Villanova's Scottie Reynolds (AP)

By Max J. Dickstein

The nation has five days to pore over the quartet of schools that survived the first four rounds of the NCAA tournament before Michigan State and Connecticut officially start the Final Four on Saturday with a 6:07 p.m. tipoff.

Here are a few things you may not know about each team and institution.

Villanova

Third... » more

Mets Manager Jerry Manuel (Getty Images)

By Max J. Dickstein

The Mets made a relatively small ripple in the free-agent market this winter, but they made it in the right place.

By revamping their season-killing bullpen with some thrifty acquisitions, the team removed the handicap that has aided two straight September collapses.

But their instability-tinged hesitation to pursue... » more

Mark Teixeira holds down first base for the Yankees now. (Getty Images)

By Pete Catapano

In the offseason, the Yankees filled glaring holes in the pitching staff and at first base. However, competing in a tough American League East division with an aging roster, this team falls short of perfection. Nonetheless, if the team stays healthy, it should eclipse the 89... » more

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton won the F1 title last year. Few Americans know that. (Source: Getty Images)

By Max J. Dickstein

Each Thursday before I write this column, I sift through the weekend’s TV sports offerings, select several and then relay the schedule to amNewYork readers.

But in these heady days of early spring, there is such a morass of sports activity that the... » more

Senior forward Dante Cunningham will soar for Villanova on Thursday night against Duke. (Getty Images)

By Max J. Dickstein

The men’s NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16 launches Thursday night with four games. Here’s what to watch for:

Connecticut (29-4) vs. Purdue (27-9)

Start: 7:07 p.m.

Distractions resulting from a Yahoo Sports report about alleged Huskies... » more

Lance Armstrong on Monday, with his right arm in a sling under a pullover. (Jaime Reina/AFP/Getty Images)

By Max J. Dickstein

Lance Armstrong’s cycling team manager Johan Bruyneel pronounced yesterday that the seven-time Tour de France winner will be able race in the Giro d’Italia and the Tour this summer despite a broken collarbone he sustained on Monday in a pileup during... » more

Colorado closer Manny Corpas, above, is locked a struggle with Huston Street to determine who will close games for the Rockies this season. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

By Kyle Stack

Special to amNewYork

Spring Training allows players to dust off their offseason rust, but it also gives managers an extended evaluation period for contested positions. Although many... » more

by Pete Catapano

(Photo courtesy wcbs880.com)

Tom Kaminski of WCBS-880 posted photos today on wcbs880.com, taken from his newscopter, of Yankee Stadium with all of its grass gone, a sight probably no one has seen since, well, probably 1922.

Something kind of unsettling about this, almost looks abandoned, but in reality it's just a step in the stadium's fade into history.

See... » more

(AP Photo)

By Pete Catapano

There probably wasn't all that much doubt going into the season that Xavier Nady would take over the starting job, vacated by Bobby Abreu, over Nick Swisher.

But today, Yanks manager Joe Girardi has pretty much confirmed it.

"If we were to break today, Nady would be my right fielder," Girardi said told MLB.com.

So far this preseason, Nady... » more

Rashad McCants joined the transient Kings' roster on Feb. 19 (Photo by Getty)

By Max J. Dickstein

A Knicks season is headed for another  early end. This mediocre edition is three games out of the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot with a 28-39 record and 15 games remaining.

To which Friday night’s Madison Square Garden guests, the Kings, might say, “It... » more