C.J. Sullivan and Dave Hollander We've been busier than a couple of Carolina Panthers cheerleaders in a Tampa night club ladies room, making our lists and checking them twice. Here who's been naughty and nice in New York sports.
DAVE HOLLANDER
NICE
10. Rutgers University Football Team-Heading to their first Bowl game since 1978, and with 2001 grad Mike McMahon starting at QB for the Eagles, the Scarlet Knights sit atop the tri-state area's football universe. GIFT: Respect
9. Andre Agassi-His epic five-set comeback quarterfinal victory over James Blake, gutsy five-set semi-final win over Robby Ginepri and valiant effort in defeat against Roger Federer requires more than sentimental New York fan support. GIFT: One last U.S. Open Championship
8. Channing Frye-This kid is bringing back a star quality not seen in a Knick uniform since Walt Frazier: talent accentuated by humility and dignity. GIFT: NBA Rookie of the Year Award
7. David Wright-All he did was come out every day and play hard-nosed, big-play, clutch baseball. He is the Mets' future who's ready right now. GIFT: The number 3 spot in the line-up
6. Staten Island Yankees-They were the 2005 NY-Penn League Champs (again), drubbing the hipster-supported, media darling Brooklyn Cyclones in the process. Their stadium is gorgeous. GIFT: Fans
5. Kurt Thomas-He got the ultimate NBA gift in Steve Nash, but the silent ex-Knicks stalwart who is winning games and having fun deserves to finish his career finally playing the power forward spot on a winning team. GIFT: Amare Stoudamire 4. Jaromir Jagr-Labeled a malcontent, he's come to the Rangers, thrived in under the new NHL rules. He leads the league in scoring and is leading his team to first place. GIFT: Stanley Cup and NHL MVP
3. Wayne Chrebet-What a treasure this walk-on from Hofstra has been. But concussions are no joke, Wayne. Thanks for what you gave every down, every game. GIFT: Retirement
2. Manny Acta-Shhh. Don't tell anybody, but Omar Minya has this guy coaching third base for a reason. And when he manages the Dominican Republic to the first ever World Baseball Classic title, it will become very clear why. GIFT: Mets Manager job by midseason [Not happening. In Willie we trust!-The Eds.]
1. Tiki Barber-"Eli this, Eli that." "Wellington Mara R.I.P." "The return of the Giants defense." Blah, blah, blah. Tiki is the game-in, game-out reason the Giants win or have a chance at winning. He's the most underrated, unsung player in the NFL. GIFT: Super Bowl MVP (though he'd be happy just with the win)
NAUGHTY 10. L. Jay Cross/Woody Johnson-The Jets brain trust dissed Queens for Manhattan, then used Queens for New Jersey. GIFT: A limo breakdown in snarled traffic on the Van Wyck during the hottest day of summer.
9. Danny Almonte-You went to Florida for a better high school team then came back when it didn't work out. Didn't we stick by you when things got bad? Didn't we care for you? GIFT: A mandatory 5th year of high school
8. Stephon Marbury-He can't fit in. He can't win. He won't listen. He stopped learning a long time ago. GIFT: Toronto [Toronto's a nice town. How about Oklahoma City?-The Eds.]
7. Jason Giambi-Comeback Player of the Year should go to someone who overcomes adversity that's externally imposed. Tumors and parasites? Dude, we're glad you're back on track, but please. GIFT: A Barbara Walters interview
6. Chad Pennington-It's your "privilege" to play in the NFL. Remember that. GIFT: A bionic arm
5. Larry Bowa-How long will it take for Larry Bowa to fight somebody, anybody, in the Yankees clubhouse? GIFT: The smelliest cab in New York
4. Isiah Thomas-You're so lucky Larry Brown is here to deflect the mess you continue to make. Leave now, and nobody gets hurt. GIFT: Resignation
3. Harlem Revival-The initial owner of this ABA franchise promised me a new, authentic era of pro basketball in Harlem. Then he bailed, selling out to Japanese partners less than a quarter into the season. GIFT: Exile to Yonkers
2. Braden Looper-It was you, Braden. We coulda been a contender. GIFT: One way ticket to Palookaville, AKA St. Louis, a city without a downtown
1. Alex Rodriguez-You still don't get it. We've seen MVPs before. It's not about that. Talk to Reggie. Talk to Derek.
GIFT: A personality
C.J. SULLIVAN
NICE 10. Carlos Beltran-While our man from P.R. did not have a super season, anyone with baseball smarts knew this guy would do about what he did. He played a solid center field all year and was a catalyst on a revived team. GIFT: A standing ovation
9. Nate Robinson-The Mighty Mite may be the only player worth watching in this deadball era at the Garden. He is as much fun as John Starks and given a year or two in the league this little fella is going to create some big moments at the Garden. GIFT: A Walt Frazier bobble head doll.
8. Tom Reney-Well, the lockout ended and nobody seemed to care about hockey. The Rangers came out of the gate with an attitude. Reney has our boys in blue in first place in the East and right now hockey is the only game in town at 33rd St. and 7th Ave. GIFT: A long drink of champagne from Lord Stanley's cup
7. Eli Manning-Has the tall men in playoff hunt and in his second year in the league looks pretty good. In a few years we may come to think of this Southern Man as the best Giant QB of all time. GIFT: Beverly Hillbillies box set DVD
6.Norries Wilson-Wilson is the first black head coach in Ivy League football. Well, the over-educated crowd has finally broken down that barrier. Wilson has some task getting the toothless Lions of Columbia into something resembling a football squad. GIFT: 42 real football players
5. Bob Papa-We love listening to Papa's droll comments on radio. He sounds like Al Pacino in And Justice For All. Witty and not long-winded, Papa brings a Noo Yawk flava to the Giant broadcast and it is like home. GIFT: Bob Costa's head on a stick
4. Jay Feeley-Stood up like a man and took the blame for blowing three kicks that could have been game winning field goals against Seattle. Then the missed chippie against Dallas and this guy looked like he was done. Came in against the Eagles-and? good! GIFT: Valium from meds online
3. Mariano Rivera-He is the best relief pitcher of all time and I would go so far as to say if I needed two innings from any pitcher in history I would pick Rivera. The most valuable Yankee of the last 10 years. GIFT: : A Christian rock band
2. Pedro Martinez-This crazy man brought back fun to Shea Stadium. His free-spirited antics and excellent pitching skills led the Mets back to respectability. What I most like is his sense of wonder and that it is all a game we should enjoy. GIFT: A New York midget to toss in the air
1. Tiki Barber-I love to take cheap shots at Barber but I have to admit this li'l dynamo is a great running back. He is as strong as a mule and as quick as Mercury. He and the Jets Curtis Martin have been the best running duo this city has ever had. GIFT: A TV contract
NAUGHTY 10. Kris Benson-Dude, get your hot wife under control and win some big games or Omar is sending you elsewhere. The Pirates had this guy pegged as having no left tit-heart-and they were right. He was good early on, but faded when he was needed most. GIFT: : A set of balls
9. Derek Jeter-Well he hasn't been much of a captain, has he? [Jeter sucks, and he deserves those Gold Gloves as much as Sullivan does.-The Eds.] Not a real leader and he seems isolated on a team that on paper should win the World Series every year. GIFT: A copy of The Road Less Travelled
8. George Steinbrenner-He is back to his old ways and loading up on aging talent that doesn't mesh. Five long seasons have passed since the Bombers won a World Series. Big George has hit the panic button and nothing can bring him back to sanity. GIFT: A DVD of the 1982 Yankees
7. Herm Edwards-Let his team give up when his star QB went down. When the going is good he is a sunshiny guy, but in the throes of this season he is a downer. GIFT: Patience and gratitude
6. Doug Jolly-Why the hell did the Jets get this guy? He can't block, can't catch and he has been the Jets biggest bust since Kyle Brady was a rookie tight end. Jolly makes Shockey look like the second coming of Kellen Winslow. GIFT: A visit from the Turk and a one way ticket out of here
5. Jason Collins-This seven-foot soft man needs some fire in the belly ASAP. The Nets are floundering and the only story coming out of the swamp is if the team is coming to Brooklyn. Collins needs to step up and become a pro. Toughen up, Big Boy! GIFT: : A lesson in kung-fu fighting
4. Zab Judah-Yeah, he is a champ but not much of one. He has been calling Floyd Mayweather "Pretty Girl" and is crying about everything under the sun. This Brooklyn son is a lot of talk and not much action. GIFT: A baby bottle.
3. Roger Clemens-Don't do it, George. He won't bring a World Series to the Bronx for 2006 and I've had it with the Rocket's ego. Stay in Texas. GIFT: Retirement
2. Jim Dolan-How do you ruin the mecca of basketball? The Knicks were handed to this guy and he sank an institution. The Dolans have made MSG irrelevant. GIFT: A weekend with Steinbrenner
1. Joe Torre-Never a great manager but in 1996 he found his ass in a tub of butter and rode that beast. Calming influences aside he ain't much of a field general. If he thought Garciaparra would have been the answer, I would love to know the question. GIFT: 1998 redux