Great job, Moose

Mike Mussina formally retired yesterday, leaving baseball when he still had plenty left. I covered his revelation that his mind was made up in January, his accomplishments on the field and his immediate future right here.

When Mussina played in Baltimore, and first came to New York, he was surly and very difficult. I didn't know him then, but the Mussina I got to know was very engaging and absolutely hilarious. It seemed like every day, especially during Spring Training, he'd hold court telling stories about baseball or pop culture (he's a big fan of everything '80s, T-shirts, movies, music, you name it). Every time I'd laugh out loud, even he didn't intend to be funny. He was also supremely intelligent, gave you excellent answers and was always honest (except in the case of his retirement plans), if you broke through the wall he'd put up.

Mussina had a way of making general conversations very entertaining and putting some in their place. A few of my favorite anecdotes that show both emotions:

2004: We were at Mussina's locker discussing a big upcoming series against the Red Sox when Moose was scheduled to face Pedro Martinez. A reporter was about to ask him about that when Moose cut him off. "No, no, no, no, no ... no Boston questions I apologize." After some small talk the reporter asked, "How come you don't want to talk Boston." Mussina replied with emphasis, "Because ... I don't!" Then he turned to the reporter's notepad, made a writing gesture and repeated slowly, "Be-cause I don't."

Also in '04: When was revealed Mussina would start Game 1 of the ALDS against the Twins, we gathered around his locker and a reported asked if it was an honor opening the Yankees' latest championship quest. Moose turned around and smugly replied, "Yes." Following about 15-20 seconds of silence, the reporter enunciated, "Whyyyy?"

Also in '04, shortly before the playoffs, this story courtesy of my old YES colleague Will Weiss: A local TV reporter interviewed Mussina shortly after Bernie Willams' walk-off home run clinched the AL East. The reporter started the interview by asking: “Mike, you’ve been outspoken this season, complaining about the trip to Japan, you struggled through an injury…” Mussina cut the reporter off and said, “How do you know I’ve been complaining? You’ve been here like 10 minutes all year.” The reporter looked back at the cameraman and asked to start over.

Spring Training 2005: I approach Mussina for a one-on-one. Silly me told him it would be generic questions. He replied, "Then you'll get generic answers." Lesson learned and thought confirmed: Moose is really not a bad guy. I don't remember what we discussed, but we snuck in a few '80s topics.

Later in '05: Reporters wanted to know about Mussina's rehab from an injury. He hadn't thrown yet, and when he was approached for about the fifth time, he raised his voice in mock frustration, "What do you waaaant!" He then gave a demonstration of how he got dressed without any discomfort. It was one of those you had to be there moments.

Spring Training 2006: We do another exclusive about a day when I first arrived to Tampa and approached Mussina and John Flaherty to say hello. Moose extended his hand and told me, "Good to see ya." One question I asked is why he chose "The Zoo" by the Scorpions as his entrance theme. He said, and I paraphrase, "Around here is a zoo. There's always something going on, especially when you least expect it, so you need to be on your toes at all times."

2008: A group gathers around Mussina's locker to ask about Manny Ramirez, his longtime tormentor, being traded to the Dodgers and how it would impact the AL East race. He warmed up, but initially wasn't in the mood at first. "I don't knoooow," he whined. Once we warmed up, it was his usual impeccable analysis and honest appraisal. Later that season, after Yankee Stadium's final game. Moose and I exchanged friendly looks and a handshake. I thanked him for everything and wished him the best in whatever he chose to do next. He gave me a look of appreciation, which in hindsight told me he was out the door without looking back.

Thanks Moose. You were a master on the mound and thoroughly entertaining. Enjoy the quiet life and here's hoping we catch up in Cooperstown.

What offseason?

Only in baseball, only in New York. Newsday's Shaun Powell said it best: "Here in New York, the 'hot stove' puts football on the back burner." In a week when the Jets earned their biggest win of the season and the Giants are 8-1, the Yankees stole back page copy hours before open bidding on free agents began.

Nick Swisher is a Yankee, acquired from the White Sox for Wilson Betemit, and Minor Leaguers Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez. The deal received acclaim from many outlets, including my colleague Steven Goldman. Basically, the Yankees received a poor man's Mark Teixeria, a cheaper and more versatile player who's can handle first base and the corner outfield spots. Logic suggests the Yankees are out of the Teixeria running, but these are the Yankees and they have money, no matter how much they throw at CC Sabathia. I love Teixeria's game and he'd be a great fit in the Bronx, but there's no guarantee he'd want to come here. In Swisher, you for the moment solve your problem at first base and can make an all-out blitz for Sabathia.

Speaking of CC, it's obvious the Yankees want him — badly. Odds are they will get him because they'll trump Johan Santana's crazy contract and the depressing economy will price everyone else out. But again, no gurantees. Sabathia's heart may rule his head enough for him to walk away from Yankee zillions, billions and trillions for him to sign with a National League team on the west coast. Should that happen, so be it, says Yankees manager Joe Girardi. There are other options available.

The Yankees have a new first base coach and Tony Pena will sit alongside Girardi as his bench coach in 2009. Girardi better hope the Yankees do not stumble out of the gate. Should the Steinbrenners decide to act impulsively, Pena, the 2003 AL Manager of the Year with the Royals, is an interim skipper in waiting.

Will Mike Mussina retire? Probably. But he's still making up his mind. We'll supposedly find out next week.

Swisher will be introduced to writers via a conference call as soon as today. I'll have his reaction after it happens.

Memo to Jones: Retire

Saturday night I covered my first live boxing event in 11 years, my first assignment for TheSweetScience.com. Roy Jones Jr. was on the receiving end of a pummeling from Joe Calzaghe. It pained me to watch it, even more to write it, because I grew up a fan of Roy Jones. He's another of too many examples of those holding on way too long for both pride and another payday. What's really sad is that guys like Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe are still going at it, in their late 30s-early 40s and a barrage of punches from brain damage.

Jones is better than that. He's set up for life after boxing and still has his wits about him. He took a beating Saturday at Madison Square Garden and should bow out right now. See for yourself this Saturday on HBO, or DVR it if you're watching UFC 91. 

I started my career covering boxing and attended George Foreman-Shannon Briggs in Atlantic City in November of 1997. The Garden crowd was electric and there was a serious buzz well before the fight, which was turned up an octave when a large contingent from Wales cheered the arrival of Calzaghe, their countryman. Ten minutes later, Jones was shown on Garden Vision and was booed vociferously.

MMA is pushing boxing away from the spotlight of the big hype, throw a party package, but the Sweet Science still gets plenty of attention. The Garden was at or close to a sellout - the 400 section went unsold - and at least 100 media credentials were issued.

Another step back for Leben

I wrote this on October 23 about Chris Leben in response to backlash over Junie Browning:

I bet you these same people hated Chris Leben, who after causing chaos on TUF got busted for DUI and spent 35 days in jail. Today, he's turned it around and put up a credible effort in a loss to Michael Bisping. You hope Leben can keep out of trouble and you hope Browning can follow a similar path, minus the DUI.

My MMAJunkie.com colleagues reported on Monday that Leben was suspended for nine months and fined one-third of his fight purse for failing a drug test. Leben, who dropped a unanimous-decision loss to Michael Bisping at UFC 89, tested positive for the steroid Stanozolol, synthetic anabolic steroid popular in bodybuilding. He'll be eligible to return to the UFC in July.

"I've really done everything I can to turn my life around, and this is a huge setback for me, but it is something I will have to deal with," Leben stated. "During my time off from fighting, I want to speak to kids about the dangers of using performance enhancing agents and let them know it just doesn’t get you ahead in life. Of course this is a hard hit for me monetarily, but more so this is embarrassing for me and for all of my fans. I apologize to the UFC and everyone who supported me in my fight in England. I hope to work through this and get back to fighting soon."

Memo to Chris: Get your life back together, lick this thing and get through to those kids. They look up to you and will listen to you. But first, it's your move.

One more shot for Pavano?

According to today's New York Daily News, it's not speculation. A source told Mark Feinsand that Brian Cashman that Carl Pavano — yes, him — coming back to the Yankees after four years of misery is a realistic possibility.

It's easy to pan Cashman for considering this. Whispers I heard and off during Pavano's tenure in the Bronx was that the general manager wanted to erase the mistake he made on December 20, 2004, when he gave Pavano $39.9 million over four years.

I decided to play devil's advocate and write why bringing him back may not be a bad idea — as long as it's handled correctly. What nobody talks about is that other teams made a big push for Pavano after he won 18 games and became a free agent. The Yankees just happened to strike fool's gold, so saying that it was a big mistake is using 20-20 hindsight.

Would I do handstands if Pavano is back? No. And I would not be surprised if the majority of you disagree. But you're not making a large commitment to him this time. Pitching is at such a premium, you need to have plans A through Z in place. You'd also hope that Pavano has finally grown up, but that's another story for another time.