Port Jeff, happy Friday! Hope everyone’s doing great. Giants vs. Cowboys, and Pete reaches 300.
Giants-Cowboys, I know it’s been talked about endlessly, but I have to say something about the Giants’ big win over the Cowboys in week one. It’s been far too long since I’ve felt this way after an opening-week victory. John Harbaugh brought exactly what this team needed—an identity built on punishing opponents on the ground and attacking with relentless pass rush for all four quarters. Second-year edge rusher Abdul Carter was the unsung MVP, drawing multiple holding penalties and forcing the quarterback into quick decisions, one of which led to an interception. Jaxson Dart looked outstanding to start his second season, as did HB Cam Skateboo. Malik Nabers finally returned to the field for the G-Men after nearly a year sidelined with a knee injury suffered against the Chargers last October. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this good about a Giants team led by someone other than Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning.
Pete hitting 300 is a big milestone, and while this topic has been covered plenty here, I have to share my take. What I saw from the Mets and their fans during the series with the Orioles felt a bit over the top. Nobody loved Pete Alonso more than I did—he’s the kind of player Mets fans dreamed about for years. Seeing him go, and more importantly who David Stearns replaced him with, is something many of us, myself included, will never get over. But he’s not a Met anymore, and no matter what happens on the field, you’ve got to root for your team. The Mets could be 0–162 and I’d still cheer my heart out every game, just like I did tonight. In his final season covering the Mets, Howie Rose will call his last game at Citi Field this weekend. For all the great moments he’s given us, it’s a shame to see him go out like this, doing all he can for a team that’s completely out of it. We’ll all miss him dearly, and whenever I hear the name Howie Rose, I’ll always think of the Mets. Gotta believe, Howie—thanks for all the memories, and as always, let’s go Mets.
