Written By Unknown on Senin, 31 Desember 2012 | 17.08
Get ready for baby Kimye.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are expecting a child, the rapper announced last night.
West, 35, was performing in Atlantic City when he pointed out Kardashian, 32, in the crowd and announced, "Stop the music and make noise for my baby mama," The Hollywood Reporter said.
And since she's about 12 weeks along, they must have known when Kanye did this belly embrace last month.
Kim's family immediately took to Twitter.
Mom Kris Jenner tweeted, "Oh BABY BABY BABY!!" while sister Khloe wrote, "Keeping secrets is hard with so many family members! Especially when you are so freaking excited!!!!!"
Erin and Jim Joyce, along with their son James, were displaced from their home by Hurricane Sandy.
Hurricane Sandy moved them out — kind-hearted New Yorkers moved them on up.
Three Long Island families displaced by October's hurricane have been put up in posh Upper East Side rentals ever since — for free.
The luxury 1-bedroom digs, which typically rent for $2,500 per month, have been a godsend to the families — whose lives were derailed by flood damage.
Surge waters flooded the first floor Long Beach home of Jerry Springer Show producer Lacy Edwards and her police officer husband, Brian.
When they heard through a friend that they could stay in a luxury rental for free, they were floored.
"It was unbelievable. We couldn't pass it up and moved in right away... it really helped us a lot," said Lacy. "There are really no words to describe how it made us feel. It's overwhelming."
They're planning to rent a home in Long Beach next month so Lacy, who is expecting her third child in February, can be closer to her doctors.
"The stuff we lost were material things," she said. "At the end of the day, it can all be replaced."
Another two families stayed in the apartments only until recently, allowing them to get back on their feet.
That includes Erin Joyce, an accountant, who moved with her husband and 1-year-old son into a new Long Beach home one day before the storm — and were forced to evacuate from it the next day.
"We bought a house that didn't need any work but within a couple of days it became a fixer-upper," Joyce said.
And Antoinette Diamond and Anthony Borello lost all their possessions from their Long Beach basement rental in Sandy's storm surge — including everything they were gathering for their upcoming wedding.
"It felt so good to take a hot shower and go to sleep in a bed," Diamond said.
The pair recently moved in with Borello's grandmother.
The apartments belong to the real estate investment firm Stone Street Properties, which was founded last year by Rob Morgenstern and Jeff Kaye.
"We talked about donating – money or clothes, but what we have are bricks, heat and water," said Morgenstern. "All of a sudden that became a commodity."
Kaye's parents live in a Long Beach neighborhood that was ravaged by the flooding — which brought the plight of displaced families closer to home.
"It's like a war zone out there. People's homes were ripped to their foundations," he said.
When the Alma Center, Wis., home of Dennis Murawska and Susan Cotey caught fire, their pet chicken, Cluck Cluck, lived up to her name. She clucked so loudly, she woke them in time to get out safely.
"We're used to hearing about a dog or a cat or something,'' said local fire chief Jeff Gaede. "But we never hear of a chicken waking up a resident for a fire. That's pretty amazing.''
The bird lived to cluck again.
***
And now, the latest news about the fiscal cliff:
Collins Dictionary has named it one of the top words or phrases created in 2012.
Another is Zuckered — which is what happened to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg when shares in his company plummeted off another fiscal cliff shortly after they were offered to the public.
***
Police in Ontario, Canada, have announced the winner of their silliest-excuse competition.
She's a woman stopped for speeding who explained that she stepped on the accelerator when she adjusted her seating position to fart.
***
Japanese entrepreneurs who don't think their offspring are capable of running the family business have a unique solution — they adopt a qualified heir.
Some 73,000 adults are adopted every year in the country — by far the most in the world.
That way, the business can prosper — and stay in the family.
***
Human-resources managers are more interested in acquiring a pal than a qualified worker, according to a surprising new study.
Researchers at Northwestern University found that potential employees who like the same team or the same music as the interviewer are more likely to get the job than someone with different tastes but better skills.
WEBSTER, NY — Fellow cops and firefighters choked back sobs yesterday as they described firefighter and police Lt. Michael Chiapperini as a friend, mentor and family man at a funeral attended by first responders from across the state.
Chiapperini, 43, and fellow volunteer firefighter Tomasz Kaczowka, 19, were slain by gunman William Spengler in a fiery Christmas Eve ambush in an upstate community on the shore of Lake Ontario. Two other firefighters were wounded.
An estimated 5,000 first responders from all across the state and Canada were in town for the weekend to attend calling hours for both men Saturday at Webster Schroeder HS. At Chiapperini's funeral yesterday afternoon in the high-school auditorium, Webster Fire District Chief James Deisenroth called him a "true hero" and mentor who "gave me the courage and confidence to handle anything." As head of the local Explorer's program, Chiapperini helped many members of the Fire Department get their start.
Webster Police Chief Gerald Pickering, his voice cracking with emotion, ended his tribute with, "Car 941, you are 10-7," police code for out of service. "Your work is done. Rest in peace, my friend."
Kaczowka's funeral is this morning at St. Stanislaus Church in Rochester.
They're expecting a million revelers in Times Square tonight — but for the man responsible for the New Year's Eve Ball drop, it's lonely at the top.
"It is still stressful as the first time. Each year doesn't get any easier," said Tony Calvano, the master rigger who oversees the iconic ball's 11:59 p.m. descent.
"Millions of people are watching the event. We have to have it down to a system," said Calvano, whose company, Landmark Signs, specializes in Times Square displays.
"You can hear it at 11:59 when they start screaming. But we can't see the crowds," he said. "It is very low-key for us."
Robert Miller
Tony Calvano
When Mayor Bloomberg and the Rockettes press the button to launch the new year, it will really be Calvano and crew getting the ball rolling.
Since 1988, Calvano and a team of six have been 340 feet up on the roof of One Times Square for the ball drop.
Back then, the ball was lowered by hand, and the crew looked at their watches to figure out when to start moving.
Now a computer controls the winch that lowers the 12,000-pound sphere with its 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles down the 77 feet to hit at midnight.
Their families used to be allowed to celebrate the drop with them, but post-9/11 security restrictions keep everyone but the riggers and a few firefighters and cops off the roof.
The hair dryers in their kits aren't for looking good, either — they're there to melt icicles that can form on the sphere or cables.
Written By Unknown on Minggu, 30 Desember 2012 | 17.08
Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich blocked off some time to field questions from Post columnist Steve Serby.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Lawrence Taylor, Abraham Lincoln, Anne Frank.
Q: Why Lawrence Taylor?
A: He's my favorite football player of all time. I read both his books. He just seemed like, "I don't care what you think of me, I'm just gonna ball out on the field."
Q: Lincoln?
A: I always respected the office of the presidency, it's probably the hardest and coolest job. I think he's probably my favorite president. He was also a guy, it didn't matter what anyone said to him, he did whatever he thought was right.
Q: Anne Frank?
A: My grandparents grew up in Germany at the time of the Holocaust, and my grandfather has told me tons of stories from that time. I guess I'd want to see her perspective and what it felt like. She was scared probably her entire life.
Q: Your grandfather and great-grandmother fled the Austrian-German border for a ship to England, but your great-grandfather had to escape the Nazis first.
A: My great-grandfather stayed behind to try and get some stuff together. Before he got to leave and take everything with him, that's when the Nazis started doing roundups. They were going through the whole town they were in in Austria. As they were going through his village, he snuck out the back. He left everything behind.
Q: Why were the Nazis looking for your great-grandfather?
A: My whole dad's side of the family is Jewish.
Q: Eventually, they all boarded a ship to New York with $10 in their pockets.
A: That's how they had to start a new life in New York. He did it by going on street corners and selling neckties. They started in New York. That's why it's kind of cool to be here.
Q: Boyhood idol?
A: I always wanted to be like my dad. He was always my coach and everything when I was little. He was always happy and funny and just got along with everyone.
Q: Talk about the support he gave you during your battle with bone cancer.
A: We were very close. We used to play board games, card games, video games together. The great thing he did was really treat me the same as he always has. That's what I looked for from my family. Everybody outside my family treated me differently. They tiptoed around the cancer, people were on edge. The one thing he would have liked to have done was be in my treatments more and be with me all the time. I knew how hard it was for him to go to work every day wondering how I'm doing in chemotherapy.
Q: New Year's resolution?
A: I think my New Year's resolution is to find more time for myself this offseason. I want to be able to have time to visit some more hospitals and see more kids who are battling cancer.
BUFFALO — Tim Tebow's bizarre, overhyped time with the Jets will come to an end today, barring some major change of heart from the player and organization.
Tebow is expected to be traded or released sometime in the next two months. He attracted a ton of attention, played very little and then got annoyed in the season's final weeks. The question today is whether he will even play. Jeremy Kerley worked as the Wildcat quarterback in practice all week, so Tebow probably has seen his final snap as a Jet.
People around the Jets privately have started conceding the trade for Tebow was a huge mistake. Publicly, they still are avoiding saying anything too strong. The move hurt starter Mark Sanchez, created a distraction with all of the media attention he attracted and posed a question of how to use him that coaches never figured out.
Offensive coordinator Tony Sparano admitted the Jets had trouble working Tebow into the offense with the limited practice time they could use for his plays. Sparano drew a distinction between Wildcat plays and the zone-read plays the Jets tried with Tebow.
"The Wildcat and what Tim did are really two different things," Sparano said. "The Wildcat snaps that we've run this year have really been pretty productive, the Wildcat snaps. The zone-read snaps have really been hit or miss. They've either been 12-yard plays, negative-2-yard plays or 2-yard plays. I think if it's not something you do all the time where you're showing your line and you're showing your quarterbacks and your running backs those looks on a consistent basis ... and you really can't do that all the time right now with a player that's a part-time player. You can't afford to be able to do that all the time, and I think that's where maybe the lack of big plays come because you're not able to do it all the time."
* TE Dustin Keller (ankle), WR Chaz Schilens (knee) and CB Ellis Lankster (concussion) were all downgraded to out and did not make the trip to Buffalo.
This could mean the end of Keller's Jets career came against the Cardinals four weeks ago when he sprained his ankle. Keller is a free agent after this season. He has said he would like to return to the Jets, but the team decided not to give him a contract extension over the summer and he may be too costly to keep with the team having so many needs. Keller has said he does not want the team to use the franchise tag on him.
The good outweighed the not so good. By a lot. By a real lot.
By virtue of the way Reggie Evans plays for the Nets — a cross between china-shop bull and runaway train — you get hustle, energy and effort. And mistakes.
"The challenge with Reggie sometimes is figuring out whether there's more good," assessed interim coach P.J. Carlesimo after improving to 2-0 with the Nets' 103-100 win over the Cavaliers Saturday night in Brooklyn. "Reggie gives you effort plays. Sometimes they end up good, sometimes they don't. Sometimes, you've got to watch the tape and go, 'Wow, 15 good things and he did five maybe not so good.' He was way, way top-heavy with the good ones today.
"If we'd have given an MVP tonight, he'd be in the hunt."
In no small part for a stretch when the Cavaliers were rallying early in the fourth quarter. The Nets led 83-79, and Deron Williams misfired. Evans (seven points) grabbed one of his 10 rebounds and put it back for a score. Nets up six. Evans then stole from 33-point scorer C.J. Miles, got fouled and made two free throws. Nets up eight. That's a cushion.
"Just got to get something going," Evans said. "That's all part of coming off the bench. You never want to do what the first team is doing. It's all about being more aggressive. As the game goes on, you pretty much know what plays they're going to run. You can predict before they even happen. When I got the steal, [I remembered] in the first half C.J. was just shooting lights out. I wanted to be aggressive because I knew he was not going to pass the ball cause he was trying to get his numbers."
Evans lately has been getting his own numbers, and Carlesimo said the staff has urged Evans to score more.
"[They've been] telling me to put it back up," Evans said. "So I'm doing what coach is telling me to do."
Then there are the free throws. Evans, a career 52-percent free-throw shooter entering the season, has made eight of 10 in his last three games, including five of six last night. The extra work with assistant Mario Elie has paid off — as well as his own kids trash-talking him.
"I think about my kids," Evans said of what goes through his mind on the line. "My kids talk a lot of noise about the way I shoot free throws."
And Evans makes a lot of noise with the way he plays.
"There are so many intangibles about him," Brook Lopez said. "He's such a huge player for us.
"You know he is going to come out play his game, play with energy, play hard and do the things that need to be done for us."
Two days after being named the interim head coach of the Nets, P.J. Carlesimo got a chance to sit down with owner Mikhail Prokhorov.
The two men, among others, met for lunch at a midtown Manhattan restaurant Saturday for two hours before the Nets beat the Cavaliers 103-100 at Barclays Center, the second game with Carlesimo in charge following Avery Johnson's dismissal Thursday.
Carlesimo said the two talked about a wide variety of topics, including Prokhorov's recent vacation in British Columbia, where he went heli-skiing, the food, and some of the restaurants on Fifth Avenue.
Paul J. Bereswill
P.J. PROJECT: After an afternoon meeting with Mikhail Prokhorov, P.J. Carlesimo stalks the sideline while improving to 2-0 as Nets interim coach last night.
But the two also discussed the team and basketball, and Carlesimo said he came away impressed with his boss' basketball acumen.
"Well, he wants to win a championship, that he's willing to do whatever it takes to win a championship, that he's got a good understanding of our team and the NBA," Carlesimo said, before adding with a smile, "I think if we would keep winning games, that would be good. He definitely prefers winning."
Prokhorov said several times during his press conference at halftime of Friday's 97-81 win over the Bobcats that Carlesimo would be given a chance to get the interim tag on his job title removed if the team performs well under his stewardship.
Carlesimo was asked whether he thinks it is possible for him to earn the job, much like Knicks coach Mike Woodson did last season after a strong finish following the firing of Mike D'Antoni.
"I think it's available," Carlesimo said. "I think we need to win, and there's also coaches that are available.
"That's not something I have any control over. We're happy to deal with what we have to deal with. Our guys played well [Friday] night, responded and we'll just go one day at a time and see what happens."
Carlesimo again stressed he doesn't anticipate making a lot of changes from what the Nets were doing under Johnson. But one thing he did say he would like to do is to give some players who have fallen out of the rotation a chance.
"We've been trying to figure out the rotation all year, honestly," Carlesimo said. "We've been saying from the beginning we thought we have a lot of depth, which is a good thing and a bad thing. The bad thing about it is you have a lot of guys of relatively similar abilities, so they all feel they should be playing and it's hard on you as a coach to figure out if they're right or who should be playing.
"You can't just throw a guy in for a game or two. ... if you're going to make a move like that, you'd like to give him regular minutes for a while. We have too many guys we'd like to look at, and we have to sort it out."
Potentially one of those players is Kris Humphries, who was removed from the rotation in last Sunday's win over the 76ers before going down with a mild abdominal strain that has held him out of the last four games, including last night's. But Carlesimo expressed optimism Humphries could be back sometime soon.
"Both [athletic trainer Tim Walsh and Humphries] keep saying it'll be a couple days," Carlesimo said. "They both seem confident that it's very short-term, and when he comes back he's going to be able to go and that this isn't going to linger for a while."
Gulfstream Park, fifth race. Grade 3. Purse: $100,000. 6 furlongs, 3-year-olds and up. Post: 2:37 p.m.
LOWDOWN
Action Andy has been on a roll of late, winning the Maryland Million Sprint at Laurel by 2 3/4 lengths, the Frank DeFrancis Memorial by a nose, and the Pelican at Tampa Bay by 2 1/4 in 1:09 flat, earning 100-plus Beyer numbers in his last two starts. He can win from on or off the pace, and today he attracts the services of Hall-of-Fame rider John Velazquez.
TV: HRTV, NYRA Channel 71.
EDDIE LOGAN
Santa Anita, sixth race. Purse: $75,000. 1 mile, turf, 2-year-olds. Post 6:05 p.m.
LOWDOWN:Rising Legend shipped to the U.S. after winning two races in England and closed a ton to finish second, beaten just a half-length, in the Grade 3 Generous going a mile on the Hollypark turf. If the son of Rock of Gibraltar can avoid the "Euro-bounce" and come close to duplicating that effort, this race is his.
TV: HRTV, TVG, NYRA Channel 71.
DAYTONA
Santa Anita, eighth race. Grade 3. Purse: $100,000. 6 1/2 furlongs, downhill turf, 3-year-olds and up. Post: 7:07 p.m.
LOWDOWN:Capital Account has been one of the year's top sprinters all year, with his only bad finish coming when he ran a no-account 12th in the Breeders' Cup Sprint on dirt at Santa Anita. Bob Baffert's 5-year-old has shown an affinity for synthetic surfaces, so he should take to the turf in his first start on turf.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Super-sub J.R. Smith continued his West-Coast hot hand last night, coming off the bench to almost lead the Knicks to their biggest comeback win of the season before they fell short, 106-105, against the Kings.
Smith, who was nearly unstoppable on the three-game road trip, scored a season-high 28 points to spearhead the Knicks' oh-so-close comeback attempt and capped off a dominant second half that fell just short. The Knicks trailed the Kings by 27 points late in the second quarter before Smith and company turned their fortunes around by outscoring Sacramento 55-35 in the final two quarters.
DRIVING FORCE: J.R. Smith, who finished with a game-high 28 points, drives to the hoop between the Kings' Jason Thompson (left) and James Johnson during the Knicks' 106-105 loss last night in Sacramento, Calif.
"We fought back tremendously in the second half," Smith said. "I wish we could have turned the switch on earlier instead of turning it on too late."
The Knicks comeback ended with a thud after a frenetic final Kings' possession lead to a 3-point basket by James Johnson at the buzzer.
"We messed up the first half, that's where it really took place," Smith said. "You can't have halves like that where a team scores 71 points in 24 minutes. That just can't happen."
Smith finished with 11-for-25 shooting and had seven rebounds and five assists in 43 minutes. He provided a much-needed spark for a Knicks lineup depleted of their primary players — such as Carmelo Anthony, Raymond Felton Amar'e Stoudemire and Rasheed Wallace — due to injuries.
The game-high 28 points by Smith comes on the heels of a team-high 27 points, including a buzzer beater, he buried against the Suns on Wednesday in a 99-97 victory and a 25-point performance against the Lakers on Tuesday, a 100-94 loss. It was the first time in Smith's career that he has logged three consecutive 25-point efforts.
Smith's heroics were huge for the Knicks in December. He hit a 21-foot jump-shot as the horn sounded — his second buzzer-beating shot of the month — to give the Knicks the two-point win at Phoenix.
"I've seen [the winning shot against the Suns] two or three times on replay," Smith said. "Honestly, it was a really tough shot. It looked tougher on video than it really was shooting it. I got a lot of feedback on it. Everybody loved it."
The knockout blow against the Suns was Smith's second buzzer-beater of the month. He made a similar 18-foot jumper in a 100-98 win at Charlotte on Dec. 5.
"The left side of the court is one of my best shots," Smith said. "I'm just trying to do what the team needs me to do, honestly. We are still 1-2 in those games so we've got to play better."
Unfortunately for the Knicks, the buzzer-beater last night came by the Kings' Johnson, not Smith.
"It's a bad feeling," Smith said of the way the Knicks lost. "It [leaves] a bad taste in your mouth."
Chris Paul scored 29 points and the Clippers rallied from a 19-point deficit in the third quarter to beat the Jazz 116-114 last night in Salt Lake City, stretching their winning streak to 16 games.
Paul scored the Clippers' final seven points, most from the free throw line, as Los Angeles extended the NBA's longest winning streak this season.
The Jazz led 74-55 with 8:08 left in the third on a pair of free throws by Paul Millsap. But the Clippers outscored Utah 29-14 the rest of the quarter to pull to 88-84 going into the fourth.
Paul led six Clippers in double figures. Blake Griffin added 22 points and 13 rebounds.
NBAE/Getty Images
STREAK LIVES: Chris Paul, left, works against Utah's Earl Watson during last night's116-114 L.A. victory, the Clippers' 16th in a row.
Ex-Clipper Randy Foye finished with a season-high 28 points for Utah.
Pistons 109, Heat 99
In Auburn Hills, Mich., Will Bynum had 25 points and 10 assists, leading another spirited performance by the Detroit bench.
Miami was without Dwyane Wade, suspended for a game by the NBA for flailing his leg and making contact with a Charlotte player Wednesday.
LeBron James had 35 points for Miami.
Nuggets 106, Mavericks 85
In Dallas, former Knick Danilo Gallinari scored a career-high 39 points and Denver spoiled Dirk Nowitzki's first home game since returning from knee surgery.
Nowitzki had five points in 17 minutes in his third game back, and the Mavericks lost their fifth straight.
Spurs 122, Rockets 116
In San Antonio, Tony Parker had 31 points and 10 assists, Tim Duncan had 30 points and five rebounds, and Manu Ginobili had a season-high 23 points as the Spurts snapped Houston's five-game winning streak.
Wizards 105, Magic 97
In Washington, Jordan Crawford scored 27 points and the worst-in-the-NBA Wizards broke an eight-game losing streak.
Pacers 97, Suns 91
In Indianapolis, George Hill scored 22 points to lead the Pacers who have won four straight.
Hawks 102, Cavaliers 94
In Cleveland, Jeff Teague scored a career-high 27 points and the Hawks scored the game's final nine points.
Raptors 104, Hornets 97
In New Orleans, DeMar DeRozan scored 30 points, Kyle Lowry had two big baskets in overtime for Toronto.
Written By Unknown on Jumat, 28 Desember 2012 | 17.08
It was a bad kind of thrill for the pilots — and no fun at all for their passengers.
A Tampa-bound Southwest Airlines jet skidded off a taxiway into deep mud at MacArthur Airport on Long Island yesterday morning, leading a pilot to report sardonically to air controllers:
"We just made your day very exciting — at least, ours is going to be.
"We just taxied off the taxiway into the grass," the pilot sheepishly explained, according to audio on the Web site LiveATC.net.
No one was hurt in the 6:30 a.m. incident, which occurred as Flight 4695, carrying 129 passengers, three flight attendants and two pilots, was headed to the runway for takeoff.
Victor Alcorn
As the plane was negotiating a turn from the terminal area to a rain-slicked taxiway next to Runway 6, it veered off course into some muddy grass.
"We are going to have to deplane the people and get something in here to tow the aircraft back onto the pavement," the pilot radioed.
"We skidded a little bit and it was a little herky-jerky, and the pilot got on and said something like, 'We overshot the runway,' " passenger Michael Savino told WCBS/Channel 2.
"It was bumpy, like we were in a car accident," said passenger Ben Rizzitello.
The passengers were evacuated via air stairs trucked to the jet, and bused back to the terminal.
Southwest got a spare plane, and everyone took off for Tampa about five hours behind schedule.
Airline crews were still working last night to get the Boeing 737 out of the mud without damaging its landing gear or other parts, said Southwest spokesman Paul Flaningan.
The plane sank so deeply, its engines were nearly touching the ground.
The airline and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the accident.
Meanwhile, an American Airlines flight returned to Kennedy Airport Wednesday night after a flight attendant severed a finger when two beverage carts banged together.
Flight 64 to Zurich, Switzerland, was nearing cruising altitude east of Massachusetts when the pilots declared an emergency. They asked for an ambulance to be waiting at the airport.
Reattachment surgery was a success, said American spokesman Matt Miller. "She's doing well," he said.
It was unclear what made the carts slam together.
However, the pilots of the Boeing 767 reported that they hit some turbulence shortly after they took off from Kennedy. Radar records show the plane very quickly lost about 100 feet of altitude.
Flight 64 arrived in Zurich about four hours behind schedule.
A madwoman last night pushed a stranger onto subway tracks in Queens, where he was killed by a train, police and witnesses said.
It was the second such nightmare in less than a month.
The unsuspecting victim was waiting at the elevated 40th Street station of the 7 line in Sunnyside at 8 p.m.
"This lady, she just pushed the guy on the tracks. Then she ran away. I was screaming and closing my eyes," said witness Tenzing Tegeng, 21, one of five people on the platform.
"I knew he was gonna get hit by the train. That's why I closed my eyes. I didn't want to see it.
The suspect fleeing south down 40th Street toward 47th Avenue.
"I could see him, and I could see a train coming. And I couldn't do anything. I was so helpless. He was trying to get up. It was so fast," she said.
The assailant said nothing as she pushed the man to his doom, a law-enforcement source said, adding, "He didn't even know she was there."
The man was struck by a Flushing-bound train.
"He looked shocked. He didn't scream," Tegeng said.
The victim's mangled body was wedged underneath the second car.
Cops were hoping to obtain the victim's identity from his laptop and wallet, which were found at the scene, the source said.
Witnesses told investigators that the woman had been sitting alone on a bench, mumbling, but sometimes getting up to pace back and forth.
"She was acting weird and crazy," the source said.
After the attack, she fled down the stairs to Queens Boulevard.
"She was so fast. I was like, 'Stop the lady!' " said Tegeng, who chased the woman with several others.
Tegeng did not hear any arguing beforehand. Others also reported no interaction between the two.
"My customer came in out of breath saying, 'My God! They pushed a man in front of the subway.' It's a shame this happens right after Christmas," said local pizzeria owner Giovanni Briones.
Video cameras from his eatery show the suspect fleeing south down 40th Street toward 47th Avenue.
She was described as 5-foot-5, Hispanic, weighing about 190 pounds and between 20 and 25 years old. She has short, dark, curly hair.
Meanwhile, an hour later, a Good Samaritan kept a disturbed man from leaping in front of a Queens-bound E-train at the 50th Street Station on Eighth Avenue in Midtown — even though the would-be jumper then assaulted him, said MTA officials. The brave bystander wasn't seriously hurt.
Last night's horror was a chilling echo of an incident on Dec. 3, when drifter Naeem Davis, 30, allegedly shoved Queens dad Ki Suk Han, 58, into the path of a Q train at the 49th Street station in Manhattan. Davis is being held on murder charges.
Additional reporting by Lia Eustachewich, C.J. Sullivan, Doug Auer and Christine Parker
Matt Barnes tied his season high with 21 points off the bench, Chris Paul had 11 assists and the Clippers defeated the Celtics 106-77 last night, becoming the first team to win 15 consecutive games since Boston four years ago.
Jamal Crawford added 17 points, Blake Griffin had 15 and Caron Butler 14 to help the Clippers improve the NBA's best record to 23-6.
Kevin Garnett scored 16 points for Boston, which never led in dropping to .500 at 14-14 with its fifth loss in seven games. Boston's winning streak extended to 19 games in 2008-09.
Thunder 111, Mavericks 105
Kevin Durant scored 40 points and Russell Westbrook added eight of his 16 points in overtime to help Oklahoma City notch its 11th straight win at home.
Darren Collison scored a season-best 32 points for Dallas, which has lost seven of eight.
Written By Unknown on Kamis, 27 Desember 2012 | 17.08
This was one rushed commuter.
New Jersey mother Soukaina Nekhlaoui gave birth to a healthy baby boy right outside the Holland Tunnel yesterday morning while her husband was driving her to a city hospital.
Dad Abdel Elkarhat pulled over on the New York side of the tunnel, hopped out of the car, and at 7 a.m. flagged down two Port Authority cops, who delivered the child.
"He was really frantic," said Port Authority Officer George McCann, who responded with partner Jean Bernard.
The baby boy, named Nassim Mohammed, wasn't due until Feb. 7.
A grand jury in Texas has formally indicted Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent on one count of intoxication manslaughter.
Brent is charged in connection with a Dec. 8 crash that killed his friend and Cowboys practice squad member Jerry Brown. Brent is out of jail on $100,000 bond.
A spokesman for the Dallas County District Attorney's Office said the indictment was returned yesterday.
Intoxication manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Brent could be eligible for probation.
No court dates have been scheduled.
After spending the last three months fighting leukemia, Colts coach Chuck Pagano arrived early at the team complex, met briefly with his players, then stepped onto the practice field for the first time since Sept. 26.
The Eagles have placed quarterback Nick Foles on IR with a broken hand, which means Michael Vick will start the final game of the season against the Giants.
The Cardinals will give Brian Hoyer his first NFL start Sunday vs. the 49ers, less than three weeks after claiming him off waivers.
Linebacker Ray Lewis has been added to the Ravens' 53-man roster, but coach John Harbaugh said the 17-year veteran will not play Sunday. In order to be eligible for the playoffs, Lewis had to be activated by yesterday.
MLB: Bosox 'close' Hanrahan deal
The Red Sox acquired All-Star closer Joel Hanrahan from the Pirates in a six-player deal.
Boston also received infielder Brock Holt while giving up right-handers Mark Melancon and Stolmy Pimentel, infielder Ivan DeJesus Jr. and first baseman-outfielder Jerry Sands.
Former All-Star closer Ugueth Urbina was released from a Venezuelan prison after serving more than 5 1/2 years for attempted murder.
Urbina, 38, was given a 14-year sentence in March 2007 after being accused of attacking and injuring workers with machetes and pouring gasoline on them at his family's ranch in October 2005. He was released for good behavior..
Raul Ibanez's $2.75 million, one-year deal with the Mariners is official.
ETC.: Manchester U. widens lead
Javier Hernandez sent Manchester United seven points clear at the Premier League summit by pouncing in the 90th minute to clinch a 4-3 victory over Newcastle as second-place Manchester City lost at Sunderland, 1-0.
American goalkeeper Brad Friedel, 41, signed a contract through 2014 to remain with Premier League club Tottenham.
The NBA game between the Pacers and Bulls was postponed last night by a snowstorm that hit the Indianapolis area.
In Charlotte, LeBron James had 27 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists as the Heat handed the Bobcats their 16th straight defeat, 105-92.
In Denver, Corey Brewer matched his career high with 27 points and the Nuggets overcame a 40-point effort by Kobe Bryant to beat the Lakers 126-1114.
DETROIT — Ryan Radcliff threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Cody Wilson with 5:11 remaining to give Central Michigan the lead, and Western Kentucky was stopped on fourth down when a field goal would have tied the game in the final minute, giving the Chippewas a 24-21 win in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl last night at Ford Field.
Lance Guidry, coaching the Hilltoppers on an interim basis before Bobby Petrino takes over, decided to play for the win on fourth-and-2 from the 19 with 51 seconds left, but Kawaun Jakes threw incomplete.
Western Kentucky (7-6) fell just short in the Hilltoppers' first bowl appearance since joining college football's top tier in 2009.
Avery Cunningham blocked a punt for Central Michigan (7-6) to give the Chippewas a short field before Wilson's touchdown.
Get ready, all you "millionaires and billionaires" with kids in college and taxes to pay on your homes in and around New York City.
It doesn't matter that you bring home just $250,000 a year and have a family of four or more. President Obama thinks you're part of the evil 1 percent and you should pay higher taxes — a lot higher.
That's the unfortunate reality for many New Yorkers, no matter what happens during the fiscal-cliff negotiations designed to avert taxes going up on everyone, regardless of income, if a deal isn't reached sometime soon. Those talks have stalled, and many economists are predicting economic Armageddon unless a deal is reached that prevents massive across-the-board tax increases and budget cuts targeted at slashing the defense budget.
Going over the cliff sure won't be pretty. Even for families earning as little as $50,000 a year, income taxes are to rise from a 13 percent rate to 17 percent — an estimated increased federal income-tax burden of more than $2,000 a year if there's no cliff deal, according to the Tax Foundation. Of course, the more you make, the more you will pay. All those "billionaire" families living out on Long Island and earning $250,000 a year will pay $9,730 more, while real millionaires who earn $1 million a year will pay $50,267 more in federal income taxes.
What's so frightening about these numbers is that they don't take into account all the other taxes President Obama has in store for the country, including those to pay for his ObamaCare mandates, or even state taxes that are sure to drag an economy still fighting to recover from the Great Recession.
What's also frightening is that things won't be so great even if so-called cooler heads prevail and a deal is made so only the "rich" get screwed.
Keep in mind, ObamaCare taxes and other fees have nothing to do with the cliff talks. Even worse, the president and his supporters have a warped view on what is rich — and, as a result, on who should be paying more taxes to finance his big-government experiments.
Here in New York, we all know that families with a combined income of $250,000 are really middle class; they certainly don't live like the president's favorite billionaire, limousine liberal Warren Buffett, and when they get done paying for the area's higher cost of living, not to mention school tuition, etc., they're barely saving enough for retirement.
But using the president's twisted logic, these folks will be taxed like Warren Buffett.
Bottom line: The president has never gotten over his obsession with taxing people who make $250,000, except for a brief period in 2010, when the Republicans won the House and picked up seats in the Senate.
His 50.96 percent popular-vote victory over Mitt Romney in the recent presidential election (albeit much more pronounced in the Electoral College) has emboldened him to back his original thesis on tax fairness. Sure, he offered his Republican counterpart, namely House Speaker John Boehner, a "deal" to start tax increases at $400,000, but it was an unserious offer; he offered not a single specified spending cut, aside from some cost-of-living adjustments in Social Security, and certainly not enough for Boehner to sell to his skeptical colleagues who wouldn't even consider starting the tax hikes at $1 million in income without some real spending reductions.
In other words, Obama is negotiating like he wants to drive the country off the cliff so he can get what he really wants — higher taxes, deep defense cuts and an issue to cream the Republicans with over the next four years, namely a lousy economy.
One of the great tragedies is that as New York's middle class is about to be hammered, two of our most senior elected officials have run for cover. Democratic Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have remained oddly silent as many of their constituents are about to be crushed by Obamanomics and its bizarre notion of what is wealthy.
Schumer even proposed a millionaires tax a couple of years ago, instead of starting the increase in rates at the president's preferred level of $250,000 a year.
What a difference a 50.96 percent mandate makes. The calculus of Schumer, Gillibrand and, of course, the president might be right, and the economic pain of the fiscal cliff might just be enough to destroy the Republican Party. Or they might be wrong, and the country might ultimately see through their posturing and hold all of them accountable.
Either way, the country loses.
Thanks, Chuck and Kirsten, and, yes, President Obama.
Famed fotog David LaChapelle — who has snapped vivid portraits of Madonna, Lady Gaga and Elizabeth Taylor — is suing his former manager for allegedly cheating him out of more than $2.8 million from sales of his artwork.
LaChapelle also claims Fred Torres stiffed him on $755,000 worth of personal loans and is holding hostage more than 800 "valuable exhibition prints" that Torres has stashed in storage facilities in New York, Italy, Korea, Hong Kong and elsewhere, according to a Manhattan federal court filing.
LaChapelle — whose work has appeared in Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone — hired Torres in late 2005 to handle his "fine-art photography" under a handshake agreement.
Torres arranged exhibitions, advised LaChapelle on his career, managed his relationships with clients, galleries and museums, and oversaw the production of LaChapelle's digital photographic prints.
In addition, Torres, who also represents Courtney Love, and his company, Fred Torres Collaborations, "acted as a middle man" who "negotiated sales, sent invoices to buyers, collected the proceeds from sales, paid vendors, deducted a percentage for its services, and remitted a percentage to LaChapelle," the suit says.
Some of LaChapelle's prints have sold for more than $100,000 each. He was supposed to get between 40 percent and 75 percent within 30 days of full payment by buyers, the suit says.
But things turned sour, it says, after Torres started pressuring clients to pay for fabrication costs, which he was supposed to cover.
Last month, LaChapelle's lawyers sent Torres a letter ending their business relationship, but the suit says Torres still claims to represent the photographer, and recently "arranged and promoted an unauthorized gallery showing" of LaCha–pelle's work next year in Bigfork, Mont.
LaChapelle is seeking unspecified damages.
Torres, who runs an exhibition space in Chelsea, didn't return requests for comment.
Written By Unknown on Rabu, 26 Desember 2012 | 17.08
Most Christmas tree lights blink on and off — but incredibly, thousands of New Yorkers are still stuck completely in "off" since Hurricane Sandy.
But in the areas hardest hit, the lights are slowly coming back — each a symbol of hope.
In Rockaway Park, power was finally restored yesterday to a 70-unit apartment building.
Until now, the residents had only partial power provided by generators.
"Before, it was candles, flashlights and takeout food,'' said Dennis Krecko, 57. "It was a nice Christmas present.
"I can live my life normally again,'' he said. "I can use the microwave. I can heat something in the toaster.
Matthew McDermott
STALWARTS: Debbie and Joe Ingenito (above) enjoy a makeshift tree yesterday outside their Staten Island home.
Next year, it will be inside and feature this ornament (above) from President Obama.
William Miller
Meanwhile, Valerie and Dennis Krecko (above), of Rockaway Park, finallly have power back last night.
"Life is slowing coming back to Rockaway.''
His tree sports ornaments cut by a neighbor from pieces of the destroyed boardwalk. They say "Hope'' on one side and "2012'' on the other.
More than 1,000 Con Ed customers are without power in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. LIPA says some 8,100 homes in the Rockaways are so badly damaged, they still can't accept electricity.
Meanwhile, Joe and Debbie Ingenito and their three children are among the lucky residents of Staten Island — their power is back and their lives have been brightened by President Obama's gift of two ornaments for their tree.
After The Post wrote about the makeshift Christmas tree that Joe had erected on his sidewalk from a fallen spruce in front of his Sandy-ravaged New Dorp home, the commander-in-chief sought out the family and an aide delivered the special gifts.
"It's an honor. It's a once-in-a-lifetime deal," said Joe, who decorated his 7-foot outdoor tree with debris salvaged after the storm.
He's still improvising. The tree outside the home now sports a string of white lights, a mask, goggles, a worker's glove, bells, a can of Goofy String, someone's cap and a Hannah Montana bag.
Joe is saving the president's two precious ornaments until next year, when the family's tree, hopefully, will be back inside.
One depicts a Santa holding a big red bag outside the White House and reads, "I hear there are some kids in the White House this year." The other is a vintage car with a driver and passenger wearing a top hat.
"The ornaments are beautiful, very authentic and detailed," said Debbie, who keeps them in the velvet-lined boxes they came in for fear they would be stolen if they're put on the tree outside.
She can't wait until next year, when the family will put them "right at the top" of the tree.
"They will be passed down to the family," said Debbie.
"When I go, they will go to my firstborn."
A week after presenting the gifts, Obama gave the Ingenitos a shout-out.
"Today, if you go to Joseph's street, you'll see a lot of damage and debris scattered all over the block," he said.
"But you'll also see the top of that tree, standing tall in front of his house." Additional reporting by Yoav Gonen and Joe Tacopino
Ypsilanti Township in Michigan doesn't want its way of life to go to pot.
The township filed suit against residents of perpetually hazy homes for allegedly smoking so much marijuana that the "overwhelming" smell and contact high were making neighbors sick.
***
Would you like a side of fries to go as you go to jail?
Donald Delong, 21, allegedly pulled a pellet gun on a McDonald's drive-thru employee in St. Cloud, Fla., police said.
The worker had told Delong that the drive-thru had just closed, cops said.
The hungry alleged hoodlum was arrested at the Pizza Hut next door.
***
Volunteers are organizing cleanup efforts on beaches up and down the West Coast to pick up debris that floated east from the March 2011 Japanese tsunami.
Seasonal winds and coastal currents are likely to wash in loads of debris this winter.
"There's a bit of tsunami-debris fever. It's like an Easter egg hunt," said Charlie Plybon, Oregon's regional manager at the Surfrider Foundation.
***
The wheels of justice are rolling against a man who allegedly tried to sneak cocaine into Logan International Airport in Boston in the wheels of a wheelchair.
Emmanuelli Rojas-Moraza, of Puerto Rico, was busted in possession of 200 grams of blow, officials said.
The suspect had a cast on his leg, but X-rays later showed his "injury" was bogus, police said.
***
In August 1964, Bob and Norma Clark tied the knot — or so they thought — at a Northern California church.
But when the aging Redlands, Calif., lovebirds were putting their affairs and documents in order recently, they and the county clerk couldn't locate their marriage certificate.
So Bob and Norma finally got married, officially, with the maid of honor and an usher from the 1964 service serving as witnesses.
An NYU student has been charged with stealing at least five Apple computers from his classmates, police sources said yesterday.
Christian Windley, 20, of Texas, went on a five-day rip-off rampage from Dec. 18 to Dec. 22, stealing thousands of dollars worth of MacBooks in study halls and dorm rooms, according to a Manhattan Criminal court Complaint.
Windley's haul also allegedly included an iPhone, a calculator, a wallet, cash and credit cards.
When the victims briefly left their property unattended, Windley allegedly grabbed their pricey toys.
"I was working on my MacBook and I got up for a second, and it was gone when I came back," said a 20-year-old student who asked not to be identified.
"NYU wouldn't tell me anything. I didn't know who the thief was."
Windley allegedly struck six times on campus before he was nailed at Hayden Hall around 4:20 a.m. Saturday, the sources said.
When cops frisked Windley, they allegdly found another student's NYU ID, a forged Connecticut driver's license, stolen credit cards — and a stash of cocaine, according to the sources.
Windley allegedly confessed and was charged with multiple counts of grand larceny as well as criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Well, there is no way to tell that just yet, but there were some troubling signs at Tuesday night's game between the Clippers and Nuggets at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
During the final NBA game of the league's traditional Christmas Day slate, the Kardashian Klan was seen sitting courtside as they cheered on the Clippers and Khloe's husband Lamar Odom. Alongside Odom's wife Khloe was mom Kris, sister Kim and her rapper boyfriend Kanye West.
Notably absent, at least from the best seats in the house, was Bruce Jenner. Jenner was seated one row back from the rest of his family, conveniently stationed between two gorgeous women, adding fuel to the rumors that the reality TV power couple could be heading straight for splitsville.
The odd seating arrangement comes less than two weeks after reports surfaced that the relationship between Kris and the former Olympic gold medalist was on the rocks and a split was "imminent."
While there have been murmurs about a potential divorce for over a year now, the chatter hit an all-time high earlier this month when it was reported that Jenner was unhappy with the way Kris was managing the careers of the couple's youngest daughters Kylie and Kendall.
A source told Star Magazine that the two girls went crying to their father about how their mother was putting their careers before their childhood and that an "all-out war" was underway in the Kardashian-Jenner household.
Both Kris and Bruce have denied the rumors recently, but the signs still remain.
A 7-year-old girl got the best present ever yesterday — she was reunited with her best friend, who'd been dognapped by a coldhearted thief the day before.
"I couldn't sleep last night without Marley smiling," Mia Bendrat said of her little pal, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel stolen from in front of a Washington Heights grocery.
Her relieved mom, Angie Estrada, said, "It's a Christmas miracle. Oh, yes!"
The hero of the holiday story is good Samaritan Tena Cohen, who was headed to the Greenmarket in Union Square at about 1:30 p.m. Monday when she heard a man yelling, "Dog for sale!"
Robert Miller
Mia Bendrat with Marley
Robert Miller
SAVIOR: Tena Cohen (above) paid $220 out of her own pocket to reunite Mia Bendrat with Marley, who had been stolen. "I'm not going to let Marley go now, no matter what!" Mia beamed after recovering the dog.
"It looked nervous and sad, and was kind of an older dog," Cohen said. "I figured it was stolen.''
She offered to buy the pooch.
"I said I had $100. He said the guy who owns it wants more" and pointed to a man, Cohen recalled.
The supposed "owner'' was "very stoned, on drugs," said Cohen, who teaches Spanish at Brooklyn Tech HS. "He said he paid $3,200 for the dog, and had it for years."
Cohen then walked into a nearby Staples and made three debit-card purchases totaling $220.
Then she returned them for cash and went back to negotiate.
"I said, 'Look, this is all the money I have,' " Cohen said. "He gave me the dog. I gave him the money."
She took Marley to a vet and also called cops. Both men were gone by the time police arrived. But last night they picked up 29-year-old Brad Bacon, of Washington Heights, and charged him with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property.
The vet checked out the dog for free and held him overnight. Cohen called a group called Cavalier Rescue USA.
Its president, Carolyn Stigler, remembered the story about Marley in yesterday's Post.
Stigler contacted the vet, who called the Post reporter. She arranged for the dog to be taken to Mia's family, to see if it was Marley. It was.
"This was my daughter's Christmas wish," said Estrada.
Until then, the family had been devastated.
"It was so sad," Estrada added. "She sat in Marley's nook and refused to dress up the tree."
The happy ending came just in time.
"I can't believe a grinch would steal our Marley," Estrada said. "But the grinch didn't win.''
Mia chimed in, "I'm not going to let Marley go now, no matter what!"
Written By Unknown on Selasa, 25 Desember 2012 | 17.08
It's here in the Nick of time.
Timothy Cardinal Dolan touted the hopeful message of Christmas yesterday as a much-needed respite from a string of recent tragedies that have socked the Northeast.
The red-clad cardinal delivered afternoon Mass to a group of more than a dozen severely ill children and their families on the Upper East Side who were put up by the Ronald McDonald House for the duration of their medical treatment.
"My message would be the message of Christmas: Hope, promise, love — and do we ever need it," Dolan said afterward.
"There has been a lot of darkness, a lot of discouragement — when we look at the hurricane, when we look at what happened in Connecticut," he added.
NY Post: William C. Lopez
O, HOLY NIGHT: Timothy Cardinal Dolan prepares to deliver Midnight Mass and a message of inspiration this morning at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
"What happened that night in Bethlehem, with the light of God bursting through — that happens every Christmas."
Dolan said his visit to the Ronald McDonald House was a way of thanking the center for its wonderful care of his niece Shannon Williams, who was successfully treated for bone cancer 12 years ago.
"It's an honor and joy to be with you," Dolan told the crowd.
"You're a gift, and this house is a gift."
Brayden Kuhl, a 14-year-old from Deer Park, Wash., who was paralyzed in March by tumor on his spine, is spending two months at Ronald McDonald House rehabilitating from surgery at various NYU hospitals.
His mother, Bobbi, called the 23 steps her wheelchair-using son took on his own yesterday a "Christmas miracle."
"I'm the most blessed woman you'll talk to today," she said.
Dolan echoed his earlier message at Midnight Mass this morning at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
While not directly addressing the recent tragedies, he told his flock, "Christmas is all about repair, restoration, renewal.
"Today's bells chime in joy rather then in sorrow. For a moment, things are as they should be."
Families from across the city echoed the cardinal's message of holiday cheer.
"It's been a sad year in many ways. We are all trying to be optimistic and hoping for a better year," said Paul Piscitelli, who attended the midnight service with his girlfriend, Helga Cepeda, and their daughters, Annalise, 12, and Juliann, 9.
"A lot of people lost their homes, and that tragedy in Connecticut — they're all in our thoughts tonight," he said.
"New York is a great place to be to feel the Christmas spirit . . . It does make you forget about the troubles." Piscitelli added that Dolan delivered an excellent message:
"I think he's a wonderful speaker. I always look forward to hearing him talk."
Addressing an audience of thousands packing Manger Square in Bethlehem to hear his pre-Christmas homily, Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal, the senior Roman Catholic bishop in the Holy Land, yesterday urged "men of good will" to seek peace in the Middle East — and celebrated "the birth of Christ our Lord and the birth of the state of Palestine."
"The path [to statehood] remains long and will require a united effort," said Twal, who is a Palestinian citizen of Jordan.
In Vatican City, meanwhile, Pope Benedict XVI marked Christmas Eve with a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica that began at 10 p.m. with the blare of trumpets, symbolizing joy over the news of Christ's birth in Bethlehem.
The basilica's main bell tolled outside, and the voices of the Vatican's boys choir wafted across the similarly packed venue.
Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican traditionally begins at midnight, but the start was moved up years ago to give the pope, now 85, more time to rest before delivering his Christmas speech.
A fired Upper East Side toy-store manager is suing her former boss, alleging he forced her into a kinky quid pro quo — having "rough" sex twice weekly in exchange for a promotion and perks.
Amanda Reyes, 26, of Queens, was subjected to a "master-and-servant-like" relationship by Steven Reis, owner of Fantastic Kids Toys on Third Avenue near 84th Street, according to her lawyer, Walker G. Harman Jr.
Reyes filed her lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court.
Reached at his Yorkville shop yesterday, Reis called the allegations "false."
Riyad Hasan
Fantastic Kids Toys store owner Steven Reis called sex-for-promotions allegations 'false'.
Hope Santa got you an umbrella — you'll need it today and tomorrow.
The Big Apple is expected to wake up to "maybe a little bit of rain," but probably not a white Christmas, AccuWeather.com meteorologist Tom Kines said yesterday.
"By the afternoon, the sun will be out and temperatures should be in the lower 40s," he said.
"We have a stormy period coming up Wednesday and Wednesday night and maybe Saturday," Kines said.
Tomorrow, expect a mix of rain and snow in the afternoon with a high of 40 degrees. At night, it'll be windy with rain that could be heavy at times.
On Saturday, there's a chance of rain and snow, with a high of 39. Sunday should be cloudy with a high of 36.
If you're heading to Times Square Monday night to ring in the new year, "it looks dry and chilly," Kines said.
The first day of 2013 is expected to be partly sunny but frigid with a high of just 28 degrees.
ALBANY — New state laws banning the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors and giving businesses new tax exemptions for installing solar-energy systems are set to take effect next week.
In 2013, New Yorkers will also calculate state income taxes owed based on rates that took effect in 2012, which should have already been reflected in payroll deductions. Meanwhile, taxable income amounts could change based on a cost-of-living index adjustment in the law for the next two years.
The ban on sales to those under 18 of e-cigarettes — battery-powered devices used to inhale vaporized liquid nicotine instead of tobacco smoke — takes effect Jan. 1. Although initially sold as an alternative to harmful tobacco, they come in candy flavors appealing to youths, critics note.
State Sen. Owen Johnson (R-LI) said the law is necessary to protect children because e-cigarettes "have not been proven to be safe for use at any age."
Commercial solar units will become exempt from the 4 percent state sales and use tax starting next week. The law lets cities and counties do the same. It follows the 2005 tax exemption for residential systems.
The income-tax law enacted in late 2011 lowered the rate in 2012 for a married couple filing jointly and earning $40,000 to $150,000 from 6.85 percent to 6.45 percent.Department spokesman Cary Ziter said those brackets are posted in mid-January.
For those earning $150,000 to $300,000, it lowered the rate from 6.85 percent to 6.65 percent.
At the same time, surcharges on higher tax brackets expired this year. Those earning $300,000 to $2 million, who had been paying rates from 7.85 to 8.97 percent, saw their rate drop back to the permanent rate of 6.85 percent.
Those making more than $2 million yearly, who had been paying 8.97 percent with the surcharge, had their rate changed to 8.82 percent.
According to the Department of Taxation and Finance, for 2013 and 2014 the income tax rates will remain the same, though dollar amounts in the tax tables will be indexed by a cost-of-living percentage adjustment if it's applicable.
Written By Unknown on Senin, 24 Desember 2012 | 17.08
KABUL — An Afghan policewoman has killed an American advisor at the Kabul police headquarters. local officials said.
Kabul's Deputy Police Chief Mohammad Daoud Amin says an investigation is under way to determine whether the killing today was intentional or accidental.
It was not immediately known whether the victim was a military or civilian advisor. The NATO military command says it's looking into reports of the shooting but had no independent information.
Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 22 Desember 2012 | 17.08
A jail term isn't the only problem for disgraced ex-cop Kenneth Moreno.
The lead officer acquitted in last year's "rape cops" trial saw his angry baby mama head to court yesterday to fight for custody of their 16-year-old daughter.
Even though he's been locked up for a year for official misconduct, she failed.
Judge Dean Kusakabe slammed both Moreno, 45, and his ex, Maria Cruz, as unfit parents in Brooklyn Family Court yesterday, as he allowed the shamed officer's mom to continue raising the teenager.
Moreno was acquitted last year of on-duty-rape charges after he and his partner were accused of attacking a drunk fashion executive in her apartment. He was convicted, however, of official misconduct for returning to her apartment three times.
After listening to bitter words among attorneys representing Moreno, Cruz, the daughter, and Moreno's mother, Kusakabe granted temporary custody to Moreno's mother.Moreno's attorney, Cheryl Solomon, blasted Cruz. "The mother still refers to my client as the 'rape cop!' " Solomon said.
"My client does not want to live with her mother and she does not enjoy her visits," said Children's Law Center lawyer Dawn Post, who represents the daughter.
A teenager who suffered brain damage when the dirt bike he was riding collided with an NYPD cop car in October is suing the city for $100 million.
Leonel Cuevas, 17, was a passenger on a dirt bike driven by pal Ronald Herrera, 20, on Walton Avenue on Oct. 27 when police gave chase and hit the bike from behind in an attempt to apprehend the riders, said Cuevas' attorney.
The NYPD maintains the bike was trying to overtake the squad car when the two vehicles crashed.
Herrera died and Cuevas was left with major head injuries and is paralyzed and unable to speak.
A hit-and-run suspect who allegedly fled the country after killing a 15-year-old Queens boy more than seven years ago is back in New York after being arrested in Spain, cops said.
Paula Bartolo, 56, was picked up by Spanish authorities on Monday and returned to New York last night to face manslaughter charges in the gruesome death of Jeffrey Javier, a developmentally disabled teen from Ozone Park, back in 2005.
Javier was crossing the intersection at Rockaway Blvd. and 101st Street on Oct. 26, 2005 while on his way to school when Bartolo allegedly became upset with how slowly the boy was walking, gunned his gas and ran him over with his Chevy Corsica, according to witnesses who were at the scene.
PAULA BARTOLO In 2005 mug shot.
Bartolo allegedly didn't stop there.
He then put his car in reverse and ran the teen over a second time before fleeing the scene, sources said.
Javier died a few days later after his parents decided to take him off life support. The teen was just shy of his 16th birthday.
Bartolo is believed to have initially fled to his native Guatemala after the crime, as police had suspected. But the seven year search came to a close after police discovered Bartolo's travel itinerary included several trips back and forth to Spain, where he was collared.
The American dreams of a hardworking Egyptian immigrant who labored seven days a week to bring his betrothed to the United States were shattered when two thugs shot him to death as they robbed his Queens bodega, police and relatives said yesterday.
Ishak Ghalia, 26, who lived on the third floor above his Ridgewood bodega so he could work 19-hour days, was shot dead at 6 p.m. Thursday, cops said.
Two men wearing hoodies were seen exiting the Onderdonk Avenue bodega and walking toward Gates Avenue, and responding police found the cash register open and empty, NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said yesterday.
Facebook
HEINOUS: Cops swarm the Queens bodega (below) where owner Ishak Ghalia (above) was killed Thursday.
Christopher Sadowski
Heartbroken friends and relatives built a memorial shrine in front of the Coptic Orthodox church where he prayed.
Friends and relatives said Ghalia was planning a trip to Egypt to meet a woman he would later wed through an arranged marriage.
"He was going back to Egypt next month. He was going to get engaged and then married in six months. He was planning to bring his wife here. He had a good life here," said Antonyous Soliman, 29, who grew up in the same southern Egypt town as Ghalia.
"He was excited to be going back to see his family and getting married."
Ghalia's cousin, Agieby Abdelmalak, 18, said, "He wanted to wait for his citizenship before he got married so his wife would be a citizen, too."
Another grieving friend spoke of how hard Ghalia worked to send money home to his family and to prepare for his engagement and wedding.
"From seven years ago when he came here, he has been working. There was no time for fun. He worked seven days a week," said neighbor and friend Aziz Soliman, 30. "I spoke to him two days ago. He said 'I'm tired. Every day is working, working.' "
A customer discovered Ghalia's body behind the counter and called 911, law-enforcement sources said. There was no sign of a struggle, the sources said.
"The individual apparently was an extremely hardworking young man, 26 years of age, shot in the face," said Kelly. "It's a very, very sad story."
Last night, NYPD investigators were examining security video from a nearby Laundromat that showed a man running toward a subway station.
"We were shocked at the news that Ishak Ghalia was shot in the head for cigarettes and a few dollars. This was a very humble man who did not deserve to die," said Fernando Mateo, spokesman for the Bodega Association of the United States. "Killing bodega clerks for pennies is a senseless crime."
Cops said no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing. There is a $12,000 reward for info leading to a conviction.
A gorgeous swimsuit model who hoped to have sex before the Mayan-predicted apocalypse failed to seal the deal on "doomsday" eve.
Niki Ghazian, 30, earlier this week had declared to The Post, "I don't want to die on a dry spell!" and hoped to hook up with someone before the predicted hour of doom yesterday morning.
But the sexy LA resident said she didn't take home any men at an end-of-the-world bash at a West Hollywood club Thursday night.
"I wasn't looking for a random hook-up," she insisted.She added she never meant to imply that she would bed a stranger.
NIKI GHAZIAN Californication nixed.
"People are calling me a whore now," she said. "It's just unfair. I just went out and had fun. I wasn't going out to get laid.''
On Tuesday, Ghazian had said that with the threat of doomsday looming, "Everybody should go out feeling satisfied. If the world's gonna end, why hold back?"
She went out to a yacht party the next night with pals, but went home alone.
Dozens of men flooded her Twitter and Instagram accounts with messages offering to spend the last night in bed with her.
But she took none of the guys up, and instead spent the whole night with female pals at Greystone Manor Supperclub in West Hollywood, she said.
An ancient Mayan calendar had predicted the end of the world would strike at 6:11 a.m. yesterday.
Written By Unknown on Jumat, 21 Desember 2012 | 17.08
NBC
Jerry Seinfeld received an ovation for appearing alongside A.D. Miles and Billy Crystal in a "Who's on First?" skit on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon."
Those corner infielders sure look familiar …
Jimmy Fallon dusted off Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's iconic "Who's on First?" baseball skit on last night's episode of "Late Night" – with Billy Crystal and Jerry Seinfeld playing infield for the St. Louis Wolves.
The comedy routine involves a manager describing his players – but all of the players' names are also non-responsive answers.
So the first baseman's name is Who. And the second baseman's name is What. I Don't Know plays third.
Bedlam ensues.
When Crystal (Who) entered the black-and-white skit, he punched his fist into his mitt and threw an imaginary baseball, the lifelong Yankees fan connected to the game once again.
In his latest movie, "Parental Guidance," he stars as a faded minor league baseball announcer.
Seinfeld, a rabid Mets fan, famously appeared alongside star player Keith Hernandez on "Seinfeld."
Where Crystal was scheduled to appear on the episode, Seinfeld's entrance was a surprise. The audience responded, showering Seinfeld with a 20-second applause that halted the skit – and caused Seinfeld to tip his cap.
"Late Night" regulars Steve Higgins (playing the confused baseball fan) and A.D. Miles (What, the second baseman) also appeared in the segment, a throwback to comedy's vaudeville days.
The New Jersey man who was dressed as video-game icon Super Mario when he allegedly groped a woman in Times Square is just one of many costumed weirdos trolling the plaza and harassing visitors.
"We have seen an uptick in complaints against the actions of the costume characters on the plazas, and it is certainly a cause for concern," said Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance, which provides security for the tourist hot spot.
Damon Torres, 34, grabbed the upper thigh of a 58-year-old woman on Wednesday while she tried to walk down 42nd Street, court documents allege.
Seth Gottfried
NO GAME: Damon Torres (above) is escorted yesterday after his grope bust while dressed as a Super Mario.
YouTube
NO GAME:Damon Torres (above) is escorted yesterday after his grope bust while dressed as a Super Mario.
Torres — dressed as Nintendo's plumber character but with no affiliation to the company — had allegedly blocked the woman's path on 42nd Street near 4 Times Square and would not let her pass, law-enforcement sources said.
"He reaches out and he cops a feel, grabbing her thigh. And then he just walks away," one source said.
The woman complained to a Times Square security guard, who took her to the NYPD substation.
She saw her alleged groper pass by while making the report, and cops immediately arrested him.
Torres was arraigned yesterday on charges of harassment, forcible touching, and pot possession. He was released without bail.
It wasn't immediately clear whether the Mario gig was the primary source of income for Torres, who does not have a criminal record in New York, according to sources.
His lawyer declined to comment.
It's the latest example of a masked Times Square character gone wild.
A man dressed as "Sesame Street" character Elmo was busted in September in Times Square for disorderly conduct just two months after being hauled off in an ambulance after going on an anti-Jewish rant, according to reports.
Two Marios and a Luigi, — the video-game character's brother — who pose for photos with tourists in Times Square had little to say yesterday on the alleged groping.
"I don't know, guy," one Mario character said when asked about the incident.
Duane Jackson, 60, a Times Square vendor for 16 years, said the creepy characters are out of control.
"These guys in outfits, they can get kind of outlandish. I'm wondering if the city is going to do a regulation on them," he said.
One of the costumed characters even admitted he and his ilk are creepy.
"I've been doing this four years. Everyone I've met is a degenerate [such as an] alcoholic [or] crackhead," said one man dressed as a giant white robot. "You never know who's under that mask."
It's either a real "last call" — or just another excuse to get blotto.
New Yorkers flocked to "end of the world"-themed parties at local bars tonight to celebrate their potential final hours on Earth as the Mayan calendar predicted doomsday this morning.
The appointed time of world destruction is set for 6:11 a.m. New York time, and Big Apple residents are partying right up to the end.
Apocalyptic bashes in all five boroughs — featuring DJ-centric dance parties, ironic drink specials and invite-only mixers — inspired revelers to party like there's no tomorrow.
"People are just going nuts. They're partying like the world's ending," said Carly Grant, 22, as the bashes went into the wee hours this morning.
Grant said she was on her way to a house party on the Upper East Side when she decided to shed all inhibitions.
"I want to go wearing nothing — to go out the way I came in," she said.
Others partygoers hit bars featuring DJs spinning doomsday hits.
Ron Jamison, 27, planned to blow a wad of cash on his last earthly meal: pitchers of beer and lots of hot dogs.
"Might as well spend all my money . . . if the world's ending . . . There's no point in saving," he said.
Other New Yorkers — even those who are not normally night owls — got into the doomsday drinking spirit, saying it was a great excuse to let loose.
"You gotta do what you like," said Thao Nguien, a teacher from Hell's Kitchen who was all set to be "drunk and cavorting."
The boozy, end-of-days bashes included a rooftop party at the posh Midtown club Hudson Terrace and one at the hipster bar Nights and Weekends in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
Erika London, a spokeswoman for Hudson Terrace, said staffers prepared drink specials — such as "The Black Hole" and "The Glacial Melt" — after setting up the space for a night "without inhibitions."
"If the world [did], in fact, come to an end . . . you'[d] be hung over enough not to mind" after the bar's party, London said.
More optimistic were the ones who planned on celebrating the world's survival at parties tonight — including an RSVP-only event at the Bowery Hotel and an "End of the Funking World Party" at B.B. King Blues Club.
Beaumarchais, a French cafe in the Meatpacking District, will host an extravagant dinner party, complete with Mayan decor.
Some New Yorkers refused to celebrate — saying they simply had too much to live for — on the good chance that the world wasn't ending.
"I'm going to see the Dave Matthews Band at the Barclays Center [today]," said a hopeful Ford Paige, 27, of Washington Heights.
Another life-lover, Amanda Muscarello, 23, of Orange County, said she didn't plan on dying anytime soon, much less before her 24th birthday this weekend.
"My birthday is Sunday — the Mayans can't do this to me!" she said.
PYONGYANG, North Korea — North Korea said Friday that it has detained an American citizen who has confessed to unspecified crimes.
State media said in a short dispatch that someone named Bae Jun Ho entered North Korea on Nov. 3 as a tourist but was detained because of crimes.
The North said the crimes were "proven through evidence" but didn't elaborate.
Pyongyang has detained and eventually released several Americans in recent years. Some have been Christians accused of religious proselytizing.
Two journalists were also detained after crossing into the North from China while on a reporting trip but were later released.
South Korean activists have told local media in Seoul that Bae is a Korean American and was detained after entering North Korea to guide tourists. Bae operates a tourism company that specializes in North Korea, the reports said.
The North Korean dispatch said officials from the Swiss Embassy met Bae on Friday, but there were no other details about the meeting. The United States doesn't have diplomatic relations with Pyongyang so American citizens are given aid by the Swiss.
Bae is undergoing "legal treatment" according to North Korea's criminal law, the North's official Korean Central News Agency said.
Written By Unknown on Kamis, 20 Desember 2012 | 17.08
NewscoreNew York Post Online Edition logoHold on, Mr. Preshident!Amazin's need to make push for outfielder UptonToday's Sports on the AirHome Team LineupsOnce again, Brooklyn flops in 3rdNets defense gets picked apart with pick-and-rollsTynes says he is not in slumpAmukamara, Phillips back at practice for GiantsGiants must wrap up Ravens RB RiceQuarterback challenge$1M deadbeat dad to LI ex: Help me!Bike ruling KO'dShops' 'sins of emission'Ben 'Argo's to Washington'Super Mario' in 'perv' bustNothing's for three: Debacle shows Jets have no plan at QBMcKnight: Fans helped push Rex to bench Mark'In Cold Blood' echoStroller rip-offBork dies at 85NYPD Daily BlotterJenkins slams SanchezHeroes amid chaos'Tusk'-slay horrorWestminster 'breed'ing like crazyWeird but trueSt. John's transfer Lindsey fuels BroncsDognapper hits homeRich-girl 'smackdown' suitHorrifying dead end on the L.I.E.Fake doc butt-toxic: copsCOLLEGE BOWL GLANCELiu: Ax big firms' tax breaksSHATTEREDOlivia CulpoSmith finally finds his shotAffrunti at Fair Grounds Graded EntriesSports ShortsTampa Bay Downs ResultsCUNY big: I f'd upYonkers Graded EntriesBenghazi backlashGOP's Sandy $lashSource: Jets open to trading SanchezOpportunity knocks: McElroy relishing chance to finally startTebow's love affair with Jets clearly overDoing a number on Times Sq.Fracking already a NY job boosterPulling a fast one9/11 studies dovetailLhota eye on next rideSay high to E. Side trapezeMTA: We're $trapped – so you hangCity $lapped for teach axEnd of world is very 'bed' news for NYO's got a ban planPension funds have makers in their sightsExtra security at city schoolsBullets to top traffic'Bravest' boy saluteKiller got ready with mom awayKnicks center dominates in second halfIsiah lands NBA TV gigPrincipal out of retirementSisters grieve for 'superhero'RG3 fined 10G for apparel violationItsy-bitsy Spidey an Obama web zingerGulfstream ChartsThe American wayDebbie Little at MonticelloIcy road? Just beet itTomorrow's Gulfstream Park EntriesPost experts pick the winnersGulfstream Park AnalysisMonticello ResultsPSU scandal voted story of the yearParker issues RG3 apologySuitors all want a piece of GlassnoteNothing in storeSwiss sc'alps'Madoff victims let looseArt rocks for NancyWe hear . . .No more 'Gov't. Motors'Yep, she's goneRascals are on the looseAdviser trio in tax messNets like RockettesFB to sell ads on its own appStewart in the spiritSightings . . . sightingsAnimal kingdomGo with the 'Flo'Workin' the roomBrawling for a good causeEmma pitches inJoy comes homeAlec 'stalker' in new whine
http://www.nypost.com Newscore http://www.nypost.com/rw/SysConfig/WebPortal/nypost/images/rss_nyp_logo.jpg http://www.nypost.com 120 18 By POST STAFF Local
Veteran TV newsman Sam Donaldson was arrested on DUI charges in Delaware, police said yesterday.
Donaldson (pictured), a former White House reporter for ABC, was stopped on Dec. 1 by cops in Lewes, Del., after his car was spotted swerving onto the shoulder of the road.
Lewes is a resort town on the Chesapeake Bay, across the Delaware River from Cape May, NJ.
Donaldson allegedly failed a field-sobriety test and was arrested and taken to the local police station.
The 78-year-old newsman was later released and given an unspecified date to return for a court appearance.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:39:56 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/hold_on_mr_preshident_24cRRWxwcdcBQF4KJf0HEN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/hold_on_mr_preshident_24cRRWxwcdcBQF4KJf0HEN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4087622583 -1 false By KEVIN KERNAN Mets
Now that the Mets have caught up behind the plate, it's time to tackle the massive outfield problem. There must be greener pastures ahead, but this is a situation that will take time to correct.
If free agent Scott Hairston wants a one-year deal, the Mets will sign him, but that game has to play itself out. Patience is the key and Sandy Alderson has proven himself to be one patient general manager.
There are slim pickings in the Mets' price range in the free agent department, which means the Mets are investigating every possible trade scenario. That's a good thing.
The Mets' four outfielders are Lucas Duda, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Mike Baxter and Collin Cowgill. Cowgill, who was acquired Tuesday fromthe A's, is scrappyand aggressive, and the Mets need more of those players. Duda has hitting potential but needs to showmore confidence, but the Mets believe he is making strides in that department.
Nevertheless, so much work has to be done in the outfield. More talent is needed and more than likely the Mets will have to trade for that talent and get really creative in doing so, most likely making a three-team trade to make any deal work. That is a tall order.
Another young outfielder went off the board yesterday when the Angels traded designated hitter Kendrys Morales to the Mariners for pitcher Jason Vargas. That was a wise move because it allows the Angels to put young center fielder Peter Bourjos back on the field, flanked by superstars Mike Trout and Josh Hamilton.
If the Angels could not have traded Morales for the pitcher they wanted, they may have listened to offers for Bourjos, whowould have been a great fit for the Mets, but that time has passed. Bourjos remains an Angel in the outfield.
The most intriguing bigname outfielder on the trade front is Arizona's Justin Upton. The Mets need to make every effort to try to trade for the multitalented Upton, who is just 25.
The Mets have the perfect mentor for Upton in David Wright. Wright has known Upton since Upton was a little kid and his brother B.J. played amateur ball with Wright in Virginia. A move closer to home would benefit Upton aswell.
Alderson worked his trade magic to acquire top of the line prospects in right-hander Zack Wheeler and catcher Travis d'Arnaud, using Carlos Beltran and Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey as bait, now he must try to figure a way to land an impact outfielder. It will not be easy, but Alderson has found a way to make difficult trades happen.
Upton has three years left on his contract. He will be paid $9.75 million in 2013, $14.25 million in 2014 and $14.5 million in 2015. The Mets are freeing up plenty of money and will have young pitchers Matt Harvey and Wheeler in the rotation, keeping costs down. They can afford to spend in the outfield, just as they spent $138 million at third base on Wright.
Sure, Justin Upton seems like a pipe dream, butWheeler and d'Arnaud were long shots to be Mets not too long ago. Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers keeps insisting he will not trade Upton — Jason Kubel (30 home runs last season) is available and would be a major upgrade for the Mets as well — but I've known Towers a long time and he is never afraid to make a trade. The Rangers have major interest in Upton and have the young talent to trade, if they reallywant to make the deal.
Alderson needs to try to acquire Upton. Go for another game changer. The Mets have made fascinating strides lately. They need to make another big push to reach higher ground in the NL East. Maybe, Towers will not trade Upton, but if Upton has another bad season in Arizona his value will drop again. He hit 31 home runs in 2011 and 17 last season.
The Mets must try to make this dream deal a reality.
kevin.kernan@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:18:05 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/amazin_need_to_make_push_for_outfielder_KAN0KU6MdSLBepeV4AtsuM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Mets http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/amazin_need_to_make_push_for_outfielder_KAN0KU6MdSLBepeV4AtsuM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Mets 5.10.4086279931 kevin_kernan.png true More Sports
Basketball7 p.m.Women: Valparaiso at Michigan BIG TEN7 p.m.Elon at Duke ESPNU7 p.m.Thunder at Timberwolves TNT8 p.m.Women: Cornell at Texas LONGHORN8:30 p.m.Eastern Michigan at Michigan BIG TEN9 p.m.Cal Poly at Washington PAC129:30 p.m.Heat at Mavericks TNT11 p.m.California-Irvine at USC PAC12Football8 p.m.Poinsettia Bowl: BYU at San Diego State ESPN, ESPN 98.7 FMHorse Racing12:45 p.m.Gulfstream Ch. 717:10 p.m.Yonkers Ch. 71
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:48:36 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/today_sports_on_the_air_wZe7UNdl1Ajec3NZjQpsUL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= More Sports http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/today_sports_on_the_air_wZe7UNdl1Ajec3NZjQpsUL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= More Sports 5.10.4085163343 -1 false & - doubleheader More Sports
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:48:23 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/home_team_lineups_2ivy4jG2T9MlGnIPfS9DGL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= More Sports http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/home_team_lineups_2ivy4jG2T9MlGnIPfS9DGL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= More Sports 5.10.4085163329 -1 false By TIM BONTEMPS Knicks
It was a different night, but the same old story.
The Nets, who have struggled to get themselves going in the third quarter all season, saw the Knicks break the game open with a 18-6 run over the final 6:54 of the third quarter last night to hand the Nets a 100-86 loss, giving the Nets three straight losses and eight in their last 10 games.
"We're just trying to stay alive right now," Gerald Wallace said. "Right now, we know the second half is our downfall. We play 24 minutes of great ball in the first half, and then it just seems like our next 12 minutes we're kind of lost offensively and defensively.
"We've got to figure out, as a team, how we can fix that and get this team turned around."
It looked as if the Nets might, at least for one night, shake their third-quarter demons after Deron Williams came out firing to start the quarter. Williams hit his first four shots of the third, including a pull-up jumper in transition that gave the Nets their biggest lead of the game at 61-57 with 6:54 remaining in the third.
From there, though, it was a familiar story. A combination of poor shooting, turnovers and allowing easy baskets to their opponents put the Nets into a 75-67 hole by the end of the third quarter that they never escaped from.
"I just think mentally, we've got to be more mentally into the game in the second half, myself included," Wallace said. "We're messing up on coverages, especially guarding a team like this that makes you pay for any mistake you make.
"Mentally, as a team, we've got to buckle down. We understand what's going on. We know what's wrong with us, and we've just got to fix it."
The Knicks stormed back into the lead for good on the backs of their two stars, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler, who combined for 15 of the 18 points that put the game out of reach. While Anthony scored from both outside, hitting a 3-pointer to put the Knicks ahead for good at 62-61 with 5:39 left, the Nets couldn't keep Chandler away from the basket, allowing him to get several uncontested dunks off alley-oop passes thanks to pick-and-roll coverage breakdowns.
"We had a game plan that we tried to execute tonight at the defensive end, and it wasn't working," said Williams, who finished with 16 points and 10 assists. "We weren't doing the things we needed to. We weren't getting the help in the right spots, our rotations were slow, we were letting guys drive right to the basket without any help ... that's not how we want to play."
The Nets, who don't play again until Sunday against the Sixers in Brooklyn, know they don't want to play like this. Now they just have to figure out how to get back to playing the way they did when they won 11 of their first 15 games.
"We're frustrated," said Williams. "We've got to change some things. We've got to get better.
"It's on us. It's not anybody's fault but us as players. We have to come out with more energy and focus. It's like we lost a little bit of our toughness, so we have to get that back."
tbontemps@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:32:30 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/glass_half_empty_sV7Co3wJJkYIeb3StcczmI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Knicks http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/glass_half_empty_sV7Co3wJJkYIeb3StcczmI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Knicks 5.10.4084559519 -1 false By TIM BONTEMPS Knicks
The Knicks have beaten teams from 3-point range all season long. But it was the work of Tyson Chandler in and around the paint that, more than anything, led to the Nets suffering their third straight loss last night, as Chandler's 16 points and 12 rebounds powered the Knicks to a 100-86 victory.
The Nets were simply powerless to stop Chandler on the pick-and-roll, especially in the second half. He wound up with several alley-oop dunks after dribble penetration sucked in his defender and left nothing but air between him and the rim.
"A lot of times they were running it, we were trying to give them some different coverages, and we had some breakdowns in communication," Nets coach Avery Johnson said. "When we executed it properly, we were pretty good. But when we didn't, they made us pay."
Because of the many 3-point shooters the Knicks deploy around the arc with Chandler roaming the middle, it prevents teams from being able to stick to him near the basket. If any dribble penetration is able to draw Chandler's defender just a couple steps away from the basket, there is plenty of room to toss the ball into his waiting hands for an easy dunk, something the Knicks seemed to do at will against the Nets in the second half.
"It makes the coverage a lot harder," Gerald Wallace said of the Knicks' 3-point shooting prowess. "Then when you have guys like Raymond [Felton] and Tyson, who play the pick-and-roll so well, too.
"They're a hard team to cover, but we've covered them, we've played that basic coverage and we've beat them with that coverage. Mentally, we've got to be more strong with it."
* The Nets were without Jerry Stackhouse for the fifth straight game last night, as the veteran swingman continues to nurse a sore right knee.
Stackhouse, who has become a vital rotation piece for the Nets since getting a chance early last month, injured the knee when he and Jason Kidd banged knees on Kidd's game-winning 3-pointer against the Nets in last week's Knicks win in Brooklyn.
Stackhouse said before last night's game that he wasn't sure when he'd be ready to go after banging the knee "pretty good" against Kidd's outstretched leg. Johnson wouldn't say whether or not he expected Stackhouse to play Sunday against the Sixers in Brooklyn.
"It depends on what happens with him Friday and Saturday [in practice]," Johnson said. "If he gets through practice, specifically Saturday, then he could be a possibility."
tbontemps@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:39:24 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/nets_defense_gets_picked_apart_with_k9vfbHnEsM75bqQsHI1z5N?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Knicks http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/nets_defense_gets_picked_apart_with_k9vfbHnEsM75bqQsHI1z5N?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Knicks 5.10.4084559323 -1 false By PAUL SCHWARTZ Giants
Lawrence Tynes is not in a slump.
That's the thought-process of the Giants' kicker, who, after a torrid start to the season, has missed a field goal in each of the past three games, including what appeared to be a chip-shot 30-yarder last week inside the kicker-friendly Georgia Dome.
"I think I made like 18 out of 19 at pregame,'' Tynes said yesterday. "If you're in a slump you're probably not kicking real well at all during the week or at practice, so I feel like we are doing that. I just feel like maybe our game tempo is a little off. I think we've fixed that earlier this week, and [yesterday] at practice we did some team stuff, so you just got to be positive moving forward. You can't really dwell on the past.''
The kicking operation — snap, hold, kick — has not been as crisp as it was when Tynes was in a groove, hitting 29 of his 32 field goal tries. He still leads the NFL with 33 made field goals.
"We thought his timing wasn't very good the other day on the one that we missed, but it's the time of the year we can't afford any misses,'' coach Tom Coughlin said.
Tynes' miss came with the Giants trailing 7-0 in an eventual 34-0 loss to the Falcons. A timing issue indicates the operation with Zak DeOssie snapping and Steve Weatherford holding was not smooth.
"I'm not going to sit here and point fingers,'' Tynes said. "I missed the kick. We got a little sloppy with what we're doing, so it [is] kind of the peaks and valleys of a season. We had 13 good games and the last two have not been up to par to what we expect out of ourselves and us as a unit. It stinks that we missed, and we just got to move on.''
Tynes, a nine-year veteran, said he believes one of his strengths is his ability to shake off a bad kick and move on, which he will attempt to do Sunday in Baltimore.
"I've done that very, very well in my career,'' he said. "I think I've missed two kicks three times in my career and I've played over 120 games, so you just got to look at it for what it is and kind of just move on. I think I do a good job of that. You get [ticked] off a little bit, but you just got to move on.''
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:32:30 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giants/tynes_says_he_is_not_in_slump_A5eLVYSXxa9cGSGnY1zaQM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Giants http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giants/tynes_says_he_is_not_in_slump_A5eLVYSXxa9cGSGnY1zaQM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Giants 5.10.4084559268 -1 false By PAUL SCHWARTZ Giants
It was not exactly "All In" for the Giants Wednesday, but they did welcome back two key members of their defensive backfield, as safety Kenny Phillips returned from a knee injury and Prince Amukamara was on the field after missing last week's game in Atlanta with a strained hamstring.
Amukamara and Phillips both worked on a limited basis.
Phillips missed six straight games with a sprained MCL, returned for two and then sat out the past two games after aggravating the injury. Phillips said on Monday he is "100 percent'' sure he will play on Sunday in Baltimore.
"With Kenny, we feel like he's rested and ready to contribute,'' Tom Coughlin said.
Rookie Jayron Hosley started against the Falcons in place of Amukamara and the results were not what the Giants were looking for.
"I'm feeling great,'' Amukamara said. "I feel a little bit sore right now and that's natural.''
Amukamara said he has yet to fully test his hamstring, as he has "been staying in my realm, just trying to be smart about it right now.'' He's still not sure if he can contribute enough to play on Sunday vs. the Ravens.
"It's kind of like a Catch-22, damned if you do, screwed if you don't,'' he said. "You want to put the team before you, but you also just have to be smart about it.
"This is a huge game, very crucial and if we make it to the playoffs you don't want to get hurt in this game and not be ready for the playoffs. But you definitely want to help the team make the playoffs. It's a huge decision.''
*
Five starters did not practice: C David Baas (hip/shoulder), RB Ahmad Bradshaw (knee), WR Hakeem Nicks (knee), G Chris Snee (hip) and DE Justin Tuck (shoulder).
Bradshaw has said he doesn't plan to practice until tomorrow at the earliest, but he's confident he will be able to shake off his sprained knee and play this weekend.
"We'd all love to have [Bradshaw] play, but it's going to be a medical decision,'' Coughlin said.
As for Tuck's shoulder, Coughlin said "He probably banged it in the game, although he didn't come out of the game or anything of that nature. We can and I think he can deal with it because he's had to before.''
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said "Nothing has changed'' regarding LB Ray Lewis, who has missed the past eight games with a torn right triceps and is not expected to return this weekend. ... WR Torrey Smith (concussion) did not practice for Ravens. ... CB Terrence Frederick was re-signed to the practice squad.
paul.schwartz@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:54:21 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giants/prince_phillips_practice_qKaY6zVrily3DoJr4XQuBM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Giants http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giants/prince_phillips_practice_qKaY6zVrily3DoJr4XQuBM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Giants 5.10.4084559112 -1 false By PAUL SCHWARTZ Giants
In order for the Giants to avoid getting shown the door, they need to crash through it no matter who is in their way.
"Our backs are actually against the wall now, and we got to play that way,'' linebacker Chase Blackburn said Wednesday. "We got to come out fighting, swinging, just like when you're in a bar fight and your back is against the wall, there's only one way to get to that door — swing your way out. That's what you got to do.''
The Giants didn't come close to landing any haymakers in last week's inept 34-0 loss in Atlanta, and as a result have pushed their season to the brink of playoff elimination heading into Sunday's game in Baltimore against the struggling but still postseason-bound Ravens.
The Giants got blanked by the Falcons seven days after putting 52 points on the Saints, but mostly it's been uneven at best, unsightly at worst as they've dropped from first to third in the NFC East.
"Week after week you don't know what you are going to get from us,'' Jason Pierre-Paul said. "We are not consistent until, I guess, somebody is going to get fired or our backs are against the wall or it is either all or nothing. That is where we are at right now. It is either all or nothing or we are going to pack our stuff and get out of here.
"And I am not trying to go home early. I want to make that run and at least get into the playoffs and showing that we can do it. That is what we are striving for and hoping we can get there.''
The Giants won't get anywhere if they can't lay a glove on Ray Rice, a running back capable of sending them home a beaten team if they continue to put on display shoddy run defense. The Giants rank 22nd in the league in stopping the run, and Blackburn figures the Ravens will go to school on that failing and try to jam it down the Giants' throats with a heavy dose of Rice.
"No doubt, if I was them,'' Blackburn said. "We're not tackling well."
That's no way to operate when your playoff lives are on the line. The Giants missed 18 tackles against the Falcons, which is almost unfathomable.
"I know it was not good, and I know I was a contributor to that as well,'' Blackburn said. "Bad tackling, bad targets.
"We got to use our hands better when we wrap tackle and gang tackle. We can't have the solo tackles, leave guys on an island. We got to get more guys to the ball, especially with a guy we're gonna face this week like Ray Rice, who's gonna put his foot in the ground and come north and south.''
Rice is up to his usual running antics, already over 1,000 yards at 1,031, averaging 4.5 yards per carry, with nine rushing touchdowns and adding his usual flair as a pass-catcher with 55 receptions. His numbers are down a bit from a year ago, when he had an NFL-high 2,068 yards from scrimmage, but the former Rutgers product remains a durable, dependable threat. If given the smallest crack, he will devastate a suspect run defense.
"We cannot have missed tackles,'' Pierre-Paul said. "That is not football. That is poor tackling, and that is what we did. We have to go out there and wrap tackle. This is the NFL, we should know how to tackle by now.''
A year ago, the Giants began their march to another Super Bowl triumph, embarking on a six-game winning streak, by beating the Jets on Christmas Eve, with the defensive intensity kicked up several notches.
"I don't want to hear that,'' Pierre-Paul said. "To me that's all bullcrap. Know what I mean? Yeah, we have done it before, but this is a whole other year. Each year is a totally different year. You don't have the same guys on the team as last year. Who knows who is going to be here next year.
"We have to go out there this Sunday and play our hearts out, and hopefully we get in the next week's game after that against the Eagles and get into the playoffs.''
paul.schwartz@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:12:35 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giants/giants_must_wrap_up_vs_ravens_6K019jqngneqURVP85Y75L?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Giants http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giants/giants_must_wrap_up_vs_ravens_6K019jqngneqURVP85Y75L?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Giants 5.10.4084559085 -1 false Jets Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:45:53 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/quarterback_challenge_uCFgaBMIkbzJOtByHxKgNL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/quarterback_challenge_uCFgaBMIkbzJOtByHxKgNL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets 5.10.4084558931 -1 false By KIERAN CROWLEY and ALEX DICKINSON National
The nation's worst deadbeat dad made a tearful jailhouse call to the woman he owes more than $800,000 in child support, pleading for help to escape the "murderers and rapists" he now calls cellmates.
After a decade on the run, Robert Sand, 50 — who owes more than $1.2 million total in child support to two ex-wives on Long Island — was arrested in Los Angeles Monday and held without bail.
He was picked up at the LA airport after officials in the Philippines kicked him out of the country.
Lisa Sand, 52, Robert's first wife with whom he fathered two daughters, was his first call.
"He told me, 'There are murderers in here. There are rapists in here. You've got to get me out of here' — like I'm his personal assistant,'' Lisa told The Post.
"He was hysterically crying. He said, 'I want to make my life better. I screwed up my life.' "
Robert "literally went to the ends of the Earth to avoid paying child support," his ex added.
After their 1996 divorce, Sand remarried and had another child, before fleeing that family as well and heading to Thailand.
He also fathered a child in Thailand, officials said, and was in trouble with the law there while working as a motorcycle salesman.
He was deported from the Philippines for not possessing proper ID.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:19:23 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/deadbeat_dad_to_li_ex_help_me_cp9G55YQzCbGuCZCYqfYrK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= National http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/deadbeat_dad_to_li_ex_help_me_cp9G55YQzCbGuCZCYqfYrK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= National 5.10.4084558893 -1 false By RICH CALDER Brooklyn
Opponents of the bike lanes abutting Brooklyn's Prospect Park West will get their day in court.
An appellate panel ruled yesterday that Supreme Court Judge Bert Bunyan erred in August 2011 when he dismissed a lawsuit seeking to remove the two-lane path. Bunyan tossed the suit on the technicality that it was filed late.
The case returns to Brooklyn Supreme Court.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:55:54 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/bike_ruling_ko_iEb3Pkyp706auDGMJYScNK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Brooklyn http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/bike_ruling_ko_iEb3Pkyp706auDGMJYScNK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Brooklyn 5.10.4084558879 -1 false By JOSH SAUL Brooklyn
Two Brooklyn motor-vehicle inspectors were busted for allegedly forging emission tests for diesel trucks, authorities said yesterday.
Mark Asselta, 46, owner of a Bushwick repair shop, and Shlomo Freedman, 54, owner of a South Williamsburg shop, were arrested and arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court yesterday after an undercover investigation by the state Attorney General's Office.
The men allegedly gave safety and emission certificates to diesel trucks they hadn't even tested.
When undercover investigators drove a truck rigged to fail a test to each repair shop, the shops allegedly issued certification without performing any tests.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:18:30 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/shops_sins_of_emission_oF0svGjd4ms10WPJ9gbhtJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Brooklyn http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/shops_sins_of_emission_oF0svGjd4ms10WPJ9gbhtJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Brooklyn 5.10.4084558865 -1 false By ANDY SOLTIS Post Wire Services National
Sen. Affleck?
Ben Affleck, looking serious — and a bit congressional — visited Capitol Hill yesterday but refused to dampen speculation that he's considering running for a US Senate seat from Massachusetts.
"That's not what I'm here to talk about," the actor-director told Politico aftertestifying to the House Armed Services Committee about violence in Congo, the African nation he's visited regularly in recent years.
Later in the day the "Argo" star met privately with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and posed for photos with them and their chairman, Sen. John Kerry.
Kerry's seat would become vacant if he is named to replace Hillary Clinton as secretary of state when she resigns next month.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick would name a temporary replacement for Kerry until a special election is held for the Senate seat, probably in the late spring.
Affleck is among several people — including Ted Kennedy Jr. and former Sen. Scott Brown — said to be considering running for the seat Kerry has held since 1985.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:55:53 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/ben_argo_to_washington_S2wnly8TIpCUuTa1IL89VJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/ben_argo_to_washington_S2wnly8TIpCUuTa1IL89VJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National 5.10.4084558851 -1 false By ANTONIO ANTENUCCI Local
Cops busted a man outfitted as a Super Mario Brother yesterday in Times Square for allegedly groping a passer-by, law-enforcement sources said.
The incident happened on 42nd Street near Seventh Avenue at 5 p.m when Damon Torres, 34, who gets money from tourists taking pictures with him, grabbed the thigh of a 58-year-old woman, cops said.
The victim, who was not a tourist, headed straight for the police substation in Times Square.
Cops quickly found Torres and charged him with forcible touching and marijuana possession.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:09:02 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/super_mario_in_perv_bust_gzvBXrImJKxL8zgSEZOz1O?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/super_mario_in_perv_bust_gzvBXrImJKxL8zgSEZOz1O?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4084558837 -1 false By BRIAN COSTELLO Jets
Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow stood about 25 feet away from each other in the Jets locker room Wednesday looking glum as they addressed the team's quarterback situation and fielded questions about their future.
Both wore the look of a man who would rather be anywhere else.
Since March 21 when the Jets acquired Tebow from the Broncos many suspected a moment like this would come when the entire quarterback experiment would explode in the faces of coach Rex Ryan, general manager Mike Tannenbaum and Woody Johnson.
The part no one foresaw — including the Jets quarterbacks — was that Greg McElroy, a seventh-round pick making $400,000, would be the one starting Sunday against the Chargers and the two first-round picks making millions would be sent to the bench.
The Jets could teach a class in how to screw up the quarterback position based on what they have done.
Right now they have a starting quarterback in McElroy no one in the organization envisions being a long-term solution. They have Sanchez, a player once thought of as a franchise quarterback who now looks like he has no confidence. And then there's Tebow, who is bewildered why the team traded for him and clearly wants out.
More importantly to Jets fans, the team's decision makers seem to be operating without a plan.
Getting answers from the Jets on how all of this happened is nearly impossible. Ryan has morphed into Eric Mangini, talking in circles and never giving a direct answer. Tannenbaum has declined to comment about the team's quarterback switch. A source said the decision to go with McElroy is because he's simply playing better than Tebow on the practice field.
It is hard to diagnose what the Jets will do in 2013 because it is unclear who will be making the call. Tannenbaum could be fired after this season, and Ryan looks like a defeated man who could be on his way out, too.
"I just kind of made a decision that in my gut I feel that the best thing for our football team is for Greg to be our quarterback now and that's how I feel about it," said Ryan in a typical response yesterday, failing to shed any light on his thought process for leapfrogging McElroy over Tebow.
The Jets will see if there is any trade market for Sanchez, hoping someone will take him off their hands. But a source estimated the Jets would have to eat at least $6 million of his $8.25 million to get a deal done. A league source said there is no trade market for Sanchez.
League sources believe the Jets will keep Sanchez because of his price tag ($8.25 million guaranteed in 2013 and at least a $12.4 million cap hit if released) and bring in a veteran as well as someone through the draft to compete with him. Tebow is definitely gone after this year, and McElroy could be as well.
Sanchez now gets added to the list — with Richard Todd, Ken O'Brien, Browning Nagle and Chad Pennington — of quarterbacks drafted by the Jets with the hope he could be the team's first true franchise quarterback since Joe Namath.
As recently as Nov. 2011, Ryan said Sanchez would be the starter for as long as he was the coach. Thirteen months, 11 losses and a rash of turnovers caused him to change his mind. People in the organization who have supported him since Day 1 are perplexed at why he has regressed since 2010.
Ryan shook his head yesterday when asked if the team misjudged Sanchez's ability when it took him with the fifth pick three years ago.
"It's not like he doesn't have the tools to do it," Ryan said. "That's why we did take him with the fifth overall pick."
The Jets are limited in whom they can bring in because they are going to have salary cap issues in 2013 and already have a $12 million cap figure at the position with Sanchez, even if he is cut.
A source said the idea of Michael Vick, who is expected to be released by the Eagles, coming to the Jets is highly unlikely if Sanchez remains with the team. Vick should command at least $10 million per season, too hefty a price tag for the Jets. Vick also sees himself as a starter. He is not interested in a competition.
Alex Smith could be the answer. The 49ers are expected to dump him in favor of Colin Kaepernick. League sources said Smith should get around $5 million per year as a free agent.
In the draft, the Jets probably would not use a first-round pick on a quarterback with tons of other needs. Tyler Wilson of Arkansas is a possibility in the second round.
McElroy is the eighth starting quarterback since 2004 for the Jets. The Patriots and Giants have had two each in that time with Matt Cassel starting for an injured Tom Brady in 2008 for New England and Kurt Warner starting Manning's rookie year as the quarterback.
The Jets' Super Bowl drought has now hit 44 years with no end in sight thanks to uncertainty at quarterback. The Jets have found a way to have three quarterbacks and still make it feel like they have none.
brian.costello@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:53:21 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/debacle_shows_jets_have_no_plan_ghepTwLozY4tCV2PiH9XwM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/debacle_shows_jets_have_no_plan_ghepTwLozY4tCV2PiH9XwM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets 5.10.4084260831 -1 false By BRIAN COSTELLO Jets
Running back Joe McKnight said he believes the lack of fan support for Mark Sanchez played a role in Jets coach Rex Ryan's decision to bench him.
"I think it did," McKnight said Wednesday. "Any time you're the starting quarterback and you're on the football field and you're trying to call plays and you got the people that are supposed to be rooting for you screaming for the other quarterback, that's kind of frustrating.That kind of takes you out of the game. And I think that's kind of made it tough for the coaches to make their decision."
McKnight played with Sanchez at USC and has been one of his biggest supporters.
**
The Jets placed rookie WR Stephen Hill on season-ending injured reserve. Hill sprained his right LCL in the win over the Jaguars on Dec. 9. Hill had 21 catches for 252 yards and three touchdowns. ... TE Dustin Keller (ankle), G Brandon Moore (foot, hip), WR Chaz Schilens (calf, ankle) and CB Aaron Berry (hamstring) did not practice. ... The team signed CB Donnie Fletcher off the practice squad.
**
Safety LaRon Landry signed a one-year contract with the Jets this year, mainly because he was coming off an Achilles' tendon injury that hurt his value. Now that he has played 14 games and nearly every play this year, Landry is looking for a long-term deal.
"Would I sign another one-year [contract] here? No. Not at all," Landry said.
Landry said he feels he has proven to teams he can stay out of the trainer's room.
"Can I stay healthy? I think I've answered that," he said.
Landry has some interesting offseason plans: "When it's over, I'll do what I do every year: Head back to Arizona, do my work, get big as [bleep], get fast as [bleep], get strong as [bleep]."
**
Chargers coach Norv Turner is likely going to be fired in San Diego. If the Jets fire offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, Turner is an obvious candidate. Yesterday, Turner said he would be open to returning to an assistant's role.
"I think people that know me know that I'm a coach," Turner said. "I like coaching. I want to coach. I think you get to a point where there are things that are important to you. If I continue to coach I want to be in a good situation, a place where you have an opportunity to win and be in a situation that there are coaches I've worked with and been around."
Turner and Ryan had a war of words last year when Ryan suggested he would have won the Super Bowl had he gotten the Chargers job instead of Turner in 2007. Turner said there are no hard feelings.
"I think Rex and I had a little tongue and cheek thing going on there," Turner said. "We've seen each other since and laughed about it. I think Rex knows the respect I have for him."
brian.costello@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:32:30 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/mcknight_fans_helped_push_rex_to_I9g6SvoLCseZSzWIJBYW8M?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/mcknight_fans_helped_push_rex_to_I9g6SvoLCseZSzWIJBYW8M?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets 5.10.4084260854 -1 false By BILL SANDERSON National
Detectives believe there's another chapter to the horrific murder recounted in Truman Capote's classic book "In Cold Blood."
The bodies of remorseless killers Richard Hickock and Perry Smith, — hanged in 1965 for the 1959 slayings of Herb and Bonnie Clutter and their two children in Holcomb, Kan. — have been exhumed at the request of Florida authorities.
They are trying to link the murderous drifters to an eerily similar crime in the town of Osprey.
Samples from the killers' bone fragments will be tested in a Kansas laboratory against DNA evidence collected in the slayings of Cliff and Christine Walker and their two young kids.
The Clutter case was made famous in Capote's book and in several movies, including "Capote," a biopic about the author released in 2005.
But the Walker case is less known. The family was killed on Dec. 19, 1959, a little more than a month after the Clutters were slain.
Christine Walker was beaten and raped, and the couple's 2-year-old daughter was drowned in a bathtub. Then they were all shot.
Hickock and Smith have long been suspects in that slaying, and there's plenty of evidence against them, said Wendy Rose, spokeswoman for the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.
"It's all little stuff, but it makes sense when you put the pieces together," she said.
Hickock and Smith checked out of a hotel in Miami early on the morning the Walkers were killed, and were later seen within 30 miles of Osprey.
The suspects worked as car mechanics, and a grease rag was found with Christine Walker's body, Rose said.
There's also evidence the Walkers had been interested in buying the car Hickcock and Smith were driving.
DNA testing has advanced to the point where it's now possible to test the old samples against evidence in the Florida case, including semen found on Christine Walker's underwear.
Although Hickock and Smith are long dead, Rose said there's legitimate reason to pursue the investigation.
"There were nearly 600 people on a list of suspects. There are some people whose names were in the paper quite prominently back in the day who would like their names cleared," she said.
"We have gotten e-mails from people who were friends or neighbors of the Walkers. They are thanking us for sticking with the case."
bsanderson@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:01:32 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/in_cold_blood_echo_687gdcvxGZMSTIzKuLtRAK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= National http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/in_cold_blood_echo_687gdcvxGZMSTIzKuLtRAK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= National 5.10.4084143684 -1 false By GEORGETT ROBERTS and KIRSTAN CONLEY Manhattan
It was like taking candy from a baby.
More than $700 worth of valuables were stolen from a stroller outside a day-care center in Park Slope, Brooklyn, cops said yesterday.
An absent-minded mom left her personal items in the stroller on a front patio at 6 p.m. last Thursday as she picked up her child from day care on Seventh Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues, police said.
The thief made off with a $350 iPhone 4S, a full tote bag, a $250 wallet, keys, identification and credit cards, cops said.
Someone tried to use one of the cards to purchase $100 worth of food at a pizzeria, but the card reader declined the purchase.
The 30-year-old victim called her phone, and a man who answered hung up. No arrests have been made.
The day-care owner said clients often leave their pricey strollers outside.
"There's another stroller they attempted to steal today," said the day-care owner, who gave her name only as Rita. "They saw a bag, took the bag, but the bag was empty, so they threw it out."
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:55:56 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/stroller_rip_off_O8621RdItlCkM0aUNp4I5I?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Manhattan http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/stroller_rip_off_O8621RdItlCkM0aUNp4I5I?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Manhattan 5.10.4084143425 -1 false By LAURENCE ARNOLD Bloomberg National
Robert Bork, the judge and legal scholar whose nomination to the US Supreme Court by President Ronald Reagan set off a battle for the judiciary that lived on long after the Senate rejected him, has died. He was 85.
Bork died from complications of heart disease at an Arlington, Va., hospital.
His rejection by the Senate in 1987 established new rules for how prospective justices would be selected and vetted.
In nationally televised hearings, the Senate Judiciary Committee delved into Bork's ideology, not just his legal qualifications or competence.
Advocacy groups paid for print and broadcast advertising as part of an unprecedented lobbying campaign against a Supreme Court nominee.
The battle lines formed soon after Reagan announced his selection of Bork, a judge on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Then-Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), the committee chairman, said he would lead the fight against him.
"I don't have an open mind," the future vice president said.
"The reason I don't is that I know this man."
Bork had criticized civil-rights legislation that barred restaurants, hotels and other public accommodations from discriminating on the basis of race. He declared Roe vs. Wade "an unconstitutional decision," and he criticized a Supreme Court decision that permitted married couples to buy contraception.
The full Senate's 58-42 defeat of Bork on Oct. 23 was mostly along party lines, with six Republicans opposing him and two Democrats backing him.
Bork's first wife, Claire, died in 1980. They had three children, Charles, Ellen and Robert Jr. In 1982, Bork married Mary Ellen Pohl.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:16:54 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/bork_dies_at_uOlJW2VvRPP5AEHHi7HWKI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= National http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/bork_dies_at_uOlJW2VvRPP5AEHHi7HWKI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= National 5.10.4084143345 -1 false By DOUG AUER, NATASHA VELEZ, KIRSTAN CONLEY and JESSICA SIMEONE NYPD Blotter
Manhattan
Police are looking for the teen suspect pictured who allegedly attacked a woman and snatched her iPhone in a Washington Heights subway station.
Tamek Skinner, 17, walked up behind the 37-year-old woman in the West 157th Street No. 1 station at around 6:45 a.m. on July 13, police said.
He allegedly ripped the phone out of her hand, pushed her to the ground and fled.
The Bronx
Police arrested a suspected gunman in the slaying of a man at a West Farms housing project, authorities said.
Jamel Hunter, 30, allegedly blasted Paris Thomas, 20, several times on Nov. 30 at the city housing complex on East 178th Street, police said.
Thomas was taken to St. Barnabus Hospital, where he died, authorities said.
Hunter was nabbed at 2 p.m. Tuesday on charges of murder, manslaughter, criminal use of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.
Queens
The suspect pictured assaulted two women on a subway train after they refused his advances, cops said.
The suspect and the women were on board an N train near the Broadway station in Astoria at 4 a.m. last Thursday, police said.
The first victim, 27, was seated when the suspect approached, cops said.
After some small talk, he tried putting his arm around her but she rebuffed him.
He got instantly angry and punched her in the face, cops said.
He then approached another woman, cops said.
When that victim rebuffed his advances, he clocked her in the face, too, cops said.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic man in his 40s, cops said.
***
A pedestrian was killed early yesterday by a hit-run driver in Rosedale, authorities said.
The 31-year-old victim was crossing Francis Lewis Boulevard at 246th Street at around 3:15 a.m. when the car mowed him down at high speed, cops said.
The victim was rushed to Jamaica Hospital, where he died, police said.
There have been no arrests, and police have no description of the vehicle.
***
Police are looking for the teen suspect who allegedly accosted and attempted to rob a straphanger at the Main Street terminal of the No. 7 subway line in Flushing, cops said.
The suspect tried to steal the backpack of the 25-year-old victim in the station at around 5:40 p.m. on Dec. 11, cops said.
The victim fought back, the two struggled for the backpack and the would-be thief ran off empty-handed from the mezzanine area of the packed station, cops said.
Staten Island
A mugger stabbed a 27-year-old man in Port Richmond early yesterday, police sources said.
The suspect approached the victim at Post and Port Richmond avenues at around 12:30 a.m. and barked, "Give me your money!" in Spanish, the sources said.
He then stabbed the victim with a sharp object and fled with the man's wallet and an undisclosed sum of money, the sources added.
The victim took himself to Richmond University Medical Center and reported the attack to cops at 3:30 a.m., according to the sources.
***
Two cheapskate brothers tried to mug a Chinese-food deliveryman at knifepoint in South Beach, authorities said.
Michael Sanchez, 23, and Dominick Sanchez, 18, allegedly ambushed the victim delivering food to an address on Ocean Avenue down the block from their home at around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
According to court papers, Dominick pulled out two dollars, but the deliveryman told him the food cost more.
In response, Michael pulled out a blade, menaced the victim and barked, "Motherf--ker!" the court documents add.
The victim dropped the food and fled.
The suspects were collared an hour later at their home, cops said.
Brooklyn
A man was shot to death in Coney Island last night, police said.
The 23-year old victim was found shot multiple times on the sidewalk at West 36th Street and Neptune Avenue at about 6:15 p.m., police said.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:59:31 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/nypd_blotter/nypd_daily_blotter_iCatM52t8QDBYCFvlCdEEO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=NYPD Blotter http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/nypd_blotter/nypd_daily_blotter_iCatM52t8QDBYCFvlCdEEO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=NYPD Blotter 5.10.4084142953 -1 false By BRIAN COSTELLO Jets
Former Jets nose tackle Kris Jenkins fired shots at his old teammate Mark Sanchez last night on "Inside the NFL."
Jenkins said that Sanchez had a strong team around him in his first two years but did not improve.
"What Sanchez has to take responsibility for is during the time that he could have gotten better he wanted to sit back," said Jenkins.
Jenkins played with Sanchez in 2009-10, the two years the Jets made the AFC Championship game.
"He wanted to pose for magazines, worry about his haircuts and do all of that stuff. ... I'm just saying, from what I saw him do, it was a lot better than what it is now."
"But he coasted. They coddled him. That was what was going on. This is a man's profession. You have to man up at some point in time and take care."
Jenkins said he does not think Sanchez should be a Jet next year.
"I think that if you leave Sanchez in that locker room he is going to become a bad apple ... And the locker room has been fragile for the past two years," Jenkins said.
* The Jets tried out kicker Harvard Rugland on Tuesday, according to a source. Rugland is a Norwegian 28-year-old best known for his trick-kicking video on YouTube.
* Never put anything past the Jets.
coz73@comcast.net
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:32:30 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/jenkins_slams_sanchez_krW9k4iN8vBTq6rKcpdMAO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/jenkins_slams_sanchez_krW9k4iN8vBTq6rKcpdMAO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets 5.10.4083808781 -1 false By CANDACE AMOS Brooklyn
A 9-year-old girl riding her scooter in Brooklyn last night was struck in a three-car accident and pinned beneath one of the vehicles — but was rescued by good Samaritans who lifted the car off her, authorities and witnesses said.
Tawaiian Holmes (inset) was scooting on the sidewalk as her mother walked beside her when a livery cab struck a sedan and an SUV at Livonia and Rockaway avenues in Brownsville.
One of the cars mounted the sidewalk and ran over Tawaiian, who got trapped.
"She just kept saying, 'Mommy, I love you. Help me. I don't want to die. Am I going to see my friend,' " her mother, E-Zara Paul, 32, told The Post.
At least seven men at a nearby check-cashing business ran out when they heard the thunderous crash at about 7:30 p.m.
"We were all standing in the cashing place and then we heard a loud boom. Then another boom," said Keith Anderson.
"We ran outside and we saw the mother. She was yelling, 'My baby, my baby!' " said Anderson, 51.
Another of the hero
es, Arthur Lane, 41, said the child was calm despite her terrible pain.
"She was conscious. She was just looking up at us saying, 'Please get this car off of me.' "
The men managed to lift the vehicle off the child.
"On the second lift, the mother slid her out from under the car," Anderson said.
"The girl's legs were twisted up in an 'X' formation. I never saw anything like this in my life," he said.
Another pedestrian was struck amid the mayhem.
"He tried to walk, but he couldn't and he just fell down," Lane said.
Six victims — including Tawaiian — were rushed to area hospitals.
Tawaiian, a fourth-grader, suffered two broken legs and a broken pelvis, her mother said.
"I think the men who helped are awesome," Paul said.
"I thank God they were there because she could have died. She was pinned under the car from her neck to her toes."
None of the other victims was seriously hurt, authorities said.
Police sources said the driver of the livery cab was arrested. Charges were pending early today.
Additional reporting by Larry Celona and Antonio Antenucci
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:59:00 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/heroes_amid_chaos_iy8iOMzI1bp6SEOd30YomL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Brooklyn http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/heroes_amid_chaos_iy8iOMzI1bp6SEOd30YomL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Brooklyn 5.10.4083808453 -1 false By SABRINA FORD, JESSICA SIMEONE and ALEX DICKINSON Local
A deranged Hamilton Heights man, fearing he was under a "voodoo spell," fatally beat his grandmother yesterday with a fake elephant tusk and then bashed a cop in the head with it as the officer tried to arrest him, officials said.
Dominick Anderson, 27, allegedly bashed his 62-year-old grandmother, Beverly Holmes, during the 8 a.m. attack in a building on St. Nicholas Avenue and West 145th Street, police said.
"Oh, my God! Oh, my God!" cried Anderson's distraught mother, Mary Anderson, after witnessing the attack.
"My son has psychiatric problems. He thinks my mother is doing the voodoo on him," she told The Post. "He needs help."
Mary Anderson said her son had found a doll and photos of himself in Holmes' closet while doing Christmas cleaning on Monday.
The discovery made him think his grandma was casting "voodoo" spells.
"That's where she goes and does her chanting every morning," Anderson said. "Dominick took that doll and threw it away. He said, 'I can't believe my own family is trying to do this to me.' "
After the attack began, horrified neighbors flagged down cops, who barged in and tried to wrestle Anderson off his grandmother.
Anderson allegedly whacked Officer Michiell Matos in the head with the plastic tusk, which is believed to have come from a statue.
The raging suspect was as hard to take down as a bull elephant, requiring five other officers and a blast of pepper spray, police said.
Holmes was rushed to Harlem Hospital, where she died.
Mato had a CAT-scan at St. Luke's Hospital for a possible head injury before being released.
The other officers all were treated for bumps and scratches.
Mary Anderson said Dominick has a 5-year-old daughter and is a "father figure" in the tight-knit family.
She said he used to go to therapy and split his time between the Hamilton Heights home and his girlfriend's place while doing "odd household jobs" for people in the neighborhood."Dominick is a very good kid," she said. "What 26-year-old do you know who helps their mother clean up, run errands? Dominick does all that. It's a family tragedy."
Dominick had been due to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
He was initially charged with attempted murder and resisting arrest. A police source said upgraded charges are expected against Anderson, pending autopsy results.
Additional reporting by Antonio Antenucci
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:23:19 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/tusk_slay_horror_8jS0WqT6Eou5gSWVzrJz7M?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/tusk_slay_horror_8jS0WqT6Eou5gSWVzrJz7M?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4083808045 -1 false By PEDRO OLIVEIRA JR. Local
Two new breeds will compete at next year's Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garden, officials said yesterday.
The Russell terrier and the treeing Walker coonhound will bring the total of breeds and varieties in February's competition to 187.
The Westminster Kennel Club, which determines eligibility, said it considers breeds for recognition if they show sufficient numbers, geographic distribution and an active parent club.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:32:53 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/westminster_breed_ing_like_crazy_ySoEPuO39iX0LpxUfB6SyK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/westminster_breed_ing_like_crazy_ySoEPuO39iX0LpxUfB6SyK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Local 5.10.4083725367 -1 false Post wire services Weird But True
Anybody have change for a $500 million?
A man in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was busted for trying to pass off a counterfeit $500 million bill — but he won't serve any time.
Judge William Dimitrouleas, calling the offense "laughable,'' said, "It doesn't promote respect for the law to send somebody to prison . . . for doing something so silly and outrageous.''
The biggest bill circulated today is $100, but at one time, the government printed $10,000 notes.
***
"The Philharmonic will now perform the 'Concerto for Violin, Trumpet and Hand Fart.' ''
An anonymous Canadian has become an Internet sensation by using his hands to squeeze out popular and classical music.
His repertoire ranges from Pink Floyd's 1979 "Comfortably Numb,'' to Johann Pachebel's "Canon in D Major,'' written sometime before 1700.
***
Some good news and bad news for people waiting for gasoline prices to come down.
Scientists have discovered a huge oil field, containing an astonishing 155,238,095,238,095,250,000 barrels of oil.
Only one problem: It's 1,300 light years from Earth, in the Horsehead Nebula Galaxy.
***
Speaking of energy . . .
England's Big Pit National Coal Museum has installed 200 solar panels.
The museum says the move will save it about $650,000 over 25 years
***
He was a bit overdressed for the occasion.
A frugal flier, trying to save costs for excess baggage, wore every item of clothing he was taking on a plane from China to Kenya.
In his various pockets were batteries, flash drives and assorted electronic items.
The man — described as looking like a sumo wrestler — was wearing 60 shirts and nine pairs of jeans.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:21:15 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/weird_but_true/weird_but_true_EZpvAqL7UOC4eUa4BUV6bP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Weird But True http://www.nypost.com/p/news/weird_but_true/weird_but_true_EZpvAqL7UOC4eUa4BUV6bP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Weird But True 5.10.4083721169 -1 false By ZACH BRAZILLER Basketball
St. John's loss is Rider's gain.
Nurideen Lindsey, the dynamic guard who transferred nine games into his Red Storm career after a scintillating start, is off to a similarly solid beginning with Rider.
Lindsey initially committed to Arkansas, but changed his mind and picked Rider, surprising many since he has always been considered a high Division I talent from his days as a prolific scorer at Overbrook High in Philadelphia.
Lindsey said Rider is the perfect fit for him. He left St. John's to be closer to his family in Philadelphia — though there were reports he wanted to be the team's primary offensive option, which he has denied — where he can tend to his ill mother, Gina Schenck, with Rider just a 40-minute drive away in Lawrenceville, N.J. Red Storm head coach Steve Lavin's absence as he recovered from prostate cancer surgery was also a factor, Lindsey said.
"I've been able to focus a lot better," said Lindsey, who has lost two brothers to murder and a good friend to cancer. "It's very important. My mom is my biggest supporter."
He is the face of a program looking to get back to post-season play for the first time in three years and reach its first NCAA Tournament in over a decade. He has developed a close bond with first-year head coach Kevin Baggett, who made him feel comfortable by immediately "trying to coach me, being there when I needed help, somebody I could call and talk to," he said. "He took the initiative to put me under his wing when I got here, to make me feel like this is my home for the next two years."
Lindsey is averaging 12.5 points per game for Rider (6-5), which visits Princeton tonight. The versatile and electric 6-foot-3 guard got off to a roaring start, scoring 26 points apiece in a season-opening win over Robert Morris and loss at South Carolina. He has struggled in recent games, battling turnover and foul woes. A natural slasher at his best in transition, Lindsey has worked dutifully on his perimeter shot, and it shows to the tune of him shooting just over 41 percent from beyond the arc.
"His will to win is unbelievable," Baggett said. "These guys really rally around him. He's been good for our program, does everything I ask him to do."
Lavin considered it a win-win for both parties. Lindsey is more comfortable at Rider, near his family in Philadelphia, while St. John's has moved on without the dynamic guard.
At the time, Lindsey's departure looked like a crushing blow to the program, one of the team's oldest players bolting before Big East play began. Yet, it created opportunities for then freshman guards D'Angelo Harrison and Phil Greene IV.
"I'm sure D'Angelo and Phil's development have been accelerated because Nurideen moved on to Rider," Lavin said.
Lavin also pointed out that St. John's wouldn't have talented Texas A&M transfer Jamal Branch on its roster, either, if Lindsey didn't leave. Branch, a pass-first point guard who should make an immediate impact, will make his Red Storm debut against UNC-Asheville tomorrow.
Neither side has any ill-will toward the other. Lindsey said he still talks with Lavin and his former teammates every few weeks, calling them his "brothers."
"You want young people to be happy and in a situation that is a great fit for them," Lavin said. "Rider is a great fit for Nurideen."
zbraziller@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:32:30 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/basketball/rider_not_the_storm_maNl6VjOTAGFARJmTqAyaP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Basketball http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/basketball/rider_not_the_storm_maNl6VjOTAGFARJmTqAyaP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Basketball 5.10.4083701526 -1 false By KIERAN CROWLEY Local
All they want for Christmas is their stolen pooch.
Coldhearted thieves burglarized a Long Island home, stealing cash, trashing the place — and swiping the family's beloved Maltese-dachshund mix named Joey.
"Our Christmas wish is to have Joey home!'' said a distraught Donna Labriola, a mother of three heartbroken kids.
The return of the 13-pound pup was at the top of 10-year-old daughter Maria's Christmas list — in capital letters.
"I cried when I saw her Christmas list. She wants Joey home,'' said Labriola. "We all do.''
Long Island police are now asking the public to keep an eye out for Joey — who is tan and cream-colored and has black or gray on the tips of his ears and tail — in an effort to reunite him with the family and hopefully solve the crime.
Labriola, 48, said she's even consulted with an animal psychic in a effort to find Joey. The seer believes the pet is in one of the five boroughs.
The crooks broke into the West Islip house Oct. 23 and made off with more than $1,200 in cash — including $65 that Labriola's daughter earned walking dogs in the neighborhood — and more than $15,000 worth of jewelry.
"They broke in through a basement window, and they turned the whole house upside down,'' said Labriola. "They broke a pipe in the basement and flooded the house.
"The house can be repaired, and what they stole is just property. We only care about Joey."
Labriola said it's unlikely Joey tried to chase the robbers away. "He would probably have welcomed anybody,'' she said. "He's very friendly.''
The incident has impacted the family's other dog, Ceasar, a 2-year-old Australian shepherd, who was helpless inside a cage during the incident.
"Ceasar was totally traumatized,'' said Labriola. "It's almost like he let Joey down, and he didn't want to do that again.''
The mom and her three daughters searched the neighborhood trying to find Joey, who also answers to Jojo, thinking the crooks simply let him run free.
But when no one reported seeing him, they realized he'd been taken and called the police.
Labriola believes the thieves gave away the friendly dog t— worth about $1,000 — to someone who didn't know he had been stolen.
Suffolk County cops encouraged anyone who has seen Joey to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 220-TIPS.
Labriola said Joey has two ribs that protrude on either side, a harmless birth defect that would identify him because he had no collar or identification chip in his ear.
"This is highly unusual for burglars to take a pet. I could not speculate as to why they took the dog,'' Suffolk Detective Sgt. Tony Lavista.
"He's a cute little guy. Our hearts go out to the 10-year-old daughter, obviously. We're trying."
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:10:45 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/dognapper_hits_home_eeni5iYAWuXUndflYAb6jO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/dognapper_hits_home_eeni5iYAWuXUndflYAb6jO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4083701411 -1 false By SELIM ALGAR and JULIA MARSH Local
A socialite train wreck beat up her "sober coach" so badly that the woman is awaiting a spinal fusion, a Manhattan lawsuit claims.
Joselyn Wohl, 32, daughter of New York real-estate titan Larry Wohl, "yanked her down a flight of [concrete] stairs, then was on top of her, choking her," said Bryan Swerling, Heather McKean's lawyer.
Law-enforcement sources told The Post that Joselyn Wohl was charged with assault and that a warrant for her arrest was issued following the March 5 incident in the Hamptons.
Joselyn, her dad and his wife, Denise Wohl, are named in the suit because they were "aware of [their] daughter's propensity for violence," court papers say.
McKean was a glorified baby sitter for Joselyn, who'd been struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, Swerling told The Post.
McKean was living in the Wohl's Southampton pad when Joselyn snapped, the suit alleges. "Joselyn wanted to go out and do something not in her best interest, and Heather was trying to talk her down," said Swerling. "Heather began to walk up the stairs. She felt a tug on the back of her shirt, and it was Joselyn attacking her."
McKean has received physical therapy for injuries to her back and leg and has a spinal operation scheduled, Swerling said.
The Wohls did not return calls for comment.
julia.marsh@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:16:54 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/rich_girl_smackdown_suit_eMKUjGzbESLapBN6i1RErN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/rich_girl_smackdown_suit_eMKUjGzbESLapBN6i1RErN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Local 5.10.4083208785 -1 false By SELIM ALGAR Local
It was hell on wheels.
A woman was killed and 33 other people were injured in a massive chain-reaction smashup on the Long Island Expressway yesterday after a big-rig driver lost control of his truck.
The 18-wheeler — carrying flammable mulch — smashed into several cars heading eastbound at Exit 68 in Yaphank at around 2:50 p.m. before bursting into flames.
"It looked like something from an action movie," said witness Mike Jiminez, 24, of Flanders.
"I was going the opposite way, and the cars were just flying all over the place."
Nearly 40 vehicles were involved. Injured drivers were spread among three hospitals.
Police did not release the name of the driver who died, but said she was a 68-year-old woman from Blue Point.
Two people — Nicki Boralli, 20, and Sean Shilling, 37 — were choppered to Stony Brook University Medical Center in critical condition. The rest of the injuries were not life-threatening.
Two cars caught fire in addition to the truck, but the fatality was not in one one of those vehicles.
Jiminez said that the truck driver, Raymond Simoneau from Vermont, exited his vehicle as its engine exploded.
"The guy barely got out," he said. "He had to go right through the flames to make it from the front, the cab. Whoever that guy is is lucky to be alive."
Another witness, Danny Gershonowitz, said he saw the truck driver kick out his windshield to escape after several people tried unsuccessfully to open his door.
A tow-truck driver pulled another occupied vehicle away from the blazing big rig.
The metal- and glass-strewn roadway resembled a demolition-derby site. Traffic was closed for hours in both directions.
Suffolk police have not pinpointed why the truck driver lost control and are investigating.
A source said that a construction zone roughly three-quarters of a mile ahead of the crash site reduced the lanes from three to one and that the truck might have smashed into braking cars.
"When I ran back up to the scene, I was afraid to see what I was going to find," Gershonowitz said. "I was sure there would be multiple fatalities. Thank God there weren't."
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:05:01 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/horrifying_dead_end_on_the_8BbnJmdXOJjltiCqBm1BAL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/horrifying_dead_end_on_the_8BbnJmdXOJjltiCqBm1BAL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4083208659 -1 false By KIRSTAN CONLEY Queens
A Queens woman allegedly pretended to be a doctor and performed a butt-lift operation on a patient, who became seriously ill after the operation, cops said.
The 40-year-old victim paid suspect Liliana Coello $2,500 for a rounder derriere and underwent a procedure at Coello's 157th Street home on Nov. 3, sources aid.
Several days later, the woman's backside became infected, and she ended up in the hospital, sources said.
Coello was slapped with charges of assault, reckless endangerment and unauthorized practice of a profession, sources said. Cops said they confiscated her tools and charged her with criminal possession of a weapon.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:41:37 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/fake_doc_butt_toxic_cops_qeGzHzR0GlbnWKMQLWzzhI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Queens http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/fake_doc_butt_toxic_cops_qeGzHzR0GlbnWKMQLWzzhI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Queens 5.10.4083208553 -1 false Football Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:49:33 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/football/college_bowl_glance_kld2O4ARD8MvFFoNbBRqaI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Football http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/football/college_bowl_glance_kld2O4ARD8MvFFoNbBRqaI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Football 5.10.4083208537 -1 false By SALLY GOLDENBERG Local
Take from the rich and give to the less rich.
That's city Comptroller John Liu's plan, as outlined in a State of the City speech he will give today.
Liu wants to cut Madison Square Garden's $15 million annual property-tax break.
And he proposes cutting tax breaks for developers and making private equity firms pay unincorporated business tax for carried interest or gains from assets held for investment, worth about $200 million a year.
To help smaller firms, he wants to eliminate the corporation tax for all businesses with liabilities of less than $5,000 to save companies about $200 million in city revenue.
Businesses that earn less than $250,000 a year would be exempt from the city's unincorporated business tax under his plan.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:40:56 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/liu_ax_big_firms_tax_breaks_4Nu1xSceLH2EmJY7SnfLyH?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/liu_ax_big_firms_tax_breaks_4Nu1xSceLH2EmJY7SnfLyH?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Local 5.10.4083208499 -1 false Local Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:27:59 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/shattered_qS6wPLlh5xHLdXfwsujRCP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/shattered_qS6wPLlh5xHLdXfwsujRCP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4083208483 -1 false Page Six Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:39:29 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/olivia_culpo_i24lHle2TN6neP02nsN6BO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/olivia_culpo_i24lHle2TN6neP02nsN6BO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Page Six 5.10.4083208443 -1 false By FRED KERBER Nets
Mike Woodson has done something no coach ever has done.
He's told J.R. Smith not to hesitate when he shoots.
"Other than Coach Woodson, I've never been told I was hesitating," Smith said with a smile after shooting 7 of 11 and scoring 19 points last night in the Knicks' 100-86 win over the Nets at the Garden.
"They say I've never seen a shot I didn't like, and I've been trying to live up to his expectations," Smith said. "On the defensive end more than anything. The offensive end has been kind of easy."
No complaints anywhere last night. Smith, in addition to scoring, had three assists, five rebounds and just one turnover.
"He bounced back from the other night," Woodson said. "He and I had a conversation about his last game and we had an opportunity to work on the floor [Tuesday]. I thought he was very focused when he stepped on the floor, and it carried through the game. I couldn't be more proud of the way the young man played."
And Smith did all he was asked — and even what he wasn't asked to do. He kept his cool in the first quarter on a little rough play with Kris Humphries, who drew a technical foul.
"I didn't realize they were going to call a technical. It was just being physical, going for the ball," Smith said. "I didn't think he deserved a tech."
Smith now has shot 14 of 24 (.583) after a shaky eight-game run of 40 of 124 (.323).
"Coach just didn't want me to hesitate," Smith said. "Take less dribbles, be more efficient on the offensive end and take better shots."
Done. Done. Done. And then so were the Nets.
fred.kerber@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:54:39 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/nets/smith_finally_finds_his_shot_qm6p6J7w8j79Var2cOXVxN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Nets http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/nets/smith_finally_finds_his_shot_qm6p6J7w8j79Var2cOXVxN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Nets 5.10.4083208405 -1 false By ANTHONY AFFRUNTI Horse Racing
FIRST-6f; $17,000; mdn cl($12,500); 2YO
6-Nev's Cat 5-22-HandsomeSct12-13-CarefullyWrded7-24-He's Got Brass20-17-Hop Sing 3-15-Etbauer's Roux 8-11-Ferno 3-1
SECOND-6f; $17,000;cl($7,500); 3up
1-Pandering 3-15-Sixoeight 5-14-Moon On Fire 7-26-Trukarma 12-13-Tully's Dreamer9-27-Primal Jones 8-12-The Hidden Ace9-28-Boss M 10-1
THIRD-6f; $19,000; cl($10,000); 3up
5-Hard Case 3-13-Herecomesbert5-11-InJack'sMemry4-14-Boltronic 6-16-Kajiwara 7-27-Elusive Action 10-12-Stray Dog 5-1
2-Solar Night 5-14-SequoyahWells9-26-Shockman 5-25-Katillac Charm 8-13-Go Lil Tiger 4-17-Two Third Bird15-11-I'm in a Hurry 7-2
EIGHTH-1 1/16m(T); $45,000; mdn spcl; 3up
6-Empire Taker 8-14-Cowhand 4-11-Majestic Lite 3-17-Cool Street 6-15-Madris 9-28-Laugh It Off 6-12-South to theSea8-19-VperyodSeryg15-13-New Ruler 20-110-Flashy Sunrise 3-1
NINTH-6f; $25,000; cl($30,000); 3up; (f&m)
8-BarbadosBeaty5-23-WhteJsmneTw12-16-Take Interest 9-24-She'sabrees 12-11-Witty Gal 9-55-Dncngverthele10-12-Janis's Joy 6-17-Lastochka 12-1
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:38:54 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/affrunti_at_fair_grounds_graded_Uh9fPuceWUYptuMQVZyyXN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/affrunti_at_fair_grounds_graded_Uh9fPuceWUYptuMQVZyyXN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing 5.10.4083208391 -1 false More Sports
NBA: Thunder notch 12th straight victory
Kevin Durant set a season high with 41 points and had 13 rebounds as the Thunder (21-4) held off the Hawks, 100-92, for their 12th straight win. Russell Westbrook added 27 points — 21 in the first half — and 11 assists for Oklahoma City. ... Blake Griffin scored 18 points as the Clippers (19-6) beat the Hornets 93-77 for their franchise record-tying 11th consecutive victory.
Paul Pierce scored 25 of his season-high 40 points in the second half, hitting 10 of his 11 shots after halftime in the Celtics' 103-91 win over the Cavaliers. ... James Harden had 33 points and seven assists to lead the Rockets to a 125-103 victory over the 76ers.
NCAA: Kelly named AP coach of the year
Brian Kelly, who led Notre Dame into the BCS championship for the first time, was voted Associated Press college football coach of the year. He received 25 votes from the AP college football poll panel. Also receiving votes were Penn State's Bill O'Brien, Stanford's David Shaw, Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin , Kansas State's Bill Snyder and Alabama's Nick Saban. O'Brien was named the Maxwell Football Club coach of the year after the first-year head coach guided the Nittany Lions to an 8-4 record under unprecedented circumstances.
MLB: Diamondbacks hire Sax as coach
Steve Sax was hired by the Diamondbacks as their first base coach. Sax, 52, was a five-time All-Star second baseman for the Dodgers, Yankees and two other teams. He has been a professional speaker on motivation and leadership since he ritired in 1994.
Jeff Francis completed a $1.5 million, one-year contract to remain with the Rockies, a deal that allows the 31-year-old left-hander to double his income if he pitches 210 innings.
College Hoops: Edwin leads Seton Hall
Senior guard Fuquan Edwin scored 19 points to lead Seton Hall to an easy 79-61 victory over Longwood. The win was the fourth in a row for the Pirates (9-2), while the Lancers (3-9) lost their second straight. Besides Edwin, the Pirates got 13 points from Brian Oliver, who had been practically invisible in the past three games, and 11 points and eight rebounds from freshman Kevin Johnson.
Desi Washington scored 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting to lead St. Peter's to an 80-67 victory over LIU Brooklyn. The Blackbirds played without leading scorer Julian Boyd, who tore his ACL in the victory against Rice on Dec. 12. He will miss the rest of the season.
Sheldon McClellan scored 18 points, leading three Texas players in double figures in an 85-67 win over No. 23 North Carolina. After the game, Texas coach Rick Barnes would not directly comment on a report that guard Myck Kabongo will be suspended by the NCAA for the rest of the season. According to Yahoo! Sports, Kabongo will be banned following an investigation into the sophomore's relationship with Rich Paul, the agent of LeBron James.
GOLF: McIlroy voted player of the year
Rory McIlroy was the near unanimous choice as the best male player by the Golf Writers Association of America. McIlroy received 190 out of the 194 votes cast by GWAA members. Three votes went to FedEx Cup champion Brandt Snedeker, and the other went to Tiger Woods.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:41:43 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/sports_shorts_SIzshqOngDMj73a1X5oUAN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=More Sports http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/sports_shorts_SIzshqOngDMj73a1X5oUAN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=More Sports 5.10.4083208377 -1 false Horse Racing
FIRST-6f; $10,000; cl($8,000); 3up; (f&m)
2Proms M Jy (Butlr)3.402.602.103Thoarra (Coa)5.203.006Swift Feather (Parker)2.20
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:38:07 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/tampa_bay_downs_results_EXUl6fH2zsRIxHxOKOumhM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/tampa_bay_downs_results_EXUl6fH2zsRIxHxOKOumhM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing 5.10.4083208363 -1 false By CANDICE M. GIOVE and SUSAN EDELMAN Manhattan
A top administrator at CUNY's Zicklin School of Business pleaded guilty yesterday to forging signatures to raise failing students' grades — and alleged that four professors helped in the scam.
Chris Koutsoutis, 56, admitted in Manhattan Criminal Court that he faked colleagues' signatures on 11 forms to boost the grades of eight students in danger of flunking out.
The scheme kept the students, including Wall Streeters and other full-time financiers, enrolled — and their bucks rolling in. Their tuition, sometimes paid by the firms they worked for, ranged from $45,000 to $75,000.
"Dishonesty has no place in a college education," said Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr.
The Post exposed the cheating scandal in June (above left).
Koutsoutis, director of Zicklin's executive programs, said he forged the signatures of faculty and administrators on grade-change forms between Nov. 6, 2010, and June 2, 2011.
"I did this to lift the grade-point averages of eight different students who had failed to meet the necessary academic requirements to obtain their degree from Zicklin," he said.
When the failing students asked him for help, Koutsoutis said, he faked the forms, giving phony reasons for the higher grades, such as "completed missing work" and "re-evaluation of previously un-submitted work."
He raised some grades from "F" or "incomplete" to "A-minus," he said. Students below a "B" average could be booted.
Koutsoutis claimed faculty members helped further the ruse by letting students sit in on other courses for credit.
He named Joseph Onochie, Aloke Ghosh, Avner Wolf and Giora Harpaz.
Ghosh called Koutsoutis' allegations "simply untrue." He said he discovered his forged signature and reported it to administrators in June 2011.
Onochie, who was removed as director of the executive MBA program, also denied helping in the scam: "Absolutely not. This is ridiculous."
Harpaz and Wolf did not return calls for comment. Harpaz, Wolf and Ghosh are in disciplinary hearings, said Christine Latouf, a rep for Baruch College, where Zicklin is based.
Koutsoutis also admitted forging the name of Frank Fletcher, the executive director of Zicklin's grad programs, as approving the changes.
He claimed students didn't pay him off: "I received no monetary or other tangible benefits in exchange for my actions."
Judge Larry Stephen asked what, if not money, was his motive. "I was giving them a better opportunity to succeed," Koutsoutis replied. "I wish I had a better answer."
In a plea deal, Koutsoutis copped to 21 counts of forgery and falsifying records. He faces six months jail when he's sentenced on Feb. 6.
"This is a much bigger issue involving Zicklin and academic professionals," said his lawyer Mark Bederow. He added hat the scandal included "at least four professors with some degree of knowledge of what was going on."
susan.edelman@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:21:15 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/cuny_big_up_MHkMdUiXvKIA5ksnMcEnKM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Manhattan http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/cuny_big_up_MHkMdUiXvKIA5ksnMcEnKM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Manhattan 5.10.4083208338 -1 false By BILL SMITH Horse Racing
3 Lightning Storm(BSears)3-1-58-55 Keenan(CManzi)3-6-85-11 As Ya'll Like It(DDube)4-1-15-12 WorthTheMoneyAs(LStlbm)3-8-88-14 Conway Cruiser(JStratton)1-8-38-16 Sweet Joe(JBartlett)3-2-46-17 Stonebridge Idol(BHolland)1-1-312-18 Louie The Fourth(MForte)7-2-515-1
THIRD: mile; trot; $9,000; cl($12500)
4 Ms Graywalls(JStratton)3-2-18-53 Flying Mocha(DDube)3-5-44-15 Carnivalocity(LStalbaum)5-5-88-11 P H Dreamer(EGoodell)5-4-18-12 Angel Ofthe West(BHolland)8-8-612-16 Not Thinking(CManzi)5-3-210-17 Temptation Queen(BSears)7-5-530-18 Our Girls Chance N(SSmith)7-3-520-1
FOURTH: mile; pace; $9,000; cl($12500)
1 Moving Art(GBrennan)4-3-19-52 Jk Ru Bettor Yet(LStalbaum)2-8-85-15 Marie The Artist(EGoodell)3-1-38-13 Bambina's Sorella(BSears)3-6-26-14 Whatrugonnado(DDube)6-4-68-16 Little Miss Henry(JStratton)1-2-410-17 Party Dream(BHolland)8-3-440-18 Elodie(PBerry)4-2-312-1
FIFTH: mile; pace; $9,000; cl($12500)
1 Princess Bliss(EGoodell)2-3-85-13 Wizzard Queen(DDube)1-5-34-12 Make A Bundle N(GBrennan)7-1-49-54 SkywayHanover(LStalbaum)4-3-78-15 Kimmy(CManzi)6-2-88-16 No Faultz(BSears)2-6-110-17 Kissmatt(JStratton)4-5-66-18 Avaricity(JBartlett)5-4-820-1
SIXTH: mile; pace; $12,000; cond
2 Alibi Hanover(GBrennan)1-4-83-14 Dinah Ross(JBartlett)4-1-84-11 Runaway Rose(BSears)4-4-25-13 Little MermaidN(LStalbaum)2-2-612-15 Lizzie's Dream(CManzi)5-7-510-16 Latin Lyric(JStratton)1-5-26-17 My Miss Bliss(MKimelman)4-8-212-18 Eyewitness Account(DDube)1-2-58-1
SEVENTH: mile; pace; $15,000; cond
2 Late Flyin N(GBrennan)1-1-78-53 Thinkyoucandance(LStlbm)1-3-55-15 Lightning Paige(BSears)2-1-24-11 Miss Sand Creek(BHolland)2-6-86-14 Campanile(JStratton)8-2-210-16 Mikeleh(JBartlett)4-2-78-17 Royal Knockout(CManzi)7-8-515-18 Sir Lb's Z Tam(PLachance)5-7-420-1
EIGHTH: mile; pace; $15,600; cl($20000)
2 Lucky Lucky Leo(EGoodell)1-1-25-14 LiterateHanover(LStlbaum)6-5-24-11 Artic Blue(GBrennan)2-6-33-13 Tough Love(BHolland)3-7-412-15 Strange Hanover(BSears)5-5-46-16 Honeys Dragon(CManzi)4-6-310-17 Irish Elitist(JStratton)2-2-68-18 K C Colt(DDube)2-7-612-1
NINTH: mile; pace; $15,600;cl($20000)
6 Arockin Hanover(DDube)1-2-53-14 Not This Time(LStalbaum)2-3-44-12 Pams Legacy(EGoodell)4-6-25-11 Gotthejobdonemate(BHllnd)7-8-28-13 Cooperstown Kid(JBartlett)1-2-38-15 Shellysblockbster(PLchnce)5-4-510-17 Lilsharkshooter(BSears)6-8-312-18 FinanceTheMaster(JStrattn)7-1-46-1
TENTH: mile; pace; $15,000; cl($25000)
7 SharkDressedMan(GBrennn)3-1-18-53 Cam's Oracle(RDane)8-8-110-16 Allamerican Apche(BSears)4-1-14-11 Fiesty Flyer(DDube)1-1-810-12 Ultimate Desire(BHolland)4-3-18-14 All Powerful(LStalbaum)8-2-28-15 AwesomeArmbroN(JStrattn)1-8-65-18 Touch And Go(JBartlett)5-5-720-1
ELEVENTH: mile; trot; $17,000; cl($30000)
8 AlternatThursdays(JBartltt)1-4-33-16 Partyatyourplace(DDube)1-2-45-12 Ringside Lauryn(CManzi)8-7-64-11 Cinderella Man(BSears)2-5-88-13 Im The Cash Man(JStratton)7-6-210-14 Justa Rebel(LStalbaum)2-3-65-15 Sailaway Dream(GBrennan)2-5-86-17 Big Sky Domino(JGregory)7-6-812-1
TWELFTH: mile; pace; $15,000; cond
4 We Adore Thee(GBrennan)1-3-38-56 Wildfire Osborne(EGoodell)2-2-19-52 Nightly Terror(DDube)4-1-16-11 Marie's Z Tam(PLachance)7-2-410-13 Dressedforthednce(JGregry)2-3-18-15 Stratus(JStratton)1-2-48-17 Woes Jet Filly(BHolland)3-3-415-18 Julias Song N(BSears)8-4-312-1
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:37:02 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/yonkers_graded_entries_Yx0jxwWCfSH2gzGcpWr4VL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/yonkers_graded_entries_Yx0jxwWCfSH2gzGcpWr4VL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing 5.10.4083208209 -1 false By S.A. MILLER and GERRY SHIELDS Post Correspondents With AP International
WASHINGTON — Three top State Department officials resigned under fire yesterday after a scathing report blasted "grossly inadequate security" and management "failures" before the attack on the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.
But senators said they still want to grill Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton about the foul-ups that allowed terrorists to kill Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans on Sept. 11.
As congressional leaders read the damning report, the Obama administration disclosed that Eric Boswell, an assistant secretary of state, and two deputy assistant secretaries of state, Charlene Lamb and Raymond Maxwell, had stepped down.
Clinton had been scheduled to provide answers at a congressional hearing on Libya today. But she canceled after fainting and sustaining a concussion last week while recovering from a stomach virus.
Republicans — and some Democrats — still want to hear from Clinton about the report by a blue-ribbon, independent panel.
"What it says is there are huge management problems at State, and she's ultimately responsible," Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) told The Post.
"I think she's got to testify," agreed Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).
Sen. Dick Durbin, the Senate's second-ranking Democrat, added, "I hope that Secretary Clinton will testify . . . Ultimately we need to present this to the American people."
Retired Adm. Mike Mullen, co-chair of the panel, said in the report that some officials were more concerned with saving money than with security.
Mullen's co-chair, retired Ambassador Thomas Pickering, said the personnel on the ground in Benghazi "did the best they possibly could with what they had — but what they had wasn't enough."
Lamb defended the security when she testified in October before Issa's Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
"We had the correct number of assets in Benghazi at the time," she said.
Lamb added that she rejected requests for more security, and trained "local Libyans and army men" instead to guard the mission.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:02:09 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/benghazi_backlash_WKtLiUV9gwNUIklr4O6tfI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=International http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/benghazi_backlash_WKtLiUV9gwNUIklr4O6tfI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=International 5.10.4083208141 -1 false By GERRY SHIELDS National
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans yesterday offered their own Hurricane Sandy relief bill — which is less than half the original proposed amount.
The GOP version calls for $23.8 billion to be spent on disaster relief for New York and New Jersey — while the bill offered by President Obama totaled $60.4 billion.
Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) introduced the new legislation, which would fund aid through the first three months of next year.
Coats said the lower figure eliminated unnecessary spending — such as $150 million for fisheries in Alaska and Mississippi.
"The concept behind this, of course, is to be as careful as we can with the taxpayers' money and make sure that each dollar spent is spent on something that has been thoroughly examined," Coats said.
The bill isn't likely to pass the Senate, which Democrats control with 52 votes.,
One of the biggest cuts in the funding involves reducing Community Development Block Grants from $15 billion to $2 billion. That money is viewed as critical to helping homeowners socked by the storm.
The move would also eliminate close to $11.3 billion in funding for future storm protection. Republicans left in the $9.7 billion to pay out claims from the National Flood Insurance Program.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) slammed the offer.
"This proposal is not even in the ballpark of what New York and New Jersey need," Schumer said yesterday.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:59:13 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/gop_sandy_lash_iiaREoXayjOfNQ7O6IrekN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/gop_sandy_lash_iiaREoXayjOfNQ7O6IrekN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National 5.10.4083207989 -1 false By BRIAN COSTELLO and BRIAN LEWIS Jets
Mark Sanchez's return to the Jets in 2013 is not a guarantee.
The team is open to all options with Sanchez, according to a source, including trading him or releasing him. The most likely scenario remains he returns next season to compete for the job because of his onerous contract.
The Jets benched Sanchez Tuesday, replacing him with Greg McElroy. The former first-round pick has gone from the future of the franchise to a burden.
A trade seems extremely difficult because it would have serious salary cap ramifications for the Jets and one league source said, "there will be no market for him. None." Sanchez has a league-high 50 turnovers in the last two years.
No team would take Sanchez's $8.25 million salary. The Jets would have to eat a decent amount of the money. One source estimated it would be at least $6 million. The best the Jets probably could get for Sanchez is a late-round draft pick that might improve based on Sanchez's playing time.
A weak free-agent quarterback class would work in the Jets' favor. A team with cap space might view him as a one-year stopgap. But his contract severely hurts the chances.
If the Jets trade him, his cap figure becomes $8.9 million plus the amount of the salary the Jets paid. So, if they paid $6 million, the cap figure becomes $14.9, that is higher than the $12.4 they would owe if they cut him with a June 1 designation.
The person making the call on Sanchez may not work for the Jets either. After another season with no playoff appearance, general manager Mike Tannenbaum could be the fall guy.
When asked if he would like to remain a Jet yesterday, Sanchez said "of course" before sidestepping all further questions about his future.
Sanchez said he understands and respects Jets coach Rex Ryan's decision to bench him, but he doesn't have to like it or agree with it. Sanchez would not talk about 2013.
"No, we haven't looked ahead that way yet," Sanchez said. "You want to be out there playing. I'm not going to just concede. You've got to compete, so I'll just keep doing it.
"Rex went with a decision to go with Greg. I respect his decision. I don't necessarily agree. But at the same time, I've got to help Greg and that's really all I'm focused on.''
Ryan did not want to talk about next year.
"Any long-term discussion would probably be better served for after the [season finale],'' said Ryan, who had given Sanchez a glare as he walked past him on the field after Monday night's 14-10 loss to the Titans, then told him in the postgame locker room that he had been demoted.
Sanchez said he let Ryan know he did not agree with the decision but knows it's Ryan's call.
"It's disappointing," Sanchez said. "You just hate letting other guys down on the team and that's the worst part of it. You're going in there, trying to play well and improve and [I] just made some bad decisions. I just have to take care of the football better and own up to my mistakes and get better."
brian.costello@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:16:36 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/source_jets_open_to_trading_sanchez_w3Bz3D31R1LUsG6pI5sXAN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/source_jets_open_to_trading_sanchez_w3Bz3D31R1LUsG6pI5sXAN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets 5.10.4083207962 -1 false By BRETT CYRGALIS Jets
In trying to rationalize his quarterback change Wednesday, Jets coach Rex Ryan spent a lot of time talking about protecting the football, about being a leader, about being a winner, and even about intangibles.
And the starter he named for this Sunday's game against the Chargers was ... Greg McElroy?
"I definitely think I want to see what Greg can do," Ryan said one day after announcing his decision to bench four-year starter Mark Sanchez and give the ball to McElroy over regular backup Tim Tebow.
"We all know the intangibles he has," the coach continued in his fawning over McElroy, echoing what could have been a lifelong description of Tebow. "He's a winner. He's been a winner his whole life. Won a national championship [at Alabama], won a state championship [at Southlake Carroll in Texas] — his whole resume speaks about him being a very confident guy and a confident leader."
So for those reasons, Ryan goes with McElroy, him of zero NFL starts, one NFL touchdown pass and five NFL completions. And Tebow, one year removed from leading the Broncos out of a 1-4 start to an AFC West title and a postseason victory against the Steelers, is scheduled to spend another Sunday as a Wildcat specialist, doing more watching than playing.
That is if Tebow and Sanchez both dress for the game, which Ryan said was a possibility.
But to McElroy, those facts don't mean anything, as this is the culmination of a dream that he has had since he was a kid wearing Troy Aikman's blue No. 8 jersey growing up outside of Dallas.
"I'm not concerned about next week against Buffalo, I'm not concerned about next year, I'm not concerned about these things, just live in the moment," McElroy said. "That's what my Dad said when I talked to him, 'Live in the moment and enjoy this. You've been dreaming about this your whole life.'
"My whole life!"
McElroy said Ryan told him about the decision Tuesday afternoon in a quick conversation, one that he joked lasted "a minute and seventeen seconds, exactly," and from which he would remember every single detail. So his opportunity comes now that the Jets are at 6-8 and officially eliminated from the playoffs, following Sanchez's four-interception performance in Monday night's 14-10 loss to the Titans.
"I can't emphasize enough: This is not the finish line, this is the starting point," McElroy said. "You work hard enough to get here, you set a goal for yourself and as soon as you achieve that goal you reassess."
The one chance McElroy had to play in a game came on Dec. 2 against the Cardinals, when he entered late in the third quarter and led the one scoring drive the Jets needed to take an ugly 7-6 win. He finished the game 5-for-7 with 29 yards, and most importantly didn't have a turnover — which was Sanchez's big liability and led to his demotion.
"Everything that I've learned in this league at this position has been from Mark," said McElroy, who was drafted by the Jets in the seventh round two years ago. "I've been watching him. I understand how to play this game because of him and I'm very grateful for this opportunity and I know he'll be helping out every step of the way."
In the mind of Ryan, he strictly chose McElroy as the best man for the job, regardless of feelings.
"It's no slight to this person or that person," Ryan said. "I just want to give Greg a spot to be in there and let's see what he can do."
bcyrgalis@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:32:30 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/opportunity_knocks_mcelroy_relishing_KWSlqJ3f04iGWR9SbJwB3M?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/opportunity_knocks_mcelroy_relishing_KWSlqJ3f04iGWR9SbJwB3M?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets 5.10.4082557870 -1 false By STEVE SERBY Jets
Whomever decides to seek fame and fortune in the big city and chase a Super Bowl with the Jets better understand the place is a wasteland, a hell-hole where the devil to whom Joe Namath sold his soul is diabolically under orders to stick his pitchfork into a quarterback's heart and soul and leave his dream smoldering in ruin.
A Bermuda Triangle so treacherous it can swallow up young Sanshise quarterbacks and Tebowmania whole.
My warning to the next victim: Come here at your own risk.
I remember the look on Tim Tebow's face the day he walked into the fieldhouse inside the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center, the first mass media press conference for a backup quarterback waiting for him in the distance in front of him, photos of former Jets in the club's Ring Of Honor peering down to meet his giddy, awestruck glance skyward.
There wasn't a football place in the world he would rather have been.
Nine months later, he is standing at his locker, a gray wool hat on his head, giving birth to a seething sense of betrayal inside the last football place in the world he wanted to be.
He would run shirtless through a monsoon to escape from New York.
And who could blame him?
Mark Sanchez was the No. 1 quarterback yesterday only in terms of facing the music on the worst off-the-field day of his professional life, and then it was Tebow's Time to face the music on the worst day of his off-the-field professional life, at the same time Greg McElroy was on another side of the room reveling in the opportunity Tebow thought would be his.
There is only so much punt protecting a man can take.
If the last straw for him didn't come when coach Rex Ryan took the ball from Sanchez and handed it to McElroy instead, it will come when he hears that Ryan lauded McElroy's credentials at Alabama at his press conference earlier in the day. "He's a winner," Ryan said.
The only time in his life Tebow hasn't been a winner has been under the Big Top at the Ringless Bros. and Ryan & Tannenbaum Circus.
"All you can ask for and all you want is a chance," Tebow said.
From him, Mr. God Bless Y'all, that is tantamount to play me or trade me.
Because he never got that chance whenever Sanchez struggled early in the season, and he isn't getting that chance now, when Ryan no longer can use his fractured ribs as a reason to shun him.
Tebow never got that chance for any number of reasons, starting with his horrific practice habits and scatter-shot arm. He refuses to resign himself to the notion he never will amount to anything more than a Wildcat quarterback.
But it finally has hit him, and hit him hard: He is first team All-PSL, a walking, talking, rotting publicity stunt.
Tebow Crime.
Asked if he had gotten an explanation from Ryan or Tony Sparano, Tebow said: "Not really too much of one."
The raging competitor inside of him forced him to bite his tongue at every turn.
No longer do the words, "I love being a Jet" leave his lips.
"Sometimes things just happen out of your control and obviously you might not be pleased with them or happy about it, but you just try to handle it as best you can," Tebow said.
He's only 25. If he can play, he will get his chance. Somewhere else.
Does he want to be a Jet?
"I'll wait until after this season to talk about anything like that," Tebow said.
That's a no.
But no regrets.
"No, sir. I don't have regrets. I believe everything happens for a reason and it's a learning opportunity for me. There's a lot that I've learned, good and bad, and I still appreciate the opportunity to come be a Jet."
No. 2 quarterback before McElroy. No. 2 or 3 quarterback now.
"I don't feel deceived," Tebow said.
But the one time Sanchez was benched, he was inactive.
"Could just be unlucky," Tebow said.
"That was part of God's plan and I'm not going to regret not being healthy."
A year ago he was the talk of the league.
"There's always ups and downs and it's not about how you handle the ups, it's about how you handle the downs," he said. "That's the true test of your character.''
Asked if this day was his toughest day as a Jet, Tebow said:
"I'm not sure, it's a good question."
Here's a better one he can ask Woody Johnson, Mike Tannenbaum and Ryan: Why?
steve.serby@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:38:13 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/tebow_love_affair_with_jets_clearly_S0BqmoKykfF1yurAYsfMxM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/tebow_love_affair_with_jets_clearly_S0BqmoKykfF1yurAYsfMxM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets 5.10.4082557856 steve_serby.png true By KALEE OSOWSKI and CYNTHIA R. FAGEN Local
Keep your fingers crossed.
The 7-foot-tall "13" that will be part of the lit-up "2013" when the ball drops on New Year's Eve arrived in Times Square yesterday — and organizers are trying to make sure the number doesn't frighten off superstitious revelers.
Just to make sure, the "13" will come with 13 "lucky" charms.
"Some people get nervous about the number 13," said Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance.
"But just to keep all bases covered, we've gone ahead and gathered 13 good-luck charms — everything from a four-leaf clover to gold coins to bamboo to a Buddha statue," he said.
On Dec. 26, the lucky "13" and its charms will be installed atop One Times Square to complete the "2-0-1-3" sign that will light up at midnight after the ball drops.
Some 1 billion people around the world are expected to see the festivities. About 1 million revelers will camp out in Times Square.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:21:15 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/doing_number_on_times_sq_yKulfbGyDEGco7wKiohq9K?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/doing_number_on_times_sq_yKulfbGyDEGco7wKiohq9K?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4082557833 -1 false By ERIK KRISS Local
ALBANY — New York hasn't said yes to fracking but the industry already supports more than 44,000 jobs in the Empire State.
Natural-gas drillers in other states depend on New York for financing and insurance, which account for 40 percent of the state's fracking-related jobs, according to a report commissioned by the US Chamber of Commerce.
Even if New York continues to resist fracking, industry-related jobs would grow to 74,000 in 2020 and more than 78,000 in 2035, the report found. But that would still leave it behind nine other states, including Pennsylvania.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:08:58 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/fracking_already_ny_job_booster_EJ7qFJNE8I1iUNj0psLrQK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/fracking_already_ny_job_booster_EJ7qFJNE8I1iUNj0psLrQK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4082557723 -1 false By S.A. MILLER, Post Correspondent National
WASHINGTON — In one of the most abrupt Capitol Hill press conferences ever, House Speaker John Boehner yesterday dared President Obama to ignore a Republican offer to raise taxes on millionaires and instead take a fiscal-cliff jump.
"He can call upon the Senate Democrats to pass the legislation or he can be responsible for the largest tax increase in American history," Boehner told reporters before walking off after just 49.5 seconds at the podium.
Boehner's hasty retreat as reporters shouted questions mirrored the impasse in negotiations.
Obama, who proposed higher taxes on incomes above $400,000 a year, pressed Republicans to come to an agreement to avert the cliff by invoking the tragic school shooting in Connecticut.
"Goodness, if this past week has done anything, it should just give us some perspective," Obama said at a White House press conference called to discuss gun control.
Without a deal, the cliff hits on Jan. 1 with huge automatic tax hikes on every American and deep spending cuts that likely will cause another recession.
Fitch Ratings agency yesterday warned that it would likely downgrade the United States' top AAA credit rating if Washington can't strike a deal.
Boehner's latest proposal, called Plan B, would spare more than 99 percent of Americans from tax hikes but raise rates on annual incomes over $1 million.
The two sides are at odds over the mix of higher taxes and spending cuts needed to replace the self-imposed cliff but still reduce government debt.
Obama has proposed $1.3 trillion in new tax revenues over 10 years, while Boehner has called for $1 trillion.
"The idea that we would put our economy at risk because you can't bridge that gap doesn't make a lot of sense," Obama said.
The House is expected to pass the Plan B bill today, with overwhelming support from Republicans despite their longtime opposition to higher taxes.
Obama said he would veto it, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). said the measure couldn't pass his chamber even as a last-ditch effort.
Anti-tax activist Grover Norquist blessed the bill, saying it would not violate his no-new-taxes pledge that many Republicans have signed.
smiller@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:09:40 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/pulling_fast_one_mq7Us7HxlIswOWQIAIsvzJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= National http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/pulling_fast_one_mq7Us7HxlIswOWQIAIsvzJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= National 5.10.4082557553 -1 false By SALLY GOLDENBERG Local
A study of the health impact of 9/11 expected to be released soon will find increases in cancer rates similar to those in a city Health Department study released this week.
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, which has studied 20,000 first responders since the attacks, will soon publish a report that is "virtually identical" to findings the city released this week, said Philip Landrigan, a doctor who headed the research.
He specifically noted a 14 percent overall increase in cancer rates among first responders, with particular spikes in thyroid and prostate cancers and multiple myeloma, and said his research reached similar conclusions to the city's.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:09:00 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/studies_dovetail_gl4FbshSfhyfDgIxlvYO9H?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/studies_dovetail_gl4FbshSfhyfDgIxlvYO9H?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4082557447 -1 false By JENNIFER FERMINO and SALLY GOLDENBERG Local
MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota yesterday took the first step toward a run for City Hall, resigning from his post at the transit agency to test the waters in the crowded 2013 mayoral race.
His last day at the helm is New Year's Eve.
Lhota — a former top deputy mayor under Rudy Giuliani — said he'll make a final decision early next month.
"This will be a life-defining decision and one that I will be seriously considering in the upcoming weeks," he said at a press conference after an MTA board meeting.
His entry into the race — which has been lacking a strong Republican candidate — would be welcome news to the city's business community.
"I just think a strong GOP candidate is important to bring balance to the race," said Kathy Wylde, the leader of the business group Partnership for New York City.
"If he enters the race, I think he has a great story to tell about what it took to transform New York into a safe, manageable city."
Because of his position with the MTA, Lhota under state law had been barred from planning a run for public office.
But with this decision, on New Year's Day, he can begin talking to potential donors.
Sources told The Post that many in Giuliani's circle are confident that Lhota can raise $10 million.
One person whose support Lhota won't be receiving is Mayor Bloomberg.
According to a City Hall source, Bloomberg dislikes him, especially after Lhota said the mayor acted "like an idiot" when Hizzoner speculated on the reopening of the Queens Midtown Tunnel after Hurricane Sandy.
Lhota's entry likely hurts the mayoral ambitions of City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, an all-but-announced candidate who had been positioning herself as the most centrist in the Democratic field.
The 2013 field also could include city Comptroller John Liu, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and former Comptroller Bill Thompson.
A spokesman for former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión — who is mulling a mayoral bid as a Republican — said he still plans to run.
jennifer.fermino@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:21:15 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/lhota_eye_on_next_ride_yeUFk9Iogtz6HyD0ogHADN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/lhota_eye_on_next_ride_yeUFk9Iogtz6HyD0ogHADN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4082557424 -1 false By DAVID K. LI Local
Lower East Siders may soon be flying in the sky.
The city is seeking proposals for a seasonal trapeze operation at Hamilton Fish Park on the Lower East Side — including 32-foot-high rigs, swings, safety nets and a big top.
It would operate over the swimming pools from mid-September to mid-May — when they are dry and empty.
There's already one trapeze outfit in Manhattan, the Trapeze School of New York at Pier 40, which is closed for the winter.
School officials plan to submit a bid for Hamilton Fish Park, in hopes of making their business year-round.
"The Lower East Side is a very romantic side of the city," said TSNY president and co-founder Jonathon Conant. "It's gentrifying with a sense of art and this [trapeze swinging] is artistic."
The city hopes it won't have to spend a dime on the project. All equipment, instruction and insurance would be picked up by the winning vendor, according to project officials. If Parks officials receive a plan they like, it could be a go by September 2013.
The idea for a trapeze was hatched after Parks officials first considered a zip line.
That plan never got off the ground because the height required would have necessitated cutting some treetops.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:23:38 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/say_high_to_side_trapeze_4tmrqCUbCivUEkl8xwgCWM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/say_high_to_side_trapeze_4tmrqCUbCivUEkl8xwgCWM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Local 5.10.4082557318 -1 false By JENNIFER FERMINO Local
Straphangers were slapped with their fourth fare hike in five years yesterday.
The MTA's board overwhelmingly green-lighted the increases — only one member voted against toll hikes — that will go into effect in March.
"Its a plan that's antiquated," board member Allen Cappelli said about the tolls, saying they hurt small businesses and unfairly target Staten Island.
Outgoing MTA chief Joe Lhota — who will quit at the end of the year to run for mayor — voted to approve the increases.
The cost of a monthly MetroCard will go up $8, to $112, and there will be a dollar increase to the weekly cards — bringing them to $30.
Riders also will be slapped with a $1 "green" fee on new MetroCards to encourage them to refill their old cards.
"Something has to happen before we price this gem of a system out of the reach for most New Yorkers," board member Andrew Albert said, adding the MTA will be in the same situation in 2015 — when more hikes are scheduled — without more state funding. LIRR and Metro-North fares will increase an average 8.19 percent and 9.31 percent.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:05:00 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/mta_we_re_trapped_so_you_hang_Mzmq5ih8kwmRHQ3jyaN6wL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/mta_we_re_trapped_so_you_hang_Mzmq5ih8kwmRHQ3jyaN6wL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4082557302 -1 false By JULIA MARSH & YOAV GONEN Local
A teacher the city tried to boot for slapping a student not only get her job back, but deserves $85,000 in back-pay, a court ruled yesterday.
Former Brooklyn elementary-school teacher Beverly Riley spent two years in court battling her 2010 firing for striking a student who got too "sassy" for her liking, DOE documents say.
She was reinstated in January after an appeals court found that her punishment had been too harsh.
Yesterday, a Manhattan Supreme Court judge ruled she was entitled to a year's back pay.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:20:50 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/city_lapped_for_teach_ax_cDA7YwhXPxne2AiQ2r28SJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/city_lapped_for_teach_ax_cDA7YwhXPxne2AiQ2r28SJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Local 5.10.4082557265 -1 false By AMBER SUTHERLAND and NATALIE O'NEILL Local
Stop the world — I wanna get off!
A sexy swimsuit model and countless other lusty New Yorkers say tomorrow's predicted Mayan apocalypse is a great reason to have sex, and are turning to social media and doomsday-themed parties in hopes of fully experiencing humanity's steamy climax.
"If I die, I don't want to die on a dry spell!" declared model Niki Ghazian (pictured).
The sexy fashion plate, who works in New York and Los Angeles, told The Post she'll attend a fashion party with friends tonight to celebrate Doomsday Eve — and, hopefully, hook up with someone hot.
"Everybody should go out feeling satisfied," she told The Post. "If the world's gonna end, why hold back?"
All the horny hubbub has been caused by a doomsday prediction made by the ancient Mayan calendar, which predicts the world will end on Dec. 21, 2012, at 11:11 a.m.
While some people around the world are arming themselves and digging into bunkers, many New Yorkers are simply hoping for a hot time.
"I will be looking for an end-of-the-world hook-up," Dennis Cintron, 29, a Lower East Side bartender, told The Post. "If you're going to go out, go out with a bang."
Cintron said he'll buy new clothes and get a haircut for the big day because he wants some "companionship" to ring in the rapture.
Sara Saperstein, 26, of Bushwick is also hoping for one last romp.
"It's like New Year's. I want to go out on a wild note!" Saperstein said.
She won't have trouble finding a spot for that. More than a dozen bars and clubs in New York City are throwing end-of-days bashes, including a comedy show at the Bell House in Gowanus and an "End of the Funking World Party" at B.B. King Blues Club in Midtown.
Other singles posted ads on Craigslist.org and OKCupid.com, seeking apocalypse-themed dates, "casual encounters" and even "end of the world sex."
"If you've got no plans for the apocalypse, let's get together," wrote a 30-year-old single guy from Midtown.
He added, "Send me how you'd like to spend your last hours on earth — and a photo."
Kerri McMearty, a 35-year-old nurse from Long Island, wants to spend her last night on earth enjoying a boozy dinner with a "new man."
"You come into the world with people — you may as well go out with them," she said.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:17:38 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/end_of_world_is_very_bed_news_for_QnNdRlOJ9XcFik5zjd8JvI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/end_of_world_is_very_bed_news_for_QnNdRlOJ9XcFik5zjd8JvI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4082557240 -1 false By GERRY SHIELDS, Post Correspondent National
WASHINGTON — President Obama yesterday signaled that he's finally ready to use his political muscle to take on the powerful gun lobby and push a package of gun-control bills through Congress next year.
"The fact that this problem is complex can no longer be an excuse for doing nothing," Obama said, seizing the momentum for new gun laws after Friday's killing of 20 schoolchildren and seven adults in Connecticut.
Obama tapped Vice President Joe Biden to head a task force that will come up with proposals, including an assault-weapons ban, closing gun-show background check loopholes and restricting the sale of high-capacity ammunition clips, among other initiatives.
He gave the panel a month to complete its work. But the president, who will address gun control in his State of the Union speech for the first time since taking office, bristled at suggestions that he's late to the effort.
Asked at a news conference, "Where have you been" following previous gun massacres during his tenure, Obama snapped:
"I've been president of the United States, dealing with the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, an auto industry on the verge of collapse, two wars. I don't think I've been on vacation."
The battle to take on gun control — often described as the third rail of US politics — comes as several pro-gun lawmakers have said they are finally willing to consider bills restricting the sale of weapons.
Obama insisted his proposals will fall far short of dismantling the Second Amendment — and will leave room for legal gun ownership.
"And there is a big chunk of space between what the Second Amendment means and having no rules at all," Obama said. "And that space is what Joe is going to be working on to try to identify where we can find some common ground."
Mayor Bloomberg, one of the nation's most outspoken gun-control advocates and a critic of the president's lack of action, called Obama's move a step in the right direction.
"The country needs his leadership if we are going to reduce the daily bloodshed from gun violence that we have seen for too long," Bloomberg said.
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-LI) last week threatened to "embarrass" Obama if he didn't move on gun control. Yesterday, she welcomed his commitment to the effort.
"This time is different now that we have a president behind us," McCarthy said of previous failed battles against the powerful gun lobby.
gshields@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:04:53 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/got_ban_plan_clzs65TpjOSJ4NIdGfjBtO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/got_ban_plan_clzs65TpjOSJ4NIdGfjBtO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National 5.10.4082557107 -1 false By CHUCK BENNETT National
The pension funds of Massachusetts and Connecticut have joined New York and a growing number of states and municipalities questioning their investments in the firearms industry in the days since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Massachusetts treasurer Steve Grossman said the move was motivated by "the physical, emotional and moral outrage, the outpouring of emotion" of the massacre perpetuated by 20-year-old Adam Lanza primarily with a legal .223 Bushmaster rifle.
Officials in Connecticut, where Friday's tragedy occurred, also said they ordered a review of their investments.
The moves add further pressure on the firearms sector that has been besieged with outrage over the past five days and the threat of new regulations.
Cerberus Capital Management already said it would sell off its $900 million Freedom Group, the maker of Bushmaster rifles and other guns.
But the weapons remain popular with customers. Walmart sold out of five types of semiautomatic rifles, including the one used in the mass slaying, in five states, Bloomberg News reported.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:01:32 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/pension_funds_have_makers_in_their_Su8rLEv14Y2FBlQMJucHkN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/pension_funds_have_makers_in_their_Su8rLEv14Y2FBlQMJucHkN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National 5.10.4082557047 -1 false By JESSICA SIMEONE Local
New York City has begun assigning extra safety officers to the city's elementary schools in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre.
"We have two to three agents in every [public elementary] school. That's up from one," a community- affairs officer said at a public meeting at Manhattan's Ninth Precinct.
The NYPD said, "Security is being assessed on a daily basis as a result of the Connecticut school shooting."
Meanwhile, a threat was made against students at Westwood HS in New Jersey.
Cops arrested a suspect after searching the home, officials said. They do not believe there is now an active threat against the school.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:05:00 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/extra_safety_at_city_schools_eM6MF9Ii6eKf04SsiyJfdL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/extra_safety_at_city_schools_eM6MF9Ii6eKf04SsiyJfdL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4082557033 -1 false By CHUCK BENNETT National
Deaths from guns are on track to outpace automobile fatalities in the United States within three years, a new analysis has found.
Based on current trends, there will be 32,929 firearm fatalities by 2015 and 32,036 motor-vehicle deaths, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control crunched by Bloomberg News.
Between 2005 and 2010, motor-vehicle deaths declined by an impressive 22 percent.
The fall in traffic deaths resulted from safer vehicles, restricted privileges for young drivers and seat-belt and other laws, Garen Wintemute, director of the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California-Davis, told Bloomberg News.
Almost the reverse was true with guns, however.
"We've made policy decisions that have had the impact of making the widest array of firearms available to the widest array of people under the widest array of conditions," he said.
In 1982, there were about 32,000 gun deaths, compared with 45,000 traffic-accident deaths.
Each day, about 85 Americans are shot dead — 53 of them suicides, and the rest accidents or homicides.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:01:32 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/bullets_to_top_traffic_UVHlywSNGagHHRG21x5aAL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/bullets_to_top_traffic_UVHlywSNGagHHRG21x5aAL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National 5.10.4082550377 -1 false By LORENA MONGELLI in Newtown, Conn., and DAN MANGAN in New York Local
He always dreamed of being a firefighter — and yesterday, he got a hero's farewell.
First-grader Daniel Barden — "one of those angels" killed at Sandy Hook Elementary — was laid to rest yesterday as an honor guard of firefighters, police officers and military servicemen from as far away as New York City lined the streets leading to St. Rose of Lima Church.
Daniel, 7 hoped to follow in two relatives' footsteps and become a firefighter.
"There's a new playground in heaven, a playground with 20 beautiful perfect little angels," choked-up school-bus driver Gary Wheeler told mourners at the church.
"Daniel is one of those angels.
"Daniel had a smile as big as the sky, minus his two front teeth," Wheeler said in his eulogy.
The young, rambunctious redhead, he said, "would run and give me a big bear hug" every time.
"He had eyes that sparkled, sometimes with mischief. He would race the bus down the street," Wheeler said.
"He would always win."
Rows of NYPD and FDNY members joined their brethren from Daniel's hometown of Newtown and elsewhere. The boy was also the nephew of NYPD Lt. James Giblin.
Madeline Giblin, noting that her young cousin's nicknames included "Hurricane Daniel," said, "He was too full of life, love and joy."
His funeral was the first of two yesterday at St. Rose, which is holding funerals for nine of the 20 children who were massacred.
Emotional wakes and funerals for six other Sandy Hook victims also were held yesterday.
Shivering mourners waited outside in line for nearly five hours to enter the wake for brave principal Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung — the first person gunman Adam Lanza killed after she tried to tackle him — at the Woodbury Funeral Home.
"She made everybody feel special," said Hochsprung's former neighbor, school-bus driver Renata Hilse. "She stood for what she believed in and never backed down. She was sweet and funny, too."
Sandra Prendergast, whose daughter is taught by Hochsprung's husband, George, said, "He was always talking about her."
"We're all thinking we're going to have to support George, because what is he going to do now?"
Gov. Dannel Malloy attended Hochsprung's wake and the funeral of kindergartner Charlotte Bacon, 6, whose white casket was surrounded by stuffed animals and wreaths of pink roses.
A eulogy read alternately by her grandfather and uncles called Charlotte "determined, fearless, coy, precocious, creative, independent, authentic, dramatic and beautiful."
And at the funeral for 6-year-old Caroline Previdi at St. Rose, her mother, Sandy, said she "always had a smile on her."
Additional reporting by Kenneth Garger and Tara Palmeri
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:05:12 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/bravest_boy_salute_4XnZ4d3IErb2mbXi1LXZbK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/bravest_boy_salute_4XnZ4d3IErb2mbXi1LXZbK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4082368350 -1 false By DAN MACLEOD, JEANE MACINTOSH, JOSH MARGOLIN and JENNIFER BAIN Local
Adam Lanza spent two days home alone preparing for hisConnecticut schoolhouse massacre after his mother went away on a mini-vacation, it emerged yesterday.
Nancy Lanza checked into the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, NH, at 12:10 p.m. Tuesday, and left around the same time Thursday.
The drive is about 4 1/2 hours, so she would have arrived back home in Newtown late in the afternoon or early evening, according to Headline News — just hours before Adam (pictured, at 13) shot her dead in her bed before the Friday morning rampage that killed 20 first-graders and six educators.
He was armed with a Bushmaster .223-caliber assault rifle and two handguns, a Sig Sauer 9mm and a Glock 10mm, all belonging to his mom.
News of Nancy Lanza's getaway came as a funeral home in her New Hampshire hometown called to "discreetly" claim her body, the medical examiner said.
Meanwhile, investigators said they have been able to pull salvageable information from computers at the gunman's home.
"Every day we learn a little bit more, both from the computer and from talking to people," said a law enforcement official.
Police also said yesterday that the second surviving shooting victim is an adult.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:06:29 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/killer_got_ready_with_mom_away_obDc6IlRDklXzQVDcUxkvI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/killer_got_ready_with_mom_away_obDc6IlRDklXzQVDcUxkvI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4082368175 -1 false By FRED KERBER Knicks
Nets center Brook Lopez was so excited for last night — the first time the Brooklyn Nets were playing the Knicks in Madison Square Garden.
Then the game began.
Knicks center Tyson Chandler eventually turned all that excitement into frustration, and the Nets may have left the joint hoping it was the last time they would have to play the Knicks in the Garden.
Chandler was a 16-point, 12-rebound, defensively charged beast all game in the Knicks' 100-86 wipeout of the Nets. And nowhere was Chandler better than in the third quarter when he pick-and-rolled the Nets to death, collecting five of his six dunks (four of them off lobs, three coming from Raymond Felton).
"I wanted to just close the game. I wanted to make a statement," said Chandler, who had three blocks.
That statement might as well have been: "You're toast, Nets."
"This was a big game for us, a game in our division, an opportunity to gain a full game as far as the lead goes," Chandler said. "We have to make statements like this."
And Chandler did. Again and again and again.
"He was solid," Knicks coach Mike Woodson said. "He plugs up holes for some of the mistakes we make defensively and he's been doing it all year."
Chandler also erases offensive mistakes by keeping the ball alive. He is uncanny at knocking the ball back to teammates providing additional opportunities. The Knicks had 21 second chance points while the Nets had 11.
"There are plays that don't show up on the stat sheet," Carmelo Anthony said of his teammate's back taps. "Those are moments that are crucial plays for us."
Though there were several such plays last night — Chandler had five offensive rebounds — his most noted play this season was the back tap the last time the Knicks and Nets played, in Brooklyn. That led to Jason Kidd's game winner.
So yeah, Chandler and the Knicks made a statement.
"It's more about us to be honest with you," Chandler said, stressing how the defense picked up to stifle Brooklyn. "We felt like over the last couple games we slipped away defensively. We wanted to get back to that."
They did. Lopez, regarded as a high powered offensive center, shot 8-of-18, scoring 16 points. And he had nothing but praise for Chandler.
"He's very physical. Very strong, moves well. He's very good at maintaining good position, staying in front of you and making it difficult to get to the basket," Lopez said of Chandler, before adding Dwight Howard to the conversation. "They're both very good defenders. Maybe Tyson moves more laterally, but they're very similar."
The Knicks led by four at halftime and then stretched the lead to 10 in the third before going into the final quarter up eight. And Chandler, with three lobs from Felton and one from Pablo Prigioni, scored 10 as the Garden erupted.
"The dunks for Tyson, the energy in the building gets going," Kidd said. "Baskets like that puts all the pressure on the defense."
fred.kerber@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:32:30 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/tyson_ko_punch_mAeyzSzHQefaFJxgWN0zhI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Knicks http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/tyson_ko_punch_mAeyzSzHQefaFJxgWN0zhI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Knicks 5.10.4082368060 -1 false By JUSTIN TERRANOVA Knicks
Isiah Thomas is going to get another chance — on television.
NBA TV announced yesterday that Thomas has joined its team of studio analysts and will make his debut on tomorrow's pregame show prior to the Knicks-Bulls matchup on the channel.
The former Knicks coach and president had tried out for ESPN earlier this year, but the network opted to add columnist Bill Simmons and former NBA point guard Jalen Rose to the show. Thomas, who remains close with Knicks owner James Dolan, will make several appearances each month and will contribute to NBA.com. Thomas was fired by Florida International University in March after going 26-65 in three seasons with the school.
Thomas was the lead analyst for NBC in 1998 after parting with the Raptors and before being named president of the CBA.
jterranova@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:00:41 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/isiah_lands_nba_tv_gig_ALD7uSrus15afF30OxLULO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Knicks http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/isiah_lands_nba_tv_gig_ALD7uSrus15afF30OxLULO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Knicks 5.10.4082367954 -1 false By YOAV GONEN Local
The retired principal of Sandy Hook Elementary will return to lead the school when classes resume next month.
Donna Page, who left in June 2010, will run the school out of its new home at the Chalk Hill Middle School in nearby Monroe, according to the Hartford Courant.
Page was replaced as principal in 2010 by Dawn Hochsprung — the first massacre victim — who attempted to stop killer Adam Lanza at the start of his shooting spree. Hochsprung's wake was held yesterday afternoon.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:05:00 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/principal_out_of_retirement_WuT3590NV7KoC1qItYOVJP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/principal_out_of_retirement_WuT3590NV7KoC1qItYOVJP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4081459440 -1 false By REUVEN FENTON in Stratford, Conn., and DAN MANGAN in New York Local
She's their "superhero."
The selfless Newtown teacher who died shielding her students from a gunman's assault rifle was remembered by her two kid sisters yesterday as a best friend, an inspiration and the bravest person they had ever known.
Victoria Soto, 27, "gave her life to save her kids, and if that's not true strength and heroism, I don't know what is," said her weeping sister Carlee Soto, 20, in a stirring eulogy.
"The expression 'You don't know what you have until it's gone' is true. My best friend is gone."
And Jillian Soto, 24, said her sister's fearless act was something usually heard of only in Hollywood movies.
"Somebody wrote me a letter about the recent tragedy that I would like to share with you. In it, it said they had to sit down with three small children, explaining to them that monsters, sadly, do exist out there," a weeping Jillian told more than 1,000 mourners at Lordship Community Church in Stratford.
"But they felt relief that because of my sister, they were able to tell them that superheroes also are very real.
"You are my superhero and I am so proud of you and all you have done in your 27 short years."
Singer/songwriter Paul Simon sang his haunting classic "The Sound of Silence" in the packed church, as Victoria was sent off with seven eulogies, from her sisters, best friend, aunt and three cousins.
Many mourners wore ties, scarves and ribbons that were green, Soto's favorite color.
"It kills me that I'm never going to say, 'I love you' one last time to her," said Carlee, who credited Victoria with pushing her to enroll in college.
"The pain is unbelievable, but I know I can get through this thanks to Queen Victoria watching down on me.
"I love you so much, Vicki. And I am beyond proud to say I am Victoria Leigh Soto's little sister."
The photograph of an anguished Carlee desperately clutching a cellphone last Friday outside Sandy Hook Elementary School instantly became an iconic image of the tragedy.
Carlee didn't know at the time that Adam Lanza had already murdered Victoria, along with six other adults and 20 children only 6 and 7 years old, before killing himself.
As the shooting began in another room, Victoria herded her first-graders into a closet. When six of the terrified youngsters tried to bolt from the room, Lanza shot them and Victoria as she tried to shield them from his bullets.
"Over the past five days, people have been thinking of you as a hero, many hoping that they could do the things that you have done to touch the lives of so many, whether it be through your actions on that terrifying morning, or through the way that you brought curiosity, excitement and joy to your students every day," Jillian said as dad Carlos, mom Donna and brother Carlos Jr. also looked on.
"Each of those are reasons why you are in so many people's hearts, but truthfully, you have been a hero to me for a lot longer than five days," Jillian said.
"You have been my big sister, the one I've always looked up to, the one I've always wanted to be like.
"You are beautiful, smart, funny, goofy and you had an amazing smile."
The Rev. Meg Boxwell Williams offered a prayer thanking God for giving the mourners a "homebody" who was the "ringleader" of a group of cousins, a Yankee fan and a lover of Swedish meatballs.
"We thank you that she achieved her life's goal to be a teacher of young children. And we thank you that her last act was absolutely selfless, Christ-like, in laying down her life for her children," Williams said
Victoria's best friend and college-dorm roommate, Rachel Schiavone, told mourners she "was strong and totally fearless, and it doesn't surprise me at all that Vicki died protecting her kids."
"She loved them more than anything, and bragged that this year she had the best first-grade class ever."
Schiavone drew laughs with an anecdote from their days at Eastern Connecticut State University, when Victoria blasted the song "Kiss the Girl" from her favorite movie "The Little Mermaid" as Schiavone sat in the next room with a boy.
"I knew what she was trying to do, though I don't think the boy ever picked up on it," Schiavone said.
Hours after the funeral, Carlee Soto posted a Twitter message saying, Yankees star "Derek Jeter just called my mom!!!!! Thanks Vicki, she needs it thank you @yankees this meant a lot to my mother and all of us."
dan.mangan@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:05:00 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/sisters_grieve_for_superhero_qsPIBZAlFJhko6IHW0R64M?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/sisters_grieve_for_superhero_qsPIBZAlFJhko6IHW0R64M?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4081459417 -1 false Associated Press More Sports
Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III was fined $10,000 by the NFL for wearing Adidas at his postgame news conference Sunday.
The NFL yesterday confirmed the fine for "unauthorized apparel."
Griffin was inactive for the game because of a sprained knee, and he wore an Adidas T-shirt and sweat jacket when he addressed reporters afterward. Griffin has a sponsorship deal with Adidas, but the league has a deal with Nike.
It's the second time this season Griffin has been rebuked for his attire, but it's his first time he's been fined. He covered up the Nike swoosh on his official team warm-up shirt before the regular opener against the Saints.
Griffin had a full practice yesterday, but coach Mike Shanahan said no decision has been made if he will start Sunday when the Redskins (8-6) face the Eagles (4-10).
EAGLES: LeSean McCoy will start at running back against Washington after missing four games because of a concussion. Coach Andy Reid said he would rotate McCoy with rookie Bryce Brown.
VIKINGS: QB Christian Ponder confirmed he and ESPN reporter Samantha Steele got married on Monday at a courthouse in Wisconsin.
COLTS: Interim coach Bruce Arians and others have pegged next Sunday's regular-season finale against Houston as a possible return date for head coach Chuck Pagano, who has not been on the sideline since late September when he began his battle against leukemia.
CHARGERS: Head coach Norv Turner said he isn't ruling out taking a job as an offensive coordinator for another NFL team if he is fired after this season.
BILLS: Center Eric Wood said he is sticking by his comments Monday when he said playing so-called home games in Toronto is "a joke."
"It stunk that we were up there,'' he said.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:43:06 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/rg_fined_for_apparel_violation_IB47NXcIcQyu3r8j1VTC9O?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=More Sports http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/rg_fined_for_apparel_violation_IB47NXcIcQyu3r8j1VTC9O?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=More Sports 5.10.4081392175 -1 false By PEDRO OLIVEIRA JR. National
Bam! Pow!
President Obama may have gotten trapped in Spider-Man's web — but he still managed to snag the honor of Time magazine's Person of the Year 2012.
Yesterday's announcement by the magazine puts Obama in the company of a select group of two-time winners, which includes George W. Bush, Winston Churchill, Richard Nixon, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Josef Stalin.
Time said the president — pictured in the mag getting "ambushed" by Spidey (actually the son of a White House staffer) — deserved the nod as "the symbol and in some ways the architect of this new America."
"We've gone through a very difficult time," Obama told the magazine.
"The American people have rightly been frustrated at the pace of change, and the economy is still struggling, and this president we elected is imperfect, and yet, despite all that, this is who we want to be. That's a good thing."
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:47:33 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/itsy_bitsy_spidey_an_obama_web_zinger_eQuB7DJE8uYYDBo3PRHWGP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/itsy_bitsy_spidey_an_obama_web_zinger_eQuB7DJE8uYYDBo3PRHWGP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National 5.10.4080734441 -1 false Horse Racing
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:33:03 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/gulfstream_charts_wbDRY6ToSdUmGbk8HBYVzL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/gulfstream_charts_wbDRY6ToSdUmGbk8HBYVzL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing 5.10.4080734294 -1 false By CHUCK BENNETT Local
America's story is being told by the numbers.
We're gayer. Women are more prominent than ever. We are going to fewer rodeos, more baseball games and still watching a lot of TV.
A treasure trove of interesting, odd and illuminating statistics is revealed in the 135th edition of the Statistical Abstract of the United States, which will be published this week.
The data will "serve as an answer book to basic statistical questions," said Dan Coyle, product manager for the data firm ProQuest. He said the information helps us "to understand who we are, what we are about, and how we're changing."
For example:
* There are 646,464 same-sex households in the United States, according to census data compiled in the abstract. That includes 48,932 in New York state.
* Coffee consumption is down, while peanut eating is on the upswing.
* About 70 percent of all adults ages 18 to 34 own a laptop.
* The data found 53 percent of men spend their leisure time watching TV, while for women, the number was 48 percent.
* Unwed mothers were responsible for 41 percent of births in the country in 2010, compared with 33 percent in 1990.
Still, women have been making gains in society. They accounted for 40 percent of all science and engineering doctorate degrees in 2010, a leap from just 27.9 percent in 1990.
In the workplace, 19 percent of us reported being in the same job for 12 months or less, while another 20 percent had held the same job for five to nine years.
New Yorkers have the longest commutes, with 40 percent reporting more than 35 minutes. Despite the Big Apple's density, only 10 percent of us reported walking to work, compared with 11 percent in Washington, DC.
We love our pets, too — and the poorer we are, the more likely we are to have pet birds. Some 4.4 percent of households earning less than $20,000 a year have an avian friend.
But our cowboy past is fading. There were just 572 rodeos held in 2011, down from 754 in 1990.
For the first time, the compendium — made up from US Census, government agency and private sector data — was published by a private company because of federal budget cuts.
chuck.bennett@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:47:22 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/the_american_way_6KOSlhjUgD3bmy8JF1whqL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/the_american_way_6KOSlhjUgD3bmy8JF1whqL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4080734280 -1 false By DEBBIE LITTLE Horse Racing
Best Bet: Steuben Patriot (9th)
FIRST: mile; pace; $2200; cl($4000)
5 EngineNumberNine(GMertn)5-3-45-24 Blue Mermaid(AButtitta)5-6-68-13 Sues Destroyer(TFreese)7-5-34-11 Hammer(RDaneJr)6-4-67-22 Badlands andArt(JTaggrtJr)3-3-89-26 You Slay Me(JDevaux)8-7-510-17 Thin Blue Line(BAldrichJr)5-7-73-18 KamwodJsperN(CHckbneIII)8-4-812-1
SECOND: mile; trot; $3000; cond
5 ExcellentVacatin(BAldrchJr)4-3-35-24 Varsity Hall(JDeSimone)1-2-43-13 Karma Hall(JDevaux)3-9-75-11 E R Anna(JDohertyJr)4-6-44-12 EastCreekNicolle(RCmplng)8-5-29-26 Sweet Licks(CStratton)6-5-510-17 Slugging It Out(WParkerJr)8-3-812-18 SpringbackWack(JTaggrtJr)5-5-88-1
THIRD: mile; pace; $4000; cl($2600)
1 Bet Your Britches(BDobson)1-8-45-23 Bullish Blue Chip(JDevaux)8-4-33-16 Eyesbold(CHuckaboneIII)2-8-16-12 Snuff Box(GAnnaloro)6-2-88-14 Dougs Boy(ASchwartz)4-7-14-15 Zoom On By(CStratton)7-4-210-17 Q Revrac(GMerton)7-6-77-28 Pro Kid(WParkerJr)1-1-13-1
FOURTH: mile; trot; $3000; cond
5 Sweet Kix(CStratton)2-4-13-12 CostnerBlueChip(WPrkerJr)5-4-64-14 Trottin To The Max(RVinci)3-7-65-21 QuantumDonato(JDohrtyJr)7-8-85-13 Toes In The Sand(RHarp)5-6-66-16 Upfront Amanda(MForte)4-6-612-17 Barmaid(JMarohnJr)7-6-58-18 MrDemolitionMn(BAldrchJr)7-7-610-1
2 Zorgwijk Lucifer(JDevaux)3-6-55-25 Speedy Big Ras(WParkerJr)7-1-77-21 BroadwayLine(CHuckbneIII)4-5-23-13 Largent Hall(JMarohnJr)7-7-510-14 Double D Fine(JTaggartJr)8-7-34-16 Two Black Clouds(GMerton)6-8-46-17 Kash Now(CMcCracken)7-6-812-18 Mystical Heiress(BAldrichJr)4-dnf-49-2
2 Caseys Cam(BAldrichJr)1-7-17-21 U Belong To Me(WParkerJr)7-3-25-23 Diablo(KDibenedetto)1-2-33-14 Shando Hanover(JMarohnJr)4-8-810-15 Fly Away(CStratton)3-7-59-26 Mc Dragon(MMerton)5-1-612-17 Matts Delivery(JTaggartJr)8-8-18-18 Camp Counselor(GMerton)1-5-84-1
NINTH: mile; pace; $3100; cond
1 SteubenPatriot(KDbendett)1-1-x9-53 Future Rock Star(GAnnalro)3-1-44-12 Cam DanKadandy(MMerton)2-4-33-14 Lucky Deuce(AButtitta)6-6-310-15 Lukes Dotty(WParkerJr)4-5-69-26 Fulla Love(JMarohnJr)5-4-212-17 DaydreaminLynx(JChindno)2-1-48-18 No More Toys(GMerton)2-7-64-1
TENTH: mile; trot; $3800; cond
7 E R Kayla(WParkerJr)2-2-15-22 Fair Bizzness(JTaggartJr)8-1-69-24 Tropical Leader(GAnnaloro)5-7-410-11 Tas Avance(PBeeler)1-8-93-13 Motown Railing(BClouser)5-3-58-15 SecretEnergy(CWashington)7-3-612-16 MyCinnamonGirl(BAldrchJr)1-5-77-28 Liberty Cruise(MForte)4-1-24-1
ELEVENTH: mile; pace; $3000; cond
2 Cannae Rocky(GMerton)1-1-15-21 Wild Artist(MForte)6-1-13-15 Big Slick Z Tam(WParkerJr)6-1-48-13 HowForeverFeels(BAldrhJr)5-4-17-24 Greystone Matt(RDaneJr)2-7-810-16 Five Star Stud(JTaggartJr)8-3-612-17 Windsun Fire N Ice(JDevaux)3-4-54-18 Kevin S Apples(JChindano)7-6-49-2
TWELFTH: mile; pace; $2200; cond
1 Zinescape(GMerton)2-7-85-25 Cards N Music(BAldrichJr)2-7-83-12 IdealPhannyMan(GAnnalor)4-4-57-23 Armbro Durable(GCampbell)7-7-712-14 Four Starzzzz Lou(KHaase)7-5-25-16 Welcome Lover(WParkerJr)5-8-19-27 Joshuas Jet(MForte)7-4-410-18 Jk Hooty(CStratton)6-6-68-1
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:32:43 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/debbie_little_at_monticello_0Fp2yOILcPLrpPcwx8CXdL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Horse Racing http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/debbie_little_at_monticello_0Fp2yOILcPLrpPcwx8CXdL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Horse Racing 5.10.4080734266 -1 false By JENNIFER FERMINO Local
New York really is the home of the Borscht Belt.
Officials will douse the New York State Thruway with 50,000 gallons of beet juice this winter, an anti-icing measure that's cheaper and less corrosive than salt.
But don't expect purple roads. The beet mix also includes brine and other liquids, giving it a brownish hue.
Beet juice is particularly effective on the state's 570-mile highway system because it can be used before snow falls to prevent ice from forming. That helps reduce employee overtime costs, officials said.
It does not eliminate the need for salt, but works with it.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:59:02 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/icy_road_just_beet_it_IFcmsC9u4KDb2bPGZcZqcL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/icy_road_just_beet_it_IFcmsC9u4KDb2bPGZcZqcL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4080734252 -1 false Horse Racing
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds1 BelieveinCharli(L),118J Rios10-5-6Yates2 Le Fascinator(L),120J Rocco, Jr1-x-xMotion3 Shrinking Violet(L),118J Garcia9-1-1Ward4 My CrazyDayse(L),120JCastellan1-3-xNess5 Rosie Red(L),118P Lopez6-2-1Plesa6 The Royal Boot(L),118E Nunez4-4-1Vivian7 Wholelotarylty(L),118L Saez4-1-5McIntosh8 Why Who(L),118J Sanchez2-5-1Green9 Spectacular Me(L),118J Leyva8-7-1Santoro10 Barisoff(L),118J Garcia1-x-xWard
NINTH-1 1/16m(T); $30,700; cl($30,000); 3up
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds1 Solicitation(L),114F Jara3-4-7Green2 As de Copas(L),117J Leyva11-10-7Bozzo3 TwigazuriStrait(L),118J Sanchez1-6-6Nihei4 Carly'sRealDeal(L),117P Lopez3-2-3Plesa5 D'oro Dancer(L),112H Sanchez4-8-2Estevez6 Big Red Talent(L),118R Maragh1-10-5Maragh7 Let'sCallaTruce(L),114M Cruz2-6-7Towne8 Knock Rock(L),118J Lezcano3-2-7Kenneally9 TheGreatGonzo(L),118J Rocco, Jr3-1-4Matz10 Special Energy(L),117L Saez7-8-5Englehart11 Chilean Step(L),116E Trujillo1-2-2Quiroz12 Pacmanstephn(L),117S Karlsson8-5-2McGlinchey13 Soup A' Fleet(L),120M Cruz1-2-6Orseno14 Crime Family(L),114M Aguilar7-5-3Rosas-Cness15 Highspeedntrnt(L),117J Rivera II5-5-7Posada16 Fathom's End(L),114LContrers4-7-8Attard
TENTH-6f; $17,500; cl($10,000); 3up
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds1 My FriendRalph(L),116J Chamafi4-2-3Rodriguez2 Fast Stack(L),116OHernndz5-6-6Rizo3 Bea Top Quality(L),118D Gomez6-6-4Rossi4 ThereGoesVnny(L),118OBocachic5-7-7Dibona5 Blue Business(L),118L Saez11-5-4Sano6 Pentland(L),118D Cohen11-4-5Vitali7 Steve'sAdvntrs(L),118G Saez7-3-1Ward8 Put ItBackTiger(L),118E Trujillo4-1-10Plesa9 Big Ara K(L),113H Sanchez3-1-2Dwoskin10 Distinctive Pic(L),118P Lopez7-7-4Estevez11 My Omega Run(L),114M Argueta12-1-7Cascallares12 Mylilmanwil(L),114E Zayas9-6-9Melendez13 Tinitus(L),118OBocachic1-3-4Iadisernia14 Ultimate Choice(L),113J Chamafi4-10-2Gatis15 French Holiday(L),118J Bravo1-8-4Edel
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:26:31 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/tomorrow_gulfstream_park_entries_26n4opX4kuYO2sRz6adtfM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/tomorrow_gulfstream_park_entries_26n4opX4kuYO2sRz6adtfM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing 5.10.4080699114 -1 false Horse Racing
DaSilva Fountaine Affrunti Debbie L. Vic C. Consensus 1 El Gran Joyful El Gran Joyful Mister Woodman El Gran Joyful Mister Woodman El Gran Joyful 19 Kiss of Thunder Adaboy Adaboy Mister Woolman El Gran Joyful Mister Woolman 13 Bytheliteofthemoon Bytheliteofthemoon El Gran Joyful Brat Brat Adaboy 6 2 G.T. Tabu Don'tgetmestarted Strapping Gold Vegas Strapping Gold Vegas 15 Gold Vegas Gold Vegas Don'tgetmestarted Strapping Gold Vegas Strapping 14 Here Comes Sal Strapping Gold Vegas G.T. Tabu Atajo Don'tgetmestarted 8 3 Burning Mandate Philourpockets Longer Terms Doug Burning Mandate Longer Terms Doug Burning Mandate 15 Longer Terms Doug Burning Mandate Schatt the Bandit Philourpockets Evangelos Longer Terms Doug 13 Drinks to Go Evangelos Burning Mandate Sole Runner Burning Mandate Philourpockets 8 4 Major Marvel Sir Rabbit Major Marvel Major Marvel Major Marvel Major Marvel 24 Don'twait Toolong Tom Kitten Tom Kitten Tim Kitten Jazzit Tom Kitten 10 Jazzit Major Marvel Swift Strike Sir Rabbit Tom Kittten Sir Rabbit 6 5 Maelys Hope Winnie Nene Maelys Hope Winnie Nene Maelys Hope Maelys Hope 19 Mass Invasion Chambord Castle Chambord Castle Maelys Hope Chambord Castle Winnie Nene 14 Rip Roarin Maelys Hope Winnie Nene Chambord Castle Mass Invasion Chambord Castel 10 6 Ritchie Skylander Bernie the Jet Skylander Sayaad Skylander 16 Skylander Bernie the Jet Sayaad Beach Master Skylander Sayaad 10 Party Lad Sayaad Anillo Bernie the Jet Beach Master Bernie the Jet 9 7 Highestmaintenance Cheyenne Autumn Cheyenne Autumn Highest Maintenance Cheyenne Autumn Cheyenne Autumn 17 Gadget Girl Fioretti Fioretti Fioretti Gadget Girl Highestmaintenance 13 Cheyenne Autumn Highestmaintenance Highestmaintenance Music N Songs Highestmaintenance Fioretti 9 8 Jabulani He's a Fireball Alke John Stay Red Love of Flying Love of Flying 14 Love of Flying Love of Flying Love of Flying Scottish Coast All Knight Alke John 7 Alke John Alke John All for the Trip He's a Fireball He's a Fireball He's a Fireball 7 9 Velez Boy of Summer Boy of Summer Tubal Velez Boy of Summer 14 Boy of Summer Pontus Lady E Pontus Pontus Velez 11 Tubal Velez Captain Keon Lady E Channel Changer Pontus 9
Consensus is based on 5-3-1 point system. Extra point given for BEST BET.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:25:50 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/post_experts_pick_the_winners_8lx9h5jTnhiYZ4ubVC8yvL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/post_experts_pick_the_winners_8lx9h5jTnhiYZ4ubVC8yvL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing 5.10.4080698137 -1 false By JOHN DASILVA Horse Racing
Post Time: 12:45 p.m.
All horses appear in post position order
1. 1m; $33,700; mdn cl($50,000); 2YO
EL GRAN JOYFUL was third in maiden special at Tampa Bay when adding blinkers. He was a beaten favorite in previous start for a tag. KISS OF THUNDER drops in class for local debut after tiring in career debut. BYTHELITEOFTHEMOON cuts back to sprint and drops in class for dirt debut.
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds1 Free Range Man(L),120E Nunez7-x-xTortora15-12 Mister Woolman(L),120J Lezcano3-4-4Zito9-53 Kiss of Thunder(L),120C Lanerie9-x-xBradley10-14 El Gran Joyful(L),120L Saez3-3-2Sano2-15 Brat(M),120P Lopez6-x-xHamm8-16 Abadoy ,118C Olivero5-x-xBezara8-17 Bytheliteofthemoon(L),120J Castellano6-11-9DiVito4-1
2. 6f; $17,500; mdn cl($12,500); 2YO
G.T. TABU cuts back in distance and drops in class after finishing second by a head when removing the blinkers. GOLD VEGAS has finished second in both starts since adding blinkers. HERE COMES SAL races with Lasix and shows steady works for career debut.
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds2 Atajo(L),120P Lopez4-6-xSano15-13 Gold Vegas(L),120L Saez2-2-3Olivares3-14 Strapping(L),120F Torres6-5-xHanna5-15 Don'tgetmestarted(L),120J Bridgmohan8-6-4Gonzalez8-16 Here Comes Sal(M),120E Trujillox-x-xHills6-17 G. T. Tabu(L),120D Gomez2-5-6Maestre5-21 a-Music King(M),120E Nunezx-x-xVivian8-18 Defer Heaven(M),120J Rosariox-x-xWard6-11A a-Vinny the Emperor(M),120S Madridx-x-xVivian8-1
3. 6f; $18,750; cl($6,250); 3up
BURNING MANDATE led every step of the way to win at this distance and level when making local debut. LONGER TERMS DOUG came off the pace to win this distance when dropped to this level. DRINKS TO GO closed to finish third this distance and level when making first start since September.
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds2 Schatt the Bandit(L),119J Sanchez8-7-6Green15-13 Philourpockets(L),112M Argueta2-5-4Combest12-14 Running Wildcat(L),118D Cohen6-2-1Vitali10-15 Morador Llers(L),114H Sanchez6-5-4Chavez20-16 Sole Runner(L),119J Calderon2-6-6Schell12-17 Drinks to Go(L),119O Bocachica3-1-7Iadisernia15-18 Burning Mandate(L),123R Albarado1-3-4Gonzalez3-11 a-Hit the Cycle(L),121J Alvarez5-1-2Khan8-19 Longer Terms Doug(L),118J Chamafi1-4-1Dwoskin4-110 Evangelos(L),119G Bain7-4-3Warren20-111 Hollywood Left(L),119L Saez4-8-4Garcia6-112 Five Afternoons(L),121R Maragh5-1-4Maragh6-11A a-Naos(L),114H Sanchez5-3-5Khan8-1
4. 1m(T); $27,500; str alw; 3up
MAJOR MARVEL moves to starter allowance after closing to finish second in both starts off brief freshening. DON'TWAIT TOOLONG lost three-race winning streak when second by a neck as the favorite this level. JAZZIT had the lead and tired to second in his last two starts.
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds1 Grove Hall(L),119E Nunez4-7-5Rodriguez30-12 Sir Rabbit(L),119J Bravo3-10-3Campitelli5-13 El Kiwi(L),109E Zayas7-7-7Tabraue30-14 Major Marvel(L),119J Castellano2-2-4Maker7-55 Sugar Ryan(L),116O Mullings2-6-1Simpson20-16 Serapi Cat(L),114O Hernandez9-3-5Mondol30-17 Tom Kitten(L),119D Cohen8-5-1Vitali10-18 Tanzana(L),119A Garcia6-3-2Dibona5-19 Jazzit(L),119J Rocco, Jr2-2-6Farro6-110 He's Spectacular(L),116L Saez6-4-2Toledo8-111 Swift Strike(L),119E Prado5-7-6Mills30-112 Prime Obsession(L),119M Aguilar8-8-6Dixon30-113 Don'twait Toolong(L),119J Rosario2-1-1Cibelli3-114 Professor Palmer(L),119J Bravo3-2-9Volk5-115 Ice Pilot(L),119E Trujillo6-6-3Sacco12-116 Pecky's Boy(L),123J Castellano1-2-1Iadisernia4-1
5. 6f; $30,700; cl($30,000); 3up; (f&m)
MAELYS HOPE faces maiden claimers for the first time after tiring this distance versus optional claimers. WINNIE NENE won off the turf race as favorite while going shorter two back. MASS INVASION cuts back in distance for first start since September for new barn.
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds1 Joyce and Me(L),111K Coa1-4-6Sano5-12 Maelys Hope(L),118J Rosario5-1-2Maestre5-23 Backstage Magic(L),118J Leyva2-2-4Jackson10-14 Shirleycee(L),118E Trujillo6-1-1Cibelli8-15 Mass Invasion(L),118J Bridgmohan1-6-6Carvajal12-16 Chambord Castle(L),118G Saez1-1-2Fawkes5-17 Red Over Blue(L),113H Sanchez10-4-3Broome4-18 Winnie Nene(L),121L Saez3-1-2Pilotti6-19 Cash Belongings(L),114S Madrid7-6-5Vivian20-
6. 5f(T); $54,500; alw opt clm; 2YO
RIP ROARIN RITCHIE working bullets after tiring as the favorite in the Laurel Futurity last out. SKYLANDER uncoupled entrymate to top choice drew rail and working steadily for turf debut. PARTY LAD won allowance as favorite impressively at Penn on dirt.
HIGHESTMAINTENANCE from excellent first-out barn and races with Lasix while working well for career debut. GADGET GIRL drew the rail after setting the pace and tiring to third in extremely fast race when she made her career debut. CHEYENNE AUTUMN set the pace and tired to fourth at this distance.
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds1 Gadget Girl(L),120E Prado3-x-xRitvo6-12 Pearls for Girls ,120J Rocco, Jr2-x-xMatz8-13 Highestmaintenance(M),120J Castellanox-x-xPletcher5-24 Sweet Dish(L),120R Albarado6-x-xArnold8-15 Summon the Rain(L),120L Saez6-8-3Bradley15-16 Cheyenne Autumn(L),120C Lanerie4-5-xRomans4-17 Camille Garey ,120P Lopez8-x-xHamm20-18 Fioretti(M),120J Rosariox-x-xMott3-19 Music N Songs ,120F Jarax-x-xBezara12-1
8. 1 1/16m(T); $30,700; cl($30,000); 3up
JABULANI defeated cheaper by a nose at this distance when returning to turf. LOVE OF FLYING drops in class for return to turf and he won conditioned allowance at this distance three back. ALKE JOHN was second by a head as the favorite at this price and distance two back.
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds2 All for the Trip(L),116J Rosario6-4-1B Brown12-13 Stay Red(L),116H Sanchez7-5-5Rizo8-14 Political Courage(L),120J Rocco, Jr1-3-2Matz12-11 a-Redwood Man(L),117P Lopez2-4-1Ramirez5-15 He's a Fireball(L),118J Bravo3-7-8Plesa10-16 Alke John(L),117E Trujillo4-2-2Broome7-27 All Knight(L),118J Castellano7-2-8Newman4-18 Scottish Coast(L),121S Madrid5-3-5Campos20-19 Perfectly Crazy(L),110M Argueta4-5-8Catanese20-110 Love of Flying(L),121E Prado8-8-1Sheppard12-111 Dynamic Boy(L),118R Maragh4-6-7Maragh15-112 Whisper Onthe Wind(L),118O Bocachica2-6-6DiMauro6-11A a-Jabulani(L),117F Torres1-4-9Ramirez5-1
9. 1m(T); $26,200; mdn cl($35,000); 2YO
VELEZ drops in class for route debut after finishing fourth at The Meadowlands when making turf debut. BOY OF SUMMER finished well at this distance at Calder when making career debut. TUBAL cuts back in distance and drops in class after tiring in first start for new barn.
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds1 Tubal(L),120D Cohen10-4-11S Klesaris8-12 Lady E ,120E Trujillox-x-xCampitelli12-13 Boy of Summer(L),120J Lezcano4-5-5Garcia6-14 Channel Changer(L),120F Torres8-5-7Hanna20-15 Pontus(M),120E Prado8-x-xMotion6-16 Ricochet Court(L),120J Bridgmohan10-6-xZito15-17 Captain Keon(M),120M Cruzx-x-xDiMauro10-18 Dig This(L),120J Leyva6-6-9Yates20-19 The Best Monkey(L),120L Contreras5-x-xDuco12-110 Velez(L),118J Sanchez4-3-xServis3-111 Electromagnetic(L),120J Rosario9-9-xWard4-112 Moonlit Park(L),120E Nunez6-4-xCroft15-113 Mr. Pumpermichael(L),120L Saez5-x-xGleaves15-114 Wardroom(L),111E Zayas8-11-2Azpurua30-115 Edson's Ridge(L),120R Albarado9-7-xGleaves15-116 El Tuscano ,111E Zayas8-3-7Azpurua15-1
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:25:29 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/gulfstream_park_analysis_AnH4rS6jHGWXTYAhYF3tXL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/gulfstream_park_analysis_AnH4rS6jHGWXTYAhYF3tXL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing 5.10.4080677125 -1 false Horse Racing
WEATHER Clear TRACK Fast
FIRST-mile; pace; $2800; cond
OFF: 12:29 TIME: 2:03.4
3ER Taylor (BAldrichJr)2.602.102.102Miss Old Vines (CHckbneIII)24.404.606And We'll See Ya (JRicco Jr)4.50
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:25:05 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/monticello_results_2enNNWii2V85bHxv46PR7K?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/monticello_results_2enNNWii2V85bHxv46PR7K?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing 5.10.4080623269 -1 false By RACHEL COHEN AP More Sports
The Penn State child sex-abuse scandal was selected as the sports story of the year by U.S. editors and news directors in an annual vote conducted by the Associated Press.
The news broke in November 2011, with a grand-jury report outlining charges against Jerry Sandusky, and the outrage that followed led to the firing of Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno. But the aftershocks were felt long into 2012: Sandusky was convicted in June of assaulting 10 boys, and the NCAA handed down brutal sanctions in July.
In both years, the scandal was picked as the top sports story, the first time since the AP began conducting its annual vote in 1990 that the same story was selected twice in a row. The results of this year's tally were announced yesterday.
Even before the Sandusky trial, the State College community had absorbed another huge blow as Paterno died Jan. 22 at age 85 of lung cancer.
The year ended with a small step to normalcy — joy on the football field. Under new coach Bill O'Brien, the Nittany Lions won eight of their last 10 games to finish 8-4, capped by an overtime victory at home over Wisconsin.
There were 157 ballots submitted from U.S. news organizations. The voters were asked to rank the top 10 sports stories of the year, with the first-place story getting 10 points, the second-place story receiving nine points, and so on.Football's popularity, college and pro, was unmistakable with seven of the top 10 stories. But only two of them involved the action on the field.
The Penn State saga received 1,420 points and 109 first-place votes. The No. 2 sports story, Lance Armstrong stripped of his seven Tour de France titles, had 10 first-place votes and 1,008 points.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:46:11 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/psu_scandal_voted_story_of_the_year_Yrn4KQtWaLhMYJ8zqQjf1J?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=More Sports http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/psu_scandal_voted_story_of_the_year_Yrn4KQtWaLhMYJ8zqQjf1J?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=More Sports 5.10.4080623239 -1 false By JUSTIN TERRANOVA More Sports
Six days later, Rob Parker realized he was wrong.
The ESPN "First Take" host who said on Thursday's program that Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is "kind of black" and wondered, "is he a brother or is he a cornball brother?" apologized yesterday.
Parker was suspended indefinitely by ESPN a day later, and he could be fired from the network.
"I blew it and I'm sincerely sorry," Parker wrote on Twitter. "I completely understand how the issue of race in sports is a sensitive one and needs to be handled with great care. This past Thursday I failed to do that. I believe the intended topic is a worthy one.''
j.terranova@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:00:51 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/parker_issues_rg_apology_0rMMTx1niyeVCOnVwoPLDJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=More Sports http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/parker_issues_rg_apology_0rMMTx1niyeVCOnVwoPLDJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=More Sports 5.10.4080623225 -1 false By CLAIRE ATKINSON Business
Glassnote, one of America's most successful independent music labels, is being courted by several suitors eager to cash in on the firm's ability to take fringe acts mainstream, The Post has learned.
Glassnote, the label behind the Grammy-nominated folk-rock act Mumford & Sons — which saw its second CD, "Babel," shoot straight to No. 1 this fall — is not on the block, but suitors are hoping to persuade Glassnote founder Daniel Glass to sell a piece of the action, several music industry executives said.
"Everyone is offering him some kind of equity and/or distribution deals, and allowing him to potentially start a more mainstream label," said one source involved in the talks.
"There is a bidding war over him," the source added. "He's had some incredible success, and the feeling is now is the time to approach him."
Glass downplayed the talks, telling The Post they were in the very early stages.
"Yes, people are courting us — are we interested?" Glass asked. "We're not focusing on it. It's hard to concentrate when you're getting ready for new music."
All three majors — Universal, Sony and Warner — are involved as are firms outside the industry, one source added. Reps for the companies declined to comment.
One early offer was said to be around $20 million for a 49 percent stake in Glassnote plus a distribution deal, said a source.
Perhaps sparking the talks is the fact that Glassnote's distribution deal with Sony's RED is up for renewal in early 2013.
Glass stressed, "There is no sale. We're in the baby stages. Most of our acts are on their first or second record."
Mumford & Sons' "Babel" became the biggest debut of this year when it dropped in September, selling 600,000 units in its first week.
Glass, the controlling shareholder of the 6-year-old independent label, wouldn't say whether he has other investors or provide financial details.
catkinson@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:26:49 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/suitors_all_want_piece_of_glassnote_gdQJM5uAwlOpU9k6tzMZhI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/suitors_all_want_piece_of_glassnote_gdQJM5uAwlOpU9k6tzMZhI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business 5.10.4080205141 -1 false By JAMES COVERT Business
Shoppers are crowding malls but that doesn't mean cash registers are filling up.
A prominent research firm lowered its forecast for holiday retail sales yesterday, despite the fact that it expects traffic at stores to increase for the first time in four years.
Retail sales for the crucial November-December period are on track to rise 2.5 percent, according to ShopperTrak, a Chicago-based retail consulting firm.
That's down from a September forecast for a 3.3-percent increase, said Chris Angell, the firm's director of global marketing.
Disruptions from Hurricane Sandy are partly to blame for the expected revenue shortfall.
In addition to temporary store closings, retailers have been hit by markdowns they've been forced to take to clear a backlog of fall merchandise.
At the same time, however, store traffic is on track to rise 2.8 percent — the first jump in holiday traffic since 2008, according to ShopperTrak.
The disparity is partly because consumers are window-shopping, according to Angell, and it's possible that distractions such as the fiscal cliff faced by Congress are at work.
But industry watchers say shoppers are "showrooming" — the practice of browsing products at retail stores before buying them at lower prices online.
"There are big discussions on how many people are window-shopping and how does that translate to online sales," Angell said.
Indeed, during the Black Friday weekend that kicked off the holiday-shopping season, a surge in the use of mobile and tablet devices appeared to be driven by showrooming, according to Mark Layton, chief executive of e-commerce site designer PFSweb.
"[Showrooming] looked strong on Black Friday in particular, with a lot of people using mobile devices at store locations," Layton said.
jcovert@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:26:49 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/nothing_in_store_Qpokou4ewSt0QIA66GPoWN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Business http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/nothing_in_store_Qpokou4ewSt0QIA66GPoWN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Business 5.10.4080204518 -1 false By PAUL THARP Business
Banking giant UBS is coughing up $1.5 billion in fines — and two of its fat-cat traders face prison — after a US and UK investigation of the bank found "routine and widespread" manipulation of a benchmark interest rate.
The scheme, the largest interest-rate rigging scandal ever, caused lopsided outcomes in more than $450 trillion in annual loans made around the world for everything from credit cards and mortgages to college loans and business deals, federal prosecutors said yesterday.
The criminal complaint against the Swiss bank and the arrest of two former UBS traders show authorities have amped up their financial-sector probes.
The crackdown on rampant corruption in banking's back offices came in a landmark joint probe by authorities in at least five nations, which charge UBS is a major culprit in notorious manipulations of the key Libor rate.
Banks set the rate each day amongst themselves, using a panel of their own representatives and assumptions of short-term lending demand.
The surprising scope of the alleged schemes opens the floodgates for worldwide litigation from financial institutions — which unknowingly lost millions on the wrong side of rigged lending.
Prosecutors said that more than 45 traders and brokers at the bank, along with scores of outside currency middlemen, conspired almost daily, with bribes of typically $20,000 trading hands to influence Libor rates.
Each illicit pact set up among the traders and brokers was aimed at profiting on their positions from tiny moves in the rate.
Even a brief 1/100th of a percent move in the Libor translated to profits of about $459,000 for one of the UBS traders accused in the crackdown.
That cheated counter-parties, the complaint said.
"UBS manipulated one of the cornerstone interest rates in our global financial system," said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer.
"The scheme alleged is epic in scale, involving people who have walked the halls of some of the most powerful banks in the world," he said.
Yesterday's actions included the first criminal charges made in the probes, leveled against Tom Alexander Hayes, 33, and Roger Darin, 41.
London police picked up Hayes; Darin is still at large.
The US Justice Department filed to extradite the pair to face trial here.
Numerous outside brokers were also involved, said enforcement chief David Meister of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
"These brokers are supposed to be honest middlemen," he said. "The brokers here were anything but honest."
The government complaint quoted one broker telling a UBS trader regarding an illicit pact's profits: "'Mate, you're getting bloody good at this Libor game. Think of me when yur on yur yacht in monaco wont yu.' "
Prosecutors said more people were to be named in the ongoing probe.
As many as 40 employees of UBS have left the bank over the case, prosecutors said.
In exchange for a deferred prosecution of the company, UBS agreed to plead guilty to civil violations at the unit in Japan, leaving the parent to pick up the hefty tabs and suffer the black eye.
tharp@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:41:24 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/swiss_sc_alps_IjnW3v7RMvaEuxtojd88uK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/swiss_sc_alps_IjnW3v7RMvaEuxtojd88uK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business 5.10.4080204385 -1 false By BRUCE GOLDING Business
They hope you choke!
Two of Bernie Madoff's victims are outraged over his younger brother ahead of his sentencing today for helping pull off the world's biggest Ponzi scheme.
In a letter to the judge, Jill and Nancy Miller said they are "very unhappy" that Peter Madoff got his punishment postponed from Nov. 9.
"This man was not using the time for getting his 'tax' situation resolved. He was out and about enjoying a leisurely lunch in an expensive Upper East Side restaurant where many of his victims would like to eat but can't afford to."
A second victim, Natalie Erger, noted how Madoff has asked to remain free so he can attend his daughter's bat mitzvah.
"My grandson will be a bar mitzvah in November. How can we pay to fly? How much would it cost to drive?
"Thanks Madoff brothers."
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:26:49 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/madoff_victims_let_loose_AlGmkXI23ABE2HuT7wex6O?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/madoff_victims_let_loose_AlGmkXI23ABE2HuT7wex6O?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business 5.10.4080076122 -1 false Page Six
Nancy Shevell, the wife of former Beatle Paul McCartney, could be making a move into the art market. Shevell was spotted checking out the Young Collectors Exhibition at Leila Heller Gallery on Tuesday in Chelsea with art collector Beth Rudin DeWoody and her fiancé, photographer Firooz Zahedi, as well as Andy Warhol biographer Bob Colacello and former Armory Show director Paul Morris. The exhibition features work from emerging artists — ranging in price from $500 to $5,000 — and 10 percent of the proceeds go to the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, which gives artists grants, and a Hurricane Sandy relief fund for visual artists. Town & Country co-hosted the opening night, and online art site Paddle8 put on a presale for the show, curated by Alexandra Wagle and Laura Mintz. Any new works Shevell picks up would certainly be in good company: McCartney reportedly already owns blue-chip works by Picasso, Renoir and Magritte, and took up painting himself in the 1980s.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:10:40 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/art_rocks_for_nancy_mgmal4Vsh7v1IBfr37Kh1O?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/art_rocks_for_nancy_mgmal4Vsh7v1IBfr37Kh1O?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six 5.10.4080076099 -1 false Page Six
That Lure Fishbar's John McDonald and Josh Pickard are opening an outpost of the SoHo restaurant at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel next year . . . That Jerry Seinfeld will perform at the Stand Up for a Cure Concert Series in April at Madison Square Garden to benefit the American Diabetes Association, and former Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza will host a VIP party . . . That outgoing "X Factor" judge L.A. Reid has chosen to wear designer duds by Domenico Vacca for this season's finale . . . That JFI Jets is sponsoring a tournament benefiting New York Junior Tennis & Learning on March 2 . . . That Matthew and Nicole Hanley Mellon will serve as junior chairs of the Red Cross Ball in Palm Beach on Feb. 8 . . . That Patrick Meyer of tech firm Thinaire has launched his latest book, "Steve Jobs and the World of Mobile."
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:10:41 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/we_hear_yMjjXopoKOEST0tSbROGxN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/we_hear_yMjjXopoKOEST0tSbROGxN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six 5.10.4080075984 -1 false Reuters Business
The US Treasury plans to sell its stake in General Motors over the coming year, all but assuring a multibillion-dollar loss in a move that will end the automaker's "Government Motors" era.
Treasury's plan — a two-step process that includes a $5.5 billion stock sale to GM — is part of a broader push to wind down the controversial financial bailout under the Troubled Asset Relief (TARP) program.
The planned GM sale will raise the proceeds that Treasury has recovered to $28.6 billion of the $50 billion bailout GM originally received.
With $20.9 billion left from the original bailout, the government would have to sell its remaining shares at an average price of $69.72 to break even.
GM shares closed yesterday at $27.18, up 6.6 percent, or $1.69.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:05:57 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/no_more_gov_motors_AhImnVEzFmpiejgtWXwueN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/no_more_gov_motors_AhImnVEzFmpiejgtWXwueN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business 5.10.4079941078 -1 false By KEITH J. KELLY Business
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia said Chief Executive Lisa Gersh is stepping down after just five months on the job as the domestic diva's empire retrenches.
The company also said it had hired a headhunter to find a replacement for Gersh, who will leave after a transition period.
Her departure, which was first reported in The Post, sent the stock down as much as 5 percent before recovering. Shares closed up 7 cents, or 2.7 percent, at $2.65.
The move comes as the company pulls back from media to focus on selling branded merchandise, including a deal with JCPenney.
Gersh, a veteran TV executive and co-founder of Oxygen Media, was hired as president and COO in 2011, in part to help revive the company's flagging media fortunes. She was elevated to CEO in July.
However, her hiring hasn't done much to boost the TV or publishing properties. In January, the Hallmark Channel canceled Stewart's daily talk show. Her only regular TV gig now is "Martha Stewart's Cooking School" on PBS.
The magazine portfolio has also been battered by the print ad slump, with the company shutting down its Whole Living and Everyday Food titles, and firing about 70 people, in recent weeks.
The announcement came in a memo to staffers from Gersh and Stewart, who is the company's majority owner, non-executive chairman and chief creative officer.
Surviving in the CEO spot has always been challenging, as Stewart has a reputation as a micro-manager who doesn't want executives making key decisions.
"I call it the Murphy Brown syndrome," said Michael Kupinski, a media analyst with Noble Financial Partners, referring to the TV hit that starred Candice Bergen as a sharp-tongued news anchor who churned through assistants.
While Stewart has not reclaimed the CEO title since she served a five-month prison sentence for lying to investigators probing her sale of ImClone stock, she remains the indomitable power.
She controls about 70 percent of the stock and receives $2 million in salary and bonus, plus another $2.1 million paid to her real-estate company for use of her homes and studios.
kkelly@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:32:28 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/yep_she_gone_0NnNxdbBwY9dkBuCO8Qk8M?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/yep_she_gone_0NnNxdbBwY9dkBuCO8Qk8M?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business 5.10.4079941060 -1 false Page Six
The Rascals — the 1960s band fond of dropping their G's in hits like "Good Lovin' " and "Groovin' " — reunited to play their first public show in 40 years last week. The evening marked the opening of "Once Upon a Dream," a new "theatrical concert" produced by E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt. The six-night run at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester includes original members Felix Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati, Gene Cornish and Dino Danelli as well as screened archival footage and interviews. Chazz Palminteri, "The Sopranos" star Vincent Pastore and record mogul Tommy Mottola were spotted rockin' out.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:05:04 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/rascals_are_on_the_loose_amUw6Yc1oyXg9CEGFftZjM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/rascals_are_on_the_loose_amUw6Yc1oyXg9CEGFftZjM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six 5.10.4079940991 -1 false Bloomberg Business
Three former advisers for an unidentified Swiss bank, Stephan Fellmann, Otto Huppi and Christof Reist, were charged by the US with conspiring to help American clients hide more than $420 million from tax authorities.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:47:12 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/adviser_trio_in_tax_mess_oHV0z6pftnfzmdcIilPECM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/adviser_trio_in_tax_mess_oHV0z6pftnfzmdcIilPECM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business 5.10.4079940885 -1 false Page Six
The Brooklyn Nets show off their singing skills, and their Christmas spirit, in a new video holiday card. The digital greeting went out from the team this week — featuring players including Deron Williams, Jerry Stackhouse, Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries in their uniforms and Santa hats. The guys gamely sing along, and dance, to a funky remix of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." The comically out-of-tune action takes place in front of a snowy backdrop with a Nets logo. But even though he opened the new Barclays Center with eight nights of shows, the Nets' part-owner Jay-Z is (sadly) missing from the clip.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:04:22 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/nets_like_rockettes_u2hnLi7DV7ugC4f21TgNyL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/nets_like_rockettes_u2hnLi7DV7ugC4f21TgNyL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six 5.10.4079940862 -1 false By GARETT SLOANE Business
Facebook is keeping its mobile ads for itself.
The company halted an experiment that allowed advertisers to use its treasure trove of data about users to buy ads on third-party mobile apps in exchange for a cut of the revenue.
Instead, Facebook is going to focus on selling ads on its own mobile app, which is increasingly sucking up more of people's time.
Facebook accounts for about 20 percent of time spent on mobile apps, according to Ken Sena of Evercore Partners.
"They have plenty of inventory to monetize," he said.
Facebook, run by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is expected to double the money it takes in on mobile this quarter compared to the previous three months, according to Sena.
Facebook's total revenue will jump 40 percent this quarter to $1.6 billion, "driven by a 50 percent increase in our mobile ad estimate to $322 million," Sena said, who upped his target on the stock to $32.
Facebook shares fell 1 percent yesterday to close at $27.41.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:26:49 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/fb_to_sell_ads_on_its_own_app_EBzwzWvdVTcZWVvUU6SufL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/fb_to_sell_ads_on_its_own_app_EBzwzWvdVTcZWVvUU6SufL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business 5.10.4079940747 -1 false Page Six
Not to ruin any surprises, but we know what some of Jon Stewart's friends and family are getting for the holidays. "The Daily Show" host and father of two was spotted at downtown electronics mecca J&R this week shopping for video games, DVDs and Blue-ray discs. Stewart apparently doesn't mind doing his own shopping: "He spent quite some time in the store looking around and seemingly enjoying the experience," a spy told us. He may also enjoy wrapping presents as he didn't get the goods wrapped up, we're told. But Stewart — who's Jewish per quips such as, "I was born in New York City, but I was raised in New Jersey, part of the great Jewish emigration of 1963" — may be a little late for Hanukkah. He's not the only celeb our spies have seen holiday shopping. Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez were at a Toys R Us in LA this week, picking up toys for Berry's daughter, Nahla, "laughing and chatting in great spirits."
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:10:40 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/stewart_in_the_spirit_g9WGNLl3fnNMJoFPxqzCbL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/stewart_in_the_spirit_g9WGNLl3fnNMJoFPxqzCbL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six 5.10.4079940630 -1 false Page Six
Al Pacino and "Stand Up Guys" director Fisher Stevens at the Mark Hotel . . . Yankees closer Mariano Rivera at Bobby Van's on Broad Street, where former NBA stars Charles Oakley and Jayson Williams were separately spotted . . . "Iron Man" director Jon Favreau at Carmine's in Times Square . . . Fotog Billy Farrell standing on the bar to give a champagne toast at his agency's annual "employees only" holiday party at Harding's in the Flatiron District . . . Jean Shafiroff, Dr. Robert Grant, Elaine Sargent, Michelle Marie Heinemann and Michele Gerber Klein previewing MTV's Arches of Hope art installation at the Out NYC . . . Christmas crooner Shea and Madame Mayhem at the Darby.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:10:41 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/sightings_sightings_IFeT4XIPYZAzYHjmpF7M3K?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/sightings_sightings_IFeT4XIPYZAzYHjmpF7M3K?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six 5.10.4079940515 -1 false Page Six
Cipriani 42nd Street went to the dogs Tuesday night for the Humane Society's "To the Rescue" gala. Guests including Amanda Hearst and Rose McGowan posed with pooches on the red carpet, and Mayor Bloomberg took the stage to support daughter Georgina. New York has a "long love affair with animals," Hizzoner said. "From the bulls and bears on Wall Street to the 'Cats' on Broadway to the big ape on the top of the Empire State Building to the Big Bird on 'Sesame Street.' I think only Noah had a better track record." But he admitted, "My girlfriend [Diana Taylor] takes the Labs to Central Park every morning for an hour and a half. I roll over and head for the shower." The event raised $1.5 million.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:02:56 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/animal_kingdom_Mz2Kl4YEzTWgtrz2UKEjNK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/animal_kingdom_Mz2Kl4YEzTWgtrz2UKEjNK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six 5.10.4079940409 -1 false Page Six
Rapper Flo Rida was so keen on hearing his own music at a club, he gave the DJ his cellphone so his newest track could play. The rapper was at Hyde Lounge at the American Airlines Arena in Miami after a Heat game Tuesday, and wanted to unveil an unreleased tune for the crowd. But when the DJ asked for a copy of the track, Rida said he only had it on his iPhone. The spinner plugged it into the sound system as Flo Rida popped nearly $5,000 worth of champagne. Also spotted were Gabrielle Union and Marlon Wayans.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:10:40 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/go_with_the_flo_0LyzXAHC20AmYSfz8kOlEK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/go_with_the_flo_0LyzXAHC20AmYSfz8kOlEK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six 5.10.4079940386 -1 false Page Six
Michael Strahan is big with the ladies. The TV host was at Asellina at the Gansevoort Park Avenue Monday with Connor Cruise when he was spotted by a top publicist hosting a holiday party in a private room for 55 women. The p.r. maven "bet the girls $500 they couldn't get Michael to come say hi," said a spy. When they succeeded, "Michael told them, 'I wish I had 55 guys with me right now.' " The ex-NFL star, who's engaged to Nicole Murphy, then headed to the Darby to see Connor DJ.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:10:41 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/workin_the_room_glkzXmi22QDbdiqe4purXJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/workin_the_room_glkzXmi22QDbdiqe4purXJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six 5.10.4079940267 -1 false Page Six
Derek and Daniel Koch, twins known for their raucous "Day & Night" brunch bashes, fought to a bloody pulp Saturday in the name of helping superstorm Sandy victims. The 6-foot-2 pair engaged in a sibling muay thai boxing match at the Broad Street Ballroom, and their melee was mixed with bottle service for spectators. (For those keeping score, "Daniel won, 29-28. I let him win," Derek told us.) The brothers, who've mixed it up before, have been training since July. Their personal "Fight Club" raised about $25,000 for Sandy relief. Three years ago they threw a similar charity fight and poker tournament. (Daniel won that one, too.)
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:10:41 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/brawling_for_good_cause_QB8m1XNFwHdO8ZrZbfm4zI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/brawling_for_good_cause_QB8m1XNFwHdO8ZrZbfm4zI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six 5.10.4079740470 -1 false Page Six
Emma Roberts is helping Bono and Bobby Shriver's AIDS-fighting organization (RED) promote a new iPhone game that raises awareness and money for the cause. Julia Roberts' niece will take to Twitter today to answer questions about the game, (THRED), described as "an abstract 3-D world" with "ever-shifting obelisks" and "living dragon-like gateways." It's free to download but has paid upgrades, with proceeds going to the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS programs in Africa.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:10:41 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/emma_pitches_in_sTYNYexvnSCXPASUEAjKYI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/emma_pitches_in_sTYNYexvnSCXPASUEAjKYI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six 5.10.4079740355 -1 false Page Six
"Homeland" star Claire Danes and her actor husband, Hugh Dancy, have welcomed their first child, Cyrus Michael Christopher. Dancy announced the happy news to friends and family on Tuesday, sources say, a day after the baby's birth. The boy was born Monday at "exactly 3 p.m.," according to an e-mail sent out by Dancy, weighing just under 7 pounds. The proud papa further told loved ones, "Mother and baby are well, healthy and happy, and together we send our love to you all." Danes and Dancy tied the knot back in 2009. Danes is nominated for a second Golden Globe for work on Showtime's "Homeland," after winning an Emmy for her role earlier this year. Her rep did not return requests for comment.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:10:40 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/joy_comes_home_uSdckfNDE1MAGkrVNyoHEI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/joy_comes_home_uSdckfNDE1MAGkrVNyoHEI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six 5.10.4079740236 -1 false Page Six
Genevieve Sabourin, who claims she spent a night of passion with Alec Baldwin before being charged with stalking, says she's sick, broke and needs a new lawyer. Sabourin tweeted that she was ill at her mother's house in suburban Montreal yesterday when she was due in Manhattan Criminal Court for a hearing on charges she stalked Baldwin and his wife, Hilaria Thomas, reports The Post's Bill Sanderson. The case was adjourned to February, giving Sabourin another court deadline to obsess over. "More months of suffering, of financial loss and of stress," she tweeted in French. "And it will mark one year that I've been dancing through the palace of justice with no result save that I've had my life completely destroyed!" Sabourin, 40, has tweeted up a storm pleading for Baldwin and the Manhattan DA to drop the charges. She even said Baldwin must relate to her plight because of his dealings with the legal system in his 2002 divorce from Kim Basinger. "Only [he] was a millionaire and a movie star . . . I'm broke, no work, no home . . . nothing left and with pneumonia."
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:10:40 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/alec_stalker_in_new_whine_GU0OqbvqG9cvX1mffW01SP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/alec_stalker_in_new_whine_GU0OqbvqG9cvX1mffW01SP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Page Six 5.10.4079866631 -1 false http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Copyright 2009
NewscoreNew York Post Online Edition logoHold on, Mr. Preshident!Amazin's need to make push for outfielder UptonToday's Sports on the AirHome Team LineupsOnce again, Brooklyn flops in 3rdNets defense gets picked apart with pick-and-rollsTynes says he is not in slumpAmukamara, Phillips back at practice for GiantsGiants must wrap up Ravens RB RiceQuarterback challenge$1M deadbeat dad to LI ex: Help me!Bike ruling KO'dShops' 'sins of emission'Ben 'Argo's to Washington'Super Mario' in 'perv' bustNothing's for three: Debacle shows Jets have no plan at QBMcKnight: Fans helped push Rex to bench Mark'In Cold Blood' echoStroller rip-offBork dies at 85NYPD Daily BlotterJenkins slams SanchezHeroes amid chaos'Tusk'-slay horrorWestminster 'breed'ing like crazyWeird but trueSt. John's transfer Lindsey fuels BroncsDognapper hits homeRich-girl 'smackdown' suitHorrifying dead end on the L.I.E.Fake doc butt-toxic: copsCOLLEGE BOWL GLANCELiu: Ax big firms' tax breaksSHATTEREDOlivia CulpoSmith finally finds his shotAffrunti at Fair Grounds Graded EntriesSports ShortsTampa Bay Downs ResultsCUNY big: I f'd upYonkers Graded EntriesBenghazi backlashGOP's Sandy $lashSource: Jets open to trading SanchezOpportunity knocks: McElroy relishing chance to finally startTebow's love affair with Jets clearly overDoing a number on Times Sq.Fracking already a NY job boosterPulling a fast one9/11 studies dovetailLhota eye on next rideSay high to E. Side trapezeMTA: We're $trapped – so you hangCity $lapped for teach axEnd of world is very 'bed' news for NYO's got a ban planPension funds have makers in their sightsExtra security at city schoolsBullets to top traffic'Bravest' boy saluteKiller got ready with mom awayKnicks center dominates in second halfIsiah lands NBA TV gigPrincipal out of retirementSisters grieve for 'superhero'RG3 fined 10G for apparel violationItsy-bitsy Spidey an Obama web zingerGulfstream ChartsThe American wayDebbie Little at MonticelloIcy road? Just beet itTomorrow's Gulfstream Park EntriesPost experts pick the winnersGulfstream Park AnalysisMonticello ResultsPSU scandal voted story of the yearParker issues RG3 apologySuitors all want a piece of GlassnoteNothing in storeSwiss sc'alps'Madoff victims let looseArt rocks for NancyWe hear . . .No more 'Gov't. Motors'Yep, she's goneRascals are on the looseAdviser trio in tax messNets like RockettesFB to sell ads on its own appStewart in the spiritSightings . . . sightingsAnimal kingdomGo with the 'Flo'Workin' the roomBrawling for a good causeEmma pitches inJoy comes homeAlec 'stalker' in new whine
http://www.nypost.com Newscore http://www.nypost.com/rw/SysConfig/WebPortal/nypost/images/rss_nyp_logo.jpg http://www.nypost.com 120 18 By POST STAFF Local
Veteran TV newsman Sam Donaldson was arrested on DUI charges in Delaware, police said yesterday.
Donaldson (pictured), a former White House reporter for ABC, was stopped on Dec. 1 by cops in Lewes, Del., after his car was spotted swerving onto the shoulder of the road.
Lewes is a resort town on the Chesapeake Bay, across the Delaware River from Cape May, NJ.
Donaldson allegedly failed a field-sobriety test and was arrested and taken to the local police station.
The 78-year-old newsman was later released and given an unspecified date to return for a court appearance.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:39:56 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/hold_on_mr_preshident_24cRRWxwcdcBQF4KJf0HEN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/hold_on_mr_preshident_24cRRWxwcdcBQF4KJf0HEN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4087622583 -1 false By KEVIN KERNAN Mets
Now that the Mets have caught up behind the plate, it's time to tackle the massive outfield problem. There must be greener pastures ahead, but this is a situation that will take time to correct.
If free agent Scott Hairston wants a one-year deal, the Mets will sign him, but that game has to play itself out. Patience is the key and Sandy Alderson has proven himself to be one patient general manager.
There are slim pickings in the Mets' price range in the free agent department, which means the Mets are investigating every possible trade scenario. That's a good thing.
The Mets' four outfielders are Lucas Duda, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Mike Baxter and Collin Cowgill. Cowgill, who was acquired Tuesday fromthe A's, is scrappyand aggressive, and the Mets need more of those players. Duda has hitting potential but needs to showmore confidence, but the Mets believe he is making strides in that department.
Nevertheless, so much work has to be done in the outfield. More talent is needed and more than likely the Mets will have to trade for that talent and get really creative in doing so, most likely making a three-team trade to make any deal work. That is a tall order.
Another young outfielder went off the board yesterday when the Angels traded designated hitter Kendrys Morales to the Mariners for pitcher Jason Vargas. That was a wise move because it allows the Angels to put young center fielder Peter Bourjos back on the field, flanked by superstars Mike Trout and Josh Hamilton.
If the Angels could not have traded Morales for the pitcher they wanted, they may have listened to offers for Bourjos, whowould have been a great fit for the Mets, but that time has passed. Bourjos remains an Angel in the outfield.
The most intriguing bigname outfielder on the trade front is Arizona's Justin Upton. The Mets need to make every effort to try to trade for the multitalented Upton, who is just 25.
The Mets have the perfect mentor for Upton in David Wright. Wright has known Upton since Upton was a little kid and his brother B.J. played amateur ball with Wright in Virginia. A move closer to home would benefit Upton aswell.
Alderson worked his trade magic to acquire top of the line prospects in right-hander Zack Wheeler and catcher Travis d'Arnaud, using Carlos Beltran and Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey as bait, now he must try to figure a way to land an impact outfielder. It will not be easy, but Alderson has found a way to make difficult trades happen.
Upton has three years left on his contract. He will be paid $9.75 million in 2013, $14.25 million in 2014 and $14.5 million in 2015. The Mets are freeing up plenty of money and will have young pitchers Matt Harvey and Wheeler in the rotation, keeping costs down. They can afford to spend in the outfield, just as they spent $138 million at third base on Wright.
Sure, Justin Upton seems like a pipe dream, butWheeler and d'Arnaud were long shots to be Mets not too long ago. Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers keeps insisting he will not trade Upton — Jason Kubel (30 home runs last season) is available and would be a major upgrade for the Mets as well — but I've known Towers a long time and he is never afraid to make a trade. The Rangers have major interest in Upton and have the young talent to trade, if they reallywant to make the deal.
Alderson needs to try to acquire Upton. Go for another game changer. The Mets have made fascinating strides lately. They need to make another big push to reach higher ground in the NL East. Maybe, Towers will not trade Upton, but if Upton has another bad season in Arizona his value will drop again. He hit 31 home runs in 2011 and 17 last season.
The Mets must try to make this dream deal a reality.
kevin.kernan@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:18:05 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/amazin_need_to_make_push_for_outfielder_KAN0KU6MdSLBepeV4AtsuM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Mets http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/amazin_need_to_make_push_for_outfielder_KAN0KU6MdSLBepeV4AtsuM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Mets 5.10.4086279931 kevin_kernan.png true More Sports
Basketball7 p.m.Women: Valparaiso at Michigan BIG TEN7 p.m.Elon at Duke ESPNU7 p.m.Thunder at Timberwolves TNT8 p.m.Women: Cornell at Texas LONGHORN8:30 p.m.Eastern Michigan at Michigan BIG TEN9 p.m.Cal Poly at Washington PAC129:30 p.m.Heat at Mavericks TNT11 p.m.California-Irvine at USC PAC12Football8 p.m.Poinsettia Bowl: BYU at San Diego State ESPN, ESPN 98.7 FMHorse Racing12:45 p.m.Gulfstream Ch. 717:10 p.m.Yonkers Ch. 71
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:48:36 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/today_sports_on_the_air_wZe7UNdl1Ajec3NZjQpsUL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= More Sports http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/today_sports_on_the_air_wZe7UNdl1Ajec3NZjQpsUL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= More Sports 5.10.4085163343 -1 false & - doubleheader More Sports
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:48:23 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/home_team_lineups_2ivy4jG2T9MlGnIPfS9DGL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= More Sports http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/home_team_lineups_2ivy4jG2T9MlGnIPfS9DGL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= More Sports 5.10.4085163329 -1 false By TIM BONTEMPS Knicks
It was a different night, but the same old story.
The Nets, who have struggled to get themselves going in the third quarter all season, saw the Knicks break the game open with a 18-6 run over the final 6:54 of the third quarter last night to hand the Nets a 100-86 loss, giving the Nets three straight losses and eight in their last 10 games.
"We're just trying to stay alive right now," Gerald Wallace said. "Right now, we know the second half is our downfall. We play 24 minutes of great ball in the first half, and then it just seems like our next 12 minutes we're kind of lost offensively and defensively.
"We've got to figure out, as a team, how we can fix that and get this team turned around."
It looked as if the Nets might, at least for one night, shake their third-quarter demons after Deron Williams came out firing to start the quarter. Williams hit his first four shots of the third, including a pull-up jumper in transition that gave the Nets their biggest lead of the game at 61-57 with 6:54 remaining in the third.
From there, though, it was a familiar story. A combination of poor shooting, turnovers and allowing easy baskets to their opponents put the Nets into a 75-67 hole by the end of the third quarter that they never escaped from.
"I just think mentally, we've got to be more mentally into the game in the second half, myself included," Wallace said. "We're messing up on coverages, especially guarding a team like this that makes you pay for any mistake you make.
"Mentally, as a team, we've got to buckle down. We understand what's going on. We know what's wrong with us, and we've just got to fix it."
The Knicks stormed back into the lead for good on the backs of their two stars, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler, who combined for 15 of the 18 points that put the game out of reach. While Anthony scored from both outside, hitting a 3-pointer to put the Knicks ahead for good at 62-61 with 5:39 left, the Nets couldn't keep Chandler away from the basket, allowing him to get several uncontested dunks off alley-oop passes thanks to pick-and-roll coverage breakdowns.
"We had a game plan that we tried to execute tonight at the defensive end, and it wasn't working," said Williams, who finished with 16 points and 10 assists. "We weren't doing the things we needed to. We weren't getting the help in the right spots, our rotations were slow, we were letting guys drive right to the basket without any help ... that's not how we want to play."
The Nets, who don't play again until Sunday against the Sixers in Brooklyn, know they don't want to play like this. Now they just have to figure out how to get back to playing the way they did when they won 11 of their first 15 games.
"We're frustrated," said Williams. "We've got to change some things. We've got to get better.
"It's on us. It's not anybody's fault but us as players. We have to come out with more energy and focus. It's like we lost a little bit of our toughness, so we have to get that back."
tbontemps@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:32:30 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/glass_half_empty_sV7Co3wJJkYIeb3StcczmI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Knicks http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/glass_half_empty_sV7Co3wJJkYIeb3StcczmI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Knicks 5.10.4084559519 -1 false By TIM BONTEMPS Knicks
The Knicks have beaten teams from 3-point range all season long. But it was the work of Tyson Chandler in and around the paint that, more than anything, led to the Nets suffering their third straight loss last night, as Chandler's 16 points and 12 rebounds powered the Knicks to a 100-86 victory.
The Nets were simply powerless to stop Chandler on the pick-and-roll, especially in the second half. He wound up with several alley-oop dunks after dribble penetration sucked in his defender and left nothing but air between him and the rim.
"A lot of times they were running it, we were trying to give them some different coverages, and we had some breakdowns in communication," Nets coach Avery Johnson said. "When we executed it properly, we were pretty good. But when we didn't, they made us pay."
Because of the many 3-point shooters the Knicks deploy around the arc with Chandler roaming the middle, it prevents teams from being able to stick to him near the basket. If any dribble penetration is able to draw Chandler's defender just a couple steps away from the basket, there is plenty of room to toss the ball into his waiting hands for an easy dunk, something the Knicks seemed to do at will against the Nets in the second half.
"It makes the coverage a lot harder," Gerald Wallace said of the Knicks' 3-point shooting prowess. "Then when you have guys like Raymond [Felton] and Tyson, who play the pick-and-roll so well, too.
"They're a hard team to cover, but we've covered them, we've played that basic coverage and we've beat them with that coverage. Mentally, we've got to be more strong with it."
* The Nets were without Jerry Stackhouse for the fifth straight game last night, as the veteran swingman continues to nurse a sore right knee.
Stackhouse, who has become a vital rotation piece for the Nets since getting a chance early last month, injured the knee when he and Jason Kidd banged knees on Kidd's game-winning 3-pointer against the Nets in last week's Knicks win in Brooklyn.
Stackhouse said before last night's game that he wasn't sure when he'd be ready to go after banging the knee "pretty good" against Kidd's outstretched leg. Johnson wouldn't say whether or not he expected Stackhouse to play Sunday against the Sixers in Brooklyn.
"It depends on what happens with him Friday and Saturday [in practice]," Johnson said. "If he gets through practice, specifically Saturday, then he could be a possibility."
tbontemps@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:39:24 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/nets_defense_gets_picked_apart_with_k9vfbHnEsM75bqQsHI1z5N?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Knicks http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/nets_defense_gets_picked_apart_with_k9vfbHnEsM75bqQsHI1z5N?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Knicks 5.10.4084559323 -1 false By PAUL SCHWARTZ Giants
Lawrence Tynes is not in a slump.
That's the thought-process of the Giants' kicker, who, after a torrid start to the season, has missed a field goal in each of the past three games, including what appeared to be a chip-shot 30-yarder last week inside the kicker-friendly Georgia Dome.
"I think I made like 18 out of 19 at pregame,'' Tynes said yesterday. "If you're in a slump you're probably not kicking real well at all during the week or at practice, so I feel like we are doing that. I just feel like maybe our game tempo is a little off. I think we've fixed that earlier this week, and [yesterday] at practice we did some team stuff, so you just got to be positive moving forward. You can't really dwell on the past.''
The kicking operation — snap, hold, kick — has not been as crisp as it was when Tynes was in a groove, hitting 29 of his 32 field goal tries. He still leads the NFL with 33 made field goals.
"We thought his timing wasn't very good the other day on the one that we missed, but it's the time of the year we can't afford any misses,'' coach Tom Coughlin said.
Tynes' miss came with the Giants trailing 7-0 in an eventual 34-0 loss to the Falcons. A timing issue indicates the operation with Zak DeOssie snapping and Steve Weatherford holding was not smooth.
"I'm not going to sit here and point fingers,'' Tynes said. "I missed the kick. We got a little sloppy with what we're doing, so it [is] kind of the peaks and valleys of a season. We had 13 good games and the last two have not been up to par to what we expect out of ourselves and us as a unit. It stinks that we missed, and we just got to move on.''
Tynes, a nine-year veteran, said he believes one of his strengths is his ability to shake off a bad kick and move on, which he will attempt to do Sunday in Baltimore.
"I've done that very, very well in my career,'' he said. "I think I've missed two kicks three times in my career and I've played over 120 games, so you just got to look at it for what it is and kind of just move on. I think I do a good job of that. You get [ticked] off a little bit, but you just got to move on.''
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:32:30 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giants/tynes_says_he_is_not_in_slump_A5eLVYSXxa9cGSGnY1zaQM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Giants http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giants/tynes_says_he_is_not_in_slump_A5eLVYSXxa9cGSGnY1zaQM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Giants 5.10.4084559268 -1 false By PAUL SCHWARTZ Giants
It was not exactly "All In" for the Giants Wednesday, but they did welcome back two key members of their defensive backfield, as safety Kenny Phillips returned from a knee injury and Prince Amukamara was on the field after missing last week's game in Atlanta with a strained hamstring.
Amukamara and Phillips both worked on a limited basis.
Phillips missed six straight games with a sprained MCL, returned for two and then sat out the past two games after aggravating the injury. Phillips said on Monday he is "100 percent'' sure he will play on Sunday in Baltimore.
"With Kenny, we feel like he's rested and ready to contribute,'' Tom Coughlin said.
Rookie Jayron Hosley started against the Falcons in place of Amukamara and the results were not what the Giants were looking for.
"I'm feeling great,'' Amukamara said. "I feel a little bit sore right now and that's natural.''
Amukamara said he has yet to fully test his hamstring, as he has "been staying in my realm, just trying to be smart about it right now.'' He's still not sure if he can contribute enough to play on Sunday vs. the Ravens.
"It's kind of like a Catch-22, damned if you do, screwed if you don't,'' he said. "You want to put the team before you, but you also just have to be smart about it.
"This is a huge game, very crucial and if we make it to the playoffs you don't want to get hurt in this game and not be ready for the playoffs. But you definitely want to help the team make the playoffs. It's a huge decision.''
*
Five starters did not practice: C David Baas (hip/shoulder), RB Ahmad Bradshaw (knee), WR Hakeem Nicks (knee), G Chris Snee (hip) and DE Justin Tuck (shoulder).
Bradshaw has said he doesn't plan to practice until tomorrow at the earliest, but he's confident he will be able to shake off his sprained knee and play this weekend.
"We'd all love to have [Bradshaw] play, but it's going to be a medical decision,'' Coughlin said.
As for Tuck's shoulder, Coughlin said "He probably banged it in the game, although he didn't come out of the game or anything of that nature. We can and I think he can deal with it because he's had to before.''
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said "Nothing has changed'' regarding LB Ray Lewis, who has missed the past eight games with a torn right triceps and is not expected to return this weekend. ... WR Torrey Smith (concussion) did not practice for Ravens. ... CB Terrence Frederick was re-signed to the practice squad.
paul.schwartz@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:54:21 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giants/prince_phillips_practice_qKaY6zVrily3DoJr4XQuBM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Giants http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giants/prince_phillips_practice_qKaY6zVrily3DoJr4XQuBM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Giants 5.10.4084559112 -1 false By PAUL SCHWARTZ Giants
In order for the Giants to avoid getting shown the door, they need to crash through it no matter who is in their way.
"Our backs are actually against the wall now, and we got to play that way,'' linebacker Chase Blackburn said Wednesday. "We got to come out fighting, swinging, just like when you're in a bar fight and your back is against the wall, there's only one way to get to that door — swing your way out. That's what you got to do.''
The Giants didn't come close to landing any haymakers in last week's inept 34-0 loss in Atlanta, and as a result have pushed their season to the brink of playoff elimination heading into Sunday's game in Baltimore against the struggling but still postseason-bound Ravens.
The Giants got blanked by the Falcons seven days after putting 52 points on the Saints, but mostly it's been uneven at best, unsightly at worst as they've dropped from first to third in the NFC East.
"Week after week you don't know what you are going to get from us,'' Jason Pierre-Paul said. "We are not consistent until, I guess, somebody is going to get fired or our backs are against the wall or it is either all or nothing. That is where we are at right now. It is either all or nothing or we are going to pack our stuff and get out of here.
"And I am not trying to go home early. I want to make that run and at least get into the playoffs and showing that we can do it. That is what we are striving for and hoping we can get there.''
The Giants won't get anywhere if they can't lay a glove on Ray Rice, a running back capable of sending them home a beaten team if they continue to put on display shoddy run defense. The Giants rank 22nd in the league in stopping the run, and Blackburn figures the Ravens will go to school on that failing and try to jam it down the Giants' throats with a heavy dose of Rice.
"No doubt, if I was them,'' Blackburn said. "We're not tackling well."
That's no way to operate when your playoff lives are on the line. The Giants missed 18 tackles against the Falcons, which is almost unfathomable.
"I know it was not good, and I know I was a contributor to that as well,'' Blackburn said. "Bad tackling, bad targets.
"We got to use our hands better when we wrap tackle and gang tackle. We can't have the solo tackles, leave guys on an island. We got to get more guys to the ball, especially with a guy we're gonna face this week like Ray Rice, who's gonna put his foot in the ground and come north and south.''
Rice is up to his usual running antics, already over 1,000 yards at 1,031, averaging 4.5 yards per carry, with nine rushing touchdowns and adding his usual flair as a pass-catcher with 55 receptions. His numbers are down a bit from a year ago, when he had an NFL-high 2,068 yards from scrimmage, but the former Rutgers product remains a durable, dependable threat. If given the smallest crack, he will devastate a suspect run defense.
"We cannot have missed tackles,'' Pierre-Paul said. "That is not football. That is poor tackling, and that is what we did. We have to go out there and wrap tackle. This is the NFL, we should know how to tackle by now.''
A year ago, the Giants began their march to another Super Bowl triumph, embarking on a six-game winning streak, by beating the Jets on Christmas Eve, with the defensive intensity kicked up several notches.
"I don't want to hear that,'' Pierre-Paul said. "To me that's all bullcrap. Know what I mean? Yeah, we have done it before, but this is a whole other year. Each year is a totally different year. You don't have the same guys on the team as last year. Who knows who is going to be here next year.
"We have to go out there this Sunday and play our hearts out, and hopefully we get in the next week's game after that against the Eagles and get into the playoffs.''
paul.schwartz@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:12:35 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giants/giants_must_wrap_up_vs_ravens_6K019jqngneqURVP85Y75L?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Giants http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giants/giants_must_wrap_up_vs_ravens_6K019jqngneqURVP85Y75L?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Giants 5.10.4084559085 -1 false Jets Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:45:53 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/quarterback_challenge_uCFgaBMIkbzJOtByHxKgNL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/quarterback_challenge_uCFgaBMIkbzJOtByHxKgNL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets 5.10.4084558931 -1 false By KIERAN CROWLEY and ALEX DICKINSON National
The nation's worst deadbeat dad made a tearful jailhouse call to the woman he owes more than $800,000 in child support, pleading for help to escape the "murderers and rapists" he now calls cellmates.
After a decade on the run, Robert Sand, 50 — who owes more than $1.2 million total in child support to two ex-wives on Long Island — was arrested in Los Angeles Monday and held without bail.
He was picked up at the LA airport after officials in the Philippines kicked him out of the country.
Lisa Sand, 52, Robert's first wife with whom he fathered two daughters, was his first call.
"He told me, 'There are murderers in here. There are rapists in here. You've got to get me out of here' — like I'm his personal assistant,'' Lisa told The Post.
"He was hysterically crying. He said, 'I want to make my life better. I screwed up my life.' "
Robert "literally went to the ends of the Earth to avoid paying child support," his ex added.
After their 1996 divorce, Sand remarried and had another child, before fleeing that family as well and heading to Thailand.
He also fathered a child in Thailand, officials said, and was in trouble with the law there while working as a motorcycle salesman.
He was deported from the Philippines for not possessing proper ID.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:19:23 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/deadbeat_dad_to_li_ex_help_me_cp9G55YQzCbGuCZCYqfYrK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= National http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/deadbeat_dad_to_li_ex_help_me_cp9G55YQzCbGuCZCYqfYrK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= National 5.10.4084558893 -1 false By RICH CALDER Brooklyn
Opponents of the bike lanes abutting Brooklyn's Prospect Park West will get their day in court.
An appellate panel ruled yesterday that Supreme Court Judge Bert Bunyan erred in August 2011 when he dismissed a lawsuit seeking to remove the two-lane path. Bunyan tossed the suit on the technicality that it was filed late.
The case returns to Brooklyn Supreme Court.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:55:54 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/bike_ruling_ko_iEb3Pkyp706auDGMJYScNK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Brooklyn http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/bike_ruling_ko_iEb3Pkyp706auDGMJYScNK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Brooklyn 5.10.4084558879 -1 false By JOSH SAUL Brooklyn
Two Brooklyn motor-vehicle inspectors were busted for allegedly forging emission tests for diesel trucks, authorities said yesterday.
Mark Asselta, 46, owner of a Bushwick repair shop, and Shlomo Freedman, 54, owner of a South Williamsburg shop, were arrested and arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court yesterday after an undercover investigation by the state Attorney General's Office.
The men allegedly gave safety and emission certificates to diesel trucks they hadn't even tested.
When undercover investigators drove a truck rigged to fail a test to each repair shop, the shops allegedly issued certification without performing any tests.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:18:30 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/shops_sins_of_emission_oF0svGjd4ms10WPJ9gbhtJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Brooklyn http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/shops_sins_of_emission_oF0svGjd4ms10WPJ9gbhtJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Brooklyn 5.10.4084558865 -1 false By ANDY SOLTIS Post Wire Services National
Sen. Affleck?
Ben Affleck, looking serious — and a bit congressional — visited Capitol Hill yesterday but refused to dampen speculation that he's considering running for a US Senate seat from Massachusetts.
"That's not what I'm here to talk about," the actor-director told Politico aftertestifying to the House Armed Services Committee about violence in Congo, the African nation he's visited regularly in recent years.
Later in the day the "Argo" star met privately with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and posed for photos with them and their chairman, Sen. John Kerry.
Kerry's seat would become vacant if he is named to replace Hillary Clinton as secretary of state when she resigns next month.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick would name a temporary replacement for Kerry until a special election is held for the Senate seat, probably in the late spring.
Affleck is among several people — including Ted Kennedy Jr. and former Sen. Scott Brown — said to be considering running for the seat Kerry has held since 1985.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:55:53 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/ben_argo_to_washington_S2wnly8TIpCUuTa1IL89VJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/ben_argo_to_washington_S2wnly8TIpCUuTa1IL89VJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National 5.10.4084558851 -1 false By ANTONIO ANTENUCCI Local
Cops busted a man outfitted as a Super Mario Brother yesterday in Times Square for allegedly groping a passer-by, law-enforcement sources said.
The incident happened on 42nd Street near Seventh Avenue at 5 p.m when Damon Torres, 34, who gets money from tourists taking pictures with him, grabbed the thigh of a 58-year-old woman, cops said.
The victim, who was not a tourist, headed straight for the police substation in Times Square.
Cops quickly found Torres and charged him with forcible touching and marijuana possession.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:09:02 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/super_mario_in_perv_bust_gzvBXrImJKxL8zgSEZOz1O?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/super_mario_in_perv_bust_gzvBXrImJKxL8zgSEZOz1O?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4084558837 -1 false By BRIAN COSTELLO Jets
Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow stood about 25 feet away from each other in the Jets locker room Wednesday looking glum as they addressed the team's quarterback situation and fielded questions about their future.
Both wore the look of a man who would rather be anywhere else.
Since March 21 when the Jets acquired Tebow from the Broncos many suspected a moment like this would come when the entire quarterback experiment would explode in the faces of coach Rex Ryan, general manager Mike Tannenbaum and Woody Johnson.
The part no one foresaw — including the Jets quarterbacks — was that Greg McElroy, a seventh-round pick making $400,000, would be the one starting Sunday against the Chargers and the two first-round picks making millions would be sent to the bench.
The Jets could teach a class in how to screw up the quarterback position based on what they have done.
Right now they have a starting quarterback in McElroy no one in the organization envisions being a long-term solution. They have Sanchez, a player once thought of as a franchise quarterback who now looks like he has no confidence. And then there's Tebow, who is bewildered why the team traded for him and clearly wants out.
More importantly to Jets fans, the team's decision makers seem to be operating without a plan.
Getting answers from the Jets on how all of this happened is nearly impossible. Ryan has morphed into Eric Mangini, talking in circles and never giving a direct answer. Tannenbaum has declined to comment about the team's quarterback switch. A source said the decision to go with McElroy is because he's simply playing better than Tebow on the practice field.
It is hard to diagnose what the Jets will do in 2013 because it is unclear who will be making the call. Tannenbaum could be fired after this season, and Ryan looks like a defeated man who could be on his way out, too.
"I just kind of made a decision that in my gut I feel that the best thing for our football team is for Greg to be our quarterback now and that's how I feel about it," said Ryan in a typical response yesterday, failing to shed any light on his thought process for leapfrogging McElroy over Tebow.
The Jets will see if there is any trade market for Sanchez, hoping someone will take him off their hands. But a source estimated the Jets would have to eat at least $6 million of his $8.25 million to get a deal done. A league source said there is no trade market for Sanchez.
League sources believe the Jets will keep Sanchez because of his price tag ($8.25 million guaranteed in 2013 and at least a $12.4 million cap hit if released) and bring in a veteran as well as someone through the draft to compete with him. Tebow is definitely gone after this year, and McElroy could be as well.
Sanchez now gets added to the list — with Richard Todd, Ken O'Brien, Browning Nagle and Chad Pennington — of quarterbacks drafted by the Jets with the hope he could be the team's first true franchise quarterback since Joe Namath.
As recently as Nov. 2011, Ryan said Sanchez would be the starter for as long as he was the coach. Thirteen months, 11 losses and a rash of turnovers caused him to change his mind. People in the organization who have supported him since Day 1 are perplexed at why he has regressed since 2010.
Ryan shook his head yesterday when asked if the team misjudged Sanchez's ability when it took him with the fifth pick three years ago.
"It's not like he doesn't have the tools to do it," Ryan said. "That's why we did take him with the fifth overall pick."
The Jets are limited in whom they can bring in because they are going to have salary cap issues in 2013 and already have a $12 million cap figure at the position with Sanchez, even if he is cut.
A source said the idea of Michael Vick, who is expected to be released by the Eagles, coming to the Jets is highly unlikely if Sanchez remains with the team. Vick should command at least $10 million per season, too hefty a price tag for the Jets. Vick also sees himself as a starter. He is not interested in a competition.
Alex Smith could be the answer. The 49ers are expected to dump him in favor of Colin Kaepernick. League sources said Smith should get around $5 million per year as a free agent.
In the draft, the Jets probably would not use a first-round pick on a quarterback with tons of other needs. Tyler Wilson of Arkansas is a possibility in the second round.
McElroy is the eighth starting quarterback since 2004 for the Jets. The Patriots and Giants have had two each in that time with Matt Cassel starting for an injured Tom Brady in 2008 for New England and Kurt Warner starting Manning's rookie year as the quarterback.
The Jets' Super Bowl drought has now hit 44 years with no end in sight thanks to uncertainty at quarterback. The Jets have found a way to have three quarterbacks and still make it feel like they have none.
brian.costello@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:53:21 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/debacle_shows_jets_have_no_plan_ghepTwLozY4tCV2PiH9XwM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/debacle_shows_jets_have_no_plan_ghepTwLozY4tCV2PiH9XwM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets 5.10.4084260831 -1 false By BRIAN COSTELLO Jets
Running back Joe McKnight said he believes the lack of fan support for Mark Sanchez played a role in Jets coach Rex Ryan's decision to bench him.
"I think it did," McKnight said Wednesday. "Any time you're the starting quarterback and you're on the football field and you're trying to call plays and you got the people that are supposed to be rooting for you screaming for the other quarterback, that's kind of frustrating.That kind of takes you out of the game. And I think that's kind of made it tough for the coaches to make their decision."
McKnight played with Sanchez at USC and has been one of his biggest supporters.
**
The Jets placed rookie WR Stephen Hill on season-ending injured reserve. Hill sprained his right LCL in the win over the Jaguars on Dec. 9. Hill had 21 catches for 252 yards and three touchdowns. ... TE Dustin Keller (ankle), G Brandon Moore (foot, hip), WR Chaz Schilens (calf, ankle) and CB Aaron Berry (hamstring) did not practice. ... The team signed CB Donnie Fletcher off the practice squad.
**
Safety LaRon Landry signed a one-year contract with the Jets this year, mainly because he was coming off an Achilles' tendon injury that hurt his value. Now that he has played 14 games and nearly every play this year, Landry is looking for a long-term deal.
"Would I sign another one-year [contract] here? No. Not at all," Landry said.
Landry said he feels he has proven to teams he can stay out of the trainer's room.
"Can I stay healthy? I think I've answered that," he said.
Landry has some interesting offseason plans: "When it's over, I'll do what I do every year: Head back to Arizona, do my work, get big as [bleep], get fast as [bleep], get strong as [bleep]."
**
Chargers coach Norv Turner is likely going to be fired in San Diego. If the Jets fire offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, Turner is an obvious candidate. Yesterday, Turner said he would be open to returning to an assistant's role.
"I think people that know me know that I'm a coach," Turner said. "I like coaching. I want to coach. I think you get to a point where there are things that are important to you. If I continue to coach I want to be in a good situation, a place where you have an opportunity to win and be in a situation that there are coaches I've worked with and been around."
Turner and Ryan had a war of words last year when Ryan suggested he would have won the Super Bowl had he gotten the Chargers job instead of Turner in 2007. Turner said there are no hard feelings.
"I think Rex and I had a little tongue and cheek thing going on there," Turner said. "We've seen each other since and laughed about it. I think Rex knows the respect I have for him."
brian.costello@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:32:30 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/mcknight_fans_helped_push_rex_to_I9g6SvoLCseZSzWIJBYW8M?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/mcknight_fans_helped_push_rex_to_I9g6SvoLCseZSzWIJBYW8M?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets 5.10.4084260854 -1 false By BILL SANDERSON National
Detectives believe there's another chapter to the horrific murder recounted in Truman Capote's classic book "In Cold Blood."
The bodies of remorseless killers Richard Hickock and Perry Smith, — hanged in 1965 for the 1959 slayings of Herb and Bonnie Clutter and their two children in Holcomb, Kan. — have been exhumed at the request of Florida authorities.
They are trying to link the murderous drifters to an eerily similar crime in the town of Osprey.
Samples from the killers' bone fragments will be tested in a Kansas laboratory against DNA evidence collected in the slayings of Cliff and Christine Walker and their two young kids.
The Clutter case was made famous in Capote's book and in several movies, including "Capote," a biopic about the author released in 2005.
But the Walker case is less known. The family was killed on Dec. 19, 1959, a little more than a month after the Clutters were slain.
Christine Walker was beaten and raped, and the couple's 2-year-old daughter was drowned in a bathtub. Then they were all shot.
Hickock and Smith have long been suspects in that slaying, and there's plenty of evidence against them, said Wendy Rose, spokeswoman for the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.
"It's all little stuff, but it makes sense when you put the pieces together," she said.
Hickock and Smith checked out of a hotel in Miami early on the morning the Walkers were killed, and were later seen within 30 miles of Osprey.
The suspects worked as car mechanics, and a grease rag was found with Christine Walker's body, Rose said.
There's also evidence the Walkers had been interested in buying the car Hickcock and Smith were driving.
DNA testing has advanced to the point where it's now possible to test the old samples against evidence in the Florida case, including semen found on Christine Walker's underwear.
Although Hickock and Smith are long dead, Rose said there's legitimate reason to pursue the investigation.
"There were nearly 600 people on a list of suspects. There are some people whose names were in the paper quite prominently back in the day who would like their names cleared," she said.
"We have gotten e-mails from people who were friends or neighbors of the Walkers. They are thanking us for sticking with the case."
bsanderson@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:01:32 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/in_cold_blood_echo_687gdcvxGZMSTIzKuLtRAK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= National http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/in_cold_blood_echo_687gdcvxGZMSTIzKuLtRAK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= National 5.10.4084143684 -1 false By GEORGETT ROBERTS and KIRSTAN CONLEY Manhattan
It was like taking candy from a baby.
More than $700 worth of valuables were stolen from a stroller outside a day-care center in Park Slope, Brooklyn, cops said yesterday.
An absent-minded mom left her personal items in the stroller on a front patio at 6 p.m. last Thursday as she picked up her child from day care on Seventh Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues, police said.
The thief made off with a $350 iPhone 4S, a full tote bag, a $250 wallet, keys, identification and credit cards, cops said.
Someone tried to use one of the cards to purchase $100 worth of food at a pizzeria, but the card reader declined the purchase.
The 30-year-old victim called her phone, and a man who answered hung up. No arrests have been made.
The day-care owner said clients often leave their pricey strollers outside.
"There's another stroller they attempted to steal today," said the day-care owner, who gave her name only as Rita. "They saw a bag, took the bag, but the bag was empty, so they threw it out."
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:55:56 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/stroller_rip_off_O8621RdItlCkM0aUNp4I5I?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Manhattan http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/stroller_rip_off_O8621RdItlCkM0aUNp4I5I?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Manhattan 5.10.4084143425 -1 false By LAURENCE ARNOLD Bloomberg National
Robert Bork, the judge and legal scholar whose nomination to the US Supreme Court by President Ronald Reagan set off a battle for the judiciary that lived on long after the Senate rejected him, has died. He was 85.
Bork died from complications of heart disease at an Arlington, Va., hospital.
His rejection by the Senate in 1987 established new rules for how prospective justices would be selected and vetted.
In nationally televised hearings, the Senate Judiciary Committee delved into Bork's ideology, not just his legal qualifications or competence.
Advocacy groups paid for print and broadcast advertising as part of an unprecedented lobbying campaign against a Supreme Court nominee.
The battle lines formed soon after Reagan announced his selection of Bork, a judge on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Then-Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), the committee chairman, said he would lead the fight against him.
"I don't have an open mind," the future vice president said.
"The reason I don't is that I know this man."
Bork had criticized civil-rights legislation that barred restaurants, hotels and other public accommodations from discriminating on the basis of race. He declared Roe vs. Wade "an unconstitutional decision," and he criticized a Supreme Court decision that permitted married couples to buy contraception.
The full Senate's 58-42 defeat of Bork on Oct. 23 was mostly along party lines, with six Republicans opposing him and two Democrats backing him.
Bork's first wife, Claire, died in 1980. They had three children, Charles, Ellen and Robert Jr. In 1982, Bork married Mary Ellen Pohl.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:16:54 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/bork_dies_at_uOlJW2VvRPP5AEHHi7HWKI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= National http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/bork_dies_at_uOlJW2VvRPP5AEHHi7HWKI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= National 5.10.4084143345 -1 false By DOUG AUER, NATASHA VELEZ, KIRSTAN CONLEY and JESSICA SIMEONE NYPD Blotter
Manhattan
Police are looking for the teen suspect pictured who allegedly attacked a woman and snatched her iPhone in a Washington Heights subway station.
Tamek Skinner, 17, walked up behind the 37-year-old woman in the West 157th Street No. 1 station at around 6:45 a.m. on July 13, police said.
He allegedly ripped the phone out of her hand, pushed her to the ground and fled.
The Bronx
Police arrested a suspected gunman in the slaying of a man at a West Farms housing project, authorities said.
Jamel Hunter, 30, allegedly blasted Paris Thomas, 20, several times on Nov. 30 at the city housing complex on East 178th Street, police said.
Thomas was taken to St. Barnabus Hospital, where he died, authorities said.
Hunter was nabbed at 2 p.m. Tuesday on charges of murder, manslaughter, criminal use of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.
Queens
The suspect pictured assaulted two women on a subway train after they refused his advances, cops said.
The suspect and the women were on board an N train near the Broadway station in Astoria at 4 a.m. last Thursday, police said.
The first victim, 27, was seated when the suspect approached, cops said.
After some small talk, he tried putting his arm around her but she rebuffed him.
He got instantly angry and punched her in the face, cops said.
He then approached another woman, cops said.
When that victim rebuffed his advances, he clocked her in the face, too, cops said.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic man in his 40s, cops said.
***
A pedestrian was killed early yesterday by a hit-run driver in Rosedale, authorities said.
The 31-year-old victim was crossing Francis Lewis Boulevard at 246th Street at around 3:15 a.m. when the car mowed him down at high speed, cops said.
The victim was rushed to Jamaica Hospital, where he died, police said.
There have been no arrests, and police have no description of the vehicle.
***
Police are looking for the teen suspect who allegedly accosted and attempted to rob a straphanger at the Main Street terminal of the No. 7 subway line in Flushing, cops said.
The suspect tried to steal the backpack of the 25-year-old victim in the station at around 5:40 p.m. on Dec. 11, cops said.
The victim fought back, the two struggled for the backpack and the would-be thief ran off empty-handed from the mezzanine area of the packed station, cops said.
Staten Island
A mugger stabbed a 27-year-old man in Port Richmond early yesterday, police sources said.
The suspect approached the victim at Post and Port Richmond avenues at around 12:30 a.m. and barked, "Give me your money!" in Spanish, the sources said.
He then stabbed the victim with a sharp object and fled with the man's wallet and an undisclosed sum of money, the sources added.
The victim took himself to Richmond University Medical Center and reported the attack to cops at 3:30 a.m., according to the sources.
***
Two cheapskate brothers tried to mug a Chinese-food deliveryman at knifepoint in South Beach, authorities said.
Michael Sanchez, 23, and Dominick Sanchez, 18, allegedly ambushed the victim delivering food to an address on Ocean Avenue down the block from their home at around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
According to court papers, Dominick pulled out two dollars, but the deliveryman told him the food cost more.
In response, Michael pulled out a blade, menaced the victim and barked, "Motherf--ker!" the court documents add.
The victim dropped the food and fled.
The suspects were collared an hour later at their home, cops said.
Brooklyn
A man was shot to death in Coney Island last night, police said.
The 23-year old victim was found shot multiple times on the sidewalk at West 36th Street and Neptune Avenue at about 6:15 p.m., police said.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:59:31 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/nypd_blotter/nypd_daily_blotter_iCatM52t8QDBYCFvlCdEEO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=NYPD Blotter http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/nypd_blotter/nypd_daily_blotter_iCatM52t8QDBYCFvlCdEEO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=NYPD Blotter 5.10.4084142953 -1 false By BRIAN COSTELLO Jets
Former Jets nose tackle Kris Jenkins fired shots at his old teammate Mark Sanchez last night on "Inside the NFL."
Jenkins said that Sanchez had a strong team around him in his first two years but did not improve.
"What Sanchez has to take responsibility for is during the time that he could have gotten better he wanted to sit back," said Jenkins.
Jenkins played with Sanchez in 2009-10, the two years the Jets made the AFC Championship game.
"He wanted to pose for magazines, worry about his haircuts and do all of that stuff. ... I'm just saying, from what I saw him do, it was a lot better than what it is now."
"But he coasted. They coddled him. That was what was going on. This is a man's profession. You have to man up at some point in time and take care."
Jenkins said he does not think Sanchez should be a Jet next year.
"I think that if you leave Sanchez in that locker room he is going to become a bad apple ... And the locker room has been fragile for the past two years," Jenkins said.
* The Jets tried out kicker Harvard Rugland on Tuesday, according to a source. Rugland is a Norwegian 28-year-old best known for his trick-kicking video on YouTube.
* Never put anything past the Jets.
coz73@comcast.net
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:32:30 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/jenkins_slams_sanchez_krW9k4iN8vBTq6rKcpdMAO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/jenkins_slams_sanchez_krW9k4iN8vBTq6rKcpdMAO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets 5.10.4083808781 -1 false By CANDACE AMOS Brooklyn
A 9-year-old girl riding her scooter in Brooklyn last night was struck in a three-car accident and pinned beneath one of the vehicles — but was rescued by good Samaritans who lifted the car off her, authorities and witnesses said.
Tawaiian Holmes (inset) was scooting on the sidewalk as her mother walked beside her when a livery cab struck a sedan and an SUV at Livonia and Rockaway avenues in Brownsville.
One of the cars mounted the sidewalk and ran over Tawaiian, who got trapped.
"She just kept saying, 'Mommy, I love you. Help me. I don't want to die. Am I going to see my friend,' " her mother, E-Zara Paul, 32, told The Post.
At least seven men at a nearby check-cashing business ran out when they heard the thunderous crash at about 7:30 p.m.
"We were all standing in the cashing place and then we heard a loud boom. Then another boom," said Keith Anderson.
"We ran outside and we saw the mother. She was yelling, 'My baby, my baby!' " said Anderson, 51.
Another of the hero
es, Arthur Lane, 41, said the child was calm despite her terrible pain.
"She was conscious. She was just looking up at us saying, 'Please get this car off of me.' "
The men managed to lift the vehicle off the child.
"On the second lift, the mother slid her out from under the car," Anderson said.
"The girl's legs were twisted up in an 'X' formation. I never saw anything like this in my life," he said.
Another pedestrian was struck amid the mayhem.
"He tried to walk, but he couldn't and he just fell down," Lane said.
Six victims — including Tawaiian — were rushed to area hospitals.
Tawaiian, a fourth-grader, suffered two broken legs and a broken pelvis, her mother said.
"I think the men who helped are awesome," Paul said.
"I thank God they were there because she could have died. She was pinned under the car from her neck to her toes."
None of the other victims was seriously hurt, authorities said.
Police sources said the driver of the livery cab was arrested. Charges were pending early today.
Additional reporting by Larry Celona and Antonio Antenucci
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:59:00 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/heroes_amid_chaos_iy8iOMzI1bp6SEOd30YomL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Brooklyn http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/heroes_amid_chaos_iy8iOMzI1bp6SEOd30YomL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Brooklyn 5.10.4083808453 -1 false By SABRINA FORD, JESSICA SIMEONE and ALEX DICKINSON Local
A deranged Hamilton Heights man, fearing he was under a "voodoo spell," fatally beat his grandmother yesterday with a fake elephant tusk and then bashed a cop in the head with it as the officer tried to arrest him, officials said.
Dominick Anderson, 27, allegedly bashed his 62-year-old grandmother, Beverly Holmes, during the 8 a.m. attack in a building on St. Nicholas Avenue and West 145th Street, police said.
"Oh, my God! Oh, my God!" cried Anderson's distraught mother, Mary Anderson, after witnessing the attack.
"My son has psychiatric problems. He thinks my mother is doing the voodoo on him," she told The Post. "He needs help."
Mary Anderson said her son had found a doll and photos of himself in Holmes' closet while doing Christmas cleaning on Monday.
The discovery made him think his grandma was casting "voodoo" spells.
"That's where she goes and does her chanting every morning," Anderson said. "Dominick took that doll and threw it away. He said, 'I can't believe my own family is trying to do this to me.' "
After the attack began, horrified neighbors flagged down cops, who barged in and tried to wrestle Anderson off his grandmother.
Anderson allegedly whacked Officer Michiell Matos in the head with the plastic tusk, which is believed to have come from a statue.
The raging suspect was as hard to take down as a bull elephant, requiring five other officers and a blast of pepper spray, police said.
Holmes was rushed to Harlem Hospital, where she died.
Mato had a CAT-scan at St. Luke's Hospital for a possible head injury before being released.
The other officers all were treated for bumps and scratches.
Mary Anderson said Dominick has a 5-year-old daughter and is a "father figure" in the tight-knit family.
She said he used to go to therapy and split his time between the Hamilton Heights home and his girlfriend's place while doing "odd household jobs" for people in the neighborhood."Dominick is a very good kid," she said. "What 26-year-old do you know who helps their mother clean up, run errands? Dominick does all that. It's a family tragedy."
Dominick had been due to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
He was initially charged with attempted murder and resisting arrest. A police source said upgraded charges are expected against Anderson, pending autopsy results.
Additional reporting by Antonio Antenucci
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:23:19 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/tusk_slay_horror_8jS0WqT6Eou5gSWVzrJz7M?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/tusk_slay_horror_8jS0WqT6Eou5gSWVzrJz7M?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4083808045 -1 false By PEDRO OLIVEIRA JR. Local
Two new breeds will compete at next year's Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garden, officials said yesterday.
The Russell terrier and the treeing Walker coonhound will bring the total of breeds and varieties in February's competition to 187.
The Westminster Kennel Club, which determines eligibility, said it considers breeds for recognition if they show sufficient numbers, geographic distribution and an active parent club.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:32:53 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/westminster_breed_ing_like_crazy_ySoEPuO39iX0LpxUfB6SyK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/westminster_breed_ing_like_crazy_ySoEPuO39iX0LpxUfB6SyK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Local 5.10.4083725367 -1 false Post wire services Weird But True
Anybody have change for a $500 million?
A man in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was busted for trying to pass off a counterfeit $500 million bill — but he won't serve any time.
Judge William Dimitrouleas, calling the offense "laughable,'' said, "It doesn't promote respect for the law to send somebody to prison . . . for doing something so silly and outrageous.''
The biggest bill circulated today is $100, but at one time, the government printed $10,000 notes.
***
"The Philharmonic will now perform the 'Concerto for Violin, Trumpet and Hand Fart.' ''
An anonymous Canadian has become an Internet sensation by using his hands to squeeze out popular and classical music.
His repertoire ranges from Pink Floyd's 1979 "Comfortably Numb,'' to Johann Pachebel's "Canon in D Major,'' written sometime before 1700.
***
Some good news and bad news for people waiting for gasoline prices to come down.
Scientists have discovered a huge oil field, containing an astonishing 155,238,095,238,095,250,000 barrels of oil.
Only one problem: It's 1,300 light years from Earth, in the Horsehead Nebula Galaxy.
***
Speaking of energy . . .
England's Big Pit National Coal Museum has installed 200 solar panels.
The museum says the move will save it about $650,000 over 25 years
***
He was a bit overdressed for the occasion.
A frugal flier, trying to save costs for excess baggage, wore every item of clothing he was taking on a plane from China to Kenya.
In his various pockets were batteries, flash drives and assorted electronic items.
The man — described as looking like a sumo wrestler — was wearing 60 shirts and nine pairs of jeans.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:21:15 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/weird_but_true/weird_but_true_EZpvAqL7UOC4eUa4BUV6bP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Weird But True http://www.nypost.com/p/news/weird_but_true/weird_but_true_EZpvAqL7UOC4eUa4BUV6bP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Weird But True 5.10.4083721169 -1 false By ZACH BRAZILLER Basketball
St. John's loss is Rider's gain.
Nurideen Lindsey, the dynamic guard who transferred nine games into his Red Storm career after a scintillating start, is off to a similarly solid beginning with Rider.
Lindsey initially committed to Arkansas, but changed his mind and picked Rider, surprising many since he has always been considered a high Division I talent from his days as a prolific scorer at Overbrook High in Philadelphia.
Lindsey said Rider is the perfect fit for him. He left St. John's to be closer to his family in Philadelphia — though there were reports he wanted to be the team's primary offensive option, which he has denied — where he can tend to his ill mother, Gina Schenck, with Rider just a 40-minute drive away in Lawrenceville, N.J. Red Storm head coach Steve Lavin's absence as he recovered from prostate cancer surgery was also a factor, Lindsey said.
"I've been able to focus a lot better," said Lindsey, who has lost two brothers to murder and a good friend to cancer. "It's very important. My mom is my biggest supporter."
He is the face of a program looking to get back to post-season play for the first time in three years and reach its first NCAA Tournament in over a decade. He has developed a close bond with first-year head coach Kevin Baggett, who made him feel comfortable by immediately "trying to coach me, being there when I needed help, somebody I could call and talk to," he said. "He took the initiative to put me under his wing when I got here, to make me feel like this is my home for the next two years."
Lindsey is averaging 12.5 points per game for Rider (6-5), which visits Princeton tonight. The versatile and electric 6-foot-3 guard got off to a roaring start, scoring 26 points apiece in a season-opening win over Robert Morris and loss at South Carolina. He has struggled in recent games, battling turnover and foul woes. A natural slasher at his best in transition, Lindsey has worked dutifully on his perimeter shot, and it shows to the tune of him shooting just over 41 percent from beyond the arc.
"His will to win is unbelievable," Baggett said. "These guys really rally around him. He's been good for our program, does everything I ask him to do."
Lavin considered it a win-win for both parties. Lindsey is more comfortable at Rider, near his family in Philadelphia, while St. John's has moved on without the dynamic guard.
At the time, Lindsey's departure looked like a crushing blow to the program, one of the team's oldest players bolting before Big East play began. Yet, it created opportunities for then freshman guards D'Angelo Harrison and Phil Greene IV.
"I'm sure D'Angelo and Phil's development have been accelerated because Nurideen moved on to Rider," Lavin said.
Lavin also pointed out that St. John's wouldn't have talented Texas A&M transfer Jamal Branch on its roster, either, if Lindsey didn't leave. Branch, a pass-first point guard who should make an immediate impact, will make his Red Storm debut against UNC-Asheville tomorrow.
Neither side has any ill-will toward the other. Lindsey said he still talks with Lavin and his former teammates every few weeks, calling them his "brothers."
"You want young people to be happy and in a situation that is a great fit for them," Lavin said. "Rider is a great fit for Nurideen."
zbraziller@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:32:30 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/basketball/rider_not_the_storm_maNl6VjOTAGFARJmTqAyaP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Basketball http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/basketball/rider_not_the_storm_maNl6VjOTAGFARJmTqAyaP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Basketball 5.10.4083701526 -1 false By KIERAN CROWLEY Local
All they want for Christmas is their stolen pooch.
Coldhearted thieves burglarized a Long Island home, stealing cash, trashing the place — and swiping the family's beloved Maltese-dachshund mix named Joey.
"Our Christmas wish is to have Joey home!'' said a distraught Donna Labriola, a mother of three heartbroken kids.
The return of the 13-pound pup was at the top of 10-year-old daughter Maria's Christmas list — in capital letters.
"I cried when I saw her Christmas list. She wants Joey home,'' said Labriola. "We all do.''
Long Island police are now asking the public to keep an eye out for Joey — who is tan and cream-colored and has black or gray on the tips of his ears and tail — in an effort to reunite him with the family and hopefully solve the crime.
Labriola, 48, said she's even consulted with an animal psychic in a effort to find Joey. The seer believes the pet is in one of the five boroughs.
The crooks broke into the West Islip house Oct. 23 and made off with more than $1,200 in cash — including $65 that Labriola's daughter earned walking dogs in the neighborhood — and more than $15,000 worth of jewelry.
"They broke in through a basement window, and they turned the whole house upside down,'' said Labriola. "They broke a pipe in the basement and flooded the house.
"The house can be repaired, and what they stole is just property. We only care about Joey."
Labriola said it's unlikely Joey tried to chase the robbers away. "He would probably have welcomed anybody,'' she said. "He's very friendly.''
The incident has impacted the family's other dog, Ceasar, a 2-year-old Australian shepherd, who was helpless inside a cage during the incident.
"Ceasar was totally traumatized,'' said Labriola. "It's almost like he let Joey down, and he didn't want to do that again.''
The mom and her three daughters searched the neighborhood trying to find Joey, who also answers to Jojo, thinking the crooks simply let him run free.
But when no one reported seeing him, they realized he'd been taken and called the police.
Labriola believes the thieves gave away the friendly dog t— worth about $1,000 — to someone who didn't know he had been stolen.
Suffolk County cops encouraged anyone who has seen Joey to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 220-TIPS.
Labriola said Joey has two ribs that protrude on either side, a harmless birth defect that would identify him because he had no collar or identification chip in his ear.
"This is highly unusual for burglars to take a pet. I could not speculate as to why they took the dog,'' Suffolk Detective Sgt. Tony Lavista.
"He's a cute little guy. Our hearts go out to the 10-year-old daughter, obviously. We're trying."
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:10:45 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/dognapper_hits_home_eeni5iYAWuXUndflYAb6jO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/dognapper_hits_home_eeni5iYAWuXUndflYAb6jO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4083701411 -1 false By SELIM ALGAR and JULIA MARSH Local
A socialite train wreck beat up her "sober coach" so badly that the woman is awaiting a spinal fusion, a Manhattan lawsuit claims.
Joselyn Wohl, 32, daughter of New York real-estate titan Larry Wohl, "yanked her down a flight of [concrete] stairs, then was on top of her, choking her," said Bryan Swerling, Heather McKean's lawyer.
Law-enforcement sources told The Post that Joselyn Wohl was charged with assault and that a warrant for her arrest was issued following the March 5 incident in the Hamptons.
Joselyn, her dad and his wife, Denise Wohl, are named in the suit because they were "aware of [their] daughter's propensity for violence," court papers say.
McKean was a glorified baby sitter for Joselyn, who'd been struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, Swerling told The Post.
McKean was living in the Wohl's Southampton pad when Joselyn snapped, the suit alleges. "Joselyn wanted to go out and do something not in her best interest, and Heather was trying to talk her down," said Swerling. "Heather began to walk up the stairs. She felt a tug on the back of her shirt, and it was Joselyn attacking her."
McKean has received physical therapy for injuries to her back and leg and has a spinal operation scheduled, Swerling said.
The Wohls did not return calls for comment.
julia.marsh@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:16:54 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/rich_girl_smackdown_suit_eMKUjGzbESLapBN6i1RErN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/rich_girl_smackdown_suit_eMKUjGzbESLapBN6i1RErN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Local 5.10.4083208785 -1 false By SELIM ALGAR Local
It was hell on wheels.
A woman was killed and 33 other people were injured in a massive chain-reaction smashup on the Long Island Expressway yesterday after a big-rig driver lost control of his truck.
The 18-wheeler — carrying flammable mulch — smashed into several cars heading eastbound at Exit 68 in Yaphank at around 2:50 p.m. before bursting into flames.
"It looked like something from an action movie," said witness Mike Jiminez, 24, of Flanders.
"I was going the opposite way, and the cars were just flying all over the place."
Nearly 40 vehicles were involved. Injured drivers were spread among three hospitals.
Police did not release the name of the driver who died, but said she was a 68-year-old woman from Blue Point.
Two people — Nicki Boralli, 20, and Sean Shilling, 37 — were choppered to Stony Brook University Medical Center in critical condition. The rest of the injuries were not life-threatening.
Two cars caught fire in addition to the truck, but the fatality was not in one one of those vehicles.
Jiminez said that the truck driver, Raymond Simoneau from Vermont, exited his vehicle as its engine exploded.
"The guy barely got out," he said. "He had to go right through the flames to make it from the front, the cab. Whoever that guy is is lucky to be alive."
Another witness, Danny Gershonowitz, said he saw the truck driver kick out his windshield to escape after several people tried unsuccessfully to open his door.
A tow-truck driver pulled another occupied vehicle away from the blazing big rig.
The metal- and glass-strewn roadway resembled a demolition-derby site. Traffic was closed for hours in both directions.
Suffolk police have not pinpointed why the truck driver lost control and are investigating.
A source said that a construction zone roughly three-quarters of a mile ahead of the crash site reduced the lanes from three to one and that the truck might have smashed into braking cars.
"When I ran back up to the scene, I was afraid to see what I was going to find," Gershonowitz said. "I was sure there would be multiple fatalities. Thank God there weren't."
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:05:01 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/horrifying_dead_end_on_the_8BbnJmdXOJjltiCqBm1BAL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/horrifying_dead_end_on_the_8BbnJmdXOJjltiCqBm1BAL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4083208659 -1 false By KIRSTAN CONLEY Queens
A Queens woman allegedly pretended to be a doctor and performed a butt-lift operation on a patient, who became seriously ill after the operation, cops said.
The 40-year-old victim paid suspect Liliana Coello $2,500 for a rounder derriere and underwent a procedure at Coello's 157th Street home on Nov. 3, sources aid.
Several days later, the woman's backside became infected, and she ended up in the hospital, sources said.
Coello was slapped with charges of assault, reckless endangerment and unauthorized practice of a profession, sources said. Cops said they confiscated her tools and charged her with criminal possession of a weapon.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:41:37 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/fake_doc_butt_toxic_cops_qeGzHzR0GlbnWKMQLWzzhI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Queens http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/fake_doc_butt_toxic_cops_qeGzHzR0GlbnWKMQLWzzhI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Queens 5.10.4083208553 -1 false Football Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:49:33 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/football/college_bowl_glance_kld2O4ARD8MvFFoNbBRqaI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Football http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/football/college_bowl_glance_kld2O4ARD8MvFFoNbBRqaI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Football 5.10.4083208537 -1 false By SALLY GOLDENBERG Local
Take from the rich and give to the less rich.
That's city Comptroller John Liu's plan, as outlined in a State of the City speech he will give today.
Liu wants to cut Madison Square Garden's $15 million annual property-tax break.
And he proposes cutting tax breaks for developers and making private equity firms pay unincorporated business tax for carried interest or gains from assets held for investment, worth about $200 million a year.
To help smaller firms, he wants to eliminate the corporation tax for all businesses with liabilities of less than $5,000 to save companies about $200 million in city revenue.
Businesses that earn less than $250,000 a year would be exempt from the city's unincorporated business tax under his plan.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:40:56 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/liu_ax_big_firms_tax_breaks_4Nu1xSceLH2EmJY7SnfLyH?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/liu_ax_big_firms_tax_breaks_4Nu1xSceLH2EmJY7SnfLyH?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Local 5.10.4083208499 -1 false Local Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:27:59 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/shattered_qS6wPLlh5xHLdXfwsujRCP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/shattered_qS6wPLlh5xHLdXfwsujRCP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4083208483 -1 false Page Six Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:39:29 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/olivia_culpo_i24lHle2TN6neP02nsN6BO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/olivia_culpo_i24lHle2TN6neP02nsN6BO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Page Six 5.10.4083208443 -1 false By FRED KERBER Nets
Mike Woodson has done something no coach ever has done.
He's told J.R. Smith not to hesitate when he shoots.
"Other than Coach Woodson, I've never been told I was hesitating," Smith said with a smile after shooting 7 of 11 and scoring 19 points last night in the Knicks' 100-86 win over the Nets at the Garden.
"They say I've never seen a shot I didn't like, and I've been trying to live up to his expectations," Smith said. "On the defensive end more than anything. The offensive end has been kind of easy."
No complaints anywhere last night. Smith, in addition to scoring, had three assists, five rebounds and just one turnover.
"He bounced back from the other night," Woodson said. "He and I had a conversation about his last game and we had an opportunity to work on the floor [Tuesday]. I thought he was very focused when he stepped on the floor, and it carried through the game. I couldn't be more proud of the way the young man played."
And Smith did all he was asked — and even what he wasn't asked to do. He kept his cool in the first quarter on a little rough play with Kris Humphries, who drew a technical foul.
"I didn't realize they were going to call a technical. It was just being physical, going for the ball," Smith said. "I didn't think he deserved a tech."
Smith now has shot 14 of 24 (.583) after a shaky eight-game run of 40 of 124 (.323).
"Coach just didn't want me to hesitate," Smith said. "Take less dribbles, be more efficient on the offensive end and take better shots."
Done. Done. Done. And then so were the Nets.
fred.kerber@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:54:39 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/nets/smith_finally_finds_his_shot_qm6p6J7w8j79Var2cOXVxN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Nets http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/nets/smith_finally_finds_his_shot_qm6p6J7w8j79Var2cOXVxN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Nets 5.10.4083208405 -1 false By ANTHONY AFFRUNTI Horse Racing
FIRST-6f; $17,000; mdn cl($12,500); 2YO
6-Nev's Cat 5-22-HandsomeSct12-13-CarefullyWrded7-24-He's Got Brass20-17-Hop Sing 3-15-Etbauer's Roux 8-11-Ferno 3-1
SECOND-6f; $17,000;cl($7,500); 3up
1-Pandering 3-15-Sixoeight 5-14-Moon On Fire 7-26-Trukarma 12-13-Tully's Dreamer9-27-Primal Jones 8-12-The Hidden Ace9-28-Boss M 10-1
THIRD-6f; $19,000; cl($10,000); 3up
5-Hard Case 3-13-Herecomesbert5-11-InJack'sMemry4-14-Boltronic 6-16-Kajiwara 7-27-Elusive Action 10-12-Stray Dog 5-1
2-Solar Night 5-14-SequoyahWells9-26-Shockman 5-25-Katillac Charm 8-13-Go Lil Tiger 4-17-Two Third Bird15-11-I'm in a Hurry 7-2
EIGHTH-1 1/16m(T); $45,000; mdn spcl; 3up
6-Empire Taker 8-14-Cowhand 4-11-Majestic Lite 3-17-Cool Street 6-15-Madris 9-28-Laugh It Off 6-12-South to theSea8-19-VperyodSeryg15-13-New Ruler 20-110-Flashy Sunrise 3-1
NINTH-6f; $25,000; cl($30,000); 3up; (f&m)
8-BarbadosBeaty5-23-WhteJsmneTw12-16-Take Interest 9-24-She'sabrees 12-11-Witty Gal 9-55-Dncngverthele10-12-Janis's Joy 6-17-Lastochka 12-1
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:38:54 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/affrunti_at_fair_grounds_graded_Uh9fPuceWUYptuMQVZyyXN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/affrunti_at_fair_grounds_graded_Uh9fPuceWUYptuMQVZyyXN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing 5.10.4083208391 -1 false More Sports
NBA: Thunder notch 12th straight victory
Kevin Durant set a season high with 41 points and had 13 rebounds as the Thunder (21-4) held off the Hawks, 100-92, for their 12th straight win. Russell Westbrook added 27 points — 21 in the first half — and 11 assists for Oklahoma City. ... Blake Griffin scored 18 points as the Clippers (19-6) beat the Hornets 93-77 for their franchise record-tying 11th consecutive victory.
Paul Pierce scored 25 of his season-high 40 points in the second half, hitting 10 of his 11 shots after halftime in the Celtics' 103-91 win over the Cavaliers. ... James Harden had 33 points and seven assists to lead the Rockets to a 125-103 victory over the 76ers.
NCAA: Kelly named AP coach of the year
Brian Kelly, who led Notre Dame into the BCS championship for the first time, was voted Associated Press college football coach of the year. He received 25 votes from the AP college football poll panel. Also receiving votes were Penn State's Bill O'Brien, Stanford's David Shaw, Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin , Kansas State's Bill Snyder and Alabama's Nick Saban. O'Brien was named the Maxwell Football Club coach of the year after the first-year head coach guided the Nittany Lions to an 8-4 record under unprecedented circumstances.
MLB: Diamondbacks hire Sax as coach
Steve Sax was hired by the Diamondbacks as their first base coach. Sax, 52, was a five-time All-Star second baseman for the Dodgers, Yankees and two other teams. He has been a professional speaker on motivation and leadership since he ritired in 1994.
Jeff Francis completed a $1.5 million, one-year contract to remain with the Rockies, a deal that allows the 31-year-old left-hander to double his income if he pitches 210 innings.
College Hoops: Edwin leads Seton Hall
Senior guard Fuquan Edwin scored 19 points to lead Seton Hall to an easy 79-61 victory over Longwood. The win was the fourth in a row for the Pirates (9-2), while the Lancers (3-9) lost their second straight. Besides Edwin, the Pirates got 13 points from Brian Oliver, who had been practically invisible in the past three games, and 11 points and eight rebounds from freshman Kevin Johnson.
Desi Washington scored 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting to lead St. Peter's to an 80-67 victory over LIU Brooklyn. The Blackbirds played without leading scorer Julian Boyd, who tore his ACL in the victory against Rice on Dec. 12. He will miss the rest of the season.
Sheldon McClellan scored 18 points, leading three Texas players in double figures in an 85-67 win over No. 23 North Carolina. After the game, Texas coach Rick Barnes would not directly comment on a report that guard Myck Kabongo will be suspended by the NCAA for the rest of the season. According to Yahoo! Sports, Kabongo will be banned following an investigation into the sophomore's relationship with Rich Paul, the agent of LeBron James.
GOLF: McIlroy voted player of the year
Rory McIlroy was the near unanimous choice as the best male player by the Golf Writers Association of America. McIlroy received 190 out of the 194 votes cast by GWAA members. Three votes went to FedEx Cup champion Brandt Snedeker, and the other went to Tiger Woods.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:41:43 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/sports_shorts_SIzshqOngDMj73a1X5oUAN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=More Sports http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/sports_shorts_SIzshqOngDMj73a1X5oUAN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=More Sports 5.10.4083208377 -1 false Horse Racing
FIRST-6f; $10,000; cl($8,000); 3up; (f&m)
2Proms M Jy (Butlr)3.402.602.103Thoarra (Coa)5.203.006Swift Feather (Parker)2.20
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:38:07 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/tampa_bay_downs_results_EXUl6fH2zsRIxHxOKOumhM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/tampa_bay_downs_results_EXUl6fH2zsRIxHxOKOumhM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing 5.10.4083208363 -1 false By CANDICE M. GIOVE and SUSAN EDELMAN Manhattan
A top administrator at CUNY's Zicklin School of Business pleaded guilty yesterday to forging signatures to raise failing students' grades — and alleged that four professors helped in the scam.
Chris Koutsoutis, 56, admitted in Manhattan Criminal Court that he faked colleagues' signatures on 11 forms to boost the grades of eight students in danger of flunking out.
The scheme kept the students, including Wall Streeters and other full-time financiers, enrolled — and their bucks rolling in. Their tuition, sometimes paid by the firms they worked for, ranged from $45,000 to $75,000.
"Dishonesty has no place in a college education," said Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr.
The Post exposed the cheating scandal in June (above left).
Koutsoutis, director of Zicklin's executive programs, said he forged the signatures of faculty and administrators on grade-change forms between Nov. 6, 2010, and June 2, 2011.
"I did this to lift the grade-point averages of eight different students who had failed to meet the necessary academic requirements to obtain their degree from Zicklin," he said.
When the failing students asked him for help, Koutsoutis said, he faked the forms, giving phony reasons for the higher grades, such as "completed missing work" and "re-evaluation of previously un-submitted work."
He raised some grades from "F" or "incomplete" to "A-minus," he said. Students below a "B" average could be booted.
Koutsoutis claimed faculty members helped further the ruse by letting students sit in on other courses for credit.
He named Joseph Onochie, Aloke Ghosh, Avner Wolf and Giora Harpaz.
Ghosh called Koutsoutis' allegations "simply untrue." He said he discovered his forged signature and reported it to administrators in June 2011.
Onochie, who was removed as director of the executive MBA program, also denied helping in the scam: "Absolutely not. This is ridiculous."
Harpaz and Wolf did not return calls for comment. Harpaz, Wolf and Ghosh are in disciplinary hearings, said Christine Latouf, a rep for Baruch College, where Zicklin is based.
Koutsoutis also admitted forging the name of Frank Fletcher, the executive director of Zicklin's grad programs, as approving the changes.
He claimed students didn't pay him off: "I received no monetary or other tangible benefits in exchange for my actions."
Judge Larry Stephen asked what, if not money, was his motive. "I was giving them a better opportunity to succeed," Koutsoutis replied. "I wish I had a better answer."
In a plea deal, Koutsoutis copped to 21 counts of forgery and falsifying records. He faces six months jail when he's sentenced on Feb. 6.
"This is a much bigger issue involving Zicklin and academic professionals," said his lawyer Mark Bederow. He added hat the scandal included "at least four professors with some degree of knowledge of what was going on."
susan.edelman@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:21:15 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/cuny_big_up_MHkMdUiXvKIA5ksnMcEnKM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Manhattan http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/cuny_big_up_MHkMdUiXvKIA5ksnMcEnKM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Manhattan 5.10.4083208338 -1 false By BILL SMITH Horse Racing
3 Lightning Storm(BSears)3-1-58-55 Keenan(CManzi)3-6-85-11 As Ya'll Like It(DDube)4-1-15-12 WorthTheMoneyAs(LStlbm)3-8-88-14 Conway Cruiser(JStratton)1-8-38-16 Sweet Joe(JBartlett)3-2-46-17 Stonebridge Idol(BHolland)1-1-312-18 Louie The Fourth(MForte)7-2-515-1
THIRD: mile; trot; $9,000; cl($12500)
4 Ms Graywalls(JStratton)3-2-18-53 Flying Mocha(DDube)3-5-44-15 Carnivalocity(LStalbaum)5-5-88-11 P H Dreamer(EGoodell)5-4-18-12 Angel Ofthe West(BHolland)8-8-612-16 Not Thinking(CManzi)5-3-210-17 Temptation Queen(BSears)7-5-530-18 Our Girls Chance N(SSmith)7-3-520-1
FOURTH: mile; pace; $9,000; cl($12500)
1 Moving Art(GBrennan)4-3-19-52 Jk Ru Bettor Yet(LStalbaum)2-8-85-15 Marie The Artist(EGoodell)3-1-38-13 Bambina's Sorella(BSears)3-6-26-14 Whatrugonnado(DDube)6-4-68-16 Little Miss Henry(JStratton)1-2-410-17 Party Dream(BHolland)8-3-440-18 Elodie(PBerry)4-2-312-1
FIFTH: mile; pace; $9,000; cl($12500)
1 Princess Bliss(EGoodell)2-3-85-13 Wizzard Queen(DDube)1-5-34-12 Make A Bundle N(GBrennan)7-1-49-54 SkywayHanover(LStalbaum)4-3-78-15 Kimmy(CManzi)6-2-88-16 No Faultz(BSears)2-6-110-17 Kissmatt(JStratton)4-5-66-18 Avaricity(JBartlett)5-4-820-1
SIXTH: mile; pace; $12,000; cond
2 Alibi Hanover(GBrennan)1-4-83-14 Dinah Ross(JBartlett)4-1-84-11 Runaway Rose(BSears)4-4-25-13 Little MermaidN(LStalbaum)2-2-612-15 Lizzie's Dream(CManzi)5-7-510-16 Latin Lyric(JStratton)1-5-26-17 My Miss Bliss(MKimelman)4-8-212-18 Eyewitness Account(DDube)1-2-58-1
SEVENTH: mile; pace; $15,000; cond
2 Late Flyin N(GBrennan)1-1-78-53 Thinkyoucandance(LStlbm)1-3-55-15 Lightning Paige(BSears)2-1-24-11 Miss Sand Creek(BHolland)2-6-86-14 Campanile(JStratton)8-2-210-16 Mikeleh(JBartlett)4-2-78-17 Royal Knockout(CManzi)7-8-515-18 Sir Lb's Z Tam(PLachance)5-7-420-1
EIGHTH: mile; pace; $15,600; cl($20000)
2 Lucky Lucky Leo(EGoodell)1-1-25-14 LiterateHanover(LStlbaum)6-5-24-11 Artic Blue(GBrennan)2-6-33-13 Tough Love(BHolland)3-7-412-15 Strange Hanover(BSears)5-5-46-16 Honeys Dragon(CManzi)4-6-310-17 Irish Elitist(JStratton)2-2-68-18 K C Colt(DDube)2-7-612-1
NINTH: mile; pace; $15,600;cl($20000)
6 Arockin Hanover(DDube)1-2-53-14 Not This Time(LStalbaum)2-3-44-12 Pams Legacy(EGoodell)4-6-25-11 Gotthejobdonemate(BHllnd)7-8-28-13 Cooperstown Kid(JBartlett)1-2-38-15 Shellysblockbster(PLchnce)5-4-510-17 Lilsharkshooter(BSears)6-8-312-18 FinanceTheMaster(JStrattn)7-1-46-1
TENTH: mile; pace; $15,000; cl($25000)
7 SharkDressedMan(GBrennn)3-1-18-53 Cam's Oracle(RDane)8-8-110-16 Allamerican Apche(BSears)4-1-14-11 Fiesty Flyer(DDube)1-1-810-12 Ultimate Desire(BHolland)4-3-18-14 All Powerful(LStalbaum)8-2-28-15 AwesomeArmbroN(JStrattn)1-8-65-18 Touch And Go(JBartlett)5-5-720-1
ELEVENTH: mile; trot; $17,000; cl($30000)
8 AlternatThursdays(JBartltt)1-4-33-16 Partyatyourplace(DDube)1-2-45-12 Ringside Lauryn(CManzi)8-7-64-11 Cinderella Man(BSears)2-5-88-13 Im The Cash Man(JStratton)7-6-210-14 Justa Rebel(LStalbaum)2-3-65-15 Sailaway Dream(GBrennan)2-5-86-17 Big Sky Domino(JGregory)7-6-812-1
TWELFTH: mile; pace; $15,000; cond
4 We Adore Thee(GBrennan)1-3-38-56 Wildfire Osborne(EGoodell)2-2-19-52 Nightly Terror(DDube)4-1-16-11 Marie's Z Tam(PLachance)7-2-410-13 Dressedforthednce(JGregry)2-3-18-15 Stratus(JStratton)1-2-48-17 Woes Jet Filly(BHolland)3-3-415-18 Julias Song N(BSears)8-4-312-1
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:37:02 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/yonkers_graded_entries_Yx0jxwWCfSH2gzGcpWr4VL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/yonkers_graded_entries_Yx0jxwWCfSH2gzGcpWr4VL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing 5.10.4083208209 -1 false By S.A. MILLER and GERRY SHIELDS Post Correspondents With AP International
WASHINGTON — Three top State Department officials resigned under fire yesterday after a scathing report blasted "grossly inadequate security" and management "failures" before the attack on the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.
But senators said they still want to grill Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton about the foul-ups that allowed terrorists to kill Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans on Sept. 11.
As congressional leaders read the damning report, the Obama administration disclosed that Eric Boswell, an assistant secretary of state, and two deputy assistant secretaries of state, Charlene Lamb and Raymond Maxwell, had stepped down.
Clinton had been scheduled to provide answers at a congressional hearing on Libya today. But she canceled after fainting and sustaining a concussion last week while recovering from a stomach virus.
Republicans — and some Democrats — still want to hear from Clinton about the report by a blue-ribbon, independent panel.
"What it says is there are huge management problems at State, and she's ultimately responsible," Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) told The Post.
"I think she's got to testify," agreed Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).
Sen. Dick Durbin, the Senate's second-ranking Democrat, added, "I hope that Secretary Clinton will testify . . . Ultimately we need to present this to the American people."
Retired Adm. Mike Mullen, co-chair of the panel, said in the report that some officials were more concerned with saving money than with security.
Mullen's co-chair, retired Ambassador Thomas Pickering, said the personnel on the ground in Benghazi "did the best they possibly could with what they had — but what they had wasn't enough."
Lamb defended the security when she testified in October before Issa's Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
"We had the correct number of assets in Benghazi at the time," she said.
Lamb added that she rejected requests for more security, and trained "local Libyans and army men" instead to guard the mission.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:02:09 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/benghazi_backlash_WKtLiUV9gwNUIklr4O6tfI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=International http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/benghazi_backlash_WKtLiUV9gwNUIklr4O6tfI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=International 5.10.4083208141 -1 false By GERRY SHIELDS National
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans yesterday offered their own Hurricane Sandy relief bill — which is less than half the original proposed amount.
The GOP version calls for $23.8 billion to be spent on disaster relief for New York and New Jersey — while the bill offered by President Obama totaled $60.4 billion.
Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) introduced the new legislation, which would fund aid through the first three months of next year.
Coats said the lower figure eliminated unnecessary spending — such as $150 million for fisheries in Alaska and Mississippi.
"The concept behind this, of course, is to be as careful as we can with the taxpayers' money and make sure that each dollar spent is spent on something that has been thoroughly examined," Coats said.
The bill isn't likely to pass the Senate, which Democrats control with 52 votes.,
One of the biggest cuts in the funding involves reducing Community Development Block Grants from $15 billion to $2 billion. That money is viewed as critical to helping homeowners socked by the storm.
The move would also eliminate close to $11.3 billion in funding for future storm protection. Republicans left in the $9.7 billion to pay out claims from the National Flood Insurance Program.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) slammed the offer.
"This proposal is not even in the ballpark of what New York and New Jersey need," Schumer said yesterday.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:59:13 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/gop_sandy_lash_iiaREoXayjOfNQ7O6IrekN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/gop_sandy_lash_iiaREoXayjOfNQ7O6IrekN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National 5.10.4083207989 -1 false By BRIAN COSTELLO and BRIAN LEWIS Jets
Mark Sanchez's return to the Jets in 2013 is not a guarantee.
The team is open to all options with Sanchez, according to a source, including trading him or releasing him. The most likely scenario remains he returns next season to compete for the job because of his onerous contract.
The Jets benched Sanchez Tuesday, replacing him with Greg McElroy. The former first-round pick has gone from the future of the franchise to a burden.
A trade seems extremely difficult because it would have serious salary cap ramifications for the Jets and one league source said, "there will be no market for him. None." Sanchez has a league-high 50 turnovers in the last two years.
No team would take Sanchez's $8.25 million salary. The Jets would have to eat a decent amount of the money. One source estimated it would be at least $6 million. The best the Jets probably could get for Sanchez is a late-round draft pick that might improve based on Sanchez's playing time.
A weak free-agent quarterback class would work in the Jets' favor. A team with cap space might view him as a one-year stopgap. But his contract severely hurts the chances.
If the Jets trade him, his cap figure becomes $8.9 million plus the amount of the salary the Jets paid. So, if they paid $6 million, the cap figure becomes $14.9, that is higher than the $12.4 they would owe if they cut him with a June 1 designation.
The person making the call on Sanchez may not work for the Jets either. After another season with no playoff appearance, general manager Mike Tannenbaum could be the fall guy.
When asked if he would like to remain a Jet yesterday, Sanchez said "of course" before sidestepping all further questions about his future.
Sanchez said he understands and respects Jets coach Rex Ryan's decision to bench him, but he doesn't have to like it or agree with it. Sanchez would not talk about 2013.
"No, we haven't looked ahead that way yet," Sanchez said. "You want to be out there playing. I'm not going to just concede. You've got to compete, so I'll just keep doing it.
"Rex went with a decision to go with Greg. I respect his decision. I don't necessarily agree. But at the same time, I've got to help Greg and that's really all I'm focused on.''
Ryan did not want to talk about next year.
"Any long-term discussion would probably be better served for after the [season finale],'' said Ryan, who had given Sanchez a glare as he walked past him on the field after Monday night's 14-10 loss to the Titans, then told him in the postgame locker room that he had been demoted.
Sanchez said he let Ryan know he did not agree with the decision but knows it's Ryan's call.
"It's disappointing," Sanchez said. "You just hate letting other guys down on the team and that's the worst part of it. You're going in there, trying to play well and improve and [I] just made some bad decisions. I just have to take care of the football better and own up to my mistakes and get better."
brian.costello@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:16:36 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/source_jets_open_to_trading_sanchez_w3Bz3D31R1LUsG6pI5sXAN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/source_jets_open_to_trading_sanchez_w3Bz3D31R1LUsG6pI5sXAN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets 5.10.4083207962 -1 false By BRETT CYRGALIS Jets
In trying to rationalize his quarterback change Wednesday, Jets coach Rex Ryan spent a lot of time talking about protecting the football, about being a leader, about being a winner, and even about intangibles.
And the starter he named for this Sunday's game against the Chargers was ... Greg McElroy?
"I definitely think I want to see what Greg can do," Ryan said one day after announcing his decision to bench four-year starter Mark Sanchez and give the ball to McElroy over regular backup Tim Tebow.
"We all know the intangibles he has," the coach continued in his fawning over McElroy, echoing what could have been a lifelong description of Tebow. "He's a winner. He's been a winner his whole life. Won a national championship [at Alabama], won a state championship [at Southlake Carroll in Texas] — his whole resume speaks about him being a very confident guy and a confident leader."
So for those reasons, Ryan goes with McElroy, him of zero NFL starts, one NFL touchdown pass and five NFL completions. And Tebow, one year removed from leading the Broncos out of a 1-4 start to an AFC West title and a postseason victory against the Steelers, is scheduled to spend another Sunday as a Wildcat specialist, doing more watching than playing.
That is if Tebow and Sanchez both dress for the game, which Ryan said was a possibility.
But to McElroy, those facts don't mean anything, as this is the culmination of a dream that he has had since he was a kid wearing Troy Aikman's blue No. 8 jersey growing up outside of Dallas.
"I'm not concerned about next week against Buffalo, I'm not concerned about next year, I'm not concerned about these things, just live in the moment," McElroy said. "That's what my Dad said when I talked to him, 'Live in the moment and enjoy this. You've been dreaming about this your whole life.'
"My whole life!"
McElroy said Ryan told him about the decision Tuesday afternoon in a quick conversation, one that he joked lasted "a minute and seventeen seconds, exactly," and from which he would remember every single detail. So his opportunity comes now that the Jets are at 6-8 and officially eliminated from the playoffs, following Sanchez's four-interception performance in Monday night's 14-10 loss to the Titans.
"I can't emphasize enough: This is not the finish line, this is the starting point," McElroy said. "You work hard enough to get here, you set a goal for yourself and as soon as you achieve that goal you reassess."
The one chance McElroy had to play in a game came on Dec. 2 against the Cardinals, when he entered late in the third quarter and led the one scoring drive the Jets needed to take an ugly 7-6 win. He finished the game 5-for-7 with 29 yards, and most importantly didn't have a turnover — which was Sanchez's big liability and led to his demotion.
"Everything that I've learned in this league at this position has been from Mark," said McElroy, who was drafted by the Jets in the seventh round two years ago. "I've been watching him. I understand how to play this game because of him and I'm very grateful for this opportunity and I know he'll be helping out every step of the way."
In the mind of Ryan, he strictly chose McElroy as the best man for the job, regardless of feelings.
"It's no slight to this person or that person," Ryan said. "I just want to give Greg a spot to be in there and let's see what he can do."
bcyrgalis@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:32:30 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/opportunity_knocks_mcelroy_relishing_KWSlqJ3f04iGWR9SbJwB3M?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/opportunity_knocks_mcelroy_relishing_KWSlqJ3f04iGWR9SbJwB3M?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets 5.10.4082557870 -1 false By STEVE SERBY Jets
Whomever decides to seek fame and fortune in the big city and chase a Super Bowl with the Jets better understand the place is a wasteland, a hell-hole where the devil to whom Joe Namath sold his soul is diabolically under orders to stick his pitchfork into a quarterback's heart and soul and leave his dream smoldering in ruin.
A Bermuda Triangle so treacherous it can swallow up young Sanshise quarterbacks and Tebowmania whole.
My warning to the next victim: Come here at your own risk.
I remember the look on Tim Tebow's face the day he walked into the fieldhouse inside the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center, the first mass media press conference for a backup quarterback waiting for him in the distance in front of him, photos of former Jets in the club's Ring Of Honor peering down to meet his giddy, awestruck glance skyward.
There wasn't a football place in the world he would rather have been.
Nine months later, he is standing at his locker, a gray wool hat on his head, giving birth to a seething sense of betrayal inside the last football place in the world he wanted to be.
He would run shirtless through a monsoon to escape from New York.
And who could blame him?
Mark Sanchez was the No. 1 quarterback yesterday only in terms of facing the music on the worst off-the-field day of his professional life, and then it was Tebow's Time to face the music on the worst day of his off-the-field professional life, at the same time Greg McElroy was on another side of the room reveling in the opportunity Tebow thought would be his.
There is only so much punt protecting a man can take.
If the last straw for him didn't come when coach Rex Ryan took the ball from Sanchez and handed it to McElroy instead, it will come when he hears that Ryan lauded McElroy's credentials at Alabama at his press conference earlier in the day. "He's a winner," Ryan said.
The only time in his life Tebow hasn't been a winner has been under the Big Top at the Ringless Bros. and Ryan & Tannenbaum Circus.
"All you can ask for and all you want is a chance," Tebow said.
From him, Mr. God Bless Y'all, that is tantamount to play me or trade me.
Because he never got that chance whenever Sanchez struggled early in the season, and he isn't getting that chance now, when Ryan no longer can use his fractured ribs as a reason to shun him.
Tebow never got that chance for any number of reasons, starting with his horrific practice habits and scatter-shot arm. He refuses to resign himself to the notion he never will amount to anything more than a Wildcat quarterback.
But it finally has hit him, and hit him hard: He is first team All-PSL, a walking, talking, rotting publicity stunt.
Tebow Crime.
Asked if he had gotten an explanation from Ryan or Tony Sparano, Tebow said: "Not really too much of one."
The raging competitor inside of him forced him to bite his tongue at every turn.
No longer do the words, "I love being a Jet" leave his lips.
"Sometimes things just happen out of your control and obviously you might not be pleased with them or happy about it, but you just try to handle it as best you can," Tebow said.
He's only 25. If he can play, he will get his chance. Somewhere else.
Does he want to be a Jet?
"I'll wait until after this season to talk about anything like that," Tebow said.
That's a no.
But no regrets.
"No, sir. I don't have regrets. I believe everything happens for a reason and it's a learning opportunity for me. There's a lot that I've learned, good and bad, and I still appreciate the opportunity to come be a Jet."
No. 2 quarterback before McElroy. No. 2 or 3 quarterback now.
"I don't feel deceived," Tebow said.
But the one time Sanchez was benched, he was inactive.
"Could just be unlucky," Tebow said.
"That was part of God's plan and I'm not going to regret not being healthy."
A year ago he was the talk of the league.
"There's always ups and downs and it's not about how you handle the ups, it's about how you handle the downs," he said. "That's the true test of your character.''
Asked if this day was his toughest day as a Jet, Tebow said:
"I'm not sure, it's a good question."
Here's a better one he can ask Woody Johnson, Mike Tannenbaum and Ryan: Why?
steve.serby@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:38:13 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/tebow_love_affair_with_jets_clearly_S0BqmoKykfF1yurAYsfMxM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/tebow_love_affair_with_jets_clearly_S0BqmoKykfF1yurAYsfMxM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets 5.10.4082557856 steve_serby.png true By KALEE OSOWSKI and CYNTHIA R. FAGEN Local
Keep your fingers crossed.
The 7-foot-tall "13" that will be part of the lit-up "2013" when the ball drops on New Year's Eve arrived in Times Square yesterday — and organizers are trying to make sure the number doesn't frighten off superstitious revelers.
Just to make sure, the "13" will come with 13 "lucky" charms.
"Some people get nervous about the number 13," said Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance.
"But just to keep all bases covered, we've gone ahead and gathered 13 good-luck charms — everything from a four-leaf clover to gold coins to bamboo to a Buddha statue," he said.
On Dec. 26, the lucky "13" and its charms will be installed atop One Times Square to complete the "2-0-1-3" sign that will light up at midnight after the ball drops.
Some 1 billion people around the world are expected to see the festivities. About 1 million revelers will camp out in Times Square.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:21:15 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/doing_number_on_times_sq_yKulfbGyDEGco7wKiohq9K?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/doing_number_on_times_sq_yKulfbGyDEGco7wKiohq9K?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4082557833 -1 false By ERIK KRISS Local
ALBANY — New York hasn't said yes to fracking but the industry already supports more than 44,000 jobs in the Empire State.
Natural-gas drillers in other states depend on New York for financing and insurance, which account for 40 percent of the state's fracking-related jobs, according to a report commissioned by the US Chamber of Commerce.
Even if New York continues to resist fracking, industry-related jobs would grow to 74,000 in 2020 and more than 78,000 in 2035, the report found. But that would still leave it behind nine other states, including Pennsylvania.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:08:58 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/fracking_already_ny_job_booster_EJ7qFJNE8I1iUNj0psLrQK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/fracking_already_ny_job_booster_EJ7qFJNE8I1iUNj0psLrQK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4082557723 -1 false By S.A. MILLER, Post Correspondent National
WASHINGTON — In one of the most abrupt Capitol Hill press conferences ever, House Speaker John Boehner yesterday dared President Obama to ignore a Republican offer to raise taxes on millionaires and instead take a fiscal-cliff jump.
"He can call upon the Senate Democrats to pass the legislation or he can be responsible for the largest tax increase in American history," Boehner told reporters before walking off after just 49.5 seconds at the podium.
Boehner's hasty retreat as reporters shouted questions mirrored the impasse in negotiations.
Obama, who proposed higher taxes on incomes above $400,000 a year, pressed Republicans to come to an agreement to avert the cliff by invoking the tragic school shooting in Connecticut.
"Goodness, if this past week has done anything, it should just give us some perspective," Obama said at a White House press conference called to discuss gun control.
Without a deal, the cliff hits on Jan. 1 with huge automatic tax hikes on every American and deep spending cuts that likely will cause another recession.
Fitch Ratings agency yesterday warned that it would likely downgrade the United States' top AAA credit rating if Washington can't strike a deal.
Boehner's latest proposal, called Plan B, would spare more than 99 percent of Americans from tax hikes but raise rates on annual incomes over $1 million.
The two sides are at odds over the mix of higher taxes and spending cuts needed to replace the self-imposed cliff but still reduce government debt.
Obama has proposed $1.3 trillion in new tax revenues over 10 years, while Boehner has called for $1 trillion.
"The idea that we would put our economy at risk because you can't bridge that gap doesn't make a lot of sense," Obama said.
The House is expected to pass the Plan B bill today, with overwhelming support from Republicans despite their longtime opposition to higher taxes.
Obama said he would veto it, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). said the measure couldn't pass his chamber even as a last-ditch effort.
Anti-tax activist Grover Norquist blessed the bill, saying it would not violate his no-new-taxes pledge that many Republicans have signed.
smiller@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:09:40 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/pulling_fast_one_mq7Us7HxlIswOWQIAIsvzJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= National http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/pulling_fast_one_mq7Us7HxlIswOWQIAIsvzJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= National 5.10.4082557553 -1 false By SALLY GOLDENBERG Local
A study of the health impact of 9/11 expected to be released soon will find increases in cancer rates similar to those in a city Health Department study released this week.
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, which has studied 20,000 first responders since the attacks, will soon publish a report that is "virtually identical" to findings the city released this week, said Philip Landrigan, a doctor who headed the research.
He specifically noted a 14 percent overall increase in cancer rates among first responders, with particular spikes in thyroid and prostate cancers and multiple myeloma, and said his research reached similar conclusions to the city's.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:09:00 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/studies_dovetail_gl4FbshSfhyfDgIxlvYO9H?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/studies_dovetail_gl4FbshSfhyfDgIxlvYO9H?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4082557447 -1 false By JENNIFER FERMINO and SALLY GOLDENBERG Local
MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota yesterday took the first step toward a run for City Hall, resigning from his post at the transit agency to test the waters in the crowded 2013 mayoral race.
His last day at the helm is New Year's Eve.
Lhota — a former top deputy mayor under Rudy Giuliani — said he'll make a final decision early next month.
"This will be a life-defining decision and one that I will be seriously considering in the upcoming weeks," he said at a press conference after an MTA board meeting.
His entry into the race — which has been lacking a strong Republican candidate — would be welcome news to the city's business community.
"I just think a strong GOP candidate is important to bring balance to the race," said Kathy Wylde, the leader of the business group Partnership for New York City.
"If he enters the race, I think he has a great story to tell about what it took to transform New York into a safe, manageable city."
Because of his position with the MTA, Lhota under state law had been barred from planning a run for public office.
But with this decision, on New Year's Day, he can begin talking to potential donors.
Sources told The Post that many in Giuliani's circle are confident that Lhota can raise $10 million.
One person whose support Lhota won't be receiving is Mayor Bloomberg.
According to a City Hall source, Bloomberg dislikes him, especially after Lhota said the mayor acted "like an idiot" when Hizzoner speculated on the reopening of the Queens Midtown Tunnel after Hurricane Sandy.
Lhota's entry likely hurts the mayoral ambitions of City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, an all-but-announced candidate who had been positioning herself as the most centrist in the Democratic field.
The 2013 field also could include city Comptroller John Liu, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and former Comptroller Bill Thompson.
A spokesman for former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión — who is mulling a mayoral bid as a Republican — said he still plans to run.
jennifer.fermino@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:21:15 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/lhota_eye_on_next_ride_yeUFk9Iogtz6HyD0ogHADN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/lhota_eye_on_next_ride_yeUFk9Iogtz6HyD0ogHADN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4082557424 -1 false By DAVID K. LI Local
Lower East Siders may soon be flying in the sky.
The city is seeking proposals for a seasonal trapeze operation at Hamilton Fish Park on the Lower East Side — including 32-foot-high rigs, swings, safety nets and a big top.
It would operate over the swimming pools from mid-September to mid-May — when they are dry and empty.
There's already one trapeze outfit in Manhattan, the Trapeze School of New York at Pier 40, which is closed for the winter.
School officials plan to submit a bid for Hamilton Fish Park, in hopes of making their business year-round.
"The Lower East Side is a very romantic side of the city," said TSNY president and co-founder Jonathon Conant. "It's gentrifying with a sense of art and this [trapeze swinging] is artistic."
The city hopes it won't have to spend a dime on the project. All equipment, instruction and insurance would be picked up by the winning vendor, according to project officials. If Parks officials receive a plan they like, it could be a go by September 2013.
The idea for a trapeze was hatched after Parks officials first considered a zip line.
That plan never got off the ground because the height required would have necessitated cutting some treetops.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:23:38 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/say_high_to_side_trapeze_4tmrqCUbCivUEkl8xwgCWM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/say_high_to_side_trapeze_4tmrqCUbCivUEkl8xwgCWM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Local 5.10.4082557318 -1 false By JENNIFER FERMINO Local
Straphangers were slapped with their fourth fare hike in five years yesterday.
The MTA's board overwhelmingly green-lighted the increases — only one member voted against toll hikes — that will go into effect in March.
"Its a plan that's antiquated," board member Allen Cappelli said about the tolls, saying they hurt small businesses and unfairly target Staten Island.
Outgoing MTA chief Joe Lhota — who will quit at the end of the year to run for mayor — voted to approve the increases.
The cost of a monthly MetroCard will go up $8, to $112, and there will be a dollar increase to the weekly cards — bringing them to $30.
Riders also will be slapped with a $1 "green" fee on new MetroCards to encourage them to refill their old cards.
"Something has to happen before we price this gem of a system out of the reach for most New Yorkers," board member Andrew Albert said, adding the MTA will be in the same situation in 2015 — when more hikes are scheduled — without more state funding. LIRR and Metro-North fares will increase an average 8.19 percent and 9.31 percent.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:05:00 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/mta_we_re_trapped_so_you_hang_Mzmq5ih8kwmRHQ3jyaN6wL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/mta_we_re_trapped_so_you_hang_Mzmq5ih8kwmRHQ3jyaN6wL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4082557302 -1 false By JULIA MARSH & YOAV GONEN Local
A teacher the city tried to boot for slapping a student not only get her job back, but deserves $85,000 in back-pay, a court ruled yesterday.
Former Brooklyn elementary-school teacher Beverly Riley spent two years in court battling her 2010 firing for striking a student who got too "sassy" for her liking, DOE documents say.
She was reinstated in January after an appeals court found that her punishment had been too harsh.
Yesterday, a Manhattan Supreme Court judge ruled she was entitled to a year's back pay.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:20:50 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/city_lapped_for_teach_ax_cDA7YwhXPxne2AiQ2r28SJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/city_lapped_for_teach_ax_cDA7YwhXPxne2AiQ2r28SJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Local 5.10.4082557265 -1 false By AMBER SUTHERLAND and NATALIE O'NEILL Local
Stop the world — I wanna get off!
A sexy swimsuit model and countless other lusty New Yorkers say tomorrow's predicted Mayan apocalypse is a great reason to have sex, and are turning to social media and doomsday-themed parties in hopes of fully experiencing humanity's steamy climax.
"If I die, I don't want to die on a dry spell!" declared model Niki Ghazian (pictured).
The sexy fashion plate, who works in New York and Los Angeles, told The Post she'll attend a fashion party with friends tonight to celebrate Doomsday Eve — and, hopefully, hook up with someone hot.
"Everybody should go out feeling satisfied," she told The Post. "If the world's gonna end, why hold back?"
All the horny hubbub has been caused by a doomsday prediction made by the ancient Mayan calendar, which predicts the world will end on Dec. 21, 2012, at 11:11 a.m.
While some people around the world are arming themselves and digging into bunkers, many New Yorkers are simply hoping for a hot time.
"I will be looking for an end-of-the-world hook-up," Dennis Cintron, 29, a Lower East Side bartender, told The Post. "If you're going to go out, go out with a bang."
Cintron said he'll buy new clothes and get a haircut for the big day because he wants some "companionship" to ring in the rapture.
Sara Saperstein, 26, of Bushwick is also hoping for one last romp.
"It's like New Year's. I want to go out on a wild note!" Saperstein said.
She won't have trouble finding a spot for that. More than a dozen bars and clubs in New York City are throwing end-of-days bashes, including a comedy show at the Bell House in Gowanus and an "End of the Funking World Party" at B.B. King Blues Club in Midtown.
Other singles posted ads on Craigslist.org and OKCupid.com, seeking apocalypse-themed dates, "casual encounters" and even "end of the world sex."
"If you've got no plans for the apocalypse, let's get together," wrote a 30-year-old single guy from Midtown.
He added, "Send me how you'd like to spend your last hours on earth — and a photo."
Kerri McMearty, a 35-year-old nurse from Long Island, wants to spend her last night on earth enjoying a boozy dinner with a "new man."
"You come into the world with people — you may as well go out with them," she said.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:17:38 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/end_of_world_is_very_bed_news_for_QnNdRlOJ9XcFik5zjd8JvI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/end_of_world_is_very_bed_news_for_QnNdRlOJ9XcFik5zjd8JvI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4082557240 -1 false By GERRY SHIELDS, Post Correspondent National
WASHINGTON — President Obama yesterday signaled that he's finally ready to use his political muscle to take on the powerful gun lobby and push a package of gun-control bills through Congress next year.
"The fact that this problem is complex can no longer be an excuse for doing nothing," Obama said, seizing the momentum for new gun laws after Friday's killing of 20 schoolchildren and seven adults in Connecticut.
Obama tapped Vice President Joe Biden to head a task force that will come up with proposals, including an assault-weapons ban, closing gun-show background check loopholes and restricting the sale of high-capacity ammunition clips, among other initiatives.
He gave the panel a month to complete its work. But the president, who will address gun control in his State of the Union speech for the first time since taking office, bristled at suggestions that he's late to the effort.
Asked at a news conference, "Where have you been" following previous gun massacres during his tenure, Obama snapped:
"I've been president of the United States, dealing with the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, an auto industry on the verge of collapse, two wars. I don't think I've been on vacation."
The battle to take on gun control — often described as the third rail of US politics — comes as several pro-gun lawmakers have said they are finally willing to consider bills restricting the sale of weapons.
Obama insisted his proposals will fall far short of dismantling the Second Amendment — and will leave room for legal gun ownership.
"And there is a big chunk of space between what the Second Amendment means and having no rules at all," Obama said. "And that space is what Joe is going to be working on to try to identify where we can find some common ground."
Mayor Bloomberg, one of the nation's most outspoken gun-control advocates and a critic of the president's lack of action, called Obama's move a step in the right direction.
"The country needs his leadership if we are going to reduce the daily bloodshed from gun violence that we have seen for too long," Bloomberg said.
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-LI) last week threatened to "embarrass" Obama if he didn't move on gun control. Yesterday, she welcomed his commitment to the effort.
"This time is different now that we have a president behind us," McCarthy said of previous failed battles against the powerful gun lobby.
gshields@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:04:53 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/got_ban_plan_clzs65TpjOSJ4NIdGfjBtO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/got_ban_plan_clzs65TpjOSJ4NIdGfjBtO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National 5.10.4082557107 -1 false By CHUCK BENNETT National
The pension funds of Massachusetts and Connecticut have joined New York and a growing number of states and municipalities questioning their investments in the firearms industry in the days since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Massachusetts treasurer Steve Grossman said the move was motivated by "the physical, emotional and moral outrage, the outpouring of emotion" of the massacre perpetuated by 20-year-old Adam Lanza primarily with a legal .223 Bushmaster rifle.
Officials in Connecticut, where Friday's tragedy occurred, also said they ordered a review of their investments.
The moves add further pressure on the firearms sector that has been besieged with outrage over the past five days and the threat of new regulations.
Cerberus Capital Management already said it would sell off its $900 million Freedom Group, the maker of Bushmaster rifles and other guns.
But the weapons remain popular with customers. Walmart sold out of five types of semiautomatic rifles, including the one used in the mass slaying, in five states, Bloomberg News reported.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:01:32 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/pension_funds_have_makers_in_their_Su8rLEv14Y2FBlQMJucHkN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/pension_funds_have_makers_in_their_Su8rLEv14Y2FBlQMJucHkN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National 5.10.4082557047 -1 false By JESSICA SIMEONE Local
New York City has begun assigning extra safety officers to the city's elementary schools in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre.
"We have two to three agents in every [public elementary] school. That's up from one," a community- affairs officer said at a public meeting at Manhattan's Ninth Precinct.
The NYPD said, "Security is being assessed on a daily basis as a result of the Connecticut school shooting."
Meanwhile, a threat was made against students at Westwood HS in New Jersey.
Cops arrested a suspect after searching the home, officials said. They do not believe there is now an active threat against the school.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:05:00 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/extra_safety_at_city_schools_eM6MF9Ii6eKf04SsiyJfdL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/extra_safety_at_city_schools_eM6MF9Ii6eKf04SsiyJfdL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4082557033 -1 false By CHUCK BENNETT National
Deaths from guns are on track to outpace automobile fatalities in the United States within three years, a new analysis has found.
Based on current trends, there will be 32,929 firearm fatalities by 2015 and 32,036 motor-vehicle deaths, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control crunched by Bloomberg News.
Between 2005 and 2010, motor-vehicle deaths declined by an impressive 22 percent.
The fall in traffic deaths resulted from safer vehicles, restricted privileges for young drivers and seat-belt and other laws, Garen Wintemute, director of the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California-Davis, told Bloomberg News.
Almost the reverse was true with guns, however.
"We've made policy decisions that have had the impact of making the widest array of firearms available to the widest array of people under the widest array of conditions," he said.
In 1982, there were about 32,000 gun deaths, compared with 45,000 traffic-accident deaths.
Each day, about 85 Americans are shot dead — 53 of them suicides, and the rest accidents or homicides.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:01:32 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/bullets_to_top_traffic_UVHlywSNGagHHRG21x5aAL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/bullets_to_top_traffic_UVHlywSNGagHHRG21x5aAL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National 5.10.4082550377 -1 false By LORENA MONGELLI in Newtown, Conn., and DAN MANGAN in New York Local
He always dreamed of being a firefighter — and yesterday, he got a hero's farewell.
First-grader Daniel Barden — "one of those angels" killed at Sandy Hook Elementary — was laid to rest yesterday as an honor guard of firefighters, police officers and military servicemen from as far away as New York City lined the streets leading to St. Rose of Lima Church.
Daniel, 7 hoped to follow in two relatives' footsteps and become a firefighter.
"There's a new playground in heaven, a playground with 20 beautiful perfect little angels," choked-up school-bus driver Gary Wheeler told mourners at the church.
"Daniel is one of those angels.
"Daniel had a smile as big as the sky, minus his two front teeth," Wheeler said in his eulogy.
The young, rambunctious redhead, he said, "would run and give me a big bear hug" every time.
"He had eyes that sparkled, sometimes with mischief. He would race the bus down the street," Wheeler said.
"He would always win."
Rows of NYPD and FDNY members joined their brethren from Daniel's hometown of Newtown and elsewhere. The boy was also the nephew of NYPD Lt. James Giblin.
Madeline Giblin, noting that her young cousin's nicknames included "Hurricane Daniel," said, "He was too full of life, love and joy."
His funeral was the first of two yesterday at St. Rose, which is holding funerals for nine of the 20 children who were massacred.
Emotional wakes and funerals for six other Sandy Hook victims also were held yesterday.
Shivering mourners waited outside in line for nearly five hours to enter the wake for brave principal Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung — the first person gunman Adam Lanza killed after she tried to tackle him — at the Woodbury Funeral Home.
"She made everybody feel special," said Hochsprung's former neighbor, school-bus driver Renata Hilse. "She stood for what she believed in and never backed down. She was sweet and funny, too."
Sandra Prendergast, whose daughter is taught by Hochsprung's husband, George, said, "He was always talking about her."
"We're all thinking we're going to have to support George, because what is he going to do now?"
Gov. Dannel Malloy attended Hochsprung's wake and the funeral of kindergartner Charlotte Bacon, 6, whose white casket was surrounded by stuffed animals and wreaths of pink roses.
A eulogy read alternately by her grandfather and uncles called Charlotte "determined, fearless, coy, precocious, creative, independent, authentic, dramatic and beautiful."
And at the funeral for 6-year-old Caroline Previdi at St. Rose, her mother, Sandy, said she "always had a smile on her."
Additional reporting by Kenneth Garger and Tara Palmeri
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:05:12 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/bravest_boy_salute_4XnZ4d3IErb2mbXi1LXZbK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/bravest_boy_salute_4XnZ4d3IErb2mbXi1LXZbK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4082368350 -1 false By DAN MACLEOD, JEANE MACINTOSH, JOSH MARGOLIN and JENNIFER BAIN Local
Adam Lanza spent two days home alone preparing for hisConnecticut schoolhouse massacre after his mother went away on a mini-vacation, it emerged yesterday.
Nancy Lanza checked into the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, NH, at 12:10 p.m. Tuesday, and left around the same time Thursday.
The drive is about 4 1/2 hours, so she would have arrived back home in Newtown late in the afternoon or early evening, according to Headline News — just hours before Adam (pictured, at 13) shot her dead in her bed before the Friday morning rampage that killed 20 first-graders and six educators.
He was armed with a Bushmaster .223-caliber assault rifle and two handguns, a Sig Sauer 9mm and a Glock 10mm, all belonging to his mom.
News of Nancy Lanza's getaway came as a funeral home in her New Hampshire hometown called to "discreetly" claim her body, the medical examiner said.
Meanwhile, investigators said they have been able to pull salvageable information from computers at the gunman's home.
"Every day we learn a little bit more, both from the computer and from talking to people," said a law enforcement official.
Police also said yesterday that the second surviving shooting victim is an adult.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:06:29 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/killer_got_ready_with_mom_away_obDc6IlRDklXzQVDcUxkvI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/killer_got_ready_with_mom_away_obDc6IlRDklXzQVDcUxkvI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4082368175 -1 false By FRED KERBER Knicks
Nets center Brook Lopez was so excited for last night — the first time the Brooklyn Nets were playing the Knicks in Madison Square Garden.
Then the game began.
Knicks center Tyson Chandler eventually turned all that excitement into frustration, and the Nets may have left the joint hoping it was the last time they would have to play the Knicks in the Garden.
Chandler was a 16-point, 12-rebound, defensively charged beast all game in the Knicks' 100-86 wipeout of the Nets. And nowhere was Chandler better than in the third quarter when he pick-and-rolled the Nets to death, collecting five of his six dunks (four of them off lobs, three coming from Raymond Felton).
"I wanted to just close the game. I wanted to make a statement," said Chandler, who had three blocks.
That statement might as well have been: "You're toast, Nets."
"This was a big game for us, a game in our division, an opportunity to gain a full game as far as the lead goes," Chandler said. "We have to make statements like this."
And Chandler did. Again and again and again.
"He was solid," Knicks coach Mike Woodson said. "He plugs up holes for some of the mistakes we make defensively and he's been doing it all year."
Chandler also erases offensive mistakes by keeping the ball alive. He is uncanny at knocking the ball back to teammates providing additional opportunities. The Knicks had 21 second chance points while the Nets had 11.
"There are plays that don't show up on the stat sheet," Carmelo Anthony said of his teammate's back taps. "Those are moments that are crucial plays for us."
Though there were several such plays last night — Chandler had five offensive rebounds — his most noted play this season was the back tap the last time the Knicks and Nets played, in Brooklyn. That led to Jason Kidd's game winner.
So yeah, Chandler and the Knicks made a statement.
"It's more about us to be honest with you," Chandler said, stressing how the defense picked up to stifle Brooklyn. "We felt like over the last couple games we slipped away defensively. We wanted to get back to that."
They did. Lopez, regarded as a high powered offensive center, shot 8-of-18, scoring 16 points. And he had nothing but praise for Chandler.
"He's very physical. Very strong, moves well. He's very good at maintaining good position, staying in front of you and making it difficult to get to the basket," Lopez said of Chandler, before adding Dwight Howard to the conversation. "They're both very good defenders. Maybe Tyson moves more laterally, but they're very similar."
The Knicks led by four at halftime and then stretched the lead to 10 in the third before going into the final quarter up eight. And Chandler, with three lobs from Felton and one from Pablo Prigioni, scored 10 as the Garden erupted.
"The dunks for Tyson, the energy in the building gets going," Kidd said. "Baskets like that puts all the pressure on the defense."
fred.kerber@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:32:30 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/tyson_ko_punch_mAeyzSzHQefaFJxgWN0zhI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Knicks http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/tyson_ko_punch_mAeyzSzHQefaFJxgWN0zhI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Knicks 5.10.4082368060 -1 false By JUSTIN TERRANOVA Knicks
Isiah Thomas is going to get another chance — on television.
NBA TV announced yesterday that Thomas has joined its team of studio analysts and will make his debut on tomorrow's pregame show prior to the Knicks-Bulls matchup on the channel.
The former Knicks coach and president had tried out for ESPN earlier this year, but the network opted to add columnist Bill Simmons and former NBA point guard Jalen Rose to the show. Thomas, who remains close with Knicks owner James Dolan, will make several appearances each month and will contribute to NBA.com. Thomas was fired by Florida International University in March after going 26-65 in three seasons with the school.
Thomas was the lead analyst for NBC in 1998 after parting with the Raptors and before being named president of the CBA.
jterranova@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:00:41 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/isiah_lands_nba_tv_gig_ALD7uSrus15afF30OxLULO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Knicks http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/isiah_lands_nba_tv_gig_ALD7uSrus15afF30OxLULO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Knicks 5.10.4082367954 -1 false By YOAV GONEN Local
The retired principal of Sandy Hook Elementary will return to lead the school when classes resume next month.
Donna Page, who left in June 2010, will run the school out of its new home at the Chalk Hill Middle School in nearby Monroe, according to the Hartford Courant.
Page was replaced as principal in 2010 by Dawn Hochsprung — the first massacre victim — who attempted to stop killer Adam Lanza at the start of his shooting spree. Hochsprung's wake was held yesterday afternoon.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:05:00 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/principal_out_of_retirement_WuT3590NV7KoC1qItYOVJP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/principal_out_of_retirement_WuT3590NV7KoC1qItYOVJP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4081459440 -1 false By REUVEN FENTON in Stratford, Conn., and DAN MANGAN in New York Local
She's their "superhero."
The selfless Newtown teacher who died shielding her students from a gunman's assault rifle was remembered by her two kid sisters yesterday as a best friend, an inspiration and the bravest person they had ever known.
Victoria Soto, 27, "gave her life to save her kids, and if that's not true strength and heroism, I don't know what is," said her weeping sister Carlee Soto, 20, in a stirring eulogy.
"The expression 'You don't know what you have until it's gone' is true. My best friend is gone."
And Jillian Soto, 24, said her sister's fearless act was something usually heard of only in Hollywood movies.
"Somebody wrote me a letter about the recent tragedy that I would like to share with you. In it, it said they had to sit down with three small children, explaining to them that monsters, sadly, do exist out there," a weeping Jillian told more than 1,000 mourners at Lordship Community Church in Stratford.
"But they felt relief that because of my sister, they were able to tell them that superheroes also are very real.
"You are my superhero and I am so proud of you and all you have done in your 27 short years."
Singer/songwriter Paul Simon sang his haunting classic "The Sound of Silence" in the packed church, as Victoria was sent off with seven eulogies, from her sisters, best friend, aunt and three cousins.
Many mourners wore ties, scarves and ribbons that were green, Soto's favorite color.
"It kills me that I'm never going to say, 'I love you' one last time to her," said Carlee, who credited Victoria with pushing her to enroll in college.
"The pain is unbelievable, but I know I can get through this thanks to Queen Victoria watching down on me.
"I love you so much, Vicki. And I am beyond proud to say I am Victoria Leigh Soto's little sister."
The photograph of an anguished Carlee desperately clutching a cellphone last Friday outside Sandy Hook Elementary School instantly became an iconic image of the tragedy.
Carlee didn't know at the time that Adam Lanza had already murdered Victoria, along with six other adults and 20 children only 6 and 7 years old, before killing himself.
As the shooting began in another room, Victoria herded her first-graders into a closet. When six of the terrified youngsters tried to bolt from the room, Lanza shot them and Victoria as she tried to shield them from his bullets.
"Over the past five days, people have been thinking of you as a hero, many hoping that they could do the things that you have done to touch the lives of so many, whether it be through your actions on that terrifying morning, or through the way that you brought curiosity, excitement and joy to your students every day," Jillian said as dad Carlos, mom Donna and brother Carlos Jr. also looked on.
"Each of those are reasons why you are in so many people's hearts, but truthfully, you have been a hero to me for a lot longer than five days," Jillian said.
"You have been my big sister, the one I've always looked up to, the one I've always wanted to be like.
"You are beautiful, smart, funny, goofy and you had an amazing smile."
The Rev. Meg Boxwell Williams offered a prayer thanking God for giving the mourners a "homebody" who was the "ringleader" of a group of cousins, a Yankee fan and a lover of Swedish meatballs.
"We thank you that she achieved her life's goal to be a teacher of young children. And we thank you that her last act was absolutely selfless, Christ-like, in laying down her life for her children," Williams said
Victoria's best friend and college-dorm roommate, Rachel Schiavone, told mourners she "was strong and totally fearless, and it doesn't surprise me at all that Vicki died protecting her kids."
"She loved them more than anything, and bragged that this year she had the best first-grade class ever."
Schiavone drew laughs with an anecdote from their days at Eastern Connecticut State University, when Victoria blasted the song "Kiss the Girl" from her favorite movie "The Little Mermaid" as Schiavone sat in the next room with a boy.
"I knew what she was trying to do, though I don't think the boy ever picked up on it," Schiavone said.
Hours after the funeral, Carlee Soto posted a Twitter message saying, Yankees star "Derek Jeter just called my mom!!!!! Thanks Vicki, she needs it thank you @yankees this meant a lot to my mother and all of us."
dan.mangan@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:05:00 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/sisters_grieve_for_superhero_qsPIBZAlFJhko6IHW0R64M?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/sisters_grieve_for_superhero_qsPIBZAlFJhko6IHW0R64M?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4081459417 -1 false Associated Press More Sports
Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III was fined $10,000 by the NFL for wearing Adidas at his postgame news conference Sunday.
The NFL yesterday confirmed the fine for "unauthorized apparel."
Griffin was inactive for the game because of a sprained knee, and he wore an Adidas T-shirt and sweat jacket when he addressed reporters afterward. Griffin has a sponsorship deal with Adidas, but the league has a deal with Nike.
It's the second time this season Griffin has been rebuked for his attire, but it's his first time he's been fined. He covered up the Nike swoosh on his official team warm-up shirt before the regular opener against the Saints.
Griffin had a full practice yesterday, but coach Mike Shanahan said no decision has been made if he will start Sunday when the Redskins (8-6) face the Eagles (4-10).
EAGLES: LeSean McCoy will start at running back against Washington after missing four games because of a concussion. Coach Andy Reid said he would rotate McCoy with rookie Bryce Brown.
VIKINGS: QB Christian Ponder confirmed he and ESPN reporter Samantha Steele got married on Monday at a courthouse in Wisconsin.
COLTS: Interim coach Bruce Arians and others have pegged next Sunday's regular-season finale against Houston as a possible return date for head coach Chuck Pagano, who has not been on the sideline since late September when he began his battle against leukemia.
CHARGERS: Head coach Norv Turner said he isn't ruling out taking a job as an offensive coordinator for another NFL team if he is fired after this season.
BILLS: Center Eric Wood said he is sticking by his comments Monday when he said playing so-called home games in Toronto is "a joke."
"It stunk that we were up there,'' he said.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:43:06 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/rg_fined_for_apparel_violation_IB47NXcIcQyu3r8j1VTC9O?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=More Sports http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/rg_fined_for_apparel_violation_IB47NXcIcQyu3r8j1VTC9O?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=More Sports 5.10.4081392175 -1 false By PEDRO OLIVEIRA JR. National
Bam! Pow!
President Obama may have gotten trapped in Spider-Man's web — but he still managed to snag the honor of Time magazine's Person of the Year 2012.
Yesterday's announcement by the magazine puts Obama in the company of a select group of two-time winners, which includes George W. Bush, Winston Churchill, Richard Nixon, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Josef Stalin.
Time said the president — pictured in the mag getting "ambushed" by Spidey (actually the son of a White House staffer) — deserved the nod as "the symbol and in some ways the architect of this new America."
"We've gone through a very difficult time," Obama told the magazine.
"The American people have rightly been frustrated at the pace of change, and the economy is still struggling, and this president we elected is imperfect, and yet, despite all that, this is who we want to be. That's a good thing."
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:47:33 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/itsy_bitsy_spidey_an_obama_web_zinger_eQuB7DJE8uYYDBo3PRHWGP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/itsy_bitsy_spidey_an_obama_web_zinger_eQuB7DJE8uYYDBo3PRHWGP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=National 5.10.4080734441 -1 false Horse Racing
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:33:03 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/gulfstream_charts_wbDRY6ToSdUmGbk8HBYVzL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/gulfstream_charts_wbDRY6ToSdUmGbk8HBYVzL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing 5.10.4080734294 -1 false By CHUCK BENNETT Local
America's story is being told by the numbers.
We're gayer. Women are more prominent than ever. We are going to fewer rodeos, more baseball games and still watching a lot of TV.
A treasure trove of interesting, odd and illuminating statistics is revealed in the 135th edition of the Statistical Abstract of the United States, which will be published this week.
The data will "serve as an answer book to basic statistical questions," said Dan Coyle, product manager for the data firm ProQuest. He said the information helps us "to understand who we are, what we are about, and how we're changing."
For example:
* There are 646,464 same-sex households in the United States, according to census data compiled in the abstract. That includes 48,932 in New York state.
* Coffee consumption is down, while peanut eating is on the upswing.
* About 70 percent of all adults ages 18 to 34 own a laptop.
* The data found 53 percent of men spend their leisure time watching TV, while for women, the number was 48 percent.
* Unwed mothers were responsible for 41 percent of births in the country in 2010, compared with 33 percent in 1990.
Still, women have been making gains in society. They accounted for 40 percent of all science and engineering doctorate degrees in 2010, a leap from just 27.9 percent in 1990.
In the workplace, 19 percent of us reported being in the same job for 12 months or less, while another 20 percent had held the same job for five to nine years.
New Yorkers have the longest commutes, with 40 percent reporting more than 35 minutes. Despite the Big Apple's density, only 10 percent of us reported walking to work, compared with 11 percent in Washington, DC.
We love our pets, too — and the poorer we are, the more likely we are to have pet birds. Some 4.4 percent of households earning less than $20,000 a year have an avian friend.
But our cowboy past is fading. There were just 572 rodeos held in 2011, down from 754 in 1990.
For the first time, the compendium — made up from US Census, government agency and private sector data — was published by a private company because of federal budget cuts.
chuck.bennett@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:47:22 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/the_american_way_6KOSlhjUgD3bmy8JF1whqL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/the_american_way_6KOSlhjUgD3bmy8JF1whqL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4080734280 -1 false By DEBBIE LITTLE Horse Racing
Best Bet: Steuben Patriot (9th)
FIRST: mile; pace; $2200; cl($4000)
5 EngineNumberNine(GMertn)5-3-45-24 Blue Mermaid(AButtitta)5-6-68-13 Sues Destroyer(TFreese)7-5-34-11 Hammer(RDaneJr)6-4-67-22 Badlands andArt(JTaggrtJr)3-3-89-26 You Slay Me(JDevaux)8-7-510-17 Thin Blue Line(BAldrichJr)5-7-73-18 KamwodJsperN(CHckbneIII)8-4-812-1
SECOND: mile; trot; $3000; cond
5 ExcellentVacatin(BAldrchJr)4-3-35-24 Varsity Hall(JDeSimone)1-2-43-13 Karma Hall(JDevaux)3-9-75-11 E R Anna(JDohertyJr)4-6-44-12 EastCreekNicolle(RCmplng)8-5-29-26 Sweet Licks(CStratton)6-5-510-17 Slugging It Out(WParkerJr)8-3-812-18 SpringbackWack(JTaggrtJr)5-5-88-1
THIRD: mile; pace; $4000; cl($2600)
1 Bet Your Britches(BDobson)1-8-45-23 Bullish Blue Chip(JDevaux)8-4-33-16 Eyesbold(CHuckaboneIII)2-8-16-12 Snuff Box(GAnnaloro)6-2-88-14 Dougs Boy(ASchwartz)4-7-14-15 Zoom On By(CStratton)7-4-210-17 Q Revrac(GMerton)7-6-77-28 Pro Kid(WParkerJr)1-1-13-1
FOURTH: mile; trot; $3000; cond
5 Sweet Kix(CStratton)2-4-13-12 CostnerBlueChip(WPrkerJr)5-4-64-14 Trottin To The Max(RVinci)3-7-65-21 QuantumDonato(JDohrtyJr)7-8-85-13 Toes In The Sand(RHarp)5-6-66-16 Upfront Amanda(MForte)4-6-612-17 Barmaid(JMarohnJr)7-6-58-18 MrDemolitionMn(BAldrchJr)7-7-610-1
2 Zorgwijk Lucifer(JDevaux)3-6-55-25 Speedy Big Ras(WParkerJr)7-1-77-21 BroadwayLine(CHuckbneIII)4-5-23-13 Largent Hall(JMarohnJr)7-7-510-14 Double D Fine(JTaggartJr)8-7-34-16 Two Black Clouds(GMerton)6-8-46-17 Kash Now(CMcCracken)7-6-812-18 Mystical Heiress(BAldrichJr)4-dnf-49-2
2 Caseys Cam(BAldrichJr)1-7-17-21 U Belong To Me(WParkerJr)7-3-25-23 Diablo(KDibenedetto)1-2-33-14 Shando Hanover(JMarohnJr)4-8-810-15 Fly Away(CStratton)3-7-59-26 Mc Dragon(MMerton)5-1-612-17 Matts Delivery(JTaggartJr)8-8-18-18 Camp Counselor(GMerton)1-5-84-1
NINTH: mile; pace; $3100; cond
1 SteubenPatriot(KDbendett)1-1-x9-53 Future Rock Star(GAnnalro)3-1-44-12 Cam DanKadandy(MMerton)2-4-33-14 Lucky Deuce(AButtitta)6-6-310-15 Lukes Dotty(WParkerJr)4-5-69-26 Fulla Love(JMarohnJr)5-4-212-17 DaydreaminLynx(JChindno)2-1-48-18 No More Toys(GMerton)2-7-64-1
TENTH: mile; trot; $3800; cond
7 E R Kayla(WParkerJr)2-2-15-22 Fair Bizzness(JTaggartJr)8-1-69-24 Tropical Leader(GAnnaloro)5-7-410-11 Tas Avance(PBeeler)1-8-93-13 Motown Railing(BClouser)5-3-58-15 SecretEnergy(CWashington)7-3-612-16 MyCinnamonGirl(BAldrchJr)1-5-77-28 Liberty Cruise(MForte)4-1-24-1
ELEVENTH: mile; pace; $3000; cond
2 Cannae Rocky(GMerton)1-1-15-21 Wild Artist(MForte)6-1-13-15 Big Slick Z Tam(WParkerJr)6-1-48-13 HowForeverFeels(BAldrhJr)5-4-17-24 Greystone Matt(RDaneJr)2-7-810-16 Five Star Stud(JTaggartJr)8-3-612-17 Windsun Fire N Ice(JDevaux)3-4-54-18 Kevin S Apples(JChindano)7-6-49-2
TWELFTH: mile; pace; $2200; cond
1 Zinescape(GMerton)2-7-85-25 Cards N Music(BAldrichJr)2-7-83-12 IdealPhannyMan(GAnnalor)4-4-57-23 Armbro Durable(GCampbell)7-7-712-14 Four Starzzzz Lou(KHaase)7-5-25-16 Welcome Lover(WParkerJr)5-8-19-27 Joshuas Jet(MForte)7-4-410-18 Jk Hooty(CStratton)6-6-68-1
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:32:43 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/debbie_little_at_monticello_0Fp2yOILcPLrpPcwx8CXdL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Horse Racing http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/debbie_little_at_monticello_0Fp2yOILcPLrpPcwx8CXdL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Horse Racing 5.10.4080734266 -1 false By JENNIFER FERMINO Local
New York really is the home of the Borscht Belt.
Officials will douse the New York State Thruway with 50,000 gallons of beet juice this winter, an anti-icing measure that's cheaper and less corrosive than salt.
But don't expect purple roads. The beet mix also includes brine and other liquids, giving it a brownish hue.
Beet juice is particularly effective on the state's 570-mile highway system because it can be used before snow falls to prevent ice from forming. That helps reduce employee overtime costs, officials said.
It does not eliminate the need for salt, but works with it.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:59:02 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/icy_road_just_beet_it_IFcmsC9u4KDb2bPGZcZqcL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/icy_road_just_beet_it_IFcmsC9u4KDb2bPGZcZqcL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local 5.10.4080734252 -1 false Horse Racing
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds1 BelieveinCharli(L),118J Rios10-5-6Yates2 Le Fascinator(L),120J Rocco, Jr1-x-xMotion3 Shrinking Violet(L),118J Garcia9-1-1Ward4 My CrazyDayse(L),120JCastellan1-3-xNess5 Rosie Red(L),118P Lopez6-2-1Plesa6 The Royal Boot(L),118E Nunez4-4-1Vivian7 Wholelotarylty(L),118L Saez4-1-5McIntosh8 Why Who(L),118J Sanchez2-5-1Green9 Spectacular Me(L),118J Leyva8-7-1Santoro10 Barisoff(L),118J Garcia1-x-xWard
NINTH-1 1/16m(T); $30,700; cl($30,000); 3up
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds1 Solicitation(L),114F Jara3-4-7Green2 As de Copas(L),117J Leyva11-10-7Bozzo3 TwigazuriStrait(L),118J Sanchez1-6-6Nihei4 Carly'sRealDeal(L),117P Lopez3-2-3Plesa5 D'oro Dancer(L),112H Sanchez4-8-2Estevez6 Big Red Talent(L),118R Maragh1-10-5Maragh7 Let'sCallaTruce(L),114M Cruz2-6-7Towne8 Knock Rock(L),118J Lezcano3-2-7Kenneally9 TheGreatGonzo(L),118J Rocco, Jr3-1-4Matz10 Special Energy(L),117L Saez7-8-5Englehart11 Chilean Step(L),116E Trujillo1-2-2Quiroz12 Pacmanstephn(L),117S Karlsson8-5-2McGlinchey13 Soup A' Fleet(L),120M Cruz1-2-6Orseno14 Crime Family(L),114M Aguilar7-5-3Rosas-Cness15 Highspeedntrnt(L),117J Rivera II5-5-7Posada16 Fathom's End(L),114LContrers4-7-8Attard
TENTH-6f; $17,500; cl($10,000); 3up
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds1 My FriendRalph(L),116J Chamafi4-2-3Rodriguez2 Fast Stack(L),116OHernndz5-6-6Rizo3 Bea Top Quality(L),118D Gomez6-6-4Rossi4 ThereGoesVnny(L),118OBocachic5-7-7Dibona5 Blue Business(L),118L Saez11-5-4Sano6 Pentland(L),118D Cohen11-4-5Vitali7 Steve'sAdvntrs(L),118G Saez7-3-1Ward8 Put ItBackTiger(L),118E Trujillo4-1-10Plesa9 Big Ara K(L),113H Sanchez3-1-2Dwoskin10 Distinctive Pic(L),118P Lopez7-7-4Estevez11 My Omega Run(L),114M Argueta12-1-7Cascallares12 Mylilmanwil(L),114E Zayas9-6-9Melendez13 Tinitus(L),118OBocachic1-3-4Iadisernia14 Ultimate Choice(L),113J Chamafi4-10-2Gatis15 French Holiday(L),118J Bravo1-8-4Edel
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:26:31 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/tomorrow_gulfstream_park_entries_26n4opX4kuYO2sRz6adtfM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/tomorrow_gulfstream_park_entries_26n4opX4kuYO2sRz6adtfM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing 5.10.4080699114 -1 false Horse Racing
DaSilva Fountaine Affrunti Debbie L. Vic C. Consensus 1 El Gran Joyful El Gran Joyful Mister Woodman El Gran Joyful Mister Woodman El Gran Joyful 19 Kiss of Thunder Adaboy Adaboy Mister Woolman El Gran Joyful Mister Woolman 13 Bytheliteofthemoon Bytheliteofthemoon El Gran Joyful Brat Brat Adaboy 6 2 G.T. Tabu Don'tgetmestarted Strapping Gold Vegas Strapping Gold Vegas 15 Gold Vegas Gold Vegas Don'tgetmestarted Strapping Gold Vegas Strapping 14 Here Comes Sal Strapping Gold Vegas G.T. Tabu Atajo Don'tgetmestarted 8 3 Burning Mandate Philourpockets Longer Terms Doug Burning Mandate Longer Terms Doug Burning Mandate 15 Longer Terms Doug Burning Mandate Schatt the Bandit Philourpockets Evangelos Longer Terms Doug 13 Drinks to Go Evangelos Burning Mandate Sole Runner Burning Mandate Philourpockets 8 4 Major Marvel Sir Rabbit Major Marvel Major Marvel Major Marvel Major Marvel 24 Don'twait Toolong Tom Kitten Tom Kitten Tim Kitten Jazzit Tom Kitten 10 Jazzit Major Marvel Swift Strike Sir Rabbit Tom Kittten Sir Rabbit 6 5 Maelys Hope Winnie Nene Maelys Hope Winnie Nene Maelys Hope Maelys Hope 19 Mass Invasion Chambord Castle Chambord Castle Maelys Hope Chambord Castle Winnie Nene 14 Rip Roarin Maelys Hope Winnie Nene Chambord Castle Mass Invasion Chambord Castel 10 6 Ritchie Skylander Bernie the Jet Skylander Sayaad Skylander 16 Skylander Bernie the Jet Sayaad Beach Master Skylander Sayaad 10 Party Lad Sayaad Anillo Bernie the Jet Beach Master Bernie the Jet 9 7 Highestmaintenance Cheyenne Autumn Cheyenne Autumn Highest Maintenance Cheyenne Autumn Cheyenne Autumn 17 Gadget Girl Fioretti Fioretti Fioretti Gadget Girl Highestmaintenance 13 Cheyenne Autumn Highestmaintenance Highestmaintenance Music N Songs Highestmaintenance Fioretti 9 8 Jabulani He's a Fireball Alke John Stay Red Love of Flying Love of Flying 14 Love of Flying Love of Flying Love of Flying Scottish Coast All Knight Alke John 7 Alke John Alke John All for the Trip He's a Fireball He's a Fireball He's a Fireball 7 9 Velez Boy of Summer Boy of Summer Tubal Velez Boy of Summer 14 Boy of Summer Pontus Lady E Pontus Pontus Velez 11 Tubal Velez Captain Keon Lady E Channel Changer Pontus 9
Consensus is based on 5-3-1 point system. Extra point given for BEST BET.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:25:50 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/post_experts_pick_the_winners_8lx9h5jTnhiYZ4ubVC8yvL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/post_experts_pick_the_winners_8lx9h5jTnhiYZ4ubVC8yvL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing 5.10.4080698137 -1 false By JOHN DASILVA Horse Racing
Post Time: 12:45 p.m.
All horses appear in post position order
1. 1m; $33,700; mdn cl($50,000); 2YO
EL GRAN JOYFUL was third in maiden special at Tampa Bay when adding blinkers. He was a beaten favorite in previous start for a tag. KISS OF THUNDER drops in class for local debut after tiring in career debut. BYTHELITEOFTHEMOON cuts back to sprint and drops in class for dirt debut.
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds1 Free Range Man(L),120E Nunez7-x-xTortora15-12 Mister Woolman(L),120J Lezcano3-4-4Zito9-53 Kiss of Thunder(L),120C Lanerie9-x-xBradley10-14 El Gran Joyful(L),120L Saez3-3-2Sano2-15 Brat(M),120P Lopez6-x-xHamm8-16 Abadoy ,118C Olivero5-x-xBezara8-17 Bytheliteofthemoon(L),120J Castellano6-11-9DiVito4-1
2. 6f; $17,500; mdn cl($12,500); 2YO
G.T. TABU cuts back in distance and drops in class after finishing second by a head when removing the blinkers. GOLD VEGAS has finished second in both starts since adding blinkers. HERE COMES SAL races with Lasix and shows steady works for career debut.
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds2 Atajo(L),120P Lopez4-6-xSano15-13 Gold Vegas(L),120L Saez2-2-3Olivares3-14 Strapping(L),120F Torres6-5-xHanna5-15 Don'tgetmestarted(L),120J Bridgmohan8-6-4Gonzalez8-16 Here Comes Sal(M),120E Trujillox-x-xHills6-17 G. T. Tabu(L),120D Gomez2-5-6Maestre5-21 a-Music King(M),120E Nunezx-x-xVivian8-18 Defer Heaven(M),120J Rosariox-x-xWard6-11A a-Vinny the Emperor(M),120S Madridx-x-xVivian8-1
3. 6f; $18,750; cl($6,250); 3up
BURNING MANDATE led every step of the way to win at this distance and level when making local debut. LONGER TERMS DOUG came off the pace to win this distance when dropped to this level. DRINKS TO GO closed to finish third this distance and level when making first start since September.
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds2 Schatt the Bandit(L),119J Sanchez8-7-6Green15-13 Philourpockets(L),112M Argueta2-5-4Combest12-14 Running Wildcat(L),118D Cohen6-2-1Vitali10-15 Morador Llers(L),114H Sanchez6-5-4Chavez20-16 Sole Runner(L),119J Calderon2-6-6Schell12-17 Drinks to Go(L),119O Bocachica3-1-7Iadisernia15-18 Burning Mandate(L),123R Albarado1-3-4Gonzalez3-11 a-Hit the Cycle(L),121J Alvarez5-1-2Khan8-19 Longer Terms Doug(L),118J Chamafi1-4-1Dwoskin4-110 Evangelos(L),119G Bain7-4-3Warren20-111 Hollywood Left(L),119L Saez4-8-4Garcia6-112 Five Afternoons(L),121R Maragh5-1-4Maragh6-11A a-Naos(L),114H Sanchez5-3-5Khan8-1
4. 1m(T); $27,500; str alw; 3up
MAJOR MARVEL moves to starter allowance after closing to finish second in both starts off brief freshening. DON'TWAIT TOOLONG lost three-race winning streak when second by a neck as the favorite this level. JAZZIT had the lead and tired to second in his last two starts.
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds1 Grove Hall(L),119E Nunez4-7-5Rodriguez30-12 Sir Rabbit(L),119J Bravo3-10-3Campitelli5-13 El Kiwi(L),109E Zayas7-7-7Tabraue30-14 Major Marvel(L),119J Castellano2-2-4Maker7-55 Sugar Ryan(L),116O Mullings2-6-1Simpson20-16 Serapi Cat(L),114O Hernandez9-3-5Mondol30-17 Tom Kitten(L),119D Cohen8-5-1Vitali10-18 Tanzana(L),119A Garcia6-3-2Dibona5-19 Jazzit(L),119J Rocco, Jr2-2-6Farro6-110 He's Spectacular(L),116L Saez6-4-2Toledo8-111 Swift Strike(L),119E Prado5-7-6Mills30-112 Prime Obsession(L),119M Aguilar8-8-6Dixon30-113 Don'twait Toolong(L),119J Rosario2-1-1Cibelli3-114 Professor Palmer(L),119J Bravo3-2-9Volk5-115 Ice Pilot(L),119E Trujillo6-6-3Sacco12-116 Pecky's Boy(L),123J Castellano1-2-1Iadisernia4-1
5. 6f; $30,700; cl($30,000); 3up; (f&m)
MAELYS HOPE faces maiden claimers for the first time after tiring this distance versus optional claimers. WINNIE NENE won off the turf race as favorite while going shorter two back. MASS INVASION cuts back in distance for first start since September for new barn.
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds1 Joyce and Me(L),111K Coa1-4-6Sano5-12 Maelys Hope(L),118J Rosario5-1-2Maestre5-23 Backstage Magic(L),118J Leyva2-2-4Jackson10-14 Shirleycee(L),118E Trujillo6-1-1Cibelli8-15 Mass Invasion(L),118J Bridgmohan1-6-6Carvajal12-16 Chambord Castle(L),118G Saez1-1-2Fawkes5-17 Red Over Blue(L),113H Sanchez10-4-3Broome4-18 Winnie Nene(L),121L Saez3-1-2Pilotti6-19 Cash Belongings(L),114S Madrid7-6-5Vivian20-
6. 5f(T); $54,500; alw opt clm; 2YO
RIP ROARIN RITCHIE working bullets after tiring as the favorite in the Laurel Futurity last out. SKYLANDER uncoupled entrymate to top choice drew rail and working steadily for turf debut. PARTY LAD won allowance as favorite impressively at Penn on dirt.
HIGHESTMAINTENANCE from excellent first-out barn and races with Lasix while working well for career debut. GADGET GIRL drew the rail after setting the pace and tiring to third in extremely fast race when she made her career debut. CHEYENNE AUTUMN set the pace and tired to fourth at this distance.
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds1 Gadget Girl(L),120E Prado3-x-xRitvo6-12 Pearls for Girls ,120J Rocco, Jr2-x-xMatz8-13 Highestmaintenance(M),120J Castellanox-x-xPletcher5-24 Sweet Dish(L),120R Albarado6-x-xArnold8-15 Summon the Rain(L),120L Saez6-8-3Bradley15-16 Cheyenne Autumn(L),120C Lanerie4-5-xRomans4-17 Camille Garey ,120P Lopez8-x-xHamm20-18 Fioretti(M),120J Rosariox-x-xMott3-19 Music N Songs ,120F Jarax-x-xBezara12-1
8. 1 1/16m(T); $30,700; cl($30,000); 3up
JABULANI defeated cheaper by a nose at this distance when returning to turf. LOVE OF FLYING drops in class for return to turf and he won conditioned allowance at this distance three back. ALKE JOHN was second by a head as the favorite at this price and distance two back.
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds2 All for the Trip(L),116J Rosario6-4-1B Brown12-13 Stay Red(L),116H Sanchez7-5-5Rizo8-14 Political Courage(L),120J Rocco, Jr1-3-2Matz12-11 a-Redwood Man(L),117P Lopez2-4-1Ramirez5-15 He's a Fireball(L),118J Bravo3-7-8Plesa10-16 Alke John(L),117E Trujillo4-2-2Broome7-27 All Knight(L),118J Castellano7-2-8Newman4-18 Scottish Coast(L),121S Madrid5-3-5Campos20-19 Perfectly Crazy(L),110M Argueta4-5-8Catanese20-110 Love of Flying(L),121E Prado8-8-1Sheppard12-111 Dynamic Boy(L),118R Maragh4-6-7Maragh15-112 Whisper Onthe Wind(L),118O Bocachica2-6-6DiMauro6-11A a-Jabulani(L),117F Torres1-4-9Ramirez5-1
9. 1m(T); $26,200; mdn cl($35,000); 2YO
VELEZ drops in class for route debut after finishing fourth at The Meadowlands when making turf debut. BOY OF SUMMER finished well at this distance at Calder when making career debut. TUBAL cuts back in distance and drops in class after tiring in first start for new barn.
PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds1 Tubal(L),120D Cohen10-4-11S Klesaris8-12 Lady E ,120E Trujillox-x-xCampitelli12-13 Boy of Summer(L),120J Lezcano4-5-5Garcia6-14 Channel Changer(L),120F Torres8-5-7Hanna20-15 Pontus(M),120E Prado8-x-xMotion6-16 Ricochet Court(L),120J Bridgmohan10-6-xZito15-17 Captain Keon(M),120M Cruzx-x-xDiMauro10-18 Dig This(L),120J Leyva6-6-9Yates20-19 The Best Monkey(L),120L Contreras5-x-xDuco12-110 Velez(L),118J Sanchez4-3-xServis3-111 Electromagnetic(L),120J Rosario9-9-xWard4-112 Moonlit Park(L),120E Nunez6-4-xCroft15-113 Mr. Pumpermichael(L),120L Saez5-x-xGleaves15-114 Wardroom(L),111E Zayas8-11-2Azpurua30-115 Edson's Ridge(L),120R Albarado9-7-xGleaves15-116 El Tuscano ,111E Zayas8-3-7Azpurua15-1
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:25:29 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/gulfstream_park_analysis_AnH4rS6jHGWXTYAhYF3tXL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/gulfstream_park_analysis_AnH4rS6jHGWXTYAhYF3tXL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing 5.10.4080677125 -1 false Horse Racing
WEATHER Clear TRACK Fast
FIRST-mile; pace; $2800; cond
OFF: 12:29 TIME: 2:03.4
3ER Taylor (BAldrichJr)2.602.102.102Miss Old Vines (CHckbneIII)24.404.606And We'll See Ya (JRicco Jr)4.50
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:25:05 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/monticello_results_2enNNWii2V85bHxv46PR7K?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/monticello_results_2enNNWii2V85bHxv46PR7K?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Horse Racing 5.10.4080623269 -1 false By RACHEL COHEN AP More Sports
The Penn State child sex-abuse scandal was selected as the sports story of the year by U.S. editors and news directors in an annual vote conducted by the Associated Press.
The news broke in November 2011, with a grand-jury report outlining charges against Jerry Sandusky, and the outrage that followed led to the firing of Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno. But the aftershocks were felt long into 2012: Sandusky was convicted in June of assaulting 10 boys, and the NCAA handed down brutal sanctions in July.
In both years, the scandal was picked as the top sports story, the first time since the AP began conducting its annual vote in 1990 that the same story was selected twice in a row. The results of this year's tally were announced yesterday.
Even before the Sandusky trial, the State College community had absorbed another huge blow as Paterno died Jan. 22 at age 85 of lung cancer.
The year ended with a small step to normalcy — joy on the football field. Under new coach Bill O'Brien, the Nittany Lions won eight of their last 10 games to finish 8-4, capped by an overtime victory at home over Wisconsin.
There were 157 ballots submitted from U.S. news organizations. The voters were asked to rank the top 10 sports stories of the year, with the first-place story getting 10 points, the second-place story receiving nine points, and so on.Football's popularity, college and pro, was unmistakable with seven of the top 10 stories. But only two of them involved the action on the field.
The Penn State saga received 1,420 points and 109 first-place votes. The No. 2 sports story, Lance Armstrong stripped of his seven Tour de France titles, had 10 first-place votes and 1,008 points.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:46:11 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/psu_scandal_voted_story_of_the_year_Yrn4KQtWaLhMYJ8zqQjf1J?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=More Sports http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/psu_scandal_voted_story_of_the_year_Yrn4KQtWaLhMYJ8zqQjf1J?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=More Sports 5.10.4080623239 -1 false By JUSTIN TERRANOVA More Sports
Six days later, Rob Parker realized he was wrong.
The ESPN "First Take" host who said on Thursday's program that Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is "kind of black" and wondered, "is he a brother or is he a cornball brother?" apologized yesterday.
Parker was suspended indefinitely by ESPN a day later, and he could be fired from the network.
"I blew it and I'm sincerely sorry," Parker wrote on Twitter. "I completely understand how the issue of race in sports is a sensitive one and needs to be handled with great care. This past Thursday I failed to do that. I believe the intended topic is a worthy one.''
j.terranova@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:00:51 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/parker_issues_rg_apology_0rMMTx1niyeVCOnVwoPLDJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=More Sports http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/parker_issues_rg_apology_0rMMTx1niyeVCOnVwoPLDJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=More Sports 5.10.4080623225 -1 false By CLAIRE ATKINSON Business
Glassnote, one of America's most successful independent music labels, is being courted by several suitors eager to cash in on the firm's ability to take fringe acts mainstream, The Post has learned.
Glassnote, the label behind the Grammy-nominated folk-rock act Mumford & Sons — which saw its second CD, "Babel," shoot straight to No. 1 this fall — is not on the block, but suitors are hoping to persuade Glassnote founder Daniel Glass to sell a piece of the action, several music industry executives said.
"Everyone is offering him some kind of equity and/or distribution deals, and allowing him to potentially start a more mainstream label," said one source involved in the talks.
"There is a bidding war over him," the source added. "He's had some incredible success, and the feeling is now is the time to approach him."
Glass downplayed the talks, telling The Post they were in the very early stages.
"Yes, people are courting us — are we interested?" Glass asked. "We're not focusing on it. It's hard to concentrate when you're getting ready for new music."
All three majors — Universal, Sony and Warner — are involved as are firms outside the industry, one source added. Reps for the companies declined to comment.
One early offer was said to be around $20 million for a 49 percent stake in Glassnote plus a distribution deal, said a source.
Perhaps sparking the talks is the fact that Glassnote's distribution deal with Sony's RED is up for renewal in early 2013.
Glass stressed, "There is no sale. We're in the baby stages. Most of our acts are on their first or second record."
Mumford & Sons' "Babel" became the biggest debut of this year when it dropped in September, selling 600,000 units in its first week.
Glass, the controlling shareholder of the 6-year-old independent label, wouldn't say whether he has other investors or provide financial details.
catkinson@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:26:49 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/suitors_all_want_piece_of_glassnote_gdQJM5uAwlOpU9k6tzMZhI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/suitors_all_want_piece_of_glassnote_gdQJM5uAwlOpU9k6tzMZhI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business 5.10.4080205141 -1 false By JAMES COVERT Business
Shoppers are crowding malls but that doesn't mean cash registers are filling up.
A prominent research firm lowered its forecast for holiday retail sales yesterday, despite the fact that it expects traffic at stores to increase for the first time in four years.
Retail sales for the crucial November-December period are on track to rise 2.5 percent, according to ShopperTrak, a Chicago-based retail consulting firm.
That's down from a September forecast for a 3.3-percent increase, said Chris Angell, the firm's director of global marketing.
Disruptions from Hurricane Sandy are partly to blame for the expected revenue shortfall.
In addition to temporary store closings, retailers have been hit by markdowns they've been forced to take to clear a backlog of fall merchandise.
At the same time, however, store traffic is on track to rise 2.8 percent — the first jump in holiday traffic since 2008, according to ShopperTrak.
The disparity is partly because consumers are window-shopping, according to Angell, and it's possible that distractions such as the fiscal cliff faced by Congress are at work.
But industry watchers say shoppers are "showrooming" — the practice of browsing products at retail stores before buying them at lower prices online.
"There are big discussions on how many people are window-shopping and how does that translate to online sales," Angell said.
Indeed, during the Black Friday weekend that kicked off the holiday-shopping season, a surge in the use of mobile and tablet devices appeared to be driven by showrooming, according to Mark Layton, chief executive of e-commerce site designer PFSweb.
"[Showrooming] looked strong on Black Friday in particular, with a lot of people using mobile devices at store locations," Layton said.
jcovert@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:26:49 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/nothing_in_store_Qpokou4ewSt0QIA66GPoWN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Business http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/nothing_in_store_Qpokou4ewSt0QIA66GPoWN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Business 5.10.4080204518 -1 false By PAUL THARP Business
Banking giant UBS is coughing up $1.5 billion in fines — and two of its fat-cat traders face prison — after a US and UK investigation of the bank found "routine and widespread" manipulation of a benchmark interest rate.
The scheme, the largest interest-rate rigging scandal ever, caused lopsided outcomes in more than $450 trillion in annual loans made around the world for everything from credit cards and mortgages to college loans and business deals, federal prosecutors said yesterday.
The criminal complaint against the Swiss bank and the arrest of two former UBS traders show authorities have amped up their financial-sector probes.
The crackdown on rampant corruption in banking's back offices came in a landmark joint probe by authorities in at least five nations, which charge UBS is a major culprit in notorious manipulations of the key Libor rate.
Banks set the rate each day amongst themselves, using a panel of their own representatives and assumptions of short-term lending demand.
The surprising scope of the alleged schemes opens the floodgates for worldwide litigation from financial institutions — which unknowingly lost millions on the wrong side of rigged lending.
Prosecutors said that more than 45 traders and brokers at the bank, along with scores of outside currency middlemen, conspired almost daily, with bribes of typically $20,000 trading hands to influence Libor rates.
Each illicit pact set up among the traders and brokers was aimed at profiting on their positions from tiny moves in the rate.
Even a brief 1/100th of a percent move in the Libor translated to profits of about $459,000 for one of the UBS traders accused in the crackdown.
That cheated counter-parties, the complaint said.
"UBS manipulated one of the cornerstone interest rates in our global financial system," said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer.
"The scheme alleged is epic in scale, involving people who have walked the halls of some of the most powerful banks in the world," he said.
Yesterday's actions included the first criminal charges made in the probes, leveled against Tom Alexander Hayes, 33, and Roger Darin, 41.
London police picked up Hayes; Darin is still at large.
The US Justice Department filed to extradite the pair to face trial here.
Numerous outside brokers were also involved, said enforcement chief David Meister of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
"These brokers are supposed to be honest middlemen," he said. "The brokers here were anything but honest."
The government complaint quoted one broker telling a UBS trader regarding an illicit pact's profits: "'Mate, you're getting bloody good at this Libor game. Think of me when yur on yur yacht in monaco wont yu.' "
Prosecutors said more people were to be named in the ongoing probe.
As many as 40 employees of UBS have left the bank over the case, prosecutors said.
In exchange for a deferred prosecution of the company, UBS agreed to plead guilty to civil violations at the unit in Japan, leaving the parent to pick up the hefty tabs and suffer the black eye.
tharp@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:41:24 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/swiss_sc_alps_IjnW3v7RMvaEuxtojd88uK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/swiss_sc_alps_IjnW3v7RMvaEuxtojd88uK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business 5.10.4080204385 -1 false By BRUCE GOLDING Business
They hope you choke!
Two of Bernie Madoff's victims are outraged over his younger brother ahead of his sentencing today for helping pull off the world's biggest Ponzi scheme.
In a letter to the judge, Jill and Nancy Miller said they are "very unhappy" that Peter Madoff got his punishment postponed from Nov. 9.
"This man was not using the time for getting his 'tax' situation resolved. He was out and about enjoying a leisurely lunch in an expensive Upper East Side restaurant where many of his victims would like to eat but can't afford to."
A second victim, Natalie Erger, noted how Madoff has asked to remain free so he can attend his daughter's bat mitzvah.
"My grandson will be a bar mitzvah in November. How can we pay to fly? How much would it cost to drive?
"Thanks Madoff brothers."
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:26:49 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/madoff_victims_let_loose_AlGmkXI23ABE2HuT7wex6O?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/madoff_victims_let_loose_AlGmkXI23ABE2HuT7wex6O?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business 5.10.4080076122 -1 false Page Six
Nancy Shevell, the wife of former Beatle Paul McCartney, could be making a move into the art market. Shevell was spotted checking out the Young Collectors Exhibition at Leila Heller Gallery on Tuesday in Chelsea with art collector Beth Rudin DeWoody and her fiancé, photographer Firooz Zahedi, as well as Andy Warhol biographer Bob Colacello and former Armory Show director Paul Morris. The exhibition features work from emerging artists — ranging in price from $500 to $5,000 — and 10 percent of the proceeds go to the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, which gives artists grants, and a Hurricane Sandy relief fund for visual artists. Town & Country co-hosted the opening night, and online art site Paddle8 put on a presale for the show, curated by Alexandra Wagle and Laura Mintz. Any new works Shevell picks up would certainly be in good company: McCartney reportedly already owns blue-chip works by Picasso, Renoir and Magritte, and took up painting himself in the 1980s.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:10:40 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/art_rocks_for_nancy_mgmal4Vsh7v1IBfr37Kh1O?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/art_rocks_for_nancy_mgmal4Vsh7v1IBfr37Kh1O?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six 5.10.4080076099 -1 false Page Six
That Lure Fishbar's John McDonald and Josh Pickard are opening an outpost of the SoHo restaurant at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel next year . . . That Jerry Seinfeld will perform at the Stand Up for a Cure Concert Series in April at Madison Square Garden to benefit the American Diabetes Association, and former Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza will host a VIP party . . . That outgoing "X Factor" judge L.A. Reid has chosen to wear designer duds by Domenico Vacca for this season's finale . . . That JFI Jets is sponsoring a tournament benefiting New York Junior Tennis & Learning on March 2 . . . That Matthew and Nicole Hanley Mellon will serve as junior chairs of the Red Cross Ball in Palm Beach on Feb. 8 . . . That Patrick Meyer of tech firm Thinaire has launched his latest book, "Steve Jobs and the World of Mobile."
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:10:41 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/we_hear_yMjjXopoKOEST0tSbROGxN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/we_hear_yMjjXopoKOEST0tSbROGxN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six 5.10.4080075984 -1 false Reuters Business
The US Treasury plans to sell its stake in General Motors over the coming year, all but assuring a multibillion-dollar loss in a move that will end the automaker's "Government Motors" era.
Treasury's plan — a two-step process that includes a $5.5 billion stock sale to GM — is part of a broader push to wind down the controversial financial bailout under the Troubled Asset Relief (TARP) program.
The planned GM sale will raise the proceeds that Treasury has recovered to $28.6 billion of the $50 billion bailout GM originally received.
With $20.9 billion left from the original bailout, the government would have to sell its remaining shares at an average price of $69.72 to break even.
GM shares closed yesterday at $27.18, up 6.6 percent, or $1.69.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:05:57 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/no_more_gov_motors_AhImnVEzFmpiejgtWXwueN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/no_more_gov_motors_AhImnVEzFmpiejgtWXwueN?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business 5.10.4079941078 -1 false By KEITH J. KELLY Business
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia said Chief Executive Lisa Gersh is stepping down after just five months on the job as the domestic diva's empire retrenches.
The company also said it had hired a headhunter to find a replacement for Gersh, who will leave after a transition period.
Her departure, which was first reported in The Post, sent the stock down as much as 5 percent before recovering. Shares closed up 7 cents, or 2.7 percent, at $2.65.
The move comes as the company pulls back from media to focus on selling branded merchandise, including a deal with JCPenney.
Gersh, a veteran TV executive and co-founder of Oxygen Media, was hired as president and COO in 2011, in part to help revive the company's flagging media fortunes. She was elevated to CEO in July.
However, her hiring hasn't done much to boost the TV or publishing properties. In January, the Hallmark Channel canceled Stewart's daily talk show. Her only regular TV gig now is "Martha Stewart's Cooking School" on PBS.
The magazine portfolio has also been battered by the print ad slump, with the company shutting down its Whole Living and Everyday Food titles, and firing about 70 people, in recent weeks.
The announcement came in a memo to staffers from Gersh and Stewart, who is the company's majority owner, non-executive chairman and chief creative officer.
Surviving in the CEO spot has always been challenging, as Stewart has a reputation as a micro-manager who doesn't want executives making key decisions.
"I call it the Murphy Brown syndrome," said Michael Kupinski, a media analyst with Noble Financial Partners, referring to the TV hit that starred Candice Bergen as a sharp-tongued news anchor who churned through assistants.
While Stewart has not reclaimed the CEO title since she served a five-month prison sentence for lying to investigators probing her sale of ImClone stock, she remains the indomitable power.
She controls about 70 percent of the stock and receives $2 million in salary and bonus, plus another $2.1 million paid to her real-estate company for use of her homes and studios.
kkelly@nypost.com
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:32:28 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/yep_she_gone_0NnNxdbBwY9dkBuCO8Qk8M?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/yep_she_gone_0NnNxdbBwY9dkBuCO8Qk8M?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business 5.10.4079941060 -1 false Page Six
The Rascals — the 1960s band fond of dropping their G's in hits like "Good Lovin' " and "Groovin' " — reunited to play their first public show in 40 years last week. The evening marked the opening of "Once Upon a Dream," a new "theatrical concert" produced by E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt. The six-night run at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester includes original members Felix Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati, Gene Cornish and Dino Danelli as well as screened archival footage and interviews. Chazz Palminteri, "The Sopranos" star Vincent Pastore and record mogul Tommy Mottola were spotted rockin' out.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:05:04 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/rascals_are_on_the_loose_amUw6Yc1oyXg9CEGFftZjM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/rascals_are_on_the_loose_amUw6Yc1oyXg9CEGFftZjM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six 5.10.4079940991 -1 false Bloomberg Business
Three former advisers for an unidentified Swiss bank, Stephan Fellmann, Otto Huppi and Christof Reist, were charged by the US with conspiring to help American clients hide more than $420 million from tax authorities.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:47:12 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/adviser_trio_in_tax_mess_oHV0z6pftnfzmdcIilPECM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/adviser_trio_in_tax_mess_oHV0z6pftnfzmdcIilPECM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business 5.10.4079940885 -1 false Page Six
The Brooklyn Nets show off their singing skills, and their Christmas spirit, in a new video holiday card. The digital greeting went out from the team this week — featuring players including Deron Williams, Jerry Stackhouse, Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries in their uniforms and Santa hats. The guys gamely sing along, and dance, to a funky remix of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." The comically out-of-tune action takes place in front of a snowy backdrop with a Nets logo. But even though he opened the new Barclays Center with eight nights of shows, the Nets' part-owner Jay-Z is (sadly) missing from the clip.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:04:22 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/nets_like_rockettes_u2hnLi7DV7ugC4f21TgNyL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/nets_like_rockettes_u2hnLi7DV7ugC4f21TgNyL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six 5.10.4079940862 -1 false By GARETT SLOANE Business
Facebook is keeping its mobile ads for itself.
The company halted an experiment that allowed advertisers to use its treasure trove of data about users to buy ads on third-party mobile apps in exchange for a cut of the revenue.
Instead, Facebook is going to focus on selling ads on its own mobile app, which is increasingly sucking up more of people's time.
Facebook accounts for about 20 percent of time spent on mobile apps, according to Ken Sena of Evercore Partners.
"They have plenty of inventory to monetize," he said.
Facebook, run by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is expected to double the money it takes in on mobile this quarter compared to the previous three months, according to Sena.
Facebook's total revenue will jump 40 percent this quarter to $1.6 billion, "driven by a 50 percent increase in our mobile ad estimate to $322 million," Sena said, who upped his target on the stock to $32.
Facebook shares fell 1 percent yesterday to close at $27.41.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:26:49 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/fb_to_sell_ads_on_its_own_app_EBzwzWvdVTcZWVvUU6SufL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/fb_to_sell_ads_on_its_own_app_EBzwzWvdVTcZWVvUU6SufL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business 5.10.4079940747 -1 false Page Six
Not to ruin any surprises, but we know what some of Jon Stewart's friends and family are getting for the holidays. "The Daily Show" host and father of two was spotted at downtown electronics mecca J&R this week shopping for video games, DVDs and Blue-ray discs. Stewart apparently doesn't mind doing his own shopping: "He spent quite some time in the store looking around and seemingly enjoying the experience," a spy told us. He may also enjoy wrapping presents as he didn't get the goods wrapped up, we're told. But Stewart — who's Jewish per quips such as, "I was born in New York City, but I was raised in New Jersey, part of the great Jewish emigration of 1963" — may be a little late for Hanukkah. He's not the only celeb our spies have seen holiday shopping. Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez were at a Toys R Us in LA this week, picking up toys for Berry's daughter, Nahla, "laughing and chatting in great spirits."
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:10:40 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/stewart_in_the_spirit_g9WGNLl3fnNMJoFPxqzCbL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/stewart_in_the_spirit_g9WGNLl3fnNMJoFPxqzCbL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six 5.10.4079940630 -1 false Page Six
Al Pacino and "Stand Up Guys" director Fisher Stevens at the Mark Hotel . . . Yankees closer Mariano Rivera at Bobby Van's on Broad Street, where former NBA stars Charles Oakley and Jayson Williams were separately spotted . . . "Iron Man" director Jon Favreau at Carmine's in Times Square . . . Fotog Billy Farrell standing on the bar to give a champagne toast at his agency's annual "employees only" holiday party at Harding's in the Flatiron District . . . Jean Shafiroff, Dr. Robert Grant, Elaine Sargent, Michelle Marie Heinemann and Michele Gerber Klein previewing MTV's Arches of Hope art installation at the Out NYC . . . Christmas crooner Shea and Madame Mayhem at the Darby.
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Cipriani 42nd Street went to the dogs Tuesday night for the Humane Society's "To the Rescue" gala. Guests including Amanda Hearst and Rose McGowan posed with pooches on the red carpet, and Mayor Bloomberg took the stage to support daughter Georgina. New York has a "long love affair with animals," Hizzoner said. "From the bulls and bears on Wall Street to the 'Cats' on Broadway to the big ape on the top of the Empire State Building to the Big Bird on 'Sesame Street.' I think only Noah had a better track record." But he admitted, "My girlfriend [Diana Taylor] takes the Labs to Central Park every morning for an hour and a half. I roll over and head for the shower." The event raised $1.5 million.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:02:56 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/animal_kingdom_Mz2Kl4YEzTWgtrz2UKEjNK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/animal_kingdom_Mz2Kl4YEzTWgtrz2UKEjNK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six 5.10.4079940409 -1 false Page Six
Rapper Flo Rida was so keen on hearing his own music at a club, he gave the DJ his cellphone so his newest track could play. The rapper was at Hyde Lounge at the American Airlines Arena in Miami after a Heat game Tuesday, and wanted to unveil an unreleased tune for the crowd. But when the DJ asked for a copy of the track, Rida said he only had it on his iPhone. The spinner plugged it into the sound system as Flo Rida popped nearly $5,000 worth of champagne. Also spotted were Gabrielle Union and Marlon Wayans.
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:10:40 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/go_with_the_flo_0LyzXAHC20AmYSfz8kOlEK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/go_with_the_flo_0LyzXAHC20AmYSfz8kOlEK?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six 5.10.4079940386 -1 false Page Six
Michael Strahan is big with the ladies. The TV host was at Asellina at the Gansevoort Park Avenue Monday with Connor Cruise when he was spotted by a top publicist hosting a holiday party in a private room for 55 women. The p.r. maven "bet the girls $500 they couldn't get Michael to come say hi," said a spy. When they succeeded, "Michael told them, 'I wish I had 55 guys with me right now.' " The ex-NFL star, who's engaged to Nicole Murphy, then headed to the Darby to see Connor DJ.
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Derek and Daniel Koch, twins known for their raucous "Day & Night" brunch bashes, fought to a bloody pulp Saturday in the name of helping superstorm Sandy victims. The 6-foot-2 pair engaged in a sibling muay thai boxing match at the Broad Street Ballroom, and their melee was mixed with bottle service for spectators. (For those keeping score, "Daniel won, 29-28. I let him win," Derek told us.) The brothers, who've mixed it up before, have been training since July. Their personal "Fight Club" raised about $25,000 for Sandy relief. Three years ago they threw a similar charity fight and poker tournament. (Daniel won that one, too.)
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:10:41 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/brawling_for_good_cause_QB8m1XNFwHdO8ZrZbfm4zI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/brawling_for_good_cause_QB8m1XNFwHdO8ZrZbfm4zI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content= Page Six 5.10.4079740470 -1 false Page Six
Emma Roberts is helping Bono and Bobby Shriver's AIDS-fighting organization (RED) promote a new iPhone game that raises awareness and money for the cause. Julia Roberts' niece will take to Twitter today to answer questions about the game, (THRED), described as "an abstract 3-D world" with "ever-shifting obelisks" and "living dragon-like gateways." It's free to download but has paid upgrades, with proceeds going to the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS programs in Africa.
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"Homeland" star Claire Danes and her actor husband, Hugh Dancy, have welcomed their first child, Cyrus Michael Christopher. Dancy announced the happy news to friends and family on Tuesday, sources say, a day after the baby's birth. The boy was born Monday at "exactly 3 p.m.," according to an e-mail sent out by Dancy, weighing just under 7 pounds. The proud papa further told loved ones, "Mother and baby are well, healthy and happy, and together we send our love to you all." Danes and Dancy tied the knot back in 2009. Danes is nominated for a second Golden Globe for work on Showtime's "Homeland," after winning an Emmy for her role earlier this year. Her rep did not return requests for comment.
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Genevieve Sabourin, who claims she spent a night of passion with Alec Baldwin before being charged with stalking, says she's sick, broke and needs a new lawyer. Sabourin tweeted that she was ill at her mother's house in suburban Montreal yesterday when she was due in Manhattan Criminal Court for a hearing on charges she stalked Baldwin and his wife, Hilaria Thomas, reports The Post's Bill Sanderson. The case was adjourned to February, giving Sabourin another court deadline to obsess over. "More months of suffering, of financial loss and of stress," she tweeted in French. "And it will mark one year that I've been dancing through the palace of justice with no result save that I've had my life completely destroyed!" Sabourin, 40, has tweeted up a storm pleading for Baldwin and the Manhattan DA to drop the charges. She even said Baldwin must relate to her plight because of his dealings with the legal system in his 2002 divorce from Kim Basinger. "Only [he] was a millionaire and a movie star . . . I'm broke, no work, no home . . . nothing left and with pneumonia."
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 24:10:40 -0500 http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/alec_stalker_in_new_whine_GU0OqbvqG9cvX1mffW01SP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Page Six http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/alec_stalker_in_new_whine_GU0OqbvqG9cvX1mffW01SP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Page Six 5.10.4079866631 -1 false http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Copyright 2009
