Dr. Benjamin Dickstein, 93, receives a late-evening congratulatory phone call for the Phillies' success. (Photo by Max J. Dickstein)

By Max J. Dickstein

The Phillies’ run to a World Series title — in which they dropped just three games in three series — showed how far ahead of the absent Mets their NL East rivals were this season.

More importantly,... » more

Hand cyclist Nadine McNeil will race in the marathon on Sunday. Her son, Tyler, will make his debut. (Tiffany L. Clark)

By Amanda Magnus

Special to amNewYork

When Nadine McNeil runs the New York City Marathon on Sunday, her biggest challenge won’t be her paralyzed right side, or the fact that she uses a hand cycle to complete the 26.2-mile course. Her biggest worry... » more

Kara Goucher competes in her first marathon Sunday. (Photo by Getty)

By Ryan Chatelain

Kara Goucher fought back tears at a news conference this week when she talked about her connection with her native New York City.

“It’s just as a little girl, you want your family to be together,” said Goucher, 30. “And this is where my family was together.

Days before... » more

Five women to watch at the New York City Marathon:

Paula Radcliffe, 34, Great Britain

The world marathon record holder, Radcliffe (pictured) is a two-time NYC Marathon champion (2004 and 2007). She has won seven of nine career marathons.

Dire Tune, 23, Ethiopia

Tune was an Olympian in Beijing this summer as well as the 2008 London Marathon champ.

Gete Wami, 33, Ethiopia

Wami... » more

By Alexander Nazaryan

Special to amNewYork

When outspoken Detroit Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace called professional basketball “fake” last season, he was only saying what we already knew: Players are overpaid, rivalries are staged and skills take a backseat to showboating.

And yet there are those who love the NBA, not the least among them the FreeDarko collective, rascally... » more

By Max J. Dickstein

For Knicks fans, the best parts of the past few years have been the NBA off-seasons, when the bitter taste of the previous season ceased to linger and some sort of hope could be conjured for the next one.

Once the Knicks tipped off, as they will again on Wednesday, the on-court unraveling would begin.

Since coach Jeff Van Gundy’s final, 48-win season... » more

Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics have a title to defend, and a team that can do it. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

By Erick Blasco

Special to amNewYork

With the championship ring-bearing Boston Celtics, the ever-steady Detroit Pistons, the always dangerous Cleveland Cavaliers and the up-and-coming Philadelphia 76ers, the Eastern... » more

It's just another year of title contention for Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Wendi Kaminski/NBAE via Getty Images)

By Ravi Shankar

Special to amNewYork

For the first time ever, all eight playoff teams had 50 or more wins in the Western Conference last year.

That conference’s strength arguably wore teams down as they did battle in the... » more

By Max J. Dickstein

In his MLS debut on Saturday, goalkeeper Danny Cepero became the first goalkeeper in MLS history to score a goal with an 81-yard direct kick that bounced over the embarrassed opposing goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Cepero's goal was named Week 30's Sierra Mist Goal of the Week and the Red Bulls, who beat the Columbus Crew 3-1 on Saturday, can seal... » more

Braylon Edwards has struggled this season and has a tough schedule ahead. (Getty Images)

By Ryan Chatelain

It can be difficult to let go, especially when one of your fantasy players is performing well or has an All-Pro reputation.

But as I wrote last week, predicting any sudden rises or falls in a player’s value can be an important ingredient on your way to building... » more