Knicks Talk with Alan Hahn

When we first started having media people as guests three years ago, the very first writer to join us was Newsday's Alan Hahn. That was back when he was the beat reporter covering the Islanders. For the past two seasons, he's been on the Knicks beat. No matter what team he's covering (even 4 or 5 different ones during the NHL Lockout), he always makes for lively--and honest, verrrry honest--discussion. Just check out his Knicks Fix blog for samples of his no-pulled-punches style.

Last night, Alan was kind enough to join us again. Please go to http://hosted.filefront.com/patchyfogg or simply click here for the audio of the 39+ commercial-free minute interview.

Welcome Yankee Fansites

I've posted links to the interview on the following Yankee websites of which I'm a member:



Pinstripes Plus/Scout.com


ProSportsDaily


The Yankees Board


The Yankee Zone


On The Bench


Baseball-Fever.com


Behind the Bombers


If you know of any others, please feel free to post the link to the article and we will list them here. (We're completely commercial-free, so we've got nothing to sell)



Thanks!

Kat O'Brien Interview Now Up on the Web

First off, we want to thank Ms. Kat O'Brien for joining us on Sports Talk tonight. It was her first appearance with us, and she was an absolute natural. She even gave us verbatim quotes from an interview that she had conducted with Hank Steinbrenner just before coming on with us.

The interview is now up at http://hosted.filefront.com/patchyfogg

You may also listen to it by clicking here.

The interview is 28+ commercial-free minutes of nothing but Yankees talk and is in MP3 format.

Newsday's Kat O'Brien Joins Us Live Tonight

We will be joined by Newsday's Yankees beat reporter Kat O'Brien tonight at 10:15PM on Long Island's 90.3FM. And, get this, she'll be coming to us live from Nashville (site of the GM Meetings, for those keeping track at home)!

For those in the listening area, we do hope that you'll give us a listen. This will be Kat's first appearance on our show, and we hope it's one of many to come.

The interview will be available at http://hosted.filefront.com/patchyfogg or by clicking here very soon after the show has concluded.

We thank Ms. O'Brien for the generosity of her time.

P.S. Kat and I share an alma mater--except I'm old.

2 Worthwhile Charity Events This Weekend

Two of our listeners have asked us to mention some charity functions with which they are involved this weekend. And, as you know, we at Sports Talk are all about giving back to the community. Heck, we don't get paid one red cent to put on our show, so you know that volunteering is in our lifeblood. And, most importantly, 'tis the season.

These events are both on Saturday December 8th:

Over at Fuzzy's in Bellerose (right on the Queens/Nassau Border at 239-21 Braddock Avenue), you can catch the band (I've heard them play and they're awesome) "Cobra Snake Necktie" and support Fuzzy's Annual Toy Drive for the Queens Children Center.

And, in Westhampton (5 Tree Lane, to be exact), East End Interiors is hosting the "Hamptons Holiday Showcase" to benefit the charity "We Care for Kids" which helps underprivileged children on Long Island.

Deal of the Century?

The Tigers just positioned themselves to head back to the World Series for the second time in three years, and the Marlins have once again bagged themselves a goodie bag full of prospects that should make them a competitor within three years.

While neither club has confirmed or denied anything as of yet, MLB.com and the rest of the baseball world are reporting that the Florida Marlins have traded Miguel Cabrera AND Dontrelle Willis to the Tigers for SP Andrew Miller, CF Cameron Maybin, C Mike Rabelo, and THREE OTHER pitching prospects.

What will trouble most people right off the bat is that none of the players the Tigers are giving up will seem familiar to anyone, and I myself must admit that of the three named players I only know Miller specifically, Maybin vaguely and I have no idea who Rabelo is.

But's let's focus on what I do know. Andrew Miller is widely regarded as one of the best young pitching prospects in baseball. As far as I'm concerned he is the "Hanley Ramirez" of this deal, and could pay similar dividends for the Marlins. Maybin is an OF prospect with a cathedral high ceiling, but never got much chance to play in Detroit with Granderson setting season records and Magglio making a run at the MVP. And like I said, I have never heard of Rabelo before in my life. And then there's the matter of the THREE OTHER pitchers yet to be named. I'm sure the Fish did their homework on those guys, as they are the masters at acquiring minor league talent.

In Miggy and Dtrain, the Tigers have given themselves one of the most lethal offenses in all of baseball AND potentially one of the most well rounded rotations as well, depending on how quickly Willis can adapt to the American League and bounce back from a down year in general.

By combining Willis with Cabrera, the Marlins were able to turn what would have been a monster return for Miggy into a Global Thermonuclear package of 6 prospects. Not a bad idea, considering Willis' trade value is the lowest it's ever been.

And of course, scratch off one more starting pitching option for the Mets, who seem to be more desperate than ever.