December 26, 2011
Jets coach Ryan backs Sanchez, Schottenheimer
In the wake of the Jets’ 29-14 loss to the Giants, much of the criticism has been heaped on quarterback Mark Sanchez and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.But head coach Rex...
Three dead as medical helicopter crashes in Florida
PALATKA, Fla. -- Three people were killed Monday after a medical helicopter en route to pick up a transplant organ crashed in northern Florida. The helicopter had departed from the...
Off-duty firefighter saves elderly couple from blaze on Staten Island
It was even better than a visit from ol' St. Nick. An elderly Staten Island couple and their beloved pet cat were rescued from the balcony of their burning apartment...
Stores hope for 'Mega Monday' of brisk sales
Shoppers found a mixed bag of bargains and so-so deals on Monday, as a day off for many Americans and warm, dry weather lured some out for what was likely...
Giants likely without Osi, Jake, Mario
The Giants appear increasingly likely to be without two key pieces on offense and Osi Umenyiora again Sunday when they square off with the Cowboys for the NFC East title...
Knicks coach leaves door open for Nate ... but don't count on it
Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said Glen Grunwald is looking into signing an extra point guard for the roster, possibly a D-League player or recent cut, following an injury to rookie...
Yule log embers may have sparked fire that killed Madonna Badger's parents, 3 kids
The fatal Connecticut fire that killed a fashion-marketing exec’s three children and parents was possibly sparked by embers from disposed fireplace ashes, The Post has learned. The ashes from the...
Staal in contact drills at Rangers morning skate
Rangers defenseman Marc Staal took another significant stride toward his 2011-12 debut by engaging in contact drills for the first time during the morning skate at Madison Square Garden before...
NY-bound flight forced to return to Paris after takeoff
PARIS -- An Air France flight from Paris to New York was forced to return to the airport shortly after takeoff for precautionary checks after pilots noticed "a minor problem,"...
Suspect named in shooting of US soldier at welcome home party in California
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- Police named a suspect in the case of a US Army soldier who was left paralyzed after being shot at his own welcome home party in...
Prince Philip to spend fourth night in hospital
CAMBRIDGE, England -- Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II's husband, will spend a fourth night in a UK hospital under observation after heart surgery, royal officials said Monday. It is not...
At least five dead after large explosion rocks central Baghdad
BAGHDAD -- A suicide bomber in a vehicle packed with explosives killed at least five people at the interior ministry in Baghdad on Monday as a worsening political standoff stoked...
Snakes on a plane averted as Argentina nabs trafficker
BUENOS AIRES -- A Czech national was nabbed in Argentina for trying to board a transatlantic flight with 247 live animals including poisonous snakes and endangered reptiles packed in a...
Gunman wore Santa costume for Texas murder-suicide
DALLAS -- A gunman who shot dead six family members inside a Texas apartment on Christmas morning was reportedly dressed as Santa Claus as he carried out the suspected murder-suicide....
Winners & losers from Jets loss
The Jets suffered a brutal 29-14 loss to the Giants on Saturday and now they need a ton of help to make the playoffs. After taking a day to ruminate...
US weighing travel request for Yemen's president
HONOLULU — The Obama administration is considering whether to allow Yemen's outgoing president into the United States for medical treatment, as fresh violence and political tensions flare in the strategically...
Game 1: Nets at Wizards
Game Time: 7:00 p.m. Venue: Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. Television: YESNets expected starting lineup (2010-11 stats):PG Deron Williams: 20.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 10.3 apg SG Anthony Morrow: 13.2 ppg, 3.0...
Woman in weird 'WMD' plot on NY senator shot dead by cops
MARIETTA, Ga. -- A Georgia woman accused of sending a bogus weapon of mass destruction to a New York lawmaker was shot dead by a police officer. Cobb County police...
No kidding: Solyndra was about politics and only politics
President Obama's got some 'splainin to do. According to The Washington Post the administration entire green energy/clean energy program was about politics not good policy: "Meant to create jobs and...
NYC girls basketball rankings
The holidays may have brought plenty of presents, good cheer and delicious meals, but a shakeup in New York City rankings it did not. Our list is exactly the same...
POST GAMES TO WATCH: Dec. 26-Jan. 1
The Post’s high school staff looks ahead to the most intriguing matchups in boys basketball and girls basketball for the week of Dec. 26 through Jan. 1. BOYS BASKETBALL Bayside...
CHSAA girls basketball rankings
A holiday-shortened week brings no changes. No. 1 Nazareth, No. 5 Bishop Loughlin and No. 10 Bishop Kearney all return from long stretches without game and that should make for...
POST PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK: Dec. 19-Dec. 25
The Post high-school staff takes a look at the top performers in boys basketball and girls basketball from the week of Dec. 19. BOYS BASKETBALL Dillon Burns, Xaverian The C.W....
CHSAA boys basketball rankings
Gas up the bus or get those boarding passes ready. Most teams in the CHSAA are on the road this week for holiday tournaments ranging from Binghamton to Phoenix. The...
NYC non-'AA' boys basketball rankings
Christmas brought us at NYPost.com plenty of gifts, but nothing like next Monday's showdown between our Nos. 1 and 3 teams, Brooklyn Collegiate and Collegiate, in the New Heights Hoop...
The sixth annual golden stapler awards
* The YouTube for Fun and Profit Award This one goes to the professors at the National University of Singapore who demonstrated in a study that occasional Web browsing can...
Go to Greg
I’ve been out of work for six months, and in order to make some extra cash I’ve been dog walking part time. What started out as a little side thing...
Stocks lose shine
Wall Street’s old mantra that you can’t consistently beat the Standard & Poor’s 500 index is sounding a bit behind the times. The broad stock index that pros hail as...
Bloody Bill’s making tracks to Big Apple
Like father, like son. Michael Della Femina is adding New York restaurateur to his skill set, which already runs from actor to adman, much like his famous father Jerry Della...
Business briefs
Home pricesHome prices in 20 US cities probably declined at a slower pace and consumer confidence improved, signs the economy gained strength heading into 2012, economists said before reports this...
Hi from Hawaii: O calls soldiers
WASHINGTON — President Obama sent some long-distance holiday cheer to 10 members of the military, the White House said yesterday. He phoned two members each from the Army, Navy, Air...
NH is Rom-tough
WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney is holding his iron grip on New Hampshire, according to a new poll, as rival Newt Gingrich’s campaign must overcome the staggering blow of being knocked...
Huckabee: Mitt will catch the votes
WASHINGTON — Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who beat Mitt Romney in the Iowa caucuses in 2008, predicted on “Fox News Sunday” that his former rival could snag the coveted...
Bam’s still pocketing MF money
President Obama is trying to put some distance between himself and the wreckage of bankrupt brokerage MF Global. But not too much distance. After returning more than $70,000 to Jon...
NYPD Daily Blotter
Manhattan Police are looking for a 77-year-old woman (pictured) who disappeared Christmas Eve on the Upper West Side. Maria Abreu was last seen at her home on West 108th Street...
Fallen cop’s girls ‘amazed’ by generosity
“Thank you.” The four heartbroken daughters of slain NYPD cop Peter Figoski have been left speechless by the outpouring of concern and donations to a fund established to pay for...
Mike & Ray at tragic precinct
Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly paid an emotional visit last night to Brooklyn’s 75th Precinct, where slain Detective Peter Figoski had worked the dangerous midnight shift.Two weeks ago...
Cuomotion on Senate control to wait until June
Gov. Cuomo will wait at least six more months to answer the $64,000 question of New York politics.In a disclosure sure to disappoint many Democrats and thrill most Republicans, a...
Schumer bro-in-law judge nod stuns NJ
Sen. Charles Schumer’s brother-in-law was quietly nominated this month to a federal judgeship in New Jersey — a move that has some in the Garden State crying political foul, The...
7 shot to death in Texas apt.
GRAPEVINE, Texas — Seven people who police believe to be related were found shot to death in a Dallas-area apartment on Christmas Day, and authorities said yesterday that they believe...
Darfur rebel leader slain
KHARTOUM, Sudan — The Sudanese army said it killed the leader of the main Darfur rebel group in fighting yesterday and touted his death as a key victory.The army said...
Afghan bloodbath
TALOQAN, Afghanistan — A suicide bomber attacked a funeral in northeastern Afghanistan yesterday, killing at least 19 people and wounding dozens of others, officials said.The attacker, who was wearing a...
Worshippers massacred
LAGOS, Nigeria — Terror attacks across Nigeria by a radical Muslim sect killed at least 39 people yesterday, with the majority dying on the steps of a Catholic church after...
She’s my gift – & I’m hers
A Bronx teen spent her first Christmas at home yesterday since her mom gave her a second gift of life — a kidney — and she had a present to...
‘Mission’ accompli$hed
Tom Cruise accomplished his mission. “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol” was expected to gross $26.5 million in weekend ticket sales to top the box office, according to studio estimates. “M.I.”...
Radio’s Lynn Samuels dies at 69
Lynn Samuels, longtime doyenne of New York’s talk-radio airwaves, died of a heart attack over the weekend. She was 69. An unabashed liberal, Samuels mixed searing political commentary with humor,...
Dive bomb bird in the hand
Manhattan’s own angry bird has been caged. Fred the pigeon, whose hobby was dive-bombing cops and dropping unwanted gifts on tourists at the 9/11 Memorial, has been taken in by...
$1.8M in snow ‘suits’
New York City’s sluggish response to the after-Christmas blizzard of 2010 is still costing it a year later, with more than $1.8 million paid out in claims so far, and...
NY judge ignites Iran’s ire
TEHRAN — Iran has rejected a New York judge’s finding that Tehran, along with the Taliban and al Qaeda, is liable in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.According to state TV,...
Zero hour for 9/11 victims
More than 1,600 people who filed lawsuits claiming their health was ruined by dust and smoke from the collapsed World Trade Center must decide by Jan. 2 whether to keep...
Tidal crime wave hits Rockaways
The Rockaways are getting rocked by crime! Felonies in the 100th Precinct in Queens, which blankets Belle Harbor, Breezy Point, Broad Channel and other western areas of the peninsula, have...
Fire kills 3 girls & their grandparents
The three young daughters and parents of a prominent fashion- marketing executive were killed in a horrific Christmas-morning blaze that tore through her million-dollar Connecticut home, authorities said. Madonna Badger,...
Heartbreak of holiday pets
They’re the season’s saddest returns — pets given as holiday gifts who instead start the new year in shelters.“In the movies, you see the cute puppy jumping out of the...
Blasts as pope calls for peace
VATICAN — Pope Benedict XVI issued pleas for peace to reign across the world during his traditional Christmas address yesterday, a call marred by Muslim extremists who attacked Christian churches...
Unity theme supreme at St. Patrick’s Mass
Christmas is the time for the 1 percent and the 99 percent to come together, said Msgr. Robert Ritchie in his Christmas sermon yesterday at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. “There has...
Library’s gift for e-bookers
Techno-klutzes can turn to the New York Public Library for help “borrowing” books on the high-tech e-readers they got for the holidays. As the popularity of gizmos like Nooks, Kindles...
Christmas’ happy return$
Ready . . . set . . . return! Hordes of bargain-hungry New Yorkers are expected to descend on Big Apple stores today to bring back the gifts they don’t...
CEO an Archie enemy
What a Jughead! The co-CEO of Archie Comic Publications could be held in contempt and tossed in the clink next week for defying a judge’s order to stop harassing her...
Geeky grinches launch Xmas hack attack
LONDON — Hackers with the loose-knit movement Anonymous claimed yesterday to have stolen a raft of e-mails and credit-card data from US-based security think tank Stratfor, promising it was just...
NY celebs have a ball!
The inspired Knicks were in a winning, Empire State of mind! Hometown songbird Alicia Keys, hubby Swizz Beatz, and their son, Egypt, were all smiles, as they celebrated New York’s...
Ron Paul’s moment: How to explain his surge
The Issue: GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul’s lead in some polls, in advance of the Iowa caucuses. *** Ron Paul is a Republican libertarian who does a disservice to both...
NY’s state-aid war
The Rockefeller report states that Downstate taxes are being sent to Upstate regions (“The Robin Hood Syndrome,” Editorial, Dec. 22). We need to improve the Upstate economy. Upstate communities are...
Public joblessness advocate
Public Advocate Bill de Blasio has jumped to the front of the pack — of New York mayoral aspirants seeking to drive jobs out of the city, that is. He’s...
Hectoring the heroes
Some three dozen members of Congress — Brooklyn Democrat Yvette Clark among them — have jumped on the anti-NYPD bandwagon. They’re demanding that the Justice Department and the House Judiciary...
Supreme lunacy
When discussing his amazingness, Newt Gingrich sometimes exaggerates somewhat — as when, discussing Bosnia and Washington, DC, street violence, he said, “People like me are what stand between us and...
How to give back to America’s vets
As New Yorkers consider how best to give back this holiday season, it may seem counterintuitive that military veterans — those strong, brave men and women who have selflessly dedicated...
The Post Line
NFLTonightFavoriteOpening Current(O/U) UnderdogSAINTS 6½ 6½(52½)FalconsSundayGIANTSOFFOFF(OFF)CowboysDOLPHINS 2 1 (41½)JetsEAGLES 9 9 (46) RedskinsFALCONSOFFOFF(OFF)BuccaneersRAMSOFFOFF(OFF)49ersVIKINGSOFFOFF(OFF)BearsPACKERSOFFOFF(OFF)LionsSAINTSOFFOFF(OFF)PanthersTitans 1½ 2½(40½)TEXANSRavens 3 3 (39) BENGALSBROWNSOFFOFF(OFF)SteelersJAGUARS 5 5 (37) ColtsPATRIOTS13 13 (51) BillsRAIDERS 3 3 (49) ChargersBRONCOS 3...
Sports Shorts
Nhl: Leafs extend Wilson’s contract Maples Leafs coach Ron Wilson got his Christmas wish.Two days after hinting on Twitter of his desire for a new contract, Wilson said the team...
Brees has Marino’s record in sight
NEW ORLEANS — Ever since Drew Brees arrived in the Big Easy, he’s made playing quarterback in the NFL look easy.Brees has 27,698 yards passing since arriving in New Orleans...
Rodgers powers Packers over Bears
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers threw five touchdown passes for the first time in his career to help the Packers nail down the No. 1 seed in the NFC...
Packers secure top seed in NFC
GREEN BAY — With the first five-touchdown game of his NFL career, Aaron Rodgers ensured that the Packers’ playoff road will go through Lambeau Field. He also made sure the...
Affrunti’s Fair Grounds Graded Entries
Post Time 12:25 p.m.FIRST-6f; $20,000; cl($15,000); 3up; (f&m)5-Belle Muse 3-12-WimbledonStar9-28-Miss Taggart 7-23-Hunt forColleen8-17-Minnie Chance 8-14-Sassy Delight 10-11-Avery Rose 8-16-VerySpeghtstw5-1SECOND-5f; $17,000; mdn cl($10,000); 2YO; (f)9-Social Lover 5-14-ChooChooChnt4-18-Positive Spin 7-25-Coffeencream 8-13-Tress 3-16-O...
Gulfstream Analysis
Post Time: 12:35 p.m. All horses appear in post position order 1. 6f; $16,500; mdn cl($12,500); 2YO; (f) CORINTHIA gave way late in stretch at today’s level and distance and...
Tomorrow’s Parx Racing Entries
All horses appear in post position orderFIRST-1m&70y; $28,000; mdn cl($25,000); 2YO PN Horse, Wt.JockeyLast 3Odds1 Apostasy(L),121KCrmc8-x-x6-12 GoldenSuccessL116K Frey4-5-42-13 Noble's Honor ,121J Floresx-x-x10-14 Mr. Nice(L),121RMntnz6-x-x8-15 MaritimeMagicL119C Orm8-2-x12-16 Karen'sSaint(L),116RCuratl3-2-x3-17 Cash Sale(L),121FPnngtx-x-x9-2SECOND-1m; $24,000;...
Santa Anita Park Entries
Post Time: 3:00 p.m. FIRST-7f; $100,000; 2YO; (f) California Breeders Champion Stakes PN Horse, Wt. Jockey Last 3 Odds 6 Ismene(L),119 MSmth 1-1-x 6-5 3 WillaBAwesomL119 MPedrz 3-2-1 5-2 1...
Today's Sports on the Air
Basketball7 p.m.Nets at Wizards YES, WBBR (1130 AM)10:30 p.m.Bulls at Warriors WGNFootball5 p.m.Independence Bowl: Missouri vs. North Carolina ESPN28:30 p.m.Falcons at Saints ESPN, *WFAN (660 AM)Hockey7 p.m.Islanders at Rangers MSG,...
Home Team Lineups
TODAYDec. 26TUEDec. 27WEDDec. 28THUDec. 29FRIDec. 30SATDec. 31SUNJan. 1KnicksNO GAMENOGAMEG.S.10:30MSGESPN L.A.L.10:30TNTESPN NOGAMESacra.8:00MSGESPNNOGAMENets^Washington7:00YESWBBR 1130 AMAtl.7:30YESWFANNOGAMEOrl.7:00YESWFANAtl.7:30YESWFANNOGAME Clev.6:00YESWBBRRangersIslanders7:00MSGESPN 1050 AMNO GAMEWash. 7:30 VS. ESPNNOGAMEFla. 7:30 MSG ESPNNOGAMENOGAMEIslandersRangers7:00MSG Plus 2WRHU 88.7 FMNOGAMENOGAMECal.7:00MSG+WRHUNOGAMEEdm.1:00MSGWRHUNOGAMEDevilsCarolina7:00MSG PlusWFAN 660 AMNOGAME...
Devils former coach MacLean now Hurricanes assistant
The Devils will be haunted tonight by the face — not necessarily the cause — but the personification of their worst nightmare. That face, that of John MacLean. The nightmare,...
Rangers roster to change when injured players return
Rangers forward Wojtek Wolski, sidelined since Oct. 27 with a sports hernia that required surgery on Nov. 7, should be ready to return to the lineup by the end of...
Vikings RB Peterson ‘knew it was bad’
Out for the game — and now much longer — with a serious knee injury, Adrian Peterson was on his way back from the X-ray room in the depths of...
Eli eyes return of Giants targets
It is no coincidence that Eli Manning struggled to locate open receivers in the 29-14 victory over the Jets, as he had to make do without two targets, Mario Manningham...
Celtics’ Rondo makes strong opening point
Rajon Rondo has heard his name bandied about in trade rumors for the past few weeks. When he took the floor against the Knicks yesterday, the point guard played like...
LeBron scores 37 points; Heat defeat Mavericks
DALLAS — While Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks were on the court celebrating the championship they won over LeBron James and Dwyane Wade last season, the Heat were gathered in...
Mavericks fans boo NBA commissioner
DALLAS — NBA Commissioner David Stern opened his lockout-delayed season yesterday by hearing boos from Mavericks fans. Stern was in Dallas for the NBA finals rematch between the Mavericks and...
Barely acquainted Nets to open season against Wizards
Ready or not, the Nets will begin their season tonight in Washington. Of course, the Nets aren’t as ready as they’d like to be. Kris Humphries, the likely starter at...
Bulls defeat Lakers
Derrick Rose drove the lane and lofted home a smooth floating shot for the winning points in the Bulls’ opener, just in case anybody doubted the youngest MVP in NBA...
Knicks' Walker furious after getting shoved by Celtics' Garnett
Bill Walker said perhaps if it weren’t Christmas yesterday, there would be a score to settle with Kevin Garnett and indicated the Celtics forward is known for his dirty antics....
Amar’e scores 21 for Knicks, assist to MSG staff
Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire performed his good deed early on Christmas, staging a 9:30 a.m. breakfast party yesterday morning for a few hundred Madison Square Garden employees forced to work...
Jets' Schottenheimer in firing line
Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer may be coaching for his job this week. The Jets are now 27th in the NFL in total offense and looked like a complete mess...
Jets left looking for playoff help
It was not supposed to be like this again this year for the Jets. They said they would not need any gifts from other teams to make the playoffs this...
Overhyped Jets more like hot air balloon
In the wake of their season-shattering loss to the Giants, a defeat that all but dashed their playoff hopes, this is what the Jets saw when they woke up on...
Giants’ focus turns to Cowboys
It was only moments after the Giants came up big in a game that tested their emotional restraint, their physical resolve and their mental toughness that a subtle mood shift...
Giants' season resting on players, not Coughlin
This next one, this last one, New York’s Team versus America’s Team with all of New York Rexcluding Gang Green Nation and most of America watching, for the division title,...
Knicks defense puts clamps on Celtics
To Tyson Chandler, the story of the Knicks’ scrappy, season-opening win over the Celtics was written all over his face. “It’s not going to come easy with them,” the new...
Knicks rookie Shumpert out 2-4 weeks
Knicks rookie Iman Shumpert is now going to be dealing with the same thing as Giants rookie Prince Amukamara — getting hurt at the start of his rookie year and...
Garden full of holiday cheer
The ball was in Kevin Garnett’s hands, and that meant Madison Square Garden was fully, loudly engaged since Garnett has quickly become something of a Bond Villain here over the...
Knicks defeat Celtics in season opener
Carmelo Anthony began his first full season in New York yesterday by saving Christmas. The Celtics were without Paul Pierce. The Knicks were without a killer instinct. They blew a...
A second chance
Now that we’re officially in the no-man’s land of reruns, it’s the perfect time to get acquainted with a new series that you might have skipped over earlier in the...
‘Tis the season to save!
BOUTIQUES Assembly New York 170 Ludlow St.; 212-253-5393 Sale: Take 20 percent off most collections, excluding accessories and shoes. Blue & Cream 1 E. First St.; 212-533-3088 Sale: Snag up...
Weird but true
A Christmas card that’s been crisscrossing America for six decades is finally taking the holidays off. Acker Hanks, 89, originally mailed the now-tattered card to his neighbor Lee Kelley, in...
Missouri, UNC set for changes after Independence Bowl
SHREVEPORT, La. — Big changes are coming for the football programs at Missouri and North Carolina. Before they happen, there’s one more football game to play. The Tigers and Tar...
PSAL boys basketball rankings
How wild is the PSAL boys basketball season? Even the week of Christmas, a traditionally dead few days, we have changes. Red-hot Transit Tech moves into the top 10, replacing...
NYC boys basketball rankings
School is closed, but gyms everywhere will be open. Several of the city’s top teams will be in action this week in out-of-town tournaments, such as No. 1 Lincoln (MaxPreps...
PSAL girls basketball rankings
There are no changes this week after wholesale changes the first few weeks of the season. McKee/Staten Island Tech and Truman further solidified themselves as PSAL Class AA city title...
Bergtraum Holiday Classic girls basketball event schedule
All I’ve been asked over the last few weeks is what’s the Bergtraum event schedule or when will you post the Bergtraum event schedule on NYPost.com? Well, that time is...
'Anonymous' hackers target US security think tank
LONDON — The loose-knit hacking movement "Anonymous" claimed Sunday to have stolen thousands of credit card numbers and other personal information belonging to clients of U.S.-based security think tank Stratfor....
Two people found dead following gunfire and explosion at Arizona home
WELLTON, Ariz. -- Police said Sunday they have not yet been able to formally identify two people found dead after an explosion at a home in Wellton, Ariz., which followed...