MONDAY AFTERNOON GAMEDAY ... THE YANKEES WILL WIN THE WORLD SERIES!?!?!

This may just be the emotion talking after watching the Yankees celebrate last night for the final time (?) at the Stadium, but things aren’t over just yet for the Bronx Bombers. Hear me out, because I know a lot of you are laughing right now. With the Yankees winning 8 of 10 on their final homestand, they moved past the Blue Jays and the Twins in the Wild Card race, and trail the Red Sox by 6.5 games. That means the Red Sox will have to go 0-for-7 in their final games, while the Yankees must go 6-for-6. I know … it’s more than a long shot. But with the final three games being Red Sox-Yankees, then you could really break it down to Boston going 0-for-4 and the Yankees going 3-for-3. That is a little more doable. It also helps the Yankees that the Red Sox are playing the red-hot Indians, who have won six straight. The first game tonight is the big one, as Josh Beckett goes against Zach Johnson. If Cleveland pulls off the upset then it is definitely possible that the Indians could take all four games, especially with Cliff Lee and Fausto Carmona pitching the middle games. Obviously, if it was just a three-game series, it would be a little more realistic. The Yankees play three against the Blue Jays, who have nothing to play for. Likely? No. Possible? Yes.

And just imagine the scene at Fenway Park if that actually came to fruition. It would be insane. It would be playoff baseball a week early. It’s probably not going to happen, I realize this, but if it did, I guarantee the Yankees would go on to win the World Series. Now, just imagine the scenarios if the Yankees hadn’t lost 2 of 3 to the Mariners earlier this month.

GOODBYE YANKEE STADIUM
The Yankees did a great job after the game against the Orioles last night. The end-ceremonies were really well done, with Derek Jeter delivering a great speech. I had the memories of my moments at Yankee Stadium running through my head as the players were taking their lap around the field. I had the privilege of being in the stands for two of the greatest games and moments ever at the Stadium, and I still get goose bumps when thinking about it. I was at Game 5 of the 2001 World Series when Scott Brosius tied the game with a two-out, 2-run home run in the ninth inning and Alfonso Soriano won it in extra innings. After Brosius’ home run, I hugged the guy next to me as the place went absolutely crazy. I was also at Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS when the Yankees pulled off a miracle comeback against Pedro Martinez and Aaron Boone won it with a home run off Tim Wakefield in the 11th inning. There’s a ton of other memories as well: I saw my favorite player, Paul O’Neill, hit a grand slam; I was at the “chant” game as the Yankees beat the Mariners (who set the record for most regular season wins that year) in Game 5 of the ALCS; plus many other games, both playoff and regular season. The “chant” game was one of the most underrated moments as, if you remember, the crowd chanted all night long. I think the score was 15-2, or something like it, so it was a party in the stands for the entire game. Just unbelievable. I’ve been to a ton more playoff games and regular season games at the Stadium. It’s one of a kind and I am not happy at all that they are moving to the new ball park. But it’s all about money. I’ll always have the memories, though.

JETER’S THE MAN
Derek Jeter was tremendous last night and I think that if anyone should throw out the ceremonial first pitch in the first game at the new Yankee Stadium it should be Jeter. Have Yogi Berra catch and Jeter throw. There would be no better way to open the new park.

QUICK NFL NOTES
It was great seeing Bill Belicheat exposed as just an ordinary coach yesterday against the Dolphins. I bet he dreamt of Ronnie Brown running all over his Patriots last night – if he ever did go to sleep. … The Rams are pitiful. … The Giants believed their own hype yesterday against the Bengals, as they thought they could just show up and win. The Giants are a good team, but there not a Super Bowl team, not even close. … The Browns are pitiful. … Lane Kiffin is probably going to get fired today as coach of the Raiders, and after blowing a victory Sunday against the Bills, he deserves it. Buffalo scored 17 points in the final minutes to win the game. … The Chiefs are pitiful. … I hope people in Kansas City realize what a horrible coach Herm Edwards is by now.

FANTASY UPDATE
* This is what Monday Night Football is all about. Not only are the Jets playing in prime time, but all three of my fantasy leagues will come down to the final whistle. The biggest problem is that I have a ton of Chargers on my teams. In the CBS league (the big one) I’m down by 10 points with LaDainian Tomlinson still to go. My opponent has Thomas Jones. Of course, the dilemma here is that Tomlinson is injured and I have a big choice of whether to start him or go with Darren Sproles. Luckily, I have that option after picking up Sproles on the waiver wire this week. The best thing that can happen is LT is inactive for the game, making it an easy start of Sproles. If Tomlinson plays, I still might be forced to start Sproles. It’s a crazy decision, benching the best fantasy player of the past several years, but it may come to that. Now, if my players had a better day on Sunday, we wouldn’t be talking about this. Plus, why in the world did my opponent start 49ers QB J.T. O’Sullivan over Peyton Manning? O’Sullivan got 22 to Peyton’s 11. If he just started Peyton, which he had to take in the first round, I’m up one going into tonight. What the hell? He also got 29 points from the Ravens. Thank God I have Matt Forte, who got 20 points and kept me in the game. Donovan McNabb killed me, though, scoring just 11. Anyway, what would you do – start Sproles or Tomlinson? It’s a big question.

* In the Yahoo league, I’m up by four points going into tonight. I have the Chargers defense, Antonio Cromartie and Shaun Phillips to play, while my opponent has Antonio Gates, Darrelle Revis and Calvin Pace. Got big days from Drew Brees and Maurice Jones Drew, but only one point from Brian Westbrook, which makes this game a dog fight (and not in the Michael Vick way).

* In the EPSN league, I’m down by 12 points with Nate Keading and Brett Favre to play. My opponent (who happens to be Press writer Johnny Burnham) has Antonio Gates. Quarterbacks only get four points for a TD throw in this league, for some reason, so it’ll be a lot harder than getting the usual six. Favre can help me out in a couple of ways tonight. If he throws a ton of TD passes, then I’ll probably win this game, and Thomas Jones won’t get a TD, which helps in the CBS league.

TONIGHT IS FAVRE’S NIGHT
This could be the night Brett Favre finally arrives as Jets quarterback. The Jets must open the playbook and let Favre chuck the ball downfield all night long. I think they will and I think Favre will have a huge night.

(AP photos of Derek Jeter, top, Mariano Rivera, middle, and Jorge Posada and Yogi Berra, last)