Wasn't it less than a month ago that Jets' fans were worried about making the playoffs and Giants' fans were worried about where the championship parade would be? What a difference a couple of weeks make I guess.

One of the coolest things about doing what I do is listening to fans lament or gloat about their teams. Cooler heads almost never prevail when talking about your sports teams.

My guess is a couple of weeks from now probably those same fans how have jumped off the Giants' bandwagon will probably jump back on with a couple of wins.

I love this stuff.

If the reports are true that the Empire State Games are canceled, I, for one, will be disappointed.

I truly understand the climate of the economics of the state. But that doesn't make the situation any less sad. I know many people around these parts very-much look forward to participating each year.

I remember the excitement when the Hudson Valley hosted the games a few years ago and I remember the disappointment when the games, scheduled to return to the area a couple of years ago, were canceled because of money.

The Empire State Games were the closest thing anyone around here will get to competing in an Olympic-style competition.

If the reports the Games are finished are true, let's hope it's only temporary. If indeed it's over for good, the Empire State Games will surely be missed.

As unseemly as the whole story around Tom Tegeler has been, I for one am pleased that a potential outcome never materialized.

Five days after the veteran New Paltz football coach was arrested for DWI, New Paltz superintendent Maria Rice declared he could coach Friday night's regional semifinal against Croton-Harmon. Rice made the decision about eight hours before kickoff.

Now let me make this clear: If he is found guilty, I do not condone what Tegeler was charged with and I do believe some sort of punishment would be needed if he indeed is found guilty.

But if the decision was to not allow Tegeler to coach after letting this situation fester for nearly a week before making that call would have been unfair to the team.

No matter what the outcome, the kids did nothing wrong and by ripping their coach away hours before the game, they would be the ones getting punished.

Luckily, in this instance, cooler heads prevailed.

Is it just me, or have the hits in all levels of football become that much more intense?

From NFL games to college down to our own local level, I've never seen hits that fierce. It makes you wonder what can be done to make things even more safer for especially the kids.

I know officials try to enforce the rules even more closely with an eye on safety, but even that might not matter.

I remember seeing a movie several years ago called Starship Troopers. There was a scene in the beginning of this kind of futuristic football game and when I think of where football might go in the future, I think of that scene.

I'm sure you all have your own examples, but let's just hope -- for safety sake -- football does not become any more violent than it already has.

What a difference a week makes.

This time a week ago, all the pro football talk in this area was about which team is better — the Giants or the Jets. Entering their bye week, the Giants were an impressive 5-1, while the Jets. coming off a bye week, were an equally impressive 5-1.

All I heard on sports radio was what the league would do if both teams hosted its conference championship. Would they play at 1 and 8? Would they play Saturday and Sunday? Would they play Sunday and Monday?

Where would the parade be held? And should both teams take part in it?

After Sunday's Jets' loss to Green Bay, the questions shifted to whether the Jets would still make the playoffs.

The Jets went from heroes to goats in one week. Imagine the talk if the Giants somehow lost to Seattle on Sunday.

My guess is the countdown to spring training would start early.