Getting ready for the U.S. Open

Monday June 30, 2008 6:26 AM By Jamshid Mousavinezhad

If you know someone between the ages of 6-18 who's looking for something to do now that school's out, the New York Junior Tennis League wants to give them free tennis lessons starting today.

You don't even need a racket--just show up at any of nearly 50 locations in all five boroughs, pretty much anytime during the day this week (or next week, or the next....)

And yup, current world #8 James Blake got his start in one of these programs....

Photo of James Blake at Wimbledon from AFP/Getty Images

Steve Nash shows off footwork in 'Showdown in Chinatown'

Monday June 30, 2008 5:25 AM By Jamshid Mousavinezhad

Jason Kidd, as he often does, backpedaled on defense, anticipated his opponent’s next move, and swooped in to intercept a pass in his own half. The Mavericks point guard then pushed the ball up the sideline to lead his team’s fast break.

Out of the corner of his left eye, he spotted a teammate streaking forward and, as always, delivered to him a pass with pinpoint accuracy. The subsequent shot hit nothing but net.

But Kidd wasn’t on the basketball court. He was on a soccer field in Manhattan. The beneficiary of Kidd’s assist? Salomon Kalou, a forward from the Ivory Coast who stars for Chelsea in the English Premier League.

Kidd and Kalou were just two of the many star athletes that congregated in Manhattan last week to play in an eight-on-eight charity soccer match dubbed “The Showdown in Chinatown” by its hosts Steve Nash, point guard for the Phoenix Suns, and Claudio Reyna, the captain of the Red Bulls.

“I wanted to bring some of my friends from basketball and soccer together and create a great atmosphere in downtown Manhattan,” Nash said of the event. “Everyone had a great time, and the guys put on a great show for the fans.”

The match, as well as the live auction in SoHo that followed, was organized to benefit the individual foundations of Nash and Reyna, both of which focus on helping children in underserved communities. As Reyna said, “I hope everyone had a good time. But, above all, this was really for the kids in the inner city.”

The two athletes faced off against one another on the pitch for 60 minutes, backed by teams that also included NBA stars like Baron Davis, Raja Bell, and Leandro Barbosa, and soccer players such as Thierry Henry, Juan Pablo Angel, Jozy Altidore, Greg Berhalter, Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman.

The names on display attracted a gigantic horde of enthusiastic fans and curious spectators to the small field. Those who could not see over the numerous rows of observers resorted to climbing trees, lampposts, and basketball hoops to get a better view.

Those lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the action were treated to a match that mixed sublime skill and light-hearted antics.

Davis, despite being on the lower end of the group’s spectrum of skill, quickly endeared himself to the crowd, playing the match in thick-rimmed glasses and a backwards baseball cap, putting Barbosa in a headlock, and earning a yellow card for swatting away a goal-bound shot with his hands. The Warriors guard even scored a goal of his own in the first half.

“I played in the seventh grade,” Davis said of his soccer background. “I was a forward. I used to score all of the goals because I was quicker than everyone.”

The soccer artistry, meanwhile, was provided by Henry, who became available for the match after his French team was knocked out of Euro 2008 by Italy last week. The Barcelona striker was always in the middle of the action and turned on the style in the second half, drawing from his deep bag of flicks and tricks, much to the delight of the crowd.

“Thierry brought the level of buzz from here to here,” Reyna said, moving his down-turned palm from his waist up to his chest.

Afterwards, Nash and Reyna were quick to declare the event a huge success, and both already seemed to be making plans for another match next year. Reyna said that several other star players, including Lionel Messi, Clarence Seedorf, and Hidetoshi Nakata, expressed interest but could not play this year because of other commitments. The next match, he suggested, could be even bigger.

And how would they deal with a larger, rowdier crowd?

“We might need a stadium,” Reyna offered, presumably only half-joking.

--Andrew Keh

Mets 40-41 at the halfway point

Sunday June 29, 2008 3:22 PM By Max J. Dickstein

The Mets came in one game under .500 at the 81-game, halfway point of their season. Despite yesterday’s encouraging win, the team must still be considered unstable and enigmatic. And while the Mets’ playoff hopes are not yet extinguished, taking the Subway Series from the Yankees 4 games to 2 is likely to be one of only a few highlights from a rocky 2008.

— Max J. Dickstein

The Showdown in Chinatown

Sunday June 29, 2008 9:18 AM By Elizabeth Nielsen

Jason Kidd, as he often does, backpedaled on defense, anticipated his opponent’s next move, and swooped in to intercept a pass in his own half. The Mavericks point guard then pushed the ball up the sideline to lead his team’s fast break. Out of the corner of his left eye, he spotted a teammate streaking forward and, as always, delivered to him a pass with pinpoint accuracy. The subsequent shot hit nothing but net.

But Kidd wasn’t on the basketball court. He was on a soccer field in Manhattan. The beneficiary of Kidd’s assist? Salomon Kalou, a forward from the Ivory Coast who stars for Chelsea in the English Premier League.

Kidd and Kalou were just two of the many star athletes that congregated on the Lower East Side Wednesday evening to play in an eight-on-eight charity soccer match dubbed “The Showdown in Chinatown” by its hosts Steve Nash, point guard for the Phoenix Suns, and Claudio Reyna, the captain of the Red Bulls.

“I wanted to bring some of my friends from basketball and soccer together and create a great atmosphere in downtown Manhattan,” Nash said of the event. “Everyone had a great time, and the guys put on a great show for the fans.”

The match, as well as the live auction in SoHo that followed, was organized to benefit the individual foundations of Nash and Reyna, both of which focus on helping children in underserved communities. As Reyna said, “I hope everyone had a good time. But, above all, this was really for the kids in the inner city.”

The two athletes faced off against one another on the pitch for 60 minutes, backed by teams that also included NBA stars such as Baron Davis, Raja Bell and Leandro Barbosa, and soccer players such as Thierry Henry, Juan Pablo Angel, Jozy Altidore, Greg Berhalter, Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman.

The names on display attracted a gigantic horde of enthusiastic fans and curious spectators to the small field. Those who could not see over the numerous rows of observers resorted to climbing trees, lampposts, and basketball hoops to get a better view.

Those lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the action were treated to a match that mixed sublime skill and light-hearted antics.

Davis, despite being on the lower end of the group’s spectrum of skill, quickly endeared himself to the crowd, playing the match in thick-rimmed glasses and a backwards baseball cap, putting Barbosa in a headlock and earning a yellow card for swatting away a goal-bound shot with his hands. The Warriors guard even scored a goal of his own in the first half.

“I played in the seventh grade,” Davis said of his soccer background. “I was a forward. I used to score all of the goals because I was quicker than everyone.”

The soccer artistry, meanwhile, was provided by Henry, who became available for the match after his French team was knocked out of Euro 2008 by Italy last week. The Barcelona striker was always in the middle of the action and turned on the style in the second half, drawing from his deep bag of flicks and tricks, much to the delight of the crowd.

“Thierry brought the level of buzz from here to here,” Reyna said, moving his down-turned palm from his waist up to his chest.

Afterwards, Nash and Reyna were quick to declare the event a huge success, and both already seemed to be making plans for another match next year. Reyna said that several other star players, including Lionel Messi, Clarence Seedorf and Hidetoshi Nakata, expressed interest but could not play this year because of other commitments. The next match, he suggested, could be even bigger.

And how would they deal with a larger, rowdier crowd?

“We might need a stadium,” Reyna offered, presumably only half-joking.

— Andrew Keh

Dear Coach D'Antoni...

Wednesday June 25, 2008 1:11 PM By Jamshid Mousavinezhad

Hi, I'm Tim. You probably don't know who I am, but I'm a lifelong Knicks fan, and I'm happy you're here.

First of all, welcome to New York. Anyone other than Isiah Thomas would have been a godsend, but you bring a winning attitude and a wealth of basketball knowledge with you into this job.

It will not be an easy one. If the roster remains as it is, you will have to deal with Stephon Marbury, who is nothing if not a coach killer. You wisely got rid of him early on in Phoenix, but salary cap wise, you need to eat this contract if you want a shot a Mr. James in 2010.

Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph are not Amare Stoudemire. They're not even Shaq, circa 2008. These are just a few of the roadblocks between you and early success in New York.

Here's a few tips for you as you start your journey:

1) Don't trade David Lee. He's one of your hardest working players, he doesn't quit like the others, and he's younger and far more mobile than most of his teammates. Getting another top 10 draft pick is not worth it, especially in this year's draft.

2) You can make Jamal Crawford a big time player. He fits your system far better than many realize, and he will improve upon his numbers last year, when he started 80 games and quietly averaged 20.6 points and 5 assists per game.3) The big point, and I cannot stress this enough. Do NOT draft Danilo Gallinari. Don't do it. I know he's got exciting potential. You played with his pops in Italy, I'm sure you know all about him. It is just not the way to start out your tenure in New York. Still fresh are the wounds of foreign players like Frédéric Weis, Slavko Vraneš, Maciej Lampe, and Miloš Vujanić. That's just since 2002. As much as you may like Danilo, bringing an unestablished foreign-born player to New York can easily spell disaster for both parties.

It won't be easy. It might not be fun. But I have faith, Coach D'Antoni, that you'll do this city proud. Good luck tomorrow.

P.S.: You may have forgotten about this, but I'm sure a lot of people haven't. Here's a friendly reminder of how things worked out with Mr. Weis:

-- Tim Fiorvanti

'Wang' or 'Wong' let's call the whole thing off

Monday June 23, 2008 12:08 PM By Pete Catapano

Even the most casual Yankee fan will know that the last name of the Yankees injured ace Chien-Ming Wang rhymes with "wrong."

Then why do some of his teams like Jason Giambi and Mike Mussina pronounce it as it rhymes with bang? This is particularly strange with Mussina since he's widely considered one of the smartest players in the game, graduating from Stanford in 3 1/2 years and obsessively doing crossword puzzles etc.

Well, the answer is in John Feinstein's great new book, "Living on the Black," which chronicles the 2007 seasons of Mussina and Tom Glavine. Mussina said he says his wrong on purpose just to see if people "correct him."

"I know how to say his name, Mussina said.

Mets manager Jerry Manuel’s foot-in-mouth comments so far

Monday June 23, 2008 3:34 PM By Jamshid Mousavinezhad

New Mets manager Jerry Manuel has had more than his share of questionable comments in his short tenure so far. Below are some notable ones:

“It’s very, very fertile ground for growth in Shea Stadium…Sometimes, fertile ground has fertilizer.”

–Remarks about Mets fans that have booed reliever Aaron Heilman at Shea this year

Quick fix: “Fertilizer is a good thing. It’s a good thing. You get the greatest results — get the most beautiful plants — when you put it in that type of fertile soil. That’s what we have the opportunity to do.”

“I told him the next time he does that, I’m going to get my blade out and cut him right on the field. Hey, I’m a gangsta now. You go gangsta on me, I’m gonna have to get you now” — remarks about Jose Reyes and his helmet-tossing tantrum after he took him out of the game due to a tight hamstring on June 17.

Quick fix: “I love that [Reyes] wants to play ... But the behavior was just unacceptable and we discussed that. He plays with the pedal on full throttle every day. I don't know how he doesn't run out of gas earlier. We're going to have to keep him fresh.” – Manuel on the real reason behind sitting Reyes after the possible injury.

“She acted up with me, and she had a day off.” — remarks about Jose Reyes and his helmet-tossing tantrum against the L. A. Angels on June 17.

Quick Fix: Former NFL Coach Bill Parcells used the same “she” reference when describing then-Patriot receiver Terry Glenn. Parcells has two Super Bowl rings, so maybe Manuel is on to something…

— Gregory Hassel

NBA Draft Preview: New Jersey Nets

Monday June 23, 2008 1:21 PM By Jamshid Mousavinezhad

Team Outlook: The Nets finished 34-48 last season, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2001 -- the year before Jason Kidd arrived and turned the franchise around.

Point guard Devin Harris, one of the many players traded for Kidd in February, has become abuilding blocks for the Nets next season and beyond. At age 25, Harris averaged 15.4 points, 6.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 25 games for New Jersey last season.

Harris' right-hand men are Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter, who averaged 22.6 and 21.3 points per game respectively last season.

New general manager Kiki Vandeweghe knows that both Carter and Jefferson still have some value on the trade market, and might use that to his advantage and find other players to surround Harris.

Team Needs: Low-post scoring, rebounding and outside shooting.

Draft Picks: No. 10 and No. 21 in the first-round and No. 40 in the second round.

Who to get at No. 10: Look for the Nets to take small forward Danilo Gallinari of Italy. Only 20-years-old and very unpolished, Gallinari has nevertheless been a proven scorer in Europe.

He can shoot off the dribble, contested or fading away, and could provide the Nets with a versatile, 6-foot-9 forward who is a long-distance threat.If the Nets are lucky, Indiana's freshman Eric Gordon, a slasher with three-point shooting ability, or sophomore Russell Westbrook of UCLA, a very good defender with a lethal first step, might be available.

Each would complement Harris in the backcourt at the shooting guard spot nicely.

Who to get at No. 21: With its second pick, the Nets should go big. Bostjan Nachbar, Josh Boone and Nenad Krstic were the Nets' highest-scoring big men last yearw, with averages 9.8, 8.2 and 6.6 points, respectively. Sophomore JaVale McGee of Nevada would be the optimal pick in this position.

A 7-footer with a wingspan of about 7-foot-6, McGee has the length to rebound and blockshots. His mid-range jump shot is already effective, and will anchor his development in the low post..

Robin Lopez of Stanford (7-0, center), North Carolina State's JJ Hickson (6-9, power forward), Florida's Marreese Speights (6-10) and Rider's Jason Thompson (6-10, power forward) would all be positive additions if McGee is already off the board.

Who to get at No. 40: The Nets might look to fill a backcourt spot if they select Gallinari and a forward/center with their first two picks. Courtney Lee is a 6-foot-5 two-guard out of Western Kentucky who is a fine shooter and might be the Nets' first option.

Washington State's Kyle Weaver (6--5, shooting guard) is a great defender and distributor of the ball and Mississippi State's Jamont Gordon (6-foot-3, combo guard) is a true shot creator with superb scoring instincts -- each might be an alternative option for the Nets.

Of the three, Weaver seems like he is the most likely to be available at No. 40.

--Gregory Hasself

'Mad Dog' Impersonator

Monday June 23, 2008 12:32 PM By Pete Catapano

So now there's a real possibility that the "Mike and the Mad Dog" show is kaput we thought we'd trot out this video of someone doing a spot-on impersonation of an actual Dog tirade. The screaming starts about five minutes in.

— Pete Catapano

'Wang' or 'Wong' let's call the whole thing off

Monday June 23, 2008 12:08 PM By Pete Catapano

Even the most casual Yankee fan will know that the last name of the Yankees injured ace Chien-Ming Wang rhymes with "wrong."

Then why do some of his teammates like Jason Giambi and Mike Mussina pronounce it as it rhymes with "hang"? This is particularly strange with Mussina since he's widely considered one of the smartest players in the game, graduating from Stanford in 3 1/2 years and obsessively doing crossword puzzles etc.

Well, the answer is in John Feinstein's great new book, "Living on the Black," which chronicles the 2007 seasons of Mussina and Tom Glavine. Mussina said he says pronounces the name incorrectly on purpose just to see if people "correct him."

"I know how to say his name," Mussina said.

— Pete Catapano

New York prepares for All-Star weekend

Sunday June 22, 2008 1:33 PM By Lauren Johnston

In one of several publicity stunts in the weeks leading up to the All-Star game at Yankee Stadium, Major League Baseball has commissioned 42 Statue of Liberty replicas to be placed around the city. 30 are decorated for each major league team, with additional statues decorated in celebration of the Brooklyn Dodgers, the New York (baseball) Giants, the National League, the American League, and celebrating the final seasons at Yankee and Shea Stadium, amongst others.

The statues, according to mlb.com, were rolled out starting this past Friday, and replicas can be purchased in their store.

Although I am, admittedly, a Mets fan, I came upon the design for the Red Sox version of Lady Liberty.Yankees fans, brace yourselves. You're about to get quite angry.

-- Tim Fiorvanti

Wimbledon Preview

Sunday June 22, 2008 12:47 PM By Lauren Johnston

By Max Dickstein

mdickstein@am-ny.com

With the first round of the most prestigious Grand Slam tennis event of the year starting today, the current world rankings are a good guide to the favorites to win the men’s and women’s singles titles at Wimbledon this year.

MEN

(1) Roger Federer, Switzerland

2008: 38-8 record, 2 titles

Career on grass: 75-11 (10 titles)

Wimbledon best: winner, 2003-07

Despite his 59-match winning streak on grass, the five-time defending Wimbledon champion is a slight underdog at a tournament he has owned. Afflicted with mononucleosis to start the year, Federer has played relatively sluggish and uninspired tennis throughout the year — most recently in a humbling 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 loss in the French Open final against Nadal. Federer’s bid to equal William Renshaw (1881-86) with a sixth straight Wimbledon title comes at a difficult juncture for owner of 12 major titles — the mental scars from a season of unbecoming results could linger.

(2) Rafael Nadal, Spain

2008: 37-7, 5 titles

Career on grass: 24-7 (1 title)

Wimbledon best: runner-up, 2006-07

Nadal has never been in better form entering Wimbledon, where he has twice been an impressive runner-up to Federer. He’s won an ATP-best five titles this year, including his first on grass at Queen’s Club in London last week. Just as important, Nadal holds an 11-6 record in matches against Federer, giving him an increasingly decisive mental edge against the top-ranked Swiss.

(3) Novak Djokovic, Serbia

2008: 28-6, 3 titles

Career on grass: 16-6 (0 titles)

Wimbledon best: semifinals, 2007

The big-serving Australian Open champion would be cleaning up at Grand Slams if not for the two players ahead of him. Federer is more skilled, Nadal is fitter, and both are more mobile and mentally tough than the likeable Serb. The 21-year-old won't get past Nadal in the semifinal of this championship.

Darkhorse

No. 6 Andy Roddick is a two-time finalist (2004, 2005) who is returning from injury. His indomitable first serve could fuel a surprise run.

WOMEN

(1) Ana Ivanovic, Serbia

2008: 27-6 (2 titles)

Career on grass: 13-6 (0 titles)

Wimbledon best: semifinals, 2007

The French Open champion’s hard-hitting, rugged game has not translated into a win on grass so far. Her confidence may be high, but her hold on the top ranking must be considered fragile at this point.

(2) Maria Sharapova, Russia

2008: 30-3 (3 titles)

Career on grass: 46-7 (3 titles)

Wimbledon best: winner, 2004

When Sharapova won Wimbledon at age 17, there was speculation that she could diversify her power game and dominate women’s tennis for years. Instead, Sharapova has had elite but inconsistent results since then. She is at once vulnerable and dangerous.

(3) Jelena Jankovic, Serbia

2008: 33-10 (1 title)

Career on grass: 26-12 (1 title)

Wimbledon best: round of 16, 2007

With so many top WTA players able to crumble and give away a match on a dime, the quick and powerful Jankovic is our pick for a major breakthrough on grass.

Darkhorse

Defending and four-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams and her sister Serena (a two-time winner) are dangerous on the grass and lurk at No. 7 and No. 6, respectively.

"Top 25" current New York athletes

Friday June 20, 2008 1:19 PM By Jamshid Mousavinezhad

Newsday has a photo gallery of the top 25 current athletes, which you can find here. While reading this list, I had one constant thought. Huh?

Some of the bigger head-scratchers:

1) Jamal Crawford - This list doesn't define whether these players are judged by talent, popularity or some mix of both. I guess you have to have a Knick on there, but there are more popular and more talented Knicks (David Lee, Nate Robinson, etc.) that could be featured.

2) Alan Faneca - The man has yet to play a single game for the Jets. A bit premature to say the least.

3) Johan Santana - He's a superstar, but he just got here.

4) Alex Rodriguez - ARod has every right to be high on this list, but he should never be number one on any list regarding New York. He fades in the clutch, and the ordeal he put the Yankees through over the winter should never be forgotten.

-- Tim Fiorvanti

VIDEO: Real Incredible Hulks storm midtown

Thursday June 19, 2008 1:39 PM By Lauren Johnston

Strong man Phil Phister pulls a bus down Seventh Ave. Photo/Getty Images

They tore a 700-page phonebook in half, flipped a 900-pound tire and even pulled a double-decker bus down Seventh Avenue using brute strength alone [PHOTOS] .

Oh yeah, and they hefted Hawaiian Tropics gals aloft.

The world's strongest men are in town and their sole mission is to show off their huge muscles with terrific feats of strength.

We got a freebie show today outside Madison Square Garden, starring the reigning champ, America's Strongest Man Derek Poundstone, Europe's Strongest Man Jarek Dymek and the 2006 U.S. strongman champ, Phil Pfister -- who pulled the bus and imparted this wise credo that we call words to live by:

"You don't know if you can pull a bus until you try."

Phil and the rest of the beefcake clan are on hand for Saturday's "World's Strongest Man Super Series" at Madison Square Garden. Tickets don't come cheap, they range $50 to $150. But then, how often to you have the biggest guns in the world assembled under one roof?

Check out this morning's show here:

-- Lauren Johnston

Triviality

Wednesday June 18, 2008 1:56 PM By Jamshid Mousavinezhad

Number 29 in an occasional series

Ailing Athletes

1970 - Willis Reed, New York Knicks

Reed suited up for Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers with a torn right thigh muscle. Although he only scored four points in the game that night in the Madison Square Garden, the inspirational lift he provided invigorated his teammates and led to a 113-99 victory and an NBA Championship, the first in team history.

1988 – Kirk Gibson, Los Angeles Dodgers

Two bad knees and a stomach virus could not stop 31-year-old Gibson from contributing to a Game 1 victory during the 1988 World Series against the Oakland Athletics. Pinch-hitting in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and down by a score of 4-3, Gibson hit a pinch-hit, game winning two-run homer off of future Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley to electrify Dodger Stadium.

1996 – Kerri Strug, United States Gymnastics

A gold medal hinged on Strug’s left ankle, which had a third-degree sprain and torn ligaments, during her final vault of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Her first vault caused the damage to her ankle, but on the next, she made a near flawless effort with a one-footed landing to ensure that the Americans took home the gold.

1997 – Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls

The day before Jordan and his Bulls were to take the court for Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals in Utah, he was diagnosed with a stomach virus or food poisoning and told that there was no way he could play the next day. Instead, Jordan woke up three hours prior to game-time noticeably sick and contributed 38 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block in a 90-88 victory.

2008 – Tiger Woods, PGA Tour

After undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee for the third time and missing two months of action, Woods was in good enough shape to play at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. Wincing in pain and hobbling around the course, Woods forced a tie and an 18-hole playoff with Rocco Mediate with a birdie on the last hole of the tournament. The next day, he won the U.S. Open Championship on the first sudden death hole that he forced by sinking another birdie on the 18th hole that tied Mediate.

— Gregory Hassel

Billy Werber: The oldest living former Major Leaguer

Wednesday June 18, 2008 1:47 PM By Jamshid Mousavinezhad

By Lorraine Cwelich

Special to amNewYork

The oldest living former Major League Baseball player, Billy Werber, celebrates his 100th birthday tomorrow, but you would never know it by his quick wit. As he is fond of saying about the leg he lost to diabetes, “They cut off my leg but not my head.”

Werber is the sole surviving teammate of Babe Ruth, having played third base for the Yankees in 1930 and 1933. He also played with the New York Giants in his final season, 1942, and the Boston Red Sox (1933-1936), Philadelphia Athletics (1937-1938) and Cincinnati Reds (1939-1941), which won the World Series in 1940.

The Berwyn Heights, Md., native now resides in a Charlotte, N.C., retirement facility. He recently spoke by phone to amNewYork about everything from playing cards on train rides with the Babe and Lou Gehrig to why Johnny Damon’s hair was bad for baseball:amNewYork: How does it feel to be turning 100?

Werber: It feels very fortunate because there’s not much fun in being dead.

amNewYork: What is the secret to your longevity?

Werber: Having a happy marriage, a fine family and I’ve never been much of a drinker.

amNewYork: What is your favorite story about your Yankees teammate, Babe Ruth?

Werber: Down in spring training, Babe was chasing around a Spanish girl from Ybor City, adjacent to Tampa, Fla., and he told her he found someone better and wasn’t going to see her anymore. One night when he had the other lady in a country club, they were having dinner and the Spanish girl came in and saw them having dinner together. She went into her handbag and took out a revolver. Babe took off for the golf course running and she shot and hit him in the leg, below the calf. We asked him if he ever pressed charges and he said, “No. She was a good girl.” She meant to kill him!

amNewYork: Did you ever go out on the town in New York with Babe?

Werber: No. How do you think I got to be a 100 years old?

amNewYork: What were some of your fondest memories of New York City at that time?

Werber: We ate at a good place every night, Italian, Hungarian, Irish, all kinds of restaurants. Must be a thousand restaurants in New York. My two favorites were the Dutchman, near the ballpark, and Leonardi’s downtown. But I didn’t go to nightclubs because nighttime is for sleeping.

amNewYork: What do you think made the Babe so outstanding?

Werber: He was a big fella, strong, 6-2 and about 210, awfully strong, good eyes. I don’t think he ever read a newspaper in his life. That was his secret. Me, I liked to read and write.

amNewYork: I read your memoir, Memories of a Ball Player. It was interesting that you devoted an entire chapter to the importance of hustle.

Werber: Hustle is the name of the game. If you hustle all the time you get good results. It’s key for base stealing.

amNewYork: You led the AL in stolen bases three times. What tips do you have for today’s base stealers?

Werber: A lot of players are big and strong but don’t have speed in their legs like I did. I had pretty good judgment about when to steal and not. Some pitchers, it’s easier to read their motions. I loved to steal off of Bobo Newsom.

amNewYork: Why?

Werber: Because I didn’t like him! He was a carouser. When he was pitching for Detroit he paid the clubhouse boy to hang a sign on my locker, “How are you today, my friend.” He knew I was no friend of his!

amNewYork: Because?

Werber: Because when I played him in the World Series, I led all of the hitters on both teams; I hit .370 in that Series. He was pitching the final game, which we won.

amNewYork: What was it like playing with King Carl Hubbell [Hall of Fame pitcher for the New York Giants]? You had to field all those screwballs at third base!

Werber: We called him “the Meal Ticket.” Fine gentleman, a great pitcher, a great heart. He was a superb person. He was intelligent, had courage and he had good control; he could throw the ball wherever he wanted to. He kept me on my toes.

amNewYork: Can you tell me about the train rides back then?

Werber: On the train rides, the Babe had as a partner Lou Gehrig and I had as a partner Bill Dickey. We played bridge on the train rides from Chicago to St. Louis, riding the Green Diamond Express, the time is about two and a half hours. We’d spend those hours playing bridge. Dickey and I were better players than Ruth and Gehrig. Ruth would sip Seagram’s VO the whole time he was playing and after awhile he’d give Gehrig bad bids, just to irritate him. Gehrig would throw the cards in the middle of the table in disgust. Then we’d make $3.50.

amNewYork: Were Gehrig and Ruth friends as well as bridge partners?

Werber: Gehrig and Ruth were both good ball players, both good hustlers, both tried hard to win everyday but they were not very friendly. They were cut out of different pieces of cloth. Ruth was single and a womanizer. Gehrig was a mama’s boy who brought his mother to spring training and put her up at a hotel in St. Petersburg. They were entirely different, education-wise and idealistically. And there’s not a lot of conversation going on during a bridge game, because money is on the line.

amNewYork: How has baseball changed since your day?

Werber: Back then games were an hour and 45 minutes, because the pitchers didn’t go through all of these histrionics that are so prevalent today. Not all the prissing and fussing and wandering around and pulling your belt up. The pitcher stood on the mound, got the signal from the catcher and threw good, accurate pitches. And players were fined when they stepped out of line.

amNewYork: You tell a great story in your book, in the chapter on the 1927 Yankees, about fines. [Werber took spring training and traveled with the 1927 Yankees briefly after signing his first contract, but returned to Duke University and rejoined the team in his rookie year, 1930.] When Yankees skipper Miller Huggins was the inducted into the Hall of Fame, Ruth said that Huggins was only one who could handle him.

Werber: Ruth showed up very late for a game and Huggins had already turned in Ruth’s name in the starting lineup card. He was talking to Charley O’Leary. He said, ‘I’m gonna fine that son of a bitch $5,000 if it’s the last thing I do.’ Well, Ruth finally showed up and hit two home runs and two doubles and drove in seven or eight runs. Huggins walked across the field, saying, ‘Charley, what am I gonna do? I can’t fine him now because the newspapers will eat me alive!’

amNewYork: So even back then, they feared the New York sports writers?

Werber: For good reason! They were a rabid bunch! But they loved Ruth because he produced. And he was a kindly man. He didn’t know who his mother or father was. He was adopted by a saloon keeper named Ruth. That explained a lot.

amNewYork: Was he fined that day?

Werber: No. The Babe didn’t even know the names of the relief pitchers because he’d leave before the games were over.

amNewYork: Do you still follow baseball?

Werber: I stopped watching baseball on television during the 2004 World Series. I didn’t like Johnny Damon’s hair. It’s disgraceful.

amNewYork: Since you stopped watching, Damon came from the Red Sox to the Yankees like Ruth, although as a free agent, in 2006 and Steinbrenner had a clean shaven policy. Damon had to cut his hair and shave his beard. So maybe it’s safe to go back to your TV set.

Werber: Manny Ramirez is bad too.

amNewYork: Ramirez is a pretty good hitter. Maybe it’s the Samson thing, he gets his strength from his hair.

Werber: We didn’t need hair in my day! We hiked our pants up and were ready to go! And we didn’t have these big free agent contracts either.

amNewYork: When Damon played at Fenway after signing with the Yankees, the Red Sox fans threw dollar bills on the field.

Werber: I played with the Red Sox from ’33 to ’36. I found Boston fans to be intelligent. For the most part.

Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY)

Billy Werber will participate in the demolition of Yankee Stadium via remote video.

All-star T-shirts with a cause

Monday June 16, 2008 12:14 PM By Pete Catapano

Joba will be pitching T-shirts instead of baseballs in Times Square on Tuesday. (AP)

Fans gearing up for the 2008 All-Star Game in Yankee Stadium (the last to be held in the historic park) can help out those other boys in blue by picking up a commemorative T-shirt this week.

The T-shirts, which read “Heroes Made Legends Remembered,” will be sold at Modell’s Sporting Goods stores for $19.99, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the FDNY Foundation and the New York City Police Foundation.

Yanks’ pitcher Joba Chamberlain will be spreading the word at a press conference at the Modell’s store in Times Square at noon tomorrow.

The 79th Midsummer Classic will be played on July 15, but baseball junkies can vote online at MLB.com for their all-star picks until July 2.

— Megan Stride

U.S. 8, Barbados 0

Sunday June 15, 2008 4:08 PM By Max J. Dickstein

CARSON, CA - JUNE 15: Goalkeeper Alvin Rouse #1 of Barbados can't react fast enough to a deflected ball directed into the net by Brian Ching #11 of the USA (not in picture) during the 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying match at the Home Depot Center on June 15, 2008 in Carson, California. USA defeated Barbados 8-0. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

The United States ended a 287-minute scoring drought with an eight-goal gale against Barbados in its opening match of World Cup Qualifying in Carson, Calif., Sunday. But the 8-0 win, as impressive as it was, should not be viewed as much more than a positive training exercise for the later rounds of qualification.

Barbados, with a population just over 280,000 (about the same as Newark), placed 121st in the latest FIFA world rankings. The U.S., by comparison, has a population over 300 million and is currently ranked 21st. The teams’ only other meetings came in August and November of 2000, when the US won 7-0 and 4-0, respectively.

It was no surprise, then, to see little resistance from the Caribbean side as the Americans attacked in numbers from the opening whistle. Within the first minute, forward Clint Dempsey took a lofted pass from captain Carlos Bocanegra in the box and nutmegged goalkeeper Alvin Rouse for the opening goal. Brian Ching provided a bookend in the 89th minute when he scored the team’s eighth and final goal while completing his own hat trick.

Barbados, at times, played like a high-school squad. In fact, Landon Donovan’s bit of trickery in the 59th minute — he forewent the referee’s usual measuring of 10 yards on a free kick to sneak a shot past Rouse, who was naively still setting up his wall — was a play my own high school team used to great effect against our more oblivious opponents.

So dismal is the state of soccer in Barbados, it seems, that the Barbadian Football Association has placed a want ad for players on its official site.

Think you’ve got what it takes to suit up for the 121st-ranked team in the world?

— Andrew Keh

Max gets served

Thursday June 12, 2008 4:26 PM By Jamshid Mousavinezhad

Today Max Dickstein got a tennis lesson. It was given by tennis legends Tracy Austin and Lindsay Davenport. It didn't go well. And I was there to record the details. Take a look:

For Max's interview with Lindsay and Tracy, head here.

-- Tim Fiorvanti

Boo to the Yankee organization

Wednesday June 11, 2008 3:46 PM By Elizabeth Nielsen

The New York Yankees have done it again.

Just when you thought that the richest organization in sports couldn't stoop to a new low, the team has just asked the state of New York for $400 million additional dollars to finish the new stadium.

The same team that has done nothing but throw absurd amouts of money at purple-lipped prima donnas has decided that they need to have taxpayers foot a little bit more of the bill to replace the current dump they play in.

I guess I don't really need to go off on how preposterous this is. The team has a payroll north of $200 million dollars. They charge $9.50 for a cup of Bud Light that is mostly foam. The most horrible seats in the stadium will still cost you $26. This organization also dropped $50,000 earlier this year to unearth a David Ortiz Jersey buried underneath the cement.

How about a little gosh-darn accountiblity?! How did the stadium run $400 million dollars over-budget? And how about the sheer brashness of a multi-million dollar corporation asking for taxpayer bailout over a friggin ballpark when the country is in a RECESSION!? Gas prices are approaching $5 in some parts of New York. Costs of things like rice and milk keep going up, people are streching to buy food, and the wealthiest organization in sports, with its billionare owner, is looking for a bailout.

This team is worth $1.3 BILLION. Just food for thought...

Dwight Freeney and Jared Allen on Michael Strahan's retirement

Monday June 9, 2008 11:28 AM By Jamshid Mousavinezhad

We spoke to two of top-rated pass rushers in the NFL on Monday about Michael Strahan's retirement — Dwight Freeney and Jared Allen.

The Indianapolis Colts' Freeney, 28, missed the final seven games of last season with a foot injury and he’s working out in Indianapolis. amNewYork reached him there by telephone Monday morning.

INDIANAPOLIS - OCTOBER 7: Dwight Freeney #93 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates a tackle for a loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the NFL game October 7, 2007 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

FREENEY: “Strahan had a Hall of Fame career. Obviously he has a sack title which every defensive lineman really goes after every year. He’s done it for a long time and he’s been good for a long time.

"That’s the thing. You can string a couple of good years together, but if you string 8, 9, 10 years together like he has — the level of his game play throughout those 12, 13 years was at the highest.

"Playing in a big city like New York, he did it all. He’s doing his thing. He went out on top. He won the Super Bowl. He got what he wanted, you know?”

Jared Allen, 26, joined the Minnesota Vikings via trade this offseason after four years and 43 sacks in Kansas City.

KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 23: Jared Allen #69 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on prior to the preseason game against the New Orleans Saints on August 23, 2007 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

ALLEN: "I always say the difference between good players and great players is consistency. And that was a man that was consistent year in and year out. You know what? We'd all be lucky to have careers as good as his."

— Max J. Dickstein

Taking a bite out of victory

Monday June 9, 2008 10:14 AM By Emily Ngo

You know, Raf, winning the French Open is impressive and all, but there are better ways to savor the taste of victory. Who's with me?

Nadal on Sunday

Nadal on Monday

— Emily Ngo

Howard and the U.S. stand tall against ARG

Sunday June 8, 2008 9:05 PM By Max J. Dickstein

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JUNE 08: Tim Howard of the United States of America blocks a shot by Julio Cruz #9 of Argentina during their match at Giants Stadium on June 8, 2008 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The pounding drumbeat that thumped relentlessly over the hubbub of 78,682 soccer fans in Giants Stadium Sunday night may as well have been the beating of USA goalkeeper Tim Howard’s heart, as he faced Argentina’s onslaught of creative attacking force.

The Argentines — led by offensive prodigies Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero — came out firing energetically on all cylinders, finding space in dangerous places between an American defense that looked overwhelmed in the opening minutes of the match. The Argentines peppered the U.S. goal with shots from a constellation of angles.

But the 29-year-old Howard, netminder for English Premiership club Everton, was unflinching for 90 minutes. He recorded seven saves, shutting out the top-ranked national team in the world that disassembled Mexico last week, 4-1.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JUNE 08: Freddy Adu #19 of the United States of America drives the ball past Javier Zanetti #8 of Argentina during their match at Giants Stadium on June 8, 2008 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Howard’s mind-blowing saves with every extremity of his body allowed the United States to defy the odds to earn a 0-0 draw. But with no goals scored and many of the superstars subbed out early — Messi came out at halftime — the real show may have taken place in the stands, where giant flags, showy banners and colored balloons festooned the fourth largest crowd ever for a soccer match at Giants Stadium.

The fans assembled early, overloading Sunday’s sizzling stadium parking lot with grills, blaring speakers and pickup games. The fans stayed late, too, getting even rowdier as the rain began to pour in the match’s closing minutes.

The spectacle provided a glimpse of the massive potential for the sport in New York and New Jersey, one that has unfortunately yet to be fully tapped into by the area’s professional team, the Red Bulls.

— Andrew Keh

Nadal closes in on Federer

Sunday June 8, 2008 4:23 PM By Max J. Dickstein

(Photo: THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images)

Roger Federer’s humiliation yesterday at the hands of Rafael Nadal, 6-1, 6-3, 6-0, was both stunning and unsurprising

A gulf still exists between the top-ranked Federer and most of the men’s field in terms of talent and ability, but the 26-year-old Swiss has been shaky in recent matches against his top pursuer, No. 2 Nadal, consistently blowing leads, or — in yesterday’s case — chances for leads. It is occasionally astounding to see Federer, acclaimed for his "match-tough" mental strength, dump several shots low into the net on key points.

Nadal, 22, looks quite able to end Federer’s four-and-quarter-year hold on the No. 1 ranking by winning a Wimbledon title this July.

— Max J. Dickstein

How Big Brown could have won

Sunday June 8, 2008 3:57 PM By Pete Catapano

Everyone seems be talking about how the respective mustaches of Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon has led to their offensive bursts of late.

Well maybe Big Brown would have improved upon his last-place finish in the Belmont Stakes

Besides leading him to victory, he would have done with some hirsute style never seen at the Stakes before. For example, he'd probably look like this if he just let his stache grow.

* From Keith Hernandez to"Catfish" Hunter, check out 32 great New York sports mustaches

* Read about the return of the mustache to NYC

* Flash Game: Match the 'stache to the man

— Pete Catapano

Bedard could be on block midyear, columnist says

Sunday June 8, 2008 2:59 PM By Pete Catapano

(AP)

This should get the interest of the Yankees... and the Mets... and the Indians... and the Angels ... and the Braves ... and the Dodgers.. and the..

According to Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune, Seattle lefty Erik Bedard could be available at the trade deadline if the Mariners continue to flounder.

Bedard, whom the Mariners acquired from the Orioles in the off-season, is 4-4 with a 4.27 ERA this season, but's coming off 13-5 season to go along with a sparkling 3.17 ERA.

One things for sure, he won't come cheap.

— Pete Catapano

Just win the Triple Crown already, Big Brown

Thursday June 5, 2008 8:31 PM By Max J. Dickstein

(Photo by Getty Images)

Allow me to state the obvious: If Big Brown wins the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, he will not be the first racehorse to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes in the same year.

He will be the 12th.

True, three decades have passed since the last Triple Crown winner, Affirmed, managed the feat in 1978. Big Brown’s task is daunting and its fulfillment would be superb.

Still, all the sentimental palaver surrounding Big Brown’s “bid for history” at Belmont makes one wonder what ridiculous altitude the anticipation would reach if no horse had ever managed to win these three prestigious races in one year.

Of course, that is not the case. There were four Triple Crown laureates in the 1940s alone, and three more in the 1970s.

The fact is the Triple Crown, like a perfect game in baseball or a Grand Slam in golf or tennis, is a standard, not a record. Each has been done before.

Meanwhile, we’re still waiting for a 57-game hitting streak that would surpass Joe DiMaggio.

So, Big Brown, please win Saturday so that we can fix our perspective.

— Max J. Dickstein

The Mets Yo-Yo season continues

Wednesday June 4, 2008 7:14 PM By Jamshid Mousavinezhad

After losing 7 of 8 in the middle of May, the Mets have won three straight series', taking two of three from the Marlins, three of four from the Dodgers, and two of three from the Giants.

Pedro Martinez made a very successful return in the second game of the Giants series, going six innings and throwing more than 100 pitches.One of the most promising signs for Pedro is his velocity; he topped out at 92 mph with his fastball, and his breaking stuff had some serious bite.

The Mets head into San Diego for four with the Padres starting tomorrow. They look to beat up on the struggling Pads and keep their momentum rolling, and they're going to need it. After San Diego, the Mets face off with the Diamondbacks (first in the NL West), Josh Hamilton and the Texas Rangers, and the LA Angels (first in the AL West), before two series with the basement dwelling Rockies and Mariners.

The fate of the Mets may very well be tied to two of its more fragile, older players in Martinez and Moises Alou. Martinez has showed promising signs of anchoring down a pitching staff that has been in serious need of one more starter. Alou has suffered from a hernia as well as calf and ankle injuries, and while he may be back in the lineup by the end of the current road trip, his health could go a long way to solidifying the Mets outfield along with Carlos Beltran and the surprising Ryan Church.

The next month will go a long way towards establishing the hierarchy in the NL East. The Marlins have been anything but consistent, losing series' against the Mets and Phillies, and on the verge of losing another to the Braves.

The danger for the Mets is the Phillies pulling away with it. Philadelphia is two games up on the Marlins and four games up on the Mets and Braves. The season is barely one-third of the way done, but these next few weeks could determine if the Mets are a contender or a pretender.

--Tim Fiorvanti

Howard near the Mendoza line

Wednesday June 4, 2008 4:59 PM By Pete Catapano

(AP)

The Phillies are an offensive machine and his power numbers are high, but what's happened to Ryan Howard's batting average? In 2006, he hit .305 and last year he hit .268. But in the current campaign the All-Star first basemen is hitting just .205 and is mired in a 2-for-14 stretch. Sure he has 15 homers and 43 RBIs, but his struggles can't be ignored. The worst part? He has 82 strikeouts in 215 at-bats, projecting to over 200 for the season.

— Pete Catapano

Instability on the WTA Tour

Monday June 2, 2008 8:03 PM By Max J. Dickstein

Roger Federer gained the men’s No. 1 ranking on Feb. 4, 2004, and has held it since. In that same period on the WTA tour, five different women have alternated possession of the top ranking 12 times. The Dinara Safina's gutsy fourth-round upset of top-ranked Maria Sharapova at the French Open on Monday underlined the long-term instability atop women’s tennis, where the door will inevitably revolve again after the last ball is struck at Roland Garros.

— Max J. Dickstein