February 21, 2015
Why McCann and the Yankees are changing offensive approach
TAMPA — It didn’t take Brian McCann long to discover he needs to improve at the plate in his second season as a Yankee. Signed to a five-year, $85 million...
How LeBron could team with Carmelo to bring Knicks a title
At the Equinox Club on the Upper East Side on Saturday afternoon, LeBron James shot around with his teammates, shirtless, while the snow fell heavily outside. Finely chiseled but less...
Knicks struggle to diagnose J.R. Smith's Cavs hot streak
The Knicks are looking forward to seeing ex-teammates J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert when they host the Cavaliers on Sunday. But as for why Smith is playing better now than...
Terry Collins handicaps Mets' leadoff spot options
PORT ST. LUCIE — The leadoff spot in the Mets’ batting order is up for grabs. Juan Lagares has been the presumed favorite for the spot, but manager Terry Collins...
The Rangers' misuse of Dan Boyle that betrays his purpose
Maybe the Rangers didn’t bring Dan Boyle here expressly to win games in February, but if they didn’t bring him here to play on the five-on-three power play unit, then...
Why defensive Steve Lavin relishes 'fire the coach' chants
Steve Lavin hears the chatter about his tenuous job status, and he has a rebuttal to his detractors. It’s a good sign the fans want to “fire the coach” when...
Serby Q&A: Juan Lagares on why the Mets will make the playoffs
Post columnist Steve Serby caught up with Mets outfielder Juan Lagares before spring training picks hits full stride full this week. Q: What’s it like playing center field behind Matt...
In My Library: Ron Cephas Jones
As far as the Labyrinth Theater Company’s concerned, Philip Seymour Hoffman — their late leader, director and staunchest advocate — hasn’t left the building. “I visit him every night in...
Iran's Israel intentions
Israel is the one nation whose existence is most threatened by Iran. Understand this one fact and you understand why the Israelis are so alarmed by the deal President Obama...
Obama the millennial
We get it. The effort to appeal to millennials by trying to appear hip. There’s Michelle Obama’s latest stint dancing with Big Bird in a supermarket on comedian Billy Eichner’s...
The perfect -- if not the best -- sports movie
It is sometimes hard to believe “The Natural” only has been with us for 31 years, because it is hard to imagine the sports-movie genre without it — same as...
J.R. Smith sounds off -- with a warning -- about Knicks' triangle
J.R. Smith is thrilled to be back at the Garden on Sunday to face the Knicks because he will be defending the triangle offense, not trying to play in it....
How Matt Harvey can channel antics into superstardom
PORT ST. LUCIE — “I can’t stand this any longer. Somebody please pay attention to me! Hello! Pay attention to me! Look at me!” Who said this? A) Bart Simpson...
Devils win third in row as Greene scores for first time in 71 games
Defenseman Andy Greene could have gone the whole season without scoring a goal, and Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello wouldn’t have cared. Greene’s job is to play against the opposition’s...
One way Harvey is going to try to conserve pitches for 2015
PORT ST. LUCIE — Matt Harvey won’t be holding anything back. After 16 months rehabbing his right elbow following Tommy John surgery, the Mets ace has removed all shackles heading...
Afghanistan dialogue with Taliban could begin in March
KABUL, Afghanistan — After more than a decade of warfare, negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban are set to begin, officials, diplomats and experts said as President Ashraf...
Astronauts prepare International Space Station for space taxis
A pair of U.S. astronauts floated outside the International Space Station on Saturday to begin rigging parking spots for two commercial space taxis. Station commander Barry “Butch” Wilmore, 52, and...
Sabathia balloons to over 300 lbs for apparent health reasons
TAMPA — CC Sabathia’s surgically repaired right knee houses a degenerative condition he hopes to control by exercise, injections and possibly draining. After playing the past two seasons at 295...
Retired cop kills daughters, then himself
A newly retired White Plains cop fatally shot his two teenage daughters and all three family dogs, then turned the gun on himself in the garage of their home Saturday,...
Reel champions: The Post doles out its all-time Sports Oscars
With the Super Bowl and NBA All-Star Games behind us, and the Academy Awards looming on Sunday, it brings to mind two of the greatest forms of entertainment: sports and...
St. John's shows why it has potential for Tourney magic
These are the moments when it is helpful to be that rarest of college basketball commodities — the team laden with experience, rife with seniors. This moment, specifically: just over...
Sure, Obama loves America -- just not the America we live in
Rudy Giuliani thinks President Obama doesn’t love America. That’s not true. Obama surely loves America, though not the actual existing country. He is head-over-heels gaga for a fictional America, a...
Teen behind 'laser cat' yearbook photo commits suicide
The upstate high-schooler responsible for the laser cat Internet sensation committed suicide on Thursday, his parents said. Draven Rodriguez — and his far-out cat Mr. Bigglesworth — became national news...
Isles can't get past streaking Caps in shootout loss
WASHINGTON — A showdown between the first-place Islanders and surging Capitals had all the elements of a postseason game, with one notable exception: the ending. Instead of playing sudden death,...
Wolfgang Puck dishes on 20 years of cooking at the Oscars
Wolfgang Puck has been preparing for Oscar night for months, but he hasn’t yet watched the nominated films. “I did not see any,” admits the chef, who — for the...
Our critics predict the big Oscar winners — and surprises
Lou's Picks: Best Picture √ “American Sniper" “Birdman” “Boyhood” “The Grand Budapest Hotel” “The Imitation Game" “Selma” “The Theory of Everything" “Whiplash" Lou’s pick: The stats say that “Birdman," with...
UFC contender: I'll be clean antidote to Anderson Silva
Losing is tough, especially in MMA, where a loss can mean a brutal knockout or broken bones. But losing to someone on steroids or testosterone-replacement therapy is even worse. No...
Why Yoan Moncada might be the best $100M Yankees can spend
TAMPA — Yoan Moncada is 19 years old. Investing $60 million or $80 million or $100 million in him personifies risk. In fact, the strong vibe I have received from...
Why are the founders of dating apps Grindr, Hinge still single?
Millions of men have gone out on dates because of Joel Simkhai. He’s more effective than any matchmaker you’ve ever met. But despite his success, he’s still single. Simkhai, 38,...
Production of live sporting events on TV needs to evolve
TV reminds me of a stenciled sign on a door in old Tiger/Briggs Stadium: “Visitors Clubhouse, No Visitors.” There is a reason military generals seek the higher ground. From just...
'Do you believe in miracles?': The 8 best sports calls ever
You know the same way all athletes want to be music stars and all music stars want to be athletes? It’s the same deal with us sporting scribes. Many of...
Giants GM questions 'hero’ Beckham's torn-hamstring diagnosis
Odell Beckham Jr. showed a lot of different skills in his first season with the Giants. Medical expertise apparently is not one of them. Giants general manager Jerry Reese said...
Nets going small is a big change
LOS ANGELES — Going back to his days in Memphis, Lionel Hollins has been known as a coach who favored playing traditional lineups featuring two big men. But after the...
Stanley Cup chase will keep Mats Zuccarello with Rangers
This won’t have any impact on general manager Glen Sather’s approach to the trade deadline, but the Rangers and pending free agent Mats Zuccarello are not remotely close on a...
Lazy media reveals bias in treatment of legitimate A-Rod story
TAMPA — In the movie “Lost in America,” Julie Hagerty loses what her on-screen husband, Albert Brooks, refers to as their “nest egg” in Vegas. So, Brooks lectures her about...
Seniors’ late surge sends St. John’s past Seton Hall
Experience still matters. St. John’s and Seton Hall are perfect case studies. While the young Pirates have collapsed in the face of adversity, the veteran Red Storm have refused to...
Minneapolis cop shot in apparent targeted attack
MINNEAPOLIS -- Somebody shot and wounded a Minneapolis police officer early Saturday in what appears to have been a targeted attack, department officials said. Two officers were standing by their...
Police dog fired after biting doughnut shop worker, cop
https://twitter.com/abcactionnews/status/568767109800579072 COCONUT CREEK, Fla. — A Florida police dog is being kicked off the force after biting a doughnut shop worker and an officer in separate incidents. Officials say 4-year-old...
Decapitated animals found in California park
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Authorities are investigating a series of dead animals — several decapitated — found in a Sacramento park over the past two months. Gina Knepp of Animal Care...
'I got them': New questions in 'road-rage' killing of mom as suspect held
LAS VEGAS — It initially sounded like horrific fatal road rage: A Las Vegas mother of four who just finished giving her 15-year-old daughter a driving lesson followed by a...
US considers slowing military exit from Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan — The United States is considering slowing its military exit from Afghanistan by keeping a larger-than-planned troop presence this year and next because the new Afghan government is...
Nets rewind: Assertive Deron Williams could spark playoff run
Here are three thoughts on the Nets’ 114-105 win over the Lakers Friday night in Los Angeles: 1. Where has this Deron Williams been? The way Williams played against the...
Red Bulls coach says midfielder driven to get back on USMNT
First-year Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch admits he has a hard time figuring out how U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann picks his players. But he said midfielder Sacha Kljestan is driven...
Why banning pet store sales of rabbits is a great idea
When people ask me if I have a pet, I say yes. When they inevitably ask whether it’s a cat or a dog, I proudly answer, “Neither — it’s a...
Meet the couples who are amateur porn stars
Some couples turn to counseling in times of stress. Josephine Decker and Zefrey Throwell turned on the camera. Three years ago, the Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, filmmakers had been dating a...
Kim Gordon on cheating ex and 'mentally ill' Courtney Love
For 30 years, Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore were the golden couple of alternative music. As founding members of the band Sonic Youth, they were admired for their pioneering work...
This week's couple: Too nice is too bad
Polite conversation is a sensible approach to a first-time encounter with a stranger — but sometimes it doesn’t do us any favors. This was the case for Effie-Ann, 26, who...
The 5 best Sunday suppers in NYC
Forget fighting the hungry crowds on Friday and Saturday. For great meals — and deals — try a new night. Taco time! La Palapa Cocina Mexicana; 77 St. Mark’s Place;...
How Will Smith learned to pickpocket for his new role
In “Focus,” hitting theaters Friday, Will Smith and Margot Robbie star as con artists targeting the same mark. The film involves many sleight-of-hand steals, so the directors called in Apollo...
Inside the Oscars' worst wardrobe malfunctions
George Clooney is renowned for his film talent, good looks, humanitarian efforts...and his tailoring skills? The day of the 2010 Oscars, Clooney’s arm candy du jour — Italian actress Elisabetta...
Active guy seeks a concert-loving gal
Weight up: Denis stays as fit as he was in his crew days by going to the gym five times a week. Stand tall: At 6 feet 2 inches, Denis...
Thaddeus Young's Nets career gets started on the right note
LOS ANGELES — Thaddeus Young was ready for a change of scenery. Speaking before making his debut with the Nets Friday night in a 114-105 win over the Lakers —...
Chris Mullin to be inducted into St. John's Hall of Fame
Thirty years after his legendary St. John’s career, Chris Mullin will join the Queens school’s other greats in its Hall of Fame. The St. John’s legend will be one of...
St. John's star gives roundabout NCAA Tournament guarantee
This wasn’t Joe Namath predicting a Super Bowl victory or Mark Messier guaranteeing that Game 6 win over the Devils in 1994, but D’Angelo Harrison made it pretty clear what...
'Live with Kelly and Michael' ready for its Oscars closeup
"Live with Kelly and Michael” airs its fourth consecutive “After Oscar Show” Monday morning — live from the Dolby Theatre in LA (9 a.m./Ch. 7). Each of “Live’s” three previous...
Ratings for 'Two and a Half Men' finale not so meh-morable
While viewership surged for the final episode of “Two and a Half Men” on Thursday, it was hardly a record for the long-running CBS sitcom. The series finale — which...
Celebrate the Oscars with a winning 'Grand Budapest' bash
No Best Picture prize this weekend, one thing is crystal clear: Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel” — tied for the lead with nine Oscar nominations — is a visual...
Ex-cop claims ConEd fired him over conviction in Louima case
A former cop who was jailed for his role in the brutal assault of Haitian immigrant Abner Louima lost his ConEd job over the connection — even though he disclosed...
Judge rejects killer's 'accent' claim in bid to overturn conviction
A Bronx judge has rejected a killer’s attempt to get his conviction overturned with the argument that he spoke with a Puerto Rican accent while a witness said the killer...
Lawyer pleads guilty to courthouse bribery scheme
One of three criminal-defense lawyers accused of paying a court employee thousands of dollars to funnel defendants their way has pleaded guilty. Dwane Smith, 56, copped to bribery in Manhattan...
Giuliani: Obama influenced by communists since youth
Rudy Giuliani doubled down on his claims that President Obama doesn’t “love America” in an interview with The Post Friday — claiming the commander-in-chief has been influenced by communists since...
2 children killed in tragic blaze
Two young children died in a four-alarm fire that ripped through their New Jersey home Friday night. The inferno broke out on the top floor of the three-story house on...
Dillon Gee's tenuous rotation spot creates future questions
PORT ST. LUCIE — Dillon Gee could be sticking around for a while. After an offseason in which the Mets dangled the right-hander to several clubs, general manager Sandy Alderson...
Record cold grips the city with more snow on its way
It was a bitter cold that snapped the record books. The city was in Mother Nature’s icy grip Friday as record-shattering temperatures sent a chill up the winter-weary East Coast....
Construction worker keeps warm — with 33 pieces of clothing!
This Queens construction worker swaddled himself silly in 33 items of clothing — but it wasn’t enough to keep the cruel cold out on Friday. “I still feel it,” Luis...
Landlords planning more evictions after Airbnb ruling
The Manhattan attorney who won a watershed case evicting a tenant who cashed in on his rent-stabilized pad by treating it like a hotel has received a flood of queries...
'Sex abuser' dad claims he was teaching his son 'sex ed'
It was a twisted form of sex ed. The Brooklyn father on trial for molesting his own son made a handwritten statement to cops when he was arrested that claimed...
Dreadful Knicks game pulled from ABC in unprecedented move
Discreetly, the Knicks-Cavaliers Sunday matinee was pulled off ABC recently in an unprecedented move. It was the first time in the network’s 13 years of telecasting Sunday games it has...
The glaring issue with Derek Fisher preaching culture change
Someone asked Derek Fisher on Friday night whether there ever can be a rivalry similar to the emotion and intensity of Knicks-Heat more than a decade ago. “The Heat-Knicks history was...
De Blasio's Sunnyside home push defies Cuomo's wishes
Casting aside objections from Gov. Cuomo, Mayor de Blasio is plowing ahead with a plan to redevelop the Sunnyside rail yards in Queens as an affordable-housing mecca. On Friday —...
NJIT finds respect, identity, new gym -- but no conference
The best part of the season is quickly approaching, and for some, the only part of the season — conference tournaments and the NCAA Tournament — worthy of their attention....
St. John's finds unique pipeline for hopeful recruiting splash
You could hear the excitement rise in coach Steve Lavin’s voice as the subject of Amar Alibegovic came up. “He’s got a really bright future,” Lavin said. Lavin’s 2014 recruiting class...
Failed NYPD reform chief once sued the city over small desks
Long before he was arming cops with breath mints and baby oil, disgraced NYPD chief Michael Julian sued the city over a failed lieutenant’s exam — blaming the desks for...
Daily Blotter
The Bronx A thief assaulted an elderly staffer at a discount store in Parkchester, police said. At 1:30 p.m. Thursday, the 72-year-old victim was on duty in the store at...