Spring games begin, WEC 39, Blame Sather

While I work I devoted most of my time to my new pet project, The YES Blog. I've been happy with the contributions of my colleagues, Joe and Glenn, reader comments and the MLBlog community. The Yankees have played only three spring games and excitement is on the rise. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy looked good in their debuts, Brett Gardner has taken an early lead over Melky Cabrera in the competition for center field, and Nick Swisher has made a great first impression with both his patience at the plate and vibrant personality.

It seems like every week there's a MMA show either on Spike, Versus or Pay-Per-View. Diego Sanchez showcased his stuff on Spike last Saturday and on Sunday Mike Brown defends the WEC Featherweight title against Leonard Garcia. Many people still no little, if anything, about Brown even after he shocked Urijah Faber in November. There is a lot to know, and especially like, about Brown. And Faber, despite his rock star status, is extremely down to earth. Here's hoping these two meet again with the title again on the line.

My next assignment should be very interesting: Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. He fights Keith Jardine a week from tomorrow at UFC 96 in Columbus. If Rampage wins, he's lined up to take back the light-heavyweight title from Rashad Evans, who took it from the man who took it from Rampage, Forrest Griffin. Should Jardine win Lyoto Machida gets the title shot. Also fighting is Ohio native Matt Hamill, who takes on Mark Munoz. I've remained in touch with Hamill's camp since penning the Matt Hamill: RAW series for Junkie. Trust me when I tell you life under trainer Duff Holmes gets harder every day.

Tom Renney was fired on Monday. His replacement, John Tortorella, is a good choice and a good coach who won a Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2004. Alas, he was Rangers property four years earlier before Glen Sather decided he wasn't worth keeping and hired Ron Low - and then Bryan Trottier. Sather has completely lost touch with today's game and the mess the Rangers have become is on his hands. The Rangers are 0-2 under Torts with two regulation goals. Yes Slats. It's Renney's fault and not yours.