Game Face

It has been a slow and steady build, but the world of mixed martial arts is about to be thrust upon the world of network television this weekend.

Two events by two separate companies will fill the airwaves on both Saturday and Sunday night as this fast growing sport is given an audience well beyond its normal viewers.

On Saturday night, Elite XC will air a live event emanating from Newark on CBS at 9 pm. The main event features internet legend Kimbo Slice, a menacing street brawler whose videos have garnered over 20,000,000 views on YouTube, who will be taking on James Thompson. Also featured at this event is up-and-coming MMA superstar Robbie Lawler. More information on this fight, courtesy of Neil Best, can be found here. What could possibly make this fight better? How about the talents of Gus Johnson, one of the most passionate, intelligent and intense voices in sports broadcasting today, and analysis from MMA legend Frank Shamrock.

Tickets are still available to this event, which takes place at the Prudential Center, home of the New Jersey Devils

As if this weekend could not get any better for fans of MMA, World Extreme Cagefighting will be holding a featherweight title match live on the Versus network on Sunday at 9 pm from the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. The champion, Urijah Faber (20-1) will take on former UFC fighter Jens Pulver (22-8-1). For more on this fight, check out this story by Joe Fernandez.

MMA might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it has clearly attracted the attention of boxing fans, professional wrestling fans, and those who simply love competition. Buying a pay-per-view event from the UFC every month or so is very expensive, but I urge you to check out either or both of these events if you have never seen an MMA event before. You might be surprised.

Check out Joe Fernandez's MMA blog here.

-- Tim Fiorvanti

Pittsburgh-based writer/host Mark Madden was taken off the air permanently this week at Pittsburgh's 1250 ESPN radio, following some off-color comments he made on the air last week.

Madden was playing off of the recent commotion involving Senator Hillary Clinton's comments relating Bobby Kennedy's assasination and her refusal to pull out of the Democratic race before June, which many took as her saying that Barack Obama would be assasinated. Madden related this to Senator Ted Kennedy's recent diagnosis of a malignant brain tumor when he said he hoped Kennedy "would live long enough to be assassinated."

Here are some of the more memorable incidents involving sports and people who like to put their feet in their mouths.

Jimmy "the Greek" Snyder gets fired from CBS

Snyder was a prevalent sports gambler, and a football analyst for CBS' NFL Today pre-game show for 12 years. Despite the illegality of gambling in almost every state, Jimmy the Greek had a prevalent role on the show, picking games every week.

Jimmy the Greek got the ax in January of 1988, following "racist comments" he made about black athletes. He said a black athlete was better "because he's been bred to be that way... this goes back all the way to the Civil War when during the slave trading, the owner — the slave owner would breed his big black to his big woman so that he could have a big black kid."

Jimmy the Greek spent most of his remaining days in anonymity, except for penning a betting column for a Las Vegas newspaper. He died in 1996.

Don Imus gets fired by CBS Radio

Imus broke into the radio business in the 70s, and was never one to shy away from controversy. Starting in 1988, he was heard locally in New York on WFAN, whose programming was otherwise completely based on sports. While sports did not play a very big role on Imus' show, one foray into a sports discussion got him into some seriously hot water.

While discussing the Women's NCAA basketball tournament in April of 2007, Imus and his producer Bernard McGuirk were watching highlights of a game between Rutgers and Tennessee. The discussion turned towards the Rutgers women, who had tattoos and a "tough look". McGuirk called the women "tough ho's", which Imus turned into "nappy-headed ho's."

Imus was fired from CBS Radio and MSNBC, who simulcast the show on TV. In December of 2007, Imus returned to the air on WABC 770 in New York, and is currently carried in 17 markets around the country.

Steve Lyons gets fired by FOX

"Psycho" Steve Lyons was a journeyman baseball player who played the majority of his career with the Chicago White Sox. Following his playing career, he got a job with Major League Baseball on FOX in 1996, where he would remain in some capacity for more than ten years.

Lyons made his fair share of controversial statements leading up to his firing in October of 2006. One of his most famous comments involved Lyons lashing out at Shawn Green for sitting out a game that took place on Yom Kippur in 2004. Lyons accused Green, who is Jewish, of not being a practicing Jew.

The comments that ultimately led to Lyons losing his job at FOX took place during their coverage of the 2006 American League Championship Series. That night, Lyons shared the booth with Lou Piniella, who made comments about the A's Marco Scutaro and his unlikely contributions to the team, likening it to "finding a wallet". Lyons then made a comment about being unable to find his wallet, and feeling uncomfortable sitting next to Piniella, which ultimately led to his firing.

Lyons is currently the color commentator for the Los Angeles Dodgers for away games.

Kelly Tilghman is suspended by the Golf Channel

Kelly Tilghman managed to avoid a figurative hangman's noose, but she almost joked her career into oblivion this past January.

During a broadcast on January 4, 2008, Tilghman's co-anchor Nick Faldo joked that the younger players on tour needed to "gang up" on Tiger Woods. Tilghman took this several hundred steps too far, and added that they should "lynch him in a back alley".

Though Woods came out publicly and said that there was no ill will behind the comment and it did not offend him, outrage from the media and from civil rights groups helped lead to Tilghman being suspended. She returned in late January, and is still on the air.

-- Tim Fiorvanti

As dominant as Joba Chamberlain has been in the bullpen, Yanks fans who are worried that the bullpen will be exposed in the eighth inning can rest easier. Right-hander Edwar Ramirez, 27, has quietly put together an unbelievable start to the season.
Ramirez, who was hit or miss as a late-season callup last year, has pitched 14 scoreless innings this year, striking out 15. Apparently, Yanks closer Mariano Rivera has taken Ramirez under his wing, telling him to throw more fastballs and using his killer change-up and at more selective times. Look for him to win the eight-inning set-up role spot.

— Pete Catapano

Pedro Martinez, who will have a rehab start tomorrow, will make his first start with team June 3, ESPN is reporting. Pedro has been out with an injured left hamstring since April 1

— Pete Catapano

Can you spell this Mets pitcher's name?

The fact that Casey Baker was once victorious in his elementary school spelling bee could help him win first place Wednesday night.

More likely not.

The 25-year-old nonprofit recruiter, who left his native Los Angeles for Manhattan two years ago, joins 49 other sports-fan spelling buffs to participate in the first Sports Spelling Bee Wednesday in Times Square at ESPN Zone.

Baker and his competitors will have 30 seconds each to suss out some of the thorniest names in sports.

(The quarterfinal rounds of the ESPN-televised Scripps National Spelling Bee inspired the event. The real Bee starts Thursday.)

In a telephone interview Tuesday, Baker dispensed with names such as Henrik Lundqvist, Doug Mientkiewicz, Mark Buehrle and, of course, Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Scott Kazmir, who was "destined" to be the Mets ace but was inexplicably traded for the mediocre starter Victor Zambrano in 2004, was dominant again last night in his fifth start since coming off the disabled list. In a 7-3 win over Texas, the lefty allowed one run on three hits, while striking out 10.

This season, the 24-year-old is 4-1 with a 1.50 ERA.

Zambrano, meanwhile, went 10-14 in three years with the Mets, and is currently out of the majors.

So, where would the Mets be if their starting rotation included Johan Santana, John Maine, Scott Kazmir and Pedro Martinez? Answer: a lot closer to first place than last place.
— Pete Catapano

Forget the fact that their broadcast deal is with a cable network that's sometimes tough to find.

Forget that we are only three years removed from a disastrous lockout that destroyed a season and a fan base.

Forget that it's been 14 years since Lord Stanley's cup has been hoisted at Madison Square Garden by Messier, Leetch and co.

Hockey is back.

In 1990, Chicago Cub Andre Dawson was walked intentionally five times in a 16-inning, 2-1 win, against the Reds at Wrigley Field, setting a major league record.
So it's the rare case in sports in which a player sets a record just by, well, doing nothing.
— Pete Catapano

(AP)

Now that Joba Chamberlain is moving to the starting rotation, the Yanks have put themselves in a familiar position- they have too many starters for the rotation. Once Joba enters the rotation, the starting five will likely look like this:
Chien Ming Wang
Andy Pettitte
Joba Chamberlain
Darrel Rasner
Mike Mussina

Where does that leave the Yanks pitching stars of the future Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes? Kennedy, who starts tonight, will likely get sent down. Hughes, meanwhile, will come off the DL in July. Right now, Rasner has been a savior to the staff, posting a 3-0 record with a 1.67 ERA. Despite those numbers, he’s likely to head to the pen.

— Pete Catapano

Derek Jeter, who got plunked on the hand last night in the Yanks 12-2 drubbing by the Orioles, is back in the line-up tonight after x-rays cane back negative.
“I’m fine,” Jeter told the AP. “Definitely good.”
— pete catapano

Manchester United triumphs over Chelsea
Man U triumphed 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 match through regulation. Despite a costly miss by Cristiano Ronaldo (who provided their only goal during regulation), United triumphed over first time finalists Chelsea.

Mets look to turn it around against the Braves
After a devastating doubleheader sweep, the Mets look to Mike Pelfrey to help them turn it around tonight in Atlanta.

Yanks try to dig themselves out
With losses in six of their last seven games, the Yanks turn to Darrell Rasner tonight as they face off with the Baltimore Orioles and Garrett Olson

Game one of the Western Conference finals
The Spurs and Lakers battle it out in Los Angeles tonight as they start their best-of-seven series to determine who's going to the NBA Finals.

--Tim Fiorvanti

There's a special profile in today's paper about Major League Baseball's Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program, which is helping kids learn both study and baseball skills at places like the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club in the Bronx.

Check out about ten photos of Sergio Cruz, a right fielder for the Kips Bay RBI Mustangs and the team's best hitter, who says the program helped keep him off the streets and out of trouble, after his mom died.

Photo of Sergio and Kips Bay Athletic Director Neil Jeter taken by Dennis Ho for amNewYork.

(Photo from Getty Images)

Viewers of Sunday morning’s telecast of the Hamburg Masters final saw two matches.

One was the Master Series tournament final between the tennis' two greatest nemeses, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Nadal won that match 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-3.

The other was the match within the tremulous, top-ranked Federer, who squandered wide leads in the first two sets and exhibited an occasionally cranky demeanor. The 26-year-old Federer has one title this year, at Estoril, and an aberrant seven losses.

This continuing crisis of confidence handicaps the 12-time Grand Slam winner heading into the French Open next week, where Federer has wilted in two straight finals, in 2006 and 2007.

— Max Dickstein

Weather permitting, Friday night will kick off the 12th year of the Mets and Yankees facing off in interleague play. Here are ten of the best, worst and strangest moments of the Subway series.

10) David Wright hits a walk-off RBI Single
May 19, 2006: Wright hit the game-winning RBI single off of Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning to score Paul LoDuca, giving the Mets a 7-6 victory over the Yankees.

9) The Yanks score two in the bottom of the ninth off Braden Looper
June 26, 2005: Jason Giambi hits a game winning single to bring home Alex Rodriguez and Tino Martinez, giving the Yankees a 5-4 victory.

8) Armando Benitez walks in the tying run
June 22, 2003: Four walks and a wild pitch from Benitez allow the Yankees to tie the game at 3-3 in the ninth inning. The Yankees would score four times in the eleventh inning, giving them a 7-3 victory.

7) Roger Cedeno steals home
June 29, 2002: Cedeno slid in and avoided the tag of Yankees catcher Alberto Castillo, en route to a blowout Mets victory, 11-2.

6) Baerga wins in a photo finish
June 28, 1998: With Carlos Baerga on third and Brian McRae on first, Yankees rightfielder Paul O'Neill caught a fly ball and then threw to first to try to double off McRae. The umpires ruled that Baerga touched home a fraction of a second before McRae was thrown out, and the Mets won, 2-1.

5) Dave Mlicki shuts out the Yankees in the inaugural Subway series game.
June 6, 1997: Dave Mlicki threw a complete-game shut out to beat the Yankees, 6-0, in the first ever regular season meeting between the Mets and the Yankees.

4) Shawn Estes throws at Roger Clemens, misses.
June 15, 2002: Shawn Estes was put in the awkward position of having to throw at Roger Clemens, whose antics in the 2000 World Series (and regular season) led Mets fans to demand retribution when he came to bat at Shea Stadium. Estes' pitch sailed behind Clemens, but he made amends later, hitting a solo home run off the Yankees starter in an 8-0 Mets win.

3) Robin Ventura acts a fool.
June 11, 2000: As fans waited to see whether or not rain would prevent baseball that day (it did), those remaining in the stands were treated to Robin Ventura, sporting a painted on goatee and a #31 jersey, doing his best impression of Mike Piazza. Ventura ran around the bases, sliding into both second base and home, sending up enormous splashes of water on the tarp-covered, rain-soaked field.

2) Day/Night Multi-Borough Doubleheader
July 8, 2000: In game one of the doubleheader, Dwight Gooden went back to the mound at Shea Stadium, only this time he was wearing a Yankees uniform. Gooden picked up the win, allowing two runs in five innings. Tino Martinez homered and drove in three runs for the Yankees, who won 4-2. Game two, which was at Yankee Stadium, is the more famous of the two games, because of moment number one.

1) Roger Clemens: Professional Headhunter
July 8, 2000: In the first of a series of bizarre events between Roger Clemens and Mike Piazza, Clemens hit Piazza in the head with an 0-1 fastball, likely in retribution for a grand slam that Piazza hit off of Clemens earlier in the year. Piazza had to leave the game, but this wouldn't be the last time that Clemens would throw at him. Next time it would be a bat.

-- Tim Fiorvanti

(Thanks in part to Newsday. Find these moments, and more, in this photo gallery.)

The following is Mets ace Johan Santana’s internal monologue as he takes the mound for Friday night’s opener of the three-game subway series at Yankee Stadium. (For the purposes of this column, the Venezuelan’s thoughts are in English, addressed in the second person and knowable only to this writer.)

Some Yankees fans here tonight want to see your left arm tear off on the first pitch, Johan.

“To watch your prized left arm rip right off your shoulder and then whistle harmlessly past Melky Cabrera with your first delivery. (Joe Girardi wouldn’t lead off with lefty Johnny Damon, would he?)

“Whistle by Melky? Hmm. What sound would the flight of your arm make? Whoosh? You’d have to go with whoosh, Johan. Or swish or swoosh.

“Of course, if you were uncorking a fastball and, whoops, off came your arm, then the sound would obviously be zing. But more likely, you’d start young Melky off with a changeup, so that when your arm flew off — to the delight of jealous Yankee fans — a whooshing sound would accompany it.

“Anyway, this whole scenario is impossible, right? Which is to say, you’re probably safe from the grotesque sight and excruciation of your own arm detaching from your rotator cuff and so on, and then sort of helicoptering the full 60 feet to home plate.

“Johan Santana, you’re in your prime at age 29, and you’re the best pitcher in baseball. Those things are on the list of things that you are.

“This whole arm-detachment scenario that’s playing out in your head right now? That’s just the pressure, Johan. The pressure of the seven-year, $137.5 million contract the Mets gave you after the Yankees cut off trade talks with the Twins. Averaged out, that’s $19.6 million for this season. Over 34 starts, that’s about $576,000 for today.

“So your arm spinning lifelessly off your shoulder, still gripping the baseball, and Melky swinging at your arm, and your arm becoming a leadoff single? Ridiculous.

“Look at you, Johan. Your goatee is perfectly groomed. A battery-powered Gillette glided over the non-goatee areas of your beard this morning.

“You warmed up your arm. It will not fall off!

“So go pitch your complete-game shutout in fewer than 115 pitches.”

Max J. Dickstein is amNewYork’s sports editor.
E-mail him at mdickstein [at] am-ny [dot] com.

— Max Dickstein

Triviality No. 26
5 great athletes who retired relatively early like Justine Henin

Tiki Barber
The Giants’ all-time leading rusher, Barber retired after the 2006 season at age 31. Despite running for 234 yards in his final regular-season game, the running back opted to pursue his television interests rather than play out the rest of his prime as the Giants’ featured rusher.

Sandy Koufax
When the Dodgers lefty retired at age 30 in 1966, he was riding a five-year stretch as perhaps the most dominating pitcher in the game's history. He won 25 games three times and pitched four no-hitters and a perfect game. He did this despite arthritis in his left elbow that made pitching agonizing and helped him decide to retire on top of the game.

Mario Lemiuex
The Pittsburgh Penguins center won three league MVPs despite playing injuries and, in 1993, a bout with Hodgkin's lymphoma, before he retired in 1997 at age 31. Already a Hall of Famer and principal owner of the team, Lemieux returned in 2000-01 and played in parts of the next five seasons before retiring again in 2006.

Byron Nelson
In 1945, Nelson set records that last to this day by winning 18 tournaments, including 11 in a row. The following year, 1946, he retired to his Texas ranch at age 34. He later became a golf commentator and teacher. He died in 2006 at age 94.

Barry Sanders
Like Jim Brown before him, the Detroit Lions running back retired after 10 seasons, still in his prime at age 30. With 15,269 career yards — near Walter Payton’s then-record 16,726 yards — Sanders might put several rushing records nearly out of reach with two more seasons. Instead, he retired before his body took any more pounding.

— Max Dickstein

It was never this bad before.

I'm not sure what's different about 2008. Maybe it's the eight years since the last World Series Title. But Yankee fans have become even more obnoxious and insufferable (and violent!) than ever before.

I had the privilege of attending the two-game series between the Yankees and the Red Sox back in April in the Bronx. I'd been to Sox/Yankee games at Yankee Stadium before, and while it was never a terribly welcoming enviorment, the trashtalk, the yelling and the t-shirts were always just part of the show.

You expect people to say stuff to you, but it was always easy to just kinda roll your eyes and laugh. When you're a Sox (or a Met) fan going to Yankee Stadium, you can cheer for your team, but keep to yourself.

Don't look at anybody, avoid any 'Brokeback Jeter' jokes. Basically, act like you're a guest in someone else's home. Be polite, and you'll end up out in one piece.

Not so much now. Yankee fans have become something else. For three hours on two consecutive nights, I sat there and had peanuts thrown at me, had beer intentionally spilled down my back, had my hair pulled by an intoxicated, overweight man in a Mariano Riveira jersey who demanded that I "get the *&^% out of the Bronx because Boston doesn't belong there."

It was really a test of character to not hit anybody, or say stuff back. Other than uttering a few naughty words under my breath, I kept my composure. The Yankee Stadim security threw out a Red Sox fan a few rows in front of us (who by the way, also saw her fair share of being hit by peanuts) for cheering for her team.

The people throwing stuff at her? They got to stay. A friend of mine (a Yank fan) said these were isolated incidents. Well, then explain them happening to me, two nights in a row, on OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE STADIUM.

The 18-1 chants (obviouisly a referral to the Patriots Super Bowl XLII loss) have become a staple at Yankee Stadium. Since when do the Yankees in all their 26-ringed glory (which is really the ONLY argument they ever have, and my favorite response is 'so how many of those rings were won in YOUR lifetime. The answers are fun) have to resort to citing other sports in proclaiming New York's superiority over Boston.

The point of all this is Yankee fans are something else now. They were always arrogant and obnoxious, but now they're violent and mean as well. Heck, they're even KILLING Sox fans now.

But OBVIOUSLY it's the same for Yankee fans in Boston.

Nah--I have a few Yankee fan friends, whose knuckles DON'T drag on the ground when they walk, who I've gone to games at Fenway with. While people aren't overly friendly in Boston, nobody threw anything at him.

Then again, I'd be pretty angry if Carl Pavano 'played' for my team. Or if Hank Steinbrenner were making any kind of decisions for the Red Sox. Or if the Sox were totally devoid of an ace. Or if we were stuck with Prima Donna Purple Lips for the next 10 years...

--Lizzy

(Photo compilation by Tim Fiorvanti)

... and we're back. Lets meet our next three eligible gentlemen. Bachelor number one?

Bachelor 1: Hi, I'm Avery, and I'm from Dallas. I was very successful at my last job, where I took my team to the playoffs every year I was their coach. In 2006, I was the coach of the year, and I helped the Mavericks to their first and only NBA Finals. I have a reputation for being unable to finish the job, but rest assured, that won't be a problem. I like to take long walks on the beach, and I can speak fluent German.

Alright. Bachelor number two?

Bachelor 2: Hey, I'm Mark from New York. I'm a retired basketball player, and I would looove to be your coach. I've grown up in New York, played my college ball in New York, and I played for the Knicks. I may not be as experienced as everyone else, but I make up for that with character and a willingness to try everything, at least once. If you make me your coach, I promise you that Stephon Marbury will stay out of trouble, and I'll keep him away from the interns.

And bachelor number three?

Bachelor 3: My name is Mike, I'm from Phoenix, Arizona. I was a little apprehensive to do this at first but my wi.... err, general manager thought it would be a good idea if we "started seeing other people". I took the Suns to the conference finals twice, and we made the playoffs all four full years that I coached. I like to play fast and furious, so if you think you can keep up, you should pick me. As long as the money's right.

Now lets introduce our contestant tonight. He's the president of basketball operations for the New York Knicks, ladies and gentlemen let's put our hands together for the great Donnie Walsh.

Donnie: Thanks, Chuck, it's great to be here. Let's get ourselves a coach!

Alright Donnie, let's get started with the questions. Donnie?

Donnie: Sure thing. Bachelor number one. If I make you the coach of the Knicks, what can you provide us that the other's simply can't?

Avery:: That's easy. My teams have dominated in the regular season, and that was in the Western Conference. No offense, but besides the Celtics, there's not much competition in the East. I can have this team competing for a conference title inside three years. And I've actually been to the NBA Finals, unlike some people...

Mike: At least I didn't lose to an eight seed in the first round.

Avery: They had Baron Davis! There were match-up problems.

Alright, settle down, you'll all have your turn...

Donnie: Bachelor number two, same question.

Mark: I know New York, I can handle the media and the pressure. I'd have this team playing tough, gritty defense, get em back to the fundamentals. If you give me a chance, I will rock your world.

Donnie: Good answer number two. Bachelor three?

Mike:I'd change some of the personnel, and we'd play real fast. I'd like to build around guys like David Lee and Nate Robinson, guys who can run it all game long. I'd find a way to tra..(Cell Phone Rings) Hello? John Paxson? $25 million? I'll be on the next plane to Chicago. Sorry guys, it's been fun.

Um, we're going to take a commercial break. See you in two and two....

-- Tim Fiorvanti

No human being can match a thoroughbred racehorse's package of speed, strength, determination and grace.

Horsemen, sportswriters, bettors and fans repose so much dreamlike admiration -- and such high financial stakes -- in horses that the animals are described as, and treated like, professional athletes.

(Remarkable performers though jockeys are, the athletes who primarily determine racing results are the horses.)

To read Max Dickstein's full column, click here.

It's hard to look at a 16-15 New York Mets team and call them over-achievers. The team with the second (or third, depending on your source) largest payroll in baseball made waves during the off-season by trading for Johan Santana, but the performance of some of their highest-payed players has been suspect at best.

For example, their clean-up hitter:

Carlos Beltran: .219 BA, 2 HR, 13 RBI, .369 OBP, .390 SLG

And their number five hitter:

Carlos Delgado: .216 BA, 4 HR, 16 RBI, .308 OBP, .362 SLG

The Mets have had some solid production despite the lackluster efforts of these two, from both expected and unexpected sources.

David Wright continues to establish himself as one of the top players in the game, on pace for another 30 home run, 125 RBI season at third base.

Santana has been very solid for an uncertain pitching staff, posting a sub-3.00 ERA. He's showing Mets fans exciting flashes of absolute brilliance between periods of very consistent pitching, and also making Omar Minaya look like a genius (between this and not signing Barry Zito a couple of years ago, this has been a very good year for Minaya)

Billy Wagner is still sporting a trim 0.00 ERA in 12 appearances, notching seven saves thus far while striking out 13. One unearned run and three hits are the only blemishes on his impressive start.

Some of the most surprising contributions, however have come from Ryan Church, a player who was seemingly an afterthought in the trade that sent Lastings Milledge to the Washington Nationals and brought back Brian Schneider (who has also seemingly overacheived, when he's played).

Church's numbers thus far:
.314 BA, 5 HR, 23 RBI, .379 OBP, .508 SLG

Add in the fact that their starting left-fielder, their number two and number five starters, and their starting catcher have all missed significant time this season, and that 16-15 record doesn't look all that bad.

With Brian Schneider (hopefully) healed, Alou finally taking his spot in left field, and Pedro Martinez on the mend, the summer months look promising for the Mets.

-- Tim Fiorvanti

And we thought the Mets were the biggest choke artists in the tri-state area!

Nets star forward Richard Jefferson was arrested today in Minneapolis for choking an uninvited guest at a private party Jefferson was hosting, police said. The alleged spat occurred on Jan. 27 at a hotel nightclub.

An Associated Press article in February, when it was revealed that Jefferson was under investigation, said the victim lost consciousness.

Jefferson is set to appear in court on June 18.

After this bit of news, we don’t think anyone -- Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn included -- would dare try to crash another one of Jefferson’s parties.

Photo by Getty Images

Last year, there were rumblings that Hideki Matsui’s best days were behind
him, with balky knees and age catching up with him. But almost six weeks
into the season, Matsui has been the Yanks' most solid bat in the lineup.
Hitting safely in 15 straight games, Hideki is hitting .342 with four homers
and 17 RBIs. In his last three games, Matsui is 7-for-12 with three RBIs. At
this pace, he’s a lock for his fifth 100-RBI season.
It's Godzilla's revenge!
— Pete Catapano

If Yanks GM Brian Cashman exits New York at the end of the season, he could be on the Phillies radar, the Philly Inquirer says.

With Gillick retiring at the end of the season, Cashman may be a candidate for the franchise if he gets fed up with the Steinbrenners, or vice versa.

— Pete Catapano

Add Mike D’Antoni’s name to the list of candidates to become the Knicks’ coach.

The Suns have given the Knicks permission to talk to D’Antoni, Phoenix sports radio station KTAR is reporting Monday. If Phoenix and D’Antoni announce a split, the coach doesn’t figure to be out of work long. (The Bulls also have reportedly received the OK to contact D’Antoni.)

D’Antoni has a 267-172 career record in six years as a NBA coach, leading the Suns to the playoffs the last four years and to the Western Conference finals in 2005 and 2006.

Former Knick Mark Jackson, ex-Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, fired Mavs coach Avery Johnson and Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau are also up for the Knicks’ job, with Jackson rumored to be the front-runner. But considering Jackson has also attracted some attention from the Bulls, why are the Knicks moving so slowly to strike a deal, if not that they are waiting to see if a proven winner, like D’Antoni, becomes available?

Our friend, Alan Hahn of Newsday, has more on the possibility of D’Antoni coming to the Garden.

Photo by AP

The Wizards, Hawks, and Rockets look to avoid elimination tonight. The Cavs, Celtics, and Jazz are all looking to end it. With Round 2 games already looming tomorrow (Hornets v. Spurs, Pistons v. Magic), who will step up in these crucial games?

amNewYork managing editor Pete Catapano will be sending us live updates from the Rangers Penguins game at Madision Square Garden.

Down 3-0 in the series, the Rangers had a solid, intense first period with no goals to show for it. No score after one

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Celebrity sighting at game: Matt Dillon

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At 12:09 of the second period still a lot of empty seats in the purple section of the garden. Best guess about 200. Strange.

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Jagr wakes up lifeless crowd with goal at 7:15 of the second. 1-0 rangers

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Malkin penalty shot at 17:53 shot saved. Second penalty shot save by Lundqvist this postseason

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Brandon dubinsky scores on the power play 46 seconds in. 2-0 rangers

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9:20 rangers are cruising and are starting another power play after Sergei Goncahr's crosscheck

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Got a little scuffle here near pens net. Crosby and Jagr pushing and shoving.

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Jagr scores in empty net nmaking it 3-0 to put the game away. Now we have an end of game brawl. Ranger fans have gone from bitter to hopeful. Just gotta win three more.