The Good
Let’s start at the beginning. Michael Strahan popped out of a giant Vince Lombardi Trophy (thank god he was wearing clothes) with the real thing. Yes, the Giants are defending Super Bowl champs, and the crowd at the Meadowlands finally got to enjoy it. As for the game, the Giants started right where they left off last season, dominating the first half and staying in control the rest of the way. Should they have won 28-0? Probably. But a win is a win, especially a division win. They came roaring out of the gate, with an 84-yard opening drive and capped it off with Eli Manning rushing for a touchdown on a naked bootleg. And they scored, albeit all field goals, on their next three possessions.
Plaxico Burress, fresh off his signing a five-year $35 million contract, had a huge game. With all …

For 45 years the Mets and Phillies never had a rivalry, despite their close physical approximation and being in the same league and division (since 1969). The problem has been that for the most part they just haven’t been good at the same time. When the Phillies were winning, the Mets were at the bottom, and vice versa.
But finally, we have a full flat-out rivalry. Phillies fans hate Jose Reyes because of his handshakes and high jinks and Billy Wagner because he’s, well, Billy Wagner. Mets fans hate Jimmy Rollins because he’s constantly whining and crying about the Mets and Shane Victorino because of his taunting and celebratory antics. Rollins recently made comments about getting extra motivation playing against the Mets because of their shenanigans (hey, Jimmy, you’re 5-10 against them and can’t be bothered to show up for …

Let’s drift back to 1978. The TV show Lou Grant captured the nation’s collective conscious, as evidenced by children everywhere naming their imaginary friends ‘Ed Asner.’ Teenage boys were dying their hair red as Ralph Malph Mania was at an all-time high. And ‘Captain Stubing’ topped ‘Bubba’ as the most popular nickname for high school football players. Musically, the Bee Gees showed us how important having chest hair is for a nation to feel good about itself. And at the movies, America couldn’t get enough of 35-year-old, singing, dancing teenage delinquents in Grease, and 30 years later I’ve proven Animal House’s point that you can get through life fat, drunk and stupid.
While American culture was at its zenith, the New York Mets were hitting rock bottom. They finished in last place for the second of three consecutive seasons. And they had the worst record in the National League, with a 66-96 …

The Mets entered their series in Milwaukee with a slim one-game edge over the Phillies. When it was over they snuck out of Wisconsin with a three-game sweep and a three-game lead over the Phils. With Milwaukee legend Bob Uecker up in the TV booth and an aging Fonzie, resorting to selling peanuts in the stands and still living above Mr. C’s garage, looking on, here’s what happened.
Monday, Mets 4-2: Delgado Blasts Way to Win 
I guess it’s time to stopped being surprised by anything Carlos Delgado does anymore. After Daniel Murphy led off the eighth with a double, Delgado stepped up to the plate and smashed a two-run blast that proved to be the game winner. Carlos Beltran followed with a single and Ryan Church drove him in with a double for an insurance run. Beltran would leave the game after bruising his knee while sliding …

Here are the answers to yesterday’s quiz.
1. Frank Gifford has scored the most touchdowns in Giants history, with 78.
2. The Giants all-time leading scorer is Pete Gogolak, with 646 points.
3. Phil Simms holds the Giants record for most career rushing yards for a QB, with 1,252.
4. In 1967, Fran Tarkenton set the Giants single-season rushing record for QBs when he ran for 306 yards.
5. Rodney Hampton rushed for over 1,000 yards five times in his career, from 1991–’95.
6. Bob Tucker holds the record for most career receiving yards as a tight end, with 4,376.
7. In 1953, Frank Gifford threw six passes, had 18 receptions, rushed …

The New York Giants have been around since 1925, and have won three Super Bowls. See how much you know about this storied franchise. The answers will be posted tomorrow.
1. Who has scored the most touchdowns in Giants history?
2. Who is the Giants all-time leading scorer?
3. Which QB rushed for the most career yards as a Giant?
4. Which QB rushed for the most yards in a season?
5. How many times did Rodney Hampton rush for over 1,000 yards?
6. Who holds the Giants record for most career receiving yards as a tight end?
7. Which player threw at least one pass, caught a pass, rushed for over 100 yards, kicked an …

The Mets go to Milwaukee for a bratwurst and beer fest (and will try to squeeze in three games at Miller Park while they‘re there). They have a one game lead over Philadelphia in the standings. And reinforcements are on their way, as they called up nine players now that rosters can be expanded (Jon Niese, Bobby Parnell, Carlos Muniz, Al Reyes, Ricardo Rincon, Marlon Anderson, Argenis Reyes, Ramon Martinez and Gustavo Molina). The first game features an old-fashioned pitcher’s duel between Johan Santana and Ben Sheets. Niese will make his major league debut tomorrow. And the Mets will miss CC Sabathia, who may or may not have thrown a no-hitter yesterday. The Mets are 1-2 against Milwaukee this season.

The Brewers are making a bid for their first playoff appearance since 1982. After contending last year until they faded at the end, this season they have a commanding five-and-a-half-game lead in the wild card race. Milwaukee has only made the playoffs twice in their 40-year …

The Mets went from raucous Philadelphia to listening to crickets chirping in the stands of Dolphin Stadium. They started the series one up on the Phils. And that’s where they stand now. Here’s what happened.

Friday, Mets 5-4: Thanks, Kevin Gregg

The Mets were one pitch away from losing a sluggish 2-1 game, when Luis Castillo singled up the middle. Then David Wright singled to left. Carlos Delgado was hit in the leg. And Carlos Beltran took the first pitch he saw and deposited it into the right field stands. And just like that the Mets were leading 5-2. Marlins closer Kevin Gregg couldn’t have set himself on fire any faster. But it wasn’t over yet. Luis Ayala recorded a “John Franco save” by allowing two runs of his own and stranding runners on second and third. Yes, you actually get a save for that. Beltran also picked up a sacrifice fly in the first to drive in all five Mets runs. Oliver Perez walked five in six innings of work …

The Good
Eli Manning (16 for 30, 281 yards, 2 TD, 0 interceptions in three games) did not get hurt. He didn’t get the flu. He didn’t retire. He didn’t change his name to Dave Brown. Sure, he won the Super Bowl last year but he still needs to be more consistent on a game to game basis. But after last season, his confidence level and leadership abilities have to be much higher. I doubt anybody’s laughing at him anymore - right, Tiki?
The Giants look like they may have struck gold with first-round pick Kenny Phillips. The rookie safety likes to hit, and hit hard. Just ask the offense after a practice. He definitely softens the blow of the Gibril Wilson defection.
The three-headed running attack of Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw and Derrick Ward is healthy (and Danny Ware had …

The first-place Mets go down to Del Boca Vista to take on the Marlins for a three-game weekend series. The Mets are 7-5 against the Florida this season. After staying in the thick of things with the Phils and Mets, the Marlins have been fading in August and are now six games out. Their closer, Kevin Gregg, hasn’t helped their cause with a few monumental blown saves. Is he auditioning for the Mets? Luis Castillo is Florida’s all-time leader in games played, at-bats, hits, runs scored, triples, walks, stolen bases and sacrifices. He has his whole career backwards, though. He spent his youth in Florida and has retired in New York.
Tonight’s game will be the first for the Mets using the new instant replay rule. Hopefully things will go smoother than when they tested it out in the minors earlier in the year. One of the umps didn’t get the rules …

Here are the answers to yesterday’s quiz.
1. The Mets won 94 games in 2000.
2. Four players hit more than 20 home runs for the Mets that year: Mike Piazza (38), Edgardo Alfonzo (25), Robin Ventura (24) and Todd Zeile (22).
3. Mike Piazza was the only Met to drive in over 100 runs in 2000, with 113.
4. Al Leiter led Mets pitchers with 16 wins.
5. The Mets traded Jesse Orosco to St. Louis for Joe McEwing on March 18, 2000.
6. Benny Agbayani hit his game-winning home run in game three of the Division Series off Giants pitcher Aaron Fultz.
7. In the Championship Series, Mike Hampton was 2-0 with …

What doesn’t kill them will only make them stronger. Devastating loss? Who cares? The Mets turned the tables on the Phillies, scoring four runs with two outs in the eighth inning, winning by a score of 6-3. The Mets are disappointing people everywhere by refusing to collapse. They’re now on top of the NL East again by a half game.

Carlos Delgado was a monster in this game. He warmed up with an RBI single in the first inning. I was almost hoping the Mets wouldn’t score in the first. It might jinx them. In the sixth, Delgado drove one into the right field stands. And with two outs in the eight, he smashed an opposite field homer to tie the game. Is it crazy to think he might be creeping up in the MVP race? He’s now hit 30 home runs 11 times in his career After the first baseman knotted the score at three, Carlos Beltran (three hits) singled and stole second. The Phillies then …