Game Face

Johan Santana started earning his $137.5 million yesterday, fooling batters and sprinting for grounders in a three-hit performance during the Mets’ 7-2 win yesterday.
While the new ace stood tall for seven innings, the Mets’ offense was mostly quiet except for a tour-de-force rip through 10 at bats at the top of the fourth.
The opposing pitcher was 6-foot-9 former NBA player Mark Hendrickson.
The Mets' six-run pileup began with a sharply hit ball to left from the bat of Carlos Beltran, who reached second base easily. Carlos Delgado, effective even without a hit in three at bats yesterday, then discriminated through five pitches to earn a base on balls.
Beltran chugged home when Angel Pagan laced a curving liner down the third base line and Delgado scored when Ryan Church singled to right. Catcher Brian Schnieder and Santana then came up and went down for the first two outs of the inning.
That left leadoff man Jose Reyes with a two-out challenge. The shortstop answered with a single to left that scored Pagan. Luis Castillo then walked to load the bases and open the way for David Wright’s three-run double.
It ended where it began — with Beltran, who lined out to center field top end the volcanic inning.
Things fell into place for the Mets on opening day.
— Max

In the vein of the Bucky Dent interview I posted yesterday, here's the transcript from an interview I did with Bill "Moose" Skowron, the Yankees' first baseman from 1954-62. Of course, the subject again was Yankee Stadium's final season. At age 77, Moose, who lives in Illinois, seems like he still has a lot of spunk.

What do you think of the plans for the new Yankee Stadium?
“They should build the park the same way as I had it because I want to see these guys hit those home runs in the bleachers -- 457, 461 feet to dead center.”

Do you remember your first game as a player at Yankee Stadium?
“Opening day [1954], I hit a triple and a home run.”

What were you thinking when you ran out on the field for the first time? Were you nervous?
“I was always nervous prior to the first out. Once the first out was made, then you just forget; everything’s out of your mind.”

What do you think makes Yankee Stadium such a special place?
“Fans. Beautiful fans. They were always great. Win or lose, they were always nice. You don’t forget things like that. They treated me well. In nine years, we won seven pennants. Sure, when I was lousy, they booed me. They had every right to boo me. When I was good, they gave me accolades, and that’s the way it should be.”

“We used to call it Death Valley. We couldn’t wait to go on a road trip because the fences were closer on the road. I hit some balls to left center, and they’d catch ‘em. Then I’d come to the dugout and moan a little bit, and [manager] Casey [Stengel] says, ‘If you don’t like it here, we can get you somewhere else.’ What are you going to say when you win World Series and pennants? The pitchers loved the ballpark because they’d throw it out there and say, ‘Hit the damn thing.’ ”

As a player, did you feel the history of the place, like, fore example, Babe Ruth’s ghost?
“I never felt that.”

“I wish I would have met Lou Gehrig, but I met Babe Ruth when I was like 17 years old at the Polo Grounds. … I had Wally Pipp come up to me at an old-timers game. He said, ‘Moose, sit over here; I want to talk to you.’ He said, ‘Don’t ever get a headache or stay out late.’ He said, ‘I stayed out late, and the next day I went up to the manager, Miller Huggins, and I asked him for a day off, and Lou Gehrig took my place, and I never played again.’ I never forgot that. After that, no matter what, I played.”

Do you think the new stadium can capture the same essence that people feel when they enter the current Yankee Stadium?
“I think so because they have a helluva ballclub. They get 50,000 to 60,000 every game."

So you think it’s mostly about the fans than the stadium?
“The fans. The fans and the media, they want to win. Mr. Steinbrenner wants to spend money and win.”

Isiah Thomas says he’s not a candidate for the University of Indiana job because “I have a job.”

That’s true, but for how much longer? If you examine his words closely enough, Thomas’ interest in coaching his alma mater seems to come with a qualifier.

And it adds to the tradition of employed coaches drawing interest for other jobs who give ambiguous answers — or sometimes flat-out lies. But understandably, they’re in a no-win situation.

Tell the media you’re interested, and they and the fans will blast you. (Example: Larry Brown calling the Knicks his “dream job” while he was coaching the Pistons.)

Tell the media you’re not interested, and they assume you’re hiding something. (Example: LSU football coach Les Miles, drawing interest from Michigan, telling reporters, “I will be the head coach at LSU.” Within minutes, ESPN talking heads were trying to read between the lines because Miles didn’t clearly state how long he’d be the coach at LSU.)

Admittedly, coaches are somewhat to blame. Remember former Dolphins coach Nick Saban declaring “I will not be the coach at Alabama”?

But there are times coaches seem to be evasive in a Bill Clinton kind of way. What they say might technically be true, but the presentation is misleading.

Just before last year’s championship game, when Florida basketball coach Billy Donovan was rumored to be a candidate for the Kentucky job, he responded in dismissive fashion: “That has nothing to do with me. It has everything to do with Kentucky.”

Never at the time did he say he wasn’t interested in the UK job, leaving the perceptive to assume he was at least giving the position consideration.

Isiah’s “I have a job” defense might hold water for now. But until Indiana names a coach who isn’t him, the speculation won’t go away.

Don’t blame the media or the fans. Blame all the coaches who in the past could never be taken at face value.

Photo by Getty Images

In Monday’s amNewYork, we have an article about the last opening day at the House that Ruth Built. I interviewed several fans and a couple of past Yankees about the history that will be lost when the current Yankee Stadium is torn down.

Here is a transcript of my interview with Bucky Dent, who played in pinstripes from 1977-82. Notice how many times he calls Yankee Stadium "a special place."

How well do you remember the first game you played at Yankee Stadium?
“I remember it quite well. It’s just a special place. I missed the old stadium when I came up. They were playing in Shea. Missing the old one then coming back and playing in the old one -- the one they’re in now -- it was pretty neat.

What do you think makes Yankee Stadium such a special place?
“I think because of the history of the people that played there. Just walking in there and having that feeling of knowing that the great guys like Ruth and Gehrig and Mantle and Berra and all those legendary guys played there.”

Do players talk about the history of the stadium often, like for example they feel the ghost of Babe Ruth?
“You talk to the guys who played there. That’s a special place to go.”

What do you think of the plan to tear down the stadium to build a new one next door?
“I’m kind of torn, simply because of the tradition, the history, that aura. You know the guys that have played there, they know that House that Ruth Built. It’s a special place. I know that they’re building a new one, but there’s that feeling about playing in Yankee Stadium?

Do you think it’s possible that a new stadium could capture that special feeling that the old stadium had, or will new memories have to be created there before that can happen?
“It’s going to take a history of things. The new one’s going to be nice. But the old one, you knew that those great players played in there. That was like sacred ground. It’s a special place. That’s not going to be able to replaced.”

What was your favorite memory of playing at Yankee Stadium, whether it was something you accomplished or witnessed there?
“I witnessed Reggie hit his three home runs there, but my thing is the first time I put the pinstripes on and went out on the field, opening day. I was a kid. I dreamed of playing with the Yankees, and it all happened. And you stand in that dugout, and you wait for your name to be called, and then you run out for opening day.

“The other great memory is standing there waiting for your first World Series, playing in your first World Series game as a Yankee. Those memories, they’re vivid.”

Check back Monday afternoon at Game Face for a Q&A with Bill “Moose” Skowron.

(Photo by AP)

Davidson is one win shy of joining these teams as one of the greatest Cinderella stories in NCAA tournament history:

3) 1986 LSU
For 20 years, LSU stood as the lone team to reach the Final Four as a double-digit seed (No. 11). The Tigers’ march was an exciting one – a double-overtime win over Purdue, a buzzer-beater victory over Memphis State and a two-point triumph over Kentucky. They lost to eventual national champ Louisville in the semifinals.

2) 2006 GEORGE MASON
A No. 11 seed, the Patriots reached the Final Four. Their march included wins over defending national champion North Carolina and top-seeded Connecticut. But in the Final Four, they were no match for Florida, which went on to win the national title.

1) 1985 VILLANOVA
No one could beat the eight-seeded Wildcats at their slow-paced game. Villanova’s surprising ascension included wins over No. 2 seeds North Carolina and Memphis State and top seeds Michigan and Georgetown (their championship-game foe). Adding to the excitement of the upset, Villanova, the lowest seed ever to win it all, had lost twice to the Patrick Ewing-led Hoyas in the regular season. Still one of the greatest sports upsets of all time, the title game was the only one in the tournament in which the Wildcats scored more than 60 points (66-64).

Laveranues Coles, angered by the Jets’ offseason spending spree while he was seeking a new contract, isn’t getting a new deal, but he and the team have reached an agreement that guarantees the remaining salary on his contract -- $11 million over two years, ESPN is reporting. This contradicts a report from The New York Post this morning that says the wide receiver was set to receive a contract extension.

The guarantee is being spun as a “compromise” in the ESPN report. Call me crazy, but I think if a player is looking for a new long-term contract and, in the end, gets stuck with his old contract, it doesn’t sound like much of a compromise. But for a pro football player on the wrong side of 30, even $11 million can be tough to walk away from.

Regardless, the Jets aren’t deep or talented enough at receiver to part ways with Coles right now, so Gang Green fans should be happy this saga is over.

(Photo by Travis Lindquist/Getty Images)

Here is some video evidence to show that Chris Webber, who retired this week, was, at times, a clutch player.

Here is his first game winner with Sacramento, a brilliant tip-in against the Lakers in the lockout-shortened 1999 season:

Two I-want-the-ball-at-the-end-of-the-game moments in the 2003 regular season, before Webber’s fateful injury in the playoffs:

and

And finally, see how Webber lays out Derek Fisher with a pick to free up Mike Bibby for the famous game-winner in Game 5 — the 20-footer that put the Kings up 3-2 against the Lakers in the 2002 playoffs. (I know, the Kings lost the series at home two games later.) Roll the tape:

Admittedly, Webber’s legacy is pockmarked by his shortcomings on the greatest occasions. But let’s not deny him his due for some of these momentous plays.

For two great meditations on the Webber legacy, see pieces by Sam Rubinstein and J.A. Adande.

To read about the beginning of the end of Webber's career, see this cogent column by The Sacramento Bee's Ailene Voisin.

— Max

You know your team stinks when the coach holds his nose on the sideline. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Isiah appears to be out as Knickerbockers GM, but owner James Dolan is leaning toward retaining him as coach, The Daily News is reporting.

The Knickerbockers have won just 20 games this season, after winning 33 a year ago. Maybe when James Dolan demanded “evident progress” upon naming Thomas as coach in 2006, someone should have asked, “Progress in which direction?”

If it’s backwards he wants, Dolan is doing one heckuva job!

And why shouldn’t Thomas remain coach? As our friend Alan Hahn of Newsday points out, Thomas is such an innovator that he’s deemed practicing unnecessary.

Way to fight to the bitter end, Zeke!

Just caught this gem coming over the wire:

Troy Polamalu might not have to worry about getting tackled again by his hair.
At their meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., next week, NFL owners will consider a proposal to ban players from having hair flow from their helmets below their names on the back of their jerseys.

That might affect Polamalu’s image, but help him on the field. Two seasons ago, the Pittsburgh safety with the long ponytail had his hair grabbed by Kansas City’s Larry Johnson and was thrown to the turf after an interception against the Chiefs.

The rule banning long hair on the field was proposed by Kansas City. It does not require players to get haircuts, but does “require them to tuck it up inside their helmets,” said Atlanta president Rich McKay, chairman of the league’s competition committee.

Polamalu is the best known of the players, most of them defensive backs, with hair flowing outside their helmets. Others include cornerbacks Al Harris of Green Bay and Mike McKenzie of New Orleans.

Because the rule was proposed by a team, the competition committee did not take a position on it. It will be discussed Monday with a package of other rules.

To be honest, I understand that these guys want to do what they can to individualize themselves, as there aren't many changes to their uniforms they can make without being fined by the NFL. But in all honesty, these guys are just asking for trouble... it's pretty lucky that guys like Polamalu have yet to get their hair caught in a teammates' helmet while in a pile. Kudos to the NFL for their stand for safety and uniformity on this one.

-- Tim Fiorvanti

Have you seen the photos of Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui announcing his marriage? Oh yes, 33-year-old Godzilla has wed a 25-year-old woman, but she wasn't at the news conference alongside him Silda Wall Spitzer-style. She was there ... in drawing form.

Matsui presented his bride to the public with a black-and-white sketch. The New York Post didn't go into detail today about why he didn't at least have a photo, but I guess we're happy if he's happy. A happy anime fan.
— Emily

Let’s first get one thing straight: There’s no denying at least some of what Jose Canseco wrote in his first book, “Juiced,” was true. But I’ve always found it laughable that just because he got some of it right, he’s now considered an entirely credible source.

People seem to forget some of the outrageous allegations levied in “Juiced” that didn’t include steroids (or more realistically, they never read it). So when you read that in Canseco’s latest installment, “Vindicated,” the one-time Bash Brother hooked up Alex Rodriguez with his steroid supplier and that A-Rod was trying to move in on Canseco’s ex-wife, consider this is coming from the same guy who also wrote he:

Personally, I think it’s just a matter of time before he takes credit for the Black Sox scandal, the Kennedy assassination and aerosol cheese.

Judge for yourself. If you think all of Canseco’s stories are true, go right on believing him. But count me in the number who views Canseco as an attention-starved egomaniac, who yeah, knows and saw some damaging things during his career. But he’s still far from believable 100 percent of the time.

And as long as that’s the case, A-Rod doesn’t deserve to be convicted in the court of public opinion just based on Canseco’s words.

AP Photo

A Washington State cougar? (iStockPhoto)

West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Xavier Musketeers

7:10 p.m. Thursday

Armed adversaries meet on the hardwood — a mountain man styled after Daniel Boone and an early modern infantryman. Since both assailants possess frustratingly inaccurate firearms, the finish might not come as quickly as one would think.

Washington State Cougars vs. North Carolina Tar Heels

7:27 pm Thursday

North Carolina players will tar their heels for some dig-in defense but find themselves badly prepared to face a pride of cougars (aka pumas or mountain lions) with a taste for blood.

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. UCLA Bruins

9:40 pm Thursday

Hum dee dum, climbing some hills, munching some trail mix, encountering a ferocious brown bear — topping your last hill.

Louisville Cardinals vs. Tennessee Volunteers

9:57 pm Thursday

Angry, yellow-beaked redbirds would seem to hold the edge over a team of caring do-gooders. Not so. Advantage Vols, who are named for the Tennesseans who selected themselves for service in the War of 1812.

Davidson Wildcats vs. Wisconsin Badgers

7:10 pm Friday

An undomesticated cat and a tenacious, heavy-set weasel might be an even match in a fight. But why would they fight? Each carnivorous mammal prefers smaller prey.

Stanford Cardinal vs. Texas Longhorns

7:27 pm Friday

What happens when a particular hue of the color red takes on an iconic, many-hued breed of Texas cattle? We’ll leave that to the realm of metaphysics — the study of the fundamental nature of reality.

Kansas Jayhawks vs. Villanova Wildcats

9:40 pm Friday

The jayhawk is a mythical animal (noisy blue jay and stealthy hawk in one) invented to represent the 19th-century conflict between free-state and slave-state Kansans. (The free-staters prevailed.) A horrific storm of jayhawks would overwhelm a clutter of cats.

Michigan State Spartans vs. Memphis Tigers

9:57 pm Friday

Accuse us of bloodlust, but we’d buy a ticket to watch a death match between warlike ancient Greeks and a disciplined team packed with representatives of the world’s most deadly beast.

-Max Dickstein

"A baseball fan has the digestive apparatus of a billy goat. He can, and does, devour any set of statistics with insatiable appetite and then nuzzles hungrily for more."
– Sports writer Arthur Daley

Don’t we have enough baseball stats already? It seems like every season, I’m watching a game and an announcer throws out an acronym I’ve never heard before.

RISP, anybody? (That’s a stat for hitting with runners in scoring position. The stat's not new. But this one-syllable word has caught fire over the past couple of years.)

"I don't understand. All of a sudden, it's not just BA and Runs Scored, it's OBA. And what is with O-P-S?"
– Former ESPN Analyst Harold Reynolds

As a teenager, I spent several years asking every baseball fan I knew to explain what slugging percentage was. Either they had no answer or they just made up something. “It’s the percentage of hits that are homers,” I remember one friend telling me. He lied. He didn't know what it was either. (I later learned it was total bases divided by at bats.)

But I recently discovered a new statistic: Pythagorean expectation, or Pythagorean won-loss record. It wasn’t invented by Pythagoras of Samos, but baseball writer, historian and statistician Bill James.

Here’s the formula:

(Runs Scored)^1.83
---------------------------------------------------------
(Runs Scored)^1.83 + (Runs Allowed)^1.83

The objective is to determine if a team was lucky or unlucky. In the example above, the 1977 Yankees were a smidge lucky, winning 100 games when they supposedly should have won 99. The ’98 Yanks should have won 108, instead of 114, the formula determines.

My head hurts.

I beg the math nerds: FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME, PLEASE STOP THIS MADNESS! There are too many stats, and call me a purist, but I always thought actual won-loss record was a pretty good indicator of how good a team was. (Not to mention, I could keep up with that math; I only needed to know how to add by one after each game.)

But I guess on the bright side, when my hypothetical children toss their algebra or geometry books to the side, and argue, “I’m never going to use this stuff in life,” I’ll honestly be able to say, by that point, that understanding the World Series will be impossible without a master’s degree in engineering.

“Baseball statistics are like a girl in a bikini. They show a lot, but not everything.”
- Former Washington Senator Toby Harrah

The long-lost Lopez triplet, American Idol runner-up and current D list "celebrity" Justin Guarini.

--Lizzy

Tomorrow starts the second weekend of the NCAA tournament, where we separate the wheat from the chaff, boiling down 16 teams into the final 4.

After a first day where chalk was the rule, and a second day during which Tampa turned many a bracket upside down, the second round provided a number of upsets that will make for some interesting matchups in the Sweet 16. Tomorrow's matchups are:

WEST REGIONAL (Phoenix, AZ)

7:10 PM
#3 Xavier (29-6) vs. #7 West Virginia (26-10)

The first game Thursday in the West region brings us the Xavier Muskateers out of the Atlantic 10 Region and the West Virginia Mountaineers out of the Big East. One can imagine all of the stoner debates going on in the basements of college students everywhere about who would win in a fight, a pirate or a mountain man, and the debate about the game itself seems equally difficult to determine.

Xavier has shaken off two late-season losses to St. Joseph's and a first round scare from SEC champion Georgia to get themselves to this point. West Virginia made it to the semifinals of a very tough Big East tournament before falling to Georgetown, and their tournament run has been impressive thus far, defeating Arizona before knocking off #2 seeded Duke. A high-scoring affair would likely benefit the offensive-minded Mountaineers, led by forward Joe Alexander. The Muskateers will try to slow the ball down and play some serious D, led by senior Stanley Burrell, the Atlantic 10 defensive player of the year. Bob Huggins has been preparing his team very well thus far in the tournament, and Huggy bear will likely allow the Mountaineers to eek out a victory in a close one here.

9:40 PM
#1 UCLA (33-3) vs. #12 Western Kentucky (29-6)

UCLA survived a scare in the second round against Texas A&M, but they should not overlook the 12 seeded Hilltoppers. The Western regional has been a minefield thusfar, and Western Kentucky looks to play the George Mason role and get themselves into the elite eight.

UCLA defeated the Delta Devils of Mississsippi Valley State soundly in round one, but struggled before sending Texas A&M packing in round two. Western Kentucky knocked off Drake in the battle of the mid-majors in round one, before defeating 13-seeded San Diego in round two. This matchup will likely turn into the Kevin Love show, and a UCLA victory by double digits is the most likely result here, but they don't call it March Madness for no reason.

EAST REGIONAL (Charlotte, NC)

7:27 PM
#1 North Carolina (34-2) vs. #4 Washington State (26-8)

The first game in the East region pits overall number one seed UNC and #4 in the East Washington State. The Cougars will try and pull off what no one has done since the beginning of February, and that is hang an L on the Tar Heels. After two mid-season losses to Maryland and Duke, UNC has regained their early-season swagger, and remains the team to beat in this tournament.

After knocking off "Opening Round Game" victor Mount St. Mary's and Arkansas, UNC seems poised to head to San Antonio for the Final Four. Standing in their way is Washington State, who beat Winthrop before trouncing Big East stalwart Notre Dame. Despite this big win, Washington State will likely come up short in this one, and Psycho-T will bring the Tar Heels one step closer to the promised land.

9:57 PM
#2 Tennessee (31-4) vs. #3 Louisville (26-8)

In the late game, Bruce Pearl leads the second-seeded Tennessee Volunteers up against Rick Pitino and his third-seeded Louisville Cardinals. After a February in which they didn't lose, Louisville suffered losses in their regular season finale against Georgetown and the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament against eventual winner Pittsburgh. It seems, however, that Pitino has the Cardinals believing again. Tennessee was not without their own late season losses. The regular season champions of the SEC fell to Arkansas during the SEC tournament. The rest of their season has been impressive, as they've lost only two in-conference games, both on the road, and one out-of-conference game to fellow tournament two seed Texas.

Louisville beat Boise State in Round one, preventing the Broncos from another NCAA Cinderella run, and destroyed Oklahoma by 30 points in round two. Tennessee beat American University in first round, but struggled before beating Butler 76-71 in the second round. There are two schools of thought on close losses. One thought is that it builds character, and gives a team experience the next time they're in a tight game. The other is that it's detrimental, especially for such a highly seeded team, because it makes them question if they're as good as everyone says they are. The time off will help Bruce Pearl and co. track towards the first option, as they will eek out another close win. Don't be surprised if this one goes to OT also.

-- Tim Fiorvanti

One of the advantages of working in journalism is it's normal to have TVs on at work--usually we've got ours tuned to NY1 or CNN, but today they've all mysteriously switched to CBS.

It's a great time of year, and for me even more so than baseball signals winter's over and bright spring, with all its promise, is here.

You can't help but smile the first time you look up and see four games on the split screen at the same time--like there's so much excitement that it can only be conveyed through the use of this special TV technology.

And those last-minute game-winning plays, with Gus Johnson screaming and some obscure player from the middle of nowhere nailing his one shining moment... the only thing better, maybe, is winning that office pool.

Speaking of which, I've got North Carolina, Kansas, Texas and UCLA in the final four, with Kansas winning it all.

Tennessee, Wisconsin, Memphis and West Virginia also make the Elite Eight in my bracket, with Washington State, Louisville, Clemson, Georgetown, Michigan State, Stanford, Drake and Xavier also making the Sweet Sixteen.

I picked only two major upsets in the early rounds, (11) Saint Joseph's over (6) Oklahoma in the East, (13) San Diego over (4) Connecticut in the West.

Not an imaginative bracket, but I think the powerhouse teams are so much better than everyone else this year I couldn't find a plausible George Mason scenario.

My theory is when there's a lot of parity, everyone's on their guard and feels like they really could win it all so they're focused; and it's harder for the underdog to surprise anyone.

But really, I'd be thrilled if there were a bunch of crazy upsets--there's nothing like a bunch of coworkers clustered around a TV cheering and screaming as the clock runs out on some shocked heavy favorite.

So here's how you can follow the tournament on our website:

* Follow live scores here

* All the NCAA tournament stories are here

* Read up on all 64 teams here

* Barack Obama's picks are here

By Kyle Stack
Special to amNewYork

The best NBA season in a decade also has the best MVP race in years.

The blockbuster trades are behind us and the battles for Western Conference supremacy are front and center. Now comes a chance to suss out the Most Valuable Player candidates. Here are four of them, in alphabetical order:

Kevin Garnett, forward, Boston Celtics

Garnett brought hope to the distinguished but beleaguered Celtics organization when he was acquired in a blockbuster 7-for-1 trade last summer. Boston already had playoff aspirations with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen on its roster, but the acquisition of Garnett elevated the Celtics to becoming instant title contenders. His scoring (18.8) and rebounding (9.4) averages don’t do him justice. His notorious intensity, unselfish attitude and All-NBA talent encouraged role players such as James Posey, Eddie House and Sam Cassell to sign with Boston, and his stellar play and leadership have the Celtics atop the NBA.

LeBron James, guard/forward, Cleveland Cavaliers

James leads the NBA in scoring (30.9 points per game) while maintaining high rebound (8.1) and assist averages (7.5). Cleveland’s dearth of talent around James makes him, more than any other NBA player, accountable for how well the team begins and finishes games. LeBron’s competitiveness and game-to-game concentration was questioned last year, so he has responded this season by playing with a greater sense of urgency. The Cavs are comfortably positioned at fourth in the Eastern Conference, but the most telling stat of James’ value is Cleveland’s 1-6 record in games he’s missed.

Kobe Bryant, guard, Los Angeles Lakers

Bryant is second in the NBA in scoring (28.3 points per game), but it is his trust in his teammates and will to win that have made this a successful season for not only himself, but also the Lakers, among the Western Conference elite. Kobe is averaging seven fewer shots per game than the 2005-06 season, but his rebounds (6.1), assists (5.3) and steals (2.0) are up. Bryant’s vast offensive abilities draw opponents’ defensive focus to the perimeter, opening up the paint for post players Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. More importantly, Bryant has instilled a championship-level intensity and focus in his teammates.

Chris Paul, guard, New Orleans Hornets

Paul, the NBA steals leader, has become an elite point guard and is the catalyst behind the Hornets’ unexpected rise up the Western Conference standings. His court vision, competitiveness and leadership have elevated the play of his teammates and make him an on-court extension of head coach Byron Scott. He could become the first player since Tim Hardaway in 1992-93 to average 20 points (21.6) and 10 assists (11.3) per game.

They were one of the hottest teams in the league before the weekend. But now the Rangers have cooled off with two straight losses — and the cool-off comes at a pretty bad time.

Still trying to make a run at the Devils for the Atlantic Division lead, the Rangers (37-26-9) face a schedule that’s chock full of tough divisional games.

The Blueshirts, who’ve dropped two straight after a 13-game point streak, close out their schedule with 10 games against Atlantic Division rivals. Despite their recent impressive play, a significant slide here could easily knock the Rangers out of the playoffs contention.

The Rangers are currently sixth the Eastern Conference, but just four points ahead of ninth-place Buffalo.

This week could prove to be the test as the Blueshirts take on second-place Pittsburgh on Tuesday, followed by a showdown with the red-hot Devils on Wednesday.

The Pens have won four of five, while the Devils have won five of six and lead the Eastern Conference with 90 points.

Starting Friday, the Rangers play two straight against the Philadelphia Flyers, who trail the Rangers by just three points.

“We give an effort like this, this is what happens,” Rangers center Scott Gomez told the AP after Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Tampa Bay (29-35-8). “Everyone should be pretty upset with themselves, but in saying that, we know what type of team we are. We can’t dwell on this.”
— Pete Catapano

I feel like I should share a story that isn't getting the attention it probably deserves. After losing twenty straight games, including all of their regular season games in-conference, the ninth-seeded Colorado State women's basketball team blew out eighth-seeded UNLV in the Mountain West Conference play-in game 68-49. If that wasn't impressive enough, Colorado State, who was 3-27 going into their second tournament game, knocked off top-seeded Utah (currently ranked #12 in the AP poll), who was 27-3 going into the game, 60-52.

Unfortunately for the Rams, they are trailing by 16 to New Mexico with less than five minutes remaining in the semifinals of the tournament. Although they look to be done, this Colorado State team should be applauded for their grit and perseverance. The funny thing is, if a bottom-dwelling men's team in any conference pulled something like this off, it would be all over SportsCenter, the web, and everywhere.

Elsewhere in sports...

Billy Crystal's dreams of baseball superstardom were crushed, as he was released on his 60th birthday.

The Yankees will be without Melky Cabrera and Shelley Duncan for their opening series against the Blue Jays, after penalties were handed out for their roles in the bench clearing brawl against the Rays.

The All-Star game may be at Yankee Stadium this year, but Citi Field, the new home of the Mets starting in 2009, is likely to also be the home of the All-Star game in 2013.

The season has, mercifully, ended early for Eddy Curry, who will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery.

-- Tim Fiorvanti

Everyone has criticized the Yanks the last couple of years for being an aging team with the likes of Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina etc.

But the team got older today -- much older -- when life-long Yankee fan Billy Crystal joined the team in its preseason game against the Pirates.

Playing DH, the 59-year-old comedian struck out in his first at bat on a 3-2 count.

Crystal, who looks miniscule compared to your average ballplayer, actually made contact, fouling off a pitch down the first base line.

Maybe he should talk to some 'trainers' about procuring some HGH.

Check out the photos here

-- Pete Catapano

AP Photo/Kathy Willens

ESPN's Patrick Hruby has a subtly brilliant and deliciously sarcastic take on the one-year anniversary of Isiah Thomas' contract extension. It's a must read, I think, in case you missed it.

— Max

Tensions between the Yanks and Rays boiled over today with a bench clearing brawl during their Spring Training game today.

NCAA Basketball is heating up, as conference tournaments are getting underway, and March Madness is only a week away. The Big East tournament gets underway today at the World's Most Famous Arena

Isiah Thomas still thinks he will be the head coach of the Knicks after this season, and is preparing for the draft lottery.

Billy Crystal is apparently having a blast at Yankees camp. Congratulations are in order for Crystal, as he has become the third oldest player in baseball history - behind El Duque and Julio Franco.

-- Tim Fiorvanti

Here's a quick round-up of the additions made by the Jets and Giants in the first week of Free Agency.

JETS

Alan Faneca, LG (4 years, $32 million, $23 million guaranteed)

5x All-Pro and 7x a Pro-Bowler, Faneca helps to sure up an unsteady and underwhelming offensive line. In addition to helping youngsters D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold, Faneca also looks to thrive in Mangini's no-nonsense system; in fact, he's looking forward to Mangini's notoriously difficult training camp.


Kris Jenkins, DT (5 years, $35 million, $20 million guaranteed)

A 3-time Pro Bowler and 2-time All-Pro selection himself, Kris Jenkins looks to fill the gap that Mangini's defensive line seems to have had since he's arrived in New York. Jenkins was nicked up at the end of last season, so training camp should provide a solid look into how he's recovered.


Calvin Pace, DE/LB (6 years, $42 million, $22 million guaranteed)

One of the most surprising signings thus far in the offseason for the Jets, Pace had a career year for the Cardinals in 2007. The hybrid DE/LB will have to maintain similar numbers to warrant the serious cash the Jets have given him.



Damien Woody, RT (5 years, $25 million, $11 million guaranteed)

The 2x Pro Bowler is reunited with Coach Mangini, with whom he won two Super Bowls as a member of the New England Patriots. Woody will look to plug another hole in the Jets O-line that was suspect for most of the 2007 season.


Tony Richardson, FB (1 year, Terms unknown)

36-year-old Richardson is a 3x Pro Bowler, and the former Viking and Chief is another piece in the puzzle that is the Jets running game. He looks to maintain his Pro Bowl form of last year, and clear holes for Thomas Jones and Leon Washington like he did for Priest Holmes in '03.



Andre Woolfolk, CB (Terms unknown)

It's hard to say what the Jets gained in Woolfolk. The former first round pick of the Titans was out of football completely in '07, so it's safe to say that expectations are pretty low for him. Perhaps the thought is to catch lightning in a bottle, but it remains to be seen what he can offer the Jets.

GIANTS

Sammy Knight, S (3 years, $5 million, $1.25 million signing bonus)
The Giants have been more on the frugal side thus far in free agency. After losing three defensive starters (safety Gibril Wilson and linebackers Kawika Mitchell and Reggie Torbor), the Giants pick up a veteran safety in Knight, who will compete to fill one of the two starting Safety spots for the G-Men.


-- Tim Fiorvanti

April 21, 1991: Almost a Jet
Arizona renegs on a draft-day deal that would have allowed the Jets to select Southern Mississippi’s Brett Favre with the Cardinals’ 32nd pick. The Jets can’t move up, the Atlanta gets Favre with the 33rd pick.

Jan. 6, 2002: Gift sack?
Michael Strahan needs one more takedown in a meaningless Giants-Packers game to set the NFL’s single-season sack record. With 2:42 remaining, Favre breaks off a run play and rolls away from his blockers to the right. Favre tumbles and Strahan pushes his sack total to 221⁄2.

Oct. 4, 2004: TD after a concussion
Two plays after Giants defensive tackle William Joseph slams Favre’s head to the turf, Favre returns to the field and throws a 28-yard score to Javon Walker. The Packers still lose, 14-7.

Sept. 16, 2007: Most QB wins ever
In a 35-13 romp over the Giants at the Meadowlands, Favre goes 29-38 for 286 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Favre’s 149th victory eclipses John Elway’s mark for most wins by a starting NFL quarterback. Favre finishes with 160.

Jan. 20, 2008: Bitter End
With a Super Bowl berth at stake in subzero Lambeau Field, in overtime, the Giants’ Corey Webster steps in to pick off Favre’s drop-back pass, intended for Donald Driver. The Packers lose 23-20. Favre’s retirement six weeks later makes this error the endpoint of an enviable career.

— Max J. Dickstein and Erick Blasco

Below is statement from Bobby Murcer released through the Yankees today. Murcer, who had a malignant brain tumor removed in December 2006, underwent a brain biopsy on Monday in Houston after doctors found an "area of concern."

Here's what he had to say:

“We received great news this morning. The biopsy revealed scar tissue. It showed no signs of cancer. We are very excited about this news. It’s what we had hoped for all along. We are checking out today (from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston) and are flying back to Oklahoma. I plan on resting at home over the next few weeks and focusing my energy on returning to the Stadium for its final Opening Day. My family and I thank everyone for their prayers, e-mails, cards and thoughts.”

AP Photo