I Tried to Avoid it, But I Couldn't: The Tiger Woods News Conference

I tried not to care. I really didn't. It's his personal life, no need for me to get involved. I watched the 13 minute statement. I thought that was it for me. I wouldn't have to care until he came back to the game. I was wrong.

Yes, by now you've heard everything there is to hear about the Tiger Woods news conference on Friday morning. You've heard things about his tone, his true meaning, even his body language. And all of the analysis has left me with one question: Why?

Why does it matter that he didn't take questions? Why does it matter that he sounded robotic and monotone? Why does it he need to make amends to us, those he has never heard of? Why did it matter that his index and middle fingers were on the podium and his ring and pinkie fingers dangled on the side?

The truth is, none of it matters to us. We'd like to think it does, but it doesn't. It wasn't our spouse that cheated on us, our father who was unfaithful, or our son who thought rules didn't apply to him. So while some express outrage over what Tiger said and how he said it, I go back to the one simply question: Why?

Tiger has never said he was going to be faithful to us. He made that promise to his wife and children. Those are the only people he needs to make amends to. So while people may not have liked what Tiger said, the fact of the matter was that he didn't have to say it at all. Tiger owes us nothing, and if he wanted to remain a hermit for the rest of his life, he should be able to do so without us having to give him permission.

But let's say for the sake of argument, that Tiger was our relative. That he was our brother, cousin, or whatever, and he did owe us something. Let's say he had to talk to us. Each and every one of us. This is a man who is extremely private. We see him on the golf course and the occasional basketball game and that's it. It is not an easy thing for Tiger to pull a 180 and air out all of his dirty laundry in front of almost every person in the nation.

Many are critical of his tone, claiming he was "robotic." Did we forget what this man's occupation is? Tiger Woods is not a public speaker, he is a golfer. He might be fearless on the golf course, but isn't it possible he was just a tad nervous about talking about his infidelity to the entire country with his own mother sitting just a few feet away? We've all been in the classroom while classmates are giving presentations. Some have the charisma, others crash and burn. Public speaking is a skill, and even if one has the skill, it may still fade away when one has to talk about something that has the gravity of what Tiger had to talk about.

So the facts remain this: Tiger Woods owes the public nothing. Not one single thing. We cannot be demanding him to answer questions because it is not our place to do so. So unless you had to call in sick to work the day the story came out due to shock, please return to your normal life.

Is There One Happy Party in the Johnny Damon Signing?

Johnny Damon signed with the Detroit Tigers for $8 million on Saturday. The question I have for Damon is: Was it worth it? What I mean by that is, was it worth the extra million to go a team and a city that is not in a positive position, when you could have stayed in New York for $14 million over two years?

Damon seems to believe that he is the type of player who can hit 25 homers and drive in 80 runs without the benefit of a cozy stadium that is tailor-made for his swing. Unfortunately for him, Scott Boras was the only person who agreed with him, as all 30 clubs wouldn't give him the $13 million he was looking for.

The Yankees offered a very reasonable two year $14 million deal which was rejected almost immediately. And while New York's decision to be frugal when it came to Damon has drawn criticism, it is unwarrented. Why should the Yankees have to overpay for a player they see as overvalued? And so the divorce proceeded and Johnny now ends up in Detroit. The Yankees might not have wanted to give up Damon, but they shouldn't have to break the bank for him.

If I'm either the Tigers or Damon right now, I can't be happy. Sure, Damon just signed a deal and he knows who he's playing for now, but he had to settle for much less than he orginally wanted, and he is going to a team that traded away one of its best players and doesn't have a bright future.

If I'm the Detroit, I just gave $8 million to a player who only put up the numbers he did because of his venue. But even worse than that, Damon has a no-trade clause so the Tigers can't dump him for prospects when they realize the team is out of it. And I know, there is no such thing as a bad one-year deal, but this isn't a good one.

Both sides don't come out looking or feeling good in this deal, and I doubt that will change into the season.

Talk About an Image Problem

Could things get any worse for the Washington Wizards right now? By now everyone knows the ins and outs of the Gilbert Areneas fiasco. But just yesterday, one of the newest members of the team, Josh Howard, was accused of missing a game because he was hungover while he was still with the Dallas Mavericks last month. Howard, not surprisingly, called the accusation a lie and refused to address it further.

It's known that the NBA has an image problem with its players, but what is happening in our nation's capitol this season is astounding. The Wizards just got over losing the face of the franchise, Areneas, for bringing firearms into the locker room. Now a new player is accused of missing a game due to a hangover. One has to feel bad for the organization and the situation the players are putting it in.

Now I realize that the Josh Howard isn't a marquee player, but that isn't the point. The fact is the members of the Wizards, while with the team or elsewhere, have engaged in some questionable behaviors and should be held accountable.

With a new collective bargaining agreement in the works, the players can't be doing such stupid things like the Wizards have been doing. The players want the upper hand in negotiating, but it seems they are doing everything possible to give it up.

How to Fix the New York Mets

The New York Mets are one of the most dysfunctional franchises in American sports today. It seems that year after year the team leaves its fans with heartbreak and anger. What makes it worse are the expectations the team faces every season because of its venue and cross town rival, the powerhouse Yankees. The significant difference between the two teams is the way they deal with failure. One team makes the necessary changes while the other prefers the status quo. For example, both teams missed out on the playoffs in 2008. The Yankees made changes that were needed and ended up winning a title the next year. The Mets made practically no changes and were even worse in 2009. And yes, most of it was due to injuries, but changes still need to be made. Some of them are probably obvious, others perhaps controversial.

The first and most obvious change that needs to happen is general manager Omar Minaya's firing. The team has been on a steady decline the past few years and something needs to be done. Minaya has no feel of how his club can perform. Jason Bay was a nice move, but he can't carry the team to October. Minaya refused to upgrade what will certainly be a dismal pitching rotation. The farm system is completely depleated, and the future for the team is very dim. New York needs a moneyball guy who can attain prospects and rebuild the minor league system. All the blame can't fall on Minaya, but enough of it does to make him leave.

Another firing that needs to happen is manager's Jerry Manuel. The Mets fired Willie Randolph and replaced him with Willie Randolph with glasses. Manuel is just as passive as Randolph, which is exactly the opposite of what the Mets need. New York needs a Lou Pinella-esque leader who isn't afraid to get in someone's face and tell them what he is thinking. The Mets on paper do not look like a team that will be atop the National League East, but they need a manager who can make the players believe they will. Manuel is too much of a players guy to lead this team efficiently. The tough New York media has always questioned the leadership capability of the members of this team, so why not go out and get a guy who can do it?

The next proposal may seem a little radical, but I believe it is one for the future. The Mets should trade Jose Reyes. There have been some grumblings about the possibility in the past, but I think it should happen after the season, barring a post-season run by the team, which most likely won't happen. The Mets should allow Reyes to play out the season in New York and then use whatever performance he turns out this year into prospects. The team's farm system is barren. Everyone knows about Fernando Martinez, but there is nothing past him. Jose Reyes is a great asset to have, but not if the team is rebuilding.

My last suggestion is to bring back Carlos Delgado. He played well in Winter Ball and wouldn't cost any compensatory picks to sign him. Bring him in on a one year deal, and either reap the benefits, or cut him mid-season. If Delgado plays well, then let him leave in the off-season and take some draft picks in return. Money is not an option for the Mets, so they can afford to take a risk on Delgado.

These four moves my not propel the Mets to a World Series championship, but they are a start to rebuilding the team through the minor league system. Just look in the Bronx. The Yankees have won 5 titles with Jeter, Pettitte, Rivera, and Posada. A good, young, homegrown core can go a long way.

The Three Best Words in the English Language, "Pitchers and Catchers"

It's the most wonderful time of the year. Finally, after what seems to have been an eternity, pitchers and catchers have reported to Spring Training. Even though this means pretty much nothing in terms of television watching, it is a welcoming sign that baseball is finally around the corner. In the hell that is February for sports fans, pitchers and catchers reporting is one of the few things we can look forward to besides a few good college basketball games and snow. Now I understand the Winter Olympics are going on, but I just can't get excited about specialized sports that are tape-delayed and mean nothing for three out of four years.

Each day as we creep closer to Opening Day, we hear about interesting story lines in various camps. Who will the Yankees choose as their fifth starter? Will Aroldis Chapman's talent translate to the Major Leagues? Will Seattle's moves dethrone the Angels as the AL West champions? Every story is as compelling as the next, and we all wait to see what will happen.

All the off-season shenanigans are finally over, for the most part. We still have to find out the destinations of a few prominent free agents (Johnny Damon and Jermaine Dye come to mind), but nobody cares about the Mark McGwire saga or the McCourt divorce soap opera any longer. All that matters now are bats, balls, and gloves. We can sit back, relax, and enjoy seeing our favorite players back on the diamond.

Spring Training belongs to the fans, as it gives us the best access to players all year. It is really a testament to the game when slews of fans show up just to watch players practice. Maybe it is just for an autograph, or to get a preview of the season, but fans routinely show up every February to get a glimpse of their favorite team.

So hang in there baseball fans, we are less than two weeks from the first Spring Training game, and a little over a month from the best day of the year, Opening Day. So stay tuned into what will most certainly turn into a great 2010 season.