All I Want For Christmas New York Sports Edition
Here’s hoping my four New York sports teams can bring me some belated festive cheer…
It’s holiday season and Santa has been and gone. Yet the only presents I wanted this year are still to be delivered.
See, all I really wanted for Christmas this year, aside from health, happiness and all the usual stuff, was a guarantee that my four sports teams will embark down a success-laden path over the next 12 months.
I root, passionately, for the Knicks, Devils, Mets and Jets, and all I really want this holiday season is for all four teams to bring me joy and entertainment.
That’s not too much to ask for, is it?
So, in no particular order, these are the presents I would like for each of the four New York teams I root for…
New Jersey Devils - Go On A Deep Run
Out of all the teams I root for, the Devils have given me the most joy recently, and hopefully that only continues.
It looks promising on that front given that the Devils look like legitimate contenders. They currently top the Eastern Conference standings having won seven out of their last 10 games, including beating the wheels off of the Rangers in a 5-0 win in the final game before the holiday break.
The key to New Jersey’s success so far this season?
Defense.
The Devils are a juggernaut defensively, not allowing more than 20 shots in each of their last seven games, which is an NHL record. Having a legit goaltender in Jacob Markstrom helps, of course.
Boasting an elite defensive system, coupled with a core of talented studs in the ill of Jack and Luke Hughes, Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier, the Devils are one of the best teams in the NHL and they are built to compete for a Stanley Cup.
If they can add some more scoring at the Trade Deadline, then I really do think this team will be a problem in the postseason. But, Stanley Cup or no Stanley Cup, all I want from this team is to go on a deep run and start to really establish themselves as a true force in the National Hockey League.
New York Mets - Build On 2024
The 2024 Mets delivered a magical season for the ages. From the dark days of May, where they finished the month as one of the worst teams in baseball, to reaching the NLCS, last year’s team was truly special.
On the back of a special run, the front office went all out and signed superstar free agent Juan Soto to a history-breaking, record-making contract. Soto is a generational hitter and he automatically makes this team a contender.
Plus, with LHP Sean Manaea back, and more moves to come, the Mets are primed to take that next giant leap forward in 2025. If Soto continues to do what he’s done his entire career, if the pitching can hold up, and if more quality and depth can be added to the lineup before spring training, there is no reason why this team can’t go one better than last year and reach the World Series.
Watching the Mets in 2024 was the most fun I’ve had as a sports fan, and I’m hoping for an even better experience in 2025.
New York Mets - Bring Back Pete Alonso
Okay, okay, okay, so I know I’m cheating here by wanting two Mets-related presents left under the tree.
But it’s justified.
Unless the Mets go out and sign Alex Bregman, thus ensuring Mark Vientos moves over to first base, which would be a fundamentally good move, I want to see Pete Alonso back in Queens.
Now, you can make a compelling argument that the Mets would be a better team with Bregman at third and Vientos at first. However, strictly with my fan cap on, I want to see Alonso become a forever Met. I just do.
He is on pace to go down as the best power hitter in franchise history - he ranks third all-time in franchise history with 226 home runs, behind David Wright (242) and Darryl Strawberry (252) - and he’s beloved by Mets fans.
Okay, so Alonso wasn’t at his dominant best in 2024. He struggled to takeover games and, during the regular season, he couldn’t come up with big hits in the clutch. He hit just .232 with runners in scoring position last year.
But, with that said, Alonso still finished the year with 34 home runs and 88 RBIs. And, when it really mattered in the postseason, the four-time All-Star came up with monster hit after monster hit to help lead the Mets all the way to the NLCS.
With his free agency market seemingly nonexistent, it makes sense for Alonso to return to Citi Field. The slugger has given his heart and soul to this team and, in my opinion as a fan, and also as a writer who covers the team, he deserves to finish his career with the Mets. Plus, Juan Soto is going to need some protection in that lineup, and I’d wager that Alonso could have a monster year in 2025.
So, as far as late Christmas presents go, finding out that Alonso is returning to the Mets would be a pretty great one.
New York Knicks - Rule The City Again
New York is a basketball city. It just is.
As big as the Yankees are, as much as the Giants are historically a flagship franchise in the NFL, the Knicks are the true heart and soul of New York City.
They always have been and always will be.
Therefore, after decades of toiling in mediocrity, following years of mismanagement and embarrassing front page headlines, Knicks fans are ready for their team to take back over the city.
And we could be on the cusp of that happening.
I’m writing this hours after witnessing the Knicks beat the Spurs in a thrilling Christmas Day showdown at Madison Square Garden. Mikal Bridges delivered his first true statement game as a Knick, dropping a season-high 41 points to help the Knicks rally back from an eight point deficit in a 117-114 win. It also ensured that the Spurs and Victor Wembanyama, who did phenom-like things in a statement game of his own, didn’t ruin the holiday spirit at The Garden.
Bridges was clutch, and both he and the Knicks showed a lot in a gutsy win. In a slow, disjointed start for both player and team, Bridges and the Knicks are starting to lock in and look dangerous.
With Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns, who leads the entire NBA in rebounds per game with 13.7, the Knicks are loaded and, offensively at least, are one hell of a fun team to watch on a night-to-night basis. In other words, they are a perfect League Pass team.
If they can just deepen their bench, and figure it out defensively on a more consistent basis, then this Knicks team should be able to make some major noise in the playoffs. Although, I will say, I still think the gap between the Knicks and then the Cavs and Celtics is a large one.
However, afree eons of rooting for a garbage team, the Knicks are finally good again. They are finally fun to root for. And, if they can go on and do something special over the coming months, then they will truly rule New York City once more.
New York Jets - End The Aaron Rodgers Saga
The New York Jets are an absolute dumpster fire. And even that isn’t doing it justice.
Currently 4-11 on the year, the Jets will miss the postseason for the 14th consecutive year - the longest-active drought in the NFL - and the longest-active drought among America‘s four major professional sports leagues.
Embarrassing.
But, at this point, all I want from the Jets is for the team to end the whole Aaron Rodgers experiment. It has got too much and I can’t take it anymore.
Outside of flashes here and there, Rodgers clearly hasn’t got it anymore. He’s on the wrong side of 40, and the torn Achilles suffered on the fourth snap in the opening game of the 2023 season clearly had more lasting damage then we all first feared.
However, a declining quarterback nearing the end of his career I can handle. It is all the garbage that comes with Rodgers I can’t stomach anymore. The constant attacks on the media. Throwing his teammates under the bus. Refusing to take any kind of accountability for the gargantuan role he’s played in the Jets officially taking over the mantle as the most dysfunctional franchise in all of sports.
The Jets handed the keys to the luxury sports car to Rodgers, and he has driven it straight off the cliff.
So, even if Rodgers finishes strong - which I can’t see happening - the Jets just need to cut all ties and allow the incoming general manager and head coach to start afresh with their chosen quarterback. If this franchise brings back Rodgers after everything, then there really is no hope.
Plus, wave goodbye to Rodgers as soon as the season is done and, maybe, just maybe, you can convince the likes of Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall to stick around and be part of yet another rebuild.
I mean, Rodgers has already caused so much damage that you just need to limit the fallout at this point. I’m so done with Rodgers, and I’m so done with this team. I’m left sick by the whole thing. And, were it not for the Browns losing their minds in trading for and then giving the world to Deshaun Watson, then the Rodgers trade would go down as the worst deal in recent NFL history. But it isn’t all that far behind.
Anyway, if the Jets really want to make my Christmas, they will run Rodgers out of town and turn the page on what has been an absolutely house of horrors over the last two years.
If not, then at least I have the Devils, the Mets and the Knicks to count on when it comes to giving me what I want for Christmas.
At least I hope so.