On Good Friday I was at the bank when a man came up to me and said, “Hey, you want free Knicks’ tickets for tonight?” Knicks-Grizzlies?! I said no, nearly collapsing in laughter. That’s how bad things are at the Garden. I, a lifelong fan, refused freebies.

So it looks like Isiah will be out as Knicks coach. Praise the Lord! Jim Dolan, what’s taking so long? Brad and Angelina adopt three kids for every week you wait.

Here’s the drill Jimmy-just because Daddy gave you the Knicks and Rangers as a toy to play with doesn’t mean YOU run them into the ground. Took awhile for you to see that with the Blueshirts.

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“Too many pitchers, that's all, there are just too many pitchers, 10 or 12 on a team. Don't see how any of them get enough work. Four starting pitchers and one relief man ought to be enough. Pitch 'em every three days and you'd find they'd get control and good, strong arms.”- Cy Young, Hall Of Fame Pitcher

Did you check out yesterday’s Pirates-Braves game? A 12-11 final. The relief pitchers gave up 17 of the 23 runs. Eric Gagne and Kerry Wood both blew leads for the Brewers and Cubs respectively. Old Cy has it right. Bullpens are so overrated. There was a time when it was a disgrace for a pitcher to be relegated to the pen rather than be a starter. Yesterday’s debacles:

Johan Santana goes 7 strong for the Mets-Willie Randolph uses 3 guys in the eighth-with the Marlins a hit away from tightening a 6-2 game. Keep in mind, Santana had 15 K’s in a game last season and only went eight innings.

In L-A, Brad Penny goes 6 and 2 thirds-comes out in the 7th with a shutout. Joe Torre, who played with guys like Warren Spahn and Bob Gibson, should be ashamed of himself.
Don’t get me wrong-every team could sure use a Papelbon or Mariano. But is Jorge Sosa better than any Mets starter? Yankee fans, does Kyle Farnsworth bring you excitement after say, Pettitte or Wang go six innings?

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In yet another example of taking the fans to the cleaners, Cubs and Yankees fans got the shaft yesterday. At Wrigley Field, fans had to sit through a lengthy rain delay before and one during the game. At Yankee Stadium, fans sat for an hour and a half before their opener was called.

What’s going on here? They’ve got lights in Wrigley now-call the game, OR DECIDE EARLY to make it a night game- don’t have the fans sit there. The Yanks may have been worse-it STOPPED raining about 2:30 yesterday in New York. Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman felt the field was playable. There are reports today that the Yanks knew as early as 1 pm the game wouldn’t be played.

But this is where we are in 2008-bring the fans in to spend cash on food and parking. The money doesn’t get refunded to the average Joe, that’s for sure. Lord forbid clubs let fans know BEFORE they get to the park of a rainout.

As I suggested a moment ago-here’s my solution. But it will NEVER happen. If the start of a game is delayed 90 minutes, call it off. Another possibility-announce in the morning of a game that say, a 1 pm game will start at 4, or a 7 pm game at 9. This way, fans can adjust just like the players.

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Best wishes to one of my favorite all time Mets, Rusty Staub! No April Fools joke, Rusty was one of the smartest and toughest hitters around. He’s the only man to have 500 hits with 4 different teams, and retired as one of the top pinch hitters of all time.

In 1973, Staub separated his shoulder robbing Dan Driessen of a hit in Game 4 of the NLCS at Shea. Despite the shoulder injury and a concussion from crashing into the fence, he hit .423 in the World Series against the Oakland A’s. Were it not for some questionable decisions by manager Yogi Berra (like starting Tom Seaver on 2 days rest in Game 6 with the Amazins looking to close out the Series) Staub might well have been the Series M-V-P,
I had the thrill of seeing what turned out to be his final big league homer at Shea in 1985. You’d have thought he just hit a game winning blast! I remember feeling sad for both Rusty and Tom Seaver in 1986, wishing both could be part of the championship team.

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So Max Mosely, head of Formula One Racing, plans to fight a London tabloid’s claims that he’s on a videotape with 5 prostitutes. The tape allegedly shows Mosely “Nazi role playing.”

As if that’s not disturbing enough: Did you know that Max’s father Oswald, was the founder of the British Union of Fascists? His parents were married in the Berlin home of Joseph Goebbels-Hiter was listed as a ‘guest of honor.’ The Oswalds were imprisoned by the British during the early stages of World War II-11 weeks after Max was born, because of the potential threat they were to England.

Max Mosely makes no denial of his support of his father’s politics. Like his dad, he was a supporter of the Soviet Union, WHY would any organization-never mind one so popular as FIA- want such a lowlife running it?

You don’t have to be a racing fan to know that Max MUST GO - PRONTO!

It’s official: Donnie Walsh is the new Knicks president. But we’ll see if he has any ‘real’
power - how soon can he show Isiah Thomas the door?

If Thomas stays, even as team janitor, that’s just a sign that Jimmy Dolan is dumber than we thought. The elephants at Barnum and Bailey don’t stink it up as bad as this clown has.

Still, who’d have thought the Knicks would make a move before the Nets? Rod Thorn, the Lawrence Frank Era should have ended even before Jason Kidd packed his bags for Dallas. If you can’t make a better showing in a weak Eastern Conference, there’s a problem.

Rod, if YOU are not part of the problem, then part of the solution is bringing in a new voice to coach the team.

WATCH AN EXCLUSIVE ONE ON ONE WITH DONNIE AFTER THE JUMP...

So Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft apologized to the NFL for Spygate. Isn’t that precious? They PROMISE it won’t happen again. John Wilkes Booth made the same statement after shooting Abe Lincoln in Ford’s Theater-ensuring the safety of Mary Todd and the rest of the Lincoln clan.

The Hoodie made the point that the episode is now behind the Pats, and we won’t have to worry about anything more. That’s nice. Of course, a combined fine of $750 K and losing a draft pick had something to do with it. There should have been suspensions and possibly a forfeit-although the Jets had no real chance of winning that opening game last September. Ironically, New England gets a top ten pick anyway because of a trade with the 49ers.

Ok-the Pats are about as sincere about this as Rosie O’Donnell at Weight Watchers.

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Joe Girardi’s 1st game as Yankees manager was a great success. It was as if Joe Torre never left.

Wang was good for 7 innings. Once again, I would have sent him out for the 8th. But Joba and Mariano are lockdown in the 8th and 9th, so why mess with success? I don’t see why Yankee fans are so down on Wang. Is he a great pitcher? No, not in today’s baseball. But 19 wins a season is nothing to shake a stick at. Last time I looked, his 38 wins are the most in the majors the last two seasons. You’d like to see him strike more people out. Teams like the Indians are patient-they’ll wait him out and force Wang to get his pitches up in the zone. Instead of ground balls, you get pounded. If Dave Eiland can teach him to be a little more aggressive, Wang will be even better, especially in the postseason.

Memo to Girardi: Keep Melky Cabrera in center field EVERY night. Like Jeter and A-Rod, you’ll just have to play him 150 plus games. I shudder at anybody else in center. Melky may not be Andruw Jones or Torii Hunter-but he can get to balls no one else on the team can. Melky’s homer was a welcome sight too.

WATCH VIDEO OF YANKEES OPENING DAY AFTER THE JUMP...

I know, Mets fans. When I saw Pedro Martinez limping around in the 4th inning last night, I was ready to cry like Paris Hilton in a police cruiser. We may not see tears like that again until Hillary Clinton loses the Democratic nomination. But I digress!

Upon further review, this is not awful. Like Mike Hampton with the Braves, ANYTHING you get from Martinez is a plus. He’s no longer the El Duro of years past with the Expos and Red Sox. As much as I appreciate his efforts to get healthy, Pedro’s not even in the top 5 of “Players We Can’t Do Without.” Wright, Reyes, Beltran, Santana (God help us) Maine, Perez, Heilman and Wagner are all infinitely more important. After some rational thought, you should be more concerned the Amazin’s couldn’t squeeze a run past the low budget Marlins the final 5 innings last night’s game.

Plus, its Game 2. Sosa, Duque and Pelfrey will all have their chances in the rotation. We all knew this. As long as Johan, Maine and Perez pitch well, there is no reason to panic. Feel bad for Pedro. Let’s hope he gets back soon. But it’s not the end of the world just yet.

Fans are already blasting Alex Rodriguez. He hits a two run homer for the Yanks’ only two runs last night against the Blue Jays-but fans tee off because of his strikeout in the the ninth inning with two aborad.

Stop, Yankee fans.

A-Rod carried you to the playoffs last year. For all his failings in the postseason, Alex hasn’t gotten a lot of help. Instead, remind Joe Girardi that Mike Mussina is a #5 starter at best. Matching him up against a clearly better pitcher like A.J. Burnett (yes, I know Pettitte returns Saturday) will always put the team behind the eight ball.

Back to Rodriguez: Remember that the best hitters fail 7 out of 10 times. Ignore these harsh comments from Ted Williams. In 1941, Williams was asked what it was like to hit .400 (His .406 that year was the last time anyone has done it) Teddy Ballgame replied: “If your boss gave you 10 jobs to do and you only did 4 of them right, how would YOU feel?”

Last night’s Mets broadcast proved that TV execs really don’t think an event itself can carry weight with fans and viewers. Fans were encouraged, and then did, call in, DURING THE GAME. I DON’T need to hear Vinny from Carnasie say something like, “Hey Ron (Darling) how long will Pedro Martinez be out?” NOT as the game is going on, NOT in Game number 3 especially.

Make no mistake -- fans have a right to be heard, that’s what this blog is all about, that’s what talk radio is all about. Have the fans on during the pre- and postgame coverage. They DESERVE to be heard. Hopefully, SNY will stop that nonsense immediately. The idea of interviews and phone calls during a game is as silly as most (though not all) Man On Street pieces on TV news. It demonstrates an inability to trust viewers to follow events and make decisions based on thought provoking presentations. You don’t need to be Edward R. Murrow, but you can be creative and insightful.

Ironically, MSG was the exception last night. The story there was clearly Donnie Walsh and Isiah Thomas-and there crew was RIGHT to downplay the game with huge chunks of sound -- Walsh’s press conference and Thomas pregame last night in Memphis.

Hold your horses, everybody -Jose Canseco is as greedy, self-centered and self-promoting as any jock, current or former. He cares as much about ‘saving’ baseball as O.J. Simpson does about finding the ‘real’ killer of ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman. O.J. hasn’t looked in a mirror in nearly 14 years.

But even Canseco deserves some boundaries. Yesterday, at a book signing in Manhattan, MLB investigators allegedly cornered him in a bathroom. I’m sorry, but a bathroom is NOT the place to conduct an investigation. Like most guys, I really see the bathroom as a place of solitude-outside of having to take my chances at Penn Station or Port Authority in Manhattan.

It’s a shame that such a bum like Canseco is now looked upon as a cherished source on performance enhancing drugs in MLB. He still does steroids to this day, and would qualify a student at Simpson’s school of wife beating (fortunately, Canseco didn’t take murder as an extra credit elective)

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Youzhny’s episode is funny, but turns out Johnny Mac may be right when he claims tennis officials are asleep at the wheel. Because one year at Wimbledon, a lineswoman-or is that ‘linesperson’ in our comically PC world -fell asleep during a match!

Turns out in 1964, on the first day of the tournament, Dorothy Cavies-Brown, according to legend, came straight from the first day umpires party (aka ‘liquid lunch’) and nodded off during a match between Clark Graebner and Max Segal. No one noticed until a close call in the third set. On a close call, there was no sound from Dorothy. Instead of 40 love, it was 40 winks, Conflicting accounts have Segal, Graebner and/or a ballboy named Robbie Thornton waking Cavis-Brown up (apparently ALL 3 tried) to the laughter of the fans and London tabloids.

Can you IMAGINE McEnroe -he’d call for firings and a replay of the entire match!

By the way, Segal won the match, and Dorothy was eased out of Wimbledon despite protests that she was stone cold sober. As for the first day umpires party, it was never held again.

Thanks to the book The Sports Hall of Shame by Bruce Nash and Allan Zullo and this website for the curious but true case of Dorothy Cavis-Brown.

Sometimes athletes let their emotions get the best of them. Guys break clubs, bats or knock over water coolers. We love to see players come undone or be strong emotional leaders. Giants QB Eli Manning would disagree. Blasted for years for not being part drill sergeant, part Tony Robbins, Elijah will soon have a brand new ring from Tiffany’s to prove there’s a place for calm and understated.

Eli may need to talk to Russian tennis player Mikhail Youzhny. Until recently, this 25 year old was so obscure that there’s not even a picture of him on ESPN’s tennis website. But Youzhny has gained Youtube cult status.

The other night in Miami, Mikhail lost a point and promptly hit himself in the head 3 CONSECUTIVE TIMES with his graphite racket. Result: A gash down his face that had to be patched up by medical staff on site. He then proceeded to win the match in three sets!
Mikhail-two things: Give John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors and Jeff Tarango a call-they’ll be happy to explain how to properly abuse a racket, linesman, or chair umpire. That’s why they exist on a tennis court. You could become a tennis celebrity like say, Anna Kournikova-NOT good enough to win, but interesting to watch.

Remember fans: Clubs, sticks, rackets and bats are NOT to be used for any study in masochism-self or otherwise. Please use them as intended.

Tomorrow night, San Antonio’s Alamodome will be the site of what could be two epic matchups-NCAA hoops Final Four. For the 1st time, all four number 1 seeds reached the thresh hold of college basketball immortality.

My picks: UNC over Kansas-Tyler Hansbrough is the real deal. If he were a Jayhawk, KU would get the nod. Carolina’s supporting cast a bit better than KU’s experienced team. Here’s an oddity in today’s game-Carolina only has one freshman, while Kansas’ first 9 scorers are sophomores or older. Translation: real college players, guys truly hungry for a national title.

UCLA-Memphis: I’ve been bouncing this one around for a while. Louisville pushed the Bruins last weekend, making me wary of UCLA’s chance to win the Big Dance. As for the Tigers, they can’t shoot free throws any better than Shaq. Will that matter tomorrow? But they have Derrick Rose, who would look great in a Knicks uniform should Donnie Walsh and crew win the lottery.

My shaky pick: Memphis-though Carolina-assuming Roy Williams doesn’t mess it up-he ain’t Dean Smith-wins the title Monday night, regardless of who’s waiting for ‘em.

In another one of those ‘Strange But True’ incidents, 13-year-old Alexa Rodriguez (no doubt known as A-Rod to friends) was clawed and cut by a hawk during a school field trip tour of Fenway Park Thursday.

Fortunately, the girl wasn’t seriously hurt. Apparently she was close to a red tail hawk nest near the press box-and Mommy Hawk decided to defend her turf.

Massachusetts Wildlife officials removed the nest and a few eggs. You have to wonder: The press box at the Fens isn’t too far away from third base. Could this have been a dry run-until a more infamous A-Rod makes this way to Boston? Hey, when it comes to Yankees-Red Sox, like the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s -NOTHING is beyond the realm of possibility.

SEE MORE PHOTOS OF THE ATTACK AFTER THE JUMP

Today is a day every American should remember. Forty years ago tonight, Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. To this day, his impact on our nation cannot be overstated or under-appreciated. Tonight at 10:30 p.m., the CW11 proudly presents Justice, Equality and Hope: The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Click here to see a preview.

Today is also a day of history and social significance for Major League Baseball. On April 8, 1974, Henry Aaron tied Babe Ruth’s home run record, homering off Jack Billingham in Cincinnati. The Braves’ future Hall of Famer was righty, given a lengthy standing ovation by the fans in Cincy.

That was a far cry from Jackie Robinson’s reception through the National League. Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier in April of 1947, and Cincinnati was no different than most cities. Listen as Hank Aaron discusses Jackie Robinson’s influence on his life and on America itself.

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

There’s a movement is the Missouri legislature to ban MMA matches-known as ‘cage fighting’ to most people unfamiliar with the sport –among minors.

I could not agree more. WHY is this even an issue in the ‘Show Me’ state? I say this as an MMA fan-introduced to the sport by my martial arts instructors on Long Island. MMA has a greater following than boxing nowadays. This coming from a guy who could quote you all the ‘linear’ heavyweight champs (none of this alphabet soup stuff) from John L. Sullivan to Mike Tyson.

Even if these cage ‘matches’ in Missouri are adult supervised with protective gear, the potential damage to bodies that haven’t matured is scary. Kids get cuts and bruises from karate and kick boxing with pads-I’ve seen it, I’ve done it, I know. Cage fighting, with body slams, elbows, and choke holds-most GROWNUPS want no part of it.

WATCH VIDEO OF CAGE FIGHTING AFTER THE JUMP...

Congratulations to the Rangers and Devils, the only two local winter teams to make the post-season (that's unless the Nets pull off a miracle before getting a chance to be swept by the Celtics). Lets face it, the Knicks are irrelevant, and the Nets are mediocre and underachieving. WHO notices the Islanders if they don’t win? Anybody notice that the NY Saints lacrosse team had higher TV ratings than the Devils and Islanders last year? That’s sad for a wonderful sport -especially come playoff time where every game matters and physicality and goaltending take over.

Let’s face it-hockey in the U.S.-with the exception of Boston and Detroit-have very limited fan bases. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, a greater idiot than Bud Selig -has failed miserably at growing the game in this country. Oh, that’s right-he threw away an entire season three years ago to insure his precious salary cap. That REALLY helped sell your game. Gary.
Most media see hockey players as the most gracious and accessible athletes among the 4 major sports. THEY LOVE their sport far more than the high priced divas of the other sports.
My pick-Rangers in six games. They have more firepower and a better goalie-Lundqvist IS BETTER than Brodeur right now. Plus, to demonstrate my previous points-the Rangers might as well have 7 home games in this series. When the Rangers rallied from a 2-nothing deficit Sunday, “The Rock” in Newark became Madison Square Garden South. Matter of fact, after the game, the Devils WFAN radio announcers of Matt Loughlin and Sherry Ross were exhorting Devils fans to show up for the playoff games.

Who needs soap operas on TV when we have the Mets and Yankees? Around here, instead of a 162 game season, we get 162 ONE GAME SEASONS. Fans have mood swings that fluctuate more than mortgage rates the last few months. Relax guys; we’re barely out of the 1st week of the season.

First off, pitching, at least when the starters are left in the game, is often ahead of the hitting in the early going. The Mets left 15 men on base Sunday in their loss to the Braves. The Yankees stranded 16 runners in only eight innings against the Blue Jays, but managed to win.

With the offenses struggling, it makes it even more important that the starters go as far as they can -ESPECIALLY the Mets. Johan Santana could have and should have started the 8th inning. He was under 100 pitches, and I’ll take my chances with Johan over Aaron Heilman any day. What are you paying your ace $137 million for if not to get big outs?

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When you think of the Mets and their early history, Casey Stengel, the Polo Grounds, Gil Hodges even Mr. Met, often come to mind before the man that Shea Stadium is named for. His name was William Shea, and without him, there would be no NY Mets. Hey Islanders fans, did you know that the NHL asked for Shea’s help in getting the NHL to Nassau County? Probably not.

Shea was a lifelong New Yorker, and following graduation from Harvard Law School became one of the city’s prominent attorneys. After the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants abandoned the city in 1957, Mayor Robert Wagner appointed Shea to head a committee to bring National League baseball back to New York. If you know your NYC history, this fact is almost laughable. Wagner was too politically impotent to broker the dispute between urban planning guru Robert Moses and Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley. Moses wanted the Dodgers to relocate to Flushing Meadows, while O’Malley wanted a new stadium near the Long Island Rail Road station at Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues in Brooklyn. Click here to read more about the Dodgers’ departure for the West Coast.

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I’m jumping on the bandwagon-its time for President Bush to announce a U.S. Boycott of the upcoming Beijing games. Protests in Europe and now San Francisco have disrupted the traditional relay of the Olympic torch.

IOC President Jacques Rogge is upset that such a great event has been marred. The torch is supposed to be about “unity and harmony.”

What a load of crap! The Olympics, and the IOC are about money. Why else would they allow one of the most oppressive nations on the planet to host this event? You can rest assured, NBC WON’T air essays on China’s human rights record, the happenings in Tibet, or the thousands of people displaced so that the Games can run smoothly.

WATCH VIDEO OF PROTESTORS AS THEY ATTEMPT TO PUT OUT THE OLYMPIC TORCH AFTER THE JUMP...

Finally! …an exciting game in this otherwise ho-hum NCAA Tournament. At least they saved the best for last.

Mario Chalmers’ three-pointer at the end of regulation will go down as one of the biggest shots in college hoops history -right up there with Michael Jordan in 1982 and Keith Smart in ’87. Chalmers’ long-range bomb capped a nine-point Kansas comeback, sending the title game with Memphis to overtime. OT was a mere formality, the Tigers never recovered.

LISTEN TO CHALMERS TALK ABOUT HIS MIRACLE SHOT AFTER THE JUMP…

Well Mets fans, don’t panic just yet. But you can start wondering.

Make it 9 straight losses to the Phillies-the latest coming on the final Opening Day in the 45 year history of Shea. It is bad enough that the team had the biggest collapse in the history of professional sports last season. Worse: the team that benefited and went to the playoffs -the Phillies picked up right where they left off.

So many questions: Can Perez finish the 6th inning-if so, why not? Willie Randolph should have let him work his way out of trouble. Should Endy Chavez have bunted with a man on and the Mets trailing 3-2? Yes.

Can we get a big hit in the clutch? Apparently not-that has been a major problem thus far.

Where the heck is Pedro Feliciano? The Mets are not disclosing at this time some mysterious injury (FYI: El Duque was back in the city today to have his foot looked at -that cannot be good)If Willie has to take Smith out after he warmed up, Feliciano (if he’s healthy), NOT Schoenweis, has to enter the game.

The coup de grace-after getting two hits-including a long home run -Delgado’s error changed the whole tenor of the game. You just sensed that the Phils had confidence.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS OF TUESDAY'S METS HOME OPENER >>>

WATCH EXCLUSIVE POST GAME INTERVIEWS WITH DAVID WRIGHT, CARLOS DELGADO, AND MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

Like many teams yesterday, the Red Sox had their home opener. It was a joyous time as the Fenway faithful celebrated the Sox 2nd title in 4 years.

Then, out of the dugout, Bill Buckner stepped to throw out the first pitch! To a raucous standing ovation, Billy Buck threw the ceremonial first pitch to former teammate Dwight Evans.

For most of the last 20 years, Buckner was the greatest symbol of Calvanistic predestined failure in New England. You know the drill -Game 6 of the ’86 World Series. The heavily favored Mets down 5-3 in the 10th, were one out away (actually twice they were ONE STRIKE AWAY twice in the inning) of losing the Series. But with two outs-Carter singled, Mitchell (who had undressed and was booking flights to San Diego) singled (wearing no cup, no less. Ray Knight flared an R-B-I single, scoring Carter, Mitchell to third. Calvin Schiraldi was lifted for Bob Stanley. With Mookie Wilson at the plate-Stanley uncorked a wild pitch -SHOULD have been a passed ball on catcher Rich Gedman) scoring Mitchell with the tying run. Then, on the most famous play in Mets history, Mookie Wilson’s groundball bounced through Buckner’s legs-Mets win and stay alive, 6-5. Two nights later, the Mets beat the Sox in Game 7.

WATCH VIDEO OF BILL BUCKNER'S STANDING OVATION AND FIRST PITCH AFTER THE JUMP...

Former Mets slugger Darryl Strawberry talks about his most memorable moment at Shea Stadium, and the feeling he had when he first stepped onto the field nearly 30 years ago.


VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PLAYERS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF SHEA

So the Nets’ ‘tragic number’ to be eliminated from the playoffs is one. I’m sure last night’s My9 ratings in the Nets game against the Cavs (Lebron scores 33 with a back back) rivaled the American Idol charity event.

Wake me when Lawrence Frank takes over the lead role on Aliens In America. Or when Vince Carter is sent packing.

I have to say, I totally agree with Ken Berger’s Newsday column.

How much evaluation does Donnie Walsh need to see to know that Isiah Thomas must go? The team is 23-56.

Let Herb Williams -(hey you’d get more attention if Serena Williams coached the team for a day) the ultimate company man, run the team the last three days. Isiah would have an easier time joining the cast of Lost.

If Isiah could last this long, he should join the houseguests of Big Brother. That’s the only other place that Thomas could survive as the phony incompetent he is-and do it with a smile.

Scott Gomez’ sore ribs must be feeling quite better after the Rangers beat his old team, the Devils, in Game 1 of their playoff series last night. Gomez notched three assists-the most important on Ryan Callahan’s go-ahead goal as Martin Brodeur couldn’t corral the puck, didn’t see Callahan-and the Rangers had the lead for good.

It’s not the first time a Brodeur boo boo cost the Devils against the Rangers. In the ’94 Eastern Conference Finals, Stephane Matteau beat Brodeur in OT to win Game 3. Many people forget about Game 3, because Matteau and Brodeur collided paths in Game 7. You remember what happened, Rangers fans.

WATCH VIDEO OF GAME 3 FROM THE 1994 EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS AFTER THE JUMP...

Yes, THE Mets FINALLY snapped their nine game losing streak to the Phillies. But to be successful, the Mets need more from leadoff man Jose Reyes.

The 24 year old shortstop hasn’t been himself-offensively and defensively. He hit .205 last September. Going back to last season, Reyes hasn’t stolen a base in the last 22 games. I’m still trying to figure out WHAT he was doing on a potential double play ball-Easley is still looking for the toss. Last night-Reyes went 0-4, stranding 5 runners. He actually scored two runs because of a walk and because Eric Bruntlett’s couldn’t catch a cold backing up Jimmy Rollins at shortstop. I have a feeling the swelling in J-Ro’s ankle went down after Bruntlett’s two errors in one inning. Reyes is hitting .200 thus far this season.

The Mets swear there’s nothing wrong with Jose. I just hope he’s not distracted by his early success. If the bright lights of the city, the celebrations after home runs-heck, even the Spanish lessons on the scoreboard-have to go if it means Reyes will play better. Remember: Baño is Spanish for bathroom, and that’s where Reyes’ game has been for a while.

(Then Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez throws then New York Yankees coach Don Zimmer to the ground by the head during the very much heated ALCS in 2003.)

Tomorrow night, the most storied rivalry in ALL of sports (sorry, Duke-Carolina fans) starts writing the 2008 chapter of its storied history. Yankees-Red Sox at Fenway.

You don’t have to know Bill Skowron from Bill Buckner to know the hatred that the opposing fans have for one another. When these teams match up, it’s a bigger story than the hockey playoffs, the demise of the Knicks and Nets, and sure as hell bigger than Mets Brewers. Plus, in these days of prima donna athletes, the clubs don’t like each other either.

Spring training brawl aside, I don’t think Yankees-Rays matches up with Yanks-Bosox just yet.
Still, at best, both teams will be an even .500 when the first pitch is thrown tomorrow night. Jeter and Posada may not even play.

TELL US YOUR FAVORITE YANKEES-BOSOX MOMENT AFTER THE JUMP...

During last night’s Yankee game, the trivia question was: Who hit the first homer at Kaufman Stadium?

Answer: John Mayberry.

One problem: it was ROYALS STADIUM when it opened in 1973. The Kaufman family owns the team. Can somebody bring that up? Another point: I understand naming rights, but let there be a rule: once a ballpark, always a ballpark.

The place where the Indians play in Cleveland is JACOBS FIELD, “The Jake” NOT Progressive Field. Say, “Progressive is proud to bring you Indians baseball at Jacobs Field. Comiskey Park is “Comiskey”, not U.S. Cellular Field.

The Brendan Byrne Arena in Jersey was ‘The Continental Airlines Arena’ -now the IZOD Center. So much for a memorial to a former governor. Money rules the word, and the love of money is the root of all evil.

Sam Zell bought the Tribune Company and the Cubs last December. There is a justified uproar over Zell putting the naming rights for hallowed Wrigley Field up to the highest bidder. My hope is that no matter how much Tribune is financially that Zell won’t do such a foolish thing. Wrigley is a landmark to the City With Broad Shoulders.

But can you see it in 2009: “Center For Colorectal Health Field?” It’s on Erie Street- a short distance from what is now known as Wrigley. There’s plenty of hot dogs, beer and other unhealthy concoctions digested at the ballpark. If the place hands over the cash to Zell, it might work.

Click here to read more about the uproar about Wrigley Field >>>

Where would the Mets be without Angel Pagan? With 40-something Moises Alou on the shelf, Pagan is hitting .370, leading the team with nine runs batted in. Last night, Pagan singled home Jose Reyes in the 12th inning. Mets beat the Phillies 4-3, taking 2 out of three from their arch rivals. Keep in mind, J-Ro didn’t play the final two games outside of a pinch hitting appearance.

Another hero-lefty Pedro Feliciano: He came on in the 7th and struck out the side, keeping the Mets ahead 3-1 after 7. Turns out Feliciano was away for a few days dealing with a family emergency.

I wish Feliciano could pitch lefty and righty: Aaron Heilman hasn’t gotten off to a great start -and promptly blew the lead. Question:WHY is baseball so specialized that I can’t see Billy Wagner in the 8th after Heilman gave up the bomb to Ryan Howard? Lord forbid Wagner pitch the 8th: he doesn’t do well. That’s just a mentally weak excuse. Everybody has to know their role -or agents will demand a trade. Tell a guy when he gets the ball, and he pitches. Period.

So some idiot construction worker claims he put a Red Sox T-Shirt into the cement that will be part of the visitors clubhouse at Yankee Stadium 3 (Yankee Stadium I 1923-1973; Yankee Stadium 2 1976-2008). A few comments here:

First: NOBODY tried to stop this alleged desecration of the Yanks’ new ballpark? You would think that someone would have reported it-most construction sites have strong unions. Yankee fans or no, there’s a great chance for a bonus if you uphold the honor of New York’s most popular team.

Second: if someone REALLY did this-Keep your mouth shut. Somewhere out there is a moron who blabbed while knocking back a few brews at his local tavern. Wait till the new Stadium opens, or the Yanks lose a playoff series in 2009. For now, the Yankees are claiming it’s a tall tale. But you can see Hank Steinbrenner fighting for possession of this T-shirt. There could be court battles lasting longer than the struggle for the remains of Anna Nicole Smith.

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

When the baseball season started, we told you the Yankees needed Andy Pettitte to be, well Andy Pettitte. Last night, the lefty tossed 6 and 2/3 solid innings at the young but improving Royals. Joba and Mo finish up, and the Yanks avoid a sweep heading into their weekend blowout with the Red Sox at Fenway.

Cabrera, A-Rod and Posada went yard-the last two coming off Hideo Nomo. I wasn’t sure Nomo was still alive, never mind in the pitcher’s Witness Protection program in K.C. With Jeter, Giambi and Abreu on the bench, Joe Girardi juggled the lineup. But the long ball and Pettitte were the keys.

Andy’s value to the Yankees cannot be understated. The Clemens fiasco and a sore elbow marred his spring training. He had a bad first start against the Rays. With kids Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy still teething, and Mike Mussina as consistent as tap water, Pettitte must be a solid # 2 to Chien-Ming Wang.

Wang goes tonight against the Red Sox. For you crazed-Yankees fans, Newsday has created a blog devoted entirely to the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. Click here to check it out.

As expected, George Steinbrenner’s sons Hank and Hal, were named co-chairmen of the Yankees today. With the Boss at 77, this is not a complete surprise. The kids have been minding the store since December. Hal appears to be more business oriented. Hank is much more vocal-a Baby Boss as I mentioned in one of my first posts on this blog.

They have big shoes to fill. Love him or hate him, Steinbrenner turned the Yankees into the most revered franchise in American sports. Manchester United, the famed soccer British soccer team, may be the only one more well known around the world. Under King George, the Yanks have won 6 World Series, 10 American League Pennants, and reached the postseason 13 consecutive seasons.

It does appear that as the boys have decided to let GM Brian Cashman have more decision making power. Time will tell if the younger Steinbrenners can carry on Dad’s tradition-and hopefully without say, 12 managers in 15 years or unexplained fights in elevators during a World Series (as The Boss claimed in ’81 when the Yanks played the Dodgers)

Click here to read more on the Yankees transfer of power.

So there will be more drug testing in baseball-good. But amnesty for all the players named in the Mitchell report? Sure. It’s Bud Selig at his best-smoothing over baseball’s steroid’s era. “Sorry for the last few years boys and girls.” That’s what your commissioner is saying. “From now on, we’ll be good. It wasn’t as bad as it seems. We can make it all go away.”

This means LoDuca, Pettitte and company walk free-no accountability for their actions. Nothing that says “We have to make sure the game is clean for our fans.”

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

Earlier this week, our CW11 Morning News did a feature on Sports Anchor Sal Marchiano. Sal started ‘in the business’ in May of 1967 at WCBS-TV. Over the past 41 years, Sal has covered and done it all. His new book, “In My Rear View Mirror”, covers 4 decades of sports history.

Among the highlights:

• The Jets, Mets and Knicks turn New York City upside down with championships in a span of 17 months.

• The unique pairing of Mickey Mantle and actress Angie Dickinson

• The early years of sports giant ESPN

• Why Mike Tyson couldn’t wait to go to Mexico after winning the heavyweight title

• How Frank Sinatra got into the 1st Ali-Frazier match up at the Garden in 1971- and made a friend for life

• Why Rangers Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert was known as “Mr. February.”

• Plus, Sal recounts his life growing up in Brooklyn rooting for the Dodgers, and offers his thoughts on sports broadcasting today.

• I was thrilled to help edit this book. “In My Rear View Mirror” is a great read for those that love sports, New York -and an inside view of some of the historic moments in sports history.

For more info on the book “In My Rear View Mirror”, click here to go to Sal’s website or to buy a copy, click here.

A PROGRAMMING NOTE:
Tune in this Sunday at 1 p.m. -Mets and Brewers on the CW11. It’s the first game you’ll see this year on Channel 11.

WATCH VIDEO OF SAL TALKING ABOUT HIS NEW BOOK "IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR" AFTER THE JUMP...

Instead of lambasting Joe Girardi for foolishly having Mike Mussina pitch to Manny Ramirez Saturday or telling you not to worry about young Phil Hughes’ first start against the BoSox last night, I’m left to rant and rave about how TV continues to strive to push fans away. Yankees-Red Sox proved to be yet another example.

During the week I must have seen 100 promos for ‘The Renewing of The Rivalry.’ It was the FOX Game of the Week on both Saturday on FOX and Sunday night on ESPN. Rightfully so. As we said the other day, no other sports event this weekend -Masters, Mets-Brewers, Rangers-Devils equates to the fun at Fenway.

Still, the suits at FOX had to have their cake and eat it too. It was enough to drive my friends Stephanie in Lake Grove and The Care Bear of Jersey fame through the roof. You already know this part: Sox ahead 4-3 in the eighth with two on and two out, A-Rod to face Papelpon when the rains came.

OK. First off, though I understand it -the game should have been called rather than have fans sit through the two hour rain delay. BUT, FOX doesn’t want to air a game that doesn’t have a completion -ESPECIALLY in this rivalry. So even if the game not on national TV, they might have waited for Hades to freeze over. Understood.

READ MORE AND WATCH HOW YANKEE OFFICIALS FOILED A BOSTON CURSE, AFTER THE JUMP...

“I’ve learned my lesson with the press. Now I’m not going to say anything”
-Tiger Woods, after finishing second in the Masters.

I have to admit, I have a love-hate relationship with golf, (aside from the fact that it’s not really an athletic sport-more like a game of skill, comparable to darts or billiards)especially at Augusta and the Masters. The howls of racism and elitism that plague golf are never louder than in Georgia during the 2nd week in April. After all, the first African American to play at Augusta was Lee Elder, in 1975. The exclusive Augusta club (by invitation only -$250-$300 K to join) didn’t have a black member till 1990.

This week, South African Gary Player was feted by the Lords of Golf. 30 years ago, Player won this third and final green jacket. However, Player was at least for part of his life was pro apartheid-even supporting it in his 1966 book, Grand Slam Golf.

Click here to see Player’s comments

WATCH TREVOR IMMELMAN CAPTURE HIS GREEN JACKET AT THE MASTERS, AFTER THE JUMP...

If you’re like my friend Dana in Westbury, THAT’S what you’re wondering after this Mets’ weekend -ESPECIALLY yesterday’s loss to the Brewers. Ollie Perez blows a four run lead, 5 double plays from the offense, one each in innings 3 thru 8-10 left on base.

I’m sorry, but even in this watered Major League Baseball we have today -YOU have to hold onto a 6-2 lead, HAVE TO. Instead, Perez looked like he wanted to replace Drew Carey on The Price Is Right: 4 and a third innings, 6 runs on eight hits. I stood up for him after the home opener, but he flat out stunk yesterday.

To make matters worse -and this goes back to last year-when the team gets behind, they can’t get over the top. Perez is CLEARLY to blame for Sunday’s loss-BUT YOU NEVER expect this team to rally and win a game. David Wright says the whole clubhouse is angry -but WHERE is that anger? Can I see somebody throw a bat, or curse out a reporter after a game? At least Mike Mussina was ticked off after letting Manny beat him Saturday. YOU DON’T see that with this team.

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

The NHL quickly amended its unsportsmanlike conduct rules today (that’s pretty funny when you consider hockey is the only sport that allows and CONDONES fighting) after the nonsense Sean Avery pulled last night. Yes, Avery’s a guy you LOVE if he’s on your team -and HATE if he isn’t.

Avery spent a good part of the game basically face guarding Martin Brodeur -it looked like a cross between Beauty and The Beast On Ice meets The Karate Kid

Though the strategy did appear to pay off as Avery scored the Rangers’ 2nd goal last night -it detracts from this: The Devils outworked the Rangers last night-forced the Blueshirts into taking stupid penalties, and kept the puck in the Rangers zone most of the 6 minutes of Overtime -so much so that the the Rangers were gassed at game’s end. Yes, John Madden’s shot deflected off Mark Staal and past Henrik Lundquist to finish Game 3. But you create your own breaks-and that’s what New Jersey did. Rangers still lead the series, but the Devils have some life-and hockey gets some much need pub on sports radio.

WATCH RANGERS-DEVILS POST-GAME INTERVIEWS AFTER THE JUMP...

Today is Jackie Robinson Day around the Major Leagues -rightly so, for Robinson’s impact on baseball and ultimately race relations in this country, 'land of the free and home of the brave’ cannot and should not be forgotten. Robinson and Branch Rickey (the man who signed Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers) are the subjects of the first ever book reports I wrote in elementary school. (I KNEW there was something good about a Catholic education, even though I wouldn’t mind a theological discussion with Pope Benedict).

But like John Adams to George Washington or Buzz Aldrin to Neil Armstrong, being number 2 at something can be tough to handle.

In a more serious vein, such was the case with Larry Doby. Born in South Carolina, but raised in New Jersey. Doby debuted for the Cleveland Indians in July of 1947, less than 90 days after Robinson -the first African American player in the American League. 61 years later, much like Adams among The Founding Fathers or Aldrin among astronauts, Doby is an afterthought.
Even Doby said, “I guess the media didn’t want to tell the same story twice.”

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

Today marks the 61st anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s debut in the Major Leagues -breaking baseball’s color barrier and changing America forever.

The New York Mets honored the occasion by officially unveiling plans for Citi Field's Jackie Robinson Rotunda. The large hall named after the baseball great will serve as the entrance to the Mets' new ballpark.

Jackie Robinson's widow, Rachel, and daughter, Sharon were both present at today's unveiling.

PHOTOS: Jackie Robinson Rotunda and Citi Field

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH RACHEL AND SHARON ROBINSON, AFTER THE JUMP...

An absolutely horrible local basketball season ends all the way around tonight. The Knicks and Nets finish their below .500 seasons. If you throw Rutgers, Seton Hall and St. John’s in the mix -NO HOOPS teams reached the postseason. PLEASE don’t mention the Lady Scarlet Knights or the Liberty-until I see point spreads in the paper and actual TV ratings in positive numbers -women’s hoops is as fun as counting down the days to the Democratic Primary in Pennsylvania.

For our supposed ‘pro’ teams, let’s hope Donnie Walsh does the RIGHT thing and let Isiah Thomas go immediately after tonight’s glorified exhibition game against the Pacers. Not Friday. Not Monday, not after the Rangers finish off the Devils. Now. What a place the Garden is, what a country we live in-when a man can be so abusive to women in the workplace and still keep his job? The sexual harassment case aside (oh, by the way, that cost the Garden over 11 million bucks and no doubt raised Cablevison’s rates. Jim Dolan’s misplayed loyalty is about as helpful as Bloomberg’s congestion pricing will be to NYC.

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

So now Pedro Martinez is out till possibly JUNE with a strained hamstring? It wasn’t like he was shot in Game 2 against the Marlins. You wonder if the Mets are being secretive about the extent of Pedro’s injury. I mean, this was supposed to be a mild injury -one that Jose Reyes (who counts on his legs) recovered from in two days.

The Mets have always been tight lipped and protective regarding Martinez since the day he got here. Every workout, every long toss, every appearance in a game treated like the arrival of well, the Pope. I bring all this up because Martinez has spent so much time rehabbing and getting into shape that now it’s strange that a mild hamstring problem has the club so pensive.
Even in the last few days, Mets GM Omar Minaya told one paper the other day NOT to expect Martinez back till June. Then yesterday, Pedro says he expects to be back by the end of May.

CHECK OUT THE PEDRO MARTINEZ VIDEO GALLERY AFTER THE JUMP...

Question: anybody notice who got the win in the Yankees’ 15-9 marathon over the Red Sox? None other than # 22 LaTroy Hawkins. Yankee fans apparently SO up in arms that LaTroy had Paul O’Neill’s number 21 that he was pressured to wear 22. I guess fans have already put Roger Clemens in their rear view mirror.

But hey, do you REALLY think O’Neill should have his number retired? He hasn’t played since 2001 and only spent nine years in the Bronx. I think fans and especially George Steinbrenner get caught up in the whole Yankee pride crap that they push out.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON HAWKINS IN NEWSDAY

To date, the Yankees have retired 16 numbers, and #42 for Jackie Robinson, still grandfathered by Mariano Rivera, who will rightfully have a day in the Bronx and another in Cooperstown in the not so distant future. But, aside from knowing that Jeter and Torre will have #2 and #6 tucked away, there are numbers the Yanks have closed shop on that are not really deserving. Most notable:

VIDEO AND MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

So Miguel Tejada unburdened himself today -admitting to the Houston Astros that he is really 33 rather than 31. Tejada claims that he’s lied about his age dating back to signing with Oakland at age 16 because of his impoverished background.
My buddy Matt from Manhasset Hills wonders if Tejada will soon be as forthcoming to the feds about his steroids use while with the Orioles. No wonder he was such an easy target to blame after Rafael Palmiero failed his drug test three years ago.

READ MORE IN NEWSDAY >>>

Redemption lives-at least in Hockey. After watching John Madden’s OT centering pass go off his skate and end in a Game 3 win for the Devils, rookie Marc Staal put the Rangers in a commanding 3 games to 1 lead in their first round series with the Devils.

Staal took Marty Straka’s third period pass and blasted the biscuit past Martin Brodeur for a 4-3 lead, 5-3 the final.

The Rangers are just the quicker, more talented team at this point. This series brings up the question: How good is/was Martin Brodeur? Brodeur is a few weeks away from turning 36-still an above average net minder. But in the Devs’ heyday he was seeing maybe 15-20 shots, not the 39 he was peppered with last night. Avery wasn’t a real factor last night, but New Jersey’s defense doesn’t protect Brodeur like they used to. Ranger fans complain that #30 is a product of the system the Devils play. There is some truth to that, but Brodeur is still a top five goaltender all time.

But enjoy it now Ranger fans. Montreal and/or Pittsburgh won’t be as easy to get through.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON THE NEW YORK RANGERS

On a more serious but most important note, today is also Sean Kimerling’s birthday. I had the honor to work with Sean from 1997-2003 -he earned multiple Emmy nominations and awards for his work on WPIX’s Mets pre and post game telecasts, and as the Weekend Sports Anchor for the News At Ten. Sean passed away after a brief but valiant battle with testicular cancer, September 9, 2003, at age 37.

Did you know that testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer in men ages 15-40? Lance Armstrong, John Kruk, and Billy Mayfair are among the ‘famous’ with this disease. BUT -the cancer is extremely treatable (more than 95 percent cure rate) IF DETECTED EARLY. This did not happen in Sean’s case -he died barely a month after his initial diagnosis. But Sean wanted to help others and make a difference.

That’s what the SEAN KIMERLING TESTICULAR CANCER FOUNDATION is all about-making sure that young men, through continual checkups and routine self examination-live healthy and stay that way.

Sean is still missed by friends, family and co-workers that knew and loved him. He was a great friend and influence in my professional career. I wholeheartedly invite you to learn more about Sean and the SKTCF (including their annual Celebrity Golf Outing in August) by going to http://www.seankimerling.org

44 years ago today, April 17, 1964, Shea Stadium opened. Before more than 50-thousand people, the Mets lost to the Pirates.

DON’T FORGET -in this final season of Shea Stadium, you can hear some of your favorite former Mets players share their favorite Shea Memories here >>>

A programming note: catch the Mets and Phillies from the city of Brotherly Love TOMORROW NIGHT at 7 p.m. ONLY on the CW11. Lefty ace Johan Santana scheduled to pitch for the Mets!

Perhaps the New Yorker most blessed by Pope Benedict’s visit to the Big Apple-Isiah Thomas. Zeke has already been told he’s out as Knicks coach. But the Knicks will wait till the pontiff leaves town before officially giving Thomas the heave-ho.

Let the speculation begin: Mark Jackson and Scott Skiles are supposedly on Donnie Walsh’s wish list. Interesting that JAX quit as a Nets’ YES announcer the day Isiah’s tenure ends.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT MARK JACKSON AND THE KNICKS

Recently I’ve gotten quite a few comments on my anti Wrestlemania entry. Hey, some of them were quite creative. But so that everyone understands my position:

“Professional Wrestling” - the WWE, TNA, ECW, WHATEVER - is a waste of time. The fact that people enjoy exihibitions that already have predetermined endings demonstrates how delusional they are. The fact that you watch a product whose most successful owner (Vince McMahon) run by a man with no soul, no concern for his employees -demonstrates how delusional you all are. "Pro" wrestling does nothing but glorify violence. It has no union to protect its members from the whims of McMahon. Same thing with Jeff Jarrett and TNA Wrestling-WCW before that, or NWA. Doesn't matter. Guys are in 200-300 matches a year, away from home weeks at a time. Rick Rude, Kurt Henning, Owen Hart, Eddie Guerrero, Elizabeth Hulette-to name a few-have all died from drug use. (or in Hart's case, negligence on the part of the WWE.)

Chris Benoit caused the deaths of three people, including his own. He is responsible for his actions, perhaps answering throughout all eternity for the killing of his wife and son.
BUT: Where were Vince McMahon and the WWE to even consider drug testing or any signs of help to Benoit or others? Such actions now are too little too late-like Bud Selig ALL OF A SUDDEN interested in cleaning up baseball. If Congress hadn’t come-a-calling, steroids would still be the norm in hardball.

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

I’ve written here more than once that Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is bigger than boxing. CBS plans to air Elite XC beginning in May and NBC is considering a show.

The main brand for Mixed Martial Arts is Ultimate Fighting Championship (the UFC), which gained fame once taken over by Dana White and streamlined to showcase MMA stars. Its breakout hit The Ultimate Fighter is the biggest reason MMA is now mainstream. Simply put: Network execs run to where they see money. There may be some blood in the cage, but the overriding hue is green, as in cash.

Which leads us to the case of Long Island born and bred Matt Serra, aka Matt “The Terror’ Serra. Great post 9-11 nickname Matt. He’s the former UFC Welterweight champ who gets another shot Saturday on Pay Per View.

Serra, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu stylist, runs two schools on the Island. His pro record stood at 7-4 before winning The Ultimate Fighter 4: The Comeback (the show featured guys whose careers were on the verge of ending-a “last chance” to continue the dream type of scenario.)

VIDEO AND MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

So what’s the big deal with Kyle Farnsworth throwing BEHIND Manny Ramirez? Nothing in theory-it’s part of the game. Matter of fact, for the Yanks, it’s about time. But a few things to consider:

Mike Mussina, NOT Farnsworth, should have been the one to throw at/around/up and in at Manny. Why should Farnsworth be responsible to send a message to Ramirez and the Sox? Farnsworth didn’t get dusted for three dingers and a double in four at bats! Let’s face it, Farnsworth’s ‘purpose pitch’ was about as greatly orchestrated as a 2nd grade ballet recital.

Remember, all the rules are tilted to the offense. Umps don’t call high strikes, and batters can lean out over the plate with more armor than King Arthur and the Knights of The Round Table. This prevents the pitcher from throwing inside. So a hurler has to throw more in the middle of the plate. Result-instant offense and longer games.

MLB doesn’t allow teams and players to handle and police their own problems OR take into account that throwing a baseball at 60 feet, six inches isn’t all that easy. Used to be that pitchers PRACTICED throwing inside-NOT to deliberately hit, but to establish their right to in inner part of the plate. NOW, batters get so comfy that even a tight pitch inside is frowned upon.

PICTURES AND MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

Now we know: Donnie Walsh DOESN’T have full authority on Knicks’ basketball operations. Why else would Isiah Thomas - thankfully out as coach - STILL be with this team in a capacity with no title, reporting to NO ONE but Walsh? Donnie actually claimed that Isiah can help the team with input, and has done “a lot” for the organization. Who is he kidding? The team is 103-186 since Isiah joined the team in December of 2003. Most sexual misconduct lawsuits that result in an 11 million dollar payout by your employer usually means that person will lose his job. Not in this case.

You wonder what kind of spell first Glen Sather and Isiah cast on Dolan. The Rangers were in the tank till Gary Bettman cancelled a season and imposed a salary cap. THAT was the best thing to happen to the Blueshirts -it made Sather WORK as a GM rather than just buy high priced players.

But THIS: For Walsh to say that Isiah can do any number of things for him-it reeks of Dolan-for WHATEVER reason still loyal to Thomas (though I am sure the 18 million still due Thomas may have something to do with it). What REAL basketball man with REAL autonomy would want Isiah Thomas anywhere near his team? Walsh had no difficulty watching Thomas leave (although Larry Bird ‘officially’ takes the credit) the Pacers five seasons ago.

You hope that Thomas will have no real power, that the next coach won’t have to feel pressure looking over his shoulder. You hope Donnie Walsh is enough of his own man to ensure that. But for right now, it smells fishy. At some level -and it looks like you don’t have to go too far-Jimmy Dolan still gets to play with the toys Daddy Charles gave him -the Rangers, and especially the Knicks.

If you check out Newsday’s Knicks Blog, fans agree that Isiah must go, and never return.

This weekend Danica Patrick became the 1st woman to win an IRL racing event, the Japan 300. Thank goodness. I was beginning to believe that like Matt Serra, Patrick was over-hyped, forced on the public by racing bigwigs and PR people thanks to her (unlike Serra) good looks. My mind is at ease now-at least until she wins a major race in the United States.

First off, I have to correct an error in Friday’s blog. I said Matt Serra was trying to regain the UFC Welterweight title from George St. Pierre Saturday night. I was wrong. Serra, despite not defending the belt due to injury in the last year, was technically still the title holder-while in the meantime St. Pierre won the ‘Interim’ title against Matt Hughes.

The only title that matters now-St. Pierre IS the champ once again-by TKO Round 2 in front of a raucous hometown Montreal crowd at UFC 83. The Canadian dominated the East Meadow native from start to finish.

READ MORE AND WATCH A POST-FIGHT INTERVIEW WITH SERRA AFTER THE JUMP...

If Jaromir Jagr were Eric Lindros, I’d say there was a problem with too many concussions. But Jagr should know better. While it’s great the Blueshirts finished off the Devils Friday night, Jagr shouldn’t be saying he wants Sid the Kid and the young Penguins in the next round. Instead, Tom Renney has to get his guys to hold on to the puck-too many turnovers-and avoid the sin bin-too many turnovers that kept New Jersey around even though the series was done in 5. The Pens are no slouch if that is the match up. While Mac Andre Fleury isn’t Henrik Lundqvist, he ain’t bad.

So Jaromir -you won 2 Cups in Pittsburgh and still have a home there-but stop hoping for ANY TEAM. Enjoy a few days off and hope you get the Flyers so that the Garden can be rocking with home ice in Round 2.

I’m thrilled that the Mets grabbed two out of three from the Phils. But a few observations:

Looking more and more like signing Luis Castillo to a long term deal was a mistake. He just looks old and slow at the plate. WHY Omar Minaya needed to sign this guy with knees worse than mine to a four year deal -baffling as why America’s Next Top Model has any real significance in our society. Meanwhile, Bobby Cox has the younger, speedier Ruben Gotay on his bench waiting for playing time.

To make matters worse, Castillo, who is supposed to be a great bunter, couldn’t drop when down in the 9th last night. The guy is so anemic at the plate it seems like every day he tries to bunt. If Castillo had done that with the Mets down a run, the whole complexion of the inning changes. Wright has a different mindset, and maybe Bruntlett’s great play on Beltran still brings home the tying run instead of ending the game.

It didn’t take long for Hank Steinbrenner to demonstrate the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Twenty games into the season, and the Baby Boss sounds very much like Papa George. He wants Joba Chamberlain out of the bullpen and into the Yankees starting rotation.

Hank says, “You don’t throw a guy with a 100 mph fastball into the bullpen as a setup guy. You put him in the starting rotation.” Hank, as YOU, YOURSELF know and knew -at least 2/5 (Hughes and Kennedy) and sometimes three (Mussina, who doesn’t have the stuff to beat good teams anymore) were going to be a problem and that you’d have to score runs. YOU, Hank and GM Brian Cashman, made the decision not to trade Phil Hughes to the Twins for Johan Santana.

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

I don't know what frightens me more—the idea that all three Presidential candidates appeared on WWE Raw Monday night—OR the state of pitching in baseball, especially the bullpens.

Having elected officials connect themselves with some of the most stupid and absurd elements of our society is scary and questions character in their desperation to get votes. Ralph Nader and Grandpa Al Lewis are looking great now. Can you imagine John Adams, Abe Lincoln or Harry Truman—guys who clearly didn't care about what people thought; only about doing what they thought was right—appearing on a wrestling show?

The thoughts of managers these days can't be too stable either. Friday night, Johan Santana goes 7 great innings. Two batters get on in the eighth, and Santana—the 137.5 million dollar man—comes out of the game. The bullpen nearly blows the game.

Saturday: after having a horrible Friday night, Aaron Heilman redeems himself, getting out of a bases loaded jam. The Mets win the game. Sunday: Andy Pettitte throws 7 shutout innings, and is removed. The same day, the Rangers remove Kevin Millwood after two runs over six, and the BoSox rally to beat the Rangers. The same day, Olson allows 1 run over 7 and is taken out by the Marlins. The Fish DO AT LEAST go on to win the game.
Monday night, Carlos Zambrano—18 game winner last season-holds the Mets to 1 run over 7 and is lifted. Meanwhile, the Rockies pen allows 5 runs to the Phillies in the final two innings of the game.

So I ask: WHERE is the stud starter who says, "Skip, you ain't going to the bullpen today." That's what happened in Game 5 of the 1969 World Series. Jerry Koosman spotted the Orioles an early 3-0 lead, and told the team, "That's it boys, they get no more. The Mets chipped away, and finished off the Birds.

After the Rangers quickly dispatched the Devils in 5 games, it's on to Pittsburgh to face Sid the Kid and the Penguins. There are some interesting questions to be answered. Will the Rangers veteran team with plenty of playoff experience be able to contend with the Penguins young talent led by 21-year-old Evgeni Malkin and 20-year-old superstar Sidney Crosby? Will Crosby, who is now the face of the NHL, get special treatment from the officials? Will Sean Avery get under the Penguins' skin as he did in the previous series against New Jersey? How will Jaromir Jagr fare against his former team? He had a nice series against the Devils: 2 goals and 6 assists. Who will win the battle in the nets? Henrik Lundqvist, who is a Vezina trophy finalist (best goalie) or Marc Andre Fleury who has lost only twice in regulation in his last 21 decisions. The Penguins have won 10 in a row at home, but are 0-3-1 in Madison Square Garden.

Game 1: Tonight in Pittsburgh 7pm
Game 2: April 27 @ Pittsburgh 2pm
Game 3: April 29 @ MSG 7pm
Game 4: May 1 @ MSG 7pm
*Game 5: May 4 @ Pittsburgh 2pm
*Game 6: May 5 @ MSG 7pm
*Game 7: May 7 @ Pittsburgh TBA

We talked to the Rangers in advance of tonight's big game. Watch the video after the jump.

No matter how GM Jerry Reese and Coach Tom Coughlin want to spin it, the Giants tried to trade talented but mercurial tight end Jeremy Shockey over the weekend.

No question: Shockey is extremely talented, and you can make the case that he hasn't been utilized as much as he or Giants fans might have liked during his career.

Here's another fact: Whether he blames it on intensity or a desire to win, Shockey's outspoken behavior has at times rubbed management the wrong way. IT DEFINITELY rubbed Eli Manning the wrong way. Shockey and Tiki Barber were clearly not in Manning's corner during his early years with the Giants. But anybody notice that Elijah seemed to morph into an efficient QB once Shockey's season ended last December with a broken leg?

Other disturbing things of note: Jeremy was in a box, beer next to him, during Big Blue's Super Bowl win of over the Patriots in February. I realize he had a broken leg, but could it have killed Jeremy to be with the team on the sideline as they won the biggest Super Bowl ever? Phil Simms hated missing Super Bowl XXV in 1991. But there he was, next to Bill Parcells as Jeff Hostetler led Big Blue to a 20-19 win over Buffalo.

Once again, Shockey missed off-season conditioning camps a few weeks back, deciding instead to rehab (again) at the University of Miami. You'd think that Shockey would have long ago realized, "Hey, Eli is the man. I have to be on the same page with him." That's never been truer than right NOW. Coughlin and Manning, once targets of the fans, are the fair-haired boys of the city. Winning a Super Bowl will do that. Winning a Super Bowl MVP like Manning did—no matter how much David Tyree and the defense did to make it possible—makes the club CLEARLY Eli's team. Shockey didn't care enough to be on the sideline when the team won a title. I guess it won't bother him if Manning says, "Hey Jeremy, no more BS. It's MY way or the highway."

Perhaps it won't come to that. But Shockey's continued presence on the Giants is up to him, NOT the Giants. Shockey has bypassed every chance to get on the team and Manning's good side. That better change. The fact that Manning and the team did do well without Shockey tells me that I have no problem dealing him-even for less than expected value. Eli seems like a calm, levelheaded guy (WE LOVE that now, right Giant fans?) and as long as he's producing for you (and even 1 Super Bowl cuts a lot of slack) keeping your QB happy is a top priority. Kevin Boss may not be mistaken for Jay Noavcek or Kellen Winslow, but starting with the regular season finale against the Patriots, Boss made some timely catches and got open when needed. Plus, you never heard a peep out of him. Until he shows otherwise, you can't say that about Jeremy Shockey. Talent is great, but team unity is more important, especially coming off a stunning Super Bowl victory. Staying focused after all the off-season distractions is tough. The question is: Will Shockey decide to be part of the problem? We'll see.

So everybody's up in arms about the blown call that cost Martin Straka and the Rangers a game tying goal in yesterday's loss to the Penguins. UNLESS of course, you're an Islander fan like birthday boy Tom from Bellmore. To Tom, hating the Blueshirts is as natural as breathing or going undefeated in an entire season of the NHL 2008 Video Game. Happy Birthday Tom!

Blaming the refs for losing the game is like Roger Clemens blaming wife Debbie for his alleged affair with country music star Mindy McCready (I'd like to hear the explanation of a 28-year-old star ballplayer having a relationship with a then 15-year-old minor. Just another stellar fact to absorb as the Rocket tries to convince the world—and maybe himself—that he never used HGH or steroids.)

The Rangers may not be in as much trouble as Clemens. They are going home for Games 3 and 4 Tuesday and Thursday, The Pens didn't win any of the 4 regular season matchups at MSG during the regular season. The Rangers did shut down the vaunted Pittsburgh attack in Game 2.

My biggest problem: Blowing that 3-0 lead in Game 1, and losing it on a power play goal from Malkin late. You take Game 1, you still have confidence heading to MSG tomorrow night. Today, you're wondering: Are the youthful Pens too quick for the Rangers? THEY must have confidence going on the road the next two games. You'd expect Pittsburgh to be flying at the start. Can the Blueshirts throw enough muscle around WITHOUT taking a dumb penalty? It's a cliché, but Game 3 really is a do-or-die game—EVEN if the Rangers win Tuesday but lose Game 4 Thursday. Down 3-1 sure isn't great, but you can still take that "game at a time" mindset. Lose tomorrow, and the team—not to mention the fans—has tee time reservations in the back of their minds.

Best case scenario: Pressure Marc Andre Fluery, especially early. If the Penguins score first, they'll smell blood in the water. Knowing Tom from Bellmore, he'll become the "Penguins" of NHL 2008 if the Rangers' season is over before the weekend.

For more on the Rangers, check out Steve Zipay's Rangers blog.

I really hate the newspaper articles and talk shows that rate a team's NFL Draft. Why? Simple: You just don't know how a kid will develop. That holds true in any sport, but particularly in football. The pounding and stress of daily practices and game days is unlike any other sport. On paper, Vernon Gholston (Jets) and Kenny Phillips (Giants) look like they'll help the clubs. Maybe Darren McFadden and Mario Manningham can overcome checkered pasts and be NFL stars. But don't get excited till you see them on the field.

I'm not trying to diminish the importance of Draft Day. Picks from Big Blue's last 5 drafts (Ross, Webster, Boss, Tuck, Umenyiora & Bradshaw to name a few) made significant contributions to winning the Super Bowl back in February. Scouting is the lifeblood of consistent winning in the NFL.

But a bad draft is a GM's nightmare: Remember Roger Vick, Jets fans? Don't laugh Big Blue supporters. I was as thrilled as everybody else when Ron Dayne made his way to the Meadowlands. How'd that work out? Gang Green fans had visions of Johnnie Mitchell and Kyle Brady when the Jets traded up to get Dustin Keller from Purdue. But he could turn out to be their TE of the future. Jets fans, say so long to Chris Baker. Keep in mind, for every "diamond in the rough" like Tom Brady, there's a "can't miss" flop like Ryan Leaf.

Read more and watch Newsday's Bob Glauber make his Jets Draft picks after the jump.

You have to feel badly for Jorge Posada. Derek Jeter may be the pretty boy Captain of the boys in the Bronx, but Posada, like Jason Varitek with the Red Sox, has been the real fiery leader.

Jorge is one of the few catchers in baseball that can put up good numbers consistently. Last season, he hit .336, 7 of the last eight years he's knocked in more than 80 runs.

The Yanks should still score a lot of runs. Where Posada will be missed the most is in the clubhouse. He's worked very hard to be a better catcher and a handler of pitchers. Unlike Jeter, who picks his spots to be a "leader," (speaking out for steroid cheat Jason Giambi but holding his tongue when fans wrongfully gave A-Rod a hard time) Posada is one of the few standup guys in the Yankees clubhouse who doesn't have a problem speaking his mind. It's too early to see what effect Posada's loss will have on Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. Young pitchers need a steady hand behind the plate and Jorge is now valued in that role.

An interesting note on Posada: He was near tears after yesterday's game in Cleveland, practically apologetic for signing the big four year contract in the off season. You wish all players cared that much-Tom Glavine being the exact opposite after last season's disastrous Mets season finale.

For further reading, check out Kat O'Brien's column on Jorge Posada.

I agree in principle with Jim Baumbach's Monday column in Newsday.

I totally understand Carlos Delgado's rationale to NOT come out for a curtain call against the Braves Sunday afternoon. But the Mets aging 1st baseman clearly backed himself into a corner that he may not be able to escape from.

Let's get a few things straight: Delgado has been awful this year. I can't wait for Mark Teixeira to be a free agent. (Thanks to 'theauthor' for setting ME straight) Plus, the chances are MUCH better that Carlos will go into another 4-for-49 stretch as opposed to getting hot.

Mets fans—unruly as they've been towards Scott Schoenweis and wrongly Johan Santana—are perfectly within their right to boo Delgado. He's a guy making $16 million this season and like the suddenly hot Luis Castillo (let's see how long THAT lasts) hasn't been productive. Still, I acknowledge the human side of this: Delgado has been booed all year. After that 2nd home run he's thinking, "NOW they love me? Bleep them." If you saw the CW-11 telecast, it SURE looked like David Wright told him to stay in the dugout too. (Wright denies this. If he's lying, shame on him)

So I see Carlos' point. In most areas of life, false praise (and that's what was coming from the 53 thousand at Shea) is properly ignored.

But by doing so, right or wrong—Delgado gets no grace, no rope to hold onto. If he goes 0-5 against the Pirates and leaves two men on in scoring position in the 8th, he will be lambasted. Any time he makes an out in a big spot, he'll wish he were playing in Kansas City. The insults for Delgado will make the boos for Alex Rodriguez look like a tent revival meeting. Fans are fickle, especially when you look at how baseball salaries are so out of whack compared to the average guy. Carlos made his bed. For his sake, he better play well the rest of what will be his final season with the Mets—or he could have the least enjoyable experience of his baseball career.

So now the Yankees are considering sending Phil Hughes to the minors. I know that many Yankee fans are already thinking that the youngster may not be big league material. I know that T.J and birthday boy Ryan (Happy Birthday Ryan!) are not among them.

I hope not, for a variety of reasons:

1. He’s had some success already. Last season, Hughes looked like the next Cy Young before injuring himself against the Rangers. He just needs to get back to what is successful.

2. Reference #1, A starter throws (plays) every 5th day, NOT every day like a position player, or a guy coming out of the bullpen. There’s nothing Hughes can’t learn on his off days here with Dave Eiland that he’d see in Triple A.

READ MORE ON THE REASONS WHY PHIL HUGHES SHOULDN'T BE SENT TO THE MINORS AFTER THE JUMP...

The grounds crew at Shea Stadium will have to put some new turf down between the pitching mound and home plate. Oops, there goes Rick Peterson out to the mound again.

Oliver Perez continues to baffle. Some days he looks unhittable. On days like today, he wouldn’t touch water if he’d fallen off the Titanic. Result: A 13-1 afternoon loss to the Pirates that, in baseball terms, was more of a bloodletting than a massacre.

Just hours after the Mets won an extra inning marathon; Perez didn’t exactly give Willie Randolph innings. An inning and two thirds, 7 runs-5 unearned- on only two hits. Perez has talent-can he harness it is the question. While Phil Hughes has to learn how to pitch, Perez has to learn how to control HIMSELF. He just doesn’t look confident and settled on the mound. NOW I can see why Randolph is so exasperated.

Not that Ollie had much help-the Mets managed only two hits, committing three errors in the field. They’re THAT excited to see the blazing Diamondbacks this weekend?

How bad was it? Well, Aaron Heilman pitched two scoreless innings after Jorge Sosa surrendered 5 runs-4 UNEARNED!

SNY decided to take phone calls towards the end of the game. “Patty from New Jersey” pointed out to Gary Cohen and Ron Darling that the Mets would need two touchdowns to win. We’re talking Classic TV, worthy of the best Nick At Nite and TV Land has to offer. And the cow jumped over the moon. Thankfully, it’s only one game.

Win a title, and you visit the White House. Earlier today, the Super Bowl Champion Giants paid a visit to President Bush. Say this for W.: All politicians love mugging for the camera with sports heroes. But Bush actually enjoys sports. 43 is the former owner of the Texas Rangers. Maybe he should be baseball commissioner if the owners want ‘one of their own’ at the helm. He’s got more knowledge of baseball in his pinky than Bud Selig could ever hope to possess.

As usual, the one liners were flowing. Bush compared himself to Eli Manning, and has some plans for Jessica Simpson.

WATCH VIDEO OF THE WHITE HOUSE FESTIVITIES AFTER THE JUMP...

Here’s some food for thought. While the media scrambles to find out more on the affair between Roger Clemens and Mindy McCready, I wonder: Which couple has more of a potential impact on YOUR life. The adulterous pairing of a steroid cheat with a then underage singer: OR: the devastating breakup of Jeremiah Wright and Barack Obama? Yet, which “couple” was front page news in the tabloids the last few days?

I hope Rangers’ coach Tom Renney has a copy of the final four games of the 2004 ALCS. Remember when the Red Sox rallied from a 3-0 deficit and beat the Yankees in 7? The Blueshirts need all the Dave Roberts, Big Papi, Curt Schilling’s bloody sock and (at that time) Johnny Damon to overcome the Penguins.

Speaking of miracles, thank the Lord that Sean Avery will be OK. Last night, Avery lacerated his spleen during the Rangers’ loss to Pittsburgh. Though obviously serious, the team was right on top of things and Avery went to the hospital after the game -never in as bad a shape as a local newspaper reported. Love him or hate him, it’s great that Avery will make a full recovery. Naturally, he’s out the rest of the playoffs.

Not that the Rangers will be there for too much longer. Even with Avery, Betts and Drury hurting, the Rangers played their best game of the season-and STILL lost. Last night was the worst time for Henrik Lundqvist to have a bad game. Five goals in the first 15 shots, no matter how good the Pens are, is bad. Henrik the Great came up small while the rest of the team busted their butts trying to get back into the series.

VIDEO AND MORE AFTER THE JUMP...