Big Ben Tuesday: Who Said It, Trump or Jackie Robinson? Snapshots of the Yanks, Mets, Giants, Jets, Knicks

MAR-A-LAGO, FL It was Jackie Robinson Day in baseball on Saturday. The day when all players on all teams wear number 42 to celebrate the life of the great trailblazer. Meanwhile, Donald Trump was learning the intricacies of US foreign policy in ten minute sessions. Advisors are hoping he’ll only blunder his way into a few more minor bombing episodes in the coming months… Anyway, let’s have some fun. I’ll take a look at what’s going on around town using quotes from one or the other. See if you can match the quote to the man who said it. Who Said It, 42 or 45?

“We had a very good bonding. I think we had a very good chemistry together.”

You know who else has a good chemistry together, the Yankees. About a week ago the Matts and other blue and orange deplorables who hang around this site were yukking it up about the Yanks’ slow start. They were getting way too excited about the Mets beating up on the dysfunctional Phillies. Mets fans getting excited way too early is an annual event as predictable as the fate of the pizza guy in an adult movie. Spoiler alert, not this year fellas.

The Yanks have reeled off seven in a row through Sunday and have the look of an entertaining squad. A lot has to go right with the starting pitching for them to contend this year, but they’re off to a good start. CC looks like he’s made strides in reinventing himself, the youngsters Luis Severino and Jordan Montgomery look poised to step up, and even Michael Piñata Pineda has gotten the ol’ greaseball going. I know, it’s early.

“I am not concerned with being liked or disliked. I am concerned with being respected.”

Respect you say? Are the Mets in danger of being bumped back to coach of the NYC baseball airplane by the Yanks? The injury bug is already chomping on the starters and their impresssive depth is gone. One more injury could be trouble, especially without Bartolo around to carry some extra weight. I think they’ll be alright, especially if the Matt Harvey keeps dealing. But this team doesn’t seem to fit together quite right at the moment.

“I wish everyone, including the haters and losers, a happy Easter”

It was so magnanimous to wish even the losers a Happy Easter. I’m inspired. Speaking of losers, the Rangers are in trouble. Why in hell did Alain Vigneault insist of playing Nick Holden and Mark Staal at the end of game 2 over Brendan Smith and Brady Skjei? They were awful.

Go Islanders!

A load of people on talk radio are blaming Henrik Lundqvist. If you are one of these fans, I banish you. You deserve King Joffrey, not King Henrik. Please report to the Nassau Coliseum for reaccommodation. He’s done his part and then some. What a depressing two games.

“The most luxurious possession, the richest treasure anybody has, is his personal dignity.”

Jonathan Hankins got his dignity, in the form of $30 million over three years. We thought he was asking for too much, but he found a team desperate enough. While I don’t think it’s a huge loss, this forces the Giants need to prioritize this position in the draft. They were already thin at DT.

“After listening for 10 minutes, I realized it’s not so easy.”

This draft is not so easy for the Jets. Do they try to find their franchise QB or do they try to get stronger in the trenches and use this year to see if they have anything in HackenPetty? They have a lot of holes to fill (I already used my adult movie joke quota) and they might be better off trading down and acquiring picks over reaching for another project QB. Other than DT, is there a position where the Jets are set?

“There’s not an American in this country free until every one of us is free.”

Free Carmelo! Why does Phil Jackson continue to berate Carmelo Anthony, diminishing the value of an asset he’s trying to trade? Is he trying to anger Melo enough to get him to waive his no trade clause? Nothing else makes sense. I never thought Jackson would make Isiah Thomas look capable – like what Trump is doing for George W.

Is it possible that Trump is actually a genius trying to unite the country against a common enemy – himself? I’ll reveal the authors of the quotes next week. Come back tomorrow for Angry Ward, fresh off his vacation to the lovely Holocaust Center. Follow us on Twitter at @benwhit8 & @MeetTheMatts and like our Facebook page, Meet The Matts.

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About Ben Whitney 437 Articles
Ben Whitney comes from journalistic stock. Aside from his brothers, rumor has that his great-great grandfather was the youngest brother of Eli Whitney and covered the earliest "rounders" games. Big Ben is also another New York Rugby Club player/pal of Different Matt, Short Matt and Junoir Blaber. He likes film noir discussions, has twin girls and took up ice hockey after retiring from rugby.