with him after the game. His dad did give him his phone number and Dennis said he would call. Dennis Rodman mentioned that he never hated the man who brought him into this world and considers him a friend.

In a nice gesture, during a break with seconds left in the game, Dennis grabbed a microphone and acknowledged his father’s presence and pointed to him in the arena. His dad stood up wearing a red baseball cap that said “Yes, Dennis Rodman in my son.” Philander Rodman Jr. is a Vietnam War veteran who lives in the Philippines (over 50 years). He operates the Rodman’s Rainbow Obamaburger restaurant in northern Angeles City.

For all the hard work Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks did on the field at the University of North Carolina, he could have at least put some effort to his education. It appears that Nicks played his final year at North Carolina while academically ineligible. According to the NCAA Hakeen committed “academic fraud” which is receiving improper academic help from a tutor who was implicated in an NCAA scandal at North Carolina.

As a result, the school will mark Nicks’ career and single-season records with an asterisk, noting that his “participation later vacated due to NCAA penalty.” In his three seasons at North Carolina, Nicks caught 181 passes for a school-record 2,840 yards and 21 touchdowns. His 1,222 receiving yards in 2008 also set a single-season school record. Those achievements will remain in the record books but his statistics from the 2008 season will be listed with an asterisk.

All the victories (16) for the Tar Heels in 2008 and 2009 are being vacated as a result of the scandal. The NCAA report said six football players competed in 2008, 2009 or 2010 while ineligible.

Before I mention the following, I want to state that what happened at Penn State, is the worst form of crime other than killing someone

With that, being said,

The NCAA has no control over the movement of its colleges to different conferences, yet it has control to pass judgment on what happened at Penn State.

The NCAA has levied the following penalties, $60 million fine, 4-year football post-season ban and vacate all wins from 1998-2011, which moved Paterno from the winningest coach to number 8 all-time, forfeiture of 10 scholarships (from 25 to 15) for 4 years.

The money will be used for an outstanding cause, child sexual abuse awareness programs.

What’s wrong with this picture??

Is the water in Detroit different than anywhere else in the country?

Aaron Berry, Mikel Leshoure, Nick Fairley, Johnny Culbreath all had run-ins with the law. Now the Lions released Aaron Berry, for “personal conduct which adversely affects the club” after he was arrested for the second time this summer. Aaron was arrested Saturday for three charges of simple assault, with a weapon being shown during the incident.

The Beeze beat me to it, but I still wanted you to see it.

This will get you warmed up for the Olympics. Watch Australian hurdler Michelle Jenneke's warm-up routine.

Ichiro a Yankee. I thought he would finish his career with the Mariners. It is being reported that the future HOFer wanted out of Seattle and the Yankees were interested. Also congrats go out to Ichiro for getting his first hit in his first at-bat as a Yankee.

Baseball trades are heating up.

Dodgers steal Hanley Ramirez from the Marlins for nothing. Okay Miami did get pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (22 years old 2-8 lifetime with a 3.96 era) and minor league pitcher Scott McGough. By the way, the Marlins gave away Randy Choate too.

IS Bud going to veto this trade. Nah, its not the Yankees.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are making a push for the playoffs. They acquired Wandy Rodriguez from the Houston Astros. Now that’s a gusty move. Houston is giving the Pirates $17.7 million to help pay part of Wandy’s contract. The Astros will get three minor league players. LHP Rudy Owens, LHP Colton Cain and oufielder Robbie Grossman.

The Phillies signed pitcher Cole Hamels to a six-year $144 million contract extension. With the signing Cole becomes the highest paid Philly in history and the second highest paid pitcher in baseball behind CC Sabathia. Hamels will become the third Phillies pitcher in the rotation with a $20 million a year contract, along with Lee and Halladay.

Vi Ripken, Cal Ripken’s mother, was abducted outside her home, but was found unharmed a day later. She was taken Tuesday between 7-8a.m. Tuesday and found at about 6:15a.m Wednesday near her home. Police do not know the kidnapper’s motive and there was no ransom note.

Til next time

Scott

I hope everyone had a great 4^th of July. I had a great time visiting my cousin and his wife and swimming.

I was going to write about the lack luster NBA draft, or how David Wright got shafted when Pablo Sandoval was selected to the All-Star game. Nah with the passing of July 4^th yesterday, I feel like going down memory lane.

360 degrees of 4^th of July

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, we lived in the projects in East New York on Wortman Avenue (215 Wortman Avenue to be exact). For 7-years, as soon as school ended, my parents would rent a bungalow for 2 months on 32^nd street in Far Rockaway, Queens.

My parents would go to the bungalow, open the windows to air-it-out, while they moved our stuff into our summer home. Once it was set up my folks would take my sister and I there. This is where we stayed for the summer. This is where I watched Neil Armstrong walk on the moon in 1969. It was here that we spent our July 4^th with friends and family for an all day-early evening of barbeque, fun in the sun, and swimming in the ocean and watching the fire works, and even setting off some fireworks myself. We had a great time and it was always the same people from different parts of New York renting for the summer. Even though it was located in New York City, it never really felt like it. It felt like we were far, far away for the most populated city in the nation.

Our summers changed when my folks moved into a townhouse in Brooklyn. Gone were the summers in Far Rockaway and replaced by an occasional trip to Coney Island and the beach. But by then Coney Island was a shell of itself. No steeple chase, no parachute jump, boardwalk rotting. It was going to shit. I do remember going when the steeple chase was open. It was great. You would be put on a ceramic horse and compete with other kids as the horses raced around the building. It was awesome. All that was taken apart by Mayor John Lindsey to build low rent apartments. Our 4^th of July was replaced with staying home as dad did the grilling and mom made the deserts. We would play with the kids in the neighborhood. Sometimes we would go visit family and have fun, but mostly we stayed home.

I joined the Navy on December 7, 1976, and spent my first 4^th away from my parents. I had new friends to hang around with, but celebrating the holiday on the USS Eisenhower without family was a downer. The following year, my Mom and Dad, sister, grandmother, cousin and Aunt came to visit me on the ship. It was fun. I gave them a tour of the newest Navy vessel in the fleet. But since then, during the rest of my military career. Between Norfolk, VA, Virginia Beach, VA, Jacksonville, Fl. (Two occasions), Washington DC and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (by myself) I usually spent a quiet July 4^th with my wife and son. My wife you cook dinner and my son and I would go outside and play. We then would sit in the living room and watch the fireworks on TV.

My 4^th of July went full circle once I mentioned to my mom and dad that I was retiring in Jacksonville, Fl., and they moved down here. So did my sister and her family. My cousin and his wife and an Aunt also moved to Jacksonville. Now every 4^th of July we celebrate together once again. It’s a great feeling to have family around to celebrate, considering that I missed 20 years of birthdays, family events, anniversaries, several weddings, the death of both my Grandmothers and two uncles.

Thanks for letting me take you down memory lane with me. Kind of makes me homesick for Brooklyn.

I leave you with this song that always gives me goose bumps

Scott