Charlie Voelker

Much of America wakes up to see Michael Strahan's smile greeting them, as they ready for their work day on Good Morning America. Yes, football fans know him a little better, seeing him as part of the Fox Sports halftime team each Sunday. Strahan is a natural on television. He was also a natural on the football field. Sunday, the New York Giants franchise declared that he was so good, no player will ever where his iconic number 92 again.

Most years you could save 30% percent and get Free Shipping when shopping mets.com on Black Friday. Who cares? When your team disappoints you, do you really want to spend more money on a friend that continually kicks you when you're down? This Black Friday was different for Mets fans. The enjoyment of being a blue & orange loyalist was free, 'free agents' that is.

The American League Cy Young Award winner was announced on Wednesday night and the winner was not a member of the New York Yankees. Toronto left-hander pitcher, Robbie Ray snagged the 2021 award given to the best pitcher of the year in their respected leagues, as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America. But was that the right choice? The pitcher with the most wins in the American League wore pinstripes?

Not a lot can be gained by rookie quarterback Zach Wilson returning behind center in an NFL game, until new head coach Robert Saleh and general manager squarely on the hot seat, Joe Douglas are positive he is ready. They appear to be making the right decision. The young quarterback can gain more from the sidelines for now.

ESPN's Jeff Passan is reporting that New York Mets right handed pitcher, Noah Syndergaard and the Los Angelas Angels are agreeing to a 1 year $21 million dollar offer. The Mets did extend Syndergaard a qualifying offer that he has until tomorrow to accept. We will keep you updated.

It's strange when history repeats itself. When ugly history repeats itself, it can be depressing. Do you remember U.S. Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan? She was attacked prior to the U.S. Figure Skating Championships by a man named Shane Stant, who was hired by Kerrigan's teammate Tonya Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, in January of 1994. Gillooly conspired with Harding to have Stant strike Kerrigan across the knee with with essentially a small bat. Well on Wednesday, the Professional Women's Soccer world was hit with a similar story.

Sunday night, Major League Baseball handed out their 2021 Gold Glove winners. On the list of potential winners, was two time trophy winner, Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets. Better luck next year. Brandon Crawford, who led his San Francisco Giants to the top of the National League West with 106 victories was voted this year's NL shortstop extraordinaire.

The Buffalo Bills are currently the best team in the AFC, maybe even in the NFL, according to some. The one thing that the Bills want is a new home. As reported on 104.5 The Team, over the past several months, the Buffalo NFL franchise has been negotiating with the State of New York and Erie County on who will pay for how much of the new facility and how much will be levied on the taxpayers.

As a parent, it is amazingly cool when your child does something that you are really proud of. It is not unusual for parents to become overwhelmed with emotional pride. So, when Mike White was named the New York Jets starting quarterback this week to replace their injured "franchise" Zach Wilson, White's parents were incredibly proud. When the 2018 5th round pick out of Western Kentucky led the Jets to an improbable victory over the Cincinnati Bengals yesterday and the Met Life crowd erupted in chanting "Mike White, Mike White, Mike White..," well that was a new level of emotion for the QB's parents.

My perspective may be tainted from working in mid-major Division I college athletics for a long time. I do believe in free enterprise. However isn't high school, even more than college is about educating our youth enabling them to be better adults? Should we have a 14 year old thinking about making a profit on his or her basketball skills or using those abilities to help make their team better? I'm not sure there is a right or wrong answer with this one. I just know it begs a question.