Karma or What Goes Around, Comes Around

I told you I would comment on some other things. I couldn't pass this one up. I just saw this article about Somali Pirates who drowned while making away with their share of their ransom money. I found it terrifically ironic, and even somewhat poetic. While I can't fully understand the quality of life issues for those living in Somalia, I think it's pretty safe to say that being a pirate is only acceptable if your name is Captain Jack Sparrow.

Follow the link to the article:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28589921/

Money Makes 'Em Smile

What do all of these pictures have in common? Okay, of course the Yankees jersey. But just look at their smiles! Mark Teixeira has a $180 million-dollar smile. CC Sabathia has a $161 million-dollar smile, and AJ Burnett has a $82.5 million-dollar smile. And why wouldn't you smile when you're making that much money, playing for the most storied franchise in professional sports?

I know, I've already heard all about the Yankees spending so much money, nobody else can compete with them, blah, blah, blah. I just can't fault the Yankees for spending money that they have. It's not like they are in violation of the salary cap (there isn't one) or don't have the money to spend (the value of the Yankees is $1.3 billion) or even that they are spending more than they did last year (they're not).

As a matter of fact, their payroll for 2009 is going to be $20 million dollars less than 2008's payroll. By shedding the contracts of Jason Giambi, Bobby Abreu, Mike Mussina, and Carl Pavano (who's that?), the Yankees freed up $80 million dollars in payroll. Of course, that still puts their payroll in the $200 million range, which is much larger than any other team.

But really, is it about money? The Rays made it to the World Series with a low payroll (around $40 million) and the Phillies won the World Series with a much smaller payroll than the Yankees ($105 million). We know that money doesn't buy championships. You can argue that it does buy talent. And talent is exactly what was purchased in the free agent market by the Yankees this off-season.

Teixeira will put up big numbers, Sabathia will put up big numbers, Burnett will be decent and the Yankees darn well better get into the playoffs. My own expectations are that with the offensive talent they have and the solid pitching staff (Sabathia, Wang, Burnett, Chamberlain, and any other 5th guy), the Yankees should have a 100+ win season and get to the World Series.

While I personally get none of the big money shelled out, and in my own way actually contribute to the Yankee Money Machine, the money does make me smile, too. How can it not make any Yankees fan smile?