Tiger seeks record at Congressional

BETHESDA, Md. — Rory McIlroy won’t be around, but his shadow will be looming over Tiger Woods when the AT&T National tees off today at Congressional, site of McIlroy’s runaway victory last year in the U.S. Open.

Woods wound up missing the middle two majors in 2011 to fully recover from injuries to his left leg, so all he could do was watch from home as McIlroy shattered his U.S. Open scoring records. Woods previously was the only player to finish a U.S. Open in double figures under par (12 under), and he tied the Open scoring record at 272.

McIlroy, who will be playing in the Irish Open this weekend, beat both those marks by four.

Rory McIlroy’s victory in last year’s U.S. Open." title="HUNTING FOR A TITLE: Tiger Woods heads the field teeing off today in the AT&T National at Congressional, site of Rory McIlroy’s victory in last year’s U.S. Open." width="300" height="300" src="/rw/nypost/2012/06/28/sports/web_photos/28.2s052.Tiger--300x300.jpg" />

UPI

HUNTING FOR A TITLE: Tiger Woods heads the field teeing off today in the AT&T National at Congressional, site of Rory McIlroy’s victory in last year’s U.S. Open.

In some respects, Woods can consider himself the defending champion. The last time the AT&T National was played at Congressional was in 2009, when he closed with a 67 to finish on 13-under 267 for a one-shot win.

But this isn’t the same course. It was played as a par 70 in 2009, with the sixth hole a long par 4. Now, the course is playing the same length as the U.S. Open, a par 71 at 7,569 yards, using some of the new tees the USGA had built for its premier championship.

That includes the 466-yard third hole, the 470-yard fourth hole, and a 523-yard hole on the 18th.

“I like it quick because it certainly puts a premium on shaping shots, and more than anything, keeping the ball under the hole,” Woods said. “We’ve seen what this place can do when it gets soft, and what the guys can shoot.”

Woods was asked what he would like to see as the winning score, and he cut off the question when a reporter said, ‘Would you like it to be below . . .”

“Below 16 under?” he said, smiling in reference to McIlroy’s record score.

“As long as I’m that person,” Woods added, “yes.”

Woods is coming off a U.S. Open at Olympic Club, where he took a share of the 36-hole lead, only to stumble badly on the weekend and tie for 21st.

“I’ve won major championships, and I haven’t done it since ’08,” Woods said. “We all go through periods where that doesn’t happen. Some periods are entire careers. But I think I understand how to win major championships. The key is just giving yourself chances.”

Nick Watney is the proper defending champion, winning last year at Aronimink near Philadelphia, where the tournament went for two years. The field also includes Hunter Mahan, a runner-up to Woods in 2009, Dustin Johnson and Adam Scott.

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Phony concern for Sandusky victims puts the ‘less’ in bless

Phil Mushnick

EQUAL TIME

So what was the final score in the Jerry Sandusky scandal? Who won, the Thoughts or the Prayers? Or was it a tie?

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims.”

Geez, if I heard that — issued in countless statements — one more time I was gonna retch. I had no idea that college football coaches and athletic directors — those who knowingly recruit high-risk characters to their campuses, lest the other guys recruit them to their campuses — were so thoughtful and prayerful.

And college presidents and administrators — academic and social fraud enablers — hired and paid to look the other way while counting the house money, the TV money and the Nike money — apparently now suppose we believe that they’re immersed in thought and bowed in prayer.

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MONSTER’S INK: “Statements” pledging that college football programs’ thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of Jerry Sandusky (above) are disingenuous coming from such corrupt entities, says Phil Mushnick.

Seems that if the authorities in and around Penn State — in and around all football and basketball insane asylums — had been more thoughtful when it counted, they wouldn’t now have to be so prayerful.

And let’s not forget that prayer, along with patriotism and charity, is among the last refuges for scoundrels.

Sandusky was found guilty on 45 of 48 counts of child sexual abuse! And we hadn’t yet heard from his son, who was set to testify that he had been a victim. You can keep the lid on anything if you press — or suppress — hard enough. Almost anything.

But big-time college sports — and the media and the TV and radio deals and the yahoos and freaks who keep it moving lower every day — are accomplished at not seeing what’s impossible to miss.

For crying out loud, the star of this past season’s University of Rhode Island basketball team, a 20-year-old freshman, was wanted for a strong-arm robbery in Florida!

And that was before he entered URI. And that only came to light after he was arrested for videotaping sexual encounters he had with two URI students.

Seems URI, in recruiting 20-year-old Jonathan Holton to be a freshman, was leading with its prayerful side as opposed to its thoughtful one.

Who cared why Holton was available or anything else about him; at 6-foot-9, he was irresistible, the temptation was too great.

Now, no doubt, URI’s thoughts and prayers go out to his victims.

Yep, “This puts everything in perspective.” Yeah, sure it does. What time does Midnight Madness start?

What’s your guess? After dozens of official declarations that “our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims” following the Sandusky explosion, what percentage of those represented in those statements actually spent time thinking of the victims — children — and/or praying for them? Gimme the under.

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It's OK to Root for Germany

Reuters

German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger (center) may have the best name in sports.

Somewhere between Gdansk and Warsaw

A very strange thing happened the past two weeks as I traipsed through Poland covering the Euro 2012 soccer tournament.

There I was oohing over the latest Mario Gomez goal for Germany, salivating over the way Mesut Özil quarterbacks the German attack from the middle of the field with grace and calm, and screaming "SCHWEINSTEIGER" inside my head (there is no better name in sports right now) each time the steely midfielder plants for one of his lightning strikes at the goal.

And don't get me started on the Germans' dashing, Zen master coach Joachim Löw—the George Clooney of international soccer, only better looking, and seemingly more humble and philosophical.

To understand just how weird a development this is, understand that for Jewish-Americans of a certain age (I'm 42), rooting for Germany isn't how our fathers, grandfathers and Hebrew School teachers raised us.

Growing up in the 1970s, the wounds of World War II were still raw. I have friends whose parents were Holocaust survivors. They almost never talked about their experiences, but their silent memories hung in their homes. One of my parents' closest friends spent the war first in the Lodz ghetto in occupied Poland, then survived a concentration camp by lying about his age. His father, mother and brother were killed there. Every so often a local temple would circulate a flier inviting people to come hear another talk from a survivor. "Never forget," we were told.

For most Americans, the Soviets were the great enemy on the playing fields of international sports during this era. We Jews felt this, too. The Russians hadn't been very nice to us either, driving so many of our grandparents and greatgrandparents from their villages in Eastern Europe and making it difficult for those still there to practice their religion.

But for young Jewish-Americans, the athletes from what was then democratic West Germany remained a group we met with deep suspicion. Something about the pressed uniforms, the perfect physiques and the trademark efficiency of their performances made them a little scary, even if their political leaders garnered our admiration. Pulling for Willy Brandt and Helmut Kohl was fine. Rooting for Karl-Heinz Rummenigge wasn't.

And yet, 30 years later, here I am feeling downright giddy at the prospect of the Germans winning their first European title since the 1990s. They play Italy in the semifinals Thursday.

For starters, they are a wonder to watch. While Spain's "tiki-taka" triangular passing style remains the game's intellectual apotheosis, the Germans are nothing short of thrilling, combining creative passing with lightning speed and astounding athleticism. If the essence of quality soccer is the "one-two," the equivalent of basketball's give-and-go, the Germans have become the masters of the one-two-three-four-and-five.

Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger (say it loud! With your best German accent!) wins the ball with a perfect slide tackle. He feeds Özil in the midfield, who passes to a cutting Sami Khedira, who touches it to Jerome Boateng overlapping on the wing, who sends a cross in to Gomez, who heads the ball to Lukas Podolski, who volleys into the net.

No team can deliver the ball from their own end to the back of the opponent's net so often with the speed of the Germans.

It wasn't always this way. For years, the Nationalmannschaft, as the team is known, was a pillar of organization and fairly boring soccer played by a homogenous group.

Now the Germans feature a lineup that includes Özil, who is Turkish; Boateng, whose father is Ghanaian; Gomez, who is of Spanish descent; Podolski, who was born in Poland, and Miroslav Klose, who is half-Polish.

Since 2006, this diverse group has been molded together by Löw, the subject of my embarrassing man-crush. Wearing his dapper tailored slacks and open-collared shirts, he celebrates goals with the joy of a child, his hair flopping over his forehead.

Then, just when the Germans appear they are becoming a too predictable and efficient machine, Löw sends out a lineup for the quarterfinal against Greece with three of his stars—Gomez, Podolski and Thomas Muller—on the bench. "We needed to be unpredictable," he explained. "It's OK to be cheeky."

Löw somehow manages to come off more as a supportive parent than a cocky national coach declaring superiority. "I thought we were wonderful tonight," he said after the win Friday over Greece. He appears the antithesis of all those top college and professional coaches in the U.S. who seem to use their jobs as a means to building a personal brand and gaining $100,000 appearance fees to motivate corporate sales forces.

And yet, there is a part of me that is stricken with guilt about this. Somewhere Tevye from "Fiddler on the Roof" is telling me some traditions must not change. After all, a major part of international soccer—especially European soccer—is the bizarre way it brings up the old geopolitical rivalries from the middle of the 20th century. That can be scary, too, as when Russian fans unfurled the massive banner of a warrior against words "This Is Russia" before the match against Poland earlier in the tournament.

With that in mind, I shared my guilt-ridden admiration for the Germans with my father, who knows nothing about soccer but a lot about history. To my surprise, he said he felt this generation of Germans has earned our forgiveness, and even our support in sports. They had decided to build an education center and monument about the Holocaust on some of the most expensive land in Berlin. That was the turning point for him.

In other words, make room on the German bandwagon. I want a seat.

Sort of.

—Jason Gay is on vacation.

A version of this article appeared June 25, 2012, on page B8 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: A New Take on Germany.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mario Gomez online, Germany, Poland, Poland, Poland, international soccer, international soccer, Lukas Podolski, Germany, George Clooney, international sports, the Germans

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New Greek finance minister hospitalized after fainting

ATHENS -- Incoming Greek finance minister Vassilis Rapanos was admitted to the hospital Friday, the government said, with unconfirmed reports saying the 65-year-old senior banker had fainted.

The chairman of leading Greek lender National Bank, Rapanos was taken to a private hospital in Athens, a government spokesman said, hours before he was expected to take his oath of office.

The hospital said Rapanos was brought in with "strong stomach pains, vertigo, nausea, sweating and fatigue."

Doctors have stabilized his condition and he is undergoing tests.

The state-run Athens News Agency said Rapanos had run a high fever while at his office at National Bank ahead of his swearing-in ceremony.

A former economics professor who served in the economy ministry when Greece joined the euro in 2001, Rapanos was named finance minister on Thursday in a conservative-led coalition seeking to revise the country's bailout terms.

Newly-elected Prime Minister Antonis Samaras was briefly in another Athens hospital Friday after being diagnosed with a retinal detachment.

He returned to his office according to state television, but will be admitted on Saturday to undergo an operation.

As a result, Samaras will be unable to attend his country's Euro 2012 quarter-final game against Germany later on Friday.

He also cancelled his party's first parliamentary meeting.

The coalition government, backed by conservative, socialist and moderate leftist parties, is under intense international pressure to implement the terms of an EU-IMF bailout package that has kept the indebted country's economy afloat for two years.

Pressure is mounting in view of Monday's upcoming visit of European Commission, IMF and European Central Bank inspectors, who return to Athens to resume discussions suspended because of Greece's two-month political deadlock.

Incoming Greek finance minister Vassilis Rapanos, National Bank, Athens News Agency, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, government spokesman, finance minister, Rapanos, Athens, coalition government

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Sports Shorts

MLB: Rays’ reliever ejected for too much pine tar

Rays reliever Joel Peralta was ejected in the eighth inning of last night’s 5-4 win over the Nationals without throwing a pitch for having a “a significant amount of pine tar” on his glove, according to umpiring crew chief Tim Tschida.

Peralta entered at the start of the eighth, but as he was warming up the umpires gathered at the mound and examined his glove. An umpire walked with the glove off the field and Peralta was ejected.

Afterward, Rays manager Joe Maddon called Nationals manager Davey Johnson “cowardly” for requesting the check of the reliever who pitched for the Nationals in 2010.

“Insider trading, man. It’s bush,” Maddon said. “It’s bogus.”

Phillies rookie infielder Freddy Galvis has been suspended 50 games by for using a banned substance. Galvis is currently on the disabled list with a back injury and will begin serving his suspension immediately. MLB said Galvis tested positive for a metabolite of Clostebol, a performance-enhancing substance.

NFL: Leaf receives addiction treatment sentence

Former quarterback Ryan Leaf was sentenced to nine months of lockdown addiction treatment followed by time in a pre-release center after pleading guilty last month to breaking into a house and illegally possessing painkillers. District Judge Kenneth Neill of Great Falls, Montana, sentenced Leaf to seven years with the Department of Corrections, with two years suspended.

ETC.: Liberty beat Dream on road

Cappie Pondexter had 14 points and a season-high 13 assists and Essence Carson added 14 points as the visiting Liberty beat the Atlanta Dream, 73-60.

The NHL Board of Governors approved unanimously the sale of a portion of the Maple Leafs by Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board to Rogers Communications, Inc. and BCE, Inc.

The Senators said they have agreed to terms with Norris Trophy finalist Erik Karlsson on a seven-year contract extension worth a reported $45.5 million.

Police are investigating date rape allegations against Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty stemming from an encounter with a woman at a Southern California seaside bar. The District Attorney’s office is expected to decide this week whether to file charges.

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Value in Valdespin versatility

Jordany Valdespin knows his days on the Mets’ roster could be numbered as injured second baseman Justin Turner made his return to the lineup Tuesday night, and infielders Ruben Tejada, Ronny Cedeno inch closer to their respective returns. But Valdespin’s play makes it hard for his manager to take him out of the lineup, let alone send him back down to Triple-A Buffalo.

“He didn’t really get a very good chance his first time up,” manager Terry Collins said after the Mets' 5-0 win over the Orioles at Citi Field. “But when he went down, I talked to [Buffalo manager] Wally [Backman] about some things and he sat Jordany down and said, ‘This is the way it is going to get done here,’ and I think what we’re seeing is the results of the fact that this kid’s come back up with a different attitude and ready to play.”

Valdespin went 2-for-4. He scored on a Lucas Duda two-run home run in the sixth inning to make it 3-0, and also had a big two-run single to give the Mets two big insurance runs in the seventh inning. In his past four starts, Valdespin is now 7-for-17 with seven runs and six RBIs.

BOX SCORE

PHOTOS: METS BLANK ORIOLES

He was sent down to Buffalo on May 18, and spent 10 games there with two home runs and eight RBIs before being called back up on May 30.

“Jordany Valdespin is a very talented young man and he’s growing on the job,” Collins said. “He is learning on the job, he is maturing up here. I thought he’s handled himself very well up here so far. He is listening. He played well.”

Valdespin made his sixth start of the season starting in left field before shifting to second base in the eighth inning. Valdespin’s ability to play multiple positions (he has also played shortstop this season) is why Collins said he could play himself into more time even when Tejada and Cedeno are healthy. Turner returned to action last night pinch-hitting in the seventh inning after missing 19 games with an ankle injury.

Valdespin has made the most of his opportunity, and most importantly, the Mets are 4-0 in his last four starts.

“It’s good for me because I am helping my team. That’s what I want to do, play hard every day and try to win games,” Valdespin said after the game. “I am looking for my pitch. I’m a fastball hitter so he threw me a fastball, and then a slider right in the middle, and I swung and got a base hit.”

david.satriano@nypost.com

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Yankees winning, but still missing clutch hits

WASHINGTON — The Yankees have moved into first place, gotten terrific starting pitching and continue to hit home runs at a solid pace.

At first glance, it almost seems like everything is going their way.

But Mark Teixeira knows better.

After a 4-1 win over the Nationals yesterday, the first baseman raved about all the positive aspects of the team, but couldn’t ignore the problem that has been following them around virtually all season: a lack of hits with runners in scoring position.

“We’re still not happy about that,” Teixeira said after the Yankees went 0-for-12 in those situations yesterday. “I wish I could tell you the issue. I really [can’t]. We just have to be better.”

REUTERS

MARK TEIXEIRA

"We just have to be better."

It seemed to be a much more pressing issue when the Yankees were in last place and a handful of games out of first. Now that they have moved to the top of the division and — not coincidentally — gotten improved starting pitching, it’s easier to ignore.

Still, Teixeira admitted the offense won’t be able to get away with failures in the clutch all season.

YANKEES BOX SCORE

“Our pitchers have picked us up,” Teixeira said. “If not for them being so good, we’re not in first place right now.”

And he couldn’t recall a team as talented as this one struggling for such an extended period of time with runners in scoring position.

“I wish I could explain it,” Teixeira said. “I guess you could call it ‘winning ugly.’ This nice run we’re on is because of pitching.”

It’s certainly not because of the 0-for-12 yesterday or the 3-for-18 in their 14-inning victory Saturday.

Instead, it’s home runs and the guys on the mound.

“We’re a home-run hitting team,” manager Joe Girardi said. “There’s no doubt about it. That’s how we’re going to score our runs. We won this game by hitting home runs.”

Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano both went deep at Nationals Park to help overcome the “offensive woes” as Derek Jeter jokingly referred to them recently in Detroit.

“We can score other ways,” Jeter said. “The other team isn’t just saying, ‘Here you go,’ and then throw it down the middle. ... Those are tough hits to come by.”

Especially this season.

“You find other ways to win,” Jeter said. “It’ll turn around.”

dan.martin@nypost.com

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Phil Jackson calls Knicks ‘a clumsy team’

Sour grapes?

Coaching legend Phil Jackson says in an upcoming HBO interview he would not have taken the Knicks job because he believed the Carmelo Anthony-Amar’e Stoudemire pairing has made for a “clumsy team.’’

However, later in the interview, which will air Tuesday on “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,” Jackson admits he had given the Knicks job plenty of thought and calls it “special,’’ according to excerpts provided to The Post.

“They never called, and I kind of appreciate that,” Jackson said. “Because if they called, it would open the door and they didn’t want to open the door.

“I wasn’t going to take that job, that’s for sure,” he added.

Why?

“There’s just too much work that has to be done with that team,’’ he said. “You know? It’s just not quite — it’s clumsy. It’s a little bit of a clumsy team.’’

Explaining what he meant by clumsy, Jackson said, “Well, they don’t fit together well. Stoudemire doesn’t fit well with Carmelo. Stoudemire’s a really good player. But he’s got to play in a certain system and a way. Carmelo has to be a better passer, and the ball can’t stop every time it hits his hands. They need to have someone come in that can kind of blend that group together.”

When interviewer Andrea Kremer said it sounded as if Jackson was the perfect person to blend the talent because of his résumé, Jackson said, “Yeah, well, it never happened.”

Knicks owner James Dolan never called the former Knick to gauge his interest in taking over as head coach, deciding interim coach Mike Woodson’s 18-6 finish to the regular season was good enough for a three-year contract extension.

A source close to Jackson said last month the nine-time title-winning coach would have been all ears.

Asked if he thinks the perception is the game has passed him by, Jackson said, “I think it is possible.’’

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Phil Jackson, Knicks, Stoudemire, Andrea Kremer

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Collins will juggle Mets outfield with no DH

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It’s time for manager Terry Collins to get creative.

After six straight games in American League ballparks, Collins and the Mets will return to National League rules tonight at Citi Field against the Reds, eliminating the designated hitter from the equation as the manager tries to find steady playing time for four outfielders.

Collins hinted yesterday he likely will try to keep Jason Bay and Lucas Duda consistent at the corner outfield positions while using Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Andres Torres in a center field platoon.

Nieuwenhuis hit two home runs yesterday and Bay added another in the Mets’ 9-6 victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field that capped a three-game sweep.

BOX SCORE

“Andres has done such a good job against left-handed pitching, we’ve got to get him in there and the place he plays best is center field, so I’m going to make sure he gets some time,” Collins said.

“We would like to see Lucas in there every day. Jason, when he gets it going, he’s an everyday guy. We’re just really lucky that we’ve got that many talented people here and we’ll do the best job we can to make sure they all stay sharp.”

Complicating the equation is the fact Collins would like to get Scott Hairston in the lineup against many lefties. The Reds are scheduled to throw three righties — Bronson Arroyo, Homer Bailey and Johnny Cueto — at the Mets this weekend.

* Justin Turner [ankle] played a minor league rehab game for Triple-A Buffalo yesterday and went 1-for-4 in a 5-0 loss to the Pawtucket Red Sox. Turner could rejoin the Mets within the next few days, but Collins cautioned he would like to ensure the infielder receives enough at-bats before returning and therefore he could remain at Buffalo into next week. ... Ronny Cedeno [quad] is expected to begin a rehab assignment at Buffalo today. ... Ruben Tejada [quadriceps] has begun jogging.

* Ike Davis’ spot in the Mets lineup would seem secure after he finished 6-for-11 with a homer and six RBIs in the three-game sweep.

Davis had a pair of RBI singles yesterday and finished 2-for-4 with a walk.

mpuma@nypost.com

Terry Collins, Collins, the Mets, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Jason Bay, Andres Torres, Citi Field, Lucas Duda, ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Johnny Cueto, Pawtucket Red Sox, Bronson Arroyo, Scott Hairston, center field, American League, Justin Turner, National League, Homer Bailey

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Calder Results

FIRST-6 fur; $12,000; alw; 3up(f)

2

Holy Bling (Ferrer)

6.20

3.40

2.40

1

a-Mdow Tuch (Dmnguz)

3.40

2.40

3

Myconfederaterose (Nunez)

3.00

* Exacta (2-1) $24.20 * Superfecta (2-1-3-6) $207.00 * Trifecta (2-1-3) $90.60

Winner picked by Vic C

SECOND-5 fur(T); $28,000; alw; 3up(f)

3

Plesnt Heress (Sz)

4.00

2.80

2.10

2

Shimmering Tina (Leyva)

6.60

3.60

4

My Precious Baby (Cruz)

4.20

Scr: Just Blessed.

* Daily Double (2-3) $18.80 * Exacta (3-2) $18.00 * Superfecta (3-2-4-1) $218.40 * Trifecta (3-2-4) $101.60

THIRD-1 mile; $10,500; clm($6,250); 3up

5

Pedacitos (Saez)

9.60

4.80

3.00

2

Afortunada Ayl (Snchez)

6.40

5.00

1

Kate's Holiday (Jara)

3.40

* $1 Pick 3 (2-3-5) 3 Correct $32.80 * Exacta (5-2) $83.20 * Superfecta (5-2-1-7) $1,082.80 * Trifecta (5-2-1) $315.80

FOURTH-5 1/2 fur; $11,000; clm($6,250); 3up

6

Ymknmmd (Rdrgz)

5.20

3.60

2.20

5

Trippi Honor (Jara)

3.00

2.60

3

The Pia Angel (Gonzales)

2.40

Scr: Skiptoit, Mindy Michelle.

* $1 Pick 4 (2-3/5-5-1/6/8) 4 Correct $123.30 * $1 Pick 3 (3-5-6) 3 Correct $25.30 * Exacta (6-5) $16.80 * Superfecta (6-5-3-7) $208.40 * Trifecta (6-5-3) $40.80

FIFTH-1m(T); $16,500; clm($25,000); 3up

4

El Bendnat (Slver)

5.80

3.00

out

5

Exchange Miss (Leyva)

2.80

out

Scr: Starship Freedom, Pyrite Smokin, Country Isle, Arrestedforpassion, Miss Olivia Rae.

* $1 Pick 3 (5-6-4) 3 Correct $53.70 * Exacta (4-5) $7.20

SIXTH-7 fur; $10,500; clm($6,250); 3up

6

Ldy of Smr (Gnzls)

3.40

2.40

2.10

1

Exchange Chic (Leyva)

4.20

2.60

7

Courtney Ryan (Sanchez)

2.20

Scr: Electrica.

* $1 Pick 3 (6-4-6) 3 Correct $30.70 * Exacta (6-1) $15.00 * Superfecta (6-1-7-3) $73.00 * Trifecta (6-1-7) $22.00

Winner picked by Vic C

SEVENTH-5 1/2 fur; $12,000; alw; 3up

6

On Appeal (Saez)

17.60

8.00

9.40

2

Candi's Halo (Cruz)

5.00

6.20

3

Island Sunset (Garcia)

10.20

* $1 Pick 3 (4-6-6) 3 Correct $42.60 * Exacta (6-2) $75.20 * Superfecta (6-2-3-1) $515.20 * Trifecta (6-2-3) $310.60

EIGHTH-1 1/16m(T); $28,000; alw; 3up(f)

5

Wcked Nght (Sez)

4.00

3.00

out

3

Zeffee (Ferrer)

3.80

out

Scr: Starship Cutie, Witch's Orchard, The Rahy Angel, Academicienne, A Little Off.

* $1 Pick 3 (6-6-5) 3 Correct $44.70 * Exacta (5-3) $9.20

NINTH-7 fur; $10,500; clm($6,250); 3up

10

J Isle (Rodriguez)

3.80

3.20

2.40

5

Jaranero (Dominguez)

8.80

4.80

1

Drinks to Go (Leyva)

5.00

Scr: Forward Observer, High Brass, Mize the Big Cat.

* $1 Pick 3 (6-5-10) 3 Correct $55.60 * Exacta (10-5) $28.20 * Superfecta (10-5-1-3) $540.40 * Trifecta (10-5-1) $137.20

TENTH-6 1/2 fur; $28,000; mdn; 3,4&5YO(f)

1

a-Strshp Srn (Lyv)

3.00

2.10

2.20

2

French Concorde (Santn)

4.60

3.40

1

a-Strshp Unvrs (Slvr)

3.00

2.10

2.20

Scr: That Devil Did It, The Sense Angel.

* $1 Pick 3 (5-10-1) 3 Correct $9.70 * Exacta (1-2) $13.20 * Superfecta (1-2-4-3) $191.40 * Trifecta (1-2-4) $54.20

Winner picked by Vic C

ELEVENTH-1 1/16m(T); $16,000; alw; 3up

7

Unbrdld Ht (Cruz)

7.00

3.60

2.60

1

Prmary Wtness (Santan)

4.20

3.00

6

Barra d'Oro (Gonzales)

3.80

Scr: Power Rules, Bingo Bango Bongo, Omar's Tiger.

* $0.1 Pick 6 (6-6-5-10-1-7) 6 Correct $78.89 * $0.5 Pick 5 (6-5-4/8/10-1/7/8-7) 5 Correct $168.10 * $1 Pick 4 (5-4/8/10-1/7/8-7) 4 Correct $52.20 * $1 Pick 3 (10-1-7) 3 Correct $32.90 * Superfecta (7-1-6-3) $360.40 * Daily Double (1-7) $16.80 * Exacta (7-1) $28.80 * Trifecta (7-1-6) $121.60

Trifecta, alw, Superfecta, Superfecta online

Nypost.com

Home Team Lineups

TODAY
June 15

SAT
June 16

SUN
June 17

MON
June 18

TUE
June 19

WED
June 20

THU
June 21

Yankees

Washington
7:05
WWOR WCBS 880 AM

Wash. 1:05 YES WCBS

Wash. 1:35 YES WCBS

Atl.
7:05
YES WCBS

Atl.
7:05
WWOR WCBS

Atl.
1:05
YES
WCBS

NO
GAME

Mets

CIncinnati
7:10
WPIX
WFAN 660 AM

Cin. 7:15 FOX WFAN

Cin. 1:10 WPIX WFAN

Balt. 7:10 SNY
WFAN

Balt. 7:10 SNY
WFAN

Balt. 7:10 SNY
WFAN

NO
GAME

Liberty

Connecticut
7:00
No TV

NO
GAME

NO
GAME

NO
GAME

Atl. 7:00
No TV

NO
GAME

Minn.
8:00
No TV

Red Bulls

NO
GAME

NO
GAME

Chi.
5:00
NBCSN
WLIB

NO
GAME

NO
GAME

Van.
11:00
MSG+
WLIB

NO
GAME

S.I. Yankees

NO
GAME

NO
GAME

NO
GAME

Bklyn.
7:00
No TV

Bklyn.
7:00
No TV

Bklyn.
7:00
No TV

Bklyn.
7:00
No TV

Cyclones

NO
GAME

NO
GAME

NO
GAME

SI Yanks
7:00
No TV

SI Yanks
7:00
No TV
WSOU

SI Yanks
7:00
No TV
WSOU

SI Yanks
7:00
No TV

HOME

AWAY

FOX WFANCin, WPIX WFANBalt, WCBS

Nypost.com

The Post Line

NBA Playoffs

Favorite

Line

Underdog

THUNDER

5

Heat

Home team in CAPS
Nypost.com

Debbie Little at Monticello

Best Bet: Arts Day (13th)

FIRST: mile trot; $2700; cond

1 L Dees Betsy

(JTaggartJr)

8-3-4

5-2

2 MrDemolitionMan

(JGilmour)

4-5-6

3-1

6 Lady Is A Winner

(MarohnJr)

3-3-7

4-1

3 Foxy Trotter

(SGastelu)

4-3-6

7-2

4 Shainer Maidel

(RHarp)

7-7-x

12-1

5 Varsity Hall

(CStratton)

5-x-x

9-2

7 TuscaroraBlueroan

(JCloser)

8-6-8

10-1

SECOND: mile trot; $2700; cond

6 Toe Socks

(MForte)

2-3-2

5-2

3 Caviar Kid

(WParkerJr)

6-2-7

7-2

1 Tornado Alley

(CPoynton)

4-1-4

6-1

2 Passed Ya

(KDIBenedetto)

3-3-5

4-1

4 Contract Hit

(JTaggartJr)

8-5-5

3-1

5 EngamerBennsBest

(Gilmor)

3-4-4

8-1

7 S A Poster Boy

(RHarp)

7-3-9

9-2

8 Mister Lucky Vec

(MMerton)

8-6-9

12-1

THIRD: mile pace; $2800; cond

4 Quest

(RHarp)

1-1-4

5-2

7 Camwow

(GMerton)

1-6-8

7-2

6 Csardas

(MForte)

2-1-2

3-1

1 Lady Belle

(JTaggartJr)

8-1-8

9-2

2 Nutmegs Davey

(JMarohnJr)

6-7-1

4-1

3 Bettor NextTime

(Mcaleese)

3-5-5

10-1

5 Pacific Escape

(MMerton)

7-2-3

8-1

8 Prince Radiant

(WParkerJr)

7-6-3

12-1

FOURTH: mile pace; $2000; cond

2 Mon Ami Hall

(WParkerJr)

8-1-7

5-2

6 Song oftheSouth

(JMarohnJr)

1-3-4

3-1

1 Five Somewhere

(JMarohn)

7-5-3

9-2

3 Gallant Guy N

(CStratton)

2-5-7

4-1

4 Safe Sex

(MForte)

6-4-4

8-1

5 Indys Z Tam

(DdMiller)

6-4-2

7-2

7 Terrific Seven

(ASchwartz)

8-6-6

12-1

8 SouthernFriedchic

(JTggrtJr)

6-7-7

10-1

FIFTH: mile trot; $2700; cond

6 CostnerBlueChip

(JTaggart)

2-1-7

4-1

7 Halls A Sizzlin

(WParkerJr)

1-2-2

5-2

1 Holdemannie

(SMcaleese)

7-5-5

9-2

2 Strong Arm

(MForte)

6-4-5

8-1

3 Frescos Candy

(MMerton)

4-8-8

10-1

4 SecretEnergy

(CWashington)

1-5-5

7-2

5 Ciao Bela

(JGilmour)

4-3-2

3-1

SIXTH: mile pace; $2700

Catskill Amateur Driving

4 Big John B

(DYarock)

8-2-1

5-2

2 Smarty Merit

(DGlasser)

2-4-7

5-1

6 Quiet Hero

(GFielding)

7-4-3

4-1

1 Littlebettor

(PMoore)

8-8-3

6-1

3 Fox Valley Sosa

(SSbarra)

7-6-1

9-2

5 Jjs Foxyexpress

(KHeins)

8-7-7

8-1

7 Sun MoonLake

(Zuccarello)

7-4-1

10-1

8 LadyOnTheAttck

(GCmpbell)

1-2-5

3-1

SEVENTH: mile pace; $3400; cond

5 Backwoods Boy

(CStratton)

3-4-7

3-1

7 Sams Fortune

(JMarohnJr)

4-2-2

5-2

1 Little Carmen

(WParkerJr)

6-5-2

9-2

2 Mach Made Her

(EAvenatti)

3-6-2

8-1

3 Dianas Jewel

(RVinci)

6-7-7

10-1

4 Diablo

(MMerton)

3-5-5

7-2

6 My Mellow American

(Harp)

3-8-8

12-1

8 Wright Road

(KDIBenedetto)

3-6-3

4-1

EIGHTH: mile trot; $3400; cond

1 Batu Khan

(WParkerJr)

6-2-6

4-1

4 Freds Dream

(WBailey)

2-8-5

5-2

3 Edom Up Blue Boy

(RVinci)

2-1-dnf

3-1

2 QuantumBushman

(JMrhnJr)

8-7-3

8-1

5 Bet I Win It

(MMerton)

1-8-5

7-2

6 TalbotcreekExcel

(JTaggrtJr)

7-5-1

5-1

7 Order By Corleone

(JMarohn)

7-7-8

10-1

8 Reconnected

(SGastelu)

4-5-7

12-1

NINTH: mile pace; $2000; cond

1 Savvy Hawk

(MForte)

2-8-4

5-2

3 Presidents Seal

(ASchwartz)

7-3-7

4-1

7 Matts Boy

(JCarrubba)

3-4-4

3-1

2 Basil Hanover

(MMerton)

7-5-5

9-2

4 JD S Tycoon

(CStratton)

7-5-5

8-1

5 Bull Rush

(RaIngrassia)

5-7-7

10-1

6 Big Len

(RVinci)

8-8-6

5-1

8 FourStarzMay

(Mcdonough)

8-6-6

12-1

TENTH: mile trot; $2000; cond

1 Pine Ranger

(JMarohnJr)

3-3-6

5-2

5 Highmaker

(KDIBenedetto)

4-6-3

3-1

6 Speedy Big Ras

(WParkerJr)

7-7-4

9-2

2 StrikingMystery

(CWshngtn)

8-7-8

12-1

3 B Muffler

(SMcaleese)

7-3-4

10-1

4 Captain Cr Kris

(RVinci)

7-4-7

8-1

7 Victory Sir

(JPrimeau)

4-6-7

7-2

8 Uncle Billy

(JTaggartJr)

4-6-7

4-1

ELEVENTH: mile pace; $2700; cond

4 Basso Hanover

(JTaggartJr)

5-1-5

3-1

3 Now Thats Art

(WParkerJr)

7-6-6

5-2

7 Best of Times

(MForte)

7-5-7

10-1

1 Tyrant Hanover

(NSurick)

8-7-8

6-1

2 True Magic

(RVinci)

5-6-1

9-2

5 Ehi Guaglione

(WBailey)

5-2-8

5-1

6 Style Guy

(JCarrubba)

6-3-6

4-1

8 Shotgun Wedding

(KTorro)

7-6-7

12-1

TWELFTH: mile pace; $2000; cond

3 Premier Camelot

(JMarohn)

6-dnf-8

3-1

1 Tree Light

(KDIBenedetto)

2-6-6

4-1

2 Hals Legacy

(WParkerJr)

8-6-7

9-2

4 Hunter Hylight

(MForte)

3-7-6

8-1

5 Loyal Vale N

(SMcaleese)

5-6-8

10-1

6 FlanaganStorm

(Mcdonogh)

3-5-8

5-2

7 Betting Molin

(DdMiller)

6-6-4

7-2

THIRTEENTH: mile pace; $2700; cond

3 Arts Day

(GMerton)

2-2-1

5-2

4 Bay Street

(MMerton)

2-3-1

3-1

1 Huntoon

(MForte)

4-4-7

6-1

2 Tross The Way

(CStratton)

8-8-6

4-1

5 JumpinJackFlash

(JMarohn)

7-6-8

7-2

6 Always Right

(ASchwartz)

2-4-3

10-1

7 ComeHomeHoney

(WPrkerr)

8-4-5

9-2

8 Pull The Tab

(KDIBenedetto)

9-6-6

12-1

mile pace, Foxy Trotter, Arts Day, Dees Betsy

Nypost.com

Pitching Form

(Game time)

2012

'12 vs OPP

CAREER

LAST 3 STARTS

LINE

W-L

ERA

*REC

W-L

ERA

vs OPP

W-L

IP

ERA

*AHW

Yankees

Kuroda (R)

(7:10pm)

5-6

3.46

5-7

—

—

1-4

2-0

22.0

0.82

6.1

Braves

Hudson (R)

Even-6

4-2

3.83

6-2

—

—

1-3

1-1

21.1

5.06

10.5

Mets

Dickey (R)

(7:10pm)

9-1

2.44

10-2

—

—

0-2

3-0

23.2

0.00

6.5

Rays

Price (L)

7-8

8-3

2.40

8-4

—

—

0-0

2-0

19.1

0.93

11.2

Astros

Happ (L)

(10:15pm)

4-6

4.54

5-7

—

—

0-2

0-3

18.0

4.50

14.0

Giants

Cain (R)

9-11

7-2

2.41

9-3

—

—

1-3

3-0

21.2

0.83

9.6

Nationals

Strasburg (R)

6-7

7-1

2.41

10-2

—

—

0-0

3-0

18.0

3.00

10.0

Blue Jays

Drabek (R)

(12:37pm)

4-6

4.70

5-7

—

—

0-0

0-2

14.2

9.82

19.0

Pirates

Correia (R)

(7:05pm)

2-5

4.29

5-6

—

—

1-0

1-0

17.0

3.71

12.2

Orioles

Matusz (L)

5 1/2-6 1/2

5-6

4.82

6-6

—

—

0-0

1-2

15.1

4.70

14.1

Red Sox

Doubront (L)

(7:10pm)

6-3

4.34

8-4

—

—

0-0

2-1

16.1

5.51

12.7

Marlins

Nolasco (R)

5 1/2-6 1/2

6-4

3.49

5-4

—

—

1-0

1-2

20.0

4.50

12.2

Indians

Lowe (R)

(7:10pm)

7-4

3.72

7-5

—

—

4-3

1-2

14.0

10.29

16.7

Reds

Latos (R)

6 1/2-7 1/2

4-2

4.85

7-5

—

—

0-0

1-0

17.0

6.35

11.6

D'Backs

Miley (L)

(8:05pm)

7-2

2.53

7-2

—

—

0-0

2-1

21.1

3.37

8.0

Rangers

Harrison (L)

8-9

8-3

3.87

8-4

—

—

0-1

3-0

23.2

1.90

7.2

Tigers

Porcello (R)

(8:05pm)

3-4

5.03

6-6

—

—

0-0

0-0

17.0

4.24

15.9

Cubs

Garza (R)

Even-6

2-4

3.99

3-8

—

—

1-5

0-2

17.0

4.76

9.5

Brewers

Wolf (L)

(8:10pm)

2-5

5.45

4-8

—

—

0-0

0-1

18.1

3.93

12.8

Royals

Hochevar (R)

Pick

3-7

6.57

4-8

—

—

0-0

0-2

15.1

6.46

15.3

Phillies

Hamels (L)

6 1/2-7 1/2

8-3

2.93

9-3

—

—

0-0

1-2

20.2

5.23

10.5

Twins

Walters (R)

(8:10pm)

2-1

4.42

4-2

—

—

0-0

0-0

15.1

6.46

18.8

White Sox

Peavy (R)

(8:15pm)

6-1

3.05

9-3

—

—

3-3

1-0

18.2

5.30

10.6

Cardinals

Lynn (R)

7-8

9-2

2.66

9-3

—

—

0-0

2-1

17.2

3.06

11.7

Athletics

Milone (L)

(8:40pm)

6-5

3.77

6-6

—

—

0-0

0-2

18.2

3.86

14.5

Rockies

Outman (L)

Even-6

0-2

8.18

1-1

—

—

0-0

0-1

6.1

7.11

17.1

Angels

Wilson (L)

6-7

7-4

2.39

9-4

—

—

0-0

2-0

20.0

0.90

8.1

Dodgers

Eovaldi (R)

(10:10pm)

0-2

1.93

0-3

—

—

0-0

0-2

18.2

1.93

10.1

Padres

Marquis (R)

(10:10pm)

2-5

7.65

2-6

0-1

3.00

1-1

0-3

12.2

10.66

21.3

Mariners

Noesi (R)

7-8

2-6

5.99

5-7

—

—

0-0

0-1

16.1

8.27

12.7

* REC: Won-lost record of pitcher's team in games he has started.

* AHW: Average total of hits and walks yielded per nine innings.
Nypost.com

Manhattan baseball star signs with Orioles organization

Manhattan College star baseball player Anthony Vega is going pro.

The junior center fielder, taken in the 30th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft last week by the Orioles, has signed a professional contract and will forego his final year of eligibility, the school announced Wednesday.

Vega, who helped lead the Jaspers to a second straight MAAC tournament title and its fourth berth into the NCAA tournament, is the first Manhattan player to sign with a MLB franchise since Archbishop Molloy alums Matt Rizzotti and Nick Derba and Jesse Darcy and Josh Santerre all did so in 2007.

Vega, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound Patchogue, L.I., native, was an All-MAAC first team selection, leading the Jaspers in batting average (.326), runs scored (41), triples (4), total bases (108), stolen bases (32) and slugging percentage (.476). He’ll start his professional baseball career with Baltimore’s short-season Class A affiliate the Aberdeen IronBirds.

mraimondi@nypost.com

MLB, Anthony Vega, Josh Santerre, Jesse Darcy, the Orioles, junior center fielder, Nick Derba, Jaspers, Matt Rizzotti, Manhattan College, professional baseball, MAAC, professional contract, NCAA tournament

Nypost.com

Business briefs

‘Gossip’ gain

Time Warner’s Warner Bros. Television Group will buy Alloy Entertainment, producer of “Gossip Girl,” the companies said.

Nuts!

Diamond Foods, maker of Kettle Chips and Emerald snack nuts, fell 7.6 percent to $18.63 after saying it won’t file its quarterly results on time to meet an extension granted by Nasdaq, and that it expects the exchange will consider delisting its stock.

Beamin’

Automaker BMW saw sales rise 6.4 percent in May from a year ago.

No bubble

In an interview, Mohamed El-Erian, CEO of Pacific Investment Management Co., said there is no bubble in the bond markets. “We may be in a synchronized slowdown” in global economic growth, El-Erian, said.

Non, Jerome

Evidence Jerome Kerviel presented to support claims Société Générale let him amass $63 billion in stock index futures trades so it could later hide losses on subprime loans shows “nothing new,” said the Paris judge hearing the appeal of his 2010 conviction.

Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters. Click For Restrictions

Alloy Entertainment, Pacific Investment Management Co., Kettle Chips, Warner Bros., Nasdaq, Mohamed El-Erian, El-Erian, Emerald snack nuts ebook download, BMW, Television Group, Jerome Kerviel

Nypost.com

Liberty fall to Sky, snapping three-game winning streak

Two of the hottest teams in the WNBA showed up at Prudential Center yesterday for a key Eastern Conference game.

Well, actually only one team showed up.

The Chicago Sky won their sixth straight and snapped the Liberty’s three-game win streak with a 73-64 victory that suggests which team will be a force in the second half of the season and which still has a lot of work to do.

Chicago held the Liberty to less than 20 points in each quarter by playing the kind of smothering defense the Libs had hoped to play this year.

Of course, Chicago can dig in on defense because with New York City prep star Epiphanny Prince, the Sky will always have scoring. Prince led the Sky with 26 points and was four points shy of becoming the first player in league history to score 30 or more in four straight games.

The Liberty (3-6) were led by Cappie Pondexter’s 22 points, but she was held to 8-of-20 shooting and was just 1-of-5 on 3-pointers.

The Sky held the Liberty to 14 points in the first and 13 points in the second, taking a 38-27 lead to the locker room.

The Liberty went into the game allowing 82.1 points, the most in the Eastern Conference and third most in the league. Their defense was better but it couldn’t match Chicago’s.

“We just weren’t sharp,’’ said Liberty coach John Whisenant. “We were a step slow on loose balls, offensively we were standing like we were running in mud and defensively we tried at times and bothered them a little bit, but we just couldn’t maintain it.’’

Whisenant pointed out this was the team’s fifth game in eight days. The Sky played just twice during the same time frame. But Chicago coach Pokey Chatman has gotten her team to buy in to defense for exactly the kind of scenario the Liberty couldn’t handle. Some nights the legs are weak and/or the shots don’t drop. Defense is a constant.

“Thank you for saying that,’’ Chatman said when told her team’s defense was impressive. “Sometimes as coaches we’re never satisfied.’’

“It’s not a speech. It’s not a rah-rah.’’

The loss was the first for the Liberty since June 2, a 91-68 loss at Indiana. Chicago’s 6-1 start is its best ever.

lenn.robbins@nypost.com

Chicago Sky, Chicago, Sky online, Chicago, Eastern Conference, Epiphanny Prince, the Liberty, Chicago coach Pokey Chatman, Liberty, defense

Nypost.com

Diocese of Orange renames Crystal Cathedral

Smith" border="0" width="580" height="396" />

Father Christopher H. Smith distributes Holy Communion at St. Columban Church in Garden Grove; Smith has been named to the top post at the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange’s new central church in Orange County — the Crystal Cathedral, which has been renamed Christ Cathedral. (Gary Friedman, Los Angeles Times / June 9, 2012)

When Father Christopher H. Smith was a child, he'd peek through the eucalyptus trees in his grandparents' yard on Sunday mornings at the drive-in theater next door to watch a man give a sermon on the top of a tar-papered snack bar, the same place where he'd grab his popcorn on movie evenings.

The man atop the snack bar was the Rev. Robert H. Schuller, preaching from humble beginnings at the Orange Drive-In Theater.

"We thought that was very cool," Smith said.

Now, decades later, Smith has found himself linked to Schuller once again. On Saturday, he was officially named to the top post of Episcopal vicar at the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange's new central church in Orange County — the Crystal Cathedral.

"Never in a million years did I think that somehow I'd be connected with that man and what he built," Smith said of Schuller and the architecturally spectacular church that the preacher founded.

The diocese also announced a new name for the Crystal Cathedral: Christ Cathedral. It was picked from 4,129 submissions from all over the world. Suggested names included Christ the King, Cathedral of the Transfiguration and, amusingly, The Church of What's Happening Now.

The new name is the latest in a series of steps in the transformation of the evangelical church to one of the Catholic faith, which began with a judge approving the diocese's purchase of the bankrupt Crystal Cathedral for $57.5 million in November.

Officials at Crystal Cathedral announced last week that their congregation would be moving to St. Callistus Catholic Church, about a mile away, beginning in June 2013.

The congregations at each church will swap places, a unique move, but one that is seen as essential for the cathedral to move forward.

"We have goals to set, and we're on our way," said John Charles, chief executive of Schuller's former ministry. He said that St. Callistus was an attractive option because the diocese has offered free rent until January 2014 and a discounted rate thereafter.

"The congregation will basically be the same, but we intend to grow," he said.

But there are still steps ahead that need to be taken in the transition process. The diocese will have to renovate the cathedral for Catholic worship, and likewise, St. Callistus will have to be renovated for the "Hour of Power" to be filmed there. In its prime, the television show beamed Schuller's image into more than a million homes around the world.

At the end of the diocese's yearly ordination ceremony Saturday, Bishop Tod Brown announced the new name of the cathedral to applause from more than 1,500 parishioners.

Alfredo Zarate, a business owner from Santa Ana, said he thought the name was beautiful, especially given the iconic reputation of the building.

"I think it's something that rolls off the tongue easily," he said, standing outside Saint Columban in Garden Grove, where the ceremony was held.

Sharon O'Leary of Huntington Beach said she thought the name sent the message that the cathedral was for everyone.

"It's a welcome sign to the whole community," she said.

Smith acknowledged there would be an adjustment period for Orange County Catholics, but he was still excited about the uniqueness of the situation.

"There are so many marvelous connections that are happening without any invitation," he said.

He recalled a recent meeting with Schuller, where the preacher said that he always had Jesus Christ in mind when conceptualizing the cathedral.

"And now, as it turns out," Smith said, "the cathedral is going to be named Christ Cathedral."

nicole.santacruz@latimes.com

Crystal Cathedral, Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, Christopher H. Smith, Orange County, Orange County, Robert H. Schuller, St. Callistus, Christ Cathedral, St. Columban Church, Smith, Schuller

Latimes.com.feedsportal.com

Tomorrow’s Monmouth Park Entries

All Horses appear in post position order

FIRST-5 1/2 fur; $24,000; clm($35,000); 3up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Lake Michigan(L),118

J Bravo

6-8-6

Fawkes

6-1

2 Dixie Sunset(M),118

P Fragoso

x-x-x

McBrey

12-1

3 ReadtheResrch(L),116

P Lopez

2-5-6

Pompay

9-5

4 ReservedforTw(L),118

KCarmoch

3-9-x

J Imperio

5-2

5 Tale of Peace(L),118

A Serpa

5-5-x

Tarrant

9-2

6 Bridle Step(M),122

NMangale

x-x-x

McBrney

5-1

7 HauntingMeldy(L),118

E Trujillo

4-7-x

DiMauro

8-1

SECOND-1m&70yds; $16,000; clm($5,000); 3up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 StraightNoChsr(L),116

A Ayuso

5-9-9

Carvajal

5-1

2 Herculon ,121

VSantiago

7-6-5

Thmpsn

15-1

3 Leavyorfrsbhnd(L),124

NMangale

1-6-x

Frangell

20-1

4 Free Fallin' Mon(L),121

KCarmoch

4-7-8

Dibona

6-5

5 Rasher(L),121

P Fragoso

4-6-5

Mullin

9-2

6 Vow to Honor(L),121

SCamchJr

6-9-5

Carvajal

7-2

7 VirgngOnStrdm(L),114

K Coa

6-8-7

Carlesim

8-1

THIRD-6 fur; $40,000; mdn; 3up(f)

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Love On Line(L),117

P Lopez

3-x-x

Sacco

6-1

2 Summer Frolic(M),117

J Bravo

x-x-x

Clement

6-1

3 Clean Heir(M),117

C DeCarlo

x-x-x

Perkins

5-2

4 My LuckyShoes(L),123

E Trujillo

2-2-3

Breen

3-1

5 Honey DewList(M),117

E Castro

x-x-x

McLaghln

2-1

6 Hot Spa(M),117

CMarqzJr

x-x-x

Goldberg

9-2

FOURTH-1 mile; $16,000; clm($5,000); 3up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

2 Lockup(L),124

D Panas

5-1-3

Poalucci

6-1

3 Understatemnt(L),124

VSantiago

6-6-4

Amonte

9-2

4 Theposse'sftrm(L),124

P Fragoso

7-7-9

Einhorn

15-1

5 Famous Patriot(L),124

J Bravo

9-2-4

Plesa

5-2

1 a-PrivateMarqu(L),117

K Coa

5-5-5

Frangella

8-1

6 Magic Lion(L),124

FMaysontt

9-6-5

Giglio

20-1

1 a-Pampered Sir(L),119

A Ayuso

11-11-3

Frangella

8-1

7 Evil Powder(L),124

P Lopez

3-2-2

Walder

7-5

FIFTH-1 mile; $24,000; clm($25,000); 3up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Sammy's Trip(L),121

P Cotto, Jr

5-4-3

Zoppi

3-1

2 Super Saturday(L),120

J Bravo

1-6-6

Trombett

6-1

3 Kylies Wildcard(L),117

FMaysontt

8-4-4

Harvatt

7-2

4 Self Destruct(L),117

P Lopez

4-1-8

Sacco

4-1

5 PlymouthSquar(L),121

KCarmoch

12-1-2

Servis

2-1

6 FreudianThrpst(L),117

A Serpa

3-12-4

Campo

9-2

SIXTH-1 mile; $52,500; alw; 3up(f)

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Holy Defrere(L),115

SCamacho

1-7-7

Berrios

20-1

2 My Lily Lane(L),120

O Castillo

3-3-2

Castillo

8-1

3 Windy Acres(L),120

P Lopez

8-4-1

Thmpsn

15-1

4 Curious Luck(L),115

A Ayuso

3-6-4

Nunn

5-1

5 Quincy Lee(L),120

A Serpa

4-4-5

Nunn

9-2

6 CircularRhythm(L),120

P Fragoso

7-2-5

T Kelly

3-1

7 StategcCmmnd(L),120

C DeCarlo

7-9-5

Cash

10-1

8 Double Desert(L),120

FMaysontt

10-6-5

Huston

15-1

9 Paulsborbnbby(L),120

NMangale

5-8-1

Carroll

6-1

10 CharmdbyDngr(L),115

E Trujillo

4-1-2

Eppler

7-2

SEVENTH-5 1/2 fur(T); $60,000; 3up

John McSorley Stakes

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 General Perfect(L),117

P Fragoso

10-5-5

Zook

10-1

2 Agonistic(L),117

CMarqzJr

2-1-5

Graham

6-1

3 Varsity(L),117

J Bravo

1-12-2

Clement

2-1

4 MississippiMan(L),117

R Chiappe

1-1-4

Serey

3-1

5 Tune Me In(L),117

E Trujillo

8-5-4

Alexnder

8-1

6 Ju Jitsu Jax(L),123

KCarmoch

3-1-2

Wlfendle

5-2

7 Triple E(L),117

P Lopez

5-2-9

Hills

8-1

EIGHTH-1 1/16m(T); $35,000; clm($50,000); 3up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Back Away(L),116

J Bravo

5-4-1

Ryan

4-1

2 No Play(L),117

E Trujillo

1-10-7

Gray

8-1

3 Holy Highway(L),115

FMaysontt

6-7-10

Ryan

6-1

4 Raging Lion(L),117

A Serpa

9-9-1

Manning

5-1

5 Get Right(L),120

C Lopez

6-1-4

Contessa

9-2

6 GoldenArchway(L),119

P Lopez

1-2-4

Plesa

10-1

7 Exeter Road(L),121

KCarmoch

4-4-5

Broome

4-1

8 Purest Form(L),120

E Castro

5-1-3

Fawkes

3-1

NINTH-6 fur; $52,500; alw; 3up(f)

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Knight Tripp(L),115

KCarmoch

2-6-7

Hartmnn

7-2

2 Nina's Pride(L),119

P Fragoso

1-3-x

Perkins

5-2

3 DaniMariesScrt(L),115

CMarqzJr

5-5-9

Margott

12-1

4 BelieveinDncng(L),115

SCamacho

5-4-3

Berrios

15-1

5 Old Soul(L),120

P Lopez

2-5-5

Pierce

9-2

6 DonSix'sNumbr(L),115

E Trujillo

3-2-4

Alexnder

2-1

7 Tuff Tri(L),115

C DeCarlo

5-5-4

Sacco

8-1

TENTH-1 ¹/‚ˆ miles(T); $200,000; 3up

Monmouth Stakes

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Data Link(L),123

JVelazquz

5-1-3

McGgeyII

5-2

2 PresiousPassin(L),116

E Trujillo

7-5-4

Hartmnn

6-1

3 Mahubo(L),118

J Bravo

1-2-3

McLaghln

5-1

4 Freud's Honour(L),116

KCarmoch

4-5-2

Sacco

15-1

5 Roman Tiger(L),123

A Serpa

1-1-6

Manning

8-1

6 Get Serious(L),116

P Fragoso

6-6-6

Forbes

8-1

7 Get Stormy(L),123

E Castro

9-4-1

Bush

3-1

8 YummyWthBttr(L),116

P Lopez

4-4-6

Belsoeur

6-1

ELEVENTH-1m(T); $22,000; clm($20,000); 3up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

2 Desert Witch(L),119

O Chavez

5-7-7

Tarrant

8-1

3 Miss Martin(L),117

P Lopez

2-4-1

Walder

3-2

4 Onefortherecrd(L),117

A Serpa

3-8-3

Edel

10-1

5 Do ItWithHonor(L),117

CMarqzJr

1-5-7

Marrott

15-1

6 RunninginChos(L),121

P Cotto, Jr

4-6-6

Dibona

7-2

7 Ginny G(L),119

C DeCarlo

6-6-9

Cash

8-1

1 a-CandyCatCan(L),117

E Trujillo

5-6-4

Farro

6-1

1 a-Benimari(L),117

J Bravo

2-9-6

Farro

6-1

8 She'sStarstruck(L),117

KCarmoch

9-3-1

Allard

5-1

TWELFTH-6 fur; $40,000; clm($100,000); 3up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

3 Enoki Chief(L),116

C Lopez

3-4-2

Thompsn

9-2

1 a-Crafty Legacy(L),118

KCarmoch

6-3-x

Hartmnn

5-2

2 b-Couldwldshld(L),116

S Uske

7-7-x

Wilson

20-1

4 Uptown Ball(M),118

P Fragoso

x-x-x

Hrtmnn

10-1

2 b-I'maJerseyBy(L),116

D Panas

8-x-x

Wilson

20-1

5 Six ShooterKid(M),118

E Trujillo

x-x-x

Broome

5-1

6 Private Code(L),116

P Lopez

5-x-x

Volk

3-1

7 Karobushka(M),116

FMaysontt

x-x-x

Cash

8-1

8 Deep Sea Tale(L),122

CMarqzJr

3-x-x

McBrney

4-1

1 a-One for Don(L),118

E Castro

2-6-2

Alexnder

5-2

3upPN Horse, 3upPN Horse, 3upPN Horse, PN Horse, PN Horse, PN Horse, Horse

Nypost.com

Rangers' Nathan 'excited' for alma mater Stony Brook

Seventeen years after he left Stony Brook, Joe Nathan hasn’t forgotten his roots.

The Texas Rangers closer has kept a close eye on his alma mater during its record-setting, 50-win season and was thrilled when the Seawolves broke through over the weekend, becoming just the third No. 4 seed to win an NCAA Tournament regional championship. Stony Brook will take on LSU in the best-of-three Super Regionals this weekend in Baton Rouge, La.

“I’m excited for the program, for Coach Senk, [athletic director] Jim Fiore, all the guys on the team,” Nathan said. “It’s a pretty cool feeling.”

When Nathan was at Stony Brook, the program was just getting started under coach Matt Senk, winning at the Division III level. Nathan had no idea the future held such promise. He’s had a hand in it, however.

Senk credited part of the program’s success to the three-year-old Joe Nathan Field, which the major league pitcher helped get developed with an extremely generous donation. Fiore joked Senk tried to recruit players without showing them the old field, which didn’t have bleachers and was sloped so much you could hardly see the right fielder from home plate. The new 1,000-seat facility included a brand new 25-foot scoreboard, new bullpens and dugouts, in addition to a field turf surface.

“Every baseball player wants the opportunity to play at a great field and now we have that,” Senk said. “That’s been a huge part of our recent success.”

Nathan said Senk has a profound impact on his career, with establishing a work ethic in him that enabled him to succeed in the majors. One thing he never forgot was the coach keeping Nathan at shortstop — his position in college — his senior year when scouts and observers clamored to see him on the mound.

“He always stuck with his guns,” Nathan said.

Nathan will be busy this weekend, as Texas visits the San Francisco Giants in an interleague series. He will make sure to follow his old coach’s team, hoping its Cinderella story has another chapter left in it.

“This is a huge step for them,” Nathan said. “This is all going to help make a name for Stony Brook. Hopefully more guys keep making it to the big leagues and it can keep getting stronger and stronger.”

zbraziller@nypost.com

Joe Nathan, Joe Nathan Field, Coach Senk, Stony Brook, Stony Brook, Texas Rangers, Matt Senk, Jim Fiore, Senk

Nypost.com

Brodeur puts Devils in spot to make historic comeback

Larry Brooks
Follow Larry on Twitter
Blog: Slap Shots

LOS ANGELES — And so these Devils have become the first team in 67 years to avert a sweep in the Stanley Cup finals by winning a Game 4 on the road, since the 1945 Red Wings pulled off the trick against the Maple Leafs in Toronto.

Now, they are heading back to Newark for Saturday’s Game 5 on the first leg of a journey that will have to cover nearly 9,000 miles if the Devils are to duplicate the feat accomplished by the 1942 Maple Leafs, and only the 1942 Maple Leafs, who came back from 3-0 down in the finals to win the Stanley Cup over Detroit.

The Devils get the chance to make modern history — the 1945 Red Wings forced the finals to a Game 7 before losing the showdown match at home — because they defeated the Kings 3-1 last night in Game 4 to spoil the party Hollywood was about to throw for itself and the NHL’s would-be Nouveau Riche.

They also get the chance to make history largely because of Martin Brodeur, the individual who has been responsible for so much of the history of this proud franchise that is in its fifth Stanley Cup finals over the last 17 playoffs, three more than anyone in the NHL except for the Red Wings, who have been to the ball six times since 1995.

It is possible to make the case that Scott Stevens was the Devils’ most important player through their run of three Cups in nine seasons beginning in 1995. But it is impossible to make the case at this point — eight years after No. 4 was forced into retirement because of the repercussions of knowingly playing with post-concussion symptoms through the trip through the 2003 tournament that culminated in the team’s last championship — that anyone other than Brodeur represents the face of the franchise.

Except as the Devils try to create more history, Brodeur isn’t caught up in any of it. Someday No. 30 will look back, but that time is not now, not by a long shot.

“I try to be in the moment,” Brodeur said after finally outdoing Jonathan Quick in a match that was scoreless for 47:56. “Every situation is different, so it’s not about looking back but taking care of what’s in front of you with these players creating their own thing.

“It’s hard while you’re playing to think of other situations. For me, it’s living in the moment, living the experience with these guys. That’s what hockey is all about—living in the moment.”

Brodeur faced 22 shots, two fewer than Quick, but the netminder made a signature save on a Simon Gagne left wing semi-breakaway with 4:50 to play in the second at zero-zero, and then went into a backflip of a somersault that forced Trevor Lewis to miss the net in alone at 4:30 of the third still at zero-zero, and then stopped Dustin Penner in with speed down the left side with 8:30 to play in the third at one-one.

“He’s the same guy he always was,” said Petr Sykora, first a Devils’ teammate of Brodeur’s in 1995. “You watch Marty from the bench and he’s always calm and never gets rattled, and that’s what makes him the best—and he is the best.”

“Under pressure he has that confidence that makes him who he is. That’s why he’s a legend.”

He is 40 and playing against Quick who grew up in Milford, Conn. as a Rangers fan and who as an 8-year-old rooted for Mike Richter against Brodeur in the 1994 Battle of the Hudson.

“I’ve tried to be perfect,” Brodeur said before Game 4. “But the other guy has been a little more perfect than me.”

Not last night, he wasn’t, and as such, the Devils and their goaltender have a shot at making more history.

larry.brooks@nypost.com

Martin Brodeur, Maple Leafs, Red Wings, Stanley Cup finals, the Devils, the Devils, Devils, NHL, Stanley Cup, modern history, Larry BrooksFollow Larry

Nypost.com

Mets beat Nationals; Dickey extends scoreless streak

Washington — Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey kept Washington swinging at shadows on a sunny afternoon, Lucas Duda homered again and the New York Mets averted a sweep, beating the Nationals 3-1 Thursday.

Dickey (9-1) tossed four-hit ball for scoreless 7 1-3 innings and extended the longest shutout streak of his career to 24 2-3 innings — a span that began against Pittsburgh and continued against San Diego, St. Louis and the Nats.

Dickey became the first pitcher in the majors to reach nine wins this season. He also exceeded his victory total from last year, when he often was the victim of poor run support.

Duda backed Dickey with his fifth homer in eight games, a two-run shot in the fifth against Chien-Ming Wang (1-2).

Daniel Murphy, who earlier bounced into an inning-ending double play that left him in a 0-for-19 rut, later added an RBI single.

The way Dickey has been pitching lately, three runs were more than enough. He limited the Nationals to only singles, struck out eight and walked two. Most of the outs were soft ones and when Adam LaRoche worked out an 11-pitch walk, it was a major accomplishment.

Washington never got a runner past second base when Dickey was on the mound. He left after Jhonatan Solano’s one-out single in the eighth and reliever Bobby Parnell walked Rick Ankiel. After the runners moved up on a grounder, Bryce Harper grounded out to end the threat.

Frank Francisco gave up Ryan Zimmerman’s leadoff home run in the ninth before closing for his 15th save in 18 chances.

The win stopped the Mets’ three-game losing streak heading into the Subway Series that begins Friday night at Yankee Stadium. The Mets had lost the first two at Nationals Park in the series.

Wang allowed eight hits in 5 1-3 innings in his second start of the season. The Mets won for just the second time in 10 meetings with Washington since last September.

There wasn’t a whole lot for Nationals fans to cheer about on a bright afternoon until Zimmerman’s third homer. Midway through the game, however, there was a ripple of applause throughout the crowd of 32,096 when clouds briefly blocked the glare.

New York Mets, Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, the Nationals, Lucas Duda, Washington, Washington, The Mets, Bryce Harper, sunny afternoon, Dickey, Chien-Ming Wang, Bobby Parnell, Nationals, Adam LaRoche, Rick Ankiel

Nypost.com

House to examine White House's role in case between Paul Singer's Elliott Management and Argentina

The House Financial Services committee will hold hearings on the White House’s role in a case between Paul Singer’s hedge fund Elliott Management and Argentina.

On Thursday, the Republican-led House panel will look at the case where it believes the Obama administration “intervened” against US investors. One involves the friend-of-the-court brief the US filed in support of Argentina in a case before the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, while the other two involve Obama-led bailouts.

The court will decide on June 20 whether to uphold a lower court’s ruling that Argentina must pay Elliott, which balked at a restructuring that forced bondholders to settle for less than they were owed.

The US argued that upholding the ruling would allow “a single creditor to thwart the implementation of an internationally supported restructuring plan.”

Former Bush Solicitor General Theodore Olson will testify on behalf of the American Task Force Argentina at the hearing. Singer, who has donated $2 million to Republicans this election season, is a member and major donor of the group.

US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, House Financial Services, Elliott Management, American Task Force Argentina, White House, Argentina, Obama, Paul Singer

Nypost.com

Monticello Results

WEATHER Clear TRACK Fast

FIRST-mile; pace; $3400; cond

OFF: 12:53 TIME: 1:56.4

3

ThngsLftUsd(JMrhnJr)

4.30

2.30

2.20

1

WinsmithMolly(JTaggartJr)

2.40

2.40

5

Not Thinking (M Forte)

2.80

* Perfecta (3-1) $7.30 * Trifecta (3-1-5) $35.00

SECOND-mile; trot; $2700; cond

OFF: 1:12 TIME: 2:02.3

3

YullMssAllt(JTggrtJr)

3.90

2.50

2.30

5

Fair Lady J (M Forte)

3.10

2.60

2

Engamer Benns Best (J Gilmour)

3.40

* Perfecta (3-5) $10.60 * Trifecta (3-5-2) $32.60 * Daily double (3-3) $9.60 * Superfecta (3-5-2-1) $95.00

THIRDMILE;-pace; $2000; cond

OFF: 1:29 TIME: 2:00.3

3

EgleMcnr(KDIBndtto)

3.00

2.20

2.10

8

Bandito N (A Schwartz)

11.60

5.40

5

Model Magnate (M Forte)

2.90

* Perfecta (3-8) $65.50 * Trifecta (3-8-5) $277.50 * Pick 3 (3-3-3) $21.80 * Superfecta (3-8-5-7) $1,435.00

FOURTH-mile; pace; $2700; cond

OFF: 1:50 TIME: 1:57.3

1

CmmntySprt(JMrhnJr)

3.70

2.30

2.10

5

Bet On Lindy (J Taggart Jr)

5.30

2.90

6

You Cant Fool Me (G Merton)

2.40

* Perfecta (1-5) $12.60 * Trifecta (1-5-6) $35.60 * Pick 3 (3-3-1) $21.60 * Superfecta (1-5-6-4) $119.50

FIFTH-mile; pace; $2300; cond

OFF: 2:06 TIME: 1:59.0

4

BouncyThre(JMrohn)

7.00

3.50

2.40

6

Kyrah Can (C Stratton)

4.10

2.30

1

Ges Jody (M Merton)

3.00

* Perfecta (4-6) $35.40 * Trifecta (4-6-1) $158.00 * Pick 3 (3-1-4) $51.50 * Superfecta (4-6-1-3) $373.50

SIXTH-mile; pace; $3400; cond

OFF: 2:25 TIME: 1:57.3

3

Park Avenue (TButer)

2.10

2.10

2.10

7

Sixth Sense(KDIBenedetto)

4.80

3.30

4

Rootintootinfilly (G Annaloro)

5.80

Scr: Docs Whisky.

* Perfecta (3-7) $12.40 * Trifecta (3-7-4) $65.00 * Daily double (4-3) $17.40 * Pick 3 (1-4-3) $42.20 * Superfecta (3-7-4-8) $227.50

Perfecta picked by Little

SEVENTH-mile; pace; $2000; cond

OFF: 2:44 TIME: 1:59.2

5

PmbrokBg(ASchwrtz)

18.60

4.10

2.80

4

Mcdonna (W Parker Jr)

2.10

2.10

6

Windy City Paige (K Switzer Jr)

2.80

* Perfecta (5-4) $27.80 * Trifecta (5-4-6) $76.50 * Pick 3 (4-3-5) $136.50 * Superfecta (5-4-6-1) $421.00

EIGHTH-mile; pace; $4000; cond

OFF: 3:03 TIME: 1:58.0

1

AllkatFghter(JTggrtJr)

3.10

2.10

2.10

5

Act of Heaven (W ParkerJr)

2.50

2.10

2

Livinwell Hanover (M Merton)

2.50

* Perfecta (1-5) $6.00 * Trifecta (1-5-2) $13.40 * Pick 3 (3-5-1) $16.00

Perfecta picked by Little

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

OFF: 3:19 TIME: 1:58.2

2

BdlndsPowr(GMrton)

10.40

4.00

2.30

1

Im All Sporty (W Parker Jr)

2.80

2.10

4

Early Morning (M Merton)

2.30

Scr: Carmelitas Girl; Pilgrims Easel.

* Perfecta (2-1) $23.00 * Trifecta (2-1-4) $49.00 * Daily double (1-2) $13.40 * Pick 3 (5-1-2) $100.50

TENTH-mile; trot; $3400; cond

OFF: 3:38 TIME: 2:02.0

1

R George (R Harp)

8.70

4.50

3.20

7

Four Starz F (W Parker Jr)

18.00

11.60

3

Thergosmyvacation (R Petitto)

5.80

* Perfecta (1-7) $152.00 * Trifecta (1-7-3) $815.00 * Pick 3 (1-2-1) $75.00 * Superfecta (1-7-3-5) $1,420.00

ELEVENTH-mile; pace; $2700; cond

OFF: 3:59 TIME: 1:58.2

1

DxeAllstr(KSwtzerJr)

3.60

2.40

2.10

6

Jordans Jewell (J Primeau)

4.70

3.50

7

Golden Fizz (K DI Benedetto)

3.40

* Perfecta (1-6) $18.60 * Trifecta (1-6-7) $138.00 * Pick 3 (2-1-1) $114.50 * Superfecta (1-6-7-2) $652.00

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

OFF: 4:16 TIME: 1:58.3

1

RomMystc(JMrohnJr)

3.60

2.30

2.10

6

SSDerbyGirl(KDIBenedetto)

6.40

5.20

4

Edies Desire (K Switzer Jr)

4.10

* Perfecta (1-6) $26.20 * Trifecta (1-6-4) $71.00 * Pick 3 (1-1-1) $46.20 * Superfecta (1-6-4-2) $525.00 Winner picked by Little

THIRTEENTH-mile; pace; $2000; cond

OFF: 4:35 TIME: 2:00.3

3

Urbani (M Forte)

4.90

2.70

2.10

7

BullvlleMonrch(KSwtzerJr)

7.20

5.10

2

Mare Supply (K DI Benedetto)

3.70

* Perfecta (3-7) $30.80 * Trifecta (3-7-2) $191.50 * Pick 3 (1-1-3) $23.00 * Superfecta (3-7-2-5) $619.00 *

Winner picked by Little

HANDLE $575,269.

M Forte, Trifecta, M Merton, M Merton, W Parker Jr, J Taggart Jr, J Gilmour, pace

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Disney on the Horn

He may not be good enough for Time Warner’s Jeff Bewkes, but he’s good enough for Bob Iger.

Disney’s CEO yesterday named former Warner Bros. Entertainment boss Alan Horn as the new head of the Mouse House’s film operation.

Horn, who is currently executive producing “The Hobbit,” was pushed out last March by Bewkes for unknown reasons.

At the time, Horn made it clear that he loved movie-making and didn’t want to go. Horn will start his new gig as chairman and CEO of Disney Studios on June 11.

Iger, in a statement, appeared to appease critics who knocked Disney for having moved too far in the direction of business and away from artistry with his last choice, Rich Ross.

AP

Long Island-raised Alan Horn is Disney’s choice to lead its film studio.

Iger said Horn had an “appreciation of movie making as both an art and a business.”

Studio bosses must have the ability to relate to high-level creative executives as well as deliver big numbers to satisfy Wall Street.

Some studios, like Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. and Twentieth Century Fox, solve the problem by having co-chair executives each with different skills.

Horn will oversee Disney movie production houses including Marvel and Pixar, as well as the Disney-branded franchise and a distribution agreement with Spielberg’s DreamWorks Studios.

Horn will likely be better received by Tinseltown than his predecessor, Ross, who moved from heading Disney Channel Worldwide into the studio slot.

Ross presided over a couple of box-office flops including, “Mars Needs Moms” and “John Carter.”

The “Carter” fiasco forced Disney to take an embarrassing write-down last quarter.

Iger’s choice of Ross was viewed as a way to shake up entrenched practices in Hollywood.

The selection of Horn indicates a belief that traditional movie-making and marketing approaches are the best route.

catkinson@nypost.com

Warner Bros., Entertainment boss Alan Horn, Alan Horn, Disney Studios, Disney, Disney Channel, Jeff Bewkes, Disney movie

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Number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits up by 10,000 last week to reach highest level in five weeks

WASHINGTON -- The number of Americans filing requests for jobless benefits climbed by 10,000 last week to 383,000, the highest level in five weeks, the US Labor Department said Thursday.

claims from two weeks ago were revised up to 373,000 from 370,000. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch projected claims would come in at a seasonally adjusted 370,000 in the week ended May 26.

The average of new claims over the past four weeks, meanwhile, rose by 3,750 to 374,500.

Continuing claims decreased by 36,000 to a seasonally adjusted 3.24 million in the week ended May 19, the Labor Department said. Continuing claims are reported with a one-week lag.

About 6.14 million people received some kind of state or federal benefit in the week ended May 12, down 30,753 from the prior week. Total claims are reported with a two-week lag.

To read more, go to MarketWatch

MarketWatch, US Labor Department, claims, Labor Department ebook download, jobless benefits, last week

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Spurs wise not to trade Parker, Ginobili

Peter Vecsey
Follow Peter on Twitter

HOOP DU JOUR

Last season at this time, the Spurs, who had finished at the top of the NBA’s Western Conference, already had been eliminated two rounds previously by the eighth-place Grizzlies.

The Celtics, meanwhile, had been erased in the preceding round by the Heat.

Both franchises were in the mood to renovate their rosters.

Spurs management called around the league to let the right people know that every player was touchable, exempting Tim Duncan. Owner Peter Holt, team president/coach Gregg Popovich and general manager R.C. Buford were committed to honor Duncan’s reign of scandal-drama-free excellence (four titles) over 14 seasons until he decided not to play for pay anymore.

Getty Images

YOU DA MANU! The Spurs made the correct move keeping guard Manu Ginobili, who has been a key player in San Antonio’s strong run through the NBA playoffs.

Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, I must reemphasize, were available for the appropriate equity.

The idea was to get longer and younger, another meaning for less brittle. Ginobili’s wrist injury the final game of the regular season last year had as much impact on San Antonio’s malfunction as Memphis’ magnification.

Luckily, the Spurs weren’t overly tempted by anything offered for Parker or Ginobili, who were in the midst of a fairly fruitful outbreak before the Thunder rudely ruined their team’s 20-game roll, 102-82.

You know what they say, “Tricks of the trade that are best not made” or something like that.

On the other hand, George Hill was moved. Popovich and his coaching staff loved the 6-foot-2 guard, but felt when he played alongside Parker and Ginobili they were too small. Plus, he was a rising free agent and would warrant an ample long-term investment. So Hill was exchanged for the Pacers’ No. 15 pick, which was used to draft unobtrusive 6-7 small forward Kawhi Leonard, whose value covers every nook and nuance.

The Spurs hit a home run.

Eight months later, they swapped Richard Jefferson for Stephen Jackson.

That’s called “multiplication by subtraction.”

That brings us back to the Celtics. Before and after the lockout, general manager Danny Ainge repeatedly tried to convert Rajon Rondo into Chris Paul by using assets from a third team — Pacers, Warriors, Clippers, etc.

According to even those who swear up and down by the multi-dimensionally dangerous Rondo (nine playoff triple-doubles, tying him with Wilt Chamberlain for third place), he’s tough to coach, not easy to play with and is a First Team All-League Loon, a personality peculiarity he does not deny.

Luckily for the Celtics, Ainge’s longing for comparable acumen and skill couldn’t be satisfied.

You know what they say, “If you can’t pack ’em, then re-rack ’em” or something like that.

That’s what I was thinking Tuesday night as I watched the unflappable Rondo become a legend in his overtime as he nearly beat the Heat (44 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds) single-handedly.

Such rhyme has so much reason in this season’s Final Four.

* This just in from Patrick Ewing: The lottery was fixed.

Fittingly, the Bobcats finished second, something Michael Jordan’s organization has down to a science.

Decent of His Airness, I thought, to alert Ewing personally his coaching services would not be needed. At last check, the field had been narrowed down to Ahmad Rashad, Shaquille O’Neal and Herman Cain.

If the Spurs’ 20-game win streak, snapped last night, was under the national radar, as ABC-ESPN play-by-play analyst Mike Breen submitted the other night, whose fault is that? HIS EMPLOYERS!!

TNT’s Steve Kerr, the Spurs’ spiritual advisor, accused James Harden of flopping after being undercut by Ginobili, who took the shooter’s legs away and then got entangled in them.

Responded column contributor Richie Kalikow: “Then I guess JFK flopped in Texas, too.”

For all the promotion of NBATV’s The Dream Team movie, I sure hope it won!

* Jack Twyman, who died Wednesday from cancer at 78, elevated the meaning of “teammate” to an unchartered altitude when he took responsibility for Maurice Stokes, and later became his legal guardian, after the futuristic forward went into a coma three days following an accident during a Royals game March 12, 1958, and woke up paralyzed.

“Mo was stranded in Cincinnati and I lived there,” Twyman told me when we last spoke three or four years ago, utterly downplaying the sacrifice of his family and the enormity of the undertaking. “I did what anyone would have done for a friend.’’

A year older than Stokes, they had competed against each other and played alongside one another in the Pittsburgh area. In 1955, they became teammates before the Royals moved from Rochester to Cincy.

As great a scorer as Twyman was (31.2 ppg in ’59-60; 19.2 overall), his 11-season Hall of Fame career was shaded by his compassion for Stokes, whom he cared for until his death from a heart attack at 36.

I still can see Jack’s right hand in the air as he turned downcourt after nailing another jumper. And I still can see that ever-present arm around Mo.

peter.vecsey@nypost.com

Celtics, Celtics, Manu Ginobili, The Spurs online, the Spurs, NBA’s Western Conference, Gregg Popovich, Rajon Rondo, Owner Peter Holt, Tim Duncan, Peter VecseyFollow Peter, Jack Twyman, NBA, Maurice Stokes, Spurs, Wilt Chamberlain, Patrick Ewing, Ginobili

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