November 23, 2013
NHL's playoff structure is ridiculous
The primary focus thus far has been on the imbalance of power between the West and East — though how ’bout our Devils salvaging the, um, uh, good name of...
Last-place Nets following familiar script
The more things change… “A broken record. We just keep playing the same old song.” — Kevin Garnett, Nov. 22. “When you go through dismal times like this … it...
Nets rewind: Stagnant offense exposed by Timberwolves
MINNEAPOLIS — Here are my three thoughts on the Nets’ 111-81 loss to the Timberwolves on Friday night: 1. When Jason Kidd was hired by the Nets, he stressed the...
Season to forget for NJ native Miles Austin
IRVING, Texas — Miles Austin returned to his native New Jersey this weekend as a feel-good story that doesn’t feel all that good anymore for the Cowboys. An undrafted wide...
Struggling Islanders fall to Flyers
PHILADELPHIA — It didn’t take the Flyers too long to even their record after an awful start — or for the Islanders to cap off an 0-3 road trip. Matt...
Rangers rookie Talbot shuts out Predators
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — It was The Coach in Black who managed to quiet down the Music City on a Saturday night. With Rangers coach Alain Vigneault sporting what he called...
Reeling Knicks drop fifth straight
WASHINGTON — The Knicks kept pace with the Nets for disgracing The Mecca of Basketball, and Carmelo Anthony is worried his club is starting to lose their confidence and hinted...
Daily blotter
Brooklyn Two drunks clocked an off-duty cop in the face on his way home from grocery shopping in Carroll Gardens, police sources said. The 56-year-old victim was walking near Smith...
I was a victim of the knockout game
Photography intern Israel Blizovsky had just finished taking pictures at a Crown Heights engagement party when a hulking teen he was passing on the sidewalk cold-cocked him without warning. “He...
Parents audition actresses -- for their eggs
The hottest role these days for a young actress? Egg donor. Egg “agents” are aggressively recruiting city models and actresses, whose looks are coveted by couples turning to in-vitro fertilization....
Historic deal to curb Iran's nuclear program
http://youtu.be/emQGKQ6D0sE The US and five other world powers struck a temporary, but historic agreement with Iran Saturday night, under which the Islamic republic would halt much of its nuclear program...
Johnnies, somehow 3-1, have much work ahead
At this pace, Steve Lavin may lose his hair by March, and he has a full head of locks. Between doling out suspensions and his team’s schizophrenic play, the start...
McCann, Yankees agree to deal
A year after seeing Russell Martin leave as a free agent, the Yankees made a bold move to replace him, agreeing to a five-year deal with catcher Brian McCann worth...
Three Rangers locks for U.S. Olympic team
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — It sure seems come February, the Rangers will be sending three players to Russia to represent the United States in the Olympics. David Poile is the general...
Al Sharpton condemns 'knockout' attacks
Rev. Al Sharpton condemned “knockout” attacks Saturday but stopped short of calling for marches against the brutal hate crimes. “This kind of behavior is deplorable and must be condemned by...
Iran nuclear deal down to 'fine print' stage
GENEVA — An Iran nuclear deal within reach, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and five other foreign ministers focused Saturday on the fine print of a draft agreement meant...
Cano may have met secretly with Tigers
Robinson Cano already has been shopped to the Mets and now the free agent second baseman may have also flown to Detroit to visit the Tigers. Cano’s representatives had a...
Manning-Brady rivalry overshadows showdown of slot receivers
The subplots to Sunday night’s Broncos-Patriots matchup don’t end with Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady. While the 14th meeting between the two Canton-bound quarterbacks deservedly hogged the headlines this week,...
Long weekend: Sons of Hall of Famer square off on field
There will be a moment, possibly early in the game, when two brothers will meet each other on opposite sides of the line of scrimmage when the Bears play the...
Theisman: RG3 taking too many hits, still learning on job
The crumbling of the Redskins began the minute Robert Griffin III crumpled to the ground at FedEx Field in the ill-fated playoff game against the Seahawks, when he became RGKnee....
Jets can’t let one get ‘away’ in Baltimore
BALTIMORE — The Jets have gone from Road Warriors in Rex Ryan’s first two years as head coach to Road Worriers the past three seasons, none worse than this year....
Tune in to the week's best movies on TV
Pitch Perfect, 2012 Tuesday, 6:05 p.m., HBOSGe College freshman Beca (Rebel Wilson) is a reluctant a cappella initiate in this comedy about competitive singing, which sees all-girl group The Bellas...
Don't miss: A preview of the week's top shows
Lady Gaga & The Muppets' Holiday Spectacular, Thursday, 9:30 p.m., ABC In one of the strangest bits of showbiz synergy since David Bowie did a duet of “The Little Drummer...
Freshman sensation Jabari Parker, Duke soar into Garden
Jabari Parker was an afterthought when the college basketball season began Nov. 8, one of the nation’s other top freshmen in the elite class after Kansas’ Andrew Wiggins and Kentucky’s...
TV holiday specials for the whole family
With the kids out of school for the holiday, here’s what you can watch with them — or sit them in front of while you try to figure out how...
Carol Burnett takes home the Mark Twain prize
Carol Burnett is famous for a lot of things: her boneless physicality and her full-bore Tarzan yodel. Then there was the experience in the 1960s with a CBS network executive....
Serby's Q&A with Victor Cruz
Steve Serby caught up with Giants Pro Bowl receiver Victor Cruz before the Giants’ Sunday showdown with the Cowboys. Q: What is it like being Victor Cruz today? A: It’s...
Avoid dater's remorse with video chat speed dating
When Allyson met John, a 6-foot-3 Ivy League grad, on Match.com, she thought she had finally hit the jackpot. Standing at 6 feet herself, the 25-year-old had long scoured the...
This week's couple: First impressions
It isn’t right, but few people can avoid judging someone based on his or her profession. When David, a tech entrepreneur, met Rebecca, a babysitter and actress, for sushi at...
Red-hot Giants face frigid clash vs. rival Cowboys
They got here, against all odds. The Giants got to late November, four days before Thanksgiving, clinging to relevance. They have hoisted themselves, like a chin-up, barely getting their necks...
First Banksy pieces from NYC residency up for sale
A broken heart and a graffiti-covered car door will be the first two pieces from street artist Banksy’s New York series to go up for public sale next month in...
Why are advertisers ignoring golden oldies?
You might guess that “NCIS” is the second highest-rated show in the Nielsen ratings because it had the second-highest viewership — 19 million people in any given week, trailing only...
Witt's NFL Picks Week 12
Sunday Colts (+2 ¹/₂) over CARDINALS: No certainty for Indianapolis, without Reggie Wayne, and respect what Arizona coach (and last year’s interim Colts head coach) Bruce Arians has accomplished this season, but...
If Mets aren’t spending big, they must be better bargain hunters
The Mets hate talking about their budget nearly as much as they loathe, say, discussing the Vince Coleman years. You can understand. They have all the accouterments of a big-market...
Maria Edible eats her way into our hearts
Becoming a competitive eater changed Maria Edible's fraught relationship with food and left her full of happiness.
Melo may chip in on Woodson’s $25K fine
WASHINGTON — Carmelo Anthony says he may chip in with Knicks coach Mike Woodson, who made a $25,000 donation Friday to the NBA in care of the Melo Foundation of...
What's Weiner up to? Handing out turkeys
Weiner’s touting turkey! Forget politics -- wannabe mayor Anthony Weiner is now working as the official press contact for a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway at a food pantry in Queens. The...
Prohibition was the perfect excuse for NYers to run wild
Each autumn during Prohibition, it was not uncommon for the streets of Greenwich Village and Little Italy to run purple. This was due not to falling leaves or some Barney...
Top 5 Thanksgiving pick-up lines
According to flirty turkey shoppers at Whole Foods in Union Square “You’re like Thanksgiving dinner — delicious, satisfying, and after we’re done, I’ll probably fall asleep.” — Max “I checked...
Horse-loving linguist wants man’s man who speaks her language
At 5-foot-2, Natasha, 25, is a little lady, but the real-estate saleswoman wants a guy who can bring big love into her life Calm down: Though she loves partying along...
Matt Czuchry finds groove as rebel with an out clause
In “Hitting The Fan,” the game-changing episode of “The Good Wife,” lawyers Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies) and Cary Agos (Matt Czuchry) finally left their firm, Lockhart/Gardner, to start their own...
The National Dog Show becomes a Thanksgiving TV favorite
When it comes to Turkey Day TV for Anna Stromberg, 43, it’s not just about watching football, or giant floats soaring above Manhattan. The Westchester resident’s favorite program to tune...
'Frozen' soundtrack set to join the ranks of Disney greats
In one particularly pivotal scene of the animated Disney musical “Frozen,” out Friday, Elsa — the icy queen of the fictional land of Arrendale — hikes up a snowy mountain....
Idris Elba's transformation from drug dealer to 'Mandela'
When Idris Elba first heard about his latest film role, he thought it was a joke. “My agent is a prankster, so I was like, ‘C’mon, man. Stop bullsh - - - ing me....
Has your favorite TV series gone mental?
If watching prime-time TV these days is making your head spin, you’re not alone. As networks strive to grab the attention of fickle audiences in the Twitter era, plots are...
55 techy toys to suit everyone from foodies to Fido
Why should kids be the only ones excited about holiday presents? We've got cool toys -- from robots to guitars -- for everyone in the family.
Forget Rob Ford, Canada is chock full of scandal
Toronto’s crack-smoking Mayor Rob Ford is the most famous Canadian in the world. The Charlie Sheen of politics opens his mouth simply to change feet. He’s certainly worked over the...
False job numbers: Did the White House know?
Let me be the first to ask: Did the White House know that employment reports were being falsified? Last week I reported exclusively that someone at the Census Bureau’s Philadelphia...
Santa look-alike 'pushes' elderly man onto subway tracks
Say it ain’t so, Mr. Claus. A drunken homeless man — who cops say resembles Kriss Kringle — was charged Saturday with attempted murder for allegedly pushing an elderly stranger...
Deli owners give lotto winner $1K for $1M ticket
A father and son deli-owning duo insisted Saturday they were in court for a simple misunderstanding — and not because they tried to scam a customer out of a winning...
Why Obama can't wave away this scandal
People are puzzled: Why would Barack Obama have lied about how wonderfully everything was going to go with ObamaCare when officials in his administration knew perfectly well that disaster was...
Celebs, scandals abound at the Four Seasons
Since 1977, Julian Niccolini, the mischievous co-owner of the Four Seasons Restaurant, has charmed presidents (Bill Clinton, both George Bushes), royalty (Prince Harry, Princess Diana), rock stars (Bono, Elton John,...
Zumba madam released from jail after 6 months
ALFRED, Maine — The Zumba instructor who ran a prostitution business in which she videotaped unsuspecting clients so her business partner could watch from his office 100 miles away has...
Albany holds key to tax increases, mayor says
The city’s best hope for avoiding tax hikes lies in the Governor’s Mansion, Mayor Bloomberg said Friday. “The city’s gonna have to depend on the governor to hold things in...
Lawsuit over anti-corruption 'witch hunt'
The state Legislature sued Gov. Cuomo’s anti-corruption panel on Friday for allegedly engaging in a witch hunt illegally targeting state lawmakers. The explosive 28-page suit — which even charges that...
Astronaut Gus Grissom’s letter slamming John Glenn doesn't sell
CONCORD, NH — A letter written by Mercury 7 astronaut Gus Grissom that exposes resentment over the pick of John Glenn as the first American to orbit the Earth has...
Gun group considered leaving Newtown after mass slaying
HARTFORD, Conn. — The gun industry’s national trade association considered moving its headquarters from Newtown, Conn., after last year’s school shooting, the group’s chief said. With a handful of the...
Tailgating may be banned at NJ Super Bowl
Tailgating is doubtful when New Jersey’s Meadowlands sports complex goes under a weeklong lockdown for the Super Bowl. The New Jersey Sports and Exhibition Authority says the entire complex will...
'Gangnam Style' results in 3 dead at wedding
A wedding party in Yemen turned into a bloodbath Friday when a guest wildly dancing to “Gangnam Style” with an AK-47 accidentally sprayed fire into the crowd, killing three guests....
Car crash sparks gun scare at LAX
LOS ANGELES — Fears of gunfire, false alarms and a real auto accident brought minutes of chaos and hours of delays to Los Angeles International Airport, where frayed nerves remained...
1 dead in spate of Bronx shootings
Three separate shootings in the Bronx left one man dead and two others in serious condition Friday night, authorities said. Robert Adkins, 47 of the Bronx, was shot in the...
Red Storm suspend prized freshman Jordan indefinitely
At the moment, Rysheed Jordan isn’t a member of the St. John’s basketball team. The prized freshman point guard from Philadelphia was suspended for violating team rules Friday night, missing...
JPM lawyer: High fines way out of line
The fines are too damn high! That’s JPMorgan Chase’s top legal eagle’s take on the bank’s record $13 billion settlement with the government over the sale of mortgage-backed securities in...
Ripp gets $4.75M to lead Time Inc. into future
The Time Inc. chief executive tasked with leading the soon-to-be stand-alone company stands to reap as much as $4.75 million in salary and bonus next year. Relatively new CEO Joe...
'Grand Theft Auto exec sued by fired maid
A former housekeeper for the head of the company that produces the video-game franchise “Grand Theft Auto” is suing the executive and his wife for firing her and then allegedly...
City pension fees jump 28%
Firms that manage the city’s five pension funds saw their fees skyrocket by 28 percent last year, a report has found. The $100 million single-year leap brought the city’s total...
Nurse admits stealing medical cocaine from hospital
A real life “Nurse Jackie” pleaded guilty in Bronx Criminal Court Friday to swiping medicinal cocaine from the emergency room at Jacobi Medical Center. Allison Jones, 36, had her license...
Rare Ferrari goes for record $14.3M at Sotheby's
A red 1964 Ferrari sold for a stunning $14.3 million at a record-setting auction of trophy cars. The Ferrari 250 LM had been estimated at $12 million to $15 million...
Man slain bringing family Thanksgiving cash
A man was fatally gunned down Friday as he delivered money to family members to pay for Thanksgiving dinner. “I opened the door and it was a mess. He was...
Pol: NYPD hides true hike in park crimes
The NYPD is keeping the public in the dark about how many crimes are committed in city parks by releasing stats only from the 31 biggest, according to a top...
$16M winning Powerball ticket expires unclaimed
MIAMI — A Powerball ticket worth $16 million became worthless Friday after a six-month deadline for the winner to claim the prize money expired, Florida Lottery authorities said. It was...
Appeals court won't toss NYC stop-frisk rulings
A federal appeals court refused Friday to toss out a ruling that the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk policy was carried out in a discriminatory manner, ending what is likely the last chance...
NYPD vs. Port Authority in WTC power struggle
The guard dogs are marking their territory. For years, the Port Authority and the NYPD have battled over who should provide security at Ground Zero — with each claiming jurisdiction...
Soldiers' story a lost cause
‘Why am I a hero if I die, and a nuisance if I live?” It’s a question that haunts many veterans. In Charles Fuller’s heavy-handed new drama, “One Night . . . ,”...
'Mindy Project' hits the break room
"The Mindy Project” will go on a two-month hiatus in 2014, Fox announced in a flurry of winter schedule changes. The low-rated comedy starring Mindy Kaling will air its winter...
'Finest' cop Pat Rogers dead in Boston
Pat Rogers, a cop who appeared on Season 1 of TNT’s reality show “Boston’s Finest” died on Tuesday. Rogers, an eight-year Boston PD veteran, died hours before a premiere for...
'Doctor Who' turns 50 with global celebration
Even for a centuries-old time-traveling alien with two hearts, this is a pretty major event. The long-running British sci-fi show “Doctor Who” turns 50 on Saturday, and the BBC is...
NYC's department stores display magic of the holidays
Maybe Bill de Blasio’s right: There are two cities! One is the hard-driving New York we know much of the year — the other is the dreamy place it becomes...
Payne leads Michigan State past Virginia Tech
Adreian Payne is projected to be a first-round selection in June’s NBA Draft. On Friday night, he looked like a lottery pick. Not bad for the rare pro prospect who...
More rulings on stop & frisk
The Second Circuit strikes again. In a new ruling on Friday, the three-judge federal appeals panel shot down motions from those on both sides of the stop-and-frisk argument. On the...
Government: The cheaters club
If you cheat, does that make you more liable to work for the government? A recent study in India says yes. The study, conducted by Harvard and University of Pennsylvania...
Teachers union failing charter schools
Anyone notice a pattern here? Our city’s traditional public schools are doing a dismal job of preparing New York’s children for life and college. The teachers union sets up its...
JFK’s other legacy — smashing anti-Catholic bias
The day John F. Kennedy was assassinated is still fresh in the memories of those of us who lived through it. We all remember where we were when we first...
The twisted language of ObamaCare excuses
The Obama administration once gave us “man-caused disasters” for acts of terrorism and “workplace violence” for the Fort Hood shootings. Now it has trumped those past linguistic contortions by changing...
Arabs’ home in Israel
"I am Israeli,” says Issawi Frej, an Arab member of the Knesset. “I am a citizen here. I want to be here.” The Meretz Party representative also tells me: “The...
Democrats, GOP: two failed brands
If the Republicans can’t fight wars and the Democrats stink at socializing medicine, what good are they? That would not be an altogether unreasonable question for a typical American today....
Daily Blotter
Manhattan Five of the seven thugs who brutally attacked a man outside a Hell’s Kitchen rock club Halloween night have been arrested, authorities said. Josh Cordon, 17, and Brandon Fernandez,...