I have no idea how the Yankees continue to win. I really don't.

Each year it seems that the Yankees are taking a little step backwards, but at playoff time everything seems to come together. In the first round this year, they had to face the A's, a team that took them to the brink of elimination last year. This time the tables were turned, as it was the A's that were favored to win the series. But, miraculously, the Yankees went on the road after losing the first two games of the series at home, and won out, sending them into the ALCS, a spot that they seemingly are in every year. What is it that makes the Yankees this good in the postseason?

Well, first off, the team has been in this situation before. The Yankees are a veteran ballclub that has been to the playoffs many times together, and they have experienced all the highs and lows of the postseason. Being down two games to none in this series didn't seem to faze them; they just went back to business in game three.

Second, their pitching staff is dominant. Most of their staff has had postseason success-I say "most" because of the continued failures of Roger Clemens-and they draw off this every time they go to the mound. Their starting rotation has four top-of-the-line pitchers, and their bullpen is finished by arguably the most dominant postseason pitcher ever, Mariano Rivera.

Third, the Yankees have Derek Jeter, a player who seems to thrive in the postseason. It seems that every situation where Jeter can make a clutch play or come through with a big hit he does so. Last year the memorable play was of him gunning down Timo Perez at home plate in the Yankees' game-one victory in the World Series. This year we have an equally memorable play, with Jeter making a back-hand toss to Jorge Posada to get Jeremy Giambi at home plate late in a 1-0 game three. What Jeter was doing in that position, I don't know, but again he put himself in a position to make a big play when it counted the most. Jeter pulled off another amazing play when he managed to hold onto a pop-up as he flipped into the stands in game five, adding to his already impressive postseason exploits. I still don't put him in the pantheon of shortstops, but in terms of postseason success, no one rivals him.

It really pains me to praise the Yankees, but in this case they deserve it. No matter what they do in the regular season, or what other teams do for that matter, they are still the champs until someone knocks them off. The last two years they have seemed vulnerable entering the playoffs, but in each case they have found a way to win. As a Red Sox fan, I hope that the Yankees don't win the World Series again, but you can never count them out until they are finally eliminated.

Time to hang 'em up

One of the saddest things in professional sports is when a player overstays his welcome and becomes a shell of his former self on the playing field. I hope that Mark McGwire does not make a mockery of his career and accomplishments and walks away from the game this offseason.

McGwire is a household figure because of his tremendous ability to hit home runs, but in the past he was able to do much more. While he was never a great first baseman, he was at least adequate there, and when he was healthy, he was able to hit for a good average, although not one that would contend for a batting title.

Unfortunately, his health has left him, and his skills have deteriorated to the point that he is a sideshow, only remaining on the team because of his ability to hit home runs. This season McGwire continued to have problems with his knee, and it clearly affected his play. This year Big Mac was still able to jack 29 home runs in a paltry 299 at bats, but he ended the season batting an anemic .187, well below the infamous Mendoza line.

The only thing that has ever hindered McGwire has been his health. When healthy, he was, and still is, one of the most feared offensive forces in the game, but he has simply not been able to stay healthy for sustained periods of time. His knee injury has hampered him for two years now, and it doesn't look like he will ever truly recover from it.

Currently, he has 583 career home runs, a number that is pitifully small compared to what it could have been. But it is not worth it to stay in the game in pursuit of empty numbers when you are making a mockery of yourself, and I hope that Big Mac can recognize this.

Mark McGwire is not a person solely defined by baseball, and he can walk away from the game and attend to his other interests, while still being an influential role model. I hope that he takes that route, because we don't need another star who is past his prime sullying his image for the ages.

Rams on a roll

Are we looking at another championship caliber season from the St. Louis Rams? Right now, all indications point to yes, as the Rams have rolled to a 5-0 record, including pulling out a victory over the New York Giants last weekend, a game which they really had no business winning.

Right now the Rams' offense is clicking on all cylinders again, and when that happens, look out. They have so many options it just doesn't seem fair. To start off, Kurt Warner has proven himself as an NFL quarterback. Two years ago, when he led the Rams to the Super Bowl title, he had an astounding season, but that could have been chalked up as a fluke. But, after last year and his production so far this year, we know that he is the real thing.

Surrounding Warner is one of the greatest sets of offensive weapons in the history of the game. At running back, the Rams have Marshall Faulk. I shouldn't have to tell you much about Faulk, other than he is the greatest offensive weapon in the league. Faulk's ability to change a game by either running the ball or acting as another weapon in the passing game sets him apart from most other running backs in the league. He creates matchup problems for any defense, which then frees up the other options.

At wide receiver, the Rams have a plethora of options as well. Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Az Hakim and seemingly anyone else they send out there makes a big play every game. Most of these receivers also double as kick returners, another area where they can change the course of a game.

While last year the Rams' defense was abysmal, they have turned it around this year. In their Super Bowl-winning season, the Rams defense was at least respectable, and they have returned to that level this season.

The only point of weakness for the Rams may be their depth. If they can go through the season without any major injuries, they will be fine. But when you have to replace a player like Faulk, who shouldn't miss any time after his knee injury last week, you will inevitably suffer. Warner has also been prone to concussion, so he may be the weak link in the Rams' chances for another title, but if the team can stay healthy, I wouldn't bet against them.

Clueless

In the wake of Sept. 11, you would think that people would have more common sense. Well, some athletes are still oblivious. Over the weekend Jets defensive back Damien Robinson brought an assault rifle to the Meadowlands in the back of his SUV, a dubious action already. To make matters worse, this weapon was outlawed by a 1990 law that banned the sale and possession of many automatic weapons. It is really amazing that a player who has been going to the Meadowlands for weeks since the new security measures were put in place would even bring a weapon to the stadium, knowing that he would be searched as he entered the premises. What a moron.