Can't Blame Rex

Rex Ryan has the most famous finger in sports until Peyton Manning or Drew Brees win the Superbowl. I for one didn't have a problem with it like many of our New York columnist did.

What happened with Ryan is something that happens every day at a sporting event. Of course, he's a public figure and everybody is going to say that he can't do that. I ask those, what would you do in that situation?

If you were an exuberant coach like Rex Ryan and you were in the middle of a sea of Dolphins fans chanting things that were probably worse than the middle finger he stuck up at them, what would you do?

Everybody I've listened to said they would ignore it. Well, most of them are lying. What Ryan did was natural. The Jets had to fine him because the organization was embarrassed. I don't agree. This is the coach that everybody was ga-ga over during the playoffs. Everyday there was another column about people on their hands and knees praying to the feet of the new guy in town.

People live their lives making sure they don't offend anybody. They live by the status-quo. Please, lets be real for once. Because Rex Ryan sure will.

Damon's Gone But Yankees will still Contend

It's official, Damon's career as a Yankee is over and now we can finally move on. But if you listened to GM Brian Cashman the whole off-season, and believed him, then you would've already known that Damon wasn't going to be a Yankee because Scott Boras has lost his swagger.

Unless Damon wanted to come to the Yankees for one season that would've been fine. Sometimes fans don't think about the future, especially Yankees fans who think they need an all-star at every position.

Damon was great for the Yankees. He changed the World Series with his unbelievable at-bat against Brad Lidge. His two stolen bases was the reason A-Rod got such a great pitch to hit to drive Damon home from third.

What Damon did in the playoffs will be missed. Hey, if I were Manger I would feel more comfortable in October with Damon in the batters box, rather than Curtis Granderson or Nick Johnson. Simply put, Damon battles to the end. And although baseball players aren't considered tough, Damon is just that.

If we look past this season which I think Cashman and the Yankees are doing by setting a $200 million budget. You'll know that Cliff Lee, Carl Crawford and Joe Mauer are free agents.

I don't see Mauer leaving Minnesota. Actually, I hope he doesn't leave Minnesota because it's better for baseball that way. That is, as long as the Red Sox don't try to get him. Then the Yankees have to.

As for Crawford and Lee. The Yankees would improve the outfield by getting Crawford in 2011, and with Pettite most likely retiring after next season, Lee would be an expensive replacement.

Any dime the Yankees save this season will be part of putting together their 2011 roster.

But don't worry Yankees fans. The Yanks are still the favorites this season to win it all, even without Damon and Matsui. They're rotation has improved with the acquisition of Javier Vazquez. Just that makes them the favorites. Even though I'm looking ahead to 2011 to help understand the loss of Johnny Damon, Yankees fans need not worry. They'll be back in the World Series without their two World Series heroes.