“Breathing first, winning next…”

That was George Steinbrenner’s mantra as owner of the New York Yankees.

Certainly, that concept has translated to the 2010 Yankees, who have posted the best record in baseball to date – leading division rival Tampa Bay by three games heading into Monday.

But the winning isn’t translating across the board entirely – because for years and years, we expected the men in pinstripes to dominate free agency, take over the standings and reel in whatever player they wanted via trade.

Ding ding ding – you are correct… something’s missing.

It’s been no secret that over recent weeks, the New York Yankees have been seeking an impact starting pitcher to bolster their already talented rotation.

Cliff Lee - who nearly landed in the Bronx - instead was dealt from Seattle to Texas

Baseball has had its share of aces become available throughout the month of July, from Cliff Lee, to Roy Oswalt, to Dan Haren and then some.

Lee was the first to go – being dealt away from a struggling Mariners club and over to division rival Texas.

The Yankees wanted Lee badly – and nearly had him, until the trade fell through.

In fact, the deal was so close to happening, that Joel Sherman of the New York Post described the Bronx Bombers as being “on the brink of obtaining Cliff Lee.”

Here’s the tidbit that’s more puzzling: Not only did the Yankees lose out on dealing for Cliff Lee, they lost out to a Texas team that recently had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

But wait, it gets worse.

The Yankees moved on with their negotiations, and baseball assumed it would only be a matter of time that they would get their man.

Dan Haren was next.

Dan Haren was traded to the Angels in exchange for Joe Saunders, two prospects and a player to be named

As SI.com’s Jon Heyman reported, the Yankees had some significant discussions with Arizona for Haren, with a number of names tossed around – and scenarios where New York refused to include Joba Chamberlain, but also appeared willing to include prospects such as Ivan Nova and Zach McAllister.

Only, the Arizona Diamondbacks didn’t play along – and earlier today, the D’Backs dealt away their ace to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, in exchange for starting pitcher Joe Saunders, two minor league prospects and a player to be named.

That’s strike two.

Lost in the depths of baseball breaking news on two blockbuster deals for two No. 1 starters is the fact that both of these players were traded to American League clubs – and NEITHER of them were the New York Yankees.

Instead, two AL West teams – both who could wind up facing the Yankees in the playoffs.

What in the name of the Yankee Clipper is going on here?

There are a few ways to look at it – and the main fact is this: The Yankees need to change the way they do business.

Money can’t always buy happiness.

Sure, it worked last season – and it’s worked a lot of seasons, but today’s game is changing rapidly.

The Yankees formula worked in 2009, but the game is changing rapidly

Gone are the days that teams will just give away any player – and here are the times where top prospects are grown internally and kept for years, or instead dealt for a bevy of young talent.

The fact is: New York’s farm system is getting to be on the weaker side – and with bargaining chips like Jesus Montero being included in the rumors of potential impact deals, it would only fall farther into the tank.

There lies your real problem.

You see, the Texas Rangers had the top ranked farm system according to ESPN’s Keith Law in 2009 – and that’s the main reason they were able to seal the deal for Lee.  Plain and simple, there was simply more to offer up.

Joe Saunders is the main piece in the deal that brings Dan Haren from Arizona to Anaheim

Meanwhile, while the Angels were ranked significantly lower on the list, they had a number of low-to-mid 20-somethings on the roster (that were of high value, too) – including the likes of Joe Saunders, who will now be sporting Sedona red in “Cactus-land.”

So that’s the deal – the MLB Draft features a pool of many question marks, where only a few guys emerge as legit talent.  Over years, players can grow into contributors – but over recent seasons, the Yankees have been dealing away the majority of their prospects for impact players.

For every Joba or Hughes that have stayed, two to three guys were sent away for a quick fix.

One can spend all the money on Earth – assembling talent over the course of an offseason – but once the season begins, a number of issues can arise, from struggles to injuries – and just about every time, a team has a need for at least one impact player during the stretch run.

In today’s game, that’s when teams like the Rangers, Rays and Angels have a significant mixture of free agent and minor league talent, making it easier to put the final pieces into place.

At this rate, the Bronx Bombers are losing that luxury – and instead, trades for big names are falling through, the competition is catching up and the Yankees are left hoping that the best roster money can buy on Opening Day has what it takes to seal the deal and hoist the trophy.

Breathing may be first – and winning may be next, but baseball now has a new formula for both.

If a franchise can’t adjust – then the result could easily be “strike three.”

When men are asked about their favorite sports movies, often the list includes classics such as Caddyshack, Hoosiers, Major League, Slapshot and Field of Dreams – but what about THE WIFE?  Specifically a WIFE that HATES sports?  Let’s find out…

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A few weeks ago, we finally got around to watching The Blind Side. I absolutely loved it – such a feel-good, heart felt true story that’s well portrayed and entertaining. What’s not to love? While I might not always appreciate sports, I am certainly able to appreciate a good movie! And yes, the 2 sometimes do go hand in hand … so much so that I can even come up with a top 10 list.

The Wife’s Top Ten Greatest Sports Movies

I won’t even bother to say ‘of all time’ because that’s not a fair statement. I mean, I can hardly attempt to say I’ve seen them all and my tastes are obviously a bit biased =)

10. Days of Thunder

Ok, ok, don’t poke fun at this one. Remember, I grew up in a NASCAR household. Still, it features a young, still sane Tom Cruise!

9. Tin Cup

A younger, sexy Kevin Costner with Cheech as a sidekick. Pure entertainment.

8. Fever Pitch

It’s cute, quirky and set in Boston. Not to mention the excitement that they actually had to change the ending because the Red Sox finally pulled it off. Classic.

7. Remember the Titans

Yet another feel-good, classic sports movie. And who doesn’t love Denzel?

6. Jerry Maguire

“You had me at hello.” Need I say more?

5. Bend it Like Beckham

Seriously, what ‘wife’ can say they don’t like this movie??

4. Million Dollar Baby

Ugh, such a heart wrenching story and Clint Eastwood is amazing.

3. A League of Their Own

Tom Hanks is amazing along with an all-star cast (literally) and a throwback to an era that fascinates me.

2. The Blind Side

I’m not so sure Sandra Bullock’s performance was Oscar worthy, but if I were a member of the Tuohy family, I’d be thrilled by the entire movie.

1. The Cutting Edge

“Just remember who said it first.” I honestly think I could recite this entire movie by heart. And yes, figure skating is most definitely a sport.

Jennie Finch started playing softball at the age of five – developing a talent and a love for the game so strong, that it vaulted her to being a two-time Player of the Year and three-time All-American at the University of Arizona.

Finch also won two Olympic medals – a gold and silver, and has become the face of USA softball, not just because of her vicious windup and dominant pitching performances, but also because she’s become widely known as one of the most beautiful women in all of sports.

Now, as her 30^th birthday quickly approaches, Jennie Finch has decided to retire this year – and to honor Finch for her career achievements (and physical beauty), TWHS would like to provide the following mini-tribute to recognize Jennie Finch and wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors, whatever they may be.

First, a few jawdropping stats highlighting portions of Jennie Finch’s career – followed by a few pictures of her throughout the years…

Jennie Finch: A Few Stats

Arizona: 2001 – 32-0 record

Arizona: Career Record 119-16

Arizona: 64 career shutouts

Arizona: 1,028 career strikeouts in 876 2/3 IP

US National Team: 36-2 career record

US National Team: Career 0.42 ERA

US National Team: 23 CG and 19 shutouts in 40 career starts

US National Team: 397 K’s in 239 1/3 IP

Career 0.15 ERA at La Mirada High School

Jennie Finch: A Few Photos

 

Best of luck to you, Jennie – and thanks for the memories!

When the 2010 British Open kicked off, he was listed as 200:1 odds to win the PGA major across the pond.

When the tournament at St. Andrews reached its midway point, his name was at the top of the leaderboard – but the talk of him remained buried deep in one of the Old Course’s pot bunkers.

Oosthuizen never got buried in the British Open pressure

Once he refused to fall back in the pack, the golf analysts were forced to attempt to pronounce his name – and once they did, they couldn’t stop saying it.

Woost-hay-zen… Woost-hay-zen…

He’s Louis Oosthuizen – the 27-year old South African who took the 2010 British Open by storm – so much that he made any and all of the blustery winds at St. Andrews feel more like a gentle breeze.

When critic after critic across the globe waited for Louis to crack, Oosthuizen continued to be rock solid off every tee and steady on every green.

Who could blame anyone though for assuming that he would fade like Lindsay Lohan’s career?

After all, for years, we’ve seen countless golfers head into a major with a big lead on the final day only to diminish quicker than Tiger Woods’ bank account.

So why would today be any different?

We waited for the comparisons to Jean Van de Velde – but no dice.

We waited to compare him to Dustin Johnson (from earlier this year in the U.S. Open) – but nope, not even close.

Oosthuizen rose to the major championship occasion, when Van de Velde and Johnson previously could not

Where those two failed miserably in the clutches of major championship stress, Oosthuizen did exactly the opposite – thriving in the moment, and why or how that happened, we may never know why – nor should we care.

We shouldn’t sit and wonder how, but just embrace how one man can go from no name to big game in 48 hours.

Oosthuizen left the field in the dust on the final day – so much that heading into the Road Hole at St. Andrews, he was lagging putts to the hole – but who could blame him after having a lead that had extended to as many as nine shots late in the final round.

By the time it was all said and done, Oosthuizen had posted a score of 272 (-16), seven shots better than Lee Westwood, who finished second.

It was a performance reminiscent of Tiger Woods – that being the free-of-drama Tiger that once dominated the PGA Tour.  In fact, it was the largest British Open victory since Tiger Woods won on the same course in 2000.

That’s quite a feat.

Nine times out of ten, if you asked an onlooker about a tournament such as the way this Open Championship panned out, you would be greeted with shrugging shoulders and blatant indifference – because no big names were in the mix on the final day – no Tiger Woods, no Phil Mickelson, no Ernie Els – no one like that.

No Americans were on the front page of the leaderboard for the majority of the final round – often making it less likely for us red, white and blue folk to root for anyone at all.

Oosthuizen was unflappable, holding the 2010 British Open lead throughout the weekend at St Andrews

Instead, the Oosthuizen story was surprisingly fascinating – and not just watching the man play unflappable golf, but his overall appearance and personality, too.

Oosthuizen doesn’t come off as a force that could cruise through a demanding tournament such as the British Open.

He was humble and kind, confident yet far from arrogant.  His look almost could resemble that of your kid brother and his voice was cartoon-character-like in its own squeaky way.

But instead of catching on with a gig for a future Pixar film, he was absolutely dominating a golf tournament featuring all of the game’s biggest names – leaving them to be swept away by a stiff Scottish crosswind.

The result: the dust settles and the Claret Jug once again touches South African fingers.

With the trophy firmly and tightly in his grasp, Oosthuizen gave a touching speech, being sure to carefully thank everyone possible for his success – including South Africa’s legendary leader Nelson Mandela, who celebrated his 92^nd birthday on the same very day.

One couldn’t help but leave this major wanting to see more success from Oosthuizen, especially with his adorable daughter and lovely wife looking on to admire his accomplshment.

But if somehow he fades away and we never see Oosthuizen emerge among the leaders in a major championship ever again, at least this time we’ll remember him for such a dramatic achievement and not a crushing defeat – which until today appeared to be the norm for years.

Remember the name… Woost-hay-zen… Woost-hay-zen… eh, who am I kidding – you know you will never forget it.