Hammer Time and random thoughts

A few random thoughts on what's been a snowy weekend in the New York metropolitan area:

MMAJunkie.com posted Part I of four-part series we titled "Matt Hamill: Raw."

"The Hammer" is a light-heavyweight contender in the UFC. What makes him worthy of him being the choice of Junkie's first spotlight in what we hope becomes a regular series? Hamill is hearing-impaired, but that's only the beginning of a remarkable story where he's not only had to overcome a handicap, but internal conflict. Furthermore, one group deemed Hamill worthy of a biographical movie. From what I've learned about Hamill, there's a much bigger story than initially expected.

I've been on hiatus — I'm enjoying vacation from MLB and YES until the end of the year — but I'm still covering the Yankees. I missed Thursday's big party for CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett at Yankee Stadium, but both subjects provided plenty of reading material. Sabathia's story is fascinating not due to his success on the mound, but for Brian Cashman's relentless pursuit of the burly left-hander and his willingness to do whatever is takes to win.

My favorite anecdote was when he called his agent and told he and his people to stop badgering the Brewers because they were starting him on three days' rest four straight turns. Listen, CC told them, we're fighting for our playoff lives. Damn the lucrative free agent contract. Worry about that in the offseason. This is a horse who demands the ball in big spots and puts the team over himself. Sabathia is the Yankees' bona fine ace, but he won't have to do everything alone. On his side are Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain and (maybe) Andy Pettitte.

Of course, Burnett will be riding shotgun with Sabathia as the Yankees' No. 2 starter (if not No. 3 behind Wang). Cashman took a huge risk with Burnett, who produced his finest season that preceeded an offseason in which he was eligible to opt out of his contract. There's also, of course, his unsettling history with injuries, which along with his guaranteed five-year deal worth $82.5 million harbored haunting comparisions to Carl Pavano.

I'm not in favor of giving Burnett that amount of money for five years, but let's be fair, Pavano neither half the talent Burnett nor a fraction of the attitude. There really cannot be a bigger waste that the four years and $40 million Cashman dumped into Pavano's lazy lap — and that includes Kei Igawa. The latter simply stinks, but at least he tried and didn't embarrass himself or the organization off the field.

Things are far from perfect in Rangers camp, but Tom Renney's crew took two out of three games out west with their lost a hard-faught 3-2 defeat to the Sharks, the NHL's best team at a wicked 26-4-3. They also lost out on Mats Sundin, who accepted more money (surprise) to go to Vancouver. Sundin would have provided needed offensive punch and leadership responsibility to take the load off Chris Drury, but the bright side is that now the Rangers can focus on what's really hurting them once the NHL roster freeze is lifted on December 27.

That, folks, is defense. One blueliner, Marc Staal, is above zero in the plus-minus department (plus-6). Dan Girardi (3-13-16, minus-1) could be better, but has been solid, but after that, whoa boy. Wade Redden, owner of a six-year pact worth $39 million, is minus-4 with two goals and one on the power play, which is why he was brought to New York in the first place.

Here's the best, er, worst part: Michal Rozsival and Dmitri Kalinin, are a combined minus-27. Kalinin, an offseason import, has been shades of (gulp) Marek Malik. Rozsival inked a four-year deal worth $20 million, but he's playing like a fat cat and don't think fans haven't noticed. Rozsival has taken the dishonor previously owned by Malik as the Garden's most hated.