29 Haziran 2012 Cuma

Meadowlands Graded Entries

Post Time: 7:00 p.m.

Best Bet: Another Amaretto (9th)

FIRST: 1m; trot; $27,065; J. Simpson

1 BCaveatEmptor

(RSchnttker)

1-6-X

9-5

2 B Order By Keeper

(RPierce)

2-2-X

2-1

5 LindysCreditline

(MacDnld)

2-5-X

3-1

1 A Sinatra Hall

(JGregory)

2-7-1

9-5

1 Dewycolornthelne

(Lchnce)

1-2-X

9-5

2 A Corky

(DMiller)

3-3-X

2-1

2 Kegler Hanover

(JTakter)

1-1-X

2-1

3 Zapata

(JIngrassia)

2-1-2

8-1

4 Super Classic

(DAckerman)

3-4-X

10-1

6 The Fresh Prince

(JCampbell)

6-4-X

12-1

SECOND: 1m; trot; $10,588; J. Simpson

6 To Dream On

(JTakter)

1-1-X

4-5

1 Caneel Hall

(RSchnittker)

2-1-X

6-1

8 GoodIntentions

(MLachance)

1-4-X

12-1

2 Palm Beach Chic

(JGregory)

1-3-X

15-1

3 Ching Ching

(AMiller)

3-6-4

20-1

4 Andie Sophia

(MMacDonald)

1-3-X

9-2

5 True Day Dream

(DO'Mara)

1-1-X

8-1

7 DreamInChoclte

(DAckermn)

2-6-4

20-1

THIRD: 1m; trot; $10,588; J. Simpson

1 Royal Assets

(RSchnittker)

1-1-X

2-1

3 Morningstar

(JTakter)

1-2-X

5-2

6 Ladyfinger

(DMiller)

1-2-X

4-1

1 A Right Away

(JGregory)

4-4-X

2-1

2 Sanfran Jenny

(CCallahan)

3-8-6

12-1

4 Lady Riviera

(RPierce)

2-3-X

5-1

5 Iris Yankee

(MLancaster)

5-6-X

15-1

7 NinetyFiveJanet

(MLachnce)

1-4-X

8-1

FOURTH: 1m; trot; 10,588; J. Simpson

8 Miss Steele

(AMiller)

1-3-X

3-1

1 Muscles Secret

(RSchnittker)

1-4-X

5-2

2 SturdyMuscles

(MMacDonld)

1-1-X

7-2

3 Holy Mary

(DAckerman)

3-3-X

15-1

4 Margarita Cash

(CBraden)

2-3-X

15-1

5 Dewey Lane

(DMiller)

1-2-X

6-1

6 Southwind Cocoa

(RPierce)

2-4-X

10-1

7 Bull Spreader

(MLachance)

1-2-X

10-1

FIFTH: 1m; pace; $9,500; cond

6 Jk Cameo

(CCallahan)

5-6-3

9-2

8 Lr Dancing Dream

(YGingras)

7-5-6

4-1

1 Cosmo Madness

(RPierce)

5-6-7

10-1

2 I Get Around

(PBerry)

6-6-5

15-1

3 Joyfuljoy N

(MLewis)

5-5-4

12-1

4 PrincessAlbatross

(Lchnce)

6-7-6

15-1

5 Obsessive Artist

(JCampbell)

2-7-6

5-2

7 Change Maker

(DMiller)

8-8-5

6-1

9 Cheap N Easy

(AMiller)

1-7-6

8-1

SIXTH: 1ml pace; $9,500; cl($10000)

10 Remissionofsins

(DMiller)

1-3-7

3-1

2 Mister Barnett N

(AMiller)

3-4-11

7-2

6 Sadie'sSoloist

(MacDonald)

5-1-6

6-1

1 Party For Two

(YGingras)

10-9-6

15-1

3 SouthwindTyrant

(CCallahn)

7-3-7

8-1

4 Willow Run Huck

(Campbell)

5-5-6

20-1

5 Hillsboro Mile

(PBerry)

3-6-4

15-1

7 Unending Love

(JMarshall)

5-5-8

12-1

8 Art's Jimmy Ray

(RPierce)

1-2-1

4-1

9 Western Dog

(Lachance)

10-x-5

12-1

SEVENTH: 1m; trot; $9,500; cond

1 Gold Walker

(JCampbell)

4-8-4

8-1

9 Che

(DMiller)

6-2-6

6-1

10 Bambino Hall

(RPierce)

7-6-4

7-2

2 Red Light

(AMiller)

8-1-3

9-2

3 WillowRunHottie

(MMcDnld)

2-3-8

15-1

4 Puzzlement

(Callhan)

10-3-x

15-1

5 Permanent Joy

(RKrivelin)

5-4-3

12-1

6 R Sam

(YGingras)

4-6-7

10-1

7 Tiger'sTooGood

(Lachance)

7-7-8

3-1

8 Sassy Shirley

(PBerry)

5-3-3

10-1

EIGHTH: 1m; trot; $12,000; cond

6 She Wears It Well

(RPierce)

3-4-4

7-2

1 Scarlet Spurs

(DMiller)

4-4-3

6-1

9 WeekendVacation

(Gingras)

1-3-2

3-1

2 Speeditup Hanover

(PBerry)

8-3-1

15-1

3 Touch Of Charm

(JMarshall)

7-7-5

20-1

4 Tender Loving

(AMiller)

7-1-6

12-1

5 Drink Of The Day

(CCallahan)

10-1-9

20-1

7 Hope And Love

(MLachance)

10-4-6

10-1

8 Ringside Winner

(JCampbell)

6-5-6

8-1

10 Lindy'sMadonna

(MacDnld)

4-7-2

9-2

NINTH: 1m; trot; $11,000; cond

3 Another Amaretto

(DMiller)

3-4-3

5-2

9 Bluff

(TSmedshammer)

4-4-4

2-1

2 Liborio

(JCampbell)

5-5-9

8-1

1 Sand Lover

(EAbbatiello)

7-5-8

20-1

4 Dont Tell My Girl

(AMiller)

7-7-7

20-1

5 Ringside Nguyen

(RPierce)

4-1-2

10-1

6 Quarantine S

(CCallahan)

7-1-4

9-2

7 Melady's Monet

(YGingras)

7-5-5

12-1

8 Rothschild

(JMarshall)

8-7-5

15-1

10 BuenosAiresLady

(MMcDnld)

3-6-3

15-1

TENTH: 1m; pace; $9,500; cond

7 Ariane Hanover

(JCampbell)

4-8-8

4-1

6 De Vins Girl

(YGingras)

3-7-4

7-2

1 Smokin N Grinin

(CCallahan)

3-2-5

3-1

2 Holly's Halo

(PBerry)

4-4-3

6-1

3 Lucky Turn

(RPierce)

5-3-3

10-1

4 FdWhiteDiamnds

(MMcDnld)

7-4-4

20-1

5 Chatty Kathy

(AMiller)

9-1-2

8-1

8 Dodge City's Tune

(DMiller)

3-4-3

12-1

9 Kitti Place

(JMarshall)

3-4-4

15-1

10 I Luv It

(MLachance)

5-8-7

15-1

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J. Simpson1 BCaveatEmptor, J. Simpson1 Royal Assets, Kegler Hanover, J. Simpson8 Miss Steele online

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28 Haziran 2012 Perşembe

Cashman's alleged stalker claims Yankees GM gave her fake ID for abortion

The batty British blonde accused of shaking down Brian Cashman says the Yankees GM scored her a fake id so she could get an abortion.

In papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Louise Meanwell says Cashman knocked her up in June of last year, and was "unnerved" when she told him she was pregnant.

He "informed me that if I was to continue the pregnancy he would want nothing to do with me or the child," Meanwell wrote in an affidavit.

"When I informed Mr. Cashman that I decided to terminate the pregnancy he demanded that I provide him with two passport size photographs so he could obtain a fake ID," the filing says.

Steven Hirsch

Louise Meanwell

"Not only did Mr. Cashman obtain a fake ID for me in the name of Rosalita Gonzalez, he also took in finding a cloinic to provide the abortion service and car service for me on the day of the procedure."

"Rosalita" said he "provided emotional support and was quite decent to me in the days after the procedure," but "seemed to struggle with his religious convictions in opposing abortion yet being party to a pregnancy that was terminated."

Cashman's spokesman, Chris Giglio, called the claims "more falsehoods from an individual that has been charged by a grand jury for lying."

Prosecutors have said in court that Meanwell - who also goes by the name Louise Neathway - made the pregnancy claim up. She's charged with extorting $6000 from Cashman and trying to shake him down for thousands more she claimed she needed for a procedure to "freeze her eggs" because of damage done to her ovaries during the alleged abortion.

If the claim is phony, she might find herself in more trouble with the law. She made the allegation in a sworn affidavit, meaning prosecutors could go after her for perjury.

Meanwell made the claims in a court filing seeking 911 tapes for a planned "personal injury" civil suit, saying she needs the tapes "to identify the proper defendant(s)" for her complaint.

Her affidavit makes it clear one of those defendants will be Cashman. The filing lays out her alleged relationship with the then-married Cashman in sometimes gruesome detail. She says they'd been friends since 2006, but had suspected he "was interested in more than a platonic relationship."

She found out that was indeed the case says on April 7 of last year, when "Mr. Cashman met me and one of my friends in Lower Manhattan for drinks."

"During the course of the evening, Mr. Cashman claimed to be separated from his wife and living apart from her. At one point, Mr. Cashman leaned towards me and proceeded to kiss me on the lips and then inserted his tongue into my mouth," she said, adding that he walked her home and they engaged "in consensual intercourse."

Meanwell said her relationship with Cashman "had ups and downs," and by the end of 2011, "it became apparent this relationship had no future." She said there were times she stopped taking Cashman's calls, and that her phone logs show "101 missed calls from numbers associated with Mr. Cashman" between Dec. 14, 2011 and Jan. 28, 2012.

Prosecutors have said she called Cashman over 300 times in a four day span beginning in late January.

On January 27th, she said Cashman made "false and libelous statements" to Meanwell's mom in order to get her to call 911 on her daughter, including telling her "I was suicidal and of unchaste character." "In sum and substance, Mr. Cashman informed my mother that I was nothing more than a one night stand," Meanwell wrote.

She contends there were "several false 911 calls" made to get "emergency personnel" to go to her to apartment, and she wants a court order to help her determine who made those calls. Records show that EMS went to her apartment that day and left without taking any action. Police arrested her on the extortion charges soon after.

A hearing has been scheduled on her records request for July 18.

Her criminal trial is also pending. Meanwell, who's being held on $300,000 bail, has a record of stalking and harassment and has been ordered to stay away from Cashman and his family. Additional reporting by Jeane MacIntosh

Brian Cashman, Cashman, Louise Meanwell, Meanwell, Meanwell, Manhattan Supreme Court

Nypost.com

25 Haziran 2012 Pazartesi

Tejada returns to Mets at long last

For a change, the Mets have an abundance of shortstops.

Ruben Tejada, who was last seen on May 6, was activated from the disabled list and immediately put into the lineup for last night’s 6-5 loss to the Yankees.

Tejada — who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs — spent the last seven weeks recovering from a right quadriceps injury he sustained while running to first base. He joins Ronny Cedeno and Omar Quintanilla to give the Mets a full complement of shortstop options.

To make roster space, Jordany Valdespin was sent to Triple-A Buffalo, despite the fact he was hitting .346 (9-for-26) in his last six starts. Valdespin was the logical move because, according to a team source, general manager Sandy Alderson is reluctant to unload Quintanilla, who would have to pass through waivers to remain in the organization. And the Mets are convinced Quintanilla would get claimed.

Since both Tejada and Cedeno have just returned from leg injuries, the Mets want Quintanilla as an insurance policy.

Ike Davis blamed bad seafood for the case of food poisoning that scratched him from Saturday’s lineup. Manager Terry Collins wanted an additional right-handed bat in the lineup and opted for Justin Turner over Davis at first base. Davis lined out as a pinch-hitter for the last out of the game.

Andy Pettitte still hasn’t gotten over his Friday night start against the Mets, when he gave up five runs in the first inning.

“I thought I had mellowed a little since I’m older,” said Pettitte, who turned 40 earlier this month. “But I was asking people [Saturday], ‘Am I more competitive now than when I retired?’ I was embarrassed by that first inning.”

Pettitte is scheduled to start again Wednesday against the Indians.

Jason Bay said he will probably learn today if he will be cleared to begin physical activity. Bay has spent the last nine days resting after sustaining his second concussion in three seasons.

Jenrry Mejia has struggled with command at Triple-A Buffalo and isn’t a consideration yet to join the Mets’ bullpen, according to Collins. Mejia allowed three earned runs on three hits over one-third of an inning Saturday for Buffalo.

With Johnny Damon bringing a .202 average into The Bronx tonight with the Indians, GM Brian Cashman’s decision to sign Raul Ibanez to be the lefty DH — and part-time left fielder — look even better.

Ibanez added three hits last night after his three-run blast tied the game on Saturday.

He’s already convinced his teammates he belongs after coming over from the Phillies.

“The biggest thing I was curious about was ‘Why is Philly letting him go?’” Pettitte said. “I was wondering if his skills had diminished.”

The 39-year-old has proven that they haven’t.

His three-run homer off Chris Young on Saturday night tied the game and propelled the Yankees to victory. Five of his 11 homers this year have given the Yankees the lead- something Pettitte has noticed.

”You know there’s no panic in him,” Pettitte said. “He’s really focused, but he stays relaxed. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him stressed. And I think that helps him in those situations.”

Rafael Soriano continues to roll along, earning his 15th save of the season with a scoreless ninth.

“In the absence of [Mariano Rivera], you have a guy who is really experience in that situation,” Joe Girardi said. “It’s worked out really well.”

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Mets, Omar Quintanilla, Quintanilla, the Mets, Ronny Cedeno, Manager Terry Collins, Buffalo, Buffalo, Jordany Valdespin

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Granderson: Yanks have no special Dickey plan for series finale

There is no gameplan for facing R.A. Dickey, just hoping you get lucky.

The Yankees are set to face the red-hot Dickey on Sunday night in the Subway Series finale and Curtis Granderson admitted that there is really no way to plan for a knuckleballer like Dickey.

“All of the other knuckleballers I’ve faced its been very similar, you can’t go in there with any mindset or plan,” Granderson told The Post. “You just have to just hope to get lucky, that the wind isn’t too high and helping him too much and hopefully get him out of his rhythm.”

Granderson, the Yankees’ leader in home runs, is familiar with Dickey, but has not had much success against the league leader in virtually every pitching category. Granderson is 3-for-15 against Dickey with only two extra-base hits.

Getty Images for Delta

Curtis Granderson and David Wright at Friday's Delta Dugout event.

“I’ve faced him before, I’ve had success against him and he’s had success against me,” Granderson said at a Delta Dugout event at Grand Central Terminal. “Hopefully [I can] get some balls out in the middle of the plate that don’t dance too much and put them in play and put them in play hard.”

It’s also not as if anyone in baseball expected the Cy Young-caliber numbers that Dickey is putting up at 37 years old.

“Everybody always wants to tune in to see because you never know what’s going to happen,” Granderson said. “No one could have predicted that R.A. Dickey would throw back-to-back one-hit games and have the streak he’s been having.”

Dickey’s performance has been so overwhelming that he is drawing comparisons to arguably the best closer of all-time, Mariano Rivera.

“I’ve never seen somebody be so dominant with one pitch” Mets third baseman David Wright told The Post. “It’s obviously a much smaller sample size but it’s almost like Mariano Rivera and how dominant Mariano is with the cutter, R.A. Dickey is doing that with the knuckleball. Obviously there’s no comparing careers, but the example is using one pitch to dominate hitters.”

Dickey currently leads the majors in wins (11), ERA (2.00) and WHIP (0.89), in a season that was only as unpredictable as his knuckleball.

asulla-heffinger@nypost.com

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Curtis Granderson, Granderson, R.A. Dickey, R.A. Dickey, David Wright, Delta Dugout, DeltaCurtis Granderson, Dickey, Mariano Rivera, Grand Central Terminal

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23 Haziran 2012 Cumartesi

Calder Results

FIRST-6 fur; $16,000; clm($25,000); 3YO

3

Ultmt Chc (MntrryJr.)

3.40

2.20

2.10

6

Rum Intervention (Jara)

3.00

2.40

5

Alfie Come Home (Delgado)

2.60

* Exacta (3-6) $14.40 * Trifecta (3-6-5) $56.40

SECOND-1m&70yds; $16,000; alw; 3up(f)

3

Annie Roe (Leyva)

6.80

3.20

2.20

2

Wth Mms Blssng (Rdrgz)

3.60

2.40

5

Canaima (Jara)

2.10

Scr: Audrey, Oh So Sherri.

* Double (3-3) $15.80 * Exacta (3-2) $24.40 * Trifecta (3-2-5) $40.00

Winner picked by Vic C

THIRD-5 1/2 fur;$11,000; clm($10,000); 3up

5

Code Proof (Ferrr)

8.20

3.40

3.00

4

I Can and I Will (Silvera)

2.60

2.40

2

Portrature (Panici)

3.80

Scr: Mr. Foxy, Act of Defiance.

* Exacta (5-4) $20.00 * Trifecta (5-4-2) $66.80

FOURTH-6 fur; $10,500; clm($5,000); 3up

1

Wld Ally Ct (MntrryJr.)

7.40

4.60

3.40

6

Little Wise Guy (Soto)

14.20

5.00

2

Forward Observer (Cruz)

3.40

Scr: Put It Back Twenty, Morador Llers.

* Exacta (1-6) $134.20 * Trifecta (1-6-2) $403.40

FIFTH-1m&70yds; $11,000; clm($6,250); 3up

8

Kiowa (Gonzales)

10.60

6.40

4.20

7

Mdnght Scrmmge (Lopz)

9.20

4.40

3

Cool Carolina (Moreno)

4.60

Scr: Mi D' Ruler.

* Exacta (8-7) $88.20 * Trifecta (8-7-3) $634.00

Winner picked by Vic C

SIXTH-1 mile; $10,500; clm($12,500); 3YO

8

Mss Tern (Snchez)

16.20

8.60

5.00

2

Here's to Heaven (Santn)

28.80

9.60

6

Platinum Flipflops (Lopez)

2.40

* Exacta (8-2) $433.80 * Trifecta (8-2-6) $2,117.00

SEVENTH-1m(T); $17,000; cl($32,0); 3,4&5YO

6

Bombino (Leyva)

6.20

4.00

3.20

9

Stedfast Cat (Gallardo)

9.20

5.40

10

Mr. Knickerbocker (Panici)

4.20

Scr: Navy Seal Bruce, Shandar, Reflejo, Title Town.

* Exacta (6-9) $53.60 * Trifecta (6-9-10) $356.80

Winner picked by Vic C

EIGHTH-6 fur; $14,000; clm($16,000); 3up

8

Flsh My Angl (Nnz)

7.00

3.00

2.40

4

French Politics (Jara)

2.20

2.10

3

Casual Gab (Ferrer)

2.80

Scr: Romantic Juliet, Need You Tonight, Storm Da Chaser, Lucky Mandate, Sweet Bourbon, Four Belle.

* Exacta (8-4) $13.40 * Trifecta (8-4-3) $36.40

Winner picked by Vic C

NINTH-7 fur; $16,500; clm($25,000); 3up

7

Daddys Jewel (Jar)

4.80

3.40

3.00

6

High Player (Santana)

5.40

3.80

2

Jazzy Moves (Gonzales)

18.80

* Exacta (7-6) $24.00 * Trifecta (7-6-2) $509.20

Pick Three picked by Vic C

TENTH-5 fur(T); $29,000; alw; 3up

4

Silver Cloud (Jara)

15.20

5.60

3.40

3

Red Jag (Leyva)

3.40

2.60

7

Freewest (Garcia)

3.40

* Exacta (4-3) $51.20 * Trifecta (4-3-7) $166.60

ELEVENTH-1m&70yds; $10,500; cl($6,25); 3p

8

Carolteen (Panici)

85.60

36.20

14.20

3

Saratoga Blitz (Chamafi)

7.20

4.40

1

Rachel's Girl (Noguera)

5.80

* Double (4-8) $615.60 * Exacta (8-3) $353.80 * Trifecta (8-3-1) $5,578.00

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21 Haziran 2012 Perşembe

Through The Binocs

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to John Velazquez, who has returned home after being hospitalized in Louisville, Ky., with a broken right collarbone and bruised kidney suffered in an ugly spill Sat. night at Churchill Downs.

Velazquez will consult with doctors at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City regarding future treatment for the collarbone. The kidney is expected to heal on its own. No estimate yet on when he’ll return to the saddle, with opening day of the Saratoga meet — during which Velazquez will be inducted in the Racing Hall of Fame — just four weeks away.

Johnny V, who certainly hopes to be back in time to ride Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags in the Aug. 25 Travers, has won five riding titles at the Old Spa, including the last two summers, and is just 39 wins away from surpassing Jerry Bailey as the winningest rider of all-time at Saratoga.

Track was fast yesterday, turf firm on a sultry afternoon when the heat index soared past the 100 mark. The first and third races, with a total of just nine horses running, were worth combined purses of $150,000. By contrast, the average daily purses for all races (except stakes) at Churchill Downs for the spring-summer meet run about $340,000.

SIXTH RACE: Fitting that on a such a hot day, they scorched the inner turf course in this sprint. Elusive Story, 34-1 under Junior Alvarado subbing for Kent Desormeaux, gunned past 2-1 Strong Impact to sizzle the first quarter in :21.32, then Strong Impact, Javier Castellano up, came through inside to take command turning for home, the half in a blazing :43.79. Down the stretch, One Note Samba, favored at 8-5 in his first start since Nov. 30 for Eddie Kenneally, swung out to go after Strong Impact, the five furlongs run in a blistering :55.26. Pulling well clear of the rest of the field, those two dueled through the final furlong, with One Note Samba forging ahead in the final strides, the six furlongs run in a boiling 1:07.09, just 22/100ths of a second off the course record.

SEVENTH RACE: Bigger Is Bettor, 8-1, was racing in traffic turning for home when he clipped heels and stumbled badly, unseating Eddie Castro, who hit the ground hard but was lucky not to be clipped by the trailing horses. Castro bounced right back up and was cleared to ride by first aid.

EIGHTH RACE: Here’s a horse to watch in some of the long-distance grass stakes this summer like the Sword Dancer or Arlington Million. Going 1 1/4 miles over the inner turf, while 5-2 Change of Command shook loose on the lead under Javier Castellano, the Japanese-bred 4-year-old colt Barocci — making his second U.S. start for Christophe Clement after being Group stakes-placed last year in France — was trying to yank Julien Leparoux’s arms out of their sockets as he hugged the hedge down the backside, being forced to steady a couple of times. When they hit the stretch, Barocci came off the fence, collared Change of Command in the final furlong and went right on by.

NINTH RACE: Going a mile on the Widener course, 3-5 favorite Rangey, Alan Garcia up, pressed the pace set by 23-1 Vicariouslyutopian, took the lead on the far turn, then was confronted by 6-1 Sup A’ Fleet rallying to his outside turning for home. In a battle through the stretch, Rangey turned back that challenge. But he was no match for 7-1 Suspicious U, who split horses in mid-stretch under Corey Nakatani, then dived down inside and ran past Rangey in the late going.

PICK SIX

Winning numbers:

5-4-2-9-9-5

Winners paid $23,687

Cns. (5of6) paid $143.50

No carryover

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John Velazquez, Velazquez, Javier Castellano, Churchill Downs, Eddie Castro, the Hospital for Special Surgery, Racing Hall of Fame, Kent Desormeaux

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20 Haziran 2012 Çarşamba

Bevy of recruits in Empire Challenge shows Orange's hold on local talent

The two teams wore blue and red jerseys, but there was a shade of orange on both sides for Tuesday night's 17th annual Empire Challenge at Hofstra University.

The showcase, which pits New York City’s top seniors against their Long Island counterparts, featured five Syracuse signees, the latest example of the Orange’s stranglehold of the area’s top football recruits.

“Coach [Doug] Marrone is sticking to his word when he took over that he would win with New York kids,” Lincoln and NYC head coach Shawn O’Connor said before Long Island’s dominant 31-7 victory.

Denis Gostev

New York City's Alvin Cornelius of Tottenville was one of five players in the Empire Challenge headed to Syracuse.

Photos: Empire Challenge

Marrone, a Bronx product and Lehman HS graduate, with help from top city recruiter John Anselmo, has landed almost every top recruit from the five boroughs since taking over at Syracuse in 2008. This year was no different, as the Orange nabbed Tottenville wide receiver Alvin Cornelius and Erasmus Hall safety Wayne Morgan, the five borough’s lone BCS-level recruits. Cornelius scored the city’s lone touchdown, hauling in an 18-yard score from Lincoln’s Jessel Jones. UMass-bound running back Stacey Bedell of Floyd led Long Island with 135 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

“Syracuse is the face of New York for college football,” said the hard-hitting Morgan, who led E-Hall to the PSAL City Championship division finals in December and was an All-City first team selection by The Post. “They’re getting every top player. Hopefully the young guys keep the trend going.”

Last year’s team had 10 players from the city and the Orange is high on the list of top Class of 2013 recruits Ebenezer Ogundeko of Thomas Jefferson, Laray Smith of Xaverian and Augustus Edwards of Tottenville.

Syracuse was also successful recruiting on Long Island this year, getting kicker Ryan Norton of Garden City, offensive tackle Omari Palmer of Longwood and cornerback Devante McFarlane Half Hollows Hills West.

"They New York kids we are like an understatement [under recruited]," McFarlane, who sat out with a shoulder injury, said. "We just have a different type of ambition than other states because everyone looks down upon us."

The five kids going to Syracuse were the only BCS-level scholarship players in the contest, a clean sweep.

“That’s our goal, to keep the best talent in New York City and Long Island home,” Anselmo said.

O’Connor credits Anselmo and Marrone as understanding the city player as local products themselves. They try to target the best players early on, let them experience the process while remaining close with them.

“[Alselmo] connects with the players,” Morgan said. “He doesn’t just talk, he tells you the truth, not what you want to hear. That’s what I wanted.”

In past years, many top players from the city and Long Island haven’t played in the Empire Challenge to prevent possible injury or because summer classes have already begun. Syracuse, on the other hand, encourages its recruits to compete.

“It promotes the Syracuse name,” said Anselmo, a Long Island product who previous coached at elite JUCO Nassau Community College. “Other high school players see we’ve taken these kids, and if I’m one of the best players on Long Island or New York City, I want to follow these guys.”

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With Rangers, Showalter started Dickey on knuckleball path

The main reason Buck Showalter believed R.A. Dickey could transform into a knuckleballer in 2005 was his attitude. Dickey was self last. He was team first.

“Didn’t have an ego. Just wanted to be in a position where you could contribute to a team,” Showalter, the Rangers manager in 2005, said last night. “Everything about him was big league, except his stuff at that time as a conventional pitcher.”

Dickey is 100 percent big league now, and last night he absolutely flummoxed his former manager’s team. The Mets knuckleballer hurled his second straight complete-game one-hitter, continuing a run of dominance in the Mets’ 5-0 win over Showalter’s Orioles.

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Despite their history together, Showalter wasn’t exactly happy for Dickey last night. Asked how much appreciation he had for what his former pitcher did, Showalter scoffed.

“Not a whole lot,” he said. “This is a competitive situation.”

Not that competitive, really. Dickey struck out a career-high 13, allowed only three men to reach base and faced one batter above the minimum.

Dickey was a Ranger from 2001-06; Showalter managed Texas from 2003-06. Dickey credited Showalter and then-Rangers pitching coach Orel Hershiser with starting him on the knuckleball path, and Dickey raved about Showalter last night.

“He’s the one who gave me the opportunity to cultivate that pitch at the foundation levels, down in the minor leagues with the Texas Rangers,” Dickey said. “He believed I could do it. Now, it took awhile for me to get it, but he certainly gave me the canvas to be able to operate.

“He and Orel kind of pushed me in that direction and thankfully they did.”

Dickey, who pitched for Showalter for four seasons in Arlington, has stayed in touch with his former manager through texts.

“He’s always meant a lot to me,” Dickey said.

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19 Haziran 2012 Salı

Hossler may be Open darling, but big money won’t follow

SAN FRANCISCO — Beau Hossler didn’t win the U.S. Open. He didn’t even finish as the low amateur after shooting a 6-over par 76 in his final round yesterday to finish 9-over par for the tournament. Jordan Spieth of the University of Texas was the low amateur at 7-over-par.

A double-bogey at the par-4 18th ruined Hossler’s chances. It was a disappointing ending to a remarkable weekend for the 17-year-old high school junior from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.

He had entered the final round four shots off the lead and talked of winning the tournament. He had qualified for last year’s U.S. Open as a 16-year-old but missed the cut.

AFP/Getty Images

BEAU KNOWS GOLF: Amateur Beau Hossler hits his tee shot on the fourth tee during the final round of the U.S. Open. Hossler struggled to a 6-over 76 yesterday. The high school junior is already committed to the University of Texas.

“I made some crucial mistakes and missed some on the wrong side of the holes,” Hossler said. “But just like from last year, it’s only a learning experience and I still have some time before I come out and start doing this for a living.”

U.S. OPEN HOLE BY HOLE

Hossler verbally committed to Texas earlier this year and no matter how famous he becomes after his remarkable performance at the Olympic Club, the plan is for him to attend the University of Texas following his senior year and get his college degree.

Don’t be surprised if Hossler spends four years at Texas. Though he emerged as the darling of this year’s U.S. Open, it won’t guarantee instant riches.

“The money on speculation is not what it once was,” said Darren Rovell, CNBC’s sports business reporter. “If you’re not one of the top 10 golfers in the world, you’re not really doing well in endorsements. You might get a nice little payday up front and if you win a major, you get a bonus. But don’t think these guys are making a fortune.”

It’s doubtful any of the major manufacturers will offer Hossler a contract that will entice him to skip college. Those deals are a thing of the past.

“If this were 2003, there might be more pressure on him to turn pro,” Rovell said. “Someone might have been willing to give him $3 or $4 million in endorsements. But this is not that time.”

History also suggests there’s no guarantee of instant success on the PGA Tour. In 2001, Ty Tryon qualified for the PGA Tour at age 17 and signed a lucrative deal with Callaway. Now, he has just $146,788 in

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16 Haziran 2012 Cumartesi

How Politics Quashed a Revolution

[REBELS_4] Ahmed Jaddalah/Reuters

Egyptian presidential candidate Mohammed Morsi, above, of the Muslim Brotherhood waves Friday to a crowd in Cairo. Voting begins Saturday.

CAIRO—Early Friday, 16 months after ousting former President Hosni Mubarak from power, Egypt's young revolutionaries huddled with leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, once close allies, and pleaded for help to save the revolution.

A pair of Supreme Court rulings a day earlier had dissolved the Parliament—which had been filled this year through free elections—and returned legislative powers to the Egyptian military. The rulings came a day after the declaration of martial law, which those at the meeting agree had amounted to a military coup.

Race to Lead Egypt

Preliminary results placed Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood and independent candidate Ahmed Shafiq as the two candidates entering a June 16-17 runoff. Thirteen candidates were on the ballot.

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Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Morsi, right, and Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq.

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See events in Egypt's regime change.

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The revolutionaries urged the Brotherhood to withdraw their presidential candidate, Mohammed Morsi, from this weekend's election and instead join street protests, according to three people who attended the meeting at the Muslim Brotherhood's Cairo headquarters.

The Brotherhood representatives refused. "It's the end of our relationship, they've made catastrophic choices," said Rabab El-Mahdi, a Marxist political science professor and activist who had mediated between the Brotherhood and the revolutionaries.

Egypt's Arab Spring revolution, which toppled Mr. Mubarak in 18 days, has stalled in a quagmire of divide-and-conquer politics, leaving the country's revolutionaries splintered and disillusioned.

On Friday, there was little visible reaction to the court rulings. A small evening protest drew no more than a few hundred people.

The unity between Egypt's secular and Islamist forces drove the uprising. But growing rifts between the conservative, religious Brotherhood and the largely liberal, secular revolutionaries now appears one of the most damaging cracks in Egypt's revolution.

The Muslim Brotherhood had long preferred backroom deals with the regime over street protests. Egypt's secular opposition, meanwhile, grew suspicious of the Brotherhood's political ambitions and Islamist agenda.

The generals who have ruled Egypt since Mr. Mubarak relinquished power on Feb. 11, 2011, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, were initially dismissed as bumbling neophytes struggling for a grasp on national politics. They now appear as master tacticians who shrewdly derailed a movement that had seemed unstoppable.

Egypt's 2011 revolt had coalesced around a group of about 15 young political activists who represented a broad swath of political ideologies. Calling themselves the Revolutionary Youth Coalition, they were instrumental in plotting the demonstrations that unraveled the regime. Their ability to bridge deep political divides—uniting Islamists and secularists, in particular—led to the ouster of Mr. Murbarak who held power for 30 years.

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Mohammed Morsi was endorsed earlier this month by Ahmed Maher, above, the founder of the 6th of April opposition movement after secular revolutionary candidates lost in the primary vote.

The generals who took over Egypt hosted the young activists at the military's marbled intelligence headquarters in Cairo's leafy Heliopolis neighborhood two days after Mr. Mubarak stepped down.

"They said, 'You are our children, you are so very brave,'" recalled Ahmed Maher, a member of the Revolutionary Youth Coalition whose April 6 Movement was instrumental in organizing the protests.

"We were so stupid," said Shadi Ghazali Harb, another member of the coalition. "We thought, 'Oh swell, they're really good people, they'll help us.' "

Mssrs. Ghazali Harb and Maher and their fellow revolutionaries demanded sweeping democratic changes that reached Egypt's privileged military class.

"They smiled and told us, 'We'll discuss the details at our next meeting," said Mr. Maher. That never happened.

The unraveling of Egypt's revolution began soon after Mr. Mubarak quit, with the Muslim Brotherhood seeking greater accommodation with the new rulers.

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Before Vote, Egypt Opposition Hunkers Down

The military in February 2011 set up a committee of legal scholars to draft constitutional amendments—the pivotal first-step in shaping post-Mubarak Egypt. It was stacked with Brotherhood sympathizers, not revolutionaries.

"They knew how to play the game," Mr. Ghazali Harb said of the Brotherhood. "They were cutting deals, while we were banging our fists on the table."

The Muslim Brotherhood supported amendments that called for holding elections first. The victors would lead Egypt's democratic transition, including the drafting of a new constitution. The Brotherhood said the amendments, which also set term limits and reformed election laws, would provide the quickest exit from military rule.

The young revolutionaries were opposed. They wanted to draft a constitution first, arguing it was better to design the rules of Egypt's nascent democracy before getting bogged down in divisive electoral politics.

The rival campaigns on the proposed amendments turned into a religious struggle, opening the first rift in the revolution's Islamist-secular unity.

The Revolutionary Youth Coalition, which included members of both camps, urged their respective leaders to find common ground. The efforts failed. "This was the moment it all went wrong," said Mr. Ghazali Harb.

The amendments won 77% of the vote in the March 2011 referendum, setting up a tumultuous transition that left the military in complete charge.

At the end of July, Islamist parties flexed their new political muscle with a call for a demonstration dubbed "Sharia Friday." Egypt's revolutionaries scrambled to respond, knowing such a demonstration would tug further on the coalition's fraying unity.

Islamists and revolutionary leaders spent three days negotiating principles they could all support at a coming Friday demonstration in Cairo's Tahrir Square. They reached agreement and the revolution seemed back on track.

"It was the perfect moment," said Ms. Mahdi, "a huge achievement."

But hours before the demonstration, hard-line Salafi Islamists began adorning the square with the black-and-white flags of jihad and banners calling for the implementation of Islamic law. Ms. Mahdi made frantic calls to Brotherhood leaders, who told her there was little they could do.

Egypt's non-Islamist opposition pulled out of the demonstration. Instead of heralding the revolution's recaptured unity, the day was dubbed Kandahar Friday, a reference to the Taliban's Afghan stronghold.

As the Islamists grew more menacing, the secular revolutionaries began to splinter, with growing tensions between Islamist and Christian members.

Prominent revolutionaries, such as Google executive Wael Ghonim, disappeared from public view. Mr. Ghonim, whose account of his arrest by security forces during the revolution won the support of millions of Egyptians, has recently returned to politics but kept a low profile.

Fresh whiffs of old regime tactics appeared in the summer of 2011. New coalitions sprouted with military-friendly positions: the Revolutionary Youth Assembly, a Revolutionary Coalition of Youth, and the Revolutionary Youth Union, which is supporting presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq, an ex-Air Force Commander and Mr. Mubarak's last prime minister.

The April 6 movement, one of the most powerful grass roots activist movements within the coalition, suddenly splintered in June when a faction turned against the group's leadership.

Longtime opposition activists said the emergence of regime-friendly revolutionary parties and the splintering of influential opposition groups recalled Mubarak-era political tricks.

"Suddenly, the military started saying, 'You're not the only voice speaking for the revolution,' " said Mr. Maher.

In late July, the military started to go after the revolutionary leaders they once praised. They issued Decree #69, accusing the April 6 movement of sowing discord. State media branded movement leaders as foreign-funded agents. April 6 activist Asmaa Mahfouz was charged with assaulting a state employee. She was acquitted last month. Another coalition member, leftist labor activist Mustapha Shawqi was sentenced to two years in prison for joining in a Christian solidarity protest before Mr. Mubarak's ouster.

"Everyone thought the military were idiots. They weren't," said Josh Stacher, a professor at Kent State University in Ohio who spent 15 years in Egypt studying the Mubarak regime's ruling tactics. "The revolutionaries didn't understand how the system works and they miscalculated again and again."

In November, on the eve of parliamentary elections, the military-backed cabinet issued suggested principles for a new constitution. It included provisions that would guarantee secular governance, as well as protections of military privilege. The document infuriated the Muslim Brotherhood and split the secular opposition, drawing support from revolutionaries angry with the Islamists.

"If your goal is to splinter the opposition, you couldn't draft a more perfect document," said Mohammad al-Qassas, a former member of the Muslim Brotherhood and member of the Revolutionary Youth Coalition.

The Brothers, after refusing protests for months, returned to the streets for one day in November and were joined by young revolutionaries. But the Brothers went home that night. Security forces attacked the protesters who stayed.

Dozens died in the week of clashes that followed. The Brotherhood refused to come to the revolutionaries' defense or support their demands that the military relinquish its grip. Parliamentary elections were days away and the Brotherhood was poised to dominate the races.

"I screamed at them, 'Why are you selling us out and running to the military, don't you realize they will eat you alive in the end?'" Ms. Mahdi said.

The Brotherhood won control of Egypt's 508-seat Parliament in free elections that ended in January.

The two Revolutionary Youth Coalition members who won seats accused Brotherhood lawmakers of siding with the military against them. One, Basem Kamel, pushed a bill banning military trials for civilians and requiring independent prison monitors to prevent torture. The legislation was stalled by Brotherhood lawmakers, raising accusations they were burying bills to appease the ruling generals

In early February, days after Parliament was seated, the military next went after nongovernment organizations, arresting 43 senior NGO workers, including 16 Americans. The targeted NGOs gave legal support for activists, pushed voter education and provided more than 25,000 election monitors during the Parliament elections.

The Americans were allowed to leave the country, but the Egyptians' criminal trials are continuing. The arrests had a chilling effect and dried up funding, the groups said.

Egyptian NGOs have mustered just one-third of the vote monitors for this weekend's presidential elections that they employed in the Parliament elections. All but three international monitoring groups are staying out of the presidential vote.

As Egypt headed into presidential primary elections earlier this year, the Muslim Brotherhood rallied behind Mr. Morsi.

Egypt's revolutionaries were split between moderate Islamist Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh and opposition activist Hamdeen Sabahy. Both men had solid revolutionary credentials. The Revolutionary Youth Coalition preached unity but failed to persuade them to unite on one ticket.

Both candidates lost. Together, their vote totals would have given them an easy victory.

"They both thought they could win without the other," said Moaz Abdel Kareem, a member of the Revolutionary Youth Coalition and former member of the Muslim Brotherhood. "It was a bad decision."

Mssrs. Morsi and Shafiq, the two candidates least supportive of the revolution, made the presidential runoff, which begins Saturday.

The Revolutionary Youth Coalition kept trying.

On June 4, they attended a meeting of Mssrs. Morsi, Aboul Fotouh, and Sabahi at a five-star hotel along the Nile River in Cairo to broker a deal. They wanted Mr. Morsi to appoint non-Islamists to prominent government positions, as well as equal representation on the committee to draft the new constitution, in exchange for the support of Mssrs. Aboul Fotouh and Sabahi.

Mr. Morsi wasn't eager to compromise, according to several people who attended.

"He seemed confident that he could win without them," said Essam Shibl, a member of the centrist Islamist Wasat Party who mediated the meeting.

One activist, Nawara Nagm, stormed out in protest. "All of you just negotiate for days and then no one ever agrees in the end," she shouted as she left, according to those present.

The Brotherhood didn't offer the guarantees. Mr. Aboul Fotouh agreed to endorse him anyway. Mr. Sabahy refused.

Following the rulings by the high court this week, the Brotherhood's strategy of cooperation with the military seems failed.

Some Brotherhood leaders now acknowledge miscalculations.

Mohammed al-Baltagi, a leading Brotherhood lawmaker, called "the Brotherhood's preoccupation with politics as opposed to revolution…a strategic failure."

Egypt's revolutionaries made a last-ditch effort overnight. Four members of the Revolutionary Youth Coalition huddled with three senior Brotherhood leaders from 1 a.m. until 3 a.m. early Friday in Cairo. Pull out of the election and rejoin the secular revolutionary forces, they told the Brotherhood representatives.

But the Brothers said they were convinced Mr. Morsi would win the presidency. Their national polling showed Mr. Morsi with a two-to-one advantage over Mr. Shafiq, they told the revolutionaries, according to Mssrs. Abdel Hamid and Ghazali Harb, who were at the meeting.

If Mr. Shafiq won, they said, it could only be through fraud and they would then rally their forces, according to those present.

"I told them, 'Let's assume Morsi wins, what kind of power will he have?' The military has the keys to the whole process," said Mr. Abdel Hamid.

The revolutionaries argued: If you lose and mobilize after the vote, the regime will portray you as sore losers, and it won't work.

No deal was struck.

Write to Charles Levinson at charles.levinson@wsj.com and Matt Bradley at matt.bradley@dowjones.com
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15 Haziran 2012 Cuma

Sears ‘open’ to selling assets

Sears Holdings, the retailer controlled by Edward Lampert, is open to selling assets as it works to turn itself around, its chief executive said.

“If there are assets that make sense to be brought in to the portfolio, we are open to that discussion as well,” Lou D’Ambrosio said in a Bloomberg Television interview.

Sears posted first-quarter profit of $189 million last month after spinning off smaller format stores and selling some locations, and following a $3.1 billion loss last year. It also has announced plans to spin off part of its Canada business. The asset sales and declining revenue since Lampert merged Sears and Kmart in 2005 have prompted speculation that he’s in the process of breaking up or liquidating the company.

“If that is the case, nobody has shared that with me,” D’Ambrosio said. “We have an asset-rich portfolio. We are evaluating whether assets are more valuable inside or outside the portfolio.”

Sears fell 3.6 percent to $48.84.

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Morgan sees Wingate as personal honor, sign of respect for Erasmus

In Wayne Morgan’s eyes, he wasn’t the only person from Erasmus Hall being honored by winning the PSAL Wingate award.

“It means a lot for me and for my school also because my school never really got this much attention,” the dynamic quarterback/defensive back said Monday night at the Brooklyn Marriott during the league's awards dinner. “It’s a real honor.”

Named as the top PSAL senior in the sport shows just how far the program has come in Morgan’s tenure, he said. As a freshman, the Dutchman were the top seed in the Bowl Division playoffs, the second of three tiers in the PSAL. With each passing season, Morgan and his teammates raised Erasmus Hall’s profile and its standing as one of the league’s premier clubs. It ended with a trip to its first ever PSAL Championship Division city final this year at Yankee Stadium.

Denis Gostev

Wayne Morgan of Erasmus Hall won the football PSAL Wingate Award Monday night.

“He means the world to us,” Dutchman head coach Danny Landberg said of the Syracuse-bound star. “He’s the greatest competitor, probably the toughest kid I ever had.”

Landberg has known Morgan since he was in middle school, knew all long he has going to be a special player. Seeing him dominate as a sophomore and lead the team to the Championship division semifinals showed him just how dangerous he could be. Morgan, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound speedster, is the first nationally touted player to come out of the Brooklyn school.

“I take a lot of honor and pride in the school because when I came I heard a lot of negative [things] like, ‘not to go to that school. Erasmus is a bad school,’” Morgan said. “It means a lot to go to the school and turn it around and be one of the top teams in the city.”

Morgan, an All-City first team selection by The Post, had his finest season as a senior. Like his team, he saved his biggest performances for when they mattered most. He collected 45 tackles, one sack, one interception, two fumble recoveries, and scored two defensive touchdowns.

Morgan also completed 45 passes for 763 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 600 yards and six scores. He runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, is ranked in the top 150 in the country by ESPN and played in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl.

The next stage of his life at Syracuse is closing in for Morgan. He is itching to get started at the college level after playing in the 17th annual United Healthcare Empire Challenge all-star game at Hofstra June 19, which pits the best players from New York City against the finest from Long Island.

“I’ve just been waiting for this my whole life,” Morgan said. “My mother’s happy. That’s all I want to do it make my mother proud.”

He leaves behind teammates, a coach and a school that is plenty proud of him as well. Morgan scripted a legacy as the one of the best players Erasmus Hall and New York City has seen and after four years on the varsity leaves a big hole to fill for the Dutchman, both on and off the field.

“He means a lot to the program,” Landberg said. “He means a lot to me personally. It’s going to be weird seeing him not wear No. 2 for me anymore.”

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14 Haziran 2012 Perşembe

Mets to appeal scoring decision that cost Dickey no-hitter

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The sign in center field at Tropicana Field reads “City of St. Petersburg Welcomes You.” It will be amended today to include “Except you, R.A. Dickey.”

But the Mets knuckleballer isn’t too popular in any road ballparks these days. Last night he pitched a complete game one-hitter — but finally allowed a run — helping the Mets roll to a 9-1 victory over the Rays.

Dickey took a shutout to the ninth before a throwing error by David Wright and two passed balls by catcher Mike Nickeas helped the Rays score a run, ending Dickey’s scoreless streak at a franchise record 32 2/3 innings. Dickey eclipsed the mark set by Jerry Koosman, who pitched 31 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings for the Mets in 1973.

B.J. Upton’s infield single in the first inning accounted for the Rays’ only hit — Wright went for the bare-handed play on the slow grounder and missed.

Manager Terry Collins said the Mets intend to appeal the scoring decision with the commissioner’s office in hopes it will be changed to an error, but acknowledged it’s unlikely the call will be overturned.

“It was a game where I really didn’t have a regret,” said Dickey, who struck out a career-high 12 and did not walk a batter in becoming the first pitcher in the major leagues to reach 10 victories.

“I don’t think I would be credible if I said I didn’t think about pitching in the All-Star Game or a chance to be the best pitcher in the big leagues. Of course it creeps into my mind from time to time and it’s a motivator. I do want to be the best. But I don’t allow it to affect what I do or how I prepare.”

R.A. Dickey watches as third baseman David Wright misplays a B.J. Upton hit, the Rays' only hit in the game.R.A. Dickey threw a complete game one-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday, running his scoreless streak to 32 2/3 innings -- a new Mets record.

Tampa Bay Times/ZUMAPRESS.com

R.A. Dickey watches as third baseman David Wright misplays a B.J. Upton hit, the Rays' only hit in the game.

Dickey retired 22 straight batters after Upton’s single, before a Wright throwing error on Elliot Johnson’s grounder to open the ninth helped the Rays score an unearned run and end Dickey’s scoreless inning streak. Two passed balls by Nickeas sent Johnson to third before a Desmond Jennings grounder scored the run.

“We’re two plays from a perfect game,” Collins said. “I’ve seen a lot of things, but I have not seen a perfecto. But today I saw as close to that as I’ve seen in my 42 years. It was just truly amazing.”

Dickey (10-1, 2.20 ERA) said he probably would joke with Wright today about the play on Upton’s grounder in the first inning, but he isn’t holding out much hope for a scoring reversal.

Wright said it was a difficult play.

“I tried to make the play and I didn’t make it,” Wright said. “I don’t think I could have gotten him with the glove and I tried to bare-hand. It hit the lip and skipped on me and I didn’t make the play. If they want to go back and give me an error they can do that.”

Surprisingly, Dickey's masterpiece was the second-best pitching performance of the night. Following the completion of the Mets' game, San Francisco Giants hurler Matt Cain threw a perfect game, the 22nd in Major League history.

The Mets broke their game open in the sixth with four runs to take a 7-0 lead. Omar Quintanilla’s two-run single was the big hit after Ike Davis and Vinny Rottino had each delivered a run-scoring single.

Daniel Murphy’s two-run single in the fifth against David Price (8-4) had boosted the Mets’ lead to 3-0 after Nickeas snapped an 0-for-14 with an RBI single.

R.A. Dickey watches as third baseman David Wright misplays a B.J. Upton hit, the Rays' only hit in the game.R.A. Dickey threw a complete game one-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday, running his scoreless streak to 32 2/3 innings -- a new Mets record.

J. Meric/Getty Images

R.A. Dickey threw a complete game one-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday, running his scoreless streak to 32 2/3 innings -- a new Mets record.

Dickey strengthened in the middle innings — he needed just nine pitches in each of the fifth and sixth innings to retire the Rays after striking out the side in the fourth.

Wright is among the Mets players in awe of Dickey’s recent run, which includes 58 strikeouts and four walks over his last six starts.

“He’s at a different level right now,” Wright said. “It just seems like each outing he’s getting better and better and it’s fun to be a part of.”

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13 Haziran 2012 Çarşamba

A-Rod and Swish go from hated to heroes

Alex Rodriguez and Nick Swisher are two of the most unpopular players in baseball according to their peers. And after they both homered in the Yankees’ eighth-inning outburst of their 6-4 win in Atlanta last night, that opinion likely won’t change.

In a survey of 100 anonymous players conducted by Men’s Journal for its July edition, Rodriguez and Swisher were ranked behind only the White Sox’ A.J. Pierzynski as “the most hated player in baseball” category, while Joba Chamberlain was voted “most overrated.”

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The relief pitcher is coming back from last year’s elbow surgery, as well as a dislocated right ankle suffered during a trampoline mishap in spring training, but hasn’t won over his contemporaries.

AP

Nick Swisher

“If Joba didn’t play in New York, no one would know him,” said a starting pitcher, according to the magazine.

As for Swisher, another AL player said, “Everything about him is annoying, from his mannerisms to his always wanting to ‘bro’ it down… Being around him is just exhausting.”

But it wasn’t a total loss for the Yankees. In addition to being the team most players wanted to play for — besides their own — Derek Jeter trailed only the Angels’ Albert Pujols as the “player you would most want to have on your team.”

Boston manager Bobby Valentine received the second-most votes as the least respected manager, second to Miami’s Ozzie Guillen.

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Czech Republic rebounds with win over Greece

WROCLAW, Poland -- Petr Jiracek and Vaclav Pilar scored in the first six minutes to give the Czech Republic a 2-1 win over Greece on Tuesday at the European Championship.

Jiracek shot the ball past Greece goalkeeper Costas Chalkias in the third minute after a pass from Tomas Hubschmann sliced through the Greek defense. Three minutes later, Pilar scored his second goal of the tournament, beating Greek defenders to a ball sent across the goal by Czech Republic defender Theodor Gebre Selassie.

Substitute Fanis Gekas pulled one back for Greece in 53rd minute with a tap in after Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech spilled the ball and bumped into defender Tomas Sivok.

The Greeks, who played the Group A match without two key central defenders, nearly scored another in the 41st, but the header from Giorgos Fotakis was called back for offside.

The Greeks recovered well after their disastrous start, but lost another player when Chalkias limped off the field in the 23rd minute. He was replaced by Michalis Sifakis.

Despite the defensive problems, Greece coach Fernando Santos stuck with his attacking lineup of three forwards. The strategy helped the Greeks dominate the second half.

Czech Republic captain Tomas Rosicky came off with a foot injury in the second half.

The Czech fans booed coach Michal Bilek at the start of the match, but the team rebounded from its opening 4-1 loss to Russia in Group A. The Czechs also avenged their semifinal loss to Greece at Euro 2004.

Czech Republic, the European Championship.Jiracek, Vaclav Pilar, Costas Chalkias, Petr Jiracek, Tomas Hubschmann, WROCLAW, Poland, Petr Cech, Theodor Gebre, Tomas Rosicky, Greece coach Fernando Santos, Giorgos Fotakis

Nypost.com

11 Haziran 2012 Pazartesi

Pacquiao promoter rips decision for Bradley

LAS VEGAS -- Moments after Tim Bradley was awarded a controversial split decision over Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night at the MGM Grand, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum went into a tirade, ripping the two judges who scored the fight for Bradley and threatening to keep the rematch out of Nevada.

“What we saw tonight was ridiculous. That’s the only word to describe it: ridiculous,” Arum said. “We’re not morons, all of us. The outcry world wide about this decision will not be good for boxing.”

Bradley (29-0, 12 KOs) handed Pacquiao (54-4-2, 38 KOs) his first loss in seven years and claimed the WBO welterweight championship when he was awarded a split decision that stunned a packed crowd. All three judges scored the bout 115-113. Jerry Roth had it for Pacquiao, while Cynthia J. Ross and Duane Ford gave Bradley the nod. All are veteran judges from Nevada with multiple championship fights to their credit.

Boos filled the arena when the decision was announced and Arum didn’t hold back his displeasure even though he promotes both fighters.

“I think it’s incomprehensible,” Arum said, adding he would offer to take the judges to see his eye specialist. “I have the best eye doctor in the world and if they would get on a plane and go to Los Angeles, I would pay for them to have a visit.”

The Post scored the fight 116-112 for Pacquiao, who according to CompuBox landed 253 punches to 159 for Bradley, including 190 power punches to 108 for Bradley.

“I thought we won the fight,” said Pacquiao’s Hall of Fame trainer, Freddie Roach. “I thought he fought a very good fight. I thought it was one of his best fights since the [Miguel] Cotto fight. Bradley was very tough and very durable, but I thought we clearly won the fight.”

Pacquiao said he respected the decision, “but 100 percent I believe I won the fight.”

A replay of the bout will be shown on HBO on Saturday at 10 p.m. EDT before the live telecast of the middleweight championship between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Andy Lee from El Paso, Texas.

A rematch had been negotiated as part of their original deal, with the date set for Nov. 10. Bradley went so far as to display an oversized ticket made up for the rematch, during the press conference on Wednesday. The outcome has left some wondering whether everything was on the up-and-up.

“Something wasn’t right,” Roach said, “because what everyone else saw and what [the judges] saw were two different things.”

What shouldn’t be lost is a gutsy performance by Bradley. He fractured the top of his left foot in the second round, also sprained his right ankle, and needed a wheelchair to attend his post-fight press conference. Despite the pain, he was able to withstand the hard flurries of Pacquiao and steal the fight because the two judges that favored him scored the last three rounds for Bradley.

“He hit me with some big shots early on,” Bradley said, “but I persevered and went through the pain and used my boxing ability towards the end to clear some rounds, maybe the last five rounds, to get the victory.”

Bradley didn’t apologize for winning the split decision.

“There were three judges out there and two felt I won that fight,” Bradley said. “What do you want me to do? That’s all I can say on that. But we definitely have to do it again.”

Boxing has had its share of controversial decisions in recent months. Three judges were suspended in New Jersey after Paul Williams was given a majority decision over Erislandy Lara last July. There were plenty of people who thought Pacquiao didn’t deserve the majority decision he earned over Juan Manuel Marquez last November.

Pacquiao is already looking forward to the rematch, saying he’ll become “a warrior” in his training.

“I don’t want the rematch to last all 12 rounds,” he said.

george.willis@nypost.com

Manny Pacquiao, Pacquiao, Pacquiao, Tim Bradley, Bradley, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, split decision, Cynthia J. Ross, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Nypost.com

10 Haziran 2012 Pazar

Calder Analysis

Post Time: 12:55 p.m.

FIRST-5 fur; $10,500; clm($12,500); 3YO

FIRE FALLS adds blinkers and cuts back in distance after finishing fourth at this level. ROLFSIE adds blinkers after finishing fourth when making career debut. STEEL HAMMER cuts back in distance and drops in class after tiring in most recent.

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Odds

1 Tinitus(M),122

LPanici

x-x-x

5-2

2 Rolfsie(L),122

M Cruz

4-x-x

4-1

3 ImageofAlydarL122

J Kenny

6-7-6

20-1

4 Avaday(L),117

JAlvarz

6-2-4

6-1

5 SteelHammer(L122

J Lopez

7-8-8

8-1

6 Bishop'sLodgeL115

JGonzls

5-5-8

5-1

7 StraightsuccssL122

MNogr

9-7-8

20-1

8 SaturdayDialgM122

COliver

x-x-x

6-1

9 Fire Falls(L),122

ENunez

4-3-6

6-1

SECOND-6 fur; $11,000; clm($6,250); 3up

CHARMED AFFAIR stretches out after finishing third in the slop this level in career debut. WOODLAND chased the pace and tired in starter allowance while making seasonal debut. FREX drew the rail after tiring in the slop in career debut.

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Odds

1 Frex(L),123

J Lopez

6-1-3

6-1

2 JerrytheMush(L123

JCaldrn

5-5-6

8-1

3 Varitek(L),123

ENunez

3-5-9

10-1

4 LittleWiseGuy(L123

DGomz

7-4-3

6-1

5 PhilourpocketsL123

L Saez

8-3-5

5-1

6 CharmedAffairL123

J Leyva

3-4-1

4-1

7 Magestic Bill(L),123

RSilver

6-10-5

15-1

8 YouEsOhClub(L)116

HSnchz

8-11-1

8-1

9 Woodland(L),123

AGallrd

5-4-3

3-1

THIRD-1 1/8m(T); $15,000; clm($16,0); 3up

MY ESTELLE drops in class for local return after finishing fourth at Tampa Bay in last two starts. A LITTLE OFF drew the rail after defeating optional claimers going shorter. GATORS TRACKS closed to finish second in most recent.

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Odds

1 A Little Off(L),123

J Ferrer

1-5-6

5-1

2 AcademiciennL120

JDelgd

5-4-5

4-1

3 Aqua Jean(L),120

ENunez

4-6-1

12-1

4 Coffee Run(L),120

LPanici

6-7-8

6-1

5 Special Jak(L),120

COliver

6-5-5

20-1

6 Gator'sTracks(L120

L Saez

2-6-5

6-1

7 Miss Muffin(L),120

J Leyva

3-8-9

6-1

8 Destiny Joy(L),120

MLopz

3-5-1

8-1

9 My Estelle(L),120

AGnzlz

4-4-3

3-1

FOURTH-7 fur; $10,500; cl($12,50); 3,4&5YO

CHOCOLATE RATE cuts back in distance after finishing fourth in the slop in first start for new barn. WIKI WIKI pressed the pace and finished second at this distance for new barn. AMIE LYNN cuts back in distance and drops in class for new barn.

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Odds

2 GibsonsLilGracL123

JDelgd

4-4-2

8-1

3 FandangoStpsL123

J Kenny

10-7-5

12-1

4 ChocolateRateL116

JGonzls

4-10-4

7-2

5 FlatterMissVckL123

AGnzlz

6-4-3

15-1

6 Indian Legs(L),118

DGomz

4-3-5

12-1

7 She WasFree(L),118

JRiverII

8-5-x

15-1

1 a-Amie Lynn(L),118

PMntrJ

6-3-10

5-1

8 LittlebitcrankyL118

JGarcia

5-8-6

10-1

9 StarsprklngskyL118

G Bain

7-2-3

20-1

10 RomanScore(L),111

HSnchz

3-2-5

8-1

11 PlatinmFlpflpsL118

JSantn

3-3-7

6-1

12 Wiki Wiki(L),118

MLopz

2-6-6

6-1

13 CommndPrfctnL116

JGonzls

6-8-x

12-1

1 a-Body Heat(L),113

JVillegs

6-4-7

5-1

Next >

1

2
Nypost.com

James’ clutch fourth leads Heat into finals

MIAMI — As usual, the entire NBA world, after being stunned by the brilliance LeBron James forged in Game 6, demanded he do it again to validate his oft-criticized superstar stature. When the game went bad early for the Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals against Boston last night, the same old “told ya” cries went out.

Then the fourth quarter arrived.

“[James] in particular played an extremely smart, aggressive game,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “He kind of let the game come to him and then down the stretch he took the game over and that’s what great players do.”

GET OUT OF MY WAY! LeBron James — who scored 31 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter — shoots over the Celtics’ Paul Pierce during the Heat’s 101-88 Game 7 victory over the Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.

Reuters

GET OUT OF MY WAY! LeBron James — who scored 31 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter — shoots over the Celtics’ Paul Pierce during the Heat’s 101-88 Game 7 victory over the Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.

James, who played all but the final 28.3 seconds, attacked and scored, he attacked and passed. And when he didn’t attack the rim, he offered up moments like a back-breaking 3-pointer from somewhere outside of Coral Gables. Oh, there was plenty of help for The King in a true Miami team effort, but he was front and center when it matter most, scoring 11 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter, propelling the Heat back into the NBA Finals through a 101-88 win over the Celtics at frenzied AmericanAirlines Arena.

“He’s amazing,” said teammate Dwyane Wade (23 points). “He’s the leader of this team and we just follow him.”

So Miami, rallying for wins in Game 6 and 7, will follow James back to the finals against the Western Conference champion Thunder starting Tuesday in Oklahoma City. The Heat will look to avenge their finals failure against Dallas last season when the title round ended in six games on Miami’s home court.

So it wasn’t a 45-point detonation again — just 31 — but James was, as Bosh said, “the best basketball player in the world.”

“For me as a competitor, I just try to do whatever it takes to help my team win,” James said.

And that night it was scoring, driving, kicking, rebounding (12 boards). You know, being LeBron.

Predictably, when it mattered most, James was at his best. The third quarter ended in a tie after the Heat erased Boston’s first half advantage. That’s when James knew.

“We were saying, ‘it’s time,’” James said. “It’s time. Let’s play our fourth quarter defense.”

The Heat arranged the finals trip through the last 7:59 when they were brilliant at both ends. Trailing by one, the Heat jumped ahead for good when James soared and dunked. After a Boston turnover, James found Bosh (19 points) for a right corner 3-pointer, his third of the night in four attempts — Bosh had been 2-of-4 on treys in eight previous playoff games.

Miami got a stop and James scored a runner. After Brandon Bass (16 points) temporarily halted the carnage for Boston, James tripled from 30 feet.

“LeBron takes a shot from halfcourt it felt like,” Rivers said. “That was a back-breaker for us.”

“He played incredible,” Bosh said. “I don’t think there’s anybody out there performing as best as he is right now.”

It was 91-84 Miami and it only would get worse for the Celtics who received a triple double from Rajon Rondo (22 points, 14 assists, 10 rebounds) and 19 points from Paul Pierce, but they managed just six points after Ray Allen (15 points) tripled at 8:49 for an 82-81 lead. The Heat closed the game on a 20-6 run. Boston, which led by as many as 11 points in the first half but looked totally gassed late, missed 10 of its last 13 shots and tossed in two turnovers as well.

After a terrific half where they forced Miami into 10 turnovers and withstood foul trouble on Kevin Garnett (14 points), the Celtics saw the wheels come off early in the third quarter as the Heat tied and the knot stood at quarter’s end. Shane Battier (12 points) nailed his third and fourth 3-pointers two minutes apart along the way.

And then James ruled the fourth.

fred.kerber@nypost.com

LeBron James, James, the Heat, the Heat, the Heat, Celtics, Celtics, Boston, Boston, Eastern Conference, Paul Pierce, Miami

Nypost.com

9 Haziran 2012 Cumartesi

Heat’s on LeBron to rule Game 7

MIAMI — LeBron James forged one of those games.

He popped eyes, he dropped jaws, he carried teammates, he sank Celtics. When his Game 6 Rembrandt handiwork was done, he was mentioned with the likes of Wilt, Michael, Larry, Magic and Kobe — the first-name only superstars among superstars.

But that 45-point, 15-rebound tour de force was Game 6. Tonight is Game 7, Heat against Celtics. So go prove yourself again, hotshot.

James’ brilliance likely would soon be forgotten in critical circles should he fail to deliver the Heat into the Finals against the Thunder.

BEST OF ONE: After LeBron James’ Game 6 masterpiece evened the series, the Heat need just one more win over the Celtics to return to the finals.

Reuters

BEST OF ONE: After LeBron James’ Game 6 masterpiece evened the series, the Heat need just one more win over the Celtics to return to the finals.

“I take every game as its own,” James said. “I will continue to be aggressive. I will continue to play at a high level.”

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said, “Definitely in basketball, I have never seen an athlete under the scrutiny that LeBron James is under.

“I don’t know what else he can do. He does the right things. When he makes the right pass and a guy misses a shot, he’s criticized. When he forces a shot in a double team, he’s criticized. It’s just the way it is for him for whatever reason.”

Rivers also noted the magnificence of James’ Game 6 could be dinged by Game 7’s result.

“Obviously, if they win then that Game 6 you’ll remember,” Rivers said. “If we win, the Game 6 will be just another great game.”

James and friends, having escaped elimination Thursday, regained home court and now look to apply the hammer. And the Celtics will be doing everything possible to sidestep that shot to the noggin. They know their best chance was to avoid the trip back here, but they didn’t.

Paul Pierce (9), Kevin Garnett (12) and Ray Allen (10) combining for 31 points — or 14 fewer than LeBron — sort of ensured the trip back.

“They won one game,” said Rajon Rondo, who recalled how the Celtics won Game 5 in Miami. “We have done it before.”

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra again declined to reveal if Chris Bosh will start or not. Bosh played 28 minutes off the bench in Game 6 and changed the game with his length. Spoelstra did not tip his hand, but uttered what must be the battle cry for both sides.

“By any means necessary,” Spoelstra said.

The Celtics looked their age Thursday, but James can make anybody look like senior oatmeal eaters. People around the Heat insisted they never saw him better. Basically, they just fell in line — and hope to do the same again.

“The best I’ve seen, one of the best this league has ever seen,” Bosh raved.

Rivers paid homage to James, but insisted the Celtics did not match his 19-of-26 shooting strength with equal defensive force. But nothing will change drastically — “We do what we do,” Rivers said, “defensively for the most part we have to do it better.” — and everything must be unleashed at the start, maintained to the end.

“Nothing’s been easy up to this point,” Garnett said. “Can’t expect it now. We’re going to take these cards and play them. Lot of confident guys here, lot of guys who have been through Game 7s, lot of experienced guys. We’re going to lean on that and we’re going to fight.”

James, averaging 34.0 points and shooting 54.2 percent in this series, only has faced two Game 7s in his career, losing both on the road. It was noted Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant were a combined 14-1 in their home Game 7s.

“For me, this game is all about team,” James said. “I’m looking forward to Game 7.”

fred.kerber@nypost.com

LeBron James, Celtics, the Heat, Doc Rivers, Heat, Chris Bosh, Erik Spoelstra

Nypost.com

No drought about it -- fans want to see Triple Crown

headshotMike Vaccaro
Follow Mike on Twitter

This is a shared drought, a shared jinx, a shared curse, a shared dry spell. This is a losing streak we can all be miserable about. Face it: In New York, for every three dog-eyed Jets fan still lamenting 43 years and counting, there are five Giants fans who can probably make it through every day of the month wearing a different item -- hat, jersey, sweatpants, jacket -- reminding the world of who the defending Super Bowl champion is. For every Mets fan still licking their wounds from the collapses of 2006, ¹07 and ¹08, who wonder if the ball trickling through Bill Buckner¹s legs was worth the 26 years that have followed, there are Yankees fans who will gladly remind you in an instant, in case you¹ve forgotten, that the Yankees have won more championships than any team in any sport in the world.

But the Belmont?

We all share in the Belmont, and most of the hundred thousand of us who will dutifully make the trek to Long Island on Saturday will do so with the same thought in mind: We want to see I'll Have Another cross the finish line before anyone else. Can be by a nose, by a neck, by a head. It can be by a length or by 10 lengths, it can be Mario Gutierrez channeling Ron Turcotte atop Secretariat 39 years ago, craning his neck just to see how far back the rest of the field is.

Or it can be by the length of a whisker.

BELMONT STAKES BETTOR'S GUIDE

OK, technically, it will not be a unanimous crowd in Elmont. There will be bettors who will believe that the mile and a half will be too much for I¹ll Have Another and who will plunk down a sawbuck or two on Union Rags or Dullahan, on Paynter or Street Life, and maybe a few dreamers will throw a few bucks behind Five Sixteen or Ravelo¹s Boy, a couple of 50-1 shots, figuring what the hell?

But that would happen anyway, even if I¹ll Have Another hadn¹t eked out the Derby and squeezed out the Preakness, even if he wouldn¹t be giving the sport¹s raft of casual fans a reason to fight the weekend traffic and try to be a part of history. So instead of 50,000 people cramming the old barn, there will be twice that, as there is in those years when we have a chance to mark history in Nassau County.

A hundred thousand of us, looking to end a shared drought.

Three was no way we could have known that when Steve Cauthen and Affirmed were done holding off Alydar and the world for the third time in six weeks back in June of 1978 that they would dash off in a flamingo-pink blur into history and take the Triple Crown with them. Maybe we can blame Reggie Jackson. It was Jackson, after all, assessing the huge lead the Red Sox had on the Yankees that same summer, who decided to pay tribute to the Sox, busily building a 14-game lead.

³Not even Affirmed can catch them,² Jackson said. Only the Yankees did catch them, and pass them, and then win by a nose at Fenway Park that October. The next year, Spectacular Bid came to the Belmont fixing to be crowned as Affirmed and Seattle Slew had the previous two Junes ‹ ready to win a fourth Crown in six years ‹ and finished third,behind Coastal and Golden Act.

And that, Your Honor, was that. And across these last 32 years, we have attached our rooting interest to a rich tapestry of losers, to wonderful horses who turned out not to be quite so wonderful when asked to test themselves at a mile and a half, to Pleasant Colony and Alysheba and Sunday Silence, to Silver Charm and Real Quiet and Charismatic, to War Emblem and Big Brown.

There have been three horses who have really captured our imaginations in recent years. In 2003, Funny Cide had just about everything going for him: He was a New York horse so he had the masses on his side; he was a gelding so he had sympathy on his side; and he wrote a column for The Post, so he had the angels on his side. Wasn¹t enough. Smarty Jones was the people¹s cherce the next year. He was caught and passed. And mighty Barbaro, in 2006, would probably have broken every attendance and betting record in sight, but he was hurt in the Preakness. Now we have another hopeful in I¹ll Have Another, and there will be

100,000 people out there tomorrow, looking to see if he can channel Namath, Messier, or Eli. Thirty-four years is long enough. Everybody says so.

michael.vaccaro@nypost.com

Yankees, the Yankees, Mike VaccaroFollow Mike, New York, Ron Turcotte, Belmont

Nypost.com

8 Haziran 2012 Cuma

Monticello Results

FIRST-mile; pace; $2000; cond

2

SongfthSuth(JMrhnJr)

3.40

2.30

2.10

6

Savvy Hawk (M Forte)

10.20

5.30

5

Flanagan Storm (J Devaux)

3.30

* Perfecta (2-6) $81.00 * Trifecta (2-6-5) $424.00

Winner picked by Little

SECOND-mile; trot; $2700; cond

3

MyBuddyChm(JGlmr)

4.50

2.70

2.10

1

Toe Socks (W Parker Jr)

3.30

2.50

8

Swing And A Hit (S Bouchard)

2.50

* Perfecta (3-1) $8.40 * Trifecta (3-1-8) $34.80 * Double (2-3) $13.60

THIRD-mile; pace; $4000; cl($2300)

5

Mr Socks (G Merton)

2.70

2.10

out

3

JunesSunnyBoy(KDIBndtto)

4.90

out

2

Keystone Endurance (W ParkerJr)

out

Scr: Badlands and Art.

* Perfecta (5-3) $8.90 * Trifecta (5-3-2) $26.00

Winner picked by Little

FOURTH-mile; trot; $2700; cond

5

HllsASzzln(WPrkerJr)

4.40

2.30

2.10

4

NaughtyGirl(KDIBenedetto)

4.50

2.30

3

Excellent Vacation (R Krikorian)

2.10

* Perfecta (5-4) $18.40 * Trifecta (5-4-3) $39.80

FIFTH-mile; pace; $2800; cond

3

TmpttonQun(GMrton)

3.60

2.70

2.20

7

Matts Delivery (C Stratton)

11.60

8.70

4

High Street (J Marohn)

4.10

* Perfecta (3-7) $44.40 * Trifecta (3-7-4) $174.50

Winner picked by Little

SIXTH-mile; trot; $2000; cond

4

Marquee T(MMerton)

5.40

3.70

3.10

8

JcksonLeebrook(WPrkerJr)

15.40

7.10

7

Pine Ranger (J Marohn Jr)

10.00

* Perfecta (4-8) $50.50 * Trifecta (4-8-7) $410.00 * Double (3-4) $7.80

Double picked by Little

SEVENTH-mile; pace; $3400; cond

7

Now ItBegins(MForte)

6.30

4.40

4.70

6

Working Stiffs (M Merton)

5.10

2.90

2

Backwoods Boy (C Stratton)

7.20

* Perfecta (7-6) $31.40 * Trifecta (7-6-2) $364.00

EIGHTH-mile; pace; $2700; cond

1

SeeYouSmle(GMrton)

2.30

2.10

out

4

Bay Street (M Merton)

4.30

out

8

Briars Return (J Marohn Jr)

out

* Perfecta (1-4) $9.30 * Trifecta (1-4-8) $48.00

Winner picked by Little

NINTH-mile; trot; $2700; cond

5

ScrtEnrgy(CWshngtn)

14.80

3.40

2.50

1

CostnerBlueChp(WPrkerJr)

2.20

2.10

7

Lady Is A Winner (J Marohn Jr)

2.30

* Perfecta (5-1) $26.80 * Trifecta (5-1-7) $96.50 * Double (1-5) $21.20

TENTH-mile; trot; $3400;cond

5

Bet I Win It (JDevaux)

67.50

19.60

10.80

6

Edom Up Blue Boy (R Vinci)

3.70

4.70

7

Miss Marla (W Parker Jr)

14.60

* Perfecta (5-6) $565.00 * Trifecta (5-6-7) $6,192.00

ELEVENTH-mile; pace; $2000; cond

6

ThPwrfwlth(KDIBndtt)

6.20

4.30

2.20

8

Tree Light (W Parker Jr)

12.40

4.90

5

Roan Shark (M Merton)

2.50

* Perfecta (6-8) $77.50 * Trifecta (6-8-5) $174.00

Winner picked by Little

TWELFTH-mile; pace; $2700; cond

6

SthwndIrvn(WPrkrJr)

6.20

2.50

2.40

1

Arts Day (G Merton)

2.10

2.10

5

Badlands Josh (M Merton)

7.50

* Perfecta (6-1) $8.10 * Trifecta (6-1-5) $51.00

Winner picked by Little

THIRTEENTH-mile; pace; $3400; cond

5

Election Day (MForte)

6.60

2.90

2.80

6

Wink and Nod (W ParkerJr)

3.40

2.60

4

Diablo (G Annaloro)

7.30

* Perfecta (5-6) $24.60 * Trifecta (5-6-4) $298.50

HANDLE $527,348.

W Parker Jr, W Parker Jr, Trifecta, G Merton, J Marohn Jr, J Marohn online, M Merton

Nypost.com

7 Haziran 2012 Perşembe

Devils topple Kings; stay alive for Game 5

LOS ANGELES -- The Devils can do more than dream now.

They ‘Can Do.’ And did.

They live, thanks to more Adam Henrique heroics. The Devils’ ultra-clutch rookie, with two series-winning overtime goals already in his bag, scored the tie-breaking winner with 4:29 left in their 3-1 do-or-die victory in Game 4 over the Kings Wednesday night.

They’re coming home to New Jersey, and if they shatter the Kings’ record road perfection Saturday in Newark, they would turn the Stanley Cup finals on its ear.

Henrique also was bold enough to say: Yes, We Can.

“We know we can do it. We know we can put four together and come back,” said Henrique, the finalist Calder Trophy for the league’s top rookie.

YES! Adam Henrique celebrates after beating Jonathan Quick for the go-ahead goal in the Devils’ 3-1 victory over the Kings in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals last night.

AP

YES! Adam Henrique celebrates after beating Jonathan Quick for the go-ahead goal in the Devils’ 3-1 victory over the Kings in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals last night.

Martin Brodeur, still alive in the race for his first Conn Smythe Trophy at age 40, said the Devils wanted to rain on the Kings’ parade plans, and make them disappointed tourists bound for Newark again.

“We wanted to make them jump on a plane and come to New Jersey. We had to go anyway, so we might as well get a game over there,” Brodeur said. “It’s a tough situation for us to be in, and we pulled it off, one game.

“I’m sure they’re not happy to make that trip. We’ll try to make it miserable for them again.We’ll play them well and play them hard and see what results end up.”

The first order of business was to avoid becoming the first Devils team ever swept. Now their 9-1 record in Games 4-7 of these playoffs could be reason for the Kings to sweat as it collides Saturday with L.A.’s 10-0 road mark. Should the Devils end that road perfection, they would come back here where the Kings are only 5-3. The Devils stand 7-5 away from Newark. Jersey lost the opening pair in Newark.

“We’ve got to win a home game,” Devils coach Pete DeBoer said. “We’re a good home team in front of our crowd. I’m confident that we’ll be ready to play and we’ll get the job done.”

Brodeur said the victory increased the Devils’ belief they can pull off the first 0-3 comeback in the finals since the 1942 Leafs 70 years ago. After all, they have won from the same 1-3 hole (2000 Flyers) they occupy today.

“More [belief] than yesterday,” Brodeur said. “We’re definitely looking forward to the next game and some of the momentum.

“We finally were able to score some goals on [Jonathan] Quick. Not many, but enough to win. That’s going to a good thing for the boys coming home, that we’re usually a little better offensively on home ice.”

They will try to convince the Kings that they are taking aim at a fourth, and biggest comeback victim. They can point to triumphs from 2-3, 0-1 and 1-2 holes in their previous rounds this spring.

Brodeur did his finest work 4:17 into the third, when Gagne took off 2-on-1 with Bryce Salvador’s errant point pass. Gagne sent in Trevor Lewis, and Brodeur reached out to poke the puck, sending Lewis’ chip wide.

The Devils’ drought ended at 138:17 when Patrik Elias rebounded Bryce Salvador’s left point shot at 7:56 of the third. It gave the Devils their first lead of the series.

That lead lasted only 1:02 before Kings defenseman Drew Doughty scored the first power-play goal of the series, six seconds into David Clarkson’s boarding penalty. Anton Volchenkov cut across Brodeur’s sight to take screener Dustin Brown, and Doughty’s slap went in from a deflection by New Jersey’s Dainius Zubrus.

With the end of their Cup run on the line, Henrique’s left wing winner came from a cross-ice pass from Clarkson, catching Quick moving across his crease and finding room over Quick’s stick on the short side.

“It was a goal-scorer’s play,” DeBoer said.

And they needed one.

***

DeBoer returned defenseman Henrik Tallinder to the lineup after he missed 58 games from a blood clot ailment in his lower left leg. He played 19:21.

He also used Petr Sykora, who scored 21 goals this season after making the team as a tryout. Sykora, who played 12:19 and had a plus-one rating, won the Stanley Cup with New Jersey in 2000, though he was in a Dallas hospital when linemates Patrik Elias and Jason Arnott combined for the OT Cup-winner. He had scored 32 career playoff goals and also won the Cup with the 2009 Penguins.

mark.everson@nypost com

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