Of course I had to post at least one topic on clothes.  No really, now that it’s colder and winter has finally made an appearance, I thought I’d share a few simple tips to stay warm this winter. 

Ok, first thing is not to go outside when the temperature drops below freezing.  Well unfortunately this won’t work and really, I’m only kidding.  When temperatures drop below freezing and the wind chills are in the single digits you will often hear me say "wear layers today."  This simple idea really works well.  By wearing a few loose fitting layers, air gets trapped in between them and that makes you feel warmer.   Outer garments should be made of tightly woven fabric that’s preferably waterproof.  A winter coat with a hood is best.  A lot of body heat actually escapes from your head, so a hood is good or at least a hat.  I usually wear a hood, just because hat hair isn’t a good thing when you go to work- and ladies, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Now onto your hands.  Gloves are a must in winter.  Actually mittens are better at keeping your fingers warm.  You don’t want frostbite and fingers are one of the first areas to get that.  Sometimes I wear two pairs when it really gets cold.  A scarf is also a good idea as well.  Covering your mouth and nose will protect your lungs from extremely cold air and also your nose from frostbite too. 

Overall try your best to stay dry and out of the wind.  These are tips from the National Weather Service.  By using these simple tips to dress appropriately this winter  you will feel much more comfortable and be able to enjoy the winter weather safely. 

There is an old gag from the famous comedian, Groucho Marx: "If Mississippi gave Missouri a New Jersey, what would Delaware?" The answer, as only Groucho could deliver it, was, "Idaho, Alaska."

Well, if the NHL gave every team new jerseys, would they wear them? They answer, courtesy of a marketing agreement with Reebok, is "yes".

If you stumbled upon the NHL all-star game, you saw the future of NHL fashion. It ain’t pretty. The new uniform is supposed to be more streamlined, moisture-resistant and some claim it will make the players "faster" by reducing water and perspiration retention. Sure, and the PF Flyers I begged my mother to buy me when I was seven years old made me "run faster and jump higher". Or not.

Every NHL team will be compelled to wear these new, high-tech outfits beginning next fall. The NHL claims the integrity of your team’s look and logo will be maintained, even if the look of the classic "hockey sweater" is being done away with. The NHL, we should note, is ignoring the fan base, on which all future success of the game depends upon. Hockey fans like hockey jerseys because, well, they’re hockey jerseys, big and roomy, and not an advertisement for Slim-Fast. We like lace-up sweaters and turn-back-the-clock jerseys because they remind us of the game’s great history and tradition.

Several all-stars commented that the new jerseys and uniforms were lighter and did not retain moisture, which is good. Pittsburgh Penguins star, Sidney Crosby, praised them (then again, he has a deal with Reebok. What did you expect? ). But the style of the uniforms gave players a look of video game figures, which to traditionalists, is bad. The NHL couldn’t make the current style of jerseys out of the new material, or do fans need space-age action figures on ice?

Perhaps the least-genuine quote regarding the new look came from NHL commissioner, Gary Bettman, at an official unveiling of the modern style in New York City. "The focus on this was never about fashion," he claimed, " it was never about retail."

Well, Gary, since the new jersey reportedly retails for more than $400, and since the NHL is being paid a lot of money in its sponsorship deal with Reebok, one might suggest you are being a bit…dishonest. And if fans don’t shell out big bucks to buy your experiment in hockey fashion, it WILL be about retail.

So, if Gary Bettman gave Mississippi a New Jersey, what would Delaware?Whatever Gary Bettman says to wear, since he has a deal with Reebok.

     It’s like clockwork– every year at this time as the temperatures drop– we report on people who succumb to the cold temps. In fact in 2004, according to the state health department, 15 New Jerseyans died from hypothermia including 9 people over 55 years old. So, a reminder to take care of those who need us most when the freezing weather sets in. Even short periods of time in the extreme cold can cause serious medical problems. It’s recommended we keep an eye on the elderly and our little ones to protect them from hypothermia. And on a much lighter note– we finally get to use all that winter gear we bought for the season! Stay warm…

Sooner or later the shots have to fall.  Don’t they?  No matter how hard they practice shooting at the Rutgers Athletic Center this season, the shots just aren’t going in for the Scarlet Knights…short range…medium range…long range. Heck, even dunks are hard to come by this year in Piscataway.

Each box score reads like the previous one….Rutgers shoots…and misses.  The Scarlet Knights are at the bottom of the Big East in scoring (59 ppg), field goal percentage (38%) and 3-point percentage (28%).  Only one starter is shooting better than 40 percent from the field and that’s Adrian Hill who’s shooting 55 percent. But the problem is Adrian doesn’t take enough shots.  He’s ranks 5th on the team in that category.

Rutgers isn’t that big, and they can’t shoot. We’ve known this for some weeks.  I feel for the seniors like Marquis Webb and Adrian Hill because they deserve better.  They all do actually, because you won’t find a bad apple among them. In this case nice guys may finish last.

But rest assured Rutgers fans, the team won’t shoot this poorly next year because Fred Hill and his staff won’t let it.  They’ve already signed 4 players for 2007, and guess what?   They can all shoot. Newark East Side’s Corey Chandler is one of the top 20-25 shooting guards in the country, Earl Pettis is another talented shooter from Philadelphia, and West Milford’s Justin Sofman shoots 3-pointers with his eyes closed.  The fourth player?  He might be your starting point guard for the next 4 years; Mike Coburn from Mount Vernon, the same school that produced Ben Gordan.

It’s one step at a time, one shot at a time Rutgers fans.  The shots will fall next year in Piscataway. The only question is who’s going to rebound the ones that miss.

     Happy Homecoming in store today as the Red Bulls soccer team welcomes Claudio Reyna into the fold.  It’s a good move, although one designed for marketing, rather than helping the team per se.  Claudio is, simply put, New Jersey’s most celebrated soccer product.  And that’s saying something considering we’ve had Tab Ramos and Tony Meola representing us before.       

Like those two, the Springfield native is extending his career in the fledgling MLS.  He retired from international competition following the U.S. World Cup disaster last year, played one final season in England and is now coming full circle, ending his career in the state it all began.  This will give the Red Bulls some much needed publicity and Reyna could stick around long enough to see the team move into their new home in Harrison in a couple years.  If nothing else, he gives an identity to a team that really hasn’t had one since Clint Mathis, Eddie Pope and Tim Howard were starring for the MetroStars four, five years ago.

    I thought the franchise made a poor decision in trading away New Jersey’s Eddie Gaven last season (the next star?) because suddenly there was no one on the team that local fans could truly root for.  And when you’re not exactly paying your money to see the quality of the soccer, stars are all you’ve got.  Was the David Beckham move in L.A. really anything more than that?  The MLS is still a lousy soccer league, but at least the Red Bulls have a star again.  Welcome home, Claudio.