The Four-Seamer

The Four-Seamer took some time off to attend the Titans-Bills Christmas Eve game, check out some Toronto Raptors basketball, win (and lose) a few fantasy football championships and enjoy some time away from the world of sports for a few days. Most of the time, we watched looping sports Year-in-Review shows, read sports books given to us on Christmas and watched the World Junior Hockey Championships.

Suffice to say we can't escape the world of sports. Be it Christmas morning (on the west coast at least) or the night before (on the east side) sports surround us even at the times we are supposed to take a rest. Indeed there remains one day each year - the day after the MLB All-Star Game - that abducts sports from North Americans... and we like it that way! On with Ramblings.

• The Memphis Grizzlies are, at least based on the standings, the worst team in the NBA. Which means it shouldn't be shocking the club fired head coach Mike Fratello Thursday. While we know the Griz' aren't the worst in the league (the Sixers and Hornets wouldn't be close in the western conference) they've been dreadful in a year that wasn't supposed to be all that bad. You have to feel for any team having to deal with Dallas, San Antonio and Houston in the southwest, but Memphis' starting five shouldn't produce only six victories. They are young, but they are talented. And Fratello had to do better than that. Watch for "The Czar of the Telestrator" to be back in the broadcast booth real soon.

• Contrary to what The Four-Seamer predicted and expected to happen, free-agent giant Barry Zito has signed a giant deal with the San Francisco, err, Giants. Zito gets the exact same dollar value as baseball's most previous big-name sign, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Vernon Wells. We don't rule out the possibility that Zito's agent, Scott Boras, was sure to use the Wells deal as leverage. After all, V-Dub hasn't won a Cy Young! It's possible that one day we'll see Zito - like many pro athletes - in another walk of life, perhaps as an old man, retired and maybe in broadcasting or something. There, we fully expect to hear Zito reiterate the fact he indeed won the Cy Young in 2002. And we fully expect that will be the best story he'll have, that that indeed was the pinnacle of his career. Unbelievable isn't it? How far one year can bring you? Congrats on the payout, Barry. It will be your last.

• One thing seems certain in the Randy Johnson trade sweepstakes: The Big Unit is headed back home. Whether it be Seattle, where Johnson began his career, or Arizona, where he currently resides, or New York, where he has lived for two years while playing for the New York Yankees. In other words, Johnson will either be dealt to a loser with little chance to win, a loser with little chance to win, or stay put. Who can complain if he heads to Seattle? The Mariners proved this off-season they can't compete with the big boys. Despite seemingly being involved in every off-season rumour, the M's landed only Jose Vidro and Miguel Batista. Johnson, who is 43-years-old, won't make a difference. In Arizona, the Diamondbacks are coming off a bad season, finishing fourth in a weak division. The D-backs are young, and again, would provide no opportunity for Johnson to win another title. Red Sox, Blue Jays and Orioles fans should welcome the possibility of either of these deals. Because the Yanks won't get face value for a 43-year-old from two teams that are filled with under-developed youth. The whole situation still fails to make sense.

• Congratulations to the Rutgers football program, bowl-game victors for the first time in the school's history. Ray Rice rushed for 170 yards and a touchdown to lead the Scarlet Knights over Kansas State 37-10 in the Texas Bowl. It wasn't the bowl they wanted to be a part of. At one point this year, they were riding high, unbeaten and looking primed for a BCS shot. Regardless, it's rare for a New York-area NCAA football team to experience close to this much success.