COHEN'S CORNER SPORTS

Rex Ryan has had a lot to say this week. First he said that he wanted to beat Peyton Manning badly, then said that Tom Brady isn't as good a student of the game as Manning is, now he is making comparisons to the Yankees. Ryan said: "The Yankees are the most-loved team in baseball [by their fans] and the most-hated by everybody [else]. Now that would be ideal. We're short about 26 championships, but that's going to take a few years to catch up," the coach said with a chuckle. "Now, that's what you want. ... If people love you and feel good about you and all that, they want to schedule you for homecoming because they can beat you every time. We want to be a team that is respected. You might dislike us and all that kind of stuff, but we want you to respect us." If Ryan and the Jets want respect they better earn it. The Jets have talked a lot about how good they think they are, and how they believe they are ready to be a Super Bowl champ. Now they have ...

ROYALS 6 YANKEES 4 If there is one aspect of the 2009 Yankees that will need to concern the team's fans and supporters, it is this: the Yankee bullpen, excluding Mariano Rivera, is a crap shoot. The Yankees don't have the perfect bridge to Rivera now that Joba Chamberlain is cemented in as the club's fifth starter, and it is very apparent that the Bombers better start to rethink the idea of having Chamberlain in the pen, or they must go out and try to find a decent eighth inning reliever. Speaking of Chamberlain, he did get the start this afternoon, and his performance was average at best. Joba went six innings, allowed five hits and three runs on the afternoon. His biggest mistake of the day was a fat pitch he threw to John Buck who ripped the pitch out of the ballpark to tie the game at one in the third inning. However, it was not until the fourth inning that the Royals started to hit Chamberlain hard. First, David DeJesus walked, and Mark Tehan was hit by a pitch; not a ...

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I suggested that Alex Rodriguez just give up playing baseball and retire to a farm or some distant island? Well, I think he better do it, now. Amid allegations of steroid use, Rodrigeuz now has a new problem. His hip. Rodriguez will miss ten weeks to have surgery that will remove a cyst on his right hip which has given the third baseman discomfort. The source that broke the story is A-Rod's brother, not his cousin, Joe Rodriguez, who told ESPN Deportes. A-Rod will now miss all of spring training and all of April. He is expected back sometime in May, but considering the number of rehab games he will have to play, don't bet on seeing Rodriguez in the Yankee lineup until the end of May beginning of June. The good news for A-Rod? He doesn't have to answer questions about Selena Roberts' new book detailing the third baseman's troubled personal life; the tome is due in bookstores April 14. I guess this surgery couldn't come at a be...

USA 6 YANKEES 5 Here's a story you don't hear every day. Derek Jeter beats the Yankees . That's right, Derek Jeter beats the Yankees. The All Star Short Stop had a huge day against his major league club as Jeter led Team USA to a 6-5 victory in Tampa Bay, Tuesday. With the Yankees up 1-0 in the third inning, Jeter lined a single up the middle to bring home Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers and Curtis Granderson of the Detroit Tigers, giving USA a 2-1 lead. The hit came off of Phil Hughes, who had pitched well for two and two-thirds innings before giving up the Jeter hit. Hughes final line was three hits, two runs and two strikeouts; his Spring ERA is now 6.75. Later, in the sixth, Jeter led off with a single and came around to score on Kevin Youklis two-run single to give USA a 6-1 lead. But the Yankees would not go away. With two on in the bottom of the sixth, Nick Swisher lined a double to right to bring the Yankees to within two at 6-4. The Yankees would get one more ...

YANKEES 6 BLUE JAYS 1 Was it steroids or was it just pure strength today for Alex Rodriguez? Only one person knows, but for the rest of us keeping score, Rodriguez began to answer his critics today in the only way he could by blasting a two run homerun in the fifth inning as the Yankees romped all over division rival Toronto. A-Rod got his share of boos and cheers throughout the afternoon, but it didn't faze him. Rodriguez went 1 for 1 with the two run shot and two walks. Maybe taking the heat Barry Bonds style is the only way to go for A-Roid? Just rake and no one can say anything. Still there were other Yankees out there trying to make a statement this spring. Brett Gardner went 1 for 3 with a RBI, making a case to become the Yankees new center fielder. Free agent Nick Swisher had an RBI and two walks, while Captain Derek Jeter went 1 for 3 with a RBI. Mark Texieria did not make the trip to Toronto's Spring Training home. C C Sabathia and A.J. Burnett stayed in Tampa as well...

Alex Rodriguez faced the press for the first time since his admission last week to taking steroids during the 2003 season. Rodriguez revealed some interesting insights into his steroid use. First, he said that he never knew what he was taking was steriods while he was with the Rangers, and later he added that in 2001, his cousin introduced him to a supplement known as Bole, which his cousin promised would give the star player an "energy boost." The drugs were acquired from the Dominican Republic. Rodriguez refused to reveal the name of his cousin as a way to deflect blame onto himself. A-Rod cited that he and his cousin were young and stupid back then. "When I entered the majors I was 18 years old, right out of high school. I thought I knew everything and I clearly didn't. I made a lot of mistakes in my life," Rodriguez said during his statement. "It was part of being 24-25 years old, curious, ignorant. There are a lot of things you don't tell a lot o...

Thank you Alex Rodriguez. You have found a way to not only make a farce out of baseball, but your antics will eventually make a farce out of the Hall of Fame. You opened a Pandora's Box, letting all the gargoyles and bats, named Barry, Roger, McGwire, and Sammy come flying out with big smiles on their faces. You have given them the hope of regaining their immortality. Thanks to A-Rod's admission of using steroids early in his career, new hope is given to Clemens, Bonds, and anyone other big name who has used 'Roids, that they may eventually make it to the Hall of Fame. Why would this be the case? Because before "using" steroids, A-Rod was a MVP type player averaging 36 homeruns a year from 1996-2000 with the Seattle Mariners. Ever since coming to the Yankees in what A-Rod claims as his "clean" years, Rodriguez has averaged 41.6 homeruns and 123.2 RBI a year. Therefore, if A-Rod should stay clean for the rest of his career and continue to average 40 home...

In an attempt to get public opinion back in his favor, Alex "A-Fraud" Rodriguez has admitted to using steroids during his time with the Texas Rangers from 2001 - 2003. The confession came in an interview with ESPN's Peter Gammons, which is to air Monday Night at 6:00. Funny, considering how A-Rod likes to interrupt important national events like he did during the 2007 World Series, one would think that A-Fraud would want his interview aired at the same time President Barack Obama is to speak to the nation, again, about his economic stimulus package. Oh well, at least A-Fraud is not that stupid, or more likely, ESPN is that smart. Still, Rodriguez does not deserve public sympathy. He is a cheater, and no one really knows if Rodriguez has used steroids since 2003, when stricter drug testing was implemented.

It just never gets dull for Alex Rodriguez does it? The man who seems to be at the center of every controversy and disaster known to man, is at it again. This time A-Rod, or as Joe Torre called him A-Fraud, is indeed a fraud. Rodriguez was caught with his proverbial pants down, after a report surfaced today from Sports Illustrated citing that Rodriguez tested positive for Anabolic Steroids in 2003. It is not known whether Rodriguez has used steroids since coming to the Yankees in 2004, but this report confirms fears that A-Rod used Roids at some point in his career. See ESPN report . Rodriguez was not cited as a steroids user when the Mitchell Report came out last winter. This adds to what has been a whacky couple of weeks for A-Rod. Last week, Torre's book came out stating that Rodriguez had a "single white female" relationship with Short Stop Derek Jeter, trying desperately to be like the popular Yankee. The book also said that Rodriguez's teammates called him A-F...

In an interview with WFAN host Mike Francesa, former Yankees manager Joe Torre spoke up about his recent book The Yankee Years , which has stirred up a lot of controversy over the last week. LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW HERE ! Torre told Francessa that he was suprised by the negative reaction the book has received since it is just an honest portrayal of his time with the Yankees. Torre revealed that he began working with Sports Illustrated 's Tom Verducci as early as 2007, long before Torre was fired, on the book deal. Torre said that he was comfortable with everything the book says and would still have written and published the book even if he were Yankees manager today. As for the "A-Fraud" reference to Alex Rodriguez, Torre told Francesa that A-Rod puts too much pressure on himself to "be THE guy" to come up with the big hits. A-Fraud was just clubhouse fodder designed to make Rodriguez relax. Torre said that he has tremendous respect for Rodriguez. Torre also re...

Andy Pettite and the New York Yankees have agreed to a one year $5.5 million contract for the 2009 season. Pettite can make as much as $6.5 million with performance bonuses. Last season Pettite had one of the worst years of his career. After being mired in the Roger Clemens steroid scandal, Pettite went 14-14 with a 4.51 ERA but was 2-7 with a 6.23 ERA in his last 11 starts. The lone bright spot for the veteran lefty in 2008 was pitching in the final game ever at the real Yankee Stadium. Pettite solidifies a Yankee rotation of C.C. Sabathia, Chien Ming Wang, A.J. Burnett, Joba Chamberlin and Phil Hughes. If Pettite can stay healthy, the Yankees could move Chamberlin back to his more natural spot in the bullpen.

It seems that former Yankee manager Joe Torre had a lot of time on his hands the past few months. The four time World Champion manager put a book together with Sports Illustrated 's Tom Verducci titled The Yankee Years , which highlights Torre's bumpy 12 year stay as manager. In fact, the book goes deeply into Torre's unhappiness with the Bombers in his last few years with the team. Torre claims that superstar third basemen Alex Rodriguez drew the ire of his teammates, who labeled him "A-Fraud" in the clubhouse, and that Rodriguez felt he was competing for the spotlight with short stop Derek Jeter. The book goes into the tensions Torre had with Yankee management. Torre says that GM Brian Cashman betrayed him when the club was ready to let Torre go. The book comes out February 3, but Torre is expected to make a few public appearances on David Letterman, and probably Mike Francesa's radio program on WFAN to talk about the book. This is the first time since Torr...