Among the coolest things about being a Major League ballplayer, save for the spoils of wealth, fame, status and fulfillment, is being able to rock the one-earflap helmet for the first time in a lifetime of playing baseball. From Little League all the way through college, batting helmets are obtrusive, cranial-consuming behemoths that alert the world to the fact that you are a human being whose skull is as vulnerable to injury as any other mortal.

Then, once you’ve risen above 20-something years of competition and arrive in the big leagues, it is determined that only one ear requires protection and the helmet is transformed into a sleek, kabuto-esque head cover of the utmost style and sophistication. For some reason, every season there is a small but reliable set of players determined to spit in the face of progress and sport the old-school double-flap helmets of their youth.

There is a profile for the Little League helmet player – they are generally diminutive infielders with a little bit of pop in the mold of Brian Roberts or Dustin Pedroia, neither of whom actually wear double-flap helmets. Prominent recent double-flappers include Mark Bellhorn and Orlando Hudson, who have hit 69 and 68 home runs in their respective careers.

While Bellhorn and Hudson combined for 455 major league plate appearances in 2008 (all coming from Hudson), the tides turned in the world of helmet-atrophied ballplayers, with a new player rising from the mysterious fog of the Far East, via the less- interesting fog of Lake Erie.

What happened that so thoroughly rocked the world of double-earflapped professional baseball players? Two-ish words: Shin- Soo Choo. That’s right, the Indians’ own little Korean guy on the corner happened, in a big way, posting a .940 OPS in 370 plate appearances, including a .992 mark against right-handers, good for fourth in the American League.

I don’t have a ton of data to compare it to, but it is my hypothesis that Choo’s 2008 campaign may well be the best season ever in terms of maintaining an even ratio of offensive prowess and aural protection. Prove me wrong; I challenge you.

Nets beats Bucks 99-85; Spoil Richard Jefferson’s homecoming with win, and by having not yet moved to Brooklyn.

Rangers retire #9 in honor of Adam Graves in MSG ceremony; Chuck Norris considering suing MSG for stealing the name for their special “Heart of a Ranger” from the classic Walker, Texas Ranger episode when his horse teaches him what it is to love.

Citigroup reportedly exploring possibility of backing out of Mets stadium deal; Company unsure in these tough times that combining their volatility in the financial markets with the volatility of the Mets isn’t just tempting fate.

Jets offensive coordinator says he would welcome the chance to coach Brett Favre again this year; Schottenheimer thoroughly enjoyed the fact that the devastating timing of Favre’s interceptions almost always took the attention away from any poor play calling on his part.

Mets GM says there will be no more big offseason moves; Minaya hoping this reverse psychology will land Manny Ramirez in Flushing, and that the same strategy will work once he is there when Omar tells him: “We don’t care if you wear your uniform nine sizes too large and half-ass it every other game.”