Alright, it’s been a while since we last talked about New York sports. What’s new since the last time The Big Apple was published?
Per usual, the Yankees used invisible bats in the American League Division Series after eliminating the Red Sox in the Wild Card series. The Giants are still at the top of the NFC East with a record of 4-2-1. The Knicks, who raised the championship banner on Oct. 20, are off to a shaky 2-4 start. Maybe it’s a championship hangover?
It wasn’t a surprise that the Yankees offense missed the bus to Tropicana Field in the first two games of the ALDS. Getting no-hit into the eighth inning of Game 1 and 4 hits in Game 2 is the recipe for going down 2-0 in a series. Just like last season against Toronto, the Yankees watched as their opponents celebrated on their field. Seeing this team lose in the same way every season is getting a bit old; changes need to be made. General Manager Brian Cashman and Head Coach Aaron Boone are set to return for the 2027 season, and my question is: why? They are wasting the talent of Aaron Judge, who has just one World Series appearance in his 10 seasons as a Yankee. I am starting to feel bad for the three-time American League MVP at this point; he simply has no help. Until Cashman and Boone are out of town, I expect the team to come up short in the playoffs yet again.
Wow, who would have expected the NFC East to play out the way it is right now? The Giants sit alone in first at 4-2-1, Dallas is in second at 3-5, Washington is in third at 2-4-1 and in dead last are the 2-6 Philadelphia Eagles. I can say I was right; JJ McCarthy looked phenomenal when he was under center for the Giants. Compared to Jameis Winston, McCarthy’s playstyle is more like Jaxson Dart’s, which may be why the offense seems to have improved with McCarthy as the starter. As it stands, the Giants are favorites to win the division, which they last won in 2011. They face the Eagles and Commanders the next two weeks. If they can win both, their chances of winning the division shoots miles high.
Shifting over to the hardwood, the reigning NBA champion, the New York Knicks, have started out with a rocky 3-4 record. Two of those losses were to LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers. Their wins come against Brooklyn, Detroit and a comeback win against Chicago. It doesn’t take an expert to see that the Knicks haven’t played like their normal selves. Mikal Bridges in particular looks rough, averaging just 6 points on 30% field goal shooting. Am I worried? Absolutely not. This same Knicks team started out similarly last season, and we all know what happened. It will be only a matter of weeks until the team gets back on track and starts winning more games.