CC why people hate the Yankees?

Okay so let me get this straight. The New York Yankees, the original Evil Empire (hard to use that term because Larry Lucchino of the Red Sox coined it), just threw the fattest contract at a pitcher in MLB history just days after asking New York taxpayers to fork over more than $100 million in tax dollars for their new stadium? The moment I learned this, I thought of some of my friends that live in New York who are NOT Yankees fans that will be seeing their tax money in part end up in Sabathia's suddenly-oversized pockets.
Now it's known that anyone who signs with the Yankees, especially when their offer is the largest, is automatically deemed a sell out. But when you preach about the importance of playing close to home, playing somewhere where your family is comfortable living, and THEN end up taking the ridiculous dollars, that is truly something to despise.
Sabathia gets credit for being a workhouse last year, for consistently taking the ball on three days rest when the Brewers' rotation was depleted. But now that is all a distant memory. Sabathia has done what sadly was inevitable anyway, but with the dwindling economy, and the knowledge of the Yankees' request for more taxpayer money for their billion-dollar stadium, this has simply pushed me farther away from the game I grew up loving.
I feel secure in saying I'm not alone here.

Hasselbeck sits, cites “conflicting emotions”

I don't care that Seneca Wallace threw 3 touchdown passes on Sunday, nor that former Patriot Deion Branch found the end zone twice. Because the lasting image from Seattle's choke-job on Sunday was Wallace getting decked by an untouched blitzer, fumbling to end a half-hearted comeback effort by the now 2-11 Seahawks. Wallace has, is, and always will be a backup.
Naturally, Matt Hasselbeck sat this one out. His presence likely could have been the difference maker. Instead, the proud Boston native cited an earlier back issue as a means for not having to go against his secret favorite team, the one his father played for in the 70s.
As the Patriots now coast through the rest of their schedule and a gift AFC East title, this is the game we will look back on as the one that got away. The grueling images of Seattle allowing a 4th-and-goal, go-ahead touchdown after having outplayed New England all day. Wallace putting the ball on the turf at crunch time. And most of all, bald number 8 wearing civvies on the sideline.
There is little doubt it was predetermined he wouldn't go in this one. Heaven for bid he took a few hits on Thanksgiving day in Dallas. His absence is eerily reminiscent of the Patriots' opponents last season, when seemingly every week the team it was facing was without several key players.
Lucky for us, that won't be an issue next week when the Patriots travel to Oakland to take on the NCAA Raiders, a sad-sack team in utter disarray. JaMarcus Russell's injured ankle will be a blessing, if anything, as he is prone to some of the worst throws possible.
The overrated Cardinals follow in Week 16, and then the Bills, who haven't found the end zone against a team other than the Chiefs in nearly a month, to close out what once was a promising regular season for Patriot-haters like myself.
Hasselbeck, you got your wish.

Additions of Colvin, Seau raise more than just eyebrows

This is suspicious and disgusting at the same time. Rosevelt Colvin is suddenly cut from the Houston Texans before their dreadful season begins and goes unemployed for three months. Junior Seau, who was never believed to be retired (although ESPN will spin it to make you believe he was, and thus his return is somehow courageous), jumps immediately when Bill Belichick calls and asks "How high?" Seau, the ringless one, clearly has had a desire to return to the Patriots, as Colvin likely did too. I am beginning to wonder if Belichick, who is no stranger to not just bending the rules, but completely shattering them, paid them under the table to avoid signing with other teams in case New England needed them.

Colvin is a very dirty player, who like many before him, has presented a mirage of half-decent numbers thanks in large part to his knowing the opposition's plays before they are run. Seau, meanwhile, is one of my most despised athletes ever. And yet both are back in New England trying to create last year's "magic". Seau was certainly sitting by the phone twittling his thumbs and stroking the large framed photo he has of Belichick sitting by his bed. If either of these washed-up, just-in-it-for-an-easy-ring slimeballs has any impact on the Patriots' stretch run, it should make fans everywhere sick.

In other Patriot-related news, proud Boston native and closet Patriots fan Matt Hasselbeck is conveniently sidelined for this week's game, as is the Seahawks' All-Pro left tackle Walter Jones. That means Seneca Wallace will be called on to slay the demons known as the Patriots this week. Funny how that works. Good luck, Seatte, you'll need it. Actually, "miracle" would be a better word.

Goodell's “International Series” aides Patriots

Let's say you're the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and you glance ahead to your schedule opponents for next season. You know you're playing the AFC and NFC East in addition to the regular brutal slate of divisional games in the NFC South. Tough sledding. At least one of your toughest games, against the New England Patriots, is at home – right?
Wrong. Because greedy, money-hungry commissioner Roger Goodell needs extra pocket cash so once a year, a team gets shafted out of a home game and gets to “host” an opponent overseas. Unfortunately for football and the Buccaneers' fans, their toughest opponent will no longer have to face the Bucs on their home turf, but rather at a “neutral” site. And let's face it, with the Patriots and their never-ending horde of bandwagoners, there's never such thing as a “neutral” site.
So to sum up, the Patriots don't have to play one of their toughest road games so the commissioner can make a few extra bucks he doesn't need. Conveniently when selected two teams, he miraculously picked this matchup, instead of, say, the Detroit Lions, who could probably play on the Moon while their opponents have no oxygen masks and still not have an advantage.
My opinion of it, Patriots-biased or not, is that this idea royally sucks. Not only does one team have to forfeit a home date, but their opponent gets one of their road games played at a neutral site. The Dolphins, they of 1-15 infamy in 2007, and the Saints, they of missing out on the playoffs yet again, have been victimized by it. Now it's the Buccaneers turn. Advantage, as usual, Patriots.