What Recession?

              They're still buzzing here about the preliminary, 7-year, $160 million deal the Yankees have worked out with C.C. Sabathia. Do the math on that, and the average comes out to close to $23 million a year -- an amount almost equal to the Marlins' entire Opening Day roster last season.

              Said Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen: "For $160 million, I could put two teams on the field! I just want to be (Sabathia's) agent or his wife."

              Standing next to him was Marlins president David Samson, who said, in comparing the resources of the Yankees and the Marlins: "I very much feel like the producer of an independent film trying to compete with a big-studio blockbuster for an audience. We are "Juno" going up against "The Dark Knight."