Good morning, Rat Rock Nation! Davey Mac here with a fresh Sports Report for ya on a Thursday! NBA resumes action! Big hockey matchup tonight! Baseball hot stove! And a “football news story” that you will probably hate! But first…
…Major League Baseball Spring Training is officially here, ladies and gentlemen! Warm weather, hot dogs, beer, good times…baseball is back! Let’s go, baby! Anyway, I posted a story yesterday about how Aaron Judge said the Yankees 2023 season was embarrassing. This led to some fun talk about George Steinbrenner and Billy Martin in the comment section.
Anyway, that got my retro vibes pumped up as the Billy Martin Vs. George Steinbrenner feud is one of the classic and most epic rivalries in all of sports…and they were on the same team! It started in 1976 when Steinbrenner hired Billy as manager of the Yanks. Billy immediately won an American League Pennant that season and then a World Series in 1977. Things were great, right? Well, just one year later…it all unraveled. Billy had major issues with both Steinbrenner and superstar Reggie Jackson…and after Billy felt Reggie wasn’t hustling one day against the Red Sox, Billy lost his cool.
This culminated a month later when Billy gave a now-legendary, impromptu press conference. Billy told reporters how he felt…and stated about Reggie and Steinbrenner that “one’s a born liar, and the other’s convicted.” Ouch! He then stated he was going to resign.
Billy then resigned the next day after the controversy got too big to handle in another memorable and off-the-cuff press conference. In tears, Billy stated it was time for him to move on from the Yanks.
But then…insanity happened! Just a month later…as if it were the WWE…Yankees P.A. announcer Bob Sheppard shockingly announced to the Yankee Stadium crowd that Billy would be returning as skipper in 1979! BOOM!
Steinbrenner and Billy then had a press conference to make it official. And we were off to the races. No one had ever seen this kind of craziness happen in baseball.
Billy would ultimately get hired and fired FIVE TIMES as manager of the Yankees by Steinbrenner. It was almost surreal. Even the two enemies began making fun of it at press conferences.
And then the commercials came in! Check out this classic Miller Lite ad with Billy and Steinbrenner.
And here’s a rare Pepto Bismol commercial with the two icons. Quite frankly, with how many times he was hired and fired by George, I’m sure Billy needed a LOT of Miller Lite and Pepto Bismol to get through the day!
The two legends even appeared on David Letterman to continue their feud…
…and Letterman even got Steinbrenner to PRANK CALL Billy on one episode!
And of course, Steinbrenner (as portrayed by Larry David) went on a rant about managers and Billy Martin in a classic Seinfeld episode.
Ahhh…they don’t make baseball managers like they used to. What fun times those were. I’m Davey Mac…now on to the Scoreboard!
Billy Martin of the New York Yankees looks on during a game.
Baseball Hot Stove
The Yankees’ Gleyber Torres met with the media and said that as he’s going into the last year of his contract, he would like to be a Yankee for life. Gleyber is a two-time All Star second baseman and last season hit 25 home runs while hitting .273 for the Yanks.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 19: Gleyber Torres #25 of the New York Yankees at bat during the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on September 19, 2023 in the Bronx borough of New York City.
Meanwhile, Mets right-hander Kodai Senga has apparently experienced arm fatigue after throwing a side session during spring training and is being examined by trainers, manager Carlos Mendoza . Mendoza said Senga will undergo an MRI.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 27: Kodai Senga #34 of the New York Mets records his 200th strike out of the season with this pitch in the third inning against the Miami Marlins during game two of a double header at Citi Field on September 27, 2023 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.
NBA Tonight
Over to basketball. The NBA regular season resumes today now that the All Star break has concluded. Tonight the Knicks take on the 76’ers in Philadelphia. Big game as the Knicks are 33 and 22 and currently in the 4th spot in the East…meanwhile, the Sixers are 32 and 22…5th in the East…and could tie the Knicks with a win. The top 4 seeds in each conference get home court advantage in the playoffs so the Knicks wants that 4th seed.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 04: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks reacts late in the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on January 04, 2023 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 117-114.
The Nets take on the Raptors in Toronto. Brooklyn comes into the game at 21 and 33…currently 11th in the East.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 02: Mikal Bridges #1 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates his three point shot in the fourth quarter against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Barclays Center on December 02, 2023 in New York City. The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Orlando Magic 129-101.
Hockey Recap
Hockey. The Flyers beat the Blackhawks…3 to 1. Flyer goalie Samuel Ersson had 22 saves to pick up the win.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – FEBRUARY 17: Samuel Ersson #33 of the Philadelphia Flyers warms up prior to the 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series against the New Jersey Devils at MetLife Stadium on February 17, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The Devils and Rangers were off. Tonight…the two teams play each other as the Devils take on the Rangers at the Prudential Center. The Rangers are on an 8-game win streak.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 18: Alexis Lafreniere #13 of the New York Rangers and Erik Haula #56 of the New Jersey Devils go after the puck during the first period at Prudential Center on November 18, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey.
Travis Kelce Goes All Out For Taylor Swift
Football. Travis Kelce spent $16,000 on Taylor Swift for Valentine’s Day . . . including $7,000 in roses. And he just touched down in Australia yesterday to join her on tour.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JANUARY 28: Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with Taylor Swift after a 17-10 victory against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland.
That's Today's Davey Mac Sports Report!
