With the NCAA tournament brackets about to be revealed over on CB$, there is a history making game of sorts over at ABC as the Houston Rockets are about to extend their amazing winning streak to 22 straight.

When the streak began, they were on the outside looking in in the ultra competitive Western Conference. Now, up by 13 with under a minute left against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers (with no Pau Gasol), they’re going to win No.22 in a row and believe it or not, move into sole possession of first in the conference with an impressive 46-20 mark.

So, before the unbelievable streak began, Rick Adelman’s club were just four games over .500. The 22-game win streak is the second longest in NBA history. They passed the 1971 Milwaukee Bucks a couple of days ago but still trail the 1971-72 Wilt Chamblerlain Lakers by a cool 11 for the all-time mark.

Can they match it? Probably not. The schedule this upcoming week shall only get tougher when they host league best Boston and then travel to New Orleans, Golden State and Phoenix.

No easy opponents there. You have to applaud what they’ve accomplished thus far in improving to 10-0 without Yao Ming.

So what was the key today in a game which leading scorer Tracy McGrady didn’t score until the final quarter saving all 11 for crunch time, point guard Rafer Alston caught fire nailing eight triples to pace the Rockets with 31.

Reserve guard Bobby Jackson also came off the bench and scored 19 shooting an efficient seven-of-nine from the field and also grabbing six boards.

The Rockets outscored the Lakers 35-27 off the bench.

If there was one other big key (and when isn’t it), their stifling aggressive D on Kobe forced him into 22 misses (11-of-33 FG). So even though he led his team with 24, it wasn’t the most productive because he had just a couple of assists. And yes. They’re a very different team with Gasol. Just wait till the big guy gets back along with Metuchen, NJ product Andrew Bynum.

Kudos still go out to the Rockets as they march on.

AP Photo Courtesy Getty Images by Al Messerschmidt

Last week, new Yankee skipper made a big stink about Ellis Johnson’s collision at the plate with catcher prospect Francisco Cervelli. In comparison to what took place yesterday in the latest Spring Training incident between the Bronx Bombers and D-Rays, it paled in comparison thanks to Shelly Duncan’s antics.

While trying to stretch an infield hit into a double, the big first baseman/designated hitter got his spikes up dangerously high while sliding into Tampa Bay second baseman Akinori Iwamura yesterday afternoon igniting a near brawl with predictably both benches clearing before things settled down.

While no punches were thrown despite Rays’ outfielder Jonny Gomes jumping up on top of Duncan to protect a defenseless teammate, there were heated words from each side afterwards.

“In Tampa, that play you saw at home plate was a good, hard baseball play. What you saw today was the definition of a dirty play,” Tampa manager Joe Maddon fumed to reporters of a game which also saw Yankee lefty Heath Phillips immediately tossed for hitting Rays’ prospect Evan Longoria with a pitch.

“There’s no room for that in our game. It’s contemptable. It’s wrong. It’s borderline criminal, and I could not believe they did that.”

Both sides were warned prior to the meaningless exhibition game. So much for that thought process.

“I’m pretty sure the spikes weren’t that high. They were pretty much going straight at the glove,” a defensive Duncan expressed later though replays seemed to indicate otherwise. “I’ve done it before. Never had a reaction like that.”

If the second-year player competing for playing time in a crowded lineup was trying to send a message, he certainly got Tampa Bay’s attention.

“No question that was a blatant attempt to hurt Aki,” Maddon declared.

“It was set up. It was planned. It was premeditated. It’s all the above. I don’t know what the difference is between that and a high stick in hockey. But it was that bad.”

Who knows what was going on through Duncan’s mind? His new manager did voice a strong opinion a few days prior basically indicating that his team won’t get pushed around. Previous Joe Torre teams always went about their business quietly on the field and didn’t push the envelope. It’s clear that with a new sheriff in town, Girardi’s trying to set a different more aggressive approach.

“You don’t ever want things to get ugly, and I don’t think it got ugly. I think the umpires stopped it before it got ugly,” Girardi indicated.

“Shelley told me that he was taught when you’re going to be out, you go after the ball. … Shelley made a hard, aggressive slide, and I would have to look at a replay to really determine what I thought.”

Meanwhile, Gomes played down his role in the latest incident which also saw Yankee coaches Bobby Meacham and Kevin Long ejected.

“I wasn’t really trying to get a shot in on him. I probably could have done a lot of things worse,” he said. “But it is a baseball field, and there are fans and kids watching.”

So, what will happen when these AL East competitors get together for 18 serious games during the 2008 season? Will there be fireworks?

“When we go out and play the Yankees the next time, we’re going to play it hard and play it right. Period,” Maddon said getting in one final dig. “That’s how we come to the ballpark every day.”

One thing is clear. It should be quite interesting when the two teams get together for real early next month when the Rays visit The Stadium for four.

Keep your calendars circled.

AP Photo Courtesy NY Post

Billy Crystal is finally getting his wish. No. His distinguished career isn’t making a comeback. However, if anyone knows the popular and likeable never too serious soon to be 60 year-old New York actor, the man who signatured the phrase, “You Look Mahhhvvellous” has always been an avid Yankee fan.

Well, on the day before he turns 60, Crystal will get to fulfill one of his childhood wishes by donning Yankee Pinstripes. Yes! That’s correct. The actor will get his chance to take the field when the team takes on the Pirates Thursday down in Tampa.

Of course, the newest member of the Yankees wil be put through a tenuous workout later today by new skipper Joe Girardi.

“Billy Crystal’s done a lot for this organization. It’s ownership and our way of rewarding him, saying thanks for everything you’ve done,” the first-year Yankee manager remarked to reporters including an outraged NY Post writer Kevin Kernan who couldn’t stomach the idea in a column entitled, “Comic Disbelief.”

Here, Kernan takes the Yankee organization to task for daring to actually be different during Spring Training no less and not as business like:

“The Yankees and Bud Selig have joined hands here to make a mockery of the game. Doesn’t Selig have more important things to do? Yes, baseball is entertainment, but the Yankees don’t need to be fulfilling Crystal’s baseball fantasy or granting his birthday wish. Let Crystal play in an Old-Timer’s game if he needs to put on the uniform.”

Don’t ya think Mr. Kernan is taking this thing a tad too personally? We’re talking about one Spring Training game! Isn’t exhibition supposed to be fun? I also always thought baseball should be as well and sometimes, when you watch the Yanks, it isn’t because of the ridiculous mantra. Win it all or it’s a failure.

Kinda takes the fun out of it, huh?

Kernan goes on to say:

It seems like Crystal has been hanging around the YankeesNew York Yankees that long, trying to get close to the players. Now he is a player. He will wear the same uniform as Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Jeter and Rodriguez.

Isn’t this why they created Fantasy Camp?

Big deal. It’s meaningless and will be fun. Maybe Kernan’s still mad at picking the Knicks to win the NBA championship back in 1992-93.

He just seems to have something shoved up his butt. Would anyone care to take any guesses?

Kernan concludes by providing some of Crystal’s baseball background:

Billy was captain of his Long Beach (N.Y.) High School team and batted .348 his senior season. They say he’s one of the best baseball players in Hollywood today, which isn’t saying much. The fans will probably give Crystal a standing ovation.

“I’m looking forward to helping the younger players, which by the way, is all of them,” Crystal added. “Oops, I have to go, Scott Boras is on the phone.”

The joke’s on the Yankees.

Why is that exactly? Because a well known actor who happens to love the Yanks is getting a birthday wish a day early. Has Kernan ever had a lifelong dream that didn’t include writing depressing stories filled with jealousy? Man. Everyone has something they always wanted to do.

And besides. Crystal will actually lighten the mood in the dugout. What is really so bad about this?

In my book, only two words sum it up.

Just Mahhhvvellous.

AP Photo Courtesy Getty Images by Nick Laham

Tennis finally made its triumphant return to Madison Square Garden after seven-plus years away. The best part was it did so in style with two tennis greats Pete Sampras and world No.1 Roger Federer putting on a show for the ages.

Sure. It was only an exhibition with proceeds benefiting less fortunate with fifty thousand dollars raised while each brilliant grand slam champion pocketed plenty of chunk change and excessive gifts. What else would you expect from tennis royalty?

Especially with it being another classic exhibition between arguably the two best men’s tennis players of all-time. The last time they met, the 10 years younger Federer took two-of-three matches from the 36 year-old Sampras with Pistol Pete finally getting the final one showing he can still deliver remarkable stuff on a court he once owned.

There’s a reason Sampras holds the men’s slam record of 14 while the Federer Express chases him hoping to at least match it by year’s end with a couple of more. The big serve was still on display as was the running forehand and enjoyable touch at the net like no one else in today’s game.

Or as everyone’s favorite color guy John McEnroe would say:

“A lost art.”

In a fitting match of two great champions who have combined for 26 career slams, the younger Federer had just enough to edge Sampras in three sets 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6) before a packed Garden of more than 19,000 who got exactly what they came for.

Early on, it looked like it would be a routine night for Federer as he broke Sampras with some spectacular hustle forcing a nervous opponent into some miscues at the net. The 26 year-old Swede claimed the opening set with a second break.

He was a game away at 5-4 but a resilient Sampras had other ideas pushing a much closer second set to a tiebreak. In it, some of that classic Pete form showed up as he outhit his younger opponent from the baseline drawing an error off a well struck forehand for a mini-break. Still banging his serve at better than 130 MPH which was at least 10-15 better than the more precise Federer, Sampras closed out the breaker and gave a pump of the fist knowing it was going the distance.

If that set was a nice turnaround for Pistol Pete who found the range in all facets, then the final set was your epic battle between two of the best who hate losing. Even if it was for fun, the competitive fire between them was evident with each forcing the other to produce their best tennis.

At first, it seemed like Federer would have a repeat of the opening set jumping out to a 2-0 break lead. However, just when it seemed he had it, Sampras cameback strong to not only break once but yet again in the sixth game. A service hold gave him five straight games and put him one from what would’ve been a storybook victory.

But Federer found his game just when he needed it most. After holding for 3-5, he put the pressure on Sampras forcing a couple of break points. A monster Sampras service’ winner saved one putting Pistol Pete within a couple of points of the win.

However, Federer upped his return game producing a couple of winners including a backhand reply up the line to get back on serve at 4-5. Needing to still hold to stay in the riveting two and a half hour match, what did The Maestro do next? Taking a page out of Sampras’ book, he proceeded to strike four consecutive aces leaving his amused opponent to smile as the champion pointed an index finger playfully to the crowd smirking with avid Nike supporter Tiger Woods in the house.

When the two each held once more, the crowd had what it wanted. A final set breaker to decide who was better. Well, heck. Sampras could comeback if he still wanted but seeing at how unbelievable wife Bridgette Wilson looked, who could blame the tennis Hall of Famer much for staying away? Have you ever seen a hotter trophy wife? Please don’t say Eva Longoria. I don’t think she compares.

The final breaker had its own set of drama as each player traded mini-breaks. Sampras once again was a couple of points away up 5-2 but Federer cameback strong taking the next four points to setup match point. With the crowd urging Sampras on, he delivered with another huge serve out wide which Federer had a short reply on.

AP Photo Courtesy Getty Images by Ed Betz

Unfortunately, that was the final point Sampras won. They played another fun point on his next serve. With Pete at the net having struck a couple of volleys, a running Federer ripped a trademark backhand winner up the line to setup his second match point.

This time, he converted it. While at the net, he forced Sampras to go for too much on a crosscourt backhand which missed wide giving a pleased Federer his third win in four exhibition matches against his worthy opponent.

“It turned out to be this thriller match,” he later told the Associated Press.

“This is maybe why so many people came out: You don’t often get the No. 1 in his prime playing against maybe the greatest player of all time.”

“It was a great night for tennis,” a delighted Sampras said. “Roger’s got more important things to worry about than playing me.”

They only met once during Sampras’ brilliant career with Federer getting the better of the seven-time Wimbledon champion ending Pete’s run of four straight in an epic five-setter which Roger concluded with a return backhand winner before dropping to his knees. Of course, it’s still shown as it truly was the passing of the torch from one legend to the next.

Who knew?

Ole! Ole! Ole! Ole! Ole! Ole! In a game they once trailed 5-0, the Montreal Canadiens rallied from that deficit for the first time in their proud history to comeback and defeat the New York Rangers 6-5 in a shootout before an electric capacity home crowd of better than 21 K.

This was one of the wackiest games you’ll ever see. How unpredictable was it? It started when Ranger rookie Brandon Dubinsky and Sean Avery got their team on the board with goals 14 seconds apart.

With the momentum theirs, Brendan Shanahan’s one-timer blast off a nifty Jaromir Jagr setup with Alex Kovalev in the box made it a three-goal lead sending rookie netminder Carey Price to an early shower.

When Shanahan redirected his second of the night off a Paul Mara shot pass to make it 19 consecutive seasons with at least 20 goals, it looked like the rout was on. Especially when Chris Drury later also scored on the back end of a double minor penalty for his 20th popping one top shelf.

But a resurgent Habs team rallied thanks to a couple of strong shifts by their fourth line resulting in a couple of Michael Ryder tallies before the second period was done.

Three goals with a period left was no longer insurmountable. Not with the kind of speed, aggressive attack and grinding they had. Continuing to batter the Rangers, they kept getting pucks in and having great shifts resulting in chances. When Kovalev notched his first of the night off an Andrei Markov pass, suddenly it was 5-3.

They weren’t done. Just nine seconds later, another Ryder shot ricocheted off Mark Streit’s leg past a stunned Henrik Lundqvist. They were within one with over 13:00 to play. Could the Blueshirts hang on for dear life? The answer was a resounding no thanks to Kovalev, who whipped a one-timer via Montreal’s No.1 ranked power play past Lundqvist for his 29th. It was shot so hard and accurately that the ex-Blueshirt fell over before celebrating with teammates.

The OT was almost all Habs as well with the exception of one solid Scott Gomez chance but the playmaking pivot couldn’t redirect a Shanny slap pass past Cristobal Huet instead pushing the puck wide.

And so, this topsy turvy edge of your seat thriller needed a shootout to decide the outcome. Not surprisingly, Les Habitants prevailed thanks to a breathtaking two deke forehand finish by captain Saku Koivu. Jagr’s backhand deke missed everything and the Habs celebrated like they’d won a Stanley Cup.

Why not? It’s not every night a team comes back from that kind of deficit. Never in their history had they and never had the Rangers ever blown a five-goal lead to lose.

The history book was re-written thanks to a great performance by the Canadiens who fed off their rabid fans.

I’ve been talking up this team for a while and for good reason as it was on display allowing them to keep pace with Ottawa for tops in the conference.

Can you think of any other team who would’ve been able to pull that out? I can’t.

Kudos to them. For the Rangers, it’s back to the drawing board wondering how the heck could they have allowed this to actually happen. Oh. The Habs are good. Better than them. They might only trail the Habs by seven points in the standings but it’s for good reason.

This was the Habs’ night. Let’s leave it at that.

For more on this exciting game and the entire Eastern playoff picture, please refer to our BONY blog game recap. 

More HB reaction: This game had it all. Quick end-to-end action. Plenty of goals along with stuff you just don’t see. It’s rare that teams score so quickly as these two teams did in this game. It’s hard to score 14 seconds apart let alone a ridiculous nine which the Habs pulled off to make their comeback chances realistic.

Even more, I loved the feistiness. It felt like a playoff game. You had nastiness. There was Dubinsky and Mike Komisarek getting together for a scrap which the nasty Montreal blueliner easily took. The goalies had to be on their toes. It was that on your edge. This was one of the most exciting games I’ve ever seen. I’d love to see these teams have a playoff series rematch. Preferably in the second or third round. Just wait and see.

Dubi also went for a Gordie Howe hat trick scoring and setting up the first couple of goals. The former second rounder in 2004 is going to be the Rangers’ next home grown star. It’s a rarity for them to produce any forwards. Well, he’s the exception because he has all the tools to be a really good second line center. Playing with Jagr and pest Sean Avery hasn’t hurt. He has really played well.

The Habs got their only win tonight in the four-game season series. They’re tied with the Sens with 75 points- two more than both the Devils and Pens, who each lead the Atlantic.

The Rangers are sixth with 68 points- two better than both the Bruins and Flyers. With so many teams in this wild race, it’s going to be interesting to see which teams are buyers at the deadline. Who will sell? Not Mortimer.

According to a published report, the Sacramento Kings have agreed to trade starting point guard Mike Bibby to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for veteran PG Anthony Johnson, former 2006 first round pick Shelden Williams, guard Tyrone Lue and veteran big man Lorenzen Wright.

HB Analysis: A brilliant move by the Hawks, who finally appear ready to make a return to the postseason for the first time in almost a decade. With already a solid roster which features guard Joe Johnson, athletic deluxes Josh Smith and Marvin Williams along with solid first-year center Al Horford, Atlanta makes the move they needed to to finally send the right message to their fans. They are ready to compete in an abysmal conference aside from heavy hitters Boston, Detroit and Orlando.

The 29 year-old Bibby might not be what he used to be but the former Arizona standout is still an effective point guard who can get into the lane, score and get other teammates involved. It looks like a good fit.

For the Kings, they decided it was time for a change. Already with a solid nucleus in place which includes former LaSalle Academy product Ron Artest, Bronx native Francisco Garcia, leading scorer Kevin Martin, PG Beno Udrih, center Brad Miller and instant offense John Salmons, Sacramento is ready to move on without Bibby, who missed the entire first half before returning to play in 15 games netting 13.5 PPG, 5.0 APG and 3.7 RPG.

They essentially got Bibby’s contract off the books and it looks like they received expiring contracts. So, even though they got garbage in return, the deal from their position also made plenty of sense.

It remains to be seen if the 21-28 Hawks, who are tied for the final two spots with the Nets and 76ers will make the playoffs. However, with Jason Kidd expected to still wind up in Dallas if Jerry Stackhouse would just shut the heck up already, you have to give them a decided edge to get in which should be real exciting to watch. I’d liken it to last year’s feel good story with Golden State where they hadn’t been in for a while, had an athletic team and pulled a huge first round upset of Dallas.

Who would want to draw the Hawks in the first round? I sure wouldn’t.

In case anyone missed it, the Rangers and starting goalie Henrik Lundqvist reached agreement Thursday on a new six-year contract worth a reported $41.25 million.

The 25 year-old netminder who led Sweden to Olympic gold two years ago in Torino has been nominated for the Vezina for the NHL’s top goalie the last couple of seasons. The former Rangers’ 2000 seventh round gem has been largely responsible for the Original Six club’s turnaround- backstopping them to the postseason the last two years and leading them to a series sweep of Atlanta for the team’s first playoff victory in a decade.

After coming out of the gate on fire this season, the affable Lundqvist has struggled the past couple of months while dealing with the off-ice distraction of his father who is back home in Sweden recovering from a brain aneurysm.

He started the season looking primed to capture his first Vezina posting a 15-9-2 record with a 1.83 GAA. However, since Dec.1, King Henrik has been subpar with a 3.35 GAA as the club has played sub-.500 hockey (13-15-5) to drop out of the Eastern Conference’s top eight. They currently trail seventh seeded Buffalo and eighth seeded Boston in the playoff race with only 23 games remaining to salvage a very disappointing season with so many high expectations due to key additions Scott Gomez and Chris Drury. 

“There is a lot maybe going on,” Lundqvist told the Associated Press after the deal was signed on Valentine’s Day. “When you’re here or when you play a game, you don’t really focus on what goes on around you, whether it’s a contract or your dad is sick or whatever it is.

“When I’m here I focus on the right stuff, and I don’t think it affected me. I just want to work really hard here and bring my ‘A’ game.“

Despite only a 24-21-5 record in 50 games this season, his seven shutouts ranks second in the NHL behind league-leader Pascal Leclaire. He’ll need to be just as razor sharp in helping the Rangers elevate their game down the stretch if they want to see the Spring for a third consecutive year.

“We talked about this during the summer, that we would sign for one year and then start talking at the start of ‘08,” he admitted. “Nobody really wanted to wait until the summer. We wanted to get it done.”

Lundqvist could’ve become a restricted free agent in July. He’s making $4.25 million this season. By next year, the popular Swede will become the league’s highest paid goaltender passing Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo where he’ll be slated to earn $7.75 million. Luongo makes $7 million.

In his three-year NHL career, Lundqvist boasts a 91-55-22 record with a career 2.32 GAA, .916 save percentage and 16 shutouts.

“All I’m seeing is the metamorphosis of a top-notch goaltender in this league,” Rangers coach Tom Renney said. “He’s still evolving.”

HB Analysis: It’s easy to see why the Ranger organization got this done as Lundqvist has become their best goalie since Mike Richter, whose No.35 hangs from the rafters. Now is the time for King Henrik to relax and elevate his game to where it needs to be to get this team into the playoffs and beyond.

Guess this means Al Montoya is officially a bust. Another first round draft pick wasted by the club. What a shock? With the exception of Marc Staal, the Rangers are clueless when it comes to drafting and developing top draft picks. When will they get a clue?

It’s hard to fathom that I’ve written that many posts on this blog. When I began the HB blog a little over 18 months ago, it was with the idea to inform and give my hard hitting views on things.

Over that span, I’ve covered a repeat New York-Penn League championship courtesy of the minor league Single-A Yankee affiliate out here as the Staten Island Baby Bombers swept past the Verrazano rival Cyclones and got a great pitching performance from George Kontos and closer Mark Melanchon to shutout Tri-City 2-0 in the deciding game touching off a great celebration.

It was a pleasure to cover such a well together T-E-A-M which jelled combining timely hitting with great pitching and defense in becoming the first back-to-back Penn League champ in over two decades.

I don’t like to single out players but the performances of Mitch Hilligoss, Seth Fortenberry, Wilmer Pino, Kyle Larsen, Francisco Cervelli, Colin Curtis, Nick Peterson, Tim Norton and Jonathan Hovis were on display that special summer in 2006. More often than not, they delivered and made covering them a joy for this fortunate reporter.

Anytime you get to see a team win a championship, it’s pretty cool. We have jobs to do just like they do. Only difference is that without them, there wouldn’t be anything to write about. I think sometimes columnists forget that important aspect.

I don’t view athletes as any different than us. However, as someone who ran cross country track, played tennis and also travel basketball during my adolescence, I certainly have an appreciation for the kind of hard work and commitment these players put themselves through. It takes a heck of a lot to be able to perform at a high level.

Can we as writers take players to task? Certainly. If you see a player not trying on the defensive end, etc, it puts into question why they’re not following their assignment(s).

I’ll openly admit that it’s much easier to watch a game and conclude that so and so isn’t giving their all. The truth is I don’t really know. Unless you’re there on the inside, it’s totally a different perspective.

I was talking to an injured Berkeley Carroll basketball player Giancarlo Hirsch during a tough home defeat to Staten Island Academy this past Monday. The 17 year-old junior starting small forward had suffered a bruise which kept him out of that game. Instead, he was forced to help keep the scorebook while I worked the game and shot clock. Fyi…I’m the official scorer for all the BC games two years running.

Quite obviously, it was killing him to be reduced to the sidelines instead of participating and maybe helping the Lions avenge an earlier road loss at SIA the prior month.

Hirsch teams with senior guard Jason Lewis and fellow junior Philip Seay to form a three-guard offense. When they’re aggressive slashing to the basket and drawing defenders, usually good things happen. Whether it’s a hard driving lay-up or a kick out to the perimeter for an uncontested three, their speed can wreak havoc on opponents. It’s all about making smart decisions with the ball and involving teammates.

With his team fighting hard despite being down to seven players, Hirsch concluded that we haven’t seen this team’s best yet. He believes that they’ll turn it on when the ACIS playoffs start in a week. Hopefully, he’ll be back tomorrow for the first of two regular season meetings against Friends Seminary.

We’ll have to wait and see. That’s part of what’s great about sports. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, something unpredictable like the Giants coming together at the right time under Tom Coughlin to win it all.

The excitement of a Final Four Cinderella such as George Mason is what can make it all worthwhile.

There will always be stuff to write about. Hopefully, with the Roger Clemens-Brian McNamee three-ring circus behind us, it will be more positive than negative.

Until then, I’ll keep on blogging.

Jason Kidd got his wish. He’s no longer a Net. The multidimensional point guard who led the Nets to two NBA Finals was finally dealt to the Mavericks earlier today.

In exchange for the disgruntled 35 year-old NBA All-Star, the Nets are getting point guard Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse, DeSagna Diop, Devean George, Maurice Ager, 2008 and 2010 first round picks plus three million in cash. The Nets will also reportedly send backup forward Malik Allen to Dallas.

Another deal between the two clubs has Nets’ guard Antoine Wright moving closer to home for a future second rounder plus other considerations.

HB Analysis: It’s expected that the Nets will buyout the remainder of Stackhouse’ contract allowing him to possibly return to the Mavs as part of their NBA championship push. They also added expiring contracts (Diop and George) and got the young player they coveted along with first round picks.

This trade needed to happen for Nets GM Rod Thorne as his club was going nowhere with an uninspired Kidd anyway. The 24 year-old Harris is a splendid dribble penetrator who can score and distribute the ball. He was averaging a career best 14.4 points along with over five assists- also a career high. The speedy guard who starred at Wisconsin should fit in well with Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter to formulate a new trio.

With the development of young bigs Sean Williams and Josh Boone, the Nets’ future looks much brighter than before.

For the Mavs, they get their man and essentially just lose one key component off a roster which features last year’s regular season MVP Dirk Nowitzki and explosive shooting guard Josh Howard. Kidd finally returns to where his NBA career began when he was once teamed with another duo in Jimmy Jackson and Jamal Mashburn. Too bad that didn’t work out due to plenty of immaturity and Toni Braxton.

The Mavs are banking on Kidd to be the final piece to the puzzle teaming with Dirk and Howard to formulate a deadly trio. However, in such a competitive conference, nothing’s a given. Especially with Shaq out in the Desert and Pau Gasol teaming with Kobe in LA. Let’s not discount those defending champion Spurs either. When Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are all healthy, the Spurs are still in a class by themselves.

So, who will come out of the West? Probably a team we haven’t mentioned like the Hornets, Jazz or Warriors. Wonder how the other teams’ fans would feel if that actually happened? Never mind.

It’s been a crazy day. Especially if you’re a big time baseball fan. Finally, the Roger Clemens versus Brian McNamee circus took their act to the nation’s capital to plead their cases in front of Congress.

Just from what I gathered listening to testimony given by both the Rocket and his former trainer as they were peppered with questions by Senators who should have been more preoccupied with much more important issues instead of wasting their time, it became clear that both Clemens and McNamee were caught in blatant lies. Even my brother Justin could be heard laughing at how pathetic these two clowns came off.

It’s hard to comprehend how poorly each of the former best buddies a decade prior looked during a lengthy process which made it feel like kindergarten. It was just flat out embarrassing.

Listening to politicians work over the pathetic duo didn’t help much. Here were Democrats going very hard at Clemens attacking his lack of consistency in his deposition and what he told Mike Wallace in a 60 Minutes interview about meeting former Senator George Mitchell to help clear his name from the notable Mitchell Report. What was the real truth here? Roger didn’t know that his name came up or the terrible legal advice he got.

Meanwhile, Republicans went after McNamee basically making the former trainer admit under oath lie after lie. How the heck was that supposed to help their case against Clemens? They didn’t give any preferential treatment to the former seven-time Cy Young winner nor McNamee.

Editor’s Note: It felt like a real court room. Something I’m actually familiar with as I once had the high duty of announcing a verdict on some very serious charges two and a half years ago. In case you’re wondering, we found the defendant not guilty of everything and that’s as far as it goes.

I also didn’t understand why Clemens felt compelled to explain his upbringing. Come on Roger! Nobody cares what you did as a kid and how you were raised. Even if he was trying to win over the court room, it wasn’t time for an autobiography.

One thing which troubles me is the evidence Mr. McNamee submitted. Let’s be frank. Who the heck keeps old needles, etc dating back 9-10 years?!?!?!?!?! That is a joke. That evidence just won’t hold up in court as I know all too well from experience.

You can freaking cut yourself and then take the blood from a cotton ball and submit it as physical evidence. Do you know how moronic that sounds?

Unless there’s legitimate proof, it’s all speculation. When McNamee basically admitted as such about whether he injected Clemens with Human Growth Hormone (HGH) or B12, it weakened their case. Unless it’s proven fact and not general opinion, there’s reasonable doubt.

What’s particularly damaging to Clemens is that former buddy and Yankee teammate Andy Pettite testified during a deposition that they used performance enhancers. Former Yankee second baseman Chuck Knoblauch also supported that claim.

When Roger said that Pettite “misheard or misremembers,” it didn’t strengthen his case.

One other disturbing thing from this mockery. How can McNamee answer that he didn’t have a deal on the side for testifying under oath about what he knew regarding steroids? That’s the biggest load of crap IMHO. Sure you didn’t.

What’s easy to conclude from this drawn out process is that both Clemens and McNamee are liars and should face the consequences.

I really don’t know what more to think. It’s just a very sad situation. I realize the Player’s Association (MLBPA) has taken some well deserved criticism for how uncooperative they were when it came to instituting a stiffer anti-drug policy during the Juiced Era Error but that doesn’t explain how Major League Baseball (MLB) basically turned a blind eye to what was going on. The same media who are so critical now never uttered a word either. Record attendances were set and home run records were smashed.

You can’t just pin this on the players. It’s kind of like how you couldn’t just blame the union for the record NHL lockout a few years back with the cancellation of the 2004-05 season. We all know how that’s turned out with owners handing out insane long-term record deals and raising ticket prices.

It’s all about the mighty buck. The sooner you realize that, the better off you’ll fully grasp everything which is wrong with sports.

I love following sports. Especially baseball. But I got to be honest about something. I get more enjoyment out of covering first and second year pros out here in Staten Island during the summer. There’s plenty of reason$. Plus the players who are just drafted are very receptive when it comes to interviews, features, etc. It’s the same reason I love these high school games I score. Because you can see the enthusiasm and joy on all the players and coaches’ faces. Somewhere, that gets lost.

To myself, baseball has been ruined. I highly doubt it will ever be the same no matter what rules they have in place. That has nothing to do with steroids and everything to do with the cost. I remember a time when it was fun to go to a Yankee game and be able to spend a reasonable amount of money while enjoying the game with real fans.

Unfortunately, we’re not who they’re targeting these days when it comes to filling up stadiums or arenas.

That’s the harsh reality. So, go ahead and get excited if you want over the new Citi Field and new Yankee Stadium. Just don’t expect to be able to get out to too many games.