More HB

-What was more surprising this past weekend? The Yanks' sweep of the White Sox or the Mets' remarkable 11-run sixth inning rally against the Cubs to comeback and win 13-7? We'll take the Yanks just cause sweeping the defending World champs is a more daunting task than adding yet another blow to how embarrassing Dusty Baker's team at Wrigley Field is. Plus the Bronx Bombers needed all three wins a lot more than the Amazin's needed that big sixth to keep a 12 game lead over Atlanta.

-How brutal are the Cubs? In a game they led 5-0 after three innings, they somehow managed to give up two identical opposite field grand slams to Cliff Floyd and Carlos Beltran in the fatal sixth. An inning so bad that Todd Walker misplayed two balls to help setup the onslaught. So brutal that when Floyd's first homer cut it to 5-2, I had just left for the park Sunday night. At that moment, I figured the Mets would comeback and take the lead. So, 35 minutes after getting in 3.5 miles, I turned on the radio to find Cubs fans mockingly cheering the end of the sixth after their team had predictably fallen apart. You'd think it was some kind of bad joke but these are the Cubs. A team so pathetic that they almost make the Knicks look sane. I really feel for my buddy who lives and dies with those Cubbies. What a nightmare.

-The Mets' comeback overshadowed the latest struggle for El Duque. We've seen this act before. He can look pretty pedestrian in meaningless spots but when the games get bigger in the fall, he usually rises to the occasion. Guess we'll see if he's still got it on the big stage this October.

-The biggest thing that happened Sunday was Yankee closer Mariano Rivera saving his 400th game. He earned it by working two innings against Chicago, notching the milestone in style by fanning Jermaine Dye with a cutter. It's amazing what the greatest closer of his generation has accomplished with one signature pitch. The Sandman became the fourth closer to ever reach 400- joining exclusive company with all-time saves leader Lee Smith (478), Trevor Hoffman (460) and John Franco (424). Rivera has been the one constant for the Yankees during the last decade of excellence- helping them win four world championships, six pennants and eight consecutive division titles. They don't accomplish any of it without Mo. What's amazing is that 10 years after taking over for 1996 World Series MVP John Wetteland as closer, he still gets the job done. Rivera has shown remarkable longevity. He nailed down his 22nd save in 24 chances a night later to keep his ballclub a half game back of Boston. 401 saves encounting until Cooperstown comes calling.

-On the same night Rivera got the final three outs against Seattle, A-Rod struggled mightily in the field making three throwing errors to increase his season total to 16. By contrast, last year in an MVP season he committed just 12. Yes, a foul ball off a toe contributed to the career worst three miscues before being replaced by Nick Green at the hot corner. Still, 16 errors when we're not even in August is cause for concern. You really got to wonder what's going on in A-Rod's mind. The Yankees need him big time these last two and a half months.

-After reading the SI story on Andre Agassi, I believe that's the best piece I've read in a long time. Definitely was the highlight of last week's issue which featured the Mets on the front cover and also recapped Italy's World Cup victory over France. What's amazing is that for the world's biggest sporting event, how little respect it got. You'd think Italy's fourth World Cup championship would grace the cover. Nothing against the Mets. They're a fun team and clearly the NL's best. But baseball is 162 games last I checked. That was soccer's biggest stage. One seems a little bigger. Same could also be said for Roger Federer's four-peat at Wimbledon over Rafael Nadal.

-Congratulations to Gabriela Sabitini and Patrick Rafter on being inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame this past weekend in Newport. Both had outstanding careers and were well deserving of the honor. Sabitini won her only career slam at the 1990 U.S. Open over her archrival Steffi Graf. Had Graf not been around, she would've won a lot more slams. Same could be said for Rafter, who won back-to-back U.S. Opens in 1997-98. He also was a runner up at consecutive Wimbledons in 2000-01 losing to the legendary Pete Sampras and falling to Goran Ivanisevic in a five set epic. Definitely miss his brand of classic serve-and-volley tennis.

-Sabitini was my first tennis crush. She still is the best looking woman to ever grace the tennis court. Don't believe me? Check out this photo from her induction:
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060716/capt.0e09d217c3174b62bf41f5ef8d698ad3.correction_hall_of_fame_tennis_inductions_riea103.jpg

Eat your heart out Maria Sharapova fans.