RIP, Andrew Martin

The beginning of my weekend was hit with the knowledge of the untimely death of Andrew Martin, who competed as Test in the WWF/WWE four days shy of his 34th birthday. For the past decade there have been too many former and current wrestlers who passed away while just in their 40s. Too many good human beings have caved under pressure to get to - and especially stay at - the top of a profession ripe with drug and PED abuse, replete with politics and the circus animal-like treatment without the benefit of a union. Many have campaigned for the sports entertainment industry to establish a union for its peformers. Sadly, that will never happen.

Test debuted in the WWF in 1998 and within a year found himself in a major storyline as the love interest, and later the fiancee, of Stephanie McMahon. Once that ran its course, Test and Albert (Matt Bloom) became a tag team called T&A managed by a sultry newcomer named Trish Stratus. Over the years, Martin would hold the WWF tag-team, European, Hardcore and Intercontinental titles, but despite looking outstanding in spurts would flame out and never took that final step to be recognized as one the company's elite.

Martin's role as one-half of T&A was gaining steam by the time I started with the WWF in 2000. I didn't know him as well as some of the other wrestlers, but recall a conversation backstage at Madison Square Garden while he was getting a massage. The day before the Rangers were clobbered 6-1 by the Detroit Red Wings in the same building. A lot of the wrestlers, namely Chris Jericho, Edge and Christian, were huge hockey fans.

Christian and I were having an extended conversation about the NHL and the Rangers' woes within ear shot of Martin. Although he was the recipient of deep soft tissue manipulation courtesy of an attractive young lady, Martin turned his head to the left and looked over his shoulder towards me with a smile, and softly said, "Those Rangers have big problems, don't they?"

A simple story, for sure, but one that's resonated since yesterday afternoon. I didn't know Andrew Martin well, nor did I speak with him after that day, but he was a small part of my life and one who I'll never forget. It's a damn shame that after Martin will be honored and remembered with respect and dignity, the "show" will go on without anyone reflecting that the system continues to be broken. Alas, nobody will do something about it, and that's sad and a damn shame.

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The Rangers have concluded a 4-1 win over the Flyers as I write this, a nice bounce-back win from yesterday's loss in Philadelphia and are now in a three-way tie for fifth place (80 points) in the Eastern Conference with Montreal and Pittsburgh. I hated the firing of Tom Renney, but this has been a much different team under John Tortorella. Scoring has been up, ditto accountability and a stronger sense of urgency. This week features a showdown Tuesday night in Montreal and another critical game at MSG Saturday night against Buffalo (three points out of eighth place as of this writing). In a race this tight all you concern yourself with is winning and everything else will take care of itself.

Two other reasons behind the Rangers' turnaround: Nik Antropov and Sean Avery. Antropov is 3-2-5 in six games since being acquired from the Maple Leafs. Avery scored twice today and is 4-1-5 in his six games while showing the fire and passion missing from this team for much of the winter. It's amazing how much of a difference Avery is to the Rangers and only the Rangers.

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The Yankees are three weeks from Opening Day April 6 in Baltimore. I've been tracking the team daily on the YES Blog and my colleague, Joe Auriemma will be in Tampa from March 18-28 with exclusive insight and videos leading up to Grand Opening of the new Yankee Stadium on April 3. My first chance to see the building will be the week of the 30th when I pick up my season credential. From there it's a Yankees workout on April 2 and the unveiling the next night. I'll be keeping both a written and pictorial diary, and well as the latest team news and notes, on the YES Blog. That's when the fun starts!

Monday talk

Alex Rodriguez had successful surgery this morning and specialist Dr. Marc Philippon was extremely happy. Under the care of one of the best in his field, combined with A-Rod's tremendous condition and work ethic, Rodriguez should make it back by May and be a big part of the Yankees' fortunes. He'll have a more invasive procedure after the season, but that's for November and he's already been proclaimed ready for Spring Training 2010. The 2 Live Stews from Sports Radio 790 in Atlanta had me on this afternoon to discuss A-Rod, the World Baseball Classic and CC Sabathia, who I wrote last week is the key to the Yankees' chances in 2009.

It was assumed that it would be Rampage Jackson vs. Rashad Evans at UFC 98 following Jackson's victory over Keith Jardine Saturday night, but not so fast. The Junkie crew was all over Dana White's contention that Lyoto Machida still could end up getting a shot at Evans' light-heavyweight title. May and UFC 98 would be Rampage's third fight in five months and White wants to ensure he'd be 100 percent.

To me this makes sense. Give "The Dragon" the shot he deserves and let Rampage fight the winner. Then again, the heat between Rampage and Sugar Rashad after the Jardine fight was priceless. Machida may spoil those plans, but if he doesn't you're talking about month's worth of promotion and hype for what Jackson called "Black on Black!"

Meanwhile, Frank Mir's knee surgery moved his fight against Brock Lesnar to UFC 100 on July 11. The UFC's 100th event should be headlined by a heavyweight title fight.

Back to attack

Back to blogging, at least other things besides Yankees, after a five-day period that hearkened memories of Eugene Levy's line in Splash: "What a week I'm having!"

Monday March 2: The tri-state area gets crushed with 14-plus inches of snow. Yours truly broke his back for nearly three hours shoveling the two feet that was on my driveway thanks to the crosswinds. All part of the wonderful world of winter.

Tuesday March 3: I'm tortured by a wind chill that felt below zero while making my way to work to find out Alex Rodriguez is in the news - again. This time it was due to a cyst on his right hip. Since it's A-Rod, we learn there is much more to this story.

Wednesday March 4: ESPNdeportes reports A-Rod needs surgery and could be out six-to-10 weeks, causing yet another uproar in both YES and Yankeeland. Later in the day we learn it may not be as bad at it seems. Even when it's not his fault, just when you think you have the answers, A-Rod changes the questions. Within A-Rod hell, the Rangers make two trades before the NHL deadline, acquiring Nik Antropov and Derek Morris.

Thursday March 5: Honestly it's a blur.

Friday March 6: Beating a tight deadline, I file my story for MMA Junkie on Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Over the weekend, Jackson defeats Keith Jardine by decision and all parties decide A-Rod will have the surgery, a less invasive procedure that if everything goes right should have him back by May. The rest of the surgery will take place in the offseason.