Catching up

Finally back in a blogging groove. Since Moose called it quits, business has picked up. Where should I start?

How about CC Sabathia, who is a physical and some minor legal stuff from officially becoming a New York Yankee? Brian Cashman and Co. had their eyes on the prize and nothing, neither Sabathia's preference for California nor swinging a bat, and especially a few dollars and cents, was going to stop him. Cashman's dogged pursuit — he flew from Las Vegas to San Francisco to meet with Sabathia and his wife near the couple's Vallejo, Calif., home — apparently was the clincher.

Oh, there's also the $160 MILLION in Yankee money over seven years Sabathia will receive. Nobody in their right mind can turn down that amount of money. Let's hope Sabathia's heart is really in New York City and he show that at age 28 he's in the prime of his career. His pitching numbers the past two seasons are 19-7, 3.21 ERA, 241 IP and 209 strikeouts in 2007 (that won him a Cy Young). The following year, he went a combined 17-10, 2.70, 235 IP and 251 Ks. Don't forget how he carried the

Brewers on his broad shoulders to their first playoff appearance since 1982.

There are risks with Sabathia. The Yankees have more work to do, writes Steven Goldman, and long-term contracts have historically not worked out well, writes Joe Auriemma. I would have liked to seen the Yankees give Mark Teixeira the mega bucks and bring Derek Lowe, Ben Sheets, Oliver Perez, Jon Garland and the like on board. But I have no gripes with CC in pinstriped either. This guy is a proven horse who is only getting better. I see him doing great things in the Bronx. The numbers may not show it, but you will see Sabathia wear his heart on his sleeve.

There is trouble brewing in Rangers camp, to the point where Jonathan Ragus of Ranger Nation is calling for Tom Renney's head. That's not the solution. Renney is a good coach who's gotten the Rangers to the playoffs every full season under his leadership, but before the start of the season I wrote that the Rangers either get to the Eastern Conference Finals or only then would Renney be in serious trouble. That said, Renney has made some strange decisions of late and recently angered the normally placid Henrik Lundqvist. Hopefully this won't blow up into a bad soap opera.

I wrapped up a "Where are they now?" feature with Jerald Sowell for Jets Confidential last week and awaiting my next assignment. Jerald was as tough as they come, but one game needed his teammate and idol, Curtis Martin, to tell him not to give up on him.

The UFC is busy this month beginning with tonight's "Fight to the Troops" and Saturday's Ultimate Fighter Finale. I have Phillipe Nover defeating Efrain Escudero and Vinny Magalhaes over Ryan Bader. Some other good fighters are on this show from the promising (Anthony Johnson) to the ticking time bomb (Junie Browning). Browning is billed as "The Lunatic." You think?

Browning's coach tried to see his protege from a different point of view during our conversation awhile back. Browning is currently training with Xtreme Couture. If "The Natural" can't straighten him out, no one can. Frank Mir certainly couldn't handle him.

Speaking of Mir, he gets a shot at Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and the interim heavyweight championship at the year's biggest show Dec. 28. A ton of great fights on this card, including Matt Hamill Vs. Reese Andy. I have a four-part series on "The Hammer" debuting next week with new information on his movie project and why people care about him besides his inspiring plight as a deaf fighter.