Brandon Steiner has had no shortage of creative ideas for peddling memorabilia, from the touching to the tacky. But he still cherishes his first big hit: Newspaper back pages signed by Mark Messier after the 1994 Stanley Cup victory.

"Best deal I ever did in my life," Steiner said of his partnership with the former Rangers captain.

It was only one of many, with everyone from... » more

Just to be nice, I waited a minute into my conversation with Mike Tirico Friday before asking him about the status of his "Monday Night Football" partner, Jon Gruden, who has been and will be linked to assorted coaching jobs.

"Call Jon, he's a big boy, " Tirico said, good-naturedly, considering how often he has addressed the subject.

"In all honesty, I've said... » more

The Browns’ visit to New Jersey the first weekend in October did not go well on the field; they blew an early 14-0 lead over the Giants and lost, 41-27.

But that will be beside the point when Travel Channel chronicles that trip Tuesday on the premiere of “NFL Road Tested,’’ an eight-episode series that will follow the Browns to illustrate the massive logistical undertaking involved.

Wait... » more

There is no more incendiary figure in sports media than Skip Bayless, about whom Charles Barkley memorably told Dan Patrick last year, "I hate Skip Bayless more than any person in the world."

Most people do not get quite that worked up about ESPN's "First Take" agitator, but Barkley hardly is alone in his vocal disapproval of Bayless, among whose biggest claims to fame... » more

Tim Tebow has been the subject of a couple of tabloid dustups since becoming a Jet, but so far the man himself has doggedly avoided saying or doing anything to fuel the media storms - a downright Eli-esque performance.

So, Tim, eight months in, how do you think you have been treated by the famously feisty New York media?

"It’s a good question," he said Wednesday. "I was... » more

The complex deal, announced Tuesday, that likely will give Fox Sports 80 percent ownership in the YES Network three years hence understandably left most fans confused.

It also left them wondering whether or not to care. Answer: Mostly no, unless you are happy for the Yankees that they were able to generate big dough for themselves before the potential change in tax laws in 2013.

The... » more

The Knicks will make their Sandy-delayed Barclays Center debut Monday, but fans should not try catching up on the competition by going to Nets.com for information on the new team in Brooklyn.

For the past week, doing so led not to the Brooklyn Nets’ website but rather to the home page of . . . the Knicks!

What gives? The Knicks declined to comment other than to assert they had nothing... » more

Aaron Rodgers' series of State Farm commercials have made the Packers quarterback perhaps the most visible NFL pitchman of the moment, and have made a fan of his counterpart Sunday, Eli Manning.

"It’s a good concept," Manning said. "They've had some good laughs out of it. He does a good job."

Given his laidback personality, Manning is not the advertising natural his... » more

Everyone knows who owns the Packers: the more than 100,000 shareholders with pieces of the only community-owned team in major pro sports.

But what about the Giants, their opponent Sunday night? Most fans and journalists identify John Mara and Steve Tisch, sons of the late Wellington and Bob, as "co-owners." Wrong.

"It is a misnomer to refer to me as a 'co-owner,'"... » more

Hey, gang: 30 years ago today (Wednesday) my first-ever byline appeared in Newsday, about East Islip routing my alma mater, Northport, 25-3, in a football playoff game.

I'm too embarrassed to tell you what my lede was, since it was a cliche-ridden mess about immovable objects and irresistable forces. Or something like that.

The first person I quoted was famous EI coach Sal Ciampi.

Northport's... » more