Pullen's Garage
3060 Quakerbridge Rd.
Hamilton, NJ
609-586-2471
pullensgarage.com
 
The World Renowned
Christmas Eve Club
of Mercer County
Route 156, Yardville
Home of the Greatest 3 Hours of the Year
John F. Bencivengo
Mayor of Hamilton
America's
Favorite
Hometown
hamiltonnj.com
 

First Bank

“Welcome Home”

2465 Kuser Road
Hamilton, NJ 08690

609-528-4400

www.firstbanknj.com

Member FDIC

 

Ed Riley, Sales Manager
Davis Acura
2051 East Lincoln Highway 
Langhorne Pa.
215-943-7000 x 1301
mailto:edriley@davisacura.com 

Mercer Oaks Catering
Jim Hines, President
Princeton Jct., NJ
609-275-9260
jhines@merceroakscatering.com merceroakscatering.com

Fornaro Francioso LLC

2277 Highway 33

Hamilton, N.J.

609-584-6104

fornarofrancioso.com 

Bob & Christine Barrett
REMAX TRI COUNTY
BOB Cell 609-558-1220
CHRIS Cell 609-468-8202
Specializing in Hamilton NJ
www.bobbarett.com
 Bob Smith's

Soccer Academy

153 West Manor Way

Robbinsville, NJ

bobsmithsoccer.com


Ruth Sayer
NT Callaway Real Estate
Ruth sells in Mercer County
609-924-0898
609-731-1204 (cell)
rsayer@ntcallaway.com

ntcallaway.com

Peac Performance Training
Speed, Agility, Power, Strength and More
Sports Performance Training For EVERY SPORT!

Xerographic Document Solutions, Inc.
Bob & Rich Weise, Owners
117 North Gold Drive
Robbinsville, NJ 08691
609-259-3800/
xdsinc.com

 

Game Time Performance
670 Route 33
Hamilton NJ 08619
609-228-3120
gametime-performance.com
Visit us on Facebook

 Michael  Gerstnicker
Team Gersh: A Professional Prudential Fox & Roach
Real Estate Team
609-890-3300 x259 (O)
609-306-3772 (cell)
www.teamgersh.com 
 
Allied Vision Services
1004 Washington Blvd.
Robbinsville, NJ
609-448-4872
alliedvisionservices.com

 

Route 130 Car Wash 
& Express Lube
 Car wash/oil change
 
770 Route 130 South
Hamilton Twp., NJ 08610
609-585-0304

Dennis Maffezzoli
Sportswriter
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
maffsports@yahoo.com
htpreps.com


Medford Strikers
Soccer Club

Rich Fornaro, President

medfordstrikers.com

 

Original's Pizza & Subs
We cater, deliver
and support local sports
450 Kuser Road
Hamilton NJ, 08610
586-6484

 

 

Universal Soccer Academy

Where Champions Are Born

James Galanis, Director

universalsocceracademy.com

 

 

 

Sound Investment
Disc Jockeys
Professional DJs since 1984
djsteveusa@verizon.net
sidjs.com
 

Jo Jo's Tavern

2677 Nottingham Way

Mercerville, NJ

609-586-2678

jojostavern.com


 


Hopewell Valley
Community Bank
7 branches in 6 towns
609-466-2900
hvcbonline.com
Member FDIC
 

J&S Home Improvements
Trenton, NJ 08609
609-695-4400
ing, windows & doors
jandshome.net 

 

 

 

 

Hamilton A's Baseball
Where all the area's
stars come to play!
hamiltonas.com




Michael Dill Photography
609-588-9502
michael@
michaeldillphotography.com

Portraits, weddings, sports
michaeldillphotography.com
 

 
John Blaine Sports Photo
Specializing in
Hamilton Twp.
Special Events
Photography
jbsportsphoto@aol.com
Dr. Pamela Tola
Tola Foot & Ankle Center

Specializing in sports injuries
609-588-5474
hamiltonpodiatrist.com


ComputerEyes, Inc.
Bruno J Martillotti
Expert advice-reasonable rates
609-206-5607
bruno@computereyes.us

 

Door Knobs & Broomsticks 
Renee Guagliardo
President
1-800-555-FILK

SPONSORSHIP
AVAILABLE
$110 for 6 months
$200 for 1 year

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$200 for 1 year
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$200 for 1 year
 

Dennis Symons Jr.  Photography

Sports*Events

Custom Senior

dennissymons.com

Taylor Applications, LLC
Affordable Website Design,
Hosting, & Maintenance
taylorapp.com

ZavSays, LLC

Designer of websites,

logos and print

zavsays.com 

SPONSORSHIP
AVAILABLE
$110 for 6 months
$200 for 1 year
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HGSA Minors
Bielamowicz masterful for R&R Auto Body
         
Sara Bielamowicz is as hard to hit as her name is hard to spell.       Bielamowicz struck out 15 and did not walk a batter in pitching R&R Auto Body to a 2-1 win over Roma Bank. Gaby Onorati and Julia Velkovich scored the R&R runs.  
           In another one-run game that was quite the opposite when it came to scoring runs, Hamilton Dental topped Quakerbridge Radiology, 10-9 as Nina Schirmer pitched four innings in relief and hit a key two-run single. Kasey Giordano threw two innings for the Lady Molars and hit a two run double. Taylor Hawkes clubbed a triple for Hamilton Dental (2-4-1). For Quakerbridge, Nicole Russo went the distance and hit a two-run single.  
                Kagel's Heating and Air Conditioning kept it in high gear with a 6-3 win over Joe's Hamilton transmission. Kristin Hallam struck out 10, hit a triple and scored twice for Kagel’s (7-0).  Additional offense came from Grace Sperrazza (reached base four times) and Brittany Kelly (two doubles, RBI, run).
HGSA Minors
Kagel’s wins twice to move record to 6-0 
          Kagel's Heating and Air Conditioning froze Rita's of Hamilton, 4-2, to move to 5-0 on the season. Kristin Hallam pitched a gem with nine strikeouts, 9 while Grace Sperrazza (3 hits, RBI) and Kelly Schwager (double, 2 RBI) provided the offense.
           Kagel's followed with a 7-2 win over Chez Alice Cafe behind the combined pitching efforts of Michelle Petrilla and Jaclyn Pasierb. Hallam (3 hits, 2 runs), Brittany Kelly (single, double), Samantha Manz (single, RBI) and Pasierb (single, double, run, 2 RBI) provided the offense.

HGSA Instructional-Apr. 23-24
Krauszer helps Sir Speedy zip past Carella’s 
           
Blake Krauszer capped a fifth-run top of the fourth inning with an RBI single, and Sir Speedy erased a 5-1 deficit for a 6-5 win over Carella's Chocolates. Krauszer, Leila Collazo and Aleana Rivera had two hits each in Sir Speedy's second win. Tori Case was the winning pitcher and Olivia Babice earned a save.
          
Natalie Mehl, Sara Szalwinski, and Skylar Adams combined for the shutout as PBA 66 defeated Play it Again Sports, 2-0.  Bella Ertel and Natalia Szezpanski had two hits and Maddie Battaglia had the game-winning RBI. Play it Again’s Rachel Ruch and Jessica Sami each had a hit and Sami made a nice defensive play.             
               Jem Trophies took a 9-2 win over Poor Boys as Shaelyn Harrill and Lauren Coiante had two hits and scored two runs each. Olivia Baldwin added a hit, while Cora Bridgers had two hits and a run scored for Poor Boys.       
                Crysten Wood and Danielle Delisa had three hits each as Nino's Pastry took a 9-3 win over Edinburgh Road Chapel. Jenna Colantoni and Gabrielle DeLisa added two hits each. Madeline Keelan handled the pitching for Nino's.
              PBA 66 edged Poor Boys, 5-3, behind three hits from Natalie Mehl.  Emily Diszler, Jenna Mastropolo and Ali Gutierrez had hits, while Marissa Cooper (2 RBI), Rachel Doan (2 hits) also contributed and Kaitlyn Ferlisi, Meghan Conover, Mikala Fenton, Jessica Hallam, Abby Hoeffner and Natalie Kozemchak had hits. Hoeffner and Jessica Pirozzi pitched well, while good defense came from Jenna Anderson.   Nicole Cerasi, Cora Bridges and Amy Jones had hits for Poor Boys.
              Edinburgh Road Church topped Sir Speedy, 6-1, despite an unassisted double play by Speedy third baseman Blake Krauszer. Tori Case, Alexis Schulz and Leila Collazo all reached base in the first for Speedy, with Case scoring for a 1-0 lead. Brittany Lucci and Cassidy Carroll also collected their second hits of the season.
            Jem Trophies and Hamilton Elks played to a 2-2 tie. Brianna O’Malley had two hits for Jem, while Taylor Thompson and Sarah Lubitsky each had doubles for the Elks.
              In the week’s sweetest game, Nino's Pastry topped Carella’s Chocolates, 7-3, as Miyah Dimao, Marcie Booz, Caitlyn Thiel and Caitlyn McNeil each had two hits while Madeline Keelan and Danielle DeLisa handled the pitching. Carella's got two hits each from Ashley Viesz and Haley Hollabaugh, while Alexandria Calderone added a hit.
HGSA Instructional-Apr. 16-17
Nino’s Pastry Shoppe whips up a couple of sweet wins
            Crysten Wood, Madeline Keelan and Brianna Colantoni each had two hits to lead Nino’s Pastry Shoppe to a 6-2 win over Play it Again Sports. Ciara Donaldson was 2-for-2 with two RBI for Play it Again, while Deasia Rock was 2-for-2.
           Nino’s took a 7-5 win over PBA 66, as Colantoni hit a home run while Miyah Dimao and Marcie Booz had two hits apiece. Danielle DeLisa and Keelan handled the pitching. Sklar Adams had two hits for PBA while Natalia Szepanski had a double and an RBI.
            Jem Trophies took an 8-3 win over PBA 66, as Gianna Bilardo and Kim Buckley had two hits apiece in support of winning pitcher Rebecca Ludwig. PBA got two hits each from Natalie Mehl, Sara Szalwinski and Emily Diszler.
            C
arella’s Chocolates topped Hamilton Elks, 9-3, as nine different players scored and 10 different girls had at least one hit. Christina Weil and Ashley Kinczel each had two RBI. For the Elks, Jessica Layton and Sara Devoy had hits.
             
Emily Croes game-winning hit helped Poor Boys to a 3-0 win over Sir Speedy.
             Edinburgh Road Chapel took a 5-4 win over Play It Again Sports, as Jessica Hallam played strong defense and had two hits. Meghan Conover and Kaitlyn Ferlisi also had two hits, while Marissa Cooper, Amanda Marks, Jessica Pirozzi, Kathryn Truban and Abby Hoeffner also had safeties. For Play it Again, Hannah MacDonald was 2-for-2 with an RBI and Julianne Kaufman had one hit, one RBI and one run scored.
            Caitlin Griggs had three hits and Macy DeBlois added two as JEM defeated Carella’s Chocolates 8-0. Lauren Coiante was the winning pitcher. For Carella’s Jayni Nielsen, Christina Weil, Kara Huchel, and Deandra Adams had hits.
            Hamilton Elks flew past Sir Speedy, 7-2, as Sarah Lubitsky had two hits, including a double, while Elizabeth Kerekes had two hits and an RBI. 
            Note: If any names are misspelled please e-mail and it will be corrected. Thanks.

HGSA Minors-Apr. 15
Peterson does it all for Hamilton Dental
            Kayla Peterson fired a complete game, struck out 10 and went 2-for-2 as Hamilton Dental brushed by Colgate, 11-2. 
            Kasey Giordano was 2-for-3 with five RBI, collecting a two-run single and a two-run triple for the Lady Molars, who notched their first win of the season. Nina Schirmer and Lauren Texany ignited a five-run first inning with RBI singles. Kaley Wise plated the Colgate runs with a two-run double.
HGSA Minors-Apr. 13
Kelly, Pasierb fuel Kagel's Heating/Air Conditioning
          
Apr. 13: Kagel's Heating and Air Conditioning shutout Chez Alice Café to move to 4-0, behind Brittany Kelly's bat (single, double, homer, 5 RBI) and Jaclyn Pasierb's pitching (9 strikeouts).
         
 Michelle Petrilla made three outstanding defensive plays to hold Chez Alice Cafe scoreless. Danielle Anthony also went 2-for-2 with an RBI, while Grace Sperrazza and Kelly Schwager each scored twice.

HGSA Minors-Apr. 12
Bielamowicz fans 13 as R&R rolls to victory    
           Sara Bielamowicz fired a complete game and struck out 13 as R&R Auto Body defeated Joe's Hamilton Transmission, 7-2. Bielamowicz also scored twice. 
         
 Shenera Hampton, Cianie Kubish and Cassidy Wood each an outstanding defensive play and scored a run. For Joe's Hamilton Transmission, MaryKate Madonia had two singles and two runs scored, while Amanda Ferlisi added a triple.
          
 Kagel's Heating and Air Conditioning won its third straight, 11-1, over Quakerbridge Radiology. Leading the attack were Kelly Schwager (single, 2 doubles, 4 runs), Jaclyn Pasierb (3 walks, 3 runs), Danielle Anthony (RBI), and Alyssa Bowling (RBI). Pitcher Kristin Hallam struck out nine.


HGSA winners of the Aquafina Pitch, Hit & Run competition were (front row, from left)  Iliana Nyktas, Morgan Comfort, Nicole Russo and Jessica Angelini. Standing in the back are HGSA mentors Kim Murl (left) and Emily Suto.

Nyktas, Comfort win Pitch, Hit & Run titles
       Apr. 11:
Iliana Nyktas swept the 9/10 age group in an Aquafina Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run Competition hosted by Hamilton Girls Softball Association on Sunday.
            Nyktas won all three events to earn the all-around championship and advance to the grassroots program’s sectional competition. In the 10/11 age group, Morgan Comfort was the run champ and all-around champ. Nicole Russo was the pitch champ and Jessica Angelini was the hit champ.
           As all-around winners, Nyktas and Comfort will be honorary batgirls at the Apr. 29 Nottingham-Steinert game. Nyktas will be in the Nottingham dugout while Comfort will help out the Spartans. 
HGSA Instructional-Apr. 10
Coiante, Houck are hitting gems for Jem
           
Lauren Coiante and Caleigh Houck had two hits apiece to power Jem Trophies to a 7-1 win over Edinburg Road Chapel in HGSA Instructional play.
            Rachael Buckley notched the win for Jem. Meghan Conover had three hits for Edinburg, while Jessica Hallam added two hits, Marissa Cooper scored a run and Jessica Pirozzi and Amanda Marks were strong defensively.
            Nino’s Pastry Shoppe took a 3-2 win over Hamilton Elks 2262, as Gabrielle DeLisa, Brianna Colantoni and Danielle DeLisa each had two hits and Kaylee Whittaker pitched a strong game for the win. For the Elks, Taylor Thompson was 2-for-2 with an RBI, Mackenzie Suosso added an RBI and Iliana Nyktas pitched three strong innings.
            Melanie Flowers played strong defense and pitched well in helping Poor Boys to a 4-2 win over Carella’s Chocolates. For Carella’s, Joslin Skerratt had an unassisted double play, while Jayni Nielsen (hit, run), Deandra Adams (2 hits, RBI, run) and Kara Huchel (hit, RBI) all contributed offensively.

 Business is Boomin'  on HGSA Opening Day

The Hamilton Girls Softball Association held its Opening Day ceremonies at the HGSA Complex Saturday, with Trenton Thunder mascot Boomer (top) arriving to provide support and wish the players good luck. Below, the players lineup along the outfield grass as their teams are introduced (Photos by Ken Weingartner). Click here for more photos. 
Click here for opening-day video highlights and interviews

HGSA
Instructional-Apr. 10
Babice's bat gives Sir Speedy a quick start to season  
            Sir Speedy slipped past Play It Again Sports, 7-6, as Olivia Babice singled in Aleana Rivera and Haley Lestician in the bottom of the fourth inning. Alexis Schulz and Blake Krauszer combined on Sir Speedy's pitching. Jenna Arimenta had two hits and two RBIs, and Rachel Pierce added two hits for Play It Again Sports.
HGSA Minors-Apr.
8
Kagel’s bats stay hot as the weather in victory
         
 Kagel's Heating and Air Conditioning continued its offensive onslaught with a 10-1 win over Hamilton Dental. Kristin Hallam led the way with a triple, walk, three RBI and two runs. Grace Sperrazza contributed two hits and an RBI and Brittany Kelly had two RBI.

HGSA Minors - Apr. 7
Kagel's comes out smoking to start the season
     
      Kagel's Heating and Air Conditioning toppled Roma, 11-1, in the season opener. Anna Kerekes, Kristin Hallam, Jaclyn Pasierb and Kelly Schwager each scored two runs in the victory.
HGSA Majors - Apr. 6

Kukla nips Classic Sub Shop in opener  
        
Kukla Chiropractic took a 6-5 thriller over Classic Sub Shop behind the hitting of Zania Banihani (hit, RBI), Kim Murl (hit, RBI) and Nicole Alagona (hit, sacrifice, 2 RBI).   Pitcher Alison Martino stymied the Classic Sub offense with 11 strikeouts.


Four of the girls who received the HGSA Mentor Award include (from L to R)  Marissa Harrigan, Kimberly Ragazzo, Kimberly Murl and Taylor Lawson.   
HGSA proud to announce 12 Mentors for 2009
         
Playing in the Hamilton Girls Softball Association offers more than just a chance to bat and throw and catch.
       
It offers a chance to help those up-and-coming softball players in their sport and beyond.
       
In 2009 the organization is proud to announce there were 12 HGSA Mentors - Sara Baum, Caitlyn Brugnoli, Samantha Dice, Jessica Fremgen, Marissa Goodwin, Marissa Harrigan, Taylor Lawson, Kimberly Murl, Kimberly Ragazzo, Lauren Salge, Emily Suto and Katherine Whittaker.
       
These mentors provided 236.5 hours of community service to the league during the Spring and Fall playing seasons.  
         
The HGSA Mentor Program provides a way for experienced, older HGSA players to enrich the skills of younger players while accumulating community service hours to meet high school, religious and college requirements. The Mentors serve as assistant team coaches to the younger division teams.  
           
 HGSA Mentors have learned numerous drills and other softball enhancement techniques during their many years of playing fast-pitch, and provide quality role models for younger players that are still learning the basics of the game.         
            Several of the Mentors were awarded the prestigious Presidential Service Award for their service contributions. The PSA recognizes and honors volunteers who set a standard for service, encourage a sustained commitment to civic participation, and inspire others to make service a central part of their lives.
          
The PSA recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain standard – measured by the number of hours of service over a 12-month period or cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime.
            The Mentors have all played fast-pitch softball for several years not only in the Hamilton recreational league, but for their high school and travel softball teams. The girls were outstanding in serving the HGSA softball community and helping to continue the HGSA Mentor Program.

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FISH TALES
(Also known as
Rich Fisher's blog)
Feb. 5 2012
Former GAK player
fondly remembers
coach Nick Wiener

    Feb. 5: Hamilton Township and Mercer County soccer lost one of the most influential men in their rich history this past week when Nick Wiener passed away at age 73.
    The Yardville resident coached German American Kicker teams for over 40 years and was responsible for not only winning championships, but for making better players.
       Chris “Buzz” Barlow, a producer for NFL Films, played for Hightstown High School and the University of Pennsylvania, but learned much about the game playing for Nick on the GAK.
        Chris was kind enough to share his memories of the legendary coach, which are as follows:  
 
      Mercer County lost a great man last Sunday with the passing of Nick Wiener, and the Mercer County soccer community lost a legend.
       In the late 80s and early 90s I was fortunate to play for Nick on his German American Kickers team. I had been playing for the GAK youth team for a few years when Nick decided he wanted me to join the men’s team. I don’t remember how that conversation went, but I’m sure it was something like this:
       “Chrissy…” (Yes, he called me Chrissy. No one else did but for some reason it didn’t bother me when he did it. Of course, I would come to learn that Pete became Petey, Ed became Eddie, Jim-Jimmy, Dave-Davey, and even Nick’s two sons on our team, Nick and John were Nicky and Johnny). . .

        “Chrissy, we have a game Sunday at 2, you’ll be there.” I wasn’t sure if it was a question or a command, and even though I was living in Philadelphia at the time going to school, I made sure I was at the game. I couldn’t say no to Coach Nick, but then again, why would I want to? I would be playing for a coach with a masterful knowledge of the game, and be playing with guys whom I’d admired and emulated for years.
        Nick was a coach who trusted his players and treated them like men. He saw no need to run up and down the sidelines yelling (unless he was after an official). And Nick could say just as much with a glance or a look as with a phrase. But either way, he was going to get his point across, and if personnel changes needed to be made, he didn’t hesitate to make them. It was so obvious how much the game meant to him and how much he cared. You couldn’t let him down.
        When you played for Nick, you would play anyone, anywhere. And for many years, it seemed like we did--from Farcher’s Grove in Union, (which did not have a blade of grass on it) to Perth Amboy—where we played underneath the Outerbridge Crossing, from Kearny to Newark to East Orange. It seemed like we spent most weekends going up and down the Jersey Turnpike.
        But there was nothing like a home game at the GAK club on Uncle Pete’s Road. It was soccer Camelot, and with Nick serving as our King Arthur, we hardly ever lost there. But there was so much more than just the game. After each win we’d be treated to dinner inside the club. We’d replay the game, tell tall tales, and think about the next time we’d be lucky enough to play there.
       My most vivid memory of playing for Nick came the year that we made a deep run in the State Cup and found ourselves in the final at Thompson Park in Lincroft. We gave up an early goal and then had a player sent off with a red card, so we had to play the remainder of the game a man down. Nick never panicked though, and because he didn’t, we didn’t. We managed to tie the game and won in penalty kicks.
       Eventually, Camelot had to end for me. Real world responsibilities like a job and family took precedent over soccer.    
      But I’ll never forget what I learned from Nick Wiener and how much fun I had playing for him with GAK.
    And I’m sure that right now, Nick is in a perfect place, preparing a side to play a game on the perfect pitch. In my mind, that place looks exactly like GAK, and Nick is standing at midfield ready for kick off.
    Rest in peace, Coach Nick.

Jan. 6, 2012
Here’s to those
who never quit

    Before getting to the headline item, I just want to wish a Happy Birthday (two days late) to my wonderful mom, Dianne Fisher. Love ya mom! Good luck in your Super Bowl pools. From what you tell me, they can’t get any worse than the regular season!
    * * *
    I have some new heroes.
     They are athletes I’ve come to respect after a couple of years covering high school swimming (which I never did before this website). You will probably never hear of them by the time they graduate.
       At least not for their swimming exploits.  
     My heroes are the boys and girls who will never be listed in the Top 3 when (if) the results are printed in the paper. Heck, even if they printed all top-five place finishers you wouldn’t see them.
     They’re the ones who finish dead last.
     By a lot.
     Believe me, I am not trying to be witty or sarcastic or smart-assy about this.
     It’s one thing for a swimmer at the top of their craft to bust a gut trying to break a record, win a race or, in some cases, win a meet. There’s plenty of adrenaline to push them and the crowd is cheering wildly, whether they can hear it or not.
      It’s an entirely different matter when the race is over where points are concerned, and there is just one swimmer still in the pool. Everyone is waiting for that person to touch out so they can get on to the next event.
      I’m talking mostly about a distance event since that’s where a swimmer can get behind by a really lot.
      And some do. It would be sooo easy for them to just say ‘Heck with this’ and climb out of the pool before their last lap. What the heck, whether they finish or not, they still get the same zero points.
    But you know what. They don’t do that. They churn and churn and churn, determined not to give up.
    They have the pride and the guts and the conviction to see it through. What doesn’t matter one iota in the grand scheme of the meet, matters to them. They’ve done all the work in practice, they’re sure not going to just give up on it when the actual meet takes place.
    To me, there’s something darn heroic about that. I admire the heck out of it. 
    So next time one of you swimmers is dragging along in last place, thinking no one is watching and that no one cares, just know it's enough that you care.
    And keep it up.
    It will serve you well later in life.
    (Feel free to re-read this during track season, as it is applicable then as well).   
                * * *
    How about Jeff Lurie saying Andy Reid isn’t arrogant?
    During his silly Tuesday press conference Lurie said the Eagles season was unacceptable. Well Jeff, nothing in the world is more unacceptable then the ludicrous comment that Reid is not arrogant.
     All that was left was for Lurie to say "And he's not overweight either, that's just your perception."
      Some day I’m gonna find out just what incriminating pictures Reid has of Lurie.
             * * *
    Of course, there’s arrogance, and then there’s arrogance.
    Tony Mack wants more money.
    Seriously? I mean. . .seriously?
     There weren’t enough LOLs, ROFLs, LMAOs or LMFAOs in the world to describe how hard I laughed when I read that.
     And there won’t be enough oceans in the world to hold Trenton residents’ tears if they actually give it to him.
    More money?
    Seriously?
           * * *
    So, the Miami (formerly Florida) Marlins got Carlos Zambrano.
    Yikes!
    As a Phillies fan, I should fear the Marlins with all the moves they have made.
    But I can’t wait to watch how that whole situation blows up down there.
    With everyone making their (pick one – bold, fearless, outrageous) predictions for 2012, I’ll give you one that I feel pretty good about. That entire Marlins scene will be the second coming of the chaotic Bronx Zoo made popular by Yankees of the late 1970s.
    Only the Marlins won’t win back-to-back titles.
        Just look at the recipe for disaster they’ve concocted.
      First you have Hanley Ramirez, who’s not the most grounded guy to begin with and who is already upset that he has to move to third base so Jose Reyes can take over.
     Ah yes, Jose Reyes. We know about him in these parts. For all we know, he may get a leadoff single on opening day then ask to be removed from the lineup that day and ask to be used only as a ninth-inning defensive replacement or pinch-runner in order to become the first guy to ever bat 1.000 while playing 162 games.
        Now they add Zambrano to the mix.  Here’s a pitcher who hits teammates with more regularity than he hits the corners. What happens when Reyes has a bad day at the plate and dogs it in the field when Zambrano is pitching?
    Ding, ding, ding! There's a right to the jaw, and Reyes is down!  
      One of Zambarno’s most recent fights with a teammate came against the White Sox, and he and Guillen went out to dinner afterward. Guillen calls Zambrano his friend and several articles state he was a major player in getting the pitcher.
      Of course, we’ve all seen how stable Ozzie has been over the years. He has had more bleeped out post-game press conferences on Sports Center than, um, well than anybody! Managerial skills aside, Guillen is about as loose a cannon as there is among managers.
    This, my friends, is gonna be a wild scene.
               * * *
     Sticking with Fish’s Hot Stove Blog for a moment,  I’m going to set an over-under number for local baseball announcers.
    The number is the same for all three of them – 200. What that means is, I think they are going to do/say the following things once each game, and more than once in at least 38 others.  
    Here we go:
    --John Sterling will make non-Yankee fans puke.
    --A bad play will be made by either the Mets or their opponent, and Keith Hernandez will groan and say “You just can’t do that” and be sincerely offended when the game isn’t played correctly. He will do that a lot, cuz the game’s not played correctly a lot.
    --Chris Wheeler will note that it was very important that the eighth hitter in the lineup got on base with two outs, assuring that the pitcher won’t have to lead off the next inning. I’ve also set the over-under at 300 that Wheels will discuss the importance of two-out hits; the benefits of getting them and the emotional distress of allowing them.
    I’ll take the over on all of them.
    Moving onto the national scene, I’ll set the over-under at 3 for FOX’s crack team that no one seems to like:
    --Joe Buck will make an exciting call.
    --Tim McCarver will make an observation without trying to make it sound like it is the most important thing ever uttered in baseball history.
    I’ll take the under on both of them. By a lot.
    * * *.
    NFL playoffs baby. Love ‘em!

    The next two weekends are awesome. Championship Sunday is good too, but it’s cool to know you have two playoff games on Saturday and Sunday the next two weeks.       And besides, Championship Sunday is starting to bug me with the lavish halftime shows that stretch the game out forever, but not quite as long as the Super Bowl.
    I'm sure that now I've made my grievance public, the NFL will quickly move to change things.
              * * *
    Must have been a wild night in Morgantown Wednesday. About 90 minutes after West Virginia’s basketball team torched Rutgers for 85 points, the Mountaineers football team scored a bowl record 70 against Clemson.
    Having been to Morgantown before, I’m willing to bet there were more than a few guys (and girls) doing a shot for every point scored by each . . .and nobody passed out.
          I actually covered that basketball game and had to laugh at coach Mike Rice, who I think is doing a nice job and will turn things around if given the chance.
       Someone asked Rice how far away the win over No. 10 Florida felt after two straight losses. Rice looked at him and said "That's a good question."
     Then he had an expression as if he were going to give a well thought out answer, and he just kind of muttered on word: "Far."  Sometimes less is better. That pretty much told the tale.