Report Card: Relief for Mets, but not from 2 collapses

Sunday March 29, 2009 4:44 PM By Max J. Dickstein

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 expensive free-agent solutions in other areas (e.g., starter Derek Lowe or left fielder Manny Ramirez) leaves the team flawed but still competitive in the NL East.

First base: B

Lefty slugger Carlos Delgado’s fiery finish to the second half last season kept the Mets going late in games by batting runners home. Such a tear is probably too much to expect of the 36-year-old Delgado in consecutive seasons, but if one Met has earned the right to toil without scrutiny, it is the man who stands at 30th all-time with 469 career home runs.

Second base: C-

Somehow, the Mets and Luis Castillo meet again at second base. Will Castillo bat leadoff, second, eighth? Will the 33-year-old manage to play 100 games? Is his his $25 million, four-year contract an immovable albatross? We’ll see. The fact is that the Mets are hoping for a pleasant surprise from a slow, sore-bodied slap hitter at second. And there is no long-term backup plan in place.

Shortstop: A-

The Mets need more than a fantasy baseball-friendly dynamo at short. Leadoff man Jose Reyes, 25, is a unique talent, but he can’t afford to cut short his development before he becomes a complete player and team leader.

Patience at the plate will boost his average above .300 again; a focused attitude will boost the Mets.Third base: A

David Wright continues to anchor the Mets’ infield, stopping shots to the hot corner with his golden glove, then driving Mets runs home. He tied a franchise record with 124 RBIs last season and, at 26, is only likely to improve. Despite his gaudy RBI total, Wright needs to improve his hitting with runners in scoring position. (He hit .243 in this category last year.)

Catcher: C

The post-Mike Piazza Mets continue to fill a key position with borderline players. Brian Schneider and Ramon Castro will hold some runners but add little in the way of zest to the end of the Mets’ batting order.

Left field: C

Studious hitter and improving defender Daniel Murphy won the starting job in left ahead of journeyman Fernando Tatis, but that could change if the former infielder stagnates, confirming fears that he is a less-than-everyday talent. Murphy, who turns 24 on Wednesday, is hitting .356 this spring with 12 RBIs and two triples.

Center field: A

Carlos Beltran, who turns 32 next month, should again provide about 30 home runs, 110 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. Beltran’s unstinting excellence at the plate and his fine defense are especially valuable, considering the Mets’ instability at the outfield corners.

Right field: C+

Ryan Church blazed into 2008 before a series of concussions rendered him merely average for much of the season. His defensive prowess and left-side power, glimpsed last year, are not necessarily returning assets. Church has gone deep just once in 52 at-bats this spring.

Starting pitching: B-

With Johan Santana as an anchor, the Mets may have misjudged the abilities of their other returning starters. Overburdened Mike Pelfrey, overweight Oliver Perez, overanalytical John Maine and over-the-hill No. 5 starter Livan Hernandez may combine for a swollen ERA that taxes the middle relievers.

Middle relief: B-

The Mets revamped their bullpen over the winter, casting off longtime objects of scorn such as Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoeneweis. The new mix is less lefty-heavy (Pedro Feliciano is the only southpaw), and features the promise of newcomers Sean Green and Bobby Parnell. Acquired from the Mariners, J.J. Putz has a problematic elbow that has hindered his control. But if Putz stands up, he will be a dynamic setup man for the Mets’ new closer.

Closer: A-

Francisco Rodriguez, the Mets’ $37 million insurance policy, set a record with 67 saves in Anaheim last season. K-Rod’s presence will sharply reduce the astounding 29 blown saves in 72 chances that the Mets suffered last year.

Manager: B+

Jerry Manuel’s task — make this patchwork roster into a winner — may be just as unenviable as his situation last June 17. And yet when the first-year Mets bench coach replaced fired manager Willie Randolph, Manuel drove a moribund, second-place group to the brink of the postseason. In that sense, the Mets’ second consecutive final-day failure was less bitter than that of 2007, when a season-long front-runner foundered in September. Unless Manuel can again earn the team’s focus, their sordid history will handicap the Mets. Even in the NL’s highest-parity division, Manuel inspires confidence that he can manage the Mets’ fragility when September comes. If he can finally get the Mets back on track, as they were in the 2006 NLCS, the 55-year-old skipper will be welcome to stick around.

Intangibles: D

Early hope reigns for the Mets each season, even after consecutive September collapses. But until the franchise can shrug off its penchant for harsh disappointment by winning the NL East or a wild-card postseason entry, the franchise will become increasingly mired in self-loathing.

Fans: A

Fans of the city's No. 2 team never have it easy in that regard, but the indignation of the the past two seasons does't seem to have caused fans to throw up their arms and give up. Resiliency is an essential quality for fans of the team from Queens. Extra credit to Mets fans for taking the high road when Yankees fans bludgeon them with the 26-titles-to-two business.

Stadium: A

The reviews are in, and Citi Field looks like it's a hit. For a competitive, big-market team, Shea Stadium was an inadequate home for too long. Hopefully, the Mets' classy new home will be an additional boon this season for the Amazin's.

Report Card: Yankees contend again as big signings spice up an aging roster

Sunday March 29, 2009 9:57 AM By Max J. Dickstein

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 wins the Yankees posted last season.

First base: A+

The Yankees got better-than-expected production last year from Jason Giambi, who had 32 homers and 96 RBIs. But Giambi’s departure via free agency means the Oakland A’s now must deal with his defensive shortcomings. Replacing Giambi is arguably the most coveted offensive player on last winter’s market: Mark Teixeira. The 28-year-old slugger, signed to an eight-year, $180 million contract, gives the Yankees their first complete player at the position since Tino Martinez. A power-hitting, slick-gloved switch hitter, the seventh-year major leaguer is a lock for 30 homers, 100 RBIs and an average around .290.

Second base: B

Suffice to say, Robinson Cano has a lot to prove despite being three years removed from his .341 average in ’06. But, unlike others Yankees’ underwhelming 2008 performances, we’re going to say that Cano’s “down” year last year was exaggerated. He had an atrocious start, but got better as the season went along. In April, Cano hit .151, but he hit .327 in July and .290 in August. What’s more worrisome is Cano’s often maddeningly complacent defensive play. Cano should rise back to around .300 this year.Shortstop: B

Let’s get the obvious out of the way first. Derek Jeter is the Yankees’ heart and soul and their spark plug. He is indispensable in that regard. But let’s be realistic about his declining talents. Jeter is nearly 35, and his range at shortstop ranks him near the bottom of the league. His offensive numbers have also waned, with his average falling from .344 to .322 to .300 over that last three years.

Third base: C+

Things will change in mid-May when Alex Rodriguez returns from hip surgery, but for now, the Yankees will rely on journeyman Cody Ransom as a fill-in. In the preseason, the 33-year-old’s numbers have been rather pedestrian, hitting .270, with one homer and four RBIs through Saturday's games. However, if Ransom plays solid defense and hits anywhere over .250, that will be good enough. If he stays healthy after his return, A-Rod should provide 25 HRs and 80 RBIs.

Catcher: B

Since this is generally a weak position in the sport, it’s safe to say the Yanks still have one of the league’s top catchers in Jorge Posada. But Posada is 36 years old with a rebuilt shoulder, so it’s hard to expect him to put up his usual numbers. It will be a bonus if the career Yankee manages to start 120 games behind the plate. Jose Molina is a serviceable albeit light-hitting backup.

Left field: B

Johnny Damon is coming off his best season with the Yankees, hitting .303 with 17 homers, 71 RBIs and 29 stolen bases. Expect those stats to come down a little for the 35-year-old, whose miserable throwing arm makes him average at best defensively. Nonetheless, Damon is still a top-notch leadoff man when healthy — and a clubhouse leader.

Center field: C

Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera have been vying to start at the biggest question-mark postionas the 2009 season opens. Melky has three pluses: His arm, his switch-hitting ability and his experience. However, Gardner had a great spring and has great speed. Also, he hasn’t displayed the mental lapses Cabrera has. Gardner will likely get the bulk of the playing time.

Right field: B

Surprisingly productive since he was acquired last year, Xavier Nady will take over for Bobby Abreu, who, over two-and-a-half years as a Yankee, proved to be a quality No. 3 hitter with his automatic 100 RBIs and runs scored. Nady won’t get near those numbers, but expect .280, 20 Hrs and 70 RBIs. Nick Swisher will also contribute when he gets time here.

Designated hitter: B

Hideki Matsui is expected to be the regular DH, with Damon and Swisher spelling him. Injuries and knee surgery will keep the 34-year-old Matsui out of the field for most of the season. But if he can swing the bat like he’s shown in the past six years in New York, expect numbers around .290, 18 HRs and 85 RBIs.

Starters: A

By signing CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, the Yankees have assembled their best rotation in a decade. Rounded out by a healthy Chien-Ming Wang, flame-throwing Joba Chamberlain and veteran Andy Pettitte, the Yankees’ staff should feel confident no matter who takes the mound. And in case of injury, 22-year-old Phil Hughes should comfortably fill the void.

Middle Relief: C+

The Yankees have a well-balanced relief corps that will include maybe Kei Igawa as long man, two lefties in Damaso Marte and Phil Coke and Brian Bruney stepping up as the eight-inning guy. If Jonathan Albalajo stays healthy (13 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings last year), the middle to late innings should leave the Yankees with plenty of options, as long as each pitcher reaches full potential.

Closer: A

Let’s put it like this: Mariano Rivera pitched most of 2008 with an injured shoulder and still converted 39 saves out of 40, struck out 77 and walked just six.

Intangibles: C

This team is crawling toward a decade without a championship, and has the pressure of a huge payroll and star acquisitions tinged with the A-Rod sideshow. As always, there’s a lot more to the Yankees than what happens on the field, and this often works against them.

Manager: B+

Sure, the Yankees missed the postseason for the first time since 1993 under first-year skipper Joe Girardi’s watch. However, Girardi delivered 89 wins in the toughest division in baseball despite losing Wang, his ace, for two-thirds of the season, working without Posada and Matsui for a good chunk of the year and getting zero wins out of Hughes and Ian Kennedy, each expected to tally double-digit wins — not to mention injuries to A-Rod and Chamberlain. Girardi may be robotic, but he knows the game as well as anybody.

Fans: A

Despite exploding ticket prices, Yankee fans have been heading to the Bronx in droves the past few years. Early playoff exits and disappointments haven’t affected their devotion and downright obsession.

Stadium: A

The purists are going to miss the old stadium, but from the looks of it, the Yankees’ beautiful new ballpark is a combination of the original (renovated) stadium and modern accoutrements. The downside is that there are more than 4,000 fewer seats, making always hard-to-come by tickets that much more scarce. But there’s a dozen restaurants and, thank heavens, more bathrooms.

Column: What we’re not watching

Thursday March 26, 2009 5:01 PM By Max J. Dickstein

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 mind unspools at the task of sorting through all of that entertainment on offer.

March Madness in the NCAA, regular-season stretch runs in the NBA and NHL, the wrapup of MLB spring training: the mind truly reels.

And yet as I prioritize mainstream American interests, I am aware that other items get short shrift. Here is some of that overlooked programming.Australian Grand Prix: Formula One

SPEED Sun., 1:30 a.m.

This high-finance sport, beginning its 60th season, inspires deep, worldwide passion — minus every American but my father, a lifelong Ferrari fan.

I find that watching the races can be numbingly repetitive, but the sound? Tremendous. Sirius XM Radio is broadcasting all 17 bi-weekly F1 events live this season. Ask your cabbie to tune in to the roaring in Melbourne on the drive home Saturday night and try to differentiate the sound of his overtaxed engine from those of the $50 million race cars.

Hunt for Big Fish with Larry Dahlberg

VERSUS Friday, 11 p.m.

My cognitive powers suggest that viewers of this program are not required to join Dahlberg on the hunt, as his show’s commanding name implies. But considering that Dahlberg is a Hall of Fame fisherman whose show has run successfully since 1992, I’d imagine that his loyal viewers would enjoy a spin in his fishing boat (if boats are involved; I have not seen the show).

A.M. Raw

USA Sun., 1 a.m.

As WWE prepares for WrestleMania XXV on April 5, I’m focused on a wrestler named Batista whose real name is Dave Batista. That’s cool. Batista is out with a torn hamstring, though. Maybe there’s a wrestler named Dave.

NCAA Tournament: Four sweet matchups to start the Sweet 16

Wednesday March 25, 2009 4:17 PM By Max J. Dickstein

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 recruiting violations notwithstanding, UConn’s cruise through the first two rounds has a more acute challenge tonight in the fifth-seeded Boilermakers. Purdue beat favored Pac-10 champ Washington in round two thanks to tenacious perimeter defense.

Pittsburgh (30-4) vs. Xavier (30-6)

Start: 7:27 p.m.

One of five Big East teams playing for an Elite Eight spot, Pittsburgh has looked the most vulnerable of them all. Nearly upset by East Tennessee State, the famously physical Panthers hardly bowled over Oklahoma State in round two. Xavier will attempt the opportunistic upset.

Missouri (30-6) vs. Memphis (33-3)

30 minutes after UConn-Purdue

Two schools known as the Tigers, each on a mission, meet to determine their fates. Big 12 champion Mizzou has been proving doubters wrong all year with speed, accuracy and smarts. Memphis, last year’s NCAA runner-up to Kansas, thirsts for redemption after that bitter 75-68 overtime loss to Kansas; they have talent stacked high enough to win it all.

Duke (30-6) vs. Villanova (28-7)

30 minutes after Pitt-Xavier

Villanova’s disciplined 89-69 second-round defeat of UCLA is generating buzz about a classic matchup between the third-seeded Big East school and offensively hyperefficient Duke. The Blue Devils haven’t gotten past the third round of the NCAAs since 2004; Duke must defend better to make it there this season.

Q&A: Dr. Drew Stein, orthopedic surgeon, discusses the case of Lance Armstrong's broken collarbone (aka clavicle)

Tuesday March 24, 2009 10:57 AM By Max J. Dickstein

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 a race in Spain.

Armstrong flew from Madrid to the United States yesterday for possible surgery.

We asked noted Manhattan orthopedic surgeon Drew Stein to estimate Armstrong’s prognosis based on reports about his injury.

Do you think it’s realistic for him to recover in time to be racing in June or July?

Yeah, definitely. Most of these bones will heal within two months. But he’s having surgery, so that should realign his bone and allow it to heal quicker.

Are there risks involved?

There are possible complications associated with surgery on clavicle fractures, which are non-union (non-healing) and infection. If he got one of those, obviously that would put him out for the rest of the summer.

So you wouldn’t recommend surgery to a typical patient with a broken collarbone?

Most people don’t have surgery on their clavicles. There’s only two reasons that you would do it if you’re not an elite athlete: if the bone is sticking out of your skin (an open fracture) or it’s tenting the skin (an impending open fracture); or if you have some kind of neurovascular damage with it, so the nerve or artery gets injured with the clavicle. I’m sure he doesn’t have any of those and I’m sure he’s trying to do this just to try and quicken his recovery because he’s got these two races coming up.

What does the surgery entail?

They open the skin and they put a plate and screws on it to realign it. Sometimes they’ll even put bone graft in it to allow it to heal quicker. I don’t know what his surgeon’s going to do, obviously, but that’s the most typical way to fix it.

How soon do you think he could put pressure on it and start to train again?

You’d have to wait until the incision heals — at least two weeks. Then he could probably rig something, because he has unlimited resources, where he could probably start training again within two weeks I would say. As far as putting weight on the arm, that might take a little longer. He might have to rig something so that his arm is a position of less wright-bearing. And that would probably be on a stationary bike because obviously they wouldn’t want him to risk falling while he’s recovering.Is a broken clavicle particularly likely to break again?

The biggest risk of the clavicle is non-union, so non-healing. And then once you have a plate on a bone, if you fall, the risk of it breaking at the end of the plate increases because that’s where the stress riser is. So it’s not more likely to break again, but if he falls on it, the place that it would break would be in a different spot, most likely — which would be at the end of the plate.

Have you seen many patients with clavicle fractures from cycling situations?

No, I don’t think so. Most of the clavicle fractures that I see are from a fall diving on the arm, whatever sport it is. Or skiiing, you know, landing on the shoulder. But not cycling. Although it’s pretty common in cycling — you go over the handlebars. In a pileup, you can’t really control where you’re falling or how you’re falling. I’m sure if he was by himself and his tire whipped out from under him, it wouldn’t have happened.

So if he were your patient, and not an elite cyclist, you’d probably just say, "Let it heal normally"?

Yeah, you put him in a sling. Then he can start motion as soon as he’s comfortable — usually that’s in about two or three weeks. Then you have to wait for it to completely heal for any activity. You’d probably start him on some therapy just to so that it wouldn’t get too stiff while it heals.

You wouldn’t even set the bone?

You can’t really reset or realign the clavicle once it’s fractured. There’s too many muscle forces on it that’ll just pull it right back to where it was.

Lance is 37. How is healing tracking versus someone younger?

It shouldn’t be a problem. As long as he’s not a smoker, and there aren’t any risks — obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis — and obviously he doesn’t have any of these things. And, of course, the dreaded steroid use. Obviously, that’d fail you, too, if someone’s on it.

MLB Fantasy Reality: Four late-Spring Training position battles

Tuesday March 24, 2009 5:55 AM By Max J. Dickstein

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 choices have been made, there are still a few battles lingering before the season begins on April 5.

Here are four:

Colorado Rockies Closer

Huston Street, Manny Corpas

The battle continues between Corpas, who looked like Colorado's closer of the future in 2007 before regressing last season, and Street, an effective yet injury-prone closer previously with the Athletics (he was acquired in the Matt Holliday trade). Corpas appears to have a slight upper hand through Spring Training, having allowed just one earned run on five hits in six innings compared to Streets' six earned runs on nine hits in 7 1/3 frames. Nevertheless, Street's 94 saves through four seasons provides a more accomplished resume. Target Street and keep Corpas on the backburner.

Texas Rangers Outfield

Josh Hamilton, David Murphy, Nelson Cruz, Marlon Byrd

The only guarantee is that Hamilton, who knocked in 130 RBIs last season, will be the full-time starting center fielder. Murphy and Cruz are expected to begin Opening Day as the starting left and right fielders, respectively, but that doesn't mean Byrd won't see regular at-bats in the outfield. Manager Ron Washington has said Byrd will get time in the outfield and at designated hitter. If Byrd can hit anything close to the way he did last August (.393 AVG, 20 RBIs), then he'll get enough at-bats to serve as a solid AL-only or deep mixed-league choice. Cruz's monster Triple-A numbers last season (.342 AVG, 1.123 OPS, 37 HRs) make him a mixed-league sleeper.

New York Yankees Right Field

Xavier Nady, Nick Swisher

Manager Joe Girardi confirmed on Monday what had been expected throughout most of the offseason: Nady is the preferred right field starter. The choice of Nady makes sense considering Swisher's versatility around the field — he played 70 games in center field and 56 contests at first base for the White Sox last season — as well as Nady's superior offensive production last year. His .510 slugging percentage last season was 100 points higher than Swisher's, so the Yanks will need additional offensive punch while Alex Rodriguez recovers from his hip injury. Nady should be a solid play in 12- to 16-team mixed leagues, but keep Swisher in mind for deep mixed league and AL-only formats.

Baltimore Orioles Closer

George Sherrill, Chris Ray

There's no question that Sherrill is the closer to open the season, but that could change within the first couple of months. Ray is coming off Tommy John surgery, but he's looked spectacular this spring by striking out seven and allowing four hits in 7 1/3 scoreless innings. His 33 saves and 1.09 WHIP from 2006 are a reminder of the 27-year-old's ability, while Sherrill's 4.73 ERA and 1.50 WHIP from last season make his 31 saves look less impressive than previously thought. You should draft Sherrill for his early-season save opportunities, but keep an eye on Ray on your league's free-agent list. You can even draft him as a handcuff to Sherrill.

Yankee Stadium grass is going, going.. gone

Monday March 23, 2009 11:19 AM By Pete Catapano

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 all the photos here.

Big East Tournament: Syracuse Orange vs. Connecticut Huskies

Thursday March 12, 2009 9:50 PM By Max J. Dickstein

Jonny Flynn #10 and Paul Harris #11 of the Syracuse Orange look on during the 4th overtime against the Connecticut Huskies during the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 12, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

By JIM O'CONNELL, AP Basketball Writer 2 minutes ago

NEW YORK (AP)—Syracuse outlasted Connecticut in the second-longest Division I game ever played, capping a Big East tournament quarterfinal doubleheader Thursday in which the second- and third-ranked teams in the country both lost.

Andy Rautins hit a 3-pointer 10 seconds into the sixth overtime Thursday night, giving the Orange their first lead since regulation and they went on to a 127-117 victory over the third-ranked Huskies.

Much earlier in the evening, West Virginia beat No. 2 Pittsburgh 74-60, meaning that instead of a much-anticipated third meeting between two teams that held the No. 1 ranking this season in the semifinals it will be sixth-seeded and 18th-ranked Syracuse and the seventh-seeded Mountaineers.

Big East Tournament: Syracuse Orange v Connecticut Huskies

By Max J. Dickstein

typed live from CBS announcers' commentary

war of attrition

Hasheem Thabeet fouled out, and the Syracuse big man jackson

Syracuse can attack the rim now with the 7-footer Thabeet out

Syracuse-UConn 4th overtime

walker way of on a three for UConn

Flynn could try a jumpshot

passes to Harris, three times stopped at the rim

he's missed a lot of them

layups traded, 1:50 to go, tied at 104-104

pass to the middle of the zone, floater, missed

off people's fingertips

flynn posts up low with the balll, passes, gets it back

Flynn to the rim with a great basketball move, but misses the reverse

Fynn has played 57 minutes

harris unable to convert at the finish!

the extra pass set it up

he's on the floor but they're hesitant to call that

I like the no-call there don't you?

end fourth overtime

Big East Tournament: Syracuse Orange v Connecticut Huskies

NEW YORK - MARCH 12: Jeff Adrien #4 of the Connecticut Huskies drives to the hoop against Arinze Onuaku #21 the Syracuse Orange during the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 12, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

start fifth overtime

106-104 UConn leads

2:14 to go in fifth overtime

Jim Boeheim probably wants to walk over to that rim and rip it down, Jay Bilas says. It has been unkind.

Jonny Flynn is 10-for-10 tonight.

Tied again at 108. 45 seconds to go.

Two minutes all this guy has played

sprint to the middle by poised substitute

Jonny Flynn, talk about poise

he ties the game with his 12th free throw

110-110

Flynn was invited to drive and took very fast advantage

"Adrian! Nooo!"

A sixth overtime

"Yo Adrian, could not deliver the knockout punch. Incredible"

end fifth overtime

start sixth overtime

Connecticut has not lost a game this season leading at the half

of course, that was a couple of months

Harris fouls Harrison

2:09 left in the sixth overtime, Syracuse leads 119-112 after Harris makes both free throws. Orange are 18-for-20 from the line in the six overtimes. Harris gets up for some rebound.

Price. Great ticker that kid has.

1:47 to go

Jonny Flynn, this takes him to legendary status

since the headband snapped, Syracuse has been able to get ahead

this game tipped off at 9:36 Eastern time, it is now 1:06 a.m.

The mental toughness shown by Syracuse in these overtimes has been amazing.

122-112

The performance here gives Jim Boeheim a different kind of pride than the national championship.

you don't think there's a loser, there is a survivor

In true Connecticut tradition, the Huskies fighting to the end.

a three-pointer by the gunslinger from Mississippi makes it a two-possession game. 123-117

Flynn two free throws

They're two tired to cheer on the Syracuse bench

great courage from both sides

"Clearly one of the most remarkable games in the history of this sport" — Jay Bilas

127-117 after Flynn's free throws

Astrid an air ball. They are just totally spent.

This is a tribute to loving a game and putting it all on the line.

Game over

Syracuse wins in sixth overtime, 127-117

"I've never been prouder of a team than this one tonight. We had nothing." — Jim Boeheim

"I kept telling my teammates. This is destiny for us, " said Jonny Flynn. The point guard told his men on court, "We played this long, all we can do is win the game."

Wrapup: "Six overtimes. Syracuse never led in any of the first five. They outscore Connecticut 17-7 in the sixth to win 127-117. ... You'll be seeing it for a long time folks. ... Very privileged to be here."

CBS TV comments on quadruple overtime, Syracuse-Connecticut, at 102-102, 3:10 remaing

Thursday March 12, 2009 8:41 PM By Max J. Dickstein

war of attrition

thabeet fouled out, and the syracuse big man jackson

syracuse can attack the rim

walker way of on a three for UConn

Flynn could try a jumpshot

passes to Harris, three times stopped at the rim

he's missed a lot of them

layups traded, 1:50 to go, tied at 104-104

pass to the middle of the zone, floater, missed

off people's fingertips

flynn posts up low with the balll, passes, gets it back

Flynn to the rim with a great basketball move, but misses the reverse

Fynn has played 57 minutes

harris unable to convert at the finish!

the extra pass set it up

he's on the floor but they're hesitant to call that

I like the no-call there don't you?

Column: Needling Clemens. Imagined encounters between Brian McNamee and Roger Clemens

Thursday March 12, 2009 4:45 PM By Max J. Dickstein

Brian McNamee, left, accuses Roger Clemens of using steroids. Clemens denies it. (Getty Images)

By Max J. Dickstein

"Was this usually how it went?” we asked. “Get the drugs, lay them out and then Roger drops his drawers?”

“Yes, sometimes it was in his apartment,” McNamee went on. “Sometimes it was in the Jacuzzi at Yankee Stadium. Sometimes I injected him while he was on the road.”

— from an interview Brian McNamee gave to a Web site called SportsImproper.com

According to an interview conducted this week by a less-than-reputable Web site, Brian McNamee injected Roger Clemens with steroids in a number of settings. The ex-trainer’s claims led me to fabricate a few scenarios to appease my own imagination.

Feb. 13, 1998

Clemens: So you’re the new Toronto Blue Jays trainer I’ve heard about?

McNamee: I am. Brian McNamee. Call me Mac.

C: I just did a military-style workout of my own design. Really grueling. Jacuzzi time! But first, if you would be so kind ...

M: Hey, what are you — come on. Pull your pants back up, Roger.

C: Perhaps we’ve misunderstood each other. Since you’re a trainer, I thought you’d know what to do with this syringe.

M: OK, yeah, I know. Just let me keep the waste. In my basement.

Feb. 13, 2008

C: Mac, I know this is unexpected, but before I testify to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform that I never took steroids or HGH, and that you’re lying when you say I did, could we do one more for old times’ sake?

M: And ... there go the pants. “Unexpected” isn’t the word I would use, Roger. Still, I don’t see why I couldn’t help you out this one time.

C: Good. But this doesn’t change anything.

M: Right. My lips are sealed, as long as I have dibs on the trash.

Feb. 13, 2018

C: Brian friggin’ McNamee! How the heck are you, brother?

M: Rodge? Rodge! What brings you to Arby’s?

C: Ah, you know, looking for work. What are you doing here?

M: You’re looking at the general manager!

C: Wow, it is truly great to see you, Mac. Um ...

M: Uh-oh. Not the time or the place, Roger. Really.

C: Right here, right now, Mac.

M: Well ... OK. Dibs!

Q&A: Baseball Prospectus co-editor Steven Goldman

Wednesday March 11, 2009 1:23 PM By Max J. Dickstein

“Baseball Prospectus 2009” offers 648 pages of analytical insight. (RJ Mickelson/amNY)

By Max J. Dickstein

Steven Goldman, co-editor of the newly released 14th edition of “Baseball Prospectus,” shared some New York-centric thoughts on the upcoming season.

What do you make of Alex Rodriguez’s unusual physical breakdown this spring?

The real lesson here is that you can sign as many big contracts as you want and have the best front-line team you can imagine, but as you get into the 30s with these guys, your injury risk piles up. If you don’t have the second-line players in the form of youngsters, then you can really be in trouble. And this is only the [Yankees’] first injury of the year.

Lack of positional depth is a long-term problem, isn’t it?

Yeah. If Derek Jeter does anything this year he’ll be knocking on the door of 3,000 hits going into 2011. But very few teams have won with shortstops that old. So you have this whole public relations question of what to do with the captain and not having an obvious replacement for him on hand.

Did the Mets address their bullpen issues enough?

I think this is the area of baseball that’s still not that penetrable to the analysis that we do. Forecasting relievers is very difficult. If you look at the top 50 relievers in any given season, that list turns over by about half every year.

What other weakness could the Mets shore up?

The thing that’s weird about the Mets is you’ve had all these rumors about the Wilpons’ (owners’) involvement with the Madoff situation. They have been sort of strangely quiet with some financial things this winter. Manny Ramirez would have been such a ridiculously good fit for them given the weakness of their outfield. But they were shockingly reticent.

What are the New York teams’ playoff prospects?

What’s exciting this year if you’re a fan of either team is that the real action is going to be in the Eastern divisions. Both the Mets and Yankees are confronted by teams that are equally interesting and equally compromised in some ways — the Rays and the Red Sox in the AL East or the Phillies and the Braves in the NL East. It’s very hard to pick favorites among that group.

Who do you think your book’s audience is?

This book is read in every front office in baseball. It has value and vast applications to the fantasy baseball community, but it’s not explicitly written toward them. It’s adaptable to all kinds of users.

Fantasy Baseball: Drafter's Dozen. It's time to chalk up your draft board

Tuesday March 10, 2009 12:01 PM By Max J. Dickstein

Jose Reyes (Photo by Getty)

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By Kyle Stack

Special to amNewYork

Preparation is the key to success in all fantasy sports, perhaps most noticeably in baseball. Many options might cross your mind through the first round of your upcoming draft, but here are the 12 you should strongly consider, in order. (This assumes a standard 12-team, 5x5 mixed league).

1. Hanley Ramirez

SS, Florida Marlins

Uncommon power for his position

His power/speed combination is almost unparalleled in today’s game, and his age (25) means he still has room for improvement. An expected batting-order move from leadoff to third should nullify his only weakness — RBIs.

2. David Wright

3B, Mets

Speed at “slow” position

Wright narrowly edges Albert Pujols for the second spot due to his position’s inferior depth. He may not approach 30 steals again, but his fantastic contact-hitting skills and plethora of RBI opportunities make him one of the best.

3. Albert Pujols

1B, St. Louis Cardinals

Consistently high power production

Even if first base is deeper than the Atlantic, it’s tough to overlook the following stats in eight seasons: a .330 or higher batting average five times, 35-plus homers six times, and 116-plus RBIs seven times.

4. Jose Reyes

SS, Mets

50-plus steal guarantee

Concerns about his losing steals with a shift to the batting order’s third spot are slightly overblown. He might not reach his 65 steals average from the past four seasons, but the Mets won’t entirely squelch his speed.

5. Grady Sizemore

OF, Cleveland Indians

30/30 reliability

The only statistic that keeps him from entering the Top 3 is a modest .277 career batting average. Otherwise, only Hanley Ramirez can challenge Sizemore for 30/30 supremacy.

6. Miguel Cabrera

1B, Detroit Tigers

Elite power bat entering his prime

His 14 games last season at third could qualify him there depending on league rules. Cabrera’s power production is exceptional and he should return to a .320-plus batting average after last season’s unlucky .292 mark.7. Chase Utley

2B, Philadelphia Phillies

Superior production at inferior position

Utley had off-season hip surgery, but all indications are that he’ll start on Opening Day. He’s been an annual .300-30-100 threat for the last four seasons at fantasy’s most shallow position.

8. Ryan Braun

OF, Milwaukee Brewers

40-home run power

Braun has played just two seasons, but you can already lock him in for 35 homers and 100 RBIs. Throw in 15 steals and a likely .300 batting average, and you essentially have a statistical repeat of Matt Holliday’s Colorado tenure.

9. Jimmy Rollins

SS, Philadelphia Phillies

RBI production from leadoff spot

A return to full health this season should make his stat-line emulate 2006-07 instead of last season’s powerless numbers. He’ll still swipe 40-plus bags, and it’s noteworthy that the shortstop depth plunges after J-Roll.

10. Tim Lincecum

SP, San Francisco Giants

Strikeout prowess

Pitchers shouldn’t usually be targeted in the first round, but Lincecum’s strikeout ability is very tempting. Last year, he became the first pitcher in four seasons to surpass 250 strikeouts, and he could reach 300 with enough innings.

11. Ryan Howard

1B, Philadelphia Phillies

Greatest HR/RBI production

He’s the only player for whom you can say 45 home runs and 135 RBIs are expected. His batting average is an obvious detraction, but those 10-homer, 30-RBI months nearly make up for it.

12. Mark Teixeira

1B, Yankees

Second-half numbers

His production won’t be affected much by A-Rod’s absence. Protection from teammates is vastly overrated, so expect Tex to produce his usual .300-30-110 line with or without A-Rod. Tampa Bay’s B.J. Upton could also go in this spot.

Five left out

1. and 2. Ian Kinsler, 2B, Texas Rangers; Josh Hamilton, OF, Texas Rangers

These Rangers have durability questions even in their mid-20s.

3. Johan Santana, SP, Mets

Elbow issues and a declining K/9 rate raise eyebrows.

4. Lance Berkman, 1B, Houston Astros

Don’t count on 18 steals again, but his power numbers are elite.

5. Alex Rodriguez, 3B, Yankees

Missing at least four weeks of regular season relegates him to second or third round status.

Big East: Unleash the beasts, title in play for 16 teams this week

Monday March 9, 2009 3:37 PM By Max J. Dickstein

Coach Rick Pitino of Louisville (Getty Images)

By Ravi Shankar

Special to amNewYork

The 30th anniversary of the Big East sees six top-25 teams visit Madison Square Garden — plus six more with above-.500 overall records — for a conference tourney that is the deepest in recent history.

1. Louisville

Cardinals (25-5, 16-2)

Key wins: vs. Pittsburgh, at Syracuse; key loss: at Notre Dame

Six years after leaving Conference USA for the Big East, the Cardinals are first-time Big East regular-season champions. Coach Rick Pitino’s

offense, designed to find the open 3-point shooter, has the Cardinals second in the conference with eight 3-pointers made per game.

2. Pittsburgh

Panthers (28-3, 15-3)

Key wins: at UConn, vs. Marquette; key loss: at Providence

Pitt started 13-0 with a relatively weak non-conference schedule then proved its strength in the Big East with home and road wins against UConn. First-team All-Big East forwards DeJuan Blair and Sam Young outmuscle opponents for rebounds (+10.4 rpg margin) and point guard Levance Fields (suffering from a groin injury) dishes to his big men in the paint.

3. Connecticut

Huskies (27-3, 15-3)

Key wins: at Gonzaga, at Louisville, at Marquette; key loss: vs. Georgetown

UConn was ranked No. 1 for several weeks this season. Coach Jim Calhoun’s balanced offense makes it tough for teams to key in on stopping one or two players; four Huskies are averaging more than 13 ppg. Defensively, 7-foot-3 center Hasheem Thabeet averages 4.5 blocked shots, sending many into teammates’ hands.

4. Villanova

Wildcats (25-6, 13-5)

Key wins: vs. Pittsburgh, vs. Marquette; key losses: at West Virginia, vs. Georgetown

After a slow 2-3 start in Big East play, the Wildcats have won 11 of their last 13 conference games. Senior forward Dante Cunningham leads ’Nova in scoring (16.4 ppg) and rebounding (7.3 rpg).

5. Marquette

Golden Eagles (23-8, 12-6)

Key wins: vs. Villanova, at Notre Dame; key losses: at South Florida, vs. Syracuse

Though a virtual lock for the NCAA tournament, Marquette could use a solid Big East showing to regain its confidence. Following a 9-0 in-conference start, the Golden Eagles lost to South Florida on Feb. 6, starting a 3-6 slump to end the regular season.

6. Syracuse

Orange (23-8, 11-7)

Key wins: at Memphis, at Marquette; key loss: at Providence

Syracuse’s season is a testament to the strength of the Big East. The Orange went 12-1 in non-conference play, beating Florida, Kansas and Memphis, then slowed down in-conference. Coach Jim Boeheim’s zone-defense schemes won’t confound this field; they would be more effective against unfamiliar competition in the NCAA tournament, if Syracuse makes it there.

7. West Virginia

Mountaineers (21-10, 10-8)

Key wins: at Ohio St., vs. Villanova; key loss: at Cincinnati

Once a 3-pointer-minded team under former coach John Beilein, West Virginia has adopted a defensive focus with coach Bob Huggins, allowing more than 70 points only three times in Big East play.

8. Providence

Friars (18-12, 10-8)

Key wins: vs. Syracuse, vs. Pittsburgh; key losses: at West Virginia, vs. Notre Dame

The final team with a first-round bye, the Friars probably need to reach the final on Saturday to secure an at-large NCAA bid. A key win against then-No. 1-ranked Pittsburgh likely won’t overshadow their 12 losses.9. Cincinnati

Bearcats (18-13, 8-10)

The Bearcats have lost three straight heading into the tournament, but they face a DePaul team today that’s still in search of its first Big East win.

10. Notre Dame

Fighting Irish (17-13, 8-10)

Once a top-10 team, the Irish had a rough stretch in January, losing seven in a row. A blowout win against Louisville and close losses at Pitt and UConn show that the ability is still there.

11. Seton Hall

Pirates (16-14, 7-11)

Guard Jeremy Hazell is second in the Big East with 22.5 ppg, but the Pirates have no wins against the top half of the league.

12. Georgetown

Hoyas (16-13, 7-11)

The Hoyas look to build off of a 56-54 win at Villanova on Feb. 28 to carry some momentum into the Big East tournament.

13. St. John’s

Red Storm (15-16, 6-12)

This young Red Storm team has won three of its past five, and has the added benefit of playing in front of a friendly and familiar crowd at the Garden.

14. South Florida

Bulls (9-21, 4-14)

Guard Dominique Jones leads the Bulls with 18.2 ppg. South Florida has dropped seven of their past eight.

15. Rutgers

Scarlet Knights (11-20, 2-16)

Freshman guard Mike Rosario (16.3 ppg) put up 20 points in a 70-65 loss against first-round opponent Notre Dame two weeks ago.

16. DePaul

Blue Demons (8-23, 0-18)

This young roster with five freshmen and four sophomores will get a taste of Big East tournament action in preparation for future years.

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and the portentous crow at their epic 2008 Wimbledon final

Sunday March 8, 2009 10:19 PM By Max J. Dickstein

By Max J. Dickstein

I viewed the fifth set of the Greatest Match Ever again the other night and noticed a sort of stunning moment that might have been portentous.

Late in the decisive set, as Rafael Nadal balances himself for another tight-spun left-handed serve into the ad court against the tense top-ranked Roger Federer, a large black bird (likely a crow, considering the size and the fact that it was past 9 p.m. that July 6 in London) swoops overhead. Considering that the NBC camera view at the time was overhead and to the rear — as well as the unnatural size of the bird as it flittered blurrily past — the portentous crow's path was likely cut over the Centre Court crowd behind Nadal, in the foreground.

Crows (if that's what this bird was; they are plentiful in London) traditionally symbolize doom, with their dark-sheened feathers, murderous caws and taste for picked-through flesh. This particular avian harbinger fits well in the context of that epic Federer-Nadal match — and even jibes with this point in the match.

Why? Because Federer never won another game.

On serve at 7-6 at the time and digging in to try unsuccessfully to break steely Nadal's serve, the Swiss went on to concede the championship. Nadal won the crow game to hold serve, broke Federer in the next game and held serve again to win 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7. Federer, the five-time Wimbledon champion was dethroned. He lost his No. 1 ranking a month later. Nadal went on to win Olympic gold in Beijing. After Federer saved some face by winning his fifth straight U.S. Open in August, Nadal solidified his No. 1 status with another epic defeat of his elder rival at the Australian Open on Feb. 1.

Federer, arguably no longer the game's best all-around player, has now been beaten by Nadal in Grand Slam finals on clay three times and, once each, on grass and hardcourt. At crucial moments, Nadal's vicious spin has proven to be too much for Federer's backhand and service return game.

And at the crucial moment illustrated above, a crow proved portentous.

UPDATE 3/9/09: Roger is trying out out former Agassi coach Darren Cahill in a bid to troubleshoot his fall from No. 1 and break point futility against Nadal. Cahill, of Australia, has been a black crow of sorts over Roger, taking a stern, realistic line on the growing lopsidedness of the Federer-Nadal rivalry in his capacity as a commentator of late for ESPN. What's more, my cousin Jake responds: "I look forward to the white dove that will flit by at Roland Garros as Nadal surrenders the fifth set to a rejuvenated Roger."

END UPDATE

Your next No. 1 NBA Draft pick, if he leaves after his sophomore year at Oklahoma

Sunday March 8, 2009 9:27 PM By Max J. Dickstein

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 28: Blake Griffin #23 of the Oklahoma Sooners waits to enter the game against the Purdue Boilermakers during the Championship game of the Pre-Season NIT tournament on November 28, 2008 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Read more about Oklahoma wunderforward Black Griffin from Thayer Evans of The New York Times. The guy is hammering out 22.1 points and 14.2 rebounds and leading Oklahoma to a possible top NCAA seed in one of the four regions.

The Equalizer: Wins weren’t David Beckham’s U.S. priority with the Los Angeles Galaxy

Wednesday March 4, 2009 12:17 PM By Max J. Dickstein

David Beckham with the L.A. Galaxy, Photo by Getty

By Andrew Keh

amNewYork Soccer Columnist

By nature, there should not be many win-win situations in sports.

But in a deal that has been portrayed as beneficial for each side, Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy and Italy’s AC Milan have agreed to a “time-sharing” agreement for the midfielder David Beckham, the Los Angeles Times reported this week. The Englishman will reportedly stay in Milan past the end of the Serie A season on May 31.

Beckham would return to L.A. in July, 17 games into the 30-match season.

The deal could be finalized this week, allowing AC Milan to keep its new star for a few more weeks and likely sign him permanently next winter. For its sacrifice, the Galaxy gets its man for one more summer, plus a hefty, as-yet-unreported payment.

Still, the big surprise to Galaxy executives, whose brains seem nestled inside their money clips, could be that there will in fact be losers in this transaction — namely the Galaxy fans, the Galaxy players and, well, the Galaxy.

The club has failed to reach the playoffs the past two years with Beckham. This is an incredible fact considering that the Galaxy made the playoffs in every other year of the league’s existence and, moreover, it was extremely easy to reach the MLS postseason, with eight spots for 14 teams. For those observers who have labeled America’s “Beckham Experiment” a failure, this is their most cogent evidence.

But with Beckham, winning and losing sometimes seems beside the point. The noble, save-the-children rhetoric of his arrival in 2007 curiously left out any talk of winning a championship, and the way he beamed after a 5-4 loss to the Red Bulls in front of 66,237 fans at Giants stadium that summer spoke volumes about his tepid emotional investment in the team’s success.In all other respects, his stay here has been a success. He raised the profile of soccer and the league, increased attendance around the country as much as one man can and opened the door to MLS for stars such as Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Juan Pablo Angel.

The problem at the heart of this situation is that there is still a game to be played and won or lost.

Beckham, skilled as he is, plays the game of a specialist, and unlike Chicago’s Blanco or the Red Bulls’ Angel, he rarely decides a match. From a team-building standpoint, he is not an ideal designated player for a cash-strapped club.

The MLS and its supporters often speak about garnering respect around the world. But it is hard to respect a franchise that disregards winning, which, despite the cliches, is what the game is all about.

MLB Fantasy Reality: Behind RBIs, HRs & ERA, obscure stats help predict basic ones

Tuesday March 3, 2009 3:17 PM By Max J. Dickstein

Mark Teixeira, Photo by Getty

By Kyle Stack

Special to amNewYork

The task of figuring out which baseball statistics are most crucial can overwhelm fantasy owners.

Fortunately, there are a few unconventional stats that can closely predict the more common stats categorized in fantasy leagues. Here are four:

BABIP

(Batting average on balls in play)

This is based primarily on luck. Once a batter hits a ball into play, it’s largely out of his control whether it’s caught by the defense.

The typical mean for BABIP is in the .290-.300 range, although more skilled hitters will have naturally higher BABIPs. The Mets’ David Wright has a career .341 BABIP, primarily because he is such a good hitter that his high batting averages are based more on skill than luck.

But looking at the Cubs’ Milton Bradley, his .396 BABIP last season was inordinately high compared with the rest of his career. That indicates his luck should regress closer to the mean this year, so it’s unlikely he’ll approach his .321 batting average of 2008.

FB%

(Fly ball percentage)

Calculated by dividing the number of fly balls hit by the sum of fly balls, ground balls and line drives, FB% can measure home run probability.

Mark Teixeira of the Yankees is an annual 30-home run threat because 39 percent of his career balls hit in play are flies. The more often you put the ball in the air, the more likely you are to go yard. A player who maintains his FB% yet sees a dip in home runs is likely just having bad luck.

GB/FB

(Ground ball/fly ball rate)

The alarms should go off if you find your favorite pitcher with a GB/FB rate near 1-to-1 or below.

You should want your pitchers to serve as many ground balls as possible, since they’re easier for defenses to corral than liners and flies. (You might say pop-ups are desirable, but fly balls can become home runs.)

Padres ace Jake Peavy, for example, is an elite pitcher despite a career GB/FB rate of 1.08 because San Diego’s PETCO Park has one of the largest outfields in the majors.

K/9

(Strikeouts per 9 innings rate)

The K/9 rate is calculated by multiplying total strikeouts by nine, then dividing by total innings.

Any pitcher with a rate of 7 or higher is valuable in fantasy, no matter how high his ERA or WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched). Strikeout pitchers are more likely to have lower pitching averages; they can get batters out without depending on their defense to convert the out.

A K/9 rate of 9 or higher is considered elite, although most starters won’t post a double-digit K/9 rate due to their high number of innings. Boston’s John Smoltz and the Cubs’ Rich Harden were the only two to do so last season.

Serena Willams wins the BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup

Monday March 2, 2009 6:46 PM By Max J. Dickstein

(Getty Images)

By Max J. Dickstein

Serena Williams won the first BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.

The best-of-three sets exhibition match was a long, teetering affair belied by the final score of 6-4, 6-3. The crowd, preoccupied no doubt by the advancing hour and the cold night awaiting them outside, seemed to appreciate that the two sisters did not have to contest a third set.

Serena set up the final with a 6-3 no-ad match win against 2008

French Open champion Ana Ivanovic. Williams twice won service games when

she was down 15-40 at 1-1 and 4-2. Venus Williams beat Jelena Jankovic

6-4 in the night's first semifinal.

That made it Williams sisters 12, Serbs 7. The counting this exhibition result, the Williams sisters are not even all-time head-to-head, 10-10.

The highlight of the night was on the court but it did not involve tennis. Rather, it was former President Bill Clinton's spoken tribute to lifelong women's sports activist Billie Jean King, the pioneer who turned 65 this year and whose honors are beginning to equal her accomplishments, as they should.

Though the night dragged on too long — from before 7 to after 11:30 p.m. — it was a significant night for women's tennis.

P.S. I made an audio recording in which I described the action in situ, but the file is too big, so I apparently can't upload it and you can't hear it. Dear reader, we both share in this loss.

I'll know better next time.

Column: What if they gave a baseball season and nobody came?

Monday March 2, 2009 10:47 AM By Max J. Dickstein

Getty Images

By Budd Mishkin

Special to amNewYork

There was a famous poster in the 1960s that read: “What if they gave a war and nobody came?”

No one is expecting nobody to come to New York's two new ballparks this year. But the major question of the New York baseball season does not concern the Mets’ bullpen, the Yankees’ free-agent signings or even Alex Rodriguez (is that possible?). With the economy falling faster than a certain team in September (no names necessary), the most intriguing question of the upcoming season is: Will people come?

The month of March represents a waiting game, even for those of us who love the winter sports. It's been another uninspiring season at the Garden, albeit with flashes of excitement from Nate Robinson and the general feeling that things will get better under coach Mike D'Antoni. The Rangers are fighting for a playoff spot because they have lacked one skill rather crucial to a successful hockey team: scoring goals. Martin Brodeur reconfirmed his brilliance by posting two shutouts after missing 50 games with a shoulder injury, but the Devils have never had a big impact on New York's sports consciousness.

And so we wait for baseball.It won't take much to remind Mets fans of the convergence of the economy and baseball this season. Every time they walk into their new ballpark, they'll see one of the major financial players at the core of our economic woes: the bank whose name adorns the new stadium. If they would dare, the Mets could bring back their old Banner Day on that subject alone. But the health of the game this season will be determined by millions of difficult decisions made in homes affected by the economic storms raging outside — e.g., “I've lost my job,” or, “I fear I'm about to. Am I going to pony up for four tickets for my family for the game?”

The two new ballparks were created at an economic time that now seems like ages ago. And the Yankees spending this off season, all perfectly legit and legal, feels like it took place in an alternate universe apart from the one most of us are living in. We all grew up reading stories of how baseball served as a diversion during the Depression and World War II. Now we get to experience the role the game will play during this modern economic disaster. The buildings have been built. But will people come?

Serena Williams, the U.S. Open champ, is the strong favorite to win the Billie Jean King Cup Monday night

Sunday March 1, 2009 2:30 PM By Max J. Dickstein

By Max J. Dickstein

A good indicator of the favorite to win the Billie Jean King Cup at Madison Square Garden tonight might be who has fared best on New York hardcourts. Answer: top-ranked Serena Williams, who beat two stars in tonight’s field — sister Venus and former No. 1 Jelena Jankovic — last year on the way to a third U.S. Open title. The exhibition’s fourth star, Ana Ivanovic, has never even reached the U.S. Open quarterfinals.